Crash Course: Ukraine's victory "almost a done deal": Military expert on how Russia's invasion imploded

Retired U.S. Army officer and author John Spencer on the "dying breath of a giant" — Russia's historic collapse. [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci81NDQ0VwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Abandoned-Russian-tank] YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images Ukraine's victory "almost a done deal": Military expert on how Russia's invasion imploded Most military analysts expected an easy victory. The Russians had a significant numerical advantage in personnel and equipment, much greater firepower, air and naval superiority and seemingly bottomless resources with which to impose its will. It was reasonable to believe that Russia would conquer Ukraine rapidly and then replace the existing government before declaring "victory". Of course, that did not happen. John Spencer, a retired U.S. Army major who is chair of urban warfare studies at the Madison Policy Forum, spoke with Salon's Chauncey DeVega about how and why the Ukrainian military has been so successful in its fight against the Russian invasion. Ukraine now holds the advantage, he argues, and the tide has turned against Putin and the Russian military. Despite Russia's numerical advantage, Spencer argues, intangible factors such as the will to fight, love of country, trusted leadership and a belief in the justness of one's cause have played important roles in Ukraine's success. He concludes that the Russian military is broken from the inside out and that the average Russian soldier — especially among the newest wave of "recruits" — has no heart for the fight in Ukraine and just wants it to end so he can just return home alive. [Read Chauncey DeVega's full interview with John Spencer.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTEvdWtyYWluZXMtdmljdG9yeS1hbG1vc3QtYS1kb25lLWRlYWwtbWlsaXRhcnktZXhwZXJ0LW9uLWhvdy1pbnZhc2lvbi1pbXBsb2RlZC9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Donald-Trump] Spencer Platt/Getty Images Now Trump is openly challenging the feds to indict him: Just say yes, DOJ After watching Donald Trump's two back-to-back rallies this weekend, one in Nevada and another in Arizona, it's hard to escape the idea that he must want to be prosecuted. It's unimaginable that anyone who is under investigation by the FBI would say the things he said if he didn't. Of course, most observers will simply say that it's the usual Trump hyperbole, meant to convince his followers of his innocence — but he's in the maw of the criminal justice system now, and it doesn't work that way. Trump's running commentary must have the leadership of the Department of Justice asking themselves if there will be still be such a thing as the rule of law if he gets away with it. The man who has led countless "Lock her up" chants about Hillary Clinton and told her during a presidential debate that if he became president "you'd be in jail" is now whining like an injured child that he's being unfairly persecuted. He is also admitting to committing crimes. [Read more from Heather Digby Parton.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTEvbm93LWlzLW9wZW5seS1jaGFsbGVuZ2luZy10aGUtZmVkcy10by1pbmRpY3QtaGltLWp1c3Qtc2F5LXllcy1kb2ovVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) [Advertisement](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0SMaHR0cHM6Ly9ycy1zdHJpcGUuc2Fsb24udHJ5bGV0dGVyaGVhZC5jb20vc3RyaXBlL3JlZGlyZWN0P2NzX2VtYWlsPTM1NDM5NTImY3Nfc3RyaXBlaWQ9MTI3MzgzJmNzX3NlbmRpZD1pMWR0bW53a3RzJmNzX29mZnNldD0wJmNzX2VzcD1jdXN0b21XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) ~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0SFaHR0cHM6Ly9ycy1zdHJpcGUuc2Fsb24udHJ5bGV0dGVyaGVhZC5jb20vYnJhbmRpbmcvP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9Y29udGVudHN0cmlwZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249cnNfMTI3Mjg5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9bG9nb1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~ - “Trump lawyers turning against each other”: [Trump attorney throws colleagues under the bus](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTEvdHJ1bXAtbGF3eWVycy10dXJuaW5nLWFnYWluc3QtZWFjaC1vdGhlci1hdHRvcm5leS10aHJvd3MtY29sbGVhZ3Vlcy11bmRlci10aGUtYnVzLXRvLWRvai9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to