Hegseth Meeting With Top Brass Deemed a Joke and a Complete Waste of Money

Pete Hegseth’s speech to top generals was supposed to serve as a rallying cry for military exceptionalism — but it didn’t land that way with many of the people it was targeting.  Numerous defense officials — who watched senior brass scramble to Washington and then sit through a partisan speech from President Donald Trump and a return to old-school military standards by Hegseth — were left wondering why the event had occurred at all.

“More like a press conference than briefing the generals,” said one defense official, who, like others, was granted anonymity due to fears of retribution. “Could have been an email.”  

Defense officials, in the Pentagon and at bases around the world, spent much of  the day trying to make sense of the last-minute gathering at the Quantico base in Virginia. Hegseth called out “fat generals,” and, separately, pushed fitness standards that could limit women in combat roles, while Trump offered his justification for sending the military into American cities.

The 90-minute event — which came off as something more akin to a campaign rally — had the feeling of a Hollywood production. Trump even instructed officials to “just have a good time.”  The meeting took place hours before a likely government shutdown, and struck some officials as a distraction that threatens to shift the military’s focus away from foreign threats toward an unprecedented domestic role.  “Total waste of money,” said a second defense official. 

Current and former defense officials feared the security risk of sticking almost all of America’s top officers in the same room. And they dismissed Hegseth’s effort to bolster the military’s aggressive image through grooming standards and ending diversity programs.  “It‘s a waste of time for a lot of people who emphatically had better things they could and should be doing,” said a former senior defense official. “It’s also an inexcusable strategic risk to concentrate so many leaders in the operational chain of command in the same publicly known time and place, to convey an inane message of little merit.”

Some officials spent their time doing back-of-the-envelope math on ChatGPT to figure out how much the spectacle cost. Others across bases chose to avoid watching entirely.  “At this point, I am averting my eyes,” said a third defense official.

Within the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill, people voiced worries about Hegseth’s remark that rules of engagement designed to protect civilians were “stupid” and Trump’s suggestion that the Pentagon would form quick reaction forces to quell upheaval in American cities. The Pentagon has insisted the U.S. military is retooling to prepare for a potential war with China. But sending American troops to patrol their own cities will “distract warfighters from actually training to fight and win” against Beijing, said a fourth defense official.

 

USA Ryder Cup Fans Disgrace Themselves

The typically bellicose demeanor of Trump during his visit to the Ryder Cup matches presaged a higher degree of rancor among U.S. fans at the biennial event staged at Bethpage Black course this weekend.

Anti-European sentiment was extremely vociferous over the three days of matches, especially after the European team built up an insurmountable lead on Saturday.  The most notable example of the rancor occurred on the sixth hole, when American fans screamed "Fuck you, Rory" and hurled other abuse at the 2025 Masters champion.  The abuse directed at McIlroy included frequent shots at his relationship with Erica.  "How's your divorce going?" one fan screamed, according to Golfweek.  Another said: "Your ex is looking for you."  While McIlroy took the brunt of the insults from the crowd, Lowry didn’t go unscathed. “Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic,” a group of fans sang by the 13th green, one of several taunts geared at Lowry’s figure.

McIlroy was forced to step away from a putt twice at the sixth hole (and was subsequently booed) before waiting a total of four minutes for the atmosphere to calm down.  McIlroy did eventually take his shot from 34 feet, going on to make a par.   McIlroy's wife Erica was reportedly brought to tears following a day of vitriolic abuse from the American fans.  The Northern Irishman was subjected to relentless verbal abuse, including chants of "fuck you, Rory" and other insults about his love life with Erica.  At one point, Erica was even seemingly hit by a drink before her husband could be seen consoling her.   McIlroy said he was 'drained' at the end of the day, which ended with Team Europe holding a record-breaking 11.5-4.5 lead.  And it appeared to take a toll on Erica as well, as it was reported she had 'tears streaming down her face' as they walked off the course arm-in-arm.

The New York crowd was hurling out grotesque personal insults all week, with many of the marshals around the course not just tolerating it but tacitly approving it, with a few seen grinning along with the latest moronic insult.  According to a report, walking the fairways was like listening to a series of Truth Social posts being read out loud in New York accents. The abuse was cutting and personal, involving not only European players but their wives and families, all of whom were inside the ropes. The players’ wives were briefly led away from the match for a couple of holes when the atmosphere was at its most unhinged.  When asked about the behavior, USA captain Keegan Bradley later refused to condemn the abuse coming from the home fans.

