www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/magazine/jeffrey-epstein-money-scams-investigation.html
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LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM A CHILDLESS (CHILD-FREE) CAT LADY WORKING AWAY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK
Friday 12 June 2026
NEWS NOTES
· Trump has once again canceled Iranian strikes (Thank God.)
· Article by Anne Applebaum, “Ukraine is not losing. Russia is not winning.” The Atlantic.
· Ukraine has hit refineries depots and pipelines, fuel supplies to Crimea, sparking a fuel crisis on the Russian-held Peninsula (AP News). Drone strikes have already disrupted Russian supply routes in Crimea. While isolating Crimea is feasible, analysts say, pushing back Russian forces would need ground offensive. Mid-range strikes inside Russian controlled territory has “cut supplies to its front line- bringing their advance to a near standstill last month. Weakened air defences, opening the way for longer-range strikes that have destroyed oil infrastructure and arms manufacturing deep inside Russia.”
· (Reuters, 6/12/26). Ukraine’s drone commander wants to cut Crimea off from Russia.
· Attorneys for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk wanted prosecutors punished for making a public statement about findings about bullet fragments found in the body. Defense attorneys had claimed that the preliminary finding by ballistics experts who could not immediately match the bullet fragments with the gun Robinson used, should result in Robinson’s possible exoneration, or at least an agreement not to seek the death penalty. (AP News 6/12/26). Yesterday, there was a report that Robinson plead guilty in exchange for the agreement not to be charged with the death penalty.
· “Task and Purpose” reports that it would take 1,200 troops to take Kharg Island and more to hold it. (Note: Trump has said that he doesn’t think Americans “have the stomach for it.”)
· (NYT, 6/12/26) Calling it the “homelessness industrial complex” officials with HUD immediately suspended funding for an agency the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority which has received almost $1 billion in federal money over the past five years.
NOTES ABOUT THE COMING COUP
· (NYT, 6/12/26) The Justice Department is pushing the limits of its power over state elections. (Note: The Republicans cannot afford to lose the mid-terms and they will do anything, anything to prevent it.)
· (NYT, 6/12/26) The postal service “has proposed a new rule that would allow it to refuse to deliver mail ballots in states that don’t turn over voter rolls to the federal government.”
· (CNN, 6/12/26) $750,000 to ecacuate one woman who had been exposed to the new virus.
· (NYT, 6/12/26) The Culture of Big Law Firms, elite involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein gave them what they wanted, and they wanted business. Kathy Ruemmler, formerly part of the Obama legal team, ignored Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prestitution and solicitation of prostitution. “…that tells you everything you need to know about how unreliable and corroded the legal world has become.” Ruemmler evidently thought, after looking into Epstein’s case, that the deal not to prosecute federally and the later lenient treatment Epstein received indicated that the charger against him were not that sound. (Note: But it was in her interests to believe that. She stood to make an enormous among of money for herself and her firm from a deal set upby Epstein with Bill Gates. Epstein got something out of it as well. Ms. Ruemmler’s reputation helped him work his way back into respectability. He told friends she was “an arch feminist who is my great defender.” She also assumed that lawyers like Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr would never work for someone truly guilty of the crimes with which Epstein was charged.
· Three more articles about the Epstein files “How the Elite behave When no One is Watching,” “The Epstein Files Should Never Have Been Released,” and “Now We Know What all those people Got from Epstein.” (NYT, 6/12/26)
LIFE NOTES
It’s almost six in the morning and I’ve been up for three hours. Popsicle Pete shared the bed with me for most of those hours, foiling all plans that Sam had of getting on the day bed and snuggling up. The day bed in the library where I often work, has been designated as the adult cat bed. No gangster babies allowed. But, even Pete has limits. As soon as I turned on the television to find out the details of Trump deciding to spend $750,000 to get some woman off a boat after she had been exposed to this new Ebola virus, he retreated to Chair 3.
