This comes as Russia is conducting its annual nuclear force exercises. Putin accused the US of giving Ukraine “heavy weapons,” whatever that means, and said, “It is also known about plans to use a so-called dirty-bomb for provocation.”

  The current theory is that the Russians would be the ones to use the dirty bomb and use that as a “false flag” provocation to use heavier weapons of their own.

  The Russians are also good at waging a war of words, even if virtually nothing they say is true.

  As the war drags on and winter approaches, international support for Ukraine could be waning. With shortages of natural gas, it’s going to be cold in Europe and there’s political pressure for a solution. Republican leaders in the US are talking about dialing back support for Ukraine if they take control of Congress in the mid-term elections.

  Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, told The NY Times, “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing I think is Russian far-right propaganda talking points filtering into the US political environment, and knowingly or unknowingly we see US politicians basically using talking points that will do nothing but bring a big smile to Putin’s face.” 

  Ukraine and Russia are nowhere near negotiating an end to the war.  John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, told reporters, “Putin is clearly continuing to prosecute this war in a brutal, violent way,” and that the Ukrainians “are not in a position where they want to negotiate.”

Hajib Revolution: Thousands of Iranians continue to protest 40 days after the death of Mahsa Aminiwho was arrested by the morality police for not properly wearing her head scarf.

  Crowds gathered at a cemetery in Amini’s hometown, some chanting “Death to the dictator.” That would be the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled the country since 1989.

  Protesters continue to get killed, at least two of them in the past 24 hours. Another death that’s been feeding the uprising has been that of 16-year-old Nika Shahkarami, from Tehran. She was last seen being taken away by the police, who later said she managed to fall off the top of a building.

The Running Man: Another woman has come forward to say that Georgia anti-abortion Senate candidate Herschel Walker urged her to have an abortion. The woman appeared virtually at a press conference with her celebrity lawyer, Gloria Allred. 

  The woman identified only as Jane Doe said she had a years-long relationship with Walker and he pushed her to get an abortion in 1993. She said she came forward because of Walker’s hypocrisy, and her belief that he is not “morally fit to be a US senator.”

  The woman said, “He has publicly taken the position that he is about life and against abortion under any circumstance when in fact he pressured me to have an abortion and personally ensured that it occurred by driving me to the clinic and paying for it.” 

  This is the second time a woman has said the former NFL running back paid for her abortion. The first had a receipt and a copy of a check with Walker’s signature on it.

  Walker said this latest accusation, like the first, is a lie. He said, “I already told people this is a lie, and I’m not going to entertain, continue to carry a lie along. And I also want to let you know that I didn’t kill JFK either.” It’s the cleverest thing he’s said so far in the campaign.

Trump World: Former President Donald Trump plans a rally in Florida along with Sen. Marco Rubio, but notably absent will be Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s running for re-election but is a likely opponent for Trump in 2024. They’re relationship has cooled, particularly since DeSantis has declined to say that he will not run for president. Trump has been laying the groundwork for his own shot at a presidential comeback. 

Channel Change: Employees at CNN are bracing for layoffs after the new boss Chris Licht issued a memo talking about “changes, reductions, and investments”  as well as “noticeable change to this organization.”

  Licht has already juggled the morning and prime time lineups. He said CNN will be a “stronger and more nimble organization,” which is executive code for “I’m going to be firing people.”  

The Spin Rack: Former President Trump’s White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has been subpoenaed to appear before the Georgia grand jury investigating attempts to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election. It’s the same grand jury that South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has gone all the way to the Supreme Court to avoid having to testify before it.  A statement from Meadows’ lawyer said he’s “weighing all legal options.”— A diver has found human remains in the shrinking Lake Mead that straddles the Nevada-Arizona border. It’s the sixth such find as dropping water levels reveal the lake’s secrets. — Virgin Australia airlines has announced a Middle Seat Lottery, offering a possible prize of $230,000 for people who choose to sit in the middle seat. — Billionaire Elon Musk, who’s in the process of buying Twitter, has dubbed himself “Chief Twit.”

Below the Fold: Ford and Volkswagen are dropping a joint effort to make self-driving cars, saying the technology isn’t there yet. But the Chipotle restaurant chain is testing a robotic tortilla maker.