[guest post by Dana]

Let’s go!

First news item

Kamala Harris’ campaign is right:

Former President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had “every right” to interfere with the 2020 election, even as two criminal cases involving those allegations hang over him. On Monday, Kamala Harris’ campaign charged that the comments were evidence that Trump believed he was “above the law.”

. . .

Trump marveled that the criminal charges did nothing but boost his poll numbers, because, he surmised, his supporters didn’t buy them in the first place.

“Whoever heard you get indicted for interfering with a presidential election where you have every right to do it, you get indicted, and your poll numbers go up?” Trump said. “When people get indicted, your poll numbers go down. But it was such, such nonsense.”

Second news item

Russians behind media company that hired and paid right-wing personalities :

They have millions of followers online. They have been major players in right-wing political discourse since Donald Trump was president. And they worked unknowingly for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation, U.S. prosecutors say.

An indictment filed Wednesday alleges a media company linked to six conservative influencers — including well-known personalities Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson — was secretly funded by Russian state media employees to churn out English-language videos that were “often consistent” with the Kremlin’s “interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition” to Russian interests, like its war in Ukraine.

Another influencer, Lauren Chen, was an “independent contractor” at Blaze Media. She and her husband David founded the media company linked to the influencers named above. It has been reported that Chen has been fired.

I find it amusing that The Blaze has fired Lauren Chen.

The Blaze is run by Glenn Beck, who appears with Tucker "The Nazis Were Good, Actually" Carlson on September 7 in Salt Lake City.

And Lauren Chen promoted Nick Fuentes's take on Israel/Hamas. That was OK with the Blaze.

— Patterico (@Patterico) September 6, 2024

Third news item

Again, putting the onus on Israel and not Hamas (ostensibly because it is a vile terrorist organization, and yet there seems to be this wacky belief that the same terrorist organization will abide by a ceasefire agreement and even a two-state solution…):

“Well, I think first and foremost what we saw on October 7 was a horrific act of violence against the people of Israel. They have certainly, and the vice president said it, I’ve said it, have the right to defend themselves and the United States will always stand by that,” the Minnesota governor says.

“But we can’t allow what’s happened in Gaza to happen. The Palestinian people have every right to life and liberty themselves. We need to continue, I think to put the leverage on to make sure we move towards a two-state solution,” Walz says. “I think we’re at a critical point right now. We need the Netanyahu government to start moving in that direction.”

Walz says that people in Michigan are speaking out “for all the right reasons. It’s a humanitarian crisis. It can’t stand the way it is.”

“We need to find a way that people can live together in this and we’ve said it and continue to say it, getting a ceasefire with the return of the hostages and then moving towards a sustainable two-state solution is the only way forward,” Walz says.

It should not have to be said: but what is happening with the Palestinians is horrible on an epic scale. But until Hamas is completely erased, the Palestinians will never be able to live in freedom.

Note: “people” in Michigan includes a “100,000-strong Arab-American community.”

Fourth news item

Alleged school shooter and father makes court appearance. This after the father was arrested for having been the one to purchase the gun used in the school shooting for his then-13 year old son:

Colin Gray, the father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect Colt Gray, appeared in court Friday and learned he could spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.

Gray, 54, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children after Wednesday’s mass shooting, which killed two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School…

On Friday, Judge Currie Mingledorff told the father he would face the following maximum penalties if convicted:

Up to 30 years in prison for each count of second-degree felony murder
Up to 10 years in prison for each count of involuntary manslaughter
Up to 10 years in prison for each count of cruelty to children
The judge said if Colin Gray is convicted on all counts, he could face a maximum prison sentence of 180 years.

Also, Judge Mingledorff on the 14-year old suspect’s possible sentencing:

Judge Currie Mingledorff just called 14-year-old Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray back into the courtroom to correct on the record that the teen would not be eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted, because he is under 18 years old.

Gray could face a maximum sentence of life in prison with or without the possibility of parole, the judge said.

Fifth news item

Trump supporters: make this make sense, thank you:

Q: What specific legislation will you commit to to make child care affordable?

