Crash Course: Why Putin has a point

Plus: Will Trump's offer to pardon rioters affect Jan. 6 pleas? none Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none Will Trump's offer to pardon rioters affect Jan. 6 pleas? On Saturday, former President Donald Trump [opened up the possibility of pardons](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvc2F5cy1oZS1tYXktcGFyZG9uLWphbi02LWF0dGFja2Vycy1pZi1oZXMtZWxlY3RlZC1hZ2Fpbl9wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) for those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 — given his re-election in 2024. It was perhaps the closest he's gotten to endorsing the behavior of his most violent supporters that day. Just a little more than 12 hours later, a number of high-profile Republicans rushed to denounce the comments: - Sen. Lindsey Graham on CBS' "Face the Nation": “No, I don’t want to send any signal that it was OK to defile the Capitol. There are other groups with causes that may want to go down the violent path that these people get pardoned.” - Sen. Susan Collins on ABC's "This Week": I do not think the president should have made — that President Trump should have made that pledge to do pardons.” - Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire on CNN's "State of the Union": [In response to whether or not he agreed with Trump.] "Of course not. My goodness, no.” Beyond the obvious possibility that Trump's comments may promote future violence in his name by supporters who anticipate a pardon should Trump win re-election, the statement may also affect plea bargain negotiations currently occurring. So far, there are more than 725 rioters facing charges (though federal authorities say more than 2,000 people in total breached the Capitol that day). Just three have been handed sentences that would extend beyond Biden's first term — but many more are facing stiff sentences should they be convicted, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvaG93LXBvdGVudGlhbC1wYXJkb25zLWNvdWxkLWFmZmVjdC1jYXBpdG9sLXJpb3QtcGxlYS1uZWdvdGlhdGlvbnNfcGFydG5lci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). none none We need to talk about "We Need to Talk About Cosby" "I am a child of Bill Cosby." That's how W. Kamu Bell opens his latest television special, appropriately titled "We Need to Talk About Cosby." "Anyone born in the 1970s or '80s knows exactly what he means," Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland writes — but it's harder to know how to feel about the trailblazing comedian now, after dozens of sexual assault accusations and years of salacious headlines. If you're looking for easy answers, this may not be the program for you. But McFarland recommends it nonetheless: "The miracle of the four-hour piece, however, is that it never feels heavy or depressing. Bell has a gift for finding a way to present the most unconscionable topics and subjects in a way that feels inviting, relating to the audience in a way that involves us in the conversation." [Read the full review](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvd2UtbmVlZC10by10YWxrLWFib3V0LWNvc2J5LXJldmlldy1zaG93dGltZS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Photo courtesy of SHOWTIME) none - Joe Manchin [reaps thousands](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvam9lLW1hbmNoaW4tcmVhcHMtdGhvdXNhbmRzLWZyb20tbWVnYWRvbm9yLWFmdGVyLWJhY2tpbmctb2ZmLWJiYi1kZWFsX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) from GOP megadonor after backing off BBB deal - Manchin and Sinema are wrecking America — [here's how to beat them](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvdGhlLWNlbnRlci1jYW5ub3QtaG9sZC1tYW5jaGluLWFuZC1zaW5lbWEtYXJlLXdyZWNraW5nLWFtZXJpY2EtLWhlcmVzLWhvdy10by1iZWF0LXRoZW0vP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~), Paul Rosenberg writes - Former Fox News anchor explains [how network brainwashes viewers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvZm9ybWVyLWZveC1uZXdzLWFuY2hvci1leHBsYWlucy1ob3ctbmV0d29yay1icmFpbndhc2hlcy12aWV3ZXJzLWludG8tYmVsaWV2aW5nLWNvbnNwaXJhY3ktdGhlb3JpZXNfcGFydG5lci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) into believing conspiracy theories - Personal essay: We moved to an off-the-grid paradise and ended up [fighting a war](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjkvd2UtbW92ZWQtdG8tYW4tb2ZmLXRoZS1ncmlkLXBhcmFkaXNlLWFuZC1lbmRlZC11cC1maWdodGluZy1hLXRvLXNhdmUtdGhlLWZvcmVzdC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to save the forest - J.D. Vance rally [booted from Ohio venue](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjkvamQtdmFuY2UtcmFsbHktYm9vdGVkLWZyb20tb2hpby12ZW51ZS1hZnRlci1tdGctc2FpZC1zaGVkLWFwcGVhcl9wYXJ0bmVyLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) after MTG said she'd appear - Echoes of that "Ted Lasso" Midwest niceness in ["Somebody Somewhere"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvc29tZWJvZHktc29tZXdoZXJlLXRlZC1sYXNzby1zbWFsbC10b3duLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Your gas stove is warming the climate — [even when it’s turned off](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMjkveW91ci1nYXMtc3RvdmUtaXMtd2FybWluZy10aGUtY2xpbWF0ZS0tZXZlbi13aGVuLWl0cy10dXJuZWQtb2ZmX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - University of Nebraska [alters mascot logo to omit hand gesture](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvdW5pdmVyc2l0eS1vZi1uZWJyYXNrYS1hbHRlcnMtbG9nby10by1vbWl0LWhhbmQtZ2VzdHVyZS1hZG9wdGVkLWJ5LW5hdGlvbmFsaXN0cy8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) adopted by white nationalists - The damning portrayals of Peloton on our TVs and [what that says about us](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvcGVsb3Rvbi10di1qdXN0LWxpa2UtdGhhdC1iaWxsaW9ucy1lbWlseS1pbi1wYXJpcy8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Why [you need to know](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAveW91LW5lZWQtbmVlZC10by1rbm93LWFib3V0LWhlYWQtaW5qdXJ5LWFuZC1kZW1lbnRpYS1ldmVuLWlmLXlvdXJlLW5vdC1hLWZvb3RiYWxsLXBsYXllci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) about