Sunday, June 21, 2026

NO TOUCHING!

Whaddya think this is? Lourdes?

We ain’t a bunch o’ damn Frenchies, goddamit!
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🌞

 I just realized this is the day that the days start getting shorter. (Well, in the northern hemisphere.)

Something to look forward to. Despite DST. Which I despise as only a cranky old guy can. A cranky old Boomer! It’s a double tap!

🌅🕶️

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“Real Relief”

Sen. Dave McCormick: "The other thing that's happening in the economy, which is great, is that gas prices are down under $4 in Pennsylvania. I think people understood that we needed to take action against Iran to protect our children. But man, those gas prices hurt working families, and they're seeing real relief."
Gas prices are not down to where they were in January. Let’s hope they continue to go down. But WTI and Brent crude are both trending up again.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright: "The president has been advised all along, despite the media proclamations, that there was enormous risk to energy flows to engage the Iranians on their nuclear program in a military fashion ... he knew he was going to drive up energy prices in the short run. He had the courage to take the action anyway."
To get us back to where we almost were under the JCPOA? (Which included oversight by the IAEA. Word is the IAEA is not welcome in Iran. So: back to where, exactly? Square Zero?

And by the way, the Strait is closed.
According to vessel tracking data from http://MarineTraffic.com, the Strait of Hormuz appears to have effectively closed just before 1700 UTC yesterday, with no transits observed after that time. At approximately 1650 UTC, the tanker 'Starbound Explorer' was turned around in Iranian waters before completing its transit and returned to the Persian Gulf. Around the same time, the container ship 'MSC Qingdao', which was exiting via the U.S. established shipping route through Omani waters, reversed course back toward the Persian Gulf before later turning around again and ultimately exiting the Strait.
Which is sure to affect the price of oil futures.
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Oh, Lindsey! You’re So Butch!

Lindsey Graham: "I spent 4.5 hours with President Trump on Friday. Here's what I think will happen next. If this deal fails, President Trump is gonna take the Strait of Hormuz over by force. We'll charge a fee for all those who go through to pay for the operation ... if Iran contests control of the Strait of Hormuz by the United States we'll obliterate them."
Yeah, right. You and what depleted military stockpile?

The Strait of Hormuz is an international strait within the meaning of Article 37 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which applies to straits “used for international navigation between one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone and another part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone.” The outbreak of hostilities does not necessarily suspend UNCLOS. While the Strait of Hormuz is bordered by Iran to the north and Oman to the south, it is legally an international strait. Iran does not own the Strait of Hormuz, but it can effectively control maritime movement through the Strait based on its physical proximity. The Strait of Hormuz is legally distinct from the Turkish Straits linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea—a key waterway in the Russia-Ukraine War. The Turkish Straits are governed by the Montreux Convention, where Turkey has special legal authorities to regulate maritime traffic.

In the Strait of Hormuz, the right of transit passage is afforded to all ships and aircraft that transit the strait, a permissive legal right that “shall not be impeded”—even in times of war. All vessels and aircraft—military and civilian—have the legal prerogative to exercise the right of transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz, provided that these ships and aircraft proceed without delay through the Strait of Hormuz, transit in their normal modes of operation, and refrain from using force against any nation bordering the Strait. Although Israel, Iran, and the United States are not parties to UNCLOS, the transit-passage regime for international straits is widely regarded as customary international law and binding on all States. Iran’s actions to block the strait are contrary to both the letter and spirit of UNCLOS and applicable customary international law.

What are the challenges in transiting the Strait of Hormuz?

Practically, the Strait of Hormuz is the only way to get oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and other goods from the Persian Gulf to international markets. Geographically, the Strait of Hormuz is extraordinarily narrow in parts, with just 20 miles separating Iran from Oman at one point in the Strait. Naval officers and civilian mariners are rightfully wary of running aground—a real concern for heavily-laden oil tankers and merchant vessels. And there are just two narrow corridors within the Strait itself for entering and exiting the Persian Gulf, thus making it exceedingly easy to identify, track, and target any vessel that transits the Strait.

