Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

Ten years ago to the day, we had a "surprise" snow and ice storm. Since it hit mid-morning, everything began to shut down despite everyone already being at work and school. 

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• Wild speculation: Carbon monoxide? 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The Texas Voucher bill in the House was officially unveiled, and it already has enough support to pass. One of the many co-authors is Wise County's representative Andy Hopper who, by doing so, has sold out both you and our local schools. No rural representative should ever support using your tax dollars for private schools. But considering his campaign was funded by West Texas Oilmen who are anti-public schools, Hopper's stance should come as no surprise. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hey, I'm not the only one who feels this way.
  
  
  
• We now have the first death from measles in 10 years. 
  
  
  
• HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. was asked about the death and outbreak at yesterday's cabinet meeting, and he dismissed the news as "not unusual." Video. Honestly, I was surprised to learn that he's actually correct about the outbreak itself not being that unusual. However, the death certainly is.

  

  
  

  
  
• But it's RFK, Jr.'s anti-vax stance that makes me nuts. And later in the day, we got this news from his department:
  
  
  
• As expected, Elon Musk showed up at Trump's cabinet meeting. What was surprising was that Trump invited him to speak first and take questions.  This keeps getting more and more bizarre.
  
  
  
  
  
   
• This was quite the moment. Video.  A mistake like that would get someone in the private sector fired. 
  
  
  
• Last night, the Supreme Court came to Trump's aid in his battle with a court whose orders he has been ignoring. 
  
  
  
• Say what?
  
  
  
  
• Here are the weirdest screenshots from the AI generated video that Trump posted regarding what he wants to do with Gaza. Bearded women, a scantily clad dancer, and Trump and Netanyahu sunbathing. 
  
  
  
• Kind of local legal stuff: She was appointed as judge to the Tarrant County court where the Tanner Horner capital murder case was transferred to out of Wise County. But since a visiting judge has already been designated to try that case, her appointment will not impact that.
  
  
  
• The chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court asked for a 30% raise for all district judges and higher yesterday. (He also asked for bail bond reform although the Texas Supreme Court has no criminal jurisdiction.) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• On the other end of the spectrum: we have this Texas legal news:
  
  
  
• Messenger - Above the Fold

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

It was 10 years ago today that two llamas were on the loose in a neighborhood in Sun City, Arizona. Most of the news channels carried it live because it was so entertaining. 

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• Those Wise County Messenger boys are working hard -- and driving all over the southwest proper -- to cover some extraordinary developments in local high school basketball. 
  
  
  
• You probably saw the video of the near collision in Chicago, but may not have heard about the one in Washington D.C. which occurred at about the same time yesterday.  As I've been telling you, a crash involving two planes at, on, or by a major airport is going to happen soon. 
  
  
  
• Trump has his first cabinet meeting today. Guess who he invited.  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Welcome to the Kremlin. Even Fox News is mad about this decision. 
  
  
  
• If we have private groups rounding up illegal immigrants, we will have officially entered Brownshirt and SS territory. And the fact that this is being proposed by Blackwater makes it doubly scary. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It looks like Ukraine was left with no choice and caved to Trump's demand even thought the U.S. is promising absolutely nothing in return in the future.  It was still an offer they couldn't refuse. 
  
  
  
• Musk has posted multiple times over the last few days about impeaching judges who disagree with Trump's decisions.  And he has no idea how American democracy functions (or is intended to function.) 
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Meanwhile, the Trump Administration was given the equivalent of a "stern talking to" yesterday by a judge whose orders are being ignored -- something that will continue to happen. 
• Well, at least Trump's approved immigrants will be wealthy enough that they won't worry about the price of eggs. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Trump has posted an AI video on the future of Gaza which is insane. It includes a golden statue of him as well as a Trump hotel. 
  
  
  
• Measles/Anti-vax update:
  
  
  
• See this press release yesterday from Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller about an incident of "cartel violence" which occurred "near Brownsville"? It actually occurred 100 miles within Mexico but he never says that. 
  
  
  
• Sounds bad -- especially that 48 hours part. Gift link.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Baylor news: Former quarterback and current team football color commentator J.J. Joe has died of a heart attack at age 53.

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

The beginning on the war on trans in Texas was starting back then, and I'm not sure I fully realized it. But it was clearly going on based upon the text of the bill.  

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• It's over:  The United States is now, shockingly, an ally with Russia.  I never thought I'd see the day. 
• At the United Nations, we sided with Russia, China, and North Korea by refusing to condemn Russia as invaders of Ukraine. The vote to condemn was 93 to 18 in favor of the resolution. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Later in the day, Trump refused to call Putin a "dictator" after labeling Zelensky as one only a couple of days ago. Video.  This comes on the heels where he refuses to say Russia started the war. 
  
  
  
• It's over: The Justice Department now readily admits they are Trump's lawyers. This from the U.S. Attorney in D.C. who flat came out and said that yesterday.  And he's prepared to fight the free press who does not support everything Trump says.   Mind-blowing.
  
  
  
• It's over: Press conferences are now controlled by Trump Media: Yesterday, the first question that Trump took in the press conference with Macron was from the boyfriend of Marjorie Taylor Green who wanted to know how awesome Trump was: "I just want to touch upon real quickly the Harvard poll that . . . came out [that] had you up nine plus points. And all of your agenda that you ran on, you're accomplishing that. You've got the support of the American people including stopping the war in Ukraine. If you can comment on the latest Harvard poll, I appreciate that." Video.
  
  
  
• DOGE's Five Bullet Point Ultimatum Update:
• After some department heads told employees to ignore Musk's demand for a five bullet point email sent to all federal employees, and after Trump's own Office of Personnel Management told all agencies that is was OK ignore it, Trump then did an about face and told everyone in the afternoon that they will be "semi-fired" if they didn't respond. Everyone clear?
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Later Musk decided to give everyone a second chance. 
  

  
  
  
• Local and Texas quick hits:
• This happened on Friday but somehow we didn't hear about it until yesterday. 
  
  
  
• This is a guy who wanted to be caught and go back to prison. 
  
  
  
• This was in Azle yesterday and, frankly, doesn't look like your ordinary plane. 
  
  
  
• The Congresswoman better hurry or she's never going to solve that case!
  
  
  
• Round-ups were beginning yesterday, but the news got buried. And, no, they aren't just targeting "violent criminals." 
  
  
  
• Once Garland releases the bodycams in this case, it's going to look like the shootout in Heat. "A total of five squad cars were struck by bullets [and] . . . more than 100 rounds were fired over the course of the attack."
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Roberta Flack died yesterday. Here is the Billboard Top 20 for February 24, 1973 - the first week at No. 1 for “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”