Happy Earth Day!

38 North, A Fresh Look at North Korea at Night

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Siced Seal Team Six on the Norks?

Streiff at RedState hears a Classified Navy SEAL Mission Leaked to Damage President Trump Harms National Security Instead. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair reads the NYT, and has his doubts, Trump Sent SEAL Team 6 Into ... North Korea? "Why are people talking about it now? The NYT says they have "two dozen" sources for the story, including Trump I officials along with military and civilian (read: intel) sources. It seems very odd that this didn't leak until now, given that Trump was out of office for four years in between. And that makes me question the motive as well as the timing." Wow, just like the TV series.

The Pop Times cite Marco Rubio: Trump Will ‘Wage War’ on Cartels After Deadly U.S. Strike. From Twitchy, SMOKED! Pete Hegseth Drops Some Truth About Wiping Out Narco-Terrorists and The Daily Beast Can't Deal Fox News@FoxNews, ""I'd say we smoked a drug boat and there's 11 narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean — and when other people try to do that, they're gonna meet the same fate." Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military had the "absolute" authority to strike a Venezuelan boat carrying nearly a dozen suspected Tren de Aragua gang members in the southern Caribbean Sea." The Daily Beast @thedailybeast "Pete Hegseth told reporters that the United States has “absolute and complete authority” to kill suspected drug smugglers in “defense of the American people.”" At Breitbart, Pentagon Says Venezuelan Aircraft Flew Near U.S. Naval Vessel in the Caribbean. FAFO. From Com Def, America’s Military Identity Shifts Back to Its Historic Roots, adopting the name War Department. Which won't stick unless Congress agrees.Sundance at CTH, President Trump Likely to Nominate Lt Gen William Joseph “Joe” Hartman as Head of NSA and U.S. Cyber Command and Prime Minister Mark Carney Announces Canadian Troops Will Be on Ground in Ukraine.

From Fox Bus, Trump Fed nominee vows independence, unpaid leave from White House if Senate confirms him "Democrat argues that Stephen Miran's 'independence has already been seriously compromised.'" TNP hears RFK: CDC Director Was Fired for Admitting She Could Not Be Trusted. “I told her she had to resign because I asked her, ‘Are you a trustworthy person?’ and she said, ‘No.'” TrashPanda, sees Stephen Colbert Melts Down After Trump Threatens Chicago With National Guard. His meltdown occurred long ago, when Trump won.

Matt Margolis at PJM hears Damning New Evidence Emerges in Biden Autopen Scandal and There’s a New Biden Autopen Scandal Bombshell, and It Involves Kamala "A particularly damning February 2024 memo from Biden’s White House Counsel’s office noted that while Biden had previously asked to discuss pardon candidates personally, the process had shifted to the point where “the Vice President’s approval was sufficient to obtain his approval.”" Duane Patterson at Hat Hair, Somehow, the Biden Autopen Scandal Gets Even Worse. Ace, Revealed: Emails Showed that White House Staffers Scrambled to Find a Justification for Printing Up "Pardons" the "President" Didn't Even Know About. "Unfortunately, the one pardon he signed was for Hunter. But the rest might be challenged. (Though I have no idea how that would work.)" Ace cites Jerry Dunleavy/JustTheNews: Disgraced, Jailed FBI Agent Who Leaked Critical Information to... CEFC, the ChiCom Front Company That Was Paying Off Hunter Biden and "The Big Guy," "Treason."

At Da Fed, Beth Brelje cites Minneapolis Dems: We Know Our Election Was Rigged But Let’s Keep The Results Anyway and MD Kittle notes Maine’s ‘Reckless’ Secretary Of State Admits ‘Some’ Noncitizens Are On State’s Voter Rolls, but not many, swearsies!

Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando "Jon Ossoff must explain why his foreign investors were employing 500 illegal laborers, including Korean nationals." Quote Ossoff's Office @SenOssoff, "Last month, Sen. Ossoff led his second economic delegation to South Korea to attract additional investments in Georgia. Tonight, LG Energy Solution and Hyundai are investing $4.3 BILLION to create a new, 3,000-job EV battery manufacturing plant in Georgia." Driscoll at Insty, has a DISPATCH FROM THE ICE FLOE: “She’s missing stuff:” Eleanor Holmes Norton’s colleagues see signs of decline. "What we’re hearing: “She’s missing stuff,” a senior House Democrat said of Norton’s apparent decline, telling Axios that Democratic leadership’s deliberations about her potential reelection bid are “delicate.”" Alpha News, Fraud committee chair says federal government may expand audit of Minnesota, "Rep. Kristin Robbins said she was informed that a federal audit of the state's Medicaid-funded autism therapy services is already underway and the investigation may expand."

Brooke Singman at Fox, DOJ task force finds 'numerous instances' of anti-Christian government bias under Biden, "The Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias is chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi." Drew Berquist sees a CNN Panelist Suggests Democrats Could Use National Guard to Confiscate Your Guns, Jonah Goldberg.

At LifeZette, List of Items FBI Confiscated From John Bolton’s House During Raid Revealed. There should be photo of some papers in folders labeled "Top Secret." At Sundance's CTH, Details of Bolton Search Warrant Revealed as Warrant is Unsealed, Catherine Herridge Uploads, Then Deletes, Exclusive Release From FBI (Kash) Showing FBI Docs “Flynn Timeline”, "Something odd is going on with this," and Mr. President, Tear Down These Walls.

NYPo, Minneapolis gunman Robin Westman blamed massacre on mom warning him not to change gender — and discouraged people from letting their kids transition. Hat Hair's Dave Strom insists It's Mental Illness: Annunciation Shooter's 'Girlfriend' Was a Furry. THE OCpatriot™ @OCpatriot_ "Minneapolis shooter dude who hated himself and thus tried to identify as female dated a female that hates herself and tried to identify as a cat. Re-open the asylums."

Tom Knighton is astonished by the twisting of words by the DC Appeals Court: Adults Under 21 Are Covered by Second Amendment, But Can't Have Guns. DC News Now, ‘They need to be made accountable’: Two 17-year-olds arrested, another teen sought in deadly DC shooting of Congressional intern.

