China has refused to supply Russian airlines with aircraft parts, after Boeing and Airbus halted supply of components, Reuters reports.
It’s the Windmills
Donald Trump was asked on a UFC podcast how he saw the war of Ukraine unfolding and he answered by mocking environmentalists and the use of windmills.
Job Openings Near Record
“Demand for workers remained close to a record high at the start of the year despite the disruptions of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, another sign of a muted impact of the variant on the U.S. economy,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Russian Prowess Questioned with Troops Bogged Down
“The Russian army’s unexpected struggles in Ukraine are prompting calls for a fresh look at widely shared assumptions about the effectiveness of President Vladimir Putin’s military machine,” Bloomberg reports.
“Putin spent well over a decade modernizing a conscript-based military that proved wanting in Chechnya during the 1990s, and Georgia in 2008. Its first test in a large-scale conflict since the end of the Cold War has raised questions about what that boom in spending achieved.”
Opposition Moves to Oust Pakistan Prime Minister
“Pakistan’s opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion seeking the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, accusing him of mismanaging the economy and poor governance in the toughest challenge he has faced since taking power in 2018,” Reuters reports.
Why Most People Flunk the Zelensky Test
John Harris: “The fact that Zelensky — joined by vast numbers of his fellow Ukrainians — is willing to sacrifice everything makes him a clarifying agent in the great contest of the age, between free societies and despotic ones.”
“Zelensky has joined such iconic figures as the Chinese student who stood in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square in 1989, or the Flight 93 passengers on 9/11, or the firefighters that same day who raced up the stairs of the burning World Trade Center. All of them cause many people to interrogate themselves: What would I have done in those circumstances?”
Edwards Vetoes New Louisiana Map
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) vetoed the congressional redistricting map passed by the Republican-majority Legislature, saying it should have included a district that would allow a second Black candidate a chance to serve in the state’s congressional delegation, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.
Subtle Shifts Raise Hopes for Cease-Fire in Ukraine
“When President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion two weeks ago, he said a primary goal was the ‘denazification’ of Ukraine. He referred to the Ukrainian government as a ‘gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis,’ making it clear that his aim was to topple it,” the New York Times reports.
“But in recent days, the language has shifted, with the Kremlin signaling that Mr. Putin is no longer bent on regime change in Kyiv. It is a subtle shift, and it may be a head-fake; but it is prompting officials who have scrambled to mediate to believe that Mr. Putin may be seeking a negotiated way out of a war that has become a much bloodier slog than he expected.”
So Much for That Victory Lap
Playbook: “Just after 10 p.m. Wednesday night, the House passed the $1.5 trillion omnibus bill, the first step toward averting a government shutdown and enacting Democratic spending priorities after more than 400 days operating under Trump-era budgets extended via continuing resolutions.”
“But the party’s joy of the occasion was short-lived, as Democratic infighting quickly gobbled up the headlines and forced a daylong delay of the bill’s consideration.”
Punchbowl News: “There’s plenty of blame to go around. Right now, there are fingers pointing in every possible direction.”
Europe Wonders Who’s Next Russia Target
“For some European countries watching Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, there are fears that they could be next,” the AP reports.
“Western officials say the most vulnerable could be those who aren’t members of NATO or the European Union, and thus alone and unprotected — including Ukraine’s neighbor Moldova and Russia’s neighbor Georgia, both of them formerly part of the Soviet Union — along with the Balkan states of Bosnia and Kosovo.”
“But analysts warn that even NATO members could be at risk, such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Russia’s doorstep, as well as Montenegro, either from Moscow’s direct military intervention or attempts at political destabilization.”
The Economist: “Moldova, which is not a member of either NATO or the European Union, is in a state of deep anxiety.”
Putin Is Less Isolated Than You Might Think
Washington Post: “Many countries in the developing world, including some of Russia’s closest allies, are unsettled by Putin’s breach of Ukrainian sovereignty. Yet the giants of the Global South — including India, Brazil and South Africa — are hedging their bets while China still publicly backs Putin. Even NATO-member Turkey is acting coy, moving to shut off the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits to all warships, not just the Russians.”
“Just as Western onlookers often shrug at far-flung conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, some citizens in emerging economies are gazing at Ukraine and seeing themselves without a dog in this fight — and with compelling national interests for not alienating Russia.”
Zelensky Shames Leaders for Not Joining the Fight
“As Russia’s assault on Ukraine enters its second week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shifted from rallying world leaders — who have levied historic economic and financial sanctions against Russia — to shaming them for not doing more to hasten the war’s end,” the Washington Post reports.
“On Wednesday, Zelensky shared with his 5.1 million Twitter followers video of what Ukrainian officials said was the aftermath of a Russian military strike on a maternity hospital in Mariupol.”
Said Zelensky: “People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now!”
Oregon GOP Chair Quits Over ‘Evil’ In His Party
Oregon Republican Party chair Dallas Heard has resigned, citing “evil” inside the party he leads, the Oregonian reports.
Said Heard: “My physical and spiritual health can no longer survive exposure to the toxicity that can be found in this community. We truly have an equal if not greater evil than the Democrats walking among us.”
He added: “The endless slander, gossip, conspiracies, sabotage, lies, hatred, pointless criticism, blocking of ideas, and mutiny brought against my administration has done what I once never thought possible, They have broken my spirit. I can face the Democrats with courage and conviction, but I can’t fight my own people too.”
Florida Lawmakers Approve Elections Police Force
Washington Post: “The agency will be the first of its kind in the nation. Its staff of 25 will be part of the Department of State, which answers to DeSantis. Both chambers approved its creation by wide margins after debate that had Democrats invoking the name of the late civil rights leader John Lewis and a Republican representative making reference to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. The governor has indicated he will sign the measure into law.”
House Passes $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill
“The House on Wednesday passed a sprawling $1.5 trillion federal spending bill that includes a huge infusion of aid for war-torn Ukraine and money to keep the government funded through September, after jettisoning a package to fund President Biden’s new Covid-19 response effort,” the New York Times reports.
“Bipartisan approval of the first major government spending legislation of Mr. Biden’s presidency marked the first time since he took office that Democrats were able to use their congressional majorities and control of the White House to set funding levels for their priorities, including climate resilience, public education and child care.”
“But the exclusion of the $15.6 billion pandemic aid package, amid disputes about its cost that threatened to derail the broader legislation, infuriated the White House and frustrated Democratic leaders, leaving the fate of the Biden administration’s coronavirus strategy uncertain.”
CNN: Spending fight leaves Democratic emotions raw.
Mo Brooks Cleared of Inciting Rioters
“A federal judge dismissed civil claims against Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) alleging he helped incite supporters of former President Donald Trump’s to attack the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, saying Brooks’ speech to the crowd was constitutionally protected free speech,” Reuters reports.
Texas Flagged 27,000 Primary Ballots for Rejection
“More than 27,000 mail ballots in Texas were flagged for rejection in the first test of new voting restrictions enacted across the U.S., jeopardizing votes cast by Democrats and Republicans alike and in counties big and small,” the AP reports.
“It puts the rate of rejected mail ballots in Texas on track to significantly surpass previous elections.“
U.S. Warns Russia Could Use Chemical Weapons
“U.S. officials say they are concerned Russia could be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine after the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of possibly planning a false-flag chemical weapon attack,” NBC News reports.
An administration official said the U.S. is worried that the Russians are making the claim “to justify a false-flag operation or them using chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine themselves.”