The Full Belmonte, 1/11/2024
Chris Christie, a Trump ally turned critic, is ending his long-shot GOP presidential campaign days before the Iowa caucuses
“The former New Jersey governor launched a campaign centered on harsh criticism of former president Donald Trump, something few of his Republican rivals would attempt. But with the GOP base still largely behind Trump, Christie struggled to expand his support. This was Christie’s second presidential campaign. He ran unsuccessfully in 2016 before dropping out and endorsing Trump.”
Read the story at Washington Post
Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis at Wednesday’s debate. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Haley and DeSantis tear into each other’s records in a hostile head-to-head Republican debate
“In their most hostile encounter yet, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis attacked each other often in Wednesday’s Republican primary debate rather than focus on Donald Trump, the absent front-runner, as both tried to demonstrate they were the strongest alternative to the former president. Read more.
Key events:
DeSantis and Haley called each other liars and insulted each other’s records and character in the opening minutes of the debate.
The one-on-one format displayed their sharp differences over issues ranging from foreign policy to abortion. On foreign aid, Haley offered a passionate defense for sending aid to Ukraine and Israel. DeSantis charged that she was more concerned about the Ukrainian border than the southern border of the United States.
DeSantis, who has been suggesting the party will need to nominate someone other than Trump because of his legal challenges, predicted that the former president would likely end up being convicted for his efforts to overturn the election.” [AP News]
Donald Trump Fox town hall takeaways: Attack Haley, DeSantis, and Biden
“Former President Donald Trump had a much easier night than his Republican rivals. A mostly friendly crowd at a Fox News town hall in Des Moines asked Trump very few challenging questions, allowing the GOP frontrunner to tee off on Haley and DeSantis as they argued with each other over on CNN. Trump also seized opportunities to attack President Joe Biden. The former president also acknowledged, again, that he wants to be a dictator for a day and that his businesses made more than $8 million from foreign governments during his years in the White House.” Read more at USA Today
Former President Donald Trump speaks as Fox News hosts a town hall at the Iowa Events Center on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Des Moines, IA.
Michelle Gutierrez, The Register/USA TODAY Network
Judge rescinds permission for Trump to give his own closing argument at his civil fraud trial
“Donald Trump won’t make his own closing argument after all in his New York civil business fraud trial after his lawyers objected to the judge’s insistence that the former president stick to ‘relevant’ matters.” Read More at AP News
Congress
Hunter Biden Valerie Plesch for The New York Times
“Two House committees voted along party lines to hold Hunter Biden, the president’s son, in contempt of Congress. Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance before the votes.” [New York Times]
“Hard-line House Republicans blocked Republican bills in a protest over Speaker Mike Johnson’s deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown.” [New York Times]
“House Republicans began impeachment hearings against Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary. They listed policy complaints about border security but no proof of impeachable offenses.” [New York Times]
Alaska Airlines canceled all Boeing 737 Max 9 flights through Saturday.
‘Why? It’s waiting for FAA approval to begin formal inspections of the Boeing jets after last week’s terrifying midair blowout that opened a hole in a plane while in flight.
The impact: The cancellations will affect 110 to 150 flights each day. United, the other major U.S. operator of Max 9s, said it also expected “significant” cancellations.’
Read this story at Washington Post
An Oregon judge enters the final order striking down a voter-approved gun control law
“The law, one of the toughest in the nation, was among the first gun restrictions to be passed after a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year changed the guidance judges are expected to follow when considering Second Amendment cases.” Read More at AP News
1 dead, 1 injured following avalanche at California ski resort, official says
“A person was killed and another was injured when an avalanche roared through a section of expert trails at a California ski resort near Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, authorities said.” Read More at AP News
Federal judge says Alabama can conduct nation’s first execution with nitrogen gas
“Alabama will be allowed to put an inmate to death with nitrogen gas later this month, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, clearing the way for what would be the nation’s first execution under a new method the inmate’s lawyers criticize as cruel and experimental.” Read More at AP News
Police investigation finds Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert didn’t punch ex-husband as he claimed
“U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has been cleared of domestic violence allegations made by her ex-husband during an altercation at a Colorado restaurant, police said. Jayson Boebert was arrested Tuesday for third-degree criminal trespass, obstruction and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.” Read More at AP News
Hunter Biden leaves a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 10. | AP
“HUNTER THE HUNTED — HUNTER BIDEN made a surprise appearance on the Hill today as the House Oversight and Judiciary committees gathered for two separate votes to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena requiring him to sit for a closed-door interview.
