Flotsam and Jetsam - Swalwell Slinks Away - Trump Blockades Iran

When we checked in yesterday, California congressman and governor candidate Eric Swalwell was facing multiple accusations of rape and or sexual misconduct, and his supporters in the party seemed to be abandoning him. Stacy McCain, on The Christine Blasey Ford Standard and the Sudden Destruction of Eric Swalwell, Victory Girls see The Fallout Continues: Eric Swalwell Faces Calls To Resign From Congress. Then the Peacock crowed Eric Swalwell drops bid for California governor after sexual misconduct allegations "The Democratic candidate faced widespread calls to end his campaign, with many supporters withdrawing their endorsements." At Twitchy, Eric Swalwell Suspends Calif. Gubernatorial Campaign and Now EVERYBODY Has the Same Question. Sunny @sunnyright, "If you’re not fit to run for governor, you’re not fit to serve in Congress." Michael Knowles @michaeljknowles, "So you admit you’re unfit to serve as governor, but you plan to remain in Congress?" Quote Eric Swalwell @ericswalwell, "I am suspending my campaign for Governor. To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past." To be fair, the standards for Congress are pretty low. Also, 'Lots of Stuff RUMBLING': Eric Swalwell's BFF Ruben Gallego Should Probably Just Go Ahead and Resign NOW. EducatëdHillbilly™ @RobProvince, "We knew Trumps prostate results but the press couldn’t be bothered with this for a decade. You don’t hate them enough." Quote Politics & Poll Tracker @PollTracker2024 "NBC News: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) sent an unsolicited dick pic to a 24 year old on Snapchat who was seeking a job on Capitol Hill. Steven Tavares @eastbaycitizen, "I’ve covered Eric Swawell since he was a member of the Dublin City Council. Shortly after being elected to Congress in 2013, his behavior towards women was known by all levels of our local government and the Alameda County Democratic Party." Stephen L. Miller @redsteeze, "Do you know what you're actually admitting here?" EducatëdHillbilly™ @RobProvince, "Again… the press and the entire Democrat Party knew he was a rapist and a sexual predator and kept it a secret until he was in the way and needed removed." Quote New York Post @nypost, "Influencer's husband threatens Eric Swalwell after he allegedly bombarded her with nudes and turned up at her house https://trib.al/ViaN3h5" At NYPo, Eric Swalwell paid illegal Brazilian live-in nanny under the table with campaign funds, complaint alleges. From Althouse, "We want a full house cleaning. Get the garbage out of here. These jerks are destroying Congress, for the American people and for all of us who came here to do good work." "Said an unnamed House Democrat, quoted in "Swalwell scandal threatens cascade of House expulsion votes" (Axios). But: "Many rank-and-file House members are territorial about their prerogatives and terrified of the precedent it would set to expel someone on the basis of allegations that haven't been fully adjudicated — even when they are highly unsavory."

Matt Vespa at TownHall, With the Collapse of the Iran Talks, Trump Hints at One Card He Could Play in Response Update, He did it: The White House @WhiteHouse, ""Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz." - President Donald J. Trump." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears Trump: We Will Seize Ships That Paid the Mullahgeld. Streif at RedState reports CENTCOM Starts the Iranian Blockade Monday - Here Are the Rules and What to Look For. John Hinderacker at Power Line, We’re Blockading Iran, Not the Strait. Sundance at CTH sees Trump Cut Off the Money – U.S Military Will Start Enforcing Embargo of Product No One Is Supposed to Be Buying. Clandestine @WarClandestine, "Many don’t seem to understand this “blockade”. Trump is NOT blocking the entire strait. The only ships being blocked are ships attempting to leave/enter Iranian ports, namely oil exports. All other commercial ships will be free to pass. Trump is squeezing Iran, and simultaneously forcing the world to buy oil from us, while also securing the strait for safe passage for other commercial vessels traveling to/from other nations in the Arabian Gulf, like UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc. This is all around an excellent move, which is exactly why the usual suspects are so upset about it." Quote U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM, "U.S. to Blockade Ships Entering or Exiting Iranian Ports TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the..." NiohBerg @NiohBerg, ""I don't understand the blockade? Why is Trump doing this, isn't it going to harm him?" Answer: The IRGC believes they are the only ones who can threaten with extortion, and Trump is showing them two can play this game. He's playing by their own rules." The Drunk Republican @DrunkRepub, "This is the most America First shit I’ve ever seen." Quote Dan Gambardello @dangambardello, "This is the Gulf of America, packed with supertankers racing to load up on US oil. Record exports."

At the NYT Althouse finds "[A]s Vice President JD Vance took a podium in Pakistan and said no deal had been reached had been reached to end the war in Iran... President Trump... was surrounded by people, but Mr. Trump was somehow an isolated figure...." and "So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not." ""Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz." Writes Trump at Truth Social." From Sundance, JD Vance Announces “No Deal” or Agreement with Iran Following 21 Hours of Negotiations, President Trump Releases a Statement on the Iranian Refusal to Stop Building a Nuclear Weapon, Sunday Talks – President Trump Interview with Maria Bartiromo on Iran Conflict Status and A Pragmatic Perspective on the Iran Conflict. Scott McKay at Am Spec thinks It May Not Be a Ceasefire. It Might Be a Strategic Pause. "On April 17 over Kharg Island there will be a new moon, perfect conditions for Navy SEALs to do their work." From the Free Bacon, Managing the Mullahs: What a Negotiated Victory Over Iran Looks Like. From NYPo, Trump threatens China with ‘big problems’ if they arm Iranian regime with air defense systems.  

