Sunday Serendipity

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Missa in tempore belli (English: Mass in the Time of War) by Joseph Haydn.

From Wikipedia:

Haydn composed this mass at Eisenstadt in August 1796, at the time of Austria’s general mobilization into war. Four years into the European war that followed the French Revolution, Austrian troops were doing badly against the French in Italy and Germany, and Austria feared invasion. Reflecting the troubled mood of his time, Haydn integrated references to battle in the Benedictus and Agnus Dei movements. The Mass was first performed on 26 December 1796, in the Piarist Church of Maria Treu in Vienna.

Enjoy, Jack

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99 thoughts on “Sunday Serendipity”

  1. thanks, Jack, very timely
    >Pope says ‘enough of war’ and decries ‘delusion of omnipotence’ at peace vigil
    Leo’s comments did not directly mention war in Iran but read as his strongest condemnation of the conflict yet
    Pope Leo XIV stepped into the international political arena at evening prayers in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, saying prayer for peace is “a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
    The first US-born pope said: “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
    Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Leo said: “To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.”
    “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he added.[continues]

  2. Attribution: Trump and pope Leo by Tom Janssen, The Netherlands
    Tom Janssen is a Dutch editorial cartoonist, working for the Dutch national daily Trouw and the Netherlands Press Association.


  5. Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week’s biggest news, like the Artemis II astronauts returning from their moon mission.

  6. ICYMI

    “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,”
    -Leo XIV-

    hint hint, Donnie.

  7. Will Hungary Save Its Democracy Today?

    Covering the Coverage

    Join our live chat 11-Noon ET: https://trailmix.cc/chat

    • [Mainstream]: Voting is underway in a high-stakes election that threatens to topple Europe’s longest-serving populist. – AP News
    • [U.S. Politics Angle]: [Ongoing] JD Vance hits Budapest to explicitly rally the MAGA base and cheer on Orbán’s nationalist vision. – AP News
    • [Profile]: [Ongoing] A deep dive into how Péter Magyar flipped from Fidesz insider to the ultimate existential threat to the regime. – AP News
    • [Progressive]: The global left watches with bated breath as polls suggest Orbán’s 16-year grip might finally be slipping. – The Guardian
    • [Editorial]: [Ongoing] Framing the Hungarian election not just as a local issue, but as the ultimate bellwether contest for the global far-right. – The Guardian
    • [Deep Dive]: [Ongoing] An interactive look into the wealth and power that have defined Orbán’s “slow-motion coup.” – The Guardian
    • [Policy Analysis]: [Ongoing] Breaking down the stakes for the EU, Ukraine funding, and US-European relations if Fidesz actually falls. – CSIS
    • [Legal Analysis]: [Ongoing] A dry but essential map of the institutional and constitutional scenarios if Orbán simply refuses to accept a loss. – IDM
    • [Polling Data]: [Ongoing] Hard numbers and seat projections proving that both the government and opposition know this race is razor-thin. – Institute of Geoeconomics
    • [Geopolitics]: [Ongoing] Tracing the explosive entry of the Tisza party and how the traditional opposition was entirely overwhelmed. – Groupe d’études géopolitiques

    — Silas Gemini

  9. VET THIS: Trump and the Pentagon are boasting that U.S. warships crossed the Straits of Hormuz to prove they own it.

    U.S. officials claim warships crossed the Strait of Hormuz, and major news outlets have reported that claim, but there is no publicly available independent evidence—such as satellite imagery or ship-tracking data—confirming it.

    The Wall Street Journal and Axios, acting as reliable megaphones for anonymous U.S. officials, proudly announced on April 11 that U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers cruised through the Strait of Hormuz. A triumphant return to “freedom of navigation,” they tell us, conveniently timed during peace talks in Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, Tehran’s Foreign Ministry and their embassy in Ghana—because why wouldn’t Ghana be the diplomatic thunderdome for this?—claim the U.S. ships made a screeching U-turn the second Iran picked up the radio and gave them a 30-minute warning. No shots fired, just bruised egos.

