Chinese spy balloons entered US airspace three times during Trump administration After days of right-wing balloon attacks on President Biden and countless insistences that "this NEVER would have happened with Trump!" the Department of Defense revealed that Chinese spy balloons entered US airspace "at least three times" during the disgraced ex-president's calamitous term in office. Shocking to learn that yet another claim by Republican gas bags was nothing but hot air.
Koch political machine vows to deny Trump GOP nomination in 2024 The democracy-busting Koch political machine, which fuels the most powerful donor network in conservative politics, has vowed to oppose the serial loser in a morally depraved attempt to retake the White House for Republicans in 2024.
Trump claims tearful DeSantis "begged" for 2018 endorsement The serial grifter claimed the Florida governor and one-time ally's 2018 victory came about only after he begged Trump for an endorsement with teary eyes. On the one hand, who cares? On the other, have at it, you two!
Officials urge evacuation near train derailment in Ohio, fearing explosion Officials monitoring the smoldering, tangled wreckage of a 50-car train derailment in northeastern Ohio urgently warned hundreds of nearby residents who had declined to evacuate to do so Sunday night, saying a rail car was at risk of a potential explosion that could launch deadly shrapnel as far as a mile. Norfolk Southern said 20 of the more than 100 cars on the train were classified as carrying hazardous materials — defined as cargo that could pose any kind of danger “including flammables, combustibles, or environmental risks.”
Scammers target hopeful applicants to Biden's humanitarian parole program Scammers are preying upon vulnerable migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti who've been given a lifeline through President Biden's recently unveiled immigrant parole program. Applying for the parole program is conditional upon securing sponsorship in the United States. These supporters, usually close relatives, are required to provide financial support for at least two years. Criminals are predictably seizing on the new opportunity, advertising bogus sponsorship services to unsuspecting victims online, with prices reaching as high as $10,000.
The 2022 midterms showed us how critical state-level organizing really is Sister District:If just a few races had gone the other way, we could still be in control of Congress. It's imperative that we retake the House in 2024, and to do that we need to contest EVERY race in EVERY state. Will you chip in to help Sister District build the grassroots organization we need to elect progressives who will fight back against GOP extremism?
Bankrupt crypto business FTX asks for millions in political donations back Disgraced FTX crypto scammers Sam Bankman-Fried and Ryan Salame were two of the largest political donors during the last election cycle, giving a combined $56 million to Democrats and Republicans alike in just the last election cycle. FTX's debtors are confidentially contacting "political figures, political action funds and other recipients of contributions" asking for funds to be voluntarily returned by the end of this month. We shall see.
Harry Whittington, lawyer shot in face by Dick Cheney, dies Whittington, the Texas lawyer who famously apologized to Dick Cheney after the then-vice president literally shot him in the face during a hunting trip in 2006, died Saturday morning. He was 95.
Today’s Action: Celebrate Black History/Black Futures Month!
For the vast majority of our country’s history and up through the present day — regardless of which party has been in power — our federal government has ignored, resisted, and outright fought against the well-being and self-determination of Black people. For years, well-meaning progressives have begged to resoundingly confront this abysmal fact and reverse course — with plenty of push back, predominantly from the GOP.
February is Black History Month — and Black Futures Month, established by Movement 4 Black Lives in 2015, to envision a society where Black people are truly free and self-determined. Extremist Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are using this month, however, to erase Black history from curriculums throughout the country…and, unfortunately, they’re succeeding. Simply put, it’s unconscionable. Send an auto-generated message to the College Board telling them to teach the truth, instead of caving to extremists like DeSantis!
The continued assault on Black people by American police is inhumane and unjust — by design. To overcome this sad fact, we must demand sweeping changes to our legal system and law enforcement structures and plug into the grassroots movements being built by Black activists across the country — and that starts with education.
Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has virtual events all month (and beyond) hosting conversations about Black history and fighting back against the Republicans trying to ensure it is wiped from our collective memory. There are events for every age, including NMAAHC Black Characters Celebrations for kids. You can also buy from Black-owned businesses and read texts from Black authors. The possibilities for celebration and awareness this month are endless — and it’s imperative we all take advantage of these resources and do our part to make America a more perfect union — and a more equitable nation.
Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked the MeidasTouch Network over the weekend for exposing that Trump allowed Chinese spy balloons over the United States on three separate occasions. MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas breaks it down.
During his campaign stop in South Carolina this weekend, Donald Trump bragged about how great the economy performed when he was president, so once again we are fact-checking Trump's latest lies about his presidency.
A retired American general writes as part of a series debating the wisdom of peace negotiations
IT IS ALMOST one year since Russian troops invaded Ukraine. In that time thousands of innocent civilians, as well as soldiers from both sides, have been killed. Towns and cities have crumbled under Russian strikes. The devastation has led some to call for Ukraine to sit down with Russia and negotiate peace. Yet the morale of Ukraine’s armed forces is as strong as ever, and its soldiers have defended their homeland more successfully than most thought possible. It would be a huge mistake for the country to enter into peace talks with Russia now.
There are many reasons why negotiating with Russia would be foolish. If this war is about more than just Ukraine, and instead about the preservation of the international rules-based order and the prevention of Russian aggression against Europe, then it should be unacceptable for Russia to be rewarded for its invasion. Yet any peace deal which granted it territory would do just that. And talks have been tried before. The Minsk agreements, signed after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, led to a frozen conflict which Vladimir Putin thawed at a moment of his choosing.
The most important reason why Ukraine should not negotiate with Russia is that it may now have a chance to win back Crimea. It is the most crucial piece of territory Russia seized in 2014 and it will prove the decisive terrain of this war, too. Ukrainians know that as long as Russia retains Crimea they are more vulnerable to future attacks than before Russia seized it. And while Russia has it, Ukraine cannot rebuild its economy. That is because the Russians are able to interfere with activity in all of Ukraine’s ports from Crimea, disrupt shipping from places such as Odessa and block access to the Sea of Azov.
Crimea is also useful to Russia itself. It is home to the Black Sea Fleet, a launchpad for drones and other weapons, a logistics hub and a trading port for Russian merchant shipping. Because Crimea is decisive, and because it is becoming clearer that Ukrainian forces can liberate Crimea, Ukraine must not negotiate now. Russia would never agree to trade Crimea away.
Instead Ukraine should fight to liberate Crimea. First, it should isolate Crimea with a combination of long-range precision weapons and armoured forces. Isolation requires disrupting and then severing the only two land lines of communication that connect Crimea to Russia: the Kerch Bridge and the land bridge from Rostov in Russia through Mariupol and Melitopol in Ukraine and into Crimea. Second, it should strike critical targets on the Crimean peninsula for months until it becomes untenable for Russian air, land and naval forces to remain stationed there. Precision strikes on Sevastopol, Dzhankoi and Saky will render these very vulnerable naval bases, logistics sites and airbases unusable for Russian forces. This, rather than a conventional frontal attack against all Russian defences in the region, will compel Russian forces to leave Crimea.
Certain officials in the Pentagon question whether Ukraine can eject Russia from Crimea. But I believe that the calibre of Ukraine’s leadership and the will of its armed forces mean that it has a very real chance of success, assuming we, the West, give Ukraine the specific capabilities it needs. So let’s get going. Give Ukraine weapons such as the Army Tactical Missile System, which has a range of 300km (186 miles), and Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs, with a range of 150km. If the West moves quickly, Ukraine could liberate Crimea by the end of August. If not, Crimea will remain a sanctuary for Russian supplies and weaponry.
Some argue that the Kremlin has a “red line” regarding Crimea and that it is prepared to fight to hold on to it at all costs, including deploying a nuclear weapon if it appeared likely to lose it. Yes, the nuclear threat from the Kremlin must be taken seriously—Russia has thousands of nuclear warheads and it clearly does not care how many innocent people are killed in this war. But I think it is very unlikely it would deploy a nuclear weapon of any type, even for Crimea.
The Kremlin believes Washington’s warning of “catastrophic consequences” should Mr Putin use a nuclear weapon. It also knows that using such a weapon actually gives it no battlefield advantage, for two reasons. First, there is no large concentration of Ukrainian troops in a single place, so using one nuke would hardly wipe out Ukraine’s soldiers. Second, Russia has no large, mobile exploitation force suitably trained and equipped to operate in a contaminated area. The Chinese and others have also made it clear to the Kremlin that they object to Russia using a nuclear weapon. In fact, Russia’s nuclear weapons are most effective when it doesn’t actually use them.
Rather than push Ukraine’s leadership towards the negotiating table, America and other Western nations should support Ukraine to win in Crimea. We’ve learned from this past year that Ukranian precision can defeat Russian heft with appropriate weaponry and smart timing. The West should help with both.
Powerful earthquakes and aftershocks have caused widespread devastation in Turkey and Syria.
Dozens of countries and organisations have offered to assist rescue efforts in southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria after an earthquake disaster killed more than 2,300 people.
Below is a list of the international mobilisation and offers of assistance since the quake in the early hours of Monday. It will be updated accordingly.
China
China is willing to provide humanitarian emergency aid to earthquake-struck Turkey and Syria, the State Council’s foreign aid agency said.
China expressed condolences and concern for the loss of life and property, and is in communications with both Turkey and Syria, a spokesperson from China International Development Cooperation Agency said.
European Union
Ten search-and-rescue teams from eight European Union countries have been mobilised to help first responders in Turkey, the European Commission said in a statement.
The units come from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. Italy and Hungary have also offered to send teams to Turkey, the Commission wrote.
Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) “can set up camps to provide shelter as well as water treatment units”, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.
The THW agency is also preparing generators, tents and blankets.
Berlin will also increase its assistance to charities such as Malteser International providing humanitarian aid in northwest Syria by $1.1m, she said.
Greece
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece, offered condolences and support to Turkey, saying his country was mobilising its resources and will assist immediately.
Despite decades of animosity and recent tension over migration and hydrocarbon exploration, Greece and Turkey have a long history of helping each other in earthquakes.
India
The Indian government said two teams from its National Disaster Response Force comprising 100 personnel with specially trained canine squads and equipment were ready to be flown to the disaster area for search-and-rescue operations.
Medical teams were also being readied, and relief material was being sent in coordination with the Turkish authorities.
Iran
Foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani expressed “condolences and deep sympathy” to the quake-hit countries and expressed readiness to help the victims.
Hailing Iran’s “good relationship” with both countries, Kanaani said, “If there is a need for the presence of relief and health institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the earthquake-affected areas, we will fulfil our moral responsibility.”
He described the offer of help as a “moral, human and Islamic responsibility”.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy’s Civil Protection was standing by to contribute support and provide first aid.
Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had given the go-ahead to send aid to earthquake-hit Syria, after “receiving a request” through diplomatic channels as the neighbours have no official relations.
Israel “received a request from a diplomatic source for humanitarian aid to Syria, and I approved it”, Netanyahu told lawmakers from his Likud party, adding the aid would be sent soon.
But a Syrian official told reporters Damascus “ridiculed and denied the allegations” that it requested aid from Israel. “How can Syria ask for help from an entity that has killed … Syrians for decades?” said the official.
NATO
Voicing full solidarity with Turkey, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter: “I am in touch with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and NATO Allies are mobilizing support now.”
Full solidarity with our Ally #TĂĽrkiye in the aftermath of this terrible earthquake. I am in touch with President @RTErdogan and Foreign Minister @MevlutCavusoglu, and #NATO Allies are mobilizing support now.
“NRC is assessing the situation in order to provide direct support to those most affected across Syria. A massive scale up is needed and our organisation will be part of it,” said Carsten Hansen, Middle East regional director for NRC.
Poland
Poland will send rescue group HUSAR, consisting of 76 firefighters and eight rescue dogs, Interior and Administration Minister Mariusz Kamiński said.
Qatar
The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressed his condolences in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
State news agency QNA said the emir expressed Qatar’s support for the “sisterly” country “in mitigating the serious humanitarian repercussions left by the earthquake”.
Spain
Spanish urban rescue teams are preparing to travel to Turkey, Spain’s interior ministry said, and officials from the defence ministry and other departments were coordinating to send the crews immediately to Turkey.
Russia
President Vladimir Putin promised to send Russian teams to both countries in telephone calls with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“In the nearest hours, rescuers from the Russian emergency ministry will take off for Syria,” the Kremlin said. The defence ministry said 300 military personnel deployed in Syria were helping with the rescue effort.
“Bashar al-Assad gratefully accepted this offer,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
“The Turkish president warmly thanked Vladimir Putin for such a prompt and sincere reaction and said that he was giving instructions to the competent authorities of the country to accept the help of Russian rescuers.”
Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to send support.
On Twitter, Zelenskyy wrote: “I express my sincere condolences to President Erdogan, the Turkish people and the families of the victims of the earthquake in the southeast of Turkey.
“I wish a speedy recovery to all the victims. We will stand by the Turkish people in this difficult time. Ready to provide the necessary assistance to overcome the consequences of the disaster.”
Watch LIVE as we report on the deadly earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria ⤵️
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi voiced “solidarity” with those affected in both countries, saying the UN agency was “ready to help provide urgent relief to the survivors through our field teams wherever possible”.
United Nations staff is on the ground in Turkey and Syria to assess the need and provide assistance, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
“We count on the international community to help the thousands of families hit by this disaster, many of whom were already in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas where access is a challenge.”
United Kingdom
The UK says it will send search and rescue specialists and an emergency medical team to Turkey.
Britain will send 76 search and rescue specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment that will arrive in Turkey on Monday evening, the British foreign ministry said.
“We stand ready to provide further support as needed,” James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign secretary, said in a statement.
United States
US President Joe Biden said his administration has been working closely with Turkey, authorising an immediate Washington response to the devastating quake.
“Our teams are deploying quickly to begin to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and address the needs of those injured and displaced by the earthquake,” Biden said.
WHO
The United Nations’ World Health Organization chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said emergency medical teams had been activated to provide essential health care for the injured and most vulnerable.
Here is a list of the countries and organisations offering to assist rescue efforts after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed at least 1,400 people in Turkey and Syria https://t.co/GAF543EvIxpic.twitter.com/DopZ8UDU91
PROPAGANDA! NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY SOURCE!
Presented by
LO AND NOT BEHOLDEN — One of the benefits of running virtually unopposed for governor: the list of people you owe is pretty short.
Endorsements hardly mattered for Maura Healey in her campaign for the corner office.The Democrats’ heir apparent coasted through the last few months of her primary with no competition and encountered only weak opposition ahead of November. Those who did endorse Healey mostly played it safe by lining up behind her after she cleared the primary field, at which point their support barely registered.
That lack of IOUs is quickly coming into play on education policy.
Take the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Back in 2014, the state's largest teachers union endorsed against Healey in the Democratic primary for attorney general. The MTA endorsed Healey for governor last year, but not until after her last remaining Democratic competition dropped out. Healey, in turn, put MTA President Max Page on her transition team.
But now Healey is openly bucking one of the union’s biggest policy priorities — giving teachers the right to strike. Healey had initially hedged on that proposal in a Tuesday interview with GBH News. But by the weekend, Healey had declined to meet with striking Woburn teachers and told WBZ's Jon Keller that she's "not a fan" of legislation that would legalize the practice.
Healey said there’s a “reason” why teachers and other public employees are prohibited from striking under state law. “While I have a lot of sympathy and want to make sure that workers, and in this case educators, are getting paid what they should for the important work that they do, it’s still paramount that our kids be in school," the governor said. Woburn educators reached a deal with the city on Sunday and students are expected back in class today.
Healey also seems to be diverging with the union on MCAS. The MTA wants to do away with MCAS as a graduation requirement and as a precursor to putting districts in receivership. Healey wants to take a “hard look” at the standardized tests that double as a graduation requirement. But the question for the governor isn’t getting rid of the tests, it’s “what else should MCAS be assessing?”
GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Don’t say goodbye to New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Democratic primary just yet.
The DNC bumped New Hampshire down in its lineup when members voted on a 2024 calendarthat puts South Carolina first.
But there’s still plenty left unsettled. Playbook’s already explained how New Hampshire law requires the state to hold the first primary — and how neither Democrats nor the Republicans who control the governor’s office and Legislature there are willing to change it. The DNC gave New Hampshire until June to get in line, an extension that also gives the committee time to come up with sanctions should state Democrats move ahead with their plan to hold the first primary anyway.
Top New Hampshire Democrats have vowed that the DNC's vote "is not the last word" on the 2024 calendar. "While President Biden and the DNC continue to push a plan of political convenience, they will not be successful in the end," they said.
And remember, Democrats plan to do this all again ahead of 2028, the next time there’s likely to be an open primary on their side. So nothing’s set in granite stone.
TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on Spark FM at 9:30 a.m., marks the arrival of 20 electric school buses at 10:15 a.m. at the Readville bus yard and joins the groundbreaking ceremony for Boston Fire Engine 17 at 2:30 p.m. in Dorchester.
— “Top state court to hear cases challenging life without parole,”by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: “The state’s highest court could decide whether first-degree murder suspects ages 18 to 20 can be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. On Monday, Feb. 6, the Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments in two cases involving young adults facing that sentence, each for first degree murder. Their attorneys argue they should be given a second chance to seek release from prison.”
JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE .
FROM THE DELEGATION
— “Trahan cleared by FEC regarding campaign finance complaints,”by Cameron Morsberger, Lowell Sun: “The Federal Election Commission has dismissed complaints against U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan’s use of campaign funds. In a letter addressed to Trahan’s attorneys Jan. 26, the commission announced it had ‘no reason to believe’ the Lori Trahan for Congress Committee violated campaign finance law when accepting loans from the representative’s husband David Trahan, nor when they failed to record when the loans were received, the source of those loans and the committee’s cash on hand in two quarterly reports.”
— DEFENDER IN CHIEF: Balloon-gate gave Democrats and Republicans a chance to one-up each other on being tough on China, my POLITICO colleagues report. Cue Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a member of the new congressional panel on China, who hit the airwavesto commend President Joe Biden ’s handling of the international spectacle and call China “weak and incompetent.”
— STATE OF IMMIGRATION: As Biden gears up for his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Rep. Jim McGovern told WCVB’s “On the Record”that he’s looking to see what the president has to say on immigration. “He has handled it the best he can given that he is getting no help from Congress. But the bottom line is more needs to be done,” McGovern said. “Ease up on sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela — I think that in and of itself would help quell the number of people coming to our border.”
— “Oversight chair requests details on Kerry’s international climate negotiations,”by Zack Budryk, The Hill: “House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) on Thursday requested information from U.S. climate envoy John Kerry on the details of Kerry’s international negotiations for the Biden administration, particularly with Chinese officials.”
PROPAGANDA! NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY SOURCE!
— “Northampton lays reparations groundwork,”by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The text of the Northampton resolution, which was read in its entirety during the council’s meeting on Thursday, cited the nearly centurylong history of slavery in the city, followed by a diminishing of the city’s African American population, past discriminatory zoning policies and a present-day lack of diversity as the reasons to pursue reparations. … Though the city is currently a stronghold for social progressivism, and was a center for the abolitionist movement before the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the country, the resolution notes that Northampton has never had a Black mayor, and that only one Black person, Anthony Patillo, has served as head of a municipal department. It also notes that only three Black people have served on the City Council.”
— “Domestic violence murders spike in 2022,”by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “[There were] 26 domestic violence-related homicides in Massachusetts last year, a more than 40% increase over the previous year, according to data compiled by Jane Doe Inc., a Boston-based nonprofit that works with victims. In 2021, there were 15 homicides, according to the group.”
DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID .
MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
— “Is Governor Sununu off piste enough to take on Trump?” by Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: “There is doubt on both sides of the aisle in New Hampshire that [Gov. Chris] Sununu will actually run. He has three children; he will also have to contend with the effect his candidacy would have on other candidates’ willingness to campaign in a state that is desperately trying to hold on to its First in the Nation primary status. If he doesn’t, he said, he wants to help whittle a likely crowded field to lessen the chance that an unpopular candidate wins with only a sliver of support.”
TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL: “‘[Florida Gov. Ron] DeSantis and, and Nikki Haley, and Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence, these are all very good friends of mine. I respect them all. But maybe with the exception of DeSantis, none of them are going anywhere. Because they keep talking to the same voters expecting some sort of different result,’ [Sununu] said. ‘They’re not going after the independent voter.’”
TRANSITIONS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Sean Fitzgerald returns to the State House from the campaign trail as communications director for state Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport). Fitzgerald previously was chief of staff/comms director for former state Rep. Jay Kaufman, served in a similar role for the late state Sen. Charles Shannon and was also comms director for former Somerville Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay.
— The MassGOP’s executive committee has approved John Milligan as the party’s executive director.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Webster state Rep. Joseph McKenna, Neri Oxman and Pamela Esler.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
