Flotsam and Jetsam - Massie Gets the Boot

But not without some insane last minute texts to convince low information voters that he was MAGA afterall. From Ace, Disgraceful RINO Grifter Tom Massie is Now Sending Out Texts Claiming Trump Endorsed Him Rather Than His Opponent. ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena, "Kentucky election day shenanigans; Massie campaign sends out to KY 4 voters via text a 2022 Trump statement making it look like the president supports Massie today where he clearly supports Gallrein Text ends with "Paid for by Thomas Massie for Congress." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair has LIVE PRIMARY RESULTS: Mässiedämmerung in KY; UPDATE: Massie Loses; UPDATE: Massie Loses It Too. NRO, Massie Ousted by Trump-Backed Challenger in Kentucky Primary. Sundance at CTH, UPDATE: Massie Loses His Seat – Kentucky Vote Results, Ed Gallrein vs Thomas Massie, Open Discussion Thread. Ace, in red font, Goodbye Massie: Decision Desk Projects Ed Gallrein will be the Republican Nominee for KY-4. At Twitchy, Unclassy With Massie: Thomas Massie's Concession Jab at Ed Gallrein Shows EXACTLY Why He Lost (Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "JUST IN — REP. THOMAS MASSIE CONCEDES: "I would've come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede." "And it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv." "I have called and conceded the race."" Also, MAGA Vs. Massie: Scott Jennings Delivers Kentucky Republican Incumbent’s Primary Post-Mortem on CNN Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, spit into the wind, pull the mask off the ole’ Lone Ranger, or mess around with … Trump! My KY-04 analysis for CNN tonight." Scott Pinsker at PJM, Welcome to the NEW Republican Party: What It Stands for, What It Hates, and Why Thomas Massie Is Toast and Stephen Kruiser, Republicans Finally Get Serious About Purging the Squishes. 

In a not unrelated story, Sundance reports President Trump Endorses Ken Paxton, for Texas Senator, snubbing the incumbent Republican John Cornyn for being off the reservation too often. Ace, Trump Endorses Ken Paxton for Senate, "It's a bit late but hopefully it will swing enough votes to put another RINO out on the street outside of MSNOW begging to go on camera for five minutes to pitch his podcast." David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "The president was crystal clear, the deal was; pass the Save America Act and I’ll save Cornyn. This was John Thune’s choice." Quote Jake Sherman @JakeSherman, "BREAKING -- TRUMP ENDORSES KEN PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE." Jen O'Connell at RedState thinks JD Vance's Response to Trump Dropping Cornyn Like a Hot Rock Is Really a Message From the Voters, "I've known John Cornyn for a long time, But unfortunately, you know, when it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president, and that's why he ultimately earned the president's endorsement. He thinks he's going to be a better senator, thinks he's going to make a better candidate, and so, I do think it sends a message."

Amy Curtis at TownHall, Here's What Vice President Vance Had to Say at Today's White House Briefing and Sundance, Vice President JD Vance Delivers White House Press Briefing and President Trump Gives Media a Tour of White House Ballroom and Defense Infrastructure. The Manhattan Contrarian, "Sue And Settle": Two Can Play This Game. At Armed Forces Press, Why Is My Alma Mater USAFA Allowing Professors Who Undermine The Commander-In-Chief?

Steve Richards at JTN reports Trump pursues ‘strategic stability’ with China, downplays conflicts over Taiwan and land ownership, "The American president has prioritized ironing out a stable trade relationship with the world’s second-largest economy, but experts warn of China’s spotty history of following through." Sundance has Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin Arrives in Beijing, China for Summit with Chairman Xi and Happening Quietly – Mexico Freezes Bank Accounts of Indicted Sinaloa Members and Collaborates with U.S. Intelligence Hub in Juarez.

RCP opines Voting Rights Act Never Mandated Racial Districts. Shipwreckedcrew, The Louisiana Redistricting Case: The End of Mandating "Majority-Minority" -- Errrr Democrat -- Congressional Districts? A Law Splainer, "The claim has long been they are required by the Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act: Justice Alito -- "The law doesn't say that and it never did."" Matt Vespa at TownHall, We Have Some HUGE News About South Carolina's Redistricting Effort, 7R-0D, eliminating Jim Clyburn's gerrymandered district. If the state senate passes it. At Twitchy, Marc Elias Sets Himself Up for a MAJOR TORCHING from Mollie Hemingway That's Just Too Damn FUNNY. Marc E. Elias @marceelias, "Many of you are asking how you can help me. My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket for free and share its content with everyone you know. Thanks." Mollie @MZHemingway, "Buddy, do I have news for you! A man named Marc Elias is behind most threats to election integrity, including the nepharioys and horrific Russia collusion lie, efforts to destabilize election security with tens of millions of unsupervised ballots, and even radical gerrymander efforts. Look into him!"

At Da Caller, Karen Bass Pitches Second-Term Goal Showing Lights Are Truly Out In LA. Proposing solar street lights because addicts are stealing the copper from regular lights. James Woods @RealJamesWoods, "This is satire for the record." Quote James Woods @RealJamesWoods, "This would be wrong. And you could get in trouble when asked for your ID to vote. Oh, wait! Never mind. Voter ID is not allowed in California. Oh, and on a completely separate note, the best freeway hours are 10AM-11:30 AM. Just saying." Steve Hilton @SteveHiltonx, "We destroyed California - vote for us!" Quote Mayor Matt Mahan @MattMahanSJ, "California ranks first in population loss, first in gas prices, and dead last in housing affordability. My party has to own this, fix it, and push back on a federal government that’s making it worse. That’s why I’m running for governor." From Ace, "Teen Takeovers" Are Now Common in Blue Cities; Media Begins Pushing Idea That Violent Teen Orcs Don't Need Jail Time, Just "Youth Centers" They Can Fight In and Destroy Instead of Chipotles. At State of the Day, State of Monday: JUDGE JEANINE GETS HER OPPORTUNITY. “Starting today, my office will aggressively prosecute parents under D.C.’s curfew law,” Pirro said during a press conference Friday. “This statute makes it unlawful for an adult to enable, facilitate or permit a minor to engage in delinquent acts. The penalty is up to six months imprisonment."