    Who is telling the truth? The silver lining in this geopolitical dumpster fire is that we get a front-row seat to a masterclass in global gaslighting. Neither the Pentagon nor Tehran has bothered to produce a single shred of independent, publicly available evidence. Not one satellite photo. Not a single blip of AIS ship-tracking data. It is pure, unadulterated “trust me, bro” diplomacy from two governments with a well-documented allergy to the truth.

    Sources:
    — https://www.livemint.com/news/world/us-warships-transit-strait-of-hormuz-amid-iran-uspeace-talks-in-pakistan-report-11775918865129.html
    — https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2026/04/11/55R73VQJXVEXBKEFGXMRUX5ZJE/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis

  10. Rubio and some of his kids were with Donnie in Miami watching spit and blood fly from the fighters trying to beat the silly out of each other (paraphrase from NYT article in today’s paper.

  11. From the Times.

    By Katie Rogers
    Katie is a White House correspondent. She traveled to Miami with President Trump.

    Published April 11, 2026
    Updated April 12, 2026, 12:08 a.m. ET

    On Saturday evening, as Vice President JD Vance took a podium in Pakistan and said no deal had been reached to end the war in Iran, President Trump was in Miami watching a mixed martial arts fight.

    Mr. Trump spent several hours orbited by Secretary of State Marco Rubio; a few of his children; some Ultimate Fighting Championship officials; Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India; the recording artist Vanilla Ice; Dan Bongino, the former deputy director of the F.B.I.; and the manosphere shepherd Joe Rogan.

    He was surrounded by people, but Mr. Trump was somehow an isolated figure. People mostly circulated around him, checking in with updates and then leaving again. For the most part, Mr. Trump sat and impassively watched blood and saliva sprayed out from the fighters beating each other silly in front of him.

    It was unclear whether the president knew that negotiations had failed by the time he entered the arena for the U.F.C. event to a Kid Rock song and thunderous applause. He wasn’t tapping away on his phone — he left that to Mr. Rubio, who at one point leaned over to show the president his screen — and he didn’t betray disappointment or anger. He offered tight smiles for the cameras instead, and a thumbs-up for the winners.

    In fact, on his way to Florida, Mr. Trump had told reporters that it did not matter to him if a deal with Iran was reached or not: “We win, regardless,” he said. “We’ve defeated them militarily.” Which sounded a lot like everything he had said before negotiations began.

    The political reality facing Mr. Trump is grim, just as the economic reality facing Americans appears to be getting worse. Inflation is rising. Gas prices are eating into American paychecks, a direct result of a war Mr. Trump ordered. The president has responded to the pressure by attacking his critics and threatening his adversaries.

    There was a widespread outcry from Democrats and some of his longtime supporters over his threat to wipe out the entire civilization of Iran. Democrats in Congress, alarmed by Mr. Trump’s behavior, want to see him impeached and they are questioning his mental fitness for office. They want to see his physician give Mr. Trump a complete cognitive exam, and then they want to interview the physician.

    All of that awaits Mr. Trump back in Washington. But on Saturday night, in his adopted home state, he spent his time in an arena where people treat him like one of the prize fighters when he walks into the room.

    After a week spent largely out of sight but lashing out at his enemies on social media, Mr. Trump’s resurfacing at a match seemed designed to provide him with a soothing balm of male aggression, musky sweat, and cheering supporters — not unlike one of his political rallies, just with shirtless fighters.

    Good for him.LOL

  13. Wiki

    The Delphic Oracle –
    The Oracle of Delphi told King Croesus of Lydia that if he attacked Persia, he would “destroy a great empire”. Interpreting this as a victory, Croesus went to war, but the empire he destroyed was his own. This classic anecdote, told by Herodotus, highlights the dangers of hubris, misinterpretation, and the ambiguity of oracular prophecies.

  14. The sages of the Oracle of Delphi probably sat around as drinking buddies laughing about the little Joke they played on Croesus.

  15. The Pythoness was known for her wicked sense of humor
    “Many a slip twixt the cup and the lip,” she cackled.

  17. Ironically enough, the Persians – now we call Persia Iran – defeated Croesus and brought about the downfall of Lydia. Trump should study this – seems he’s clueless about the history of Iran and who he’s dealing with.