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· PART 2 CONSERVATIVE ISRAEL VIEW:
· Trita Parsi:
· In the new bill, only the President can intervene. “…it tells you how far they’re going and trying to get these kinds of things into place before they completely lost the American public. And once they do, it will take a long time to undo a lot of these different things.”
· Ana Kasparian: Within the past three years a group of conservatives are increasingly becoming agitated with the amount of aid the US is forced, the taxpayers in the US are forced to provide to Israel, a country that had an economic surplus in 2021. When we at this current moment are drowning in $40 trillion in debt.” As one Navy Seal commented on video: “We’re tired of paying for your education. We’re tired of paying for your universal healthcare. We’re tired of paying for your iron dome.”
· Trita: “This is not a fringe opinion at this point.” And the way in which it has turned is very fast. “…you have a lot of folks on the right who have come to the conclusion that most of these past wars have been for the service of or the interest of another country.” “…but at the same time, thet ad this pro-Israel tilt, and they were uncomfortable really breaking with Israel. I think the breaking points came last February and last June.”
· Just after Trump came to office, the Israelis came to Washintgon…..And immediately, they’re pushing him for a war with Iran….But they…started attacking a lot of American officials who were too opposed to it and softened them….And Trump…ended up going along with it.” “It was just utterly clear that this was theh Israelis doing this.”
· No country has treated the US as a sort of mercenary army to the extent that the Israelis have.
· Ana Kasparian: “…we’re fighting a war on behalf of Israel and to our detriment and the detriment of the global economy. Why do you think the Israelis feel as emboldened as they are right now to basically tell us right to our faces that they’re going to do?”
· Trita: First, the Israelis knew that they didn’t have that much more time. They were losing the American public, especially the young on the left and on the right. They didn’t have time to try to conceal what they were doing. Second, was a situation created by Biden himself. After Octoer 7, Biden’s view was to give Israel everything it wanted. Somehow Biden thought this would give the US leverage, “which is such a problematic and idiotic approach to be frank with you.”
· (Note: Biden was vehemently opposed to some of Obama’s policies with regard to Netanyahu. For example, he opposed Obama’s refusal to back Netanyahu’s expansion of settlements).
· “Biden set the stage for this.” And when you are cutting out everyone but the president, you can get a quick decision. In that case they are going to “move fast.”
You can read the rest of the interview on the Podcast, “The Young Turks, “Merger and Acquisition,” 10 June 2026.
“Senate Wants to Force US to Share Sensitive Intel with Israel,” by Paul Pilar.
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Martinique Landscape by Paul Gauguin on Artsy
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/paul-gauguin-martinique-landscape?utm_content=artwork-share -
What the once-derided movement reveals about art today | Culture
— Read on www.economist.com/culture/2024/04/18/on-its-150th-anniversary-impressionism-is-surprisingly-relevant -
ISRAELI AND US INTELLIGENCE
LAW, POWER AND JUSTICE
11 JUNE 2026
PODCAST: IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. The Young Turks, 6/10/26 “Israel’s Iran War Push
· Ana Kasparian: We are going to talk about a provision in a bill that would “merge elements of the Israeli government with our own. In this case, we’re talking about intelligence.” The intelligence would not simply be shared, it “would go far beyond that.”
· Our guest is Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and head of Breaking Points. He is also on sub-stack.
· Ana Kasperin: “Not only is Congress attempting to merge the Israeli Defense forces with our own military, in Section 224 of the National Defense Authorization Act…Congress is also pushing to fuse our intelligence agencies together as part of an intelligence authorization bill (Note: This is covered in Responsible Statecraft, Senate Wants to Force US to Share Sensitive Intel with Israel,” by Paul Pilar.)
· The bill was put forward by Tom Cotton. a man who has been historically favorable to Israel. “…Pilar writes that Section 622 would prohibit any suspension, reduction or limitation of such intelligence sharing except on the basis of a specific and identifiable national security concern determined by the President.” The President, therefore, is the only check on this intelligence sharing. Another check would, as Pilar reports, that any such exception would “require a report to Congress within 15 days detailing the reason for the change…and also the categories of information involved.”
