Althouse: Sunrise — 6:59, 7:16, 7:19, 7:20, 7:22, 7:29.

October 25, 2025

Sunrise — 6:59, 7:16, 7:19, 7:20, 7:22, 7:29.

Talk about whatever you like in the comments.

111 comments:

BUMBLE BEE said...: Truly awesome pictures. Thanks for your work!; 10/25/25, 6:22 PM
Leland said...: Trade negotiations with Canada called off after Ontario PM spends $75M CAN on an ad featuring Ronald Reagan. The ad used part of a speech that suggested Reagan was against tariffs for protectionism. However, the ad cuts off the end of Reagan’s speech, which was Reagan arguing to retain the right of Presidents to be able to impose tariffs against unfair trade practices. The speech was actually against Congress attempt to limit Presidential tariffs authority.; 10/25/25, 6:27 PM
Leland said...: Goodbye to June Lockhart. RIP.; 10/25/25, 6:29 PM
buwaya said...: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1346437.shtml
"Elon Musk, CEO of US private space firm SpaceX, said on Thursday that several Chinese reusable carrier rockets have added aspects of Starship and to a Falcon 9 architecture, allowing it to beat SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

Musk made the comment in another social media post containing a video clip, which showed the fueling rehearsal and static ignition test of Chinese private space firm LandSpace's Zhuque-3 reusable rocket conducted from October 18 to 20 at the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone. "

Strategic initiative will belong to whoever holds the high ground of Earths orbit, and that will depend on lift capacity. This is vastly important and one never hears about it in US media. The US is addicted to arguing over stupid things.; 10/25/25, 6:32 PM
Beasts of England said...: I seem to always like the first photo of the bunch. Great colors in them all!; 10/25/25, 6:46 PM
Inga said...: God’s ballroom.; 10/25/25, 6:49 PM
Ronald J. Ward said...: "I don't think we're necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war, I think we're just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. We're going to kill them. They're going to be, like dead."
—-Donald Trump on international policies

Here at home on our own streets, Trump said; “Very simply, if you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot!”

No due process there, no due process here, no problem.; 10/25/25, 6:57 PM
mongo said...: I never cease to be amazed at how much the colors change almost from minute to minute. To me this is the real value of Professor Althouse’s photography.; 10/25/25, 7:08 PM
john mosby said...: RJW: "Trump said; “Very simply, if you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot!”"

Maybe, among all the other business he brings to SCOTUS, Trump can cause them to re-address Tennessee v....wait for it...GARNER!!! CC, JSM; 10/25/25, 7:10 PM
Jaq said...: I was listening to a podcast, and when I heard this one, I almost busted a gut laughing. Macron, in order to keep control of the government of France, made a deal with the Socialists, who demanded that he abandon all pension reforms, which he said was needed to balance the budget, and he agreed to this, he agreed to bust France's budget so that he could stay in power, and now the Socialist are telling him that unless he agrees to a wealth tax, the deal is off. That is so perfect. Imagine Macron's supporters agreeing to a wealth tax just to keep him in power for a little while longer.

Starmer's Labor just lost an election in a riding that they have held continuously for a century, and were soundly defeated, coming in a distant third, behind Farage and a Welsh nationalist. And a minister that Starmer booted out of his cabinet was just voted as deputy prime minister by his own party.

Merz's popularity is at about 15% These are the people running Europe.; 10/25/25, 7:10 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’No due process there, no due process here, no problem.’

Warren Weinstein has entered the chat…; 10/25/25, 7:11 PM
mongo said...: “Here at home on our own streets, Trump said; “Very simply, if you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot! No due process there, no due process here, no problem.“

When governments refuse to prosecute, and judges set criminals free, Trump’s attitude is what you get. Do you really expect anything else? People have been warning us for years that “this won’t end well,” and his statement reflects that.; 10/25/25, 7:19 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’The SpaceX Falcon rocket will do more launches and carry more payload to orbit this year than the Space Shuttle did in its entire history.’

Impressive.; 10/25/25, 7:33 PM
Peachy said...: Kak - Democrats love authoritarian socialist Drug lords who ruin whole nations!; 10/25/25, 7:36 PM
Gospace said...: Here at home on our own streets, Trump said; “Very simply, if you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store. Shot!”

No due process there, no due process here, no problem.

If you are in the process of committing a crime- you should have absolutely no protection from the law, and no protection from the consequences of your actions. Period. That's how the world has worked throughout history, and there's no reason to change the paradigm. But, but- DEATH PENALTY for a smash and grab? Yes. Absolutely. Why not? Shoplifting? Sure. Any crime.

The police and justice system exist to protect criminals from mob justice. But both mob justice and police enforcement come after a crime is committed. During commission of the crime- the criminal is betting his life vs. the value of whatever crime he's committing.; 10/25/25, 7:48 PM
rehajm said...: Fear not Trump haters, while all this East Wing stuff is clogging up the propaganda toilets tariff impact is slowly working its way into consumer prices. Moratoriums ended in August so Q3 will bet hot with a trickle and Q4 more-so. Santa bringing some coal to please you haters…; 10/25/25, 7:55 PM
Clyde said...: A family spokesman said of June Lockhart, who died on Thursday at age 100: “She was very happy up until the very end, reading the New York Times and LA Times every day,” he said. “It was very important to her to stay focused on the news of the day.”

