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 on a Snowy Sunday Morning

As predicted, a dusting of snow arrived late last night/early this morning. An almost totally useless amount, not even thick enough to scrape up for a snowball fight, although Gabi and Corwin might get in some runs on a plastic sled if they go out soon. Although the air temperature finally made it below 32 in the last hour, the ground is probably still warm enough to melt it soon except in deep shade, of which we have little now that the leaves are mostly out of the trees. The air temp is supposed to linger near 30 all day, then plunge to 20 overnight. 

So, today's new news is shootings. There was a mass shooting at Brown University in RI yesterday, leaving 2 dead and 9 wounded that dominated the news, without saying very much. Despite 800 cameras on the campus, only 1 was shown yesterday, a black clad suspect walking calmly away. A suspect has been detained, but no details released. In Australia, another mass shooting at a Jewish festival killed 11 and wounded many more. One of two shooters, detained at the scene by a bystander, was named Naveed Akram. And, from Ace, Two U.S. Soldiers Killed By ISIS Islamist In Syria, "2 US Army Soldiers, Civilian Interpreter Killed by ISIS Gunman in Syria." Sundance at CTH, President Trump Warns of “Very Serious Retaliation” Following ISIS Attack in Syria Killing Three Americans. Trump need to mow down ISIS again after the Biden regency allowed them to re-sprout.

From OilPrice.com, Shadow Fleet on Edge After U.S. Seizes Tanker in Venezuelan Waters. Good. Now seize 5 more. At WUWT, The Gulf of America Is Back "After years of market swings, regulatory uncertainty, and deep staffing cuts, America’s energy workforce is overdue for a stabilizing signal. December 10th provides exactly that: the first federal Gulf of America lease sale in nearly two years, offering long-awaited certainty for the companies and workers that power America’s offshore energy engine." At Breitbart, Buried Treasure: Miners Discover Massive Supply of Rare Earth Minerals in Utah. "The discovery, made while mining clay in Utah’s Silicon Ridge, includes high grades of 16 different rare earth minerals, ranging from lithium and alumina to germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium, and niobium." Curiously, none of the elements named are rare earths, the lanthanide series elements.

At Da Signal, the Great Victor Davis Hanson notes Europe Is Angry Trump Told It the Truth and wonders Will Western Civilization Still Exist in Europe in 100 Years? Chronic chronicles Europe’s Unending Tragedy. Stephen Moore at Hat Hair has ideas about How Trump Can Help Accelerate Argentina's Economic Comeback.

Morning Chicago News sees the Debate Over Killing the Filibuster Intensifies as Heather Higgins Warns Republicans Not to “Show Up to a Knife Fight With Boxing Gloves.” Show up with an RPG. At ET, Trump Suggests He Would Work With Democrats on Health Care. "The comment at the congressional ball on Thursday comes ahead of a deadline to end health care subsidies before the end of 2025" and Senate Rejects Dueling Health Care Bills Tackling Expiring Obamacare Subsidies. OK, we honored the bargain, and gave you a vote.

Sundance celebrates President Trump Attends Army-Navy Game with Thunderous Applause. From the Balmer Sun, Army-Navy Game: Trump, Moore visit sidelines but do not meet.

NYT reports the National Trust Sues to Block Trump’s White House Ballroom Construction. Hamilton Nolan at How Things Work says If He Builds It, Tear It Down on the ballroom, "As soon as Republicans leave the White House, the next president should tear it down. "It should not be torn down quietly. Its destruction should be a public event. It should be pledged on the campaign trail by Democratic candidates. The day after inauguration, there should be a fireworks show over the White House as wrecking balls and backhoes smash the white walls of the fascist hangar. Citizens should gather in Lafayette Square and the National Mall and cheer as the gaudy pillars of the insulting structure are imploded by demolition experts. Let barbecues and block parties spring up around the nation as Americans watch the event on live television. Let there be a celebratory concert in front of the pile of rubble. Let us create a historic moment of national catharsis. Let us nonviolently smash the Trump era into dust."  

