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Category: Politics

The Ukraine War might really break up the Russian Federation

The Ukraine War might really break up the Russian Federation

Alexander J. Motyl writes: It’s time to start taking the potential disintegration of Russia seriously. A number of analysts see the shattering of the Russian Federation as a possible aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s catastrophic war in Ukraine. Although the world would be better off with a much weakened Russia, its fall may not go smoothly. The Jamestown Foundation’s Janusz Bugajski would probably agree with this assessment: “as a rump state, under intense international sanctions and shorn of its resource base…

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How Trump benefits from an indictment effect

How Trump benefits from an indictment effect

The New York Times reports: Early on March 18, former President Donald J. Trump hit send on a social media post saying he would be “arrested on Tuesday of next week.” “Protest,” he wrote on his Truth Social website. “Take our nation back!” Mr. Trump’s prediction was based on media reports, according to his lawyers, and his timing was off by two weeks. Yet the statement set in motion events that profoundly altered the course of the Republican nominating contest….

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Violent threats against public officials are rising. Here’s why

Violent threats against public officials are rising. Here’s why

NPR reports: For extremism researchers, the shooting death this week of a Utah man who was alleged to have made violent threats against President Biden and other public officials highlights a concerning trend. For years, they have watched a steady escalation in violent political rhetoric that appears to be fueling acts of real-life violence. On Wednesday, the FBI shot and killed Craig Robertson of Provo, Utah as they attempted to arrest him due to his alleged threats ahead of a…

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The Supreme Court is taking a wrecking ball to the wall between church and state

The Supreme Court is taking a wrecking ball to the wall between church and state

Ian Millhiser writes: Last June, a previously obscure Oklahoma state board voted to allow two Roman Catholic dioceses to operate a charter school in that state. Lawyers from several civil rights organizations, including the ACLU, responded just over a month later with a lawsuit alleging that this state-funded religious school violates the state constitution. This challenge to the religious charter school, known as St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, should be a slam-dunk — at least assuming that the allegations in…

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Louis DeJoy: From Trump villain to Biden’s clean energy buddy

Louis DeJoy: From Trump villain to Biden’s clean energy buddy

Politico reports: During the summer of 2020, there were few bigger Democratic super villains than Louis DeJoy. The postmaster general was accused of masterminding an attempt to steal the election for former President Donald Trump by subverting mail-in voting in the midst of the pandemic. He was hauled up to Capitol Hill to defend his policies. When Joe Biden won, it was generally assumed that his days were numbered. Now, nearly three years later, DeJoy isn’t just still standing atop…

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Ex-IDF general likens military control of West Bank to Nazi Germany

Ex-IDF general likens military control of West Bank to Nazi Germany

The Times of Israel reports: A former IDF general argued that Israel’s control of the West Bank has similarities to discriminatory policies under Nazi Germany, and expressed fear that soldiers will not be motivated to defend the country if the coalition succeeds in shackling the judiciary. Amiram Levin, who headed the IDF Northern Command, commanded the elite Sayeret Matkal unit and served as deputy director of the Mossad spy agency, told Kan radio on Sunday morning that the military is…

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Israeli scientists fear ‘destructive’ education policies will result in a brain drain

Israeli scientists fear ‘destructive’ education policies will result in a brain drain

Science reports: Until recently, Elena Itskovich, an Israeli stem cell biologist who earned a Ph.D. from Stanford University 2 years ago, was planning a return to her home nation. But Itskovich says she’s now “on the fence.” She is uneasy about the policies of the Israeli government elected nearly 8 months ago and largely led by conservative nationalists and ultra-Orthodox parties. She is not alone in her concerns. Israeli researchers have become increasingly vocal in opposing policies they say threaten…

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‘Better martyrs’: The role of women in the far-right movement is growing

‘Better martyrs’: The role of women in the far-right movement is growing

The Guardian reports: Researchers who track how the far right in the US mobilizes, self-promotes and recruits are reporting that women are playing a growing role in the movement. They often work behind the scenes to advance conspiracy theories through social media and softly attract new women into the fold. But at the same time, in recent years “alt-right” women have also shifted to influential public-facing roles in rightwing media production and far-right national politics. They have taken prominent roles…

