Althouse: Sunrise

February 3, 2026

Sunrise — 7:16.

Write about whatever you like in the comments.

61 comments:

Lazarus said...: The Springsteen movie isn't that good. The film makers were trying to make the writing of the "dark, introspective" Nebraska album into something epic. Was it though? I understand that Bruce was struggling with his inner demons, but somehow it didn't work. Maybe the film's failure was to Bruce's credit. He isn't wildly self-destructive, flamboyantly exhibitionist, or even monstrously self-centered, and that seems to be what makes musical biopics.

The relationships didn't work either. The romantic subplot went nowhere, and while it's interesting to know that Bruce's manager was truly devoted to him, that's not dramatic enough. The movie was dark, too -- not only emotionally, but also in lighting and decor.; 2/3/26, 7:40 PM
Achilles said...: It has been almost a week since the Chinese Army tried to kidnap Xi and kill him.

A body double was killed instead in one of the CCP pleasure hotels.

5 out of 7 of the top leadership in China are under Arrest with only Xi and the head of his secret police remaining.

We live in interesting times.; 2/3/26, 7:42 PM
Eva Marie said...: While I was looking up the Clinton/blue dress portrait, I came across this:
The Nelson Shanks portrait of Bill Clinton (National Portrait Gallery, 2006): This is a formal, official-style painting of Clinton standing near a mantelpiece. The artist, Nelson Shanks, revealed in 2015 interviews (e.g., with the Philadelphia Daily News) that he deliberately included a subtle shadow on the left side—cast by a mannequin in a blue dress in his studio (not present during Clinton’s sittings)—as a literal reference to Lewinsky’s dress and a metaphorical “shadow on the office he held, or on him.” Shanks described Clinton as “probably the most famous liar of all time” and said he couldn’t get the scandal out of his mind while painting. According to Shanks, the Clintons hated the portrait and were pressuring the National Portrait Gallery to remove it (though the gallery said it had been off display since around 2009 for rotation reasons, not explicitly due to this).
For an image of the painting:
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/painter-nelson-shanks-reveals-clinton-portrait-winks-at-monica-lewinsky-272466; 2/3/26, 7:48 PM
narciso said...: Clash Report on X: "Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez: Starting next week, my government will implement the following actions: First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites. Second, we will turn algorithmic https://t.co/cCr6MtoTxe" / X https://share.google/gg1AkxwW6wt7sA7MR; 2/3/26, 7:52 PM
Eva Marie said...: narciso, thanks for making your link as difficult as possible to copy and paste.; 2/3/26, 7:57 PM
Eva Marie said...: hey, if a link is valuable, ya gotta work for it; 2/3/26, 7:59 PM
narciso said...: Starting next week, my government will implement the following actions:

First, we will change the law in Spain to hold platform executives legally accountable for many infringements taking place on their sites.

Second, we will turn algorithmic manipulation and amplification of illegal content into a new criminal offense.

Third, we will implement a hate and polarization footprint system to track, quantify, and expose how digital platforms fuel division and amplify hate.

Fourth, Spain will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16. Platforms will be required to implement effective age verification systems — not just checkboxes, but real barriers that work.

Fifth and last, my government will work with our public prosecutor to investigate; 2/3/26, 7:59 PM
narciso said...: Three times makes enemy action macron starmer now sanchez; 2/3/26, 8:01 PM
narciso said...: Don Lemon Tells Jimmy Kimmel the FBI Wanted to Intimidate and Embarrass Him – Twitchy https://share.google/p3CmYn0cPklkv1in6; 2/3/26, 8:03 PM
Inga said...: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/02/rightwing-brazilian-influencer-junior-pena-arrested-by-ice

“Brazilian influencer who defended US immigration crackdown arrested by ICE
Trump supporter Júnior Pena falsely claimed migrants being rounded up, including Brazilians, were ‘all crooks’”

I wonder how he’s doing there in the ICE detention center?; 2/3/26, 8:04 PM
Christopher B said...: Indians to Billie Eilish "if you know it's stolen, when are you going to give it back?" (link to AoSHQ); 2/3/26, 8:04 PM
Jaq said...: WWI started with a security guarantee for Belgium. It sounded morally required to the British people, but British elites wanted it so that they could create a perceived moral clarity in the people about their desired war with Germany, because they knew that the real reason that they wanted to fight Germany, to keep the continent divided and squabbling with each other, wasn't a good way to get soldiers to volunteer and to fight.

