February 20, 2026
The Morning Report — 2/20/26
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at
07:30 AM
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Good morning kids. Once again we've got trouble at home and trouble abroad (hmm, sounds like the opening of a Grateful Dead ditty) Let's start off overseas with things heating up in and around Iran. The internal unrest inside that nation that we had all thought or hoped would at long last see the toppling of the Muallahocracy appears, at least from what I can tell, to have significantly quieted down. Of course the IRGC and other security forces have arrested and/or executed hundreds if not thousands of protesters at this point and hence the quieting down. That said, as the unrest was building, President Trump ordered a carrier battle group to take up station in the Mediterranean within striking range of Iran and now that it is in position, the saber rattling is reaching a fever pitch.
President Donald J. Trump warned that the U.S. could strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached within the next ten days. . . President Trump, world leaders attending the Board of Peace meeting, and Iranian officials involved in nuclear negotiations.. . February 19, 2026, during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, DC.. . : “We may have to take it a step further, or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next probably ten days.” — President Donald Trump . . The U.S. military has mobilized assets in the Middle East, as nuclear negotiations with Iran remain ongoing.
I seriously do not understand what the hell this is all about. First, I thought we along with the Israelis took out Iran's nuclear capabilities with the bombing campaign a few months ago? And what's to negotiate? Why is allowing their heinous, evil government to remain in power an acceptable outcome for a promise that is not worth the paper it's written on?!
And this whole Board of Peace nonsense is a complete waste of time given the nature of Islam, despite the supposed phony moderation of some of the players involved. Islam has been on the march for close to a millennium and a half and it will not stop until it conquers the entire world, even if it means bringing about Armageddon to obtain that goal. And Armageddon is a central pillar of Shiite Twelverism (look it up) which is at the heart of the Iranian regime.
Until Islam reforms itself or is eradicated from the face of the Earth for all time, there will be no peace in the region and indeed the rest of the world where it is allowed to flourish.
So, dealing with the Mullahs is one thing, but back here at home, President Trump needs to park a carrier battle group up the sigmoid of the Judiciary:
On Thursday, a federal judge in California overturned a previous immigration court ruling that supported the Trump administration’s illegal immigrant detention policies. U.S. District Court Judge Sunshine Sykes, a Joe Biden appointee, criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their characterization of detainees as the “worst of the worst.”“‘Worst of the worst’ is an inaccurate description of most of those affected by DHS and ICE’s operations,” Judge Sykes ruled. She argued that the administration’s language was designed to justify the scale of its actions against illegal immigrants.“Even though these press releases might contain an inkling of truth, they ignore a greater, more dire reality,” she claimed, adding: “Beyond its terror against noncitizens, the executive branch has extended its violence on its own citizens, killing two American citizens—Renée Good and Alex Pretti—in Minnesota,” Sykes wrote in her decision, adding, “The threats posed by the executive branch cannot be viewed in isolation.”The ruling, if upheld, could block mass deportations and ensure bond hearings for many non-convicted illegal immigrant detainees. Previously, DHS had denied bond hearings to migrants arrested by federal immigration authorities, even if they had been in the United States for years. Those who recently illegally crossed the border were also not guaranteed immediate bond hearings under the policy.
And yet, per Tom Homan:
” White House border czar Tom Homan said that there will be “mass deportation. . . “I will do whatever I can, because the president has made a promise to the American people, there will be mass deportation, but it’s going to prioritize public safety threats first. And that’s just the way we should be doing it. Targeted enforcement operations are a way to go. And for the people are going nuts is if you’re walking away from mass deportation. Look at the numbers. We already got record numbers to deportation but arresting the public safety threat first makes sense because you’re the biggest danger to the community. Prioritize public safety threats and national security threats doesn’t mean to forget about everybody else. I’ve said it from day one, if you’re in the country illegally, you’re not off the table. We’re looking for you, and we’ll remove you when we find you.”
So Mr. Border Czar, how does your declaration square with what Biden's hack in black has said and done.
Lots of other links to peruse and ponder, especially regarding socialism, it's embrace by more and more Americans, especially youth and what can be done to smack people upside the head before the bodies pile up in mass graves or freeze to death in the NYC cold or starve to death due to the raging success of Free Grocery Stores!!!!
Have a great weekend!
And lastly, a quick shout-out and a huge thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.
ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY LINKS
How Apple News and other tech giants change the narrative for Democrats
Teaching the Truth About Socialism in America’s Public Schools (See also the related story in the Culture Wars section - jjs)
New York’s First Free Grocery Store Opens
Daily Tech News 20 February 2026
Top Story
- The US government is building a specifically VPN-enabled website to allow Euroserfs to access content banned by their fascist overlords. (Reuter)
Radio Free Europe, part two. Only this time the Europeans aren't being oppressed by the Soviet Union, but by themselves.
- Why Europe doesn't have a Tesla. (Works In Progress)
The article highlights the continent's absurdly restrictive labour laws which are certainly a key part of the problem.
But European leaders have decided on a slow and messy suicide, and many of their voters are entirely on board with this.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM | Comments (152) | Trackbacks (Suck)
February 19, 2026
Thursday Overnight Open Thread - February 19, 2026 [Doof]
Photo from STEPH_Protect The 2A on X
Photo from STEPH_Protect The 2A on X
Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:00 PM | Comments (441) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Golden Hour Cafe
King of Wings hoodoo in New Mexico, under the Milky Way
by Wayne Pinkston
Elements of this photo look unreal but
that hoodoo is actually real
As the underage male prostitute said to Adam Schiff, "That's a big hole to fill." United by their shared love of head-butting. Amateurs talk about tactics, professionals talk about logistics. SCTV: The Ricardo Montalban School of Fine Acting. Jess! Bad mane day. Bored duck twiddles his feet. Puppy dumped in park is rescued and finds his forever home. Golden retriever holds a toy so that a blind puppy can play with it. Rescuing a groundhog from a pool. Bunny rub. World's largest gathering of golden retrievers (allegedly) in Golden, Colorado.
