Month: July 2023

The look of fascism

benfell

Illiberalism


Fig. 1. Photograph by Joachim F. Thurn, August 1991, Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F089030-0003, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.

In view of Ishaan Tharoor’s latest column,[1] I am reorganizing the hierarchy for Gilead, placing it under Illiberalism. The distinction was always fuzzy and it’s just really all looking more and more like the same utterly vile thing to me.

The Israeli version claims authority via Judaism. The Turkish version claims authority via Islam. The Italian and Spanish versions claim authority via Roman Catholicism. The U.S. (Gilead) version claims authority mostly via evangelical Protestantism. It isn’t theocracy per se, but a nationalism that centers religion with race, as a governing principle, and that looks fascist.

Ishaan Tharoor, “A far-right European Union could be around the corner,” Washington Post, July 21, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com//world/2023/07/21/spain-election-vox-far-right-european-union/

Gilead

Competitive authoritarian regime project


Fig. 2. President Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Clarence Mitchell during signing ceremony of the voting rights act. Yoichi Okamoto, August 6, 1965, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Jane C. Timm, “Alabama GOP refuses to draw second Black district, despite Supreme Court order,” NBC News, July 21, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/alabama-gop-refuses-draw-second-black-district-supreme-court-order-rcna94715

Donald Trump
Coup attempt


Fig. 1. “Jake Angeli (Qanon Shaman), seen holding a Qanon sign at the intersection of Bell Rd and 75th Ave in Peoria, Arizona, on 2020 October 15.” Photography by TheUnseen011101 [pseud.], October 15, 2020, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Trial in the classified records case is to begin next May.[2] I’m looking for a defense that coordinates with the campaign.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump seems awfully desperate to stop the Georgia investigation.[3] Even if he wins, which I still think is flatly not happening[4] (though I am ignoring “No Labels”), he would not be able to pardon his way out of a state-level conviction.

Trump might be a devil, but it sure looks like he never shoulda gone to Georgia.

Holly Bailey, “Trump attorneys again push to block Georgia 2020 election investigation,” Washington Post, July 21, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/21/trump-georgia-investigation/

Sadie Gurman, “Judge Sets May 2024 Trial Date for Trump’s Documents Case,” Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-aileen-cannon-sets-may-2024-trial-date-for-trumps-documents-trial-eefddbae

I’ve previously noted that this society loves nothing more than to kick people when they are down. I’ve been on the receiving end of systemic brutality before. I’m seeing it again.

This (figure 4) is what’s happened to my income in recent months. But guess what? I no longer qualify for Medicaid.

Fig. 4. Estimated daily net income, mostly from Uber driving, since January 1, 2022, by author, as of July 20, 2023, but updated more or less daily. Does not include Social Security.

There’s no way I can pay for health insurance. It’s just completely out of the question. I can sign up for Medicare at the end of January; I have no idea how long it will take for that coverage to take effect. In the meantime, I still have a doctor and can transfer my prescriptions from Walgreens to a low-cost pharmacy.

In general, I’m in decent health, though I’m not aging as gracefully as I thought I would.

  1. [1]Ishaan Tharoor, “A far-right European Union could be around the corner,” Washington Post, July 21, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com//world/2023/07/21/spain-election-vox-far-right-european-union/↩
  2. [2]Sadie Gurman, “Judge Sets May 2024 Trial Date for Trump’s Documents Case,” Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-aileen-cannon-sets-may-2024-trial-date-for-trumps-documents-trial-eefddbae↩
  3. [3]Holly Bailey, “Trump attorneys again push to block Georgia 2020 election investigation,” Washington Post, July 21, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/21/trump-georgia-investigation/↩
  4. [4]David Benfell, “It should be obvious by now: Donald Trump and Doug Mastriano are not the future of the Republican Party,” Not Housebroken, June 17, 2023, https://disunitedstates.org/2023/03/26/it-should-be-obvious-by-now-donald-trump-and-doug-mastriano-are-not-the-future-of-the-republican-party/↩

Yevgeny Prigozhin’s life was spared so the Wagner Group could fight in Ukraine. So, guess who won’t be fighting in Ukraine?

benfell

I’m now caught up and headed to bed. It’s a thunderin’ and lightening out there, with a flash flood warning up.

Imperialism

Russia

Ukraine


Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[1] fair use.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Daniel Victor, and Ivan Nechepurenko, “Russia Pulls Out of the Black Sea Grain Deal,” New York Times, July 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/world/europe/ukraine-russia-grain-deal.html

Nicolas Camut and Veronika Melkozerova, “Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia,” Politico, July 17, 2023, https://www.politico.eu/article/kerch-bridge-blast-reported-link-occupied-crimea-russia-war-ukraine/

Fredrick Kunkle, David L. Stern, and Mary Ilyushina, “Ukraine hits Crimean Bridge, but railway undamaged; Russia halts grain deal,” Washington Post, July 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/17/kerch-bridge-crimea-grain-ukraine-russia/

Shaun Walker and Emma Graham-Harrison, “Two dead after explosions on Kerch Bridge linking Crimea and Russia,” Guardian, July 17, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/17/explosions-reportedly-hit-crimeas-kerch-bridge-as-russia-cites-emergency-situation

Mirko Fuchs, “Russian men keep fleeing abroad to avoid fighting in Ukraine,” Deutsche Welle, July 18, 2023, https://www.dw.com/en/russian-men-keep-fleeing-abroad-to-avoid-fighting-in-ukraine/a-66277704

Julia Ioffe, “Ukraine’s Summer War of Attrition,” Puck, July 18, 2023, https://puck.news/ukraines-summer-war-of-attrition/

Mary Ilyushina, “Prigozhin says Wagner mercenary group for now will not fight in Ukraine,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/prigozhin-wagner-belarus-ukraine-putin/

John Hudson and Isabelle Khurshudyan, “Ukraine begins firing U.S.-provided cluster munitions at Russian forces,” Washington Post, July 20, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/20/cluster-munitions-ukraine-war-russia/

Wagner mutiny


Fig. 2. Yevgeny Prigozhin. Screen capture from video by УлПравда ТВ, June 13, 2023, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.

