06/11/24
Good morning! It’s Tuesday, June 11th.
National Corn on the Cob Day!
Can I put you onto something? Instead of butter – lime and tajin.
You’re welcome.
And now, the news.
Israel-Hamas War
Let’s start with an update on the Israel-Hamas war because, while I was taking last week, and yesterday, off, some big things happened.
On Saturday, Israel’s military launched a deadly operation in a refugee camp in central Gaza. The operation successfully rescued four hostages being held by Hamas, while killing at least 274 Palestinians and injuring almost 700 others.
Witnesses say that the military was disguised as Hamas fighters and civilians, and drove non-military vehicles.
The military did not deny whether officers were dressed in disguises, but does deny that they used non-military vehicles, though that does line up with a video analyzed by CNN.
Following that operation, Benny Gantz, the leader of National Unity, Israel’s second-largest political party, resigned from his post.
The National Unity party joined with Netanyahu on an emergency basis, following Hamas’ attack on Israel.
However, Gantz’s opposition of Netanyahu is literally why he’s in politics. So he’s been vocal about his disagreement with Netanyahu for a while. In fact, he told Netanyahu that he needed to lay out a clear plan to end the war by June 8th or he’d quit. He only waited the extra day because of Saturday’s operation.
It remains to be seen what practical effect this will have on the war, though it does show what we have always known but do need to remember – not everyone in Israel agrees with Netanyahu’s politics and practices. Remember that, right before Hamas’ attack, people were literally marching in the streets in protest of what he was doing to the courts.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Egypt and Israel this week in a continued attempt at a cease-fire. On Monday, the UN Security Council actually adopted a US-backed cease-fire plan, which only Russia opposed.
However, Russia has veto power (which seems wild to me. Seems like maybe, perhaps, we should reevaluate that?) and they didn’t veto the deal. They simply abstained.
The three-phase plan would call for an immediate, if temporary, cease-fire, works towards a permanent end to the war, as well as a reconstruction of Gaza, and the release of the rest of the hostages Hamas is holding, while Israel would have to release Palestinians in their prisons.
Time will tell…
Alito Caught on Hot Mic
-via NY Times
And now for a story about courts here in America…
Justice Alito, of the Seriously, You Get to Continue Being a Supreme Court Justice?? Alitos was caught on an undercover mic by a woman named Lauren Windsor who attended an exclusive gala at the Supreme Court undercover as a Catholic conservative.
In their conversation, Windsor said, “People in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that, to return our country to a place of godliness.”
To which Alito said, “I agree with you.”
The also spoke to Justice Roberts and tried to trap him into admitting to the same line of thinking, but Roberts responded with, “Would you want me to be in charge of putting the nation on a more moral path? That’s for people we elect. That’s not for lawyers.”
Here’s the thing… people are really, as of this recording, eating it up. But like… why? I’m telling you this because technically I guess it’s news but… not really. Alito’s wife may be fond of flying flags but Alito himself is fond of taking away the right to reproductive choice and being so absolutely giddy about it that he (allegedly) leaked it – TWICE. This happened TWICE.
Are we really surprised that he wants to return this country to his perception of godliness?
And Justice Roberts is a doofus but he has, at least, tricked himself into thinking that he’s just going by the law when he does things like decimate voting rights. So of course he’s not going to see how those decisions do, in fact, dictate the moral path of our country.
But this gala was a private event for the Supreme Court Historical Society, which is a charity that works to preserve the court’s history as well as educate the public about the role of the court. It is only for members, and specifically not open to journalists.
It’s ethically ambiguous at best and a great reminder that two things can be true at once – the Court can continue to not be great while, at the same time, what she did wasn’t great.
Nor, frankly, was it necessary. Alito leaks (allegedly) rulings and flies flags upside-down. It’s not a secret that he sucks. The real story is why isn’t Roberts doing anything about it? To me, all I learned from Windsor’s audio is that Alito and Roberts are the same in private as they are in public (which isn’t great!), and also that Windsor is maybe not so great at this stuff.
Sen. Fetterman Involved in Car Accident
-via CBS News
Pennsylvania’s Senator Fetterman, as well as his wife Gisele, were involved in a two-vehicle collision on Sunday. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Senator Fetterman was treated for a bruised shoulder and discharged.
Not really much to the story but, you know… it’s still a story about a Senator. Still news, I guess.
Hunter Biden Case
-via NBC News
Also in, technically news, news… the prosecution and defense have both rested in Hunter Biden’s gun case.
The charge is that Hunter was using drugs at the time he purchased a gun at a Delaware gun store. The defense is that he didn’t knowingly lie when he filed his paperwork, because he didn’t consider himself a drug addict or user at the time of the purchase. They’re not denying that he was using drugs, that’s undeniable, but simply that, during the time of his use, he didn’t see himself that way.
Likely, because he is an addict and was deep in the throws of it at the time.
The jury has the case now, so we’ll see when they come back and what they come back with.
Trump’s Probation Office Meeting
-via CNN
And in actual news about a person who is actually in politics and actually committed a crime which he knew about and did maliciously and then lied over and over about…
On Monday, Trump had his pre-sentencing interview with the New York City Department of Probation.
And just in case you’re wondering whether Trump’s getting any type of special treatment here…
Well, he got to do his interview virtually. From Florida. He also got to have his lawyer with him, which is not standard protocol.
Oh, and he didn’t have to take a drug test.
His 34 felony counts are because he lied to voters in 2016. And I’m not saying there’s any specific reason for him to take this meeting virtually, though certainly it doesn’t seem like there’s any real reason he can’t go to New York and do what every other felon has to do, but boy oh boy is it suspicious that he just gets to not do a drug test…
That’s all.
Anyway, sentencing for Trump will happen July 11th.
And that’s it. That’s the news!
I’m back now. I was gone, and then I was back, and then I was gone again – but now I’m back again!
How fun for all of us!
I’m proud of corn on the cob. It’s so good! Even though it does get stuck in my teeth. It’s still delicious.
But more than that, because you’re excellent with or without lime… I’m proud of you!