Monday, April 20, 2026
The US Navy Just Fired on an Iranian Ship. Here's Why
"How did the American Navy end up firing upon an Iranian container ship navigating the Gulf of Oman?
It began with a standoff, as the Navy delivered repeated warnings over a span of several hours.
The final escalation came when multiple rounds were fired into the massive ship, instantly disabling its engines and triggering an internal fire.
But how is a modern naval gun capable of firing three explosive rounds in mere seconds?
The secret lies below deck: an advanced autoloader backed by a nearly endless magazine of ammunition.
Watch how it operates: the system mechanically loads the artillery, fires, and immediately ejects the spent casing.
This brings us to the ultimate question: how do military forces physically seize a colossal container ship
The Navy relies on the Marines.
Deployed from amphibious ships, they rappel down from hovering helicopters to systematically secure and clear the decks."
Democrats wait for Trump to chicken out
Iran's dire Strait of Hormuz - Eric Utter
. . . "I, for one, would love to see this war wrapped up … as long as our terms are fully met. The problem, as I and others have stated before, is that nothing the Iranians in power say or agree to, whoever they may be at the moment, can ever be trusted. Ever. No ceasefire. No truce. No pact. No promise. No solemn vow. Radical Islamists will always use these peace instruments to their advantage."
The Navy Channel "The US Navy has escalated tensions in the Middle East after attacking and seizing an Iranian cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. In this video, we break down the full operation involving the USS Spruance (DDG-111), US Marines, and the growing US naval presence in the region.
"This incident marks a major turning point in the ongoing geopolitics of the region, as the US enforces a maritime blockade against Iran. We analyze what happened during the interception of the vessel Touska, how US warships operate in the Strait of Hormuz, and what this could mean for a potential US war with Iran. "We also cover the arrival of major US naval reinforcements, including carrier strike groups, destroyers, and mine warfare units, highlighting the increasing importance of demining and US mine clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz. "With rising tensions, attacks on commercial shipping, and a growing US military buildup, this situation could have global consequences for energy markets, security, and international trade." . . .
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit – Capabilities – The Military Channel
. . . "In a heartbreaking revelation, Simmons told his dad:
“Dad, I can’t give you any details, but if civilians knew what we knew, a lot of the criticism [of the war] would cease.”
"Those words carry enormous weight coming from a warrior who gave his life in service to the nation. Master Sgt. Simmons knew the real threats on the ground and in the intelligence briefings — the kind of information the American public rarely sees. He understood that much of the loud criticism from the media and political class comes from people who don’t have the full picture and never will.". . .
“Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did… the results in Iran will be amazing – And if Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!” – President Donald J. Trump"
The Perils of a Grand Bargain with Iran
Talk of a “grand bargain” with Iran revives a failed playbook of concessions and deception that history shows only strengthens Tehran’s regime.
"Both the president and vice president have thrown out the term “grand bargain” in recent days to describe their aspirations for a deal with the Iranian rump regime.
"It’s a term fraught with past failures that screams Iranian deception, not the interests of America First.
"Bill Clinton was the first to use the phrase toward the end of his second term to describe his aspiration to end a low-intensity conflict that had been simmering for 20 years.
"He appointed David R. Andrews as “Special Negotiator” for the mostly secret talks. Just as today, among the top Iranian demands was for the US to lift economic sanctions, which at the time included a total US trade embargo, secondary sanctions on foreign oil and gas companies investing in Iran, and the release of Iranian funds held by the US Treasury.
"Those Treasury funds were a carefully kept secret. At the time, I was engaged as a consultant to attorneys representing Stephen Flatow, whose daughter Elyssa had been murdered by Iranian-backed terrorists in Israel in 1996.
"We queried the Treasury Department about the existence of Iranian funds frozen since the 1979 revolution to pay for the Shah’s weapons purchases from the US, and were told such a fund did not exist.
