Putin threatens nuclear war; Ukraine resists Russian domination; Zelensky becomes a world hero; Russian economy in trouble; Biden preps for State of the Union; MLB season in trouble
White House asks Congress for Ukraine $; massive migrant crisis in Poland; John Kerry's insensitivity; Trump wins CPAC; U.S. to return to Iran nuclear deal; school mask mandates ending; the Pee dance!
Good Tuesday morning, that is Fat Tuesday! Hope you had a great weekend. I saw some Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
My take: We see two men. Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. One is a hateful dictator whose decisions remain all too personal. Putin has made clear what he has always desired — a return to the Soviet Union. He will dedicate Russian blood to the cause and will commit unspeakable war crimes against his enemies. We have witnessed it in the past when he has poisoned his domestic political enemies and in his cyber crimes against the west. Putin is clearly not stable as was demonstrated this weekend when he put his nuclear arsenal on high alert and ordered his troops to use chemical and biological weapons against the Ukrainian people. While it is unproductive to compare an individual to Adolph Hitler, Putin has many of Hitler’s negative qualities. Then we have Volodymyr Zelensky. Unlike Putin who is hiding behind his army and security, Zelensky routinely ventures into the battered streets of Kiev and communicates in a straightforward and human way to his citizens who are putting their lives on the line to protect their country. A former comedian, Zelensky is showing the world what it is too stand up for Democracy. The father of two, he has also shown a vulnerability acknowledging that he knows he is number 1 target for the maniacal Russian dictator. The world has fallen in love with Zelensky and by association with the embattled Ukrainian people. In an era when so many leaders display self-centered tendencies based on political realities, Zelensky is showing what true leadership is about. Putin on the other hand is demonstrating what pure evil looks like.
Now to your “1 to…”
Time to learn: What Is Fat Tuesday?
Tone deaf: John Kerry blasted for saying he hopes Putin will focus on climate change as Russia attacks Ukraine.
‘Stiff Ukrainian resistance’ thwarts Russian advances, inflicts casualties: “Russian forces are sustaining casualties and a number of Russian troops have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces,” according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. A U.S. Defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity on Saturday in Washington, said the Pentagon has no indication that the Russian military has taken control of any Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian troops, assisted by volunteers, successfully repulsed an assault on Kyiv by Russian units in the early morning hours Saturday local time.
Zelensky pushes Biden on no-fly zone: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging President Biden and NATO to impose a "no-fly zone" over "significant parts" of the country, telling Axios in a statement that Ukraine "can beat the aggressor" if the Western allies "do their part." President Biden has ruled out sending U.S. troops to fight Russia in Ukraine. That pledge extends to a no-fly zone, which would require the U.S. military to potentially directly engage Russian air forces, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stressed on Monday. Zelensky, who remains in Ukraine under siege from Vladimir Putin, said in a statement to Axios provided through an adviser: "If the West does this, Ukraine will defeat the aggressor with much less blood."
Former national security adviser: 'Putin got a lot more than he bargained for.'
Russian thermobaric "vacuum bombs" launcher seen by CNN team in Ukraine: A Russian thermobaric multiple rockets launcher has been spotted by CNN team south of Belgorod, Russia, near the Ukrainian border early Saturday afternoon. The TOS-1 or TOS-1A Multiple Rocket Launcher seen by CNN is capable of launching rockets with thermobaric warheads. There is no evidence that thermobaric weapons have been used in the conflict in Ukraine. These types of weapons do not use conventional ammunition. Instead, they are filled with high-temperature, high-pressure explosive. They are sometimes called “vacuum bombs” because they suck in the oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a powerful explosion and a large pressure wave that can have enormous destructive effects. Thermobaric weapons have been used in Chechnya, with horrifying consequences, according to Human Rights Watch. Their use has been condemned by number of non-governmental organizations.
In 'unprecedented' action, Putin orders nuclear deterrent forces to be on 'high alert' amid spiraling tensions over Ukraine: The Russian president said in a meeting of top officials that the move was in response to leading NATO powers’ making what he called “aggressive statements.”
