CHANGE? Meet the Man Who Murdered the Democratic Party. “A pair of earthshattering, history-altering, Chris Christie-sized stories broke this week, but they’ve (mostly) skated beneath the political periphery. That’s because you can’t grasp the sheer enormity of the consequences until you connect them together.”
Author Archive: Stephen Green
April 17, 2025
I’VE HAD SIMILAR THOUGHTS: Is It August 1941 Again? If So Is There A Chinese Operation Z In The Works?
For many years before the United States entered World War II, tensions between the United States and Japan escalated. In the months prior to December 7, 1941, those tensions reached the breaking point. Responding to the Japanese occupation of airfields in French Indochina, the U.S. froze all Japanese assets on July 26, 1941. On August 1st, it imposed an embargo on oil and gasoline exports to Japan. Without those exports, the Japanese economy and military would grind to a halt.
The Japanese were faced with a clear choice. The sanctions imposed by the United States were a fatal blow to Japan’s economy. Tokyo could knuckle under, or it could strike first.
That didn’t work out very well.
EITHER THE NUKES HAVE TO GO OR THE REGIME DOES: Netanyahu Says Iran’s Nuclear Program ‘Must Be Eliminated’ As U.S. Set to Meet With Iran Again.
JOYLESS GUARDIAN WRITER SAYS: The Blue Origin flight showcased the utter defeat of American feminism.
This lede is just too precious for writer Moira Donegan’s utter lack of self-awareness while decrying our lack of self-awareness: “There are some spectacles of US decadence and decline that almost seem too on the nose – the sort of orgies of vulgar provocation or fantastic lack of self-awareness that exceed the limits of parody, so that if they were in a novel, you’d think the writer was laying it on a little thick.”
Say what you will about the merits of Blue Origin’s all-female passenger flight but those women touched the edge of space on an American-built joyride that you can’t get in Britain at any price.
If that’s decadence and decline, then what do you call Britain’s ongoing dewesternization?
KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEFING: Loading Up on Popcorn to Watch Trump Break Harvard. “No one on the Right has even taken a brief, easy run at the grifters in Academia before. President Trump is going after them and their money hard. There’s a lot at stake here. The rot in Academia is so deep that getting rid of it without burning it all down (a guy can dream) can’t be done with halfhearted measures.”
UNEXPECTEDLY! David Hogg Turning Out to Be a Terrific Pick for DNC Vice Chair.
It has been a busy spring since winning a Democratic National Committee Vice Chair post [Beege adds: 1 of 5 VCs], an event I can only attribute to the current state of Democratic Party upheaval and disarray, and, evidently, the overwhelming lack of a single, sane member.
Hogg’s ascension was the lunatic cherry on top of the DNC Crazy Town sundae – we all know who’s in charge of the asylum now.
It didn’t take the twee lad long to exercise his tremendous powers of persuasion. Two weeks after winning, DNC members were already being persuaded that this attention Hogg was a big mistake.
…
Some were questioning the wisdom of elevating a media-made creature of so little accomplishment, particularly at a time when the party was being held in so little regard.
When you’re considered too young and callow for the party currently going all-in on AOC as the party’s future…
ICYMI: You’ll Never Believe What Slow Learners the Democrats Are. “Democrats want their party to become more progressive than what, exactly? Sorry, I didn’t mean to mislead you, but this actually raises a whole host of questions about current progressive policies and proposals — and I don’t even need to drink my lunch before asking them all.”
COMMIES LIE ABOUT EVERYTHING: China’s Defense Budget Is Bigger than You Think.
During the Cold War, the United States never trusted its adversaries’ claims about their capabilities. Instead, it always sought to verify them through intelligence analysis. Today, China’s impressive and aggressive military expansion, allegedly achieved on a shoestring budget, should raise eyebrows, even from typically credulous consumers of official CCP reports. Specifically, China reported at the National People’s Congress (NPC) earlier this month that its defense budget included total expenditures of only $245 billion.
