Flotsam and Jetsam - Pubs Save Tennessee Seat

In what had to be let down for Democrats, and a bit of a sigh of relief for Republican, Matt Van Epps beat Aftyn Behn, the woman who hates Nashville, in the special election in Tennessee in an election widely viewed as harbinger of the midterms. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Special Election in TN-07! UPDATE: DDHQ Calls Election for Van Epps. Sundance at CTH, Trump Endorsed Matt Van Epps Wins Tennessee Special Election for CD-07. Brent Scher @BrentScher. "Poor Aftyn Behn spent millions in donor dollars trying to leave the city she hates for DC. Shame it didn’t work out for her." The margin was a comfortable 9 points, but in a +22 Trump district, that's not saying too much. Driscoll at Insty, TRUMP IS REMAKING THE ELECTORATE. WILL IT LAST?, "Between 2020 and 2024, Trump nearly doubled his support among black voters, from 8 percent to 15 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. Over the same period, his support among Asian voters rose from 30 percent to 40 percent, and his share of the Hispanic vote increased from 36 percent to 48 percent. That Trump was able to make these dramatic inroads among blacks and Asians while running against Kamala Harris, a woman of black and Asian descent, is even more remarkable.". . . "Curiously, wannabe shadow president Mark Kelly seems quite cross about Trump’s multiracial support: Mark Kelly Claims Republicans Don’t Want Brown People in America and HOOBOY, Let the DRAGGING Begin." Nick Freitas @NickJFreitas, "Let me be clear…I would GLADLY trade Sen. Mark Kelly for a brown person who actually loves America and wants to preserve it." Quote Thomas Sowell Quotes @ThomasSowell, "Sen. Mark Kelly: "When I heard the secretary say that they're going to pause immigration from third-world countries, I take that as a message that they don't want brown people coming to the United States. And I find that disturbing."" PJM's Scott Pinsker sees MAGA at the Crossroads: With Record-Low Approval Ratings, How Does Trump Roar Back?

Amy Curtis at TownHall, The New York Times Just Blew WaPo's Hegseth War Crimes Story Out of the Water. Nick Arama at RedState thinks That Narrative About Hegseth and the Strike on the Drug Boats Just Imploded Even More. VodkaPundit at PJM, NYT to WaPo: You Lied About Hegseth. A day late, Ace sees New Deep State Op Drops: Pete Heseth Said "Kill Them All" Just Like Colonel Kurtz, and US Planes Fired on Drug Boat Survivors Clinging to the Wreckage Like Heroes, "I missed this story, but someone I knew who spent the holidays with her liberal family said that CNN is pushing this latest op non-stop." Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "Freaking seditious moron. The job of any nation's military is to close with and destroy its enemies in as expeditious a manner as possible. No nation's military has ever had a mission of social experimentation and figuring out how not to kill its enemies efficiently. The fact that any American gives this neo-Marxist traitor any credibility of any kind is quite disturbing." Quote Breaking911 @Breaking911, "SEN. KELLY: "[Hegseth] runs around on stage talking about lethality and warrior ethos and killing people." "That’s not the message that should be coming from the Secretary of Defense."" Will Chamberlain @willchamberlain, "The fact that people were thinking the way Kelly is thinking here is exactly why it was right to change DOD's name to the Department of War They had forgotten what their purpose was - fight, kill, win." From Twitchy, They MISCALCULATED: ShipWreckedCrew Shares Mark Kelly Video That Proves He's Actually VERY Nervous. From LifeZette, ‘Seditious’ Dem Mark Kelly Faces Two-Front Fire: Pentagon Probe and China Funding Concerns. VodkaPundit at PJM, Just When You Thought Tom Nichols Couldn't Possibly Go Fuller Tom Nichols.  At OTP, Rand Paul Blasts Hegseth Over Boat Strike Report. I like Rand Paul, but he's often guilty of letting the best be the enemy of the good.

Sundance at CTH hosts President Trump Holds a Cabinet Meeting and Secretary of State Marco Rubio Delivers Remarkable Affirmation of Trump Foreign Policy. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "LMFAO! President Trump making everyone crack up right now as he DUNKS on the Fake News "I sit here and do 4 news conferences, I ask questions from VERY intelligent LUNATICS - you people." "You always find something new! Like, 'Is he in good health? BIDEN was great, but is Trump in good health?!'" "But you do stories about BIDEN was in wonderful health? The guy won't do a conference for 8 months! I go ONE DAY - 'There's something wrong with the president.'" "YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!""  

From Breitbart, Michael and Susan Dell Boost ‘Trump Accounts’ with $6.25 Billion Donation. Nick Arama has Great News on Gas Prices. Less than $3 nationwide. We saw that here yesterday. OTP predicts Oil, Gas Prices Expected To Stay Significantly Lower Through 2026. At TNP, No, Costco Is NOT Suing to Overturn Trump’s Tariffs: What Is the Lawsuit Actually About? "In reality, the company is seeking the right to recoup import duties paid, should the tariffs be overturned in a separate case before the Supreme Court." At Breitbart, Marvel Star Josh Brolin Defends ‘His Friend’ Trump: ‘No Greater Genius Than Him in Marketing.’ Secretary Sean Duffy @SecDuffy, "HUGE ALERT @USDOT is giving THOUSANDS of trucking schools 30 days to comply with federal rules for drivers or they may be forced to close down. The days of a “Wild Wild West” trucking industry are over under the Trump administration." Quote The Associated Press @AP, "BREAKING: Nearly 44% of U.S. truck driving schools could close after a federal review found many may be out of compliance with government rules. https://apnews.com/article/commer" The subtext is that many schools are just "diploma mills" for illegal aliens to get licenses.

At Am Great, the Great Victor Davis Hanson considers The War in Ukraine: Lots of Questions and a Few Answers. "Putin gambled on Western hesitation, and now a war born of miscalculation grinds on because neither Moscow nor NATO is willing—or able—to force a decisive end."

Amy Curtis at TownHall hears Grinches: Democrats Caught Lying About Melania Trump and Christmas. It's who they are, it's what they do. 

At JTN Natalia Mittelstadt reports Afghan national charged in connection to National Guard shooting pleads not guilty "Rahmanullah Lakanwal appeared virtually for the court hearing from his hospital bed, as he had been shot by another National Guardsman" and the staff present Suspect in shooting of 2 National Guard troops in DC shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he fired on troops "The alleged gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 following the disastrous US military pullout." From RVM, Pam Bondi Says D.C. Shooting Suspect ‘Should Have Never Been in Our Country!’ Amy Curtis sees MAGA Shreds RINO Andy Barr for Viral Clip Saying America 'Owed It' to Afghans to Help Bring Them Here. Charles C. W. Cooke@charlescwcooke "It’s not permissible to shoot members of the National Guard, and “I didn’t think they should have been deployed” is not a mitigating factor." nationalreview.com No, Trump Is Not to Blame for the National Guard Shooting | National Review The reaction in the media to this attack is as predictable as it is revolting. Sunny @sunnyright, ""If you don't want to be the target of violence don't do the thing I oppose" is applied with a selectiveness that curiously tends to whitewash the violent criminals rather than protect and honor the law-abiding." Driscoll at Insty, AFGHAN NATIONAL HIT WITH FEDERAL CHARGES OF THREATENING TEXAS SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK: "Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, who has been living in Fort Worth, Texas, said in a video posted on TikTok, X and Facebook days before Thanksgiving that Americans and “infidels” must perish and that he was going to use an improvised explosive device — with a yellow cooking oil “favored by the Taliban” — to carry out the slaughter, according to the Department of Justice."