White House responds to Russia's decision to put deterrence forces on high alert: White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to put Russia's deterrence forces, which includes nuclear arms, on high alert are part of a wider pattern of unprovoked escalation and "manufactured threats" from the Kremlin. "This is really a pattern that we've seen from President Putin through the course of this conflict, which is manufacturing threats that don't exist in order to justify further aggression -- and the global community and the American people should look at it through that prism," Psaki told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on "This Week."
US says it can’t rule out Putin using chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine: ‘Nothing is off the table with this guy’: ‘Certainly nothing is off the table with this guy. He's willing to use whatever tools he can to intimidate Ukrainians and the world’.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators agree to hold talks in Belarus: The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a message on the Telegram app that a delegation of the Ukrainian government will meet for talks with Russian officials near the Pripyat River in Belarus. Russia had earlier proposed holding talks in Gomel, a Belarusian city near the border with Ukraine. The Ukrainian response did not specify when the meeting would take place.
The Ukrainian president's office said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pledged that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed in Belarus will remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation's travel, talks and return, NPR's Frank Langfitt reported.
Putin finally cops to dead Russian troops in Ukraine: It’s the first time Moscow has confessed to casualties since the start of the war in Ukraine, as attention switched to upcoming peace talks Monday between Ukraine and Russia.
How Zelensky gave the world a Jewish hero: As the Ukrainian president captivates the world with his bravery, he offers a reminder of the inroads Eastern and Central European Jews have made in overcoming their status as perpetual outsiders. In 4 years, Zelensky went from Jewish comic to Putin’s enemy #1, democracy defender: Ukrainian president finds himself at center of Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II.
Israel offers to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call Sunday he would offer to mediate and broker a ceasefire between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin said. The call came two days after Zelensky called Bennett and asked him for a mediation following Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Zelensky's request was published first on Israel's public broadcaster Kan. Bennett is the only Western leader who has spoken to Putin in recent days. Israel maintains good relations with both Ukraine and Russia. An Israeli official told Axios that Israel notified the Biden administration ahead of the phone call between Bennett and Putin and briefed the U.S. afterward about what was discussed.
Protests erupt around the globe in support of Ukraine: 'Stop Putin, Stop War': Protesters are holding signs such as '#HandsOffUkraine STOP WAR!'
White House asks Congress for extra $6.4B to help Ukraine: The Biden administration is seeking $3.5 billion in additional military funding, plus $2.9 billion for humanitarian and security assistance.
Pope makes surprise visit to Russian Embassy to the Vatican: The visit came as a surprise as it did not follow typical protocol.
Russian official apologizes to Ukraine at climate science meeting: The scientists are preparing a report on the global impact of climate change.
"Signs of genocide": Zelensky calls on international court to investigate Russia.
The State Department says U.S. citizens should consider leaving Russia immediately: With a growing number of Western airlines announcing they will halt service to Russia, the U.S. State Department is urging U.S. citizens to leave the country immediately or risk being stuck there. "An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines. U.S. citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available," the State Department said.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flee to Poland, neighboring countries as Russian forces advance: Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are trying to get out of their country to escape Russian forces. CBS News’ foreign correspondent Chris Livesay reports from a Ukrainian border in Poland, which has already allowed more than 200,000 Ukrainians to enter.
Texas governor asks retailers to remove Russian products: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has asked retailers in the Lone Star State to remove Russian products from their shelves following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Abbott, in a tweet on Saturday, said he asked members of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Package Stores Association and other retailers in the state to eliminate Russian goods from their stores. “Texas stands with Ukraine,” Abbott added.
Europe, Canada close their airspace to Russian airplanes: Europe and Canada said Sunday they would close their airspace to Russian airlines after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising the pressure on the United States to do the same.
“We are shutting down the EU airspace for Russians,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Canada’s transport minister, Omar Alghabra, said his nation was closing its airspace to all Russian planes to hold the country accountable for an unprovoked attack on its neighbor.
The European Union action came after many of its member countries had said they were barring Russian planes or planned to do so by Sunday night.