Mary Ilyushina, “Prigozhin says Wagner mercenary group for now will not fight in Ukraine,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/prigozhin-wagner-belarus-ukraine-putin/

Gilead

Right-wing militias

Police White supremacist gangs


Fig. 3. Photograph by Lorie Shaull, April 1, 2021, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Charlie Wolfson, “Consultants give Gainey plan to fix ‘overstaffed’ police, but new chief disagrees,” Public Source, July 19, 2023, https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-bureau-police-staffing-study-mayor-gainey-chief-scirotto/

Donald Trump

Coup attempt


Fig. 4. “Jake Angeli (Qanon Shaman), seen holding a Qanon sign at the intersection of Bell Rd and 75th Ave in Peoria, Arizona, on 2020 October 15.” Photography by TheUnseen011101 [pseud.], October 15, 2020, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Federal prosecutors investigating Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results have evidence to charge the former president with three crimes, including section 241 of the US legal code that makes it unlawful to conspire to violate civil rights, two people familiar with the matter said. . . .

Prosecutors appear to have evidence to charge Trump with obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States based on the target letter, two statutes that the House select committee examining the January 6 Capitol attack issued criminal referrals for last year. . . .

Should prosecutors charge Trump in the federal January 6 investigation, the case could go to trial much more quickly than the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case – before the 2024 election – because pre-trial proceedings would not be delayed by rules governing national security materials.[2]

Devlin Barrett, “Trump’s outbursts met with silence so far by prosecutor, judge,” Washington Post, July 16, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/16/trump-attacks-special-counsel-cannon-smith/

Mike Wendling, “The ‘QAnon Shaman’ and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty,” British Broadcasting Corporation, July 16, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66169914

Holly Bailey, “Georgia Supreme Court rejects Trump petition to block election probe,” Washington Post, July 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/07/17/trump-georgia-fani-willis/

Bess Levin, “Chris Christie Suggests Jared Kushner May Not Have Been Entirely Truthful When Testifying About Trump’s Failed Election Coup,” Vanity Fair, July 17, 2023, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/chris-christie-jared-kushner-donald-trump-grand-jury-testimony

Perry Stein and Mark Berman, “Judge seems skeptical of Trump desire to delay documents trial until after 2024 election,” Washington Post, July 18, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/18/florida-trump-documents-cannon-hearing/

Perry Stein, Josh Dawsey, and Jacqueline Alemany, “Trump says he received a target letter in federal Jan. 6 investigation,” Washington Post, July 18, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/18/trump-jan6-target-letter/

Prem Thakker, “‘Little Bitch’: Republicans Melt Down as Trump Faces Third Indictment,” New Republic, July 18, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/174406/little-bitch-republicans-melt-trump-faces-third-indictment

Hugo Lowell, “Trump under investigation for civil rights conspiracy in January 6 inquiry,” Guardian, July 19, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/19/trump-investigation-three-federal-crimes-january-6

Illiberalism


Fig. 5. Photograph by Joachim F. Thurn, August 1991, Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F089030-0003, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.

Times of Israel, “Ex-Shin Bet chief justifies army reservists’ refusal to serve: ‘Overhaul is a coup,’” July 20, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-shin-bet-chief-justifies-reservists-refusal-to-serve-this-is-a-coup/

COVID-19 Pandemic


Fig. 6. Cartoon by Peter Brookes, October 3, 2020, via the Times, fair use.

Ciara Linnane, “COVID pandemic is officially over in the U.S., excess-deaths data show,” MarketWatch, July 20, 2023, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/covid-pandemic-is-officially-over-in-the-u-s-data-on-excess-deaths-show-96331698

Imperialism

China

Afghanistan

It seems that Afghanistan has a lot of lithium. With U.S. sanctions against the Taliban, the Chinese are being very, ahem, “neighborly.”

Gerry Shih and Lorenzo Tugnoli, “Rich lode of EV metals could boost Taliban and its new Chinese partners,” Washington Post, July 20, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2023/ev-lithium-afghanistan-taliban-china/

  1. [1]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩
  2. [2]Hugo Lowell, “Trump under investigation for civil rights conspiracy in January 6 inquiry,” Guardian, July 19, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/19/trump-investigation-three-federal-crimes-january-6↩

With sorrow for victims, but otherwise glee: Donald Trump is a rapist

benfell

I am not caught up.

Gilead

Donald Trump

Hush money


Fig. 1. Cartoon by Jesse Duquette, undated, via “Minneapple23” [pseud.] on Imgur, April 1, 2023, fair use.

A United States District Judge has now formally held, in a lengthy written opinion, that it is perfectly appropriate, and, indeed, entirely accurate, to call a certain former President of the United States a rapist.[1]

Prem Thakker, “Judge in E. Jean Carroll Case: Yes, Donald Trump Is a Rapist,” New Republic, July 19, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/174448/judge-e-jean-carroll-case-yes-donald-trump-rapist

Imperialism

Russia

Ukraine


Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[2] fair use.

The blurry clip, apparently filmed at dusk, showed a man resembling [Yevgeny] Prigozhin addressing a crowd of at least several hundred men in military fatigues. He vowed to continue operating the Wagner Group in Africa and turn the military of Belarus, his new host country, into “the second army in the world.”

