Author: condor

Hinderaker — On Specious Polling — About The Support For Trump’s “Tooth Fairy” Ideas…

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This morning, Hinderaker claims that a Rasmussen(!) poll supports Tangerine 2.0’s central agenda item.

The nutjobs preposterously “polled” whether people agree with the catch-phrase (i.e., NOT any articulable set of policies!) “drain the swamp“. [Even so, interestingly — the “in favors” were only 44% — compared to 39% opposing. so less than half of Americans like it, and by only about a 5% margin. Hilarious.]

Putting aside that Hinderaker, let alone the rest of America, doesn’t even have any concrete idea of what that entails, or how it would work, in any sensible, non-Muskian WWF style sh!t-show video clip on X-itter (in an actual, practical set of policies)… we have a few other salient observations:

First, and most of all, once rural and mostly whyte Appalachian voters start seeing their lunch programs, new text-books and i-Pads for school kids end… they may not love it. [That is, if loony Tangerine 2.0 actually ends the Dept. of Ed.]

When we start seeing hundreds of kids die of measles / viral infections, in West Texas and rural New Mexico… and RFK, Jr. tells parents to give the afflicted cod liver oil after the fact, rather than vaccinating them in advance… I think his “drained swamp” won’t be very popular in the face of footage of dozens of tiny coffins.

When ebola and mpox become common outbreak problems inside the US… I think these same over-sampled voters will have a change of heart.

But in point of fact, they don’t really know what Trump means — because Trump doesn’t… mean… anything.

He himself doesn’t even understand (and will never care enough about people of limited means to learn!) the service-providing function of government well enough, to sensibly dismantle it. And he, and Rubio and Musk have now proved that — by losing close to 40 federal cases already.

Ah — but good luck with your happy talk, just the same old Johnnie. When your own MAGAts come for you, with pitch-folks… we will stand back, and stand by — and wave at the tar and feather parade… as it drags you loons down the lane. Hilarious.

Out.

There Is Simply No Plausible Case For NOT IMMEDIATELY “Turning Back On” The DRAWN Letters Of Credit — Via USAID Politicos. They Now Defy Multiple FINAL Court Orders.

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To be sure, we saw this same cha-cha — from Marco Rubio after the ACA of 2010 became the law of the land. He and Cruz did all they could to thwart federal court orders to grant coverage to people of limited means. But that experience (he lost, all up and down the line) makes this all the worse. He well-knows there is no plausible basis, for what he does now.

The able USDC Judge Amir Ali, in DC has told the parties to get sworn information to him no later than Monday, so that he might rule on a firm factual footing, out of yesterday’s hearing.

It appears that Rubio and Musk and Trump and the minions of each… are now engaged in bad-faith foot dragging. There were about $250 million in already processed and approved letters of credit available to charitable grantees, as of the moment the TRO was entered. To date, only about $70 million of those L/Cs have been “reinstated” — or turned back on, if you will.

There is zero excuse for this. And Judge Ali may need to soon start — with contempt orders/jailings — for these malign morons’ thwarting of federal orders. Here’s the latest, for Monday morning — and a bit from a full text order entered late Friday afternoon:

…[Further Status Report:] As to invoices, the six GHC individual Plaintiffs have advised counsel that, collectively, since March 5, they have received payments on a total of 44 invoices in an aggregate amount of approximately $21.6 million. Furthermore, one GHC individual Plaintiff (DAI Global, LLC) has advised counsel that, shortly before this filing, it was notified of approximately 60 additional payments that it expects to receive on Monday. The GHC Plaintiffs respectfully submit that access to letter-of-credit facilities should be restored immediately….

[Separate] MINUTE ORDER.

…As discussed at yesterday’s hearing, the Court believes it would be helpful to have additional information to serve as benchmarks in assessing feasibility in reaching compliance with the TRO. These benchmarks will allow the Court to continue to provide clarity as to what is needed for compliance with the TRO, while ensuring that due regard is given to feasibility. As the parties discussed, such benchmarks would also be pertinent to the Court’s consideration of any relief to be granted in a preliminary injunction.

