Beltway Insider: Biden/Israel, Hamas Cease Fire, Putin’s Bloated Beliefs, U.S. Protests Turn Violent, World Press Freedom, Trump Trial

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 05 May 2024 10:59; Written by Janet Walker

President Biden noted this week, as did media worldwide, the continued violations of the rights of journalists, and has pledged a whole of government approach, aided by an international coalition, to dismantle spyware misused against journalists.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending May 5, 2024, remain constant at 39.1% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased by 1.2% to 55.0% of those polled who disapprove of his effectiveness. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

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Israel/Hamas Cease Fire

The recent cease fire agreement negotiated between Israel and Hamas has been rejected by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Palestinians have demanded that the Hamas infrastructure remain intact.

"Every day that goes by without a ceasefire right now is on Hamas, because they're the ones that are holding up an answer to this proposal and they are the ones that are holding up reaching an immediate ceasefire that would help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza," Secretary of State Spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Unequivocally Hamas must be eradicated, and Israel must stop indiscriminate bombing and starvation of Gazan refugees. Palestine is not innocent of bloodshed; Israel is within their rights as a sovereign nation to defend against any, and all aggressors. Many would comment that the art of war does not allow an injured enemy to slink back and regroup, when the enemy is weakened, one does not stop until the adversary is destroyed.

The seven-month conflict has resulted, according to Wikipedia, in more than 35,000 people including 34,262 Palestinians and 1,410 Israeli's murdered, additionally murdered were 97 journalists, 224 humanitarian workers and 70% of the Palestinians murdered were women and children and 90% civilians.

The murders of the Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, also resulted in more than 400 hostages kidnapped and tortured by Hamas militants funded by Iran.

"The United Nations has also recognized the issue, reporting "clear and convincing information" of sexual violence, including rape and sexualized torture, against hostages. This international acknowledgment highlights the severity of the crisis triggered by the Hamas attack on October 7," reported The Times of India.

To accept any ceasefire, that allows Hamas to remain intact invites aggression and retaliation against Israeli's everywhere in Israel and around the world.

College Protests Turn Violent; Issues Muddied

College Campus around the United States saw a shift in what began as peaceful protests against the treatment of Gazan refugees and the continued occupation and retaliation of Israel for the October 7, 2023, coordinated attacks that resulted in the murder of more than 1200 Israelis and more than 400 hostages.

With several notable colleges throughout the nation experiencing violence as counter-protestors confronted and challenged the messaging being presented without stating the clear and obvious facts from both sides, the aggression and tipping point for both sides resulted in an escalation of emotions that resulted in rage and assaults.

The Pro-Palestinian student encampments seem oblivious to the realities of war. The reverberations from the October 7, attack have caused a deep divide in the international community. The possibility of random attacks on Jewish citizens have caused many to demand assurances of safety especially on college campuses.

'"Many of those students, except for the most die-hard activists, are going to go home — and that's going to de-escalate and demobilize it," said Dana R. Fisher, a professor at American University and author of a book about activism. "Any campuses where you have most of the student body in student housing … in the summer, you're going to really lose people,"' The Washington Post reported.

As police departments around the country moved this week to dismantle encampments, and remove violators from occupied buildings, University officials see the calendar as the de-escalation point in the current protests. With graduation, and classes ending in less than two weeks, and the expected cease-fire agreement, come September college campuses should be returning to traditional higher learning institutions.

Higher learning institutions in the Northeast corridor showed great restraint, especially those in the greater Boston area who confronted Islamic terror in the past, by using limited force to remove encampments and followed strict protocols without allowing personal views to cloud professional action.

However, the remnants of these protests, wont fade as quickly, as stories of immediate cessation of rights to protests were squashed by Texas Governor Rick Abbott who, even before protestors had a chance to gather the local police "backed by more than 100 State Troopers" were called to upend the right to protest. His swift action was mirrored at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, when the UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin authorized police intervention.

The Nation brought four stories to press which included accounts presented by student activists from UW-Madison, UT-Austin, Harvard, and this author's alma mater New York University, which captured an additional underlying disruption clouding the goal of any university.

"'Many of these institutions, but especially NYU, no longer function as places of learning but as businesses," said Etta, one of the encampment organizers. "NYU will do whatever it takes to ensure the business continues to make profit. It knows it must use force to prevent ideas being read about in the abstract from becoming reality. It aims to romanticize the past but refuses to acknowledge the present,"' The Nation reported.

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Putin's Inflated Ego Blinds Him

Russian President Vladimir Putin is high on his own supply. The familiar ring of those words should be an indication that a fall from a self-inflated perch is imminent. Putin, who strong-armed and murdered his way into a fifth term as President, is preparing for his big May Day parade.

The upcoming Victory Day Parade is complete with monuments to his victory over the West. Putin, who operates a slick Public Relations campaign, has elevated himself to a demi-god status in Russian history.

"The "trophies," which included an American M1 main battle tank, were surrounded by dozens of red flags bearing the word "Victory!" It was an exhibition full of contradictions: there was triumphalism that Russia had captured the Western military equipment, even as the propagandists sneered at its quality, as if capturing them was not a challenge," The Washington Post reported.

