Flotsam and Jetsam - Iran Refuses Trump's Hormuz Demand

To open the fucking strait. From Ben Whedon at JTN, Iran rejects 45-day ceasefire plan "Despite the apparent stall in negotiations, Trump declared he is negotiating with an "active, willing participant" on the Iranian side." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, Go Figure: Iran Rejects Ceasefire, Drops a Little List of Its Own Demands in Return. M.A. Rothman @MichaelARothman, "𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐀 𝟏𝟎-𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 — 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄 While Trump was speaking at the White House, Iranian state media confirmed through IRNA that the regime has conveyed its response to Pakistan’s mediation effort: 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞. Instead, they want a “𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳” — on their terms. Iran’s 10-point demand list includes: an end to all conflict in the region, a “𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭” for the Strait of Hormuz, the 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, and — most remarkably — 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 for what the U.S. and Israel have destroyed. The reporter on the ground called it what it is: “𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴”." Yeah? Well, fuck that. Dave Manney at PJM calls it Defiance Without Leverage: Tehran’s Fatal Miscalculation. Ace sees Iran Rejects Cease-Fire Proposal "Iran Rejects Latest Cease-Fire Proposal, Wants Permanent End to War." Nick Arama at RedState thinks this is Despicable: Iranian Regime's Vile Move to Try to Stop Trump From Hitting Power Plants. Decado @ItsDecado, "The absolute cowardice of this cannibalistic regime is on full display for the entire world to see. Right now, the senior commanders of the Islamic Republic and their families are cowering in deep underground bunkers. But what are they asking of their followers? They are literally begging them to become human shields. State TV has just called for people to form human chains around our power plants tomorrow to cry to the world about war crimes. They are demanding that bodies be used to protect the very infrastructure they stole from us. Look at the undeniable contrast. President Trump willingly sacrificed millions of dollars in military equipment just to ensure not a single American pilot was lost in the southwest. That is the fundamental difference between a true leader who actually values human life, and a terrorist occupation that feeds on it. The mullahs are perfectly willing to let their own supporters burn to ashes as long as they get to survive another day in the dark." Betsy Stauffer at LI, Democrats Blast Trump’s Easter Ultimatum to Iran in Typical, Homogenized Messaging “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day … Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b**tards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” TownHall's Tom Knighton notes Iran's Greatest Ally Is the Left. Aviva Klompas @AvivaKlompas, "Dear college students who so fervently protested for months across America: Iran is hanging kids your own age for doing exactly what you did - protesting. Why aren’t you standing up for Iranians who desperately want freedom?" Driscoll at Insty sees BILL KRISTOL FINALLY DISCOVERS A MIDDLE EAST WAR HE OBJECTS TO.

VodkaPundit at PJM, Next Phase Begins: Israel Decapitates Iranian Intelligence. From NYPo, All the pieces are lining up for regime change in Iran. Duane Patterson at Hat Hair, Iran Is Also Losing The Lego War. Scott C. Johnston @SJohnston60, "My liberal friends all dismiss Pete Hegseth as a “Fox News clown” And yet, in barely more than a year, recruiting is soaring and he has overseen four flawless and very complex operations. Midnight Hammer Venezuela Iran Pilot rescue Hats off to this guy." From VodkaPundit at Insty, HMM: Trump confirms U.S. sent guns to Iranian people, but says intermediary kept them. "“We sent some guns,” he said. “They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs. You know what happened? The people that we sent them to kept them.” “So, I am very upset with a certain group of people and they’re gonna pay a big price for that,” he added. Trump previously told Fox News’s Trey Yingst that he believed Kurdish groups had kept the guns intended for the Iranian people. Kurdish militia forces had been the subject of speculation over a possible role in a ground operation against Iran."

Rusty Weiss at RedState, Trump Vows to Hunt Down, Jail Leaker Who Endangered Missing F-15 Pilot by Tipping Off Iran. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "HOLY SMOKES. President Trump just said a leaker AIDED AND ABETTED Iran, leaking to the fake news information about the search for an American airman PRISON. "When they did that, all of a sudden, the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot that was somewhere on their land that was fighting for his life!" "They put this mission, that man at great risk, and HUNDREDS of people looking for him!" This leaker then prompted Iran to put out a BOUNTY on an American troop. Trump will seek JAIL TIME if the media outlet does not reveal who it was. LOCK THE LEAKER UP. "The person that did the story WILL GO TO JAIL if he doesn't say!" Sundance at CTH hosts CIA Director John Ratcliffe Discusses Covert Intel Role During Iran Rescue Operation and President Trump News Conference on Iran Rescue Operation. Amy Curtis at TownHall, President Trump Held a Major Press Conference Today. Here's What He Said. From NYPo, How US used SEAL Team 6, a CIA ruse and death from above to rescue missing F-15 airman in Iran: ‘They’ve been schwackin’ dudes chasing him’. Spitfire @RealSpitfire, "We literally setup a temporary special forces base inside Iran and flew in 300 Army, Navy, and AF special forces troops and little bird gun ships. Then we fought a whole mini war and killed like 1500 Iranian soldiers in 6 hours. And all we left behind was a pair of American flag underwear and some MRE’s. I’m not pro war… but holy sht we can do some amazing things." Jesús Enrique Rosas - The Body Language Guy @Knesix, "So while a wounded American Colonel was hiding in a mountain crevice at 7,000 feet in Iran with nothing but a pistol and a prayer, and the CIA was running a fake rescue convoy to confuse the IRGC, and MQ-9 Reapers were methodically deleting anyone who got within two miles of him, and special operators were prepping to fly INTO Iran, fight their way to a ridge, extract one man, have two planes get stuck in the sand, blow them up, fly in three MORE planes, fight their way OUT... The American left saw that the White House had gone quiet and decided: clearly, Trump is dying at Walter Reed. They posted old video from the Butler assassination attempt as breaking news. They cited "credible reports." A guy literally drove to Walter Reed and reported back: no motorcade, no activity, roads open, nothing happening. Didn't matter. The narrative was already at a million views. Trump was in the Oval Office the entire time, monitoring a rescue op so complicated it already has a Wikipedia page..." From Twitchy, Slim Jim Shocker! Image on X Surfaces of a Valuable US Asset Iran Recovered After Pilot Rescue.

