Flotsam and Jetsam - Marxists Take New York by Storm

At Hat Hair, Dave Strom sees Mamdani Is Now King of New York After Sweep in Congressional Primary Contests; DSA Rising Fast, Capt. Ed says And Now, the Good News From Last Night... UPDATE: NYT Hardest Hit? and cites Politico: You Know Who's Happy About DSA Wins This Cycle? (Give Politico some credit in this report from the House GOP confab this morning. The word pounce never appears. And readers have to get to the penultimate paragraph before seeing the word seized.), Duane Patterson asks do you Remember the Good Old Days When Trump Hatred Unified Democrats? and in a video, Siraj Hashmi for Larry thinks Hakeem Jeffries Is Done: Is This the End of His Career? PJM's Steve Kruiser calls it a Big Night for Comrade Mamdani's Commies in New York Primaries. At CTH, sundance claims ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Now Officially Controls the Democrat Party and Sean Hannity Aghast and Saddened When Lead Counsel of Trump Impeachment Loses Primary, Dan Goldman. At Twitchy, Joe Scarborough Tries to Run Away From Radical DSA Dems, Gets BODY CHECKED by Donnie Deutsch. C3 @C_3C_3, "The Democrats are electing America hating Communists and the Republicans are worried about the Filibuster Rule. Think about that…" Ace worries Socialists Take Over the New York Democrat Party, Eye a National Takeover. Jon Levine @LevineJonathan, "TLDR— NYC election results reflect highly educated yet downwardly mobile white people who are angry that their expensive degrees are worthless and people in jobs they find demeaning (electricians, plumbers) are making more than them." Ilya Shapiro @ishapiro, "It’s the omnicause reaching final fruition. Not that far a leap from thinking everything in America is structurally racist, sexist, and otherwise unjust according to the latest intersectional matrix and just thinking America needs to be ended." Quote Bridget Phetasy @BridgetPhetasy, "Pretty amazing how fast MeToo and BLM and climate anxiety has been replaced with DEATH TO AMERICA." I&I has a Poll: Nearly Half Of Democrats Say They Have ‘Favorable’ View Of Socialism. Vijeta Unyal at LI, reports Al Jazeera ‘Journalist’ Mourned by Mamdani was Hamas Terrorist, IDF Reveals. "Ahmed Washah “simultaneously served as a photojournalist for the Al Jazeera network and as a sniper operative for Hamas.”" At NYPo, Dad of Mamdani-backed NY primary winner Aber Kawass, who downplayed 9/11, was deported for property fraud — not ‘cruel’ immigration as she claimed. 

More at Hat Hair, Capt. Ed, Talarico in 2022: Let's Defund the Prisons!, Mitch Berg, Talarico: Will It Play Outside Austin? and Dave Strom, Wow: Representative Seth Moulton, Candidate for Senate, Assaults Questioner. "It's not exactly off the cuff. No doubt the response to it was gamed out in campaign meetings early." From NottheBee John Fetterman blasts Larry David for being embarrassed to be an American after the White House UFC fight. At USA Today, Forget Trump. Democrats have lost faith in America itself. "New polling shows a historic, and deeply partisan, decline in how proud Americans feel about their country, with Democrats driving nearly all of the drop." Amy Curtis at TownHall, Ted Lieu Vows Lawfare Against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Cam at BA says Hmm: Virginia 'Assault Firearm' Sponsors Say Governor Wants Amendments to New Law.

At PJM VodkaPundit explains How Government 'Affordability' Turns an $18 Antibiotic Into $2,500. Alex Berenson at Unreported Truths claims Anti-competitive hospital practices cost American families up to $2,500 a year, "Don't take it from me. The number is a (conservative) federal estimate. Much of the extra cash goes to executives like Steven Corwin, who made $26 million in 2024 running a "nonprofit" hospital chain." Mountain States Policy has an Analysis: Montana cut income tax rates, and revenues more than doubled. A Larry vid at Hat Hair, AARP's John Hishta Warns Social Security Faces a 20% Cut in 2032 Unless Congress Acts.

From Ace, Feds Announce Arrests of 455 Defendants Responsible for $6.5 Billion in Fraud Looted from the American People, "The Justice Department: National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 455 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $6.5 Billion in Alleged Fraud."

Capt. Ed SAVE Your Leverage? Trump Cancels Bill Signing Until ... Sundance, President Trump Cancels Bill Signing Event Due to Republican Intransigence on Save America Act. Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump, "Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT." AP, Trump administration announces $17.5 billion in loans for 10 new large nuclear reactors.

From Da Signal, the Great Victor Davis Hanson tries to explain Why the Media Called Trump a Warmonger…Then an Appeaser. At Hat Hair, Dave Strom thinks Vladimir Putin Is a Very Unhappy Man Right Now, John Sexton reports the Largest City in Crimea Goes Dark and China is Tightening the Noose Around Taiwan. Sundance hosts NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte Giving a “Remain in NATO” Pitch to President Trump in White House.

Teri Christoph at RedState likes how Usha Vance Expertly Trolls NYT 'Journo' Who Had Epic Melt Down Over MAGA Baby Boom. Sasha Stone @realsashastone, "Waaa Trump hurt my feelings..." Quote USA TODAY @USATODAY, "Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s done supporting the GOP, joining Tucker Carlson in a growing split with Republicans ahead of midterms."

Sundance hosts Secretary of State Marco Rubio Outlining Partnership Discussions from Kuwait. The Chronic claims Trump Played the Hormuz Hand He Was Dealt. News Wax cites Trump: Senate Iran Vote Helps Enemy.

