The bad news is that (1) the deal will set free arms dealer Victor Bout, the Merchant of Death and (2) Paul Whelan, the retired Marine, is not covered by the deal. He will remain in Russia, where he has been held for nearly four years.

The bad news outweighs the good.

In my view, this deal reflects the misguided priorities of Joe Biden and American liberals. Priority goes to a black sports celebrity rather than to a former American Marine.

Team Biden says it’s working to free Whelan. I don’t doubt it. But this was a question of priorities. …

The Griner-for-Bout deal exemplifies major flaws in the Biden ethos and that of the modern Democratic party: Lack of respect for military service (about which Sen. Tom Cotton has written an excellent new book); over-eagerness to please the celebrity culture (especially its African-American wing); failure to appreciate (or worry about) the long-term consequences of short-term, feel-good arrangements; and (most alarmingly) unwillingness to drive hard bargains with enemy leaders.