MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026
This is the culture we've chosen: In a colloquy for the New York Times, David French makes an accurate statement about certain kinds of legal liability:
‘Kristi Noem Needs to Go.’ Three Columnists on ICE in Minneapolis.
[...]
David French: We are witnessing the total breakdown of any meaningful system of accountability for federal officials. The combination of President Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons, his ongoing campaign of pardoning friends and allies, his politicized prosecutions and now his administration’s assurances that federal officers have immunity are creating a new legal reality in the United States. The national government is becoming functionally lawless, and the legal system is struggling to contain his corruption.
That assessment may be basically accurate. On the other hand, the sheer lunacy of the administration's reaction to the latest fatal shooting seems to have taken us to a societal breaking point.
Over the weekend, the sheer lunacy of instant statements by Noem and Bovino and Miller and Bessent seems to have been so undeniable that even a highly permissive society is no longer inclined to deny the obvious.
At present, it looks like Noem is the figure who may be shown the door. But the culture of absurd statement was widespread within the administration this weekend, and it was so transparently ugly and inane that denial and avoidance have suddenly disappeared.
The culture of lunatic MAGA misstatement has suddenly been met with widespread disfavor. Let us say this about that:
The culture of lunatic TrumpWorld misstatement got its start with four years of birtherism performed by then-Citizen Trump on the Fox News Channel. That said, what's the most sacred crazy statement of them all?
Everybody knows what it is! The president's defining lunacy goes exactly like this:
The 2020 presidential election was stolen. It was rigged!
He has said it and said it and said it and said it. Even more than five years later, he continues to say it with numbing regularity.
He has never tried to provide a serious attempt at evidence in support of this poisonous claim. Also, you've never seen an American reporter ask him why he keeps saying this—and you've never seen a major news org announce, through its editorial policy or through the conduct of its news division, that this is a form of lunacy which simply cannot be tolerated for one freaking minute more.
No reporter has ever asked him in person. No news org has ever posed that obvious question through a written public transmission.
In that and in a hundred other ways, major members of the MAGA elite may have come to feel that the craziest attack on the opposition, or the craziest defense of the MAGA tribe, is likely to be the most productive type of attack or defense.
The game has been played that way for a very long time. The lunatic statements offered this weekend—assassin in search of a massacre, domestic terrorist—seem to have taken us over some previously unknown line:
The Wall Street Journal has said it doesn't make sense. So has the New York Post!
No one has ever stood up and asked the president why he behaves in the way he does. Also, as we've often noted, no one has dared to ask if some sort of "personality disorder" might start to explain the highly erratic behavior he persistently displays.
(That said, you don't have to seek the cause of persistent misconduct to say that the persistent misconduct must stop.)
The president's ludicrous misstatements have long been his calling card. That behavior is matched by the mainstream press corps' unwavering cowardice / deference / avoidance.
The president's behavior is completely unacceptable! No news org has ever said it. Over the weekend, lunatic conduct by Noem and Bovino and Miller and Bessent seems to have, if only temporarily, taken us past some red line.
ReplyDeleteWhat misstatement, Bob? The 2020 presidential election was rigged; you know it as well as everyone else.
Your whole post, all it says is that you're a Democrat, infected by TDS. And it's a waste of space, because everyone here already knows it.
Sad.
So while President he rigged the election so he lost, and while Obama and Biden were President they rigged the election so he won? Dumbass troll. Get the fuck out of here.
Deleteanon 2:44 -most of the time you are the first one to post - you must click the link to the site every 3 minutes, just to bestow on us your rabid, brain dead TrumpBot stupidness.
DeleteYou manage to get it ass backwards. You know, and everybody knows, trump lost the 2020 election. The result was legitimate. The GOP even hired the Ninja Turtles to try to overturn the Arizona vote count - and after all their efforts, they found that Biden's vote was undercounted! TDH is right, someone should pin Trump down, as him what is his proof. So far, only a couple of weak bullshit is all I've heard.
AC/ MA,
DeleteNo one believes Trump won the 2020 Presidential election, anymore than they believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot.
They pretend they believe that nonsense to troll you.
Because I am a retarded cult follower, once I see words "2000 election", I reflectively reply with an idiotic word-salad.
