William Galston: “Against this backdrop, the Russian invasion of Ukraine should trigger a crisis of European identity. If force is a permanent feature of international relations, the European Union must either take more responsibility for its own defense or admit that it has subcontracted this job to the U.S. indefinitely, along with some of the EU’s strategic independence.”
Ivanka Trump In Talks with Select Committee
Ivanka Trump is in talks with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol about the possibility of cooperating with the panel, the New York Times reports.
Red States Push 15-Week Abortion Bans
“Several GOP-controlled states could ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy as soon as this week, passing bills modeled on a Mississippi law that the Supreme Court could soon deem constitutional,” Politico reports.
“But those same states aren’t taking restrictions as far as Texas, which bans all abortions after six weeks.”
“Legislators in Arizona, Florida, West Virginia and several other states advancing 15-week bans say they’re taking what they see as a politically and legally safer approach, even if it means the vast majority of abortions in their states could still take place.”
Russian Forces Move Into Ukraine
Russian troops have moved into the eastern region of Ukraine that Russia has now recognized as “independent,” while the U.S. has issued a new warning to the Ukrainian government that the latest intelligence points to a full-scale Russian invasion imminently, CNN reports.
USA Today: Russia has nearly all the forces in place for a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports another sweeping cyberattack is underway aimed at Ukraine government and bank websites.
Biden Allows Sanctions on Company Behind Pipeline
“The Biden administration is expected to announce on Wednesday that it will allow sanctions to move forward on the company in charge of building Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, after blocking such sanctions last year using a national security waiver,” CNN reports.
“Sanctioning Nord Stream 2’s parent company, Nord Stream 2 AG — a registered Swiss firm whose parent company is the Russian gas giant Gazprom — is effectively a death knell to the project.”
The Hill reports Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has now lifted his hold on Biden’s State Department nominees now that the sanctions are moving forward.
The Hawley Trinity
A Kansas City Star editorial bashes Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) for what it calls the Hawley Trinity: “Racism, insurrection, appeasement.”
“That may be the path to glory in today’s GOP, but in giving aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin as Russia invades Ukraine, he’s sold out democratic values yet again.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“It’s stunning to see, in this day and age, a tyrant roll into a country. This is the same tyrant who attacked our democracy in 2016. This is the same tyrant who is opposed to democracy and wants to trivialize it, to downgrade it, in the eyes of the Russian people.”
— Speaker Nancy Pelosi, quoted by The Hill, on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Putin’s Advantages
Bret Stephens: “One advantage is the correlation of appetites: Putin wants Ukraine under his thumb much more than the West wants to keep Ukraine in its orbit, and he’s willing to pay a higher price to get it. Another advantage is the correlation of attention spans: Putin has methodically set his sights on returning Ukraine to his fold since at least 2004. For the West, Ukraine is another complex crisis of which it will eventually tire. A third advantage is the correlation of wills: Putin wants to change the geopolitical order of Europe and is prepared to take large risks to do it. The Biden administration wants to preserve a shaky and increasingly lifeless status quo. Fortune tends to favor the bold.”
“But Putin’s greatest advantage is self-belief. Serious historians may scoff at his elaborate historical theories about Ukraine’s nonexistence as a true state. But he believes it, or at least he makes a convincing show of it. What, really, does the West believe about Ukraine, other than that it would be a shame, and scary, if Putin were to swallow large chunks of it? Certainly nothing worth fighting for.”
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Picks New Map
“The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has selected a new congressional map that will shape power and politics in the state for the next decade,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
“In a 4-3 decision Wednesday, the court chose a map that was drawn by a Stanford professor and proposed by Democratic plaintiffs. The court also imposed a new election calendar for the May 17 primary, leaving that election day in place while moving the deadlines for candidates to file paperwork to get on the ballot.”
Why Conservative Social Networks Are Likely to Fail
Casey Newton: “There are very few liberals posting on them, reducing the amount of polarized conflict that provides so much entertainment on Twitter in particular. Their business models are fuzzy and largely theoretical. They have so far failed to hire the kind of name-brand talent that helps social apps grow and make money.”
“With the arrival of Truth Social, though, believers in a conservative-led alternative to mainstream social networks can finally play a literal Trump card. Posts from the president will undoubtedly drive at least some level of media coverage, particularly as they are cross-posted onto Twitter by his supporters and detractors. That does make it feel different, and potentially more consequential, than its predecessors.”
“But aside from those posts, Truth Social doesn’t look much different from its predecessors at all. It still looks to be structured for mostly one-way communication, broadcast primarily to an audience of Trumpist dead-enders.”
Democrats Reject Donations from Fox PAC
Five Democratic congressional committees appear to have together rejected $12,500 in donations from Fox PAC, the political action committee run by Fox News’ parent company, Insider reports.
Is Ron DeSantis Being Snubbed at CPAC?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has a very low key speaking slot at Conservative Political Action Conference — a 20 minute slot on Friday afternoon, Hot Air reports.
“This guy is polling second among Republicans for the 2024 presidential nomination, would be the presumptive nominee if Trump opts not to run, and is certainly the biggest political rock star to emerge on the right since Trump himself. And CPAC is being held in… Florida, his home state. He doesn’t even need to travel to be there. If ever there was a moment to showcase a rising party star, it’s the home-state governor being cheered by an audience that’s sure to adore him.”
North Carolina Officials Say Insurrectionist Ban Still Applies
“The North Carolina attorney general’s office says a constitutional prohibition on insurrectionists seeking federal office could be applied to Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) if a state board determines he aided or encouraged the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol,” Politico reports.
Why Inflation Is Such a Big Problem for Democrats
Join now to continue reading.
Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.
Guns Are Leading Cause of Trauma-Related Deaths
Firearm deaths have overtaken car crashes are the leading cause of death by trauma in the United States, CNN reports.
Quote of the Day
“It may be worth asking yourself, since it is getting pretty serious, what is this really about? Why do I hate Putin so much? Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him?”
— Tucker Carlson, on his Fox News show.
Massachusetts State House Reopens
The Massachusetts State House reopened to the public on Tuesday after a nearly two-year closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Boston Globe reports.
The Case for Indicting Donald Trump
Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade has written a “model prosecution memo” making the case for indicting Donald Trump based on his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
She argues that the evidence “is sufficient to obtain and sustain convictions of charges for conspiracy to defraud the United States and for obstruction of an official proceeding.”
Matthew Dallek: Prosecuting Trump would set a risky precedent. Not prosecuting would be worse.