MD Gets $2 Million for Blue Catfish

WBAL, Maryland awarded $2 million to battle invasive blue catfish in Chesapeake Bay

Maryland is receiving $2 million from the federal government to combat invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay.

It was one of five projects to receive federal funding highlighted by 3rd District Rep. Sarah Elfreth in Annapolis on Monday.

“We all know how detrimental invasive blue catfish is to the bay,” Elfreth said. “We know that they are eating absolutely everything we know and love, blue crabs, baby oysters, rockfish.

 

Josh Kurtz, the state secretary of natural resources, encouraged Marylanders to help with t
he effort.

“Yes, delicious, eat it, as much of it as you can. There’s a lot of restaurants in Annapolis that carry it,” Kurtz said. “Several new restaurants are popping up that have some fantastic dishes.” 

If all you want is people to go out and kill Blue Catfish, there are a lot of people who would do it for free. Two million would pay for an awful lot of guided trips for Blue Catfish, but I rather expect most this money will end up being spent on  working groups, studies, and overhead at academic institutions. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Supes Rule Prez can Fire Any Agency Head Except Fed

A number of case came down from on high at the Supreme Court yesterday, and it was a mixed bag for the President (as it usually is). The court ruled in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v Wilcox that the President was free to fire the head of any executive agency, including those the Congress attempted to designate as "independent", but quickly tempered that by ruling in Trump v Cook that Trump could not fire Janet Cook from the Federal Reserve board without some kind of due process. Weird, but as my Daddy used say, consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. In Watson v. RNC they also ruled that states could count mail-in ballot that arrived after election day, as long as they were postmarked by election day. Althouse spent the day Waiting on the Supreme Court. I didn't. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair VIP, SCOTUS Slaughters Humphrey's Executor – But the Fed ... Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando, "In a stunning blow to Our Democracy™, SCOTUS has ruled that unelected bureaucrats can’t do whatever they want and run federal agencies like their personal fiefdoms in perpetuity," Quote Benjamin Ryan @benryanwriter, "NEWS: Supreme Court overrules a 90-year-old precedent and frees the president to fire independent agency heads The Supreme Court ruled today that President Trump can remove Federal Trade Commission members at will, and in doing so it overruled Humphrey's Executor, the 1935 decision that has protected independent agencies for nine decades. The case is Trump v. Slaughter, and it reshapes the federal bureaucracy..." Sundance at CTH, Supreme Court Rules 6-3 That President Can Remove Any Agency Head in Executive Branch. At Ace, Supreme Court Rules That the Chief Executive Does In Fact Have the Power to Fire His Own Executive Branch Employees. "Liberal congresses passed laws to establish so-called "independent agencies," which are executive branch agencies intended to be independent from the very executive they're part of." Insty, NOW ON SUBSTACK, MY THOUGHTS ON THE SUPREME COURT’S SLAUGHTER OPINION: Bringing Back the ‘Spoils System?’ Yes, Please. A better name would be an “accountability system.” And it’s just the beginning. Sundance is not so happy about Supreme Court 5-4 Ruling Creates Fourth Branch of Government – Trump v Cook and Supreme Court Rules States Can Decide How Long After Election Day Ballots May Be Received. Cathy Salgado at PJM, Supreme Court Decides Crucial Mail-in Ballot Case. Capt. Ed calls it a Stunner: SCOTUS Whiffs on Election Day Showdown, 5-4. TownHall's Matt Vespa says The Amy Coney Barrett Problem Reared Its Ugly Head Again, after she wrote the majority opinion in that case. At Nevada News, How Did We End Up With ACB Instead of Barbara Lagoa on the Supreme Court? I Have Thoughts. Sundance hosts President Trump Giving Remarks and Opinion on Three Supreme Court Decisions.

In other Supreme Court news, Matt Margolis is pissed SCOTUS Just Let a Rigged Verdict Against President Trump Stand, E Jean Carroll. Althouse also reports on Chatrie v. United States: "Police officers conducted a Fourth Amendment search when they acquired Chatrie’s location data from Google because an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell-phone location information. Justice Kagan writes the majority opinion, joined by the Chief and Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, and Jackson. Justice Gorsuch writes a concurring opinion, and Justice Alito has a dissent joined by Thomas and Barrett." From Ace, Supreme Court May Decide Birthright Citizenship Case This Week; RNC Sues Colorado Over Allowing Birth Tourism Foreigners Who Never Even Set Foot in Colorado to Vote There "In the next few days, we may find out if we have a country or not. May be. The Disney Groomer Corporation is sad."  I expect the Court to rule against Trump on birthright citizenship, and throw it back to the Congress, which never does anything.

Joe Chalfant sees the The Alaskan Supreme Court Just Gave Democrats a Lifeline With This Insane Ruling. "The Alaskan Supreme Court issued a shocking decision Monday evening that will allow a Democrat-recruited sham candidate to appear on the upcoming ballot against Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan." Can we run 12 AOCs in her district?  Beege Welborn is In a Bit of a Surprise when the CO Supreme Court Knocks Down Dem Redistricting Plan. Breaking911 @Breaking911, "BREAKING: The Colorado Supreme Court has unanimously blocked a Democratic-backed congressional redistricting proposal in Colorado that could have resulted in Democrats gaining three additional seats in the U.S. House."

At TownHall Kurt Schlichter observes The Socialists Are Coming... for the Democrats. From Da Signal, The Democratic Socialists of America’s Platform Explicitly Aims to Destroy the Constitution. Capt. Ed, CNN: DSA Nominee Suuuuuure Likes Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and ... CNN admits Deleted tweets on Darializa Avila Chevalier’s account had favorable references to communist leaders and Marxism. From Fox, Bill Maher calls Mamdani-backed socialist ‘patient zero’ of the ‘woke mind virus’. ""The New York Times asked her, 'If someone murders someone randomly, should they go to jail?' Couldn't get her to say yes for that," Maher said. "So, there is a woke mind virus, and I think we found patient zero. Her name is Darializa Avila Chevalier." Derek Hunter at TownHall wonders Has the ‘Revolution’ Already Passed AOC By? "AOC seems quaint compared to these people." NYPo, Gavin Newsom — once a capitalist, now a socialist. 

From Campus Reform a POLL: Most Democrats say they'd rather live outside the United States. Oh, please do! From Ace, Nine Democrat-Led States, Plus Vermont, Refuse to Send any Delegation to the Nation's 250th Anniversary "National State Fair." At Althouse "At a time of fierce debate over how to teach American history, particularly around issues of race, the Freedom Trucks weigh in squarely on one side of the argument..." ""... telling a patriotic, positive story of core American values and exceptionalism. They stand in sharp contrast to liberal efforts in recent years — in classrooms, museums, national parks and media — to lift up discussion of systemic racism and highlight chapters where America has failed to live up to its ideals." From "Trump-backed ‘Freedom Trucks’ tell a sanitized story of the country’s founding/At a time of fierce debate over how to teach American history, the mobile exhibits weigh in squarely on one side of the argument." (WaPo)(gift link)." Someone has to counter WaPoo's negativism. 

Jonathan Turley notes ‘You’re Next!’: Democrats Discover the Mob has a Mind of its Own. Ben Shapiro @benshapiro, "No one more richly deserves this humiliation than Scott Wiener, who learns the hard lesson that you can be a militant for trans radicalism, a full-scale Israel-hater, and an all-around moral derelict...and the hard Left will still yell at you for being a Jew. 10/10, no notes." Quote Dimitry Yakoushkin @decadimitry "Scott Wiener showed up to the trans march and for the first time we kicked his ass out. It's sad because while he's written some good legislation for queers, hes ultimately a genocidal-supporting center right shill. Trigger warning: broken man walking away defeated. Vote Connie!" Spencer Pratt @spencerpratt, "Hey, Wiener guy! Remember when you called me a "McBigot"? How does it feel now that the Frankenstein you created is coming for you? Every stupid communist learns this history lesson the hard way. Enjoy!"  John Poretz at The Freep explains How the Left Abandoned the Jews.

