THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – JULY

Historically, July has been a very active month. Below please find a list of significant historical events that have occurred during the month. Read on, and be edified.

July 1 – Canada Day is celebrated commemorating the union of Upper and Lower Canada and certain of the Maritime Provinces to form the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.

July 1, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the first income tax levy (3%).

July 1, 1863 – The decisive Civil War Battle of Gettysburg commenced.

July 1, 1963 – The US Postal Service commenced using zip codes.

July 2, 1776 – The Continental Congress adopted a resolution declaring that “these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

July 2, 1788 – Congress announced that the US Constitution had been ratified by the requisite nine states.

July 2, 1881– President James Garfield was shot and mortally wounded. He died on September 19.

July 2, 1937 – Pilot Amelia Earhart went missing.

July 2, 1964 – President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

July 3, 1775 – George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, MA.

July 3, 1976 – Israeli commandos rescued 103 hostages being held by pro-Palestinian guerrillas on a hijacked airliner at Entebbe airport in Uganda.

July 4, 1776 – The Continental Congress formally approved the Declaration of Independence, making this date the US’s official Independence Day, even though many of the 56 signatories signed the document later. (The exact dates are in dispute to this day.)

July 4, 1863 – The city of Vicksburg, MS surrendered to General Grant giving the Union control of the vital Mississippi River.

July 4, 1959 – A 49th star, representing Alaska, was added to the flag.

July 4, 1960 – A 50th star, representing Hawaii, was added to the flag.

July 5, 1946 – The bikini, named by creator Louis Reard for the Bikini Atoll where the atomic bomb was tested, was introduced in Paris.

July 6, 1885 – Louis Pasteur administered the first successful rabies shot (to a boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog).

July 6, 1942 – Holocaust victim, Anne Frank, and her family began hiding in a sealed-off room in Amsterdam in an ultimately futile attempt to avoid being captured by the Nazis.

July 7, 1898 – President McKinley signed a resolution annexing Hawaii.

July 8, 1889 – The Wall Street Journal began publication.

July 10, 1940 – The German Luftwaffe commenced bombing raids against Great Britain.

July 10, 1943 – The Allies commenced their invasion of Europe by landing in Sicily.

July 10, 1973 – The Bahamas gained its independence after 250 years of British rule.

July 13, 1977 – Two lightening strikes caused a 25-hour blackout in the NYC area. (Did the local birth rate spike in April, 1978?)

July 14, 1789 – A mob of protesters successfully stormed the Bastille Saint-Antoine in Paris, a fortress, a prison and a hated symbol of aristocratic repression. The Bastille’s fall shocked the aristocratic world and signaled the beginning of the French Revolution.

July 16, 1769 – Father Junipero Serra founded the mission of San Diego de Alcala (present-day San Diego), one of many he founded throughout current-day California.

July 16, 1969 – The Apollo 11 mission took off for the moon.

July 17, 1918 – Bolshevik rebels murdered Czar Nicholas II and his family in Ekaterinburg, Siberia.

July 17, 1955 – Disneyland, in Anaheim, CA, opened to the public.

July 17, 1996 – TWA Flight 800 blew up shortly after takeoff off the coast of Long Island.

July 18, 1936 – The Spanish civil war began as a revolt by right wing army officers stationed in Morocco.

July 18, 1947 – President Truman, who had succeeded to the presidency following FDR’s death, signed an Executive Order that laid out the order of succession in the event a president were to die or become incapacitated (vp, speaker of the house, etc.). This order became the basis for the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified on February 10, 1967.
July 18, 1969 – Senator Ted Kennedy drove his car off a wooden bridge on Chappaquiddick Island killing aide Mary Jo Kopechne and ending his chances for the presidency.

July 20, 1969 – Billions of people watched live on tv as Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. (Famous quote – “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”)

July 27, 1953 – The US and Korea signed an armistice ending the Korean Conflict, which had raged on for three years.

July 27, 1974 – The House of Representatives charged President Nixon with the first of three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice, eventually culminating in his resignation.