Wilfred Reilly @wil_da_beast630, "I don't like braggadocious talk about this sort of thing, but we seem to have killed 7,000 Iranian troops and lost 15 people (albeit largely due to armor: 600 hurt). Iran's entire senior leadership is dead. Their nuke program is gone. This is all being quite openly discussed, in real, "gray net" spaces. We should push harder on the Strait, but what does "they won" logically mean?" Quote Noah Smith, @Noahpinion "America is the first country in over two centuries to lose a war to Iran, thanks to Trump x.com/realDonaldTrum…"Roger Kimball at Am Great looks at Trump, Iran, and the Theater of Moral Panic. "Trump’s “outrageous” rhetoric unnerved critics, but it masked a blunt strategy: overwhelm Iran militarily, force leverage at the table, and leave opponents scrambling to keep up." Jesús Enrique Rosas - The Body Language Guy @Knesix, "Here’s what drives people nuts on both sides: Trump is not the cartoon character. Not the genius his fans worship, not the idiot his critics need him to be. He's just a stubborn, calculating guy who creates chaos the way a magician creates misdirection. While you’re distracted watching the fireworks, he’s already three iterations ahead with furious execution. And he doesn’t bluff the way people think he bluffs. He just couldn't care less about the part of diplomacy where everyone pretends to be polite while lying to each other’s faces. He skips that step entirely, which looks unhinged if you’re used to the old choreography but is genuinely disorienting if you’re the guy on the other side of the table who had a whole manipulation strategy mapped out. Iran found this out the hard way..." Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "Possibly one of the more obtuse, ill-informed things he's said. And that's a high bar." Quote David Frum @davidfrum, "Every country in Asia is thinking right now: "Well we don't love China, but unlike Trump's USA it has never cut off our energy supply. Maybe they're a more reliable and responsible partner for our future security. At least they're predictable."

Sana Ebrahimi Ledene @__Injaneb96, "There used to be a rumor floating around among Iranians: that as part of the Nuclear Deal, Obama quietly handed out 3,500 green cards to regime officials and their families. At the time I thought it sounded crazy. But now with so many children of top regime figures, professors, researchers, lobbyists, comfortably living in the U.S. on green cards, it doesn’t sound like a rumor anymore. It actually feels real. I came to America on a student visa. I had to go through an entire month of security clearances, background checks, interviews, the whole process. There’s zero chance these people got here through normal channels. No way. Something smells off." At Am Great, the Great Victor Davis Hanson says By All Means, Let the War Crimes Trials Begin!. "Trump’s critics cry “war crimes” while ignoring decades of U.S. precedent—revealing less a legal argument than a reflexive, and deeply selective, political outrage." Dave Strom at Hat Hair thinks Senator Mark Kelly Is Full of ...It. Sh.

Nick Arama at RedState hears a big Boom: CNN Host Obliterates Dem Narrative About Removing Trump From Office. Mike LaChance at LI, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Other Dems Laughably Demand Cognitive Assessment of Trump. “Experts have repeatedly warned that the President has been exhibiting signs consistent with dementia” Dave Strom, Elevating Evil People to Own Trump Is SOP. No Pasaran! French Media Outlet: "Today, Donald Trump is the most rational and the most Cartesian national leader on the planet." And just for the "news" value: 

🤬 🇫🇷 Ativistas do FEMEN, movimento feminista radical, realizam protesto em Paris para denunciar o caso envolvendo Jeffrey Epstein e “a impunidade das elites envolvidas no escândalo”.
https://t.co/z49K57w7TW

— République (@republiqueBRA) April 12, 2026

At Althouse, Tim Dillon explains Melania's Epstein speech, but not well. 

Scott McLallen at TownHall, Trump’s White House Ballroom Can Resume Construction, Court Rules. "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia gave a 2-1 ruling on Saturday." 

Breitbart Bus, Underlying Inflation Falls to Lowest Levels in Five Years.

Fake Mark Carney @MarkCarney_Ego Parody account, "Last year, Justin Trudeau set the tone of nationwide fear, telling Canadians not to travel to the US. Now, he's on vacation in California. I wonder how long it will take Canadians to realize that the anti-American fear campaign was just a way to score cheap political points." Tablesalt @Tablesalt13, "40% of Canadians who would rank in Canada's top 1% of earners have emigrated to the US, along with 30-50% of the next 9% This is from the Bank of Canada. ....and you wonder why they are discussing an EXIT VISA? The ENTIRE power structure of Canada is being defunded."

USA Today opines Democrats 'lost the plot.' Now they're losing voters.  John Stossel at Hat Hair looks at Democrats plans to Tax the Rich?