Fox 5, Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be deported to African nation of Eswatini: report, formerly Swaziland. Twitchy, Eswatini Bound: ICE Informs Kilmar Abrego Garcia He Will Soon 'Deport' to Bless the Rains Down in Africa. But he doesn't speak Swahili! But then, he doesn't speak English well either.

At TownHall Matt Vespa thinks The Timing When ICE Will Ramp Up Deportation Operations in Chicago Is Perfect. "The increased deportation operations under ICE are set to start on Saturday, when the city will be hosting a series of events commemorating Mexican Independence Day (via ABC7 Chicago)."

Real News Éire @real_eire, "Graham Linehan isn’t backing down. This is him on his way to court." The Telegraph, cited by YaHoo reports the Graham Linehan accuser ‘is disgraced transgender police officer’. Breitbart, ‘Dystopian Clown Show’ — Graham Linehan Considering Lawsuit Against London Police over Trans Tweets Arrest, Robby Soave at Reason, Graham Linehan's Speech Must Be Defended "The Irish comedian's arrest by British authorities is an outrage." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, "I wonder if Elon Musk is getting involved in this case. At one point, he personally pledged to fund the defense of anyone who got prosecuted for their POV on X/Twitter, although I do believe he was specific about it being in the US. It still is an opportunity for Musk to push hard against the forces trying to shut him up in the UK and elsewhere." At Spiked, Graham Linehan’s arrest shows we need a UK First Amendment, "Unless we have robust protections for free speech, the thoughtpolice will continue to run amok." Alice Smith @TheAliceSmith, "The UK government is arresting comedians and pepper spraying children but what makes the left furious is that Nigel Farage is reporting these facts in the US." Greg Lukianoff and Adam Goldstein at The Eternally Radical Idea, Yes, the UK really is that bad for free speech. Ace, Europe Bans Michael Shellenberger's Public Substack Because It Revealed French President Macron's Illegal Efforts to Suppress Speech That Undermines His Lies, "Yesterday, I noted that Michael Shellenberger's excellent Public substack reported on the French Twitter Files (Les Dossiers Francais du Twitter), exposing Macron's pressure on Twitter to stop allowing posts that undermined his false claims." At Althouse, "This was not a case of we say tomayto, you say tomahto. This was we say tomato, while you cannot say anything these days because of the EU and its rules..." Steven Barrett @SBarrettBar "She knew And did nothing," Quote Don Keith @RealDonKeith, "A Shocking Admission: Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding Girls, has now admitted in Parliament that she had prior knowledge of young girls being raped by police officers in grooming gangs: “I would be lying if I said that over the years I have not met girls who talked to me about how police were part of the perpetration, not just the cover-up.” This is the same Jess Phillips that campaigned against a national inquiry into grooming gangs." The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee "British Authorities Warn There Is A Man Loose On The Streets Threatening To Share An Opinion https://buff.ly/2ciOo5t"

Dan McLaughlin at NRO, CBS Is Rethinking Its Life Choices. "It is rumored that Paramount head David Ellison is bidding to not only acquire the Free Press from Bari Weiss but also give her — heretofore a Wall Street Journal and New York Times editor and entrepreneur — a leading role at CBS News. CBS TV, radio, and web staff are said to be “apoplectic” over the possibility of an outsider’s leading their cozy, conventionally left-leaning legacy institution." Capt. Ed wants to know Could Bari Unbury CBS News? Ace, Reports Paramount -- the New Owner of CBS -- Is Close to Buying Bari Weiss' Free Press for As Much as $200 Million, and Giving Weiss a Supervisory Position Over CBS "News" Itself, "Dylan Byers reports that the deal, while not yet signed, is on "the 1-yard line."" Matt Vespa, CBS News Staffers on the Verge of Revolt If This Person Is Hired. CBS staffers are revolting. Capt. Ed has Must See-BS: Dueling Norahs on SCOTUS Interviews.  

Spot the difference between Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's interview with CBS's Norah O'Donnell and Justice Amy Coney Barrett's interview with Norah O'Donnell.

WATCH: pic.twitter.com/LgNlF9Inmq

— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) September 4, 2025

Matt Whitlock @mattdizwhitlock, "After watching this a dozen times.. YES it's wild that Norah O'Donnell treats Justice Barrett like a terrorist. But ... she also talks to Justice Jackson like a 4-year-old special needs child." Hat Hair's John Sexton hears CBS Announces a New Policy for Editing Interviews After Sec. Noem Complains. "CBS News’ “Face the Nation” will no longer edit taped interviews after U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem complained about how her remarks were cut in her last appearance on the Washington-based program. The news division said Friday that the Sunday show moderated by Margaret Brennan will only present interviews live or “live to tape” in which no edits are made. Exceptions will be made when classified national security information is inadvertently stated or language is used that violates Federal Communications Commission broadcast standards."

The Wrap, PBS Slashes 15% of Staff After $500 Million Federal Funding Cuts "The broadcaster says the layoffs would eliminate 100 positions, including 34 immediate layoffs." I guess they need some of that Federal money after all. From the Free Bacon, 'Normalizes Antisemitism, Reinforces Bigotry, and Launders Terror': New Yorker Invites Anti-Semitic Streamer to Annual Festival, Prompting ADL Rebuke, "Influencer Hasan Piker has defended Hamas's October 7 terrorist attack and said 'America deserved 9/11'" At Tablet, Wiki Wars "As Hamas terrorists are being vanquished in Gaza, a group of radical editors is succeeding in redefining Zionism as racism on the world’s leading online encyclopedia. Congress is investigating if it’s a foreign op." Nat Silver at the Silver Bulletin, What is Blueskyism? And why is it so toxic for political persuasion?

