Maryland, My Maryland

 WBOC, Maryland Sues 3M, Dupont, Others for Environmental PFAS Contamination

The Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced two lawsuits filed against multiple chemical manufacturers for the alleged widespread contamination of Maryland’s natural resources and damage to Marylanders’ health.

The lawsuit, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, alleges that the manufacture, marketing, and sale of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by these companies, including 3M and DuPont, have polluted the State’s environment and put the health of Marylanders at risk.

The first lawsuit tackles the contamination caused by PFAS present in fire fighting foam that has been used by the U.S. military, airports, industrial facilities, and fire departments. The second suit addresses PFAS contamination from other sources, including consumer products, which were introduced through industrial facilities. That suit includes the use and disposal of the products, landfills with PFAS waste, and wastewater treatment plants with PFAS-contaminated waste streams.

The lawsuit alleges the chemical manufacturers knew the dangers of using PFAS products for years but kept the risks secret and continued the manufacturing, marketing, and sales of their PFAS products in Maryland for profit.

“Those who would choose to pose a risk to Marylanders' well-being must be held accountable,” said Gov. Wes Moore. “By filing these claims, Maryland is making clear that we value health, safety, and preserving our state's precious natural resources for future generations over corporate profits.”

The Department of the Environment says PFAS in humans and animals has been linked to diseases such as kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and low birth weight, and may also impair the immune system.

The two lawsuits aim to recover damages and costs of the investigation, cleanup, restoration, and treatment of Maryland’s natural resources from PFAS contamination. Both suits were filed on behalf of the State of Maryland, the Maryland Department of Environment, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Health.

I've been sitting on these too long, so I'll just throw them out here:

Bay Journal,  ‘Forever chemicals’ found in fertilizer raise concerns

Bay Journal, EPA proposes limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

TNation, Are Forever Chemicals Really Killing Us?

There’s certainly some evidence to suggest that these chemicals can cause harm at high enough concentrations. But there’s also a great deal of observational data showing correlations with all sorts of endpoints that, rather than showing true evidence of harmful effects, may simply reflect that PFAS levels are a good marker for general health (more on that later).

This is inherently the problem with observational research. First, despite all the recent attention, PFAS aren’t a new group of chemicals (1). They’ve been around since the 1940s, and humans have been exposed to these compounds for about 70 years.

They’re present in various products that most people use in their homes: paper and cardboard packaging, Teflon coating, Scotchgard, cosmetics, and the list goes on. The two most widely known are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).

They’re also commonly used in building materials. Given their widespread use and their persistence in the environment (in the air, dust, water, and soil), they’ll continue to be found in our bodies for a long time to come.

However, blood levels of PFOA and PFOS have been greatly declining in the U.S. population since manufacturers have begun phasing them out of products.

While epidemiological studies show an association between these chemicals and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, there are also associations between disease/death and terrible lifestyle choices. That may be confounding the association between PFAS and kicking the bucket.

For example, fast food, pizza, microwave popcorn, ice cream, soda, fried (not omega-3 rich) fish, candy, salad dressing, butter, cheese, and white rice have positive associations with PFAS levels. However, eating at home shows an inverse association with PFAS levels, while going out for fast food is associated with a higher level.

Those eating a diet in omega-3-rich fish, fiber, fruit, and vegetables also show lower PFAS levels (4), while consuming a diet rich in fried fish, low-fiber foods, and high-fat bread/cereal/rice/pasta was associated with higher PFAS plasma concentrations.

This begs the question: Are at least some of these proposed adverse effects of PFAS simply confounded by the fact that lifestyle choices known to improve health are associated with lower PFAS exposure, while unhealthy choices are associated with higher PFAS exposure?

It’s not surprising given that PFAS are found in fast food containers and packaging, non-stick paper, pizza boxes, and plastic used for various foods (butter, microwave popcorn, ice cream, candy).

Flotsam and Jetsam - Debt Ceiling Vote on the Edge

The House is supposed to vote on the debt deal some time later today, after the 72 hour period to read the 99 page bill (a rule mandated in the agreement to make Kevin McCarthy speaker) has elapsed, and the politicians are doing they're best to keep us in suspense. Getting out of  the Rules Committee will require all but 3 Republicans on it to vote yes, and already two have said no, and a third is on the fence. Atop Da Hill, McCarthy’s debt ceiling deal faces first critical GOP test .

A key early test will come Tuesday afternoon, when the House Rules Committee is set to vote on the rule governing debate over the measure. Such rules are generally party-line efforts, but two Republicans on the House Rules panel — Reps. Chip Roy (Texas) and Ralph Norman (S.C.) — have emerged as harsh critics of the deal negotiated by President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). McCarthy could afford their defections but would have only one vote to spare, assuming the panel’s four Democrats all vote against the rule.

WaPoo reports that  "Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a libertarian-minded conservative who sometimes sides with the Freedom Caucus, indicated he would vote to move the bill forward. His support helped the panel adopt the rule by a vote of 7-6. The bill will now head to the full House for a vote on Wednesday." OK, one hurdle over, if not gracefully. Cutie Pavlich at Town Hall, Biden's Debt Deal on the Brink as More Republicans Vow to Vote No. At NYPO, GOP Rep. Rosendale to vote against $4T debt ceiling deal: ‘Insult to the American people’ . Sundance at CTH, Byron Donalds and Chip Roy Are Furious About McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal – House Freedom Caucus Says “NO”! WaEx, Debt limit: Nancy Mace says she does not support McCarthy's deal with Biden, Debt limit: Virginia Republican hammers 'abysmal failure' of leadership from GOP on deal and Paul Bedard thinks McCarthy may have threaded the debt needle: Polls. Conor Clarke at the Volokh Conspiracy explains Why the Debt Limit Is (Still, Really) Constitutional. Hat Hair's Capt. Ed adds "I find it fascinating that the same people who needed fainting couches when Dick Cheney argued for the “unitary executive” now argue vociferously that the 14th Amendment made Congress subordinate to the executive — and only now, nearly 160 years after ratification. One can make the argument that the debt ceiling is stupid and redundant; I’ve made that argument myself. But being stupid or redundant do not make laws unconstitutional, as I warned before the Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v Texas, and as Clarence Thomas warned in his dissent to that decision."