PoIiMath @politicalmath, "It's crazy watching the moderate left defend Piker. This guy is basically Nick Fuentes of the left but he gets invited to Oscar parties, is objectively evil in very obvious ways, and is not very smart Why circle the wagons for this guy?" Quote Legal Phil @Legal_Fil "Klein's declaration that Piker—an antisemite who also is a racist, defends terrorism, and shocks a dog so that it remains as a prop during his streams—is "not the enemy" was so outrageous that even the Times felt the need to change the title of the op-ed to hide the ball." The left's Rule is "no enemies to the left."

At NYPo the Divine Miranda Devine is content that Tulsi Gabbard keeps her focus on revealing Deep State’s dirty secrets — even as it tries to take her down.

MD Kittle at Da Fed thinks a Mid-Air Birth Flies Home How Stupid Birthright Citizenship Is. No Pasaran thinks it's a Double Standard: How Can One Insist That Illegals and/or Anchor Babies Are U.S. Citizens If "We Live on Stolen Land"?!

At Campus Reform, Berkeley student throws coffee at TPUSA table promoting pro-life debate. To the left, speech is violence, and violence is speech. Bob Graboyes at Bastiat's Window warns Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Disgruntled, Underemployed PhDs "Encourage your kids to develop widely, wildly, diversified portfolios of ambitions rather than focusing all efforts on one risky goal."

From the Babylon Bee, Here's What Each Of The 73 Letters In Canada's New LGBT Acronym Stands For.

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Probably Not This Year up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Random Celebrity News

For some values of "random", "celebrity" and "news." At Althouse, Nakedness presented as fashion is an old idea: "Robert Altman put an all-nude runway show at the end of 'Pret a Porter' in 1994."

"Anthony Haden-Guest wrote that Grace Jones showed up fully nude at Studio 54 so much that it became a bore. . . . Said WaPo style reporter Shane O’Neill, in "The controversy over Bianca Censori’s naked Grammys outfit with Kanye West/Unpacking 'naked dressing,' power dynamics and what that red carpet stunt really meant."

I've been avoiding this topic because I like to withhold attention from people who are trying to get attention, but I liked Shane O’Neill's way of addressing the story, which I'm sure you've noticed.

The one thing I'd like to add is that I assume Censori is in on the performance and just as dedicated to it as Yoko Ono was part of "Two Virgins" — way back in 1968 . . . 

About the only reason I can find to watch the Grammies. From OutKick, Champions League Host Eva Murati Gets Into Lingerie Modeling & Cements Herself As A Must Follow 

Eva Murati taught us that you can't sit around and feel sorry for yourself when your team loses. She, without missing a beat, got right back up and recovered from Albania's disappointing loss over the summer with a bikini vacation. It was then that the Albanian actress, model, and Champions League host first made an appearance on the radar. She was crossing over from the soccer world to a relatively new audience in the States.

The 29-year-old was back on Tuesday afternoon cementing herself as a must follow on Instagram. She had another message to share with her growing following and once again found herself on our radar. That message for both soccer fans and those who aren’t is that timing is everything. We're days into February and if you were going to get into lingerie modeling there isn’t a more perfect time to do so.

Hey, somebody has to sell underwear; it might as well be someone good looking. From W, Gisele Bündchen Welcomes Third Child. 

Gisele Bündchen, 44, has given birth to her third child, according to TMZ. This is her first child with boyfriend Jaoquim Valente, 35, to whom she was first linked in November 2022. Bündchen shares son Benjamin Rein, 15, and daughter Vivian Lake, 12, with her ex-husband Tom Brady. The ex-NFL star is also dad to Jack, 17, from a previous relationship with Bridget Moynahan.

Per TMZ, Bündchen welcomed her little one “recently” and is “happy.” Further details weren’t available, and the couple have remained tight-lipped throughout the pregnancy. Bündchen’s pregnancy was publicized in October 2024 when she was believed to be about five months along. “Gisele and Joaquim are happy for this new chapter in their life and they're looking forward to creating a peaceful and loving environment for the whole family,” an insider said at the time.

The Mix, Kid Rock Seen Getting Into Cab With MAGA Rep. Lauren Boebert At 2:30AM

We don’t think we’re breaking news here when we say that “MAGA World” has been on a bit of a tear lately celebrating various political victories. For Republicans, it’s been a long four years since COVID, so many are understandably taking the opportunity to party it up.

We’re also not breaking news to say that MAGA has created a pretty diverse coalition, which sometimes makes for strange bedfellows.

Which brings us to Donald Trump super fan Kid Rock, and MAGA Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado.

The pair were reportedly seen getting into a taxi cab after leaving a bar at around 2:30am last month.

Whatevs. I'm sure it was hard to find a cab in DC at 2:30 AM. From Bounding into Sports sees Tom Brady Can Barely Keep It Together Over Joke About Bill Belichick’s 24-Year-Old Girlfriend

New England Patriots legend Tom Brady could barely stifle the laughter after hearing a joke about former coach Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend. Belichick is dating former cheerleader Jordon Hudson. She is nearly 50 years younger than him. Five decades. Half a century.

Brady took part in a satirical interview show known as Sundae Conversation with Caleb Pressley. Think Between Two Ferns but for sports. At one point toward the end of the segment, Pressley asked Brady if he thought Belichick followed his “TB12 Method,” a whole-foods-based diet to improve performance and recovery.