That brought a sardonic smile to my face, as I thought how unusual it seemed for someone to be both very happy and a daily reader of both the New York Times and the LA Times.; 10/25/25, 8:08 PM
Narr said...: Clyde, if I live to be 100 I'll be happy to read anything, even the NY and LA Ts.; 10/25/25, 8:19 PM
Kakistocracy said...: American chess grandmaster and streamer Daniel Naroditsky dies aged 29 ~ The Guardian

The best chess commentator ever. I've never seen anyone commenting on it with such passion, eloquence and understanding. He was so entertaining to watch and listen. He made what can be a complex game so accessible with an encouraging demeanor.; 10/25/25, 8:28 PM
wildswan said...: Four days left before the Food Share (aka Food Stamps aka SNAP) debacle hits the fan. In this day and age a shutdown means that people on Food Share in Wisconsin start to go hungry after one month. People are very calm about this merely remarking that only a few people are welfare will be hit. No, my friends. With every passing year since Covid more and more people have signed up. On November 1, 18,000 veterans in Wisconsin will lose at least $300 dollars in grocery money. And on November 1st, 30% of the people of Sheboygan county, 26% of the people of Shawano county will lose at least $300 in grocery money. Unemployment in these two counties is at 2% and 3%. Veterans and the working poor were having trouble paying for groceries. And now they are going to have more. And why? Because the Dems want to subsidize health care for the illegals and they are holding the SNAP program hostage to that demand because they believe that you can't get people to pay attention to policy till people feel pain.
On November 1, 48% of the black households in Milwaukee will lose at least $300 in grocery money. You would think the Dems would be darting about in Karen packs denouncing the social crime of depriving the native sons of food money in order to get money for illegals. And the Dems know how to amplify. Yet the Dems have just whispered that these hard times are coming. But of course the whole idea of the shutdown is their plan. So, they aren't going to mention how hard it will be on their most loyal constituents.
Whisper now that there will be no SNAP after Nov 1; blame Trump later because people were caught by surprise. TDS - the miracle political elixer that made Biden sharp as a tack, that made Kamala, a charismatic speaker, that made Antifa, a bunch of Teletubbies can certainly make the Dem shutdown Trump's idea.; 10/25/25, 8:30 PM
Big Mike said...: It's been reported that Kamala Harris asserts that she's not done yet.

I am also given to understand that she is complaining about all the people sticking forks in her.; 10/25/25, 8:32 PM
Mason G said...: "No due process there, no due process here, no problem."

If you don't want to be shot, don't steal stuff. Seems simple enough. Apparently, some people don't put a very high value on their own lives. Whose fault is that?; 10/25/25, 8:33 PM
Big Mike said...: Zohran Mamdami complains that his aunt stopped taking the subway after 9/11 out of fear that it was unsafe for her to wear the hijab in public.

Subway ridership was down after 9/11 because 2976 people, most of whom lived in New York, were deceased.; 10/25/25, 8:38 PM
Kakistocracy said...: ‘We’re going to kill them’ ` Donald Trump

Worrying about legality seems so pre-2024 nowadays ...

I'm not sure this administration cares much about the law.
There is always a lawyer they can find to say it's legal
"enhanced interrogation".

It is not complicated. The US is murdering people on the high seas like a pirate. The armed forces are quite capable of intercepting and detaining suspected drugs transports and nobody would have a problem with that. The perpetrators could be tried, convicted, and imprisoned.

Worse still, the murder tactic is guaranteed to be ineffective. Thousands of years of history show that gangs will be replaced by other gangs faster than you can say Jack Robinson. The problem that needs addressing is the market in the US and that is much more complicated than lighting up a speedboat or ten.

Machismo displays from self-styled War Chiefs who don't like soldiers with beards or bellies are contemptible. His latest and greatest aircraft carrier should be patrolling close to the Arctic where Putin is assembling his nukes, or China even, not Venezuela.; 10/25/25, 8:39 PM
Big Mike said...: From PowerLineblog by way of Instapundit:

Image; 10/25/25, 8:44 PM
Kakistocracy said...: BM writes: "Zohran Mamdami complains that his aunt stopped taking the subway after 9/11 out of fear that it was unsafe for her to wear the hijab in public"

Of course, that’s not what Mamdani was saying. He was pointing out what was obviously true to anyone alive then -- there was a big backlash against Muslim-Americans and anyone with an Arab-sounding name right after 9/11.

