“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet.
Even longer,’ Pooh answered.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh.

Today is the day that the Anglican Communion commemorates St. Valentine.  St. Valentine ministered to persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire.  He was martyred, and buried on February 14.  Hence the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day since 496 A.D.  The Hallmark Card Company had nothing to do with it.

This past Thursday, the Trump Administration rescinded an Obama Administration finding that empowered the federal government to regulate “greenhouse gases” as pollution. What are “greenhouse gases”? Well, one example is your breathing. Yep, when you exhale carbon dioxide, you are polluting the planet, by expelling a “greenhouse gas”. It is absolutely insane, unscientific, and lacking any foundation in law, there being no authority granted to Congress, much less the Environmental Protection Agency, to regulate such naturally occurring emissions.

Below are 2 articles analyzing the recission of the regulation, and celebrating the death of the “global warming” hoax perpetrated by former Vice-President Al Gore and company. I hope you find them to be informative and enlightening.

Trump’s about to cancel Obama’s most outrageous power grab

BY:          Judge Glock, The New York Post (February 10, 2026).

President Trump is on the brink of ordering a massive policy shakeup — “the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States,” says Environmental Protection Agency chief Lee Zeldin.

When Trump’s EPA orders the end of a 2009 finding that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are a threat to public health, it will halt 16 years of federal efforts to mandate vast changes in American life without legal justification.

The so-called Endangerment Finding led to a host of regulations whose estimated costs exceeded a trillion dollars.

Early in his administration, President Barack Obama tried to get Congress to pass an expansive climate change law.

When the bill stalled, Obama charged ahead with executive action.  

The EPA’s December 2009 Endangerment Finding said greenhouse gases should be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

But that law was never meant for such a purpose: It had passed 40 years earlier, before global warming was even a topic of debate.

The Clean Air Act aimed to control a handful of pollutants that posed an immediate danger to public health — think factory smokestacks or exhaust from auto tailpipes.

Greenhouse gases, by contrast, are emitted by almost everything, everywhere — including by humans ourselves, while breathing.

There was and is no clear and legal way to regulate them under the law, leading to years of uncertainty and court challenges.

The greatest effect of the Endangerment Finding was on automobiles.

The Biden administration used it to require the vast majority of new cars and trucks to be electric-powered by 2032, a huge, and hugely expensive, undertaking.  

The American people never voted for one of the nation’s largest industries to be transformed in a decade — but under the Endangerment Finding, the EPA could impose it.

The EPA claimed the new EV mandates would save companies and households money in the long run, due to reduced spending on gasoline.

But as with most energy efficiency regulations, it never explained why the government had to step in and mandate something so beneficial.

President Joe Biden’s EPA waved away objections that many truckers and households would have difficulty spending thousands of extra dollars on electric vehicles.

Trump’s team says withdrawing the finding will save almost $2,500 per automobile.

Even environmentalists know climate change is not top of mind for many voters — so they argue EV mandates will reduce other types of automobile emissions that harm public health.

The Sierra Club claims that rolling back the finding will cause thousands more deaths from things like respiratory illnesses and heart attacks.

But assertions about how climate change mandates improve other aspects of health show the Endangerment Finding’s absurdity.

The Clean Air Act already includes extensive provisions to protect the public from air pollutants, and administrations of all stripes have enforced them.

If Obama or Biden had wanted to further limit automobile pollution, they could have done so directly — not used a roundabout way that Congress did not contemplate.

Like most of Trump’s executive actions, the withdrawal of the Endangerment Finding will be challenged in court.

Environmentalists will argue that the finding was required by an earlier Supreme Court ruling, and that climate change is indeed a threat to public health.

Yet the earlier Supreme Court climate change ruling underestimated the vast potential it gave to the administrative state to reshape the economy.

Even Chief Justice John Roberts, writing in dissent, thought the effect of the ruling would likely be “symbolic.”

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Today’s Supreme Court is laser-focused on the dangers imposed by an overreaching administrative state.

In 2022, the justices struck down an effort to regulate greenhouse gases emitted by power plants through the Endangerment Finding, declaring that in the case of a “major question” that affected vast swaths of the economy, Congress would have to clearly authorize any administrative action.

It’s hard to think of more of a major question than regulating greenhouse gases from all cars across the United States.

Although the Supreme Court has at times upbraided Trump for his efforts to rule by executive action, in this case, the president is using executive action to reduce the power of the government.

The courts should uphold his Endangerment Finding withdrawal and restore power to Congress, which is supposed to authorize new laws.

The EPA does not, and should not, have such power.

Trump debunking Al Gore’s climate fears has made the world a better place

BY:          Miranda Devine, The New York Post (February 11, 2026).

Ding dong, the climate hoax is dead. 

Twenty years after Al Gore’s apocalyptic movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” the Trump administration has put the final nail in the coffin of the lie that scared a generation into believing the planet was about to explode in flames if they kept using fossil fuels. 

In what the White House calls “the largest deregulatory action in American history,” the EPA on Thursday will repeal an Obama-era proclamation that has mandated greenhouse-gas regulations for 17 years, 

The 2009 “endangerment finding” has been the primary climate handbrake on American industry, forming the legal justification for increasingly punitive greenhouse-gas regulations. 

Rescinding it would “save the American people $1.3 trillion in crushing regulations,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week, with the EPA projecting an average saving of $2,400 per vehicle and further savings on farm machinery, soon to be freed from the complex extra circuitry required to restrict emissions. 

It will also end Joe Biden’s enforced transition to electric vehicles by 2030.

Yay!

It’s about time that common sense returned to energy policy. 

During the recent bone-chilling winter storm that hit 200 million Americans across more than 35 states, it wasn’t wind and solar that kept the lights on but fossil fuels. 

Fueling US prosperity 

According to the Florida Municipal Power Agency, 90% of power generation in the country at the height of the storm was natural gas, coal, nuclear or oil. 

Cheap, abundant energy fueled America’s prosperity, but charlatans citing pseudoscience have conspired to send us back to the dark ages with hyperbolic predictions that keep falling apart. 

As we keep sailing past the various doomsday deadlines set by climate shucksters from Gore to Greta Thunberg, the public has been waking up to the hoax. 

GFK

“All we ask is to be let alone.”

–Jefferson Davis.

Yesterday The Observations honored President Lincoln. Today’s quote is equal time.

The January jobs report is in. American employers created 130,000 jobs. WINNING!

The Federal Aviation Administration shut down the airspace surrounding El Paso, Texas for 10 days. The reason is that Mexican drug cartels have been launching drones into the United States. The shutdown ended after successful U.S. military operations.

Mexico is not our friend.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a lower court ruling, permitting the federal government to terminate Temporary Protected Status for aliens from 3 different countries. Because it is temporary.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R. Ak.) will oppose any efforts to require photo ID or proof of citizenship, in order to vote in elections. Senator Murkowski explained that the effort to introduce more election security undermined our elections’ security. Huh? Long Live The Stupid Party!

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R.) vetoed a bill that would have banned males from women’s locker rooms and restrooms. Long live The Stupid Party!

