Bits n’ pieces from east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:

Sweden’s V-Dem Institute, that tracks democracy, recently wrote “The speed with which American democracy is currently being dismantled is unprecedented in modern history.”

Prominent Jeffrey Epstein reporter Julie K. Brown recently said that after the convicted sex offender was found dead in his prison cell in 2019, a corrections officer told the FBI an investigation team was “shredding huge amounts of paperwork” -- while FBI agents were in the building. Another officer told the FBI “you may want to investigate why the [prison] employees are destroying records.”

After a February CBS story about a past investigation of Epstein and 14 others for drug trafficking, prostitution and money laundering, Sen. Ron Wyden-D, recently raised the concern that the DEA and DOJ, under the first Donald Trump Administration, “moved to terminate this investigation.” On social media he posted that Trump’s former personal lawyer, now the Deputy Attorney General, has blocked “the DEA from providing details of a mysterious Epstein investigation to my finance committee team.” He called it “stunning interference, especially since the documents are marked “unclassified.” AG Pam Bondi has been subpoenaed to answer questions on April 14 about the Epstein files.

Quick sketch of the Iran ordeal, from various media: Trump is considering winding down the war, but the Pentagon wants $200 billion more for the war. When a reporter recently asked Trump why take $200 billion more if the war is ending, Trump said “Well, ah, it’s always nice to have…” Trump has threatened to “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the Gulf of Hormuz is not opened to more oil traffic. Iran promised retaliation against neighbors, which Trump has admitted was not anticipated. The head of the International Energy Agency says, due to the Iran war, the global economy faces a “major, major threat.” Iranian officials want a ceasefire, compensation and no resumption of war. Alternative energy interests say the fallout from the Iran war is a “global wakeup call” for renewable energy, since more than 90% of new renewable power projects in 2024 were cheaper than fossil fuel. Another point made: for the same cost as another Mideast war, “we could make oil irrelevant.”

Trump said on social media that “good and productive conversations” are happening with Iran -- after Trump backed away from threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure if they did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. No such direct talks are occurring, Iran’s parliament speaker posted on X on Monday, saying Trump’s statement was “fake news” intended to manipulate the financial and oil markets, and “to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped.” According to the International Criminal Court, “intentionally directing attacks” against infrastructure is a war crime, and it’s a “crime against humanity” to cause widespread civilian suffering and deaths.

Israel’s assassination of Iran’s top security leader could allow Iran’s military to “tighten its grip” on the ruling system, reducing negotiation outcomes with Iran’s remnant leaders: The New York Times.

This weekend Trump posted: “Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party! Thank you for your attention to this matter…”

Former FBI director Robert Mueller, 81, died. As special counsel he probed Trump and Russian 2016 election interference -- which did not exonerate Trump, but did convict five Americans (pardoned by Trump). President George W. Bush said Mueller’s post 9-11 FBI work prevented “another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.” President Barack Obama: Mueller’s FBI leadership saved “countless lives.” Trump said, “Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people.”

Headlines, for brevity: [Trump ally Steve] Bannon: Trump’s ICE airport deployment is ‘test run’ for ICE at polls; Top Architecture Firm Won’t Design More ICE Prisons After Employees Revolt; Arizona community hits 110 degrees [The US’s highest recorded March temperature --the Southwest heat dome may become the most expansive in U.S. history]; FEMA to Relaunch Climate Resiliency Grants, Complying With Court Order; Trump administration [i.e. taxpayers] to pay French company $1B to walk away from US offshore wind leases; The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library awarded a Profile in Courage to the people of the [Minnesota] Twin Cities [for peaceful resistance to often violent federal immigration agents]; [Sen. Markwayne] Mullin Explored Bipartisan Deal to Rein in Immigration Crackdown [the now-confirmed Homeland Security secretary was willing to consider judicial warrants for immigration agents to enter private homes, and barring agents from areas like hospitals, churches, polls and schools]; Democrats say they don’t oppose voter ID [under debate in the Senate] but argue that GOP voting bill is too strict, and, Trump Voted by Mail Again While Blasting It.

Blast from the (recent) blast: “Some in this room are going to prison, myself included,” if Democrats win 2026 midterm elections and the presidency in 2028, former Trump aide Steve Bannon told a crowd of conservatives last week -- as he urged passage of the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility Act. If activated, the Act pas the potential to shave off enough Dem votes to favor Republicans.