July 29, 1976 – David Berkowitz, aka “Son of Sam,” began his murderous reign of terror in NYC, which lasted until August 10, 1977.

July 29, 1981 – England’s Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

July 30, 1965 – President Lyndon Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965, which established the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

July 31, 1798 – The US Patent Office opened and issued its first patent (for a new method of making potash and pearl ash).

Birthdays – Thurgood Marshall – 7/2/1908; Stephen Foster (wrote some 200 songs, (including Oh Susanna, Camptown Races and Swanee River) – 7/4/1826; Calvin Coolidge (30th President) – 7/4/1872; David Farragut (Civil War admiral, famous quote: “Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead.”) – 7/5/1801; PT Barnum (promoter, showman and co-founder of the circus) – 7/5/1810; Cecil Rhodes (his will established Rhodes Scholarship) – 7/5/1863; John Paul Jones (father of US Navy, famous quote: “I have not yet begun to fight!”) – 7/6/1747; Leroy “Satchel” Page (AA Hall of Fame pitcher) – 7/7/1906; Nelson Rockefeller – 7/8/1908; John Calvin (founded Presbyterianism) – 7/10/1509; Arthur Ashe (tennis champion) – 7/10/1943; John Quincy Adams (6th president and son of #2, John Adams) – 7/11/1767; Gerald Ford ( 38th president) – 7/14/1913; Rembrandt van Rijn (famous Dutch painter) – 7/15/1606; Nelson Mandela – 7/18/1918; Edmund Hillary (first to ascend Mt. Everest) – 7/20/1919; Ernest Hemingway (Nobel Prize-winning author) – 7/21/1899; Simon Bolivar (aka “The Liberator” or “The George Washington of South America” for his successful efforts to liberate the nations of Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela from Spain) – 7/24/1783; Amelia Earhart (pioneer female pilot) – 7/24/1898; George Bernard Shaw (playwright) – 7/26/1856; Jacqueline Bouvier (JFK widow) – 7/28/1929; Benito Mussolini – 7/29/1883; Henry Ford – 7/30/1863.

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Radical Dems Attack ICE Personnel

Once again, Dems are exhibiting their propensity for embracing the wrong side of a popular issue. Polls support ICE’s efforts to deport illegal migrants, particularly those who have committed crimes while in the US. Moreover, Trump’s stance on immigration and securing the border was one the key issues that got him elected. And yet, various Dem supporters have not only criticized ICE’s efforts they have also vowed to hinder and interfere with them, violently, if necessary, even though they are simply enforcing the law. As I denoted in my previous blog this is the very definition of sedition, which is a crime that carries heavy criminal penalties.

Furthermore, the Dems have positioned themselves as the Party that is pro drug dealers and pro child traffickers and favors migrants over citizens and criminals over victims. Good strategy, Dems. No wonder most polls show that the Party’s overall approval rating is about 40%.

These loonies have repeatedly attacked ICE personnel physically, throwing bottles and bricks at them and their vehicles, and even going so far as to shoot at them. In addition, they are attempting to ascertain their identity for the purpose of attacking them and their families personally. Even worse, they are being egged on by certain Dem politicians, such as CA Governor Gavin Newsome, LA Mayor Karen Bass and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, as well as the left-leaning mainstream media. These politicians know that ICE is operating within the law. They are just grandstanding for their far-left constituents and attempting to distract voters from the many glaring inadequacies of their administrations

The latest iteration is ICE’s recent raid on two marijuana farms in CA. The Department of Homeland Security executed criminal search warrants at two Glass House Farms facilities in Camarillo and Carpinteria, northwest of Los Angeles. The raids were part of a monthlong campaign across Southern California that was originally centered on Los Angeles. In what Federal authorities characterized as one of their largest operations so far, they reported that they arrested more than 360 people at the farm’s two locations. The farm was suspected of subjecting 14 children to forced labor, exploitation and trafficking.