Representative Ilhan Omar (D. Mn.) called for President Trump’s execution, because that is what they do to pedophiles in Somalia. Sigh. Death to The Evil Party

“It’s a captured internal document of the Muslim Brotherhood detailing its program for the United States, where it says the brothers must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying Western Civilization from within, and sabotaging its miserable house by their own hands and the hands of the believers so that Allah’s religion is victorious over other religions.” 

–Robert Spencer of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, testifying before Congress about a document released by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Surely this is not news?  Surely no one is surprised?  Surely everyone is in agreement that radical Islamism is a danger to the United States?  Well, no.

“We’re talking about Sharia Law?  I mean, this is not really relevant to this committee and what’s going on in America today.  There’s so much we could be dealing with concerning the Constitution and protecting America—white Christian nationalist ideology has been put forward.”

–Representative Steve Cohen (D. Tn.), downplaying Islamism, and insisting that Christianity is the bigger threat to the United States.

Death to The Evil Party.

Representative LaMonica McIver (D. N.J.) is the member of Congress facing criminal charges for assaulting ICE agents at a detention center in New Jersey. On camera. But rather than expelling her from Congress, Representative McIver remains on the job, and the other day she got to question Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons:

MCIVER: Mr. Lyons, do you consider yourself a religious man

LYONS: Yes mam. 

MCIVER: Oh, yes. Okay. Well, how do you think judgment day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?

LYONS: I’m not going to entertain that question.

MCIVER: Oh, okay. Of course, not. Do you think you’re going to hell, Mr. Lyons?

LYONS: I’m not going to entertain that.

MCIVER: Of course, not. How many government . . . .

This is a woman who gets a say on our federal government’s laws, operations, and effect on our lives. Sigh. Disgraceful.

Death to The Evil Party.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D.) just declared “war” on ICE. She signed an executive order purporting to restrict ICE operations in New Jersey (it will not work), and is spending taxpayer dollars to track ICE operations. Shades of John C. Calhoun!

Death to The Evil Party.

Testifying before Congress, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D.) said that illegal aliens found within the United States should not be deported. Oh. So, if you break into Keith Ellison’s house, he will arrest you and prosecute you. But if you break into America? Well that is a completely different situation.

Death to The Evil Party.

A federal judge enjoined the enforcement of a California law barring ICE agents from wearing masks during the performance of their duties. As we predicted.

How bad is the California law? An appointee of former President Clinton issued the ruling striking down the law. A Democrat judge struck down a Democrat passed law, signed into law by a Democrat Governor. That is a bad law.

Another federal judge in California ordered the Trump Administration to return several illegal alien families to the United States, at the government’s expense. The families self-deported, but now they have buyer’s remorse, and want to return. And a judge is indulging them! THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE! They were never supposed to be here!

A federal judge in Louisiana ordered 4 criminal illegal aliens who are subject to final deportation orders, released into the United States. All 4 illegal aliens have criminal convictions involving murder, rape, and child sex crimes. The judge is an Obama appointee. Shocking.

Last week, Ronald Hicks was installed as the 11th Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Comrade Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D. N.Y.) became the 1st New York City Mayor to fail to attend the Archbishop’s installation. What, is it against Islamic law to enter St. Patrick’s Cathedral?

The American Nurses Association called for the abolition of ICE, and urged its members not to render healthcare to ICE agents. This is really sick, demented, and dangerous stuff.

Little Debbie is introducing 2 new treats for your enjoyment this Spring. The company is rolling out Boston Creme Pie and Strawberry Delight cookies. YUM!

Burdell’s is a restaurant in Oakland, California. The restaurant adds a mandatory 20% tip to every check, because of America’s “racist history”. NOTE TO SELF: Do not eat at Burdell’s.

Yeah, right. Like I am going to slow down, much less stop, when going through Oakland. Not going to happen.

Former Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tracy Scoggins has died at age 56. R. I. P.

Geneva Jackson was a life-long Clarke County, Virginia resident. Mrs. Jackson was the 3rd of 10 children. She was a mother, baker, and an active participant in her community. Mrs. Jackson was involved with FISH, American Cancer Society, and most prominently, with the Laurel Center, which assisted and protected abused women and children. Mrs. Jackson also baked the best biscuits, yeast rolls, pound cakes, pies, . . you name it. If you did not get to the Farmers Market early on Saturdays, the ham biscuits would be gone. Thankfully, Mrs. Jackson would cater, and bake for specific, special requests. Every year in recent memory, the Clarke County Farmers Market has held a Geneva Jackson pie baking contest whereby locals have their pies judged by Mrs. Jackson herself. Proceeds from the contest went to benefit the Laurel Center. And numerous local charities would ask her to donate an apple pie to their fundraising auctions. It was not unheard of for Mrs. Jackson’s apple pie to bring in as much as $5,000.00 at charitable auction. Sigh. Sadly for those left behind, Mrs. Jackson has died, at age 92. She was a kind woman who loved God, her family, church, friends, and community. Everyone who knew her is better off for having done so. Good-bye Mrs. Jackson. R. I. P.

GFK

“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”

–Winnie The Pooh.

Surely everyone has heard the phrase “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere”? Well, it is more than a song performed by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. The phrase actually originated in the late 1890s, with British troops in India. This particular military duty was quite dull, the conditions squalid, and the water was not potable. So drinking was a popular pastime, but frowned upon before 5:00 p.m. It then occurred to some imaginative soldiers that the British Empire then extended around the world (hence the saying “The sun never sets on The British Empire”), making it 5 o’clock somewhere in the Empire. Thus drinking gradually began whenever the mood struck. How ’bout that?

When Winston Churchill first arrived in India, he hated the thought of drinking Scotch. But then he drank the water, which he realized that he liked even less. So he began to drink Johnnie Walker Red with the water, finding that it made both the water and the Scotch tolerable. Thus began a lifetime of drinking Scotch and water. As well as wine, cognac, and gin. In copious amounts, but only on days that end in “y”. It was probably this excessive use of alcohol that caused Mr. Churchill to suffer an untimely death at age 90. That and the cigars.

Today is the 217^th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.  Born into poverty in Kentucky, he rose to become a successful lawyer, and eventually, President of the United States.  Revered today by those who note that he preserved the Union, he is criticized by those who question the legality and propriety of his methods as well as whether his methods set the stage for the growth of today’s out of control federal government. 

Nevertheless, irrespective of one’s particular view of Mr. Lincoln, it is undeniable that he succeeded against all odds.  He fought an unpopular war while at the same time fighting his supposed “allies” in this effort.  His political skills frustrated his political opponents, and his mercy toward the defeated angered those very same political opponents.  He died tragically at the hand of a maniacal assassin, having accomplished everything he sought to do but effecting a reconciliation of the people. 

The Reconstruction Period which created harsh conditions and even harsher feelings lasted for more than twelve (12) years after Mr. Lincoln’s death.  There can be little doubt that if Mr. Lincoln had lived, the man who won the war would have also won the peace.  He is celebrated still today because he was a great and consequential man.  Indeed, he was uniquely qualified for the task that lay before him.