“Congratulations on the arrival to the Belarusian land. We fought well. You have done a lot for Russia,” Prigozhin said in the clip, posted by the ‘Wagner Unloading” Telegram channel and verified by The Washington Post. “Now, what is happening at the front line is a disgrace in which we do not need to participate. And now we need to wait for the moment when we can prove ourselves in full.”[3]

Vladimir Putin is strong, wrote Julia Ioffe.[4] but a ‘collective Putin’ settled with Yevgeny Prigozhin following the Wagner mutiny rather than having him, as we would expect, killed,[5] even as a purge of upper Russian military ranks proceeds,[6] all because Russia needs Wagner to fight in Ukraine.[7] Putin himself admits failure to “oust” Prigozhin.[8] And now Prigozhin says Wagner won’t fight in Ukraine.[9]

It’s possible that Prigozhin isn’t as stupid as everyone seems to think. It’s also possible that he just isn’t as stupid as Putin and the Kremlin.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Daniel Victor, and Ivan Nechepurenko, “Russia Pulls Out of the Black Sea Grain Deal,” New York Times, July 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/world/europe/ukraine-russia-grain-deal.html

Nicolas Camut and Veronika Melkozerova, “Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia,” Politico, July 17, 2023, https://www.politico.eu/article/kerch-bridge-blast-reported-link-occupied-crimea-russia-war-ukraine/

Fredrick Kunkle, David L. Stern, and Mary Ilyushina, “Ukraine hits Crimean Bridge, but railway undamaged; Russia halts grain deal,” Washington Post, July 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/17/kerch-bridge-crimea-grain-ukraine-russia/

Shaun Walker and Emma Graham-Harrison, “Two dead after explosions on Kerch Bridge linking Crimea and Russia,” Guardian, July 17, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/17/explosions-reportedly-hit-crimeas-kerch-bridge-as-russia-cites-emergency-situation

Mirko Fuchs, “Russian men keep fleeing abroad to avoid fighting in Ukraine,” Deutsche Welle, July 18, 2023, https://www.dw.com/en/russian-men-keep-fleeing-abroad-to-avoid-fighting-in-ukraine/a-66277704

Julia Ioffe, “Ukraine’s Summer War of Attrition,” Puck, July 18, 2023, https://puck.news/ukraines-summer-war-of-attrition/

Mary Ilyushina, “Prigozhin says Wagner mercenary group for now will not fight in Ukraine,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/prigozhin-wagner-belarus-ukraine-putin/

  1. [1]George Conway, quoted in Prem Thakker, “Judge in E. Jean Carroll Case: Yes, Donald Trump Is a Rapist,” New Republic, July 19, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/174448/judge-e-jean-carroll-case-yes-donald-trump-rapist↩
  2. [2]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩
  3. [3]Mary Ilyushina, “Prigozhin says Wagner mercenary group for now will not fight in Ukraine,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/prigozhin-wagner-belarus-ukraine-putin/↩
  4. [4]Julia Ioffe, “Putin vs. Prigozhin: The Post-Coup Report,” Puck, June 27, 2023, https://puck.news/putin-vs-prigozhin-the-post-coup-report/; Julia Ioffe, “Putin’s Post-Prigozhin Clean Up,” Puck, July 5, 2023, https://puck.news/putins-post-prigozhin-clean-up/↩
  5. [5]Ivan Krastev, “There is now a ‘collective Putin’ in the Kremlin,” Financial Times, July 11, 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/9a7d8d5f-a332-41e8-9845-db805dfc7ed4↩
  6. [6]Thomas Grove, “Russia Detained Several Senior Military Officers in Wake of Wagner Mutiny,” Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-detained-several-senior-military-officers-in-wake-of-wagner-mutiny-35a696e4↩
  7. [7]Ivan Krastev, “There is now a ‘collective Putin’ in the Kremlin,” Financial Times, July 11, 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/9a7d8d5f-a332-41e8-9845-db805dfc7ed4↩
  8. [8]Andrew Roth and Pjotr Sauer, “Putin says he tried but failed to oust Prigozhin after Wagner mutiny,” Guardian, July 14, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/14/putin-says-he-tried-but-failed-to-oust-prigozhin-after-wagner-mutiny-figters-ukarine-war↩
  9. [9]Mary Ilyushina, “Prigozhin says Wagner mercenary group for now will not fight in Ukraine,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/prigozhin-wagner-belarus-ukraine-putin/↩

How the Russian Army rolls

benfell

Imperialism

Russia

Ukraine


Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[1] fair use.

After apparently completely misjudging the outcome of the Wagner mutiny for protagonists Yevgeny Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin, Julia Ioffe is back with a harsh assessment of the widely heralded Ukrainian counteroffensive. Low morale and incompetent leadership in the Russian Army, she argues, is just how the Russian Army rolls: Miserable soldiers get drunk and go back to fighting.[2]

Ioffe does present the evidence for a case that widespread hopes for the counteroffensive were unreasonable,[3] but I think she still underestimates the peril that Putin faces—surely nobody can really skate by with the kind of performance the Russian Army we saw in the last year—in the wake of the mutiny and I think she’s right that many expectations for the counteroffensive have been set too high, too soon.

For me, there’s some dissonance here. First, everybody underestimates the Ukrainians. Now, everybody overestimates them. To which I would say, come on now, get a grip. I think the far smarter thing would be to withhold judgment. We need to be patient. And frankly, that goes for Ioffe as well.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Daniel Victor, and Ivan Nechepurenko, “Russia Pulls Out of the Black Sea Grain Deal,” New York Times, July 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/world/europe/ukraine-russia-grain-deal.html

Nicolas Camut and Veronika Melkozerova, “Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia,” Politico, July 17, 2023, https://www.politico.eu/article/kerch-bridge-blast-reported-link-occupied-crimea-russia-war-ukraine/

Fredrick Kunkle, David L. Stern, and Mary Ilyushina, “Ukraine hits Crimean Bridge, but railway undamaged; Russia halts grain deal,” Washington Post, July 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/17/kerch-bridge-crimea-grain-ukraine-russia/

Shaun Walker and Emma Graham-Harrison, “Two dead after explosions on Kerch Bridge linking Crimea and Russia,” Guardian, July 17, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/17/explosions-reportedly-hit-crimeas-kerch-bridge-as-russia-cites-emergency-situation

Julia Ioffe, “Ukraine’s Summer War of Attrition,” Puck, July 18, 2023, https://puck.news/ukraines-summer-war-of-attrition/

Israel

Palestine

07_09:10:47-2
Fig. 1. The ruins of a terminal at the Gaza airport. Image by Said Khatib (Agence France-Presse) on September 9, 2018, via the Times of Israel,[4] fair use.

