Flotsam and Jetsam - China Offers to Take "Nuclear Dust"

Not a lot of new survived the Memorial Day weekend, thankfully. Hat Hair's Capt. Ed reports from China: We'd Be Happy to Facilitate Transfer of Iran's Uranium, Thanks For Asking. It could work, they have enough of their own, but can we trust them? Sundance reports  on President Trump Updates on Current Status of Negotiations With Iran and Desire to Bring all Nations into the Abraham Accords. Good luck with that. At Althouse, "It will be a Document respected like no other that has ever been signed, anywhere in the World. Its level of Importance and Prestige will be unparalleled!" "Writes Trump, just now on Truth Social. He's "mandatorily requesting."" AG @AGHamilton29, "I hope people understand what’s happening because it’s been the same story over and over again. The Islamic Republic and their allies leak their preferred details as if they are agreed to western sources. Then when U.S. refuses to agree to those absurd terms and insists we stick to the deal that had already been under discussion, they claim the U.S. is backing out of the deal. Then they blame America or Israeli influence for the lack of a deal instead of The Islamic Republic making unreasonable demands for a settlement after they lost the military fight and are facing an economic crisis. We saw the same thing with Gaza repeatedly." Quote Iran International English @IranIntl_En, "US President Donald Trump is backing away from the deal with Iran, likely under extreme internal pressure, an Al Jazeera reporter said on X citing two sources." Breitbart reports U.S. Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran Hitting Missile Sites, Minelaying Vessels, just a reminder.

Sundance has a reminder President Trump Reminds Texas to Vote for Ken Paxton in Tomorrow Senate Republican Primary. He's not shy about expressing his druthers.  At Victory Girls, John Cornyn V. Ken Paxton – Today Is The Runoff. The Drunk Republican @DrunkRepub, "For the record I liked Massie for years. Tucker and others too. But my common sense forces me to be wary of those attempting to sabotage the mandate Trump was given in ‘24. Jumping ship at the very moment real change was possible stinks. Sorry, it just does."

At Althouse, "On Saturday night, May 23rd, a shooter once again sought to murder the President, his family, and his staff at the historic White House complex." ""We submit this urgent filing to update the Court on a second attempted assassination on the President within a single month. Last night, shortly after 6:00 p.m., an armed assassin approached a White House security checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, professionally pulled a high caliber gun from a bag, and opened fire in the exact direction of the White House. Brave Secret Service officers returned fire. The gunman was killed...."  From the Notice of Supplemental Authority in Support of the Government’s Motion for an Indicative Ruling Dissolving the Court’s Injunction, filed yesterday in National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service, the case about the White House ballroom, posted by Trump at Truth Social this morning."

Beege Welborn at Hat Hair is outraged DNC's Memorial Day Honored Only American Military Members Trump Got Killed, deleted after being called on it. Also honored, George Floyd. Twitchy, F**k Right OFF': Joey Jones Tears Jacob Frey a NEW ONE for Using Memorial Day to Celebrate George Floyd, well, he was a Democrat casualty. 

Nick Ballasy at JTN reports Alberta will vote in the fall on whether to start legal process for separating from Canada. "The proposed question would ask: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”" Ward Clark at RedState, Oil-Rich Alberta Now Preparing Vote on Leaving Canada.

Stacy McCain says of the Congo: ‘The Horror! The Horror!’ "Joseph Conrad famously used the Belgian Congo as the scene for Heart of Darkness, with the madman Kurtz dying of fever, his final words being: “The horror! The horror!” The situation has not much improved lately, as the State Department warns: “Do not travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to crime, civil unrest, and health. Some areas have increased risk due to armed conflict.” And then there’s the deadly ebola outbreak:"

Ian Miller @ianmSC, "They are absolutely furious that Spencer Pratt is demonstrating to millions of people the complete failure of progressive politics" Quote Stephen Rodrick @stephenrodrick, "I wrote this one...@RollingStone "Spencer Pratt is a quintessential American. His entire life has been fueled by an unfathomable level of self-confidence, despite a data set that suggests he may not be good at anything." But it's hard to argue he could be worse that Bass. Bob Hoge at RedState is Sleepless in Seattle: Residents Forced to Take Crimefighting Into Their Own Hands As Police Do Nothing. Cam at BA, New Orleans Carjackings Involved Teens on Electronic Monitoring. Blue cities. 

M.A. Rothman @MichaelARothman, "𝐎’𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒 — 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝟗𝟎 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 Kevin O'Leary isn't taking the organized blitz against American energy and data-center projects lying down. After what he calls coordinated false attacks on his Utah data-center project, O'Leary says he brought in a data-science team to trace where the opposition content was coming from. His claim: it leads back to organized networks, activist groups, and funding trails — documented, he says, in IRS 990 filings and global IP data. He says he handed 𝟗𝟎 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 to federal law enforcement and raised it with the White House. “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥”, he wrote. His specific allegations are his own and still have to be proven out. But the backdrop isn't in dispute: there's a real, well-organized national campaign against data centers and energy buildout — by one tally, more than $𝟔𝟎 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 in projects stalled by coordinated opposition across dozens of states. The question he's forcing into the open is the right one: who's funding the outrage, and why? 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 — 𝐎’𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐝𝐬’ 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧." George Soros and China.

