02/21/25

Good morning! It’s Friday, February 21st.

National Language Day

Which is a great time to remind you that America does not have a national language. Which is one of the many great things about this country.

And now, the news.

Kash Patel

-via AP News, Rolling Stone, NBC News, Senate, and NY Times

Starting with the news out of the Senate that Kash Patel, a longtime lover of Trump and hater of the FBI… has been confirmed as the new FBI director.

Let’s learn about Kash, shall we!

Remember how, during Trump’s campaign, he would play that cringeworthy cover of the national anthem, where he’s doing the pledge of allegiance and some January 6th rioters were singing the national anthem? Patel is one of the producers of that.

He also established a private foundation to raise money for those prisoners. And their families.

He established a foundation to raise money for insurrectionists.

The New York Times reported on how he lied on his resume – saying he was the lead prosecutor on the Benghazi investigation when, in fact, he did paperwork in research.

He supports Qanon, pushed an anti-covid pill that he said would reverse the vaccine, and regularly praises fair-right extremists and conspiracy theorists, like Laura Loomer, Stew Peters (an internet person who called for Anthony Fauci’s execution and works with neo-nazi Nick Fuentes – Kash has been on his podcast eight times), and Doug Mastriano (the former Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate who wore a confederate uniform, compared abortion to the holocaust, and hired a former Oath Keeper member – Kash called Mastriano a “patriot” and “warrior”).

He lied in his confirmation hearing, telling Senator Booker that he was unaware of plans to fire, or otherwise punish, agents who are associated with the Trump investigations, when in fact he had personally directed the purge that came the next day.

And most worrisome (impressive, when you consider how worrisome all of that other stuff is) – he pledged that Trump’s second term would be all about targeting his enemies and critics. Including journalists who write unflattering stories.

Uh oh! Straight to jail for me! On the teasing about his tie length alone!

“We will go out and find the conspirators — not just in government, but in the media. Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.”

Rolling Stone notes that this may be the first time a president has nominated an FBI director who has preemptively vowed to go against the Constitution.

Anyway, that guy… has passed through his confirmation in the Senate.

Big bummer huge.

Resistance Queen Mitch McConnell voted for him. And don’t be surprised here because I talked about this when he voted against RFK Jr. He’s only voting against people if he feels like his vote won’t matter. Patel passed on a 51-49 vote. Guaranteed, if there was wiggle room, he’d be back to his little pretend outrage.

Oh, also, speaking of… Mitch McConnell announced today he will not seek reelection next year. I think that’s great, he is literally the worst thing that happened to our democracy before January 20th, 2025 and the only reason we’re in the mess is because Mitch McConnell was like I didn’t like how he did insurrection but I’ve never once had a spine so let the man be!  And didn’t vote to impeach him in the Senate.

Bye Mitch. History will never forget you… just not how you think it will.

Eric Adams

-via NBC News

On Thursday, New York’s governor Kathy Hochul announced that she will not, “for now,” remove Eric Adams from office.

Why? Who knows.

You could make the argument that she’s not doing it because she doesn’t think there’s an issue with Adams, which would be a wild view to take but still – if she doesn’t think there’s an issue, there’s no reason to remove him.

She does, however, believe there’s an issue. And we know this because she also imposed guardrails that hinder what he can do in his position as mayor. She is also installing a deputy inspector general to oversee him.

The city will have a regular election this November, and Adams has already said he’s running for reelection.

Luis Rubiales Convicted

-via NY Times

I talked about this story a lot at the time it happened, so here’s a follow up: Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spain’s soccer federation has been convicted of sexual assault after he kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips, without her consent, and on camera for literally the whole world to see, following the 2023 World Cup.

The kiss relitigated a longstanding debate about sexism in Spanish soccer.

He was cleared of his second charge of coercion, but has been fined about $11k and cannot go with 200 meters (or about 650 feet for us silly Americans), of Hermoso. He also needs to pay her $3k euros for “moral damage caused to her.”

Earlier this month, in response to these accusations he said, “You don’t win a World Cup every day.” Which is such an unhinged thing to say. You did sexual assault! On television! Get a hobby.

The Pope Lives

-via ABC News

On his sixth night in the hospital, the Pope was out of bed and recovering well from his most recent bought with pneumonia. He was admitted on the 14th with bronchitis that got worse.

Anyway, he’s getting better.

Judge Offers Another Win to Trump

-via Washington Post, NPR, and NPR

On Thursday, US District Judge Cooper offered yet another win to Trump as he declined to issue a restraining order to unions against Trump, as the unions hoped to stop Trump from firing thousands of federal employees.

The judge ruled that, instead of filing for a restraining order, the unions must file a challenge with the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

The ruling was handed down as the news came out that the IRS cut 6,000 jobs. In February.

6000 jobs in the middle of tax season.

Let this be a PSA that, if you have not filed your taxes yet… now is the time!

Oh also, FEMA will no longer help the International Code Council improve building codes, as they have done for the last 25 years. No reason was given, just – no longer helping homes survive strong winds and flooding. Okie doke. Makes sense to me.

Bus Explosions in Tel Aviv

-via BBC, Reuters, and ABC News

In Israel’s Tel Aviv, three buses exploded in what officials are calling a suspected terrorist attack. One, if not two (clarity is a little hard to get, as of this recording), other bombs were found undetonated.

The buses exploded in empty, and separate, parking lots. There were no injuries.

Israeli officials say the bombs are similar to others that they have found in the West Bank. One of them had a note that said, "Revenge against the Tulkarm camp," which was an Israeli operation in the West Bank last week that saw tens of thousands of Palestinians leaving the refugee camp after the Israeli offensive destroy homes and vital infrastructure, including digging up roads.

A search is on for a suspect or suspects.

Are We Invading Mexico?

-via CBS News

And finally – after the Trump administration formally named eight cartels as terrorist groups, including two in Mexico, the President of Mexico warned America against invading.

Yeah.

Invasion of Mexico – apparently not off the table.

President Sheinbaum said: "This cannot be an opportunity for the U.S. to invade our sovereignty. With Mexico it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination or interventionism, and even less invasion."

Can we not have one single friend??

On his dumb website, Elon Musk said designating these groups as terrorist groups “means they’re eligible for drone strikes.”

And lest you get one single night of sleep… in 2022, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told 60 Minutes that Trump suggested firing missiles into Mexico, targeting drug cartels there, in his first term. Saying, “no one would know it was us.”

No one would know it was us??

That’s… quite literally impossible.

Hey, if anyone from Mexico is listening to this… I’m sorry. This isn’t all of us. Though tragically, it is apparently enough of us because this bozo was elected and a bunch of other elected bozos are interested in pushing back.

And that’s it. That’s the news.

I’m proud of… Mexico. For not rolling over for this tyrannical monster. You’ve got more strength and pride than most elected officials in this country.

Also languages.

But more than languages… because you are also incredible. I’m proud of you.