Trump: Well, I would do that and we're sitting down, you know, I was, somebody, we had Marco Rubio and my daughter, Ivanka… But I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I'm talking about… pic.twitter.com/v8gqLUHS2v

— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) September 5, 2024

Sixth news item

Helping Trump:

Judge Juan Merchan decided to postpone former President Trump’s sentencing in New York v. Trump until after the November presidential election.

Trump’s sentencing date is now scheduled for Nov. 26. The original date was set for Sept. 18.

It could be argued that had the date been before the election, Trump could’ve used that to campaign on, and perhaps blame an election loss on. But it really doesn’t matter, because if he loses, there will be a litany of excuses given for his loss. Made up or not.

Have a great weekend.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

I feel like this should be getting way more attention than it has:

Former President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged that he did not win the 2020 presidential election, telling podcaster Lex Fridman that he “lost by a whisker.”

Fridman asked the Republican nominee about his expectations for his debate next week against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in a podcast episode released Tuesday.

Trump initially answered, “I’ve done a lot of debating … I’ve done well with debates,” before embarking on a tangent about the number of votes he received in 2020, saying: “I became president. Then the second time I got millions more votes than I got the first time.”

“I was told if I got 63 million, which is what I got the first time, ‘You would win. You can’t not win.’ And I got millions more votes than that and lost by a whisker,” Trump added

Trump admitting that he lost the election is no small thing. Especially when considering what he dragged the country through. From his election denial and efforts to overturn the results, to the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, to his rejection of a peaceful transfer of power, to his complete willingness to ignore the Constitution and the 60 court cases he lost concerning the said election. How do his supporters feel? It’s been years of his endless lies and denials about the election, and now he admits that he knew he lost? That’s got to sting.

Moreover, how do those hundreds of Trump supporters who went to jail for him, feel about their leader admitting that he lost the election? Because when you’ve lost the foul Nick Fuentes. . .

Nick Fuentes (@NickJFuentes) talks about Donald Trump's "I lost by a whisker" comment admitting he lost the 2020 Election.

"Would have been good to know that before 16K people got charged. Before I got my money frozen & put on a Federal No Fly List." pic.twitter.com/v4pypEY6mV

— KaizerRev (@Kaizerrev) September 4, 2024

—Dana

[guest post by Dana]

When the priority is making darn sure that Donald Trump doesn’t step foot in the White House again because of the danger he poses, this is what you do:

Liz Cheney endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris at Duke University@newsobserver pic.twitter.com/taoMYNQ6d1

— Emma Cline (@emmacline_) September 4, 2024

Donald Trump, no matter what your policy views are—no matter if you are a conservative Republican or not—Donald Trump cannot be trusted with power. The power of the presidency is the most awesome power of any office anywhere in the world, and the character of the people we elect really matters. And, so what I say is, I understand the desire to think that you’re casting a vote for conservative policies, but—first of all, he is not a conservative, and he’s dangerous, and this is not a policy election, and we can talk about getting this country back on track once we get through this election cycle—but Donald Trump, if he is reelected, will be far more dangerous than we have ever seen before.

He has told us he believes you can terminate the Constitution. He’s gone to war with the rule of law. He repeatedly suggests that the people who assaulted and attacked the Capitol should be celebrated. He has said he will ignore the rulings of the courts. He won’t leave office. He is a risk that we simply can’t take, and he has to be defeated…

It is crucially important for people to recognize — not only is what I’ve just said about the danger Trump poses something that should prevent people from voting for him, but I don’t believe we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states.

As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this. And because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.

Good on Liz for backing up her words with action. No lip service for her. And what does it say that the Republican nominee is so reprehensible to so many Republicans that they would rather vote for a Democrat than vote for a man who has been found liable for sexual abuse, has attempted to overthrow legitimate election results, resisted a peaceful transfer of power, and faces a multitude of counts across four cases in which he has been charged? It says a heck of a lot about Trump, and none of it good.

—Dana

[guest post by Dana]

Just one day after the bodies of six Israeli hostages who had been killed by Hamas were discovered, President Biden made a rather egregious comment when asked if he believed that Prime Minister Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a deal for the release of the remaining hostages. While he expressed “devastation and outrage” over the killing of the hostages, he was pointed in his criticism of PM Netanyahu:

President Biden on Monday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal, adding pressure on the Israeli leader to reach a cease-fire agreement after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza over the weekend.

