Britteny Griner is Home!

Back in the U.S. after her Russian ordeal

Merry Christmas to Britteny Griner. The Olympic basketball star has returned to her family and friends after spending 10 months imprisoned by the Russian government. Griner was in a penal colony moving fabric as she was too tall to sit at a sewing machine table. She cut off her locks in preparation for the winter months.

Griner was taken from the penal colony and brought to an airport tarmac by U.S. officials. In exchange for her release, the Biden administration had to release a known arms dealer. The Russian dealer had been in prison in America for over ten years. He was known in terrorist circles as the “Merchant of Death.”

Many in the U.S. expressed joy over Griner’s release. While others felt that Paul Whelan, another American and former military soldier, should have been released as well. Per the reports, Whelan, who has been detained for four years in Russia, was charged with espionage by the Russian government. The exchange was a one-for-one deal. Russia would not negotiate for Whelan — at least for now.

Paul Whelan will continue his 9-year sentence at a Russian penal colony until the U.S. and Russia reach an agreement for his release. Officials are hopeful that it will be in the near future as there are many protests in America over Whelan’s continued imprisonment. Biden’s negotiation team is hard at work with Russia’s team to come to an agreement over Whelan.

In any event, the past couple of months of been huge wins for Biden’s administration. The November mid-terms went well for Democrats, Trump’s announcement of another White House run has been met with disdain, the economy continues to add more jobs, gas prices are on the decline, food prices are finally declining, and now the Griner release. Biden is winning on all fronts.

With 2023 fast approaching, the last few weeks of 2022, have seen a lot of action. And I’m sure there is more to come before the ball drop ushering in a New Year.