“Nah, no, he’s like a big carb guy,” the seven-time Super Bowl champ quipped. I don’t know, man; if you’re dating a 24-year-old, you’re going to need something for performance and recovery. If it’s not TB12, then it’s probably Ro Sparks.
. . .
“If Bill Belichick’s girlfriend needed it, would you rent a car for her?” Pressley continued.

After letting it sink in that the age to rent a vehicle is 25, Brady lost it. “I don’t want any liability,” he replied after finally regaining his composure.

I'll bet he can afford it. Nick Arama at Red State says it's Priceless: What Sheryl Crow Just Did With Her Tesla Accidentally Proves Elon Musk's Point.

Ah, liberal celebrities. What would we do without them? Their virtue-signaling is always fun to laugh at. Take Sheryl Crow, for example. She just did something that she clearly wants people to think she's stunning and brave, announcing on her Instagram that she'd sold her Tesla and was donating the proceeds of the sale to NPR. She showed her car being hauled away as she waved.

“My parents always said... you are who you hang out with.There comes a time when you have to decide who you are willing to align with. So long Tesla. Money donated to NPR, which is under threat by President Musk, in hopes that the truth will continue to find its way to those willing to know the truth.”

Democrat cult narrative language -- "President Musk." Check. Empty useless message to Elon after she already paid for it. Check. Truth being only what she thinks it is, even if it has no relation to reality. Check. Freakout over someone working for free to fight waste and abuse? So dumb.

They truly believe anything they're told. She could actually take the time to see the things that DOGE has uncovered so far, but that might take being open-minded and not just parroting the Democratic narrative.
. . .
But if it proves anything besides the fact that celebrities don't live in reality, it actually proves how NPR -- if it wants to exist -- can be fully funded like this privately. It doesn't need any taxpayer money, as FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr observed.

At this point I'm utterly unfazed when a celebrity does something liberal, and pleasantly surprised when one shows signs of common sense. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Demure, Relaxed, & In Her Lane ready and waiting at The Other McCain.

Topless Mopsters Protest Conservative Victory in France

At Wokespy, French Feminists Protest Against National Rally Support… By Topless Mopping

Topless feminists in France have taken to the streets to protest against a surge in support for right-wing parties in the country’s ongoing parliamentary elections.

The snap elections were called by President Emmanuel Macron after strong results for anti-woke and populist movements in the European Parliament elections at the start of June. An improved performance for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally echoed similar results for right-wing parties across the continent.

France holds two rounds of voting to elect its parliament, with the first taking place on Sunday, June 30. National Rally and its allies topped the polls once again securing 34% of the vote – more than 13 percentage points ahead of President Macron’s Ensemble coalition.

So, if we elect Trump, we can expect to see this in Washington D.C.?

The Wombat has Rule Five Sunday: All American Girl up and running at The Other McCain.

Philly Celebrates Summer

At NYPo, Cyclists bare it all during Philly’s 13-mile Naked Bike Ride: ‘Very freeing experience’

Hundreds of cyclists dressed down for a breezy ride through some of Philadelphia’s main streets Saturday during the 14th Philly Naked Bike Ride.

The eye-catching annual affair began in 2009 and revealed itself as an event to promote body positivity, cycling and fossil fuel reduction.

The event seems to encourage riders to go au naturel — and organizers stress there are no constraints, with participants able to go as “bare as they dare” for the roughly 13-mile journey.

The often pants-less pilgrimage changes from year to year, but typically takes bikers baring it all on a brisk ride past iconic city landmarks. 

This year’s route passed the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the steps of which were featured in the “Rocky” movies, as well as City Hall, Rittenhouse Square, and the South Street entertainment area before finishing at Independence Hall.

“One of the goals of the Philly Naked Bike Ride is to desexualize nudity and to encourage everyone to embrace nudity as a normal, enjoyable way of life,” the event’s code of conduct reads.

I suppose there are sillier ways to waste a day, but off hand, I can't think of one. I wonder if they rode by my old parent institution, the Academy of Natural Sciences (now the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University). 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Salma Hayek up on time at The Other McCain.

Maryland, My Maryland

Charlotte Hazard at JTN, Maryland school district says parents can't opt their kids out of learning gender identity ideology

Maryland school district informed parents via email that they are not allowed to opt their children out of "engaging with any instructional materials" related to gender identity ideology.

Last week, parents in Montgomery County Public Schools received an email that informed them that they would not be notified anymore about the instructional materials used for that subject matter.

The email said that students could not opt out of the lessons like they used to be able to, in order to create a more "inclusive environment."

"MCPS expects all classrooms to be inclusive and safe spaces for students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members in the LGBTQ+ community," the district stated.

"A broad representation of personal characteristics within curricular or instructional materials promotes this desired outcome," the statement continued. "Therefore, as with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers utilize these inclusive lessons and texts with all students."

Montgomery County Public Schools made it clear that students can still opt out of sex education, but have to complete lessons on gender identity.

And giving Florida Man a run for his money,  WJLA reports Man strips naked, jumps on Montgomery Co. fire truck after crash

A man who got naked after a crash in Montgomery County is in the hospital Friday morning, officials said.

Pete Piringer, the chief spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service, said crews responded to Interstate 270 near Montrose Road for a personal injury crash. Once on the scene, Piringer said crews came across an unattended vehicle and the alleged driver of that vehicle "disrobed" and "dropped all his clothes in the middle of the road."