While there are reports of 2,500 U.S. Marines deploying to the region, a successful occupation of the southern tip of Iran bordering the Strait will not by itself immunize shipping from threats. And such an amphibious landing would be incredibly dangerous. Iran has already demonstrated the capacity to launch Shaheed drones — with a range of 1,000 miles — from virtually anywhere in Iran. The drone threat makes it difficult — if not impossible — to guarantee safe passage through the Strait within the foreseeable future.
Just ask Putin about how well he’s protecting Moscow (which is only 470 miles from Kyiv). 

We are not going to invade Iran. We are not going to conquer Iran. This war was over three months ago.

The United States has no authority to take control of the Strait (much less the ability). If Congress authorized it, we would become a rogue nation arrayed against the rest of the world. And let’s be honest: we were just beaten by Iran. Trying to control the Strait would not lower the price of gas, or improve Lindsey’s reelection chances. Although South Carolina shot first, so they might like it…

But the rest of the country wouldn’t.

Although the simplest response is: Trump has been threatening to obliterate Iran for four months. When is he going to do it?
I thought so….
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No Question.

 He walks:

 "The United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Poll," [Trump] wrote, misspelling "Pool."
Oh, yeah? Where are they?
According to The Washington Post, Park Police arrested a single person on Friday: David Hearn, a 67-year-old man from Bethesda and a three-time Olympic canoe slalom athlete, on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property.

Hearn's account bears no resemblance to a coordinated assault on a national landmark. He told the Post he had just finished a 52-mile bike ride, including a loop around Hains Point, and swung by the Lincoln Memorial to see the refurbished pool for himself. Noticing a chunk of the new "American flag blue" liner that had partially detached from the bottom, he reached into the water to feel it. Moments later, as he was getting ready to leave, officers put him in handcuffs.

"I didn't vandalize anything," Hearn told the paper. "I didn't destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs."
A reminder that Hearn doesn’t have to tell this story in court. The government has to prove he’s guilty of “destruction of government property.” They’ll need a bit more than “Suspect was seen with his hand in the water.” Hearn’s counsel could simply bring in some YouTube videos about the conditions in the pool to remind the jury about what everybody knows. The government has to prove Hearn did any damage. Hearn doesn’t have to prove he didn’t.

Remember the Subway Sandwich guy?

Hearn’s story also underlines Podhoretz’ point:
Hearn was just another visitor to the park. But he probably arrived after Trump’s first screed about vandalism. That’s another reason the jury is likely to let him go.*

Game, set, match. Call it the Subway Sandwich Guy rule.


*Or a judge. I can’t imagine a judge would be any more sympathetic to the government’s charge than a jury would be.
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It’s Not That I Trust This Source….

...it’s just that I trust the chuckleheads negotiating for the U.S. even less.

And then there’s Trump, shouting at FoxNews and making empty threats again.
MOU ON ITS LAST LEGS: After Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran won’t give up enrichment, Trump replied: “He better watch his mouth… or we will take over the rest of the country.”

Trump’s threat is a direct violation of the MOU.

Also today: Trump said he told Iranian officials “you won’t even make it back to your fu*king country” if they close the Strait, and floated the US as “Guardian Angel” of Hormuz, taking 20% of the oil.

He also said he’d “blow the sh*t out of them” and take tolls in the Strait.

Then he posted on Truth Social demanding Iran “immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” threatening to hit Iran “very hard again… only harder!!!” if they don’t. 
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I’m Still Wondering…

