Rule 5 Saturday - The Karate Kid - Rayna Vallandingham

This week's Rule 5 competitor is: 

Rayna Vallandingham (born January 18, 2003) is an American martial artist, actress, and social media influencer. Vallandingham was born to a mother of Indian origin, and a father of Dutch origin.

She began practicing taekwondo at the age of 2, encouraged by her grandfather, who played an instrumental role in her early development. By the age of 8, she won her first American Taekwondo Association world championship, becoming one of the youngest black belts to achieve this feat. Her achievements are not in World Taekwondo official championships and her name is not found in Taekwondo Data or any official WT posts.

Over her career, Vallandingham has earned 13 American Taekwondo Association titles, excelling in both traditional combat and weapons forms such as the bo staff and nunchaku. After winning the XMA Forms world championships, Vallandingham flew to Los Angeles to start her acting career at the age of 10 on Underdog Kids as Leticia Hernandez, directed by six-time taekwondo black belt and actor Phillip Rhee. The movie was released on July 7, 2015. Vallandingham made an appearance in her first music video role in 2018, starring as herself in "Youth" by Shawn Mendes, featuring Khalid, demonstrating her martial arts skills.

In 2024, Vallandingham starred in her first television show on Netflix's martial arts series, Cobra Kai. She plays a supporting antagonist in the final season, portraying Zara Malik, a cocky, high-maintenance, social media influencer, and skilled martial artist, as a co-captain under the dojo Iron Dragons, starring besides Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf and Patrick Luwis as Axel Kovačević. Malik was introduced during the Sekai Taikai tournament as the defending champions and as an undefeated rival team. In the third part of Season 6's Cobra Kai, Vallandingham took on her role as Zara Malik again, where she took her first defeat in competitive action against Tory Nichols, portrayed by Peyton List, in the Sekai Taikai girls finals.

Flotsam and Jetsam - The Pope is Alive and MAGA? GB Strikes Trump Trade Deal and Judge Jeanine to DC

After 2 day on the smoke watch Althouse reports White smoke! "New pope about to show his face. ADDED: "The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church elected Robert Francis Prevost as their 267th pontiff on Thursday, ending a two-day conclave in Rome with the election of the first pope from the United States" (NYT). . . .  "Pope Leo XIV, Born in Chicago, Is the First American Pontiff/Robert Francis Prevost, who led the Vatican office that selects and manages bishops globally, has spent much of his life outside the United States" (NYT). Chicago, huh. Well he knows about politics, FWIW. WaEx, Pope Leo XIV: Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes first-ever American pontiff.  Capt. Ed At Hat Hair, Habemus Papam! White Smoke At Vatican; UPDATE: AMERICAN POPE; Update: REPUBLICAN??  At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Evening Edition), American Conservative: Pope Leo XIV Crowned as First American Pontiff. Matthew Foldi @MatthewFoldi "It looks like the new Pope is: An American A Republican I’m thinking we’re back" Or at least he voted in a Republican primary, which in Chicago would be a wasted vote. Sundance at CTH, The First American Pope – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Elected to Become Pope Leo XIV. Ace, American Pope Elected, Robert F. Prevost; He's Addressing the Crowd, "They counted votes far faster than Arizona." Matt Vespa at Hat Hair, Some of the Reactions to the New Pope Have Been Hilarious. So, I was going to say now we can forget about the Pope again until this one dies, but he's only 69. I'm 73, so this might be the final pope of my lifetime. I assume he'll turn out to be a woke liberal.

Susie Moore at RedState says Whoa: Trump Says He's Pulling Ed Martin's Nom for US Attorney in D.C. - That's on Tillis. Sundance asserts Republican Senators Defeat Nomination of Ed Martin, President Trump will Replace "Ed Martin was what President Trump needed; a very serious, deliberate and qualified person to confront the Deep State UniParty. Those core skillsets are why the Republicans did not support him. However, on the optimistic side, if there is ever a special counsel to be appointed, I suspect Ed Martin will be leading candidate." Ace, After Democrat Senators Tillis, Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, McConnell, and Linsdsey Graham Balk, Trump Withdraws Ed Martin from Consideration for US Attorney from DC. "Isn't it great having a "Big Tent Party" where all the political positions are filled by Democrats who despise the base and whose greatest mission is to thwart us, contain us, and control us?" ABC whines Trump appoints Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as top prosecutor in DC and CBS sobs Jeanine Pirro to replace Ed Martin as interim U.S. attorney in D.C., Trump says. Jen Van Laar at RedState, Updated: Thom Tillis Really Won't Like Trump's Replacement Pick for Interim DC US Attorney. Hat Hair's John Sexton, Trump Picks Jeanine Pirro as Interim US attorney for DC. Beege Welborn, OMG I just want to cry, this is SO brilliant. HEADS EXPLODING!!!! So bring WetWipes and a towel if you're near any Dems /Lefties /progressives tonight and for probably the next week at least." Not my favorite "The 5" cast member, but she's smart, and as far as I know, politically clean. I kinda think this is a "stick it to them" move by Trump, and it at least stalls an appointment by Boasberg for another 90 days. "How will Jessica Tarlov react? That's the video I'd like to see." Me too. At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Evening Edition), Twitchy, Trump Taps Judge Jeannine Pirro For Acting DC US Attorney.

