Subaru Diane sent in this great video. It’s only 9 minutes.
Open thread!
A Good Combination: Entertainment and Education Open ThreadPost + Comments (1)
This post is in: Open Threads
Subaru Diane sent in this great video. It’s only 9 minutes.
Open thread!
A Good Combination: Entertainment and Education Open ThreadPost + Comments (1)
This post is in: Open Threads, Politics
The courts won’t save us, and neither will corporate media. We are running out of saviors, dammit!
Politics is information warfare, and too many Democrats are content to outsource our messaging to the folks who think Ronna McDaniel is worth hiring.
I was struck by that comment from Dan Pfeiffer – who is arguably the smartest of the Obama Bros – in his latest article:
On one level, who cares that much about how NBC News wants to spend $300,000 a year? They are a big network owned by an even bigger mega-corporation. The line items for pastries in the green room is likely larger than McDaniel’s salary.
The whole Ronna fiasco shows that people who call the shots in the media aren’t coping with the reality of covering Donald Trump and an extremist movement prone to violence.
What was NBC thinking? Did they believe that someone publicly defenestrated by Trump possessed special insight into his campaign and possible future White House? Did they hope paying McDaniel would buy them credibility with Republican viewers or politicians? Maybe they thought McDaniel had some special insight or talent never previously demonstrated in countless media appearances.
They didn’t think it all. NBC hired McDaniel because that’s what they have always done.
.
NBC — and most of the press — have yet to accept the reality that this is not a normal election between a Republican and a Democrat. Donald Trump and his enablers represent an extraordinary threat to democracy.
This industry, which prizes objectivity above all else, is incapable of accurately covering an election where one candidate is a normal politician and the other is a dishonest, corrupt insurrectionist.
To accurately portray events would make the press out to be biased and they would rather stumble into autocracy than take a side.
At the end of the day, traditional media outlets are line items in the P&L sheets of larger corporations. Despite the democracy-saving work done by many journalists in often dangerous situations, their bosses are only judged on whether they make money for a parent company.
.
Politics is information warfare, and too many Democrats are content to outsource our messaging to the folks who think Ronna McDaniel is worth hiring.
Mainstream media can make us crazy because we think they should care about Democracy. The days of the media being the fourth leg of the stool – the one that allowed the rest of the system to work – are long gone. Now it’s about making money and promoting the party line, and unfortunately for all of us, the mainstream media people consider them part of the elites.
Funny thing, though, the actual elites know that they are not. They are simply pawns.
What alternative media do you guys go to now that old media has lost its way? Talking Points Memo is the only one I support with my dollars. How about you guys? What sources do you think are worth paying for? Other good sources that are free?
This post is in: Open Threads
Just got home, I’ve got nothin’ but this awesome Biden ad and an open thread.
Boom. Dark Brandon rises again by releasing a new ad that drags Donald Trump for playing golf & driving golf carts while he has visited 8 swing states in only 18 days. THIS is how it’s done. So brutal. So freaking good. Watch & share this.
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) March 28, 2024
Well, okay, and a little mocker of Judge (Loose) Cannon:
Undocketed filings in US v Trump (M-a-L) are stacking up. Yesterday the govt sought permission to file a surreply relating to a reply that isn't docketed yet, which related to a response that isn't docketed yet, which related to a motion that isn't docketed yet. pic.twitter.com/wYfVQ25M9j
— Roger Parloff (@rparloff) March 28, 2024
This post is in: 2024 Elections, C.R.E.A.M., Open Threads, President Biden, Proud to Be A Democrat, Vice-President Harris
Biden leans on his Democratic predecessors as Trump remains isolated from other Republican leaders https://t.co/LSHDpy4ip1
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 27, 2024
Per the Associated Press:
When President Joe Biden needs advice, there are two people he can turn to who know what it’s like to sit in his chair. Sometimes he will invite Barack Obama over to the White House for a meal or he will get on the phone with Bill Clinton.