Piringer said the nude man attempted to get into several vehicles before he jumped onto the moving fire truck.

The closer you get to Washington D.C. the crazier they are. 

Oregon, My Oregon

Protesters gather around a fire they started
 in the early-morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 1,
 in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

Jazz Shaw at Haut Hair, DHS gathered intel on Oregon protesters. What happened to it?

If this was intended to be some sort of “October surprise,” it’s among the lamest we’ve seen in a while. The Associated Press is reporting on what is allegedly some sort of scoop coming from Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. It consists of an “internal review” of Homeland Security documents showing that DHS officials gathered intelligence information about protesters (rioters, actually) in Oregon during the “summer of love” BLM riots in Portland. Wyden and his friends are apparently appalled that the FBI collected information to create what are called Operational Background Reports on the protesters who were burning down Portland, along with some of their known associates. Imagine that… the FBI actually collected information on people who were from a politically favored group. It’s hard to imagine in the current era.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials under then-President Donald Trump compiled intelligence dossiers on people who were arrested at Black Lives Matter protests in Portland, Oregon, according to a newly unredacted internal review.

The 76-page report is an internal review by DHS of actions carried out by its Office of Intelligence and Analysis in June and July 2020, when militarized federal agents were deployed to Portland against people protesting police abuses in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer.

When the dossiers were being compiled, some DHS analysts voiced concerns over the legality of collecting intelligence “on protestors arrested for trivial criminal infractions having little to no connection to domestic terrorism,” the DHS report said. Some of the employees even refused to participate.

Portland police walk past a dumpster fire during  a crowd
dispersal on August 14, 2020 in Portland, Oregon.

 

The fact that this report existed isn’t actually news. It was released last year, but there were redactions included in it. Since was the report was initially ordered under the Trump administration, Wyden seemed to feel it was important to leak the unredacted version to demonstrate how people engaged in the riots were “targeted” by the government under Trump.

The defense being offered for the rioters in the AP’s coverage of this story is simply stunning. It takes us right back to the now-famous days of the MSM’s coverage of the “mostly peaceful protesters” while they stood in front of businesses, police stations, and courthouses that were literally going up in flames.

They speak of intelligence being collected on people for “trivial criminal infractions having little to no connection to domestic terrorism.” They also incredibly cite a portion of the report dealing with who might have been organizing the riots, saying that “overwhelming intelligence regarding the motivations or affiliations of the violent protesters did not exist.”

Seriously? Were they not watching the nightly video footage coming out of Portland? Were they unable to see the Black Lives Matter banners and graffiti covering the ruined walls and streets? I really don’t believe that you need much imagination to determine the “affiliations” of the rioters.

A nude protester faces off against law
 enforcement officers during a protest against racial
 inequality in Portland, Ore., on July 18.

Compare that to Pastor Paul Vaughn, who was dragged out of his home at gunpoint in front of his wife and children by three carloads of FBI agents as the kids were getting ready for school. How many buildings did he burn down? How much of his city did he destroy? Actually, he was “wanted” for having led a group of parishioners in singing hymns at an abortion clinic.

Really, compiled dossiers on people trying to burn federal courthouses? How dare they? I do wonder how many FBI agents they had embedded in the BLM riots? If it was anything proportional to the Whitmer fednapping, it would have taken a significant commitment of manpower.

Now That's a NutCracker!

You'd have to look close

Christmas time is here, by golly, disapproval would be folly! NYPo, Playboy model kicked out of Miami mall for topless Nutcracker stunt

A Playboy model apparently was kicked out of an unidentified Miami mall for wearing nothing but body paint, a hat and a thong while impersonating the Nutcracker.

Francia James, 30, filmed the frisky stunt last week, before posting the footage to her Instagram page, Jam Press reported.

The Colombian-born beauty was seen standing in the mall’s mezzanine with her breasts on full display as she handed out peanuts to men who were passing by.

“You want a nut? You can take a nut,” the model was seen asking shoppers.

James’ stunt was a play on “No Nut November” — an internet challenge in which participants abstain from masturbation for the month.

 

“It’s No Nut November!” she told one man, who quickly quipped back: “I already failed!”

Several men were delighted by the racy star’s stunt, but it apparently did not amuse a man who appeared to be a security guard who quickly arrived on the scene.

“You’ve gotta go!” the guard stated, ordering James to turn off her camera.

“I can’t believe I got kicked out! I always get kicked out!” James replied as she strutted out of the mall.

And really, wasn't that the point? 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: McKenna Grace awaiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

Mission Accomplished!

At the UK Mirror, Woman goes 'topless' at Extinction Rebellion protest to 'draw attention' to crisis

An Extinction Rebellion protester went topless in the hope showing her breasts would help "draw attention" to the climate crisis, she has revealed.

Laura Amherst, 31, was photographed without a top on Wednesday as the environmental campaign group descended on London's Oxford Circus for the third day of their two-week "Impossible Rebellion".

 

Instead of clothes, Laura dressed herself with a message scrawled across her chest, which read: "WAKE UP."

On her bottom someone had written: "ACT NOW".

The Open University politics student also stuck two "XR" stickers over her nipples.