Another crushing blow dealt to the imperialist aggressor. In a single stroke the Iranians have closed the teriyaki beef stick gap and will soon establish dominance. https://t.co/KFWNusASjl

— Strategic Trends (@StrategicTrends) April 5, 2026

Beege Welborn, New Benchmark in European Warfare: French Retreat From Battle They Never Joined MORE. Dave Strom at Hat Hair thinks the Rescue of F-15 WSO Reveals HUGE Cultural Divide Between Left and Right, Europe and America. Twitchy, John Konrad BLISTERS Europe In a Devastating Post About the REAL Reason NATO Is In Trouble. John Ʌ Konrad V @johnkonrad, "This is why Americans are the deadliest fighters on earth..." At PJM, VodkaPundit, The European Mind Can't Comprehend Why We're Such Bad A****s. Tim Soret @timsoret, "As a European, I apologize to Americans for all the idiocy coming from our side. You save your pilots no matter the cost. You send humans to the moon. You fight authoritarianism head-on. It's truly inspiring. We're on the wrong side of the moral equation." Quote Tim Soret @timsoret, "Frankly I hope I can join your ranks one day. I'm done with the morally smug, economically illiterate, declinist mindset here. We think we're so cultured & so smart, but it's mostly masturbatory. Americans keep demonstrating their uniquely actionable & pragmatic intelligence." Donald Vandergriff on Why the United States Must Withdraw from NATO: Reclaiming Maneuver Warfare, Mission Command, and Strategic Initiative in a Fourth-Generation World "Withdrawal is not isolationism; it is the maneuver required to win in the generations of war ahead." 

A Larry video at Hat Hair, Trump Crushes Democrat Operation to Remove Him As Republican Support Surges. alexandriabrown @alexthechick, "For 40+ years, I have heard that Current President will not leave when his term ends Because of Reasons. The hysterical bleating about it has not gotten less stupid of those years." Quote Frank @richardrahl1086 Replying to @alexthechick and @maddenifico
"When Trump leaves office in January 2029 these people will act like they never said any of this ridiculous shit." Matt Margolis at PJM, Here’s What Trump Has to Say About More Cabinet Shake-Ups. Sundance, President Trump Endorses Steve Hilton in California GOP Primary. At the Chronic, Florida Conservatives’ Powerful Lessons for America. Tom Knighton at BA, Hysteria Reigns Following Hegseth's Announcement allowing soldier to carry guns. Insty, HE’S NOT WRONG. BUT THEN HE SELDOM IS.

𝐕𝐃𝐇: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓'𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑-𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

Victor Davis Hanson opens with a claim that sounds hyperbolic until he backs it up: we are watching 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧… pic.twitter.com/6gXd3bnYF6

— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) April 6, 2026

Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll, "No, we shaved off votes in the red counties in the countryside where Trump was strong, and we left the blue counties untouched. We shaved off 10 percent in Douglas County (CO) and 10% in Mesa County (CO) and other red counties until Biden's count was over 50 percent statewide." Quote Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll "Page 185: "The engineer who actually built the algorithm stealing the election for Biden looked at me like I was an idiot and asked, "Do you think we stole the election here in the blue counties? We're smarter than that. No, we shaved off votes in the red counties in the x.com/Rasmussen_Poll…" Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll, "NEW: Mainland China CCP factory employees and Taiwanese warehouse workers have provided written affidavits on how they and others have installed illegal corrupted components into U.S. voting machines FOR YEARS ... From @EmeraldRobinson & @PatrickByrne" Maisey Jefferson at Da Fed reports Maine Supreme Court Shoots Down Dems’ ‘Unconstitutional’ Ranked-Choice Voting Scheme. 

Erick Erickson @EWErickson, "The biggest problem the Democrats have is their inability to love America when they are not in charge of it." Quote Delanie Bomar @DelanieBomar, "This is a five-alarm fire for Democrats in swing states. CNN: "Democrats are, just simply put, running behind their previous benchmark." Dave Strom thinks It Is Impossible to Overstate How Deranged the Left Has Become and Hasan Piker Is Becoming a Litmus Test for the Left. Jean @queens_parents, "Anti-capitalist Zohran Mamdani is tight with his buddy Hasan Piker who thinks this about property owners who don’t rent: “Yeah kill them! KiII those motherf*ckrs and muder those motherf*ckrs in the streets…let the streets soak in their red f*ing capitalist bloods”" Kim "Katie" USA @KimKatieUSA, "TikTok influencer goes on TMZ and calls assassin Luigi Mangione “the closest thing we have to a real-life superhero” then demands he be released because “we have MORE WORK TO DO.” These people aren’t confused. They’re straight-up evil." End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "Joy Reid's warning about the far-right: "Their plan? 0 income tax, 0 regulation, earn as much as you want, your family inherits it all!"" Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "To save Democracy, we must criminalize voting" Quote Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok "Meet Suzanna Karatassos (D). She’s running for Georgia State House. She says if Democrats win then anyone who voted for Trump should lose internet access for four years." 

Elizabeth Warren @SenWarren "Jeff Bezos has $222 billion. If he paid my wealth tax this year, we could fund insulin in America for everyone who needs it plus free school lunch for every kid in Texas—and have plenty of money left over. And Bezos would still have $215 billion dollars to spare." Matt Van Swol @mattvanswol, "Just stop, we all know your scam. >Democrats raise taxes. >Money flows to NGOs packed with Democratic operatives. >Those operatives take their cut, write a check to Democratic campaigns > Report back that the problem still exists and needs more funding. If you fix the problem... the money stops. So nothing ever gets fixed..." At Bastiat's Window, Eating Jeff Bezos
Senator Elizabeth Warren proposes a wealth tax on "ultra-millionaires." "Note that in 1913, the federal income tax was sold as a tax on the richest of the rich in America." VodkaPundit at Insty hears a GOOD QUESTION: Why is Kweisi Mfume Funneling $245K in Federal Funds to Johns Hopkins for Gun Locks That Are Already Available for Free? “But maybe the prospect of the Bloomberg School, that’s named for America’s most prominent gun-grabber, handing out locks provided by the gun industry is more than anyone at Johns Hopkins can handle. Better, then, to have taxpayers foot the bill, right? Besides, the school has demonstrated that they’re more than happy to hoover up as many federal tax dollars as they can to further the cause of civilian disarmament. Or maybe the money went somewhere else — who knows?” Joel Pollak @joelpollak, "Gee, was anyone else president in the interim?" Quote Charlie Sykes @SykesCharlie "10 years after Trump vowed to erase the national debt, it has doubled https://reason.com/2026/03/31/10-years-ago-today-trump-promised-to-eliminate-the-national-debt-instead-it-has-doubled/"

