This is my shocked face.

It's a good sign when you're begging the government to bar competition, right?

💯

It’s really excellent. I love his chapter on what we would call today his battle rhythm. Maybe frenetic action and 18-hour days aren’t ideal for decision making?

😳

Was paid $1.2M!

I'm a complete idiot--totally missed that I could monetize my service by just violating my oath and professional ethics. What a rube.

Not sure I want to set up an examination of the boat strike legality if I'm the admin. Kelly should be able to muster some horsepower on that question.

I'm not sure how you pursue this while also putting Stu Scheller in charge of PME.

I don’t remember the specific outfit but it was something like an orange jumpsuit.

Ok, I once did something in this ballpark, but I wasn’t autistic—just dumb.

So one of my dad’s funniest law enforcement stories is the fugitive they caught because he showed up in the background of a shot in Bullitt. He was, IIRC, wanted in Alaska. He was a flamboyant dresser, so several agents spotted him immediately and realized he must have run to San Francisco.

Oh

My college advisor told stories of listening to the CSA vets in the old soldiers home as a child.

How old are you?

I’ve replaced jumping off high things, drinking too much, skiing, and driving too fast with sneezing, getting out of bed, and sitting in a chair too long as high risk activities.

I can conjur the smell of Central Market when I close my eyes.

Good luck boycotting H-E-B in Texas.

Also, I try not to stan corporations, but I bend that rule for H-E-B—100% the thing I miss most about the state.

Lasagna led to my marriage and it only took 10 years

My B-i-L is a retired Air Force colonel. I give him shit, but we get the same pension and he complains about the beer selection on his 6mo "deployment" while I ate rockets and mortars and dodged IEDs for 4+ years. One of us wasn't very smart.

Their skills and equipment plus their network of absolutely fabulous gay friends.

I have had this exact conversation with #1 son except it was Space Force.

My grandfather suffered a lot of cognitive dissonance because he fundamentally believed this but was also hyper-patriotic and therefore very proud of my military service. You could actually see it break his brain in real time.

Growing up in a federal LEO family, I can tell you this was also common in those circles. "The government" is the DMV and "welfare." Also the IRS in April.

I kind of assume he has actually said this at some point, probably directly to the president.

The unplanned rapid disassembly says something about overall durability.

These stories about MAGA drifting away never seem to result in tangible polling changes. I suspect there's a gap b/w core MAGA voters--those in it for the slurs and deportations--and MAGA grifters who have to keep their fans interested. I see no indication Candace Owens moves votes.

I was quite young but I remember it clearly. Leo Ryan was our congressman and people we knew lost children there.

I don't remember any discussion of race.

I was able to get a great deal on a year old EV because the 2026 models have significantly longer range AND cost $15K less than mine did new. And that’s after the admin killed the incentives.

Excellent

We’re on our way to a Patrick O’Brien book.

That plus some people really will get less/worse or more frustrating care so that many, many people can get better care. I may be one of those people and I’m willing to pay the cost, but I understand the concern.