In my view, child trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes. Typically, a trafficking victim endures physical violence, sexual abuse, forced labor and/or deprivation of basic needs. ICE’s haul included migrants with prior arrests for a variety of crimes such as rape and child trafficking. In view of the foregoing the cannabis farm is being investigated for unspecified child labor violations.

During the raids some 500 protesters showed up with violent intent. Many of them carried Mexican flags; others hurled rocks at ICE vehicles; one person who was arrested has a history of committing violent crimes, including attempted child exploitation; a professor, was arrested for allegedly throwing a tear gas canister at ICE agents; and one protester fired a handgun towards agents. The agents were forced to use tear gas to disperse the mob.

In other related developments regarding the raids: (1) DHS reported that four U.S. citizens were arrested on suspicion of assaulting or resisting officers; (2) the children rescued at the farm are from Mexico and Honduras; (3) many of them were unaccompanied minors, and (4) immigration authorities are investigating the criminal histories of all the detained illegal aliens. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters that rescuing the children from the farms was a key element of the plan from the beginning. Furthermore, she decried what she characterized as the “horrendous” behavior of the protesters. She told reporters: “Those individuals that were attacking those officers were trying to kill them.” She went on: “Let me be clear. You don’t throw rocks at vehicles like that, and you don’t attack them like that, unless you are trying to do harm to them physically and to kill them and to take their life.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott disclosed on X that one of the men apprehended in the raid had a criminal record for kidnapping, attempted rape and attempted child molestation.

Conclusion

According to a March 2025 DHS report, thanks to the Biden Administration’s open border policy over 600,000 unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the southern border since 2019. We have no idea of the actual number, but I suspect that figure is low. Essentially, we have lost track of hundreds of thousands of migrant children. Undoubtedly, many of them have become victims of forced labor or sex slavery. Keep that in mind whenever the Dems advocate for the rights of illegal aliens.

Illegal migrants threaten the security of our citizens. They have committed a plethora of crimes, which have been well documented. Moreover, although we are a wealthy country our financial resources are not infinite. Migrants soak up social and economic services at the expense of American citizens. Sanctuary jurisdictions cannot support the social and economic needs of both their own citizens and those of migrants and remain solvent. Typically, sanctuary jurisdictions actually give preference to migrants over their own citizens. CA is likely already bankrupt, and unless changes are implemented other locales such as IL and NY will soon be joining it.

We elected Donald Trump overwhelmingly for a reason. Let him and his people do their jobs without interference. To quote former president Obama, “elections have consequences.” If you don’t agree with Trump’s policies win the next election.

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DERANGED, DISILLUSIONED, DANGEROUS DEMS

In my opinion, most of the Dems and their allies in the media have been deranged and disillusioned with respect to Donald Trump for ten years now, even before he became president. They seem unable to act rationally with respect to him and his actions. Anything he is for they are against. ANYTHING, regardless of whether or not it is rational, logical or in the bests interest of the country and its citizens. I have discussed this in various previous blogs. In this case I maintain they have crossed the line of human decency. See below for some examples. They have also become downright dangerous. See below.

Their actions have gone way beyond honest political disagreement. Political disagreements can be resolved, provided that each side has respect for the other and his or her point of view. That’s the way it has always been in D. C. – until the last ten years. Every time I think their actions have hit a low point, they go even lower. It’s as if they are practicing the limbo. (“How low can you go.”) Now, in my view, they have also become deranged and dangerous.

There have been many examples of this in the last several months, but in the interest of brevity I will cite only two.

