SEA HAWK AND APACHES IN THE EAST CHINA SEA: A USN MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter flies alongside two AH-64 Apache helicopters attached to the “Grim Reapers” of U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division. Photo taken April 9, 2020.

RELATED: Here’s a Naval Air update from 2012 discussing the MH-60 Sea Hawk. This Naval Air update from 2014 discusses U.S. Army Apaches “joining the Navy.” A pull quote: “In the last year the U.S. Army has been experimenting with the use of its AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships from navy ships. This is all about being ready to participate more fully in future military operations in the Pacific.”

BEIJING’S IMPERIAL COMMUNIST WORLD ORDER: The Wuhan virus debacle and Beijing’s on-going information war are a preview of the 2049 Imperial World Order envisioned by the Chinese Communist Party.

Hong Kong is a thorn in CCP-Beijing’s gut. On April 18, Beijing’s Hong Kong lackeys arrested 15 renowned pro-democracy activists. The detained included members of Hong Kong’s local government as well as civil rights lawyers. The charge: participating in unauthorized anti-government protests in 2019.

Two to 4 million Hong Kongers participated in those protests. (The city has a population of about 7.5 million.) Why target the 15?

Beijing decided to “decapitate” the pro-democracy leaders, with the goal of terrorizing the rest of the city.

My guess: Beijing bets that global media focus on the pandemic serves as a cover from the dictatorship’s political strike. Following the Hong Kong 15’s arrest, the CCP’s Hong Kong lackeys claimed Beijing does not recognize legal restrictions that bar the CCP government from intruding on the city’s local political matters.

Goodbye Two Chinas, One System. We’ve another preview of the CCP’s disregard for treaties and contracts.

Check it out.

RELATED: Two weeks old but still breaking news. Beijing Exploits Pandemic to Probe the South China Sea.

Read the entire essay.

HOTS ON FOR NOWHERE: Kurt Schlichter: The Democrats Totally Want A Depression.

It’s the return of what Virginia Postrel dubbed in December of 2008 “Depression Lust, and Depression Porn.”

BUT THE NARRATIVE! No, Trump Didn’t Send American PPE To China. “Did Trump send masks and other PPE to China just when we needed it the most? No, Kessler says in his fact check at the Washington Post. All Trump did was supply the transport for private donations of PPE on the front part of the effort to evacuate Americans from China.”

Much more from Ed Morrissey at the link.

#TIMESUP: U. Pennsylvania anti-sexual assault group cuts ties with Penn Democrats over Biden support.

FIELDING MELLISH, CALL YOUR OFFICE! Harris County TX Judge Lena Hidalgo Now Commands You to Wear…Bananas?

(Classical reference in headline.)

YOU GO FIRST: AOC says Americans should refuse to go back to work once economy reopens.

SO I WATCHED THE DVR’D VERSION OF MY FOX & FRIENDS APPEARANCE, and I thought I did pretty well for so early in the morning. The sound engineer in me was mostly happy at how good I sounded, like I was in the studio. I put together this setup with an ElectroVoice RE-20 mic, an ART tube preamp, and a Scarlett USB converter a while ago, but haven’t used it all that often. Works great, though. I do wish that it were easier to set up a non-webcam (and non-wide-angle) camera with Skype. Zoom is friendlier to external cameras, but the Fox tech people said that Skype plays better with their systems.

AMERICANS FIRST: Betsy DeVos tells colleges not to give coronavirus aid to illegal immigrants.

AT AMAZON, Shop Amazon Warehouse Deals – Deep Discounts on Open-box and Used Products.

Plus, Shop Amazon Outlet – Clearance, Markdowns and Overstock Deals.

KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEF: Americans Getting Restless Under the Government COVID Boot. “It is that time again, dear Morning Briefing readers, for me to express my dismay about some of the more heavy-handed government responses to our current coronavirus crisis. I will forego the disclaimers this time. Whiners are going to whine and we have important freedom-loving things to discuss on this fine Thursday morning.”

SUPER GAFFE-O-MATIC ’76! Joe Biden asks Al Gore, “Is it too late to aggress the climate change?” And with gas currently under $1.50 in some areas, “Biden and Al Gore talk gleefully about making the internal combustion engine illegal. Democrats are coming for your car.”

Flashback to 2016: Joe Biden and Colin Powell drag race their ’67 and 2015 Corvettes, and NBC, which in 2007 was insisting that all of their viewers turn off their lights to fight global warming has nary a complaint.

SMART: Russia Has Abandoned Its Massive Nuclear Destroyer And Supersized Frigate Programs.

I explained the tragic folly of continental powers trying to become naval powers to our VIP members back in January.

CHANGE: Border wall construction ‘cam’ live this week: ‘164 miles of promises kept.’

JOE BIDEN ONLY REALLY HAS ONE CHOICE FOR VEEP — MICHELLE OBAMA.

And the reverse is true as well: How the Obamas could easily win eight more years in the White House.

A CURVE, FLATTENING: The 500-bed US Navy hospital ship Comfort is leaving NYC after treating just 179 patients in 3 weeks.

DON SURBER: Newspapers and Manhattan are Screwed.

Gradually it is dawning on people that the big losers in COVID-19 are fracking, airlines, hotels, restaurants, newspapers, and New York City. The first three are resilient because they have weathered many a business cycle but he latter three are devastated. . . . The financial center of America is now the epicenter of COVID-19 of America. Wall Street is now telecommuting. Is there any reason to stop once the all-clear signal sounds?

The trillions of dollars invested in stocks and bonds can be bought and sold online. Why bother having a presence in Manhattan where the rents are high? Brokers are still needed, but they can relocate to less congested places that are less susceptible to Chinese viruses.

Other industries that have been hit hard are higher education and Hollywood.

THE GREAT REOPENING: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says most businesses will be able to open on May 4.

NOW READING ANDREW WAREHAM’S Falling Into Battle (The War To End All Wars Book 1). So far quite good, but that’s no surprise.

FOR THE LEFT, BAD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS: Celebrity climate activists cheer coronavirus misery in name of environment.

PRE-EMPT THEM. U.S. Approves an At‐​Home COVID-19 Test—But Four States Ban It.

DETERRENCE: Australia joins U.S. ships in South China Sea amid rising tension.

HOW DID CBS CELEBRATE “EARTH DAY?” Declaring Humans Aren’t Needed.

CBS News’ ratings have been declining for years; evidently the network has decided that they don’t need viewers at all. Curiously though, after declaring that humans are no longer needed, they’re unwilling to demonstrate their ultimate commitment to that notion.