Biden was asked by reporters outside the White House on Monday if Netanyahu was doing enough to reach a hostage release agreement, to which he said, “No.”

When asked if mediators are prepared to present a final hostage deal this week to both Israel and Hamas, Biden said, “We are very close to that,” adding, “Hope springs eternal.”

Here’s what I don’t understand: Why is the burden to do something placed on Israel rather than a global increase of pressure on the depraved terrorist organization? Why is Israel blamed in this and not Hamas? Does President Biden really believe that PM Netanyahu isn’t doing enough? Look, we can agree that to one degree or another, PM Netanyahu has been caught up in the politics of this mess, no doubt. But can we agree that he is not actively preventing the hostages from being released? And I would ask: with any sort of exchange deal or ceasefire, what evidence has been demonstrated by Hamas that would lead anyone to believe that they are a trustworthy entity? Why should Israel trust that they will release the remaining hostages rather than kill them, no matter what/who is in turn exchanged? This is just ridiculous. If Hamas isn’t cut off at the head, the Palestinian people will never be free and will continue to live under the boot of Hamas. And Israel will forever remain under threat 24/7. There is no decency, no functioning moral compass, nothing righteous, or anything that would suggest any humanity within the members of Hamas. To the contrary. And yet the fools and idiots in the U.S. seem to believe otherwise.

PM Netanyahu responded to the accusation that he wasn’t doing enough to secure the hostages release:

Maximum pressure should be put on Hamas. pic.twitter.com/kQtTFzEUHG

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 2, 2024

All of this:

“Hamas probably can’t believe its luck-or the lack of moral seriousness by its enemies. The terrorists murder six Israeli hostages, including one dual-citizen American, and Israel is suddenly under pressure to make concessions-to Hamas.”

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

While it’s your standard back-to-school for most students, Georgia students at Apalachee High School, tragically faced an active school shooting. What is being reported (but is subject to change as more information is released):

At least four people are believed to have been killed and approximately 30 more were injured in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, although it’s unclear how many of the injuries are from gunshot wounds, according to law enforcement sources…A suspect, who is of student age, is in custody, but it’s unclear if the person actually attends the school, according to the sources…The shooter who opened fire inside Apalachee High school is believed to be a 14-year-old male, a law enforcement source tells CNN.

The source said it is not yet known whether the teen attended that school.

The FBI and ATF are at the school site supporting law enforcement.

NBC is reporting 9 injured:

Other law enforcement sources told CNN there could be up to 30 people who were injured, although it’s unclear how many of the injuries are from gunshot wounds.

Obviously this is a story in flux.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

Let’s go!

First news item:

That was then, this is now:

Pressed by Bash on her reversals on fracking and decriminalizing illegal border crossings, Harris sought to explain why her positions had changed.

“How should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made?” Bash asked Harris. “Is it because you have more experience now and you’ve learned more about the information? Is it because you were running for president in a Democratic primary? And should they feel comfortable and confident that what you’re saying now is going to be your policy moving forward?”

Harris said despite the shifts in position, her values had not changed.

“I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed,” she said. “You mentioned the Green New Deal. I have always believed – and I have worked on it – that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time.”

Her campaign later said Harris does not continue to support the Green New Deal, a wide-ranging proposal to address climate change first introduced in 2019.

Additionally:

Harris said she would renew a push for comprehensive border legislation that would tighten migration into the United States and vowed to “enforce our laws” against border crossings.

“We have laws that have to be followed and enforced, that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally, and there should be consequence,” she said.

She also hewed closely to President Joe Biden’s strong support of Israel and rejected calls from some in the Democratic Party that Washington should rethink sending weapons to Israel because of the heavy Palestinian death toll in Gaza.

She said she supports a strong Israel but “we must get a deal done” to get a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

Second news item

Trump making efforts to moderate his stand on abortion (to reach suburban women, who for some mysterious reason, just aren’t supporting him in massive numbers):

Trump, in a brief interview with NBC News, said he didn’t agree with the six-week ban adopted in Florida after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“I think the six week (ban) is too short — it has to be more time,” Trump told NBC News. “I told them I want more weeks.”

