WendyMcElroy.com
Donations
|
Friday 24 July 2026
Please donate to enable this blog to continue...Good day to all. If you value this blog and its daily newsfeed, please consider making a donation to sustain it at the Paypal button, Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash links to the side of this post. If you wish to donate in another manner, please write to me at wendyATwendymcelroy.com. Your contribution will be well used and greatly appreciated. Thank you!...especially to those who have supported this blog for so long and so staunchly.
Invasion U.S.A.Brad here. Our friend "Bitjuggler" sends this delightful musical parody, with the following explanatory comment:
Ron Paul Forums has been taken over by paleo-conservatives and White Christian Nationalists. There's a thread titled "Invasion U.S.A." that's reached 115 pages; that makes me think of the Beach Boys every time I see it (you know, Surfin' U.S.A.).
[ Read the rest ... ]
Ron Paul Forums has been taken over by paleo-conservatives and White Christian Nationalists. There's a thread titled "Invasion U.S.A." that's reached 115 pages; that makes me think of the Beach Boys every time I see it (you know, Surfin' U.S.A.).
"Invasion U.S.A."
(To the tune of "Surfin' U.S.A." by The Beach Boys)
(To the tune of "Surfin' U.S.A." by The Beach Boys)
[ Read the rest ... ]
Friday, July 24, 2026, News and CommentaryBREAKING. From the Associated Press: 80 Nations Face 10% Tariffs on Exports to US at Midnight. Critics say forced labor rationale masks broader protectionist trade agenda. [Ed: that's midnight Thursday...so the tariffs are already here.] From Zero Hedge: Trump's Tariff Wall Returns With Forced-Labor Duties On 60 Countries.
From RSC: RSC Members Applaud Passage of the Stop Insider Trading Act. [Ed: note that this bill further limits insider trading; it does not stop the practice. And, since the SAVE Act is included in this Act, it will meet real resistance in the Senate. The applause is premature.]
From X, Massimo: Just a Dog Having the Best Day of His Life.
From International Man: Doug Casey on Fort Knox, America's $1 Trillion in Gold, and the Question No One Is Asking
Immigration. From Just the News: Federal appeals court pauses lower court order on releasing illegal migrants into US without hearing. The unsigned order centers on three men in Texas who were arrested by state troopers between November 2025 and February 2026 during routine traffic stops. [Ed: Pauses the ban on release & clears the way for the three men to be taken back into immigration custody.] From Newser: Overstaying Can Now Cost Immigrants Up to $1.8M. Administration launches fines for those ordered to leave US. [Ed: $1,000 a day for up to 5 years.]
From the Hill: Jordan accuses Smith of lying to Congress in criminal referral to DOJ. [Ed: the odds of the DOJ running with the referral are excellent, don't you think?]
Big Picture Economics. From the Associated Press: Oil Just Hit $100 a Barrel Again. Spike comes as violence escalates in the Middle East, as stocks are set to drop on Wall Street. [Ed: gas here was up .04 cents.] From Newser: Stocks Drop as Oil Hits Highest Price Since May. Tesla, Alphabet were heavy weights on the market. From Naked Capitalism: The Global Food Crisis. "A global food crisis is likely approaching — driven by the collapse of supply chains feeding the agri-food system, a consequence of the war against Iran and the resulting blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.'
From the Good News Network: Beluga Whales from Shuttered Canadian Park Arrive at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium After Rescue
From Calgary City News: Dog named ‘Hero’ kept stuck owner warm and safe from coyotes for 2 days: police. AND Southern Alberta man reunites with dogs who kept him warm, safe from coyotes while stuck in a ditch.
From Lew Rockwell:The American Presidency and Perpetual War. [Ed: by Judge Napolitano.]
Russia. From Politico.EU: EU countries clinch deal on Russia sanctions. The agreement resolves a dispute over shipping Russian gas to third countries and freezes the bloc’s price cap on Russian crude oil for 12 months. From NBC News: U.S. committed to helping end Ukraine war but no quick deal, Rubio says after meeting with Russia’s Lavrov. [Ed: at this point, I don't think Putin and Lavrov are open to a deal. And they know Zelensky will keep a deal only while people are looking or it is to his advantage.]
From Tampa Bay: 3 US Airports Look to Give TSA the Boot. Union warns that move toward privatization could revert airport security to patchy pre-9/11 system. [Ed: Libertarians usually call for the privatization of everything, everywhwhere but there is a big exception...services or goods that would not exist on the free market because they involve an involuntary exchange. Don't privatize TSA. Abolish it.]
From Purina Hall of Fame: Foreman.
From the Organic Prepper: Here’s What a Prepper Learned Surviving a Flood of Biblical Proportions. [Ed: with flooding in W. Virgina and so many other places (it seems) this dated article still offers great advice.]
The Gordie Howe Bridge. From the National Post: Text of Gordie Howe Bridge deal with U.S. contradicts Carney's initial description. Missing from the document released on Tuesday is any reference to Canada recouping debt-servicing costs, an issue of conflicting comments. [Ed: Canada and US to split 50/50 the fees from the bridge even tho' Canada fronted 100% of the cost of $6.4B.] From CBC News: How does the new Gordie Howe bridge deal compare to the original one? There's a 2012 deal but Canada released text of new pact late Tuesday night. [Ed: in the original and unilaterally broken deal, tolls would have been collected only on the Canadian side, with the revenue used to pay down the cost of the project — something the agreement said could take at least 50 years.] The Gordie Howe International Bridge Site. [Ed: opening keeps changing. Now it is August 5th.]