Surprising no one, chaos ensued.
During his short cameo, the president’s son sat silently in the front row of the Oversight Committee room as members spoke. Some, like Rep. NANCY MACE (R-S.C.) used the opportunity to fling insults and accusations at the president's son.
‘You are the epitome of white privilege, coming into the Oversight Committee, spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed,’ Mace said. ‘What are you afraid of? You have no balls.’
‘If the gentlelady wants to hear from Hunter Biden, we can hear from him right now,’ Rep. JARED MOSKOWITZ (D-Fla.) interjected. ‘Let’s take a vote and hear from Hunter Biden.’ Video of the exchange
‘Biden left the meeting shortly after he arrived, when Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) tried to start questioning him,’ Jordain Carney and Anthony Adragna report. ‘Apparently you’re afraid of my words,’ she said.’
As a PR stunt, the move showed some savvy: As MTG spoke, the cable news networks went from carrying the hearing to instead showing Biden’s lawyer, ABBE LOWELL, speaking in the hallway outside the hearing room.
Lowell said the House GOP was motivated by ‘improper partisan motives’ and called the subpoena for a closed-door deposition ‘a tactic that the Republicans have repeatedly misused in their political crusade to selectively leak and mischaracterize what witnesses have said,’ NBC News’ Sarah Fitzpatrick and Summer Concepcion report.
ICYMI: Eugene and Betsy Woodruff Swan on Hunter Biden’s new counter-offensive strategy
So what now? Should the votes move forward as expected the contempt resolution would head to the House floor for a full vote. If the House votes to hold Biden contempt, it will be up to the Department of Justice to decide whether to prosecute.
MEANWHILE, IN CANNON — The House Homeland Security Committee held their first hearing this morning in their longstanding efforts to impeach DHS Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS for his handling of the immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Prior to the hearing, Rep. CHIP ROY (R-Texas) sent a letter calling on his colleagues to support ousting Mayorkas, arguing ‘the case has never been stronger.’
More from Katherine Tully-McManus: ‘The GOP's move to impeach Mayorkas without evidence of criminal or other improper activity beyond its policy dispute with him is unprecedented. Republicans argue that Mayorkas is not upholding existing immigration laws, but Democrats counter that the entire affair is designed to appeal to their base in an election year.’
On the right: During opening remarks, Chair MARK GREEN (R-Tenn.) described the hearing as a “solemn occasion,” saying that Mayorkas ‘has brazenly refused to enforce the laws passed by Congress that knowingly made our country less safe. What we are seeing here is a willful violation of his oath of office.’
On the left: Democrats on the panel repeatedly pushed back against the GOP’s claims, with Ranking member Rep. BENNIE THOMPSON(D-Miss.) called the House GOP’s impeachment push a ‘pre-planned, predetermined political stunt,’ adding ‘this is not a legitimate impeachment.’
SPENDING STATE OF PLAY — Despite weeks of deadlock, House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON maintained an optimistic outlook on the Senate's ongoing deliberations over border security policies today during an appearance on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show, Anthony reports. Johnson noted that while he's yet to see the text of the latest proposal he’s ‘cautiously optimistic’ on a deal. Johnson said he’s planning on calling former president DONALD TRUMP today to ‘talk him through the details of’ of the spending framework proposed over the weekend.
Still, a solution still seems pretty far off. KTM reports that while Senate Republicans are now ‘resigned to the fact that they’ll need another stopgap measure,’ to keep the government’s lights on, their House colleagues aren’t on board with the idea.” [POLITICO]
In his 1st interview, friend who warned officials of Maine shooter says ‘I literally spelled it out’
“Sean Hodgson watched and worried as his best friend of nearly two decades unraveled. His former roommate and fellow U.S. Army reservist’s anger and paranoia were mounting, he had access to guns, and he refused to get help. So Hodgson did the hardest thing of his life: He sent a text about Robert Card to their Army supervisor. Six weeks later, Card fatally shot 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston before killing himself. Read more.
Key events:
Authorities declined to confront Card — the clearest example of the missed opportunities to intervene and prevent the deadliest shooting in state history. Hodgson’s account, taken together with law enforcement documents, videos and interviews, provides the most comprehensive picture to date of potential missteps leading up to the attack.
