Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine on Monday that have long been controlled by Russian proxies.
Continue reading “Ukraine Crisis: Putin Claims Parts Of Breakaway Regions Controlled By Ukraine”A Key Point
A key point here that I want to make sure everyone sees. As Josh Kovensky explains here, President Putin of Russia said today that Russia has recognized the breakaway eastern statelets on the full territories they claim. That is substantially more Ukrainian territory than these statelets (and their Russian backers) currently control. As Josh explained to me this morning, the two statelets claim the entire territories of the official Ukrainian oblasts (provinces) of Luhansk and Donetsk. But they only control between a third and half of that territory. So if you follow the logic of the events of the last 48 hours, Ukraine is currently occupying lots of land belonging to these two purported republics Russia now recognizes. And Russia could reconquer that territory as a defensive action on their behalf. Because, you know, they just want to help out.
Whether they’ll actually do this is another question. But it’s a claim with high and dangerous relevance to the current situation.
For the latest, follow our live blog here and my curated Twitter feed of Ukraine Crisis developments here.
SCOTUS Deals Another Blow To Trump’s Jan. 6 Stonewalling
The dominoes have fallen for former President Trump and his efforts to stonewall the House Jan. 6 Select Committee.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday officially rejected the former president’s demand to block the release of White House records to the Committee. The ruling came in a brief unsigned order issued without comment.
Continue reading “SCOTUS Deals Another Blow To Trump’s Jan. 6 Stonewalling”Federal Jury Finds Ahmaud Arbery Killers Guilty Of Hate Crimes
The convicted killers of Ahmaud Arbery have now also been found guilty of violating federal hate crime laws.
Continue reading “Federal Jury Finds Ahmaud Arbery Killers Guilty Of Hate Crimes”NRSC Chair Rick Scott Draws Up Own GOP Agenda, Which Includes Honoring Trump By Naming Border Wall After Him
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chair Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has his own ideas for a new Republican agenda, including another trophy of sorts for ex-President Donald Trump.
Continue reading “NRSC Chair Rick Scott Draws Up Own GOP Agenda, Which Includes Honoring Trump By Naming Border Wall After Him”Don’t Fall for Slogans
There’s a flurry of commentary this morning arguing that new economic sanctions introduced by the EU, European states individually and perhaps soon the United States in response to yesterday’s events are too weak and show NATO and the EU are somehow going soft. I’d suggest some skepticism with these arguments and a bit more patience. History doesn’t have many one and done moments. Thinking every moment is Munich and Neville Chamberlain mostly makes people dumb. The U.S./EU/NATO powers here need to find a balance between having a response to yesterday’s events while yet keeping some deterrent in reserve for further escalation.
Continue reading “Don’t Fall for Slogans”A Dissenting View of US Policy toward Russia
I oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to dismember Ukraine, and I support placing sanctions on Russia. But I am leery of the political process by which the United States and Russia reached this turn of the road, which could signal the beginning of a Cold War II. The process is sadly reminiscent of how the United States had previously come to a point in its foreign policy where it had no favorable options.
Continue reading “A Dissenting View of US Policy toward Russia”Cawthorn Frets He’s ‘Very Close’ To Getting Blocked From Running For Reelection
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.
Sad Trombone
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), an eager foot soldier in Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, told Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday night that a group of North Carolina voters who are trying to get him disqualified from running for office are “actually very close” to succeeding.
- Cawthorn accused the North Carolina State Board of Elections, which argued earlier this month that it had the authority to kick him off the ballot, of trying to “subvert the will of over 700,000 Americans.” You could argue that the North Carolina Republican isn’t being hypocritical here. After all, he tried to subvert the will of millions of Americans, not 700,000.
- Cawthorn’s lawyer is citing a congressional action that granted amnesty to Confederate soldiers to defend his client.
Putin Sends Troops To Ukraine
After Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a fiery speech claiming that Ukraine was “created” by Russia (you can catch up on our liveblog and TPM reporter Josh Kovensky’s translation of Putin’s speech here) on Monday, the Kremlin deployed what it claimed to be “peacekeeping” forces to the two Russian-backed separatist territories in eastern Ukraine.
