Thomas Massie's Moment Has Come

Plus: Ed Gallrein won't talk about his background, and Sen. Bill Cassidy bites the dust.

Friends of Rep. Thomas Massie flocked to his Kentucky district to campaign for him over the weekend, drawing the ire of the libertarian-leaning Republican's number one hater: Donald Trump. The furious president called for a new wave of reprisals against those who would defy him, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R–Col.), who said she supported both Massie and Trump.

"Boebert is campaigning for the Worst 'Republican' Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, and anybody who can be that dumb deserves a good Primary fight!" seethed Trump on Truth Social. "Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my Honor to withdraw that Endorsement, and endorse a good and proper alternative."

Boebert, to her credit, was not cowed, replying on X that she was "proud to stand by my friend Thomas Massie."

Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R–Ind.) have also campaigned for Massie.

Massie's Race Matters! pic.twitter.com/gdiW7kIUkE

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) May 18, 2026

The president's allies are throwing everything they can at Massie, including a last-minute accusation of personal misconduct involving a former girlfriend. Despite headline after headline proclaiming that the congressman was involved with some sort of "hush money" payment, the actual details are not nearly so salacious: According to Massie, he gave the ex-girlfriend, Cynthia West, between $5,000 and $10,000 to help her move to Washington, D.C. West subsequently obtained, and then lost, a job in Sparz's office, and filed a wrongful termination suit. Both Massie and Sparz deny that she was offered "hush money" by Massie. On the contrary, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights offered her $60,000 to settle the suit, which she refused.

It's the sort of non-scandal that wouldn't even merit media coverage, but Trump's social media boosters have seized upon it. Laura Loomer has posted about Massie incessantly on X, and is even planning to release some sort of interview with West.

This all goes to show that within the Republican Party, crossing Trump is still a risky move. Massie is popular within his district, but Trump is putting everything he can to tip the scales in favor of Massie's challenger, Ed Gallrein. With both sides spending a combined $35 million on the race, it has already become the most expensive congressional primary in history.

Meanwhile, Gallrein is running an anemic campaign that consists entirely of coasting on Trump's endorsement. Gallrein has skipped every debate and refused to answer basic questions about his background. Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein notes that Gallrien has been deliberately vague about his time as a Navy SEAL, leaving voters to assume that he was involved in secret missions. Gallrein has bragged that Trump reviewed his classified files—and if he's good enough for Trump, he suggests, he should be good enough for Republican primary voters.

Needless to say, Gallrein has dutifully backed Trump completely, even on issues that are a tough sell for some Republicans, to say nothing of general election voters. Gallrein has defended Trump's war with Iran and dismissed concerns from constituents about higher gas prices. He has claimed that Trump is playing "five-dimensional chess" against the Iranians. He subsequently altered the analogy to "nine-dimensional chess." Trump's ability to win at chess is expanding beyond the physical constraints of this universe.

Tuesday's primary is expected to be close. Some recent polling has Massie trailing Gallrein, and the challenger is also ahead in prediction markets. Another occasional Trump foe, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R–La.), lost his primary over the weekend, coming in third and missing the run-off. Cassidy had voted to remove Trump from office after January 6 and thwarted some of the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s initiatives. Now he's gone: Trump may be unpopular in national polls, but within the Republican Party, he's still collecting scalps.

---

Scenes from Washington, D.C.: It was a gorgeous weekend in the nation's capital, with temperatures finally consistently in the 80s on Sunday. I attended a graduation party, a brunch with other journalists, and the annual Dragon Boat Festival, a Taiwanese cultural event.

---

QUICK HITS

• Trump's statements about delaying weapons sales to Taiwan have raised some eyebrows.
• Trump also said that China pledged not to provide military assistance to Iran during the current war.
• Some students protested Jonathan Haidt, who spoke at New York University's commencement last week. His remarks were published by The Atlantic.
• New data center construction is becoming more and more controversial.
• Megan McArdle: "Is France really poorer than Mississippi?" The answer is yes.
• Elon Musk just can't stop complaining about the casting for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Here is the academic Oliver Traldi's excellent contribution to this idiotic discourse:

To settle a troublesome discourse, I have provided here the most faithful and poetic possible translation of the beginning of the Odyssey.

We male sex. We
complex. We

fake horse. We
off course. We

sail long. We
hear song. We

pig crew. We
home soon.