DeleteThat’s nice, dear. Now please hush — the grownups are trying to have a conversation.😎
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDemocrats so enthusiastically defend illegal aliens that there is no doubt that illegal aliens are their constituency, their voters.
And doesn't this constitutes an undeniable evidence that every election where the Democrat party participates is rigged?
No.
DeleteEven the dark lord's minions sometimes like to say silly things.
DeleteBecause I am retarded, when I disagree I reply with a word-salad.
DeleteBecause 7:32 is only retarded, he's too smart to vote for Republicans.
DeleteShort answer: What the fuck are you babbling about ?😎
ReplyDeleteICE is performing lawful, targeted operations to arrest criminal illegal aliens, and democrats and the state of MN are preventing them from doing their constitutional duties. Pretti illegally interfered while carrying a live firearm wirh the intent to foment a massacre.
ReplyDeleteObjection! Assumes horseshit not in evidence!!😎
DeleteRead the report. Jerk.
DeleteJerkoff asshole troll.
Delete"Pretti illegally interfered while carrying a live firearm wirh the intent to foment a massacre."
DeleteDa, Dmitry.
anon 3:18 - pathetic.
Delete3:18,
DeleteMeh. That's what all the imaginary Republican voters who aren't bigots say.
DeleteDon't blame me: because I am retarded, the only way I can express my disagreement is by typing "pathetic".
It could never be worse, 7:30.
DeleteYou couldn't actually believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot.
"The president's ludicrous misstatements have long been his calling card. That behavior is matched by the mainstream press corps' unwavering cowardice / deference / avoidance."
ReplyDeleteSomerby has been told this many times. We do not have an activist press. They do not consider it their job to protest anything the president says or does, or to express opinions (other than on their editorial pages) about what is happening in the news. It sees itself as an unbiased objective reporter of facts, to the best of their ability. That means that the commentary Somerby wants to see in the press would clash with their mission statement and violate their ethics, as they seem them.
By ignoring the stated goals of the press itself, Somerby has been disparaging the press, pretending they are bad at their job, reviling journalists and presenting the press as a defective organization. This is problematic because a free press is one of the pillars of democracy, creating an informed and educated voting populace. That function in our society means that we cannot have a prejudiced or biased press and have fair elections.
Because Somerby does not acknowledge reading his comments, he may still be operating under the same ignorance about the function of the press, or he may be fully aware of the role of the press and chiding them daily for propaganda purposes. Hard to know which one.
Somerby complains that the press never asks Trump "why you so crazy, sir?" What kind of answer does Somerby think they would get?
ReplyDelete"The president's behavior is completely unacceptable! No news org has ever said it. "
ReplyDeleteThis is not exactly true. First, the press has diligently reported when key figures in politics and other fields have said this. They have attributed the statements to whoever said them. This happens frequently. Second, the press has written editorials, especially before the presidential election, in which they said words to that effect, urging voters to select the Democratic candidate (once, Hillary, next Biden, then Harris). Third, the press has reported stories where the obvious, if unsaid conclusion is that the president's behavior is unacceptable. This latest shooting is one such example. People should be expected to reach their own conclusions and react accordingly. It is not the job of the press (or the president) to tell voters what to do.
So, when Somerby pretends that no one can see the emperor's new clothes except him, he is being ridiculous. I can only speculate about the point of Somerby's ongoing campaign against journalism. It is tiresome and wrong and yet he keeps writing this crap. I wish one of his friends or relatives would sit him down and talk to him about it. I hate to see anyone wasting their time like this.
I can only speculate about the point of your ongoing campaign against Somerby. It is tiresome and wrong and yet you you keep writing this crap. I wish one of your friends or relatives would sit you down and talk to you about it.
DeleteWhat is it with you guys who cannot stand any criticism of Somerby? I disagree with everything that comes out of David in Cal's mouth, but I don't abuse him the way you guys keep abusing your targets here. I ignore him and skip his comments. You can do the same.