Also at News Wax, Supreme Court Nears Major Trump Power Rulings "The cases involve his efforts to limit birthright citizenship, fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, oust ​Democrat members of independent agencies, and terminate a humanitarian legal status protecting hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Haitian immigrants from deportation." Ace, Fourth Circuit Overturns Lowly District Court Judge, Okays Trump's Expedited Deportations, "Congress passed a bill authorizing expedited deportation -- which could take as little as a few days. They called this, "expedited deportations." And Texas, DOJ Sign Joint Decree Declaring Biden's Prior "Backdoor Amnesty" to be Illegal and Void Mary Chastain at LI reports a Judge Blocks Trump From Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote. "The judge wrote that Congress holds election power, not the Executive branch."

NYPo sees Karmelo Anthony’s high-profile supporters pull out all the stops to get Austin Metcalf killer’s conviction overturned.

Stacy McCain examines Feminists and Their Problems and continues his coverage of the trans, vegan death cult, Zizian Cult Update: Michelle Zajko Charged With Murdering Her Parents. Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "BREAKING: MORE TRANS VIOLENCE Police in Colorado responded to calls of a stabbing in a Dairy Queen. They arrived to find a suspect fleeing by car and immediately gave chase. They were forced to shoot him after he crashed into multiple vehicles, injuring civilians. The deceased suspect was identified as Patti Wilson, a man pretending to be a woman. According to ‘westernslopenow’, someone who knew Wilson said he suffered from mental problems. Wilson also has a previous arrest for assault. The media and the coroner are referring to him as a “woman.”"  

When you tell your college son to shave and put on a suit and tie for his JP Morgan summer internship interview and then you see who at JP Morgan is going to be evaluating his appearance pic.twitter.com/r6nhiUN7To

— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) June 24, 2026

 At NYPo, Brendan O'Neill says Mr. Sensible Keir Starmer bowed to the left and made the UK an unholy mess — a stern warning to Democrats, and Brits visiting US for first time during World Cup are apologizing to Americans: ‘We were wrong’. AMAC notices Liberal Media Ignores the Ravaging of Britain.

Joanne Jacobs hears It's impossible to fail in Philly schools. It's too much paperwork

Tattoo Thursday

NPR, Prison tattoo program gives participants skills while reducing risk

A new program in Missouri allows people serving time in prison to earn a tattoo license while also reducing the risk of infections and illness from contraband tattoos.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Humpday Hash

A truly themeless day, so let's just start with miscellaneous Trumpiania. Joe Chalfant at TownHall thinks it's disgusting that Deranged Vandals Force Authorities to Implement New Security Measures Around Reflecting Pool. It's a reflection on liberals. Althouse finds "When asked if Trump was the 79-year-old man in question, White House spokesperson Kush Desai did not say no...." Eli Lilly Approved Obesity Drug for Mystery 79-Year-Old Patient and "He was much less stoked to be assigned by Tina Brown, then editor of The New Yorker, to profile Mr. Trump in 1997,"I'm sorry to hear that Mark Singer has died. You can click on my tag "Mark Singer" to see how he's come up here over the years. What a distinction to have Trump's "YOU ARE A TOTAL LOSER" in your NYT obituary. To continue the all-caps — RIP." Reason complains Trump Says His Task Force Is Fighting a Foreign 'Invasion.' It's Busting Americans for Drugs Instead. At CTH, sundance has Primary Elections in New York, Utah, Maryland and South Carolina – Results and Open Discussion.

In the Iran conflict, sundance hosts Secretary Rubio Holding an Impromptu Presser Upon Arrival in Abu Dhabi, UAE. News Wax claims Trump says Iran Has 'Fully Agreed' to Nuclear Inspections. If so, they're lying. NYPo goes Inside the insurance racket Iran wants to run in the Strait of Hormuz — and how it will devastate Western shipping. Oil Price.com sees the Hormuz Crisis Sparks a Middle East Pipeline Boom. Makes sense. I suppose they're allowed to build such things still. Don Surber addresses the question Where’s the regime change? "It is in Iran because killing the ayatollah created a power vacuum." I think we need to peel back three or four more layers of the onion.

Matt Margolis at PJM says Stick a Fork in James Talarico. He's Done after a video comes to light of him admitting "I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity, right?" At Hat Hair, Dave Strom thinks If The Texas Senate Race Isn't Safe, Then We Might as Well Pack It in and Move to Canada for MAiD and Capt. Ed notices Whoa: Crockett, Allred Snub Talarico and Texas Dem Convention.

Driscoll at Insty does COFFEE AND CLICHES: Lefty owner of anti-Israel NYC coffee shop calls US ally ‘Nazi Germany of our time’ in hateful online outburst. "The radical leftist owner of a woke Brooklyn coffee shop that boasts about discriminating against pro-Israel Jewish customers on social media has a history of deranged anti-Israel LinkedIn posts — including accusing the Jewish state of genocide and comparing it to Nazi Germany." Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "Some of us almost spit out our coffee this morning on Dan Goldman going on CNN to denounce the lack of civility in politics. This stems from the refusal of a barista to sell him a coffee. Goldman, who is viewed by many as the face of rage for his party in attacking anyone with..." Steve Eisner @DoTheRightWing, "Classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. They spend all their time hurling the most vicious insults against the Right never even thinking to protect their flank as they get eaten by their own on the Left." Michael Birzin @bigbee383, "He's found out too late that he isn't communist or antisemitic enough for the DSA. After today the Democratic party should officially change it's logo. The communist left has taken over." Jon Levine @LevineJonathan, "NEW from me The owner of the coffee shop which refused Dan Goldman's "AIPAC" money: 1. Owes NY almost $400,000 in taxes 2. Accused Israel of doing 9/11 3. Donated to Graham Platner (naturally) 4. Been repeatedly cited by NYC health inspectors." Charles Murray @charlesmurray, "My daughter's friend in grad school, upon being asked by a member of her dissertation committee why she didn't include a Marxist perspective. "I grew up in the Soviet Union. I don't practice recreational Marxism." Quote Possum Reviews @ReviewsPossum, "I don't care what communism is in theory because I know what it is in practice. x.com/ilektramerc/st…"

