The Daily Populous

Tuesday February 14th, 2023 day edition

image for NJ state senator says he’s leaving GOP to join Democrats

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey state Sen. Samuel Thompson said Monday he’s leaving the Republican Party and plans to seek reelection this year as a Democrat.

Thompson, 87, said in a phone interview that he decided to leave the GOP after party leaders questioned his fitness for office because of his age.

“The betrayal by so many of my friends — that was too much for me,” he said.

Thompson’s departure would expand the Democrats’ edge in the state Senate from 24 to 25 seats in the 40-member chamber.

“I was hoping the Senator would embrace it and work together as a mentor and advisor for the years to come,” he said in an emailed statement.

The primary is set for June, when Thompson could have faced a primary challenger against him in the GOP if he still ran.

It’s unclear whether Democrats will run a candidate against him in the party’s primary. »

Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked for gushing over ‘anti-woke’ Super Bowl country star - not realising he’s a Black Lives Matter activist

Authored by independent.co.uk

Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was ridiculed after she praised country star Chris Stapleton’s Super Bowl performance for supposedly being anti-woke, not realising he's a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Chris Stapleton just sang the most beautiful national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Ms Greene appeared to be unaware of Mr Stapleton’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement. »

Friends in Need: What the War in Ukraine Has Revealed About Alliances - Stephen Walt

Authored by foreignaffairs.com

The way NATO has done so has also revealed much about both the alliance’s virtues and its enduring pathologies.

Above all, the invasion of Ukraine and its aftermath show that leaders court disaster if they fail to understand why alliances form and how they work.

Despite NATO’s swift response, the war in Ukraine has demonstrated the need for a new transatlantic division of labor. »

Dutch F-35s intercept three Russian military aircraft near Poland

Authored by reuters.com

Feb 14 (Reuters) - Two Dutch F-35 fighters intercepted a formation of three Russian military aircraft near Poland and escorted them out, the Netherlands' defence ministry said in a statement late on Monday.

"After identification, it turned out to be three aircraft: a Russian IL-20M Coot-A that was escorted by two Su-27 Flankers.

The Netherlands' defence ministry said that eight Dutch F-35s are stationed in Poland for February and March. »