Open thread 3/24/2026
I’ve watched a lot of prodigies. She’s the best I’ve ever seen. Her technique, tone, musicality, and maturity are simply astonishing. You can see it in the expression on her face, too:
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
Words do not do justice, I feel old.
Maybe one word does it justice: WOW!
Just another open-thread, off-topic comment.
It’s now been widely reported, at sites like the “New York Post” and “Legal Insurrection,” that waves of drones have repeatedly swarmed Louisiana’s Barksdale Air Force Base, home to a fleet of nuclear bombers.
The Air Force was unable to disable the drone swarms with electronic methods. Neither were they able to track drones leaving the base. These were very sophisticated drones, nothing like those available to the public. Descriptions also suggest that they were much more advanced than those used by Ukraine or Iran. China is the most likely source.
The most complete report I’ve read is at this substack: https://weapons.substack.com/p/barksdale-airbase-attacked-by-sophisticated
This incident is way outside of my area of expertise. (At my age, “expertise” is a pretty loose term.) Consequently, I can’t say whether these reports are truly worrisome or some weirdly inexplicable hoax.
Ted Cruz on Triggernometry = worthwhile listening.
https://youtu.be/ug07xac2gKM?si=HIUZhBB6B1zSUVn-
I enjoyed this Jonathan Turley column about rapper “Afroman” winning his free speech case in court. Law officers broke down his door and searched his home with a warrant for narcotics and kidnapping. They found nothing. Afroman published songs showing footage from the raid, asking if they will repair his front door. Officers didn’t like that, and sued. Afroman won, appearing in court in an American flag jacket and sunglasses with flags. The article has a couple of links to the videos, including one of a rotund officer looking twice at a lemon pound cake on the kitchen counter.
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/03/22/will-you-help-me-repair-my-door-rapper-afroman-wins-major-free-speech-verdict/
https://ace.mu.nu/
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Some politicians demonstrate a level of sociopathy one just never encounters in everyday life.
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If public opinion surveys are accurate, about 20% of the electorate in Australia have now gotten the idea that mass immigration is not working out for them. Most voters are bound and determined to be Mr. Magoo.
“Turning Point’s Kolvet says he gave Charlie Kirk’s private texts to Joe Kent before they were leaked ”
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/23/joe-kent-given-charlie-kirk-texts-leaked-candace-owens-turning-points/
Selfy:
Joe Kent explicitly denied giving Candace Owens any of Charlie Kirk’s texts when asked by Mark Levin on air yesterday.
I’ll post the link to Mark Levin’s interview with Joe Kent. It wasn’t a conversation; Kent was fillibustering.
Here is the Marc Levin interview with Joe Kent
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DPolgq8KFm0
Mark was particularly restrained and calm. Kirk sounded like any opportunistic politician IMO.
So the spineless GOP senate caves on DHS funding. Money quote: “We have to give them what they want.” Why?????
https://instapundit.com/785022/#disqus_thread
England is so done. They just can’t verbalize it yet.
Yesterday’s confusion is made simple and obvious today. YouTuber Matt Morse explains the capitulation by Iran. Peace talks in Pakistan around Friday may include Veep Vance.
And other details such as the agreement by Britain to have minesweeper’s in the Straits of Hormuz to secure it for oil tanker traffic.
Go at least through 20 minutes. But there is so much news spilling out!
Russia calls for Iran to capitulate. Saudi’s pressuring to keep the war going to obliterate Theocratic Iran completely. Yet the Saudi’s are expected to join Israel and the US side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nTShpTtciI
AMAZING and comprehensive developments shared at the LINK.
All CONUS US military bases should have the now available short range laser defense systems that are being fielded by Israel to defend the built up areas of the base. Also rotary wing aircraft on standby 24/7 with small, short range air to air missiles, small caliber 5.56 mm rifles and shotguns loaded with birdshot up to ” BB”.
Or maybe up to ” T” shot. A few years ago I shot at a canine in the goat pen from about 30 feet or so – I don’t remember exactly how far now – and those ” BB” shots embedded or bounced off the sheet metal cattle gate and did not penetrate. They embedded in the wood post up until about the width of the ” BB”
Remarkable!
(As if my self-esteem wasn’t low enough…)
SEVERAL PRINT SOURCES documenting Matt Morse, YouTuber’s info. These developments seem to have bypassed the propaganda media.
Trump says Vance and Rubio are ‘involved’ in negotiations with Iran [FoxNews has it, too.]:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4501966/trump-says-vance-and-rubio-involved-with-iran-talks/
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved in ongoing peace talks with Iran.
The president had originally tapped special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to lead talks with Tehran. However, Iranian officials refused to negotiate with Witkoff and Kushner, according to the Guardian.
“We’re in negotiations right now. They’re doing it, along with Marco and JD; we have a number of people doing it,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office. “The other side, I can tell you, they’d like to make a deal. And who wouldn’t if you were them?”
“Look, their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their communications are gone. That’s the biggest problem,” Trump continued. “As opposed to Iran, we’re roaming free. We can do whatever we want, and as you know, today, we were going to have the privilege of shooting down a very big electric generation plant, one of the biggest in the world, and one shot to the right location, ends the plant and it collapses, and we held off, based on the fact that we’re negotiating.”
Saudis push Trump to deploy US troops on the ground in Iran and grab ‘historic opportunity’ to remake Middle East
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15674833/Trump-pressed-troops-ground-secret-calls-Saudi-strongman-eyes-historic-opportunity-Iran.html
Saudi Arabia, UAE move closer to joining the Iran war – report
i24 News
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/the-gulf/artc-saudi-arabia-uae-are-preparing-to-join-iran-war-report
But now Russia has reportedly weighed in and is calling for a political settlement.
“JUST IN: ???? Russia urges Iran to end hostilities immediately and move toward diplomatic resolution.”
https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2026/03/23/another-hammer-
Trump should not negotiate. The IRGC is taking over, control what govt is left. It should not be allowed. In a few yr, things will back. If SA doesn’t want the War stopped, it should step up and join the fray.
WHAT IS THEEVIDENCE that Trump’s Iranian negotiating partners are legitimate?
In this 4m (edited) clip from Trump’s news conference today.
“They gave us a present…very big…very significant,” and oil and gas related.
Trump says no more to ID the gift. Speculation: oil tankers in Iran’s shadow fleet were gifted to the US? (Other possibilities? Please suggest by reply!)
“What it showed me is that they are the right people we’re negotiating with.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBuBYQ_5LWw
Kate
As our observer of North Carolina politics, what is the import of the republican senate leader Philip Berger losing in the primary? Thanks in advance.
Bob Wilson
RE: UFOs/NHIs, Hollywood, and Government Disinformation/Suppression of Information
On News Nation, Ross Coulthart is exploring a new series, “Sound, Light, and Frequency” about how–apparently over many decades now–the government has and does try to influence how UFOs and NHI are portrayed in Movies and on TV.*
This ought to be a fascinating series, because it has always been thought by many interested in the UFO phenomenon that the government did, indeed, have a hand in how the UFO phenomenon, and NHIs are portrayed.
Of special interest in the video linked to below is a discussion of the startling revelations that John Herrington, Secretary of Energy in the Reagan Administration, made to one of the two filmmakers who are producing Sound, Light, and Frequency, when that film maker was just a young man.
* See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSwNuEdD7y0
Re: Trump / Iran negotiation
SHIREHOME, TJ:
Beats me. I don’t want to play 4-D chess with Trump.
Back in the Obama days, 4-D chess was a doubt, even a sneer.
But I’ve come to find Trump genuinely spooky. When someone keeps winning, often against large odds, it can’t all be luck.
Whatever the substantial gift is it must have documented. Ships have registration that can be checked. Alternatively, perhaps it is a gift oof cargo! These have independent documentation that can be checked.
The president had originally tapped special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to lead talks with Tehran. However, Iranian officials refused to negotiate with Witkoff and Kushner, according to the Guardian.
Because they’re Jewish, I suppose?
Jimmy. Perhaps.
But by Matt Morse’ account, the meetup in Islamabad, Pakistan will have bith, if I recall correctly. Plus Rubio and maybe JD Vance.
Is “late to the conversation” the same as “off topic”?
Couldn’t not share this one.
Best Paul Ehrlich Obit
Ogiel (Moe Lane) @Ogiel23 Mar 16
Paul Ehrlich has died. He was 93.
He is survived by 8,300,678,394 people (134% increase from 1968), with a daily worldwide average calorie intake of 2,800 kcal (a 22% increase).
Matt Margolis piece at pjmedia, via Charlie Martin posting in the later evening at Instapundit, “Iran Caves to Trump:”
. . .
Trump added the unspecified present was “very significant.”
“That meant one thing to me — we’re dealing with the right people,” Trump said. “… It was a very nice thing they did. … They said they were going to do it, and it happened. And they’re the only ones that could have done it.”
When asked about control of the Strait of Hormuz, he said the U.S. will “have control of anything we want.”
sec. state Rubio is leading negotiations with Iran.
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/03/24/iran-caves-to-trump-n4951028
MAN, what a wizard! His geopolitical hat trick’s coming soon with the fall of communist Cuba.
Also this evening, the NYPost covers this as Trump’s negotiation for a month-long ceasefire as well as a 15 point plan for settlement, based on Israeli demands from last June:
“The peace plan is believed to be based on the 15-point framework presented to the Iranian government last year, before Israel launched its 12-day war against the regime and the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer, according to multiple outlets.“
DETAILS:
https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/world-news/us-sends-15-point-plan-to-end-war-with-iran-report/
Yet another NYPost story confirms YouTuber Matt Morse sources: “UK will lead ‘Hormuz Coalition’ to reopen strait after Iran left behind deadly sea mines”
https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/world-news/iran-has-placed-deadly-sea-mines-in-strait-of-hormuz-report/
@Bob Wilson: Phil Berger’s loss in his state senate primary will probably not make much difference short-term in North Carolina. His declining to extend his election protests and a good concession speech indicate he’s going to continue to be active and positive in the legislative short session. We need a budget. The House wants to cut taxes again; the Senate says hold steady as we are for the moment.
Longer term, Sam Page appears to be a conservative Republican, maybe even slightly more so than Berger. But he doesn’t have Berger’s twenty years of connections and influence, so the race to replace Berger as Senate leader could be interesting. Berger lost basically because he supported casino expansion and voters in Rockingham County were opposed.
P.S. Herrington, described as being “a man’s man” told this young man of being given several weeks of briefings at a secret underground base to prepare him for a position working for President Reagan, and Harrington said that the information given him made him—a stout Calvinist— cry every night during those weeks of top secret briefings. However Harrington would not tell him what was so horrendous as to make him weep each night.
I presume what Harrington was told totally undermined how he viewed the world, our place in it, and his reality.
RE: Polls
How much credence can you really give to polls when many people today are so poorly educated, don’t know the basics of the structure and functioning of our own government, couldn’t pick out Afghanistan on a map to save their lives, and are ignorant of basic mathematics?
Kate
Thanks for the info on Berger-Page election.
Bob Wilson