The Full Belmonte, 4/20/2023
A massive funnel-shaped storm cloud makes its way over a road in Cole, Oklahoma, on Wednesday.
Tornadoes
“Nearly a dozen tornadoes struck the US on Wednesday, leaving thousands without power and some trapped inside shelters. The storms were reported across Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa, with Oklahoma appearing to be the hardest hit. The most significant tornado rolled through Cole, Oklahoma, killing two people, a local official told CNN. At least four confirmed tornadoes moved across the state and knocked out power for about 20,000 homes and businesses. The severe storm threat is expected to shift east today to include eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, southeastern Oklahoma, southeastern Missouri and much of Arkansas.” [CNN]
Abortion
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“The Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily extended access to the abortion drug mifepristone, a move meant to give the justices more time to consider the issue. The deadline for the justices to weigh in on the case has been moved to Friday after Justice Samuel Alito previously said the court would rule by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The case is the most important abortion-related dispute to reach the high court since it overturned Roe v. Wade last year, triggering conservative states across the country to either ban or severely restrict the procedure. How the dispute over medication abortion is ultimately resolved could make it more difficult for women to obtain the procedure, even in the states that still allow it.” [CNN]
Supreme Court Debates Free-Speech Defense in Cyberstalker Case
Justices consider defendant’s request to throw out his conviction because he says he meant no harm in deluging singer with messages
Singer-songwriter Coles Whalen performed for friends and family at an undisclosed location in March. Photo: Thomas Simonetti/The Washington Post/Getty Images
“WASHINGTON—Supreme Court justices on Wednesday questioned whether a Colorado stalking law violates the First Amendment because defendants can be convicted even if they didn’t intend to threaten victims with physical violence.
The case was a textbook example of cyberstalking. Billy Counterman became obsessed with a Denver singer-songwriter, Coles Whalen, and in 2014 began texting her through Facebook Messenger, under the delusion that they were in a romantic relationship. The hundreds of messages, which kept coming even after she blocked Mr. Counterman and obtained a restraining order against him, were terrifying and drove her from performing in public, Ms. Whalen said….” Read more at Wall Street Journal
House Republicans introduced their plan to tackle the debt ceiling.
“Why this matters: The debt ceiling limits how much the U.S. can borrow to pay its bills. If Congress doesn’t raise or suspend it, the government could risk a default as early as June.
The proposal: It would raise the debt ceiling; cut federal spending by $130 billion; block student debt cancellation; and add new work requirements for welfare, among other things.
What’s next? The House could vote as soon as next week, but the plan is doomed in the Senate. Republicans’ goal is to put pressure on Democrats to negotiate a deal.” [Washington Post]
Covid-19 boosters
“The CDC has updated its recommendations on Covid-19 vaccines to allow another booster dose for people who are 65 and older or those who have weakened immune systems and ‘want the option of added protection.’ The move aligns with the FDA's actions this week to allow these groups to get additional booster doses ahead of its fall vaccination campaign. The CDC now recommends the updated vaccines for everyone 6 and older, even if they didn't finish the two-dose series of the original shots. However, only about 17% of eligible Americans — fewer than 1 in 5 — have gotten a recommended booster dose. The FDA says it intends to make decisions about future vaccinations for most Americans in June.” [CNN]
“While many people act like the pandemic is over, Covid-19 has spawned a new version of its dominant omicron variant that World Health Organization officials say they are closely monitoring. It’s called Arcturus, and it’s potentially more easily transmitted than earlier versions. Whether it’s more dangerous has yet to be determined. In the US, health regulators have authorized an additional booster of the bivalent coronavirus shot for the elderly and others at risk. Globally, the WHO reports an average about 300 Covid-related deaths each day.” [Bloomberg]
Florida expands ‘Don’t Say Gay’; House OKs anti-LGBTQ bills
By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE and BRENDAN FARRINGTON
FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill at Classical Preparatory school on March 28, 2022, in Shady Hills, Fla. The Florida Board of Education on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, approved a ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the law critics call “Don't Say Gay” at the request of Gov. DeSantis as he gears up for an expected presidential run. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)
“TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added more wins to his agenda targeting the LGBTQ+ community as a state board approved an expansion of what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law Wednesday, and the House passed bills on gender-transition treatments, bathroom use and keeping children out of drag shows.
The Board of Education approved a ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the law that bans those lesson up to grade 3 at the request of DeSantis as he gears up for an expected presidential run.