Some of us remember when “pc” or “politically correct” speech was a right-wing bugaboo. Now, white Christian nationalists have their own version in which, 1) of course, anti-Zionism is equated with anti-Semitism; and 2) recognition of the existence of the Palestinian people—a demographic fact—let alone that they are human beings entitled to human rights is anti-Zionist, and therefore anti-Semitic.[5]

Ishaan Tharoor sees this as showing Republicans rather than Democrats as radical on Israel. But when so-called “moderate” (read neoliberal) Democrats join Republicans in a denial that Israel is a racist state,[6] it’s going to be hard to sustain that view politically.

Ishaan Tharoor, “It’s the Republicans, not the Democrats, who are radical on Israel,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/israel-republican-democrat-partisan-racist-state/

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Century III Mall


Fig. 1. “The exterior of the closed Century III Mall taken from a drone . . . in West Mifflin.” Photograph by Benjamin B. Braun, May 11, 2023, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,[7] fair use.

Michael DiVittorio, “West Mifflin Council unanimously condemns former Century III Mall,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 18, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/south-hills/former-century-iii-mall-condemned-by-west-mifflin-council/

Neoliberalism

Academic repression

Student loans


Fig. 1. Unattributed and undated image via James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal,[8] fair use.

Ryan Cooper, “President Biden’s Most Powerful Student Loan Tool,” American Prospect, July 17, 2023, https://prospect.org/education/2023-07-17-bidens-most-powerful-student-loan-tool/

John Brooks, Brian Galle, and Adam Levitin, “The solution to Biden’s student loan problems is right before his eyes,” Washington Post, July 18, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/18/supreme-court-biden-student-loans-save/

  1. [1]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩
  2. [2]Julia Ioffe, “Ukraine’s Summer War of Attrition,” Puck, July 18, 2023, https://puck.news/ukraines-summer-war-of-attrition/↩
  3. [3]Julia Ioffe, “Ukraine’s Summer War of Attrition,” Puck, July 18, 2023, https://puck.news/ukraines-summer-war-of-attrition/↩
  4. [4]Agence France-Presse and Times of Israel, “20 years after its opening, destroyed Gaza airport embodies grounded peace hopes,” Times of Israel, September 12, 2018, https://www.timesofisrael.com/20-years-after-its-opening-destroyed-gaza-airport-embodies-grounded-peace-hopes/↩
  5. [5]Ishaan Tharoor, “It’s the Republicans, not the Democrats, who are radical on Israel,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/israel-republican-democrat-partisan-racist-state/↩
  6. [6]Ishaan Tharoor, “It’s the Republicans, not the Democrats, who are radical on Israel,” Washington Post, July 19, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/19/israel-republican-democrat-partisan-racist-state/↩
  7. [7]Neena Hagen, “The fall of the Century: Once a retail shopping jewel, the West Mifflin mall has been left to rot,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 21, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/05/21/centuryiii-west-mifflin-mall-slag-heap-kaufmanns-sears-police-closed-crime/stories/202305210039↩
  8. [8]Richard K. Vedder, “Eliminate or Radically Restructure Federal Student Loans,” James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, September 16, 2020, https://www.jamesgmartin.center/2020/09/eliminate-or-radically-restructure-federal-student-loans/↩

What’s this? Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey actually does something?

benfell

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Infrastructure


Fig. 1. Post-collapse scene at the Fern Hollow Bridge, photograph by National Transportation Safety Board, January 29, 2022, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

So, a month ago, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noticed that Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey had yet to appoint anyone to a committee formed in the wake of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse to assess infrastructure needs. It had been over a year. Now, all of a sudden, Gainey has nominated 12, count ’em, 12 people to the committee.[1] I’m still disgusted.

Hallie Lauer, “Mayor Ed Gainey made his first picks for an infrastructure group that was empty for more than a year,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 17, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2023/07/17/mayor-ed-gainey-pittsburgh-infrastructure-nominations/stories/202307170071

Gilead

Abortion, reproductive freedom and health


Fig. 2. Sign at demonstration in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, May 3, 2022. Janni Rye, via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

Shania Shelton, “Iowa governor signs 6-week abortion ban into law,” CNN, July 14, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/14/politics/iowa-abortion-ban-reynolds-sign/index.html

Mary Clare Jalonick and Lolita C. Baldor, “Why a single senator is blocking US military promotions and what it means for the Pentagon,” Associated Press, July 15, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/tuberville-military-holds-senate-officers-45c4230a8aee5222bf32b43823e29acc

Donald Trump

Coup attempt


Fig. 3. “Jake Angeli (Qanon Shaman), seen holding a Qanon sign at the intersection of Bell Rd and 75th Ave in Peoria, Arizona, on 2020 October 15.” Photography by TheUnseen011101 [pseud.], October 15, 2020, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

A judge called [Jacob Angeli Chansley’s] apology “the most remarkable I’ve heard in 34 years” and sentenced him to 41 months in prison – considerably less than the maximum allowed.