From APN News: New Free Speech Concern: When AI Chatbots Won't Criticize Leaders from Repressive Regimes. "Ask Claude to make a pamphlet critical of China's leader, Thailand's king, or Saudi Arabia's crown prince — and it will decline, reports the Associated Press."
From Jonathan Turley: Boasberg’s Law: Chief District Court Judge Under Renewed Scrutiny Over Pattern of Unilateral Actions. "While accusing President Trump of a sweeping view of his power, the court seems to have an equally expansive view of its own power." [Ed: Boasberg is one of the most activist judges in America.]
From Reason: From Weed to Whiskey: Is This the Supreme Court's Next Big Commerce Clause Case? What’s at stake in Ream v. U.S. Department of the Treasury. [Ed: At issue is the constitutionality of the federal ban on home distilling for personal use by federal law.]
From City-Journal: California’s Civil Rights Mafia..Gavin Newsom is running a shakedown campaign against major companies. [Ed: a must read.]
From CBC: Meet Hulk, the biggest puppy you'll probably ever see. The 18-month-old dog is more than double the size of the largest pit bulls. [Ed: I had to check out that this was actually true. It is.] From ABC News: 175-Pound Pit Bull Hulk Shatters Misconceptions About the Breed. The massive dog looks scary, but he's sweet with his owners' 3-year-old son.
Israel-Gaza. From the Libertarian Institute: Gaza’s 1,000-Day Siege. From X, Shaiel Ben-Ephraim: Israel is intentionally destroying hospitals and not allow patients out, letting them die. From +972 Magazine: Nearly half of Israel’s government joins march vowing Gaza settlements [Ed: a must read.]
From RSC: RSC Members Applaud Passage of the Stop Insider Trading Act. [Ed: note that this bill further limits insider trading; it does not stop the practice. And, since the SAVE Act is included in this Act, it will meet real resistance in the Senate. The applause is premature.]
From X, Massimo: Just a Dog Having the Best Day of His Life.
From International Man: Doug Casey on Fort Knox, America's $1 Trillion in Gold, and the Question No One Is Asking
Immigration. From Just the News: Federal appeals court pauses lower court order on releasing illegal migrants into US without hearing. The unsigned order centers on three men in Texas who were arrested by state troopers between November 2025 and February 2026 during routine traffic stops. [Ed: Pauses the ban on release & clears the way for the three men to be taken back into immigration custody.] From Newser: Overstaying Can Now Cost Immigrants Up to $1.8M. Administration launches fines for those ordered to leave US. [Ed: $1,000 a day for up to 5 years.]
From the Hill: Jordan accuses Smith of lying to Congress in criminal referral to DOJ. [Ed: the odds of the DOJ running with the referral are excellent, don't you think?]
Big Picture Economics. From the Associated Press: Oil Just Hit $100 a Barrel Again. Spike comes as violence escalates in the Middle East, as stocks are set to drop on Wall Street. [Ed: gas here was up .04 cents.] From Newser: Stocks Drop as Oil Hits Highest Price Since May. Tesla, Alphabet were heavy weights on the market. From Naked Capitalism: The Global Food Crisis. "A global food crisis is likely approaching — driven by the collapse of supply chains feeding the agri-food system, a consequence of the war against Iran and the resulting blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.'
From the Good News Network: Beluga Whales from Shuttered Canadian Park Arrive at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium After Rescue
From Calgary City News: Dog named ‘Hero’ kept stuck owner warm and safe from coyotes for 2 days: police. AND Southern Alberta man reunites with dogs who kept him warm, safe from coyotes while stuck in a ditch.
From Lew Rockwell:The American Presidency and Perpetual War. [Ed: by Judge Napolitano.]
Russia. From Politico.EU: EU countries clinch deal on Russia sanctions. The agreement resolves a dispute over shipping Russian gas to third countries and freezes the bloc’s price cap on Russian crude oil for 12 months. From NBC News: U.S. committed to helping end Ukraine war but no quick deal, Rubio says after meeting with Russia’s Lavrov. [Ed: at this point, I don't think Putin and Lavrov are open to a deal. And they know Zelensky will keep a deal only while people are looking or it is to his advantage.]
From Tampa Bay: 3 US Airports Look to Give TSA the Boot. Union warns that move toward privatization could revert airport security to patchy pre-9/11 system. [Ed: Libertarians usually call for the privatization of everything, everywhwhere but there is a big exception...services or goods that would not exist on the free market because they involve an involuntary exchange. Don't privatize TSA. Abolish it.]
From Purina Hall of Fame: Foreman.
From the Organic Prepper: Here’s What a Prepper Learned Surviving a Flood of Biblical Proportions. [Ed: with flooding in W. Virgina and so many other places (it seems) this dated article still offers great advice.]
The Gordie Howe Bridge. From the National Post: Text of Gordie Howe Bridge deal with U.S. contradicts Carney's initial description. Missing from the document released on Tuesday is any reference to Canada recouping debt-servicing costs, an issue of conflicting comments. [Ed: Canada and US to split 50/50 the fees from the bridge even tho' Canada fronted 100% of the cost of $6.4B.] From CBC News: How does the new Gordie Howe bridge deal compare to the original one? There's a 2012 deal but Canada released text of new pact late Tuesday night. [Ed: in the original and unilaterally broken deal, tolls would have been collected only on the Canadian side, with the revenue used to pay down the cost of the project — something the agreement said could take at least 50 years.] The Gordie Howe International Bridge Site. [Ed: opening keeps changing. Now it is August 5th.]
