Althouse: Sunrise

February 25, 2025

Sunrise — 6:44.

Talk about whatever you like in the comments.

37 comments:

Iman said...: “Lost on a wave and then after
Dream on on to the Heart of the Sunrise”; 2/25/25, 4:53 PM
tcrosse said...: Althouse summons spirits from the vasty deep.; 2/25/25, 5:07 PM
Leland said...: WH Press Secretary taking back the Executive’s decision on who gets a Press Pass to travel with the President. My only problem with this is I rather the Press not get to travel with the President. IMO, citizen reporters are now ubiquitous. You got a cellphone with a camera, you can report the news. Also, there are few places a President can go that doesn’t have local reporters.

But my main gripe is that the traveling Press means more space on an aircraft, another vehicle in the absurdly huge motorcade, which means other aircraft to transport that vehicle. A Boeing 737 BBJ can fly transcontinental, and that should be all the President needs to get around with enough people and comms to run the government. Have a local news reporter cover the story in their home town.

I’m sure if President Trump travels to Madison; Meade will cover the story and be happy to ask a few questions.; 2/25/25, 5:22 PM
Meade said...: Thanks Leland. I’m sure he will do his best. But New Media Meade, truthfully, is becoming a bit long in the tooth. Keeping up with President Trump is a young man’s (or woman’s) adventure.; 2/25/25, 5:48 PM
wildswan said...: I checked and sure enough, rare-earth minerals in the Ukraine are in the east and the south, the part that Russia is attacking. So if Russia had succeeded in its war on Ukraine, we would be dependent on Russia and China for minerals needed for high tech manufacturing. Now we have access to some of them due to the treaty Trump got Zelensky to sign.

map
https://www.newsweek.com/map-ukraine-rare-earth-minerals-putin-trump-2035902#slideshow/2594993
and analysis
https://www.newsweek.com/map-ukraine-rare-earth-minerals-putin-trump-2035902; 2/25/25, 6:00 PM
William50 said...: https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2025/02/25/remember-andrew-yang-he-just-conducted-a-poll-on-trumps-approvalbet-he-wishes-he-hadnt-n2185999; 2/25/25, 6:04 PM
mongo said...: Someone posted a list of the ways they tried to destroy Trump over the last few years. Can someone direct me there?; 2/25/25, 6:09 PM
Jaq said...: OK, here's a funny one. I made a sandwich with thin sliced Publix store brand bologna, thin sliced low sodium Boar's Head ham, and store brand pepper jack cheese, on toasted white bread. I didn't put anything else on it, and took a bite and it tasted almost exactly like the fois gras on toast points that I had in a French restaurant the other day. The SO tried it, agreed, and asked me for another bite. I tried it again but I was out of the ham, and it turns out that the ham really mellows the bologna and is essential, but so is the livery taste of the bologna, the pepper jack? Not sure, except that it matches the spice of the fois gras, and maybe adds some fattiness to it.; 2/25/25, 6:12 PM
Jaq said...: I see that Macron is trying to cut Europe in on Trump's negotiations now. He came to tell Trump not to negotiate, but as he was leaving, he says "Hey Donny! You think that maybe in your deal you could get Putin to give us the $300 billion we froze, you know, free and clear?"

OK, that's a paraphrase.; 2/25/25, 6:17 PM
Jon Ericson said...: Amanda Marcotte annotated; 2/25/25, 6:27 PM
Dave Begley said...: Sure was interesting to learn that our spies talk about their sex perversions while at work. Tulsi Gabbard found out who they are and fired them.; 2/25/25, 6:45 PM
William50 said...: “Increasing annual influenza vaccination of the elderly is associated with increased influenza-related death in the elderly”