GFK

“Of course size matters.  No one wants a small glass of wine.”

–The Tao Of Frank.

The federal government is proceeding to yet another Democrat caused partial shutdown. The sticking point is funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This would include ICE and the Border Patrol, as well as the Secret Service, FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard. Democrats, realizing the havoc would cause if an agency such as TSA was not funded, now want to fund everything but ICE and the Border Patrol. No. Republicans should reject any attempt to isolate ICE and the Border Patrol.

President Trump announced a new discount prescription medicine marketplace, where Americans can buy their drugs at significantly lower prices. Naturally, the Democrats are against it. They would prefer Americans to continue to pay high prices for prescription drugs than give the President any credit for lowering prices. TDS.

“Harvard is woke.  The War Department is not.”

–Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, explaining why the federal government is cutting all military education programs and ties with Harvard University.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the federal government could hold illegal aliens in detention while they fight deportation. Common sense. WINNING!

“It’s a completely lawless agency right now with no accountability. And she is just outright lying to the American people repeatedly, and has demonstrated herself to be completely unqualified and incompetent.”

–Representative Dan Goldman (D. N.Y.), criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Congressional Democrats are demanding massive changes in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security, including:

• Requiring judicial warrants before entering private homes or property. 
• Banning agents from wearing masks and mandating clearly visible identification.
• Restricting enforcement operations near “sensitive locations” like hospitals, schools, churches, and polling places. 
• Prohibiting profiling based on race, ethnicity, language, accent, job, or neighborhood.
• Tightening use‑of‑force standards and suspending agents involved in shootings while investigations are pending. 
• Requiring greater cooperation with state and local authorities and investigators.
• Guaranteeing access to legal counsel and congressional oversight visits in detention facilities.
• Mandating body‑worn cameras with limits on how footage can be used.
• “Demilitarizing” ICE by standardizing and toning down uniforms, gear, and weapons so routine operations look less like paramilitary raids.

These changes are not going to happen. But Democrats have added another big demand, that is definitely not going to happen–Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem must go. Even if President Trump wanted to fire her, he cannot do so now.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D. N.Y.) called the requirement of a photo ID and proof of citizenship, as proposed by Republicans, amounts to “voter suppression”. How is it “voter suppression” to keep aliens from voting?

Representative Maxine Watters (D. Ca.) announced that she would “not honor” President Trump by attending the State of the Union address. She will not be missed.

Representative Ilhan Omar (D. Mn.) praised Cuba, and condemned the United States for exerting economic pressure on Cuba. Why does she not move there?

Senator Mark Warner (D. Va.) went on NBC News and attacked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, claiming that she was “sitting on” an explosive whistleblower complaint. Senator Warner did not specify what the complaint involved, citing only a vague news account with only anonymous sources. It was clear that Senator Warner was just enjoying himself, slinging mud at Director Gabbard, and making baseless allegations.

Director Gabbard responded to Senator Warner’s bluster, denying that she was “sitting on” any whistleblower complaint. She went on to explain that all whistleblower complaints went straight to the department’s Inspector General. Something Senator Warner should, and does, know.

Senator Jon Ossoff (D. Ga.) is adamantly opposed to a photo ID requirement for voting. But if you wanted to attend Senator Ossoff’s campaign rally last weekend? You needed to present a valid photo ID.

Florida now requires all drivers to take their drivers license test in English. The usual suspects are outraged at this “exclusionary” policy. It is insufficiently diverse! But they are overlooking the obvious; all traffic signs in Florida are in English. Not Spanish.

San Francisco, California is being sued over its reparations to black folks ordinance. Who did not see this coming?

“I always tell people that the day that the Latino, African-American, Asian, and other communities realize that they share the same oppressor, is the day we start winning.  Because we are the majority in this country now.  We have the ability to take over this country and to do what is needed for everyone, and to make things fair.  But the problem is that our communities are divided, they’re completely divided.”

–Texas State Representative Gene Wu (D.).  Mr. Wu was born in Red China.  He acts like he is still there.

Ohio State Representative Ismail Mohamed (D.) introduced a bill to restrict ICE from enforcing federal law in certain “sensitive” places within the State. The bill is unconstitutional, of course. But it is interesting that Representative Mohamed, while a U.S. citizen, was born in Somalia.

Virginia State Senator Adam Ebbin (D.) proposes that the Commonwealth tax the revenues earned from fantasy football leagues. Leagues would have to register with the Commonwealth, and then obtain a permit, prior to operating. The Virginia Lottery Commission would regulate the leagues. Sigh. Is this “affordability”? Is there anything that the Democrats do not want government to regulate or tax? Anything?

Eddie Bauer’s U.S. retail operations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A liquidation sale is planned in the near future.

At the Super Bowl, a concessionaire sold a 3 1/2 pound braised beef shank burger, on a brioche bun. It was topped with Point Reyes blue cheese sauce. The cost? $180.00, fries not included. It sold out by halftime.

The Eastern Amateur Championship, played at Portsmouth, Virginia’s Elizabeth Manor Golf Club since 1957, is no more. Sad. Very sad.

Past champions at The Eastern Amateur include Jon Hurst, Tom McKnight, Ben Crenshaw, Lanny Wadkins, Andy Bean, Curtis Strange, Vinny Giles, and Deane Beman. Forest Park’s Steve Smith finished 2nd in 1979. A lot of great golfers made a mark in Tidewater.

Some American Olympians are bashing their country, much to the delight of Democrats and foreign Leftists. Sigh. These are the same people who oohed, aahed, and swooned over the mere appearance of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s sister at the Seoul Olympic Games.

Brad Arnold, lead singer for the band Three Doors Down, has died at age 47. R. I. P.

Former New York Giants head coach Ray Handley died at age 81. R. I. P.

GFK

“I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.”

–Winnie The Pooh.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA HUNDLEY! English wants to party with you!

I drove down to Chatmoss last night. I have business in Henry County this week, and English is joining me later for the weekend. Dudley’s protestations aside, he will be here also.

The drive down Rt. 29 was pleasant, and the further South I went, I saw more grass and blacktop. Then I got to my house. A white sheet from front to back, EXCEPT, bless his heart, our house’s caretaker had shoveled away the 3 foot barrier that Henry County plow crews had so kindly placed in the drive’s entrance. So I was able to get in, and up to the house. Where I suddenly realized . . .

The garage door was still closed. I had pushed the button to open the door, but the vehicle (our farm truck) had become unpaired. That was a problem, as the garage door opener is the “key” I use to get into the house. And I had forgotten to take the keys from the car I normally drive, so this was a problem. I called Frank, and he drove up, with keys not to my house. I called my sister who lives close (relatively close, she is in the same county, but a good 30 minutes away), and she grumpily agreed to come over with a key. Then I found an old set of keys in the farm truck. About the same time Frank found my keys.

In the end, I got into the house, and did not freeze to death. Indeed, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the power had not gone out even once in the last month since I was last here. My diesel started up, and that was a most pleasant surprise. The house was warm, and I happily poured a Scotch and lit a cigar. I lit a fire in the fireplace. Things are good. It is nice to be home.

