The Trump Tax Return Precedent - WSJ Opinion

Mr. Trump appears to have hired legions of lawyers to exploit every possible loophole in the tax code. If Congress doesn’t like that, it can rewrite and simplify the code. But that would strip the Members of their power to do favors for, well, real-estate investors and other campaign contributors.

Made it to the finish.

Trump Thanks Dems For Releasing Best, Most Beautiful Tax Returns Ever - Babylon Bee

“Nobody takes more withholdings than me! Everyone says so. Big, beautiful withholdings - no one else is smart enough. Lots of losers can’t figure out how to pay less taxes, but I’m really good at it. Maybe the best.”

Just passed 7 years of journaling every day.

📓

Health insurance ❌ healthcare.

Health insurance is a contract to cover the personal financial liability risk of receiving medical services.

Healthcare is medical services provided by a licensed professional.

Christmas dinner grilling.

Quiet start to Christmas.

Silent night, holy night

The House Pretends to Call in Sick - WSJ Opinion

Members sign a letter, available on the House clerk’s website, that says they are “unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency,” and designate a colleague to cast their vote. But no one even bothers anymore to fake a cough or pretend the absence has anything to do with Covid-19. Mrs. Pelosi told a CNN reporter on Friday that the mass sick day is “related to the weather more than anything else.”

More than half voted by proxy on the omnibus.

Power is out, fire is on.

Christmas Tree Lot Guy So Ready For Annual 46-Week Vacation - The Onion

Martin went on to stress the importance of mental health on the job, advising anyone in his line of work to make sure they take all of their 300-plus days off each year.

10 Awesome Christmas Gifts For Your Homeschooled Child - Babylon Bee

A book of small words: To help them learn how to talk to all the illiterate kids their own age.

Still haven’t used Stage Manager.

I’m glad that we’ll get to see the Trump tax returns, but this has been an awful episode.

First, the facts are now in evidence that the Committee used spurious legal justifications to get them. They may have been entitled to them under law, but hiding behind the fig leaf of double-checking IRS audit procedures was a flat-out lie. The evidence is the 30-second study that they undertook before voting to release the returns. They wanted them to release them to the public to tar him and so they did.

Second, tax returns are supposed to be private by law. The IRS leaked reams of private tax data on billionaires to Pro Publica last summer. After 18 months of “investigation,” no one has been held accountable. This harms the credibility of the IRS and sows doubts in the minds of taxpayers that the IRS and Treasury are going to be able to protect their data as required by law.

Finally, every presidential candidate in recent times, except for Trump, voluntarily released their tax returns. Trump didn’t, that was his choice. The voters elected him anyway. The fact that these are being released without his consent is deeply troubling.

Now, as the game of politics is played, we wait until January when the Republican majority exacts their revenge by obtaining and releasing the private tax returns of whomever they don’t like.

House Committee Voted to Release Trump’s Tax Returns: Live Updates

For those wondering, the pizza is from Matchbox, a chain with a location several blocks away in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Excellent taste! 🍕

I love the strong feeling of restful conclusion that the final two weeks of the year bring.

Equifax, a private company, scooped up reams of my private data, without my consent, and sold it to innumerable third-parties without compensating me.

Through gross negligence, they were hacked, a breach that went undetected for weeks.

As settlement for their reckless behavior that put my private information into the hands of unknown criminal elements, they paid me a settlement of $5.21.

Toyota Chief Says ‘Silent Majority’ Has Doubts About Pursuing Only EVs - WSJ

“Because the right answer is still unclear, we shouldn’t limit ourselves to just one option,” Mr. Toyoda said. Over the past few years, Mr. Toyoda said, he has tried to convey this point to industry stakeholders, including government officials—an effort he described as tiring at times.

He gets it.

Vatican Dismisses U.S. Antiabortion Activist From Priesthood - WSJ

The statement didn’t specify the infractions for which Mr. Pavone was being disciplined but said that he had been “given ample opportunity to defend himself” and to “submit himself to the authority of his diocesan bishop” before being found guilty in a proceeding under church law.

Not sure the facts, but the optics are worse than terrible.

Christmas cookie day.

🎄🎅🏻

Pre-dawn is my most productive time block.

👨🏻‍💻

DOJ Arrests Sam Bankman-Fried For Running Out Of Bribery Money - Babylon Bee

Republicans criticized Democrats for blatantly seeking bribes by invading the personal space of Mr. Bankman-Fried for more bribe money, insisting that crypto coins were inside the computer. They then instructed agents to break open all computers in search of the valuable coins.

Being a homeowner feels so great.

🏡

Biden Bails Out the Teamsters - WSJ Opinion

Democrats are calling Republicans stingy for refusing to spend more on Covid, including treatments for the uninsured. But Democrats appropriated a mere $24 billion for vaccines and treatments in last year’s Covid bill and none in the Inflation Reduction Act, which included $369 billion of climate pork.

$36B in tax dollars to bail out a retirement fund for a very small, specific group of Americans.

Three homeschool kids, a toddler, and a self-employed remote worker walk into a coffee shop…

☕️

Morning prayer by the soft light of the tree.

🎄

Russia Releases Brittney Griner From Penal Colony in Prisoner Swap Deal - WSJ

Women’s basketball star Brittney Griner has been released by Russia from a penal colony, President Biden announced Thursday, in a negotiated prisoner release deal that exchanged her for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout

Basketball player 95%+ of Americans had never heard of for arms dealer portrayed by Nicholas Cage in a major motion picture Lord of War.

Hostage diplomacy works!

Congressional Negotiators Start to Run Out of Time on Full-Year Spending Bill - WSJ

The National Defense Authorization Act bill, unveiled late Tuesday, would also rescind the  requirement that members of the military be vaccinated against Covid-19

Makes a bad decision, worse.

What about all of those troops we besmirched and discharged? The people we poured time and money into and then told them that we didn’t believe their religious beliefs were important? The careers we cut short, the talent we lost, all to make a stupid point?

Great message for the next “mandatory” thing… just wait it out.

I guess the lesson here is that intellectual colonization doesn’t work. Maybe next time, ask politely before pulling out the clubs?

Back at my desk, and way behind.

🏃🏻

Polar Express.

Here’s your first look at the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber - Task & Purpose

When the Air Force pulled the curtain on its new B-21 Raider stealth bomber on Friday, it became the first new bomber revealed since the B-2 Spirit was rolled out in 1988. 

The B-21 has essentially the same design as the B-2.

It’s unreal how wasteful the Department of Defense & Congress is in the world of procurement. We spend billions on these weapons programs, cut them short because they’re “too expensive,” then end up with not enough.

So we start another program, 34 years later, with essentially the same design. And we spend billions to develop that all-new platform instead of just tooling upgrades and reopening the assembly line with the proven design that already works!

Meanwhile, the B-52, many airframes that rolled off the assembly line in the 1950s, are scheduled to remain in service until 2050. A ONE HUNDRED YEAR OLD AIRFRAME!!

Freedom is not free, and maintaining a favorable world order cannot be done on the cheap. Invest in the program, see it through, and have a military equipped to do all of the jobs you ask them to do.

I think its incredible that no one on YouTube has ever paid interest on their credit cards.

Boeing Races to Win Congressional Reprieve for New 737 MAX Models - WSJ

Without a deadline reprieve, Boeing said in a securities filing that it might cancel both planes, resulting in further financial hits. Airlines have said they prefer common cockpit types for their 737 fleets. Carriers could instead buy already-approved MAX jets or planes from Boeing’s European rival, Airbus SE.

Failure to grant this waiver would have serious consequences for American workers and shareholders in one of our largest corporations. Boeing would lose market share and value that would take decades to recover.

We can always do more to improve safety, but the idea of having substantially different cockpit designs within the same family of aircraft is potentially a more dangerous proposition. The 737 is a safe, proven airframe.

End Vanguard’s ESG Meddling With Utilities - WSJ Opinion

Asset managers like Vanguard then use their clients’ assets—not their own—to “accelerate the transition.”

This is the real problem.

My son, on his own, decided to make a contribution to our Christmas decor.

🎄

All of the erasers on my children’s pencils are almost 100% used.

I guess that makes them good students; willing to swing for the fences and try, then fixing their mistakes.

✏️

Rising Tether Loans Add Risk to Stablecoin, Crypto World - WSJ

Tether has also left it unclear whether any of its loans are to related parties, which can be a red flag for investors. Tether’s reports used to say that none of the loans were to affiliated entities. However, it dropped that language starting with its report for the second quarter of 2022. Ms. Welch wouldn’t say why Tether dropped the language and declined to say how much, if any, of Tether’s loans were to related parties as of Sept. 30.

This whole article is like this. Murkiness, lack of routine disclosure, smoke and mirrors.

After FTX, I’m astonished that people are still dealing with crypto exchanges. But hey, everyone wants to get rich quick.

Tweetbot Maker Tapbots Working on ‘Ivory’ Mastodon App - MacRumors

Ivory has a design that is quite similar to Tweetbot at the current time, offering access to a timeline, @ mentions, search, profile, and other options.

These guys are really great at making apps, but their development process is glacial and their business planning is almost non-existent.

They got burned on App.net, so they decided to go all in on Twitter. Then Twitter went to war on third-party apps and they just… stayed?

Now Twitter is in chaos, so they go with another single-source solution? Why not build their app to interact with many services using open standards? Harder to maintain, but that’s business.

Ten (2022)

Vatican Says China Broke Agreement on Bishops - WSJ

Since 2018, neither Beijing nor the Vatican has ordained bishops without the consent of the other side. Only six bishops have been ordained in the same period, while some 40 dioceses in China still have no bishop.

Job well done.

Shock of color.

Vatican Tells Catholics How to Make ‘Faith-Consistent’ Investments - WSJ

They call for “proactive positive investing” in industries such as renewable energy and microfinance.

These guidelines are a paradox.

Don’t invest in fossil fuels, which has lifted billions out of poverty and delivered mobility, economic stability, and food security.

Invest in wildly speculative renewable energy and driving the poor into perpetual debt through micro finance.

Other industries on the blacklist include makers of armaments

Because Catholic moral theology doesn’t permit for a right to national sovereignty and self-defense?

FAA: Pilots should be capable of flying aircraft manually when needed

“Multiple crashes have shown a need for pilots, who might switch on autopilot soon after takeoff, to sharpen their abilities to fly without automation in case they have to take over during an emergency,” the FAA said in the advisory.

Good tip.

Backers of Farmworker Visa Overhaul Make Year-End Push for Immigrant Labor Deal - WSJ

A bill providing a path to citizenship for about one million farmworkers—and creating a capped number of new year-round visas—passed the House in March 2021, with the support of 217 Democrats and 30 Republicans.

Why stuff through in the lame duck session? You’ll never have a political monopoly, so negotiate and figure it out!

Internet down at the office, so impromptu work/school session at the local coffee shop.

Ukrainian Hospital Stymied Russians With Defiant Doctors and a Fake Covid Outbreak - WSJ

By August, Russian soldiers were showing up at hospitals in droves, complaining of headaches or back pain in hopes they’d get sent home. “One guy said he had problems with his knees,” said Andriy Koksharov, head of Tropinka’s trauma department. A scan showed there wasn’t much wrong, but the soldier asked Dr. Koksharov to exaggerate. Dr. Koksharov wrote that he had arthritis and needed to leave the front. “The fewer of them the better,” he said.

Thanksgiving table.

Gentle music in the background, heavy rain in the vicinity, working away on my websites at my desk.

This is true relaxation!

I’ve got that very deep feeling of rest and relaxation that comes with the end-of-year holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

🦃

U.S. Poised to Grant Chevron License to Pump Oil in Venezuela - WSJ

The developments come just ahead of new Western sanctions on Russian oil that threaten to tighten global supplies and lift prices. The Biden administration’s move to ease sanctions on Venezuela has been seen as an effort to send a well-timed psychological signal to markets concerned about a potential future shortfall.

Shifting oil profits from one ruthless dictator to another, all while American oil stays in the ground.

For the Biden administration, U.S. domestic political blowback over the policy change is seen as manageable following the midterm elections, said people familiar with the matter, partly because Florida, whose large Cuban and Venezuelan communities support Venezuelan sanctions, is now seen as lost to the GOP.

Nice to see that the political calculation was carefully weighed by the Virtue Signaler-in-Chief.

I don’t know what happened to Safari in this year’s upgrade cycle, but I just switched my default browser to Brave.

Biden Administration Extends Pause on Federal Student Loan Payments - WSJ

Payments were set to resume Jan. 1, but they now will resume 60 days after litigation over the loan-forgiveness program is resolved or the program is implemented.

This is the final, final final extension. Super serious this time, guys!

Saturday fire.

FTX Fraud Scandal: Here’s What You Should Know - Babylon Bee

A quick Google search revealed that FTX stands for Futures Exchange, which is apt because its customers exchanged their future financial security for meaningless cryptocurrency.

Fetterman Realizes American Dream Of Living With Parents Til You’re 50 And Then Getting A Government Job - Babylon Bee

Fetterman waved solemnly to his parents as he packed up his things before he remembered he doesn’t start his congressional term until next year. He quickly turned back around and asked what was for dinner.

It Takes Too Long to Count Votes - WSJ Opinion

Florida managed to count seven million votes within hours Tuesday, in part because it preprocesses incoming mail ballots and has an Election Day deadline. So far the U.S. has been Las Vegas lucky in avoiding a mail vote debacle, but only a fool keeps spinning the roulette wheel.

Moving in Together Doesn’t Match the Financial Benefits of Marriage, but Why? - WSJ

“We’re already saving a lot of money and splitting the cost on most things,” she said. “I don’t understand how married couples are accumulating wealth in a way we’re not doing.” 

Because married couples are a team with permanence? Not a pair of people going Dutch on every line item every month.

“I care a little bit less than I thought I would about marriage,” she said. “Once you start living together, it almost feels like you made that commitment.”

Until he dumps you for a younger woman and now you’re single AND homeless.

Donald Trump Rallies for . . . Donald Trump - WSJ Opinion

But his focus on his own prospects, and criticizing his fellow Republicans even before a crucial midterm election, is one more reminder that Mr. Trump’s only abiding principle is what’s good for Donald Trump.

Good reminder.

Suspect in Paul Pelosi Assault Lived in U.S. Illegally, Immigration Officials Say - WSJ

The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer is a Canadian citizen who has been living in the U.S. illegally since 2008, immigration officials said Thursday.

C’mon man, he only overstayed his authorization for 14 years! DHS was super busy trying to keep track of the tens of millions of other people illegally in the country.

Doctors Should Prescribe Opioids for People in Pain, CDC Says - WSJ

Federal officials said inflexible rules around the prescription of opioids have harmed some patients, urging doctors to exercise compassion in alleviating pain.

After a decade of intrusive criminal prosecution and massive civil lawsuits, I’m thinking they’re not going to fall for it.