Rusty Weiss at RedState, Graham Platner Was Already Disgusting — These Latest Unearthed Posts Make It Much Worse. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, Graham Platner Is One Revolting Tub O' Goo. Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "Democrat star Graham Platner’s now deleted reddit account was archived. Here’s some gems: "I still have to jerk off every time I sit in a portas----er… that blue water smell conditioned me." Described penis drawing inside a portable toilet while deployed overseas and called d*** art "beautiful," "engorged and veiny," and moving "towards its penetrative glory." Wrote that he “became a communist” Praised Hamas terrorists." Quote Fox News Politics @foxnewspolitics, "FIRST ON FOX: Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's deleted Reddit account reveals graphic posts about masturbating in portable toilets and praising explicit military restroom graffiti — the latest in a growing trail of vulgar comments that could define his race." Youthful stupidities I can forgive. But then he became a communist. From the San Antonio Current, House candidate Maureen Galindo pledges to send ‘American zionists’ to internment camp, "Despite a growing storm of criticism, including from members of her own party, the San Antonio Democrat insists she’s not antisemitic." Fox, Hakeem Jeffries shredded over ‘disgustingly violent’ call for Dems to break spirit of MAGA. "While speaking at a progressive conference on Tuesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called for Democrats to not only defeat "MAGA extremists" electorally but also "break their spirit."" John Sexton at Hat Hair, Democrats Have a Problem. The Solution is Less Extremism.

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair says Hmmm: Key MN Fraud Figure Claims Omar Took Part in $250M Scam. Elon Musk @elonmusk, "SPLC got better returns than Nancy Pelosi and inverse Cramer combined!" Quote David Sacks @DavidSacks, "SPLC invested $270k in Charlottesville and got $81 million in additional donations. Extraordinary returns."

At NYPo, the Divine Miranda Devine: Anthony Fauci can’t escape his ‘origin’al COVID lie.

Sundance sees (and hosts) Acting AG Todd Blanche Taking a Stronger, More Oppositional Approach to Democrats During Senate Testimony.

Sister Toldja at RedState, New: Alleged Manifesto in San Diego Mosque Mass Shooting Throws Wrench in Early Assumptions About Motives. 

Mark Krikorian at Common Place says Immigration Enforcement Needs ‘You’re Fired’ "There are many ways to shrink the illegal immigrant population—use all of them."

From Ace, Katy Tur: When Speaker Mike Johnson Said That God Imbues People With Inalienable Rights, Was He Attempting to "Put God Over the Declaration of Independence"? "Katy Tur is a moderately pretty girl with a nice rack. That is the only reason she is on TV "news." Keith Olbermann used to sleep with her and claimed that she was so stupid that he had to rewrite all of "her" news articles for her, because they were poorly written and pointless. Typical case of an old bent gangly dweeb having to do the hot girl's homework for her. But I do imagine that he's telling the truth about this one thing."

On Stephen Colbert's imminent departure and the demise of the Late Show, John Sexton says Thank Goodness, It's Almost Over. A Driscolly post at Insty starts with DAVID HARSANYI: Stephen Colbert turned into the pompous dullard he once satirized.

Daily Mail @DailyMail "Deportation flight to Muslim-majority Pakistan serves pork sausages as part of 'full Irish breakfast'" Not the Bee @Not_the_Bee, "So you guys are upset enough about this to write about it, even though you admit in the article that Halal food was available on the flight but simply not chosen by the passenger. Journalism is dead."

At Hat Hair, Mark Judge (remember him?) comforts Conservatives: The Culture is Not as Bad as You Think.

Tom Knighton at Bearing Arms is delighted with Babylon Bee Going on a Rampage Mocking Anti-Gun Media, Politicians

Almost forgot to plug the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.19.26. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: A Common Enemy and FMJRA 2.0: Writing Until Dawn up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - SCOTUS Nixes Racial Gerrymandering

Voting 6-3 along exactly the lines you'd expect, the Supreme Court overturned lower courts who had demanded states set aside certain seats to create safe congressional seats for racial minorities based on the Voting Rights Act. The ruling doesn't forbid gerrymandering on a partisan basis (looking at you Texas, Virginia and California), and puts a large number of seats in red states vulnerable to redistricting favorable to the GOP. As you might imagine, Democrats are throwing a hissy fit. Matt Vespa at TownHall, The Supreme Court Has Ruled on the Voting Rights Act. Matt Margolis at PJM, Supreme Court Drops HUGE Ruling on the Voting Rights Act. "In a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, the majority held that Louisiana's congressional map — redrawn to include a second majority-black district — constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Fifteenth Amendment. The Court stopped short of striking down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act entirely, but it dramatically narrowed the ways in which states may use race when drawing congressional maps." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, NEW: SCOTUS Narrows Section 2 of Voting Rights Act, Strikes Down Racial Gerrymander. Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson, "MASSIVE WIN: Supreme Court just ruled 6-3 that drawing Congressional districts solely based on race is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Republicans could flip a dozen Democrats seats in the South alone ahead of the midterms." At Althouse, "The justices, split along ideological lines, ruled that the voting map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander." "In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan accused the court’s conservative majority of gutting the Voting Rights Act. " From "Live Updates: Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Map in Voting Rights Case" (NYT)."The upshot of Rucho was that, as far as federal law is concerned, a state legislature may use partisan advantage as a factor in redistricting. And litigants cannot circumvent that rule by dressing their political-gerrymandering claims in racial garb.... [T]he Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district, [so] no compelling interest justified the State’s use of race in creating SB8." Sundance at CTH, Supreme Court Rules Racial District Gerrymandering Violates Constitution. Ace gives it the red, all-caps italic, with the flaming skull (more than third attempt at Trump's assassination), IN EPOCHAL RULING, SUPREME COURT HOLDS, 6-3, THAT RACIAL GERRYMANDERS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL -- MUCH LESS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION, "I don't know if the southern states affected like this can impose an emergency redistricting double-quick for the midterms, but some analysts believe that this ruling will eventually flip 19 Democrat seats to Republican." At Twitchy, Newsom Press Office Has Total Meltdown Over Supreme Court Gerrymandering Ruling and Florida’s New Maps. Next up? At the Free Bacon, EXCLUSIVE: In Cities Across America, Homeless Services Are Doled Out Based on Race and Sexual Identity, "Some formulas give race more weight than any other variable." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, I Love a Theatrical Production - FL Passes DeSantis Redistricting Map, +4 for GOP and John Sexton notes a New Jersey Pregnancy Center Wins at the Supreme Court.