The three men share decades of history at the pinnacle of American and Democratic leadership, making them an unusual trio in presidential history. Although there has sometimes been friction as their ambitions and agendas have diverged, they have spent years building toward a similar vision for the country.
On Thursday, their partnership will be on display in what has been described as a one-of-a-kind fundraising extravaganza in New York City to help Biden build on his already significant cash advantage in this year’s presidential election. It’s a dramatic show of force intended to rally the Democratic Party faithful to secure a second term for Biden despite his stubbornly low poll numbers and doubts due to his age (81)…
The display of solidarity is a sharp contrast to Donald Trump’s isolation from other Republican leaders.
Although Trump has solidified his grip on his party on the way to becoming the presumptive nominee, not even his own former vice president, Mike Pence, is willing to endorse Trump’s bid for another White House term. The only other living Republican president, George W. Bush, is not a supporter, either…
The reports from tonight’s big event should be interesting:
President Biden is bringing out the celebrities for high-dollar fundraiser with Obama, Clinton https://t.co/Zsmvnq66Fe
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) March 27, 2024
Expanded access to Medicare and Medicaid.
Historic investment in youth mental health.
Strengthened the Affordable Care Act.Over the past three years, @JoeBiden and I have made health care more accessible and affordable for Americans. pic.twitter.com/NK1oEQ464U
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 27, 2024
The contrast is clear.
President @JoeBiden and I expanded access to affordable health care. Trump and extremists around the country are trying to take away health care coverage. pic.twitter.com/x6SilZb8Ar
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) March 27, 2024
An honor to be invited to the United States' @VP residence, along with the @WomensSportsFdn, for the first-ever celebration of women in sports. #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM pic.twitter.com/Al5ydZ21u8
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 27, 2024
Thursday Morning Open Thread: Calling On the Super FriendsPost + Comments (186)
by WaterGirl| 25 Comments
This post is in: On The Road, Photo Blogging
We spent a little time in these two Oregon Coast towns. We were camped in Cannon Beach for four days and spent one of them on a day trip to Astoria, the first town settled west of the Rockies. The guidebooks say that many Victorian houses were built on the hills – if they were there we didn’t see them. We saw lots of nice bungalows and Craftsman houses though (I suspect the author wasn’t schooled in American residential architecture). We started our visit at the Astoria Column, browsed the Saturday market with street closures and walked around downtown.
The most notable part of Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock, just offshore. Low tide brings out families to investigate the tide pools, along with birders looking for puffins. The town itself is a typical upscale beach town, lots of good restaurants, and because it’s the Pacific Northwest, lots of coffee shops.
Astoria Column
This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Proud to Be A Democrat, Science & Technology
“We will come together around Baltimore, and we will rebuild together.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the Biden administration is focused on four areas related to transportation as the investigation continues in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/4pLlXq7kZr
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 27, 2024
4,700 containers on the ship that caused Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, and 56 of those contain hazardous materials — that aren't threat to public, US Coast Guard's Gautier tells us. The vessel is stable but has over 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil and lube oil on board. pic.twitter.com/h3Xc15HijM
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2024
Buttigieg on Key Bridge collapse: "I don't know how a bridge possibly could withstand the forces that were at play when this vessel, about the same size as a Nimitz class US aircraft carrier, struck the key support beam for that bridge," but will await NTSB investigation. pic.twitter.com/YH7sDH7dsI
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2024
JUST IN: Maryland lawmakers are drafting emergency legislation for income replacement to assist thousands of Port of Baltimore workers impacted by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. https://t.co/LfaRdYc5Zl
— WJZ | CBS Baltimore (@wjz) March 27, 2024
$2 billion: Federal officials told Maryland lawmakers that replacing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore would cost at least $2 billion, @Zachary_Cohen reports
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2024
Yellen: "We have money from the bipartisan infrastructure law that could potentially be helpful.
"My expectation would be that, ultimately, there'll be insurance payments in part to cover this."