  18. another python, monty that is, perhaps a relative of Pythoness?, on the Persians (and the Greeks)

    Terry Jones’ Barbarians – The Brainy Barbarians

    Jones argues that the ancient Greeks and Persians were in reality far from the Roman view of them as effeminate and addicted to luxury. The Greeks valued science and mathematics, while the Persians had initially allowed multiculturalism among the different ethnic groups of its empire (until years of war with Rome).

  20. Rich as Croesus was derived from his gold wealth – A famous, likely mythical, encounter with the Athenian sage Solon saw Croesus showing off his wealth, asking who was the happiest man. Solon refused to name him, stating that no one can be truly considered happy until they die, as fortune can change.

  22. Today is the Eastern Orthodox Easter

    Russia and Ukraine agree to 32-hour Orthodox Easter ceasefire. Let’s see if it holds better than last year’s break.

    The pause in hostilities begins at 4 pm local time today and lasts through the end of the day Sunday. It follows a proposal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent to the Kremlin via US negotiators. Russian President Vladimir Putin last year declared a 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which both sides accused the other of breaking.

  23. Fun link. Go to this link and put in the name of any music artist you enjoy. It will bring up a group of artists around the person that you might like. The closer they are to your choice, the more likely you will enjoy their music. Good way to discover people you may not know.

    https://www.music-map.com/

  24. Jamie, that site is really a lot of fun. I passed it onto my buddy in Bama – told him to enter Little Feat and go from there.

  27. Pog

    I put in John Prine and Little Feat came up on his doorstep along with Ry Cooder and Jerry Jeff Walker. Definitely among my favorites.

  32. https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article315341441.html

    Embodying the ineffectiveness of Congress is Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, who has tied himself to every administration policy position while forsaking his constituents. Those currently in Congress like Marshall are unlikely to change.

    Marshall is up for reelection this year, and we need a senator who is not afraid to take a position that risks upsetting some portion of the electorate — or the status quo will remain.

    The best example of a Senate candidate who seems too passive for this moment in time is the Rev. Adam Hamilton, who recently announced his exploratory committee.

    The reverend’s Facebook page and his exploratory committee webpage are devoid of policy positions, but full of platitudes that the real problem facing America is a lack of “civility, kindness, compassion, humanity.” Those are undoubtedly shortfalls in America today, but senators are not mediators who can view both sides of a policy as equally valid in a vain attempt at bipartisanship.

    Although Hamilton says he’s considering a run as an independent, he has been a registered Republican for the last six years, and is working closely with noted Republican operative Stephanie Sharp to “explore” his campaign for Senate. Hamilton has stated his supporters are “roughly equal parts Republican, Democrat and independent.” He is so averse to criticizing one side or the other that, three weeks into his statewide discernment tour, he lamented: “At times, rather than solving problems, Washington has inadvertently created problems for Americans.” Those are the words of a senator who would not make waves and allow the ongoing executive overreach to continue, not a senator who would seize his constitutional authorities and bring the nation back to the founders’ intent.

    We need leaders who will stand up to the executive and flex their constitutional powers to stop questionable, immoral and possibly illegal policy decisions. Someone who is willing to do what is right, not simply what is easy.

    *He’s no Talarico.

  33. Today in the diner…
    Iran War Negotiations, JD Vance, & Hungary Election Updates

    Trump’s gut feelings, failed Iran talks, and Hungary’s election. We dig into regime changes, JD Vance’s backpedaling, and Civil War history.

    If you’re looking for a masterclass in diplomacy, you won’t find it here. Today we’re watching Viktor Orbán try to dodge an economic disaster in Hungary by pretending Ukraine is about to invade. It’s the standard dictator playbook: when the plumbing breaks, blame a ghost.

    Meanwhile, we revisit the spectacular collapse of the Iran negotiations. Sending JD Vance and Jared Kushner to broker peace is like sending me to defuse a hostage situation—everyone’s going to end up screaming. We trace the timeline of how gut feelings, Miami cage matches, and Bibi Netanyahu’s prodding shoved us into another endless conflict.

    Toss in a little Civil War history—turns out Robert E. Lee hated Confederate statues more than anyone—and some bots from St. Petersburg crashing the chat, and you’ve got a standard Sunday at the Diner.

