Putin attacks Ukraine's civilian population
October 24, 2022
[No audio version due to limited internet bandwidth].
Although there is much to discuss on the domestic front, it is impossible not to acknowledge that Putin has begun a cruel campaign to freeze and starve the Ukrainian people in the coming winter months. As Putin is losing on the battlefield, he has decided to focus his attacks on civilian infrastructure—the very definition of terrorism and war crimes. See Vox, Russia is destroying infrastructure in Ukraine, and consequences are dire. As EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last week,
Russia’s attacks against civilian infrastructure, especially electricity, are war crimes. Cutting off men, women, and children of water, electricity, and heating with winter coming — these are acts of pure terror. And we have to call it such.
The attacks on civilian infrastructure has received a boost from Iranian-made ‘kamikaze’ drones. Iran has boasted of increases in international arms sales but has denied that it has supplied the drones that Russia is using to commit war crimes. Of course, Iran has condemned a UN resolution to investigate Iran’s arms sales to Russia.
In the most alarming development, the highly respected Institute for the Study of War has reported that Russia may be planning to destroy a dam/hydroelectric plant near Nova Kakhovka as Russia retreats from Kherson. If true, the action would be catastrophic, flooding 80 Ukrainian cities and compromising the operation of a nearby nuclear power plant, which depends on water from the dam complex to cool its nuclear reactors. That nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in turn, supplies electrical power to much of Europe. See Institute for Study of War, Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 2.
Why would Putin endanger hundreds of thousands of civilians, cut off electricity to much of Ukraine and Europe, and risk a meltdown at the ZNPP nuclear power plant? Because the action would slow the advance of the Ukrainian army as Russian troops retreat from Kherson. Putin is a monster, a terrorist, and a war criminal. And yet, the GOP admires his style and aspires to achieve his dictatorial powers. See David Leonhardt in NYTimes, The G.O.P.’s ‘Putin Wing’ - In Republicans’ own words (dated 4/7/2022).
A YouGov poll in early 2022 found that Republicans view Putin more favorably than President Biden, VP Harris, and Speaker Pelosi. And Kevin McCarthy’s is champing at the bit to signal to Putin that Republicans will hobble Ukraine if the GOP gains control of the House in November. See MarketWatch, Ukraine aid could dry up if Republicans win majority in House, says Kevin McCarthy: ‘It’s not a free blank check’.
Early in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many commentators (including me) used the word “genocide” to describe Putin’s actions against the Ukrainian people. Many readers pushed back vigorously, pointing to genocides that killed millions and arguing definitions under international law. I won’t repeat that charge here, but I will pose this question: What do you call it when the leader of one country tries to freeze to death an entire civilian population in order to achieve his military expansionist goals?
Whatever we name we choose to describe Putin’s attacks on civilians, it is happening now—with MAGA extremists and their propagandists on Fox News cheering on Putin. America is an integral part of an international coalition to help Ukraine defend itself. That may change quickly if Republicans gain control of Congress or the White House. We can’t let that happen.
The January 6 Committee’s subpoena to Trump.
Although the J6 Committee voted more than a week ago to issue a subpoena to Trump, that subpoena was not issued until Friday, October 21, 2022. The subpoena suggests that Trump was using an encrypted messaging app—Signal—to covertly communicate with others plotting the coup. Signal messages can be set to delete after a prescribed period of time. But someone on the receiving end can take a screen shot or photograph of the message. To state the obvious, it is illegal for the president to use an encrypted application to evade the Presidential Records Act and the scrutiny of law enforcement investigations examining the attempted coup. See Talking Points Memo, Jan. 6 Committee Issues Trump Subpoena With Special Focus On His Use Of Signal.
The subpoena also hints that Trump may have attempted to tamper with witnesses called to testify by the J6 Committee. Per TPM, the subpoena demands that Trump produce
Signal communications involving Trump and members of far-right militia groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, records regarding the DOJ and the 2020 presidential election, records relating to an effort to “encourage or summon” people to come to D.C. on January 6, and efforts to contact witnesses who appeared before the panel.
