Coastal Menhaden Harvest Gets a Haircut

 Really, just a trim. Bay Journal, Coastal menhaden harvest reduction ordered to help striped bass

Torn between protecting fish or fishing jobs, East Coast fishery managers have ordered a 20% cut in the commercial harvest of menhaden in the Atlantic to help struggling striped bass. They also moved to curb the menhaden catch in the Chesapeake Bay — though in that case to help beleaguered bait fishermen in Maryland.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which regulates near-shore harvests of migratory fish, voted Oct. 28 to lower the allowable menhaden catch along the East Coast to 185,840 metric tons for 2026. The action came after a new study found the crucial forage fish were much less abundant than previously believed.

 

The commission’s decision to curtail the coastal menhaden harvest effectively reverses a 20% increase approved just three years ago. At that time, a study concluded that menhaden were not being overfished and would not be harmed by a boost in harvest. A recent reassessment, though, concluded that that earlier study was flawed and that menhaden are actually about a third less plentiful than thought.

Though the new assessment found menhaden still not overfished, the commission is also committed to leaving enough menhaden unharvested to sustain other fish and wildlife. On that basis, the new study indicated that commercial menhaden harvests would need to be reduced to ensure sufficient food for the striped bass population, which the commission is trying to rebuild from having been overfished in recent years.

The commission considered but rejected proposals to cut the coastwide commercial menhaden harvest in half, either all at once or in phases over the next three years.

Conservationists and recreational fishing groups had lobbied for cuts of that magnitude, arguing they were based on the latest science and needed to ensure the recovery of striped bass.

But cuts that large drew pushback from the New England lobster industry, which relies on menhaden for bait, as well as the owners and crews of Ocean Harvesters, the Virginia-based fishing fleet that harvests menhaden for processing into animal feed and health supplements. They warned that their livelihoods would be jeopardized by such drastic reductions.

The commission considered but rejected proposals to cut the coastwide commercial menhaden harvest in half, either all at once or in phases over the next three years.

Conservationists and recreational fishing groups had lobbied for cuts of that magnitude, arguing they were based on the latest science and needed to ensure the recovery of striped bass.

But cuts that large drew pushback from the New England lobster industry, which relies on menhaden for bait, as well as the owners and crews of Ocean Harvesters, the Virginia-based fishing fleet that harvests menhaden for processing into animal feed and health supplements. They warned that their livelihoods would be jeopardized by such drastic reductions.

Representatives of the menhaden reduction fishery, meanwhile, said a 20% cut was unnecessary to avoid impacting other species. They argued that a “modest, precautionary trim” of 10% would eliminate any risk of overfishing.

After the vote, Ocean Harvesters issued a statement saying the 20% harvest cut will likely require some “operational adjustments” at the Reedville facility and warned that any additional reductions “would impose needless harm on working families and a 150-year-old fishery, without ecological justification.”

After finding 37% less Menhaden than they previously thought, a mere 20% cut is an admission that they really don't intend to solve the problem. Ultimately it will be just another fishing stock ruined by overfishing.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Democrats Schutting Down the Schumer Schutdown

It's all over but the paper work. In exchange for a few minor concessions, a sufficient number of Democrat Senators have voted for a plan of a new CR, until Jan. 30. Concessions from the Republicans include rescinding the firing of Democrat voters Federal employees during the shutdown, SNAP (aka food stamps) funded through next September and a vote on the ACA subsidies in Dec, no promises as to the outcome. Democrats are pretending to be furious, while Republicans are pretending to gloat. Fox reports Senate Democrats, Republicans reach deal to reopen government, "Senate Republicans unveil three-bill minibus in bid to reopen the government." Scott McClallen at TownHall, Senate Reportedly Strikes Deal to Reopen Federal Government. Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal, Senate Votes to Put Congress on Path Toward Ending Government Shutdown. Sundance at CTH, Senate Deal Reached to End the Govt Shutdown. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, BREAKING: Dems Finally Cave on Schumer Shutdown Clown Show; Newsom: ‘Pathetic'. At Twitchy, Shutdown Deal Reached and It Drives Defiant Dems Into Full Meltdown Mode. Joe Cunningham at RedState, A Number of Progressive Democrats Are Coming Out Hard Against Schumer Shutdown Deal. Bonchie @bonchieredstate, "Wait, so the president of the majority party who voted to keep the government open over a dozen times is now at fault for the shutdown? Why didn’t that standard apply to Obama, Jim?" Quote Jim Acosta @Acosta, "He’s presided over the longest, and most mean-spirited shutdown in American history, harming countless federal workers who were forced to seek out food banks to feed their families. Damn right they’re booing. Trump is despised across the DMV. x.com/acyn/status/19…" Althouse likes her NYT, "Six Takeaways From the Senate Deal to End the Shutdown." "Headline at the NYT. Free-access link: here. The 6 things (paraphrased unless in quotes): 1. Democrats lost their unity. 2. The health care matter was left out. 3. "Trump’s pressure tactics worked.... The group of people affected by the shutdown grew with each week" — from the thousands of federal workers going without pay to the millions who expected food-buying assistance and the millions who were hoping to travel by plane. 4. Trump did not participate in talks with Democratic Party leaders. He was, conspicuously, at an NFL game when the deal coalesced last night. 5. Republican leaders Mike Johnson and John Thune also withheld participation. 6. Democrats at least have "some concessions in their fight against the Trump administration’s concerted effort to reconfigure and diminish the federal government." That's not about health care. It's about rehiring those who were laid off during the shutdown and barring further layoffs until January 30th." Don Surber thinks Trump taught Republicans how to win.

Note, the prediction from my insider on the fishing trip, that the govt would reopen about Nov. 15 seems to be have been about on target. I wonder if I'll have band practice on Thursday?