"And then, lo and behold, in late 2000, the Justice Department found that the Treasury had simply destroyed all the documents. Clinton eventually released the funds—not to the Iranians, for the talks had by then collapsed—but to the Iranian regime’s US victims.
"Obama later claimed he was releasing the same frozen funds when he sent pallets of cash totaling $1.7 billion to Iran in 2016. And yes, those payments were another attempt at reaching a “grand bargain” with Iran." . . .
. . . "Such a deal must include ironclad guarantees for the Iranian people that the regime will not use violence against peaceful protestors and, if it does, that it will face US military reprisals. After all, Donald Trump is leaving office in January 2029, and we will never have another president like him. We don’t want to have to repeat this war in another 10 years." . . .
Because if Democrats win, relations with terrorist states will be run by the same airheads dealing with them the past few decades, giving preference to those who call for death to allies that have stood by our nation for generations. Israel has been forced to dominate her enemies since we keep replacing competent leaders with feckless Democrats like Biden, Kamala, Obama, and anybody you may see refusing to stand at any Republican SOTU. TD
Timmerman’s 14th book of non-fiction, The Iran House: Tales of Revolution, Persecution, War, and Intrigue, can be ordered here. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 by the former deputy premier of Sweden for his work exposing Iran’s nuclear weapons programs.
Charlie Kirk’s Death 100% MSM and Democrats Fault
Biden speech denouncing Trump, ‘MAGA ideology’ sparks threats September 2, 2022 Two years later came the Butler, PA attempt on Trump's life. How many fans of The View, Joe Biden, Jimmy Kimmel, Rosie O'Donnell, MSNOW, CNN, The Squad/ Congressional Democrats, celebrities in general anticipate hero worship from their luminaries, hearing their calls for the elimination of Donald Trump. Candidates for an assassination attempt might come from the hordes of Keffiyeh Klad Kids celebrating Israeli infants being cooked alive in ovens and nails driven into women's genitals. TD
"Biden’s remarks also prompted immediate concerns from senior counterterrorism officials who said they fear that calling Trump supporters extremists would be viewed as a call to arms and would only inflame an already volatile threat environment."
When is the unhinged dangerous rhetoric by the left enough? pic.twitter.com/R0t0GFIpvi
— littlememzz (@littlememzz) September 20, 2024
Democrat Party Rhetoric Fuel Mentally Ill
- Any Rep. or Senator who says Trump, his supporters, or other Republicans is Hitler or a Nazi doesn’t care about minimizing the horrors of the Holocaust. Any reporter who doesn’t challenge that disgusting statement is just as bad. (THE LID, May 2025 | See also NYP, July 2024 | )
- Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) is under fire after widespread airing of four-year-old remarks in which he called former President Donald Trump’s voters a “horde of budding blood-and-soil fascists.” (Washington Examiner, June 2024)
Mamdani’s city-run grocery plan draws pushback from local bodegas, supermarkets
"There’s endless, ongoing debate over whether bodegas are unique to New York City, or if they’re simply corner stores by another name. Bodega-like stores can certainly be found all over the country, and NYC doesn’t claim a monopoly on them. Regardless, whether you think bodegas are truly one-of-a-kind or just another convenience mart, New Yorkers love them anyway — and they’re here to stay." StreetEasy Blog
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| Bodega Cats of New York | NYC's Working Cats |
"This book documents them. The cats that bring in revenue, like Jimmy of Second Avenue, who runs his block like a seasoned manager. The territorial ones who clear basements in three days flat. The quiet constants who outlast owners, workers, and neighborhood turnover."
Zohran Mamdani’s plan for city-run grocery stores draws pushback from NYC bodegas, supermarkets . . . "But concerns have emerged about whether Mamdani’s plan could put local bodegas and grocers at a disadvantage, as they face high operating costs and already run on slim profit margins.
"“How does the mayor know what this will really cost? Does he understand the slim margins under which small grocers function?” Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic political strategist, told The Hill.
" 'This is charisma in action paid for by others,” he added.