@instapundit @instapundit, "Were any of them raped by dogs, Nick?" Quote Nicholas Kristof @NickKristof, Replying to @elonmusk, "Elon, I can give you many, many names of people who have died because of your aid cuts.: *Yamah Freeman was a 23-year-old woman who died in childbirth because you stopped paying for the diesel for ambulances in her part of Liberia. ..." Elon Musk @elonmusk, "The hard truth is that USAID, with its constant support of often violent leftist regime change, caused a lot of death!" Quote amuse @amuse, "USAID: The data show that dismantling USAID did not result in ANY increase in African mortality much less the four million Democrats claim Elon Musk is responsible for killing. It was all a lie. In fact, the UNAIDS/SAMRC data show that mortality declined after." Cernovich @Cernovich, "We were forced to pay for diesel in ambulances in Liberia? What in the world? Show this stuff to normal voters and watch their (and my own) befuddlement. "Wait, we were doing WHAT?"" Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando, "Africa wanted its independence, they got it, but somehow I am still obligated to buy them diesel fuel. Neat." Elon Musk @elonmusk, "Correct." Quote Peter St Onge, Ph.D. @profstonge, "Turns out defunding USAID did not kill Africans. Because the money wasn't going to Africa. It was going to buy elections and burn Tesla dealerships. x.com/arctotherium42…" @instapundit @instapundit, "They don’t call you a murderer because they think you murdered people. They call you a murderer to encourage people to murder you."

At PJM VodkaPundit has the sads that California Dems Solve a Fictional Water Crisis by Taxing Wine. John Lott at RCP sees CA Lawmakers Seek To Ban Popular Handgun, Glocks. 

PJM's Scott Pinsker thinks Something Is Very, Very Strange About the Media’s Fixation on Pete Buttigieg’s CPS Swatting Story. They don't care when conservatives get SWATted. Speaking of something strange, Twitchy cites Nate Silver Looking at Sales Figures for Dr. Jill Biden’s Memoir. The Free Bacon is strangely satisfied, America Dodges Bullet: Congress To Remain Kennedy-Free After Jack Schlossberg Fails in New York "'America's babygirl' will have to keep looking for his first real job."

Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "The Senate is on vacation for the next two weeks. Sorry folks, no SAVE America Act right now… It’s mind boggling that having secure elections is not the #1 priority."

PiptheCowboy @AeroSpaceShark, "The Chaplains didn't have their "rank taken away" I work with them daily, they replaced their rank on their uniforms with chaplains corp insignia to make them more approachable. The Chaplains corp likes this change. They're foremost counselors, not officers with command." Quote Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | @ChuckPfarrer, "THIS JUST IN: Pete Hegseth has decided to take away the rank from all military Chaplins- because they're not ‘warfighters’. Since WW One, US Chaplins have won 5 Medals of Honor, 26 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Navy Cross, 45 Silver Stars and 719 Bronze Stars for valor."

Hat Hair's John Sexton sees Lack of Gasoline Getting to Russians, Part Two.

Duane Patterson at Hat Hair, has a long post, After A Little Weekend Warrior Work, Iran Is Back In the M.O.U. Box. Sundance reports U.S. and Iran Schedule Deconfliction Meeting in Doha. Dick Pollack at The World in Crisis thinks he detects A Civil War Between Vance and Rubio? "The two are following distinctly different Middle Eastern paths over Iran."

Buck Throckmorton at Ace's MORNING RANT: is teed off that Trump-Bashing Felon John Bolton is Scheduled for a Fireside Chat Today with National Review to Discuss Character and Leadership "The National Review Institute is hosting an “American Leadership & National Security” seminar in Newport Beach today. Jim Geraghty, Noah Rothman, and other Trump-hating “conservatives” are scheduled to join Mr. Bolton in discussing character and leadership."

CIS touts Two SCOTUS Victories: One for Trump on TPS, the Other for the English Language on Asylum "Two SCOTUS Victories: One for Trump on TPS, the Other for the English Language on Asylum The ‘TPS case’ and the ‘asylum entry case’ are in; only the ‘birthright citizenship case’ remains." Ilya Shapiro, Supreme Court Confirms Broad Executive Power Over Immigration "In three rulings last week, the justices turned back left-wing lawfare against President Trump’s policies." At Am Mind, Blood, Soil, Creed—and the Immunities of American Citizenship. Prowler @derzum_, "As of May, 93% of asylum is being denied in immigration courts—record high—amounting to hundreds of thousands fewer lawful migrants. ‘Immigration judges are now issuing denials in virtually every case’ after rule changes and mass firings by the Trump admin cleaned the system." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair says Lemme 'Splain - Heads Exploded in Vain Over Mullins' TPS Comments Yesterday. People whose TPS was terminated can apply for visa; but most won't qualify. C3 @C_3C_3, "Want some truth? If Haitians started voting Republican the Democrats would have them back in Haiti faster than you could say Port-au-Prince." Publius @OcrazioCornPop, "Trump, 2018: "Haiti is a sh!thole country." Hollywood Libs: "Haiti is a great, truly beautiful country. Trump is a r*cist!" Trump (& SCOTUS), 2026: "Temporary means temporary, Haitians have to return home to their great, truly beautiful country." Hollywood Libs: "Haiti is a sh!thole country. They must be allowed to stay forever." CHECKMATE, LIBTARDS. WHY ARE HOLLYWOOD LIBS LIKE THIS?"

Elon Musk @elonmusk, "Extremely troubling." Quote iamyesyouareno @iamyesyouareno, "“We will kill the white man’s children, we will kill their woman, we will kill anything that we find in our way!” —Andile Mngxitama, member of parliament in South Africa. This is what happens to Whites when they become a minority. Prepare."

Fire argues about  How does the First Amendment apply to AI? "Far from authorless, AI models are built by a long chain of expressive decisions meriting First Amendment coverage." The old rule "garbage in, garbage out" still applies. 

"I’m pleased that the D.C. police recognize their part in violating my rights." "Said Sam O’Hara, quote in "Man who played Star Wars music at National Guard members receives settlement/The ACLU announced it had reached a financial agreement with the D.C. government and four of its officers, resolving part of the case" (WaPo)(gift link)." Sue and settle.

From NYPo, Oh baby! New York Times is losing its mind because Republican women are … having children and CNN star Anderson Cooper told colleagues he doesn’t want to work for Bari Weiss. Well at some point you've made enough money.

