Flotsam and Jetsam - The Beat Goes On

But not much stands out, mostly a continuation of the previous week's Be, the insurrection in Minneapolis, Epstein recriminations, Zohran sends the homeless blankets with his name on them, but fails to provide shelter. Stuff like that.

Matt Lamb at LI, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Asks Police to Surveil ICE, Report Them For Prosecution, "Johnson wants Chicago’s police officers to focus their attention on documenting alleged crimes by ICE agents." From Twitchy, Anti-ICE Protesters in Minneapolis Blocking Roads, Checking IDs, and Running Plates. Insty says IT’S AN INSURRECTION, AND AN INSURGENCY, AND IT’S FOREIGN-FUNDED AND ORGANIZED: Junto @ReadJunto, "Julio Rosas has spent years documenting left-wing riots. "What I’ve witnessed over the past five years is the emergence of something else entirely: networked, coordinated, ideologically committed groups that operate more like cells than citizens."" Breaking911 @Breaking911, "THEY DID WHAT? Minnesotans reenacted Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima in protest of ICE." John Lucas at Bravo Blue says To the Individual ICE Agents on the Front Lines, "Thank You for Your Service." "The attacks on Border Patrol and ICE agents copy and expand on the abuse heaped on Vietnam veterans. And we owe them a "thank-you" for their service." PJM's Stephen Kruiser notes Dems Are So Lunatic That Conservatives Root for the Feds Now. Sunny @sunnyright, "Fetterman's entire thing is to say "hey can you maybe be progressive without being a fucking psychopath?" and much of his party say that no, they can't," Quote KOKH FOX 25 @OKCFOX, "Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said over the weekend that anti-ICE protesters should not dox federal agents. https://bit.ly/45GjD83" From Ace, Minnesota CEOs Request ‘De-Escalation’ of Federal Immigration Law Enforcement; Perhaps Federal Laws that Protect Minnesota Corporations Should Also Not Be Enforced. VodkaPundit at Insty, COME SEE THE BIGOTRY INHERENT IN THE LEFTISM: Secular Talk (KyleKulinskiShow@bsky.social) @KyleKulinski, "So Alex Pretti got killed by a Hispanic guy desperately trying to be white and the world’s most obvious closet case." Queer bashing made cool again! and SAY ANYTHING: Cam at BA sees Anti-Gunners Try a New Narrative Around Pretti Shooting. Wilfred Reilly @wil_da_beast630, "This is the Anaheim PD and LA County Sheriff's Department arresting a car-jacker. The claim below is quite literally just made up." Quote Jesus Freakin Congress @TheJFreakinC, " BREAKING: ICE/Border Patrol are now pistol-whipping 16-year-olds and smashing their heads into the curb. In the video, an agent illegally tries to detain an unaccompanied minor, in Long Beach, California. The child has his hands in the air. An agent runs up and hits him in the head with a pistol. Then two agents tackle him and force his head down against the curb. After the child is already on the ground, pinned by two armed adults, another agent brings out a K9, for what reason exactly? . . " Readers added context. "The clip shows Anaheim Police Department officers apprehending a teen suspect trying to evade arrest for robbing a jewelry store. Anaheim PD said it will launch an internal use-of-force investigation into the incident. No ICE or other federal immigration agents were involved." Reuters rejoices as Trump administration sued over pause on immigrant visa processing.

Despite the hullabaloo, Dave Strom at Hat Hair finds Polling Brutal for Democrats on Immigration Enforcement According A-Rated Pollster. So are Democrats fooling themselves into thinking this is all helping their cause? Beege Welborn at Hat Hair notices ABC News Aired a Soppy Love Letter to Minneapolis Man Last Night. You know, the illegal alien who abandoned his 5 yr old son when approached by ICE. Rep Andy Biggs @RepAndyBiggsAZ, "ICE cared for Liam Ramos when his criminal illegal alien father abandoned him to flee the police. Congressman Crow knows this, but it doesn’t fit the Left’s agenda. Democrats perpetuate lies when their narrative falls apart." Quote Rep. Jason Crow @RepJasonCrow, "Trump said ICE would go after the "worst of the worst." Liam Ramos is five-years-old. He's a child, not a criminal." Regarding Liam's loving dad, Cathy Salgado at PJM, Judge Ordered Illegal Alien Criminal Released on a Date That Doesn't Exist, Feb 31. |With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike, It is so ORDERED.SIGNED this 31st day of February, 2026. FRED BIERYUNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE" Trump officials should abide by that request. They should release him the next time Feb. 31 rolls around. 

