Flotsam and Jetsam - House Passes Budget, Including Iran War

From Althouse, "House Republicans on Wednesday muscled through a $95 billion budget framework that includes President Donald Trump’s request to fund the Iran war..." "From "House Republicans Ram Through Reconciliation 3.0 Despite Little Senate Buy-in/The framework includes money for defense, farm assistance and changes to voting laws" (NOTUS)." Ace, House Passes "Stop Insider Trading" Bill to Forbid Congressmen from Trading Individual Stocks (Using Insider Information); Noted Lifelong Inside-Trader Nancy Pelosi Votes Against It, "The bill would allow congresmen to own stocks as part of money markets or indexes -- big groups of stocks traded by managers without input from the customer. They, and their families, will just be barred from buying and selling individual stocks, where a congressman could make a killing based on insider knowledge of coming government action that could boost, or crush, a specific company's valuation." Vince Coglianese @VinceCoglianese, "This is Washington for you. They hate Trump personally, so they refuse to do the right thing for the American people." Quote Andrew Desiderio @AndrewDesiderio, "Longtime GOP operative weighs in on latest WH-Thune drama… “Trump knows full well that he can’t flip these votes. Hell, he personally came to the Capitol to berate Senate Republicans into voting for SAVE, and he left empty handed. Look at who we’re talking about — Murkowski, McConnell, Tillis, and Collins — all members who he’s savaged at one point or another, and now he needs their help. All of this comes back to one thing: What happens when Trump can’t do something himself? He blames someone else. John Thune is Mr. Someone Else.” Another from Althouse "Trump Badly Screws Susan Collins as Maine ICE Death Takes Darker Turn." "There's a crass headline for you. From The New Republic." News Wax reports Sen. Thune Fires Back on SAVE America Act Delay ""Maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes. Right? It's 50 around here," Thune said, according to The Hill."

Scott Pinsker at PJM, 2028 Speculation Explodes: The Future of MAGA Isn’t Vance or Rubio. It’s… Tom Brady?! He's young enough, he's moderately articulate, he'd cinch the male vote, but what about women?

James Hirsen @thejimjams, "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirms that over 256,000 non-citizens have been found on the voter rolls in California, New Jersey, Nevada, andPennsylvania." Drew Holden @DrewHolden360, "Step 1: “Voter fraud doesn’t happen,” CNN Step 2: “Fine, voter fraud happened,” CNN Step 3: “Voter fraud happening doesn’t mean what you think it means,” CNN."

Art Schaper at Am Great, sees Trump Is Righting Latin America "The right is on the march, cleaning out the wreckage of socialism and communism." Hat Hair's Beege Welborn snorts at the thought of the Carney-Val Side Show Act - Man the US Is Sure Gonna Be Sorry About the Tariffs.

From the Free Bacon, How Trump Can Avoid the Vietnam Trap in Iran. Hat Hair's John Sexton sees Four Republicans Hand Pramila Jayapal a Big Victory on Iran. "Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), Warren Davidson ( R-Ohio), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joined all 210 Democrats in backing the measure, the second war powers resolution to pass the chamber in recent months." Ace reads the CIA Report: Air Power Alone Can't Win Wars. "I've been saying this since day one." Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران @ariel_oseran, "BREAKING: Trump says the civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia is subject to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords." RedState's Ward Clark laughs at an Iranian Propaganda Fail: IRGC's New Israel Hit Is Just Old American A-10 Footage, because their AI isn't up to snuff? Dick Pollock at World in Crisis wonders Has Donald Trump Sidelined Vance Over Iran? "When the President's top aides were ending the MoU and planning air attacks against Iran, Vance was delivering a speech in Milwaukee about Medicaid fraud." Uri Kurlianchik @VerminusM, "Funny. In Europe you have pro-Iran demonstrations without a single Iranian in them and anti-Iran demonstrations composed almost entirely of Iranians." At Israel Nat News, Investigation: Hamas planned massive October 7th attacks across Europe. "Swiss newspaper reports Hamas had a years-long plot to carry out an October 7-style wave of coordinated terrorist attacks across Europe, targeting Israeli, Jewish, and Western institutions."

From Fox, JONATHAN TURLEY: Democratic Socialists want to remake America in their image. That’s terrifying, "DSA manifesto released on Bastille Day proposes ending capitalism and remaking the constitutional system." Hat Hair's John Sexton notices The DSA's Platform Really Is Nuts. InfantryDort @infantrydort, "The communist question for political office is brutally simple: How can someone swear to support and defend the Constitution while openly seeking to destroy the constitutional order it created? Believing vile things is protected. Advocating lawful constitutional change is protected too. But an oath taken “without mental reservation or purpose of evasion” cannot mean promising fidelity with one hand while reaching for the knife with the other..." Insty says AT A FIRST APPROXIMATION, THEY HATE EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE: "Why do progressive leftists of all people hate nuclear energy so much? And they’re against anything that would make the West stronger, richer, and freer." TownHall's Kurt Schlichter hopes Democrats Are Walking Into a Minefield. Scott McKay at Am Spec has Zero Sympathy for the Democrats’ Political Death March. "After years of empowering the fringe, Democrat insiders are discovering that the monsters they cultivated are now consuming them." James Lindsay, anti-Communist @ConceptualJames, "A terrifying yet exciting moment has arrived in the trainwreck called the Democratic Party." Quote Visegrád 24 @visegrad24, "Melissa Chaudhry, a Democratic congressional candidate in Washington's 9th District, has acknowledged that she does not publicly promote LGBTQ+ rights on her campaign website because she does not want to alienate Muslim voters." Sunny @sunnyright, "When you have both a trans and Palestinian flag." Quotulatiousness has an interesting Business idea – a socialist-themed holiday camp "Your daily itinerary: Wake at 5 a.m. Stand in the bread line until noon in minus 15 Celsius. The bread runs out at 11:40, but the queuing builds character, and character is the only thing not in shortage. Afternoon activities include a second line for toilet paper (there is no toilet paper) and a mandatory lecture on how the shortages prove capitalism sabotaged the harvest." Also from Quotulatiousness, DSA: Trump doesn’t respect political norms. Also DSA: Let’s abolish the current system. Kerry Picket at WaT, Trump, Ocasio-Cortez spar over communism label as DSA’s influence grows in Democratic Party. Sister Toldja at RedState sees A Platneresque Democrat Scandal Hits WI Governor's Race, and You Just Cannot Make This Stuff Up.

Fox News Politics @foxnewspolitics, "A group calling itself a "conservative social movement" against AI data centers enlisted Green Party figures, a transgender congressional candidate, a Democratic state legislative candidate and progressive activist organizations to run its nationwide protests — all while positioning itself as a grassroots right-wing uprising against Trump's AI buildout. Humans First, chaired by Tea Party co-founder and Jan. 6 rally organizer Amy Kremer, claimed to rally conservatives on July 18 with 142 protests across 42 states. But a Fox News Digital review of the group's own protest pages found organizers including an Illinois Green Party chapter that supports impeaching Trump, a Georgia group founded to resist Trump's agenda and protect "diversity, equity & justice," and a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation as a featured speaker. The group's startup capital came via a loan from the Center for AI Safety, a San Francisco nonprofit whose staffers appear on Humans First's incorporation documents."

PJM's Bob Spencer hears The Adults in the Room Skewer Boy Mayor Mamdani After He Admits He Can't Fulfill Major Promise, to imprison Bibi. Amy Curtis at TownHall, Mamdani Says Most of Our Lives Are Already Socialist and Ends Up Tripping Over History. From Reason, Nobody Likes Red Tape, Not Even Mamdani "Eliminating burdensome small business regulations is a win for everyone." I guarantee Zohran likes his own red tape. Roger Simon at American Refugees thinks The Jews Should Leave NewYork. "Exit the city to save it... and yourselves."

