Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, two eastern Ukraine provinces. He signed documents following a long speech carried on Russian television Monday.

“I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago,” Putin said, “to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.”

In September 2020, Democratic Senators were unified: No President should nominate a Supreme Court Justice during an election year. With the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer, they now face a similar dilemma. Let’s see their positions just 16 months ago.

Chuck Schumer (D–NY): “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled.”

The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked President Joe Biden’s Covid vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule, which took effect Monday, required employees to get vaccinated, or get tested weekly and wear a mask.

The court ruled 6-3 against the OSHA plan, blocking it from taking effect while other legal challenges play out.

Instead of jumping in the shower when I wake up, I have a bad habit of grabbing my phone and checking social media. It’s a great way to start off the day on the wrong foot. Here’s the first tweet that popped up Thursday morning.

Friday morning, the Labor Department reported that US inflation reached its highest level since 1982. The consumer-price index, which measures what consumers pay for goods and services, rose 6.8% in November from the same month a year ago.

But President Joe Biden has a plan: more debt spending. “[T]he challenge of prices underscores the importance that Congress move without delay to pass my Build Back Better plan, which lowers how much families pay for health care, prescription drugs, child care, and more, Biden said. “Passing BBB is the most immediate and direct step we can take to deliver.”

Granted, the Congressional Budget Office reported Friday that BBB will add $3 trillion to the national debt. But President Joe Biden has a plan for that too: raise the debt ceiling again.

A Chicago jury has found Jussie Smollett guilty of the first five counts of disorderly conduct for making false reports to police that he was a victim of a hate crime in early 2019. He was found not guilty on the sixth and final charge.

Nearly three years ago, the “Empire” actor reported that he was attacked by two white men who called him racist and anti-gay slurs, put a noose around his neck, and poured bleach on him, all while shouting, “This is MAGA country.” Smollett claimed it occurred while he was out visiting Subway in the wee hours of the morning during a freezing winter polar vortex.

Despite the story being ludicrous on its face, leading Democrat politicians, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, immediately believed Smollett’s bizarre tale, as did many leading celebrities and progressive activists. Local media soon pulled apart the fabricated story while powerful Chicago pols tried to prevent his prosecution.

Mr. Williams was the best substitute teacher at Shadow Mountain High School. Not to say he was good at teaching. To be honest, he was terrible. But any day students saw the elderly man shuffle to the chalkboard to scribble his name, we knew we were in for a treat.

The first time I had him “teach” was for my freshman Algebra class. He didn’t mention math. Instead, he gave us a play-by-play of Dec. 7, 1941. Mr. Williams had enlisted in the US Navy before the war and was stationed at Pearl Harbor.