It's Monday morning, what do we know?
Flooding in Kentucky kills dozens and Putin declares the U.S. his adversary
What do we know in Ukraine?
Heavy Russian airstrikes on the southern port city of Mykolaiv on Sunday killed the owner of one of Ukraine’s largest grain production and export companies. Oleksiy Vadatursky and his wife were killed in a strike on their home that Ukrainian officials said was targeted and intentional. Vadatursky was one of the wealthiest men in Ukraine
A makeshift drone carrying a small explosive device blew up inside Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters on the Crimean Peninsula. The explosion wounded at least five people and prompted cancelation of ceremonies celebrating Russia’s Navy Day
At a Navy Day celebration in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin signed a new naval doctrine that identifies the United States as Russia’s main maritime rival. The 55-page doctrine lays out Russia’s naval ambitions to be a ‘great maritime power’ across the globe. In his speech, Putin touted Russia’s new Zircon hypersonic missiles as evidence of his country’s military supremacy. Unlike ICBM’s, which fly faster but on a predictable parabolic trajectory, hypersonic missiles fly slower–but still extremely fast (Mach 5)–on unpredictable trajectories, making them more difficult to defend against
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that his country’s grain harvest this year will be cut by as much as 50% because of the war with Russia. On Twitter, Zelenskyy said, "Our main goal — to prevent global food crisis caused by Russian invasion. Still grains find a way to be delivered alternatively"
Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over who was responsible for an explosion in Olenivka, a town in Donetsk, near the front. As many as 50 Ukrainian POW’s were killed and another 73 were injured in the explosion. Russia claims the explosion was the result of a missile strike by Ukraine using American-made weapons, while Ukraine stated that satellite imagery indicated the explosion came from within the building
What else do we know?
Despite the fact that I would have known how to spend it better than anyone else, I did not win the $1.3 billion Mega Millions lottery on Friday. A single winning ticket was sold in Des Plaines, Illinois. The winner, who has yet to be identified, can expect to start hearing from a lot of old friends and distant relatives in the near future. If the winner chooses the lump sum payment, they will take home $453,117,295
A new CBS/YouGov poll released Sunday estimates Republicans will win a 230 seat majority in the House this November, with Democrats holding 205 seats. However, the most significant finding in the poll is that, for the first time, Democrats will likely lose the Hispanic vote in the upcoming midterms. Hispanics, who tend to be churchgoing and culturally conservative, have been leaving the Democratic Party over the last decade. That exodus has accelerated significantly in the last four years as the Democratic Party’s focus has coalesced around identity politics. Hispanics have been a critical part of the coalition for Democrats for decades, their departure will significantly impair the party’s ability to win legislative majorities and the White House in the future
Severe flooding in Kentucky has claimed at least 26 lives, including four children. Rescue efforts in the state have been hampered by continued heavy rain and damage to critical infrastructure. The National Weather Service said as much as 4 inches of rain fell in some parts of the state on Sunday. More showers and thunderstorms are expected through Tuesday
Basketball legend and activist Bill Russell died on Sunday at the age of 88. Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols also died over the weekend, she was 89. Russell and Nichols were popular culture role models for black kids growing up in the 60’s, when there were few such heroes. Both Nichols and Russell took on that responsibility with grace, thoughtfulness and decency
Since her funeral, there have been suggestions that Donald Trump had his late former wife, and mother of his three eldest kids, buried at his Bedminster golf club for tax purposes. The rumors appear to be true. According to NJ State tax law any property dedicated to the burial of human remains can be classified as a cemetery and will, therefore, not be subject to real property, income or sales & use taxes. Sometimes it pays to be totally without shame
How disgusting -about Ivana's grave. He truly has no shame.
Why was Donald Trump in charge of where she was buried? It’s even more gross if her kids put her there.