Flotsam and Jetsam - Iran Used Trash Bags to Simulate Mines in the Gulf of Hormuz

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair cites Axios: Trump Has the Upper Hand in Hormuz. VodkaPundit at PJM, hears Iran Mined the Strait of Hormuz With… Trash Bags? "According to reporting cited by CNBC's Brian Sullivan, shipowners said many suspected mines were decoys, including inflated trash bags," the IW post continued. "Separate reporting citing U.S. officials said more than 200 mine-like objects were cleared from the main shipping lane, but only around 11 were actual mines." Such deceptions have a long history in warfare. I reluctantly award them points for creativity. At Twitchy, People Are LOVING the Faces a CNN Panel Makes As Scott Jennings Explains Trump's WIN in Iran. Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "By any meaningful metric, we have won this war. Now it's time for the president to formally announce it to the American people." It's sad to see the CNN panel sad to hear America is winning." Insty, TRUMP IS CRUSHING IRAN WITH ALMOST NO (U.S.) CASUALTIES, AND PEOPLE ARE BITCHING: Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "FACT CHECK: True." Quote Marc Thiessen @marcthiessen, "Trump’s attack on Iran was not a blunder; it was the bravest foreign policy decision any president has done in my lifetime. He is the first president to take the words of our enemy seriously — and act before they were able to kill millions."

Sundance at CTH is happy to say Goodbye Canadian Oil – President Trump Announces “Biggest Oil Deal in World” with Venezuela. Trump: "The United States of America has just entered into an Agreement with the Country of Venezuela on, THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY! At my direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, working closely with Highly Respected Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and, through a partnership with private business, have secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer."" OilPrice, U.S. In Talks To Take Direct Ownership Of Venezuelan Oil Fields. Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "It’s the Venezuelan dividend. Take out the brutal dictator who turned a prosperous nation that pumped money out of the ground into a wretched impoverished third world hellhole. Welcome Venezuela back. Cut China and Cuba off from a cheap oil source. The other part. No accident this happened months before Iran. The IRGC had a presence in Venezuela. Supplied Venezuela with weapons, patrol craft. You want that in striking range of the southern coast of America?"

Sundance reports Russia Begins Targeting Dual Use Infrastructure in Kyiv, Tens of Thousands Flee the Region. Begins?

Don Surber predicts the Saudis will build nuclear reactors, "The only question is if they are build by Westinghouse or Red China. Democrats don’t want Westinghouse to land the contract." From Resp State, Trump wants to stabilize Libya. Militants have other plans. Of course they do.

From Space.com, 'It's going to be beautiful': President Trump signs order to create US Space Academy. "It'll attract, train and graduate the very, very best of our nation." Sundance, President Trump Announces the United States Space Academy. At Insty, VodkaPundit quips "It’s a shame the name Starfleet Academy is sullied."

Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "Caring about Donald Trump's idiosyncrasies is a waste of time. I care that the border is shut. That DEI is dying. That we're rebuilding our military. If he wants to say he's renaming a lake to freak out the squares, that's a bargain." Quote Emily Zanotti @emzanotti, "Just...just one shred of dignity. One. Please. x.com/Republicans/st…" The Appalachian Podcast @GetOnTap, "#BREAKING President Trump just announced that his administration is moving to allow farmers the ability process their own meat. This is huge for farmers, the economy, and for rural Americans who should be able to get meat from their neighbors. Long overdue, but these are the decisions we were hoping to see." Heather Champion @winningatmylife, "It was easy for Trump to walk right in and take over the Republican Party bc they were all false fronts. Kristol, Tucker. I resent this tremendously." Quote Bill Kristol @BillKristol, Replying to @BillKristol, "MAGA is a Red Scare, a Race Scare, and a Gender Scare all at once." To be fair, he was the man who put "neo" in neocon. Dave Hoile at Am Great says The International Criminal Court Is a Woke NGO. Shut It Down. "Secretary Rubio’s pledge to dismantle the ICC brick by brick will be easier to execute than many may think."

At Twitchy, Trump Blasts NYT's Maggie Haberman for ‘Sources Say’ 9/11 Smear, CNN’s Jake Tapper Rushes to Rescue "Maggot Hagerman, the Fake Reporter from The Failing New York Times, an unattractive person both inside and out, and who knows less about me than most reporters on the beat (She’s a SCAMMER!), made up a story that on September 11th, I’m not going to the World Trade Center, in New York City, because they won’t let me make a speech, and I’m going to the Pentagon in D.C., because I’m a featured speaker." "This is more Corrupt News, I’ve been to New York many times over the years, and no one ever speaks, it’s a “solemn ceremony!” I never even thought of what Maggot made up, and besides, I would love not to speak, because I’m speaking all the time, and this is a day to remember the victims, and their beautiful family members."" Insty says YOUR TERMS ARE ACCEPTABLE: Jelly Roll Dares Trump Fans to Stop Listening After Playing Court Jester for Jimmy Kimmel.

Matt Vespa at TownHall, That PA Measles Story Just Took a Wild Turn, At Hair Dave Strom looks at The Lie Buried in the Truth of Measles 'Associated' Deaths. A newborn died of a broken spleen, tested positive for measles. Commissioner Josh Parsons @CommissionerJP, "Correct. This is a point I have been making. The PA Sec of Health says she "thoroughly" reviewed the two cases. At the press conference they emphasized the two individuals were "unvaccinated." The underlying assertion was that this status was by choice. We later learned that one case was the infant who died at birth. The infant obviously had no opportunity to be vaccinated. A thorough review of the case by the PA Secretary of Health would obviously reveal this. Thus, stating it the way they did is an attempt to deceive the public. If there is one attempt to deceive the public in this matter, it is fair to ask if there are other attempts." Quote Madhava Setty @Madhava_Setty, "Replying to @AboutPediatrics @CommissionerJP and @SecKennedy You do realize that if the death was in a newborn calling it an unvaccinated death is ridiculous." Cary Kelly @CaryKelly11, "Blaming measles for a death a coroner said was caused by a lacerated spleen is stupid. Community notes, where are ya?" Quote Geraldo Rivera @GeraldoRivera, "Kids dying because they weren't vaccinated for measles is stupid." Also at Hat Hair, Beege Welborn on The Mystery Measles of Lancaster County", Unless someone coughs up a red, spotty corpse pretty quickly, power-mad Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro is going to have some serious 'splainin' to do." Secretary Kennedy @SecKennedy, "Governor Shapiro's unseemly rush to Lancaster County to convene a national press conference and his giddy delight in announcing two measles deaths was a morose commentary on the contemporary political dialogue. The performance was a replay of the Democrats' COVID playbook: fearmongering, misinformation, finger-pointing, and the weaponization of infectious disease fears for political gain..."

