Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Zelenskyy Meet Over Pope's Dead Body

President Trump went to Pope Francis' funeral in Rome, and while he was there, and while they were in the same vicinity sat down in public/private for a chat with Vlod Zelenskyy, and pissed off the Democrats, not that it's particularly difficult. Althouse, The conversation at St. Peter's.  "For the annals of Things I Asked Grok: Isn't there some expression along the lines of "He would upstage the corpse at a funeral"?" Duke at RedState thinks that Of All the Things to Criticize Trump For, This Take From the Pope's Funeral Might Be the Dumbest Yet, wearing a dark blue suit to a Popes funeral. Meanwhile, former Presnit Biden was doddering around taking selfies. 'Becca Downs at TownHall, Joe Biden Attends Pope Francis' Funeral, Reminding Us We're Better Off Without Him in Office. Matt Margolis, A Frail Joe Biden Manages to Offend Multitudes During Pope’s Funeral. 

Sundance at CTH hosts President Trump and First Lady Melania Pay Their Respects During Funeral for Pope Francis, President Zelenskyy Responds to Question Following Trump Meeting and President Trump Delivers Statement on Current Negotiations for Ceasefire in Ukraine on Truth Social. From Breitbart, Zelensky Says Meeting With Trump in Vatican Potentially ‘Historic.’ At ET, Trump Says Russia, Ukraine ‘Very Close’ to Reaching Peace Deal. "This comes after U.S. special envoy Steven Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Friday." But at Fox, Trump blasts Putin, questioning if Russian leader wants peace or is just 'tapping me along' "'It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war,' Trump wrote."  Matt Margolis notes Yikes! John Kerry Blew a Gasket on MSNBC, when challenged about Obama's acquiescence to the invasion of Crimea.

From the Wash Reporter, Trump administration’s terms of reference with India praised by Congress "Vice President JD Vance’s trip to India is already paying off, with both America and India agreeing to terms of reference — something Vance called a “vital step toward realizing President Trump and Prime Minister Modi's vision.”" Whatever that means. India is a huge power we hear relatively little about, and not a friend of China. From WaEx, Trump calls for free passage for all US ships through Panama and Suez canals. If we're going to guarantee freedom of passage we ought to get something out of it.

Capt. Ed at Hat wonders Could Trump's Other EO Be the Bigger Game-Changer in Education? "It explicitly reverses a 2014 "Dear Colleague" joint letter from Barack Obama's Departments of Education and Justice that demanded schools apply a "disparate-impact framework" to school discipline on the basis of race." From Campus Reform, Trump to speak at Alabama commencement, sparks outrage from College Democrats. So, another day ending in "y?" Driscoll at Insty, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPHECY: Kyle Mann @The_Kyle_Mann, "perfection." From the College Fix, University suspects big tech Google and Meta censoring ads just because it’s Catholic. Probably. 

Insty, UNDER THE RADAR, SIGNIFICANT CHANGE: Department of Government Efficiency @DOGE "For the past 7 weeks, @SocialSecurity has been executing a major cleanup of their records. Approximately 11 million numberholders, all listed age 120+, have now been marked deceased. Another ~1.4 million to go with expected completion in 2 weeks."

From Power Line's Week in Pictures 

Kevin Downey at PJM, Two Thug-Loving Judges Arrested—and Then It Gets Even Better! Chase Jennings at RedState, looks at Coequal Branches? It’s Time for Trump to Stick It to the Judiciary. Driscoll at Insty responds to BRIAN KRASSENSTEIN: Are We Going to Start Arresting Farmers Now Who Help Illegals Evade Arrest? "I hope so!" ~~datahazard~~ @fentasyl "Sure, judges who harbor illegal aliens should be prosecuted but also" Quote ~~datahazard~~ @fentasyl, "So when are the executives of the NGOs which, for years, encouraged illegal immigration going to face prosecution?" Twitchy, Scott Jennings Schools CNN Panelists on Why an Activist Judge’s Arrest Had to Be a ‘Spectacle’. Do you remember the spectacle they made out of arresting various conservatives? Matt Margolis wants you to WATCH: Scott Jennings Brings Reality Check to Judge Dugan's Arrest:

🚨🔥Scott Jennings lights up CNN panelist over arrest of Judge Dugan: “A message has to be sent.”

The debate raged as Fmr. Federal Prosecutor Gene Rossi was incensed over the “spectacle” of arresting a sitting judge.