Now more than a year-and-a-half later, Angeli is out of jail early, and his remorse is gone.[2]

Devlin Barrett, “Trump’s outbursts met with silence so far by prosecutor, judge,” Washington Post, July 16, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/16/trump-attacks-special-counsel-cannon-smith/

Mike Wendling, “The ‘QAnon Shaman’ and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty,” British Broadcasting Corporation, July 16, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66169914

Holly Bailey, “Georgia Supreme Court rejects Trump petition to block election probe,” Washington Post, July 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/07/17/trump-georgia-fani-willis/

Bess Levin, “Chris Christie Suggests Jared Kushner May Not Have Been Entirely Truthful When Testifying About Trump’s Failed Election Coup,” Vanity Fair, July 17, 2023, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/chris-christie-jared-kushner-donald-trump-grand-jury-testimony

Perry Stein and Mark Berman, “Judge seems skeptical of Trump desire to delay documents trial until after 2024 election,” Washington Post, July 18, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/18/florida-trump-documents-cannon-hearing/

Perry Stein, Josh Dawsey, and Jacqueline Alemany, “Trump says he received a target letter in federal Jan. 6 investigation,” Washington Post, July 18, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/18/trump-jan6-target-letter/

Prem Thakker, “‘Little Bitch’: Republicans Melt Down as Trump Faces Third Indictment,” New Republic, July 18, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/174406/little-bitch-republicans-melt-trump-faces-third-indictment

Neoliberalism

Work


Fig. 4. The spectre of Death, in the form of a large skeleton, rises with the smoke and flames of the burning Asch Building during the Triangle fire, as people jump and fall to their death. Artist unknown, from International Ladies Garment Workers Union Photographs (1885-1985) at The Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Beth Pinsker, “150 million jobs will shift to older workers by 2031,” MarketWatch, July 17, 2023, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/150-million-jobs-will-shift-to-older-workers-by-2031-aa025ec4

Academic repression

Student loans


Fig. 5. Unattributed and undated image via James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal,[3] fair use.

Ryan Cooper, “President Biden’s Most Powerful Student Loan Tool,” American Prospect, July 17, 2023, https://prospect.org/education/2023-07-17-bidens-most-powerful-student-loan-tool/

Banking

Commercial real estate


Fig. 6. “The iconic Crescent stands as recognizable landmark in the upscale neighborhood of Uptown, Dallas.” Photograph by Dallasedits [pseud.], July 5, 2016, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Andrew Rice’s article is a long, long read. It’s a hell of a job, though, and it illustrates why I’m treating commercial real estate problems under banking. Because, no, I couldn’t care less—okay, actually, I might like it—if a few commercial landlords find themselves on median strips with signs that say “Anything Helps!” And yes, I have a grudge.[4]

But, for instance, it’s not like I bear San Francisco ill will,[5] even if the entire San Francisco Bay Area is well on the way to being taken over by arrogant technology workers. I’d like for The City’s budget to continue to make some sense, so essential services can continue. A possible (I think beyond ‘potential’) “doom loop” threatens that, among a number of other horribles.[6] It’s absolutely not an outcome I desire for a city that will, in a sense, always be my home.

Andrew Rice, “New Glut City,” Curbed, July 17, 2023, https://www.curbed.com/article/nyc-office-real-estate-rechler-rxr-project-kodak.html

Imperialism

Russia

Ukraine


Fig. 7. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[7] fair use.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Daniel Victor, and Ivan Nechepurenko, “Russia Pulls Out of the Black Sea Grain Deal,” New York Times, July 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/world/europe/ukraine-russia-grain-deal.html

Nicolas Camut and Veronika Melkozerova, “Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia,” Politico, July 17, 2023, https://www.politico.eu/article/kerch-bridge-blast-reported-link-occupied-crimea-russia-war-ukraine/

Fredrick Kunkle, David L. Stern, and Mary Ilyushina, “Ukraine hits Crimean Bridge, but railway undamaged; Russia halts grain deal,” Washington Post, July 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/07/17/kerch-bridge-crimea-grain-ukraine-russia/

Shaun Walker and Emma Graham-Harrison, “Two dead after explosions on Kerch Bridge linking Crimea and Russia,” Guardian, July 17, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/17/explosions-reportedly-hit-crimeas-kerch-bridge-as-russia-cites-emergency-situation

  1. [1]Hallie Lauer, “Mayor Ed Gainey made his first picks for an infrastructure group that was empty for more than a year,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 17, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2023/07/17/mayor-ed-gainey-pittsburgh-infrastructure-nominations/stories/202307170071↩
  2. [2]Mike Wendling, “The ‘QAnon Shaman’ and other Capitol rioters who regret pleading guilty,” British Broadcasting Corporation, July 16, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66169914↩
  3. [3]Richard K. Vedder, “Eliminate or Radically Restructure Federal Student Loans,” James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, September 16, 2020, https://www.jamesgmartin.center/2020/09/eliminate-or-radically-restructure-federal-student-loans/↩
  4. [4]David Benfell, “When nothing happened next,” Not Housebroken, March 29, 2020, https://disunitedstates.org/2020/03/29/when-nothing-happened-next/↩
  5. [5]San Francisco is where I grew up. I lived in and around San Francisco (Reno, Nevada, and Selma, California, were as far out as I got) for over 50 years.↩
  6. [6]Roland Li and Noah Arroyo, “Cities are struggling. San Francisco could be in for the biggest ‘doom loop’ of all,” San Francisco Chronicle, March 30, 2023, https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/city-economy-doom-loop-17846412.php↩
  7. [7]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩

I wish that progressives were even half a match for conservatives

benfell

Gilead

Gun nuttery


Fig. 1. “Rally Against Gun Control ‘Come and Take it’ flag at the Minnesota State Capitol,” photograph by Fibonacci Blue [pseud.], April 28, 2018, via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

I guess we’ll eventually see what the Supreme Court thinks of this:

Since passing in November, [Oregon’s gun control] measure has faced a number of legal challenges, with the NRA’s legislative action arm lamenting it as “the nation’s most extreme gun control Initiative.”

But [U.S. District Court Judge Karin] Immergut’s ruling maintains that while the Second Amendment does protect against “bearable arms” as listed in the US Constitution, large-capacity magazines are a “subset of magazines” – and therefore, not considered a bearable arm.[1]

I wish that progressives were even half a match for conservatives. Donald Trump’s supporters can vote for him knowing that Republicans will make a real effort to pass their priorities and to confirm judges who will protect those priorities.