Dave Strom is shocked, shocked that AOC Leads NH Presidential Preference Poll. The Telegraph claims Republicans move to clip AOC’s wings amid 2028 speculation. Mediaite notices Social Media Users Point Out Pete Buttigieg Less Popular Among Black People Than Ex-KKK Leader David Duke Was in 2016. From atop Da Hill, Harris 2028 White House bid ‘not going to happen’: Former Biden aide. Dan McCarthy at The Chronic explains Why Democrats Can’t Do Better Than Kamala Harris in 2028. PJMs' Chris Queen sees Jon Ossoff Voted Against Giving Georgia’s Kids a Stake in the American Dream.

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "HOLY CRAP! Barack Hussein Obama's new presidential library has forced a subcontractor to SHUT DOWN after a $4 million battle and having to lay off 25 workers — Fox News Other black-owned firms are also FURIOUS, demanding additional funds they are owed The subcontractor claimed he is OWED $4 MILLION and 25 union workers LOST A JOB NOW Hussein's library is turning out to be a trash can, which is EXACTLY how it looks in real life! ..."

At RCP, California Seeks To Enjoin Democracy. "If successful, California would effectively enjoin the legislative process – an odd way to celebrate 250 years of independence from unaccountable tyranny." At Cal Matters, They’re on our flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California? Definitely; I recommend them for downtown LA.

Ace reports Jim Jordan Makes a Criminal Referral to the DOJ For Jack Smith's Perjury; Melania Presses Sanctions Against Democrat Media Party Hatchet Man Michael Wolff. "I know, I know: file it in the "Nothing Will Happen" folder. But still." Dave Strom sees Rand Paul Releases Treasure Trove of Messages Proving that 'Proximal Origins' Paper Lied.

TownHall's Matt Vespa hears the Secret Service Director Says Threats Against Trump and Other Protectees Are 'Off the Charts'. But from Ace, One of JD Vance's Secret Service Agents Is Under Investigation for Leaking "Sensitive" Information "Just filled with rotten apples, one after another."

There was a fatal police shooting in the liberal haven of Madison, Wisconsin on XXX. A long-time violent felon drew a knife on police when they stopped him, and was shot and the George Floyd crowd is getting the band back together. It being her hometown, Althouse is all over it; This is Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialist who is ahead in the polls for the Democratic Party nomination for Wisconsin governor, speaking in the streets of Madison yesterday after a fatal shooting by the police. "For background on the shooting: "Wisconsin officer kills man armed with knife, police say, as shooting sparks protests/Madison police said that after a chase and a struggle, a man who was being sought pulled out a knife and injured an officer, which led to the deadly shooting" (NBC News)("Videos of the shooting were captured by bystanders and were circulated online. One of them, verified by NBC News, appears to show officers holding on to the man as someone yells, 'Let go!' Multiple shouts of 'He’s got a knife!' can be heard....The shooting was not captured on body camera video, which the Madison Police Department does not widely use"). And, "This is a corrupt city. That's right. Have no fear, the anti-Zionist is here. You understand me?" Andrew Mercado @AndrewMercado, "Emotions boiled over during today’s Madison Police Department press conference as community members interrupted Police Chief John Patterson following the fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz. The room reflected the grief, anger, and frustration many are feeling. One man took the microphone and refused to allow the chief to continue speaking, while another attendee argued they should let officials answer questions and be part of the conversation instead of shutting it down entirely. During his remarks, the man holding the microphone said: “When these police officers come down the street and they decide they want to take the life of another brown body, there is NO oversight for that. That’s imperialism, ladies and gentlemen.” The exchange underscored just how divided people are over what accountability should look like and how deep the pain and distrust runs after Corey Ruiz’s death. As the investigation continues, many in the community say they are still searching for answers, transparency, and justice."

At Da Caller, Fifth Circuit Rules Illegal Aliens Do Not Have Constitutional Right To Roam Free In US. WaEx, Fifth Circuit hands Trump administration win on holding illegal immigrants during their removal proceedings. Twitchy notes CNN: Trump Has Activated a Never-Used 'Secretive Court' for Deporting ‘Alien Terrorists’. Andrew Branca Show @TheBrancaShow, "JUST IN: Judge Boasberg fought Trump's deportation strategy and sarcastically pointed his administration toward a court that had NEVER been used. So what did Trump do? He used it. Nearly 30 years after Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, it's finally been activated. Political jiu-jitsu on Boasberg. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." John Sexton has a report from NYC: Two Men Stabbed by Suspect Yelling 'Allahu Akbar. Ace, Ethiopian Migrant Culturally Enriches Three American Citizens In, Get This, Minnesota. "But I'm sure he was an engineer or doctor or scientist developing a cure for cancer. So the three senseless, barbaric murders he committed are balanced out. This "migrant" could not convince the government to let him bring his family over from Ethiopia. He decided that he was being discriminated against because he was black and an immigrant, which is exactly the murderous grievance instilled in him by the American left." Beege Welborn views a New Townhall Video that Busts Ally of NE Dem Senate Candidate in ICE Agent Doxing. Bill Buckley (not that Bill Buckley) at Da Caller reports ‘MyPillow’ Guy Mike Lindell Proposes Deportation Moratorium If He Wins Minnesota Gov Race “Six months, all the illegal immigrants would have to go get what’s going to be called a conditional work visa,” he said. “I’m a person of second chances, if the only thing they ever did was cross the border and didn’t report back in because they were afraid of being re-deported.” 

From Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog, a Federal Judge To Hood County: No You Can’t Have Immunity For Arresting Someone For A Meme. Not Yours. Matt Vespa thinks you should Watch Don Lemon Immediately Undercut His Own Talking Point in the Same Sentence. To be fair, he doesn't have writers for his material any longer. Driscoll at Insty, THE AP MORPHED INTO THE BABYLON BEE SO SLOWLY, I HARDLY EVEN NOTICED: The Associated Press @AP, "In impoverished Nepal, where a conservative culture leaves openly transgender people with few legal job options, the impact on aid workers’ lives was particularly crushing. Starving and scared, around 100 LGBTQ+ aid workers left jobless by the funding cuts have turned to sex work to survive, walking the streets alongside the very people they once fought so hard to help."

Wesley Yang @wesyang, "0 percent of education papers were replicated," Quote The Missing Data Depot @data_depot "A 7-year study of 3,900 social science papers found that only ~50% could be replicated. There was significant variation across fields, however." Probably because no one cared enough to try. John Sexton hears from the Education Department: No More Disparate Impact Analysis. PoIiMath @politicalmath, "Honestly, if academics truly believe this about themselves, just shut the whole thing down. No public funding for university academics. It was a fun experiment but taxpayers should no longer pay for people to professionally hate them." Quote Jade @shimmerjade, "Conservatives are not well represented in academia because conservatism is, for the most part, the ideology of the incurious. Abortion is bad because the Bible said so. Immigrants are bad because Fox News said so. Capitalism is good because Reagan said so x.com/moodyblueliner…"

Mike LaChance at LI enjoys Rep. Brandon Gill Grilling the Head of American Bar Association About DEI, Future of Law Schools “Do you believe that all of us have implicit biases? Against which groups do you have implicit biases?” Brandon Gill @realBrandonGill, "The American Bar Association says that the Supreme Court should reflect America's racial demographic makeup. I asked the ABA's President if that means the Senate should refuse to confirm a third black Supreme Court justice."