JENNINGS: "Why wouldn't you want to make a spectacle of it? I… pic.twitter.com/AEDFoNUoQf

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) April 26, 2025

Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal, "WISCONSIN JUDGE: "NO COURT FOR YOU" AFTER FEDS ARREST HER COLLEAGUE. In Wisconsin, a judge just rage-quit her own courtroom after another judge got dragged away by the FBI for helping an undocumented immigrant dodge arrest. Sawyer County Judge Monica Isham blasted the feds for turning courtrooms into "battlegrounds," called the whole thing "absurd," and warned she’ll bail out defendants herself if things get worse. Now, protests are erupting, Republicans are cheering, Democrats are fuming, and Judge Isham’s basically daring them to arrest her next." From NYPo, Lefty judge threatens to close court, start raising bail money for defendants after feds arrested Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping illegal migrant avoid ICE. Seth Tillman at the New Reform Club, How Soon They Forget: Arresting State Judges. Arresting a few state and local judges makes for a good show, but for some real fun, they should take a look some US District Court judges. It shouldn't be too hard. No one really knows the US code (how could they, it's so big). Now, that would get their attention. Mitch Berg at Hat Hair VIP sees Two Americas, Part III: Whiffeball Justice For Democrats, The Baseball Bat For Proles.

From WokeSpy, Trump Admin Releases Details on Some Gang Members SCOTUS Wants Kept in the U.S. NewsMax, Albergo Garcia, Democrats Hill to Die On. Pop Times reports the Trump Admin Slaps New Charges on “Nonviolent” Illegal Alien DUI Killer California Released Too Early. From Blaze, Top immigration official reflects on Biden's failed border policies: 'An invasion unlike we've seen before'. From Da Wire, Red States Consider Bills To Push Illegals To Self-Deport, "Experts say that mandatory E-Verify policies are one of the most effective ways to prompt illegal alien self-deportations." At TownHall, the Great Victor Davis Hanson pens What Is Democratic Legality? "Federal immigration law prohibits the illegal entry into and residence within the United States. Yet the Biden administration deliberately violated the law by allowing somewhere between 10-12 million illegal aliens to cross the border. Thousands had criminal records. No one on the left decried any of these various affronts to the legal system."

The Peacock whines Trump upends DOJ's Civil Rights Division, sparking 'bloodbath' in senior ranks. "Trump's hand-picked head of the division has outlined priorities that are dramatically at odds with the way past administrations have enforced civil rights law." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair chimes in "You betcha I voted for this. And Harmeet, whose name is NOT MENTIONED until the fifth paragraph (!), is precisely the warrior you want doing it."

Insty at his substack, Who are You? Voter ID law and election integrity should be top priority in new Congress. "Voters want it, and with good reason."

NYT's Dave Brooks opines What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal. It's the uprising he's objecting to. Fox, The Left's coordinated town hall protests are an attack on democracy. "'Orange man bad' is no reason to stop elected officials from meeting with their constituents." Pop Times reports a Survey: Most Democrat Federal Bureaucrats Vow to Resist Trump and Disobey Lawful Orders. Napolitan News Service @NapolitanNews, Napolitan Institute releases new report - "The Resistance: The First 100 Days", revealing a highly partisan divide within the federal bureaucracy that confirms that the Administrative State is neither neutral, nor non-partisan in its efforts to govern. https://napolitannews.org/posts/new-repo." But we knew that. rt-the-resistance-the-first-100-days

WATCH: Adam Schiff had his luggage stolen in San Francisco, and while he was shopping for new luggage the clerk told him that 'Democrats are assholes'

pic.twitter.com/jbFHkk4Nxj

— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) April 26, 2025

John Sexton at Hat Hair hears Adam Schiff Critique Biden, California and Democrats. At WokeSpy, Old Snakehead, James Carville’s Podcast Eruption: “Do We Wait Until Trump Is Hitler?” OTP, Dems’ Support Among Young Voters Craters, Down To 23%: Poll.

OutKick, cites Pro-Woman Advocates Slam Nike Over Alleged Funding For Puberty-Blocker Study "Riley Gaines, host of the OutKick podcast "Gaines for Girls" and one of the most influential pro-woman voices in the country, blasted the company. "It’s utterly insidious that Nike would bankroll a long-term study on pre-pubescent athletes—effectively turning children into political guinea pigs—to advance a irreversible, harmful ideology that preys on the most vulnerable," Gaines said. "Did the Bud Light–Dylan Mulvaney fiasco teach Nike nothing? Corporations should stick to making products, not picking culture-war sides—but with Nike, a company that has proudly shown their disdain for America, women, and now apparently children, I won't hold my breath."" Gail Hariot at Insty wonders MAYBE THERE ARE PLACES CRAZIER THAN CALIFORNIA: “Ontario Must Pay for Surgery to Give Trans Resident BOTH Penis and Vagina: Appeal Court.” I trust California will step up its game. From NewsMax, DOJ: Biden Admin Used 'Junk Science' for Transgender Surgeries. WokeSpy, Trans-Identifying Man Allegedly Indecently Exposing Himself in Children’s Locker Room Sends Shock Across a YMCA Community. What's the matter with Kansas?

Dan Ornelas @DanielMOrnelas, "Let me get this straight... they're removing the statue of the Roosevelt who *didn't* put American citizens into internment camps??"

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: In & Out and FMJRA 2.0: Out of the Cellar (Again) up at The Other McCain.