Flotsam and Jetsam - Tulsi Confirmed, Pam Bondi Sues Kathy Hochul and Letitia James

Tulsi Gabbard

WSJ has The Trump Tracker: 36 Notable Moves in 24 Days.

Benny Johnson@bennyjohnson, "CONFIRMED: TulsiGabbard is your new Director of National Intelligence." Matt Margolis at PJM, The Senate Votes on Tulsi Gabbard's Confirmation as Director of National Intelligence. Sundance at CTH, Senate Confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence – (52-48) McConnell Voted No and Tulsi Gabbard Takes the Oath of Office to Become United States Director of National Intelligence. Da Caller, Senate Confirms Tulsi Gabbard As Director Of National Intelligence. Fox, Trump lands key Tulsi Gabbard confirmation following uphill Senate battle. Breitbart, Mitch McConnell Votes with Democrats Against Tulsi Gabbard’s DNI Confirmation. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, BREAKING: Chalk Up Another Two Victories for Schumer and Reid! Ace, Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, "Great news! One down, two to go! It was a vote of 52-48 -- Mitch McConnell was the only "Republican" to cross over and join with his allies the Democrats." From the Babylon Bee, Mitch McConnell Votes ‘No’ For Tulsi Gabbard Confirmation, ‘Yes’ For Sweet Release Of Death.

Beege Welborn, Looks Like We Got Us Some MAHA Happenin'. Holden Culotta@Holden_Culotta, "Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski will vote YES to confirm RFK Jr. That’s 52 YES votes. Mitch McConnell is now the ONLY Republican Senator holding out on RFK. MAHA is happening!" It's official, Mitch has used up all the credit I gave him for stalling Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination. At Da Mail, JD Vance's 12-year-old relative 'denied a heart transplant because she's not vaccinated against COVID and flu'. I expect Bobby will do something about that. 

Charlotte Hazard at JTN reports Pentagon boss Hegseth says no NATO for Ukraine, Russia may get land in peace deal. "Hegseth stated that protection for Ukraine has to be supported by European troops and non-European troops." ET, Hegseth Says Ukraine Regaining Pre-War Borders Is ‘Unrealistic’, "Hegseth reiterated Trump’s calls for negotiations to end the Russia–Ukraine war and signaled U.S. focus will shift to other security concerns beyond Europe." Streiff at RedState thinks SecDef Hegseth Gets a Rude and Disrespectful Welcome by US Military Command in Germany "I'm old school on uniforms. I think the custom of wearing BDUs (utilities, fatigues, whatever you want to call the field uniform) all the time is horrendous. When I was a young officer, you weren't allowed to wear BDUs off-post. Period. You couldn't go to a fast food place or run an errand on the way home or at lunch wearing BDUs. In my view, if you can't break out the Class A uniform to welcome the SecDef and note the color guard is in dress uniform, then there is no possible occasion that calls for them. But, if you do wear BDUs to greet the SecDef, show him the respect of wearing a fresh set. Meeting the head of the Department of Defense in wrinkled BDUs is a calculated insult because I really don't believe this three-star or his aide are that stupid." Ace, Pete Hegseth Announces That Manliness Is Permissible Again in the US Armed Forces. 

Lee Zeldin@epaleezeldin, The Biden EPA tossed $20 billion of “gold bars off the Titanic”. BIG UPDATE! We found the gold bars and they are now being recovered for you, the hardworking American taxpayer. Here are more of the details:" Matt Margolis at PJM, Lee Zeldin Just Discovered $20 Billion Laundered by the Biden Admin.

VodkaPundit at PJM, So Donald Trump Just Got Off the Phone With Vladimir Putin.... Capt. Ed, Tehran's Crisis: Trump, Putin Agree to 'Immediately' Negotiate End of Ukraine War. Ace, Trump: I Spoke With Putin and We Agreed to Begin Peace Negotiations Immediately. Sundance, Zelenskyy and President Trump Recap Their Conversation. John Sexton at Hat Hair, Jordan's King Offers to Take in Palestinian Children, Trump Hints There's More to Come. At ET, EU Leaders Warn They'll Retaliate After Trump Issues Metals Tariffs. "When asked about threats of retaliation by other countries against his new tariffs, Trump said, “I don’t mind.”"

