Key Bridge Updates

Balmer Sun, White House urges Congress to fund 100% of Key Bridge rebuild

As state of Maryland officials consider which builder to select for the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement, the White House reiterated Friday its plans to fund the rebuild in its entirety.

Democratic President Joe Biden has stated the federal government will fully pay for the new bridge, and Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, again urged Congress to do so in a letter to the Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The letter updated requests that the White House sent Congress in October, including a new ask for $3.1 billion to repair highways and roads “damaged in disasters and other emergencies” — which includes the new Key Bridge. The span is expected to cost roughly $1.7 billion. In addition to funding the new bridge, the letter calls for funds for disaster relief from fires last summer on Maui and tornadoes throughout the country.

“I urge the Congress to take action as soon as possible, and the Administration stands ready to work with you to fund these urgent needs,” Young wrote. 

Federal highways are generally funded with 90% federal money and 10% from the state level, but the letter repeated the White House’s request to authorize “100 percent Federal cost share for rebuilding the bridge, consistent with the response of past bridge collapses.”

The federal government would also “pursue all avenues to recover the costs of rebuilding,” the letter continued. That could mean recouping money from insurance or litigation.

That's the first I've heard of the 90:10 split on federal highways, but it makes sense. I would hope they could take Maryland's share of the bridge, assuming Congress doesn't agree, which they probably will, would come out of the Dali's contribution, which I assume will be massive, but slow, like the ship.

Also at the Sun,  5 things to know about Key Bridge collapse, efforts to rebuild Baltimore span

1) New bridge expected by 2028: The Maryland Transportation Authority’s goal is to open the bridge to all lanes of vehicular traffic “no later than October 15, 2028,” according to a request for proposals (RFP) it released May 31. The deadline for proposals was Monday and teams submitted their pitches to the authority, which owns the bridge. By mid- to late summer, a builder — likely a collection of companies — will be selected. . . .

2) Biden pledged to pay for it: The bridge is expected to cost roughly $1.7 billion and Democratic President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government will completely pay for it. Maryland’s congressional leaders introduced a bill in April that specifies the federal government will pay 100% of the cost, but the bill has yet to pass. . . .

3) NTSB investigation ongoing: What caused the 984-foot Dali to lose power and run into the bridge remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board, which will likely finish its analysis next year, said Monday that it is looking into an electrical component — about the diameter of a soda can — on the massive ship.

4) Dali moves south: After the collapse, the Dali spent roughly two months grounded in the shipping channel, tangled with bridge wreckage. It was refloated and moved to the Port of Baltimore by five tugboats last month. This week, it sailed under its own power, going under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis and on to Norfolk, Virginia. The 100,000-ton vessel, with crunched containers still on its damaged bow, was assisted by four tugboats and two other vessels as it made the 23-hour journey to Virginia, where it will receive extensive repairs.

5) Some crew depart: Of the original 21 crew members aboard the Dali at the time of the collapse, who are from India and Sri Lanka, 10 were granted permission to return home. The remaining crew will stay in the Baltimore area for the time being. Four of the crew members, given their familiarity with the vessel, traveled alongside a replacement crew to Virginia, with plans to return to Baltimore later.

Random Celebrity News

 For some values of "random", "celebrity" and "news". From Da Caller, ‘Sopranos’ Star Claims Hollywood Is Full Of ‘Quiet’ Trump Voters, QuestionsActors Getting Paid To Support Biden

“The Sopranos” actress Drea de Matteo claimed Monday on Fox News that Hollywood is full of “quiet” Trump supporters, questioning if the actors throwing their weight behind President Joe Biden are being paid to do so.

Matteo appeared on “Jesse Watters Primetime” to discuss the recent lineup of Hollywood stars that have come forward to speak about their support of Biden in this upcoming election. After playing a montage of the actors, Fox host Jesse Watters asked the actress if there were supporters of former President Donald Trump in the Democratic stronghold of the entertainment industry. 

“Hello there, first of all. And I think there is a lot of them. I think there are a lot of — that was a hard intro to watch. I’m sorry,” Matteo laughed.

“Was it Jack Black’s legs?” Watters teased.

“No, it’s the Italian, man. We’re talking about Fauci, we’re talking about De Niro. I am mortified right now by my people. I don’t know understand what we’re doing here. Anyhow, yes. There are a lot of quiet Trump supporters, there are a lot of Kennedy supporters. And wow, I wonder how much the actors got paid to endorse Biden at this point. I’m curious, because that seems — I wonder if De Niro got paid a locations fee because he had to travel to the courtroom to do that,” Matteo said.

Page 6, Hollywood agencies eying ‘Hawk Tuah Girl’

Industry buzz is that Hollywood has its eye on “Hawk Tuah Girl” — a curiously charismatic woman who shot to viral fame a week or so ago after evocatively advising the internet on the secret to giving good oral pleasure. Sources even say that she’s been talking with UTA, arguably Tinseltown’s most powerful firm. But a rep at UTA told us that is “untrue.”

Still, prepare for a book (“Great Expectorations”?), a movie (“Black Hawk … Down”?), an album (“Blame It On The Loogie” by her band, Was Snot Was?) and a live experience (The Hawk Tour?) in the near future. 

The phlegm fatale — who got her onomatopoeic nickname because of her slippery suggestion, but has since been identified as Hailey Welch — has already finagled her own merch deal with Tennessee company Fathead Threads. It’s selling signed, embroidered “Hawk Tuah” hats for $43.70. 