Stephen Kruiser at PJM, sees the Unhinged Trans Mob Loons Just Won't Give It a Rest. Driscoll at Insty hears JIM GERAGHTY: Malcolm Gladwell Reaches His Tipping Point on Trans Athletes. "‘Near Unanimity in the Room that Trans Athletes Have No Place in in the Female Category’ It’s rather amazing what can be said out loud, into a microphone, once the political winds change. Malcolm Gladwell is a staff writer for the New Yorker and one of those rare authors who shaped his own oft-imitated genre. Starting with The Tipping Point, Gladwell used recent academic research to coin phrases and introduce concepts in psychology and sociology into popular culture. (How many people knew he started at the American Spectator?)" JK Rowling is unimpressed with his conversion, J.K. Rowling @jk_rowling, "Gladwell’s career wouldn’t have been destroyed if he’d spoken out against the glaring unfairness, not to mention dangers, of allowing men to compete in women’s sport. He’d have faced loss of approval from the cultural elite and received activist blowback, and even that wouldn’t have come with the tsunami of death and rape threats women face when they speak. . . " From Calling all Rushbabes, If Washington parents thought yesterday’s post was alarming, just wait until you see today’s. LGBTQRSTUVUXYZ instruction from Kindergarten on, no opting out. Jim Walsh @JimWalshLD19 "This policy is illegal. Clearly violates the US Supreme Court's recent ruling in "Mahmoud v. Taylor." Link to the ruling below. This policy is also pathetic. The "California & New York do it too" excuse shows Seattle leftists are followers, not "leaders."" At Da Blaze, Van Jones admits the woke era has gone too far.

Lotsa links left at The Wombat's In The Mailbox: 09.05.25 (Afternoon Edition) and In The Mailbox: 09.05.25 (Evening Edition), but I have a soccer game to get to. Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.  The Wombat has posted FMJRA 2.0: Cramming For The Draft at the usual time and place.

Flotsam and Jetsam - VP Vance Goes Across the Pond

And once again I find myself waist-deep in links. At NYPo, James Carville admits Trump’s fast pace is leaving Democrats reeling: ‘We are overwhelmed.’  I certainly am. Twitchy sees Buck Sexton Shares WaPo Front Page Loaded With 'Trump's Greatest Hits' Headlines. Don Surber shares his Highlights of the week, all 31 of them. To add insult to injury, Sundance at CTH hosts President Trump Signs Energy Executive Order and Holds Impromptu Press Conference from the Oval Office. Keep 'em on the run! At Da Signal, Trump Agenda on Track With Swift Cabinet Confirmations. At Insty, REAGAN’S ‘TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD’ ASSESSES TRUMP: "Donald Devine was Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1985. Trust me, and I worked for him for nearly three years, he earned that moniker. Today in National Review, Devine provides a finely detailed, historically informed and politically wise evaluation of Trump’s first three weeks, which he describes as “the most well prepared and best performing presidential transition in history. It had the earliest and largest number of cabinet nominees and staff, the most thoughtful and earliest announced executive orders and agency guidance, and a president ready to lead.”"

Dave Strom at Hat Hair calls this Trump's Most Epic Troll Ever: Libs of TikTok@libsoftiktok, "President Trump proudly displays his mugshot in the White House." Althouse, Trump has his framed mug-shot on the wall next to the door to the Oval Office. Scott Pinsker at PJM lauds Vanity Fair’s Shocking Profile of Barron Trump, shocking friendly.

At NYPo, Watch live: Vice President Vance speaks in Munich as Trump pushes to end Ukraine war. Bonchie at RedState calls it MUST-SEE: JD Vance Triggers Munich Security Conference, Rips European Hypocrites to Their Faces. Da Mail, JD Vance torches European leaders for 'criminalizing' free speech in extraordinary Munich speech. At Hat Hair, Beege Welborn says While Standing in Their Kitchen, JD Opens a Can of Freedom Whoop-A** on Europeans LAGNIAPPE. Mary Chastain at LI highlights Vance to Europe: America Survived ’10 Years of Greta Thunberg,’ You can Survive Elon Musk. “And unfortunately, when I look at Europe today, it’s sometimes not so clear what happened to some of the Cold War’s winners.” Althouse, finds "Alongside Romania, Germany and Sweden, Vance singled out the UK for some of the most scathing passages of his tirade."  Ace, JD Vance Shocks Munich, Rocks Europe With Speech Decrying Europe's Determined Slouch Into Tyranny and Madness. "JD Vance just called out the Davos-controled governments of Europe and attacked them for resorting to Soviet Union tactics -- jailing dissidents, ignoring the will of the people, even cancelling elections entirely -- in order, they claim, to "save democracy."" Hat Hair's Dave Strom wonders Is Europe a Greater Threat to US Citizens Than Russia? He thinks so. Hat Hair's Capt. Ed encouraged by the EU: Say, Maybe We Should Invest In Our Own Defense After All.

Four more from Sundance, Vice-President Vance Scheduled to Meet President Zelenskyy in Munich Tonight – As JD Vance Stuns the EU with Confrontation of Their Hypocrisy, "UPDATE: Transcript Added", Oh Boy, Body Language Alert: Vice President JD Vance Meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, VP JD Vance and Def Sec Pete Hegseth, Execute the Trump Doctrine Term-2, and The Trump Doctrine. From NYPo, Trump focused on ‘productive negotiation’ with Putin and Zelensky to end brutal war in Ukraine, JD Vance says. NY Sun, UN Balks at Trump Move To Deny an ‘Illegitimate’  ICC Prosecutor Entry to America, "Following the president’s February 6 executive order, the Department of Treasury has added Karim Khan, a British citizen, to its ‘Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.’" At Althouse, "South Korea’s likely next leader would support President Donald Trump’s efforts to restart dialogue with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un..." ""... and would even consider nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize if there was a significant breakthrough, signaling a sharp change from Seoul’s current hard-line approach toward Pyongyang...." From "South Korea’s likely next leader wants warmer ties with China, North Korea/Lee Jae-myung says he would support President Donald Trump’s efforts to restart talks with North Korea — and even consider nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize" (WaPo)(free-access link)." ET has 5 Takeaways From Trump’s Sweeping Reciprocal Tariffs Plan. "The United States plans to tariff all trading partners at an amount that matches the tariffs placed on the US, the president says." From RCD Axel de Vernou explains How Trump’s Tariffs Can Reverse De-Dollarization. At Hat Hair, Released American Hamas Hostage Keith Siegal Says, 'Thank You, Mr President'

Don Surber explores Why Democrats hate Hegseth. "Trump hired Hegseth to change the military back into a lean, mean, fighting machine. That is what true warriors want. The president did not have the military behind him in his first term. This time he will succeed because he will have the military on his side instead of the future members of Boeing’s board of directors. Hegseth is the key to success in Trump’s second term as commander-in-chief because someone has to quell the riots." OTP reports Army Bans Transgender-Identifying Individuals. U.S. Army@USArmy, "The #USArmy will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members. Stay tuned for more details."

