Prologue Journal – Page 220 – Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

PREVIEW: Putin to meet with Lukashenko on Thursday

Disclaimer: TASS is Russian government propaganda, and not a reliable news source. This will be the Belarusian leader’s first foreign visit after his re-election in January https://tass.com/politics/1926981

Putin Visits Kursk to Cheer Russian Troops Trying to Oust Ukraine

New York Times The trip comes as President Trump looks to secure the Russian leader’s support for a 30-day cease-fire. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/world/europe/putin-kursk-ukraine.html

Why Trump’s Tesla Showcase Mattered to Elon Musk

New York Times A lot has changed since former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. snubbed Elon Musk at an event in 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/politics/trump-tesla-elon-musk-white-house.html

Federal Officials Pursue Fraud Case Against Customs Official

New York Times A longtime customs employee has been accused of a scheme to defraud FEMA involving aid from floods in Detroit. She has denied the charges, officials say. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/cbp-fema-fraud-charges.html

Trump Pardons Ex-Tennessee State Senator Imprisoned for Campaign Fraud

New York Times Brian Kelsey, a Republican, pleaded guilty to illegally funneling money to his failed campaign for Congress in 2016. He later tried unsuccessfully to withdraw his plea. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/tennessee-senator-kelsey-trump-pardon.html

Military-Crewed SpaceX Flight Set to Bring Back Astronauts

Defense.gov The SpaceX Crew-10 mission will launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on a quest to bring back a pair of NASA astronauts who have been on the International Space Station since June 2024. https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4118167/military-crewed-spacex-flight-set-to-bring-back-astronauts/

The Killing of an Infowars Reporter Was Likely a Random Attack, Police Say

New York Times But that has not stopped Infowars’ founder, Alex Jones, from spreading misinformation. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/infowars-murder-alex-jones.html

U.N. humanitarian affairs chief issues warning about U.S. funding cuts

Washington Post With crises from Sudan to Gaza, the United Nations is estimating that it will not be able to help some 200 million people in desperate need of humanitarian aid this year. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/03/12/un-usaid-humanitarian-aid-crisis/

China develops new high-protein corn to replace foreign soybeans

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The new varieties could be used as a substitute for soybeans in animal feed, reducing China’s grain imports by millions of tonnes. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3302096/china-develops-new-high-protein-corn-replace-foreign-soybeans?utm_source=rss_feed

Rapid Force-Wide Review of Military Standards

Defense.gov Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a departmentwide review of existing standards set by U.S. military branches pertaining to physical fitness, body composition and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4118161/rapid-force-wide-review-of-military-standards/