Historically, these reports are intentionally vague and conveniently oversimplified. This year’s announcement is no different. It’s hard to know what the real numbers are. Still, it’s even harder to believe China’s officially reported military budget of $245 billion, which would equate to an implausibly low 1.5 percent of GDP.
The U.S. Defense Department’s 2024 China Military Power Report estimated that China’s 2024 military budget was publicly understated by at least 40–90 percent. The DOD has not yet released its 2025 China Military Power Report, but we can infer from perennial experience that the same is true again this year; China’s real military expenditure, accounting for all (or at least some) “off-budget spending,” probably amounts to between $330 and $450 billion. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) has estimated the real Chinese defense budget is as high as $700 billion—and that was last year.
The CCP has expanded its military budget by at least 7.2 percent for two consecutive years. However, that figure itself also comes from official CCP reports and should be regarded with skepticism.
One thing is certain. China isn’t indulging in the fastest peacetime naval expansion in history on a $245 billion budget.
MORE LIKE THIS, PLEASE: A HUGE Win for Free Speech: Rubio Shuts Down Controversial State Department Office.
April 16, 2025
A TRILLION HERE AND A TRILLION THERE…: ‘Massive Numbers’: Trump’s Economic Agenda Sparks $7 Trillion In Investment.
FAIL, BRITANNIA: Once-Great Britain Took Another Big Step on the Road to Venezuela.
HMM: Chinese factories are taking the trade war somewhere new.
Chinese suppliers have been flooding American social media this week, urging users to outflank President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs on Beijing by buying directly from their factories.
One TikTok user, who goes by Wang Sen, claims that he is the original equipment manufacturer for most luxury brands, while standing in front of a wall of what appear to be ultra-spendy Birkin bags. OEMs work behind the scenes to make the products that another company then sells under its own brand.
“Why don’t you just contact us and buy from us? You won’t believe the prices we (will) give you,” he said in one clip.
His video was later taken down by the app. In the meantime, though, DHgate, an online wholesale store infamous for selling Chinese dupes of luxury goods, has shot to #2 on the US Apple app store. Another app, Taobao, China’s OG e-commerce site, is at #7.
It’s highly improbable that these are real suppliers for brands like Lululemon and Chanel, multiple experts told CNN. Legitimate manufacturers usually sign non-disclosure agreements, so it’s unlikely that these creators are selling the real thing.
Or they’re desperate enough to try, regardless. Who knows? So caveat emptor.
CUT THE RED TAPE WITH MILEI’S CHAINSAW: Restrictive and Sometimes Ludicrous Regulations Are Stifling the Revolution in Nuclear Reactors.
THIS IS NEWS? Dogs’ speech recognition: New study shows they listen beyond tone.
A new study conducted by animal behavior and mammalian cognition experts at the Universities of Lincoln and Sussex, and Jean Monnet University, reveals that dogs may be far better at understanding human speech than previously understood.
The group’s research paper, “Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) recognize meaningful content in monotonous streams of read speech,” published in Animal Cognition, explains that dogs actually “listen in” when we are speaking, even if the speech is not directed at them. According to the findings, dogs possess the neurological capacity to passively sift through information and commands relevant to them when humans are talking.
Humans and dogs have lived symbiotically for more than 14,000 years, yet despite our mutualistic bond, there remains a poor understanding of whether dogs do understand what we say.
My Golden knows what end credits music sounds like — any end credits music — and perks up because the movie is over and dinner is near.
EXTEND THE TAX CUTS: Georgians Send a Tax Day Message to Sen. Jon Ossoff.
WELL, GOOD: Trump to sign memo combating Social Security fraud.
Immigrants are unable to receive Social Security if they are in the country illegally, but Trump and his advisers, including X owner Elon Musk, have amplified claims that millions are being placed into the program.