Stephen Kruiser at PJM, says Screw Seed Oils, I'm Giving RFK Jr. a Chance. Althouse remembers RFK Jr. advocated banning prescription drug advertising on TV. Would that destroy mainstream TV news?. "I asked Grok: What has RFK Jr. said about prescription drug advertising on TV? Answer: "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been vocal about his opposition to prescription drug advertising on television."" At Fox, RFK Jr.’s top health and wellness priorities as doctors share input, "The new HHS secretary aims to improve food, healthcare, medical freedoms and more." Breitbart, Ric Grenell Cleans House at ‘Broke’ Kennedy Center, Removing Several ‘Highly Paid Executives’ and Saving Taxpayers Millions and pissing off all the "right" people in DC. 

At Althouse, "What immediately stood out... just the fact of [Elon Musk] holding court next to a sitting President Trump for 30 minutes in [the Oval Office]." "There's a suggestion that Musk gave Trump "credibility" and then a long bit about how the people who take USAID money are some of the very best people. I felt as though I was supposed to forget the question asked and just absorb a negative opinion of Musk's project, which is completely nonresponsive! Why can't they talk observe and analyze the change in Trump? He's been through so much!" Ace debunks the New Leftist Attack on Musk and Trump: Trump Is Buying $400,000,000 of Armored Tesla Cybertrucks in a Corrupt Payoff, "There is such a deal. There's just one problem with this claim: The State Department inked the deal to buy these electric trucks on December 13, 2024. When Biden was "president."" NewsBusters advises Oh Blow It Out Your Nose! Paul Krugman Is Already Trying to Make ‘Trumpflation’ a Thing, after 4 years of downplaying it under Biden. Rick Moran at PJM sees Republicans Take First Step in Creating 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill' of Trump Priorities. Newt, discusses the Trump Tax Cuts vs. a Congressional Tax Increase "Members of Congress seeking to delay or stop a Big, Beautiful Bill of tax cuts, energy improvements, deregulation, economic growth, and better affordability are risking their futures."

Rasmussen Reports@Rasmussen_Poll, "DOGE: "Legally untouchable because it was already fully funded and operational. Congress can't defund it because it's not a new program, just a repurposed one. Since the (prior program) was originally an IT oversight program, DOGE now has full access to all Federal data systems. Yes, that's right. All of them."" Dave Strom says It's Your Own Damn Fault, Liberals. Althouse finds "Musk and his goofily-named, wow-that-really-exists Department of Government Efficiency have been intent on the government budget slash-and-burn mission..." ""... since Donald Trump took office. They say that evil never sleeps, but apparently tech kajillionaires who have pretty bananapants power over federal infrastructure do, hence Musk’s alleged lil DOGE naps in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. . . I'm reading "Goodnight, Goon. Elon Musk Is Whispering 'Cuts,' Sleeping on the Floor Near the White House/He really is in the DOGEhouse, huh?" That's Kase Wickman, writing in Vanity Fair." At Am Great the Great Victor Davis Hanson lays out the Mythologies About Musk, "Musk's role in DOGE is misunderstood: he's an appointed auditor with legal authority to find waste, not cut programs, and foreign aid isn't ending, though USAID's inefficiencies may be restructured." Scott Jennings@ScottJenningsKY, "TV Dems say 2 things: “nobody voted for this” & everyone hates Elon. They have learned nothing. And they lie. Read ‘em & weep on @axios: “Every AZ swing voter in our focus groups approve of Trump's actions — & most support Musk's efforts to slash government.”" Dave Strom also cites Axios: Swing Voters LOVE What Trump and Musk Are Doing. Cutie Pavlich at TownHall says Democrats Are Going to Hate New Polling on DOGE. Breitbart sees the Rassmussen Poll: Majority Approve of Elon Musk Running DOGE. At Unreported Truths Alex Berenson explains Why the Trump/Musk partnership is taking off. "Two alphas with very different skills, one government to shrink." RVN, Joe Rogan Drops a Massive Truth Bomb on Mainstream Media’s DOGE Coverage. “It’s just too much of a win for the right, and so they’re just ignoring it and then they’re just highlighting the good things that USAID did, which I’m sure they probably did. Probably had to do some good things to at least justify its existence.” Veronique de Rugy discusses The Upside, Risks and Limits of DOGE . Edward N Luttwak @ELuttwak, "While governing the US Trump is also awakening populations world-wide to the quiet corruption of their own governments, which also divert taxpayer money to their NGO friends, also use defense spending to feed uncompetitive mil industries, and perpetuate overstaffed bureaucracies." ET, Trump’s Budget Chief Moves to Authorize His Political Appointees to Make Spending Decisions, "The decision gives Vought greater leverage to keep subordinates on track who would otherwise slow-walk or block policies at the department and agency levels." Professor Ornery, DOGE, Audits, and Eko, "The substack “Eko Loves You” is an interesting and insightful read. There’s a lot of speculation that this is Elon Musk writing his thoughts on the work and discoveries of DOGE. Whether it’s Musk or not, the posts are well worth reading. The posts lay out in clear language what’s been discovered, connections, Constitutional issues… the whole shebang."

Misty Severi at JTN reports a Federal judge blocks CFPB from terminating employees without cause, "The ruling comes after the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Thursday directed federal agencies to begin firing its employees who are still in their probationary period." ET, Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Restore Funding for Foreign Aid, "The judge said the blanket suspension was likely ‘arbitrary and capricious’ and questioned its necessity as ‘a rational precursor to reviewing programs.’" Fox, Judge orders temporary reversal of Trump admin’s freeze on foreign aid. From WaEx, Judges blocking Trump government efficiency moves have history of liberal activism, of course. ET, on  Judicial Impeachment: How It Works and Why It’s in the Spotlight, "The Constitution indicates that federal judges can be impeached and removed from office for ‘treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.’" There should be a "3 strikes, you're out" rule. Ace's THE MORNING RANT: In Response to Rogue Judiciary, Perhaps Trump Should Expand Executive Branch Purview and Start Firing Federal Judges "Here’s an idea: President Trump should fire these rogue federal judges and instruct all Executive Branch employees to ignore any rulings that come from federal judges that he has fired."