— Oliver Traldi (@olivertraldi) May 17, 2026

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

"Boebert is campaigning for the Worst 'Republican' Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, and anybody who can be that dumb deserves a good Primary fight!" seethed Trump on Truth Social.

We know Trump can't get down tickets elected. We'll see if the reverse is true.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I KNOW TECHNICALLY MASSIE ISN'T DOWN TICKET NOW SO SHUT UP.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Its all the jews fault anyways, just ask him.

TheBlaze
@theblaze
Thomas Massie claims Israel is trying to buy his seat in Congress: “By the time this is over, they will probably have spent $20 million and come up short.”

https://x.com/theblaze/status/2055419671118020710

[Quicktown Brix]

Can you recognize a difference between Jews and Israel?

[Nelson]

Not unless he wants to. Then it’s all he recognizes.

[Dillinger]

yes and fuck you.

[Marshal]

It's pretty funny this is exactly what Massie does. But QB not only gives him a pass on it but then incorporates this exact problem into his own position by adopting Massie's viewpoint.

What a mess.

[Quicktown Brix]

Do you have any evidence to support this claim?

[Marshal]

It is illegal for foreign governments to contribute to campaigns and Massie makes no effort to show how Israel might have done so or explain why Israel would risk violating the law in such a meaningless case. Massie's claim Israel is funding his opposition is based entirely on his belief Jews have donated, in other words Massie makes the exact claim QB pretends to oppose.

Completely unsurprisingly QB accepts this framing without a second thought. Demands for evidence come only when others respond. To left wingers evidence is a tactical issue: there is never enough to prove anything they wish were not true but literally no evidence is necessary to prove anything they wish is true.

[Quicktown Brix]

Oh Marsha, here you go again...

You are holding Massie to Jesse's wording. Did Massie say specifically say Israel? I've only heard him say the pro-Israel lobby which is confirmed. (https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article314577436.html)

My comment was a criticism of Jesse's conflation of Israel and Jews.

[Marshal]

Oh foolish QB,

The linked video shows Massie specifically say this is a referendum on "whether Israel gets to buy seats in congress".

Did Massie say specifically say Israel? I've only heard him say the pro-Israel lobby

Tactical ignorance is a standard leftist tactic. But again, video proving this false is the source of the controversy but QB ignores it while making sweeping claims based on...whatever. Imagine a prosecutor in the middle of a trial switching from talking about the crime alleged to some other event not at issue. They think they can draw conclusions from those without even considering the crime alleged? What a bizarre misunderstanding of how things work.

which is confirmed.

I'm not sure what "confirmed" means in your language, but in English it means proven. And since we're looking at Massie saying Israel I'd say the only confirmation is that you don't know what the hell you're talking about, as usual.

I do love how left wingers reveal themselves though. When they're effectively countered they try to make gay and gender aspersions like they're still in middle school apparently not realizing it only reveals their own juvenile mentality.

[Quicktown Brix]

"whether Israel gets to buy seats in congress".

Well I guess technically correct is the best kind of correct. Did you really think he meant Israel cut a check? A little common sense tells you what he meant and how this game is played.

MAGA KY raised $2.75 million in 2025. In the most recent quarter, it got $750,000 from America 21 PAC, which is funded by billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer. Earlier in the year, Singer directly gave MAGA KY $1 million, a PAC tied to casino mogul Miriam Adelson contributed $750,000 and hedge fund manager John Paulson gave the PAC $250,000.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article314577436.html#storylink=cpy

I do love how left wingers reveal themselves though.

By defending republicans?

[Quicktown Brix]

I'm not sure what "confirmed" means in your language

What I said is confirmed is not at all what you're claiming.

[Marshal]

A little common sense tells you what he meant

So your new position is that it's a problem when people conflate Israel and Jews indicating a political smear for which they should suffer reputational loss except when the conflation is by your political ally when it transforms into a meaningless semantic difference.

Any other exceptions you want to add?

A little common sense tells you what he meant and how this game is played.

To left wingers "common sense" means left wing allies are treated with a grace that erases their words whenever necessary while no such grace can ever be offered an enemy. What I find clear is that when we erase these double standards and judge each by a consistent standard the left is far more hate filled, illogical, and extreme. It's also clear left wingers know this which is why they refuse to apply consistent standards even though that choice destroys their credibility.

I know very well how the game is played which is what bothers you.

I do love how left wingers reveal themselves though.

By defending republicans?