In miscellaneous schutdown material, some a bit stale. At WokeSpy, Democrats’ Latest Shutdown Demands Prove Fight Isn’t About Health Care: Rep Tom Emmer. The Virginian-Pilot, Trump administration demands states ‘undo’ full SNAP payouts as states warn of ‘catastrophic impact’, "States are warning of ‘catastrophic’ disruptions." From OTP, SNAP CLAWBACK "States told halt full SNAP benefits, undo efforts to issue them, post SCOTUS ruling." I assume this is moot. At WJ, Schumer Sneaks Midterm Election Trap into New Proposal to End Government Shutdown. Virginia Kruta at Da Wire, Scott Bessent Flips Shutdown On Former Clinton Adviser George Stephanopoulos, "The ABC News anchor attempted to push back, claiming Bessent didn't have his story straight." But why read it when you can see it, Sundance hosts Sunday Talks: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vs George Stephanopoulos – Video and Transcript. OTP, Duffy Warns Air Traffic Could ‘Slow To A Trickle,’ Puts Pressure On Senate Dems and Hegseth Offers Military Air Traffic Controllers To Help Ease Flight Disruptions: Duffy. At Fandompulse, Video Game Delays And The Government Shutdown. Matt Margolis at PJM explains Here’s How Obamacare Really Works, and It’s Disgusting. At Hat Hair, 'If Pres Trump Came Out in Favor of Breathing to Live, They'd Hold Their Breaths'. John Kennedy @SenJohnKennedy, "President Trump is the President of the United States. My Democratic colleagues need to drink a cold, tall glass of ‘get over it’—not shut the government down because of that fact."

At Da Caller, Trump Admin Touts Record-Shattering Energy Report Despite Biden-Era Crackdown. WokeSpy, Bessent on Trump’s Rare Earth Revolution: ‘We’re Finally Becoming Independent Again’ At Hat Hair, Josh Hammer says It's Still the Economy, Stupid.

The Pop Times reports NYC’s New Mayor Mamdani Vows to Block ICE, Defy Federal Immigration Enforcement. The Telegraph sees Escape from New York: Bankers flee Mamdani for Texas, "Top earners are swapping Wall Street for ‘Y’All Street’ as the Lone Star State takes on the Big Apple." At Hat Hair, Betsy McCaughey predicts Mamdani Win Will Ravage Entire State, what happens in NYC doesn't stay in NYC. Tim Graham at TownHall says Don't Call Mamdani a Commie or Jihadi, but the sandal fits. C3 @C_3C_3, "Zohar Mamdani… 11/4: Vote for me for free stuff. 11/5: Give me your money. Typical Communist Swindler." From Fox, Nancy Pelosi's legacy is the socialist takeover of her party "Former House speaker retires after presiding over party's dramatic leftward shift since 2007.

Also at the Pop Times Biden Handler’s Hot Mic Moment Adds Evidence to Cognitive Decline ‘Debate.’ Larry Elder at Town listens carefully to Newsom: I 'Hate' Politicians Who Lie (Except for Biden).

Ward Clark at RedState has USAID's Secret Signal Chats that Document Plot Against U.S. Leadership. DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, " MAJOR BREAKING: International actors are involved in the State Department led color revolution. This is not speculation; it’s straight from a recorded call. Ex-USAID employees describe how, before January 20, they moved internal groups off government systems and into encrypted Signal chats, then quickly linked with foreign partners and NGOs after the inauguration. This attempt at creating a color revolution isn't new news; this part was already reported in NOTUS earlier this year. But what's not reported is the international aspect. One participant explicitly frames it as "a global anti-authoritarian movement," connecting U.S. officials with "colleagues from around the world who have dealt with this directly." They reference coordination with Johns Hopkins, "international democracy and conflict mitigation spaces," and efforts to mobilize across borders against what they perceive as domestic authoritarianism. At what point does this become treason? As always, patience as I pull together this thread." DOGE wasn't a complete success, but the death of USAID was an important step. The same people are still around, but they now lack the backing of the US government. At CJ, Activists Want to Dismantle America’s Top Fighter Jet—by Any Means Necessary, "A global campaign is underway to cripple the F-35 supply chain." The excuse is their use by Israel, but of course, it's really that they are doing our adversaries bidding.

Sundance, Sunday Talks: Devin Nunes Discusses Trump Media Company Targeted During “Arctic Frost” Operation. Jeff Charles at TownHall, DOJ Is Trying to Investigate Stephen Miller's Doxxer – Democrat Officials Are Trying to Stop Them. From LifeZette, Judges Halt FBI Search of Activist’s Phone in Stephen Miller Threat Investigation. Da Caller notices Blue City ‘Violence Prevention’ Activists Keep Catching Violent Charges. The Misrule of Law documents how The Resistance Continues: Another Week of Nullification, Insurrection, and Obstruction. WSJ opines on The Politics of Anarchy, "Socialists regard disorder as a means to an end: government control." Greg Piper at JTN reports Pro-Israel Christians, Jews use law loathed by pro-life activists to stop anti-Israel disruptions. "It would make it more difficult to hold violent agitators and intimidating antisemites accountable under the law" if Congress repeals the FACE Act, as pro-life activists want, lawyer for religious organizations says."

From ET, Shots Fired at Border Patrol Agents in Chicago: DHS, "The incident occurred a few days after a federal judge ordered agents to stop using anti-riot measures," and ICE Has Received More Than 200,000 Job Applications: DHS.

OTP reports the BBC Director Resigns Over Editing Of Doc On Trump Speech Before J6, ‘Mistakes Made.’ It wasn't a mistake.