'Bonchie' at Red State sees NEW: Bidens Offered 'Safe Harbor' to Hunter Biden, Messages Appear to Confirm Influence Peddling Scheme. Breitbart, Democrats Defend FBI Stonewalling James Comer’s Subpoenaed File Allegedly Linking Joe Biden to $5M Bribery Scheme. Charlotte Hazard at JTN, Chris Wray jailed? One lawmaker would like to throw FBI chief in Capitol brig for contempt. At NewsMax, Rep. Comer: House 'Taking Steps' to Hold FBI Director Wray in Contempt of Congress. Nice Deb at Am Great, House Oversight Committee ‘Taking Steps’ to Hold Christopher Wray in Contempt of Congress After FBI Refuses to Comply With Subpoena. John Sexton at Hat Hair, Tara Reade did what now? Went to Russia to avoid Delwarecide. Althouse "I’m still kind of in a daze a bit but I feel very good.... I feel very surrounded by protection and safety.... I just didn’t want to walk home and walk into a cage or be killed..." and Is Tara Reade part of Russian disinformation? Fox, Biden admin reviewing whether to lift tariffs on imports from China. "Review is focused on Trump-era tariffs imposed on certain Chinese goods in 2018 and 2019." They own him so he probably will.

At WaEx, Democrats worry third-party candidate will hand 2024 election to Republicans. Althouse, Nearly half (45%) of Republican voters – including those who lean toward the GOP – say Trump is definitely the strongest candidate..." Atop Da Hill, Trump pledges to end birthright citizenship on first day in office. I don't see how he can, it's in the constitution, but then, a lot of things in the constitution seem to be ignored. ABC, Trump's welcome of Scott into 2024 race shows his calculus: The more GOP rivals, the better for him "When Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina launched his campaign for the White House, the notoriously prickly former President Donald Trump welcomed his new competitor with open arms." Althouse blogs "Reagan... was older than Nixon but had the swagger and ease of a much younger man, marrying the sort of sunny optimism Nixon could never muster..." "Writes Ross Barkan in "Trump Will Be Tough to Beat, if 1968 Is Any Guide" (NYT)." Twitchy reports a political trick. Popular MAGA account with 1000s of followers BUSTED as a Democrat Operative (deletes account)

Hayley Williams

WaEx (again)  Kaylee McGhee White explains Why DeSantis is right to lean into the culture war. At Chicks on the Right, Laura Loomer Suggests That Casey DeSantis “Exaggerated” Her Cancer. Capt. Ed says "It’s beginning to smell like 2015 again, only this time as desperation rather than rebellion against the establishment. The Very Online troop of Trump activists and official mouthpieces are using personal attacks on DeSantis supporters and DeSantis family members in what looks like an intimidation strategy. It won’t play this time around, because all it does is remind people why voters dislike Trump and his movement leaders so much." Never-Desantis sundance, Porkulous – Ernst Rides with Ron. At Mediaite, Paramore’s Lead Singer Tells Fans ‘You’re F*cking Dead to Me’ If You Vote DeSantis in 2024, Hayley Williams.

KT at Hat Hair, If Sununu gets in the race, "it's going to be really freaking weird for everybody”. Even weirder, NYPo reports Chris Christie easing into likely presidential campaign with super PAC. More meat for Trump's grinder.

Da Caller reports Joe Manchin Down Big To Republican Opponent: POLL. I think his only way out is to switch parties. 

Ace is not surprised, The Cost of Foxweiser's Firing of Tucker Carlson: One Million Viewers Every Night

Jazz Shaw is horrified that Feds coming after cash from J6 prisoners. You should be too. They're trying to make it illegal for defendants to fund raise for legal costs. John Solomon at JTN reports  After John Durham bombshell, judge breathes new life into Clinton Foundation whistleblower case. "U.S. Tax Court asks for new motions this summer from whistleblowers, IRS in aftermath of precedent-setting rulings." Good.

Michael Shellenburger at Public explains Why The Media Is Attacking Free Speech. For profit. Capt. Ed comments "It’s the drawbridge effect. Having secured some valuable turf, the media now wants to make sure no one can challenge for it later. It’s also a bet that they’ll be the last up against the wall when their revolution succeeds — and inevitably turns on them." At LI, Ocasio-Cortez Throws Hissy Fit Over Twitter Parody Account, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Press Release (parody): “I can’t believe people would think these parody tweets are from our office when they are clearly fake. Come on y’all you know I would never say something as stupid as that.”"

Nick Arama at Red State claims Bud Light's Troubles Now Spiraling out of Control With Latest Sales News. Ace,  Pictures and Videos Show Shelves Overflowing With Unwanted Cases of Bud Light Through the Memorial Day Weekend "Oh well, Memorial Day weekend isn't a big beer-drinking holiday." Across da pond Da Mail explains How YOUR 401k savings are being used to turn our biggest brands woke - as revealed by ex-Anheuser-Busch exec who shows how you can fight back at the cash registers. Mythinformed@MythinformedMKE "“Investors are not going to look at a 6 week stock drop from one company (Bud Light) as something that is really that important” The corporate elite’s advice to companies is to double down on ESG." • ᗰISᑕᕼIᗴᖴ ™ • @4Mischief, "Either Target and Bud Light can give into the “economic terrorism” of the left OR go woke and go broke. Sounds like a no-brainer." Dave Strom at Hat Hair hears Dylan Mulvaney now interested in girls. That's one queer it. And for amusement, the Babylon Bee provides To Win Back Old Customer Base, Bud Light Adds Mullets To Cans. "These mullets prove just how well we know our customers," said Bud Light Marketing Director Stacey Mulberry-Saffron while explaining the strategic value of focus groups and social media surveys. "We're confident customers will return in droves for this refreshing can of business-in-the-front-and-party-in-the-back."