Everyone knows left wingers love any Rep who can be used to criticize the current one. Bush was Hitler and Romney was the American Taliban wanting to return black Americans to literal slavery when they threatened left wingers' power. Today they're held up as examples of reasonable Republicans.

But it's funny when QB's juvenile gender baiting is highlighted he pretends it didn't happen. There's a parallel here with his pretending Massie didn't just say Israel.

[Marshal]

What I said is confirmed is not at all what you're claiming.

Looking at the video of his saying it is not confirming he said it?

It must be bizarre and exhausting to be a left winger. They constantly waffle back and forth between reality and fantasy, words meaning things and then not, demands for decorum and then embracing insane theatrics. They embrace whatever they need to support the attack of the moment completely without principle or character.

[Quicktown Brix]

So your new position is that it's a problem when people conflate Israel and Jews indicating a political smear for which they should suffer reputational loss except when the conflation is by your political ally when it transforms into a meaningless semantic difference.

No. My not new position is that when one conflates Israel (a nation with policies) and Jews (a world-wide people with great diversity) it conflates opposition to policies with antisemitism, a very toxic accusation in our current times.

When one conflates Israel (a nation with policies) with a pro-Israel lobby, it conflates favoring policies with a group that favors the nation that supports those policies. So the conflation is much closer and less toxic.

The rest of your bullshit is just personal attacks that are a waste of my time.

[Quicktown Brix]

Looking at the video of his saying it is not confirming he said it?

Read it again:

I've only heard him say the pro-Israel lobby which is confirmed.

It is confirmed that the pro-Israel lobby is funding the ousting of Massie. You are such a woman with your nitpicking and selective misunderstanding. Your poor husband.

[Marshal]

The rest of your bullshit is just personal attacks that are a waste of my time.

It's pretty clear you don't know what a personal attack is if you think my criticism of your using double standards to protect your team is a personal attack. But I find it greatly amusing the person who routinely gender baits others turns around a feigns offense at non-existent personal attacks two comments later. I hope no one else is paying attention or the whiplash might require an ER visit.

When one conflates Israel (a nation with policies) with a pro-Israel lobby, it conflates favoring policies with a group that favors the nation that supports those policies. So the conflation is much closer and less toxic.

So inserting a cosmetic group in the middle to make the steps smaller changes the relationship? Bizarre. That this is the Israel lobby is still inferred simply from their being jews, so your position still comes down to "it's different when we do it". Since I had never heard of Massie having opinions on this until he started ranting about the Jews it seems far more likely Trump is pushing his allies to do this rather than Israel. In fact the anti-Semites like yourself are doing their normal work blaming Israel and Jews generally for Trump's actions.

[Marshal]

You are such a woman with your nitpicking and selective misunderstanding. Your poor husband.

I guess personal attacks are back in style, that didn't take long. But don't worry, next he'll be lecturing us on our misogyny complete with an explanation for why this isn't misogyny.

[SCOTUS gave JeffSarc a big sad]

“Well I guess technically correct is the best kind of correct. Did you really think he meant Israel cut a check? A little common sense tells you what he meant and how this game is played.”

What a bunch of pedantic, disingenuous shit from you. He meant it exactly the way it sounds. That Israel didn’t cut a check out of its own government spending account isn’t the point. And you know it doesn’t work that way.

Swing and a miss, comrade.

[Quicktown Brix]

Since I had never heard of Massie having opinions on this until he started ranting about the Jews....

...anti-Semites like yourself...

I don't care to argue with an identity politics zealot.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Man this was brutal for qb.

[Quicktown Brix]

Man this was brutal for qb.

Yeah, I did poorly in this 5 on 1 debate, but you guys are the ones that will have to live down your support for a disastrous war, adopting identity politics, denouncing the only libertarian in congress, and discarding America First.

But your sociopathy will aid you, just like the 1st time you pretended to be principled in rejecting neocons.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

I always find it funny that anyone who supports Israel is labeled as the Israeli lobby. Including by Massie. Despite the funders for his opponent having other concerns than just Israel. Meanwhile Massie is also being funded by billionaires.

Kentucky First PAC is tied to libertarian-aligned interests and has drawn attention for relying on out-of-state funding.
Hold The Line PAC is associated with conservative figures including Jan. 6 rioter Derrick Evans and has focused on election integrity issues.
Liberty for All, a super PAC owned by 21-year-old Texas resident James Ramsey, spent approximately $500,000 in earlier cycles supporting Massie.

