Like a tacky, cheap, vase hit by a really big hammer

I usually check the Daily Kos blog in the morning and scroll through the posts from the day before. That’s usually enough reading for the day as I try to do other things. Since I did that yesterday morning there were four posts on the progress of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region I started writing about over the last couple days. This afternoon there was a fifth post (yeah, I read ahead a bit). All of these posts (one, two, three, four) by Mark Sumner and Kos document how quickly Ukraine advanced through Russian held territory. They showed maps of the ground covered, until Sumner said it was useless to keep up, though he drew one more for this afternoon’s post. There are photos of the Ukrainian flag being shown in this city and that town. They show the equipment and ammo the Russians left behind as they fled. There are videos of liberated cities and of Russian commentators and propagandists realizing things have turned decidedly against Russia. And tweets of Russian’s fleeing. At about noon today in the fifth post Sumner felt he had to show a map of the gains. The main thrust was to liberate the railroad hub of Kupyansk. Done. The Ukraine army also moved south to liberate Izyum, essentially from behind. Another thrust appears to have taken Lyman and even Lysychansk, a place that had been bitterly fought over back in May. Yet another thrust appears to have liberated Vovchansk, another key railway town just 7Km from the Russian border. In the fourth post Sumner wrote:

Honestly, I don’t know what to make of this. My first reaction is to say “Vovchansk? How can any Ukrainian force be even near Vovchansk? That’s impossible” You know, like I said about Oskil two days ago.

In the fifth post Sumner wrote about the tankies, those who are convinced all that is bad in the world is because of the US and all the good comes from Russia. Yeah, some are even Americans. They were convinced that the first Ukrainian thrust towards Kupyansk was a Russian trap – Russia allowed them to move at such speed and once the Ukraine army was well on their way the Russians would close in behind and encircle them. Didn’t happen because there were too few (perhaps no) Russians for such a maneuver. And when that was obvious there was the prediction this liberation would lead to a disastrous defeat. The tally is Ukraine liberated over 3,000 square kilometers of territory in about four days which includes three major cities and over 100 towns and villages. Tobias Schneider explained what is going on:

I'm trying not to lap up every rumor circulating around Telegram, but the main challenge in establishing a clear picture of the situation in Kharkiv appears to be that Russian lines are collapsing faster than Ukraine can even advance and clear liberated areas. Astonishing. ... So far events seem to have mostly born out what I thought as was the most likely outcome of a second Russian offensive in the Donbas: Over stretch despite limited success, with no plausible theory of victory, eventually inviting local collapse. Important to maintain perspective: This is a local success on an apparently under-resourced front. But it does reverse the overall dynamic and - if it holds - will surely deny Russia its Donbas breakthru. Maybe they'll rally, but again: towards what end? And all-importantly: This offensive is proof of concept. Ukraine can re-conquer its territory thru deft tactics, smart use of modern weapons, and advantages in morale and cohesion. This encourages Western partners to keep the aid flowing. There is a path.

In the fifth post Sumner explained why Russian lines are collapsing:

Like a tacky, cheap, vase hit by a really big hammer, the Russian occupation of the entire central portion of Kharkiv oblast just … fell apart. Everywhere, Ukrainian forces are moving, and everywhere Russian forces are running away before they even catch sight of a blue and yellow banner.

To me it is telling that Russian soldiers did not stand and fight to protect their territorial gains. Part of that is their forces were so hollowed out there weren’t enough of them to stop Ukraine’s advances. Part of it was also this isn’t their fight. It’s Putin’s fight. A few paragraphs later Sumner wrote:

No. This war isn’t over. Unfortunately, the ego and sheer brutality of Vladimir Putin means that many more people, including thousands of Russians, will die between now and when the last gun is put down. But, as far as Russia’s plans go, it’s very definitely lost.

GQ Magazine wrote about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and how she has become a voice for her generation and a cultural star. I haven’t read it, but did see this excerpt, a quote by AOC, tweeted by Leah McElrath:

My experience here has given me a front-row seat to how deeply…so many people in this country hate women. And they hate women of color. People ask me questions about the future. And realistically, I can’t even tell you if I’m going to be alive in September.

Lauren Sue of Kos reported:

For the first time, 60 schools across the county are piloting an Advanced Placement course in African American studies this fall, with a plan to make the course available to all interested high schools in the 2024-25 school year. "If the pilot program pans out, it will be the first course in African American studies for high school students that is considered rigorous enough to allow students to receive credit and advanced placement at many colleges across the country," New York Times journalist Anemona Hartocollis wrote. Emphasis on “considered rigorous enough.”

Later in the article Sue wrote:

Marlon Williams-Clark, a Florida social studies teacher who helped pilot the new AP course, told NPR the reactions from students, most of whom are Black, have been "very positive." "They have been ready to indulge in conversations, and they don't shy away from it," the educator said. "You know, when we first began the course—on the first day, I said, ‘I cannot offer you a safe space, because, quite honestly, some things that we will talk about in this course could trigger someone, and I wouldn't know that.’” “So I can't offer you a safe space, but I can offer you a brave space—brave to indulge, brave to ask questions, brave to be curious. And so they've really taken that mantra, and they've just kind of gone full blast.”

Rebekah Sager of Kos wrote:

My son’s partner’s mom has recently become acutely interested in the idea that division and hatred in the U.S. can only be combatted when the nation’s two sides (MAGA Republicans and Democrats) sit down and talk with one another. Which all sounds good in theory, except how can there be a coming together of hearts and minds when one side refuses to accept the reality of the past and wishes to redact the parts they don’t like?

Sager briefly mentioned the brutality of stealing land from the natives, the slave trade, and Jim Crow. That’s our history, like it or lump it.

The way I see it, the only way forward is not only to have some acknowledgment of the truth, but as Germany has done with its horrific past, I’d like to criminalize denial. That may sound harsh, but I think it’s the only way for this nation to truly progress.

Yeah, there are some free speech issues there. Sager also discusses the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was done in South Africa after Apartheid. She concluded:

Our nation is on a precipice. The question is, which way will we go? Will we decide to embrace our reality, or will we become a nation living under a false narrative and refusing to see the truth?

Tim Urban shared maps produced by Alasdair Rae showing population density across the world. The height of each spike shows the population density in that location. Much of North America shows little. The spikes in in South America are only around the edges and only go so far south. Australia barely registers. The big spikes in Africa are (I think) Kenya and Nigeria. The biggest spikes fill India and the southeast half of China. Back in June I wrote about a Pride event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho that was threatened with violent disruption. Before they could do anything 31 disrupters were arrested. David Neiwert of Kos reported this coming weekend is Boise Pride, a quiet event for 33 years, and it is being threatened by several far right groups. Bill in Portland, Maine, in a Cheers and Jeers column for Kos quoted late night commentary. Here’s one:

Once again, the planet is experiencing record temperatures, wildfires, and droughts. And I know it can't be climate change because Fox News says that's not real, so it's probably pronouns? —Trevor Noah