According to a release from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the quadrilateral talks between the U.S., Qatar, Pakistan, and Iran have now begun. Per the release, separate technical groups have been formed to coordinate and discuss key facets of the U.S.-Iran MOU and will be working to help both side achieve convergence on key points of contention.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s chief decision-maker Field Marshal Asim Munir have now met with both parties on the sidelines of the quadrilateral talks in Switzerland, with releases and footage showing both Munir and Sharif meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Envoy Jared Kushner, and Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
According to Axios, citing a diplomat with knowledge on the matter, the U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, has met with their Iranian counterparts in Switzerland. The meeting was mediated by Qatar. Additionally, Pakistan’s prime minister announced that Iran has agreed to reduce the enrichment levels of highly enriched materials. However, as rightly noted by NTI’s @BrewerEricM , such a framework was “already agreed to in the MOU as the ‘minimum methodology’ to dispose of the material.”
...what the hell did he think Kushner and Witkoff were doing before today? Who did Vance imagine they were talking to? Yeah, about that:
"President Trump told Fox News that the US may take over the strait in the future if they have to and collect tolls. The president described this as the US being the guardian angel of the Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East. He said that would involve the US taking 20% of the oil that passes through the strait."
🏴‍☠️?
Trump threats to occupy Iran: "President Trump tells Fox News he spoke with Iranian officials overnight and said, 'You close the strait and you won't have a country.' He went on to tell these officials, 'You won't even make it back to your f**king country ... we'll take over the rest of the country.'"
Is that why he stopped bombing them three months ago? And agreed to pay them $300 billion?
Fox correspondent: "The president told me he is disappointed Israel can't put Hezbollah away. He went on to say, 'They can't do anything without knocking buildings down' and that he is close to giving it to Syria. He is talking about empowering the Syrian president to actually go into southern Lebanon and fight Hezbollah"
Is that going to be before, or after, he repairs the reflecting pool and punishes everyone responsible for fucking it up? You and what depleted military stockpile? “You’ve been a great crowd! Thanks for coming out! Remember to tip the buffet and try your waitress! G’night everybody!” [🎶 upbeat closing music 🎶]
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49 States Announce Quarantine Of Florida

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A Father’s Day Meditation

The way I truly think of Father’s Day is expressed in a card my daughter gave me one year. Father’s Day, the card explained, is a month after Mother’s Day because, a month later, somebody said: “Hey! Wait a minute!”

That’s not how I ever felt about it when I was the child of my father. But it’s how I’ve thought about it every year since my daughter was born.
Andy Burnham is set to become the United Kingdom’s first Catholic prime minister.

He said he was deeply moved by the life of Pope Francis.

Upon his death, he said Francis “spoke for equality and compassion and for humanity, in a world where we see political leaders target minorities and marginalize people in the search for votes”.
Pope Leo XIV says that the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexual ethics must be less prioritized over “greater, more important issues.”

“We tend to think that when the Church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual. And in reality, I believe there are much greater, more important issues, such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion, that would all take priority before that particular issue.”
When I was practicing law (more accurately, trying to practice law) I worked for a solo practitioner kind enough to hire me. His son was gay, as it turned out. And I was not, then, woke. This is where I started, though, because while I couldn’t quite accept the reality of a gay man, I kept my opinions to myself. But one day he confessed to me it was hard for him when his son told him the truth. And he told me he realized that, with all the problems in the world (we were practicing family law. You really do see the worst of how people treat each other, short of criminal law practice.), why did anyone care about how two people love each other?

Why, indeed?

The metaphor of God as “Father” is a deliberate one, but not, perhaps, in the way we usually think. It is not, for example, essential to the nature of God.

In my first congregation, I had a member who had been subjected to abuse by her father. As an adult, she was in therapy to recover from that. Her struggles were quite serious, and she told me she had problems with calling God “Father,” after that.  And I couldn’t argue with her. I didn’t want to, either.

Father is a responsibility. It is not an honor lightly bestowed, it is not a pedestal in which you balance, it is not a relationship bestowed by biology. Kate Bush said it best in her song about childbirth: “Ooh, it’s hard for the man; now his part is over. Now begins the craft of the father.”

I learned in seminary that “husband” didn’t mean “spouse.” It meant a responsibility: to care, to raise, to be, well, responsible. To husband, as a farmer or rancher takes care of his land, his livestock. To make the best of them, do the best for them. Something that started in Genesis 1, and was displayed over and over again by the examples of the good fathers in the Scriptures (especially in contrast to the bad fathers who are also there).

And that best, now, includes care for people who need our care, not our condemnation or delineation. If we are responsible for others, we have to do the best for them. And that means caring for them, for who they are. Remember the parable of the sheep and the goats? Two of the examples are about providing basic human needs: food, and clothing. But the third is basic, too: community. When you visit the prisoner, you make them a part of the human community. You accept them for who they are, for what they have done. We don’t father communities, but families give communities a stronger, healthier foundation. And you can be a father to people you aren’t related to, by being a person who shares your compassion, your acceptance, and your responsibility as a father, and as a community member. I had more than one example of a father, growing up. I knew good men, and learned from their wise, compassionate examples how to be a father myself.

If God is Father, it doesn’t mean that God is essentially male. It means we should reflect God as we work the craft of the father. And God accepts everyone as they are, the way a good father accepts his children as they are. That can be hard, too. But that’s the craft of the father.

