Today’s edition of quick hits:
* I wonder who Trump will blame for this: “Tensions in the Sea of Azov have been simmering for months and this weekend its waters came to the boil. Russian ships opened fire at three Ukrainian naval vessels Sunday after they attempted to enter the sea. Ukrainian media reported that 23 crew members were detained, including six who were injured, and the vessels seized.”
* In related news: “Ukraine’s parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in the country to fight what its president called “growing aggression” from Moscow after a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula in which Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels amid renewed tensions between the neighbors.”
* The day before Mississippi’s most closely watched election in a long while: “Two nooses were found hanging at the Mississippi State Capitol on Monday morning around 7:15, according to NBC affiliate WLBT. Hate signs also were found, although it’s unclear what they said or if the signs referenced the racially charged runoff Senate election taking place Tuesday between Democrat Mike Espy, who is black, and Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.”
* A story we’ve been watching: “Former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos began serving his two-week prison sentence on Monday after a judge rejected his last-minute bid to remain free. Papadopoulos arrived at a minimum-security camp in Oxford, Wisconsin, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.”
* Amazing: “NASA’s InSight landed safely on Mars on Monday afternoon, with scientists now hopeful they’ll get a below-the-surface look at the Red Planet. Shortly before 3 p.m. ET on Monday, scientists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, cheered, hugged and traded high-fives as their prized craft safely landed on the Red Planet and started sending back its first images.”
* Finally: “More than two weeks after the deadliest fire on record in California swept through Butte County, killing at least 85 people and destroying 14,000 homes, officials announced Sunday that the massive Camp fire was finally 100% contained.”
* Brexit: “In a bittersweet landmark, European Union leaders on Sunday approved an agreement on Britain’s departure next year — the first time a member country will have left the 28-nation bloc.”
* Alabama: “An Alabama police officer fatally shot a 21-year-old black man on Thursday night who the police initially said shot at least one person at a mall near Birmingham, turning a Thanksgiving holiday shopping scene into chaos. But on Friday the police said evidence suggests that the man actually was not the gunman and that the true gunman remained at large.” * Finland, Denmark, and Germany: “Three countries have halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia while the U.S. has stuck by the kingdom after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.” * Seriously? “Bill Shine, the former Fox News executive and current top communications official under President Donald Trump, received $8.4 million in severance pay from the network’s parent company 21st Century Fox after he resigned in May 2017, according to a White House financial disclosure report first reviewed by CNBC.” * Add it to the list of Whitaker’s missteps: “Acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker erroneously told an audience of law enforcement officials Wednesday that a terrorist who set off bombs in New York City and New Jersey had two coconspirators overseas and that one was in custody.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
