Look — The MSM Says The Loud Part… Softly (Or, Not At All). Leaves Out Key Info, For US Citizen Travelers, Today. Yikes.

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Ahem. By long-standing, undisputed federal statutes, my US Passport must be accepted at all US airports –as my valid travel ID.

There can be no “add-on” (a/k/a junk) fees assessed — just because Tangerine wants everyone to get a “Real ID”, and submit to his cronies’ biometric monitoring.

I will never pay for a Real ID. Nor will I ever procure one.

I will keep my US Passport up to date, and will travel the globe with it — long after Trump is gone from the world stage. I encourage others to do the same. So… why the rant?

Today, the WSJ.com and ABC.com (and others) are reporting that starting in February 2026, TSA at many US airports will attempt to charge an added $45 fee, for passengers without a Real ID — those flying with “just” a State issued driver’s license. What the stories omit… is that if you have a passport, the TSA must accept that as evidence of identity for all domestic (and international) travel. Damn — e.g., see here:

…Travelers going through airport security checkpoints without a REAL ID or passport will face a $45 fee starting Feb. 1, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.

This fee is part of the agency’s next phase of the REAL ID implementation process and will require individuals to verify their identity through a biometric or biographic system if they don’t have a compliant form of identification before they’re permitted to cross through the checkpoint.

The announcement follows a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, but the agency increased the fee from its previously proposed amount of $18….

Stand on — and insist on — your rights. Your passport grants you all the privileges you need. Do not pay added (junk) fees. Especially not to… Trump and Musk (who clearly each want to collect and monetize the data streams from Real IDs). Onward.

नमस्ते

Good Bioscience / Vaccine News: The 2025 DRC Ebola Flare-Up Is… At An End!

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The dying might have stopped at fewer than five [all in there were 10X that many, this time — at least 45 fatalities] — in this sixteenth outbreak, had USAID not been sidelined by Musk and Trump. But this is good news, just the same: the 2025 Ebola outbreak in DRC has been arrested. Ended. Put down — with real bioscience (are you paying attention, RFK, Jr.?!).

Here is the WHO press release — overnight, in Africa — and a bit:

…Kinshasa — The Democratic Republic of the Congo today declared the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days since the last patient was discharged from treatment centre on 19 October 2025.

“On behalf of the government — and taking into account all the scientific and operational indicators confirming that the chain of transmission of the virus has been broken — I hereby officially declare the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare.

The rapid and coordinated response by the Ministry of Health, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, was pivotal in halting the spread of the virus which affected Bulape Health Zone, a rural community with limited road and telecommunication infrastructure. In total, 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths were recorded in the outbreak.

A total of 112 WHO experts and frontline responders were deployed to support the national authorities to swiftly scale up and sustain the response, and over 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment were delivered to protect health workers and communities….

To protect communities and health workers, more than 47,500 people were vaccinated against Ebola, with vaccination initially targeting contacts of people confirmed with the virus and later expanded to communities in and around Bulape….

Onward, into Monday’s sunshine — smiling, at what comes in just seven days, in Music City.

नमस्ते

What It Looks Like — When A Mob Family “Captures” 1600 Penn [Again] — Per The Guardian (UK).

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It simply cannot be over-stated. Trump, his paid-for bride and his failsons (and in-laws) are selling America to the highest bidder — and are pocketing graft, all along the way.

Likely now, into the high single digits of billions, for the family’s personal coffers. Here’s that all too UN-surprising story, from the Brits, at The Guardian:

…A crusading prosecutor in the Balkans comes under pressure to drop a big case. Vietnamese villagers learn they are to be evicted. A convicted crypto kingpin in the Gulf receives a pardon.

All have one thing in common: they appear to be connected to the Trump family’s campaign to amass riches around the world. Since Donald Trump’s re-election a year ago, warnings that his use of presidential power to advance personal interests is corroding American democracy have grown ever louder. What is less understood — and perhaps even more dangerous — is the damage this is doing everywhere else.

Trump’s eldest sons, Don Jr and Eric, formally the custodians of the family business, are conducting a global dealmaking blitz. They have broken ground on new golf courses, received permission for new skyscrapers, rented out the Trump brand, and in cryptocurrency they have embraced a venture with the capacity to bring in more than everything that has gone before….

Kristofer Harrison, a senior foreign policy official under President George W. Bush — who now runs an anti-corruption organisation called the Dekleptocracy Project — is among those accusing the Trumps of operating a “pay to play” system that benefits those who do business with the president’s family.