  1. The Kerrville, TX flood. Kerrville is located in the area of the Texas Hill Country known as “Flash Flood Alley.” In the recent past county officials had discussed paying to install enhanced flood warning systems, but they never followed through due to budgetary issues. So, when the flood came in the wee hours of July 4 such systems weren’t in place. The flood was among the deadliest natural disasters in Texas history. Already, it is the second deadliest flood, after the 1921 flood in San Antonio that killed 215 people. I think we can all agree that this was a horrific tragedy on a massive scale, a once in a century flood caused by torrential rains that caused the nearby Guadalupe River to rise 27 feet in a mere 45 minutes in the middle of the night. The campers and counselors were all asleep and many never had a chance. As I write this, multiple sources have confirmed at least 120 fatalities, including 59 adults and 36 children in Kerr County alone, and an additional 173 unaccounted for who are likely also dead. The property damage is incalculable at this time. The nexus of the devastation was a girls’ summer camp, Camp Mystic, which abuts the Guadalupe River.

Imagine you are a seven-year-old girl camper perhaps away from home for the first time. You’re a little nervous to be away from home. You’re awakened in the middle of the night to a scene of chaos with a 20+ foot wall of water heading toward you. Maybe you escape; maybe you don’t; but either way it is a frightening experience. Either you perish in a most horrific way, or luckily you survive, but you are likely seriously traumatized.

Alternatively, imagine that you are a parent of that child, and you hear the news that no parent should ever hear. Your child is missing or dead. This is what the people of Kerr County and surrounding counties are experiencing now.

In the current situation what is needed is a helping hand from federal, state and local disaster relief agencies. What you need is the rescue or recovery of your loved ones. What you need is food, shelter, clothes, etc. What you don’t need is accusations, second-guessing, ass-covering, and political grandstanding. What you don’t need is government agencies blaming each other. What we certainly don’t need is people with little knowledge of the facts bloviating nonsense on tv and jumping to conclusions. There will be a thorough investigation in due course, and hopefully appropriate action will be taken.

Yes, there should have been a better early warning system. That said, what you don’t need is Dem politicians like Eric Swalwell, Rachid Talib, Joaquin Castro, and left-wing media outlets politicizing the situation by blaming Trump and his DOGE policies, race and climate change as they do for any negative event or development. These are their “go to” criticisms. They have nothing else to offer. You will notice they never offer any resolutions, just criticisms.

Castro opined that “climate change is obviously a part of it.” When did he become a meteorology expert? Sade Perkins, a former member of the Houston Food Insecurity Board, was one who played the “race card,” one of the Dems’ favorite tactics, which unfortunately often gets traction in the mainstream media. She posted an inane video suggesting that the intense media coverage of the event was because the young girls who were killed at a summer camp in the flood’s path were white. 

CNN “climate experts” commented that “these floods are happening more often,” without offering any explanation or cogent analysis. Finally, what you don’t need is a newspaper like the NY Times exacerbating the situation by denoting that “several of the cabins were built on extremely hazardous floodways where water moves at its highest velocity and depth.” That was a story characteristic of a fringe “rag” publication, not a mainstream newspaper.

Folks, it was a once in a century natural disaster. We don’t control the weather. The right course of action is to (1) support the rescue or recovery of the missing victims, (2) provide whatever assistance is needed to the area residents, and (3) once the dust settles work in concert to enhance the early warning systems so as to mitigate the chances of a recurrence. I say to Dems: in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy such as this show some empathy and decency for a change.

Several meteorologists have pushed back in recent days on Democrat claims that the Trump Administration’s cuts to NOAA, NWS and other government agencies directly contributed to the tragedy.  Meteorologist Chris Martz posted on X that “[t]he event has nothing to do with climate change, and the tragedy had nothing to do with DOGE cuts. If you are someone who has exploited this catastrophe because you just don’t like Trump, you need to take a serious look in the mirror.”

Tom Fahy, legislative director for the NWSEO, told NBC News that weather forecasting offices were adequately staffed, and “they issued timely forecasts and warnings leading up to the storm.”

Texas-based meteorologist Avery Tomasco opined, “All I’ll say is this. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County more than 12 hours ahead of the catastrophic flood. A flash flood warning was issued for Hunt & Ingram Counties three hours before the Guadalupe started to climb. They did their job, and they did it well.”

Tom Fahy, legislative director for NWSEO, contradicted Dem criticisms that staffing reductions contributed to the tragedy. He told NBC News that weather forecasting offices were adequately staffed, and “they issued timely forecasts and warnings leading up to the storm.”

