Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Dumps Fed Reserve Gov, Bans Flag Burning

After evidence emerged that she had committed mortgage fraud by simultaneously holding two mortgages, labelling both her primary residence (ala Adam Schiff and Letitia James), Trump announced he was firing Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve board Governor. John Sexton at Hat Hair, President Trump Fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Pursuant to my authority under Article II of the Constitution of the United States and the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, as amended, you are hereby removed from your position on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, effective immediately,” Trump wrote... Congress curbed the president’s authority to unilaterally fire a Fed governor in the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which states that president can only do so “for cause.” While the law does not elaborate on what constitutes “cause,” it has historically been understood to mean serious concerns about an official’s ability to continue serving." The evidence seems pretty open and shut, and given the mortgages temporal proximity, seem deliberate NewsWax, Trump Moves to Remove Cook From Federal Reserve Board. She will, of course, appeal, and likely find a 'Hawaiian judge' to go along until further appeal.

From NYPo, Trump signs executive order banning flag burning —warns those who desecrate flag will get a year in jail, Driscoll at Insty, I TRIED TO BURN AN AMERICAN FLAG ONCE. I DIDN’T LIKE IT. IT GAVE OFF TOXIC FUMES, SO I DIDN’T INHALE: Trump Executive Order: Burn the American Flag, Go to Jail. "As “Cynical Publius” tweets, “if you want to go burn your own flag in your own backyard, have at it. But if you want to burn that flag amidst a violent “Death to America” rally paid for by George Soros, that’s something altogether different.” Erick Erickson adds that the EO “isn’t legal, but it will get the Democrats to all go out and burn American flags, yet again putting them on the 20% side of an 80-20 issue.”" alexandriabrown @alexthechick, "I do not support the EO. I do support the utter hilarity I will have in watching people fall into the trap that has multiple giant billboards around it with giant flashing neon signs that say TRAP with massive red arrows pointing at the trap." Quote James Klüg @realJamesKlug, "I haven't seen a single Trump supporter supporting this EO x.com/realDailyWire/…" Insty says If you actually read the Executive Order, it doesn’t do nearly as much as critics seem to think. Here it is, and here is the key bit: "Notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s rulings on First Amendment protections, the Court has never held that American Flag desecration conducted in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action or that is an action amounting to “fighting words” is constitutionally protected. See Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 408-10 (1989). He’s not trying to override the First Amendment caselaw, and he’s not making new law here. He is suckering Democrats into burning a lot of flags, and endorsing flag-burning, in order to “stick it to Trump.”" Is Apple pie up next? The Great Victor Davis Hanson at NYPo, Why the left opposes everything Trump backs — even when they know he’s right. John Kass is In Therapy With Tony Rezko’s Groundskeeper: Orange Man Broke Me

Dave Strom wonders Do Democrats Love Crime, or Just Hate Trump? From Fox, DC arrests surpass 1,000 as Trump-backed crackdown enters 12th homicide-free day.  Breitbart cites Pam Bondi: Over 1,000 Arrested as President Trump Makes D.C. Safe Again. NewsWax highlights a Harvard Poll: 54% Say Trump's D.C. Moves 'Justified' At TownHall Sarah Anderson sees Trump Takes Yet Another Step Toward Restoring Law & Order in D.C. and Nationwide by "banning" cashless bail. "For the nation, Bondi must "submit a list of States and local jurisdictions with cashless bail policies," and then the Trump administration will "identify Federal funds currently provided to cashless bail jurisdictions that may be suspended or terminated."" Ace, Trump Will End Cashless Bail by Executive Order "Well, that is his hope. "I expect leftwing know-nothing DEI Biden judges will block him."  Cutie Pavlich, also at TownHall hears 'It Will Stun You': Miller Warns D.C. Crime Manipulation Is Worse Than Previously Known. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn reports The Bear of Little Brains Is Going to Lead the Uprising If the Tyrant Comes Calling, "Or...wait a minute. Is that what he said? Or did Chicago Mayor Brandon 'Bear of Little Brains' Johnson just say he was expecting Chicago folks to do the uprising and he'd be around if they needed him?" Paul A. Szypula @Bubblebathgirl, "Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson disgracefully calls for his constituents to “rise up” against National Guard being sent there to help end crime like they did in DC. Johnson falsely says Chicagoans support him. He has the worst mayoral approval in US history." Greg Price @greg_price11, "During a presentation on crime at the DNC's summer meeting, a lady from left-wing think tank the Vera Institute tells them that "migrant crime and carjackings are things that don't matter to many Americans.""

From Texas Policy Res, Abbott Expands Second Special Session Agenda After House Passes GOP Redistricting Map. Guy Benson at TownHall asks Are Democrats Really Sure They Want to Escalate the Redistricting Wars? From the Springfield News-Leader, Missouri GOP leader says redistricting effort starts with congressional map drawn in D.C. Ace hears the New York Times Cry: Population Shifts Mean That the GOP Will Have a Near-Lock on the Electoral College in 2032 "Based on current population trends, they scream that if Democrats win the "Blue Wall" states of MI, WI, and PA in 2032, and win Nevada too, they... still lose. The base red states will have enough electoral votes to put Vance (or whoever) over the 271 electoral votes needed to win."

