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.