A "normal" news day.

March 17, 2023

          It was a busy news day. The good news is that, because of the steady leadership of Joe Biden on the international and national stages, events unfolded in a way that could broadly be described as “normal.” The NATO alliance resisted Russian aggression, the Treasury Department arranged for the voluntary infusion of capital into a faltering bank, and prosecutors proceeded apace with grand jury proceedings. That description is a far cry from the daily fire drills and never-before-seen-absurdities that characterized the former administration.

Let’s take a look at what a “normal” news day looks like under the leadership of a strong US president committed to defending global security and managing the US economy with rational policies and a steady hand.

NATO member Poland agrees to provide six Soviet-era jets to Ukraine.

          On Thursday, Poland said it would provide six MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine—the first NATO member to offer such assistance. The Soviet-era jets are currently deployed in Polish air defense. The offer is significant for three reasons.

          First, Poland appears to have acted on its own initiative (although it likely informed other NATO members of its plans). Such independent action by other NATO members reduces political pressure in the US against continuing aid to Ukraine. A common point of disinformation circulated by the anti-Ukraine caucus in the GOP is that the US is acting alone in supporting Ukraine, while European and NATO nations allegedly do little or nothing. Not true—as Poland’s transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine proves.

          Second, a year ago, Poland offered to provide fighter jets to Ukraine on the condition that the US provide Poland with an equivalent number of new US fighter jets to replace older Soviet jets transferred to Ukraine. Alternatively, Poland suggested that it would transfer the MiG-29 jets to the US, which would, in turn, transfer them to Ukraine. The US rejected both proposals. See CNN (March 9, 2022), Why the US rejected Poland’s plan to send fighter jets to Ukraine.

          While there is likely an undisclosed understanding between the US and Poland regarding the current transfer of jets, Poland’s apparent unilateral transfer has eliminated the express linkage between the US and the delivery of fighter jets to Poland. The artifice won’t prevent Russia from blaming the US for the transfer, but it was a responsible action by the US, nonetheless.

          Finally, the fact that Poland has taken the initiative in providing aircraft to Ukraine may give permission to other NATO members to do the same. From Ukraine’s perspective, the timing is critical. Ukraine and Russia are both planning spring offensives. Aircover will be critical to support ground troops and eliminate artillery.

          I sometimes receive notes from readers who object to any aid to Ukraine on the ground that it only serves to prolong the war and increase suffering. They argue that the US should cease aid and require Ukraine to enter peace talks. I publish their views here only to inform other readers that there is not universal support for US aid to Ukraine.

Having shared the contrary view, I don’t believe cutting off aid and ordering Ukraine to enter peace negotiations would work. Ukraine would fight on and never surrender. Zelenskyy said so during a joint session of Congress. And Putin will not stop until Russian troops have “demilitarized Ukraine.” Putin said so in a major policy speech about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Until Russia ceases its war of aggression, America should continue to support Ukraine.

The Treasury Department arranges voluntary aid to ailing bank.

          Anxious investors and depositors have been punishing banks with a concentration of large uninsured deposits. A consortium of large US banks voluntarily injected $30 billion in deposits into First Republic Bank to shore up its balance sheet and create liquidity to cover depositor withdrawal demands. See The Guardian, US banks launch $30bn rescue of First Republic to stem spiraling crisis. Like Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic had exposure to large, uninsured depositors in the form of affluent clients who used First Republic’s private banking services.

          Like SVB, First Republic had a heavy concentration in long-term investments (mortgages) that would have made it difficult to cover significant withdrawal demands of nervous depositors. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen organized a consortium of the nation’s largest banks to inject capital and liquidity into First Republic by making $30 billion in deposits. The banks participating in the voluntary rescue include Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan. Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan played a key role in lining up support for the coordinated action.

          As described in the financial press, the voluntary bank rescue is unusual, though not unprecedented. The voluntary rescue of First Republic is another sign that Biden and his advisers are ably managing a volatile economy.

New genetic evidence of natural origin of SARS-CoV-2

          The origin of the virus that causes Covid-19 remains contested. But on Thursday, The Atlantic and NYTimes reported on new genetic evidence that strongly suggests SARS-CoV-2 was present in animal flesh at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. See The Atlantic, The Strongest Evidence Yet That an Animal Started the Pandemic.

          The new genetic evidence was derived from swabs taken in the Huanan Seafood Market in late 2019. The genetic code of those swabs was recently posted on a CDC website, and independent researchers analyzed the code. The analysis revealed that the virus was commingled with genetic material from a “raccoon dog”—a foxlike creature that is neither a raccoon nor a dog. “A virus similar to SARS-CoV was isolated from [] a raccoon dog [] in Guangdong, China in May 2003.”

          While the raccoon dog may not have been the first species to be infected, it may have served as an intermediary host. Video evidence shows raccoon dogs in cages at the Huanan market in December 2019—very near in time to the virus outbreak in humans.

          The newest study is not definitive proof that either the raccoon dog or the Huanan market was the origin of SARS-CoV-2, but one virologist quoted in The Atlantic says, “This is a really strong indication that animals at the market were infected. There’s really no other explanation that makes any sense.”

          Does the genetic study rule out a lab leak of an engineered virus? No, but it makes it much less likely. And both could be true: There could have been a natural transmission in the Huanan market that made its way to the lab for study, which later escaped back into the wild (called a “spillover”). Until the Chinese government fully cooperates with the international community, it will be difficult to reach definitive conclusions.

