As one who sorts through the news every morning, I am stunned by the sheer volume of stories coursing through the global information pipeline right now. From a daily list averaging about 30 top stories over the past two years, I suddenly am now compiling at least twice as many, and it could easily be three times the way things are trending.
The first major land war in Europe in 30 years is the main driver, of course, as media organizations like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, NHK, Reuters, the AP, Washington Post and New York Times devote substantial resources to covering various angles of the unfolding crisis.
As the Post explains: “With seven staff reporters, videographers and photographers on the ground across Ukraine, The Post has more people covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine than any conflict since the Arab Spring. Our team is spread across the country, led by Moscow correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan, a fluent Russian speaker who is now in Kharkiv. Their coverage is supported by journalists around the world working to deliver 24-hour live updates.”
Note that 24-hour reference. This is the first major war since the maturing of digital media with its 24/7 news cycle guaranteeing that the headlines will just keep coming night and day. It is exhausting for the reporters involved but also for the news-consuming public.
We already have a Covid-weary population reeling from two years of relentless pandemic reporting. And a fiercely divided population along political lines in most major countries squabbling needlessly over things like public health policies, school mandates and crime rates.
Why needlessly? Because nobody wants more sickness and death, worse education and increased ignorance, or more crime. There is 100 percent agreement on those issues but pitched battles rage nonetheless, stoked by political partisans.
From the perspective of a regular citizen, there has been so much to worry about for so long that many people are fed up and want a break from it all.
Into this cauldron of anxiety and anger come headlines like Putin threatening to use nuclear weapons, the increased radiation detected from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site now occupied by Russian troops, and indications that Ukraine’s major cities may soon fall with its President killed or captured by the invading forces.
No, these are not easy times for any citizen trying to make sense of the news. And sadly there is no relief in sight.
TODAY’s HEADLINES (60):
Kyiv residents told to make Molotov cocktails as they await Russian assault (Reuters)
Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian saboteurs had entered Kyiv and that intelligence found “the enemy has identified me as the number one target.” [AP]
At great risk for Ukraine and Russia, Putin signals a dark endgame (WP)
VIDEO: Protesters Rally Against Russian Invasion of Ukraine (AP, Reuters)
Anti-war demonstrations broke out in major cities across Russia, including Moscow, where videos show a significant security force deployed to quell dissent, as well as Putin’s hometown of St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. Some 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were detained Thursday, at least 957 of them in Moscow. [HuffPost]
Prominent Russians join protests against Ukraine war amid 1,800 arrests (Guardian)
Protests resume as Russia seeks to quash invasion critics (AP)
‘Almost not possible’ for Ukraine to win without West's help, Ukraine official says (Politico)
Russia-Ukraine latest news: Kyiv ‘ready to talk about ceasefire’; explosions heard in capital (Guardian)
Russia Batters Ukraine With Artillery Strikes as West Condemns Invasion (NYT)
VIDEO: Zelensky Says He Is Russia’s ‘Target No. 1’ (Reuters)
President Joe Biden unveiled new sanctions against Russia and condemned President Vladimir Putin, saying, “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences." Biden said the U.S. and its partners would cut off vital imports for Russia; make it much harder for the country to operate in American dollars and a range of other currencies; and sanction powerful Russians close to Putin. [HuffPost]
Zelensky to EU leaders: "This might be the last time you see me alive" (Axios)
Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine aimed at key cities, decapitating central government (WP)
Missiles pounded Ukraine's capital as Russian forces pressed their advance and authorities in Kyiv said they were preparing for an assault aimed at overthrowing the government. (Reuters)