But Big Mike has to be an @sshole 24/7 for his fellow travelers.; 10/25/25, 8:46 PM
Big Mike said...: So tell me, Kaki, can you show us where you complained about Barack Obama, after he and his sidekicks Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, started a war with the sovereign nation of Libya and proceeded to basically ignore the processes and requirements of the War Power Act? If you didn't complain then, you look kind of asinine complaining now.; 10/25/25, 8:48 PM
Iman said...: kaKAW is WACK, a paid shill of the Axis of A**holes.; 10/25/25, 8:50 PM
Eva Marie said...: By the way Kamala’s book is still on Amazon’s best selling 190 list. It’s at 39, doing better than I thought it would. They’ve also issued a spiral bound copy. Very unusual. Normal for cook books, craft books but not autobiographies. Maybe because 107 Days is based on journal entries, the publishers thought they would mimic the format of a journal.
Michelle Obama’s The Look, in preorder is in the 6,000s with a November 4th publishing date. Her podcast is doing very poorly. Maybe it will pick up with the book promotion.; 10/25/25, 8:50 PM
Big Mike said...: @Kaki, the backlash after 9/11 was not deserved? That's news to me. Were people mistaken about the perpetrators being Muslims from Arab counties?; 10/25/25, 8:52 PM
Eva Marie said...: Oops that was supposed to be Amazon’s best selling 100 list.; 10/25/25, 8:52 PM
Aggie said...: I had heard that Ontario had pulled that 'Reagan, misquoted' ad after protest from the US government, but our dinner companions informed me it was still running, and sure enough, when we got home, there it was on TV again. Yeah, I don't think Americans are going to be 100% on board with a foreigner trashing their President's policies, even if they didn't vote for him. Maybe some of our TDS brethren can move to Ontario, where maybe they'll fit in better with a government that rules with a firm hand, provided they're willing to drop that whole
'No Kings' thingie.; 10/25/25, 8:54 PM
Iman said...: Absolutely beautiful photos!!!; 10/25/25, 8:55 PM
Aggie said...: "...there was a big backlash against Muslim-Americans and anyone with an Arab-sounding name...."

Who knows, maybe it was that whole 'dancing in the streets in celebration' thing that created a little friction among people that just saw their home town attacked without provocation. Who knows? You remember the videos, right?; 10/25/25, 8:57 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’He was pointing out what was obviously true to anyone alive then -- there was a big backlash against Muslim-Americans and anyone with an Arab-sounding name right after 9/11.’

I don’t remember that at all. I’m sure you have some support for this claim other than ‘obviously true’.; 10/25/25, 9:04 PM
buwaya said...: 3000 dead seems to me a vastly more significant loss than a passing reputational loss to American Muslims. That Mandami mentioned it at all is tone deaf, at least.
Or it reveals his value system.; 10/25/25, 9:05 PM
Eva Marie said...: Scott Adams is doing very poorly. There’s an experimental drug therapy he will probably begin in a month or so. Lots of pain and he can’t walk under his own power. Podcasts are still excellent. I really admire him.; 10/25/25, 9:11 PM
buwaya said...: Hordes of Muslims from around the world are eager to come live in the US. And have been, continuously, since 9/11. The US has let in millions of Muslims as immigrants and students. And the US has treated them extremely well, permitting vast numbers to become wealthy and powerful.
Mandami should, by any conception of rational perspective, be constantly on his knees thanking the US, without quibbles.; 10/25/25, 9:20 PM
Gospace said...: Kakistocracy said... a bunch of nonsense.

We're not striking like pirates- we're striking at pirates- or the equivalent. No requirement to give a smuggler/pirate any warning. No requirement to give them a chance to surrender. Fire, sink, boom! it's done. If there are survivors you can- if you want- pick them up. No requirement to do that either. In the days of wooden ships and iron men survivors might be picked up and questioned. Some MIGHT be offered the chance to enlist, the rest would be hung. Would depend on how they all answered questions.

Lots of rules about ships on the high seas that must be followed by all vessels out on them. The vessels so far sunk haven't been following them. One big one, not archaic, but from ancient times- must fly a flag of national origin. If you don't have one, well, any nation's Navy or Coast Guard can board and search or seize the vessel. If the vessel is attempting to flee or engages in any evasive action- they can sink it. Warning shots not a requirement.

These are well known rules. A vessel no displaying a flag is stateless. No matter where it just came from or is going to.; 10/25/25, 9:25 PM
Iman said...: I worked with Scott Adams from around 1990 to ‘95, Eva Marie… he was a good man, a great (and dry) sense of humor. He surprised all of us and deserved all the success that came his way. I’m listening to his podcasts on my morning walks… informative and enjoyable. Praying for a miracle.; 10/25/25, 9:31 PM
Aggie said...: Just spitballing here, but if the current popular fad of ICE tracking apps is really here to stay, and if Law Enforcement operations are to be meticulously broadcast so as to maximally compromise the effect of those operations, maybe we oughtta, you know, create trackers for all the really smart politicians that are making them so popular. I'm sure they won't mind. It'll bring in lots of renewed interest ! And who knows, maybe a few votes.; 10/25/25, 9:33 PM
FullMoon said...: ""Big Mike said...
It's been reported that Kamala Harris asserts that she's not done yet."

