It’s Presidents Day, so let’s start with the formerly anodyne holiday exercise of Historians Rankiing the Presidents. Let’s see here: Top 5 is Lincoln, FDR, Washington, Teddy, TJeff. Obama No. 7, Biden No. 14, I’m sure Trump is in here somewhere, scrolling, scrolling, scrolling … Here he is, No. 45. Last place. But that’s not how Fox News reported it.
Actions speak louder than words, rumor has it, so what should we make of it when Biden preaches restraint while the arms flow to Israel? I’ll let you puzzle that one out.
The death of dissident Alexei Navalny prompted public protests in Russia, which of course prompted a wave of arrests. When all you have are prisons, everyone looks like a prisoner. Tributes to Navalny’s bravery abound, but this eulogy by a former Obama-era diplomat talks about him as a friend. You might want to chop some onions while you read it.
As a UN aid worker lamented to the CBC, it seems world attention can only be focused on two humanitarian disasters at a time, so while Gaza and Ukraine dominate headlines, the situation in the Sudan continues to deteriorate. More people have been displaced by that country’s ethic-fueled civil war than in any of the more publicized conflicts, with equally deadly results, but charity efforts elsewhere have drawn money and attention away from Africa. We are the world, just not all at once.
There’s an ugly and widespread right-wing militia movement in the U.S. and has been for years. Maybe the FBI would be busting them if they hadn’t been too busy surveilling Native pipeline protesters. Maybe they’ll crack down on Ammon Bundy if we convince them he’s bad for the oil industry.
In entertainment news, talk show host John Oliver offered Clarence Thomas $1 million a year plus a $2.4 million motor coach to resign from the Supreme Court. “We have spoken to experts who all told us the best they could tell this is somehow legal,” Oliver said. “Which seems crazy to me, because it really feels like it shouldn’t be.” Perhaps someone should start a GoFundMe.
Also, George Santos has found another way to stay in the news. He’s suing Jimmy Kimmel for mocking him by hiring him to say outrageous things for money. This raises the question, what did he think he was signing up for?
The floor’s yours.