At Am Mind, John C. Eastman stares down The $40 Trillion Hole "Time to revisit the Constitution’s Spending Clause limits." Politicians just can't control their urge to give away taxpayers money.

Dmitri Bolt is happy to hear Scott Bessent Is Coming for Soros, CAIR, the SPLC, and the Left’s Tax-Exempt Empire. It's time to get rid of tax-free NGOs entirely, left, right or center. Make them part of the regular economy.

Ace wakes up to the realization, from the X Safety Team: We Have Uncovered 200,000 Bots and Fake Accounts Created by Chinese Intelligence to Propagandize Against Data Farms, "...so that China can win the AI race because the US just quit it." It almost worked with nuclear power. AG @AGHamilton29, "Keep this in mind when you see posts with tens of thousands of likes that happen to fit with the information war positions of certain adversaries. You think this is the only CCP bot farm? Any idea how many Iranian/Pakistani/Russian active bot farms currently exist on here and other platforms?"

Susie Crabtree at RCP reports the Secret Service Spokesman, Two Others Suspended Amid Leak Probe  "All three employees are based in the communications office. Placing Secret Service agents or officials on administrative leave and suspending security clearances is standard practice during an investigation and not a confirmation of wrongdoing."

Dave Strom, Abdul El-Sayed Will Save Jews From Global Warming! Jarvis @jarvis_best, "I was pleasantly caught off guard by the argument of former journalist Peter Beinart who responded to a group of Michigan Jewish Dems who were uncomfortable with El Sayed by telling them that El Sayed will stop global warming and global warming will be Bad For Jews." Capt. Ed, Piker Melts Down As Michigan's Jewish Dems Fight Back. Dave Strom again, Yes, It Matters Who You Embrace and Campaign With. Insty says NO. NEXT QUESTION? "Can Abdul el Sayed be trusted with intelligence community secrets?  To be fair, these days I’m not sure the intelligence community can be trusted with that stuff."A Hat Hair vid claims to know The Bloc of Michigan Voters the GOP Must Win Over. Am Con calls Alaska The Sleeper Race That Could Decide Senate Control, "Name confusion and the Last Frontier’s ranked-choice system may spell trouble for Republicans." CDM @CDM_PRESS, "NYT Killed A Story That Exposed How Democratic Spam PACs Drain Elderly Donors — And A Stanford Professor Had To Publish It Himself. A surprisingly concentrated group of elderly donors are responsible for the lion’s share of money raised by these groups. Full story in comments..."

At AMAC, Blue-City Blackouts Expose the Left’s Race Hustle. "In response to power outages in two blue cities, some liberal activists are blaming "racism" for delays in getting the lights back on. But there is one glaring problem with that theory." Black looters shooting at repairment and Blacks run the system from top to bottom. Being Democrats, you can be sure the system is being looted at the expense of maintenance. 

West Coast, Messed Coast™– Califraudia's Protection Act for Billion-Dollar Robber Barons. Bob Hoge at RedState sees Nick Shirley Leave a NYTimes Reporter Sputtering As He Educates Her on CA's 1st Amendment Assault. If I understand the law correctly, he should immediately file a complaint against her, and any other "unfriendly" new reporter that seeks to interview him, just as a lesson.

Matt Vespa reports  A Top FBI Official's Remarks About Running a Secret Government Are Now More Chilling. Tyler O'Neil at Da Signal says the FBI Followed Catholic Priests, Continued Richmond Memo Work After Removal Order: DOJ Report Finds.

Yashar Ali @yashar, "BREAKING via TMZ Milo Yiannopolous has been apprehended by ICE and is currently in a detention center." From Not The Bee, Former Trump supporter Milo Yiannopoulos has been arrested and detained by ICE. Sundance provides some details, ICE Arrests Milo Yiannopoulos for Overstaying Visa Pending Deportation and Removal. "Yiannopoulos legally entered the country on May 14, 2019, through New York City, New York. He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws.   Yiannopoulos was issued a final order of removal by an Immigration Judge on July 22, after failing to show up for his immigration hearing. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal." Dave Strom says  This Is Pretty Funny, Actually...  MILO @Nero, "California needs ICE checkpoints at supermarket entrances, gas stations, strip malls, intersections and government buildings, with on the spot deportation for anyone who can’t prove they are in the US legally."

From Ace, Rubio Suspends All H-1B Visa Processing, "Rubio tried to ban visas for citizens of countries who tend to abuse our welfare system. A Biden judge named Jeanette Vargas, get this, blocked this necessary measure." Mike Letts at PJM sees Minnesota Just Got Handed a Loss Following Its Absurd Request Over ICE Agent Christian Castro. "a federal judge who delivered the latest blow to the state of Minnesota, calling them out on the same insanity that Abbott saw. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. rejected Minnesota’s requests for a temporary restraining order, allowing Castro to walk free. That’s not to say he won’t face the charges down the road, but this is a step in the right direction."

From the College Fix, Trump’s loan limits prompt UPenn to help graduates find jobs. Campus Reform finds University of Pittsburgh curriculum features several classes on Marxism, including class on ‘racialized police violence’ and racial capitalism. At the Wash Stand, Trump Banned Federal DEI Programs, but Thrift Savings Plan Contracts Ignore the Order. Buck Throckmorton at Ace's  MORNING RANT: “Polite conservatism” didn’t put woke corporations on the defensive - conservative activists did; This time the target is the Big Four Accounting Firms.