More fiber?; 10/25/25, 9:36 PM
Jupiter said...: One night, or really, early morning -- probably about 2:00 AM -- back in the early 90's, I awoke to the sound of a woman screaming "Help!", in the parking lot outside my apartment. In those days, I had a considerable allegiance to my own idealized version of myself, and he was a guy who would not hesitate to go to the assistance of a woman in distress. So, I put on some pants -- I slept naked in those days -- and walked out my front door and down the steps.
What I saw was, a woman, stooping to pick up various items on the ground, and stuff them into a purse, while a man stood over her, explaining something. He was clearly very excited, waving his hands, but he was not shouting.
Neither one of them was aware of me, until I made some utterance. Probably, "What's going on?". That sounds about right. I recall him as a little taller than me, maybe 6'1", but nowhere near my 230 lbs. So, I felt pretty much in charge of the situation. In Eugene OR, in those days, you didn't worry much about weapons, unless you were dealing with black guys.
He immediately began to explain his side of things to me, and I listened without really paying much attention. After a few seconds, I turned to the woman to get her side of the story, which I suspected would be rather different than his. But she was one gone gal.
So. I looked at him, and shrugged. I mean, I'm standing in the parking lot downstairs from my apartment, in nothing but some jeans, looking at some asshole I am fairly certain just dumped a woman's purse all over the parking lot because he wanted to fuck her and she wasn't up for it, and I would have been up for punching him, hard, knockout hard, but she's gone. So, why am I punching some guy in a parking lot? And why is he standing around talking to me? What on Earth does he think he has to gain by explaining to me why it was OK for him to yadda-ka-yadda?
Well, he worked that out pretty quickly, and left. G'night! And I went back to bed. G'night!
The next morning, the Oregon Daily Emerald, the student paper, had a full-page ad, to which my student fees contributed, by way of some "feminist" racket, with the banner headline, "All Men Are Potential Rapists!". And I thought about that, and I thought, "Well, yeah. I am a potential rapist. I have the necessary equipment. And I'm pretty big and strong, too. I lift weights! God help the poor woman who wakes me up in the middle of the night!"; 10/25/25, 9:40 PM
Inga said...: “And why? Because the Dems want to subsidize health care for the illegals and they are holding the SNAP program hostage to that demand because they believe that you can't get people to pay attention to policy till people feel pain.”

Dems want to ensure those getting the ACA subsidies continue to get
them so their health insurance premiums don’t double and become entirely unaffordable. Poor working class mothers depend on Medicaid Badger Care for their children, will this still be there with the provisions of the BBB? Or will it be diminished costing them more to have health care for their children? It’s not just the loss of WIC and Food Share that will affect poor and low income working class families. Don’t Republicans care about this?; 10/25/25, 9:49 PM
Inga said...: Also Wildswan, Trump was gleeful when this shutdown happened, bragging about how much he could “get done” during a shut down. Laying off federal workers, who have children too BTW, shutting down “Democratic programs”. Trump directed Republicans not to talk to Democrats or negotiate with them. Put blame where it’s due.; 10/25/25, 9:54 PM
buwaya said...: Were you at Pac Bell?
I too worked with a couple of guys who knew Scott Adams there.; 10/25/25, 9:54 PM
Iman said...: Yes, I was, buwaya. At that time, Scott was the right hand man of our Science and Technology VP, who was quite a character himself.; 10/25/25, 9:58 PM
Iman said...: He started that Dilbert comic strip in our Engineering news letter at the Death Star (company HQ) in San Ramon.; 10/25/25, 10:01 PM
buwaya said...: "the Death Star (company HQ) in San Ramon"
Been there a couple of times.
Lucky guy, you. I never met Adams myself.; 10/25/25, 10:03 PM
Inga said...: And Wildswan, here is what Trump said about the shut down…

“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity,” Trump posted on his social media platform at the outset of the shutdown.“; 10/25/25, 10:07 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: Good for the French Socialists. Macron wouldn't be in power without them, and if wants to continue he'll have to give something to them. From what I've read, the tax is 3 percent on individuals with more that 10 million euros (12 million usd?). Seems like a reasonable demand given they're the Goddamn socialist party!; 10/25/25, 10:11 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: wonder how many voters in France have more than $12 million. I'd bet less than 5 percent, if that.; 10/25/25, 10:12 PM
Inga said...: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/federal-workers-dc-food-bank-miss-first-full-paycheck-shutdown-rcna239698

“WASHINGTON — Federal workers lined up around the corner outside of the Capital Area Food Bank in Southeast Washington, D.C., on Friday after missing their first full paycheck since the now 24-day government shutdown began.

The food bank, set up specifically for federal workers, provided boxed meals, household goods and personal hygiene items to over 250 federal employees on Friday, according to Wil Stroman, a local pastor who is helping organize a food bank for federal workers every Friday until the shutdown ends.”; 10/25/25, 10:14 PM
Inga said...: One last thought Wildswan, why aren’t people upset about giving $40 Billion to Argentina. Just think about how much that $40 Billion is needed HERE in our own country.; 10/25/25, 10:25 PM
Big Mike said...: The FBI’s Honolulu office, in a post on X, said that a joint operation with local and state law enforcement officials “assisted in the safe location and recoveries of 10 children and youth as part of Operation Shine the Light.”A

