Deep Sea Mining off the Bay?

Bay Journal, Environmentalists worry Virginia seabed mining could affect migratory fish

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) began soliciting public comments and industry feedback on potentially leasing more than 2,500 square miles near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to seabed mining. The public comment period ends July 23.

Minerals targeted for extraction from the ocean floor include manganese, nickel, cobalt and so-called rare earth minerals needed for smartphones, defense systems, medical devices, batteries and other technologies.

Environment Virginia, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Southern Environmental Law Center, Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore and other groups are concerned this could disrupt marine life, commercial fishing and military operations. Dylan Mason, public policy manager with Lynnhaven River NOW, said he’s worried that large sediment plumes from the mining could disrupt migratory species entering the Chesapeake Bay.

In early 2025, President Trump also pointed to environmental, military and fishery concerns in his executive order to pause or cancel offshore wind projects like Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project near Virginia Beach.

BOEM started gauging interest in seabed mining after a company requested to mine the area last November. The lease area is between three and 63.5 miles off Virginia’s Eastern Shore and larger than the state of Delaware. BOEM says the request for comments and feedback should not be interpreted as an indication that seabed mining will be allowed or that the whole lease area will be mined.

I took a brief look at the Federal Register for this request. The area being looked at is surprisingly shallow, 30-410 ft, on the continental shelf. I, a Ph.D. oceanographer was unaware that there were areas with manganese nodules so shallow. I thought they mostly occurred in the abyssal basins, with very low sedimentation rates to interfere with their extremely slow growth rates. At this depth, it should be comparable in terms of environmental impact to oyster dredging or even shell harvesting for oyster aquaculture, and if areas are growing nodules, they probably have relatively little fauna anyway. We need the metals, especially to become independent from the Chinese. I say give it a try, and at least see if it's feasible. I fully expect a Chinese funded environmental campaign against it.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Just Waiting for the Storm

I guess we're already for the upcoming snowmaggedocopolypse. The forecast is currently 5+ inches of snow, followed by about 2 inches of the dreaded "wintery mix." We have enough food and toilet paper to last it out, our water supply is reasonably secure. We have a propane generator that can keep a few necessities running if necessary. This morning the temperature bottomed out at 11.3 F, and has risen to 14.7. The wind is 20 kts from the north, gusting to 30, so I don't expect to go to the beach. 

So on with events. From the FreeP, Niall Ferguson explains How Trump Won Davos. "I have never before seen a single individual so completely dominate this vast bazaar of the powerful, the wealthy, the famous, and the self-important." Byron York @ByronYork, "As concerns Europe, I think there are four: 1) Trump told Europe: You're killing yourself with mass migration. Stop. 2) Trump told NATO: You've got to spend more on your own defense. 3) Trump told the EU: You're hurting yourselves with draconian regulations. 4) Trump told Merkel and others: Don't build Nord Stream 2. It's a terrible idea to depend on Putin's Russia for your energy. I think Trump was right about all of those things." Mary Chastain at LI hears Trump Rescinds Canada’s Invitation to the Board of Peace. Jennifer D'aww@GMShivers "I empathize dude but like as someone who has worked in both countries, Canada could have spent the last 30 years getting its shit together and easily become a resource superpower. Instead we spent the entire time countersignaling the United States and making our entire identity "Not them" despite a good portion of our economy depending on them. I'm not interested in being a purple state, and the fed government could turn it all around by being fair, instead they told the places with all the combat willing people to eat crap and that other things mattered more." Sundance at CTH hosts Secretary Lutnick Gently Dispatches the Feelings of Canada and the EU, and Focuses on Pragmatic Economic Growth. "Mexico is doing everything almost perfectly in preparation for their bilateral deal. Canada is doing exactly the opposite and positioning themselves for the worst possible outcome of a deal with the USA. The disparity in approaches is so different, even now it is remarkable to watch." It is a great interview. Matt Taibbi at Racket says Forget Trump and Greenland. Howard Lutnick Gave the Davos Speech that Mattered. "The death of globalization is the real headline from the international self-indulgence festival at Davos." Courage Media on Denmark’s Greenland Illusion. "Greenland is simply the place where that reality can no longer be postponed." At PJM Stephen Kruiser says it was a Good Week for Trump, Rough Week for Vestigial Eurotrash. DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "Prediction: WEF does not yet have a story for why they have to insert themselves into AI. When USSR fell, it also took NATO several years to come up with a story for why their continued survival was necessary… that was provided by Soros in his 1993 essay: all closed societies are a threat, and NATO’s new mission is to turn closed societies into open societies. When WEF does formalize their story for their own continued existence, my prediction is it’ll be: “the breakdown in trust of institutions is so great that it requires the power of AI to enforce shared norms.” They don’t know this yet. Nobody individually can justify why they dropped climate change for AI. But this is the convergence I sense."

Misty Severi at JTN reports HHS announces US has completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization. Shooting News Week, Finally: Trump Pulls the US Out of United Nations’ International Gun Registry Scheme. 