King of Wings hoodoo in New Mexico, under the Milky Way
by Wayne Pinkston
Elements of this photo look unreal but
that hoodoo is actually real
As the underage male prostitute said to Adam Schiff, "That's a big hole to fill." United by their shared love of head-butting. Amateurs talk about tactics, professionals talk about logistics. SCTV: The Ricardo Montalban School of Fine Acting. Jess! Bad mane day. Bored duck twiddles his feet. Puppy dumped in park is rescued and finds his forever home. Golden retriever holds a toy so that a blind puppy can play with it. Rescuing a groundhog from a pool. Bunny rub. World's largest gathering of golden retrievers (allegedly) in Golden, Colorado.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 07:48 PM | Comments (179) | Trackbacks (Suck)
BREAKING: DEMOCRAT TERRORISTS CRASH STOLEN AMBULANCE LOADED WITH GAS CANS INTO AN IDAHO FEDERAL BUILDING
unther EaglemanFox:
@GuntherEagleman 28m 🚨 BREAKING: DOMESTIC TERROR ATTEMPT IN IDAHO Ambulance stolen, packed with staged gas cans, rammed straight into a DHS office in what cops are calling an attempted ARSON MASSACRE targeting ICE agents. Police: This was no accident
Stolen ambulance allegedly driven into Idaho DHS office building in attempted arson attackThey mean he stashed gas cans in the bushes where they wouldn't be seen, then loaded them into the stolen bus just before the attack.
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea says suspect staged accelerant in vegetation before driving emergency vehicle into DHS building
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea provided new details about an attack on a DHS building Thursday. (KBOI) State and federal authorities are investigating after a suspect allegedly stole an ambulance, loaded up staged gas cans and plowed the emergency vehicle into a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Idaho -- in what investigators believe was an attempted arson attack. Just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, an ambulance was stolen from a bay at St. Luke's West hospital. However, the suspect was unable to ignite the accelerant before being scared off by responding agencies, according to Basterrechea. "We want to emphasize that this was a serious criminal act," Basterrechea said. "The theft and destruction of an emergency vehicle not only created a risk to responding personnel, but it also temporarily removed a critical medical resource from the community." ... "Comments on social media, such as 'property damage isn't violence,' is absolutely false," Basterrechea continued. "This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk."Shades of Timothy McVeigh. Though I don't imagine the disgusting press and Deep State will find this new Timothy McVeigh nearly as objectionable as the old one.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 07:00 PM | Comments (223) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Quick Hits
Mistrial declared in trial of antifa domestic terrorists who shot up ICE agents as their antifa terrorist lawyer wears an MLKJr. t-shirt to court to elicit sympathy from lefty jurors. The lawyer may well face sanctions. The trial will be restarted with a different jury.
FCC chair Brendan Carr has has begun an investigation of The View for its brazen violation of equal time rules.FCC chair Brendan Carr confirmed Wednesday that the commission has started enforcement proceedings that will look into The View's alleged violations of political equal time rules. "Disney has a program called The View. And they've been asserting the position that The View is what is known as 'bona fide news' in the statute," Carr said during a Wednesday night appearance on FOX News Channel's The Ingraham Angle. "If you are bona fide news, you don't have to give candidates equal air time. But, Disney and The View have not established that that program is, in fact, bona fide news. We've started enforcement proceedings, taking a look at that. And, again, we're going to hold broadcasters accountable."Lefties whine: if the FCC starts enforcing the law about equal time, you won't be able to see the cavalcades of your favorite Democrat politicians on Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and The View!
FCC Chair to Hollywood: Talk Shows Aren't Legitimate News ABC's 'The View' is currently under investigation over an interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, after which it didn't meet FCC requirements that would've allowed his opponents equal time. Say goodbye to most appearances by political candidates on daytime and late night talk shows. After an open meeting on Wednesday, Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr said that networks should operate under the assumption that shows like The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show don't qualify for long-standing regulatory exemptions that allowed them to discuss political candidates on their shows without having to meet unwieldy requirements. Failing to comply, he said, will trigger an enforcement action. "The general rule is equal time applies," Carr said of the FCC provision. "There's narrow exceptions you have to fit in."Like being a "bona fide news program," which these propaganda festivals are clearly not.
The clarification marks a dramatic departure from how the commission has historically treated talk shows, which have qualified for exemptions as legitimate news programs for decades and are now considered partisan bad actors under the Trump administration. The change doesn't necessarily prohibit interviews with political candidates but imposes obligations requiring them to give comparable time to opponents. In practice, it will prevent networks from having anyone on by potentially forcing them to have everyone on. Carr's remarks come after Colbert said on Monday that CBS killed an interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico because the appearance would trigger regulatory obligations. "Congress passed the equal time provision for a very specific reason," he said. "They did not want the media leads in Hollywood and in New York to put their thumbs on the scale and pick their winners and losers in primaries and general elections. That's the point."LOL:
Sure, Tater. Suuure.
Brian Stelter
@brianstelter Notably, and admirably, ABC has insulated "The View" crew from this political pressure. A network source says the show "regularly hosts sitting leaders and political candidates to discuss differing viewpoints. The format is consistent with how the show has operated for years."
Ian MillerOut: FaceBook is for old people In: FaceBook is for dead people
@ianmSC 21h Ironically, this statement claiming that The View "regularly hosts sitting leaders and political candidates to discuss differing viewpoints" is funnier than anything Stephen Colbert has done in years
What happens to social media accounts belonging to those who shuffle off this mortal coil has been a subject of debate ever since the tech went mainstream. Should dormant accounts be left alone, or should their surviving loved ones be given backdoor access to maintain them as digital memorials? To Meta, there could be a morbid alternative: training an AI model on a deceased user's posts, keeping post-mortem accounts active by uploading new content in their voice long after they passed away. As Business Insider reports, Meta was granted a patent in 2023 for the idea, outlining how a large language model (LLM) can "simulate" a user's social media activity.A SLM (Smol Language Model) could simulate you-lot's activity in the comments. Just boobs, crossbows, and Promethus, for some reason.
... However, the conversation appears to have dramatically shifted over the last three years, especially now that AI slop has infiltrated and practically assumed control over platforms like Facebook and Instagram: Meta now says it's given up on the sepulchral concept. "We have no plans to move forward with this example," a spokesperson told BI.What about using the LLM to simulate activity from former users to make FaceBook appear more active than it is?