From APN News: New Free Speech Concern: When AI Chatbots Won't Criticize Leaders from Repressive Regimes. "Ask Claude to make a pamphlet critical of China's leader, Thailand's king, or Saudi Arabia's crown prince — and it will decline, reports the Associated Press."
From Jonathan Turley: Boasberg’s Law: Chief District Court Judge Under Renewed Scrutiny Over Pattern of Unilateral Actions. "While accusing President Trump of a sweeping view of his power, the court seems to have an equally expansive view of its own power." [Ed: Boasberg is one of the most activist judges in America.]
From Reason: From Weed to Whiskey: Is This the Supreme Court's Next Big Commerce Clause Case? What’s at stake in Ream v. U.S. Department of the Treasury. [Ed: At issue is the constitutionality of the federal ban on home distilling for personal use by federal law.]
From City-Journal: California’s Civil Rights Mafia..Gavin Newsom is running a shakedown campaign against major companies. [Ed: a must read.]
From CBC: Meet Hulk, the biggest puppy you'll probably ever see. The 18-month-old dog is more than double the size of the largest pit bulls. [Ed: I had to check out that this was actually true. It is.] From ABC News: 175-Pound Pit Bull Hulk Shatters Misconceptions About the Breed. The massive dog looks scary, but he's sweet with his owners' 3-year-old son.
Israel-Gaza. From the Libertarian Institute: Gaza’s 1,000-Day Siege. From X, Shaiel Ben-Ephraim: Israel is intentionally destroying hospitals and not allow patients out, letting them die. From +972 Magazine: Nearly half of Israel’s government joins march vowing Gaza settlements [Ed: a must read.]
Thursday 23 July 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026, News and CommentaryFraud. From the New York Post: Treasury Stopped Nearly $100M in Taxpayer Money From Going to Dead People After New Gov’t Measure Implemented. AND Trump administration freezes $867M in California Medicaid funds over suspected fraud] [Ed: freezes funds to Minnesota as well.] From Just the News: Watchdog says as much as 74% of federal grant spending in 2024 was untraceable to local levels. The report released Tuesday revealed that many federal assistance programs didn't accurately track their spending, explain specific uses of funds or report location data in 2024.
From X, Breanna Morello: Dogs! The Best Video You'll See All Day.
From Reuters: Trump prepares fresh tariffs on dozens of countries, FT reports. [Ed: current 10% global tariff expires on Friday.]
Canada-U.S. From Oil Price: Canada Unveils New Pipeline to Cut Reliance on U.S. Oil Routes. [Ed: given how much resistance pipelines have in Canada, only a desire to counter the U.S. could prompt this fast action.] From City-Journal: Why America Keeps Choking on Wildfire Smoke. Canada and the U.S. do far too little fuels treatment to prevent the fires. [Ed: one of the reasons for the punitive tariffs on Canada is to, well, punish Canada for the smoke blanketing the U.S. from Canada. I believe it is illegal to use tariffs in this manner.]
From Gutenberg: FREE: Foods That Will Win The War And How To Cook Them (1918). [Ed: the Organic Prepper sings the praises of this book and frugal good food in general.]
Russia. From Andrew Korybko: What’s Driving Germany’s Planned €800 Billion Remilitarization? Ideological, economic, and personal interests are responsible for the ruling liberal elite’s fateful decision that’ll lead to Germany replacing the US as Russia’s top perceived adversary. From Bloomberg: Kremlin Hardens Demands on Occupied Land in Ukraine, Blaming US. [Ed: no longer willing to return some occupied territories as part of a deal. Reader friendly.]
From Travel+Leisure: US Issues Worldwide Travel Warning: Here’s What to Know. The State Department earlier updated the Do Not Travel list to 23 countries due to recent fighting in the Middle East.
The Heat. From the Telegraph: Japanese firms sell ‘fridges for humans’ to cope with heatwave. ‘Personal cooling box’ blows powerful air jets chilled to 5C on to head, neck and shoulders of users. [Ed: these look cool. No pun intended.] From Good News Network: Rich Rainfall Set to Bust Mexico’s 6-year Drought
From the Financial Times: The US has collected about $13bn of Venezuela’s oil money. Where is it? [Ed: in craters and other destruction in Iran? Reader friendly.]
Israel. From International Business Times: Israel Is Building An Earthen Barrier Across Gaza. It Is Over 14 Miles Long. The barrier follows much of the "yellow line," the area where Israeli troops withdrew under the October ceasefire agreement. From antiwar: Lebanese Troops Deploy to Pilot Zone, Immediately Come Under Fire From Israelis. [Ed: pilot zones were established as being under Israel or Lebanese control. Israel seems to have immediately broken the agreement.]
From iHeartDogs: How iHeartDogs Supporters Are Transforming the Lives of Disabled Dogs
From the Hill: House passes stopgap measure to fund federal government. "...measure that would fund federal agencies at existing levels through Dec. 4."