The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4-12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. That’s the time when students are becoming aware of their sexuality.
The proposal will take effect after a procedural notice period that lasts about a month, according to an education department spokesman….” Read more at AP News
Oklahoma County Commissioner Accused of Making Threatening Comments Resigns
Governor called for several officials who allegedly discussed killing journalists and lynchings to step down
Protesters in Idabel, Okla., demanding the resignations of several McCurtain County officials earlier this week. Photo: Christopher Bryan/Southwest Ledger/Associated Press
“A county commissioner in southeast Oklahoma has resigned after being named by the local newspaper as one of several officials on a recording allegedly discussing killing two reporters and lynching Black people, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office said Wednesday.
Carly Atchison, a spokeswoman for Mr. Stitt, said the governor’s office had received a handwritten resignation letter from McCurtain County Commissioner Mark Jennings….” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Homeowner who shot Black teen Ralph Yarl pleads not guilty
By MARGARET STAFFORD and JIM SALTER
“LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — The 84-year old man who shot Ralph Yarl when the Black teenager went to his door by mistake pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a case that has shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in America.
Andrew Lester walked into the courtroom with a cane and spoke quietly during Wednesday’s hearing, his first public appearance since last week’s shooting. Authorities say he shot Yarl, a 16-year-old honor student, first in the head, then in the arm after Yarl came to his door because he had confused the address with the home where he was supposed to pick up his younger brothers.
The case is among three in recent days involving young people who were shot after mistakenly showing up in the wrong places. A 20-year-old woman was killed in upstate New York when the car she was in pulled into the wrong driveway. In Texas, two cheerleaders were shot after one of them mistakenly got into a car thinking it was hers….” Read more at AP News
Semi-automatic rifle ban passes Washington state Legislature
By LISA BAUMANN
Customers look at AR-15-style rifles on a mostly empty display wall at Rainier Arms Friday, April 14, 2023, in Auburn, Wash. as stock dwindles before potential legislation that would ban future sale of the weapons in the state. House Bill 1240 would ban the future sale, manufacture and import of assault-style semi-automatic weapons to Washington State and would go into immediate effect after being signed by Gov. Jay Inslee. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
“BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A ban on dozens of semi-automatic rifles cleared the Washington state Legislature on Wednesday and the governor is expected to sign it into law.
The high-powered firearms — once banned nationwide — are now the weapon of choice among young men responsible for most of the country’s devastating mass shootings.
The ban comes after multiple failed attempts in the state’s Legislature, and amid the most mass shootings during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009.
The Washington law would block the sale, distribution, manufacture and importation of more than 50 gun models, including AR-15s, AK-47s and similar style rifles. These guns fire one bullet per trigger pull and automatically reload for a subsequent shot. Some exemptions are included for sales to law enforcement agencies and the military in Washington. The measure does not bar the possession of the weapons by people who already have them….” Read more at AP News
Third person charged with murder in mass shooting at Alabama Sweet 16 party
“Two teen brothers and a 20-year-old man have been arrested and charged with murder in connection to a mass shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Alabama that killed four people and wounded dozens more, officials announced Wednesday. The men have each been charged with four counts of reckless murder in the Saturday shooting at the Dadeville birthday party that also injured 32, officials said at a press conference. More charges are likely, including charges related to the 32 victims who were injured, officials said.” Read more at USA Today
Tyre Nichols’s Mother Sues Memphis, Police for at Least $500 Million After Son’s Death
RowVaughn Wells says her son was killed in ‘a gruesome, barbaric display of police brutality’
RowVaughn Wells’s complaint included criticism of Memphis police leadership and a special unit set up to tackle street crime in the city. Photo: Stu Boyd II/The Commercial Appeal/Associated Press
“The mother of Tyre Nichols, the Memphis man who died in January after being beaten by police during a traffic stop, on Wednesday sued the city of Memphis, its police chief and others, including the former officers now facing murder charges in Mr. Nichols’s death.
In the 139-page complaint, RowVaughn Wells said her 29-year-old son was killed in ‘a gruesome, barbaric display of police brutality on the streets of a quiet neighborhood in Memphis.’ The complaint stated that Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis exercised poor training and oversight of officers and fostered an attitude among officers that they were above the law.