Rachelle Lefevre

Dave Strom again, Target's trans-the-kids agenda goes deeper than you think. At Da Blaze, 'Twilight' actress who has 'nonbinary' 7-year-old child rips Target for moving Pride display to back of store: 'We’re not supposed to negotiate with the terrorists', "Twilight" actress Rachelle Lefevre. At ET, says it's Not Just Target: Walmart’s ESG Efforts Focus on Catering to LGBT Agenda "ESG guidelines reward retailers for not just selling LGBT merchandise but buying from such suppliers." Hat Hair's KT, Levis isn't a big surprise in the World of Woke but Kohl's...  At Da Caller, Chick-Fil-A Draws Criticism For DEI Statement. News Week hopefully adds Chick-fil-A Faces a Conservative Revolt. I think we'll find a lot of companies pandered to the alphabet mafia, with differing levels of sincerity. BizPac, Disneyland’s dress-wearing man works in dress store for little girls: ‘My name’s Nick, I’ll be your Fairy Godmother for the day’. Hat Hair's KT, Megyn Kelly has a few words for this feminine hygiene product company  "Dear Always: we are not “bodies with female sex organs.” We are WOMEN. GIRLS. And we are the only ones who get periods and buy products from your pathetic, dehumanizing, and apparently misogynistic brand. Got it?"  From Da Caller, Trans Activists Are Scrambling To Change Tactics After Conservative Boycotts Gain Huge Momentum. 

Spencer Brown at Town Hall thinks This Tweet From an MLB Pitcher Is Sure to Make Leftist Sports Media Melt Down, a low bar. At Twitchy, Nats pitcher Trevor Williams eloquently calls out Dodgers for ‘blatant and deeply offensive’ Pride event. The  LA Times, cited at Hat Hair, airs Kershaw: Dodgers' "Christian Day" is my protest about honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Capt. Ed, Apparently, his employer disagrees, and they’re calling the SPI “community heroes” for it. I don’t think a We Really Still Want Christian Money Night is a sufficient response, but YMMV. 'Becca Downs at Town Hall chronicles how More Baseball Players Are Speaking Out Against Dodgers Inviting Anti-Catholic Group. But, as Dave Strom notes Toronto Blue Jays pitcher apologizes for offending alphabet crowd.

From Da Caller, The Entire Transgender Craze Leads Back To One Group, And They’re Playing Hardball, The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Dave Strom reports a  misleading and Insane DHS warning about threat to transgender people. At Fox, NV Dems to fine schools $5k per day for not allowing biological males in girls sports and Christian teacher banned from teaching for 'misgendering' student: 'Just one view allowed' on gender. At NYPo, ESPN’s Sam Ponder accused of ‘bigotry’ after transgender athlete stance. 

Dave Strom yet again, details how Yes, pedophilia is being normalized. PJM's Athena Thorne notes Florida Furries Stymied by Child Protection Law, Make Convention 18+  "Megaplex organizers had a choice between excluding minors and excluding kinky furries, and they chose to keep the perverts and kick out the kids."

Hat Hair's John Sexton is reporting Loudoun County schools ordered to turn over investigation into handling of sexual assaults. Joanne Jacobs, High school debate's decline: No arguing allowed. Am Con notices WaPo Attacks Homeschooling. They hate counter programming. At Campus Reform, a Professor fails student for refusing to condemn her Christian faith. Hat Hair's KT, Texas becomes the largest state to ban DEI programs on college campuses.

Nicholas Fondacaro@NickFondacaro, "Hostin claims Democratic women vote Dem because they agree with the policies and scoffs at Republican/pro-life women: "I think with white female Republicans, you have a Republican Party that is taking away your health right to decide for yourself." Capt. Ed snarks "Sounds prejudiced and racist to me. Why does ABC News air “hate speech”?" Will Alexander at Town Hall explains They’re Conditioning Americans to Hate White People.

Ace hears San Francisco Mayor Announces Initiative to Reclaim City Streets from the Drug Addicts; Is Heckled for 14 Minutes, Then Has a Brick Thrown At Her, "Just some more of that Free Speech Activity that Merrick Garland says that people on the extreme left, and only people on the extreme left, are entitled to." Via John Sexton at Hot Air: "It looks like this person tried to run for it but got knocked down by a bystander. No one is saying this person is trans but it sort of looks that way to me."

From America New Majority Project, Exclusive Poll: Voters Don’t Want Military Inserting Itself into Social Issues. At Da Caller, America’s Military Deserves Better Than Biden.

The Wednesday Wetness

Featuring Lorena Gonzalez Casuso@loreoceancuba Cuba Freediving Champion 🇨🇺👌🏻🥇 📍Miami 🇺🇸 DM for collab 🧜🏻‍♀️ SNSI #freediving Instructor @c4carbon #spearfishing Team #biologist and #model

The Wombat came through with Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Double-Scoop Swimsuit Edition!

Forget it Jake, It's Baltimore

From PM, Baltimore institutes curfew for teens from Memorial Day through Labor Day in attempt to curb crime

The city of Baltimore is issuing a citywide curfew for minors aged 16 and younger, with officials stating that the goal of the curfew is to keep children and teens safe and to cut down on crime.