If we commit to a security guarantee for Ukraine, we are simply setting ourselves up to be dragged into the war that will inevitably be engineered specifically to drag us in, this time.; 2/3/26, 8:13 PM
Peachy said...: Loon Leftists prove again - they are the actual racists.; 2/3/26, 8:15 PM
Jaq said...: "fuel division"

Yes, we can't have our citizens fall out of lockstep with the rules to live by that we set down for them from up here on high!; 2/3/26, 8:16 PM
LibertarianLeisure said...: Not in mainstream media, bit in ' Themainewire.com ' so much similar fraud to the tune of Minnesota, but in sleepy Maine. Not covered in local paper, ' The Portland Press.' 5 articles ( all free for nonsubscribers) but not ONE article about millions of dollars of fraud, through Medicaid, services for travel, language help in Lewiston, Maine, in Portland, Maine.. etc. It's exacerbating! But also, highly normative, unfortunately.; 2/3/26, 8:16 PM
LibertarianLeisure said...: PS the 5 free articles were all about ICE protests.; 2/3/26, 8:17 PM
Peachy said...: What voters want; 2/3/26, 8:18 PM
Beasts of England said...: Four of my younger friends from the lake - husband and wife plus two other girls - landed in New York City a few hours ago. First time there for them all, and they are losing their minds! My phone battery may zero out just looking at their photos and texts…

It looks like the roads are clear enough but there are piles of snow at the curbs. They had dinner at an Irish pub and are now at a rooftop bar somewhere near Grand Central. The wife has already declared that she’s not coming back! lol

Ain’t life grand.; 2/3/26, 8:19 PM
William50 said...: Ah, the intelligence of today's youth...:)

We NUKED Vietnam???; 2/3/26, 8:39 PM
Ampersand said...: Achilles, could you provide links that corroborate your statements about a failed assassination attempt on Xi?; 2/3/26, 8:43 PM
Ampersand said...: Libertarian Leisure, Maine is going from purple to deep blue. As soon as Portland Maine got cool, Maine was sunk. Bad news.; 2/3/26, 8:52 PM
Inga said...: “narciso, thanks for making your link as difficult as possible to copy and paste.”

A couple of years ago myself and a few others tried to teach Narciso how to make a hyperlink. Now he’s having trouble with even regular links?; 2/3/26, 8:54 PM
Original Mike said...: "The wife has already declared that she’s not coming back! lol"

What has them so enthralled?; 2/3/26, 9:03 PM
Original Mike said...: "A couple of years ago myself and a few others tried to teach Narciso how to make a hyperlink. Now he’s having trouble with even regular links?"

It's a performance.; 2/3/26, 9:03 PM
Original Mike said...: Kessler ain't backing down; 2/3/26, 9:06 PM
Jersey Fled said...: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has recently changed its position on gender-affirming surgery for minors, effectively withdrawing professional support for such procedures in people under age 19 and urging its members not to perform them until a patient is at least 19 years old.

The first crack in the wall.; 2/3/26, 9:14 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Billie Eilish "f*ck ice" Live Grammys moment, next to a mum Nat Wolff, reminded me of another Live on air blowup -- Kanye West next to a mum Mike Miers at the Katrina Hurricane Relief.

It was de-ja-bu all over again.; 2/3/26, 9:16 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Video: What is a "Color Revolution"?; 2/3/26, 9:18 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’What has them so enthralled?’

I’m guessing the great food, a super funky hotel, and the bright lights! All four of them are born and raised within a ten mile radius of the lake, and haven’t travelled much. I truly love New York but would never consider moving there - I need my nature, peace, and quiet.

And the husband, who has a superb collection of small batch bourbons, just texted that he wanted to try a really good Scotch for the first time. He got a neat pour of Macallan 18 ($77) and loved it, so I may be enjoying some fine single malts during my next visit. lol; 2/3/26, 9:25 PM
Achilles said...: Ampersand said...

Achilles, could you provide links that corroborate your statements about a failed assassination attempt on Xi?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FaYgNPljUo&pp=ygUMY2hpbmVzZSBjb3Vw

One of many. You can search Chinese Coup on youtube and get a lot of different takes.