NiohBerg @NiohBerg, "Reminder that in both Libya, Syria and Iraq, the moment civil war broke out and the ruling regimes lost control over entire regions, the locals immediately reopened slave markets. As if it was the most natural thing to do. Not all cultures are equal." Bob Spencer at PJM, Trump Says He’d ‘Absolutely’ Ban Sharia. From NYPo, CAIR blamed 9/11 on US support for Israel, recommended bin Laden’s writings in back-to-school guide: ‘Evil propaganda.’  Kyle Becker @kylenabecker, "Any “feminists” care to comment? Or is “feminism” just a Marxist scam to poison sexual relations and attack Western culture? It’s interesting what radicals attack and don’t attack. Because it exposes them all as frauds." Quote Faraz Pervaiz @FarazPervaiz3, "Canadian Islamic scholar Dr. Shabir Ally says: “A Muslim man can have 4 wives and an unlimited number of female sex slaves (concubines). The four wives are also slaves, but with higher status.”" At Hat Hair, Mark Judge writes on Jews, Literacy, and American Freedom.

James McGee at Am Spec looks at Iryna Zarutska, Lindsay Clancy, and the Politics of Who Gets Mourned. "Our culture has its victims and villains backward." Our culture doesn't. The left does. 

Capt. Ed, Nihilists, Man: WPATH Goes the Full Lebowski. "Now that it faces action from the Federal Trade Commission for fraud, however, WPATH suddenly wants to wrap itself in the First Amendment. All of those claims about a scientific basis for chemical and surgical sex changes on children? That was just their opinion, man! Call it the Full Lebowski." ripx4nutmeg @ripx4nutmeg, "At least four women's golf tournaments in Canada have been won by men this summer." Well, Cana Duh. 

Even more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 08.28.26! Linked at the Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. 

Maryland, My Maryland

 At the Balmer Sun, Could small modular reactors help ease Maryland’s energy crisis? 

As Maryland grapples with soaring electricity demand and rising energy costs, a Rockville-based nuclear company is betting that a new generation of small reactors could eventually help power the state — even as its first projects are being developed hundreds of miles away.

X-Energy Inc., with a Rockville headquarters and Frederick testing center, has plans in Texas and Washington state to generate electricity for chemicals giant Dow Inc. and retail behemoth Amazon. But its technology could be a fit for Maryland’s energy landscape, the company said in a recent interview with The Baltimore Sun.

The company is among developers of a range of new nuclear reactor technologies touted as compact, safe and flexible enough for a variety of sites but not yet in commercial use in the United States.

“Small modular reactors” cost less to build than traditional plants but can operate around the clock to generate carbon-free electricity, proponents say. Much smaller than conventional nuclear plants (typically under 300 megawatts), SMRs can be factory-built and assembled on-site, potentially reducing costs and construction time. They can be added in stages as electricity demand grows.
...
Baltimore-based Constellation, for one, the nation’s largest operator of nuclear plants, is in talks with developers about co-locating modular reactors at power plants across its U.S. portfolio, including at Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center in Calvert County. No deals have been announced.

“New nuclear and SMRs are going to be part of America’s future, and, we’re very hopeful, also part of Maryland’s future,” said David Dardis, a Constellation senior executive vice president and chief external affairs and growth officer. “Maryland has some pretty great advantages.”

“New nuclear” is a broad term for a new generation of nuclear energy technologies and business models that differ from the large, traditional nuclear power plants built mainly between the 1960s and 1990s.

Locating small reactors at existing plants makes sense, Dardis said. Calvert Cliffs would offer adjacent land, existing electrical infrastructure and water, used as a coolant.

I would be shocked if the regulators would let them tap into Calvert Cliffs cooling water. I thought many of the "small" reactor designs  used air cooling systems. I could see a small reactor on the Calvert Cliffs reservation, which is pretty big, right next to the AI data center that is also being considered on the the site.

A friend, and neighbor, former nuclear navy, works at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and is gung-ho for small reactors. I hope he gets to see this.

The Monday Morning Stimulus

 With the help of the triple threat Sarah Harris:

Kazinform, Scientists convert coffee waste into premium fuel in under two minutes

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and partner organizations reported that wet spent coffee grounds can be transformed directly into high-quality biochar using a flame plasma process, eliminating the need for the energy-intensive drying steps typically required in biomass recycling. 

Coffee consumption generates more than 10 million tons of spent coffee grounds worldwide each year. Most of this waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to environmental problems and greenhouse gas emissions.

The new technique uses a high-temperature flame plasma jet fueled by liquefied petroleum gas. The process heats coffee grounds containing about 55% moisture to temperatures of roughly 800°C to 900°C, rapidly evaporating water and converting the material into biochar. Unlike conventional methods, which often require lengthy drying and processing times, the conversion is completed in just 90 seconds.

According to the study, the resulting biochar reached a heating value of 29 megajoules per kilogram, about 33% higher than untreated coffee grounds and comparable to, or even exceeding, the energy content of standard anthracite coal. Researchers said the process reduced the original mass of the coffee grounds by more than 83% while producing a sulfur-free fuel that could generate fewer harmful emissions when burned.

One of the key discoveries was that the moisture naturally present in the coffee grounds actually helped improve the process. As water rapidly turned to steam under the intense heat, it created what researchers described as a "popcorn effect," forming a highly porous structure inside the biochar and increasing its quality as a fuel.