According to WBAL, residents received text messages and phone calls on Friday morning to remind them of the curfew, which begins on Friday night and goes through Labor Day weekend.

"Reminder: Curfew ordinance is in effect from 11 pm to 6 am all summer," the text message read. The message also included a link to the B’More Summer Information Hub, which informs residents of summer camps and activity ideas.

For teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16, the curfew goes from 11 pm to 6 am on weekends and holidays. For minors 13 and younger, the curfew starts at 9 pm.

The curfew provides exceptions to the rule, including children out with their parent or guardian, and minors traveling to and from work or a city-sponsored event.

Under the payor's plan, police officers will specifically focus on groups of 10 or more young people. When stopped, identification will not be demanded, nor will there be pat-downs unless a safety issue is present. Officers will not engage with the group until a youth connection worker is present. According to the outlet, police have been instructed to verbally command the group of young people to disperse.

City staff who are not law enforcement are focusing specifically on the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, and Federal Hill.

If seen out past curfew, the minors will be encouraged to go home, or to a late-night center either at CC Jackson Recreation Center or Rita R. Church Community Center, where they will be supervised by staff as they await pickup.

According to USA Today, those who violate the curfew could face up to a $500 fine. The first offense gets a written notice and warning, a second offense gets a $50 fine or family counseling, and a third offense gets a fine of up to $500 or community service for the parent or guardian of the minor.

Encourage to go home or to a rec center? Yeah, that's gonna happen. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium Puts a Hit Out on Chesapeake Bay Oysters

Amy-Jane Brand

WTOP, Consumer seafood guide advises people to avoid Chesapeake Bay oysters. But why?

The Chesapeake Bay oyster population has been flourishing over the last few years, but a California-based seafood guide disagrees. Seafood Watch, a well-known consumer guide about sustainable seafood, has released its latest draft and is telling people to avoid eating wild caught oysters that come from the Bay.

A look at the draft shows the bay as being overfished and poorly managed, adding “current abundance levels in the Chesapeake Bay overall are still low. As a result, Seafood Watch deems eastern oyster abundance in Virginia as a ‘high’ concern.”

WTOP has reached out to the organization behind the report for comment.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is behind the guide, but declined a request for comment from the Bay Journal about the rating, saying the draft assessment may change, depending on public comment.

The findings have led to some criticism from the local industry. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science told Bay Journal the draft applied an overly broad and uneven brush when rating the bay.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources also took issue with the findings, saying no one has contacted them from the aquarium about the bay’s condition, adding that the information is outdated and misinterpreted. The department stood behind the state’s oyster management, saying it’s been reviewed favorably by outside scientists.

In 2018, Seafood Watch rated oysters from Maryland and Virginia as a good choice for those looking for a sustainable option.

Actually, it would be better for Chesapeake Bay oysters if they were not fished as hard. If it were up to me, I would have a 5-10 year ban on fishing and restoring oysters in Chesapeake Bay (go ahead and grow all you want), and see if the oysters are capable of expanding their population in the Bay as it exists at present. If not, go ahead and plant some foreign oyster that can, like ariakensis. You'd probably have to provide income support to watermen to make up the difference, but even that would likely be cheaper that current public restoration efforts.

The Wombat came through with Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Double-Scoop Swimsuit Edition!  

Those Newfangled Chesapeake Blues

Catfish, that is. From the Balmer Sun, the best explanation of the regulations that make the invasive Blue Catfish far less economical to commercially fish. As blue catfish overwhelm the Chesapeake Bay, barriers remain to weeding them out

Blue catfish, with their telltale whiskers and silvery cerulean skin, are likely even more hazardous than the snakeheads. Known to balloon in size by feeding on an incredible variety of estuarine life, the invasive catfish are gaining notoriety thanks to their abundance.

But Maryland seafood processors argue that the effort to remove blue cats from the bay for commercial sale has long been hampered by regulations. And even as the catfish continue to seize territory in the Chesapeake — endangering key species from blue crabs to Atlantic menhaden — it’s unclear whether there is sufficient momentum to loosen the red tape.

Unlike with other fish species, every time seafood houses plan to cut up a shipment of blue catfish from a waterman, an inspector from the U.S. Department of Agriculture must be on-site, and the seafood house can’t process any other fish at the same time.

 

The inspection rules were written into the 2008 federal Farm Bill, supported by catfish farmers, who wanted to boost their product with more stringent inspection requirements amid foreign competition. But USDA didn’t actually take authority over catfish from the Food and Drug Administration, which handles other seafood industries, until 2015.

“This was a rule that was many years in the making, because it was unusual,” said William James, a consultant for advocacy groups such as the Catfish Farmers of America. “The catfish industry wanted to be different. They wanted to subject themselves to these increased demands in order to acquire the USDA logo, and enhance the reputation of the product that they sell.”

As a result, USDA inspectors must be present at least once per shift when catfish are being processed. The agency provides the inspections without charge during business hours. And for establishments processing invasive catfish, overtime and holiday pay has been covered by congressional funding since 2021.

 

Maryland lawmakers from Annapolis to Capitol Hill, desperate to slow the population growth in the bay, have opposed the regulations for the wild catfish industry. But as legislators in Washington draft the next five-year Farm Bill, the future remains uncertain, said Keisha Sedlacek, who directs federal advocacy programs for the Annapolis-based Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

There have been some victories, she said, including language inserted by Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland into the federal omnibus spending bill for FY2023 requiring the agriculture secretary to ”work with the states in the Chesapeake Bay area to assist fishermen and processors dealing with invasive blue catfish.”

But transferring inspection authority for wild-caught catfish back to the FDA has been more challenging, she said.

What government agency has ever willingly given up authority? 