Progressives, on the other hand, are stuck with the Democrats, whose fealty is to neoconservatism and thus, as a moral imperative, to neoliberalism.[2]

Michelle Watson, “Federal judge rules Oregon gun law doesn’t violate Second Amendment,” CNN, July 16, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/16/politics/oregon-large-capacity-gun-law-ruling/index.html

Imperialism

Russia

Ukraine


Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[3] fair use.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Daniel Victor, and Ivan Nechepurenko, “Russia Pulls Out of the Black Sea Grain Deal,” New York Times, July 17, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/world/europe/ukraine-russia-grain-deal.html

Nicolas Camut and Veronika Melkozerova, “Blasts reported on key bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia,” Politico, July 17, 2023, https://www.politico.eu/article/kerch-bridge-blast-reported-link-occupied-crimea-russia-war-ukraine/

Shaun Walker and Emma Graham-Harrison, “Two dead after explosions on Kerch Bridge linking Crimea and Russia,” Guardian, July 17, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/17/explosions-reportedly-hit-crimeas-kerch-bridge-as-russia-cites-emergency-situation

  1. [1]Michelle Watson, “Federal judge rules Oregon gun law doesn’t violate Second Amendment,” CNN, July 16, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/16/politics/oregon-large-capacity-gun-law-ruling/index.html↩
  2. [2]Gertrude Himmelfarb, “Irving Kristol’s Neoconservative Persuasion,” Commentary, February 2011, 25-29.↩
  3. [3]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩

Donald Trump still benefits from a double standard

benfell

Gilead

Donald Trump

Coup attempt


Fig. 1. “Jake Angeli (Qanon Shaman), seen holding a Qanon sign at the intersection of Bell Rd and 75th Ave in Peoria, Arizona, on 2020 October 15.” Photography by TheUnseen011101 [pseud.], October 15, 2020, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Yet again, Donald Trump benefits from a double standard.

[Donald] Trump’s broadsides on social media against the Justice Department, the [Federal Bureau of Investigation], and [Jack] Smith in particular have not gone unnoticed. The government spent $1.9 million for U.S. Marshals to provide security to Smith and other officials between November 2022 and March, according to officials. Experts and government officials have said individual prosecutors are facing harassment and threats online from members of right-wing extremist groups.

The government doesn’t have to look far for examples in which Trump’s vitriol has led to security problems — the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol is one example, as is the recent arrest of an armed man near former president Barack Obama’s home after Trump posted an address he claimed was Obama’s on social media.

“In some ways, these comments are much more serious than if, say, a typical bank fraud defendant made them, because that person may have 500 followers and it won’t have much of an impact. But Jan. 6 shows his followers can see his posts as a call to action,” said Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches law at George Washington University. “I think it’s complicated for free speech reasons, but this is getting pretty close to the line.”[1]

Yeah, all the lawyers offer rationalizations. But strip all the bullshit away and it comes down to Trump being permitted to do things that ordinary defendants would not.[2]

Devlin Barrett, “Trump’s outbursts met with silence so far by prosecutor, judge,” Washington Post, July 16, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/16/trump-attacks-special-counsel-cannon-smith/

Neoliberalism

Academic repression

Student loans


Fig. 1. Unattributed and undated image via James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal,[3] fair use.

Every honest, unfortunate debtor has the constitutional right to a fresh start. That is, the right to discharge their debts, if overwhelming, through bankruptcy proceedings. But student loan borrowers were condemned to “involuntary servitude” when Joe Biden, while still a senator, led Congress to enact the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) in 2005.

BAPCPA prohibits education loans from being discharged through bankruptcy, unless the borrower can show “undue hardship” in paying them back. But “undue hardship” is an arbitrary standard that violates the 13th Amendment.[4]

Supposedly, the Joe Biden administration was going to make it easier to discharge student loans through bankruptcy.[5] I haven’t heard what became of this.

Sally Bronston, “Education Department announces student loan forgiveness for 800,000 borrowers,” NBC News, July 14, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/education-department-announces-student-loan-forgiveness-800k-borrowers-rcna94213

Taru Taylor, “Biden’s Unconstitutional ‘Bankruptcy Abuse’ Act Makes Peons of Student Debtors,” Truthout, July 15, 2023, https://truthout.org/articles/bidens-unconstitutional-bankruptcy-abuse-act-makes-peons-of-student-debtors/

  1. [1]Devlin Barrett, “Trump’s outbursts met with silence so far by prosecutor, judge,” Washington Post, July 16, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/16/trump-attacks-special-counsel-cannon-smith/↩
  2. [2]Devlin Barrett, “Trump’s outbursts met with silence so far by prosecutor, judge,” Washington Post, July 16, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/16/trump-attacks-special-counsel-cannon-smith/↩
  3. [3]Richard K. Vedder, “Eliminate or Radically Restructure Federal Student Loans,” James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, September 16, 2020, https://www.jamesgmartin.center/2020/09/eliminate-or-radically-restructure-federal-student-loans/↩
  4. [4]Taru Taylor, “Biden’s Unconstitutional ‘Bankruptcy Abuse’ Act Makes Peons of Student Debtors,” Truthout, July 15, 2023, https://truthout.org/articles/bidens-unconstitutional-bankruptcy-abuse-act-makes-peons-of-student-debtors/↩
  5. [5]Gabriel T. Rubin, “Biden Administration to Make It Easier to Dismiss Student Loans in Bankruptcy,” Wall Street Journal, November 17, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-to-make-it-easier-to-dismiss-student-loans-in-bankruptcy-11668706819; Gabriel T. Rubin, “Student-Loan Holders See New Path for Wiping Out Debt Through Bankruptcy,” Wall Street Journal, November 21, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/student-loan-holders-see-new-path-for-wiping-out-debt-through-bankruptcy-11669034068↩

Remember Huawei? Russia thinks the same of Apple

benfell

Imperialism

Russia


Fig. 1. Historic Russian empire, from the New York Times, possibly March 6, 2014, fair use.[1]

Anastasia Stognei, “Thousands of Russian officials to give up iPhones over US spying fears,” Financial Times, July 16, 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/6567e7f2-c5fb-4da4-bd95-bf7ceef54038

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Century III Mall


Fig. 1. “The exterior of the closed Century III Mall taken from a drone . . . in West Mifflin.” Photograph by Benjamin B. Braun, May 11, 2023, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,[2] fair use.

