Back Story Newsletter
Good Morning,
Royal Racism
The Queens former lady in waiting, Lady Susan Hussey has had to resign after allegations of racism this week in the Royal Family.
She repeatedly asked Ngozi Fulani, a black woman at a charity event “where are you from“ and even when Fulani said she was British, the questions continued with “where are you really from, where are your people from”.
Lady Susan later apologized for "unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. But Fulani said her hair was also touched by Hussey, "that's a no-no. I wouldn't put my hands in someone's hair, and culturally it's not appropriate."
The damage is done, and it’s not the first time charges of racism have dogged the Royals. Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle, said in an interview with Opra she was asked what colour her baby would be.
Unfortunately for the future King, the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate are visiting the U.S. this week, and the mini scandal have dogged their trip to Boston meant to highlight environmental efforts.
And it comes just as little brother, the spare to the hair Harry and wife Meghan release a Netflix promo that appears to take a dig at Kate Middleton showing a dark photo of her as Harry says “No one sees what’s happening behind closed doors”.
Harry and Meghan will make a fortune from cashing in on divisions in the Royal Family. The British tabloids have declared the release of the promo during William and Kates U.S. tour, as nothing short “of a declaration of war” in the Royal Family by Meghan and Harry.
Trump’s Secret Documents
Did former President Trump break the law by keeping documents marked secret in his home?
It’s not that complicated if you remove the politics from the case, because if the handling of the documents potentially were a danger to American security interests, and Trump refused to hand them over, that should be that. Charge him and let a court decide and of course seize the documents in question.
A U.S. The appeals court was critical of Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a Trump appointee in the Southern District of Florida, to intervene in the case.
The court said Judge Cannon never had jurisdiction to order the review or bar investigators from using the files, and that there was no justification for treating Mr. Trump differently.
That now removes a law suit obstacle brought by Trump to have a special master review all the documents, and the Department of Justice case against Trump can proceed.
Limits on when courts can interfere with a criminal investigation “apply no matter who the government is investigating,” “To create a special exception here would defy our nation’s foundational principle that our law applies ‘to all, without regard to numbers, wealth or rank”.
Buddah bing and unless there is some appeal, this ridiculous episode involving Trump’s delusional idea he is above the law in the handling of 103 secret documents goes forward with possible charges.
Just so you know, this courts three judges were appointees of Republican Presidents and two of them, had been placed on the bench directly by Mr. Trump.
No conspiracy theories. No cable TV charges of Democrat influence please. Trump is just another American soon to be before the courts even if he is running for office in 2024.
Russia Oil Cap
Russia’s continued assault on a sovereign and independent nation in Europe, and it’s continued bombing of cities cutting heat and water to millions of Ukrainians has brought round after round of western sanctions.
Now the European Union governments tentatively agreed on Thursday on a $60 a barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil - an idea of the Group of Seven (G7) nations - with an adjustment mechanism to keep the cap at 5% below the market price, according to diplomats.
The agreement still needs approval from all EU governments today. Poland, which had pushed for the cap to be as low as possible, had as of Thursday evening not confirmed if it would support the deal, an EU diplomat said.
But the key to making the deal workable may be the 5% below market price mechanism to bring some pain to Russian oil income used to fuel it’s military and the war in Ukraine.
***On Back Story with Dana Lewis podcast to be released later today, I will have a details conversation on whether sanctions are biting, and if this oil cap can work***
Other News…
-President Joe Biden said he has “no plans” to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but would be willing to sit down for talks “if there is an interest in him looking for a way to end the war” in Ukraine. Reasonable, because why would a U.S. President agree to talk to Putin while he’s bombing Europe unless Putin indicates he is changing course.
-Social network Parler announced that its planned sale to Kanye West has been called off, as the rapper-businessman now known as Ye continues to alienates fans and commercial partners with anti-Semitic comments. The deal was cancelled hours after the rapper who has said he suffered mental illness in the past, praised Adolf Hitler.
-In China the most wide spread dissent in a generation continues, as protesters in many cities, demand an end to the zero covid policies that have left millions in lockdowns for months at a time. China’s Communist party has signalled it won’t allow the death of former leader Jiang Zemin and the out pouring of public mourning to morph into demonstrations against the current regime. Here’s the reality check - China wants to loosen some Covid restrictions, to allow anger to cool, but as this happens a rise in cases will force the Communist leaders to clamp down again. Anger will rise. They are potentially caught in a spiral of public dissent.
Have a good weekend friends!
Dana