In replying to AP’s questions about the investigation and Hodgson’s warning, the Army Reserve said in a statement that no one should jump to conclusions until its own investigation and an independent probe by the Army inspector general are finalized.” [AP News]
Top UN court hears South Africa’s allegation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza
Israeli sympathizers take part in a demonstration during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a genocide complaint by South Africa against Israel, in The Hague, on January 11, 2024.
ROBIN UTRECHT, ANP/AFP via Getty Images
“In the opening session, South Africa called for the court to issue an interim order for an immediate halt to Israel’s military actions. If South Africa prevails in passing the legally binding order, then abiding by such a ruling will be politically costly for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Israelis still largely supportive of the war. Read more.
Why this matters:
The genocide charge strikes at the heart of Israel’s national identity. The country sees itself as a bulwark of security for Jews after 6 million were killed in the Holocaust and international support for Israel’s creation in 1948 was deeply rooted in outrage over Nazi atrocities.
It also involves South Africa’s identity: Its governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule.” [AP News]
The legal counselor of Israel's foreign ministry, Tal Becker (left), will present Israel's defence on Friday.
“With aid to Ukraine still blocked by Congressional Republicans, the Biden administration is now backing legislation that would let it seize some of $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help pay for reconstruction of Ukraine. The administration welcomes “in principle” a bill that would allow it to confiscate the funds, according to a November memo from the National Security Council to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The shift however has engendered fears in some quarters that it could taint the reputation of the US financial system and spark a flight from the dollar.” [Bloomberg]
Gang Violence Engulfs Ecuador
Ecuadorean soldiers patrol the premises of TC Televisión after unidentified gunmen burst into the state-owned studio live on air in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Jan. 9.Marcos Pin/AFP via Getty Images
“Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared an ‘internal armed conflict’ across the country this week and published a list of 22 gangs deemed ‘terrorist organizations,’ ordering state authorities to ‘neutralize’ the criminal groups and take back control of regional prisons.
‘From this moment on, every terrorist group identified in the aforementioned decree has become a military target,’ Rear Adm. Jaime Vela Erazo, head of Ecuador’s Joint Armed Forces Command, said on Tuesday.
The dramatic move followed a wave of gang-related violence across the country over the past several days that saw a notorious gang leader escape from prison, police officers and prison guards taken hostage, and explosive devices detonated in multiple cities. On Tuesday, gunmen armed with explosives stormed TC Televisión in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, during a live broadcast and tried to force a presenter to read out a statement on air before being subdued by authorities.
The recent spate of violence began on Sunday when police discovered that Adolfo “Fito” Macías had escaped La Regional prison in Guayaquil in anticipation of his transfer to another facility. Macías led Los Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most feared gangs known for working with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and Colombia’s Oliver Sinisterra Front. He was sentenced in 2011 to 34 years in prison for drug trafficking and murder.
Noboa ordered a nationwide state of emergency on Monday following Macías’s escape, deploying more than 3,000 police officers and military forces to search for him. The decree lasts for 60 days and includes a nightly curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Macías has yet to be found.
Inmates in at least six prisons across the country responded to Macías’s escape and protested Noboa’s crackdown by sparking violent riots and taking prison guards hostage. ‘You declared a state of emergency. We declare police, civilians, and soldiers to be the spoils of war,’ a police officer kidnapped by gang members was forced to read in a statement.
At least eight people have been killed in Guayaquil and another two killed in nearby Nobol thus far. Local authorities arrested 13 individuals for storming a police station with firearms and grenades. And gang members have taken at least seven police officers hostage.
Ecuador was once considered an ‘island of peace’ compared to neighbors Peru and Colombia. But in recent years, gang violence, drug trafficking, and political assassinations have surged. And in 2022, homicide rates spiked from 5 to 26 homicides per 100,000 from 2017, making Ecuador one of the most dangerous nations in South America. Noboa was elected late last year for pledging to combat drug-related crimes and political corruption.
Across the Western Hemisphere, Ecuador’s allies have backed Noboa’s efforts. Chile, Colombia, and Brazil expressed support for Noboa, and the U.S. State Department said it was ‘ready to provide assistance to the Ecuadorian government’ should Noboa request it. But fear of an escalating conflict led China to suspend embassy and consular services in Quito starting on Wednesday. Peru plans to declare an emergency along its entire northern border with Ecuador and has ordered its National Police to reinforce security.” [Foreign Policy]
“West Bank diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday to discuss the Israel-Hamas war and future governance of Gaza.