· “This same report would require an assessment of the anticipated impact on regional security and various other matters.” So, the report would be dumped on Capitol Hill where the Israeli lobby has long corrupted the politicians even to the point of convincing them to take actions that were not beneficial to the U.S.
· This is a way for us to “carry water” for Israel despite the fact that most Americans do not support Israel and want to halt military support to Israel.
· Trita Parsi (Note: Responsible Statecraft – one of the largest foreign policy sites in the US.)
· This move is not being covered. But Paul Pilar “is a legend.” He is one of the people who pushed back against Dick Cheney when “he was trying to cook the intelligence on the Iraq War.”
· What Pilar sees is at the same time the Israelis are plummeting among the American public, “they are desperately moving forward some extremely aggressive measures to try to essentially take what in the past was in the pubic domain and had some checks and balances, reinforce it, but put it somewhere else with the interaction between the two countries so that it is out of the public domain.”
· It’s not going to be scrutinized by the public or the Congress. It is, however similar to what will happen with 224 if it passes. “It essentially embeds Israel in some of the US’s production of weapons, etc. And now we’re doing the same thing on the intelligence front.”
· It is ironic that Congress has essentially given up its right to responsibility for war and peace but wants to come back here and micromanage “how intelligence is being shared with Israel, with the normal state being that everything essentially has to be shared.”
· Obviously, this is going to cause a lot of problems with our allies (Note: if we have any by then). We have “full time staff that is managing to make sure that intelligence is not shared in a manner that could be detrimental to other allies…” And, this arrangement is being undertake with “a country that has an extensive history of taking US intelligence, spying on the US, or having spies inside the system that has been selling that information to hostile states, whether that is to the Soviet Union which is what Jonathan Pollock did, or whether it is to the Chinese.” This comes at the same time we have a NYT story that revealed that the Israeli espionage level of surveilling individuals within the United States government right now is now at an all-time high.
· “…We have a state that in the intelligence setting…is actually an adversary rather than an ally. And now Congress is going to mandate the exchange or the release of that information to the Israelis.”
· PART 2 CONSERVATIVE ISRAEL VIEW
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apple.news/AkitxEuhjSiSrl3KHxR60ww
“If you don’t count the military checkpoints, air-raid sirens or 11 p.m. curfew, you wouldn’t know Ukraine was at war. I spent three days here at the end of May at the Black Sea Security Forum with 1,000 other people from Europe and the U.S. The seaport was bustling, the food exquisite, the Moldovan wine plentiful. Between speeches on Ukrainian drones and Europe’s newfound resolve to defend itself, we visited the Odesa opera house to hear the city’s orchestra and see a ballet.”
Excerpt From
“Opinion | Ukraine Is Tired and Brimming With Energy”
Robert Doar
The Wall Street Journal
https://apple.news/AkitxEuhjSiSrl3KHxR60ww
This material may be protected by copyright.
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Three cats on morning walk.
Popsicle Pete wants to get out the kitty door to the catio. The rule, however is not before light. mom is reading about Gauguin. She says it keeps her from going crazy. This is me, talking, Sam Clemens. I want to go out as well but I’m too sleepy. -
Johns/Duggan cats on morning walk.
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Saturday 6 June 2026
UKRAINE
Democrats working on bill of sanctions on Russia. The bill in the House passed with bipartisan vote. This may help in the Senate. Greg Meeks, worked on. Sen. Blumenthal says Putin is losing troops 30,000 a month. He is losing territory at the moment. He has launched a bloody attack on civilians. St. Petersburg oil depot. It is impressive.
BOOKS
“All the King’s Men,” Robert Penn Warren
“All the King’s Men” is loosely based on the real story of Huey P. Long, who was a flamboyant and populist governor and Senator from Louisiana durinf the Depression. His knickname was “The Kingfish,” which leads me to wonder if he was not named after the character whose knickname was “The Kingfisher,” in the wildly popular ratio show “Amos and Andy.” In the beginning when “Amos and Andy” was so popular as a radio show, all the actors were white. Later when the show went to television, these actors were replaced by black actors.