TownHall's Matt Vespa thinks he knows What Tulsi Gabbard Will Disclose Before She Leaves Her Post. I hope so. Sarah Anderson at PJM, sees Tulsi Gabbard and Others Go Above and Beyond for a Gold Star Widow SharrellAnne@SharrellAnne2, "This is probably a long shot, but if anybody happens to be in DC this weekend and plans on visiting Arlington, I would love to see a fresh photo of my husband’s grave in Section 60. SSG Alan W. Shaw Section 60, Grave 8451 B Co 1/12 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division November 10, 1975 ..." Tulsi Gabbard @TulsiGabbard, "It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects. It was wonderful to see the beautiful flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones they left behind. Thank you for your service and sacrifice."

At Althouse, "The Trump administration’s $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund could be a boon for GOP senators targeted by a Biden-era investigation..." "... but some say they still do not want the taxpayer payout. Settlements for those the Justice Department deems were victims of 'lawfare and weaponization' under past administrations is the latest attempt to provide financial compensation to Republican senators whose phone records were tapped in the 'Arctic Frost' investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election...." The Washington Examiner reports."

Ryan King at NYPo reports Hasan Piker looks shaken on stream as feds probe Cuba trip — and Jasmine Crockett won’t stop gloating. "The subpoenas for communications and other relevant documents came in response to an online rumor that Piker and his comrades stayed at a US-sanctioned hotel in Havana. Participants in the trip have denied that rumor."

Sister Toldja at RedState notes a Reporter's Attempt to Get Medal of Honor Recipients to Bash America Doesn't Go According to Plan. Matt Vespa hears CBS News Host Tried Goading Two Medal of Honor Recipients Into Bashing America. Here's What Happened. Hat Hair cites NBC,  MOH: A Conversation With Lt. Colonel William Swenson.

Da College Fix, Cornell academics, activists remain irked by car incident involving university president. I'm irked they weren't expelled. 

M.A. Rothman @MichaelARothman, "𝐈𝐍 𝐀 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍, 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐈’𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇 Rabbi Nechemia Schusterman of Peabody, Massachusetts, wrote something this week that every American should sit with. Over the past few weeks, his family has been targeted again and again by strangers in passing cars. His brother-in-law, walking to synagogue, had “Heil Hitler” screamed at him...." Robby Starbuck @robbystarbuck, "That boy who didn’t kneel is more valuable than 10,000 who do kneel. Boys like him became men who made the modern world. Never kneel." Quote David J Harris Jr @DavidJHarrisJr, "BREAKING: A teacher brought her students on a school field trip to a mosque, where an imam taught the children about Islam, demonstrated how to wear burqas on the girls, and instructed the group to kneel for prayer. Only one young boy refused to kneel."

WomenAreReal @WomenAreReals, "Summary: For over two years, a man lingered naked in the women’s locker room at the Stonestown YMCA for hours at a time, up to six days a week, in front of women and young children. When women asked him to cover up, he became belligerent. Women tried everything: multiple meetings with management, a petition signed by more than 100 gym members, protests, and police reports. ... The YMCA responded by policing women." Quote Daily Mail @DailyMail, "YMCA in liberal city finally cracks down with new rules after trans woman exposed pre-op privates in female locker room https://trib.al/XIVNFti."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Technical Difficulties up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Iran Deal? Not So Fast!

News Wax, Trump: No Rush as Details Emerge of Potential Iran Deal. As always Althouse reaches for the NYT perspective, "The United States and Iran have agreed in principle to a deal that would wind down the war in the Middle East by reopening the Strait of Hormuz and by committing Iran...", ""... to dispose of its highly enriched uranium, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Sunday.... News of a possible deal came after a roller-coaster few weeks, with Mr. Trump at times threatening to restart attacks on Iran, and at others saying there was progress in last-ditch negotiations to stave off a return to full-scale war — all while offering few details. Then, on Saturday, the president announced on social media that the two countries had 'largely negotiated' a memorandum of understanding 'pertaining to PEACE.' On Sunday, however, he said he had ordered his negotiators 'not to rush into a deal.'..." The NYT reports." Hat Hair's Capt. Ed reads Axios: Iran Agreed to Discuss Surrendering Its Uranium Stocks; UPDATE: Trump Responds. "This may not be the Bridge and Power Day outcome that hawks had hoped to see. If this is accurate and it holds, it's not TACO Tuesday either. It leaves Trump with all of his options in place while keeping pressure on the regime to comply with the biggest and most dangerous threat it poses – the development of nuclear weapons. That is the true existential threat to Israel, not to mention other Gulf states that are now aligning with Israel and the US, and it would head off a nuclear arms race in one of the most unstable regions of the world." Sundance at CTH, President Trump Notes the Outlines of a Negotiated Deal with Iran – Some Details Emerge. Ward Clark at RedState says Carrot, Meet Stick: New US-Iran Deal Lifts Sanctions, Troops Stay 30 Days. Breccan Thies at Da Fed, White House: Iran Gets Nothing Unless It Gets Rid Of Its Nuclear Stockpile. Roger Kimball at Am Great, Out on a Limb, but Unmoved: Trump Will Finish the Job in Iran. "Trump may delay, Congress may posture, and Iran may stall—but the endgame remains the same: finish the job or repeat the failures of Obama and Biden." At PJM Cathy Salgado cites Netanyahu: Trump Agreed Iran Deal Will Not Stop Israel Defending Its Borders and Dave Manney cites Scott Jennings Explaining Trump’s Patient Iran Strategy: Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "After receiving a briefing from a Senior TRUMP Administration Official on the status of the Iran negotiations (someone in the know & not just speculating), I can tell you the following: -USA IS NOT GIVING IRANIANS MONEY FOR NOTHING. All speculation and propaganda to the contrary is false. Some hardline elements of Iran’s govt (IRGC) have pushed fake stories & propaganda to try to kill this negotiation. -Iran deal is NOT done (95%, but still haggling over some language). No deal being signed today. May be a few more days before this is done. -Iran will NOT get any money or sanctions relief up front. -Iran must turn over nuclear stockpile to get anything. USA position is that failure to meet deal commitments means Iran gets nothing. -Long term USA objective is preventing Iran from having nuclear weapon. -Initial deal point is to re-establish free flow of commerce by reopening Strait of Hormuz. Deal should have 2 phases: Step 1 - Open Strait of Hormuz. Give world economy breathing room. Iran agrees to give up enriched uranium. Step 2 - Get the nuclear material turned over. Only then can Iran get sanctions relief. Bottom line: goal is to make a deal that lowers costs for Americans, calms world energy markets, and guarantees that Iranians cannot have a nuclear weapon over the long term. We aren’t there yet. Iran takes forever to get you a response on even small things. But we are close although it still could be a few days..." Driscoll at Insty, PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS: MAZE @mazemoore, "The adversarial media in all of its glory. Margaret Brennan apparently didn't remember what she said eight months earlier." Selective amnesia is an important journolistic tool. Joe Chalfant at TownHall likes how Marco Rubio Just Torched the Panicans Crying Over the Iran Peace Deal. 