The Biden administration has proposed having a ‘revamped and revitalized’ Palestinian Authority, which currently oversees the West Bank, also assume control of Gaza after the war ends. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the idea, and last week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a different vision for postwar Gaza that would see Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas govern the territory rather than the Palestinian Authority.
During his meeting with Blinken, Abbas said Palestinians would not accept any agreement that keeps Gaza separate from the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority also reportedly provided Blinken with a list of proposed internal reforms on areas such as free speech and corruption that it would be open to making as part of a broader deal to end the war and take control of Gaza. Experts have pointed to the Palestinian Authority’s corruption, authoritarian governance, and weakness—including its loss of effective control over key parts of the West Bank—as major challenges it would face in trying to govern Gaza.” [Foreign Policy]
“Flight seizure. Al-Shabab militants captured a United Nations helicopter carrying nine passengers near Somalia’s Galguduud region on Wednesday after it was forced to make an emergency landing. One person was killed, six of the passengers were taken hostage, and two people escaped. According to Somali military official Maj. Hassan Ali, several foreign nationals were on board, though their nationalities are unknown.
The flight was carrying medical supplies when it was seized by al-Shabab, an Islamist group tied to al Qaeda that has waged a violent insurgency for over a decade. Officials said the helicopter was expected in Wisil, a border town near the front lines, where it would transport injured soldiers from Galguduud.” [Foreign Policy]
“Houthi shipping assault. U.S. and British forces intercepted 21 missiles and drones aimed at commercial ships in the Red Sea on Tuesday. The Iranian-backed Houthi militia claimed responsibility for the attack, one of its largest assaults in a series of strikes originally against vessels allegedly connected to Israel as part of the group’s efforts to protest the war in Gaza. No casualties or damage was reported.
‘It’s exactly the arbitrary nature of the attacks that’s spooking the shipping industry,’ FP columnist Elisabeth Braw argued. ‘Shipping lines and crews routinely handle severe weather because such weather can be predicted and follows a certain pattern. The Houthis’ designations of ‘Israeli-linked’ vessels don’t.’” [Foreign Policy]
“Appealing to the Baltics. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Lithuania on Wednesday in a surprise visit to request more air defense aid. Vilnius was Zelensky’s first stop in a diplomatic tour across the Baltics to bolster Western support for Kyiv amid wavering commitments from the United States and its allies. ‘Sometimes, the insecurity of partners regarding financial and military aid to Ukraine only increases Russia’s courage and strength,’ Zelensky warned.
Kyiv faces a bitter stalemate against Moscow as the region battles a harsh winter. On Tuesday, more than 1,000 Ukrainian towns across nine regions lost power due to extreme winter weather. Temperatures fell to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, forcing Ukraine’s power grid to balance skyrocketing electricity consumption demands with damage to its infrastructure, both from cold fronts and Russian assaults.” [Foreign Policy]
“In a year packed with elections, many in Germany wish they could go to the polls too.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is beset by crises, not all of its own making. Protesting farmers and striking train drivers are merely the latest in a procession of woes compounded by a flatlining economy and questions over Germany’s future as an industrial powerhouse.
It’s hard to believe that it’s less than two years since Scholz gave the speech of his political life as he announced Germany’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even just 12 months ago, voters gave Scholz’s three-way coalition credit for having navigated the energy crisis that ensued from decoupling from Russia.
That largesse has now evaporated as the coalition plumbs historic poll lows, with the nationalist right a core beneficiary.
Of course Scholz’s coalition bears some responsibility for its travails, having committed policy missteps and succumbed to internal bickering.
But his troubles also speak to the shortening of the political cycle, with voter patience running out unreasonably fast.
Just ask Donald Tusk in next-door Poland. He’s been prime minister for barely a month and already his pro-European Union government is locked in a constitutional tussle with President Andrzej Duda, who was nominated by the nationalist, EU-skeptic administration that Tusk defeated.
This is no regular political disagreement; it’s a no-holds-barred fight for Poland’s future.
As such, it’s reminiscent of the polarizing US campaign ahead of November’s presidential election that will cap this year’s roll call of ballots worldwide.
