Now they tell us

NY Times: "The Epstein Files Should Never Have Been Released"

Every day seems to bring new reports of financiers, academics, politicians and royalty (among others) who cozied up to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose predation took a horrendous toll on innocent lives. With accountability for people in power in short supply, it can be hard to see a downside in the huge dump of documents relating to Mr. Epstein and his various associates.

But we should recognize the release of millions of pages of the Epstein files as both a sign of institutional failure and a cause for concern. If our justice system were working properly, the public would never have such access.

I have always believed that the reason the Biden Administration didn't release the Epstein files was because it was trying to avoid embarrassment to the British Crown.  If there's one villain in the files, it's Prince Andrew.  But so great was the impulse to "get Trump" the files were released and there was nothing remotely incriminating; in fact, there was evidence that Trump dropped a dime on Epstein in 2006.

The other day I was passing the nutcase protesters on the overpass over I-91 and their sign said: "Trump Epstein Coverup."  They invested so much into the belief the Epstein files would bring down the Donald and now they're in the "denial" stage of coping. 

Very on-brand

Sasha Stone: "Dems Are Behaving Like Spoiled Brats by Boycotting State of the Union." 

Decline is a choice

Just like New York City, you voted for this Colorado: "Californication Catches Up with Colorado - Blue-state governance has transformed this once-booming state into an economic and demographic laggard."

Is Mamdani actually a Republican saboteur?

It's a question that needs answering!  PJ Media: "Mamdani Is Collapsing Faster Than We Thought."

Extra - NY Post: "Mayor Mamdani’s spending frenzy will lead NYC into a rapid decline."

This is Inez, she was turned away from the NYC shoveling crews, she doesn’t understand how to get an ID after getting married because she is too stupid https://t.co/5KH3uH1Uem pic.twitter.com/5AA9YMysxq

— Dr. Richard Harambe (@Richard_Harambe) February 21, 2026

He really is dyslexic

Twitchy: "Dem Gavin Newsom Claims He Can’t Vote If the SAVE Act Passes Because He’s Misplaced His Birth Certificate."

I can't tell if Newsom is actually this dumb or that he says stupid stuff like this knowing the mainstream media will never call him out.

I've eaten at Chipotle exactly once

LA Times: "Chipotle just saw its worst year ever. It may not get any better."

Way too expensive for mid food.  I had a burrito bowl at BWI airport and found the experience so annoying that I've never been back.  Meanwhile, YouTube has dozens and dozens of videos showing you exactly how to make Chipotle's menu at a fraction of the cost.

The ol' "wanna be closer to family" excuse

Steven Spielberg leaves California for New York City for reasons, suspiciously timed to avoid California's pending billionaire tax.

I'm so old, I remember when paying taxes is patriotic. 

Journalists, man

You just don't hate them enough: "WaPo: Some Say Atlantic Story ‘Felt Misleading’ Once They Learned It Was Made Up." 

At least California has the wine industry

Not so fast: "America’s biggest wine maker shuts down production in Napa Valley in huge blow to wine heartland." 

Da Hammond Bears

Outkick: "Chicago Bears Poised To Become Latest Major Business To Leave A Blue State And Relocate In A Red State."

Let's recap!

In the last year:

Palantir Technologies moved its headquarters from Colorado to Florida.

Public Storage moved from California to Texas.

Elon Musk's X Corp. moved from California to Texas.

Chevron Corporation moved from California to Texas.

This month, Boeing announced its defense, space and security division is moving its headquarters out of Virginia, which went blue in the most recent election, and is headed to Missouri.

It now looks like the Bears will follow the wave.

I sense a Superfan trend.

Dogs are awesome

Red State: "Give That Pooch a Medal! Wolfdog Crashes Olympic Ski Race in Hilarious Fashion."

Fun videos at the link.  Unfortunately, Nazgul was disqualified from the women's cross-country event because 1) he's a he and 2) he wasn't wearing skis. 

Of course they are

Jim Geraghty: "Stephen Colbert and James Talarico Are Lying to You."

Colbert is circling the drain in advance of his May departure and he's flogging his bottomless victimhood.

Extra - NY Post: "Colbert wasn’t censored by Trump: he’s nothing but a desperate parasite living on Trump’s thin skin." 

Another tech giant heads to a red state

NY Post: "Palantir moves headquarters to Miami and joins growing tech exodus to Florida."

Palantir spent 17 years in California before leaving behind the crazy and heading to the relative sanity of Denver.  Still too crazy.  Miami will be this company's last stop.

Gavin Newsom: "Hold my beer, AOC"

Hot Air: "Gavin Newsom Gets Ratioed for His Dumbest Tweet Ever." 

The American media fails

Did you ever wonder why American Democrats get a harder grilling in Europe than they do in America?  How is it possible that AOC and Gretchen Whitmer are laid bare overseas while they manage to skate by in America?

This isn't the first time a European journalist has pushed back on a Democrat.

This is the thing about AOC and Gretchen Whitmer. They don’t try. They don’t even have to try. Because they normally are surrounded and protected by media that supports them and would never dare ask an even remotely difficult question https://t.co/Y9qpjwfYGf

— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) February 15, 2026

Maybe they're taking the hint

That Park Place: "Several Hollywood Actors Decline to Speak on Politics as Media Desperately Attempts to Bait Them Into Activist Soundbites." 

Viewership for the Oscars has halved since 2016, for some reason.

California and the wealth tax

LA Times: "Knives are out for California's golden goose"

We might as well run TV ads and erect billboards along the border proclaiming: “Welcome to California, the land of opportunity. Make a fortune so state politicians can grab a sizable chunk.”

We’ve already got by far the highest income tax rates in the nation, topping out at 13.3%. The top 1% of earners pay between 40% and 50% of the entire state income tax collected annually. The top 0.1% kick in about 20%.

California is infamous for its unfriendly business climate, with byzantine regulations and an agonizingly slow permitting system.

“It sends out the worst possible message to the people we need in the state, the people who produce jobs,” says Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable.

I know I keep commenting on this story but I love it on so many levels.  This ballot initiative is probably going to pass despite the objection from Gavin Newsom and California Democrats who cannot control the Frankenstein monster they've created.  As the stats above indicate, California was already heavily dependent on a top-heavy taxation system.  But the 13% (!!!) state income tax just wasn't enough to fund the profligate spending in Sacramento.

The hamster wheel in her head

Twitchy: "Kamala 2.0? AOC Faceplants In Germany While Trying to Answer a Question About China and Taiwan."

Pretty funny.  Very Kamala-esque. 

Damn, it's great to be a Democrat

Breitbart: "Media actively covers up Obama lawyer's chummy ties to Epstein."

Bad news about the Clintons?  Time to bury it in the Friday night news dump. 

Misleading headline

Townhall: "GOP Secures Votes Needed to Pass the SAVE Act."

This is not a HUGE VICTORY! nor is it MASSIVE!  The bill would still need to overcome a talking filibuster by the Democrats and - know what they're going to do? - talk and lie about married women needing to update their birth certificates.  They may take some heat for going against an issue supported by over 80% of Americans but they don't care.

It's not going to pass because of that Jim Crow filibuster.

Hmmm

Gateway Pundit: "Neighbor Says One Dead and Three Detained After SWAT Team Raids Home as Part of Nancy Guthrie Investigation."