memeorandum: Russia's Easter Offensive (Timothy Snyder/Thinking about)

11:35 PM ET, April 17, 2022

Top Items:

Neil MacFarquhar / New York Times:

Days after the sinking of a Russian warship, questions linger. — A video released by Russia's Ministry of Defense purporting to show dozens of uniformed crew members from the missile cruiser Moskva standing in formation, apparently days after the ship sank, did not answer lingering questions …

Discussion: Metro.co.uk, Occupation of Ukraine?! and Forbes

Timothy Snyder / Thinking about:

Russia's Easter Offensive — Jesus in east European political thought — Today Easter is celebrated by western Christians; a week from now it will be celebrated by the Orthodox and Greek Catholics in Ukraine, and by the Orthodox in Russia. By then, Russian troops will be engaged …

Discussion: The Daily Beast

Julia Davis / The Daily Beast:

Russian Propaganda Turns to ‘Lord of the Rings’ to Stir Ukraine Hatred — MY PRECIOUS — In an attempt to dehumanize their opponents, state TV's pundits and hosts have taken to describing Ukrainians as “the unclean”—with one even calling “modern Ukraine” “Gollum.”

Discussion: Raw Story

Bel Trew / The Independent: Bound, beaten, killed: Ukrainian civilians reveal horrors of Russian torture chamber

Jonathan Lis / Haaretz:
Russia Summons Israeli Envoy After Lapid's ‘Regrettable’ Remarks on Ukraine War

Discussion: New York Times

New York Times: ‘They Are Gone, Vanished’: Missing Persons Haunt Ukrainian Village

Anton Troianovski / New York Times: Atrocities in Ukraine War Have Deep Roots in Russian Military

Washington Post:
U.S., allies plan for long-term isolation of Russia

Discussion: The National, The Hill and The Guardian

Sergei Guriev / Financial Times: Putin's dictatorship is based now on fear rather than spin

Bojan Pancevski / Wall Street Journal: Ukraine's Jews Celebrate Wartime Passover in Defiance of Russian Invasion

Annie Gowen / Washington Post:

The culture wars next frontier: Public libraries … LLANO, Tex. — In early November, an email from a citizen dropped into the inbox of Judge Ron Cunningham, the silver-haired head chair of the governing body of Llano County in Texas's picturesque Hill Country.

Associated Press:

US rocked by 3 mass shootings during Easter weekend; 2 dead — HAMPTON, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina say they are investigating shooting at a club in Hampton County early Sunday that left at least nine people injured. It was the third mass shooting in the U.S. over the Easter holiday weekend.

Discussion: CNN, TheBlaze, New York Post, Associated Press, The Gateway Pundit, Law & Crime, ABC Columbia, Mediaite, The Daily Caller, UPI, Washington Examiner, City of Columbia Police …, TheGrio, Indian Country Today and The State

Paul Best / Fox News:

South Carolina mall shooting suspect's bond set at $25,000, can go to work with ankle monitor — Jewayne Price was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol — Fox News Flash top headlines for April 17 — A South Carolina judge set a $25,000 bond for a suspect in a mall shooting …

Discussion: NBC News, The Hill and The Daily Caller

Adrianna Rodriguez / USA Today:

COVID vaccines are not meant to prevent all infections, experts say. Americans need to reset their expectations. — Watch Video: COVID vaccine second booster: Here's who can get the 4th shot — Denny Mitchell couldn't believe he tested positive for the coronavirus in January.

Ben Kesslen / New York Post:

Woke Ariz. diversity activists falsely accuse black DJ of wearing blackface — Two local diversity advocates in Arizona are taking heat after calling a school district racist for hiring a DJ to perform in black face — but it turns out the DJ was black. — Stuart Rhoden and Jill Lassen …

Lachlan Markay / Axios:

Out-of-state money floods midterm races — Candidates in key midterm primaries are getting huge cash boosts from wealthy out-of-state donors — funneled through groups that can raise and spend unlimited sums for them, according to an Axios analysis. … It precedes major Senate primaries …

Julia Shapero / Axios:

GOP Rep. Upton says death threats made bipartisan votes ‘frightening’ — Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said on Sunday that death threats — like those he received for voting for infrastructure spending — could “be a detriment getting good people to run” for Congress.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Insider

Jessica Chasmar / Fox News:

McCarthy says Ukraine invasion should serve as ‘lesson’ for arming Taiwan — 'Taiwan has been waiting more than a year for weapons they've already purchased,' the house minority leader said — Coming up on ‘Fox News Sunday’: April 17 — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy …

Discussion: Insider, New York Post, Talking Points Memo, Townhall, Washington Examiner and Insider

Wall Street Journal:

Saudi Arabia Pushed Yemen's Elected President to Step Aside, Saudi and Yemeni Officials Say — Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is largely confined to his home in Riyadh after handing power to new governing council — RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—Saudi Arabia pushed Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi …

Amanda Holpuch / New York Times:

Jury Awards $450,000 to Man Fired Over Unwanted Office Birthday Party — The man asked a manager not to have a party because he had an anxiety disorder. What followed spiraled into a legal dispute over whether the man had a panic attack or a violent outburst. — Give this article- - - Read in app

Discussion: Breitbart, Althouse, The Sun and JONATHAN TURLEY

Yasmeen Abutaleb / Washington Post:

A tale of many pandemics: In year three, a matter of status and access — Charletta Brown has not had access to the same luxuries or flexibility available to some Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. She has gone into work every day, contending with repeated potential exposures.