Poor Frank. He has shoveled his drive 4 times in the last 2 weeks. There is still a solid sheet of ice on his front walk. He would have invited me over, but he was not convinced that one or both of us would not fall trying to get into the house. That would have been bad.

It is supposed to be in the 60s tomorrow. Let us hope that it is, and is sunny. Winter has worn out its welcome in Southside Virginia.

Today I bring you more good news about the economy. Mr. Wolf’s analysis below is something you won’t see on the evening news shows, or read about in your local newspaper. Enjoy!

The Productivity Boom Economists Didn’t See Coming

Surging productivity is the latest Trump-era reality economists can’t explain away.

BY:          F. Andrew Wolf, Jr., The American Spectator (February 3, 2026).

First, economists complained about Trump’s low inflation figures, then it was the “unbelievable” growth in the economy, next it was solid wage growth and a confident consumer, suggesting the economic expansion should continue at a healthy pace in 2026. Now, it’s something else.

Productivity is surging in America, and this points to mild inflation even though wages rise and rapid economic growth continues. It’s a win-win for America, and mainstream economists don’t like it.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday that productivity rose at an annualized rate of 4.9 percent in Q3 of last year and 4.1 percent in Q2, consistent with earlier estimates. That makes the first two full quarters of Trump’s presidency the best two consecutive quarters since, well… the last time Trump was president.

The numbers actually understate the remarkable upward shift in productivity. During the pandemic era, productivity spiked, but only because millions were laid off. That’s more or less typical of economic downturns — the least productive workers receive “pink slips”; thus, the ratio of economic output to man-hours worked — which is how the government calculates productivity — goes up. Now, however, productivity numbers are above 4.0 percent even though unemployment remains stable — economic output continues to grow.

The really good news is that there’s reason to suspect that we may have entered a period (perhaps an era) of high productivity growth. After a few quarters of remarkably good productivity in 2023, Cleveland Federal Reserve economists ran a statistical model aimed at detecting what they term productivity “regime changes” — no, this has nothing to do with Venezuela! They calculated the probability that the U.S. economy had shifted into a high-growth phase at roughly 40 percent. (They noted that it would take a few more quarters to reach a “more unambiguous conclusion.”)

The second and third quarter numbers mentioned previously are helpful in understanding their conclusions. The figures suggest that what the Cleveland Fed economists were seeing last year — they ran their model in January 2025 — was not just a transitory spike but a sustainable rate of real growth, which economists call… productivity.

What’s Causing the Higher Productivity?

Mainstream economists are stumped about this phenomenon. Most think it is too early to be caused by the advent of artificial intelligence. The fact that manufacturing productivity and output are rising so rapidly suggests that it is probably not AI but rather something more significant: investment in innovation more broadly in the economy.

They had become enamored with the status quo without considering the effect of real productivity growth through domestic reinvestment.

What is precipitating this is Trump’s economics. And the most likely factors are a tight labor market and the end of the offshoring policies of previous administrations. After more than a few decades of productivity suffering because businesses could rely on abundant and cheap labor at home and abroad, many have now realized that they have to switch to domestic investment to achieve growth.

Even after Trump departs the White House, it’s unlikely we’ll see the permissive immigration policies we saw under Biden and Obama (and Bush before that), and we’re not returning to the era of globalization. There has been a paradigm shift in economic policy in America.

A major reason for this shift is Trump’s new tax incentives for capital investment. Making 100 percent expensing for capital outlays permanent has likely incentivized companies to invest more heavily in the U.S. and adopt business models built around capital investment and agentic AI rather than payroll expansion. The old tax rules made capital investment costly by only allowing deductions spread over several years, while labor costs were immediately deductible. Trump’s new tax rules level the playing field.

But to be fair, it’s not all Trump policy at work here — or at least not all recent Trump policies. The improvement in productivity began back in 2023 and 2024, which is when it caught the eye of those economists at the Cleveland Fed. The most likely drivers, however, did have their origin with Trump. For one thing, Biden surprised many by leaving the tariffs from Trump’s first term in place — they realized they work. And this is important; it signaled to businesses that tariffs were not something they could just wait out. Moreover, the labor market was extraordinarily tight in those years, with job openings far exceeding the number of people seeking employment.

Trump’s immigration and tariff policies in his second term are now doubling down on these. The growth of the workforce has slowed dramatically because immigration has been curbed, as has the rising cost of imported goods. As a result, the relative benefits of investing in domestic productivity have increased dramatically.

The recent report that steel production in the United States has surpassed Japan’s steel production for the first time in 26 years is a testament to Trump’s push for domestic production.

In 2025, U.S. steel production surpassed Japan, becoming the world’s third-largest steel producer. This is the first time since 1999 that the U.S. has produced more steel than Tokyo.

“U.S. crude steel production in 2025 was up 3.1 percent to 82 million tons, the first rise in two years, according to the World Steel Association,” Nikkei Asia reports. “The growth is due in large part to the Trump administration’s tariff policies.”

Last year, Trump initially placed 25 percent tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products. Those tariff rates were later doubled to 50 percent, which has helped drastically boost steel production in the United States.

Leon Topalian, the CEO of U.S. steel producer Nucor, remarked that Trump’s tariffs were not hurting American manufacturing and, in fact, were a bright spot in the nation’s economy. “[T]he demand, the robustness that we see in this economy, again, I think 2026 is shaping up to be a very, very solid year for Nucor,” Topalian said.

So, here’s the thing: this is the exact opposite of what tariff critics predicted. They admonished that if tariffs forced the U.S. to produce more domestically, productivity would decline as workers were drawn into less efficient sectors. What they missed was that foreign intervention in the economy had so badly distorted global production that reinvigorating production would actually improve productivity, and businesses would seek to lower costs by investing in productivity-increasing technology.

They failed to consider the bigger picture of how the American economy was so negatively influenced by previous administrations’ promoting offshore policies. They had become enamored with the status quo without considering the effect of real productivity growth through domestic reinvestment — which they never believed was profitable (or even possible) before Trump.

GFK

“You only live once.  But if you really do it right, once is enough.”

–The Tao Of Frank.

The Dow Jones Industrials passed the 50,000 mark for this 1st time in history, on Friday. WINNING!

A Rockville, Maryland man left his parent’s home [loser], and ventured into the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. to murder OMB Director Russell Vought. Fortunately, he was arrested. Yet another sign of Leftist derangement, as they seek to eliminate those who oppose them.

President Trump wants to put a statue of Christopher Columbus on The White House’s South Lawn. That popping sound you hear is the sound of Democrats’ heads exploding.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D. N.Y.) vows that no Senate Democrat will vote for the SAVE Act, which, inter alia, requires a photo ID to vote. He calls it “Jim Crow 2.0”. In other words, only racists support photo IDs as a voting requirement. Huh. You know who supports voter IDs as a voting requirement? Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats. Senator Schumer thinks his own party’s voting base is composed of racists.