Not The Bee, Report: Trump to begin mass firings of IRS staff as Valentine’s Day gift to America. R A W S A L E R T S @rawsalerts, "BREAKING: Donald Trump has instructed the IRS to begin mass layoffs affecting thousands of employees." Da Hill whines Interior Department fires 2,300 employees after OPM directive. ET, Department of Veterans Affairs Fires Over 1,000 Employees, "Some of the terminated workers were on probationary status." The Biden administration added many thousand Federal jobs; the only job growth under Biden was federal workers and illegal aliens. The "probies" are vulnerable. Fox, Expert reveals massive levels of waste DOGE can slash from entitlements, pet projects: 'A lot of fat.' "Just Facts President James Agresti ripped the IRS for doling out child tax credits for the children of illegal immigrants, calling it 'theft'." Breitbart reports Lee Zeldin Cancels $50 Million Contract for ‘Free Palestine’ Climate Group. Mary Chastain at LI reports Trump Cuts Off Federal Funds to Schools Mandating COVID Vaccine. From Da Wire, Trump’s OMB Director Is Urged To Block Taxpayer Dollars To Planned Parenthood, "'We strongly encourage you to review all federal funding to Planned Parenthood.'" Commentary at RCP, DOGE Is Right To Defang the CFPB. Naw, keep it the way it is, but fine lefty companies big bucks and give the money to right-wing NGOs, and see how they like it. VodkaPundit at PJM wonders Is DOGE Going to Kill the F-35?. "If Hegseth and the DOGE boys do decide to kill the program, my advice would be to kill it slowly. Milblogger (and retired Navy officer) CDR Salamander devised a rule about procurement that goes something like this: don't stop building the Current Thing until the New Thing is ready to go." WUWT, EPA Returns ‘Gold Bars’ to Taxpayers – The Climate Realism Show #145.

From Lifezette, DOGE Subcommittee Uncovers Massive $2.7 Trillion in Improper Payments—Leavitt Responds. Laura Hollis claims International Aid and Internal Fraud Are Part of the Same Plan. Dave Strom explores the charge  Did USAID Funding Freeze Really Kill a Thai Woman? No, but an NGO did, in a fit of pique over the USAID cuts. "It truly was evil. Because the International Rescue Committee has hundreds of millions of dollars in its bank account and assets. It just chose to close down the hospitals--which, by the way, were still eligible for USAID funding under the Executive Order--out of spite."

Matt Vespa at TownHall thinks This Dem Rep Made Everyone Dumber at the DOGE Oversight Hearing This Week. Alex Pfeiffer @Pfeiffer47, "Mazie Hirono is breathing a sigh of relief. Jasmine is officially the dumbest lawmaker on the Hill. This jobs report consists entirely of data from before President Trump took office. I guess I should thank you for pointing out the failure of Bidenomics." Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett @RepJasmine "So it turns out when you DON'T go woke, you go broke. Trump's New DEI? Dying Economy and Inflation. It's only two weeks in and Trump is Making America Broke Again! https://forbes.com/sites/dereksau" From Behinds the Black, Another Democrat demonstrates her stupidity and ignorance, demanding NASA’s acting administrator revoke Musk’s access to headquarters. Stacey Matthews at LI, Ayanna Pressley Leads Push For Reparations Commission Amid DOGE’s Cuts to Wasteful Spending, "“What we’re seeing from the Trump administration and their allies in Congress and the courts is a coordinated, years-long effort to dismantle any policy that uplifts black folks and addresses America’s shameful history of systemic racism. It is anti-blackness on steroids…”"

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.14.25 (Morning Edition), EBL, MAGA Karoline Leavitt and DOGE, Twitchy,  JD Vance’s Reality Checks For Europe Trigger Germany’s Socialist Defense Minister, and Mike Lee Drops Fauxcahontas For Tone Deaf Post Bragging About Hiding Democrat Corruption From DOGE, Louder With Crowder: “You just don’t believe it”: Scott Jennings leaves CNN host a stammering mess after her attack on Elon Musk and DOGE, Don Surber: 42% of black men support Trump.

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.14.25 (Evening Edition),  Magnum: The Coast Guard Was Focused on DEI Not Cybersecurity, EBL: RFK Jr. confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary, My Fault: London, Twitchy: VP Vance May Never Recover From This, Trump & Musk Amused At Dems/Legacy Media’s Lame Attempts To Drive A Wedge Between Them, Louder With Crowder: An NBC News journalismer found a way to use climate change to ruin your Valentine’s Day: they’re coming after CHOCOLATE, Adam Piggott: It’s all so Tiresome, American Conservative: Trump Runs the Milei Playbook, American Greatness, Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed as President Trump’s DNI, EPA Chief Lee Zeldin Locates and Demands Return of $20 Billion Biden Officials Tried to Funnel to Left-Wing Groups, Trump Announces Peace Negotiations With Russia to End ‘Ridiculous’ Ukraine War After ‘Lengthy and Highly Productive’ Call With Putin, and Performers Quit Kennedy Center After Trump Takeover, American Thinker: We’re Living through the Biggest Scandal of All Time, Animal Magnetism, Rule Five Joe Rogan Shreds the Dems Friday, BattleSwarm: Tren de Aragua Sex Trafficking Ringleaders Arrested In Houston, Behind The Black, Another Democrat demonstrates her stupidity and ignorance, demanding NASA’s acting administrator revoke Musk’s access to headquarters, Cafe Hayek: Tariffs Are Charges On Fellow Citizens, Da Tech Guy, Musk Gets the Arrows Johnson Turns The Flank, Dana Loesch: Activist Judges Try To Stop Trump – A Look at Judge John McConnell Jr. Don Surber: Why Democrats hate Hegseth, The Geller Report: New EPA Chief Lee Zeldin Cancels $50 MILLION Biden-Era “Climate Justice Through a Free Palestine” Grant, Billions More Laundered, also, Biden’s HHS Left Taxpayers on the Hook for $22.6 BILLION for Giveaways to Illegals for Cars, Homes, Startup Businesses, Hollywood’s Anti-Trump Resistance 2.0 Finds Its Footing, The Lid: Trump’s Approval Rating Among Black Men Soars, Legal Insurrection: Egg Purchase Restrictions Implemented at Major US Grocery Stores, Ayanna Pressley Leads Push For Reparations Commission Amid DOGE’s Cuts to Wasteful Spending, Scientists Argue Over Whether Trump is Right About the Existence of Only Two Sexes, Trump Cuts Off Federal Funds to Schools Mandating COVID Vaccine .  . .  and much more!