The official line is that Xi purged the entire military leadership and likely ended any real chance China will invade Taiwan.; 2/3/26, 9:37 PM
rehajm said...: …beat the old pb I set a few days ago…two big pigs bit missed a few more 🙁…my cast gone to shit…; 2/3/26, 9:39 PM
Achilles said...: Nobody is illegal on stolen land.

Going to be a fun several years.; 2/3/26, 9:45 PM
Original Mike said...: I've been watching some PBS Nova programs I've recorded over the last couple of years. If all you knew about science was based on these programs, you'd be forgiven for concluding that 90% of scientists are female.; 2/3/26, 9:49 PM
Inga said...: Howard Nutlick tells all, lol; 2/3/26, 9:50 PM
Jim at said...: He got a neat pour of Macallan 18 ($77) and loved it...

I remember when I could get a whole bottle of Macallan 18 for $90. (1998) Or a whole bottle of Oban (14yo) for $40.

Now, it's become way too expensive.; 2/3/26, 9:51 PM
Caroline said...: I’ve been thinking about bill bennet’s index of leading cultural indicators from the early 2000s. These are little apocryphal data points that add up to major trends. In my nice, leafy neighborhood in east Dallas, the changes since Covid are dramatic. After the summer of our lord Floyd, most of our municipal officials bit hard on the abolish police mantra. Our DA expanded the amount petty thieves could steal before they might get prosecuted to $900. The businesses in my two mile square now look like a mad max dystopia. The whole front entry to our walgreens has wood panels since the glass was broken, the atm ripped out, the propane locker broken and emptied. Drugstores keep all cosmetics and hair products behind locked glass doors. Our Kroger installed a turnstile to enter, locked up the detergent aisle and installed four cameras per pharmacy aisle. We hear gunshots a few nights a week. I’ve noticed a lot of other things, but don’t want to go on and on, but it occurs to me that our experiment in self governance may well be at an end since clearly we are not a society made of folks capable of governing their behavior.; 2/3/26, 9:54 PM
Mason G said...: "If all you knew about science was based on these programs, you'd be forgiven for concluding that 90% of scientists are female."

If all you knew about the justice system was based on tv shows and movies, you'd be forgiven for concluding that 90% of judges are black.; 2/3/26, 9:54 PM
Peachy said...: click the play button in this link for a glimpse into the psychic power-obsessed communist-left terror network. they are eating their own. Tim Cast. Funny and frightening.; 2/3/26, 9:55 PM
Mason G said...: "since clearly we are not a society made of folks capable of governing their behavior."

Import the third world, become the third world.; 2/3/26, 9:56 PM
Peachy said...: How is billie EILIlishlish considered talent? It's breathy singing. Breathy singing is not singing. It's bullshit.; 2/3/26, 9:56 PM
Aggie said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/3/26, 9:59 PM
Aggie said...: @Caroline: "...it occurs to me that our experiment in self governance may well be at an end since clearly we are not a society made of folks capable of governing their behavior...."

I would counter that some of us aren't capable of governing our behavior, and that perhaps society might benefit if the rest of us weren't so conscientious at governing ours, when we see this happening.; 2/3/26, 10:00 PM
Jersey Fled said...: “Nobody is illegal on stolen land”

Does this include carjackers?; 2/3/26, 10:39 PM
Inga said...: Tech Royalty in the Epstein Files: Silicon Valley’s Secret Social Network

Reid Hoffman leads the pack with 2,658 file mentions, mostly scheduling emails coordinating meetings between the LinkedIn founder and Epstein involving MIT’s Media Lab. Bill Gates clocks in at 2,592 files, documenting lunches, Skype calls, and photos alongside Epstein’s unverified claims about Gates seeking drugs for encounters with “Russian girls.”

Peter Thiel appears in 2,281 files showing lunch meetings and political discussions from 2014-2017. The documents include offers from Epstein to fund Thiel’s lawsuit against Gawker. These weren’t chance encounters—they were deliberate, ongoing relationships with a known sex offender.

Elon Musk‘s 1,116 mentions include his 2012 inquiry about the “wildest party on your island” and discussions about SolarCity installations for Epstein’s properties. Google’s Larry Page (314 files) and Sergey Brin (294 files) appear through subpoenas and alleged island visits. Mark Zuckerberg surfaces in 282 files, while Jeff Bezos appears in 196 files. The breadth spans virtually every major tech platform you use daily.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/tech-royalty-epstein-files-silicon-205409393.html; 2/3/26, 10:41 PM
Jamie said...: Breathy singing is not singing.