Very interesting, but I wonder why they aren't telling us the net heat value after subtracting the energy input from the "flame plasma process." Plasmas take power.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Marxists Take New York by Storm

At Hat Hair, Dave Strom sees Mamdani Is Now King of New York After Sweep in Congressional Primary Contests; DSA Rising Fast, Capt. Ed says And Now, the Good News From Last Night... UPDATE: NYT Hardest Hit? and cites Politico: You Know Who's Happy About DSA Wins This Cycle? (Give Politico some credit in this report from the House GOP confab this morning. The word pounce never appears. And readers have to get to the penultimate paragraph before seeing the word seized.), Duane Patterson asks do you Remember the Good Old Days When Trump Hatred Unified Democrats? and in a video, Siraj Hashmi for Larry thinks Hakeem Jeffries Is Done: Is This the End of His Career? PJM's Steve Kruiser calls it a Big Night for Comrade Mamdani's Commies in New York Primaries. At CTH, sundance claims ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Now Officially Controls the Democrat Party and Sean Hannity Aghast and Saddened When Lead Counsel of Trump Impeachment Loses Primary, Dan Goldman. At Twitchy, Joe Scarborough Tries to Run Away From Radical DSA Dems, Gets BODY CHECKED by Donnie Deutsch. C3 @C_3C_3, "The Democrats are electing America hating Communists and the Republicans are worried about the Filibuster Rule. Think about that…" Ace worries Socialists Take Over the New York Democrat Party, Eye a National Takeover. Jon Levine @LevineJonathan, "TLDR— NYC election results reflect highly educated yet downwardly mobile white people who are angry that their expensive degrees are worthless and people in jobs they find demeaning (electricians, plumbers) are making more than them." Ilya Shapiro @ishapiro, "It’s the omnicause reaching final fruition. Not that far a leap from thinking everything in America is structurally racist, sexist, and otherwise unjust according to the latest intersectional matrix and just thinking America needs to be ended." Quote Bridget Phetasy @BridgetPhetasy, "Pretty amazing how fast MeToo and BLM and climate anxiety has been replaced with DEATH TO AMERICA." I&I has a Poll: Nearly Half Of Democrats Say They Have ‘Favorable’ View Of Socialism. Vijeta Unyal at LI, reports Al Jazeera ‘Journalist’ Mourned by Mamdani was Hamas Terrorist, IDF Reveals. "Ahmed Washah “simultaneously served as a photojournalist for the Al Jazeera network and as a sniper operative for Hamas.”" At NYPo, Dad of Mamdani-backed NY primary winner Aber Kawass, who downplayed 9/11, was deported for property fraud — not ‘cruel’ immigration as she claimed. 

More at Hat Hair, Capt. Ed, Talarico in 2022: Let's Defund the Prisons!, Mitch Berg, Talarico: Will It Play Outside Austin? and Dave Strom, Wow: Representative Seth Moulton, Candidate for Senate, Assaults Questioner. "It's not exactly off the cuff. No doubt the response to it was gamed out in campaign meetings early." From NottheBee John Fetterman blasts Larry David for being embarrassed to be an American after the White House UFC fight. At USA Today, Forget Trump. Democrats have lost faith in America itself. "New polling shows a historic, and deeply partisan, decline in how proud Americans feel about their country, with Democrats driving nearly all of the drop." Amy Curtis at TownHall, Ted Lieu Vows Lawfare Against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Cam at BA says Hmm: Virginia 'Assault Firearm' Sponsors Say Governor Wants Amendments to New Law.

At PJM VodkaPundit explains How Government 'Affordability' Turns an $18 Antibiotic Into $2,500. Alex Berenson at Unreported Truths claims Anti-competitive hospital practices cost American families up to $2,500 a year, "Don't take it from me. The number is a (conservative) federal estimate. Much of the extra cash goes to executives like Steven Corwin, who made $26 million in 2024 running a "nonprofit" hospital chain." Mountain States Policy has an Analysis: Montana cut income tax rates, and revenues more than doubled. A Larry vid at Hat Hair, AARP's John Hishta Warns Social Security Faces a 20% Cut in 2032 Unless Congress Acts.

From Ace, Feds Announce Arrests of 455 Defendants Responsible for $6.5 Billion in Fraud Looted from the American People, "The Justice Department: National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 455 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $6.5 Billion in Alleged Fraud."

Capt. Ed SAVE Your Leverage? Trump Cancels Bill Signing Until ... Sundance, President Trump Cancels Bill Signing Event Due to Republican Intransigence on Save America Act. Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump, "Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT." AP, Trump administration announces $17.5 billion in loans for 10 new large nuclear reactors.

From Da Signal, the Great Victor Davis Hanson tries to explain Why the Media Called Trump a Warmonger…Then an Appeaser. At Hat Hair, Dave Strom thinks Vladimir Putin Is a Very Unhappy Man Right Now, John Sexton reports the Largest City in Crimea Goes Dark and China is Tightening the Noose Around Taiwan. Sundance hosts NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte Giving a “Remain in NATO” Pitch to President Trump in White House.

Teri Christoph at RedState likes how Usha Vance Expertly Trolls NYT 'Journo' Who Had Epic Melt Down Over MAGA Baby Boom. Sasha Stone @realsashastone, "Waaa Trump hurt my feelings..." Quote USA TODAY @USATODAY, "Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s done supporting the GOP, joining Tucker Carlson in a growing split with Republicans ahead of midterms."

Sundance hosts Secretary of State Marco Rubio Outlining Partnership Discussions from Kuwait. The Chronic claims Trump Played the Hormuz Hand He Was Dealt. News Wax cites Trump: Senate Iran Vote Helps Enemy.

Also at News Wax, Supreme Court Nears Major Trump Power Rulings "The cases involve his efforts to limit birthright citizenship, fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, oust ​Democrat members of independent agencies, and terminate a humanitarian legal status protecting hundreds of thousands of Syrian and Haitian immigrants from deportation." Ace, Fourth Circuit Overturns Lowly District Court Judge, Okays Trump's Expedited Deportations, "Congress passed a bill authorizing expedited deportation -- which could take as little as a few days. They called this, "expedited deportations." And Texas, DOJ Sign Joint Decree Declaring Biden's Prior "Backdoor Amnesty" to be Illegal and Void Mary Chastain at LI reports a Judge Blocks Trump From Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote. "The judge wrote that Congress holds election power, not the Executive branch."