Matt Vespa claims Sophie Cunningham Shuts Down Reporter Over Her Stance on Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports. I think shut down may be a little over-stating it, but she did make her case well. AG @AGHamilton29, "This is the position of 70+% of Americans. It’s also common sense. The fact that so many in the press and associated institutions treat it as something morally abhorrent and feel the need to grill a female athlete for voicing it shows how disconnected they are from reality." Quote Clay Travis @ClayTravis, "Sophie Cunningham gets grilled by WNBA reporters for saying men shouldn’t be able to play women’s sports. Refuses to back down. “I said what I said.” Eloquently defends women’s sports as woke reporters press her. Love all of this. Well done @sophaller." From Ace, Amazing: Female USA "Sports" Columnist and Woke Karen Argues That Caitlin Clark Should Accept Being Fouled by Black Lesbians Because If She Complains She's Putting Black LGBTs in Danger. "This nasty Karen claims that Caitlin Clark is "flopping" -- pretending to have been hurt when another player fouls her, or she wants a ref to call a foul on the player that collided with her. And she says that Caitlin's flopping is a Matter of National Concern, because Caitlin Collins' alleged flopping is "putting the lives of blacks and queers in danger.""

And more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 07.22.26 and In The Mailbox: 07.23.26.

Maryland, My Maryland

 From the Balmer Sun, Maryland ‘fudged the numbers’ on disability budget cuts, lawmaker says

When Maryland lawmakers slashed $126 million from the state’s disability budget earlier this year, they justified the move with a dire warning: The state’s waiver program for home and community-based care was at risk of federal termination unless the budget was reined in.

But advocates, and a state lawmaker who proposed a last-minute amendment to reverse the cuts, now argue that the state’s fiscal alarm was manufactured. They say that by drastically recalculating the cost of institutional versus community care, state officials narrowed the “cost neutrality” gap, creating a mathematical illusion of crisis to justify sweeping cuts to services for thousands of vulnerable Marylanders.

Federal officials appear to be contradicting the state’s narrative. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) told Spotlight on Maryland it has never issued any notice indicating that Maryland’s waiver was at risk of termination due to cost-neutrality concerns. The dispute centers on the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Community Pathways Waiver, which provides services to Jennifer Gallatin and thousands of others. While the state insists the recalculations were a necessary correction of faulty accounting from the previous administration, critics charge that the numbers were intentionally “fudged” to balance the state budget at the expense of a population they knew lacked the political muscle to fight back.

“They’re trying to suggest… that the entire waiver is at jeopardy, you know, we risk losing the entire thing. No, we don’t,” said Jessica Gallatin, who cares for her disabled sister, Jennifer, along with Jessica’s three kids, at home in their single-wide trailer in Cecil County.

What is cost neutrality? Under federal rules, states participating in Medicaid waiver programs must demonstrate “cost neutrality,” meaning it cannot cost more to care for someone in a home or community setting than it would in an institution.

For years, the math provided a comfortable buffer. The state projected institutional care costs $333,000 per person annually, compared to $164,000 for home and community-based waiver services. But last year, the state drastically altered those estimates, dropping the cost in an institution down to $217,000 and raising the cost of the waiver up to $182,000. The result was a shrinking of the cost gap from $169,000 to just $35,000.

After that, cost neutrality became a key talking point for Democratic lawmakers in justifying budget cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, or DDA. “The cost neutrality provision is — we are up against it,” said Appropriations Committee Chair Ben Barnes, a Democrat representing Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, during a March floor debate. He explained that additional cost growth under the waiver could lead to the state losing its waiver altogether, representing $1.7 billion of federal funding.

I confess I don't understand this fully, but it sounds like Gov. Moore is trying to balance the states budget (a good thing) by screwing the disabled (a bad thing). 

Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore

 From the Balmer Sun, Baltimore budget deficit swells to $64M. Here’s why.

Baltimore officials say an unusually brutal winter and soaring overtime costs have pushed the city’s current budget into a $64.4 million deficit, forcing leaders to tap reserve funds despite stronger-than-expected tax revenue. Finance officials told the Baltimore City Council on Tuesday that cleanup costs tied to four snowstorms — along with overtime spending in the police and fire departments — wiped out what had been projected as a $19.6 million surplus earlier this fiscal year. The largest hit came from emergency winter operations that kept crews working around the clock for weeks. The city budgeted $8 million for snow cleanup and instead spent $80 million this year.

“Even in the best planned environment, you’re going to hit a storm that’s going to go beyond what you’re budgeted for,” Deputy Finance Director Bob Cenamme told council members. “That’s why we have reserves.”

Baltimore wasn’t the only city struggling with this year’s winter storms. Philadelphia, for example, budgeted $4.1 million for snow cleanup and ended up spending $59 million. Washington D.C., meanwhile, budgeted $7.3 million and spent more than $67 million.

To close the gap, Baltimore plans to draw from its rainy-day fund and use FEMA reimbursement money. The city’s reserve fund now sits near $200 million.  City officials confirmed to The Baltimore Sun they haven’t received the FEMA funds yet. As of Tuesday, Baltimore was still in the process of applying for the money.

Tax revenue, parking revenue and investments saved the city from digging an even deeper hole in its budget, city officials said. Income tax revenue alone gave the city $17.3 million more in revenue surplus than originally projected after generating $74 million more than predicted in Q2. Vacancies across several agencies, including the comptroller’s office, state’s attorney’s office and city IT department, also reduced spending.

Still, the city’s overall financial outlook deteriorated sharply from earlier projections. The Q2 projections for the total budget were worse by $84 million, as the city expected to have a $19.6 million surplus instead of a $64.4 million overall deficit.

Here's a clue. If you spend more money than you take in, you'll run a deficit.  

Flotsam and Jetsam - 'Maryland Judge' Springs 'Maryland Man'

Susie Moore at RedState reports St. Kilmar Catches a Break - Maryland Judge Orders His Immediate Release. PJM's Cathy Salgado, Judge Orders Criminal Kilmar Abrego Garcia Released AGAIN. Ace, Lowly District Judge Orders "Maryland Man" and Human Trafficker Kilmar Abrego-Garcia Released from Custody, "The judge was appointed by Obama. Weird how the media never points that out. They only note which judges were appointed by Republicans." As long as we're on judges and their foibles, shipwreckedcrew takes on DOJ's "Sand In The Gears" of Judge Boasberg's Planned Hearing To Take Testimony On Alleged Contempt By DHS Sec. Noem. "Including a "mini-lawsplainer" on the odd process of a "criminal contempt" trial -- the late Justice Scalia viewed them as an unconstitutional usurpation of Executive power by the Judicial Branch." Boasberg is out for blood. Mia Cathel at WaEx hears the Wisconsin judge in Trump fake electors case accused of not writing his own ruling, farmed it out to a friend. I guess it's better than letting ChatGPT write it, but it's basically an admission he shouldn't be a judge. OTP says a Milwaukee Jury Picked In Case Of Judge Who Allegedly Helped Illegal Alien Flee. I'm pretty sure she'll get off with the help of jury nullification, but let the process be the punishment. At the Civitas Institute, Josh Blackmun sees “Brazenly Partisan” Judges Scrutinize Trump’s Mind, But Refuse To Explain Themselves. "To paraphrase the Wizard of Oz, pay no attention to the man under the robe." The Manhattan Contrarian is happy to see Humphrey's Executor On The Ropes. 