https://substack.com/home/post/p-156851641; 2/25/25, 7:00 PM
Hassayamper said...: Jaq, try some braunschweiger and cream cheese on toast if you like foie gras.; 2/25/25, 7:06 PM
Hassayamper said...: Jaq, try some braunschweiger and cream cheese on toast if you like foie gras.; 2/25/25, 7:06 PM
Lilly, a dog said...: I don't know how much of it will hold up, but the Trump admin's frenzy of activity has been impressive. The "resistance" can't keep up with them---not the media, not the Dems.; 2/25/25, 7:21 PM
traditionalguy said...: Who’s the beautiful blonde?; 2/25/25, 7:32 PM
Dave Begley said...: Tulsi just said she fired over 100 sex perverts in the intelligence community.; 2/25/25, 7:35 PM
Jupiter said...: "Tulsi just said she fired over 100 sex perverts in the intelligence community."
The irony is like braunschweiger and cream cheese on sourdough rye toast. The "chat channel" they were sharing their sick fantasies on was originally set up as part of an NSA DEI program for sexual perverts. I am reminded of Mao's "let a hundred flowers bloom" campaign.; 2/25/25, 7:43 PM
Clyde said...: I quoted a lyric from a Fountains of Wayne song on the first post of the day about the distressed clothing shops. Here's the whole song:

Fountains of Wayne - Richie and Ruben
https://youtu.be/1YvP8EZ4BGE?si=HvqK-jO9ihJvEcO1; 2/25/25, 7:47 PM
Clyde said...: I'll just add that I love that whole album, Sky Full of Holes by Fountains of Wayne. You won't find "Stacy's Mom" on it, though.; 2/25/25, 7:50 PM
Eva Marie said...: Thank you to whoever mentioned yacht rock.; 2/25/25, 8:05 PM
Kakistocracy said...: "WH Press Secretary taking back the Executive’s decision on who gets a Press Pass to travel with the President."

Good to see "free speech absolutism" triumph over "cancel culture".

Unless that was always BS.; 2/25/25, 8:26 PM
tim maguire said...: We have a first amendment right to travel with the press on air force one?

That’s news.; 2/25/25, 8:29 PM
Mason G said...: "Good to see "free speech absolutism" triumph over "cancel culture"."

Nobody (aside from the left) is trying to stop you from speaking your mind. And they'll only try to stop you if you're saying things they don't like.; 2/25/25, 8:34 PM
Kakistocracy said...: House Passes GOP Budget Plan as Holdouts Relent ~ WSJ

House Budget Allows At Least $2.8 Trillion of Deficit Increases
https://www.crfb.org/blogs/house-budget-allows-least-28-trillion-deficit-increases

Notably, the $2.8tn is *before* additional interest. With the interest, it will be $3-4tn and will take debt/gdp to 125% running deficits of 6.8%/gdp for a decade.

So, just to be clear, DOGE is having no impact on fiscal sustainability. The Republicans are hypocrites: after criticizing Biden's fiscal policies (criticism that was warranted), they are continuing and expanding the policy of dumping gasoline upon the US economy during an expansion, at the expense of future generations who will have to deal with this debt burden. And, of course, they're doing it in a regressive way.

The only thing becoming "big and beautiful" will be Treasury yields.; 2/25/25, 8:36 PM
Kakistocracy said...: "We have a first amendment right to travel with the press on air force one?"

Makes sense if your goal is to control the narrative. It doesn’t make sense if you care about transparency.; 2/25/25, 8:51 PM
FormerLawClerk said...: @Mongo, who wanted the list of the ways (besides murdering him, of course) that Democrats have tried to "get" Donald Trump in the last 4 years:

