What Did Megalodon Eat?

Georgia in the Jaws of Death 
at the Smithsonian

Pretty much whatever it wanted. Science Alert, Giant Megalodon's Prey Finally Revealed, And It's Not What We Thought

Megalodon, the terror of the Neogene, dominated its giant shark niche for just 20 million years before it disappeared from the world's oceans. And, during that time, it hunted anything and everything that crossed its path. It didn't distinguish: if it was large enough to be a snack, megalodon (Odotus megalodon) partook. Scientists have reached that conclusion after studying the teeth of modern sharks, and comparing them to the fossilized teeth of megalodon, almost all we have left of the extinct fish today. This contradicts the theory that the main prey of megalodon was whales. Certainly megalodon could and did eat whales – but its diet as a whole was far more opportunistic.

"Our study tends rather to draw a picture of megalodon as an ecologically versatile generalist," says geoscientist Jeremy McCormack of Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany. "Megalodon was by all means flexible enough to feed on marine mammals and large fish, from the top of the food pyramid as well as lower levels – depending on availability."

Georgia with her very real 4 1/2 inch Meg

Megalodon is an extinct species of shark that lived from around 23 million to around 3.6 million years ago, during which time it occupied a prime position at the top of the food web, before being driven to extinction. We will never know for certain what it looked like; like all sharks, its skeleton was mostly cartilage, and all it left behind was a lot of teeth and a few vertebrae.

We know from these remains, however, that megalodon was enormous, with size estimates ranging from around 11 meters to over 40 meters (36 to 131 feet) in length (although the latter is an outlier, and most estimates hover around 13 to 20 meters). That's huge – so huge that scientists think that megalodon may have specialized in large prey.

One way to determine the diet of someone who has been dead a long time is to look at isotopes in their teeth. An isotope of an element is an atom that deviates from the norm in the number of neutrons it has in its nucleus, and the ratios of these isotopes vary according to several factors, one of which is diet.

This is because when we eat, some of the metals in our food replace some of the calcium in our teeth and bones – not so you notice, obviously, but enough to leave a tracer. McCormack and his colleagues looked specifically at the ratios of two isotopes of zinc – the lighter zinc-64 and the heavier zinc-66.

When fish at the bottom of the food web eat, they store less zinc-66 than zinc-64. The fish that eat those fish have even less zinc-66. So when you get to the fish at the very top of the chain, you see the very least zinc-66 compared to zinc-64. This is what the researchers observed in the teeth of megalodon and its cousin, the extinct Odotus chubutensis.

The researchers don't really know what was at the bottom of the food chain 18 million years ago, the time from which the megalodon teeth they studied hailed. So, they compared the megalodon teeth with the teeth of sharks that swim the oceans today to work out what the giant predators ate.
. . .
There were also intriguing differences in megalodon diet depending on where the animals lived. Megalodon teeth found in Passau, Germany, dined more heavily on the lower levels of the food web, the researchers found.

This is not dissimilar to the opportunistic hunting approach demonstrated by white sharks (Carcharias carcharodon), which stands to reason: previous work led by McCormack showed that the rise of the white shark was likely one of the drivers that led megalodon to extinction. With competition in its ecological niche, megalodon became more vulnerable.

So, yeah, it ate whatever it wanted. Don't we all? 

Largemouth Taxonomists Reclassify Largemouth Bass

Southern Maryland Chronic, Genetic Study Splits Largemouth Bass

Maryland’s most popular freshwater sportfish, the largemouth bass, has a new scientific identity following a groundbreaking study that distinguishes it from its Florida counterpart, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on May 23, 2025. The American Fisheries Society has officially recognized the Florida bass as a separate species from the largemouth bass, prompting a change in the scientific name for Maryland’s bass from Micropterus salmoides to Micropterus nigricans.

 

A Yale University study, published in 2025, analyzed the genetics of 394 fish and confirmed distinct differences between bass from Florida and coastal Georgia and those found elsewhere, including Maryland. The research validated observations made in 1949 by black bass researchers Carl Hubbs and Reeve Bailey, who noted physical differences like scale counts and coloration patterns. While these traits were insufficient for species separation at the time, modern genetic testing has provided conclusive evidence.

For Maryland anglers, the reclassification changes little in practice. The fish, still called largemouth bass locally, remains a favorite for its size, fighting spirit, and the tournaments hosted across the state’s lakes, tidal rivers, and nontidal rivers. However, the scientific name update to Micropterus nigricans will be reflected in Maryland’s fishing regulations, as proposed by the DNR. In Florida, what was once considered a largemouth bass is now classified as Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides).

 

“Recognizing them as separate species helps natural resource agencies like DNR manage and conserve these fish more effectively,” a DNR spokesperson said in a statement. The genetic distinction allows fisheries managers to tailor stocking and conservation strategies to each species’ environmental adaptations. Largemouth bass in Maryland are well-suited to the state’s cooler waters and shorter growing seasons, while Florida bass thrive in warmer southern climates with longer growing seasons.

 

The reclassification highlights behavioral and growth differences. Florida bass are known for reaching trophy sizes in their native range, benefiting from warm waters, but may not achieve the same growth in Maryland’s colder climate. Conversely, largemouth bass are prized for their aggressiveness and adapt better to northern waters. Stocking Florida bass in Maryland could lead to reduced catch rates or lower reproductive success, according to DNR fisheries biologists.

Maryland’s stocking strategy remains unchanged. Bass for tidal waters, such as the Potomac River, will continue to be sourced from local largemouth bass broodstock to ensure optimal survival and reproduction. This approach mirrors practices in states like Arkansas, where warmer southern regions are stocked with Florida bass and cooler northern areas receive largemouth bass.