John Sexton at Hat Hair horrified Another Grand Jury Refuses to Indict Letitia James. Keep trying. 34 times. 

Sarah Anderson at PJM wonders about The U.S. Seized an Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela. So, What's Next? Anxious anxiously reports Trump sanctions Maduro's nephews, 6 ships carrying Venezuela oil. Caribbean News Week hears Guyana say oil tanker seized by US was illegally flying its flag. “Today, the Government of the United States of America informed the Guyana Maritime Administration Department that they have encountered the Motor Tanker SKIPPER… It was falsely flying the Guyana Flag, as it is not registered in Guyana.” Don Surber notices Trump's support costs Machado liberal support "Siding with narco terrorists comes natural to Democrats and their media." They're so predictable. RVM, Chuck Schumer Left Unsatisfied After Trying to Bully Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "BREAKING: A furious Chuck Schumer says he's about to STORM up to SecWar Pete Hegseth and "DEMAND" answers about why they're taking out narco-terrorists trying to kill Americans "I plan to CONFRONT Secretary Hegseth on exactly what the HELL is going on in the Caribbean!" "I plan to DEMAND Secretary Hegseth give the total unedited videos of what happened in the September 2 boat strikes!" Democrats are the party of narcos. It's confirmed." Seth Moulton@sethmoulton, "The idea that wreckage from one small boat in a vast ocean is a hazard to marine traffic is patently absurd, and killing survivors is blatantly illegal. Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder." Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "JUST IN: Tough guy Chuck Schumer STORMS out of briefing with SecWar Pete Hegseth after threatening to "confront" Hegseth on the narco-strikes... ...he came up EMPTY HANDED and is disappointed “OK. It was a VERY unsatisfying briefing. I asked Secretary of Defense Hegseth whether he would let every member of Congress see the unedited videos of the September 2 strike. His answer was, ‘We have to study it.’ Well, in my view, they have studied it long enough!" "Did not get satisfying answers at all!" LMFAO."

Politico whines when Trump thrashes European leaders in wide-ranging interview: ‘I think they’re weak’ "In an interview with POLITICO, the president offered no reassurance to America’s allies about Russia and vowed to reshape their politics." According to TownHall's Kurt Schlichter There’s Nothing Funnier Than Fussy, Furious Euroweenies. Althouse finds "The Trump administration wants to persuade four more countries to leave the European Union to 'Make Europe Great Again'..." "From "Leaked files ‘show US wants to persuade four nations to leave EU’ The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy" (London Times)." From atop Da Hill, Massie introduces bill to pull US out of NATO, thereby guaranteeing Trump's continued semi-support.

TNP reports the House Passes the Defense Bill: Increased Military Salaries, $800M for Ukraine, $650M for Israel. VodkaPundit at Insty, F-35 Talks With Turkey Could See ‘Breakthrough,’ U.S. Ambassador Says. "“Barrack’s post is the first official signal from the U.S. side that talks about a return to the F-35 project could be underway. Turkish media had previously reported it would be discussed when Erdogan and Trump met in the White House in September. Asked by a reporter if he could revive Turkey’s cancelled F-35 deal shortly after the September meeting, Trump replied: ‘I could do so easily if I want. We may do that. Well, it depends. [Erdoğan’s] going to do something for us.'” Is Erdoğan going to stop playing footsie with the Kremlin? Because that would be nice to see from an ally." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, says the House is Going to War With the Senate Over Taliban Funding "I'm not sure if you all remember hearing the phrase, something like '$40M a week is still going to the Taliban.' Sounds incredible, right? Like, how could that possibly be?" Giving away money is one thing Congress does really well. Stopping it, not so much. Austin Bay says America Must Close the Rare Earth Gap. They're not so much rare as unfortunately evenly distributed. We have the sources and we must put them to use. 

At PJM Matt Margolis is shocked to hear CNBC Admits That Biden Owns the Affordability Crisis: ‘Full Stop’ and Senate Rejects Extending Obamacare Subsidies. Not throwing good money after bad. From Da Caller, EXCLUSIVE: Democrats Are Behind Your Crippling Electricity Bills, Report Confirms, blue state policies.

Ben Weingarten at Da Fed sees While Congress Sits On Election Integrity Bill, Trump Admin Takes Action On Noncitizen Voting. Dave Catron at AMAC reports DOJ Sues Blue States for Blocking Voter Roll Audits. "The list of the states that the DOJ had to sue will surprise no one: California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington." Now, why would they block voter roll audits? Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "Within the past hour, Republicans: - Gave Democrats 2 Congressional seats in the 2026 midterms via Indiana - Passed a bill in the House repealing a Trump executive order that reins in the federal bureaucracy and federal unions MANY Republicans JUST WANT TO LOSE 2026." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears Trump to Thune: End the Senate Blue Slip And Confirm My Nominees ASAP. Burgess Everett @burgessev, "Thune isn't budging on this -- Republicans used this to block Biden judges and want that ability in the future "A lot of our Republican senators care deeply about having input into this process, particularly when there's a Democrat in the White House ... there are many Republican senators, way more Republican senators, who are interested in preserving that," he says this morning" Quote Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial @TruthTrumpPost, "“Blue Slips” are making it impossible to get great Republican Judges and U.S. Attorneys approved to serve in any state where there is even a single Democrat Senator. …"

Ace watches CNN: Obama's White House Counsel Routinely Advised and Defended Jeffrey Epstein "Kathy Ruemmler had been a top Obama choice for Attorney General, America's top law enforcement officer, but she withdrew her name when she came under scrutiny. Gee I wonder why." John Sexton, CNN: Obama's White House Counsel Was Chummy with Jeffrey Epstein. She was probably just in it for the money.

Jeff Charles at TownHall, GOP Senator Levels Leftist Hack for Making Light of Child Suicide Matt Margolis is outraged Democrat Congressman Calls Assassination of National Guardsman an ‘Unfortunate Accident’. Accidentally shot in the head? Capt. Ed remembers he was J6 Committee Chair: Murder of Nat'l Guard Is An 'Unfortunate Accident' and GOP to Crockett: Dems Calling for Violence? 'Challenge Accepted!'

🚨 HOLY CRAP! The GOP just released a DEVASTATING ad against US Texas Senate candidate Jasmine Crockett. Absolutely brutal.

CROCKETT: "I challenge somebody to go and find a clip of a Democrat invoking violence!"

ALSO CROCKETT: "You punch [...] We about to beat you down!"

And… pic.twitter.com/w8TJRToVc3

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 10, 2025

At Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog Don’t Expect Jasmine Crockett To Waltz To The Texas Senate Nomination. Driscoll at Insty sees another GREAT MOMENT IN ENVIRONMENTALISM: AOC splurged nearly $50K on pricey hotel stays, dining and renting Puerto Rico concert venue where Bad Bunny performed, and the rest, she wasted. A Chloe video at Hat Hair, Gavin Newsom Says the Quiet Part OUT LOUD: What Democrats Would Do If They Take Congress in 2026. Capt. Ed, Homan: You Better Believe We're Looking Into Omar's Alleged Marriage to Brother as Immigration Fraud. From Drew Berquist enjoys John Kennedy: Walz Crushed Whistleblowers While $1 Billion Disappeared [WATCH]. The New Criterion, looks at Other people’s money "On the election of Zohran Mamdani in New York’s mayoral race."