Stephen Kruiser at PJM sees Trump Is on a Roll, and Dems Are Morons for Not Enjoying It. Matt Vespa at TownHall, Bill Maher Nails Why Trump Connects With Voters...and Dems Won't Like It "Because napalm in the morning smells like victory. He did it with the tips, he got the TikTok vote, he got the people for whom toilets are very important vote, he got the enough of taking our shoes off at the airport vote, the crypto bro vote, the tech bro vote, the bro bro vote. He got rappers and kale eaters." At Da Caller, Bill Maher Blasts Dems For Letting Trump Pick Off Voter Coalitions From All Walks Of Life. Teri Christoph at RedState, Ouch: Ric Grenell Drops Massive Truth Bomb on Katie Couric When She Tries to Troll the Kennedy Center, "[W]e didn’t cancel a single show. Your team couldn’t perform for Republicans. They cancelled. It is this exact intolerance that we fight against. Everyone is welcome to the Kennedy Center….even you!" At Althouse, The current state of taunting on X. 

Brian Jung at PJM, Hegseth Sacks General for Leaking Controversial Intel Report on Iran Strikes. From NewsWax, Ruddy: Trump's 'Talk Therapy' Works for Peace.

At NewsWeek, DNC Chair Ken Martin Reveals Why He's 'Sick' of Democrats' Tactics. They're not being mean enough to Trump? Althouse finds "A lot of people have asked me what the exact moment was at the DNC that made me realize I wasn’t on board with the party I’d worked for nearly half of my life." "The truth is, it was everything. The crowd that mindlessly chanted 'joy,' the vasectomy van offering free tacos, the coronation of a candidate with zero policies or platform available, and the final straw: Oprah Winfrey. Her tone deaf lecturing turned me off so much, I left the building, getting an uber straight to my hotel, where I booked a flight home a day early, not even staying for Kamala’s acceptance speech...." Writes Evan Barker, in "One Year Ago Today I Ruined My Life"" At the Blade of Perseus the Great Victor Davis Hanson explores What Made the Democratic Party Go Crazy?.  Duane Patterson at Hat Hair thinks Gavin Newsom Is the Master at Kicking His Own Butt. He is an exceptionally limber politician. At the Decision Desk HQ, Can anything stop Zohran Mamdani? "An unpopular mayor, a disliked former governor, and a Republican are poor alternatives for anti-Mamdani forces to rally around." From Ace, Claiming That the Vote Was Rigged, the Minnesota Democrat Party Voids the Party's Endorsement of Somali Socialist Omar Fateh "Wait but I thought Democrat election wins were all legitimate and beyond questioning."

From OTP, Lutnick Cancels ‘Illegal’ $7.4B Grant To Biden-Linked Nonprofit For Chip Research. At Da Wire, California ‘Anti-Poverty Activist’ And Dem Mega-Donor Pleads Guilty To Massive Carbon-Credit Scam. "Top Dem donor and Gavin Newsom backer raised $300 million by touting "Corporate ESG Business" based on fake revenue." Kevin Dalton@TheKevinDalton, "Gavin Newsom March 2023: We are deploying 1200 tiny homes by Fall at a cost of 750 million taxpayer dollars. Reality: It’s nearly Fall of 2025 and neither the 1200 tiny homes or 750 million taxpayer dollars can be found But I’m sure this time will be different…" Have you looked in the pockets of friends and supporters? Stacy McCain notes The ‘Green Energy’ Boondoggle Fails Every Time It Encounters Reality "Fossil fuels — BAD! Green energy — GOOD!” This is the sum total of left-wing ideas on the subject, no matter how much “science” they claim to justify their prejudice, and no facts will persuade them: "School districts throughout the United States are ditching electric school buses, manufactured by a Canadian company that has fallen into bankruptcy, for diesel school buses, citing the difficulty in getting electric buses repaired. The return to diesel school buses comes as Quebec-based Lion Electric, which the Biden administration awarded $159 million “to manufacture 435 school buses between 2022 and 2024,” has fallen into bankruptcy, according to the Washington Free Beacon. As a result, the company has “warned school districts that its dire financial straits prevent it from servicing” the electric school buses."

At Da Fetched, John Bolton Indictment Looming? Michael Cohen Warns Former Trump Adviser to “Lawyer Up”. I'm quite sure he has. From LifeZette, Adam Schiff Cries ‘Retribution’ After FBI Raid On John Bolton’s Home. Dave Strom laughs at Chuck Todd: Sure, Democrat Lawfare Was Wrong, So Republicans Shouldn't Do It. No, that's why they should. Tit-for-tat is a valid strategy. Rob Schmitt @SchmittNYC "Chuck Todd - who endlessly told us the prosecutions of Trump weren’t political - casually admitting.. ya they were." Quote Chuck Todd @chucktodd, "The virus killing democracy right now is this “two wrongs make a right” mindset. Revenge over principles." Jerry Dunleavy at JTN reports DOJ during Trump's first term stymied, squashed probes on Comey, Clinton, Schiff and Hunter Biden "The DOJ, FBI, and IRS in Trump's first term seemed to let a large number of Trump antagonists off the hook for their potential criminality. It remains to be seen how the second Trump DOJ will handle possible high-profile prosecutions." Doug Ross has The Illustrated Spygate Scandal. "The first political coup in American history: Part I A dramatization of real events. This is Part I." Jaff Davidson at TownHall, As DoJ Will Reveal, America Endured an Insurrection, Undertaken by Democrats. Rusty Weiss at RedState, Schiff’s Mortgage Fraud Denial Backfires As He’s Slapped Down by Documentation Showing Otherwise. It seems like it ought to be worth a few hundred million in fines.