Well, if the DNA says they're different species, and there are enough physical difference to warrant giving them separate scientific names, then so be it. Just don't pull some political renaming like Chesapeake Chana (instead of the long time name Northern Snakehead, which was perfectly descriptive, they belong to the genus of other snakeheads, and they were the northernmost species in the group.) Just FYI, there is another lookalike relative, the Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus), "native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states, from central Texas through the Florida panhandle. Its native range extends into the western Mid-Atlantic states and it has been introduced into western North Carolina and Virginia. It has also been introduced to southern Africa, where it has become established in some isolated waters as an invasive species."

Flotsam and Jetsam - The Battle of the ' One Big, Beautiful Bill' Begins

But, but, but before that, Althouse, First, he just exclaims "HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!" but then he thinks again, and by "thinks again," I don't mean he questioned whether "HAPPY" is the right word. "I mean he decided it would be better to say "HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM....":" Sundance at CTH hosts President Donald Trump Delivering a Memorial Day Speech from Arlington Cemetary (sic). Drew Berquist, Trump Pardons ‘Century Men’ During West Point Commencement Speech. 'Century Men' are cadets with 100 or more hours of punishment tours for minor infractions.

The battle to get Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' through congress is starting to heat up. At NewsMax, Sen. Schmitt: Senate Aims to Polish Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' and Sen. Paul: Big Beautiful Bill Spending Cuts 'Wimpy,' 'Anemic'. True enough, but way better than you would get from the Democrats. LifeZette, Senator Ron Johnson: GOP Has the Votes to Stall Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill. "Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) said Sunday that there are enough Republican senators prepared to halt President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation package until concerns over federal spending and the national deficit are addressed." Meanwhile NewsMax reports Schumer: Dems to Unanimously Oppose Trump Mega Bill until all their graft is restored.

Sundance reports British King Charles Arrives in Canada to Coordinate Defense Against U.S. Economic Positioning. From ET, European Markets Rally as Trump Delays EU Tariffs Until July 9. From Da Caller, President Trump Is Powering America’s Economic Comeback.

From NewsMax, Trump: Putin Gone 'Absolutely Crazy'. Gone? And in response, Russia: Trump's Criticism of Putin 'Emotional Overload'. Atop Da Hill, Grassley urges Trump to impose sanctions on Russia. Sanctions just seem to add to Putin's paranoia. At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed hears Hamas Agrees to US Hostage-Release Proposal, But ... UPDATE: 'Hamas Spin,' Says Witkoff. "The new proposal, which sees the release of 10 hostages and 70 days of truce, was reportedly received by Hamas through mediators." JTN, White House envoy Witkoff says Hamas misrepresents US ceasefire proposal, calls it 'unacceptable' "Witkoff has been in direct negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top adviser, Ron Dermer, and with Hamas leadership through Palestinian American businessman Bishara Bahbah." In the meantime, keep killing them off.

At Hat Hair, Dave Strom on Biden's Brain: It Wasn't a Cover Up; It Was a Hoax and Larry Elder, The Astonishing Chutzpah of CNN's Jake Tapper. "You co-wrote a new book in which you brazenly accuse the Biden administration of orchestrating a "cover-up" to conceal the former president's cognitive decline. But you were complicit. You played a major role." PJM's Matt Margolis say Now We Know the Real Reason Tapper and Thompson Wrote About Biden, so they can attack Trump over his age. The money is just a bonus. Adam Carolla @adamcarolla, "He wanted Biden to win, so he lied to himself." Quote Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald, "Jake Tapper -- at the age of 56 and after 30 years in what one may loosely call "journalism" -- pretends to have just woken up and realized what is, in fact, the first axiom of Journalism 101: politicians and governments lie and journalists shouldn't blindly believe them. Clyp Keeper @DGrayTexas45 "Remember when “Dr” Jill Biden told Jake Tapper he couldn’t talk or mention any of Biden’s Gaffes anymore “because of Donald Trump”? Maybe this is why Tapper stayed quiet for four years while anyone with a functioning brain could see Biden was toast." At RedState, Mike Miller hears a PBS Host Says People Who Blast Media Cover-Up of Biden Decline Don't Understand 'How Reporting Works' and Sister Toldja says Here We Go: Democrats Begin Unraveling After Floodgates Open on Joe Biden's Decline. At NewsBusters, Before Tapper’s Book, Washington Week Host Mocked Warnings from Rep. Phillips, Hur. At Althouse, "I think there was a feeling — like, a lot of members of the Democratic Party that were seeing this or saw moments um of him seeming out of it — um that going public was not going to change [Biden's] mind." ""It was only going to help Donald Trump, um, and I think that's how a lot of them rationalized it. Now whether or not history will judge them, you know, as being right for doing that, um, you know, we will see, but this is also part of the reason why the White House was shielding him from as many people as possible including Cabinet secretaries because sometimes, you know, you see him once maybe it's just a bad day you can just say, like, you know, maybe I just had one bad meeting. You're not really sure..." Said Alex Thompson, co-author of "Original Sin," on "Fox News Sunday" yesterday." "It's like fighting fire with fire — fighting the destruction of the democracy with the destruction of democracy. You had to destroy the village to save it. Noted." JTN reports a Majority of registered voters now think Biden wasn’t fit enough to run US in final year, poll finds "Poll found 58% of American voters across party lines didn't think Biden was fit to run the country."