Huey P. Long’s slogan, which he used on the political trail was “Every Man is a King.” He began his career as a champion of the poor against the corporate elite. He became more and more dictatorial as he attained political power. He was assassinated in 1935.
“All the King’s Men” was published in 1946.
Stark, the character who played the Huey P. Long part after being defeated badly by corporate interests and the local elite, becomes a lawyer and then a politician, where he learns that tactics such as bribery, intimidation, grift are essential tools to bring about the fulfillment of programs like a hospital for the local population, and roads for rural areas. But, over time, Stark’s focus was less on the people and more on his own interests.
This is a valuable study in political development and what power and position can do to even well meaning politiicans.[1]
PODCASTS
“The Daily Stoic” Interview with Mark Kelley.
Quote: Kelly: “There is a lot at stake here.”
If you have never listened to Mark Kelly talk, this is a great opportunity. Not only does he talk about politics, he talks about his life and the devastating shooting of his own wife, his time in space and staying calm under pressure. This is well worth a listen and I think it makes Kelly a truly great nominee for president.
QUOTES:
“This is not America.” Jeffries after visiting Delany Hall.
Mikey Sherman actually accused “outside agitators” of causing the problems at Delany Hall. I am over 75 years old and I spend my formative years listening to Georgia Wallace and others blaming “outside agitators.” Rev. Al Sharpton also joined in this. He ought to be ashamed.
Congressman Bonnie Coleman (D) New Jersey: “This is a money making proposition.” “This is a collaboration between Donald Trump, the most corrupt president we’ve ever had and his donors…and folks of that ilk.”
[1] I can think of two other movies which depend on similar story lines: “Borm Yesterday,” (1950) starring Broadrick Crawford.
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BOOKS
· As you might remember, in order to keep us all from going bat shit crazy, I have changed the website somewhat to include not only news notes about Law, Power and Justice, but also about art, life, music, and literature. I would love to have your comments on any of the blog posts since I hope to encourage a dialogue.
· Below is a list of the books of Robert Penn Warren, author of “All the King’s Men.” I had no idea he published so many books. “All the King’s Men” is particularly relevant at the moment since it involves a poor man who tries to help the class from which he came only to be lured into the corruption and sleaze that surrounds him when he becomes a politician.
· Now, it never occurred to me in my wildest dreams that anybody in the Trump movement seriously tried to help people, but the book does provide an interesting study in the lure of money and power. I will be reading “All the King’s Men,” this month. I hope some of you will decide to read along with me.
· Also, if any of you choose to read other Penn Warren books, please do make comments and educate the rest of us.
Thanks much. Christina Johns
Novels
Night Rider (1939)
At Heaven’s Gate (1943)
All the King’s Men (1946)
World Enough and Time (1950)
Band of Angels (1955)
The Cave (1959)
Flood (1964)
Meet Me in the Green Glen (1971)
A Place to Come to (1977)
Collections
The Circus in the Attic (1947)
A Robert Penn Warren Reader (1987)
Selected Poems of Robert Penn Warren (2001)
Chapbooks
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce (1983)
Anthologies edited
60 Years of American Poetry (1996)
Non fiction
John Brown (1929)
Remember the Alamo! (1958)
How Texas Won Her Freedom (1959)
Understanding Poetry (1960)
The Legacy of the Civil War (1961)
Wilderness (1961)
Who Speaks for the Negro? (1965)
Faulkner (1966)
Twentieth Century Interpretations of Faulkner (1966)
Homage to Theodore Dreiser (1971)
Democracy and Poetry (1975)
Time to Hear and Answer (1977)
Modern Rhetoric (1979)
Katherine Anne Porter (1979)
Robert Penn Warren Talking (1980)
Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back (1980)
The Essential Melville (1982)
Portrait of a Father (1988)
New and Selected Essays (1989)
Talking with Robert Penn Warren (1990)
Literary Correspondence (1998)
Selected Letters of Robert Penn Warren (2000)
Law, Power, and Justice 