Fox, Trump tells Grassley to tell Democrats 'go to HELL' over blocked judicial nominees in Senate
President calls Senate blue slip tradition unconstitutional block on his appointment power. Misty Severi at JTN, Trump to sue over Senate's blue slip tradition that blocks judicial nominees. "We're also going to be filing a lawsuit on blue slipping," Trump said. "You know, blue slips make it impossible for me as president to appoint a judge or a U.S. attorney because they have a gentlemen's agreement that's about 100 years old." At the Chronic The Right Wing’s Institutional Problem "If you go through the landmark political triumphs of the liberal left, it quickly becomes apparent that very few of them were accomplished through electoral victories or the ordinary operations of the legislative process. Instead, the left moved the goal posts through judicial fiat and by legislating from the bench, as far back as the Warren Court."

From NYPo, Ghislaine Maxwell was celebrated at posh Clinton event years after sex crimes accusations emerged, bombshell report reveals. Fox, Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell told DOJ she was ‘very central’ to ‘startup’ of Clinton Global Initiative.

Chris Queen at PJM, ICE Arrests Kilmar Abrego Garcia Again, Judge Blocks Deportation. At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed, Noted Maryland Man/Alleged Human Trafficker Surrenders ... Again and a Larry video, MSNBC Stunned: Trump's Not Messing Around! Maryland Man Booted? Ace, Famed "Maryland Dad" Kilmar Albrego-Garcia Arrested; Will be Deported to Uganda, "His lawyer is crying "but he doesn't even speak the language!" The most-spoken language in Uganda is... English. I imagine they're right: The "Maryland Man" probably barely speaks English. But that didn't stop him from running a profitable human-trafficking business in America." Althouse finds "The fact that they're holding Costa Rica as a carrot and using Uganda as a stick to try to coerce him to plead guilty to a crime..." ""... is such clear evidence that they're weaponizing the immigration system in a matter that is completely unconstitutional, and specifically weaponizing the decision of which country they send him to." Said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of the lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, quoted in "Kilmar Abrego Garcia taken into ICE custody at immigration appointment/Abrego, who was just released from federal custody on Friday, now faces deportation to Uganda" (NBC News)." The US Just Us system never bargains . . . At OTP, Kilmar Abrego Garcia Sues Trump Admin To Stop Deportation To Uganda and Judge Halts Abrego Garcia Deportation, Citing Concerns Over Legal Process. Dave Strom says What In the World? 2.7 Million Signatures Asking for Leniency for Florida Truck Killer.

Michael Walsh at Da Pipeline, says it's Time to Dump 'Journalism' "When did reporters become "journalists"? When I started out at the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle in 1972, nobody called himself a "journalist." We were reporters, and proud of it. "Journalist" had a snooty air to it and seemed to be reserved for the newspaper trade's bigdomes who wrote editorials. The rest of us wrote news stories." Joy Pullman at Da Fed has A Pile Of Evidence Lockdowns Would Never Have Happened Without Corporate Media.

Campus Reform shares a report UC Berkeley ends waiver program that was used as a pipeline to tenure for activists. Dave Strom, Did a Florida School Really Ban the Diary of Anne Frank? Matt Whitlock @mattdizwhitlock "A perfect representation of this dishonest “book banning” conversation. Florida didn’t ban the diary of Anne Frank. One Florida school removed a graphic novel based on the diary of Anne Frank that focused heavily on her being a lesbian and lusting after statues of naked women." Quote Senator Scott Wiener @Scott_Wiener "Florida banning the Diary of Anne Frank tells you everything you need to know about the MAGA movement." Brandon Warmke @BrandonWarmke, "A wrecking ball to the academics who, by cowardice and complicity, destroyed universities all on their own. “Unless and until academics identify a specific, realistic mechanism for their own regulation, any complaints about externally imposed reforms have little credibility.” DC_Draino@DC_Draino, "New DEI definitions: Didn’t Earn It Definitely Expecting Incompetence Definitely Expecting Indictments Don’t Expect Intelligence Democrat Employment Insurance Destroying Every Institution Destroying Excelence Instantly Delivering Empty Idiocy Delegating Employment Illogically Dumb Entitled Incompetent Any others?"

Buck Throckmorton at Ace's It’s Not Just the Logo - Cracker Barrel Has Been Chosen as the Latest Boycott Target to Send a Message to Woke Corporations.

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 08.25.25 Twitchy: “Who Is The Secretary of Agriculture?”, CNN’s Condescending Tiffany Cross Calls Stephen Miller White Supremacist, and Mark Cuban Blames Consultants Fro Not Letting Kamala “Sell Herself” To Voters, Louder With Crowder: Zohran Mamdani embarrasses himself trying to lift weights at “men’s day,” gets obliterated with nickname that’s gonna stick, American Conservative: Trump’s Doomed Venezuela Militarism, BattleSwarm: “Do You Know Who I Am?” 2025 Edition, Texas Redistricting Passes Senate, Headed To Abbott’s Desk, and Democrat Forbidden Words For 2025 (Plus Additions), Cafe Hayek, Trump’s Trade Policy Puts Americans Last, A Note on Tariffs and Inflation, and Further Reflections on Protectionism and (Measured Inflation), Chicago Boyz: Back to the Future, also, Democratic Governors Hate Democracy, Dana Loesch: We’re Arguing About Flag Burning Again, Don Surber: DEI harms black women, Elizabeth Nickson, Barring The Anomaly Of Trump, All Elections Are Stolen, The Geller Report: ‘Sending People to Other Parts of the World and Ruling the World Was All Part of the Plan’, Texas Democrats Slink Back -Time to Lock Them Up and Throw Away the Key, and UK Has Fallen – The Flag of England is Now Considered Hate Speech. Just to highlight a few.