At RedState, Nick Arama thinks Kamala's Interview in Australia Reminds Us How Lucky We Are That She Lost. Sarah Hoyt at Insty, YEAH, REMEMBER THE GOVERNMENT’S IMPOSITION OF COLLECTIVIST POLICIES DIMINISHING OUR FREEDOM AND EXTENDING THE DEPRESSION: "Kamala Harris takes swipe at Elon Musk and Trump admin: ‘Remember the 1930s’." Matt Margolis asserts The Democrats Are Doomed, and They Have No Idea. Amanda Head at JTN, Despite decades of Democrat health initiatives, Americans are sicker than ever "Over the last 15 years, Democrats have reared multiple failed health initiatives that could be reversed or altered under the Trump administration’s health leadership, leading to better overall health and a reduction in chronic diseases." Democrat initiatives are designed to hand money over to friends. Actual results are optional. WaPoo whines Millions of Americans hit with bad credit after missed student loan payments. "The credit score drop is akin to filing for bankruptcy, and some borrowers are finding out when they try to get car loans or rent apartments."

From the Center Square IL, SCOTUS asked to decide challenge to IL’s post election ballot counts. I'd be surprised if they take it. They'll bend heaven and earth to get a El Salvadoran criminal back to Maryland, but actually make sure a US election was run fairly? Fuget about it! Josh Blackmun at The Volokh Conspiracy, Circuit Justice Kagan Never Bothered Calling For A Reply In Trump v. AFGE. "I think I figured out what happened here. Justice Kagan realized that the District Court would almost certainly replace the unappealable TRO with an appealable PI. So she didn't lift a finger. She would rather wait for the normal appellate process to play out in the Ninth Circuit. Apparently, Justice Kagan did not think much of the government's urgent desire for a ruling." Insty at his NYPo gig, Courts are infected with ‘injunctivitis’ — and tempting Trump’s defiance. 'Roberts has made his ruling, now let him enforce it.' Charlotte Hazard at JTN, Famed law professor Alan Dershowitz offers Trump path for resuming mass deportations after setbacks "The Supreme Court last week blocked President Donald Trump from invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport illegal migrants in Texas. "Due Process," says Alan Dershowitz, "doesn't have a singular meaning.""

Sundance hears Deputy Director Dan Bongino State He and Kash Patel will Begin FBI Reform “by Next Week” "FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announces the FBI “reform teams” will likely be in place next week. From there, they will begin reviewing subjects of interest to the American people, including: (1) the J6 pipe bomber, (2) the White House cocaine user, and (3) the Dobbs leaker." ET, FBI Deputy Director Bongino Says Bureau Looking at Several Cases Involving ‘Potential Public Corruption.’ At NewsMax, Bongino: FBI Investigating Cocaine in Biden White House, More. Pop Times, James Comey’s Chilling Warning to Trump Supporters: “You’ll Be Sorry”. When we get back in power we're coming after you, again!

At Twitchy, Seattle Police Officers Guild Lays Down the Law on Antifa, Seattle Police Officers Guild @SPOG1952 "PRESS RELEASE Public Safety in the City of Seattle continues to be politicized and violent ANTIFA criminals once again dominate Seattle’s public safety conversation with their insane use of political violence. This is Seattle’s public safety political reality. Over seven hundred police officers have fled this city in the past decade. This is due to the public safety political decisions by our elected leaders, activist pressure, and for their lack of action against ANTIFA criminals who continue to dictate public safety political terms. The remaining police officers in this city are tired. Our community is tired. This is Seattle’s public safety political reality. . . "

EJ @Ejmiller25, Ultimately, almost all the gnashing of teeth can be boiled down to Trump 2.0 being the first GOP admin in 40 years to actually ensure the electorate is represented throughout executive branch. Everything else is noise." Quote recusant#@neorecusant, "Rubio testified at a Senate hearing about how he intended to get back control of foreign policy for the State Department from the National Security Council and now he's taken a big step firing 100 from NSC which had grown enormously in number and influence under Bush Jr and Obama x.com/sentdefender/s…"

PJM's Mark Tapscott wonders Why Do We Put Up With Social Media's 'Censorship Without Due Process'?

At NewsMax, Trump says Harvard Grant Money Could Go to Trade Schools. Boy, would that piss tenm off. JD Vance@JDVance "There is an extraordinary "reproducibility crisis" in the sciences, particularly in biology, where most published papers fail to replicate. Most universities have massive bureaucracies that inhibit the translation of basic research into commercial adoption. The voting patterns of university professors are so one-sided that they look like the election results of North Korea. And on top of all of this, many universities explicitly engage in racial discrimination (mostly against whites and asians) that violates the civil rights laws of this country. Our universities could see the policies of the Trump administration as a necessary corrective to these problems, change their policies, and work with the administration to reform. Or, they could yell "fascism" at basic democratic accountability and drift further into irrelevance."

Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal reports Lockheed Martin Phases Out Key DEI Policy After Questions About Anti-Christian Double Standard. Do you now, or have you ever gone to church?

Jim Hanson@JimHansonDC "Auf Wiedersehen" Quote Anti Woke Memes @AntiWokeMemes, "'TRANS' people are fleeing the US for Germany because of TRUMP. Do you have any LAST WORDS for them before they leave?" 

Tattoo Tuesday

Rasha Thadani

At the India Express, Raveena Tandon helps daughter Rasha Thadani get her first tattoo: ‘Make the Trishul bolder’

Actor Raveena Tandon’s daughter, Rasha Thadani, made her Bollywood debut this year with the film Azaad. Recently, the “Uyi Amma” girl got her first tattoo—with her mom by her side for the special moment.

The star kid got a butterfly tattoo with a Trishul at its center, inked on the back of her neck. A clip shared online shows the mother-daughter duo at the tattoo studio as Rasha gets inked.

In the video, Rasha Thadani shared that she was inspired by her mother, who has multiple tattoos. “Yeah, definitely my mother’s comfort with getting tattoos has inspired me,” Rasha said in the clip, adding, “But I’ve always wanted one.” She was also seen reacting to her tattoo after the session.