On Sunday afternoon, reports came in that one of the ringleaders of the vile chants aimed at Rory McIlroy had lost her job at the tournament.  Heather McMahan, an American actress and comedian, reportedly stepped down from her role as first tee emcee after leading chants of "fuck you Rory" on Saturday.   McMahan had been expected to warm up the crowd in leading supportive chants for Bryson DeChambeau-- but instead began to lead chants of abuse at the Irish golfer instead.  According to the Sports Business Journal, the 38-year-old McMahan apologized to McIlroy and and Ryder Cup Europe and was forced to resign from her role.

 

The Trump Curse Strikes (Yet) Again

Avid golfer (and convicted felon) Donald Trump made a personal visit to the Ryder Cup tournament on Friday, addressing a crowd of supporters and personally greeting Bryson DeChambeau. The visit complicated security measures at the course, and resulted a degree of chaos that rippled throughout the days' events.   Scores of Ryder Cup fans were denied glimpses of the opening tee shots of the morning matches due to stringent security measures, and portions of the course and facilities were made off-limits to fans throughout the day.

Trump was not expected to arrive at the course until after the morning matches were expected to be completed, but last-minute security and changes in crowd control measures had an impact from the very start of the event.  Heavy congestion was in evidence at and around the main spectator entry point from early morning as tens of thousands gathered to see the 7 am matches. Tournament staff audibly complained at being in the same lengthy queues as the public. Airport-style security, which was deployed for a second time (inside the gates) near to the 1st hole, led to the competition organizers opening gates at 5am local time (more than two hours before play began) but heavy congestion was still clear as the event got under way.  Traffic issues also led to spectators abandoning tournament shuttle buses miles away from the course and walking through residential areas to get to the entrance gates. One Ryder Cup attendee posted footage on social media of a power line exploding near the course-- nobody is understood to have been injured but it served as an example of a chaotic morning.  American and European players not playing in the morning matches were advised to avoid the course altogether during the early session.  Trump received a mixture of cheers and some boos from the crowd when he did eventually appear for the tee-off of the afternoon matches. Trump insisted on leaving his spectator box to personally greet his close ally Bryson DeChambeau, who is the chair of the president’s council on sports and fitness.  DeChambeau ended up losing both his morning and afternoon matches against the Europeans.  The Trump jinx extended to the entire team, with the Europeans increasing their lead after each session-- with few believing the U.S. will be able to salvage a victory on Sunday.

But this is not the first time that the "Trump Curse" has afflicted sports teams-- he has a long history of jinking athletes who visit or are cheered on by the orange man. 

Trump Keeps Screwing Over NC Hurricane Victims

In both his private and public roles, convicted felon Donald Trump is screwing over the people of North Carolina who were affected by Hurricane Helene. During the 2024 election season, Trump disparaged the Federal Emergency Management Agency and took matters into his own hands instead, doing a GoFundMe that raised nearly $8 million. 

Given that this is Trump we’re talking about, no one will be surprised to learn that the money was just shunted off to private organizations. Of the five groups that received funds, four are Christian charities, and most have ties to Trump or are big supporters.   Of course, the groups won’t answer questions about what they did with the money, save for one that provided information showing they spent $25,000 on gift cards for rural communities affected by the storm. The other groups declined to answer questions from Grist, which broke the story, but hey, at least we know where 0.3% of the money went!

Once Trump took office, he made sure to keep hurting North Carolina, withholding critical disaster aid for no real reason except that he can. In May, FEMA denied the state’s request for a 100% match of state funds for hurricane cleanup, and it wasn’t until this month that FEMA turned on the spigot for additional funds.  When Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced an additional $48 million in disaster funding for the state on Sept. 21, she bragged that FEMA was delivering dollars to communities “at record speed.”  Hurricane Helene  hit North Carolina nearly a year ago . . . Way to go, Kristi!

This week, North Carolina disaster personnel said that the federal government had covered roughly 9% of disaster cleanup costs, compared to previous storms, where the federal government paid about 70%. They also said that FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides money for home buyouts and elevation, has not approved a single project in North Carolina.   FEMA has had those applications since … February. 

The cost of recovery is estimated at around $60 billion, and thus far, the federal government has provided about $5.2 billion. However, fun fact about that $5.2 billion: the state says only about $800 million has actually been disbursed to the state. 

The delay is, in part, due to the new genius idea that Noem personally approves all contracts over $100,000. Back when this dumb policy was announced in June, officials at FEMA sounded the alarm about how this would bottleneck emergency funding during the upcoming hurricane season.  The decision to bottle-neck funds was made retroactive to funds for the previous hurricane season as well. Heckuva job, Kristi. 