Amy Curtis at TownHall, Josh Shapiro Actually Said This About the Democratic Party. Defiant L’s @DefiantLs, "Josh Shapiro: "I think Democrats are the party of real freedom. Real freedom that... allows parents like me and my wife Lori to make decisions over what vaccines our kids are gonna be able to get." You're free to bake the cake, or else. From the Victory Girls, Chicago’s Latest Emergency Is A Word Nobody Can Define: Transfemicide Beege Welborn at Hat Hair asks Excuse Me, Chicago - Could You Point Me to Where the 'Transfemicide' Is Happening? TheBlaze @theblaze, "Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he has declared a “Transfemicide State of Emergency.” "You know how many PEOPLE of all colors, but mostly black, have been killed in Chicago in the same past ten years? FIVE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED With 197 already this year." Ace, So Close to Pride Month? As Chicago Recovers From Bloody "Juneteenth" Violence Leaving Eight Dead and Thirty-Nine Shot, BlacKKK Mayor Brandon Johnson Changes the Topic and Babbles About Anti-Trans Violence That Barely Exists. "It was another weekend of slaughter in the Lightworker's supposed home city." Nick Matau @nick_matau, "The terrorist group (PFLP - who started modern terrorism) Sama Safi belongs to has killed over 20 U.S. citizens." Quote Rep. Derek Tran @RepDerekTranCA, "I am deeply alarmed by the detention of Sama Safi in an Israeli prison. Sama, a 20-year-old Palestinian American student, was taken from her home in the middle of the night and continues to be held without charges. This is part of a disturbing pattern of the Israeli government." 

George MF Washington @GMFWashington, "I do an early morning bike ride on weekends just as all the addicts are “coming to”… if you really want to see the horrors Newsom and Bass turn a blind eye to, that’s the time to do it, before they wisely move back into the shadows before the normies start their day." Quote New York Post @nypost, "Iconic Santa Monica beach turns into 'sleeping bag city' at sunrise - as locals erupt https://trib.al/9T5XZRi." I went to Santa Monica beach many times growing up. Beege Welborn hears Newsom to CA State Employees: Okay, Everybody Back in the Pool! You can stop cowering from Covid now. Ace cites Politico: Senator Reuben Gallego (Who Fancies Himself a Candidate for President or VP in 2028) Shared a Joint Back Account With His F***buddy Eric Swalwell, Used His Campaign Kitty to Pay for Personal Expenses, "I can't believe that this slob believes he can be President or VP. He thinks he has an in because he's Hispanic and Democrats are nothing but racial panderers." Bob Hoge at RedState reports Former LAFD Chief Hits Karen Bass With Blistering Defamation Suit Alleging Mayor Lied Through Her Teeth.

Matt Vespa at TownHall says Get Over It, Lady. Hillary Clinton's Latest Remarks on the Electoral College Are Not Surprising. Enguerrand VII de Coucy @ingelramdecoucy, "It’s only calls for an anti-Democratic insurrection when it’s a right wing candidate calling for it, when it’s a left wing candidate doing it he’s bravely calling on his supporters to rise up as freedom fighters in defense of Democracy" Quote Faytuks Network @FaytuksNetwork, "Left-wing Peruvian presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez, who is currently projected to lose, has announced at a press conference that he does not recognize the election, alleging that there "has been a manipulation of the vote," asking his supporters to take to the streets."

From Althouse, "Schlossberg’s Defeat Dampens Dream of a Renewed Camelot." "That's one of the NYT's front-page headlines about yesterday's primaries. Dream of a Renewed Camelot... Who was still dreaming that dream?" and The London Times stresses the Texan in Elon Musk as it reports the news/"news" that he's not a trillionaire at this precise moment. You mean stocks go up and down? Who knew? Twitchy is shocked Popehat Banned from Bluesky Over Bizarre Musk Assassination Missive.

Streif at RedState is gratified Antifa Terrorist Gang Gets Nearly a Half Millenium in Prison for ICE Facility Attack. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "JUST IN: A group of Antifa terrorists were just SENTENCED to HUNDREDS OF YEARS in prison after a violent attack on the ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas FAFO, LOCK THEM UP! I voted for the law and order! The group's RINGLEADER, Benjamin Song, got 100 years. The others got as many as 70 years and 50 years. BIG WIN." Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_, "This reporter describes the Antifa attack on a TX ICE facility as a “noise demo”, during which they showed up in all black, armed, threw fireworks as a distraction, and then shot an Alvarado, TX police officer in the neck as he responded to the scene." Quote Sam Russek @samrussek "Update: 8 Texas protesters were sentenced today, following a July 4 noise demo outside an ICE detention center. The maj. were sentenced to 50 years in prison." You don't hate the media enough. Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando, "Ah, democrats in congress are publicly expressing support for a group of domestic terrorists who tried to assassinate a cop to free illegal aliens. But remember, you’re a dangerous extremist if you get loud at a school board meeting," Quote Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib @RepRashida "These sentences are a travesty and totally unjustified, but that's the point. Americans hate the fascist Trump regime, so the only way they can try to cling to power is brute force. NSPM-7 is a grave threat to all of us and more bullshit "terrorism" charges like these are coming." From Ace, Two More Leftwing Incels Charged In Planned UFC Mass Casualty Attack; Another Incel Kills Two People in Montreal, "Maybe young working-age men shouldn't spend all day on the internet jacking off with a robotic vagina. Maybe that's not the way God or biology (or both) designed men to live their lives. Maybe it does something insidious to your brain."