According to Leavitt, the memorandum will also expand the Social Security Administration’s fraud prosecution program, direct the agency to ensure ineligible aliens are not receiving funds, and establish a Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecution program in 15 U.S. attorney’s offices.
Lastly, the memorandum will require the agency’s inspector general to investigate earnings reports for people aged 100 or older with mismatched Social Security records to combat identity theft. This topic has been top of mind for Musk as he leads the Department of Government Efficiency.
The news comes as former President Joe Biden is set to reenter the public sphere by delivering a speech on Social Security at a conference in Chicago.
On the last point, nobody cares.
OR MAYBE YOU WILL: You’ll Never Believe What Slow Learners the Democrats Are. “It seems like only earlier today [it was only earlier today, Steve —Editor] that I was encouraging Democrats to go on with their bad selves and dive deep into progressive loserdom with future presidential candidates like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It is my gleeful duty to report that no such encouragement was required.”
The Texas teen accused of fatally stabbing a high school football star at a track meet allegedly lives in a $900K home inside a luxurious gated community — despite requesting a judge lower his $1 million bond because of financial difficulties, according to a report.
Karmelo Anthony, 17, is shacked up with his family at the pricey home inside the gated community of Richwoods in Frisco, Texas, after he was released from jail Monday on a reduced $250,000 bond for allegedly killing Austin Metcalf earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported.
The home — where rent is estimated to be $3,500 a month — had a white Suburban, a black Acura, and a third sedan in the driveway on Tuesday, according to the outlet.
A neighbor said that the family had just bought a new ride.
“He got a new car,” the resident told the outlet. “If you look at the license plate, it’s got a paper tag and it says it expires June 4.”
Being an accused murderer with multiple witnesses ain’t what it used to be.
FACE, MEET PALMSKI: Russia Reveals They Control Drones From Atop School For Psychics.
This was hardly a shining moment in operational security, as the Internet quickly geolocated the office to the precise tower being used.
But wait! It gets better! It turns out that drone operations are being run from atop a school for psychics.
War is always absurd but this one feels more absurd than most.
COME SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERENT IN THE LEFTISM:
Pennlive: police warrant says arsonist targeted Pa. Gov. Shapiro for “what he wants to do to Palestinian people” https://t.co/Z9zK5soClz
— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) April 16, 2025
Nope, sure doesn’t look MAGA to me.
More:
Just to recap, we’ve now had a CEO murdered, two assassination attempts against a now-president, a governor nearly killed with his family, and businesses burned to the ground…all by left-wingers.
But CNN just can’t find any examples of left-wing extremism.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) April 16, 2025
This is CNN.
DISPATCHES FROM WEIMAR BRITAIN: ‘Adult Baby’ Diaper Fetishist Terrorizes Multiple Daycares With Feces.
(Headline corrected.)
WELL DONE, LADIES:
It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, I’m so proud to know you 🏴💜🏴💚🏴🤍🏴 https://t.co/JEvcScVVGS
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 16, 2025
UPDATE (From Ed):
'A Woman Is An Adult Human Female' Rules U.K. Judge That Looks Suspiciously Like Matt Walsh In A Powdered Wig https://t.co/oojeLzDTUX pic.twitter.com/aaonLfFimG
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) April 16, 2025
BEEGE WELBORN: Taking on Teddy’s Strip at the Border.
There’s a 60-foot wide strip of land that runs through three states along the length of the United States border known as the ‘Roosevelt Reservation.’ The federal and tribal lands that form the 632-mile long strip account for about a third of the 2000-mile long US-Mexico border. All the rest is Texas.
Teddy Roosevelt, pragmatic visionary that he was, saw a need to keep an eye out towards the South and leave some maneuvering room, as there were already problems with bandito incursions and smuggling going on across the borders.
Much more at the link.
MEANWHILE, OVER AT VODKAPUNDIT: The Hill Says ‘Buzz Builds Around AOC’s Future’ and I Say PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN.