WORLD PALOMA DAY UPDATES
Read Until The End To Find Out How To Enjoy Your Own Paloma!
-Ukraine has confirmed that its forces have left the besieged city of Bakhmut, conceding that Russian and Wagner Group forces now occupy what most observers refer as its ruins. That said, Ukraine (and independent observers) note that while the city proper is under Russian control, Ukrainian forces have taken up positions to the north and south of the city - which occupies higher ground, surrounds the Russian forces in a classic military 'pincher' move, and allows Ukrainian forces to attack and patrol supply lines, not to mention continue to attack all the forces Russia uses to maintain the city while (at least to Ukrainian officials) allowing Ukraine to continue to plot a counteroffensive.
-Whether in retaliation to all of this or not - but certainly in retaliation to the newest set of sanctions assessed over Russia - over the weekend Vladimir Putin released a list of American celebrities that he has officially banned (BANNED!) from entering Mother Russia. The list is quite familiar (Barack Obama, Rachel Maddow, Stephen Colbert, Seth Myers, Jimmy Kimmel and most CNN reporters) not only because these represent a number of cultural figures highly critical of Putin, but also just so happen to be highly critical of Putin's BFF, Ex-President Trump - even after CNN's Trump Town Hall telecast. It is not likely any of these folks are headed to Russia any time in the near future.
-Also, SLAVA UKRAINI!
-President Biden and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (SINO-R, CA) will meet today in an effort to restart negotiations on extending the debt ceiling. The meeting comes after multiple reports revealed that the UltraMAGA faction of the House, taking its cue from a Trump posting on social media ("Ask for everything - even the kitchen sink!" and "Hold out for everything!") (paraphrases), sent into negotiations a list of demands that were more radical than the previous demands which, as Biden and Senate leaders have pointed out, will never pass the Senate. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen repeated next Thursday, June 1, as a "hard date" after which America may default on its loans without some action taken to extend the ceiling, be that a bipartisan agreement or a discharge petition or the 14th Amendment.
-Meanwhile, UltraMAGA House members continue to set their priorities, taking their cue from the discredited-everywhere-except-right-wing-media Durham Report, as over the weekend UltraMAGA representatives from Jim "Gym" Jordan to Byron Donaldson and commentators ranging from still-being-sued-by-Dominion Maria Bartiromo to current Trump extended family member Kimberly Guilfoyle all said that there was enough damning information in the Durham report to justify an investigation iiinnnnTTOOO -
-ALLLL RIGHT! LEMME HEARYA! GOOD AND LOUD!
-AAAA-ONE, AAAA-TWO, AAAA-THREEE ...
-HILLARY!
-RODHAM!
-CLIIIINNN-TOOOONNNN!!!!
-Yep. House leaders in this, the 118th Congress, and right-wing news media, in 2023, are AGAIN invoking the right's favorite binky over the last 30+ years to try to get something, ANYthing, out of the Durham report. No word on whether Ms. Clinton, speaking in Chicago tonight as part of the Illinois Humanities Festival, will comment or even notice.
-Meanwhile, here on Earth One, the Guardian reports Special Counsel Jack Smith has obtained over 50 pages of handwritten notes from former Trump attorney Evan Corcoran that corroborates testimony from the National Archives that Trump was personally and repeatedly told he did not have magic powers to declassify highly-classified documents, that there were procedures to follow to declassify what documents could be declassified, and what those procedures were. When linked to the resignation of another Trump attorney Tim Parlatore and Parlatore's accusations that it was a third Trump attorney, Boris Epsteyn, that was the force behind blocking discovery and recovery of some of those documents (including documents still not returned). All may be pointing to action against Trump on those sets of investigations.
-We close with golf news - and a genuine feel-good story involving Michael Block, a club professional at a public course in Mission Viejo, CA, who qualified to compete in the PGA Open along with other club pros. Block had an almost literal Hollywood story of a tournament. He made the cut, finished in the top 15 at even par (guaranteeing him a spot in next year's PGA tourney) and was paired with superstar Rory McElroy for the final round. How can it be better? WELL, Block highlighted his round with a hole-in-one on the 15th hole in the storied Oak Hill course (his reaction: "Are you serious? Oh boy - that should be fun!"), bringing a crowd at his home course (filmed by his son) to their feet and leaving the modest, funny, and thankful Block in tears when interviewed by CBS after his round. He even took home a cool $290,000 or so and invitations to other PGA tournaments. Because sometimes ... sports!
-On this date in 1455, the War of the Roses began. On this date in 1856, an argument about slavery escalated into a vicious attack via cane by Rep. Preston Brooks on Sen. Charles Sumner in the Senate chamber. (It took Sumner three years to recover, while Brooks became a hero in the South.) (In case you thought all of this was unique to this time.) On this date in 1939, Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini sealed their alliance with the so-called "Pact of Steel" (it did not go well in the end). On this date in 1972, Richard Nixon became the first American President to travel to the Soviet Union. And on this date in 1992, Johnny Carson ended his run as host of THE TONIGHT SHOW.
-Happy Birthday to Richard Wagner, Arthur Conan Doyle, Herge (creator of Tintin), Sir Laurence Olivier, Johnny Olson, Sun Ra, Quinn Martin, Charles Aznavour, Harvey Milk, Arne Harris, M. Scottt Peck, Richard Benjamin, Bernard Shaw, Mick Tinglehoff, Paul Winfield, Tommy John, Bernie Taupin, Jerry Dammers, Lisa Murkowski, Morrissey, Jose Mesa, and Naomi Campbell.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Martha Washington, Victor Hugo, Langston Hughes, Lefty Grove, Rocky Graziano, John Derek, Dina Merrill, and Jerry Sloan.
-Feed the Worms: Ted Kacynski entered Earth on this date.
-Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens and COVID-denying tennis superstar Novak Djokovic were born on this date. You decide if they get a Happy Birthday or if they Feeds the Worms.
-Congratulations - now make yourself a refreshing Paloma! All you need is ice, 2 oz of tequila or mezcal, 1/2 oz lime juice (always fresh, please!), 3 oz or more Squirt or other grapefruit soda, and maybe even some chili salt to line the brim with for a fancy touch. YOU'RE WELCOME!