MY NEW YORK POST COLUMN: The US Army discovers woke doesn’t win wars — but is it too late?

AMERICA’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD: Hamas Says All The AK-47s Found In Gaza Hospital Were Strictly For Medicinal Use.

THE NEW SPACE RACE: NASA slows down work on Mars Sample Return due to budget uncertainty.

THE BASEMENT TAPES, PART DEUX: As Ace of Spades writes, “Politico’s Jonathan Martin previews the next year: Biden is not able to campaign or govern as a normal healthy man would, and the press is going to have to help him disguised that fact.”

For Biden to win reelection… he must make changes. I spoke with dozens of Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans about what the president can do on personnel, presentation and strategy to improve his prospects. Their suggestions (pleadings?) are below.

The level of despair was striking. Since beginning this column a year ago, I’ve written repeatedly about the chasm between what Democrats say in private versus public about Biden. Yet perhaps not since Trump’s 2016 election have the party’s leaders and lawmakers been so alarmed.

What’s notable is both the uniformity of these anxieties — there’s no faction in denial — and how they mirror the discontent of the broader public.

Far from being merely the stuff of “Beltway chatter,” as Biden’s aides dismiss any criticism, there’s no divergence between Democratic elites and the electorate. That’s because the main causes for concern are clear as day: Biden’s age and the cost of living.

…

For Biden to use fundraisers, as he did Thursday, to deny his difficulties and complain about press coverage may be therapeutic, but it doesn’t make him any likelier to defeat Trump once more.

2024 will be an extraordinary election, and it demands extraordinary measures.

That’s in part for reasons Biden refuses to accept: his capacity to do the job. The oldest president in history when he first took the oath, Biden will not be able to govern and campaign in the manner of previous incumbents. He simply does not have the capacity to do it, and his staff doesn’t trust him to even try, as they make clear by blocking him from the press. Biden’s bid will give new meaning to a Rose Garden campaign, and it requires accommodation to that unavoidable fact of life.

The DNC-MSM were happy to run interference for a basement-bound Biden in 2020. Why would anybody be surprised that they’re up for doing it again?

NO. FULL STOP; NO: Nikki Haley vows to abolish anonymous social media accounts: ‘It’s a national security threat.’

CALIFORNIA IN 2023 IS TOO WEIRD FOR EVEN THE BABYLON BEE TO FULLY SATIRIZE: ‘Bad actors’ used state program to store pallets, hand sanitizer under 10 Fwy before arsonist struck, Newsom says.

This weekend, a large fire damaged the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles, shutting down a primary transportation route for hundreds of thousands of people.

State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said investigators “have been able to confidently determine” that the blaze was caused by arson, though the person or persons involved have not been identified.

The investigation is ongoing into “what we believe to be malicious and willful intent of starting a fire,” Berlant said.

But how did those flammable materials end up under the freeway? It’s part of a government program that leases that space to private citizens and companies.

Gooder and harder, California: 10 Freeway “closed indefinitely” — thanks to a burning cache of hand sanitizer.

Since Newsom likely wishes to carry on Jerry Brown’s “road diet,” I’m sure in his heart of hearts, he considers these developments to be extremely good news.

JIM TREACHER: I Apologize for Making The Marvels Bomb So Hard.

I never watched Ms. Marvel, which is the only other place that other character has appeared. I know she’s a Muslim-American, which makes my lack of interest both sexist and Islamophobic.

And I barely even remember Captain Marvel, other than wishing I’d been watching the DC Comics version instead.

So, this is all my fault:

You might think $47 million is a lot, but not when the movie cost five times that much to make and market.

Sorry, everybody. It’s my fault this movie is bombing. It’s my fault the “female Loki” on the Loki show is boring and no fun. It’s my fault She-Hulk was a cringey, convoluted mess. It’s my fault Black Widow bit the big one. It’s my fault that the more Marvel tries to appease feminists, the more money they lose.

I just didn’t believe hard enough. Girls can be superheroes too! When they scold us, we deserve it.

