Ukraine, Russia sign deal to allow grain exports, alleviating global food shortage – National & International News – FRI 22Jul2022

187 minutes: Jan. 6 hearing chronicles Trump’s inaction. Ukraine, Russia sign deal to allow grain exports, alleviating global food shortage.

NATIONAL NEWS

187 minutes: Jan. 6 hearing gives timeline of Trump’s inaction

Last night’s hearing compiled previously-heard testimony, some new information and never-before-seen footage from the 6th to present a timeline of events as they occurred at the White House and the Capitol. 

The 187 minutes in question spans from the end of Trump’s speech at the Ellipse at 1:10 p.m. to 4:17 p.m. when he at last issued the pre-recorded video message on Twitter calling on his “very special” followers to leave the Capitol. 

Committee chair Bennie Thompson gave his opening statement remotely after testing positive for COVID-19. Thompson powerfully summed up the case the committee presented last night:

“Between the November election and Jan. 6, Donald Trump was a force to be reckoned with. He shrugged off the factually and legally correct, sober advice of his knowledgeable and sensible advisers. Instead, he recklessly blazed a path of lawlessness and corruption, the cost of which: Democracy be damned.

And then, he stopped. For 187 minutes on Jan. 6, this man of unbridled destructive energy could not be moved- not by his aides, not by his allies, not by the violent chants of rioters, or the desperate pleas of those facing down the riot”.

1:10 p.m. 

By the time Trump’s Ellipse speech ended, Proud Boys and other groups had already breached the first line of barricades outside the Capitol. Trump was made aware of this immediately upon his return to the White House. 

As word of the quickly escalating violence at the Capitol spread among White House staff, many urged Trump to issue a statement strongly condemning the violence and directing his followers to leave the Capitol in peace. Instead, Trump hid away in his private dining room watching FoxNews coverage of the riot on a large-screen television. 

Among those who urged Trump to issue a statement were White House counsels Pat Cipollone, Eric Hirschmann and Pat Philbin; Trump’s children Ivanka and Don, Jr.; and White House press officials. Their pleas went unheard.

Instead, Trump asked for a list of Republican Senators he could call to press them to delay certification of the vote. He also spoke with his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who was also urging members of Congress to dispute the electors.

1:49 p.m

Trump’s followers breached the secondary barriers in front of the Capitol and began storming up the steps. It was at this point that DC police declared a riot.

2:03 p.m.

Trump spoke with Giuliani for 8 minutes.

2:13 p.m.

Rioters breached the Capitol itself. Security staff at the White House were monitoring developments at the Capitol minute-by-minute and would have made Trump aware. By this point, Trump also already knew of the “Hang Mike Pence” chants. 

2:24 p.m.

At 2:24, Trump published his tweet saying that Mike Pence lacked the courage to halt the certification at Trump’s behest. Shortly thereafter, word spread of this “betrayal” among the rioters at the Capitol. 

At this point, the committee played audio of frantic radio transmissions from Mike Pence’s Secret Service who were debating whether it was safe to move Pence to another location. A White House source said that he heard members of Pence’s Secret Service calling their family members to say ‘goodbye’ apparently in fear for their own lives.

2:38 p.m.

Trump, at the urging of his staff, tweets to his followers, “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”. According to staffer Cassidy Hutchinson, Ivanka and White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany had to really convince Trump to use the word “peaceful”.

It was following this tweet that Don Jr., apparently unable to reach his father, texted Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, saying that the “Capitol Police tweet isn’t enough”. Don Jr. wanted Meadows to press his father to issue a statement telling the protesters to leave the Capitol. 

The committee played voice messages of rioters remarking on this tweet and noting that it didn’t say anything about not doing violence to members of Congress.

3:13 p.m.

Trump tweets, “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”

Despite pleas from staffers, family members, and allies, Trump still steadfastly refused to tell his supporters to leave the Capitol. All the while, Trump continued calling Republican Senators.

4:17 p.m.

Trump at last issues his video statement calling on his supporters to leave the Capitol, and most do. Even in this statement, Trump begins by repeating his narrative about the election being stolen.

By this time, Mike Pence had already called in the National Guard and federal agents from the FBI and DHS were already en route to the Capitol. Trump issued this tweet only after he realized that the mob would soon be repulsed and that his strategy to delay the certification of the vote was not going to work.

Future hearings

Committee members say that their investigation is still ongoing and that new witnesses are still coming forward. Further hearings will take place in September before the committee submits its final report.

You can watch the entire hearing by clicking here (2 hours 45 minutes; opens in new tab).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Ukraine, Russia sign deal to allow grain exports, alleviating global food shortage

After two months of negotiations, Ukrainian and Russian representatives have signed a deal that will allow Ukrainian grain and Russian fertilizer to be exported via the Black Sea. Russia has taken control of most of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and effectively blockaded the last Ukrainian-held port at Odessa. In exchange for allowing shipments of Ukrainian grain to leave port, the Russians were demanding sanctions relief and the de-mining of certain Ukrainian ports. This was a tough sell for Ukraine, who feared Russian war ships would storm their ports as soon as their way was clear.

Under the new deal, brokered by Turkish and UN negotiators with each of the combatants separately, Russia agrees not to fire on Ukrainian ships at sea and Ukraine agrees to guide ships through mined seaways. Turkey, which controls the passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, will police the deal. Turkish officials will be responsible for inspecting cargos to guard against weapons smuggling.

The deal lasts for 120 days and can be renewed if both parties agree. It should allow approximately 20 million tons of grain that has been stuck in Ukraine to be exported immediately. This is great news for Asian and Middle Eastern countries who depend heavily on Ukrainian grain and were facing the possibility of famine without it. It will also bring relief to global food markets after the price of grain worldwide shot up precipitously in recent weeks. Greater availability of Russian fertilizer will also be a boon to many developing countries that rely on it to boost their agriculture.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

Please share any thoughts, comments or questions in the Comments section below!