From Fox, Conservative group blasts LinkedIn for removing pro-ICE post, labeling it 'hateful,' "LinkedIn says the post was 'removed in error' and 'quickly corrected.'" John Hinderacker at Power Line details The Havoc Wrought By Illegal Aliens "Tennessee has a little over two percent of the U.S. population, so, assuming Tennessee’s illegals are no more violent than the norm, that would translate to something like 100,000 violent offenses, 2,000 murders, and so on. There were about 14,000 or 15,000 murders in the U.S. in 2025, so illegals probably accounted for around 1/7 of them. These are the people whom the Democratic Party is determined to keep within our borders. One might reasonably ask why." His math sucks, but the point stands. Matt Vespa at Jorge Bonilla @BonillaJL, "ICYMI: Replacement theory is no longer a theory." Quote Jorge Bonilla @BonillaJL, "WATCH: Spanish socialist Irene Montero openly hopes for Replacement Theory, calls for illegals to be allowed to vote in order to “sweep the fascists and racists” out of the country. catches a Spanish Socialist Confirming *This* Narrative Isn't a Right-Wing Hoax." At the Center Square, Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens "U.S. Senate Republicans failed to halt over $5 billion in funding for refugees, with 20 GOP senators joining every Senate Democrat to continue providing costly taxpayer benefits to refugees. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced the End Welfare for Non-Citizens Act." GOP fails should have a macro. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, Just Crazy Enough It Might Work: ONLY Americans Need Apply for HUD and Sec 8 Housing.

Hat Hair's John Sexton cites Trump: We're Talking to Cuba, softly, with a big stick while Beege Welborn thinks Cuba Starting to Get Those Venezuela Vibes. George @BehizyTweets, "BREAKING: Costa Rica right-winger Laura Fernandez just CRUSHED the socialist party in the presidential election after campaigning on cracking down on criminality Bukele-style. Fernandez is yet another Trump ally in the Western Hemisphere. She met with Marco Rubio last year." The Aviationist reports F-35As Deployed to Puerto Rico Now Moving Across the Atlantic towards Iran. CEPA, Russia: Six Lessons From Iran’s Uprising "After losing its allies in Syria and Venezuela, a relieved Moscow will applaud the bloody suppression of the Iranian protests." Hat Hair's Capt. Ed finds Trump Still Winning: India Agrees on Trade – And Ending Russian Oil Imports? TCW, Starmer’s China jolly has achieved nothing except alienating the US and EU.

Sauron's Eye, seems happy Former Trump economic official Gary Cohn says Kevin Warsh will "take the Fed back to its traditional" norms. Ace, Trump Names New Fed Chief; "Safe Choice" Would Favor Interest Rate Cuts, as Trump Also Wants, "Crooked partisan Jerome Powell left the federal prime interest rate unchanged, declaring that no cut was needed, as the economy was experiencing solid growth."

At Twitchy, Well, Well, WELL: Receipt-Filled Mike Benz Thread Shows Yet ANOTHER Epstein Road Leads BACK to Obama. Mike Benz @MikeBenzCyber, "A couple interesting notes on the reveal that Obama’s White House Counsel (top lawyer to the President) Kathy Ruemmler emailed Jeffrey Epstein she was awarded the CIA Agency Medal just hours after getting the award." Ace wonders Why Did John Brennan Deliver a Secret CIA Award to Obama's White House Counsel and Very Good Friend of Jeffrey Epstein Kathryn Ruemmler? "We know she received this secret award from John Brennan for unknown services provided to the CIA only because she immediately wrote to her BFF Jeffrey Epstein-- who sent her gifts like a $9,400 handbag -- immediately after receiving the secret honor." Althouse is disgusted "The Government Published Dozens of Nude Photos in the Epstein Files. The photos, which showed young women or possibly teenagers with their faces visible..." ""... were largely removed after The New York Times began notifying the Justice Department.... As part of its required disclosure of the Epstein files, the federal government was tasked with redacting both sexually explicit imagery and information that could be used to identify victims. But in the process of reviewing more than three million pages uploaded to the Justice Department’s website on Friday, The New York Times came across nearly 40 unredacted images that appeared to be part of a personal photo collection, showing both nude bodies and the faces of the people portrayed...." The New York Times reports. Government-issued pornography. Presumably accidental, but what can you expect with this longstanding prurient interest in Jeffrey Epstein?" Democrats demanded it. From Ace, Major British Labour Politician Pressured to Resign Over Epstein Payoffs; Epstein Had a Secret Baby? "Peter Mandelson is a major fixer for Labour who is responsible for the rise of Tony Blair. There are at least two occasions on which it is alleged Epstein handed large sums of money to Lord Mandelson or his husband. His husband." Walter Kirn @walterkirn, "I would really hate to think that the coordinated, almost symphonic response of the Powers that Be to the COVID pandemic was made possible somehow by the discipline enforced through membership in the so-called Epstein Network. Man would I hate to think that." Quote Liz Churchill @liz_churchill10 "Oh. My. God. “Preparing for Pandemics…” “Let's discuss next steps, for example how to officially involve the WHO and CDC…” “I hope we can pull this off…” Insty, I’M SURPRISED THEY DIDN’T FIRE HIM FOR HIS DISCREDITED RESEARCH: "Duke professor Dan Ariely had longstanding friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, newly released files show. Dan Ariely, professor of business administration in the Fuqua School of Business and Duke alum, had a longstanding relationship with Jeffrey Epstein over the course of at least six years, per newly released documents from the Department of Justice in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. . . .Background on the research scandal here and here." Sundance at CTH hears Clintons Strategically Agree to Testify to House on Epstein Investigation, Sort of “The Clintons’ counsel has said they agree to terms, but those terms lack clarity yet again and they have provided no dates for their depositions.” Chris Bray at Da Fed says Saint Hillary Is Here To Tell You You’re A Terrible Christian, and deplorable to boot. 

VodkaPundit at PJM asserts Trump Was No Draft-Dodger, and Here's the Timeline That Proves It " Here are the facts, simply laid out by Eschenbach and verified by Yours Truly using both Grok and ChatGPT. A couple of the dates are slightly off, but everything checks out.Trump registered for the draft after his 18th birthday on June 24, 1964 (draft dodgers don't register*). He was given an S-2 (college) deferment on June 28, 1964 (perfectly legal, not a draft dodger). His S-2 status was renewed on Dec 14, 1965 (legal, not a draft dodger), and he was then classified on Nov. 22, 1966, as 1-A (available for service). Dec. 13, 1966, his S-2 was again granted to attend Wharton (legal, not a draft dodger). His final deferral was granted on Jan. 16, 1968. After graduating from Wharton, he was reclassified 1-A on July 9, 1968. He went to his Armed Forces Physical (something a draft dodger probably would not do) on Sept. 19, 1968, and was categorized as 1-Y, disqualified for service except in war or national emergency (due to bone spurs in both heels). He received a high draft lottery number and was never called up. On Feb. 17, 1972, after the abolishment of the 1-Y classification, he was classified 4-F (not qualified for military service)."

From the Free Bacon, 16 Dead in NYC From Warmth of Collectivism "Mayor Zohran Mamdani scrapped his predecessor's policy of clearing street encampments to drive the homeless into indoor shelters." Michael Goodwin at NYPo, Mayor Mamdani’s political honeymoon is over — homeless deaths reveal his arrogance. Amy Curtis at TownHall, New Yorkers Are Learning the 'Warmth of Collectivism' Is a Big Pile of Garbage. I would call it a dumpster fire. RedState's Nick Arama says Boom: People Teeing Off on Mamdani Already As Reality Sets In.

John Sexton compares Gavin Newsom to California's Progressive Idiots and California AG Sues Children's Hospital to Force Them to Resume Gender Affirming Care. At Althouse, "I can't believe the bespoke NY magazine biz hasn't yet realized that an Annie Leibovitz puff piece photoshoot is a political death sentence." David Burge @iowahawkblog, "Whom the gods would destroy they first give a slobbering Vogue puff piece with Annie Leibovitz photography." Quote Byron York @ByronYork, "You really can't make this up. From the new Vogue profile of Gavin Newsom: 'Let’s get this out of the way: He is embarrassingly handsome, his hair seasoned with silver, at ease with his own eminence...lithe, ardent, energetic, a glimmer of optimism in his eye; Kennedy-esque. . ."

Da Mair recalls when  Bernie Sanders built a device to give himself 'cosmos-shattering orgasms'. 

Matt Margolis hears Even CNN Admits That Democrats Are Screwed. Mediaite, Harry Enten Predicts ‘Blue State Depression’ That Could Spell Doom for Democrats.

Elon Musk @elonmusk, "Truly insane levels of fraud! 18% of home healthcare billing nationwide is coming from one county in California …" Quote, "Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes, "The fraud being exposed in California is INSANE - 18% of THE WHOLE COUNTRY’S home health care billing is coming out of Los Angeles County - One doctor billed the government $120 million in a single year claiming to oversee 1,900 patients - With almost 2,000 hospice agencies, Los Angeles County has more than 36 states combined and 30X MORE than the whole state of Florida and New York “How is that possible? And take a look at this map, a cluster of 287 hospice providers, in a two-mile radius, some in strip malls, unmarked buildings, even a wrecking yard and vacant lot. All of it is just paperwork. I could fill that out in Kazakhstan if I want and get a hospice license waiting for me.”" From Ace, Another One: How Did BLM Grifter and "Squad" Member Ayana Presley Go from Broke-Ass to Wealthy After Just a Few Short Years in Congress? "It turns out her husband quit his political job when she got elected and opened a "consultancy" firm -- which can accept large sums of money to "consult" with people. And lobby congresswomen, no doubt."