Ace, Another (Expected) Deadly Heat Wave Hits Europe, With Some Beginning to Doubt the Green Left's Dogmatic Opposition to Air Conditioning. "Europe is so beaten by the heat that they're willing to entertain embracing the unfashionable American preference for air-conditioning. How will they reverse their decades-old determination to let the elderly die in heat waves?As the BBC shows us: Simple! They'll now say that air conditioning is a sad but necessary response to global warming!" Tablesalt @Tablesalt13, "NEW - Paris morgues ARE OVERFLOWING from heat-related deaths morgues are now seeking permission for refrigerated containers The mayor of Paris has also authorized additional body storage units at City morgues. In Europe, you only get A/C once you're dead." Polymarket @Polymarket, "JUST IN: Paris’ deputy mayor says the U.S. bears “a significant amount of responsibility” for the deadly heatwave gripping France." Absolute Resolve Fella @mack_a_d00, "Good one." Insty adds F OFF, FROGGIE: DC_Draino @DC_Draino, "Make no mistake about it. If Kamala had pulled off the steal in 2024, America would be banning A/C right now too." Quote DC_Draino @DC_Draino, "Europe is starting to ban A/C for 2 reasons: 1. To kill old people with heat stroke who use up all the tax dollars in socialized medicine. 2. To make everyone feel hot and miserable so the “global warming” scam feels more real and they can pass more tax increases. These globalist elites are truly evil." Saffron Sniper @Saffron_Sniper1, "Chinese people are trolling Europeans by posting videos on social media showing that even their pigs have air conditioning, while many Europeans can’t because of government rules." Save the bacon! In Chicago, they'd still be voting for universal health care. Matt Whitlock @MattWhitlock, "In the UK, between 9/2024 and 8/2025, roughly 79,130 names were removed from healthcare waiting lists because patients died before getting care. 28,908 had been waiting longer than the 18-week standard, and 7,737 had waited more than a year. Does that feel “universal?“" Quote Scott Robertson @sarobertson_, "McGowan: Every single country in the World Cup has universal health care except us. That's not a far left position."

Steve Milloy @JunkScience, "New York State celebrates the 250th by trying to force Catholic nuns to use 'preferred pronouns': "The sisters have received three letters from the state’s health department, in effect, explaining that they’re not complying with provisions of a “Bill of Rights for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers” that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed in 2023. "The text stipulates that long-term care facilities must use patients’ preferred pronouns, even when they’re not present; defer to their choice of bathroom; and refuse to assign rooms based on biological sex. Staff must also undergo “cultural competency” training.""  Jennifer Sey @JenniferSey, "A hybrid Trans/Palestinian flag. Like it's a thing."

Los Angeles 2021

At NottheBee, Los Angeles man arrested for shooting BB gun at naked bike riders taking over the city. Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando, "Anarchotyranny is when sexual deviants are allowed to break the law while police stand by to protect them from any consequences from outraged citizens." Quote Collin Rugg @CollinRugg "NEW: Los Angeles man arrested after shooting naked people with a BB gun as they rode their bikes through downtown Los Angeles. Hundreds of people were spotted riding without clothes for the World Naked Bike Ride." I suppose it depends who's riding naked. 

Josh Weiner looks at The Unchecked Politicization of Chicago Classrooms. From RCM, America Didn't Lose Its Tradesmen by Accident. They were "educated" away. 

Stacy McCain is shocked, shocked Woke ‘Supergirl’ Bombs Badly "Let’s start by stating the obvious: Sixty-six-year-old grandpas are not the target audience for super-hero action movies and, even when I was part of the target demographic, age-wise, I really never was much of a fan of movies about comic-book characters."

Still more the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.29.26! The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! and FMJRA 2.0: Waiting Until August up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

A Tuesday Tune - A Hazy Shade of Winter

MonaLisa Twins are a pop rock band, fronted by twin-sister singer-songwriters Mona Wagner (vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion, harmonica, flute, recorder, accordion) and Lisa Wagner (vocals, lead guitar, ukulele, cello).

The twins were born in Vienna, Austria on June 16, 1994 and are based in Liverpool, in the United Kingdom. Known for their YouTube covers of songs by the Beatles and other 1960s bands, many of which have been issued on a series of albums, they also release original music, inspired by the 1960s. They have toured with Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and performed with them at the Glastonbury Festival in 2017, collaborated with American musician John Sebastian, as well as held a two-year residency at the Cavern Club

Their father, Rudolf Wagner, is the band's producer; he also plays bass, piano, co-writes, and arranges their music, which is recorded in the family's own studio. Rudolf's wife and the twins' stepmother, Michaela Wagner, is the band's manager and assistant. The family lived in a small village in the Groß-Enzersdorf municipality near Vienna until 2014, when they moved to a suburb of Liverpool.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

In Your Eyes

Another quick update on the the 8th week of my recovery from the 2nd retinal detachment/reattachment surgery in my left eye.

Honestly, other than the supposedly 6 week freon bubble being still there, and still shrinking, there's not much to report. No pain, except a rare twinge. There's still a trace of redness in the white of the eye, particularly in the far left corner.

The bubble occupies an increasingly smaller arc in my lower vision while looking forward, and an increasingly smaller circle when I look straight down. I judge it's size day to day by comparing that circle to familiar objects, a small plate, a toilet bowl, my feet. I'm hoping before the next week is done, I can report the dissipation of the bubble. It may not happen, though.

Not much has changed in my vision. The left eye remains (as expected) quite nearsighted, as a result of the rubber band (scleral buckle) they put around it to help keep the retina attached. It also appears slanted slightly to the right (my Fox News eye), and straight lines are a bit wavy. I still see two horizons, but the left one tends to be overridden by the the right because the right forms a sharp image, and the left does not. The left eye is too nearsighted for easy use on the computer, but useful reading the tablet or phone. This of course, is subject to change when I get a new prescription and new glasses. I'm still a little worried about what happens when the two eyes agree on a focal plane. 

The Monday Morning Stimulus

 With the help of the triple threat Sarah Harris:

Kazinform, Scientists convert coffee waste into premium fuel in under two minutes

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and partner organizations reported that wet spent coffee grounds can be transformed directly into high-quality biochar using a flame plasma process, eliminating the need for the energy-intensive drying steps typically required in biomass recycling. 

Coffee consumption generates more than 10 million tons of spent coffee grounds worldwide each year. Most of this waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to environmental problems and greenhouse gas emissions.

The new technique uses a high-temperature flame plasma jet fueled by liquefied petroleum gas. The process heats coffee grounds containing about 55% moisture to temperatures of roughly 800°C to 900°C, rapidly evaporating water and converting the material into biochar. Unlike conventional methods, which often require lengthy drying and processing times, the conversion is completed in just 90 seconds.

According to the study, the resulting biochar reached a heating value of 29 megajoules per kilogram, about 33% higher than untreated coffee grounds and comparable to, or even exceeding, the energy content of standard anthracite coal. Researchers said the process reduced the original mass of the coffee grounds by more than 83% while producing a sulfur-free fuel that could generate fewer harmful emissions when burned.

One of the key discoveries was that the moisture naturally present in the coffee grounds actually helped improve the process. As water rapidly turned to steam under the intense heat, it created what researchers described as a "popcorn effect," forming a highly porous structure inside the biochar and increasing its quality as a fuel.

Very interesting, but I wonder why they aren't telling us the net heat value after subtracting the energy input from the "flame plasma process." Plasmas take power.

Oregon, My Oregon

 From the Victory Girls, Oregon: For Trans Activists, It’s Not Just the Fetish It’s the Grift

There is nothing more attractive to grifters than easy money. And there’s nothing easier to grift from than the vast river of taxpayer money when government bureaucrats are in on the swindle.

The Oregon Health Authority is sure proving it, with the added bonus of delivering up Oregon youth to the Queer fetish brigade.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) distributed a list of resources for “LGBTQIA2S+ young people” earlier this month filled with materials produced by radical transgender activists, including a biological man who regularly posts photos wearing only women’s underwear to social media and a furry named “Moss Lobos” who is known to wear a cat fursuit and has declared that “all cats are gay,” a Washington Free Beacon review found.

The OHA sent an email on June 5 intended to connect young people to “support across Oregon,” encouraging them to “stay connected to resources that promote mental health, safety, belonging, and wellbeing.”

