February 19, 2024 - Daily Digest

The Alabama Supreme Court just ruled that embryos are humans (yes you read that correctly)

Today is February 19, 2024, and here are the critical stories that you may have missed from today. If you enjoy this content and want access to more, exclusive content or to support my work, then consider becoming a monthly subscriber below:

1) Alabama Supreme Court Rules Embryos Are Humans Under Wrongful Death Statute

In a ruling that will impact IVF centers across the state of Alabama, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that fertilized, frozen, non-implanted embryos are considered to be humans under the state's wrongful death statute. 

Previously, an Alabama couple sued a hospital under the wrongful death statute arguing that the hospital should be liable after a patient accessed a cryogenic chamber holding the couple's frozen embryos. The patient later attempted to hold the embryos, dropping them on the ground, thereby making them no longer viable. As a result, the couple sued the hospital for wrongful death. 

The Alabama trial court ruled that an embryo is not a "human" under the wrongful death statute. But, now the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 opinion, overruled the trial court in a decision that is riddled with theology and citations to Biblical figures. Specifically, the ruling cited Alabama's Constitution which argues that every life has a value that “cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.” 

This decision will have wide-ranging impacts both in Alabama and across the country. In a lot of ways, it could represent the next crusade for those individuals who are anti-reproductive rights and open IVF clinics up to a whole new suite of liability if they are able to be sued for wrongful death in the event an embryo is mishandled.

2) Alexei Navalny's Body Remains Missing, As Russia Takes Advantage Of Congressional Inaction

Days after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed in a remote Russian penal colony, Navalny's family continues to sound the alarm as Russian authorities are unable to provide the family with Navalny's body. Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei's wife, said that Russian authorities are "lying pathetically" about the whereabouts of her husband's body in an effort to wait until traces of poison in the body disappear. Navalnaya's latest comments refer to the previous poisoning Navalny endured back in 2020 when a Russian intelligence operative put poison on Nalvany's underwear. Despite Navalny's death, his wife continues to press on, announcing that she intends to carry on his legacy and become the face of Russia's opposition movement. In part, Navalnaya stated: 

"What we need is a free, peaceful and happy Russia . . . The wonderful Russia of the future my husband so dreamed of. That’s what we need. That is the country I want to live in and for our children to grow up in. That’s the country I want to build together with you. The country Alexei Navalny imagined."

Meanwhile, Russia continues to press forward on the battlefield, days after it successfully captured the key strategic down of Avdiivka in Eastern Ukraine. After months of fighting on the battlefield, Avdiivka fell, and Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw from the town due to the lack of ammunition and other resources provided to them on the battlefield. President Biden blamed this directly on Congressional Republicans who have thus far stalled any attempt to provide additional aid to Ukraine, even leaving on a two-week vacation while a bipartisan aid package remains stalled on House Speaker Johnson's desk. Russian forces are putting the Ukrainian defensive lines on the brink of collapse, and showing the world what could happen if additional aid is not provided to Ukraine in short time. 

Putin celebrated the recent victory in Avdiivka, and will not stop until he is able to capture all of Ukraine. 

3) Trump Files 17-Page Reply With SCOTUS In Support Of Immunity Defense

Donald Trump's attorneys have filed a 17-page reply with the Supreme Court in support of his Presidential immunity defense asserted in Jack Smith's January 6th-related prosecution. 

Throughout Trump's reply, he argues that the Supreme Court should consider whether or not the former President can assert an immunity argument claiming the Special Counsel's arguments are partisan in nature and that there is a high chance of reversing Judge Chutkan's decision if the Court were to accept the case.

Remember, at issue right now is not whether the immunity defense is valid, but rather whether the Supreme Court will even consider the merits of the case. If the Supreme Court grants certiorari, it would mean at least four Justice agreed to hear the case, and would postpone proceedings in front of Judge Chutkan even further. 

At the current pace, Trump's trial would likely begin sometime in July in the event the Supreme Court denies review. The trial would then conclude in September, well before the November election. If the Supreme Court takes this case, then we likely won't have oral argument until sometime in April, with a decision coming out in May or June. As a result, trial likely would not begin until September at the earliest, and we may not have a jury verdict by November. 

4) Department of Justice Charges Informant Who Provided Derogatory Information About Hunter And Joe Biden

The Department of Justice has charged Alexander Smirnov with making false statements and obstruction as it relates to Smirnov's conversations with law enforcement officials about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Significantly, Smirnov was responsible for many of the statements House Republicans have relied upon when pushing the impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Specifically, Smirnov allegedly lied about the extent of Hunter Biden's relationship with Burisma, a Ukrainian company. 

Specific statements from the indictment allege that Smirnov falsely claimed that executives associated with Burisma hired Hunter Biden to protect the company, using then-Vice President Biden, and that Hunter had been paid millions of dollars to peddle influence through his father. The indictment alleges that these statements made were complete fabrications. 

Specifically, the indictment alleges that Smirnov had contact with Burisma investigators in 2017, after the point President Biden would have had influence to alter public policy. As a result, the indictment alleges that Smirnov used his personal animus with President Biden into expressing bias against the President and his candidacy. Smirnov allegedly made multiple false claims to investigators again in September 2023, promoting false narratives about the President and his son. In total, this indictment, if proven true, debunks many of the allegations pushed by House Republicans against the President and his son. If convicted, Smirnov faces up to 25 years in federal prison.