Iran. From Middle East Eye: Burnham approves US use of UK bases for some strikes on Iran, Bloomberg reports. The move marks a continuation of predecessor Keir Starmer's policy, which rights groups warned could violate international law. From Zero Hedge: CIA Distances Itself From Trump's Iran War With Media Leak. From Forensic Architecture: U.S. Airstrike on Minab Primary School. [Ed: fascinating. The resulting news story on Sky News on the 120+ people killed, mostly children.]
From Law & Liberty: The State's Moral Boundaries. [Ed: recommended. By state, the book means "nation".]
The Upcoming U.S. Elections. From the New York Post: Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields won’t seek re-election after Supreme Court ruled district was gerrymandered [Ed: it was a primarily black district.]
From Kitty Cat Breeders: When No One Else Would, One Hero Took a Chance on This ‘Terrifying’ Dog
The Saudis. From Zero Hedge: Trump Greenlights Saudi Nuclear Deal, Uranium Enrichment In The Kingdom Possible. Civilian nuclear cooperation is a good thing, but sensitive technology transfer may taking it too far... From Son of the New American Revolution 21: Syrsky is Out, The Saudis are Blockaded. [Ed: I focus on the Saudi aspect because it is the breaking news.]
From Futurism: Climate Activists Pelt Microsoft Data Center With Balloons Full of Acid. “We must join forces and resist the anti-democratic power of this small group of the very wealthiest.”
Andy Burnham. From the Independent: Donald Trump furious at Miliband’s appointment as foreign secretary. Andy Burnham has been warned that the US president ‘will not forget’ Ed Miliband’s fierce criticism of him in the past and that he has some ‘serious diplomatic repair to undertake’ in his new role. [Ed: Miliband is far left and rabidly anti-Trump.] From Al Jazeera: UK’s Miliband, Streeting: What are their foreign policy, defence records? Miliband, a Trump critic who once opposed strikes on Syria, joins Streeting, a defence novice with shifting views on Israel, in PM Burnham’s cabinet. From Zero Hedge: BritCard Is Dead: Burnham Kills Starmer's £1.8 Billion Digital ID To Pay For An Energy Tax Cut. So ends BritCard: sold as the answer to illegal migration, buried as a line item... [Ed: BritCard was supposed to be mandatory for anyone to work, to rent, to buy a car...to live.] From Unherd: Burnham’s Potemkin radicalism. Neoliberalism died decades ago.
From Andrew Korybko: Poland's Planned Megaport Is Part Of Its Regional Power Play. Poland will become indispensable to Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary’s global trade upon the completion of this project...
US-Israel Defense Integration. From Military.com: US-Israel Defense Integration on Horizon as House Keeps Section 219 in NDAA, advancing expanded U.S.-Israel defense cooperation despite bipartisan opposition. From Crypto Briefing: Congress moves to deeply integrate US military tech and supply chains with Israel through NDAA provisions. [Ed: it now goes to the Senate, of course. And since its passage has been tied to the SAVE Act, I doubt it will make it.]]
From Son of the American Revolution 21: China’s Beidou Satellite System is a Game Changer in Iran’s War with the US
From Cuteness: Poppy The Dog Gets Spoiled With 'Luxurious Life' At Grandma's House & It's Too Cute.
From X, Breanna Morello: Dogs! The Best Video You'll See All Day.
From Reuters: Trump prepares fresh tariffs on dozens of countries, FT reports. [Ed: current 10% global tariff expires on Friday.]
Canada-U.S. From Oil Price: Canada Unveils New Pipeline to Cut Reliance on U.S. Oil Routes. [Ed: given how much resistance pipelines have in Canada, only a desire to counter the U.S. could prompt this fast action.] From City-Journal: Why America Keeps Choking on Wildfire Smoke. Canada and the U.S. do far too little fuels treatment to prevent the fires. [Ed: one of the reasons for the punitive tariffs on Canada is to, well, punish Canada for the smoke blanketing the U.S. from Canada. I believe it is illegal to use tariffs in this manner.]
From Gutenberg: FREE: Foods That Will Win The War And How To Cook Them (1918). [Ed: the Organic Prepper sings the praises of this book and frugal good food in general.]
Russia. From Andrew Korybko: What’s Driving Germany’s Planned €800 Billion Remilitarization? Ideological, economic, and personal interests are responsible for the ruling liberal elite’s fateful decision that’ll lead to Germany replacing the US as Russia’s top perceived adversary. From Bloomberg: Kremlin Hardens Demands on Occupied Land in Ukraine, Blaming US. [Ed: no longer willing to return some occupied territories as part of a deal. Reader friendly.]
From Travel+Leisure: US Issues Worldwide Travel Warning: Here’s What to Know. The State Department earlier updated the Do Not Travel list to 23 countries due to recent fighting in the Middle East.
The Heat. From the Telegraph: Japanese firms sell ‘fridges for humans’ to cope with heatwave. ‘Personal cooling box’ blows powerful air jets chilled to 5C on to head, neck and shoulders of users. [Ed: these look cool. No pun intended.] From Good News Network: Rich Rainfall Set to Bust Mexico’s 6-year Drought
From the Financial Times: The US has collected about $13bn of Venezuela’s oil money. Where is it? [Ed: in craters and other destruction in Iran? Reader friendly.]
Israel. From International Business Times: Israel Is Building An Earthen Barrier Across Gaza. It Is Over 14 Miles Long. The barrier follows much of the "yellow line," the area where Israeli troops withdrew under the October ceasefire agreement. From antiwar: Lebanese Troops Deploy to Pilot Zone, Immediately Come Under Fire From Israelis. [Ed: pilot zones were established as being under Israel or Lebanese control. Israel seems to have immediately broken the agreement.]
