The Fourth Estate Becomes The Fourth Reich. Presenting The Brand-New Pentagon Press Corps:
Nearly one week since a rash of Pentagon journalists turned in their press credentials after refusing to sign a new restrictive press policy, the Defense Department announced a “new media” press corps, largely hailing from right-wing outlets.
According to a draft of the announcement obtained by The Washington Post ahead of Parnell’s tweet, the coalition of signatories includes the cable network Real America’s Voice, streaming service Lindell TV (started by MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell), the websites the Gateway Pundit, the Post Millennial, Human Events, the National Pulse, and RedState. It also includes Turning Point USA’s media brand Frontlines, as well as influencer Tim Pool’s Timcast, and a Substack-based newsletter called Washington Reporter. The memo said that “many independent journalists” also signed, but did not specify who they were.
Mike Lindell has a ‘streaming service’? Who knew?
Dog Bites America–Trump Lied About White House Project:
As roaring machinery tore down one side of the White House, President Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that he was having the entire East Wing demolished to make way for his 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a striking expansion of a project that is remaking the profile of one of the nation’s most iconic buildings.
Mr. Trump was unsentimental as news of the demolition spread. “It was never thought of as being much,” he said of the East Wing, which was home to the first lady’s office and spaces used for ceremonial purposes. “It was a very small building.”
The process of tearing down the East Wing was expected to be completed as soon as this weekend, two senior administration officials said, as Mr. Trump moved rapidly to carry out a passion project that he said was necessary to host state dinners and other events.
But the previously unannounced decision to demolish the East Wing was at odds with Mr. Trump’s previous statements about the project, and underscored his intention to blast through the sensibilities of many in Washington to continue putting a lasting imprint on the White House.
Al (not AI) made a good point yesterday. This has struck a public nerve except not with Democratic ‘leaders’ who could, but aren’t, expressing any outrage over this. Chris Coons couldn’t even be bothered to cut short his fitting for his latest Gore-Tex winter jacket (expandable seams!) to rush to a cable outlet to express ‘concern’. Hmmm, Chris ‘Puff Jacket’ Coons, somebody? Anybody?
Mike Johnson Is A Robot. There, I’ve said it. There is nothing remotely human about this guy. There is everything programmed about this guy:
Suxco Council Delays Action On Mega-Retail Project. Under its laissez-faire predecessors, the shovels would have been in the dirt as soon as the checks to the council members had cleared:
The Sussex County Council appears to be as divided as area residents over plans to build an enormous shopping center on a soybean field in the Lewes-Rehoboth Beach area.
On Tuesday, the council delayed a vote for at least six weeks on whether to rezone the land slated to become home to a Costco, Target and Whole Foods, as part of the Atlantic Fields shopping center.
The decision to delay a potential approval followed a five-hour public hearing that included testimony from the developer’s attorney who pleaded with the council to remember that a rezoning application is “not a popularity contest,” nor “a political decision.” (Oh, really?)
Over a dozen residents also made comments to the council, with all but one opposing the project, citing the increased road traffic it could bring.
“If built, our traffic increase will be felt immediately, and we will regret the day these doors open,” Sussex Preservation Coalition President Jill Hicks said.
During the meeting, Councilman Matt Lloyd expressed support for Atlantic Fields because of the estimated 1,700 full-time jobs it would create. He also questioned many nearby residents’ assertion that the shopping center should be built somewhere else.
But Councilwoman Jane Gruenebaum said the jobs Atlantic Fields would create are too low-paying for an area that is already struggling to provide affordable housing for its workers.
For example, Costco pays its employees a minimum wage of $20 an hour, according to Reader’s Digest. The wage is equivalent to about $42,000 a year — less than half of the median income of the area.
In response, James Fuqua, an attorney for Southside Investment Partners, said housing is not part of the plan currently being presented.
“If I could go back in a time machine I might suggest that they might like to see that, but it’s not what we’ve got before you,” Fuqua said. (Oh. Well maybe approval of the project should be contingent on ‘going back in a time machine’ to include it.)
Big Beautiful Bill Could Leave Delaware With A $400 Million Budget Shortfall:
Its 2026 revenue estimate fell $98.8 million – a 1.5% decrease from its last meeting in June. The revenue forecast for 2027 is down nearly $47.8 million – a 0.7% decrease.
In both cases, substantial drops to projected corporate franchise tax revenue drove the gloomier overall revenue outlook.
Those drops are largely the result of changes made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on corporate taxes, and the fact those changes come mid-year and with a high degree of uncertainty attached.
The changes leave the opening state spending limit for FY 2027 at $6.733 billion. That’s $352.1 million less that the current FY 2026 budget.
Gov. Matt Meyer, in a statement, took the Trump Administration to task for putting stress on the state’s bottom line.
“The Trump Administration is working overtime to make the rich richer, all at the expense of everyday Delawareans. Today’s DEFAC update shows that with Trump’s recent tax changes, the State of Delaware stands to lose over $400 million in revenue over the next three years — on top of previously forecasted cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical programs — threatening the services families deserve. But we won’t let that happen, said Meyer in his statement. “In the coming weeks, I’ll work with Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly on a simple, responsible fix that protects our budget and keeps Delaware competitive, so employers can have certainty, and our investments in schools, public safety, and health care can stay on track.”
OK. Well since Pierre duPont’s administration, the Delaware Tax Code has been rejiggered to make the rich richer. Let’s start there, and finally make Delaware’s wealthiest pay their fair share. Reverting to, say, the 1976 (when duPont was elected Governor) graduated tax brackets would be a great way to start.
What do you want to talk about?