But admin doesn't want financing questions to hold up reconstruction, she said. https://t.co/mHlzwuqZ49
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2024
Hi! Bridge Engineer here, no bridge in the world is designed to have a giant cargo ship the size of the bridge itself hit one of its main structural members dead on. Hope this helps! https://t.co/jbrutaJRPI
— Ed (@ConcreteKeenan) March 26, 2024
Late Night Open Thread: Rebuilding the Baltimore BridgePost + Comments (106)
by Adam L Silverman| 24 Comments
This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine
(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Four quick housekeeping notes. First, this is going to be as brief as I can make it tonight as it was a long day. Second, could we possibly not argue with the Jewish commenters about when a swastika is or is not a Nazi or neo-Nazi symbol? As far as I know most Jews know that the Nazis took a symbol used by dozens of religions around the world and perverted it. At the same time we know when it is being used by neo-Nazis or their fellow travelers. Third, nock the eliminationism in the comments off. Even if, in regard to say a religious belief/faith tradition, you think you’re suggesting that it wither away because people just give up on it, there’s no way to make your point that doesn’t sound like you’re calling for mass violence. I really don’t have to bother Cole right now with an explanation of why I’m handing out warnings to stop or you’re going to be banned. Either dial it way back or just don’t post that stuff.
Finally, @darthbluesky.bsky.social has emerged from hibernation and is now back at BlueSky posting. This is not a drill!
After spending most of last night attacking with Shahed drones, Russia spent much of the day bombarding Kharkiv with a new type of kitbashed guided bombs!
Number of injured now at 16 in Kharkiv. The Russians used a new type of guided winged bomb – designated the UMPB D-30 SN – a simple cruise missile based on the FAB-250 aerial boom, with added glide wings, a turbo jet, and a navigation system. pic.twitter.com/sShHW8UPy1
— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) March 27, 2024
First moments after bomb hits residential area in Kharkiv. Russians are deploying their modified bombs with impunity. Moving the front line deeper inside Russia is the way to halt this terror. pic.twitter.com/TMqkldpSRL
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 27, 2024
The first responders in Kharkiv are rescuing a baby and a toddler from the residential house affected by the russian bombing today
Video: @nakypiloua pic.twitter.com/1TYgV7FLfq— Olena Halushka (@OlenaHalushka) March 27, 2024
More on Kharkiv after the jump.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Now the common task is to provide every opportunity for Sumy region to create jobs and ensure social protection – address by the President of Ukraine
27 March 2024 – 18:40
Dear Ukrainians!
Today we are in Sumy region. I’ve been here with the team all day. First, our military. I visited our guys who are recovering from injuries and honored them with state awards. I am immensely grateful to the doctors, nurses, and everyone who helps them recover from their injuries.
The second issue for today is, of course, everything related to the defense of Sumy region, each community, each city. It is especially difficult in the border area, which is subject to constant Russian terror. There is constant shelling, air strikes, and countering enemy subversive groups. I am grateful to all the soldiers, all the commanders of the Armed Forces, the border guards, our police, the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine – everyone who is involved. To everyone who protects us. Thank you for not allowing our land to be turned into a zone of Russian presence. Every occupier who dares to come here will be destroyed.
I held a long coordination meeting. We addressed the issues of internal security in the region – from shelters to combating crime – and all the issues of defense. We also discussed the economy and social situation in a very substantive way. Now the common task of the government, regional authorities and community leaders is to provide every opportunity to create jobs here in our Sumy region, to ensure social protection and reliable budget revenues.
For the first time, we held a regional meeting on our new economic policy program “Made in Ukraine.” There is a significant amount of funds for this year – for all regions of our country. Sumy region is guaranteed to receive it as well. There are very specific tasks for government officials, the State Property Fund, the President’s Office and the regional authorities based on the results of the meetings and discussions held here today. There are contracts signed for our defense industry. I am proud that every month more and more companies and developers come up with specific samples of weapons, shells, equipment, demining machines, and many other things that are needed at the front and that will save the lives of our people thanks to the power of technology. In particular, today there are new contracts for automated firing systems, new FPV drones with appropriate dropping systems, and simulators for mobile firing groups that will help shoot down “Shahed” drones more effectively. All this is really needed.
