Politics

Episode 1174 – Dems Caused This Oil Problem!

Let’s talk about oil and why the costs are so high. Then let’s look at how California is dealing with the oil crisis.

Finally, I’ll tell you why the oil crisis is not much of a crisis.

Before I Rant

Here is some news:

  • The new Supreme Leader of Iran missed his own coronation. Apparently, he’s in a coma and is missing a leg thanks to an Israeli missile.
  • The citizens of Cuba are protesting again , asking for a new government. President Trump is not counting out the thought of helping the Cuban people take over the government. Remember, Marco Rubio is Cuban.
  • Fifty-three percent of voters questioned in the poll, which was conducted Friday through Sunday, said they oppose the U.S. military action against Iran, which was ordered by President Donald Trump, with 40% supporting the operation.
  • Yamaha has decided to ditch California and head to Georgia.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/where-american-support-trumps-iran-strike-stands-new-polls-roll

I Don’t Want to Hear It!

Gas prices are going through the roof because of the war. The reason is simple: The Middle East countering are having trouble delivering their of because of the war in Iran. Not because the don’t have oil. In fact, countries like Kuwait have so much oil they’re stopped producing because the do not have anymore storage capacity. This is a very important point and I will get back to that later.

The problem is that gas has jumped $0.30 over the last few days and is expected to continue to go up until the war is over and deliveries can resume.

Democrats, including my brother-in-law, are jumping all over this, whining about how Trump doesn’t care about the working man. I don’t want to hear a damn thing from Democrats about the price of gas. They have gone four years raising the price of gas under the Biden administration and all they did was talk about how great Biden’s policies were and how great the economy.

Let’s go over what the Biden administration inherited from the first Trump administration and what they did.

When Biden took office:

  • Gas was averaging $2.17 a gallon.
  • The United States was energy independent.
  • The oil reserves were at 95% to capacity.
  • The XL pipeline was being constructed.
  • Regulations were being wiped off the map.
  • We left that stupid climate agreement that smothered the oil industry with regulation.
  • Oil was $10-20 a barrel. At one point, the cost of oil was at a negative. People were paying us to take their oil.

When Biden left office:

  • Gas prices were $3.30 and maxed out at over $5 a gallon.
  • Construction of the XL pipeline was cancelled.
  • They rejoined the Climate Agreement, pouring regulations onto the oil industry.
  • Biden regulated the transportation of oil across state lines.
  • Biden cancelled drilling leases on federal lands.
  • Biden overregulated refineries, forcing the closure of several refineries.
  • He insulted the OPEC nations. They refused to produce oil.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-was-the-average-gas-price-kxac1zvSSyKcoZGv5ufD.Q

He’s a Sneaky Dick!

According to the New York Post:

Californians have torn into Gavin Newsom for plotting new legislation that will likely spike gas prices even further, claiming he is “taxing us to death.”

The backlash centers on draft regulations tied to the state’s Cap-and-Invest program, overseen by the California Air Resources Board, which sets a statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions and requires major polluters to purchase allowances for each ton of carbon they emit.

Critics say tightening those caps — strongly backed by Newsom — could further drive up the cost of gasoline and diesel in a state where drivers already pay far more than the national average.

According to the California Energy Commission, the Cap-and-Invest program currently adds about 24 cents per gallon to the cost of gasoline in the Golden State.

Gas prices averaged around $4.80 per gallon in early March, compared with roughly $3.25 nationwide, according to AAA data.

The system works by limiting emissions from large polluters — covering roughly 80% of the state’s greenhouse gases — and forcing companies to buy allowances for each ton emitted. Each year, fewer allowances are issued, gradually tightening the cap.

Revenue from the program flows into California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which finances climate initiatives such as transit projects and environmental programs.

But critics argue the tightening rules could ripple through the fuel market and land directly on consumers.

Oil companies and energy groups have warned that stricter regulations could threaten the viability of California’s remaining refineries. In a letter to regulators, energy giant Chevron warned that the proposed amendments could “cripple the survivability” of the state’s refining industry, potentially leading to more shutdowns, job losses and higher fuel costs.

The company noted that the oil and gas sector supports more than 530,000 jobs statewide and contributes about $64 billion annually in tax revenue.

Meanwhile, environmental groups are urging regulators to go even further.

In a letter submitted to CARB, advocacy organization Biofuelwatch called on the board to close what it described as a “biogenic CO2 exemption loophole” that allows biofuel producers and distributors to avoid buying carbon allowances for certain emissions.

The group argues that these exemptions reduce demand for carbon credits and suppress carbon prices, costing the state potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Using 2024 emissions data, the organization estimated that more than 23 million tons of emissions linked to biogenic fuels were exempted from the program — representing as much as $593 million to $712 million in potential revenue, depending on allowance prices.

But while policy experts debate the mechanics of the program, many California residents say they’re simply tired of paying more at the pump.

Some also blamed the state’s energy policies for weakening the local industry and increasing reliance on imports.

Other residents also argued the state is moving too aggressively toward electrification without the infrastructure or affordability to support it.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/us-news/californians-slam-gavin-newsom-stealth-plan-for-more-gas-hikes/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter

Sounds Like a Good Idea!

According to the New York Post:

California Republicans are saying Donald Trump could take control of the state’s spiraling oil crisis amid concerns it impacts national security.

Some suggest the president may intervene over fears that if it gets worse it will impact the Golden State’s huge military build up due to its reliance on fuel.

Gas has skyrocketed across the region over the last week, averaging $5.159 on Sunday — more than the $3.450 national average — with one hitting $8.21.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has tried to blame it on the conflict in Iran, but experts have also pointed to crippling taxes in the state that has driven up the cost for years.

State Senator Suzette Valladares told the California Post on Sunday: “California is in a death spiral when it comes to our gas and oil prices. If the President sees our gas crisis as a national crisis he could step in.”

That national crisis she predicts could be the conflict in Iran and keeping America safe.

She continued: “California produces jet fuel for commercial and military use, they could use some sort of war order to at least keep up California production because of what’s happening in the Middle East.”

California refineries supply gasoline and jet fuel to military installations throughout the state, most of which is currently produced by in-state refineries, according to State Senator Tony Strickland.

That includes 11 Air Force bases, along with dozens of Navy, Marine Corps, and Army facilities. They use about 370 million gallons of fuel annually.

Trump could use the Defense Production Act of 1950 to override California laws and regulations that are blocking offshore oil operations in the state.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/us-news/republicans-call-for-trump-to-seize-california-oil-production-over-national-security-fears/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=capost&utm_medium=social

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Episode 1173 – Here Comes the Splash Damage!

The war with Iran continues to move along. Let’s go over some news.

And we are now seeing the splash damage in the United States when it comes to this war. We can expect more issues in the future.

What’s Happening in Iran?

Here are some updates in the Iran war:

  • Iran named Ayotollah Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the country’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s next ruler.
  • President Donald Trump told Fox News’ “One Nation with Brian Kilmeade” on Sunday night that he is “not happy” with Iran’s selection of Ayotollah Mojtaba Khamenei as the Islamic Republic’s new supreme leader.
  • The war with Iran has sent global oil prices skyrocketing past $100 a barrel as the regime’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped tankers from using the shipping lane.
  • President Donald Trump on Monday told the New York Post that he’s “nowhere near” ordering boots on the ground in Iran to secure enriched uranium reportedly stored at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear complex.
    • “We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it,” Trump told the outlet over the phone.
  • U.S. Central Command on Monday morning issued a “fact check” on a Russian and Iranian media claim that a U.S. patriot missile struck a Bahrain neighborhood by accident. 
    • Russian and Iranian media claimed that a U.S. patriot missile missed intercepting an Iranian missile or drone and inadvertently hit the neighborhood, according to the command. 
    • “What really happened: An Iranian drone struck a residential neighborhood, injuring 32 civilians in Bahrain, including children who required medical treatment, according to Bahrain’s government,” the command said, adding “TRUTH.”
  • A seventh U.S. soldier who died from injuries sustained while he was supporting Operation Epic Fury in Saudi Arabia last week has been identified, the Department of War announced.
    • Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky., died of his wounds on Sunday after he was injured during “an enemy attack” on March 1 at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, the department said.

Here We Go Again

According to the New York Post:

A pair of ISIS-trained extremists were charged with hurling an IED at Gracie Mansion duringa rowdy weekend protest — allegedly packing the homemade bomb with “Mother of Satan,” a volatile explosive favored by international terrorists.

The two pro-Muslim fanatics – Ibraham Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18 – both self-radicalized in recent years and traveled to Turkey and other terror-training hot spots, law enforcement sources close to the case told The Post.