The problem has exacerbated disparities in care, the CDC said. Black patients receiving prescription opioids are less likely to be referred to a pain specialist than white patients and are more likely to receive lower doses of medication for their pain, the CDC said. Disparities in access to treatment are driving up overdose rates among Black and Native American people as drug deaths reach record highs across the country, the CDC has said.

Is DOJ now going to bring civil rights cases against doctors for not prescribing opioids?

The President got on to Election Deniers last night. Good on him, he’s 100% right. Election deniers are just thirsty for power and a threat to our democracy, falsely perpetuating the “Big Lie.” He said, in part,

You know, American democracy is under attack because the defeated former President of the United States refuses to accept the results of the 2020 election. He refuses to accept the will of the people. He refuses to accept the fact that he lost.

That is dangerous. When citizens, especially our elected leaders refuse to accept the result of free and fair elections, it’s incredibly corrosive.

Hillary Clinton: Trump is an ‘illegitimate president’ - The Washington Post - September 19, 2019

Hillary Clinton dismissed President Trump as an “illegitimate president” and suggested that “he knows” that he stole the 2016 presidential election in a CBS News interview to be aired Sunday.

The President, last night, continued,

Every legal challenge that could have been brought was brought. Every recount that could have been undertaken was undertaken. Every recount confirmed the results. Wherever fact or evidence have been demanded, the Big Lie has been proven to be just that, a big lie, every single time.

There are quibbles in every election, but the Courts look at the challenges and make judgements under the rule of law. When elected officials refuse to accept the election, or the Court opinions to challenges, that’s just wrong.

Despite Objections, Congress Certifies Donald Trump’s Election - NBC News - January 6, 2017

Democrats objected 11 times, citing a variety of issues, including “Russian interference,” “massive voter suppression” and the “violation of the Voting Rights Act.”

Democrats challenge Ohio electoral votes - CNN - January 6, 2005

Alleging widespread “irregularities” on Election Day, a group of Democrats in Congress objected Thursday to the counting of Ohio’s 20 electoral votes, delaying the official certification of the 2004 presidential election results.

Objections Aside, a Smiling Gore Certifies Bush - Los Angeles Times - January 6, 2001

More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers, most of them members of the Congressional Black Caucus, formally objected to the certification of Florida’s electoral votes and walked out on the proceedings because of what Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) described as “the millions of Americans who have been disenfranchised by Florida’s inaccurate vote count.”

Trump lost, the January 6th riot was criminal, but let’s not pretend like this is the first time this has ever happened.

Once is an incident, twice is a trend, three times is a tradition.

15 Job Qualifications To Work For The Fed - Babylon Bee

Must be able to call a hundredth of a percent “one basis point” to sound smarter

After Ignoring Attacks On Churches & Pro-Lifers, Media Decides Political Violence Worth Covering Again - Babylon Bee

“To anyone who doesn’t speak out against this politically-motivated attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, I will say only this: your silence is deafening.” Joe Scarborough of MSNBC addressed his viewer this morning in his first recent coverage of political violence amid several months of firebombed pregnancy centers and churches, an assassination attempt on a sitting Supreme Court Justice, and the running down of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson in a truck for being a Republican.

Michigan’s Education Failure - WSJ Opinion

Ms. Whitmer says children were out of classrooms only three months, but she may be suffering from her own math deficit. Many of the districts that stayed closed the longest, including Ann Arbor, Lansing, Kalamazoo and Detroit, have large minority populations. During the 2020-2021 school year, Ann Arbor offered in-person instruction a mere 11.4% of the time, according to data-analytics company Burbio, which tracked school shutdowns. Lansing was closed more than Ann Arbor, and in Kalamazoo students learned via Zoom all year.

Will a Heat Pump Save Money on Your Energy Bill This Winter? - WSJ

Heat pumps are a potential solution.

Heat pumps are a great choice for people who love tepid air and frigid homes!

It’s like fighting a forest fire with a hair mister.

President Rumpelstiltskin - WSJ Opinion

Mr. Biden also neglected to give any credit to the hard-pressed American taxpayers who kicked in an additional $850 billion in revenue in fiscal 2022. Individual income-tax payments rose 29%, or nearly $600 billion. And that was all despite the 2017 tax cuts that Mr. Biden claims had gutted the federal fisc.

Dad Has Family Arrive At Airport Before It’s Even Built - Babylon Bee

Pro Dad and savvy world traveler Chip Dunnings is taking his family on vacation, and to avoid missing the flight, has made sure the family shows up packed and ready to go before the airport is even built.

Biden’s Top 2023 Priority: Abortion - WSJ Opinion

Not lowering the price of gas or home heating (see nearby), not rebuilding U.S. defenses, and not easing his regulatory onslaught amid what economists now say is a likely recession in 2023. No, job one in year three of the Biden Presidency will be imposing the abortion values of New York and California on Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

Beyond out of touch.

Jill Biden To Dress Up As Real Doctor For Halloween - Babylon Bee

sources also confirmed that President Biden will be dressing up as a President with an approval rating above 40%.

Mortgage Rates Hit 6.92%, a 20-Year High - WSJ

A buyer that earns the median household income and puts 20% down could afford a home costing roughly $339,000 this week. That buyer could have afforded a home costing almost $449,000 in January

The cost of Fed inaction and reckless Congressional spending that now the average American has to pay.

The cost of borrowing has risen across the board since the central bank embarked on its aggressive campaign to curb inflation.

And with Core Inflation still accelerating, the real pain hasn’t even started!

Saudi Arabia Defied U.S. Warnings Ahead of OPEC+ Production Cut - WSJ

U.S. officials called their counterparts in Saudi Arabia and other big Gulf producers with an urgent appeal—delay the decision for another month

Yeah, come on guys, just delay until November 9th!

Saudi officials dismissed the requests, which they viewed as a political gambit by the Biden administration to avoid bad news ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, on which control of Congress hangs. High gas prices and inflation have been central issues in the campaign.

Astute.

Congress Likely to Change Rules for IRA Catch-Up Contributions - WSJ

“These changes to the catch-up contribution rules are designed to encourage people to save for retirement,” says Sarah Brenner

Why not encourage all people to save for retirement? This two-tier system makes almost no sense, and when the “catch-up” rules kick in at age 50, the train is out of the station and already two towns over!

Trump’s ‘Death Wish’ Rhetoric - WSJ Opinion

Five weeks from Election Day, Mr. Trump could be working and spending money to elect a GOP Congress, or to help his home state of Florida recover from Hurricane Ian. Instead he’s attacking Mr. McConnell and his wife as part of a personal political vendetta

Six States Sue to Block Biden Student Debt Cancellation Plan - WSJ

“Republican officials from these six states are standing with special interests, and fighting to stop relief for borrowers buried under mountains of debt,” said Abdullah Hasan, a White House spokesman.

Special interests like the plumbers and electricians that never went to college?

Hero: DeSantis Flies Hurricane Ian To Martha’s Vineyard - Babylon Bee

“I’ll tell you what, hurricanes have been tormenting Florida for too long. Not on my watch!” said DeSantis to a crowd of screaming fans. “So you know what? We’re gonna load this hurricane onto a plane and fly it north. Martha’s Vinyard, you’d better board up your 10,000 square foot mansions and cancel your polo matches, because Ian is on its way!”

Congress Signs Up For $40 Billion Per Month Ukraine+ Subscription - Babylon Bee

To avoid fighting over further spending bills, Congress has opted instead to sign up for the brand new subscription service Ukraine+, which only costs $40 billion per month.

I think this is money well spent.

Credit where due though, this is a great joke.

Toyota Engages With Critics of Its EV Push - WSJ

Toyota has said it believes hybrids can reduce carbon emissions while the battery supply chains and charging networks necessary to support big fleets of EVs are built globally over the coming decades. Hybrid cars—which made up nearly 30% of Toyota and Lexus global shipments

This is a far more reasonable approach to the nascent EV market. We’re still in proof-of-concept for EVs. Hybrid technology is here right now and proven over two decades. Why bet the farm on a far-off technology when you can make incremental positive change today?

Joe Manchin Releases Bill to Speed Up Energy Projects as Lawmakers Balk - WSJ

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) and several Democratic colleagues are pushing Mr. Schumer to keep the spending package and permitting package separate, stating in a letter that environmental issues “should be examined through detailed committee consideration and a robust floor debate separate from the urgent need to see that the government stays open.”

Yes, let’s be super careful about the environment and stick to established procedure. But when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars, let’s throw caution to the wind and YOLO!!!!!!

New York Attorney General Sues Trump, His Company on Fraud Allegations - WSJ

A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization called the complaint “the culmination of nearly three years of persistent, targeted, unethical political harassment.”

This professional vendetta that James launched, announcing in her AG campaign that she would indict Trump if elected, without even collecting a single document or piece of evidence, really casts doubt on the veracity of this suit.

Trump may have done something wrong, but the way this entire investigation has played out is an affront to our justice system. We uncover crimes and then indict suspects, not indict suspects and then go looking for a crime.

Legal Challenges to Student Loan Forgiveness Loom Before Midterms - WSJ

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.). Republicans “will take their case to court because, like it is with abortion, they know that can’t win with the public generally.”

Has the Senator heard about the pot and the kettle?

The Pope Abandons Cardinal Zen - WSJ Opinion

On a return flight from Kazakhstan Thursday, the pope suggested this is no accident. When a reporter asked about Cardinal Zen, the pope offered not a word of support, noting only that the cardinal “says what he feels” despite knowing there are “limitations.” The pope declined to even say China was undemocratic. All that was missing was a cock crowing in the background.

Father Living His Best Life During Those 3 Hours On Saturday Morning When He’s The Only One Up - Babylon Bee

Every Saturday morning, Walker’s able to do things he can’t do at any other time of the week. He reportedly plays one of the 767 Steam games he owns for “at least 10 minutes”, answers emails that have been languishing forgotten in his inbox for the past seven days, drinks five coffees, gets in a workout, tinkers with a neglected DIY project in the garage, organizes his hobby shelf, makes breakfast, watches a few YouTube videos, and even reads his Bible.

Walmart, Target Urge Lawmakers to Pass Bill Taking Aim at Visa, Mastercard Fees - WSJ

In a letter this week to all members of Congress, the merchants said the proposed legislation would increase competition, leading to a reduction in the fees they pay when they accept credit cards.

If this passes, it could absolutely destroy the credit card industry.

Without the transaction fees to pay for the “perks,” the value proposition becomes, “Hey, want to borrow $5 at 24% to buy that coffee?”

The fig leaf would come off.

It’s always a good day when I get to climb into an airplane.

The Man From Rivian Who Wants to Change How We Buy Cars - WSJ

Dealers and state lawmakers who oppose Mr. Chen’s efforts say that independent dealerships play a critical role in the car-buying process, helping to create competition between franchises that ultimately keeps prices affordable for consumers. They argue that dealers also provide important services, such as repair and warranty work, and arrange financing for buyers at competitive rates.

Fair point, but most dealers are complete jerks. So in an ideal world, that would be true. But in reality, it’s not achieving those objectives. Look at all of the stories of cars going for tens of thousands of dollars over MSRP and manufacturers slapping them on the wrist.

A Sanctuary City Spectacle - WSJ Opinion

This political moralizing is easier than actually doing something about the border. And, by the way, the federal government is also sending buses with migrants to northern cities, as New York’s Mayor Adams has acknowledged. Many migrants have relatives in these cities and want to go there.

Martha’s Vineyard Lovingly Welcomes Immigrants To Any Other Part Of America - Babylon Bee

Several media outlets were on the scene as migrants were caringly herded back onto the buses by people wearing Brunello Cucinelli boat shoes and cashmere sweaters, who afterward ran off to make their court times at the local tennis club. “The outpouring of otherworldly lovingkindness from this progressive community is stunning,” said one local news anchor. “I have never seen a group of people so humanely told to ‘go back where they came from.’ These people certainly practice what they preach.”

We took our kids on a surprise trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for a chance to tour the museum.

It was incredible to see these feats of human innovation on display. We touched a piece of the moon, learned about the progression of the US space program, and saw how technology builds on itself.

I hope that our time there was an inspiration for my kids to keep dreaming.

Boeing 747 carrying Space Shuttle Independence

U.S. Inflation Eased Slightly to 8.3% in August - WSJ

So-called core CPI, which excludes often volatile energy and food prices, increased 6.3% in August from a year earlier, up sharply from the 5.9% rate in both June and July—a signal that broad price pressures strengthened.

Trump Voters Put Biden Signs In Their Yards So That The FBI Will Pass Over Them - Babylon Bee

Fears have grown among conservatives as they have watched the Biden administration unleash a series of devastating plagues on the United States, including crushing inflation, oppressive gas prices, high unemployment, and rising taxes. It only stands to reason, some say, that new waves of FBI raids are imminent.

Never Forget 🇺🇸

Solid start.

Democrats for MAGA Republicans - WSJ Opinion

By one estimate, Democrats have spent more than $40 million helping 2020 election skeptics win GOP primaries, even while fretting about them as a “threat to democracy.” They’re happy to gamble on that threat because their real concern is power, not democracy.

Policies Pushing Electric Vehicles Show Why Few People Want One - WSJ Opinion

We constantly hear that electric cars are the future—cleaner, cheaper and better. But if they’re so good, why does California need to ban gasoline-powered cars? Why does the world spend $30 billion a year subsidizing electric ones?

The subsidies, predictably, cover the increased cost, almost to the penny, versus the gas powered model. Look at the pricing on the Chrysler Pacifica vs the Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid.

EV and renewable energy must become dominant the same way that all other technologies have: provide a better product and a better experience at a better price.

Democrats Were the First Election Deniers - WSJ Opinion

On the House floor in 2005, the ranking Judiciary Committee Democrat, Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.), presented the case for awarding Ohio to the Democrats, claiming “electronic machines transferred” votes from Mr. Kerry to Mr. Bush, creating situations with “significantly more votes than voters in some precincts, significantly less ballots than voters in other precincts, and voters casting more than one ballot.” He even asserted that a voting-machine company “reprogrammed the computer by remote dial-up” in a way that altered the outcome. Sound familiar?

Verbatim, albeit with technical upgrades.

Mr. Clyburn, now House majority whip, wasn’t the only significant Democrat pushing these wacky theories. Consider other 2005 Democratic election deniers who today hold top congressional posts. These include then-Rep. Ed Markey (D., Mass.), now a senator; Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D., Ariz.), Natural Resources Committee chairman; Rep. Frank Pallone (D., N.J.), Energy and Commerce Committee chairman; Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.), Financial Services Committee chairman; Rep. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.), chairman of both the Homeland Security and Jan. 6 committees; Rep. Danny K. Davis (D., Ill.), chairman of a Ways and Means subcommittee; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas), a senior member of the Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget committees; and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.), senior chief deputy whip. Even the now-deceased civil-rights icon, Rep. John Lewis (D., Ga.), was an election denier, voting not to accept Ohio’s certification for Mr. Bush. Though she didn’t vote to flip the Buckeye State, then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) defended her party’s election deniers. She said the “debate is fundamental to our democracy” and warned Republicans not to “talk about this as a ‘conspiracy theory,’ ” arguing instead “it is about the Constitution.”