Jerry Dunleavy IV @JerryDunleavy, "Yes, Cole Allen is an attempted assassin, a Bluesky brain rotted idiot, and a dangerous guy, but the dork factor here should not be overlooked." Quote Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney, "JUST IN: Federal prosecutors release new images and details of Cole Allen and his alleged attempt to assassinate president Trump. Here is a mirror selfie he took about 30 minutes before charging past the magnetometers." Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "The dude is going to spend the rest of his life in federal prison. He gave it all up just for this photo. It’s horrifying." Quote Jeff Blehar is *BOX OFFICE POISON* @EsotericCD, "LOL at the glamour selfie with completely unnecessary gear. (Wire cutters??) A generation of semi-autistic narcissists. x.com/kyledcheney/st…" David F. Pierre, Jr.@TheMediaReport1, "No radical footprint." You. gotta. be. kidding. me." David M. McIntosh @DavidMMcintosh, "This is what happens when Democrats and the media rant and rave nonstop for 10 years about how Republicans are 'literally Hitler' because they disagree with their policies. This isn't a new phenomenon either, remember Robert Bork!" Hat Hair's Beege Welborn thinks It's Over If 'Don't Think Shooting People Down in the Street Is Necessarily the Answer' IS the Answer. Matt Margolis Guess Who This Democrat Blames for the Latest Trump Assassination Attempt, Give up? Trump of course! Ace, Assassination-Prep Specialist Congressman Dan Goldman: The Person Responsible for Trump's Third Assassination Trump is Trump Himself. "Do you want to take this kinetic? Because this is how you take this kinetic." Twitchy, Left: 'Trump Must Lower the Temperature!' Wajahat Ali: Literally Begs Trump to Die in FOUL Rant (WATCH). At Da Wire, Chloe Trapanatto says There’s A Reason Why The Left Keeps Trying To Kill Republicans, "It's because they despise our very existence." Michael Goodwin at NYPo, hears The Dems’ newest phrase in raging at the GOP is to go ‘Kill yourself’.

Terrence K. Williams @w_terrence, "Dear Jimmy Kimmel, listen to me very closely. I’m a comedian. I’ve made fun of Jill Biden. I’ve made fun of Michelle Obama. I’ve roasted First Ladies before. But I have never in my life joked about Jill Biden becoming a widow or Michelle Obama becoming a widow. I’ve never joked about Joe Biden or Barack Obama having an attempt made on their life. I’ve never laughed at the thought of their wives standing there in fear, wondering if their husbands are going to make it home alive. Because that is not comedy. That is sick. You could have joked about Melania being married to Trump. You could have joked about politics. You could have even gone after her accent like liberals usually do. But no — you chose to joke about Melania Trump becoming a widow. And let’s be honest, Jimmy: when you hate Donald Trump as much as you do, that doesn’t sound like a joke. It sounds like how you really feel. They always say there is truth in comedy." Stephen Kruiser at PJM says Here's an Idea — Just Let Jimmy Kimmel Continue to Cancel Himself. Tim O'Brien at PJM, The FCC’s Bad News for Disney/ABC: The Time for Playing Nice Is Over.

At Armed Forces Press, BREAKING: Air Force Academy Female Insubordination Threatens Secretary Of War During Global Conflict - Former Superintendent Lt Gen Michelle Johnson Reportedly Leads Charge Against 'Old White Men' Recently Elected To USAFA AOG. Court martials are in order. Sundance sees Consciousness of Guilt – Fed Chairman Powell Refuses to Leave Fed Board After Term Expires, “I will leave when I think it’s appropriate to do so” "Today, after announcing yet again the Fed will not lower interest rates, Chairman Jerome Powell announced he will not leave the board of the federal reserve even after his term has expired and he is replaced by recently advanced Kevin Warsh. Powell said he plans to maintain a “low profile” as a governor, but it will be the first time since 1948 that a Federal Reserve Chairman has stayed on the board at the end of their chairmanship." Hat Hair's John Sexton thinks Philip Kennicott's Ballroom Panic is Wearing Thin.

Matt Vespa thinks Speaker Johnson Just Clinched a Massive Win in the House Today Jake Sherman @JakeSherman, "BIG WIN FOR JOHNSON HOUSE PASSES BIG RULE FOR FARM, FISA, BUDGET RESOLUTION 216-210 After TWO HOURS on the floor." Cam at Bearing Arms observes the New Funding Bill for DOJ Includes Big Cut to ATF Budget, Deregulation of Some NFA Items.