Laura, a vegan from Brighton, said: "I did it to draw attention to the climate crisis facing the planet."

Well, she drew attention to something, anyway. Youtube

H/T to William Teach at Pirate's Cove

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mindy Robinson up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Brazilian Artist Has World's Biggest C*nt

Hat Tip to Althouse, the Guardian reports The vagina dialogues: 33-metre artwork draws far right's ire in Brazil

A 33-metre reinforced concrete vagina has sparked a Bolsonarian backlash in Brazil, with supporters of the country’s far-right president clashing with leftwing art admirers over the installation.

The handmade sculpture, entitled Diva, was unveiled by visual artist Juliana Notari on Saturday at a rural art park on the grounds of a former sugar mill in Pernambuco, one of Brazil’s most culturally vibrant states.

In a Facebook post, Notari said the scarlet hillside vulva was intended to “question the relationship between nature and culture in our phallocentric and anthropocentric western society” and provoke debate over the “problematisation of gender”.

Julia Notari in Mimoso

The color seems a little oversaturated to me, but a perusal of her works on line suggest she is obsessed with menstruation.

“Nowadays these issues have become increasingly urgent,” the artist added in what appeared partly to be a reference to the increasingly intolerant climate in Jair Bolsonaro’s Brazil.

That comment was immediately borne out by the angry and often obscene reactions to Notari’s art, as thousands of critics – many seemingly Bolsonaro supporters – flooded the artist’s Facebook page with their ire. “Who do you lefties think you’re fooling? Apart from useful idiots on the left, of course,” one of the more restrained detractors wrote.

I know I'm supposed to be pissed off, but I can't help be laugh. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Rep. Lauren Boebert up and running. 

Oregon, My Oregon

Ann Althouse kindly links to The Lady Godiva of Portland.

And then? Naked Athena appeared and the little boys didn’t know what to do. pic.twitter.com/Elo69SsV0t

— Donovan “It was the blurst of times” Farley 💻🐒 (@DonovanFarley) July 18, 2020

compares her with the FEMEN crowd:

ADDED: Consider the protest group FEMEN — which I've blogged about before. Its website says:

In the beginning, there was the body, feeling of the woman’s body, feeling of joy because it is so light and free. Then there was injustice, so sharp that you feel it with your body, it immobilizes the body, hinders its movements, and then you find yourself your body’s hostage. And so you turn your body against this injustice, mobilizing every body’s cell to struggle against the patriarchy and humiliation. You tell the world: Our God is a Woman!
Our Mission is Protest!
Our Weapon are bare breasts!
. . .

Browse through over 4,000 photographs of FEMEN activists at Getty Images.

You won't end racism, war and poverty if you don't go naked!

Meanwhile another woman (well, sort of) from Portland  Calls For “Abolition Of The United States”, Silence From Mainstream Media (Karen Townsend at Hot Air).

The protests that began with Black Lives Matter in Portland, Oregon have turned into Antifa riots. There is nothing peaceful about them, only destruction and chaos. This is the plan. Saturday one organizer clearly stated the goal – the abolition of the United States as we know it. It doesn’t get much clearer than that.

A woman named Lilith Sinclair who describes herself as “an Afro-Indigenous non-binary local organizer” in Portland spoke to demonstrators and announced the mission. Her little rant first became known to me on Twitter from the account of a Blaze TV show host and from Andy Ngo’s account. I’m not the only one who noticed it. Interestingly enough, there was no noticeable reaction from any mainstream media Twitter accounts over something that was clearly a call for treason from Sinclair. While Jazz noted the lack of media attention, I noticed the member of the clergy standing behind Sinclair who was nodding in agreement with her.

Clergy behind speaker applauds. *smh* https://t.co/i7bW82O2yD

— Karen Townsend (@penguinponders) July 18, 2020

Also highlighted at Pirate's Cove in Naked Woman Challenges Portland Police Or Something.

Meanwhile, the Democrats worry that reluctance to tear down statues of Confederate leaders to stand is treasonous.

Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

At this point, it might not be a bad idea to let Portland declare itself autonomous, and cut off it's food, water and electricity for a while. As long as they take a thin strip of land down the center of the Willamette Valley, to encompass Salen, Corvallis and Eugene with them.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Kate Upton To The Edge Of Madness up and running.

A Wuflu Medley

I've been accumulating some interesting article regarding the WuFlu, and I thought I'd get them out. I'm not planning on making this a regular thing, but then I'm not planning not to, if you know what I mean.

Liz Vaughn at Red State, New NIH Study: Transmissibility of COVID-19 by Asymptomatic Carriers Is Weak (The full study can be viewed here.). This makes sense. If the disease is largely spread by coughing and sneezing out droplets laden with virus, people without symptoms, for the most part, won't be doing a lot of coughing and sneezing. A large part of science is confirming the obvious.

Time reports that Up to 80% of COVID-19 Infections Are Asymptomatic, a New Case Report Says, but instead of calling this good news, they try to sell the fear.

That’s a particularly important lesson to consider as states reopen and nice weather eats away at many people’s resolve to stay home. The virus can and does spread undetected—and an asymptomatic case can still cause serious illness if it spreads to someone else. Until a vaccine is available, the safest way to keep coronavirus from spreading is to keep your distance from others, whether you’re sick or not.

