Can US still equip military in time of war?
Special to the RGJ
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is approaching its fourth year. And as it drags on, Washington is learning just how vulnerable our nation could be in a similar conflict.
The glaring problem we now encounter is the erosion of our defense industrial base. The once-vaunted arsenal of democracy that led America to victory in World War II is long gone. Simply put, we no longer produce the weapons and munitions needed for high-intensity, industrialized conflict.
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Politico
25 minutes ago
- Politico
Black leaders feel under siege after Trump's D.C. takeover
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: Donald Trump's unprecedented takeover of Washington, D.C.'s police force is testing the limits of his presidential authority and ratcheting up fears that other cities also led by Black elected officials will soon be caught in his crosshairs. Trump, citing flimsy and misleading statistics, declared a 'crime emergency' in the nation's capital, seizing control over local law enforcement from three-term Mayor Muriel Bowser and deploying some 800 National Guard troops to city streets. 'This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we're going to take our capitol back,' Trump proclaimed, echoing World War II-era language associated with emancipation of Italy from facism and the German Nazi occupation. Trump added that his action would 'rescue our nation from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.' The National Guard troops, who will work alongside the Metropolitan Police officers, will be tasked with clearing homeless encampments, protecting landmarks and keeping order in the city. It's an unprecedented presidential power grab that Bowser herself said is unnecessary, but has very little recourse to stop given the 'special conditions' outlined in the Home Rule Act. While Trump's supporters have cheered him on, his detractors say the move is nothing more than the president, once again, leaning into racist tropes to cast Black elected officials as incompetent and minority citizens as threats to society. During his wide-ranging press conference, Trump also singled out Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland — all of which have Black mayors and large minority populations that overwhelmingly voted against him in his three presidential runs — as crime ridden. 'He has never thought well of Black elected leaders, and he's been explicit about that,' said Maya Wiley, the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She added that she views Trump's actions as a tactic to undermine liberal dissent. 'It's also clear from his previous statements that he has always searched for excuses to assert might over places he does not have political support and that will not just do his bidding,' she added. 'Washington, D.C., has been one of those cities.' Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. Bowser worked to quell tensions between her and Trump stemming from his first term. This included painting over the yellow letters of the city's Black Lives Matter Plaza, which was formed in a response to police brutality during the national protests of 2020. Prior to Trump's inauguration she traveled to Mar-a-Lago to discuss possible areas of collaboration. In late April, Bowser helped lure the Washington Commanders NFL franchise from suburban Maryland back to D.C., with Trump cheering the move in a social media post as a 'HUGE WIN' for the city and it's 'incredible fan base.' Days later, she appeared with him at the White House to announce the city would host the NFL Draft in 2027. (Last month, Trump injected himself again by threatening to scuttle the deal to bring the football team back to D.C. if the team didn't return to its original name, which is considered a racial slur against Native Americans.) None of that appears to have deterred Trump from launching his federal takeover. 'I think this is a moment for the mayor to question whether her strategy, which has been appeasement, has been a success,' said Paul Butler, a Georgetown law professor and former federal prosecutor. He described Trump's actions as a 'bogus declaration' but suggested there is likely little reprieve D.C. officials will gain trying to challenge the president's declaration in court. 'While the court reviews whether he appropriately has this power, the Supreme Court and other lower courts [have] generally allowed him to … proceed with what he wants to do, until they get around to deciding the case,' Butler added. 'It opens the doors to further militarization of the police, not just in the District, but in the other cities that he named.' This is not the first time Trump has ignored the wishes of local officials and deployed federal troops. During the height of federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, which sparked protests that turned violent, Trump federalized some 2,000 California Guard troops against the wishes of Mayor Karen Bass, who is Black, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told The Recast that Trump's actions in D.C. and his singling out of other Black-led jurisdictions, including his own, is nothing more than a 'diversion and distraction tactic' to shift the focus from a volatile economic climate and the release of materials associated with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. 'It's also the continuation of the president, unfortunately, spouting these racist-based, right-wing propaganda talking points about cities and Black-led cities,' said Scott, who last month said his city is in the midst of a historic reduction in violent crime. 'For the president to say that we're too far gone — it's just obscene, obnoxious and just not based in reality.' Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a combat veteran, chastised Trump for using military personnel for political gain. 'These actions by the president lack both data and a battle plan,' Moore said in a statement. '[The president] is simply using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies, which continue to drive up unemployment and strip away health care and food assistance from those who need it most.' Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed Moore's sentiments. 'If President Trump wants to help make Chicago safer, he can start by releasing the funds for anti-violence programs that have been critical to our work to drive down crime and violence,' Johnson said. 'Sending in the National Guard would only serve to destabilize our city and undermine our public safety efforts.' The pretext of Trump's actions appears to be a response to an attack on Edward Coristine, who is white and a former staffer at DOGE who goes by the nickname 'Big Balls.' He was allegedly assaulted by approximately 10 juveniles near Dupont Circle this month, according to a police report obtained by POLITICO. It caught the attention of Trump, who posted on his Truth Social platform a photo of a bloodied Coristine and called for D.C. laws to be changed so that teenagers who commit violence can be tried as adults 'and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.' Trump is deputizing key administration officials to help oversee the D.C. police, which he can maintain control of for up to 48 hours, but if he sends a special message to certain congressional leaders, he can extend that control for up to 30 days. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be in charge of D.C. police, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will direct the order to call up troops, while the District's U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on Monday that she is preparing to bolster prosecutions. Bowser, the D.C. mayor, delivered a measured response to the federal takeover in her remarks following Trump's announcements. 'While this action [Monday] is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we're totally surprised,' she said. We'll continue to monitor how this plays out in D.C. and if similar federal action is deployed in other major cities. All the best,The Recast Team ARRESTED AT SEA The Israeli military last month intercepted the Handala, the flotilla carrying aid to Gazans, arresting 21 crew members. Among them was Chris Smalls, former president of the Amazon Labor Union. Smalls, the only Black member of the crew, told The Recast he believes he was singled out by the Israeli military because of his race and subsequently beaten. In prison, Smalls began a hunger strike, which he said lasted until he was released five days later. Our colleague Teresa Wiltz caught up with Smalls, who in 2023 was an honoree on the Recast Power List, to talk about his experiences on and off the flotilla, what happened once he was released — and why he says he's going back on the flotilla as soon as possible. This interview was edited for length and clarity. THE RECAST: Can you talk me through what happened? SMALLS: We were intercepted, illegally kidnapped against our will because we had intentions to go to Israel. They cut communications off from the outside world. There's at least a dozen ships [surrounding us]. We had to ride with them for about 12 hours before we were transferred to the port of authority. THE RECAST: At what point were you arrested? SMALLS: Well, once we were transferred to the immigration department, they violently assaulted me; seven authorities threw me to the ground. They put their knees in my back. They pushed my arm behind my back, and three of them levitated me on each side, while one of them was using my jewelry to choke me. Then they isolated me. THE RECAST: Talk to me about what it was like in the prison. SMALLS: Yeah, we were seven in one cell, not ideal for a hot, low-oxygen room. It was a heat wave, very inhumane conditions. It was bedbug-infested; I have scabies now because of it. Yeah, it was, it was pretty much hell. They had us strip naked, humiliated us, tried to break us down psychologically. THE RECAST: Do you feel like you were being targeted because of your race? SMALLS: Oh, 1,000 percent. It was not a coincidence that I was the last [of my group released with Hatem from Tunisia, the only other person of color left behind from the flotilla.] THE RECAST: Tell me about the day they released you. SMALLS: They came in, told us to get ready, we're going home. They threw us in the back of a van, and we were off to the Jordan border. We had no idea where we're going. When we got to the border, they just handed us $300 in cash and told us, 'Take a taxi to the airport.' So thankfully, I was able to meet some Palestinian people that allow me to use one of their cell phones and contact the coalition to tell them where I was at. THE RECAST: Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) are your senators. Did you hear from them? SMALLS: Yeah, I hadn't heard from any of them. I mean, they take money from AIPAC or whatever they do. I'm not surprised. You know, it is what it is. It's a shame, you know. But that's the reason why I went, to shed light on this and for American citizens to be outraged about where our taxpayer dollars are going. [Editor's note: An aide from Booker's office said in a statement, 'Since being made aware of Mr. Small's detainment, Senator Booker's office worked with the U.S. Department of State and the Israeli Embassy to obtain information about the circumstances of his detainment, his treatment and ensure he was receiving assistance.' Kim's office did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.] THE RECAST: Are you going to do it again? SMALLS: Yeah, of course. I'll definitely, definitely do it [with] other folks for sure.. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK Thorny Texas tilt — Democratic Reps. Lloyd Doggett, the dean of the Texas congressional delegation, and Greg Casar, who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, may compete for the same Texas district if Texas lawmakers approve new redistrict maps. POLITICO's Gregory Svirnovskiy explores Doggett's push to get Casar to run in another district — one that's a Trump +10 — instead of the safe Democratic district. And more… TODAY'S CULTURE NEWS A royal extension — Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly extended their partnership with Netflix with a multiyear, first-look deal. Snoop Dogg goes down under — The 'Drop It Like It's Hot' rapper and former ambassador for the Olympics last year was just named headliner for next month's Australian Football League's Grand Final,billed as 'the biggest event on the Australian sporting calendar.' Country singer opens up about boyfriend, Kash Patel – Country singer Alexis Wilkins swatted away any unease about her 19-year age gap with boyfriend Kash Patel, the head of the FBI. 'Modern Family' star changes name, drops new music – The actress that played Lily on the hit show, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, is reportedly changing her stage name and also debuting an indie pop EP.
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Vladimir Putin to return to US for the first time in a decade
Russian President Vladimir Putin will return to the U.S. for the first time in a decade when he meets with President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. Following Trump's announcement last week that the pair would be meeting for an in-person summit – marking the first time a U.S. president will meet with Putin after he invaded Ukraine in 2022, less than a year after he met with Biden in 2021 in Geneva – several locations were suspected as being the most likely meeting places, including Hungary, Switzerland, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. It was reported that Putin shot down the idea of Italy, as it is seen as being favorable to Ukraine, and instead pushed for Hungary. However, Trump surprised the nation when he announced on Friday that Putin would instead be traveling to Alaska for his first U.S. trip since he attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York in 2015, when he met with then-President Barack Obama. On Monday, Trump said he thought it was "very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country as opposed to us going to his country or even a third-party place." It is unclear why a third-party nation like the UAE was not selected. Though the justification for why Hungary was not selected – despite being led by Viktor Orbán who is friendly with both Putin and Trump – could be because it is a member of NATO and would likely prove controversial should a NATO ally host the Kremlin chief at a time when Europe faces its greatest threat since World War II. Similarly, dubious optics could be attributed to not hosting the meeting in Switzerland, which, though not a NATO ally, is a member of the International Criminal Court which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over accusations of war crimes. "They probably avoided Europe, because if they included Europe, then Europe would have demanded that they're actually at the table," Dan Hoffman, former CIA Moscow Station chief, told Fox News Digital. "Probably your two choices were go to Russia – which Trump would never do – or invite him here. "It also exposes the challenge that you can't solve this without Ukraine and without Europe," he added. While it remains unclear where exactly the pair will meet, or why Alaska was ultimately landed on, Alaska's senior Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said it was "another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements." "While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms," she added, noting her concern when it comes to dealing with Putin. Russian officials appeared to take a more optimistic tone about the location of the meeting when Russia's special economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev took to X to acknowledge the historical role Alaska has played in the Russia-U.S. relationship. "Born as Russian America — Orthodox roots, forts, fur trade — Alaska echoes those ties and makes the U.S. an Arctic nation," Dmitriev said, later describing it as the "perfect stage" for the meeting. Hoffman argued that the location is not hugely significant and said, "What's going to matter is what they talk about. The details of the meeting more than the venue. "No one can predict what's going to happen. I don't even think Trump or Putin knows what's going to result from this," he added, noting there were too many variables to start predicting or analyzing any element of the upcoming talks. Trump wouldn't detail what he specifically hopes to get out of the talks with Putin on Friday, though he argued he'd be able to tell within the first "two minutes" whether a ceasefire deal in Ukraine was even possible. "I'm not going to make a deal. It's not up to me to make a deal," he said. I think a deal should be made for both [Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy]. "I'd like to see a ceasefire. I'd like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties. You know, it takes two to tango," he added. Trump said he would relate the details of the conversation to both Zelenskyy and European leaders immediately following the meeting. "We're going to see what he has in mind," Trump said of his upcoming meeting with the Kremlin chief. "And if it's a fair deal, I'll reveal it to the European Union leaders and to the NATO leaders, and also to President Zelenskyy – I think out of respect I'll call him first. "I may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting' or I may say, 'we can make a deal'," Trump concluded.
