The picture that probably best explains both why #Russia can’t capture the “30-50 km strip of land” (Rubio’s words) in #Donbas, and why #Ukraine doesn’t just want to give it up to Russians for free, even if we put aside any legal or moral arguments.

The yellow are fortification lines built by Ukraine since the original Russian invasion in 2014, and laboriously improved since. The density of these lines in Donetsk oblast’ exceeds everything that had been built elsewhere. When Putin says “we’re ready for war, but we want diplomacy” he was likely told by his generals that continued assaults on these lines will be suicidal for Russia, in literal sense.

Which is precisely why Russia wants to get them without fight as part of some silly “deal”, and why Ukraine won’t be agreeing to that until really losing the war. Letting Russians into these fortifications would also mean, that Ukraine would need to build another 30-50 km of similar lines to the west from Donetsk oblast’ to prevent repeated invasion after Russia signs the “eternal peace agreement”.

🧵 Charlie Kirk frequently called for other people to be killed.

Remember that time when Charlie Kirk called for Joe Biden to be executed? I do.

He didn't even bother to posit any particular crime.

Context: https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-joe-biden-should-be-put-prison-andor-given-death-penalty-crimes-against

The NY Times discovers that Trump is -- by far -- the most corrupt public official in American history. (But of course it refuses to use that word in the headline, because reasons...)

The Times will now return to its regular normalization of Trump extremism and criminality.