Such an approach could be manipulated, he said, especially by rival powers such as China. He said: “Trump has made authoritarians’ wildest dreams come true….”

To anyone with a working fore-brain, the conflicts of interest — and thus, the resulting payoffs/bribes are… obvious. But thus far, no court of law has found that the Trump Family™ is a… criminal enterprise. We all already know it is. Damn.

नमस्ते

Again, From Mirengoff: Good Recognition — But “Too Little; Too Late”, Man…

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This overnight diatribe by Paul correctly opens by noting that Donald Trump is damaging the rule of law.

But it turns out that all Paul is doing is using that observation as a springboard to complain about judges who are noting the very same facts that animated Mirengoff’s opening paragraphs.

And, as I’ve said repeatedly, everything Trump does is the responsibility of these feckless, whining, regular GOP members… who for him perhaps three times (and certainly, at least twice), knowing full well that his character flaws would lead to this moment without doubt.

So again, Paul refuses to acknowledge that the phone calls are coming from inside the house.

He and the PowerLine boys have much to atone for in the decades ahead.

Out.

The Able USDC Judge Vargas In Manhattan Has Entered A Sunday Order: Noemites To Report By 5 PM Eastern, Tomorrow — On Ms. McDonald’s Freedom.

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As we reported yesterday, Kristi Noem failed to comply with a federal court immediate release order, under a “great writ” petition– i.e., a habeas corpus petition.

There will be fireworks, if tomorrow’s “Noem Report” doesn’t include proof of Ms. McDonald’s return to NYC, and release without conditions. Here’s the latest text-only order:

…ORDER

Respondents shall file an additional status letter no later than December 1, 2025, at 5pm certifying compliance with the Court’s order regarding Petitioner’s transport to the District and release from custody.

(HEREBY ORDERED by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas) (Text Only Order) (Vargas, Jeannette)….

Now you know. Onward, resolutely, after ’25 gingerbread house construction sessions. Smile.

नमस्ते

Space Sundays: Four “Shells” Around Two Ancient Wolf-Rayet Stars — At Apep (2XMM J160050.7-514245)

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These paired oddballs are billions of years old, and were spotted (only a thousand or so are thought to exist, in our galaxy of hundreds and hundreds of billions of stars, here alone — among billions of galaxies) with the aid of the JWST. But to be fair, the proper quadrant of the sky in which to look for them was first confirmed… with Earth-based telescopes.

Here’s the latest, from SciNews.com:

…Using the NASA/ESA/CSA JWST with data from ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), two teams of astronomers have captured a mid-infrared image of a system of four serpentine spirals of dust around two aging Wolf-Rayet stars in a system known as Apep (2XMM J160050.7-514245)….

In new research, Macquarie University astronomer Ryan White and colleagues aimed to refine the orbit of the Wolf-Rayet stars in the Apep system….

“This is a one-of-a-kind system with an extremely long orbital period,” White said. “The next longest orbit for a dusty Wolf-Rayet binary is about 30 years. Most have orbits between two to 10 years.” The team’s paper was published simultaneously in the Astrophysical Journal with another paper, led by Caltech astronomer Yinuo Han.

“Looking at the new JWST observations was like walking into a dark room and switching on the light — everything came into view,” Dr. Han said.

These are truly unwasted-grace gossamer beauties, interleaved, and interlaced — on a scale of hundreds of light years across, in all dimensions. Wow.

See the full 41 second NASA animation, below:

Now you know — with a three day stint in Music City, only a week out, now [what wonders will that… reveal? We shall see.]… smile.

नमस्ते

Inner City Press Reports On Ms. McDonald’s Case — Wrongfully Grabbed, In NYC — And Sent (Yet Again!) To Jena/Alexandria, Louisiana…

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The able USDC Judge Vargas in Manhattan has granted habeas, and ordered that Ms. McDonald be returned to Foley Square, by tonight, and immediately released, by Monday morning.

The Noemites claimed they had “too many prisoners to move around” on a holiday weekend — and failed to comply with this clear habeas order. However, the Noemites say she will be in New York by tomorrow, and then presumably released on Monday, without bail or additional conditions by Judge Vargas. Yet here again, the Kristi Noem approach is to make the process the penalty. Damn her. Here’s a bit from Matthew Russell Lee:

[From the opinion:] For over… two years and 10 months, Petitioner “was released and began attending her hearings as scheduled,” including “various hearings w[h]ere the immigration judge ha[d] granted her time to procure counsel.” Petition at 3; Hampton Decl., ¶¶ 13-16. On November 7, 2025, Petitioner appeared at her third master calendar hearing at 26 Federal Plaza. Hampton Decl., ¶ 16. At the conclusion of her scheduled court appearance that day, Petitioner alleges that she was “arrested by ICE/DHS with no explanation and without the presentation of any legal documents….”