DeleteI have patiently explained to you and others here that Somerby misrepresents himself as liberal when he is doing something else here. I state, as clearly as I know how, what I consider mistaken in Somerby's posts. You just spew bile. So, why don't you either address my points or leave me alone? I believe Ilya made the same point as I did, that Somerby's criticism of the press today is incorrect. If you want to take a shot at proving that the press NEVER calls the president's behavior unacceptable (when Ilya has posted cites to disprove that idea), go to it.
I don’t recall Somerby saying this before. His main point has always been to criticize the press for not calling Trump mentally ill and to urge pity for him. He also opposed impeaching Trump.
Delete7:19 - My goodness, but you’re a thin-skinned whiner! You devote your life to crapping on Somerby, but then bawl like a baby when called on it.
DeleteI’m beginning to wonder if CC is right that you’re a scorned ex. What else would explain your pathological (?) obsession? (Oh, right, I almost forgot — it’s because you’re a hard-working patriot trying to save gullible liberals from Somerby’s deceitful charms).
In fact, why don’t you tell us — Are you Somerby’s ex? (Whatever you say, I’ll believe you. For all my complaints about you, I think you’re basically an honest and well-intentioned (though misguided) person.)
DeleteNormally, I wouldn't think Somerby has joined the KKK, but I wouldn't want to be accused of being Somerby's spurned lover, for disagreeing with him about anything being possible.
DeleteIs Somerby a Right-wing rat-fucker?
DeleteAsking for people who think anything is possible.
Don't be surprised: I am asking this because I'm severely retarded.
DeleteIt actually couldn't be worse. You couldn't actually believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot.
DeleteThe Trump Administration Is Lying to Our Faces. Congress Must Act.
ReplyDeleteThe NY Times editorial board.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/opinion/alex-pretti-minneapolis-shooting-border-patrol.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HVA.GCqX.YLz2OUdW3caL&smid=url-share
Walz:
Delete"This is not "we need to see both sides." This is not "we need to wait for this." This is basic human decency. And at this point in time, I'm just asking try, for a moment, to set aside the political side of it and go back and ground in the humanity of this. This family has gone through enough, and to have the most powerful man in the world drag their dead son with absolutely no evidence and gaslight the entire country? This is enough."
The Trump administration has lied to us about what is clearly visible to us. What about the economy, job numbers etcetera ? Absolutely nothing that comes out of the mouth of this felonious liar is to be accepted as true. And of course that goes for his ass kissing minions. You don’t believe that Trump has saved 250,000 American lives?
DeleteRepublican Chris Madel announced on Monday that he was ending his run for Minnesota governor, pointing to his party's handling of immigration enforcement in his state as his rationale.
Delete"I cannot support the national Republicans' stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so," Madel said in a video posted to X.
The sky is blue, a politician bullshits. So?
DeleteTrump's a sexual predator, not a politician.
DeleteTry to keep up.
Noem never should have made that false statement. It's unacceptable. Of course many on the other side are making equally inflammatory false statements, such as calling the death "murder". But, that doesn't excuse Noem
ReplyDeleteIt was murder, as is clearly seen on video.
DeleteFuck you asshole. It was murder as was the shot to the head through a side window to kill Good.
DeleteThe whole world knows she lied in an unacceptable way.
DeleteNoem must be impeached.
Deletehttps://imgur.com/gallery/well-you-are-Daw0TUc
DeleteWhich lie, dickhead, you fucking fascist freak?
DeleteThere were about 50 lies in that little 3 minute statement. Asshole. You came here and lie yourself. Who the fuck do you think you’re kidding?
"false statements, such as calling the death murder."
DeleteMurder, murder, murder. It was murder.
It was a murder. ICE murdered him. He is the victim of a murder.
ICE committed murder. We saw it. We can see it. They are murderers. He was murdered.
To deny this is to condone murder. You become a part of that murder. The one we can all see.
You enable more murders. As long as you refuse to call it murder, they are getting away with murder.
If the state does not investigate a homicide, then it cannot be a murder. From that it follows that if we don't investigate homicides, we will have no murders. An instant drop in murder rate to zero! That's David's logic. Hard to argue with it.
DeleteHector - it's the exact opposite. Although ICE is responsible, the deaths in MN come from a situation and environut conducive to these tragedies -- an environment that doesn't exist in FL, TX, etc. Your side is encouraging the kind of behavior that led to this tragedy -- behavior that will lead to more tragedies if its continued.