UPS is very bad at logistics.

Biden Is Angry but Not Serious - WSJ Opinion

Mr. Biden sounded like an overwrought sophomore by pretending that MAGA Republicanism presents a similar existential threat to democracy, and the next day he showed that even he didn’t believe his own claim that all Trump supporters were threats to the country.

Biden’s Student-Debt-Forgiveness Plan May Cost Up to $1 Trillion, Challenging Deficit Goals - WSJ

could cost as much as $1 trillion, according to budget analysts, challenging the administration’s efforts to scale down the federal deficit.

First, the price tag keeps climbing and climbing, putting the program at risk. Doubtful the Constitution let’s the President spend $1T without Congressional authorization.

Second, this Washington single-minded focus on “deficit reduction” is stupid. They’re talking about reducing the amount of borrowing, i.e. overspending, each year. No discussion on reducing the actual debt! Losing a game by fewer points is not an accomplishment. You still lost!

Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters last month that the administration would use a portion of the projected decline in the federal deficit this fiscal year, which ends in September, to provide the debt relief and that the White House considers the forgiveness fully paid for.

Well, I thought I was going to put $1,000 on my credit card at Target, but I removed some things from my cart and only charged $300. Now I can go to Best Buy, and charge $700 worth of items since those are now fully paid for.

How slow is UPS Ground?

It will take 3 days for them to deliver me a package that is currently 1 hour away from my house.

Liz Truss’s Inheritance: A U.K. Economy on Its Knees - WSJ

Already struggling with a record backlog of 6.6 million patients waiting for treatment following the Covid-19 crisis, analysts say the National Health Service is showing severe signs of strain. People suffering strokes or burns in England waited on average an hour for an ambulance in July, well above the target of 18 minutes.

Um, yikes?

Nutrition Advocates Push for Front-of-Package Labels That Highlight Fat, Sugar Levels - WSJ

“People just don’t have the patience or the time to be detectives at store shelves, hunting for data that may be somewhere on the package,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.), one of the bill’s sponsors.

What an inane statement.

They’d be better off spending their time requiring online grocery services to display a full resolution version of the label in the images of the product. It’s it or miss right now.

That moment when you pray the Rosary on the Hallow app, and Mark Wahlberg is leading, and it’s everything you expect it to be.

Look Who’s Rushing Covid Vaccines Now - WSJ Opinion

Democrats and the public-health clerisy denounced President Trump for rushing Covid vaccines. They’ve been curiously quiet about the Food and Drug Administration’s gunshot approval last week of revamped booster shots with no trials showing they are safe or effective.

Another Week, Another Leak at the IRS - WSJ Opinion

Democrats recently handed the IRS $80 billion in new funding in full knowledge of these shortcomings. Not to fix them, mind you. The legislation spends $4.8 billion on modernization but nearly 10 times as much on its top priority: enforcement.

Midterm Elections to Decide Fate of Biden’s Tax Agenda - WSJ

“The president’s economic vision is about continuing to deliver for middle-class families, while congressional Republicans’ agenda is to sell those families out with more tax welfare for rich special interests,” said White House spokesman Andrew Bates.

A lot of middle class families driving $90k EVs?

Veterans Affairs to Provide Abortion Services for Health Dangers, Rape and Incest - WSJ

The Department of Veterans Affairs, for the first time in its history, will provide abortion services and counseling to veterans in cases of health dangers, rape and incest, even at federal facilities in states that have outlawed the procedure, the department said Friday.

Your tax dollars, hard at work.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and its fabulous price controls on prescription drugs for Medicare, the pharmaceutical company that has provided my monthly migraine medication for $0 out-of-pocket since 2020 has dramatically curtailed the program and now my medication costs $413 per month.

The same thing happened with the Durbin Amendment in Dodd-Frank when the government wisely decided to cap fees on debit card transactions and every bank immediately discontinued debit card rewards.

Why is it whenever the government tries to “save” me money, it always costs me more?

Ten (2022)

Trump Parts Hudson River Leading Exodus Of New York Republicans To Florida - Babylon Bee

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently informed New York Republicans that they’re not welcome in her state. But lo, a chosen one of burnt papaya hue, Donald Trump, approached her and demanded that she let his people go.

This is a cool job. 🛩

Guys Who Just Finished Burying Ananias Really Annoyed About Sapphira - Babylon Bee

Peter apologized but insisted the trio also handle Sapphira’s burial. “I think it’s more poetic this way,” he insisted.

The IRS Wants to Sell You on Its ‘Service’ - WSJ Opinion

This month Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Robert Menendez and Rep. Abigail Spanberger cosigned a sternly worded letter to the IRS urging more responsiveness to taxpayers. Never mind that all three voted for a bill that funded enforcement over service at a 14 to 1 ratio.

Sunday clouds.

Joel Osteen Releases New Edition Of Bible With All Words Redacted - Babylon Bee

Osteen had teased an update to The Redacted Study Bible where he’s gone ahead and de-classified the words “favor”, “victory”, “riches”, and “pride.”

Wife Hands Husband Target Receipt With Classified Purchases Redacted - Babylon Bee

“I’m being as transparent as I can at this time,” she assured her husband as he looked over the receipt, which was almost entirely just black bars save for the Target logo and the cute little Target dog. Barton went on to claim she is the “most transparent wife” in marriage history, despite the redactions, and that she would look into declassifying more items as she is able.

Biden’s Student-Loan Forgiveness Makes Reform Urgent - WSJ Opinion

To capitalize on previous expansions of federal student-loan programs, universities have added more than 9,000 new master’s degree programs over the past decade. More are sure to come, even though research shows that nearly half of master’s degrees don’t provide a positive return on investment.

Not all education must be economically driven, but when over half underperform, that’s a problem.

Secret Service Seizes $286 Million in Stolen Covid-19 Relief Funds - WSJ

The overall amount of fraudulently obtained Covid relief funds may reach $100 billion, the Secret Service said in an estimate released in December.

Roughly the same amount of deficit reduction we get from the Inflation Reduction Act. So much waste of taxpayers hard earned money.

Google Says Maps, Searches Will Identify Clinics That Provide Abortions - WSJ

“We’re now rolling out an update that makes it easier for people to find places that offer the services they’ve searched for, or broaden their results to see more options,” a Google representative said.

Murder, Inc.

Is Summer over yet? ☀️

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan: Who Qualifies, and How Much Debt Will Be Canceled? - WSJ

What if I’ve already paid off my loans? As of the end of last year, fewer than 1.2% of borrowers continued making payments on their student loans, Mr. Kantrowitz said. But some of the borrowers who did took advantage of the two-plus years of optional, interest-free payments to wipe out their debt entirely. This measure won’t apply to balances that have already been paid off.

Thanks for fulfilling your obligation! You are now responsible for someone else’s eduction payments so that they can increase their lifestyle even further.

Every US adult getting student loan “forgivness” has now received $13,600 in no strings attached transfer payments in the past two years.

But, you know, we really can’t afford a Navy that will stand up to China.

I resent being financially responsible for someone else’s lifestyle choices.

Washington’s Mar-a-Lago Prosecution by Leaks - WSJ Opinion

In other words, “a person briefed on the matter” can leak details about the investigation to the press that the public is supposed to credit as true. But the actual “court filings and its work,” in Mr. Garland’s phrase, must remain secret. And these people wonder why tens of millions of Americans don’t trust the Justice Department and FBI? If this all sounds familiar, you may be thinking of the Russia collusion probe.

Student Loan Forgiveness Is an Inflation Expansion Act - WSJ Opinion

The reports say Mr. Biden will cancel $10,000 in debt for borrowers making $125,000 or less a year. That would cost about $300 billion this year, and $330 billion over 10 years, says the Penn Wharton Budget Model. That’s far more than the $102 billion the Inflation Reduction Act purportedly reduces the deficit over 10 years starting in 2027.

Can’t afford a full-size Navy, tho.

White House Planning Student-Loan Announcement Wednesday - WSJ

about his proposal for dealing with student-loan debt, according to people familiar with the matter.

Get out your checkbooks.

A Group of Apple Employees Protests Company’s Three-Day-a-Week Office Policy - WSJ

The employees who want more flexible work arrangements had compelling reasons, the petition said, including disabilities, health concerns and the fact that some of them are happier and more productive in flexible work environments.

Dictating how, when, and where an employee works is a basic definition of an employee. They managed to work from an office for an entire career until March 2020, and now it’s impossible? If you don’t want to work from an office, and the employer says you must work from an office, find a new job?

I love a rainy day.

Children Are Priceless - WSJ Opinion

But children aren’t merely cost centers. Even ignoring human affection and thinking in the most utilitarian terms, children are assets—to the families who raise them, to the nation in which they are born, and to the world to which they will contribute across their lifetimes.

Liz Cheney and Her Unhappy Choice Among Liars - WSJ Opinion

Offhand, only one lie heard in normal, everyday American discourse seems to me close in size to Mr. Trump’s 2020 lie, and that’s the routine, universally affirmed lie, which is nowhere found in the science, that climate change is the end of the world.

Even evil robots deserve a day at the links.

This Is Your IRS at Work - WSJ Opinion

In 2010 Congress passed the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, which was supposed to identify wealthy Americans using undisclosed foreign accounts. Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation said this would raise some $9 billion in revenue by fiscal 2020. Yet an April Tigta audit noted that while the IRS has spent $574 million to implement the law, the agency has drummed up only $14 million in compliance revenue.

Celsius Spent $40 Million on Crypto Mining in First Two Weeks of Bankruptcy - WSJ

But Celsius expects the mining operation to start turning a profit by January

They can’t afford redemptions, so they decide to spend 24% of free cash on a loss leader that won’t be profitable for at least six months?

Golfer Buys New Driver So He Can Hit The Ball Farther Into The Woods - Babylon Bee

Jefferson O’Malley recently purchased a $1,000 driver that would “totally fix his game.” Sources confirm that the club has indeed improved his ability, as he can now hit the ball an additional 30-40 yards farther into the woods.

Biden Plan Would Return Student Loan Borrowers in Default to Good Standing - WSJ

“Access to federal student aid can provide a pathway for additional education, which can help these borrowers compete in the job market and ultimately improve their ability to fully repay their loans, among other benefits,” said Richard Cordray, chief operating officer for Federal Student Aid, in a press release.

This is disingenuous. First, the best indicator of a borrower’s future ability to repay is their repayment history. That’s the theory that our entire financial system. So putting defaulted borrowers in a position to borrow more and dig a deeper hole is harmful to the borrower. Second, Cordray knows that the Dept. of Education is going to do everything in its power to make sure that most borrowers don’t have to fully repay their loans.

Toyota Executive Warns EVs Face Obstacles to Wider Adoption - WSJ

“I don’t think the market is ready for what the rhetoric is saying,” Mr. Hollis said.

And it’s going to be incredibly painful for car makers and shareholders if this bet on the farm sours.

Catholics Unveil High-Capacity Assault Rosary - Babylon Bee

Sources indicate many were able to use an advanced telescopic sight to aim thoughts and prayers at friends and family up to 400 yards away. Swiss Guards deployed in Vatican City have advised Catholics not to aim the new rosary at anyone they do not wish to bless.

Overweight Man Reassures Doctor That His 8.5% Weight Inflation Is No Longer A Problem As His Weight Inflation This Month Is 0 - Babylon Bee

“In fact, my doctor was expecting my weight gain to be up by 8.7%, but boy did I prove him wrong! My weight gain is only up 8.5% for the year. So take that, Doc!” Derrick added enthusiastically. “So I don’t want to hear any more complaining about my size or concerns for my health — I’ve clearly got this problem solved.”

Son’s alligator.

Brian Stelter to Leave CNN After Cancellation of ‘Reliable Sources’ - WSJ

Brian Stelter, the host of CNN’s Sunday morning show “Reliable Sources,” is leaving the network following the cancellation of the long-running media news show, the network said Thursday.

I’m all about giving people an opportunity to grow into their role, but after 2 years it should’ve been clear that this dude doesn’t have the right stuff.

Google Workers Press Company to Stop Collecting Abortion Data - WSJ

The petition, signed by more than 650 workers, also called on the company to remove search results for crisis pregnancy centers, which it said were misleading to those seeking abortions. Crisis pregnancy centers are typically nonprofits that counsel women against having abortions.

Google: yup, we’re evil now!

Cheney, Trump and the GOP - WSJ Opinion

GOP voters can hate what happened on Jan. 6 but also dislike the tactics of a committee that excluded Republicans who might have cross-examined witnesses.

Nice to have a clean desk.

Producers Confirm Liz Cheney Will Not Be Back For Season 2 Of January 6 Hearings - Babylon Bee

“It’s been my honor to serve the people of Wyoming by spending my every waking minute fighting Donald Trump, just like Abraham Lincoln did,” said Cheney. “I look forward to a bright future living off of book advances and scoring a pundit position at MSNBC.”

Biden Signs Bill Aimed at Lowering Drug Costs, Boosting Renewable Energy - WSJ

Mr. Biden’s approval ratings have been dragged down by months of high inflation

Thankfully we now have the Inflation Reduction Act to save us! In 2027, when these measures kick in, we’ll have inflation licked!

Joe Biden to Sign Bill Aimed at Lowering Drug Costs, Boosting Renewable Energy - WSJ

Mr. Biden is planning to sign the bill at the White House on Tuesday

Announcement of massive student loan cancellation to follow.

Record Numbers of Migrants Cross Southern Border, on Track for Annual Total of Two Million - WSJ

In July, agents arrested about 182,000 migrants crossing the border illegally, with about two-thirds of those arrested being single adults. About 22% of those arrested involved repeat border crossers.

That’s a new Grand Rapids, MI. Every single month.

And that’s only the folks that get caught.

Brand New Tactical Knife Is The Same One Used By Navy SEALs To Open Their Wives’ Amazon Packages - Babylon Bee

The Boxer MK 4 features a 3" stainless steel blade that flips closed for compact concealment and features a handle with aluminum scales underneath rubber rivets for maximum comfort. The blade itself is coated black to reduce reflectiveness if you wish to open packages stealthily.

Shout-out to the tactical knife bros.

Restaurant is almost completely empty.

The wait is 10 minutes.

Um, what?

My foray and finale in cabinetry.