Also from John Sexton, Putin Scales Back Military Parade, Seems Agreeable to a Ceasefire with Ukraine. Sundance, President Trump Notes Extended Conversation with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

Capt. Ed cites Axios: Trump Leaning Toward a Blockade-Plus-Limited(?)-Booms Strategy and 'Death Spiral': Iran May Be Near Tipping Point, Says WSJ. Seems reasonable to me. Trump far prefers using money to beat adversaries than bombs, but the Mullahs need some extra encouragement. At RedState, Ward Clark sees Rubble and Ruin: Epic Fury Now Pushing Iran Into Economic Free-Fall and Nick Arama says Iranian Leader Ghalibaf Tries a Desperate Bluster, Gets Decimated by Bessent. Open Source Intel @Osint613, "The Iranian rial hit an all-time low today, 1,810,000 to one U.S. dollar. Six weeks of war with the U.S. and Israel have flooded the open market with demand for foreign currency. Reuters." Mediaite reports Trump Slams German Chancellor for Claiming Iran Has ‘Humiliated’ USA: ‘Doesn’t Know What He’s Talking About!’ Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby, "BREAKING: The UN has elected the Islamic Republic of Iran as VP of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Conference Just last year this very committee found Iran to be in violation of the committee’s policies. You literally cannot make this up." The news is its very own parody.

From the Free Bacon, Obama-Biden Iran Negotiator Says Trump Doesn't Have Enough Experts, Bemoans ‘Genocide’ in Gaza "Wendy Sherman unloads in interview with Mishal Husain of Bloomberg." At Breitbart Bus, Dollar Diplomacy and the Breaking of OPEC.

From Da Caller, Ghost Of Kamala’s Campaign Crawls Out Of Cave For One More Zinger — Turns Out It’s A Historical Botch Job. Whining about historically accurate red coats on American soldiers at the royal visitation.

At the Center Square Calif, Agencies discuss what to cut as state deals with $35B deficit. Hat Hair's John Sexton sees it's Off the Rails: Price of CA High Speed Rail Soars to Over $230B and Dave Strom says California Is an Unfunny Joke. The Orange County Reg, More than $2 million seized from Pasadena clinic accused of Medicare fraud. Bobby Panzenbeck @Panzenbeck, "Its free, you just raise taxes on other people and expand the already bloated budget and those actions have no economic consequences whatsoever. There are adults who actually believe this." Quote Katie Porter @katieporterca, "Californians need real affordability solutions. Free Child Care. Zero-Tuition UCs and CSUs. That’s what I’ll deliver as governor." NYPo predicts Vacations under threat as California’s oil stockpile hangs on by a thread. At his substack, Born Lucky, Stacy McCain examines The Destructive Impulse of Liberalism "Where is 'progress' leading? And other questions you should never ask."

Cathy Salgado at PJM reports the North Carolina Elections Board Finds 34,000 Deceased People on Voter Rolls. Politics & Poll Tracker @PollTracker2024, "CNN: As Democrats brace for a bruising primary in Michigan’s US Senate race, Mallory McMorrow, one of the party’s top contenders, has quietly deleted thousands of old tweets — including posts in which she took jabs at the rural Midwest, lamented ever leaving California, and said she continued to vote there after she said she’d moved permanently to Michigan." 

Having failed to excite us with his threat of Global Warming, Al Gore revisits his hits of the 70s, and promises a new Ice Age. Dave Strom, More Globaloney: The Ice Age Is on the Way. Lee Zeldin @epaleezeldin, "The ultimate authority on all questions involving life on earth, Al Gore, is now declaring that global warming is out, and global freezing is in. Safe bet that he found a whole new angle to line his pockets off the climate grift." It'll come some day; he's just wrong about when.

Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "Straight from the Comey playbook. What feds have always done. If anyone deserves it, it's this treasonous douchebag. He and all the others who pushed that Russia bullshit at Obama's behest, plus all of you in the media who regurgitated it, deserve more than that." QuoteChris Cillizza @ChrisCillizza "Ronald Trump doesn't really care if Jim Comey goes to jail. He just wants to make Comey's life miserable for as long as possible." Remember Gen. Michael Flynn? Ace, Dan Bongino Flushed Deep State Leakers Out of the FBI By Using the "Canary Trap" Technique. Sundance claims Dan Bongino Says He’s Scared of the FBI. Mitch Berg at Hat Hair VIP, They Came To Chew Gum And Serve Search Warrants. And They're Out Of Gum. Raiding the "Quality Learing Center" and 21 other suspected fraudulent daycares in Minneapolis.

Megan Basham @megbasham, "Wheels coming off for Southern Poverty Law Center" as donors dry up.

Cosmin Dzsurdzsa @cosminDZS, "I WAS LEAKED a confidential Canadian Forces report that reveals a Quebec officer training platoon had 83% permanent residents. The program descended into ethnic infighting between West African factions, "lack of respect" for women and a 48% grad rate."

Stacy McCain discourses on Methods of Journalism 301. "OK, there’s your daily quota of Important News, but you didn’t need me to tell you that story, did you? Social media and 24/7 cable news have changed the game in ways that could not have been imagined back in the day when most people got their news from the daily paper, or the 30-minute nightly broadcasts on ABC/NBC/CBS. Now any random son of a bitch with a WiFi hookup can be a “journalist,” which means that I have to find a way to do something different, something valuable, something that might inspire you to hit the tip jar for $16.04. And it so happens that getting a WiFi hookup is relevant to the real reason I wrote this post:" Roger Simon says 'Sixty Minutes' Needs a Drastic Overhaul, "It's part of the problem, not the solution." Conquest's Law #2 Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing. It just take's right-wing organizations longer. Tom Odell @TomOdell, "CBS moderator Ryan Yamamoto has just lied in the debate. He claimed that Ronald Reagan (as governor of California) was responsible for cuts In social programs that created homelessness in California. That is a categorical lie. The social programs that Mr. Yamamoto is referring to were cuts signed into law by Pat Brown, Jerry Brown's father, who was Governor before Reagan..."

Ilya Shapiro @ishapiro. "Appalling behavior by @UCLA_Law." Quote FIRE @TheFIREorg, "UCLA Law has threatened its @FedSoc chapter with punishment if it publicly identifies students seen on video disrupting last week’s viral campus event with a Department of Homeland Security lawyer. But when protesters named chapter members online? No signs of concern." Campus Reform reports Harvard petition calling grading reform racist disappears from public view. Timur Kuran @timurkuran, "DEI has been counterproductive generally. By forcing people to focus on race, it has unavoidably heightened racism, not dampened it. If DEI were an antidote to racism, there would exist scores of studies providing the evidence. None exists." Quote Caleb Hammer @sircalebhammer, "A Harvard Business Review finding showed that mandatory race training in workplaces produced higher levels of racism in the end, similar to the white bear suppression effect. We were so close to a colorblind society… then all the crazies ruined it with performative politics."

