January 16, 2025

THIS IS WHAT ISRAEL IS UP AGAINST:  Here is Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya’s full speech—which he gave live on Al Jazeera from Qatar—in which he expressed pride in the Oct. 7th massacre and vowed to repeat it.

And why the cease fire deal isn’t what it seems. Not the getting back live hostages is front-loaded, with the corpses in the distance unlikely to be reached, because Hamas will break the truce well before that?  It’s just an attempt to rescue more hostages.

Posted at 5:00 am by Sarah Hoyt

January 15, 2025

RON BURGUNDY WILL READ ANYTHING THAT IS PUT ON THAT TELEPROMPTER!

Biden spent his entire career crapping all over journalists, the vast majority of whom were members of his own party — and who circled the wagons to keep him in power, long after his mental decline was more than obvious. He doesn’t get to suddenly play the “free press is crumbling” game on his way out the door.

Posted at 9:35 pm by Ed Driscoll

OPEN THREAD: Make it special.

Posted at 9:30 pm by Glenn Reynolds

ISRAEL, HAMAS REACH DEAL TO RELEASE HOSTAGES, PAUSE FIGHTING IN GAZA:

Leaders of Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization have agreed to the outlines of a cease-fire that would pause the brutal 15-month military campaign in Gaza launched in response to the October 7 terror attack, according to multiple reports from the Middle East.

The deal, which needs to be ratified by Israel’s cabinet, comes after months of negotiations between the two sides over a multi-phased plan that would include the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

President Joe Biden announced the deal from the White House on Wednesday, saying it comes after more than “15 months of terror for the hostages, their families, the Israeli people” and “15 months of suffering by the innocent people of Gaza.”

“Media reports a few minutes ago claimed that the deal had been concluded,” Ed Morrissey adds. “Netanyahu’s office says not so fast:”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says ceasefire deal with Hamas has still not been reached and that the final details were still being sorted out. That comes after multiple mediators had said Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war.

That’s because the terrorists tried to play the Hamas Hokey Pokey again:

The Israeli negotiating team was recently informed that Hamas decided at the last minute to make new demands – this time regarding the Philadelphi corridor, in contrast to the maps that have already been approved by the cabinet and American mediators.

Israel strongly opposed any changes to these maps, the source said.

An informed source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Hamas found a “loophole” in the agreed-upon deal, with Egypt agreeing to amend the deal and “close the loophole” based on Hamas’s demands in the latter stages and in coordination with the Israeli team, as per the Arab media report.

As I wrote earlier, don’t count on this deal holding up until the hostages get released. And even if it holds up through Phase I, don’t be surprised when Hamas reneges and demands a renegotiation at that point, too.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE:

Posted at 9:24 pm by Ed Driscoll

LITERALLY NOBODY CARES WHAT SHE DOES.

Posted at 8:59 pm by Glenn Reynolds

DISPATCHES FROM THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: Joanne Jacobs: Students want A’s for trying hard, B’s for (mostly) showing up.

Psychologist Carol Dweck persuaded teachers and parents to praise Gen Z children for effort, not their abilities, to create a “growth mindset,” Grant writes. “The idea of lauding persistence quickly made its way into viral articles, best-selling books and popular TED talks. It resonated with the Protestant work ethic and reinforced the American dream that with hard work, anyone could achieve success.”

Earlier: The Anxious Generation: Jonathan Haidt on why today’s young people are so anxious.

Posted at 8:30 pm by Ed Driscoll

WELCOME TO THE ERA OF PERSONALITY MEDIA:

Pay-check journalists largely relied on hefty corporate salaries to sate their egos. Who, though, will cough up $7 a month to read Jennifer Rubin? The ultimate irony in all of this is the former corporate media scolds who are vehemently anti-Trump are becoming just like him — hoping to brand their own name for profit in media. That is how Trump made his billions, by emblazoning his name on casinos, hotels and television shows. Now a slew of media personalities are attempting a Trump act of their own: say the most outrageous thing the loudest to draw as many eyeballs to them as possible.

Chuck Todd scored a nice salary off the back of sales from the 30 Rockefeller gift shop. But who is going out of their way to purchase a Chuck Todd T-shirt? For better or worse, this new era of “personality journalism” will likely confirm the worst impulses of corporate media personalities — that they have always been driven by a thirst for celebrity, not truth in broadcasting. As Jennifer Rubin attempts to out-crazy Don Lemon, who attempts to out-crazy Chris Cillizza for a smaller and smaller piece of the pie, chances are their critics will be exonerated.

Speaking of which:

But what will happen to the biggest showboaters of them all, who still have their legacy corporate brands behind them? Expect Big Changes in the White House Press Room as Trump Will All But Sideline Legacy Media.

Posted at 8:14 pm by Ed Driscoll

IT’S ALL LIES AND BULLSHIT. ALL OF IT.

Posted at 8:04 pm by Glenn Reynolds

LOL, CHANNELING THE MUGSHOT AESTHETIC:

Call me a felon, I’ll be a gangsta!

Posted at 7:47 pm by Glenn Reynolds