“Right now, the missing congregants are missing out on one of the most important things of their faith practice, which is being able to engage in group prayer, group worship, communion.”

–Attorney for The Episcopal Church, USA, arguing to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that illegal aliens and the Church are being harmed due to the fear of arrest by ICE agents.

Illegal aliens can always go to the church of their choice in their home countries. Problem solved.

A Massachusetts federal judge–a China Joe appointee–ruled that ICE cannot use IRS information to track illegal aliens. Hmmm. The government cannot use its own information in order to enforce federal laws. That is insane.

Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich (R. Ga.) told FOX News’s Sean Hannity that it was time to have a national conversation about amnesty for illegal aliens present in the United States. No. No it is not.

Some people need to fade away, as their time is past. Newt Gingrich is one of them.

The Washington Post is slashing its workforce by 1/3, and eliminating its entire sports department. Wow.

Federal investigators discovered and dismantled a Red Chinese operated biological lab in a Las Vegas, Nevada residential neighborhood. When will we realize that Red China is our enemy?

Why is Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D.) discussing the State flag? He mentioned that it was a “contradiction” since the flag contains both Confederate and Union symbols. Are changes going to be proposed?

The Maryland State government is currently facing a massive budget crisis. Perhaps Governor Moore should pay more attention to it, than the flag.

In Jefferson County, Colorado, a local public high school hosted a presentation teaching students how to observe, record, and identify ICE agents. That is so despicable. Public schools cannot teach reading and arithmetic, but they can spend instructional time on grooming Leftist terrorists.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D. Ca.) told The Washington Post in a recent interview that he was present at, and participated in, his mother’s “assisted suicide”. At the time of her death, California law deemed his, and the doctor’s, acts as murder.

Gavin Newsom is an evil man, who murdered his mother. Is this who the Democrats want to nominate as their presidential standard bearer?

In the last year, California has released 4,561 criminal illegal aliens back into society, rather than turn them over to ICE. No regard whatsoever for the safety of California citizens, or the rule of law. Disgusting.

“I consider my own faith, Islam, a religion built upon a narrative of migration.” “The story of the Hijrah reminds us that Prophet Muhammad, was a stranger too, who fled Mecca and was welcomed in Medina.”

–New York City Comrade Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D.), urging that U.S. immigration policy be set according to Islamic standards.

Trash and snow are piled up 8 and 9 feet deep on New York City streets and sidewalks, but Comrade Mamdani insists on dabbling in federal policy.  Stay in your lane, Comrade.

Governor Abigail Spanberger (D. Va.) campaigned on a platform of “affordability”. Shortly after taking office, Governor Spanberger reentered Virginia into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Initiative is nothing short of a carbon based tax, which will raise Virginians’ electricity bills by more than $500 million, per year. Some affordability.

Virginia General Assembly Democrats want to criminalize “Islamophobia”, making it a “hate crime”, as well as “assault” and “battery”. Never mind that there is no such thing as “Islamophobia”. Never mind that speech that is critical of Islam is protected under the United States Constitution. No, no, no. You upset an Islam, and you go straight to jail.

“We know today students at VMI attend class in Maury Hall and Scott Shipp Hall, celebrating two Confederate officers. They attend class in Mallory Hall, celebrating a Confederate secretary of the Navy. Every graduate today has emblazoned on their rings … the date of the Battle of [New Market] in which cadets marched out in a spectacular act of treason and fired on United States troops in defense of slavery.”

–Virginia State Delegate Dan Helmer (D. Fairfax), who is leading the charge against The Virginia Military Institute’s very existence.

Here is the problem with Virginia. Increasingly, we are governed by non-Virginians, people who have no regard for our history and traditions, and who do not share our values. Delegate Helmer is from New Jersey, as is Governor Spanberger. U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner are from Minnesota and Connecticut, respectively. Our Lt. Governor is from India. Senator Adam Ebbin, who wants to tear down more Confederate statues, is from New York.

Virginians are a welcoming people. But we are not looking to be conquered or transformed by outsiders. We do not think that VMI is a relic to be shunned, or changed. We are not ashamed of our role in all of America’s wars, including The Late Unpleasantness. We are proud. We started this country. Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. James Madison was the principal author of the Constitution. Four (4) of the first 5 Presidents were Virginians. Robert E. Lee is a figure to be admired and emulated, not insulted and relegated to the dustbin of history.

If Delegate Helmer, Senator Ebbin, Governor Spanberger, et al. want to enjoy “their values”, maybe they should pack their bags and return North. They can enjoy their bagels and white wine spritzers in New York City. Leave us to drink our bourbon, eat our ham biscuits and peanuts in peace. You can live in your gated communities. We will tote our guns.

Episcopalians, churches and dioceses observed on Feb. 8 “Migration with Dignity Sunday,” an annual day of education, prayer and action for immigration justice.  What a crock of Left wing, political B.S.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is testing a hand-held chicken pot pie. Oh, no! This has disaster written all over it.

Chick-Fil-A is testing 2 new sandwiches.  In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, diners can try a freshly breaded Original Chicken filet served on Sriracha Swirl Toast with lettuce, tomato, seasoned avocado mash, and strips of hardwood smoked bacon, and cayenne ranch sauce on the side for an extra kick.  And in the North Carolina Piedmont Triad area, diners can purchase a freshly breaded Original Chicken filet on a toasted, buttered white bun, topped with a Ginger Lime Cool Crunch—made with cabbage, kale and ginger lime dressing—and drizzled with sweet chili sauce for a sweet and spicy finish.  All sandwiches can be purchased with an original, spicy, or grilled filet.  YUM!

YUM! Brands is closing 250 Pizza Hut locations throughout the United States. That is a lot of pepperoni.

In Arnsberg, Germany, locals painted the German flag on some steps in a public square. This upset the nervous Nellies of the German Green Party, who issued a statement, reading:

“This is an extreme right-wing statement.  This means you are against diversity, peace, and freedom.”

Hmmm. So, an image of the German flag in a public square, in Germany, is “an extreme right-wing statement”? And you are against peace and freedom? Wow.

Iran seized 2 oil tankers near Farsi Island. The Iranian government warned of a “massacre” in the Straits of Hormuz if the United States tried to intervene.

“I just don’t.  I don’t see why they chose that [Bad Bunny]. The NFL does stuff that baffles your mind. So, they’ll do anything for money . . . Look, why don’t we get somebody from right here from home?  What how about someone from right here in San Francisco, all these artists right here in the area to play at the Super Bowl?  Somebody (who speaks) English, you know?”

–Former SMU and Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson.

Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks on winning the Super Bowl. They thoroughly dominated the New England Patriots.

English’s sausage balls were fantastic! So delicious!

Before the game, a singer performed the so-called “Black National Anthem”. Yawn. I was watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

Why does 13% of the population get their own national anthem? It makes no sense.

There is no “black national anthem”. There is only 1 national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a race baiting Leftist, who is ruining the game.

The commercials were forgettable. As predicted.