NYPo sees Karmelo Anthony’s high-profile supporters pull out all the stops to get Austin Metcalf killer’s conviction overturned.

Stacy McCain examines Feminists and Their Problems and continues his coverage of the trans, vegan death cult, Zizian Cult Update: Michelle Zajko Charged With Murdering Her Parents. Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "BREAKING: MORE TRANS VIOLENCE Police in Colorado responded to calls of a stabbing in a Dairy Queen. They arrived to find a suspect fleeing by car and immediately gave chase. They were forced to shoot him after he crashed into multiple vehicles, injuring civilians. The deceased suspect was identified as Patti Wilson, a man pretending to be a woman. According to ‘westernslopenow’, someone who knew Wilson said he suffered from mental problems. Wilson also has a previous arrest for assault. The media and the coroner are referring to him as a “woman.”"  

When you tell your college son to shave and put on a suit and tie for his JP Morgan summer internship interview and then you see who at JP Morgan is going to be evaluating his appearance pic.twitter.com/r6nhiUN7To

— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) June 24, 2026

 At NYPo, Brendan O'Neill says Mr. Sensible Keir Starmer bowed to the left and made the UK an unholy mess — a stern warning to Democrats, and Brits visiting US for first time during World Cup are apologizing to Americans: ‘We were wrong’. AMAC notices Liberal Media Ignores the Ravaging of Britain.

Joanne Jacobs hears It's impossible to fail in Philly schools. It's too much paperwork.

And even more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.24.26. The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Meanwhile, Somewhere In The Great Basin a bit late, but within reason.

Flotsam and Jetsam - A Light Flow Day

The news is a little light after Trump's return from China. Don Surber asserts The Donroe Doctrine reaps rewards. "Arresting Maduro and killing an ayatollah or two spoke louder than words." From the Chronic, Russia Diminished? Russia is not, and never was, as powerful as they like to portray themselves, as they are finding out in Ukraine. If they didn't have nukes, they would be a regional irritation like Iran.

From Not a Lot of People Know That, Ed Miliband vows permanent shutdown of the North Sea. "I have long believed Miliband is determined to do as much irreversible damage to the country as he can before he gets chucked out." Decline is a choice, one that both British and American leftists assent to readily out of misplaced guilt for their previous successes.

At NottheBee, Listen to this trucker explain how “foreign” drivers are being sidelined just days after SCOTUS said companies are liable for them. GRANDPA’s FREE ADVICE @GOP_is_Gutless, "It took less than 24 hours for brokers to tighten the belt after the Supreme Court ruled that brokers could be held liable for carrier accidents WOW!"

Amy Curtis at TownHall says Bang Up Job, Gavin! Newsom's Press Office Launches Lame Attack on Reflecting Pool Project

Newsom has started doing this weird thing where he points to construction projects that are in progress and implies that the point at which the photo was taken is the project’s final form. He did it with the ballroom, too. It may explain a lot about his record on high-speed rail. https://t.co/fKqlwB6Wmb

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 14, 2026

At Twitchy, Mr. Science Says the Blue Reflecting Pool Will Just Support Even Greater Algae Growth. Not particularly. Algae will grow wherever sunlight meets water. But taking it off Tidal Basin water, and installing a filter system will help a lot. Althouse finds Fear of blue and desperate clinging to "character-defining grey." ""The resurfacing will dramatically and permanently transform the character-defining grey, achromatic appearance of the reflecting pool basin. The new colouration will cause the pool to resemble a large swimming pool rather than the reflective civic landscape it was designed to be, distorting the experience of the site for the millions of visitors who come to it each year." So said the Cultural Landscape Foundation, a Washington society, quoted in The London Times, which looks like this, going all in on AI imagery."

Dave Strom at Hat Hair, Drone Hits UAE Nuclear Power Plant; UPDATE: Trump: The Clock Is Ticking. There should have been an immediate reprisal attack against a powerplant supplying power to Tehran. Jason Greenblatt at Tablet speculates about Iran After the Ayatollah "With Iran militarily decimated and economically squeezed, Trump holds all the cards. But is a deal possible or worthwhile with a fragmented regime?" 

The OC Register reports a Poll: Democrats rally around Becerra, Steyer as Republicans consolidate behind Hilton. "The top two vote-getters will advance to the November election." Pretty much as I expected. I guess they don't hate billionaires that much. Twitchy, *SNORT* Spencer Pratt's Reaction to Nithya Raman PREENING About Possible Trump Endorsement Is PERFECTION. Althouse approves The women-empowering-women genre of political ad. "This new Spencer Pratt ad may be somewhat innovative in its forthright use of AI:"

“You are not alone.” Yoga moms, silent majority, and a preference cascade all in one. Whether or not Angelenos elect @spencerpratt as LA mayor, he and his team are revolutionizing politics. pic.twitter.com/l4pwOSmNUH

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 17, 2026

I can't say I really expect Pratt to win, but he's scaring the bejeezus out the the Dems. At the minimum, they will cheat as hard as they can to prevent it. Kurt Schlichter smokes the hopium at TownHall, The GOP’s Midterm Reversal of Fortune. Hat Hair's Larry Elder thinks Gavin Newsom Has a Kamala Harris Problem, can't beat Kamala without pissing off the black ladies who are a reliable element of the base. Dave Manney at PJM sees a 'Feeding Our Future' Convict Points at Ilhan Omar. "Founder and former executive director of Feeding Our Future, Aimee Bock, finds herself sitting in custody as one of the central figures in one of the ugliest COVID-era fraud scandals in America. A federal jury convicted Bock in March 2025 on seven counts tied to wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and federal program fraud ... Now Bock has pointed at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), claiming Omar knew about the fraud and helped create the conditions that made the scheme easier to run." At Fox, Jonathan Turley opines AOC's war on billionaires twists America's birth into a socialist myth, "Many Founders were themselves wealthy, and their revolution was rooted in property rights and free-market ideals, Turley says." As Stacy McCain notes, a tenet of the left is ‘There Is No Truth … Only Power.’