At Hat Hair, Soooo ... That's a 'Yes,' Then? On X, Alpha News@AlphaNewsMN

JUST IN: Alpha News has asked conservative Hennepin County commissioner candidate Marisa Simonetti for comment after we were told she is a paid escort.

In a statement, she says: “I have done nothing wrong or to be ashamed of. When you are a woman, with an infant and no money, living with domestic violence, you can’t ‘just leave.’ I made a plan to protect my son and I executed, and now hold considerable wealth. I refuse to accept any narrative that shames or blames women for the autonomy they exercise over their own bodies.”

Minnesota county board candidate who allegedly threw live tarantula at tenant ischarged with assault

A candidate for the Hennepin County Board in Minnesota was arrested on assault charges after she was accused of throwing a live tarantula at her tenant. Marisa Simonetti, who is running for a seat on the county board, told NBC News on Thursday that the incident stemmed from local attorney Jackie Vasquez's alleged refusal to leave her property.

Simonetti said that she had rented Vasquez a room in her five-bedroom house through Airbnb but that after a series of incidents, Simonetti canceled the reservation.

"She was in my house less than two weeks before she started sending me double-, triple-paragraph long texts and yelling at people on the phone at 10:30 at night for an hour," said Simonetti, who lives in the home with her son. "I’m just sitting up here ... thinking this is not going to go well."  Simonetti accused Vasquez of threatening to ruin her campaign and sending "paragraph-long threatening messages" through her campaign website.

OutKick! Model Bri Teresi Teaches Biden How To Putt. "Anyway, golf influencer Bri Teresi – a big Trump girl, by the way – decided to check in and show Joe Biden how to properly dominate on the golf course."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bri Teresi (@briteresi)

Twitchy, No, We're Not: Alyssa Farah Griffin Says 'Non-Political Class' Americans Shocked by Biden’s Mental State

This is a masterclass in gaslighting. Holy cow.

The average, non-political class American has known something is wrong with Biden for quite some time. It was the political class -- and the media -- who pretended Biden was fine until Thursday's debate.

It's not hard to express. We all knew this. We saw the videos that the White House called 'cheap fakes'. We saw how all the Democrats said Biden was sharp as a tack in private meetings. It was the political class who was lying about Biden's abilities and mental acuity.

They're just mad they can't lie and gaslight about it anymore.

Brave Alyssa blocked replies.

And the weekly Taylor Swift fix. The Hindustan Times reports Taylor Swift reacts to Simone Biles' Olympic trials routine set to Ready For It: ‘Watched this…’

The Swift-inspired gymnastic routine helped Biles land at the top of the leaderboard with a score of 14.850

Taylor Swift expressed her support and admiration for Simone Biles following her first 2024 Olympics trials. The 27-year-old gymnast performed an energetic floor routine set to Swift's hit song Ready For It? from her 2017 album, Reputation. As the video of Biles' performance went viral on social media, the Cruel Summer hitmaker reacted with the most wholesome comment on Saturday.

“Watched this so many times and still unready. She’s ready for it tho,” the 34-year-old singer wrote on the video of Biles' Friday performance during day 2 of the 2024 US Olympic Gymnastics Trials. Swift emphasised with a bunch of emojis, including clapping hands, a gold medal, the American flag, and a red heart, in the comment section of the clip shared by NBC Olympics on X, formerly Twitter.

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: All American Girl up and running at The Other McCain. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Debate Fallout Continues

Yeah, Biden's bad, no, awful performance at Tuesday's debate with Donald Trump is still the main topic. Stacy McCain hears Democrats Singing ‘Suspicious Minds’. "Democrats are caught in a trap. They can’t walk out. As much as they may want to dump Joe Biden, there are a few problems — perhaps insurmountable problems — with any scenario to replace him:" I think they find one. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Maher, Matthews: Why Won't Dems Just Hand the Nomination to Newsom? Becca Downa at TownHall, Ted Cruz Has a New Prediction on the Chances Biden Is Replaced After The Debate. Nick Arama at RedState says Ted Cruz Drops Big Prediction About Replacing Biden and Who It Will Be "He said Michelle Obama was the only person who they could put in and move Kamala to the side." Althouse finds "No conversations about that whatsoever. The Democratic voters elected, nominated, Joe Biden. Joe Biden’s the nominee." "Said Michael Tyler, director of communications for the Biden campaign, quoted in "There Are 'No Conversations' About Replacing Biden, Campaign Official Says/The official also said President Biden was committed to attending the next presidential debate in September" (NYT). This immediately called to mind a tag I don't know why I don't use more often: "things not believed."" Also, Why not a coordinated double-coup? "What's brewing here?" At WaEx, Obama weighs in on support for Biden following nightmare performance. If I want my puppet I can keep my puppet. And Gavin Newsom distances himself from replacing Biden after debate disaster. At Da Caller, Chip Roy Unveils 25th Amendment Resolution To Yank Biden From Office After Debate Implosion. Eric Cowperthwaite at Security and Cigars calls it A Genuine Constitutional Crisis "The President is clearly not capable of exercising his Constitutional powers and authority." At NYPo, Staggering 82% don’t think Biden should still run for president: Post poll. Fox, RFK Jr. warns Biden isn't running the country after panned debate performance: 'It's scary'. "Presidential hopeful argued Biden is unfit for a second White House term on 'Fox & Friends'."