Trump also weighed in on IVF treatments:

“I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment,” the former president said at a campaign event in Potterville, Michigan.

“Because we want more babies, to put it very nicely. And for this same reason, we will also allow new parents to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes, so that parents that have a beautiful baby will be able, so we’re pro family,” Trump continued.

Clearly, these positions are an affront to the pro-life community. And his willingness to expand Obamacare is an interesting move for someone who once tried to repeal Obamacare.

He's about two weeks from endorsing taxpayer funding for abortion. https://t.co/7pVlqAzUfg

— Ramesh Ponnuru (@RameshPonnuru) August 29, 2024

Apparently, Trump has changed his mind:

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, has reversed his position on Florida’s restrictive abortion policies within just 24 hours. On Thursday, in an NBC News interview, Trump indicated he was against the state’s six-week abortion ban, calling it “too short” and stating his preference for allowing more time. “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,” Trump said.

However, by Friday, facing intense backlash from his right-wing base, Trump changed course. Speaking to Fox News’ Bryan Llenas, Trump endorsed Florida’s six-week abortion ban and confirmed he would vote against Florida Amendment 4, a ballot measure that would protect abortion rights under the state constitution. Despite reiterating discomfort with the six-week limit, Trump dismissed Florida Amendment 4 by lying about the bill. “The nine months is just a ridiculous situation,” Trump claimed, adding, “I will be voting no for that reason.”

Third news item

When they tell you who they are, believe them. When they show you who they are, believe them, and then decide if they are someone who deserves your vote:

Former President Donald Trump spent Wednesday night reposting a string of pictures on Truth Social of Vice President Kamala Harris depicted as a communist, in an orange prison jumpsuit and hiding from reporters. But he’s under fire for one image in particular that implied his Democratic rival traded sexual favors to advance her political career.

The images originally posted by @Beware_of_penguin shows an older photograph of Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton followed by the comment: “Funny how blowjobs impacted both their careers differently,” referring to the fact that Harris once dated San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Clinton’s husband had an affair with a White House intern.

And the misogynistic pig wonders why suburban women aren’t supporting him. . .

Trump’s spokesperson stumbled when asked about the post.

Fourth news item

President Zelensky coming to US:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he would eventually present a peace plan to President Biden and the current White House candidates, Vice President Harris and former President Trump.

Zelensky, speaking at a news conference in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, touched on the four-stage plan, saying the country’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region was the first pillar.

“Second direction is Ukraine’s strategic place in the security infrastructure of the world,” Zelensky said, according to CNN. “Third direction is the powerful package of forcing Russia to end the war in a diplomatic way, and the fourth direction is economical.”

Ukraine’s leader said he plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. While there, he plans to meet with Biden and will present the plan. Due to the uncertainty of who is going to win the 2024 election, Zelensky said he planned to share the plan with both Trump, the GOP nominee, and Harris, the newly-minted Democratic nominee.

Fifth news item

Regarding Donald Trump using Section 60 at Arlington Cemetery for a photo op:

Federal law prohibits campaign or election-related activities within Army national military cemeteries. A defense official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said the Trump campaign was warned about not taking photographs in Section 60 before their arrival and the altercation.

Sixth news item

Asking federal court to “indefinitely delay” sentencing:

Donald Trump asked a federal court late Thursday to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, seeking a pathway to overturn his felony conviction and indefinitely delay his sentencing scheduled for next month.

Lawyers for the former president and current Republican nominee asked the federal court in Manhattan to seize the case from the state court where it was brought and tried, arguing that the historic prosecution violated Trump’s constitutional rights and ran afoul of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity.

Have a great weekend.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

Let’s go!

First news item

A Republican speaks at the DNC:

How can a party claim to be patriotic if it idolizes a man who tried to overthrow a free and fair election? How can a party claim to stand for liberty if it sees a fight for freedom in Ukraine, an attack pitting tyranny against democracy, a challenge to everything our nation claims to be, and it retreats? It equivocates. It nominates a man who is weirdly obsessed with Putin. And his running mate, who has said, “I don’t care what happens in Ukraine.”

