Month: August 2023

Washington, D.C., is still Israel’s colony

benfell

Imperialism

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,[1] fair use.

Israel retains its hold on U.S. politics even as even some Zionists object to Israel’s illiberal turn, which some scholars allege is meant to further cement an apartheid regime.[2]

Ishaan Tharoor, “In Israel and the U.S., ‘apartheid’ is the elephant in the room,” Washington Post, August 11, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/11/israel-palestine-apartheid-israel-scholars/

Neoliberalism

Self-driving cars


Fig. 1. Photograph by Mark Doliner, August 1, 2012, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

From the sound of it, the California Public Utilities Commission simply refused to consider the ‘chaos’[3] that ‘robotaxis’ have unleashed in San Francisco.[4]

Trisha Thadani and Jeremy B. Merrill, “California just opened the floodgates for self-driving cars,” Washington Post, August 10, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/10/san-francisco-robotaxi-approved-waymo-cruise/

Illiberalism

Gilead

Abortion, reproductive freedom and health


Fig. 1. 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.

Matt Ford, “Voters Keep Thwarting the Right’s Plans to Build Their Post-Dobbs Dystopia,” New Republic, August 11, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/article/174956/voters-stomping-anti-abortion-movement

  1. [1]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/↩
  2. [2]Ishaan Tharoor, “In Israel and the U.S., ‘apartheid’ is the elephant in the room,” Washington Post, August 11, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/11/israel-palestine-apartheid-israel-scholars/↩
  3. [3]Trisha Thadani and Jeremy B. Merrill, “California just opened the floodgates for self-driving cars,” Washington Post, August 10, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/10/san-francisco-robotaxi-approved-waymo-cruise/↩
  4. [4]Aaron Gordon, “San Franciscans Keep Calling 911 About Baffling Self-Driving Car Behavior,” Vice, January 27, 2023, https://www.vice.com/en/article/93apqv/san-franciscans-keep-calling-911-about-baffling-self-driving-car-behavior; Russ Mitchell, “San Francisco’s fire chief is fed up with robotaxis that mess with her firetrucks. And L.A. is next,” Los Angeles Times, June 22, 2023, https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-06-22/san-francisco-robotaxis-interfere-with-firetrucks-los-angeles-is-next; Kevin Truong, “San Francisco Officials Make Last-Ditch Effort To Block Robotaxi Deployment,” San Francisco Standard, June 2, 2023, https://sfstandard.com/transportation/san-francisco-officials-make-last-ditch-effort-to-block-robotaxi-deployment/; Kevin Truong, “San Francisco Transit Chief Blasts Cruise, Waymo Robotaxis as Unsafe: ‘Race to the Bottom,’” San Francisco Standard, June 7, 2023, https://sfstandard.com/transportation/san-francisco-transit-chief-blasts-cruise-waymo-robotaxis-unsafe/; David Zipper, “Self-Driving Taxis Are Causing All Kinds of Trouble in San Francisco,” Slate, December 8, 2022, https://slate.com/technology/2022/12/san-francisco-waymo-cruise-self-driving-cars-robotaxis.html↩

Just a quick boat trip across the Dnipro River, into Russian-held territory

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.

Ukrainian forces’ incursion into Russian-held territory along the Dnipro River doesn’t sound like much.[2] But they surely had a reason for doing it. That reason remains, as far as I know, invisible.

Daniel Boffey, “Ukrainian forces cross Dnipro River in bid to breach southern frontline,” Guardian, August 9, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/09/ukrainian-force-cross-dnipro-river-bid-breach-southern-frontline-kherson-city

So-called ‘ridesharing’

Bezzle


Fig. 1. “Clarkdale Classic Gas Station, Clarkdale, Arizona,” Photograph by Alan Levine, October 28, 2016, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

So yeah, we heard that Uber actually recorded a profit that’s actually a profit under generally accepted accounting principles.[3] But we don’t quite know how they got there and it looks like a one-off.[4]

Cory Doctorow, “No, Uber’s (still) not profitable,” Medium, August 9, 2023, https://doctorow.medium.com/no-ubers-still-not-profitable-2b8054e375ea

Hubert Horan, “Can Uber Ever Deliver? Part Thirty-Three: Uber Isn’t Really Profitable Yet But is Getting Closer; The Antitrust Case Against Uber,” Naked Capitalism, August 9, 2023, https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/08/hubert-horan-can-uber-ever-deliver-part-thirty-three-uber-isnt-really-profitable-yet-but-is-getting-closer-the-antitrust-case-against-uber.html

Neoliberalism

Academic repression


Fig. 1. “The Evolution of Intellectual Freedom.” Comic by Jorge Cham, 2011, via Episyllogism[5] fair use.