DOJ - January 6 was entirely predictable — [it was planned in broad daylight](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTEvamFudWFyeS02LXdhcy1lbnRpcmVseS1wcmVkaWN0YWJsZS1pdC13YXMtcGxhbm5lZC1pbi1icm9hZC1kYXlsaWdodC9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - [Michael Moore predicts Democrats will win](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvbWljaGFlbC1tb29yZS1wcmVkaWN0cy1kZW1vY3JhdHMtd2lsbC13aW4tYmlnLWluLXRoZS1taWR0ZXJtcy13aWxsLWhlLWJlLXJpZ2h0LWFnYWluL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) big in the midterms. Could he be right again? - From groundbreaking to nearly in the ground: The [CW’s days of defying expectations are over](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0QsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvdGhlLWN3LXJpcC9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - The [political purgatory of the COVID dead](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvdGhlLXBvbGl0aWNhbC1wdXJnYXRvcnktb2YtdGhlL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Our memory records very little of our lives. So how does the brain [reconcile our sense of self?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvb3VyLW1lbW9yeS1yZWNvcmRzLXZlcnktbGl0dGxlLW9mLW91ci1saXZlcy1zby1ob3ctZG9lcy10aGUtYnJhaW4tcmVjb25jaWxlLW91ci1zZW5zZS1vZi1zZWxmL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Physicist Avi Loeb: [UFOs over Ukraine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvcGh5c2ljaXN0LWF2aS1sb2ViLXVmb3Mtb3Zlci11a3JhaW5lLWFyZS1ub3QtYXMtb3RoZXJ3b3JkbHktYXMtdGhleS1zZWVtL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) are not as otherwordly as they seem - Yes, democracy is in trouble — but ["age caps" aren't the solution](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkveWVzLWRlbW9jcmFjeS1pcy1pbi10cm91YmxlLS1idXQtYWdlLWNhcHMtYXJlbnQtdGhlLXNvbHV0aW9uL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - A family dinner is never actually about how good the food is, says [Andrew Zimmern](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvYS1mYW1pbHktZGlubmVyLWlzLW5ldmVyLWFjdHVhbGx5LWFib3V0LWhvdy1nb29kLXRoZS1pcy1zYXlzLWFuZHJldy16aW1tZXJuL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - A lunchbox [lesson in letting go](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvYS1sdW5jaGJveC1sZXNzb24taW4tbGV0dGluZy1nby9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - Sorry, fellow Italian-Americans: Columbus was a thug. [But the church was the big problem](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvc29ycnktZmVsbG93LWl0YWxpYW4tYW1lcmljYW5zLWNvbHVtYnVzLXdhcy1hLXRodWctYnV0LXRoZS1jaHVyY2gtd2FzLXRoZS1iaWctcHJvYmxlbS9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "We are the original stewards of this land": ["Spirit Rangers" boss](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvc3Bpcml0LXJhbmdlcnMtbmV0ZmxpeC1pbmRpZ2Vub3VzLW5hdGl2ZS1rYXJpc3NhLXZhbGVuY2lhL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) on imagining Native park rangers - [Maika Monroe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvbWFpa2EtbW9ucm9lLXNpZ25pZmljYW50LW90aGVyLXdhdGNoZXItaXQtZm9sbG93cy9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): The thinking woman’s scream queen will not go quietly into this gaslit night - [Strangers explain my autism to me](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvc3RyYW5nZXJzLWV4cGxhaW4tbXktYXV0aXNtLXRvLW1lL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - [Super sounds of "Reservoir Dogs"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvcmVzZXJ2b2lyLWRvZ3MtYW5uaXZlcnNhcnktc291bmR0cmFjay10YXJhbnRpbm8vVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~): How this heist film changed indie soundtracks forever - What is [Canadian Thanksgiving](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvd2hhdC1pcy1jYW5hZGlhbi10aGFua3NnaXZpbmctb3ItbGFjdGlvbi1kZS1ncmNlLWFuZC13aGF0LWZvb2RzLWFyZS1jb21tb25seS1lbmpveWVkLWJ5LWxvY2Fscy9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) (or L'Action de grâce) and what foods are commonly enjoyed by locals? - ["Let the Right One In"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvbGV0LXRoZS1yaWdodC1vbmUtaW4tcmV2aWV3LXNob3d0aW1lL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) files