Paul Bedard at WaEx is excited that ‘Black men love Trump’ dooms Democrats with 42% support. Capt. Ed, sees Dem Doom: New Survey Puts Trump at 42% In This Key Demo. Ace, Cygnus Poll: Trump Has 42% Approval... From Black Men, "The headline says this "dooms" the Democrats, which seems accurate." Also from Capt. Ed, House Dem: I'm Deeply Sexually Attracted to a Real Leader! I'm pretty sure that's what Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) told a crowd yesterday. After all, didn't Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explain away criticism of her by insisting that conservative men just wanted to date her? Dexter made it even more explicit! Daily Caller@DailyCaller, "WATCH: Democrat Congresswoman Maxine Dexter tells crowd that “We have to f*ck Trump!”"

NewsWeek whines Donald Trump's Expected Daytona 500 Appearance Raises Concerns With Fans "In 2020, Trump attended the Daytona 500 as President, with responsibilities including signaling the start of the race. During this race, Ryan Newman experienced a violent crash on the final lap." Da Hill grumbles at Leavitt defending banning AP from Oval Office over ‘Gulf of America’ stance. Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando "So the people who made us rename everything from military bases to football teams to pancake syrup are very upset about this Gulf of America thing aren’t they."

DOGE is still generating news. Bob Hoge at RedState, TIME TO NAME NAMES: Trump to Reveal the Biggest Fraudsters and Beneficiaries of Gov't Waste. Collin Rugg@CollinRugg, "BREAKING: DOGE is looking into federal workers who have a high net worth despite having a low salary, according to Elon Musk. "We find it sort of rather odd that there are quite a few people in the bureaucracy who who have a salary of a few hundred thousand dollars, but somehow manage to accrue tens of millions of dollars in net worth." "We're just curious as to where it came from..." The Center Square, Trump signs order forcing agencies to work with DOGE. Erick Erickson, "Constitutional Crisis" is a Talking Point. At Althouse, Everyone's saying it, so it must (not) be true: "Constitutional Crisis,"  "Judges often invoke the separation of powers to limit their own authority, to put certain classes of executive action off-limits from judicial review, or..." "Writes lawprof Adrian Vermeule, in "JD Vance’s Tweet Is No Crisis/Judges also have an obligation to respect the separation of powers. Usually they do so" (Wall Street Journal, no paywall)" and We're told law professors are saying we're in a "constitutional crisis," but at what point would they switch to the term "constitutional moment." "Scholars say? Were they just "3 or 4 left-wing anti-Trump law professors" as Dershowitz asserts? The left-wing anti-Trumpers are out of power and need some line of attack, and in typical fashion, they push us to panic." Dave Strom at Hat Hair points out the Insane Rantings of TRO Judge Surface. Daily Caller@DailyCaller, "While he was in private practice as an attorney until 2009, Judge John J. McConnell Jr, donated hundreds of thousands to Democratic campaigns and political action committees, including 2008 presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Barack Obama." Natalie Winters@nataliegwinters,  EXC - I've unearthed footage from 2021 where the judge blocking the Trump spending freeze accuses Trump of being a "tyrant," claims racism is a "white people problem," and insists transgenders need special sentencing privileges. This is an activist not a judge." The Dersh, Trump versus the courts: who will win? My legal analysis.