Still more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 04.29.26 (Afternoon Edition) and In The Mailbox: 04.29.26 (Evening Edition).

Flotsam and Jetsam - To the Victor Goes the Spoils

Ace, catching up with the story of the seized Iranian ship, Marines Seize Iranian Ship Attempting to Breach Blockade; Trump Threatens to Blow Up Power Plants and Bridges Unless They Agree to a Deal, "That last part is becoming, sad to say, an empty threat." We shall see; today is supposed to be that last day of the 'cease fire'. PJM's Cathy Salgado thinks you should WATCH: U.S. Releases Video of Marines Seizing Iranian Ship. CNN whines that the Iran cargo ship seized by US could become ‘spoils of war’. 

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears 'Nobody's Playing Games' says Vance On Way to Islamabad As Iranians 'Posture' and Duane Patterson thinks it's Iran's Last Chance To Avoid Finding Out What's Behind Door Number B-2. News Wax cites the Economist: Iran's IRGC Hardliners Shout Down Moderates. About time for the Israelis to kill a few more. Victory Girls notes Iran Now A Military Junta As Questions About Nuclear Material Swirl. Ken Timmerman at Am Great alerts us to The Perils of a Grand Bargain with Iran, "Talk of a “grand bargain” with Iran revives a failed playbook of concessions and deception that history shows only strengthens Tehran’s regime." Sundance hosts Promethean Action Provides Perspective on Iran Conflict and Latest Intel Efforts to Disrupt Trump. Don Surber observes Obama is tired of Trump winning, but "We’re not."

Hat Hair's Dave Strom, (Not) Unexpected: Air Force Extends Life of A-10 Yet Again.

TownHall's Amy Curtis, '60 Minutes' Just Made a Pretty Big Admission About Iran. Chris Murphy @ChrisMurphyCT "awesome" Quote Ali Vaez @AliVaez "At least 26 Iranian shadow fleet vessels bypass US blockade https://lloydslist.com/LL1156966/At-least-26-Iranian-shadow-fleet-vessels-bypass-US-blockade." Stephen L. Miller @redsteeze, ""Go Iran!" exclaimed the United States Senator."

Ace reports an Iran-Linked Group Attacks Synogogue in the UK; Keir Starmer Refuses to Ban the IRGC in Britain, "In fairness, Keir Starmer can't even protect his own properties from arson by strangely-antagonistic gay Ukranian male model rent-boys." Hat Hair's Dave Strom, As Starmer Talks About Expanding Military, Professional Soldiers Bailing Out. Dave Manney at PJM notices Canada's Carney Tries To Redefine U.S. Ties as a Problem. Ezra Levant @ezralevant, "Chevron has now fully divested from Alberta’s oilsands. It believes investing in Venezuela is less risky than investing in Mark Carney’s Canada." Quote Bloomberg @business, "Chevron Corp. is set to expand its oil footprint in Venezuela, benefitting from its almost 20-year bet to remain in the country amid political and economic turmoil." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair hears French Presidential Poof de Crème Now Snubbing Polish President at Joint Summit. Daily Romania @daily_romania, "Poland's President Karol Nawrocki vetoes the implementation of the EU's Digital Services Act which aims to censor Europeans online: "A situation in which a government official decides what is permitted on the Internet is reminiscent of the Ministry of Truth in Orwell’s 1984."" Althouse finds "He wants to use his presidency not only to slash the country’s budget but to wage an ideological war and rewire the country’s mentality." "From "Javier Milei Wants to Rewire the Argentine Mind/Argentina’s right-wing president has tamed the country’s runaway inflation. Now he wants to transform its values" (NYT)." Good luck, Javier.

At the Center Square, Everyday Economics: Retail sales and housing suggest a resilient consumer. 

Beege Welborn reports Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Resigns - One Pool Party Too Many. She's been a bad girl apparently. I wouldn't mind seeing the whole Labor Dept. vanish.

Smitty at The Other McCain, VA’s 21Apr Vote: This Dog Don’t Hunt "Somebody I know who is credentialed in the art of surveying people (pharma, for drug trials) was unimpressed by then quality of the question on the ballot tomorrow in Virginia. After feeding Spanberger’s dirty diaper into Claude..." Tom Knighton at BA details  How Spanberger Just Screwed Over Domestic Abuse Survivors. Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "I appreciate the fact they're so open about. Their version of democracy involves rigging things so they never lose again. Plus persecution of the opposition. It's kind of a fascio-democracy." Quote MJTruthUltra @MJTruthUltra, "Cory Booker screams like a maniac that there is a “STORM” brewing in our nation and Democrat politicians need their “foot soldiers” to fight for democracy Democrats must never regain power." PJM's Scott Pinsker hears Democrats Fear THIS ‘October Surprise’ Will Cost Them the Senate in 2026 — and for Good Reason. A rumor that Justice Alito might resign. PJM's Chris Queen notes Jon Ossoff Rails Against Billionaire Donors — While Taking Their Money.