In case you wondered, The trishula "(Sanskrit: त्रिशूल, romanized: triśūla) is a trident, a divine symbol, commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism." 

 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Memorial Day Debris

President Trump issues a Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2025. Sundance hosts President Trump's Impromptu Presser from Morristown, New Jersey. "On the Russia -vs- Ukraine conflict President Trump says he doesn’t like what Vladimir Putin is doing with continued missile attacks against Ukraine and will be sharing more information shortly."  And Zelenskyy Blames U.S. Silence for Increased Russian Attacks. 'Becca Lower at RedState hears SecDef Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Put Press Corps on a Short Leash After Epidemic of Leaks.

At Hat Hair, SNC: This Week on Capitol Hill Celebrates One Big Beautiful Bill - 5-24-25 (Video). Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh "UPDATE: Elon Musk has now confirmed that he is disappointed in Congressional Republicans not implementing DOGE cuts. Sad but predictable. Elon now says the most viable path out of a debt spiral is accelerating GDP growth. "Only radical improvements in productivity can save our country." Stephen Miller @StephenM "I’ve seen a few claims making the rounds on the Big Beautiful Bill that require correction. The first is that it doesn’t “codify the DOGE cuts.” A reconciliation bill, which is a budget bill that passes with 50 votes, is limited by senate rules to “mandatory” spending only — eg Medicaid and Food Stamps. The senate rules prevent it from cutting “discretionary” spending — eg the Department of Education or federal grants. The DOGE cuts are overwhelmingly discretionary, not mandatory. The bill saves more than 1.6 TRILLION in mandatory spending, including the largest-ever welfare reform. A remarkable achievement. I’ve also seen claims the bill increases the deficit. This lie is based on a CBO accounting gimmick. . . "    Nick Ballasy at JTN, House Speaker Mike Johnson warns Senate not to 'meddle' too much with House-passed megabill. ""I have a very delicate balance here, very delicate equilibrium that we’ve reached over a long period of time," he says." From NewsMax, House GOP Warns Senate: Don't Weaken Trump Agenda, Dick Morris: Big, Beautiful Bill Will Mean 'Clear Sailing' for 2026 and Gingrich Urges GOP Senate to Pass Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' At Da Caller, Ron Johnson Predicts GOP Senators Will Put Up Roadblock To ‘Stop The Process’ On Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ Sundance, Senator Rand Paul Announces He is a “No Vote” on House Version of Big Beautiful Tax Cut Bill. I admire his consistency, but he lets the perfect be the enemy of the good. At Da Lid Francis Menton looks at The "Big Beautiful Bill" -- Climate And Energy Provisions. "Somewhat to my surprise, the BBB as passed by the House appears to repeal and rescind essentially all of the green energy handouts from the IRA." Driscoll at Insty reads AMERICA’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD: "Announcement: The Babylon Bee Is Now A Full-Service Restaurant And All Our Writers Are Compensated Entirely With Tips. "ANNOUNCEMENT: The Babylon Bee is no longer a satire website. After months of strategy meetings and lots of thinking really hard, we have decided to pivot to becoming a full-service restaurant empire. In light of this change, all our writers and other staffers will now be known as “waiters,” “busboys,” and “food-making guys,” and will be compensated entirely in “tips.” This compensation plan, created without any kind of intent to avoid income taxes or otherwise skirt federal tax laws, is ultimately the best compensation structure for our employees. After lengthy discussion with our staffers, they expressed their desire to be compensated with tips rather than salaries or hourly wages, citing factors like being better motivated by tips and a sense of satisfaction when a customer tips them."

Atop Da Hill, Trump extends trade deal deadline for EU after ‘good call’ with commission leader. Ward Clark at RedState says Relax, People. Paul Krugman Is Predicting a Disastrous Recession. At the Rod Martin Report Trump's Golden Dome, and Why the 1967 Outer Space Treaty Is No Obstacle to It. "The Outer Space Treaty is outdated and has greatly limited human development of space. But it's no impediment to Donald Trump's missile shield, no matter who claims otherwise." TownHall's Matt Vespa says Sorry, Dems, Wisconsin Swing Voters Are Sticking With Trump.

USA Today, Dems are mad about Biden book. Jake Tapper must be a deep undercover MAGA agent. Twitchy, NOW It Can Be Told! Apparently These People Were Part of a WH 'Politburo' During the Biden Years. From Da Caller, Biden Aide Admits Staff Did ‘Undemocratic Things’ Because Trump Was ‘Existential Threat To Democracy.’ PJM's Matt Margolis hears a Neuroscientist Accidentally Reveals Democrats' Dark Strategy Behind Biden's Mental Health Cover-Up. “I would rather have a president in a coma, where the duties of the presidency are executed by a committee of just normal people,” he said. “And that’s the choice that many of us believe was before us.” NYPo, Ex-Obama aide admits he didn’t mention Biden’s decline because he ‘wanted him to f—king win.’ LifeZette reports Biden Doctor, Staffers Subpoenaed as His Health Cover-Up Scandal Grows. Sarah Arnold at Townhall, Atlantic’s Goldberg Defends Media’s Silence on Biden’s Decline. John Kass, Confused, Starving Reporters Now Desperate for Food After Killing American Journalism. Stephen Moore at Hat Hair makes a connection, Biden Forgives Student Loans and ... Behold, Defaults Skyrocket.