It's not a stretch to assume Meta may have had an ulterior motive to create digital avatars masquerading as the deceased. Facebook has quickly turned into a graveyard of long-forgotten accounts, never-ending ads, unanswered birthday wishes, and updates from that band you hadn't thought about since high school. At the same time, its feeds are filling with toxic AI slop. As engagement drops, the company's core business -- selling ads -- could take a hit.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 06:34 PM | Comments (82) | Trackbacks (Suck)
The Demonic Drunkard Tucker Carlson Spins His Most Brazen Lie Yet, Claiming He Was "Detained" by Evil Jews in Israel
Here are the lies Tucker Carlson pumped out on behalf of his Qatari Paymasters and Case Officers:
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 05:40 PM | Comments (183) | Trackbacks (Suck)
The Atlantic Publishe a Viral "Report" Account of a Boy Dying of Measles Because His Parents Didn't Vaccinate Him.
One Small Problem: The "Report" Is Actually Fiction, a "Hypothetical" Morality Play But That Atlantic Presented It As Actual Truth.
At least, not until The Atlantic's foray into Imaginary Journalism began provoking a reaction from journalists who like to pretend they don't do this same thing every single day.
One Small Problem: The "Report" Is Actually Fiction, a "Hypothetical" Morality Play But That Atlantic Presented It As Actual Truth.
The Washington PostThat's the Washington Post soft-peddling what woke Fake Christian arch-lefty Elizabeth Bruenig did, and what the absurd AWFUL vanity vengeance project The Atlantic did. They felt the story was misleading? IT WAS, FACTUALLY, MISLEADING. It was presented as "reportage" when it was purely an exercise in creative writing. Yes, it's based on the reality of how measles can be deadly -- but Star Trek isn't Real Journalism just because it's based, at some distance, on some actual science. It's a dramatization. And that's what this is -- at best, it's a dramatization of what could happen if measles is left untreated in a child. But it was presented as what really happened to two real children really exposed to measels. Elizabeth Bruenig wrote a completely fictitious story about a boy dying of measles. Because, presumably, his MAGA/MAHA parents didn't vaccinate him. Once again, there is no mention of the 15 million completely unvaccinated illegal aliens flooding this country. And they're much more likely to actually be carriers of measels, because they come from places with low vaccination rates that do not have the "herd immunity" needed to put a disease into extinction. But ignoring that -- this story was a work of fiction. But The Atlantic really wanted to put those MAGA/MAHA vaccine skeptics on blast, and really give its AWFUL readership something to be outraged about, something to feel superior about, so the printed this literal fiction as a real, true piece of factual journalism. I repeat: It is fiction. I don't mean it's biased, I mean the Fake Christian lefty just made the story up -- based on real reports and real science, she says -- to serve as a harrowing morality play about vaccine hesitancy.
@washingtonpost Elizabeth Bruenig's account of a mother's experience learning her child will die of measles has remained one of the Atlantic's most read stories since it was published. But some say the story felt misleading once they learned it was reported fiction.
But her condition does not improve over the next couple of days. Her cough wracks her whole body, rounding her delicate bird shoulders. She does not sleep well. And as you lift up her pajama top to check her rash one morning, you see that her breathing is labored, shadows pooling between her ribs when she sucks in air. You suffer an icy moment of realization: This is a medical crisis. What you will learn later is that the tiny air sacs inside her lungs have become breeding grounds for the virus, and the inflammation generated by her immune response is inhibiting oxygen from reaching her bloodstream. You don't want to worry your daughter, so you try to sound calm when you call the pediatrician and describe her symptoms at a rapid clip. The receptionist responds gently, types swiftly, and then pauses. Are your children vaccinated? she asks. Her tone is flat and inscrutable, but you detect an undercurrent of judgment. You wince and tell her the truth. No, you say, no vaccines. She puts you on hold. While you wait, you take your son out of his high chair and wipe his runny nose with his bib.This is what The Atlantic claims was a valid disclaimer alerting you to the fact that everything you just read was made-up -- based on medical reports about untreated measles, yes, but an entirely fictitious story about children who do not exist:
This story is based on extensive reporting and interviews with physicians, including those who have cared directly for patients with measles.Does that alert you to the fact that this is a work of fiction? Far from it -- it insists this is real reportage. And The Atlantic, looking to get some viral advertising, presented it as fact until other reporters started asking about it. The story -- the fiction -- was originally published as a 100% true factual "journalistic" account, with no warning or disclaimer to alert readers to the contrary.
At least, not until The Atlantic's foray into Imaginary Journalism began provoking a reaction from journalists who like to pretend they don't do this same thing every single day.
When I initially read Bruenig's story, I was stunned: An Atlantic staff writer's unvaccinated child had died of measles in the 2020s, and now she was writing about it? At the end of Bruenig's piece, though, there's an editor's note: "This story is based on extensive reporting and interviews with physicians, including those who have cared directly for patients with measles." That was the point when I sent a gift link to my mom group: "as far as I can tell this piece is fiction. What do we think about this choice? I am very conflicted!!!" My conflict stemmed from my concern that, though the piece was heavily researched, it was not a true story. I wondered if the key people whose minds might be changed by it -- people who don't vaccinate their kids -- would brush it off as fiction, or fake.And that's this journalist's only concern -- not that falsehood is being presented as fact, but just that this story, once revealed to be fiction, would fail to serve its purpose as pro-vaccine propaganda. More:
This particular shill is defending the deceit as, get this, "creative nonfiction." Bullshit, says Rachel Beddard.
Update 2/19/2026: After this piece was published, I heard from two different people who received The Atlantic's original press push email for the piece around 4:30 PM on Thursday afternoon. At that time, when they clicked through, there was not an editor's note/disclaimer on the piece at all. Both of those readers, who are professional journalists, responded to the press email with confusion and asked if the story was real. An Atlantic spokesperson emailed one of these readers back and said, "This is based on a mother's real account. Thanks for checking." Sometime after that, the disclaimer was added and it was there when I read the story around 7 PM on Thursday night. An Atlantic spokesperson told me yesterday, "The note was added almost immediately after publication." [Emphasis added.] This information is significant to me because it suggests that within The Atlantic there was confusion about whether the piece was fictional. Some Atlantic readers seem to share my sense of conflict -- or missed the editor's note and thought it was true. "Thank you to this mom for the incredible generosity of sharing this story -- nothing could be more tragic. I'm so sorry," one commenter wrote. Another reader commented: "Beautiful, powerful writing! This is not the reporter's personal story, correct? Is it one family's true story or a composite based on her reporting? I find it very compelling and potentially persuasive to families who question vaccines. I would love to know more about how the piece came together."
