News
CNN, – February 18, 2022
On any other week, the high-level diplomatic drama that unfolded in Moscow on Thursday should have been the main headline. But the images of a shelled kindergarten in eastern Ukraine shifted international focus to the Donbas region, where the world braced itself for signs that the simmering conflict there might escalate very seriously and catastrophically.
Thankfully, the shell that hit the Stanytsia Luhanska school took no lives. But they were a reminder of the very real stakes for people living near the Line of Contact that separates Ukrainian government forces from Russian-backed separatists.
For weeks, world leaders have been shuttling back and forth to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and making high-level phone calls to try to put the brakes on a confrontation between Russia and the West over the Ukraine crisis.
CNN, February 18, 2022 – 4:00 pm (ET)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/politics/national-archives-trump-department-of-justice/index.html
PBS NewsHour – February 17, 2022 (11:11)
PBS NewsHour, (11:11)
Politico, – February 18, 2022
A federal judge said Thursday he’s dismissing a lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ new state House districts as diluting the influence of Black voters, unless the Justice Department joins the case as a plaintiff.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky said there’s “a strong merits case that at least some of the challenged districts” in the lawsuit by two groups violate the federal Voting Rights Act. But, in a 42-page decision, Rudofsky said he can’t rule on the merits of the case and gave the Justice Department five days to join as a plaintiff before he dismisses it.
“After a thorough analysis of the text and structure of the Voting Rights Act, and a painstaking journey through relevant caselaw, the Court has concluded that this case may be brought only by the Attorney General of the United States,” Rudofsky, who was named to the bench by former President Donald Trump, wrote.
CNN, – February 18, 2022
The National Archives acknowledged Friday it has discussed with the Department of Justice that classified records were found in boxes at Mar-a-Lago after former President Donald Trump left office, according to a letter from Archivist David Ferriero to the House Oversight Committee.
CNN, February 18, 2022 – 6:00 pm (ET)
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/politics/national-archives-trump-department-of-justice/index.html
Politico, February 18, 2022 – 2:30 pm (ET)
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/17/judge-to-toss-arkansas-redistricting-case-unless-doj-joins-00010050
PBS NewsHour – February 18, 2022 (04:18)
The Breakers resort is about 3 miles from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. When more than 20 Republican senators headed there last weekend, though, only three attended an event with Donald Trump.
And some say they steered clear of the former president intentionally as they raised money to take back the Senate.
“People appreciate his input. But I think a lot of people see a lot of other opportunities elsewhere for 2024,” said one Senate Republican, who was granted anonymity to describe the intraparty dynamics.
Axios, – February 18, 2022
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Thursday announced plans to tackle the “next phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic, as cases in the state decline.
Why it matters: California is the first U.S. state to formally move toward an “endemic” approach to the coronavirus, under a strategy that focuses on a swift response to outbreaks and a shift away from pandemic mandates and business disruptions, per AP.
Driving the news: The governor’s office issued a statement outlining the policy, known as the “SMARTER” strategy.
- This acronym stands for “shots,” “masks,” “awareness,” “readiness,” “testing,” “education and “rx” a term Newsom’s office uses to describe “evolving and improving treatments that will become increasingly available and critical as a tool to save lives.”
Associated Press, – February 18, 2022
Police began arresting protesters Friday in a bid to break the three-week siege of Canada’s capital by truckers angry over the country’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Some protesters surrendered and were taken into custody, police said. Some were seen being led away in handcuffs.
Police made their first move to take break up the traffic-snarling occupation late Thursday with the arrest of two protest leaders. They also sealed off much of the downtown area to outsiders to prevent them from coming to the aid of the self-styled Freedom Convoy protesters.