From iHeartDogs: How iHeartDogs Supporters Are Transforming the Lives of Disabled Dogs
From the Hill: House passes stopgap measure to fund federal government. "...measure that would fund federal agencies at existing levels through Dec. 4."
Iran. From Middle East Eye: Burnham approves US use of UK bases for some strikes on Iran, Bloomberg reports. The move marks a continuation of predecessor Keir Starmer's policy, which rights groups warned could violate international law. From Zero Hedge: CIA Distances Itself From Trump's Iran War With Media Leak. From Forensic Architecture: U.S. Airstrike on Minab Primary School. [Ed: fascinating. The resulting news story on Sky News on the 120+ people killed, mostly children.]
From Law & Liberty: The State's Moral Boundaries. [Ed: recommended. By state, the book means "nation".]
The Upcoming U.S. Elections. From the New York Post: Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields won’t seek re-election after Supreme Court ruled district was gerrymandered [Ed: it was a primarily black district.]
From Kitty Cat Breeders: When No One Else Would, One Hero Took a Chance on This ‘Terrifying’ Dog
The Saudis. From Zero Hedge: Trump Greenlights Saudi Nuclear Deal, Uranium Enrichment In The Kingdom Possible. Civilian nuclear cooperation is a good thing, but sensitive technology transfer may taking it too far... From Son of the New American Revolution 21: Syrsky is Out, The Saudis are Blockaded. [Ed: I focus on the Saudi aspect because it is the breaking news.]
From Futurism: Climate Activists Pelt Microsoft Data Center With Balloons Full of Acid. “We must join forces and resist the anti-democratic power of this small group of the very wealthiest.”
Andy Burnham. From the Independent: Donald Trump furious at Miliband’s appointment as foreign secretary. Andy Burnham has been warned that the US president ‘will not forget’ Ed Miliband’s fierce criticism of him in the past and that he has some ‘serious diplomatic repair to undertake’ in his new role. [Ed: Miliband is far left and rabidly anti-Trump.] From Al Jazeera: UK’s Miliband, Streeting: What are their foreign policy, defence records? Miliband, a Trump critic who once opposed strikes on Syria, joins Streeting, a defence novice with shifting views on Israel, in PM Burnham’s cabinet. From Zero Hedge: BritCard Is Dead: Burnham Kills Starmer's £1.8 Billion Digital ID To Pay For An Energy Tax Cut. So ends BritCard: sold as the answer to illegal migration, buried as a line item... [Ed: BritCard was supposed to be mandatory for anyone to work, to rent, to buy a car...to live.] From Unherd: Burnham’s Potemkin radicalism. Neoliberalism died decades ago.
From Andrew Korybko: Poland's Planned Megaport Is Part Of Its Regional Power Play. Poland will become indispensable to Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary’s global trade upon the completion of this project...
US-Israel Defense Integration. From Military.com: US-Israel Defense Integration on Horizon as House Keeps Section 219 in NDAA, advancing expanded U.S.-Israel defense cooperation despite bipartisan opposition. From Crypto Briefing: Congress moves to deeply integrate US military tech and supply chains with Israel through NDAA provisions. [Ed: it now goes to the Senate, of course. And since its passage has been tied to the SAVE Act, I doubt it will make it.]]
From Son of the American Revolution 21: China’s Beidou Satellite System is a Game Changer in Iran’s War with the US
From Cuteness: Poppy The Dog Gets Spoiled With 'Luxurious Life' At Grandma's House & It's Too Cute.
Wednesday 22 July 2026
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, News and CommentaryMarket Risk. From Quoth the Raven: Oh My Fucking God, They're Doing It Again. Wall Street is again using insurance guarantees to turn difficult-to-rate credit exposure into highly rated securities. [Ed: as Brad said, this is double-plus ungood.] From CNBC: Jamie Dimon says markets underestimate risks and he wouldn’t buy stocks or Treasurys at current prices. [Ed: I do think a major shock is coming.]
From People: Dog Missing Since Fourth of July Found Swimming Alone After Being Swarmed by Seagulls. Firefighters from Menlo Park, Calif., rescued the canine using a drone and a boat.
U.S. Election Security. From the Hill: More than 6K non-citizens registered to vote in New Jersey due to software issue: Sherrill. [Ed: software issue? So Trump was correct.] From the Post Millennial: Olive Garden more secure than federal elections as Never-Ending Pasta Pass photo ID implemented. "American elections should not be less secure than Olive Garden’s endless pasta." From the Daily Signal: Trump Administration USPS Wins Key Court Fight Over Mail-In Ballot Oversight. [Ed: this is huge.]
Iran. From Zero Hedge: Trump Eyes Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Site Heavy Strikes: "Iran Hasn't Seen Anything Yet, We've Been Nice". Will be hitting Pickaxe mountain in Iran "pretty soon very heavily & there is nothing they can do about it." [Ed: I believe today was the 10th day of heavy strikes on Iran.] From Moon of Alabama: “Wash Me, But Don’t Get Me Wet”* From Naked Capitalism: Iran War: Iran Rumored to Be Readying Big Attacks as Trump Vows More Escalation and Rubio Disses Talks; Brent Rises to $94 a Barrel as Hormuz Transits Fall, Ships Turn Away from Bab el-Mandeb; Hegseth Fried in Iran Hearings
From the Epoch Times: Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Allowing Release of Biden Audio Tapes. The former president has not shown he is likely to succeed in his lawsuit, a split circuit court panel said. [Ed: apparently they will be released under FOIA to Heritage Foundation.]