Jim Geraghty at NRO has The Answer to Charges of ‘Nobody Elected Elon Musk’. "Back in 2020, nobody voted to put Alejandro Mayorkas in charge of the border, Antony Blinken in charge of foreign policy, Jake Sullivan in charge of national security, or Janet Yellen in charge of the economy. You don’t vote for the guys around the president, other than the vice president. You vote for a president, who selects his team and, in positions where it’s required, gets them confirmed by the U.S. Senate." Althouse, "Elon Musk Gives Rambling Explanation of DOGE’s Work In Oval Office Address." "I'm laughing at that Mediaite headline. Musk speaks at length, extemporaneously, answering all the questions, managing his little son, keeping up good cheer, and making a lot of us viewers feel energized and optimistic, and Mediaite needs to stress that he rambled." Autism Capital@AutismCapital, "JOE ROGAN: "People are worried that Elon is going to steal everyone's money. He has $400B. Elon's not going to steal your money. That's not what he's doing. He's a super genius that has been f**ked with. When you've been f**ked with by these nitwits that hide behind 3-letter agencies, and you're dealing with one of the smartest people alive helping Donald Trump get into office and find out what corruption is really going on, you f**ked up. You f**ked up and picked the wrong psychopath on the spectrum. He's going to hunt you down and find out what's going on, and that's good for everybody. That's how you should be looking at this, like 'Wow, we have a brilliant mind examining these really corrupt and goofy systems and bringing in a bunch of psychopath wizards." Dave Strom reads the NYT: Fraud? What Fraud? Michael Shellenberger@shellenberger, "The New York Times says “Musk Asserts Without Proof That Bureaucracy Is Rife With Fraud.” Seriously? The GAO — under Biden — estimated last year that we are losing $233-$521 billion *per year* to fraud. Guys, it’s right there. Why do you continue with this… fraud? SMH." Matt Vespa, Independent Reporter Brought the Receipts to Shred The New York Times' Anti-Elon Nonsense. Insty, SCHUMER’S FALLING BACK TO ARGUING THAT DOGE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT THEY’RE DOING IT WRONG. They must have some devastating internal polls. @instapundit@instapundit, "I voted for a chainsaw but I'll take what I can get." Quote American AF@iAnonPatriot, "Chuck Schumer says, “everyone knows there's waste in government that should be cut, but DOGE is using a meat axe.” Thoughts?" TheWakeninq2 @wakeninq2 "CNN meltdown after Scott Jennings asks: A judge can cover up fraud, but the President of the United States can’t stop it? The panic is real! Jennings hit a nerve, and now CNN is spiraling. Apparently, an unelected judge can sweep fraud under the rug, but if a sitting president tries to step in—suddenly, it’s a threat to democracy!. . . " Bonchie@bonchieredstate "This is one of the most mask-off moments to occur since the election. Scott Jennings gets CNN to say the quiet part out loud: That they believe their proclamations of qualification should override elections." 'Becca Downs at TownHall sees Elon Musk Reminds How KJP Lied About FEMA Funds and thinks Karoline Leavitt Offers Perfect Response to Democrat's Ridiculous Idea to Impeach Musk. Resist the Mainstream@ResisttheMS, "LISTEN: Rep. Robert Garcia (D) says Americans want Dems to bring “actual weapons” against Elon Musk. "What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight.""

Da Caller, Two Major Agencies Ending Taxpayer-Funded Subscriptions To Liberal News Outlet. Beege Welborn notes How about that? Dave Strom wonders Coincidence? USAID Funds Cut, Romanian President Resigns. At OTP, Swamp Donated $9M To Kamala, USAID Staff Gave $240,000, Just $999 To Trump. The Free Bacon reports At USAID, Funding for Terror-Tied Groups and Internal Hostility Toward Israel Goes Back Years, "One former State Department official described 'a lack of embarrassment among some USAID staffers about being associated with terrorist organizations'" At WUWT, sees Teardrops at the National Science Foundation, "27% Of National Science Foundation Grants Went To DEI Projects, Study Finds." Jester Politics explores Dismantling The Deep State "Well, well, well, here we are two days shy of three weeks into Trump’s second term and the DOGE has hit the fan." 