Capt. Ed sings Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Not One PA House Dem Will Back Fetterman Re-Election. David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "Fetterman does not hold a single position that wasn’t mainstream in the Democratic Party in 2020. Not one. That’s how fast the party embraced Islamo-Marxism. Stunning." Quote Danny Freeman @DannyEFreeman, "Oof. "Not a single Pennsylvania House Democrat in the delegation will say Fetterman should run for reelection as a Democrat"" John Sexton claims a Pennsylvania Democrat Has a Facebook Problem. Too rational. Dave Strom worries Antisemitism Is a Core Democratic Party Belief Now and sees All the Worst People Are Defending Hezbollah. From NRO, Michigan Dems Nominate for Powerful University Post a Lawyer Who Praised Hezbollah.  Betsie Stauffer at LI, Michigan Dems Oust Jewish UM Regent, Eagerly Nominate Pro-Hezbollah Candidate, "The outlet spoke to one of Makled’s exuberant student volunteers, who said, “I want a regent who is willing to divest our endowment from a genocide.”" And speaking of anti-semites, at Da Wire, Mamdani Can’t Make Socialism Happen. So How Does He Respond? "Socialist mayor insists his faith in the movement is “stronger than ever,”" 

From NYPo, Staggering number of booze deliveries Eric Swalwell charged to campaign — including Vegas bender. Ace puts it Eric Swalwell Charged 100 Big Booze Deliveries to His Campaign, as Well as Vegas Trips. Matt Vespa at TownHall reports Bill Maher Did Not Mince Words Regarding How He Felt About Eric Swalwell. “Ask my staff: I never liked him. I don’t have good gaydar — but I got creepdar. I always thought this guy was a f*cking creep. I never liked him.” At ZeroHedge, Swalwell's good buddy, Ruben Gallego's Political Career May Be Toast. So now that Swalwell's out, why continue to pick on him? Well, he deserves it, and it's fun.

Mike Netter @nettermike, "Back in 2006, freshly divorced San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom — then a slick 38-year-old — was schtupping 19-year-old Brittanie Mountz. When the press caught wind of photos showing his teenage girlfriend guzzling alcohol at public events, Newsom kinda lost it. Cornered by a reporter, he turned red-faced, started flailing defensively, and literally stormed off like a guilty man caught with his hand in the cookie jar. His team claimed he didn’t know she was underage and swore he wasn’t feeding her booze. Sure, Gavin. Here's the video of him getting all flustered." Quote MAZE @mazemoore Replying to @mazemoorem "Gavin runs away when asked about giving his underaged GF alcohol." From Fox, California regulators kill charity fireworks for America’s 250th, sparking outrage "Local restaurants reported a 30% revenue drop on July 3 after the annual fireworks show was canceled in 2024." John Sexton thinks This Auction Was Not a Great Sign for San Francisco.

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "HOLY CRAP! Trump Interior Sec. Doug Burgum just revealed he found NGOs where up to 100% PERCENT of their revenue was the federal government... ...and their CEO would make $650K a YEAR, and pay lobbyists $400K. He exposes it: "We found organizations that were receiving grants from Interior, where 80 to 100 percent of the revenue of that NGO was a grant from the federal government." "And yet those organizations, we were the sole source of their revenue, but they would have a CEO making $650,000 and four $400,000 lobbyists!" @RapidResponse47 Dems are FURIOUS the Trump admin is cracking down on this! Keep pushing!" Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes, "HOLY CR*P Maine Governor candidate Bobby Charles exposes “There are more than 4,500 contracts that were non-compete, sole source, given to FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF DEMOCRATS” The audit showed “$2.1 billion in questionable contracts” Democrat money laundering is INSANE “That is normalized public corruption”"  From NYPo, Powerful California official pocketed thousands from Chinese school founder at center of fraud probe.

Matt Margolis hears Kash Patel Makes Bombshell Promise: Arrests Are Coming Over 2020 Election. Sundance carries on about Spygate, Russiagate, IC Impeachment, Jack Smith Targeting and Lawfare, claims Witnesses to Potential Criminal Conduct of Former CIA Director John Brennan Receive Subpoenas, and says It Is, After All, the Department of Justice. The Unsinkable Mollie Hemingway at Da Fed has a New Release: FBI Agent Deeply Involved In Get-Trump Lawfare May Have Crossed Criminal Line. 

Brad Slager at RedState thinks The Atlantic’s Kash Patel Hit Piece Is Backfiring - Badly. Gene Volokh at the Volokh Conspiracy has some highlights from suit in FBI Director Kash Patel Sues Atlantic Over Friday's Article. Capt. Ed, Boom: Patel Drops $250M Defamation Bomb On The Atlantic. Matt Vespa says Oh, That's Who Wrote the Hit Piece on Kash Patel in The Atlantic? Megan Basham @megbasham, "By the way, @S_Fitzpatrick is also the reporter who wrote the throughly debunked hit piece that claimed Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh drugged women so they could be sexually abused. She has a history of writing hit pieces with either no sources on the record or completely discredited sources." Ace, Kash Patel Slaps "Reporter" With $250 Million Defamation Lawsuit. "I like the lawsuit, but, as That Guy always says, nothing's going to happen. Judges are pretty determined that only leftwingers can be defamed." Richard Grenell @RichardGrenell, "Obama US attorney admits the DC courts are highly partisan." Quote Joyce Alene @JoyceWhiteVance "Good luck with that D.C. jury…" Scott MacFarlane @MacFarlaneNews "FLASH: Kash Patel has filed $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic Filed here in DC."

From RCP, Justice Thomas: The Ideas of 1776 Are a Way of Life, Not Intellectual Playthings. MD Kittle at Da Fed has an Explosive Report: As Dobbs Majority Faced Death Threats, Liberal Justices Slow-Walked Release. John Sexton, Liberal Justices Slow-Walked Their Dobbs Dissents Despite Threats. Dan McLaughlin @baseballcrank, "We may not have a suspect on the latest SCOTUS leak, but we have a clue, notes @jadler1969", Sotomayor. Matt Vespa, Wait, This Is the Case That Prompted the Supreme Court Leak? Also, We May Have a Clue Who It Is. Tim O'Brien at PJM, Justice Jackson Takes Aim at Fellow Justices, and the Results Aren’t Pretty. John Sexton, California Judge Overrules President Trump on Oil Production. "A county judge in Santa Barbara has decided that she has more power than the President of the United States to regulate American energy supplies in wartime..." KSL.com Utah leaders to probe relationship between Supreme Court justice, redistricting lawyer "The allegations originally come from Hagen's ex-husband, Tobin Hagen, who said he suspected the justice began having an inappropriate relationship with Reymann, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit over Utah's redistricting maps."