Althouse still watches SNL, Did Trump say something about Karoline Leavitt's mouth? "I'm trying to understand the background to the satire in last night's "SNL" cold open: . . . Wow, he actually said, about Leavitt, "When she goes on television, Fox, like I mean, they dominate. They dominate when she gets up there with that beautiful face and those lips that don't stop — pop pop pop — like a little machine gun."" And, Help me think of a term to apply to articles like this, something that expresses why it bothers me so much. "It's not "fake news," because it's not even news . . . "

Matt Margolis at PJM thinks Joe Biden Is Getting a Brutal Lesson on How Irrelevant He Is. Nobody wants to donate to his presidential library. Washington Free Beacon @FreeBeacon, "Remember the Biden administration’s pentagram-sporting monkeypox czar? Or the mastermind of New York’s race-based COVID policies? Good news! They’re on Zohran Mamdani’s health advisory team. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis made national headlines during the monkeypox outbreak when he encouraged those most likely to transmit the disease—gay men—to keep engaging in “risky” and “joy-forward” behavior, and now he’s moving on up in the world." I&I identifies Who Made Life In The U.S. Unaffordable? "From their ancient habit of adding regulation onto regulation to their affinity for taxing everything that moves to their inflationary fiscal policies and deep affection for subsidies for their favored causes and grifters, Democrats make life unaffordable for those who aren’t connected to them. Naturally, they want to twist the truth, because the facts clearly show they are the offenders."

At WUWT, Save Okefenokee Swamp from UNESCO Control "In Episode 21 of Conservation Country, host ‪@GabriellaHoffman‬ investigates a Biden-era policy to designate Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. She found locals overwhelmingly oppose this policy. They don’t want the United Nations in their backyard. The Trump administration withdrew from UNESCO in July 2025 effective December 31, 2025."

From Stacy McCain, Red States, Blue Cities: Minnesota, Somalia and ‘The Great Replacement’ "Red States, Blue Cities — that’s the fundamental reality of politics in America today, and it explains why Democrats have dug in their heels to prevent the deportation of illegal immigrants." Sundance hears Stephen Miller Predicts the $1+ Billion Somali Fraud in Minnesota “The Greatest Financial Fraud Scandal in American History” I suspect USAID was even bigger, but it wasn't really fraud, they were just abusing the system. From Fox, Omar accused by GOP opponent of opening up the door to massive Minneapolis fraud: 'Deep, deep ties' "Republican challenger John Nagel alleges that Omar has ties to individuals involved in fraud scandal."

From RVM, Zohran Mamdani Suggests NYPD May Arrest ICE Agents Instead of Illegal Aliens. FAFO. Across da Pond at De Telegraph, New York is becoming the next London, home only to immigrants and the super-rich. "The irony of Mamdani’s election is that he is likely to accelerate the middle class exodus, ending the city as an engine of social mobility."

Breitbart notices Jack Smith Partners with Trump Lawfare Thugs to Form a Law Firm. WUWT documents how America’s Energy Independence Threatened By “Dark Money” Lawfare.

TownHall's Dmitri Bolt notes Democrats Demand Due Process for Narco-Traffickers—but Mock the Murder of Charlie Kirk. Jason Cohen @JasonJournoDC "ANDREW SCHULZ: "It's just funny to me that there are people that were happy Charlie Kirk got shot because they disagreed on opinions, and they're fighting for due process for people who are driving fentanyl into the f*cking country.""