Balat spent more than three months in Istanbul last year, while Ibrahim flew to Istanbul and Saudi Arabia in 2024, and made a trip to Melbourne, Australia in 2019, the sources said.

The pair admitted to cops after getting busted at the violent demonstration outside the mayor’s residence on Saturday afternoon that they also watched ISIS videos and tossed the bomb at right-wing agitators because they felt the agitators insulted their religion, the sources said.

The homemade device consisted of sports drink bottles filled with triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, a substance favored by terrorists and known as “Mother of Satan” — which is so volatile that it typically doesn’t require a fuse to go off, they said. The dangerous substance can be cobbled together using household ingredients readily available at home improvement stores and pharmacies, making it cheap to produce.

The same type of bomb was used in high-profile terror attacks in France, the UK, Belgium and New Delhi over more than a decade — often with fatal consequences.

Fortunately, it failed to go off during the Saturday afternoon clash between demonstrators backing right-wing activist Jake Lang and pro-Muslim counter-protesters.

The incident unfolded during a planned anti-Muslim protest organized by right-wing agitator Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion — which sparked a rowdy confrontation with counter protesters that quickly turned violent.

Video footage shows several scuffles that led to six arrests — including the two accused wannabe bombers.

How did Zorhan Mamdani respond? Here was his statement after it was discovered that this was a terrorist attack:

“Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism,” Mamdani complained. “Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are.”

“What followed was even more disturbing. Violence at a protest is never acceptable. The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are,” he continued. “I want to thank the brave men and women of the NYPD who acted quickly to keep New Yorkers safe. Our officers ran toward danger without hesitation, demonstrating once again the courage and dedication it takes to protect this city every single day. My administration is closely monitoring the situation and I remain in close contact with our Police Commissioner.”

Listen:

NBC News is doing the same thing. They released a tweet for an article about the terrorist attack:

BREAKING: A device ignited outside Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral residence yesterday during an anti-Islam protest and counterprotest was confirmed to be an improvised explosive, New York City police say.

The note pointed out that the terrorists were not one of the 20 white supremacists but ISIS inspired terrorists.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-terror-scare-deepens-as-bomb-squad-races-to-new-threat-near-mayors-mansion?topStoryPosition=undefined&author=Drew+Berkemeyer&category=News&elementPosition=0&row=1&rowHeadline=Top+Stories&rowType=Top+Stories&title=NYC+Terror+Scare+Deepens+As+Bomb+Squad+Races+To+New+Threat+Near+Mayor%E2%80%99s+Mansion
https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/us-news/self-radicalized-isis-supporters-used-explosive-called-mother-of-satan-inside-bombs-thrown-at-gracie-mansion-protest-sources/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
https://www.dailywire.com/news/mamdani-breaks-silence-after-nypd-confirms-bomb-was-used-in-terror-attempt?author=Virginia+Kruta&category=undefined&elementPosition=2&row=3&rowHeadline=Latest+News&rowType=Vertical+Carousel&title=Mamdani+Breaks+Silence+After+NYPD+Confirms+Bomb+Was+Used+In+Terror+Attempt

Are They a Threat Now?

According to the Post Millennial:

Pakistani national accused of plotting to assassinate US political leaders testified Wednesday that Iranian intelligence agents pressured him to take part in the scheme, claiming they directed him to target President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden.

Asif Merchant, 47, told a jury in Brooklyn federal court that he felt compelled to cooperate with the plan because his relatives were being threatened.

“I had no other options. My family was threatened,” Merchant claimed to jurors in a Brooklyn federal court, per the New York Post. He’s been charged with paying two undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen just $5,000 to carry out the assassination plot.

Merchant, originally from Pakistan, testified that an Iranian handler instructed him in April 2024 to travel to the United States and arrange for “maybe to have somebody murdered.” According to his testimony, the handler offered three possible targets.

“He did not tell me exactly who it is, but he named three people to me: Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley,” the accused terrorist explained. At the time, Trump and Biden were the frontrunners in the 2024 presidential race. Haley had ended her campaign roughly a month before.

Merchant has pleaded not guilty to terrorism and murder-for-hire charges following his August 2024 arrest. He testified that he had initially offered to help Iranian operatives in late 2022 or early 2023 by assisting with money transfers designed to dodge US sanctions.

He claimed his Iranian contact, identified as Mehrdad Yousef, ordered him to both organize the assassination attempt and obtain unspecified documents. Merchant alleged the man belonged to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

https://t.co/qovJU1VVmO

More Terrorism

According to the Daily Wire:

FBI agents and airport police worked together to investigate after an unspecified threat caused officials to evacuate sections of Kansas City International Airport in Missouri on Sunday morning.

According to multiple reports, hundreds of passengers were evacuated onto the tarmac as investigators closed one terminal, out of “an abundance of caution,” and diverted several flights, leaving others — who landed after the threat was received — stranded on the taxiway until they were given the all-clear.

The threat, according to reports, came in at 11:50 a.m. local time and prompted an immediate and complete evacuation of the terminal. Flights did not resume until after 2 p.m. In the interim, airport police and FBI agents conducted sweeps of the terminal.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/bomb-threat-triggers-shutdown-at-major-u-s-airport-forces-passengers-onto-tarmac?topStoryPosition=undefined&author=Virginia+Kruta&category=News&elementPosition=4&row=1&rowHeadline=Top+Stories&rowType=Top+Stories&title=Bomb+Threat+Triggers+Shutdown+At+Major+U.S.+Airport%2C+Forces+Passengers+Onto+Tarmac

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Episode 1172 – Rest in Peace, Lou!

Boots may be on the ground in Iran, but not American boots.

A horrible story comes out of Miami and there are some big questions we should ask.

And football loses one of its greatest coaches.

News

Here is some news:

  • Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz has died at the age of 89, the university announced on Wednesday.
    • Holtz was considered one of the most influential coaches in college football history, winning 249 games as a collegiate head coach. He began his coaching career at William & Mary in 1969 and spent one season in the NFL before returning to college football.
    • One hundred of those wins happened at Notre Dame, where he served as head coach from 1986 until 1996.
    • Holtz was also a close friend and longtime supporter of Donald Trump. The president honored Holtz with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December of 2020 for his contributions to the nation.
  • The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Wednesday that federal appeals courts must defer to immigration judges when reviewing asylum decisions.
    • The court’s ruling, written by Biden-appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, stated that immigration laws require federal courts to use a “substantial-evidence standard” when reviewing immigration judges’ decisions regarding whether an asylum seeker would face “persecution” if deported from the country. 
    • Jackson noted that courts must meet a high bar before overturning an immigration judge’s findings. “the agency’s determination whether a given set of undisputed facts rises to the level of persecution under §1101(a)(42)(A) is generally ‘conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.’”
  • The Senate voted against a resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval before taking further military action in Iran.
  • Boot are on the ground in Iran. The Kurds, a group located in the western portion of Iran and have been contained by the IGRC have joined the fight.
  • Britain and France may have to join the fight in Iran because of an attack of a British base in Cyprus and attacking French bases.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/beloved-notre-dame-football-coach-lou-holtz-dies-at-89?author=Amanda+Harding&category=undefined&elementPosition=9&row=3&rowHeadline=Latest+News&rowType=Vertical+Carousel&title=Beloved+Notre+Dame+Football+Coach+Lou+Holtz+Dies+At+89
https://thepostmillennial.com/scotus-unanimously-rules-courts-must-defer-to-immigration-judges-in-asylum-cases
https://thepostmillennial.com/senate-rejects-resolution-requiring-trump-to-seek-congressional-approval-for-further-action-in-iran

Sick

According to Perplexity:

A Georgia father, Colin Gray, was just convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter over his teenage son’s 2024 high school shooting, and a Michigan father, James Crumbley, was earlier convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his son’s 2021 school shooting.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/father-gets-convicted-of-mansl-K.9st21JRvSyRH5l4bUteg

The Padres Have Enough Problems

According to the New York Post:

Once California tax laws entered the equation, two was greater than three for Merrill Kelly.

The math was done by the veteran pitcher at some point this offseason, when he was a free agent deciding between two options for his MLB future.

No. 1 was a two-year, $40 million contract with the Diamondbacks. No. 2, at least on paper, seemed better.

It was a three-year, fully guaranteed deal with the Padres that appeared to have a similar average annual value.

Kelly, though, chose the former — and during a sitdown interview with Foul Territory’s Scott Braun and A.J. Pierzynski this week, he explained the decision was almost entirely due to the Golden State’s tax system.

“I don’t think it’s any secret on how much money you get taken out of your pocket when you go to California,” the 37-year-old right-hander said.

There were, of course, other factors that pulled Kelly toward Arizona. He went to high school at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale and played collegiately at Arizona State.