Rachael BedardI blame The Atlantic for this. They probably commissioned the "creative nonfiction." They weren't deceived about this being a made-up dramatization. The Atlantic chose to sell this to readers as real, because they really wanted that propaganda impact.
@RBMD1982 First, as @Megankstack and @laurahazardowen and others have noted, this piece wasn't "reported", it was researched; and it isn't creative non-fiction, it is just fiction. It is not based on a real family's story. It is entirely invented. Per Bruenig's interview w Laura, she never actually spoke to a family where the children had measles and suffered complications; she simply interviewed doctors who had experience with measles patients or knew about the virus's potential harms. This isn't any different than the kind of research lots of novel writers engage in as they write their fiction. It does not constitute the fact gathering that amounts to a true story.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 04:39 PM | Comments (216) | Trackbacks (Suck)
11 Arrested in Antifa Lynching Murder of Young Man Protecting Women from Muslim Thugs;
One of the Killers is Legislative Aide to Far-Left Member of French Assembly
One of the Killers is Legislative Aide to Far-Left Member of French Assembly
As you might know, a college student named Quentin Deranque was lynched on the street by a gang of antifa-associated far left terrorists. He was kicked to death.
This young man was committing no offense. He wasn't even technically protesting. Rather, he was protecting a female protest group named "Nemesis Collective" which protests the many rapes committed by Muslim migrants. Why was he protecting him? Because these women are frequently attacked on the street by Muslim migrants. The left-wing establishment claims it wants to protect women from violence and rape... unless that violence and rape is being perpetrated by their Muslim allies. Then it's the girls being attacked who are the "dangerous" ones. That's foreshadowing. Wait until later. Prepare for what should be a shock but unfortunately won't be. For this "extremist" act of protecting young girls from being assaulted by angry foreigners, the press insists on calling him a "far right extremist." Murdoch's NY Post, quoted below, calls him a "far right militant." Really, Murdoch? Protecting girls from foreign hordes of assailants and molesters makes you a "far right militant"? The Post is probably just posting an AP or AFI story but you do know you're allowed to edit their vicious propaganda, right? At least some of these thugs are now being arrested.He's a "far right militant," but the people who kicked him to death are identified as (checks article) "people." Oh, and "fighting broke out." Who knows who was responsible. Probably the people who kicked this man to death, but who can say, really?
French police investigating the beating of a far-right militant who died of brain injuries have arrested 11 people, prosecutors said Wednesday, in a case adding fuel to long-standing divides in French politics ahead of presidential elections in 2027. Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old student described as a fervent nationalist, died in a hospital on Saturday. He was beaten two days earlier by a group of people in the city of Lyon, in fighting that erupted between far-left and far-right supporters on the margins of a student meeting where a far-left lawmaker, Rima Hassan, was a keynote speaker.
Just so you know, you'll see references to LFI. LFI is what is being called "France Unbowed." The French for that is Le France Insoumise. That's the left-wing coalition that perpetrated these murders and is defending the murderers. So, is it this LFI/France Unbowed who is directly responsible for the street assassination of a boy who conveniently stood in the way of Muslim migrants determined to beat up French girls? Well... one of the killers is a parliamentary aide to an LFI assembly member.
An autopsy found that Deranque suffered a fractured skull and fatal brain injuries, according to Lyon's prosecutor, Thierry Dran. He launched the police investigation for homicide and other potential criminal charges. Dran's office said police detained a man and a woman on Wednesday morning, with nine other people taken into custody on Tuesday night. ... Deranque's death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly targeting France Unbowed. The party is led by veteran hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a former Trotskyist who stood for the presidency in 2012, 2017 and 2022 and failed to advance to the decisive run-off round.
The first wave of arrests was announced late on Tuesday, as Dran said nine suspects had been arrested. Those detained included people who were suspected of having participated in the violence and others who had provided support to them, sources told Agence France-Presse. Hours later, two more suspects were arrested: a man who the prosecutor said was suspected of being directly linked to the violence as well as his partner, who was suspected of trying to help him evade justice. The LFI politician Raphaël Arnault confirmed that his parliamentary assistant was among those detained, adding the aide had "ceased all parliamentary work". On Wednesday, as news of the arrests spread, the LFI said it had been forced to evacuate its national headquarters. "The national headquarters of LFI have just been evacuated following a bomb threat," the party's coordinator, Manuel Bompard, said on social media. "Police services are on site. All employees and activists are safe."Oh, get f***ed. Standard issue left-wing hoax. The left gets in trouble, and then starts calling in bomb threats on themselves to elicit sympathy. Remember what I said about the 100-pound girls being the "dangerous" ones? In response to his party's antifa thugs kicking a man to death in broad daylight for the crime of protecting young girls from violent foreign ruffians, Melanchon is calling for, if you can believe it, the dissolution and banning of Nemesis Collective, calling these young girls "dangerous."
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 03:30 PM | Comments (264) | Trackbacks (Suck)
One of Epstein's Recruiters Decided to Inform On Him to the Police, and Epstein Schemed to Give Him a $3 Million Bribe to Keep Quiet;
He Discussed the Plan with Obama WH Counsel and Friend of Jeff Kathyrine Ruemmler
He Discussed the Plan with Obama WH Counsel and Friend of Jeff Kathyrine Ruemmler
The Accomplice Who Was Going to Testify Against Jeffrey Epstein--Then Went DarkThat's as much of the paywalled story that I can see, but the reporter posts this summary on X:
French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel was negotiating to provide prosecutors with evidence against the sex offender in 2016--three years before he was finally arrested--but ultimately backed out
Jean-Luc Brunel was ready to turn on the man who had been his patron and partner. The French modeling scout was prepared to tell prosecutors what he knew about Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking. Brunel was secretly negotiating in 2016 with lawyers representing Epstein's victims, according to newly released Justice Department files. Brunel's lawyer told them his client recruited girls for Epstein and had incriminating photographs. They discussed a date for Brunel to walk into the U.S. Attorney's office in New York--in exchange for immunity. "One of Epstein's bfs, Jean Luc Brunel, has helped get girls. He is wanting to cooperate," according to handwritten notes taken by a federal prosecutor in February 2016. "Brunel is afraid of being prosecuted." And then Brunel went dark.