From LifeZette, Kilmar Abrego Garcia Will Be Deported Again says Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, Minneapolis Police Chief Threatens to Fire Officers Who Don’t Confront ICE During Arrests and Homeland Security Hearing Goes Sideways, Terrifying Terrorist Data Revealed Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, " HOLY CRAP! NCTC Director Joe Kent reveals JAW-DROPPING amount of terrorists let into America “18,000 known and suspected terrorists the Biden administration let come into our country." There’s no other way to put it. Treason." RVM sees Democrat’s Veteran Gotcha Collapses as DHS Exposes Full Criminal Record. At ET, ICE Arrests 2,824, Deports 11,870 in New Orleans in November "DHS said it had arrested more than 250 criminal illegal immigrants in New Orleans as part of Operation Catahoula Crunch." The Big Uneasy. Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes, "This data is mind blowing “Non-citizens Social Security numbers issued during the Biden Administration 2021: 270,425 2022: 590,193 2023: 964,163 2024: 2,095,247 - The Biden administration gave more non-citizens Social Security cards in 4 years than live in the state of Iowa - If we just took the amount of people they gave those to in 2024. That's more people than live in Nebraska, Idaho, West Virginia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, DC, Vermont and Wyoming It would be the 39th largest state in the union. Just the amount of people, non-Americans, they gave Social Security cards to last year.” “Gee, I wonder why that escalated so much in 24. Because what are you probably more likely to legitimately be able to claim if you've got a social security card, citizenship voting. Mm-huh.”"

At the Other McCain, the Wombat bids A Warm Welcome To Our Chinese Affiliates "I have been in contact recently with a gentleman named Liu, who advises me that some business or people in West Taiwan wish to purchase various theothermccain.com.cn URL. Now, there is a strong possibility that this is some kind of scam intended to get Stacy and I to shell out hundreds of bucks to buy these URL ourselves, but on the off chance this is actually a legit heads-up, I would like to welcome our new West Taiwan affiliates and warn them that the Ministry of State Security* may take a dim view of their association with our blog. As you loyal members of the Commentariat are well aware, the policy of this blog has long been that the best place for Communists is in free fall from a helicopter. We are also firm believers in Taiwanese independence, and support reasonable military and commercial steps to discomfit the vile betrayers of the Three People’s Principles currently bedeviling the good people of West Taiwan."

From Twitchy, David Frum Explains Why DOJ's Use of 'Franklin' Parody Is a Form of Transnational Organized Crime. Washington Free Beacon @FreeBeacon, "@AndrewStilesUSA writes: The New York Times published a profile of Jennifer Welch, the “radical wine mom” podcaster who has become—for reasons that defy conventional explanation—one of the most influential figures in the Democratic Party. Basically she thinks Democrats are a bunch of p—ies who don’t fight hard enough and aren’t passionate enough about the issues that matter, such as Trump’s “cankles.” Every serious presidential contender will have to go on her show in 2028 and face her wrath. Have fun, everyone!" Dave Strom at Hat Hair finds out Ugh! Oliver Sacks Was a Fraud, "It turns out that all his works were some variety of autobiography, in which he described aspects of his own personality, quirks, loves, hates, torments, and flights of fancy through the false biographies of his patients."

From Campus Reform, MSU Denver Writing Center calls ‘Standard American English’ a tool of white supremacy. To be a serious academic you have to assert something antithetical to common sense at least twice a day.

Harrison Lowman @harrisonlowman "For the love of god why would you make this a light hearted comedy. Then they went and reversed the message to make it anti-capitalism rather than anti-communism. Orwell is spinning in his grave." Quote DiscussingFilm @DiscussingFilm, "First trailer for Andy Serkis’ animated adaptation of ‘ANIMAL FARM’ Starring Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner and Iman Vellani."

At Twitchy, Childless Strategist Bitecofer Declares Kids Ruin Lives – X Users Clap Back Hard. We Used to Be a Proper Country @Mzandthropic, "This should instantly disqualify someone for social security as they aren't breeding the next contributors" Quote Rachel Bitecofer @RachelBitecofer, "I can 100% confirm that having kids kills your lifestyle unless your lifestyle is staying home on Friday nights cleaning up poo and vomit. For 3 years."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: A Week In The Ruts available for browsing at the usual place and time.