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: Laundry Day and FMJRA 2.0: Agonizing Reappraisal up and at 'm at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam on Flag Day

It's Flag Day, coincidentally (perhaps) with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army, and even more coincidentally, President Trump's 79th birthday, and he's throwing army a parade in the US Capital, and, as can be expected, liberals are in high, or at least middle dudgeon, and hold nationwide anti-Trump, anti-military, and just generally anti everything good demonstrations, called "No King's" rallies. We'll see if they turn into riots. At Twitchy, Hoping for Rain: Tim Walz Compares the U.S. Army’s DC Parade Prep to Something Out of North Korea. Althouse "So this goes back to 2017 when President Trump was in Paris and watched France's Bastille Day military parade. There were tanks..." ""... there were troops, and they're marching down Champs d'Elysee. There were war planes, there were fighter jets. And he watched this with President Emmanuel Macron of France, and he loved it. So he came back and announced to the Pentagon that he wanted his own military parade." And "The uniformed body crystallizes all these associations we have. It makes your chest look broader, your posture straighter, your shoulders stronger. It becomes shorthand for words like manly, strong, brave, dominant." "Said Paul Achter, "an associate professor of rhetoric at the University of Richmond, who has written on 'military chic,'" quoted in "Why Trump Loves a Man in Uniform/As thousands of soldiers prepare to march in President Trump’s military parade, what exactly will we see?" (NYT)."

Unacceptable Jessica Find out about No Kings. "There are people that have a plan to destroy America... Watch this guy’s testimony (click photo). He was offered cash to 'go protest’ in LA. 200 USD/day. There are pallets of bricks being left at sites and these people are being instructed to use them against other human beings. As I have asked previously: Who is paying for this? Peaceful my ass." DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican "JUST RELEASED: Follow the Money Behind the No Kings Rally DataRepublican has launched an interactive, open-source map showing how your tax dollars flow to organizations involved in the No Kings rally. I tracked funding from federal sources to final recipients, prioritizing direct paths (not via DAFs) whenever possible. IMPORTANT: most paths still went through Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)—the black box of the nonprofit world. Unfortunately, it's a common and opaque funding structure that deserves scrutiny." Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders, "I want to applaud all the patriots who will be participating, as I will, in No King rallies across the country. Americans believe in freedom, not authoritarianism. In 1776 brave Americans took on and defeated the most powerful despot in the world. In 2025 we will do the same." Matt Van Swol @matt_vanswol "This is literally insurrection language. Calling for Americans to take on President Trump in the same way America took on the British is literally calling for an insurrection. How the fuck does Bernie get away with this?????" From WaEx, Liberals are preparing for mass protests this weekend. Here’s how your tax dollars are helping them.

The shooting war between Israel and Iran continues. Stacy McCain One Standard Deviation: How Israel Targeted Iran’s Top Air Force Leaders. "Did you know Jews are smart? I mean, on average, despite such utter dummies as Joy Behar." Dave Strom at Hat Hair, You Thought the Pager Attack Was Amazing? Israel Outdid Itself This Time. Mint, Iran’s Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani killed in Israeli strike, reports say. Who was he? Why waste ammo on cannon fodder when you can reach their leaders. Ace, Israel's Strikes Killed Dozens of High-Ranking Iranian Terror Generals and Nucular Scientists. At Althouse, "Israel launched a stunning series of strikes Friday morning on Iranian nuclear sites and killed several of the nation’s security chiefs, in a remarkable coup of intelligence and military force..." ""... that decapitated Tehran’s chain of command. President Trump warned that further attacks would be 'even more brutal' and redoubled pressure on Iran to reach a new deal to curb its nuclear program.... The attacks also killed top Iranian officials and nuclear scientists and hit Tehran’s long-range missile facilities and aerial defenses." The NYT reports." and “Where is our air defense?”/“How can Israel come and attack anything it wants, kill our top commanders, and we are incapable of stopping it?” "Said Iranian officials in "private text messages shared with The New York Times," quoted in "A Miscalculation by Iran Led to Israeli Strikes’ Extensive Toll, Officials Say/Interviews with half a dozen senior Iranian officials show that they were not expecting Israel to strike before another round of talks" (NYT)." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, NEW: Iranian Retaliatory Strike Hits Tel Aviv; UPDATE: Netanyahu Calls on Iranians to 'Revolt'. Ace, Israel Is Now Bombing Iran's Main Uranium Enrichment Site and Iran Fires Dozens of Missiles at Tel Aviv, Plus: Former Democrat Candidate for Vice President Tim Walz: We Need a Country With "Moral Authority" to Step In to Save Iran from Israel. Oh, I Know Who Has Moral Authority -- China!!! Brit Hume@brithume "Obvious, but not always said: Israel is unmistakably striking military targets in Iran. Iran, as usual, is aiming at civilian targets. Yes there will be civilians killed in the Israeli strikes, but they are not the targets. They are Iran's." 