Nicole Russell at USA Today notes Democrats destroyed California. Could a Republican save it? | Opinion. Joel Kotkin at NYPo, Why Californians are leaving — and what Gavin Newsom is spending $19M to hide. From the California Globe, Top 50 Disasters Gov. Gavin Newsom Has Ushered into California: 2025 Edition. Charles C. W. Cooke @charlescwcooke, "The juxtaposition between the 60 Minutes piece on California’s high-speed rail disaster and Elizabeth Warren’s “please bro, just another seven billion dollars” tweet is delightful." Beege Welborn says Dems Searchin' for Their Electoral Savior and Their Fantasy Candidate Looks Suspiciously Familiar. John Sexton at Hat Hair has hopes Is San Francisco Sobering Up? They might try rehab, but I doubt it will stick. And a Report: Group of Women Preparing to Accuse Rep. Swalwell of Harassment and Virginia Voters Discover Gov. Spanberger Is Not a Moderate.

Bob Hoge at RedState reports Steve Bannon's Contempt of Congress Conviction Vacated by the Supreme Court. Mediaite whines JUST IN: Supreme Court Sides With Steve Bannon, Leading to Possible Dismissal of His Contempt of Congress Conviction. Now do Pete Navarro. 

Kevin Downey at PJM has the The J6 Pipe Bomb Update You Don't Want to Miss. It's still Weird. I'm not convinced either way.

MD Kittle at Da Fed thinks Trump Needs A ‘Vicious Operator’ To Bring Justice Back To The Justice Department. Sundance has a Question from Mail: It’s Been Two Weeks on the Atkinson Transcript, What’s the Holdup?

CIS reports DHS Funding Follies Continue "How do you deal with kidnappers who aren’t clear what ransom they’re demanding?" TownHall's Joe Chalfant thinks Sec. Markwayne Mullin's Newest Proposal Should Have the Left Terrified. Sanctuary city? No customs and border patrol at your airport. Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_, "NEW: In interview w/ colleague @BretBaier, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin floats the idea of stripping CBP/customs officers from airports in large sanctuary cities as retaliation for refusing to cooperate with the federal government. International travelers wouldn’t be able to fly into airports and leave without going through customs. Mullin points out that Democrats are also refusing to fund CBP. “It’s something we’re looking at,” Mullin said." From PM, Texas continues cutting services for illegal immigrants. Bart Marcois at Am Great asks Is Deportation Compassionate? "True compassion doesn’t stop at borders; it strengthens nations by rewarding legal immigration, enforcing the law, and exporting the ideas that made America prosper." Atop Da Hill, Jonathan Turley on birthright citizenship, Reclaiming our own birthright: We might need to amend the Constitution.

Driscoll at Insty, 60 MINUTES: Steve Kroft ‘Hated’ Working for CBS Newsmagazine, He Says. "60 Minutes has been rocked by tumult recently, with high-profile talent shakeups and the $16 million parent company Paramount agreed to pay to Donald Trump last summer to settle a lawsuit regarding the newsmagazine. When asked about the atmosphere at 60 Minutes during his July 2025 appearance on The Daily Show, Kroft said, “Devastating’s a good word. I think there’s a lot of fear over there. Fear of losing their job, fear of what’s happening to the country, fear of losing the First Amendment, all of those things.” The “fear of losing the First Amendment” is pure hyperbole; beyond that 60 Minutes’ tumult hasn’t been just “recently.”" NYPo, NPR didn’t quote a single member of Michigan synagogue after attack — but interviewed terrorist’s pals in Lebanon. At Hollywood in Toto, ‘SNL’ Audience Cheers Trump Assassination Joke.

Susie Crabtree at RCP, California High School Reverses Suspension Over Pro-ICE Flyer. From Liberty Unyielding hears Howard University appoints racist crackpot as history professor, giving him an endowed chair, Ibram X. Kendi. Well, Howard University. At the College Fix a Native American adjunct lecturer ponders ‘colonial logics’ of Artemis II moon launch.

Jonathan Turley is outraged by Poison Ivey: Chicago Bulls Release Forward After He Speaks Out Against Pride Month. The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Chicago Bulls Offer To Reinstate Jaden Ivey If He Will Do Some Cocaine And Beat A Few Women."

Plenty more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 04.06.26.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Iran Planning Drone Attack on California?

At NYPo, Iran’s revenge terror attack plot on California with army of drones revealed in terrifying FBI memo. Sarah Anderson at PJM, BREAKING: FBI Warns California That Retaliation From Iran May Be on the Way. "We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack." Ace, FBI Warns That Iran Plots an "Army of Drones" Launched from a Stealth Vessel Against the West Coast, "I suppose it's possible that Iran sneaked a drone-carrier out of the Persian Gulf in the weeks before the war, plotting a spoilsport retaliation attack. And I guess it would have taken that ship a couple of months to get into position. Anyway, let's hope not. Not sure why they'd attack anti-America California, but then they did attack their own allies in Qatar." You might recall that in the early days of WWII Japan sent "balloon bomb" over California, in largely ineffective attacks. This could be far worse. Also from Ace, Has the Drone Phase of the War Begun? "I mentioned at the beginning of the war that the only possibility that I could see for fighting a ground war without ground troops (apart from SpecOps spotters spies and such) is to adapt the tactics of the Ukraine-Russia war, using drones to attack personnel on the ground." Throwback Iran @Tarikh_Eran, "Holy sh*t Drones are flying all over Tehran tonight hitting basij/IRGC stations Israel is neutralizing the regime’s crackdown machine…it’s finally happening."