Karen Townsend at Hot Air,  Fauci: Wearing A Mask Is Symbolic, May Be No Second Wave Of COVID-19. Fauci is OK, but he's a little past his use by date. He's very excited to be part of something big again, after AIDS, but he suffers from the common flaw among scientists of seeing their current problem as the world's most important problem, and wanting everything to be done to satisfy them, to the exclusion of other issues. Despite his advanced age, though, he does seem to be slowly coming around to see that the cure has been pretty hard on people who don't deserve it.

Stacy McCain, COVID-19: The ‘Experts’ Are Clueless. I'm glad he put experts in scare quotes, because, at this point, there are few true experts, and the people who should be aren't often the ones the media.

As states began reopening their economies a month ago — led by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott — the media’s favorite “experts” predicted doom. We were told to expect a deadly “surge” of new cases, a “second wave” of COVID-19 infections.

And then . . . it didn’t happen.

An interest map from Carpe Diem, the Map of the Day: US counties divided by one-third of COVID deaths

So this really is largely a New York metro area problem.  So, as WaPoo reports, Frustrated and struggling, New Yorkers contemplate abandoning the city they love. Please stay home. Another way to think of it from Pew Coronavirus death toll is heavily concentrated in Democratic congressional districts. A natural fall out from the rural/urban split in American politics with Republicans generally representing more rural interest, and Democrats mostly urban ones. The media is careful to portray this as racism, of course. Fox News, Gingrich on red-state reopenings vs blue-state lockdowns: Will be 'one of the most vivid gaps' in economic history

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said on “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday that as states begin to reopen from coronavirus stay-at-home orders, “one of the most vivid gaps in American history” will be seen between the economies of red and blue states.

“In the red states, where you have pro-Trump governors, they're opening up,” Gingrich noted.

“In the blue states, like New York, where [Gov. Andrew] Cuomo is a total disaster, the gap between how many jobs we create in the red states and how many jobs we kill in the blue states by September will be amazing, and the fact is, there is no excuse for any of the states to be closed up.”

Now that we have good testing, there's no reason to keep most of American cowering at home. Get back to work, ya'll!

Jazz Shaw, Hot Air, NY Governor’s Order For Nursing Homes To Take In COVID-19 Patients Mysteriously… Vanishes. Fortunately, the internet never forgets.

DISRN, MSNBC cameraman called out on live TV for not wearing face mask during segment on people not wearing face masks

I missed this MSNBC fail yesterday 😂

Katy Tur tells reporter, "It seems like you might be one of the only people wearing a mask"

Reporter: You can see here, nobody's wearing them. Katy.

Hero bystander: Including the cameraman.

Defeated reporter: Including the cameraman. pic.twitter.com/04Tv6ZxUXu

— Watchdog (@LibWatchdog) May 26, 2020

Daniel B. Klein at American Institute of Economic Research, Herd Immunity Is Misleading. I hate being part of the herd. Medical Press, India backs hydroxychloroquine for virus prevention 1,380,000,000 people can't be wrong, can they? Actually, I think "the hydroxy" might be a poor choice for someone in serious condition, on a ventilator with blood clots caused by WuFlu, but I think evidence supports using it with zinc for prophylaxis and mildly symptomatic disease. This will probably mostly be over before we sort that out.

Some bad news regarding one of the vaccine candidates via John Sexton at Hot Air, One Of The People In A Phase 1 Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Had A Serious Reaction To The Dosage

“Then, 12 hours after getting the second injection, I suddenly had severe chills. I decided to go to sleep but woke up in the middle of the night with a fever that was over 103 degrees. I also found I was nauseous, fatigued and had quite a headache,” Haydon told TODAY.

His partner called the 24-hour hotline for the vaccine study and Haydon was advised to go to urgent care…Haydon received intravenous fluids and Tylenol… After leaving urgent care, Haydon went home to rest. His fever rose back to 101 degrees and he had to throw up.

“On my way back to bed I fainted. My girlfriend caught me as I went down and kept me from hitting my head. She woke me up. I remember being confused at the sight of my living room ceiling,” Haydon recalled.

Yikes! I remember whining a lot when the second shingles shot caused my arm to swell and get sore. I'd still get the vaccine, though.

Orange County Register,  Poop tests in sewage might predict coronavirus surge - "The race is on to study wastewater as a possible early warning for COVID-19".   I had a nice article that showed a graph of how WuFlu in crap predicted WuFlu cases a week ahead of time, but I forgot to bookmark it, and Google ain't helping.  The feds should mandate (and pay for) sampling of public sewage for  the WuFlu virus. My guess is it won't happen. It's not sexy enough.

USA Today, Pole dancing and hand sanitizer: Wyoming strip club reopens with 'masks on, clothes off' party. It's good to see things going back to sort of normal. They were never in much danger to begin with.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Carol Alt out on time and within budget.

You're Doing It Wrong!

via Pirate's Cove, Idiot Protests Wearing Face Mask By Wearing Bikini Made Of Face Masks

I had to get a blood draw in anticipation of a physical exam next week. At the door to the office, the nurse handed me a mask and squirted hand sanitizer on my hands (I must say, it was a rather sparing dose; I use much more). I was in and out of the office in less than 30 minutes; it seemed like most of the time was consumed by signing in on "the patient portal". I don't really mind the masks in small doses, but I don't routinely wear one outside. At the beach, I try to remember to wear a neck gaiter that can be pulled up like a mask, but most of the time, we're far enough from other people that it seems kind of useless.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Carol Alt out on time and within budget.