At RCW, Why Constitutional Monarchy Is Gaining Support in Iran. Well, if that's what they really want, so be it, but I'm concerned that a 3d generation monarch may suffer too much from "regression to the mean."

Matt Boose at the Chronic, The GOP Is Better Off Without Massie. Scott McKay at Am Spec expound on Grifters, Activism, and Thomas Massie. "Massie did this to himself." At some point libertarianism becomes a vice unsupported by reality. One of sundance's Sunday Talks – Defeated Thomas Massie Promises to Keep Shouting at Trees Until MAGA is Defeated. At Twitchy, WATCH: Shabbos Kestenbaum Humiliates Ana Kasparian On Air — She Blocks Him Immediately After. Shabbos Kestenbaum @ShabbosK, "Great debunking Anna Kasparian's deranged conspiracies straight to her face. She's now blocked me on X. Thomas Massie took money from billionaires, Iranians, and PACs while implying Trump was a pedophile. As usual, she had no response other than to yell, interrupt, and insult." Josh Hammer at Hat Hair, King Trump and the Looming MAGA Challenge. 

Joe Chalfant at  TownHall thinks The RNC Just Scored a Major Election Security Victory in North Carolina . Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "BREAKING: North Carolina State Board of Elections has found over 34,000 DECEASED people on their voter roles. But Democrats told me this is a conspiracy and never happens?!"

At Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog, Please Reset The “Days Since Last Trump Assassination Attempt” Sign Back To Zero.

From Fox, US Army hits 2026 recruiting goals four months early, Pete Hegseth announces at West Point commencement. "War Secretary Pete Hegseth touted the removal of DEI in the US military, saying 'you can't throw your pronouns at the enemy'" Da Caller hears European Officials Warn Trump Against Leaving NATO As US Weighs Its Own Priorities. I don't want the US to leave NATO, but I think the whole concept of NATO needs to be reevaluated.

At the Chronic, Warsh Tasked To Make Fed Sterling Again, with a little too much info on what "sterling" is. 

NYPo, Outrage as Jimmy Kimmel’s sister-in-law accused of threatening LA bakery over ‘Vote Pratt’ cookies. Right Angle News Network @Rightanglenews, "Spencer Pratt has launched a campaign where filthy Los Angeles streets are power washed using a stencil reading “imagine if the streets were this clean.” Imagine letting the streets get so dirty under your leadership that your opponent can use them as a billboard." Bonchie @bonchieredstate, "It’s like you guys learned absolutely nothing from Trump’s rise. Want Spencer Pratt to not be a serious candidate? Don’t turn significant parts of your city into a zombie horror show covered in trash and feces while sipping cocktails in Ghana as peoples’ houses burn down." Quote Jemele Hill @jemelehill "Spencer Pratt being considered a serious political candidate says more about us than it does about him. x.com/mouvement33/st…" Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes, "It’s very clear Los Angeles wants Spencer Pratt as their next mayor Spencer is greeting with big smiles and dancing in South LA South LA is a big area with over 800,000+ people 67% are Mexican 24% are Black Only 3.4% are White Even with this Demographic they welcome Spencer!" I still doubt Pratt can win, if only because the Democrat machine will pull out all the stops to stop him, including having the "homeless" vote. 

From Fox, California mayors revolt over Newsom bullet train plan they warn could ‘raid’ local tax bases. "The project was approved in 2008 with a $33B price tag before ballooning to an expected $126B in costs this year." Leslie Eastman at LI, Chevron Launches New Sign Campaign Targeting Sacramento as California Gas Prices Hit New Highs. Mike LaChance at Gateway Pundit sees Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer Does Campaign Stop in Rough Part of LA – Gets Violent Threats, Man Pulls Knife on Staffer (VIDEO). New York Post @nypost, "California congressional candidate refuses to say Pledge of Allegiance, turns back on US flag https://trib.al/0DVZTBp" Joe Chalfant at TownHall, Wait, This Democrat Candidate Refuses To Say the Pledge? May "Vang, who is running in California’s Seventh District and currently resides on the Sacramento City Council, has been seen refusing to place her hand over her heart during the pledge and has turned her back to the American flag on numerous occasions while attending council meetings." How about the Chinese flag?