Trump told the Iranians they had 60 day to agree to dismantle their nuclear weapons program. The attack came on day 61. They can't say they weren't warned. Bonchie at Red State, Trump Drops an All-Time Troll on Iran, As What Happened Behind the Scenes Comes Into View. At LifeZette, Trump Responds to Israeli Attack on Iran ‘Dead Now, and It Will Only Get Worse!’ Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby "BREAKING: Dana Bash: Trump told her, the Iranian hardliners in the talks are now dead. Bash: "Meaning Israel got them?" Trump: "Well they didn't die of covid."" From Sundance at CTH, President Trump Releases Statements Following Israeli Attack on Iranian Nuclear Capabilities and Leadership, Secretary Rubio Draws Distinct Underline of “Unilateral” – First Round Attack Leadership, Second Round Underway, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Gives Speech Outlining Attacks Against Iran – Operation Rising Lion and Remarkable Online Poll Highlights 90 Percent of Respondents Do Not Want USA Involved in Israel War Against Iran. TheBlaze @theblaze "Tim Walz on Israel striking Iran: “Who is the voice in the world that can negotiate some type of agreement and hold the moral authority? It might be the Chinese.”" From NRO sees An Antisemitic Meltdown by the Online Right’s Israel Foes. Twitchy, 'Sorry for Your and Obama's LOSS'! All of X WRECKS Ben Rhodes for BOO-HOO'ing for His Iranian Besties. Erick Erickson @EWErickson, "I know some people are so broken they will never be able to muster a compliment for Trump, but the level of misdirection and coordination with Israel on this Iran attack was brilliant. Trump used his public platforms to lull Iran into complacency while privately coordinating with Israel. Trump and Netanyahu went so far as to meet privately this week to finalize things while publicly both leaking that Trump was urging restraint." Kurt Schlichter@KurtSchlichter, "Carry your weapon lawfully today. There is a non-zero chance that Iranian infiltrators under Biden will launch terror attacks here and try to make my book come true." Matt Vespa at TownHall sees a CNN Analyst Throws Cold Water on All-Out War Speculations in the Middle East for a Simple Reason "everyone who would be plotting how to retaliate in Iran is dead (Also, no, Ben Rhodes, just no. Log off for a bit):"

Heather McDonald at CJ approves of Trump’s Unapologetic Defense of the Rule of Law. In fact, Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll "TODAY - 57% Approve Trump Deploying National Guard in LA Even while President Donald Trump’s immigration policy remains controversial, most voters support his decision to use the National Guard to stop attacks on federal immigration agents in Los Angeles." At the Pop Times CNN Journalists admit Trump’s Popularity Skyrockets Amid LA Violent Riots and Rep. Maxine Waters Shamefully Backpedals, Admits Protests Were Violent, Still Blames Trump. Althouse, Trump asserts that he "saved L.A." A classic Trump overstatement. Most of LA was unaffected. It's a very big city. The OC register reports Marines will take over protection of Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles. Da Fed's Mark Hemingway explains How The L.A. Riots Demonstrate Democrat-Media Complex’s Loss Of Narrative Control. RCP, LA Riots Hand Republicans Script for Midterms. From ET, Protests Against ICE Operations Spread to More Cities. Nick Arama at Red State sees Anti-ICE Agitators Find Out It's Not a Good Idea to Shake the Gates at Newark Facility. From NYPo, Los Angeles anti-ICE rioters are launching the left’s American intifada. Breitbart reports a Republican Senator Proposes Stripping Los Angeles of 2028 Olympics over Anti-ICE Riots. At Da Wire, says if you Want To End The Riots? Hit The Mob Where It Hurts. "As long as rioters know they can act with impunity, the riots will continue."

At NYPo, There’s nothing ‘spontaneous’ about radical ICE protests — here are the groups behind them. WokeSpy reports Democrat Lawmaker Threatens To Put Law Enforcement Lives In Danger For Apparent Publicity Stunt. "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Wednesday that he will be exposing the identities of ICE agents in what appeared to be a shocking publicity stunt, threatening the lives and wellbeing of possibly thousands of law enforcement officers and their families." Jerry Dunleavy at JTN finds the LA mayor once joined pro-Cuba communist group, now it’s part of CCP-linked network behind protests. "Karen Bass's radical Communist-linked past is coming back to haunt her as the pro-Cuban revolutionary group she was a member of in her youth has joined a Marxist financial network linked to the Los Angeles protests." At Hat Hair, John Sexton reports A Story About ICE Raiding a School Graduation in LA Made the Rounds But Was Entirely False and LA's KTLA 5 Botches a Story on ICE. Althouse, The "Oh no, not work!" guy is so repulsive that I had to wonder if he is an actor deliberately evoking our disgust. Joe Weber at JTN reports GOP-House passes bill to end DC's 'sanctuary' city statutes, "The measure passed 224-194, with 11 Democrats voting with Republicans to pass the measure."