Department of Government Efficiency@DOGE "Federal employee retirements are processed using paper, by hand, in an old limestone mine in Pennsylvania. 700+ mine workers operate 230 feet underground to process ~10,000 applications per month, which are stored in manila envelopes and cardboard boxes. The retirement process takes multiple months." Dave Strom, You Will NOT Believe How Feds Process Retirement Papers.John Sexton, James O'Keefe: Some Government Workers Just Not Doing Much. James O'Keefe @JamesOKeefeIII "O'KEEFE INSIDE THE TREASURY: Policy Advisor at US Treasury Confesses He 'Knows a Few' Officials Who "Don't Do Their Jobs" and Are Defying @DOGE: "No One's Quitting Because Everyone's Dug in Their Feet;" Claims Layoffs Are Because "All He [Musk] Wants Is More Money." Mary Katharine Ham @mkhammer, "Federal workers just want the dignity and privileges all normal American workers have, like taking a Tuesday off to sing about throwing their boss in jail, without fear of repercussions. Is that not what your Tuesday looked like?" John Sexton, Judge Lifts Pause on Trump Administration's Federal Buyout Offer

Mark Tapscott at Insty, "HOUSE HAS DOGE HEARING BUT IGS NOWHERE IN SIGHT: House Subcommittee of Delivering Government Efficiency (DOGE – see what they did there?) convened its first-ever hearing on the Trump DOGE blitzkreig against waste and fraud. Special emphasis was placed by Republicans on the $200+ billion lost annually to improper payments, which is a huge part of the overall waste, fraud and abuse problem. But what is quite possibly the biggest chunk of opportunity for making huge and permanent progress in cleaning up the national disaster that is the federal bureaucracy. What might that be? . . . " OTP, Chairwoman MTG Opens First House DOGE Hearing, ‘A Second American Revolution’. Paul Bedard at WaEx, Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene: Tackling the swamp is US’s ‘No. 1 issue.’ A Larry video at Hat Hair, Dems' Humiliating Moment During Fiery DOGE Hearing. Governing, Red States Create Their Own DOGE Efforts to Pare Down State Governments. "GOP governors and lawmakers have set up their own government efficiency task forces and committees to find ways to cut state spending." Sen. Frank Niceley @SenFrankNiceley, "Democrats were responsible for the Federal Reserve, IRS, Jim Crow laws and segregation in the federal bureaucracy, not to mention Prohibition. And opposed Women’s suffrage. But other than that they are totally committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion." Quote Dan McLaughlin@baseballcrank, "From 2020, @NRO: The Confederate Roots of the Administrative State"nfederate-roots-of-the-administrative-state/

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.11.25 Twitchy: Ayanna Pressley Says Dems Will Work With Anyone Serious About Censoring Americans, “This Party Is Just Getting Started”, and JD Vance Delivers Straight-Fire Speech On American Global Leadership, Louder With Crowder: Bolstered by media outrage, “Big Balls” lands a new government job and it involves Marco Rubio, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett goes on profanity-laced rant against DOGE, Vox Popoli, Trump to Rebuild Steel Industry, Stoic Observations: DOGE & The Ghost Of Doodad Pro, American Greatness: Republican Congressman Drafts Articles of Impeachment For US District Judge Who Blocked DOGE From Accessing Treasury Data, FEMA’s CFO and Three Other Employees Canned Over $59 Million Payment to NYC Luxury Hotels To House Illegals, SecDef Hegseth Bans Trans Soldiers, and 22 Attorneys General Sue to Halt Trump Cuts to NIH Funding, American Thinker: After USAID, America Will Never Be the Same, CDR Salamander: What If Canada Were Conservative?, The Geller Report: Trump Says Ukraine Has Agreed to Hand Over $500 Million in Rare Earth Metals to U.S. For Military Aid, The Lid: Victor Davis Hanson Shows Us Why DOGE and Elon Musk’s Work is Legal and Legitimate, Legal Insurrection: Trump Rescinds Biden’s Banal Ban on Plastic Straws, Schumer Ripped to Shreds Over Portal to Report Government ‘Corruption’, Trump Orders DOGE to Slash Federal Workforce, and Danes Launch Online Petition to Crowdfund for Purchase of…California, This Ain’t Hell, Fort Bragg is back, Victory Girls: FEMA Sees Firings After Sending NYC Illegals More Money, The Federalist: Neither State Nor Territory – Trump Has A Third Option On Greenland, How The Media Learned To Start Worrying And Fear The ‘Constitutional Crisis’, Ousted From Power By Voters, Dems Turn To Activist Judges To Defy Trump, After Years Of Crying About Alleged Foreign Election Interference, Dems Are Begging A Court To Let Noncitizens Vote, and Not Tired Of Losing, The Left Doubles Down On Standing Up For Insanity.