Khadeeja Safdar
@khadeeja_safdar NEW: In 2016, Jean-Luc Brunel was discussing a date to walk into the U.S. Attorney's office in New York to provide evidence against Jeffrey Epstein--in exchange for immunity. On May 3, Epstein fired off an email to Kathy Ruemmler. He wrote that Brunel was planning to go to prosecutors the following week and one of Brunel's friends had "asked for 3 million dollars so that Jean Luc would not go in."
Hans MahnckeAlso, Ruemmler tipped off Epstein about an investigation into a prostitution scandal -- something that would be of major interest to Epstein. Note this Bloomberg article's headline refers to Ruemmler as "Goldman lawyer" rather than Obama's White House Council, which is far more relevant, because that's how she came into possession of this confidential information.
@HansMahncke This is pretty astonishing. When Jean-Luc Brunel, who ran Epstein's "modeling agency," was about to get an immunity deal to spill the beans on the operation, hush money negotiations began. The first person Epstein turned to for advice was Kathryn Ruemmler, a key member of Obama's inner circle. In the end, Brunel never testified. I have no idea whether Ruemmler actually pulled any strings, but the fact that Epstein felt comfortable putting this in writing to her (while she responded by insisting on a phone call), speaks volumes about the level of trust, access and influence he enjoyed.
Kathryn Ruemmler corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein about a prostitution scandal that engulfed the US Secret Service during her tenure as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama. Ruemmler forwarded to Epstein a draft email that contained detailed, nonpublic information about the behind-the-scenes role the White House Counsel's office played in investigating the 2012 prostitution scandal. Ruemmler resigned as the chief legal officer and general counsel of Goldman Sachs after the emails with Epstein were released and publicized, with her spokeswoman saying she "has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide" and that she has "deep sympathy for those harmed by Epstein". Kathryn Ruemmler, who resigned last week as the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein about a prostitution scandal that engulfed the US Secret Service during her tenure as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama. In a dozen or so exchanges that were sent months after Ruemmler left her White House position in 2014, she complained to Epstein about "this secret service crap" and forwarded to him a draft email that contained detailed, nonpublic information about the behind-the-scenes role the White House Counsel's office played in investigating the 2012 prostitution scandal. Although Ruemmler had left the White House, she remained embroiled in the matter as lawmakers and journalists probed her work investigating the scandal. At the time she was under consideration for US attorney general. Epstein offered advice, as well as what he described as "edits" to the email draft, which Ruemmler indicated she was planning to send to a journalist. "Breathe, smile. You're free," he wrote in one message. These messages were among hundreds between Ruemmler and Epstein, a set of exchanges that reveals they had a relationship close enough that she accepted gifts from him and referred to him as "Uncle Jeffrey." After this latest batch of emails was released and publicized, Ruemmler resigned last week as the chief legal officer and general counsel of Goldman Sachs. She said June 30 would be her last day. It's unclear whether Ruemmler accepted any advice on the Secret Service scandal from Epstein, who was already a convicted sex offender at the time. Jennifer Connelly, a spokeswoman for Ruemmler, said the former White House counsel "has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. Nothing in the record suggests otherwise."
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 02:30 PM | Comments (252) | Trackbacks (Suck)
LOL: Anderson Pooper's Team Rushes to the Media to Claim He Wasn't Pushed Out, He Quit on Prinzibuhls
Do you believe that CBS was all-set to re-sign Anderson Pooper and in fact make him "the face of 60 Minutes"?
Because, garsh, I sure don't. But that's the story being peddled, to the NY Post of all places. The semen-pale propagandist claims that he just didn't like Bari Weiss, CBS News' editor in chief, "inserting" herself into editorial decisions. Anderson Pooper will do all the inserting, thank you very much.LOL. I imagine they made him a deliberately-insulting offer to induce him to turn them down.
Anderson Cooper's recent decision not to renew his contract with "60 Minutes" came at the last minute and left execs at the struggling network flat-footed, a source with knowledge of the matter told The Post on Wednesday.
The journo had been poised to become the face of "60 Minutes" under CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski, who privately lauded him as an important player at the struggling news network.Sure sure sure. Who wouldn't want an old, cum-colored no-ratings hack from soon-to-be-bankrupt CNN as the face of your top news magazine?
And it's well known that he rarely pulls out.
But Cooper's decision to pull out came as the deal was in its final tages, the source said.
"They must be pissed," the person said of Weiss and Cibrowski, who'd seen the CNN anchor as a prominent face of "60 Minutes."For some reason I hear "They must be pissed" in Anderson Pooper's voice.
"They wanted to build the show around him," the source added.Uh-huh. The article says that Pooper wants to spend more time "with his two young sons."
Raise your hand if you believe that Anderson Pooper is scandalized by an "outrageous lifestyle" or even having sex with underaged people. Now take that hand and slap yourself in the back of the head, you big dummy.
Both CBS News and a rep for Cooper declined to comment. [S]ources said a series of recent decisions by Weiss were what prompted Cooper to end his nearly 20-year run at "60 Minutes." Those include her revamp of "60 Minutes," which will likely include pushing out veteran correspondents like Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi, as previously reported by The Post. Sources also pointed to Weiss' unwillingness to fire wellness contributor Peter Attia over his chummy, eyebrow-raising emails with late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Recently surfaced emails showed Attia telling Epstein the "biggest problem [about] becoming friends" with him was having to keep quiet about his "outrageous lifestyle" -- in an exchange with the chilling subject line, "Got a fresh shipment."
I have a rule that helps me tell when people are lying: People who tell the truth will tell one story. Similarly, they will also usually offer one, or at most, two reasons for a decision they're making, and stick to those. When people are lying, they start spamming out a bunch of reasons for a decision because they don't trust their own lie. They don't have the confidence to go with just one dishonest reason, because most liars feel they're on shaky ground when lying, and they're afraid that if they put all their eggs in one basket, that one basket will be interrogated and proven false and then they'll be exposed as a liar. So instead they start flooding the filed with a bunch of different lies, feeling safe that if any of those lies is disproven, they still have five more to fall back on. So no, I don't believe Anderson Pooper's Aerial Chaff of lies to explain his departure. I believe they either told him they would not renew, or made an embarrassingly low fake offer, and told him "We'll let you say this was all your idea." I briefly mentioned this in quick hits, but here's a longer article: Jake Tapper is very, very mad that CNN brass have curtailed "journalists'" ability to self-promote, both on their own shows as well as in their social media because they were embarrassed by Tapper turning his show (and Twitter feed) into a never-ending infomercial for his Biden Cover-Up book. (The other article was at the Satanic Daily Beast so I didn't want to link it.)