Sigh. Don't even get me started on the tendency of young singers not to be able to project without a microphone. (Recently I was talking with a voice teacher about this - she says it's a struggle but eventually she does get her students to be willing to admit that it is (a) a learnable skill, and (b) potentially valuable. One weeps for the future of opera.) I don't bother with theatrical musicals anymore since they started using the head mics.; 2/3/26, 10:50 PM
Lazarus said...: The new Star Trek series isn't that good either. It seems almost like it was made for youtube amateur critics to tear apart. Audiences hated it too. It's been easier to pull the wool over the paid professional critics' eyes and those of internet critics who aspire to break into the mainstream media.; 2/3/26, 11:15 PM
Inga said...: Wisconsin Healthcare workers against ICE behaving terribly; 2/3/26, 11:40 PM
Big Mike said...: The official line is that Xi purged the entire military leadership and likely ended any real chance China will successfully invade Taiwan.

@Achilles, fixed it for you.; 2/4/26, 1:52 AM
Humperdink said...: Quote from the internet: “If I am on stolen land why am I paying property taxes?”; 2/4/26, 2:53 AM
wendybar said...: American AF 🇺🇸
@iAnonPatriot
·
8h
ICE agents are more diverse than the people protesting them.

Ironic.

https://x.com/iAnonPatriot/status/2018851185613287547?s=20; 2/4/26, 3:30 AM
wendybar said...: SaltyGoat
@SaltyGoat17
·
16h
"That's the reason why there's no point for the Ku Klux Klan now..."

"Because you liberals and leftists, you're actually doing what they did!!"

"Instead of burning crosses in people's yards you're burning the American flag"

I couldn't have stated this better myself!

https://x.com/SaltyGoat17/status/2018728437373153709?s=20; 2/4/26, 3:41 AM
john mosby said...: Inga: "Peter Thiel appears in 2,281 files ...they were deliberate, ongoing relationships with a known sex offender."

Don't the left believe in rehabilitation? CC, JSM; 2/4/26, 4:37 AM
john mosby said...: Mason G: "you'd be forgiven for concluding that 90% of judges are black."

Well, in cities, the benches are handed out in rough proportion to each race's share of the city population. Atlanta and Detroit may well be close to 90%. Chicago is about a third. DC's Superior Court is operated by fedgov, so its bench looks more like America as a whole. CC, JSM; 2/4/26, 4:41 AM
Leland said...: PS the 5 free articles were all about ICE protests.

When you are having to give it away, that’s a sign that nobody is buying it.; 2/4/26, 5:40 AM
Leland said...: Maybe we should have money acknowledgements. If you take government welfare, you must announce loudly that you did.; 2/4/26, 5:43 AM
buwaya said...: I dont know what % of scientists are women, but my go-to source is of course Youtube, and Sabine Hossenfelder keeps me up to date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=912vQr6ulNk; 2/4/26, 5:51 AM
Temujin said...: The discussion about Peter Thiel is interesting. He's a gay man, so I don't think he was hanging around the island looking for young girls. But clearly, Epstein was incredibly- and I mean unbelievably- connected with all sort of people from various countries and walks of life.
This is actually very fascinating. Did he sell his relationships and inner knowledge of these people to other sovereigns looking for the goods on a government, an industry, or individuals? I mean...who walks around with a 'rolodex' like Epstein had?

No one. Not even the CIA had that many relationships with key people around the world. WTF?

PS- Reid Hoffman on the island does not surprise me in the slightest.; 2/4/26, 5:58 AM
buwaya said...: More on fallout re Peter Mandelson (UK). ITV news update.
The Epstein connections were astonishing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGebxGr9g8Q; 2/4/26, 6:28 AM
Jaq said...: The Florida judge who let him go free the first time later claimed that he had been told to back off because Epstein was an intelligence asset. Plainly he was.; 2/4/26, 6:32 AM
buwaya said...: And Peter Mandelson wasnt looking for teenage girls either.
Or was he?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vATDN8sXqn8; 2/4/26, 6:34 AM
Humperdink said...: Speaking of violating civil rights, I see the riotous Commie have set up checkpoints in Minneapolis stopping all vehicles. That of course includes civilians. In a related note, there is no truth to the rumor that Don Lemon was manning a checkpoint acting as a journalist.; 2/4/26, 6:40 AM