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.
Julia Ioffe’s report this time is, in broad strokes, unsurprising. I’ve been hearing about an “Israel model” for a while. It’s worth reading anyway because she details some rationale[2] that I don’t think you’ll find explained elsewhere.
Andrew Osborn, “Russia’s Medvedev: We’d have to use a nuclear weapon if Ukrainian offensive was a success,” Reuters, July 30, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-wed-have-use-nuclear-weapon-if-ukrainian-offensive-was-success-2023-07-30/
Joe Barnes, “Elon Musk ‘refuses to turn on Starlink’ for Crimea drone attack,” Telegraph, July 31, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/31/elon-musk-starlink-ukraine-drone-attack-crimea/
Owen Matthews, “Vladimir Putin is finally losing his psychological grip,” Telegraph, July 31, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/31/vladimir-putin-is-finally-losing-his-psychological-grip/
Julia Ioffe, “The Ukraine ‘Israel Model” & Its Discontents,” Puck, August 1, 2023, https://puck.news/the-ukraine-israel-model-its-discontents/
Illiberalism
Gilead
Donald Trump
Coup attempt
Fig. 2. “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.
The good news on the latest charges against Donald Trump is that the judge will not be Aileen Cannon. The bad news is that while it would practically be a given that Trump will complain that Tanya Chutkan is biased against him anyway, this is a Barack Obama-appointee who has already previously issued (justifiably) harsh rulings against Trump,[3] and who will therefore draw additional suspicion.
I don’t know that that suspicion amounts to anything. One of my questions is how far Trump’s lawyers can go in accusing Chutkan of bias. Another of my questions is how Trump’s supporters react to what are being widely reported as the most serious charges yet.
Tori Otten, “‘We’re Ready to Go’: Georgia DA Warns New Trump Charges Are Coming,” New Republic, July 31, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/174734/were-ready-go-georgia-da-warns-new-trump-charges-coming
Jan Wolfe and Cameron McWhirter, “Judge Criticizes Trump for ‘Overwrought’ Complaints About Georgia Election Probe,” Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-criticizes-trump-for-overwrought-complaints-about-georgia-election-probe-701bd894
Devlin Barrett et al., “Trump charged in probe of Jan. 6, efforts to overturn 2020 election,” Washington Post, August 1, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/01/trump-indictment-jan-6-2020-election/
Spencer S. Hsu and Tom Jackman, “Judge Tanya Chutkan is a tough Trump critic, toughest Jan. 6 sentencer,” Washington Post, August 1, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/01/judge-chutkan-trump-jan-6-special-counsel/
Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng, “Trump’s Plan to Save Himself: Scapegoat His Coup Lawyers,” Rolling Stone, August 1, 2023, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/donald-trump-jan6-jack-smith-rudy-giuliani-john-eastman-1234798826/
Tina Nguyen, “The Closing of the Florida Mind,” Puck, August 2, 2023, https://puck.news/the-closing-of-the-florida-mind/
So-called ‘ridesharing’
Bezzle
Fig. 3. “Clarkdale Classic Gas Station, Clarkdale, Arizona,” Photograph by Alan Levine, October 28, 2016, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
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Dan Gallagher, “Uber Got a Bit Too Revved Up,” Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-got-a-bit-too-revved-up-4e81845c
Richard Waters, “Uber makes first operating profit after racking up $31.5bn of losses,” Financial Times, August 1, 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/dae2b90e-1ba0-4e8f-aabc-34aae4ca05d7
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Unauthorized violence
Fig. 4. “Ed Gainey poses with CeaseFirePA during the 2020 Women’s March in Downtown Pittsburgh.” Photograph by Megan Gloeckler, undated, via Pittsburgh City Paper,[4] fair use.
Paula Reed Ward and Justin Vellucci, “Pittsburgh synagogue shooter should be put to death, jury decides,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 2, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooter-should-be-put-to-death-jury-decides/
Electric vehicles
Fig. 5. “A Toyota bZ4X electric sport utility vehicle: EVs currently on the market are fitted with batteries that use liquid lithium-ion electrolytes.” Photograph by Kiyoshi Ota, n.d., via Financial Times, fair use.
Reuters, “Tesla faces California class action on its EV range claims,” Reuters, August 3, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/legal/tesla-faces-california-class-action-its-ev-range-claims-2023-08-03/
- [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]Julia Ioffe, “The Ukraine ‘Israel Model” & Its Discontents,” Puck, August 1, 2023, https://puck.news/the-ukraine-israel-model-its-discontents/↩
- [3]Spencer S. Hsu and Tom Jackman, “Judge Tanya Chutkan is a tough Trump critic, toughest Jan. 6 sentencer,” Washington Post, August 1, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/01/judge-chutkan-trump-jan-6-special-counsel/↩
- [4]Charlie Wolfson, “Neighborhood groups try to curb shootings as Pittsburgh’s mayoral campaign puts political focus on gun violence,” Pittsburgh City Paper, October 20, 2021, https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/neighborhood-groups-try-to-curb-shootings-as-pittsburghs-mayoral-campaign-puts-political-focus-on-gun-violence/Content?oid=20401296↩