Sources also pointed to Weiss' involvement in the journalism and management of "60 Minutes," which long operated in a silo under its executive producer. "He doesn't like that she has inserted herself," a CBS source said of Cooper, pointing to Weiss' recent editorial scrutiny of his "60 Minutes" piece on the Trump administration's decision to accept refugees from South Africa.
I like that this sissy did what girls do and got a group of his Beties together to issue a joint complaint to management. Possibly Anderson Pooper was part of his Girl-Squad.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper is said to be fuming over a new company policy that sharply restricts how on-air talent can promote their own books. Tapper, who hosts "The Lead" and co-anchors "State of the Union" at the Warner Bros. Discovery--owned network, is "very, very unhappy" with a directive from CNN chief Mark Thompson that prohibits anchors from promoting books beyond publication day, a network journalist told Breaker Media. The veteran political anchor, who has authored eight books, most recently co-writing a bestseller about President Joe Biden's decline and his disastrous decision to seek reelection, used his CNN platform extensively to promote the title -- a rollout that some colleagues internally described as turning the network into a "rolling infomercial," according to Breaker. On Feb. 4, CNN updated its standards guide in what Breaker reported was a direct response to Tapper's on-air promotion. The revised policy states: "We should not mix news and advertising, even when what is being advertised is work by a leading CNN journalist." Under the new guidelines, anchors may acknowledge publication of a book on its release date if integrated into a journalistic segment -- but they "should not promote it following publication day on their own program."
The policy also bars the use of websites, QR codes or links to drive personal sales and requires CNN authors to meet with members of the executive leadership team to approve any rollout plan tied to CNN platforms. In addition, all book-related promotion must be reviewed and approved by CNN PR, and no third parties beyond a publisher may be contracted without approval from the head of CNN PR, according to the policy reviewed by Breaker. Tensions had already been simmering inside the newsroom. Breaker previously reported that staffers questioned the decision to air anonymously sourced claims from Tapper's book, arguing that limited internal fact-checking of outside works put CNN in an awkward position.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 01:18 PM | Comments (325) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested, Has Home Searched; Suspected of, Get This, Passing Sensitive Insider Trade Information to International Financier and Child Sex Trafficker Jeffrey Epstein
Gay rent-boy squabbler Queer Starmer said that no one is above the law:
Butch low-IQ narcissist Marjorie Taylor-Greene took the opportunity to bash Trump:
This is the former Prince Andrew. Today is also his 66th birthday, coincidentally.
NBC "News:"Police today arrested the former Prince Andrew after weeks of revelations over the former prince's friendship and dealings with convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Thames Valley Police said it arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of misconduct in public office, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the United Kingdom.And he's not Muslim (yet) so he might actually go to prison.
And what is the "misconduct in public office" Mountbatten-Windsor is accused of?
The force, which covers an area in southern England where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, did not name him, as is standard practice under British law. Asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor had been arrested, the police responded with a statement: "We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time," Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said. "Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office."
Insider Paper
@TheInsiderPaper Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles, shared official British trade documents with Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, leaking information to the late sex offender from his role as a government envoy, emails appear to show -- Reuters
Gay rent-boy squabbler Queer Starmer said that no one is above the law:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said today that "nobody is above the law" when asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, speaking ahead of the royal's arrest this morning. Starmer told British public broadcaster the BBC the principle was "very important" and "has to apply in this case in the same way it would in any other case."Sad cuck Charles said he approved of the arrest of his brother:
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace this morning but signed "Charles R," the monarch pledged his full support for the police probe.I think the R stands for "Rex." Snobby bastard.
The statement reads: "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities." "In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all."
Butch low-IQ narcissist Marjorie Taylor-Greene took the opportunity to bash Trump:
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green criticized President Donald Trump and U.S. authorities in the wake of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. "The UK has arrested Andrew because of the Epstein files and over here the President signed an EO protecting cancer causing Glyphosate in our foods and we have zero Epstein related arrest and investigations since release of the files," she said in a post on X. "And we are on the verge of going to war against Iran." "That's the current state of MAGA and MAHA," she added.Typical "libertarian" flake and attention-whore grandstander Thomas Massie is flapping his cocksucker, too:
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 12:10 PM | Comments (448) | Trackbacks (Suck)
The Morning Rant: The SAVE Act
What counts as acceptable proof? The bill outlines categories of documents that could qualify, including:
If a person does not have these standard and common documents, the bill requires states to create an alternative process where additional documentation may be submitted to prove citizenship. That sounds like the bill is mandating a reasonable process to allow American citizens access to their voting rights, even if they don't have traditional forms of identification. It doesn't sound like disenfranchisement of women or minorities or midgets or left-handed lesbians or any of the pressure groups that the Democrat/leftist apparatus trots out to prove that we filthy conservatives are just itching to throw them in camps. It does one thing; it keeps non-citizens out of the voting systems. Don't let them obfuscate...don't let them lie...don't let them subvert our voting...don't let them get away with their typical lies that filter into the American consciousness by sheer volume. The resistance to this sane, rational, thoroughly acceptable bill is a strong indicator of the true politics of those who are fighting it. Senators Collins (a tepid yes with a procedural no) and Murkowski are against it, but we knew that already. The big issue is getting rid of the so-called filibuster, and any senator who resists that is also an enemy of our true voting rights. We can argue incessantly about the wisdom of the filibuster, but a legislative victory for this administration is a powerful signal to the country, and will last far longer than presidential memos and administrative rules changes that can be cancelled the first day of a Democrat administration. And who knows...maybe Fetterman will vote for it and President Trump can talk about his bipartisan triumph! [Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
What counts as acceptable proof? The bill outlines categories of documents that could qualify, including:
- A valid U.S. passport
- A REAL ID-compliant ID that indicates U.S. citizenship
- Military ID together with a military record showing U.S. birthplace
- Government-issued photo ID showing U.S. birthplace
- Other government documents demonstrating citizenship (such as naturalization records)
If a person does not have these standard and common documents, the bill requires states to create an alternative process where additional documentation may be submitted to prove citizenship. That sounds like the bill is mandating a reasonable process to allow American citizens access to their voting rights, even if they don't have traditional forms of identification. It doesn't sound like disenfranchisement of women or minorities or midgets or left-handed lesbians or any of the pressure groups that the Democrat/leftist apparatus trots out to prove that we filthy conservatives are just itching to throw them in camps. It does one thing; it keeps non-citizens out of the voting systems. Don't let them obfuscate...don't let them lie...don't let them subvert our voting...don't let them get away with their typical lies that filter into the American consciousness by sheer volume. The resistance to this sane, rational, thoroughly acceptable bill is a strong indicator of the true politics of those who are fighting it. Senators Collins (a tepid yes with a procedural no) and Murkowski are against it, but we knew that already. The big issue is getting rid of the so-called filibuster, and any senator who resists that is also an enemy of our true voting rights. We can argue incessantly about the wisdom of the filibuster, but a legislative victory for this administration is a powerful signal to the country, and will last far longer than presidential memos and administrative rules changes that can be cancelled the first day of a Democrat administration. And who knows...maybe Fetterman will vote for it and President Trump can talk about his bipartisan triumph! [Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM | Comments (269) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Mid-Morning Art Thread
Two Men Contemplating the Moon
Caspar David Friedrich This is the artist's third version of this scene...supposedly one of the men is Friedrich himself.