Over the last ten or more years, the Queering of the culture has targeted children, using social and entertainment media. From the explosion of troubled or struggling girls finding social celebration by becoming trans to the medical profession discovering that gender-affirming sex-denying chemicals and surgery is a cash-enriched environment they can exploit
…
The “resources” That Oregon Health Authority feels fit to steer minors to include …

The resources included the organization Rogue Trans, which is “dedicated to uplifting and empowering the transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse community across Southern Oregon,” according to its website. The group’s executive director, Maeve Woulfe, is a transgender woman who posts photos in women’s underwear on Facebook.

Sorry about that. I blame all the Californians who moved to Oregon in the 70s and 80s.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Democrat Civil War Heats Up

Stacey Matthews at LI thinks The ‘Moderate’ Left’s Campaign to Distance Themselves From Their Socialist Wing Isn’t Going Well. “They should not be the face of our party. We need to be organized and clear in our vision.” From Twitchy, SOUND THE ALARM! Fire Marshal Bowman Attacks Josh Shapiro as Democrats Continue to Eat Each Other. Althouse cites Trump, "And the Democrats aren't fighting back.... They didn't beat us, but they'd be victorious against the Communists." "But they don't have the courage to do so. So, they're turning Communists themselves, becoming a Communist Party." Sundance at CTH hosts Barbara Boyd Outlining The DSA New York Communist Program. Jeff Blehar at NRO outlines Darializa Chevalier and the Left’s Tea Party Moment. Stephen L. Miller @redsteeze, "Everything as a matter of record and was well known that The New York Times could have reported on before the primary. Bang up job, Team." Quote Peter Baker @peterbakernyt, "Who is Darializa Avila Chevalier? She has called Biden a "rapist," said "fuck Kamala Harris," seemed to justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine, denigrated interracial relationships and supported abolishing police, borders and prisons." Ace, Democrats Recruited Antifa As their Zombie Street Enforcers. Now the Antifa Zombies Are Running the Show. "Darializa Avila Chevalier, founder of the pro-Hamas, pro-October 7 group CUAD and committed to -- quote -- the "total eradication of Western civilization," will soon officially be a Democrat congresswoman." Matt Taibbi at Racket writes about Zohran Mamdani and the Nitwit Revolution "New York's Mayor proved he's a generational political talent this week, re-shaping the Democratic Party and setting America up for a referendum on its founding principles." At Da Signal, Victor Davis Hanson Sets the Record Straight on Tucker Carlson and Graham Platner. Gregg Keller @RGreggKeller, "One of the benefits of working on a campaign effort against Talarico is that they make all of our commercials for us. #txsen." Quote RNC Research @RNCResearch, "CRINGE Texas Dems have lost their minds defending James Talarico: “They say that James is trans, we’re all trans. ..." PJM's Dave Manney thinks The Obama Halo Is Starting to Flicker. Finally!

Party Like It’s October 1917

From Liberty Unyielding, New York City imposes rent freeze on one million apartments, resulting in huge losses for some. Hat Hair's Steve Moore sees Democrats Declare War on School Choice. Insty worries about BLUE POLITICS IN TENNESSEE GETTING CRAZIER: Is Hamilton County Slipping From Red To Blue Or Just From Sane To Unhinged?, "As noted yesterday, the Democrat candidate for county mayor in Hamilton County made threats against school board members as part of his unhinged promotion of the LGBTQ in Hamilton County schools." Meanwhile, up the road in Knoxville: Knox County mayor candidate Beau Hawk marched in Venezuela for Nicolas Maduro." From the Right Scoop, Big Pharma, hoping Dem stooges will retake congress, start BLOWING OFF federally mandated discounts. Batya Ungar-Sargon @bungarsargon, ""Abolish ICE," "Defund the Police," and "Free Palestine" aren't a working class agenda. They're the cries of an over credentialed gentrifying elite consumed with resentment and the belief that the taxpayer should fund their vanity degrees and podcasts." John LeFevre @JohnLeFevre, "Homeless, yachtless Elon Musk, who actually builds rockets, EVs, and neural tech trying to benefit humanity, should apparently cough up $50 billion in taxes on unrealized gains. Meanwhile, Laurene Powell Jobs ($15B inherited), Nancy Walton ($20B inherited), and MacKenzie Scott ($40B divorce) never built shit, never risked shit, and never shipped a single product that changed the world. But they get the praise and zero scrutiny. Because they have the right politics. (BTW ~25% of Walmart employees are on government benefits.)" From Shooting News Week, We Won’t Let Anti-Gun Billionaires Who Finance Civilian Disarmament Live in the Shadows Anymore.

From the College Fix, Trump admin caught $150 million in fraudulent student loans in past months. The Post Millennial @TPostMillennial, "Trump Education Dept. blocks $150 MILLION in fraudulent student loans amid California 'ghost student' scam: "We have turned education in this country into a piggy bank for the worst people you can imagine, and the Biden administration did nothing about this!"" Scott McLallen at TownHall, DOJ Sues Four States That Refused to Hand Over SNAP Data. John Solomon at JTN reports Treasury Secretary vows law-breaking leftist nonprofits to face prosecution, asset seizures. "Bessent's crackdown comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last fall asking federal agencies to better police tax-exempt organizations, which have exploded in size and mission far beyond traditional charities." I'm not entirely sure we need tax-exempt organizations.

Driscoll at Insty, BUTTIGIEG SEPARATED FROM CHILDREN AFTER BEING TARGETED BY FALSE CPS REPORT: “Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he was briefly separated from his 4-year-old twins after an anonymous caller filed a false report with Child Protective Services concerning his family. Buttigieg wrote about the swatting-like incident in a lengthy Substack post on Friday, detailing his encounter with Michigan State Police.” Scalito @Legally_Italian, "Amy Coney Barrett was swatted last month. Neither Pete Buttigieg nor Mark commented on it. The New York Times did not do a story on it. I like Mark, but the truth is the only thing new about this story is that it happened to a Democrat. It’s ho-hum and commonplace for conservatives." Quote Mark Halperin @MarkHalperin, "Everyone, including those who oppose @PeteButtigieg politically, should speak out about this in a forceful manner. x.com/jason/status/2…" At Althouse "A Terrible Thing Happened to My Family," writes Pete Buttigieg. "At Substack. I don't think he's accusing Child Protective Services or the police of handling the complaint improperly. Should they have done anything differently? Read the essay carefully and tell me what you think. I believe the answer is no." Has anyone considered the possibility that whoever reported Buttigieg saw something concerning. At least CPS doesn't usually break down the door, use flash-bangs and start shooting.

Also from Althouse, "How the Reflecting Pool Turned Green.... Bulky 'nanobubbler' machines were carted off ahead of a promotional event for President Trump’s Ultimate Fighting Championship birthday party." "The NYT reports. ... In recent days, the water has become clear again, reflecting the sky and the surrounding monuments. The temporary nanobubblers have been replaced with more discreet, permanent purification systems. Still, the Park Service plans to drain the pool again soon to fix the peeling coating...."

TownHall's Matt Vespa thinks This Bill Maher Episode Was Wild...and the Libs Are Not Going to Like It. RedState's Nick Arama says The Dems Are Going to Lose Their Minds Over This Bill Maher Show With JD Vance.

Nick Arama again, Iran Launches Strikes Against Bahrain - and the Excuse Is Incredible. "He literally blamed the U.S. for Iran's own violation." At Hat Hair, Dave Strom sees Tit-for-Tat in Strait of Hormuz; UPDATE: Iran Attacks Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraqi Government Upheaval and Larry Elder cites Trump: The Greater Risk Was Waiting. wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat, "The WSJ says the relatively small number of Iranian hits on US facilities in the Gulf are 'devastating'. "Iran shot more than 8,000 missiles and drones and only two hits resulted in U.S. fatalities,” said Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East. Hawkins also said the U.S. military inflicted far more damage to Iran than it received, with the U.S. striking more than 13,500 targets." My comment: that's not how narratives work. Any damage to the US not equal to zero is devastating; 13,500 targets Iranian targets hit without regime change means the IR is winning or has in fact won."