And yes, I think the father is a craft, that the relationship of the mother and child is inaccessibly different; at least to fathers. But the difference is a blessing and a strength, not levels on a hierarchy. The father is not the first of all: the father is the servant of all. 

That’s the only way love is real. And besides, this is a Father’s Day meditation.
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Saturday, June 20, 2026

“Many Additional People Have Been Arrested”

This is getting incredibly pathetic. Trump now says he may have to drain the Reflecting Pool after his botched “renovations” quickly left it infested with algae. Instead of taking responsibility, he’s blaming vandalism—not his own shoddy work or the science experts warned about from the start.
Let’s go over this, slowly. 

One person has been arrested for allegedly touching a piece of paint that had already dislodged. He denies the charge. Another man was cited (but not arrested) for putting his hand in the water. 

That’s it.

Trump claims someone carved a 250 foot gash “in the beautiful facade.” The what? In context, he mentions “the earlier killing of a large amount of grass.” Grass he formerly dubbed the “Trump Promenade.” But what facade does the reflecting pool have?

These alleged vandals also poured “corrosive and destructive chemicals” in the pool. 
Perhaps not coincidentally, the damage started to appear after the peroxide was dumped in. Causation, or correlation? Probably the latter, but then, we still don’t know what went wrong, do we? At least, what went wrong is obvious, but no cause has been publicized.  Maybe it was enough peroxide to do the damage; maybe the damage was done by a botched installation. No way to tell, yet.

And the $64,000 question: why the FUCK is the president of the United States worrying about the state of the reflecting pool, and meeting with contractors on how to fix it? And are these new contractors? Because it doesn’t appear the old ones knew what they were doing.
It’s a bit unfair, but there is clear evidence the contractor had no experience, and didn’t know what they were doing (and the Parks Department has said the “nanobubbler technology that is supposed to keep algae out of the pool still has not been installed). Occam’s Razor says Antifa and Radical Left Democrats weren’t trying to embarrass Trump. He did that all by himself.

A) a no-bid contract granted to a company owned by a MAL neighbor, member, and Trump donor;
(That would be this ☝️ guy, seen here at MAL.)

B) granted without vetting or competition; and

C) a rushed process to finish the job and fill the pool, before the technology to keep the algae at bay could be installed;

D) algae that appeared, quite predictably, a week after the pool was refilled. 

The only mystery here is why Trump hasn’t blamed the contractor. But then he can’t do that, can he?

But why isn’t the POTUS more concerned with the status of the Strait of Hormuz? Nobody seems to be quite sure if it’s open, or closed. The Parks Department can deal with the pool.

It’s the President’s job to deal with the consequences of a war he, and he alone in this country, started. 

In the meantime, can we find the guy responsible for this?
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🙃

This morning: This afternoon: No wonder Kushner and Witkoff thought they were doing well.
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Pirro Is Still The U.S. Attorney In D.C.?

Trump: "The United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Poll. Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail! Work will begin immediately on its repair. President DJT"
They walk.
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“Round Up The Usual Tourists!”

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Remember The National Guard In D.C.?

Trump forgot to send them home. Or! They’re protecting the pool from sabotage! I wonder if they’ve caught this guy yet?
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IT’S A GUSHER!

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces has issued a warning to all vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the Strait is currently closed due to “U.S. breaches of the war-ending deal and ongoing Israeli ceasefire violations/non-withdrawal in Lebanon,” similar to yesterday’s statement from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N). In the last day, roughly twenty vessels have transited the Hormuz Strait, most following routes near Oman, with so far no attacks by Iran.
U.S. average consumption is 20 million barrels. Per day.
Speaking this morning on FOX & Friends, U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are currently on the ground in Switzerland for negotiations with Iran, and that talks are “going well,” adding that he will likely join the delegation “in the coming days” as he believes the ceasefire will hold between Iran and the United States.
How’s the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah?
Following the Iranian announcement of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Iran’s state-backed news outlet IRNA that an Iranian delegation is indeed traveling to Switzerland. Per the report, the delegation is traveling to Switzerland with the hopes of impressing on their U.S. counterparts the need to fulfill what Iran says are their agreed upon commitments, as it relates to the MOU.
I think that includes the $300 billion Trump says won’t be paid.
According to a release from the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “technical-level” negotiations between the U.S. and Iran will be held in Switzerland tomorrow, the 21st. The announcement comes amidst Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel’s operations against Lebanese Hezbollah in Lebanon, the U.S.’s slow movement on implementing sanctions waivers, and the still pending release of frozen assets and funds as a justification for the move.
Surely Witkoff and Kushner are not part of the “technical-level negotiations.” Oh, well…. 
Iran's FM Spox. Esmail Baghaei:

The first clause of the memorandum of understanding—namely, “ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon”—is the most important pillar of the mutual commitments.

