Need to Know News (9 December 2022) with Joe Olson and Chris Weinert

Russia threatens Poland, which has taken an aggressive role against Russia in Ukraine and where Russia appears to have killed 80 Polish fighters. Poland is acquiring 116 US Abrams tanks to add to its military arsenal, but Russia could rapidly deplete them with sophisticated anti-tank weapons. The military assault now appears to be moving toward completion, even if at a somewhat slower pace than anticipated, in large part because of Western support for Ukraine, which I regard as misconceived. Biden has taken a callous approach toward the border crisis and failed to correct false reports of abuse of migrants by the Border Patrol or even express sympathy over the death of one of its agents. The Senate is attempting to pass pro-immigrant legislation before the GOP takes control in January. Sen. Krystane Sinema has left the Democrat Party and declared herself to be an Independent, which is going to complicate managing legislation by the party and restored Joe Manchin to a key role in determining what passes and what does not. Manchin is calling out Biden and his allies for passing spending bills that are going to be left to our children to cover. Meta is throwing a fit over a bill that would require payment to those who originate news stories it distributes. Twitter fact-checks Biden for false claims about unemployment (again). And David Ray Griffin, a towering figure in 9/11 research, has gone to his just reward.