Angel Outside Trump’s Empty Safe Tells FBI Agents, ‘Behold! The Document You Seek Is Not Here!’ - Babylon Bee

The FBI reported the incident to the FBI Director and Attorney General, who paid the agents to keep silent on the matter and instead tell everyone that Trump’s disciples came by night and stole the documents while everyone slept.

Gamers Eagerly Await The Release Of ‘Call Of Duty: IRS Auditor’ - Babylon Bee

As you gain experience you can outfit your agent with new calculators and weapons as you work toward tackling more dangerous assignments like auditing the estate of Nicolas Cage or Donald Trump.

To Restore Trust With Americans, FBI Names New Director Burt Macklin - Babylon Bee

“Burt Macklin, you’ve done it again,” said Burt Macklin with a smirk while putting on his aviator glasses at a public press conference. “You all thought I was dead, didn’t you? Well, so did the President’s enemies. But now I’m back and on the case!”

House Passes Democrats’ Climate, Healthcare and Tax Package - WSJ

“This is a substantive policy achievement,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D., Mass.).

Nice of Congress to come back from vacation to quickly pass an immediate tax increase on every single American worker. The heaviest burden (+3.1%) of new taxes under this bill goes to filers who make less than $10,000 a year.

Their policies made you poorer by fueling inflation and distorting supply and demand. Real wages are down more than 3% after inflation, and now they’re back to pick your pockets again!

Now let’s go out there and have a great weekend!

Mr. Biden said the measure would lower costs for prescription drugs, healthcare and energy. “Today, the American people won. Special interests lost,” he said in a tweet after passage.

Unless you’re the Hedge Fund manager special interest, in which case, slam dunk victory!!!

Equifax Should Face Curbs on Selling Credit Scores, Maxine Waters Says - WSJ

We are working closely with our customers on this issue and stand behind our customers and impacted consumers.

Direct quote from Equifax CEO. Note that “customers” and “consumers” are two distinct groups. That’s because the credit bureaus build profiles of data on us, without consent, and then sell our data to their customers, financial institutions. We’re not the customer, we’re the product.

Still waiting on my settlement from 2017 when these bozos got hacked and didn’t notice for months.

10 Ways To Avoid Getting Audited By One Of The 87,000 New IRS Agents - Babylon Bee

If the IRS says they’re going to audit you, just say ’no thanks’: You’ll be surprised how often this works.

The FBI’s Dangerous Search at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago - WSJ Opinion

Didn’t someone at Justice point out that a search in this case would draw comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information before her 2016 presidential campaign? She was never prosecuted, as Mr. Trump was quick to point out. Unless Mr. Trump’s offense involves a serious risk to national security, half of America may see the Trump search as an example of unequal justice.

Report: FBI Raided Mar-A-Lago After Tip That Parents Were Protesting A School Board Meeting There - Babylon Bee

“When we received an anonymous tip that parents were assembling to criticize public school curriculum and policy, we sprung into action – we should have confirmed the veracity, but didn’t want to risk any of these potential terrorists escaping.” Garland spoke at a press conference today, adding “We take these threats very seriously.”

Deliveries of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Set to Resume in Coming Days - WSJ

The first jet was inspected and cleared Monday, according to people familiar with the matter.

Great news for a great plane.

U.S. Lawmakers Look to Digital Dollar to Compete With China - WSJ

A digital dollar could provide a new option to the way consumers pay for products and services. In addition to using a credit or debit card—or Venmo or Apple Pay—individuals would have a digital version of cash on their phones that could be used anywhere, likely through existing financial firms. That could lead to faster, cheaper and safer payments and make paper currency obsolete.

Also privacy and freedom!

Hope you had a nice weekend!

The United States Senate just passed a bill to raise taxes on every single American, from those making $10,000 a year all the way up to $1,000,000+.

So much for only raising taxes on people making $400,000+.

I love a good late summer storm.

⛈

Inflation Reduction Act Tax Changes: Details & Analysis - Tax Foundation

It would also reduce average after-tax incomes for taxpayers across every income quintile over the long run.

And if we’re honest with ourselves, the government is so much better at spending our money than we are.

Summer storms.

Do you know the perfect solution to high inflation and a recession?

More spending and new taxes!

The grain silo is never empty.

It’s a lot of work, but I’m grateful for the work.

Curls (2022)

Cost of Democrats’ Corporate-Tax Increase Skews to Wealthy, Reaches Middle Class - WSJ

“These companies are playing the most games, and avoiding tax by manufacturing their drugs, phones, and shoes abroad,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) said. “This is a minimum tax for tax dodgers stamping ‘Made in China’ on their products.”

They’re playing the game by the rules that you wrote, sir.

Equifax Sent Lenders Inaccurate Credit Scores on Millions of Consumers - WSJ

“The impact is going to be quite small,” Mr. Begor said, “not something that’s meaningful to Equifax.”

Terrible quote from an even worse company.

Rivian Says Senate Climate Deal Puts It at Disadvantage - WSJ

The company, in particular, takes issue with a planned cap that would make any electric trucks, SUVs and vans selling for more than $80,000 ineligible for the federal subsidy. It also opposes the proposed income restrictions. Buyers with household incomes of $150,000 or higher—$300,000 for married couples—wouldn’t qualify for the credit on new EV purchases.

Sorry, Rivian, but the government picked you as a loser.

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Challenging Idaho Abortion Law - WSJ

The Justice Department says Idaho’s abortion restrictions unlawfully conflict with a federal law that requires hospitals accepting Medicare to provide emergency treatments, which can sometimes include abortion.

I must’ve missed all of those DOJ lawsuits against states and municipalities “decriminalizing” marijuana, a Schedule 1 Narcotic. Growth, sale, and distribution is a serious federal offense. These massive grow operations and retail distributions are so out in the open, DOJ must be dunking on all of those cases!

I know well, answers Jesus Christ, that one drop of my blood, or a simple prayer, would be sufficient for the salvation of the world. But neither would be sufficient to show the love which I bear to men.

-St. Alphonsus Liguori

Putin Awards Self Medal Of Freedom For Dropping Gas Prices - Babylon Bee

After months of singlehandedly raising America’s gas prices without any help whatsoever from the Biden administration, Russian President Vladimir Putin has mercifully given Americans a short break by lowering the price at the pump. For his benevolence and valor, he has awarded himself the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

‘Inflation Reduction Act’ Is an Insult to Used-Car Salesmen - WSJ Opinion

If a bill that reduces the deficit by $300 billion over 10 years represents “inflation reduction,” what are we to make of a law Congress passed last year that increased the deficit by an estimated $1.7 trillion in less than two years?

Field Notes are a delight.

Federal Student-Loan Program Cost Estimate Was Off By $311 Billion, Government Watchdog Says - WSJ

According to Friday’s GAO report, which examined the federal program dating back to 1997, it lost money on loans issued in all but one year over the past quarter-century. Originally, the Education Department estimated the loans would generate $6 in income per $100 lent out. The GAO analysis found the loans wouldn’t make money, but actually cost the government $8.88 per $100 in loans.

Democrats Quickly Redefine ‘Loss’ After Losing Congressional Baseball Game - Babylon Bee

“Yes, some sports commentators have defined ’loss’ as any game in which you have fewer runs than the opposing team,” acknowledged Pelosi. “But there has never been an officially accepted definition. And many experts are saying this was not actually a loss.”

Watching YouTube on my tv. This is nice!

Security Alert - Update to Travel Advisory for Russia - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia

Do not travel to Russia due to ongoing tension along the border with Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens, the embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law.

(Emphasis in the original.)

This was issued January 23, 2022. Brittney Griner was arrested February 17th.

I don’t think we should trade arms dealers and murders to save Americans who can’t do the slightest amount of due diligence before traveling to a foreign adversary in order to make some extra cash.

The Biden Stagflation Arrives - WSJ Opinion

Mr. Biden inherited a growing economy primed to roar back from the pandemic, and in barely a year and a half he has dragged America back to the 1970s. The best word for what we have now is stagflation, the ugly combination of slow growth and rapidly rising prices. This is what the policy mix of trillions in federal spending, heavy regulation, the threat of higher taxes, and easy money has wrought. Time to do the opposite.

There will be entire books and college courses dedicated to the study of how an economy primed for success was so quickly wrecked.

The Lonely Office Is Bad for America - WSJ Opinion

People starting out need offices to learn a profession, to make friends, meet colleagues, find romantic partners and mates. The #MeToo movement did a lot to damage mentoring—senior employees no longer wanted to take the chance—but the end of office life would pretty much do away with it.

Ending office life severs one more mooring to reality. People become more insulated in their own echo chamber and isolated from a diversity of thought and ideas.

The unhealthiest aspect of the pandemic was how it drove us apart. We became afraid of each other, trapped in our social bubbles. That isolation led to the spike in irrational behavior and decline in mental health.

We don’t need to have hour long commutes to spend our days with horrible bosses, but we’re social beings. We are meant to be together. We need to see, think, and feel like our work matters, that we’re part of a group of people making the lives of others better.

The Senate GOP Got Played - WSJ Opinion

Republicans helped Democrats pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill last year full of green pork. They boasted about victories for permitting reform, while keeping out a tax increase and $80 billion that Democrats wanted for the Internal Revenue Service. Some victories. The Schumer-Manchin bill includes the $80 billion for the IRS and some $327 billion in new taxes. Mr. Manchin has also received the promise of a vote for a bill on permitting reform, which shows how weak the reforms were in the infrastructure bill.

This might be the most perfect sticker in my collection. I smile every time that I see it.

U.S. Presses Offer to Free Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan From Russian Detention - WSJ

The U.S. offered to release Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in order to secure the freedom of Ms. Griner and Mr. Whelan, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Hey everyone, if the US has some folks that you want sprung, just take a few hostages! They fold every time.

Also of note, the hashish oil that Griner was busted with is a Schedule I narcotic. So she’d be criminally liable if she was caught with it in a US airport, too.

Biden: ‘I Don’t Know If We’re In A Recession, I’m Not A Biologist’ - Babylon Bee

America’s GDP has fallen over the last two quarters, stoking fears of a possible recession due to the fact that America is now in a recession.

U.S. GDP Rose Slightly in Second Quarter, Economists Estimate - WSJ

Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal estimated the Commerce Department will report Thursday that gross domestic product, the broadest measure of goods and services produced across the nation, rose at a 0.3% annual rate in the April-through-June period.

Posted two hours before the real number came out, the experts prove their intellectual chops yet again!

Gross Domestic Product, Second Quarter 2022 (Advance Estimate) - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)

Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 0.9 percent in the second quarter of 2022 (table 1), according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP decreased 1.6 percent.

Oops.

Hey, how about $739B in new taxes to fix this right up?!

Joe Manchin Reaches Deal With Chuck Schumer on Energy, Healthcare, Tax Package - WSJ

The IRS money, about $80 billion over a decade, would roughly double the size of the agency and be aimed at tougher enforcement, particularly on high-income households and corporations.

Most Americans have always complained that the IRS is too small. What we really need is an IRS twice in size!

A Recession by Any Other Name - WSJ Opinion

The president’s economic team should think twice before discounting the risk of a recession. After all, they stumbled into the current inflationary crisis after a year of trying to manipulate the language: Inflation was “transitory” and therefore of little concern until it eventually topped an annualized 9%. Let’s not stumble into a recession because the White House has political priorities that conflict with economic reality.

Let’s all have a good night. It’ll be a long news cycle tomorrow.

Senate Bill Takes Aim at Visa, Mastercard Credit-Card Fees - WSJ

Mr. Durbin spearheaded a similar rule for debit cards over a decade ago. The Durbin amendment, part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, requires that merchants have the ability to choose from at least two unaffiliated debit-card networks when routing transactions.

And it worked great for debit card users! All debit card rewards, points, and cash back programs were cancelled.

All this time since “tabs everywhere!” and Microsoft Office for Mac still doesn’t support tabs.

The worst!

Democrats Campaign for the Trump Guy - WSJ Opinion

One of the strangest themes of the 2022 elections is that Democrats say President Trump is a grave threat to democracy, even as they’re also trying to help Mr. Trump’s acolytes win Republican primaries.

This is a perverse, cynical, and disgusting strategy. The two-party system should filter out the extremes and put the two strongest candidates on the ballot.

We all lose when weak candidates make it to the final round… double if they win.

Joe Biden Signs ‘Don’t Say Recession’ Bill - Babylon Bee

According to sources, those who break the law and use the word “recession” will face up to 10 years in prison, which after inflation, amounts to 17 years.

Student Loan Servicers Told to Hold Off on Sending Billing Statements - WSJ

“The situation is that we’re almost 30 days away from the planned resumption and the department has been telling servicers to hold off on resumption communications for the last few months,” said Mr. Buchanan, the executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance. “Maybe the department expects that the White House will yet again kick the can down the road.”

Insightful.

‘Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’ Is Canceled After Seven Seasons - WSJ

The decision to pull the plug on “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” a critically acclaimed weekly political humor show that had been running for seven seasons, is part of a broader overhaul of the Warner Bros. Discovery cable networks, which include TBS and TNT.

I join my fellow Americans in expressing shock that this TV show still existed.

I had no idea, let alone the fact that it has aired every year since 2015.

How Do Economists Determine Whether the Economy Is in a Recession? - The White House

What is a recession? While some maintain that two consecutive quarters of falling real GDP constitute a recession, that is neither the official definition nor the way economists evaluate the state of the business cycle.

Translation: they’ve seen Q2 GDP number, it’s negative, and we’re in a recession.

In Maryland, Democrats Traduce Democracy - WSJ Opinion

The Democrats’ hypocrisy will continue to erode what remaining trust the public has in our political processes. The DGA presents itself as leading “the fight to defend our democracy” as it spends tens of millions of dollars promoting candidates it claims are an active threat to our republic. No wonder so many Americans tune out warnings of our supposedly imperiled democracy when the very people who issue them are willing to fan the flames as soon as it’s politically convenient. By giving fringe candidates legitimacy, Democrats provide them with significant platforms from which to spread conspiracy theories and lies. Nothing good can come from bringing these ideas into the mainstream. Many of the same people who warn about misinformation on social media seem to have no problem amplifying it through paid political ads that suit their short-term partisan ends.

Bernie Sanders and ‘Doomerism’ - WSJ Opinion

“We can’t give in to doomerism,” tweets Sen. Bernie Sanders (socialist, Vt.). It seems to be a refreshing new message from a man who’s been claiming for more than half a century that America is in crisis and in need of revolutionary change.

Foggy morning, country road

Google Parts With Engineer Who Claimed Its AI System Is Sentient - WSJ

Blake Lemoine, a software engineer at Alphabet Inc.’s Google, told the company he believed that its Language Model for Dialogue Applications, or LaMDA, is a person who has rights and might well have a soul.

A computer program is not a person, has no rights, and doesn’t have a soul.

Have a good night, Blake!