And, the father of two young kids has called the Phoenix area home while logging innings for the Snakes in each of the past seven seasons.

“Coming back here,” he admitted, “it was always the priority.”

But after Pierzynski jokingly told him he was “the first person ever that’s been offered a bunch of money to go live in San Diego and said no,” Kelly made it crystal clear that giving away a significant portion of his income to a state government was ultimately a dealbreaker for him.

“I love San Diego,” Kelly said. “It’s just, like I said, they take too much money out of my pocket, man. The taxes over there are a different level.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/27/sports/merrill-kelly-turned-down-padres-contract-due-to-california-taxes/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

What A Shock

According to the New York Post:

The number of properties sold in California over the past three years was 24% lower than the same time period before the Great Recession, sparking fears of a statewide crash.

The Golden State had 954,423 property sales in 2023-25, down from 1.25 million in 2007-2009, according to figures from real estate data provider Attom.

That means homebuying in California was 24% slower over the past three years than it was in the run-up to the apocalyptic housing crash that triggered the Great Recession.

California’s sales pace over the past three years is down 31% compared to the previous 18 years, while the nationwide drop was 6%.

But while the statewide median property price plummeted 55% — from nearly $600,000 in 2007 to roughly $275,000 in 2009 — prices have actually increased over the past three years, the Orange County Register’s business columnist Jon Lansner reported.

California’s median home price rose 9% from December 2022 to December 2025, reaching $710,000, just 5% below its all-time high.

When the subprime mortgage market collapsed, many homeowners couldn’t find a buyer and walked away from their houses after foreclosures, as the Fed lowered interest rates.

As people were forced out of homes they couldn’t afford, the resulting oversupply tanked property values.

But the current Mexican standoff in California stems from the lock-in effect: owners with 3% mortgage rates refuse to sell and move into a new 7% rate, keeping the market frozen.

Sellers reluctant to lose their low rates and buyers unable to afford high ones result in today’s stagnant market, keeping prices high because inventory is scarce.

On top of that, the first-time buyer affordability index shows less than a third of California households could qualify for a starter home in 2023-25.

Only 30% of households in the state qualified, down from 49% in 2007-09, according to figures from the California Association of Realtors.

Earlier this year, 30-year mortgage rates dipped below 6% for the first time since 2022, offering potential relief to would-be homeowners.

But Lansner warned that no rapid price correction is likely.

In the three years after the Great Recession, California housing sales grew by just 8% while home prices recovered by 15% through the end of 2012, according to official figures.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/california-housing-crash-fears-as-buying-rates-plummet/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

He Shouldn’t Be Running

According to the California Post:

An elementary school in Fresno was forced to file a police report after a child sex offender running for city council held a press conference just steps away.

Rene Campos, 41, a candidate in Fresno City Council‘s District 7 race, spoke Friday on a street outside St. John’s Cathedral to address outrage over his past, the Fresno Bee reported.

He was about 10 feet away from Big Picture Elementary School, a public charter school, which later contacted local cops.

Until 2015, under Jessica’s Law, California prohibited registered sex offenders from living within 2,000ft of any school or park in the state.

The law was later declared unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court, which ruled that residency restrictions must be applied on a case-by-case basis.

It remains unclear whether Campos is subject to any specific court orders, restraining orders or individualized restrictions related to his offense, or whether his limitations fall solely under California’s general sex offender registration requirements.

Campos, who is running to unseat incumbent Nelson Esparza, has not publicly clarified the scope of any conditions that may apply to him. The Post reached out for comment.

Esparza said the council is considering legislation to prevent people like Campos from seeking office. Other city leaders were also furious.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/04/us-news/registered-sex-offender-holds-press-conference-near-school/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=capost

A Hero!

According to the New York Post:

A Nashville elementary school has cleared the record of a first-grade teacher who was disciplined for refusing to read a book about same-sex marriage to his young students, according to a report.

KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary issued a “final warning letter” to teacher Eric Rivera in January after he declined to read an LGBTQ book to his class that was included in the language arts curriculum. 

Due to his Christian beliefs, Rivera said he could not in good conscience read the book to his class, according to legal group First Liberty Institute, and he asked a colleague to read the book instead.

The next day, Rivera was summoned to the principal’s office and threatened with termination. He was told he must maintain “fidelity” to the curriculum, and a discipline letter was placed in his personnel file.

First Liberty said Rivera had received no prior warnings and had no discipline history. Afterward, he asked for a religious accommodation but was instead reassigned to a lab and technology position and then to a kindergarten position, according to the legal group.

After facing a warning letter from First Liberty in February, KIPP Antioch agreed to clear the incident from Rivera’s record, according to a press release Monday from the legal group.

The school will now also allow “all teachers to ask another employee to read materials objectionable to their faith.”

https://nypost.com/2026/03/03/us-news/nashville-teacher-eric-rivera-gets-record-cleared-after-being-disciplined-for-not-reading-lgbtq-book/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social

This Probably Is Not Going to Fix Anything

According to the California Post:

The effort to breathe boozy life back into the state’s struggling downtown comes courtesy of a pair of San Francisco lawmakers who want to let cities create special zones where bars and restaurants can serve drinks until 4 a.m., two hours past the legal closing time.

“The nightlife economy is responsible in our state without a doubt for tens of billions of dollars in revenue, hundreds of thousands of jobs,” Matt Haney, a Democratic state assemblyman who introduced the bill, told CBS News.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the number of people visiting businesses in downtowns across the Golden State. California cities are recovering at different rates, but none have reached the levels saw in 2019.

“Getting people back out in the streets is key to the economic recovery of cities across California,” said Wiener, a Democratic state senator who introduced the bill along with Haney.

“By creating Entertainment Zones, we’re giving people a reason to go back to areas where recovery has been slow while creating a vital new revenue stream for bars and restaurants.”

Should the bill pass, bars would need to pay an extra $2,500 each year for a permit to sell alcohol until 4 a.m.

“When the sun goes down, there is so much that is economic and culturally important,” Haney told CBS News.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/03/us-news/california-lawmakers-push-bill-to-extend-last-call-to-4-a-m/?utm_campaign=capost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

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Episode 1171 – Ciao to Jasmine’s Political Career!

A shocking mortality statistic comes out of Canada.

I have another reason why one can’t hate the NBA enough.

And we must say farewell to the political of Jasmine Crockett.

This Is The End!

Maybe We Should Invade Canada

According to the Post Millennial:

Canada is fast approaching its 100,000th death from Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), a grim milestone that puts it way ahead of every other nation.

Health Canada reported that 76,475 Canadians had died under MAID as of December 31, 2024. New cases were arriving at roughly 45 per day, with 2024 alone recording 16,499 deaths. Even if approvals have steadied in recent months, the government’s own trajectory suggests the 100,000th death could come in early June, weeks before the 10th anniversary of Bill C-14, which first legalized doctor-assisted suicide.

“This spring, we’re about to hit our 100,000th individual,” said Canadian anti-MAID activist Kelsi Sheren on a podcast with British rapper Nzube Udezue, known as Zuby, according to the National Post. Sheren has tracked the milestone closely, warning that the country is approaching a six-figure tally in assisted deaths.

Canada legalized MAID in 2016, years after the Netherlands and Belgium, which began allowing assisted suicide in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Unlike Belgium,  Canada does not yet permit assisted suicide for patients suffering solely from mental illness, a step planned for early 2027, but the pace of deaths isn’t slowing down.

Even as a later adopter, Canada’s MAID numbers have surged faster than any other jurisdiction. In 2020, assisted deaths jumped 36.8 percent from 5,461 to 7,451, then climbed another 34.8 percent to 9,842 the following year.  If trends continue, Canada could surpass the combined totals of every other country with legal euthanasia in a single year.

New Zealand, comparatively, has recorded roughly 1,000 deaths since 2021, Spain 697 in its first three years, and Colombia 692 between 2015 and 2023. In the US, state-level assisted suicide has existed since 1998, with total deaths reaching 5,329 across all states by 2022.

Even in Europe, long-standing euthanasia programs have produced smaller totals. Switzerland tallied 8,738 deaths over 20 years, Belgium 33,647 over 21 years. Only the Netherlands reports a higher share of assisted deaths relative to total mortality—5.8 percent versus 5.1 percent for Canada—but the larger Canadian population means more individual lives lost: 16,499 in 2024 alone, compared with 9,958 in the Netherlands.

https://thepostmillennial.com/canada-nears-100000-assisted-suicides-as-maid-deaths-surpass-every-other-country?utm_campaign=64466

You Couldn’t Hate the NBA Enough

According to the Daily Wire:

The Atlanta Hawks are apparently making the most out of International Women’s Month by teaming up with a famous strip club as part of their promotional “Magic City Monday” game on March 16.

