Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Beach Report 2/17/26
Maryland, My Maryland
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| 2024 MD districts |
State House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk says there is still enough time to redraw congressional district lines — which Democrats believe could win them a new seat — but that the Feb. 24 candidate filing deadline may need to be delayed to accommodate a new map.
“It’s just a matter of making it a priority, and the House did,” Peña-Melnyk said in an exclusive interview with The Baltimore Sun. Delaying the filing deadline is not as dramatic as pushing back the primary election itself — and there is no talk of that — but Republicans say it would disrupt election planning and leave candidates with questions about where they’ll run.
The timing around the election season was also a concern of Senate President Bill Ferguson, who has been a staunch opponent of mid-cycle redistricting. “The length of those delays is very dependent on how quickly the local boards of election could implement a new map after all legal challenges are settled, which almost certainly means additional weeks of a delay, if not months,” Ferguson said in a letter to his colleagues last October. An aide of Ferguson’s reiterated his position on Wednesday. The Senate president has called the new map “objectively unconstitutional,” saying it “breaks apart more neighborhoods and communities” than the existing district lines.
The candidate filing deadline is a specific date for anyone who wants to appear on the 2026 primary ballot. Delays could mean voters have less time to learn about their candidates. Moving back filing deadlines can also be problematic for candidates because they may not know which voters to target in their campaigns.
The map must be locked in by the deadline so district boundaries can be implemented and candidates can learn about their districts. When talking to The Sun, Peña-Melnyk referenced an emergency bill she supports by Del. Kris Fair, a Frederick County Democrat, that would push the filing deadline to March 20. The bill is pending.
The House of Delegates on Feb. 2 approved a redrawing of the boundaries of the state’s eight U.S. House districts. But the map — supported by Gov. Wes Moore and opposed by state Republicans — may stall because Ferguson is resisting the redistricting push, saying it could “backfire in our courts” and hurt Democrats.
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| Proposed 2026 MD district map |
Currently, only one of eight districts in Maryland is held by a Republican, the 1st district, which is mostly the Eastern Shore. This bill would drag in enough houses from across the Bay Bridge to make that a Democrat majority, a masterpiece worthy of Elbridge Gerry's name, a gerrymander, and leaving the 40% of the state which votes Republican with no representation.
Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Steps in the Potomac Shit
From Fox, Collins boosts Republican voter ID effort, but won’t scrap filibuster, "Mike Lee-led campaign gains crucial vote but faces 60-vote Senate filibuster challenge." At RCP, Sen. Dave McCormick on SAVE Act: If An 80-20 Issue Can't Get 60 Votes, Something Is Amiss In The Senate, but then, we knew that. Dmitri Bolt at TownHall, CNN Confronts Chuck Schumer on Voter ID. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears Fetterman: What's Wrong With Requiring ID to Vote? Secretary Kristi Noem @Sec_Noem, "It must be exhausting to regularly manufacture outrage even over the most commonsense statements. Yes, we must build election infrastructure that makes it easy and secure for eligible American citizens to vote—while preventing non-citizens, including illegal aliens, from casting ballots. The choice of who to vote for is obviously up to the voters themselves. So here's the real question for @jaketapper @jonkarl and anyone else clutching pearls over this: Do you actually support allowing people who are in this country illegally to vote in our elections?" Support? They're counting on it.
Sundance at CTH explores the relationship between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein. John LeFevre @JohnLeFevre, "Nothing from NBC News on Obama's lawyer or Reid Hoffman - who donated $100 million to Democrats, bankrolled the Kavanaugh smear campaign, and funded the E. Jean Carroll hoax against Trump. Media silence when it doesn't fit the narrative." Quote NBC News @NBCNews, "At least half a dozen top Trump administration officials appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files. Batya Ungar-Sargon @bungarsargon, ""Ironically, in denouncing how 'wealthy powerful men' are protected in a two-tiered legal system, Khanna pulled the ultimate powerplay — defaming four individuals with little concern of accountability. Ironically, Khanna succeeded in showing the ultimate example of the impunity enjoyed by 'wealthy, powerful men.'" Quote Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "I have spoken with members who were part of the conference on the petition to force the release of these documents. Massie and Khanna opposed efforts to amend the petition to allow for greater resources to review the millions of documents... https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/15/ro-" From Campus Reform, Jeffrey Epstein's obsession with human bodies led him to fund the genetics research of two current Harvard profs. "Epstein was obsessed with blue eyes and worked with scientific contacts to prove his hypothesis that blue eyes were a signifier of high intelligence while he was funding and visiting Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics." At Fox, Israeli intelligence sources reject claims Jeffrey Epstein was Mossad operative following document releases "Israeli prime minister escalates political feud following renewed scrutiny of Epstein's dealing with ex-Israeli leader Ehud Barak." But then, they would if it were true, too.
