OPEN THREAD: Hump Day.

HAHA:

https://t.co/nx4ue7Jfdd pic.twitter.com/jzgdWYXvnq

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 13, 2025

THE OFFICIAL DOGE WEBSITE IS ALIVE AT DOGE.GOV.

CHANGE: NASA moves up return date for Boeing Starliner astronauts after swapping SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

FLASHBACK: Elon, Unbound. Nailed it, in a way, but wound up undershooting the actuality.

HIGHEST APPROVAL RATINGS SO FAR:

Trump is currently enjoying his highest approval ratings ever and these people still think suggesting America regrets its decision is a brilliant talking point. https://t.co/1U7cSNorYC

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) February 12, 2025

PARTY OF DISASTER:

Democrats were responsible for the Federal Reserve, IRS, Jim Crow laws and segregation in the federal bureaucracy, not to mention Prohibition. And opposed Women’s suffrage. But other than that they are totally committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. https://t.co/MwhZVKNH7E

— Sen. Frank Niceley (@SenFrankNiceley) February 11, 2025

THE E.V. BUBBLE CONTINUES TO DEFLATE, WHILE INTERNAL COMBUSTION GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE: Stellantis Suggests V8 Return While Promising Revised Business Strategy.

You don’t want to buy an EV and later find yourself thinking “wow, I could’ve had a V8!”

LAW ENFORCEMENT: Despite ATF’s Pistol Brace Ban Being Vacated, the Rogue Agency is Still Trying to Jail People Who Use Them.

SCIENCE: Fake papers are contaminating the world’s scientific literature: They’re fueling a corrupt industry and slowing legitimate lifesaving medical research.

NOT GOING WELL: ULA’s Vulcan rocket still doesn’t have the Space Force’s seal of approval.

SPACE: NASA chooses SpaceX launch site in Texas for Pandora mission launch.

IS THERE ANYTHING THESE DRUGS CAN’T DO? GLP-1 medications show promise in slowing kidney disease progression.

CHICKS DIG BAD BOYS: House Dem: I’m Deeply Sexually Attracted to a Real Leader! “Hey, all the signs are there! The nervous laughter, the subconscious preening, the head tilt — she’s totally into him! And why shouldn’t she be? Dexter just watched the last few years with a senile placeholder in the Oval Office rather than someone who could take charge, and clearly the contrast has deeply affected her. Dexter might want to check on the White House social schedule to see when Melania will be out of town next.”

I’m really enjoying all the mockery of Democrats and leftists. The devil hates to be mocked.

JOHN HINDERAKER: It’s corruption, all the way down.

#WINNING: Literally on a government watch list a few weeks ago, and now she’s in charge of her tormentors.

✅CONFIRMED: Tulsi Gabbard is your new Director of National Intelligence. pic.twitter.com/GKxOeptBoM

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 12, 2025

Mitch McConnell voted no on her, of course.

Next, Kash Patel.

ABSOLUTELY, IT’S INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM: Conservative Groups Call On EEOC To Investigate ABA Diversity Programs. “A coalition of conservative legal groups on Monday asked the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate several of the American Bar Association’s diversity hiring programs, claiming they discriminate by giving priority to minority applicants and other underrepresented groups.”

“Underrepresented.”

CDR SALAMANDER: “It appears that someone is messing with one of the new construction German Braunschweig-class corvettes that is carrying the name of one of my favorite ships.”

JAMES PETHOKOUKIS: JD Vance offers an accelerationist AI vision in Paris: The veep offered world leaders and CEOs at the AI Action Summit an Up Wing message about technology empowering workers, not erasing them.

IF YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT “PALESTINIAN GENOCIDE,” YOU’RE A MORON: ‘Ongoing genocide’: UMich students fail to get Israeli doctor’s talk canceled.

Or a liar.

OH GROW UP: California professor refuses to use ‘chief’ in her CEO title, says it offends ‘Indigenous colleagues.’

WHEN THEY SAY “WITHOUT PROOF” OR “WITHOUT EVIDENCE” YOU PRETTY MUCH KNOW THE UNDERLYING STATEMENT IS TRUE.

The New York Times says “Musk Asserts Without Proof That Bureaucracy Is Rife With Fraud.” Seriously? The GAO — under Biden — estimated last year that we are losing $233-$521 billion *per year* to fraud. Guys, it’s right there. Why do you continue with this… fraud? SMH pic.twitter.com/p2ceZhNLuQ

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) February 12, 2025

IT WASN’T A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS WHEN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES WERE CENSORING THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION, THOUGH, SO THEY CAN F*CK OFF. “Constitutional Crisis” is a Talking Point.

The talking point has gone out. Manufactured on the left’s Slack channels and dutifully regurgitated by the American press corps, it is the semi-sane version of “coup,” but it is a talking point nonetheless. No, reporter, I don’t take you seriously when you claim this is a constitutional crisis. You’re just parroting the left’s hive mind.

The left has an easier path into the newsrooms of America with editors and producers, many of whom lean left, shaping the daily narrative designed with a bias towards Democrats. Thus, within about twenty-four hours of prominent progressive pundits using the phrase, Kaitlyn Collins regurgitated it for them as news, the New York Times spilled ink over it, and it is off to the races.

But was it a constitutional crisis when Democrats and members of the press conspired to cover up the mental decline of the former President? Was it a constitutional crisis when he used the power of the pardon to benefit his son? What about pre-emptively pardoning members of his family? What about when it turned out he really had met with Hunter Biden’s clients after years of denying it, but now we got photographs? What about when his office conspired with the supposedly independent Attorney General to deny access to the Special Prosecutor’s audio that would have revealed his mental decline? What about when he pardoned the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who, by accepting the pardon, acknowledged the commission of crimes in office? The Supreme Court said acceptance of a pardon implies guilt of a crime.

“Constitutional crisis” is not a serious talking point. But they are seriously and stentoriously delivering it. It is the 2025 version of this from 2017-2018.

But people don’t really care, Margaret.

SCHUMER’S FALLING BACK TO ARGUING THAT DOGE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BUT THEY’RE DOING IT WRONG. They must have some devastating internal polls.

I voted for a chainsaw but I'll take what I can get. https://t.co/EaqnCJ0obK

— @instapundit (@instapundit) February 12, 2025

BUT OF COURSE. GRIFTERS GONNA GRIFT — AND GONNA BITTERLY DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO SUCK ON THE PUBLIC TEAT. Coincidence? ABA Blasts Cuts to USAID. Also, ABA Gets Millions From USAID.