"The winning robot, developed ​by Honor, a well-known Chinese smartphone maker, finished the race in 50 minutes ​and 26 seconds, several minutes faster than the [human] world record"

Sainte-Mère-Église for the 21st C

Pundits saying Vance is too unlikable (esp.compared to Rubio) to appeal to GOP voters had best check in with GOP voters, who seem to find Vance's unlikable qualities especially likable...

"The U.S. 'will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,' Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday. 'This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil.'" /2

"The broadening of the campaign will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support the Iranian regime..."

(Gift:)

Here’s what the stock market might have gotten wrong about the Iran war Amid confusion over the Strait of Hormuz, a starkly different reality is unfolding defined by disrupted supply lines and damaged infrastructure.

“'We know supply chains are breaking down in Asia and even Europe. We know a correction is eventually coming.'

Analysts warn [investors] are overlooking red flags around what is coming in weeks & months ahead...

'People are fooling themselves into thinking this will all be resolved very quickly.'"

❗️…

Trump-linked figures lead talks on $200m European pipeline contract Exclusive: Jesse Binnall and Joe Flynn, who campaigned to overturn 2020 election, seek to win Bosnia deal for little-known US firm

Jesse Binnall played a big role in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 US election, was involved in defending Trump after January 6, and has recently been working with Joe Flynn (brother of Michael Flynn) and others on a European pipeline contract in Bosnia. 4/

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

A 1995 newspaper article profiling 16 year-old Jesse Binnall and his efforts to advocate for right wing policies via an organization he was involved with called "Teenage Republicans."

In 1995, 16-year-old Jesse Binnall outlined his platform — abolishing gun control, public education & legal abortion. His girlfriend joined "Teenage Republicans," his org, after being disturbed by Hispanic students flying "Spanish flags" [sic] at rallies for California's anti-immigrant Prop. 187. /3

A 2001 newspaper article describing efforts by Jesse Binnall's organization to support anti-gay membership policies of the Boy Scouts (at the time).

A year before, in 2001, Jesse Binnall was an organizer of a protest to "voice support for the Boy Scouts' right to exclude gays" and put pressure on Sen. Mike DeWine to vote in favor of a measure that would require schools to provide space for Scout meetings, despite anti-gay membership policies. /2

Kash Patel's lawyer, Jesse Binnall, was involved in distributing a postcard in 2002 that denigrated candidate Tammy Baldwin for being a lesbian and vilified LGBTQ peeps in general. The org behind the cards, Public Advocate of the U.S., is an SPLC-designated hate group founded by Eugene Delgaudio. /1

“Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons (378 billion liters) of raw sewage laden with industrial chemicals and trash have poured into the Tijuana River…

Tens of thousands of people are being exposed to the sewage…

‘Most nights we breathe in a horrible stench… It’s awful.’”

We're stuck with JD Vance (2026 edition).

SOUND UP!

Animation by @chunklz.bsky.social

“A request for ‘breaching equipment’—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams to quickly gain entry into buildings—was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.”

FDA Vaccine Chief Front-Runner Called mRNA Vaccines “Experimental Genetic Technology,” Compared Pandemic Response to Iranian Rule Dr. Houman David Hemmati is closely aligned with the MAHA movement.

NEW: The front-runner to become the nation’s next vaccine chief has called the mRNA COVID shots “experimental genetic technology,” compared the pandemic response to Iranian rule, and branded pandemic awareness a “COVIDian religion.”

www.importantcontext.news/p/fda-vaccin...

Watch David Borenstein, who just won an Oscar for his documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” call out the dangers of the pending Paramount-WBD merger, and what it means for press freedom.

“The president has to help us get the vote out...But the base alone is not going to be able to do it. The way we’re going to get the other ones is addressing the energy challenges, particularly the price at the pump and some of the other affordability issues.”

Literally. All. Caused. By. Your. Guy.

BBC News on Instagram: "Three successive Israeli attacks have killed at least three paramedics in southern Lebanon, Lebanese officials say, as they accuse Israel of deliberately targeting health worke... 12K likes, 1,233 comments - bbcnews on April 16, 2026: "Three successive Israeli attacks have killed at least three paramedics in southern Lebanon, Lebanese officials say, as they accuse Israel of del...

Yesterday, Israel used a triple tap attack to kill paramedics in Lebanon. This means that they first bombed, waited for paramedics to come, bombed again, waited, and then bombed again. It was all caught on camera.

There is no peace possible with this.

www.instagram.com/reel/DXMzlFy...

"Iran’s foreign ministry says the country’s stockpile of enriched uranium will not be transferred 'anywhere,' denying an earlier claim by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic Republic agreed to hand it over...

Trump posted... earlier today that 'The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear "Dust"...'"

Which is it?

My personal rule regarding “gentrification” is that if you’re gonna use that word with me, you have to tell me what specifically you are talking about.

We can have a policy conversation about economic displacement. We cannot have that conversation about whether the new restaurants are too fancy.

I’m a Maine reporter who went to high school with Graham Platner. Here’s what explains his success. The 41-year-old is not just the probable Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Susan Collins; he’s arguably the most remarkable political story anywhere in the country.

"I asked her directly whether she believes Trump is the symptom or the disease. 'Good grief. I would like to think, I would like to believe, that it’s a fluke,' she said."

Interesting she'd entertain the idea that Trump could be a "fluke" rather than a logical endpoint of the GOP, with all we know.

The leopards are eating so well these days. Saddest part is: in the interview she says she'd still vote for Trump. FFS, if she and the rest of the trans community end up in camps, she'd still support him (along with 5% of the trans community).

“She described having the sex marker M in her passport as a ‘big problem,’ adding: ‘I don't blame President Trump. I love him.’ Jenner said she appealed to him for help but received no response.”

Fritts’ opposition to AIPAC is… interesting. He’s also a staunch creationist who voted against a bill to ban marriage between biological first cousins, and wants to arm teachers and protect firearms manufacturers from lawsuits. And, he’s called for the execution of the parents of trans children…

“The broader story of American religion remains one of continued decline… Young adults today remain significantly less likely to identify as Christians than their grandparents’ generation. And… more than a quarter of American adults — 28 percent — now claim no religious identity at all.”

Dem senators: no bulldozers to Israel

"Effectively, the votes were a rebuke of Democrats in the Biden administration, who continued funneling U.S. weaponry to Israel despite broad concerns about their use and violations of U.S. and international law, including among nonpartisan government experts."

Yeah, so this is why many astronomers are less than completely excited about the Artemis missions.

(Which is not to detract from the courage and hard work of everyone who made Artemis II so successful! But we have to understand there are other motives involved than science and inspiration.)

"Named for the priest who started Pedro Pan, an 81-bed facility... that provides foster care, family reunification, and trauma services — will be forced to shut down."

Operation Pedro Pan was... (historically) complicated. But shuttering a much-needed shelter for homeless children is disgraceful.