Hello everyone. Just a reminder that It’s always my intention to include letters to the editor as an essential part of the Gazette’s raison d’être. Only lack of space or emergencies would limit this policy. In all cases where a letter has to be bumped notice of that letter being published in full online is always provided.
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Kelly Scoles’ letter runs this week. She complains that it did not run last week, but no letters were received last week.
****
Kelly, your letter is running this week. However I have little time to respond, other than to say I have never suggested that Americans should be prepared to “crumble in fear and hopelessness.” Nor do I ever suggest Americans “roll over in grief or disbelief and abandon ourselves to hopes that heaven will save us” though it certainly can. What you describe here are cowards of the Liberal sort, typically Democrat. As an atheist you might be expected to panic. As Judeo-Christians we fight along with spiritual luminaries like St. Michael. Atheists and agnostics, without spiritual support, must live in fear. As for abandoning ourselves “to hopes that heaven will save us” is exactly the Judeo-Christian plan for those who, follow Jesus Christ and all his saints and angels leading the victorious advance. You say, “We know from history that God seldom directly intervenes.” (that is terribly false). You say “We were given the intelligence and fortitude to figure this out ourselves. But first, we have to rely on each other as We, the People, to solve this and other future challenges.” Your pathetic reliance on human will Is what has doomed Man to defeat in all of human history – from Genesis to 2026.” You end by saying “…isolating ourselves in fear and helplessness is useless and unworthy.” Yes, exactly – and abandoning God is what brings helplessness, unworthiness, and ultimate failure and destruction.
The ultimate tragedy in human history, the ultimate disaster, is to deliberately reject Almighty God for earthly status, to reject eternal joy in exchange for eternal suffering in Hell.

Hello everyone.
I received a letter this week which requires correction. I mentioned last week that I would concentrate on discussions of the (now global) war and less on domestic issues, as important as they are. That does not mean I will ignore American politics, only that in my opinion the US is about to be attacked by Muslim terrorists, not just Iranian Shia but Russia and, later, China. That is just my opinion which you are always welcome to ignore and criticize.
I’m too slow tonight to engage in any detail so I will just give some “bullets”.
We have now begun to engage in WWIII. US soldiers have begun to die, and Iran has not capitulated according to President Trump’s demands, so look for a long war.
We did not prepare for this obvious possibility by prudently firing-up Freedom’s Forge. We lack enough ammunition of every kind.
Warning: I am one that believes in Marian Apparitions of the Catholic Church though they are controversial and non-binding. I trust that theological scrutiny of the highest order proclaims them to be worthy of belief.
So, I believe this war has a primary, spiritual as well as earthly component designed to punish a profoundly evil world. I believe the war will have an unparalleled chastising result. We will soon see if this dark view is true or false.
Here is a short list of predicted facts as I see them through the Apparitions:
The US will be attacked. Though the US is the largest petroleum producer in the world, we will run short of supply. America will suffer the same devastating drone attacks as the rest of the world. Fuel cost has already reached $100 per barrel, the Strait of Hormuz has just been mined, Iran nuclear capability just proclaimed, world will enter an epic great recession, West will run out of ammunition, massive cyber attacks will shut down most communications, Russia will attack Europe, especially France – in Blitzkrieg order (despite seeming unlikely now), tactical nuclear weapons will be used, Taiwan will be attacked. The weather will change dynamically – super earthquakes- mega-fires.
I have described this week’s column as a “short list” however have excluded the worst of the Apparitions scenarios, the spiritual chastisements, because the earthly conflagration alone will keep most sceptics busy enough. The Marian Apparitions are not meant to frighten or panic. They are meant only to warn of the spiritual preparation imminently necessary. This information can be easily found online.
I’m neither prophet, priest nor preacher, so don’t look to me for validation.

I received two letters today from Kelly Scoles and Pat Collins. I regret I have time to comment only briefly on Pat’s.
Hello to both of you.
Kelly, since World War III has just fully bloomed, with the attack on Iran by the US and Israel, Ukraine is fully aflame, and this will not be a short war, and as the Free World is notoriously unprepared (lack of full war production - “USA burns through precision munitions, air defense interceptors...”) it will be furious, brutal, and lengthy. Iran has called all Shia Islam to join against US, Israel, and their allies. Almost all Free World countries will be attacked by Shia Islamic theocracies – in accordance with their bloody religious duty.
This is all happening while the Russian-Ukraine war has already cost Russia 2.2 million deaths with no end in sight.
You are determined to argue about Trump’s foolish, inflammatory proclivities; I no longer have the time or patience- the next World War is under-way. Your letter and Pat’s letter will be published online and in this week’s edition, but I will concentrate on the war which I have expected for several years.
Yes, he promised “no regime change wars” just like he promised to end the Ukrainian war in a few days. All I can say is he failed. He has provided many disappointments, and many successes. We can pillory him for his failures, or we can address our attention to war preparations, like filling the Strategic Oil Reserves. Perhaps as important as the burgeoning war itself is Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney’s political bomb, decoupling his nation’s trade, intelligence, and defense cooperation from the US. No more preferential treatment for the US.
I can say Canada declares war on US. That is the effect of what Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada did last Saturday. Tired of the threats and insults from President Trump, he has decoupled Canada from the US in ways which shake world trade, possibly permanently, by organizing an alternative replacement for NATO, and endangering the US dollar as reserve currency. This order ends all special Canadian trade deals, as well ending cooperation in intelligence, and normal cooperation in defense efforts. It is a comprehensive departure from virtually all critical financial and military cooperation, including eliminating NORAD, the primary radar defense on the entire northern border.
Trump has been given 13 days to sign the new agreement, which will end all preferential treatment from Canada to the US.
This disengagement amounts to Canada declaring defacto war on the US. It comes as the US has already lost 6 soldiers killed, and 13 wounded in the Iran war. I understand Carney’s frustration over Trump’s outrageous behavior but compared to the enormous damage his retaliatory response will do, it’s like petulant suicide. Seventeen nations have already joined Canada’s new organization. It is outrageous overreaching which immediately endangers the entire Free World. Carney’s total abandonment of essential US relations is supremely irrational. It is surely satisfying for his ego, but deadly for world peace and the safety of his own nation. Watch how quickly North Korea creeps into his northern waters. Carney’s satisfaction will be short-lived. Experts warn of economic-social collapse, oil and gas disruption.
On the other hand, Trump’s incessant insults, threats, and tariffs have facilitated nuclear-strength disruption amongst our oldest friends and allies. Trump was wrong – Canada didn’t “come begging.”
Get ready for $10 gas.