And one more thing. Something that is particularly inspiring.
I met with the students studying at the university here in Sumy region. They obviously want Ukraine to succeed, to win, so that they can live and thrive here, at home, in Ukraine. We will do everything for this.
Ukraine knows how to be strong. Every day we have to add to the confidence of our country and people. And please, always be grateful to those who preserve normal life in our country, in all our communities.
Thank you, Sumy region!
Glory to Ukraine!
🇺🇦🇱🇹 Together with Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi @CinC_AFU, extended our sincere congratulations to Laurynas Kasčiūnas @LKasciunas on his recent appointment as the Minister of Defense of Lithuania.
The video call was also attended by the Lithuanian Chief… pic.twitter.com/vKk5QchN3K
— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) March 27, 2024
🇺🇦🇱🇹 Together with Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi @CinC_AFU, extended our sincere congratulations to Laurynas Kasčiūnas @LKasciunas on his recent appointment as the Minister of Defense of Lithuania.
The video call was also attended by the Lithuanian Chief of Defense Valdemaras Rupšys.
General Syrskyi provided an update on the security situation in Ukraine.We discussed ways to expand our bilateral defense cooperation and thanked Lithuania for its unwavering support.
Looking forward to hosting Minister Kasčiūnas in Kyiv in the near future.
Hungary:
Viktor Orbán UNDER FIRE in corruption scandal again as thousands came out in Budapest on Tuesday demanding the Hungarian prime minister to resign after former diplomat Péter Magyar released a tape of Justice Minister Judit Varga stating how other government officials caused… pic.twitter.com/ryxde60dWv
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) March 27, 2024
Viktor Orbán UNDER FIRE in corruption scandal again as thousands came out in Budapest on Tuesday demanding the Hungarian prime minister to resign after former diplomat Péter Magyar released a tape of Justice Minister Judit Varga stating how other government officials caused evidence to be removed from court records to cover up their roles in corrupt business dealings.
We watch closely as we believe in the will and fairness of the Hungarian people tired of 14 years of Fidesz (ruling party) in power.
I’ll be curious to see if anything comes of this.
Poland:
Poland has decided to double its commitment to the Czech-led initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Riga on March 27, without providing a specific figure.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 27, 2024
From The Kyiv Independent:
Poland has decided to double its commitment to the Czech-led initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Riga on March 27, without providing a specific figure.
Czech President Petr Pavel said in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside of Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine after the necessary funds were allocated to the initiative.
Czechia’s foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, said on March 25 that the initiative may collect as many as 1.5 million rounds.
Speaking at a press conference in Latvia‘s capital alongside his Latvian counterpart, Krisjanis Karins, Sikorski praised relations between Riga and Warsaw as “exemplary,” noting the two countries are both leaders in helping Ukraine to resist Russian aggression.
Commenting on Moscow’s recent uptick in missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, Sikorski said: “It seems to me that some media in the West are not shocked enough by this unprecedented wave of air terrorism against Ukraine.”
Poland’s top diplomat stressed that the U.S. assistance bill for Ukraine, currently stuck in Congress, is “urgently, even desperately needed.”
“If everyone did what Poland and Latvia are doing, Ukraine would be in a much better situation,” Sikorski said.
Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since the outbreak of the full-scale war, donating some $3.2 billion in military aid and hosting around 1 million Ukrainian refugees.
In the past few months, Polish-Ukrainian relations have been strained somewhat by the ongoing disputes over agricultural trade and intermittent blockades by Polish farmers at Ukraine’s border.
France:
🇫🇷 Les 300 missiles Mistral sol-air de courte portée prévus pour être livrés début 2025 devront être livrés à l'été 2024 indique le ministre @SebLecornu.