John Sexton at Hat Hair observes The Lack of Gasoline is Getting to Russians. Trent Telenko @TrentTelenko, "Russia is suffering a supply and corruption driven fuel shock to its economy that is bigger than the USA's twin energy shocks of the 1973 oil embargo and the 1979 fall of Shah in Iran. 1/" Quote 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ @TheDeadDistrict, "In Zabaykalsky Krai, one of the strictest fuel sales limits has been introduced — 15 liters per fill-up. The regional authorities have declared a state of heightened readiness due to a shortage in the fuel market." At Althouse, "In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Central Asian governments have drawn closer together as a bloc, while welcoming Mr. Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy." ""They are seeking opportunities to reduce their reliance on Moscow, even as they tread lightly so as not to cross the Kremlin or antagonize China. 'For the business relationship, it has never been better,' said Jeff Erlich, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, who has worked in and around the region since the late 1990s. 'In my experience, that is clear.'" From "Kazakhstan’s Leader Deepens U.S. Ties, Saying Trump Was ‘Sent by Heaven’/The Central Asian nation is aggressively courting President Trump’s Washington to counterbalance its powerful neighbors, Russia and China" (NYT)(gift link, so you can try to figure it out for yourself). That's one of 2 stories about Kazakhstan at the top of the front page of the NYT right now. The other is: "Trump Cut a Billion-Dollar Mining Deal. His Sons Stand to Profit. An agreement between the U.S. and Kazakhstan has given a group of American investors with ties to the president and the commerce secretary access to one of the world’s largest untapped reserves of tungsten."" Sundance has a theory on Why The Ukraine War is Hardest to End? "Mike Steger from Promethean Action PAC argues the reason the Ukraine war is hardest to end is simply because Ukraine represents the proxy state of all the globalist stakeholders who need another large conflict in order to eliminate the problem of a moral-based Christian perspective within the ‘West.’" Drek. The war is hard to end because both sides have a lot at stake. At this point Putin has his reputation at stake and I suspect that he truly believe Ukraine should be part of Russia. Moreover, given that defense is generally easier than offence, the greater size and population of Russia is largely offset. And superior Ukrainian innovation in drone is starting to make inroads. 

Mitch Berg at Hat Hair VIP is happy SCOTUS Strikes Down Hawaii's "Vampire" Gun Carry Ban. Jonathan Turley doesn;'t think much of Justice Jackson’s Curious Call to Overturn Bruen: The Burden of History ."The burden of actually seeking to understand the intended meaning of a constitutional provision is certainly greater than the more free-style approach of Jackson who focused on how to “resolve contemporary problems” under a living Constitution." At the Balmer Sun, Supreme Court betrays America’s founding promise, by treating all races equal regarding redistricting.

From RCP, Fauci, the CIA, and the Unanswered Questions of COVID. Why was the CIA involved in an attempt to propagandize the American public? Brian Cates - Political Columnist & Pundit @drawandstrike, "No joke. I'd actually read all the books and seen several films and TV movies about Watergate by 1997. That was the year I read Silent Coup, by Len Colodny and Robert Gettlin. It literally blew my mind that Bob Woodward was a high-level Naval intelligence officer, doing briefings for the JCOS and other intel work. All the coverage of Woodward's past glossed over his intelligence official past with a line or two about him 'briefly serving in the Navy'. So a ONI guy doing top level briefings for the Pentagon brass just happens to start a new career as an intrepid cub reporter for the Washington Post, just in time to be fed THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL STORY in US history."

At Da Signal, Judiciary Committee Threatens to Hold the SPLC in Contempt for Withholding Documents. Just do it. 

The Free Bacon is shocked, shocked A Media Watchdog Released An AI ‘Fact-Checker.’ It Says There May Be 72 Genders. "NewsGuard's AI tool denied that biological sex is a binary and said affirmative action has 'benefited' white men." AI is only as good as it's input. Bullshit in, bullshit out. Ace is ecstatic Elon Musk Posts Entire Film "Citizen Vigilante." "The Uwe Boll/Armie Hammer violent revenge thriller Citizen Vigilante has been banned in Germany for being too closely linked to actual crimes the establishment insists aren't even happening, Racists." Sundance hosts Trump’s Social Media Advisor Alex Bruesewitz -vs- Tucker Carlson.

Stars n Stripes FC @starsnstripesfc, "This aged like milk. Everyone is having the time of their lives." Quote Fetty Waf @Wafunya, "The World Cup is about to expose just how a shithole of a country the USA is." At Althouse, "Installing AC simply wasn’t the British thing to do. He’d have to break a stiff-upper-lip mentality and make peace with a trade-off..." "From "European soccer fans enjoy a brief fling with America’s air-conditioned culture/Despite a deadly heat wave at home, many say they won’t permanently embrace Americans’ electricity-guzzling amenity" (WaPo)." Salena Zito sees the Ghost of Alexis de Tocqueville Returns -- What America Can Learn From Him.

GBN, King Charles will now 'protect the multi-faith nation' as new role defined. Breccan Thies at Da Fed, UK Needs To Ditch Censorship And Mass Migration, Not Just Keir Starmer. Bo French @bofrench, "I have been criticized, even from people on my side, for saying this is their goal. The problem is this is not my opinion. They admit it. How long are our leaders going to continue to ignore this imminent threat?" Quote Yossi BenYakar @YossiBenYakar, "An imam in Alabama, Ragab Abdelmoneim of the Islamic Academy of Huntsville, openly told his audience that Muslims must be ready to sacrifice their lives through jihad in order to establish “the religion of Allah” in the United States. He claimed that victory over America is closer than ever. This isn’t being preached in some remote village overseas. This is being said openly on American soil. At what point does this stop being protected “religious speech” and become a national security threat? How is he not arrested?" The JC, Our holiday landlord realised we were Jewish. What happened next was deeply troubling. "Once the property owner worked out that Yoni Birnbaum was a rabbi, he quizzed him on whether he was opposed to Israel." France.

Palm Sunday

 With Sarah Harris:

Pollstar, Kygo’s Palm Tree Music Festival Napa Expands To Two Days

Following last year’s successful debut, Palm Tree Crew has announced that the Palm Tree Music Festival Napa will keep the party going by expanding to two days in 2026. Palm Tree Crew co-founder Kygo will take the stage, with additional headline performances by Zedd, Disclosure (DJ Set), and Hugel.

Produced in partnership with Another Planet Entertainment and Blue Note Napa, the 2026 edition takes place Oct. 2-3 at The Meritage Resort & Spa. The weekend promises to deliver “world-class music, elevated hospitality, and exclusive brand experiences.”

I've never heard of him before: 

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! and FMJRA 2.0: Waiting Until August up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

Menhaden and Ospreys

 From the National Fisherman, Study fuels Atlantic menhaden debate

As the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission prepares to revisit Atlantic menhaden management later this year, an economic study is adding momentum to shift more of the coastwide quota toward bait fisheries, while recent debate in Virginia continues to highlight disagreements over research and management of the species.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) issued a release on June 24 about a study by Southwick Associates that estimated that recreational fishing trips using Atlantic menhaden as bait generated approximately $1.5 billion in total economic output and supported more than 7,200 jobs nationwide in 2025.