down its fangs for it TV adaptation, preferring to stake the heart - [9 Trader Joe's apple products](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvOS10cmFkZXItam9lcy1hcHBsZS1wcm9kdWN0cy10by1waWNrLXVwLXRoaXMtZmFsbC9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to pick up this fall - Molly Yeh's [nutty no-bake marshmallow squares](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvbW9sbHkteWVocy1udXR0eS1uby1iYWtlLW1hcnNobWFsbG93LXNxdWFyZXMtYXJlLXRvby1nb29kLXRvLXNoYXJlLXdpdGgteW91ci1raWRzL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) are too good to share with your kids - Don't be afraid of the impending butter shortage; just [make your own](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTAvZG9udC1iZS1hZnJhaWQtb2YtdGhlLWltcGVuZGluZy1idXR0ZXItc2hvcnRhZ2UtanVzdC1tYWtlLXlvdXItb3duL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Are [late dinners making us sick?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMDkvZmFzdGluZy1hbmQtbGF0ZS1kaW5uZXJzL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) New research says yes Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. [Donald-Trump] Mario Tama/Getty Images America's most effective fascism enforcers are bored boomers, not youthful brawlers According to the media and the House committee investigating January 6, the [face of rising fascism has been a young one](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTkvMTAvMDgvdHJvbGxzLWhhdmUtdGFrZW4tb3Zlci1vdXItZGVtb2NyYWN5LXNpbGljb24tdmFsbGV5LWhlbHBlZC9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). Or young-ish, anyway, especially in [a graying country like the United States](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTgvMDUvMjcvYW1lcmljYXMtZ3JheWluZy1wb3B1bGF0aW9uLWluLTMtbWFwc19wYXJ0bmVyL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). A lot of attention has been [paid to the incel and 4chan communities](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjIvbWFnYS1hbmQtdGhlLWluY2Vscy1sYXRlc3QtamFuLTYtYXJyZXN0cy1zaG93LWhvdy1mYXNjaXN0cy10YXJnZXQtaW5zZWN1cmUteW91bmctbWVuL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), or [other places where young men in their teens](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0SFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDgvMjMvYW5kcmV3LXRhdGUtc2hvd3MtaG93LWZhc2Npc3RzLXJlY3J1aXQtb25saW5lLW1lbi1mYWxsLXZpY3RpbS10by10aGUtaW5zZWN1cml0eS10by1mYXNjaXNtLXBpcGVsaW5lL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) and early 20s are being radicalized. The [2017 "Unite the Right" riot in Charlottesville, Virginia](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTEvMjQvY2hhcmxvdHRlc3ZpbGxlLXZlcmRpY3Qtb3JkZXJlZC10by1wYXktbWlsbGlvbnMtZm9yLXVuaXRlZC10aGUtcmlnaHQtcmFsbHkvVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) crystallized the image of modern fascists as college-aged men with floppy haircuts and polo shirts. A number of authoritarian groups have grown up under Trump, but by far the [most attention has been paid to the Proud Boys](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMTAvamFuLTYtY29tbWl0dGVlLXB1dHMtcHJvdWQtYm95cy1hdC1jZW50ZXItb2YtcGxvdC10by1vdmVydGhyb3ctdGhlL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~), whose name and manner of dress cast an image of youthful streetfighters. In the American imagination, "fascists" are young men, [such as Hitler's Brownshirts,](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGlzdG9yeWhpdC5jb20vaGl0bGVycy1idWxseWJveXMtdGhlLXJvbGUtb2YtdGhlLXNhLWluLW5hemktZ2VybWFueS9XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) who are believed to have the energy and stomach for the skull-cracking necessary to impose their will to power. But there's a quieter, more pernicious threat to democracy: Older, retiree-aged Trump fanatics. A veritable army of Fox News-drunk grandparents is forming, ready to interfere every step of the way with the systems that turn out, collect and count votes. That's why it matters that Trump's allies have an army of retirees to draw on — the kind of people who have the motor homes to use as "command centers" and the time on their hands to spend harassing election workers. [Read more