Althouse, "President Donald Trump on Thursday will announce a new trade pact with the United Kingdom, the first of dozens of agreements he is seeking with countries around the world." Cutie Pavlich at TownHall, Trump Confirms Which Major Country Has Made a Trade Deal. Lesser Britain. Sundance post the video of the announcement, President Trump Announces U.S-U.K Trade Deal. Dave Strom at Hat Hair calls it Schrödinger's Trade Deal With the UK. "There is a left-wing meme being pushed that President Trump's trade deal with the UK is a sham. As I peruse X to keep up with the news and the Narrative™, NeverTrumpers are trying to pour cold water on Trump's talk of a deal. It's for obvious reasons: the more it looks like Trump's tariffs are mostly about moving renegotiations along with the rest of the world, the more the stock markets will celebrate and the jitters that ordinary Americans feel about the economic future will subside. . . . The big problem with the left's narrative is that attacking the deal will require not just going after Trump, but also trashing the UK Prime Minister." From Twitchy, Scott Jennings Uses the UK's Major Deal with Trump/U.S. to DRAAAAG Political Left As Only HE Can and LOL. Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "lol I was assured on TV two nights ago that the UK was forming alliances to oppose the United States." Amanda Head at JTN reports White House weighs tariff exemptions for baby items "Struggling parents would benefit from the exemption, allowing essential items like diapers, strollers, and other baby items to be tariff-free." At Da Caller, American Manufacturers Overwhelmed With Orders After Trump’s Tariff Crackdown On China. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Morning Edition) Don Surber: Globalists copy Trump and win. At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Evening Edition), Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog, Trump’s Not The Only One Slapping Tariffs On China, Cafe Hayek: Tariff Work-arounds Are Costly, On Joe Nocera’s Mistaken Take on Trade and Economics, GDP?C+I+G+X-M, Ten Minus Two Never Equals Anything Other Than Eight, and FedEx Began With Imported Aircraft.

Matt Margolis at PJM wonders if you Need More Proof That Polls Showing Trump Underwater Are Bogus?

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Morning Edition) Twitchy: Scott Jennings Points Out The Real Constitutional Crisis Facing America, Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "Activist judges overstepping and usurping authority reserved for the President of the United States is the real constitutional crisis."

Also Mat Margolis, Kash Patel Nukes Another Democrat Over Bogus FBI ‘Weaponization’ Narrative

🚨 Kash Patel just WRECKED Patty Murray

KASH: “I think the common theme is you putting words in my mouth, and I’m not going to tolerate it.”

“If you wanna talk about someone who was attacked by a weaponized bureau, you’re looking at him. And now he’s the Director of the FBI”… pic.twitter.com/YX031HzTIF

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 8, 2025

Collin Rugg @CollinRugg "JUST IN: The FBI has officially opened a formal criminal investigation into New York AG Letitia James for her alleged fraudulent mortgage transactions, according to Times Union. The update comes as James continues to have public meltdowns. James is accused of falsifying records to receive more favorable loan terms including for a property in Virginia that she allegedly claimed would be her primary residence." PM, BREAKING: FBI investigates NY AG Letitia James over mortgage fraud. Texas @MustangMan_TX, "Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett says she doesn't have to explain why her family has been cashing their dead grandmother's Social Security checks since 2004. "Our family business is our family business." Sure. Until your family business is defrauding the taxpayer, DOGE has already fixed the problem and promised to claw back as much as possible."

Right Angle News Network @Rightanglenews "BREAKING - Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced legislation to repeal the Patriot Act. The bill aims to roll back post-9/11 surveillance powers in a major push to restore civil liberties." At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Evening Edition), The Federalist: Filing: Smartmatic Hid Meeting With Dem Megadonor Who Financed Its Suit Against 2020 Election Reporting, House Committees, DOJ Turn Up The Heat On Dems’ ActBlue.

Dave Strom, Halperin Scoop: Biden Inc. Is Going Broke, no influence left to sell. Ace, Mark Halperin: A Source "Very Familiar With the Bidens" Tells Me That Biden, Inc. Is Going Broke as the Graft Spigots Have All Been Turned Off, "This is wonderful." VodkaPundit at Insty, YOU WOULD NEED A HEART OF STONE NOT TO LAUGH. Matt Margolis reports Joe Biden Went on ‘The View,’ and It Was a Total Disaster. Katie Jerkovich wants you to Watch: Joe Biden on 'The View' Struggles to Explain Cognitive Decline Before Jill Can Come to the Rescue. Jeff Charles at TownHall thinks You Will Laugh Your Head Off When You Hear Why Biden Waited So Long to Drop Out of the Race ""I don't think it would have mattered," he says. "We left at a time when we had a good candidate, she was fully funded." Ace, Asked About His Steep Cognitive Decline on Propaganda Yenta Show The View, Biden Babbles Incoherently and Needs His Wifenurse to Step In, ""Joe worked hard every single day," non-doctor Jill Biden said." From Fox, Ex-CNN journalist speaks out on Biden cover-up, says White House aides made it difficult on press "'The Biden team made it really hard to ask questions about his health — they shamed you,' Chris Cillizza says." The poor baby.

Clay Travis @ClayTravis "This is good. @BretBaier asks Bernie Sanders why he spent $221k on private jet travel during his “fighting the oligarchy tour.” Bernie says he’s too important to fly commercial and wait in line like normal people. “No apologies.”" Driscoll at Insty, ‘NO APOLOGIES:’ Absentee Senator From Panem Objects to Flying With Hoi Polloi. “You think I’m going to be sitting on a waiting line,” Caesar Flickerman — excuse me, Bernie Sanders — asks, “at United, while 30,000 people are waiting?” Ace, Bernie Sanders on Using Expensive Private Jets -- Paid for by Billionaire Pals -- While "Fighting the Oligarchy:" "You Want Me to Wait in Line at United With 30,000 People?" "When Sanders asked, rhetorically, "When's the last time you saw Donald Trump at National Airport," Bret Baier replied, "He's not 'fighting the oligarchy.'""

From NYPo, the Divine Ms. Devine reports Corrupt Venezuelan officials ‘facilitated’ Tren de Aragua gang’s reign of terror in US. Sounds like an invasion to me. Bonchie at RedState thinks a Shocking Revelation About Deported 'Maryland Dad' Abrego-Garcia Finishes Off the Democrat Narrative. "This latest revelation revolves around something that happened in Tennessee, though. As Redstate reported, Abrego-Garcia was pulled over in the state on suspicion of human trafficking in 2022. Highway patrol officers found eight other people in the car, which was registered to a convicted human smuggler. They also found $1400 in cash, which was suspected to be payment for the run. The then-Biden-led ICE never showed up to detain Abrego-Garcia on what would have presumably been federal charges, and he was released. Now, the convicted human smuggler has not only been revealed, but he's cooperating with the Trump administration's Department of Justice. As part of a "limited immunity" deal, Jose Ramon Hernandez Reyes has confirmed that he did hire Abrego-Garcia to traffic illegal immigrants."

