Moveable Feast

Holy Week kicked off w/ Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in 33CE, and this year coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin clinching 87.3% of the vote and a fifth term to become Russia’s longest sitting ruler since Catherine the Great. That’s Catherine the Great, not Princess Kate, who disappeared from public view on 16 January and into vitriolic media speculation only to re-appear in the flesh this week at a Windsor farm market. Paparazzi report she seemed “happy and relaxed.”

As to the betrayal of Jesus on Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday), Putin described the death of imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny as an “unfortunate incident,” claiming he’d been willing to release him in exchange for Russian prisoners held in the West. In a news conference following the election, Putin expounds, “some people had told me, before Mr. Navalny’s death, that there was an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people held in correctional facilities in Western countries.”

“I agree,” Putin continued, “with one condition. We’ll trade him but make sure that he doesn’t come back. Let him stay over there.”

With deference to the Last Supper (Maundy Thursday), the United Nation’s food agency warns, “famine is imminent in northern Gaza. More than 2 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity,” according to the IPC, “catastrophic levels of famine could occur by July.”

The Passion of Jesus, or final “bearing, suffering and enduring” of the crucifixion will commemorate Good Friday, coinciding with a death toll of 32,000+ Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.

Christ's own death and harrowing descent into hell on Holy Saturday presage shockwaves coming from Washington to Jerusalem and the world. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill:

The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7. The world has changed, radically, since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.

Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death is scheduled to be observed on Easter Sunday, and if an appeals court doesn’t intervene New York Attorney General Letitia James could be seizing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assets during Holy Week.

With interest, Trump owes the State of New York $456.8 million + interest totaling $112,000 per day! To date, Trump and co-defendants owe the empire state $467.3 million. To obtain a bond, he’ll need to post collateral covering 120% of the judgment, a cool $557.5 million, which Trump’s lawyers say “is not possible under the circumstances presented.”

Shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded shell company, approved a deal to merge with Trump Media & Technology Group in a Friday vote. Trump will own nearly 80 million shares that could be worth $3 billion when it goes public, but signaled that he can't and won't use those monies to pay off the NY fraud case. Trump via X on Friday claimed he has $500 million in cash on hand, but "won't give money to a rogue and incompetent judge or corrupt attorney general who’s failing with violent crime."

All while six former Mississippi law enforcement officers were pleading guilty to state and federal charges for torturing and sexually assaulting two Black men. Leading the final stretch of Lent was the “Goon Squad” who were collectively sentenced to 100+ years in prison.

In the first rematch betwixt two U.S. presidents in almost 70 years, the Jan. 6 Attack on Capitol Hill and 91 felony charges have become the platform for a political dogfight for the White House.

In other news, French Bulldogs remained the United States’ most commonly registered purebreds last year, according to American Kennel Club. The AKC calls Frenchie the most popular breed, though other canine constituencies beg to differ.

Is it a coup to be celebrated? Au contraire, say longtime fans who rue what popularity is doing to the breed. Nevertheless, after surpassing the lapping Labrador retrievers in 2022, these bat-eared, scaled-down bulldogs are holding their own in the new standings.

In a head-to-head matchup, the former president leads over his Democratic opponent by 2 points — 44 percent to 42 percent — according to a YouGov poll conducted last week, numbers which carry a stark warning for both candidates.

Asked on Monday about America's growing criticism of Netanyahu over his handling of the war in Gaza Trump explained, “Jews who vote for Democrats hate Israel and hate their religion.” Meanwhile, Jarad Kushner apprised real estate possibilities on the Gaza shoreline and Netanyahu clarifies, "We're not a Banana Republic."

While tensions between east and west play out, Putin warned the West on Monday that “a direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance would mean the planet was one step away from World War Three;” followed by gunmen in camouflage bursting into a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow on Friday, killing at least 115 people and injuring 145 others. Fire and flames were visible from miles away.

All as the U.S. considers banning TikTok; Google tries to put Generative A.I. onto the iPhone; and the U.S. Justice Department sues Apple for violating antitrust laws and creating a smartphone monopoly. In fact, the world's largest economy has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries to live in for the first time ever, according to the World Happiness Report. It slid from 15th to 23rd place this year and the drop was driven by people under 30. “But this happens,” Putin says, rounding up his victory speech around prisoner swaps, martyrdom and the malfeasance of social messaging. “That's life."

Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Friday released a 2 minute video announcement revealing she's been diagnosed with cancer; has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment since February; is trying to reassure her small children George, Charlotte and Louis in terms they can understand that she'll be okay; and looks forward to returning to her duties when she's able. Her ask is fair, but her repose offers perspective for Holy Week. She began:

"We hope that you will understand that we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment." She paused, briefly looked down, before coming back into frame with a sentient message on human strife. "But I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."