Dave Strom at Hat Hair claims You Won't Believe The New York Times' Take on Rubio's Munich Speech. "The New York Times' reaction to the speech mirrored that of AOC: Western values suck, and Europe is no longer Western because its population is being replaced by third worlders. AOC said it outright, giving an explicitly Marxist race and class-based analysis, while the Times sanded the sharp corners down a bit." You'd be surprised by what I might believe. Hat Hair's Duane Patterson looks at Marco's Moment, Morons, and Mendacity in Munich. Sarah Anderson at TownHall watches Rubio’s European Tour Heats Up — WaPo and the Cuban Revolution Take a Beating. Sundance hosts Secretary Marco Rubio's Joint Press Conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and reports President Trump Announces Board of Peace Meeting February 19th at the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace.
PJM's Cathy Salgado hears the Trump Admin tout $2,400 Savings From Ending Start-Stop Car Feature. We don't have it, but that's got to be annoying. We have a hybrid, and it alway shuts off, unless it need charge. But at least the electric side accelerates right off. News Wax, Trump Touts Dip in Mortgage Rates Vs. Biden. ""Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News." It's a bit much to claim credit for, but if the Democrats are going to wield the "affordability" club, it's fair.
From NYPo, Trump threatens kidnappers with death penalty if Nancy Guthrie isn’t returned alive in call with The Post, Democrats immediately call for cashless bail for the offenders /sarc.
Dave Strom looks at the Democrats Auditioning for Nomination in Munich. At Twitchy, AOC Mocks Marco Rubio for Saying Cowboys Come From Spain (Ask African Slaves). End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "AOC mocks Rubio: "My favorite part is he said cowboys are rooted in Spain. Uhhh, speak to Mexicans & African slaves!" Spain introduced horses to Mexico." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair calls it Too Dumb to Check: Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be AOCs. Joe Chalfant at TownHall, Did AOC's Word Salad Just End Her Presidential Ambitions? Hardly, it's par for Democrats who have to constantly talk around truth and logic. Brad Slager at RedState, The Ocasio-Cortez Disaster in Munich Gives a 2028 Election Primer As Bloomberg News Cleans Up Her Mess. Driscoll at Insty, WAS IT OVER WHEN THE VENEZUELANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR? Western Lensman @WesternLensman, "AOC: The US shouldn't engage in actions like the one against Maduro just because Venezuela is “below the equator." Venezuela is not below the equator. Got a round of applause anyway." A Larry video at Hat Hair, AOC, Hillary Clinton Globally Shamed As Rubio Stuns World Elites. Driscoll again with DAAAMN: Watch Hillary’s Face as Czech Deputy PM Macinka Shuts Her Down in Heated Back and Forth on Gender. Fox News @FoxNews, "REALITY CZECH: Hillary Clinton clashes with Czech Deputy PM Petr Macinka after he says President Trump reacted to policies that went "too far." MACINKA: "We saw the woke revolution. I don't agree with the gender revolution, the climate alarmism..." CLINTON: "Which gender? Women having their rights?" . . ." Amy Curtis noticed Hillary Clinton Lied About Deportations Under Her Husband and Obama. Well, her mouth was moving.
Congressman Randy Fine @RepFine, "Piers, what is disgusting is a major NYC Muslim leader saying we must give up our dogs because "NYC is coming to Islam" We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans. I choose my dog. I know my first appearance on your show didn't go well for you, but if you want to try again, I am happy to administer another beating." Jake Tapper @jaketapper, "Disgusting bigotry." Quote Congressman Randy Fine @RepFine "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one." Amy Curtis @RantyAmyCurtis, "So for the midterms, @TheDemocrats have decided to take the side of banning dogs and calling the critics who oppose banning dogs “racist.” Keep up the good work." and Totally weird how not one Leftist has said, “No, we won’t let Muslims ban your dogs.” I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. RBe @RBPundit, "Apparently all the political commentators just flat out missed that some Muslim activist who works for the new NYC mayor said dogs should be banned indoors in New York." Wilfred Reilly @wil_da_beast630, "This "dogs" tweet thing is a classic example of a totally fake, made up scandal. A Muslim troll - an adult with a powerful position - tweeted that New Yorkers should get rid of all (indoor) dogs to appease Muslim immigrants, because dogs are filthy in Islam and Muslim incomers do not want to see them. In direct response, quoting his opponent, another powerful adult said that - if forced to make this binary choice by Muslims - he would prefer dogs to Muslim incomers. This is about the 90% US position, btw. Every S...S...SHOCKED response to part two is literally just someone intentionally ignoring the 1st 1/2-2/3 of the exchange so they can do the "You Monster!" bit. It really is tiring."