Jake Scullum at Reason hears Clarence Thomas Explain Why the Commerce Clause Cannot Justify Federal Bans on Gun Possession, "Even under the Supreme Court's highly elastic understanding of that clause, Thomas says, such laws do not qualify as regulation of interstate commerce." Shooting News Week, AP Poll Shows Dems Not As Worried About Threat to Gun Rights They Don’t Value FischerKing @FischerKing64, "Suspect SCOTUS is dropping some pro-administration rulings on immigration because at the very end of the term they're going to drop a 6-3 bomb ruling in favor of birthright citizenship - and then they're all going to disappear for their vacations and paid seminars/speeches" and "I could be wrong and would like to be. I was genuinely surprised when they overturned Roe v. Wade. I thought their careerist instincts would override any fidelity to the law - that they would uphold it 5-4 thinking it would avoid court packing discussions." At Da Caller, Judge Shuts Down Trump Admin Database Used To Remove Non-Citizens From Voter Rolls. Twitchy, Judge BLOCKS Trump Administration From Restricting SNAP Benefits for Soda and Candy.

Beege Welborn says it's Soundin' Like Acting DNI Bill Pulte Swept In With a Broom to Sweep Out. Sundance elaborates Acting DNI Pulte Removes 51 from Agency – Six Fired and 45 “sent back to their home agencies.” "I’m not sure if that represents 45 from across all the desks, or the complete elimination of some overstaffed liaison desks. That said, given the nature of the leaking was recently to CNN (State Dept leaks to CNN), I am somewhat confident the State Dept liaison office inside the DNI is now empty office space." At Coffee and Covid, "Mere days after former DNI Tulsi Gabbard declassified 1,600 pages of secret intelligence community emails and work product from the first months after the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci has had a sudden, but sincere, change of heart. Yesterday, SFG Media reported, “Anthony Fauci Refuses to Testify Voluntarily Before Congress on COVID-19.” It’s ironic. Having run the world’s premier allergy agency, Fauci has suddenly become allergic to testifying."

Julie Kelly @julie_kelly2, "Chief Sund was Pelosi's (and others) scapegoat. She forced him to resign on Jan 7. Sund was just months away from retirement eligibility and deprived of a job he loved--all so Pelosi could place the blame on his shoulders. Congress should right this wrong." Quote, "Chief Steven Sund @ChiefSund, "Before any investigation, Pelosi and her staff were already plotting my removal. On Jan 6, Pelosi admitted on camera that she was responsible for the security failures at the Capitol. Yet, within 24-hours, she publicly blamed me for Jan 6..."

FedWire, DHS and CBP announce 13 consecutive months of zero releases at the border. Amy Curtis at TownHall, Illegal Immigrant Busted After Using Uber Gig to Kidnap, Assault Passenger.

Not surprisingly, Nigel Farage thinks Britain is broken, we need an election. Steve Soukup at Am Great wonders “Is There No England Now?” "Whether Keir Starmer has resigned or not, Britain’s turmoil over immigration, speech, and identity signals a ruling consensus fracturing under public backlash." At TCW, Delusional to the end: Starmer’s resignation speech proved why he had to go. Sarah at Insty snorts BUT HE’LL ‘FIX’ THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT BECOMING MINORITIES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY: "Open borders Burnham won’t fix broken Britain." At the Babylon Bee, Visitors From Europe Tell Us Their 13 Most Surprising Discoveries In America. "4. The police won't raid your house if you share a meme: Go ahead and be funny, Europeans." Benjamin Domenech @bdomenech, ""Hot Swedish women like America, here's why that's bad." - @TheAtlantic" Quote Stephen L. Miller @redsteeze, "Oh, you all are enjoying the posts from the hot Swedish influencer? Well, she's a whore. x.com/bdomenech/stat…"

From the College Fix, ASU professor docked for ‘Christian bias’ after asking students about ‘highest good’ and Roughly one-third of UC Berkeley law students claim ‘psychological’ disabilities. To be fair, it's probably a low estimate. Joanne Jacobs sees Liberals see promise in tax-credit scholarships; conservatives see dangers.

Ace, Under Threat of Anti-Trust Action, Un-American MLB Walks Back Threat to Discipline Players for Daring to Include Biblical References on Their Forced Gay Cosplay Hats. "As you know, the San Francisco Giants forced players to wear pRiDe rainbow caps. Some players objected to being forced to wear this antibiblical message, so they put little strips of cloth on the caps noting a specific Biblical passage that mentions the rainbow as God's promise to never flood the world again." NYPo, Woman who emptied Knicks trashcan on street — then stole it — is fired from JPMorgan Chase, was DEI exec. Althouse asks "What's "experiential content" and why am I "experiencing" that as bullshit?" From State of the Day, the State of Monday: ALPHABET PRIDE'S DISASTER MONTH "Something tells me it’s going to get worse before it gets better."

And more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.23.26

The Wednesday Wetness

At USA Today Water into whine: Century of problems rage at Lincoln reflecting pool. Remarkably unpartisan

Skates in the Upper Bay?

Probably not the Choptank

Chesapeake Bay Mag reports a New Visitor to the Bay: Skate Spotted in the Choptank

A ShoreRivers team monitoring underwater grass beds in the Lower Choptank River in Maryland spotted something unusual in the water recently: a juvenile Skate.

Cownose Rays are common in the Choptank—a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay—but other Rays and Skates are not.

“It’s unusual because they are a high-salinity animal, so prefer other spots,” says Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper. “We are more mid-salinity, in the 12-15 ppt (parts per thousand) range.”

Definitely not the Choptank

 Higher salinity generally means more Sea Nettles, too. I have to say, I haven't seen any yet. But we expect them by July 4.

By comparison, the Atlantic Ocean—the saltiest major ocean— is 33 – 37 ppt.

The fish was located close to Irish Bay, although it hasn’t been seen since. But it’s presence—and an increase in the number of Cownose Rays—tells us something may be changing in local waters. “It tells us we are saltier than normal,” Pluta says.

In case you spot a Ray—or Skate— look but don’t touch. “When it comes to wildlife, keep your distance and just observe,” Pluta recommends.

