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NPR’s “All Things Considered” — Yup, Agreed — Sen. Mark Kelly: Trump And Hegseth Don’t Understand The US Constitution…

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NPR’s long running public affairs / interview show ran a segment with US Senator (and former US Astronaut / Commander and US Navy pilot) Mark Kelly online, tonight.

He very patiently — and devastatingly — explained how and why these morons might “investigate all the live-long day“… but he and his colleagues plainly were uttering protected and lawful speech, and redressing valid grievances, on matters of substantial public concern, under US law. Moreover, they are all duly-elected representatives of the people.

It is both their right — and duty — to speak for… the people.

Here’s a bit of it — and a link:

…Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told NPR “it just doesn’t make any sense” for him to face a military court-martial after he and other Democratic lawmakers released a video reminding active-duty troops that they do not have to follow illegal orders.

On Monday, the Pentagon announced an investigation into Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot, for possible violations of military law for appearing in the video. The video was published as legal questions swirl around the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities….

Indeed. Now you know. It was indeed busy, whilst I was away. Onward, grinning.

नमस्ते

OSIRIS Apex Recently Took A “Slingshotter’s Glide” Past Earth, Again — Now Headed Out…

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She’s headed out to Apophis, now (arriving 2029)… smile.

Here’s all the latest, on the extended mission, now from NASA:

…At 1:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 23, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Apophis Explorer) spacecraft flew within 2,136 miles (3,438 kilometers) of Earth.

During approach and as OSIRIS-APEX passed Earth, it looked home, capturing images and data of our home planet to help calibrate its science instruments….

During the spacecraft’s primary mission, the StowCam instrument was used to verify the capsule full of sample from asteroid Bennu was safely stowed and prepared to journey back to Earth. Now, StowCam provides a view of the instrument panel, including the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter, provided by the CSA (Canadian Space Agency) to create detailed 3D topographical maps of Bennu….

Now you know. Onward with lots of airport pickups in the next day and a half… smile.

नमस्ते

More Lies, From Miller/Trump/Noem — Regarding Abrego Garcia’s Asylum Options — About Costa Rica…

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Yawn. As we work our way closer to the evidentiary hearings on December 8-9, 2025 in Music City, more and more sworn filings are appearing — to document Kristi Noem’s ongoing and brazen lies — about Mr. Abrego Garcia (and his asylum status for various friendly foreign countries — willing to accept him, and his family — and offer safe a haven until Trump is out of office at least).

This is just one more in a long string of them — Noem wants to send him to Liberia — where he has no contacts, and might be in grave danger. To malignantly justify the cruel attempt, the government continues to claim that Costa Rica has not agreed to accept Abrego on a humanitarian basis — and that any such asylum transfer will require long negotiations with the US government (Noem / Trump / Miller). That is a facially preposterous lie. But of course, if the able judges (in Tennessee and/or Maryland) allows it, Trump will just refuse to negotiate in good faith, throw up his hands and demand to send Abrego to Ghana or Liberia.

And so, here is the truth of it all, in court filed pleadings — form officails in Costa Rica. Here is the pleading, in Nashville, overnight — and the Wa Po statement:

…A high-ranking Costa Rican official said late Friday that the country remains willing to accept the deportation of Kilmar Abrego García, rebutting the Trump administration’s claims that the only possible destination for the Salvadoran immigrant is the West African nation of Liberia.

Security Minister Mario Zamora Cordero told The Washington Post that he had informed the U.S. Embassy in San José in August that the government would accept Abrego on humanitarian grounds and provide him legal residency. He reiterated that Costa Rica has the “highest human rights standards” and would receive Abrego “under humanitarian conditions that guarantee the full respect for his rights and liberties.”

“That position that we have expressed in the past remains valid and unchanged to this day,” Zamora Cordero said in a statement, responding to questions from The Post….

[And from the pleading:]…The government has made no secret that it is willing to punish Mr. Abrego by any means, even when that involves falsehoods and violations of law—and it now seeks to deport him to a distant third country in Africa where he does not speak the language, has no connections, and questions remain as to whether he would live freely. The government has tried again and again: first Uganda, then Eswatini and Ghana, and now Liberia. In his immigration proceedings, Mr. Abrego has designated Costa Rica as his country of removal, as is his statutory right. See 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(2)(A)(i).

That country had previously offered written assurances, as of August 21, 2025, that it would accept Mr. Abrego as a refugee, grant him legal status, and prevent his refoulement to El Salvador….

Now you know. What a pack of reprobates these folks are. Onward — estar agradecido — té gracias!

नमस्ते

PSA: Don’t Sell Your Merck Shares To Tutanota LLC!

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From time to time, disreputable people try to fleece mostly retirees out of their long held blue chip stocks.

This is one of those times. An entity called Tutanota is offering only $65 a share for Merck stock, and will only buy up to one million shares.