It’s not just FEMA money that isn’t coming through. There’s also $1.4 billion in Housing and Urban Development funds for a state-run home repair program. Even though it’s been awarded, the state doesn’t have it yet.  No one can say why . . . meanwhile, 3,300 people with wrecked homes have submitted applications.  

It’s tough to find a starker example of Trump’s deep disregard for people than how he has treated disaster victims in North Carolina.  It’s not just North Carolina that is suffering. Trump has diverted FEMA funds to build migrant prisons. He oversaw an absolutely shameful FEMA response to the floods in Texas, leading the agency’s head of Urban Search and Rescue to resign. Meanwhile, the acting administrator, David Richardson, was nowhere to be found, and FEMA search and rescue teams did not arrive for four days. 

Trump has no interest in helping people. For him, FEMA is half slush fund, half weapon. People who are affected by natural disasters get scraps, dribs and drabs whenever Noem gets around to reading her inbox.  Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene recovery grinds on with an inadequate patchwork of state and private funds. Under Trump, we’re all on our own.

 

More Trump Weaponization of the Federal Government

The FBI has fired agents who were photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest in Washington that followed the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, three people familiar with the matter said Friday.

The bureau last spring had reassigned the agents but has since fired them, said the people, who insisted on anonymity to discuss personnel matters with The Associated Press.  The number of FBI employees terminated was not immediately clear, but two people said it was roughly 20.

The photographs at issue showed a group of agents taking the knee during one of the demonstrations following the May 2020 killing of Floyd, a death that led to a national reckoning over policing and racial injustice and sparked widespread anger after millions of people saw video of the arrest. The kneeling had angered some in the FBI but was also understood as a possible de-escalation tactic during a period of protests.

The FBI Agents Association confirmed in a statement late Friday that more than a dozen agents had been fired, including military veterans with additional statutory protections, and condemned the move as unlawful. It called on Congress to investigate and said the firings were another indication of FBI Director Kash Patel’s disregard for the legal rights of bureau employees.

“As Director Patel has repeatedly stated, nobody is above the law,” the agents association said. “But rather than providing these agents with fair treatment and due process, Patel chose to again violate the law by ignoring these agents’ constitutional and legal rights instead of following the requisite process.”

The firings come amid a broader personnel purge at the bureau as Patel works to reshape the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. Five agents and top-level executives were known to have been summarily fired last month in a wave of ousters that current and former officials say has contributed to declining morale.

One of those, Steve Jensen, helped oversee investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Another, Brian Driscoll, served as acting FBI director in the early days of the Trump administration and resisted Justice Department demands to supply the names of agents who investigated Jan. 6.

A third, Chris Meyer, was incorrectly rumored on social media to have participated in the investigation into President Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. A fourth, Walter Giardina, participated in high-profile investigations like the one into Trump adviser Peter Navarro.

At a disastrous congressional hearing last week, Patel denied taking orders from the White House on whom to fire and said anyone who has been fired failed to meet the FBI’s standards.  The FBI has so far not released copies of the FBI "standards" that restrict free speech or prohibit agents from using certain de-escalation tactics.

 

David Byrne & Hayley Williams - What is the Reason For It?

Hate on an Escalator

Best Friends Trump & Epstein Back in the Spotlight

A 12-foot statue of convicted felon Donald Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands and prancing together was erected on the National Mall yesterday.

Three plaques appear alongside the satirical faux-bronze statues, courtesy of a mysterious group that goes by the name The Secret Handshake. The plaques note the statues are “in Honor of Friendship Month” in September. 

“We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend’ Jeffrey Epstein,” one plaque reads. The other two plaques feature quotes from a bawdy birthday card Trump apparently once gave Epstein.

In a statement, the anonymous leader of the Secret Handshake said the statues speak for themselves. “No one else publicly that we know of partied with Donald Trump, traveled with Donald Trump and visited at Mar-a-Lago just as a friend, not just as an associate. Since this is Friendship Month, we wanted to celebrate what is presumably, at least publicly, Donald Trump’s only true friend,” the group’s leader said. 

Trump and Epstein spent over a decade running in the same social circles or attending various high-profile events and parties together. Trump also rode on Epstein’s private plane between New York and Florida. Trump had called Epstein a “terrific guy,” and Epstein said he believed he was Trump’s “closest friend.”

“He was a lot of fun to be with,” Trump told New York Magazine in 2002.