While Iran has remained committed to its obligations, the other side was required to compel the Zionist regime to cease fire in Lebanon. By failing to do so, it has explicitly violated the agreement.

Although steps have been taken regarding the end of the naval blockade and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, this memorandum constitutes a “single package.”

A violation of the first clause calls the entire agreement into question, and unless the other side immediately takes the necessary measures, the memorandum as a whole will face serious difficulties.
According to reports from Israel’s N12 News, the Israel Defense Force has ceased fire in Lebanon but will not withdraw from current areas of control, following orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Amongst other issues, a key point of contention between the U.S. and Iran since the signing of the MOU has been Israel’s operations in Lebanon against Lebanese Hezbollah.
SNAFU. FUBAR.
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And Consider That Trump Couldn’t Get Through 2 Minutes Without Changing The Subject 10 Times

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“And Decrease The Surplus Population”

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“A Normal President Wouldn’t Do This”

We’re all spending a couple bucks extra for a little fuel. ⛽️  Yes, we’ve all had that experience. 🙄

Joe Biden had a rough hour in a debate.

🦗🦗🦗
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“Our Then Depleted Military”

During the past several days, Trump has aggressively complained to administration officials and other confidants that the Israelis are trying to trick him into restarting a full-blown war with Iran, three people with direct knowledge of the matter and another person briefed on it tell Zeteo.
Gee, why would Trump not want to restart that war?
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Friday, June 19, 2026

The Reflecting Metaphor

Trump blames the green reflecting pool on vandals with chemicals:

We've had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool, which sits between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial. Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they've also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed. No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work. Lightweight ABC Reporter, Jonathan Karl, was seen sticking his hand into the Pool, and trying to rip the rubber off of the surface. The algae is 75% gone, and the condition will soon be completely remedied, and the area that was vandalized, fortunately, is just a small area of damage, and will be fixed early next week. It's a shame that the Radical Left Lunatics, most likely Dumocats, who have spent their lives trying to ruin our Country, are free to do so. Law Enforcement is actively investigating this situation, and will hopefully have it resolved soon.
The FBI will be using facial recognition software and the latest forensic techniques to identify those tourists and track them down.

Mother Nature is also being sought for questioning. Some witnesses reported seeing her walking in the grass. Trump is sure it couldn’t possibly have died from all the work done on the pool for several weeks.
This man is wanted for questioning. 🤨 
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⚽️ If I’d Known The World Cup Was Like This….

... I’d have tried to get tickets.
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Three Can Keep A Secret If Two Of Them Are Dead

Today, on my final day as Director of National Intelligence, I’m releasing never-before-seen communications and documents exposing how Dr. Fauci provided millions in US taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab, worked with politicized elements within the Intelligence Community to suppress the truth about his actions and hide the virus’ lab-leak origins, and lied to Congress while under oath in 2024. It’s time you know the truth.
First question: does she have any idea what “gain of function” research is? 

And the conspiracy theory that the virus came from a lab? Is this Groundhog Day 2019?

And everyone involved in this conspiracy is still protecting Fauci from lying to Congress charges because…?

Why does this sound as substantive as McCarthy’s list of Communists in the State Department?
Oh, that’s why.  The guy on the fermented foods and steak diet thinks Fauci caused the Covid pandemic. 😷 

Sure, why not? And to this day the  “politicized elements within the Intelligence Community” are still covering for Fauci. But Tulsi alone has escaped alive to tell thee. And her main supporter is the guy who lets snakes 🐍 bite him, collects raccoon penises for study, straps dead aquatic mammals to his car, and whom right now you don’t want to be in the room with (A strict diet of fermented food and beef? ‘nuff said.).