Moonbeam, the owner of the Century III Mall, has amassed a similar record with malls across the country:[3]

In five of the retail centers, including those in West Mifflin, Ohio, Georgia, New York and New Jersey, Moonbeam has followed a well-worn script.

Company executives presented wide-ranging redevelopment plans to local officials, but didn’t break ground or even maintain the structures, all while taking in rent from tenants and accepting hundreds of thousands in federal funds to keep their business afloat, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has found.[4]

West Mifflin will hold a condemnation vote on Tuesday (July 18, 2023). No points for guessing how this one turns out.

Neena Hagen, “‘Moonbeam needs to go’: Owner of Century III Mall has left a trail of shuttered and decaying malls nationwide,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 16, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/07/16/moonbeam-owner-century-iii-malls-nationwide/stories/202307160088

  1. [1]New York Times, “Ukraine Crisis in Maps,” n.d., http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-divisions-crimea.html↩
  2. [2]Neena Hagen, “The fall of the Century: Once a retail shopping jewel, the West Mifflin mall has been left to rot,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 21, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/05/21/centuryiii-west-mifflin-mall-slag-heap-kaufmanns-sears-police-closed-crime/stories/202305210039↩
  3. [3]Neena Hagen, “‘Moonbeam needs to go’: Owner of Century III Mall has left a trail of shuttered and decaying malls nationwide,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 16, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/07/16/moonbeam-owner-century-iii-malls-nationwide/stories/202307160088↩
  4. [4]Neena Hagen, “‘Moonbeam needs to go’: Owner of Century III Mall has left a trail of shuttered and decaying malls nationwide,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 16, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/07/16/moonbeam-owner-century-iii-malls-nationwide/stories/202307160088↩

Probably put a fork in that effort to merge Wilkinsburg into Pittsburgh

benfell

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Annexations


Fig. 1. Photograph by author, November 25, 2020.

If I had to guess, a Commonwealth Court ruling affirming a lower court ruling that referendums to approve a proposed annexation of Wilkinsburg to Pittsburgh must be held in both municipalities[1] will be the end of it. Advocates (presumably mostly property owners, including landlords) will need to offer a much better deal to renters and poor people in Wilkinsburg than raising individual local income tax rates from one to three percent while property taxes go down.[2]

In the lower court,

[Allegheny County Common Pleas Senior Judge Joe] dismissed the [annexation] petition, writing that the only acceptable procedure for annexation comes from the state constitution, which requires a referendum in which a majority of voters from each municipality approve the merger.

The group seeking annexation appealed, arguing that the 1903 Annexation Law governed the process. That law allowed for annexation if a petition was signed by at least 5% of qualified voters from the community seeking to become annexed to another. It did not require voter approval from the other municipality, but did require consent from city council.[3]

The Pittsburgh City Council rejected the proposed merger early in 2022.[4] Advocates restarted the process in September.[5]

I had not been aware that the state constitution specified an annexation procedure. I am mystified as to how advocates imagine that an old law, which has been repealed, supersedes the state constitution.[6] But I am real clear that they were hoping to bypass popular elections and now I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because of campaign costs.

Paula Reed Ward, “Wilkinsburg merger with Pittsburgh must be approved by voters, court affirms,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 14, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/wilkinsburg-merger-with-pittsburgh-must-be-approved-by-voters-court-affirms/

Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[7] fair use.

Ramishah Maruf, “Elon Musk says Twitter’s ad revenue is down 50% and cash flow is negative,” CNN, July 15, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/15/business/twitter-cash-flow-elon-musk/index.html

  1. [1]Paula Reed Ward, “Wilkinsburg merger with Pittsburgh must be approved by voters, court affirms,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 14, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/wilkinsburg-merger-with-pittsburgh-must-be-approved-by-voters-court-affirms/↩
  2. [2]Charlie Wolfson, “If Wilkinsburg is annexed into Pittsburgh, what would happen to its residents’ taxes?” Pittsburgh Public Source, November 16, 2021, https://www.publicsource.org/wilkinsburg-pittsburgh-annexation-merger-property-taxes-school-pennsylvania/↩
  3. [3]Paula Reed Ward, “Wilkinsburg merger with Pittsburgh must be approved by voters, court affirms,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 14, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/wilkinsburg-merger-with-pittsburgh-must-be-approved-by-voters-court-affirms/↩
  4. [4]Julia Felton, “Pittsburgh City Council votes down Wilkinsburg annexation, for now,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 8, 2022, https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-city-council-votes-down-wilkinsburg-annexation-for-now/↩
  5. [5]Ryan Deto, “Wilkinsburg group restarts Pittsburgh annexation process,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 30, 2022, https://triblive.com/local/wilkinsburg-group-restarts-pittsburgh-annexation-process/↩
  6. [6]Paula Reed Ward, “Wilkinsburg merger with Pittsburgh must be approved by voters, court affirms,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 14, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/wilkinsburg-merger-with-pittsburgh-must-be-approved-by-voters-court-affirms/↩
  7. [7]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/↩

There’s this old Ukrainian lady who just might get her wish

benfell

Imperialism

Russia

Ukraine


Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[1] fair use.

Lorenzo Tondo, “‘Every morning, I curse Putin’: Ukrainian village’s sole resident defiant amid the ruins,” Guardian, July 15, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/15/ukrainian-village-sole-resident-defiant-amid-ruins-russia

Wagner mutiny


Fig. 1. Yevgeny Prigozhin. Screen capture from video by УлПравда ТВ, June 13, 2023, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.

[Vladimir] Putin’s version of events, which appeared in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper, was a surprise admission that the Russian president was still negotiating a takeover of the Wagner mercenary group.

Analysts have suggested that last month’s short-lived Wagner rebellion exposed Putin’s weakness and inability to manage the conflicts among the various power players in his regime. . . .