An entire garrison of 13 Ukrainian border guards was killed in the first day of fighting on the nation’s Snake Island after the soldiers refused to surrender to invading Russian forces, Zelenskyy said. Audio released by Ukraine's interior ministry documented the soldiers' defiance as the warship approaches. [HuffPost
US, Europe agree to freeze assets of Russia’s Putin, Lavrov (AP)
The Ukrainian refugee crisis has already begun (Vox)
With the Ukraine Invasion, NATO Is Suddenly Vulnerable (NYT)
Biden locks into battle with enigmatic Putin (The Hill)
The government of Ukraine is asking for volunteers from the country's hacker underground to help protect critical infrastructure and conduct cyber spying missions against Russian troops, according to people involved in the project. (Reuters)
Russians Now See a New Side to Putin: Dragging Them Into War (NYT)
Putin calls on Ukrainian military to seize power to better negotiate with Russia (Reuters)
Putin’s Historic Miscalculation May Make Him a War Criminal (New Yorker)
Zelensky Steps Into a Role Few Expected: Ukraine’s Wartime President (NYT)
The fallout for the global aviation industry from Russia's invasion of Ukraine is spreading beyond the airspace closings over the conflict zone as airlines, lessors and manufacturers face up to growing risks of doing business with Russia. (Reuters)
Beyond Ukraine, the Target Is What Putin Calls America’s ‘Empire of Lies’ (NYT)
Russia has spent the past seven years building up formidable financial defences, yet in the long run, its economy is unlikely to withstand the onslaught of coordinated sanctions from the West. (Reuters)
All US senators will have a classified briefing on the Ukraine invasion on Monday (CNN)
Ukraine conflict: Gunshots heard at Kyiv train station as crowds flee (BBC)
Polish people help Ukrainians arriving across border (NHK)
Sorting fact, disinformation after Russian attack on Ukraine (AP)
How Republicans moved from Reagan’s ‘evil empire’ to Trump’s praise for Putin (WP)
Ukraine: Woman confronts armed Russian soldier (BBC)
China could be Russia’s key to surviving tech sanctions (Politico)
Putin’s attack on Ukraine echoes Hitler’s takeover of Czechoslovakia (WP)
Putin waves nuclear sword in confrontation with the West (AP)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens global recovery (Financial Times)
Russia Probably Won’t Cut Off Europe’s Gas, Because It’s ‘Essentially an Act of War’ (Atlantic)
New studies bring BA.2 variant into sharper focus (CNN)
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala calls for more 'political will' on Covid, future pandemics (Politico)
CDC Eases Mask Guidelines, Reflecting Covid-19’s Retreat (WSJ)
CDC Says Waiting Longer Between COVID Vaccine Doses Could Reduce Myocarditis (NBC)
Secret Service beefs up White House security ahead of State of the Union trucker convoy (Yahoo News)
It’s not clear that pro-"freedom" convoys of U.S. truckers will be nearly as disruptive as their Canadian brethren were, but there is reason for concern: Many of the same far-right groups that fomented the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol are now activated around these convoys. They may be easy to laugh at, but there is deep support for them among far-right activists and media. [HuffPost]
Biden nominates Jackson, first Black woman, to Supreme Court (AP)
MLB will cancel regular season games if no union deal is struck by Monday, source says (CNN)
‘If Trump doesn’t run, I think everybody runs’: Hawley and Cruz choose their paths (Politico)
4 U.S. companies will pay $26 billion to settle claims they fueled the opioid crisis (NPR)
Key inflation gauge hit 6.1% in January, highest since 1982 (AP)
Florida Moves to Restrict Teaching About Sexual Orientation (WSJ)
The next challenge for Afghan refugees is finding affordable housing and jobs (NPR)
“A Genealogy for All of Humanity” – University of Oxford Researchers Create Largest Ever Human Family Tree (SciTechDaily)
The Democratic County Central Committee, which is rarely unanimous on anything, voted 20-2 Wednesday to oppose the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. — The only two people voting to support the recall were Suzy Loftus and Nancy Tung, both of whom ran against him for the job. (48 Hills)
The ‘Wordle!’ app predated ‘Wordle’ by 6 years. Then Josh Wardle’s game went viral. (WP)
Biden Addresses Ukrainian Crisis With Speech About Perfect Malted Milkshake He Once Drank In 1957 (The Onion)
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