David Sacks@davidsacks47 "TO WIN THE AI RACE, THE BIDEN AI DIFFUSION RULE MUST GO The Trump administration has announced its intention to repeal the Biden administration’s AI Diffusion Rule. As the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) confirmed in a statement yesterday: “The Biden AI rule is overly complex, overly bureaucratic, and would stymie American innovation. We will be replacing it with a much simpler rule that unleashes American innovation and ensures American AI dominance.” This is an excellent decision by Secretary of Commerce @howardlutnick and Under Secretary of BIS Jeff Kessler. There were several major problems with the Biden Diffusion Rule . . . " Under the Biden administration, I assume there was graft involved.

Guy Benson at TownHall hears ‘It Is Our Job to Destroy the United States,’ Says... MEMRI @MEMRIReports "Temple University Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) President Rishi Arun during a Panel Honoring Cop-Killer Mumia Abu-Jamal: It Is Our Job to Destroy the U.S.; Samidoun Official Mohammed Khatib: Liberating Palestine Will Help Dismantle America." Timur Kuran @timurkuran "Causality goes both ways. Students already inclined to hate other identity groups flock disproportionately to Ethnic, Gender, and Area Studies. At the same time, these activist-heavy disciplines radicalize students who flock to them for other reasons, such as low workload." Quote The Missing Data Depot@data_depot "FIRE's 2024 survey of college students found large variations by major in the acceptability of using violence to shut down speech. While 52% of Ethnic, Gender & Area Studies majors said using violence is acceptable, less than 33% of STEM, Social Science & Humanities majors did."

From Twitchy, NYT: West Point Is to Educate, Not Indoctrinate, Says Professor Who's Quitting. DOD Rapid Response @DODResponse "This article was written by a woke professor who will be RESIGNING in the coming months because he “cannot tolerate these changes.” AKA, he's so upset that @SecDef is REMOVING DEI from West Point that he is RESIGNING… GOOD"

There are still a plethora of good links at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Morning Edition) and the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.08.25 (Evening Edition).

Fish Pic Friday - Deidra Outdoors

Deidra Outdoors@deidraoutdoors God👼🏼 | Hunt🌲🦌🐦🔫🐗🏹| Fish🎣👙⚓️🌊🐟🚤| Lift🏋🏻 | Inspire✨| Country🇺🇸| Mama👶🏻💙| Wife👫🏡 | Office/ Marketing Manager🗃@FishTenacity Inshore*Offshore*Backcountry

Sharps Island Gets a Exhibit

Corwin and Gabby at the Sharp's Island Light

Chesapeake Bay Mag, Sharps Island Remembered: Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Reopens with New Exhibit

The only sign of Sharps Island today is a noticeably leaning, sparkplug-style lighthouse. It marks the shoals at the mouth of the Choptank River off Poplar Island and Black Walnut Point. It’s hard to imagine that the area near Sharps Island light was once an island up to 700-acres large, but some people in Tilghman still remember when there was some island left to see.

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum, which records the lifestyle of watermen and the things they do, was founded by Hall and Mary Kellogg in 2008 because the couple saw the old Tilghman Island way of life disappearing.

This new exhibit is modeled on the museum’s Tilghman exhibits, which proved popular for their accounts of real people, with artifacts and using the memories of distinctive island residents. The museum’s approach is to give visitors “a history lesson with some stories thrown in,” says museum board member Bonnie Messick.

The Sharps Island exhibit covers Sharps history spanning from Captain John Smith’s exploration in 1608, when the island measured hundreds of acres, until its demise in the 1950s. The museum owes its early Sharps Island history to Smithsonian researcher Darrin Lowery, Ph.D., a “local kid made good,” as Messick tells us. Lowery has published work on the vanished Sharps Island in his study of coastal erosion through history. Lowery has a large collection of artifacts dating back thousands of years from Sharps, including arrowheads and pipes. Some items like those are part of the new exhibit.
Lowery published this overlaid map reflecting the drastic shrinking of Sharps Island from 1848 to 1952. 

Map of the shrinking of Sharps Island

The island’s role as a navigational aid is its longest-lasting legacy. There have been three Sharps Island Lights over the years, beginning with a portable light station built on the island itself in 1838. It had a wooden keeper’s quarters with a lantern built on top, according to Lighthousefriends.com. It was already obvious that erosion was quickly wearing the island down, and so in 1848 the portable lighthouse was moved farther inland. In 1866, a new screwpile lighthouse was built offshore, about four miles off Tilghman Island. It was no match for the heavy ice that formed multiple times over the next two decades, and the lighthouse was carried away entirely in February 1881. Amazingly, the keepers stayed on the lighthouse for 16 hours as it drifted five miles to another island.

In 1822, the third and final Sharps Island light was built. The cast-iron, concrete-filled caisson had a brick-lined, iron tower and Fresnel lens, along with a fog warning bell. This lighthouse proved sturdier, but it got its modern-day 15-degree tilt during the deep freeze of 1977. The three Sharps Island lighthouses were manned by lightkeepers until the final lighthouse was automated in 1951. The exhibit includes history of the light and its keepers, including a log shared by the daughter of the last lightkeeper.

The exhibit also covers the many owners of the island, which was primarily used for farmland. As the island was whittled down by the Bay, at least one owner tried to claim the historical 700 acres, now underwater, for oyster beds, to no avail.

There's often good fishing there, particularly on the the "ice breaker" a few hundred yards south. A pile of rocks initially set to break up ice drifting with the tide before it reached the tower, now submerged, but close enough to the surface to catch a lower unit on a low tide. It obviously didn't work.

Flotsam and Jetsam - The Pope is Still Dead

Because they haven't agreed on a new one. From Fox, Black smoke on papal conclave Day 2 means new pope not chosen in voting.

