Squawkbox – February 21, 2026

In December of 1994, Ukraine gave Russia nuclear weapons in exchange for receiving from Russia and the United States a promise, in writing, that Russia would have to respect Ukraine’s borders and refrain from the threat to use force. This agreement is called the Budapest Memorandum. Russia first violated it in 2014, when Russia seized Crimea. When the U.S. did nothing, Russia decided that it wanted “a little more” and invaded northern Ukraine. If we were an honorable nation, with an honorable president, we would, at the very least, be giving Ukraine all of the weapons they need to defend themselves from an invader.

Fletcher, you have TDS.

If Jolie doesn’t recognize America as her country, who does she think made her a financially well-off person? Some people never choose the right words or make the right decisions.

You would think that people of a certain age would know that they are better served by Republican lawmakers. Fletcher, you and your pal Ludwig obviously didn’t get the message.

Chad Warbington brought up some interesting points in his first column for The Albany Herald. If he continues to do that, I think he will be serving his constituents.

Put Joe Durham under the jail.

Check Feeding The Valley. They have added someone to their staff who is taking food from the Albany location and getting it to a certain organization exclusively, which means other service groups that were getting products don’t anymore. There is a problem here, I am sorry to say. Feeding the Valley needs to get their balance back and service the entire community.

When Trump, sadly, leaves office, America, having been made great once again, J.D. Vance will be the perfect person to replace him.

“You had the choice between the Constitution and the criminal. And this country chose the criminal.” — Jesse Ventura/That Man Without a Family

Thank you, Albany Herald, for providing interesting stories about our community.

I read in Thursday’s paper where a Chicago-based consulting firm is recommending the city build a $70 million convention center. I cannot believe that any legit firm would make such an outlandish recommendation. We have a shrinking tax base, so the bond will have to be repaid from revenue generated by the center, which will never happen. Add this pie in the sky idea to the RiverQuarium, a failed brewery and IMAX theatre.