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| US ‘concerned’ Russia preparing for an invasion in Ukraine – live | US ‘concerned’ Russia preparing for an invasion in Ukraine – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| White House says feared invasion ‘may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes, should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives’ | White House says feared invasion ‘may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes, should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives’ |
| During her White House briefing today, Jen Psaki also addressed the situation in Ukraine, as fears intensify over a potential Russian invasion. | During her White House briefing today, Jen Psaki also addressed the situation in Ukraine, as fears intensify over a potential Russian invasion. |
| US officials have now accused the Kremlin of planning a false flag operation to justify an invasion, despite recent efforts to deescalate tensions in the region. | US officials have now accused the Kremlin of planning a false flag operation to justify an invasion, despite recent efforts to deescalate tensions in the region. |
| “We are concerned that the Russian government is preparing for an invasion in Ukraine that may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes, should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives,” Psaki said. | “We are concerned that the Russian government is preparing for an invasion in Ukraine that may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes, should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives,” Psaki said. |
| Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai were allegedly aware of and approved a deal to collaborate on the potential manipulation of advertising sales, according to newly unredacted documents that were filed as part of a state attorneys general-led lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit was first filed in December 2020 and claimed Google misled publishers and advertisers alike about the price and process of advertising auctions. At that time, many documents and parts of the lawsuit were redacted but have since become accessible to the public as a result of multiple court rulings. | |
| While the lawsuit is not new, details about how much both companies’ C-Suite was aware of and whether they approved the coordination between Facebook and Google had not been known previously. | |
| According to the AP, the lawsuit indicates that in a 2018 email thread Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, called the collaboration between the companies “ a big deal strategically”. Zuckerberg was included on that and other threads discussing the deal, the lawsuit says. | |
| Both Google and Facebook have seen increased scrutiny over potentially monopolistic practices from both regulators and other players in the market. In this case, the lawsuit alleges Google maintained control over the advertising sales market - a market that it dominates - by inflating the price of advertisements for brands and suppressing competition from other advertising exchanges. | |
| According to the Wall Street Journal, the complaint alleges “Google pocketed the difference between what it told publishers and advertisers that an ad cost and used the pool of money to manipulate future auctions to expand its digital monopoly.” The documents further cite internal messages in which Google employees said it was like they were using “insider information” to grow the business. | |
| If Pichai is found to have personally approved the deal, he may be found to be complicit in the expansion of Google’s monopoly over the advertising market through manipulation. A Google spokesperson told the AP that while the deal was not a secret, it was inaccurate Pichai approved it. | |
| “We sign hundreds of agreements every year that don’t require CEO approval, and this was no different,” the spokesperson said. | |
| A Republican bill to ban the teaching of “divisive concepts” in schools in Virginia ran into ridicule when among historical events deemed suitable for study, it described a nonexistent debate between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. | A Republican bill to ban the teaching of “divisive concepts” in schools in Virginia ran into ridicule when among historical events deemed suitable for study, it described a nonexistent debate between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. |
| Lincoln did engage in a series of historic debates hinged on the issue of slavery, in the Illinois Senate campaign of 1858. But he did so against Stephen Douglas, a senator who had ties to slavery – not against Douglass, the great campaigner for the abolition of slavery who was once enslaved himself. | Lincoln did engage in a series of historic debates hinged on the issue of slavery, in the Illinois Senate campaign of 1858. But he did so against Stephen Douglas, a senator who had ties to slavery – not against Douglass, the great campaigner for the abolition of slavery who was once enslaved himself. |
| The Virginia bill was sponsored by Wren Williams, a freshman Republican sent to Richmond in a tumultuous November election. | The Virginia bill was sponsored by Wren Williams, a freshman Republican sent to Richmond in a tumultuous November election. |