Two Men Contemplating the Moon
Caspar David Friedrich This is the artist's third version of this scene...supposedly one of the men is Friedrich himself.
Posted by: CBD at 09:30 AM | Comments (311) | Trackbacks (Suck)
The Morning Report — 2/19/26
Find the money, seize every RED cent, emphasis on the word RED for obvious reasons, and dismantle with extreme prejudice the sources from whence it comes. Be it Beijing, Davos and/or DNC headquarters. It's us or them. Have a great day.
And lastly, a quick shout-out and a huge thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.
Biden’s border chaos wasn’t accidental—it was a political strategy to reshape America’s electorate and expand left-wing power.To even expand upon this with the observation that no wonder the Democrat/Left is now actively fomenting and engaging in political/legal/judicial obstruction, as well as violent confrontations with federal and local law enforcement officers attempting to do their duty; all of which IMHO and that of legal experts and historians constitutes dictionary definition insurrection and revolution — would earn me a well deserved, duh, hey, no shit Sherlock! If I want to be an optimist, I could look at that observation by the good professor Hanson as perhaps a tacit admission by the Democrat/Left that their political influence/brand and policies do not resonate with the vast majority of the American people and indeed are turning them off in droves, regardless of their controlling the high ground of the media, culture and most crucially academia. Had it been otherwise, HIllary Clinton should have won massive back-to-back victories in 2016 and 2020 and we'd now be enduring the second half of a Tim Kaine regime, or the vicissitudes of American politics being what they are even a Jeb Bush administration. Instead, three times (yes 2020 was stolen) the American people chose not only a Republican but an anti-establishment outsider named Donald J. Trump. The question remains, will he be a one-off or has there been or are we still in the midst of a sea change in the political/cutural dynamic of our nation that puts us back on the path to sanity or are we still headed off of a cliff?
The forecast from the American Redistricting Project shows Democrats losing nine seats in reliable blue states. Two swing states, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, would each lose a seat. Those 11 seats would go to states that Trump won in 2024. A different projection from Jonathan Cervas at Carnegie Mellon University has solid red and lean red states gaining 13 seats. If these projections hold, the Republican presidential candidate in 2032 could lose Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada and win the presidency. The Democratic candidate would have to win those swing states and either Arizona or Georgia. Liberals could help mitigate this by having more babies. Blue states can’t make adults stay, but newborns don’t have a choice. That’s unlikely to happen. The Institute for Family Studies found that in 2023 the 10 states with the highest fertility rates were deep red states. The 10 states with the lowest fertility rates were deep blue states. Further, conservative women have more kids.From the essay "Trump isn't just deporting illegals. He's deporting the voters Dems need," to which my snarky but accurate retort is Unfotuntately, you can't deport dead people and mail-in ballots: which no doubt comprise the vast majority of Democrat votes in any given election. And speaking of violent insurrections aimed at the destruction of America as founded . . .
This trend is unlikely to reverse. Just 25% of women who voted for Kamala Harris said they wanted children, a recent New York Times poll found. Among Trump voters, it was 43%. Both numbers skew low because the response group includes adults 45 and older. You can see the left’s dilemma. People are fleeing the misery caused by its terrible policies, while its adherents reproduce at low levels.
Speaking on "The Dan Bongino Show," Patel said the FBI under President Donald Trump has been conducting a financial investigation into how demonstrations linked to the loosely organized far-left movement are supported. "These organizations don’t operate alone or in silence," Patel said. "They operate with a heavy, heavy stream of funding. And we started looking into it, and guess what? We found them." . . .Patel didn't name specific donors, financial institutions, or nonprofits, but he did confirm that federal agents are examining whether funding flowed through U.S.-based nonprofit groups, including some with tax-exempt status, and whether foreign sources played a role. He said more details could emerge in the coming months as the investigation develops. If proven, the implications are enormous. Antifa has long described itself as an idea, not an organization. Members work in loose networks, often masked and decentralized, and deny the lack of a leadership structure. Yet coordinated violence has appeared in city after city.
Find the money, seize every RED cent, emphasis on the word RED for obvious reasons, and dismantle with extreme prejudice the sources from whence it comes. Be it Beijing, Davos and/or DNC headquarters. It's us or them. Have a great day.
And lastly, a quick shout-out and a huge thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.
- ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY LINKS
- Victor Davis Hanson: Biden’s border chaos wasn’t accidental—it was a political strategy to reshape America’s electorate and expand left-wing power.
Why Exactly Did They Destroy the Border?
- A biological warfare mass casualty attack waiting to happen?
