Beltway Insider: Biden/Prisoner Swap, Zelensky, Kosovo, Newtown, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Lockerbie, Sinema, Kirstie Alley

President Biden announced this week the release of U.S. basketball star Brittany Griner, who had been convicted of drug charges in Russia, in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, who built a global network arming mercenaries worldwide.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending December 10, 2022 increased by 1.0% to 42.5% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased by .07% at 52.4% of those polled who disapprove of his effectiveness. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.


Beltway Insider: Biden/Macron, Earthshot, Putin/Ukraine, COVID/Vaccine Totals, NY AG, Apple/China, Christie McVie


Zelensky Named Time Man of the Year

Ukraine President and freedom fighter Volodymyr Zelensky has been named, along with the spirit of the Ukrainian people, as Time Magazine's Person of the Year. The prestigious award was presented held in New York City's Grand Plaza Ballroom, where the audience listened to a video taped message from the honoree.

"It is an honor for me to represent the struggle of Ukrainians and the spirit of Ukraine, the spirit of freedom that echoes in the souls of so many people around the world," Zelensky said. "This is the free world spirit, and let's do everything for our spirit to win," Time.com reported.

Time Magazine also announced the first ever Icon of the Year award presented to Actress Michelle Yeoh, who was in attendance, and

Russian Prisoner Swap

In a value debated exchange, President Biden announced that Russian arms dealer Victor Bout, who had been serving a 25-year sentence, would be released in a prisoner exchange swap for detained U.S. Basketball player Brittany Griner.

"We never forgot about Brittney.  And we've not forgotten about Paul Whelan, who has been unjustly detained in Russia for years.  This was not a choice of which American to bring home.  We brought home Trevor Reed when we had a chance earlier this year.  Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul's case differently than Brittney's.  And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul's release, we are not giving up.  We will never give up," Biden said in a press conference.

After the news of the swap broke, a debate erupted on the vale of the swap, as the world gained a convicted arms dealer, known as The Merchant of Death, who at the time of his arrest in 2008 had armed third world rebels in Africa, Iran, Russia, supplying illegal weaponry for whomever and wherever as long as the price was right, including many known terrorist organizations, who will no doubt begin his trade craft again.

The United States, on the other hand, received a convicted basketball player, who had been employed by the UMMC Ekaterinburg, a Russian professional basketball league from 2014. While maintaining her citizenship she made clear choices to be employed by an organization that would cause her to conform to rules and laws of another country, contrary to what her status and citizenship may have allowed.

The president has adamantly clarified every citizen illegally detained is a priority, however, the failure of the Biden administration to secure the release of Paul Whalen, echoed through the hill and former administrations.

"Former White House national security adviser and American ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton also blasted the exchange. "This is not a deal. This is not a swap. This is a surrender," he told CBS News," The New York Post reported.

Paul Whelan

Paul Whelan, 52, a former Marine, is serving a sixteen-year sentence in Russia convicted of espionage and spying for the United States. His military service should have made his release a priority.

While it remains unclear is the charges against Whelan are fabricated, it is more likely that his position and the $80,000 USD he was carrying at the time of his arrival for a wedding in 2018, played into the original arrest.

"I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. My bags are packed. I'm ready to go home. I just need an airplane to come and get me," The New York Post reported.


World Politics: Iran Abolishes Morality Hit Squads


Lockerbie Suspect Arrested

The final suspect in the 1988 Lockerbie explosion of Pan Am Flight 103, that killed 270 people has been arrested and taken into custody in the United States according to a state department official.

"The US Justice Department issued a statement Sunday morning confirming that the US had "taken custody of alleged Pan Am flight 103 bombmaker" Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, saying he is expected to make his "initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia," according to a spokesperson," CNN reported.

The December 21, 1988, over the village of Lockerbie, Scotland, explosion killed all 259 passengers on board and other 11 on the ground when large portions of the plane's fuselage crashed into the town.

Kosovo Serbia Skirmishes Along Northern Border

Renewed tension in northern Kosovo have led to intervention by UN Peacekeeping Forces and a request from Belgrade, Serbia, to NATO to deploy Serbian troops into independent Kosovo, which is not expected to be approved and will only escalate the current situation.

"The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned last month of the potential for "escalation and violence" after emergency talks between Kosovo and Serbia failed to resolve their long-running dispute over car licence plates used by the ethnic Serb minority in Kosovo," Aljazeera.com reported.

Even as 23 years have passed since the end of the brutal war under the leadership of Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic, the recent rise in hostilities have brought to the surface the reminders of the violence, loss, bloodshed, and genocide of the men throughout Kosovo.

Remembering Sandy Hook Elementary School

Ten years ago this week, December 14, 2012, a lone gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and in less than four minutes murdered 20 first grade students and six educators. At that time, it was second worst school shooting in the United States, behind Virginia Tech where 33 were murdered, and the deadliest shooting to take place at a U.S. elementary school.

Immediately following the shooting then President Barack Obama, ordered his then Vice-President Joseph Biden to deliver a series of Executive orders to address the gun control.