A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi Kelly,
It’s more than challenging to try and answer three letters on the same day America is about to undergo the worst socio-economic-self-defense blow of my long lifetime, and that from our longest and strongest friends, England, Canada et al. In my opinion only the beginning of a shooting war with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran would be more destructive of America’s security, and we brought it upon ourselves. As a supporter of President Donald Trump, it pains me to say the heart of the Free World has just had an attack from which it will not recover before another big war, due to Trump’s outrageous treatment of these friends. Reports are Canada and Great Britain dominate communications worldwide. No time for more details. I recommend Time Radio for best detailed coverage. This divorce could not have happened at a worse time. It is a true tectonic shift. The Free World cannot survive without friendly cooperation.
****
Hello again Kelly,
The Supreme Court has indeed struck down several of President Trump’s tariffs. It’s a multi-headed serpent of an act which I am unprepared to answer. I’m reminded of President Jackson, faced with a similar problem. A famous statement attributed to Andrew Jackson at the time following the 1832 Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v. Georgia.
“(Chief Justice) John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!” I worry about who and how may have to reimburse those who have paid those billions. You lay out the problem very well. Maybe you can supply the answer for me. That’s a great deal of money.
The pending Iran war
We are well into a mostly smokeless WWIII right now. It could quickly flame-up from North Korea, or Russia, or Iran, or China. After listening to several very detailed, informed explanations of Iran’s unique defensive issues, I do not believe that war can be quick or complete like the destruction of Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. Iran has unique defensive options, like closing the Straits of Hormuz, the most valuable commercial waterway in the world.
Iran is a large country, the Straits only 21-miles wide (a bottleneck), too shallow for submarines, surrounded both sides with hidden artillery and various sorts of hypersonic missiles and drones. It would be difficult to engage Iran by conventional boots on the ground without engaging in a prolonged war. We could win that war but at an unacceptable cost and having to engage other enemies. I also think our aircraft carriers would be vulnerable to massive, persistent, accurate missiles and drones from land, sea, and under the sea. The fight would be prolonged.
(To be continued.)

Publisher’s note:
I regret that I am unable to submit another Realities column this week due to laziness (just kidding – about the laziness). Just a little tired. But I hope to return with more truthful discomfort for liberals next week.

I hate to admit it, but I’m slowing down. But it’s highly gratifying to receive so many renewed subscriptions to the paper, many for two years. Thank you for that affirmation.
This week’s Realities will be somewhat shorter, making writing seem a little faster, and me a little younger. “Hope springs eternal”, according to Alexander Pope.
***
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hello again, Kelly,
My use of the word “semantics” last week was aimed at the word “insurrection”. We have dueled over its application far too long. It’s a perfectly good word which, in my opinion, we have too often discussed. Let’s just agree to disagree on its use. I believe its proper application should describe lengthy, violent incidents, not 4-hour riots; you, in my opinion, use it too liberally.
Kyle Rittenhouse? Do we really want to go back to that issue? I don’t. He was acquitted! “Kyle Rittenhouse, acquitted in 2021 of all charges regarding the 2020 Kenosha shootings….” “The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial in all criminal prosecutions. This right applies to states via the 14th Amendment.” This case has come and gone. Let it rest.
As for Trump’s statement about “the only thing that can stop me (read control) is “my own morality.” Is this a bad thing? We vote for leaders with (hopefully) trustworthy character which means faithful submission to our Constitution. “Voldemort” Miller? Kelly, I have never read nor watched a Harry Potter production. I do understand, however, he represents evil.
About his pursuit of the Nobel Prize, however, I find that pathetic and profoundly embarrassing.
***
A response to Pat Collins’ letter.
Hello Pat,
I would agree with 90 percent of your expressed aggravations about Trump. The other 10-percent I accept as the price of having a leader who is not afraid to pull the trigger when necessary. An example within that 10 percent should include your reference to Abraham Lincoln, after Trump’s expressions about being the most “abused” president. Please recall his unique historical relationship with Lincoln, i.e. assassination – hits and misses. Lincoln was assassinated on first attack. Trump was hit first time but survived (miraculously was saved) the second time almost by accident.
No amount of criticism concerning his annoying personal behavior will affect a change. But when the missiles drop on an unprepared America you will be glad he’s manning the guns, and Russia, China, Iran and North Korea will be aware as well.

Once again, I received three letters to respond to. I regret a small event has made me slower than usual, so this triple response will be much shorter than usual.
Huguette Johnson of Fillmore is again shortest and first.
Hello Huguette, it’s a pleasure to welcome you again.
I could not have said these words better myself. You are correct in characterizing the average American citizen as ignorant of world history. This is largely because history is neglected or virtually ignored in our schools and universities today. I should say the same for geography.
My time is just short this week. But I would like to recommend a book which covers this problem very well, an old book which was the number one Best Seller in 1987, entitled The Closing of the American Mind, by Allan Bloom. Things have only gotten worse since then. I think ignorance fertilizes naivety. Yours is clearly the voice of experience, worthy of hearing.
Russians are the new Nazis.
Thank you again for your letter.
*****
Hello Kelly Scoles,
Sometimes I think you believe the months-long, billion-dollar BLM riots are somehow heroic.
They were not. They were true criminal insurgencies – and I won’t be sucked into a debate on semantics.
Trump has, as I have admitted many times, made inexplicably ignorant and petty remarks. I no longer comment on them because they appear to be indelibly connected to his DNA. My eyes remain open while I also see that Trump, like it or not, holds global security in his hands. Talk about his alleged desire for kingship is just silly. I say this keeping in mind that no other nation in the world has its citizens holding 400+million personal firearms, thanks to our Second Amendment. What fool would believe he could successfully launch another civil war against such a force? But Russians might live in that delusion. Advice, FAFO!
*****
Hello Pat Collins, (No time to expand)
I never spike a letter, unless it’s obscene or libelous. I saw only three letters. Will investigate.
I have time for only one of the issues you raise, “about liberal Supreme Court justices who can’t say what a woman is.” On this issue alone we can identify the civic sanity of the American public. Are we no longer able to identify the distaff part of human gender? I have to ask what monstrous arrogance causes liberals to act as they do on this issue. “In the Bible, “pride” (often called soberbia) is a sinful, destructive attitude of excessive self-esteem, arrogance, and self-reliance that elevates oneself above God.” That atheists excuse themselves from this injunction to obey doesn’t help their problem, which is eternal. They use their free will in a different direction, a deadly, wrong direction. That decision seems indelible. I’m sorry about that.
You claim that “over the past several decades, advances in genetics (eugenics?) endocrinology, neuroscience, and psychology have painted a more complex picture.” Your “complexity” of that picture changes nothing; it’s a gross misunderstanding, an abomination of reasoning. Normal thinking people should not be compelled to agree with this sort of thinking, which has bastardized science and shamed a generation of WOKE doctors. As you say, “This is not an abstract theory, it is scientific heresy of a criminal nature.”
Pat, you should return to ancient, traditional logic.