At Althouse, "On her first day in office, [Attorney General Pam Bondi] announced the creation of a 'Weaponization Working Group,' purportedly intended to root out 'abuses of the criminal justice process'..." "One veteran prosecutor told a friend late Thursday that he was not answering phone calls, in hopes of avoiding a demand to take an action that would force his resignation...." From "Trump Official’s Demand in Adams Case Forces Justice Dept. Showdown/A crisis at the department over the Eric Adams case is an early test of the criminal justice system’s resilience against a retribution-minded president and his appointees" (NYT). ET, US Attorney Resigns After Order to Drop Charges Against New York City Mayor, "Danielle Sassoon, a Republican serving in an interim capacity, steps down." Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter "Every single one of these lawyers who is now resigning 1) did not heroically resign after any of the many Biden outrages; 2) knows they will get their toes shrimped by the regime media and their social circles; and 3) will walk into hugely lucrative jobs within days. They have sacrificed nothing. This is the best thing that’s ever happened to them. They’re not heroes. They’re narcissists. And they’re cynical, and the slobbering attention being paid to them shows they are right to be." Kurt Schlichter@KurtSchlichter, "The deep state has a lot less power when you stop giving it the benefit of the doubt that it’s acting in good faith and understand that it’s just a bunch of grubby little political hacks exploiting the system." Quote 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐲@YankReb69, "Replying to @DanLamothe Posobiec lost his clearance. He's a dirtbag." WikiLeaks @wikileaks, "Washington DC searches for "lawyer' have increased 400% (data from Google trends)."

Ace, Another Trans Terrorist Plotted a School Shooting, But This Time, Without 13% of Its Force MIA and Locking Up J6ers, The FBI Stops Her.

City Journal explains Why Immigration Cost Democrats the Election. "Their radicalism put them out of step with American voters." Ace, New Propaganda Drops: Akshually Biden Arrested More Border Crossers Than Trump Did, MAGats!!! Amazing. Libs of TikTok@libsoftiktok, "JUST IN: Illegal border crossings hit record lows according to new CBP data. The US is on track to have the LOWEST monthly border crossings in at least 25 YEARS!" The Trump Effect OTP reports Border Crossings Plunge 90% To Historic Lows. Guy Benson at  TownHall, Ouch: ICE Brutally Fact-Checks Journos. Blaze, ACLU misleads on illegal aliens at GITMO, ignoring ‘high-threat’ status. NYPo, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry paying big bucks to Dem operatives via their charity – sparking calls for a congressional investigation, he is an immigrant. 

Bryan Jung at PJM, Tom Homan Refers AOC to DOJ for Investigation. Da Fetched, Tom Homan: “AOC May Be in Trouble” for Helping Illegals Avoid ICE Arrests. Mia Cathell wants you to Read the Allegations Against Kathy Hochul and Letitia James. NYPo, HHS splurged more than $22B on grants for migrants — including cash for cars, home loans and startups. Beege Welborn, HHS Sure Had 'Migrants' Livin' Large. From Twitchy, She's SO MAD! Watch New York AG Letitia James RAGE Against Trump Cutting NY's Illegal Alien Housing Funds. OTP, Even Gavin Newsom Declares ‘Uncle’ Over Trump’s Immigration Threats. From the TN Star, Bill to Revoke Tax-Exempt Status of Nonprofits Aiding Illegal Immigrants Filed by Sen. Bill Hagerty.

Joe Weber at JTN, Inflation climbed to annualized rate of 3% in January, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, thanks Brandon! City Journal says it's Time to Pull the Plug on “Environmental Justice.” Biden’s agenda was really a way to funnel billions of dollars to progressive activist groups. The Daily Economy reminds us the $42 Billion Broadband Boondoggle Brought Internet to Zero Homes. Gabe Kaminsky at WaEx reports In final days, Biden awarded $50 million to self-dealing charity leader, Tribal Energy Consortium.  

At Da Fetched, irony when Chuck Schumer Becomes First Victim of His Own ‘Whistleblower Portal’

Lincoln Brown at PJM notices priorities, L.A. Puts Pronouns Ahead of Fire Recovery. Shooting News Weekly, Some Rights Are More Equal Than Others: Newsom Calls Voter ID a Violation While Looking the Other Way at Second Amendment Infringements. 

Teri Christof at RedState, BREAKING: New Details Emerge About Actions of Black Hawk Pilots in Deadly DC Mid-Air Collision. Black Boxes show helo at 280 ft, plane at 310 ft. Helo crew almost certainly wearing night-vision gear. 

Capt. Ed writes Of Pultizers and Petards. "Could the board that awards Pulitzer Prizes to media outlets end up losing a defamation suit over fake news? Could Donald Trump use the same tools used against him to wreak revenge for Protection Racket Media coverage of the Russis-collusion hoax that all but derailed the first half of his first presidential term?" Ace, Terrorist-Friendly Propaganda Aggregator Reuters Took $9 Million from Biden's DoD For... "Large Scale Social Deception" and "Active Social Engineering". Althouse sees Jen Psaki locates Joe Rogan and Theo Von in the "right-wing ecosystem," but Jon Stewart isn't having it.

Algemeiner reports UCLA Suspends Students for Justice in Palestine After Vandalizing University Board Member’s Home. Brad Essex at RedState, The Essex Files: DEI Is a Codeword for Exclusion of Disabled People. ET sees Goldman Sachs is the Latest in Retreat From DEI Initiatives. Freddie DeBoer, Doing This Again Makes Me Hate Myself and Hate You, But Yes, Something Happened to Liberalism in the 2010s, and Sometimes That Thing is Called "Woke."

From OutKick, Brett Favre Backs ‘Common Sense’ Executive Order, Gives Props To Riley Gaines. Matt Vespa, Ohio Dems Want to Regulate Ejaculation. Yeah, This State Is Going to Be Red Forever. Althouse, "The whole point of this bill wasn't to get it passed. The whole point of this bill was to call out the hypocrisy." 

