Just One Thing: Richard who?
This X/Twitter post is from the congressman. A guy who should be embarrassed is proud, and probably fundraising off this. It's pathetic that we live in a country where 1) a member of Congress would be this juvenile (and I'm NOT saying he's the only one) and 2) it could actually work for him politically.
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One More Thing: AI's big middle finger to Kanye West
A great video, and what does Scarlett think the government can actually do? Viral AI video depicts celebrities protesting Ye's antisemitic remarks - CBS News
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Today's Guests
Nate Sibley is a Fellow at Hudson Institute and Director of Hudson’s Kleptocracy Initiative. We'll discuss the strategic benefits to the United States of (some) foreign aid programs.
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Mallory Sleight serves as legal counsel on the Parental Rights team at Alliance Defending Freedom. We'll discuss a lawsuit by multiple Jefferson County (Colorado) families against JeffCo schools for the district's policy of requiring children, during school trips, to share rooms and even beds with children of the opposite gender who "identify" as the gender they aren't. In other words, a teenage boy who identifies as a trans-girl will be put in a room, even a bed, with a teenage girl. It's beyond insane and I can't believe the district is putting up a fight.
Mallory Sleight – Alliance Defending Freedom
Wailes v. Jefferson County Public Schools | ADFMedia.org
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SINGING VALENTINES!
The Continuum Quartet, part of the Sound of the Rockies, joins me in studio to sing. (I don't mean I'm singing with them; that would ruin everything.) You can get an awesome singing valentine for someone for tomorrow! Info here:
Singing Valentines - Sound of the Rockies
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Other Stuff
The rubber is about to hit the road on one of the most important domestic policies: taxes and spending. It's hard to see how the GOP sticks together, but it will be disastrous if they don't because of what Dems will demand in increased spending and reduced tax cuts to supply votes. That said, the Republicans MUST get serious about reducing the deficit while reducing taxes. They must cut spending as much as they possibly can and, frankly, should not go along with Trump's stupid idea to not tax tips.
Very complicated: House GOP Budget Plan Envisions $4.5 Trillion in Tax Cuts - WSJ
House GOP unveils $2 trillion in proposed spending cuts
Top Democrats reopen 2017 playbook on Trump tax cuts
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Excellent, though one wonders how much institutional knowledge (needed, for example, to train future workers even if there will be fewer of them) is lost by a mass indiscriminate layoff: Thousands take Trump resignation offer (Semafor.com) (Again, to be clear, I'm happy about this...just noting it might have a little downside. But much more upside.)
US judge clears the way for tens of thousands of federal workers to take Trump buyout
I feel a little bad for the fired employees but not nearly as bad as I feel for the American taxpayer and future American taxpayers who will have to cover the cost at least a quarter-century of waste and bloat and fraud: Scores of firings have begun at federal agencies | CNN Politics
However, the key going forward will be to find a way to make the gov’t agencies be responsible for less so that they can manage responsibilities reasonably well with fewer employees.
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Amazing. Colorado Democrats trying to fix a problem of their own creation that everybody told them would happen.
Local Governments Tip Offsets for Tipped Employees | Colorado General Assembly
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What the heck is this judge doing?
Judge orders new title for Colorado Springs marijuana repeal | Marijuana | gazette.com
This isn't a close call. The constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana says "ANY INITIATED OR REFERRED MEASURE TO 18 PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITIES, MARIJUANA 19 PRODUCT MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, MARIJUANA TESTING FACILITIES, OR 20 RETAIL MARIJUANA STORES MUST APPEAR ON A GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT 21 DURING AN EVEN NUMBERED YEAR."
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Interesting (recent) historical note from Tom Krannawitter: Short Stack: Obama's Ghost Agency Chortles
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There’s a new sheriff in town: Justice Department Announces Lawsuit Against New York Over ‘Green Light Law’
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Taking out the trash: DEA agents arrest nearly 100 suspects, including TdA gang members, in 'Operation Return to Sender' | FOX31 Denver
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Interesting and slightly surprising outcome (at least for now): Judge allows Trump to proceed with federal buyout - ABC News
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This may surprise you, given that you probably know of my strong support for Ukraine and belief that it's in America's interest for Russia to lose this war, but Hegseth is right. Right on the merits and, despite some complaining that it's caving into Russia before negotiations even start, right to say this out loud. The reason I believe that is that the only way Putin might engage in a good-faith negotiation over ending the war is if he believes that Ukraine is not on a path toward NATO membership and that the US isn't threatening him (which he could not allow due to domestic political considerations.) I think it sets a reasonable basis for a discussion with Trump able to say, "Look, I've taken a huge step toward what I know you care about. Now you'd better do what I want from you or I may change my approach to this."
Hegseth calls Ukraine’s peace goals ‘unrealistic’ in meeting with allies - The Washington Post
For example, I think Bolton is wrong...although I could be wrong about that. Foreign affairs are shockingly complex. It's easy to claim that Trump is somehow biased in Putin's favor. I get it; Trump says a LOT of stupid things praising dictators. But I think Trump is more concerned with seeming like he's a great deal-maker. Video: John Bolton says Trump has ‘effectively surrendered’ to Putin in Ukraine negotiations | CNN Politics
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It might be that some of this spending is worthwhile, but at this point almost all federal spending should go through a process to be justified before being continued. That said, we must remember that it’s Congress, not the president, who really decides on how much is spent and on what. And Congress can be specific enough with budgets and appropriations to all but remove a president’s ability to interfere. Republicans quietly object to Elon Musk's DOGE cuts | AP News
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Wow, this is a complicated deal: Colorado's plan to buy Stanley Hotel was on 'razor’s edge' until big concessions made | Business | denvergazette.com
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At least some of the questions here are obvious: Exclusive | Musk’s X Agrees to Pay About $10 Million to Settle Trump Lawsuit - WSJ
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Offered without comment: How Kanye West Got a Super Bowl Ad Then Used It to Sell Swastika Shirt
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More from the “lots of places are even worse than the US” files: Failed asylum seeker can stay in UK because she joined terror group
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Who woulda thunk it? 'Reverse flow': Illegal immigrants streaming back home after being blocked by Trump's border - Washington Times
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I'm not OK with this: I don’t think most people care but I’m not OK with Trump pardoning actual criminals. Commutations can be reasonable. But while some of the January 6 rioters were abused by the DoJ, many deserved serious prison sentences and permanent criminal records. And maybe more importantly, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich absolutely engaged in corruption. It doesn’t mean he can’t ever be welcomed back into society, on TV, etc., though of course he should never hold office again. And he should not have been pardoned. He was guilty of a crime that erodes civil society and should have had to live with that scarlet letter forever.
The chronology:
Blagojevich gets 14 years in prison for corruption - Yahoo! News
Trump commutes Blagojevich’s sentence and grants clemency to 10 others | CNN Politics
Trump pardons former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
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Today's Video: more serious than my usual video fare
We need far more of this kind of transformation in America