Rusty Weiss at RedState likes how Portnoy Absolutely Wrecks Platner’s Campaign After They Asked Him to Play Footsy With Nazi-Tattooed Dem "Now this is the Nazi guy, right?" he replied. "Yeah, I'd be happy to talk to him about that tattoo and him (being) a Nazi. I'm not as interested in his baseball takes. Let me know when we can set up some time." At Twitchy, Bernie Sanders Proves Dave Portnoy Right — Stumps for Maine’s Nazi Sympathizer. The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Platner Smooths Things Over With Democrats By Covering Nazi Tattoo With Hammer & Sickle https://buff.ly/EyWtYGi"

Jonathan Turley is astonished that House Democrats Unanimously Vote Down Women’s History Museum Over Limit to Biological Women. MatrixMysteries @MatrixMysteries, "“White milk in schools is undoubtedly White supremacy.” She says RFK Jr wanting regular Milk in schools is 'racist'. This is the Democrat Party."

Tim O'Brien at PJM, Candace Owens Interviews Hunter Biden, and It’s the Train Wreck You Thought It Would Be.

Stacy McCain wonders Why Would Two Jew-Hating Teenage Incels Shoot Up a Mosque in San Diego? "Well, what else do we expect of murderous weirdos, huh? If what you’re looking for is logic and rationality, homicidal adolescents probably aren’t the first place you’d look." At Shooting News Week, Why Did the San Diego Mosque Shooting Story Disappear So Quickly? They Hated Everyone. Flopping Aces @FloppingAces, "Man, you could practically hear the collective groan in every newsroom across America. For about 12 glorious hours, the San Diego mosque shooting was absolute catnip for cable news. Two teenage white boys attack a mosque, three innocent people dead ... the “right-wing domestic terrorism” script wrote itself. Chyrons blazing, panels booked, every anti-MAGA hack already sharpening their knives. Then the manifesto dropped. And everything went dead quiet. Turns out Cain Clark and Caleb Vazquez weren’t exactly card-carrying conservatives. These two pathetic Jew-obsessed incel weirdos titled their murder diary “Sons of Tarrant” and filled it with deranged pages of “IT’S THE JEWS” on endless repeat. They weren’t right-wing, weren’t MAGA, weren’t Trump fans ... nah, they proudly called themselves Third Positionists who worshipped Nationalist Socialism and Eco Fascism..."

Sundance explains The Intelligence System and Why Tulsi Gabbard Was Essentially the First DNI. "Throughout 2024 you may even remember CTH outlining how the DNI position had power that was never fully understood, because it was never activated. All of the IC silos fall under the ODNI, yet none of the prior Directors used the power of this office. CTH made the case of the DNI position being a great possibility for change. The DNI can reach into any IC sub-silo, extract any intelligence product, review it and declassify it with the support of the President. That’s exactly what Tulsi Gabbard started doing."

At Twitchy, 'SICK of It': Taxpayer Confronting Local Gov for Putting Illegals First Will Take Your Breath Away (Vid).

Joe Chalfant sees The Trump Administration Just Handed This Commie a Subpoena. Insider Wire @InsiderWire, "#BREAKING: Hasan Piker and leftist extremist group Codepink cofounder Medea Benjamin subpoenaed by federal officials over probe into support for Cuban regime." Lots of people support the Cuban regime, that's free speech (unless they send guns or money), but his incitement to murder conservatives is iffy. Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "And he's being a whiny bitch about it, which is precious, after all that murder enthusiasm." Quote Kaguya’s Top Gal @hayasaka_aryan, ">Be Hasan >Promote the jailing and murder of right wingers for years >Get subpoenaed for being performative Justice is so delicious x.com/foxnews/status…"

Stacy McCain looks at ‘Crash Out Kylie’: How a Queer Feminist Became Famous (Not in a Good Way). "She got embarrassed in front of an audience of millions, and it completely freaked her out. She had an episode of Bell’s palsy — partial paralysis of her facial muscles, almost certainly a stress response — and threatened a lawsuit against the “Whatever” podcast. That’s how she became notorious as “Crash Out Kylie,” and she’s been living with that notoriety ever since." Cernovich @Cernovich, "IBM’s CEO created hiring policies to fire white men, and keep them from being promoted. This disgusting bigot will never been condemned by Tech and VC’s on this site." Johannes M. Koenraadt @johannesmkx, "I always said diversity & LGBT are a Chinese psyop meant to weaken the West from within. It was McKinsey that pushed the myth of diversity being a strength. New research says: NOPE, IT'S BAD. "Studies increasingly link diversity quotas to weaker performance, lower morale, and operational decline.""

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Technical Difficulties up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Memorial Day Debris

President Trump issues a Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2025. Sundance hosts President Trump's Impromptu Presser from Morristown, New Jersey. "On the Russia -vs- Ukraine conflict President Trump says he doesn’t like what Vladimir Putin is doing with continued missile attacks against Ukraine and will be sharing more information shortly."  And Zelenskyy Blames U.S. Silence for Increased Russian Attacks. 'Becca Lower at RedState hears SecDef Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Put Press Corps on a Short Leash After Epidemic of Leaks.