Sundance hosts Attorney General Pam Bondi Press Conference. ALX@alx, "BREAKING: AG Pam Bondi announces the DOJ has filed charges against the State of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, AG Letitia James, and Mark Schroeder: “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops — it stops today.”" Fox, Bondi announces new lawsuits against states allegedly failing to comply with immigration actions: ‘A new DOJ’ "'If you don't comply with federal law, we will hold you accountable,' Bondi said." Da Caller, Pam Bondi Launches Legal Action Against New York. At OTP, Trump AG Bondi Personally Takes Down DOJ Pictures Of Biden And Harris

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.11.25 Vox Popoli,  Gargantuan if True: "It has been alleged that Pennsylvania governor Joshua Shapiro was involved somehow in the assassination attempt on President Trump. "President Donald Trump learned today a Federal Whistleblower and former PA State Police employee has come forward with information and filed a criminal complaint this week on February 7, 2025, allegedly linking Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro with the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Allegations from the private criminal complaint: “In the weeks leading up to the Trump Rally, President Joseph R. Biden, made frequent visits to Defendant Joshua Shapiro to discuss the obstacle faced by the Democratic party. Joshua Shapiro, organized, schemed, and conspired with other officials to carry out the attempted assassination against Former President Donald J. Trump.” On the one hand, it’s very hard to believe that a sitting governor would dare to conspire against the life of a Presidential candidate. On the other hand, we know that the Deep State has done this sort of thing for decades, and some of its known conspiracies have involved state and local politicians in the past."

Da Fetched, FBI Leaker Caught Tipping Off Venezuelan Gang Ahead of ICE Raids. Drew Berquist, Tom Homan Zeroes In on ICE Raid Leaker, Points to FBI as Investigation Heats Up. ET, Border Czar, DHS Secretary Suggest FBI Is Leaking Information About ICE Raids, "‘Some of the information we are receiving tends to lead toward the FBI,’ Tom Homan said this week." From Twitchy, BREAKING: DHS Claws Back the $59 Million FEMA Gave to a NYC Hotel Housing Illegal Aliens. Ace, Kristi Noem: We've Now Clawed Back the Illegal Payment of $59 Million to a Pakistan-Owned Hotel to House the Poor and Oppressed of Tren de Aragua. "The media's new talking point is that Trump and Musk are presenting claims of fraud "without evidence." No evidence at all!"

Insty, IS POLITICO REALLY A NEWS ORGANIZATION WHEN THE “NEWS” THEY REPORT IS MONTHS OLD AND IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY REPORTED WHEN THE STORY WAS ACTUALLY FRESH?

Politico before vs after the election: pic.twitter.com/LZ4QWceK5F

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 12, 2025

Bonchie@bonchieredstate "Trump is currently enjoying his highest approval ratings ever and these people still think suggesting America regrets its decision is a brilliant talking point." Quote The Lincoln Project@ProjectLincoln "If you voted for Trump, you're not allowed to act surprised by what's happening now. x.com/piyushmittal/s…" PJM's Chris Queen thinks The Democrats' Downfall Is a Sight to Behold. Da Caller, Democrats Spiral Into Civil War Over How To Resist Trump, Lashing Out At Their Own Voters. Don Surber, presumes to say What Democrats should do, "Opposing Trump on everything will not take back the White House." Beege Welborn, The Remnants of #Bidenomics Look to Be Comin' In a Little Hawt... 

Brianna Lyman at Da Fed notes After Years Of Crying About Alleged Foreign Election Interference, Dems Are Begging A Court To Let Noncitizens Vote, supposedly only in local elections. 

John Sexton, Trans Teens in New Hampshire Sue Trump Administration Over Sports Ban. Breitbart, Maine’s School Sports Officials Reject Trump’s Orders, Will Allow Transgender Athletes. 

Sean Stevens at Greg Lukianoff at The Eternally Radical Idea explain The Unholy Alliance: How college administrators and students unite to silence speakers.

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Scalped up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.