Atop Da Hill, Bob Woodward brands Biden debate performance a ‘political h-bomb’. Eric Lyman at JTN reads 'Panico,' 'Panique,' whatever the language, Europe's headlines all screamed same about Biden debate. "Those within the EU hoped for some insight about the rise of conservative politicians ahead of their parliamentary elections, but Biden's halting performance overwhelmed opportunities for big-picture takeaways." At WaEx, Biden debate performance renews spotlight on Hur tapes. From Fox, WATCH: Dem. Rep. snatches phone in testy airport exchange over Biden's mental clarity: 'Who owns you?' "The Kaptur campaign says the man violated her 'personal space'." NewsMax reports A Private Call of Top Democrats Fuels More Insider Anger about Biden's Debate Performance. “I was hoping for more of a substantive conversation instead of, ‘Hey, let’s go out there and just be cheerleaders,’ without actually addressing a very serious issue that unfolded on American television for millions of people to see." Matt Margolis at PJM, The Weekend Update: A Big Week for the 2024 Presidential Election. 

Jon Levine at NYPo cites Trump who says Biden ‘choked’ in debate, was in ‘trance’ that was ‘plainly and openly felt onstage’. 

This side by side of Biden’s decline over the last 5 years is devastating.

Shame on everyone who covered this up and left our country in such a terrible position. pic.twitter.com/qacTgorqfx

— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) June 30, 2024

Across da pond at Da Mail What IS wrong with Biden? One of Britain's top doctors gives his view as President's 'senior moments' in key TV debate spark concern. He strongly suspects Parkinson's. It not right to diagnose from the videos, but he could be right. From the Free Bacon, 'I Don't Debate as Well as I Used To': Biden Leans Into His Own Decline as Colleagues Plot His Replacement. Biden friendly Anxious anxiously puts forward that there are Two Joe Bidens: The night America saw the other one. "Between the lines: Biden's miscues and limitations are more familiar inside the White House. The time of day is important as to which of the two Bidens will appear." NYPo, Biden, 81, has difficulty functioning outside of 6-hour window as aides attempt to spin prez’s horrid debate performance: alarming report. President from 10 AM to 4 PM, Resident the rest of the time. Hey, I can relate to that. Who wants a 24/365 job anyway? 

WokeSpy, CNN Commentator Implies Joe Biden Knew “Questions Were Coming” Ahead Of Disastrous Debate. I don't think they had to be tipped; I thought most of the questions were the one's that everybody expected, and I found them shockingly fair to both sides. Anxious, Biden's debate is a "DEFCON 1" moment for Democrats "He was over-prepared and relying on minutiae when all that mattered was vigor and energy," one person in Biden's orbit told Axios. "They prepared him for the wrong debate. He was over-prepared when what he needed was rest. It's confounding." Oh bullshit, under stress he resorted to his old rote, and usually imaginary stories. Capt. Ed at Hat Hait, "No one who saw that debate last night can possibly believe that Biden was "relying on minutiae." He was incoherently spouting platitudes and badly written zingers in between repeated verbal tics like 'the idea!' and 'here's the deal.' They're lying, but expect the media to run with it at some point." Scott Pinsker at PJM thinks Democrat Operatives Committed the Classic PR Blunder "It’s the takeaway that matters."

The Peacock, 'It's a mess': Biden turns to family on his path forward after his disastrous debate. WaEx, Jill Biden remains Joe’s biggest supporter — and the only one who matters. Victory Girls insist DOCTOR Jill Biden Is The Puppeteer. Althouse channels Paul Begala, "Jill Biden, lacking the detachment of a Melania and enjoying the role of first lady more, has been pushing — and shielding — her husband..." "... beyond a reasonable point. After Thursday’s embarrassing debate performance, she exhorted the crowd and played teacher to a prized student: 'You did a great job! You answered every question! You knew all the facts!' This, to the guy who controls the nuclear codes...." Sundance at CTH, asks What is Going on With Jill Biden? "Seriously, no snark.  Give me your opinion because at a certain point I will admit my analysis starts to look at people through a very dark prism.  Given what we continue to see getting worse by the day with the mental state of her husband, Jill Biden is really looking sketchy." Bob Hoge at RedState, Jill Biden's Ex-Husband Goes There: 'She's the One Who Wants to Be President Now'. At Ace's the Misanthropic Humanitarian pens a letter, Dear Mrs. Jill Biden "I will not accuse you of elder abuse. But, I certainly don't know how you can let your husband continue to be the POTUS let alone to serve a second term. Your husband is ill. I am not a doctor. But, I do know the signs of dementia as my beloved mother suffered and passed away because of it. Why would a physically fit and mentally alert man need you to go up to him and walk him off stage? Your husband entered the debate hall and ninety minutes later forgot where he came from." For a contrary view, Joe Cunningham at RedState says that After Thursday Night's Debate, We Finally Know Who Is Running the White House. ". . . the answers Biden gave on the stage Thursday night prove one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt: The man who can't form a coherent response to debate questions is the same man producing incoherent policies in the White House. It's Joe Biden all the way down."

