Fix VOA, Don’t Kill It
Posted By: Dreadnought, 3/20/2025 8:41:11 PM
President Trump’s move against Voice of America, the executive branch agency that oversees it, and other U.S. international broadcasters and grantee media is an understandable reaction to decades of managerial lapses and an organizational structure that has remained immune to accountability and oversight for too long. On Friday night, Trump signed an order reducing the functions of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to only those required by statute. His administration also moved to cut grants extended to Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — nonprofit organizations that receive all their funding from USAGM — and suspend the full-time staff of VOA, which is a federal entity.
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George Foreman, heavyweight boxing icon and business entrepreneur, has died.
He was 76 years old.
The International Boxing Hall of Famer’s family announced the news on his Instagram page on Friday night. “Our hearts are broken,” the caption read on the post. “With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.”
Born in Marshall, Texas in 1949, Foreman, who admittedly was a bully in his youth
Should we feign surprise? Academia administrators spent most of the past two years surrendering to their own students, or at least the ones that looked scary ... while leaving all the rest to fend for themselves.
With that in mind, one has to look skeptically at Politico's claim that "universities are caving to Trump with a stunning speed and scope." They may be caving, but the speed and scope of their pusillanimity hardly seems stunning:
Colleges and universities across the country are capitulating to President Donald Trump with staggering speed, moving to slash progressive policies and crack down on student activism as they face compounding threats from an administration hellbent
Columbia University has caved to the demands of the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funding that was yanked over antisemitism on campus, according to a report Friday.
The Morningside Heights university — which had become the epicenter of violent anti-Israel protests — agreed to implement a mask ban and put new leadership in charge of reviewing curriculum for its Middle East, South Asian and African Studies department and Center for Palestine Studies, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a memo to the administration. The school will also empower 36 campus cops to arrest students.
The Trump administration yanked roughly $400 million in grants
Joy Reid argued on Thursday that Canada will never become an American state as President Donald Trump wants because they could beat their southern neighbors in a war.
Reid joined Don Lemon on The Don Lemon Show this week and balked at Trump’s continued push for America to absorb Canada. Canadian officials have pushed back on this being an option, but Trump has remained steadfast in his desire.
According to Reid, Canada would only become a new American state if the two countries went to war. She made clear her money is on Canada in that showdown.
“Grampy Trump, let’s talk. Let’s talk. First of all, you can’t
BERLIN - Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday passed a reform of the country's borrowing rules and a 500-billion-euro ($542 billion) fund to revamp its infrastructure and revive Europe's largest economy.
The constitutional amendment to loosen the so-called debt brake also allows for de-facto unlimited spending on defence and security. The upper house of parliament, which represents the 16 German states, passed the bill with the necessary two-thirds majority after Tuesday's vote in the lower house, the Bundestag.
Keeping Austin Weird Winding Down?
6 replies
I've seen snippets here and there about Austin's weird magic losing its mojo over the past few weeks and only now had a chance to look into it.
It seems to be true.
Austin, Texas, has always had a quirky, off-beat kind of reputation. I remember in 2003 or so, sitting in a NOLA restaurant with Kcruella. We were next to a lovely lady, and a gentleman who turned out to be her attorney. In the course of our chat, we learned she was a lifelong NOLA resident and a recent widow, and they were there finalizing her plans to leave. After all those years
President Donald Trump has denied a New York Times report that his close ally, billionaire Elon Musk, is due to be briefed by the Pentagon about the US military's plan for any war that might break out with China.
"China will not even be mentioned or discussed," Trump said in a post about the Pentagon meeting on Truth Social on Thursday.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said in a post on X that the meeting would be "about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production".
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the briefing for Musk would be attended by senior US military officials in the Pentagon and
One of the busiest airports in the world will be closed all day Friday after a fire caused a power outage.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) said it is "experiencing a significant power outage" after an electrical substation that supplies the airport caught on fire. "To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March," England's premier airport posted on X. Passengers have been told to avoid the airport and to contact their individual airline for further details on new flight times.
"We apologise for the inconvenience," Heathrow Airport wrote.