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Republicans wanted a special counsel investigation of Hunter Biden. Now many oppose it

Republicans wanted a special counsel investigation of Hunter Biden. Now many oppose it

The New York Times reports: Congressional Republicans have for months repeatedly written to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland demanding he appoint a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden, the president’s son, over his business dealings. Some even demanded that a specific man be named to lead the inquiry: David C. Weiss, the Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. attorney who has long investigated the case. But on Friday, after Mr. Garland elevated Mr. Weiss to special counsel status, Republicans in Congress reacted publicly…

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Early in America’s history, firearms laws were everywhere

Early in America’s history, firearms laws were everywhere

Robert J. Spitzer writes: In the summer of 1619, the leaders of the fledgling Jamestown colony came together as the first general assembly to enact “just Laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people there inhabiting.” Consisting of the governor, Sir George Yeardley; his four councillors; and 22 elected “burgesses,” or representatives, the group approved more than 30 measures. Among them was the nation’s first gun law: That no man do sell or give any Indians any piece,…

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Growing segregation by sex in Israel raises fears for women’s rights

Growing segregation by sex in Israel raises fears for women’s rights

The New York Times reports: The trains from Tel Aviv were packed one evening last month when Inbal Boxerman, a 40-year-old mother of two, was blocked by a wall of men as she tried to board. One of them told her that women were not allowed on — the car was for men only. Ms. Boxerman was stunned. It was a public train operated by Israel Railways, and segregated seating is illegal in the country. The men stopping her appeared…

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Judge warns Trump: ‘Inflammatory’ statements about election case could speed trial

Judge warns Trump: ‘Inflammatory’ statements about election case could speed trial

Politico reports: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan warned Donald Trump and his attorney Friday that repeated “inflammatory” statements about his latest criminal prosecution would force her to speed his trial on charges related to his bid to subvert the 2020 election. “I caution you and your client to take special care in your public statements about this case,” Chutkan told Trump lawyer John Lauro during a hearing. “I will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of these…

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Trump allies deliver ‘incriminating’ info on conspiracy-peddling Sidney Powell

Trump allies deliver ‘incriminating’ info on conspiracy-peddling Sidney Powell

Rolling Stone reports: Special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation appears to be zeroing in on Sidney Powell, a conspiracy-theory-obsessed lawyer who was a key figure in Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Four sources with knowledge of the matter, several witnesses, and Trump allies who’ve appeared before the special counsel — including at least one in the past few days — team seem to agree: Powell should be preparing now for Smith to bring criminal charges. On Monday, Bernie…

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Spiraling legal bills threaten Trump with a cash crunch

Spiraling legal bills threaten Trump with a cash crunch

The New York Times reports: Donald J. Trump’s legal problems aren’t just piling up — his legal bills are, too. New financial reports show that the former president’s various political committees and the super PAC backing him have used roughly 30 cents of every dollar spent so far this year on legal-related costs. The total amounts to more than $27 million in legal fees and other investigation-related bills in the first six months of 2023, according to a New York…

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Who is David Weiss, the newly appointed Hunter Biden special counsel?

Who is David Weiss, the newly appointed Hunter Biden special counsel?

NBC News reports: Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that he was appointing David Weiss as special counsel for the Hunter Biden probe, giving the U.S. attorney increased authority in his investigation. Weiss, who was already overseeing the probe, requested on Tuesday that he be given the special counsel title, Garland said. “This appointment confirms my commitment to provide Mr. Weiss all the resources he requests,” Garland said. “It also reaffirms that Mr. Weiss has the authority he needs to…

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Bellingcat’s Christo Grozev: ‘Prigozhin will either be dead or there will be a second coup’

Bellingcat’s Christo Grozev: ‘Prigozhin will either be dead or there will be a second coup’

Edward Luce interviewed Christo Grozev in Aspen in July: How does it feel, I ask, to be here in absentia? Grozev laughs. After the Russians indicted him “in absentia”, he posted a selfie video from Palm Beach, Florida, against a sunset backdrop. “I said, ‘If this is absentia, it’s a pretty great place to be.’” Is Austria the least safe European country? “Yes,” he replies. “While we [Bellingcat] were investigating the Austrians, they were surveilling me and I wasn’t aware…

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