Happy After-Thanksgiving!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of family and/or friends and good food and fun and maybe a little shopping (probably online). My weekend had most of that, including some homemade mac & cheese that we put a little black truffle in and for which my wife bought a fairly small piece of gruyere cheese that cost $12. Well, we can do that for Thanksgiving, right? (But seriously who buys a smallish piece of cheese for $12 on a normal day?) Actually it was an incredibly lazy weekend. I hardly left the house. And absolutely loved it. And I won $2.40 on the CU Buffs football game (I took the Buffs +10.5 and they lost by 10) so that was nice. We spent some time at the dinner table -- with a much more traditional Thanksgiving dinner than we usually have -- talking about our highlights of the past year. For most of us it was taking a trip with KOA listeners to the Galapagos. It feels like a long time ago but it really was actually this year.
(If you want to travel with me and my wife and other KOA listeners to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest next April, get the info here: The Great Cities of Eastern Europe with Ross Kaminsky - Cruise & Tour It's going to be a fantastic trip and the pricing offers incredible value when you look at everything that's included.
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Faith Winter, RIP
While I wasn't a fan of her legislation or policies, State Senator (and former State Rep) Faith Winter was a mom (and engaged to be married) and I am thinking of her loved ones, friends, and colleagues at this terrible time for them: Colorado state senator killed in multi-vehicle crash south of Denver - The Colorado Sun
Colorado state Sen. Faith Winter killed in car accident | Colorado Newsline
I hesitate to say this but the first thought I had after learning of this news was, well, let's say I sure hope this sort of thing was not a factor in the accident: Capitol's alcohol culture under scrutiny in Sen. Faith Winter's ethics investigation - Colorado Politics
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Just One Thing: Peace for Profit
It's not ridiculous for the Trump administration to consider business opportunities for American companies in Russia but it must be a secondary or tertiary item while pursuing as close to a "just" end to the Russia-Ukraine war as possible. The first proposed "peace deal" a bit over a week ago, it seemed like the administration's first goal was to help some investors and corporations make money in Russia, and that's not OK.
My thoughts here, and please subscribe (for free!) to my Substack: Peace for profit - by Ross Kaminsky - The Ross Report
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Today's Guests
KT McFarland is a long-time foreign policy expert and former Deputy National Security Advisor in the first Trump administration. We'll mostly discuss Russia-Ukraine but also hope to get to the Trump/MBS (Saudi crown prince) meeting.
KT McFarland (@realKTMcFarland) / X
KT's useful book: Revolution: Trump, Washington and "We the People": McFarland, KT: 9781642934045: Amazon.com: Books
After ‘Productive’ Meeting With Ukrainian Negotiators in Florida, U.S. Officials Head to Russia
US and Ukrainian negotiators meet as Trump aims to broker an end to the war | AP News
Trump, MBS Meeting Grew Tense Over Israel | Newsmax.com
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We'll have Nick Ferguson (co-host of Broncos Country Tonight on KOA) and perhaps one or two other of our KOA Broncos team (but we don't know who yet because Dave Logan, Rick Lewis, and Susie Wargin will be traveling home from DC right around that time) to talk about the Broncos-Commanders game.
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Other Stuff
I don't love having lots of intense topics on a Monday after a long holiday weekend but that's what the world has given us...
See links above in KT McFarland guest section about Russia/Ukraine. I also note this: Zelenskyy's chief of staff resigns | AP News
And please do read my Substack...I think you'll find some of the info about Putin's point man on the negotiations to be quite interesting: Peace for profit - by Ross Kaminsky - The Ross Report
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Denver has its second-latest first snow: First snow falls in Denver -- second-latest on record for city
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Seriously, while these buildings were being renovated, they wrapped them all in highly flammable material: What caused the deadly fire that has torn through a Hong Kong housing estate | CNN
Unbelievable: A visual guide to how the Hong Kong fire spread - BBC News
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I wonder if Jeana loved the news when she was young: A lost generation of news consumers? Survey shows how teenagers dislike the news media
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It's one thing to say that parents should (try to) prevent young kids from being on social media. It's another thing for government to ban it. What do you think?
Australia to enforce social media ban for children under 16 despite court challenge | AP News
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If you can get to East Colfax and spend a few bucks, that would be great. I'm gonna try to do that as well, probably on Tuesday because I have to go downtown already: East Colfax store owners hope for holiday shopping boost during difficult year
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Could this be one example of Republicans starting to feel a little room to maneuver away from President Trump? Or is this just so egregious that they really don't have a choice?
House and Senate launch inquiries into reported second strike on alleged drug boat
Kelly says Senate will ‘put people under oath’ over reported follow-up strikes in Caribbean
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all - The Washington Post
Trump says that Hegseth says he made no such order: ‘He Said He Didn’t Do it’: Trump Confronted Over Report Pete Hegseth Ordered Killings Of Suspected Drug Boat Crew
Meanwhile, this is how much Trump hates a different drug dealer (that's sarcasm): Trump’s pardon promise offers yet another life to Honduras’ imprisoned ex-president - POLITICO
Former Honduran President Is Found Guilty of Cocaine Trafficking - WSJ
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The news of the horrific shooting of two members of the West Virginia National Guard (one of whom died from her injuries) really shook me. The shooter is an Afghan man who worked with the US military and/or CIA in Afghanistan including, reportedly, as part of assault teams (so actually fighting, not just as translators or other similar personnel.) He was granted asylum just seven months ago. Sure doesn't seem like the kind of immigrant you would expect to loathe uniformed Americans enough to murder them. There is some significant reporting that he was likely struggling with "mania" and/or PTSD and/or other mental health challenges that could have played into his murderous actions. Refugee group was warned that Rahmanullah Lakanwal was spiraling into mania, he got asylum anyway | New York Post
In the meantime, this is a disaster for the thousands of other Afghans who worked with and for the US to fight the Taliban and whose efforts to gain asylum may now be paused or, for those who made it through the process, perhaps even overturned.