Matt Vespa, The Democrats Are in Such a State of Disaster, Even the NYT Can't Spin It," NYT Piece Confirms That the Trump Era Is Here and It’s Unstoppable...But There's a Catch," and If That's What Dems Are Spending Money on, Donald Trump Has Truly Destroyed Them. Nick Arama at RedState says Hoo Boy: New Effort by Dems to Figure Out Why They're Losing Is Hilariously Clueless. John Hasson @SonofHas "Dems: “Working out is right wing” “Liking hot girls is right wing” “Eating red meat is right wing” Dems today: “We need $20 million to understand why young men hate us”" David Burge@iowahawkblog "I used to satire the left's doomed anthropological safaris into the heart of darkest flyover country, but now satirizing it has become impossible."

From OTP, Another Poll Shows AOC Leading Schumer In Potential NY Democrat Senate Primary. Is there any way they can both lose?

LifeZette, $4.7 Trillion Vanished? Treasury Busted for Years of Untracked Payments. Just the way politicians like it. At ET, What to Know About Trump’s Battle With Watchdog Agency Over Federal Spending. "The president can decline to spend money appropriated by Congress, with restrictions. Trump wants to reduce or clear away those restrictions."

Beth Brelje at at Da Fed reports Judge Says Tariffs Are Authorized By Emergency Powers Act In Win For Trump. They must have picked the wrong judge. Balmer Sun, Maryland court bars Trump admin from deportating habeas seekers. Atop Da Hill, Jonathan Turley opines The justices must at long last deal with ‘chronic injunctivitis’. 

Sarah Arnold hears James Comer Urges Pam Bondi to Prosecute Biden Family "urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute what he claims is blatant dishonesty by former President Joe Biden’s brother, James Biden. Comer argued that James misled Congress about Joe Biden’s involvement in the family’s overseas business ventures and claims that other witnesses and evidence contradict." At NewsMax, Could Comey's Free Speech Defense Be 86'd?

Sundance hosts Sunday Talks – Matt Gaetz Interviews Ed Martin on Current Status of Weaponization Review. Tom Knighton at TAW says Everyone is a violent extremist now. "Did you know that you were probably a violent extremist? Don’t feel bad. I was, too. In fact, anyone who took issue with COVID protocols probably got that label, according to some new information recently declassified."

'Becca Downs, WaPo Finally Takes Down Post About 'Where Jews Belong,' but Why Was It Up in the First Place?

Leslie Eastman at LI, Northeastern U. Student Demands Tuition Refund After Catching Professor Using ChatGPT. "Northeastern ultimately decided to reject Ella Stapleton’s claim." From Da Mail, Brazilian tribe sues for £113million after claims they became addicted to porn after Elon Musk's Starlink system gave them access to high-speed internet. And I'm sure they came up with the idea on their own.

Stacy McCain has a flashback in Blast From the Blogging Past: Saint Pancake and the Anti-Israel Cause. Nick Ballasy reports Trump says Harvard should reveal names and home countries of its international students. ""We want those names and countries. Harvard has $52,000,000, use it, and stop asking for the Federal Government to continue GRANTING money to you!" Trump wrote." 

Hollywood in Toto sees Variety Admits to Hollywood Blacklist 2.0, Doesn’t Care "Zachary Levi's Trump embrace treated as legitimate cause for cancellation." At Breitbart, Our Last Movie Star, Tom Cruise, Refuses to Answer Reporter’s Trump Question, “I watched this film and I saw that it was filmed in many different locations around the world, including Africa,” said the reporter through the interpreter/moderator. “Of course, we all are aware of the tariffs that President Donald Trump has been imposing on overseas productions and films. So, is this particular movie under that tariff? And how much of the film was shot overseas?”

Andy Ngo@MrAndyNgo "@MayorofSeattle Bruce Harrell has released a statement written by @jamiehousen, his director of communication, condemning the Christians for holding a worship event at a public park in the city. The event was violently attacked by Antifa and Trantifa. The mayor says he is directing an investigation into how the Christians were given the approval to worship at the park. He suggests they should have been banned from that location." Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal is outraged when the Southern Poverty Law Center Puts Largest Conservative Grassroots Youth Group on ‘Hate Map’ With Klan Chapters.

Zachary “Liaa” Rose won the GIRLS’ high jump at the Portland Interscholastic League Championships yesterday.

Virtually always the same outcome:
- A mediocre boy in girls’ sports, not vice versa.
- The narcissistic boy smiles atop the podium.
- Blue states continue to… pic.twitter.com/izvr1USxrq

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 24, 2025

The Monday Morning Stimulus

YaHoo! 3 roasters tell BI why your cup of coffee is getting more expensive — and it's not only because of tariffs

The Chesapeake Mermaid

WRAL New, Chesapeake Mermaid Celebrates 15 Years of Storytelling, Stewardship, and Everyday Magic

In 2025, Chesapeake Mermaid proudly celebrates 15 years as the first mermaid in the Mid-Atlantic created specifically to serve as an environmental educator for the Chesapeake Bay. To mark this milestone, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is launching an exciting year-long celebration of public events, book releases, and immersive educational experiences throughout the watershed.

Over the past decade and a half, the Chesapeake Mermaid has grown to connect with up to 30,000 individuals annually through unforgettable storytelling programs and community outreach—many of whom now return with the next generation of children in tow.

 

“It’s heartwarming to see the kids we once taught now bringing their own children,” said the Chesapeake Mermaid. “Our passion has become a tradition rooted in love for the Bay.”

This anniversary year debuts a fully reimagined stage experience that reflects the community’s collective hope and imagination. At the heart of the new set is a glowing, 12-foot-long oyster reef, activated by the audience with the chant: “Wake up, oysters!” This new element was the result of over 200 hours of dedicated work by the nonprofit’s team of artists and engineers, who are constantly innovating and developing fresh ideas. The reef celebrates the ecological importance of oysters while inviting young audiences into a world of learning through light, sound, and play.