Western allies agree to expel some Russian banks from SWIFT payments system: The European Union, U.S. and other Western nations on Saturday announced they would cut off a "certain number of Russian banks" from the SWIFT international payments system and impose restrictions on Russia’s Central Bank. The measures will effectively cut Russia out of the world's most important financial messaging system and undermine the Kremlin's ability to use its central bank reserves to blunt the impact of other sanctions. Ukrainian officials had demanded that Western allies cut Russia from SWIFT in response to the invasion and make the country a complete international and financial pariah. Some European allies like Germany and Italy had previously expressed concern that disconnecting Russian banks' access to SWIFT would cause collateral economic damage, but agreed to take the step after public pressure and days of intensive meetings. On Sunday, Japan announced they would also block certain Russian banks from the SWIFT system, per Reuters.
Russians are scrambling to withdraw US dollars at ATMs as the ruble hits a record low on sweeping Western sanctions: The Russian ruble plunged nearly 30% against the US dollar on Monday to a record low. Russians are scrambling foreign currencies and cash at ATMs in the country. Western allies have said they will slap restrictive measures on Russia's international reserves.
UN: More than 350,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled the country.
Russia threatens 'military and political consequences' if Finland, Sweden try joining NATO: Russia threatened “military and political consequences” against Finland and Sweden on Friday if they attempted to join NATO.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned against other countries attempting to join NATO after Russia started a war with Ukraine Thursday. “Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,” Zakharova said in a viral clip of a press conference.
Lapid said to warn ministers not to help sanctioned Jewish-Russian oligarchs: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has warned government ministers not to provide assistance to Jewish-Russian billionaires who have been hit by international sanctions, Axios reports. “You have to be very careful because those guys have connections and they can call you on the phone and ask you for things,” Axios quotes Lapid as saying, citing three people present at a cabinet meeting.
“Don’t commit to anything because it could cause diplomatic damage. Say you can’t help them and give them the number of the foreign ministry,” he says.
US expels 12 Russian diplomats for 'espionage activities': The Biden administration on Monday announced it would be revoking diplomatic privileges for a dozen Russian spies accused of carrying out espionage under the cover of diplomacy. “The U.S. has informed the Russian Mission that we are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the U.S. by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security,” said Olivia Dalton, spokeswoman for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
YouTube blocks RT and other Russian channels from generating ad revenue
Vulnerable U.S. electric grid facing threats from Russia and domestic terrorists.
Biden celebrates Black History Month at White House event: President Joe Biden marked Black History Month with an event at the White House on Monday, celebrating his decision to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court and calling on Congress to pass voting rights legislation.
Biden called Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom he nominated on Friday, an "incredible woman."
Supreme Court justices lean toward hobbling EPA's climate authority:
Depending on how broadly the high court rules in the case before it about: EPA's authority, it could make it harder for the government to regulate a broad variety of issues.
Pennsylvania GOP urges Supreme Court to toss congressional map
Several Republican candidates called a state court's map unconstitutional.
State of the Union address will be different, Psaki acknowledges: The Russia-Ukraine war will alter what the president will talk about.
Capitol leaders rescind mask mandate ahead of State of the Union: The Office of the Attending Physician said it was following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new guidelines on masking.
Iran says it is studying new rough draft of deal to revive 2015 nuclear accord: Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani will return to Vienna on the evening of February 27 for talks on resolving the remaining issues in indirect negotiations with the United States to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, the official government news agency IRNA reported. Bagheri Kani, who flew to Tehran last week for consultations with Iranian officials, will "pursue the negotiations with a clear agenda aimed at resolving" the remaining issues, IRNA said. Nournews, which is affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council that is in charge of the nuclear talks dossier, said a council meeting stressed "the need to quickly resolve the remaining issues that border between agreement and dead end." On February 26, Iran’s foreign minister said his country is studying a rough draft of a deal to revive the pact after the sides hammered out details in Vienna.
