Welcome to Tuesday, January 25th, jams and preserves…

U.S. and NATO allies are increasing shipments of military aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing military buildup. The U.S. State Dept. is also encouraging American citizens to leave Ukraine.

The State Dept. on Sunday announced that it is ordering the departure of eligible family members of staff from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, due to Russia’s “deeply troubling” buildup of military forces around Ukraine and ongoing efforts to destabilize the country. 

The news comes as Russia is insisting that NATO provide a legal guarantee Ukraine will never be admitted to the alliance and remove forces from NATO member countries in Central and Eastern Europe like Bulgaria and Romania. The U.S. and NATO have rejected those demands as non-starters and are taking steps to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and reassure allies in the region.

Over the last several months, Russia has undertaken a significant military buildup on Ukraine’s border with over 100,000 troops in close proximity to the border and more personnel in staging areas where they could quickly be moved to the front. The buildup is larger than what occurred before Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine and launched an invasion of the Donbas region in 2014, where it still supports a separatist insurgency. The ongoing conflict has led to more than 14,000 deaths to date.

It’s still unclear whether Putin has decided to attack Ukraine, and he has said he has no plans to invade Ukraine. 

Are you concerned about Russia invading Ukraine?

Do you agree with the evacuation of family members of embassy staff?

Florida Bill Would Protect White People from 'Discomfort'

Republican Florida Governor Rob DeSantis is backing the "Individual Freedom" bill (SB 148), which will ban schools and businesses from making white people feel "discomfort" or "guilt" about the country's racist past. On Tuesday, the bill received its first approval by the state's Senate Education Committee.

Under SB 148, employers will be prohibited from assigning training that causes individuals to "feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin."

The bill requires that "classroom instruction and curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles of this subsection or state academic standards."

Do you support banning critical race theory?

House & Senate On Recess as Gov’t Funding Deadline Looms

Both chambers of Congress are on recess this week and many lawmakers will be back in their districts until early next week when the House and Senate are scheduled to return to the Capitol. No committee hearings, whether in-person or remote, are scheduled to occur in either chamber this week.

When lawmakers return, much of the focus for the next three weeks will be on negotiating a spending deal for the rest of fiscal year 2022 ahead of the February 18th funding deadline. A bipartisan agreement will be necessary for any funding legislation to overcome the Senate’s legislative filibuster, although it’s unclear whether the Democratic majorities in both chambers will be willing to set aside partisan riders to secure Republican support. 

How do you feel about this week’s congressional schedule (or lack thereof)?

All the Memes Fit to Post

And, In The End...

Maybe a "Cool Runnings" screening today in honor of the first Winter Olympics, which occurred on this date in 1924?

The inaugural Winter Games were held in Chamonix, in the French Alps.

Play it cool,

—Josh Herman

Talk to us via email at editorial [at] causes.com. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Causes.