Burnham in Britain. From Sky News: UK's Burnham Wastes No Time Cleaning House. New PM gives Starmer allies the boot, convenes new Cabinet, scraps tax on electric bills. [Ed: yep, Burnham is the UK's new PM.] From Reason: Britain's New Prime Minister Promises 'Stronger Public Control' of Stagnating Economy. Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade inherits weak growth, record-high taxes, and a swelling welfare bill. His proposed cure is an even larger role for the state.
From the ABC News: Family dog gets in between charging bear and young boy
From Bitcoin Magazine: Coinbase Exec Says Clarity Act Has 'Tremendous Momentum' In The Senate ...argued it would bring long-awaited federal rules, stronger consumer protections, and regulatory clarity to the crypto industry...
Tariffs for Canada! From Zero Hedge: Trump Reaches For A 1930 Tariff Law To Hit Canada With 50% Duties - But Not On These Items. The 30-day delay hands Canadian exporters, and their lawyers, a month to work with. [Ed: the tariffs are causing such a stir up here.] From Reason: Trump's New 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods Is Actually an Admission That Trade Wars Don't Work. The trade war caused exports to Canada to fall. Now, Trump is pointing to that fact to justify more tariffs. From Mish Talk: Trump Goes Bat-Sheet Crazy with 50 Percent Tariffs on Canada.
From International Man: Financial Repression: How the US Government Will Quietly Confiscate Your Wealth
DSA. From Jonathan Turley: The DSA and the Myth of Scandinavian Socialism. AND The Rise of the Champagne Socialists: Democratic Leaders Join Socialists in Criticizing Capitalism. From Reason: Socialist Influencer Hasan Piker Is Praising Mao. Here's the Truth About Chinese Communism.
From the Legal Insurrection: SpaceX’s 13th Starship Test Aborted Less than a Second before Liftoff
From Dogman Ray: I’ve Got a Live One!!
From FOX News: Trump faces Republican rebellion over Daylight Saving Time as Senate bill nears dead end
From the Washington Examiner: Mamdani’s desire to arrest Netanyahu for foreign bureaucrats is deranged. "It cannot be overstated just how deranged and despicable it is that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to promise to operate as an agent of a globalist organization in violation of U.S. law with his promise to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." From CNBC: Trump says Netanyahu won’t be arrested in New York, pushing back on Mamdani
From Of Two Minds: The Conflicts Brewing in America's Ten Classes
From CNN News-World: Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine's top general after days of protests. From Harvard Univ.: Zelensky’s Anti-Corruption Missteps: Experts Respond.
From Newsmax: US 'Deeply Concerned' As EU Eyes Carbon Price for Global Flights
DSA. From the New York Post: CNN’s Van Jones Warns Far Left: ‘Stop Pooping in the Punch Bowl — and Telling Us the Turds Are Ice Cubes’. [Ed: you are going to see more of this, more semi-moderate Dems try to rein in the Progressives.] From the Free Press: I Was in the DSA. Here’s What They Really Believe. The socialist candidates being swept into power want to dismantle American life. It’s all right there in their new platform.
From Glambun: She Asked Her Dog If He Is A Good Boy. When He Replied, I Laughed Out Loud
From People: Dog Missing Since Fourth of July Found Swimming Alone After Being Swarmed by Seagulls. Firefighters from Menlo Park, Calif., rescued the canine using a drone and a boat.
U.S. Election Security. From the Hill: More than 6K non-citizens registered to vote in New Jersey due to software issue: Sherrill. [Ed: software issue? So Trump was correct.] From the Post Millennial: Olive Garden more secure than federal elections as Never-Ending Pasta Pass photo ID implemented. "American elections should not be less secure than Olive Garden’s endless pasta." From the Daily Signal: Trump Administration USPS Wins Key Court Fight Over Mail-In Ballot Oversight. [Ed: this is huge.]
Iran. From Zero Hedge: Trump Eyes Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Site Heavy Strikes: "Iran Hasn't Seen Anything Yet, We've Been Nice". Will be hitting Pickaxe mountain in Iran "pretty soon very heavily & there is nothing they can do about it." [Ed: I believe today was the 10th day of heavy strikes on Iran.] From Moon of Alabama: “Wash Me, But Don’t Get Me Wet”* From Naked Capitalism: Iran War: Iran Rumored to Be Readying Big Attacks as Trump Vows More Escalation and Rubio Disses Talks; Brent Rises to $94 a Barrel as Hormuz Transits Fall, Ships Turn Away from Bab el-Mandeb; Hegseth Fried in Iran Hearings
From the Epoch Times: Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Allowing Release of Biden Audio Tapes. The former president has not shown he is likely to succeed in his lawsuit, a split circuit court panel said. [Ed: apparently they will be released under FOIA to Heritage Foundation.]
Burnham in Britain. From Sky News: UK's Burnham Wastes No Time Cleaning House. New PM gives Starmer allies the boot, convenes new Cabinet, scraps tax on electric bills. [Ed: yep, Burnham is the UK's new PM.] From Reason: Britain's New Prime Minister Promises 'Stronger Public Control' of Stagnating Economy. Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade inherits weak growth, record-high taxes, and a swelling welfare bill. His proposed cure is an even larger role for the state.
