Odds and Ends — 10 March 2023
Something That I Hopefully Misheard:
a louse snack bar
Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:
New York Attorney General Alleges Ether Is a Security in KuCoin Lawsuit
A press release said the lawsuit was part of ongoing “efforts to crack down on unregistered cryptocurrency platforms.”
Oh, please. Just concentrate on nailing Trump’s ass to the wall. Do that, and all will be forgiven.
Germany and the Netherlands signal weakening of Europe’s China tech ties
CBDCs could be ‘easily weaponized’ to spy on US citizens: Congressman
Okay, so Tom Emmer’s an asshole (he happens to represent the suburbs just north of where I live). But even assholes are right sometimes.
Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:
‘Pan-variant’ COVID vaccine could defang future strains thanks to machine learning
Posts Make False Comparisons Between COVID-19 Immunity From Infections and Vaccines
Politics:
Manhattan Prosecutor Signals Trump Indictment
The Manhattan district attorney’s office recently signaled to Donald Trump’s lawyers that he could face criminal charges for his role in the payment of hush money to a porn star, the strongest indication yet that prosecutors are nearing an indictment of the former president.
The prosecutors offered Mr. Trump the chance to testify next week before the grand jury that has been hearing evidence in the potential case, the people said. Such offers almost always indicate an indictment is close; it would be unusual for the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, to notify a potential defendant without ultimately seeking charges against him.
George Santos masterminded 2017 ATM fraud, former roommate tells feds
Ex-Ohio Speaker, GOP Chair Found Guilty of Racketeering
Since the case first became public nearly three years ago, prosecutors have said it represented the largest public corruption scheme in Ohio history, a cash-for-legislation scam they said personally enriched five people and aided a utility’s struggling nuclear operation on the backs of taxpayers.
"Excuse me, officer. I'm just a tourist. Can you direct me to the gift shop?" pic.twitter.com/hH3PiiqCJh
— Middle Age Riot (@middleageriot) March 8, 2023
Trump attorney admits misrepresenting evidence of election fraud
Saudi Arabia Seeks U.S. Security Pledges
Saudi Arabia is asking the U.S. to provide security guarantees and help to develop its civilian nuclear program as Washington tries to broker diplomatic relations between the kingdom and Israel.
Striking a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia has become a priority for President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid a looming confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program and military aid to Russia during the Ukraine war.
The Saudi demands for security guarantees and nuclear aid are among the daunting obstacles to a deal, as some Washington lawmakers will likely oppose those measures.
How about No?
It couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy: Jim Jordan’s Investigation Hampered by Democrats
No party will ever again make the mistake the Republicans made when they chose to object to the January 6th committee by not nominating members to it. That freed the committee’s Democrats, and the two Republicans who defied their leadership to take part, to script a coherent and at times riveting television series about how Donald Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election.
Mr Jordan, by contrast, is stuck with Democrats, including the formidable ranking minority member, Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands, who can grill his witnesses and call their own.
“Putin would have never done it. That’s without even negotiating a deal. I could have negotiated. At worst, I could’ve made a deal to take over something, there are certain areas that are Russian-speaking areas, frankly, but you could’ve worked a deal.” — Donald Trump, in an interview with Sean Hannity, saying he would have given parts of Ukraine to Russia.
“They groomed the audience”: Legal scholars say Fox has “absolutely no First Amendment defense”
Australia to Buy U.S. Nuclear-Powered Submarines
Australia will buy up to five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States to be delivered in the 2030s, according to people briefed on the deal, which accelerates and deepens an ambitious defense agreement aimed at reinforcing American-led military dominance of the Asia-Pacific region to counter China’s military growth.
Australia would then buy a new class of submarines with British designs and American technology in another stage of the deal. The arrangement — which would also include rotating American attack submarines through Perth, in Western Australia, by 2027 — adds new details and complexities to a 2021 security pact between Australia, Britain and the United States, known as AUKUS.