January 28, 2026
Well, I have three letters to respond to this week and I’m feeling a little slow.
The first, the shortest, is from Huguette Johnson of Fillmore.
Thank you very much, Huguette, I’m flattered that you have been such a loyal reader of my scribblings. Thanks again.
I agree with you, the 2020 election was stolen; that being my opinion, I’m protected by our glorious First Amendment from Democratic Party henchmen. Russia and China know nothing about this sort of freedom.
Trump has had great success bringing peace to our world, so far. I commend him for that success. However, I still characterize him as an idiot savant because the good he does often covers the bad. The Greenland issue, for example, has been grotesquely handled. A peaceful, allied country having always cooperated with us, through Denmark, would certainly have provided more access to her land if we had only asked politely. No need to threaten military takeover when negotiations for a 100-year lease would do – hugely beneficial for all parties. The U.S. has stationed forces in Greenland since WWII.
On the Ukraine-Russian war: America’s hallmark is freedom, as announced by our Constitution and Statue of Liberty. As God has blessed America like no other nation, and as a Judeo-Christian nation, I believe we are obligated to assist all others who desire to participate in that blessing, and that assistance diminishes the evil influence of despotic nations. Wars of aggression are, to my way of thinking, demonic. To maintain our own freedom, we must defend against evil aggressors, like Russia, China, etc. Defeating oppressors maintains our freedom, always at a terrible price. As to “how many deaths?”, what is the value of our families? Did we ask that question in WWI, WWII? We (jointly) paid the horrific price maintaining our freedom up to this time. Should we just surrender?
You ask, “who is going to pay Ukraine to keep fighting?” I hope the answer is, the free world, in order to stay free. Ukraine is today the last barrier against Europe’s destruction. Thank God it is strong, determined, and intelligent. They will not be bludgeoned into submission, like little 4-year-old Kristina.
You mention Trump’s new peace Commission for economic pressure on Putin. I believe it is too little, too late, and too personal. The time to have stopped this was the day Russia invaded Crimea. There has never been a time in the history of creation that has not been disfigured by war – it began with legions of evil angelic souls who affronted Almighty God with: “Non serviam” “I will not serve.” The last of this longest story will soon be experienced.
****
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi Kelly,
I didn’t expect my first response to be so long, so I had to cut this short.
I’m tired of reading about Davos, a collection of do-nothing globalists planning to do nothing.
I know it’s not helpful to say I have little hope for civilizing Gaza. The people who live there love to shed blood – especially innocent blood. If I could, I would move all the Gazans into Jordan, remove all rubble and every standing building, and turn the land of Gaza into an enormous international vegetable garden to feed the entire Middle East. The rubble should be ground into fresh concrete to build the new city’s housing, with the richest billionaires paying for it all. No one has ever been able to get along with the current inhabitants.
As for Greenland: The U.S. should ask politely for a hundred-year lease – with large lease payments to all Greenlanders and heavy bucks also to Denmark.
I think “We the people” should not fear the government taking our Constitutional rights, as long as those personally secured Second Amendment firearms remain personally secured – all 400+ million of them.
****
The third letter is from Jean McLeod of Fillmore.
Hi Jean! Nice to hear from you again.
Your letter is quite long so I can’t say too much. While I agree with most of your thoughts, time and space restrict my response. I’ll go with bullets.
If you consider the number of years Trump enemies have attacked and obstructed Trump agendas I think it’s fair to describe them as “insurrectionists.” They’ve tried to kill him twice.
Their activities are indeed based upon scripted talking points rather than logical thinking with historical understanding.
Mass migration is not only a “political tool” it is a critical weapon to confuse and confront, and as you say, destabilize a culture.
I also believe the destabilization of American culture began around 1960 in our school system.
That’s all there is, there isn’t any more.