Steve Bannon Found Guilty of Contempt of Congress - WSJ

Mr. Corcoran also called the case “infected by politics” because the prosecution’s main witness, congressional lawyer Kristin Amerling, has worked for Democratic Party lawmakers, donated to Democrats, and was in a book club with Ms. Gaston, the prosecutor.

If we’re going to pursue Steve Bannon for Contempt of Congress, then DOJ needs to pursue everyone referred for Contempt of Congress. Cherry-picking cases of political foes is beyond corrosive.

And we need to shut down the District Court in DC and send these high profile cases to another federal court. The relationships between people in this case, and in the Sussmann case, would never fly in the Northern District of Illinois or the District of Nebraska.

Just over a week ago, Mr. Bannon made a last-minute offer to testify to the Jan. 6 committee, adding he would prefer to do so at a public hearing. Mr. Bannon said his change of heart came after Mr. Trump waived executive privilege. Prosecutors had argued that executive privilege was never properly invoked in the first place. Judge Nichols said that Mr. Bannon’s offer to testify was irrelevant to whether he defaulted on the subpoena months earlier.

The purpose of the justice system is to correct injustices and repair the damage done by breaches. So instead of letting Bannon cure the contempt and obey the subpoena, we send him to jail for 30 days and get no testimony?

‘National Emergency’ and the Democrats’ Apocalyptic Politics - WSJ Opinion

The rest of the country is still looking for that promised, but undelivered, return to normal.

Netflix Loses 1 Million Subscribers, Leaving 10 Million People Wondering Why Their Netflix Login Doesn’t Work Anymore - Babylon Bee

Netflix has also promised to change course by cracking down on account sharing after a survey found that most customers couldn’t even name the person whose account they were using.

Red flag.

Biden Places ‘I Did That’ Sticker On Gas Pump After Price Drops Two Cents - Babylon Bee

“And remember Putin makes prices go up. Biden makes prices go down!”

Lawmakers Move to Clarify Vice President’s Role in Certifying Presidential Election Results - WSJ

The legislation was the result of months of negotiations between Republicans and Democrats eager to make changes to the 1887 law to eliminate uncertainty regarding the electoral process.

Seriously, why did this take so long?

The ‘Beast Mode’ Presidency? - WSJ Opinion

While a President may sometimes need to act with dispatch during an emergency, climate change isn’t close to such an event. Climate change is neither sudden nor unexpected. The world has warmed by 1.1 degree Celsius since the late 19th century, and the pace of future warming is uncertain and depends on multiple variables.

AOC Sits In Invisible Police Car Awaiting Transport To Invisible Jail - Babylon Bee

“It is absolutely heinous that the Supreme Court would ask us to like, make laws,” said Representative Ilhan Omar. “We are far too busy leading protests about abortion to actually write any legislation on it.”

Anthony Fauci Plans to Retire by End of Biden’s Term - WSJ

Dr. Fauci said Monday he hadn’t decided on a date but planned to step down by the end of Mr. Biden’s term in January 2025.

The nice thing about government jobs, you can be terrible and still keep it. And leave on your own terms to boot!

Die Another Day

🍿

I gave myself the “day off” today, and yet I’ve been busy since breakfast.

Time to sit down and enjoy a movie before the evening outdoor work session.

“Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples… all of us wanting the same thing— for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage.”

On her fourth marriage, the evidence suggests that Jennifer Lopez still has zero clue what marriage is and even less of an idea of the metaphysical nature of love.

Biden Calls On The Economy To Stop Being Bad - Babylon Bee

“Come on, economy!” said an impassioned President Biden. “Make everything cheaper! Give everyone more money! I hereby demand you stop being atrocious! Do it. Do it now!”

That ought to do it. Wish he’d thought of that 14 months ago, tho.

“I know people who used to have money in their retirement accounts are frustrated — which is why today I am also calling on the stock market to go up. Just do it, ok? Just make the numbers bigger! Repeat line, end of speech!”

Senate Climate Setback Puts Pressure on Biden - WSJ

Some of those measures could raise gasoline prices and other energy costs for consumers, something Mr. Biden wants to avoid as his Democratic Party faces crucial midterm elections.

Why is it this Administration is always harping on saving people money, but every idea they propose will end up costing us more money?

NASA’s James Webb Telescope Images Show Deep Space in Exquisite Detail - WSJ

The images released Tuesday show the Carina Nebula, one of the largest stellar nurseries; the Southern Ring Nebula, a cloud of gas around a dying star in the constellation Vela; and a group of five galaxies about 290 million light-years away known as Stephan’s Quintet.

1 light year = 5,878,499,814,210.01 miles.

This telescope can see 290,000,000 light years.

Think about that!

🔭

Joe Biden’s Presidency Is Sinking - WSJ Opinion

it’s more than too much to see the Democrats who gave the country Joe Biden and designed the policies that collapsed beneath him knifing their own creation. Et tu, Bernie?

Strong agree. We’re living in the America that they promised to deliver. They delivered, and now we know that free and easy is neither free nor easy.

Beautiful start to the day.

Americans Offer To Trade LeBron To Russia For Brittney Griner - Babylon Bee

Griner reported being happy to hear of the petition but concerned that LeBron might not last long in a tough Russian prison where people foul you all the time and there are no refs to stop it.

U.S. Inflation Hits New Four-Decade High of 9.1% - WSJ

The consumer-price index’s pace for June eclipsed May’s annual rate of 8.6% that led Federal Reserve officials to shift to a faster pace of benchmark interest-rate increases, according to meeting minutes released last week.

If I were President, I’d probably have left the country in the dark of night, too.

Frontier Asks Spirit Airlines to Further Delay Shareholder Vote on Deal - WSJ

Frontier Group Holdings Inc. said it is done bidding against rival JetBlue Airways Corp. for Spirit Airlines Inc. and wants Spirit to delay its shareholder vote once again to allow Frontier more time to persuade skeptical Spirit investors.

Enough with the games. Just put the deal to a vote.

Another summer road trip is in the books. We escaped the enduring Western heat to explore Northern Michigan on a week-long excursion.

Although I’d formerly worked in Western Michigan, my travels didn’t take me much further north than Traverse City. In Michigan-terms, there’s a lot of state north of TC. Our drive up was smooth and uneventful. We made great time, owing largely to the bigger children who, with each passing trip, gain a bit more endurance.

Our first day was spent with family celebrating the Fourth of July. There was a parade and late night fireworks, only slightly dampened by passing summer showers. The children had never been up so late, but they enjoyed their time at the club, meeting friends and being dazzled.

We established a base of operations in Cheboygan, home port of the US Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw. After unloading quickly at the AirBnB, we drove over to the station to take a tour of the boat. The largest icebreaker on the Great Lakes, it’s a modern vessel with tons of technology. I particularly enjoyed the view from the bridge, probably because it was exactly like a control tower. We met the officers that work with my sister-in-law, and a few of the enlisted crew. I was struck, as I often am, by their youth. Entrusted with great responsibility, they rise to the occasion to operate a massive vessel safely, and keep commerce afloat.

Dinner was at a fan-favorite, Big Boy, followed by ice cream in town.

Day two was a trip to Mackinac Island, my third trip. My previous two trips were in off-season, which suited me very nicely. I don’t like to go places that are packed with people. We were at peak tourist season, but found refuge in the Fort. It was quiet up on the hill, and the park like environment was very relaxing. We had lunch on a deck overlooking the bluff, downtown, and the Straits of Mackinac. It was very relaxing.

We finished at the fort, walked around downtown, and took a horse-drawn carriage up to the Grand Hotel. Ice cream at Sadie’s was on order, enjoyed by all. We walked back into town to catch the ferry home. It was only nearing the shores of the lower peninsula that my youngest daughter finally succumbed to her tiredness and slept deeply all the way home.

Day three was a day of rest. After staying up late for the fireworks, a long drive, then a full day on Mackinac, everyone was ready for a break. I slept in, and the kids went to a local beach. I knocked out some of my projects that were on my list, with everyone regrouping at lunch. We drove to visit the Cross in the Woods, a local shrine this afternoon, for some quiet time, prayer, and meditation. Dinner was at home for the kids, and a local pub for the adults.

Day four was another excursion, this time to Sault Ste. Marie for a ride on the famous Soo Locks boat tour. Lake Superior and Lake Huron are connected by the Saint Mary’s rapids, which includes a serious change in elevation. In days of old, ships would be unloaded, pulled out of the water, and dragged over a mile down the street. A series of US and Canadian locks now make the transition between bodies of water much easier, and faster.

The boat ride took us into Canadian territorial waters, and a waterfront tour of the Canadian coast. It was a pleasant day, certainly compared to our normal July experience. The pace of the boat was slow and smooth, very relaxing. We went through the Soo Locks twice, once being raised to Lake Superior, and another being lowered back to Lake Huron. The kids had a great time, and so did I, sitting on the deck in the shade, enjoying the fresh air.

Lunch was at the Army Corps of Engineers park, located right next to the locks. There is a large observation tower for visitors to watch the mighty ships pass through. While eating, we saw a 500ft freighter and a 750ft ocean freighter move through, as well as a barge carrying a massive crane. We ate crepes from a local shop, a nice treat!

It was a leisurely afternoon in the park before heading south. We picked up pasties at Lehto’s on our way home, eating them around the table. The kids were put down, and the trip began to wind down.

Our final day was a drive back south, before Mass and pizzas from a local favorite restaurant. We said goodnight and goodbye to our three older children, whose vacation would continue, while Alison and I returned home with our youngest so that we could get back to work.

We made our full drive home in a single day, the first time we’ve ever made a trip that distance without an overnight. It was a long day, although I never felt fatigued, just stiff from sitting all day.

It was another great Michigan summer vacation, exploring two new Great Lakes.

Ron DeSantis Runs Ad In California Asking Libs Not To Move To Florida - Babylon Bee

“Still thinking Florida is right for you, Cali libs? Well, just remember that we have American flags all over our state, we LOVE guns — and most importantly — President Trump lives here permanently.”

Soo Locks United States Post Office.

Long day on the open road.

🛣

Mass without the kids is… more still?

Old tradition meets new.

Picnic with a view.

Soo Locks filling up at a rate of 1 million gallons per minute.

Taking a ride in the Soo Locks.

Good morning, Canada! 🇨🇦

Cross in the Woods.

The Grand.

Great Lake.

Lunch at Ft. Mackinac

Passing under the Mackinac Bridge.

Visiting the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw in port today.

Happy Birthday, America!

🇺🇸

The parking lot behind the hotel is completely empty, except for a single rental bike. Sitting, waiting for its next rider to come along.

Nice day for a road trip.

Biden Seeks to Block New Offshore Drilling in Atlantic, Pacific - WSJ

The Biden administration plans to block new offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, while allowing limited expansion in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s south coast. The proposal released by the Interior Department on Friday evening would allow as many as 11 oil lease sales for offshore drilling over the course of five years. But the plan is still being developed, and gives the administration several options—including one that would forgo new lease sales entirely, according to the Interior Department.

It’s like he said; he’ll do everything in his power to bring down the price of gas.

Running Short On Funds For A July 4th Barbecue, Man Opens The Family Safe To Retrieve The 16 Cents He Saved Last Year - Babylon Bee

Several more families in the neighborhood invested their 16 cents in Bitcoin and their investment is now worth 8 cents.

Terrible!

How cool is it that I can stand in my driveway, look up, and see Uranus, an unfathomable distance away?

Supreme Court Puts Brakes on EPA in Far-Reaching Decision - WSJ

“This Court has established at least one firm rule: ‘We expect Congress to speak clearly’ if it wishes to assign to an executive agency decisions ‘of vast economic and political significance,’ ” Justice Gorsuch wrote in January. Democrats in Congress decried the ruling’s potential to limit the power of the executive branch to react quickly to climate change and other crises.

Members of a Congress decried a SCOTUS ruling that the Executive Branch cannot usurp the Legislative Branch’s powers?

Spirit Air Board Pushes Shareholders Meeting on Frontier Bid for Second Time - WSJ

As votes came in ahead of the planned meeting, it looked like it would be difficult for the Frontier deal to be approved by shareholders, according to people familiar with the matter.

Rigged!

At my desk, last day before vacation, watching the sun come up as I do tedious research.

New York Gun Permit Bill Would Require In-Person Training and Mental Health Records Check - WSJ

Possession of a handgun in a private business would be banned unless the business expressly allowed people to carry.

Other requirements seem reasonable. This provision is ripe for court challenge.

Fine to prohibit carry on private property, but it should be up to the business to prohibit carry, not the State.

21 Greatest Benefits Of Becoming A Dad - Babylon Bee

You can finally own a puppy against your will.

Jan. 6 Committee Says Cassidy Hutchinson Told Them That She Heard Mark Meadows Say That A Secret Service Agent’s Friend’s Cousin’s Husband Once Heard That One Of Trump’s Other Aides Said She Thinks She Heard Him Say He Wanted To ‘Do An Insurrection’ - Babylon Bee

“Yes, that’s totally what I heard someone say Trump said to someone who told it to them,” said Cassidy Hutchinson.

Trump should not be president again. We should get the facts about his actions around January 6th.

What we don’t need is hearsay dressed up like a fact. Especially hearsay that, on its face, seems to be physically impossible.

Supreme Court Says Oklahoma Can Prosecute Non-Tribal Cases in Indian Country - WSJ

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr., said in a statement: “With today’s decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against legal precedent and the basic principles of congressional authority and Indian law.” Citing the dissenting justices, he added: “The Court failed in its duty to honor this nation’s promises, defied Congress’s statutes, and accepted the ‘lawless disregard of the Cherokee’s sovereignty.’”

I agree that the Cherokee Nation deserves sovereignty under treaties with the United States, but McGirt made them prey to the criminal element. This is the right call.

Rapidweaver release and Studio Display arrived.

Big day.

🖥

An unsung victory in overturning Roe is that States are once again free to hold physicians performing abortions and their facilities to the same surgical and licensing standards as every other medical surgical practice. This was a huge patient safety issue.

Really looking forward to the new Rapidweaver tomorrow.

Student-Loan Forgiveness for Public-Service Workers Totals $8.1 Billion Since October - WSJ

When combined, the Biden administration’s efforts to cancel debts held by borrowers with disabilities, students who were defrauded by their schools, borrowers in the public-service program and other moves have resulted in around $26 billion in forgiven loans.

“Forgiven loans” sounds a lot better than the reality, “taxpayer losses.”

Where, O death, is your victory?

1 Corinthians 15:55

Back when I was a kid, The Onion was funny.

Never Enough Government, Says the SEC - WSJ Opinion

Americans get so much government, they find it nearly impossible to get the government they need or want. It’s an American paradox. Taxpayers spent billions over decades to build up the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and yet Washington’s only really useful contribution to the national pandemic—perhaps accounting for 99% of the medical value of all government interventions—was the Trump vaccine program, run out of the White House hip pocket.