| History has become a divisive concept in states across the US, as rightwingers spread alarm about the teaching of race issues. In November, the winning candidate for governor in Virginia, the Republican Glenn Youngkin, made history a wedge issue in his win over the Democrat, Terry McAuliffe. | History has become a divisive concept in states across the US, as rightwingers spread alarm about the teaching of race issues. In November, the winning candidate for governor in Virginia, the Republican Glenn Youngkin, made history a wedge issue in his win over the Democrat, Terry McAuliffe. |
| Youngkin seized upon Critical Race Theory, an academic discipline that examines the ways in which racism operates in US laws and society – but which is not taught in Virginia schools. | Youngkin seized upon Critical Race Theory, an academic discipline that examines the ways in which racism operates in US laws and society – but which is not taught in Virginia schools. |
| Nor, it turns out, will Williams’ bill be enforced by Virginia courts. As the Washington Post reported, “by Friday morning, Frederick Douglass was trending on Twitter, and the bill had been withdrawn”. | Nor, it turns out, will Williams’ bill be enforced by Virginia courts. As the Washington Post reported, “by Friday morning, Frederick Douglass was trending on Twitter, and the bill had been withdrawn”. |
| Sidney Blumenthal, a Guardian contributor and Lincoln biographer, pointed out that Lincoln and Douglass did meet three times when Lincoln was president, from 1861 to 1865 and through a civil war that ended with slavery abolished. | Sidney Blumenthal, a Guardian contributor and Lincoln biographer, pointed out that Lincoln and Douglass did meet three times when Lincoln was president, from 1861 to 1865 and through a civil war that ended with slavery abolished. |
| Blumenthal also offered a way in which students in Virginia and elsewhere might use Douglass’s life and work to examine divisive concepts today. | Blumenthal also offered a way in which students in Virginia and elsewhere might use Douglass’s life and work to examine divisive concepts today. |
| Speaking after two centrist Democrats sank Joe Biden’s push for voting rights reform, Blumenthal said: “Frederick Douglass’s great cause became that of voting rights. | Speaking after two centrist Democrats sank Joe Biden’s push for voting rights reform, Blumenthal said: “Frederick Douglass’s great cause became that of voting rights. |
| “If there is any debate that is going on now, it is not between Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is between Frederick Douglass and all the Republican senators who refuse to support voting rights – and Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema too.” | “If there is any debate that is going on now, it is not between Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is between Frederick Douglass and all the Republican senators who refuse to support voting rights – and Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema too.” |
| For further reading, here’s Ibram X Kendi on why Frederick Douglass matters: | For further reading, here’s Ibram X Kendi on why Frederick Douglass matters: |
| An anti-abortion group that had an advertisement signed and endorsed by Amy Coney Barrett before she became a supreme court justice has been accused of encouraging the harassment of doctors, according to my colleague Stephanie Kirchgaessner. | An anti-abortion group that had an advertisement signed and endorsed by Amy Coney Barrett before she became a supreme court justice has been accused of encouraging the harassment of doctors, according to my colleague Stephanie Kirchgaessner. |
| Here’s more from her story: | Here’s more from her story: |
| Johana here, reporting in from San Francisco. The founder of far-right militia group the Oathkeepers pleaded not guilty to seditious conspiracy this afternoon. Elmer Stewart Rhodes was arrested on Thursday in Texas and charged with conspiring with 10 others to oppose the transfer of presidential power by force. | Johana here, reporting in from San Francisco. The founder of far-right militia group the Oathkeepers pleaded not guilty to seditious conspiracy this afternoon. Elmer Stewart Rhodes was arrested on Thursday in Texas and charged with conspiring with 10 others to oppose the transfer of presidential power by force. |
| As my colleague Sergio Olmos reported, unsealed court documents have revealed evidence of an armed plot as well as detailed tactical pre-planning that included “the creation of rapid-response teams of armed militia members, the deployment of tactical gear and the stockpiling of weapons”. | As my colleague Sergio Olmos reported, unsealed court documents have revealed evidence of an armed plot as well as detailed tactical pre-planning that included “the creation of rapid-response teams of armed militia members, the deployment of tactical gear and the stockpiling of weapons”. |
| More from Sergio’s reporting: | More from Sergio’s reporting: |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Johana Bhuiyan, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Johana Bhuiyan, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| The White House warned Russia is preparing a false flag operation to justify an invasion of Ukraine. “We are concerned that the Russian government is preparing for an invasion in Ukraine that may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes, should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. | The White House warned Russia is preparing a false flag operation to justify an invasion of Ukraine. “We are concerned that the Russian government is preparing for an invasion in Ukraine that may result in widespread human rights violations and war crimes, should diplomacy fail to meet their objectives,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. |