Biological Agents Infiltrate America
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at 07:17 AM | Comments (326) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Daily Tech News 19 February 2026
Top Story
- Open source game engine Godot is getting overwhelmed with pull requests on GitHub. (PC Gamer)
It's taken a surprising amount of time for AI to turn into an avalanche of spam like email and blog comments.
But it's here now, and the spam filters need to catch up.
Quickly.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM | Comments (153) | Trackbacks (Suck)
February 18, 2026
Wednesday Overnight Open Thread - February 18, 2026 [TRex]
Good evening Horde. The time has come for very random mid-week shenanigans of the post-cafe overnight variety.
Welcome to the Wednesday night ONT which means another edition of overnight fun and games. Pull up a chair and sit a spell. Good will offerings of amusing puns are happily accepted. Pants are optional. Be nice to your fellow commenters and AoS contributors. Happy Ash Wednesday. [Top photo: Muckross Abbey Yew tree, Loncarphotography]Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:00 PM | Comments (428) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Handicapable Hounds Cafe
Melbourne by Mikuma1998
Melbourne by Mikuma1998
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 07:30 PM | Comments (265) | Trackbacks (Suck)
Quick Hits
Paul Sperry
@paulsperry_ 16h NEW: Newly declassified FBI emails from October 2016 reveal the Crossfire Hurricane team was operating under the assumption their alleged Russian agent target Carter Page was a "homosexual," until their informant Christopher Steele fed them another rumor Page had a Russian girlfriend who was a ballerina in Moscow.
Paul SperryFrom Ed Morrissey's summary of reactions to Donkey-Chomper's Mitch-McConnell-level brain glitch:
@paulsperry_
·
14h
BREAKING: President Obama and his National Security Adviser Susan Rice were so distraught after Trump won in 2016 they literally broke down and cried in front of White House staff, according to 1,100 hours of new audio and video compiled by Columbia University in cooperation with the Obama Foundation. After all they'd built, they feared their accomplishments were "at risk" of being torn down by a "con man" and a "clown." Ergo, Trump had to be stopped?
Charles C.W. Cooke at NRO: Browning suggests that AOC went to Munich to insist that "wealthy world leaders must better provide for their working classes or risk their countries sliding toward authoritarianism." Apparently, he considers this exonerative. In truth, though, that is the whole problem: AOC is a one-trick pony. What she says in America is what she says in Munich, because she doesn't know how to say anything else. At some point in her life she became attracted to warmed-over democratic socialism, and since that point she has declined to learn anything more. She's a meme, an avatar, a vibe. In her interview with Browning, she griped that the press had focused on "any five-to-10-second thing" from her remarks. But of course it did. She is a five-to-10-second thing. She is a limerick competing with a bunch of novels. What did she think was going to happen?Wait, I don't understand -- does Jake Tapper use Twitter for self-promotion?
Advertisement Elsewhere, AOC implies that the media's interest in her potentially "running for president" has made it tough for her agenda to break through. But one must wonder why, if political drama is to blame, this did not apply to Marco Rubio, who is constantly depicted as being involved in a monumental power struggle with JD Vance, and yet managed to deliver a speech at the same conference that was widely regarded as masterly. As it happens, the explanation for this difference is simple: Marco Rubio went to Germany to make a discrete case to the Munich Security Conference, and AOC went to Germany to make yet another Instagram video about nothing. The results matched the aims.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 06:34 PM | Comments (185) | Trackbacks (Suck)
As the Communist Cuban Junta Enters End-of-Life Care, Marco Rubio Begins Secretly Talking to Raul Castro's Grandson About a Living Will
Nine days ago, John Sexton predicted the communist regime of Cuba was entering its last year.
They've run out of airplane fuel, leading to grounded airplanes. And they're rationing gasoline. They are no longer receiving gas and oil from Venezuela in return for the state police thugs they sent to protect Maduro and find and torture his critics. Russia is no longer sending its Dark Fleet to aid them either. In fact, the NYT reports that Cuban communists are realizing they are completely isolated and alone.Predictions of the demise of Cuba's government have been made before, notably after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which had been Cuba's main benefactor, only to be proved wrong. But this time, experts say, the survival of Cuba's government appears very much in doubt... The U.S. government "has determined that Cuba must be free before the end of 2026," said Marcell Felipe, a prominent Cuban exile leader in Miami who chairs the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora and said he had met with U.S. diplomats. "This is a plan in motion."... A U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the administration’s interactions with Havana said Cuban officials were nervous because they were starting to realize their revolution was coming to an end."And now Axios reports that Rubio is talking to Cuban officials -- to talk about what happens when the regime collapses and society descends into chaos.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been holding secret talks with the grandson and caretaker of Cuba's aging de facto dictator, Raul Castro, as the U.S. puts unprecedented pressure on Havana's regime, three sources tell Axios. Why it matters: The talks between Rubio and Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro are bypassing official Cuban government channels. They show that the Trump administration sees the 94-year-old revolutionary as the communist island's true decision-maker. "I wouldn't call these 'negotiations' as much as 'discussions' about the future," a senior Trump administration official said. Zoom in: Rubio and his team see the 41-year-old grandson and his circle as representing younger, business-minded Cubans for whom revolutionary communism has failed -- and who see value in rapprochement with the U.S. "Our position -- the U.S. government's position -- is the regime has to go," the senior official said. "But what exactly that looks like is up to [President Trump] and he has yet to decide. Rubio is still in talks with the grandson." Called "Raulito," the younger Castro is known in political circles by his nickname "El Cangrejo" ("The Crab") because he has a deformed finger. Zoom out: After 67 years of U.S. sanctions and Cuban mismanagement, the totalitarian government appears closer than ever to collapse as the island teeters on the edge of a humanitarian crisis. The power grid is failing. Hospitals are limiting surgeries. Food and fuel are increasingly scarce. Tourism is drying up. Uncollected garbage is piling up on some street corners. ... Between the lines: The U.S. military's success and technical superiority in the Maduro operation shook Cuba's leadership after American forces suffered no losses and killed at least 32 Cuban intelligence and military officials who were supposed to be guarding Maduro, U.S. officials say. But the U.S. decision to keep Maduro's governing partners in power --notably his Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who's now acting president -- signaled to Cuban insiders that Trump and Rubio are willing to make deals with rivals.
Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 05:30 PM | Comments (215) | Trackbacks (Suck)
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