JD's Deal

I am curious how the MAGAverse will both praise Trump for the "deal" while pinning likely failure on Vance.

At Least The War Is Over

A lot depends on whether Bibi behaves (unlikely) and how serious Iran is about Israel not attacking Lebanon (I have absolutely no idea).

I realize this is Captain Obvious level commentary, but I write it to highlight the fact that a lot might depend on an American president telling Israel to knock it the fuck off.

Speaking of Kash

Seems worrying!

FBI Director Kash Patel may have authorized taxpayer-funded special payments to his inner circle of FBI executives and agents on his protective detail, according to the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

“We have been receiving troubling reports that you may be using part of the budget of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a personal slush fund to make tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in unlawful ‘bonus’ payments to loyalist MAGA henchmen who have engaged in misconduct,” says a letter from Rep. Jamie Raskin to Patel, obtained exclusively by MS NOW.

When Dems take over, people will scream about "partisan witch hunts" if ever anyone tries tries to prosecute anyone who has engaged to obvious illegal corruption. If they listen, this will keep getting worse and worse.

The "institutionalists" need to accept they let all their beloved institutions become corrupt. It is on them!

Do These People Have Names

Will we ever learn them?

The FBI foiled an alleged plot to attack Sunday’s UFC fight at the White House, FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday morning in a post on X.

“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said in the post.

Very Bad Man, Bibi

College students have been expelled for less.

Israel's fighting Hezbollah for too long, and too many people are being killed. You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody because there's a lot of people in those apartment houses and they're not all Hezbollah, that I can tell you," the president said.

I know you should never hand it to Trump,  but I will say he has a better sense than some DC people that war involves killing people, even if he doesn't much care usually.

Morning

Tepid tuesday

Happy Hour

Get happy

Afternoon

 Busy as I often am these days.

Enshittification

Roku UIs (either the sticks or installed TV software) are the only ones that don't make me want to Elvis my the TV.

On Monday Fox announced it would acquire Roku for $160 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction. Fox plans to fund the cash portion of the deal with a combination of cash on hand and new debt. The company said it obtained a $12 billion loan for the transaction.

They want to control the streaming pipes, of course, which is of greater concern than my UI experience. 

Unconditional Surrender

I am not optimistic that any "deal" will stick - Netanyahu and the insane Iran hawks who still dominate the Professional Republicans of DC will make sure of that even if Trump was in some sense willing. 

I am confident that our media will never quite portray that any "deal" will be an absolutely humiliating loss, with the war setting US crass interests back significantly.

Setting back crass US interests significantly is not necessarily bad, depending on your perspective.

President Deals

Not much of an agreement then (and for other reasons). 

Israeli officials said the country is not bound by the U.S.-Iran agreement to end its fight with Hezbollah or to pull its forces out of Lebanon. President Trump, Pakistani mediators and Iran said the deal includes a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Morning

Maudlin Monday

Sunday Night

Enjoy

Southland Tales (2006)

 

Oh No

 

At Least The War Is Over

If Iran sticks with its insistence that any deal involves Israel not bombing Beirut/Lebanon, Israel will violate it instantly.

...and

Iran says 'no point' in US talks after Beirut strike, casting doubt on deal

Are You Suggesting A General Lack Of Respect For Standard Security Protocols

I don’t know if is is true or just an attempt to criminalize leakers, but I do not think anyone should be surprised if Trumpers do not respect protocols.

Top White House officials believe New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan obtained audio recordings of Situation Room meetings for their forthcoming book, "Regime Change."

Why it matters: Such a taped leak would be a shocking breach of one of the most secure settings on Earth. Independent recording devices in the Situation Room are forbidden.

Nor do I think journalists should pretend to be surprised.

 

Morning

Sunday funday

At Least The War Is Over

It looks like Trump is planning to announce a nonexistent deal with fake details for his birthday bug party.

Cheering For Bugs

You can do it, little guys.

The biggest threat to Donald Trump’s lavish UFC birthday bash may not be a lawsuit, a heatwave, or Americans outraged by the spectacle at the White House.

It might be the bugs.