If you tuned into CNN and/or MSNBC on Thursday morning, the message was clear based on their coverage of supposed “anger” at congressional Republicans over the Trump agenda and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and hits from the left at Democratic town halls: Blue wave incoming! Nevermind these protests at GOP town halls — including one Wednesday night they were warm and fuzzy inside over out in Wyoming for Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R) — have been stacked with the bluest of blue partisans and organized by far-left groups
We haven't heard a whole lot from former Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) since she left office at the end of the 118th Congress (having been defeated in the Democratic primary last August by former St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell). But that doesn't mean all's been quiet in her world.
In fact, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Thursday that her husband, Cortney Merritts, has been indicted for allegedly committing COVID fraud. In a press release regarding the indictment, the DOJ stated:
WASHINGTON – Cortney Merritts, 46, of St. Louis, Missouri, was charged today by federal indictment with two counts of wire fraud for allegedly filing fraudulent
President Donald Trump has agreed to rescind an executive order that suspended security clearances for lawyers and staff at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, according to a statement he posted to Truth Social on Thursday.
The New York-based firm has agreed to dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services over the course of Trump’s term “to support the Administration’s initiatives,” the statement said. The firm has also agreed to audit its employment practices and pledged to not “adopt, use, or pursue” diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
The statement notes that Trump agreed to the deal following a meeting with the firm’s chairman Brad Karp
“All the world’s a stage, and the men and women merely players,” wrote William Shakespeare in “As You Like It.” It’s a simple, straightforward metaphor: In the game of life, everyone has a part to play.
Furthermore, all the parts matter. Like your third-grade teacher told you (after giving you the smallest, lousiest part in the school play), “There are no small roles, only small actors. Go stand in the background and pretend to be a tree, or something.”
The metaphor actually works better with political parties than in the outside world, because political parties are closed ecosystems. In partisan politics, the “players” have clearly defined roles;
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Democrats overwhelmingly selected former Vice President Kamala Harris as their preferred candidate in a Morning Consult poll released on Friday. Four months after losing the 2024 election to President Donald Trump, Harris led the competition in the survey in a mock 2028 Democratic primary and the results were not close. Harris, who has not announced any intention to seek another presidential nomination, led a pack of 19 candidates with the support of 36%. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came in second with 10% support. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz all
Have you seen Michelle Obama’s new look? Well, if you haven’t, take a seat…because it’s a doozy. She is basically unrecognizable these days.
Michelle has ditched the sleek, polished look of her White House years and embraced something… uh, very different.
This was Michelle thenāasnip)
Her latest transformation includes a massive, boxy suit coat and a wrinkled men’s dress shirt—both oversized to the point of absolute absurdity. She’s paired the rumpled manly look with three towering braided buns stacked on her head like a wacky faux hawk crown. (snip) more like a Nairobi used car salesman
Florida Police: Teen Students Arrested
for Beating Teacher in ‘Synchronized
Physical Attack’ 20 replies
for Beating Teacher in ‘Synchronized
Physical Attack’ 20 replies
Two students in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, were arrested this week for allegedly beating a high school teacher in what police described as a “synchronized physical attack.”
The incident allegedly occurred at Dillard High School last Thursday when 19-year-olds Jayvis McClover and Roddrick McQueen approached a teacher and began “verbally threatening to attack him,” according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
“The two, who are both enrolled at Dillard High School, then ‘intentionally launched a synchronized physical attack’ on the teacher,” per CBS News. “McClover and McQueen ‘repeatedly punched the teacher in the face and head with closed fists,’ causing the educator to fall to the ground, police said.”
Joy Reid argued on Thursday that Canada will never become an American state as President Donald Trump wants because they could beat their southern neighbors in a war.
Reid joined Don Lemon on The Don Lemon Show this week and balked at Trump’s continued push for America to absorb Canada. Canadian officials have pushed back on this being an option, but Trump has remained steadfast in his desire.
According to Reid, Canada would only become a new American state if the two countries went to war. She made clear her money is on Canada in that showdown.