Jen O'Connell at RedState, Charlie Kirk's Alleged Assassin Makes First In-Court Appearance, Shows Why Cameras Are Necessary. CBS News @CBSNews, "Addressing the people justifying Charlie Kirk's murder on the basis of his beliefs, Erika Kirk said: "You're sick. He's a human being. You think he deserved that? Tell that to my 3-year-old daughter." @MrsErikaKirk sat down with @bariweiss for a CBS News Town Hall, just days after the posthumous release of her husband's last book, "Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life." Watch “CBS News Presents: A Town Hall with Erika Kirk," Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. ET, only on CBS."

Cathy Salgado happily notices 2.5M Illegal Aliens Out of U.S. Since January. About 18 M to go? From ET, State Department Has Revoked 85,000 Visas Since January, Official Says "Many of the top reasons cited for the revocations include DUIs, assaults, and theft." News Wax cites HUD Linking Migration to Higher Housing Costs. Larry at Hat Hair has a video featuring Kristi Noem Slamming Dems During Fiery Hearing: Crazed Protestors Try to Silence Her. At Twitchy, Jessica Tarlov Says Kristi Noem Perjured Herself or Is Clueless (There's a THIRD Option to Consider) Jessica Tarlov @JessicaTarlov, "Either Kristi Noem is perjuring herself or she has no idea what’s happening in her own department. Not sure what’s worse." Quote Aaron Rupar @atrupar, "MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported? NOEM: We haven't deported veterans MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea . . ." Sheryl Leonard @SherylL10312, "Come on tell the rest of the story from that hearing. He was not a citizen he held a green card, he self deported because he had drug dealing charges against him." From NewsBusters, Illinois Gov. Pritzker ‘Violated the Supremacy Clause’ of Constitution, DHS Warns. NYPo, Media leap to defend Minnesota’s Somali fraudsters — but trip over the awful truth. Beege Welborn hears CNN claim Somalis on Welfare Are No Different Than Poor White Folks in Appalachia. TCW notices Violent migrants are a far greater threat than the Russians.

Matt Vespa hears It Would Seem This Top Trump Official Makes CNN Wet Its Pants, So They Stopped Inviting Him, Stephen Miller. Dave Strom likes how Kaitlan Collins Gets Spanked by Karoline Leavitt, figuratively of course, otherwise it would be pay-per-view. Capt. Ed hears Trump On Warner Sale: CNN Vendetur Est. Jarvis @jarvis_best, "My favorite thing ever is when the NYT does a profile on a lib that did something bad and needs an image boost. They always have two pictures: the first has the subject in their house wearing a sweater and looking out a closed window. This creates the impression that they are hiding from a mob and just want to be left alone, and the NYT will run this pic regardless of whether the subject started the fight in the first place. The second picture has the subject walking in a park or a garden looking pensive, as if to suggest that they will bravely push through their fear and ultimately triumph over the bad guys."

From the College Fix, Faculty group demands protections for non-citizens who ‘express support’ for Hamas. Shooting News Week happily reports Coming to a School Near You: A Federally Funded K-12 Second Amendment Curriculum. 

Atop Da Hill, Mace unveils measure renaming DC’s Black Lives Matter Plaza to honor Charlie Kirk. Won't happen, but it's an elegant troll.

Dave Strom snarks it's a Shocker: New Study Identifies Dramatic Rise in Mortality for 'Trans-Women" Who Use Cross Sex Hormones. 

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: The Hits Just Keep On Coming online and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Washington DC Resents Being Cleaned Up

From PM, a video, Trump Really Has Cleaned Up D.C. – Will They Thank Him?!. No, Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, " UPDATE: Liberals are now complaining that President Trump has made Washington DC *TOO* safe, with one reporting that Lincoln Park was filled with families, kids on scooters, and kids playing on the sidewalk - along with the National Guard. "Not great, tbh."" Yucky little kids in their city! WokeSpy is onto JB Pritzker Lets It Slip Why He’s Worried About Trump’s Crime Crackdown in Chicago. Inhibiting illegals from going to the polls. Mickey Kaus @kausmickey, "You'd think a 2-bylined piece in the @Atlantic on the National Guard deployment in DC would have at least a paragraph, or a sentence, assessing the overall stats on crime in DC after Guard's arrival. You would be wrong. Why confront the main issue when you can do snark and color?" Quote Ashley Parker @AshleyRParker, "The sudden appearance of the National Guard in D.C. brings w/ it an absurdist sheen—their tasks quotidian (“beautification”), their backdrops farcical (a Dupont Circle Krispy Kreme), their very presence sitcom-esque (as if lifted from an episode of Veep). https://theatlantic.com/politics/archi."

OTP highlights a poll, College-Age Voters Now Favor GOP By 12 Points. Scott Pinsker sees The Canaries in the Coalmine: In Just 63 Days, We’ll Know If the GOP Will Win the 2026 Midterms. Virginia and New Jersey. At LifeZette, Black BET Billionaire Donor Stuns Democrats, Gives $500K to Winsome Earle-Sears. Mediaite, Jerry Nadler to Retire From Congress: ‘Watching the Biden Thing’ Made Me Think ‘About the Necessity for Generational Change’. Sundance at CTH, The Penguin Quits – Fast Action Needed. There goes half of Greg Gutfeld's schtick. Sarah Hoyr at Insty thinks THIS IS WILDLY FLATTERING. THEY’RE ACTUALLY A DUMPSTER FIRE FLOATING ON A RIVER OF SEWAGE: Democratic 2028 Presidential Contenders: A Clown Car of Candidates . WaT, Momentum builds for congressional redistricting in GOP-led states. From RCP, Stephen Miller says Single Greatest Abuse Of Voting In Any Democracy In The World Is The Democrat Party's Policy Of Mail-In Ballots.

From JTN, Charlotte Hazard reports Congress to take up second Big Beautiful Bill, defense spending after summer break: key lawmakers, "Republicans in the House and Senate will be looking for ways to advance President Donald Trump's agenda with a narrow majority" and As summer ends, budget battles and investigations await. "If Congress is unable to pass all of the appropriations bills by the end of September, it will likely pass a continuing resolution."

Ars Technica whines CDC spiraled into chaos this week. Here’s where things stand. Jen O'Connell at RedState hears The Senate Is Out for Robert Kennedy Over Monarez Firing, CDC Resignations. From Pop Times, Donald Trump Calls on Drug Companies to Release COVID Vaccine Data. Sundance hears A Remarkable Message from President Trump as He Questions COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy. At ET, Trump Signs Order Barring Federal Funding to Schools With COVID Vaccine Mandates, "Trump campaigned on not giving ‘one penny to any school that has a [COVID] vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.’" Dave Strom at Hat Hair, The Left Glories in Insulting and Suppressing Ordinary Americans. Jeffrey A Tucker @jeffreyatucker "During the Covid years, it seemed as if the CDC was being run by sadistic Satantists. It turns out that the CDC was actually being run by sadistic Satanists." Quote Clayton J Baker MD @cjbakermd "This is one of the “dedicated public health experts” who just resigned from the CDC. Drain the swamp indeed."

Fox Bus hears Bessent warns 'all options are on the table' for Russia sanctions. Sundance, Chancellor Friedrich Merz Says He’s Now Planning for a Long War in Ukraine. JTN, Pentagon to build new task force to counter drone threats "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Department of Defense wants to address the growing threat and to improve its systems to protect people and equipment at home and overseas." At PJM, Stephen Kruiser has hopes Trump Might End Hugo Chávez's Posthumous Reign of Error in Venezuela. WaEx, Trump says India has offered to cut its tariffs on the US ‘to nothing’. PM, NEW: Trump says India offering to cut all tariffs in US trade agreement "India has "now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing," Trump said, but indicated "it's getting late." The problem is that they buy next to nothing from the US. Insty, TRUMP’S TARIFFS ARE GOING TO BACKFIRE, YOU GUYS: Financelot @FinanceLancelot, "BREAKING: Ontario banned U.S. alcohol sales in April. Today Canadian Crown Royal bottler announced it's shutting down its Ontario plant and moving operations to the U.S."