 

GregGutfeld@greggutfeld, "remember: the media democrat complex is reacting in horror over joe's condition not because they saw it - it's because you saw it." The Free Bacon on the The Gaslighting of the American Public. Twitchy, Media BAFFLED By Biden at the Debate vs. Biden at Yesterday's Rally (It's Not Hard to Figure Out). Dave Keltz at Am Great, Media’s Lies About Biden’s ‘Mental Fitness’ Finally Caught Up To Them. From Fox, Biden debate debacle: 10 eye-opening media responses, from MSNBC panic to 'The View' calling for replacement. NewsBusters  note PolitiFact, USA Today Rate Trump, Biden 100 And 44 Percent False Respectively.  At OTP, Even CNN Admits Biden Plays Fast And Loose With The Truth. Da Caller, Gold Star Mother Calls For Leadership ‘Change’ After Biden Falsely Claimed No Troops Died Under His Watch. John Sexton at Hat Hair, gets Media Dispatches From an Alternate Universe. "The framing of this story is that suddenly, out of nowhere, everyone is shocked to discover there is another Joe Biden, one who seems hobbled by old age." WaEx's Paul Bedard's White House Report Card: No more hiding #Joementia. Breitbart, Jon Stewart Left Speechless by Joe Biden’s Debate Malfunctions. A welcome reaction.  Derek Hunter at TownHall reminds us to Never Let Anyone Forget How The Media Lied To The World About Joe Biden. 

Ben Whedon at JTN, Trump takes post-debate victory lap in Virginia in bid to flip the commonwealth to "red." “Our case to Virginia is very simple,” he said. “We will seal the border, we will make the American Dream affordable again, but we will bring back the American Dream."

Althouse notices Biden taunted Trump about his weight. "The debate has given us so much to talk about that something that ordinarily would have attracted a lot of attention has slipped by unnoticed: Biden brought up Trump's weight. He actually talked about the number of pounds . . . Even if he had been correct, and Trump weighs 235, it's not acceptable to call out the number of pounds you think somebody weighs. Most Americans are overweight, and we expect delicacy and consideration on the topic, certainly not taunting. Taunting is way off the norm." At Breitbart, WATCH: Donald Trump, Joe Biden Argue over Golf Swings During Debate and U.S. Open Champ Bryson DeChambeau Offers to Settle Trump, Biden Golf Handicap Debate "“Let’s settle this whole handicap debate. I’ll host the golf match on my YouTube channel,” he said in a post on X."

WaEx, Illegal immigrants from 85 countries caught at New England border since fall. NYPo, 21-year-old allegedly suffocated by illegal migrant in Syracuse fled Ecuador because of lover’s abuse and Jocelyn Nungaray’s mom ‘shocked’ by call from Trump minutes before he took debate stage  Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair, Migrants Being Evicted From Boston's Logan Airport. 

At Blaze, Joe Biden KEEPS refinancing his home — here are FIVE shady reasons why that might be. “ChatGPT didn’t come up with a single non-nefarious reason.”

At WUWT, Emily Arthur explains how Joe Biden’s Energy Policies Are Based on Fantasies and Fairy Tales.

The deck stacking in New York continues, at Da Signal,  Judge in Trump’s Manhattan Trials Reviews Risk Assessment by Anti-Trump Psychiatrist."Lee edited the book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President,” first released in 2017. In May, she published a new book titled “The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Threat to American Democracy and All Humankind.”" It's considered unethical for a psychiatrist to diagnose without actually examining the "patient."  Sure why not, he knows he'll be overturned, so he's getting all the hits in he can. 

At Da Caller, Supreme Court Denies Steve Bannon’s Request To Stay Out Of Jail. Save a cell for Merrick Garland. “There is also no denying the fact that the government seeks to imprison Mr. Bannon for the four-month period immediately preceding the November presidential election,” his attorneys argued. “There is no reason for that outcome in a case that presents substantial legal issues.”

At WaEx, Supreme Court rules against Biden DOJ in high-stakes Jan. 6 case. Atop Da Hill, sads as Jan. 6 cases start being reopened after Supreme Court ruling. "Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement following the verdict Friday that he is “disappointed” by the decision, but the “vast majority” of rioters charged for their role in the attack “will not be affected by this decision.” The DOJ will take “appropriate steps” to comply with the high court’s ruling, he said." Politico whines that Trump calls for those arrested for Jan. 6 attack to be freed immediately "The comments came after a Supreme Court decision that federal prosecutors had overstepped on Jan. 6 obstruction charges." NewsWeek, Supreme Court Just Made Jack Smith's Job Harder   

Freedom Center, New York announces it will take citizen surveillance and censorship to the next level. "Like the plot to a dystopian movie, New York will now monitor social media writings, collect data, and use law enforcement to crack down on any expression it deems to be hate speech."

At Da Wire, Biden Admin’s Rachel Levine Met With WPATH As He Pushed For Removal Of Trans Surgery Age Restrictions. ET, Texas Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Child Transgender Procedures. From Campus Reform, UCSF features ‘drag-laureate’ that was awarded more than $50k in taxpayer money. 

Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair, Pro-Hamas Protesters Don't Care About The Big Guy's Fundraising. The College Fix counts There were 12 campus hate hoaxes this school year.

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Even Worse up and running at The Other McCain.

Palm Sunday

With April.

A palm tree grows in England. At the BBC, Ring road palm tree 'listed' as a historic monument

An unassuming tree growing on a central reservation along Derby’s ring road has been marked as an historic monument by internet pranksters. The diminutive palm sits on the dividing barrier between lanes of A601 The Upas and nearby slip roads, and is passed by thousands of motorists daily.

But in June, the tropical tree was named the Derbados Palm Tree - and given a handful of five-star reviews on Google Maps. One reviewer said it was “the original, the best” adding: “What a welcome when coming back from outside the county.”

