Doesn't Matter

I used to scan the Washington Post columnists every day, not because I necessarily cared what the columnists had to say directly, but because they were influential even when (especially when) they were talking nonsense.

Nobody cares anymore.

Huh

 

Today Is The Day Donald Trump Became President

 

Morning

Sunday funday

Speculation Intensifies

Who knows.

The White House declared a press “lid” at 11:08 AM as President Donald Trump stayed inside with a schedule consisting of “Executive Time” — but no sign of a public briefing on bombshell war developments.

Afternoon

Enjoy

Meritocracy

Great stuff.

A correction will appear in tomorrow's print edition: "A headline with an article on Friday about President Trump’s threats to leave NATO misstated the full name of the body. It is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, not the North American Treaty Organization."

— NYTimes Communications (@nytimespr.bsky.social) April 3, 2026 at 8:08 PM

I gotta admit the man occasionally has a point.

 

If I Fire Everybody Competent That Will Make Me Look Better

Cunning plan.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s “paranoia” about Army Secretary Dan Driscoll taking his job fueled the firing of the Army’s top general, current and former administration officials tell The Post — as a top contender emerges to replace Driscoll if he’s canned next.

Hegseth on Thursday demanded the resignation of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George — Driscoll’s top aide — in the middle of the Iran war for reasons that were not publicly stated.

“This is all driven by the insecurity and paranoia that Pete has developed since Signalgate. Unfortunately, it is stoked by some of his closest aides who should be trying to calm the waters,” an official said, referring to Hegseth’s March 2025 group chat with national security officials that inadvertently included a reporter.

It's all a bit funny, but a cornered drunk rabid raccoon having the controls of the boom boom machines isn't entirely funny.

Morning

Slacker Saturday

Happy Hour

 get happ

Sensing A Pattern

Don't weep for any of these people, but...

But with the dismissal of Ms. Noem and now Ms. Bondi, that might be changing. His calculus appears to have shifted after the quick confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as Ms. Noem’s replacement. Now, Mr. Trump’s allies see Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the embattled labor secretary, as a potential contender for the next cabinet secretary to be dismissed.

Mr. Trump, We Are Eager To Implement Your Plan If You Tell Us What It Is

Estonia (and NATO) has to come up with its own bed unshitting procedure.

TALLINN — Estonia is willing to help the United States secure the Strait of Hormuz but is unsure what the Trump administration actually wants its NATO allies to do, a top Estonian minister said Wednesday.

They Got What They Wanted

Don't let anyone who made any noises about "DEI" or "critical race theory" or "affirmative action" or whatever the trendy phrase happened to be at the time feign shock at what Hegseth is doing. This is they world the wanted.

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken steps to block or delay promotions for more than a dozen Black and female senior officers across all four branches of the military, some of whom are seen as having been targeted because of their race, gender or perceived affiliation with Biden administration policies or officials, according to nine U.S. officials familiar with the process.

Hegseth is just correcting the wrongs that you all said were there. Oh no we meant all those other unqualified black people in key positions, not THOSE ones.

Friends In High Places

What struck me is that this was the closest I have ever heard Donald express genuine sympathy for the struggle of someone else.

In the minutes after his vehicle overturned on a narrow Jupiter Island, Florida, road, Tiger Woods said he was on the phone with President Donald Trump, according to newly released body camera video.

...

“I feel so badly He's got some difficulty. There was an accident, and that's all I know,” Trump said shortly after Woods’ incident. “A very close friend of mine, he's an amazing person, an amazing man. But some difficulty.”

I am not saying that this means Donald is human, akshually, but I didn't think he was capable of it at all.

Just A Little More Time

We don't have it? Ominous.

Morning

Foolish Friday

Thursday Night

Rock on

Happy Hour

get happy

T(r)olled

The world economy won't collapse if the Strait is tolled, and it is certainly a funny consequence of Trump's actions.

This is new information to Iran. The country had not been monetizing its geographic good fortune of having 20 percent of the world’s oil, 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas, and one-third of the world’s nitrogen-based fertilizer pass near its shoreline. Closing the strait was always an implied threat that would result from aggressive action against the nation or its leadership, something known to everyone in the world except Donald Trump, it appears. But the threat was typically closure, and what’s emerging is something quite different. Iran has slowly realized that, unbelievably, it can actually get away with throwing a tollgate across the strait. Thanks to Trump and Israel, Iran has gained immense economic and diplomatic leverage.

What's Happening

I am not alleging grand conspiracy here, but my impression is that US domestic news outlets are not exactly emphasizing Iran's attacks on various international targets. You see a bit more coverage in the business press and of course international outlets.