At OTP, President Trump To Award Rudy Giuliani The Presidential Medal Of Freedom. That seems appropriate, and it will piss off Dems, which is a bonus. Fox News @FoxNews "'WE CAUGHT THEM': President Trump says a subcontractor made a "huge gash" in the Rose Garden limestone with a broken steel cart and will be charged for replacing it."

From ET, Federal Judge Blocks Deportation of Unaccompanied Guatemalan Children. Can't return them to their parents. There are crops to pick! and White House ‘Very Optimistic’ Supreme Court Will Strike Down Tariff Ruling, Navarro Says. Sundance hosts Peter Navarro Discussing Stakes with Upcoming Supreme Court Review of IEEPA Tariffs. At Da Caller, Here’s How Trump’s Judicial Nominees Are Stacking Up So Far, "“I really do not see much difference between the caliber of nominees in Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0,” South Texas College of Law Houston professor Josh Blackman told the DCNF."

ET, Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease, "Mueller received his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2021, his family said." Sundance, Robert Mueller Has Parkinsons Disease – Congress Drops Subpoena.

NYPo hears Rosie O’Donnell apologize for calling trans Minneapolis Catholic school shooter a MAGA supporter: ‘I messed up.’  Shooting News Week opines People on Antipsychotics Should Have Their Gun Rights Paused.

Matt Vespa is amused when CNN's Top Legal Analyst Just Obliterated Fed Governor's Legal Narrative on Mortgage Fiasco. From the Victory Girls, We Aren’t Supposed To Notice Ilhan Omar’s Fishy Finances. At TownHall, Kurt Schlichter says Dems, Please Cry More About the New Rules. "The prosecutions of Letitia James and Adam Schiff, which are totally coming, will be glorious. They’re both particularly obnoxious creatures whose existence was made possible by a rotten establishment and a craven regime media."

The Peacock whines Kristi Noem confirms plan to expand ICE operations in major cities. "The DHS secretary made the comments after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson threatened legal action against any surge of federal law enforcement or National Guard troops in the city." Sarah Arnold proud to report Trump’s Enforcement Measures Drastically Reduce Illegal Alien Deaths in Eagle Pass. If they don't cross the River, they can't drown. Ward Clarke at RedState sees Monumental Media Malpractice: CBS Deceptively Edits Sec. Kristi Noem Interview. WaEx, Noem trashes CBS for ‘shamefully’ removing information critical of Abrego Garcia from interview. Dave Strom, Is It Accurate to Say 'PsyOp?' Yes.

From OutKick, Another California Girls HS Volleyball Team Forfeits Against Jurupa Valley, Trans Athlete "After thoughtful discussions, our student-athletes had with the coaching staff, it was decided to cancel our upcoming Girls’ Varsity volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School," the statement from a school spokesperson said. "This decision was made in conjunction with the athletic directors at both Orange Vista and Jurupa Valley. Our priority is always the well-being of our students. We are proud of our athletes for bringing their thoughts forward and for supporting one another to make this a team decision."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Morning Glory Milking Farm up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

2025/08/trump-national-guard-deployment-dc/684055/

Maryland, My Maryland

 MSN, citing the Balmer Sun, Maryland at ‘high risk’ of recession, Moody’s top economist warns

Maryland is among 21 states and Washington, D.C., that are either already in or are at a “high risk” of a recession, according to a warning this week from the chief economist at the credit-rating agency that recently downgraded Maryland’s bond rating. 

The U.S. economy as a whole is “on the edge of recession” as a result of such a large number of states trending downward, Moody’s Mark Zandi wrote on social media Sunday.

“Based on my assessment of various data, states making up nearly a third of U.S. GDP are either in or at high risk of recession, another third are just holding steady, and the remaining third are growing,” Zandi wrote.

Moody’s is one of the top three credit-rating agencies and the only one that downgraded Maryland’s AAA bond rating this year. It said Maryland maintained a “stable” outlook but that its rating should take a hit because of economic underperformance and the higher-than-average impact from President Donald Trump’s decisions in the White House.

Of course yesterday's economic report, 3.3% growth, and 2% inflation, would seen to contradict that.

In his update Sunday, Zandi pointed to “the broader DC area” in particular because of Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce — with Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., joining the list with Maryland.

Other states that represent a similar or larger share of country’s GDP as Maryland — which Zandi noted as 1.86% — that are in or heading toward recession include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Georgia and Oregon. California and New York, two of the three largest state economies, are “treading water” while states like Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania are expanding, according to Zandi’s analysis.

I think I'm seeing a pattern here. 

And, only tangentially related, from the College Fix, U. Maryland abortion program aims to recruit ‘providers of color,’ raising legal red flags. 

Maryland, My Maryland

From Matt Vespa at TownHall, ReSIsT FaScIsM: Dem Governor Told Hordes of State Government Workers They're Being Laid Off

Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is a fascist. Sorry, that’s the rule, I didn’t make it up. It was the media and the swath of government workers who got pink slips at the State Department this week. You’d think these folks were selected to be executed by their reactions, a coddled, entitled weep fest as these staffers thought their government jobs were lifetime contracts.

State Department staffers have been leaving little notes, like “resist fascism” over the cuts, so it’s funny that while everyone melts down over Trump’s modifications to the federal workforce, Gov. Moore is doing the same thing (via WTOP):

Thousands of state employees were notified by email Thursday of a buyout program, part of a plan by Gov. Wes Moore (D) to reduce the size of state government and cut $121 million from ongoing personnel expenses.

Details of the “voluntary separation program” were also posted on the website of the state Department of Budget and Management. The plan, first announced in late June, offers eligible, full-time employees in the executive branch $20,000, plus an additional $300 for each year of service. It will also cover six months of paid state health benefits and pay out unused leave and compensatory time.

There is no target for the number of employees the state is hoping will take the buyout, officials said.

“The VSP is one of several actions the governor has implemented to achieve the $121 million reduction, including the hiring freeze already announced,” a spokesperson for the Department of Budget and Management said in an email Friday.

I don’t usually like seeing people get chopped down at the knees like this, but I can’t stand it. Working families have endured worse for generations. People get fired every day; it sucks, but we’re treating the cuts in the Washington workforce as if Trump were the first president ever to terminate employment. Get a grip.

This is the first good thing I've heard about Gov. Moore. Of course, he had to turn a $5 Billion surplus into a $3 Billion deficit to get to this point.  

Flotsam and Jetsam - Michigan Man Dies Trying to Bushwhack Border Patrol in Texas

Stacy McCain, Terrorism in Texas: Michigan Maniac Opens Fire on Border Facility in McAllen "As of 6 p.m. ET Monday, we know nothing about the shooter’s background or motive, but we all probably have our hunches . . . So when you take into consideration the expense of traveling 1,700 miles cross country, plus renting a hotel room for several nights, add in the cost of a rifle and ammunition, etc., this terrorist attack required a lot of resources. Where did Mosqueda get all that money? Did he have accomplices? Was he affiliated with any groups? Had he previously been involved in protests? Or was he just a “lone wolf” lunatic, radicalized in online forums? The mainstream media don’t seem to be very curious about any of this, for some reason. It’s just so mysterious . . ." Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_ "BREAKING: Three federal & TX law enforcement sources tell me an active shooter with a rifle & tactical gear ambushed Border Patrol agents as they arrived at a Border Patrol annex facility in McAllen, TX this morning. Local police and federal agents returned fire, killing him. I’m told this was a purposeful ambush/attack against federal agents and a press conference is planned for later this morning. No federal agents injured. Im told a McAllen police officer may have been shot, but is in stable condition." Paula Bolyard at PJM, Border Patrol Agents Ambushed at McAllen, Texas, ICE Detention Center. Da Caller, Active Shooter Ambushes Border Patrol Agents. Cam at Bearing Arms, Michigan Man Shot and Killed After Opening Fire at Texas Border Patrol Facility.