So when the FBI is properly led and has its priorities straight they actually can solve crimes and rescue people. Good on them.; 10/25/25, 10:44 PM
buwaya said...: Its a currency swap deal with Argentina. The US is buying Argentine pesos. The US could lose money on this, but not 20 (or 40) billion. Or it could make money on those pesos.; 10/25/25, 10:47 PM
Big Mike said...: Laying off federal workers, who have children too BTW

People whose homes and businesses were burned out during the George Floyd riots, some of whom had children BTW, and people with children whose employers were closed down thanks to the pandemic, did you feel sorry for them too?; 10/25/25, 10:51 PM
gadfly said...: The Obama Presidential Center is taking shape in Jackson Park. It is visible from almost anywhere on Chicago’s South Side, a 225-foot-tall chunky obelisk with eight stories that some have nicknamed “the Obamalisk.” The formal name however, is "The Museum."

The structure is the centerpiece of what will be by far the most expensive presidential center ever constructed. Privately funded, it is projected to cost about $850 million.; 10/25/25, 10:55 PM
Big Mike said...: Or it could make money on those pesos.

Which is very likely, assuming Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman are right.; 10/25/25, 10:57 PM
effinayright said...: Ronald J. Ward said...
"No due process there, no due process here, no problem."
****************

How 'bout telling us what "process" is "due" to non-citizens engaging in criminal invasion of our country, bringing with them tons of drugs that in aggregate kill hundreds of thousand of our citizens a year?

Why do we have to wait until they actually cross our borders?

Seems like you're offering "impotence" as "due process".; 10/25/25, 10:57 PM
Gospace said...: "What should health insurance cover?" is actually a really good question. Should everyone have to purchase the same coverage? Pretty much with state regulations in place, the answer is pretty much "Yes". And it shouldn't be.

My insurance had chiropractic care covered, because NY insists insurance cover quackery. How much of my health insurance dollar goes to that? It's coverage I'll never use. My premiums would be less if I could opt out. It also covers 30 days of inpatient care for substance abuse addiction. And that's EXPENSIVE! Most of us know whether or not we will ever need that. I never have and never will. But is that actually medical care to begin with? All addiction treatments have one thing in common- a failure rate exceeding 90%. The only way a user stops using is if they decide to stop using.

I'm 70- old enough to remember that when we went to the doctor- my father paid for the visit, not insurance. No copay- he paid for it. And in real terms- probably less then today's copay. Why can't we go back to that?

My grandtwins were born prematurely- my daughter and son-in-law had insurance that covered the NICU. Which would bankrupt most if they had to pay for it. My insurance would have covered that, but all 5 births were minimum hospital stays for my wife. I would have selected that coverage if given an option of what is/isn't covered. At age 70 and 68- we're still covered for that...

One thing- insurance should be portable. You select what you want- and pay the premiums. If your employer wants to cover a share of the premiums so they get a writeoff and you get non-taxable insurance benefits- fine. Oh- and why is health insurance a non-taxed benefit? Because of wage and price controls. Employers in WWII weren't allowed to pay employees more- but, they could offer BENEFITS that the employer paid for. Like, for example, health insurance...

I saw a video today from some unknown person who has a different idea why the government shutdown isn't ending. The insurance companies don't want their gravy train to end. Some of the numbers I've seen- like for some Obamacare policies the end of subsidies would mean someone would have to pay an ADDITIONAL $30K a year, and still have a $12K deductible. WTF? Where the heck is all that money going to? Certainly not to actual healthcare. Those amounts bandied about are simply outrageous. I don't have an Obamacare policy. The government still pays their share as if I was employed. And their share is much less then $30K.; 10/25/25, 11:01 PM
Original Mike said...: "Of course, that’s not what Mamdani was saying. He was pointing out what was obviously true to anyone alive then -- there was a big backlash against Muslim-Americans and anyone with an Arab-sounding name right after 9/11."

No, there was not.; 10/25/25, 11:07 PM
Mason G said...: "Laying off federal workers, who have children too BTW..."

Oh good grief. Private sector workers get laid off all the time. Some of them even have children. Perhaps those workers might remember the advice they gave the pipeline workers who were laid off when Biden took office and learn to code?; 10/25/25, 11:09 PM
Jupiter said...: "The food bank, set up specifically for federal workers, provided boxed meals, household goods and personal hygiene items to over 250 federal employees on Friday, according to Wil Stroman, a local pastor who is helping organize a food bank for federal workers every Friday until the shutdown ends.”
Sounds kind of pricey. Where do you suppose Wil Stroman, local pastor, came up with the million or so dollars needed to succor these starving feds?; 10/25/25, 11:10 PM
effinayright said...: Beasts of England said...
’No due process there, no due process here, no problem.’

Warren Weinstein has entered the chat…
***********
Al Qaeda had no problem *kidnapping* Weinstein, did they.

It's on *them* that the poor guy got killed, not us. WE didn't know he was among them when we attacked.

But yes, you can bet your ass the cartels will start claiming innocent people are on those drug boats, or will publicize kidnapped people on board. Trump should ignore them.