[From Matthew’s exclusive reporting:] …On November 26 after 5 pm Judge Vargas ordered “[The Noemites] to transport Petitioner back to the Southern District of New York by November 29, 2025, to immediately release her from custody following that transfer, and to certify compliance with this order no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2025….”

On November 29 the US Attorney’s Office wrote… “Due to a large number of detainees in movement at Alexandria [Louisiana] ICE did not place Petitioner on her scheduled flight to Mesa, Arizona on November 28. She is now scheduled to leave on November 30….”

Of course, getting eastward out of Arizona to New York may well be hampered by the near foot of snow likely to fall, on the Eastern Great Lakes overnight. So, as Matthew will keep us informed, we will so inform… you. Onward — with a thank you to Matthew Russell Lee… and with more kiddos departing tomorrow from here, for points westward.

नमस्ते

Paul’s Is… Good. But 8 Years… Too Late.

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Every bit of Trump 1.0 was as incompetent as Trump 2.0

But the GOP was once masterful — at hiding his incompetence — back then.

Many of “the magicians” hiding his incompetence quit helping him, when he caused the January 6, 2021… Quasi-insurrection.

So yeah, it is nice that Mirengoff admits 2.0 — nearly in its entirety — is incompetent.

But all these Ringsiders and Powerliners worked to re-elect the crook — knowing full well that he was both incompetent and morally compromised.

Paul makes great mention of the fact that he can’t seem to even run vindictive prosecutions very well…

Meanwhile, over at Powerline, John is celebrating that it took over four years to get a dismissal on just one Georgia count against Trump.

In Comey‘s case, it took less than four weeks. That is because there was no “there there”. But we all saw Trump lie about the 2020 results. It is one thing to question an election’s outcome, Hinderaker — but it is entirely another to lie about votes you never got, and then order your underlings to “go find votes”, long after the election is over.

In sum, it is something else for you to do this without even the slightest basis in fact, all while claiming that you were the real winner.

That is — as John well knows, a felony.

But most of all, my point here is that every bit of the malaise the United States is suffering, now… these guys specifically knew would come — and specifically chose to vote in favor of it all.

They all should be tarred and feathered.

Out.

Good News! — Vaccinations, And PSAs, Have Ended The Recent Chicago Mpox Outbreak, Of Summer 2025…

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The public awareness campaign was every bit as important as getting contacts… vaccinated. The effort throughout August, until last week… has paid off.

And here is that excellent news — from a local Chicago neighborhood paper / outlet, called Windy City Times (historically a paper that covered LGBTQ+ stories the MSM shied away from):

…Mpox cases in Chicago have fallen sharply after a summer spike, and health officials say the outbreak is now over.

Since June, 164 mpox cases have been reported in Chicago, but the numbers have steadily declined over the past month, according to Stephanie Black, MD, communicable disease medical director at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

At the height of the spike in September and early October, Chicago saw as many as 14 new mpox cases per week. By mid-November, new infections had fallen to about two per week, which moved Chicago out of what the department defines as an outbreak.

“The outbreak is over,” Black said….

Onward, to more airport pickup runs! Woot.

नमस्ते

Democratic Party Approaches: Still “Winning” New Price Relief — On Widely Taken Drugs In US…

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This is the reasoned, lawful US method for getting drug prices under control. The Democratic Party pioneered this careful measured approach — in 2021-23.

Idiotic, impotent Tangerine 2.0 bluster hasn’t worked. Rounds of negotiations on the first ten, and now the next 15… most widely prescribed meds… have. Here is the latest, from the NYT:

…The 15 drugs include widely used inhalers and treatments for cancer, diabetes and depression. The negotiations were enabled by a law enacted during the Biden administration without any Republican votes.

The government stands to save billions of dollars from the new prices, which take effect in 2027 and will only apply for Medicare. Had the new prices been in effect in 2024, the administration said, Medicare would have saved $12 billion, which would have reduced its spending on those drugs by 44 percent….

…Medicare beneficiaries already will benefit from a cap on their out-of-pocket expenses for drugs taken at home. In 2027, those costs will be capped at roughly $2,200, depending on inflation and Medicare’s drug spending [due to Biden era initiatives]….

Now you know. Onward, smiling.

नमस्ते