Kane 謝凱堯 @kane, "It gets worse: the @UCSF lecturer teaching the “psychopathology,” genetics, and evolution of “White people,” @danteking2020, has no publications in any field, and no background in genetics, psychology, or evolutionary science. This was paid for by taxes."

At WJ, School Cannot Force Students to Use Trans Pronouns, Federal Court Rules.

The Monday Morning Stimulus

The Peacock, Coffee may protect against irregular heartbeats 

During the six-month study, 111 people, or 56%, had a recurrent episode of atrial flutter. People in the coffee drinking group were less likely to have a recurrence — 47% compared to 64% of people in the no-coffee group — and went a longer period of time before they had their first episode.

It's so good for you they might have to make it mandatory.

Seriously, though, I have two younger friends with A-fib, and both had strokes. OTH, my mom had it for years, and never had a stroke. 

Maryland, My Maryland

From the College Fix, U. Maryland leftists demand sanctuary campus, no cooperation with ICE

Far-left University of Maryland groups are demanding school administrators declare UMD a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrant students, and that they do not cooperate with any Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

A petition created by UMD’s Young Democratic Socialists of America claims the Trump administration — “empowered by an unaccountable executive branch” — is “escalating its attacks on vulnerable populations” via “armed and masked thugs in plain clothes” who are “kidnapping people […] for speaking out against genocide or simply for speaking a different language.”

The petition also notes UMD “silently took down” all webpages associated with the campus Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Office, “submitted aggregate data” about Chinese international students in response to a “strongly worded letter” from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and renamed the Office of Diversity & Inclusion to “Belonging & Community at UMD.”

Groups backing the YDSA include UMD Students for Justice in Palestine, United Academics of Maryland-University of Maryland, Animals 4 Animals, UMD College Democrats, and Indigenous at UMD.

In addition to the “sanctuary” campus demand and non-cooperation with ICE, the petition wants students to “immediately” be alerted if/when ICE is on campus, and the restoration of the Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Office’s webpages.

UMD had an Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Office? Ignore them, unless they're foreign students. If so, deport them. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Shutdown Reaches 40 Days

If they don't solve it soon, people might get to like it. At JTN, Nick Ballasay reports Thune says bipartisan shutdown talks have been positive "Saturday was the 39th day of the government shutdown." I wonder whose store they're giving away. Drew Berquist hears about a Shutdown Showdown: Democrats Claim They’re ‘Unified’ as America Suffers. From Twitchy A Fuming Chuck Schumer Did NOT Like a GOP Senator's Questions About His Proposal So He STORMED OFF. Amber Jo Cooper @AmberJoCooper, "WATCH: @SenSchumer abruptly walks off the floor as he was being questioned by Sen. @BernieMoreno about his proposal to end the shutdown. Moreno asked Schumer if his proposal was in writing that people could look at.. and if people making millions would still receive the COVID-era subsidies. Moreno: “I was going to ask him before he stormed out of the room because evidently he doesn‘t want to hear any opposing views or actually engage in meaningful negotiation … Would he continue 0 dollar premiums, which we know for a FACT, have enormous levels of fraud.." "If he had stayed, I would have asked him a third question: Does he these monies to go directly to insurance companies?” Sundance at CTH hears President Trump Recommends Congress Bypass Funding Health Insurance Companies and Send Funds Directly to Consumers. What, no cut? At WaEx, Air traffic controllers warn flight cuts won’t ease shutdown strain or prevent risk. Casey Chalk at Da Fed says the Longest Shutdown Ever Reveals U.S. Could Stand To Fire A Lot Of Federal Workers. A lot. Atop Da Hill, Court rules Trump administration violated First Amendment with out-of-office messages. From LifeZette, Obama Judge Rebuked as Supreme Court Halts SNAP Spending Mandate. Streiff at RedState is scandalized by Shenanigans! Over a Dozen States Outmaneuver the Supreme Court and Take Full SNAP Money Anyway. At TownHall Tom Knighton thinks It's Time to Stigmatize Some People Again for abusing SNAP. From Just Facts Daily, The Actual Facts on Taxpayer-Funded Healthcare For Illegal Immigrants "Contrary to Democrats and certain “fact checkers,” Senate Democrats are demanding significant amounts of taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants in exchange for opening the government for merely one month. Contrary to Republicans, healthcare for illegal immigrants, even under the broadest definition of that term, accounts for less than 13% of the Democrat bill that would enact their demands." 13% of a huge number is still a big number.

Foreign Affairs makes The Case for Trump’s Second-Term Foreign Policy "Peace Through Strength Is Delivering Stability and Security." AP is disappointed Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords with Israel in symbolic move to boost the Trump initiative. ET, Trump Announces Trade Deal With Uzbekistan. From CEPA, Europe Can Feast on Cheap US Gas (and Roast Russia in the Process). "Abundant gas supply is now available for Central and East European countries. Will they seize the opportunity?" JD Davidson at Da Fed thinks The Attacks On Heritage And Kevin Roberts Are Really About Foreign Policy And J.D. Vance.

A video at Hat Hair, The Government is Shut Down and the Capitalist Capital of the World Will Have a Socialist Mayor Now. From the Freep, New York City’s Socialist Experiment Begins. At WaPoo the editors opine Zohran Mamdani drops the mask "The mayor-elect divides New Yorkers into two groups: the oppressed and their oppressors." Hat Hair's John Sexton says Now It Can Be Told: Mamdani's Plans Are Going to Be Wildly Expensive. Surprise! Amy Curtis at TownHall, 'I Lived Behind the Iron Curtain:' Man Who Fled Communism Warns New Yorkers About What's Coming. At Floridian Press, Carlos Gimenez Brands Zohran Mamdani a ‘Marxist’ Like Fidel Castro. Althouse finds "Zoran Momani has been elected.... So what?... What's the big deal? Obviously he was going to win.... You can just leave...." ""But there are people out there who... are finding it increasingly difficult to afford New York City. Those people — the paint-by-numbers/pin a ribbon on me/I did all of the right things/I have all of the right views/I post all of the right things on social media.... They're normies.... They're just boring and vapid and surface and dull and pointless.... and their concerns are so small and petty.... That is the coalition that Zoran has. He has a coalition of angry, boring, mediocre people that have done the right things and have gotten very little for it.... Tim Dillon explains New York." When it turns into a shithole prices will decline. From NYPo, NYPD already losing officers with morale plunging as anti-cop Zohran Mamdani prepares to take reins. Tom Knighton at BA goes on About the Safety Mamdani Promised on Those Free Buses.

