Report: Putin Targets Civilians with Cluster Bombs

From the story: In a panicked bid to reignite his stalled military onslaught, Vladimir Putin had launched an indiscriminate bombing campaign on the eastern city of Kharkiv just 24 hours after local resistance had sent his troops packing from its streets. Weapons rained down on the most Russia-friendly city in Ukraine – which sits 25 miles from the border and is home to 1.5million people – in a bid to break its will to resist. The hail of bombs, shells and rockets which began falling at lunchtime left at least 11 dead, including three children, with homes and even a school reduced to rubble (Daily Mail).  From another story: More than 100 countries have banned their use and signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. However, neither Russia nor Ukraine (which also possesses cluster munitions) has put their name to this agreement (Bellingcat). According to the New York Times, “Additional satellite imagery collected today suggests that the Russian convoy moving toward Kyiv is now stretched out for approximately 40 miles, more than twice as long as was reported earlier” (New York Times). From Marco Rubio: #Russia is moving to quickly choke off supplies to #Kyiv by sealing off the western part of the city Remember all the material being sent to #Ukraine has to come across the border and from the western part of the country (Twitter).

Russian Soldier to His Mother: “They Told Us They Would Welcome Us”

The Ukraine ambassador read from a screen shot of a Russian soldier killed on the battlefield.  The exchange was with his mother who had no idea he was sent into Ukraine. He told her “Mama, I’m in Ukraine. There is a real war raging here. I’m afraid we are bombing all of the cities together. Even, even targeting civilians. We were told that they would welcome us.  And they are falling under our armored vehicles, throwing themselves under the wheels and not allowing us to pass.  Mama, this is so hard” (Twitter). CNN’s Clarissa Ward visits with a grandmother in Ukraine who is making Molotov cocktails. Caution: when Clarissa translates, she includes the colorful language (Twitter).

Senate Democrats Push Extreme Abortion Bill

The bill would create a right to abortion, in all 50 states, through all nine months of pregnancy. It failed, with Manchin as the only Democrat to reject it. From John McCormack: At the various points over the last 50 years when Democrats have controlled Congress, they’ve declined to put the WHPA or its predecessor proposals up for a vote before the full Senate or House, because the bill was seen as politically toxic and there were too many moderate, abortion-rights-supporting Democrats who found it too extreme (National Review). From Guy Benson: Senate Democrats, with the exception of Manchin, just voted unanimously for a (failed) bill that would impose abortion-on-demand through all 9 months of pregnancy as the national law. It’s gruesome and radical stuff. The vulnerable 2022 incumbents supported it (Twitter). From Alexandra DeSanctis: There are two Democrats in the entire Congress opposed to enshrining abortion on demand as a fundamental right and blocking states from enacting pro-life laws (Twitter).

American Businesses Cracking Down on Russia

Would be interesting to see how many do this if China invades Taiwan. Disney and Warner Bros. announced a pause in theatrical release in Russia (NY Times). From Guy Benson, echoing the thoughts of many: Now do China (Twitter). Netflix is refusing to add Russian state-run TV channels to its streaming service (Fox Business). Not just America: FIFA banned Russia from the World Cup qualifier (Washington Times). 

Russian Government Rep at Climate Meeting Apologizes to Ukraine

The story does not note any potential consequences for the unusual action.  From the story: During the final session of a two-week online meeting to approve the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest blockbuster climate report, the head of the Moscow delegation Oleg Anisimov said in Russian: “First of all, let me thank Ukraine and present an apology on behalf of all Russians who were not able to prevent this conflict. All of those who know what is happening fail to find any justification for this attack against Ukraine.”

Politico

Ruble Continues to Plummet

Worth less than a cent (CBS News).  From the Wal Street Journal: Trading in the Russian currency is so thin owing to sanctions and other risks that it’s impossible to know the true exchange rate. The central bank on Monday suspended stock trading and raised its policy interest rate to 20% from 9.5%, in part to woo savers back to the banks after reports of bank runs over the weekend. Help is not at hand. New sanctions announced Monday by the U.S. Treasury prohibit most transactions with Russia’s central bank and sovereign-wealth fund, in tandem with similar measures imposed by other developed economies. This makes it all but impossible for Moscow to trade much of its $631 billion foreign-exchange reserves to shore up the ruble (WSJ).

Pfizer Covid Vaccine Just 12 Percent Effective Against Omicron in Children

From the story: The Food and Drug Administration sought to fast track Pfizer’s vaccine for kids aged six months through 4 years old this month in response to the number of children hospitalized with Covid. However, the FDA and Pfizer decided to put those plans on hold after data on the first two doses did not meet expectations. The FDA is now waiting to see clinical trial data on a third dose for the youngest kids, which is expected in April (CNBC). From Katie Pavlich: The vilification of parents who were like, “Yeah, we want more data first before giving this to our kid, if we ever do,” is off the charts insane. Same applies for anyone, especially women, who wanted more data first (Twitter).

Wyoming Senate Passes Amendment to Defund UW’s Gender and Women’s Studies Program

From Republican Senate Education Committee Chairman state Sen. Charles Scott: “This is an extremely biased, ideologically driven program that I can’t see any academic legitimacy to. I think we’ll hear complaints about how we’re interfering in the internals of the university, but I think what we’re really doing is sending them a message that they need to clean up their act in terms of the quality of the instruction that’s being given” (Daily Wire).  From Mark Davis: Thank God. Thing is, from gender studies to women’s studies to black studies, these are actually worthy areas of intellectual interest if handled objectively and honestly. The problem is, all of these disciplines are populated with leftist cranks spreading societal poison (Twitter).

Seattle Bakery Closes “For Safety” of Employees Due to Crime, Drug Use

As downtown Seattle evolves into a complete mess.

Fox News

UPenn Officials Ignore Complaints About Man’s Nudity in Women’s Locker Room

Because he’s a male swimmer who is competing as a female. What would normally be clear harassment is allowed to continue to the determent of young women who just want to compete (Townhall). A mother of one of the swimmers is speaking out, but anonymously.  Here’s a link to her lengthy statement on a feminist podcast. She explains how the school intimidated and manipulated the girls to keep them silent. The girls knew it was wrong and unfair, but they were silenced before they could say a word. It’s a long, powerful and troubling speech. These young women are being abused and the colleges are willing abusers (Podcast).