Sundance hosts as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Recaps IC Reform and Accountability Measures. We haven't heard much from her lately. Capt. Ed reads Politico: Will the DoJ Appeal Rulings on Comey, James Cases – Or Start Over? TownHall's Jeff Charles realizes Letitia James' Lawfare Against Pro-Life Groups Just Crashed and Burned "The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling stating that James cannot threaten crisis pregnancy centers over “abortion pill reversal” (APR). These groups have touted the treatment as a way for mothers who change their minds after taking the abortion pill."

From WokeSpy, Tim Walz Fraud Scandal Gets Teeth as Bessent Says They’re Following the Money. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair hears Aw, Now Duffy's on the Dummy's Case, Too. Andrew Kolvet @AndrewKolvet, "JUST IN: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says as many as 100 federal agents are headed to the Twin Cities following reports of massive taxpayer fraud committed by Somali immigrants." From the Pop Times, Employees Say Harris Chose Walz Despite Repeated Fraud Warnings in Minnesota. NYPo believe Minnesota’s Somali scammers scandal is what happens when officials blindly believe the ‘racism’ grift. Chris Rufo at CJ thinks The Somali Fraud Story Busts Liberal Myths
Mass immigration, antiracism, and the welfare state lead inexorably to fraud. News Wax hears Trump: Somalis Should Go Home and Fix Somalia. Althouse is upset, "President Trump unleashed a xenophobic tirade against Somali immigrants... calling them 'garbage' he does not want in the United States..." ""... in an outburst that captured the raw nativism that has animated his approach to immigration.... 'These are people that do nothing but complain,' Mr. Trump said at the tail end of a cabinet meeting at the White House.... 'When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but bitch, we don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from and fix it,' Mr. Trump added as Vice President JD Vance banged the table in encouragement. . . . From "Trump Calls Somalis ‘Garbage’ He Doesn’t Want in the Country/President Trump has a history of insulting people from African countries, but the outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry. Vice President JD Vance banged the table in encouragement" (NYT). I watched this performance live yesterday, and I believe I said out loud, "He's choosing to resonate with racists."" JTN reports Homeland Security Sec Noem says half of visa applications from Minnesotans are 'fraudulent' "Noem also said those who submitted “fraudulent visa applications signed up for government programs, took hundreds of billions of dollars from the taxpayers and we’re going to remove them and get our money back.”" Insty says SO MUCH FOR THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: Righteous Sen. Ed Markey Quotes the Gospels in Replying to Sec. Kristi Noem’s Travel Ban Suggestion. Ed Markey @SenMarkey, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35" Quote Secretary Kristi Noem @Sec_Noem "I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies." "I was hungry and you demanded higher taxes to give me food. I was sick and you lobbied for Caesarcare. I was in prison and you did a TikTok dance. I was a stranger and you set a chariot on fire… https://t.co/cY8PCsRlrh — Jon Gabriel (@exjon) December 2, 2025" At Breitbart cites Brooke Rollins: USDA to Review ‘ALL’ Its Programs ‘to Ensure Only Legal Citizens Are Receiving Benefits.’

NewsWeek whines 8 Immigration Judges Fired in Latest Trump Admin Move. We're they accepting every asylum case? Amy Curtis thinks you should Check Out the Despicable Anti-ICE Ad Running in North Carolina Right Now. David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "My biggest takeaway from visiting Del Rio, TX, where I’m sure neither of these white ladies who brunch have ever been, was not how many border agents are Hispanic, but how much the local Hispanic community supports them. They should really go there." Quote Jason Cohen@JasonJournoDC "NEW: Ex-MSNBC Host Krystal Ball *CAN'T GRASP* why minorities join ICE "What is wrong with you!? Not only do you not have morality, apparently you don't have self-preservation! These people hate you! "You're never going to belong — and you're the one implementing the violent force against your own community!? I just can't wrap my head around that!""

PJM's Matt Margolis wonders Is Chuck Schumer Pulling a Jussie Smollett? It Sure Looks Like It. "Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Monday to announce that multiple bomb threats had been directed at three of his New York offices, claiming law enforcement informed him about emails with "MAGA" in the subject line and messages alleging the 2020 election was rigged. If this story sounds familiar, that's because it plays like a bad rerun of the Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax, where the actor claimed two men in red caps attacked him while shouting, "This is MAGA country.” The parallels are almost too perfect to ignore."

News Wax is hoping Joe Biden's Lifetime Judicial Appointments May Be Void because of the autopen. I really doubt it; no court is going to hold their appointment was illegal.

Insty, BLACK RAIN: Michael Douglas And Catherine Zeta-Jones Reportedly ‘Furious’ Over Son’s On-Air Humiliation On CNN. "Michael Douglas and his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, are reportedly very displeased over the manner in which their son Dylan was humiliated during a roundtable discussion on politics with CNN commentator Scott Jennings. Young Dylan was left stuttering incomprehensibly midway through the interview, which has seemingly become a source of mockery behind the scenes. Now, according to sources, his parents, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, intend to blacklist the entire network, as they believe CNN crossed the line. Jennings is of course, loving every minute of this:" Mike Cantrell at PJM. Ellen DeGeneres Leaving UK to Return to U.S. After Fleeing From Trump. Please don't. Beege Welborn, Picking Your Poison Poorly: Trump v the 'Cold' Cotswolds.

Bob Spencer at PJM reports a TSA Agent Who Say’s He’s a Woman Claims a ‘Civil Right’ to Grope Women. This is liberal gratitude, Surgeons Removed His Cancers and Saved His Life. "He, a "Transgender," Is Now Suing the Doctors for Having Questions About His Fake Gender.  The transgender decided to make trouble by secretly recording the medical staff during his surgery so he could hear if the surgeons Failed to Correctly Gender Him when they were saving his life." 

Hat Hair's John Sexton is concerned 'Students With Disabilities' Doesn't Mean What You Might Think These Days "If you grew up in the era I did, having a disability meant something pretty specific. It meant people who had major physical or mental issues that were obvious to anyone who looked at them. If you were in a wheelchair you had a disability. But that's not what it means today. These days, lots of students claim a disability based on as little as a doctor's note and ask that special accommodation be made for them. The percentage of students making these claims, especially at elite schools, has tripled over the past 10-15 years."

Comfortably Smug @ComfortablySmug, "Employees of the Environmental Defense Fund, a left-wing group that wants you to get rid of your gas stove, are joining a union for journos. What a wild disclosure at the bottom of the article."

Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter "We’re going to wipe out your institutions and if you think you’re going to somehow convince us that fighting back violates our principles, you’re going to have a very sad time of it." Quote Zee Cohen-Sanchez @ZeeToTheHill, "Reminder: Charlie Kirk launched the Professor Watchlist which is a blacklist that Conservatives still use today to relentlessly harass professors and ruin their careers. Charlie Kirk didn’t fight cancel culture. He professionalized it, monetized it and weaponized it. If the left had created Professor Watchlist to target conservative professors, would Republicans still call it “free speech” or would they be screaming censorship?"

al-drivers-license-trucking-california-pennsylvania-96fee86df4f9bfb0ef65af20da878a57?taid=692df8153977f80001785112&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter

Flotsam and Jetsam - Hegseth Denies Drug Runner Double Tap

Image prepared by Grok

From the Guardian, Pete Hegseth denies he gave orders to ‘kill everybody’ on alleged ‘narco-boat. Defense secretary called reports about his role in strike as ‘fake news’ intended to discredit US military Rasmussen Reports @Rasmussen_Poll, "You're gonna need a bigger hoax "Drone imagery showed the initial Hellfire engagement incinerating the vessel from bow to stern, with no signs of life amid the inferno. No “two men clinging to wreckage,” no improvised follow-up." - @SecWar." and Fine People Hoax II: "The Post’s claim of a “second strike” to target “survivors” is pure invention. Drone imagery showed the initial Hellfire engagement incinerating the vessel from bow to stern, with no signs of life amid the inferno. No “two men clinging to wreckage,” no improvised follow-up." - @SecWar Quote The Washington Post @washingtonpost, "Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources." A Hellfire has a pretty big explosive charge. Harold Hutchinson at Da Caller reports the White House Launches ‘Media Offender Of The Week’ Website Targeting ‘Fake News’. From Twitchy, ‘Sources Say’: Dem Mark Kelly Pushes Latest ‘War Crimes’ Hoax While in Full ‘If True’ CYA Mode on CNN.

From NYPo, Why Venezuela’s allies Russia and China are slinking away as Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro. At Althouse, "... Maduro is embracing English, singing John Lennon’s 'Imagine,' advocating for peace and dancing to a remix of his latest English catchphrase, 'No War, Yes Peace.'" "I'm reading "Venezuelan leader Maduro may seem desperate. But his loyalty vs punishment strategy is hard to crack/Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was once critical of English" (ABC News)." Sundance sees 
Power No other world leader can do this.

News Wax reports Rubio and Witkoff Meeting With Ukraine's Negotiators in Florida as Trump Pushes to Broker a Deal. OTP, Rubio Says Miami Meeting With Ukraine Envoys ‘Productive,’ But Tempers Expectations. I have none. From Sundance at CTH, President Trump Talks to Media About Russia-Ukraine, Venezuela, Immigration and Other Matters, No Intel Intercepts – Hungarian PM Viktor Orban Meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expounds on The Russian “Motherland” "When talking to a federal, state or local government official in the United States and saying, “you work for us,” everyone listening would completely understand your sentiment. However, in Russia that phrase is akin to asking a Martian for a canoe. This is the way to understand “the motherland.”" Sauron's Eye, Rep. Mike Turner says "you can't be America First and pro-Russia" as negotiators seek to broker end to war in Ukraine, but Sundance wonders Who is Paying and Controlling Rep Mike Turner? At the Brussels Signal, Europe’s paper tiger: Mightier than Russia yet still afraid of it.

From Fox, Chinese cyberattack campaign likely impacted every American, former FBI official says. "A five-year Chinese cyber operation targeted US infrastructure and likely affected every American, according to officials."

JTN's Steve Richards reports Trump defends tariffs as Supreme Court weighs president’s authority and U.S. gas prices fall to lowest point since 2021 "The low prices come amid record U.S. oil output." At News Wax, Trump Says Drug Prices Falling After Favored Nations Order. At Da Signal, Blue States vs. Red States on ‘Affordability’ "A lot depends on what happens to the economy on the macro, national scale, but it’s still awfully rich to hear Democrats suddenly embrace affordability as an issue given their abysmal record on it." Breitbart cites Stephen Moore: ‘Job Market Has Softened’ Even Though Things Are Good Overall.

At OTP, Trump Says He’ll Release MRI Results, Amid Democrats’ Call To See Them "“If you want to have it released, I’ll release it,” the president said during an exchange with reporters as he traveled back to Washington from Florida. He said the results of the MRI were “perfect.”"

From Fox, National Guardsman shot in DC is 'hanging on,' family pleading for prayer, congressman says and JONATHAN TURLEY: Wasserman Schultz blames Trump, guns for DC attack but spares Biden "Florida Democrat suggests president's military deployment policies motivated Afghan national shooter." News Wax reports Suspect in D.C. National Guard Shooting May Survive. Good. I want a public trial followed by an execution. Althouse finds "The emails described a man who was struggling to assimilate... while he alternated between 'periods of dark isolation and reckless travel.'" ""Sometimes, he spent weeks in his 'darkened room, not speaking to anyone, not even his wife or older kids.'... But then, there were 'interim' weeks where Lakanwal would try to make amends and 'do the right things'.... 'But that has quickly evolved into "manic: episodes for one or two weeks at a time, where he will take off in the family car, and drive nonstop,' the email outlined. Once, he went to Chicago, and another time, to Arizona...." From "Suspect in National Guard attack struggled with ‘dark isolation’ as community raised concerns/Emails obtained by The Associated Press reveal mounting warnings about the suspect" (Politico)." Preparing for the insanity defense. From the AP, Trump invites families of 2 National Guard members who were shot to visit the White House.

From Da Mail, Trump was secretly recorded making jaw-dropping claim about assassination attempt, says writer "Journalist Ryan Lizza, ex-boyfriend of former New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi, has claimed she used a sketch artist to secretly surveil Trump at his home in Mar-a-Lago. . . While there, Brourman is said to have overheard Trump talk about the recent assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania - however, the details of what he allegedly said are still unknown." Power Line's John Hinderacker notes Democrats’ Calls For Violence Are Succeeding.

Breitbart cites Comer: Court Will Back Trump Voiding Biden Executive Orders Signed with Autopen. I have my doubts, but it's worth taking to the Supremes. From Shipwreckedcrew, Did Judge Boasberg Just Get His Comeuppance In His Effort To Hold DOJ In Contempt On The Alien Enemies Act Deportation Case? "Early in the evening on Friday, the D.C. Court of Appeals issued an Order denying en banc review of an earlier Panel Decision that halted efforts by Judge Boasberg to conduct a hearing on whether or not to hold DOJ attorneys in contempt for defying his order to bring back planes carrying “Alien Enemies” to El Salvador pursuant to the Presidential Order invoking the Alien Enemies Act." At Fox, After Trump case collapses, time for Fani Willis to lawyer up "District attorney faced disqualification over affair with prosecutor Nathan Wade, who billed taxpayers $700K."

Also at Breitbart, Sen. Markwayne Mullin thinks there's a ‘Real Possibility’ of Another Democrat Shutdown in January, because the last one worked out so well for them. Also, Documentary Proves Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass Did Nothing as L.A. & Pacific Palisades Burned. Nick Arama at RedState thinks you should Watch how Tim Walz's Response When Questioned About MN Fraud Scandal Explains Exactly Why He Lost. At OTP, New Calif House Map Turned Issa’s Seat Red To Blue, Now He Faces 11 Dem Challengers. Maybe they'll take each other out with a circular firing squad. Jonathan Turley is amused as Amy Klobuchar Holds an Embarrassing Demonstration of Confirmation Bias in Attack that Goes Wildly Wrong. At Am Spec, Is Gretchen Whitmer Backing Down From 2028? "Senior aides say they haven’t gotten a ‘signal’ on what she will do." Breitbart, Stephen A. Smith Rips Mamdani on Rapper Fat Joe’s Podcast: ‘Free Ain’t Reality… That’s Communism.’ Betsy McCaughey at Hat Hair as an idea, Put That Smile to Work, Mr. Mayor, make NYC workers be polite. Naw, that'll never work.

Jamie Wilson at PJM, They Broke America and Blame Trump: A Country Waking Up From an Abusive Relationship.

From the Pop Times, Sec. Bessent Announces Major Move to Shut Down Illegal Alien Benefits. Cathy Salgado at PJM, Bessent Moves to Completely Cut Off Illegals From U.S. Financial System. Twitchy finds a BRUTAL Post Explaining WHY It's Ultimately the Democrats' Fault Millions Will Be Deported and it Is GLORIOUS. Nick Freitas @NickJFreitas, "If anyone wants to know why millions of people are about to be deported allow me to explain. 1. They came here illegally or they have overstayed their visa, or certain noncitizens' legal status is about to change due to their behavior in our country, which means deportation is appropriate and legal. 2. Every attempt to deal with the issue of illegal and legal immigration resulted in the left screaming racism or xenophobia, no matter how reasonable the said approaches were. So now instead of finding any kind of common ground we're just going to do it the hard way. We don't care what you call us and we don't care how you feel about it and your boos mean nothing because we've seen what makes you cheer. Have a nice day." Quotulatiousness explains how US illegal immigration is creating a new helot class. Amuse on X looks at Aquinas, Islam, and Why Trump’s Immigration Reset Is Just. NYPo asserts Afghan terror and Somalia fraud shows why Trump is right on migrants. At Althouse, "Over the last five years, law enforcement officials say, fraud took root in pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora as scores of individuals made small fortunes..." "... by setting up companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never provided.... Outrage has swelled among Minnesotans.... Gov. Tim Walz and fellow Democrats are being asked to explain how so much money was stolen on their watch.... Many Somali Americans in Minnesota say the fraud has damaged the reputation of their entire community, around 80,000 people, at a moment when their political and economic standing was on the rise.... Critics of the Walz administration say that the fraud persisted partly because state officials were fearful of alienating the Somali community in Minnesota.... The episode has raised broader questions for some residents about the sustainability of Minnesota’s Scandinavian-modeled system of robust safety net programs bankrolled by high taxes...." I'm reading "How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch/Prosecutors say members of the Somali diaspora, a group with growing political power, were largely responsible. President Trump has drawn national attention to the scandal amid his crackdown on immigration" (NYT). Yesterday's news, as they say, but the fun is all in the comments. From No Pasaran! "He has a smirk on his face": We will never know the true extent of illegal alien crime because Democrat states and officials are so zealous in hiding statistics on how many people are robbed, raped, and killed by illegals (Partial List of Illegal Aliens Committing Crimes and/or Treated with Kid Gloves). From the Dallas Express, Judge Orders Dallas Muslim Leader Deported After Holy Land Foundation Support Finding.

At Ars Technica, OpenAI says dead teen violated TOS when he used ChatGPT to plan suicide. "OpenAI’s response to teen suicide case is “disturbing,” lawyer says." AI simulates human coversation, but I doesn't really know anything.

Euro Con says The EU’s ‘Democracy Shield’ Is Really a Censorship Operating System.

Flotsam and Jetsam - The Venezuelan Double Tap

The latest attempt to get Trump revolves around the recent attacks on drug smuggling boats coming out of Venezuela, the charge being that 1) No proof is being offered that that are actually drug smuggling boats and 2) the attacks are illegal because . . . reasons (fulfilling Mark Kelly's illegal order claim, to disobey) and 3) allegedly, in one, the first attack, Hegseth ordered no survivors, and the military struck the boat a second time, with survivors clinging to the wreckage, in contravention to the rules of war. Streiff at RedState, Washington Post Accuses Pete Hegseth of 'Illegal Order' to Kill Drug Runners, but Is It Real? From Fox, Hegseth defends lethal strikes against alleged drug traffickers: 'Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them'. Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "He literally commented on X as did his spokesperson who flatly denied the story. On X. Dear God it takes literally fifteen seconds to conclusively demonstrate the falsity of this “report.” This is true 1970s Soviet-style Pravda stuff." Quote, "ABC News @ABC, "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is declining to comment on a report that he ordered the military to kill all passengers aboard a boat suspected of ferrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea in September. Read more:" Mike Davis @mrddmia, "This is why the Democrats are running the Hegseth hoax today:" Quote Fox News @FoxNews, "WATCH: Firefighters and first responders line the streets of Washington, DC for the dignified transfer of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the ambush attack near the White House." Mike Davis @mrddmia, "Hey, Ben. Was it illegal when Obama ordered extrajudicial drone strikes on American citizens, including children? You helped lead the Obama NSC when this happened. Should the Trump Justice Department investigate these killings? Murders?," Quote Ben Rhodes @brhodes, "This is illegal. x.com/alexhortontx/s…" The Kobeissi Letter @KobeissiLetter, "BREAKING: President Trump says the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela is now “closed in its entirety.” It appears that something is about to happen in Venezuela." Althouse, "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY." "Writes Donald J. Trump, on X, thanking us for our attention to this matter."

At Am Con, The Dangerous, Unhinged Reaction to Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan, "Russia hawks could spoil diplomacy and doom Ukrainians." From RCW, Off Target: Ukraine’s Fighter Jet Pivot a Betrayal to U.S. Taxpayers. "In the midst of the continued conflict in Ukraine and the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Ukraine publicly announced intentions to buy new fighter jets from Sweden and France instead of from the U.S.. After receiving nearly $180 billion in American aid (including free aircraft), Zelensky turns to others when it’s time for Ukraine to actually pay for weapon systems." According to the Brussels Signal, Europe’s peace plan oozes with reliance on the US.

Larry Kudlow at Tippinsights says America Is The World’s Hottest Economy "Investment is flooding in, growth is accelerating, and free markets are firing again." *Walter Bloomberg@DeItaone, "U.S. BLACK FRIDAY SALES HIT RECORD HIGH U.S. online Black Friday sales reached a record $11.8 billion, up 9.1% from last year, according to Adobe Analytics. Adobe expects Americans to spend $5.5 billion on Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday. Salesforce reported $18 billion in total Black Friday spending, with luxury apparel and accessories among the top sellers. Despite higher spending, shoppers bought fewer items due to rising prices. In-store traffic was quieter as many consumers worried about overspending amid inflation and economic uncertainty. Cyber Monday is projected to lead the season with $14.2 billion in online sales, Adobe said." On Fox Newt Gingrich says Republicans get second chance to finally fix healthcare "Shutdown deal gives Republicans a chance to show they are able to govern." But like Palestinians, they rarely miss a chance to miss a second chance. From OTP, Mr. ‘Affordability’ "Trump touts lower drug prices with new nickname." Democrats have a lot of gall running on affordability. Sundance at CTH reports an Interesting Development – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Announces New Limits on Foreign Steel and Aluminum, With New 25% Tariff on Steel Derivative Components "In short, Prime Minister Mark Carney is conceding defeat to President Trump and positioning the Canadian economy to be compliant with U.S-Mexico trade regulations. However, Carney is not saying that, indeed he cannot; he’s spent over a year telling Canadians that President Trump’s trade and economic demands are not going to be accepted by Canada. However, what he is factually doing is exactly what President Trump has demanded."

He likes big balls: From Althouse "Mr. Trump is aware of the criticism that his ballroom plans are too large." ""He told a group of donors to the project last month that he didn’t want the new ballroom to 'dwarf anything.' But at the same event, in discussing related plans to construct a Triumphal Arch, Mr. Trump showed small, medium and large options. 'I happen to think the large looks by far the best,' he said.... 'We started with a much smaller building, and then I realized, we have the land, let’s do it right,' Mr. Trump said recently to donor... Speaking of the design plans for the new ballroom, Mr. Trump has said that he likes to see different proposals, but that he ultimately has the final say. 'I consider myself an important designer,' Mr. Trump has said." From "Inside Trump’s Push to Make the White House Ballroom as Big as Possible/President Trump’s ever-growing vision has caused tension with contractors. His architect has taken a step back as the president personally manages the project" (NYT)."

From PM, DC first responders honor Sarah Beckstrom with procession on Thanksgiving following her death. Joe Weber at JTN, DOJ charges suspect in National Guard ambush with first-degree murder, after one victim dies. At LifeZette, Afghan Terrorist Drove from Washington State to Ambush National Guard in DC: Jeanine Pirro. Bob Spencer at PJM asks Hey, Why Was the DC National Guard Shooter Naked Except for a Pair of Socks? Prepared to meet his 72 virgins? TownHall's Matt Vespa hears a CNN Reporter Say the Quiet Part Out Loud About Afghans and the National Guard Attack in DC “This is the worst case scenario for every Afghan immigrant in this country.” NYPo reports Over 5K Afghan migrants flagged on ‘national security’ grounds since 2021, document reveals. Fox reports Slotkin goes silent when pressed on past Trump guard ‘shooting’ claims after DC attack "Michigan senator previously warned Trump could order troops to 'shoot at their legs' during protests," and Abbey Gate Gold Star father blisters Biden after Afghan national allegedly ambushes 2 National Guardsmen in DC "Gold Star father says Afghan national's alleged attack on National Guardsmen proves his warnings about evacuation failures." Mollie @MZHemingway, "If it is true, as fans of mass Afghan resettlement to the US claim, that individuals such as Wednesday’s terrorist and other similar attackers are in “one of the most highly vetted populations” in the history of the universe, that’s an admission the entire program is untenable." Quote Joseph M. Azam @josephazam, "They are not unvetted. They are one of the most highly vetted populations to ever come into the U.S. and yet many of us who advocated for them also pointed out that an Afghan Adjustment Act would have allowed an even further level of vetting. You would not support it in Congress. x.com/jdvance/status…" News Wax hears Trump Mulls Deporting Family of Alleged Guard Killer. PJM's Bob Spencer reports ANOTHER Afghan ‘Refugee’ Goes Jihad on Us. "Unlike Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who shot two National Guard members in Washington on Wednesday, killing one of them, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay was caught in time, before he could carry out the jihad massacre he was planning in Fort Worth, Texas. " At Breitbart, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville Wants a Ban on All Islamic Immigrants. Donald Trump Jr. @DonaldJTrumpJr, "Give me a fucking break. The RINOs at the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board want us to be flooded with millions of America hating migrants who don't share our values. This is a good reminder that it's not just Democrats responsible for this - It's the globalist RINOs too." Quote Dave Brown @dave_brown24 "WSJ Editorial: Afghan refugees "shouldn’t be blamed for the violent act of one man. Collective punishment of all Afghans in the U.S. won’t make America safer and it might embitter more against the United States" From WokeSpy, Mamdani Causes Online Firestorm with Post About Murdered Female National Guard Member: Zohran Kwame Mamdani @ZohranKMamdani, "I'm devastated to learn of the passing of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard. She was only twenty years old. As families across the nation come together today to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us take a moment to think of those in West Virginia who have been plunged into unimaginable grief." Drew Pavlou @DrewPavlou, "Zohran is able to use the word “killing” when it comes to car crashes. He’s unwilling to use the word “killing” when an Islamic extremist executes a National Guard soldier in cold blood in the street."

RedState's Nick Arama says Pass the Popcorn: Kash Patel Has Intriguing News About Comey Case and Those 'Burn Bags'. ET hears Documents Stuffed Into Burn Bags at FBI Headquarters to Be Made Public: Kash Patel "The FBI director gave the update in a new interview." Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, " BREAKING: James Comey celebrated WAY too early that his indictment got dismissed by an activist judge. FBI Director Kash Patel says ACTION is coming within a few days! "We have NUMEROUS options. We're executing on all those options. So we're NOT done!" "I would say stay tuned for right after Thanksgiving. And you'll see multiple responses..." @FBIDirectorKash" From LifeZette, Unrestricted Warfare: General Flynn Sounds the Alarm, Calls on Trump to Address the Nation. Alex Jones @RealAlexJones, "Breaking! General Flynn Calls On President Trump To Immediately Address The Nation Concerning The Color Revolution Being Fomented By The Seditious 6 And The CIA As He Lays Out The String Of Illegal Investigations And Law-fare That The Leftist Have Engaged In Since DJT's Historic 45' Election Victory." Mark Lewis at TownHall worries Is Civil War Inevitable? Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, "We have been asking Democrats to do one thing and one thing only: Respect the Constitutionally valid choice of the American electorate for President. That’s it. We endured eight years of Marxist Obama because the electorate spoke. Why are you Democrats incapable of the same?"

Shipwreckedcrew examines The Results of the "Blue Slip Tradition" -- Judicial Districts in Blue States With Almost Entirely Democrat Appointed Judges. "For 12 of the past 16 years there has been a Democrat in the White House, but the Senate's "Tradition" has been the main driver in destroying an independent judiciary."

From NYPo, NYC serial spitter bloodied in street-style justice during epic beatdown: ‘Worse than jail’ "Anthony Caines — the sicko busted by the NYPD for allegedly spitting in the faces of white women who passed him in Williamsburg — has apparently been on the receiving end of some street-style justice. Video footage shared on social media showed two men beating and kicking a man who appeared to be accused spitter Caines, 45, outside of a hair salon on Sixth Street." Insty says THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BECOME A TREND . . . "Ultimately, the police aren’t there to protect society from criminals. They’re there to protect criminals from society."