Trump’s initial reaction was to agree to appear—on live television. Laurence Tribe and Dennis Aftergut argue that the J6 Committee should accept Trump’s demand to testify on live television but refuse to negotiate about anything else. See Tribe and Aftergut in The Hill, Should the House Jan. 6 Committee let Donald Trump testify in public? Here is their thesis:
[I]f the committee is inclined at all to call Trump’s bluff, it must say, “Ok, you can testify in public, but don’t bother asking for anything more because the answer is ‘No.’ And we will give you X minutes for an opening statement and no more, after which the questions will begin.”
In all likelihood, the committee laying down that red line would expose Trump’s bluff for what it is: a charade meant to claim the talking point prize: “I offered, and they refused.”
I agree with the Tribe / Aftergut strategy but believe we should recognize that Trump will make a belligerent statement, argue in response to a handful of questions, and then stomp off in a pre-planned huff. At that point, the J6 lawyers should continue asking the questions and presenting the evidence they would have used if Trump had not fled the deposition. It would be like another J6 hearing with Trump occupying the “empty chair” that perfectly symbolizes his defense to the charge of insurrection and conspiracy.
WaPo reports that documents seized at Mar-a-Lago related to China and Iran.
The J6 Committee subpoena comes amid leaks that the classified documents seized at Mar-a-Lago include information regarding Iran’s missile program and sensitive information regarding China. See WaPo, Trump's classified Mar-a-Lago documents held secrets about Iran, China. The Post cites “people familiar with the matter” as its source for the story. The source(s) could thus be Trump-affiliated staffers and lawyers who have turned on their boss or FBI / DOJ investigators. Given the relatively “leak proof” nature of Garland’s investigation of Trump’s theft of defense secrets, it seem unlikely that FBI agents and DOJ attorneys would suddenly begin leaking to the press.
That said, if Trump stole materials relating to Iran, in particular, the countries most interested in that information are Saudi Arabia and Israel. Recall that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund “loaned” Jared Kushner $2 billion—over the objections of the wealth fund’s managers. The objections of the managers were overruled by Muhammed bin Salmon, who serves as an ally, banker, and “crystal-ball-reading-companion” to Trump. (I just looked at the picture after five years; it doesn’t get better with time.)
GOP’s plan to destroy economy if Democrats don’t agree to slash Social Security and Medicare.
I don’t understand why Democrats are not making a bigger deal of Kevin McCarthy’s threat to allow a US credit default unless Democrats agree to slash Social Security and Medicare. There is evidence that many voters don’t care about the issue or—more likely—simply aren’t paying attention. If the lack of traction is because of the lack of attention, it is up to Democrats to make voters understand that 70 million Americans will become poorer if Kevin McCarthy’s plan is realized.
Finally, over the weekend Democrats began talking about the issue in earnest, starting with Joe Biden. See Talking Points Memo, Biden Vows He ‘Will Not Yield’ To GOP’s Debt-Ceiling Extortion On Medicare And Social Security. Biden said,
If you’re worried about the economy, you need to know this. Republican leadership in Congress has made it clear: they will crash the economy next year by threatening the full faith and credit of the United States, for the first time in history putting the United States in default, unless we yield to their demand to cut Social Security and Medicare. Let me be really clear: I will not yield. I will not cut Social Security, I will not cut Medicare, no matter how hard they work at it.
We need to amplify Biden’s position in the next two weeks. If voters aren’t paying attention to this issue, we need to explain it to them in a way that makes it real and urgent.
Concluding Thoughts.
About eight months ago, I interviewed Melissa Walker, Director of Giving Circles for The States Project. The States Project focuses on winning state legislative races to stop MAGA extremism in battleground states controlled by the GOP. After my interview with Melissa, readers of this newsletter formed twenty (!) Giving Circles to help fund the fight at the state level—which has become even more important after the decision in Dobbs and the criminalization of reproductive liberty in a dozen states.