Sundance hosts Border Czar Tom Homan Discusses In-Depth Border Security and Deportation Operations, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Responds to Media Questions About Alex Padilla Ambush Effort and Democrat Senator Alex Padilla Attempts to Ambush DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Forcibly Removed from News Conference. Liz Stauffer at LI laughs at a Dem Senator who Compares Padilla Takedown to John Lewis Fighting for Civil Rights in the 60s, "The “all-white beach club” references relate to Whitehouse’s long-standing membership in the exclusive Bailey’s Beach Club, located in Newport, Rhode Island, whose membership is said to be all white." At PJM Matt Margolis notes Even CNN Couldn't Defend Padilla's Phony Stunt. "CNN's David Chalian didn't mince words about what really happened here and why Padilla was actually there. "I mean, he's there to spark a moment and create attention. There's no doubt this is a, you know, political tactic that he was employing," Chalian admitted with refreshing honesty, not even pretending this was anything other than manufactured drama." Anxious anxiously reports Incensed House Democrats plan ICE funding war. Sundance, President Trump Sends Two Messages on Ongoing Illegal Alien Removals – Criminal Aliens Must be Aggressively Removed, and Non-Criminal Alien Workers May Get Leniency. Althouse finds "The Trump administration has abruptly shifted the focus of its mass deportation campaign, telling Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to largely pause raids and arrests in the agricultural industry, hotels and restaurants..." ""... according to an internal email and three U.S. officials with knowledge of the guidance...." Breitbart cites Rep. Crenshaw: Deport Non-Citizen Rioters Who Assault Cops, but after a long stint in prison. From Fox, Hochul fails to recall illegal aliens charged in high-profile criminal cases, including woman's subway burning.

At NYPo, the Divine Ms. Devine writes The art of Trump’s trade deal with China — how admin got it done. Real Clear World thinks Trump Is Right About European Non-Tariff Trade Barriers. Breitbart sees Tariff Derangement Syndrome Crushed: Producer Price Inflation Comes In Weaker Than Expected. From Fox, Trump scores major win as Senate installs IRS critic to lead the agency. "Former Rep Billy Long will take the helm at the IRS amid Trump's plans to overhaul the US tax system."

Althouse finds Booing or cheering? "From a Reddit discussion of the crowd reaction to Trump's appearance in the audience at the Kennedy Center performance of "Les Miserables": "Honestly it sounds like a mix of both? Boos and cheers/clapping together. Because as disappointing as it is, there is a lot of people who literally reside up Trump’s ass crack & worship this man. I fully despise him and everything he stands for. And the fact that he simultaneously, gets to go to the theater and exist peacefully while terrorizing the immigrant populations in LA & around the US.""

Chris Queen at PJM, Tom Emmer Rakes Tim Walz Over the Coals on Sanctuary State Policies. Alpha News @AlphaNewsMN "Tim Walz is asked: "What is a woman?" He responds: "I'm not sure I understand the question."" At Shooting News Weekly thinks In the End, David Hogg Was Just Too Masculine for a Leadership Position in the DNC.

At ET, Trump Says Musk ‘A Friend of Mine.’ "The president made the comments while signing a bill targeting California’s emissions mandate." Good. Dave Strom USAID Bribery Scandal Nets First Convictions. Sundance reports USAID Official and Three Corporate Executives Plead Guilty to Decade-Long Bribery Scheme.

Matt Vespa at TownHall, About That Judge Who Tried to Strip Trump's Commander-in-Chief Powers Last Night... "Judge Charles Breyer is another member of this unholy fraternity that’s leading this judicial coup. The man tried to—and this is just beyond laughable—wrest the commander-in-chief role from the executive last night. It lasted about 30 seconds before an appeals court slapped it down for gross overreach. It’s become the hallmark characteristic of this cabal of judges who think they’re the entire government. Once again, we have a clown in robes who would fit better as an MSNBC commentator than a judge." Shipwreckedcrew @shipwreckedcrew "In my review of the decision I don't see where Breyer even addressed this issue. If calling into federal service is a POTUS function, how can he enjoin that decision if he has no jurisdiction over POTUS on separation of powers grounds. That is black letter law." Quote Adrian Vermeule @Vermeullarmine, "Replying to @Vermeullarmine, "This might be the most shocking part of the decision. Previous resistance judges have at least paid lip service to the longstanding rule that injunctive relief doesn’t lie against the President directly for official acts." Adrian Vermeule @Vermeullarmine "If your reaction to this is that “the process is working,” you’re missing the point. Any one of almost 700 district judges might intervene at any time to block anything the President does, even within the core of his Article II powers. The overhang of uncertainty and confusion about where power lies in our government is toxic in itself." Quote Kyle Cheney@kyledcheney. " Replying to @kyledcheney "BREAKING: 9th Circuit panel grants administrative stay of Judge Breyer's ruling. This allows Trump to keep National Guard deployed for a few more days while three judge panel considers the case." Ben Weingarten at RCI on Tipping the Scales: Why So Many Cases Against Trump Are Heard by Democrat-Appointed Judges. "To see whether Trump’s adversaries are engaging in forum shopping, RealClearInvestigations analyzed 350 cases brought against the administration. We found that plaintiffs have brought 80% of those cases before just 11 of the nation’s 91 district courts. While Democrat presidents have appointed roughly 60% of all active district court judges, each of the 11 district courts where the anti-Trump challenges have been clustered boasts an even higher percentage of Democrat appointees. In several of these venues, the administration’s challengers are almost guaranteed that a judge picked by Joe Biden, Barack Obama, or Bill Clinton will preside over their case." Buck Throckmorton at Ace's thinks that Following Its Ruling Prohibiting Reverse Discrimination in the Workplace, SCOTUS Now Has the Opportunity to Eradicate Reverse Discrimination in Schools. Cam at Bearing Arms hears Connecticut say to Second Circuit Please Ignore What SCOTUS Just Said About AR-15s.