The NBA team put out a release that stated the “Magic City Monday” game will honor one of Atlanta’s “iconic cultural institutions” with special food and a halftime performance by Atlanta great, T.I.

“The Hawks have worked with Magic City to bring the ‘best of’ the phenomena for fans in attendance at the award-winning State Farm Arena,” the statement read.

“We doin’ this one for the city… Magic City,” T.I. said.

The famous Atlanta strip club has been around since the ’80s and is known for more than just its strippers. Magic City is famous for its lemon pepper wings, which will be featured at the “Magic City Monday” game in a few weeks.

“From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, True to Atlanta-inspired game experience,” said Hawks Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Proctor.

The wings are apparently so good that during the NBA bubble season in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, former Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams broke protocol to visit Magic City for the wings and was forced to miss games because of the mandatory 10-day quarantine the league required.

Not all NBA players are excited for this collab during a month that’s meant to celebrate women’s accomplishments. San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet penned an article asking Atlanta to cancel “Magic City Monday” theme night because he said the promotion doesn’t protect or esteem women and would reflect poorly on the NBA.

“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornett wrote. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.”

https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-team-to-honor-strip-club-during-international-womens-month?author=Lynden+Blake&category=undefined&elementPosition=9&row=3&rowHeadline=Latest+News&rowType=Vertical+Carousel&title=NBA+Team+To+Honor+Strip+Club+During+International+Women%E2%80%99s+Month

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Episode 1170 – These Are Our Friends?!

You know, this whole war with Iran has really raised some questions about who our allies really are. Maybe it’s time to reconsider our relationship.

The morons of The View get schooled about the attacks on Iran.

And I’m sure you’re getting tired of hearing about the Iran attacks. Let’s get into some other stuff that is going on. Some of it is pretty important.

International Response

Spain’s leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez just BANNED the United States from using its military bases to launch strikes against Iran.

The View

The voice of reason is coming from Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

Should Have Never Been Here

According to the New York Post:

The gunman behind Austin’s possible terror-related mass shooting entered the US  and cemented his legal immigration status under Democratic administrations — despite a growing criminal record.

Senegalese national Ndiaga Diagne, 53, arrived in America on March 13, 2000, on a B-2 tourist visa during the Clinton administration, a source familiar with his immigration history told The Post on Sunday.

Diagne — who killed two people and wounded 14 more during his rampage outside a Texas bar early Sunday — then became a lawful permanent resident on an IR-6 visa in June 2006 when he married a US citizen, the source said.

He then went on to lodge a string of other arrests in the Big Apple between 2008 and 2016 — but that didn’t keep him becoming a naturalized US citizen on April 5, 2013, around the start of former President Barack Obama’s second term, sources said. Those three arrests are sealed, sources said.

Diagne also was arrested in Texas at some point on undisclosed charges, sources said.

He was a known emotionally disturbed person in both states, too, sources said.

Diagne applied for asylum in 2016, though the stated purpose and outcome of that application were not immediately clear.

The serial offender opened fire outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden near the University of Texas-Austin Campus early Sunday, killing two bar patrons and wounding 14 others before he was shot and killed by police.

He was wearing a “Property of Allah” hoodie at the time of the rampage and had a Quran in his car, sources familiar with the investigation told The Post.

The FBI is investigating whether he was motivated by the US-Israel-led campaign against Iran. Sources said he was wearing an undershirt emblazoned with the Iranian flag or other Iran-related imagery.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/01/us-news/austin-mass-shooter-ndiaga-diagne-became-citizen-despite-string-of-busts

FAFO!

According to Fox News:

A federal jury in Boise awarded $10 million to a University of Idaho professor after finding a Texas TikToker financially liable for spreading false claims that linked her to the 2022 stabbing deaths of four college students.

The decision came Friday in U.S. District Court in the case of Scofield v. Guillard. Jurors awarded $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages, according to court records and reporting by the Idaho Statesman.

Professor Rebecca Scofield, who chairs the university’s history department, filed suit in December 2022 against Houston resident Ashley Guillard. The lawsuit stemmed from a series of TikTok videos in which Guillard alleged, without evidence, that Scofield had a romantic relationship with one of the victims and arranged the killings.

The victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, were stabbed to death in a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. The crime drew nationwide attention and left the campus community reeling.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/tarot-influencers-claims-idaho-college-murders-case-spark-courtroom-reckoning

Normality Wins

According to the Daily Wire:

The Supreme Court sided with a group of parents challenging a California policy that allowed schools to keep kids’ so-called gender transitions a secret.

In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the justices said that California policies that block schools from notifying parents about their child’s desire to change their sex and be referred to by incorrect pronouns likely violate their religious liberty. The ruling comes after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a lower court’s ruling siding with parents challenging California’s policies.

“We conclude that the parents who seek religious exemptions are likely to succeed on the merits of their Free Exercise Clause claim,” the Supreme Court majority wrote. “The parents who assert a free exercise claim have sincere religious beliefs about sex and gender, and they feel a religious obligation to raise their children in accordance with those beliefs. California’s policies violate those beliefs.”

The California Department of Education has argued that the challenge should be considered moot because they claim that a frequently-asked-questions page posted by the department has been edited to show that they do not mandate parental exclusion, and so there is no more cause for complaint. The FAQ page included a line that said, “with rare exceptions, schools are required to respect the limitations that a student places on the disclosure of their transgender status, including not sharing that information with the student’s parents.”

While that guidance was deleted, policies that kept parents in the dark about their children were still promoted in statewide teacher trainings, according to documents uncovered by the Thomas More Society.

Policies prohibiting local school districts from passing measures requiring teachers to inform parents about a student’s identity were signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

“Gender dysphoria is a condition that has an important bearing on a child’s mental health, but when a child exhibits symptoms of gender dysphoria at school, California’s policies conceal that information from parents and facilitate a degree of gender transitioning during school hours. These policies likely violate parents’ rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children,” the majority wrote.

They added that “the intrusion on parents’ free exercise rights here—unconsented facilitation of a child’s gender transition—is greater than the introduction of LGBTQ storybooks we considered sufficient to trigger strict scrutiny in Mahmoud.”

Mahmoud was a case from last year where the court ruled that a Maryland county violated the rights of parents who wanted to opt their kids out of instruction related to LGBT content.

Paul Jonna, special counsel at the Thomas More Society and partner at LiMandri and Jonna LLP, said the ruling was a major victory for parents.

“This is a watershed moment for parental rights in America,” she said. “The Supreme Court has told California and every state in the nation in no uncertain terms: you cannot secretly transition a child behind a parent’s back. The Court’s landmark reaffirmation of substantive due process, its vindication of religious liberty, and its approval of class-wide relief together set a historic precedent that will dismantle secret gender transition policies across the country.”

The court’s liberal justices — Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson — wanted to block the parents’ challenge.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-slaps-down-california-policy-on-gender-confused-kids?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&category=undefined&elementPosition=1&row=3&rowHeadline=Latest+News&rowType=Vertical+Carousel&title=Supreme+Court+Slaps+Down+California+Policy+On+Gender-Confused+Kids

FAFO Part 2

According to the New York Post:

Two employees who refused to serve a man and his wife because he was wearing a hoodie with President Trump’s name on it were fired after a video of the heated encounter went viral.

Erika Lindemyer and her husband, Jake, were forced out of a Smoothie King franchise location in Ann Arbor, Michigan, following a fiery clash with two young female workers on Sunday.

The employees claimed they didn’t “feel comfortable” serving the couple because of Jake’s pro-Trump hoodie, as captured by Erika in a viral video.

Jake and Erika fired back at the pair and insisted that they were being “discriminated” against based on their “political views.”

The owner of the Ann Arbor franchise location will also enforce “mandatory retraining for all employees that outlines our guest experience standards.”

In early December, a woman who worked at a Target in California was berated by a customer for wearing a Charlie Kirk “Freedom” T-shirt.

When the employee insisted she was allowed to wear the red shirt, the irate customer accused her of supporting “a racist.”

The medical center where the agitated customer worked was bombarded with upwards of 6,000 “profanity-laced” phone calls after online sleuths doxxed her personal information.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/03/us-news/2-employees-at-michigan-smoothie-king-location-fired-for-refusing-to-serve-man-in-trump-hoodie/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost

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Episode 1169 – Well, It’s About Time!!

The United States is kicking ass and taking numbers and President Trump is showing that he is the bravest president we’ve had in decades.

Away We Go

The joint U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran began with large-scale strikes on February 28, 2026, after months of escalating clashes, nuclear disputes, and proxy attacks across the region.