I've seen a couple of small ones caught in the bay, or washed up dead. Those of us who know better have to remind a lot of folk that the much more common Cownose Rays are not skates

Flotsam and Jetsam - Tucker Flounces Out of the Party

Anxious anxiously reports "I'm out": Tucker Carlson says he's done with the GOP. Betsey Stauffer at LI, Tucker Carlson Officially Exits the Republican Party; ‘It’s Immoral … I’m Out’ “How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States? That puts the interests of a foreign country above those of its own citizens.” He's gone around the bend. 

Nick Sortor @nicksortor, " WOW! Looks like the U.S. Park Police are using PLAINCLOTHES informants to catch people screwing with the sealant in the reflecting pool This woman has just been DETAINED after being caught. Keep your hands off the freaking sealant, losers." Western Lensman @WesternLensman, "MSNOW’s Cornell Belcher is in with what may be the most unhinged media reflecting pool take yet: Kids can no longer “splash around" in the pool for fear of being arrested, which is the “ultimate symbol” of the country’s fall into authoritarianism. Good lord."

Aurora Borealis @aborealis940, "Overnight, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the Russian “Dubna” space communications center in #Moscow region, - the General Staff This is one of the largest satellite communications facilities in #ruZZia, which supports government and military communications." Dave Strom at Hat Hair thinks Ukraine Is Systematically Dismantling Russia's War Machine. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn thinks it's funny that Without $34M in USAID to Help Elect Communists, Colombia Does the Rightward Presidential Flip. John Sexton at Hat Hair wonders Do Canadians Hate America Now? From Ace, Europeans Visiting the US for the World Cup Have Been Marveling At American Plenty, So the Left-Wing Bitter Widow Vanity Magazine "The Atlantic" Tries to Prove It's All a Right-Wing Psyop.

Sundance at CTH hosts Vice President JD Vance Giving an Update on U.S-Iran Ceasefire Discussion. From NYPo, Vance suggests US, Iran could ‘transform’ relationship but Tehran officials insist they’re not making friends: ‘Primary option is jihad’, Capt Ed at Hat Hair wonders Did Vance Cut Israel Out Of the Loop on Hezbollah 'Deconfliction'? THE SKIN DOCTOR @theskindoctor13, "US-Iran Peace Talks Fail. The US delegation, led by JD Vance, entered the meeting arena first. This was strange, because the party that claims to be the upper hand typically arrives last. Shortly after, the Iranian delegation arrived. They greeted the mediator, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, but informed him that they refused to negotiate due to recent threats issued by Trump. They didn't meet Vance and then abruptly left. A panicked Sharif frantically requested his boss, "Field Marshal" Munir, to intervene, but Munir also appeared helpless. Watching from a distance, Vance approached and asked what had happened. A shaken Sharif and Munir apologetically explained the situation to him." Buck Throckmorton at Ace's, MORNING RANT: The Iran Situation and Trump’s MOU – What Constitutes “Finishing the Job” After the Lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan?

John Sexton at Hat Hair hears Elon Musk Suggests He Could Sue Ro Khanna. "On the same show he suggested that Musk needed to be investigated and possibly prosecuted for killing millions of children," by helping shut down USAID. At NYPo, Bill Maher shuts down Rep. Ro Khanna as he fawns over Mamdani: ‘He pals around with terrorists!’Ro Khanna @RoKhanna, "Ro against the Robber Barons of our time." Quote DogeDesigner @cb_doge, "BREAKING: Elon Musk calls for the arrest of Ro 'the Robber' Khanna. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that a USAID official and several executives pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme involving more than $550 million in contracts." Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "You mean the people who are building things, creating the wealth you feed on, creating jobs? The parasites are in Congress. Insider trading and trying to bilk the rest of us for graft. Anyway, congrats, a public feud with @elonmusk is the best thing that ever happened to you. After the insider trading, that is. Fundraising off that, angling off that, aren't you." Ro Khanna @RoKhanna, "Elon, how about just paying the 5% instead of hurling random insults? And here are the facts, man. Your USAID cuts did this: https://ph.ucla.edu/news-events/news/research-finds-more-14-million-preventable-deaths-2030-if-usaid-defunding." Quote Elon Musk @elonmusk, Replying to @WesternLensman, "He’s such an evil liar." Matt Van Swol @mattvanswol, "Hello Ro, As a sign of good faith in the idea, why don't you personally, ahead of any tax, donate 5% of your $232.7 MILLION net worth to the government. It will fund childcare for 1,000 kids. Why won't you donate your own money to this cause?" From Twitchy, Ruh-Ro!: Khanna Wants Debate With Elon Musk After He Threatened to Sue Over USAID Child Murder Claims. Ace, Ro Khanna, Attempting to Appeal to the Antifa Left for His Presidential Run, Begins the Assassination Prep Machine Against Elon Musk. "Foreign disruptor Ro Khanna says Musk "needs to answer" for "sentencing 4.5 million children to death" with DOGE cuts. He says this as the left is shooting all of their hate objects and cheering on the assassins."