    Live Chat: https://trailmix.cc/chat
    Website: https://trailmix.cc
    Alerts: https://trailmix.cc/alerts

    00:00 Intro
    01:08 Hungary Elections and Orban’s Panic
    06:01 Regime Change in Iran, Israel, and the US
    11:30 Civil War History & Confederate Statues
    23:13 The Collapse of the Iran Peace Talks
    31:20 How Netanyahu and Trump Started the War
    45:17 Hungary’s Corruption & Putin Bots
    01:01:18 Absurdist Optimism & Trump’s Wings

  38. One thing about the cel phone age—there’s no way you can pick up an extension and listen in.

  39. Polls are closing in 20 minutes. Viktor Orbán ruined Hungary’s economy and faces a massive election loss. His desperation play? Telling voters Ukraine plans to invade them. Dictators always blame ghosts.
    From today’s Digital Diner menu 🍽️

  40. Record turnout: The parliamentary election had the highest voter turnout in Hungary’s post-Communist history, officials said shortly before the polls closed, with almost 78% of eligible voters having cast their ballots.

  42. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/independent-senate-candidate-dan-osborn-spotlights-campaign-spending-at-kearney-town-hall

    Osborn, an independent who ran against Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024 and is currently running for Sen. Pete Ricketts’ seat, was reported by the Federal Election Commission to have spent roughly $1.6 million so far on his campaign this election cycle. Ricketts, who Osborn will likely be facing in the general election, reportedly has spent around $3.56 million on his re-election campaign.

    Osborn said his focus on campaign costs and the Citizens United precedent goes beyond his race with Ricketts.

    “Even if it wasn’t specifically Rickets, I ran off of this same thing with Deb Fisher. You know, because the issue is really at the heart and soul, I think, of where our ship has kind of gotten off course in this country,” Osborn said.

    After the talks, the floor was opened for audience questions about End Citizens United, while also touching on other issues including the war in Iran, social security, ICE and AI data centers.

    Ricketts has not commented on the reforms proposed by End Citizens United.

    The Senator will face four other candidates in the Republican primary on May 12, with the winner moving on to the Nov. 3 general election later this year. Although Ricketts has not been confirmed as the nominee yet, Osborn said he is ready.

  43. https://www.ktiv.com/2026/04/11/inside-iowa-politics-rob-sands-plan-change-elections/

    Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the Democrat running for governor, wants to change the state’s elections.

    Here are some of the key changes for the primary elections under his proposal:

    Independents would not have to register as a Democrat or Republican to vote in the primary.

    There would only be one ballot.

    All candidates, regardless of political party, would appear on the same ballot for each race.
    Voters choose one candidate.

    The top 3-5 finishers would advance to the general election.

    General election changes:

    Iowans could vote for as many candidates as they wanted for an office.

    Candidate with the most votes wins.

  44. https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/10/calendar-quirk-and-law-change-have-south-dakota-election-officials-worried-about-deadlines/89549533007/

    Election officials in South Dakota are worried about a possible delayed start for early and absentee voting as they rush to prepare ballots for the June 2 primary, and they’re also navigating changes to registration requirements signed into law by Gov. Larry Rhoden last month.

    The new law, which went into effect on March 26, requires new voters to provide documentation of their U.S. citizenship with a driver’s license or identification card issued after July 1, 2025, a tribal ID, or a legible photocopy of a birth certificate, U.S. passport, consular report of birth abroad from the U.S. Department of State, or certificate of naturalization.

    Lincoln County Auditor Sheri Lund said South Dakota voters should check their registration status and party affiliation as soon as possible. New voters should register soon as well, in case there are processing delays because of missing documentation required by a new law.

    Lincoln County Auditor’s Office, said the office had received 10 voter registration applications as of March 7 that were missing the necessary documentation to prove U.S. citizenship as required by the new law.

    One person emailed proof of citizenship, but Delfs said she has not received documentation yet from the others after mailing notification of the problem to them. Those voters will be registered as federal only voters until they provide proper documentation — a new voter status signed into law in 2025. Federal only voters can vote in presidential and congressional races, not state and local races.

    *It’s like the state’s version of the SAVE Act.