Key lead-up (late 2025–February 27, 2026)

  • Throughout late 2025, Iran accelerated its nuclear program and regional militias intensified attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf, prompting repeated U.S. and Israeli warnings of “consequences.”
  • In January–February 2026, Iranian‑linked groups carried out drone and rocket attacks that killed three U.S. soldiers, and Israel continued strikes on Iranian assets in Syria and Lebanon.
  • By late February, U.S. and Israeli officials had coordinated a joint operation aimed at Iran’s leadership, command‑and‑control, and missile and nuclear infrastructure.

February 28, 2026: Opening strikes

  • Around the morning of February 28 (local time), Israel launched an unprecedented wave of airstrikes on Tehran and other cities, beginning around 9:45 a.m. IRST, targeting top leadership and key military sites.
  • In the same operation, U.S. Navy and Air Force assets struck Iranian command‑and‑control nodes, air defenses, missile and UAV sites, and radar and naval facilities.
  • Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior security officials were reported killed in decapitation strikes on his residential compound, along with members of his family and staff.

Iranian retaliation on day one (February 28, 2026)

  • Within hours, the IRGC announced large‑scale missile and drone launches toward Israel and U.S. bases, vowing retaliation with “no red lines.”
  • Missile barrages using systems such as Emad and Ghadr targeted Israeli cities including Haifa, triggering nationwide shelter orders, and aimed at at least 14 U.S. bases across Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
  • The initial exchanges caused casualties in Israel and across the region, with Iran signaling that attacks would continue until the U.S. and Israel were “definitively defeated.”

March 1, 2026: Intensification of strikes

  • By early March 1, further U.S.–Israeli waves hit Iranian ballistic‑missile facilities, IRGC bases, naval assets, and communication hubs, as part of what was described as a multi‑day campaign.
  • Iran expanded its retaliatory strikes to additional U.S. positions and continued missile and drone attacks against Israel, while urging regional allies and militias to join the fight.
  • Smoke plumes and damage were reported in parts of Tehran and other major cities, with growing civilian and military casualties on the Iranian side.

March 2, 2026: Regional widening and “day three”

  • By day three, Iran and allied militias launched missiles toward Israel and several Arab states, and an Iran‑aligned Iraqi militia claimed a drone strike on U.S. forces at Baghdad airport.
  • Hezbollah fired missiles into northern Israel in what it called retaliation for Khamenei’s killing and ongoing Israeli operations, while Israeli forces struck targets in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
  • The U.S. reported using B‑2 bombers with 2,000‑pound munitions against Iran’s ballistic‑missile infrastructure, claiming multiple Iranian naval vessels sunk and a naval command center largely destroyed; Iran reported more than 200 dead since the campaign began.

Four U.S. troops have been killed.

One U.S. plane has been shot down by Kuwaiti air defense in what’s classified as a friendly fire incident. The pilot ejected safely and is alive.

Political framing and stated objectives

  • President Donald Trump publicly framed the operation as removing “imminent threats” from the Iranian regime and signaled that strikes could continue for “four or five weeks,” tying them to the deaths of U.S. soldiers.
  • Israeli and U.S. sources described primary objectives as: decapitating Iran’s leadership, degrading its missile and drone capabilities, constraining its nuclear program, and weakening its regional proxy network.
  • Iranian officials declared they would not negotiate with Washington under fire and promised continued retaliation through direct attacks and allied militias across the Middle East.

The big guys that were killed involved:

Here is the same group of slain senior figures, separated by institution and with a brief note on their roles and why they mattered before the strikes.

Supreme Leader’s office

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Supreme Leader of Iran
    • Institution: Supreme Leader’s office / ultimate authority over all branches of the state and armed forces.
    • Role and significance: As Supreme Leader since 1989, Khamenei was the state’s highest decision‑maker on foreign policy, nuclear policy, and use of force, with direct authority over the IRGC, regular army, intelligence services, and key appointments. His death removes the central node of Iran’s political‑religious system and triggers a leadership‑transition process around the provisional council now managing his powers.
  • Ali Shamkhani – Senior adviser, head of Defense Council
    • Institution: Supreme Leader’s network and national security apparatus (Defense Council / high‑level strategic body).
    • Role and significance: Former IRGC Navy and regular Navy commander, ex‑defense minister, and long‑time secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (2013–2023), he was, by 2026, secretary of the newly formed Defense Council and a close strategic adviser to Khamenei. That position put him at the center of Iran’s war planning, nuclear negotiations posture, and coordination of responses to Israel and the U.S.

IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)

  • Major General Mohammad Pakpour – IRGC commander‑in‑chief
    • Institution: IRGC high command.
    • Role and significance: A veteran IRGC officer from the Iran–Iraq War era, Pakpour led IRGC Ground Forces from 2009 and was elevated to commander‑in‑chief of the entire IRGC in 2025 after Hossein Salami’s death. He oversaw Iran’s main force for missile, drone, and regional proxy warfare, playing a central role in counterterrorism operations and in shaping Iran’s asymmetric strategy against Israel, the U.S., and Gulf states.

Regular army / joint armed forces

  • Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi – Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces
    • Institution: Regular army / joint armed forces command (Artesh plus IRGC coordination).
    • Role and significance: A career Artesh officer who previously commanded the regular army, Mousavi was appointed in 2025 as chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, coordinating overall defense planning and readiness across all services. His job was to integrate IRGC and regular military capabilities, improve strategic planning, and manage Iran’s response posture to external threats; losing him alongside the IRGC chief and Supreme Leader is a major blow to Iran’s military command structure.

Security council / high‑level strategy bodies

  • Ali Shamkhani – Supreme National Security Council veteran, Defense Council secretary
    • Institution: Supreme National Security Council (past) and newly formed Defense Council (immediate pre‑war role).
    • Role and significance: As SNSC secretary for a decade and then Defense Council secretary, Shamkhani was one of the few figures spanning the IRGC, regular military, and civilian leadership, often acting as a bridge between hard‑line and pragmatic factions. He was instrumental in war‑room coordination during previous crises, and his death removes a key architect of Iran’s strategic responses and back‑channel diplomacy.

Former regime president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is confirmed dead.

There is a rumor that newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Arafi, has reportedly been killed in an airstrike, just hours after being given the role.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/give-a-timeline-of-the-attack-s3ckojlvS8OiWFG6.Rc5PQ
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/give-a-timeline-of-the-attack-s3ckojlvS8OiWFG6.Rc5PQ#2

The Response

From the Iranians in Los Angeles:

The Republican response was best summed up by Scott Jennings on CNN:

Jane Fonda was in Los Angeles, making a statement about this whole thing:

The Dems are in big trouble.

According to the New York Post:

President Trump’s decision to launch a war against Iran without congressional signoff has splintered lawmakers, largely along party lines, and supercharged the debate over war powers authority.

While most Republicans largely rallied around Trump’s decision to carry out the massive joint attack with Israel, Democrats quickly denounced the attack as an illegal “war of choice” and demanded Congress come back to Washington to take a vote on whether to authorize another Middle East invasion.

Democratic leaders have vowed to forge ahead with their plans to force a vote on a war powers resolution next week in the House that would block Trump from carrying out additional strikes.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/28/us-news/trumps-iran-attack-sets-off-furious-debate-in-congress-on-whether-war-is-necessary-or-illegal/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost

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Episode 1168 – The Perverts are Uniting!

I just heard a review of the new Wuthering Heights movie. They took a very sad, passionate, romantic and tragic novel and made it into porn.

Perversion has become acceptable and even defended in our culture. We are going to take a look at a few stories and an opinion piece that proves this.

It is important because perversion is usually what starts the decline of a civilization.

Sick Bastard

https://nypost.com/2026/02/21/us-news/trans-minnesota-dem-leigh-finke-argues-queer-kids-need-access-to-porn-sites-for-educational-reasons/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter

More Perversion

https://nypost.com/2026/02/25/us-news/registered-child-sex-offender-runs-for-council-wont-be-able-to-visit-schools/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=capost

That Was Close

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Following major backlash about the scheduled release of a serial child molester through California’s elderly parole program, the 64-year-old is now facing new charges that could keep him behind bars.

News that David Allen Funston was set to be freed was met by outrage among victims, politicians and others. The former Sacramento County district attorney who prosecuted Funston said she was strongly opposed to his release: “This is one I’m screaming about.”

Funston, granted parole earlier this month, was set to be released on Thursday from state prison — but was rearrested that same day on new charges from a decades-old, untried case. The charges he’s facing are from a 1996 case in which he is accused of sexually assaulting a child in Roseville, according to the Placer County district attorney’s office.