Slavery, Civil War, Segregation, Abortion.

America’s capacity to self-correct, to turn away from degradations of the human person without external intervention, is an exception in the history of government.

What a privilege it is to be part of this durable democracy. 🇺🇸

Now the real work begins.

Journalism style guide for covering SCOTUS:

5-4 for Obergefell: “A, historic landmark decision!”

5-4 for Dobbs: “A deeply divided Court.”

Fertility Doctors Move Embryos to Other States in Case of Roe v. Wade Impact - WSJ

Many embryos created through IVF aren’t viable, fertility specialists said, and those that aren’t ultimately transferred into a uterus may be discarded. Some fertility and legal experts said the loss or discarding of embryos could be criminalized by statutes that ban abortion from the moment of fertilization or that grant personhood rights to embryos.

If you’ve ever wondered how the greatest evils in human history have taken root and spread, look no further than the extreme sanitization of language used in this article.

An embryo is a fertilized egg, a unique human life, with its own distinct set of DNA, at its very earliest stage. Frozen in space, not permitted to live or die, with no one advocating for their rights and defense.

They are created, not out of love, but out of a kamikaze drive to achieve pregnancy at any cost. All of this is motivated by the disastoruous belief that parents have a right to a child, a right to another life. IVF, in the statistically rare times that it succeeds in its aims, creates a single life at the cost of dozens. Dozens of created lives, simply thrown away; they are a means to an end, a scientific machination, of no worth or value.

The base, callous treatment of these human lives speaks to the heart of the societal problems we face today. If we can’t recognize the fundamental right to life, dignity, and respect of new human life, how will we ever get over our divisions between sexes, races, religions, or nationalities?

This fatal flaw in our view of the human person infects our entire worldview. It’s the evil upon which all other evils are built.

Big Changes to 401(k) Retirement Plans Get Closer With Senate Vote - WSJ

Paul Richman, chief government and political affairs officer at the Insured Retirement Institute, which represents the insurance industry and supports the bill

First red flag.

Reminder: If You Read Half The Bible Today You Can Catch Up On Your Year-Long Reading Plan - The Babylon Bee

Of course, you don’t have to put too much pressure on yourself. You could easily start it tomorrow. Just add a couple of pages and you’re good to go.

Luckily I’m still on track!

A little present waiting at my desk this morning.

Trump Pick Wins Alabama GOP Senate Primary - WSJ

Republican voters in Alabama selected Katie Britt as their nominee for Senate in a runoff primary election, after receiving the endorsement of former President Donald Trump

I use the same strategy in my sports betting portfolio. I bet on all of the teams, and then declare my genius by accurately announcing that I bet on the winner and conveniently forgetting to mention that I bet on the rest of the field, too.

I don’t support the political theatre of the Jan. 6 Committee, but that day proved that Trump is not qualified to lead. Especially when the GOP has a deep bench of so many interesting picks.

Biden to Call for Three-Month Federal Gasoline Tax Suspension - WSJ

A suspension of the 18.4-cents-a-gallon federal gasoline tax and 24.4-cents-a-gallon diesel tax through September would require congressional approval, so a move by Mr. Biden to throw his support behind the effort would be largely symbolic.

We’d be doing a whole lot better if he’d just stayed in the basement.

Before doing the Bible in a Year podcast, I always thought of myself as a New Testament Catholic. But now that I’m deep into this study, and seeing that the Bible is 90% Old Testament, I really appreciate how foundational to my faith the Old Testament is.

Nation’s Dads Participate In Ancient Ritual Of One Yearly Guilt-Free Nap - The Babylon Bee

“Dads spend all year looking forward to Father’s Day when we are given permission to lie down on the couch or in our recliner without our wives standing over us and reminding us of all the things they need us to do around the house,” said Dan Danners, a local dad. “It’s a sacred tradition.”

Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ Generates Lackluster Buzz at the Movie Theater - WSJ

Fewer families than expected went this weekend to see “Lightyear,” underscoring the challenge of winning big audiences in a summer crowded with movie blockbusters.

Or maybe families didn’t want Pixar and Buzz Lightyear to teach their kids a disordered view of human sexuality?

Cold Brew O’Clock

Gasoline Tax Holiday ‘Worth Considering,’ Yellen Says - WSJ

But in the U.S. Congress, Democratic-led efforts to temporarily stop collecting the federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents a gallon have yet to gain traction.

Gas is up $2 in the past 12 months, and Congress’ solution is cut $0.184 off the price?

This is a multi-faceted problem; eighteen cents isn’t a solution.

The Crypto Party Is Over - WSJ

At times, crypto has looked like a combination of Beanie Babies, dot-com stocks and the Velvet Underground: It is manic, it is money, and all the cool people are into it. It has also shared characteristics with other bubbles throughout history, marked by speculation bordering on delusion, disregard and disrespect for risk, and greed.

Cauliflower, you’ve never looked so good!

Man Starting To Wonder If He Shouldn’t Have Invested His Life Savings In An Imaginary Token Saying He Owns A Digital Painting Of A Cartoon Monkey - The Babylon Bee

This week, local man Don Johnson told friends and family he had been struck with a revelation: his “Bored Ape” NFT may not have been a bulletproof investment vehicle, and perhaps he should have diversified his investments a bit.

Hang in there, Don!

Study: Inflation Forcing More Americans To Choose Between Buying Groceries, Aston Martin DBS - The Onion

“With the prices of supermarket staples like milk and bread at all-time highs, we’re seeing more families faced with making the difficult decision between eating dinner and going 0 to 62 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds,” said study author Celina Goodman, whose report found that 45% of all Americans had adjusted their grocery budgets in order to afford the $330,600 sports car.

Fed Raises Rates by 0.75 Percentage Point, Largest Increase Since 1994 - WSJ

…and signaled it would continue lifting rates this year at the most rapid pace in decades as it races to slow the economy and combat inflation that is running at a 40-year high.

Good morning! 👋🏻

Nice to have you awake and with us.

Climate-Change Censorship: Phase Two - WSJ Opinion

Now progressives are moving to censorship phase two, which is shutting down debate over climate “solutions.” “Now it’s not so much denying the problem,” Ms. McCarthy said in an Axios interview last Thursday. “What the industry is now doing is seeding doubt about the costs associated with [green energy] and whether they work or not.”

We must pay for the energy transformation in order to find out how much it costs.

Crypto Legislation Could Undermine Market Regulations, Gensler Says - WSJ

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler expressed concern Tuesday that efforts in Congress to write legislation for the cryptocurrency industry could compromise regulations that govern the broader capital markets.

It appears Mr. Gensler has forgotten his place.

Apple, Major League Soccer Strike 10-Year Streaming Deal for All MLS Games - WSJ

The agreement will make the Apple TV app the home of all MLS matches, available to fans through a variety of programming options. Financial terms for the deal weren’t disclosed.

Waste of money.

U.S., European Allies Try to Restrain Global Oil Prices - WSJ

With gasoline prices climbing to records in the U.S., and inflation the Biden administration’s top economic policy priority, U.S. officials across the administration are reviewing ways to try to stabilize global oil prices and still penalize Russia

It’s too bad we don’t have massive underground oil reserves that we could just drill and bring to market.

That’d really be something, huh?

Rick Scott Revises Tax-Increase Proposal After Facing Criticism - WSJ

But the outline would have marked a radical change from today’s tax system, in which more than 40% of Americans don’t pay income taxes or get net income tax benefits because they earn too little or use specific tax provisions designed to aid parents and low-income workers.

White House Attempts To Distract From High Gas Prices By Putting Up Wacky Inflatable Tube Men In Front Of Price Signs - The Babylon Bee

“The problem is not our policies, the problem is that the media has done a terrible job communicating how great we are”

Swimming lessons are fun. And exhausting.

🏊🏻‍♂️

‘Peak Inflation’ Keeps Peaking - WSJ Opinion

One lesson is that progressive welfare spending and expanded child-tax credits in the name of aiding workers contributed to inflation that erased the value of those benefits. Workers would be far better off now if Congress hadn’t passed $2.8 trillion in Covid “relief” in late 2020 and early 2021. The federal government has $6.7 trillion more debt than before the pandemic, and inflation isn’t abating.

Government help.

The Evidence of the Jan. 6 Committee - WSJ Opinion

The House inquiry into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot launched its TV miniseries Thursday night, and the trick for parsing the proceedings is to keep two ideas in tension. Do Democrats want to unfairly besmirch the entire GOP with the Jan. 6 disgrace, while distracting voters from 8.6% inflation and $5-a-gallon gasoline? Yes.

Trump should’ve resigned January 7th.

But even Impeachment 1 & 2, as melodramatic as they were, weren’t this embarrassingly transparent.

U.S. Inflation Hit 8.6% in May - WSJ

U.S. consumer inflation reached an 8.6% annual rate in May, its highest level in more than four decades as surging energy and food prices pushed prices higher.

There will be entire books and college courses taught on how this government squandered this recovery.

All they had to do was stay out of the way, but they couldn’t help themselves.

This is what happens when the government spends massive amounts of money to “help” you.

American Women Once Again Make Their Yearly Pilgrimage To The Magnolia Silos - The Babylon Bee

“If I could but touch the hem of Joanna’s dress I might be blessed with a vision for farmhouse decor in my own life!” said Susan Vail, who guilted her husband into taking her to Waco, Tx.

Rapid Pace of U.S. Inflation Held Steady in May, Economists Estimate - WSJ

The Labor Department on Friday is estimated to report that the consumer-price index rose 8.3% in May from the same month a year ago, the same as in April, according to economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal.

Wrong. It’s 8.6%.

Yellen Sees High Gasoline Prices Persisting - WSJ

She said President Biden’s decision to release oil from the strategic petroleum reserve this year was the administration’s main tool to put downward pressure on prices.

What an embarrassing way to end a distinguished career.

That statement is demonstrably false.

Ms. Yellen and other administration officials have recently embarked on a renewed campaign to try to improve Americans’ view of the economy.

Here’s the problem with this strategy of condescension: it starkly conflicts with our everyday lived experience.

You can tell us that everything’s great, but when we see the price sign at the gas station, get our grocery bill at Walmart, or try to buy formula, it’s obvious that the problem isn’t our perception; the problem is reality.

Jan. 6 Committee Lays Out Case Against Donald Trump in First Public Hearing - WSJ

The hearing, shown on cable television and most major broadcast outlets, was the first in a series scheduled over the next two weeks.

Inflation is at a four-decades high with no end in sight, government policies have led to a baby formula shortage and taxpayers having to cover the bill for their incompetence, but the United States Congress is having late night made-for-TV hearings about this.

We need to know what happened, we need to know why the Capitol wasn’t defended, DOJ has a firm grip on prosecutions.

This is nothing more than a disgusting, wasteful stunt designed to tar a particular group of Americans.

The talk of unity was less than lip service, it was a flat out lie.

I honestly believe that no one on the Office for Mac dev team has ever touched a Mac.

Tesla Employees’ Cars Will Now Drive Them To Work Against Their Will - The Babylon Bee

“At midnight on June 8, your vehicle will automatically install a mandatory software update. Expect bug fixes, stability improvements, and your vehicle driving you to your workspace to begin your 8-14 hour work day,” the email reportedly stated.

BA.4, BA.5 Variants Rise Among U.S. Covid-19 Cases - WSJ

Omicron Covid-19 variants BA.4 and BA.5 are on the rise in the U.S., adding two more highly contagious versions of the virus to the mix that has fueled a springtime surge in cases.

Anyone know what this is talking about?

What It’s Like to Be a Victim of Private Planes - WSJ Opinion

Which category—the flight romantics or their victims—is more numerous? Apart from that, who is entitled to the freedom of the air above your house? The question of who owns that air and who may put it to use for their own purposes is about to become urgent. The drones are coming. Your sky will be filled with them.

No one tell this guy about commercial and military aviation.

Biden Decision on Student-Loan Forgiveness Unlikely Until Later in Summer, Officials Say - WSJ

Officials said he remains concerned about the possible effects the move could have on record inflation, cautious about doing anything that could be perceived as contributing to high prices.

Too late.

If borrowers assume that a large share of federal student loans are likely to be forgiven, that in effect increases government spending by turning loans into de facto grants. It could also encourage colleges and universities to continue to raise tuition prices with the expectation that the costs would ultimately not be borne by their students.

You don’t say!

Biden’s Teleprompter Resigns To Take Job At MSNBC - The Babylon Bee

The teleprompter delivered his resignation at the end of Biden’s latest speech, sowing confusion as Biden continued to read everything on screen. “I can’t take this anymore! I quit!” yelled President Biden at a group of reporters. “I mean—3.7 bottles of formula, Joe? Are you freaking kidding me? After all I got you through, now you want to ad-lib? I’m going with Jen!!” screamed Biden, storming off. 

Individual Income Tax Payments on Pace to Reach Record Level - WSJ

CBO director Phillip Swagel said. “It’s a mystery. It’s a maybe happy mystery, to have strong revenues.”

Yeah, now instead of taxpayers using their own money to purchase goods and services in their communities, we can use it to send nude drawings into space or pay other people’s beer pong bills!

New Options for Using Leftover ‘529’ Plan Funds - WSJ

The Helping Parents Save for College Act would, in limited circumstances, let participants transfer or roll over some 529 account funds into a Roth IRA.  To do so, the account would have to be open for at least 10 years and the rollover money would have to be in the account for at least five years.

Solid proposal.

A Reading From Kamala Harris to the Corinthians - WSJ Opinion

First nationalize student loans claiming this will save money for taxpayers. Next let students pile up debt at for-profit colleges. Then prosecute those colleges for fraud and put them out of business. Then forgive all the debt and stick taxpayers with the bill.

John Durham vs. the Beltway Swamp - WSJ Opinion

The trial environment was no less intimate. Judge Christopher Cooper worked with Mr. Sussmann at the Clinton Justice Department in the 1990s. Merrick Garland, today attorney general, officiated at the judge’s marriage to Amy Jeffress, an Obama Justice Department official and now a private lawyer representing former FBI lawyer Lisa Page. And on and on the special circles go, down to the judge’s refusal to grant prosecutors’ request to dismiss a juror who admitted her daughter is on the same crew team as Mr. Sussmann’s child.

Gross.

How the Pro-Life Democrat Went Extinct - WSJ Opinion

It’s ironic that the Democratic Party, which is ostensibly built around the defense of the weak and the marginalized, is so fervidly committed to the right to kill the most vulnerable.

Biden Reveals His Plan Is To Just Raise Gas Prices Until The Counter Spins Back To Zero - The Babylon Bee

“Listen, folks, It’s too late to lower gas prices. No one knows how to do that,” said the President. “So we’re just gonna keep raising those prices higher until all the little number signs on the price boards go back to zero! Those signs can only go up to $9.99, so we’re already almost there!” 

