KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEFING: Jake Tapper Agrees That Jake Tapper Is Horrible at His Job. “Tell us, Jake, what you told yourself every time Biden wandered around a stage shaking hands with people who weren’t there. He’s a ghost-whisperer? He’s such a nice guy that he’s always ready to extend a friendly greeting, even if no one is there at the moment? Walk us through the process.”
Author Archive: Stephen Green
February 27, 2025
AMERICANS: “Do you think Democrats learned anything from their historic loss last November?”
Democrats:
Philly schools will continue to allow transgender athletes to participate in sports that match their gender identity https://t.co/3TgfTzKOcl
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) February 25, 2025
SARAH HOYT’S SHOCKED FACE IS ENJOYING A MIMOSA ON THE LIDO DECK: Inflation Reduction Act is Over Budget and Underperforming.
The Congressional Budget Office originally projected the clean energy incentives and tax subsidies in the IRA would cost $390 billion in the 10-year period from 2022 to 2031. Over the last two years, other groups have placed the cost much higher.
Goldman Sachs estimates the legislation’s clean energy provisions will actually cost $1.2 trillion. The National Bureau of Economic Research also believes the climate provisions will cost $900 billion to $1.2 trillion. Credit Suisse’s estimate came in at $800 billion — still more than twice what the CBO projected.
Meanwhile, the Princeton Net Zero Project estimated last year that by 2035, U.S. emission levels will only fall by 40% compared to 2005 levels. Princeton originally predicted the IRA would help cut emissions by 50%.
Lawmakers’ stated goal for the IRA was to cut emissions by 80% by 2030, when compared to 2005 levels.
It doesn’t accomplish what it was ostensibly designed to do while costing two or three times more than the Democrat congress “budgeted.”
Of course, what the IRA was really supposed to accomplish was to shovel money at favored groups. By that measure, it’s a smashing success — and a must-repeal for the GOP congress.
SARAH ANDERSON: The Truth About Melania.
I’ve never met our first lady. I don’t know her, though I’d love to interview her one day. I’m guessing most of you don’t know her either. But if you were to rely on the mainstream media’s reporting, you’d probably draw some unfavorable conclusions.
A quick Google search of her name over the last 48 hours brings up headlines about how she’s been “absent” for the last month, how she doesn’t want to “play the role of first lady,” or how she “keeps to herself.” One newspaper even called her “aloof,” and the most liberal ones of the liberal like to make assumptions about her marriage to the president.
But here’s the thing: These people don’t know her either. They’re just twisting a few facts in a way that fits their anti-Trump agenda and adding a little speculation for good measure.
These are, after all, the same people who tried to sell us on DOCTOR Jill Biden as a fashion maven and super-duper-genius Ph.D.
February 26, 2025
ET TU, CONNECTICUT?
Nearly 7 point swing for the Republican in Connecticut special election.
I'm starting to wonder if Connecticut and New Jersey will be swing states by 2028 🤔 https://t.co/OOmsD2o1ys
— Peter St Onge, Ph.D. (@profstonge) February 26, 2025
When Scott Presler is finished in New Jersey, can we please get him out here to Colorado?
BOOM:
🚨 #BREAKING: Trump signs executive order fully implementing DOGE's government waste cutting initiatives.
"Each Agency Head shall, with assistance as requested from the agency's DOGE Team Lead, build a centralized technological system within the agency to seamlessly record every…
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 26, 2025
Congress, it’s your turn next.
SO THAT’S A NO THEN? Syria Suffers Massive Israeli Strikes Hours After Jolani Demanded Withdrawal. “Israel in a rare confirmation of the overnight airstrikes said its warplanes struck ‘military targets in southern Syria, including headquarters and sites containing weapons.’ It added, ‘The presence of military assets and forces in the southern part of Syria constitutes a threat’ to Israeli citizens.”
CHRISTIAN TOTO: Why Hollywood Is Eerily Similar to USAID.
Consider “Wolf Man,” the latest attempt to revive the classic horror movie character. The January release flamed out at the box office, but a look at the film suggests it must have cost less than “The Brutalist.”
Much less. Why?
The film is primarily set in a cabin in the woods. A few scenes take place in the neighboring forest. The FX are minimal, to say the least, and the only “name” in the cast is Julia Garner of “Ozark” fame.
The reported budget stands at $25 million. Where did all the money go?
Read the whole thing.
UNEXPECTED HEADLINES: Keeping Satan Off the Ballot in Utah. “Will Satan be barred from running for office in Utah? The vote in the state legislature was 65-2. The questions now are, will the governor sign? And who the hell were the two people who voted against it? Is the pro-Satan caucus in Washington, D.C., making inroads in the Beehive State?”
THAT DIDN’T TAKE VERY LONG:
TULSI GABBARD ANNOUNCES SHE HAS TERMINATED ALL 100+ NSA EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN TRANSGENDER SEX CHATS.pic.twitter.com/231wPk02a4
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 26, 2025
May the firings continue until morale improves. Or doesn’t.
