Jamaal Bowman Loses to Sentient Pile of Cash - The Wednesday AM Quickie 6/26/24
Kind of impressive that there already have been four different recalls for the Tesla Cybertruck. -Jacob
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THE BIG NEWS
Leftist Bowman Loses to Big-Money Latimer
Jamaal Bowman, the embattled Congressional rep from New York's 16th District, lost his high-profile primary race to George Latimer, a Westchester County political executive who had major backing from AIPAC and the centrist Democratic establishment. With more than $15 million in ad spending from AIPAC in just the last month, it was the most expensive Congressional primary race in US history. Like his fellow Squad members, Bowman has criticized Israel's war in Gaza and was falsely tarred as an antisemite for denouncing the plain fact that AIPAC was pouring in money to beat him.
While he had his own issues – beyond pulling a fire alarm in a government building – Bowman's loss is a huge setback for the Democratic Party's leftmost faction. It signals that unlimited donor cash can help shift political support for someone who was once considered a rising star within the party. It also is a reminder that, for all of the public outrage about the Biden administration enabling Israel's genocide in Gaza, donors and party mandarins will still try to discipline elected officials who dare to criticize policy toward Israel. Even the New York Times seemed to acknowledge the state of play: "Bowman Falls In House Primary, Overtaken By Flood of Pro-Israel Money," read the headline last night.
Across New York, most "left-leaning lawmakers" defeated their primary challengers, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In Colorado, MAGA gun-nut Lauren Boebert switched Congressional districts rather than face a credible Democratic challenger; she won a primary vote split between six Republicans. Several other MAGA candidates lost their races. "This might be the worst primary night for Trump-endorsed GOP candidates all year," said reporter Dave Weigel.
MORE STORIES TO WATCH
Assange Pleads Guilty in Court on Distant US Territory
Appearing in a US federal court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas Islands, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to a single felony charge under the Espionage Act. After spending years on the run and then incarcerated in England, the plea deal should end his long legal odyssey. Assange appeared in Saipan because of his reported (and understandable) reluctance to come to the US mainland. As some have pointed out, the fact that there even is a US federal court thousands of miles from what we normally consider the "United States" is a reflection of the far-flung empire Assange has devoted his career to opposing.
Assange was sentenced to time served. "You will be able to walk out of this courtroom a free man," said the judge. He's expected to leave Saipan for his home country of Australia, where he will settle with his wife and small children.
Gaza Starves as Israeli Supreme Court Rules that Ultra-Orthodox Jews Must Serve in IDF
The humanitarian situation in Gaza "remains catastrophic," with continued warnings of famine as most Palestinians in the region still don't have enough food for basic nutritional needs. Some two million Gazans require "food assistance," according to a new report, and aid continues to be stymied by right-wing Israeli protesters, the IDF, and a general breakdown in infrastructure and order in Gaza. The head of UNRWA, the aid organization for Palestinian refugees, said that the Israeli campaign against his agency that led to the US and other donors pulling funding has had a damaging effect, calling the lack of funding an "existential threat" for his agency and an impediment to feeding Gazans.
Also, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Israel ruled the ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be subject to the country's military draft. Previous efforts to include ultra-Orthodox men in mandatory service have foundered. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition depends on an alliance with religious political parties, so he's unlikely to try to implement the ruling, which could itself prove a source of political controversy for those Israelis who want to expand the draft to all Jewish men.
QUICKEST QUICKIES
- Eric Adams May Have Email Issues The FBI investigation into New York City Mayor Eric Adams reportedly now includes a look at trips he made to China and his use of personal email for back-channel dealings. Earlier this year, the FBI raided the home of Adams' director of Asian affairs, who once accompanied him to China. via NYP and The City.
- Astronauts Kinda Stuck In Space At the Moment The return of two astronauts from the International Space Station has been delayed due to issues with Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft, which is meant to compete with SpaceX. With no immediate threat to the astronauts, space officials say they are taking their time trouble-shooting problems with a helium leak and the craft's thrusters. via BBC News and WaPo.
- Biden Admin Will Allow Military Contractors to Deploy to Ukraine Team Biden is developing a policy that will allow US military contractors to deploy to Ukraine. The new policy will likely focus on allowing contractors to bid for logistics, maintenance, and supply contracts inside Ukraine (rather than in nearby NATO countries). via CNN.
- Auto Dealers Still Crippled by Cyber Attack CDK Global, which makes management software used by 15,000 auto dealers in the US, experienced a recent cyber attack that has left its software inoperable, hindering operations at thousands of car dealers. The company doesn't expect to have a solution in place until next month, and dealers say the situation has mired their operations in delays, paperwork, and lost sales. via Reuters and CNN.
SOME NUMBER
95%
That's the percentage of people who died in ICE custody who might have been saved if only they had received "appropriate medical care," according to a new report by the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights. The report found that private prisons weren't held accountable for deaths, which were barely investigated. The new Congressional budget sets aside $3.4 billion for ICE to detain 41,5000 migrants per day.
ON THE SHOW TODAY
6/26: It’s Hump Day! Sam and Emma speak with Ryan Grim, D.C. Bureau Chief at The Intercept and co-host of Counter Points, to discuss Jamaal Bowman's loss in last nights NY-16 Democratic primary, and Julian Assange's plea deal.
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PARTING WORDS
"Since the attack at our ambulances that was dispatched to save Hind Rajab, there has been no investigations made by the Israelis or any contact from the Israelis to the Red Crescent. We as the Palestinian Red Crescent have not received any kind of communication from the Israeli military."
-- Palestine Red Crescent Society spokesperson Nebal Farsakh, speaking to The Intercept about Israel's claim that it contacted the organization to investigate its forces killing 6-year-old Hind Rajab, several members of her family, and two Red Crescent medics. State Department spokesman Matt Miller earlier claimed – apparently falsely – that the Red Crescent refused to help Israel investigate the deaths.
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