An individual's bad luck should not determine our policy toward drug cartels.; 10/25/25, 11:12 PM
effinayright said...: Jupiter said...
"Sounds kind of pricey. Where do you suppose Wil Stroman, local pastor, came up with the million or so dollars needed to succor these starving feds?"
*************
Whaa....? 250 workers each getting 40,000 worth of bennies, for a day?; 10/25/25, 11:16 PM
Original Mike said...: "Its a currency swap deal with Argentina. The US is buying Argentine pesos. The US could lose money on this, but not 20 (or 40) billion. Or it could make money on those pesos."

That'll go over Inga's head.; 10/25/25, 11:19 PM
buwaya said...: The entire argument over US medical coverage is insane. Everyone involved seems deranged. Any study of the facts should come to inescapable conclusions, which should, among sane, rational people, completely change the issues. But this never happens.
As an outsider who has looked into it all it makes me feel like I must adopt a policy of beating people (millions of people) until reason can prevail, but that is quixotic.
- The US system of medical payments is 80%+ state supported or depends on government mandated medical insurance. It is only very slightly less "socialist" than any in Europe. You would think that people should decrease their anger by 80+%, but no.
- The one factor that truly distinguishes the US from Europe is that in the US medical care is vastly expensive. But that is never mentioned, nor has anyone attempted to "fix" this system in a Euro-style manner. The most important factor is never addressed. Again, millions of people need to be beaten.; 10/25/25, 11:47 PM
wildswan said...: Trump has the lost Royal French Crown in a vault in the White House. Pass it on.; 10/25/25, 11:53 PM
buwaya said...: You Americans should consider a mental health program of beatings with bamboo sticks (6 ft is a good length), as practiced, for instance, by my 4th grade math teacher. I think there are a vast number who badly require being beaten into rationality and mathematical ability.; 10/26/25, 12:05 AM
wildswan said...: The insurance subsidies were not going to lapse on September 30th. What to do can still be negotiated during November and December.
But Food Share, the Wisconsin version of SNAP, is going to lapse in four days. The Dems started the shutdown that is causing this lapse. They ignored the approaching deadline. They have no plan to assist the people who will be hungry. They just plan to use hunger among the native sons to gain a benefit for the illegals.; 10/26/25, 12:14 AM
n.n said...: The Bill To Permanently Fix Health Care For All

...
Health insurance companies must sell true insurance to sell any health-related policy at all. A true insurance policy is defined as
...; 10/26/25, 12:45 AM
n.n said...: Medicaid is repealed entirely. No, we're not leaving the poor out in the cold. See the next point; the poor will in fact obtain better care than they have now as they will have full access to the entire body of physicians, hospitals and facilities.; 10/26/25, 12:46 AM
n.n said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/26/25, 12:47 AM
n.n said...: Progressive prices do not imply progressive costs are weakly correlated with health care.; 10/26/25, 12:50 AM
n.n said...: Welfare is slavery, a redistributive change scheme.

Charity is sympathetic and empathetic with equitable and mutual responsibility.

People are not starving. They are consuming in excess of the wrong diet that has a progressive effect for their health and viability.

Unaffordable and progressive debt has two primary forcings: medical and pharmaceutical, and academic industries. Financing, outsourcing and immigration reform, have limited capacity to mitigate progressive prices. Employing women for taxable wages is no longer an option.; 10/26/25, 1:03 AM
Lawnerd said...: Trump killing suspected drug runners outside the US is no different than Obama killing suspected terrorists with drone strikes. Were you calling for due process then? If not, shut the fuck up now.; 10/26/25, 3:59 AM
Lawnerd said...: The US health care payment system does suck. The government heavily subsidizes it. Like everything that gets subsidized the costs inflate because of the subsidies. The same shit happens with our higher education system of subsidized loans, tuition increases to meet the max subsidy. Funny how health care and education cost increases far outpace inflation.; 10/26/25, 4:06 AM
Big Mike said...: Original Mike said...

"Of course, that’s not what Mamdani was saying. He was pointing out what was obviously true to anyone alive then -- there was a big backlash against Muslim-Americans and anyone with an Arab-sounding name right after 9/11."

No, there was not.

But there should have been.; 10/26/25, 5:46 AM
Big Mike said...: @buwaya, had my sons’ teachers used bamboo rods on them, no one would have ever found their bodies.; 10/26/25, 5:48 AM
rehajm said...: …so there is a major shock to retail and the economy coming…it’s just masked right now because we are selling older inventory, and trying to hold prices for holiday; 10/26/25, 5:49 AM
rehajm said...: I buy some foreign goods directly from sellers around the world. The tariff schemes mean I pay FedEx for them or sometimes the company adds them to the price everyone pays, or if there’s a US approved scheme to collect they charge it and send the package along its way as per usual. France Post had no such scheme and thus held a package in limbo for weeks. I thought it was gone but it started moving again this week, making the trip New York and into USPS hands. It hasn’t cleared so will be interesting to see how that goes…; 10/26/25, 5:56 AM
buwaya said...: "buwaya, had my sons’ teachers used bamboo rods on them, no one would have ever found their bodies."