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: All American Girl up and running at The Other McCain.

Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore

Korryn and Kodi Gaines

The Balmer Sun, ‘Qualified immunity’ protects police in shooting of Korryn Gaines’ son, Supreme Court of Maryland rules

Maryland’s highest court has ruled that a Baltimore County officer who shot and injured a 5-year-old boy in a 2016 standoff with his mother cannot be held liable for violating his due process rights under the 14th Amendment.

Police fatally shot Korryn Gaines after a six-hour standoff in which Gaines, accompanied by her young son Kodi, brandished a shotgun at officers from inside her Randallstown apartment. Kodi was struck by a bullet police fired through a wall that ricocheted and hit his face. 

In 2018, county jurors found that it was unreasonable for Cpl. Royce Ruby to fire through the wall at Gaines and awarded her son about $32 million. After a circuit court judge overturned that verdict, years of appeals followed. A later ruling ordered the county to pay Kodi only about $400,000, plus interest.

The most recent twist in the legal saga hinged on qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects government officials from liability while performing their duties unless they violate a constitutional right that was “clearly established” law at the time.

Under the state Supreme Court’s ruling Tuesday, the lower award stands.

Kodi’s lawyers said they will appeal. We’re disappointed in the five-to-two opinion, but we will be pursuing all available appellate rights, including the [U.S.] Supreme Court,” attorney Leslie D. Hershfield said Wednesday.

Gregory Dolin, a law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, said it’s difficult to say whether the nation’s high court would take up a case hinging on qualified immunity, a judicial doctrine that has its critics across the ideological spectrum.

What a sad case. I don't think shooting blindly through walls is justified, particularly if an innocent child is known to be behind them. I suspect though, that in the long run, Kodi will more than get his money out of the system. I'd rather have cops have qualified immunity than prosecutors or judges.

Feel Good Story of the Day

Rocky

From the Soundings, Missing Dog Found After Boating Accident

After a boating accident in the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina, a golden retriever has been reunited with his family. Jeff Wiseman and his pup, Rocky, a one-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever, were out for a ride when Jeff became distracted by his phone, causing him to hit an old abandoned dock. The impact sent both Rocky and Jeff into the water.

Texting and driving, Am I right? 

The accident happened about a half mile south of Dolphin Cove Marina. Jeff swam to shore to look for Rocky, but couldn’t find him. Local authorities arrived to assist Jeff and helped look for Rocky, but he was still nowhere to be found. Jeff was then taken to the hospital with seven broken ribs.

“My fear was that he was hurt or injured, you know that he was suffering somewhere or dead,” Jeff said. “I mean, the grief and guilt you feel when a moment of your carelessness might have hurt or killed you and your buddy like that.”

Jeff’s wife, Kim, posted to Facebook asking boaters to keep an eye out for Rocky. The Lowcountry community rallied, with many people going out to look for Rocky along the river on jet skis, kayaks and boats.

On Tuesday morning, thirty-six hours after Rocky went missing, he was spotted on the opposite side of the Ashley River chasing a raccoon. He was wearing his dog lifejacket, which the Wisemans believed saved his life.

I doubt a Golder Retriever actually needed a life jacket to swim to the shore. I suspect an unexpected swim and a chance to chase Racoons was like being in heaven. 

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Supes Strike J6 Obstruction Charges, Deep Six Chevron Deference, Hit Homeless

Before we get to the extended postmortem of the Biden meltdown at Thursday's Trump vs. Biden debate, some news from the Supreme court. First, The Court rule against the DOJ using a charge of "obstruction of an official proceeding" as a device to charge elevate several hundred J6 protestors charges into felonies, a ruling that potentially also affects Jack Smith's charges against Donald Trump in his Washington D.C. court cases. Susie Moore at RedState, Supreme Court Hands Down Blockbuster Ruling in Case That Will Impact Multiple J6 Defendants "In a 6-3 decision delivered by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court held that: "To prove a violation of §1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding, or attempted to do so." Justice Amy Coney Barrett's dissent was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan." Matt Vespa at TownHall, SCOTUS Hands Down Huge Decision Affecting J6 Defendants.  At Da Signal Fred Lucas, Supreme Court Rules on Anti-Obstruction Law in Jan. 6 Case and Seth Lucas, Jan. 6-Related Court Case Could Affect Indictment Against Trump. Da Caller, Supreme Court Thoroughly Rebukes Biden DOJ For Abusing Law To Go After Trump And His Supporters. Kevin Downey at PJM, SCOTUS Hands Down J6 Decision Affecting Hundreds of Capitol Protestors. Althouse, "The Supreme Court sided on Friday with a member of the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying that prosecutors had overstepped in using an obstruction law to charge him...." ""Lower courts will now apply that strict standard, and it will presumably lead them to dismiss charges against many defendants. The most prominent defendant charged with obstruction is former President Donald J. Trump as part of the federal case accusing him of plotting to subvert the 2020 election...." Writes Adam Liptak, in "Live Updates: Supreme Court Rules for Member of Jan 6. Mob in Obstruction Case/The decision concerned the scope of a 2002 law enacted in the wake of the collapse of Enron to address accounting fraud and the destruction of evidence" (NYT)." Ace, in all cap, red, italic font, HUGE: SUPREME COURT INVALIDATES THE TORTURED INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW USED TO CHARGE 350 OF THE JANUARY 6 PROTESTERS.

