Putin's Expansionist Ideas May Encompass Alaska

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new decree relating to Moscow's historic real estate holdings abroad, a move interpreted by ultranationalist bloggers as a foundation for future revanchism against Russia's neighbors—and even the U.S. The decree, signed by the president late last week, allocates funds for the search, registration, and legal protection of Russian property abroad, including property in the former territories of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

This would include Alaska, swathes of eastern and central Europe, large chunks of central Asia, and parts of Scandinavia. Russia's Foreign Ministry and its presidential administration's Foreign Property Management Enterprise are directed to carry out the work, ordered to find, register, and protect "property" in question.

While it's easy to scoff at these kinds of gaseous pronouncements from the Russian dictator, it's important to point out that Russia is already in the process of trying to take back what King Vlad thinks of as Russian territory. And it's not proving easy for them. But Alaska? That's a different story.

Russia's having a hard time dealing with Ukraine. It's unlikely in the extreme that they would take on a NATO nation and therefore the whole alliance, and the logistical and tactical difficulties of jumping the Bering Strait to take on Alaska is even less likely. Bear in mind that the operation would probably take place in winter, as Russian attacks tend to be armor-heavy, and much of Alaska isn't good tank terrain in summer.

In winter, crossing marshes and muskeg frozen hard as iron is much easier. But while the Russians have traditionally fared well in winter, in this case, they'd be dealing with Alaskans, and we're used to the winters here as well. Putin is, in this pronouncement, just making noise.

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'Sugar Brother' Kevin Morris Provides Dubious Reason for Paying Crackhead Hunter's Back Taxes

In an interview with House lawmakers, Kevin Morris attempted to portray himself as nothing more than a do-gooder who helped the then-crackhead because he had compassion for Hunter's struggles — not because he had a desire to help then-candidate Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election.

The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released the transcript of Morris’ nearly six-hour interview with the three committees conducting the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Morris talked about how he met Hunter, the $5 million "in loans," and his compassion for down-and-out people.

I saw a guy, you know, that was from home, could have been my friend. He was getting — in my opinion, getting the s*** beat out of him by the world. I found that he had … worrisome lack of support. And he was an individual — and I believe, and still believe today he’s a very good person and a great guy. And, you know, that’s why I decided to step in.

Morris said that he was first introduced to Hunter Biden in Brentwood, California, at a 2019 fundraiser for Biden's presidential campaign, held at the home of producer Lanette Phillips, who later asked through a mutual acquaintance if Morris would meet with Hunter Biden because he had some “entertainment-ish” issues, in his words. Morris began representing Hunter Biden after a five-hour conversation at the latter's home and started loaning him money about six weeks later.

Morris insisted that his bountiful help was not related to politics. When one of the Republicans asked: “So it’s your testimony here today that politically, that political risk had nothing to do with then-candidate Joe Biden; that’s your testimony?” Morris replied: “Correct.”

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