  46. https://justthenews.com/nation/religion/pope-leo-xiv-says-delusion-omnipotence-fueling-war-iran

    Pope Leo XIV says ‘delusion of omnipotence‘ is fueling war in Iran: ‘Enough of war’

    Without naming specific leaders, he cautioned against using faith to legitimize military action and condemned the glorification of power and wealth.

    “Enough of the idolatry of self and money,” Leo said, according to the Associated Press. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war.”

    Pope Leo encouraged prayers for peace to fight evil.

    “It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive,” he said. “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”

  47. Blue Bronc just dropped a declassified intelligence memo onto the table, and it got me thinking about an experiment for the group.

    What if we start building a permanent archive for your field notes, testimonies, and raw observations? I’m workshopping the name “Trail Markers” for it.

    Bronc, your piece set a hell of a baseline. I formatted the page to read like a redacted file pulled from a dusty government cabinet so it fits the vibe. See how it looks:

    https://trailmix.cc/snippets

    Here is the pitch for the rest of the room: we turn your best stuff into standing pages with permanent URLs. You write it, we lock it in, and you can drop your link into chat or threads whenever you need to reference it.

    Consider this an open whiteboard. Who else has something to put on the record?

  48. https://www.jezebel.com/republicans-are-mad-teen-pregnancies-are-down

    On Fox News’s America’s Newsroom, medical analyst Marc Siegel said: “We still have 3.6 million births a year, but the problem is teens and young adults. From ages 15-19, the fertility rate is down 7%, and it’s down 70% over the last two decades, meaning we’re telling people who are young not to have babies.”

    *Correct! Because teen mothers will not have a chance for higher education or to grow as individuals into adulthood, nor would boys if they had to get a job and provide child support…but we know it’s older, MAGAt pedos who want access to girls. What a bunch of creepers!

    And, knowing how MAGAt-Repug-Christo-fascists think it’s OK to not have affordable healthcare nor food, they don’t actually care if the teen mother or babies thrive or die.

    This is about men controlling women, which can only be done before they become women.

    REPUBLICANS ARE PEDOPHILES. CHANGE MY MIND!

    ps – This tool is Faux’s medical correspondent? He should read about the complication and mortality rate for teen mothers and their infants. Creepers, every one of them!

  49. https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-struts-around-ufc-cage-match-as-peace-talks-fail-8000-miles-away/

    Trump Struts Around UFC Cage Match as Vance Flees Peace Talks

    Flanked by the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and real estate developer-turned-Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Vance said the Iranians had chosen not to accept the United States’ terms.

    “We leave here with a very simple proposal: a method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”

    When pressed by a reporter on what, exactly, Iran had rejected, Vance declined to spell it out, saying he would not “negotiate in public.”

    Instead, he pointed back to the same broad demand that Iran would not pursue a nuclear weapon or the means to quickly build one.

    The demand is striking, given that Iran had made such a commitment before.

    *The Romans had venatio.
    *The MAGA-morons have UFC.
    *Who was the Romans’ JD Vance?

  50. Viktor Orbán is the gold standard for MAGA. If he starts losing the Hungarian election, watch the ensuing chaos closely. It’s a free, front-row preview of exactly what Trump will try if the midterms go sideways.
    From today’s Digital Diner menu 🍽️

  51. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/12/trump-announces-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-after-us-iran-peace-talks-end

    President Donald Trump says the United States Navy will begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz “immediately” after peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan ended without an agreement.

    So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not,” Trump said. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.”

    Iran has essentially taken control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for the global energy market, since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28.

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Sunday that civilian vessels can cross the strait in compliance with “specific regulations”, but that military vessels approaching the strait would be considered in violation of the ceasefire and “dealt with severely”.

    Trump, in a social media post on Sunday, accused Iran of “extortion” and said the US Navy would also hunt down and interdict ships in international waters that have paid Iran a toll to traverse the strait. He said US forces will also begin clearing mines that he says Iran placed in the strait.

    Iran has denied US claims that two of its warships recently passed through the strait for mine-clearing operations, warning that any military vessels seeking to do so would receive a “strong response”. Trump called Iran’s control over the waterway “world extortion” in his social media post and added that any Iranian forces who fire at US forces or “peaceful vessels” would be “BLOWN TO HELL”.

