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Russia Will Prosecute US Journalist Evan Gershkovich - The Tuesday AM Quickie 6/18/24

By Jacob Silverman —

Another day, another lawsuit against Elon Musk – this time regarding work conditions at his creepy brain-implant company. -Jacob

ON THE SHOW TODAY

6/18: It's News Day Tuesday! Sam and Emma break down the biggest headlines of the day.

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Today you'll read about the arrest of a major New Jersey political boss; what Israel knew in advance of the Oct. 7 attack; and the hilariously bad deal that Wells Fargo made with a startup credit-card company.

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THE BIG NEWS

Russia Will Prosecute Unjustly Detained US Journalist Evan Gershkovich

The espionage trial of Evan Gershkovich, a respected Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested by Russian security forces more than 14 months ago, will begin next week. Russian authorities accused Gershkovich of being a spy for the CIA who collected information on a munitions factory. Gershkovich's friends, colleagues, and family members – along with the US government – have described the accusations as absurd. The trial will be held behind closed doors, overseen by a judge with a meager record of acquittals. Gershkovich could be sentenced to up to 20 years, according to the Times.

Gershkovich, who is 32, worked as a reporter in Russia for five years before he was arrested. It's been decades since Russian authorities last arrested an American journalist on accusations of spying. He has appeared several times in Russian court, looking relatively hale and healthy, even waving and smiling to cameras. But there's been no movement on his possible release.

The Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich's employer, has run a vigorous campaign on his behalf – highlighting his achievements, writing about authoritarian threats to journalists, lobbying for his release, and even publishing a blank page in the daily paper where one of his stories should have been. The WSJ also has a sub-site devoted to Gershkovich's case that includes an interview with his parents.

"We expect that all parties will work to bring Evan home now," the WSJ announced. “Time is of the essence. As we’ve said, the Russian regime’s smearing of Evan is repugnant and based on calculated and transparent lies. Journalism is not a crime, and Evan’s case is an assault on free press."

President Joe Biden has condemned Gershkovich's imprisonment, and there have been some reports of the two sides negotiating a prisoner swap. The WSJ, for its part, said that Russian authorities were "stockpiling Americans in Russian jails in order to be able to trade them at a later date." Unfortunately, based on past results, the tactic seems to work.

NJ Political Boss George Norcross Indicted

George Norcross, known as a dominant figure for decades in south Jersey politics, was indicted yesterday as part of "a sweeping racketeering case alleging that he and key allies used their influence to corruptly acquire tax credits and real estate worth millions," according to The Philadelphia Inquirer (of which Norcross used to be a part owner). The scheme allegedly allowed Norcross and his co-conspirators to take over the lucrative Camden waterfront. The 13-count indictment names Norcross, his brother, two attorneys, and a former mayor of Camden as defendants. Strangely enough, Norcross, who's 68, attended the news conference and sat calmly while the indictment was presented.

Norcross was never elected to office, but he was a political kingmaker who helped install his brother, friends, and allies into positions all over the state. He has worn many hats as an insurance executive, Democratic National Committee member, member of a hospital's board of trustees, and donor to charitable causes. He claimed yesterday that he was innocent and would like the trial to begin as soon as possible.

Deadly Heat Affecting Billions of People

Along with the United States, countries all over the world are dealing with deadly heat and extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change. High temperatures and drought are threatening China's wheat planting season. The country's south has experienced tremendous rain, affecting both rice production and manufacturing centers. In Mecca, where it was almost 110 degrees over the weekend, 14 Jordanian religious pilgrims died while on the Hajj pilgrimage. Seventeen other pilgrims remain missing. In Greece, where authorities closed schools and tourist sites like the Acropolis, high temperatures have taken the lives of some tourists. Much of the Mediterranean region is affected, and extreme heat is being reported everywhere from Chicago to Turkmenistan, Algeria to Oman, affecting agriculture, exports, infrastructure, education, and much of daily life.

QUICKEST QUICKIES

  • FTC Sues Adobe For Annoying Subscriptions The FTC sued Adobe yesterday, claiming that the company makes it too difficult to cancel subscriptions to products like Acrobat and Photoshop. In recent years, Adobe, like many other software companies, has switched to a subscription and services model that gouges consumers for monthly fees and makes it hard for them to walk away. via NYT and Reuters.
  • Israel Knew About Hamas' Oct 7 Plans A new report from an Israeli public broadcaster alleges that the IDF knew about Hamas' Oct. 7 attack plans, including how many hostages the militant group might take. The latest story adds to a raft of reporting indicating that Israel long knew Hamas was planning a cross-border attack but didn't adequately prepare to defend against it. via Business Insider and Kan.
  • Surgeon General Says There Should Be Warning Labels on Social Media Claiming that social media is contributing to a mental health crisis among young people, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for warning labels to be placed on social media. Murthy has previously called for reforms to improve user privacy, protect children, and make social-media platforms less addictive. via NYT and WaPo.
  • Defense Spending Increasing In NATO Countries Twenty-three of NATO's 32 member states are spending 2% of their GDP on military spending, in line with what's required by the military alliance. The war in Ukraine has galvanized military spending and cooperation among some NATO states, especially in eastern Europe. Meanwhile, in a slightly terrifying announcement, NATO's secretary general said that the alliance should make more nuclear warheads "operational" and ready to launch. via AP, Politico EU, and NYT.

SOME NUMBER

$10 million

That's approximately how much money banking giant Wells Fargo is losing every month on the Bilt credit card. A product of a partnership with fintech startup Bilt Technologies, the Bilt card allows customers to use it to pay their rent and accumulate points. Landlords didn't mind because the bank paid the 2-3% processing fee. The card took off among young people. But the terms of the credit-card deal proved disastrous for Wells Fargo, as most card users seemed to be paying off monthly balances, rather than carrying over debt and accruing interest, as our Wall Street overlords prefer. The money-losing partnership doesn't end until 2029.

DON'T MISS MR CLIPS‌

Donald Trump's Brain Misfires On Stage

Trump may not remember his doctor's name, but he aced the cognitive test – that he might not have taken at all.

Republican ROASTED For Complaining About Jan. 6 Question

If you try to overthrow the government once, it's fair for people to ask if you'll try to do it again.

PARTING WORDS

"Much has been said about Boeing’s culture. We’ve heard those concerns loud and clear. Our culture is far from perfect, but we are taking action and making progress. We understand the gravity, and we are committed to moving forward."

-- From Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun's planned Senate testimony, which he will deliver today. America's premiere airplane manufacturer has had numerous safety and mechanical incidents in recent years, not least two deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. The FAA has received more than 100 whistleblower tips while two prominent Boeing whistleblowers have also died.

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