“Combined with weapons taken during Russia’s retreat from Kyiv and other parts of northern Ukraine in April, these recent gains have turned Moscow into by far the largest supplier of heavy weapons for Ukraine, well ahead of the U.S. or other allies in sheer numbers, according to open-source intelligence analysts. Western-provided weapons, though, are usually more advanced and precise.“

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraines-new-offensive-is-fueled-by-captured-russian-weapons-11664965264

And Putin was blaming the West for supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. This is like disarming a mugger then shooting him with his own gun. Karma?

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-encircles-russian-forces-around-lyman-stronghold-military-2022-10-01/

“Retired U.S. General Ben Hodges, a former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, said a Russian defeat in Lyman after Putin’s declaration would be a major political and military embarrassment for the Russian leader.”

“This puts in bright lights that his claim is illegitimate and cannot be enforced,” he said.”

Debate about Ukraine winning, but Russia is certainly losing. I wonder if Putin believes his own propaganda.

https://www.axios.com/2022/08/28/national-archives-trump-search-threat

Honestly, is there nothing he won’t threaten?
“…They could have had it anytime they wanted—and that includes LONG ago. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS ASK. The bigger problem is, what are they going to do with the 33 million pages of documents, many of which are classified, that President Obama took to Chicago?”

Truth Social post.

We know he is lying because there are records of letters, emails, phone calls, subpoenas asking, begging, over and over for more than a year. But his MAGA folks got the message and now our nations archivists are under threat. I guess if America plays along he will “turn down the heat”. If we beg hard enough, perhaps.

Extortion by any other name is still extortion.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2022/0812/Mar-a-Lago-warrant-unsealed.-What-we-know-and-what-s-next

Note the source is pretty conservative and in this case, refreshingly neutral.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article263832087.html

Overwhelming vote to keep abortion constitutionally legal in Kansas. The vote to overturn the state amendment failed 59-41 or so. This despite a campaign to confuse the voters with a “Yes” vote to mean “choice”. Early interviews seemed to indicate a concern by voters seeing what some states are passing or proposing regarding abortion, medical emergencies, doctors liabilities, birth control, miscarriage medication…

Despite what the right is insisting, this is a huge issue for Americans.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/01/jan-6-terrorism-sentencing-penalty-00048922?cid=apn

“Friedrich also said she worried that Reffitt not be unduly punished for deciding to go to trial, rather than enter into a plea bargain with prosecutors.” Hmmm, some young miscreants that have tried that locally got long sentences if they wanted a trial over plea bargaining.

This felon was armed with a gun and attacked the Capitol, engaging with police. He was a gang member. Both before and after the attack, he said he was going to drag legislators by ropes down the steps.

The judge decided to soften what prosecutors were demanding. A man who willingly participated in an effort to overturn the election should be relieved he lives in our country. Somehow I doubt he realizes or appreciates what we have here.

https://nypost.com/2022/07/22/trumps-jan-6-silence-renders-him-unworthy-for-2024-reelection/?utm_campaign=applenews&utm_medium=inline&utm_source=applenews

NY Post is an old paper, founded by Hamilton in 1801. It is part of the Murdoch empire as the working person’s paper that endorsed Trump. Total readership online approaches 80 million, mostly Republican and Trump followers.

“To his eternal shame, as appalled aides implored him to publicly call on his followers to go home, he instead further fanned the flames by tweeting: “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.”

“Trump has proven himself unworthy to be this country’s chief executive again.”

Trump fans may not watch, or care, about the 1/6 hearings, but they do read right wing media.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-ukraine-kazakhstan-central-asia-11658439761

Even with help from Putin to quell protests in Kazakstan, its leader is looking to supply energy to Europe. It is also beefing up its military so it won’t be the next target for Putin’s ambitions.

The other countries in that area are also cool to the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus may be Putin’s only ally.

https://www.businessinsider.com/ohio-congressional-redistricting-maps-unconstitutional-favored-Republicans-midterms-2022-7

2 districts favor Democrats and 13 are shoe-ins for Republicans. Oh well. At least this lawsuit was filed before the election. If you can’t win at the polls, then just take what you want anyway.

https://abovethelaw.com/2022/07/texas-legislators-threaten-sidley-over-abortion-care-travel-costs/

The entire letter from the legislators is in the link. A curious situation is if an employee takes sick leave for an abortion, is that considered illegal if the firm knows. So she should perhaps sign a document with a copy for the state to say she is visiting her mom.

Fascism in Texas. “Your papers. please”.