From the ABC News: Family dog gets in between charging bear and young boy
From Bitcoin Magazine: Coinbase Exec Says Clarity Act Has 'Tremendous Momentum' In The Senate ...argued it would bring long-awaited federal rules, stronger consumer protections, and regulatory clarity to the crypto industry...
Tariffs for Canada! From Zero Hedge: Trump Reaches For A 1930 Tariff Law To Hit Canada With 50% Duties - But Not On These Items. The 30-day delay hands Canadian exporters, and their lawyers, a month to work with. [Ed: the tariffs are causing such a stir up here.] From Reason: Trump's New 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods Is Actually an Admission That Trade Wars Don't Work. The trade war caused exports to Canada to fall. Now, Trump is pointing to that fact to justify more tariffs. From Mish Talk: Trump Goes Bat-Sheet Crazy with 50 Percent Tariffs on Canada.
From International Man: Financial Repression: How the US Government Will Quietly Confiscate Your Wealth
DSA. From Jonathan Turley: The DSA and the Myth of Scandinavian Socialism. AND The Rise of the Champagne Socialists: Democratic Leaders Join Socialists in Criticizing Capitalism. From Reason: Socialist Influencer Hasan Piker Is Praising Mao. Here's the Truth About Chinese Communism.
From the Legal Insurrection: SpaceX’s 13th Starship Test Aborted Less than a Second before Liftoff
From Dogman Ray: I’ve Got a Live One!!
From FOX News: Trump faces Republican rebellion over Daylight Saving Time as Senate bill nears dead end
From the Washington Examiner: Mamdani’s desire to arrest Netanyahu for foreign bureaucrats is deranged. "It cannot be overstated just how deranged and despicable it is that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to promise to operate as an agent of a globalist organization in violation of U.S. law with his promise to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." From CNBC: Trump says Netanyahu won’t be arrested in New York, pushing back on Mamdani
From Of Two Minds: The Conflicts Brewing in America's Ten Classes
From CNN News-World: Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine's top general after days of protests. From Harvard Univ.: Zelensky’s Anti-Corruption Missteps: Experts Respond.
From Newsmax: US 'Deeply Concerned' As EU Eyes Carbon Price for Global Flights
DSA. From the New York Post: CNN’s Van Jones Warns Far Left: ‘Stop Pooping in the Punch Bowl — and Telling Us the Turds Are Ice Cubes’. [Ed: you are going to see more of this, more semi-moderate Dems try to rein in the Progressives.] From the Free Press: I Was in the DSA. Here’s What They Really Believe. The socialist candidates being swept into power want to dismantle American life. It’s all right there in their new platform.
From Glambun: She Asked Her Dog If He Is A Good Boy. When He Replied, I Laughed Out Loud
Thursday 16 July 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026, News and CommentaryFrom Bitcoin Magazine: UK Adopts 'No Gain, No Loss' Tax Treatment For Crypto Lending And Liquidity Pools. ...deferring Capital Gains Tax until users make an economic disposal of their cryptocurrency.
From People: Couple Says Their Golden Retriever Became a Caregiver After Wife’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis. “This dog knows that if I leave the house for any reason, she’s in tune with my wife,” Michael Aho said of wife Donna and their dog, Skye
Israel. From antiwar: The West Won’t Punish the Settlements. Its Two-State Solution Was Always a Sham. For decades, the EU has devised ever more convoluted ways to avoid penalising Israel's illegal settlements, even as they devour a two-state solution it claims is the only path to regional peace. [Ed: a must read.]
From Reason: What Ben Sasse's Treatment Says About the Bright Future of Cancer Cures. New immunotherapies, cancer vaccines, and early diagnostics will bend the cancer mortality curve ever downward. [Ed: former Sen. Ben Sasse (R–Neb.)]
Farage. From Politico.EU: New polling shows Brits aren’t buying Nigel Farage’s anti-establishment crusade. Fresh research from London-based Public First shows that voters are skeptical of the Reform UK leader’s decision to trigger a by-election. [Ed: sorry to hear this. But the polls keep being of the general public. Do Clacton voters share this opinion?] From LBC: Man dressed as fox pulls out of Clacton by-election because it’s become a ‘circus'. [Ed: is anyone else struck by the fact that a man in fox costume considers Farage's campaign an intolerable circus?]
From the Dallas Morning News: Trump administration orders ICE to suspend most vehicle stops after 2 deadly shootings. [Ed: the 2nd death resulted from target running from ICE and being struck by a truck. Traffic stops do seem more dangerous than other apprehensions.]
From the European Conservative: Le Pen Back in the Race: A Daring Bet. [Ed: a good overview summary of the situation.]
Data Centers. From AI Weekly: GOP Governors, Utilities Join Trump's Data Center Cost Pledge. [Ed: Trump's voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge.] From CNBC: New York becomes first U.S. state to impose AI data center ban. [Ed: for one year.] From Townhall: A Trump Voter Might Back a Dem Gov Candidate Over This Issue That Could Blindside Both Parties. [Ed: yep, data centers.] From City-Journal: Inside the Rise of the Anti–Data Center Movement. Resistance to the facilities has become a left-wing rallying point, linking environmentalism, anti-Big Tech politics, immigration activism, Native American issues, and “anti-imperialism.” [Ed: there are reasons to question data centers BUT these are not them.]