Amanda Head at JTN sees an Alarming number of Americans, Democrats expect a politically violent future, "A majority of Americans believe political violence will increase as a starling uptick. Others hold the belief that it is justified. The acceptability of such justifications appear to be divided by party lines, according to polling." Pop Times, Even the Left’s Favorite Comedian Says Democrats Are Falling Apart. Scott McKay at Am Spec thinks The Cold Civil War Is Now on Defrost, and the Right Still Isn’t Ready, "Kill the filibuster now, and start making policy in a lightning round."

At Da Signal Tyler O'Neil looks at 8 Winners and Losers of the 2025 Election and the Great Victor Davis Hanson, wonders Does the Democrats’ Chaos Strategy Work? Pop Times cites Mike Johnson: The Democrat Party Has ‘Officially Surrendered to Radicals Who Hate America’" Streiff says We're Doomed. Omar Fateh Lost the Minneapolis Mayor's Race Because He Lost the Loyalty of Somali Clans. From the Free Bacon, Dems Rejoice as Child Murder Buff Taps Blackface Gov, aka 'Coonman,' to Lead Transition Team, "A scandal-plagued power couple: Ralph Northam advising AG-elect Jay Jones in Virginia." From Insty, YOU DON’T HAVE TO FALLL IN LOVE, YOU JUST HAVE TO FALL IN LINE. Anti-Gun Brady PAC Quietly Yanked Jay Jones Endorsement Over His Violent Text Messages. It Now Claims To Have ‘Proudly’ Supported Him. Rusty Weiss at RedState reports Thousands of Ballots Discovered in Maricopa County 3 Days After Election: ‘Going To Be Mistakes.’ At WaEx, Republicans scrutinize ‘inconsistencies’ in New Jersey election, including hundreds of thousands of new Democratic voters. Matt Margolis at PJM says Something Doesn’t Add Up in New Jersey’s Election Results — and Pollsters Know It.

From LifeZette, Scott Jennings Has Entire CNN Panel in Stitches with Sarcastic Jab at Nancy Pelosi. Matt Margolis says Forget Pelosi, Here’s Why You Should Fear Her Likely Successor. From Fox, Newsom tells Texas crowd taking back House is 'the whole thing' for Democrats in 2026. "The California governor celebrated Proposition 50's redistricting victory, going on the road to Houston on Saturday." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair says Oh My: Judge Green-Lights Lawsuit Accusing Newsom Aide of Facilitating Anti-Semitic Smear Campaign.

Driscoll at Insty, OLD AND BUSTED: The 1970s Hollywood trope of bitter PTSD-inflicted American soldiers broken by years of service in Vietnam. The New Hotness? Sage Steele @sagesteele, "What a heartbreaking existence. Thoughts and prayers for Michelle Obama as she continues her recovery from 8 years as The First Lady…that ended almost a decade ago." Quote End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "Michelle Obama complains about her life: "It is not a luxury to have hair & makeup team"

More on the tentative identification of the J6 bomber. From Da Blaze, Former Capitol Police officer a forensic match for Jan. 6 pipe bomber, sources say The FBI, which failed to solve the case in nearly five years of investigation but indicated that it was closing in after Blaze News brought its investigation to intelligence sources, was feet from the Falls Church address of the pipe bomb suspect days after Jan. 6, according to the Blaze News investigation. Former FBI Special Agent Kyle Seraphin realized Friday that he was doing surveillance next door to the woman now suspected of being the Jan. 6 pipe bomber. “The FBI put us one door away from the pipe bomber within days of January 6, and we were deliberately pulled away for no logical or logically investigative reason,” Seraphin told Blaze News Friday. “And everything about that tells me that they were involved in a cover-up and have been since day one." Sundance at CTH, Blaze Journalist Steve Baker Identifies January 6 Pipe Bomber as Former Capitol Police Officer Shauni Kerkhoff. Matt Vespa, *If* That's the J6 Pipe Bomb Suspect, This Story Has Taken Another Wild Turn. After the Kap Kops, she went to work security at the CIA! Ace, The Blaze Publishes Name of Person It Claims Matches the J5 Pipe Bomber, Based on Gait Analysis, "Eh. Update: "Eh" is becoming "nahh."" Nowhere near done with this story.

Fox reports Brennan, Strzok, Page subpoenaed as part of federal Russiagate probe: Sources. "Law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that up to 30 subpoenas related to the probe will be issued in the coming days." John Sexton is pleased when a Grand Jury Subpoenas Brennan, Strzok and Page. Nick Ballasy again, reports Most voters favor impeaching Judge Boasberg over ‘Arctic Frost’ scandal, poll shows. "The poll results show that 26% don’t regard the Arctic Frost scandal as serious, which includes 12% who believe it is "not at all" serious." From Da Caller, Obama Judge Who Greenlit Secret Subpoenas Targeting GOP Hit With Ethics Complaint. The Chronic argues it Justice, Not Revenge. "Now they’re squealing like pregnant penguins but I, for one, hope Trump sticks it to them. If I sound vengeful, I am not. I truly believe it might teach the left a lesson: Once in power, be magnanimous. Do not do a Biden, because things can change and come back to bite you. Revenge is a two-headed monster and we never know which way it might go." Sundance argues The Hidden Transcript of Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson Testimony Is the Key to Reveal CIA Targeting of President Donald Trump.