“The Chesapeake Mermaid is more than a character—she’s a voice for nature,” said Julia O’Grodnick, a local parent. “She helps kids fall in love with their watershed in a way that sticks with them.”

As a deaf performer and educator, the Chesapeake Mermaid also brings an inclusive and powerful approach to environmental storytelling. American Sign Language (ASL) is woven into every program, creating a space where children of all abilities can experience connection, wonder, and a deeper love for nature.

The tour features dozens of interactive, hour-long performances incorporating storytelling, music, movement, ASL, and actionable steps for environmental stewardship. The programs reach children and families in schools, museums, libraries, festivals, and nature centers, delivering a lasting message: everyone can protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Probably mostly harmless. I suspect Gabby would get a big kick out of her. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - No Direction Home

Another themeless day; it must be the Memorial Day holiday effect. Sundance at CTH has a bunch, President Trump Holds a White House Event to Fast Track Expanded Nuclear Power Capability – Video with Press Questions, President Trump Delivers Keynote Address at West Point Graduation Ceremony, Secretary Marco Rubio Eliminates More than 100 People from National Security Council – “Marco vs The Deep State”, DNI Tulsi Gabbard and NSA Marco Rubio, a Powerful Combination, DNI Tulsi Gabbard Takes Operational Control of the Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) and Susan Rice is Very Upset That President Trump Doesn’t Review the Intelligence Community Presidential Daily Brief. From Da Caller, Trump Admin Reportedly Cleans House At National Security Council. No more Vindmans. At LifeZette, Trump Confirms Major Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap ‘Could Lead to Something Big’, but probably won't. LI's Leslie Eastman at hears China Is Unhappy with Trump’s “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Plans. More reason to approve. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn reports Starmer Has Given Away Chagos & SURPRISE! What the Deal Papers Say Is Not What the British Were Told. Chagos is home to the strategic Diego Garcia airbase. 

Nick Ballasy at JTN, House version of Trump’s 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' creates federal tax on electric, hybrid vehicles. "The annual national registration fee would be $250 for electric vehicles and $150 for hybrids. The fee will rise over time based on inflation. Currently, by avoiding a gas tax, sales of those cars reduce the amount of money that funds interstate highways, bridges and other infrastructure." Scott McKay at Am Spec says Take the Win on the Big Beautiful Bill "It isn’t ideal, but it is what was possible." Insty, at his substack discusses Abolishing the Income Tax "Something that might actually happen? And the implications go beyond lower taxes." At Sky News, Death of the penny - US Mint set to make final coin after Trump decree, "President Donald Trump says the small coin is "so wasteful" and should be abolished, with an estimated saving of $56m (£41m) a year." It's long past time, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for pennies, due to a childhood coin collection.

The Peacock, Trump clears Nippon merger with U.S. Steel. From NewsMax, Trump: US Steel to Remain in USA, Partner With Nippon, with HQ in Pittsburgh. Salena Zito thinks Trump makes deal of a lifetime for US Steel.

Jeff Tucker at BrownStone, In the Name of Health: First Reactions to the MAHA Report, but it's mostly just a (well deserved) whine about COVID policies. From TNP, RFK Jr. Targets March Deadline to identify the cause of the autism "explosion." I still maintain more and over diagnosis is the major driver. Kids used to just odd, now they're "on the spectrum". I don't really expect much progress here. As HL Menken said "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

Althouse read WaPoo, "About a year ago, Elon Musk quietly summoned a handful of Republican strategists and confidants to his sparsely decorated apartment overlooking downtown Austin." "The Tesla CEO told the group that electing Donald Trump was essential to the country’s future, and he was willing to do anything — and pay any amount — to create a 'red wave' around the country. He did a lot... And this week, following a period of intense backlash against his political activity and his electric-vehicle company, he seemed to draw a line under all that work: 'I think I’ve done enough.'.... As Musk focuses on Mars and cars, his pullback from political spending could be a significant loss for the Republican Party...." Meanwhile, The Washington Post is rather flat-footed and obvious. I can see that it means to do what it always does — mix low-level hate with weak encouragement in the hope of keeping readers in the sickly embrace of the Democratic Party." Breitbart reports Sex Pistols’ John Lydon Urges Trump to Take a ‘Wrecking Ball’ to ‘Broken Government’ From RVM, Touching Moment Woman Shares About Chance Encounter with President Trump On the Street – ‘He Saved My Life’

Bearing Arm's Cam Edwards is pleased to report ATF Issues New Guidelines for FFL's, Ending Biden's 'Zero Tolerance' Policy.

Rick Moran at PJM Biden Ads Never Ran Because the Campaign Believed They Were 'Unusable'. Pop Times Biden Hired a PR Fixer, Damning Tapes Still Leak, Party Continues to Implode. They couldn't make him look not senile. Driscoll at Insty, TEN YEARS GONE: Nick Sortor @nicksortor, "#BREAKING: The Biden team says the last time Joe Biden received a PSA test for prostate cancer was 2014 Absolute BULLSHT, and even CNN is calling it out! "He was President of the United States and didn't get tested? I find this very surprising." SUBPOENA BIDEN'S DOCTOR!" Western Lensman @WesternLensman "2015: Joe Biden jokes about faking prostate cancer to get out of the Obama administration: “He’s president. He gets to make the decision, and unless there’s an overwhelming disagreement on principle — in which case I’d develop prostate cancer or something and leave." From Da Wire, House GOP Investigating Biden’s Doc, Who Said He Was ‘Fit’ To ‘Execute The Duties Of The Presidency’, "The Committee seeks to understand if you contributed to an effort to hide former President Biden’s fitness to serve." Steve Soukup at Am Great discourses on Joe Biden, the Mainstream Media, and the Republic We Couldn’t Keep. "Calls for soul-searching over Biden’s decline ring hollow in a nation where power trumps principle and no one pays for political deceit—because winning is all that matters."