2. Interference with ICE Personnel

You may not concur with the politics of ICE detaining, arresting and deporting migrants, but it is incumbent upon you to be cognizant of the fact that according to ICE.gov interfering with an ICE arrest is a crime and can result in serious legal consequences.  Moreover, it could jeopardize your own safety and that of others. According to the New York Civil Liberties Union this includes actions such as physically blocking officers, hiding individuals they are trying to arrest, or refusing to cooperate with their lawful requests. These actions are bad enough, but some lefty politicians and activists are taking it one step further. They are trying to ascertain and disclose the identities and addresses of the ICE agents, which endangers their physical safety and that of their families. (This has led to many of the agents’ wearing masks, which of course has also been criticized. You may recall that many of the rioters on college campuses have been wearing masks, but of course the lefties have not objected to that.) Clearly, these people have crossed the line and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

As if that isn’t bad enough several elected officials, such as CA Governor Gavin Newsome, LA Mayor Karen Bass, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, have threatened to openly defy ICE and have encouraged others to do so, violently if necessary. There is widespread concern that their words and actions could spur some unhinged lefty to murder an ICE agent and/or his family. I am not a lawyer, but in my opinion, they are engaged in sedition, which is defined as the act of inciting rebellion or violence against a lawful government.  Sedition can involve speech, writing, or other actions that encourage people to disobey or resist the established authority.  Sedition is a serious offense that can be prosecuted as a crime.  This is the crime that the Dems accused Trump of with respect to the January 6 protests. In my view sedition is a criminal or perhaps an impeachable offense. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security have vowed to prosecute offenders “to the fullest extent of the law,” so we’ll see what happens.

Conclusion

Once again, the Dems and their lefty allies, thanks to their mindless opposition to anything “Trump,” have planted themselves firmly on the wrong side of an issue. Once again, the far-left lunatics are in the forefront of the Dem Party. I, for one, am so sick of this. Where are the moderate Dems? Are they hiding in their basement? Are there any left? PA Senator John Fetterman is the only Dem official whom I have heard take a moderate tone.

Where is the Senate Majority Leader (Up)Chuck Schumer whom Trump has aptly labeled the “Palestinian Senator.” Could he maybe try to step up and tell these radicals to moderate the discourse? Apparently not. He’s too afraid of them who hate him anyway. According to recent polls his approval rating is a well-deserved 17%.

This is not a time to criticize and politicize. This is a time for empathy and compassion. People are dead! Children are dead! People’s lives have been devastated! The Dems have to wake the hell up.

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BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL EFFECTIVE DATES

According to multiple media reports the final version of the bill has many positive features, which I will explain in more detail below. Most of them will be effective for the 2025 tax year. Undoubtedly, the BBB is controversial. Not everyone supports every aspect of it. This is what happens when one is attempting to get a consensus among politicians of wide-ranging political beliefs and preferences. But it is a bill that most of us can live with.

It should be noted that not one Dem voted for the bill. It was passed solely by Republicans. This illustrates the ever-widening chasm between the two political parties.

The BBB’s main feature is that it makes the temporary reduced tax rates contained in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. These were set to expire at the end of the year and would have resulted in a massive tax increase for most, if not all, taxpayers, likely triggered a recession, perhaps a serious one, and led to the Dems wresting control of Congress from the GOP in 2026. Thus, I believe it was the key to Trump’s domestic agenda.

Some of the other key provisions:

Boosted the standard deduction for all taxpayersTax year 2025Permanent
SALT cap expansionTax year 2025Through 2029
“No-tax-on-tips” deductionTax year 2026 (retroactive to 1 January 2025, so claimable on 2025 returns filed in 2026)Through 2028
“No-tax-on-overtime” deductionTax year 2026Through 2028
Extra deduction for seniorsTax year 2025Through 2028
Child Tax Credit boostTax year 2025Through 2028
Estate Tax exemption boostTax year 2026Permanent
Auto-loan interest deductionTax year 2025Through 2028
Used electric vehicle creditActiveEnds 2026
Home energy-efficiency creditsActiveEnds 202

Student Loans

Major changes to student loans are set for July 2026. Popular repayment plans such as SAVE, Income Contingent Repayment and Pay As You Earn are set to be eliminated, replaced by the new Repayment Assistance Plan or the standard repayment plan.