Epstein died by suicide in federal prison a month after his arrest, kicking off a firestorm of questions, controversy and conspiracy theories about his death — and his life, especially his connection to wealthy elites who were introduced to young women or girls through the disgraced financier.  When Trump ran for president, he leaned heavily into conspiracy theories about Epstein and vowed to expose those involved. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi initially claimed that there was an Epstein “client list” on her desk at the Justice Department. A month later, however, the Justice Department and FBI released a statement saying there was never a client list and that no further records tied to the Epstein probe would be made public.

That decision was controversial, even among Trump’s base and administration. Things only got worse for him in July, when The Wall Street Journal reported that the president’s name appeared many times in a “truckload” of documents reviewed by the Justice Department. Demands for the so-called Epstein files to be released have intensified ever since, including from women who said they were abused by Epstein and his associate Ghislane Maxwell. 

 

Jimmy Kimmel is Back!

Tylenol is Safe - Ignore Trump!

Convicted felon Donald Trump has now begun to dispense medical guidance to the public that is at odds with the scientific consensus. Most well-informed folks don't need to be told to ignore whatever comes out of Trump's mouth.  But for the record-- multiple peer-reviewed studies have shown NO LINK between acetaminophen and Autism.  

Trump is the guy who wondered out loud in a televised briefing about the possibility of treating the coronavirus by "injection inside or almost a cleaning" with disinfectant.  That resulted in medical authorities frantically advising the public against ingesting or injecting disinfectant products.  

This is also the same moron who advised people to take anti-malaria drugs to cure COVID.  His public statements were later proven to have increased deaths in patients treated with it in hospitals around the world, after significant numbers of doctors began prescribing it without scientific evidence. 

Trump has long cast doubt on the advice of medical professionals, and he routinely ignored officials in his first term during the pandemic. He largely refused to wear a mask, even as the federal guidance recommended Americans do so.  He elevated officials who had rosier outlooks on the pandemic and sidelined or pushed out those who warned about his approach. Since returning to office, Mr. Trump has elevated vaccine skeptics, and his administration has defunded vaccine research.   

 

Am I Right?

Celebrating the Legacy of Charlie Kirk

There is no better tribute to Charlie Kirk but to cement his legacy with his own words.  Read on, my friends-- 

Symptoms of Hydrogen Peroxide Poisoning?

The Wall Street Journal’s headline of its new editorial slamming Attorney General Pam Bondi said it all.  “Pam Bondi Needs a Free Speech Tutorial,” the newspaper’s conservative editorial board headlined its essay condemning Bondi’s suggestion that she’d unleash law enforcement on those who haven’t responded to right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in the way she deems correct.

Bondi has since semi-walked back her comments following a backlash, which the Journal acknowledged.  But the board still asked: “Is a basic understanding of the First Amendment too much to expect from the nation’s Attorney General?”  It also suggested that Kirk, who had called for “even hate speech” to be “totally allowed” in the U.S., “would want a word” with Bondi.

Bondi “hasn’t had a distinguished tenure as AG, as she too often seems to follow the latest social-media, cable-TV mood swing,” the Journal wrote.  “But she is a law enforcer, not a social-media anger management coach, and she’s sworn to uphold the Constitution,” it concluded. “Maybe Ms. Bondi should quit appearing on podcasts about Charlie Kirk until she listens to some Charlie Kirk podcasts.”

Meanwhile, back at the White House,  Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a theory on her Instagram story that an earthquake in Utah after the murder of far-right activist Charlie Kirk is proof that "God is angry." A 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Uinta Basin, just west of Vernal, at about 5:57 p.m. Central Time on September 10—the day Kirk was assassinated—with a depth of 42 miles. In biblical numerology, 40 is associated with trials and 41 with change.  The whack-a-doodle theory goes as follows:

“On the night Charlie was shot, a 4.1 earthquake struck Utah. In scripture, 40 represents trials; 41 signifies a shift. It hit at 5:57 local time, 7:57 Eastern. Acts 7:57 describes Stephen, the first martyr, stoned as the crowd silenced his truth . . . The Bible says the earth trembles when God is angry. That night, as a voice was silenced, the ground groaned."

Leavitt couldn't help but say "Wow" when sharing the above nonsense.

 

The Black Keys - On Repeat

Trump Administration Wants to Revoke the Passports of U.S. Citizens It Doesn't Like

A bill has been introduced in the GOP-controlled Congress that could potentially be used to deny U.S. citizens the right to travel based solely on their speech, including for criticism of Israel.  The bill would grant Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to revoke the passports of U.S. citizens in the same way he has revoked the green cards and visas of foreign nationals in the US for criticizing Israel.