          Why does this matter? Because one of the many “weaponization of government” committees established by MAGA Republicans is intent on proving that Dr. Anthony Fauci funded research in China that “created” SARS-CoV-2. It is not true that Fauci (or the US) funded so-called “gain of function” research for the virus, nor is there evidence that such research created SARS-CoV-2. If the virus developed naturally in animal reservoirs and made the zoonotic leap to humans in the Huanan market, both legs of the GOP weaponization theory would disappear. We could then stop debating Dr. Fauci’s fictitious role in creating SARS-CoV-2.

More on the Axios firing of journalist Ben Montgomery.

          I noted yesterday that Axios fired one of its reporters after the DeSantis attack-dog PR machine targeted the reporter, Ben Montgomery, for telling the DeSantis team that a press release attacking diversity, inclusion, and equity was “propaganda.” The story was widely reported in other sources and is gaining traction in social media, including in a post on Laurence Tribe’s Twitter account—a post that received lots of replies.

           But like many discussions on social media, the replies to Professor Tribe’s post betray a misunderstanding of the First Amendment’s protection of free speech (and misconstrue Tribe’s criticism). To avoid any confusion regarding my criticism of Axios, let me be clear: As a private company, Axios has the right to terminate the employment of a reporter if it doesn’t like what the reporter says. Because Axios is not a governmental entity, firing a reporter does not violate the First Amendment prohibition against “laws abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”

          But just because Axios had the right to fire Ben Montgomery does not mean that it was the right thing to do. As I said yesterday, “If you feed a monster, he will come back for more.” By surrendering to DeSantis, Axios has taught him that bullying the media works. That is a bad message for the media and our democracy—which depend on a free and independent press. Axios’s decision to fire a reporter because Ron DeSantis stamped his foot and attacked the reporter was wrong. Period.

Developments in various Trump investigations.

          More members of the now-disbanded special grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, are speaking to the press. Their comments reinforce the notion that they recommended that District Attorney Fani Willis seek an indictment against Trump. Moreover, their comments suggest ample evidence to support such an indictment. See WaPo, Georgia grand jury heard another Trump call pressing to overturn election.

          Per WaPo, the special grand jury heard recordings of two new calls by Trump to Georgia officials:

Five members of the special purpose grand jury told the Atlanta newspaper that they listened to a recording of a 2020 phone call between Trump and Georgia’s House speaker at the time, David Ralston (R), in which Ralston resisted Trump’s requests to convene a special session of the legislature to overturn Biden’s narrow election win.

Trump also called Frances Watson, a top investigator in Raffensperger’s office, urging her to uncover “dishonesty” as she examined absentee mail ballots — a recording that is also in the hands of prosecutors.

          The comments are welcome news, but the longer Fani Willis delays obtaining an indictment, the more likely it is that a grand juror will say something Trump can use to impeach the indictment. Let’s hope that Fani Willis will release an indictment very soon.

          In another development, special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed dozens of employees of Mar-a-Lago in his investigation of Trump’s theft of defense secrets. See CNN Politics, EXCLUSIVE: Dozens of Mar-a-Lago staff, from servers to aides, are subpoenaed in classified documents probe.

          In addition, Jack Smith is reportedly asking a federal judge for an order to compel Trump’s attorney, Evan Corcoran, to testify regarding a false affidavit provided to the FBI declaring that all classified documents had been returned. Jack Smith argues that Corcoran cannot invoke the attorney-client privilege because the communication may have been part of the commission of a crime or fraud.

Overcoming the obstacle of “Voter ID” laws.

          MAGA legislatures are attempting to suppress votes by imposing strict and confusing “voter ID” laws designed to disenfranchise the poor, minorities, and women. VoteRiders is an organization devoted to tracking voter ID requirements and assisting voters who need help complying with ID laws.

          Kathleen Unger has posted a comprehensive blog about the current state of affairs for voter ID laws nationwide. See The State of Voter ID in America in 2023. Her blog post is a terrific resource, and I highly recommend bookmarking the blog as a “favorite” website on your browser. If you are involved in “get out the vote” efforts, sooner or later, you will be asked a question about voter ID requirements in your state. The first place to start your research is with VoteRiders.

          As Kathleen Unger notes, "More than 25 million voting-age Americans do not have a current government-issued photo ID.” Wow! You can see why MAGA legislatures want to impose strict voter ID requirements—they can automatically disenfranchise 25 million Americans who are otherwise eligible to vote.

          Kathleen’s blog concludes with the following offer of help, which includes a link to a page that will start you on the fast track to getting help with voter ID:

So, please do not wait to make sure you have the ID you need to vote. If you or someone you know has a question or needs free assistance in securing an ID so they can participate in the very foundation of our Constitutional Republic, VoteRiders is here to help.

Concluding Thoughts.

          I spoke at the Field Team Six Register Democrats 2023 Summit today. (Video link to follow soon.) It was a humbling experience. The members of Field Team Six are doing the hardest task in politics—approaching strangers and asking them to register as Democrats. Bless every member of Field Team Six for your courage and dedication!

          In my remarks, I focused on the fact that we have been transformed by the experience of the last six years—and are therefore poised for greater success in the next six years. We have been roused from our complacency, and we are more engaged, informed, organized, effective, unified, and sophisticated in our understanding of the media and political landscapes. The fight has been exhausting and disappointing at times, but despite those challenges, we prevailed in 2018, 2020, and 2022!

          Any rational person looking at that track record would say that Democrats should be proud of their accomplishments and confident of their prospects. I am! You should be, too!