Rick Moran at PJM explains Why the Operation to Capture Maduro Has Generated So Much Concern in Moscow and Beijing. BRICS News @BRICSinfo, "JUST IN: US considers deploying naval blockade to stop Cuban oil imports." SightBringer @_The_Prophet__ "This is about establishing the template for energy chokepoints as a tool of global compliance. A naval blockade is a wartime act. It asserts dominion over trade routes and supply chains. . . ." (((Tendar))) @Tendar, "Two more Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Mediterranean Sea experienced an unusual event. Crude oil tanker "Progress" (IMO: 9306627) is north of the coast of Algeria and drifting. The vessel is declared “Not under command” while transporting 730,000 bbl of Urals crude toward Suez, Egypt, with its final destination being China. A second tanker, the Chariot Tide (IMO: 9323376), which is not far from Gibraltar, is also declared "Not under command" as well as drifting. Both ships are under sanctions. The status indicates a complete loss of navigational control, without specifying the reason. Yesterday, French forces seized the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker "Grinch" (IMO: 9288851), which was also sailing in this region."

At Am Mind, Inez Stepman call it An Impressive Year One for Trump 2.0. ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena "In the fall of 2006 right after then Sen. Barack Obama announced to Tim Russert on Meet the Press he was seriously considering a run for the nomination of the Democratic Party for president, thousands of reporters, journalists, bloggers and intellectuals flooded book stores for copies of his two books, “Dreams of my Father” and “The Audacity of Hope.” For two years they intellectualized about his life story and world view, picked apart every carefully crafted sentence, and marveled at their ability to really get inside the head of this exotic man who might become president. . . .Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal”? Not so much. Which is a shame because any reporter who read the book before embarking on covering this presidential candidate, eventual nominee and now president-elect would have a much deeper understanding of who he is, how he operates and how he’ll behave going forward." CBS admits Murders plummeted more than 20% in U.S. in 2025, study shows, without a clue as to why. Elon Musk @elonmusk, "Turns out that jailing or deporting repeat violent offenders greatly reduces the murder rate." Fox, Only one House Democrat joined GOP to repeal 'short-circuiting' Biden-era regulation "Republicans push through most recent regulatory rollback with help from single Democratic lawmaker. . . . In this case, lawmakers voted to reopen the door to mineral development on federal lands in the North Star State." Leslie Eastman at LI reports a Historic Graphite Mine in New York Marks Start of Made‑in‑America Battery Supply Chain. "Four other graphite mines are poised to be part of the new supply chain as Tesla opens up a huge lithium refinery operation. Both moves signal a return of American critical mineral dominance." Phil Wegman at RCP, Exclusive: Trump OMB Launches Full Review of Federal Funds Sent to Blue States. unseen1 @unseen1_unseen, "The inflation war is over, now it's on to the deflation fight. We need to make sure deflation is the good kind and not the bad kind. We need stimulus like $2000 checks and fed rate cuts to keep up the demand. Tariffs to protect us from importing the bad kind of deflation from china. More Deregulation to push the good kind of supply indiced deflation, drill bany drill, relieve any bottlenecks in the supply chain for resources, keep deportations going to help stimulate supply and wage growth. Another round of tax cuts if needed. It's always a balance between demand and supply. Trump is threading g the needle well so far." Democrats are attempted to condition the people that prices ought to go down, after they unleashed the greatest bout of inflation since Carter. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Deflation is bad! Mark Hemingway @Heminator, "This focus group was conducted by the publisher of The Bulwark and it’s being treated as legitimate news." Quote POLITICO @politico "Young Trump supporters may not be all that enamored with JD Vance as they weigh their 2028 options. A recent focus group of 18- to 24-year-old Trump voters suggests weaknesses for Vance among young Republicans." CNBC whines Trump sues Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase over debanking the suit calls ‘political’ "The lawsuit, which seeks at least $5 billion in damages, was filed in state court in Miami-Dade County, Florida."

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "HOLY CRAP! Anti-ICE leftists have STORMED the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, infuriating travelers and taking the location hostage This is utter MADNESS! Tim Walz has handed control to lawless rebels. Minnesota must save itself!" Matt Van Swol @mattvanswol, "Every single one of them should be arrested for interfering with airport operations or commerce under the Hobbs Act. You cannot do this, it is 100% illegal. Arrest them all." Nicole Wallace at USA Today, ICE protesters are storming churches now? This has to stop. "I don't like the optics of an ICE agent banging down a person's door either, but you know what I like even less? The fact that Laken Riley might be alive today if her murderer hadn't been free." JD Vance @JDVance, [smilie], Quote johnny maga @_johnnymaga "LMAO. Libs in Minneapolis are currently standing outside a hotel in -15 degree weather banging pots and playing instruments to keep JD Vance from sleeping inside his hotel. Little do they know, JD Vance landed back in D.C. 5 hours ago." At Da Caller, Activists Join 1000-Person Group Chat, Leave Home At 5 AM To Follow ICE Around. That makes it a conspiracy, if any laws are broken. Vicky Taft at PJM, West Coast, Messed Coast™ — Anti-ICE Attorneys General — Like This Guy — Met Secretly in Portland. NYPo reports Arizona AG Kris Mayes wildly suggests residents could shoot unidentifiable masked ICE agents under state’s self-defense laws: ‘Recipe for disaster’. From Twitchy, MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace Mistakes Hysteric Knavery for ‘Historic Bravery’ in Minneapolis Protests Matt Vespa at TownHall, As ICE Begins Enforcement Raids in Maine, New Allegations of Somali Fraud Emerge. Cathy Salgado at PJM reports ICE Went Above and Beyond to Comfort Abandoned 5-Year-Old After Mother Refused to Take Custody. 𝕃𝕦𝕔𝕜𝕪 Ƒʉͫcͧкͭιͪηͣ 𝕄𝕔𝔾𝕖𝕖‎ @LuckyMcGee, Parody account, "BREAKING: ICE has now watched more kids in Minneapolis than a Somali daycare." Matt Vespa, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino Obliterated the Lib News Media in Minneapolis. CIS sees NYT Tries to Measure Trump II ‘Deportations’ "The story the ‘Gray Lady’ overlooks — especially about ‘sanctuary’ communities."