Taliban official says dozens of criminals arrested in sweeps: A Taliban government spokesman says the group's forces have arrested dozens of criminals, kidnappers and smugglers in operations across Kabul.
Trump wins CPAC 2024 GOP presidential nomination straw poll, with DeSantis second: Trump captured 59% of ballots cast, DeSantis received 28% in the anonymous online straw poll.
Pompeo slams Taylor-Greene for 'playing footsie' with 'anti-Semitic neo-Nazis': Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Sunday for "playing footsie" with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who hosted a conference she attended on Friday. "Associating with anti-Semitic neo-Nazis is not consistent with the conservative values I've defended for decades. Representative Taylor-Greene playing footsie with Nick Fuentes and his splinter movement is shameful," Pompeo tweeted.
Rep. Ted Deutch announces he'll leave Congress this fall: The Florida Democrat, who has served in Congress since 2010, has been selected as the next CEO of the American Jewish Committee.
Average US gas price spikes 10 cents over 2 weeks to $3.64: he average U.S. price of a gallon of regular-grade gasoline spiked 10 cents over the past two weeks to $3.64 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday that the price jump came after a rise in crude oil costs amid global supply concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Lundberg said further increases are likely.
New York to end school mask mandate on Wednesday: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced Sunday that the statewide school mask mandate will be lifted on Wednesday. In a tweet, Hochul said she decided to lift the mask requirements in schools due to the decline of COVID-19 cases and following the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On Friday, the CDC officially eased its mask recommendation for most Americans, advising that people living in communities with "low" or “medium” COVID-19 levels can go maskless. California, Oregon, Washington to drop school mask mandates.
Urgent action on climate change needed ‘to secure a liveable future,’ U.N. report warns: The assessment, produced by 270 scientists from 67 countries, details how global warming is already wreaking havoc around the world.
Washington Post: Bill Barr says Trump 'has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers' of a leader.
Watch: Shocking video shows truck carrying US Mail plunge into Charles River
Hundreds of pieces of mail were pulled from the river.
Shell joins BP in selling Russian assets as pressure on Kremlin-linked firms grows: British oil major to exit joint ventures with Gazprom after BP pledged to sell its 20% Rosneft stake.
Chris Licht expected to lead CNN after Discovery-WarnerMedia merger: Chris Licht, the executive producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert who also helped launch Morning Joe on MSNBC, is poised to take over the reins of CNN after the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger closes, a source confirmed. An announcement is planned as early as next week.
Puck News first reported on Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s plans to select Licht for the job. Licht will succeed Jeff Zucker as president of CNN, but will not be overseeing sports. Before his resignation on February 2, Zucker also had been chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports. WarnerMedia is the parent company of CNN.
Judge bars Shkreli from running another public company, fines him $1.4 million: U.S. District Court judge has granted a request from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to permanently bar Martin Shkreli from serving as an officer or director of any publicly traded company, and fined the infamous “pharma bro” $1.39 million for violating securities laws between 2009 and 2014.
The ruling is the latest blow to Shkreli, who gained notoriety seven years ago after his company purchased an old and inexpensive, life-saving medicine and then boosted the price by 4,000% overnight. Last month, yet another federal court judge issued a separate decision ordering Shkreli to pay $64.6 million in profits and banned him for life from the pharmaceutical industry.
BP will divest stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft: British oil company BP said Sunday it will exit from its 19.75% stake in Rosneft, the Russian oil giant with ties to the Kremlin, and that BP CEO Bernard Looney will immediately resign from Rosneft's board. The British government had called for the move Friday, when it summoned Looney to a meeting with U.K. business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and accused Rosneft of providing fuel to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army for the invasion, according to multiple reports.
These are the 20 most common passwords leaked on the dark web — make sure none of them are yours: our go-to password might be easier to guess than you think. That’s according to a new report from mobile security firm Lookout, which recently published a list of the 20 passwords most commonly found in leaked account information on the dark web. The list ranges from simple number and letter sequences like “123456” and “Qwerty” to easily typed phrases like “Iloveyou.” Choosing easy-to-remember passwords is understandable: The average person has more than 100 different online accounts requiring passwords, according to online password manager NordPass. But simple passwords can be extremely easy for hackers to figure out, allowing them stress-free access to your personal data and accounts.