from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTEvYW1lcmljYXMtbW9zdC1lZmZlY3RpdmUtZmFzY2lzbS1lbmZvcmNlcnMtYXJlLWJvcmVkLWJvb21lcnMtbm90LXlvdXRoZnVsLWJyYXdsZXJzL1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "The Inevitable Indictment of Donald Trump," [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMi8xMC9tZXJyaWNrLWdhcmxhbmQtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWludmVzdGlnYXRpb24taW5kaWN0bWVudC82NzE2ODMvVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Tulsi Gabbard quits Democratic party, attacking ‘elitist cabal of warmongers,’" [The Guardian](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZ3VhcmRpYW4uY29tL3VzLW5ld3MvMjAyMi9vY3QvMTEvdHVsc2ktZ2FiYmFyZC1xdWl0cy1kZW1vY3JhdGljLXBhcnR5VwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Racist leaked audio. Corruption. City Hall in chaos. L.A. politics faces a perilous moment," [The Los Angeles Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW9sLmNvbS9uZXdzL3JhY2lzdC1jb21tZW50cy1jb3JydXB0aW9uLWNpdHktaGFsbC0xMjAwNDg0NDMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "How a New Anti-Woke Bank Stumbled," [The Wall Street Journal](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud3NqLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy9nbG9yaWZpLWhvdy1uZXctYW50aS13b2tlLWJhbmstc3R1bWJsZWQtMTE2NjUxNzQ3MDRXA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "When the Hindu Right Came for Bollywood," [The New Yorker](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3eW9ya2VyLmNvbS9tYWdhemluZS8yMDIyLzEwLzE3L3doZW4tdGhlLWhpbmR1LXJpZ2h0LWNhbWUtZm9yLWJvbGx5d29vZFcDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "A wave of anti-vaccine legislation is sweeping the United States," [Vox](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudm94LmNvbS9wb2xpY3ktYW5kLXBvbGl0aWNzLzIwMjIvMTAvNi8yMzM4OTE0NS9jb3ZpZC0xOS1hbnRpLXZhY2NpbmUtbGVnaXNsYXRpb25XA3NwY0IKY0VJnkZj0DaOfVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Donald-Trump] Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Legal experts: Russia link to Trump documents means it's a matter of "when, not if" he is indicted Former President Donald Trump sought to cut a deal with the National Archives to trade records he took from the White House to Mar-a-Lago late last year for "sensitive" documents about the FBI investigation of his 2016 campaign's ties to Russia, [according to The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8wOC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1kb2N1bWVudHMtbGF3eWVycy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). Former U.S. attorney Joyce White Vance told [MSNBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmF3c3RvcnkuY29tL2Rvai10cnVtcC1wcm9zZWN1dGlvbi0yNjU4NDE2NzQ4L1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) that the report strengthens the DOJ's case for a possible indictment. "This deserves the highest level of scrutiny from the Justice Department and, increasingly its more an issue of when, not if, there will be a prosecution," she said. New York University Law Professor Ryan Goodman [tweeted](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0Q0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmF3c3RvcnkuY29tL3RydW1wLWRvY3VtZW50cy0yNjU4NDE0NzY4L1cDc3BjQgpjRUmeRmPQNo59Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) that the report "significantly strengthen the criminal case — and are the type of aggravating factors that push DOJ toward indictment." Former Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said the report was "damning" evidence. "Those are incredibly damning statements that go directly to knowledge and intent," he told MSNBC. "This is making it that much easier to prove the only element that could pose any real difficulty for the Department of Justice in bringing a case [against] the Mar-a-Lago documents." [Read more from Areeba Shah.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMTAvMTEvbGVnYWwtZXhwZXJ0cy1saW5rLXRvLWRvY3VtZW50cy1tZWFucy1pdHMtYS1tYXR0ZXItb2Ytd2hlbi1ub3QtaWYtaGUtaXMtaW5kaWN0ZWQvVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) 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, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlKSNFP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmNFSZ5GY9A2jn1SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. 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