01/22/24
Good morning! It’s Monday, January 22nd.
Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day.
How about Ruth, answer some of my questions. For example – dude. Why, last night, did you jump on the desk that I keep telling you not to be on, and then lock eyes with me while you slowly fell, bringing my laptop and part of my curtain with you, as if this was somehow my fault? I tried to catch you and, more important, I tried to stop you in the beginning. So… I don’t know, dude. Feels like this one’s on you.
And now, the news.
Israel and Hamas War
Let’s start with the war in Gaza, where officials say the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 25,000 people.
And still, Israeli officials say the fighting is expected to go on for months, while a wider war appears to be just a breath away.
On Sunday, the Israeli Air Force carried out two strikes on what they’re calling “terrorist infrastructure,” which include including a military building, a launch post and an observation post belonging to Hezbollah. As a reminder, Hezbollah is an Iran-backed militant group that is based in Lebanon and a close ally of Hamas.
In addition to Sunday’s strikes, there was an Israeli strike on Syria’s capital city that targeted a building the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard uses and killed at least five Iranians; and on Thursday, Houthi rebels launched missiles at a United States merchant vessel in the Red Sea.
Houthi rebels are one of the two main factions that are controlling territory in Yemen’s civil war that started in 2011. They have a relationship with, and receive support from, Iran, but have local interests.
In October, they started launching missile attacks at cargo ships that were passing through the Red Sea to Israeli ports, likely to expand support for their base, since it shows support for Palestine to not let these ships port in Israel. Without being able to go through the Red Sea, ships will need to add about 30 days to their travels, since they’d have to go all the way around Africa.
So there’s just… there’s a lot going on in the Middle East. We’re keeping an eye on all of it.
Missing US Navy SEALs
-via CNN
After a ten-day search, US Central Command has officially declared two US Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia, dead.
On January 11th, the sailors were boarding a vessel in search of weapons when eight-foot swells cause one of them to fall into the water. Per the Navy’s protocol, the other jumped in after him.
Ladies to the Front!
-via NBC News
Okay, let’s bring the mood up a little.
On Saturday, Tara VanDerveer, Stanford’s head basketball coach, became the winningest, most best, coach in college basketball history.
And best of all…
She beat a boy. We love that! The previous title holder was Mike Wazowski, I’m sorry – Mike Krzyzewski. And he was there to congratulate her on Friday, when she tied his record.
And then on Saturday, she beat his record.
This is cool, historic, and like… pure. It’s great. Just a really exciting sports moments.
Trump May Testify in E. Jean Carroll Trial
-via Washington Post
Just a heads up – who knows if it’ll actually happen but Trump says he wants to testify today in the civil defamation case against E. Jean Carroll. As a reminder, he’s already been found liable, so this is just about damages.
He’s said that was his plan in the past, and didn’t do it, so who knows if he’ll show up. Tomorrow is also the New Hampshire primary, so why spend the day fighting with a judge on a different state, but still – he says he wants to testify, so I guess let that be on your radar?
DeSantis Drops Out
-via AP News
And finally, like, for real, finally – Ron DeSantis has dropped his bid for the presidency, ahead of tomorrow’s primary.
Oh no, Ron. Come back. We all love you so much!
No no, I’m just kidding… we do want you make fun of you more though so…
Bully the bullies, and there aren’t many bullies more in need of bullying than that guy.
This is not a surprise – he was never going to be president. Anyone that’s shocked by this, has the honor and luck of not paying much attention to him before he officially tossed his high heels into the ring. Because he’s just got one of those personalities that make you say – whoa! That’s… you suck. And that’s your voice? You spent the money on the heels and didn’t wanna toss a buck or two towards some vocal training?
Notice I didn’t make fun of the laugh or weird smile. That’s because there’s nothing to help that. Vocal training and high heels are one thing… no one can fix that laugh.
Also, this is a side note but… have you noticed that he stands like Trump? With that little lean forward and the hands like just… hanging there. What is that? Why do they do that?
Anyway, he’s out of the running, though he was kind of never in it so whatever. It all comes down to Trump, who will win the primary, and Nikki Haley, who is running a wildly terrible campaign. So… we’ll see what New Hampshire brings!
I’ll be talking more about New Hampshire tomorrow. Specifically about why Biden isn’t on the ballot in New Hampshire, and why it doesn’t really matter.
So I guess you’ll have to come on back tomorrow!
Oohh – 2024 and I’m actually trying to get people to listen to this show! How fun!
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of… women sports! Women in general (not all women, obviously, but just like… in general). But also specifically in women’s sports.
So proud, that I’m going to just let it have it’s moment and not even make any comments about how this would be such a great moment for Apple TV to announce the Ted Lasso spinoff about the womens team… because I’m better than that.
But more than that… more than how great I am at basketball (I’m short but I’ve got great hand-eye coordination), because you also know that I’m nothing if I’m not basically a basketball superstar… I’m proud of you.