Susan Crabtree@susancrabtree, "#BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE RE: DEI IN THE SECRET SERVICE: Agents in the Secret Service are growing increasingly alarmed that new USSS Director Sean Curran is not immediately halting the Biden Administration's DEI hiring and training priorities despite Pres. Trump's executive order mandating that all executive agencies do so. There's a trans special agent trainee who gendered female at birth but transitioned to a male but wants to continue using female PT standards while being addressed as a man and using the men's bathrooms, according to several Secret Service sources. The recruit was going through training at the Secret Service's Rowley Training Center as of late January, after Trump officially named Curran as the new director. I was told by two sources that the Secret Service was allowing this person to use female PT standards while identifying as male, but that decision had spurred resentment among the male rank-and-file agents."

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Aspiring to Mediocrity ready and waiting at The Other McCain.

l/2025/02/07/january-jobs-report-reveals-weaker-growth-than-predicted-weakest-start-to-year-since-2016/

Mother's Day Flotsam and Jetsam

Happy Hallmark Day to all you mother's out there. Let's dive in! At WaEx, Paul Bedard's White House Report Card: Zogby says Biden presidency ‘not working well’, a bit of an understatement. NewBusters has a Column: CNN Deploys a 'Fact Checker' for Trump, Not for Biden. Biden's lies are too numerous to count. Also, they tend to be repetitive, as if he himself has lost track of the truth.

'Bonchie' at RedState sees Joe Biden Runs Like a Scared Dog From His Pro-Hamas Position, As His Political Fortunes Sour. Does he run, or lurch? Fox, Biden donors rage over his pledge to pause weapon shipments to Israel: 'Bad, bad, bad decision'. "Biden megadonor Haim Saban wrote senior Biden staffers an email blasting the president for pledging to withhold bomb shipments to Israel." Althouse cites the White House, "The American people expect their presidents to have the guts to make hard national security decisions, and to put our safety, interests, principles, and alliances above politics." and "comments Biden is making the "hard decision" to please no one while purporting to please everyone." Hamas and Iran are probably pretty pleased. 

Why was this intelligence previously withheld? Did the Biden Administration intentionally withhold intel that could have led to the rescue of American hostages?

The Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the NSC is largely responsible for making this policy determination. https://t.co/ihELxCD8Cc

— Ezra A. Cohen (@EzraACohen) May 11, 2024

Noor Dahri - نور ڈاہری ‎@dahrinoor2 "Maher Bitar has been appointed as president #Biden's special counsel. He also serves as the director of intelligence and defense programs in the #UnitedStates National Security Council. Of course, he was already appointed by the Obama administration, where he managed the "Israeli-Palestinian case". Before that, as a student, he was the president of the #Islamist extremist and #antisemitic organisation SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) at Georgetown University in #USA. #SJP is the most violent student organisation in the United States against #Jews today. Members of this organisation blew up dozens of events Israelis brought to U.S. campuses over the past decade. In many cases also physical attacks that ended in police investigations. . . "

At NYPo, Biden calls North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un president of South Korea in latest world leader blunder. 

 WaEx reports on Illegal immigrants stealing oil from Permian basin near Texas border. NYPo, Biden administration preparing to hand out 10K migrant ID cards in several US cities. Also at WaEx, Democrats look to flip the script on border security as Republicans decry ‘political’ stunt. Shout the lie long and hard enough, with enough media backing, and somebody might believe it. From the Center Square, Terrorist watch list apprehensions at northern border continue to break records.

Paul Bedard, Some black and Hispanic people go hungry under ‘Bidenomics’. From Fox Business, the Percentage of US mortgages considered 'seriously underwater' rises. "Share of 'seriously underwater' mortgages rose in 1st quarter in 37 states, per ATTOM report" Not a big jump, 2.5 to 2.6%, but the wrong direction.

Matt Margolis at PJM, Did Bill Maher Just Prove Stormy Daniels Perjured Herself? Is there any doubt? She can't tell the story the same way twice. Althouse cites Dowd, "So we’re left with a two-bit case that has devolved into dirty bits, filled with salacious details...." and comments "Dowd seems to approve of using the criminal process not for its proper purpose — to enforce specific written law — but to expose and humiliate one's political enemy. Let's look at him in his underwear and sneer at his sexual fumblings, as described by someone who openly hates him — please, emasculate him! — and let's laugh." Jon Levine at NYPo hears Disgraced ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen shopping his own reality show ‘The Fixer’. Kyle Becker@kylenabecker "JUST IN: Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg is Accused of ‘Misleading the Court’ in Trump Hush Money Case." The Politics Brief expounds in Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg is Accused of ‘Misleading the Court’ in Trump Hush Money Case "Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg’s paralegal admitted in court on Friday that the office deleted some call records between witness Michael Cohen and Dylan Howard, the lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels (aka Stephanie Cliffords), raising questions of whether or not the prosecutors have misled the court. Trump’s legal team was able to get witness Jaden Jarmel-Schneider to confirm that some calls were erased from an exhibit of calls. Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove said it was about three pages of records. While Jarmel-Schneider objected to Bove characterizing the call deletions as “significant,” he did acknowledge some calls were removed." Isn't that what he accused Trump of? Falsifying business records? 

Rep. Cline to Newsmax: Judiciary Panel Wants Nathan Wade to Testify. That would be amusing. Probably not enlightening, but amusing.

At OTP, ‘We’re Ready To Win’. "Trump Tells Huge NJ Beach Crowd That The Garden State Is In Play." I suppose it could happen. NewsMax, Trump: Haley 'Not Under Consideration' as Running Mate. I think she burned that bridge. At PM, NEW: Tulsi Gabbard tells Charlie Kirk she'd be honored to be Trump's VP. "If he asks me to serve alongside him, I would be honored to do so." She might be too liberal for me, but I think her head is headed the right way. In her best Emily Litela voice Hat Hair's KT says Never Mind: Barron Trump Won't Be a Delegate at the RNC. 

Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN show that Fulton County 2020 election problems, now confirmed, challenge media fact-checkers. "The AP's "fact-check" admitted that the county’s audit of the 2020 presidential race found errors, inconsistencies, and double counting of ballots. Then the AP added without citation that "the errors weren’t enough to alter the election results." Who will guard the guards themselves?" Also, Wisconsin federal court dismisses lawsuit to toss witness requirement for absentee voting. "

“The most obvious problem” with the attorneys' argument “is that it simply does not make any sense,” the court ruled."   Jonathon Turley,  Judge Trashes Election Lawsuit by the Elias Law Firm: “It Simply Does Not Make Any Sense” "The Chief Judge of the Western District of Wisconsin, James Peterson (an Obama appointee), did not just reject but ridiculed the Elias Law Group challenge to a witness requirement for absentee voting. Elias has been previously sanctioned in court and accused of lying in the Steele dossier scandal by journalists and others."

At Twitchy, 'The Look on Nancy Pelosi's Face Is Worth the Time' to Watch Her Get Dismantled at the Oxford Union. Insty, THEY HATE US, THEY REALLY HATE US! Winston Marshall@MrWinMarshall "In her speech, Pelosi argues that voters are “blocked” from making good, rational decisions and voting Democrat because of their culture and views on God."

Rick Moran at PJM is outraged, Secret Service Won't Budge in Moving Security Zone Farther From GOP Convention in Milwaukee. "The park's location sets up a gauntlet that convention delegates will have to walk through to get to the venue. While most convention gores will arrive on buses, restricting the movement of delegates and guests because of security concerns is unacceptable, say Republicans."  Democrats get 3 miles, Republicans get 1/4 of a mile. But, then, Chicago. 

Kaelan Deese at WaEx reports Steve Bannon contempt of Congress conviction can stand: Appeals court. Waiting for Hunter Biden's and Merrick Garlands times in the box. At Hat Hair, Maine SecState Wanted to Lock Up Local Journalists a la Jan 6 After Trump Ballot Debacle.

Sundance at CTH has A Worthwhile Reminder When Anyone Talks About Trust in U.S. Government

Matt Vespa at TownHall, Bill Maher Obliterated the Media Last Night. Here's Why That Was Ironic.

At Da Caller, Video Shows Female Student Confront Trans Woman In Campus Bathroom. Atop Da Hill, Trump vows to reverse transgender student protections ‘on day one’. But it's for their own good. NBC reports Lesbian and bisexual women die earlier than straight women, decadeslong study finds. "Compared to participants who identified as heterosexual, the analysis found, those who identified as lesbian or bisexual died 26% sooner, with lesbian women dying 20% sooner and bisexual women dying 37% sooner." Da Mail, Horrific moment 'transgender' killer strikes man walking down road at high speed with Dodge Challenger, reverses over him, straddles and kisses him before stabbing him nine times. At WokeSpy, It’s Been Over a Year Since the Bud Light Boycott Began – Here’s How It’s Doing Now.

'Bonchie' at RedState, WATCH: 'Queers for Palestine' Block Entrance to Disney World, Then Florida Men Show Up. Matt Vespa, Here's What Happened When Pro-Hamas Activists Tried to Block Traffic in FL. Bill Melugin@BillMelugin_ "NEW: The “Queers For Palestine” protesters who blocked the highway exit to Disney World in Orlando, FL, have been arrested by Florida Highway Patrol. I’m told they were arrested within 11 minutes. Florida continues w/ zero tolerance for blocking traffic." John Sexton hears the NY Times Editorial Board: Cancel Culture Created the Campus Crisis. At Althouse, "For several years, many university leaders have failed to act as their students and faculty have shown ever greater readiness to block an expanding range of views that they deem wrong or beyond the pale." At Bastiat's Window, Bob Graboyes pens A Field Guide to Guaranteed, Certified, Definitely-Not-Antisemitic, We-Are-Hamas Global-Intifada Free-Range Encampments. Insty, HE’S RIGHT OF COURSE: Columbia Law Professor Says Columbia University Violated Federal Laws, Fostered A ‘Hostile Environment’ On Campus.

Also at Insty, THE GEORGE FLOYD ERA IS OVER: Schools in One Virginia County to Reinstate Confederate Names: The school board voted on Friday to reverse a decision made four years ago, when the killing of George Floyd prompted nationwide demands for a racial reckoning, to rename the schools. 

“Across the U.S., a host of measures adopted in 2020 and 2021, including new classroom curriculums about the nation’s racial history, have been curtailed or eliminated in the years since. Politicians have railed against ‘critical race theory’ and schools have reinstated mascots that had been condemned as racially offensive.”

The idea that we should have a national “reckoning” because of a single news event was always a bit crazy, and of course, manipulative.

And a Key Bridge update, Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair asks  Why Did the FBI Seize the Phones of the Dali's Crew? 

It's been more than six weeks since the cargo ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse. While some detour channels have been cleared, and some of the cargo has been removed, the Dali is still stuck in the same spot with a huge section of the bridge pushing down her bow. Plans to remove the final bridge sections using small explosives were delayed by rough weather this week. Amazingly most of the crew has remained onboard the vessel for much of this time. Reverend Josh Messick of the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center has been in touch with the crew regularly but he describes the situation as having been quite stressful for the sailors. One big part of that stress is the fact that the FBI seized all of the sailor's phones as soon as they arrived and they still haven't returned them. (CBS News)

Adding to the stress, Messick said their phones have been confiscated by the FBI as part of the agency's investigation into the disaster.

"The crew cooperated fully, unlocked them all. They had an understanding they would be getting them back in a couple of days, and that's yet to happen," he said.

While they now have replacement phones, they no longer have their contacts or family photos.

Messick said, "It's the little pieces of humanity that have been stripped away, and that is what is particularly heartbreaking."

The FBI is declining to comment about "an ongoing investigation," but it's something of a mystery why the situation is being handled in this fashion. I suppose I can understand why the phones might have been initially taken during the rush to investigate the accident. Perhaps the authorities were interested in any possible location data that they may have contained.

But it's been six weeks now. The crew has been issued replacement phones as noted above, but they no longer have their lists of contact information, personal photos, or anything else. Does anyone really believe that this was anything other than a tragic equipment failure leading to an accidental collision with the bridge's superstructure? Does the FBI suspect that it might have been planned and someone on the ship could have been sending messages about the plot? That doesn't make any sense.

Perhaps I wouldn't be quite so suspicious about the FBI's actions in these rather obscure proceedings if it weren't for the Bureau's rather dodgy record over the past few years.

 The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves ready and awaiting your attention at The Other McCain.