Jeff Yas is the first one, and has anti Israel statements. Does this mean Massie is controlled by anti Israel voices?

Massie has voted with AOC and Ilhan Omar, is he now Islamic?

Massie entire statement is that if anyone is pro Israel. The money is Jewish aligned money which is ridiculous and would be rightly ridiculed for anyone else.

But the anti Israel fervor is so big right now qb has no problem with Massie blaming jews despite it not being a pure Israel issue.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

I find it funny they get angry almost exclusively at this one lobbyist group.

They never decrying lobbying by BLM, CAIR, or other groups.

Groups like the Black Caucus and Hispanic Caucus, funding from many racial groups, are celebrated.

But those pesky evil jews.

[Agammamon]

'Anti-Zionism' is just a euphemism for 'anti-semitism'. It's how they make their jew hate palatable.

[Quicktown Brix]

That's wrong.

But no one is even being anti-Zionist here. We're just being America first; to not fight Israel's wars and to keep foreign interests from lobbying our representatives.

[SCOTUS gave JeffSarc a big sad]

Nope. Whenever you democrats get pushed enough it comes out. You even see it here with all of you extreme far leftists Marxist and Marxist sympathizers.

Scratch a Democrat and you always uncover a vicious Marxist Jew hater.

[Quicktown Brix]

I'm defending a Republican, you dumb fuck.

[SCOTUS gave JeffSarc a big sad]

You’re defending a republican who is increasingly a RINO and has actually obstructed spending cuts for not ‘being enough’, even though he knows that we can’t get that passed.

Jesse has covered a lot of this, as have others here, but continue to pretend that no one has straightened you out on this subject.

[Quicktown Brix]

You’re defending a republican who is increasingly a RINO

Massie hasn't change. You have...by following Trump toward authoritarianism and rejecting long standing conservative principles especially individualism.

[SCOTUS gave JeffSarc a big sad]

You democrats have a difficult time making that distinction. Especially Marxist/Islamic youth on college campuses, and radicals who support people like Mamdani.

[Zeb]

Whether or not you can attribute it directly to Israel, the pro-Israel lobby does spend a lot of money in US politics. I don't think his claim is really all that shy of the mark.

[Dillinger]

Massie has spent 2x+ than Gallrein to win this primary

[Quicktown Brix]

Not if you include PACs. Then the opposite is true.

Gallrein: $2,750,000

Massie: $1,230,000

https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article314577436.html

And the high donation/spending for Massie is only in response to Trump's antilibertarian campaign to remove Massie (and any GOP member with principles besides loyalty to Trump).

[Dillinger]

Massie's no libertarian and I didn't include PACs they can spend where they want that's how fucking bad everyone but you & Robby & the Colorado Ho want Massie's House vote canceled.

[Quicktown Brix]

Massie's no libertarian

Now do Trump.

[Dillinger]

Trump's no libertarian either so what ooooh burn. Massie's a child.

[The Average Dude (Who's Smarter Than You)]

You're not bright, so I'll spell it out - he's saying, since you're so willing to criticize and dump on Massie, then why won't you do that to Trump as well? Especially since, in your own words, neither are "Libertarian"? Where's your criticism of El Presidente as he throws his little childish temper tantrums?

Afraid Trump will bend you over on Truth Social as well? (Not that DJT gives a single fuck about you - you're an obedient little foot soldier; to be sacrificed first)

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Massie, like most decade plus politicians, is driven by his ego at this point.

He is ineffective. Accomplishes nothing. And often votes against the small steps by screaming it isnt perfect.

[SCOTUS gave JeffSarc a big sad]

Jesse, they’re democrats. They will never give up the con.

[Idaho-Bob]

Deflection 2.0.

[Zeb]

So he's just pretending to be a libertarian for some reason? Because libertarians are so popular and get votes? I'm not trying to say he's perfect, but he's a hell of a lot more libertarian than anyone else in congress as far as I can see.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

The most libertarian thing about him is he refuses to compromise even if it gets him closer to liberty. He accomplishes nothing. The primary trait of a libertarian it seems.

[Dillinger]

>>So he's just pretending to be a libertarian for some reason?

he's cosplaying. (L) in Congress is worthless if he's voting with marxists ... the Constitution isn't an ideology libertarianism is

[Zeb]

And...? What does that have to do with whether or not Israel (or supporters of Israel) is trying to buy his seat in Congress?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Because they aren't.