MAZE @mazemoore, "2014. Bill Kristol advocates for the deportation of migrant children. George Stephanopoulos says that Obama needs to send a message to migrants that they need to go back home. Even Ana Navarro was sort of reasonable back then. Strange times." NewsBusters hears Joy Behar: ICE Is the New 'Gestapo,' Trump Wants 'War' With NATO & MN. Marc J. Randazza @marcorandazza, "This is disgusting. This cheapens the Holocaust. It's 1940. Gestapo knocks at your door. Where are you going to wind up? No, not in a camp designed to kill you, but you're gonna get sent HOME. And, you can just go there with $1,000 in your pocket if you say "ok, I'll go" No beatings. No whippings. No experiments on you. you have a 1 in 100,000 chance of death, and even then, you're gonna need to cause that yourself by doing something stupid." Quote Stephen King @StephenKing, "ICE is the American Gestapo." Shipwreckedcrew, Is A Warrantless Entry Into A Residence To Take Custody Of An Illegal Alien Really A Violation Of The Fourth Amendment?? "The default of the legal academy is that entries into the home by police must be authorized by a neutral magistrate based upon a finding of "probable cause" -- but I'm not sure that's true." Twitchy, Operation Fakeout: Leftist Hotlines Send Protesters to Biker Bars — Surprise, No ICE, Just Laughs Blue Lives Matter @bluelivesmtr, "STOP what you're doing - we have a pretty huge update and confession about this whole "Report ICE activity hotline" situation. By about 1am, we had reports come in from numerous states that there had been "incidents" at a number of biker bars last night. It turns out that "report ICE activity hotlines" had received "tips" about "off-duty ICE agents" drinking at dozens of bars. Those bars just so happened to be biker bars owned or frequented by individuals who haven't always been on the right side of the law. ICE protestors were alerted and given the addresses of these bars. According to friends of ours across the country, beta soy boy, gender-fluid communist Meal Team Sixers showed up with their "F-ICE" flags and tried barging into the bars. Except... there were no ICE agents drinking there. As a wise man once said... "now you's can't leave". To clarify, WE absolutely did NOT report those addresses to the "Report ICE activity hotlines". That's ridiculous, guys. What kind of people do you think we are? Nah. We simply provided the "Report ICE activity hotlines" to the good ole' boys that DRINK at those bars and asked them if they wanted to have a fun night. Hey leftists... we've been warning you... there would be a time when the people who just wanted to be left alone get off the sidelines. . . " The College Fix reports U. Washington in a tizzy over fake ICE rumors. VodkaPundit@Insty, YOU’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER LIST: Bad Hombre @Badhombre, "The most recent debunked anti-ICE hoaxes: - Renee Good was merely turning her vehicle’s wheels to flee and posed no danger. - ICE agents detained a naked, innocent 74-year-old U.S. citizen in freezing Minneapolis weather. - ICE arrested a 5-year-old boy. - A Somali woman with a Band-Aid on her forehead was abducted and taken to an undisclosed location to be tortured by ICE agents. - Anti-ICE protesters peacefully exercised their First Amendment rights at Cities Church in St. Paul. - Detainees at the Dilley Detention Center are being fed food infested with worms and mold." Shipwreckedcrew @shipwreckedcrew, "I see the old canard about the victim of a justified police shooting being classified as a "homicide" victim by the Medical Examiner with re to Renee Good. "Homicide" is not a legal term -- it is the description of the manner of death. For medical examiners there are 5 options: Natural causes Accidental death Suicide Homicide Undetermined Hence, Good is classified as a "Homicide.""

Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "Let me break this down in as basic a manner as I can: 1. America elects a President that the Democrat/Media Complex does not like. 2. Democrats engage in violent riots over whatever their otherwise perfectly legal cause du jour might be. 3. "See? The fact that this guy is President is causing riots. If you vote for us this abnormal rioting that the President is causing will stop." 4. Democrats win next election. Riots stop. ________________________ This is no different than the Mafia threatening to burn down a store unless the owner pays protection money. IT IS EXTORTION. When will America realize what the Democrat's evil game is and send them to where they belong?"

Sundance, CMS Director Mehmet Oz Discovers Minneapolis Medicare/Medicaid Facility Housing 400 Businesses Under One Roof, averaging a million dollars of taxpayer money each. Liz Collin @lizcollin, "UPDATE: Multiple sources confirm Chief Health Equity Officer and VP of Health Equity at Hennepin Healthcare have recently left the hospital. Today, its Chief Financial Officer also left... Meanwhile, our sources are aware of an ongoing investigation into the possible use of company credit cards for personal expenses. The hospital would not say if these moves are related to the investigation." 