 Althouse finds "President Trump told Axios in a brief phone interview Wednesday that the war with Iran will end 'soon' because there is 'practically nothing left to target.’” ""'Little this and that... Any time I want it to end, it will end,' Trump said during the five-minute call." Axios reports." Sundance at CTH hosts CENTCOM Commander Bradley Cooper Provides an Update on Operation Epic Fury and Energy Secretary Chris Wright Discusses Iranian Tanker Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz and Strategic Petroleum Reserve Release. From Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog Iran Strikes: Day 12. NYPO, US destroys Iranian navy vessels — including 16 minelayers — near Strait of Hormuz.

Da Signal catches Reuters crowing As Many as 150 US Troops Wounded So Far in Iran War, Sources Say. With 7 dead, that seems about on track. I'm sure they range from minor to catastrophic. The Scuttlebutt, War, Good God Ya’ll. Mostly Peaceful Latinas @mplpodcast305, "The internet: IM NOT FCKING DYING FOR ISRAEL! Our soldiers don’t want to fight Israel’s wars! IDF soldier to American pilot: it is a great honor for us to fight with you. American pilot: likewise! Please be safe out there. Strike hard." Streiff at RedState notes An Alleged Tragic Mistake Is Being Weaponized to Handcuff the US Military and Discredit Pete Hegseth. An as yet unproven Irani allegation that the US hit a school next to an IRGC base and killed 150 civilians including school girls. It certainly has a troll at Althouse on the edge of orgasm. Duane Patterson at TownHall, What Does Unconditional Surrender for Iran Look Like? I think when the Israelis get down to about the 5th tier of Iranian leadership, and the US has destroyed all their military infrastructure. VodkaPundit at PJM, IRAN: What Happens When the Money Runs Out? Ted Cruz @tedcruz, "We are winning in Iran. We break down where we’re at in Iran, why President Trump initiated this, and how it’s making America safer. Don’t miss today’s episode of Verdict:" Sundance hosts Special Envoy Steve Witkoff Gives Background Information on Breakdown of U.S-Iran Diplomatic Discussions. Ace, Little Khamenei, Who Is Probably Dead or In a Coma, May Inherit His Corrupt Father's $95 BILLION Business Empire, "Gee I wonder why Iranians are so poor."

The Enforcer @ItsTheEnforcer, "BREAKING: Vladimir Putin is taking steps to prevent a coup as tensions grow between him and the Russian military. Mobile Internet has been terminated in central Moscow. Putin also ordered the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister." TomT ✞ ن @VRWCTexanTwo "Grok's assessment: The arrest and internet disruptions are substantiated facts. HOWEVER: Putin coup-prevention framing is interpretive and unsubstantiated, though it aligns with ongoing patterns of Kremlin paranoia. Rooted in rumors circulating on Telegram channels like VChK-OGPU (a pro-Kremlin insider source) and echoed in Western tabloids (e.g., Mirror, Daily Star, Express)."

Sundance hosts President Trump Delivers a Speech at Verst Logistics in Hebron, Kentucky and President Trump Impromptu Presser on Iran and SAVE America Act Departing the White House. At Althouse, "It is unclear whether one particular photo — or the sum total of the day’s shots — led to consternation among Hegseth’s staff." "From "Pentagon bars press photographers over ‘unflattering’ Hegseth photos/Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s staff took issue with images taken in a rare briefing last week and decided to shut out photographers from two subsequent news conferences" (WaPo)." From Twitchy, WH Fires Back: 'Fake News!' as WaPo Whines About Photographer Access... After Firing All Their Photogs. I&I, Two-Thirds Back ‘SAVE Act’ To Require Voter ID — And Support Is Bipartisan. Ace, Filthy Despicable RINO Coward John Cornyn: On Second Thought, Now that GOP Voters Are Set to Boot My Defeat-Mechanism Ass Out of My Cushy Job, Maybe We Don't Need the Filibuster After All "All it took to make this filthy RINO represent his constituents was a multimillion dollar effort to boot him out of office ... And suddenly this liberal dirtbag says he finally understands that Nostalgia RINOism won't stop the Democrats from undoing the filibuster themselves the next chance they get." A Larry vid at Hat Hair, Schumer's SAVE Act Meltdown Backfires: Pressure Against Thune Builds Up. WaPoo worries about The hidden reason Republicans could outperform midterm expectations. "Why analysts keep getting Trump’s approval numbers wrong."

Denver Rayburn @DenverRayburn "1/ American manufacturers pay 3x more to finance equipment than their global competitors. It has nothing to do with pricing or tariffs, it's a regulatory accident from 2008 that no one has bothered to fix until now:"

Emerson Polling, California 2026 Poll: Swalwell Takes Lead in Governor Primary, 25% undecided; Election for LA Mayor Wide Open Dave Strom at Hat Hair, Given the current polling numbers, even from Emerson, it looks like the race will come down to Swalwell vs Hilton, although things can change. "Most interesting: Katie Porter is trailing badly at only 8%. No doubt some poor staffer or reporter is about to be yelled at. " Hat Hair's John Sexton notes Wealth Migration from California is Changing the Landscape in Florida. The Calif. Courier, Gov. Newsom, Dr. Oz Feud intensifies over Armenian ‘mafia’ hospice fraud claims in Los Angeles Ace cites a CBS Report: Billions of Dollars of "Hospice Care" Fraud in Los Angeles Alone; One Building Sports Eighty-Nine Fake "Hospice Care" Offices "So, mutlibillion dollar network CBS has finally started investigating what sole-proprietor Nick Shirley uncovered months ago." Amy Curtis at TownHall says We Still Can't Believe the U.S. Oil and Gas Association Tweeted This at Gavin Newsom. Jason Beale @jabeale, "Quite literally the last man in the country to be criticizing gas prices. Californians pay almost $2 billion per month - $23.5 billion annually - MORE than the rest of the nation at the pump. That's about 50% MORE than the national average. Every month. War or peace. You're often told to take a seat, @GavinNewsom. This is another one of those times."