The rub is that Merck common stock is trading at nearly $100 on the New York Stock Exchange as of Friday afternoon, and will likely open very near $100 on Monday morning.

So if you’re thinking about selling, use the New York Stock Exchange, your E*TRADE account or your favorite broker. Do not transfer your shares into this deceptively priced mini tender. Here’s the latest on it all:

…Tutanota LLC (Tutanota) has commenced an unsolicited “mini-tender” offer, dated November 10, 2025, to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Merck common stock at $65.00 per share. The offer price is approximately 24.66% below the closing price of Merck common stock on November 7, 2025 ($86.28), the last trading day before the date of the offer, and approximately 31.56% below the closing price of Merck common stock on November 20, 2025 ($94.97), the day prior to this release.

Merck does not endorse Tutanota’s offer and recommends that Merck shareholders reject the offer and not tender their shares in response to Tutanota’s unsolicited mini-tender offer. This mini-tender offer is at a price below the closing price for Merck’s shares (as of the day prior to this release) and is subject to numerous conditions, including Tutanota’s ability to obtain financing. Merck is not associated in any way with Tutanota, its mini-tender offer or the offer documentation….

Now you know, and stay bundled up against the cold tonight… and hope for a win. I know I will. I’ve got all my ski gear with me! Grin!

नमस्ते

Hinderaker Whines; GOP Dies On The Vine. And, MTG May Run For President — Fracturing MAGA!

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Hinderaker largely misses the import of Marjorie Taylor Greene announcing that she won’t seek another term in the US House, this morning.

John fusses about the mess she is making primarily for Tangerine 2.0. What he entirely misses is that she is doing so with the intention of announcing a likely independent candidacy for the presidency in 2028.

Obviously, she will siphon off what would be GOP voters — for whatever miscreant that party runs come 2028. That’s what John should really be worried about.

Onward, grinning.

Breaking: Will Kennedy Next Endorse… Blood-Letting?!

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Damn that RFK, Jr. Just… dammit.

This is simply stupefying… And ugly. And dangerous.

…The CDC altered a webpage Wednesday dealing with autism and vaccines to state that the idea that vaccines don’t cause autism “is not an evidence-based claim.”

The page notes that “studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism,” adding that “Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.”

The development was first reported by The New York Times….

Ahem. There is a “possibilty” that our Sun will go supernova at exactly 6:45 am tomorrow and extinguish all life on Earth — seven minutes later. Truly, we can’t rule it… out. That’s his standard — ugh?!

Out, on the road. Maybe more, later — almost too depressing… for any rational dialogue.

नमस्ते

Power Alley: In The US Merck v. German Merck Long Running Lanham Act Litigation, A Significant Ruling On Expert Testimony Admissabilty. Opinion Sealed For Now Only.

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The final order from the able USDC Judge Esther Salas, in Newark — with its conclusions — but not the reasoning… is now on the public docket. [This is (in all its iterations) clearly a multi-billion dollar dispute, lasting on and off now, from 1917 and the Treaty of Versailles — to this morning, in courtrooms dotting the globe. Who really owns the corporate wordmark called “Merck”? Wow.]

Here it is in full — until a redacted written opinion is available — and here is a bit of it. We know this ought to settle, as we have long said.

…ORDERED that Defendant’s [German Merck’s] Motion to Exclude Certain Opinions & Testimony of [US Merck’s] Plaintiffs’ Expert Dominique M. Hanssens, (D.E. No. 261), is DENIED; and it is further

ORDERED that [US Merck’s] Plaintiffs’ Motion to Exclude Overseas Trademark Use & Foreign Litigations, i.e., to preclude [German Merck] from presenting any evidence, argument, or reference to overseas trademark use & foreign litigations, pursuant to Federal Rules of Evidence 401, 402, & 403, (D.E. No. 262), is GRANTED-IN-PART and DENIED-IN-PART. [US Merck’s] Plaintiffs’ motion is granted to the extent that they seek to exclude any evidence of foreign litigation from presentation to the jury. [US Merck’s] Plaintiffs’ motion is otherwise DENIED without prejudice….

* * *
ORDERED that the parties shall review the sealed Opinion and, on or before December 12, 2025, file either (i) a joint motion to seal pursuant to Local Civil Rule 5.3, attaching a version of the Opinion with proposed redactions; or (ii) a joint letter indicating that no redactions are necessary, and that they consent to unsealing the Opinion in its entirety. If the parties fail to comply with this directive, the Court will unseal the Opinion, in its entirety, without further notice….

Onward — grinning.

Finally — some progress here. Clearly the rulings are meant to encourage the two parties to “declare victory” — and find a negotiated “peace”. Wisely-so, too.

Housekeeping note: I will be off grid in the mountains for about eight days, now — tending to an elderly relative’s care — but will post an update here, if this redacted opinion appears on the public docket, before I reach Nashville (in a few weeks).