Toby Muresianu @tobyhardtospell, "Most California thing ever: spending 3/4 of your fire prevention budget complying with regulations to ensure you are not damaging endangered plants etc only for them all to be obliterated in the wildfire you failed to prevent" Quote Armand Domalewski @ArmandDoma, "75% of the budget for fire mitigation in Mt. Diablo State Park has gone to compliance costs, not actual mitigation x.com/lrntex/status/…" Chris Barron @ChrisRBarron, "Literally every time it’s a gay joke. Gay jokes about Vance. About Trump and Putin. About Bessent. It’s always a gay joke. You know why? Because liberals think we gay people are a joke." Quote, "Governor Newsom Press Office @GovPressOffice, "“I always defend my man. My motto: it’s hedge FUN not hedge fund.” Premiering this Sunday!"

Althouse, "New York City Could Get a Foot of Snow. Mamdani Knows It’s a Test." "The NYT puts its finger on why this foot of snow is such a big deal. It's hitting political hot spots. Subheadline: "Plenty of New York City mayors have faced blowback over their handling of blizzards. In several appearances this week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has sought to show he is prepared." I guess his opponents are hoping for a snow nightmare.As for Mamdani, he's getting out in front of Snowmageddon and endeavoring to seem lovable:"

Don Surber on Jack Smith’s perjured testimony "The press pretended like he did nothing wrong as he lied, lied, lied." Bob Hoge at RedState, You're Fired! Kash Patel Reportedly Ousts Multiple FBI Agents Tied to 'Get Trump' Efforts. Breanna Morello @BreannaMorello, "CONFIRMED REPORT FBI Director Kash Patel has conducted another round of firings. Patel has ousted field office heads and additional senior agents tied to the two major federal criminal probes into Donald Trump, according to an FBI source. The special agent in charge of the Atlanta field office has been dismissed, along with the acting assistant director overseeing the New York field office. A former special agent in charge from New Orleans, who had since transitioned to a different role, was also removed. In Miami, up to six agents were let go due to their roles in the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago." FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash, "People ask why I said the old FBI was a diseased temple. This is what corruption looks like when it thinks no one is watching: A self-awarded trophy celebrating Arctic Frost, made by FBI officials. I disbanded CR-15 and removed the corrupt actors involved. So when legacy media cries that President Trump’s FBI fired people and made sweeping changes, I have one response: You’re damn right we did."

Bryan Jung at PJM hears Democrat Judge Calls New York City's Only Republican-Held Congressional Seat Unconstitutional. Of course. 

Wall Street Apes @WallStreetApes, "A groundbreaking study reveals racial bias in jury convictions, “When we break down this study we find that - Black juries have a 12% conviction rate against black defendants, vs a 59% against whites. So that indicates that there is a 47% interracial bias when you have black jurors - White juries have a 33% conviction rate against white defendants, vs a 26% against blacks, which actually demonstrates a negative 7% interracial bias Meaning whites are more likely to convict their co-racial group than they are to convict somebody across racial lines Whereas black juries have a 12% conviction rate against their own and a 59% conviction rate against white people." OJ Simpson smiles from hell.

From Campus Reform, Authorities investigate UMass Lowell radio DJ's threat to ‘kill JD Vance.’ "A UMass Lowell alumnus hosting a school-sponsored radio program prompted an FBI investigation after posting online that Vice President JD Vance should be killed."

From the Free Beacon, New York Times Hiring a Reporter To Cover US Jews "'Expert understanding of Judaism' required; 'integrity' preferred but not essential." I hear a few Jews might reside in NYC. 

Greg Lukianoff and Adam Goldstein at the Eternally Radical Idea, W, X... Why? EU platform is misguided at best, sinister at worst "The announcement of an exciting new homegrown social media platform on the continent that leads in censorship innovation should be greeted with skepticism from a free speech perspective." They just can't tolerate the freedom of speech on X. 

Ace celebrates The Week In Woke, "Trans-crazy baby-influencer "Miss Rachel" -- she makes videos "teaching" little children about how great transgenderism is -- liked an antisemitic comment demanding, "Free America from the Jews." She later "apologized," claiming it was an accident. But then when a Hamas-linked account wrote that the Jews left that antisemitic "Free America from Jews" comment themselves, Miss Rachel affirmed that comment, writing "ooooooohhh." Like, "oooooooohhh, nice catch, you caught those tricky Jews!" She's very apologetic, though. These are all just little accidents." Robby Starbuck @robbystarbuck, "The @NFL & @nflcommish have decided that the Super Bowl is a political event to attack President Trump, the political right and conservative values. They’re choosing division over unity and to attack the same voters that fund their stadiums and put money in their pockets. Enough!" Quote Robby Starbuck @robbystarbuck "So the Super Bowl music is going to be a guy in a dress honoring transgenderism while mostly performing in Spanish and a far left band. The majority of NFL fans don’t want this." Caleb Hull @CalebJHull, "The NFL is incredibly good at not understanding their target audience." Quote Polymarket Football @PolymarketBlitz, "BREAKING Bad Bunny plans to wear a dress during his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. This will easily be the lowest viewed halftime show of all time." Hat Hair's John Sexton reports Washington Ban on Trans Athletes Will Be On the Ballot in November.