The only one who thinks most of the funding against Massie is purely for Israel is Massie and other antisemites.

Massie has spent the last 5 years pissing off his colleagues.

Israel is just the excuse for his prior actions.

BBB, attacks against Johnson, defamation on congress floor over epstein, ro Khanna romance, etc.

None of this has to do with Israel. But it makes an easy excuse.

[Dillinger]

^^^

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

And something like 80+% is from out of state for Massie.

[virex]

Show your work, the map I saw shows the opposite.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Which map? Massie where he ignores the PACs? While using PACs against his opponents? Lol.

Literally above i posted 3 of them.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

A lot of groups spend a lot of money lobbying congress. Only one is constantly called out like Israel is.

Why is this one lobby group so unique?

Almost every country lobbies congress.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I attended a graduation party, a brunch with other journalists, and the annual Dragon Boat Festival, a Taiwanese cultural event.

A nice weekend for cultural appropriation, it seems.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I think I should get credit for not zeroing in on the brunch with journalists thing. It was obvious bait.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

You are an inspiration.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I'd like to think so.

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

I assumed that's what you were referring to.

[Dillinger]

less so if Robby went with his boytoy

[Fist of Etiquette]

Trump's statements about delaying weapons sales to Taiwan have raised some eyebrows.

No problem, they still have their dragon boat.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Trump also said that China pledged not to provide military assistance to Iran during the current war.

They'll still be sending Chinese-made missiles, but as we've seen that isn't really all that helpful for Iran.

[Nelson]

OK, that tickled my funny bone.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Some students protested-

Stop right there.

[BYODB]

I assume the author is aware that Boebert is a fucking idiot that shouldn't be allowed anywhere near government, yes? Not exactly a glowing endorsement of Massie, like him or not.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Once they criticize trump they become media darlings.

See: bulwark, cheney, Christie, mtg, etc

[NealAppeal]

I find comfort in the fact that not all of the politically aligned allies of Trump are complete bootlicking sycophants to him. Sure...if you become a big enough problem for the big guy then the party has to pick sides and throw support at opposition. Democrats and Liberals were lock-step with pudding brain Biden and his handlers.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

You can just see what he’s thinking in that picture:
“I’d like to tap that”.

[Fist of Etiquette]

New data center construction is becoming more and more controversial.

Finally, people are watching the Terminator movies for the message and not just the action.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Scenes from New York:

Iran’s proxy terror network reached a Manhattan courtroom Friday. An Iraqi national was charged with coordinating at least 20 attacks against U.S. and Israeli interests across Europe and Canada, including a plot to bomb a synagogue in New York City, which federal agents dismantled before anyone was killed.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/05/iran-backed-terror-operative-charged-in-nyc-synagogue-plot/

Councilwoman Inna Vernikov
@InnaVernikov
This is an ALL GIRLS Jewish school in my district. I’m all for prayer and free speech, but why do a bunch of GROWN MEN need to do this right outside of a school full of little Jewish girls??? Is not this what MOSQUES are for? Is this intentional? Mayor Mamdani
@NYCMayor
any words of wisdom on why all of a sudden they’d feel compelled to do this?

https://x.com/InnaVernikov/status/2055383482210066701

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani
@NYCMayor
Today marks Nakba Day, an annual day of remembrance to commemorate the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians between 1947 and 1949 during the creation of the State of Israel and the year that followed.

Inea is a New Yorker and a Nakba survivor. She shared her story with us — one of home, tradition and memory over generations.

For those who dont know what nakba actually is...

Soccer Facts
@Soccer_Stats
The "Nakba" (Catastrophe) was the abject failure of the Combined Might of the Arab World to Annihilate Israel in 1948 and drive the Jews into the Sea

It would only be Decades later that the so-called "Palestinians" hijacked the term for their own use

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

More scenes.

Hamas flags fly in new york.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hamas-hezbollah-flags-fly-anti-israel-protest-minutes-mamdani-condemns-terror-plot-jews

[Marshal]

Iran’s proxy terror network reached a Manhattan courtroom Friday.

Unpossible. Left wingers assure us Iran has never done anything to America.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

They will say it isnt Iran directly, ignore the planning and funding aspects.

[Fist of Etiquette]

"Is France really poorer than Mississippi?" The answer is yes.