Hans Mahncke @HansMahncke, "What a spectacular own goal by the Wall Street Journal stenographers who wrote this hit piece on Tulsi Gabbard. They actually compare their supposed scoop to a John le Carre novel, apparently oblivious to the fact that in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the plot revolves around a fabricated source feeding supposedly ultra-sensitive information that sends everyone chasing a lie. So yes, exactly like a le Carré novel (by the way, the fraudulent Steele dossier followed the same le Carre blueprint)." quote, Aaron Blake @AaronBlake, "WSJ: There is a whistleblower complaint against Tulsi Gabbard that is so sensitive that it is "said to be locked in a safe," and the administration has spent months trying to figure out how inform Congress.." Sundance has the letter, DNI Tulsi Gabbard Responds to Senate Intel Vice-Chair Mark Warner "Contrary to the blatantly false and slanderous accusations being made against me by Members of Congress and their friends in the propaganda media, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has and will continue to take action under my statutory authorities to secure our nation and ensure the integrity of our elections. My response to Congress:”" Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll, ""Gabbard answered written questions about the allegations from the inspector general’s office ... That prompted the acting inspector general at the time, Tamara Johnson, to determine the allegations specifically about Gabbard weren’t credible." They are deathly afraid of Tulsi." 

John Sexton on NY Times vs the Supreme Court "So the actual series of events here is probably this: 1. A progressive breaks with long tradition to leak a draft opinion to rile up the left. 2. It does rile up the left, nearly to the point of deadly violence. 3. The court investigates but can't find the leaker. 4. CJ Roberts makes everyone sign NDAs so that, if it happens again, someone can be prosecuted and likely drummed out of the legal profession. 5. Jodi Kantor downplays points 1 and 2 and makes point 4 into a big story about the "secretive" Supreme Court." Jeff Charles at TownHall, This Judge Is Facing Charges for What She Did to a Defense Attorney. Speedlin "Gonzalez, known for being the county’s first gay judge, ordered defense attorney Elizabeth Russel to be handcuffed and placed in the jury box during a probation revocation hearing. . . This isn’t the first time Gonzalez has faced legal trouble. She was briefly detained at San Antonio International Airport after Transportation Security Administration agents found a loaded handgun in her briefcase during carry-on screening in 2022. She also came under scrutiny for having a rainbow flag in her courtroom and for posts she made on social media."

At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed feigns Quelle Surprise II: CNN's Scott Jennings/'Illegal Aliens' Boogaloo and Larry has a video, George Stephanopoulos Torched on Live TV While Trump Shocks the Grammys. Ace, The Grammys, Which Apparently Still Exist, Once Again Descend Into an Sloppy Orgy of Virtue Signalling and Cultural Irrelevance. "The emcee, the failed DEI "comic" Trevor Noah, accused Trump WITHOUT EVIDENCE of having visited Epstein's island -- and Trump says he's suing." The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Roomful Of Pedophiles Protest ICE Deporting Pedophiles.

From the Free Bacon, FTC Warns Big Law Over DEI Program That Sets 'Unwritten Rules' for Diversity Hiring, "Agency vows to target ‘unlawful coordination on DEI metrics’" At Althouse, "And some 'disabilities' are just downright silly. Students claim 'night terrors'; others say they 'get easily distracted' or they 'can’t live with others.'" ""I know a guy who was granted a single room because he needs to wear contacts at night. I’ve heard of a girl who got a single because she was gluten intolerant. . . .Writes Elsa Johnson, a Stanford student, quoted in "Nearly 40% of Stanford undergraduates claim they’re disabled. I’m one of them/One of the most prestigious universities in the US offers perks to those who say they have ADHD, night terrors, even gluten intolerance. You’d be stupid not to game the system" (London Times)."

At The View From North Central Idaho Still a Sanctuary County. "It is my intention to assure the residents of Livingston that we are still a Second Amendment sanctuary county, and we will be paying close attention to the bills that will be coming out of Richmond. I will do my absolute best to help protect those citizens and our constitutional values here in Spotsylvania. Jacob Lane, Livingston District Supervisor (Virginia). January 30, 2026. Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors message to the state: ‘We are still a Second Amendment sanctuary county’ – Fredericksburg Free Press."

And there's so much more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.02.2026.