When Progressives Fail, Inflation Edition - WSJ Opinion

“I think I was wrong then about the path that inflation would take,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNN on Tuesday, referring to a 2021 comment that there was a “small risk” of inflation.

To those hoping the Fed will get its act together and fix this: remember that Yellen is the former Fed Chair and deeply steeped in the Fed’s way of thinking.

Doesn’t inspire confidence.

Upholding Roe v. Wade Is Supported by Most Americans, WSJ Poll Finds - WSJ

Some 57% of respondents said a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion if she wants it for any reason, the highest share since NORC began asking the question every few years starting in 1977.

If you’re wondering why our society is so violent, start here. 57% of Americans think a mother has a legal right to kill their child based on any whim or excuse.

Our sense of justice is rightly violated over acts of mass murder, but we’re completely anesthetized to the thousands of children killed by elective abortion every day of the week.

We are the problem and we are the solution.

Why ‘Do Something’ on Gun Control Won’t Work - WSJ Opinion

The high approval cost—now estimated at $2.6 billion per drug—also means rarer diseases receive little research attention.

Article cites an FDA approval rate of 12%. So after pharma goes through years of R&D spending, and recovering costs for unapproved drugs, they have to price in another $2.6B just to break even.

But when talking about reducing drug costs, this is expense is never brought up.

Biden’s Ukraine Rocket Whiplash - WSJ Opinion

If the Ukrainians have promised to use the weapons only to defend their territory, why limit the reach of the rockets the U.S. provides?

A short range system can hit Russia if its parked close enough to the border.

Three months into this conflict and we’re still trying to placate Putin? Give the Ukrainians the firepower to take the fight all the way to the border.

Biden Has No Plan to Fight Inflation - WSJ Opinion

It was smart to make your case in a newspaper whose editorial page is often critical of you. Your challenge in winning over voters, however, is not that you haven’t explained your views and policies, but that you need to demonstrate greater competence.

We win as a team; when the Administration is failing, we all get hurt.

And right now, we’re all getting pummeled.

Record Gas Prices Hit Americans’ Start to Summer Travel Season - WSJ

New York on Wednesday became the latest state to suspend its gas tax, pausing its tax on regular and diesel gas through the end of the year.

States use gas taxes for infrastructure. So they’re suspending the gas tax and backfilling with money from last year’s $1T Infrastructure Bill. That “transformational investment,” which now costs $1.5T with inflation, is going to nothing more than routine maintenance and to subsidize taxpayers in other states.

Crypto Industry Sees Surge in Lawsuits as Investor Losses Pile Up - WSJ

Kenneth Donovan, 27 years old and a plaintiff who began investing in cryptocurrency in 2019, said he bought $335,000 worth of GYEN last year after reading its white paper and learning the New York Department of Financial Services had authorized GMO-Z.com to issue stablecoins in the state. In a matter of hours, he said, his investment plummeted to $3,000, wiping out nearly his entire life savings.

Not an investment.

Man Tries Running To Boost Health And Oh No! He Now Has 7 New Injuries! - The Babylon Bee

“Well, it looks like my running career is already over,” said Winkley. “Once I regain my ability to walk and run and turn my head both ways, maybe I’ll resume. But for now, I need to sit back in my recliner and heal.” 

Europe Hits Putin Where It Hurts - WSJ Opinion

It’s also notable that Europe went ahead with oil sanctions despite quiet lobbying by the U.S. in favor of an alternative tariff proposal. The Biden Administration is worried about the impact of withdrawing Russian crude from the world market on gasoline prices and the November elections.

Gross.

But the White House could help itself and the world on that score if it ceased its political and regulatory war on fossil fuels. One of the many mysteries of this Presidency is why Mr. Biden has responded to the Ukraine invasion by pressing for more oil production everywhere but in the domestic U.S.

States Help Business Owners Save Big on Federal Taxes With SALT-Cap Workarounds - WSJ

The state laws blunt the cap’s effect on owners of closely held businesses such as law firms, hedge funds, manufacturers and car dealerships, while workers earning wages generally can’t take advantage.

lol

Joe Biden: My Plan for Fighting Inflation - WSJ Opinion

First, the Federal Reserve has a primary responsibility to control inflation.

The title is his plan to fight inflation.

His first bullet point is to say it’s not his responsibility.

Last week the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected that the deficit will fall by $1.7 trillion this year—the largest reduction in history. That will leave the deficit as a share of the economy lower than prepandemic levels and lower than CBO projected for this year before the American Rescue Plan passed. This deficit progress wasn’t preordained.

He’s right, it wasn’t preordained. Without the American Rescue Plan and the decades high inflation that it produced, we defiantly wouldn’t have seen this deficit reduction.

Also, to save you some time, the word of the week is “transition.” Not to be confused with last week’s “transitory.”

Canada to Ban Purchase, Sale of Handguns in New Gun Control Measures - WSJ

Canada will compel owners of banned semiautomatic firearms to sell their weapons to the government, starting at the end of this year.

The nation’s criminals are queuing up now.

“Other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives,” Mr. Trudeau said

Ukraine?

A Federal Budget Warning for Joe Manchin - WSJ Opinion

Alas, higher spending will more than offset all of the revenue windfall. Recall how Members of Congress claimed their $1 trillion infrastructure bill would be “fully paid for”? CBO now says the bill will cost $678 billion more in outlays than its estimate last summer, as higher spending on public works over the next few years will be baked into the budget baseline.

That didn’t take long.

Treasury Releases Pandemic Funding for Small Businesses as They Face New Risks - WSJ

The program was approved as part of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package passed by Congress along party lines in March 2021. Since then, unemployment has fallen and the economy surpassed its prepandemic size

It’s heart-warming to see our government riding in to save us a mere 27 months after the start of the pandemic, and only 15 months after Congress authorized the spending. Efficiency!

LeBron Confused By Hockey Players Who Get Back Up After Getting Knocked Down - The Babylon Bee

Much to LeBron’s astonishment, he then witnessed a fistfight break out as two players repeatedly punched each other in the teeth. “Foul! Foul!” cried LeBron, tears streaming down his face.

There’s something magical about a Friday night at the airport in summer.

Things may be rough out there: gas prices, food prices, inflation, mortgage rates, no baby formula, empty shelves, Ukraine, it’s a long list.

But at least the president doesn’t say mean things on Twitter!

SEC Proposes More Disclosure Requirements for ESG Funds - WSJ

“A fund’s name is often one of the most important pieces of information that investors use in selecting a fund,” Mr. Gensler said.

Terrifying to think that the SEC believes this to be true, and their solution is to… change naming rules?

Last day of school!

👨🏻‍🏫

As Biden Zeroes In on Student-Loan Forgiveness Decision, Voter Anxiety Grows - WSJ

“They dangled it over our heads to get us to vote for Biden and then did nothing,” said recent UNC graduate Brandon Overbeek, a 23-year-old liberal who estimated he has almost $100,000 in student loans.

Welcome to the adult world, Brandon.

Ms. Dulin, a Democrat who has about $20,000 in student loans, didn’t vote in 2020 and said she hasn’t decided whether she will vote in the midterms. She said she would be more likely to vote if Mr. Biden put forward a substantial loan- forgiveness plan.

I look forward to buying Ms. Dulin’s education, and her vote, for the president with my tax dollars this fall.

I love the smell of hazelnut and coffee.

Beer and grilled chicken after a hard Saturday of work and projects.

Women Eagerly Buying Stocks Now That There’s A Big Sale - The Babylon Bee

“Now that I own a piece of Target, every time I go shopping there I’m basically paying myself!” Missy explained to reporters.

People Who Haven’t Had Covid Explain How They’ve Avoided It For 2 Years - The Onion

Hank Stanford (Airline Pilot): “I belong to the skies. I am impervious to your pitiful groundling diseases.”

Here Are Some Fascinating Stories That Were Left Out Of The Bible - The Babylon Bee

Since Adam was the first man, he had to invent a ton of stuff but he had no patent office to protect his ideas and they were all stolen: Sad! 

The Electric-Vehicle Unicorn Crash - WSJ Opinion

Most EVs today can’t go more than 250 miles on a charge (and less in cold weather). Drivers worry for good reason that they’ll run out of juice on the road. President Biden hopes to alleviate this so-called range anxiety by subsidizing a nationwide network of charging stations. This won’t solve the problem. Public charging stations are nowhere more ubiquitous than in California’s Bay Area. But a recent study found that less than three-quarters of charging stations worked. In many cases the plugs, screens or payment systems were broken, or connector cables weren’t long enough to reach the car’s port. Imagine if 25% of the nation’s gasoline stations weren’t working and drivers didn’t know until they got out of the car whether they’d be able to fill up.

POLL: 52% Of Nation Now Desire To Ditch Republic, Establish Monarchy With Ultra MAGA King - The Babylon Bee

“Our MAGA King is so focused on making fun of people that he doesn’t have time left over to actually do anything, which is perfect because that’s when leaders mess things up,” said average citizen Joe Pleasant of Vermont. “He’s going to do great things for this kingdom by leaving us all alone.”

Michigan Judge Suspends Enforcement of Pre-Roe Abortion Ban - WSJ

In her ruling, Judge Gleicher stated that due-process protections in Michigan’s Constitution imply a right to bodily integrity that would be violated by the 1931 law.

Irony of irony.

In April, Judge Gleicher disclosed to lawyers involved in the litigation that she has made annual donations to Planned Parenthood of Michigan and once represented Planned Parenthood as a volunteer attorney in the 1990s. The judge said she was confident of her objectivity in the matter and didn’t think a recusal was warranted.

That’s odd, I didn’t see this noted in any of the other reporting. PP was a petitioner in the case.

Adding to the farce, the lawsuit was argued over a currently moot point, and the defendant was the MI AG who refused to defend.

So this was a case where PP brought a suit, which no one defended, over a legal nonissue, in front of a judge who currently supports PP financially and has done so annually for three decades.

Son’s new robot.

Congress to Hold Its First Hearing on UFOs in More Than 50 Years - WSJ

Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the public deserved to learn more about what the government knows about these unexplained flying objects that have long been the subject of conspiracy theories. 

This is a public, non-classified hearing. Translation: nothing new will be revealed and this is a waste of legislative time and resources.

Is it fraud, waste, and abuse week in Washington?

NASA to send naked pictures of humans in hope of ‘attracting aliens’ - New York Post

NASA scientists revealed the image in a study that’s part of a project called the “Beacon in the Galaxy” (BITG). The main aim of the BITG project is to send a message to any alien civilizations that could be out there.

Speaking of wasted tax dollars.

Renault Sells Russia Business to State-Backed Entity for One Ruble - WSJ

Renault didn’t disclose the financial terms of the deal, but people familiar with the deal said the company was selling both assets for the symbolic sum of one ruble each.

Russia overpaid.

A School Choice in Michigan - WSJ Opinion

the Detroit Free Press reported last month that school districts have used Covid money on everything from tennis courts to smoothies.

My town bought three police cars.

I don’t want to think about all of the other ways my tax dollars were wasted on frivolous local expenditures.

CBO Sounds a Warning of American Fiscal Ruin - WSJ Opinion

The CBO believes that stabilizing debt through tax increases would permanently shrink the economy by discouraging work and crowding out private investments that would improve productivity. Stabilizing debt through lower entitlement spending, by contrast, might lead people to work longer and would increase private saving, both of which would increase economic growth.

What Did the Steele Dossier Hoax Cost America? - WSJ Opinion

From day one, had reporters focused on the one thing they knew to be indubitably true after talking to Mr. Steele, they would have found the real story: A paid foreign agent was circulating scurrilous tales whose truth he wouldn’t vouch for, whose sources he wouldn’t reveal, without any documentation, in a bet that some Washington journalist could be gulled into reporting them.

In East Hampton, It’s the Superrich Against the Merely Rich - WSJ

Ahead of the busy summer season, the town is moving to privatize its airport and impose new restrictions on how often planes can fly in. The rules would limit a plane or helicopter to one takeoff and landing a day.

Completely unworkable.

Things that also make noise: cars, trains, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, people.

Arrest of Firebrand Cardinal Highlights Split in Hong Kong’s Catholic Church - WSJ

The Vatican expressed concern at the arrest, and its secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said he was saddened by the move but hoped it wouldn’t further complicate the dialogue with China.

Coward.

Crash of TerraUSD Shakes Crypto. ‘There Was a Run on the Bank.’ - WSJ

A trader might sell a bitcoin for TerraUSD, then use the TerraUSD to buy ether, another cryptocurrency, without ever touching a dollar or a bank account.

Perfect summation of the role, and importance, of stablecoins in this system.

Hawaiian Airlines Bets You’ll Want to Island Hop on Electric Seagliders - WSJ

They would cruise five to 30 feet above the waves on average, flying on a cushion of air that keeps the plane aloft, known as the “ground effect.”

Pretty genius. In theory, you could fly in ground effect forever, except that on land your bound to find an obstacle. No such problem at sea.

Textron Aviation Delivers FedEx’s First Cessna SkyCourier

The aircraft generates power through two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and utilizes a four-bladed, 110-inch aluminum McCauley Propeller C779. The full feathering, reversible pitch propeller is designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while carrying large loads. The aircraft features Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. It has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 knots and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range. The aircraft features a large door and a flat floor cabin. It is capable of holding three LD3 shipping containers with a 6,000 lb payload capability.

Awesome to see this clean sheet design delivered. They really put together a great product.

Saved! Trump Reveals He Has Been Stockpiling Baby Formula For Seven Years After Being Warned Of Coming Shortage In A Dream - The Babylon Bee

“I have so many silos filled, it’s unbelievable,” said President Trump as he cracked open a fresh can. “Absolutely the best formula, ready for Sleepy Joe’s total disaster of a famine. Plus, the taste is incredible—all the babies are saying they just love it.”

Matt Damon Makes New Commercial Apologizing For Telling You To Buy Crypto - The Babylon Bee

“History is filled with ‘almosts’ – and my crypto commercial was almost a good idea.”

The Biggest Problem With Flying Cars Is on the Ground - WSJ

Joby has also predicted that operating costs for its vehicles will be 86 cents a passenger mile. Dr. Trani thinks the actual figure will be between $3 and $4 a passenger mile.

That $4 per mile price is the same as a 9 passenger twin engine turboprop today. The electric air taxis can only carry 2-3 passengers.

White House Press Corps Beginning To Suspect Psaki Isn’t Ever Going To Circle Back To Their Questions - The Babylon Bee

According to the Pew Research Center’s Journalism Project, Psaki has promised to “circle back” to journalists’ questions exactly 8,436 times over the last 17 months. Now it appears almost all of those questions will remain mysteriously unanswered.

When the kids are good during 4.5 hours of errands, including going into a store to try clothes on, Dad buys cookies.

The best reward for waking up early and walking is my post-walk cooldown.