The Wombat came through with Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Double-Scoop Swimsuit Edition! 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Debt Deal Published

From Breitbart, Congress Releases Bill Text of Debt Deal. "House lawmakers will have three days to review the 99-page bill, called the Fiscal Responsibility Act, before they are set to vote for it as soon as Wednesday. The bill can be viewed here." Only 99 pages (double spaced with wide margins I assume? I'm impressed by their brevity. John Bresnahan@bresreports "New: A preliminary CBO estimate found that the Fiscal Response Act - the debt-limit package set to be voted on by Congress this week - could cut spending by $2.1T if proposed budget caps are left in place for full 6 years, per GOP sources."  As WaPoo notes, now McCarthy, Biden race to woo lawmakers to pass debt ceiling package. It seems to me from each parties perspective, the idea is to see how many defectors they can have, to help force the other side to contribute to the vote. Bipartisan in a negative sense. Yahoo! cites McCarthy: Student loan payment pause ‘gone’ under debt ceiling deal. At Based Politics, Fiscal conservatives blast debt ceiling ‘sell out’ 'Fake conservatives agree to fake spending cuts' according to Rand Paul. John Solomon at JTN reports DeSantis blasts McCarthy debt deal as inadequate when country ‘careening towards bankruptcy’, which can be true while still being the best deal McCarthy could swing. As PJM's Stephen Kruiser notes there is plenty of Blame to Go Around in Latest GOP Debt Deal Fizzle. Of course, Republicans aren't the only people upset. Breitbart cites the White House: Progressives Should Support Debt Bill Because of Items It Doesn’t Repeal, Avoiding Default. At WaEx, Liberal Rep. Pramila Jayapal denounces debt ceiling bill: 'Absolutely terrible policy' and Jim Himes says 'none of the things' in debt limit deal 'are Democratic priorities' and Debt limit: Joe Manchin snubs Biden and heaps praise on Republicans over pipeline approval  At NewsBusters, CNN Claims Work Requirements Are Offensive to Poor People. The City Journal considers The Debt Ceiling’s Geopolitical Stakes. "As the U.S. scrambles to shore up its position in the Indo-Pacific, unsound finances at home threaten its military readiness."

In economic news, Hat Hair's KT points out Bidenflation: Memorial Day barbecue staples cost more this year, they weren't bragging this year. At the Market Insider, Elon Musk warns house prices are set to plunge – and says commercial real estate is in meltdown. 

At Da Caller, ‘Nobody Wants Biden’: Wall Street Quietly Hopes Another Dem Wins The Party Nomination. From Da Wire, House Oversight Democrats Defend FBI Ahead Of Alleged Biden Bribery Scheme Document Subpoena. At his NYPo gig, Jonathan Turley points out Bidens offer ‘safe harbor’ to Hunter as he flails over scandalous reports. Varad Mehta@varadmehta "Is this the first time a mainstream outlet has called Biden out on his erasure of Hunter's lovechild?" Is Forbes really mainstream? At Am Think, Steve Young thinks 'It’s all about the money' -- The Dysfunctional Biden Family Legacy  and D. Parker wonders Is Michelle Obama going to replace Senator Feinstein to jumpstart a presidential run? At LI, Herr Professor Jacobsen hear Democrats: Save Us Michelle! "The fierce urgency of now may come into play if there is a realistic prospect of Trump returning to the White House or America becoming DeSantistan."

The PM hears Trump campaign fundraises for ballot harvesting operations in battleground states. "We recently alerted you that a Soros-linked Super PAC has begun targeting 6 battleground states with a $75 MILLION spending blitz to buy Crooked Joe the White House." The only way it will ever get banned is if Republican exceed Democrats at it. Matt Boose at Am Great says Republican Voters Don’t Want a Trump Knockoff,  "It comes down to this: DeSantis is just not presidential material," but Dave Catron at Am Spec warns of Trump, DeSantis, and the Dangers of Blind Loyalty. "Too much is at stake in 2024 to allow emotion to affect our votes." Josh Hammer at Newsweek attempts to make The Case for Ron DeSantis. Charlie McCarthy at NewsMax claims Trump, DeSantis Tied in Florida as NY Daily News sees Trump and Ron DeSantis spar over GOP war on ‘woke’ Disney. Ed Driscoll at Insty, BETO O’ROURKE COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENT: Rolling Stone tries to paint Ron DeSantis as evil for “bringing the ax down on furries,” makes huge campaign contribution instead. Althouse reads the NYT and finds "The rapidly ballooning field, combined with Mr. Trump’s seemingly unbreakable core of support, represents a grave threat to Mr. DeSantis..." "It's a relentless dynamic: The more opposition Trump gets, the more dominant he becomes. His antagonists only dilute themselves. It's a matter of math."

At Breitbart, Dianne Feinstein Confused by Sight of VP Kamala Harris Presiding over Senate. Hat Hair's Capt. Ed points out "This is an unfortunate tradition in the Senate. Both Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd were reportedly non compos mentis at the end of their long careers in the upper chamber. What is a bit non-traditional is the media attention about it for a Democrat. The national media seems surprisingly interested in pressuring Feinstein to resign and to force Gavin Newsom to replace her, something he reportedly would love to avoid if possible." At Front Page, Video: O’Keefe Catches Fetterman Staffer Admitting List of “Puppet” Journalists. "How Dems keep getting away with just about everything." I'm sure this is not unique to Fetterman or even Democrats, but since journolists mostly lean hard left, they get a better shake.

Ben Bartee at PJM hears Trump National Security Adviser: Deep State Will 'for Sure' Rig 2024 Election. KT McFarland, who has her own story of having the FBI try to intimidate her.  Why wouldn't they, none of them have been sanctioned for it yet.  At Front Page, Durham Believes FBI Should Have Never Conducted the Trump/Russia Investigation in 2016, "But why let them off easy over it?"   Britanny Sheen at Red State worries about The Rise of AI: How Artificial Intelligence Is Set to Transform the 2024 Presidential Race. ChatGPT is  a known liar, and therefore a perfect politician.