The halftime shows? Well The Turning Point USA show was a big success with millions streaming a pro-American celebration. The official halftime show was a big middle finger to America. The broken down rabbit did his political act, in Spanish, and celebrated–not the United States–but all of Latin America.

NOTE TO BAD BUNNY: First, you are a U.S. citizen. Second, we speak English in the United States. Learn it, live it, love it. Or get the Hell out.

The Washington Post published a HUGE article in advance of the Super Bowl about “the most relevant player”–Colin Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick did not play in this Super Bowl. He is not even a player. Colin Kaepernick has not played football in 10 years. He is a washed up, anti-American, Leftist a$$hole, about whom no one cares. But here is the Post celebrating a big nothingburger. No wonder the paper is circling the drain of bankruptcy.

Former Washington Redskin cornerback Barry Wilburn has died at age 62. R. I. P.

LaMonte McLemore, founding member of The 5th Dimension singing group, has died at age 90. R. I. P.

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen has died at age 91. R. I. P.

Former Virginia State Delegate Charles Poindexter (R.) has died at age 83. R. I. P.

Former Representative Lee Hamilton (D. In.) has died at age 94. R. I. P.

GFK

The Sundays of Pre-Lent and Lent have a distinct logic to assist us in our life in Christ. Last week, Septuagesima, Our Lord calls us to become laborers in His vineyard. This is, in effect, the call to become pilgrims on our way to the Kingdom of God. This week, Sexagesima, in the Parable of the Sower, He speaks of the importance of bringing forth good seed. Next week, Quinquagesima, He will speak to us of “going up to Jerusalem.” Here, we will reflect on what it means to walk with Our Blessed Lord as He heads towards the Holy City for the last confrontation with His adversaries.

The Sundays of Lent will speak to the hazards of our journey: the temptations we will face and conflicts with demons and the powers of evil. But on Refreshment Sunday, we are reminded that Our Lord will provide “food for the journey,” in the feeding of the multitude. Then on Passion Sunday, Our Lord reminds us why the religious establishment was so opposed to Him: “Before Abraham was, I am.” His claim to be God was considered blasphemous and worthy of the death penalty. This brings us to Palm Sunday and the reading of S. Matthew’s Passion account and our journey’s end, as Our Lord opens to us the heavenly Jerusalem through His death and resurrection.

In the Epistle for this Sunday, S. Paul speaks of the things that distract us and impede our spiritual progress. There are external contingencies: weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Although we will most likely not suffer in the same way as S. Paul, Satan does use the things that come at us externally to discourage us and deflect us from our goal. It may be the derogatory way in which people speak of us because of our faith. Or it may even be outright rejection because we are so far outside the cultural norm.

This can be exacerbated by the daily concerns and duties we face as well as our own inner weaknesses. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

Entering upon this pilgrimage is not easy for any one of us. The trials and limitations we face are meant to be embraced as the very essence of our glorification: If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. This seeming paradox is at the very heart of our faith. Only when we acknowledge our inabilities, are we able to realize that it is God working in our lives to draw us to Himself. 

At the end of the day, all we can do is to will what God desires to do within us. This is the moment of conversion – this is the moment of learning to live our lives as we are meant.

____________________________________________________________________

Today is the Super Bowl, that great American attraction that somehow diminishes the game of football, more often than not. It is the 60th playing of the game since the merger of the National and American Football Leagues.

Seattle and New England will play the game in Santa Clara, California, in the stadium that hosts the San Francisco 49ers. Personally, I am cheering for Seattle, largely because I dislike the Patriots.

I do not care for the highly touted commercials, which are usually insipid. And I will not be watching Bad Bunny and Green Day at the halftime show. I get enough politics during the week.

English is making game snacks. They are always delicious, even though they do not always settle well in my stomach. Tomorrow could be a long day.

Below is an article by Everett Piper, who columns I find thoughtful and thought provoking. I hope you have time to digest Mr. Piper’s work between the morning and the Super Bowl.

____________________________________________________________________

‘Progressive’ Christians, not evangelicals, are the moral sellouts

They’re blind to their own rampant compromised values

BY:          Everett Piper, The Washington Times (February 1, 2026).

Last week, a friend sent me an article and asked for my opinion. The author of the essay in question is a “progressive Christian” named Tripp Fuller. His long, verbose column is titled “Bonhoeffer’s Warning, Unheeded: The Moral Collapse of White Evangelicalism.”

Painful though it was, I read all 7,300 words of Mr. Fuller’s musings, and here is what he said in a nutshell: Today’s “White evangelicals” are like the German Christians of the 1930s, and, like them, we are “sequentially complicit” in the evils of a Nazi regime.

In other words, America’s White evangelicals are “frogs in the kettle” whose consciences have been slowly “boiled” by our moral compromise with the Republican Party.

That’s it. Mr. Fuller could have saved himself a lot of words and barrels of ink and just said, “If you want to know what’s wrong with America, look no further than ‘White evangelicals.’ Their sellout to the Republican Party is the cause of all that ails us.”

Am I the only one who gets weary of the hypocritical duplicity of oxymoronic “Christians” such as Mr. Fuller? I mean, seriously, how could such a self-declared “scholar” be so clueless?

Has it never crossed his mind that millions of “White evangelicals” vote for Republicans for a variety of reasons other than superficial political alignment? Never mind that the party Mr. Fuller and his liberal sycophants favor supports government collectivism over individual responsibility, drag queens over the dignity of women and the sexual indoctrination of children over the innocence of little boys and girls.

Never mind that they align with those who champion illegal immigrants over the blue-collar citizens in Springfield, Ohio, who are being overrun by the crime and vagrancy of these imported masses.

Never mind that Mr. Fuller’s politics favor illegal gangs over the working-class Hispanic Americans in Aurora, Colorado, who are afraid to leave their apartments because another country’s murderous thugs have taken over their neighborhoods and streets.

Never mind that Democrats seem to care more about the “rights” of those who have entered our country illegally than they do about young women who are afraid to go for a jog in the local park for fear of being raped and murdered.

Never mind that this is a party that seems to think running over a federal officer with your car in Minneapolis is justified, while singing hymns outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Tennessee is not.

Never mind that Democrats at the highest level of government have specifically labeled anyone who champions traditional sexual morality, school choice, parental rights, secure borders and/or religious freedom a “national security threat” while they laud the “peaceful protests” of Black Lives Matter and antifa. Never mind all this.

How is it possible that the smart folks such as Mr. Fuller are so deluded? How can they be so blind?

How can they not see that “White evangelicals” (as well as those who are Black, Hispanic, Native and Asian) vote Republican because we believe women are biological facts, that antisemitism is wrong and that Marxism is evil? How can they not see that we vote Republican because we can read and have thereby concluded that the Green New Deal is not only anti-science but also anti-human, Orwellian and insane?

How can they not see that we vote Republican because we understand what a fascist is and what a Nazi isn’t and they apparently don’t?

How can they not see that we vote Republican because we are appalled by the racism of critical race theory and the divisive agenda of diversity, equity and inclusion?

I could go on and on, but the point is clear.

