“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” – Winston Churchill
THE DAY AHEAD:
One week into war and one million refugees later, Putin is continuing to fuel the Russian-Ukraine war. Within days of the invasion, thousands of Ukrainians attempted to flee into Poland, creating over 50-mile long car lines.
Now, reports suggest over one million refugees have fled into countries like Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova.
According to the Associated Press,
Plant spokesman Andriy Tuz told Ukrainian television that shells were falling directly on the Zaporizhzhia plant in the city of Enerhodar and had set fire to one of the facility's six reactors. That reactor is under renovation and not operating, but there is nuclear fuel inside.“
This led to elevated levels of radiation and will have a profound impact on Ukraine, as the plant provides a quarter of the country's power.
As Russia's attacks intensify, the international community is doubling down and reassessing. French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the “worst is yet to come,” after a confrontational phone conversation with Putin.
Macron warned Putin to not lie to himself, saying,
Your country will pay dearly because it will end up as an isolated country, weakened and under sanctions for a very long time.
Throughout the war, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has been Putin's right-hand man. He has asserted that the purpose of Russia's military efforts is to “protect the Russian Federation from the military threat posed by Western countries.”
According to Foreign Affairs,
A veteran member of Russia's political elite, Shoygu has had a notably durable career among the highest echelons in Moscow. Arriving in the capital from Tuva, the region on the border with Mongolia, just in time for the breakup of the Soviet Union, he rapidly rose to prominence in the early 1990s as an all-around troubleshooter, becoming the minister of emergency situations, a cabinet-level position that he himself invented.
In other news, be prepared for the launch of a fourth Covid-19 vaccine. However, public health officials fear rocky marketing amid vaccine controversy and unpopular mandates. Furthermore, over 58 million eligible Americans are unvaccinated, and 87.6 million Americans have yet to receive a booster.
“I think we can expect to see less uptake of fourth doses than we saw of third doses,” Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, told ABC News. “A change in the messaging around the goal of the vaccination program would help a lot.”
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is advocating for an additional $22 billion in Covid-19 funding.
Pelosi suggested the funding is “absolutely necessary” for “therapies,” including free Covid-19 antiviral pills.
The funding proposal includes $18.25 billion in extra funds for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $12.2 billion to purchase oral antiviral treatments, monoclonal antibodies, prophylactic treatments, and vaccines.
Along with $2 billion for testing and $1.5 billion for “Preparing for Future Variants,” $1.5 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration, and $1.05 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The rest, a total of $4.25 billion, will go to the Department of State and United States Agency for International Development, for global vaccine and testing distribution and humanitarian aid.
In brighter news, Democrats are fearing a wipeout in the midterm elections. If they lose control of the House, Republicans will be in a positive position despite the situation in the White House. Covid-19 policies, pro-abortion legislation, and other key issues will be at the forefront during election season.
Happy Friday, and we'll see you again tomorrow morning.