In a second huge ruling, the Court did away with "Chevron deference," a previous ruling that regulatory decisions made by unelected bureaucrats, regardless of how strained, were to be given a very high level of deference by courts. Paula Bolyard at PJM, SHOCKER: SCOTUS Delivers a Kill Shot to Big Government "Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, concluded: "The Administrative Procedure Act requires courts to exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, and courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous; Chevron is overruled." Da Caller, Supreme Court Delivers Crippling Blow To Permanent Bureaucracy’s Power Over Americans’ Lives. Da Signal, Supreme Court Throws Back ‘Chevron Deference’ in Ruling on Fishermen’s Case Against Government. Althouse, "The chief hasn't announced yet whether its the last day. We'll see if he says anything from the bench today." "UPDATE 3: Chevron is overruled!" 

Finally (actually the first released), the Court ruled that Grants Pass, Oregon, and by extension cities across the country are not required to tolerate homeless encampments where they choose to pop up. At Twitchy, The Supreme Court Rules on Whether the Government Can Remove Homeless Encampments. Jonathan Turley@JonathanTurley "...We have our first opinion. It is Grants Pass v. Johnson. Justice Gorsuch writes for the majority with Sotomayor dissenting with Jackson and Kagan. 9th Circuit is reversed."

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.28.24, Twitchy, SCOTUS Rules On Whether Governments Can Remove Homeless Encampments, Am Great, Supreme Court Rules That Biden DOJ Misused Obstruction Law in January 6 Cases, The Geller Report, Supreme Court Hands Huge Defeat To Jan. 6 Prosecutors And Jack Smith, “Improperly Charged Hundreds of Jan. 6 Protesters”,  Legal Insurrection: SCOTUS Rules Anti-Camping Ordinances Applied to Homeless Are Constitutional, Da Fed, Supreme Court Strikes Blow To Administrative State, Overturns Chevron Doctrine.

And now, on to the autopsy of Biden's Thursday night debacle. Ace, There Was a Massive Earthquake Last Night and the Geography of the Political World Is Now Changed. Althouse says Too true: "He's the President you deserve." Hat Hair's KT,  Post-Debate: Jill Leads Joe Off the Stage as Depression Among the Media Sets In and cites NYT Editorial Board to Biden: GET. OUT. NOW.  NYPo reports NY Times calls on Biden to drop out of 2024 presidential race ‘to serve his country’ after abysmal debate performance. Harold Hutchinson at Da Caller, Biden’s ‘Friend’ At NYT Tells Him To Drop Out After Disastrous Debate: ‘Heartbreaking Moment’. Across da pond at Da Mail, Democrats are now gagging to replace Biden. This is how they could do it... but, warns DAN MCLAUGHLIN, after leaving it so late, they may only have one disastrous option, Kamala! The Telegraph says Joe Biden given one week to stand down, or we'll take away your ice cream! Dan Greenfield at Front Page thinks The Dems Can’t Make Biden Leave If He Won’t Go "They're stuck." Reagan Reese at Da Caller, Panicked Dems Scramble For Biden Replacement After ‘Disaster’ Debate Performance. Politico, (Mike) Johnson says Biden's Cabinet should discuss invoking 25th Amendment "I would ask the Cabinet members to search their hearts."  NewsMax is amused by Jon Stewart Lampooning Biden's 'Resting 25th Amendment Face'. Hollywood in Toto sees Hollywood Post-Debate: Rage, Confusion and Deep Denial "Jon Stewart cites 25th amendment as Biden's mental decline takes center stage."  Scott Johnson at Power Line warns Biden Will Not Leave Quietly. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair adds Biden is the smartest man he knows, and also the most capable, the most heroic, and the only bulwark between Trump and the Democrats. And Jill likes the job too much too. Good luck pushing him off the ticket.  Hat Hair's Dave Strom, If Joe Shouldn't Be the Candidate, He Should Leave Office Now. It wouldn't matter, the same cabal of Obamaites that's running the country now would continue with Kamala as the façade. At Reason, Joe Biden: The Latest Elderly Politician Who Refuses To Retire. "Biden's performance at Thursday's debate made clear that he should have bowed out after a single term, but many politicians stick around long past their sell-by date." Matt Taibbi at Racket The Democratic Coup "While Joe Biden struggled onstage, party plotters scripted his premature exit." Nice Deb at Am Great, Joe Biden’s Catastrophic Debate Performance Sends Dems into Panic Mode. Da Caller, ‘Makes Me So Mad’: Biden World Furious That His Closest Advisors Set Him Up For ‘Disaster’ Debate. 

NYPo, Obama calls Biden’s catastrophic debate performance ‘bad,’ urges voters to back prez as he faces calls to step down. WSJ, Defiant Biden Hits Campaign Trail as Democrats Discuss Replacement. Mary Chastain at LI, CNN: Biden Not Dropping Out, Still Committed to September Debate "The man behind the curtain is strong." I'll get him next time! At Hat Hair, John Sexton writes Biden Isn't Stepping Aside (Plus Trump Takes the High Road) and Capt. Ed, Biden: I'm Staying In the Race ... and Debating Again "Well ... we'll see. I don't expect him to withdraw on his own. There's no way that Democrats let him do another debate, though. And I'm not sure Trump would do it either, after getting everything he could have possibly wanted out of the first debate." He just might enjoy beating the dead horse, though.

