Back Story Newsletter
Good morning,
Trump And Jan 6
The Supreme Court refused to accept former President Trumps attempts to block the release of White House records related to the attack on the Capitol on Jan 6, and in a late night ruling ordered the release of hundred of pages of documents.
Trumps desire for executive privilege and confidentiality was outweighed by the need for a full investigation ruled the court and within hours the documents were in the hands of the House Committee investigating Trumps role in organizing an attempt to over turn a legally held election in America.
Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming and the vice chairwoman of the committee called the decision “a victory for the rule of law and American democracy.”
Boris Johnson of Britain
In the British House of Parliament one of the Prime Ministers former Cabinet Ministers stood and said “In the name of god, go”.
It’s front page news here as P.M. Boris Johnson is being called to resign over his knowledge of and attendance at parties in Number 10 Downing St. during the Covid lockdowns.
That includes one party the night before the Queen had to bury her husband Prince Phillip at a small funeral because of Covid restrictions. She was a lone figure sitting in the Chapel surrounded by no one.
Will Johnson hang on? It’s clear now he will try to keep his job even with his own party trying to encourage him to go. But he is damaged goods and the opposition parties are surging in the polls.
Ukraine-Russia
President Biden was asked as his W.H. news conference last night does he think Russian leader Putin wants war?
Biden responded "My guess is he will move in, he has to do something."
But he warned that the Russian leader would pay a "serious and dear price" for "testing" the West.
What does Putin want? Why can’t we stop this attack on Ukraine from happening?
Officially Putin wants guarantees Ukraine, a sovereign nation never to be able to join the Western NATO alliance.
And despite NATO saying that promise can never be made, yesterday French President Macron broke ranks with the U.S. and said the E.U. must start its own talks with Russia to avoid what he characterized as the “most tragic thing of all – war”.
That may weaken America’s discussions with Russia planned for Friday, and strengthen Putins notion he can bully and threaten his neighbours and former Soviet satellites countries.
Britain has been shipping anti tank weapons into Ukraine this week bolstering arms already provided by the U.S., Turkey and others.
Here’s the time frame; If Russia is going to seize more of Ukraine and continue holding a gun to Kyiv’s head it needs to act soon. This will be a mechanized war with tanks and soldiers rolling over Eastern Ukraines frozen ground. Russia cannot wait until the ground thaws. Russians paratroopers won’t be enough to seize anything without rapid resupply. This war will happen soon, if it’s going to happen, which it appears it will.
Look at the map and trace the rail lines running from Russia through Ukraine. That will be the routes of attack. The question is how far Putin is prepared to go? Will he seize all of Ukraine? Simply isolate big cities? Cut off Ukraine completely from the sea? Or just bolster rebel areas in the East and create a land bridge to the Crimea?
Covid Restrictions
All this talk - Covid is ending and becoming endemic opposed to pandemic is premature. The virus has not stopped mutating and Omicron is only a stage in many years of us fighting the pandemic.
Despite that, Britain for example is announcing the withdrawal of almost all restrictions including mandating masks. And that clearly is more about politics than health safety measures.
People are tired of their freedoms being restricted and businesses won’t stand for more lockdowns. But the health implications for children in schools which have not been adequately ventilated, or equipped with air filters, are huge.
On Back Story w/Dana Lewis podcast we will walk you through where we are in the pandemic with two epidemiologists. That’s our next segment of Back Story due out today! You can find it where ever you listen to great podcasts.
Have a great day everyone.
Dana
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/19/macron-says-eu-must-start-own-dialogue-with-russia-over-ukraine
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-jan-6.html