Oh, and I also accept blame for the failure of the three female-led Marvel shows scheduled for Disney Plus: Echo, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, and Ironheart. It’s my fault nobody cares about any of those. Unless they end up being successful, in which case it will have had nothing to do with me.

None of this is Disney’s fault. How could they have predicted getting woke would make them go broke? Since when does that ever happen…

Okay. I said what I’m supposed to say. Can I go now?

You may say Treacher is a dreamer, but he’s not the only one:

WHO DIDN’T? When The Pandemic Came, Zoos Closed, And The Animals Began to Act Differently.

THE 21ST CENTURY ISN’T TURNING OUT — OH, WHO AM I KIDDING, THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING I WAS EXPECTING: Not Sci-Fi Anymore: World’s First Live-Birth Chimeric Monkey Glows Green.

GOOD POINT:

In a perverse way this correlation makes Hamas installations easier to find. If you're looking for the secret weapons facility just start with the Baby Milk Factory.https://t.co/ls9K065fZC

— wretchardthecat (@wretchardthecat) November 14, 2023

21st CENTURY HEADLINES: Edith Piaf AI-Generated Biopic in the Works at Warner Music.

“La Vie en robots”? More than 60 years after her death, legendary French singer Edith Piaf will come to life in a new biopic that will use AI to recreate her voice and image.

Warner Music Group announced that it has partnered with Piaf’s estate for “Edith,” set to be a 90-minute film set in Paris and New York from the 1920s to the ’60s. (Piaf, known as the “Sparrow of Paris,” died Oct. 10, 1963.) The film will be narrated by an AI-generated facsimile of Piaf’s voice and promises to “uncover aspects of her life that were previously unknown.”

“Animation will provide a modern take on her story, while the inclusion of archival footage, stage and TV performances, personal footage and TV interviews will provide audiences with an authentic look at the significant moments of Piaf’s life,” the music company said in announcing the project.

Warner Music Entertainment is working with production company Seriously Happy to develop the biopic. A proof of concept has been created, and Warner Music Entertainment plans to team up with a studio to develop the full-length film.

According to Warner Music, AI technology trained on hundreds of Piaf’s voice clips and images — some of which are over 80 years old — will allow for her “distinct voice and image to be revived to further enhance the authenticity and emotional impact of her story.” Recordings from her original songs will be used in the film, including iconic hits such as “La Vie en rose” and “Non, je ne regrette rien.”

I have to confess that 19 years ago, when I predicted the entirely virtual pop star at Tech Central Station, in a piece titled “The Making of a Pop Star, 2010,” an AI clone of Edith Piaf was the furthest person in my mind.

PRODUCTION HELL — BATGIRL (WHAT REALLY HAPPENED): The latest video from the Critical Drinker on a recent DC movie that quickly became samizdat.

OOPS: Historic All-Female Space Walk Crew Accidentally Drops Tool Bag Into Orbit.

BOTTOM STORY OF THE DAY: Does birding need a racial reckoning?

QUESTIONS NOBODY IS ASKING: With Covid Back and Winter Approaching, Is It Safe to Dine Indoors?

Recommendations in the early stages of the pandemic included social distancing, masking and staying home. As time went on, people got tired of being cooped up and having outdoor meals in the freezing cold, bundled up in outerwear and blankets. Covid also became far less lethal, allowing both health officials and the general public to relax a bit.

“Increased population immunity and the availability of vaccines and treatments are the main reasons we no longer see closures or returns to strict mandates during Covid surges,” says Wallace.

But some people are still at risk of getting very ill from the virus. Some people may also simply be feeling more cautious than others — or they want to avoid getting sick during the holiday season.

So the health advice experts are doling out is more tailored to both your vulnerability and personal preferences.

To go back to the question of indoor dining, ask yourself: How worried are you about getting sick? And are you vaccinated and boosted? Will you be around loved ones with risk factors, such as illness or age, that make them more likely to become severely ill?

To assess how big the risk of illness is in your area, which might inform your thinking, there are a couple of data sources Wallace suggests investigating. They include Covid data from wastewater(New Yorkers can find state data here) and ER Covid trends.