January 22, 2026
Publisher’s note:
I regret that I did not prepare notes to comment on the outrageous invasion of the Minneapolis Baptist Church. It will have to wait until next week. I will just say this attack is beyond unlawful, demanding immediate investigation and prosecution. Don Lemon has made himself even more toxic, if that were possible.
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A special note:
Watching Russians murdering innocent Ukrainians by the hundreds of thousands for the past 4-years, and Ukraine beating Russia back, has only strengthened my respect for Ukraine. It is a strong, beautiful, peaceful, Judeo-Christian country with unmatched will power and stamina. I have no doubt Ukraine will finally exhaust Russia to death – if given the weapons it needs.
In order to be always mindful of this heroic struggle I’ve decided to commemorate the life of one little Ukrainian girl, 4-year-old Kristina. Kristina was murdered by Vladimir Putin on Christmas Eve of last year when he fired a missile into her family’s high-rise apartment, killing the whole family. I just can’t get her picture, that pure spirit of innocence, out of my mind.
Her picture will remain in every edition of the Gazette while I am publisher, that we never forget that once this innocent spirit of light was snuffed out in an evil war of greed.
Slava Ukraini!
****
I have 3 letters to respond to this week. I would like to answer the shortest first, which is from Art Sanford.
Art – you’re back again, with another load of personalized, misdirected hate! This week you appear to have put your editorial pants on backwards.
For one thing “The Nobel Pacifier Prize” was not awarded to “the president of the United States.” “In an unprecedented moment in Nobel history, Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House meeting - a gesture meant to honor his role in Venezuela’s political upheaval. While Trump accepted the physical medal and called it a “gesture of mutual respect,” the Nobel Committee reiterated that the Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked - the award remains Machado’s forever.” Thank God! Trump’s eager acceptance of the prize amounts to a variant of stolen valor. Though I am a supporter of Trump’s domestic policy, I reject and oppose most of his foreign policy, especially his treatment of Ukraine.
In my opinion this Nobel caper is the most utterly disgusting event in Trump’s second term, so far. I continue to classify Donald Trump as an idiot savant. Though I continue to support him, his “savant” side seems to be quickly vaporizing.
****
Hello Kelly,
As you say, I must be “quite facile for an octogenarian,” to tackle three determined liberals at the same time. Your admiration for my ability to “pivot seamlessly” is well taken, so I’m sure you will understand why I now pivot away from several of your issues which we have discussed many times before. The facts in the Capitol shooting case overflow online. No point in debating those facts. Had the case gone to trial (was set for 2026) damages could have been many times the $5-million awarded. Your outrage over the Babbitt outcome is misplaced. Her shooting was clearly caused by gross (read criminal) negligence, in line with Capitol Police Officer Michael Byrd’s service history.
I am bothered by many of Trump’s allegedly inappropriate statements but see no grounds for impeachment. As the curtain goes up on a multi-sided World War III you will see why even highly offensive personal statements by Trump are virtually irrelevant.
I am, however, alarmed by senseless talk about attacking Greenland, which is threatening NATO cohesiveness. We are, I believe, already into that world war – with the free world unprepared. America, together with Europe, will pay a ferocious price for our failure to support Ukraine with all she needs to defeat Russia.
The Capitol riot again: I disagree with your description of “insurrection.” Even GOOGLE admits: “courts generally see it [insurrection] as more than civil commotion, involving an organized group seeking to seize governmental power.” Is it true that a few hundred rioters had no chance of overturning the government, nor intention of doing so.
The end of Capitol riot debate!

January-15-2026
Hello again, Kelly,
I have not “seen the video” of the shooting death of Renee Good in MN since the time of the incident. But I did see the shooting death of Ashli Babbit in the Capitol, riot of 2021. Comparisons are interesting.
You say “VP Vance asserts as truth, [Renee Good] was a “domestic terrorist” who had tried to murder an immigration agent…” Capitol Police Officer Michael Byrd claims Ashli Babbit, (UNARMED) who was 35 when she was killed (deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates during her time in the Air Force and the Air National Guard) had to be shot in order to protect sheltering lawmakers.
Michael Byrd, the US Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt, “has a long history of disciplinary issues with Capitol Police ...”
You say, “woman shot dead by a federal immigration agent in the US state of Minneapolis has been identified as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had just moved to the city.”
“The Biden administration previously denied military honors for Babbitt, who was shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer (Michael Byrd) while attempting to enter the Speaker’s Lobby.” “After reviewing the circumstances of SrA Babbitt’s death, the Air Force has offered Military Funeral Honors to SrA Babbitt’s family,” a spokesperson for the Department of the Air Force said in a statement Thursday.”
You say, “If PTSD were an issue [in the Good case] impaired judgment and control in the experience of certain stimuli, the Homeland Security Administration (HSA) was grossly negligent in placing [officer] Ross in the field, compromising his safety and that of others.” In the heat of the incident, the “F” expletive is irrelevant.
But, by your standards, Capitol police officer (Byrd) should be most culpable: Michael Byrd, the US Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt, “has a long history of disciplinary issues with Capitol Police ...” Would it then be fair and just to charge the Capitol police force with gross negligence, even criminal negligence? His victim, Mrs. Babbit, was no threat, had no weapon, and could not have endangered Officer Byrd while attempting to climb through a fractured window.
The family of Ashli Babbitt won a $5-million wrongful death suit over this Capitol shooting. Kelly, the jury in that case did not agree with your analysis of the facts.
****
My apologies to Pat Collins for not having time enough to fully answer her letter. I would just ask her to compare the fisticuffs outside the Capitol building that day to months of murderous BLM activity across the nation. Also, if it’s true that “an insurrection is not defined by its duration but by its purpose,” as you say, every child’s in-store tantrum demanding more candy from mom might fit that definition. Of course, if Nancy Pelosi had cooperated with Trump’s plan, “he had offered then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thousands of National Guard troops to surround the building, but she declined”, the riot would not have happened.
“Insurrection,” the Bard would say, should be made of sterner stuff.