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Other than trying to murder him, how have Democrats tried to "get" Donald Trump in the last 4 years?
2 posts
15 web pages
Over the past four years, Democrats have employed a variety of strategies to oppose and undermine Donald Trump, focusing primarily on legal, political, and public relations efforts. These actions stem from a broader resistance to his presidency and influence, particularly after his first term ended in January 2021 and during his 2024 campaign and subsequent return to office. Here’s a rundown of some key approaches, based on what’s been observed and discussed publicly:
Legally, Democrats have pursued multiple investigations and lawsuits. After Trump left office, Democratic-led state and federal efforts ramped up. In New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, indicted Trump in 2023 on charges related to hush money payments made during the 2016 campaign, marking the first criminal case against a former U.S. president. Around the same time, New York Attorney General Letitia James, also a Democrat, filed a civil lawsuit against Trump and his company, alleging fraud in inflating asset values, which resulted in a 2024 ruling ordering Trump to pay over $450 million. Federally, Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed under Biden’s Justice Department, brought two major cases: one in 2023 over mishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, and another tied to Trump’s actions following the 2020 election, including the January 6 Capitol riot. These cases involved dozens of charges, though some faced delays or dismissals after Trump’s 2024 win, partly due to his regained presidential immunity.
Politically, Democrats in Congress pushed hard against Trump. They impeached him a second time in January 2021, right after the Capitol riot, charging him with inciting insurrection—making him the only president impeached twice. Though the Senate acquitted him in February 2021, the effort aimed to tarnish his legacy and bar him from future office, an outcome they didn’t achieve. Beyond impeachment, Democrats in blue states like Colorado and Maine tried to remove Trump from 2024 primary ballots, citing the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause over January 6. These attempts were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2024, which ruled states couldn’t disqualify federal candidates this way.
Publicly, Democrats and their allies have worked to shape the narrative around Trump. The House January 6 Committee, dominated by Democrats after Republicans largely boycotted it, held high-profile hearings in 2022 to highlight Trump’s role in the riot, aiming to sway public opinion and bolster legal cases. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders and media figures consistently tied Trump to Project 2025—a conservative policy blueprint—despite his disavowals, using it to paint him as a threat to democracy. Protests, often backed by progressive groups, also surged, like the 2025 demonstrations against his administration and Elon Musk’s influence, with Democratic lawmakers like Chuck Schumer joining in to amplify the resistance.
These efforts—legal challenges, political maneuvers, and public campaigns—reflect a sustained push to “get” Trump by hobbling his influence, draining his resources, or delegitimizing him in the eyes of voters. They didn’t physically target him, as your question excludes, but they’ve been relentless in other arenas, driven by a mix of policy opposition and partisan animosity. Whether these moves succeeded is debatable: Trump still won in 2024, though not without scars from the battles.; 2/25/25, 9:14 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Reddit Video: Noooo

Fun with English; 2/25/25, 9:21 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: That post of Trump saying about the Musk email: "A lot of people are not answering because they don't even exist" remind me of a news report about a woman found dead at her desk four days later. Fed Gov workers not having to go to work in person... what are the chances?

Musk email is a wellness check.; 2/25/25, 9:33 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: If you don't know who Jussie Smollett is DO NO CLICK THIS LINK; 2/25/25, 9:42 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Reddit Video: A gag that never dies; 2/25/25, 9:52 PM
Aggie said...: "Tulsi just said she fired over 100 sex perverts in the intelligence community. ..."

My prediction: What will come next is about a dozen of similar-but-slightly-different situations that will turn out to be well-crafted lawsuit honey traps. Because that's how the progressive deep state rolls.; 2/25/25, 10:02 PM
Gospace said...: William50 said...
“Increasing annual influenza vaccination of the elderly is associated with increased influenza-related death in the elderly”
Good link, that I had already read. Apparently, when you get a vaccination- any kind, the body starts revving up to fight the disease you were just vaccinated against. And regardless of age group, for then next 7-10 days you're more likely to get sick with something else because your immune system was working overtime to fight the vaccination...

So it seems that annual flu shots for all age groups, and URI vaccinations for any URI, are somewhere between. completely neutral and bad for overall health.

More and more doctors- and doctors I currently see, are looking more closely at Vitamin D blood levels in their patients. Since there are lots of studies, as in lots, that show increasing blood levels of Vitamin D from 0-50 ng/ml show increasingly better outcomes in all- as in every- respiratory illness. Including TB. The effect seems to level off at 50 ng/ml. so going from there to 100 mg/ml doesn't seem to affect the statistics. Above 100 you're approaching Vitamin D intoxication. Not mentioned in most of the studies- Vitamin K. Vitamin D intoxication signs an start appearing at 70 ng/ml if you're Vitamin K deficient. Seems each time a Vitamin D is used up a Vitamin K is needed...

