Week of War Goes ON, ON, and ON
Haphazard Hazards, Unbullied Allies, Fearless Leader, Toxic Trump, FEMA Nut, Immigration, No Kings Protests, Epstein, César Chávez Rapist

The muddled approach toward our allies, the muddled message to the American public, the muddled planning for war, and the administration surprise that there even exists an aftermath. All is complicated by the firing before the attack of the very experts whose jobs would have included handling much of that aftermath.

Massive deaths of innocents in the thousands, US military funerals, heavy national cost to the US, trade chaos, and a huge windfall for Russia, all of which was predictable but apparently not predicted.

The same analysis is now available in audio format.

From Jack’s own summary:
He had one tool, bullying, and it is not working with regard to the war. Trump’s statements, threats, and actions of the last week are linked back to the narcissistic need that they fulfill and their utter ineffectiveness is explained.

Quoting columnist Jason Sattler:
One of the most clownish moments in the history of diplomacy came when Witkoff put on his red nose and suggested that the Tehran Research Reactor — a facility the United States itself built for Iran in 1967 — was a secret weapons site.

In Nan’s Notebook, she asks for reader opinions and gets a host of reactions to the latest demonstration of Trump courage.

…Donald Trump keeps talking about an unnamed former President who secretly endorses the attack on Iran.

…of airstrikes on US gas stations.

Dave notes that even the reflexively Trump supporting Wall Street Journal leaves the path:

She has a plausible idea of just why that is.

…now owe it to us to help defend Hormuz from Iran.

Including this:

…and has to give Venezuela their oil back.

Author and educator Amanda Nelson slices and dices Ogle’s idea that religion and bloodlines make a good a substitute, and makes poor Andy look silly:

Ted McLaughlin at jobsanger goes to some detail as Republicans hold up separate funding for TSA airport security.

She has a few specifics in mind.

Turns out the person Trump appointed a few months ago to run FEMA is, to put it mildly, a bit of a wacko. He was already known to be a conspiracy theorist, willing to believe the wildest things on behalf of Trump.

M. Bouffant at Web of Evil has the links as Gregg Phillips claims that he has teleported himself to a Baptist Church parking lot, and to a Waffle House restaurant.

Handy, I suppose, if he gets hungry but wants to pray first.

Does make me fantasize about a test-of-concept mini-Rapture.
A heavenly conference evaluates the rapt-experiment:
Nope. Needs more work. Throw it back!

This is the guy we are now to trust with federal emergency rescue operations.
Ready for the next tornado or flood?

Trump in a panic:
In the past week Trump has posted several comments on his dedicated propaganda platform, Truth Social, demanding that his Republican toadies in Congress obey his authority and pass the anti-voting bill. And not because he wants fair elections.

Legal expert Imani Gandy reviews new research indicating that at least some chemicals often used in braiding hair contain high levels of lead.

No clear answers:
That doesn’t mean the braiding hair on my head is actively poisoning me. But it does raise some questions: How did potentially dangerous products like this make it onto store shelves in the first place? And why are millions of Black women buying hair products that are not being regulated by the Food and Drug Administration?

But Brian Beutler decides to become optimistic and succeeds.

Professor Mike sees three main reasons for the coverage change.

AND

Then, of course, there is Christian nationalism:

And yet, it still matters:

Honig has some knowledge of the legal system, having been a member of the Justice Department. He prosecuted and got convictions putting over a hundred organized crime figures into small prison cells.

His comments about Todd Blanche, the Justice Department, and the Epstein files are scathing.

Tommy Christopher brings us the video and pertinent transcript:

The headline pretty well captures it:
CNN Legal Chief Destroys Trump DOJ Honcho Over Epstein Victims Amid Closed-Door Grilling

It’s a couple minutes. Watch:

From the Honig’s comments:
…it’s interesting to hear DOJ congratulate itself on its commitment to protecting victims when the fact is first of all, dozens of victims have said publicly that they’ve asked for meetings with DOJ leadership and been denied.
 
Yet at the same time, the same deputy AG, Todd Blanche, who we just saw, spent two days meeting face-to-face in prison with Ghislaine Maxwell who then promptly was moved to a lower-security prison. Many of the victims have expressed objections to that.

Yikes.

…the infallible Biblical God is the source of all morality.

Old tradition:
… the heart of the faith (I was told) was to live in a way that reflected the character and love of Jesus so vividly, so beautifully, that others were compelled to follow after him; that a Christian’s living testimony might be the catalyst for someone else’s conversion. The Bible called it “making disciples,” and it was the heart of our tradition. As the venerable hymn declared, people were supposed to know we are Christians by our love.

New practice:
People outside the Church will tell you: love is no longer our calling card. It is now condemnation, bigotry, judgment, and hypocrisy. In fact, the Christianity prevalent in so much of America right now isn’t just failing to draw others to Christ; it is actively repelling them from him. By operating in a way that is in full opposition to the life and ministry of Jesus, that counterfeit religion is understandably producing people fully opposed to the faith that bears his name.

My thought from a while back:

They are way, way too tolerant:

…as he receives formal notice from God that he is going to Hell.

Johnson acknowledges his disappointment but points out that he serves a higher power.

Myers is understandably lacking in respect as he declines to speculate about Noah’s complexion.

…the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society.