I’m also sure the evidence is irrefutable, and not at all subject to interpretation or verification, or even requires rational thinking. Or medical knowledge.

Not that you’ll find any of that in this administration.
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Trump Really Is Rebuilding D.C. In His Image

The “Trump Promenade” along the reflecting pool is …brown. Is that a metaphor? In his image:
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⛽️🛬

I just toured the new Air Force One. No photos allowed, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

It’s big and beautiful. Like, “this feels more like a house than a plane” big.

Warm tan walls. Glossy. Silver accents throughout. Solid wood tables. Presidential seal on every seat belt. Couches in the lounge. Photos of the National Mall in the conference room.

The press area is 2-3x the size of the old plane’s. The seats recline all the way flat into a bed.

And yes. It has that new plane smell.
But that won’t matter to voters because the price of oil is…up, actually, from where it opened today. Definitely not trending down to pre-war levels. The GOP is going to LOVE running on how expensive this is, and that Trump thinks he gets to keep it!

Meanwhile:
According to a release from the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the HNLMS De Ruyter, an air defense frigate, has been rerouted from the Indo-Pacific towards the Strait of Hormuz to possibly take part in the EU-led international coalition to secure safe passage for commercial shipping through the strategic maritime choke point. Per the ministry of defense release the final decision to include the vessel in a potential mission in the strait has not yet been made.
I don’t think the price of oil is coming down substantially anytime soon.
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Trump’s Soulmate

This is genocidal rhetoric. Period.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir just declared:

"For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep."

"All of Lebanon must burn."

A senior member of Netanyahu's government is openly calling for the suffering of an entire civilian population.

That is sick. That is depraved.

That is the kind of rhetoric that should be condemned by every decent human being.
I’m ready to find a way to put all those scorpions 🦂 in a bottle.

Yeah, I know; but still….
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And Then What?

Trump’s wish list:
"[Pulte] may find out some things about the rigged elections," Trump told reporters this month. "I think he wants to do it very much."

Reuters reported Friday that the White House has suppressed an ODNI report on voting machine vulnerabilities for months.

Some officials believe the report doesn't go far enough to validate Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Pulte has already been briefed on it, two sources told Reuters.

Trump has told the Wall Street Journal he wants Pulte to fire "a lot of people." Pulte's acting status is the point, Trump said: "You're less shackled."

Those firings would gut the career analysts most likely to push back on the ODNI report's findings, and on any action taken aimed at midterms.

Reuters and Foreign Policy have reported that the CIA has already stopped contributing to some ODNI assessments because of friction under outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and that top analysts are avoiding the National Intelligence Council for fear of political pressure.

"DNI Gabbard spent 18 months and untold taxpayer dollars trying to give substance to lies about the 2020 election and found absolutely nothing," election law expert David Becker said, adding that Pulte was "hand-picked to replace her precisely because he too embraces the lies and conspiracy theories while ignoring the evidence."
Pulte is the guy who convinced Trump to sic the DOJ on Letitia James and Comey(?) for allegedly messing about with mortgage loans (?). It was so stupid I’m not even sure I’m remembering it correctly. Anyway, it withered in the sunlight (rather than blooming like algae).

Pulte is one of the unmatched idiots of the Administration, IOW.

If he gets information that there’s “foreign interference” in the elections, what does he do with it? The purpose of the DNI investigating such questions is to block it, the same way that FBI is supposed to conduct counter-terrorism investigations: stop the terrorists from setting off the bombs, the scenario of almost every “thriller” movie of the last quarter century. What the FBI (or whoever in the movies) don’t do is, is shut down the entire city and evacuate millions so the bomb can go off, but can’t kill anyone.

Which, apparently, is what Pulte is expected to do: suspend the elections because he can’t guarantee there is no “interference.” Or, rather, because he’s supposed to guarantee there is.
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Art. I, Sec. 4, cl. 1. The regulation of elections can be made by Congress. That all Representatives and 1/3rd of the Senate are up for election every two years, however, cannot be regulated by Congress. (I will freely grant that I don’t know what was done in the Union during the Civil War, but this ain’t that.) So Congress has not given the President the power to suspend Article 1, sections 2 and 3, on the report of the DNI. If Trump wants to do that, he’s got to go to court.