At Hat Hair, SNC: This Week on Capitol Hill Celebrates One Big Beautiful Bill - 5-24-25 (Video). Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh "UPDATE: Elon Musk has now confirmed that he is disappointed in Congressional Republicans not implementing DOGE cuts. Sad but predictable. Elon now says the most viable path out of a debt spiral is accelerating GDP growth. "Only radical improvements in productivity can save our country." Stephen Miller @StephenM "I’ve seen a few claims making the rounds on the Big Beautiful Bill that require correction. The first is that it doesn’t “codify the DOGE cuts.” A reconciliation bill, which is a budget bill that passes with 50 votes, is limited by senate rules to “mandatory” spending only — eg Medicaid and Food Stamps. The senate rules prevent it from cutting “discretionary” spending — eg the Department of Education or federal grants. The DOGE cuts are overwhelmingly discretionary, not mandatory. The bill saves more than 1.6 TRILLION in mandatory spending, including the largest-ever welfare reform. A remarkable achievement. I’ve also seen claims the bill increases the deficit. This lie is based on a CBO accounting gimmick. . . "    Nick Ballasy at JTN, House Speaker Mike Johnson warns Senate not to 'meddle' too much with House-passed megabill. ""I have a very delicate balance here, very delicate equilibrium that we’ve reached over a long period of time," he says." From NewsMax, House GOP Warns Senate: Don't Weaken Trump Agenda, Dick Morris: Big, Beautiful Bill Will Mean 'Clear Sailing' for 2026 and Gingrich Urges GOP Senate to Pass Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' At Da Caller, Ron Johnson Predicts GOP Senators Will Put Up Roadblock To ‘Stop The Process’ On Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ Sundance, Senator Rand Paul Announces He is a “No Vote” on House Version of Big Beautiful Tax Cut Bill. I admire his consistency, but he lets the perfect be the enemy of the good. At Da Lid Francis Menton looks at The "Big Beautiful Bill" -- Climate And Energy Provisions. "Somewhat to my surprise, the BBB as passed by the House appears to repeal and rescind essentially all of the green energy handouts from the IRA." Driscoll at Insty reads AMERICA’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD: "Announcement: The Babylon Bee Is Now A Full-Service Restaurant And All Our Writers Are Compensated Entirely With Tips. "ANNOUNCEMENT: The Babylon Bee is no longer a satire website. After months of strategy meetings and lots of thinking really hard, we have decided to pivot to becoming a full-service restaurant empire. In light of this change, all our writers and other staffers will now be known as “waiters,” “busboys,” and “food-making guys,” and will be compensated entirely in “tips.” This compensation plan, created without any kind of intent to avoid income taxes or otherwise skirt federal tax laws, is ultimately the best compensation structure for our employees. After lengthy discussion with our staffers, they expressed their desire to be compensated with tips rather than salaries or hourly wages, citing factors like being better motivated by tips and a sense of satisfaction when a customer tips them."

Atop Da Hill, Trump extends trade deal deadline for EU after ‘good call’ with commission leader. Ward Clark at RedState says Relax, People. Paul Krugman Is Predicting a Disastrous Recession. At the Rod Martin Report Trump's Golden Dome, and Why the 1967 Outer Space Treaty Is No Obstacle to It. "The Outer Space Treaty is outdated and has greatly limited human development of space. But it's no impediment to Donald Trump's missile shield, no matter who claims otherwise." TownHall's Matt Vespa says Sorry, Dems, Wisconsin Swing Voters Are Sticking With Trump.

USA Today, Dems are mad about Biden book. Jake Tapper must be a deep undercover MAGA agent. Twitchy, NOW It Can Be Told! Apparently These People Were Part of a WH 'Politburo' During the Biden Years. From Da Caller, Biden Aide Admits Staff Did ‘Undemocratic Things’ Because Trump Was ‘Existential Threat To Democracy.’ PJM's Matt Margolis hears a Neuroscientist Accidentally Reveals Democrats' Dark Strategy Behind Biden's Mental Health Cover-Up. “I would rather have a president in a coma, where the duties of the presidency are executed by a committee of just normal people,” he said. “And that’s the choice that many of us believe was before us.” NYPo, Ex-Obama aide admits he didn’t mention Biden’s decline because he ‘wanted him to f—king win.’ LifeZette reports Biden Doctor, Staffers Subpoenaed as His Health Cover-Up Scandal Grows. Sarah Arnold at Townhall, Atlantic’s Goldberg Defends Media’s Silence on Biden’s Decline. John Kass, Confused, Starving Reporters Now Desperate for Food After Killing American Journalism. Stephen Moore at Hat Hair makes a connection, Biden Forgives Student Loans and ... Behold, Defaults Skyrocket.

Matt Vespa, The Democrats Are in Such a State of Disaster, Even the NYT Can't Spin It," NYT Piece Confirms That the Trump Era Is Here and It’s Unstoppable...But There's a Catch," and If That's What Dems Are Spending Money on, Donald Trump Has Truly Destroyed Them. Nick Arama at RedState says Hoo Boy: New Effort by Dems to Figure Out Why They're Losing Is Hilariously Clueless. John Hasson @SonofHas "Dems: “Working out is right wing” “Liking hot girls is right wing” “Eating red meat is right wing” Dems today: “We need $20 million to understand why young men hate us”" David Burge@iowahawkblog "I used to satire the left's doomed anthropological safaris into the heart of darkest flyover country, but now satirizing it has become impossible."

From OTP, Another Poll Shows AOC Leading Schumer In Potential NY Democrat Senate Primary. Is there any way they can both lose?