January 7, 2026
A SPECIAL PERSONAL NEW YEAR’S THANK YOU.
I want to thank the extraordinary folks at the Simi Valley Home Depot for going far out of their way to return my cane (walking stick) which I left at the store a couple of weeks ago. A special thanks to Sherry at the Service Desk who personally delivered it to my office following her call. I’ve always received great service at Home Depot over the years, but this was superlative, saving me the risk of driving on rainy streets.
Thanks again, Simi Valley Home Depot (and Sherry), you’re the best!
****
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Happy New Year, Kelly,
I’m glad you’re looking forward to refreshing our issues. I’ll just begin at the beginning.
Trump “threatened to invade Iran “to protect the civil rights of its protesting citizens as he does not do for Americans at home”. Two very different problems, Kelly. Iran is the world’s largest terrorist state. Trump, thankfully, destroyed Iran’s nuclear threat. Do you applaud that action? American protestors have not undergone years of persecution under bloodthirsty Ayatollahs. The Iranian people now seek freedom with the opportunity Trump has provided. Do you support the pursuit of freedom? Would you like to be forced into a burka? American protestors are protected by their Constitution. As to Greenland, anyone speaking about the use of force to achieve that goal is foolish. America has used Greenland as a critical part of its defense strategy for decades, a friendly and mutually beneficial association. Why not a hundred-year lease of our existing usage? In that way Denmark and Greenland would hugely benefit, and the world would continue to be safer.
About Venezuela. It has the world’s greatest proven reserves of oil (304 billion barrels), but not the sweet crude of Saudi Arabia. It is about the heaviest oil around. It requires very special, and expensive, refining equipment, which the US developed over many years, and which the stupid communist dictators quickly destroyed. In 1950 Venezuela was the fourth richest country in the world. Today Venezuela is a poor, narco-terrorist supporting nation. Trump’s arrest of Maduro and wife is justified under a valid criminal warrant. His drug trafficking has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. Do you find value in protecting the Maduro government?
Are you suggesting that President Trump is or was involved in pedophilia? Making such unfounded allegations against regular citizens is serious, could end up fetching treble damages in a defamation case. Of course, if the allegation proves to be true, by all means go ahead. But I’m sick of the arguing. I agree with you – get it into court. As for Ghislaine Maxwell, she is equally guilty of pedophilia and should serve her sentence without those perks.
About those Capital “insurrectionists”, 4-hours does not an insurrection make! An insurrection is like the infamous months-long, billion-dollar, murderous BLM inferno. Do you recognize the difference?
Only one death was caused by a firearm in that Capitol incident – caused by that Capitol police officer. Find the official statements, including that officer’s work record, more facts. You can find his history of problems online. The hours of video confirming the peaceful entry to the Capital (almost tourist like) by most, was withheld for a long time simply because it contradicted the mayhem falsely alleged by Democrats. Inside the Capital crowds were escorted by officers themselves. Check out the videos.
We don’t seem to be “shifting our debates to fresh issues”, Kelly. Maybe next week? I would like to focus more on the Russia-Ukraine war and the “too little, too late” policy facilitating a nuclear response by a desperate Putin whose country is collapsing in every meaningful way.

December 30, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi again, Kelly,
If, as you say, this week’s subject is the “Political Past, facts only, and just a few”, I tremble with the thought of having to deal with your full force agenda. I’m going to chicken out and just compare Trump’s alleged political sins with Biden’s. I’m also not feeling too energetic. On the pardoning of those arrested on January 6, 2021. I see the arrests of those “insurrectionists” as one of America’s most shameful miscarriages of justice. Remember the entire event lasted exactly 4 hours, beginning to end. The counting resumed immediately thereafter. The single death was caused by a historically negligent Capital guard with a questionable record. The deceased woman was harmless.
Physical damage was comparatively trivial. Please recall the enormity of the months-long BLM murderous, rebellion of truly radical insurrectionists, which took innocent lives, business properties and homeowners’ billions in damages, with virtually no punishment.
That “Stop the Steal” movement – killed how many people?
I’m one who believes the 2020 election was stolen despite “official” findings to the contrary.
Your complaints about “inhumane” treatment of 20 million illegal trespassers gains little sympathy from me. This is, in my opinion, the greatest free-floating act of treason and cultural assassination by the Democrat Party which can never be cured. The second is the surrender of Afghanistan.
As for “Trumps coverup of the Epstein Files”, by all means, I hope Congress finishes the job. I do not want this investigation to end up like the non-investigation of the Biden laptop, which hides prima facia evidence of massive felonious graft!
Kelly, it’s time to shift our debates to fresh issues. Over the years we have exhausted any pretense of public interest. Redundancy has pretty much trampled the life out of our arguments. With the entry of a new year, we need to strike out afresh. The stage is set for WWIII and we shouldn’t be left behind.
On the threat of war, only most Americans still cling to the traditional Yankee naivete, thinking nuclear war is at least improbable. Unfortunately, they are wrong; they don’t have an inkling about Vladmir Putin’s mental state. What’s more important is the state of his soul, which is, like Lenin’s, Hitler’s, Stalin’s, and thousands of satanic minions, satanically evil. This is the Judeo-Christian understanding.
Those who refute this explanation are Algorithmically naive (dug this up; seemed appropriate).
I’m afraid I must criticize a former co-warrior, President Trump. His extraordinary hubris, lack of historical understanding, and fraternizing with the enemy is endangering our nation’s security. After observing the Russian-Ukrainian war for 4 years, only Christians seem to understand the imminent danger. I won’t elaborate, it would do no good. Here is the latest incidence of misplaced hostility by Trump towards Ukraine and President Zelenskyy:
Alaska invitation to Putin involved having US troops on their knees putting down red carpet of welcome. Recently, no member of the Trump administration showed up to welcome President Zelenskyy at the airport in Florida – greeted only by Ukrainian staff. This, a vicious slap in the face during peace efforts, evincing a fatal flaw of incivility.
I can no longer stay silent in the face of this dangerous policy of shifting allegiances. The global situation is precariously unstable. Putin is dying by a thousand cuts, militarily, financially, and psychologically. This could not be clearer after listening to his insane rants against Ukraine, NATO, the EU, with America and all her allies. He is a man coming to know how close he is to losing his dictatorship, his life, and nothing has more meaning than his own welfare, nothing.
We are on the cusp of WWIII and America is being gravely misled into believing peace talks with a satanic liar will succeed. Only Almighty God, as Judeo-Christianity understands, can bring peace now, but only after Justice prevails – which is at the door.
Happy New Year?