How can a party claim to be conservative when it tarnishes the gift our forebearers fought for?

. . .

Listen, all we’re asked to do is summon the courage to stand up to one weak man.

Second news item

The Taliban’s ongoing quest for “legitimacy” before the world:

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have issued a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public under new laws approved by the supreme leader in efforts to combat vice and promote virtue.

The laws were issued Wednesday after they were approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, a government spokesman said. The Taliban had set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice” after seizing power in 2021.

These obscene, tiny would-be men are successfully removing women from public, leaving only black-shrouded silent ghosts in their midst. I’ve never seen such chickenshit males. They shut down those that they are afraid of, lest the “walking coffins” find the bold courage that the women of Iran have found in the “Woman. Life. Freedom.” protests.

Third news item

In a nutshell:

Harris warned of the consequences of a second Trump term.

“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man, Harris said.

“But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”

“Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails,” she said.

Fourth news item

Yet again exposing their anti-Semitic underpants:

Not a single Jewish or Israeli victim of terror was included in the United Nations' exhibit on international victims of terrorism.

So we have to ask, when it comes to the @UN, do Jews not count? pic.twitter.com/fpZMXP5kb8

— ADL (@ADL) August 23, 2024

Fifth news item

From President Zelensky:

I am grateful to the United States for imposing additional strong sanctions against Russia today.

Nearly 400 sanctions targets in a new US package will further weaken Russia’s ability to wage an aggressive war against Ukraine.

Pressure on the aggressor must be maintained and increased constantly as long as Russia continues its aggression. I thank the U.S. for its leadership in this important effort.

Together with all our partners, all peace-loving nations, we must restore respect to the UN Charter and force Russia to make peace.

Sixth news item

Yep:

If the Republicans had nominated a person who offered minimal lip service to American values, was not a criminal, & didn’t instigate an attack on the Capitol, 80% of Kamala’s speech would’ve been moot.

Seems like nominating someone who couldn’t clear that bar was a mistake.

Seventh news item

More awfulness:

Bullets were found in the bodies of the six Israeli hostages retrieved from Gaza this week, the Israeli military and the Hostage Families Forum campaign group said on Thursday.

The military told Reuters it retrieved another four bodies alongside its hostages, presumed to be Hamas militants, and that those bodies did not show signs of bullet wounds.

The comments came a day after U.S. President Joe Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the urgency of sealing a deal for a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants there…A total of 109 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza. About a third of them are thought to be dead, with the fate of the others unknown.

Eighth news item

Making bank for Trump:

Late last year, former President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of car dealership owner Bernie Moreno for Ohio’s Senate seat – elevating an untested candidate who’d never held public office over several other more prominent Republicans.

Two days later, Moreno’s campaign spent about $17,000 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, and then followed up by spending an additional $79,000 the next month – making him one of the Florida club’s top political spenders.

He wasn’t alone. With glitzy Mar-a-Lago fundraisers, stays at Trump’s hotels, and flights on the former president’s private jet, Republican candidates and political groups are on track to spend more on Trump’s businesses this year than any year since 2016, according to a CNN analysis of federal campaign finance data.

Trump himself has been the biggest spender, both this year and over the last decade. Between his three presidential campaigns, Trump and associated political groups have funneled more than $28 million in campaign donations to his businesses – helping convert the enthusiasm of his political supporters into personal profit.

Other Republicans have followed suit, spending millions at Trump’s properties in an apparent attempt to curry favor with the former president and signal their allegiance to him to GOP voters.

Ninth news item

We are all um, “normal,” like you:

The sight at the Democratic convention on Wednesday night of Tim Walz’s 17-year-old son leaping to his feet, with streaming eyes, a hand to his chest with a cry of “That’s my Dad” was heart piercing.

As the mother of Georgie, a 38-year-old on-the-spectrum son who still lives with me, I recognized him immediately as one of “ours,” a sweet, unfiltered, slightly bewildered-looking young man who wasn’t quite sure what was expected of him in this epic moment of political adulation…

[F]or people who are different and have no support, the world can be bleak. Their loneliness can be agonizing. Some people assume the school days are the hardest, but it’s the years after that are the social desert. Having a friendly, forgiving workplace to go to is critical. It’s often their only taste of community and what makes them such reliable and rewarding employees. The work from home movement has been a killer for people with special needs, often depriving them of the only social connections they have.