UPI reports Trump withdraws surgeon general nominee, replaces her with Stanford grad, doctor. "May 7 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday withdrew Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as his nominee for U.S. surgeon general and announced Dr. Casey Means as his new selection. . . . CBS News reported that records showed she graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, and not the University of Arkansas School of Medicine as was said when her nomination was announced. The University of Arkansas verified that Nesheiwat completed her residency there but didn't earn a degree." NYPo, Trump yanks Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s nomination for surgeon general — and announces new pick. Sundance at CTH, President Trump Withdraws Nomination of Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General, Replaces with Casey Means. Newshweiwat has also drawn fire on the right due to some COVID stances. From Com Def, Trump Nominates Cheryl Mason as VA Inspector General, Prompting Democratic Backlash. Rueters, US FDA names agency critic Vinay Prasad as top vaccine official. 

Matt Vespa at TownHall, Here's the Scott Bessent Response That Sent This House Dem Into Meltdown Mode. "While facing a hostile Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the congressman asked Bessent who was president in 2024. “One believes, President Biden,” Bessent responded." Mary Chastain at LI, Bessent Keeps His Cool as Waters Tries (and Fails) to Belittle, Outsmart Him. "Well, at least Waters can brag that she’s better at the Electric Slide than Bessent because, well, that’s it." Dave Solway at PJM, Western Canada Puts the Rest of Canada on Notice. "Attending a recent independence rally in Edmonton, Alberta, Calgary-based management consultant James Albers found that “One could scarcely miss the parallels between the plight of Alberta today and that of the American colonies before 1776—only now the offending party is Ottawa, not Westminster.”" 

Ksenia Karelina

At WaEx, Salena Zite looks at Pete Hegseth’s hard choices: Today’s decisions and tomorrow’s military. Bonchie at RedState, New: The Houthis Just Surrendered to Donald Trump. Yashar Ali @yashar, "BREAKING The Foreign Ministry of Oman says it has brokered a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Ansar Allah (Houthis) “In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping. The Sultanate of Oman expresses its gratitude to both parties for their constructive approach that led to this welcome outcome, and hopes that it will lead to further progress on many regional issues towards achieving justice, peace, and prosperity for all.”" Sundance at CTH sees surrender monkey French President Macron Asks EU and USA to Drop Sanctions Against Al-Qaeda in Syria, Vice-President JD Vance Speaks at the DC Munich Security Conference and President Trump Signs Proclamation Designating May 8th as “Victory Day” to Commemorate Victory in World War II. Matt Margolis at PJM, Trump's Ultimate Troll Move Would Send D.C. Leftists Into Meltdown. Appoint Gen. Michael Flynn to UN Ambassador. Da Mail reports Donald Trump meets ballerina Ksenia Karelina who he helped free from Russian hellhole jail in prisoner swap. 

From Fox 26, Trump on High-Speed Rail: "Worst cost overrun I've ever seen. We're not going to pay". The train from nowhere to nowhere. At NYPo Rich Lowry opines Famous name aside, Alcatraz would make a terrible deportation jail. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.07.25 (Evening Edition) EBL, MAGAtraz and The Stock Market Has Recovered Its Losses, Louder With Crowder: JD Vance blasts Ilhan Omar’s “genocidal language”, Commie actor Sean Penn calls Trump a “spouse murderer,” and then he gets ridiculous and from the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.07.25 (Unspeakably Early Morning Edition), Louder With Crowder, To bash Donald Trump, CNN interviewed a Mexican Cartel member about being labeled a terrorist, Kamala Harris returns for anti-Trump speech, instead claims elephants live rent-free in her head, Somehow, accusing Donald Trump of KIDNAPPING isn’t the most ridiculous thing Jasmine Crockett says here, and CNN data guru forced to admit Americans STILL think Trump is doing a better job than Kamala Harris ever would.

 Da Fetched a new Clinton-Appointed Judge Blocks Trump from Deporting Gang Members Using ‘Alien Enemies Act’. WokeSpy reports America First Legal Sues Chief Justice Roberts Over Lawfare- “You Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It Too” "Stephen Miller’s conservative legal advocacy group America First Legal Foundation (AFLF) has filed a lawsuit against Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Robert J. Conrad, in their official capacities as the Presiding Officer of the Judicial Conference; and Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, respectively, for allegedly violating federal transparency laws." From ET, Trump Announces 5 Judicial Nominations for Missouri, DC Courts. "This latest round of picks brings the total number of judicial nominations made by Trump so far in his second term to six."

Ward Clark at RedState, Senator Thom Tillis Is Blocking a Key Trump Nominee - Why? (Updated). Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is withholding support for President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney for D.C., a move that could result in MAGA villain Judge James Boasberg choosing who would fill the role — potentially even former Special Counsel Jack Smith. Chris Queen at PJM thinks Thom Tillis' Reason for Blocking Ed Martin's Confirmation Will Make Your Blood Boil. Because of J6 pardons. If Boasberg appoints a new US Attorney, Trump should refuse to pay him. Let Boasberg do it. 

Shooting News Weekly, Yet Again: FBI Botched, Changed, Then Withheld the Results of Its Congressional Baseball Shooting Investigation. LifeZette, James Comer Drops Bombshell: Epstein Files May Be Destroyed by Deep State. How convenient. 

Hat Hair's Beege Welborn informs us CFTC 'Staff' Placed on Leave Amid Investigation. "Acting CFTC Chairman Caroline D. Pham responded to the CFTC Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) findings regarding telework violations by a staff member, expressing concern over what she described as “a lengthy scheme to defraud the American taxpayer.”"

From Twitchy, Greg Gutfeld's 'Rant for the Ages' About Biden's 1st Interview Since Leaving Office Is Necessarily Brutal. Althouse, "I just don't understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide he's going to take significant portions of land that aren't his, that that's going to satisfy him. I don't quite understand." Said Joe Biden, quoted in "Five takeaways from Biden's BBC interview" (BBC). 'Becca Downs at TownHall asks if you Remember Biden's Failed Pier in Gaza? It Turns Out It Was Worse Than We Thought. Scott Jennings@ScottJenningsKY, "One of the biggest Biden embarrassments - the half baked Gaza Aid Pier. $230 million. 20 days in use. And now we find out it injured 60+ US soldiers. One soldier died! All to placate terrorists & their sympathizers in the Democratic Party. Insane scandal." 