- Putin recognized those territories, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent from Ukraine. As the New York Times notes, the borders of those two regions claimed by their leaders spills over to areas controlled by the Ukrainian army.
- Officials at the EU and the UN plus NATO all swiftly condemned Russia’s actions.
- Biden has slapped sanctions via executive order on the separatist regions in response but hasn’t addressed Russia as a whole yet. Administration officials say that more sanctions will come today, according to the Washington Post.
Must Read
“For Ukraine’s Jews, the Threat of War Stirs Memories of Past Horrors” – The New York Times
Judge Smacks Down Trump’s Attempt To Dodge Jan. 6 Lawsuits
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that the ex-president does not, in fact, have “absolute immunity” that shields him from lawsuits from House Democrats and police officers over his incitement of the Capitol attack.
Capitol Police Prep For Potential Trucker Convoy Ahead Of Biden’s SOTU
The U.S. Capitol Police are “aware of plans for a series of truck convoys” to arrive in D.C. to protest during Biden’s State of the Union Address on March 1, the agency said.
- The USCP said law enforcement is working to beef up security ahead of the joint session of Congress for the SOTU, including potentially installing a fence around the Capitol again.
- The Metropolitan Police, the U.S. Park Police, the Secret Service and the D.C. National Guard are all coordinating with the USCP, according to the agency.
Trump’s PAC Didn’t Give Any Money To Endorsees Last Month
It may shock you to hear that in January, the ex-president’s generosity toward the GOP candidates who worked oh so hard for his blessing apparently stopped at his Save America PAC’s press releases, according to the PAC’s filings with the Federal Election Commission.
- His PAC didn’t give a cent to those candidates last month despite raking in $4.1 million (and ending January with $108 million in its coffers).
- In fact, the PAC’s only donated $350,500 to candidates since July.
Trump Has So Much Money, According To Trump
The former president would like you to know that his longtime accounting firm, Mazars US, definitely didn’t unceremoniously dump the Trump Organization because of allegations that Trump falsely inflated the value of his properties: The poor accountants were simply “broken” by “Radical Left racist” prosecutors. “Also, we’re loaded with cash,” Trump insisted.
Tulsi Gabbard To Speak At CPAC
You read that correctly: American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp announced on Monday that former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is speaking at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, which begins on Thursday (and which promises to be “#AwakeNotWoke”).
Gabbard’s palling around with conservatives took a bit of an awkward turn on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s show last night:
Queen Of England Has COVID-19
Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday that 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth tested positive for the coronavirus and has “mild cold-like symptoms.” However, she expects to keep up her “light duties.”
Australia Reopens Border For First Time In Two Years
As of Monday, Australia is welcoming international travelers again after shutting out most non-residents in March 2020. You can check out some really wholesome pictures of families reuniting in the land down under here.
Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
Weakness and Rage
A number of dangerous, disquieting and scary things happened today in the unfolding Ukraine Crisis. Russia is a revisionist, nuclear power. In today’s lengthy and bellicose speech, Vladimir Putin barely mentioned NATO. He focused on his long-attested belief that Ukraine is not a real country and is only separated from Moscow by historical accident and perfidy. Beyond wanting to bring Ukraine to heel he made broad and menacing statements that brought the whole post-Cold War settlement into question.
Scary stuff.
Continue reading “Weakness and Rage”Points to Consider
Here are a few possibilities to consider as Russian troops roll into eastern Ukraine.
Russia has shown in various ways in recent weeks that it fears the repercussions of a full scale invasion of Ukraine. Over the last couple weeks, Russia has been hung up on a binary choice: invade or begin a humiliating climbdown. This may be a way to create a third option: occupy and de facto annex the regions that have been under de facto Russian control for eight years, celebrate a great nationalist victory and wrap this crisis up. Declare victory and go home without the huge gamble of full scale invasion.
Continue reading “Points to Consider”