“Grampy Trump, let’s talk. Let’s talk. First of all, you can’t
Trump suggests US could be ‘associate
member’ of British Commonwealth: ‘I
love King Charles’ 15 replies
member’ of British Commonwealth: ‘I
love King Charles’ 15 replies
WASHINGTON — President Trump reacted warmly Friday to a report that the US could be offered “associate membership” in the British Commonwealth.
“I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!” the president wrote on Truth Social, linking to a report by the Sun that a proposal could be made by the monarch when Trump makes a state visit to the UK later this year.
The Commonwealth of Nations, established in 1926, has 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former colonies of the British Empire. (Photo) Among its members are Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
It was the tagline for “Poltergeist II.” Adorable Carol Anne sets up the sequel by whispering those chilling two words to her parents. Here’s the clip (sadly, the special effects are as dated as a certain ex-president). [Video]
“They’re Baaaaaack!”
According to NBC News, the same could be said about the Biden family: They’re tanned, rested, and ready. Good news, Democrats: The Bidens are here to save the day!
NBC News, “The Bidens want back in”:
Former President Joe Biden has told some Democratic leaders he’ll raise funds, campaign and do anything else necessary for Democrats to recover lost ground as the Trump administration rolls back programs the party helped design,
A Kennedy Center employee was fired after making a Trump protest video that was mainly about himself – while naked, of course.
Travis Forsyth wasted 35 minutes in a video titled “Trump Declares War on Artists / Do I Quit the Kennedy Center?”
Lucky for him, the Kennedy Center made that decision very easy, and reportedly canned Forsyth who lamented his dilemma while nude with only a rainbow heart emoji covering his nether regions.
Forsyth took issue with Trump-appointed board members for the Kennedy Center with Trump being chairman of the board. Second Lady Usha Vance and Fox News host Laura Ingraham are also among those that triggered Forsyth.
German luxury auto manufacturer Audi said it is considering moving car production to the United States to avoid tariffs from the Trump administration.
Volkswagen’s subsidiary Audi brand said this week that it is examining various long-term strategies, including potentially shifting production to America, to deal with President Donald Trump’s restrictions on foreign imports.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said that the company is “currently assessing various scenarios for additional localization in North America – among other things, to be closer to the needs of local customers and to make ourselves more resilient to global economic uncertainties.”
Although no firm decision was made this week,
DOGE employees, with the aid of a master key and DC Metropolitan Police Department officers, finally gained control of the massive office building in Foggy Bottom on Monday, ending a standoff by US Institute of Peace bureaucrats barricaded in their offices. On Monday evening, DOGE employees accompanied by MPD officers and high-ranking administration officials stormed the building using a master key provided by the building security service, precipitating a brief scuffle before the building was liberated.
Of course, a man’s aesthetic would absolutely trigger the liberal ladies of The View. The Thursday edition of the ABC News show featured the cast having a collective meltdown over President Trump sprucing up the Oval Office with images and objects he enjoyed; you know, the thing all presidents got to do. The hot air was blowing as they freaked out over Trump’s choice of décor and suggesting he was acting like a “king” and feared for the future. The pearl clutching began with fill-in moderator Joy Behar fretting: “Is there no safe place to go anymore with this guy?”
“All the world’s a stage, and the men and women merely players,” wrote William Shakespeare in “As You Like It.” It’s a simple, straightforward metaphor: In the game of life, everyone has a part to play.
Furthermore, all the parts matter. Like your third-grade teacher told you (after giving you the smallest, lousiest part in the school play), “There are no small roles, only small actors. Go stand in the background and pretend to be a tree, or something.”
The metaphor actually works better with political parties than in the outside world, because political parties are closed ecosystems. In partisan politics, the “players” have clearly defined roles;
Tim Walz Apparently Thinks He Is a Woman
12 replies
Well, not quite. I used that headline for the sake of amusement, but Walz clearly does have a problem with how people perceive his masculinity, and he sure does seem to have an unnatural obsession with alphabet ideology, hanging around with young gay men, and a lot of less-than-masculine traits.
During the campaign, he pranced and danced, used his "jazz hands," kicked in excitement like he were a Rockette, and was, generally speaking, quite weird. Weird enough that after Harris put him out front for much of the campaign, she decided to put him in Witness Protection toward the end. He was as appealing as Herpes to most men.