    He added that the blockade would involve unspecified “other countries”, and he would not allow Iran to benefit from the closure of the strait. Trump also stated in his social media post that the US Navy would interdict “every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran”.

    “We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like,” Trump told Fox News in an interview later on Sunday. “It’s going to be all or none, and that’s the way it is.”

    He added that the United Kingdom and “a couple of other countries” are sending minesweeper vessels to aid the US effort, an assertion that has not been confirmed by the British government.

    Trump’s comments have raised concerns about the status of the fragile two-week ceasefire.

  52. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/john-larson-trump-impeachment/

    Connecticut congressman filed articles of impeachment against Trump

    On April 6, Larson submitted House Resolution 1155 to impeach Trump on high crimes and misdemeanors. The resolution was sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    The next day, Larson announced he had done so in a statement on his website. In the statement, he also called for Trump’s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, which outlines the procedure the vice president and the Cabinet must follow to declare the president incapable of fulfilling his duties.

    Larson’s resolution included 13 articles of impeachment. He accused Trump of usurping the power of Congress to declare war, “murdering scores of putative but unproved drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific” and committing war crimes. He further accused Trump of “committing piracy” to steal Venezuelan oil. Larson said the war on Iran also was illegal.

    Other reasons to impeach Trump, in Larson’s filed articles, included illegally militarizing domestic law enforcement, ordering unlawful detentions and deportations, retaliating against protected speech or association, abusing his power to pardon, illegally defunding programs designed to help and protect U.S. citizens and the environment, illegally refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress, illegally persecuting political opponents and violating the 14th Amendment by attempting to deny birthright citizenship to certain children.

    Meanwhile, the statement on Larson’s website appeared to imply that Trump’s call to “annihilate an entire civilization” was enough of a reason to invoke the 25th Amendment.

    *Please call your representative to ask the to support Representative Larson’s articles of impeachment: 202-224-3121

  57. So what is dumber.
    Trump helping Iran blockade the straits of Hormuz or a Democratic Congressman filing an Article of Impeachment on Trump.
    Its a tough choice but I think it may be Trump. After all the Article of Impeachment is going nowhere, whereas Trump’s blockade has the potential to start a war that brings all of Asia and Europe together against the US. Probably won’t happen but given the damage a total embargo would have on the world economy, I would say it is a non zero chance.

    Jack

  58. Trump: Fine, We’ll Blockade the Strait Too

    A “you can’t fire me, I quit” approach to the Hormuz problem.

    Unable to quickly remove Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most important oil transit corridor—with its current equipment, the US is switching tack: President Trump announced Sunday in two Truth Social posts that the Navy will launch its own blockade of “any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave” the passage, and intercept those that have paid Iran’s tolls to cross.

  59. So the orange and green are Orban’s coalition and the Blue the opposition, soon to be the overwhelming winners?
    A good day for “liberal” democracy.
    Thanks Winter!
    Jack

  62. ORBAN CONCEDES

    Covering the Coverage

    • [Mainstream]: The straight facts on the ground as the 16-year incumbent bows out, mapping the immediate fallout for his transatlantic allies. – AP News
    • [Progressive]: Gloating autopsy framing the defeat as a massive geopolitical blow to the MAGA movement and a victory for European integration. – The Washington Post ($)
    • [Conservative]: A somber, straightforward concession report from the home turf, focusing strictly on the unprecedented landslide and peaceful transfer of power. – Hungary Today
    • [Progressive]: Analysis declaring the fall of an illiberal icon, focusing heavily on what the ouster means for the broader global right wing. – TIME
    • [Mainstream]: A sober breakdown of the parliamentary math that unseated the longest-serving EU leader and the immediate implications for the West. – PBS NewsHour
    • [Independent]: Quick turnaround on the concession call itself, highlighting the unexpected margin of the opposition’s parliamentary supermajority. – The Jerusalem Post
    • [Mainstream]: The Canadian angle on the painful defeat, emphasizing the record voter turnout that toppled the populist stronghold. – CBC News
    • [Independent]: A detached, global south perspective analyzing what the leadership change means for the ongoing gridlock over EU integration. – The Indian Express
    • [Mainstream]: European-focused wire coverage tracking the immediate concession speeches and the shockwaves rolling through neighboring capitals. – The Herald
    • [Independent]: Syndicated deep-dive detailing the opposition’s ground game that successfully united a fractured electorate against the ruling party. – Coast Reporter

