“Former President Barack Obama long ago surpassed the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton as America’s most influential race hustler. The country got a reminder when Obama spoke at Jackson’s funeral, even though Jackson’s son urged the speakers ‘not to bring their politics’ to the service. Obama said, ‘Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible. Each day, we’re told by those in high office to fear each other, and to turn on each other. And that some Americans count more than others.’ Same old Obama. In his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, he famously declared, ‘There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.’ It was the line that launched him and made millions across party lines believe he could bridge divides.” (03/12/26)
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom said there was no imminent threat to the state, despite a warning from the FBI that Iran could send drones to the West Coast in retaliation for war. Newsom said drone issues ‘have always been top of mind.’ ‘We’ve been aware of that information. … It’s all about a posture of preparedness for worst-case scenarios,’ the governor said Wednesday. The FBI recently warned police departments about Iran and a possible California strike, though the alert also said it was ‘unverified information.’ ‘Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran,’ the alert said.” (03/12/26)
“The ongoing Trumpian plot to rig the midterms and end democracy is getting crazier and more dangerous by the day. The plot is also becoming increasingly layered and will likely continue all the way to next January 3, when newly elected members of the Senate and every member of the House will be sworn into office. Keeping abreast of all the twists and turns as the scheme unfolds can be exhausting and overwhelming, and that’s exactly how our narcissist-in-chief and his assorted obergruppenführers want you to feel. But don’t give in. The plot is inherently flawed and, although we can never be certain, it will ultimately fail in the face of the president’s plummeting poll numbers, the deepening affordability crisis, and the growing popular resistance movement. In the meantime, here is a list of the plot’s main elements to help you stay informed, connected, and, above all, engaged.” (03/12/26)
“Many in the West gaze in awe at China’s apparent dominance in green energy. ‘“China is becoming a green superpower,’ read a BBC headline last month. ‘China’s Green Triumph,’ trumpeted The New York Times. China is indeed churning out solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and batteries that flood global markets — proof, advocates say, of an inevitable green transition. Yet these supposed marvels are forged amid overwhelming and surging use of fossil fuels, particularly coal. Its real energy achievements — dramatic energy ramp-ups to fuel prosperity, and advances in nuclear power — remain overlooked. In 2025, as the world invested $2.3 trillion in green energy, more than a third of that investment, $800 billion, came from China, nearly matching the US and the EU combined. But spending isn’t the best measure of investment quality. After China’s real-estate bubble went bust in 2020, capital flowed into the solar-panel industry, and the sudden influx created vast overproduction and overcapacity.” (03/11/26)
“A new study by California researchers is raising concerns of a possible link between cannabis vaping and a rare disorder called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, that can leave users violently vomiting for days. The researchers found that people who used electronic vape cartridges developed CHS much faster than people who smoked marijuana or used edibles. … The study, published last week in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, was based on more than 1,130 responses to a digital survey sent to people who said they experienced CHS. It did not prove any causal mechanism between vaping and developing CHS, but found a strong statistically significant association showing vape cartridge users were more likely to both develop CHS sooner compared to smokers and use higher levels of cannabis.” (03/12/26)
“In the latest example of Republicans using artificially generated deepfakes to attack their opponents, the Senate GOP’s official social media account has posted an attack ad depicting a synthetic version of Texas Democrat James Talarico, a state representative and US Senate candidate. The video, posted on Wednesday to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) page on X, portrays a frighteningly realistic approximation of Talarico’s (D-50) appearance and voice. The state representative, who won the Democratic nomination for Texas’[s] US Senate seat in a primary earlier this month, is depicted reading an array of old social media posts that the NRSC described as ‘extreme statements praising transgenderism, twisting Christian beliefs, and advocating for open borders.'” [editor’s note: All they need to do is play his existing actual words – SAT] [editor’s note: Neither deepfakes nor real quotes will reduce even that guy to Paxton’s depths of depravity, though – TLK] (03/12/26)
“One of the more fascinating sidelights of our war of choice in Iran is how it has reinforced the devastating consequences of our hollowed-out industrial base, consolidated commercial sector, and overreliance on long intermediated supply chains. For example, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz carries implications for not only oil but also fertilizer, right at the height of the spring planting season. About one-third of the world’s fertilizer ships through the strait, and without access, prices have jumped and farmers are anxious. Yet there are enough natural resources in the United States — nitrogen, phosphate, potash — to serve all our fertilizer needs; in fact, in the 1930s and ’40s one of the largest fertilizer producers in the world was the Tennessee Valley Authority.” (03/12/26)
“The Senate passed a broad bill on Thursday to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress to address a growing national problem. The bill, which passed 89-10, would reduce regulations, regulate corporate investors and expand how housing dollars can be used to build affordable homes and rentals. It will now head back to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year. ‘We have a housing shortage all across America,’ said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who worked with Republicans to win overwhelming support from both parties for the legislation. ‘We need more housing of every kind. More housing for first-time home buyers, more housing for renters, more housing for seniors, more housing for people with disabilities, more rural housing, more urban housing, more, more, and more.’ The legislation, she said ‘will help drive down prices.'” (03/12/26)
“Given the energy disruptions in the Middle East since the start of the war with Iran and the topsy-turvy fluctuations in the price of crude oil ever since, here are five facts Americans should be aware of regarding the geopolitics of energy. First, America is now producing more oil and gas than ever. Since 2022, we’ve produced more than any other nation, including Saudi Arabia. The best way to inoculate ourselves from foreign supply disruptions is to generate every barrel of oil we can here at home. Second, the Green New Deal was and continues to be an energy belly flop.” (03/12/26)
“A Georgia judge denied Jose Ibarra’s motion for a new trial following his conviction in the killing of nursing student Laken Riley. Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard rejected the request, leaving in place Ibarra’s sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ibarra, a Venezuelan migrant, was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, hindering a 911 call, tampering with evidence and peeping tom in connection with Riley’s death. The ruling means Ibarra’s convictions and life sentence remain intact.” (03/12/26)