Noted

I thought my neighbors were cooler: Maryland police: Remember to wear pants while checking the mail

Perhaps She Should Try Venezuela

Latin Grammys 2019: Chilean singer Mon Laferte exposes her bare chest in political protest

Chilean musician Mon Laferte is making a political statement at the Latin Grammys.

The singer-songwriter, 36, exposed her bare chest  during the biggest night in Latin music Thursday in protest of police brutality in Chile.

While walking the red carpet in Las Vegas, Laferte stopped and opened her black jacket to reveal the phrase "En Chile torturan violan y matan" on her chest, which translates to "In Chile they torture, rape and kill."

That wasn't her only political statement of the night. Laferte won best alternative album for "Norma" at the Latin Grammys and dedicated her win to her home country.

"I want to thank my colleagues … and especially to the public, the people, the fans that are there; without people nothing could happen," she said during her acceptance speech.

Chile is no heaven on earth, but it's pretty mild by the standards Venezuela. Keep the protests alive!

Due to a bout of the flu, the Wombat was a little late with Rule 5 Wednesday: Busy In The Kitchen.

That's One Way to Foil a Blackmailer

By way of The Last Tradition, at the HuffPoo, Bella Thorne Slams Whoopi Goldberg Over ‘Sick’ Response To Nude Photos Hack

Bella Thorne was livid on Tuesday after “View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg criticized her for taking nude photos of herself.

A hacker had threatened to blackmail Thorne by going public with nude photos of her, so Thorne posted the topless images of herself to her Twitter account on Saturday, arguing that it was her decision to share the images.

“U DON’T GET TO TAKE ANOTHER THING FROM ME,” she wrote in a letter posted to Twitter.

@bellathorne Fuck everyone who blame girls for what happens to them, y’all can take nudes, dance and dress the way YOU want. Your body is a work of art and it’s YOUR chose to share it or not. Stay strong my bb i lovr you. ❤️❤️ Our society’s fucked up. pic.twitter.com/BQMDVVis6y

— dean. (@7x77am) June 18, 2019

On Monday’s episode of the ABC daytime talk show “The View,” Goldberg criticized Thorne for taking the photographs in the first place.

“If you’re famous, I don’t care how old you are. You don’t take nude photos of yourself,” Goldberg said. “If you don’t know this in 2019, that this is an issue, I’m sorry ... You cannot be surprised if someone’s hacked you, especially if you have stuff on your phone.”

Well, Whoopi is the sensible liberal on The View, sometimes anyway, though that's a pretty low bar.  If you don't take nude photos of yourself, they can't be hacked. Kind of like your emails about your yogi classes, daughter's weeding, and illicit backroom deals.

Thorne had three words for Goldberg. “Shame on you,” she said over and over in a video posted to her Instagram Stories. “I just want to say that me watching this video made me feel really bad about myself ... You’re so crazy for thinking such terrible things on such an awful situation.”

The star then said she was going to cancel an upcoming interview on “The View,” because she didn’t want to feel “beaten down by a bunch of older women for my body and my sexuality.”

Besides, evidence would not suggest that Bella was that sensitive about her body (NSFW link).

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Camila Cabello and running.

I'm Sure Mark Is Quaking in his Loafers

Dozens strip down outside Facebook office to protest nudity rules on social network

Despite Facebook's policies that make certain allowances for nudity on the social network, some artists say the rules prevent them from sharing their work online.

On Sunday, artist and photographer Spencer Tunick created a nude installation outside of Facebook and Instagram's New York office with help from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). Dozens shed their clothes, lay in the street and used images of male nipples -- which are acceptable on Facebook -- to cover people's nipples and genitalia.

 Kind of amusing. But are we sure they didn't sneak a female nipple in there surreptitiously?

In a tweet describing the performance piece, Tunick said there were "male nipple stickers covering female presenting nipples and male nipple cards covering all ... genitalia."

"The nudity ban is punishing for photographers and particularly harms artists whose work focuses on their own bodies, including queer and gender nonconforming artists. It also affects museums and galleries that have difficulty promoting photography exhibitions featuring nudes," Christopher Finan, NCAC's executive director, said Sunday in an open letter to Facebook.

You know, if you don't like Facebook, you can always quit it.

The NCAC's campaign, #WeTheNipple, calls for Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram to make an exception to their nudity restrictions to allow for art photography. The campaign has support from more than 20 US and international organizations, museums and art institutions, as well as hundreds of artists.

Finan suggests creating the ability for users to set filters and blocks, instead of having Facebook decide for everyone. Tunick said Facebook and Instagram should communicate more with artists. Similarly to Finan's idea, Tunick said there could be a verification process to protect artists from censorship.

So we'll have Facebook deciding who is a legitimate artist or not? That's a bad idea.

I look forward to the federal governments investigation of the monopolistic policies of Facebook and similar internet giants.

Wombat-socho has Rule 5 Sunday: Monica Bellucci up and on time.