Potemkin Villages, Blue State/European style

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off for a weekend around the corner

Just like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Paris did in preparation for their own events drawing international and national visitors, Seattle has (temporarily - they come right back) kicked its bums down the road while the World Cup is in town. Message: “We care”. Uh huh.

Ari Hoffman, NY Post:

Socialist Seattle mayor’s World Cup cleanup is a world-class fraud

Seattle cleaned itself up to host the World Cup the way a child cleans his room before his parents come upstairs: by shoving the dirty laundry under the bed and stuffing everything else into the closet.

Socialist Mayor Katie Wilson herded thousands of drug addicts away from the SoDo neighborhood’s Lumen Field football stadium and nearby Downtown’s hotels, then bragged that “Seattle is ready” for the massive influx of international visitors.

But walk just a few blocks, and the truth crowds the sidewalk — hunched over and smoking fentanyl.

This week I joined Jonathan Choe, senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, and Andrea Suarez, founder of homeless outreach group We Heart Seattle, for what we called a “Doom Loop Tour” through the parts of Seattle that officials hope World Cup visitors never see.

It was just a few hours before Monday’s Belgium-Egypt face-off, the first of six matches to be held in the Emerald City.

At 12th and Jackson, in the Chinatown-International District that overlooks the stadium, hundreds of people clustered on corners to openly smoke fentanyl and staggered through the streets like a horde from “The Walking Dead.”

Drug deals went down in plain view.

Minority business owners, especially the district’s Asian shopkeepers that have been abandoned by the city for years, were left to fend for themselves.

Many had boarded up their storefront windows.

One had to intervene to stop a drugged-out vagrant from breaking into his car while we watched.

A pair of people who we took to be charity workers distributed food to the addicts.

But when we tried to speak with them, the reality became clear: The food appeared to be bait to draw in new customers for their illegal drug sales.

We spoke with a dazed-looking girl who looked no older than 15, wearing a loose-fitting bra and torn, unbuttoned jeans.

In one hand she held a straw. In the other, fentanyl foil.

Suarez, who personally interacts with homeless people on the streets and gets them into housing and treatment without the city’s help, told me she believed the girl was a victim of trafficking.

The teenager declined her offer of assistance, but accepted a hug.

Next we attempted to walk through Lewis Park — a natural area with a hiking trail that’s become a no-go zone.

In the twilight, I could make out the flicker of dozens of lighters burning fentanyl along the path.

Suarez called out to see if anyone needed services. 

Addicts pelted her and Choe with expletives and half-eaten pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in response.

A few of those wandering nearby warned us not to go farther in, saying it was too dangerous: Honduran drug gangs are said to operate inside the park.

Outside the park we came across a mostly naked, emaciated body on the ground. I could not tell if it was a man or a woman. Suarez immediately called 911.

You say hello, they say goodbye

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The owners of 7 Heusted Drive in Old Greenwich bought it for $2.750 million a year ago, April, changed their minds, and put it back up for sale last month for $2.995 million; it sold yesterday for $3.1. After transaction costs, even with the leverage afforded by an 80% mortgage they won’t have made much money, if any, on this turn-around. Then again, they didn’t spend much, in any, time here, either.

I'm in love with Gina Moore (but I sure wouldn’t want to make her angry)

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while barefoot, even!

“Moore says she acted on pure instinct, knowing the cougar could have turned on her at any moment.’

Biden boasts of his efforts to end fossil fuels,and his party is chomping at the bit to resume the battle

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I can forgive Trump for an awful lot, simply for his closing our borders and keeping our energy producers operating. There’s much more to be grateful for, but these two accomplishments alone are sufficient to justify his greatness. But Iran ….

Yes, it's Minnesota, but the same indoctrination and brainwashing is going on in many states and in many schools, public and private

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another day, another time

Removing “content-based education”, and proud proud of it.