There was a time when elections decided political debates, at least for a while. That no longer seems to be the case, as leaders challenge the results and refuse to obey political norms.
This year will show just how widespread the crisis of democracy has become.” —Alan Crawford [Bloomberg]
A banner reading “The Yard Is Burning, Politics Is Sleeping” during a farmers’ protest yesterday in Brandenburg, Germany. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg
“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is trying to convince Viktor Orban to end his opposition to European support for Ukraine and to improve relations with Zelenskiy. If the Hungarian premier complies, it could pave the way for his Fidesz party to join the European Conservatives and Reformists alliance alongside Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and other far-right groups, sources say.” [Bloomberg]
“When Nigeria’s anti-graft commission raided the offices of Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, last week, it sent panic through the West African nation’s boardrooms. The action was part of a widening investigation into the former head of the central bank and foreign-exchange dealings he oversaw. Dangote Group said it has faced no accusations of wrongdoing and called the incident an ‘unwarranted embarrassment.’” [Bloomberg]
“North Korea is looking to send Russia new types of tactical guided missiles, while Pyongyang may soon conduct fresh tests of its own missilesdesigned to deliver nuclear strikes, South Korea’s defense minister said.” [Bloomberg]
“Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez barely managed to win his first significant parliamentary vote since forming a government, underscoring the challenges facing his coalition over the next four years.” [Bloomberg]
“Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria joined forces to hunt for mines in the Black Sea, a move aimed at improving shipping safety and shoring up vital Ukrainian grain exports.” [Bloomberg]
In Tainan, Taiwan. Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
“Taiwan is in the final days of its presidential election. Its campaign rallies are boisterous and flashy.” [New York Times]
“When Xi Jinping attended talks with Joe Biden in November, seated to his right was a man who is quietly emerging as one of China’s most influential figures. Not only does Cai Qi sit on the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee, China’s most powerful body, but he serves as Xi’s chief of staff—the first person to hold both positions since the era of Mao Zedong. Those dual titles have given Cai another privilege: He’s the only member of China’s top decision-making body to have publicly traveled overseas with Xi. Cai may officially be China’s No. 5, but he has unusual clout for the position. This is how he got there.” [Bloomberg]
Cai Qi Source: Bloomberg
ILLUSTRATION: ALEXANDRA CITRIN-SAFADI/WSJ
Get ready for the first U.S. exchange-traded funds that hold bitcoin to be sold to the public.
“The SEC will allow mainstream investors to buy and sell bitcoin as easily as stocks and mutual funds. Until now, they had to either trade on crypto exchanges and incur hefty transaction fees or purchase products that track bitcoin in less direct ways. All 11 applications filed by asset managers including BlackRock, Fidelity Investments and ARK Investment Management were greenlighted to list. The new funds, known as spot-bitcoin ETFs because they buy and sell the digital currency itself, are expected to begin trading tomorrow. Expectations of a regulatory thumbs-up drove the price of bitcoin to the highest level in about two years. The digital currency fell to just below $46,000 late yesterday, up from $17,000 last January.” [Wall Street Journal]
Over the past two years, Amazon fired more than 27,000 of its employees, part of a flood of terminations by technology companies tied to pandemic fallout and a recession that never came. Now it’s 2024, and Amazon is dismissing its workers again. The company announced it’s terminating hundreds of people in its Prime Video and studios business.
Ancient DNA helped to solve a long-standing medical mystery.
“What mystery? Why multiple sclerosis, a disease that makes people’s immune systems attack their nervous systems, is most common among people from northern Europe.
The answer: It’s an evolutionary trade-off. A gene that may have protected ancient people from their livestock’s germs increases their descendants’ risk of MS, a new study said.”
Read this story at Washington Post
January 11, 2024
By German Lopez
Good morning. We’re covering the turnaround in the U.S. murder rate —
Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times
Record drop
“In the chaotic early months of the Covid pandemic, when the U.S. was also going through the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, violent crime rose across the country. Murders in 2020 increased at the fastest rate since national statistics began in 1960. Other crimes, like shootings and car thefts, also increased.
The surge in violence left some experts worried that the U.S. might be entering another era of high crime, similar to that of the 1960s through the ’90s.
But the data over the past year has offered a much more optimistic picture. The number of murders in U.S. cities fell by more than 12 percent — which would be the biggest national decline on record. The spike that started in 2020 now looks more like a blip, and the murder rate is lower than it was during the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. The recent data also suggests that the violent-crime rate in 2023 was near its lowest level in more than 50 years, as Jeff Asher, a crime analyst, wrote for his newsletter.
Source: Jeff Asher, F.B.I. | Data is based on 99 cities; rate for 2023 is an estimate. | By The New York Times
Fading shocks
To understand why murders and other crimes have declined, it’s useful to look at the likely causes of the increase: the pandemic and the fallout from Floyd’s killing by the police.
Covid, of course, upended American life in 2020 and 2021, including in ways that affected crime: Police officers stopped some forms of in-person contact, and more illness contributed to staffing shortages at police departments. Schools, which help keep teens out of trouble, shut down. Some social services and other anti-violence programs also had to scale back.
Covid does not explain everything. Many other countries did not report increases in their murder rates during the pandemic. Perhaps something unique to the U.S., such as its abundance of guns, made the country more vulnerable to the disruptions of Covid.
Regardless, the reality is this: During Covid, murders increased. As life has returned to normal, they have decreased.
The second explanation involves Floyd’s death. High-profile police killings typically strain relations between law enforcement and the public. This leads some officers to pull back from activities that can stop crime. More people become skeptical of working with the police to solve and prevent crimes. And as they lose trust in the police and the justice system, more Americans resort to their own means, including violence, to settle conflicts.
A similar phenomenon played out in the mid-2010s. Widely publicized police killings of Black men in Ferguson, Mo.; Baltimore; Chicago; and elsewhere strained relations between the police and their communities, and murders increased.
Back then, murders declined after a couple of years, as tensions eased and officials tried to repair police-community relations and improve policing. The same seems to have happened in the last couple of years.
Not the ’60s
This outcome was not inevitable. The crime surge that began in the early 1960s also seemed connected to societal unrest. But rather than quickly reversing, it continued for decades. One potential difference is that back then the causes were more spread out: the civil-rights unrest of the 1960s; federal scandals, like Watergate, that reduced trust in government in the ’70s; and the crack-cocaine epidemic in the ’80s.
Crime is a complicated topic, and an explanation that seems correct in one moment can look less certain after years of scrutiny. There are usually crosscurrents, too. Car thefts, for instance, have remained significantly higher in recent months than they were a few years ago.
Still, we know that murders in large U.S. cities fell rapidly last year, and most other forms of crime seem to have fallen as well.
Related: Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist and friend of the newsletter, died this week at 75. Rosenfeld was a leading expert on what caused crime trends in the U.S. He helped found the criminology doctorate program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Rosenfeld was an unusually clear communicator for someone of his expertise. He approached questions with an open mind, readily acknowledging that he did not have all the answers. He was also kind, often referring reporters to his less well known colleagues to give them a boost. You can read an obituary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.” [New York Times]
Nick Saban retiring as Alabama football coach, per reports
READ FULL STORY→ USA Today
Pete Carroll out as Seattle Seahawks coach in stunning end to 14-year run leading team
“Pete Carroll's 14-year run as the Seattle Seahawks coach is over, marking a stunning end to the most successful chapter in franchise history. The Seahawks announced Wednesday that Carroll would move on to an advisory role. Carroll helped the franchise win its only Super Bowl in the 2013 season, compiled a 137-89-1 record in the regular season and led the organization to the playoffs 10 times. His 170 career regular-season wins leave him tied for 15th in league history and put him behind only Bill Belichick, Andy Reid and Mike Tomlin among active coaches.” Read more at USA Today
How Earth's largest ape vanished
An artist's impression of Gigantopithecus blacki, the giant ape from southern China. Illustration: Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)
“An ancient mega ape's massive size — clocking in at 10 feet tall and around 550 pounds — turned into an evolutionary disadvantage as it went extinct over 200,000 years ago, Axios' Jacob Knutson writes.
Why it matters: New research published in Nature helps scientists resolve a long-standing mystery surrounding the legendary creature's disappearance from what's now southern China.
Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest known primate to roam Earth, started to fade when the region's climate changed and became increasingly dry.
The apes likely became less mobile because of their size and shrinking diet.” [Axios]
”Lives Lived: Adan Canto was a Mexican actor known for his roles in “Designated Survivor” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” He died at 42 of cancer.” [New York Times]