ET reports About 1 Million Viewers Stopped Watching Fox News After Tucker Carlson’s Exit. Jeff Dunetz at Da Lid, Fox Prime Down One Million Viewers Per Night Since Booting Tucker: OUCH! That’s Gonna Leave A Mark "It's Going To Cost Them $$$$" But, somehow, I'm not worried about the Murdochs going hungry.

In a very real way, the FBI jujitusing a rash of anarchist attacks against pro-lifers into a reason to investigate pro-lifers is very similar to the J6 situation & Russia Collusion Hoax before it. https://t.co/wjX8SkbtX5

— Kyle Shideler (@ShidelerK) March 3, 2023

At PM, House GOP investigates Bank of America for handing over customer banking records to FBI during Jan 6 probe.  At Am Great the redoubtable Julie Kellypoints out Three Years Later, No Justice for BLM Insurrection in D.C. "D.C.’s lead prosecutor has turned a blind eye to a six-month campaign of terror in the nation’s capital in 2020 so he could keep his sights on the mostly nonviolent protesters

of January 6, 2021,"and the great VDH,  says It Was Always Only About Power With the Left, "For the left-wing elites, the cause is but a means to personal and professional power." The TN Star hears Newt Gingrich wonder Where Are Woodward and Bernstein When America Needs Them? Covering up Democrats scandals, of course. 

Stacy McCain pretends to be  astonished at the audacity of CNN, Warning of Weather ‘Misinformation’. 'Hey, that's our job!' Red State's Nick Arams regales how Elon Levels Liberal Matt Yglesias With a Question About Free Speech He Can't Answer. But sundance at CTH interpretes it as Musk Admits He Doesn’t Control Platform Censorship Decisionmaking – Watch the Twitter Financials. Reuters reports China deletes 1.4 million social media posts in crack down on 'self-media' accounts. How far behind is the Biden administration?

The Little Mermaid's Halle Bailey

'Buck Throckmorton' at Ace's MORNING RANT: AB Distributor Abandons Bud Light to Promote Alternative Light Beer; Other Musings on Being a Franchisee/Distributor for a Woke Corporation. At Twitchy NBC News says conservatives are celebrating backing Bud Light and others into a corner. Damn right! Matt Margolis, Dylan Mulvaney Identifies as Author, Appears To Be Writing a Book. Will it admit to being a scam artist? The Victory Girls think Mulvaney Is Even Sicker Than We Thought. I don't thinks it's sick at all, just an opportunist using an opportunity. Dan Greenfield at Front Page examines The CEO Behind Target’s Corporate Culture War and concludes "CEO Brian Cornell has turned over the chain to criminals and perverts." At Da Wire, ‘Another Company Needing Bud-Lighting’: Kohl’s Ripped For Infant LGBT Merchandise. Breitbart reports Kohl’s Faces Boycott Calls Over Pride Onesie for Babies Following Target, Bud Light Backlash. PJM's Matt Margolis looks at 'The Little Mermaid': What the Media Isn’t Telling You About the Film's Box Office Performance "No one will say this was a bad performance, but a little context is necessary. Despite all the hype surrounding The Little Mermaid, and the benefit of a long weekend opening, it failed to top The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s opening weekend domestic box office of $204.6 million. Comparing apples to apples, The Little Mermaid made $95.5 million, excluding its Memorial Day take. Ouch." Town Hall's 'Becca Downs thinks People Are Not Buying LA Dodgers' 'Christian Faith' Event After Team to Honor Anti-Catholic Drag Queens.

Hat Hair's John Sexton reports Two trans athletes did not show up for California state finals “Adults have created this problem,” said Oaks Christian coach Wesley Smith. “Adults need to fix this problem.” From Da Caller, NV Dems Pass ‘Last-Minute’ Amendment To Fine School Boards For Bathroom, Sports Policies "which would fine school boards if they adopted policies restricting biological boys from entering girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms, as well as participating in girl’s sports." Brandon Drey at Da Wire recounts ‘I Was Attacked Because I Didn’t Want To Have Sex With Him’: New Jersey Female Inmate Details Alleged Assault From Trans-Identified Male Transfer. 

Capt. Ed is looking forward to The fight for Virginia -- and for parents and children -- in November 2023. At the College Fix, Boston University students must take writing class with ‘social justice emphasis’. Capt. Ed says "It’s not education. It’s indoctrination. And as one former English professor tells the Fix, any time you go from education to ideological indoctrination, “intellectual standards deteriorate.” That’s because intellectual standards are no longer valued, and are in fact an obstacle." I figure, like most open propaganda efforts, at some point, it will lead to rebellion. At Da Wire, ‘Sinister, Nefarious, And Dangerous’: Federal Government Watchdog Slammed For Memo Urging Woke Language

Billie Eilish

From Fox, Billie Eilish eviscerates trolls labeling her a 'sellout' for embracing femininity: 'F---ing bozos'

"I spent the first 5 years of my career getting absolutely OBLITERATED by you fools for being boy ish and dressing how I did & constantly being told I’d be hotter if I acted like a woman," she explained in a since expired Instagram story. "And now when I feel comfortable enough to wear anything remotely feminine or flirting, I CHANGED and am a sellout," she lamented, calling out haters who comment on her appearance.


"‘What happened to her’ oMg iT’s nOt thE sAmE biLlie she’s just like the rest bla blah…You guys are true idiots. LOL I can be BOTH you f---ing bozos. LET WOMEN EXIST," she wrote, mocking her critics.