The Morning Report — 6//28/24

Dave Harsanyi at Da Fed thinks Biden Just Put On The Most Disastrous Debate Performance In Presidential History.  Duane Patterson at Hat Hair says After the Debate Showed the World Joe Biden's Not Wearing Clothes, Things Get Tricky For Democrats. Phil Elliot at Time (cited at Hat Hair), 'Things Are Dark' Paul Mirengoff at Ringside, Biden delivered the most embarrassing performance ever in a presidential debate. "Where do the Democrats go from here?: Hell, in a handbasket.  NewNeo,  How about the prospects of alternate nominees for the Democrats? Slim and none? Capt. Ed,  "And that was before Democrats -- including those in this poll -- got exposed as members in a conspiracy to defraud American voters about Biden's incapacity. There isn't a major figure in the Democrat Party who isn't complicit in this fraud, nor hardly any major mainstream-media outlet."  At Da Caller, Gavin Newsom Betting Odds Skyrocket As Biden Debate Performance Spirals. Althouse catches Newsom Enjoying it. RCPs Heather Higgins fears The September Surprise, Michelle Obama. At Breitbart, Michelle Obama Hasn’t Campaigned for Biden Because Family Mistreats Hunter’s Ex-Wife Kathleen Buhle.

Brad Slager at RedState says Joe Biden Did Not Just Sink His Reelection Bid at the Debate; He Took the Press Down With Him. Bari Weiss at Freep notes They Knew "Biden is no longer fit to be president. Last night’s debate exposed the lies we’ve been told." At Hat Hair, Dave Strom writes The Liars Have Been Exposed and A 90-Minute 'Cheap Fake'. Capt. Ed, Debate Disaster: Dems And Media Defrauded America on Biden. Make Them Pay, and cites Bill Ackerman, Dems Lied About Biden -- But the Mainstream Media Are Far Worse. Beege Welborn Did a Little Early Morning Front Page Post-Debate 'Lying Liars Who Lie' Survey. The Hollywood Reporter reports Dems Blame CNN Moderators After Biden Debate Disaster: “Unforgivable” "CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are drawing fire for not correcting Donald Trump's lies during Thursday night's debate, which many are saying was a disaster for Joe Biden. While CNN is defending their moderators' performance." Capt. Ed, "Exactly. And these were the rules that Team Biden demanded. CNN made it clear from the beginning that it would not do 'fact checks' on either candidate during the debate. Don't blame Tapper and Bash because you nominated a complete incompetent and then spent  four years gaslighting everyone about it. " Althouse, "It’s true that the format did Biden no favors. CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash avoided fact-checking..." "The format did Biden no favors? The format was engineered to favor Biden! Trump stepped up and did it the way Biden's people wanted. If the format chosen imposed disadvantages on Biden, it's only because his people thought other formats were more disadvantageous... unless the fix was in and the idea was to expose Biden's weaknesses." Insty, BLAMING THE REFS: Dems Blame CNN Moderators After Biden Debate Disaster: “Unforgivable.” "You can always tell who lost a presidential debate by which party is slamming the moderators afterwards. And in the wake of Joe Biden and Donald Trump‘s first 2024 presidential debate, many progressives are focusing their fire on CNN‘s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, calling out the duo for not fact-checking Trump in real time during the 90-minute face off." From Twitchy, WATCH the Painfully Awkward 'Lovers Spat' Between Morning Joe and Mika Over Biden's Debate Performance. Da Caller, ‘No Way To Spin It’: Mika Brzezinski Says She ‘Thought Something Was Wrong’ When Biden Shuffled On Stage. Matt Vespa, Why an Axios Reporter Took Something Of a Victory Lap on CNN After Biden's Catastrophic Debate "Alex Thompson did a victory lap of sorts on Thursday night. He wasn’t shocked at what happened to the president in his first bout against Trump. He noted that the White House response every time Joe had a senior moment was to deflect, gaslight, and not tell the truth." Paula Bolyard, Everyone Knows Now. Althouse finds some true believers, "Biden lacked oomph, but the transcript tells a different tale." "Headline at The Hill. Could it be that this is like the old Kennedy/Nixon debate, where Kennedy famously dominated when you watched him on TV? That article says: "His soft voice and bumbling manner played right into the MAGA narrative that he is past his use-by date. The chattering class said it was a disaster for Biden. He even alarmed many Democrats. But, reading the cold transcript, we get a very different picture of Biden. Substantively, he ably and forcefully made the case that that Trump should not be allowed back in the Oval Office."

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.28.24, 357 Magnum, What’s Going On Here? – A Post-Debate Musical Interlude, EBL, So what do the Democrats do now?, Twitchy: SCOTUS Rules On Whether Governments Can Remove Homeless Encampments, Time Magazine Releases Brutal Joe Biden Cover In Wake Of Debate Disaster, and Even The NYT Thinks Biden Needs To Drop Out, Louder With Crowder: TikToker flabbergasted by massive grocery price hike over two years, but he doesn’t quite get it, Steven Crowder Dominates Presidential Debate Coverage; Crashes Rumble With #1 Live Stream Worldwide, and Trump just dropped his most BRUTAL ad – it’s nothing but Biden debate “highlights”, L’Ombre de L’Olivier: Elder Abuse, Da Tech Guy, One Debate Two Presidents No Mysteries (Well Maybe one), Don Surber: Journalists are panicking, First Street Journal, With Joe Biden sinking into senility, who’s running the country?, Legal Insurrection: ‘Biden is Toast’: Democrats in Panic, Party Leaders Want New Candidate, NY Times Editorial Board Calls On Joe Biden To Abandon Reelection Campaign, The Federalist: America Is In Shambles Because Of Democrat Policies, Not Just Joe Biden,   Lawsuit Alleges Nevada’s Most Populous County Keeps Hundreds Of Commercial Addresses On Voter Rolls, Media Finally Admit Biden Poses Grave Danger To Country After Years Of Defensive Coverage, How James Clapper Rigged The 2016 And 2020 Debates Against Trump.