"Mamdani’s plan, which still needs to be approved by the City Council, would cost roughly $70 million — $30 million of which would be designated for the 9,000-square-foot store on 115th Street and Park Avenue in Manhattan.
"New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin did not say whether she plans to back Mamdani’s proposal, but her spokesperson said she looks forward to reviewing the plan and “assessing its potential impacts on consumers and local small businesses, including bodegas.” . . .
What is a bodega? And why do New Yorkers love them? . . . "Bodegas are a New York City institution. These small corner grocery stores offer convenience and local charm to nearly every NYC neighborhood, and they share similarities that go beyond cereal offerings. For nearly a century, New Yorkers have loved bodegas for their convenience, reliability, community-oriented nature, and cats…yes, cats. But if you’re new to the city, you may need an explainer to help you appreciate bodegas and what they’re all about.
"So for all the fresh or aspiring New Yorkers — and locals who still don’t quite understand — let’s talk about bodegas and what makes them special."
15 bodegas we love in New York right now
. . . ""This is the way to do it," Mamdani said. "Sure, capitalism gets people goods cheaply and quickly, but it's at the expense of someone making a profit, which I just can't stand. So get in line for that sweet, sweet bread we'll eventually offer someday. While I can't guarantee you getting in line now means three years from now you'll definitely get bread, I can guarantee no capitalist will profit off you."
"When questioned why his supermarket was going to cost way more than the average supermarket but also take longer to build, Mamdani chuckled, "I bet you're all thinking those millions will go to graft and cronies.
"Reporters waited for a "but." It never came.
"At publishing time, Mamdani had gone to the already-forming bread line at the future site of the market for a photo op." . . .
Baby Trump confronts Baby Zohran
Mamdani’s revolution runs into hard reality . . . "On top of the poor policy decisions thus far, the new mayor has additionally surrounded himself with a collection of extremists and other sordid people.
"Some of these radicals are serving in an official capacity, like his Marxist housing czar Cea Weaver, who publicly dreamed about impoverishing white, middle-class homeowners. The city’s new racial equity plan hardly dispels the notion that this is Mamdani’s goal too.
"Mamdani invited anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil to the governor’s mansion for Ramadan. The Syrian-born Khalil faces deportation by the Trump administration, which has accused him of being a Hamas supporter.
"That’s hardly surprising given that Mamdani’s wife has a growing record of supporting antisemites and pro-Palestinian terrorists on social media. Mamdani insists she is a “private person.”
"One way or another, it suggests that Mamdani has no desire to moderate or “normalize” in his time as mayor." . . .
"Even electricity is leaving blues states"
"The only fix is the elimination of the law, which won’t happen because Democrats won and Republicans are too chicken to demand a rematch."
"New York state’s tax policy is exiling millionaires to Florida. California’s craziness is banishing billionaires.
"But Illinois has them beat with its climate change laws that are forcing two-thirds of an electric plant in Elwood to take the advice of Suzy Bogguss and drive South with the one they love.
"Reddy Kilowatt packed its power plant and headed for Texas, which welcomes gas-powered electric plants. The company that owns two-thirds of that plant is hauling away the equipment that will generate 900 megawatts of power for Texans.
"This is the reaction to the 2021 Climate & Equitable Jobs Act, which the Chicago Tribune called “one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature accomplishments, requires Illinois to phase out the burning of fossil fuels for electricity by 2045 and sets an earlier 2030 deadline for closing certain gas-fired plants.”
"Elwood was among the plants that Democrat gave the arbitrary death penalty.
"One year after the governor signed the law, the Chicago Tribune proudly endorsed Pritzker’s re-election.
"Much to its surprise, the editorial board discovered the evil Elwood plant is shutting down ahead of schedule.
"On Friday, the newspaper ran an editorial, “Owner of massive Elwood Energy plant isn’t waiting for Illinois closure deadlines. They’re literally moving the plant to Texas.”
"The editorial said, “Imagine that an entire nuclear reactor were shutting down for good in northern Illinois. The move at Elwood Energy is the equivalent.”
"Democrats already are shuttering nuclear power plants." . . .More...
Ex-FBI Agent Thinks Guthrie Family Should be 'Upset' Over DNA Evidence Reveal
Nancy Guthrie Update: Ex-FBI Agent Thinks Guthrie Family Should be 'Upset' Over DNA Evidence Reveal . . . "Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, who has been covering the Guthrie disappearance from the beginning, suggested the FBI would have always
""The fact that they're saying the FBI has this advanced technology, they would've always had it," she said. "So that should really irk everyone that the sample didn't go there because they would have always had the advanced technology and expertise."
"Coffindaffer commented on the initial "excuse" as to why the DNA sample was sent to a lab in Florida saying "it was based on them having the profiles established and all that, you know, this being imminent in terms of time and urgency and that's why they kept it – that made a lot of sense, to be honest."
"However, once the "advanced technology" comment was revealed, Coffindaffer made it clear she's not on board." . . .
Swalwell’s Sudden Collapse Isn’t About ‘Sexual Misconduct’
Crash And Burn – Issues & Insights
"Keep in mind that the normal way for Democrats to handle accusations of sexual misconduct – including rape allegations – among one of their own is to circle the wagons and count on the press to smear the accusers. (Just ask Paula Jones or Tara Reade." Issues & Insights
"When Kamala Harris won her 2016 Senate race, for example, it was against another Democrat. In the state’s last midterm election, there were 26 races in which voters could choose only between two Democrats (there was just one race that year where Republicans had that advantage). This has been the general pattern in the past several elections.
"But this year, the jungle primary threatened to backfire on Democrats because there were, until this weekend, nine undistinguished Democrats running for governor.
"As PBS put it, “Democrats are openly fretting that the party’s numerous candidates will undercut each other and allow two Republicans to advance to the November election. Even in the heavily Democratic state, an all-GOP general election is possible.”
"The chance of that happening is admittedly remote, but there’s still a chance, unless the Democrats thin out their herd.
"Fewer Democrats running in the primary increases the chances that at least one of them will end up on the November ballot. And given California’s voting history, that means Democrats would almost certainly keep control of the governorship.
"Someone in the party decided that one of these candidates had to go, and fast. And Swalwell’s alleged sexual peccadillos – which were almost certainly widely known to party leaders long before last week – made him an easy target.
"Swalwell just learned that the most dangerous place for a Democrat to be is between another Democrat and a seat of power.
"But don’t mistake Swalwell’s lightning-fast fall from grace as a sign that Democrats suddenly care about sexual misconduct, or misconduct of any kind. Swalwell was the first sacrificial lamb in the party’s determination to keep control of California. He probably won’t be the last."
Pope Leo XIV, the lamentably political pontiff
But maybe Leo isn’t a fan of Exodus or Deuteronomy. Or the Bible. Maybe he is a cafeteria Catholic. Or maybe he is a closet Muslim. Or maybe he really doesn’t believe there’s a difference.
"There is a great wall protecting Vatican City. The wall is two miles long and 39 feet tall. It is made of thick, solid brick.
"Pope Leo IV ordered the construction of the massive barrier around the year 850 A.D. to shield the city-state from invaders. It was deemed crucial to keeping invaders out.
"But the fortification, stout as it is, isn’t stout enough to keep the staggering and repulsive hypocrisy emanating from Pope Leo XIV in.
"Against that president.
"He is effectively opposed to a wall on America’s Southern border and does not believe the U.S. has a right to control immigration. (There’s your staggering hypocrisy.) Like the pontiff before him, this leftist Leo clearly has a political agenda, one he thinks trumps any religious obligation he might have.
"The Holy See refused to join President Donald Trump’s proposed peace initiative in the Middle East, and has continued Vatican cooperation with communist China, where state-approved bishops are now enforcing restrictions against unregistered Catholics. And state-approved surgeons are removing the organs of undead Uyghurs.
