If you happened to tune into Fox News on Thursday night, you might have seen something extremely strange: Tucker Carlson condemning Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, and suggesting that what Russia is doing there—activities that have included shelling of a kindergarten—is actually big deal. “It’s a tragedy, because war always is a tragedy, and the closer you get to it, the more horrifying it seems,” he told viewers, adding, of the Russian president: “Vladimir Putin started this war, so whatever the context of the decision that he made, he did it. He fired the first shots. He is to blame for what we’re seeing tonight in Ukraine.” At this time, you might be asking yourself why it’s strange to denounce a country for waging an unprovoked war on its neighbor, or to place the blame squarely on the guy who made the decision to do so. And the answer is that it’s not strange, it’s what normal people who are not doing free P.R. for the Kremlin have been saying, but it is a tad odd given that, prior to Thursday, Carlson was this-close to inviting Putin on his show and asking him, “Any chance we can get you to run in 2024? I know it’s a long shot but…I’d love to see it.”

Yes, if you missed Carlson‘s most recent shows, a quick recap of commentary he’s offered on the situation:

• It’s “not un-American” to support Putin;
• Democrats will find you guilty of treason if you don’t hate Putin;
• The whole thing is simply a “border dispute”;
• “Ukraine is not a democracy”;
• Ukraine is a “puppet” of the West; and
• Our personal favorite, that unless Vladimir Putin has personally had you or one of your family members murdered, you really don’t have any right to criticize the guy:

Just how pro-Putin were Carlson’s comments? Clearly they speak for themselves, but if you need more convincing, just know that they were good enough for Russia’s state-run TV. Per The Intercept:

At least four times this week, Russian news reports have featured translated clips of Tucker Carlson or his guest Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic U.S. representative…. At 8 p.m. on Sunday, a primetime review of the week’s news presented by Dmitry Kiselev, a bombastic Putin favorite, featured remarks from the opening monologue of Carlson’s February 17 show, in which the American commentator trashed Ukraine’s government.

An hour later, the evening news program on Russia’s main state television channel used a longer excerpt from the same Carlson monologue and shaped its own report to amplify the Fox News host’s attack on a Democrat. In the original Fox News broadcast, Carlson had suggested that Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who worked to arm Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles, was only doing so because of donations from American defense contractors like Raytheon.

On Wednesday night, just hours before Putin ordered the attack on Ukraine to begin, two excerpts from Carlson’s most recent program were featured in Russian state television’s 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. news broadcasts…. Carlson’s comments were so welcome in Moscow that an excerpt from that rant with Russian subtitles was quickly produced by the Russian-language service of RT, the government-funded network formerly known as Russia Today.

Was being used as a literal tool of Russian propaganda the straw that broke the camel’s back for Carlson? It’s impossible to say why he suddenly decided to backtrack, but presumably it (1) can’t be trusted and (2) he’ll be back to praising ole Vlad very soon.

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Undoubtedly true given that the guy who was president a few years ago reportedly wanted to…pull out of NATO and empower Russia

And now, some trenchant analysis from Rep. Gazpacho Police

Lindsey Graham can’t believe Joe Biden would nominate a Supreme Court justice who he [checks notes] personally voted to confirm to the federal bench eight months ago

Mike Pence not sure why the left isn’t full of praise for an arch conservative who wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, has come out against press freedoms, and hates affirmative action …among other things

Truly, it’s a real mystery. Perhaps Mother can help him crack it.

Report: Some of the documents Trump took to Mar-a-Lago were a big f---ing deal 

Code-name, shall-not-be-spoken-of-in-public, Voldemort–level big deal. Per The Washington Post:

Some of the presidential records recovered from former president Donald Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago are so sensitive they may not be able to be described in forthcoming inventory reports in an unclassified way, two people familiar with the matter said Friday. The revelation comes as Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) sent the National Archives and Records Administration a request for further information on 15 boxes of records recovered from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort last month. The Archives set Friday as its deadline for an inventory of the contents. The Archives has publicly confirmed earlier reporting by The Washington Post that classified materials were found within the boxes and that torn-up records had been transferred to the Archives but not reconstructed by the Trump White House.

The inventory is expected to provide more information on the volume and scope of classified documents, including details on the level of classification, according to the two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. There are records at the very highest levels of classification, including some that can be viewed by only a small number of government officials, the two people said.

In her letter, Maloney requested a “detailed description of the contents of the boxes recovered from Mar-a-Lago…and identification of any items that are classified and the level of classification” by March 10. “I am deeply concerned that former president Trump may have violated the law through his intentional efforts to remove and destroy records that belong to the American people,” Maloney wrote. “This Committee plans to get to the bottom of what happened and assess whether further action is needed to prevent the destruction of additional presidential records and recover those records that are still missing.”

While experts agree that Trump broke the law by taking the documents with him, like so many times in his life, it appears he could still evade any and all repercussions. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed earlier this month that the Justice Department was in touch with the National Archives, but notably did not not promise a full investigation.

Elsewhere!

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tells Leaders They May Not See Him Alive Again (Intelligencer)

As Russian forces press closer to Kyiv, more than 50,000 flee Ukraine (Washington Post)

U.S. will sanction Putin as Russian forces close in on Kyiv (Washington Post)

Biden Makes History With Jackson as His First Supreme Court Pick (Bloomberg)

“For too long, our government and our courts haven’t looked like America,” Biden says as he introduces Jackson (Washington Post)

Elon Musk and brother reportedly face insider trading probe (CNN)

CDC changes approach to covid: Most Americans can go without masks (Washington Post)

Hollywood Unlocked Finally Admits the Queen Is Alive (The Cut)

Enormous bear named Hank The Tank is actually three enormous bears we will now call Hanks the Tanks (AV Club)

— ​​Images of Russia’s Attack on Ukraine
—Trump Calls Putin’s Ukraine Moves “Genius” Because He Hates Democracy
— The Zucker-Cuomo Saga Just Got Even Messier
— Why Biden Wanted Americans to Know Exactly What Putin Was Planning
— It’s Been a Hell of a Week for Letitia James
— “If Ukraine Matters, Tell Us Why”: Joe Biden Is Talking to Everyone Except the American People
— Republicans on Russia Crisis: It’s Biden’s Fault
— Thieves in the Night: A Vast Burglary Ring From Chile Has Been Targeting Wealthy U.S. Households
— Watergate’s Central Mystery: Why Did Nixon’s Team Order the Break-In in the First Place?
— From the Archive: Russia’s Dark Master
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