John Hinderaker, PowerLine:

Anti-Americanism In the Public Schools

It’s bad enough that our public schools are terrible. It’s worse that their curricula, in some states, are actively anti-American. In Minnesota, where I live, our legislature has mandated a change from teaching factual content to instilling left-wing activism. This is done in the guise of “Ethnic Studies” instruction.

My organization campaigned hard against the legislative Ethnic Studies mandate and has since campaigned to repeal it. Nevertheless, it is going into effect this year. How bad is it? We have released a series of videos exposing what “Ethnic Studies” really means. This is the third in the series; there are two more to come. Prepare to be shocked:

However bad you think the schools are, they are worse. While Minnesota is no doubt one of the worst offenders, don’t assume that the schools in your community are significantly better in terms of anti-Americanism.

FWIW: Anti-Americanism in social studies, but in almost all (every?) other subjects, from science to English, even to math.

It appears I'm not the only one to question Trump's "Deal"

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“I told you so!”

'Trump should renege': Iran deal faces backlash from conservative allies

Critics say the framework gives Iran huge financial benefits without requiring dismantlement of nuclear infrastructure

President Donald Trump's proposed Iran agreement is drawing sharp criticism from some of his strongest supporters [most of those quoted in Fox’s article could hardly be described as among “his strongest supporters”, but they makke good points nonteless _ Ed] , who argue the deal rewards Tehran before it has agreed to fully dismantle its nuclear program.

The 14-point framework agreement, unveiled on Wednesday, establishes an immediate ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with key provisions including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the removal of the U.S. naval blockade, temporary waivers allowing Iranian oil exports, access to frozen Iranian assets and a commitment to negotiate a final agreement within 60 days. The framework also outlines a proposed economic reconstruction package reportedly worth at least $300 billion and includes Iran's renewed pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons.

However, critics note that the agreement does not require the immediate dismantlement of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, the removal of enriched uranium stockpiles, restrictions on Tehran's ballistic missile program or the disbandment of Iranian-backed proxy groups such as Hezbollah.

Despite the administration portraying the agreement as a breakthrough, critics have argued that the concessions offered to Iran far outweigh the commitments secured in return.

"The deal is absolutely terrible, there's no getting around it," Will Chamberlain, senior counsel at the Article III Project and vice president of external affairs at the Edmund Burke Foundation, wrote on X. "The text gives Iranians huge, immediate financial benefits and protection for Hezbollah in exchange for opening the Strait - and nothing else. President Trump should renege."

Conservative talk radio host Mark Levin praised President Trump's decision to use military force against Iran but sharply criticized the proposed MOU, arguing that it abandons U.S. leverage before Tehran has made meaningful concessions.

"From day one, I have underscored that no deal will be honored by the Iranian regime," Levin wrote on X, adding, "Why would we agree to immediately drop the most important leverage we have over the regime in advance of it complying with MOU requirements?"

AG Hamilton, the pseudonym of a licensed attorney and conservative commentator with a large following on X, sharply criticized the preliminary U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.

"So they get to keep the nuclear program, the ballistic missile program, and funding for terror proxies. But they will pinky promise not to build a full nuke while getting billions of financial relief to fund all of that. Great deal. Should have had Kamala Harris negotiate it," AG wrote.

Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who served during President Donald Trump's first term and is a known critic of the president, called the memorandum of understanding "pathetic."

"I was involved in Iran issues in the first Trump administration," Taylor wrote on X. "The Trump 'deal' could be the most humiliating in U.S. diplomatic history. Hundred of billions in exchange for a 'promise' we already had."

Niki Haley, no longer a Trump supporter, doesn’t support him here,, either: "Now, we plan to unlock billions of dollars and lift sanctions, with the promise of even more money. They will use that money the way they always do— to further their nuclear ambitions and on terrorist proxies against us. It’s a huge mistake to pay to rebuild the threat we just destroyed."

On the other hand, at least one person likes it — sort of. Unfortunately, that person is Piers Morgan:

Broadcaster Piers Morgan said he was pleased to see Trump seeking an exit from the conflict, even while criticizing the circumstances that led to it.