To my English-speaking followers: You asked, and I listened! 🇩🇪🇬🇧

Due to massive demand, I’ve added English subtitles to the German Amelia/Maria video. Now the message can be understood worldwide

Please share this and help it go viral. Let’s reach everyone! 🌍#Germany #Maria… pic.twitter.com/s1UdU6w7iR

— Ragnarök (@Neogermane) January 22, 2026

It's kind of a cheap German knockoff of the British Amelia video I posted yesterday. I still want to see the American version, using Deanna Ritter as the AI MAGA girl.

More at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.23.26 (Afternoon Edition) and In The Mailbox: 01.23.26 (Evening Edition), but you already knew that. Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Too Good To Be True? marinated and ready for consumption at The Other McCain. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: One Big Crunch ready for your clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam on a Snowy Sunday Morning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flotsam and Jetsam - US Ukraine Ink Mineral Deal

The Peacock warns Ukraine says it hopes to sign U.S. minerals deal within 24 hours "Ukraine’s economy minister headed to Washington on Wednesday to help finalize the deal, according to two senior Ukrainian officials." Than, at NRO, U.S., Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal in Major Breakthrough for Peace Talks. NewsMax, US, Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal, Tying Trump to Kyiv. Sundance at CTH is pretty cynical about it, Treasury Announces Joint U.S-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (Minerals Deal) to Repay USA for Spending in Ukraine War "Will U.S. taxpayers ever see a dime repaid? Probably not, because the proceeds will likely end up in the pockets of the professional political class; however, the concept is a good idea in principle. It is more than likely Zelenskyy has sold his “minerals” to several countries in his perpetual tin cup tour. The ‘investment fund’ aspect is just another way to transfer proceeds into the bank accounts of U.S. Senators." VodkaPundit at PJM, Europe Just Proved Trump Right About NATO. "In a shocking-not-shocking exclusive report in The (UK) Times, Europe "would struggle to put 25,000 troops on the ground in Ukraine" as part of a postwar peacekeeping force." Hat Hair's Beege Welborn notes Rubio Took the Reins Down in Africa and Got Truce Talks Humming. Pete Van Buren at Am Con thinks the State Department Budget Cuts Don’t Go Far Enough. "The secretary has made a good start, but more fundamental changes are still necessary."

The Peacock whines Temu adds ‘import charges’ of about 145% after Trump tariffs, more than doubling price of many items, so cheap Chinese junk isn't quite as cheap. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair VIP, Are US Ports Now Ghost Towns or Should We Blame Slow Boats From China? Ace, America's Hat decides to make its election about Trump because even Canadian Boomers are addicted to American news fear pron.  Matt Margolis at PJM, With Election Over, Canada Seeks Trade Deal Day With Trump. "President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reached out to him personally just one day after winning the country’s recent election, which proves that Canada is already eager to re-engage on trade." From No Pasaran! Remembering Reagan's Zero Option: How Trump's "Tariff War" Resembles the Last Battle of the Cold War. "Ronald Reagan, of course, was another heinous and brainless Republican duly detested across the globe not to mention another fascist or (neo-)Nazi who was willing to start the Third World War in addition to being the latest Adolf Hitler." The Great Victor Davis Hanson at Am Great alliterates Trump, Tariffs, Trade—and a Taboo? "Trump’s trade strategy aims to slash the U.S. deficit by forcing fairer deals with key partners—pushing reciprocity, not profiteering, to regain economic balance." Sundance crows Senate Effort to Block President Trump Tariff Authority Fails Despite Three Republicans In Support.

At Ace, Mostly because of a huge jump in imports. I mean...huge. -5% GDP change just because of the imports. In anticipation of tariffs. "The decline was driven by a large surge in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP. Imports surged at an annualized rate of 41.3% in the first quarter as companies front-loaded orders ahead of anticipated tariffs from the Trump administration. The surge in imports was good for a -5% contribution to the GDP calculation in the first quarter." Sundance called it Awesome News – GDP Growth at -0.3% in First Quarter, Despite Massive Import Purchase Increase of 41.3% to Avoid Tariffs. NewsMax reports Trump Blames Biden for Wobbly Stock Market. W. Joseph Campbell @wjosephcampbell "Didn’t turn out quite so bad: Remember last week, when @WSJ, @CNN, @MSNBC, other mainstream #media outlets declared the Dow was headed for its worst April since the Great Depression? It ended the month down 3 percent, but *not* close at all to “worst April” since the Depression. In fact, the Dow was up seven successive trading days to close the month – its longest win streak of the year to date "Dow Heads for Worst April Since 1932" At Town hall Cutie Pavlich hears Trump Urge Patience As Congress Works on His Agenda and Kurt Schlichter warns Don’t Believe the Anti-Trump Propaganda. Beege Welborn documents Trump Outrage Du Jour: Requiring That Truck Drivers Habla Inglés. "I was all set to get worked up over this one, but I think I'll wait until some uber Lefty judge hears about it, steps up, and shuts it down." Althouse finds "Having escaped prison and death, President Trump has returned to power seeking vindication and vengeance — and done more in his first 100 days to change the trajectory of the country than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt." "That's the subheadline at the NYT article "After the Arrests and Bullets, Trump Takes on Second Term With a New Fervor" by Peter Baker in the NYT. Free-access link (because it's the last-day of the month and I over-hoarded by 10 free links and must use them or lose them)."