Matt Vespa at TownHall sees An Assault Weapons Ban Is Heading to Spanberger's Desk. Here's What to Expect. Shooting News Week doesn't agree with Virginia’s Democrat Senate Majority Leader on Why Their ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban and Magazine Capcity Limit Really Isn’t a Big Deal. Jacob Sullum at Reason reasons Virginia's Impending 'Assault Firearm' Ban Is Logically and Constitutionally Dubious, "The ban, which targets guns based on criteria that make little sense, seems vulnerable to a challenge under the Supreme Court's Second Amendment precedents."

At NYPo, Michael Goodwin: Mamdani hosting pro-Palestinian ‘activist’ Khalil caps a terrible start to his radical mayoralty. Shaun Maguire @shaunmmaguire, "This is what I have been trying to tell you all Listen to Iranians, they know the playbook." Quote Mooné Rahimi @hiitsmemooneh, "As someone born and raised in an Islamic country (Iran), everything this mayor of New York says is the same thing the 1979 mullahs in Iran started saying to manipulate people, stay in power, and turn that great country into a ruined, destroyed one. For all these years, Iranians."

PJM's Matt Margolis says The Obama Foundation Is Even More Corrupt Than You Thought. How does he know what I thought?

Sarah at Insty, AND BY “PROTECT” THEY MEAN “TRY TO HIDE THE FRAUD”: Federal distrust prompts some Democratic states to protect polling places, election records.

Atlanta J Con has the sads that Fani Willis can’t fight $17M bill in Trump prosecution, judge says.

Amy Curtis, Here Are the Radical Leftist Judges Who Said Trump Cannot End TPS for 350,000 Haitians "both Judge Garcia and Judge Pan have deep ties to the Biden administration and the Democratic Party." At the Center Square WA Seattle may have to 'delay or defer' transportation projects to pay for anti-ICE signs, I guess shows their priority is illegals over citizens. VodkaPundit at Insty, YOU DON’T HAVE TO KEEP SELLING ME, I ALREADY VOTED FOR HIM: Visegrád 24 @visegrad24, "The Pakistani-American columnist Wajahat Ali warns that Pakistanis no longer wish to immigrate to the United States 'thanks to Trump.'" NotTheBee reports ICE Detains a Nashville Immigration Reporter For Being Illegally In The Country. I'm kind of in favor of illegals taking American reporters jobs. Peter Meijer @PeterMeijer, "Good follow up from Chicago Tribune on bizarre story of US citizen allegedly arrested at O’Hare and detained by ICE for days. In short: zero evidence any of this happened apart from the word of a woman who just got off probation… for filing a false police report." Quote Gregory Royal Pratt @royalpratt, "A Skokie woman claimed Homeland Security detained her for nearly 2 days before she ended up in Wisconsin — an extraordinary story disputed by Feds, two sheriff’s departments and her purported employer. A big big big yikes here https://chicagotribune.com/2026/03/11/ohare-ice-dhs-detain-chicago/"

NRO eds, Media Can’t Hide the Truth About Gracie Mansion Bomb Attempt. John Sexton, Yet Another CNN Reporter Steps on the Rake. AG @AGHamilton29, "In the span of 48 hours, the CNN account, a CNN anchor, and a CNN senior reporter have all falsely suggested the terror attack last weekend was targeting Mamdani. The first two have been corrected, but a bad look when reps for a news network keep repeating same false claim." At Twitchy, Lady, Put Down the Shovel: Abby Phillip Tries a Half Apology, Gets Walloped With an EPIC Ratio. Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando, "The lie goes out on national television, the correction goes out in a tweet. See how that works?" Quote Abby D. Phillip @abbydphillip "I want to correct something I said last night. The bombs thrown in New York City over the weekend by ISIS inspired attackers was thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protestors and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. That wording was inaccurate and I didn’t catch it ahead" Readers added context "The use of the word “specifically” implies Mamdami may have been a target when this is factually incorrect based on every report and testimony from the two terrorists themselves. Bombs were thrown at protestors and police in order to injure/murder as many civilians as possible. x.com/nypost/status/…" To be fair, Twitter has more followers than CNN. Nick Arama at RedState, After CNN's Horrible Tweet About NYC Bombing Attempt, They Just Made It Worse With New Comment From Host. Right Angle News Network Ace, CNN's DEI Deer-in-the-Headlights Dim Bulb Abby Philip: Some People Threw a Bomb at the Muslim Mayor of New York City "Antifa's credo -- and thus now the Antifa Media's credo -- is "DARVO." Every time they beat the shit out of someone in the street, they engage in DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. We saw this with Kyle Rittenhouse. We saw this with the Covington Kids. And since the weekend, we have seen Antifa Media story after Antifa Media story have strongly, strongly implied that it was the "anti-Islam protesters" who threw the IEDs at the Muslim mayor." @Rightanglenews, "BREAKING - Not even a full 24 hours after CNN’s Abby Phillip was forced to issue a retraction after lying and claiming Mamdani was the target of the Islamist attack in NYC, Ana Navarro repeats the same exact lie with zero pushback from Abby." Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "CNN's Ana Navarro is literally LYING on live TV, saying that the NYC Islamic Terrorists were trying to k*ll Mamdani. She then refuses to admit she's wrong and attempts to justify her answer. She should be fired. Absolute FAKE NEWS." John Sexton, Jihadi Footstool Admits He Made a Fool of Himself (But He's Still Wrong). "Everyone is welcome...except Jake Lang. Which I guess means that the guy who threw the bomb is still welcome. If it wasn't already clear that Masterson is a moron, he was also certain the bomb wasn't real and never moved out of the way. In fact he mocked the people who ran." The Beeb Calls for bleed kit rollout on TfL bus network.

The Martin Center fears Trump's Abandoning the Field on DEI, "The Department of Education is not appealing court rulings against a crucial “Dear Colleague” letter. Why not?" John Sexton believes Trump Administration Seems Likely to Win Lawsuit Against University of Pennsylvania. Rick Moran at PJM sees University of Texas-Austin Strikes a Telling Blow Against Critical Race Theory. At Hollywood in Toto, Adam Carolla on Obama: ‘All He Does Is Race Hustle’ "Podcaster laments the good the first black president could have done for U.S." WV Public Broadcasting, Court Rules W.Va. Medicaid Not Required To Pay For Gender-Affirming Care.

