Conspiracy theories related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theories_related_to_the_Trump–Ukraine_scandal

President Trump had long felt that the conclusion of the United States Intelligence Community and the Mueller Report – that the Russian government had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit him – might undermine the legitimacy of his election as president.[13][1] He and his allies – most notably his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani – promoted the alternative narrative that the Ukrainian government had interfered to benefit Hillary Clinton, in coordination with Democrats, the digital forensics company CrowdStrike and the FBI, alleging that the Russian government had been framed.[14] The New York Times reported in November 2019 that American intelligence determined Russia conducted a yearslong campaign to frame Ukraine for the 2016 election interference.[3] Contrary to Trump's allegations, it is the consensus judgment of the American intelligence community and the Senate Intelligence Committee that it was Russia, not Ukraine, that interfered in the 2016 elections.[15]

Trump Called Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine "So Smart" In 2014

 https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christophermassie/trump-called-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-so-smart-in-2014

Donald Trump said in an April 2014 interview that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "so smart."

Meanwhile, in another March 2014 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump reiterated his praise for Putin's intervention in Ukraine, saying it was smart to do it right after the Olympics, which were held that year in Sochi.

"So he has the Olympics," Trump said that May. "The day after the Olympics, he starts with Ukraine. The day after. How smart? You know, he didn’t want to do it during the Olympics. Boom. The day after. So our athletes leave, we all leave, and the day after. And you know, when he goes in and takes Crimea, he’s taking the heart and soul because that’s where all the money is. I was surprised. I heard that the other day. They were saying, most of the wealth comes right from that area.”

"That's the area with the wealth," Trump continued. "So that means the rest of Ukraine will fall and it's predicted to fall fairly quickly. Because without the money, it's like this country. If we don't make this country great, it's gonna fall. It's gonna really fall. It's already falling. You go into our airports, you go look at our bridges, you look at our roadways, we're becoming a third-world country. So when you see what they're doing in Ukraine, it's just a question of time."

Jen Psaki hits back at Trump calling Putin's invasion plan of Ukraine 'GENIUS' and calls on GOP to stand up to former president's praise of Russian autocratic leade

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10540509/Jen-Psaki-hits-Trump-calling-Putins-invasion-plan-Ukraine-GENIUS.html

• Press secretary Jen Psaki hit back at former President Donald Trump for calling Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion plan of Ukraine 'genius' and 'smart'
• She also said it was up to Republicans to ensure the issue doesn't become more politicized 
• ''As a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy,' she said at Tuesday's briefing 
• She pointed to comments Trump reportedly made to G7 leaders in 2018 when he said Crimea was a part of Russia because people there spoke Russian 
• And said that Trump had 'expressed an openness' to lifting sanctions on Russia for the 2014 invasion 
• She said Trump and Biden's different tactics were probably why Biden was able to 'rally the world' to take steps against 'Russian aggression' 
• When asked if there were concerns comments like Trump's could lead to support of Ukraine becoming a more partisan she pointed to members of the GOP 
• 'You know, I think that is up to members of the Republican Party to make the decision, to make the determination,' she told DailyMail.com 

Trump calls Putin's Ukraine strategy "very savvy"

 https://www.axios.com/ukraine-trump-putin-russia-444fd0a7-a9c9-49bd-8c18-b9e79e36b288.html

Former President Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin "very savvy" after Putin recognized two breakaway "republics" in eastern Ukraine as independent.

Why it matters: Western leaders have denounced the declaration as a violation of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty. Russian forces have moved into Ukraine under the guise of peacekeeping.

Rav Ovadiah Disses The Chazon Ish

http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2011/02/rav-ovadiah-disses-chazon-ish.html

Rav Ovadiah spent his most recent motzei shabbos shiur dissing the Chazon Ish regarding his use of larger sizes for measurements. I actually find it a bit amusing. Here is what he said, according to the Kikar Shabbos website:

Rav Ovadia said that the measurements in halacha are all based on the size of the coin called the Drahm. This coin, he says, was not found in the hands of the Chazon Ish, but was found by Rav Chaim Na'eh. Beyond that, after the argument about the proper sizes, all the ashkenazy rabbonim supported Rav Chaim Na'eh's position, though the Chazon Ish and the Steipler stuck to their guns supporting the larger size measurements.

Trump praises Putin's 'genius' as GOP fissures grow on Ukraine crisis

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-praises-putins-genius-gop-fissures-grow-ukraine-crisis-rcna17259

As congressional Republican leaders push President Joe Biden to act more forcefully to punish Vladimir Putin for sending troops into Ukraine, former GOP President Donald Trump and some of his prominent allies have been praising the Russian leader’s style of power.

The fissures point to a growing divide in the Republican Party, between traditional foreign policy hawks who have advocated for a more confrontational U.S. posture to the Russian strongman and a Trump-aligned “MAGA” faction that has expressed some sympathy for Putin's tactics or described them as effective.

“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine — Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful,” Trump told a conservative podcaster in an interview published Tuesday.