In March, Rubio revoked the visa of Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk after she wrote an opinion piece critical of Israel in the Tufts University student newspaper in 2024.  The op-ed did not mention Hamas, but called for boycotting and divesting from Israel.

One section of the bill grants the Secretary of State the ability to deny passports to people determined to have “knowingly aided, assisted, abetted, or otherwise provided material support to an organization the Secretary has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.”  The reference to “material support” disturbs civil liberties advocates because it is vague and can be interpreted to include speech and anti-war activism.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), (which is widely believed to function  as a front for Israeli intelligence in the U.S.) and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law suggested in a letter last year that Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) was providing “material support” for Hamas by organizing campus protests against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.  So much for free speech!

The provision regarding "material support" to terrorism also poses a threat specifically to journalists, The Intercept noted.  In 2023, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas demanded a Justice Department “national security investigation” of AP, CNN, The New York Times, and Reuters after they published photos taken by freelance photographers during the Hamas attack on Israeli settlements and military bases on 7 October 2023.

Civil liberties organizations like the ACLU and the Freedom of the Press Foundation contend that the bill undermines due process and could punish speech.  Concerns have also been raised that the bill's appeals process is insufficient, as appeals would be reviewed by the same individual who made the initial decision. Advocates worry that the "material support" language could endanger journalists and human rights activists who report on designated organizations.

 

U.K.'s Ego-Booster for Trump Forced to Be Staged Away from the Public

Four people were arrested following the projection of pictures of convicted felon Donald Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto one of the towers of Windsor castle, where the U.S. president is set to be hosted by King Charles during his state visit to Britain.

Pictures of Epstein's victims, news clips of the case and police reports were also projected onto the walls of the castle tower.  Earlier on Tuesday, protesters also unfurled a massive banner on public grounds near Windsor castle, which featured a photograph of Trump and Epstein.   Trump was friends with Epstein before becoming president, but had a falling out with the former financier years before his mysterious death in prison.  Trump has been trying (desperately) to tamp down public interest in his connections with Epstein and the DOJ's secret files on the sex offender-- but to no avail. 

Today, Trump and his wife, the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales today will take part in a carriage procession, escorted by the Royal Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.  The route will be lined by members of the Armed Forces, with military bands from the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF.  In anticipation of the visit, protesters have purchased advertising space on bus stops and billboards around the town of Windsor, highlighting Trump's connection to Epstein.  Merchandise featuring the infamous duo is also widely on sale in stores and shops throughout the town.  Pathetically, to avoid embarrassing Trump (and wanting to spare Trump the embarrassment of boos and chants from local residents), the U.K. made the decision to stage the procession behind the castle walls and take place only on the private grounds of Windsor.

 

An Unfortunate Legacy

North Korea Now Executing People for Watching Foreign Films and TV

The North Korean government is increasingly implementing the death penalty, including for people caught watching and sharing foreign films and TV dramas, a major UN report has found.  The dictatorship, which remains largely cut off from the world, is also subjecting its people to more forced labor while further restricting their freedoms, the report added.

The UN Human Rights Office found that over the past decade the North Korean state had tightened control over all aspects of citizens' lives.  "No other population is under such restrictions in today's world," it concluded, adding that surveillance had become "more pervasive", helped in part by advances in technology.

The report, which is based on more than 300 interviews with people who escaped from North Korea in the past 10 years, found that the death penalty is being used more often.  At least six new laws have been introduced since 2015 that allow for the penalty to be handed out. One crime which can now be punished by death is the watching and sharing of foreign media content such as films and TV dramas, as Kim Jong Un works to successfully limit people's access to information.

As If Anyone Needed Another Reason to Avoid Musk's Deathtraps

Max Walsh spotted the plume of smoke just as an emergency alert flashed on his smartwatch: Vehicle fire with entrapment.  Less than a minute later, the off-duty firefighter pulled up to a busy intersection in northern Virginia, where a Tesla Model Y lay crumpled and aflame against a utility pole. aving responded to electric vehicle fires before, Walsh knew what he was up against: electrically powered doors that may not function after a crash, manual releases that can be hard to find and battery cells that burn more intensely than gasoline. 

Every second mattered. He sprinted to the SUV. The driver’s door wouldn’t open, but the window was cracked. Walsh smashed it with his bare hands and reached inside, burning himself in the process. “I’m trying to open the door and it’s like, ‘What the hell, where is the backup thing?’”  Unable to find the mechanical release, he and a friend pulled the dazed driver, Venkateswara Pasumarti, up and out through the window frame. “Who else is in the car?”  Walsh yelled. Pasumarti managed one word: “wife.”