नमस्ते

Texas Natl. Guard Forces, Departing — From Suburban Chicagoland…

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That’s the latest from the NYT reporting on Sunday night.

The guard is also leaving Portland. That’s… a win.

…The Pentagon is withdrawing hundreds of National Guard soldiers from Chicago and Portland, Ore., just weeks after President Trump ordered them there…. Some 200 California National Guard troops who were sent to Portland and another 200 Texas National Guard members who were sent to Chicago will return to their home states beginning as early as Sunday, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the deployments….

A federal judge in Illinois issued a temporary restraining order last month blocking the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area. An appeals panel later upheld the lower-court judge’s decision and the U.S. Supreme Court is now weighing the issue….

Matt Hill, a spokesman for Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, said state officials had not yet been notified of the Pentagon’s action.

“While there are reports the Texas guard is leaving, the Trump Administration is also saying they will keep federalizing national guards to ‘ensure a constant, enduring, and long-term presence’ in cities,” Mr. Hill posted on social media. “Illinois will continue fighting for our state sovereignty, protecting people’s rights, and keeping our communities peaceful….”

Now you know.

नमस्ते

[U: Good orbital burn; Satellite flying free!] At About 10:30 PM Local Chicago Time, Tonight: The Coverage Of The Latest Sentinel 6-B Launch Will Begin…

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Let’s skew toward the hopeful, shall we? Yes… let’s.

Click this, or the image centered below the pull quote, to watch live — starting at 11:30 pm Eastern / 10:20 pm Central:

…Live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for Sentinel-6B, an international mission delivering critical sea level and ocean data to protect coastal infrastructure, improve weather forecasting, and support commercial activities at sea….

Yep. Now you know — and, onward to a better tomorrow.

नमस्ते

[U: Trump Praises Tucker?!] Bill Otis’s Quoted Letter Gets Much Right, About Heritage Foundation — And Especially So, Re The Blight Called Candace Owens. But It “Missed The First Off-Ramp,” In 2016 — And, Ever Since.

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Updated | Sunday night: As if to specifically prove my thesis, tonight the sitting preznit is praising Tucker Carlson, after he interviewed an avowed Nazi (Fuentes) and offered that narrative, in sympathetic terms. Res Ipsa, baby — Res Ipsa…. End updated portion.

I could rather snarkily observe that all that has happened… is that the most-odious (but widely held) Heritage views have come out from the shadows, and into the light. But that is not my point (true though it is, as a disinterested observer’s. . . observation). Heh.

My point is… that once Trumpism chose to embrace racism as a central platform (circa early 2015 — through to this very day)… it was all but inevitable… that he (and his people) would ultimately turn on… Jews, too.

That is what is happening with Tucker and Candace — and the remaining leadership of Heritage, thus (quoting from the professor’s private letter of resignation from Heritage — that Bill himself published, this morning, in full):

…Tucker is quickly following Candace Owens down the very dark path of Jewish conspiracy theories and defenses of Nazis. (After Candace’s “explanation” a couple years ago of Kristallnacht as a burning of communist books and not an attack on Jews, this was the final straw for me and my judgment has been repeatedly confirmed by her in the ensuing years.) Similar to Candace’s “just asking questions” strategy, Tucker is increasingly hosting friendly, head-nodding-in-agreement interviews with people who explicitly praise Nazis and are unrepentant in their antisemitic slurs of Jews and Israel, such as his interviews of Darryl Cooper….

Tucker’s friendly, smiling interview with Nick Fuentes, an avowed Nazi, was simply the nadir of Tucker’s increasing number of friendly interviews with nihilists and antisemites….

The object lesson, though Mr. Otis, is NOT that “taking a stand is courageous” (it is, in fact, courageous in these times) — no, the object lesson IS that this sort of ugly dangerous burping always leads… to worse.

Every last one of you… Paul, John, Scott and Steve — and you, Bill Otis… EXPLICITLY voted for this — by supporting the known racist and odious idiot Donald Trump.

The inevitability of this moment, with Marjorie Taylor Greene now receiving death threats, from inside her own party — and Candace and Tucker getting rich, by pandering to all “the deplorables” you guys embraced for 10 years… to win their votes… is just comically tragic.

You boys go fall on your fainting couches, and pretend to clutch your pearls, and smell your smelling salts… it is a silly charade — one that only you yourselves believe.

The rest of us… are happy to call each of you out, as complicit in the new genocide you and your people seek against the Jews.

We all knew this was what your coalition has always been about: demonizing an increasingly wide set of “the other-ness”.

Fuck you guys.

So yeah — spare me the professor’s (and your) thoughtful, measured replies — today. You were vacant in 2016, and in 2020 and in 2024 — each time, when it mattered.

Now ride the lightning — and die from within… within your own fetid political party’s [formerly willingly-welded] coalition — of these disparate monsters.

Out.