Da Caller, FBI Admits What Its Fmr Director Wouldn’t Say About Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal, "during [Operation Allies Refuge] and [Operation Allies Welcome], the normal processes required to determine whether individuals posed a threat to national security and public safety were overtaken by the need to immediately evacuate and protect the lives of Afghans, increasing the potential that bad actors could try to exploit the expedited evacuation,” the report continued." Ace, The CIA Releases 1,450 Pages of Documents Relating to the Killing of RFK (Senior). "The documents don't look too good for Sirhan Sirhan."

Ace hears CNN May Fire Anderson Cooper and Jake Tapper to Make the Company More Attractive for a Buyer "CNN is making so much money for Warner Discovery that the company is looking to spin it off into another company called "Loser Deadweight Ratings Poison Networks LLC" if my facts are correct. Update: My facts weren't correct. It will be called "Global Networks" or something gay and vague like that. They will be reviewing the exorbitant salaries they're paying proven ratings-disasters like Anderson Cooper. No one wants to buy a dying company until management gets serious about making it at least plausibly profitable in the future." He doesn't exactly sound bummed.

Ace also features The Week In Woke. "Three people are shot or stabbed at the "Pride" rally in DC after "protester" object to prudent security measures and a police presence." From Redux, a Trans-Identified Male Killer Accused of Raping Female Inmate in Illinois Women’s Prison Remains at Facility Despite Officials’ Attempts at Transfer. At AMAC, Why “Pride Month” 2025 Is Falling Flat.

There are tons of links left at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.13.25 (Afternoon Edition), but I don't have time to dig them all out. 

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.  The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: In The Sun and FMJRA 2.0: Before The Deluge up on time and under budget at the Other McCain.

Tattoo Tuesday

Special patriotic post-inauguration edition:

NYPo, Woman who let fiancé tattoo her face says she ‘regrets nothing’ despite backlash

A woman who got a face tattoo on “impulse” says she “regrets nothing” despite strangers assuming she is “stupid” and a “criminal”.

Alitia Thoburn, 20, has always been passionate about tattoos since she was eight years old.

The tattoo artist was letting her tattoo artist fiancé, Jonathan Saunders, 37, ink her arm when they impulsively decided to bring the design up onto the right side of her face.

The design is a large brush-like stroke of ink which comes down to her collarbone and connects with the rest of her tattoos.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Snow Bunny up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Happy 4th!

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: All American Girl up and running at The Other McCain.

Happy Flag Day!

Flag Day, "It’s observed then because on June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes for the American flag, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office."

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Just What It Says On Her Label out more or less on time at The Other McCain.

The Wednesday Wetness

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Karen Allen up and running at The Other McCain.

Happy July 4th!

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Karen Allen up and running at The Other McCain.

Tattoo Thursday

Today's Olympic Moment

 Breitbart, WATCH: U.S. Wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock Praises God, America After Winning Gold

“It’s by the grace of God that I’m able to even move my feet,” an enthused Mensah-Stock said to a network reporter after she took the gold Tuesday. “I just leave it in his hands, and I pray that all the practice, all the hell my freaking coaches put me through, pays off, and every single time it does. And I get better and better. And it’s so weird that there is no cap to the limit that I can do. And I’m excited to see what I have next.”

As she bounced on her feet in excitement, the network reporter asked her about the American flag she had draped around her shoulders. He wondered how it feels to represent the U.S.A. at the Olympics.

The reporter may have been hoping for Mensah-Stock to attack the U.S. like so many other privileged athletes, but if he was, he came away disappointed. Instead, Mensah-Stock was thrilled and to be a proud American.

“It feels amazing,” Mensah-Stock said of competing for her country. “I love representing the U.S.,” she continued as she brought her hands up in the shape of a heart. “I freaking love living there, I love it, and I’m so happy I get to represent U-S-A,” she said.

Wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock after winning gold: "I love representing the U.S. I freaking love living there." pic.twitter.com/04JZ6BRobV

— Joe Kinsey (@JoeKinseyexp) August 3, 2021

 The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Crossing The Streams up on time and under budget.

NYT Dreads Patriotism, Flags and Pickup Trucks

Twitchy, New York Times says flying the American flag from a pickup truck is an imperfect clue to that person’s politics

NYT/MSNBC’s @MaraGay: In Long Island last weekend, I saw “dozens of American flags,” which was “just disturbing” pic.twitter.com/RhGdqqJope

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 8, 2021

Gay later complained she was being trolled by people tweeting her American flags, but Charlotte Clymer felt where she was coming from, saying that people who hoist a giant American flag on their car are probably racist.

Now the New York Times is on the case, and it just happens to be set in a Long Island town: 

Today, flying the American flag from the back of a pickup truck or over a lawn is increasingly seen as a clue, albeit an imperfect one, to a person’s political affiliation in a deeply divided nation. https://t.co/TODmHEmPsO

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 3, 2021

Damn, that's evil! Even Althouse notices Have you noticed all the anti-4th-of-July articles?

Here's one I'm just catching up on: "Maybe it’s time to admit that the Statue of Liberty has never quite measured up" (WaPo).

It's time! Why is it time? Is there a "Time's Up" movement that's sweeping up all the manifestations of love for America? No more enjoyment of the comfortable attributes of everyday patriotism!