Cultural differences.
I am convinced that bamboo beatings improve IQ.; 10/26/25, 6:22 AM
Humperdink said...: Igna posted: “ The food bank, set up specifically for federal workers, provided boxed meals, household goods and personal hygiene items to over 250 federal employees on Friday”

These workers need permanently canned. They missed their first paycheck a day or two ago. And are now starving? No backup plan? No food in the pantry? Fire them all for stupidity.; 10/26/25, 6:33 AM
Howard said...: Factors increasing the risk of U.S. losses
Currency volatility: The Argentine peso has lost approximately 93% of its value against the U.S. dollar since 2022 and continues to decline despite intervention. The swap requires Argentina to eventually repay the dollars with interest, but a further devaluation of the peso increases the risk of repayment problems.
Repayment risk and serial defaults: Argentina has a long history of defaulting on its debts and already owes vast sums to other lenders, notably the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF has noted that Argentina's capacity to repay its obligations is subject to "exceptional risks".
Low foreign reserves: Despite the IMF providing funds to help Argentina build its foreign exchange reserves, they remain critically low. As of mid-2025, Argentina's net international reserves were negative. This lack of reserve coverage leaves the country vulnerable and raises questions about its ability to repay future obligations.
Market skepticism: Financial markets have reacted poorly to the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, and many investors remain skeptical of Argentina's economic prospects. Some U.S. banks have been reluctant to participate in a separate $20 billion private lending facility without collateral or guarantees.
Geopolitical motivations: The timing and conditions of the assistance have led analysts to conclude the deal is a political gambit to support Milei's party in legislative elections. The decision to bypass the IMF and Trump's comments about withdrawing support if Milei's party loses further reinforce concerns that the deal is motivated by political allegiance rather than sound economic policy.; 10/26/25, 6:47 AM
Howard said...: You Fanboys love catching whatever comes your way from Trump on your blue dress; 10/26/25, 6:48 AM
Leland said...: The Obama Presidential Center is taking shape in Jackson Park.

Glad to hear the concrete slab is coming along.; 10/26/25, 6:54 AM
Jaq said...: It's been shown that if a child truly internalized the multiplication tables, doesn't know some of them, and figure out the rest, which takes time, but knows them all by rote, it improves his ability to learn higher math. It's not IQ that allows you to learn your multiplication tables by heart, it's discipline.

If you think about it, having to stop to do a bit of arithmetic every time a multiplication aspect turns up in an equation is like having sand in your mental gears, and just having internalized and knowing the answer instantly is like working with a well oiled machine.; 10/26/25, 7:09 AM
Howard said...: Pattern recognition and the ability to breakdown larger problems into smaller ones is way better to not only know multiplication tables, but to be able to guestimate first and second order solutions to Large and complex math problems. In applied sciences, these guestimates can be used as bullshit detectors and to help identify bugs and errors in numerical computations.

This is one of many reasons Elon Musk promotes first principles thinking.; 10/26/25, 7:26 AM
Howard said...: But you are correct, Tim. Memorization is a good low IQ trick to be more easily lying swindled by those that use algebraic confidence games. Like currency swaps.; 10/26/25, 7:30 AM
n.n said...: Investment in Argentina is a good example of emigration reform that follows with native efforts to mitigate progress and collateral damage. An effort to reduce immigration reform that has contributed to progressive prices, safety, and security in our own nation.; 10/26/25, 7:51 AM
n.n said...: Does memorization occur through pattern recognition or reduced processing? Between training and execution.; 10/26/25, 7:58 AM
Rusty said...: Howard. Where did you copy that from? I'm not saying I agree or disagree, but I'd like to read the whole article a 6:47

I had to do emergency board level repairs to my furnace yesterday. I traced the fault to the gas valve relay, (the relay that opens the gas valve at the correct time), I had a relay from another project that fit the requirements so I unsoldered the bad one and installed the good one and to everyones surprise it worked.; 10/26/25, 8:04 AM
Maynard said...: Howard,

Sometimes you sound like a higher IQ version of Igna.

That is not a good look.; 10/26/25, 8:06 AM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Gospace; If you are in the process of committing a crime- you should have absolutely no protection from the law, and no protection from the consequences of your actions. Period. That's how the world has worked throughout history, and there's no reason to change the paradigm. But, but- DEATH PENALTY for a smash and grab? Yes. Absolutely. Why not? Shoplifting? Sure. Any crime.

Mason G; If you don't want to be shot, don't steal stuff. Seems simple enough. Apparently, some people don't put a very high value on their own lives. Whose fault is that?

What if there’s a credit card receipt for the TV in the dead guy’s pocket?; 10/26/25, 8:32 AM
Aggie said...: Antifa has a very slickly printed BOLO Hit List for conservative . content creators

A hit list to attack journalists covering their activities. Professional printing job, waterproof covering.

Not organized at all, nor are they funded - at all.; 10/26/25, 8:34 AM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Lawnerd; “Trump killing suspected drug runners outside the US is no different than Obama killing suspected terrorists with drone strikes. Were you calling for due process then? If not, shut the fuck up now.”

Your argument has slight surface plausibility but it doesn’t take much scratching to see it doesn’t hold up as a valid equivalence.