Stacy McCain on When the Jokes Just Write Themselves Anyway, let’s dive into this mess: Why so many women like me are giving up on men, and what we can do about it."

Greg Lukianoff at The Eternally Radical Idea, ‘Pick Your Ten’: The best advice I ever got in my life. "I used to think FIRE co-founder Harvey Silverglate’s wise words were only useful for people trapped in the middle of the culture war. But now we all are, so they're useful for everyone." "He told me to pick my ten. You can have friends whose opinions you don’t take seriously, and you can have opponents whose point of view you very much do. So, pick your ten. Figure out who the small number of people are whose judgment you genuinely trust, the people who know you well enough and love you enough to tell you the truth when you’re wrong, when you’re being unfair, when you’re getting carried away, or when — to use the technical term — you are full of shit. Then, when the crowd is screaming, when the internet is losing its mind, when strangers are confidently informing you who you are and why you did what you did, bring it back to those ten. Ask yourself what they would think. Ask yourself whether they would be disappointed in you. Ask yourself whether they would tell you that you had acted unfairly, or out of vanity, tribalism, or cowardice. Or even better, go and ask them yourself."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Holding Our Own up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Takes Venezuela by Storm

Hopefully, you know the outline of the story by now. Early yesterday morning, at President Trump's direction, US military assaulted and invaded Caracas, Venezuela, and captured the dictator, Nicholas Maduras, and his wife and son, pursuant to an arrest warrant previously issued in the southern district of New York on narcotics trafficking charges. You might imagine the reactions from the usual suspects. We'll pick up the rest of the story here. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Trump Captures Maduro, Wife; Both Face Trial in New York. From WaEx, Maduro ‘captured’ and taken out of Venezuela after US military operation in Caracas: Trump. News Wax, Trump: Venezuela's Maduro 'Captured' After 'Large-Scale Strike'. Don Surber on the The Three Hour War in Venezuela. "Trump won the war first and then had the military fight it." Ombre de Oliver, Maduro Adios? "Venezuela Insta-analysis." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, More Maduro Raid Info Pouring In, Trump Calls Into Fox News, Presser Upcoming. Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal hear Trump Announce a Major Victory in Venezuelan Drug War. Teri Christoph at RedState, Breaking: Trump Updates World on 'Operation Absolute Resolve' – and Reveals Who Will Now Run Venezuela, "We are going to run the country [Venezuela] until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition." Althouse hosts Trump's press conference this morning and "[Maduro] was trying to get into [his safe room], but he got bum-rushed so fast that he didn’t get into that.... I watched it literally like I was watching a television show." "And if you would have seen the speed, the violence, you know, they say that, the speed, the violence, they used that term, it was just an amazing thing, an amazing job that these people did — nobody else could have done anything like it." Also, Things I found when I created a new tag — "Trump and Venezuela" — and went back into the archive to add it to old posts. Ace, Trump Orders Air Strikes on Venezuela, Sends In Delta Force to Capture Nicolas Madura and His Wife, "My mood, thanks to Michael the Texan. Michael(Poltfan) JapanDayTripper)) @PoltFan69, "Snatching Maduro is the single most significant clandestine op by the US military in 60+ years. They've never gone in and grabbed a sitting head of state with no preceeding war or military ops. They just fucking black bagged him with impunity in his own country. Goddamn." InfantryDort @infantrydort, "Well @PeteHegseth isn’t messing around. Neither is the department he leads. Purpose, direction, and motivation go a long way." Quote Sir Nathan @SirNathan52, "Replying to @infantrydort "That was one impressive operation. I’ll admit it: after so many years of neglecting and reshaping the military, I was worried that they couldn’t pull things like that off. Congratulations, and well done." John Lucas at Bravo Blue, American Credibility Restored (Again). Wes O'Donnell, How the US Military Executed the Venezuela Attack. "For adversaries watching from Moscow, Beijing, or Tehran, this operation should be unsettling." Ryan Saavedra @RyanSaavedra "The domino effect from Trump's operation to capture Maduro could be massive: 1. Damages Cuba's communist regime, puts them on the brink of collapse 2. Could energize the Iranian people to overthrow their regime as protests get more intense 3. Damages Russia and China and their foothold in Latin America" Quote Bill Ackman @BillAckman, "The removal of Maduro will lower oil prices, which is good for America and very bad for Russia. A weaker Russian economy will increase the probability that the war in Ukraine ends sooner and on more favorable terms for Ukraine." Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "The 10 Best Things About Trump’s Venezuela Victory: 10. America’s enemies are terrified 9. Democrats went from siding with Somali fraudsters early in the week to communist narco terrorists who ignored democracy by the weekend 8. Libertarians are upset 7. Unleashing Venezuela's oil production will screw the Iranians and the Russians 6. We blew up Chavez’s tomb. Screw that guy." OC Scanner @OC_Scanner, "It’s pretty clear at this point where leaks come from." Quote AZ Intel @AZ_Intel_, "The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee was not notified ahead of time of any potential military action in Venezuela, source said. - CNN." wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat, "China didn't know. Their special envoy had met with Maduro to pledge undying support only hours before he was swept away." Blume Industries CEO Balding 大老板 @BaldingsWorld, "When I so regularly say think it through, here is what I mean. A) you can be darn sure US knew of the travelling envoy and tracked them B) this gave them Maduro location at precise point and time C) This sets of alarm bells in China about somebody possibly passing information or how US can easily track Chinese personnel D) This sets of alarm bells among despots now worried about meeting openly or even collaborating openly with China that much. On and on and on. You see how this works?" Quote Rush Doshi@RushDoshi, "Wild that only hours before America captured Maduro, China sent an envoy to meet him. And just a few weeks before that, China issued a new White Paper insisting on its role in Latin America." Adam Wren @aswren, "I love the unstated implication here that it’s ‘the law’ stopping China from invading Taiwan and not Lockheed Martin and a quarter of a million corn fed americans." Quote Gideon Rachman @gideonrachman "So when China launches a special op to seize the president of Taiwan: or Russia tries to do the same for Zelensky - what exactly do we say? You can’t do that, it’s illegal?" Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "I voted for Trump to not get us involved in useless, endless wars. A surgical strike on narco-terrorist facilities in our hemisphere that murder thousands of Americans, coupled with a precision extraction of the lawless bandit in charge, is not a useless, endless war." Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal, " RUSSIA SENT $6B IN MILITARY AID TO VENEZUELA… AND U.S. AIRSTRIKES BLEW IT UP IN HOURS According to reports, Russia had been shipping $6 billion worth of military aid to Venezuela, including modern air defense systems meant to shield the Maduro regime. But here's the kicker: those defenses were reportedly wiped out by U.S. airstrikes near Caracas and the port of La Guaira during the operation that led to Maduro’s capture. Six billion dollars of Russian military hardware… turned into scrap metal overnight. Yet, Venezuela had all that foreign backing, all that tech, and they still couldn’t stop a single U.S. raid. The message to Moscow? You can arm dictators all you want, but when America actually shows up, your “toys” don’t matter." Insty, ONE DOUBTS THE VENEZUELAN SOLDIERY IS HIGHLY MOTIVATED.