Here's an excerpt from the column, which is by WaPo's art and architecture critic Philip Kennicott.

The ironies and blind spots pile up. Liberty was depicted as a woman, at a time when women didn’t have the right to vote. In 1882, the United States passed the nakedly racist Chinese Exclusion Act; a year later, construction of the base of the statue began with Chinese laborers among the workforce. The idea of the statue was associated with the 100th anniversary of the revolution that brought American independence. But Bartholdi created a sedate, classicizing and mostly sexless figure, not the radical revolutionary icon of liberty known in France as Marianne (the bare-chested woman seen in Delacroix’s 1830 painting, “Liberty Leading the People).”. . .

I believe this has been a theme in the articles I've been seeing — what my post title calls "anti-4th-of-July" materials. I can imagine that the writers of this material would push me back and say, no, we're not anti-4th-of-July — you're anti-4th-of-July! — because we're for the deepest values of liberty and you're not.

Just remember, they hate you.  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Natasha Romanova Redux awaiting your digital pleasure.

The Monday Morning Eye Opener

Happy Federal 4th of July:

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Natasha Romanova Redux awaiting your digital pleasure.

2020 Election - July 4, 2021 Edition

Precious little; most of the media seems to be taking the long weekend. Good for them. CNN keeps hoping Trump's Hill allies could be ensnared in January 6 probe as GOP preps strategy. of course that's Nancy's plan. Even if the facts don't fit CNN will try to make it work. They're still trying to sell that "insurrection" bullshit, I see.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has asserted he'd "have no problem talking to anybody" about his conversations with then-President Donald Trump on January 6. That proposition may soon be put to the test.

McCarthy is just one of several Republicans who could get caught in the crosshairs as the Democratic-led investigation into the Capitol riot unfolds over the coming months, teeing up the possibility of partisan showdowns and raising questions about a conflict-of-interest if any potential witnesses are tapped for one of the five GOP spots on the select committee. 

Yet, Republicans too have their own emerging plan once McCarthy names his picks: They want to focus on the steps that Speaker Nancy Pelosi took -- or didn't take -- to secure the Capitol that day, according to GOP sources familiar with the early discussions.

The panel of lawmakers probing the deadly attack, eight of whom were tapped by Pelosi this week, is on a mission to dig up answers about the January 6 siege and will begin with testimony from US Capitol Police officers about their experiences that day. Democrats on the committee say they plan to pursue why there were a string of law enforcement and intelligence failures -- in addition to the root causes of the insurrection.

 

Mary Chastain at LI hears that Former Sen. Claire McCaskill thinks Capitol Hill Riot Worse Than Benghazi "McCaskill is subjecting her family to riot footage every Independence Day. I suggest they watch 13 Hours instead." Will her family put up with it, or does she treat them as slaves? 

WaPoo proudly announces FBI launches flurry of arrests over attacks on journalists during Capitol riot

Nearly six months after the U.S. Capitol riot, the Justice Department has begun arresting a new category of alleged criminals — those who attacked reporters or damaged their equipment as journalists documented the violence perpetrated by supporters of President Donald Trump.

The first such charge came last week, when 43-year-old Shane Jason Woods of Illinois was charged with engaging in violence on the Capitol grounds Jan. 6, as well as assaulting a law enforcement officer. Authorities say Woods was caught on video knocking down a cameraman.

I'm  OK with that. Anyone who attacks anyone during a demonstration deserved to be tracked down and tried. But I don't believe the press deserves more protection that the rest of us. But can we trust the Biden/Garland DOJ to enforce those laws equally? From PM, Antifa militants assault conservative demonstrators, reporters at LA spa protest

Antifa assaulted demonstrators and reporters at a protest Saturday outside a Los Angeles spa where a customer complained last week that a male individual's genitals were exposed to women and girls in the female section.

Antifa showed up to counter the small demonstration, accusing participants of "transphobia" for taking issue with the Wi Spa's refusal to act against the adult male who exposed his genitals to girls and women.

A mob of Antifa militants punched a man then chased and assaulted a videographer at the Wi Spa demonstration in Koreatown.

 

"Get the f— out of here! Keep walking!" the black-clad crowd members shouted at the man, shoving him across the crosswalk on Wilshire Blvd where the spa is located. "No safe spaces for chuds! Get the f— out of the neighborhood!"

Another individual who was recording the incident was tailed by the agitators. The Antifascist Action flag was displayed at the front of the enraged mob marching after the videographer. "Get the camera!" the Antifa activists ordered. "Flank him on the right!" was instructed to coordinate the attack.

The Manhattan Contrarian reports Justice In This Country Is Not Dispensed Impartially Between Democrats And Republicans, with several well know examples, including  the suspension of Rudy Giuliani’s Law License. 

At Town Hall, David Harsanyi opines, Tucker Carlson Says the NSA Is Spying on Him. Sadly, It's Plausible. It's more than plausible, I'd say it's nearly a sure thing, given that Carlson is in contact with various foreigners for his program. The scandal (if there is one) is that they were getting ready to try to use that information against him in a partisan attack, before Tucker headed them off by revealing the game. Any media outlet that comes out with leaked files now is suspect. 

The WSJ opines Yes, Trump Really Did Lose Michigan, "The GOP state Senate debunks fraud claims, and it’s worth a read" but it's paywalled. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Natasha Romanova Redux awaiting your digital pleasure.