In 1999, he was convicted of 16 counts of kidnapping and child molestation and had been serving three consecutive sentences of 25 years to life and one sentence of 20 years and eight months at the California Institution for Men in Chino. The sentences followed a string of cases out of Sacramento County in which prosecutors said Funston lured children under the age of 7 with candy and, in at least one case, a Barbie doll to kidnap and sexually assault them, often under the threat of violence.

He was described by a judge at his sentencing hearing as “the monster parents fear the most.”

Prosecutors in Placer County, at the time, decided not to pursue the case against Funston in Roseville given the severity of the sentences he received in Sacramento County.

But given his scheduled release from state prison, prosecutors decided to file new charges against him. Placer County Dist. Atty. Morgan Gire said “changes in state law and recent parole board failures” led to his improper release.

“This individual was previously sentenced to multiple life terms for extremely heinous crimes,” Gire said in a statement. “When changes in the law put our communities at risk, it is our duty to re-evaluate those cases and act accordingly. David Allen Funston committed very real crimes against a Placer County child, and the statute of limitations allows us to hold him accountable for those crimes.”

He is now being held without bail in the Placer County jail, booked on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts against a child, according to prosecutors. Funston’s attorney, Maya Emig, said she had only recently learned about his arrest and hadn’t yet had time to fully review the matter.

But she noted that she believes “in the justice system and the rule of law.”

Emig called the Board of Parole Hearings’ decision to grant Funston elderly parole “lawful and just.”

California’s elderly parole program generally considers the release of prisoners who are older than 50 and have been incarcerated for at least 20 continuous years, considering whether someone poses an unreasonable risk to public safety.

In Funston’s case, commissioners said they did not believe Funston posed a significant danger because of the extensive self-help, therapy work and sex offender treatment classes he completed, as well as his detailed plan to avoid repeating his crimes, the remorse he expressed and his track record of good behavior in prison, according to a transcript from the Sept. 24 hearing.

At the hearing, Funston called himself a “selfish coward” for victimizing young children, and said he was “disgusted and ashamed of my behavior and have great remorse for the harm I caused my victims, their families in the community of Sacramento.”

“I’m truly sorry,” he said.

But victims of his crimes, as well as prosecutors and elected leaders have questioned the parole decision and called for its reversal.

“He’s one sick individual,” a victim of Funston’s violence told The Times. “What if he gets out and and tries to find his old victims and wants to kill us?”

A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said the governor also did not agree with Funston’s release and had asked the board to review the case. However, Newsom has no authority to overturn the parole decision.

Some state lawmakers also cited Funston’s case as evidence that California’s elderly parole program needs reform, recently introducing a bill that would exclude people convicted of sexual crimes from being considered by the process.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-26/serial-child-molester-rearrested-day-hes-set-to-be-freed

Just Sick

According to the New York Times:

THINK back to your first childhood crush. Maybe it was a classmate or a friend next door. Most likely, through school and into adulthood, your affections continued to focus on others in your approximate age group. But imagine if they did not.

By some estimates, 1 percent of the male population continues, long after puberty, to find themselves attracted to prepubescent children. These people are living with pedophilia, a sexual attraction to prepubescents that often constitutes a mental illness. Unfortunately, our laws are failing them and, consequently, ignoring opportunities to prevent child abuse.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines pedophilia as an intense and recurrent sexual interest in prepubescent children, and a disorder if it causes a person “marked distress or interpersonal difficulty” or if the person acts on his interests. Yet our laws ignore pedophilia until after the commission of a sexual offense, emphasizing punishment, not prevention.

Part of this failure stems from the misconception that pedophilia is the same as child molestation. One can live with pedophilia and not act on it. Sites like Virtuous Pedophiles provide support for pedophiles who do not molest children and believe that sex with children is wrong. It is not that these individuals are “inactive” or “nonpracticing” pedophiles, but rather that pedophilia is a status and not an act. In fact, research shows, about half of all child molesters are not sexually attracted to their victims.

A second misconception is that pedophilia is a choice. Recent research, while often limited to sex offenders — because of the stigma of pedophilia — suggests that the disorder may have neurological origins. Pedophilia could result from a failure in the brain to identify which environmental stimuli should provoke a sexual response. M.R.I.s of sex offenders with pedophilia show fewer of the neural pathways known as white matter in their brains. Men with pedophilia are three times more likely to be left-handed or ambidextrous, a finding that strongly suggests a neurological cause. Some findings also suggest that disturbances in neurodevelopment in utero or early childhood increase the risk of pedophilia. Studies have also shown that men with pedophilia have, on average, lower scores on tests of visual-spatial ability and verbal memory.

The Virtuous Pedophiles website is full of testimonials of people who vow never to touch a child and yet live in terror. They must hide their disorder from everyone they know — or risk losing educational and job opportunities, and face the prospect of harassment and even violence. Many feel isolated; some contemplate suicide. The psychologist Jesse Bering, author of “Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us,” writes that people with pedophilia “aren’t living their lives in the closet; they’re eternally hunkered down in a panic room.”

While treatment cannot eliminate a pedophile’s sexual interests, a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication can help him to manage urges and avoid committing crimes.

But the reason we don’t know enough about effective treatment is because research has usually been limited to those who have committed crimes.

Our current law is inconsistent and irrational. For example, federal law and 20 states allow courts to issue a civil order committing a sex offender, particularly one with a diagnosis of pedophilia, to a mental health facility immediately after the completion of his sentence — under standards that are much more lax than for ordinary “civil commitment” for people with mental illness. And yet, when it comes to public policies that might help people with pedophilia to come forward and seek treatment before they offend, the law omits pedophilia from protection.

The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination against otherwise qualified individuals with mental disabilities, in areas such as employment, education and medical care. Congress, however, explicitly excluded pedophilia from protection under these two crucial laws.

It’s time to revisit these categorical exclusions. Without legal protection, a pedophile cannot risk seeking treatment or disclosing his status to anyone for support. He could lose his job, and future job prospects, if he is seen at a group-therapy session, asks for a reasonable accommodation to take medication or see a psychiatrist, or requests a limit in his interaction with children. Isolating individuals from appropriate employment and treatment only increases their risk of committing a crime.

There’s no question that the extension of civil rights protections to people with pedophilia must be weighed against the health and safety needs of others, especially kids. It stands to reason that a pedophile should not be hired as a grade-school teacher. But both the A.D.A. and the Rehabilitation Act contain exemptions for people who are “not otherwise qualified” for a job or who pose “a direct threat to the health and safety of others” that can’t be eliminated by a reasonable accommodation. (This is why employers don’t have to hire blind bus drivers or mentally unstable security guards.)

The direct-threat analysis rejects the idea that employers can rely on generalizations; they must assess the specific case and rely on evidence, not presuppositions. Those who worry that employers would be compelled to hire dangerous pedophiles should look to H.I.V. case law, where for years courts were highly conservative, erring on the side of finding a direct threat, even into the late 1990s, when medical authorities were in agreement that people with H.I.V. could work safely in, for example, food services.

Removing the pedophilia exclusion would not undermine criminal justice or its role in responding to child abuse. It would not make it easier, for example, for someone accused of child molestation to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

A pedophile should be held responsible for his conduct — but not for the underlying attraction. Arguing for the rights of scorned and misunderstood groups is never popular, particularly when they are associated with real harm. But the fact that pedophilia is so despised is precisely why our responses to it, in criminal justice and mental health, have been so inconsistent and counterproductive. Acknowledging that pedophiles have a mental disorder, and removing the obstacles to their coming forward and seeking help, is not only the right thing to do, but it would also advance efforts to protect children from harm.

Margo Kaplan is an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Law, Camden.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/opinion/pedophilia-a-disorder-not-a-crime.html

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Episode 1167 – The Exodus from California Continues!

California loses another billionaire after the state threatens to implement a wealth tax.

Joe Biden’s FBI has been proven to have been acting badly. Will anything come of it?

And CNN is about to release a documentary on Christian Nationalism. This raises a couple of questions.