Sundance at CTH looks forward to The Investigation Into Joe Biden’s Handlers Using the Autopen. WokeSpy, Kamala Harris ROASTED After Posting Thanksgiving Collard Greens Cooking Video. Were they curried? From Da Caller, Sen. John Fetterman Counters Dem Strategist James Carville’s Grand Political Agenda With Three-Word Plan, “win more elections” instead of trying to “change the rules.”

Twitchy, Scott Jennings Tries to Get More Info on Lib Pundits' Trump-Supporting Friends Who Regret Their Votes. Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "My favorite genre of liberal punditry is “Every one of my friends is an unnamed Trump voter and boy are they mad!”" Quote Thomas Hern @ThomasMHern, "NAYYERA HAQ: I've heard from many folks who voted for Trump both times saying this isn't what I voted for. SCOTT JENNINGS: I'm interested in your 2-time Trump voting friends who are phone banking you because they're surprised by Trump enforcing immigration laws. I dispute it."

Stacy McCain expounds on the The ‘Magic Dirt’ Fallacy and Other Liberal Errors About Immigration Policy "Turning our attention now to immigration policy, in the wake of Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s attack on National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., the Wall Street Journal editorialized: "
Afghan refugees “shouldn’t be blamed for the violent act of one man. Collective punishment of all Afghans in the U.S. won’t make America safer and it might embitter more against the United States.”" To this, White House adviser Stephen Miller responded: "This is the great lie of mass migration. You are not just importing individuals. You are importing societies. No magic transformation occurs when failed states cross borders. At scale, migrants and their descendants recreate the conditions, and terrors, of their broken homelands."" VodkaPundit at Insty, BECAUSE IT SUITS SOMEBODY’S AGENDA: Oilfield Rando @Oilfield_Rando, "The idea that we should import entire communities of foreigners until they have enough power to create micro-ethnostates in American cities is absurd." Quote Ryan Grim @ryangrim, "The idea that we should freeze all migration because one of the CIA’s death squad recruits went on a rampage is absurd. Smarter would be to stop training death squads." OilfieldRando @Oilfield_Rando, "Seriouslyz it’s f**king insane. Why are we doing it?"

From Twitchy, NYT Finally Exposes Walz's MN Fraud Fiasco: $1B Stolen from Safety Nets, Somali Schemes Ignite Firestorm. wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat, "The New York Times writes: “Over the last five years, law enforcement officials say, fraud took root in pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora as scores of individuals made small fortunes by setting up companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never provided. . . " wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat, "The interesting thing is they ran the very man at the center of this scandal as last election's candidate for vice president of the United States." dj_deathproof@dj_death_proof, "Very telling that the Times is more concerned about “giving Republicans a line of attack” than acknowledging the depth and depravity of what Walz has allowed to happen in Minnesota." Hat Hair Dave Strom hears Somalia Is Suddenly Heaven on Earth According to X Users, liberals I presume. Susan from Kansas @yepsuzn, "If Somalia is safe for tourists, it's safe for refugees. Load em up, send em home!" Quote SOMHoncho @SomHoncho, "While radicaI republicans attack innocent Somalis Americans are visiting Mogadishu, walking the streets, and being welcomed openly. The truth completely shatters their narrative." Christopher F. Rufo @christopherrufo, Yikes! "Jonatan Pallesen @jonatanpallesen, "I'm not "afraid of Somali success". I am sad that Somali immigrants are so extremely unsuccessful here in Denmark, that they are a net expense for taxpayers of $24,000 on average per Somali immigrant per year. Worse than any other immigrant group! They are also extremely criminal, with a violent crime rate of more than nine times the Danish level. It's not just "one Somali that does something". 62% of them are convicted of a violent crime by the age of 30. Even in the light of Muslim / African immigration to Denmark which is overall highly unsuccessful, Somalis have an atrocious performance." Wall Street Mav @WallStreetMav, "Can anyone explain the logic behind why liberal women are supportive of importing Muslims into their countries, cities and neighborhoods? Despite all of the evidence that this is a horrible idea, they still do it. The phenomenon is happening in all white countries."

Twitchy, CBS News: Young Mother Deported Without Her Eight-Month-Old, because she left it with the father. She had the right to take it home. At ET, DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Nationals "More than 350,000 Haitian nationals are currently living in the United States, officials said." News Wax, GOP Bill Adds New Penalties for Hiring Illegals. Hat Hair's John Sexton is shocked that NYC Protesters Target Black Friday Shoppers and ICE. Mike LaChance at LI, Anti-Israel Protesters Attempt to Ruin Black Friday Shopping in New York City, “About 70 rowdy protesters wearing keffiyehs blew whistles and waved Palestinian flags when they charged into the Zara store.”

At Twitchy, WaPo Worried the WH's Media Bias Hall of Shame Site Ramps Up Attacks on Outlets and Reporters. Drew Holden @DrewHolden360, "The entire legacy media — led by the Post — created their own “fact check” departments to serve the same function as the Trump admin’s “Hall of Shame.” Sure feels like turnabout is fair play here." Quote The Washington Post @washingtonpost, "The White House launched a page on its website, titled the “Hall of Shame,” devoted to naming and shaming media outlets and reporters that publish stories President Trump disagrees with. “Misleading. Biased. Exposed,” the site reads.""" Charles Glasser at Insty, THERE: I FIXED IT. From Ed Driscoll’s earlier posting, I’m surpised they didn’t catch this. "Oh, wait…no I’m not." Karoline Leavitt @PressSec, "The Trump @WhiteHouse is holding the Fake News accountable like never before. VISIT http://WH.gov/mediabias." NewsBuster hears Psaki Claims White House Press Corps Is Becoming 'Kremlin-esque': LOL. From Da Wire, By Dismantling Biden’s Censorship Machine, Trump Made Free Speech Great Again "Trump has done more for the First Amendment than any president in modern history."

Flotsam and Jetsam - Mamdami and Trump Meetup, MTG Tosses in the Towel

President Trump met with NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani in the oval office. Some seem surprised that the meeting was cordial, with no insults thrown, except by the press, and an agreement that they both want the best for NYC, although they may have unbridgeable gaps in their approach to how to achieve. This is Trump's classic style. Tough talk before a meeting, and frank but cordial talks during negotiations. Why is he nice to Putin? Because you catch more flies with honey than vinegar (although to be fair, rotten meat works pretty well too). Sundance at CTH, True to Form President Trump Holds Meeting with New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. John Sexton at Hat Hair, Trump and Mamdani Have a Love Fest in the Oval Office. Althouse, Trump and Mamdani, together at last. Question 1 (to Trump): You called him a communist! Question 2 (to Mamdani): You called him a fascist! Trump: "And I've been called much worse than a despot, so it's not — it's not that insulting." Later, Mamdani is pressured again: "Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?" And Trump breaks in: "That's okay, you can just say it. It's easier than explaining." The Chi Trib has Takeaways from Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani visit: Both men get something they want, GOP loses a punching bag. I wouldn't go that far. unseen1 @unseen1_unseen, "On one side you have Trump reaching across his desk and saying I dont agree with everything you say, but we can find some common ground to make NYC great again. On the other side, you have dems calling for the military to disobey orders from the president of the United States and refusing to work with him on anything. Which message do you think sells better to normies? Which message do you think sells better to teamsters? Which message do you think sells better to independents? And at the end of the day which message is better for the country?" Scott Pinkser at PJM thinks Trump Played Mamdani Like a Fiddle "And here was their Boy Wonder — the Great Red Hope of the radical left — smiling and grinning and joking with Adolf freaking Hitler!" At Twitchy, Karoline Leavitt Minces NO Words Framing Trump's Mamdani Meeting and Proves How Unhinged Dems Have Become. ""We have a COMMUNIST coming to the White House because that's who the Democrat Party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country.” Way to go, Democrats."

In a bit of a surprise, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) announced she was retiring at the end of the year, forcing a special election for her seat, after a protracted spat with President Trump over the affaire de la Epstein and a threat from Trump to support a primary challenger. Reuters crows MAGA favorite Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign after split with Trump. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns After Rupture With Trump. Matt Vespa at TownHall, Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Resigning From Congress. Vicky Taft at PJM, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Quits Congress. Twitchy, Marjorie Taylor Greene has Announced Her Resignation From Congress. Sundance, Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns from Congress, Effective January 5th – Video. This does complicate Republicans desire to hold the house, but I suspect her seat is pretty safe for the GOP. 

From ET, Americans Can Expect $1,000 Bump in 2026 Tax Refunds: White House "White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said 2026 ‘could be a record-breaking tax refund season.’" LifeZette notes the Jobs Report Crushes Expectations, But It’s Even Better When You Dig Deeper. At Breitbart, JD Vance: Native-Born Citizens Are Driving Growth — ‘Jobs Are Going to American Workers For a Change.’ Ace, Economy Adds 119,000 Jobs Even When Deliberately Sabotaged by Democrats, Doubling Expectations "This report is from September. The Democrats hadn't yet shut the government down -- that started October 1 -- but everyone understood they were going to shut it down. The Democrats created uncertainty and fear, which is always bad for economic growth. People don't like to take out loans and take chances on new businesses or new construction when the future looks dicey." Phil Wegmann at Am Great sees Trump’s McDonald’s Moment: ‘Affordability Should Be Our Word, Not Theirs’ "Trump leans on a McDonald’s moment to show he feels voters’ sticker shock—and to argue he’s the one who can still make everyday life affordable again." Stephen Moore at Hat Hair says Want Lower Prices? More 'Affordability'? Move to a Red State. Affordability is a tough issue for the GOP. While when in power Democrats did everything in their power to make things less affordable, fixing it is slow process. Deflation is an economy destroying problem. Trump has lowered inflation, but not to the point that the Fed is willing to give up the fight against it. He has also reversed the trend of wages rising slower than inflation, but it's a slow process. Housing in particular is tough; getting rid of a few million illegal aliens will help, especially at the bottom end of the market where it's needed most, but increasing housing stocks is a slow process. Republicans are all right, but it was a problem that took a long time to get into, and it will take a while to fix, and people aren't patient.

Pete Navarro at Da Fed says If Trump Has The Power To Ban Trade, Then He Has The Power To Moderate It Through Tariffs, certainly it makes logical sense, but as someone clever once noted, the law is an ass. Hat Hair's Dave Strom hears JD Vance Drops Truth Bombs on Canada. JD Vance @JDVance, "And with all due respect to my Canadian friends, whose politics focus obsessively on the United States: your stagnating living standards have nothing to do with Donald Trump or whatever bogeyman the CBC tells you to blame. The fault lies with your leadership, elected by you."

Ben Whedon at JTN, reports Trump makes another try for Russia-Ukraine peace deal as voters demand pivot to home front "Contributing to the administration’s sense of urgency is increasing voter wariness of his foreign entanglements." From PM, US demands Ukraine sign peace deal by Thanksgiving—or else. "Ukraine will have to give up some land under the plan or lose intelligence sharing." News Wax, Zelenskyy Receives US Peace Plan Draft, Will Discuss With Trump. Sundance is not optimistic, President Trump Gives Zelenskyy a Week to Discuss Latest Ceasefire and Peace Proposal. "Ukraine will likely never agree to the proposal, because too many European and American interests are grounded in maintaining conflict between Russia and Ukraine."

Jeff Childers at Coffee and Covid, is MAKING LEMONADE "Progressives fume over CDC’s autism-vaccine page; Kennedy breaks a GOP promise; Trump signs the Epstein bill; DOJ redaction limits advance; HHS torches trans-industrial complex; HHS new hope for kids."

At LifeZette, Kamala Accuses Trump of ‘Gaslighting’ America While He Unseals the Epstein Records. I told you it wouldn't help. Dave Strom says Democrats Aren't Even Trying to Hide That They Are Just Making Up Hoaxes.

Amy Curtis at TownHall wonders Did Zohran Mamdani Just Admit His Campaign Broke Federal Law? Greg Price @greg_price11, "Zohran Mamdani says illegal aliens canvassed for him because they were afraid of being deported: "I heard from an older Bangladeshi woman who told me she canvassed me over the course of this campaign in fear of being picked up."" At Hat Hair VIP Mitch Berg calls Mamdani: New York's Best Gun Salesman. Adam Pack at Da Caller reports Nearly 100 Democrats Refuse To Condemn Socialism In Party-Shattering Vote. PJM' Stephen Kruiser advises Let the Democrats Cook...Themselves. Defiant L’s @DefiantLs, "Democrat nominee, running to represent Nashville says, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville. I hate it." Ace, Nasty White Karen Running to Take a Nashville House Seat from Republicans Admits On Tape That She Hates All of Nashville, Especially Its People. Victrory Girls see Eric Swalwell Runs for California Governor. Comedy Ensues. steve hilton @SteveHiltonx, "Apparently Eric Swalwell will jump into the California governor race on Jimmy Kimmel this week, "because it will give him a new and more powerful platform to attack President Trump." What?? Candidates should run for office to HELP people, not attack their political enemies!" California may be beyond help, sadly. Driscoll at Insty notes Not surprisingly, California refuses to release the climate change from custody: Man accused of sparking Palisades Fire will not be released from custody. Here’s the climate change’s booking photo from last month. Matt Vespa, So, That's What Barack Obama Discussed With a Bunch of Dems This Week “His goal,” a person close to the former president said, “is to build a sustainable Democratic Party that can survive without him.” Capt. Ed, NYT, Politico: Say, Why Is the DNC Taking Out a $15M Loan? Because they want to spend more money than they have? That's not news. 

Peter Bernegger @PeterBernegger, "Its seeming more and more Colorado and Dominion voting machines got caught again - Nov 4th 2025 election! 2nd tweet on this: the Sec. of State took down the El Paso County election results from their state website. Those results were up on the site a few hours ago! They are claiming there is a software bug pertaining to ballots cast. Here is their link to that page, and see my 1st tweet - https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/124409/web.345435/#/summary Jena Griswold's "Gold Standard" is turning out to be a Participation Trophy Standard. Breaking investigation continues!!" You would think counting votes would be easy. Democrats can fuck up a wet dream. Hat Hair's John Sexton reports a Rapper Gets 14 Years for Funneling Millions to Obama Campaign. "The rapper Prakazrel Michel, known as Pras, orchestrated a sprawling international conspiracy in which he accepted $120 million from Low Taek Jho, a Malaysian financier who wanted to gain political influence in the United States, the Justice Department said. Mr. Michel distributed some of that money to a network of about 20 straw donors, who then donated it to the Obama campaign."