LifeZette, $4.7 Trillion Vanished? Treasury Busted for Years of Untracked Payments. Just the way politicians like it. At ET, What to Know About Trump’s Battle With Watchdog Agency Over Federal Spending. "The president can decline to spend money appropriated by Congress, with restrictions. Trump wants to reduce or clear away those restrictions."

Beth Brelje at at Da Fed reports Judge Says Tariffs Are Authorized By Emergency Powers Act In Win For Trump. They must have picked the wrong judge. Balmer Sun, Maryland court bars Trump admin from deportating habeas seekers. Atop Da Hill, Jonathan Turley opines The justices must at long last deal with ‘chronic injunctivitis’. 

Sarah Arnold hears James Comer Urges Pam Bondi to Prosecute Biden Family "urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute what he claims is blatant dishonesty by former President Joe Biden’s brother, James Biden. Comer argued that James misled Congress about Joe Biden’s involvement in the family’s overseas business ventures and claims that other witnesses and evidence contradict." At NewsMax, Could Comey's Free Speech Defense Be 86'd?

Sundance hosts Sunday Talks – Matt Gaetz Interviews Ed Martin on Current Status of Weaponization Review. Tom Knighton at TAW says Everyone is a violent extremist now. "Did you know that you were probably a violent extremist? Don’t feel bad. I was, too. In fact, anyone who took issue with COVID protocols probably got that label, according to some new information recently declassified."

'Becca Downs, WaPo Finally Takes Down Post About 'Where Jews Belong,' but Why Was It Up in the First Place?

Leslie Eastman at LI, Northeastern U. Student Demands Tuition Refund After Catching Professor Using ChatGPT. "Northeastern ultimately decided to reject Ella Stapleton’s claim." From Da Mail, Brazilian tribe sues for £113million after claims they became addicted to porn after Elon Musk's Starlink system gave them access to high-speed internet. And I'm sure they came up with the idea on their own.

Stacy McCain has a flashback in Blast From the Blogging Past: Saint Pancake and the Anti-Israel Cause. Nick Ballasy reports Trump says Harvard should reveal names and home countries of its international students. ""We want those names and countries. Harvard has $52,000,000, use it, and stop asking for the Federal Government to continue GRANTING money to you!" Trump wrote." 

Hollywood in Toto sees Variety Admits to Hollywood Blacklist 2.0, Doesn’t Care "Zachary Levi's Trump embrace treated as legitimate cause for cancellation." At Breitbart, Our Last Movie Star, Tom Cruise, Refuses to Answer Reporter’s Trump Question, “I watched this film and I saw that it was filmed in many different locations around the world, including Africa,” said the reporter through the interpreter/moderator. “Of course, we all are aware of the tariffs that President Donald Trump has been imposing on overseas productions and films. So, is this particular movie under that tariff? And how much of the film was shot overseas?”

Andy Ngo@MrAndyNgo "@MayorofSeattle Bruce Harrell has released a statement written by @jamiehousen, his director of communication, condemning the Christians for holding a worship event at a public park in the city. The event was violently attacked by Antifa and Trantifa. The mayor says he is directing an investigation into how the Christians were given the approval to worship at the park. He suggests they should have been banned from that location." Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal is outraged when the Southern Poverty Law Center Puts Largest Conservative Grassroots Youth Group on ‘Hate Map’ With Klan Chapters.

Zachary “Liaa” Rose won the GIRLS’ high jump at the Portland Interscholastic League Championships yesterday.

Virtually always the same outcome:
- A mediocre boy in girls’ sports, not vice versa.
- The narcissistic boy smiles atop the podium.
- Blue states continue to… pic.twitter.com/izvr1USxrq

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 24, 2025

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: The Agony of Defeat ready on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Trial Resumes

From Breitbart, Stage Set for Closing Arguments, Deliberations in Trump Trial. Matt Margolis explains   Why a Hung Jury Is Likely in the Trump Case. At least one honest person on the jury? Jonathan Turley on Bragg and the Jackson Pollock School of Prosecution: Why the Trump Trial Could End With a Hung Jury.  Capt. Ed at Hat Hair adds "I've been predicting the same thing for the past week, on the basis of Cohen's testimony. Todd Blanche demolished the core of the prosecution case in last Monday's cross-examination by forcing Cohen to admit to doing substantial amounts of legal work for Trump and his family under the retainer agreement -- far more than he did for other corporate clients paying him more per month, in fact. If those really were retainer payments, then no records got falsified, let alone by Trump, whom prosecutors never tied to the actual entering of those ledger notations. This case shouldn't even go to a jury on that basis alone. But if Merchan allows the jury to get it, expect Blanche to hammer that point home. And I'd bet at least a few jurors got enough of a whiff of Cohen's stench to be open to the argument, too." Althouse catches Jon Swan and Maggie Habberman at the NYP whining "If the past is any guide, even with a full acquittal, Mr. Trump will be angry and vengeful, and will direct attacks...", and he should be. At Doug Ross, VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: Will Biden Take Us Down With Him? "When these ritual trials are over, the country won’t revert to square one. But instead, Americans will be permanently distrustful of their courts. In cynical fashion, they will never again quite believe the once American hallowed idea of blind justice and equality under the law. And we will forever remember who did all this to the country."

Breitbart reports some Memorial Day Polling: Trump Eviscerates Biden’s Lead in National Surveys. Bonchie at RedState hears Democrats Are Having a Panic Attack Over Joe Biden's Electoral Prospects 'Full-Blown Freakout,'   Biden Has a ‘Jeb Bush’ Moment While Giving West Point Commencement Speech "It appears the entire West Point Biden experience was a compendium of elements from the list of the Sixth Stage of Alzheimer’s/Dementia."