UPDATE (From Ed):
The Left’s crybaby tactics don’t work anymore pic.twitter.com/2FGo5xDlDD
— Declaration of Memes (@LibertyCappy) February 26, 2025
BILL WHITTLE’S HOT MIC: Dan Bongino, G-Man.
MEANWHILE, OVER AT VODKAPUNDIT: Data Republican Just Got Doxxed and the Outpouring of Support Will Warm Your Heart.
COLONIALISM, STRAIGHT UP:
NYPD officer says she hopes to see 100,000 female officers wearing hijabs in the “near future.”
“Im looking forward to another 100,000 ladies wearing hijabs in the near future.”
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 25, 2025
WELL, GOOD: Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer a threat to Earth, scientists say. “Paul Chodas, who heads NASA’s Center for Near Earth Objects Studies, said there is no chance the odds will rise at this point and that an impact in 2032 has been ruled out.”
HOWEVER MUCH YOU HATE THE MEDIA, YOU’LL HATE THEM MORE AFTER READING THIS: Tapper & Thompson Blow the Lid Off That Story You Knew in 2020.
DECOUPLING: USTR proposes charging Chinese ships up to $1.5 million to enter US ports. “USTR said in a January 16 report on a probe, opens new tab launched during the administration of former President Joe Biden that China increased its share of global shipbuilding tonnage from 5% in 1999 to over 50% in 2023 because of massive state subsidies and preferential treatment for state-owned enterprises that are squeezing out private-sector international competitors. The agency said that U.S. shipyards were building 70 ships in 1975, but just five annually today.”
ANALYSIS: TRUE. America’s Future Depends on Rebuilding the Navy.
The SECDEF was asked about the Pacific at the conference. Here is the question by a Japanese reporter and SECDEF’s answer:
REPORTER, JAPAN: “I would like to ask about China. You have mentioned that the U.S. will be prioritizing and deterring China. What role will you be expecting Japan and other Indo-Pacific (IP4) countries to play in this context?”
HEGSETH: “We don’t have an inevitable desire to clash with China. There is a recognition that there are divergent interests, which means we must be strong in order to advance our own interests and deter aggression.” “……we don’t feel conflict is inevitable and certainly don’t seek conflict with China.” “That’s why President Trump has worked … ensuring that the U.S. is prepared for any contingency.” It is prudent for us to work with allies and partners in the Pacific to ensure deterrence through hard power….” “That’s why a lot of my first phone calls as Secretary of Defense were to Pacific allies—to Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and others.” “Because just as the NATO alliance is critical, working by, with, and through as and partners in the Indo-Pacific is critical as well. The U.S. alone cannot do everything, everywhere, all at once. And we will not have to, because we are not alone. Our Indo-Pacific allies—Japan, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, and others—understand the reality of the ascendant Chinese threat. And it will be critical for them to invest in their own deterrence capabilities. It can’t just be America. We need allies to step up—and many of them are already doing so.” “This is why President Trump has placed a strong emphasis on deterrence in the Pacific. And that’s why one of my top priorities as Secretary of Defense is ensuring that the U.S. military remains the strongest, most capable, most lethal fighting force on the planet. Because heaven forbid, we have to use it—but if we do, it must be ready to close with and destroy our enemies and bring our men and women home with success as quickly as possible.”
The SECDEF is bluntly saying a war with the PRC will be in their waters. Thus, the need for the Navy to take the fight to them over there and to defend our friends and allies in the region from the PRC’s ambitions to dominate the Pacific. That will take many more ships, more strategic sealift, and more airpower, airlift.
For a so-called “amateur,” Hegseth certainly understands the big picture and is saying all the right things about the Pacific.
KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEFING: Party Time — Trump Throws the MSM Hacks Into Another Tizzy. “Kicking the White House Correspondents’ Association to the periphery is long overdue, like cleaning a room in an old house that no one has used for years. They can now devote more time to hosting their annual no-talent show dinner. Maybe they can get Jimmy Kimmel to host it through his tears this year.”
FAIL BRITANNIA: Nelson makes way for Yvette Cooper portrait in Parliament’s diversity drive.
Paintings of Lord Nelson have been taken down under plans to make Parliament’s artworks more diverse, The Telegraph can reveal.
The move followed an MP-led review of parliamentary art linked to slavery and racism.
Two images of the British naval hero have been taken down since the Black Lives Matter-inspired review began in 2020, including one depicting the commander dying for his country at the Battle of Trafalgar.
A portrait of Sir Francis Drake, another naval commander, has also been removed.
“A generation which ignores history has no past — and no future,” the wise man once wrote.
THE WHCA WAS NEVER ANYTHING MORE THAN A COOL KIDS CLUB FOR UNCOOL KIDS, ANYWAY: Trump Team Rolls Stink Bomb Into the White House Press Room, and It’s Glorious.