Sister Toldja at RedState, Well, Lookee Here: Nugget From NY Times Hit Piece on Fetterman Exposes His Critics' Real Agenda. Steve Krakauer @SteveKrak, "Amazing admission in the latest attempt by the corporate media and Dem establishment to push out Fetterman: Bernie Sanders has missed MORE votes than Fetterman (as has Patty Murray) but he's "Fighting Oligarchy" so they just breeze past that. Shameless." John Solomon at JTN, reports ActBlue officials decline to testify, Congress threatens subpoenas in foreign donations probe, "The witnesses initially agreed to voluntary interviews but pulled back after President Donald Trump signed an order instructing the Justice Department to probe ActBlue, correspondence shows."

Matt Margolis at PJM thinks The Democrats' Anti-Electoral College Scheme May Be Imploding. "Maine, one of the 17 states that joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, is now poised to become the first state to exit the agreement—and it's sending shockwaves through the left-wing coalition that thought they'd found a clever workaround to the Constitution. . . . Maine's experience perfectly illustrates why the compact was always a bad idea. The state joined when Democrats figured Trump could never win the popular vote again. But Trump's decisive popular vote victory in 2024 changed everything. Had the compact been in effect with current members, Trump would have carried a whopping 520 electoral votes, instead of the 312 he actually won."

Matt Vespa hears an Ex-Obama Aide Laments How Trump Has Taken Over the Obama Coalition. Althouse finds "The erosion of working-class support — among Black, white and Latino voters alike — has unnerved every ideological wing of the Democratic Party." "From "The Democrats’ problems run deep, nearly everywhere.This is where voters shifted toward President Trump in each of the last three elections" (NYT)(free-access link, because there are a lot of interesting graphics showing the dramatic shift toward Trump (or something more than just Trump))."

Josh Hammer at Da Telegraph, The Supreme Court is putting Venezuelan child killers ahead of the law. "The Alien Enemies Act’s meaning is clear. Justices seem to think otherwise in stopping Trump from deporting alleged Tren de Aragua criminals." Atop Da Hill, Biden Judge orders Trump administration to pursue return of improperly deported Guatemalan man. WaT, Obama Judge orders Trump administration to restore transgender health web pages. Buck Throckmorton at Ace's “Democracy” Means Regulations Written by Bureaucrats Cannot Be Overturned by Congress and the President. 

https://t.co/g7YIe5rqgX pic.twitter.com/BiZHkEqTA8

— Ron Coleman (@RonColeman) May 23, 2025

Jeff Charles at TownHall, Desperate Democrats Claim This New Bill Is the Only Way to Stop Trump. "Democrats unveiled a bill on Thursday that would transfer authority over the US Marshals from the executive branch to the judicial branch to protect them from the Orange Man What Is Bad™." TNP, DOJ Targets Sanctuary Cities in Legal Crackdown. Mark Tapscott at Insty asks SHOULD DOJ BE ABLE TO SPY ON CONGRESS? "Let’s do an experiment here. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is pushing legislation requiring that senators be informed whenever the Department of Justice (DOJ) asks a judge to approve listening to telephone calls by senators and staffers. This happens with Democratic and Republican Chief Executives. As things presently stand, according to Daniel Schuman, editor of First Branch Forecast, there is essentially no limit on how much DOJ can spy on Members and staff of both chambers of Congress. Do you approve of this reality or would you support efforts by Wyden or others on the Hill to limit the ability of the executive branch to spy on legislators and staffers?"

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair says Hmmm: Did 'Free Palestine' Terrorist Get Support from Goldman Sachs and China? The Free Bacon reports a Shadowy Left-Wing Network Funded Elias Rodriguez’s Trip to ‘Resistance’ Convention,"Rodriguez's trip to People’s Congress of Resistance at Howard University sheds light on path to radicalism," and Police Ordered ‘Not To Enforce D.C. Law Against Anti-Israel Protesters,’ Rabbi Alleges "Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld—whom pro-Hamas activists assaulted last year—wrote to the Department of Justice to note D.C.'s permissive attitude toward anti-Semitic harassment and violence in light of Wednesday's terror attack." At Da Blaze, Washington Post is getting obliterated online for bizarre headline asking where Jews 'belong'.

Am Great, Social Security Clean Up Continues, 12.3 Million Finally Marked as Deceased. ET, DOGE Says It Completed ‘Major Cleanup’ of Social Security Records, "It said that around 12.3 million people aged 120 and older are ’marked as deceased.’" Elon Musk @elonmusk "Much appreciated on behalf of the @DOGE team." Quote Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent @SecScottBessent "The effort undertaken by @DOGE and @elonmusk is one of the most important of my lifetime and I am committed to not letting the bureaucracy slow it down. We need to get the costs under control; we need to get government efficiency under control; and we need to make the government work better for the American people. At
@USTreasury we’re committed to doing that." Hat Hair cites Forbes, 10 Min Listen: Sen Kennedy, Sec Wright on Last Minute Biden Admin Energy Loans.

At NewsMax, ICE Arrests Migrants at Courthouses, Opens Door to Fast-Track Deportations. At ET, Readers Side With Trump Over Supreme Court on Immigration Enforcement: Epoch Readers’ Poll. "Strong majorities support swift removals, limited due process rights for illegal immigrants, and tougher executive authority." At Twitchy, CBS News Gets Reality Checked While Trying to Stir Up Controversy Around Cost of Security for Tom Homan. Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "That might seem excessive if your scumbag friends didn’t have a track record of trying to murder our people." Quote CBS News @CBSNews "CBS Exclusive: Border czar Tom Homan’s security detail costs roughly $1 million a month, sources say. https://cbsn.ws/3SPQTmh."