The Graduate PLUS loan program is also ending, to be replaced with borrowing caps—$100,000 for most graduate students and $200,000 for law and medical students.

Medicaid, SNAP and Other Entitlements -These are the most contentious portions of the BBB and the ones that have drawn the most criticism. The major changes are (1) “able-bodied” adults aged 19 to 64 must work, volunteer, study or train for at least 80 hours per month to qualify, with exemptions for parents of children under 15; and (2) eligibility reviews will be conducted every six months instead of annually. Critics claim this will deny some low-income persons access to adequate healthcare and economic assistance. They add that the CBO has estimated that up to 11 million persons will be affected. A goodly portion of the money to fund the other elements of the BBB are expected to be derived from these cuts. Republicans say their goal is reducing “waste, fraud, and abuse” in these entitlement programs to save hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade and to pay for other elements of the bill such as the tax cuts, securing the border and defense. They estimate that the bill will shave approximately $600 billion off Medicaid and $230 billion off SNAP over the next decade.

Other provisions: (1) The bill will prohibit states from using their funds to cover undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid, but 14 states and the District of Columbia have opted to use their own funds to cover those individuals. This bill would penalize them by reducing their Medicaid funding. The Administration estimates that approximately 1.4 million undocumented immigrants would lose coverage. (2) It increases copays for Medicaid recipients who earn more than the federal poverty level of just over $15,500 for single beneficiaries. They would be required to pay an extra $35 dollar copay in some cases. (3) It bans Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood as long as the organization provides abortions and abortion services. (4) It prohibits Medicaid funds from being applied to gender transition care, including puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgery. (5) It will crack down on people who are “double-dipping” in multiple jurisdictions.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps” program provides assistance for some 42 million low-income people to purchase groceries. The bill raises the age for work requirements from 54 to 64. Currently, the SNAP is 100% federally funded. The bill requires states to share in at least 5% of SNAP benefit costs commencing in 2028.

Medicaid work requirementsCommence by 12/31/2026, although individual states may phase in soonerN/A
Medicaid funding changes2028N/A
SNAP work requirementsAs early as 2025, though no official timeline has been givenN/A
SNAP funding changes2028

Other provisions:

  1. The debt ceiling was raised $5 trillion.
  2. $150 billion will be spent to enhance border security including the border wall, ICE, and other areas.
  3. $153 billion for defense including the “Golden Dome” missle defense system, shipbuilding and other areas.
  4. New savings accounts for parents of children born between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2028.
  5. Annual and lifetime limits on certain types of student loans.

CONCLUSION

Once again, the Dems have mindlessly opposed something just because Trump was in favor of it. In doing so they voted for the largest tax increase ever, inadequate border security, against improving the economy, favoring illegal aliens over American citizens, and continuing government waste, fraud and abuse, among others. They will have to run on these issues in 2026 and beyond. Already they and their minions in the media are criticizing certain aspects of the bill, notably cuts in entitlements and government spending.

As I said above in a comprehensive bill of this size one can always find something to criticize. It is not a perfect bill; it’s just the best bill that could be passed.

This bill represents a huge gamble for Trump and the GOP. If the economy booms and inflation and unemployment decrease the GOP will likely expand its power in 2026 and Trump will be remembered as one of our greatest presidents. If not, we will all be in mucho trouble.