From NewsMax, Trump Declares Victory in Wake of Biden 'Disaster,' Dems Panic. Nick Arama at RedState  WATCHes Trump Comes Up With a New Name for Biden During Rally in Virginia—It's Right on Target, "Pinocchio Joe". VodkaPundit at PJM, Dear Dems: We Told You So, We Told You So, and We Told You So Some More. Francis Turner at L'Ombre de l'Olivier sees Elder Abuse In the White House. Jim Treacher laughs that Biden Caught a Cold That Made Him 1,000 Years Old. "His real opponent is Father Time" Jake Smith at Da Caller, ‘Showing His Age’: Foreign Officials, News Outlets Rip Biden’s ‘Catastrophic’ Debate Performance. Reason fears Kamala Harris Was the Real Winner of Last Night's Debate "Heaven help us." Jonathon Turley argues Robert Hur Emerges as the Clear Winner in the Presidential Debate. Capt. Ed, Yeah, I'm sure Hur won't get any apologies ... but he certainly deserves them. Matt Margolis, asks Have You Seen the Newest Trump Ads? Stop What You're Doing and Check Them Out! Leah Barkoukis at TownHall, The Trump Campaign Released an Ad After the Debate. It's 'Devastating.'

The Trump campaign has released a brutal ad following Biden's spectacular debate performance last night. pic.twitter.com/jQrxmRIxaO

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 28, 2024

NewsMax, Border Patrol Union Denies Ever Endorsing Biden. Dave Strom thinks it's A Dangerous Time for America, seven months to go, and we don't really know who's in charge. Cam Edwards at BA warns of The Dangers of a Desperate Biden Campaign and it extends beyond gun rights. Lloyd Billingsley at Front Page explores connections between Biden and the Racist La Raza Movement "Institutionalizing the supremacist views of a Nazi propagandist."

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.28.24, At Am Thin Jerome Corsi wonders Who Added an Algorithm to New York State’s Voter Registration Roll, and Why? 

From Reason, Why Has Joe Biden's $42 Billion Broadband Program Not Connected One Single Household? "The senior Republican FCC commissioner blames progressive politics, while lawmakers and telecom companies blame bureaucratic red tape." Capt. Ed, "It's nothing more than a Democrat boondoggle for its allies. It's the Internet version of California's high-speed rail project. Read on to see who actually benefits from the rules on this project ... and why private-sector providers don't want any part of it."

At Twitchy, Alexander Vindman Wants to Know Why Trump As President Did Nothing to End the Russia/Ukraine War. Hmm, maybe it's because there wasn't one when he was in office. I&I, Terminate This Federal Department With Extreme Prejudice, Energy. At Am Great Mark Moyar decries Trampling the 5th Amendment. "If Trump wins the coming election, as recent polling suggests, he should enforce existing executive orders and regulations to stop due process violations."

Dave Harsanyi at Da Fed is pretty happy that the Jewish Plot To Participate In An Election And Oust Pro-Hamas Marxist Gasbag Succeeds. Mike LaChance at LI notices The Left is Not Taking Jamaal Bowman’s Loss Well. 

Ace, The DNC is Funding Lawfare Against Trump Directly, Sending Payments to Non-Rape Victim and Fabulist E. Jean Carroll's Law Firm Update: Democrats Threaten "Retribution" in "Lock Him Up" Chant "Oh. Gee I never would have suspected this. I was sure it was just a "conspiracy theory" that Biden and the Democrats were paying for the lawfare on Trump. Fake Jake told me so!"

Rick Moran at PJM reports Another 80 Pro-Palestinian Protesters Have the Chargers Against Them Dropped. Nate Hochman at Am Spec, Anarcho-Tyranny Is Official White House Policy. "In every jurisdiction where the Left claws its way into power, criminals are given free reign while law-abiding citizens are forced to pay for their crimes." At Campus Reform, Meet the Emory University students and faculty arrested at Hamas-endorsed protest. "At least 28 people were arrested after anti-Israel protesters set up an encampment at Emory University on April 25."

At the College Fix, New U. Arizona DEI course requirement hit with criticism: ‘academically unserious.’ Ace, The Boycott of Tractor Supply for Supporting "Pride" Causes, DEI, and Open Borders Organizations Costs the Company Bigly. "Internet activist Robby Starbuck discovered that a Tractor Supply company, which of course played up the whole Good Old Country Family Business thing, was simultaneously spending a lot of money on "Pride" events and supporting leftwing causes. He called attention to it." KT at Hat Hair, Feedback Taken: Tractor Supply Company Ends All “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion” Programs. 

From the Victory Girls, United Crew Deplanes Mom Over “Transgender” Slur. At Breitbart, LGBTQ Activists Fear Being Ignored During Debate. And they were. Democrats don't want it publicized. 

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Even Worse up and running at The Other McCain.