A World War of Economic Attrition

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Rayne
This is a world war aimed at economic attrition; its effects need to be gamed out, beginning with wheat futures.

Three Things: Part 3 — Putin's Particular Peculiarities

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Rayne
Perhaps it doesn't matter what's going with Putin; we must assume the most radical, worst case scenario no matter Putin's condition.
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"Thanks to your bullshit we're now under siege"

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emptywheel
Emails between John Eastman and Mike Pence's counsel suggest that Eastman figured that by forcing the Congress to adjourn, they would effectively force Pence into breaking the ECA, which Eastman shamelessly used to demand Pence further violate the law. 
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What Sedition Looks Like: Lots of Stewart Rhodes, but Key Uncharged Others

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emptywheel
Joshua James' statement of offense lays out a lot more evidence of Stewart Rhodes' plans for insurrection. But the silences may be just as interesting.

Three Things: Part 2 — Russia's Idiosyncratic Military Deployment [UPDATE-1]

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Rayne
There are so many quirks to Russia's military deployment in its invasion of Ukraine that it's obvious to non-military observers this has not been an effective mission or missions.
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It's Official: January 6 Was Sedition

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emptywheel
For those of you who've been wondering what Merrick Garland's DOJ has been doing for the last year, it's this: January 6 was officially, for at least one participant, sedition. 
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The Single-Legged Stool of the Horseshoe Left's Apology for Putin

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emptywheel
Key mouthpieces of the purportedly anti-imperialist Putin-apologizing horseshoe left has embraced Putin's false claim that this attack is only about NATO and not also about democracy.
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John Durham and Newly-Sanctioned Alfa Bank's Filings: "Almost like they were written by the same people"

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emptywheel
In a DC hearing on February 9 regarding Alfa Bank's attempt to obtain documents from Michael Sussmann before his trial, DC Superior Judge Shana Frost Matini observed that the Alfa Bank allegations and the John Durham indictment seemed like they…
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EDNY Notes that Tom Barrack Won't Explain the Tactical Advantage of Waiting to Charge Him

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emptywheel
In response to Tom Barrack's argument that he should have been charged early enough for Trump to pardon him, DOJ notes that he has referenced nothing unavailable now that might have provided a defense unavailable now.

Three Things: Part 1 — Cognitive Dissonance and Ukraine

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Rayne
Cognitive dissonance may have been to blame for the low key response to Russia's previous incursions beginning in 2008, and now in Ukraine. It's time to wake up, snap out of it.
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Questions for Bill Barr about His Cover-Ups Pertaining to Ukraine and Russia, Starting with: Who Withdrew the Red Notice for Yevgeniy Prigozhin?

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emptywheel
Among the many questions that Bill Barr should be asked as he attempts to launder his reputation against the backdrop of the Russian invasion are what happened to the arrest warrant issued against the owner of Putin's contract killers, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, for his role in Russia's 2016 operation against US democracy?

Three Things: The C C D of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

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Rayne
Colonialism, a rejection of consent, DARVO -- they're all elements of Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

How Not to Lose a World War between Authoritarianism and Democracy, Two

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emptywheel
One of the key developments of the last day is that China abstained from a UN vote attempting to condemn the Russian invasion. But there has been lots more bad news for Putin, as well.

How Not to Lose a World War between Authoritarianism and Democracy

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emptywheel
Vladimir Putin prefers authoritarianism because its easier to coerce legitimacy than negotiating it. That's true. It would be far easier if Biden could order China to stay out, if Biden could order Germany to buy off on greater financial sanctions, if Biden could ignore right wing efforts to use financial stress to undermine his Administration.  He can't. That's what makes defending democracy all that more difficult.

Rudy Giuliani Attacks Biden as SDNY Sifts Through His Comms for Ukraine Foreign Agent Investigation

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emptywheel
Trump was not serious about Ukraine. He viewed it as nothing more than a political football. Almost his entire party backed him in that effort. And his former attorney, wailing on Twitter about the 'CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER" posed by "mentally deteriorating [men], who [were] of limited intelligence even before [] dementia" remains under criminal investigation as an unregistered agent of Russian-backed Ukrainians for his role in politicizing Ukraine.

Ukraine Defends Democracy

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emptywheel
Some links of what I've reading as I doom-scroll the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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Putin's Playmates Trump and Tucker Remind Trumpsters They've Been Trained to Love Putin

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emptywheel
If Putin has his way, his Ukraine war will split the United States in two. He plans to do that by keeping Trump supporters trained to love Putin more than they like their own country.
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The Half of Trump's Conspiracy to Obstruct JustSecurity Left Out: Inciting an Insurrection

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emptywheel
To prove that Trump violated 18 USC 1512(c)(2) in attempting to prevent the vote certification, you need to prove he acted corruptly. The easiest way to do that is to show that he conspired with the rioters already charged with breaking other laws.
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After Almost Six Years, FEC Reveals Identity of the Guy Who Asked for Guccifer 2.0's Help to Beat David Cicilline

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emptywheel
It turns out none of the congressional candidates people suspected of being the one who solicited help from Guccifer 2.0 in 2016. Instead, that person is a Republican named Russell Taub, who asked for help trying to beat Rhode Island's David Cicilline.
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