John Sexton hears some Democrats: Maybe We Went Too Far Left on Immigration. Ya think? At the College Fix, a Harvard professor claims ICE expansion is Trump’s ‘devilishly clever’ way of creating autocracy. Rusty Weiss at RedState thinks What Liberal Voters Are Demanding Democrats Do to Stop ICE Is Insane: ‘Not Just Unreal, but Dangerous’ "Axios on Monday published an astonishing report citing numerous Democrat members of Congress who say their voters want to see representatives literally willing to take a bullet to "protect our democracy."" I'm for it! Cabot Phillips @cabot_phillips "The desire to preserve one's culture and homeland is only xenophobic when white people are the ones expressing it." Quote DW News @dwnews ""Gringos, stop stealing our homes." Tourists were shouted at and store windows smashed during a protest against gentrification in Mexico City, where an influx of Americans and other "digital nomads" is driving up rents and pushing out locals." Sister Toldja at RedState, Federal Agents Respond Accordingly (and Massively) After Karen Bass Demands Immigration Sweeps Cease: Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_ "NEW: I just spoke to Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino @USBPChiefELC, who was the official on the phone with LA Mayor Karen Bass at MacArthur Park today. I asked him for his message to her, as she demands raids end? “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.” Matt Vespa hears Charlie Kirk Got an Interesting Call Before Trump Signed the Reconciliation Package. It Wasn't Good. The usual crowd pushing for amnesty. Gotta keep those wages down, don't you know!

The death toll in the Texas flood has now climbed to 100+. Democrats and the media, (but I redund) wasted no time in blaming Trump and DOGE. At CNN, US Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed as a hero after saving 165 kids from Texas flooding. VodkaPundit at PJM, Guess Who Lied About Trump's NWS Budget Cuts..., Grok. Of course, it just skims its data from "the media." From Reason, The Texas Floods Were a Natural Disaster, Not a Policy Disaster. "There's no evidence that cuts to the National Weather Service impacted the response to the weekend's tragic flash floods." It's inherently difficult to predict 15 inches of rain from thunderstorms in a limited area much ahead of time. Dave Strom at Hat Hair, What They Needed Was Sirens in Texas. Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal, Climate Expert Slams Democrats for Trying to ‘Exploit the Tragedy’ of Camp Mystic Flooding. Bo Snerdley @BoSnerdley "Perhaps it is time to ring the lawyers again. Perhaps ABC News needs a refresher course." Quote Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump, "George Stephanopoulos: “We’re also learning there were significant staffing shortfalls to the National Weather Services offices in the region.”" VodkaPundit at Insty, YOU CAN’T MAKE AN OMELET WITHOUT PARADING OVER THE BODIES OF A FEW DOZEN DEAD CHILDREN: End Wokeness @EndWokeness "Whoops… there goes the narrative." AP admits extra staffing at Austin office to cover the weather event. Warnings went out, and were not received or heeded. MAZE @mazemoore "This is CNN. This is Dana Bash. Two weeks after the NC flood, after it became painfully clear that the federal response was inadequate, Dana Bash was viciously defending the Biden/Harris Admin and warning about the dangers of politicizing a storm response. It's only two days after the Texas flood and Dana Bash is already trying to blame Trump for the disaster. This is CNN." George MF Washington @GMFWashington "Social media is a poison, no different than drugs or booze. Some people can handle it, but almost no one can handle it as well as they think they can." Quote Raylan Givens@JewishWarrior13, "NYP: Pediatrician fired for vile post politicizing devastating Texas floods: May Trump supporters get ‘what they voted for’" From Twitchy, Massive Loser Troll Account Comes Face-to-Face with KARMA on His FILTHY Post About Girls Lost in TX Flood. 

From his NYPo gig, Insty says Take a political time-out, Elon Musk: ‘America Party’ rant proves even your genius has its limits. From NewsMax, Musk Should Stay Out of Politics, US Treasury Secretary Bessent Says. From Twitchy, Ron DeSantis Has a Suggestion for Elon Musk That Could Have a MONUMENTAL Impact. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, " BREAKING: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis calls on Elon Musk to put his resources toward a BALANCED BUDGET and TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS amendment, says that would be FAR more successful than a new political party. "You need to do a BALANCED BUDGET amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and you can do that through the states. You can do it through Article 5. We've got 28 states that have approved this! There's another four or five that are on the docket. Once you hit 34, then you write an amendment and then the states are able to ratify that." "If @ElonMusk wanted to weigh in on that and work on those state legislatures, he would have a MONUMENTAL impact doing this." "And we also need term limits for members of Congress. So you can do both of those things." PJM's Stephen Kruiser says Mars Will Have a Tesla Dealership Before Musk Has a Viable Third Party.

Matt Vespa at TownHall notices Top Trump Officials Smacked Down All the Anti-Reconciliation Nonsense on the Sunday Talk Shows. From NewsMax, Speaker Johnson: Expect 2 More Reconciliation Bills This Congress. Buck Throckmorton at Ace's is joyous that The Big Beautiful Bill Has Just Kneecapped Green Energy and the “EV Transition.” You can have all the green energy you want, but you'll have to pay for it yourself. From Reuters, Eyeing Arctic dominance, Trump bill earmarks $8.6 billion for US Coast Guard icebreakers.

Dave Manney at PJM says Trump’s 'Take It or Leave It' Tariff Blitz Is Bigger Than Monday. At Automotive News Europe, EU-U.S. trade talks focus on tariff offset for automakers. The Peacock whines Trump threatens extra 10% tariff on countries that align with ‘Anti-American’ BRICS policies. From sundance at CTH, President Trump Posts International Tariff Announcement Letters on Truth Social, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Explains MAGA Policy Intent on Growing U.S Economy to Deal with Debt Crisis and White House Trade and Manufacturing Economy Advisor Peter Navarro Discusses the Misalignment With Fed Chair Powell.

At NewsMax, NATO Head predicts WWIII Will Begin With Joint Attacks by China and Russia. “There’s an increasing realization, and let’s not be naïve about this: If (Chinese leader) Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, (Russian President) Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory.”

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, And the 2024 Award For Worst Political Memo Goes To .... Matt Margolis at PJM, Does This Bombshell Memo Prove That Biden’s Campaign Sabotaged Him? Ace, Revealed: The Six-Page Memo That Conned Biden Into Debating Trump Early (So That the Democrat Party Could Force Him Out). At Althouse, "Former President Joe Biden’s advisers convinced the aging commander in chief to hold an early summer debate with Donald Trump last year by insisting it would allow him to reach the “widest audience possible'..." "I don't for one minute believe the advisers believed the assertions in the memo. I will be presuming that they could see he was going to be incapable of appearing competent and that they needed to push him to release his hold on the nomination, and they only wanted to do that once the primaries were over and it was too late to do anything but advance Kamala Harris. So they conned him into humiliating himself in the debate and giving the media the basis for declaring him unfit — as if they just noticed — and demanding that he withdraw. The advisers were not mistaken. They knew what they were doing. They were lying. And they were devious. Let me restate that. THEY knew what THEY were doing. THEY were lying. And THEY were devious." Bob Spencer at PJM, Here’s Kamala Harris’s Snarling Response to Inquiries About Old Joe Biden’s Condition, “this is about saving our f**king democracy.”