From Pupvine: California Rescuer Finds A Freezing Puppy In The Rain, And A Return Trip Reveals A Heartwarming Surprise.
From Oldster: Aging is Funny, Okay? [Ed: Aaaah...if you say so.]
From X, Bitcoin_Teddy: GovGreed Tracker. A platform called GovGreed built a seven-layer machine learning system that cross-references every stock trade disclosed by every sitting politician against the bills their committees control, the campaign donations they receive, and the companies their votes directly impact. [Ed: a must read.]
Water. From Sudan Tribune: Khartoum faces drinking water crisis as Nile levels drop sharply. From France 24: French rivers dry up amid prolonged heatwaves. From ABC4: Lake Powell, Mead drop to historic low, signaling major water crisis. "Lake Powell in Lake Mead just dropped below their lowest point of storage since before Lake Powell was built.” [Ed: the Colorado River, of which this is a key part, serves 40M people.]
From Reason: Lindsey Graham's Death Marks the End of an Era of Interventionist Foreign Policy. The late senator was one of the last advocates of hawkish policies out of step with public opinion.
From PC Mag: The Death of the Status Update: Why 55% of Americans Stopped Posting on Social Media. [Ed: I don't post on social media--haven't for years--unless you count my blog and newsfeeds. It became unpleasant and risky.]
From X, Science Girl: Meanwhile in Florida, a beagle protects its family home from an alligator
From People: Couple Says Their Golden Retriever Became a Caregiver After Wife’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis. “This dog knows that if I leave the house for any reason, she’s in tune with my wife,” Michael Aho said of wife Donna and their dog, Skye
Israel. From antiwar: The West Won’t Punish the Settlements. Its Two-State Solution Was Always a Sham. For decades, the EU has devised ever more convoluted ways to avoid penalising Israel's illegal settlements, even as they devour a two-state solution it claims is the only path to regional peace. [Ed: a must read.]
From Reason: What Ben Sasse's Treatment Says About the Bright Future of Cancer Cures. New immunotherapies, cancer vaccines, and early diagnostics will bend the cancer mortality curve ever downward. [Ed: former Sen. Ben Sasse (R–Neb.)]
Farage. From Politico.EU: New polling shows Brits aren’t buying Nigel Farage’s anti-establishment crusade. Fresh research from London-based Public First shows that voters are skeptical of the Reform UK leader’s decision to trigger a by-election. [Ed: sorry to hear this. But the polls keep being of the general public. Do Clacton voters share this opinion?] From LBC: Man dressed as fox pulls out of Clacton by-election because it’s become a ‘circus'. [Ed: is anyone else struck by the fact that a man in fox costume considers Farage's campaign an intolerable circus?]
From the Dallas Morning News: Trump administration orders ICE to suspend most vehicle stops after 2 deadly shootings. [Ed: the 2nd death resulted from target running from ICE and being struck by a truck. Traffic stops do seem more dangerous than other apprehensions.]
From the European Conservative: Le Pen Back in the Race: A Daring Bet. [Ed: a good overview summary of the situation.]
Data Centers. From AI Weekly: GOP Governors, Utilities Join Trump's Data Center Cost Pledge. [Ed: Trump's voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge.] From CNBC: New York becomes first U.S. state to impose AI data center ban. [Ed: for one year.] From Townhall: A Trump Voter Might Back a Dem Gov Candidate Over This Issue That Could Blindside Both Parties. [Ed: yep, data centers.] From City-Journal: Inside the Rise of the Anti–Data Center Movement. Resistance to the facilities has become a left-wing rallying point, linking environmentalism, anti-Big Tech politics, immigration activism, Native American issues, and “anti-imperialism.” [Ed: there are reasons to question data centers BUT these are not them.]
From Pupvine: California Rescuer Finds A Freezing Puppy In The Rain, And A Return Trip Reveals A Heartwarming Surprise.
From Oldster: Aging is Funny, Okay? [Ed: Aaaah...if you say so.]
From X, Bitcoin_Teddy: GovGreed Tracker. A platform called GovGreed built a seven-layer machine learning system that cross-references every stock trade disclosed by every sitting politician against the bills their committees control, the campaign donations they receive, and the companies their votes directly impact. [Ed: a must read.]
Water. From Sudan Tribune: Khartoum faces drinking water crisis as Nile levels drop sharply. From France 24: French rivers dry up amid prolonged heatwaves. From ABC4: Lake Powell, Mead drop to historic low, signaling major water crisis. "Lake Powell in Lake Mead just dropped below their lowest point of storage since before Lake Powell was built.” [Ed: the Colorado River, of which this is a key part, serves 40M people.]
From Reason: Lindsey Graham's Death Marks the End of an Era of Interventionist Foreign Policy. The late senator was one of the last advocates of hawkish policies out of step with public opinion.
From PC Mag: The Death of the Status Update: Why 55% of Americans Stopped Posting on Social Media. [Ed: I don't post on social media--haven't for years--unless you count my blog and newsfeeds. It became unpleasant and risky.]
From X, Science Girl: Meanwhile in Florida, a beagle protects its family home from an alligator
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Go to page >>
| Donate with Paypal |
 | Donate Bitcoins! |
New Bitcoin address - 30 Nov 2020
1Ee7g7zAUReViPRWtLPBEgnPDRP62qxq3J
1Ee7g7zAUReViPRWtLPBEgnPDRP62qxq3J
Our news can be syndicated by using these rss feeds.