Theo Wold @RealTheoWold, "Amazon just censored a book first published in 1973 that depicts the destruction of the west through third-world mass migration. I'm sure all the people who whine about "book bans" when a school board prevents 6-year-olds from reading about gay sex will be just as upset." Quote Vauban Books @VaubanBooks "Our statement on Amazon's suppression of The Camp of the Saints in the United States:"

Buck Throckmorton at Ace's THE MORNING RANT: State of Texas Cutting off Funds to Houston after it Revives Sanctuary City Policies.

The College Fix reports Harvard investigates Republican club for filming Muslim event on campus. From the Free Bacon, Astonishingly Prolific Anti-Israel Medical Researcher Used AI to Churn Out Journal Articles, Screening Software Shows, "Harvard distances Itself from Bilal Irfan, saying 'none of the work was done as part of' Harvard master’s program." Though given the highly variable results reported, I don't see that I would trust the softward that claims to detect AI authorship. Beege Welborn is outraged about the Prayer Room and Foot Washing Stations in One MN High School Remodeling Plans.

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Down To The Wire up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - That Was The Week That Was

Yep, it's been almost a week since Trump was inaugurated, and doesn't seem like he's slowed down one bit. Roger Kimball at Am Great, Trump 2.0: A Shockwave of Change in Just Six Days, "Trump 2.0 storms into office, dismantling the old guard and unleashing a whirlwind of action aimed at reshaping America’s political landscape."  At Da Wire, Here’s Everything Trump Did His First Week Back. At the European Conservative, Trump’s First 3 Days: A Bold Blueprint for Europe’s Conservatives. Eric Abenante at Hat Hair, notes 'You Know What 'Here He Goes Again Means?' Doing What He Said He was Going To Do'. Leslie Eastman at LI, Trump Makes it Clear He is President for All Americans with Visit to Los Angeles Fire Disaster Zone and LA Times Front Page Shocker: Paper Heralds Trump’s “Golden Age” Inauguration Remarks. At NewsMax, Trump Has the Building Blocks for U.S. Golden Age. Insty, at his substack says The Left Gave Us Trump 2.0, "And they're not going to like it." At Twitchy, Maddow in Tears! Trump Predicts the Demise of ‘Enemy of the People’ MSNBC and CNN and Not Our Problem: Haitian Leader Says Trump's Policies Will Be Catastrophic for His Nation. At Breitbart, Corey Comperatore’s Widow: Trump Called Me ‘Every Day for Almost 2 Weeks’ After Rally Shooting.

At UnHerd, So Trump nixed your bullshit DEI job. Driscoll at Insty, THE AIR FORCE SEEMS TO HAVE DECIDED TO USE MALICIOUS COMPLIANCE TO FIGHT TRUMP’S DEI ORDER by ordering the suspension of teaching air men about the Tuskegee Airmen. And, FAKE NEWS, OR MALICIOUS COMPLIANCE? CBS: “Lesson plans about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots have been removed from the U.S. Air Force curriculum, a U.S. official confirmed Saturday.” Cernovich@Cernovich, "This is a passive aggressive form of malicious compliance, where you pretend you’re following some order and doing so dishonestly." The entire chain of command must be relieved for this stunt.   "Kurt Schlichter has some questions for the network that brought you RatherGate, pro-Obamacare poetry readings, and Barry Goldwater as a crypto-Nazi:" 'Streiff' at RedState, The Air Force Seems to Have Decided to Use Malicious Compliance to Fight Trump's DEI Order but then Pete Hegseth Stamps Out One USAF DEI Mutiny but Others Await. Pete Hegseth@PeteHegseth "This has been immediately reversed. Thank you @SenKatieBritt." John Lucas at Bravo Blue asks Whither General Milley? "A prescription for accountability from General Milley."

Reuters whines Trump's rapid changes in US government stun federal workers. Matt Margolis at PJM says Federal Workers Are 'Terrified,' and That’s a Good Thing. Walk the talk Foundation explains, The Inspector General Purge – A Step in the Right Direction? All Biden appointees who all allowed their agencies to hide the bad shit. "As for the events of the weekend, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) has likely summed it all up most succinctly: “Sometimes inspector generals don’t do the job that they are supposed to do. Some of them deserve to be fired.”  We couldn’t agree more, Mr.Barrasso." Mike Lee@BasedMikeLee "Libs freaking out over Trump firing inspectors general These are Biden-appointed officials There’s nothing novel about replacing them with Trump appointees It’d be crazy *not* to do this. Presidents should be able to fire every person in the executive branch other than the VP." Da Wire, Senior Career Vacancies Mean Trump Can Fill 300 Key Permanent Jobs. "Trump can make a lasting change to the federal workforce by filling existing 'deep state' vacancies." At NYPo Betsy McCaughey opines Trump’s pink slip for WHO was a good first step toward keeping Americans healthy. At Twitchy, Scott Jennings Takes Ron Howard APART in 2 Words (and 2 Receipts) for Suggesting Trump Appoint Lefty TOOL. 

Sundance hosts Sunday Talks – Senate Majority Leader John Thune Outlines Expectations for Trump Cabinet Nominees and CIA Director John Ratcliffe Outlines President Trump Expectations of Intel Community. Matt Margolis, Was Pete Hegseth's Accuser Offered A Quid Pro Quo For Her Bogus Affidavit? Ben Weingarten at Am Great, Stefanik Will Stand Stalwart Against the UN’s Jackals, "If you admired Rep. Stefanik’s takedown of college presidents coddling Hamas sympathizers, you’ll relish her readiness to confront adversaries on the world stage as the next U.S. Ambassador to the UN."