Giving Circles are small(-ish) groups of friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers who come together with a focus on a particular state. In many ways, Giving Circles are the democratic antidote to the dark money unleashed by Citizens United. They are democracy in action at the personal level. Small donations are combined to have an impact far beyond the reach of any individual in the Giving Circle. Here is a note from Melissa Walker, with a report on the amazing contribution by Giving Circles formed by readers of this newsletter. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you.
Here is Melissa Walker’s note:
With 20 active Giving Circles started by Today's Edition readers, this community has raised over $300,000 with their networks. We'd like to say thank you to each leader for raising your hands, organizing your friends and families, and pooling resources to make change at the foundational level — in state legislatures.
This has not been an easy year, and I can say that personally, there have been moments where I’ve felt like the grief and fear and uncertainty were going to overwhelm me. But then, I'd get an email from a Giving Circle Leader inviting me to speak at a meeting. Or I’d see a notification that another new Circle has formed after hearing the Today's Edition podcast. And suddenly everything felt a little less hard.
For our team, the States Project Giving Circles are inspiration, motivation, community, and hope. Hundreds of votes can decide state legislative races. The margins are slim, there is no spotlight here, and our involvement can make all the difference.
We hope folks will join The States Project on an Election Night zoom where our team will be focused on the updates the news won't cover — we'll highlight the strength of our community, and the state legislative race results that matter most. Sign up here.
Here are links to the Today's Edition-inspired circles! Each circle is currently raising for rapid response work like last-minute state legislative electoral opportunities, ballot curing, helping with recounts, etc. These are the final resources that go out the door to help for 2022! Thank you to...
Onward!
Melissa
Thanks again to everyone who has made this success possible. Keep up the good work!
Talk to you tomorrow!
There's so much I don't understand:
1. Why the GOP's allegiance to Putin isn't front page headlines everywhere, every day.
2. Why the J6 committee and DOJ are being so polite to Trump and his traitor accomplices.
3. Why no one's been arresting for stealing government property - the White House documents stashed at Mar-a-Lago. Trump didn't do it by himself.
4. Why the J6 committee and the DOJ believe anything these scumbags say, even under oath.
5. Why no one's investigating what kompromat Putin has on Trump and the GOP leadership and members of Congress.
6.Why no Congressional committee is investigating the oil companies and other companies that are driving up prices and reaping windfall profits.
7. Why President Biden hasn't said he'll appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate J6 if the GOP takes the House next month.
8. How so many Americans aren't even following the news. Or voting. Or caring.
Thank you, Robert Hubbell, for offering hope and clarity in the midst of real fears about our future.
So vexing to hear over the weekend Republicans, and even some Democrats, blaming Joe Biden for the state of the economy. As someone who spent their entire career involved with the capital markets, I can tell you that Biden has done a good job shepherding us through the pandemic and addressing inflation. Maybe not an A, but at least a B/B+.
If anyone is looking for a villain behind high interest rates and inflation, it’s not Joe Biden. It’s Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve System. The pandemic caused bottlenecks that hurt the economy and led to higher prices, as did higher energy costs. But these were exogenous factors. Powell could have acted early and effectively to combat these inflationary pressures, but, instead, he caved into Trump’s harassment and kept interest rates far too low for far long.
After Powell first took office in 2018, he tried to do the right thing and began to raise rates in order to cool off the economy. But then Trump came down on him, hard and in public. Afraid that higher rates would derail the economy and the stock market, he harangued Powell incessantly. And Powell gave in, lowering rates in late 2019 and keeping them low through the 2020 election. Now Biden is president and Powell has presided over an unprecedented spike in rates, pushing up prices, slamming the economy and the throttling the stock market. Joe Biden has done what he could. Jerome Powell has hurt the economy, the country, and the prospects for Democrats in the upcoming election.