Whether on the left or right side of the political aisle, just be kind. It really isn’t that hard.

Tenth news item

The very last sentence says it all:

At the beginning of August, a coalition of bipartisan senators organized a meeting with Sullivan. Sullivan has at various times held meetings with the senators to discuss Ukraine. But during this encounter, the delegation had one, unified message: The administration needs to change its stance now before it is too late, according to a person who was briefed on the meeting.

Their argument was similar to one they and many others, including Ukrainians, have made before. The U.S. should lift all restrictions, they say, because if it doesn’t and Ukraine loses, the administration will be known as the one that didn’t do enough when it could.

That framing has at times angered senior officials in the White House who insist Washington has done more than any other country to help support Kyiv and that it shouldn’t have to risk its own national security for Kyiv. Officials in certain corners of the administration, particularly inside the White House, have told the Ukrainians that the U.S. will eventually want to reset relations with Moscow and lifting the restrictions could upend those efforts.

So now we know why the Biden administration has consistently been slow to provide needed weapons to Ukraine. It’s just another way that the White House doesn’t want to ruffle Moscow’s feathers. At first, it was the fear of escalation with Russia. That myth has been laid to rest, however. Now it’s concern that we won’t be able to re-establish relations with Russia. Unbelievable.

Kasparov has it right:

The other possibility is what I warned about, that the White House is propping up a war criminal dictator in the hope of normalizing relations with him. Russia is already falling apart, stop trying to rescue it. Accelerate it and start planning for a brighter post-Putin future.

Have a great weekend.

–Dana

[ guest post by Dana]

Let’s go!

First news item

They remain strong and tenacious:

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in his address on Aug. 15 that Ukrainian forces had captured the entire Russian town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian troops had taken control of more than 80 settlements in Kursk Oblast during the ongoing operation, Zelensky added.

Ukraine is establishing a military administration in the town of Sudzha, according to Zelensky.

From the White House on the incursion:

US officials are assessing how the incursion might reshape the political and military dynamics of the war, as well as the implications for Washington’s long-shifting stance on how Ukraine can use American-supplied arms.

The stunning raid, catching both Russian and apparently Western leaders by surprise, highlights one of the riskiest dilemmas for the Western-backed defence of Ukraine: President Biden has consistently tried to empower Kyiv to push back Russia’s invasion without risking an American escalation with Moscow. As President Putin has always tried to portray the conflict as a war between Russia and the West, Mr Biden has sought to put clear limits on US policy to deflate that narrative and prevent a conflagration.

. . .

As for the use of US weapons, spokespeople from the White House, Pentagon and State Department won’t officially confirm whether they are being used, but it seems overwhelmingly clear that they are, given Ukraine’s reliance on US and Nato weapons systems. Vladislav Seleznyov, a former spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces’ general staff, told Voice of America that US-provided HIMAR rocket launchers had been critical to the advance.
US approval for the use of its weapons by Ukraine in the Kursk incursion is certainly being implicitly given.

Reminder:

Russia depends on the will of others more than many people realize. A lot of Russia’s capability to sustain the war in Ukraine is not inherent and is, therefore, vulnerable. The Kremlin acquired some of its capabilities by force, manipulation, or by exploiting Western resources and sanctuaries.

Second news item

Kamala’s plans:

“Price gouging” is the focus of Vice President Kamala Harris’s economic agenda, her presidential campaign says. She’ll crack down on “excessive prices” and “excessive corporate profits,” particularly for groceries.

. . .

In a news release Wednesday, her campaign said the first 100 days of her presidency would include the “first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries — setting clear rules of the road to make clear that big corporations can’t unfairly exploit consumers to run up excessive corporate profits on food and groceries.”

What are these “clear rules of the road” or the thresholds that determine when a price or profit level becomes “excessive”? The memo doesn’t say, and the campaign did not answer questions. . .

