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Thursday, March 17, 2022

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Zelenskyy Addresses U.S. Congress, Seeks Help

From the story: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an address to Congress Wednesday, pleaded with the United States to “do more” by implementing a no-fly zone, providing additional aircraft and air defense systems, and creating a new security alliance. Zelenskyy, speaking to U.S. lawmakers from Kyiv, where he has chosen to remain even as Russian forces move on the city, thanked President Biden for his “personal involvement” and “sincere commitment to the defense of Ukraine,” and the United States for the aid it has provided. “However, now it is true in the darkest time for our country, for the whole Europe, I call on you to do more,” Zelenskyy said (Fox News). Biden responded by promising more money (ABC News). Security and foreign policy expert James Carafano told Larry Elder “I’m all for giving the Ukrainians any weapons that we possibly can. And really, that’s what’s keeping them in the fight, as well as food and medical aid” (Townhall Review). Another story notes “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally thanked the Russian reporter who interrupted live state TV coverage to wave a “No War” sign in front of the camera in protest of the invasion of Ukraine during one of his video addresses Tuesday” (Fox News). From a terrific piece by Bari Weiss: Why is witnessing such courage uncomfortable? It is because I cannot help but notice the gap between them and us. Between the bigness of their vision and their mission and the smallness of ours. Between their moral clarity and our moral confusion. Between their spine and our spinelessness. Between their courage and our epidemic of cowardice. Between their commitment to civilization and our resignation to chaos (Substack).

Russia Losses Mounting

From the story: The conservative side of the estimate, at more than 7,000 Russian troop deaths, is greater than the number of American troops killed over 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan combined (New York Times). A look at how the city of Voznesensk, Ukraine took on and defeated a Russian battalion (WSJ).

Biden Calls Putin a “War Criminal”

At first he said “no” when asked by Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich. But as he thought about it, he said “Did you ask me whether I would call… Oh, I, I think he is a war criminal.”

Fox News

Biden Uses Bloomberg to Explain Gas Prices, Bloomberg Corrects Biden

He used a chart to insist high prices, which a few days ago he blamed on Putin, are now high because “Oil and gas companies” are padding “their profits at the expense of hardworking Americans.” Javier Blas of Bloomberg later tweeted “I see the White House chart is sourced to Bloomberg LP data. As a public service, I’m going to suggest a different chart. Mine has some of the same elements (WTI oil and retail US gasoline price), but instead I normalized it, and use Dec 1, 2021 = 100.” He then used a chart (see above) that revealed prices are low in comparison to the price of oil (Fox Business). From the Wall Street Journal: Gas prices almost always rise faster than they fall, as the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis explained in a 2014 report. “When oil prices rise after being steady for some time—gasoline prices shoot up quickly,” the Fed paper explained. “In contrast, when oil prices fall after being steady for some time, gasoline prices retreat slowly.” Individual retailers set gas prices based on what they expect their future fuel deliveries to cost. But they have no clue right now due to all of the global uncertainty. Oil prices have plunged this past week in part because the United Arab Emirates said it would urge OPEC to pump more. But the cartel might not (WSJ).

Russians Bomb Theater Filled with Families Taking Refuge

Hundreds of Mariupol residents were hiding in the theater (CNN). According to another story, “Children” was spelled out on the ground in large letters on two sides of the theater before the bombing (CNN). Russians bombed people waiting in a line for bread (NY Times).

Biden Considers Lifting Terrorist Designation on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

As a trade for going along with the Iran nuclear deal (Daily Wire). From Erielle Davidson: Hard to put into words how disastrous this would be. The IRGC is a terrorist organization—full stop. Did this administration learn *nothing* from delisting the Houthis? (Twitter).

Americans Overestimate Percentage of Gays by 10 Times

In a series of many similar overestimations. Looking at the list, it appears whatever is beloved by the far left and media is grossly overestimated, though not all of those overestimated are favorable to the left.

YouGov

Judge Orders Smollett Released Pending Appeal

The story notes “The actor’s lawyers had argued to the panel of judges that his sentence would be fully served by the time the appeals process was completed.”

Daily Mail

Senator Josh Hawley: Supreme Court Nominee Goes Easy on Child Porn Offenders

In a series of tweets, he explains “Judge Jackson has a pattern of letting child porn offenders off the hook for their appalling crimes, both as a judge and as a policymaker. She’s been advocating for it since law school. This goes beyond “soft on crime.” I’m concerned that this a record that endangers our children.”

Twitter

10.

Disney Employees Stage Walkouts Over Bill Keeping Trans Agenda from Young Children

Which The Hill calls the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, adopting the rhetoric of the far, far left.

The Hill