Randy Barnett@RandyEBarnett "What do you call half the lawyers resigning from the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ? A start." Quote Raylan Givens @JewishWarrior13, "The Washington Post reported that about half of the lawyers in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division resigned after the new head of the division, Harmeet Dhillon ordered her team to focus on combating anti-Semitism, transgender women's participation in women's sports,Show more" David Bernstein @ProfDBernstein, "The Obama administration literally had an (unannounced) policy that it would not take cases in which the victims of civil rights laws violations were white. It stacked DOJ's CRD with lawyers who were on board with this. Good riddance." At Twitchy, Cry Us a River: Julie Kelly DESTROYS Fired J6 Prosecutor for Her Fake Crocodile Tears. 

Toxic femininity was rejected at the ballot box. Even, or perhaps especially the MAHA and MAGA moms have had enough of this fake crying act by wicked deceivers who destroy lives. https://t.co/BSonjzMvFy

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) May 1, 2025

Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando "I voted for this." Quote Breaking911@Breaking911, "NEW: FBI agents photographed kneeling during George Floyd protest have been removed from their positions - CNN/"

At Althouse, "'You could get him back, there’s a phone on this desk,' said Terry Moran, an ABC News correspondent.... 'I could,' Mr. Trump replied." At Da Wire, Here’s How Activist Judges Fought Trump’s Agenda In The First 100 Days, "100 Days Of Trump: Judges are blocking deportations and keeping men in women's prisons." A Larry video at Hat Hair, How Judges Are Sabotaging Trump’s Second Term w/ Josh Hammer. From Fox, Blue state judge attempts to stop Border Patrol from arresting suspected illegal immigrants without warrant, "Border Patrol argues it changed its procedures, making ruling irrelevant." LifeZette thinks MS-13 Backing Dems Manage to Look Even Worse After Trip Details Emerge. TNP hears Kristi Noem Vows Immediate Deportation if Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to U.S. Leah Barkoukis at TownHall hears DHS Smack Down This 'False Narrative' From the Media, Dems, and Influencers. From Da Blaze, Trump admin saves migrant sisters from sex slavery in crackdown on Biden's lost kids crisis: Report. Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal, Republican Slams Dem’s ‘Disgustingly Ignorant’ Holocaust Comparison in Battle Over Immigration Bill. Matt Margolis likes how Jesse Watters Humiliates Jessica Tarlov in Heated Debate Over MS-13 Gangmember “Use your brain, Jessica,” The Babylon Bee, Media Says No Evidence Demon-Horned Man With Sith Tattoos And Red Lightsaber A Member Of The Sith.

Bonchie at RedState sees The Kamala Harris Comeback Tour Hilariously Begins. At Althouse, "Kamala Harris will reemerge in California on Wednesday night for her first major speech since her departure from the White House.... Capt. Ed hears Tim Walz: Kamala Picked Me for Being Pretty Fly for a White Guy. Brad Stager at RedState reports Dems in Disarray: Meet the Sketchy, Beagle-Abusing Politician Looking to Impeach President Trump.

Collin Rugg @CollinRugg, "NEW: Former CNN reporter Chris Cillizza says journalists were *not* covering up Biden's mental decline but were rather just too trusting of the Biden White House. "I think it was an inherent and sort of unconscious bias more than a conscious bias." The clowns in the media never cared about reporting on Biden's obvious mental decline until they realized there was no way he would beat Trump. That's the truth. And now they're trying to save face." Alex Berenson at substack, notes The New York Times "investigates" the DC jet crash - and buries the truth it finds. "The Times managed to blame everything for the crash. Except that the (female) pilot of the military helicopter that hit the plane was warned to change course. She didn't. And almost 70 people died." From NotThe Bee, The New York Times just ran a 1,400-word story to explain what cross necklaces are.

Crémieux @cremieuxrecueil, "I'm happy to announce one of the biggest policy victories of this administration. It's been weeks in the making, but it's finally here: ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS CANNOT PAYWALL NIH-FUNDED RESEARCH ANY LONGER." Quote, NIH@NIH, "NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has announced that the NIH Public Access Policy, originally slated to go into effect on 12/31/25 will now be effective 7/1/25. Read more in his statement: https://bit.ly/4jTQI4O"

Chris Rufo, “We Can’t Hire a White Guy”—a Professor on Life at Princeton. "President Christopher Eisgruber has created a system of widespread racial discrimination." John Sexton at Hat Hair sees Harvard Finally Releases Report on Antisemitism on Campus and Columbia Activist Mohsen Mahdawi Released on Bail. JJ Sefton at Ace's DEI in a fire (or as history shows, a crematorium), "Report: Thanks To DEI, Most Medical Schools Now Teach Doctors To Damage Patients." Greg Lukianoff, Cancel Culture vs. McCarthyism: the data is in. "Cancel Culture is happening on a historic scale, Part 5." From Da Wire, IBM Rolls Back DEI, Commits To Political Neutrality, "When external pressure meets authentic shareholder engagement — progress happens." John Sexton sees DEI is Being Written Out of Corporate Filings.