At LifeZette, Stephen Miller Lays Waste to Democrats Calling for an Insurrection Against Trump. Kevin Sorbo @ksorbs, "Trump: the punishment for sedition is hanging. Democrats: how dare he threaten us! What?" At OTP, ‘Seditious’ Dem Wants Capitol Police To Investigate Trump. Rusty Weiss at RedState asks Did Democrats Seriously Call the Capitol Police on Trump for Accusing Them of Sedition? Matt Vespa sees a Dem Rep Totally Collapses When Asked a Simple Question About Trump and Unlawful Orders.

From NYPo, Grand jury properly voted on James Comey’s indictment, foreman claims in blow to defense: ‘Eliminates any doubt’ Matt Margolis thinks Biden’s Weaponization of the DOJ Against GOP Lawmakers Was Worse Than We Thought and I thought it was pretty bad. Louie Gohmert at Front Page says Arctic Frost’s Spying on Members of Congress is a Constitutional Crisis, "What I learned about FBI spying in and out of Congress." Ace cites Paul Sperry: Trump's Seditious Appointees Schemed to Advance the RussiaGate Hoax Alive, "Including John Durham, Sperry writes."

JTN reports Security footage reveals suspected J6 pipe bomber visited a third building before Capitol riot "The subcommittee investigating Jan. 6 has taken a particular interest in the two pipe bombs that were discovered that day outside the national headquarters of both major political parties. . . .The footage contains a previously nonpublic segment showing the alleged pipe bomber approaching the Congressional Black Caucus Institute building near Capitol Hill and kneeling down near a bush on the property, Loudermilk told Just the News. Just the News reviewed the footage and confirmed the lawmaker's description."

From Sundance, FBI Reaches Conclusion Butler, PA Attempted Assassin Thomas Crooks Acted Alone. It may even be true, but the FBI lost credibility in the Obama era and hasn't earned it back yet. Shipwreckedcrew, Is "Malign Neglect" At The Center Of An FBI Coverup of the Trump Assassination Attempt By Thomas Crooks? "Not knowing enough -- maybe -- to provide the necessary protection to President Trump is only part of the story. Corey Comperatore died that day." PJM's Cathy Salgado happy to see the Texas Anti-ICE Attackers Become First Antifa Terrorists Convicted. Ace reports the FBI is Cracking Down on "764" Child Exploitation Group, "The pedophiles won't stop until they are made to stop. From Da Wire, House Passes CLEAN DC Act to Repeal ‘Anti-Police’ Legislation. "The CLEAN D.C. Act "strengthens and codifies President Trump’s successful efforts to restore law and order in Washington." Conrad Black at RCP says Trump's Use of National Guard Has Been Successful--and Welcome.

Nick Arama at RedState, hears SCOTUS Weighs in With Good News on Texas Redistricting Case. OTP, Supreme Court Reinstates Texas’ New Congressional Map – For Now. At Althouse "From the start, everyone recognized that the purpose of Texas’s redistricting effort was Republican political advantage."

"The district court erred by inferring bad faith and racial intent because the Texas Legislature’s map did not (through some hypothetical means) transform the only Democratic district in Austin — an exceptionally Democratic city — into a Republican stronghold."

Wrote Texas Solicitor General William Peterson, quoted in "Alito lets Texas reinstate gerrymandered House map that could give GOP 5 more seats/Alito’s move allowing Texas officials to continue to prepare for primary elections under the new map came just after the state asked the Supreme Court for an urgent ruling" (Politico).

This is one of the "certain topics" I was talking about yesterday in "I feel as though unseen readers are leaning on me to write about certain topics that I see out there." Today is a new day, with Alito's stay of the lower court's order. But if you want to engage with the very lengthy and emotional lower court opinions, I recommend the discussion on the podcast "Advisory Opinions," here. Excerpt:

This is a partisan gerrymander, designed to increase Republican representation. It just so happens that white people in the deep south vote overwhelmingly Republican and black people in the deep south vote overwhelmingly democratic. But the real issue here is partisan not racial. And so if you're going to be challenging that as a racial gerrymander, it's very hard for you to win. It's very hard to, for you to win because that partisan makeup is so matched with race.

Without the racial angle, under existing precedent, the federal courts have no role in correcting the excesses of partisan gerrymander.

John Lucas at Bravo Blue, Bravo Blue says No, contrary to what you have been told, a federal judge has not ordered Trump not to paint or sandblast the EEOB. But it was such a good example of judicial overreach!

From Ace, Behind the Restaurant Meal Delivery Industry, there is a Black Market Exploiting Illegal Foreign Labor "If you are having restaurant food “dashed” to your residence, there is a very good chance that the person delivering your meal is part of a black market of non-citizen labor, illegally subcontracted by the actual “independent contractor” of Door Dash, Uber Eats, and the like."

Fox claims Rachel Maddow attending Dick Cheney's funeral sparks social media frenzy, "Liberal MS NOW host was spotted sitting next to Dr Anthony Fauci." Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald, "Maddow's career as a commentator began during Bush/Cheney, when she'd frequently compare Cheney to the worst monsters in history (I was on her programs when she said it). For so many liberals, Cheney is now rehabilitated despite regretting nothing: solely for opposing Trump:" Quote Peter Baker @peterbakernyt, "If anybody needed more evidence of how politics have changed in America: Rachel Maddow is at Dick Cheney's funeral." A Driscolly post at Insty, KATIE COURIC, SUDDEN CHAMPION OF DISPASSIONATE OBJECTIVITY: Katie Couric claims new owners of CBS, Bari Weiss are ‘compromising independent journalism.’ "“These are really perilous times,” Couric said, pointing to what she described as eroding boundaries that once shielded newsrooms from business-side interference. . . " "UPDATE: Bari Weiss’s Plans for CBS News: ‘I Wanna Blow This Up.’ . . . Alas, “blow this up” means return CBS News to mid-’90s Clintonian levels of liberalism. But even that worldview would likely translate into a major improvement to its news product." At CJ, Brian Anderson is looking toward The Future of Journalism.

Beege Welborn says Waah - NEA Stills Hateses Nasty Parents. Seriously though, Tom Knighton at TownHall adds Teachers' Union Faces Serious Criticism Over Troubling 'Training' Materials. At Am Mind, Jacob Wehmeyer exposes The Radical Nonprofit That’s Destroying State Education. Behind the Black observes Bigoted academia upset that Trump won’t allow them to push the racist DEI agenda. The College Fix thinks you should Read the conservative op-ed the Texas A&M student paper refused to publish. From atop Da Hill, McMahon calls on Congress to codify ‘hard reset’ at Education Department.

Lotsa links left at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 11.21.25 and In The Mailbox: 11.21.25 (Evening Edition), but time is fleeting. Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.