From the Free Bacon, Graham Platner Endorsed Comment From 'RevolutionaryCommie' Calling America a 'Disgraceful Country': 'I'm an American, and I Can't Disagree'. "The since-deleted Reddit post came in the wake of the Iranian terror chief Qassem Soleimani's death." PJM's Chris Queen would like you to Meet James Talarico’s 'TransQueer,' 'Latinx' Theology, Umm, Bro. Atop Da Hill, Will AOC suffer the same fate as Bernie and RFK Jr. in the next Democratic primary? TownHall's Matt Vespa cites an Interesting Poll About the Dems From NY Voters...and Not in a Good Way and Jeff Charles says The FBI Just Made a Huge Fraud Arrest in Chicago. No, really! Da Caller hears ‘Done Talking To You’ as Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Lashes Out When Asked About State Fraud Scandal. Tyler Bowyer @tylerbowyer, "The Arizona Republic is so defunct it is fully ignoring reports of the absolute melt down from the most embarrassing US Senator in America who happens to be from THEIR STATE." Quote Irie Sentner @iriesentner, "SCOOP: Sen. Ruben Gallego repeatedly used campaign cash to fund luxury outings with his wife and to care for his children since launching his campaign for Senate in 2023, including attending the Super Bowl using a joint campaign account with Eric Swalwell." Ward Clark at RedState calls it a Shocker: Adam Schiff Now Concedes Trump DOJ May Have Case Against Newsom. Driscoll at Insty on CALIFORNIA DYING: "How Skid Row got to this point has been a long time in the making, with many guilty parties. In the 1970s, an unholy alliance of trade unions, business, activists and nearby nimby’s agreed on a ‘containment’ plan, that focused all homelessness, medical drug support and NGO activity to the area, with vagrants heavily discouraged from leaving that area." Spencer Pratt @spencerpratt, "It's easy to say crime is down when you just...stop counting crimes." Quote Lisa Cusack @lisa_4_la, " At Father’s Day dinner tonight my dad told us that one of his restaurants had been broken into the last four nights in a row. The perpetrators took mostly beer—bottled and tap—and broke some windows. He went to report it, but was told it looked like it done by homeless, and the city doesn’t report petty thefts by homeless. (Crime is down!) Hope the Bass/Raman voters enjoy their free beer." TownHall's Joe Chalfant reports The Biden Administration Is at the Center of a Massive Fentanyl Trafficking Scandal. "The DEA, under President Joe Biden’s leadership, is at the center of a jaw-dropping "drugwalking" scandal that revealed the agency allowed 1.8 million fentanyl pills to be delivered, a move that a whistleblower says “100 percent got people killed.”"

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh " HOLY CRAP. Sen. Chuck Schumer just sounded the alarm that the SAVE America Act will REMOVE "25 MILLION PEOPLE" from the voter rolls Keep in mind, the bill is for voter ID and proof of citizenship If true, that means 25 MILLION people are illegals or not eligible citizens without ID!" Chuck is either making crap up or HE KNOWS THERE ARE 25 MILLION ILLEGALS VOTING Which is it, Chuck? PASS THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!" A Larry video at Hat Hair, Chuck Schumer Slips Up: 25 Million Voters Erased. The Center Square Georgia reports Georgia Senate passes voting bill over Democrats' objections. WANE, Black Democrats push back on Wasserman Schultz’s bid in Florida’s 20th District. Calling All Rush-Babes says *Just when you thought the Democrats couldn’t stoop any lower…”Senator” Jon Ossoff of Georgia goes lower. Dick Morris to Newsmax: Cheap Gas Will Sink Dems in Midterms.

Joe Chalfant, Federal Judge Declares That Common-Sense Election Integrity Is Illegal "Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, a Biden-appointed federal judge from Trinidad and Tobago." Tom Knighton at BA opines Jackson's Concurring Opinion in Hemani Case Makes Laughable Argument Against Bruen. John Sexton reports DOJ Appeals Light Sentence for Kavanaugh's Would-Be Assassin, because he claimed to be trans.

Bob Hoge at RedState happily reports 'The Deep State Firings Have Begun' — Reports Indicate Acting DNI Pulte Carrying Out Mass Terminations. No need for Senate confirmation. From Sundance, Promethean PAC Barbara Boyd Evaluates Tulsi Gabbard Biolab Releases and L.A School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho Resigns During Ongoing FBI Investigation.

From the Chronic, Trump Ramps Up War on the Birth Tourism Industry. Beege Welborn hears A Dutch 'Tugboat Harbor' No Longer Willing to Be an Asylum Seeker Safe Port.

MAZE @mazemoore, "For years Jake Tapper spread the Fine People Hoax. Since Tapper hates white supremacy so much, surely he will be reporting on the SPLC scandal soon right? The SPLC was funding white supremacy so I'm sure Tapper will be doing to do a deep dive on it any day now." John LeFevre @JohnLeFevre, "NYT headline yesterday: A driver in a Tesla vehicle that was engaged in automated driver-assistance mode crashed into a house in Texas and killed a woman. Today: Tesla logs confirm the driver manually overrode the self-driving system and had the accelerator floored the entire time. The first headline (lie) gets all the clicks. The facts get overlooked. And the NYT doesn't bother with a correction because it doesn't fit their narrative."

At the Tele, Starmer resigns as Prime Minister. News Wax reports UK PM Starmer Quits, Will Stay on Until Successor Is Chosen. Beege Welborn says And We Won't Have Keir Starmer to Kick Around Much Longer - Prime Minister Quits. At Ace, Keir Starmer Announces Resignation as His Pre-Arranged Replacement Is Sworn In To Parliament. "Before that, here's a completely unrelated story. UK Police told mother of daughter stabbed to death 23 times with screwdriver by Rwandan 'asylum seeker' to 'tone down' statement to avoid anti-migrant 'violence'." Sundance, As Expected U.K Prime Minister Keir Starmer Officially Resigns – Labour Party Lining Up Behind Andy Burnham. Driscoll at Insty cites BRENDAN O’NEILL: Good riddance to Keir Starmer’s tyranny of greyness. VodkaPundit at PJM says Fail, Britannia: Meet the New Commie, Worse Than the Old Commie. Bonchie @bonchieredstate, "Keir Starmer stepping down is like replacing a hammer to the forehead with a brick to the temple. It’s nice to see him go, but for now, you’ll get Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney. Andy Burnham is still a socialist. He still complains about “Islamophobia.” Nothing will change." Newsbusters notices No Mention of U.K. Migrant Crisis in CNN’s Starmer Resignation Coverage. From Fire, UK teen social media ban is anonymity-killer for adults.

At Ace, Massachusetts Middle School Principal Apoglogizes to Muslim Students for Making Them Feel "Unseen" and "Unsafe" for... A Teacher Teaching a Standard, Basic Lesson About the Holocaust. "They intend to make you submit to Islam."

