The Full Belmonte, 1/28/2024
Trump topples Biden in rural America, poll says
“With a potential rematch loomimg, rural voters heavily favor former president Donald Trump over President Biden, according to a Colby College poll.”
READ MORE at USA Today
Israel-Hamas War
“Negotiators are closing in on a deal in which Israel would suspend fighting in Gaza for about two months in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages.” [New York Times]
“Top American, Israeli and Arab officials are trying to answer the divisive question of how Gaza will be governed after the fighting stops.” [New York Times]
“Britain, Germany and at least four other countries said they would join the U.S. in suspending funding to a U.N. agency that aids Palestinians after Israel accused some of its employees of participating in the Oct. 7 attacks.” [New York Times]
“The head of the U.N. agency urged the countries to reconsider. ‘The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability,’ he said.” [New York Times]
“A significant number of weapons Hamas used in the Oct. 7 attacks and in the war in Gaza came from the Israeli military, according to Israeli military and intelligence officials.” [New York Times]
War in Ukraine
“A Ukrainian mobilization bill has catalyzed discontent about the army recruitment process after nearly two years of war.” [New York Times]
“Long lines have popped up in Russia to get an antiwar candidate, Boris Nadezhdin, on the ballot for the country’s presidential election in March.” [New York Times]
“On Germany’s Holocaust Memorial Day, tens of thousands demonstrated in support of democracy and against the rise of a far-right political party.” [New York Times]
“A Kenyan court blocked a U.N.-backed plan to deploy the country’s officers to help pacify violence on Haiti’s streets. There doesn’t appear to be a Plan B.” [New York Times]
E. Jean Carroll leaves court after she was awarded $83.3 million in her defamation case against Donald Trump.
“A jury said that Donald Trump should pay $83.3 million in damages to E. Jean Carroll, an eye-popping sum that marks the sharpest legal setback for a former president entangled in multiple criminal and civil cases while he campaigns for the White House. Trump made defamatory statements disparaging her and denying her rape allegations.” [CNN]
“The main UN agency in Gaza is in turmoil after Israel accused some of its staff members of involvement in Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency fired several employees in the wake of the allegations, which have not been made public.” [CNN]
“Vince McMahon resigned from his role as executive chairman of TKO, the parent company of WWE, following disturbing allegations of sexual assault, trafficking and physical abuse. McMahon has denied the allegations, which came to light in a lawsuit filed by a former WWE staffer.” [CNN]
“A truck driver died, several northeast Ohio roads were closed and diesel poured into a river after a tanker lost control and exploded. The truck was carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel when it crashed, environmental officials said, and the fuel also leaked into Brandywine Falls.” [CNN]
“Protesters hurled soup at the Mona Lisa in Paris, but the painting was protected from damage by its glass casing. The environmental group Riposte Alimentaire – which roughly translates to “Food Response” – said two protesters involved with their campaign were behind the vandalism.” [CNN]
MONDAY
“If you enjoy filing your taxes early, it's your lucky day. The IRS will begin accepting and processing 2023 federal income tax returns. For those of us who are not professional tax preparers, be sure to file your return and pay any remaining taxes owed by April 15 — although some exceptions do apply. The IRS is also set to launch its free tax filing pilot program on Monday. Known as Direct File, the program will be open on a very limited basis — at first only to federal and state government employees in 12 states. By March, the IRS expects to expand to some private sector workers who meet certain income and tax situations supported by the tool.
TUESDAY
The House Homeland Security Committee plans to vote on a resolution to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, moving closer to making him just the second Cabinet secretary in history to be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors over what House Republicans claim is a dereliction of duty as crossings at the US-Mexico border reach record highs.
WEDNESDAY
The Federal Reserve wraps up its first interest rate meeting of 2024. When policymakers last met in December, they broached the subject of reducing interest rates for the first time since kicking off a historic inflation-busting campaign in March 2022. And while no change is expected at this time, Fed officials think there will be three rate cuts this year, according to recent projections. Those cuts would bring the Fed’s target interest rate closer to 4.6% from the current range of 5.25% to 5.5%.
THURSDAY
It's the first day of Black History Month, a nationwide celebration that calls on all Americans to reflect on the significant roles that African Americans have played in shaping US history. Learn more about the origin of this observance and the man known as the Father of Black History here.
