The Biden admin worked on the prisoner swap for a long fucking time - possibly beginning right after he took the oath. Gershkovich is known to a lot of people that read the WSJ and further reporting indicates that they were also trying to get Navalny released. After he died (was murdered?) the urgency increased because they feared more would start to mysteriously expire.
These are the type of things cynically done by the GOP (Reagan and Iran - holding up a hostage release to make Carter look weak; the GOP killing the border bill that had everything they wanted because the orange goon needed immigration as an issue).
For all the alt-left bros calling Biden a monster because of Gaza, there are a hell of a lot more of us that recognize that diplomacy works. Just because we heard nothing about this until after it was a done deal, doesn't mean there was not work being done for months and years.
I still have faith the same is going on in regards to Gaza, but am realistic in knowing that going against Israel has never been an easy stance in the good, old USA. What's often left missing in the conversation is that WASPs like me that were raised during the 70s got a lot of information about the holocaust and watched movies and series on TV about it. I remember doing a report on it when I was in junior high (and being horrified at what I found in an actual, small town library about it). It was only during the last 20 years, when I worked with a lot of people that were originally from Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, India, and other countries that I became aware of differing views and information. It's simplistic on my part - I read a lot more than most of my cohort and considered myself empathetic but realized how much I did not know and continue to not know.
Shapiro - I'm not really thrilled about him for the reasons mentioned. I like Walz - he seems like a genuine, down to earth guy and is one reason why Minnesota is a state I'm considering retiring to (I want to live somewhere that bugs die and the snakes at least snow down for a season). My husband likes to fish so I have him on the hook, too. Maybe Harris is playing us all - misdirecting - the rally in PA used to announce someone else and still give Shapiro a chance to back up her choice.
There is a podcast series on NPR - "Tested" - I've listened to the first episode and it is excellent. It centers on a runner that has DSD and has had to take medication to lower her testosterone level because the WBC decided that women like her can't compete. She's a hero to little girls in her country but is going through humiliation because of this shit.
As a Pennsylvanian, I want to say that Josh HAS strongly condemned Bibi but no sensible, public education-loving Keystonian can understand why he can't quit the hateful school voucher program that thankfully hasn't passed after 2 tries. I also hate his fear of the fracking industry (or love of their money). He did himself no favors covering for a staffer's sexual harrassment and hung the bill for it on us taxpayers. Personally, I feel like we've only gotten 2 years out of our 2022 Shapiro investment and, in a totally non-partisan manner, I endorse Tim Walz for VP because every time I hear him speak I burst into happy tears and think about leaving PA for the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota. OTOH, if Josh goes to WDC, it gets him out of our Governor's seat and puts a GREAT 35-year-old Progressive into it. Go Austin Davis!!
It was TFN to me about the boxing 'controversy'. As for the exchange of prisoner-hostages it was a feat of diplomacy and reason enough to be on excellent terms with allies. I can't see Olaf Sholz agreeing to that 'big ask' for the failed former president.
The Biden admin worked on the prisoner swap for a long fucking time - possibly beginning right after he took the oath. Gershkovich is known to a lot of people that read the WSJ and further reporting indicates that they were also trying to get Navalny released. After he died (was murdered?) the urgency increased because they feared more would start to mysteriously expire.
These are the type of things cynically done by the GOP (Reagan and Iran - holding up a hostage release to make Carter look weak; the GOP killing the border bill that had everything they wanted because the orange goon needed immigration as an issue).
For all the alt-left bros calling Biden a monster because of Gaza, there are a hell of a lot more of us that recognize that diplomacy works. Just because we heard nothing about this until after it was a done deal, doesn't mean there was not work being done for months and years.
I still have faith the same is going on in regards to Gaza, but am realistic in knowing that going against Israel has never been an easy stance in the good, old USA. What's often left missing in the conversation is that WASPs like me that were raised during the 70s got a lot of information about the holocaust and watched movies and series on TV about it. I remember doing a report on it when I was in junior high (and being horrified at what I found in an actual, small town library about it). It was only during the last 20 years, when I worked with a lot of people that were originally from Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, India, and other countries that I became aware of differing views and information. It's simplistic on my part - I read a lot more than most of my cohort and considered myself empathetic but realized how much I did not know and continue to not know.
Shapiro - I'm not really thrilled about him for the reasons mentioned. I like Walz - he seems like a genuine, down to earth guy and is one reason why Minnesota is a state I'm considering retiring to (I want to live somewhere that bugs die and the snakes at least snow down for a season). My husband likes to fish so I have him on the hook, too. Maybe Harris is playing us all - misdirecting - the rally in PA used to announce someone else and still give Shapiro a chance to back up her choice.
There is a podcast series on NPR - "Tested" - I've listened to the first episode and it is excellent. It centers on a runner that has DSD and has had to take medication to lower her testosterone level because the WBC decided that women like her can't compete. She's a hero to little girls in her country but is going through humiliation because of this shit.
As a Pennsylvanian, I want to say that Josh HAS strongly condemned Bibi but no sensible, public education-loving Keystonian can understand why he can't quit the hateful school voucher program that thankfully hasn't passed after 2 tries. I also hate his fear of the fracking industry (or love of their money). He did himself no favors covering for a staffer's sexual harrassment and hung the bill for it on us taxpayers. Personally, I feel like we've only gotten 2 years out of our 2022 Shapiro investment and, in a totally non-partisan manner, I endorse Tim Walz for VP because every time I hear him speak I burst into happy tears and think about leaving PA for the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota. OTOH, if Josh goes to WDC, it gets him out of our Governor's seat and puts a GREAT 35-year-old Progressive into it. Go Austin Davis!!
I'm really impressed by Walz and think he'd connect with a lot of voters.
Re: trump just thinking something to make it so. Don’t forget he did unclassify all those secret docs he stole using the same Jedi mind trick.
It was TFN to me about the boxing 'controversy'. As for the exchange of prisoner-hostages it was a feat of diplomacy and reason enough to be on excellent terms with allies. I can't see Olaf Sholz agreeing to that 'big ask' for the failed former president.