Sister Toldja, hears Fetterman Respond to NY Mag Hit Piece As Another Reporter Casts More Doubt on Story's Validity. Matt Vespa sees a Media Critic Nail What NY Mag's Hit Piece on John Fetterman Is Really About. Steve Krakauer @SteveKrak "Let's be honest about what the Fetterman NY Mag hit piece actually is: Fetterman's former longtime aide Adam Jentleson wrote an email a year ago detailing health issues he saw. This stayed private because it was not politically expedient to leak it. Now his "friend" Ben Terris uses it as the singular piece of evidence in his lengthy attack on Fetterman's health, in an attempt to push him out of the Senate. Why? Because what's obvious to everyone is that Fetterman's health is improving, not declining. He was far worse than his staff let on back in 2023, but has improved, as expected, from the stroke, as is clear in his interviews and interactions. At the same time, his politics have shifted to the middle. He is overtly pro-Israel in a party that is increasingly anti-Israel. He is open to talking to Trump and engaging with the other side at a time when his party wants to otherize the right. Jentleson and his other aides are Dem party operatives who will do anything to hurt their former boss. Covering up his ailments was useful when he was a steady Dem party pawn, voting exactly how they want and saying exactly what they want. But now that he's a wildcard - almost an antagonist to the establishment - and a disruptor within his party, the stories get told about, again, what was happening well over a year ago."

Pop Times reports RFK Jr. Accuses Biden Admin Of Becoming “Collaborator” In Child Trafficking "“We have ended HHS’s role as the principal vector in this country for child trafficking. During the Biden administration, HHS became a collaborator in child trafficking for sex and for slavery, and we have ended that. We’re very aggressively going out and trying to find these 300,000 children that were lost by the Biden administration." WokeSpy, House Dem Lies About U.S. “Deporting” Children, Throw Maxine Waters-Style Tantrum. At Bearing Arms, a Larry video, JD Vance Torches Ilhan Omar! Immigration Game-Changer Sparks Liberal Meltdown! Althouse, "The Trump administration is planning to transport a group of immigrants to Libya on a U.S. military plane..." "The nationalities of the migrants were not immediately clear.... The country is racked with conflict, and human rights groups have called conditions in its network of migrant detention centers 'horrific' and 'deplorable.'" Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok "A mob of pro-illegal aliens protestors in Nashville swarmed a bus transporting illegals and hurled insults at ICE agents. Arrest all of them for interfering with ICE operations." Drew Berquist reports CBP DNA Whistleblowers Finally Cleared—Trump Reverses Biden Admin’s Retaliation. Chuck Grassley @ChuckGrassley "BIG NEWS after over 7 YRS of retaliation CBP whistleblowers Fred Wynn+Mike Taylor+Mark Jones r being promoted These men blew the whistle on CBP's failure 2 collect DNA at the border & the Biden/Harris admin punished them for speaking out ANOTHER GR8 DAY FOR WBS + RULE OF LAW"

At Hat Hair Capt. Ed says Pulitzers Carry On Grand Tradition Of ... Walter Duranty and Dave Strom thinks The Narrative™ Exists, And It Is Imposed By Media, NPR Edition.

Ace, Dozens of Masked Terror Supporters Storm Columbia "University's" Library as Actual Students Attempt to Study for Exams, "We need MEGA -- Make Education Great Again." Nick Sortor @nicksortor "UPDATE: Palestine protestors are now PLEADING to be let out of the Columbia University which they invaded, as officials BLOCK them from leaving without ID “Please, please let us out!”" Those who REFUSE to provide ID are being arrested on the spot. THIS is how it’s done!" Hat Hair's John Sexton notes Michigan Attorney General Drops Charges Against University of Michigan Activists, of course. Beege Welborn asserts The University of Washington and City of Seattle Are a Third World Dumpster Fire. Victor Joecks thinks Defunding Shouldn't Stop With Harvard. True, but it's a damn good start. From Fox, Columbia University lays off around 180 staff after Trump administration revokes grants. "Ivy League school recently lost $400M in federal funding over antisemitism concerns." Roger Pielke Jr. explains How To Get Rid of a Tenured Professor. "Activists push an apocalyptic vision of climate change, but that's not the scientific consensus. I got in trouble just for saying that." At Education Daly, Mississippi Can't Possibly Have Good Schools. "And yet it does. Are we ready to deal?"

Hollywood in Toto sees Celebrities say Trump Will Destroy the World! "Far-Left rhetoric goes to 11 as public tunes out elite progressives." Matt Vespa, Bill Maher Again Sets the Woke Left Aflame in Latest Commentary.

Katie Jerkovich at RedState calls it ‘Tasteless’ when NYC Tears Down Statue Of Thomas Jefferson, Erects 12-foot Statue of 'Overweight Black Woman', that to the extent that it looks like anyone looks like Letitia James. 

Capt. Ed reports Washington (state) Declares War On Faith; Seattle Archbishop Warns Priests to Remain Firm. "Gov. Bob Ferguson has signed a new law stripping members of the clergy of their ability to hear confessions as "privileged communication." The state legislature passed SB 5375 to explicitly target the confessional and require priests and ministers to report any confession involving potential child abuse."

A Thursday Tune - Hungover

Elizabeth Camille Langley (born May 3, 1999), known professionally as Ella Langley, is an American country music singer-songwriter from Hope Hull, Alabama signed to Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. Her debut album Hungover was released on August 2, 2024. This album includes her breakthrough number-one hit "You Look Like You Love Me" with Riley Green.

Langley was raised in a musically inclined family alongside two brothers and a sister. Her early exposure to music came through singing in local Baptist churches and informal jam sessions within her community. She loved sitting with her grandfather at the piano, singing "Frog Went a-Courting." After he passed, her father restrung his guitar for her at 14. That same night, she taught herself to play "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley. In 2016, she gave her first public performance at her high school, Hooper Academy, to perform in the talent show. Afterwards, she began performing at local venues. Initially accepted to Troy University, she later transferred to Auburn University to study forestry.