From the Free Bacon, Woman Who Harassed Stephen Miller’s Family at Their Home Is Harmless Academic ‘In the Field of Peace Studies,’ Her Lawyer Argues, "Barbara Wien also made a threatening ‘I’m watching you’ gesture at Miller’s wife," and Cotton Presses DOJ to Investigate Code Pink's Terror, CCP Ties. From the College Fix, U. Chicago professor heading to court for alleged battery of police officer at ICE protest. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn, sees Every ICE Target Is a Potential Oscar Winner and Dave Strom explains How Immigration Propaganda Works. Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley "These incidents show the sense of license and righteous rage of many on campuses today. That is fed by a culture of orthodoxy and viewpoint intolerance that pervades higher education in the United States today." jonathanturley.org "Iowa Student Arrested After Two Attacks on Conservative Displays on Campus. "This week, we have another attack on a display by conservative students at a U.S. university.

At Fox, Joe Rogan, Elon Musk slam blue city judges after repeat offender charged in Charlotte train murder "DeCarlos Brown Jr. allegedly killed Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte commuter train after judge's release." Not much allegedly about it. Reagan Reese at Da Caller, Trump Admin Executes Massive Crime Crackdown In Memphis.

From Twitchy, ‘Entertainment Welfare’: Greg Gutfeld Confronts NYT Journo With the Truth of Late-Night TV’s Demise. Althouse is delighted, "And I’m never going to call somebody fat because they’re fat. I’m going to call you fat if you called me Hitler." ""And the best part about that is it hurts them. It hurts them more than if they were to call me Hitler because they have to look in the mirror every day. I know I’m not Hitler. They know they’re fat." Said Greg Gutfeld, in "The Interview/Fox News Wanted Greg Gutfeld to Do This Interview. He Wasn’t So Sure" (NYT)." Driscoll at Insty, JIMMY KIMMEL’S WIFE WISHES SHE COULD “DEPROGRAM” HER RAGING TDS: "ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel and his wife, executive producer, and co-head writer Molly McNearney, stopped by the Thursday episode of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast to look back on Kimmel’s recent suspension. While the words “Charlie Kirk” were never mentioned once during the nearly 70-minute episode, Kimmel and McNearney claimed they told their children that President Trump was the one responsible for his suspension." From Da Mail, Artist sparks controversy for installation showing a crucified Donald Trump dubbed 'Saint or Sinner.' Beege Welborn sees Weiss's Intense CBS Change Storm Hits 'Climate Desk' Hard - Blows It Right Out of the Building.

Sean Silverman: Silverman Bar Exam & LSAT Tutoring @BarExamTutor, "1: A law school graduate who has not yet passed the bar exam is writing the briefs for this law firm. The law firm submits one of those briefs written entirely by the law school graduate to the 9th Circuit. 2: The law graduate used AI to help write the brief. Tough to blame the law graduate: that's a lot of pressure so early in one's career. 3: The lawyer arguing the case doesn't review the work submitted by the law school graduate to make sure that the AI hasn't made up cases that don't actually exist in our physical world and instead only exist in the digital world inhabited by non-human AI's. 4: The judges are very confused by all of the above. They ask the lawyer to explain. 5: The lawyer tries to explain and his explanation is that before submitting the briefs, nobody checked the citations. 6: The judges are still very confused. Uncomfortable to watch."

Fox 5, DeKalb police officer investigated after encounter with transgender woman. He's so obviously a man. Amy Curtis at TownHall, Revelations of Insurance Fraud at MI Children's Hospital Exposes Troubling 'Gender-Affirming' Practices. There's plenty good money to be made, supplying the groomers with the stock of their trade.

Palm Sunday

 With Jala Sue:

Meanwhile, palm trees continue their war on humanity, NBC Miami, Miami-Dade deputy hurt in rollover crash after crashing into palm tree

It happened at around 3:25 a.m. in the area of Northwest 21st Avenue and Northwest 74th Street in Gladeview. The sheriff's office said the on-duty deputy was driving north on Northwest 22nd Avenue when they hit the tree, causing the vehicle to rollover. The deputy was able to get out of their marked vehicle "with lacerations to the upper extremities."

No word yet on how the dastardly palm tree caused the collision.

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

Flotsam and Jetsam - Pelosi Calls it Quits

Today's scraps from the wrack line are a bit dated. Given the long day on the water yesterday, and just general fatigue as a result, I was less that scrupulous in my article collection. I made a little attempt to get caught up, but I fear some of it may be a little stale. Just pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds or so to warm it up.

Nancy Pelosi announced her impending retirement from Congress, saying she will not run in 2026. At Hat Hair, in a video, Larry thinks Pelosi Retirement Breaks Democrats: Power Slips Through Jeffries' Fingers and Capt. Ed calls it Irony: Pelosi Checks Out While Trump Triumphs. Driscoll at Insty, NANCY PELOSI CONFIRMS RETIREMENT: Woman Who Made Millions in Congress Is Finally Leaving It. From Althouse, The gerontocracy crumbles, "Now that Election Day is over, it's time for that sort of thing. More, please," and "Nancy Pelosi, the old and broken political hack who Impeached me twice and lost, is finally calling it 'quits.'" ""She illegally made a fortune in the Stock Market, ripped off the American Public, and was a disaster for America. I’m glad to see the stench of Nancy Pelosi go!!!" Wrote Trump, about Pelosi, an hour ago, at Truth Social. I like how he didn't put anything sexist in there." TownHall's Matt Vespa, Trump's Response to Nancy Pelosi's Retirement Was Hilarious. Ace, Granny Rictus McBotoxImplants, Who Boomers Know as "Nancy Pelosi," Finally Retires.