Against what? A federal district where the Democrat won? The state of Texas, say, if Paxton loses? I don’t think the DNI’s report is going to be coincidentally that specific. Proactively against all 50 states? Or whichever ones are identified by the DNI? ( All the “blue” ones?) And even then, the courts will ask why the DNI didn’t report to Congress and get Congress to “regulate” a solution in accordance with Art. I, Sec. 4.  Because courts don’t have the power to toss out elections, or declare a new winner (even Bush v Gore didn’t do that; it just said the Florida recount was running up against the Electoral Count Act deadline) sua sponte, or, for that matter, suspend elections nationwide (or just in the “blue” ones). If this is a serious problem (it’s Pulte; it won’t be), it’s up to Congress to fix it. But that “fix” will have to apply to 2028, since there isn’t time for Congress to act now, (Pulte hasn’t made his report, Congress hasn’t reviewed it, there isn’t time to draft and pass legislation since Congress makes its rules (Article I), and is effectively through as of July 31) until after the election in November.

Sorry to be so bluntly tedious, but this whole matter makes as much sense as Trump claiming he’d take Iran as easily as he took Venezuela. The U.S. ain’t Iran; but it’s not Venezuela, either.

And Bill Pulte is just another administration idiot with no clue and no authority.
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Juneteenth

 Juneteenth is a day I heard about long before it became a federal holiday. It celebrates the day the Emancipation Proclamation was announced in Galveston, Texas. It’s kind of a joy that it came from Texas; but it’s a shame, too. Texas colonists fought for independence so they could cash in on the slave based economy creating so many plantations in the South. Mexico had outlawed slavery. Texas later left the union for the same reason.

Today we celebrate Juneteenth, the day news of freedom finally reached the last enslaved Americans in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It's a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied, and that freedom, equality, and democracy are never guaranteed. We honor those who came before us and recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for civil rights and equal justice for all.
Advanced Nanobubble Popehat:
Went to a Juneteenth event last night — an interfaith thing among local churches my wife helped with. Learned a bunch I didn’t know. Among what I learned — that Owen Brown, John Brown’s son, became a big local figure in Pasadena and his grave up on a mountain is still a popular hike.

/2 Anyway, the pastor who spoke talked about John Brown refusing to accept what was widely accepted, refusing to take the status quo as ordained, willing to treat the dispossessed as being just as worthy of your most extreme efforts as your brother or neighbor.
Which has bugger all to do with self-reliance.
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⛽️ This Is Going Extremely Well

Yeah, okay. What happened to the gusher? I believe the people controlling the missiles.
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⛽️ Well, That Lasted About An Hour

I’m sure this won’t affect gas prices at all. (But Caputo was struck by the fact Trump barely sleeps.)
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Self-Reliance And Slavery

Ramaswamy: Obama disappointed us and ultimately governed in a way that divided us, caused us to see one another as whether we were oppressed or not. The mentality that rejects American entrepreneurialism, rejects the idea of self-reliance and creativity and originality that built this country. And I'm hoping we are able to turn the page on this chapter of victimhood
... and government subsidies that helped the railroads, and westward expansion, and legalized oppression of the natives from south of the border, and genocide of those already living here, to pave the way for white people from Europe, as well as legal oppression of Asians allowed here as stoop labor. Most of that “self-reliance” is pure humbug from the western side of the Mississippi. Government subsidies from land use to agriculture to transportation keep those states alive on tourism and government contracts and military bases. “Self-reliance” is the myth we tell ourselves to accept the few who own the most. In the ‘50’s and ‘60’s it was the TV/movie myth of the big landowner who “did it himself,” like anyone could do (except it takes a lot of cowboys to run a ranch, and a big, impressive ranch home is easier to afford if those cowboys ain’t paid shit.) Now those stories are back again, on streaming services; the only difference is, Ben Cartwright cusses more, and shoots more people; at least according to the ads I’ve seen.

It’s all bullshit selling the lie that if you work hard, you, too, can live a life of luxury running a business where all you have to do is cash the checks. Hardest work I ever did was as a laborer on a construction site one summer. I learned one thing: hard work will never get you out of that hole (we were laying foundations for a building. That’s all I did for three months.). I’ve known people who worked hard, and I’ve known people who barely worked; and the difference in their economic situation didn’t depend on their efforts or their “self-reliance.” With rare exception, it depended on their willingness to be sociopaths.