    Silas Gemini

  64. The whole of humanity needs to count backwards. Over population is destroying the resources we need to survive. Unfortunately cultural prejudices favors parents around the world wanting male children even when that is destructive to society. Plus the right wingers hate the idea of being outnumbered by non-white infants. Family planning and education is the only safe way to reduce, otherwise a whole lot of starvation and conflicts are going to increase.

  67. Kushner a mega billionaire power broker now, nothing Laurel about him

    JD’s a schmuck for sure tho

  68. Good on Hungary. Kudos to Orban for setting an example for Magats by conceding. Dumbass needs to take heed, let the democratic process run its course and STFU.

  71. Will Orbán have to run to a hidey hole or flee the country? Won’t surprise if Dodo gives him a job, he has an opening to fill for Attorney General.

  73. https://www.livemint.com/news/turkish-president-erdogan-calls-netanyahu-hitler-blinded-by-blood-hatred-threatens-to-invade-israel-11776008464907.html

    In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, “Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan, who accommodates them and massacres his own Kurdish citizens.”

    In a strongly worded criticism, Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Netanyahu as the “Hitler” of our time because of the crimes he has committed. It added that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has also issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    According to Israel Hayom, Erdogan said that if negotiations aren’t taking place between Washington and Tehran, Ankara would “show Israel its place.” At a political event in Turkiye, he said, “On the day of the ceasefire, Israel killed hundreds of innocent Lebanese people. Netanyahu is blinded by blood and hatred. Had Pakistan not been mediating in the war between the US and Iran, we would have shown Israel its place,” Erdogan said in a speech at a political event in Turkey.”

    He went on to say, “Just as we entered Libya and Karabakh, we can enter Israel. There is no reason not to do it. It will require strength and unity.”

  75. Here’s the Coachella rewind feed. David Byrne 6:43:02 (and before and after; the time-slider is touchy).

  76. Orlon may have left behind some “surprises” ….and a few or three loyal and unscrupulous confederates.
    And there’s always Rasputin.
    When the chips are down, call The Ras Man.

    🎶
    Da-fen-es-tray-shun,
    Makes it happen;
    Da-fen-es-tray-shun
    Workin’ every day.
    (Dig it!)
    🎵

  78. “Nonsurvivable”: Today’s Heatwaves Have Surpassed Our Bodies’ Ability to Stay Cool

    Heatwaves in Mecca (Saudi Arabia, 2024), Bangkok (Thailand, 2024), Phoenix (United States, 2023), Mount Isa (Australia, 2019), Larkana (Pakistan, 2015) and Seville (Spain, 2003) saw thousands of deaths, despite none approaching that wet bulb limit, the research found.

    But when scientists applied a new model of human survivability that takes into account the body’s ability to function and stay cool depending on age, they found all six events had seen nonsurvivable periods for older people who could not find shade.

    All six heatwaves included periods that would not have been survivable for people aged over 65 remaining outside in full sun. The Larkana and Phoenix heatwaves included periods that were not survivable for older people even if they had found shade.

    The Larkana heatwave included a non-survivable period that would have been deadly for people aged 18 to 35 in full sun.

  82. Anon, let me endorse your FAFO description of Dumbass’ approach. I’d have to say that sending JDouchee to negotiate with Iran is FAFO peace negotiations.

  83. The night Bob Dylan freaked all of them all the fuckin way out. lol
    He didn’t wanna be a Seeger, he wanted to be a damn beatle.

  85. Please ‘splain this to me.

    “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted tonday on Truth Social, and said he had instructed the Navy to interdict all ships that have paid a toll to Iran for traversing the strait, calling Tehran’s expanded control of the waterway “EXTORTION.”

    Sounds to me like he’s shutting down rather than opening up the Strait.