Reagan Deese at Da Caller reports Biden Pays Visit To Daughter-In-Law Ahead Of Expected Testimony In Hunter’s Gun Trial. Matt Margolis at PJM wonders Umm... Did Joe Biden Just Commit Another Crime To Protect Hunter? Witness tampering. 

Hat Hair's KT reminds us Memorial Day Cookouts Cost 10% More This Year Than Last Year. Thanks, Brandon! At mrcTV, Two-Thirds of Americans Say They're ‘Shocked’ by High Cost of Fast Food. Steve Guest@SteveGuest "WATCH: CBS’s Margaret Brennan laughs in Pete Buttigieg’s face when he is unable to explain why only 7 or 8 electric vehicle charging stations have been built despite the Biden admin spending $7.5 BILLION to build chargers." At WUWT, Biden Goes All-In With War on Coal. PJM's VodkaPundit begs Dear Joe Biden: Get the Hell Out of SpaceX's Way. From the Free Bacon, Joe Biden's 'Equity Agenda' Has a New Target: Kidney Transplantsnull "HHS proposal would push hospitals to prioritize low-income patients in bid to address 'racial inequities'". At Aces MORNING RANT: Despite Expose’ of Rampant Sexual Harassment at FDIC, its Leader’s Resignation Will be Delayed to Prevent a Republican Replacement.

Bob Hoge at RedState, Sleeping With the Enemy: Biden Warns European Allies Not to Rebuke Iran's Nuclear Program. Da Wire, Biden Pushes World To Not Censure Iran Over Its Illegal Nuclear Program As It Nears Critical Mass. WSJ, Biden Administration Presses Allies Not to Confront Iran on Nuclear Program. "U.S. is arguing against an effort by Britain and France to censure Iran at the IAEA’s member-state board." In a metaphor for Biden,  HalalFlow@halalflow "Biden's PR stunt of a Gaza floating pier is reportedly sinking." Jen Van Laar at RedState has NEW Info About the Chechen Illegal Who Was Shot While Possibly Surveilling Special Ops Soldier's NC Home, and it's very suspicious. 

Kurt Schlichter at TownHall supposes Trump Wins. What Next? (Part 1) "The transition will be fraught because the Democrats just aren’t going to cooperate with a peaceful transition of government. They will do everything they can to disrupt and delay Trump’s people taking over. The shredders will melt from overuse as they destroy evidence of their own misconduct. What’s important for the Trump people to do is ensure that they make it clear that anybody destroying government documents or other materials to hide their contents will be prosecuted for obstruction of justice or other crimes. But the left will do it anyway, certain in the knowledge that a 97% communist jury pool in Washington, DC, will never convict any Democrat of anything."  NewsMax Reports Trump Says He'd End Anti-Israel Protests. At Da Wire, Trump Promised Donors He Would Deport Anti-Israel Student Protesters: ReportTrump Promised Donors He Would Deport Anti-Israel Student Protesters, the foreign ones. 

Also at Da Wire, Libertarian Party Rejects RFK Jr. Bid For Nomination, Rules Trump Ineligible, and get their customary 3%. Insty sees THE MORE HIS BRAIN DAMAGE RECEDES, THE MORE HE DISAGREES WITH FELLOW DEMOCRATS: "Fetterman, Flashing a Sharper Edge, Keeps Picking Fights With the Left: The first-term Pennsylvanian has battled with progressives on Israel, immigration and energy, adopting a more caustic political persona and alienating some supporters."

PM, Democrats Signal SCOTUS Sabotage Attempt. 

Evidence is mounting that the media flag hoaxes against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito are about undermining the top court’s independence and undercutting its conservative members in order to convict Donald Trump. Democratic lawmakers and leftist lawyers have been pushing for Justice Alito to be prevented from ruling on cases related to January 6 and presidential immunity, and calling for an “ethics code” that would empower Democratic lawmakers to pursue spurious impeachment proceedings against conservative justices.
. . .
Specifically, Raskin proposes increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to 13, which would likely see the current conservative majority overturned. The number of justices presidents can appoint is limited to two—meaning a re-elected President Trump could not make any more—and their terms are limited to 18 years.

Dan Greenfield at Front Page is outraged that the FBI Director Met With Hamas Supporters Asking Him to Lock Up Jews "The FBI has gone from fighting Islamic terrorists to taking orders from them." He should be. 

Across the pond at The Telegraph, Nellie Bowles argues ‘The antiracist movement argues for quite racist things’. The Babalu Blog notes Pro-Hamas demonstrators desecrate memorial to Cuban founding father Jose Martí in Coral Gables, FL Anti-anti-communists. At HE, General Mike Flynn reports military families are dissuading their children from enlisting. 

Ace, Politico: School Choice Has Allowed Parents to Choose Good Schools in Florida, and Now the Bad Government Schools Are Closing, and That's... Bad, for Some Reason. "But liberals really care about the children and not just the government workers, right?" Well, that, and the political indoctrination. 

From Variety, Disney Needs ‘Course Correction’ Away From Political Messaging, Says ‘Little Mermaid’ and ‘Aladdin’ Director. 

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Out Of The Cellar up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Beach Report Memorial Day 5/27/24

A warm day, in the low 70s despite solid overcast, and even a bit of rain.

Georgia excused herself because of a cold, so I had the low tide all to myself. 

The best of 15 teeth, a smallish, but nicely fresh Snaggletooth lower. 

