Random Monday Morning Thought

I got bent out of shape over the jurors running to the cameras after the guilty verdict in the "American Sniper" murder trial.  Also during the trial, Chris Kyle's widow went to the Oscars. It was all a sign of things to come. 

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• Trump, instead of reeling in Elon Musk, told him on Saturday to "get more aggressive." Musk said that he would. You do realize how insane this is, right? 
  
  
  
  
• On that same day, Musk sent out an email to all federal workers telling them to report what they did last week in "approximately five bullet points." The deadline to answer is midnight tonight.
  
  
  
• In announcing what he had done to the world, Musk added something new that wasn't in the email: "Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."  That seems to be an important thing to have left out. 

• For the first time ever there is some Republican blowback to the oligarch. It will be only temporary.  
  
  
  
• On Friday night, Trump began his installation of yes-men at the top of the military by firing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Chief of Naval Ops, and the Vice Chief of the Air Force.  

 

• But in a less publicized move at the same time, Trump also fired the top JAG officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, too. Why would you fire the top lawyers in the military, you ask? They are the ones who have the responsibility to tell the top generals whether a Presidential order is illegal.  And the Secretary of Defense on Sunday basically confirmed that Trump didn't need that pesky problem.
  
  
   
• As of Friday night, Trump now has absolute obedience from the military, the FBI, and the Justice department to do whatever he wants. And Congress is scared to say a word. It's over, folks. 
• Why do you do this? Only if you want officers employed who don't care about following the law.  
  
  
  
• Ukraine and Europe:
• So as Trump is trying to get $500 billion of Ukraine's mineral rights or the U.S. will effectively hand over Ukraine to Russia by cutting off future aid, Ukraine is also being told that Musk might shut off their Internet if they don't give in to the mineral deal. Good gawd. It's a shakedown right out of The Sopranos. Story
  
  
  
• An emboldened Russia launched an all time high of 267 drones at Ukraine on Sunday.
  
  
  
• The conservative party in Germany won in the presidential elections over the weekend (with the modern day Nazi party coming in second.) The new president-elect, Friedrich Merz, immediately said that Europe can no longer depend on the United States. We are seeing a seismic shift of the U.S.'s place in the world.
  
  
  
• Edit: France's President Emmanuel Macron just arrived at the White House. Trump did not meet him at the door upon arrival -- something which is always done for heads of state. Video.
• Musk's most recent Baby Momma filed a paternity suit on Friday with screenshots as attachments.
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Good lord.  It got worse at the FBI last night. 
  
   
  
  
  
• After Kash Patel was installed has the head of the FBI, Trump also made him acting head of the ATF over the weekend. Below is literally the first thing he said after he was sworn in. Video.
  
  
  
• On Friday, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years for January 6th but was pardoned by Trump, went after officers who defended the U.S. Capitol. Video. This is now normal. 
  
  
  
• Anti-vax Update - Measles and beyond:
  
  
  
• Chaser:
  
  
  
• Chaser #2:
  
  
  
• Chaser #3: 
  
  
  
• Let's put a local twist to it: Well, at least under this new law proposed by Wise County's state rep, the anti-vaxxers won't be going to the local feed store to buy and eat horse paste. 

• More proof that America is doomed. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Random book link: Sinclair Lewis' 1935 novel, It Can't Happen Here.