"This Iran deal is about as far removed from ‘unconditional surrender’ as any deal in the history of Planet Earth," Morgan wrote on X. "I’m glad President Trump is getting out of this fiasco, but I bet if he had his time again, he’d have never got into it or believed Netanyahu’s bullsh*t."

Having bitten off more than he could chew, Trump spat out Israel, and caved to Iran

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Hezbollah Is the Key to Iran's Strategy to Hold the Gulf Hostage For the Foreseeable Future

David Strom, HotAir:

Now that the Memorandum of Understanding has been released—actually read to reporters, and we have the transcripts generated from that oral release—we know that one of the biggest points Iran demanded was that Israel quit fighting Hezbollah and exit Lebanon. 

Not even Lebanon agrees to that, as Hezbollah is an occupying power. They want a resolution of the war as well, but reject the claim of sovereignty that Iran is making to Lebanon. And make no mistake, that is what they are doing, and Lebanon is not happy about it. 

Whatever the case, Iran demanded that the very first commitment made by the United States was to reign in Israel and get them out of Lebanon, and apparently the Trump administration agreed. 

“The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed in good faith on [ __ date] on the following:

1 — The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war are signing this MOU to declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph.”

Iran considers Hezbollah—indeed all of the "Axis of Resistance," to be equivalent to Iran. Which means that every time Israel and Hezbollah clash, it is, apparently, a violation of the MOU from their perspective. 

Of course, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah are inevitable, and you can bet all your money that Iran will want Hezbollah to make "limited" attacks to test Israeli responses and to drive a wedge between Trump and Bibi. 

And, you can further bet that Iran will, at times, use those clashes as an excuse to make "minor" attacks on shipping or on other targets. Not above the threshold where full-scale war will resume, but more along the lines of what it did during the "cease-fire." It will also, as implied in the MOU, start charging transit fees in some arrangement with Oman, which will jointly manage the Strait after 30-60 days. 

The Lebanon issue is Iran's trump card. 'Violations" of the cease-fire there are unavoidable. Trump will pressure Israel not to respond to Hezbollah, as he tried just prior to the signing of the MOU on Sunday, and Iran can use the issue to drive a wedge between our countries. 

That is especially true if Iran does what it has done in the days since Sunday—fire at ships in the Gulf. It is not widely reported, but Iran has continued to harass ships in the Gulf. 

Iran has fired multiple drones at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Iran signed the MOU, a US official told NBC News. 

The official said the IRGC has been launching drones every night, and the US military has been shooting them down before they can threaten ships in the area.

These are, essentially, warning shots to the US, making us take out the drones, and increasing the sense of risk for everybody involved. A reminder that Iran has an ace up its sleeve. 

By claiming that any attack on Hezbollah is an attack on Iran, and that Israel is bound by the MOU, Iran can claim that any shenanigans in the Gulf are a result of Israel violating the terms. It need not "close" the Strait entirely to maintain leverage; it merely has to remind everyone, with warning shots, that it can. 

It's a two-fer for them. They drive a wedge between Israel and America, making them the bad guy threatening the world economy, and maintaining maximum leverage for...who knows how long? 

Trump wants this deal. He has made clear that he is very unhappy with Israel. Which suggests that he will pressure them to hold back. They won't because they can't. 

What happens next? Nothing good, I would bet. 

Hezbollah has been firing missiles: literally thousands of missiles — into Israel since its October 7th massacre tour, and continues to do so. Trump’s repsones today:

Trump doubles down on claim it’s ‘unfair’ if Iran not allowed to keep some ballistic missiles

God knows we don’t want to be unfair to our sworn enemy that has vowed to destroy Israel and the US and even now has terrorst cells hidden across the U.S. preparing new attacks.

Trump hasn’t made too many mistakes in his second term, but starting a war that he could not finish is by far the worst.