What Tripp Fuller’s long-winded, condescending essay tells us more than anything else is that he and his acolytes (i.e., his tribe of “progressive Christians”) are the ones being slowly cooked in the proverbial pot, much more so than the conservative “White evangelicals” they bemoan.

The fact that this guy can’t see that he is the poster child for the “sequential complicity” that he pedantically criticizes is nothing short of stunning. My land, he just spent 7,300 words blathering on about the moral compromise of “White evangelicals” while apparently blind to his own rampant moral compromise.

These liberals could save themselves a lot of words by simply quoting Pogo: “We have met the enemy, and it is us.”

A good dose of self-awareness never hurt anybody. These proudly deconstructed “Christians” (and I use that term loosely) would all do well to go back and reread Matthew 7:5. “You hypocrites, first take the log out of your own eye.”

Talk about a frog in a kettle.

GFK

GFK

Today I offer you Professor John Lott’s analysis of ICE actions under Presidents Trump and Obama. The media will tell you that under President Trump, ICE is terrorizing citizens, rounding up “brown” people, and generally acting as a “private militia”. The media will also tell you that under President Obama, ICE behaved responsibly, there were few, or no, errors, and that deportations were more orderly. That is not the truth.

How Trump’s ICE enforcement record blows Obama’s out of the water— by a lot

BY:          John R. Lott, Jr., The New York Post (January 22, 2026).

“Earlier you were just defending ICE agents … that they were doing everything correctly,” Niall Stanage of the Hill challenged press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“Thirty-two people died in ICE custody last year; 170 US citizens were detained by ICE. And, uh, Renee Good was shot in the head and killed … How does that equate to them doing everything correctly?”

Countless news stories have amplified fears that under Trump, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are wildly violating basic rights.

NPR, to cite just one example, recently claimed that “many” American citizens “have been mistaken” for illegal immigrants, and that there’s “a long history of immigration agencies not having a good track record.”

But the numbers tell a very different story about how ICE is doing under Trump.

Let’s set the baseline: Between the president’s Jan. 20, 2025, inauguration and the end of November, Trump’s administration arrested an extraordinary total of 595,000 illegal aliens and deported 605,000.

The 170 ICE-detained US citizens cited in Stanage’s diatribe included about 130 arrested for interfering with or assaulting officers, according to the left-leaning ProPublica — justifiable under any reading of the law.

Only about 40 or so of those who were detained claimed to be US citizens accidentally or erroneously arrested by ICE, and just half of those people were held for more than a day; most were released in a few hours.

Any error is serious, but 40 mistakes out of 595,000 arrests amounts to an error rate of just 0.0067% — roughly one wrongful detention for every 14,925 arrests.

Compare that with the final two years of President Barack Obama’s administration.

In fiscal years 2015 and 2016, ICE recorded 263 mistaken arrests, 54 mistaken detentions (book-ins), and four mistaken removals.

During those two years, ICE made a mere 239,645 arrests, meaning the 54 mistaken detentions alone produced an Obama error rate of 0.0225% — about one mistake for every 4,444 arrests.

Overall, the error rate under Obama was 3.36 times higher than under Trump.

Unfortunately, there’s no comparable public data for other past administrations, or the rest of the Obama years.

As further evidence of ICE’s irresponsibility, Stanage charged that “32 people died in ICE custody last year.”

That claim, however, misleads without context; the numbers only make sense when compared across administrations.

During the course of Obama’s two terms, from 2009 to 2017, 56 individuals died in ICE custody.

That administration didn’t publish clear detention totals, but the closest available figures show about 498,646 detentions and deportations over five fiscal years, an average of roughly 99,729 per year.

If that annual rate held throughout the entire administration, ICE processed about 797,834 individuals.

Under that estimate, 56 deaths translates into a rate of 0.007% — roughly one death for every 14,314 detainees.

By comparison, the rate last year under Trump was slightly lower: 0.0054%, or one death for every 18,594 detainees.

Both those figures are substantially below the average death rate for the detainee age group.

Stanage’s rant omitted one key data point: the number of Americans accidentally deported.

The reason for him not doing so is straightforward — none occurred.

That’s right, for all the tumult and fury, ICE under Trump made no erroneous deportations through November.

By contrast, ICE under Obama deported two US citizens in fiscal year 2015, and two more in fiscal year 2016.

All the media lies and distortions bring disturbing real-world impacts.

Amid the drumbeat of slanted coverage, 57% of Americans now disapprove of how ICE enforces immigration laws, a Quinnipiac University survey found this month, with only 40% saying they approve of ICE’s actions.

Another recent poll, conducted by CNN/SSRS, found that 51% of adults now say ICE enforcement is making cities less safe.

The critics’ demonization tactics are making federal agents’ jobs considerably more dangerous.

Assaults on federal immigration officers increased by 1,347% in 2025, as agents experienced a terrifying 8,000% surge in death threats.

Car attacks on ICE agents spiked by 3,200%, The Post reports.

And in just the last few days, hackers leaked the home addresses and personal identifying information of about 4,500 employees of ICE and the US Border Patrol — multiplying the risks to their safety.

No federal agency is perfect. In immigration enforcement, as in all law enforcement operations, mistakes will be made.

But the media’s lack of perspective on the data, and their refusal to put the numbers in context, is putting a match to an explosive public debate.

Responsible journalism should inform us, not distort reality — or fuel hostility toward those doing a difficult and dangerous job.

GFK

“Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15.”

“As government expands, liberty contracts.”

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

“How do you tell a Communist? Well, it’s someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It’s someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”

“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”

–President Ronald Reagan

He was talented, but often overlooked and underestimated.  He was educated, well read and informed, but thought of as simple minded and ignorant.  He was gregarious, but very private and introverted.  He was born into humble circumstances, but rose to the highest office in the land, to the continued surprise of his many detractors.  Today, February 6, is the 115^th birthday of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the fortieth (40^th) President of the United States.  He was born in Tampico, Illinois, in 1911. 

It is fascinating when proponents of former Presidents Obama and China Joe claim that these men saved us from the worst recessions since the Great Depression.  In the case of President Obama, it was hyperbole.  In the case of China Joe, it was just a damn lie.

Clearly none of these advocates have any memory of 1979, with interest rates approaching 21%, inflation ravaging American incomes at 13.5%, high unemployment at 8%, and gas lines.  Moreover, across the globe, Soviet expansionism was on the march.  Then, as under former Presidents Obama and China Joe, many declared that the American people would have to adjust to this new “normal” and make do with less.  One such figure—then President Jimmy Carter—comes to mind.

Ronald Reagan rejected that view.  Ronald Reagan believed in the American people and their capacity to achieve, if only government would get out of the way.  He famously stated in his First Inaugural Address that “[i]n this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”  President Reagan then spent the next eight (8) years implementing policies that unleashed the greatest expansion of the American economy ever. 

