03/26/24
Good morning! It’s Tuesday, March 26th.
National Spinach Day.
Um… okay. I guess.
And now, the news.
Diddy’s House Raided
-via Washington Post
Let’s start with the news that the homes of Sean Combs, aka Diddy, aka aka Puff Daddy, were raided on Monday in connection with several lawsuits that allege physical abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking.
In November, a former girlfriend filed a suit against Combs, which was settled the next day but followed by three others, including one woman who says she was a minor at the time of her assault.
In February, a producer filed another suit against Combs and others, alleging similar charges as well as accusing him of displaying and distributing “unregistered illegal firearms.”
Combs denies all charges.
Update on Moscow Attack
-via NY Times
Over in Russia, President Putin has acknowledged that “Radical Islamists” are behind the attack on a concert hall near Moscow where at least 139 people were killed on Friday. However, despite not disclosing any evidence, he still insists Ukraine played a role in the attack, even suggesting Ukraine ordered the attack.
In a statement on Monday, he said this: “This atrocity can be just an element in a series of attempts of those who have been at war with our country since 2014.” Which is a nod to the war that Russia started when they annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
The four suspects were from Tajikistan and living as migrant workers in Russia.
Israel-Hamas War
And over with the Israel-Hamas war, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the United States abstaining from a vote, which is what actually allowed the resolution to pass.
In retaliation, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a scheduled trip to the U.S.
The resolution demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, an immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and an expansion of aid into Gaza.
Over on Twitter, Israel Katz, the Israeli Foreign Minister, said “The state of Israel will not cease fire. We will destroy Hamas and continue to fight until the last of the hostages returns home.”
According to a source, the U.S. had planned to veto but was able to push for language that referenced a lasting ceasefire and ongoing hostage release efforts, which were not in the original resolution. With the language change, they were able to abstain so it could pass, but did not vote in favor because they didn’t agree with everything.
Specifically, the text of the resolution does not condemn Hamas.
Trump Crime Update Time
And of course…
Trump Crime Update Time!
On Monday five appellate court judges ruled that they would accept a $175 million bond, which he has ten days to secure. If he doesn’t want to put up his own money, he will have to pay whichever bond company he goes with a fee, as well as pledge about $200 million in cash and other investments as collateral.
So now we wait another ten days to see what he’ll do with the New York money crimes case.
But also in New York, his hush money trial (better name pending) has a new date: April 15th.
As a reminder, DA Alvin Bragg said they were ready to go to court but offered the defense up to a month to review a fresh batch of documents. However the judge said: "[Prosecutors] went so far above and beyond what they were required to do that really it's odd that we're even here taking this time."
He appeared in court on Monday, which is great visual practice because, as this is a criminal trial, dude will be sat for the duration of the trial.
But a bummer for me, because there are a lot of pictures of him on every news site today. And I just… don’t want to be accosted with that.
Florida’s New Social Media Laws
-via AP News
And finally…
Ron DeSantis has signed one of the most restrictive social media bans in the country.
The bill will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds.
This is tricky because social media, especially in kids that young, is addictive and bad for mental health. But the problem with DeSantis is that he is so totally terrible that this just doesn’t feel… right. Somehow. And that feeling isn’t helped by him saying that it would probably be stopped on a First Amendment case and complained about how the Stop WOKE Act was struck down by an appeals court.
We need to figure out a way to fix the issues of mental health and addiction when it comes to social media, but there also has to be a way that doesn’t interfere with our First Amendment rights.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of… popeye. And Olive Oil. Oh and good olive oil. But more than that… more than spinach – because you don’t wilt at the mere thought of water… I’m proud of you.