🥁 Axios PM: Putin's big chunks

Plus: Tweet du jour | Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Facebook   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Feb 22, 2022 🗓️ Hope you've had a once-in-a-lifetime Twosday — today's palindrome date. We just celebrated 2:22 p.m. on 2/22/22. Military time tonight will hit 22:22. Twoday's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 467 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Putin's big chunks Screenshot: Fox News President Biden warned today that Vladimir Putin is "carving out a big chunk in Ukraine" and "setting up a rationale to go much farther," reports Axios World editor Dave Lawler. "Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries in territories that belong to his neighbors?" Biden asked. Biden announced what he called the "first tranche" in a series of stiff sanctions to punish Russia for invading Ukraine. Two major Russian financial institutions will be put under sanctions. Russia's sovereign debt will be sanctioned so Russia "can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade its new debt on our markets, or European markets either." Sanctions on Russian elites and their family members will be rolled out starting tomorrow, and the U.S. has stronger sanctions in store if Putin continues the invasion, Biden said. Screenshot: MSNBC The big picture: Putin gave his clearest indication yet that Russian troops would launch an invasion farther into Ukraine, saying the borders of the separatist "republics" he recognized yesterday extend to territory currently controlled by Ukrainian forces. Putin said at a press conference earlier today that Russian forces may not immediately advance into the two "republics," but that "it is impossible to predict the scenario that will unfold." Russia plans to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv. NATO and the EU both said that Russian troops had crossed into the separatist republics in eastern Ukraine.     2. ⚽ Women's big win Via Twitter   U.S. women's national soccer team players settled their gender-based pay discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation for $24 million, reports Axios' Jacob Knutson. The bulk will go toward back pay for the players. Why it matters: It concludes a lengthy fight between the federation and the players, including key members of the 2019 World Cup-winning women's team. The federation can control how much money is funneled to its national teams, but has no control of FIFA's World Cup prize money, which differs drastically for men and women. Go deeper.     A message from Facebook We're making investments in safety and security — and seeing results     Facebook has invested $13 billion over the last 5 years to help keep you safe. Since July, we've taken action on: 34.7M pieces of explicit adult content. 26.6M pieces of violent and graphic content. 9.8M pieces of terrorism-related content. See how we're working to help you connect safely.     3. Catch up quick Beverly Green, with the Transformative Justice Coalition, holds a sign demanding justice for Ahmaud Arbery back in 2020. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images   A Georgia jury convicted Gregory and Travis McMichael and William Bryan for federal hate crimes for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. The Supreme Court agreed to hear a free-speech case of a Colorado-based web designer who says she should not be forced to create websites for same-sex weddings under state law. The Court also rejected former President Trump's latest request to block the National Archives and Records Administration from releasing records to the House Jan. 6 select committee. The GOP response to President Biden's State of the Union address will be delivered by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.     4. 🐦 Tweet du jour How diplomats troll ... Via Twitter     A message from Facebook We're making investments in safety and security — and seeing results     Facebook has invested $13 billion over the last 5 years to help keep you safe. Since July, we've taken action on: 34.7M pieces of explicit adult content. 26.6M pieces of violent and graphic content. 9.8M pieces of terrorism-related content. See how we're working to help you connect safely.   Like this email style and format? Bring the strength of Smart Brevity® to your team — more effective communications, powered by Axios HQ.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: