Patterico's Pontifications

[guest post by JVW] This year (technically back in April) marked the fiftieth anniversary of the theatrical release of one of America’s greatest summer movies, The Bad News Bears.

[guest post by Dana] Midterm bribe: President Donald Trump on Wednesday night promised every adult American citizen a $5,000 “dividend” if the Republicans are victorious in the upcoming midterm elections. . . .

[guest post by Dana] It’s nearly impossible to not see this as the deliberate targeting of President Zelensky: The plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Oslo for the funeral of the King of Norway was nearly struck by a drone ‌when taking

[guest post by Dana] I’m sure he’s got a bridge to sell you too: President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Iran war will end and gas prices will plummet “immediately after” the midterm elections, the latest deadline slip in a war that has lasted mont…

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Surprising: Fox News is parting ways with longtime business news anchor Maria Bartiromo, effective immediately.

[guest post by Dana] Trump at work: Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???

[guest post by Dana] So, how are Trump’s plans going for next week’s midterm convention in Dallas?

Guest post by Dana] I’m traveling, so just a brief, new open thread.

[guest post by Dana] I love this: Dolly Parton was never a billionaire because she never allowed herself to become one.

[guest post by Dana] Top secret: President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday that aims to lower ground beef prices by dramatically boosting imports from other countries despite outrage from Republicans and allies in the beef industry.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Oof: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday is traveling to Iowa in his “personal capacity,” the Pentagon said in a statement, further fueling speculation that the former Fox News personality is mulling a run for president . . .

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks intended to gain compliance from combative individuals.

[guest post by Dana] About Trump and that Air Force One switcheroo, questions must be asked.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] If you are inclined to disagree with this, and that corruption and cronyism isn’t a massive problem with this administration, convince us otherwise: The reality is that since last June, we’ve gone from the government owning zero shares

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Nothing to see here: The POLITICO Poll finds President Donald Trump’s MAGA supporters are the most loyal of any group of voters — with majorities saying they would stick by GOP candidates confronted with an array of scandals, from a D…

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] At the very least, any nominee for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) should be able to publicly acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

[guest post by Dana] President Trump is going to be giving a speech to the American people tonight.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by JVW] Large, wealthy, educated, noted for its industriousness, but completely dysfunctional: such is Germany as described in this very interesting piece over at The Spectator, from an Anglo-German writer by the name of Henry Donovan.

[Guest post by JVW] Happy Independence Day!

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Homeland Security released this statement on Monday: “Over the weekend, while Americans attended the Great American State Fair and enjoyed their summer weekends, the men and women of ICE were hard at work arresting criminal illegal al…

[guest post by Dana] Trump: "We're gonna declassify almost everything … I told [Bill Pulte], 'You can declassify whatever you want.'" pic.twitter.com/D3Qcnxqqzm — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 1, 2026 Bill Pulte is a personal friend of Donald Trump’s, and is

[guest post by Dana] Of course they are: [T]he White House is discussing a possible announcement of presidential pardons as a centerpiece of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations over the Fourth of July weekend, according to 14 people familiar with…

[guest post by Dana] A quick look at a few Supreme Court decisions from Monday: The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a significant win Monday by allowing him to remove the leaders of once-independent federal agencies at will, toppling a 1935 pr…

[guest post by Dana] Let me tell you what just got reported, because you will not believe it until you see it laid out.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] The stage was set for what should have been a bipartisan celebration as the housing bill was going to be signed.

[guest post by Dana] From Axios: House Democrats were left stunned on Tuesday night after two of their colleagues — including the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — lost primaries to left-wing challengers.

[guest post by Dana] I know, I know.

Guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Trump signed the Iran MOU today (at Versailles, amusingly).

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] California elections results as of June 9.

[guest post by Dana] Trump defended his compensation personal slush fund during a recent interview: During the NBC interview, the president. . .defended a proposed fund to compensate his supporters who feel they’ve been unfairly prosecuted.

[guest post by Dana] Today from Trump: I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] This is one of those What if the DOJ under President Biden or President Obama had done this?”

[guest post by Dana] This should concern everyone.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] Don’t call her a victim, whatever you do.

[guest post by Dana] Let’s go!

[guest post by Dana] He should have never been arrested in the first place, and taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill: Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he