According to the study, anglers spent roughly $804 million on fishing trips involving menhaden bait while using the species during an estimated 13.9 million fishing days along the Atlantic Coast. Of those trips, approximately 2.5 million occurred in New England, with another 6.3 million in the Mid-Atlantic and 5.1 million in the South Atlantic.

"Atlantic fishing trips involving menhaden generate more than $1.5 billion in annual economic output," said Ben Scuderi, lead economist at Southwick Associates. "That figure represents the full spectrum of spending that occurs for fishing trips where menhaden are used as bait, from direct purchases of equipment, food, fuel, and the many other items needed for a day of fishing, to the downstream effects that spending has on retailers, manufacturers, and countless other businesses."

The report arrives ahead of several major Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decisions expected this fall. In November, the commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board is scheduled to establish a new coastwide total allowable catch for the 2027-28 fishing season and may also decide whether to begin formally reconsidering how state menhaden quotas are allocated.

Tom Horton at the Bay Journal,  The mysterious case of disappearing Chesapeake ospreys

This bird of prey, called a fish hawk by some, is known along shorelines from Japan to Australia, from India and the Strait of Hormuz to much of Europe and North America. “Ospreys and people have been overlapping since there were people,” said Alan Poole, author of two books about Pandion haliaetus.

In 2023, when Joanie began the Virginia Osprey Foundation out of their cottage at Colonial Beach, she observed robust production of 55 osprey chicks from 36 active nests around the community. Baywide, ospreys were continuing their heartening comeback from the dark days of DDT — from a historic 1972 low of about 1,500 nesting pairs to an estimated 10,000-12,000 pairs now throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

Then, a sudden and mysterious population crash: Only five chicks reached adulthood in 2024, eight in 2025. Young ospreys were seen walking aimlessly, dazed and apparently starving. There were fish crows stealing osprey eggs as females left them in search of food the males could no longer provide. Adults were eating their dead babies. “That is difficult to watch, and the whole town takes it to heart,” Barry said as they prepared for the town’s seventh annual osprey festival this spring.

Baywide, a similar picture was emerging, with poor nesting success throughout 80% of the estuary and its tidal rivers and an estimated 5,500 young ospreys starving to death, according to Bryan Watts, a Virginia scientist known for his decades of Chesapeake osprey research. Ecologically, cannibalism of dead young “makes energetic sense when calories are scarce,” says Watts, who is the director of William & Mary University’s Center for Conservation Biology. But, Joanie said, it breaks your heart to watch.

The reversal of ospreys’ fortunes has been dramatic and well documented. While scientists mostly think there is no single cause, the decline has reinvigorated a dispute over the commercial harvest of menhaden by Omega Protein. a Canadian company with a fishing fleet based in Virginia.

Omega’s fleet of six ships, guided by spotter aircraft, takes about 125,000 metric tons of menhaden annually, fishing from the lower Chesapeake and along the Atlantic Coast. Menhaden are small, oily fish that are packets of superbly calorie-dense energy, beloved by larger fish like striped bass, and by ospreys. Along with tinier but abundant Bay anchovies and silverside minnows, menhaden form the forage base underpinning the Chesapeake’s productivity.

Watts and others have documented that ospreys are doing worst in the saltier parts of the Chesapeake and Atlantic coastal bays where menhaden make up a critical part of their diets. Only in areas with less salty water, the upper Chesapeake and its tidal rivers, are ospreys producing enough young to sustain their populations — though not enough to offset the plummeting reproduction in the rest of the estuary. 

Prey options in fresher water are more varied, with gizzard shad and catfish providing ample calories. Nesting ospreys with young need to catch five or six fish a day to sustain the family.
...
One of Watts’s graduate students has shown that osprey reproduction can be revived if humans give them extra menhaden. He has heard from “quite a few people” around the Bay who are feeding hungry ospreys. “I’m fine with that,” Watts said, “but it’s not a solution to the current deficits.”

In recent days, schools of "peanut bunker", 3-4 inch Menhaden have been circling close to shore at the beach. Osprey, on the other hand, seem pretty scarce; I have only seen one most days. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America! up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.

Beach Report 6/27/26

The thunderstorm we had been expecting for the afternoon was cancelled, so we went to the beach.

It was overcast, only about 80 F, but the humidity was 90%, and the air was still, which made it feel just a bit sweaty.

Although the tide was high, there was a nice line of gravel and shell hash to look through for teeth. I was just telling a woman on the beach that I didn't have any teeth to brag about when I spotted this 1 3/8 inch lower Snaggletooth rolling in what little surf there was. It makes it look so easy. The best 24 teeth.

Flotsam and Jetsam - NYC Succumbs to Socialists

Most eyes seem to be focused on NYC, where Zohran Mamdami's DSA comrades swept in everywhere they tried. Yes, I know these were just primaries, but in NYC that is tantamount to the general election. Insty, at his substack, The Commies Mount An Across the Board Push, "DSA targets local elections around the nation in a well-planned strategy." Dave Strom at Hat Hair says The Democratic Civil War Is On, and the DSA Is Winning Big at the Moment. PJM's Matt Margolis thinks The Democrat Party Is Having a Meltdown, and It’s About to Get Nasty. From NYPo, NY socialist sweep shows new Dem slogan: We hate America. Hat Hair's John Sexton notes DSA Stands for Free Stuff, Less Work and No Cops. Roger Simon at American Refugees hears Carville Speak Up. Where Are Others?, "Jeffries and Schumer silent. Only Cajun Rages." PJM's Athena Thorne wonders How Bad Is the Democrat Party Civil War? James Carville Is Calling for This Drastic Action. TownHall's Matt Vespa enjoys Hakeem Jeffries Getting Cooked by This CNBC Host...and It Was Beautiful to Watch. Mark Hemingway @Heminator, "He literally just endorsed a DSA senate candidate with an SS tattoo who rages against Israel all the time! Is he senile?" Quote Jason Cohen @JasonJournoDC. "NEW: James Carville: “I actually do think it's time for Democrats to talk the S word: ‘Schism’ ... there's just some sh*t that I can't be in the same tent with ... I'm done ... I don't want to be in a political party that denies the right of the state of Israel to exist.” Hat Hair's Beege Welborn thinks Cpl Cueball Carville is Flummoxed by Finding New Proggy Dems More Offensive Than He Is. TownHall's Matt Vespa sees Obama's Top Aide Trotted Out This Gentle Reminder to Dems. They Won't Like It "You don’t retake the House by making already Democratic strongholds even more Democratic, or in this case, turning them into communist red areas." cdrsalamander @cdrsalamander, "While my initial instinct--knowing what Wiener has promoted and supported during his political career--was to simply sniff, "The revolution always eats his own. These are your people." ... then I watched closer that look in his eyes. He is absolutely terrified and actually freezes in fear--as he recognizes where he is and why...and his brainstem is telling him how thin the armor of civilization is around him at that place and time. Will this cause Wiener to change or rethink? Probably not...but it should be seen for what it is--another clear example of what we have allowed to grow and fester in a major political party in the U.S." Quote Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig, "U.S. Congressional candidate Scott Wiener was harassed by a Free Palestine activist. Scott, who is Jewish, had changed his stance on Israel, parroting the typical Free Palestine rhetoric, in order to get easy votes."