"Moreover, Leo XIV has approved sainthood for a bishop who admittedly slept with young men and engaged in disturbing acts with indigenous boys.
"And he has seen to the opening of a Muslim prayer room in the Vatican’s Apostolic Library. Which is apostasy, something that used to be frowned upon in the Christian religion, perhaps because the Biblical God stated “You shall have no other gods before me,“ and “Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.” . . .
. . . "And, mind-bogglingly, he had nothing really to say about the ongoing genocide of Christians in Nigeria by Islamists. Even about the dozens upon dozens of men, women, and children who were slaughtered over Easter weekend while celebrating the Resurrection. Men, women, and children who were slaughtered by Mohammedans in various Christian communities and churches on the holiest weekend of the year. He is now touring the African continent, and has left Nigeria off his agenda. How is this possible?! Lord God, please help me to understand." . . . Full article...
UPDATE: Popes like this one are the reason there are Protestants . . . "Yet here we stand. Almost half of all Christians are Protestants. Martin Luther did not desire this split. In fact, he most likely would have abhorred it. He -- and many others -- simply wanted the Catholic Church to end its obvious corruption and return to saving souls and spreading the gospel of Jesus.
"As an ex-management consultant who understands organizations, I see the advent of Protestantism as a direct result of the failures of the organization at the top of the Catholic Church. They were the problem. And sadly, as Pope Leo just reminded us, remain to this day.
"Let’s analyze the situation. The Catholic Church is experiencing a huge wave of growth in the United State, especially among younger people. This is a good thing. There is a palatable desire for meaning in people’s lives. Far too many are spiritually lost and hunger for salve for their souls.
"You can almost feel a new, Catholic-led Great Awakening just waiting to race across the land.
"So what does Pope Leo do at this focal point of history? He jumps into the political fray and quite clearly attacks Trump and to add insult to injury, has three left-wing bishops do a hit piece on the TV show “60 Minutes.” . . .
Carville tells Democrats to keep it quiet on their plan to seize permanent power
Monica Showalter - American Thinker
"How did such repulsive, unfit, morally depraved people rise to high and in such copious numbers? It's the one-party state which rewards crapulence, which favors the unfit."
"There's a reason why Democrats have been so persistently enflamed by Fidel Castro and his failed communist regime in Cuba.
"It's a one-party state. And its rule is permanent. The island has been ruled continuously on this model for 66 years.
"Wittingly or not, they are now advocating for the same model to be imposed on the United States of America.
"Top political operative James Carville, who has organized many successful elections, is saying the quiet part out loud, according to legal affairs commentator Jonathan Turley:
Various Democrats have been openly discussing their plans after retaking power to change the system so they never lose power again.Democratic strategist James Carville has been one of the most vocal and returned to the subject this week in laying out how they will make D.C. and Puerto Rico states and pack the Supreme Court with a liberal majority.On his podcast with Al Hunt, Carville explained, “If the Democrats win the presidency and both houses of Congress, I think on day one, they should make Puerto Rico [and] D.C. a state, and they should expand the Supreme Court to 13. F— it. Eat our dust.”Notably, this week, New Jersey just elected a radical new member, Analilia Mejia, who ran on packing the Court and other radical agenda items.While some of us have written about the expansion of the Court, these politicians and pundits are pushing for the packing, not just gradual expanding, of the Court. However, Carville (curiously on a national podcast) seriously suggested that Democrats should keep the plan quiet: “Don’t run on it. Don’t talk about it. Just do it.”
"What they want is to deceive Americans into voting for them on the Abigail Spanberger model, and then let them have it, good and hard, once they ensconce themselves into power, securing their power and ending any consideration of free market ideas." . . . More...
Sunday, April 19, 2026
A lethal hatred of Jews, Israel, and the West
Darlene Casella - American Thinker
Evil actions such as rape, torture, mutilation, hostage-taking, and murder of Jews with vows to continue are met with shrugs and resignation rather than outrage and condemnation.