Julia Cassidy at TownHall reports a Fired Teacher Accused of Forcing Students to Kiss Lands New Job at Colorado Elementary School, girl on girl. Insty notes GAY MARRIAGE BECAME POPULAR BY BEING NORMALIZED. THIS STUFF IS DENORMALIZING IT. "Virtue Signaling as a Vice: How LGBTQ+ Activism is Slowly Killing Support for Gay Marriage. Gays never should have let the TQ+ crowd into the tent." CJ asks Do “Anti-LGBTQ+” Policies Worsen Mental Health? "A recent survey claims to find they do, but its conclusions ignore key evidence."

And even more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.26

Tuesday Tanlines

Australian Leisure Management, Tanning bed operator ordered to pay $35,300 for radiation offences

A Sydney cosmetic business has been court-ordered to forfeit all nine of its tanning beds and pay $16,000 in fines and $19,300 in legal fees for illegally operating cosmetic tanning services using ultra-violet radiation.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) prosecuted F.A. Beauty Pty Ltd in the Local Court of NSW for two offences under the state’s radiation laws.

Trading as The Tanned Me, F.A. Beauty operated two premises in Bondi and Fairfield, where EPA investigators accompanied by NSW Police found nine UV tanning beds and evidence of cash-in-hand payments.

Advising that it is illegal to provide, or offer to provide, commercial UV cosmetic tanning services in the state, NSW EPA Executive Director of Regulatory Practice and Services, Emma Whale stated "this case is the culmination of a long and detailed investigation and the first time we have successfully prosecuted a business for offering UV tanning services.

Wired2Fish, Maryland Offering Up to $1,500 Per Blue Catfish Charter Trip

In addition to tournament incentives, Maryland is launching a new pilot program designed to support both invasive species management and the state’s charter fishing industry.

The DNR is offering charter boat captains and fishing guides reimbursements of up to $1,500 per trip through a new initiative called the “Reel in the Blues Bonanza.” The program will provide free blue catfish charter trips to randomly selected members of the public during the summer and fall of 2026.

Captains interested in participating must submit an interest form by June 22. Beginning June 24, the state will open registration for members of the public who wish to be entered into a drawing for free blue catfish fishing trips.

 Hey, that's two days. Maybe I'll put in.

Participating captains and guides will be reimbursed by the department for up to $1,500 per trip, including compensation that may exceed the normal cost of a charter and includes gratuities for mates. To qualify, operators must possess a Maryland Waterman ID number, hold a valid U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license when applicable, and report harvest data electronically through Maryland’s FACTS system.

According to Maryland officials, the program is part of a broader strategy to reduce invasive blue catfish populations while collecting harvest information and supporting the charter fleet. State officials indicated similar programs could continue in 2027 and 2028 depending on funding and participation levels.

It might help, but I have a feeling the market for Blue Catfish is pretty well saturated. The captains will go any day they can put a charter together, and most of the time it doesn't seem like they have too much trouble lining up anglers. But if they started offering free, or lower cost trips, from this program, they might grow their customer base.

Green Eye

The weekly update on the progress in my recovery from my second retinal detachment/reattachment surgery at 7 weeks.

There's really not a lot to report. The bubble, which was billed as taking 6 weeks to dissipate, continues to shrink, but not fast enough for me. It appears a little smaller each day when I look down, which puts it up against the back of the retina, and centers it in my vision. Looking forward it's an increasingly smaller arc in my lower vision. I'm guessing full dissipation is still two weeks away.

The two eyes are generally working better together. Mostly the left, affected eye is focused too short to contribute much except for close in reading. It is still slanted to the right, and I still see two horizons at the beach, although the slanted one is fuzzy and easily ignored overridden by the sharp, right eye. I have scheduled an appointment to get a new prescription for glasses in late July.  Hopefully the bubble will be gone by then. It will be interesting to see how they get on when they focus on the same plane. It worries me a little.

There is no significant pain, just a very occasional twinge, although there's still a general feeling that something is in the eye, that I blame on the rubber band, excuse me, scleral buckle they put around the eye, to help keep the retina pressed against the back of the eye. There's still a little redness in the white of the eye in the left corner, but it appears to be slowly fading.

Flotsam and Jetsam - With Father's Day Leftovers

There's a bit of debris left over from Father's Day. Stacy McCain sees Father’s Day: An Extremist Agenda. To wit, Alex Berenson @AlexBerenson, "Cannot make this up, either. @nytimes opinion has had four recent pieces about fatherhood and masculinity, with six authors: Three women A trans "man" Two childless men Not one father. The cultural elite contempt for dads runs so deep we don't even get to speak for ourselves." Quote, "Alex Berenson @AlexBerenson, "I want to congratulate @nytimes for perfectly catching how the cultural elite view men and fatherhood this Father’s Day - yes, to the Times, being a dad is something you do to feel better about having your tits cut off. Cannot make it up." And via Insty, a scathing letter from Papa Marx to his wastrel son, Karl. Enguerrand VII de Coucy @ingelramdecoucy, "Absolutely brutal takedown of the entire commie worldview and unearned sense of entitlement by Heinrich Marx here. 10/10, no notes." I had a quiet, pleasant father's day. A solitary afternoon walk on the beach, a video call with the Pittsburgh family (not unusual for a Sunday), a steak dinner (also not unusual for Sunday), and Georgia made a blueberry pie, with some slight assistance from Gabby.

From NYPo, Michael Goodwin reports Leaked and classified Situation Room talks demand a criminal probe from ‘furious’ Trump. Find them and prosecute. VodkaPundit at Insty says FORTUNATELY THIS WAS ONLY A TEST OF THE COMPANY’S WEAPONS-GRADE LLM: Anthropic’s Mythos AI Cracked ‘Almost All’ US Classified Systems in Hours, NSA Chief Reportedly Said. ""Anthropic’s most powerful artificial intelligence model reportedly breached ‘almost all’ US classified systems in a matter of hours, according to Senator Mark Warner, who says the head of the National Security Agency told him directly that the model had penetrated nearly every classified system it was tested against. The claim has not been publicly confirmed by any government agency"...Previously: Why Did the Smartest AI in the World Just Go Dark?" I assume we've turned it against China, Russia and Iran. Soon, there will be no secrets at all. Will that be a good thing?