The report suggests the model Harris is referring to is a recent bill from Sen. Elizabeth Warren. And that is not a good thing:

It’s hard to exaggerate how bad this policy is. It is, in all but name, a sweeping set of government-enforced price controls across every industry, not only food. Supply and demand would no longer determine prices or profit levels. Far-off Washington bureaucrats would. The FTC would be able to tell, say, a Kroger in Ohio the acceptable price it can charge for milk.

At best, this would lead to shortages, black markets and hoarding, among other distortions seen previous times countries tried to limit price growth by fiat. (There’s a reason narrower “price gouging” laws that exist in some U.S. states are rarely invoked.) At worst, it might accidentally raise prices.

Third news item

Protesters to be limited at Democratic National Convention:

A coalition of activist groups planning a massive protest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week are crying foul after Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration issued last-minute denials of requests to set up stages and sound systems for rallies in parks near the United Center.

In an emergency petition filed in U.S. District Court late Wednesday, the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention, which has a pending civil rights lawsuit against the city over protest preparations, called the move a bait-and-switch violation of their constitutional rights.

. . .

In their nine-page motion for an injection, however, the activist groups say the real motive for the last-minute, “made-up process” was to try and silence their protests against the Israeli military action in Gaza and other concerns. Activists have estimated that as many as 20,000 participants from across the country could be in Chicago for the event.

“The DNC has an interest in minimizing the exposure of Democratic officials to protests, particularly around the issues plaintiffs seeking to protest,” the motion stated. “The reason the city is denying … the opportunity to use stages and a sound system is because, at the behest of the DNC, they do not want the speeches heard.”

History at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago being what it is, this would seem to likely provoke protesters to show up at the convention in angry droves.

Fourth news item

But of course:

Former President Trump’s legal team requested on Wednesday that the judge in his hush money case delay sentencing until after the November presidential election.

Why it matters: Trump’s sentencing for the 34 felony counts he was convicted of is scheduled on Sept. 18. The Republican presidential nominee’s lawyers said in a letter that proceeding with the date would constitute election interference.
“Setting aside naked election-interference objectives, there is no valid countervailing reason for the court to keep the current sentencing date on the calendar,” attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in the request to Judge Juan Merchan, who has overseen the case.

Fifth news item

I’m glad he’s sober now, but too bad he fibbed about the arrest, whether by allowing his campaign to do so or by his own omission:

When Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz first ran for Congress in 2006, his campaign repeatedly made false statements about the details of his 1995 arrest for drunk and reckless driving.

According to court and police records connected to the incident, Walz admitted in court that he had been drinking when he was pulled over for driving 96 mph in a 55 mph zone in Nebraska. Walz was then transported by a state trooper to a local hospital for a blood test, showing he had a blood alcohol level of .128, well above the state’s legal limit of 0.1 at the time.

But in 2006, his campaign repeatedly told the press that he had not been drinking that night, claiming that his failed field sobriety test was due to a misunderstanding related to hearing loss from his time in the National Guard. The campaign also claimed that Walz was allowed to drive himself to jail that night.

If the media considered that it was important to report on George W. Bush’s DUI, then it’s equally as important to report on Tim Walz’s as well.

Sixth news item

Why doesn’t Trump hold our military members in the highest regard?

Trump: When we gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom… It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor— it’s actually much better because everyone who gets the Congressional Medal, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many… pic.twitter.com/a766KxAC2e

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 16, 2024

Shameful.

Seventh news item

Trump: And as you know, the Supreme Court ruled recently on immunity, and I'm immune from all of this stuff, that they charged me with. pic.twitter.com/M72HqH6PKk

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 15, 2024

Eighth news item

Trump: Virtually 100% of the net job creation in the last year has gone to migrants In fact I've heard substantially more and actually beyond that number 100%. It’s a much higher number than that but the government has not caught up with that yet. pic.twitter.com/OhXChdai8n

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 15, 2024

Have a great weekend.

—Dana

[guest post by Dana]

Third Ivy League university president bites the dust:

Columbia University president Minouche Shafik resigned on Wednesday following months of criticism from students, donors and members of Congress over how she handled pro-Palestinian protests on campus, she announced in a letter addressed “to the Columbia community.”

…Elite colleges have struggled to balance the right to protest with student safety — none more so than Columbia, which became the epicenter of the student protest movement.