Cam at Bearing Arms is all over Minnesota Dems Melting Down After Gun Ban Vote Fails. Drew Roach @DrewRoachMN, "Democrats in the Minnesota House have gone completely UNHINGED When house dems didnt get the vote they wanted on the most extreme gun-grabbing bill in the country HF5140 one of their own, Rep. Gomez, actually told Republican @elliottengenMN to “go fucking kill himself.” This isn’t debate. This isn’t passion. This is deranged, toxic, and downright dangerous behavior from the same people who want to strip law-abiding Minnesotans of their constitutional rights. No class. No decency. Just pure meltdown when they’re challenged on disarming citizens while criminals roam free." From NYPo, New York crime ‘revolves’ around recidivists — as state’s laws release danger onto our streets.

Ward Clark at RedState thinks Russia Hoax Figures May Want Lawyers Handy After Blanche’s Latest Reveal. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "JUST IN: AG Todd Blanche confirms it’s ABOUT TO COME OUT as the DOJ probes the deep state coup against President Trump based on the Russia hoax “We're finding out some incredibly troubling things, and at some point at the right time, that will be made public, and the American people will see exactly what happened to this administration and President Trump over the past decade!” “The Southern district of Florida has an open criminal investigation. That involves hundreds of subpoenas, it involves hundreds of witnesses, and so, as far as time and one we can expect it, we are working hard and we are working efficiently, but we are going to do it right.” From the State of the Day, State of Thursday: MARK KELLY WOULD LOVE TO GO TO JAI, for releasing classified information, so he could play the martyr. Don't let him. Nickel and dime him with the legal process, but never come near him with handcuffs.

PJM's Stephen Kruiser thinks It's Awesome to Have the Feds Focusing on Real Criminals Again. FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash, "Today the FBI and our partners extradited the highest ranking member of Tren de Aragua (TdA) ever brought to justice - Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, aka "Chuqui. Flores just arrived in Houston from Colombia this evening. This is the first time ever that a TdA member has been charged with terrorism-related crimes and been extradited to the U.S. - history made pursuant to President Trump’s executive order last summer designating Tren de Aragua as an FTO ..."

At NYPo, Trans HS track athlete sparks shocking podium decision after sweeping California finals "A transgender high school athlete dominated multiple girls track and field events at a California regional final Saturday, igniting backlash from parents, competitors and activists, and prompting officials to award duplicate gold medals to female runners-up. Jurupa Valley High School senior, AB Hernandez, 17, captured first place in the girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump events during the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section championship final." Even California is getting tired of the trans bullshit.

The College Fix finds a U. Miami law professor who says We should consider making ‘cultural appropriation’ illegal J. Janewa Osei-Tutu. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas @andrealucasEEOC, "Should be obvious after 250 years but: “American” is a national origin. And English is our country’s official language. No American should be mocked—in the United States of all places—for speaking English or for being American. @USEEOC is taking action to protect Americans from anti-American bias, which is unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This week’s lawsuit is the latest step."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Writing Until Dawn up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Seizes Venezuelan Black Market Tanker

Upping the ante in his game with Nicolás Maduro, Trump ordered the US military to seize a tanker from Venezuela, flying under a false flag, carrying oil to sanctioned Iran. Matt Vespa at TownHall, We've Seized a Venezuelan Oil Tanker. "We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela," Trump said at a White House roundtable. "Large tanker, very large. Largest one ever seized action. And, other things are happening. So you'll be seeing that later. And you'll be talking about that later with some other people." John Sexton at Hat Hair, US Seizes Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela. At Da Wire, Trump Admin Drops Video Showing U.S. Forces Swarming Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast. News Wax cites Gorka to Newsmax: Seized Tanker Part of 'Shadow Fleet' "This is a member of a shadow fleet," Gorka said. "The attempts to evade sanctions, and also to just do an end run around international law with flags of convenience — we're not going to allow this anymore." Althouse goes to the NYT, "As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. A large tanker, very large. Largest one ever seized, actually, and other things are happening. It was seized for a very good reason." "Said President Trump. Quoted in "U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast, Trump Says/The seizure comes as the United States builds up its forces in the Caribbean as part of a pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela" (NYT)." One of her commenters added, "The tanker was loaded with Merey crude. This is a blended crude that uses heavy Orinco crude (very heavy, asphaltic, thick) and blends it with a lighter condensate crude that is shipped in from Iran for that purpose. The resultant Merey crude, which is then shipped back to Iran, can be refined there to produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other consumer and industrial products. Merey crude is sanctioned because of the Iranian component. Hence, the ship turns off its AIS beacon and runs 'dark', spoofing its position artificially, showing it as 'somewhere else' to fool those interested. US has satellites, so we can see where it actually is, instead of relying on beacons." From TNP, Trump Hints at Military Option in Venezuela, Declares Maduro’s Regime Nearing End. CNN whines Trump administration quietly builds plans for what would happen if Maduro were ousted in Venezuela. At the Free Bacon, Dealing With Maduro Is No Distraction. It’s a Necessity.

At Breitbart, Trump Believes ‘It’s Time’ for Ukraine to Hold Presidential Election. Sundance at CTH sees Strategic Positioning: Mexican Legislature Passes Trump-Level Tariffs Against Chinese Textiles, Shoes, Appliances and Autos. TNP hears China Admits Trump Tariffs Severely Damaged Its Economy. Francis Sempka at Am Spec approves of Trump’s Post-Globalist ‘Flexible Realism’. "The president’s NSS renounces globalism, deters rivals, and puts America’s sovereignty first."