Susmita Maddi was pinned by air bags in the passenger seat, flames entering the cabin, the car’s electrical system dead, the doors not opening.  Bystanders pounded on the glass as the smoke thickened.  By the time rescuers arrived with hydraulic cutters, Maddi had inhaled enough fumes to do lasting damage to her lungs and suffered third-degree burns to her face.“It’s the most horrible thing, to see a human burning,” Walsh said in a recent interview recounting the December 2023 crash.  “If I was able to open the doors, I could have gotten them both out before the fire department even got there.”

Under Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, Tesla has built its reputation — and much of its trillion-dollar market value — on sleek design, engineering excellence and an exceptional safety record.  But whereas Teslas fare well in government-administered crash tests, certain hallmarks of its vehicles — flush door handles, electrical power, mechanical releases — are flummoxing occupants and first responders. This can turn moments after crashes into deadly races against time.

The Virginia crash is one of a string of incidents exposing this paradox.

Looks Like the GOP Didn't Get the Boogeyman It Wanted

It was straight out of the MAGA world’s greatest fantasy—a report that painted the Charlie Kirk assassin as an amalgamation of the right’s biggest boogeymen.  A Wall Street Journal update (which has since been rewritten) originally read: “Investigators found ammunition engraved with expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology inside the rifle that authorities believe was used in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, according to an internal law enforcement bulletin and a person familiar with the investigation.”

It didn’t take long for the inevitable walk-back.   “A senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation cautioned that the report had not been verified by ATF analysts, did not match other summaries of the evidence and might turn out to have been misread or misinterpreted,” reported The New York Times.    

That WSJ blurb was quickly rewritten with more caution—but it was too late. The damage was done.

The Hives - Legalize Living

Not Surprisingly, the GOP is Getting Holier Than Thou Over the Kirk Shooting

In case you didn't notice it-- on the same day of the Kirk shooting, there was a shooting at a high school near Denver, with at least three people critically injured. The governor of Colorado, both CO Senators,  and the Congressperson from that district all issued statements. 

Has Trump spoken out against the Colorado shooting? Not yet, anyway. But the convicted felon was sure quick enough to eulogize Kirk.  For that matter, has Trump spoken out about the Minnesota Democrats who were gunned down last month? Trump says he won't call Gov. Tim Walz after Minnesota shootings: 'He's a mess'.  Or the shooting at the CDC? CDC Shooting is not the kind of crime Trump cares about. 

Charlie Kirk was, to put it kindly, no friend of Democrats. Nonetheless:

• Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, top Democrats condemn Charlie Kirk shooting
• Joe Biden & Barack Obama Post Powerful Statements After Charlie Kirk’s Horrific Death
• 'We must reject political violence': Newsom, CA leaders respond to Charlie Kirk killing
• Pritzker: 'Attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying'; Illinois officials react to Kirk's death 

Now we have lamebrain Nancy Mace, who couldn’t wait even a few minutes to blame Democrats for Kirk’s death.  She called the shooter a “raging leftist lunatic” though of course at this time no one even knows who he is.  Convicted felon Donald Trump also blamed “the radical left” for the shooting, saying [the left's] “rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now.”

And what about Trump's shooter?  Thomas Crooks, a registered Republican, was described by the FBI as active on social networking services and posted comments that appeared "to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes."

Trump made no mention of the assassination of Minnesota legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband back in June.  The shooter in that case was Vance Luther Boelter, a registered Republican and described "far right" Christian zealot who was motivated by antagonism against abortion rights and transgender people. 

Trump made no mention of the Florida State shooting back in April.  Phoenix Ikner espoused white supremacist, far-right and homophobic views, and also advocated for Trump's agenda and was fascinated with Adolf Hitler and Nazism. 

Trump made no mention of the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub shooting, where law enforcement officials attributed the shooting to anti-LGBTQ hatred inflamed by Republican politicians and right-wing influencers, and rooted in the demonization of drag queens as "groomers."

Trump made no mention of the 2022 Highland Park Parade shooting perpetrated by Robert Crimo.  A vociferous supporter of  Trump, Crimo frequented far-right gatherings and infamously signed both his name and Donald Trump's when he waived his right to trial. 

Trump made no mention of the 2022 Buffalo shooting at Tops Friendly market, where ten people (all of them black) were murdered.  The shooter, Peyton Gendron, was a white supremacist who was motivated to commit acts of political violence.  He voiced support for the far-right Great Replacement conspiracy theory in the context of a so-called white genocide. 