Sitting in a quiet, still house, in the soft light of dawn, drinking coffee and reading The Wall Street Journal.

📰☕️

Sunset at the office.

Kavanaugh Eases Tensions With Protesters By Throwing Good, Old-Fashioned Kegger - The Babylon Bee

“I can’t believe I wanted to burn this guy’s house down. This man is an absolute legend.”

Coinbase Says Users’ Crypto Assets Lack Bankruptcy Protections - WSJ

“Because custodially held crypto assets may be considered to be the property of a bankruptcy estate, in the event of a bankruptcy, the crypto assets we hold in custody on behalf of our customers could be subject to bankruptcy proceedings, and such customers could be treated as our general unsecured creditors,” the company said.

Oops.

Abortion Puts the Supreme Court Behind an 8-Foot Fence - WSJ Opinion

The Supreme Court of the United States—from its first meeting in February 1790 through the Civil War, two world wars and the battle for civil rights—has never been protected by an 8-foot wire fence. It is now. On Monday the Senate voted unanimously to extend police protection to the justices’ immediate family. What has happened to us?

Inflation Stays in the Heights - WSJ Opinion

All of this exposes the fantasy that the Biden-Pelosi-Schumer policy mix of blowout spending and easy money is good for working Americans. Modern monetary theory combined with new entitlements were supposed to produce record growth and security. Instead they have produced the highest inflation in 40 years and a falling standard of living. We should add that Donald Trump’s excessive spending at the end of 2020 also didn’t help.

U.S. Inflation Eased in April to 8.3% Annual Rate - WSJ

U.S. consumer inflation eased in April to an 8.3% annual rate, taking a slight edge off the steepest run of price increases in four decades as energy prices moderated.

A 2% decrease after a 400% increase?!

We did it!

🎉🎉🎉

This is the one year tracking chart on oil futures.

The recent volatility is clear, but so is the trajectory. This has been building for months.

Gas Prices Surge to Another High - WSJ

These records don’t account for inflation, however. Inflation-adjusted gas prices are similar to what U.S. drivers saw in the early 1980s, below highs of the 2008 recession.

Wonderful! Now I feel much better.

Biden Stresses Contrast With GOP Economic Agenda as Midterm Challenges Grow - WSJ

President Biden argued Tuesday that congressional Republicans would worsen inflation and raise taxes on American families

The Ron Burgundy of presidents, Joe Biden will say whatever is on the teleprompter, no matter how asinine.

FBI Sternly Warns Mob At Justice Kavanaugh’s Home To Stay Away From School Board Member’s House Next Door - The Babylon Bee

“Sure would hate to have charge one of you nice people with domestic terrorism,” said Agent Raymond Epley to a group of women lighting baby dolls on fire. “By all means, threaten the justice and his family! But if you set one foot on the school board treasurer’s lawn, it’s a one-way trip to Gitmo.”

The Biden Loyalty Machine - WSJ Opinion

In June 2021, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley told Congress, “I want to understand white rage.” Then in a January letter to Sen. James Inhofe, Gen. Milley said U.S. service members had spent almost six million man-hours since Mr. Biden took office on “extremism stand-down” and “diversity, equity and inclusion” training, including critical race theory. Two words: Afghanistan exit. And please focus more on future Russian and Chinese rage.

Mother’s Day flowers.

Who’s a Threat to Democracy? - WSJ Opinion

So which side of the Roe argument is really antidemocratic? The law before the Supreme Court is Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks. The abortion-rights movement has failed to persuade the people of Mississippi, and now it wants five unelected Justices, 1,000 miles away in Washington, to take that policy choice away from the voting public.

Summer evening.

UPS: Usually pretty slow.

📦

Open Enrollment starts in 5 days.

Benefits website says guide “coming soon.”

Losers.

Looks so nice, tastes so good.

☕️

Biden Weighs Forgiving Some Student Debt for Those Who Earn Less Than $125,000 a Year - WSJ

Some of the president’s advisers have privately raised concerns about the legality of taking executive action on the issue and the potential backlash from people who have paid off their loans, never took on debt or don’t believe the government should step in to help current borrowers.

Also, um, the DOE is already preparing loans for disbursement for the fall semester. You forgive loans now, but make no changes to the underlying system?

How to Invest When Both the Stock Market and Bonds Are Falling - WSJ

Yet the best strategy in moments of volatility like this one, financial advisers say, is also one of the least satisfying: Do nothing.

The article then goes into paragraph after paragraph of helpful “ideas” from a bunch of financial advisors.

When Student Loan Debt Paused, These Borrowers Kept Paying - WSJ

As of December 2021, 1.2% of borrowers continued paying down loans, said Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert.

Everyone is sitting around waiting for “forgiveness,” when they just whiffed the biggest loan arbitrage in a generation.

Student loan interest is calculated on outstanding principal, not the total balance. But you can’t pay down any principal until all outstanding interest in paid.

29 months, given all of the government stimulus and the job market, was more than enough time for the “average” borrower to pay off their loans, more so for the well paid borrower.

How is it that only 1.2% of borrowers saw this “pause” for what it really was? This was best chance to honor their word, swiftly pay off loans, and move on with the rest of their lives.

But instead, they, you know bought a car or a house or some GameStop stock.

How do you feel about paying off their loans for them now? They had their shot and they chose not to take it. Why should the taxpayer bail them out any more than they already have?

Student Loan Truth Telling - WSJ Opinion

As Mr. Clyburn explained, “So my whole thing is, use your executive authority and let the courts have at it.” This seems to be the Administration’s guiding legal principle. Do what you want until the courts say it’s illegal.

Disinformation for Dummies - WSJ Opinion

We have to admit that when we first read about it, we thought the news was itself disinformation from the Administration’s political enemies. Surely, no one in this age of polarization and public mistrust of institutions would think it’s wise to set up a government shop with the job of telling Americans what is true.

Amazing how a small change can make a big impact.

President Zelensky Insulted By Biden’s Offer Of Only $33 Billion In Weapons When He Gave The Taliban $86 Billion - The Babylon Bee

To avoid being embarrassed on the world stage, the Biden Administration has offered to sweeten the weapon offer by also paying off Ukrainian student loans.

Biden Says He Is Considering Canceling Some Student-Loan Debt - WSJ

The president’s advisers are weighing tailoring any debt forgiveness proposal so that the bulk of the benefits go to lower-to-middle-income borrowers, according to people familiar with the administration’s internal discussions.

Please don’t tell the President about how underwater these folks are on their car notes or we’ll all be paying for that, too.

U.S. Economy Shrank in First Quarter - WSJ

The U.S. economy shrank at a 1.4% annual rate in the first quarter

Hey y’all, let’s raise taxes!!!!!!!!!!!

Tax Increases Won’t Cure Inflation - WSJ Opinion

“Coordinating higher government spending with higher taxes so that the rest of us are forced to cut back a little to create room for additional government spending,” as MMT evangelist Stephanie Kelton puts it. She says the trick is to “remove spending power from the rest of us” via taxes so the government can fund things like solar panels in California.

Asinine and dangerous.

Take taxes out of the pockets of workers so the government, which has a long record of inefficiency and waste, can spend those dollars?

Government That’s $30 Trillion In Debt Criticizes Elon Musk For How He Spends His Money - The Babylon Bee

Experts now believe that with $44 billion, the government could’ve used it to feed about a dozen people and sent a ton of foreign aid to corrupt local warlords in Botswana.

Biden Seriously Considering Student-Loan Forgiveness, Officials Say - WSJ

loan forgiveness also has the potential to anger voters who have paid off their loans, never took on debt or don’t believe the government should step in to help current borrowers.

Perceptive.

Kamala Harris Tests Positive for Covid-19 - WSJ

“She has not been a close contact to the president or first lady due to their respective recent travel schedules,” Ms. Allen said.

I bet that’s the reason.

I hate the new WSJ question/answer articles. It’s sloppy and disjointed.

Every article is question and answer. The trick to good writing and journalism is to arrange in a way that makes it flow.

Dress for the home you want, not the home you have.

Twitter Accepts Elon Musk’s Offer to Buy Company in $44 Billion Deal - WSJ

The stock has been an anemic performer in an era of huge returns for technology companies. Its shares jumped on their first day of trading in 2013 to close at $44.90, within a dollar of where they were more than eight years later when Mr. Musk made his approach.

Can’t wait for this deal to close and the S&P 500 to drop this dog.

Elon Musk, Twitter and Free Speech - WSJ Opinion

A former CEO of the social site Reddit called for government regulation “to prevent rich people from controlling our channels of communication.” That line was published in an op-ed at the Washington Post, which is owned by the noted pauper Jeff Bezos.

Fidelity to Allow Retirement Savers to Put Bitcoin in 401(k) Accounts - WSJ

the 23,000 companies that use Fidelity to administer their retirement plans will have the option to put bitcoin on the menu.

The breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits are going to be a slam dunk.

Under the plan, Fidelity would let savers allocate as much as 20% of their nest eggs to bitcoin, though that threshold could be lowered by plan sponsors.

Another 20% will be permitted to be invested into your cousin’s new restaurant and a remaining 20% may be used to purchase Beanie Babies.

Mr. Gray said the fees on the account will be between 0.75% and 0.9%, depending on the client, not counting trading costs.

Don’t worry, you’ll still be lining Fidelity’s pockets while you gamble at the table.

Elon Musk Agrees to Buy Twitter in $44 Billion Deal - WSJ

Twitter Inc. on Monday accepted Elon Musk’s bid to take over the company, giving the world’s richest man control over the influential social-media network where he is also among its most powerful users.

I’m glad that this deal takes a terrible company out of my portfolio, and under new management, I may rejoin.

The Window to Enjoy Your Empty Nest Is Shrinking - WSJ

“I haven’t been able to do anything that is not work- or kid-centered in really almost 13 years,” says Ms. Frederickson, founder and chief executive of human-resources executive search firm Frederickson Partners in Menlo Park, Calif. “I’m ready to have a full and fun life.” 

13 years into parenting and she still doesn’t get it?

She never will.

Struggling AMC Threatens To Clamp Down On Theater Sharing - The Onion

“While rare, there have actually been extreme instances of 30, 40, sometimes even 50 people in a single theater watching a movie. But from now on, you can’t just come to an AMC location and bring a bunch of friends with you thinking you’re all going to watch the same screening. That just isn’t going to happen anymore.”

Gas-Engine Bans Drive Landscapers Toward Electric Mowers and Blowers - WSJ

Some landscapers and dealers are wary, raising concerns about the added cost and complexity of relying on battery power to manicure yards and trees.

I priced a battery-powered edger this season. It was 3x the cost of the gas model.

I have a battery chainsaw and it’s awesome. Instant on, no messing with fuel and oil, it’s exactly what I want. But we’ve got to get the price of batteries under control.

Government mandates that prematurely force out gas models distorts basic economics and only exacerbates price differences.

No one is against battery powered lawn equipment, cars, or anything else. But electric, like any other new technology, must deliver better results and better performance at a better price.

Apple Store Workers Seek to Unionize, Following Efforts at Amazon, Starbucks - WSJ

“Apple is a profoundly positive place to work, but we know that the company can better live up to their ideals,” said Derrick Bowles, an employee at the Atlanta store.

The arrogance.

the company offers employees strong compensation, healthcare options, tuition reimbursement, parental leave and stock grants, among other benefits. The spokesman said Apple’s minimum pay at retail stores is $20 an hour.

But no pony, tho.

The Biden Administration is putting its weight behind nascent unionization movements in the name of helping workers.

It’s ironic because profligate spending, crushing inflation and overly generous student loan subsidies are hurting these very same workers.

Once every 24-48 months.

McCarthy Said He Would Advise Trump to Resign After Jan. 6 Riot, Tape Shows - WSJ

Thursday’s revelations were seen as potentially testing their relationship and complicating Mr. McCarthy’s efforts to become the next speaker

Why? His instincts were exactly right. Trump should’ve resigned on January 7.

Crypto Thieves Get Bolder by the Heist, Stealing Record Amounts - WSJ

The Beanstalk protocol used what’s called a DAO, or decentralized autonomous organization. Users can dedicate, or “stake,” funds to the project, which gives them a vote in governance and changes to the protocol. According to blockchain-analytics firm Elliptic, the hacker borrowed about $1 billion worth of different stablecoins, using an ultra-short-term kind of loan called a flashloan, and then added that to Beanstalk’s funds. That was enough to give them an overwhelming percentage of voting power. The hacker proposed donating money to Ukraine, and voted to approve the idea. The proposal, however, included code that instead sent all the funds locked up in the Beanstalk protocol to a wallet controlled by the hacker, according to Elliptic.

Kind of genius.

CNN+ Streaming Service Is Shutting Down a Month After Launching - WSJ

CNN+, which was launched on March 29, wasn’t met with enthusiasm in the marketplace and had fewer than 100,000 subscribers, the person said.

Better luck next time, Chris Wallace!

I don’t always enjoy a hot meal, but when I do, it’s because it’s a weird time and my kids are playing, studying, or asleep.

🍳

If an EV’s battery lasts 15 years, and replacing that battery is cost prohibitive, are we really just making cars extremely disposable?

Grim Study Reveals All 2 Million Americans Who Flew Yesterday Are Now Dead Of COVID - The Babylon Bee

The millions of citizens innocently flying on airplanes, completely safe from the virus because they were wearing masks in a tiny cylinder hurtling through the air with 200 other people, instantly dropped dead as soon as the mask mandate was struck down by a federal judge.

May they all Rest In Peace.

Netflix Loses Subscribers for the First Time in 10 Years, Blames Account Sharing - MacRumors

Netflix said that revenue growth has “slowed considerably,” with the company faulting “a large number of households sharing accounts”

#StopPutinsPasswordSharing

Lots of folks upset on the internet about the overturning of mask mandates on airplanes.

Someone should tell them about cars.

Judge Throws Out Federal Mask Mandate for Public Transportation - WSJ

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a President Donald Trump appointee, said the mandate exceeded the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Someone had to say it.

Happy Easter!

Took my son to meet an airplane at our local airport.

Fun evening, very cool job!

The new Apple Card ad shows a customer applying in the checkout line and being approved for a credit card at 18.99% APR.

WHAT A GREAT SERVICE!!!!

Racist Twitter Board Declares They Would Rather Go Bankrupt Than Be Owned By An African American - The Babylon Bee

“Ain’t no foreigner gonna get his hand’s on TWITTER!” said Callaway. “He needs to go back where he came from and build his own platform!”

It’s 2022!

Online grocery ordering will be absolutely perfect when they figure out a way to accept manufacturers coupons.

Finland, Sweden Evaluating NATO Membership With Free One-Day Guest Pass - The Onion

“It’s nice to get a taste of what it’s like to have the full military backing of the Western Alliance, even if it’s just for a day,” said Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin