memeorandum: If local journalism manages to survive, give Evan Smith some credit for it (Margaret Sullivan/Washington Post)

8:00 AM ET, January 23, 2022

Top Items:

Britain Says Moscow Is Plotting to Install a Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine — In a highly unusual public statement, backed by U.S. officials, London named the putative head of a potential puppet government but few other details. — KYIV — The British government said Saturday that the Kremlin …

Discussion: The Atlantic, Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Dana's Newsletter, Atlantic Council, news.com.au, Insider and UPI

BBC:

German navy chief resigns over Ukraine comments — The head of the German navy has resigned over controversial comments he made over Ukraine. — Kay-Achim Schönbach said the idea that Russia wanted to invade Ukraine was nonsense. He added that all President Putin wanted was respect.

Discussion: DW.COM, Al Jazeera, The Guardian and WTOP News

GOV.UK:

Kremlin plan to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine exposed — Foreign Secretary statement on Kremlin plan to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine exposed — We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine.

Discussion: CNN, Politico, NOQ Report and Radio Free Europe/Radio …

The Guardian:

Confusion over UK claim that Putin plans coup in Ukraine — Foreign Office claim of plot to install pro-Moscow government in Kyiv comes with scant detail — The Foreign Office has said that it had exposed evidence of a plot to install a pro-Moscow government in Ukraine, and Boris Johnson promised to …

Discussion: UPI

Washington Post:

U.K. accuses Russia of scheming to install a pro-Kremlin government in Ukraine — The British government on Saturday accused Russia of organizing a plot to install a pro-Moscow government in Ukraine, as the Kremlin masses troops and materiel near the Ukrainian border in what Western officials fear …

Discussion: One America News Network, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Into the Void and Associated Press

Christopher Miller / BuzzFeed News:

The UK Says Russia Is Planning To Overthrow Ukraine's Government And Install A Pro-Kremlin Leader — BAKHMUT, Ukraine — Russia has drawn up plans to install a pro-Kremlin former member of parliament to lead Ukraine as it considers a new invasion of the country and the overthrow of its central government …

Discussion: Fox News and Anti-bellum

Financial Times:

UK warns Moscow planning to install pro-Russian leader in Ukraine — London takes extraordinary step of naming Putin's candidate for head of puppet government in Kyiv — The UK warned on Saturday that Russia was plotting to install a pro-Moscow leader in Ukraine at a time of mounting western alarm …

Discussion: Telegraph, Metro.co.uk, Doctor's Newsletter, The Guardian, TheJournal.ie, The Conversation and Washington Examiner

James Marson / Wall Street Journal:

Russia Hatching Plot to Replace Ukraine Government, U.K. Says — Allegations come in the midst of warnings that Russia could invade with the around 100,000 troops gathered near border — The U.K. said it has exposed a plot by Russia to install a friendly government in Ukraine …

Discussion: Bloomberg, NBC New York, RedState, One America News Network and Gizmodo

David Ignatius / Washington Post:
As invasion looms, Ukrainians are calmly defiant

Discussion: Puck and Bloomberg

Caitlin McFall / Fox News:
Russia, NATO maintain dicey impasse, experts divided on best next steps

Discussion: euronews and Washington Examiner

Dean Obeidallah / MSNBC:

Biden can't let Manchin and Sinema block voting rights act without consequences — Two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, made a choice Wednesday night to side with the 50 Senate Republicans to block changes to the Senate's filibuster rule and …

Discussion: RedState, The Atlantic, Mother Jones, Bloomberg and NBC News

CNN:
Sinema censured by Arizona Democrats over filibuster stance that blocked voting rights legislation

Discussion: MSNBC, Deseret News, RedState and KNXV

Makini Brice / Reuters:
Arizona Democratic Party formally censures Sinema

Discussion: Arizona Republic, Breitbart, Slate and The Daily Caller

Maeve Sheehey / Politico:
Arizona Democratic Party censures Sinema over voting rights stance

Discussion: NPR, CBS News, James's Newsletter, Washington Post, NBC News, New York Times and The Daily Wire

Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:

If local journalism manages to survive, give Evan Smith some credit for it — The Texas Tribune founder has been a “true pioneer” in finding ways to cover local communities as a non-profit. — When Evan Smith co-founded the Texas Tribune back in 2009, digital-first nonprofit newsrooms were something of a rarity.

Brad Dress / The Hill:

Donald Trump slams Jan. 6 panel after Ivanka Trump interview request: 'They'll go after children' — Former President Donald Trump slammed the Jan. 6 committee investigating the Capitol insurrection after it asking his daughter Ivanka Trump to sit for an interview. — “It's a very unfair situation for my children.

Discussion: Insider, New York Times and HuffPost

Paul P. Murphy / CNN:

Woman charged after threatening to bring ‘every single gun loaded and ready’ if her children had to wear masks at school — (CNN)Police in Virginia said a woman has been charged after she claimed at a school board meeting she would show up with loaded guns if her children were required to wear masks at school.

Discussion: The Root, Slate and New York Post

Mississippi Free Press:

Black Mississippi Senators Walk Out As ‘CRT’ Bill Earns White Lawmakers' Approval — Every Black member of the Mississippi Senate walked out today as their white colleagues voted to approve a bill that Republicans have described as legislation to prevent so-called “critical race theory” from being taught in schools.

Discussion: Fox News and Breitbart

LegiScan:
Mississippi Senate Bill 2113

Discussion: New York Post, FEN and WLBT-TV

Joori Roh / Reuters:

S.Korea says Iran to regain UN vote after delinquent dues paid with frozen funds — Iran is expected to regain its vote in the U.N. General Assembly after South Korea paid Tehran's delinquent dues to the world body with frozen Iranian funds in the country, South Korea said on Sunday.

Discussion: Bloomberg, Associated Press, WTOP News, Al Jazeera and Radio Free Europe/Radio …

Madeline Heim / The Post-Crescent:

What to know about the battle over Fox Valley health care workers now playing out in court — APPLETON - It was unclear whether a group of former ThedaCare employees would be allowed to start their new jobs at Ascension Northeast Wisconsin Monday after lawyers for both health systems made their first appearance in court Friday morning.

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money