Flotsam and Jetsam - DIY Wednesday

 It's been a while since I've had to dump them like this, but it's just one of those days:

Trump and the Republicans

Carney says Canada 'never for sale' after Trump again suggests 51st state plan
Althouse: "I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. I very much want to work with him, but cannot understand one simple TRUTH..."
The Best Press Availability Ever Held in the Oval Office - The Last Refuge
Trump Just Made This Nation Drop its Tariffs to Zero
Trade War Fallout in China a Mystery; Beijing Stopped Reporting Key Economic Data
Treasury Secretary Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer Will Meet Chinese Trade Counterparts in Switzerland - The Last Refuge
Lithuania knows how to have a backbone against China, the EU should take note - Brussels SignalSouth Korea Invests Big in Texas - RealClearWorld
Trump Tells Hollywood to Make Movies in America or Pay the Price [WATCH]
Hollywood Panics After Trump Proposes 100% Tariff on Movies Filmed Outside the U.S.A.
Strong European Demand Pushes U.S. LNG Exports Up by 20% – HotAir
Up next: the deregulation of America - Don Surber
Ace of Spades HQ Trump: I'll Stop Bombing the Houthis Because They Called Me Up and Totally "Capitulated"
BREAKING: Trump Pauses Houthi Campaign After 'Capitulation'? – HotAir
The Trump-Iran Deal Explained – HotAir
Starmer Preparing for War With Russia – HotAir
Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20% - LocalNews8.com - KIFI
(1) Cynical Publius on X: "Pete, I know you got this and you are totally awesome, but I also know the Joint Staff is going to come up with a bunch of COAs on how to make these cuts that will be presented in a 120-slide PowerPoint deck after 9 months of coordination with the Services and USD (P&R), so can I" / X
Pete Hegseth - "Less Generals, More GIs Policy" - Victory Girls Blog
Trump Envoy Witkoff Signals Potential Breakthrough In Abraham Accords
Hegseth Directs Pentagon To Reduce Senior General Ranks By 20%
Border Czar Homan Reacts to Plan to Reopen Alcatraz Prison
(1) The Babylon Bee on X: "Trump To Expand Alcatraz By Putting Up Fence Around San Francisco https://t.co/GwypfUUa4o https://t.co/EsVL6oww3q" / X
DC Mayor Looks Hilariously Uncomfortable Standing Behind Trump As He Rips Biden, Illegals – RedState
Trump Responds to AI Pope Image: "My Wife Thought It Was Cute"
FDA’s Chief Inspector Abruptly Steps Down
All GOP Senators Have to Do Is Not Be Dumb, So We’re in Trouble
Shock Poll: Majority of American Muslims DON’T Oppose Trump’s Gaza Plan; Take Anger Out on DEMOCRATS! – PJ Media
Althouse: "Until now, arguments for limiting consumption have tended to come from the left rather than the right."

The Democrats

Biden Aides Privately Feared His Decline: 'There’s No Obama Out There. Who’s Going to Do It?'
Biden memo let feds target Americans for 'non-criminal behavior' before Catholics, parents probed - Just The News
Biden Fudged the Numbers—Trump’s Deportation Machine Sets the Record Straight
Sit Down, Stolen Valor: Tim Walz Weighs In on Trans Military Ban and Whew ... That Was a BAD IDEA – Twitchy
Charlie Kirk: ‘We Are Seeing the Base of the Democrat Party Evaporate’ [WATCH]
DNC Vice Chair David Hogg Turns on His Own Party: “Clearly Something Is Not Going Right Here” – WokeSpy
Grab the Popcorn: Reps. Jasmine Crockett and AOC Squabble Over House Oversight Leadership – The Populist Times
Federal student loans are due again. A record percentage of borrowers are seriously delinquent | CNN Business
Democrats Feeling Hopeful About 2026 Senate Map – HotAir

The 'Justice' System

Supreme Court rules to allow, for now, Trump ban on trans military members - Fox News
Supreme Court Issues Ruling on Trump's Transgender Military Ban
(None Dare Call It) Treason of the Judiciary – HotAir
Breaking: Supreme Court Hands Down Momentous Decision on Transgenders in the Military – RedState
(None Dare Call It) Treason of the Judiciary - RealClearPolitics
NEW: SCOTUS Reinstates Ban on Trans Troops; Tide Turning On the Left? – HotAir
Supreme Court Affirms President Trump Can Block Mentally Unstable People from the Military - The Last Refuge
Stephen Miller’s AFL Files Bombshell Lawsuit Against Chief Justice Roberts for Violating FOIA
Grassley Moves to End Rogue District Judges Blocking Trump’s Orders Nationwide [WATCH]
Could 'President' Boasberg Pick His Own US Attorney for DC? – HotAir
Trump’s Nominee For DC Prosecutor Faces Uncertainty
Ace of Spades HQ Leftwing Saboteur Tom Tillis is Blocking the Appointment of Ed Martin to be Trump's US Attorney for DC -- an Absolutely Critical Position -- and Will Allow Leftwing Judge Boasberg to Pick the US Attorney
A Republican turncoat courts a Trump judgeship - Blaze Media
FBI ‘misled the public’ in claiming 2017 GOP baseball shooting wasn’t domestic terror: House Intel - Just The News
Ace of Spades HQ House Report: FBI "Butchered" Fake Investigation Into Softball Shooter James T. Hodgkinson, Lied About His Motives for Shooting Up GOP Congressmen
House Releases New Report on Congressional Baseball Shooting – HotAir
Tulsi Gabbard Reacts to Pulling Hillary Clinton’s Security Clearance: “I Smiled” – The Populist Times
Trump calls NY AG Letitia James ‘a total crook’ — says DOJ will ‘do what’s right’ on fraud criminal referral
Trump Orders DOJ To Take ‘All Necessary Action’ To Secure Release of Tina Peters Over 2020 Election Charges