DeleteIf city officials and leftist leaders were truly concerned about the deaths, they would end all the interference -- the whistles, the mobs, etc. And, as an extra benefit more bad people would be removed from Minneapolis. That would also reduce the murder rate.
But there's this pesky first amendment. I know, we should get rid of the whole thing. Notice how David think that he's being clever by insinuating that it's Frey and Walz who are fomenting protests. Everyone can see right through this bullshit.
DeleteFL, TX, etc. -- which etc. are we talking about, by the way? -- are not inundated with ICE to the same extent as MN. They sent a small army into Minneapolis, exceeding their entire police force. Quit posting nonsense.
"behavior that will lead to more tragedies if its continued."
DeleteI think you meant to say behavior that will lead to more murders if it's continued.
Call it whatever you like, Hector. Following my suggestion of leaving ICE alone to do their job will end the killings. Continued mob interference may lead to more killings.
DeleteI don't understand why someone should giver up his life in order to let some child molester remain in the community. In fact, I don't understand why someone should make any sacrifice at all for this purpose.
The child molestor was already in custody years earlier. They were on a bogus warrant.
DeleteDiC,
DeleteIt's interesting that you seem fixated on attacking the problem by amending the protestors' behavior.
How about trying to get the murderers to stop murdering? (one way to do that would be, when they commit a murder, open an investigation).
Stupid people who think like neurotic females on mommy blogs think it's murder. You can't reason with them and show them how the law works because they don't know how to reason, only emote and shriek. Like arguing with a small child.
DeleteCase in point, Hector is overflowing with estrogen so he says stupid things.
DeleteIt's interesting that David denies all the tens of thousands of protesters their agency and thinks that they were there because Frey or Walz had commanded them to be there. There's an obvious explanation for that. Since David himself is immersed in the MAGA cult, where he has abdicated all his modest powers to think on his own, he thinks that other people have as well. It's easy to see how David parrots the talking points that were handed to the cult. If only they let ICE do their job...we are so much safer with immigrants being deported...anyone who disagrees is a left-wing agitator. These are not the "thoughts" of someone who can analyze and properly assess what's going on; this is someone who lacks intellectual, moral, and emotional tools to process the events in this country.
DeleteIlya - My generation demonstrated to end Jim Crow. Today's demonstrators seek to protect child molesters from deportation. I believe that most people must be manipulated to get them protesting the removal of child molesters from their communities.
DeleteSee. Illegal Immigrant Arrested in Georgia After Allegedly Assaulting 11-Year-Old Girl in Her Home, Forced Younger Sister to Watch Attack
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/illegal-immigrant-arrested-georgia-after-assaulting-11-year/
You're an ass, david.
Delete
DeleteBecause if I spell David with small d, it automatically refutes everything David says.
That's how retarded I am!
7:09,
DeleteIt couldn't be worse.
You couldn't actually believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot.
David's generation protested to end Jim Crow, and revitalize the Republican Party.
DeleteToday's demonstrators seek to protect people who have committed civil infractions, akin to having outstanding parking tickets, from being stopped, harassed, and shot by fascists.
The generation before David's fought fascists. David, on the other hand...
Delete7:09 maggot breath, david is a fucking liar, nothing he vomits in the comments needs refutation you fucking putin troll boy.
DeleteDavids only lies if he believes his lies will protect racial, gender, and class hierarchies.
DeleteYou can get him to agree with you on everything else.
Because I'm a retard I'm fantasizing about Putin, who I worship, all the time.
DeleteI can't see a time when the Republican Party kills off the Jews, because they are no longer useful to the attainment of power.
DeleteWhat I mean is, I'm qualified to work in the media.
Don't worry.
DeleteThe next time a Republican says they believe in small government and individual freedom, the media will give them a microphone.
The entire cabinet along with Trump should be impeached.
ReplyDeleteBecause I am totally retarded.
DeleteQuit bragging, 7:22.
DeleteNo one is perfect.
"Judge Blocks Feds From Destroying Evidence in Minnesota Shooting"
ReplyDeleteThink about it.
It's kind of too late. The agents to murdered Pretti ran away from the scene before it could've been secured. They just left his body there.