Brickhouse @Brick_House04, "Republicans better stop running on foreign policy and start doing something here at home." Quote The Washington Times@WashTimes, "Democrat wins Miami mayor’s race for the first time in nearly 30 years." At RVM, Karoline Leavitt Cooks Dems as the ‘Greatest Con Artists’ Over Affordability Narrative. From Ace, In Astounding Coincidence the "Experts" Cannot Explain, US Oil Production Hits Record Highs as Gasoline Prices, Inexpicably, Fall to Lowest Levels Since the Chinese Engineered Bioweapon "Despite Trump's reckless determination to produce the Dinosaur Poison called oil, gas prices are falling. Natural gas production also hit record highs in August before slipping a bit." Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh,"HOLY CRAP! CNN has been FORCED to admit prices are going down in Donald Trump's economy It's getting so good, they can't ignore it anymore. "The price of gas, look at this! A 3.5 year LOW at $2.95 a gallon as of today!" "That is MILES away from the all-time [Biden] high set in 2022 of $5 per gallon." "It's a little bit lower than this point last year." Athena Thorne at PJM says Stop Worrying About the Midterms — Trump Prosperity Will Be Undeniable by Then. But most of the media and Democrats (but I redund) won't portray it that way.

TownHall's Dmitri Bolt reports The Fed's Decision Is Here "The Federal Reserve Board voted to cut interest rates by another quarter point for the third consecutive month. However, they seemed very unwilling to do more, as they are internally divided over which problem is worse, inflation or the job market." Ace, Fed Cuts Prime Rate 0.25%; Trump Pivots to "Make America Affordable Again" "A big reason for the loss of support from independents is the persistent Biden inflation and not-yet-hot economy. The Fed is resisting actually boosting the economy, making the smallest possible reductions in the prime lending rate incrementally to have the smallest possible positive impact on the economy. Remember, Powell cut interest rates shortly before the 2024 election despite still out-of-control inflation."

From the Free Bacon, an EXCLUSIVE: Trump Energy Department To Finance Up to 10 Nuclear Reactors in Bid To Kickstart Nuclear Energy 'Renaissance' "'If you're serious about better energizing the world, you also should be all in on natural gas and nuclear,' Energy Sec. Chris Wright tells Free Beacon." Cathy Salgado reports Education Department Ends Biden Student Loan Bailout.

Becca Lower at RedState, Senate Republicans Again Outmaneuver Dems in Their Attempt to Hold up Hundreds of Pres. Trump's Nominees. On Wednesday, on a party-line vote of 51-47 (two Republicans, Sens. Steve Daines (MT) and Rand Paul (KY), did not vote), they did it again, outmaneuvering the Dems while passing a procedural vote to confirm, get this. nearly 100 at one time."

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair calls it Too Good to Check: Did the NRSC Deke Dems Into Clearing the Field For Crockett? The New Republic, How GOP Secretly Helped Convince Jasmine Crockett to Run for Senate, "The National Republican Senatorial Committee pushed polls in Crockett’s favor." Ace, The National Republican Senate Committee Tricked Jasmine Ratchet Into Running for Texas Senate; Kumala Harris Still Wants to Run for President. "Marxist rag the New Republic reports on Republicans high-fiving each other for manipulating low-IQ narcissist into running for Senate. Apparently the Democrats were not polling to see how the plus-sized imbecile would do in a primary, so the Republicans did run one. And then they publicized the results when it showed her as a genuine threat to win the primary." From Twitchy, Jasmine Crockett Tells Jake Tapper the Exact Quote He Read About Latino Trump Voters Is NOT What She Said. 

Amy Curtis at TownHall hears Tim Walz Gets Testy With a Reporter Who Asked About Jailing Fraudsters. PJM's Matt Margolis thinks This Viral Clip of Walz and Newsom Talking About 'Masculinity' is Comedy Gold. Walz talking about his "identity." John Sexton at Hat Hair says Gavin Newsom Falls Short: Community, Confusion and Building Things. At Althouse, This is not satire. This is Gavin Newsom presenting his "truly vulnerable book." At Hat Hair Dave Strom says They Think Their Voters Are Idiots and Democrat Congressman: Yes, the US Is the 'Great Satan', Hank Johnson and Beege Welborn calls it the End Stage of Grief: Democrats Might Be Settling for the Best of the Worst, Kamala wants to run again. Amy Curtis, Mamdani's DSA Comrade Calla Walsh Is Back and Calling for the Dismantling of the United States. Matt Walsh @MattWalshBlog "The leftist mind in a nutshell. A white immigrant billionaire who makes rocket ships and electric cars is a “parasite” but an unemployed black Somali immigrant who scams the welfare system is an integral contributor to American culture who we must welcome and praise at all times. Quote Marco Foster @MarcoFoster_ "Jennifer Welch: “l just think it’s really important to remind everybody all the time that Elon Musk is a fucking immigrant that doesn’t pay taxes who is a parasite off the American taxpayer”" Elon paid $11 billion in taxes a couple of years ago. Driscoll at Insty cites JIM GERAGHTY: Wait, You’re Telling Me This Person Is Shifting the Overton Window? "Now I see the New York Times has published a long and mostly positive profile of Jennifer Welch, an interior designer and former Bravo reality TV star, who has co-hosted a podcast since 2022. The Times gushes that Welch is “the rare figure who appeals to the mainstream liberal, angers the Fox News viewer and thrills the dirtbag left. As she challenges Democrats from a more progressive stance, a portrait of Kate Moss in the frame behind her, she provides the sensation of watching the Overton window shift in real time.” Here’s Welch’s take on Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk: You are an opportunistic grifter who weaponizes your gender to demean women, and you are a walking, talking, breathing example as to why nobody, number one, wants to be a Christian, and number two, wants to be a female hypocrite such as yourself. . . . This woman should be kicked to the curb." Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY "Median Democrat." Quote Andrew Cooperrider @KYCooperrider "Kentucky Representative Sarah Stalker says white children need the opportunity to feel bad about their skin color in K-12 educational settings."

Insty, at his substack, Who are You? Voter ID law and election integrity should be top priority in new Congress. "Voters want it, and with good reason." Dan McLaughlin @baseballcrank, "Begun, the stolen-election theories have." Quote David Frum@davidfrum ""How to stop Trump's plan to steal the 2026 elections." Latest David Frum Show has posted in audio form. Video at noon ET today." 