Duane Patterson at Hat Hair, Oklahoma, Where The Court Comes Sweepin' Down The Plains "The Supreme Court held oral arguments this morning in a case that all people concerned with religious liberty and school choice care very deeply about. It's called Oklahoma Charter School Board V. Drummond, and could be the final nail in the coffin of public officials desperate to keep religious discrimination alive and well."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Out of the Cellar (Again) up at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - It's Official Trump Elected President

On a day that ordinarily escapes much comment, the electoral college met and voted Donald Trump to be the next President of the United State. Da Blaze, Electoral College voters officially confirm Donald Trump's victory, 312-226. Bob Spencer at PJM, They’ve Finally Finished Counting Votes, and Yes, It’s Fishy, and it makes 2020 look even fishier. At GatewayPundit, California Certifies Its 2024 Election Despite Huge Issues – It’s NOT Certifiable. And even though Trump won the popular vote handily, Democrats continue to push to abolish the electoral college and adopt a popular vote election. WokeSpy, Democrats Push To Abolish The Electoral College Despite Donald Trump’s Popular Vote Victory. "The bill, introduced just over a month after Donald Trump won the presidential election, was proposed by three progressive Senators, namely Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Peter Welch of Vermont." At OTP, ‘No Offense To Wyoming’: Hochul Calls For End To Electoral College. 

Da Fed's Unsinkable Mollie Hemingway says the Hegseth Nomination Battle Shows Republicans An Easy Way To Stop Losing And Start Defeating The Swamp, you mean actually fight back? From Breitbart, 120+ Retired Generals, Admirals Sign Letter Supporting Pete Hegseth. Just being retired generals and admirals doesn't make them right, but at least it counters the claims the Hegseth is somehow unqualified. 'Becca Downs at TownHall, And With That Post on X, It Doesn't Look Like Jared Moskowitz Will Be Trump's FEMA Director. I confess I didn't know he was under consideration. unusual whales@unusual whales, "BREAKING: Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent a letter to Trump to establish "conflict of interest" rules for Elon Musk given he is a top adviser, per WaPo In response, Trump's team called her "Pocahontas," and said that Warren was a "career politician whose societal impact is 1/1024th of Elon Musk's," per BI. Bob Spencer again, Elizabeth Warren Demands Conflict-of-Interest Rules for Musk, and Trump Camp’s Response Is FIRE. 

Good news from John Sexton at Hat Hair, NY Post says Stephanopoulos 'Humiliated' by $16 Million Settlement. Althouse, "As someone who practiced press law for more than twenty years, and served as a senior executive of news organizations for just as long, I was shocked by the decision of ABC News last week..." ""... to pay $16 million to settle Donald Trump’s libel case over George Stephanopoulos’s This Week broadcast in March. The shock came, and still lingers, because I—and every experienced press lawyer not involved in the case with whom I have discussed it—considered the case one in which ABC was likely to eventually prevail. . . .  Writes Richard J. Tofel, in "Questions ABC News Should Answer Following the $16 Million Trump Settlement/The decision to cave and apologize has unnerved American journalists. The network owes them an explanation" (Columbia Journalism Review)." From Twitchy sees ‘News’ Blues: Legacy Media Shivers and Weeps as Trump Ushers in Chilling ‘Age of Accountability’.

Althouse examines The intensely visual and emotional Trumpian view of the landscape of war. The Telegraph on Why Trump’s victory with Native American voters could mean a U-turn on uranium mining "Some people suggest that restarting domestic mining could be a good antidote to the Navajo unemployment problem." At the Center Square, Trump threatens to fire federal employees working from home. Bryan Jung at PJM, Exclusive: Stephen Moore Describes How Trump Can Save the American Economy in His Latest Book, basically, look at Joe Biden and do the opposite. Insty, I ALREADY SUPPORT HIM, YOU DON’T HAVE TO SELL ME: Canada Conservative likely to unseat Trudeau has Trump-like tendencies. From Da Fetched, TDS Sufferer Reid Hoffman Fears Trump Will Use IRS to Investigate His Donations. Got a problem with it? Maybe he should. 

Beege Welborn at Hat Hair is scandalized that Biden Admin Sent $300M to Reuters to 'Look Into' Musk and His Companies? Elon did say he needed Trump to win to avoid going to jail. I guess he wasn't kidding. Mike Benz@MikeBenzCyber, "The Biden Admin paid Reuters over $300 million in government contracts. 11 different Biden government agencies targeted Elon's businesses. All 11 agencies paid millions to Reuters. Reuters then won the Pulitzer Prize for "their work on Elon Musk and misconduct at his businesses" Steve Richards at JTN, Biden advisors used insecure pseudonymous email accounts to brief him on sensitive foreign policy, "The email records, released by the National Archives after a Freedom of Information lawsuit, show that then-Vice President Biden regularly conducted foreign policy business on his pseudonymous email account, hidden from public scrutiny." Tom Knighton at Bearing Arms is concerned about the Biden DOJ Trotting Out New Gun Rules On His Way Out the Door. Dave Strom at Hat Hair sees Biden's Minions Race to Embed Racism in Federal Agencies, by hiring up to 1,200 new DEI bosses. From ZeroHedge, Biden Lied About Everything: Philly Fed Finds All Jobs "Created" In Q2 Were Fake, zerohedge @zerohedge "On Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will downward revise jobs for the April 2023-March 2024 period by up to 1 million. This means that all "beats" recorded in the past year will have been misses and the US job market is in far worse shape than the admin would admit." At the College Fix, Federal agencies fund ‘highly ideological’ university art projects. Because of course they do. Sean Davis@seanmdav "Stop calling it a CR. It’s a massive K Street Christmas tree omnibus with giveaways to every special interest in Washington, D.C." Quote toddstarnes@toddstarnes, "Speaker Mike Johnson said the Continuing Resolution would be released before the weekend. That was 4 days ago. Then, he said it would be released last night. And now, we're being told the CR should come some time this morning. 1,500 pages. Do you think the House will have Show more"