From Shafik:

“I have had the honor and privilege to lead this incredible institution, and I believe that — working together — we have made progress in a number of important areas,” she said on Wednesday.

“However, it has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community. This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community.” Shafik said her departure from the role “would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead.”

Really?? Is the challenge to “overcome divergent views”? I would think the challenge is to listen to divergent views and try to find common ground. If that is not possible, then one must recognize and accept that a fellow student has the right to their own beliefs and views. Maybe work thoughtfully to persuade them to understand your own view or leave it alone. However, none of this involves screaming, harassing, threatening, getting physical, or preventing students who don’t share your views from accessing classes and moving thorough the campus, freely and without risk.

Ironically, a federal judge took another prominent university to task for not ensuring the safety of Jewish students and their access to classes:

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction this week against UCLA, saying the prestigious school cannot allow Jewish students to be barred from accessing classes and campus.

The ruling Tuesday is the first of its kind against a university pertaining to anti-Israel protests that roiled American college campuses this year.

Three Jewish students had filed a complaint against the regents of UCLA in June saying that the university in Los Angeles devolved into a “hotbed of antisemitism” in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war and that the school failed to ensure the safety of Jewish students and full access to campus facilities.

From U.S. District Judge Mark C. Scarsi:

“Jewish students were excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith. This fact is so unimaginable and so abhorrent to our constitutional guarantee of religious freedom,” he wrote…“If any part of UCLA’s ordinarily available programs, activities, and campus areas become unavailable to certain Jewish students, UCLA must stop providing those ordinarily available programs, activities, and campus areas to any students,” Scarsi wrote.

Demonstrating UCLA’s deep concern for the Jewish plaintiffs (and by extension, other Jewish students not a part of this lawsuit), the school responded to the temporary injunction:

A spokesperson for UCLA criticized the ruling to the Los Angeles Times, saying it would “improperly hamstring our ability to respond to events on the ground.” They added that the school is “considering all options moving forward”; the university had previously indicated it could appeal. UCLA’s fall semester for law students begins this month.

I’m reading this as: UCLA believes that it really is *that* difficult to ensure a specific group of students be able to attend class and move around the campus freely, without restraint or harm. And if that’s the case, it’s not the Jewish students that are the problem…

–Dana

[guest post by JVW]

Now that Kamala Harris has spent the last twenty-four days avoiding having to stake out any positions on hot-button issues, buttressed along by a compliant media which is content to honor her vow of silence at least until the Democrats convene in Chicago next week, the current Vice-President apparently feels comfortable that she can tease out some of her dumbest ideas. Behold:

On Friday in North Carolina, Vice President Harris intends to announce a plan to prevent corporations in the food and grocery industries from unfairly jacking up prices on consumers, by imposing the first-ever federal ban on corporate price-gouging in these industries.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 15, 2024

I’m not going to waste anybody’s time explaining why price controls, even those described as anti-“price gouging,” are such a horrible idea and what the quite foreseeable unforeseen consequences of this nonsense are. I know that most readers here (with a few notable exceptions) understand this fully. But for as ridiculous as the policy is, this likely represents moderately smart politics. Among the shrinking number of undecided voters, I would hazard a guess that a majority of them actually do believe that a “ban” on “price-gouging” is workable and wise. And this sort of cynical pandering is a way to deflect attention from the fact that inflation has run rampant during the Biden years. Sure, some of that is the inevitable supply-chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, but it has become more and more clear even among progressives that the Democrats’ obsession with haphazardly throwing around fiat money has exacerbated the problem.

Perhaps Team Kamala is counting on the Council of Economic Advisors or even skittish Congressional Democrats to put the kibosh on price controls should she be elected, or at the very least to undermine them in such a way that they serve as nothing more than a harmless PR stunt designed to impress the mush-minds. But as we start to hear more policy prescriptions from the Democrat ticket, it will likely be quite difficult for them to restrain their inner Naderism and hostility to certain forms of capitalism. A competent and thoughtful Republican nominee could do a lot of damage pointing out the folly of these harebrained schemes, but alas, that’s not whom the GOP chose to nominate this year. So much the worse.

– JVW