12-24-2025
A happy and holy Christmas to everyone.
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Merry Christmas, Kelly,
It’s a bit of a twist of thought to proclaim your support for “this Season of Joy” by “refraining from comments about the unholy carols sung by our president on the murders of Rob Reiner and his wife.” I think you could have celebrated “this Season of Joy” by simply refraining from thoughts of murder. I do, however, agree with your characterization of Trump’s treatment of Ukraine as a “sellout” – a disgraceful, treacherous one at that. But I will not let one man’s disgrace mar the greatest miracle in all of creation – the Incarnation of Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother. I would rather stay on a joyful note. So, once again, Kelly, Merry Christmas.
****
In response to Pat Collins’ letter:
As mentioned before, I do believe we have entered a new era of human history, not the end of time.
I rely upon my personal understanding, through the Christian Gospels, Holy Tradition, approved mystics, apparitions, and saints. Summed up as faith, reason, and the Gospels. For me, and for many other Christians, nothing is more important than Doctrine (Gospels) which for Christians is preeminent. I think, you correctly esteem the Beatitudes because they are an essential part of the whole Gospel, in which we both believe. On a broader level I’m sure we both believe in the Ten Commandments.
You mention essential virtues which I believe are provided by the Holy Spirit. But whether “the future arrives not armored or armored” is largely a question of how mankind will use his free will, and whether he will unsheathe one of those most necessary virtues, courage. I think hope with faith is also based on reason, another of God’s gifts. After reviewing human history, I certainly have hope and faith in God’s mercy, but considerably less faith in mankind’s Christian fidelity. But I’m afraid I’ve drifted too far away from a Christmas message.
A happy, holy, and peaceful Christmas is what I had in mind to begin with. But though often acknowledged, “Hope springs eternal”, my view of the coming year is grim. Only prayer and humble repentance will bring us through an imminent period of justice.

December 17, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles and Pat Collins:
Hello everyone,
Kelly, your concern that I gave short shrift to Pat’s comments last week is undeserved. Or, if that is true, it was not due to disinterest but lack of time. I’m always engaged with both of your opinions, just not in agreement very often.
I don’t know much about Hegseth’s family influence upon the Dept. of War, but can you enlighten us with some facts, or must you continue to speculate? My point in making that analogy was only to show Trump and Grant as fighters.
As for Trump’s domestic achievements, I could cut and paste the well-known list, but it would stampede readers away. Here’s a few hints: Taxes, pipelines, 20-million illegal trespassers, crime, destroying Iran’s nuclear facility, saving female sports from male trans freaks, and ending the morale-killing, un-American equity-inclusion-diversity scam. Most people understand these actions to be Donald Trump’s domestic policy achievements.
So, I still salute Trump’s domestic victories, but I must absolutely condemn his shameful treatment of the sovereign, peaceable, Christian nation of Ukraine, also historically older than Russia. Trump must also correct his grossly false public accusations of President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, and of who started the war, which has already killed close to two million men, women, and children. Find photos of Ukrainian child victims on Jake Broe, online – and weep. The war is now longer than WWII, with comparatively little news about it. There is no way to stop the war without crushing Russia by destroying its petroleum industry – which Ukrainians are achieving with remarkable skill. I still characterize Trump as a sort of idiot savant, idiot side being foreign policy.
******
Trump’s expletive-laden descriptions of illegal aliens refer to those who are killers, rapists, thieves, and terrorists. How many of them would you like to keep?
******
On the economy, I have no solution. The first house I bought in Ventura in the 1960s cost me $65,000. It was a small, 2-bdrm.- post-WWII home in a beautiful, safe, quiet, family area. That house now sells for $400,000. I do not have a cure for this disease. I believe when the average working person can no longer buy his own house America’s future will be in grave danger. That time may have already come.
As for that ballroom at the White House - if paid for by private funds, and is truly needed for large meetings, I see no harm. I do hate, however, all that excess slathering of gold leaf in the Oval Office and elsewhere. At the Putin hideout all things are (stolen) gold. Somehow so much fresh gold makes us look cheaper, like Putin.
Responding to Pat Collins:
Hi Pat,
Thank you also for acknowledging my sincerity. We have much in common in our Judeo-Chrisian understanding of today’s world. Yes, discernment, always discernment, it’s serious business to be thought of in humility. End of sermon.
“Urgency and hope,” right again. Urgency without hope is just panic, despair, and defeat, which has nothing to do with Christianity. While I don’t believe it’s the end, I do believe it’s the beginning of a spectacular new era.

December 10, 2025
I hope I have enough time to respond to some of the comments from both Kelly and Pat this week. I wish the issues would not be so redundant. It’s late so I’ll just respond mechanically because the mechanics of my machine have conspired to take me out!
Kelly, you’re first. You say I’m “moving in the correct direction.” I haven’t moved at all. My political views have always been based on Judeo-Christian principals. When Trump violates those principles, I have always opposed him and always will. At this time, I oppose him on virtually all of his Ukraine policies. We strongly disagree on our understanding of principles. He has wildly abandoned common sense as well as those principles. It’s not uncommon to find a man with liberal political attitudes, for example, being part of a traditional Christian congregation but approving of abortion. In Trump’s situation, he clearly seems to have jumped the fence and gone astray on the issue of Ukraine’s defense, ignoring the pure evil of de facto communist Russia under war criminal Putin. His recent demand that Ukraine surrender, after four years of slaughter and the loss of a half-million citizens, is outrageous. His apparent affection for communism and Putin, is disgusting. I despise his entire policy on Ukraine.
This is a new attitude for me, brought on by too much exposure to Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine siding with Putin, and his dumbfounding ignorance, or naivete, about European history, and the reservoirs of blood spilled since Lenin stepped on scene. I must ask whose side he is on? I shouldn’t have to ask that question!
But what of the good things Trump has accomplished? In short, he stopped-cold the 20-million-man flood of undocumented aliens into our country. This alone entitles Trump to a Mulligan, if he also kicks his stupid golf buddy assistant Steve Witkoff to the curb. – after he rectifies his Ukrainian policy. That horrendous policy is quickly bringing on WWIII.
***
Time is short and I am tired. Just one response for Pat this week.
I think I can answer many of your Trump policy objections by citing President Lincoln’s response to those who complained about Grant’s drinking: “I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals, I can’t spare this man. He fights!”
I feel the same. But he now seems to fight on the wrong side. I am among those who believe in the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, that they are worthy of belief (though this has caused a split in the Church) and though they warn of an imminent reordering of our world. Those apparitions also warn of Trump’s hubris.
No one in the Church or out of it need believe these prophecies, but I do.
I’m sorry I’m out of time, and I must confess out of patience with President Trump, especially after reading Trump’s most recent tirades on NATO, Europe, and especially Ukraine. I now see Trump as a danger to world peace, I’m very sorry to say. I don’t think December is through with us yet, neither is Almighty God.