Flotsam and Jetsam - A Sunday Assortment

Not much of a theme day. Democrats are still running on Epstein, but it looks like that might backfire on them. Driscoll at Insty calls it OLD AND BUSTED: #MeToo, #BelieveAllWomen. "The New Hotness? Oh My: Dem Received Texts from Epstein During 2019 Congressional Hearing – and It Gets Worse. Sunny @sunnyright "When your #Resistance activism compels you to call the Washington Post revealing that Epstein was directing a Democratic member of Congress during a hearing, a “far right hit job” and no different than texting Congressional staffers," Quote emptywheel (check)@emptywheel, "This seems to be a far right hit job pretending that people don't OFTEN text staffers and Members during hearings. Let's make the entire practice visible, then!! x.com/washingtonpost…" Nick Arama at RedState, Oh My: Dem Received Texts from Epstein During 2019 Congressional Hearing - and It Gets Worse "I don't think the Democrats really thought about the can of worms they were opening up when they tried to smear President Donald Trump over the Epstein files." "Yeah, no, you can't try to get out of it that easily. So not only was she getting texts from Epstein, but he appeared to be coaching her as the Democrats tried to "get" Trump. And of course, Plaskett had a history with Epstein that she leaves out in her statement." RBe @RBPundit, "All I got from the emails is that Epstein was pissed that Trump distanced himself from him and spent the rest of his life absolutely obsessed with trying to destroy Trump. So… Jeffrey Epstein was the original George Conway." At PM, DOJ to probe Epstein's connections to Dems, banks after Trump ask: Pam Bondi. Pop Times, Bondi Opens Full Epstein Investigation Targeting Democrat Power Players. "Bondi said she has assigned SDNY U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the effort." Mike Davis @mrddmia, "Democrats repeatedly politicized and weaponized Epstein to smear Trump. They demanded an investigation. Be careful what you demand. Lawyer up, @BillClinton. You fucking scumbag." Funny, they had no interest in Epstein while Biden was nominally in charge.

With the Epstein issue largely discredited, Democrats and the media are now going after Trump because he wants to paint a building. Althouse, "Painting a historic building’s uncoated masonry can trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and cause it to crack or crumble...." ""That risk of permanent damage has led to preservation standards, including the Interior Department’s, to advise keeping a property’s historic appearance as unchanged as possible and caution against new paint schemes on historic masonry unless they replicate or closely match documented historic finishes, the complaint alleges. Paint could not be removed from the EEOB’s stone facade without risking its destruction...." From "Preservationists sue Trump over plans to paint Eisenhower building/The complaint alleges Trump’s plan would ‘permanently alter one of the most architecturally significant and historic structures in the Nation’s Capital'" (WaPo)."

Hat Hair's John Sexton watches Trump and MTG Trade Barbs on Social Media. Driscoll at Insty, GAZPACHO POLICE FIRE UP THE SPACE LASERS: Trump Lowers the Boom on MTG: Sometimes, You’ve Gotta Police the Crazies. "If she wasn’t “sincerely” motivated by crass personal ambition, she might’ve been tempted by the bright lights of mainstream media acceptance. [Marjorie Taylor Greene] certainly wouldn’t be the first “committed conservative” to go native in the D.C. jungle. It’s surprisingly easy, too: All you’ve gotta do is plunge a dagger in the backs of your friends and colleagues, and whammo, you’re in the club. And besides, it’s good for an ambitious gal such as Marjorie to keep her options open: You never know when a guest-hosting gig will open on “The View.”" Sundance at CTH looks at The 2025 MAGA Fracture and the Benefactors Behind It.