“He is signalling: ‘I am going to separate [Yevgeny] Prigozhin from this tool, Wagner and the Wagner fighters, which I still need,” [Dara Massicot] said. “I still need that tool. I don’t need the man as much.”

Yet it was surprising for Putin to make public the failed negotiations with Prigozhin, even as he sought to reprise his role as the “godfather” of various power interests in Russia.

“I don’t think this makes him look as strong as he thinks it does,” said Massicot, who described the supposed meeting as “theatre” after the failed rebellion. “This is messy.”[2]

If we’re using a “Godfather” analogy, then Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead.

Moscow is notorious for ordering the assassinations of critics, whistleblowers and defectors, the poisonings of Alexander Litvinenko, Sergei Skripal, Alexey Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza being only the most prominent. From the 1940 ice-ax murder of dissident Bolshevik Leon Trotsky in Mexico onward, Russian intelligence services have demonstrated their global reach. But only recently has the West taken notice of the increasing frequency of murders by defenestration.

Over the past year, it has become even more dangerous for out-of-favor businessmen, especially those critical of the war, to get near a hotel window. Over Christmas week alone there was a spate of four deaths. Two died within days of each other at the same hotel in India—first, businessman Vladimir Bidenov , allegedly from a heart problem, and then two days later, his friend Pavel Antov , a meats mogul, politician and war critic who “fell” from his hotel window. Russian authorities quickly cremated Bidenov’s body and put out a statement that they were aware of the deaths but had found nothing suspicious about them. In 2022, there were 23 prominent Russian deaths, ranging from back-to-back double murder-suicides (in Moscow and Spain, to strokes and suicides to several bizarre accidents, such as poisoning from a toad toxin, falling out of a speedboat and fatal stair falls.[3]

But Prigozhin is not dead, so we can’t use the “Godfather” analogy. It simply doesn’t apply.

It might formerly have applied. But it applies no longer. That’s a change and it is a change that, in Vladimir Putin’s case, can only signify weakness.

Thomas Grove, “Russia Detained Several Senior Military Officers in Wake of Wagner Mutiny,” Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-detained-several-senior-military-officers-in-wake-of-wagner-mutiny-35a696e4

Andrew Roth and Pjotr Sauer, “Putin says he tried but failed to oust Prigozhin after Wagner mutiny,” Guardian, July 14, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/14/putin-says-he-tried-but-failed-to-oust-prigozhin-after-wagner-mutiny-figters-ukarine-war

Israel

There is no way in hell I am attending the joint session address from a President whose country has banned me and denied @RashidaTlaib the ability to see her grandma.[4]

While the number of Congress members who have announced their plans to skip [Israeli President Isaac] Herzog’s speech is far lower than the 58 who sat out of Israeli Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu’s address to Congress in 2015, a handful of other progressive lawmakers critical of Israel — including [Representatives] Andre Carson of Indiana and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin — have yet to make up their minds.[5]

When [Binyamin] Netanyahu controversially addressed Congress in 2015 to rally opposition to then-President Barack Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran, eight senators and 50 members of Congress, all Democrats or allied with them, did not attend.[6]

The comparison between Binyamin Netanyahu’s and Isaac Herzog’s addresses isn’t entirely even-handed. Netanyahu’s relationship with Barack Obama was somewhat icier than it is with Joe Biden:

[Isaac] Herzog’s visit to Washington comes amid a chill in relations between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has yet to receive an invitation to the White House. As president, Herzog serves as head of state in a historically apolitical role, though he has repeatedly called for a pause on Netanyahu’s effort to weaken Israel’s judiciary — which Biden has also criticized.[7]

Ben Sales, “Ilhan Omar: ‘No way in hell I am attending’ Israeli president’s speech to Congress,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 13, 2023, https://www.jta.org/2023/07/13/politics/ilhan-omar-no-way-in-hell-i-am-attending-israeli-presidents-speech-to-congress

Julia Gergely, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins growing list of progressives who will skip Israeli president’s speech to Congress,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 14, 2023, https://www.jta.org/2023/07/14/ny/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-joins-growing-list-of-progressives-who-will-skip-israeli-presidents-speech-to-congress

  1. [1]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q↩
  2. [2]Andrew Roth and Pjotr Sauer, “Putin says he tried but failed to oust Prigozhin after Wagner mutiny,” Guardian, July 14, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/14/putin-says-he-tried-but-failed-to-oust-prigozhin-after-wagner-mutiny-figters-ukarine-war↩
  3. [3]Olga Lautman and Jeff Stein, “Putin’s Ukraine Folly Enables Kremlin Rivals,” Military.com, January 24, 2023, https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2023/01/24/putins-ukraine-folly-enables-kremlin-rivals.html↩
  4. [4]Ilhan Omar, quoted in Ben Sales, “Ilhan Omar: ‘No way in hell I am attending’ Israeli president’s speech to Congress,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 13, 2023, https://www.jta.org/2023/07/13/politics/ilhan-omar-no-way-in-hell-i-am-attending-israeli-presidents-speech-to-congress↩
  5. [5]Julia Gergely, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins growing list of progressives who will skip Israeli president’s speech to Congress,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 14, 2023, https://www.jta.org/2023/07/14/ny/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-joins-growing-list-of-progressives-who-will-skip-israeli-presidents-speech-to-congress↩
  6. [6]Ben Sales, “Ilhan Omar: ‘No way in hell I am attending’ Israeli president’s speech to Congress,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 13, 2023, https://www.jta.org/2023/07/13/politics/ilhan-omar-no-way-in-hell-i-am-attending-israeli-presidents-speech-to-congress↩
  7. [7]Ben Sales, “Ilhan Omar: ‘No way in hell I am attending’ Israeli president’s speech to Congress,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 13, 2023, https://www.jta.org/2023/07/13/politics/ilhan-omar-no-way-in-hell-i-am-attending-israeli-presidents-speech-to-congress↩