‘The savage beating of Tyre Nichols was the direct and foreseeable product of the unconstitutional policies, practices, customs, and deliberate indifference of the City of Memphis and Chief Davis, the City’s chief policy maker for decisions related to the Memphis Police Department,’ the complaint stated.
Spokeswomen for the city and the police department declined to comment on pending litigation. The attorneys for the five officers didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment….” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Trump's grievance agenda
Former President Trump leaves Trump Tower in Manhattan last week. Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
“Mixed in with President Trump's online rants about his legal jam are specific vows about what he'd do if he won power again, Axios' Sophia Cai reports:
In criticizing the Manhattan D.A. who charged him with 34 criminal counts, Trump last week vowed ‘sweeping’ investigations of ‘Marxist prosecutors,’ with an eye toward replacing them with conservatives.
He proposed giving the president the authority to hire and fire federal workers at will — not a new idea, but now part of a broad effort to ‘clean out’ investigators and officials he sees as disloyal.
In a video last month, Trump promised a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ on ‘Deep State spying’ ... ‘a major crackdown on government leakers’ ... ‘an independent auditing system to continually monitor our intelligence agencies to ensure they are not spying on our citizens or running disinformation campaigns.’
In a furious burst of messages on social media after his arraignment in New York this month, Trump made many Republicans in Congress cringe by calling on them to ‘defund’ the Justice Department and the FBI.” [Axios]
Stampede in Yemen at Ramadan charity event kills at least 78
By AHMED AL-HAJ and SAMY MAGDY
“SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A crowd apparently panicked by gunfire and an electrical explosion stampeded at an event to distribute financial aid during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Yemen’s capital late Wednesday, killing at least 78 people and injuring at least 73 others, according to witnesses and Houthi rebel officials.
The tragedy was Yemen’s deadliest in years that was not related to the country’s long-running war, and came ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan later this week.
Armed Houthis fired into the air in an attempt at crowd control, apparently striking an electrical wire and causing it to explode, according to two witnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen. That sparked a panic, and people, including many women and children, began stampeding, they said.
Video posted on social media showed dozens of bodies, some motionless, and others screaming as people tried to help. Separate footage of the aftermath released by Houthi officials showed bloodstains, shoes and victims’ clothing scattered on the ground. Investigators were seen examining the area….” Read more at AP News
Ukraine
“Ukraine has received more Western hardware, including French armored vehicles, US Patriot missile defense systems, and a highly effective system from Germany for combating cruise missiles. Denmark and the Netherlands have also jointly agreed to ‘acquire, refurbish and donate’ 14 Leopard tanks for Ukraine, as Western allies increase efforts to bolster Kyiv's military ammunition amid dwindling supplies. Leopard 2 tanks are seen as a vital, modern military vehicle that would strengthen Kyiv's forces and help Ukraine quickly. This comes as the US pledged an additional $325 million security assistance package to Ukraine on Wednesday. ‘Russia could end its war today,’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after announcing the aid. ‘Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.’” [CNN]
Canada’s Trudeau privately told NATO that his nation will never meet alliance’s spending target, leaked Pentagon assessment says
“The secret document, part of a trove of classified material leaked on the Discord messaging app, also says Canada’s ‘widespread’ military deficiencies in recruiting, retention and readiness are harming relations with security partners and allies in NATO, NORAD and beyond. The anonymous authors cite a one-hour delay in dispatching jets to meet an unidentified aerial object in February that was ultimately shot down over Canada’s Yukon territory by an American F-22, and a Canadian assessment that it could not launch a major operation while it leads a NATO battle group in Latvia and aids Ukraine, among other examples.” [Washington Post]
“Russia is maintaining a campaign of cyberattacks and disinformation against Moldova that started on the eve of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Officials describe it is as a deliberate attempt to undermine a government friendly to the West in a country abutting the war zone. ‘They want to scare the population to infuse a constant sense of panic, of fear,’ Internal Affairs Minister Ana Revenco said.” [Bloomberg]
Thousands gather for anti-government protests in Moldova’s capital on March 12. Photographer: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
New nuclear threat
Putin toasts Xi during his state visit to the Kremlin last month. Photo: Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik via Reuters
“The U.S. suddenly faces a new arms race that could be more dangerous than the Cold War: This time there'll be three nuclear superpowers.
China is on track to become a nuclear peer with the U.S. and Russia — and Moscow and Beijing have shown signs they could align against Washington, Axios World editor Dave Lawler writes.
Why it matters: The U.S. ‘is now facing questions about how to manage a three-way nuclear rivalry, which upends much of the deterrence strategy that has successfully avoided nuclear war,’ write The New York Times' David E. Sanger, William J. Broad and Chris Buckley.
What's happening: Chinese President Xi Jinping's apparent determination to close the gap with the Cold War-era nuclear behemoths — and his increasingly close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin — mean the next arms race could be more unpredictable than the last one.
China is reportedly building new nuclear silos, mobile missile launchers and more advanced nuclear submarines.
Breaking it down: Beijing's arsenal is still a fraction of the size of Moscow's or Washington's. But China is on track to roughly quadruple its stockpile of nuclear warheads to around 1,500 by 2035, according to the Pentagon.
Russia is also developing new nuclear delivery systems.
Putin announced in February that he was suspending its participation in New START, the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control pact.
Between the lines: U.S. nuclear policy is based on being able to preemptively destroy an enemy's nuclear forces before they can be used against the U.S. Until recently, only one potential adversary drove those calculations.
Now, says James Acton, director of the Carnegie Endowment's nuclear policy program, some in the U.S. government and military are arguing the U.S. needs to be equipped to fight Russia and China at the same time.” [Axios]
Yellen's message to China
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at IMF headquarters in Washington last week. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP
“Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen today will offer China fresh guidelines on where the U.S. is prepared to cooperate — and where it won’t compromise, Axios' Hans Nichols reports.
Why it matters: Direct diplomacy with China is on ice. Yellen’s speech is a step toward President Biden’s goal of improved communications with China, which he announced next to President Xi last year.
State of play: Yellen and Secretary of State Tony Blinken postponed separate trips to China earlier this year after China flew a spy balloon across the U.S. before the U.S. shot it down off the South Carolina coast.
Those visits haven't been rescheduled. Yellen said last week that she still hopes to visit Beijing.
What's happening: Yellen will use today's speech at John Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies to outline three principal objectives behind the U.S.'s economic approach to China.
‘The United States does not seek competition that is winner-take-all,’ Yellen will say, according to remarks prepared for delivery.
Yellen will pledge to ‘clearly communicate to the PRC [People’s Republic of China] our concerns about its behavior," while noting that U.S. actions could have "economic impacts.’
She will emphasize: ‘[O]ur goal is not to use these tools to gain competitive economic advantage.’” [Axios]
“Facebook users who had an active account between May 2007 and December 2022 can now apply for a share of the company's $725 million settlement reached in a major data privacy scandal. Facebook's parent company, Meta, agreed last year to the amount to settle a long-standing class action lawsuit accusing it of allowing Cambridge Analytica and other third parties to access private user information and misleading users about its privacy practices. The claim form — which requires a few personal details and information about a user's Facebook account — can be filled out online or printed and submitted by mail. The form takes only a few minutes to complete and must be submitted by August 25 to be included as part of the settlement. It's not yet clear how much each settlement payment will be.” [CNN]
DeSantis-Allied Board Plans to Nullify Disney’s Prior Development Deal
Company previously said its land-development project was in compliance with Florida law
“An oversight board appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis advanced plans to nullify agreements Walt Disney Co. made under prior leadership, which allowed it to retain significant control over the land near Orlando where its theme parks are located.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors, who met Wednesday, criticized the agreements cemented by Disney in February, shortly before the new board took over. The agreements included a 30-year land-development contract locking in zoning, infrastructure and air-rights approvals that the company might need if it seeks to expand its Walt Disney World Resort….” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Moonbin: Fans anguished over K-pop star's death in suspected suicide
Image caption,
Moonbin had been in the middle of a world tour with Sanha, another member of Astro
By Jean Mackenzie, Kelly Ng and George Wright
in Seoul, Singapore and London
“Fans have reacted with anguish and disbelief over the sudden death of K-pop star Moonbin at the age of 25.
The Astro boy band member was found unresponsive by his manager at his Seoul apartment on Wednesday night.
His death renews concerns over the immense stress K-pop stars face and brings to mind other high-profile music deaths in recent years.
Police said it appeared he had taken his own life but an autopsy would determine the exact cause of death….” Read more at BBC
“Lives Lived: Todd Haimes saved New York’s Roundabout Theater Company from bankruptcy and made it one of America’s largest nonprofit theaters. He died at 66.” [New York Times]