Jewel Kilcher

Also at Fox,  Jewel's twist on national anthem at Indianapolis 500 fails to resonate with fans, panned as 'disrespectful' I listened, and it's weird, but not even close to Hendrix level weird. Relax, it's not really sacred.

Ace, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chair of the Joint Chiefs General Milley Both Lie to Congress, Claiming the Military Doesn't Support Drag Queen Story Hours

This is perjury. There are drag shows announced on the regular at military bases.

This story is from March 29th. I'm not sure what brought it to the attention of David Strom on Wednesday, but I'm glad he highlighted it.

Lying to Congress is only a prosecutable offense when Republicans or conservatives do it. 

The Wombat came through with Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Double-Scoop Swimsuit Edition! and FMJRA 2.0: Das Herz Von Groenland.

Tuesday Tanlines

Cosmo, 10 tips for getting the best sun tan, safely "How to enhance and prolong your tan without damaging your skin"

 7. Eat sun-friendly foods Certain foods are known to increase lycopene, the skin's own SPF. An antioxidant found in tomatoes, and other red and orange fruit and veg, it can boost your sun protection by a whopping 33%.

Fun fact, one of the best sources to get this from is tomato paste – did someone say spag bol?

Dermatologist Dr. Samantha Bunting meanwhile favours ones with an anti-inflammatory effect to help calm the skin after sun exposure. "I'm a big fan of a group of antioxidants called polyphenols," she explains. "Green tea is a great example, sip it after a sushi lunch."

Why the sushi lunch instead of some poolside chips? Oily fish is rich in omega-3 and has anti-inflammatory powers too, that's why.

Last but not least, dark chocolate is packed with flavonoids that can help protect against sunburn, while caffeine is thought to help cut your skin cancer risk. "It's best taken in an espresso shot right before you hit the beach" Dr. Bunting says.

Coffee and chocolate? I'm golden!

The Wombat came through with Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Double-Scoop Swimsuit Edition! 

 

Memorial Day Flotsam and Jetsam

Not shockingly, the news and opinions are full of the debt ceiling deal, still tentative until the agreement is actually formalized in legislation and voted on. WaEx, Biden and McCarthy's tentative deal raises debt ceiling until 2025, so two years until the next 'crisis.' AP, Debt ceiling deal: What’s in, what’s out of the bill to avert US default. From the Free Bacon, Biden Wavers, Makes Tentative Debt Ceiling Deal With Republicans. At TNP, What does Biden and McCarthy’s Debt Ceiling Deal Mean, in Practice? Sundance at CTH hosts Sunday Talks, Kevin McCarthy Makes His Case for the Debt Ceiling Bill.

Spencer Brown at Town Hall repeats some of What Republicans Are Saying About the Debt Ceiling Deal. At Da Wire, Top Conservatives Slam McCarthy-Biden Agreement: ‘With Republicans Like These, Who Needs Democrats?’  'Duke' at Red State purports to know The Dirty Little Secret About the Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal No One Has Addressed Yet. At NYPo, the divine Ms. Devine thinks McCarthy’s debt-ceiling deal with Biden comes up short on his vow to rein in IRS. Atop Da Hill, Chip Roy blasts Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling deal as ‘turd-sandwich.’ From the Daily Fetched, Chip Roy Humiliates AOC in Explosive Debt Ceiling Debate – WATCH. At Breitbart, Democrats Acknowledge Defeat in Debt Negotiations, Urge Members to Vote ‘Yes’ Anyway. Atop Da Hill, Moderate House Democrat pushes back on White House over debt deal. NewsBusters chronicles how NBC, CBS Echo Dems On GOP's 'Cruel' Work For Welfare Debt Limit Demand, of course. According to 'Bonchie' at Red State, MSNBC Throws the Goalposts Into the Ocean to Defend Biden on the Debt Ceiling Deal. Da Caller warns One European Country Shows What Might Happen In America If Reckless Spending Continues, France; don't be like France. 

At PJM, Ben Bartee crows about a Poll: Biden Approval Rating Declines to All-Time Low. So does Breitbart, Poll: 66% of Voters Say Joe Biden Is Too Old to Serve Four More Years. Mark Ross at Am Think wonders What to do with Joe Biden? Pasture or glue factory? 

 

Campus Reform reports Leftist students blast FSU president for thanking DeSantis. MRC TV sees DeSantis: In Chicago ‘You're More Likely to Get Shot’ than Get Good Education – Study Finds Chances Are Actually 1 in 15. TNP features Leaked DeSantis Camp Audio: Move to ‘the Middle’ After Primary, Clinton’s Approach to Abortion. Politicians gonna politic. Never-DeSantis sundance continues a thread, DeSantis 105 – Former Cruz Crew, Now Team DeSantis, Ken Cuccinelli and Jeff Roe Plan 2,600 Person Campaign Spend for Canvassers in First Four States. Althouse points out an amusing deep fake in Ron DeSantis does not wear women's suits.

Don Jr. among others has shared this video.

I don’t think any of us are ready for this next election online.

pic.twitter.com/LJCNw16VvT

— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) May 27, 2023

Alicia Colon at Am Think tries Answering the Big Question: Ron or Don? She's a Don guy. At Da Wire, Republican Governor To Decide On 2024 Run ‘In The Next Week Or Two,’ Sununu? Are you kidding? Declan Leary at Am Con asks Why Are We Doing This Again? "The proliferation of long-shot Republican presidential hopefuls has only one upside: Donald Trump will get to do his thing."

Jay Valentine at Am Think thinks The Vote Fraud Monster Is Coming for Ted Cruz. If they can, they will. PJM's Matt Margolis, Of Course: Gov. Hobbs Vetoes Election Integrity Reforms in Arizona. 

  

Harold Hutchinson at Da Caller is gleeful that California Dems Are At Each Other’s Throats Over Who Should Replace Dianne Feinstein, don't worry, they'll find someone worse.