| Joe Biden announced the federal government will pay 100% of the costs to repair small bridges in communities with limited funds to do so. The policy is part of the implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which Biden signed in November. The law includes $27.5bn to repair the nation’s bridges. | Joe Biden announced the federal government will pay 100% of the costs to repair small bridges in communities with limited funds to do so. The policy is part of the implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which Biden signed in November. The law includes $27.5bn to repair the nation’s bridges. |
| Biden acknowledged this has been a disappointing few weeks for Democrats, after the party suffered defeats on a voting rights bill and the Build Back Better Act. “There’s a lot of talk about disappointments on things we haven’t gotten done,” Biden said. “We’re going to get a lot of them done, I might add.” His comments came one day after Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin indicated they would not support changing the filibuster to pass a voting rights bill, killing any hope of a swift passage for the legislation. | Biden acknowledged this has been a disappointing few weeks for Democrats, after the party suffered defeats on a voting rights bill and the Build Back Better Act. “There’s a lot of talk about disappointments on things we haven’t gotten done,” Biden said. “We’re going to get a lot of them done, I might add.” His comments came one day after Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin indicated they would not support changing the filibuster to pass a voting rights bill, killing any hope of a swift passage for the legislation. |
| The Biden administration will start shipping free at-home Covid tests next week. Biden announced last month that his administration would order 500 m at-home tests to be given free of charge to Americans, and the president has since announced the purchase of an additional 500m tests. | The Biden administration will start shipping free at-home Covid tests next week. Biden announced last month that his administration would order 500 m at-home tests to be given free of charge to Americans, and the president has since announced the purchase of an additional 500m tests. |
| The Ohio supreme court struck down the congressional map drawn by Republican legislators, which would have given the party a significant advantage in the midterm elections. Writing for the majority in his ruling, justice Michael Donnelly, a Democrat, argued the proposed map had violated the Ohio state constitution, which forbids district lines that unfairly favor one party or its incumbents. | The Ohio supreme court struck down the congressional map drawn by Republican legislators, which would have given the party a significant advantage in the midterm elections. Writing for the majority in his ruling, justice Michael Donnelly, a Democrat, argued the proposed map had violated the Ohio state constitution, which forbids district lines that unfairly favor one party or its incumbents. |
| Johana will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Johana will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Mike Pence has penned a Washington Post op-ed attacking Democrats’ voting rights bill as a “federal power grab over our state elections”. | Mike Pence has penned a Washington Post op-ed attacking Democrats’ voting rights bill as a “federal power grab over our state elections”. |
| The former vice-president opened the op-ed by reflecting on the January 6 insurrection, which he witnessed firsthand. Pence was at the Capitol that day to preside over the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. | The former vice-president opened the op-ed by reflecting on the January 6 insurrection, which he witnessed firsthand. Pence was at the Capitol that day to preside over the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. |
| “Now that the anniversary of Jan. 6 has come and gone, some of us who lived through that tragic day in 2021 are getting a clearer picture of what was and is at stake,” Pence writes. | “Now that the anniversary of Jan. 6 has come and gone, some of us who lived through that tragic day in 2021 are getting a clearer picture of what was and is at stake,” Pence writes. |
| “On Jan. 6, an angry mob ransacked the Capitol, largely to try to get Congress and me, as the president of the Senate, to use federal authority to overturn results of the presidential election that had been certified by all 50 states.” | “On Jan. 6, an angry mob ransacked the Capitol, largely to try to get Congress and me, as the president of the Senate, to use federal authority to overturn results of the presidential election that had been certified by all 50 states.” |
| But Pence then makes an argument that is certain to outrage Democrats; the Republican asserts that the dozens of voting restrictions recently approved by state legislatures are an effort to “restore confidence in the integrity of our elections while ensuring access to voting”. | But Pence then makes an argument that is certain to outrage Democrats; the Republican asserts that the dozens of voting restrictions recently approved by state legislatures are an effort to “restore confidence in the integrity of our elections while ensuring access to voting”. |
| “Despite this steady progress of state-based reforms, now come President Biden and Senate Democrats with plans to use the memory of Jan. 6 to attempt another federal power grab over our state elections and drive a wedge further into our divided nation,” Pence writes. | “Despite this steady progress of state-based reforms, now come President Biden and Senate Democrats with plans to use the memory of Jan. 6 to attempt another federal power grab over our state elections and drive a wedge further into our divided nation,” Pence writes. |