News

Here is some news:

  • Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg is the latest billionaire to escape California ahead of a hefty proposed wealth tax. The director recently purchased a home in the iconic San Remo co-op in New York City overlooking Central Park.
  • Public Storage announced it is leaving California and moving its corporate headquarters from Glendale to Frisco, Texas.
    • Public Storage operates thousands of self-storage units across the country.
  • Blu Zeke Daly, 26, of Manchester, previously known as “Cullen Zeke Daly,” reportedly pulled a vehicle up to a closed gate at the US-Canadian Pittsburgh Port of Entry and fired gunshots at a Border Patrol agent when approached.
    • The suspect is trans nonbinary.
  •  The FBI under Joe Biden subpoenaed the phone records of now-FBI Director Kash Patel and now-White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in 2022 and 2023, when both were private citizens. The phone records grab was part of the Biden administration’s investigation into Donald Trump.
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is proposing to spend $70 million on his plan for a network of government-owned grocery stores, a sum $10 million higher than he pledged on the campaign trail, even as his administration warns of a multibillion-dollar fiscal shortfall and raises the prospect of higher property taxes.
  • Cuba’s Interior Ministry reported that four men aboard a US-registered speedboat were killed after opening fire on a Cuban coast guard vessel near Cayo Falcones on Wednesday morning. Six additional passengers were wounded and received medical care.
    • The ministry said the Florida-registered vessel, carrying at least 10 people, was detected in Cuban waters off the country’s northern coast in Villa Clara province. When five members of the Cuban border guard approached the speedboat to verify its identity, the crew allegedly opened fire, injuring the Cuban commander.
    • The Cuban government later said that the 10 passengers who opened fire on soldiers were Cubans who had been living in the US and were seeking to infiltrate the island nation for the purpose of committing terrorism, the AP reports. The government claimed that the passengers on the boat “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”
  • No movement on Iran.
    • They continue to talk in Geneva.
    • Iran refuses to give up their “peaceful” nuclear ambitions.
    • Iran refuses to giver up their ballistic missile program.
    • Iran refuses to giver up their nuclear materials.
    • The Trump administration says both Iranian demands are unacceptable.
    • The United States shipped a bunch of F-22s to Israel.
    • We should know more over the next 48 to 72 hours.

Just fucking dumb! Here is Rep Jenelle Bynum saying that Trump asking politicians to stand if they believe government should protect American citizens over illegal aliens. You’ll be shocked at what she says:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15574969/steven-spielberg-mark-zuckerberg-calfornia-billionaire-tax.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_mailonline
https://thepostmillennial.com/suspect-in-shooting-of-federal-border-patrol-agent-in-manchester-nh-identified-as-cullen-blu-zeke-daly
https://thepostmillennial.com/bidens-fbi-subpoenaed-phone-records-of-kash-patel-susie-wiles-during-probe-of-trump
https://thepostmillennial.com/mamdani-budgets-70-million-for-city-run-grocery-stores-as-nyc-hemorrhages-cash-report
https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-cuban-coast-guard-shoots-kills-4-wounds-6-aboard-us-registered-speed-boat-during-gunfight
https://abc7.com/post/public-storage-announces-corporate-relocation-glendale-california-frisco-texas/18651951/?linkId=911778654

This Sounds Good!

Some things:

  • She doesn’t call this “White Christian Nationalism”. They take the racial component out of it.
  • She says that the country was based on Judeo/Christian principles. It was.
  • She says that Judeo/Christian principles should influence our laws and culture. It should. We aren’t kicking anyone out of the country because they have a different religion.
  • Charlie Kirk’s death did create a revitalization of Christianity. So did the assassination attempts of Donald Trump.
  • Notice, all the violence is coming out of the Left.

They Might As Well As Cancel It Now

According to the Post Millennial:

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy features a gay Klingon cadet. The show features a lesbian relationship between a mixed Klingon and Jem’Hadar and Tig Notaro, who plays a teacher at the Academy, as well as a Klingon man who dates a human.

“I won’t pretend that I wasn’t scared to take on this role. Part of me still is. Not because of the character himself, but because I knew the reaction that could come with it,” actor Karim Diané said of his character, Jay-Den Kraag, per Pink News.

To those who aren’t crazy about the warrior race being displayed as gay, Diané says their concerns are just “rooted in homophobia, racism, bigotry.” In the Star Trek universe, Klingons are a warrior race who are always ready for a fight and go into battle under the mantra “today is a good day to die.”

“But what matters more is this,” said Diané, “over the past few weeks since this show premiered, I’ve received countless messages from LGBTQ+ people around the world… people who feel seen, validated, and inspired by Jay-Den. Those messages outweigh every bit of negativity. Every single time.”

Episode 7, which aired this week, showed the Klingon character heading off to Ibiza to party down with his gay lover Kyle for spring break, or “All Worlds Day,” as it’s called on the show. Jay-Den Kraag didn’t even end up making it on the trip; he got sidetracked by another plot line, but Kyle came back terribly sunburned. Other cadets spent their All Worlds Day holidays with their families.

Of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Diané said he imagined a future that expanded who gets to be seen, heard, and valued. “A future where diversity isn’t merely tolerated but celebrated. Jay-Den doesn’t exist outside of that tradition. He exists because of it. ‘Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations’ isn’t just a catchy phrase Roddenberry tossed around. I believe he truly meant it,” he said.

Trekkers and Trekkies on X spoke out against the absurdity of taking a Star Trek series and making it about sexual identity, with one user saying “life long star trek fan but have not even started watching starfleet academy, i just can´t. from captain picard fighting the borg which was beyond epic to increasingly woke and insane storylines with every new series of star trek that has made it impossible to watch.”

“And then they wonder why people only watch the old shows, is because they were fun and entertaining not a platform to push an agenda,” said another.

https://thepostmillennial.com/new-woke-star-trek-show-features-first-gay-klingon

You Don’t Say!

What a Dolt

According to the Daily Wire:

Actor Ted Levine apologized recently for his iconic turn as cross-dressing serial killer Jame Gumb in the 1991  horror classic “The Silence of the Lambs,” saying that it was “f*cking wrong” that the film had “vilified” the apparent gender confusion of his character.

Levine told The Hollywood Reporter that his intent had always been to play Gumb — nicknamed “Buffalo Bill” — as a “f*cked-up heterosexual man” despite the fact that the character dresses in women’s clothing, wears makeup, and skins his female victims in an effort to make himself a suit of female flesh.

“There are certain aspects of the movie that don’t hold up too well,” he said. “We all know more, and I’m a lot wiser about transgender issues. There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.”

Levine said that when they were making the film — based on the 1988 Thomas Harris novel by the same title — he had not been particularly concerned, but that “over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender — it’s unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it’s f*cking wrong. And you can quote me on that.”

“I didn’t play him as being gay or trans. I think he was just a f*cked-up heterosexual man. That’s what I was doing,” Levine explained.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/silence-of-the-lambs-actor-apologizes-to-trans-folks-for-iconic-cross-dressing-role

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Episode 1166 – It Was A Good Speech!

The State of the Union was last night and, boy, it was a good speech. Will this do anything with Trump’s dismal approval ratings.

It Was A Good Speech

According to Perplexity:

Opening and framing

  1. Opened by greeting Speaker Johnson, Vice President Vance, members of Congress, and “my fellow Americans,” and declaring that the nation is “thriving… wealthier, and more resilient than ever.”
  2. Framed the moment around the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, calling it the start of “America’s golden era.”
  3. Asserted that the United States is entering a “golden age of America,” promising that the country will “do better and better and better” and not go back to conditions “a very short time ago.”

Economy and “golden age” theme

  1. Claimed the economy is “booming,” with inflation “plummeting,” incomes “rising fast,” and the “roaring economy… roaring like never before.”
  2. Said America is “respected again perhaps like never before,” tying foreign respect to his economic and security policies.
  3. Highlighted record stock market levels and business confidence (as summarized by multiple takeaways), using these as proof of a broad economic turnaround in his first year back in office.
  4. Boasted of lifting “a record” number of Americans off food stamps, citing 2.4 million projected to lose eligibility under new work requirements in his “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Regulatory policy, DEI, and government

  1. Announced that his administration had “abolished D.E.I. in America,” tying this to a broader rollback of regulations he says “stifle job creation.”
  2. Claimed a “record number” of regulations had been eliminated, presenting deregulation as a key driver of job creation and wage growth.
  3. Argued that government should focus on “protecting its citizens, not illegal immigrants,” using that line to transition into immigration and security policy.

Immigration, border, and DHS funding

  1. Declared that, after “years of unchecked illegal immigration,” the U.S. now has “the most secure border in American history.”
  2. Claimed that in the past nine months “no undocumented individuals have entered the U.S.,” presenting this as proof of unprecedented border control.
  3. Touted an immigration crackdown: said the border is secure “by far,” that the flow of fentanyl is being stopped, and that the murder rate is falling.
  4. Accused Democrats of cutting off funding for the Department of Homeland Security, causing a government shutdown that he said cost “two points on GDP.”
  5. Demanded “complete and immediate restoration of all funding necessary for border security and homeland security.”
  6. Urged Congress to end “deadly sanctuary cities,” and to impose “serious penalties” on officials who obstruct removal of criminal non‑citizens, including drug lords and murderers.