🚨 HOLY CRAP! This might just be the most EPIC Trump post of all time

Trump posted a video of Maduro CHALLENGING 47 to “come get me,” followed up by a screaming Bald Eagle & Thunderstruck blaring in the background during missile fire 🇺🇸🦅

Trump said “challenge accepted” 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/3IPKUnGRtM

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 3, 2026

Vijeta Uniyal at LI hears China, Russia, Iran Condemn Capture of Venezuela’s Maduro; Hezbollah Decries ‘American Arrogance’. "EU says it is “closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela”; UK Prime Minister Starmer: “I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved.”" We figured. News Wax reports Cuba Presidency Condemns 'State Terrorism' in Venezuela. 

This is absolutely how it went down and you can’t convince me otherwise. pic.twitter.com/v8jje6L6PI

— 🥀 🖤𝔏𝔦𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔞𝔫 𝔊𝔬𝔱𝔥🖤🥀 (@LibertarianG0th) January 3, 2026

Around the world, exiled Venezuelans cheered while Trump critics bitched and moaned. Inevitable West @Inevitablewest, "BREAKING: Thousands of Venezuelans are waking up and celebrating the news of Communist dictator Maduro being captured by US forces The Legacy Media won't show you this." Germania Rodriguez Poleo @iamGermania , "WE VENEZUELANS LOVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS THAT MOTHERFUCKER WHO UNLEASHED THE WORST TRAGEDY OUR HEMISPHERE HAS SEEN IN RECENT HISTORY!!!! WOOOOHOOOOO." Quote Daniel @growing_daniel, "Blowing up Hugo Chavez’s body because fuck it why not while we’re down here." Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "BOOM! Venezuelan man GOES OFF on the Left for protesting Donald Trump’s arrest of Maduro “Where were all of you LIBERALS!? You said nothing and YOU DID NOTHING. Now you CARE about human rights? Kidnapping? Trump REMOVED our kidnapper!” Joey Mannarino @JoeyMannarino "I’m with some Cubans right now and they’re literally crying tears of joy. Venezuelans are celebrating all over the globe too. If anyone thinks this military operation was a bad idea you have NO idea how many votes we just gained for the midterms. Trump is now the absolute hero of the Latin Americans." Wagner Paiva Fernandes (Tesla is CHOAM) @WagnerTesla, "We Brazilians love it as well cause we can once again dream about being free from the Narcos." Venezuela is FREE!"

 Driscoll at Insty, BEN “LONESOME” RHODES HAS A SAD: Joe Concha @JoeConchaTV "So so we’re keeping score at home… The former author turned national security expert under Obama… who did absolutely nothing to stop Iran’s nuclear capabilities or narco terrorism… has a really big problem with an administration that’s actually something about these things. Ben also supported thousands of drone strikes on innocent people, including Americans overseas… so there’s also that…" Quote Ben Rhodes @brhodes "Bombing Venezuela, Nigeria and Iran with no legal basis, coherent rationale or even public debate. And Trump seems to just be getting started." Althouse says I hope James Carville is doing satire. "About 24 hours ago, I said out loud, here at Meadhouse, "I'm waiting for Trump haters to say this was done to distract us from Epstein." I'd like to think anyone saying that is doing satire, but James Carville really commits:" Insty says LOL, PETE BUTTIGIEG. A Driscolly post at Insty, COMRADE MAMDANI SLAMS TRUMP’S ILLEGAL MADURO ARREST ON BEHALF OF NYC VENEZUELANS. (WHO WANTS TO TELL HIM?) Twitchy, Mamdani Slams Trump's Illegal Maduro Arrest on Behalf of NYC Venezuelans (Who Wants to Tell Him?) DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "Zohran, the Venezuelans in New York City are there because Maduro made their country unlivable and pushed them out. And most likely they are celebrating right now in NYC's streets. Go explain to your own Venezuelan constituents why they shouldn't be celebrating instead of virtue signaling about it on 𝕏." Herr Professor Jacobson at LI, Maduro Arrives In Big Apple as Mayor Mamdani Fumes (Update: Perp Walk Video) "If Mamdani interfered in any way (like he threatened to interfere if Netanyahu came to NYC), he would likely be arrested by the feds, so he’ll just fume." The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee "Democrats Confused Why Venezuelans Cheering Downfall Of Nice, Warm Collectivism." The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Aides Tell Disappointed Trump That Maduro And Mamdani Are Different People."