הרבנים הראשיים בהוראה חריגה: להוציא מיסיונרית שהתחזתה ליהודייה מהקבר

 https://www.israelhayom.co.il/judaism/judaism-news/article/8413749

שנים לאחר שאישה חרדית נפטרה ממחלה ונקברה בבית עלמין בירושלים – התגלה כי כל משפחתה הייתה מיסיונרית מתחזה • אנשי חברה קדישא פנו לרבנים הראשיים בשאלה כיצד לנהוג – וקיבלו תשובה חריגה בחומרתה

Cheney: Trump's 'adulation' of Putin 'aids our enemies'

 https://thehill.com/policy/international/595425-cheney-trumps-adulation-of-putin-aids-our-enemies

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Tuesday night that former President Trump was working against American interests after he offered praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Tuesday interview on "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show."

"Former President Trump’s adulation of Putin today - including calling him a 'genius' - aids our enemies," Cheney tweeted. "Trump’s interests don’t seem to align with the interests of the United States of America."

Trump sides with Putin as Biden tries to stop a war

 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/23/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-joe-biden/index.html

It took only 24 hours for Donald Trump to hail Russian President Vladimir Putin's dismembering of independent, democratic, sovereign Ukraine as an act of "genius."

The former President often accuses his enemies falsely of treason, but his own giddy rush to side with a foreign leader who is proving to be an enemy of the United States and the West is shocking even by Trump's self-serving standards.

As President Joe Biden reprises the fabled presidential role of leading the free world, the predecessor who wants to succeed him is showing Putin that impunity, dictator-coddling and hero worship will return if he wins back the White House. Trump's remarks on a conservative radio show on Tuesday will not only find a warm welcome in the Kremlin. They also will concern allies standing alongside the US against Russia who fear for NATO's future if Trump returns.

In MAGA World, Contempt for Biden Is Matched by Respect for Putin

 https://www.newsweek.com/maga-world-contempt-biden-matched-respect-putin-1681624

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, right-wing politicians and media figures loyal to former President Donald Trump have alternately slammed Democratic President Joe Biden for getting the U.S. involved, while praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strong and capable leader.

Most notably, Trump praised Putin's invasion into Russia as "genius" and "wonderful" in Tuesday's broadcast of the conservative talk radio program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Trump also referred to Putin as "tough" and patriotic.

"I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine...as independent," Trump said. "Oh, that's wonderful. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper."

"I mean, you know, he's a tough cookie, got a lot of the great charm and a lot of pride. But the way he—and he loves his country, you know? He loves his country," Trump continued.

Russia suspends its mission at NATO, shuts alliance’s office

KA claims "NATO enmity towards Russia will only hurt the West in the end". Criticizing them for spying clearly shows a lack of love and respect.

 https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-moscow-sergey-lavrov-f03d2f2f8e3086b0490d4f9e95cdf655

Russia on Monday suspended its mission at NATO and ordered the closure of the alliance’s office in Moscow in retaliation for NATO’s expulsion of Russian diplomats.

Earlier this month, NATO withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its Brussels headquarters, saying it believes they have been secretly working as Russian intelligence officers. NATO also halved the size of Moscow’s team at its headquarters from 20 to 10.

Moscow has dismissed the accusations as baseless. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered Moscow’s response Monday, announcing the suspension of Russia’s mission at NATO and the closure of the alliance’s military liaison and information offices in the Russian capital.

USC to pay $1.1 billion to settle gynecologist’s hundreds of sex abuse cases

 https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/usc-to-pay-1-1-billion-to-settle-2355868/

The University of Southern California apparently has set a record — one which parents should pray no college has reason to challenge and for which the educators and leaders at the Los Angeles campus should be sorry and ashamed.

The Trojans have announced they will pay $1.1 billion to settle lawsuits over the tawdry actions of Dr. George Tyndall, who was the lone gynecologist for young women treated in the student health service.

The school has admitted that he saw 17,000 patients in his three decades at the school and sexually abused many of them. As the Los Angeles Times reported:

Former Illinois gynecologist gets 3 years in prison for sexually abusing patients

 https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/former-illinois-gynecologist-gets-3-years-in-prison-for-sexually-abusing-patients

Former gynecologist Fabio Ortega has pleaded guilty to criminal sexual abuse.

The former NorthShore University HealthSystem doctor was sentenced to three years in prison. He pleaded guilty to abusing women during their exams.

Ortega will get credit for the past five months he has spent on electronic monitoring.

A number of women have sued Ortega and the health system over the abuse accusations.

Former student files sexual abuse suit against former UCLA OB-GYN

 https://dailybruin.com/2021/12/10/former-student-files-sexual-abuse-suit-against-former-ucla-ob-gyn

The lawsuit against Wiesmeier alleged sexual battery and misconduct, civil rights violations and emotional harm. The lawsuit further alleged that the UC Regents were aware of Wiesmeier’s conduct but did not further investigate or use safeguards to prevent sexual abuse.

UCLA spokesperson Steve Ritea said in an emailed statement that sexual misconduct is inexcusable, adding that the university published a report in June 2020 compiled by an independent UC Regents special committee investigating misconduct at UCLA Health.

The report named multiple UCLA Health physicians, including Wiesmeier and UCLA OB-GYN James Heaps, who is also accused of sexual assault. Heaps was criminally indicted on 21 counts of felony sexual misconduct in May 2021 and civil lawsuits with hundreds of plaintiffs. He has pled not guilty on all counts.