March 11, 2024 - Daily Digest

Both Biden and Ukraine won today

1) Youth Organizations Endorse Biden

In a major announcement this morning 15 youth-led organizations have issued their endorsement of President Biden heading into this November's election. The organizations represent many of the significant youth-led organizations in the political arena and defy the notion that young people are actively fleeing the President's campaign. 

In recent months, Republicans have been attacking the President for his age, arguing that young people would be less likely to support his reelection efforts given the fact that he is 81 years old. This, despite the fact that the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, is of similar age and is 77 years old.

In a statement released by the President's campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez highlighted the importance of young people to the President's campaign, stating: 

“The President and Vice President are proud to earn the support of these groups that represent young Americans nationwide. Young voters are critical to President Biden’s winning coalition and together, we will defeat Donald Trump and continue to build a future that works for every single American. The President and Vice President have spent their first term working with young people and fighting for the issues that matter most to them – taking historic action to cancel student debt, combat climate change, and address gun violence. The work is far from over: President Biden knows that young people have so much at stake in this election – Donald Trump’s assault on democracy and freedom threatens their future. President Biden and Vice President Harris will earn their votes and fight for the America our young people deserve."

With the general election now less than eight months away, the youth vote will be out in full force to help re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris.

2) Ukraine Wins Major Oscar

A Ukrainian has won an Oscar for the first time in the country's history. The film at issue, 20 Days in Mariupol, won an Oscar last night for being the best documentary of the year, marking a major moment for the Ukrainian people. Before last night, a Ukrainian had not won an Oscar award. The film was directed by Mstyslav Chernov, a Ukrainian-based journalist, who gave a jarring account of the conditions within Mariupol, a city that Russians besieged in the first few months of the war. Chernov spent 20 days inside the town as Russian forces consistently shelled the region, killing and injuring hundreds of Ukrainian civilians. 

Chernov was later forced to flee the town as Russian officials entered Mariupol, causing devastation within. Watch his acceptance speech below where Chernov notes that this is the first "Ukrainian Oscar:"

This historic win comes at a time where the Russian invasion of Ukraine drags on into a third year of brutality. This win, and Chernov's speech, should be a reminder for all Republican members of Congress that the time to provide additional aid to Ukraine is now, we cannot wait any longer. 

3) Sex Trafficking Victim Slams Katie Britt

In a new interview with CNN, the sex trafficking victim mentioned in Alabama Senator Katie Britt's response to the State of the Union address is speaking out, claiming that Britt's use of her story was unfair and done for political purposes. Previously, during the State of the Union response, Britt claimed that she met with a woman during a trip to the Southern Border who was sex trafficked as a young 12-year-old girl. The woman she met with, Karla Jacinto, told CNN that it was unfair for Britt to use her story because it seemed to be akin to a photo-op. 

Specifically, Jacinto said that Mexican officials previously used her story to push their political objectives, and now Britt was doing the same. In a quote released by CNN, Jacinto stated: 

“I work as a spokesperson for many victims who have no voice, and I really would like them to be empathetic: all the governors, all the senators, to be empathetic with the issue of human trafficking because there are millions of girls and boys who disappear all the time. People who are really trafficked and abused, as she [Britt] mentioned. And I think she [Britt] should first take into account what really happens before telling a story of that magnitude.”

During the interview, Jacinto further disputed much of Britt's account. First, contrary to Britt's assertion, Jacinto stated that she was not trafficked by Mexican drug cartels and was instead trafficked by a pimp in a prostitution ring that entrapped vulnerable girls and forced them into prostitution. 

In addition, Jacinto noted that she held in captivity between 2004 and 2008, during the George W. Bush Administration. Not only did Britt originally state that Jacinto was trafficked by cartels, but Britt also attempted to use Jacinto's story to attack the Biden Administration's immigration policies. Both were misleading. 

4) Peter Navarro Ordered To Surrender To Prison

Former top Trump advisor Peter Navarro has been ordered to surrender to prison on March 19th to begin serving his 4 month prison sentence after he was convicted by a D.C. federal jury of two counts of contempt of congress. Previously, Navarro asked a federal judge in D.C. to delay his surrender pending an appeal of his conviction for defying a lawful Congressional subpoena. 

The trial court judge denied his request, noting that there was a substantial likelihood that Navarro's claims on appeal would fail. Now, the Bureau of Prisons has set Navarro's surrender date for March 19th and he has been asked to surrender at a facility in Miami, Florida. Navarro has asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to allow him to remain out of prison pending an appeal, similar to the ask made by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon who is currently appealing a six month prison sentence and conviction on similar charges. 

The appellate court decision in Bannon's case is expected to come down any day.

5) Sweden Makes History

Days after Sweden officially joined NATO, the country's flag is officially flying at NATO headquarters in Brussels, making history during a time of turbulence for the alliance. Sweden officially joined the alliance late last week and joined Finland as the alliance's newest members. Present at the ceremony was Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and, for the first time in history, Sweden's national anthem was played at NATO headquarters. Watch the historic moment below:

6) Trump Peddles Defamatory Statements Against E. Jean Carroll Again

This morning, Donald Trump appeared on CNBC's the Squawk Box where he parroted many of the same statements that he was sued for by E. Jean Carroll in a defamation case that has cost him over $91 million. In his latest comments, Trump called Carroll "Ms. Bergdorf Goodman" claiming that he had never met her before, despite being found liable for sexually abusing her years ago. Trump further stated that the only reason he knows of Carroll is because of her lawsuits. He finished off his statement by stating that Carroll's lawsuit was based on a "false allegation" that later resulted in Trump posting the $91 million bond.

On Saturday, Trump made similar claims during a campaign rally in Rome, Georgia. There, Trump made the following remarks:

"I just posted a $91 million bond – 91 million – on a fake story, totally made up story. Think of it – 91 million! I could say things about what it would cost normally. $91 million! Based on false accusations made about me by a woman I know nothing about, didn't know, never heard of. I know nothing about her. She wrote a book. She said things. And when I denied it, I said, 'It's so crazy. It's false.' I got sued for defamation."

These statements are similar to those Carroll originally sued Trump for, obtaining the massive judgment. In response to this morning's statements, Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, issued the following statement:

"The statute of limitations for defamation in most jurisdictions is between one and three years. As we said after the last jury verdict, we continue to monitor every statement that Donald Trump makes about our client, E. Jean Carroll."

It remains to be seen whether Carroll pursues additional claims against Trump.