Driscoll, “WE’RE IN JEN RUBIN’S WORLD:” Erick Erickson @EWErickson, "We’re in Jen Rubin’s world. She famously supported moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem and opposed it the moment Trump did what she wanted. Same with bombing Iran. All these people wanted Maduro gone, they just didn’t want Trump being the one to do it." VodkaPundit at Insty, PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS." Hat Hair's Dave Strom, The Maduro Defenders Come Out; UPDATE: Perfect Trump Troll. Rob Jenkins @profontheright, "For the first time in years, the Democrats are opposed to a Venezuelan criminal entering our country." Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "Democrats started the week excusing Somali fraud and are ending it being mad that we captured an indicted narcoterrorist communist who led a coup against Democracy. Great work." Peter McCormack @PeterMcCormack, "All the socialists retards are coming out to condemn what is happening in Venezuela, while all the Venezuelans are celebrating. The people who want us to turn into a socialist hell hole don't even know the reality inside Venezuela, while the Venezuelans will tell you don't try this shit. . . " At Twitchy, Let's Check in With How Lefties on Bluesky Are Dealing With Trump Announcing the Capture of Maduro. Insty, LEFTISTS WILL SUPPORT ANYONE WHO HATES AMERICA AND THE WEST: Adam Zivo @ZivoAdam, "My online feed includes Venezuelans celebrating Maduro’s ouster, Iranians praying for their own revolution, and some Western leftists doing their best to whitewash the brutal autocracies in Caracas and Tehran." Drew Pavlou @DrewPavlou, "This right here is the reason I joined the right. They hate Trump so much that they end up defending a disgusting brutal communist dictatorship, an elite commissar class that lived like kings while starving millions. Fuck the left. God bless the USA." The Ben Shapiro Show @BenShapiroShow, "Don't defend communist dictators like Nicolás Maduro." Max @MaxNordau, "Reactions to the flawless Venezuela operation demonstrates that a lot of the “America First” talking points are just third-world anti-American propaganda in a skin suit."

Althouse notices Elon Musk loves the idea of Rubio as "president of Venezuela, governor of Cuba, and the Shah of Iran." and Rubio reposts what he said last July. Joe Chalfont at TownHall, The Nicolas Maduro Memes Are Already Here. I found them a little disappointing.

The WaPoo's Marc Theisen opines on The 20 best things Trump did in 2025 "The accomplishments of a stunning year can’t be captured in just 10 items." He also did a worst 10. Inez Stepman @InezFeltsche, "This analysis is a good example of what has really been bugging me lately. It’s been one year. Trump II is in the process of paradigm-shifting victories on immigration, presidential control over the executive, and the enforcement of the CRA against the many illegalities of the racial reckoning. It has demonstrated willingness to cut higher Ed’s federal lifeline to force institutions to their knees. It’s forced the legal definition of sex back into the law. It is rooting out billions in public support for the institutional leftist machine. Progress in each of these areas is tangible, I can list cases, firings, funding cuts, and lawsuits, not just rhetoric. And yet people whine because the world hasn’t been completely and utterly transformed in a mere 360ish days, and there’s still work left to do. What did you expect? 20M deportations overnight? Did it occur to you that that’s a massively difficult logistical feat to organize, and would take some time even if they WEREN’T fighting a recalcitrant system? Did you think there really was a fix everything switch? . . . " Quote, Christopher F. Rufo @christopherrufo, "No, Nixon couldn't "crush" the Great Society, much less the New Deal, in 1969, or even in 1973 after his 49-state landslide. This is ridiculous history, and, by comparison, Trump has less power over a state that is more entrenched. There is no magic "regime change button."" Hat Hair's Stephen Moore notes The Economists Got 2025 All Wrong. Rapid Response 47 @RapidResponse47, "@ZitoSalena: Trump has a way with Pennsylvania. This interview shows why." Jim Fanell at Am Great says Damn the Deep State’s Torpedoes: Full Speed Ahead for America’s ‘Golden Fleet’ "Trump’s Golden Fleet fight isn’t really about battleships—it’s about whether Washington has the will to rebuild American naval power or let bureaucracy and budgets sink it."

Matt Margolis at PJM says Now We Know Why Democrats Are Defending Somali Fraud, it's the kickbacks, stupid! Matt Vespa at TownHall, If the Media Is Saying This About the YouTuber Who Exposed Somali Fraud in MN, Then He Nailed It Tom Elliott @tomselliott "MSNBC on @nickshirleyy: "A content creator who has posted inaccurate & anti-immigrant videos in the past."" Amy Curtis, Somali Embassy in Serbia Loses It as Fraud Reporting Hits Home. Libs of TikTok@libsoftiktok "OH MY GOD The Somali Embassy in Serbia just dmed me telling me to “stop laying about Somalia” They must have learned how to spell in the quality learing center." VodkaPundit at Insty, I DUNNO, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE AT “2025” IN “2015”.

Coddled Affluent Professional @feelsdesperate, "Matt Taibbi on his disgust at Mehdi Hassan, Jamal Bowman, and Hasan Piker doing USSR nostalgia at Mamdani’s victory party: ‘I could fill a whole book with stories of horrible things I heard and saw from eyewitnesses to the Soviet history. And to see people laughing about that shit, I can’t even describe the emotions. When I saw some of those clips [from Mamdani’s party], I went through in my mind, I started cataloging all the top 20 or 30 awful things that I heard, and I just want to share one. . . ." The View from North Central Idaho, The Warmth Comes from the Fire of Gunpowder and/or Ovens.

UPI has the sads as a Federal appellate court okays Planned Parenthood funding halt. From the College Fix, ‘Minority serving institutions’ are unconstitutional, DOJ says.

Techo Fog looks at J6 Pipe Bomber Skepticism: Justified? He doesn't think so. I think they got the right guy.

Francis Menton, the Manhattan Contrarian explains why There Is Much More To The Immigration Issue Than Just The GDP Effect.

Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal, "CATHERINE HERRIDGE: WHY X BECAME THE CENTER OF REAL JOURNALISM Catherine is laying out something legacy newsrooms still refuse to admit out loud. Reach is no longer about cable slots or front pages. It’s about access to decision makers, business leaders, and highly engaged readers in the same place, at the same time. That’s why independent journalism didn’t just survive the collapse of trust in corporate media. It moved to X and took the audience with it. . . ." From NewsBusters, Who Can't Handle the Truth? Clooney Rants Bari Weiss Is 'Dismantling' the Bias of CBS News, or at least damping it down a bit.

Linked at 357 Magnum in the Wednesday Link Roundup - 7 January. The Wombat has and FMJRA 2.0: Still Stuck In The Ruts up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.