TNP, House Democrats Move to Impeach RFK Jr., Hegseth.

Ace not a fan of Justice Ketanji D-EI: The President Must Defer to the Unelected "Experts" Who Should Really Run Our Lives for Us. "Ketanji D-EI doesn't bother hiding her Marxist disdain for the popular vote, preferring all powers to be held by a, let's say, Revolutionary Vanguard of some kind." At Am Mind, Bradley C. S. Watson thinks we need Shock Therapy for Our Lawless Legal System. PJM's Stephen Kruiser asks Can We Retro Impeach Biden for Ketanji Brown Jackson? Da Blaze, Activist judges overruled: Trump judges greenlight Hegseth’s ban on military 'dudes in dresses'. Still smarting from having his rulings overturned by the Supreme Count, shipwreckedcrew sees Judge Boasberg Call For Testimony From Disgruntled Former DOJ Attorney Over Alleged Defiance Of His "Turn The Planes Around" TRO. "My view of where this is headed after DOJ refuses to disclose legal advice given to HHS Sec. Noem regarding the deportation of Tren de Aragua gang members." Beege Welborn is outraged that a MA Judge Rules Trump's Offshore Wind Ban 'Contrary to Law'. Ace again, Federal Judge Okays the Release of Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts, "So we'll see." I predict a dud. 

Matt Vespa sees Joy Reid Drops a Sane Line...and It's Brutal Toward Merrick Garland. Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "Barbara thinks it’s OK that 75% of these allegedly non-partisan civil servants refused to work under a Republican president. She further thinks that we should respect them." Quote Barbara Comstock @BarbaraComstock "Destruction at DOJ: Since January, the [Civil Rights] division has lost about 75% of its attorneys, which the letter says was part of a "coordinated effort" to drive people out. "The new priorities of the division are really rooted in partisan politics, and not protecting the x.com/senbooker/stat…" John Sexton, DOJ Makes Rule Change to End Disparate Impact Liability. PJM's Cathy Salgado hears the Charlotte Sheriff Gripes That Iryna’s Law Is Likely to Overcrowd Jails.

At Insty has a LEGAL EDUCATION UPDATE: “Our Job is to Teach the Children, Not be the Children:” UVA lawprof Xiao Wang exposes immature and unprofessional behavior by his colleagues. "Professor Xiao Wang, director of University of Virginia’s Supreme Court Clinic, litigated the case of Ames v. Ohio Youth Services. The thrust of the case was quite simple, and intuitively appealing: Heterosexual employees alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation have the same burdens as homosexual employees alleging such discrimination. Such symmetry is built into our antidiscrimination laws, which is why the laws ban discrimination based on “race” or “sex” or “sexual orientation” and not “against people of color” or “women” or “people who identify as LQBTQ.” Not surprisingly, the Court reasserted this principle in a unanimous opinion. While the case was pending, however, Wang and his students were subjected to a campaign of harassment by some of his faculty colleagues and other students. You can watch a video of him recounted what transpired, and inspired the title of this blog post, here."

Betsey Stauffer at LI hears Slotkin Drops Stunning New Explanation for Releasing ‘Seditious Six’ Video. “There [were] so many people coming to us, who were on active duty … saying … I’m going to be asked to do things I either don’t think are legal or I’m not trained for. What do I do?” "I don’t know if I’d be held accountable later after this administration." Still threatening the military.

At Am Great, the Great Victor Davis Hanson discourses on Immigration Gone Wild "A border abandoned and laws ignored have turned public frustration into a sweeping backlash that now threatens even legal immigration." Dan McCarthy at RCP, Democrats' Border Debacle Is the Media's, Too. The Dank Knight @capeandcowell "How is this even considered to be controversial. This quote should replace the one on the Statue of Liberty" Quote Breaking911 @Breaking911, "POTUS: "If you don't share our values, contribute to our economy, and assimilate into our society, then we don’t want you in our country." From the Center Square, HUD terminates Biden-era guidance, claiming it unfairly favors Afghans. At NYPo, Ilhan Omar blasted over resurfaced comments on Somali influence in the US as Elon Musk suggests she committed treason. From Da Caller, Somalis Who Complained About Trump ‘Garbage’ Comments Involved With Company Accused Of Medicaid Fraud. VodkaPundit at Insty calls this COLONIZATION, STRAIGHT UP: Defiant L’s@DefiantLs "“If a loving father wants to marry off his nine-year-old daughter to a righteous man and all parties consent, what is the issue with that?” This is North Carolina btw." Driscoll sees a hopeful CHANGE: Ryan James Girdusky @RyanGirdusky, "Preliminary data on births and fertility show that Trump's mass deportation plan is working. During Sept.-Oct., the number of foreign-born women having children in the U.S. declined in 41 states. Free substack article here: https://natpop.substack.com/p/birth-data-c."

From NYPo, MS-13 leader with ties to Honduran assassin squad obtained California driver’s license using real name: feds. News Wax reports Trump Plans Militarized Zone on California-Mexico Border and DHS Nabs N.J. Twins in Plot to Shoot ICE Agents 'on Sight'. At Fox, Noem says Zohran Mamdani could be 'violating the Constitution' with advice on evading ICE agents. "DHS secretary said anti-ICE threats are 'unbelievable' on 'Hannity'"

At PJM VodkaPundit notices Bari Weiss Named a New CBS News Anchor, and the Response Is the Funniest News Ever

From Campus Reform, Cal Lutheran’s TPUSA chapter was rejected because students think they have a right to comfort. John Sexton, University Votes Down TPUSA Chapter on 'Comfort' Grounds. Capt. Ed sympathizes with Erika Kirk: Please Stop Attacking My Family, You Ghouls.

Mary Chastain at LI is amused that Iran, Egypt are Furious About Having to Play in Seattle’s Pride Match in World Cup "Grab the popcorn!"

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