Hat Hair's Duane Patterson looks at Mamdani Madness, 36 Hours Later. From the Free Bacon, 'Socialism Is Not a Dirty Word Anymore': Zohran Mamdani's Victory Emboldens the Far Left. Capt. Ed calls it Mamdanageddon: Party of New Dem-Endorsed Mayor Demands BDS, Arrest of Israelis. Twitchy, So It BEGINS: Check Out List of Anti-Israel DEMANDS Dem Socialists of America Just Handed Mamdani. Collin Rugg @CollinRugg, "Charlie Kirk described the rise of Zohran Mamdani as a "distress signal" from Gen Z. "Most people are missing the point of really what this is..." "This is yet another distress signal by young people to say, 'Hey, if you're not going to fix our life economically, we're going to get very radical politically . . .'" Jawwwn @jawwwn_, "Palantir CEO Alex Karp on Zohran Mandani: “The average Ivy League grad voting for this mayor is annoyed their education is not that valuable, and that the person who knows how to drill for oil has a more valuable profession” “I think that annoys the fuck out of these people.”" From Twitchy, Ron DeSantis Has the BEST Solution for Police Officers Who Want No Part of Mamdani's New York. Ron DeSantis @RonDeSantis, "The $5k recruitment bonus we give to new officers will be utilized by a number of these NYPD officers. There is no reason to risk your life serving when the mayor hates you and believes your department shouldn’t even exist." Quote Zeek Arkham @ZeekArkham, "Just about every NYPD cop I’ve spoken to has told me they’re putting their papers in to leave. They’re not about to stay in a city where the mayor, and the people who elected him, openly hates them. It’s cool, though… when you’re getting assaulted, robbed, or raped, a social worker or “violence interrupter” is going to show up and make everything alright. Elections have consequences and you’re about to get a major consequence."

At PJM, Mike Cantrell sees James Carville Gloat About Dem Election Victories, Says 'Convicted Pedophile' Could Beat GOP, Athena Thorne says Chill Out, Everyone — There Was a Nearly Identical Anti-Trump Reaction in 2017 and Stephen Kruiser thinks the Virginia Election Results Prove DOGE Has a LOT More Work to Do. Capt. Ed hears a Liberal Analyst Warns Dems: So What? Big Deal. From Shipwreckedcrew, The Chicken Littles Of Conservative Media Appear After Two Blue State Elections, "2025 Was Not 2021 And That Explains The Results." Mark Tapscott at Insty says WHY BE SURPRISED BY DEMS TDS TANTRUM? "The always brutally frank guys at Issues & Insights (I&I) contend nobody should be surprised that blue majorities in NYC, New Jersey and Virginia turned out en masse to protest Trump."

Matt Margolis thinks Obama’s Shocking Admission Changes Everything About the Democratic Party "He celebrated that "progressives rise up," noting this serves as a "valuable reminder that the American populace is indeed paying attention." The message was clear: the radical left is the future of the party, and key to the Democrats’ long-term strategy." From Da Signal, AOC Poised to Become Democrats’ Trump in ’28? John Sexton at Hat Hair outs Elizabeth Warren as a Brazen Liar, nothing we didn't already know. Wokal Distance @wokal_distance, "You guys put every single person to the right of Bernie Sanders in a single bucket labelled "Nazi," so you don't get to complain if we don't split hairs between Communism and Socialism." Quote Ellen Barkin @EllenBarkin, "For fuck’s sake, will you please learn the difference between socialism and communism. Look up or shut up." 

A stale bit from Dave Strom at Hat Hair, but it bear repeating, Illegal Alien(?) Elected Mayor of Saint Paul, and Mayor of Kansas Town Noncitizen Who Has Been Voting and WJ, Kansas Mayor Charged with Election Fraud a Day After Winning Reelection: 'He Is Not a United States Citizen.'

Sauron's Eye whines Government shutdown prompts FAA to float flight cancellations as Senate talks continue. WaEx's Byron York on Fighting the government-closing Democratic filibuster. From Althouse, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson empowers Trump to continue withholding food money. "The NYT reports: "Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Trump to Curtail Food Stamp Funding/The temporary ruling by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, blocking a lower court order to fully fund the aid, added to the uncertainty around the nation’s largest anti-hunger program." See? It's not all about empathy." Amy Curtis at TownHall, Supreme Court Issues Emergency Order Temporarily Blocking Full SNAP Payments.

Ace, Trump Strikes Deal With Big Pharma to Reduce *American* Prices for Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro, "Well, with all of the angst about the economy and Trump spending too much focus on foreign policy, I guess this is helpful. Supposedly, the price would drop, eventually, to $245 per month for those paying cash. We'll see." From Da Signal, DC Crime-Fighting Task Force Boasts 60% Decrease in Murder After Trump Crackdown.

At TWZ, Moscow Just Gave Venezuela Air Defenses, Not Ruling Out Strike Missiles: Russian Official. WSJ opines on Trump’s New World Order "If you think he’s an isolationist, you’re wrong. He aims to reshape the globe."

