The Full Belmonte, 3/5/2024
Supreme Court
“The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Trump can remain on Colorado’s ballot in today’s primary, ending efforts in several states to disqualify him for insurrection.
It did not take a position on whether Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack amounted to insurrection, as other courts had found.
The ruling settled ballot questions but hardened political divisions.
The decision was the court’s most important concerning a presidential election since Bush v. Gore, The Times’s Adam Liptak wrote. Read highlights from the ruling.” [New York Times]
Donald Trump is expected to dominate Super Tuesday.
Election personnel process ballots at the San Francisco City Hall voting center during early voting before the Super Tuesday primary election. (Loren Elliott/Reuters)
“What’s happening? Fifteen states will vote today to award more than a third of the Republican Party’s delegates in its presidential nomination contest.
What to expect: The former president is set for a clean sweep. That wouldn’t clinch the nomination (see here), but could put pressure on his last challenger, Nikki Haley, to drop out.
What else to know: The Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday that states don’t have the power to disqualify Trump from ballots.”
Read this story at Washington Post
The U.N. said it believes Hamas raped and tortured hostages.
“What to know: Some victims of the Oct. 7 attack in Israel were assaulted, a U.N. report said yesterday, and sexual violence “may be ongoing” against hostages. Hamas denies this.
In Gaza: The severe lack of food in the territory’s north resulted in the deaths of 10 children, a U.N. agency said yesterday, although local officials report a higher toll.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Barrasso to pass on Senate GOP leader run
“Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso will pass on a bid for GOP leader in the next Congress, instead pursuing the No. 2 job of party whip.
Barrasso, who is currently the No. 3 Senate Republican, is informing colleagues of his plans, according to a person familiar with his interactions who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. Barrasso's office declined to comment.”
Read the latest at POLITICO
VP Harris meets with Netanyahu rival amid rising tension with Israel
“Vice President Kamala Harris met Monday with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s wartime Cabinet and centrist political rival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a sign of growing White House frustration with the Israeli government. The White House meeting, which was not authorized by Netanyahu, marked a major test for President Joe Biden's relationship with the Israeli leader. The U.S has become increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Israel's refusal to scale back the war in Gaza and its efforts to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.” Read more at USA Today
Israeli soldiers patrol near the border with Gaza on March 4, 2024 in southern Israel.
Amir Levy, Getty Images
Jack Teixeira pleads guilty to massive leak of Pentagon secrets on social media site Discord
“The Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with sharing hundreds of classified documents on social media, which led to punishment for 15 service members, pleaded guilty to all six charges against him. Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira had been charged with six counts of willful retention of defense records for allegedly sharing classified documents through the social media platform Discord. The leaks exposed embarrassing secrets and analysis from across the U.S. intelligence community involving Russia's war in Ukraine and North Korea's race to develop nuclear weapons.” Read more at USA Today
Politics
“Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization’s former C.F.O., pleaded guilty to lying to investigators in Trump’s civil fraud case.
Texts and emails show the Trump campaign’s fake electors plot aimed at sowing enough confusion to overturn the election in Congress, rather than at winning in court.
A federal judge issued a mixed decision in a case challenging Arizona voting laws. She upheld rules requiring proof of citizenship but limited how voters can be disqualified.
Arizona’s governor vetoed a bill that would have let the state police arrest undocumented immigrants.” [New York Times]
France enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution.
Lawmakers applaud after approving the bill in the Palace of Versailles. (Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
“It’s a first: No other country has explicitly protected the right this way before. The amendment passed by lawmakers yesterday calls abortion a ‘guaranteed freedom.’
Why? It’s a reaction to the rollback of reproductive rights in the U.S. But abortion is legal in France only through 14 weeks of pregnancy — more restrictive than many U.S. states.’
Read this story at Washington Post
Ukraine
“Ukrainian investigators are demanding answers after a Russian drone strike on the city of Odesa left 12 dead, including five children. Odesa, a strategic city in southern Ukraine on the Black Sea, is no stranger to Russian strikes, but the Saturday attack was particularly deadly. Now, investigators are trying to determine what type of drone was used. Given the damage, some speculate the drone might have been modified to cause a bigger impact.” [CNN]
Taurus missiles are the weapons at the heart of leaked audio and Russian-German tensions
“On the day that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was laid to rest in Moscow, Russian state media leaked an audio recording of German military officers discussing the hypothetical use of Taurus long-range missiles in Ukraine. Furious with Germany, Moscow leveled threats in response. Read more.
Why this matters:
The leak has embarrassed Germany and raised concerns about the security of its communications. Germany is the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, and is further stepping up support this year, but it has not approved deploying the weapons despite months of pressure from Ukraine.
The German- and Swedish-made missiles would be able to reach targets deep in Russia from Ukrainian soil, thanks to stealth technology that makes them less visible to detection. Ukraine has been asking Germany for the missiles to complement long-range Storm Shadow missiles sent by Britain and France’s nearly identical Scalp cruise missiles.” [AP News]
Haiti
“Haiti has been gripped by gang violence and its citizens are at a breaking point. Since last week, a wave of highly coordinated gang attacks has rocked the capital of Port-au-Prince, with armed groups burning down police stations and freeing prisoners in what one gang leader described as a direct challenge to Haiti’s unpopular Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Gangs control 80% of the capital, according to UN estimates, and are fighting to seize the rest. Frequent civilian protests reveal a populace deeply unhappy with the country’s leadership. Many Haitians blame Henry for rapidly ceding ground to the gangs and refusing to hold elections that could give the country a fresh start.” [CNN]
“As European allies struggle to meet supply commitments to Ukraine to help fend off Russia’s invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron looks set to back a Czech proposal to obtain hundreds of thousands of artillery shells from countries outside the European Union. Sources say Macron will discuss the plan with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala during a trip to Prague today.” [Bloomberg]
“China is boosting its defense spending by 7.2% in 2024 — the most in five years — as President Xi Jinping set a 2027 deadline for the military to become a “world-class force.” Beijing has also pledged to harness the nation’s resources to speed homegrown scientific breakthroughs and become self-reliant in spheres such as AI and chipmaking in a bid to wrest technological supremacy from the US.” [Bloomberg]
The first over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S. will be available soon.
“What is it? Opill, approved by the FDA last summer. It’s 98% effective and will be sold online and in stores in the coming weeks, its maker said yesterday, with no age restrictions.
Who it will help: Anyone with less access to health care, like poorer people in rural areas. The pill’s maker will provide a cost-assistance program for low-income uninsured people.”
Read this story at Washington Post
The U.S. plans to limit most credit card late fees to $8.
“How? A rule, announced today, would cap fees that credit card companies charge people who fall behind on bills. It could take effect this spring, but banks are expected to challenge it.
Zooming out: It’s part of Biden’s effort to crack down on unfair or illegal pricing. Yesterday, the White House backed the Cookie Monster’s complaints about ‘shrinkflation.’”
Read this story at Washington Post
The IRS’s new free tax filing system is up and running.
“What is it? Direct File, a government-run website that opened for business yesterday to compete with commercial software like TurboTax.
Who can use it? Taxpayers who live in one of 12 participating states and have simple taxes — but not those who itemize, are self-employed or have wages over $200,000 a year.’
Read this story at Washington Post
JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines Call Off Merger Deal
“JetBlue Airways agreed to terminate its $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit Airlines, months after a federal judge blocked the merger and said it would reduce competition.”
READ MORE at Wall Street Journal
“Four former Twitter executives sued Elon Musk for $128 million, accusing him of withholding severance payments after he fired them.” [New York Times]
The best moments from Jason Kelce's emotional retirement speech
“An NFL legend, Philadelphia Eagles icon and big brother, Jason Kelce announced his retirement on Monday. An often-emotional farewell press conference felt like far more of a family affair than a business decision with Jason's younger brother, Travis Kelce, sitting nearby. A speech peppered with instant classics was at its heart a long list of memories from Kelce's life around the NFL and football. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, especially from the two Kelces who have dominated this sport for over a decade.” Read more at USA Today
Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce speaks during a NFL football press conference announcing his retirement in Philadelphia, Monday, March 4, 2024.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In Bloomfield, N.J. Bryan Anselm for The New York Times
“The diner booth featured in the finale of “The Sopranos” sold at auction for $82,600.” [New York Times]
“Lives Lived: Juli Lynne Charlot, needing something to wear to a Hollywood Christmas party, invented the poodle skirt on a whim. Its voluminous fabric that flared prettily when the wearer twirled made it a huge hit in the 1950s. Charlot died at 101.” [New York Times]