And the current official government recommendation from all our health agencies, knowing the statistics that say quite clearly 25% of more of the population is actually deficient in Vitamin D? Don't test routinely (it's a cheap test BTW). Only test if showing symptoms of low Vitamin D. If you're showing those, you're sick. Why not test and prevent that?; 2/25/25, 11:25 PM
effinayright said...: Kakistocracy said...
"We have a first amendment right to travel with the press on air force one?"

"Makes sense if your goal is to control the narrative. It doesn’t make sense if you care about transparency."
****************
Neither alternative says ANYTHING about whether such access is a First Amendment RIGHT, you dimwit.

If the AP isn't there, but other press organizations and wire services ARE, how is the "narrative" better "controlled", and why does the AP's presence result in more "transparency"???

What buffoonery.; 2/25/25, 11:42 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: That's the way to do it,,hide away on tele meetings so the people cant yell t you for jamming then up the A.. The perfectly spineless Republican way... WASHINGTON — House Republicans are becoming weary and wary of in-person town hall meetings after a number of lawmakers have faced hometown crowds angry about the Trump administration’s push to slash government programs and staff.
Party leaders are suggesting that if lawmakers feel the need to hold such events, they do tele-town halls or at least vet attendees to avoid scenes that become viral clips, according to GOP sources.
One GOP aide said House Republican leaders are urging lawmakers to stop engaging in them altogether.
The town halls, and the rash of negative headlines, have been the first bit of public blowback for members who face voters next year. And the new reluctance to hold them indicates there are bubbling concerns about the impact the cuts could have on the GOP's chances of holding its thin majority in the House next year.
The viral nature of video clips spreading from one district to another means that a bad confrontation in safe Republican territory could influence voters in battlegrounds.
The tension comes as the GOP-led House tries to enact even deeper spending and tax cuts through legislation that could add as much as $4.5 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. But much of it focused on billionaire Elon Musk, the face of President Donald Trump’s effort to unilaterally eliminate jobs, contracts and grants. Musk, who serves as a “special government employee” advising Trump, did not require Senate confirmation to take his temporary post.
Obviously we’re very aware of those headlines,” a Republican National Committee official familiar with the dynamics said.
I don’t know that a specific edict is going to come down from on high that they need to stop or anything, but a message I believe has been clearly sent that this narrative should end very soon” the official said. “Probably the best way for that to happen is no more town halls. Elon Musk’s work still has the administration’s support, period.”
House Republicans hit the brakes on town halls after blowback over Trump's cuts Thats the answe hide your ass away while your putting it to the people,,,,Beautiful.. Get spam ready grandma and quit feeding the kids as the wil all grow up to be uneducated and sickly...Beautiful And get like the Johnson group praying after they sent a plan to fuk the people so the rich can get the savings about $314,000 for each and you'll get your $89.00 minus tax... WTF definitely written a long time ago A BRAVE NEW WORLD , :( at least we got our piece of the pie ,tax return in 4 days put away for summer trips..better get yours in before its blocked up when they fire the work foce,(good so the rich cant get audited,,nobody to do it...Beautiful; 2/26/25, 12:17 AM
Quaestor said...: “There is nothing in the Constitution that says ordinary citizens have a right to see what we spend our tax dollars on.” So said Senator Elizabeth Warren on January 30th, 2025.

I'd enjoy reading Kakis' defense of that claim.; 2/26/25, 12:55 AM
wendybar said...: KARMA BABY. Couldn't happen to a bigger lying turd.

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NEW: Jon Stewart sliced his hand open while talking about DOGE and corporate subsidies "I’ll be going to the hospital"

Monday night's monologue began with Stewart pretending to join DOGE to expose wasteful government spending
https://twitter.com/i/status/1894392050797211782; 2/26/25, 3:13 AM