Extra, Extra
A Can of Whoop-Assets: “Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to engineer a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine in its fight for survival. Interest earned on profits from Russia’s frozen central bank assets would be used as collateral.” This is not quite the “let’s take Russia’s frozen assets and give them to the country they invaded” plan that many envisioned. AP: G7 leaders agree to lend Ukraine billions backed by Russia’s frozen assets. Here’s how it will work.
+ Kidnapper Charges Hostage: “Russian prosecutors announced on Thursday that they have finalized an indictment against jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich, and said he will stand trial on espionage charges.”
+ Jumping on the Banned Wagon: Attention: This is not a headline from The Onion. Actually, maybe it’s even from an even more ridiculous source: Florida. Book about book bans banned by Florida school board. (I guess they haven’t banned self-parody yet.)
+ Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Humble Pie: “Here, America no longer presents itself as the confident guarantor of security, a trust-us-we’ve-got-this superpower. The terrain is too vast, China’s rise too great a threat. So the United States has been offering to be something else — an eager teammate for military modernization and tech development.” Damien Cave in the NYT (Gift Article): In China’s Backyard, America Has Become a Humbler Superpower.
+ Ethically Challenged: “‘Let’s be clear: This is not about improving the court, this is about undermining the court,’ said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, who lodged the objection to taking up the bill. ‘This will be an unconstitutional overreach. This would undermine the court’s ability to operate effectively.'” Senate Republicans Block Supreme Court Ethics Measure Pushed by Democrats. (“Ethics? We don’t need no stinking ethics.”) Meanwhile, the House votes to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for withholding Biden audio.
+ Sedate With Destiny: “A Lake Oswego father who said he spiked fruit smoothies with his prescription sedative because he wanted his daughter and her three friends to go to bed during a sleepover last summer will spend two years in prison.”
