Russia Totally Isn't Sending Troops Into Ukraine: President Vladmir Putin says the insurgents taking over government buildings in Eastern Ukraineâsome of whom speak Russian, don't know their way around the Ukrainian cities they're in, and have identified themselves as Russian militaryâwere not installed by Russia. âThis is nonsense, there are no Russian troops in the east of Ukraine,â Putin insists. (Background for those new to all this: After the revolt in Ukraine, Russia seized the semi-autonomous state of Crimea and now Russia and its armed loyalists want lots of Eastern Ukraine to defect.) "All the people that are in the eastern Ukraine are local residents, and the main proof is that they've taken their masks offâliterally. It's their home, and they have nowhere to leave to."
President Obama Responds: That is categorically bullshit:
Violent Retaliation: "Ukrainian security forces killed three pro-Russian activists, wounded 13 and took 63 captive in a firefight overnight in the eastern city of Mariupol, the interim Ukrainian interior minister said on Thursday," the NYT reports. "The clash was the most lethal so far in the east of the country." (Sadly, this sort of violence is exactly the evidence Putin was hoping for to legitimize a full-scale occupation.)
Russia Is Feeling the Pinch, Apparently: The New York Times reports today that, despite soaring polling numbers for Putin, the country is stagnating. International sanctions will soon hit, but even before that, inflation is rising and economic growth is slowing.
Text Messages: From the high-school students aboard the ferry that sunk off South Korea's southern shore. About 300 people are still missing.
ConfirmedâBiden Is Running! Beau Biden. For governor.
Dan Lewis: Your evening news host on KOMO TV is pulling up his anchor and sailing along.
All Those Crazy One-Way Streets in Uptown? Some of them going two-way.
Seattle Cops Who Shoot People: Since Murray took office, there have been zero reviews into the cases to determine if the officers were justified.