December 3, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
During all the years Kelly and I have been debating (mostly serious) issues, I have rarely agreed with her, she being liberal and I being conservative.
But this week her letter inaugurates a “hoc septimana” within an “annus mirabilis”, almost too fantastic to believe; the Latin for “week”, the latter “great year.” I’m just pretending to be a linguist, because I needed some fancy words to signify the importance of this incredible event.
What’s this all about? For the first time in many years now I must agree with Kelly’s opinions on President Donald Trump’s policies relating to the following political figures. With very few and slight exceptions those people are:
Vladimir Putin, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Jared Kushner, Dar Global, Steve Witkoff, Krill Dmitriev, and their legion of evil, naive, or invincibly ignorant policy facilitators.
Of course, the center of this discussion is our President Donald Trump, and for me specifically, his ungodly misunderstanding and treacherous mistreatment of Ukraine. Though I have been a defender of Trump from the beginning, I have also been consistently critical of his friendship with Putin and his many ludicrously false characterizations of Zelenskyy, Ukraine, and historical events. I still wonder if, by now, he understands that Putin ordered his Russian army to invade Ukraine! Holding such a preposterous belief poisons the well of Judeo-Christian democracy. I also wonder if this is the same strain of naivete suffered by President George W. Bush when he told us that, “When I first met with Putin I looked into his eyes and I saw a soul, I trusted him.” This is stark evidence of that deadly American disease, Yankee Naiveté, which in this treacherous world can get us all killed, possibly very soon.
While I still support Trump’s domestic policies, I can no longer trust his thinking in foreign affairs. Increasingly, I see him as a sort of idiot-savant; great on national but gravely mistaken on many foreign policies and the choosing of the men and women he appoints to run them. I have really begun to despise his personal involvement in financial affairs with family members. Are we to experience the same situation with Trump that we did with Biden and his relatives? Every president swims in an extraordinary sea of tempting conflicts-of-interest. Only his character can save him from sinking. Only true friends will alert him to dangerous ideas and perfidious associations, often at the risk of being banned.
President Trump should abandon his many personal financial plans facilitated by the power and influence of his presidency. It cheapens the moral status of his high office and diminishes the trust he can normally expect.
The word treachery now often arises in his dealings with Ukraine. If he can’t distinguish America’s friends from its enemies, the nation’s defense is greatly jeopardized. I wish I had more time to discuss that infamous 28-point plan being forced on Ukraine by Trump, through Putin.
Kelly, I congratulate you for finally agreeing with me on these issues (said just to get your reaction).

November 26, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. It’s time to thank God for the cornucopia of blessings we have received.
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for trimming the subjects down somewhat this week.
From my point of view, the political “turn of events” never seem to stop, so I’m hardly phased. Marjorie Taylor Green is a political gadfly, as are a hundred other politicos in both parties. You mention Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney. There was a time when I might have voted for Mitt, but then he ran off the rails. I strongly agree with Liz Cheney’s support of Israel’s right to defend itself against all terrorists. But Liz also went off the rails. Both of these politicians have hoisted themselves by their own petards; they both destroyed their own political futures while intending to damage Donald Trump.
Kelly, politics is mostly combat amongst overinflated egos, most of whom I’m tired of. So, Trump called Liz a “traitor.” Big deal. That’s his opinion. How much time should be spent on this? You are concerned about the “certainty” of retribution by Trump following any criticism. Has there ever been a time in the politics of any nation, since before ancient Greece, that was without retribution? If the citizenry proves any particular “retribution” to be unlawful or unconstitutional, they should pursue designated legal channels. Trump was charged how many times with crimes? He was convicted of 34 felonies a year ago; impeached how many times? Where’s the justice here?
You say, “Some people only understand peril when they themselves are the target.” Do you think it’s possible that Trump is only responding to Democratic Party Trump Derangement?
****
Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging U.S. troops to defy “illegal orders” say the FBI has contacted them. “The FBI and Pentagon actions come after President Donald Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” in a social media post.” Names urging defiance of unlawful orders include Senator Mark Kelly and Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan, who appeared in a video asking troops to refuse illegal orders.
Mark Kelly should be recalled from retirement to active duty for the purpose of Courts Martial.
****
Reports claim that Trump’s latest Ukraine-Russia peace plan was essentially written by Russia with a virtual surrender for Ukraine. Russia is to keep more territory than it has won in 4-years of fighting, including Crimea.
Donald Trump said Ukraine had shown “zero gratitude” for US efforts to end the conflict.
Donald Trump is behaving treacherously, again. I have been a strong supporter of President Trump, from the beginning, despite sharp misgivings on a number of occasions. If he has any part in forcing Ukraine to give up any sovereign territory, I can no longer support him. It is a singular Judeo-Christian moral issue. He must either defend democracy or communism. The former is good, the latter is pure, murderous evil.
Do No Evil.