Sundance again, Sunday Talks – VP JD Vance Shreds Margaret Brennan Talking Points. Sauron's Eye has the Transcript: Vice President JD Vance on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Jan. 26, 2025. Mike Miller at RedState, JD Vance Decimates 'Face the Nation' Host Over Executive Orders, Energy, Economics, and More. Althouse watched J.D. Vance on "Face the Nation." " Margaret Brennan seemed keyed up from the start. Her desire to get Vance was ludicrously obvious. Meanwhile, Vance was perfectly even-tempered and articulate, prepared for everything she had hoped to flummox him with. Brennan's style of constant interruption failed to throw him off. It backfired, making him look steady and rational and her look afraid of what he might have to say."

At NYPo, Trump announces immediate retaliation against Colombia after socialist president turns back US deportation flights. Twitchy, BOOM: Donald Trump Puts the SQUEEZE on Colombia After Their President Refuse Flights of Illegals. Threatened tariffs and diplomatic sanctions. Fox, Colombian leader quickly caves after Trump threats, offers presidential plane for deportation flights, "Gustavo Petro initially refused to accept deportation flights." At Twitchy, UPDATE: Colombia President Backs Down After Trump Threatens Nation for Rejecting Deportation Flights. Sundance calls it Beyond Perfect Timing – Colombia Refuses Repatriation Flights, What Trump Does is Beyond Epic and notes that then The Government of Colombia Agrees to Repatriation on All of President Trump’s Terms. Libs of TikTok@libsoftiktok, "The fact that President Trump just owned Colombia WHILE GOLFING just makes the whole story so much better." Althouse notes Trump's tariff threat worked.

Sundance has another Sunday Talks – Border Czar Tom Homan Helps ABC’s Martha Raddatz Clutch Her Pearls About Deportation. Collin Rugg@CollinRugg, "Martha Raddatz: Will the US military be deporting illegal immigrants every single day of Trump’s presidency? Tom Homan: Yes. Raddatz: So is this what we will be seeing every single day? The president promised millions. Homan: Yes. Raddatz: The estimates of those who have been convicted or arrested in the past is 700,000 to over a million. So after you do that, do you go after everybody who is here illegally? Homan: Yes. If you're in the country illegally, you're on the table." Sara Rose@saras76, "Tom Homan: "What price do you put on national security? What price do you put on all these young ladies who have been raped, murdered, and burned alive? What price do you put on Laken Riley's life?"" Sarah Arnold at TownHall, WH Hails Capturing Top Illegal Immigrant Criminals and It's Monumental. At WokeSpy, Illegals Back in Mexico: “I Don’t Recommend to Cross.” Fox, Up to 250,000 children born to illegal migrants in 2023: preliminary report, "President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week reigniting debate around birthright citizenship." Ace, Who'da Thunk It? Protect The Border, Send Back Illegals, And The Illegal Immigration Problem Suddenly Seems Manageable! "Mexico Accepted 4 Deportation Flights This Week, White House Says." Breitbart reports Donald Trump Shuts Down Federal Labor-Smuggling Program. "The Safe Mobility Initiative, sought to create many Safe Mobility Offices in foreign countries where low-wage foreigners could apply for visas to live and work in the United States and Europe." Natt Vespa reports on how The Media Ran With Total Fake News Story About ICE Raids at Chicago Public Schools. 

And in miscellaneous Trumpianea, from NewsMax, Trump Says Jordan, Egypt Should Take More Palestinians from Gaza. 'Streiff', Trump Overturns Biden's Duplicity and Orders US to Resume Shipments of 2,000-lb Bombs to Israel. NewsBusters note Seth Meyers saying Criticizing Woke Bishop 'A Good Sign That You're a Sociopath'. Sundance, Trump on Possible Misuse of AI: “It’s the First Question I asked” … “It Could Be the Rabbit that Gets Away” Neil McCabe at RedState, West Palm Beach Drag Queen Arrested for Threatening Trump Online. NYSun, EXCLUSIVE: Sanctioned Penn Professor Amy Wax Says ‘Possibility’ Trump Will Join Her Fight Against University That Punished Her for ‘Offensive’ Speech. "The embattled professor, sanctioned for offending her colleagues with her comments about race and gender, speaks to the Sun about her lawsuit against her Ivy League employer."

Duane Patterson at Hat Hair has The Top Ten Dumb Things Said...Friday "#3 Keith Olbermann - It's time, California. Quit paying your taxes." Rusty Weiss at RedState, Jake Tapper Raises Eyebrows With Suggestion Biden May Have Issued a Secret Pardon in Final Days As POTUS, his own. The Fourth Rail on YouTube, Hakeem Jefferies' claims about DEI are LITERALLY INSANE.

Matt Vespa at TownHall says Gavin Newsom Doesn't Want You to Know About This Disastrous Emergency Services Decision "California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration shut down a highly trained, all-volunteer team of certified firefighters in early 2024—a move that rendered the California National Guard incapable of sending a complete firefighting force to Los Angeles until 10 days after the deadly fires broke out in the city." At Da Mail, LA Mayor Karen Bass' past in communist Cuba revealed... as insiders say her political career is 'over'. "In 2016, when Castro died, she referred to him as 'commandante en jefe' (commander-in-chief) saying his passing was a 'great loss to the people of Cuba.' She also reportedly gave a eulogy for a senior member of the Communist Party USA." Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_, "More red tape and bureaucracy for fire victims in Los Angeles." Quote Howard Leight@MalibuRockyOaks, "If you’re an evacuee, just know you can’t sleep on your boat in Marina Del Rey without a permit. And by permit, meaning NO. Applying for a permit is a tactic they use to say NO. Ask to stay on your boat for 7 years as they rebuild…. @VeniceIntel @elonmusk." Matt Van Swol@matt_vanswol, "#BREAKING: The Small Business Administration (SBA) which ran out of money to help victims of Helene, announced an extension into February for locals to get help. Of the 10,000 WNC businesses that requested federal aid under the Biden administration…"

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Back In The Cellar up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.