Matt Vespa at TownHall, So, What Are Voters Saying About Dems Post-Shutdown? Well, It's Not Pretty, "Seven of the 13 Biden-to-Trump Georgia swing voters in this week's panels said Democrats came out of the shutdown looking worse than Republicans. Two said Republicans look worse and four said both parties look equally bad." The Peacock whines the September jobs report will be out Thursday as first data since shutdown starts to trickle out. "The shutdown not only halted data collection and releases, but it also complicated the picture once the data does start coming out." "For instance, the October CPI report may never be compiled, owing also to the method used to gather data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses in-person visits, so the data can’t be collected retroactively." At Breitbart cites Ag Sec Rollins: ‘Next Step’ Is to Make ‘Everyone Reapply’ for SNAP to Ensure Integrity. "But here’s the most unbelievable news I have really, just over the last few days: That 5,000 dead people, that was just one month, the number is closer to 186,000 deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check." Betsy McCaughey at Hat Hair, The Home Affordability Crisis -- Not Fake News, no, it's a very thorny problem, foisted on us, in large measure, by Democrat policies. At Pop Times, JD Vance Hits Fox News Audience with a Massive Housing Affordability Truth Bomb "“Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who are taking houses, which ought by right go to American citizens and at the same time, we weren’t building enough new houses to begin with even for the population we have.”"

From the Center Square, Trump says $2,000 tariff rebate checks won't come before Christmas "Trump has proposed sending $2,000 checks to most Americans, excluding high earners." Don't worry, the Democrats will filibuster it. At Hat Hair, John Stossel writes Trump the Socialist. He's more of a JFK era Democrat. At Da Caller, comes word that the Trump Admin Slashes Major Tariff After Trade Deal Breakthrough "The U.S. and Switzerland have reached a trade deal that will cut tariffs on Swiss goods and increase Swiss investment in America, officials from both countries said Friday. Duties will be reduced to 15%, the Swiss government said in a statement on Friday, adding that further details will be announced later in the day. The country had previously been hit with a 39% tariff, one of the highest rates applied to any nation under President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff regime." According to Grok, The three largest import categories, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau trade statistics and industry analyses, are dominated by high-value pharmaceuticals and precious metals. At RCP, John Lott tells The Truth About Argentina’s ‘Bailout’ "News outlets, such as The Washington Post, pushed the claims with headlines like “The U.S. just bailed out Argentina.” But the U.S. didn’t give Argentina anything. It conducted a currency swap: The U.S. provided dollars, and Argentina provided an equal value in Argentine pesos. Saying we sent money to Argentina ignores a crucial fact: Argentina sent money right back to us at the same time. The first $20 billion swap occurred on Oct. 9, 2025, when the exchange rate was 1,418 pesos per dollar. The second $20 billion swap followed on Oct. 20 at an exchange rate of 1,495 pesos per dollar. By Nov. 12, the rate had moved back to 1,420 pesos per dollar. So, on average, the pesos we got in exchange for the dollars were worth more now than when we bought them. As a result, the U.S. now holds more than $41 billion in value from the original $40 billion, yielding an impressive 2.6% return in just one month."

At Twitchy, Dem to Scott Jennings: Blasting Drug Boats Must End Since Bananas, Kids, and Girlfriends Could Be Onboard. Are they hiding in the blue barrels on deck? Hat Hair's Beege Welborn hears from Trinidad and Tobago: Joint US Military Exercises on the Table. "Close as their ties are to the United Kingdom, which has stopped sharing intelligence gleaned in the Caribbean with the United States, thanks to squeamishness over the direction and methodology in Trump's ongoing war against Venezuela's drug cartels, the government in Trinidad announced today that they were going to be taking part in joint military exercises with the US."