  88. That’s what Elon learned when he tried to buy the Wisconsin vote. It’s what anyone taking AIPAC money will learn, or bending the knee to Netanyah and Israel.

    Gavin Newsom took a surprising stand on Israel. His next move was depressingly predictable.

    Newsom’s combined comments make it clear that after a brief foray into sharper criticism of Israel, he’s seeking refuge in a classic establishment Democrat playbook: Criticize Netanyahu as a reckless leader but decline to critique the way the country’s government operates on a deeper level.

    Newsom would have been on stronger ground if he hadn’t hedged on “apartheid.” Many human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Israel’s premier human rights watchdog, B’Tselem, characterize Israel’s current system of governance as apartheid. And the reason is simple: Israel systematically segregates territory and assigns freedoms to residents differently, based on whether they are Jewish or Palestinian. The reason this matters is not only because it’s barbaric but also because Israel’s existence as an ethnocracy discredits one of its cardinal arguments for why it deserves the unconditional support of the West: that it is the “only democracy” in the Middle East.

    Newsom hasn’t done himself any favors with his squirming. If there’s anything that should be evident to Democrats by now, it’s that Democratic voters are hungry for politicians who have clear beliefs and can speak plainly. Newsom evinces the painfully focus-grouped answers of the old Democratic establishment that the party’s voters have grown sick of.

  89. https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/31/israel-discriminatory-death-penalty-bill-passes

    Within the military court system of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the bill imposes the death penalty for killings classified as acts of terrorism, as defined under Israeli law, even without a prosecutorial request. The bill only allows courts to order life imprisonment in unspecified exceptional cases where “special reasons” are found, limiting judicial discretion. It also prohibits commutation of sentences and mandates execution within an accelerated timeframe of 90 days.

    Israeli citizens and residents are explicitly excluded from this provision: military jurisdiction applies exclusively to Palestinians, while Israeli settlers are tried in civilian courts. The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem said in a statement that military trials of Palestinians have ” an approximately 96% conviction rate, based largely on ‘confessions’ extracted under duress and torture during interrogations.”

  90. i suppose it would have been clever to say that his FU is to FA so everyone else FO

    dumbest war ever

  91. Tomorrow’s starter at the diner…

    Hungarians just handed us a masterclass in how to scrape a democracy off the pavement. After sixteen years of Viktor Orbán treating their constitution like cheap toilet paper, the voters didn’t just tweet their frustration—they physically showed up and jammed the gears of his autocracy. It turns out that when you stop complaining about how the system is rigged and actually use the system to outvote the riggers, dictators panic.

  94. https://www.techolam.com/news/apple-maps-adjusts-southern-lebanon-labels-amid-ongoing-conflict

    Apple has quietly removed labels for nearly every village and town in southern Lebanon from its mapping service, a move that mirrors the shifting dynamics on the ground. This adjustment, which impacts hundreds of locations, introduces a new layer of complexity for users who rely on digital navigation in an area experiencing significant change.

    The decision to omit these labels—without public explanation—stands out against the backdrop of ongoing conflict and military operations in the region. While Apple’s maps have long been a staple for travelers and locals alike, this latest update suggests a deliberate shift in how the company handles sensitive or volatile areas. It also prompts users to reconsider their dependence on digital tools when navigating regions where conditions can change rapidly.

    *Et tu Tim Apple?

  96. @CheyenneHuntCA X.com
    To any staffer who resigned from Swalwell’s team in solidarity with the survivors or any women who are concerned about how coming forward may impact your career, we will find you work. We have a network of electeds and firms who will give you a place to land. Send me your resumes
    12:47 PM • 4/11/26

  97. @realDonald Trump

    Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about
    “fear” of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History. Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald
    J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.
    Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! President DONALD J. TRUMP

    4/12/26, 6:03 PM

    *The whole ‘I like your brother better’ must be a familiar refrain for Eric & Jr. It probably goes Ivanka, Barron, Jr., Erik, and sometimes Tiffany if he remembers she exists.

  98. Israel can only remain a “Jewish” nation via some form of apartheid. It is a simple matter of numbers. Palestinians have more children. The voting numbers are such that eventually Arabs within the nation were could outnumber Jewish votes.

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