Warren Buffett in annual letter calls Apple one of ‘Four Giants’ driving Berkshire Hathaway’s value: Warren Buffett called Apple the second-most important business after Berkshire’s cluster of insurers. The “Oracle of Omaha” made clear he is a fan of CEO Tim Cook’s stock repurchase strategy. Berkshire’s Apple stake is now worth more than $160 billion, taking up 40% of its equity portfolio.
A rocket booster is about to hit the Moon, but no one is sure where it came from: The far side of the moon is set to receive an impact next month—a spent rocket booster. But no one appears ready to take responsibility for it.
According to Reuters, the rocket booster is due to hit the moon Michael Bay-style on March 4. First spotted by astronomer Bill Gray, NASA believes it’s a byproduct of a Chinese lunar mission that began in 2014. China’s Chang’e 5-T1 mission was intended to see if a capsule could re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, which was successful. China claims the rocket burned up in the atmosphere and denies NASA’s report assigning blame. But, according to Gray and NASA, China might be confusing it for another mission, 2020’s Chang’e-5.
No World Cup ban yet for Russia, but team can't use flag, anthem: FIFA backed away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying on Sunday but said it remained an option, deciding instead the squad can play using the "RFU" acronym of its football federation, the Russian Football Union. The unanimous ruling by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, which includes the six regional football confederation presidents, was also that the Russian flag and anthem can't be associated with the team.
These National Parks received the most visitors in 2021: The National Park Service has shared visitor numbers from last year, highlighting fascinating trends about where Americans traveled.
What makes writing more readable?: An examination of translating text to make it as accessible as possible. Looking at how to make writing easier to read.
Some neurons in your brain respond to singing but not other music: Researchers tested 15 participants’ responses to 165 different noises, including toilet flushing, road traffic, instrumental music, speaking and singing
Green Day calls off Moscow concert over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: The band joins AJR as among the few acts to have officially canceled upcoming concerts in Russia.
The best and worst moments from the 2022 SAG Awards: These are the 10 moments we need to talk about.
Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively pledge to match up to $1M in Ukranian refugee aid: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively will match up to $1 million in aid to displaced Ukrainians, Reynolds tweeted on Saturday. As of Sunday, roughly 368,000 Ukrainian refugees had arrived in neighboring countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Reynolds and Lively tweeted a promise to match donations made to “USA for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”
'SNL' returns from hiatus with a powerful tribute to Ukraine: New York (CNN Business)"Saturday Night Live" returned from a nearly monthlong hiatus without a cold open. Instead of a funny satirical sketch, the NBC variety show chose to present a powerful tribute to the country of Ukraine. The tribute follows Russia launching an unprecedented military assault on the country earlier this week. The invasion has caused bloodshed, forced more than 120,000 people to flee the country and has been condemned by many nations around the world. Cast members Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong stood center stage at Studio 8H and introduced viewers to the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York. The choir then sang "Prayer for Ukraine" as the live audience sat silently.
Kevin Costner reflects on Bodyguard costar Whitney Houston at SAG Awards: 'We'll never forget': Kevin Costner stopped by the PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly Red Carpet at the 2022 SAG Awards where he recalled working with Whitney Houston on the 1992 film.
Owners and players far apart on eve of Deadline: Major League Baseball threatened to cancel some regular-season games if an agreement was not reached by Monday. Intense negotiations had yet to yield results.
Derek Jeter steps down as CEO of the Marlins: Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter announced he has stepped down from his role as CEO of the Miami Marlins on Monday amid the ongoing MLB lockout. In a statement shared with CNN on Monday, Jeter and the Marlins cited differing visions for the club as the reason for his departure.
Red Sox reportedly release prospect Brett Netzer after series of racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic tweets: Netzer targeted Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom in several of his tweets.
Why do some people "Dance" when they have to pee?
Have a great Fat Tuesday!