Sweet Betsy from Pike LI, Former Olympic Athlete Among Those Arrested for Reflecting Pool Vandalism. "Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, 67, was arrested Friday on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property." Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. Of course, being DC, he would be acquitted, then feted as a hero. The least they can do is make the process painful. Althouse has The pro-algae crowd... "... and the rubber rippers..."

Sundance hears Zelenskyy Demands President Trump Authorize Licenses for Ukraine to Begin Development of U.S. Patriot Missiles in Ukraine. At RCW, The Steel Peas Russia Sends Into Kyiv. At Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog, Russia’s Military: Thermoclines of Truth (And Endemic Corruption) All The Way Down.

Joe Chalfant at TownHall hear Colombia's Socialist Despot Blame Israel After Electoral Loss to Trump-Backed Candidate.

At Hat Hair Dave Strom calls them Schrödinger's Negotiations; Iran Suspends Talks, Demands Apology; Syria Says No to Fighting Hezbollah and Josh Hammer fears Trump Ties His Name and Credibility to Vance's Dubious Iran Diplomacy. From No Pasaran! Many People Question the White House's Decision Regarding Iran; Maybe the Secret Is That Trump Has Decided That the Overwhelming Goal Now Is to Win the 2026 Mid-Terms. Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "As we contemplate the Iranian delegation storming out of the negotiations in Switzerland like a bunch of humiliated high school mean girls, consider the possibility that Trump signed the MOU for two reasons: 1. To show the whole world that the Iranian mullahs are incapable of operating in good faith. 2. To show the world he has no choice but to once again bomb the crap out of them." Joe Chalfant reports DHS Says Iranian World Cup Team Tried to Smuggle IRGC Members Into the United States. Arrange an "accident."

Jen O'Connell at RedState hear Los Angeles Is Burning Again and Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom Are Once Again Slow Rolling Their Response. It takes a minute to line up the graft. BORED @BoredElonMusk, "Annual budgets for: LA Fire Department: $800 million LA Homelessness: $1.3 billion We spend more to protect 1% of the population than on the service that impacts 100% of us. Do you see the problem here?"

NYPo ed board explores how Hochul’s $11 billion bid-rigging scandal is how Medicaid works in New York. Scott McLallen at RCP says Blue States Feed Taxpayers to Food-Stamp Wolves. Tim Burchett @timburchett, "Ban all NGOs." Quote MatrixMysteries @MatrixMysteries, ""$600,000,000 of US taxpayer money sent to an NGO, EVERY 2-3 MONTHS for ILLEGAL migrants" A DHS employee says he personally sends the electronic transfers."

Hon. Vickie Paladino @VickieforNYC, "Let every single elected Democrat understand that no matter what your bona fides are, no matter what you’ve done for the party, no matter how good your voting record is, no matter how far to the left you moved, no matter the ties you have to the community and the people you represent, the DSA hates you. And the minute they think they have an opening, you’ll be demonized in the ugliest ways imaginable, your family and supporters will be harassed, and you’ll face a brutal primary against some unemployable twentysomething snotnose communist hand-picked by DSA casting and backed by millions in NGO money. This is your party now. So, why bother playing along anymore?" Quote Roberto @r0berto_mid_5, "leftist and socialist comrades in nyc, I know you all live in bklyn and queens, but if you can canvass today tomorrow or directly on Tuesday, please canvass for darializa. she honestly needs it the most, get out there! non-nyc friends, phonebank! links in replies! x.com/KalshiPolitics…" Sundance says There it is – Gallego Targeting Acquired.

Tulsi Gabbard @TulsiGabbard, "Yesterday was my final day as Director of National Intelligence. I declassified and released never-before-seen documents exposing the truth about Fauci directing millions of US taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab, worked with the..." SaltyBath @saltybathx365, "Why didn’t you create a path to prosecute him? You waited. Why?" Tulsi Gabbard @TulsiGabbard. "He lied to Congress in 2024. There is a path." Mary Talley Bowden MD @MaryBowdenMD, "Maybe we can get Fauci fired from Georgetown the way many of us got fired for speaking the truth. Email: globalhealth@georgetown.edu" Leave the old man alone; he was only arguably complicit in the deaths of 15-20 million people.

Shipwreckedcrew lawsplains Why The Supreme Court Allowed Alabama to Use Its 2023 Redistricting Map After Previously Upholding A Lower Court Injunction Against Its Use. "Bad faith arguments of inconsistency by the Supreme Court have proliferated online." Shooting NewsWeek sees the ACLU Can’t Bring Themselves to Acknowledge Hemani Ruling Was Also a Win for Gun Rights.

Sundance claims Keir Starmer Moments Away from Resignation. But from Sky News, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to step down after Labour rival Andy Burnham wins by-election. At TCW, Strength, morals, determination, empathy – everything that King Andy lacks. Fox, He's gone, Keir Starmer resigns as British prime minister after devastating Labour revolt and local election losses Bryan Jung at PJM claims Embattled Keir Starmer Accused of Staging Russian Ship Raid to Boost Poll Numbers "Royal Marines, supported by British security and naval forces, boarded the vessel on June 14 after authorities linked it to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” ships accused of helping Moscow evade sanctions and continue exporting oil. The government said officials had planned the raid over several weeks and launched it as part of Britain’s effort to enforce sanctions against Russia." Assuming ke's capable of advance planning.

From Campus Reform, Seattle Professor Under Review After Calling for Action Against ‘Zionist’ Employees. At the College Fix, UNC Wilmington to eliminate gender studies director position. 

From CJ, Do “Anti-LGBTQ+” Policies Worsen Mental Health? "A recent survey claims to find they do, but its conclusions ignore key evidence."