Dave Strom observes Mamdani Takes First Step to Seize Apartment Buildings. Stephen Green @VodkaPundit, "So the first step is to incentivize neglect via rent control. A few steps later, you "transfer ownership" to your cronies. And then you're just a couple more steps away from "some animals are more equal than others." Quote End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "IT BEGINS… NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveils plan to "transfer ownership" from landlords to "the community." Mark Hemingway @Heminator, "Of course rent control is a terrible idea -- but that's the plan here. When landlords abandon unprofitable buildings, the city, or more likely affiliated NGOs, will wrest control of them. The DSA will have a big political war chest from being a slumlord." Quote ib @Indian_Bronsonm "The idea of rent control was tried in both NYC and Bombay, by the way, and both times it leads to the very second-order effect of total dilapidation that leftists simply don’t want to hear about." Nick Searcy, Actor/Director/Producer/Author @yesnicksearcy, "The destruction is deliberate. Communists intentionally ruin everything so they can rule over the rubble," @NYCMayor Megan Basham @megbasham, "A lot of people are talking about how dumb Mamdani is that he doesn’t realize the economic impact this is going to have. But that’s wrong. He does realize. This is intentional. The rent freeze is going to do what it’s designed to do which is create a system..." Geiger Capital @Geiger_Capital, "44% of rent stabilized units in NYC are occupied by people born outside of the US… American-born citizens are subsidizing the foreign-born to live in our financial capital, while driving up prices of the remaining supply." In a Larry Video at Hat Hair, Trump Is Making Mamdani Regret Ever Starting This War. From State of the Day, State of Thursday: NORMIES, "“Normativity” is about to make a comeback."

Dave Strom says YIKES! Newsom Just Endorsed a New National Wealth Tax, Signaling Huge Shift Toward Socialism. Jesse Kelly @JesseKellyDC, "This is “The Mamdani Effect” and you will see it more and more now as establishment Democrats attempt to fend off the rabid communist animals in their own ranks." Quote Gavin Newsom @GavinNewsom, "It's time for a national billionaires tax and a new social contract. 10% of Americans own two-thirds of the wealth. Wages have stagnated. The cost of living has skyrocketed." TBPN @tbpn, "a16z's @bhorowitz says the California wealth tax is the "best strategy" to dismantle Silicon Valley that he's ever seen. "It's been so hard to break the Silicon Valley network effect, but this is the best strategy I've seen." "Norway has an unrealized capital gains tax. Norway's got a lot of extremely smart people, great entrepreneurs, but they all left." "When you talk to entrepreneurs in Norway, they're like, 'I literally can't pay the tax because the company got marked up, and I own a lot of it, and I can't get that money out.'" "'It's a private company. I'm stuck. So, I have to leave the country.'" "There are basically no tech entrepreneurs in Norway now." From his appearance on the show in January." Ace says As Evidence of Gavin Newsom's Corruption Grows, He Placates the Left By Announcing He'll Support a Communist Seizure of the Estates of His Rich Enemies. From RCM, If the Aim Is Tax Fairness, a Wealth Tax Won't Achieve It.

Tom Knighton at BA thinks Gavin Newsom's Shot at Wolford Decision is Hilariously Bad. From Shooting News Week, Of Course the Biden Admin Colluded With Gun Control Orgs…Why is Anyone Surprised?

Beege Welborn is shocked, shocked when a Mistrial is Declared in Palisades Arson Trial. "It's really kind of stunning, but whatever the jury heard from Rinderknecht's lawyer - and this Xweet might give a clue to how their thinking went..."

Sister Toldja at RedState thinks 'Clown': Ro Khanna Picks a Fight With the Wrong Guy During House Select Committee on China Hearing. Michael Lucci @Michael7ucci, "Two Chinese-Americans accused of attempted bombing at MacDill Air Force Base gained US citizenship via birthright. They are not loyal to the USA. There are 1,500,000 more "Chinese Americans" essentially born in Saipan and raised in Communist China. Denaturalize them all." Quote Jennie Taer @JennieSTaer, "HUGE: The Chinese-Americans accused of attempting to explode an IED at MacDill Air Force Base Visitor’s center in Tampa were anchor babies for illegal parents, colleague @MaryMargOlohan reports. DHS nabbed the duo’s parents, Qiu Qin Zou and Jia Zhang Zheng, on March 18." Michael Lucci @Michael7ucci, "Ro Khanna massively embarrassed himself today. Instead of discussing policy, he accused me of anti-Chinese racism. My wife is Chinese. My 4 children are half Chinese. What’s Ro Khanna? 100% clown." Quote Rep. Ro Khanna @RepRoKhanna, "Republican witness Michael Lucci called to denaturalize 1.5 million Chinese Americans born here. I called him out for his racism."

Sundance at CTH fears The Far Left Can Crush Republicans in Midterms if They Just Give Professional Republicans Everything They Want. CA ET Nerd @earlyvotedata, "This is exactly the trend Republicans need with independents. They need to keep it close to secure a good midterm result." Quote OSZ @OpenSourceZone "2026 Generic Ballot Among Independents Per YouGov Poll June 1: Dem +16 June 15: Dem +14 June 22: Dem +5."

Scott McLallen at TownHall reports a Fugitive in a Massive Child Food Fraud Case Captured Overseas. "A man accused of stealing millions of dollars from a fund meant to feed hungry children was arrested on Thursday in Mogadishu, Somalia. Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota—one of the orchestrators of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme—was taken into custody earlier this week." At Twitchy, GILLIFIED! Rep. Brandon Gill Puts on an Absolute Clinic as He WIPES THE FLOOR With a SNAP Witness. Hillary Hickland @HicklandHillary, "Who doesn’t know sodas aren’t healthy? This lady, apparently." Quote Brandon Gill @realBrandonGill, "Me: "What is nutritional about Coca-Cola?" FRAC Policy Director: "I am not a nutritionist." Me: "Is there a nutritional value to sugary sodas?"" "Coca-Cola is the number-one food item purchased with SNAP benefits, which raises another question. How was she so woefully unprepared for such an obvious question that Helen Keller could see coming from a mile away?" I had a friend and co-worker who was a type 1 diabetic. He carried a coke around with him in case he went into low sugar shock. I was there one time when we had to break it out for him. Otherwise... Congressman Brandon Gill @RepBrandonGill, "I asked the Democrat witness defending food stamps if her org is funded by companies that profit from them." Saint James Hartline @JamesHartline, "And of course, Gina Plata-Nino is also the 2025-2026 Obama Foundation USA Leader, a big Democrat-Biden-Harris-DNC-Colin Allred donor and Elizabeth "1/1024th Indian" Warren's long time bestie gal pal."

From News Wax, House Republicans Explore Reconciliation Path for SAVE America Act. At Althouse, JD Vance went on Bill Maher's show, and here's a segment of what was, I think, an excellent interview and "If the bare-chested, muscled mixed martial arts fighters of the U.F.C. match that President Trump hosted on Flag Day were the poster guys for MAGA’s image of masculinity..."

Sundance is happy to report President Trump Outlines Retaliatory U.S. Tariffs Against EU Nations Who Implement Digital Services Taxes.

Dave Strom, BREAKING: US Airstrike on Iran in Retaliation for Drone Strike on Maritime Vessel, Putting the fire in cease-fire. And, Trump: Erdogan Wanted to Help Iran, Now He Gets His Reward. Open Source Intel @Osint613, "Reporter: Turkey wants F-35 fighter jets. Are you going to Turkey with a big gift bag? Trump: Yeah. I think so. He’s a member of NATO. I'm going to probably do something that's gonna make him very happy. Except for the fact that it was being held in Turkey by President Erdogan, I don't think I would have gone to it. Rutte: You would come for me?" He prefers to use carrots but he's not afraid to wield the stick. From sundance, Secretary Rubio Announces Trilateral Peace Framework Between Israel and Lebanon Supported by USA. Will Hezbollah go along? I doubt it.