Stacy McCain hears a Chicago Group Hired Gangsters to Be ‘Peacekeepers’ and It’s Working Out Just About the Way You Might Expect, badly. Evita Duffy-Alfonso at Da Fed thinks The Unpunished St. Junipero Vandals Are America’s Communist ‘Blue Guards.’ "Yesterday, California’s Marin County District Attorney’s office announced that it would be reducing felony charges against the Black Lives Matter rioters who dismantled and demolished a St. Junipero Serra statue outside St. Raphael parish in San Francisco. The vandals will only be charged with a misdemeanor."

Thad McCotter at Am Great believes Democrats Demand Homage to Hoover’s Ghost. "The FBI knowingly participated in the Democrats’ seditious undermining of a duly elected president." At Town Hall, Matt Vespa attempts to explain Why the FBI Raided a Florida Blogger's Home This Month. He might have had a hand in the leaks of Tucker videos from Fox. I don't see why that's a federal crime. 

On the culture war side, Stacy McCain's From the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ to the Bulls–t Age of Wokeness: A Brief History gratuitously features Jane Greer. Thanks, Stacy! From Twitchy, New York Times critic says ‘The Little Mermaid’ is missing joy, fun, and … kink. At Da Caller, ‘Absolute Bollocks’: Actor Brian Cox Slams Hollywood Hiring Practices That Kill ‘Imagination.’ KT at Hat Hair happily reports John Cleese will not be cutting the 'Loretta' scene from "Life of Brian". Bill Scott at Am Think is hopeful, Is Marvel Comics Done Being Woke? Jim Geraghty at NRO is somehow concerned about The Strange Fans Who Want to Veto Taylor Swift’s New Boyfriend. At Breitbart, Hanoi Jane Fonda Blames Men for Climate Change: ‘We Have to Arrest and Jail Those Men.’ What is the statute of limitations for treason?

NYPo reports Target loses $10B in 10 days as stocks fall following boycott over LGBTQ-friendly kids clothing. News Week piles on, Boycotts' Initial Effects Hit Target's Stock Harder Than Bud Light's. Madeleine Hubbard at JTN features a rap song 'Boycott Target' climbs iTunes charts, garners millions of views ""Target, Target, yeah they targetin’/Target, Target, yeah they target kids," the song's chorus states. " PJM's Megan Fox sees Target Store Bomb Threats Sent By Angry Pro-Pride Left-Winger! And they're on your side! From the Victory Girls, Target: The Progressive Alliances Run Deep. At Twitchy an EPIC thread goes down the ‘gay rabbit hole’ explaining why Target and others are going WOKE (and broke). On Da Summit, Backlash & Boycott-Calls Hit North Face After Ad Featuring Drag Queen Inviting Everyone To ‘Come Out’ Video at link, if you insist. Mark Coppenger at Am Spec on the Dodgers, Indeed, "A great franchise famous for its artful dodging has lost its way." Throwing good money after bad, PJM's Ben Bartee observes Dying Vice Launches 'Queer Sports' Series, Hastens Its Demise. John Davidson at Da Fed  believes Corporate America Has Launched A Religious War. It’s Time To Choose Your Side. Itxu Diaz at Am Spec says Let’s Bankrupt All the Pride Sponsors (With Joy and Conviction) "We conservatives are not going to spend our lives looking the other way." From the Babylon Bee, Archeologists Uncover Target Store Ruins From Sodom And Gomorrah, and some cases of Bud Lite. 

On Da Summit (again) Cycling Governing Body Bans Trans Competitors. "UK National governing body will not let biological men compete in women’s races." Breitbart wants you to WATCH – Californians Protesting Transgenders in Girls’ Sports Forced to Exit Stadium: Officials ‘Frightened of Women Holding Banners.’ 

At TNP, Republican Who Blocked Bill to Ban Trans Surgery for Minors Cross-Dressed for Cash. "State Senator Fred Mills killed House Bill 648, which would have prohibited “certain procedures to alter the sex of a minor child”, in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, where Republicans had a majority of one, by siding with the Democrats. Since the vote, Mills’s history of repeatedly using drag to sell a pharmacy’s products and services – including school uniforms – has emerged, leading some to question his motives in voting down the bill." Looks pretty innocent to me. At Am Think,  Trevor Thomas thinks about Transgenderism and its War on Truth. Am Great's John Conlin compares The 1980s Satanic Panic and Transgenderism Today. "Let’s not wait 20 years to come to our senses." PJM's Chris Queen asks Is There a Polite Way to Handle the Pronoun Madness? Politely but firmly say no. SA McCarthy at Am Spec on  Resisting the Alphabet Reich as "Pride" month approaches. "They reduce the individual to something sub-human, to mere sexual desire or preferred pronouns."

At Da Caller, Reagan Reese, ‘Unprecedented Push’: Here Are The Red States That Have Enacted Sweeping School Choice Legislation In 2023 and Mary Vought, Democrats Are Now Referring To Protecting Children As ‘Parental Crap.’  Am Thinks Robert Weissberg considers The Futility of School Reform.

Hat Hair's Jazz Shaw reports State Farm halts new home insurance policies in California

State Farm said it will no longer accept new applications for home and business insurance in California because of an increase in catastrophic events and construction costs, the company announced Friday.

“State Farm General Insurance Company made this decision due to historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market,” the insurance company said in a statement.

James Nault at LI claims Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley’s Replacement Even More Woke, If That is Possible. "Milley’s replacement, Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, has published a blatantly racist, quota-based personnel promotion document, while presiding over tanking recruiting and military readiness numbers." Oh, goody.

The Wombat came through with Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Double-Scoop Swimsuit Edition! and FMJRA 2.0: Das Herz Von Groenland.