DeleteNothing speaks of a guilty conscience more than running away from the scene of the crime.
What the fuck was that all about? A couple of retarded word-salads, I guess...
DeleteThey're putting Alex Pretri's AI looksmax imagine on times square billboards lmfao, even in death he's too ugly to be a martyr.
ReplyDeleteHis poop was worth more than you.
DeleteGood luck finding a murder victim who turns on Republican men as much as Hunter Biden's penis.
DeleteImagine you get shot attacking law enforcement and you're deemed too ugly to be a martyr so they AI looksmax you in your pictures after you're dead. Brutal.
DeleteYou have too imagine there's a Republican voter who isn't a bigot, if you want to picture one.
DeleteAnonymouse 10:45pm, they thought Pretti looked too Jewish.
DeleteYou’re scum, Cecelia.
DeleteBut accurate.
DeleteNo, you’re a liar AND scum, Cecelia.
DeleteApproval of the Trump administration deportation of illegal immigrants
ReplyDelete🟢 Favor: 52% (+10)
🔴 Oppose: 42%
RMG | 1/26 | 1,000 RV
Without a link, this is just garbage.
DeleteBecause I am so retarded that I can't use a search engine.
DeleteBecause I'm Right-winger, I keep getting passed over for employment positions by illegal immigrants who are smarter, harder workers, and more honest than me.
DeleteHow difficult is it to post a link to the poll? That way, everyone will get to look at precisely what has been posted here and not guess.
DeleteIt's as easy as releasing the Epstein Files, apparently.
DeleteBecause I am a total retard I'm whining about people not posting links in blog comment threads.
DeleteWalz and Frey called Trump begging for an off ramp and for mercy as he tightens the screws on their theft and corruption. He's toying with them like a cat with two gay mice and they will both end up in prison after he gets the illegals expelled from their state.
ReplyDeleteAttention, ladies. Here is how the law works.
ReplyDelete"Pretti never reached for his gun and never had his gun in his hand throughout the encounter."
That's not what the law requires in order for his shooting death to be justified.
"Further, he was shot AFTER a LEO had removed his gun from his person."
Again, use-of-force law has nothing to do with whether a gun has already been taken off a violent suspect.
"After the removal of the gun, any theoretical lethal threat he may have posed to the LEOs no longer existed."
This is, of course, nonsense. Even after Pretti's gun was taken, there were still a whole bunch of guns within easy reach of his grasp. Many officers are shot with their own guns seized by suspects in a physical scuffle.
"There was certainly no need to shoot him more than once!"
Also nonsense. Every law enforcement officer in the nation is taught to shoot until the reasonably perceived threat is apparently neutralized, and given the low power of 9mm pistols this almost invariably involves multiple shots--all the more true when multiple officers, each making their own individualized use-of-force assessments, are each firing their own guns.
Are you really this fucking stupid?
DeleteBecause I am so retarded that the only way I can disagree with you is by calling you stupid.
DeleteIt’s commendable, 7:17, that you own up to your affliction.
DeleteFolks, you too can provide legal analysis like 7:15 by getting a JD degree from Trump University.
DeleteThat's right, for the unbelievably low price of $10 million you can be trained to provide crackerjack legal analysis (and maybe even join up with the elite legal minds at the Pam Blondi DJM (Department of Justice and Murder).
Act now while supplies last.
As a retard I don't understand that any analysis beats my word-salads.
Delete"That's not what the law requires in order for his shooting death to be justified."
DeleteFascinating. Although you don't tell us what would be required for his shooting death to be justified, so not overly helpful.
"use-of-force law has nothing to do with whether a gun has already been taken off a violent suspect."
Good point. Pretti, lying on his stomach being pummelled by the six or seven ICE agents, may have had a chainsaw in his back pocket. He could have cut them to ribbons.
As for the rest of your argument, Orwell saw you coming:
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
-1984
DeleteBecause I am a retarded Democrat cult follower, I may easily have an explosive belt on me.
Yes, my cult leaders do instruct me to hate immigration-control officers this much.
The Dems yesterday:
ReplyDelete“Trump is Hitler, ICE are the Gestapo, this is Nazi Germany, Somalians are Anne Frank.”
