Blog: If I understand this

Useless fact for today (well, an estimate, not a fact):  The United Nations estimates there may be as many as 3 million shipwrecks scattered across the ocean floor — and fewer than 1% of them have been explored. 

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Trump’s endorsement of Newsom’s arrest comes just days after the president directed the Justice Department to investigate Joe Biden. – Let’s see, political foes?

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RFK Jr. removes all current members of CDC vaccine advisory committee. Alleges conflicts of interest. – Wait, I know this one – it’s a conflict of interest because they believe in science!

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Trump was asked by a reporter whether his border czar, Tom Homan, should arrest Gov. Newsom.  – Hint:  Homan does not have the authority to arrest anyone.  But who cares?  Musk’s DOGE department is not legal, either.  It was not created by Congress.  Trump can hire people for advice, but he cannot create departments with any authority.  Hence, they have no legal right to your social security information!  As usual, my fear lies with the Supreme Court.

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More hypocrisy, if you need any:  President Donald Trump nearly face-planted as he climbed the stairs of Air Force One on Sunday ― something he once mocked former President Joe Biden over.

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“I’m not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested, but he ought to be tarred and feathered. I’ll say that,” Johnson said Tuesday. – The Speaker of the House, saying this about a sitting Governor . . .

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As opposed to:  Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday blasted Trump sending the National Guardsmen to LA, noting how she urged Trump to send in the guard during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol — when (Trump’s) rioters attacked law enforcement and destroyed property — but the president refused to do so.

Historically:  It also marked the first time since 1965 that a president federalized troops in this manner over the opposition of a governor, when President Lyndon Johnson invoked it to protect the historic Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama.

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New York Times column headlined “Elon Musk’s Legacy is Disease, Starvation and Death,” which cites Boston University research detailing how Musk’s cuts to USAID’s budget have led to an estimated 300,000 deaths, most of whom are children.

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President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, landed in the rough with a 32 out of 100 health inspection score in May, Forbes reported Wednesday. The Trump National Golf Club had the lowest mark in Somerset County, the outlet noted, citing public documents.

The club was cited for nine violations that “may result in an unacceptable health risk” among 18 violations overall. —  Wow. And this without Trump steaks, even!  (That is one of the many Trump endeavors that went bankrupt or out of business).

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Article title in Vanity Fair:  The Trump administration says healthy food will curb the trends of childhood illness—as Republicans defund programs that help put food on kids’ plates.

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Useless fact of the day:  Remember the Marlboro man in the ads and commercials?  Here:

Except the real Marlboro Man never smoked — at least not the “original,” an individual by the name of Bob Norris who featured in the brand’s early TV commercials.  Eventually his kids asked him why he promoted a product they could not have, and he hung up his Stetson.

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And just to summarize:  We have a President who refused to deploy the National Guard to protect the Capitol on January 6th, despite repeated requests from the Mayor of DC and the head of the Capitol Police — because those protestors supported him.

And we have a President who has now deployed the National Guard (and Marines) in the absence of a request and over the objection of the Mayor of LA — because those protestors don’t support him.

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I have to say that I admire all the medical personnel who volunteer to go anywhere near Gaza these days . . . 

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It seems that many Republicans have forgotten that our country was founded by protestors.  And not always peaceful ones, either.  I read that today’s value of the tea dumped into Boston Harbor would be about $1.7 million today.  So, now we will arrest protestors, whereas Trump pardoned protestors and looters from J6, including those who beat up cops . . .  no hypocrisy there, is there? And there is that pesky first amendment.  But wait, Kev, aren’t ALL protestors looters?  Well, Little Jimmy, no they are not.  The majority are not.  Don’t listen to the large, orange man on the TV.

Update headline:  ‘We will kill you’: Florida sheriff issues stern warning to protesters.  — Except those who might riot in favor of Trump, though.

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And more in the “war” against education:  All members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced their resignation on Wednesday, releasing a statement accusing President Donald Trump’s administration of political interference in the prestigious exchange program.

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More Drill, Baby, Drill!  Here:  BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Lawyers for President Donald Trump’s administration say he has the authority to abolish national monuments meant to protect historical and archaeological sites.  — Well, when nothing is sacred except the dollar . . .

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What if jockeys were not allowed to whip their horses at all?  Wouldn’t the fastest horse still win?  Wouldn’t the race be more “natural?”

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Big, beautiful bill?  — The Republicans’ legislation would cause “one of the largest transfers of wealth from working families to the ultra-rich in American history.”

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Bad news if you don’t like spiders: 

Scientists think there may be 50,000 more spider species left to discover.

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In history (June 13):  Today marks the 250th anniversary of what historians consider the birth of the U.S. Merchant Marine and the first naval battle of the American Revolution.

On June 12, 1775, merchant mariner Jeremiah O’Brien led residents of Machias, Massachusetts (now Maine) in seizing the British schooner HMS Margaretta.

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The GDP shrank in the first quarter of 2025, marking the worst quarter for the U.S. economy in three years.  And:  Trump told the Wall Street Journal Israel’s attack would be “great for the market.” Stocks have plummeted since then.

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Finally, Robert Reich’s opinion of Trump: “Trump is the opposite of a patriot. He is a traitor and a coward. His lust for power and wealth at the expense of the common good makes this one of the most shameful chapters of our history.”

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Can’t resist Today:  A Roman walks into a bar. He holds up two fingers and says, “Five beers, please!”

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All for now,

Kevin