She also points out there are ways to make indoor dining safer. You can visit restaurants during slower periods, or pick places that are relatively spacious. Wallace says she also carries a carbon dioxide monitor with her to check whether places are well-ventilated. But keep in mind there’s no way to completely eliminate the possibility of catching Covid.

Somebody should remind Bloomberg News that it’s November of 2023, not March of 2020. But for many on the left who loved the days of lockdowns and washing all of their produce in Purell, they’ll likely never move on from what they look back with fond nostalgia as their Finest Hour.

Or to put it another way: Ignoring Them Is the Only Way Out.

GETTING HIGHER EVERY MONTH: The Surprisingly High Cost of Being a Middle-Class American.

GOODER AND HARDER SAN FRAN: Two Czech journalists visiting SF for APEC robbed at gunpoint in North Beach.

Two Czech television journalists visiting San Francisco to cover the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit were robbed at gunpoint in North Beach, according to officials and multiple media reports.

The San Francisco Police Department said it responded to a report of the robbery near Broadway and Columbus Avenue, in front of the famous City Lights Bookstore, just before 5 p.m. Sunday. The journalists told police that three individuals with firearms exited a car and approached them, SFPD spokesperson Allison Maxie said in an emailed statement. The individuals demanded that the production crew hand over their equipment and then fled the scene in their car, Maxie said.

TRUNALIMUNUMAPRZURE!

Joe Biden honors the Vegas NHL team and then randomly asks the team to keep the Philadelphia Eagles from moving to Vegas. Does Joe realize the Raiders are there? Super weird: pic.twitter.com/HJsTJqEXJq

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 14, 2023

WHEN YOU’VE TOLD THE STORY, STOP TELLING IT: Oh, Thank Goodness Disney Is Finally Doing the Right Thing… Almost.

MARK JUDGE: The Left uplifts its artists. Why doesn’t the Right?

When a gifted young singer or filmmaker emerges on the left, the entire media ecosystem works in tandem to lift that person up. They are noticed in Vanity Fair, the Hollywood Reporter, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. There are profiles on the morning shows, grants and financial support. Everybody pulls in one direction.

On the right, it is almost the opposite effect. “There is a lot of gatekeeping,” Roland tells me. “Everyone is protecting their own turf.” Conservative media companies want to promote their own product. Whereas on the left everyone lends a hand to uplift talent, on the right there is more of an effort to ignore it.

As I’ve spoken to Roland since his film came out, we’ve found ourselves in similar situations. Last year I published a book, The Devil’s Triangle, recounting my nightmare experience as a target during the 2018 Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. It’s not only a political work but a cultural one about life in the 1980s. It has gotten good notices on Amazon, but not many reviews in the conservative media. One that did appear was barely coherent.

Another conservative site, the Washington Free Beacon, did a lengthy interview with me — that never ran. Imagine the liberal love fest if I had caved to the Left’s bullying and witness tampering and dragged Kavanaugh down. I’d be the editor of Vanity Fair and the king of Hollywood.

Read the whole thing.

MAYBE BIDEN SHOULDN’T HAVE CANCELED THOSE: US needs more pipeline capacity for reliable gas supply -trade group.

FIRE THEM: 400 Government Officals Sign a Letter Objecting to Biden’s Israel Stance.

NEWS YOU CAN USE? Google Is About To Delete Gmail And Photos Content Next Month — Here’s What You Need To Know. “The impact will be limited to personal accounts not accessed in the past two years. Active users interacting with their Google accounts within this period are exempt from this data deletion.”

BACK AND TO THE LEFT. BACK AND TO THE LEFT: Thursday night at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas: Lee Harvey Oswald And The JFK Assassination: Experts In Dialogue.

Even if you can’t make it to the Oswald exhibition, it’s worth going for the Prohibition exhibition alone, where you’re invited to sample recreations of the absolutely vile hooch that Prohibition-era bootleggers distilled during this dark era in American history.

REFORMING POST-TENURE REVIEW. I’ve seen it weaponized too often to be enthusiastic about post-tenure review, but ironclad academic freedom guarantees for all faculty, regardless of tenure, would go a long way towards addressing the concerns with the degrading of tenure protections.