Vicky Taft at PJM hears Jill Biden Announces She's Retiring — and the Punchline Writes Itself, Without a White House staff, changing Joe's nappies will become a full time job. Nick Arama at RedState, Jill Biden Announces Retirement, Makes Comments About Joe and Kamala That Are Something Else. Matt Vespa at TownHall reports Harris' Digital Director Reveals the ‘Ominous’ Moment Where He Knew Something Was Wrong. She opened her mouth? Eyal Yakoby@EYakoby, "You can’t make this up. Doug Emhoff at the White House Hanukkah party gives a whole speech discussing how successful the Biden administration was at combating antisemitism. To be abundantly clear, antisemitism has exceeded historic highs in America."

From NYPo, Tren de Aragua is terrorizing Utah — as Venezuelan dissident warns that local authorities ‘are not ready’. Fox, 14 detained in armed Aurora, Colorado home invasion are likely illegal gang members: police. "Home invasion occurred at The Edge at Lowry Apartments, where viral video showed gang members earlier this year." Mary Chastain at LI, Chicago Mayor Kicks Public Out of City Meeting After They Trash Him Over Illegal Aliens “He wants to pull a $40 million line of credit and put the city in even more debt. It’s your fault, because you gave half of the money to illegals.”

Susie Moore at RedState likes how Trump Responded to Judge Merchan's Ruling on Immunity Issue - and Pulls No Punches  "In a completely illegal, psychotic order, the deeply conflicted, corrupt, biased, and incompetent Acting Justice Juan Merchan has completely disrespected the United States Supreme Court, and its Historic Decision on Immunity. But even without Immunity, this illegitimate case is nothing but a Rigged Hoax. Merchan, who is a radical partisan, wrote an opinion that is knowingly unlawful, goes against our Constitution, and, if allowed to stand, would be the end of the Presidency as we know it. Merchan has so little respect for the Constitution that he is keeping in place an illegal gag order on me, your President and President-Elect, just so I cannot expose his and his family’s disqualifying and illegal conflicts…." Insty, at his NYPo gig, How Congress can end DC’s lawfare and one-party federal bias. Abolish DC and give the land back to MD? Uh. "Meanwhile, an even better solution would be to move most of the federal government out of the District entirely, and relocate agency headquarters to lower-cost areas far from the capital city." Capt. Ed agrees "We should really give more thought to decentralizing the federal government. Congress could stay in DC, but the executive-branch departments should get relocated, if for no other reason than to break up the grift around DC. But really, the solution is to severely curtail agency law or eliminate it altogether, and return those authorities and jurisdictions back to the states."

John Solomon and Steve Richards at JTN, House GOP accuses Liz Cheney of tampering with J6 witness, ask FBI to investigate criminality, "Interim report by Rep. Barry Loudermilk concludes Jan. 6 attack was “preventable,” highlights intelligence and security failures, Cheney's possible shenanigans." Matt Margolis at PJM, FBI to Investigate Liz Cheney Over J6 Witness Tampering? Jeff Charles at TownHall, Bombshell Report Calls for FBI Investigation Into Liz Cheney. Althouse, "Former Representative Liz Cheney colluded with 'star witness' Cassidy Hutchinson without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge." "From "Chairman Loudermilk Releases Second January 6, 2021 Report" released this morning. Is it too soon to add my "Biden pardons" tag? Beege Welborn, Naughty Liz Cheney Might Be Looking at Coal in Her Stocking. 

The Peacock, Luigi Mangione charged with murder as act of terrorism in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing. Althouse catches ""It’s not often that my work gets a killer five-star review from an actual killer...." "In my 35 years as a filmmaker, have I said or done anything that has implied I condone murder?... Throughout my adult life, I have repeatedly stated that I’m a pacifist. In fact, I have never struck another human in my life. Not even on the playground...." Writes Michael Moore, in "A Manifesto Against For-Profit Health Insurance Companies/I hereby give you my Oscar-nominated Documentary on the Killer Health Insurance companies like United HealthCare —SICKO — for FREE… and let’s end and replace this so-called 'health care system' NOW" (MichaelMoore.com).

At Breitbart, Police Looking Into Possible Manifesto Left Behind by Madison Shooter. It appears to be typical feminist dogma. 

Beege Welborn, Stop the Presses - We Have the 'Lie of the Year'.  Nicole Silverio@NicoleMSilverio, "I'm old enough to remember when the White House called concerns about Joe Biden's mental capabilities "cheap fakes," or when they constantly said Hunter Biden wouldn't be pardoned by his father, or that Kamala Harris was a moderate. But PolitiFact believes pet eating rumors are the most significant lie."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: A Christmas Break From Baseball up on time at The Other McCain.