"Atlas Shrugged, the novel by Ayn Rand, warned us about the controlling “mind of society,” a place where talented free thinkers disappear.
Marvin Minsky, about 50 years ago, wrote about a society of one mind, where a multitude of small thinking entities fundamentally control the minds of civilization.
A Collective Descent into Evil, a documentary film produced by Gloria Greenfield, deserves to be in the same class with conceptual thinkers Rand and Minsky.
Scholars and historians such as journalist Melanie Phillips, Ruth Wisse (Harvard University), Eric Cohen (Tikvah Fund), Alan Dershowitz, Jonathan Schanzer (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), Itamar Marcus (Palestinian Media Watch), Jonathan Tobin (Jewish News Syndicate), Mark Tapson (David Horowitz Freedom Center), Daniel Pipes (Middle East Forum), historian Victor Davis Hanson, and others give testament in the film to the premise that in our time, Jew-hatred is upheld and not eradicated.
Evil actions such as rape, torture, mutilation, hostage-taking, and murder of Jews with vows to continue are met with shrugs and resignation rather than outrage and condemnation.
Greenfield leaves nothing unturned in displaying society’s graphic descent into evil. Important and interesting archival photography is intertwined with the dialogue of scholars, adding depth of visual understanding to the film’s premise about evil and hatred in culture, in society, and in politics." . . .More...
Brandon Gill, Angel Moms Just Level Hank Johnson for 'Disgusting' Claim During Sanctuary City Hearing
"There are some stories out there to write about where little input from the writer is needed for the point to be made, because the subjects of the stories tell it so much better themselves. This is one of those stories. The only thing I'm going to do is set the stage.
"On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing, where the subject to be discussed was "The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies: Stories from Victims and Families."
"There were four witnesses. The Democrat witness was attorney Antonio Romanucci, whose law firm, Romanucci & Blandin LLC, is representing the family of Renee Good. After expressing condolences to the other witnesses, Romanucci described Ms. Good as someone whose death was "collateral damage" from ICE "rounding up black and brown people [and] terrorizing them."
"The other three witnesses were Angel Moms who had children who were victimized by criminal illegal immigrants as a result of sanctuary city policies. Laura Wilkerson's son, Joshua, was murdered by an illegal immigrant. Jen Heiling lost her son, Brady, in a car accident that also claimed the life of his girlfriend, Hallie Helgeson. Mrs. Heiling said they were killed by an intoxicated illegal immigrant who was a repeat traffic offender.
"Patricia Fox is the mother of Carissa Aspnes, who was riding on the back of a friend's motorcycle when a car driven by an illegal immigrant crossed over several lanes of Denver traffic, causing the motorcycle to hit it and causing Carissa to be thrown into a concrete barrier. Fortunately, Carissa survived but is now "minimally conscious, nonverbal," and has to be fed through a feeding tube. She requires 24-7 care.
"Gallingly, Democrat Rep. Hank "Guam" Johnson (GA-04) characterized the hearing as a theatrical production whose sole purpose was to stir up "bias and prejudice against immigrants who are people of color," and even suggested it should be about other topics. He also complained about the seating order for the witnesses:
After offering brief condolences to the families of victims allegedly killed and critically injured by illegal immigrants, Johnson immediately pivoted to a partisan attack, arguing the committee should instead be holding hearings on the "human toll" of the "Trump MAGA tax cuts," Trump's foreign policy with Iran or the "cover up of the Epstein files."
He went on to list a string of violent crimes committed by White men and noted the death of Renee Good, who was killed by federal authorities in January while protesting immigration enforcement.
"I'm not minimizing the tragedy that is before us today with you three women, but the other tragedies at the hands of non-immigrants are just as important," Johnson said.
"Not surprisingly, it did not go well for Johnson, with GOP Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26) being the first to go off:" . . . More...
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