Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

We had the great weed debate between Nancy Grace and a rapper.  It was gold. Video.

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• We had two law enforcement deaths in Texas yesterday. A police officer in Navasota and a deputy in Brazoria County.
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• I completely missed this from last month.
  
  
  
• Yesterday: 
  
  
  
• This morning: Not so fast. 
  
  
  
• President Biden must be a Liberally Lean reader! From last night's address: “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy.” 
  

  

  
  
  
  
• So what if Congress passed a law to ban TikTok because it is an instrument of data collection by the Chinese government? Let's invite the CEO to the inauguration. 
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• The next Attorney General under Trump continued to be an election denier at her confirmation hearing yesterday.  We're doomed. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The guy who was in financial bed with Ken Paxton -- which led to the impeachment proceeding -- has cut a deal with federal prosecutors. 
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• He's crazy.
  
  
  
• Honestly, that listing of the property at at 3736 Aviemore Drive in Fort Worth doesn't look like it's worth $17 million - making it the most expensive home in the city. 
  
  
  
• "Bad decision, coach." I would have looked for another NIL deal instead if I were him. 
  
  
  
• Messenger - Above the Fold

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

Rick Perry left the governor's mansion, and the oil field was about to go bust. 

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• There was a really, really bad wreck on 920 near Bridgeport yesterday morning.  The Messenger has a photo but it might be behind a paywall. We don't know any names yet of the two people seriously injured.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The West Texas Oilmen, who are always buying the legislature so they can ram through school vouchers, were unable to get their boy elected as House Speaker  yesterday.
  
  
  
• Some ultra MAGA folks, including a group from Wise County, were "protesting" after the vote outside of the capitol.  Video
  
  
  
• Ted Nugent really packed them in with a free concert nearby yesterday morning in Austin.
  
  
  
  
  
• Welcome to the Oligarchy.
  

  

  
  
  
  
• The Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing yesterday for Secretary of Defense turned out to be all for show. He'll be confirmed. But it was a bit uncomfortable for him to be asked about all his infidelity with his third wife looking on from behind him. 

  

  Standard answer from, of all things, a Fox News host.

  
  

  

  That probably guarantees confirmation

  
  
• Wise County's representative Ronny Jackson is excited about Hegesth burning the Defense Department down. He literally said that:
  
  
  
• This is pretty wild. A UTA professor and a lawyer from Temple were detained and/or arrested outside of the Commissioner's Court in Tarrant County yesterday. Videos.
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Seems bad out of Houston.
  
   
  
  
  
• Very legal nerdy stuff. There were lots of headlines yesterday that said "Special Counsel Report Say Trump Would Have Been Convicted in Election Case."  That's not true. The report said "the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial."  That's not saying a jury would have convicted him. It's saying that if a jury convicted him then there was some evidence on each and every element of the charge that would survive an insufficiency argument on appeal. 

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

Eight Texas inmates and two corrections officers were killed in a prison bus/train crash.

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• Hearings begin today. I bet he's confirmed. I bet all of Trump's picks will be confirmed.
  

  
  
  
• This official interactive map of the damage to the homes in California by the wildfires is amazing. It allows you to zoom in and click on a photo of the damage to every single house.
  
  
  
• The Texas legislature begins its session today. Yesterday we had yet more proof we are overtaxed in Texas and that schools are intentionally being strangled by the legislature.  Translated: There are billions in taxpayer dollars just sitting around. 
  
  
  
• Another close call over an airport.  I've been warning everyone. 
  
  
  
• Walmart has tweaked its logo for the first time in almost 20 years.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Confusing Fox News graphic.
  
  
  
• Carrie Underwood has gone MAGA.
  
  
  
• Special Counsel Jack Smith's 174 page report concerning January 6th and the tampering with the electoral college was released at midnight. And no one will read it. 
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Gift link.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It would be a disaster. And I hope it happens for the entertainment.
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
• Re: the California fires. If you had an insured home survive which is now in a neighborhood burned to the ground, I'm not sure you wouldn't have been better off having it burn, too. It may be 20 years -- if ever -- before the neighborhood is "normal" again.