From NBC News: Afghan accused of shooting 2 National Guard members was part of CIA-backed unit whose veterans have struggled in the U.S. This whole article is worth reading.
Before Rahmanullah Lakanwal settled in a quiet part of Washington state, he was part of a secret unit of Afghans who operated under CIA direction and hunted down Taliban commanders in highly dangerous missions.
They “took malignant actors off the battlefield and saved American lives, period,” said Andrew Sullivan, who served as an officer with the Army’s 1st Division in Afghanistan and is now executive director of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit that helps resettle Afghans who worked for the U.S. military during the war.
These members of “Zero Units,” also known as National Strike Units, were among the most extensively vetted of any Afghans who worked with American forces. CIA officers hailed their bravery, skill and loyalty, and the agency prioritized their evacuation from Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul in 2021 because they were prime targets for the Taliban.
From NBC News: "A relative of (the shooter) said he arrived in the United States in September 2021 after having served in the Afghan army for 10 years alongside U.S. Special Forces troops. Lakanwal was stationed at a base in Kandahar for part of the time he served in the army, the relative said."
Meanwhile, while I understand the boyfriend's viewpoint, remember that it's illegal for the military (including the National Guard) to engage in domestic law enforcement or to arrest people. Their legitimate role is limited and that's part of why deploying them into cities, especially without the request of the particular state's governor, is usually only modestly better than a photo op. It does seem to have the effect of dissuading crime so I'm NOT saying it is no better than a photo op. But people shouldn't think of the Guard as auxiliary cops.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is using the shooting as an opening to massively reduce and potentially overturn immigration into the United States, especially from "Third World" countries. Trump's post on social media (first tweet below) is remarkable. I think the "autopen" stuff is on weak legal footing (or none at all) but beyond that I do believe the president has very significant authorities (without needing any further approval of Congress) to limit immigration. It will be interesting to see how this plays politically. I suspect it will become the latest example of Trump taking a potentially winning policy and going too far with it, turning it into a loser with swing voters.
At the moment, the administration is saying they will reexamine all asylum claims granted under Biden, review (and possibly overturn) permanent resident (aka Green Card) status for people from 19 particular countries, and pause all immigration from "Third World countries." He also wants to end all federal benefits and subsidies to non-citizens, including permanent residents. (I suspect this latter policy would have majority support in the country.)
This is of a similar mindset, from last week: 21 states sue Trump admin over changes to immigrants’ SNAP eligibility - POLITICO
This, too, is quite a posting from the president of the United States. Some people objected to the word "retarded" but it seems like there are more important things to talk about:
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Better luck next year: Colorado loses 24-14 at Kansas State to close forgettable 2025 season | 3 Takeaways - Colorado Springs Gazette
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Thank goodness (or, if you're a faithful sort, thank God) that this girl's friend called the FBI: Indiana Teen Was Planning School Shooting Until Her Friend Tipped Off FBI. Now She Learns Fate
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This feels right, not that feelings matter when there is data: Fewer people are moving — and it may be reshaping America
I still think the lock-in effect is significant: people who might want to move are not willing to give up a 3% mortgage to take a 6.25% mortgage, ending up being unable to live in as nice a house and yet still spending more each month. So if they can't sell their homes for as much as they want or "need" to make a move make sense, they just won't sell.
Sellers are yanking their homes off the market as delistings jump 28%
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Let's lighten it up a little with some Elvis trivia: Rock Out to These 6 Facts About Elvis Presley - Interesting Facts
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I get it, but this isn't going anywhere. Just the latest example of many of Trump taking a potentially winning argument among the broader public and going so extreme on it that he only appeals to his base: Trump threatens Biden with 'charges of perjury' — says auto-penned orders 'terminated' | New York Post
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My wife was actually thinking about going out to Glenwood Springs this weekend. She loves hot springs. Glad she didn't go. I hope all these people are OK: 50 vehicles involved in crashes that shut down I-70 in Glenwood Canyon
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Today's Videos
I love this story, though it doesn't seem to be fully resolved yet. These nuns are all in their 80s and arrived at what used to be a school between 1948 and 1962.
The people who run the facility say that the community of nuns is being closed down, the nuns' rooms aren't suitable for habitation and especially not for elderly folks who need significant care. The nuns say they were promised to be able to live there for the rest of their lives: Defiant nuns flee Austrian care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps
Their Instagram page: Augustiner Chorfrauen Goldenstein (@nonnen_goldenstein) • Instagram photos and videos
The elderly nun says thank you (in German) to their now 130,000+ followers!
More seriously, the nuns say that contract offered to them to return to the nunnery is too restrictive and unacceptable
Beyond overcrowded