Actor Alec Baldwin is scheduled to be arraigned on two counts of involuntary manslaughter following his indictment earlier this month on charges connected to the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.” Similar charges were dropped against Baldwin last year, with prosecutors saying in a statement at the time that they could not ‘proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form’ due to ‘new facts’ in the case.
FRIDAY
It's Groundhog Day — the day when several oddly dressed men hold a rodent in the air before a crowd of (partially inebriated) revelers and announce his weather forecast. (Editor's note: Know any good Groundhog Day jokes? Feel free to email us. We keep hearing the same ones over and over and ... )
SATURDAY
South Carolina holds its Democratic primary. While President Joe Biden doesn't have a serious challenger, his campaign hopes his efforts in the state will recharge voters and echo 2020, when South Carolina — especially its Black voters — catapulted the candidate on a path to the presidency. The Republican primary is three weeks later on February 24.” [CNN]
“ The NFL's conference championships are today, with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens at 3 p.m. ET on CBS and the Detroit Lions playing the San Francisco 49ers at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Fans in Baltimore are anticipating another sighting of Taylor Swift — and perhaps a shirtless Jason Kelce. The winners earn a trip to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
However ... in this age of disinformation and deep internet rabbit holes, some on social media claim the Super Bowl is a scripted event and that the NFL already knows which two teams will be playing on February 11. Watch this video to learn all about the Super Bowl logo conspiracy theory.
In tennis at the Australian Open, Italy's Jannik Sinner rallied from two sets down to beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set men's final. On Saturday, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus swept past China's Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 to claim the women's title.” [CNN]
Coming back from the brink
“The race to save the northern white rhino, a species so close to extinction that there are only two known left in the wild, has taken a sci-fi movie-level turn. The team at the BioRescue project has successfully impregnated a southern white rhino via in vitro fertilization, creating a possible path for restoring the species. The sperm was collected from a southern white rhinoceros named Athos, who lives at Zoo Salzburg in Austria. The egg cells were retrieved from Elenore, a southern white rhinoceros living in the Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium. The samples were then transferred to Italy and fertilized in vitro. Sadly, the mother rhino acting as a surrogate was found dead last November of what scientists suspect was a bacterial infection. However, she was pregnant when she died -- proof that the IVF Hail Mary had worked. Now, those involved in the project are in the process of finding another surrogate and are confident they can try again.” Read the whole story here at CNN
A movie magic legend
“Lanny Smoot has built one of the coolest careers ever. The Disney research fellow and imagineer has amassed 106 patents and counting, and has created the magic (ahem, complex engineering) behind the extendable lightsaber used in Disney Live Entertainment, the new HoloTile floor, which Disney calls ‘the world’s first multi-person, omnidirectional, modular, expandable, treadmill floor,’ and the interactive koi ponds at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. Now, his prolificacy and impact in the theatrical technologies and special effects field have earned him an induction into the 2024 National Inventors Hall of Fame. ‘I love to create. I love to come up with inventions … just wanting to make good things that will amaze and enchant people,’ Smoot said of the honor. He got especially emotional when he realized the only other Disney employee to make the National Inventors Hall of Fame was ... Walt Disney himself!” Read the whole story here at CNN
A real silver lining
“Last weekend, Tyler Bass had what can only be described as a very bad day. The Buffalo Bills kicker missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal late in his team's 27-24 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. As if that wasn't enough, he received all kinds of harassment online for the error. However, a no-kill, non-profit cat adoption agency in Western New York had his back. The Ten Lives Club posted a message to social media after the game saying, ‘WE STAND WITH TYLER BASS. DON’T BULLY OUR FRIEND.’ The group, which Bass has worked with in the past, called for fans to show their support for the kicker by pledging donations to the organization in the amount of $22 in Bass’ name (Bass wears jersey No. 2 for the Bills). ‘Tyler doesn’t deserve any of the hate he’s receiving,’ their post read. ‘He’s an excellent football player and an even better person who took the time to help our organization and rescue cats last year. Leave our friend alone.’ People responded — big time: The Ten Lives Club says it has received over $150,000 of pledged donations. See? Why be mean when you could be kind? It pays off in ways you can't imagine.” Read the whole story here at CNN
“Lives Lived: David Skal was a witty historian of horror entertainment who examined the cultural significance of movies meant to scare us. He died at 71.” [New York Times]