Les 200 missiles Aster de longue portée devront être livrés au 2e semestre de cette année et non plus en 2026 comme prévu… pic.twitter.com/wPfFbFeBWY
— OpexNews (@OpexNews) March 26, 2024
Here’s the machine translation of the tweet:
🇫🇷 The 300 short-range ground-to-air Mistral missiles planned to be delivered at the beginning of 2025 must be delivered in the summer of 2024, indicates the minister @SebLecornu.
The 200 long-range Aster missiles must be delivered in the second half of this year and no longer in 2026 as initially planned.
The ministry @Armees_Gouv expects to receive from #Nexter 55,000 155 mm shells for the guns #CAESAr starting this summer and no longer over several years.
Safran is also concerned. The group will have to deliver 600 guided air-to-ground bombs in 2024 and 1,200 the following year. #BITD
Imagine that, you can put your defense industrial base on a war footing. Who could’ve possibly conceived of such a thing?
Kharkiv:
Just received a message from a friend: Two guided bombs, one struck the yard of a residential building. Damned terrorists. One killed, two badly injured pic.twitter.com/uqbbAvMMvq
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 27, 2024
As of now, it is known that one civilan was killed and 16 were wounded in the russian attack on Kharkiv, which for the first time involved the use of a large-caliber guided aerial bomb. Among the wounded are four children, including a three-month-old infant.
📷Serhii Bolvinov pic.twitter.com/zuJwQl1vfO— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) March 27, 2024
This is precisely what I meant when I said that the russian troops are intensifying their attacks on Kharkiv Oblast. They are now dropping aerial bombs on Kharkiv, a city with a population of over one million. Ukraine needs weapons to shoot down these aircraft. https://t.co/fEYcUFHoOo
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) March 27, 2024
Kherson Oblast:
Strike on Russian UAV operators. Oleshky forest, Kherson region. https://t.co/6Uz2HAuzje pic.twitter.com/6d5AIWHmvb
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) March 27, 2024
/2. Lyubymivka, Kherson region.
(46.8123161, 33.5510921)@GeoConfirmed pic.twitter.com/0pqS5vDWgy— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) March 27, 2024
Somewhere on the frontline in Ukraine:
Very unique Russian VTS “Ladoga”, military transport vehicle, targeted by FPV drone on the frontline.
It is known that no more than 4-5 similar machines were produced, including a prototype for testing. The Ladoga was built on the basis of the T-80 tank chassis. Designed to… pic.twitter.com/3HL53vHagr
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) March 27, 2024
Very unique Russian VTS “Ladoga”, military transport vehicle, targeted by FPV drone on the frontline.
It is known that no more than 4-5 similar machines were produced, including a prototype for testing. The Ladoga was built on the basis of the T-80 tank chassis. Designed to operate in conditions with high levels of radiation, chemical or bacteriological contamination. In Chernobyl it was used for radiation reconnaissance.
Perhaps the most unusual thing you notice is the interior of Ladoga, which looks no worse than a business class cabin from the mid-twentieth century. According to some Russian media, Ladoga is used in the Russian military for the “evacuation of senior command personnel”.
Somewhere in Russia:
In a newly released media clip, Putin once again dismisses Ukraine's right to sovereignty by saying that he's fighting for "his historical lands".
He says the idea that he's going to fight with NATO is "complete nonsense designed to racket money from their [NATO] population" due… pic.twitter.com/NuOCKjN8Mz
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) March 27, 2024
In a newly released media clip, Putin once again dismisses Ukraine’s right to sovereignty by saying that he’s fighting for “his historical lands”.
He says the idea that he’s going to fight with NATO is “complete nonsense designed to racket money from their [NATO] population” due to discrepancy between defence budgets.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron tweets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material from the Ukrainian MOD:
There is an old wisdom that says that a cat in a mortar team boosts the accuracy of every shot.
📹: Khartiia Brigade pic.twitter.com/VwdzafmoTo
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 27, 2024
Open thread!
War for Ukraine Day 763: Kharkiv Once Again in the Crosshairs!Post + Comments (24)