Putin sees himself as the last great remnant of U.S.S.R., a cold-war relic that has somehow managed to retain his position, while terminating any traces of his determination to silence any and all those who may have information on his KGB efforts and tactics to mute all opponents and adversary.

As a KGB officer Putin was devoted to Communism, and authority of the government. The fall of Communism with the reunification of East and West Berlin, left an irreparable mark on his belief of Russia's greatness.

Now at 71, Putin, like many nearing the twilight of life, is reminiscent of that exuberant, hopeful time of Russian dominance. And now, he sees, within his grasp the opportunity to limitedly rebuild, or recapture, the Imperial Russian, U.S.S. R. European dominance by reunifying, by force, the countries that fell during the Freedom Fall of 1989.

World Press Freedom

Media around the world paid tribute to journalists and journalistic freedom this week as news organizations around the world recognized World Press Freedom Day. Journalists around the world are often subject to brutalities, false imprisonment, torture, and even death, as they seek to uncover the truth and expose corrupt governments, leaders, and practices throughout the world.

"The need for factual and reliable information has never been greater but threats to journalists around the world are more prevalent than ever. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 19 journalists have been killed already this year and 320 others were imprisoned in 2023. News organizations have had to retreat from the very places where the need for on-the-ground reporting and access is greatest," reported The New York Times.

Coronavirus Totals

According to the World Health Organization the death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases arise, fewer are dying from the newer variants. The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens, should receive at least one shot of an updated covid vaccine. Vaccines and boosters are still considered the most effective agents against contracting the Coronavirus.

For the 7-day period ending May 5, 2024, the total of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by The World Health Organization remained at 775,364,261 confirmed cases, increasing by 28,345 confirmed cases. The total worldwide death toll increased by 751 to 7,046,320 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated April 21, 2024, from The World Health Organization).

COVID U.S. Totals

As hospitalizations and infection rates decline in the United States, masks and personal protection choices in dense settings are still effective in stopping the spread. For the 7-day period ending May 5, 2024, new Covid hospitalizations in the U.S. increased by 5,300 to 6,935,240. The coronavirus has claimed 1,190,122 total U.S. deaths, adding 519 deaths, over the past 7 days. (Data updated April 27, 2024, posted May 3, 2024, from the CDC).

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Kentucky Derby Photo Finish

Winning by millimeters, Mystik Dan, with 30-to-1 odds won the 150^th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in the closest finish in 75 years of racing at the Louisville track. According to Churchill Downs, the 2024 Derby marked the first three-horse photo finish in the race since Jet Pilot, Phalanx and Faultless in 1947.

Road to the White House – Trump's Legal Troubles Continue

Trump Fined for Violating Gag Order

Former President Donald Trump was fined, the maximum of $1000 per violation, this week for violating the gag order, which precludes him from speaking about the case, the jury pool, the judge, bailiffs, their families or anything other than possibly the harsh florescent lighting that causes him to doze off periodically.

"Merchan held Trump in contempt and fined him $9,000 for nine other statements in which Trump criticized witnesses and jurors. The four statements at issue on Thursday were not part of the earlier ruling, though Trump made them before the ruling came down," reported Politico.com.

The trial which is becoming the hottest ticket in town as the witnesses are now describing how the former president resulted to fraud, deceit, and trickery to upend the 2016 Presidential election and secure the White House in a hostile takeover of the political process.

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Guilty Scenario and The Presidential Election

As the November Presidential election looms, the GOP may be forced to scramble to find a suitable replacement or bow to the humiliation of nominating a convicted felon to represent their party, causing years of backlash.

As the prosecution continues to build its case against the former president, there becomes a real possibility that he will be found guilty. Should this be the outcome, the sentencing phase will follow in approximately three weeks to a month. For the former president this time frame is running parallel to his attempts to seek the office of the presidency for a second term.

Pundits expect the trial against the former president, who has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, to conclude sometime in June, with a verdict shortly after. With the possibility of sentencing in late July or early August.

To impose sentencing, Judge Juan Merchan must first determine the standard plumb line, or the first-tier level of the sentencing that others convicted of the same crime received.

"There are many previous cases involving falsifying business records along with other charges where the conduct was less serious than is alleged against Mr. Trump and prison time was imposed," reported The New York Times.

A conviction will undoubtedly result in some jail time. The extent will probably fall along the lines of Martha Stewart's Insider Trading conviction which landed her in a minimum-security prison.

Even as Judge Juan Merchan has imposed a strict protocol in his court room, when and if it comes to sentencing, he may decide, even as the events of which Trump has been charged altered the course of history, to impose 12 to 18 months in a minimum-security prison such as Pensacola Federal Prison Camp and remanded immediately to Riker's Island for processing.

Should the former president be convicted he is less likely to be the champion of the republican right, and in fact his House base may also depart, and move closer to a middle ground to ensure their own reelection.

For more information on President Joe Biden www.whitehouse.gov.

Bio: Janet Walker is the publisher and founder of Haute-Lifestyle.com, a boutique luxury lifestyle magazine. She has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation’s top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays, "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, Online Writer’s Association, and International Federation of Journalists.