Mark Tapscott at substack, It's Time to Challenge Social Media's 'Censorship Without Due Process'. "When Linkedin kills a post but refuses to provide specific evidence or identity of the decision-maker, the First Amendment's freedom of speech guarantee is meaningless." Althouse finds a whiner, "Of course, with a broadcast social network like X, everyone is both a patron and an owner of sorts." "I'm sitting with the Atlantic article by Charlie Warzel, "What Are People Still Doing on X? Imagine if your favorite neighborhood bar turned into a Nazi hangout."" Also, "On May 14, the chatbot began responding to all kinds of unrelated queries by holding forth on the topic of 'white genocide' in South Africa, to users’ bafflement," "I'm reading "How Elon Musk’s ‘truth-seeking’ chatbot lost its way/Grok has proved popular with X users. But a string of bizarre blunders threatened to turn it into a punchline" (WaPo)(free-access link)." Grok was hacked. Jeff Charles at TownHall, Artificial Intelligence Just Did Something Terrifying in a Test — We Might Be Screwed. "Anthropic, the company that created the Claude Opus 4 AI model, recently published a report detailing how its program resorted to blackmail when placed in a fictional scenario in which it was about to be replaced by a newer version. Researchers told the program through fake emails that the person who was responsible for replacing it had been cheating on their spouse." The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee "Opinion: A.I. Could Put Artists, Actors, and Writers Out of Jobs, But It Could Do Bad Things As Well."

Campus Reform reports Trump admin axes an additional $60M to Harvard over anti-Semitism concerns. From the Free Bacon, George Washington University Slapped With Lawsuit Alleging 'Pervasive and Severe Antisemitic Harassment' on Campus "Complaint alleges GW jeopardized the safety of its Jewish and Israeli students" and Here’s the Full List of Everyone Arrested for Storming Columbia Library. Hat Hair's Betsy McCaughey reports New York City Faces the Threat of an Antisemitic Mayor.  "Throughout history, rising antisemitism is a bellwether of societal ruin: When attacks on Jews are tolerated or encouraged, the dissolution of everyone's rights and the abandonment of basic freedoms."  follow.

 

CDR Salamander, sees it's  Diversity Thursday "at Annapolis, not so much who is admitted, but who is hired."

From the College Fix, MIT allows event criticizing gender transitioning to proceed despite large protest. At Restoration News, Middle School Doubles Down on Minnesota's Gender Insanity With 'Queer Extravaganza' Drag Show. Twitchy, You'll Definitely Be Dealt With: J.K. Rowling Calls Out Haters of Her Women's Legal Fund As Only She Can: J.K. Rowling @jk_rowling, "I'm enchanted to announce that since news of my legal fighting fund for women's sex-based rights spread on social media, the website has received a rush of wonderful applications. Standouts include 'suck my entire dick', 'fuck you stupid terfs' and 'JK Rowling is a dumb Nazi cunt.' Trantasist, TerfAnnihilator, SeancjCasey (loving the KillYourselves handle!), the always wittily-named PhilMcCracken, JulieNoted and friends, I know you're eager to hear whether your applications have succeeded, but please be patient. You'll definitely be dealt with." She does have a way with words, doesn't she?

Palm Sunday

 with Kayla Moody:

Another palm tree attack, ABC, Palm tree falls on person at Cannes Film Festival

A palm tree fell on a man at the Cannes Film Festival who was walking along the Croisette on Saturday in the seaside French town. Authorities sped through festivalgoers to tend to the person who laid injured and bleeding on the sidewalk. No information was immediately available on their condition. Representatives for the festival didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The incident happened midday at the festival. Cannes, which runs until May 24, is about halfway through.

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

Will Oysters Clean Baltimore Harbor?

WJZ News, Oysters planted near Key Bridge collapse site in effort to clean Maryland waterways

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation resumed oyster restoration efforts near the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse for the first time in nearly a year. More than 31,000 oysters were planted on Wednesday at Fort Carroll, a sanctuary reef a short swimming distance from where the bridge collapsed in March 2024. WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on the Patapsco River to help plant the oysters.

Kellie Fiala, the Maryland Oyster Restoration Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says oysters are a natural filter feeder that filters up to 50 gallons of water each day, which clears the way for better water quality and more wildlife. "It's critical," Fiala said. "Oysters used to be a critical part of the economy here, the environment here, and so what we're really trying to do is reconnect people to the water in a healthy and
positive way, but also improve the water quality here." 

Baltimore Harbor is notoriously silty, to the point that it needs almost constant dredging to keep the ship channels open. I do question the ability of oysters to substantially clear the water in the harbor. 50 gallons per oyster per day sounds like a lot, but it's a pretty big body of water.

WJZ joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for an oyster restoration effort in March 2024, the day before the Key Bridge collapsed. Fiala said the collapse sparked fear that the debris would stir up sediment and smother the oysters. But, fortunately, underwater surveying shows the oysters are alive and thriving.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expects to plant about 500,000 oysters in the waters this summer.

The oysters being planted at Fort Carroll this summer have been growing throughout marinas in the Harbor, tended to by volunteers. This process of "oyster gardening" helps oysters survive their first year of life, when they're most vulnerable. "We want them to improve water quality, provide habitat, and ecosystem services in Baltimore for the people here," Fiala said.

I'm surprised oysters are thriving north of the Bay Bridge. Oyster require at least some salt in the water to grow, below about 3 ppt salinity they stop feeding.