Remember Hunter Seefried, the Laurel man who followed his Confederate battle flag-waving father into the Capitol on Jan. 6? Now into the second year of his prison sentence, he has filed for early release, noting that he chased a capitol cop but committed no violence. The 34-year-old also earned his GED and his forklift operator certificate while doing time. Scoff if you will, but I count it as a triumph for rehabilitation. But maybe the court should stipulate that he stay away from his father, who’s still serving his 6-year sentence.
It’s Trump, Trump, Trump in the U.S. media – those gold sneakers won’t ship for months – but lots going on in the world. Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia vowed to continue his work, but there are fears that any hope for removing Putin without violence died with him. Remember, that’s the guy the Republican Party bends over to help out.
The U.S. isn’t the only country where Israel’s prolonged assault on Palestinians is roiling domestic politics. The UK’s Labour Party is under pressure to join calls for a cease-fire in Gaza while it tries to dispel charges of anti-Semitism under former leader Jeremy Corbyn and against a backdrop of a steep increase in crimes against Jews. It’s especially odd because Britain doesn’t sell Israel weapons, it buys them from Israel. The conclusion: National delusions of past grandeur.
The Senate race in California shows the blanket primary system, where the top two vote-getters face off in the general election, is as gameable as any other. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Centrist) has been fighting underdog Rep. Katie Porter (D-Progressive) by airing ads for Republican Steve Garvey (R-Dodgers and Padres), hoping to boost him into second place. So Porter is fighting back by running ads for a Trumper, hoping to peel votes away from the ineffectual Garvey. Putting those political donations to good use, aren’t they?
Latest example of how stochastic terrorism works, trans panic division: A non-binary student was beaten to death in Oklahoma, the same state that just put the vile Libs of Tik-Tok woman Chaya Raichik on the state Library Media Advisory Committee. The attack occurred in the same school district Riachik targeted last year when a teacher spoke out in favor of gay rights. A coincidence, I guess, like all those Russians falling out of windows.
Sad news from the eco-diversity front. Coral reefs that were undergoing restoration in the Florida Keys were mostly wiped out last summer when water temperatures spiked. Elkhorn coral, we hardly knew ye.
The floor’s yours.