DOGE

NSA Expected To Cut Up To 2K Civilian Jobs
Foreign Aid Official Who Resisted DOGE Took Secret Payments After Steering Africa Money To Friend

Illegal Immigration

DOJ charges roughly 1,300 illegal migrants with immigration crimes during first week of May - Just The News
Corrupt Venezuelan officials ‘facilitated’ Tren de Aragua gang’s reign of terror in US – DNyuz
JD Vance Torches Ilhan Omar! Immigration Game-Changer Sparks Liberal Meltdown! – HotAir
Why the Husband of a Top CBS News Correspondent Just Had His Business Raided by ICE

Media Matters

They Hate Trump SO Much, They Gave the Pulitzer to the Bullet – HotAir
Kash Patel Vindicated: MSNBC Forced to Retract False Claim About the FBI Director [WATCH]

The Great Culture War

Building Occupation Leads to Arrests at University of Washington – HotAir
The Long Shove Back Out Of The Institutions – HotAir
Dave Portnoy Gets Mixed Reviews for Handling of Antisemitic Incident in His Bar
Bill Ackman says Harvard not 'entitled' to federal funds
Women Swimmers File Complaint After Unknowingly Competing Against Trans Athlete
We have met the pigs… - by Benjamin Kerstein

The Wednesday Wetness

Anxious Richmond, Richmond took 4 days to tell counties of fluoride spike in water supply

Richmond's surrounding counties are annoyed with the city for not telling them quickly enough about a water event — again.

Why it matters: The issue was a fluoride spike in the local water supply, and city officials didn't tell Richmonders or the counties about it for nearly five days.

State of play: Last Wednesday, employees at Richmond's water plant had issues installing a new fluoride pump, leading to excess fluoride accidentally being pumped into the drinking water for about five hours, per a city release.

• City levels were four times higher than the optimal target of 0.7 milligrams per liter during that period, but the water was safe to drink and below the maximum allowable limit set by federal standards, Richmond officials say.
• Because Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield share the city's water supply, the counties also had increased fluoride levels last week.

Zoom out: The counties didn't find out about the issue until late Sunday night, per Monday afternoon statements.

Fluoride is insanely toxic. Which is the reason we, as a small water co-op are not permitted to add flouride to our water. If you can screw up and add four times too much, you can screw up and add 1000x too much. Who hasn't lost an decimal or three? 

Beach Report 5/6/25

What a gorgeous day!

Do you see it?

The best of 23 shark's teeth (although there were a couple of close runner ups), a nice clean upper Snaggle 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Bannon Credits God with Saving Trump for a Second Term

Althouse, "I can tell you... '16 was providential. That was the hand of God.... The pandemic and the stealing of the 2020 election was also the hand of God." ""At the time, it didn't seem that [way] but if we had gone right into a second term, it would have been like trench warfare. It would have been like the Western Front in World War I, just two sides dug in, and they kind of had Trump surrounded. God's hand worked that we would step back.… We had the time to regroup. Trump had the time to think.... You had those four years of preparation." Said Steve Bannon." Dan Chaitin at Da Wire, Trump Drops Two Names When Asked About A Successor. Vance and Rubio. I could live with either one. 

Fox reports Trump's 16th week in office to include WH meeting with Canada, ongoing trade negotiations. "Trump's week to also include talks about ending Russia-Ukraine war." Sundance at CTH sees the American Consumer Market Just Too Valuable – India Agrees to Align with Trump Tariff and Trade Terms and German Automaker Smartly Shifts Business Plan in Response to Tariffs – Mercedes Will Make More Vehicles in USA. John Sexton at Hat Hair hears Tariffs Are Having a Dramatic Impact on China's Economy. "Estimates of China's annual growth are already being cut sharply." Althouse highlights the plight of "The tariffs have made it impossible for Mr. Liu to continue selling on Amazon, where he previously made about $1 on every garment but now just 50 cents." ""And he felt he could not cut his employees’ pay, Mr. Liu said, as workers at a labor market crowded past his motorbike, which he had parked on the sidewalk with a dress sample draped over the handlebars. 'You can’t sell anything to the United States right now,' Mr. Liu said. 'The tariffs are too high.'" From "China’s Garment Factories Face a Tipping Point After New Tariffs/As a U.S. tax loophole ends, the apparel makers that sell to America are forced to consider alternative markets or cheaper locations in and outside China" (NYT)." At Da Caller, Bessent Demands Europe Scrap ‘Unfair’ Regulatory Shakedown. CNN whines Trump says he would extend TikTok deadline if no deal reached by June 19. Dave Strom at Hat Hair wonders Did the Media Notice That the Stock Market Recovered? They noticed, and scrupulously avoided pointing it out. 

Paul D. Thacker@thackerpd "Trump signs Executive Order to end federal funding for gain-of-function virus research which many now believe caused the COVID pandemic." It seems nearly certain that gain-of-function research made COVID, the big remaining question is how much American money contributed to the effort. UPI, Trump honors space exploration on National Astronaut Day. "Observance marks 64th anniversary of Alan Shepard becoming first American in space." Katy Perry not invited. Sundance hosts President Trump Announces Location for 2027 NFL Draft, and Takes Media Questions, "on the National Mall Washington DC". I guess if I can sing and play guitar there, the NFL can use it for the draft. Dave Strom presents A Unified Theory of Trump Trolling. The Dank Knight @capeandcowell, "Tell AI to make you the pope and post it. Every lib will suddenly become pro catholic. Trust me."

'Becca Downs at TownHall sees Judge Boasberg Keeps Getting Assigned Trump Cases. Lawmakers Want to Know Why. Just Facts Dayly looks at all the Misinformation About the Arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan. Seth Barrett Tillman has some PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE RECENT LITIGATION INVOLVING SECTION THREE OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT. 

Sarah Anderson at PJM hears The Nanny State Shut Down a Small New Hampshire Church. Now Pam Bondi Is Involved. Tom Knighton at BA, FBI Issues Warning On Swatting.

