WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY UPDATES
Because It's Too Damn Hot Out There ...
-"The boss wants the server deleted." Thus does Jack Smith quote Carlos DeOlivera in yesterday's surprise superseding indictment against DeOlivera's Mar-a-Lago boss, Still Twice-Impeached (so far) Ex-President (STIsfEP) Trump, which multiple reporters this morning compare to different kinds of families that Trump has reportedly been known to envision what he is doing as. The 'server' in question is the server containing video that is believed to show Trump and employees like DeOlivera moving documents around to not return to the government after multiple subpoenas and orders to do so. In a point of clarification, the first two new charges involve CONSPIRACY to obstruct justice, meaning it is not clear by the indictments whether DeOlivera or others found a different way to "delete" the server ... like, say, in a flood in a pool room, which actually did happen after the aforementioned exchange took place ... HMMMM ...
-The third new charge assessed against Trump involves a 32nd document - the document that Trump waved around in a recording obtained by Smith's team in which Trump admits people who are looking at the document should not be since even Trump did not declassify that document. The document in question contained war plans against Iran, and that document was re-acquired by DoJ - which is an indication that the document is likely to be a feature in the document trial currently scheduled for next May.
-Whether even these developments will sway hardcore MAGAts and Trumpers is in doubt, given recent polling that shows over 50% of Trump supporters not only will still support Trump, not only believe Trump is totally innocent of all the charges assessed against him, apparently believe Trump's morning social media posts claiming the "Biden crime family" is engaging in "ELECTION INTERFERENCE!" with the newest charges, but believe - DESPITE TRUMP HIMSELF BEING ON TAPE SAYING HE ABSOLUTELY DID - that Trump DID NOT take any classified documents at all.
-The power of a cult of personality ...
-In the Senate, a defense appropriation bill that passed with votes from both parties sets up a likely contentious reconciliation session with the House, whose defense appropriation bill included a laundry list of radical right demands - including ending abortion rights in the military, an end to transgender health services to soldiers and their families, and an end to all diversity, equity, and inclusion training - that simply will not fly in the Senate. Rumblings of threats to shut down the government by the UltraMAGAts through their ventriloquist dummy, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (SINO-R, CA), are beginning to be heard when Congress returns from their summer break.
-Meanwhile, Senate rumblings are getting louder over the health of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (TuRtle, KY). On Tuesday, McConnell froze in mid-sentence at the start of a regular press briefing and had to be led away from the mike by fellow Republicans - and while McConnell claimed he was fine, news services have since reported McConnell has fallen multiple times in the last few months, that after being hospitalized for about a week after hitting his head on a fall. McConnell, 81, highlights the fact that 16 members of the Senate are over the age of 75 (as are the two leading Presidential candidates), most prominently 89-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein (who had to be prompted to vote "AYE" on a motion yesterday), who is serving in part because attempts by Democrats to replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee have been blocked ... by McConnell and his GOP caucus ... who, according to reports, has been struggling with health issues going as far back as 2020.
-Reports out of Ukraine are that the major part of their counteroffensive has begun this week, with NATO-trained and armed divisions entering the battle to try to break through thick Russian defense lines (which the BBC described include multi-layered and remote-controlled land mines within trenches) and progress being measured in kilometers. This as Russia continues to attack grain shipments, including ships in the Black Sea, and as old Putin pal Yevgeny Prigozhin appearing this morning in a Russian conference of African countries.
-All of that is taking place amid a controversy in the world of fencing, where a Ukrainian fencer defeated a Russian opponent at the World Fencing Championships in Milan - and then refused to shake hands with the competitor. The Russian fencer than sat in a chair for 45 minutes on the fencing court pouting and demanding punishment against Olga Kharlan - and succeeding. Kharlan, the captain of the Ukrainian team who is a World Champion and four-time Olympic medalist, was disqualified for her action, leading to demands from her federation to have Russian athletes banned (currently Russians are allowed to compete as individuals not representing any country). This amid demands that Russia and Belarus be banned from international competitions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kharlan remains unapologetic.
-Throughout this all ... SLAVA UKRAINI!
-On this date in 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, triggering the start of World War I. On this date in 1868, the 14th Amendment entered into force. Big date for movie debuts - WHITE ZOMBIE (first zombie film!) in 1932, ON THE WATERFRONT in 1954, and ANIMAL HOUSE in 1978. And on this date in 2005, the Irish Republican Army said it would end the use of violence to achieve its political objectives.
-Happy Birthday to Beatrix Potter, Marcel Duchamp, Dr. Charles William Mayo, Rudy Vallee, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jacques d'Amboise, Robert Hughes, Riccardo Muti, Bill Bradley, Mike Bloomfield, Richard Wright, Jim Davis, Sally Struthers, Georgia Engel, Gerald Casale, Vida Blue, Doug Collins, Carol Higgins Clark, Terry Fox, Jonathan Gold, Alexis Arquette, Elizabeth Berkeley, Hannah Waddingham, Huma Abedin, Manu Ginobli, Kate Bolduan, Soulja Boy, and Harry Kane.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Cyrano de Bergerac (he was a real person!), Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Dr. William James Mayo, Dr. Charles William Mayo, Frank Loesser, Eileen Brennan, Dusty Hill, and Ron Popeil.
-Feed the Worms: Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez entered Earth on this date.
-TV actress turned college tuition scam artist Lori Loughlin, Never Trumper but Still-a-Cheney former Rep. Liz Cheney, and UFC President Dana White were born on this date. Thomas Cromwell and Robespierre were offed on this date. You decide if they get Happy Days and Rests or if they Feed the Worms.