Dancing on Lughnasadh

 I would like to believe that Trump's catastrophic performance before the National Association of Black Journalists convinced his patrons in the Kremlin that he is a hopeless liability and that it was time to cut him loose.  Of course there is no evidence for this; the complicated negotiations that resulted in today's enormous hostage exchange went on for months.  But he can no longer brag to his followers that only he could bring Evan Gershkovich home because Putin respects him so much.  Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva et al. are already home, or en route.  It was, as President Biden observed, "a feat of diplomacy," a process Trump understands about as well as photosynthesis.

Here is a detailed list, including those still being held.  Putin recovered his favorite assassin Vadim Krasikov (Germany was reluctant to hand him over, which delayed the proceedings) but did not free the dancer Ksenia Karelina, whose "crime" was to donate $51.80 to a Ukrainian medical charity.  She holds dual Russian-American citizenship which Russia does not recognize.  More work to do.

Evan Gershkovich's daughter turned 13 today.  The President of the United States led the White House press room in singing "Happy Birthday."  This old cynic is getting like all misty (Maynard G. Krebs, wherever you are).

Of course, you can't please everyone.  Listen to this from Doug Burgum:  "The reason why Russia wanted to do this deal now is, they think President Trump is gonna win and they don't want to deal with him."  It seems this will be the official line, soon parroted by J.D. Vance.  The felonious rapist is so awesome that the world trembles even when he's out of office.  There is no reasoning with a cult.

And how about some love for the State Department and Antony Blinken, who gets a lot of grief because he hasn't solved the 75-year Israel-Palestine mess, the chaos in Haiti, the security of Taiwan and every other global headache?  This is a win.  Take a victory lap and dance like nobody's watching.