Notoriously Trump-hating NRO conflicted when Supreme Court Reinstates Trump Admin Requirement That Passports Reflect Biological Sex. John Sexton, Supreme Court Says Trump Administration Can End Gender Self ID on Passports. Althouse finds "As for the Government’s suggestion that the President is harmed by not being able to impose a uniform definition of sex across various regulatory schemes..." ""... that assertion is just another species of the far-fetched contention that the President must be injured whenever he is prevented from doing as he wishes.... The Government also fails to explain why it needs a uniform definition of sex, much less why such a uniform definition needs to be imposed now such that it cannot await the outcome of this litigation...." Writes Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson — joined by Justices Kagan and Sotomayor — dissenting in Trump v. Orr, which granted a stay of a district court’s preliminary injunction against a new Executive Branch policy that required all new passports to show the individual's "biological sex" (AKA "sex assigned at birth")." Capt. Ed says Wow: 2nd Circuit Rebukes Lower Court For Denying Review of Bragg Case On Trump. Scott McClallen at TownHall, sees a Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Sending Troops to Portland. Shipwreckedcrew, Ninth Circuit Takes A Step Towards "En Banc" Review of National Guard Cases From California and Oregon "Setting aside a Court Rule, it stays Panel Opinion on a TRO issued by Portland Judge, and suggests en banc vote will be complete by Tuesday of next week."

From Twitchy, Blowing UP (in the DOJ's Face)?! --> Journo STUNS Glenn Beck by Sharing J6 Pipe-Bomb Suspect BOMBSHELL. TheBlaze @theblaze, "'She's one of us!' Steve Baker stuns Glenn Beck with bombshell revelation about J6 pipe-bomb suspect http://dlvr.it/TP5VWs" Savannah Insights @BasedSavannah, "Karlin Younger who “found the pipe bombs” is 5’7 and is “one of us” just saying. She might be her." Ace, The Blaze: We've Identified the J6 Pipe Bomber and It's a Government Worker at a Three-Letter Agency. If true, and it's a long way from settled, the question then becomes did she do it for her agency, or for herself.

Undead FOIA reports 30 Russiagate Subpoenas Issued "Reporting came out yesterday from JustTheNews and FoxNews that confirms a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has issued up to 30 subpoenas to investigate Russiagate." The redoubtable Julie Kelly has hopes; Is John Brennan Next? "Given his public antics and reports of an accelerating investigation, John Brennan appears next on DOJ's hit list of former government officials who abused their power and lied about it to get Trump." From Ace, Jeffrey Epstein's Former Cellmate Alleges: James Comey's Daughter, Federal Prosecutor Maureen Comey, Said That I Could Walk Free If I Falsely Claimed That Epstein Implicated Trump in His Pedo Schemes, "Allegedly, per this admittedly-convicted criminal, James Comey's nasty, ugly daughter promised that he would skate if he could make any allegation against Trump. She further said, allegedly, that it did not matter if he could provide evidence that the allegation was true. All that mattered was that Trump would be unable to disprove it." From Am Con, The Federal Government Is Still Spying on You. "Senator Chuck Grassley’s disclosure of “Arctic Frost” documents shows that federal surveillance on American citizens is as bad as ever."

Tim O'Brien at PJM, He Put an Elderly Pro-Lifer in the Hospital and Got No Prison Time. Will Trump’s DOJ Intervene? "In that June bench trial, Judge Yvette Bryant decided to acquit Brice of the first-degree assault charges. She based her ruling on the premise that it was elderly Crosby who “provoked” Brice by trying to intervene and stop Brice from attacking 80-year-old Schaefer."

'Man Found Guilty of Beating Pro-Lifers Outside Baltimore Abortion Clinic' "Patrick Brice, 28, was convicted of two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment for attacking Richard Schaefer and Mark Crosby, who were ages 84 and 73." https://t.co/DheseUEFHs

— WhatHappened.com (@JohnBla27209136) February 8, 2025

Sundance at CTH reports Federal Officials Bust Two Mississippi Sheriffs and 16 Law Enforcement Officers Running Drugs for Mexican Cartel "Apparently, what tipped off the feds was several arrested criminals complaining to state and federal law enforcement that local police were demanding bribes they could not afford. The Mexican drug cartels were paying up to $30,000 to the individual officers, sheriffs and police chiefs’ and the local criminals could not compete with that scale of bribery demand."

Mediaite, Katie Couric Admits She’s No Longer ‘Trying to Be Impartial’ About Trump. No longer? Spiked on Jennifer Welch and the rise of the unhinged podcast moms, "The success of this bullying, foul-mouthed ‘commentator’ speaks to a sickness on the contemporary American left." Ace, "We Must Stop Fighting, We Cannot Divide the Right*" * "Except for Tucker Carlson Who Is Allowed to Continue #Cancelling All Jewish Republicans He Doesn't Like." "David Strom has a good piece: How can the Tucker Apologists claim that we mustn't attack Tucker Carlson for his, erm, evolution, while his entire show consists of relentlessly attacking Republicans himself? Is it just some Republicans -- and anti-Republican, anti-MAGA Nazis -- who are afforded this Identitarian Privilege?" Ace expands into a twitter thread, The Reaping Phase @AceofSpadesHQ, "A thread: "Cancellation" versus "Just normal politics" A few years back, when people started really getting animated about cancelling cancel culture, people began suggesting that pumping out dirt about a political opponent during a campaign might be like "cancellation."" Hollywood in Toto sees Colbert Just Nuked Left’s Late-Night Trump Theory. "Far-left host stuns by telling truth about 'The Late Show's' fate." "He knows President Trump didn’t force CBS to abandon late night. The numbers did. Late-night TV revenue has collapsed. The format is likely not sustainable moving forward. It’s a relic of another era, like variety shows and “Must-See TV.”"

From Campus Reform, University of South Carolina removes gender and pronoun menus from application after contact by US representative. "The University of South Carolina was recently exposed for including gender and pronoun menus on its admissions application despite a Trump executive order. The school removed the menus after being contacted by US Rep. Nancy Mace, but blamed the inclusion on a third-party contractor."

BREAKING: New Hampshire’s first transgender elected Rep. Stacie Laughton, pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges.

He reportly asked his partner who worked in a daycare to send him nude photos of kids.

Eric Swalwell campaigned with him. pic.twitter.com/5EQFxuNMTQ

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 7, 2025

Lots of links left at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 11.06.25, In The Mailbox: 10.06.25 (Evening Edition), and In The Mailbox: 11.07.25, but it's time to finish. Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. 

Rule 5 Saturday - Jala Sue the Fitness Mom

This week's Rule 5, From Talk Golden to Me Hosted by Evan Golden, Meet Jala Sue the Fitness Model Mom

I'm a life-long lover of fashion, fitness, pure food, paddleboarding & all things healthy.

My greatest accomplishment(s) are my 4 children... Yes, they run me ragged most of the time, but they are also what keep me going and drive me to do better, be better & work harder.

So, me.....

I've been in the modeling industry, professionally, for 19+ years and I am currently signed as a fitness model with SLU Agency & a few others. I have been fortunate enough to work with the likes of FORD, WILHELMINA of NYC & Los Angeles, as well as MUSE Models in Australia. Traveling to many parts of the world has had a profound impact on my growth as a person and a woman.

I made the decision to move back to my original home in Northern Michigan 10+ years ago to be close to my roots, my family, a wonderful community and to raise a family. When I'm not modeling, taking pictures of my adventures, gardening, cooking and caring for my kids, helping others achieve their beauty goals with MONAT, you can find me running, doing the Barre method, or paddleboarding with friends until Lake Michigan freezes over!

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Young Girls & Old Trucks and FMJRA 2.0: The Beatings Will Continue garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Back From Fishin'

A cool and clear pre-dawn photo from the dock. 40 F under fair skies.

The fishing plan to day was shaped by the wind. A blustery 20 kt SSE wind made Cedar Point fishable, but going to the other side untenable. We actually caught our limit of good fish here. I caught the first fish, but alas, it was well over the 24 inch max limit, and went back.

We fished several sites along the Western Shore up to Location X. We caught a few at most stops. I had a giant on at Location X, but it pulled the hook. See the Meg? Me neither.

Then we went around Solomons, and back to the Patuxent River, where we found a bird show going off near Sheridan Point, which is where I caught this typical low to mid 20s fish. It's a weird year. Thanks to the poor recruitment for several year, it seems a majority of the fish caught are in this class, not the 12-17 inch fish that indicate a healthy population.

Gone Fishin'

 But not like this:

or this

Back later with fresh lies. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Young Girls & Old Trucks garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Fish Pic Friday - Abbie Schuster

Abbie Schuster@abbie.on.the.fly, Owner and founder of Kismet Outfitters. Captain. Fly fishing Martha’s Vineyard, New England & abroad.

Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Young Girls & Old Trucks garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Eat 'Em

Or at least pay for the poor to get them free. MD Dept Agr, Maryland Department of Agriculture Awards Funding to Food Banks for Blue Catfish Purchases

“This initiative will help feed our neighbors in need, support seafood processors and watermen, and help remove this non-native but tasty species from the Chesapeake and its tributaries,” said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. “We are thrilled to once again partner with USDA on this initiative as an important tool in addressing hunger and supporting our rural maritime communities.”

“Blue catfish is a win-win for the Maryland Food Bank—we are supporting local businesses and helping to combat an invasive species in the Bay, while also providing a nutritious source of protein to neighbors facing food insecurity,” said Meg Kimmel, President and CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. “We are excited to continue our strong partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.”

From December 2025 to December 2026, blue catfish fillets will be distributed through Maryland food banks. The program will allocate funds as follows: the Maryland Food Bank will receive $1,384,803, the Capital Area Food Bank will receive $499,693, and the Western Maryland Food Bank will receive $53,617.

“We’re grateful for our enduring partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture. This investment, especially now, helps us provide a locally-sourced, nourishing protein in high demand to our Maryland neighbors in need,” said Radha Muthiah, President and CEO of Capital Area Food Bank.

“The Western Maryland Food Bank is grateful to be included in this partnership,” said Amy Moyer, Executive Director of the Western Maryland Food Bank. “We appreciate the Maryland Department of Agriculture bringing a greatly needed protein to the food insecure in Allegany and Garrett Counties. It is great to work together for Marylanders.”

I hope it works out, but I suspect many of the people they hope to help won't pick catfish as their source of protein; I would guess many of the intended recipients have no clue what to do with. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Young Girls & Old Trucks garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Maryland, My Maryland

 From PM, Maryland school district asks 11-year-olds to define trans terms like 'gender expression' and 'sex assigned at birth'

A lesson at Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland asked 12-year-old students to match vocabulary terms, including “Sex Assigned at Birth,” “Gender Identity,” “Transgender,” “Gender Expression,” and “Cisgender.”

The worksheet, revealed by the group Defending Education, defined “gender identity” as referring "to a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or transgender… How you feel. Girl, boy, both or neither.” The definition for “transgender” read: “When your gender identity (how you feel) is different than what doctors/midwives assigned to you when you were born…”

The matching definition for “sex assigned at birth” stated, “when a baby is born, a doctor or midwife looks at the baby’s body/anatomy and says they are a girl, boy, or intersex.” The lesson was part of a “family life” instruction conducted last month for middle school students in the district, ages 11-12.

The revelation of this lesson comes despite the fact that Montgomery County Public Schools has faced scrutiny recently for its emphasis on radical gender and LGBT ideology. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of parents who objected on religious grounds to LGBTQ books being used in elementary schools. The parents sued, arguing they should be permitted to pull their children from lessons that use such books. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of parental freedom.

"Without an injunction, the parents will continue to suffer an unconstitutional burden on their religious exercise, and such a burden unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury,” the opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, stated.

Hey, the parents can't ask to opt their kids out if the school won't tell them what they're teaching.