Extra, Extra
Long Arm of the Lawless: “Iran’s alleged reliance on criminals rather than covert operatives underscored an alarming evolution in tactics by a nation that U.S. and Western security officials consider one of the world’s most determined and dangerous practitioners of ‘transnational repression,’ a term for governments’ use of violence and intimidation in others’ sovereign territory to silence dissidents, journalists and others deemed disloyal.” WaPo (Gift Article): Iran turns to Hells Angels and other criminal gangs to target critics. As we learned a couple weeks ago, the strategy of reaching into Western countries is not limited to Iran. WaPo: How China extended its repression into an American city.
+ Night Night: The FBI has been quite overworked lately. Well, specifically the FBI units focused on NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ administration and appointees. NYC police commissioner resigns amid nightclub probe. “Caban’s phone was seized last week around the same time that FBI agents raided the homes of top Adams administration officials as part of a separate probe.”
+ Stupid Does: Bomb threats reported at multiple buildings in Springfield, Ohio. (The eating dogs nonsense that should have immediately destroyed the Trump/Vance candidacy is not just crazy, it’s dangerous.)
+ Floating a Check: “A tech billionaire popped out from a SpaceX capsule hundreds of miles above Earth and performed the first private spacewalk Thursday, a high-risk endeavor once reserved for professional astronauts.”
+ Time to De-Deshaun: “His ability to play quarterback in the NFL — or expected ability to play quarterback in the NFL — allowed his professional career to survive lawsuits from, and accusations of sexual misconduct by, nearly two dozen women — mostly massage therapists — in Houston. Despite ugly, troubling details and a looming NFL suspension, Cleveland shipped three first-round draft picks, one third-rounder and two fourth-round picks to the Texans in exchange for Watson. The Browns then signed Watson to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million deal. It was the ultimate sign of talent trumping everything. Even in the NFL, where shame doesn’t exist, it was a breathtaking, bottomline deal.” The Browns put all the sexual assaults aside when signing Deshaun Watson. But now he’s terrible on the field, too. Will the Browns finally care about what he allegedly does off it? (Deshaun Watson reportedly facing new sexual assault lawsuit.)
+ Smoked Out: The Best, Worst, and Most Surprising Moments of the 2024 MTV VMAs. The smoke machine pumping during the Shawn Mendes performance looked like my apartment in the 90s. In other news, lip synching hasn’t improved.
+ Wanted, Dead or Alive: “The 62-year-old singer happened to be filming a music video for his song ‘The People’s House’ on the bridge … At one point, he noticed a woman in blue standing nearby on the outside ledge.” Jon Bon Jovi helps talk a woman off the ledge of a bridge. Ledge-endary.