In one month following the shootings, President Obama signed 23 Executive Actions "that will help keep our kids safe, he was clear that he cannot and should not act alone: The most important changes depend on Congressional action. The President is calling on lawmakers to pass some specific proposals, including the elimination of all loopholes and require a universal background check on anyone trying to buy a gun, restoring the ban on military-style assault weapons and a 10-round limit for magazines, and creating tougher penalties on people who buy guns with the express purpose of reselling them to criminals," in a statement from the White House Archives.

With the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, topping the stories of crime in America over the past year, the solemn reminder of the need for common sense gun control, and politics to diverge, to keep children safe in classroom across the nation.

Vaccine Totals

As of December 11, 2022, in the United States, 926,275,435 vaccines have been distributed, with a 7-day increase of 4,982,040 and 657,927,289 have been administered with a 7-day increase weekly increase of 2,647,149 doses. More than 90% of the population have received the two-dose vaccine. As of November 30, 2022, more than 13billion vaccines doses have been administered worldwide.(Date from the CDC). 

Coronavirus Totals

Mandates have been altered or lifted in most urban areas with limited exceptions, and the population is encouraged to maintain personal protective practices. Masks are optional and tolerated. Vaccines and boosters are still considered the most effective agents against contracting the Coronavirus.

For the two-week period ending December 11, 2022, the total of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide reached 643,875,406 people, with a 7-day increase of 3,479,755 with a total worldwide death toll of 6,630,082 deaths, and a 7-day death rate increase of 11,503. (Data from The World Health Organization).

COVID U.S. Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the 7-day period ending December 11, 2022, the total confirmed cases rose to 99,241,649 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 464,429 with a 7-day average of 66,347 cases per day. The coronavirus has claimed 1,080,472 total deaths, adding 3,169 more deaths over the 7-day period. (Data from the CDC).

Pentagon's Diary Gets Personal

Protecting for gain of function knowledge only aides those who initiated the constitutional violations. It does nothing to combat the homegrown terrorism or the narcissistic above the law belief. The best obtainable version of the truth.


Texas Mass Shooting: 14 Children, 1 Educator Dead, 14 Others Injured


Scott Peterson Moved off Death Row

Scott Petersen, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci Petersen and their unborn child, Conner, in 2004 and sentenced to death in 2005, has been moved off San Quentin Death Row and moved to a facility in Ione, California.

Although Petersen was given a new trial and again convicted and given life in prison, lawyers are arguing that "his conviction should be overturned and he should be given a new trial, citing juror misconduct. They say the juror, Richelle Nice, was biased and did not disclose relevant information on her juror questionnaire. The judge in the case will likely make a decision by mid-December, according to Gardner," CNN.com reported.

Arizona's Democratic Senator Switches Party

Kyrsten Lea Sinema, who throughout her career as a representative for the people of Arizona has changed her party affiliation on three separate occasions, including her recently announced switch from the democratic party that has served her well to an independent, which precariously moves the balance of the U.S. senate.

With now her fellow Senate independent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Angus King of Maine, Sinema, who as a former democratic received committee assignments from the democratic majority and with the shift in her pollical affiliation the notion of a shift in her ideologies and political framing agenda has come into question.

"The first thing to note is that it remains unclear whether Sinema will continue to caucus with Democrats, as two other independents in the Senate do. When asked about this, Sinema spokesman Pablo Sierra-Carmona said merely that "she intends to maintain her committee assignments from the Democratic majority. She has never and will not attend caucus messaging or organizational meetings, " reported The Washington Post.

With the recent win of incumbent Georgia democrat Senator Raphael Warnock, the Democrats still hold a majority in the Senate, and traditionally independents have aligned themselves with their democratic colleagues.

Sinema new political framing, if any, has not been revealed. The party move may be an preemptive strike for her upcoming senatorial challenge in 2025.


Sandy Hook Massacre: The Slaughter of the Innocent


Netflix Airs Royal Dirty Laundry

Harry & Meghan, the documentary which aired the first three episodes this week on the streaming channel has gained worldwide attention and caused public outcry and backlash. For those not so closely connected to the British monarchy, the first three episodes are truly "much ado about nothing."

However, the backlash from the UK has been severe. To address the contradictions the Duke and Duchess have released this statement: "The Duke and Duchess have never cited privacy as the reason for stepping back," the statement reads. "This distorted narrative was intended to trap the couple into silence. In fact, their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties. Any suggestion otherwise speaks to a key point of this series," reported Yahoo.com.

The second half of the "explosive" documentary will air December 15, 2022.

Kirstie Alley Dies

Kirstie Alley, a staple of 1980s television, and a comedic force died this week after a short battle with cancer, her family said. She was 71.

A statement released by her family said, "She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead," the statement said. "As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother," reported The Hollywood Reporter.

Before her role as Rebecca Howe on the sitcom "Cheers," which ran from 1987 to 1993, which solidified her as a comedic force, Alley had been both television and film actress. In the forty years that spanned her acting career, some of her most noted performances included "The Wrath of Khan," and "Look Who's Talking" which spawned two sequels, as well as the groundbreaking "Fat Actress" which challenged the status quo and opened doors to a new reality in the presentation of women in films and television.

When the news of her death was announced peers and colleagues remembered her comedic wit, and devotion to family and her two chidlren. It was revealed she died of colon cancer, that had only recently been discovered.

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

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