Brittney Griner Held Hostage by GOP and Why Beauty Contests Are Ugly
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There’s so much content this time that there’s no room for my usual insightful ramblings and head-scratching pop-culture references. So, let’s get to it.
Politics: Brittney Griner Goes from Pawn of Russia to Pawn of Republicans
The brother of the ex-US Marine jailed in Russia slams Donald Trump for exploiting his imprisonment to attack President Biden (Business Insider)
Summary: Trump has harshly criticized Biden for exchanging Griner for Viktor Bout, an arms dealer.
My Take: Let’s see, some Republicans are angry that Biden wasn’t able to bring back Paul Whelan, who’s being held in Russia for espionage. Please take a roll call and ask each one of them to tell us everything they have done since Whelan’s arrest in 2018 to secure his release. Trump's former National Security Adviser, John Bolton, said last week that Trump could have swapped Whelan for Bout in 2018, but decided not to.
Paul Whelan himself said he was happy for Griner, though disappointed that he was still not free. Whelan’s family has also said they supported the swap for Griner. In the meantime, President Biden has promised to continue to work for Whelan’s release.
Will the swap put American tourists in jeopardy as hostages? They have always been in jeopardy, more so if traveling to hostile countries with dictators as leaders. Let’s not make it easier for them—stay out of those countries. And those bitter Republicans looking to exploit her for some easy publicity, should either contribute with a solution or step back and let the adults handle it.
This the fourth time since Griner’s arrest that I’ve written about her plight. I hope to never write about her again unless to praise her remarkable basketball skills when she returns to the court.