If I knew now what I knew then, I'd have a working memory.

Presidential E-4B “Doomsday Plane” Lands Near D.C. Amid Israel-Iran War
June 18, 2025

□ [“Three Iranian Planes Fly to Oman as Israel Reportedly Begins Attacking the Ayatollah's Bunkers"]

This is something.  Don't know what it is but there's something.  Last night I saw a video, no details were given but it was implied that Israel was hitting something.  Didn't look like normal explosions.  It could be Israel hitting those suspected bunkers.  That would be showing that they know where the ayatollah and his family are hiding and Iranian defenses aren't enough.

Oman is where Iran and the US were hiding nuclear talks.  You don't need three planes to carry the negotiators but the ruling Iranians would need them to escape before it's too late.  For some reason I keep thinking of Bashar Assad running away from Syria.  Yes, I am being overly optimistic about what's going on, but this is where I'm actually most confident that Trump is getting something right.  Assad ran off to Russia who has publicly announced [for whatever that's worth] that they aren't getting involved in this problem with their fellow BRICS member.

One reason I suspect that it's going this direction is because yesterday the Iranian state media reported that *tonight* there would be a surprise that the world will remember for centuries.  It's been over 24 hours, still no word on what that surprise is.  It was an hour or two after I saw that news that I saw the video of something being bombed, make of that what you will.

There's also a report that hackers have hit Iranian media interrupted the shows being broadcast and called for the viewers to take to the streets against the regime.  Banks and computer systems are being hit, probably causing more damage along with the missiles than Iran is able to do to Israel.  But just to be fair, because Israel's not reporting on being hit doesn't mean Iran isn't also doing damage to them.

I'm sure we're not out of danger yet but my suspicion is that we're getting close.  I could see Trump taking office and telling his generals to find a way to get rid of the ayatollahs without a war and avoiding nukes if at all possible.  I've noticed a lot of ostensible right-wingers suddenly turning on Trump as a warmonger and I really don't see that.  Makes me suspicious what side they're really on, Trump is clearly trying to get rid of a problem as quick and easy as possible, and I hope to see their reaction in a week or so when Iran has been free for the first time in 50 years.  Yes, then we'll have to see what Russia and China will do about that but it's nice to think about.

Oregon Holds Drag Show on House Floor After Resolution to “Recognize and Honor Oregon’s Rich History of Black Drag”
June 18, 2025

□ [“Supreme Court 6-3 Upholds Tennessee Law That Bans Sex Changes For Minors"]

Judges are still making noise although I haven't heard a lot about that recently.  Either most of the obvious cases are just waiting their turn to be heard or worrying about WWIII just makes everything else less important.  So this one stands out just because of the importance, that you can't mutilate a child just to serve an agenda.

I don't think it can be measured or identified, but we are watching the trans movement fade.  They're still trying to make noise where they can but it comes off more as desperation and last-minute attempts to avoid irrelevance.  Can't say the majority support this because we clearly don't.  Can't say the transgenders just want to be treated normally because they refuse to act normal.  Acting normal would mean people don't see transgenders, they see really ugly men and women, the sort you want to avoid as much as possible.  And they wouldn't be so determined to get to kids.

Although Civil War 2.0 hasn't gone kinetic yet, the mindset behind that is firmly into place.  Can't easily identify who's on what side, but in some ways it's obvious.  No one's promoting trans or their advocates who support Trump, for instance.  You'd think that would be an obvious tactic, send out some fat bearded guy in a dress screaming that he wants to 'make MAGA great again!'

Anyway, things like this court decision are putting another brick in the wall to get the trans movement out of society.  I keep saying this but I'm still astounded by how quickly it spread and how quickly it dropped.  It's already been over two years since Bud Lite did that stupid ad which is where I point to the movement breaking down.  Well before the election it was clear that one side was losing and that's just been doubling down ever since.

Top FEMA Official Resigns as Trump Announces Plans to Phase Out Agency by Year-End
June 18, 2025

□ [“Republican Senators Open Hearings Into the 'Massive Cover-Up' of Biden's Cognitive Decline"]

I'd like to hope this will get somewhere but I have only so much optimism and I think I've used up all of today's output.  It's not clear what they think they're going to do, most of the people they asked to come in and testify have said 'no.'  I didn't even know you can do that, but it shows how worthless Congress wants to be.

No Democrats on the committee were willing to show up either.  That's another example of irrelevance but they actually have an excuse.  They'd have to sit and listen to Republicans asking questions about Biden's senility and what responses would they really be able to make?  Whining about Trump would just be going off-topic and anything else they say would just be showing that they knew what was wrong with Biden and fully supported that.  They'd just be making more headaches for their party and their allies, not to mention giving investigators more clues to follow up on how they were profiting from whoever was really in charge.

It's possible that Biden's supporters will have to stay out of public eye more and more or they'll be asked how much they knew and why they hid it from the public.  Considering Biden's allies were mostly among the faceless bureaucracy, they won't be able to fall back on wealth and power like more famous people in DC or the media.  And still nobody thinks of just calling up Biden and having him answer a couple hours of questions about his mental health.  I doubt this committee has even thought of that notion.

Mystery Break-In at Home of Murdered Minnesota State Rep Melissa Hortman
June 18, 2025

□ [“The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash"]

Any connection to all the cuts from DOGE a couple months ago?  Sure does seem weird that the party that is so opposed to money has so many problems getting money.  But what do I know, I think they should just turn to people like Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, they've got all the funding you'll ever need.  George Soros must have a few dollars to spare.

But if they're so desperate for cash, where did they get that $20 million they spent last month to investigate how to get more male voters?  Spending money you don't have to win a man seems a little desperate, although it could make a fun romcom.  Might as well spend another $20 million to investigate the best way to spend $20 million.

This article came from the New York Times so it's not like they're trying to keep it secret but it'll be interesting to see how ignorant Democrats remain of their party's problems.  So they just keep growing worse and there's no way to fix it without admitting that Republicans were right.

Labour-Controlled UK Parliament Votes To Decriminalize Late-Term Abortions ‘Up to Birth’
June 18, 2025

Treasury Secretary Bessent Warns of Largest Tax Hike in History If ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Isn't Passed
June 4, 2025

“I Was the Hunted and Now I’m the Hunter” – Trump to Reporters at the White House
June 18, 2025