Chicago Tribune
3 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Threat of nuclear war has increased, Evanston peace rally speakers warn
Public awareness is shifting toward the possibility of nuclear annihilation, said David Borris of Chicago Area Peace Action at an antiwar rally Saturday in Evanston. Two major nuclear powers no longer believe that a nuclear war cannot be won, he warned, referring to the United States and Russia. 'We are literally sleepwalking our way to unimaginable disaster,' said Borris, of Highland Park. 'We're not going to succeed in influencing the world's politicians until we change the narrative.' Borris was one of five speakers at 'Nuclear Roulette – 80 Years on the Brink,' a peace and disarmament rally hosted by Chicago Area Peace Action and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship of Chicago at Fountain Square in Evanston on Saturday, Aug. 9. The rally marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. dropping an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, just three days after dropping the first atomic bomb ever used in warfare on Hiroshima, Japan. Sean Reynolds, another member of Chicago Area Peace Action, warned that world leaders are increasingly unstable and a nuclear war 'could end our planet in a tantrum of the elites.' 'We have to understand our species is precious and the threat of nuclear war is real,' said Reynolds, of Chicago. 'There is no sign leaders or voters are giving any thought to seeing human lives extinguished. And the fate worse than dying in a nuclear war is surviving it.' Antiwar organizations need to launch a broad campaign to stop the U.S. from using nuclear weapons, he said. The hope of antinuclear negotiations succeeding is 'antagonistically faint' today, Reynolds said. 'How are hopes for peace possible when our future is tied to making everybody else like us?' he said. 'This is not a drill. We need to stop rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and start talking about icebergs.' Neal Resnikoff of the Chicago Antiwar Coalition charged that the U.S. is using Ukraine as a 'proxy' to eventually launch nuclear weapons in a first strike attack on Russia. 'The U.S. government acts to suppress opposition and beat back competition in the markets,' Resnikoff said. 'These ruthless acts of imperialism are usually covered up by noble justifications.' Resnikoff argued that World War II would have ended in two weeks without the use of atomic bombs in Japan. Japan was already defeated and prepared to surrender, he said. 'The U.S. broke Japanese code to learn Japan was negotiating for surrender with Russia,' Resnikoff said. 'We have the responsibility to share the lessons of this ruthless killing to as many people as possible.' Renikoff led the small crowd in chants of 'No More Hiroshimas and Nagasakis' and 'No to Use of Force to Settle Conflicts Between Nations.' Borris, coordinator of the rally, said the devastation of the two bombings in Japan has 'lulled' the world into a false sense of security. 'The effect of the two bombings was so horrific that the world's conscience has not offered space for another use of such diabolical weapons – until now,' he said. 'We have had the benefit of an extraordinarily long winning streak with nuclear weapons, and it won't last forever. Our luck will run out, and we won't get a second chance.' David Conrad of Evanston led the crowd in a singalong of 'Doing the Two Step,' a song he wrote about sacrificing self interests for the better good. 'It's a dance of believing,' Conrad sang. 'It's a dance of forgiving. Dance to give up your tears.'
