DML News Morning Briefing, April 13th

Today is April 13. Below are some of the stories grabbing headlines this morning. I hope you share this briefing as doing so will make you the smartest person in the room.

1. REVEALED: Leaker who posted top secret Pentagon documents in a Discord group ‘works at a military base and is in his 20s’ – as close friend describes him as ‘fit, strong, armed and trained… like something out of a crazy movie’
DailyMail–The man behind the most significant leak of classified documents in a decade is a 20-something video game and gun enthusiast who worked at a secure military site, according to a report, and shared the files in a chat room with a group of around 20 like-minded young people.

Two members of the chat room, known as ‘Thug Shaker Central’, described to The Washington Post the person who had shared the documents.

He described him as ‘a young, charismatic man who loves nature, God, shooting guns and racing cars.’

Ryan Lynch: Do you believe leaking the documents was the wrong thing to do?

2. Trump arrives in Manhattan ahead of deposition in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case
FoxNews–Former President Donald Trump arrived in Manhattan late Wednesday evening, he revealed on social media, as he is set to appear before New York Attorney General Letitia James for a deposition on Thursday.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump called the lawsuit “another unjust & ridiculous persecution of The 45th President of the United States.”

Ryan Lynch: We all know Trump is innocent. I’m not worried.

3. Airlines, repair shops in North America rely on used, generic parts to keep aircraft flying
Reuters–April 13 (Reuters) – Airlines and aircraft repair shops in North America are increasingly relying on used and generic parts to keep jets flying, a symptom of the rising costs and supply-chain shortages plaguing the aerospace industry.

These alternatives to new parts made by the original manufacturer must be certified and deemed safe. While they account for a fraction of the estimated $35 billion spent annually on components for repairs, sales are growing, analysts and executives say.

Driving demand is the struggle aerospace suppliers face to fill new orders as air traffic soars and the supply chain for aircraft parts recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, when labor shortages and lockdowns slowed production.

Ryan Lynch: On top of this, we have pilots fainting and having cardiac arrests before, during, and after flights. I don’t think I will be flying for quite some time.

4. Russia digitizes draft system to target dodgers; World Bank announces $200 million for Ukraine repairs
CNBC–Russia’s Parliament passed legislation requiring the digitization of the country’s draft registry, in a move that will harvest more of Russians’ data and intensify control over the population, analysts say. Many Russian lawmakers and military bloggers have been pushing for more aggressive mobilization efforts and enforcement for some time.

Talks are underway at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., concerning recovery and aid financing for Ukraine. The World Bank announced $200 million in financing as part of an emergency repair fund for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has come under repeated attack by Russian forces.

The bloody battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut continues, with Russian forces gaining more ground and claiming to have the city almost entirely surrounded. Ukrainian commanders reject that claim.

Ryan Lynch: I wonder what currency the World Bank will use in its financing and it looks like Russia is getting desperate.

5. Commercial real estate industry on edge as downtown empty office space goes unused
FoxNews–Some Morgan Stanley financial analysts say the commercial real estate industry could be headed for a crisis worse than the 2008 great recession. This comes after businesses have left downtowns across the country with an increase in remote work and higher interest rates.

Many downtown buildings are owned by investment firms who rely on bank loans. But with businesses not renting as much office space and rising interest rates, some worry these firms may not have the money to pay back the banks.

According to CBRE Global Commercial Real Estate Services, in New York City there has been a 7.6% increase in empty office space since the pandemic. In Seattle, an 8.2% increase and in San Francisco, a whopping 25.4% increase.

Ryan Lynch: The “experts” will blame it on workers’ preference to work from home. I think it’s the slowing of United States businesses. Thank Magoo.