Even culturally?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

The answer is yes.

[mad.casual]

Racist. The both of you.

[NoVaNick]

But you can’t get decent baguettes, croissants, or wine that isn’t mad dog in Mississippi!

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

How about Blues, fried catfish or shrimp, or biscuits and tomato gravy in France?

[GOD OF PENGUIN ISLAND]

France actually has a pretty rich blues scene historically. But they also have unshaved women's armpits.

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

Elon Musk just can't stop complaining about the casting for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.

Skin color is the most important thing.

[But SkyNet is a Private Company]

When I think Achilles, I think 100lb transgender waif

[Fist of Etiquette]

Elon Musk just can't stop complaining about the casting for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.

As an African American himself, Musk gets a pass complaining about race swaps.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

If Oliver is an acedemic, the institution that gave him a degree and the institution that hired him should loose all accredidation

[mad.casual]

It's a joke satirizing Wilson's terse, mechanical, "iambic", and-totally-not-modern-feminist-biased interpretation of The Odyssey.

SSDD, with modern, woke, feminism trying to "fix" things that aren't broken and, even by their own conceptions and premises, make them worse.

Again, for all the "men are emotionally cloistered, if not stunted, compared to women", "men are brusquely terse in their communication", and general "Women are better communicators", Wilson's translation is the Ikea Instructions version The Odyssey.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Governor mcdreamy finally does the right thing and commutes Peters.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/colorado-governor-commutes-tina-peters-sentence-trump-posts-free-tina

Granted he let her languish for over a year in jail. And months after a Democrat facing the same charges got 0 days in jail.

Polis was even forced to point out she was jailed for speech, not for her crimes, woth her 9 year sentence.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

They are just ideas.

Latest estimat puts Chinese theft of IP at 600B a year. This doesnt include the billions spent on company security.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/chinese-espionage-steals-600-billion-us-firms-yearly-time-government-act

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Corporate media is pure! Also left wing NGOs have embedded 80 journalists in corporate media, funded by left wing groups.

https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/media/cult-like-effective-altruism-spreading-its-message-among-the-influential-with-80-journalists-embedded-at-top-news-orgs/

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

NBC did the meme!

NBC News
@NBCNews
The resignation of a Southern California mayor who pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent for China has sparked backlash and reignited fears of anti-Asian discrimination.

https://x.com/NBCNews/status/2055226799269777431

[Mike Parsons]

the shark has been jumped at this point

COVID was the height of "thats racist!" times and no one even then took seriously the "saying COVID is from China is racist" schtick, even then.

Now? Shit, this meme is so meta level at this point that using it in earnest, I can only assume is just admitting the game and to not even look like you are trying anymore.

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

Spanberger vetos union bill that would pay government unions more. But dont worry. She didnt do it from fiscal restraint. She did it because the state senate rejected her amendment to push the date itnstarts past her term. She knows it will blow up state spending and didnt want the responsibility.

https://www.iaff.org/news/spanberger-breaks-campaign-pledge-vetoes-collective-bargaining-bill/

[Mickey Rat]

"Elon Musk just can't stop complaining about the casting for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Here is the academic Oliver Traldi's excellent contribution to this idiotic discourse:"

The casting decisions are probably being driven in some part by the Academy imposing racial quotas in casting for Oscar consideration. On the other hand, what is the artistic point of making the ancient Greek mythological epitome of female beauty a very black woman? Especially in this elite cultural environment that openly disdains Western culture and hatred toward the ethnic peoples that created it?

[JesseAz (RIP CK)]

You'd never demand Chelsea handler play Rosa parks in a movie.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Who knew Achilles biggest weakness was a pickle jar

[Don't look at me! ( Is the war over yet?)]

It’s a stunt to get people to talk about a crappy movie.

[Mike Parsons]

it was a bad move. Its a Nolan movie packed with stars, so im sure they wont likely lose money on this (like so much modern crap does), but I do think its going to blunt the sales.

I went from being 99% sure I would go see it in IMAX (I am a bit of a Nolan fan) to I am just going to watch it for free when it comes to (X) streaming service.

I love epic fantasy, and these kind of moves just fully take you out of the movie. Similar to the Rings of Power putting in black elves, and black queen/monarchs retconned into a world that was distinctly based on medieval Europe. And Gladiator 2 putting in Denzel (who I love) who looked out of place, and more importantly, *sounded* out of place. Im sorry, you cant just be current Denzel in ancient Rome and not completely take me out of the movie.