The native cactus, Prickly Pear, aka Devil's Tongue is blooming in the sand dunes. I need to be careful where I step with bare feet.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Biden Memorializes St. Floyd of Fentanyl

So now we know what Memorial Day is for, other than barbeques? Hat Hair, POTATUS Uses His Official X Account to Honor St George Floyd on Memorial Weekend. President Biden on X, "George Floyd should be alive. He deserved so much more. Today, I join all those who loved him and all those touched by the civil rights movement he inspired in remembering the tragedy and injustice of his death. He changed the world. Now, let's act in his memory." Belgrade news 'We mark this solemn day': Biden statement on anniversary of death of George Floyd. George Floyd was petty criminal and drug addict who died of a self-induced fentanyl overdose while resisting arrest. He was used as an excuse by the Democrat and media establishment (but I redund), for massive civil disobedience costing billions of dollars in damage and more than a few more lives. But they won the next election, so who cares?

Nick Arama at RedState watched Biden's West Point Speech: Brain Breaks, Tells Tall Tales, 'Please Clap' Moment, With Embarrassing End. RNC Research on X, "Biden tells West Point graduates that he was "appointed" to the Naval Academy, where he "wanted to play football." He has repeated this lie many times before and there is still no record any of it ever happened." Across the pond the Telegraph fears Biden is sleepwalking into another 2016  "If the Democratic party continues to court progressives they’re doomed to lose in November." Da Caller, CNN Data Guru Explains Why Trump’s Massive Bronx Rally Could Be Bad Sign For Biden.  "Enten on “CNN News Central” said this rally is representative of Biden losing Latino voters and Trump gaining them, which will make it more challenging for the president to secure reelection."

The Divine Ms. Devine at NYPo, Hunter Biden’s laptop was denied, disparaged, censored — now it’s evidence of a crime. Ward Clark at RedState, CONFIRMED: Hunter Biden's 'Laptop From Hell' Is Authentic and Will Be Trial Evidence, Per Special Counsel. 

From WaEx, Consumer sentiment drops to lowest in five months in bad sign for economy and Biden. WUWT, Biden Games Gasoline Prices.“The hypocrisy of the Biden administration taking credit for lower gasoline prices as the summer driving season begins by fulfilling a Congressional mandate is unsurprising.” “We now have the amazing scenario where days before the start of the hurricane season, Democrats in Congress and Biden are willing to empty the gasoline reserve.”

At Hat Hair, About That 'Floating Pier' POTATUS Had Built in Gaza...That's Floated to Israel. 

I believe the Modular Causeway Structure or MCS, is only rated for Sea State of 1 or 2, with limited use under Sea State 3 which is 7-10 KT winds and 2.5-3’ waves, seas which this area normally exceeds regularly. This is clearly documented in its standards and use guidelines https://t.co/zssiSYjkOZ

— Rob O'Donnell (@odonnell_r) May 25, 2024

Matthew Whitaker to Newsmax: I Expect Trump to Be Acquitted. He has more faith in the justice system than I do. Also at NewsMax, Trump: Comey Still 'Spreading Lies' to Boost Dems' Get-Trump Effort.

Althouse, "Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has unexpectedly emerged as a top contender to become Donald J. Trump’s running mate..." "... according to three people with direct knowledge of Mr. Trump’s thinking who insisted on anonymity to discuss private meetings. These people said that Mr. Trump’s other current favorites were Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota and three of Mr. Cotton’s Senate colleagues: Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina and J.D. Vance of Ohio...." He could do worse, and probably will. However, I'm becoming more convinced by arguments for Tulsi Gabbard. From KT at Hat Hair, Ana Navarro Blasts Latino Supporters of Trump as "Very Stupid". Pot, kettle.

Hat Hair's Jazz Shaw has hopes  Will Alaska Ditch Ranked-Choice Voting? 

Insty, sees GANGSTER GOVERNMENT: “ATF agents cut off the electricity to Bryan Malinowski’s Little Rock home before executing their search warrant March 19. None of the agents wore body cameras, and they covered Malinowski’s doorbell camera with tape to hide their actions. Fifty-seven seconds after kicking down the front door, Malinowski was fatally shot in the head.” "This sounds more like a mob hit than a law enforcement raid." From Shooting News Weekly, Dettelbach Dances Around Oversight Questions in Hearing Into ATF’s Killing of Bryan Malinowski. 

CNN admits Trump’s ‘unified Reich’ video appears to trace origins to a Turkish graphic designer. "The reference was condemned by President Joe Biden, and the Trump campaign said it didn’t create the video – it was reposted by a staffer who didn’t see that particular text."

From the College Fix, University of North Carolina board repeals DEI mandates for all 17 campuses, DEI jobs on chopping block.  Capt. Ed at Hat Hair comments "Read on to find out how many employees work in those DEI offices, and then how much that costs North Carolina taxpayers. This new policy does not apply to student clubs and other non-official activities, nor should it. But the fact that this repeal prompted violence speaks volumes about the activists who liked the money and the power these policies gave them."

Some Key Bridge updates from the Balmer Sun,  Key Bridge collapse: Opening of federal channel delayed, set to open by June 10 at the latest and First cruise ship sets sail from Port of Baltimore since Key Bridge collapse: ‘It’s a good day’First cruise ship sets sail from Port of Baltimore since Key Bridge collapse: ‘It’s a good day’. Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas. We took that ship from Baltimore to the Bahamas once. 

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Out Of The Cellar up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.