head injury and dementia, even if you're not a football player - How Julia Child [became an unlikely star](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvanVsaWEtYW5kLXBhdWwtY2hpbGRzLW1hcnJpYWdlLXdhcy1hLXRydWUtZmVtaW5pc3QtbG92ZS1zdG9yeS1kaXJlY3RvcnMtb2YtanVsaWEtZG9jLXNheS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - And, finally, try this [copycat Panera chicken tortilla soup](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvc3BpY2UtdXAtd2ludGVyLWx1bmNoZXMtd2l0aC10aGlzLWNvcHljYXQtcGFuZXJhLWNoaWNrZW4tdG9ydGlsbGEtc291cC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to spice up your winter lunches Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0QgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to receive Crash Course. none none Putin may have a point re: Ukraine Russian leader Vladimir Putin may not be what many Americans would call a "good guy." But are his current demands all that unreasonable, given the circumstances? As Salon contributor Glenn Sacks writes: "It's doubtful that Vladimir Putin wants war with the U.S., and unclear whether he is willing to risk a large-scale ground invasion of Ukraine. What he wants is for Russia's grievances to be taken seriously." Putin's central demand is that NATO remove troops from countries that joined the group of U.S.-allied nations after 1997. In 1990, under George H.W. Bush, Secretary of State James Baker repeatedly promised Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev and other Soviet leaders that if the USSR let the Warsaw Pact nations leave, NATO would not "move one inch eastward." As is detailed in declassified U.S., Soviet, German, British and French documents released in 2017, Bush and the leaders of West Germany, the U.K. and France gave similar assurances ...Today, [Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia] and two others, in addition to the three former Baltic Soviet republics and several formerly neutral countries, are members of NATO. [Learn more about the history behind Europe's current conflict](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAveWVzLXB1dGlucy1hLXR5cmFudC0tdGhhdC1kb2VzbnQtbWVhbi1oaXMtdWtyYWluZS1kZW1hbmRzLWFyZS11bnJlYXNvbmFibGUvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none - "In one small Minnesota town, two warring visions of America," [Minnesota Public Radio](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXBybmV3cy5vcmcvc3RvcnkvMjAyMi8wMS8yOC9pbi1vbmUtc21hbGwtcHJhaXJpZS10b3duLXR3by13YXJyaW5nLXZpc2lvbnMtb2YtYW1lcmljYVcDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "What’s Going to Happen to All the Art on Rikers Island?" [Curbed](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY3VyYmVkLmNvbS8yMDIyLzAxL2ZhaXRoLXJpbmdnb2xkLXJpa2Vycy1qYWlsLW11cmFscy13cGEtZ3JvdW5kc3dlbGwtcHVibGljLWFydC5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "He Spent 25 Years Infiltrating Nazis, the Klan, and Biker Gangs. Now he's telling his story," [Rolling Stone](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0SqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucm9sbGluZ3N0b25lLmNvbS9jdWx0dXJlL2N1bHR1cmUtZmVhdHVyZXMvZmJpLWluZmlsdHJhdG9yLW5hemllcy1ra2stYmlrZXItZ2FuZ3MtMTI4MDgzMC8_ZmJjbGlkPUl3QVIwU3VQTnE3QkluRnNjWENmVXhjdWM4R2RMSDlseXY1dHI3bzhQRlp6dXp6UHpNUDQ5VEdzdzllS29XA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Can Medieval Sleeping Habits Fix America’s Insomnia?" [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL2lkZWFzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMi8wMS9tZWRpZXZhbC1zbGVlcGluZy1oYWJpdHMtaW5zb21uaWEtc2VnbWVudGVkLWJpcGhhc2ljLzYyMTM3Mi9XA3NwY0IKYeBTz_dhbmQtqVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "A Former Hacker’s Guide to Boosting Your Online Security," [ProPublica](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucHJvcHVibGljYS5vcmcvYXJ0aWNsZS9hLWZvcm1lci1oYWNrZXJzLWd1aWRlLXRvLWJvb3N0aW5nLXlvdXItb25saW5lLXNlY3VyaXR5VwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) none Elon Musk wants to get inside your brain You may know billionaire Elon Musk for his primary ventures — that is, electric cars and exploding rockets. But he's also got a brain implant company called Neuralink that's ramping up to try clinical trials of its technology. It's a development that's inspired much concern about our impending "Black Mirror"-esque dystopia — but Salon's Mary Elizabeth Williams warns of putting the cart before this particular horse: "We need to understand that the potential of brain-computer interfaces (or brain machine interfaces) is still mostly just potential." And that's not to mention the fact that our world is already somewhat of a technology-driven dystopia already: We just happen to carry a big collection of our thoughts and ideas around on the outside. Our behavior is easy to track and our opinions are not at all difficult to tweak. Earlier this week, I found my way to a bar because the small device I held in my hand detected my location from outer space and told me, in the lilting Irish accent I had chosen for it, exactly how to get there and how long the journey would take. Then I came home and watched a video from a fashion designer on that same device, and now I can't stop seeing ads for sweaters. Or Houlihan's. That's just a few moments of a very typical day for a whole lot of us. You don't want your mind being manipulated? The horses left that barn a long time ago, when we traded our privacy for GPS and Google. The Elon Musks of the world don't have to plant a chip in your head. They're already in there. [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDEvMzAvZWxvbi1tdXNrLWRvZXNudC1uZWVkLXRvLWdldC1pbnNpZGUteW91ci1icmFpbi1iaWctdGVjaC1pcy1hbHJlYWR5LXRoZXJlLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, 19801 DE [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmHgU8_3YW5kLalSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj2lRRP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgph4FPP92FuZC2pUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)