Elections, voting, and the “Safe/SAVE America Act”

  1. Warned of “rampant cheating” in U.S. elections, claiming that electoral integrity is under threat.
  2. Called on Congress to pass the “Safe America Act” (also described as the “SAVE America Act”), aimed at preventing “illegal aliens” from voting in U.S. elections.
  3. Demanded that all voters show ID and proof of citizenship to vote, and said there should be “no more fraudulent‑in ballots,” allowing mail voting only for illness, disability, military service, or travel.
  4. Cited a figure that “89% of Americans, including Democrats” support his proposal, presenting it as overwhelmingly popular.

Crime, fraud, and “war on fraud”

  1. Linked blue states to “fraud and corruption,” saying many are “rampant with fraud.”
  2. Singled out “members of the Somali community” in Minnesota, accusing them of having “pillaged” what belongs to U.S. taxpayers through fraud.
  1. Announced that Vice President J.D. Vance will lead a “war on fraud,” promising that Vance will “get it done.”
  2. Tied fraud enforcement to defending taxpayers and reinforcing trust in government programs.

Foreign policy, wars, and security

  1. Said his administration is “working hard” to end “the killing and slaughter between Russia and Ukraine,” claiming 25,000 soldiers are dying every month in the war.
  2. Argued that Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine “would have never happened if I were president,” casting it as a consequence of prior leadership.
  3. Claimed to have “ended eight wars” in his first ten months back in office, stressing his desire to “make peace wherever I can” but to never hesitate to confront threats.
  4. Said the U.S. is restoring “security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere,” acting to protect against violence, drugs, terrorism, and foreign interference.
  5. Described large parts of Mexico and other areas as controlled by “murderous drug cartels,” arguing that his policies were aimed at rolling back cartel influence.

Broader themes: revolution, patriotism, and culture

  1. Framed U.S. history as an ongoing revolution: said “The Revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues,” and that the flame of liberty “still burns in the hearts of every American Patriot.”
  2. Cast his presidency as restoring national “spirit,” saying “our spirit is restored” and the country has undergone a “turnaround for the ages” in a single year.
  3. Positioned his agenda (on immigration, security, and regulation) as defending traditional American values and “patriots” against elites and the “radical left,” a theme emphasized across major analyses.

Closing declaration and “we’re winning” refrain

  1. Reiterated that “for all these reasons” the “state of our Union is robust,” asserting that the country is “winning once more.”
  2. Used his familiar line that Americans tell him, “Mr. President, we’re winning too much. We can’t handle it,” and answered that the country will continue to “win even bigger.”
  3. Closed by inviting legislators to “stand with my administration” on border security and citizen protection, arguing that the State of the Union gives Americans a clear view of “what their representatives really believe.”

If you want, I can now turn this into a left‑column / right‑column table with his claim on the left and fact‑check/contest on the right.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/give-me-a-point-by-point-summa-guZp4ZLaQvSW7ckm9piwyw

How Did Dems Respond?

The answer: Not great.

  • Hakeem Jeffries warned Democrats just to watch the SOTU and not say anything. That didn’t work out.
    • They refused to stand when they should have again.
    • Ilhan Omar and Rashida Talib decided to start cussing out the president.
  • Most Democrats did not show up to the SOTU to go to their own counter rally, which was an embarrassment. Only about 75 people showed up and most were media.

How Does Trump Win in November?

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Episode 1165 – There Might Be a Surprise This Weekend!

The Chicago Bears has had it with Chicago.

The first free grocery store opens in New York and it is working out just the way you’d think it would work.

And the 250th year of our country may be greeted with a bit of a stench.

News

Here is some news:

  • The Chicago Bears look to be moving to Hammond, Indiana.
    • All this is over a dispute over a new stadium.
    • The Illinois House committee meeting that was scheduled for Thursday to discuss funding a new stadium for the Chicago Bears has been cancelled. This cancellation makes a potential Bears move to Indiana feel like a very real proposition.
  • New York has opened its first free grocery store in West Village which is in lower Manhattan, New York.
    • The pop-up was opened Feb. 12 as a five-day store by cryptocurrency-based prediction market Polymarket. It comes as Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advances a proposal for city-run grocery stores aimed at easing rising food costs and broader affordability pressures. 
    • It was billed as New York City’s first free grocery store, with critics casting it as a stunt riffing on Mamdani’s proposal as the prediction-market company faces heightened scrutiny from regulators in various states, including New York. 
    • New Yorkers need to get a “yellow ticket” in order to get into the store.
  • After nearly a decade in Virginia, Boeing announced on Wednesday that it is moving its Defense, Space & Security headquarters out of the state back to St. Louis. This comes just weeks after new Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger took office, replacing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
  • In a major shift in European foreign policy, the Council of the European Union formally announced on Thursday that it has added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU terrorist list.
  • A trial in California is going after Mark Zuckerberg and Meta.
    • Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled Wednesday about whether his company intentionally designed Instagram to be addictive, in front of the young woman accusing Meta and YouTube of hooking her as a child and damaging her mental health.
    • He believed he has navigated the safety of young users “in a reasonable way.”
    • Zuckerberg was pressed on Wednesday about whether children younger than 13 have access to Instagram. The app technically requires users to be 13 to sign up, and Zuckerberg said younger children are “not allowed on Instagram.”
  • A huge sewage spill has leaked millions of gallons of excrement into the Potomac River.
    • It could take a year to fix and clean up.
    • The cause is the ancient plumping system that hasn’t been updated since the 1960s.
    • Donald Trump has decided to have the federal government take over the disaster because Delaware Governor Wes Moore is incompetent.
    • Wes Moore is blaming Trump because part of the pipeline was on federal lands and Trump is a racist.
    • Drinking water is not affected.
  • Just a little FYI: the United States might be attack Iran this weekend.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/chicago-bears-potential-move-to-indiana-gains-steam-after-illinois-house-committee-meeting-cancellation-on-thursday-162539080.html
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-defense-contractor-announces-major-move-weeks-after-dem-governor-takes-office-win-heartland
https://www.dailywire.com/news/eu-finally-designates-irans-deadly-irgc-a-terrorist-organization?topStoryPosition=undefined&author=Hank+Berrien&category=News&elementPosition=2&row=1&rowHeadline=Top+Stories&rowType=Top+Stories&title=EU+Finally+Designates+Iran%E2%80%99s+Deadly+IRGC+A+Terrorist+Organization
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/18/tech/meta-mark-zuckerberg-testifies-social-media-addiction-trial
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5740260-potomac-sewage-collapse-repair/

Here They Come, Gavin!

According to the New York Post:

California officials who turned a blind eye to unemployment scams — potentially worth tens of billions of dollars during the pandemic — will now be put directly under the microscope of the federal government.

The US Department of Labor is set to send a letter to the state’s Employment Development Department announcing a “strike team” will soon be touching down in the Golden State to root out theft and abuse, The California Post has learned. The investigation will be similar to efforts currently underway in Minnesota.

Federal investigators have been combing through financial records tied to Minnesota fraud schemes after prosecutors uncovered what they describe as a sprawling web of pandemic-era theft, including the massive “Feeding Our Future” case that allegedly siphoned roughly $250 million in federal child-nutrition funds through fake claims and shell companies. 

In total, a staggering $9 billion may have been stolen in Minnesota, according to federal prosecutors. Nearly 100 people had been charged with crimes as of last month.

The breadth of fraud in California, however, could leave Minnesota’s thievery looking like chump change.

The feds provided California nearly $290 billion in relief funds during the pandemic, and EDD was among the largest recipients as it was tasked with rapidly implementing expanded unemployment benefits.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/18/us-news/feds-launch-investigation-into-california-unemployment-fraud/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=capost&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter#Echobox=1771423408

Good for Her

According to the New York Post:

Amber Glenn skated to “Like a Prayer” during Tuesday’s short program. Now she’s in serious need of one herself.

One of the U.S.’s “Blade Angels,” Glenn was left in tears following a massive error in her skate — she landed a double loop instead of a triple — that left her in 13th place with just the free skate to go.

The 26-year-old was just one of two skaters on the day to land a triple axel, but her blunder was scored as an invalid element for which she received no points.

Glenn cried as she approached her coaches at the end of her skate, clutching the pearl necklace of her outfit. 

https://nypost.com/2026/02/17/sports/amber-glenn-in-tears-after-error-leads-to-us-figure-skating-heartbreak/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter
https://nypost.com/2026/02/19/sports/usa-hero-quinn-hughes-calls-america-the-greatest-country-in-the-world/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social

This is Just Dumb

Here is AOC’s answer of whether she would create a wealth tax. Which, of course, is yes. Included is Argentine Foreign Minister Patricia Bullrich’s response.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/12/us-news/californians-have-justified-outrage-over-2026-tax-ideas/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter#Echobox=1770948079

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