November 19, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
“Once more unto the breach, dear [friend], once more”
I hope the Bard forgives my small misquote, but we have been battling with words for several years, and neither of us has conceded to the other’s ideas. Maybe both of us should be concerned about that because if this is typical of American political attitude today it signifies war through weakness, not peace through strength. There is no peace in confusion. We can’t even agree on what the elemental parts of democracy look like. How can I trust the Left when it prefers Communism and socialism to Democracy? Are Democrats ignorant of history? Don’t they know that Marx was a satanist? That’s where Communism got its toxicity.
Trump’s intention to eliminate the Department of Education strongly appeals to those Judeo-Christian conservatives who strive to preserve the nation’s bedrock Judeo-Christian Constitutional framework. This department has no ancient heritage. It’s just one of Jimmy Carter’s ill-conceived ideas. “The establishment [of Dept. Education] was the result of the Department of Education Organization Act (Pub. L. 96-88).” Since 1988 this department has subverted American education, in particular traditional Judeo-Christian moral culture. It has welcomed Communist ideas, promoted abortion, euthanasia, same-sex “marriage”, transgender fallacies, medical sexual transition for children, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), while denigrating most other traditional values.
You say, “I recognize [your] pain and lack of enthusiasm for contrary political discourse....” This is another example of your own misunderstanding. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for controversy. I don’t understand why you Democrats insist on making absurd accusations about Trump wanting to be king. Do you really think he could overthrow the American populace which has more than 400-million firearms in civilian hands? They are there by right of the Second Amendment to our Constitution, especially to defend against such attempts at revolution by the military.
Your swarm of allegations tempts me to chase after them all. I wish I had a flock of rebutting drones and time to answer. I don’t and would otherwise quickly resemble that three-legged tap dancer on ice. So, I will settle for you citing proof of the truth of your suspicions. You insist Trump is deeply involved in Epstein’s criminal conduct – an accusation so serious as to be defamatory per se, “false statements considered so inherently damaging that they are presumed to cause harm to a person’s reputation without needing proof of specific damages” bringing triple damages.
As to Ross Calvin’s proposed, $450 million “statue of Prometheus” planned to be taller than the 350-ft Statue of Liberty, “built to lift up men’s spirits in triumph and heroism – that creative ingenuity is heroic and “selfhood is sacrosanct” (emphasis mine). “sacrosanct” means sacred, holy. Prometheus was the Greek “Titan god who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity. He is also known for his role in shaping humans out of clay and for being punished by Zeus with eternal torment.” I thought creation was God’s job.
Kelly, I too had to research this guy, Calvin. I knew the famous one, but this one was, almost predictably, a leftist Democrat billionaire. Also, I don’t despise him as you say. I fear his stealthy paganism may influence Christians. Let’s give that $450 million to Ukraine to save lives, instead of to our egos to lose souls.
Jeff Bezos, our first tentative Trillionaire, also impowers an AI company named Prometheus. Ironically, both tend to worship mankind.
Note: A trillion is still 1,000 billion.

November 12, 2025
A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:
Hi Kelly,
I guess I’ve just run out of enthusiasm for the issues you raised this week. I know they’re important, but I’m tired of snarky political name-calling and charges that lead us nowhere. The whole political landscape has changed, not just local, state, and national, but global. Things have never been this churned-up since WWII. I’m responsible for my share of snarkiness as well, but it’s past time for me to get more serious, which I will do.
The Democrat Party has calcified and sunk to the bottom of the extreme Left swamp. It has become a truly socialist-communist-anti-Judeo-Christian cult (Haven’t used so many dashes before). Anyway, I was raised at a time when Communism was recognized to be essentially evil and dangerous, truly satanic. Ironically, it became prominent immediately following the end of WWII. Since 1917, this philosophy still holds the record for global homicide, with Chairman Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot (types) always the band majors leading the slaughter with a stream of minors following. Islam has also been killing infidels (i.e. everyone but themselves) since before 1623 and are ascendant again. So, what’s new? It’s always the same kind of people, those who worship the concept of “might makes right” in themselves.
Many now believe in the validity of widespread Christian prophies and their total reordering of a wayward society. We will see.
A recent example of atheistic-communistic rot can be seen in the plans of Ross Callvin, founder of the American Colossus Foundation and bitcoin-mining company Parhelion. According to his foundation’s website the proposed monument would be “taller than the 305-foot high Statue of Liberty” serving as a “beacon of optimism” at a cost of $450m. “The statue will be built to lift up men’s spirits in triumph and heroism [hedonism?] -- that creative ingenuity is heroic, and “SELFHOOD” is SACROSANCT.” (emphasis mine) Didn’t we learn anything from those profits of Baal? The whole idea of this statue should be repugnant to traditional American citizens.
The recent trend seems to welcome these socialists and communists from the Democrat Party: As of September 15, 2024
Greg Casar, Summer Lee, Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders, Danny Davis, Bernia Sanders, and Cori Bush identified randomly. I should add Katie Wilson, Seattle’s newly elected Socialist Mayor. Democrats also swept offices across the east coast.
Note: Just lost 200 words too close to deadline to recover. My apologies.

November 5, 2025
A response to a letter from Pat Collins.
Hello Pat,
Thanks for the letter, though I’m not fond of commenting on Project 2025. You have strong opinions on this Heritage Foundation offering. I have only skimmed (half dozen pages?) over those 900 pages which you suggest, only those with “leisure and energy to read” (why I avoid). I guess I should ask whether you have finished it.
But I do try to understand just why Democrats pump so much steam into their rhetoric. Everything is usually exaggerated, hyperbolized. However, I appreciate that your letter this week is refreshingly calm and reasonable – but still wrong-headed. You see malevolent motives to avoid the normal legislative process, and the Heritage Foundation “doesn’t care whether this is what the citizens of this country want.” On the contrary, they strongly hope the citizens will support the ideas of Project 2025 in order to escape radical Democrat delusions. That calls for strong corrective measures, for fleeing the certifiably crazy, things who are WOKE, things that are gravely un-American and contrary to our historic Judeo-Christian mores.
We should not be putting twenty-million illegal aliens on welfare, Medicare, free schooling, etc., unless all Democrats are willing to foot the bill themselves. I hear the liberal lunes, like communist Mamdani George Soros, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, even echoes from Saul Alinsky, and fear the country is rotting faster than we did in the 70s. On the issue of food, we should provide food to foreigners in their own countries; absolutely no need to bring the world’s millions here to hand-feed them. That way we do the honorable thing in a practical way without destroying the fiscal and social order of our own nation.
The present shutdown is caused by Dem. Chuck Schumer and friends to force trillions in new spending in a crazy budget. On timber management – I recall how it bankrupted loggers over that notorious Spotted Owl – which was later found in abundance. But I do oppose so called “clear cutting.” Federal education should be converted to private education with the hundreds of billions tucked away in university Endowment Funds, a scandal aplenty.
Cost of college tuition is criminally expensive. Example: Harvard Endowment: “$56.9 billion as of June 30, 2025. Walter C. Kester, a Business School professor, had a reported compensation of over $2 million in 2023” “Kirby Smart, the head coach for the University of Georgia, is the highest-paid college football coach. In 2024, he signed a new 10-year, $130 million contract, making his average annual salary about $13.3 million.”
Am I the only one thinking something’s wrong here? “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are [stupid”].
“Rama Duwaji and Zohran Mamdani [pictured smiling] side by side after Mr. Mamdani became the next mayor of New York City on Tuesday night.” Well, we lasted for 250 years.