From NewsMax, Jewish Group Slams Mamdani for Ridiculing Hanukkah. "Mamdani shared a video on his X account last year from the Geeta Brothers Duet Group, which showed two men wearing wigs dancing behind a menorah, spinning dreidels, and celebrating with Punjabi-style music." Dancing in "jewface." John Lucas at Bravo Blue, Zohran Mamdani — An Analysis of His Video Propaganda Piece Shows That His Core Beliefs Are Communist Dogma, ‘Profits? You don’t need no stinkin’ profits.’ Driscoll at Insty, HOW IT STARTED:" “PolitiFact” declares Zohran Mamdani is not a communist in fact-check of Trump. —David Rutz, Fox News, June 30th. How it’s going:" At Hat Hair Beege Welborn, sees Everyone All Hot and Bothered About the Jihadi Running for Mayor in NYC and Capt. Ed, Behold the Power of Independent Media: NYT Rushed Mamdani Scoop to Beat Rufo. Ace laughs at the news LOL: Zohran Mamdani Claimed He Was Black on His Columbia University Application, "Someone hacked Columbia's computers to prove they were still using illegal racial discrimination practices in admissions. We don't know if they found evidence of that yet, but what they did find is that the pro-Hamas jihadi communist New Democrat Zohran Mamdani claimed in his Columbia application package that he was "Asian" and... "black."" Robby Soave at Reason, Colleges Created a Diversity Box-Ticking Game—Zohran Mamdani Just Played It. "The big problem here is the elite racism of college admissions departments, not the mayoral candidate's creative box-checking." Althouse, "Race in America is often presented in two buckets: White and non-White. This is an update to the buckets..." ""... that existed for much of American history — White and Black — reflecting how the end of immigration restrictions in the 1960s allowed more Asian and Hispanic and Middle Eastern and you-name-it people to come to the U.S. But there are still two buckets, buckets into which people with mixed racial backgrounds jump (or are dropped) depending on circumstance." Explains Philip Bump, in "The useful political lesson from Zohran Mamdani’s college application/America’s understanding of race and ethnicity is still woefully simplistic" (WaPo)." Derek Hunter at Front Page, says Help New York City Kill Itself "A big dose of their own medicine is exactly what the doctor ordered." At NYPo, Why the future of NY under a ‘Mayor Mamdani’ has already arrived. From RCP, Could Dems Be Opening the Door for GOP in California’s Most Progressive Cities?

VodkaPundit at Insty, THE TRUTH HURTS, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS GETTING SHOT BY A BERNIE BRO <-

Hat Hair's John Sexton outraged that a Federal Judge Blocks BBB from Cutting Off Planned Parenthood's Funding. Bonchie at RedState, New: Judge Stops Congress From Defunding Planned Parenthood, Outrage and Confusion Follow. This is not a judge enjoining an executive order, this is a judge reversing an act of Congress, for apparently no reason other than she thinks PP needs money.

Capt. Ed has a FBI Surprise: Epstein Took His 'Client List' With Him. Sundance is blistering, Karoline Leavitt Announces DOJ/FBI Memo Authentic – “No Clients” for Jeffrey Epstein Sex Trafficking and Exhaustive FBI Investigation Says Jeffrey Epstein Acted Alone, 1,000+ Victims But No Clients, and No Sexploitation Purpose Apart from Self Gratification. Needless to say, there is some skepticism on the right. Connor Boyack @cboyack "Feb 21, 2025: Bondi says Epstein files are on her desk, under review per Trump’s directive. Feb 26: Announces files, including flight logs and names, to be released Feb 27, cites victim privacy for delays. Feb 27: Releases "Phase 1" files (200+ pages, mostly public), hands binders to influencers, accuses FBI of withholding thousands of documents. Feb 28: Demands FBI deliver all Epstein files by 8 AM, orders probe into withheld documents. Mar 2: Claims FBI misled her, says she now has thousands of pages under review, official who withheld docs fired. Mar 14: Says she received a “truckload” of unreleased documents, no release timeline given. Apr 28: Covertly recorded saying FBI reviews “tens of thousands” of Epstein videos with children. May 7: Publicly states FBI is reviewing “tens of thousands” of videos, denies files are missing, cites victim protection. And now Jul 6: Nothing to see here, no victims, no client list…"

Miranda Devine@mirandadevine "Fox hit is up! @SundayFutures with @jasoninthehouse this morning talking about how Brennan Comey and Clapper have been exposed as corrupt political hacks in a new official report by CIA career professionals. The new evidence reveals that at least one of them has opened himself up to perjury allegations." Quote Karli Bonne @KarluskaP, "When are we going to see people held accountable!!! @mirandadevine reports." Ace reports Trump May Prosecute Disgraced Ex-Communist CIA Head John Brennan for Perjury, "Matt Taibbi on the central role John Brennan played in legitimizing Hillary Clinton's completely fake oppo research "dossier" into a product of official US intelligence:" At the Free Bacon, Comey Don't Play That: Former FBI Goon Writes Crime Novel About Saving the World from MAGA 'Mouth Breathers'.

VodkaPundit at Insty, MORE LIKE THIS, PLEASE: Harmeet Dhillon: Civil rights being rebuilt after ‘cultural shift’ under Trump. "The Justice Department‘s Civil Rights Division is undergoing a complete internal transformation under President Donald Trump’s second term — not just of enforcement strategy but of personnel, institutional practices, and long-held assumptions about how federal civil rights laws should be applied. “When my memos went out, that culture changed,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the division, told the Washington Examiner in an exclusive interview. “There’s literally been lawyers there who spent their entire careers — over 40 years — doing the same thing, no matter who the president is.”" . . . Say what you will about the corrupt old patronage system, but at least it cleaned house every four or eight years." The Business Insider whines Some federal lawyers want to leave. They can't find jobs because Trump's policies are closing typical exit paths.

Auron MacIntyre @AuronMacintyre "Treason This is called treason." Quote Bradley Jaye @bradleyajaye "Fired USAID bureaucrats warn Trump of coming regime change." Ace, Report: Fired USAID and Deep State Operatives Are Planning to Use Their Regime Change/Color Revolution Skills Against Trump, "Pretty sure this is treason." Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog is Uncovering the Soros/Singham NGO Soldiers: Nate Friedman @NateFriedman97 "Another paid protestor tries to stop my interview and then I expose him and the people he works for. The people's forum and Singham want to destroy America from within... WATCH."

Sundance reports TSA Drops Shoe Removal Screening for Airline Passengers.

Ace laughs as CBS "News" Fears Mass Layoffs Under New Skydance Ownership "Won't someone think of the journalists!" At Fox, Karol Markowicz hears Trump cuts millions in taxpayer funding for pushing COVID ‘cover-up’ "Springer Nature faced criticism for thousands of retractions and allegedly censoring content to appease Chinese government." NewsBusters listened to a Totally Tilted NPR Hour on Defunding, ONE Caller Says It's 'Terrible, Partisan, Hacky'. 

Atop Da Hill The New York Times wants your private ChatGPT history — even the parts you’ve deleted, and a judge is going along with them. "As it stands now, billions of user chats will be preserved as evidence in The New York Times’s copyright lawsuit against OpenAI."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Wait Until Next Year up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.