A man of peace, President Reagan also moved American foreign policy in a different direction.  Rejecting the defeatist policies of détente and containment, President Reagan sought to win the Cold War against the Soviet Union.  He succeeded beyond all expectations, freeing millions of people from Soviet bondage behind the Iron Curtain.  Because of President Reagan, the Berlin Wall was torn down, free democratic elections are now regularly held in Eastern European countries, the Soviet Union does not exist, and communism—the most evil ideology ever implemented—lies on the ash heap of history.  And it all occurred without a nuclear exchange or the firing of a single shot.  President Reagan achieved all this, not because he was a great man (though he was), but because he believed, truly believed, in the greatness of the American ideal and the American people.  Indeed, in his farewell address, he touted the successes of the American people and predicted that our best days lay ahead of us.  “After all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans.” 

Ronald Reagan died on June 5, 2004.  He left us all a legacy of prosperity and peace, as well as  a roadmap to freedom and prosperity; the very same roadmap that our Founding Fathers first established, and that so many have died to preserve.  We as a people only falter when we forget. 

God bless Ronald Wilson Reagan. 

GFK

“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything.  They just make the best of everything.”

–The Tao Of Frank.

The federal government is open. At least for another 10 days or so. Or until Democrats throw another hissy fit.

Facing a vote to hold them in criminal contempt of Congress, former President Bill Clinton, and 3 time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, have agreed to testify before an investigative committee dealing with the Jeffrey Epstein files. Let the lying begin!

A review of campaign finance forms reveals that Representative Eric Swalwell (D. Ca.) spent $200,000.00 of campaign cash on . . . childcare for his children. Why should he spend his own money? He is used to spending other people’s money.

“If you were attacked by a masked person, you might think you were being kidnapped. You’d be justified in shooting the person.”

–Representative Jerrold Nadler (D. N.Y.), urging illegal aliens to shoot ICE agents apprehending them, at a House of Representatives committee meeting.

Despicable. A new low, even for a Democrat.

Would be Trump assassin Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison, plus 7 years. Good-bye.

Baltimore, Maryland’s Mayor Brandon Scott (D.) launched into a tirade against a reporter for daring to ask why he needed to waste $163,000 of taxpayer funds to purchase an armor plated Jeep Grand Wagoneer, more expensive than even the SUV of the Maryland governor. According to Mayor Scott, it is “racist” to even ask the question. Uh, huh.

In Mayor Scott’s defense, I would not ride around the streets of Baltimore unless I was in an armor plated vehicle. Too dangerous.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D.) is outraged that New York City taxis play Newsmax on their backseat television screens. He is demanding that the Newsmax broadcasts be removed. Because Leftists are intolerant, and want to control everything.

In Hays County, Texas, high school students walked out of class in order to protest ICE “brutality” in Minnesota. The protest quickly devolved into a riot, as a group of the students physically attacked, and violently beat, a teacher standing on the sidewalk outside the school. Other than that incident, the protest was “mostly peaceful”.

Texas State Representative and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D.) has managed to make yet another outrageous statement. Mr. Talarico is facing off against U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D. Tx.) for the Democrat nomination, after former U.S. Representative Colin Allred dropped out of the race. Mr. Talarico told supporters that he signed on to run against “a mediocre black man”, not against a “formidable and intelligent black woman”. Hmmm. The Observations’ problem with his statement is not that he called Colin Allred a “mediocre black man”. Because that is true. But to call Jasmine Crocket “formidable and intelligent”? That is an absolute lie.

Larry Temah is an illegal alien subject to a deportation order. He is also a cadet at the New Orleans Police Academy, and was only a week away from graduation when ICE arrested him. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?

In Portland, Oregon, anti-ICE agitators continue to besiege and assault the ICE detention center. But federal Judge Michael Simon–an Obama appointee–is doing something about it. He has issued a court order preventing ICE from using standard crowd control techniques such as the use of tear gas. Because Judge Simon 1) thinks that a judge should be able to second guess executive decisions; and, 2) is on the side of the agitators.

Judge Simon issued a similar order in 2020 during the George Floyd riots. That order was struck down on appeal. This order will be too.

Anti-ICE agitators took over parts of Minneapolis, Minnesota, blocking streets, and maintaining checkpoints, where motorists were stopped while agitators checked the plates and automobiles for ICE officers or sympathizers. This was done with the blessing of the Minneapolis police department.

But now the Minneapolis police department has reversed its “blessing”, and now has cleared out the roadblocks, and stopped the checkpoints. Why? Because people found out what was going on, and were outraged. The anti-ICE agitators are now fuming, accusing the police of colluding with ICE.

It’s official! The Commonwealth of Virginia is now a “sanctuary State”. Woo hoo! Thank you Governor Spanberger (D.)! Don’t you dear readers feel so much safer now?

The Loudoun County, Virginia School Board hired 30 actors to enact a training session on how for Board members to react if a parent showed up at a meeting with a gun. My goodness. This is how these wackos see concerned and involved parents; as terrorists. This School Board has done some despicable things in the past, but this is a new low. All School Board members have demonstrated themselves as unfit to have any role in public education in the Commonwealth.

At The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., a female Asian baby elephant was born. The calf weighs 308 pounds, and stands 3 feet tall. Mother and baby are fine. Father is passing out cigars to interested visitors.

“No one is illegal on stolen land.”

–Pop tart Billie Eilish, at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony.

Oh, my, where to start? First, the United States is not “stolen land”. No matter how many times Leftist bozos say it, it is just not true. Second, Billie Eilish lives in a $14.5 million estate. When is she vacating the premises, and returning the property to whatever savage Indian tribe lived there eons ago? Because if she is not, she is merely engaged in performative virtue signaling, hating on her country. The country where she has prospered, and which provides her the freedom and forum to utter such rot.

The Tongva tribe in Southern California reacted to Billie Eilish’s comments, welcoming her acknowledgement that Los Angeles was on their tribal lands, and asking for a dialogue to return her property to them. Let’s see if Billie Eilish is willing to put her money where her mouth is. We’re betting, not.

“Introducing a detention facility into our community shifts our focus away from love, care and welcome and to surveillance, hostility and fear.”

–Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia E. Mark Stevenson, speaking in opposition to the building of an ICE Detention Center in Hanover County, Virginia.

Dolt.

The Cape Cod potato chip company is leaving Hyannis, Massachusetts, where it was founded. The company will concentrate its manufacturing in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

Mattel, Inc. released an “autistic Barbie”. Sigh.

Starbucks is exploring installing robots in its stores to perform some of the normal barista tasks. That will cost jobs. Maybe the rush to unionize the workforce was a bad idea.

Minute Maid is ending production of its frozen canned concentrated juices after 80 years. THIS IS TERRIBLE! How in the world will partying fraternity boys make a decent grain alcohol punch?

Iran launched a drone against the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. A fighter jet shot it down.

Iranian gun boats attempted to seize and board a U.S. flagged oil tanker. A U.S. naval vessel chased the gunboats away, and escorted the tanker through the Straits of Hormuz.

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Congratulations! But what about the Basset Hound?!?

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell assured the media that Bad Bunny and Green Day, who are performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, will not “get political”. HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!

Three Dog Night co-founder Chuck Negron has died at age 83. R. I. P.

GFK