[mad.casual]

And Gladiator 2 putting in Denzel (who I love)

After Queen Latifah as The Equalizer, I'm leery of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Man On Fire to say the least.

[Dillinger]

did you see the tour when Edward Woodward opened for the Beasties?

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

The face that launched a thousand cryps

[Social Justice is neither]

I've liked the Felon of deTroyt moniker.

[mad.casual]

Here is the academic Oliver Traldi's excellent contribution to this idiotic discourse:

Oliver Traldi @olivertraldi · Dec 27, 2024
Oh, you've never read one of the greatest works of literature ever? Perfect timing - there's a new translation that sucks and reading it will make you feel like you're not a Republican which is the only emotion you're capable of having

Librarian Mama @hyuumanatees
"Oh, you've never read The Odyssey???"

Your timing is perfect. Emily Wilson's translation is the best one in literally ages, has that sweet iambic pentameter to give it a "bouncy" feel, & makes dudebros cry that the classic has "gone woke". 😁

[Mike Parsons]

I was never aware of her translation. It really is sad. Its so dumbed down and so full of propaganda. It clearly is the ideal fodder for a college course full of 90 IQ midwits who think they are capable of discussing anything academic, but dont actually have the capacity to consume anything that isn't basically the same propaganda they spend their entire college careers studying, in the most infantilized form.

"Do you want some more intersectional feminism, but big words are hard? Emily Wilson's version is perfect for you!"

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Hope Massie wins, as one of the few in Congress to vote against the Cares Act and the ruin that came with it, be a shame to have him out of Congress.

[Dillinger]

>>Ed Gallrein won't talk about his background

this is a lie I heard Gallrein talk about his background twice in the last four days and I wasn't searching

[Dillinger]

>>the libertarian-leaning Republican

he's a fraud and this leftist site backing him to the bitter end is exhibit 1.

[Dillinger]

>>Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R–Ind.) have also campaigned for Massie.

these idiots plus Congresswoman Handie are Shemp and Joe and Curly Joe

[Dillinger]

>>Sen. Bill Cassidy bites the dust.

Senator Bill Cassidy should not have impeached an innocent man.

[MWAocdoc]

"This frets European poli­cy­makers, who worry they might be fall­ing behind, and eco­nom­ists, who debate whether and how much this is hap­pen­ing."

I question whether French economists are actually debating whether and how much the GDP per capita in France is lower than that of Mississippi. The protest that GDP is not the proper measure of quality of life is a red herring. If the French prefer to be poor but happy, who am I to tell them to change their government system? However, judging by the labor "actions" and social protest unrest visible in the streets, I would say that the French are NOT particularly happy being poor but overly protected by the governments they elect. Perhaps the French are as delusional as most people are about cause and effect?

[mad.casual]

In "Jones Act? Schmones Act!" news Reason apparently won't talk about:
Cuba has run out of oil.

No word on whether Miguel Díaz-Canel is going to go with Option A or Option B.

[NoVaNick]

The way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of these districts where the Trump backed candidate primaries out the incumbent go blue in November

[Dillinger]

go see the Black Crowes when they are near you.

[XM]

Again, so far I don't see persuasive evidence Massie did anything wrong. But on the other hand, with the hush money accusation being "he said she said" how can Robby definitively rule out that the payment as hush money? He said it was for living expenses, so it must be true? Hush money can't be used for things like that? Since West asked for the money before she moved with him that muddles her credibility. But other than that...

What makes Robby SSSOOO confident that this is a certifiable nothingburger? I've never seen the publication that this kind of position on the flimsiest accusation leveled at the republican. Certainly not for Brett Kavanaugh. If Massie wasn't such a thorn on Trump's side, the democrats would be howling for Massie to resign just like Salwell.

If Kentuckians back the challenger in fidelity to Trump, remember - when a popular political figure is targeted 4 times for assassination and politically persecuted in kangaroo court, the relationship between him and his supporters will become more. You'd love to say "Forget the other stuff and just vote on principle" No it doesn't work that way. When your opposition normalizes murder of CEOs and political opponents and uplifts jew hating radicals, I'm not going to let my personal disagreement on issues like free trade or guns get in the way voting for the nearest winnable republican. Some lines can't be crossed, but we're not there yet.

[armed immigrant]

Yeah, the moment of losing and starting a podcast.