Drone strikes under Obama (and Bush and Trump later) were legally justified under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which Congress passed after 9/11, allowing the President to use force against groups and individuals responsible for or associated with the attacks. It was also allowed under Article II commander-in-chief powers.

I agree that both test the limits of due process. But drone warfare was an attempt — however imperfect — to fit lethal action into a legal box. Trump’s statement throws the box away.; 10/26/25, 8:44 AM
Inga said...: “It appears the administration is using those Americans who depend on food assistance as pawns to put more pressure on Democrats to cave to Trump’s will. Today, Annie Karni of the New York Times reported that Trump has joked, “I’m the speaker and the president,” and Trump ally Steven Bannon calls Congress “the state Duma,” a reference to Russia’s rubber-stamp assembly.

With Republicans refusing to negotiate with Democrats in the normal way, with House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) keeping the House out of session, and with Trump leaving for Asia for a week, Republicans are clearly making the calculation that Democrats who refused to give up their demand for the extension of the premium tax credit to stop dramatic hikes in the cost of healthcare premiums will cave when America falls into a hunger crisis.

What are we doing here, folks?”

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-25-2025; 10/26/25, 8:53 AM
narciso said...: The defamer of charlie kirk now we know; 10/26/25, 8:54 AM
Aggie said...: Looks like Hurricane Melissa is going to be a real wrecking ball to Jamaica before it moves through Guantanamo Bay. Big, slow-moving storm, and Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti are in its sights.; 10/26/25, 9:20 AM
Aggie said...: ..."With Republicans refusing to negotiate with Democrats in the normal way, ...."

What's the 'normal way', Inga? Is 'normal' refer to the Government being open and conducting business? We live in a representative republic, right, where our Congress calls for votes? Why do the Senate Democrats keep voting 'No' to a clean continuing resolution to re-open the government to restore 'normal' operation? Don't they know there are people going hungry? Don't they know there is a funding crisis with the 'Affordable' Care Act?

'Normal' government keeps itself open, and debates then votes on bills. Many many clean resolutions have been passed before, and Democrats have voted for them, so have Republicans, so that they can carry on their work. 'Normal' government doesn't shut itself down to play political power games with people's lives.

But government is shut down now, isn't it? What's the quickest way to get it opened again, Inga? Why won't Democrats vote to re-open the Federal Government?; 10/26/25, 9:26 AM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Aggie; Why won’t Democrats vote to re-open the Government?

The biggest kicker is that it doesn’t extend tax credits for ACA, making health care out of reach for millions of Americans. And please spare me the healthcare for illegals BS because that’s exactly what it is.

They also weren’t exactly thrilled with being shut out of any meaningful bipartisan input and how it was drafted.

And then there’s that pesky No Kings thing. They correctly argue, IMO, the bill leaves the executive branch too much discretion in implementing or withholding funding, undermining the legislative role.

Questions?; 10/26/25, 10:12 AM
Original Mike said...: "They also weren’t exactly thrilled with being shut out of any meaningful bipartisan input and how it was drafted."

Like the meaningful input the democrats afforded the Republicans when they passed Obamacare in the first place?; 10/26/25, 10:37 AM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Now Mike, that’s actually one of the biggest misconceptions about the ACA. Republicans weren’t shut out of the process — they were invited to participate throughout 2009. There were dozens of hearings across five committees and more than 160 Republican amendments were adopted into the bill before final passage.

What did happen is that, by the time it came to a vote, Republicans made a strategic decision not to support any version of it — even parts based on earlier GOP ideas like the individual mandate that came from the Heritage Foundation.

So it wasn’t that Democrats refused input; it’s that no compromise was going to get a Republican vote once party leadership decided opposing the bill was the better move politically.; 10/26/25, 10:46 AM
Original Mike said...: "it’s that no compromise was going to get a Republican vote once party leadership decided opposing the bill was the better move politically."

Kinda like today.; 10/26/25, 11:00 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Original Mike is right- Ronald makes an own-goal.; 10/26/25, 12:57 PM
Ronald J. Ward said...: Kinda, but not quite, Mike.

We could debate the legislative sausage-making and policy details all day, and regardless of how anyone feels about the ACA, what stands out to me is this: Democrats spent their political capital trying to benefit millions of average Americans, while Republicans were fighting just as hard to protect a relative handful of powerful interests.

And here we are again — each side sticking its neck out for the same factions they always have.; 10/26/25, 12:57 PM
narciso said...: Obamas job made health care worse for the bulk of americans; 10/26/25, 1:25 PM
narciso said...: https://x.com/KatyaSedgwick/status/1982507477431369892; 10/26/25, 1:25 PM
buwaya said...: They both fought for stupid goals, in re ACA.
Stupid Stupid Stupid
What they were fighting about was not the problem.

The US has absurdly high medical costs, that is the first and ONLY problem. Everything else can be managed, any payment system is possible (there is a vast diversity of payment systems in the world) if it all weren't so horribly expensive.; 10/26/25, 7:26 PM
Rusty said...: Gadfly @ 10:55

Yeah. It looks like a crematorium.; 10/26/25, 8:28 PM