The Wall Street Journal catches up[6] with what I saw at California State University, East Bay, especially in my latter years there (I finished my Master’s degree in 2009), with an expensive building spree that coincides with an increasing emphasis on filling teaching positions with poorly-paid adjuncts. And of course, as the Journal notes (and is far from the first to do so), rising tuitions mean more student loan debt. Oh yeah, and relatively few of those athletic programs that are ever more prominent at universities actually pay for themselves.[7] Y’all know I’m a strong advocate of a liberal education, but this crap ain’t it; it needs to fucking stop.

Melissa Korn, Andrea Fuller, and Jennifer S. Forsyth, “Colleges Spend Like There’s No Tomorrow. ‘These Places Are Just Devouring Money,’” Wall Street Journal, August 10, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/state-university-tuition-increase-spending-41a58100

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Annexations


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

Charlie Wolfson, “With annexation ‘dead,’ Wilkinsburg looks toward possible home rule and tax changes,” Pittsburgh Public Source, August 10, 2023, https://www.publicsource.org/wilkinsburg-pittsburgh-home-rule-taxes-annexation-local-government/

  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]Daniel Boffey, “Ukrainian forces cross Dnipro River in bid to breach southern frontline,” Guardian, August 9, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/09/ukrainian-force-cross-dnipro-river-bid-breach-southern-frontline-kherson-city↩
  3. [3]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↩
  4. [4]Cory Doctorow, “No, Uber’s (still) not profitable,” Medium, August 9, 2023, https://doctorow.medium.com/no-ubers-still-not-profitable-2b8054e375ea; Hubert Horan, “Can Uber Ever Deliver? Part Thirty-Three: Uber Isn’t Really Profitable Yet But is Getting Closer; The Antitrust Case Against Uber,” Naked Capitalism, August 9, 2023, https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/08/hubert-horan-can-uber-ever-deliver-part-thirty-three-uber-isnt-really-profitable-yet-but-is-getting-closer-the-antitrust-case-against-uber.html↩
  5. [5]Bob Lane, “Academic Freedom,” Episyllogism, November 3, 2016, https://boblane.com/2016/11/03/academic-freedom/↩
  6. [6]Melissa Korn, Andrea Fuller, and Jennifer S. Forsyth, “Colleges Spend Like There’s No Tomorrow. ‘These Places Are Just Devouring Money,’” Wall Street Journal, August 10, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/state-university-tuition-increase-spending-41a58100↩
  7. [7]Melissa Korn, Andrea Fuller, and Jennifer S. Forsyth, “Colleges Spend Like There’s No Tomorrow. ‘These Places Are Just Devouring Money,’” Wall Street Journal, August 10, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/state-university-tuition-increase-spending-41a58100↩

Apparently, Republicans like having their asses handed to them. Almost as much as Democrats do.

benfell

Illiberalism

Gilead

Abortion, reproductive freedom and health


Fig. 1. 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.

Republicans keep having their asses handed to them on abortion.[1] Their persistence suggests strongly to me that Democrats will have yet another opportunity to accomplish absolutely fucking nothing even with full control of both the White House and Congress following the 2024 election.

Patrick Marley, Rachel Roubein, and Kevin Williams, “Ohio voters reject higher bar for altering constitution, a win for abortion rights supporters,” Washington Post, August 8, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/08/ohio-election-issue-1-abortion/

Andrew J. Tobias and Jake Zuckerman, “Ohio voters reject State Issue 1, defeating hurdle for abortion-rights vote in November,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 8, 2023, https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/ohio-voters-reject-state-issue-1-defeating-hurdle-for-abortion-rights-vote-in-november.html

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh


Fig. 1. Along Mifflin Road in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood. Photograph by author, December 1, 2020.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Tornado watch issued for portions of southwestern Pennsylvania,” August 7, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/weather-news/2023/08/07/tornado-watch-pittsburgh-region/stories/202308070059

Ryan Deto, “Lawrence County added to Pittsburgh metro area,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 8, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/regional/lawrence-county-added-to-pittsburgh-metro-area/

  1. [1]Patrick Marley, Rachel Roubein, and Kevin Williams, “Ohio voters reject higher bar for altering constitution, a win for abortion rights supporters,” Washington Post, August 8, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/08/ohio-election-issue-1-abortion/; Andrew J. Tobias and Jake Zuckerman, “Ohio voters reject State Issue 1, defeating hurdle for abortion-rights vote in November,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 8, 2023, https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/08/ohio-voters-reject-state-issue-1-defeating-hurdle-for-abortion-rights-vote-in-november.html↩

Yes, Donald Trump is a rapist. We knew that, and the judge had said it already, but now he’s affirmed it in a ruling

benfell

Illiberalism

Gilead

Donald Trump
Hush money


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

The judge in E. Jean Carroll’s case, Lewis Kaplan, had already said Donald Trump was, for all practical purposes, a rapist.[1] Now, he confirmed it in dismissing Donald Trump’s countersuit for defamation.[2]

Kara Scannell, “udge dismisses Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Carroll for statements she made on CNN,” CNN, August 7, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/07/politics/e-jean-carroll-trump-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed/index.html

Pennsylvania and surrounding areas

Pittsburgh, the Ohio Valley, and surrounding areas

Pollution


Fig. 1. Photographer unknown, circa 1940-1950, from Smoke Control Lantern Slide Collection, ca. 1940-1950, AIS.1978.22, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh, via Bloomberg,[3] fair use.

Quinn Glabicki, “Inside Pennsylvania’s monitoring of the Shell petrochemical complex,” Pittsburgh Public Source, August 8, 2023, https://www.publicsource.org/shell-cracker-plant-pennsylvania-department-environmental-protection-dep-emissions/

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,[4] fair use.

Dominic Nicholls, “The state of Ukraine’s counter-offensive,” Telegraph, August 5, 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/04/ukraine-russia-war-counter-offensive-putin-froze-front-line/

  1. [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↩
  2. [2]Kara Scannell, “udge dismisses Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Carroll for statements she made on CNN,” CNN, August 7, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/07/politics/e-jean-carroll-trump-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed/index.html↩
  3. [3]Mark Byrnes, “What Pittsburgh Looked Like When It Decided It Had a Pollution Problem,” Bloomberg, June 5, 2012, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-06-05/what-pittsburgh-looked-like-when-it-decided-it-had-a-pollution-problem↩
  4. [4]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↩

The non-tornado

benfell

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh


Fig. 1. Along Mifflin Road in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood. Photograph by author, December 1, 2020.

I have to admit, it was more than a little eye-popping. There was a tornado watch for an area including Washington County, a stone’s throw from my present apartment, this afternoon. No tornado, not even clouds that looked like they might seriously threaten a tornado. But the watch was there. It expired at 6:00 pm,[1] apparently without incident.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Tornado watch issued for portions of southwestern Pennsylvania,” August 7, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/weather-news/2023/08/07/tornado-watch-pittsburgh-region/stories/202308070059

Illiberalism

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.

Matt Stieb, “Trump Is Already at War With the Judge in the January 6 Case,” New York, August 7, 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/08/trump-is-at-war-with-judge-chutkan-over-the-january-6-case.html

  1. [1]Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Tornado watch issued for portions of southwestern Pennsylvania,” August 7, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/weather-news/2023/08/07/tornado-watch-pittsburgh-region/stories/202308070059↩

No, I wasn’t expecting to compete with a Ph.D. in Pakistan who’ll work for $4 per hour

benfell

Neoliberalism

Work


Fig. 1. 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.

It shouldn’t even remotely have been a mystery. In my continuing, desperate, and hopeless job search, I had signed up with Upwork. There are a lot of kids wanting help with their homework, for not a lot of money, there, and I was so suspicious that the openings I seemed suitable for were almost all college kids wanting their assignments written, that I didn’t bid on many of them.

But now I know why I could not and will not get any traction there: If a U.S. parent can find a tutor there with a Ph.D. in mathematics for $4 per hour,[1] I simply cannot compete.

The trend means a different type of American worker faces overseas competition. While factory workers have seen U.S. jobs move overseas for decades, many types of service workers were more protected because, until recently, the jobs were done in person.[2]

Of course, capitalist libertarians think this is wonderful:

The option of outsourcing could help the U.S. economy by alleviating domestic-worker shortages, said Scott Lincicome, a trade expert at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.5% in July, near a half-century low, the Labor Department reported Friday. In June, there were 3.6 million more open jobs in the U.S. than unemployed Americans seeking work.[3]

And I still can’t get a fucking job. Capitalist libertarians doubtless think that’s wonderful too. I have closed my account on Upwork (yes, it was a paid account).

The key is, the world is getting more competitive and that’s really good as long as we keep our own house in order and keep competitive here.[4]

I hear all this “free” (always ask, “free” for whom, to do what, to whom, at whose expense) trade bullshit, but can somebody please explain how I’m supposed to live on $4 an hour when my landlord wants to raise my rent to $1000 per month on a 300-square foot apartment in Pittsburgh?

Harriet Torry, “Where to Find a $4-an-Hour Math Tutor With a Ph.D.? Overseas,” Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-to-find-a-4-an-hour-math-tutor-with-a-ph-d-overseas-b5d9afce

Illiberalism

Israel


Fig. 2. “Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu signing the visitors’ book, at Teen Murti Chowk, in New Delhi. . . . The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is also seen.” Photograph credited to Prime Minister's Office (GODL-India), January 14, 2018, via Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India

Melanie Lidman, “‘This is my red line’: Anguished Israelis talk relocation amid judicial overhaul push,” Times of Israel, August 6, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-is-my-red-line-anguished-israelis-talk-relocation-amid-judicial-overhaul-push/

Secession


Fig. 3. “This vintage map, published in 1864 by H.H. Lloyd of New York, reflects anti-secession sentiment by taking secession to an extreme conclusion.” Credited to Boston Rare Maps, August 4, 2023, via Atlas Obscura,[5] fair use.

Frank Jacobs, “A nation divided into not two—but four—took the idea of secession to an extreme,” Atlas Obscura, August 4, 2023, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/strange-maps-the-disunited-states

  1. [1]Harriet Torry, “Where to Find a $4-an-Hour Math Tutor With a Ph.D.? Overseas,” Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-to-find-a-4-an-hour-math-tutor-with-a-ph-d-overseas-b5d9afce↩
  2. [2]Harriet Torry, “Where to Find a $4-an-Hour Math Tutor With a Ph.D.? Overseas,” Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-to-find-a-4-an-hour-math-tutor-with-a-ph-d-overseas-b5d9afce↩
  3. [3]Harriet Torry, “Where to Find a $4-an-Hour Math Tutor With a Ph.D.? Overseas,” Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-to-find-a-4-an-hour-math-tutor-with-a-ph-d-overseas-b5d9afce↩
  4. [4]Claude Barfield, quoted in Harriet Torry, “Where to Find a $4-an-Hour Math Tutor With a Ph.D.? Overseas,” Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/where-to-find-a-4-an-hour-math-tutor-with-a-ph-d-overseas-b5d9afce↩
  5. [5]Frank Jacobs, “A nation divided into not two—but four—took the idea of secession to an extreme,” Atlas Obscura, August 4, 2023, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/strange-maps-the-disunited-states↩

What, oh what, will the Secret Service do if it has to protect a prisoner?

benfell

Illiberalism

Gilead

Donald Trump


Fig. 1. Donald Trump, depicted in an orange jumpsuit, reportedly by the Drudge, via Mediaite,[1] fair use. Apparently, no mugshot was taken when he was actually arrested over hush money paid to Stormy Daniels.[2]

Some might say that the Secret Service should not be in the business of protecting felons. But I guess there’s a law saying Donald Trump can have Secret Service protection for life—even behind bars.[3]

Spencer S. Hsu, Carol D. Leonnig, and Tom Jackman, “If Trump is convicted, Secret Service protection may be obstacle to imprisonment,” Washington Post, August 4, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/04/trump-criminal-cases-prison-secret-service/

Jeffrey Epstein


Fig. 1. “Donald Trump with his future wife Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in February 2000.” Photograph credited to Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty Images, February 2000,[4] fair use.

Chas Danner and Benjamin Hart, “Who Are the Newly Revealed Jeffrey Epstein Associates?” New York, August 3, 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/08/who-are-the-newly-revealed-jeffrey-epstein-associates.html

  1. [1]Alex Griffing, “Drudge Puts Trump in an Orange Jumpsuit as Site Monitors His Potential Indictment,” Mediaite, August 29, 2022, https://www.mediaite.com/news/drudge-puts-trump-in-an-orange-jumpsuit-as-site-monitors-his-potential-indictment/↩
  2. [2]Sarah D. Wire and Alexandra E. Petri, “Trump charged with 34 felony counts in alleged hush money cover-up case,” Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2023, https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-04-04/donald-trump-alleged-hush-money-investigation-indictment-arraignment↩
  3. [3]Spencer S. Hsu, Carol D. Leonnig, and Tom Jackman, “If Trump is convicted, Secret Service protection may be obstacle to imprisonment,” Washington Post, August 4, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/04/trump-criminal-cases-prison-secret-service/↩
  4. [4]Martin Pengelly, “‘She say anything about me?’ Trump raised Ghislaine Maxwell link with aides,” Guardian, October 4, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/04/trump-ghislaine-maxwell-epstein-maggie-haberman-book-confidence-man↩

Israeli reservists told the government, ‘Fuck around and find out.’ So the government is finding out

benfell

Illiberalism

Israel


Fig. 1. “Sara Netanyahu, wife of the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu signing the visitors’ book, at Teen Murti Chowk, in New Delhi. . . . The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is also seen.” Photograph credited to Prime Minister's Office (GODL-India), January 14, 2018, via Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India

Dov Lieber, “Israeli Reservists Start Missing Duty, Threatening Military Unity and Readiness,” Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/israeli-reservists-start-missing-duty-threatening-military-unity-and-readiness-76df3ade

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.

Even if this is true, I don’t think it’s going anywhere, but I’m wondering if Donald Trump is doubling down on losing the criminal cases against him, on a theory that such losses will rally his support, with the idea that he wins the presidency and pardons himself.

One problem is that the timing is off: He will likely be able to stall any conviction until after the election anyway, when he thinks he can pardon himself for any convictions that have occurred and order the Justice Department to drop remaining federal charges, and when he likely can get the Georgia agency that handles pardons to pardon him. Hence James Risen’s elevation of the hush money case as possibly the one conviction, assuming it is to be had, that might stick.[1] Another is, while, yes, it’s way too fucking early to make such prognostications, it still really and truly looks like Trump cannot win the general election; pundits who say otherwise pay too much attention to opinion polling and not enough attention to the self-imposed constraints on Trump’s support,[2] which would mean that a Georgia pardon is the only one that might be in Trump’s pocket. Finally, there is, of course, that issue of self-pardoning, which, as has been widely reported, pits a doctrine that “no man may be a judge in his own case” against the fact that this doctrine has never been tested in the courts.

As I say, I think the issue is moot. Trump won’t win. And, for now at least, I’ll believe a Georgia pardon when I actually see it.

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/

Ryan Cooper, “Merrick Garland Failed America,” American Prospect, August 3, 2023, https://prospect.org/justice/2023-08-03-merrick-garland-failed-america/

Tierney Sneed et al., “Donald Trump pleads not guilty to January 6-related charges,” CNN, August 3, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/03/politics/arraignment-trump-election-interference-indictment/index.html

Michael Tomasky, “Donald Trump’s Lawyer Is Dumber Than Donald Trump,” New Republic, August 4, 2023, https://newrepublic.com/article/174847/donald-trump-lawyer-john-lauro-dumber-donald-trump

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Unauthorized violence


Fig. 1. “Ed Gainey poses with CeaseFirePA during the 2020 Women’s March in Downtown Pittsburgh.” Photograph by Megan Gloeckler, undated, via Pittsburgh City Paper,[3] 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/

Paula Reed Ward and Justin Vellucci, “Judge formally sentences Pittsburgh synagogue shooter to death in emotional hearing,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 3, 2023, https://triblive.com/local/judge-formally-sentences-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooter-to-death/

  1. [1]James Risen, “Stormy Daniels May Have the Last Word on Donald Trump,” Intercept, July 30, 2023, https://theintercept.com/2023/07/30/trump-indictments-stormy-daniels-pardon/↩
  2. [2]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/↩
  3. [3]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↩

They want to tear down a movie set. Because it’s only a movie set

benfell

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh


Fig. 1. Photograph by Matt Freed, September 6, 2021, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, fair use.

Mark Belko, “A Pittsburgh-based firm has a $44 million plan to raze the former Western Penitentiary on the North Side,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 3, 2023, https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/08/03/pennsylvania-correctional-institution-pittsburgh-western-penitentiary-michael-baker-international-ilm-office/stories/202308030066

Illiberalism

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.

Ryan Cooper writes that Jack Smith is doing the job Merrick Garland should have done.[1]

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/

Ryan Cooper, “Merrick Garland Failed America,” American Prospect, August 3, 2023, https://prospect.org/justice/2023-08-03-merrick-garland-failed-america/

Tierney Sneed et al., “Donald Trump pleads not guilty to January 6-related charges,” CNN, August 3, 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/03/politics/arraignment-trump-election-interference-indictment/index.html

  1. [1]Ryan Cooper, “Merrick Garland Failed America,” American Prospect, August 3, 2023, https://prospect.org/justice/2023-08-03-merrick-garland-failed-america/↩

Because Israel is such a success, let’s do it again with Ukraine

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.

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.

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. [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, “The Ukraine ‘Israel Model” & Its Discontents,” Puck, August 1, 2023, https://puck.news/the-ukraine-israel-model-its-discontents/↩
  3. [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. [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↩