Streiff at RedState is outraged that New York's Incoming Mayor Threatens to Arrest Netanyahu in Defiance of Federal Law. He should be. Outraged that is. OTP, Jon Voight Claims Mamdani Will Destroy New York. From Twitchy, Bill Maher Has a Socialism vs. Capitalism History Lesson That Mamdani Voters and Dems Will Ignore. Vigilant Fox @VigilantFox, "Bill Maher drops a reality bomb on Zohram Mamdani voters with a brutal history lesson on socialism. “We’ve run this experiment many times, and the results are always obvious,” Maher said. He looked straight into the camera and delivered a blunt warning about Mamdani. . . “Here’s capitalist South Korea at night from space,” Maher presented, showing a country lit up and thriving. “Here’s socialist North Korea,” he followed, with the map pitch dark. “Yeah. In 1990, Venezuela was wealthier than Poland. But then Poland, finally free of Soviet style economics, went all in on capitalism and now their economy is as big as Japan and people there have high wages, low inflation, cars, vacations, homes.” “Meanwhile, Venezuela traded capitalism for Hugo Chavez’s socialism for the 21st century, which turned out to be like socialism in the last century or any century, a f*cking mess.” “It turned one of Latin America’s richest countries into one of its poorest. Low wages, high inflation, shortages, outages, 8 million people fleeing. If you think New York can somehow reinvent this wheel, you’re in for a rude awokening.”" A video at Hat Hair asks Will Schumer Get Ousted For Not Being Radical Enough for Mamdani, AOC and the Democrat Party Base?

From Althouse, "The San Franciscan has never lived a day outside of California, presents younger than 58 because of his hair and genes..." "... and has endeared himself to his party rank-and-file by criticizing Democratic leaders for not fighting harder before leading by example to confront Donald Trump.... Newsom is also the best-positioned Democrat according to the new rules of politics — namely, whether you are or can become famous by breaking through on social media. Ask yourself: How many other potential candidates are plausible celebrities who can transcend the political-pop culture divide a la Obama and Trump?..." I'm reading "Admit It. Gavin Newsom Is the 2028 Front-runner. For years, Democrats and pundits have rolled their eyes at Gavin Newsom. But he’s positioned better than anyone else for the future of politics" by Jonathan Martin, in Politico." At Da Caller, DOJ Sues To Block Newsom’s ‘Racially Gerrymandered’ Map.

John Sexton hears Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs Faces Another Investigation Into Suspicious Rate Hike. "According to reports by the Arizona Republic, Sunshine Residential was denied a rate increase in December 2022, but donated $100,000 to the Hobbs inaugural campaign three days later. The next year, the increase was approved: $234 per day. It was higher than the average $169 for other group homes...Sunshine also donated $200,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party, and the firm's CEO was on the Hobbs inauguration committee." Funny how that works.

Fox News' Gregg Jarrett says Comey’s Russian hoax is a reminder of how he is similar to Nixon. "Former FBI director's handwritten notes found in burn bags show he was aware of Hillary Clinton's scheme." At LifeZette, an Arctic Frost Bombshell: Jordan Probes DOJ Watchdog Over GOP Phone Sweep. From Da Caller, Prosecutor Appoints Himself To Fani Willis’ Election Case After Failing To Find A Single Lawyer Willing To Revive It. Now close it. Matt Vespa asks So, What Do You Think About the FBI's Update on the Investigation Into Trump's Assassin? FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash, "Crooks Case Overview: Over 480 FBI employees were involved in the Thomas Crooks investigation. Employees conducted over 1,000 interviews, addressed over 2,000 public tips, analyzed data extracted from 13 seized digital devices, reviewed nearly 500,000 digital files, collected, processed, and synchronized hundreds of hours of video footage, analyzed financial activity from 10 different accounts, and examined data associated with 25 social media or online forum accounts. The FBI’s investigation into Thomas Crooks identified and examined over 20 online accounts, data extracted from over a dozen electronic devices, examination of numerous financial accounts, and over 1,000 interviews and 2000 public tips. The investigation, conducted by over 480 FBI employees, revealed Crooks had limited online and in person interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not leak or share his intent to engage in the attack with anyone." Sometimes, there's just not much to find.

Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN, Federal judge blocks Trump administration from cutting funding to University of California. "The judge ruled that the government’s funding cuts and investigations opened by the Departments of Education and Justice were “coercive and retaliatory conduct in violation of the First Amendment and 10th Amendment”"

From Breitbart, Judge: Democrat LaMonica McIver Must Stand Trial for Assaulting Federal Agents at ICE Facility. OTP reports 16 Antifa Members Charged In Texas ICE Facility Riot, Attempted Murder Of Cop. WokeSpy, DOJ Drops the Hammer on Antifa After Officer Shot in the Neck During ICE Facility Attack. 

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh " HOLY SMOKES! The success of Donald Trump’s border in one image. Migrant crossings at the insanely dangerous Darien Gap: 2022: 248,284 2023: 520,085 2024: 302,203 2025: 2,941 (!!!) It’s a decline of nearly 100%. The Gap is located between Colombia and Panama; it’s a dangerous path taken by illegals desperate to come to America. Trump is saving lives — and our sovereignty." Natalia Mittelstadt again, Trump administration unleashes illegal immigration crackdown in Charlotte. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.” John Kass thinks Pritzker’s Angry Violent Left Kills Any Hope of Immigration Compromise. Joy Pullman at Da Fed reports the Indiana Attorney General Subpoenas Amazon, Sues Indianapolis Schools Over Migrant Trafficking.

Latimer Alder @latimeralder "BBC Defenders: 'Mr Trump is a Bad Man. So its perfectly OK to lie about his specches' 'But how do you know he's a bad man?' 'Just listen to his speeches!' A self-serving, circular, worthless argument."

OTP reports a Legal Group Accuses Virginia School District Of Felony For Hosting Free Dem Rally, Portsmouth. At Da Caller, ‘That’s What Motivates People’: School Board Winners Say Gender Policies Drove Big Election Gains. WUWT is amused by COP30 when a Dispute Erupts over the Legal Definition of a Woman. "One of the goals of the COP30 climate conference is helping women allegedly affected by climate change." Transwomen hit in the nuts by climate change. WJ thinks you should Meet the Gay Furry Socialist Dem Candidate Who Celebrated Charlie Kirk's Murder and Loves 9/11. "Samuel Smeltzer, an IT specialist who identifies as a honey badger and goes by the name “Elyon Badger,” has a history of violent posts on BlueSky, a left-leaning competitor to X, the Washington Free Beacon reported. He is running for the House of Representatives in Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rep. Tom Barrett, according to the outlet." But what if I don't want to?

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Curse of the Gopherball up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

A Thursday Tune - Highway to Hell

Giu Busetto

Guitarist known for playing classic rock and metal songs on TikTok. Her account has over 650,000 followers and 4.9 million likes. She went viral playing "Thunderstruck" by the rock group AC/DC. The video has over 7.4 million views.
 
She joined Instagram in December 2017 and TikTok in February 2021.

 

She appeared on the América TV station in October 2021. She has played in a Queen cover band.

She lives in La Plata, Argentina. She has a dog.
 
She plays a guitar stylized by the rock legend Zakk Wylde.

TikTok, Instagram, YouTube

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Biker Babe In Bikini up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

I Like Her Style

 NYPo, Woman caught on video stripping from dress, using it as mask in ice cream shop

A woman in Argentina stripped down to her underwear and attempted to use her dress as a face covering to get around an ice cream parlor’s mask mandate, video shows.

“Don’t ask for my face mask, I’m putting it on,” she boldly tells the staff at the store in Godoy Cruz, a city in the western province of Mendoza, before she strips down.

The surveillance footage also shows a man approach the counter with his three daughters as the comical scene unfolds.

Even though he wears a mask below his nose, the father is allowed to place his order — while the half-naked woman tries to tie her black dress around her face.

The man quickly adjusts his mask to also cover his nose to avoid running afoul of the policy.

Meanwhile, the woman is refused service and storms out of the store.

Stupid Brightcove autorun video below fold.