At Am Great, Ed Ring calls Mamdani and Newsom The Democratic Party’s Fraternal Twins. "Mamdani and Newsom sell rival myths, but their shared model—big government fused with big corporate power—centralizes control, inflates costs, and leaves ordinary Americans paying the price." At PM, Tenants in NYC public housing won't be allowed to complain about city landlord at Mamdani's 'rental ripoff' hearings. "If these hearings were truly about holding bad landlords accountable, the over 500,000 residents in NYCHA would be able to meaningfully participate." Government cheese.
Jonathan Turley sees California Democrats Trigger a Reverse Gold Rush with a Wealth Tax: Eat the Rich. Hat Hair's John Sexton, Billionaires Make Plans to Avoid the California Wealth Tax. David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "There’s a weird poeticism to the radical American left being funded by divorce settlements." Quote Forbes @Forbes, "MacKenzie Scott’s $26 billion giving sprint in seven years, including a record $7.2 billion last year, makes her the third-biggest philanthropist of all-time. She gave more in 2025 than Musk, Page, Ellison and her ex-husband Bezos have in their lifetimes combined." Beege Welborn, How Green Is My Cult: CA Now Importing US Gas From *check notes* 4000 Miles Away. Driscoll sees BLUE STATES ARE MOVING LEGISLATION FORWARD TO RESTRICT HOW MUCH YOU CAN DRIVE: "The “15 Minute City” concept is gaining traction on the left, especially in Great Britain, where the Labour Party and leftist cities are seeking to impose harsh restrictions on vehicle use. Here in the U.S., blue states are pivoting toward mileage caps, which would establish maximum “vehicle miles traveled” (“VMT”) allowed for an entire state, with regulators then creating “incentives” to reduce individual driving so as to achieve the VMT objective. From News Nation: “Massachusetts bill aims to reduce driving to meet climate goals” . . ." From the College Fix, EXPOSED: Taxpayers paying for Democrat activists’ grad school tuition. Ben Smith at RedState, Democratic Auditor Takes Own Party to Court After $12M Fraud and 72% Vote for Audit.
At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed, Homan: You Better Believe We'll 'Flood the Zone' in 'Sanctuaries' Again, Dave Strom fears The Ground Troops of the Revolution Are Being Trained Before Our Eyes and In Minneapolis It's the Taxpayers Who Pick Up the Tab for Anti-ICE Activism and John Sexton reports a Public School Teacher Killed by Illegal Immigrant Fleeing ICE. From CIS, DOJ Reveals that Biden Granted ‘Quiet Amnesty’ to Nearly a Million Aliens. "Cases that have been ‘temporarily paused’ for more than three decades, and other denials of justice." The Redoubtable Julie Kelly (at substack) explores how a Deadly Crash Exposes Danger of So-Called 'Chameleon Carriers'. "Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and some federal lawmakers are looking into how trucking companies avoid oversight and accountability through shadow operations in the trucking industry."
The Chronic has No Pity for the ‘Washington Post.’ Ace, "The Media Whined That the Washington Post Cancelled Its World-Beating Sports Section. The Media, You Will Not Be Surprised to Learn, Lied." By "sports," they meant what they mean in every case: DEI propaganda and gay communism bullshit. They do this with every single entertainment men like. They fill men's entertainment with nonstop pro-gay, pro-feminism, pro-DEI propaganda. So that's what was going on with the Washington Post's "sports" desk before they cancelled it. Free Beacon's Andrew Stiles: . . ." Dave Strom notes They Don't Even Try to Distinguish Fact From Fiction Anymore. The article as about the Slantic, but it's a general problem.
Insty calls this SAVAGE. AND FAIR. Rolling Stone @RollingStone, "The MAGA right says Charlie Kirk is a martyr for freedom of expression, but still want people to lose their jobs for criticizing his rhetoric. DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "You, of all outlets, need to SHUT UP. You were the first outlet to dox me. You ran a deranged piece painting me as some CFPB mastermind only because you couldn’t dig up dirt. You tried to cancel me. You don’t get to whine about cancel culture. Here’s the rule: if you don’t want to get fired, don’t cheer the deaths of your neighbors, family, or fellow Americans. You and I are not the same. We see you. You are hypocrites. You are evil. Go crawl away in shame."
James Bacon, at Bacon's Rebellion on How to Make Sure Virginia Universities Are Governed by Unaccountable, Leftist Oligarchies Forever, elect Spamberger.
And oh, so much more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.16.26!
Tattoo Tuesday
Australian Broadcasting Co, Dozens of Australians diagnosed with rare tattoo-related vision loss
While tattoo-associated uveitis was thought to be extremely rare, research published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology has documented 40 new cases of the condition in Australia — doubling the number of published cases detected around the world since 2010. The research, undertaken by a team of Australians, suggests this complication, while still rare given the number of people who get tattoos, may be more common than we thought. Experts are calling for more research to understand and try to limit the vision-threatening disease.Now, that is scary.
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But in recent years, Dr Richards has seen a rise in cases of uveitis caused by injected tattoo ink — sometimes long after the tattoo was done. Doctors can tell the uveitis is caused by a tattoo because it can look slightly raised and inflamed. "I only became aware of it about four or five years ago, and then once I was aware of it, I had all these patients all of a sudden," she said.
Monday, February 16, 2026
Oregon, My Oregon
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the identities of black-clad rioters accused of breaching and causing significant damage to the federal building in Eugene, Oregon. The incident occurred on January 30 during a large-scale anti-ICE riot, resulting in President Donald Trump threatening military action.When you catch 'em, give 'em the full J6 treatment. No bail, truck 'em to states far away, put them in the hole for perceived infractions.
The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the subjects' arrests and convictions. Video surveillance was released to aid the investigation. A swarm of violent rioters can be observed attempting to break into the facility before several entered.
According to the FBI, approximately 400 to 500 anti-ICE protesters gathered outside the Eugene federal building, which houses an ICE office. "The protest turned into a riot in which the individuals broke windows, spray-painted federal property, and threw rocks at law enforcement officers," the agency said.
The FBI released a flyer of a wanted subject seen in the area that night. The individual is described as a white male with brown hair, wearing all dark clothing, a black mask, and white shoes.
Eugene, Ore. (Jan. 30) — Antifa and far-left rioters who surrounded the federal building are dispersed with pepper gas. The university city is infected with radical leftist politics that regularly turns into political violence. pic.twitter.com/B1S9n8zZF0
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) January 31, 2026
Navy Leaks 7,700 Gallons of Jet Fuel Into Bay
An estimated 7,700 gallons of jet fuel spilled into the James River on Friday afternoon near Newport News Shipbuilding, according to officials.
The spill happened during a refueling operation involving the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, which is nearing completion at the shipyard, according to a release from the city of Newport News.
Residents of Newport News and Hampton complained Sunday about a strong fuel odor coming off the James.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, local drinking water and tap water remain safe, and there is no impact to public water systems, the Newport News release said. But there is no broader health threat.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is leading the environmental response in coordination with the Coast Guard, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Health, and the cities of Newport News and Hampton.
The responsible party — which wasn’t named — activated an oil spill response company to begin oil containment and recovery operations, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, including deploying containment boom, conducting boat-based recovery, and using a vacuum truck to remove captured product. The cause of the spill remains under investigation.
I know when you play with big toys you make big mistakes, but how the hell do you lose track of tanker trucks worth of jet fuel? But as much as that is, I presume it spread out pretty quickly, and a lot of it dissolved into the waters. Them oysters is gonna taste weird for a while.
Flotsam and Jetsam - Monday Morning Coming Down
At RedState, Bob Hoge claims It's Done: Bondi Tells Congress She's Released All the Epstein Files, No More Coming. Now all Democrats and Tom Massey can complain about are the redactions, which were mandated by the law they demanded. Of course, with 3 million pages, some redactions will have been made that needn't have been, and some redactions weren't made that should have been. The tight deadline they demanded guarantees that. News Wax notes DOJ Releases List of 'Politically Exposed Persons' in Epstein Files. Sundance at CTH, Sunday Talks: Thomas Massie Gives Update on His Epstein File Mission, whines about Pam Bondi. Karol Markowicz @karol, "Self-important jackasses destroying the lives of random people with no connection to Epstein at all." Tim O'Brien at PJM reports Reid Hoffman Funded Suit Against Trump Alleging Rape. Epstein Files Mention Him 2,658 Times. MAZE @mazemoore, "2023. Reid Hoffman explains why he funded E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Trump. Hoffman, the walking embodiment of perversion, a man who stayed at Epstein's ranch, island, and NYC home and sent Epstein gifts for "the girls," claims he funded the lawsuit to help Carroll get justice for the "torture" and sexual abuse she endured. Hoffman just wanted to help a woman stand up to a rich and powerful man. What a sick, duplicitous, evil person." Torpedos continue to circle: from the College Fix, U. Arizona cancels major conference after speakers named in Epstein files. From Tierney's Real News, Trump exonerated on Epstein.
From NYPo, Witkoff and Kushner reportedly tell Trump nuclear deal with Iran ‘difficult to impossible’. From the Guardian, No water or electricity, and children begging in streets filled with rubbish – but this is why I won’t leave Cuba.
WESA Pittsburgh, Fetterman lone Democrat to support Homeland Security funding bill, as DHS shutdown looms. It's here. Can't you tell? News Wax reports from the IRS: Average Refund Up 10.9 Percent in Early Filing. Fox, Gas prices fall in January, giving Americans a break at the pump, "Lower gas prices provided consumer relief while electricity and utility gas service prices surged higher." Batya Ungar-Sargon says The Latest Jobs Report Proves Trump's Theory of the Economy: Tariffs and Deportations Put Money in the Pockets of Working-Class Americans, "Economists and Liberal Media Hardest Hit." Scott McLallen at Town Hall, 'We Send Billions to Dead People': Kennedy Stuns in NewsNation Interview. At ET, Whistleblowers Exposing Fraud Can Receive Up to 30 Percent of Fine Amounts: Bessent, "Individuals may become eligible for awards if the information leads to successful enforcement resulting in monetary fines exceeding $1 million."
ET, EPA Rescinds Obama-Era Finding That Served as Basis for Climate Regulation "The Trump administration eliminated a 2009 finding that six greenhouse gases are a danger to public health." Matt Vespa likes how Keith Olbermann Just Got Wrecked...by a Meteorologist? Chris Martz @ChrisMartzWX, "Keith, I am a meteorologist. That means I study the atmosphere. We don’t just point at a green screen and say “It gonna rain.” You, on the other hand, are a washed-up, irrelevant sports “journalist” who has been fired from nearly every job you ever had because of your unprofessionalism. I am a young, vibrant 23-year-old and I have my whole life ahead of me. You, on the other hand, are a 67-year-old, single, childless, miserable old man that nobody wants to be around, and nobody will remember 50 years from now." Quote Keith Olbermann @KeithOlbermann, Replying to @ChrisMartzWX, "So let's see. You do the weather and you think you're an expert on how the atmosphere changes over thousands of years. Or dozens You're an imbecile. STFU, child, and remember that if we listen to you, when you're "Granpa" you'll get to watch your grandchildren suffocate"
Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "I get angry a lot when I hear Democrats lie, but I'm not sure I've ever been angrier than over the below video clip. No one in the history of the USA has purposely caused more hateful division in America than Barack Obama. For Frankfurt School Marxists, hate and division is THE necessary element of power. A true Frankfurt School disciple, Obama's singular purpose was to create hate and division along demographic lines. Racism was on life support when Obama took office. He gave it life once again, deliberately. Virtually all of the hate and division we experience in the USA today is directly attributable to Barack Obama. Other than Woodrow Wilson, Obama is the most objectively evil man ever to sit in the Oval Office. Shut up Obama. Everything you are bemoaning was created by YOU, you lying narcissistic Marxist filth." Quote Brandon Straka #WalkAway @BrandonStraka "OBAMA: “The other side does the mean, angry, exclusive, us/them, divisive politics. That's their home court. Our court is coming together.”" The Drunk Republican @DrunkRepub, "My favorite Obama “coming together” moment was when him and Hillary financed a phony dossier to sabotage the rightfully elected President." RBe @RBPundit, "Motherfucker literally sued nuns to try to force them to pay for contraception and abortions. Fuck outta here." Quote Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen, ".@BarackObama: "When I was president, I suppose I could have simply unilaterally ordered the military to go into some red state and harass and intimidate a governor there or cut off funding for states that didn't vote for me... but that is contrary to how I think our democracy is supposed to work." BL Hahn at Da Fed notes Democrats Openly Fantasize About Anti-White Revolution While GOP Grovels Over A Race Hoax. At TownHall Larry Elder sees the irony as Jeffries And Schumer Denounce Trump's 'Racist' Video -- But Who Are They to Complain?Atop Da Hill Jonathan Turley is distressed that In Munich, Democrats pledge a return to wealth taxes and climate hysteria. Twitchy thinks you should WATCH the Faces of Germans As Gavin Newsom Compares America's National Guard to Nazi Stormtroopers. They know of real Stormtroopers. L A R R Y @LarryOConnor, "Gavin Newsom goes to Germany and compares American law enforcement to Nazi stormtroopers. In GERMANY." GateWay Pundit sees AOC Fall Apart on the World Stage When Asked a Simple Foreign Policy Question at Munich Security Conference. Scott McLallen hopes This Interview Answer Might Wreck Michigan Gov. Whitmer's 2028 Presidential Run. Begs a Trump ambassador to answer the question on Ukraine. From NYPo, City Hall boots Israel drone supplier from Brooklyn Navy Yard — after Mamdani took office.
Breccan Theis at Da Fed is concerned that the Virginia High Court Greenlights Democrat Effort To Give Millions Of Republicans A Single Seat In Congress.
At Am Great Roger Kimball explores How Deep Is the Deep State? "The deep state resists exposure—but not forever. Patience, persistence, and power may yet cauterize the Leviathan." From Reason, The ATF Created a Backdoor Gun Registry. Lawmakers Want an Explanation. "Federal law bans the creation of a gun registry, but regulators made one anyway."
Sundance hosts Sunday Talks – Border Czar Tom Homan Discusses DHS Shutdown and Ongoing ICE Operations. Ben Smith at RedState, Tom Homan Shreds Democrat Victory-Lapping Over ICE's MN Drawdown With Inconvenient Facts. Hat Hair's Betsy McCaughey warns If ICE Is Hamstrung, Hold on to Your Wallets. At CIS, Dissecting CBS News’ Claim that ‘Less than 14%’ of Trump II ICE Arrestees Are ‘Violent Criminals,’ "Ignore the tendentious herd mentality; the press should offer the public “a little more light and a little less noise” — and some better historical context — on immigration enforcement." From Da Caller, Teen Allegedly Plotted To Behead ICE Agents, Show Them Off To Indian Tribes. Kids these days... Chadwick Moore @Chadwick_Moore, "I’m lurking in this ICE alert chat and one of the AWFLs invited an illegal to the chat, who then invited like 50 more illegals and now the chat is entirely in Spanish and the AWFLs are getting REALLY ANNOYED." Bwahaha!
Sarah Hoyt at Insty is SHOCKED, SHOCKED, SHOCKED: "Duffy cracks down on trucking carriers and ‘sham school’ linked to Indiana crash caused by illegal immigrant. CHASER: Duffy Closes 7,500 CDL Schools in ‘Wild West’ Crackdown. DOT Highlights First-Year Results to Remove Unqualified Truck Drivers."
Phil Wegman at RCP examines The Ravenous Media Diet of Donald Trump. Josh Hammer at Hat Hair wonders Is Free Speech Really the Highest Value?
Stacy McCain takes on The Canadian ‘Gunperson’ and the Syllogism of the Liberal Narrative. "There is a syllogism hidden behind all liberal rhetoric: A. Group X are victims of wrongful oppression; B. Democrats want to help Group X; therefore C. VOTE DEMOCRAT!" Bob Hoge says you Can't Make It Up: Hillary Clinton Opens Girls' Rights Panel by Interviewing... Transgender Lawmaker. TownHall's Joe Chalfant hears Hillary Clinton Gushes Over Transgender Congressman Who Headlined Panel Discussing Women's Rights.
Shooting News Week, Loves the Smell of Schadenfreude in the Morning: Gun Hater Stephen Colbert’s Ratings Have Collapsed. "The Stephen Colbert ratings freefall has reached an undeniable breaking point. As The Late Show with Stephen Colbert approaches its already-announced cancellation, the program is now posting record-low January numbers, marking one of the steepest late-night declines in recent television history. According to Nielsen data reported this week, Colbert’s show is averaging roughly 285,000 viewers in the crucial 25–54 demographic, putting it on track for its worst January performance ever in the category that advertisers actually care about. With just months left before the curtain closes for good, the ratings trajectory suggests viewers have been checking out long before CBS formally pulled the plug." From Twitchy, Bad News: The Silence of the Lambs Has Been Canceled "over the years, the characterization of Buffalo Bill (whose sexual orientation is not explicitly stated) has been viewed as gender nonconforming and identifying as trans. For his part, Ted Levine — having played the character who is also known as Jame Gumb — has conflicting feelings about the movie, despite its success. ‘There are certain aspects of the movie that don’t hold up too well,’ Levine, who has never previously addressed pushback surrounding Buffalo Bill, tells The Hollywood Reporter. ‘We all know more, and I’m a lot wiser about transgender issues. There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.’" No enemies on the left.
The Monday Morning Stimulus
At Food and Wine, Stop Wasting Your Expensive Coffee Beans — Here’s How Experts Recommend Keeping Them Fresh 'for Months'. Saving coffee for months? Now that's a novel idea.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Maryland, My Maryland
Balmer Sun, Sheriffs vow to keep working with ICE even after Moore signs bill banning 287(g)
Even after Gov. Wes Moore signs a bill banning official agreements between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement across Maryland, as he’s expected to do, many local sheriffs say they will continue to work with ICE in whatever informal, legal capacity they can. “No politician or legislative body is going to tell me that I can’t communicate with another law enforcement agency on matters of public safety in my community,” Carroll County Sheriff James T. “Jim” DeWees said. “I’m not going to stop.”
The bill banning 287(g) agreements, passed by the Maryland General Assembly Thursday, is set to take effect immediately after Moore signs it. Sheriffs in the nine jurisdictions with 287(g) agreements said they would comply with the bill and end their agreements, but emphasized they would continue to communicate and work with ICE in a legal capacity, and also explore legal challenges to the bill.
“This is all political,” said Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins. “You can put any lipstick you want on it; it’s all political. The Democrats don’t want any cooperation with ICE. They don’t want any enforcement whatsoever.” Jenkins and DeWees are both Republicans; Moore is a Democrat. All three are running for reelection this year.
The 287(g) agreements give ICE authority over state and local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement duties. Nine Maryland counties have agreements with ICE: Frederick, Allegany, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Washington and Wicomico.
Cecil, Frederick and Harford operate under a “jail model,” which authorizes correctional officers to screen detainees for immigration status and contact ICE. The other six counties use the “warrant model,” under which officers cooperate with ICE only when there is an active Department of Homeland Security warrant.
The sheriffs warn that once ICE agreements are ended, an increased ICE presence in communities and street apprehensions will become the norm.
Jenkins, who said he has the longest-running 287(g) program in the country, said he expects more “criminal elements” to enter and operate in Maryland as a result of this bill’s approval. “There will be protections here for them, so I think you’re going to see an influx of criminals, people with criminal intent, maybe criminal gangs, transnational criminal gangs,” Jenkins said.
DeWees, who entered into a 287(g) agreement about a year ago, said no deputy or police officer in Carroll County “runs around and helps with immigration enforcement.” County policy prohibits it. Once the agreement is void, he predicts “public safety chaos, like we’re seeing in Minneapolis.” “ICE is going to be up here searching for them in the community,” DeWees said.
Notable here is that the counties mentioned are all in the more rural pink areas of Maryland. I'm a bit surprised (and disappointed) that Calvert County, also pink, is not mentioned. The blue urban counties, Balmer, Monkey and PG, are all content to allow illegal aliens to commit crimes against their legal residents.
Flotsam and Jetsam - Sunday in the Meme Mines
At Hat Hair, Steve Moore calls Dow 50,000: A Supply-Side Miracle. Roger Kimball at The Spec notes Trumponomics is working. Daniel Baldwin @baldwin_daniel_, "On days like today, I like calling back to this headline from June 2024: "Trump would make America’s inflation crisis worse, 16 Nobel economists warn" CPI is at 2.4% YoY in January as gasoline declined 7.5%. The "Nobel economists" were dead wrong." Funny that a working businessman understands the economy better than a bunch of college professors. The I&I ed board thinks the Latest Jobs Report Explains Why Dems Hate Trump So Much. "In January, the economy added 172,000 private sector jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was better than economists had expected (which seems to be a running theme in the Trump administration). And the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.3%. So, what’s the bad news for Democrats? The number of federal government jobs shrank by 32,000. Worse still, this is on top of a string of monthly government job losses since President Donald Trump took office."
Reuters whines US military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran operations. Sundance hosts Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Critically Important Speech to Munich Security Conference. Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "I don't think they realize that "blowing up the world order as we knew it" is precisely why we elected Trump." Quote Democratic Wins Media @DemocraticWins, "BREAKING: Mark Kelly just slammed Donald Trump for blowing up the world order as we knew it. This is fire."
So "the government" is shut down again. Or rather, a rather small part of it, as Democrats will not agree to continues funding of DHS. Unfortunately, for Democrats, ICE will not be affected because it's funding was already included in the BBB. But it will affect the FEMA and TSA (another agency I'd like to see curtailed quite a bit, let the airlines bear the cost of screening. I'll bet they do it better.) A Hat Hair video, Democrats Shutdown The Government For Political Sideshow.
At Am Think J Bob Smith thinks about The Blue States’ Doom Loop "Annually and increasingly, tens of thousands of people are leaving blue states because of politics." Hat Hair's John Stossel looks at Fraud Nation. "Americans want to help people in need, but when government does that, about 500 billion taxpayer dollars get stolen. It's how the system is designed, says the United Council on Welfare Fraud's Andrew McClenahan in this new video. "You're measuring success by the amount of money you put out."" Stacey Matthews at LI, Alleged NYC Antisemitic Stabbing Suspect Out on Bail as Incidents Rise 182% Under Mamdani. “The most disturbing thing about this: It’s no longer a shock to read such a headline.” At least they got bail! At Shooting News Week, Virginia is What Happens When Gun Owners Lose Elections. Auron MacIntyre @AuronMacintyre, "Gentle reminder that after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, and the attempted assassination of ICE agents it was revealed that the Dem AG candidate in Virginia wanted to kill Republicans and their children The Dems continued to support him and he won the election No price was every paid and the news cycle just moved on, so the lesson is that political violence has zero cost. I 'm sure there won't be any consequences in the future for failing to punish the left." Althouse finds deep thinking, "... Clavicular said he would vote for Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, over Vice President JD Vance because he preferred Mr. Newsom’s looks to Mr. Vance’s. " ""'It wasn’t, like, a political statement at all,' Clavicular said later of his criticism of Mr. Vance. 'I was just saying he’s fat.'"
MD Kettle at Da Fed sees Unsealed Court Docs Show The FBI Probing Possible Election Crimes In Fulton County. Democrats: "Don't do that! We stole that election fair and square." Shipwreckedcrew @shipwreckedcrew, "The Bondi-led DOJ has obtained a wildly successful string of huge victories in the courts at the appellate and Supreme Court levels that have advanced the Trump Administration agenda across a broad range of issues that will be consequential for decades to come. If the Epstein hysteria was to evaporate tomorrow never to be heard about again, by far the biggest losses will be the revenue now being realized by all the online influencers who are relying on it for income." Quote reason @reason ""They've been utterly incompetent. Incompetent to the point that it almost seems like you'd have to be doing this on purpose to be this incompetent," says Massie on the DOJ's Epstein files release." Ryan Lovelace at Racket reports EXCLUSIVE: FBI Gathered Intel On 1,000 Journalists, Politicians, Religious Organizations On Flimsy Grounds 'The FBI can gather a dossier on anyone they choose.' I mean, who among us doesn't have a secret FBI dossier? It's a mark of importance!
John Sexton at Hat Hair reports Federal Agents Suspended Amid Claims They Lied to Investigators,. regarding the non-fatal shooting of a illegal alien sought by ICE in Minneapolis. “Video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements,” Mr. Lyons said. “Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation.” Not good.
From NYPo, Hillary Clinton says migration ‘went too far’ and ‘needs to be fixed in a humane way’ DC_Draino @DC_Draino, "Obama said Democrats need to start cleaning up homeless tent cities. Hillary is now saying mass migration needs to end and we need secure borders. The memo has gone out. Democrats are trying to moderate for the midterms." Quote America @america "Hillary Clinton admits mass migration has been “destabilizing” to society: “It went too far, it’s been disruptive and destabilizing.”"
TownHall's Kurt Schlichter insists It Is Right and Proper to Laugh at the Suffering of Journalists. Althouse Trump sought to influence Bill Maher and he's now going to complain that he didn't get as much favorable press/comedy as he thinks — or pretends to think — he deserves. ""Sometimes in life you waste time! T.V. Host Bill Maher asked to have dinner with me through one of his friends, also a friend of mine, and I agreed," said Trump (at Truth Social). . . . Trump seems to enjoy diminishing Maher, but I suspect Maher adopted this "little me" pose to disarm Trump. Obviously, Maher was bullshitting. There's no one who has never been scared. It's a joke. He's a comedian. And so is Trump."
From Campus Reform, White student sues after Albany Law School protects professor who allegedly went on racist rant. "Rowland Rupp, a student at Albany Law School, has filed a lawsuit after he says Anthony Farley, a black professor, shut off the classroom’s recording equipment and went on a tirade in class aimed at whites and conservatives. The lawsuit alleges that the school did not investigate Rupp’s complaint, but rather aggressively pursued a retaliatory complaint filed by the professor."
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