The Dems today:
“We just got off the phone with Hitler, we called him and we are happy to cooperate with him and his Gestapo”.
Bovino is gone. The admin blinked. Stay strong, Minnesota.
DeleteBecause I am so retarded that I'm completely missing the point of the comment I am responding to.
DeleteScratch someone who says they believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot, find someone who doesn't believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot.
DeleteMinnesota State Patrol is out in full force all over the place tonight arresting protesters aggressively. What did Trump threaten Walz with?
ReplyDelete8TH CIRCUIT SIDES WITH TRUMP: ICE AGENTS FREED FROM MINNESOTA PROTEST RESTRICTIONS
ReplyDeleteThe appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that limited use of force against protesters.
The panel said the videos showed "much of" the protest conduct was not peaceful.
AG Bondi:
"Liberal judges tried to handcuff our federal law enforcement officers.
The 8th Circuit has fully agreed."
Thanks for the propaganda, 12:56. The case is still on appeal.
DeleteBecause I am so retarded that I call a perfectly 100% factual comment "propaganda".
DeleteThe propaganda was what Bondi said. The court issued a stay earlier in the month, and left it in place yesterday. The main case is still pending.
DeleteBecause I am a retard, I can't figure out that reporting what American AG said -- in quotation marks! -- is nowhere near any propaganda.
DeleteBecause I am a retard, I just like to type "propaganda".
Of course Bondi said it. Because she’s a propagandist.
DeleteBecause I am a retarded cult follower, I can't stop propagandizing accusations of the USAG being a propagandist.
DeleteIt’s commendable, 8:38, that you own up and identify yourself as a cult follower.
DeleteARRESTS of Anti-ICE Protesters after Police declare an unlawful assembly outside of the Springhill Suites Hotel in Maple Grove Minnesota
ReplyDeleteTrump wins again. Fuck this shit.
It was the local police. Astoundingly, no unarmed citizens were assassinated. Bovino had a sad.
DeleteBecause I am so retarded that I'm completely missing the point of the comment I am responding to.
Delete7:21,
DeleteIt couldn't be worse.
You couldn't actually believe there is a Republican voter who isn't a bigot.
This event had nothing to do with Trump.
DeleteSo no minors were involved.
DeleteThat's good to know.
Immigrants are harder workers, more honest, and much more brave than white American citizens.
ReplyDeleteDon't take my word for it. Ask any corporate-hiring manager.
Employment with ICE is the participation trophy of the national job market.
ReplyDeleteMost retarded people vote for Democrats.
ReplyDeleteIt's only the bigots who vote Republican.
Woke up to Minnesota law enforcement throwing protesters to the ground and dragging them off in arrests to protect the hotel where ICE agents were cracking beers and watching the show.
ReplyDeleteWhat did Trump say to Walz? My suspicion is the signal story blowing up and they're hoping for a milder federal reaction. Either way he forced them to fold. Crazy like a fox.
In all, less than 15% of all homes destroyed by the California fires have received necessary approvals to move forward, according to the Trump administration.
ReplyDeleteTrump’s order is designed to “preempt” the building permit process – and empower the federal government to maneuver around the needless obstacles imposed by Democratic leaders.
The order calls out the “nightmare” of delays and “bureaucratic malaise” at the California state and local level — and it will almost certainly be challenged by Democrats in power in the Golden State, despite displaced residents literally crying out to be made whole again.
Jessica Rogers, a Pacific Palisades resident who lost everything in the wildfires, burst into tears of joy when she learned the federal government was stepping in to pick up the slack.
“We’re so desperate. We really need the help. We cannot do this on our own. Our state’s not capable, our city’s not capable, this is not something that requires a village, it requires the nation. We need our federal government to come in,” she told The Post.
"according to the Trump administration."
DeleteReally? Truly?
“Charlie Kirk was asking for it by saying controversial things”
ReplyDelete“The National Guardsmen were asking for it by being present in DC when the left didn’t want them to be”
“You can’t hurt a guy just because he’s engaging in armed obstruction of law enforcement”
Same Democrat scum.
That's a new approach. Putting quotation marks around things that were never said. Rather like arguing with yourself.
Delete