#Murica has a baby formula shortage, while one of its top basketball stars sits in a Russian prison; Turkey’s Erdogan threatens to use NATO veto power to block admission of Finland and Sweden, and the Philippines has a new leader much like an old one

Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Reuters

President Biden says he expects the baby formula shortage to ease in coming weeks - How the hell do we have a shortage of baby formula in the United States of America? Something about contamination of supply and there somehow only being four viable manufacturers of the stuff, I know, but all of this crap we’ve dealt with in the last couple of years ultimately traces back to gross incompetence. The dumbing down of America is nothing new, but now the pace at which the degradation is happening is moving forward at lightning speed. This is absolutely not the country I grew up in. (Reuters 5/13)

DPPI/Ann-dee Lamour/LiveMedia/Shutterstock

American basketball star Brittney Griner’s pre-trial detention in Russia extended by a month on charges of allegedly smuggling hashish oil (the horrors) into the country - This woman’s detention is 100% politically motivated, designed to enrage the American public into demanding their officials cede to Putin’s will. An American women’s basketball star was his easiest target, as many female stars play in Russia during the WNBA offseason to supplement the relative pittances the American league pays them. The problem with all of this, of course, is that the American public is indifferent to the plight of a black lesbian. Now, if this were Tom Brady in her shoes, the reaction would be more akin to what Putin is seeking. #JustSaying (ABC News 5/13)

Yves Herman/Reuters

Erdogan: Turkey would not be 'favorable' to Finland and Sweden joining NATO - The least trustworthy of all NATO powers, an autocracy that has been gradually embracing Islamic fundamentalism for the past two decades, but they’re going to lecture the Europeans on who should or should not be in NATO. Erdogan has had a love/hate thing going on with Putin for years, and has pivoted his country away from the West. He has also greatly harmed relations with Israel. The better question here is, ‘should Turkey remain a part of NATO,’ and not whether two of the most civilized, prosperous, and peaceful nations on earth belong. (Sky News 5/13)

Another blow for humanity: Son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos wins presidential election in the Philippines. (AP 5/10)

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