U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Madrid (White House photo).

Seeking to create a greater counterweight to Russia’s expansionist policies, Western allies are takings steps to curb the possibility that the invasion of Ukraine might be followed by more aggression.

Turkey has dropped its objections to the membership of Sweden and Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance created in 1949 to confront the now-defunct Soviet Union. Under treaty, any attack on a NATO member is considered an attack on all.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden in Madrid said that the U.S. would bolster its military profile in Europe and support a NATO headquarters in Poland, according to United Press International.

Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has shattered peace in Europe and attacked the very tenets of rule-based order.”

Ex-intern now a national figure

Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, has gone from being a D.C. intern to becoming nationally known.

CASSIDY HUTCHINSON (Wikipedia).

According to United Press International, she became the “star witness” Tuesday before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capital by supporters of former president Donald Trump.

She told the committee that Trump tried to force his armored limousine toward the Capitol and asked authorities to not interfere with rioters who were armed.

Also in the news … R. Kelly, once a major R&B star, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing young fans. He had been found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking. Kelly denies any guilt and plans to appeal.

Sports: Angels, Dodgers in action

Seeking to defend their tie for third place in the American League West, the Los Angeles Angels (36-41) will host the Chicago White Sox (35-38) in Anaheim at 6:38 p.m.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (45-28) will try to shake off the series of losses to the Colorado Rockies (33-42 and in last place in the National League West) with a 5:40 p.m. game in Denver.

Weather: Cooling trend underway

If the past few days have been a bit too toasty for you, relief is on the way. The forecast for Thursday is for partly cloudy skies with a daytime high of 83 and an overnight low of 64. The sun will return on Friday with a high of 81 (63). Some clouds will be back on Saturday with a high of 76 (62), followed by sunny skies on Sunday and a high of 76 (61).