The Court is in receipt of Defendants’ [Team Tangerine 2.0’s] notice stating that they are not currently able to provide information regarding the number of payments processed for Plaintiffs as it relates to Defendants’ paragraph 10 in the parties’ [50] joint status report, and may need until noon on Monday to provide this information. If Plaintiffs can offer any information or estimate as to how many outstanding invoices were processed in the period described, they should provide that information to the Court as soon as possible.

Furthermore, in the interest of facilitating the Court’s ruling with respect to enabling letter of credit drawdown and reimbursement requests for Plaintiffs and their members, the parties shall confer and file a brief joint status report by 5:00 p.m. today addressing whether such requests have been enabled and, if not, the agreed upon timeline for doing so.

Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 3/7/2025….

Now you may plainly see… these guys think they are not required to obey laws they disagree with. Tangerine is soon going to see… this idiotic “strategy“… leads only to potential jailings — and massive personal fines — for his minions.

नमस्ते

Now, A Second Toppled Lunar Lander — For Intuitive Machines — Results In Dramatically Shortened Lunar Mission…

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While the other private craft on the lunar surface, called Firefly, is doing quote well — this one, called Athena, is at end of mission after only 24 hours. Since it is laying on its side, it cannot deploy the lil rover, or the drill rig — and other than some early readings, it will not transmit any additional data.

Still it was a soft landing, and it did power up — it just landed on uneven ground, despite a self- guiding camera system… and is now a cold brick. Here’s the Beeb on all that:

…A private spacecraft that landed lopsided on the Moon does not have enough power to complete its mission, says the company Intuitive Machines.

Athena touched down on the lunar South Pole shortly after 1730GMT (1230EST) on Thursday, but it later was revealed the craft had landed on its side.

It was supposed to spend 10 days searching for water ice, but the position of its solar panels and the cold temperatures of the rocky region mean it cannot recharge….

“With the direction of the sun, the orientation of the solar panels, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Intuitive Machines does not expect Athena to recharge,” the company said in a statement about the mission called IM-2.
Last year Intuitive Machines’ first spacecraft also landed on its side, breaking a leg….

My understanding is that the Nokia cell network demonstrated its capabilities effectively. Sadly, though, the Intuitive Machines company stock fell about 25% yesterday — on Friday, on the NASDAQ — as it became clear that images showed it laying prone. Now you know. Space is a hard mug, man.

नमस्ते

New Sworn Evidence — Against Marco Rubio’s Lawless Gutting Of USAID Monies ALREADY AWARDED… In DC Dist. Ct. Case 25-cv-400, Yesterday.

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As we listened in yesterday to USDC Judge Ali’s hearing, on remand from the Supremes, we heard numerous allusions to testimony and sworn statements from USAID workers on the ground — they uniformly tell a tale of Marco Rubio, Elon Musk and others directing workers to make up specious post hoc justifications, for the rash and unlawful, it turns out, firings of workers, and shut-offs of monies already awarded, into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

As we often hear, it is the cover up of the crime that gets people tripped up — not so much the crime itself. Well, in this case, Mr. Rubio clearly directed his reports at USAID to send out an email on March 6, 2025 — to all people responsible for administering and documenting federal contracts for grants-in-aid… specifically ordering them to make up post hoc reasons and rationales, for the PRIOR immediate, indiscriminate shut down of all contracts. [I’ve imaged one such screen grab — from one of the affidavits filed yesterday — at lower right of the image at upper right.]

The affidavit is from a “Doe” — to prevent retaliation for whistle-blowing (though their lawyers have verified their identity) — and sets forth the following, in pertinent part — in a six page sworn declaration:

…I continue to fear that the Administration will retaliate against me for whistleblowing. As a result, I have redacted the receipt time of the email so as not to reveal the time zone in which I am stationed….

The email directed us to review a list of terminated awards, and to issue an expanded termination notice “tailored to the specific award and implementing partner, referencing the relevant clauses or provisions within the award.”

This directive is consistent with my understanding and belief that there was no prior case-by-case review of terminated contracts, awards, and grants.

…[W]e are being directed to come up with post-hoc rationalizations for the decision by USAID leadership to issue blanket terminations of thousands of awards.

Executed on March 7, 2025….

This — of course — would be unlawful. And we expect the longer term injunction will issue shortly out of Judge Ali’s DC courtroom next week. To be certain, this is the sort of nonsense the Watergate defendants engaged in, as well. Just for those keeping score at home. Onward, resolutely — ever, resolutely.