Althouse catches a weird story about Elon Musk, "Neighbors soon grew frustrated with the constant hubbub at the house. They saw people coming and going carrying gun holsters..." "... as the security team ballooned along with Mr. Musk’s safety concerns. Though Texas has permissive gun laws, the activity stood out. 'I call that place Fort Knox,' said Mr. Hemmer, a retired real estate agent who lives across the street and is president of the neighborhood homeowners association.... Mr. Hemmer, who has long owned a Tesla, grew so frustrated with his neighbor that he began flying a drone over the house to check for city violations, and he keeps a video camera trained on the property around the clock. Last year, he complained to West Lake Hills officials about Mr. Musk’s fence, the traffic and how he thought the owner was operating a security business from the property. Mr. Musk’s security team also contacted the West Lake Hills Police Department about Mr. Hemmer, according to city records. One security official accused Mr. Hemmer last year of standing naked in the street, according to the records. Mr. Hemmer denied that he was naked and said he was on his property wearing black underwear. On another night, he said, he was walking his dog fully clothed and stopped when he suddenly needed to urinate — which Mr. Musk’s camera captured. 'The cameras got me,' Mr. Hemmer said. 'It’s scary they have guys sitting and watching me pee.'"

Leslie Eastman at LI, rejoices as EPA Cancels All Environmental Justice Grants "These grants fund many “panda” projects that sound good but actually direct monies to eco-activsts and their anti-American antics." "$52 million EPA “Environmental Justice” grant for Minneapolis Foundation, in partnership with NDN Collective, a communist org that wanted to close Mount Rushmore because it’s a “symbol of white supremacy”."

Rasmussen has a REMINDER: Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll "propaganda - noun - prŏp″ə-găn′də - the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person STILL no explanations - no apologies - no comments Harris was never ahead, they knew it, and they did this:" Possibly related, from John Sexton, Biden's Team Decided Not to Give Him a Cognitive Test in Early 2024. Gee, I wonder why. AOL, Former First Lady Jill Biden Finds A New Gig In The Swamp, Miranda Devine@mirandadevine, "Grifters gonna grift." Quote Matt Stoller @matthewstoller, "Jill Biden is going to work for billionaire ex-con Michael Milken - who got pardoned for securities fraud - to work on ‘women’s health.’ That’s DOCTOR Jill Biden, good sir." Liz Stauffer at LI, Breathtaking Remarks from Dem Leaders Reveal Precisely Why Party Is in the Wilderness "“People say to me all the time, ‘James, why don’t we just do like the Republicans do, just stand up and lie?'” Remember, for Democrats telling an inconvenient truth is lying. Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal worries about How Many Biden Appointees ‘Burrowed in’ to the Permanent Bureaucracy? Both parties do it, of course.

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, DHS: We'll Pay You to Self-Deport! NYPo, Trump admin set to pay illegal migrants $1,000 to self-deport, and DHS says it will save taxpayers a ton. It would save a lot of work, but wonder how many will take them up on it.

Jorge Bonilla @BonillaJL, ""EDITED FOR CLARITY": NBC News cuts President Trump's mention of the emergence of damning evidence against Kilmar Abrego García from the Meet the Press broadcast." From Twitchy, WOW: CNN Officially CROSSES A LINE In Their Trump Hate With Disturbing Interview of Drug Cartel. Pop Times, My Respect: CNN’s Interview with Sinaloa Cartel Member About Trump Backfires, Internet Claps Back "Seemingly, the reporter did not get the answer she wanted and thus, asked follow-up questions to strike the right note. However, even the bloody Mexican Sinaloa Cartel, against which the Trump administration has declared war, does not hate the president as much as the left does." Insurrection Barbie @DefiyantlyFree, "CNN is now interviewing cartel members to ask how they feel about being labeled terrorists. You cannot make this stuff up." Mary Margaret Olohan @MaryMargOlohan, "Remember when angel mom Patty Morin emotionally described to the White House press how an illegal immigrant brutally raped and murdered her daughter? CNN cut away from Patty to air segments about Gavin Newsom and the NBA." Monica Showalter at Am Think notices the Pulitzer judges pass over iconic AP photo of Trump defiantly waving his fist with blood running down his face after assassination attempt.  

🚨NEWS: The photographer (Doug Mills) who took the image on the left just received a Pulitzer, not the one (Evan Vucci) who captured the most iconic shot on the right. pic.twitter.com/r08mforOro

— The Gas Stove 🔥 (@TheGasStovee) May 5, 2025

At Splice Today, Mark Judge (remember him?) explains Why NPR Refuses to Have Me on the Air. "One more reason to defund public radio." Dave Portnoy@stoolpresidente "So @6abc begged me to do an interview about the incident at our bar. Since it was local I agreed. Then the reporter tried to say Barstool and I and white men were responsible for the incident. Austin started recording once it got contentious."

From the Remodern Review, Trump Takes Aim at National Endowment for the Arts. PJM's Rick Moran wants to know What Is the Government Doing Funding 'Art' in the First Place? It's another leftist grift. 

SAN, NYU bans dozens of pro-Palestinian students, requires pledge to stop protests. At Am Great Roger Kimball analyzes The Politicized Mind: How the University Lost Its Way. "Academia’s collapse stems not from too much politics, but from the absence of anything but politics—and the virtues needed to resist it are in dangerously short supply."

Jeff Charles at TownHall HHS Releases Damning Report on 'Gender-Affirming Care'. Of course, in a Biden Admin the HHS would release the opposite. The mere fact that the direction of the report depends on who is in office explains why you should heavily discount any government report. At Da Wire, Janet Mills And Her Family Get Rich Off The Maine Governor’s Transgender Stance. ""All a coincidence, I'm sure." There's plenty good money to be made mutilating kids. PJM's Vicky Taft thinks California Democrats Prove Again That They Care More About Perverts Than Kids, "state Assembly Democrats have fought to keep sexual predators from facing felony charges when they approach or victimize 16- and 17-year-old Californians. Republicans want to include much tougher penalties for victims up to the age of 18."