Which is pretty much what the world teaches; if that’s what you want to learn.

Ramaswamy wants you to be a sociopath. Those people, he understands.
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Nobody Could Have Foreseen

And yet Trump brags about having built the greatest military in the world. How long did the bombing of Iran last? 1 month? 2? And now it’s in dire straits?

Maybe Congress needs to oversee things a bit more closely.
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All The King’s Horses, And All The King’s Men, Couldn’t….

Executive time:
The upcoming book Regime Change by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan detailed how White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt walked into the Oval Office to find Trump "clutching a tube of super glue and attempting to affix gold decorations to the marble fireplace mantle."
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Don’t Put Too Many Eggs In That Basket

Caputo:
"What stood out for me is the guy didn't really sleep," Caputo said. "The president hadn't slept much, I think maybe two hours [since] he had flown back from Europe. But his general attitude was very positive. Despite all of the negative commentary and pushback over the deal, the president seems pretty relieved because he has an exit here, and he's looking at two things. He's looking at the stock market, and he's looking at the price of oil, and the price of oil is down."

Caputo highlighted the quote that stood out the most to him about the president's state of mind.

"At one point in the interview, he said it at a few points in the interview, he said, 'It's a gusher,' as if he literally struck oil through this deal because of the price lowering," Caputo said, "and that really impressed me because it just shows what Trump is really focused on."
About that:
Oil prices began to climb once again in early Asian trade on Friday due to uncertainty over the outcome of peace talks between the United States and Iran after Switzerland confirmed the talks had been postponed.

At the time of writing, Brent crude had climbed back above $80 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate had risen to $76.28.
Oil prices on this index are futures; expectations, in other words. If oil doesn’t show up in refineries soon, and in substantial quantities, the futures price won’t matter. And the price at the pump won’t change until the next purchase by the retailer is for cheaper oil than the last purchase was. Which may not be for awhile.

And the futures prices are watching developments; like no one going to Switzerland to talk peace after all. 

Donald Trump, unsurprisingly, doesn’t understand any of this.
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Permission Slip

The new “received wisdom” is that Democrats are not appealing to the “Joe Rogan” voters or the disaffected, or just aren’t generating “enthusiasm.”

Was there a lot of enthusiasm for Trump in 2024, and I missed it? His campaign was so badly run (remember him standing and “dancing” to his ‘70’s playlist for an hour? At a political “rally”?) his victory convinced me campaigns are meaningless.  Nobody was excited by Trump, but they were less excited by Harris. 

It’s a binary system. Someone wins, someone loses. Enthusiasm might push the margin of victory, and is better than indifference, but enthusiasm can be negative as well as positive, against as much as for. And the sheer stupidity of the GOP, the pointless fight for things nobody gives a shit about (Sharia law? Banning IVF? I remind you Texas is the second most populous state in the union.). Constantly blaming Biden and Obama? The absolute disaster that’s been the Iran war? (Even with the Strait “open,” the supply chain is broken. This won’t be like turning your garden hose on. And there is no meeting in Switzerland today, because neither side wants to be there. Iran is already balking because Israel is. And Trump U.S. denying the $300 billion payout. Yeah, that issue is “solved.”). 

The point is, not voting is also voting. And you can vote for Talarico and Ossoff and Platner, or you can vote for the GOP. I think there’s more interest in voting for the former. And voters who voted for the latter in ‘24, and are “enthusiastic” now, may well vote against by…not voting.

And if Trump keeps insisting the elections are “rigged,” why should people who believe him vote at all? 

There isn’t a single national candidate to get excited about in a midterm. Then again, a presidential candidate is supposed to bring his party into power in Congress. When that doesn’t happen in a Presidential election year, we have an explanation for it. When it does happen, we have a different explanation. But we always address Congressional elections, which prove every two years that all politics IS local, as if it should be a Presidential election, as if all 435 representatives and 33 (or 34) senators should be elected because of party label, rather than what kind of candidate they are. When it’s really all about the candidates.

And the Republicans are getting their permission slips from Trump. They’re trying to run as if that’s all that matters. They’re also trying to give permission slips to Platner, and Ossoff, and Talarico. Or withholding them. We’ll see how that works out.
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