Trump made no mention of the 2022 Normandale Park shooting.  The shooter, Benjamin Smith, had expressed animosity towards Antifa and Black Lives Matter and had expressed support for Nazis and the Proud Boys. 

Trump failed to mention the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting, when Patrick Crusius shot 45 people and killed 23, in deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.  Crusius posted a manifesto with white nationalist and anti-immigrant themes on 8chan shortly before the attack. The manifesto cited the far-right conspiracy theory known as the Great Replacement as inspiration for the attack. 

The truth is that politically-motivated mass shooting are in the minority (and evenly divided between left-leaning and right-leaning perpetrators).  The vast majority are the result of mentally-disturbed individuals or criminals who are motivated by personal anger or avoiding arrest by law enforcement.

Trump needs to stop trying to score political points and stand up and be a leader for a change!

 

Kirk Shooter Still at Large

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released images of a “person of interest” in connection with the investigation into yesterday's fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on stage at Utah Valley University.  Kirk, 31 years old, was one of the most influential figures on the right who founded and served as CEO of Turning Point USA, a powerful conservative youth organization. He played a prominent role in President Trump’s outreach to young voters during the 2024 election.

The shooter is still at large. Authorities in Utah are working to identify the shooter, who jumped off a roof and fled after firing the fatal shot. A high-powered, bolt-action rifle was recovered from area where the suspected shooter fled..  Law enforcement believes the shooting suspect is of college age, but cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages.  Ammunition recovered with the high-powered rifle, was reportedly engraved with transgender and antifascist ideology. Investigators say it is unclear how far the suspect might have traveled overnight.

Conspiracy theories are abounding in the MAGA-sphere.  An eyewitness on CNN yesterday described hearing two gunshots, despite federal law enforcement claiming only a single shot was fired.  Another eyewitness says the shot was fired right after Kirk was asked about trans violence, as if it were coordinated. He believes it wasn’t just one person acting alone-- but several people working together. He also claims that someone in the crowd confessed to the shooting right after it happened, even though they didn’t have a weapon. 

 

Scene Stealer

Iran-Contra Figures Married in Secret 40 Years After Scandal

Traitor Oliver North and his co-conspirator/secretary Fawn Hall reportedly married in secret last month — 40 years after their surreptitious roles in the infamous Iran-Contra affair.    A copy of the couple’s marriage license, obtained by journalist Michael Isikoff, shows 81-year-old North and 65-year-old Hall were married in Arlington County, Virginia, on Aug. 27. 

“It was a secret marriage,” a friend of the newlyweds told Isikoff.  Reached by phone, North declined to comment, apart from quoting a line famously delivered by Clark Gable’s character in “Gone with the Wind.”  “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” he told CNN.

Release the Epstein Files, Donald!

 

Republicans Who Voted to Confirm RFK Jr. Now Worried He's a Nut Job

GOP Senators are now seeing what anyone with half a brain has known for months: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a dangerous quack who puts Americans' health at risk.  Multiple Republican lawmakers dressed Kennedy down on Thursday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, expressing concerns with his anti-vaccine policies and his personnel decisions.

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, an orthopedic surgeon by trade who cast the deciding vote to confirm Kennedy, took a page out of the playbook of Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, saying that he was "concerned" about Kennedy’s stance on vaccines.  “Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines,” Barrasso said. “Since then, I’ve grown deeply concerned. The public has seen measles outbreaks, leadership in the National Institutes of Health questioning the use of mRNA vaccines, the recently confirmed director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fired. Americans don't know who to rely on."

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana (who also was a doctor before being elected to the Senate) voted to confirm Kennedy back in February.  At the time, he said that he was confident that Kennedy would ensure access to vaccines. After the RFK Jr. hearing, Cassidy changed tunes, saying that Kennedy is making it harder for people to get vaccines, breaking a promise that Cassidy said he made before his confirmation vote.  “We’re denying people vaccine,” Cassidy said at the hearing.

Meanwhile, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina also lambasted Kennedy for firing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez just a month after the Senate voted to confirm her.  "I don't see how you go over four weeks from 'a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials, a longtime champion of MAHA values, caring and compassionate, and brilliant microbiologist ' and four weeks later fire her," he said.  

Monarez said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that she was fired because she wouldn't approve the recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy stacked with anti-vax quacks. At the hearing, Kennedy disputed that, ridiculously claiming that Monarez was fired because she told him that she was not a trustworthy person.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also expressed frustration with Kennedy’s decision to fire Monarez.  “Honestly he’s got to take responsibility," he said. "We confirm these people, we go through a lot of work to get them confirmed.”