| In 2021, 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Voting rights advocates warn that the restrictions disproportionately impact people of color, and experts say the laws threaten to inject partisan bias into election systems. | In 2021, 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Voting rights advocates warn that the restrictions disproportionately impact people of color, and experts say the laws threaten to inject partisan bias into election systems. |
| The Biden administration’s announcement on delivering free at-home Covid tests starting 19 January underscores the current difficulty of finding affordable at-home Covid-19 tests. | The Biden administration’s announcement on delivering free at-home Covid tests starting 19 January underscores the current difficulty of finding affordable at-home Covid-19 tests. |
| The Guardian’s Carly Olsen wrote about price gouging happening across the country for rapid at-home Covid tests: | The Guardian’s Carly Olsen wrote about price gouging happening across the country for rapid at-home Covid tests: |
| Read the full article here. | Read the full article here. |
| The Biden administration will begin shipping free at-home Covid tests starting next week, following an announcement earlier last week that the tests would become more widely available amid the Omicron surge. | The Biden administration will begin shipping free at-home Covid tests starting next week, following an announcement earlier last week that the tests would become more widely available amid the Omicron surge. |
| The tests will be available through a government website starting on 19 January, though receiving the tests could take longer. Shipping for the at-home tests typically takes “seven to 12 days” according to senior official in the Biden administration. Additionally, households will only able to order four tests at a time. | The tests will be available through a government website starting on 19 January, though receiving the tests could take longer. Shipping for the at-home tests typically takes “seven to 12 days” according to senior official in the Biden administration. Additionally, households will only able to order four tests at a time. |
| Here’s more background on at-home test availability according to a piece from Politco: | Here’s more background on at-home test availability according to a piece from Politco: |
| Read the full piece here. | Read the full piece here. |
| Following the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision to strike the state’s new congressional districts on Friday, questions remain about what the next steps are for the legislative maps. | Following the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision to strike the state’s new congressional districts on Friday, questions remain about what the next steps are for the legislative maps. |
| Here’s an article from Jessie Balmert of the Columbus Dispatch that breaks down the next steps following the court’s decision: | Here’s an article from Jessie Balmert of the Columbus Dispatch that breaks down the next steps following the court’s decision: |
| Read the full article here. | Read the full article here. |
| The Ohio supreme court ordered the state’s general assembly to redraw more maps that complied with the partisan fairness requirements in the Ohio constitution. It also denounced the consequences of gerrymandering. | The Ohio supreme court ordered the state’s general assembly to redraw more maps that complied with the partisan fairness requirements in the Ohio constitution. It also denounced the consequences of gerrymandering. |
| “Gerrymandering is the antithetical perversion of representative democracy. It is an abuse of power,” Justice Michael Donnelly, a Democrat. “Its singular allure is that it locks in the controlling party’s political power while locking out any other party or executive office from serving as a check and balance to power.” | “Gerrymandering is the antithetical perversion of representative democracy. It is an abuse of power,” Justice Michael Donnelly, a Democrat. “Its singular allure is that it locks in the controlling party’s political power while locking out any other party or executive office from serving as a check and balance to power.” |
| “When the dealer stacks the deck in advance, the house usually wins,” he also wrote. “That perhaps explains how a party that generally musters no more than 55 percent of the statewide popular vote is positioned to reliably win anywhere from 75 percent to 80 percent of the seats in the Ohio congressional delegation. By any rational measure, that skewed result just does not add up.” | “When the dealer stacks the deck in advance, the house usually wins,” he also wrote. “That perhaps explains how a party that generally musters no more than 55 percent of the statewide popular vote is positioned to reliably win anywhere from 75 percent to 80 percent of the seats in the Ohio congressional delegation. By any rational measure, that skewed result just does not add up.” |
| Ohio Republicans had insisted that the districts they drew were competitive, but the majority of justices said that requirement appears nowhere in the constitution. | Ohio Republicans had insisted that the districts they drew were competitive, but the majority of justices said that requirement appears nowhere in the constitution. |