नमस्ते

Silly Saturday Trivia: Rudy Giuliani’s Manhattan Penthouse Listed For Sale — At Almost “30% Off!”, This Time…

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Well, as proof that the capable and long-suffering Georgia state election workers are getting a very substantial settlement, and that someone is providing some form of “bridge” financing (until Rudy closes the sale of that penthouse overlooking Central Park, on 66th), the Co-Op space is on sale, at a “hurried liquidation” price — nearly 30% off of what it last listed for, in 2023.

Recall that the former Hizzoner still faces a felony election fraud trial in Arizona in January 2026 (which may yet lead to multiple years of jail time), and he has LOTS of other judgment creditors chasing him, after his bankruptcy case was dismissed (without a discharge from debts) about 18 months ago, for suspicions about abuse of that process.

In sum, he is very, very far from out of the woods here, as he approaches his 81st birthday, come May. Here’s the Guardian (UK) on the latest — and, it has me… grinning. I admit it:

…Rudy Giuliani has relisted his Upper East Side penthouse with a $1.4 million price cut after settling his legal battle with two Georgia election workers. In October, a judge ordered the former New York City mayor to turn over his possessions, including his apartment at 45 East 66th Street, as part of a $148 million defamation lawsuit he lost in 2023.

Last month, a settlement was reached allowing Giuliani to keep his apartment and other belongings in exchange for an unspecified compensation for the two election workers.

Now the disbarred lawyer and former Trump advisor is trying again to offload the three-bedroom home for $5.175 million; he first listed the property for $6.5 million in 2023….

Yep — it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, and whoever fronted the money to settle the libel and defamation suits… is probably pressing to get at least some of his/her/their money back out — before all of Rudy’s remaining assets fall to the hands of other judgment creditors around the nation — especially in Arizona next year after the election fraud felonies trial. Yikes.

नमस्ते

And… After Musk’s Of Last Evening… Do Take Your Time SPHEREx! Now Scheduled For Saturday Night, March 8, 2025…

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This is now the fourth delay of the launch, in the last nine days. [Are you paying attention, Elon?!]

But far from a complaint — this is a pat on the back.

This is how it is done — and done right. We do not go… until EVERYONE says we are 100% go flight. So there is a press conference today at 3:30 pm Eastern to update on the tick-tock, now for tomorrow night’s liftoff. We thought it might have gone as early as last Tuesday… but as ever — safety first.

…NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than Saturday, March 8, for the launch of the agency’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions. The additional time will allow SpaceX to complete rocket preparations ahead of liftoff.

The launch window opens at 10:09 p.m. EST (7:09 p.m. PST) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The prelaunch news briefing now is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, with coverage streaming live on NASA+….

The SPHEREx and PUNCH live launch broadcast will begin at 9:15 p.m., Saturday, March 8, and stream live on NASA+….

Now you know. Onward, to a Saturday night in the saddle, on the rocket range… smile.

नमस्ते

The Rare But Dangerous Lassa Fever Virus Has Been Seen, In England — In A Traveler Returning From Visiting Nigeria…

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The potential for so, so many largely-avoidable ills… to become serious public health emergencies… is going to be an ongoing theme here, at our blog. The choice of the US to ignore the risk this will entail — here on our own shores… is staggering.

I guess this proves the adage — elect a clown; expect a circus. The UK authorities are doing an excellent job of running the contacts of this sole traveler to ground, but here in the US — should a similar traveler arrive — it is highly likely we will never know, due to the chaos Elon and Tangerine 2.0 have wrought in our pandemic defense efforts. Damnation. In any event, here is the latest from across the pond:

…A case of Lassa fever, a viral illness that can cause Ebola-like symptoms, has been confirmed in a person who recently travelled to England from Nigeria, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced.

The individual travelled while experiencing symptoms and was subsequently diagnosed after returning to Nigeria.

UKHSA is now working to trace and contact individuals who may have been in contact with the infected person during their time in England….

So it goes. We face an electorate, inside the US, at the moment… perhaps more backward, and less educated than any in over a century.

They think tariffs help them (but in fact are simply an unlegislated and punitive tax — on the working poor); they think vaccines are a conspiracy to control them (but they save their lives)… and far too many of them worry too much about people who’ve chosen a peaceful path in life, but one that may differ from their own — often with a sad form of. . . hatred (in the main, they could just look the other way; and live their own life). But the hard right has convinced them that all of the above victimizes them, personally.

Damn. Onward, just the same. Be safe out there. Get your shots.

नमस्ते

In Which We Begin To Wonder Whether Elon Musk Is Not Quite The Fine Engineer He Claims To Be: Unscheduled Anomaly For A Sixth Time, After Liftoff(?).

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Of course, as we always say — space is… hard. And at any moment, any one small thing can undo years of good work.

Even so, the Falcon Heavy engine was (supposedly) pretty well-vetted — tested and true. Yet again, last evening we learned that the second stage firing caused the craft to lose attitude control, and then the entire upper section disintegrated over the Gulf [OF MEXICO, boys!]. This was supposed to be the year that Elon would accelerate his launch schedule, in prep for… yup, boots on Mars. These similar — back to back — failures in the second stage engines… portend a rather persistent design problem. Something is breaking after Max G. And it seems Elon’s team doesn’t really know what it is — or how to even begin fixing it. Yikes. Here’s the UK Guardian on it on this “morning after” / hangover:

…SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded on Thursday minutes after lifting off from Texas, dooming an attempt to deploy mock satellites in the second consecutive failure this year for Elon Musk’s Mars rocket program.

Several videos on social media showed fiery debris streaking through the dusk skies near south Florida and the Bahamas after Starship’s breakup in space, which occurred shortly after it began to spin uncontrollably with its engines cut off, a SpaceX livestream of the mission showed.

The failure comes just more than a month after the company’s seventh Starship flight also ended in an explosive failure….

Well… forgive me, but maybe his work at PayPal didn’t really qualify as “rocket science“. And maybe — just maybe — having a daddy who owned an Apartheid era emerald mining company, while he lived in a barricaded whytes only high end enclave… didn’t really prepare him for life in the real world… and maybe… it is not all that’s messed up, about him, here.

नमस्ते

Now Another MEASLES FATALITY — Inside New Mexico?! What Is Wrong With You People?!

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Look, some months ago, in late November of 2024 — we wrote about how measles had all but been eradicated in the western world. But we all knew there were pockets inside our own United States… that were not even being careful about their stances. They simply ignored all scientific advice. Thousands are dying in DRC right now of measles.

There is zero excuse for any US child to die of measles, any longer. But that is just what’s happened in New Mexico, this week. Thanks Mr. Kennedy. Damn. Damn. Damn. There will be more deaths — of that you may be sure. That is how viral transmission works, people. Here’s the NYT on our currently very sad bio-scientific / public health risk abatement state of affairs under RFK, Jr.:

…An unvaccinated person who died in New Mexico has tested positive for measles, state health officials said on Thursday, possibly the second such fatality in a growing outbreak that began in West Texas.

The officials have not yet confirmed that measles was the cause of death, and said the person did not seek medical treatment before dying.

The announcement came a little over a week after a child died of measles in Gaines County, Texas, the first such death in the United States in 10 years….

Seriously. Truly, this is… not the way modern humans, with ample resources… should ever conduct themselves — or risk their children’s very lives. Dammit.

नमस्ते

Politicos At CDC: “We Didn’t MEAN To Fire You. Come Back!”

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This crew of malign morons… will never run out of ways… to screw up.

Today over 100 fired CDC Science staffers have received an email telling them to come back to work immediately. This was directly after they had been fired a week and a half ago. The email read “open this immediately!”

…Emails went out Tuesday to some Centers for Disease Control and Prevention probationary employees who got termination notices last month, according to current and former CDC employees.

A message seen by the AP was sent with the subject line, “Read this e-mail immediately.” It said that “after further review and consideration,” a Feb. 15 termination notice has been rescinded and the employee was cleared to return to work on Wednesday. “You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” it said. “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused….”

“MAY” have caused?! These Tangerine 2.0 / Musk politicos… can’t be trusted with any job — even filling water balloons — let alone science hiring decisions. Well, you couldn’t make up a less competent administration, if you tried.

Out.

नमस्ते