Of course, it was always clear that Kennedy—a brain worm-addled, well-known anti-vaxxer—was going to be a disaster for public health.  "GOP senator votes to confirm anti-vaxxer, is shocked by anti-vax policy," Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts wrote on X, mocking Barrasso's shock that Kennedy would implement anti-vax policies.

Ultimately, Republicans had the chance to vote against Kennedy’s confirmation but failed. And while it's new for these lawmakers to speak up and criticize Kennedy, their words will mean nothing without action to remove him from his position. 

 

Failed Seal Team 6 Mission in First Trump Administration Covered Up

A group of Navy SEALs emerged from the ink-black ocean on a winter night in early 2019 and crept to a rocky shore in North Korea. They were on a top secret mission so complex and consequential that everything had to go exactly right. The objective was to plant an electronic device that would let the United States intercept the communications of North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong-un, amid high-level nuclear talks with President Trump.

The operation was so risky that it required Trump's direct approval.  For the operation, the military chose SEAL Team 6’s Red Squadron — the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden. The SEALs rehearsed for months, aware that every move needed to be perfect. But when they reached what they thought was a deserted shore that night, wearing black wet suits and night-vision goggles, the mission swiftly unraveled. A North Korean boat appeared out of the dark. Flashlights from the bow swept over the water.

Chance the Rapper feat. Lil Wayne and Smino - Tree

RFK Now Claims He Can Diagnose Mitochondrial Disorders by Sight

HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy declared last week that he knows “what a healthy child is supposed to look like” before revealing that he finds out just by looking at them.

The 71-year-old Kennedy also remarked on how no one in his large family had diabetes, food allergies or autism when he grew up.  “I’m looking at kids as I walk through the airports today, as I walk down the street, I see these kids that are just overburdened by mitochondrial challenges, with inflammation,” said the conspiracy theorist and one of the nation’s biggest vaccine skeptics. “You can tell from their faces, from their body movements and from their lack of social connection.”

Kennedy spouted an endless stream of false figures on children with autism, and  claimed that there are more children today with diabetes and autism than when he was little.  A few months ago, Kennedy also shared similar remarks about seeing children with “mitochondrial challenges” at the airport.

To be specific (and factual), mitochondrial disorders are complex medical conditions caused by defects in the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing parts of cells. These disorders can affect multiple organs, particularly those with high energy needs like the brain and muscles. Detailed medical analysis (not casual observation, Bobby), is how these serious diseases are diagnosed. Kennedy’s “anecdotal claims” have notably been dismissed by critics who point out that  “autism and food allergies were far less frequently diagnosed by medical professionals in decades past,” the San Antonio Current noted.

Critics roasted the unlicensed and un-credentialed Kennedy mercilessly over his walk-by medical diagnosis method:

 

 

 

Uprising at DeSantis' Infamous "Gator Gitmo"

Guards at Florida's “Gator Gitmo” immigration jail deployed tear gas and engaged in a mass beating of detainees to quell a mini-uprising.  The allegations, made by at least three detainees in phone calls to Miami’s Spanish language news channel Noticias 23, come as authorities race to empty the camp in compliance with a judge’s order to close the remote tented camp in the Everglades. 

The incident took place after several migrants held there began shouting for “freedom” after one received news a relative had died. A team of guards then rushed in and began beating individuals indiscriminately with batons, and fired teargas at them, the detainees said.

“They’ve beaten everyone here, a lot of people have bled. Brother, teargas. We are immigrants, we are not criminals, we are not murderers,” one of the men reportedly told Noticias 23 in a call.  The detainees claimed a fire alarm was sounding continuously, and a helicopter was heard circling overhead.  Reports of “inhumane” conditions and brutality at the camp, where migrants are held in metal cages as they await deportation, have become commonplace. 

Kathleen Williams, a federal judge in Miami, last week ordered Alligator Alcatraz to close within 60 days for breaching environmental laws, and on Wednesday refused a motion by attorneys for the state of Florida and the Trump administration to stay her order.

Protesters who have maintained an almost constant presence at the jail’s gates since its July 2 opening said they were unaware of any incident amounting to an uprising, but have chronicled other reports of abuse taking place there.  “People held inside the facility were on hunger strike for more than 14 days, despite the DeSantis administration denying it. “[An uprising] would not surprise me given the abuses that people have experienced.”said Noelle Damico, director of social justice at the Workers Circle.

 

Back to School Blues

Happy Labor Day