John Sexton sees a State of Emergency Declared in Crimea, Traffic Jam of Cars Trying to Leave. Dave Strom says I Told You So: Crimea Is in Crisis, and the Trouble Is Getting Worse Inside Russia. Rob Lee @RALee85, "Map from @MoscowTimes of Russian regions where there is fuel rationing." Trent Telenko @TrentTelenko, "The reality of forward deployed, uncrewed, drone tenders is going to extend the reach of FPV's through out the naval littorals and riverine space. Then consider larger Ukrainian quadcopter FPV's with wings are reaching up to 60 km. 1/2" Quote ChrisO_wiki @ChrisO_wiki "1/ Ukraine is using quadcopter drones carried by uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to hunt down and destroy Russian anti-drone teams in occupied Crimea, according to a Russian source." Streiff at RedState believes The Reaction to GEN Donahue's Firing Indicates Hegseth's Action Was Correct and Timely. Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "I am really, really angry at the lies being spread by the usual cadre of woke, retired generals and admirals in the last couple of days. Pete Hegseth is not politicizing our nation's military, he is DEPOLITICIZING it. And the Marxists HATE it, because a politicized military is essential to their society-destroying agenda. My 1,000 word article below explains. Please read, I think it's really important." Quote Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "Military Depoliticization, Hegseth and DEI. As I read and hear the usual cavalcade of woke, retired Democrat generals and admirals like McRaven, McCaffrey, Franken, et al. falsely claiming that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is “politicizing”..." Lee (Greater) @shortmagsmle, "Lots of slop here. Read most writing or doctrine publications of the GWOT and post-GWOT era and you’ll find endless paragraphs about the role of “mentorship”, “diplomacy”, “relationship management”, and very little about killing the enemy or keeping standards high and exclusive." Quote Mark Hertling @MarkHertling, "Some thoughts about the latest actions by Secretary Hegseth: What Happens When the Country Loses a General."

Shipwreckedcrew likes how The Supreme Court Kicks District Judges Out Of Immigration Decisions By Closing The Lawfare Door On Challenges to Ending TPS. "District Court interference with Trump 2.0 efforts to vigorously enforce immigration laws passed by Congress took a kick in the teeth from the Court in an entirely predictable fashion." Sundance notes the Supreme Court TPS Decision Paves Way for Trump Administration to Send Migrants Back to Haiti, Syria and Beyond. PJM's Cathy Salgado hears Lefties Bewail the End of Protected Status for Haitians, Syrians: 'People Are Gonna Die.' From Da Caller, Democrats Renew Calls For Court Packing After SCOTUS Allows Trump To Deport Illegals. Do it now! Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer, "In a cruel and inhumane decision, the Supreme Court just turned its back on more than 300,000 Haitians and thousands of Syrians who have worked and raised families here because they faced violence and instability back home. ... I have introduced legislation to extend TPS for Haitians, and will keep fighting to protect Haitian and Syrian families from being forced back into danger. America should not turn its back on people who came here seeking safety." Quote The Associated Press @AP, "BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria." John Sexton reports on the Supreme Court Drama Between Justice Alito and Justice Sotomayor, the Supreme Courts second dumbest member. Rusty Weiss at RedState, DHS Drops a Semisonic Bombshell on Haitians Hoping for Deportation Grace Period After SCOTUS TPS Decision. Ace, DHS General Counsel: It's Closing Time. Haitians Don't Have to Go Home, But They Can't Stay Here. From Twitchy, Americans Are Kind… But Kurt Schlichter Says We’re Not Brain-Dead Enough for the TPS Grace Period Scam and All HELL Breaks Loose on CNN Panel When Conservative Asks Lefty if THEY Would House 10 Haitians (WATCH). Beege Welborn, The Mike DeWine Story: RINOs Don't Read No Stinkin' Rooms.

Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "MASSIVE SCANDAL UNFOLDING IN DENVER You will want to read to the end. Absolutely shocking corruption and coverup. Denver City Council blocked Denver International Airport from leasing space to Key Lime Air, because the airline worked with ICE. There was just one problem… It violates FAA rules. So what did they do? City attorney Miko Brown allegedly urged the airport to fabricate an investigation into the airline’s safety record to cover up for illegally discriminating against the airline for political reasons. When word got out, Brown and Mayor Mike Johnston flat out denied it. However CBS just obtained an internal airport memo appearing to reveal the entire thing was true. City officials conspired to discriminate against a private company for political reasons then lied about it to cover it up. The @TheJusticeDept should investigate.@AAGDhillon"

War Correspondent @warDaniel47, "HOLY SMOKES. SCOTUS Justice Sam Alito asks ACLU lawyer "what is a man and a woman?" and they DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION. Alito's response is perfect. ALITO: What does it mean to be a man or woman? ACLU: We do not have a definition for the Court. ALITO: How can a court determine whether there's discrimination on the basis of s*x, without KNOWING what s*x means?! Omg, you can't make this crap up. Seriously." Stephen Kruiser at PJM claims Second Amendment Fans Can Start Celebrating Independence Day Early.

Techno Fog reports John Bolton Pleads Guilty "Agrees to $2.25 million fine; imprisonment unlikely." Sundance, Bolton Pleads Guilty – Max Sentence 5 Years, Plus $2.25 Million Fine. At Althouse, "When he was first indicted, Mr. Bolton sought to frame the case against him as part of a push by the president to misuse the Justice Department to punish his perceived political enemies." "The case against Mr. Bolton, however, began in the first Trump administration and gained momentum during the Biden administration, as investigators gathered additional evidence...From "John Bolton, Former Trump Adviser, Pleads Guilty in Classified Information Case/Mr. Bolton admitted to mishandling classified information and could face time in prison, in an inquiry that spanned the Trump and Biden administrations" (NYT).

Driscoll at Insty goes OUT ON A LIMB: Self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist JD Vance has wild take on the ‘Deep State’s hand’ in Nixon’s Watergate scandal. "The vice president spoke at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in California earlier this week as part of his media blitz for his latest memoir. ‘As I joked … backstage, if Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be like a 12-hour news story,’ Vance said when asked about the scandal..."

John Sexton reports the Death Penalty Remains on the Table for Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk's 'alleged' assassin. "The defense had sought to have the death penalty removed as a possibility in the trial as a penalty for the prosecutor's statements but the judge refused to go that far." From Ace, Former Colorado DNA Analyst Pleads Guitly to Manipulating Evidence, "This doesn't seem to be the situation we've seen in the past of an "expert" altering test results to secure a conviction. This woman deleted DNA evidence in rape cases. She pled guilty to four counts of falsifying evidence to influence a public official but she was actually accused of 1,003 of deliberate alterations." CSI Denver...

John Sexton hears Yale is Ready to Make a Deal. "Last month the Department of Justice announced that it had concluded Yale's medical school was using race as a factor in admissions." From Campus Reform, Pipeline to the CCP: Missouri State trained executives tied to China's military-industrial complex. Dave Strom asks How Evil Are They? Student Group Celebrates Terrorist Who Burned Woman Alive in Colorado. From Ace's The Week in Woke. "The Texas State Board of Education voted to remove knowledge of the battle of Lexington and Concord from the corpus of knowledge that students need to know to be proficient in history. They had to make room in the curriculum. You see, they had to make Oprah Winfrey a required part of a historical education."

Also from Ace, Denmark's Left-Wing Government Plans to Ban the Islamic Call to Prayer, Saying That Parts of Denmark Feel Like "a Suburb of Islamabad", "The left-wing government, huh? Seems like Islam has burned most of its bridges." Lauren Chen @TheLaurenChen, "USAID gets defunded and now no one listens to rap anymore." It's probably just a coincidence. Probably. 

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Waiting Until August up in star-spangled glory at the Other McCain.