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A TAX BREAK FOR SENIORS RE SS BENEFITS

Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation’s economy.“This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President Trump’s promise to protect Social Security and helps ensure that seniors can better enjoy the retirement they’ve earned.”The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples. Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned.Social Security remains committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public and will continue working closely with federal partners to ensure beneficiaries understand how this legislation may affect them.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY

Tomorrow, July 4th, we will celebrate our nation’s independence. Many of you will celebrate by gathering with family and friends at barbecues, going to the beach or pool club, attending a baseball game, or simply relaxing and enjoying a day off from work.

Many of you have requested a quiz, so In honor of the holiday I have prepared one to test your knowledge, or lack thereof. As usual, no peeking at the internet and do not consult Siri or Alexa.

  1. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was
    a. George Washington
    b. Henry Lee
    c. Benjamin Franklyn
    d. Thomas Jefferson

2. The oldest continuous Independence Day celebration is in what city?
a. Bristol, RI
b. New York, NY
c. Waterbury, CT
d. Philadelphia, PA

3. The origin of the song, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” was
a. American troops during the Revolutionary War
b. French troops during the RW
c. British military before the RW
d. Hessians at the battle of Trenton, NJ

4. The movie, “Independence Day” starred
a. Tom Cruise
b. Will Smith
c. Morgan Freeman
d. Daniel Day-Lewis

5. The Statue of Liberty was donated by which country?
a. France

b. Spain

c. Canada

d. England

6. Each of the following was a member of the Committee of Five (assigned to draft the Declaration), except:
a. George Washington
b. Roger Sherman
c. John Adams
d. Benjamin Franklyn

7. Who was the only President to have been born on the 4th of July?
a. John Adams
b. Grover Cleveland
c. Calvin Coolidge
d. James Polk

8. Each of the following Presidents died on July 4th, except:
a. John Adams
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. James Monroe
d. James Madison

9. Each of the following is considered to be a “Founding Father,” EXCEPT:
a. John Adams
b. Andrew Jackson
c. Alexander Hamilton
d. James Madison

10. The “Star Spangled banner” was written by Francis Scott Key during which war?
a. French and Indian War
b. American Revolution
c. Civil War
d. War of 1812

11. The origin of the nick-name “Uncle Sam” is purportedly:
a. The Continental Congress
b. The Sons of Liberty
c. Meat packer who supplied meat to the US Army
d. British troops during the RW

12. Who, along with John Adams, is responsible for designating the bald eagle as the US’s National Bird?
a. George Washington
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. Benjamin Franklyn
d. Patrick Henry

13. Which battle was the turning point of the Revolutionary War?
a. Brooklyn Heights
b. Charleston
c. Baltimore
d. Saratoga

14. How many persons signed the Declaration of Independence?
a. 13
b. 26
c. 40
d. 56

15. Which was the first state to ratify the Constitution?
a. Virginia
b. New York
c. Delaware
d. Massachusetts

16. Purportedly, the Independence Day Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest was first held in
a. 1876
b. 1930
c. 1945
d. 1916

17. Who was one of only two signers of the Declaration of Independence to be elected President?
a. John Adams
b. Andrew Jackson
c. Alexander Hamilton
d. Aaron Burr

18. Although July 4 is recognized as Independence Day, the Continental Congress approved a “resolution of independence” on this date.
a. June 15
b. July 1
c. July 2
d. July 3

19. The first capital of the US following ratification of the Constitution was
a. Washington DC
b. New York
c. Philadelphia
d. Boston

20. The 14th state of the union was:
a. Maine
b. Georgia
c. Florida
d. Vermont

21. Independence Day became a federal holiday in:

a. 1776

b. 1783

c. 1870

d. 1916

22. In 1778 George Washington celebrated Independence Day with his troops by:

a. Giving everyone a raise

b. A 21-gun salute

c. Giving a rousing speech

d. giving everyone a double ration of rum

23. Each of the following presidents’ faces is sculpted on Mt. Rushmore, EXCEPT:

a. Franklin Roosevelt

b. Theodore Roosevelt

c. Thomas Jefferson

e. George Washington

24. George Washington crossed the Delaware River on December 25-26, 1776 to defeat the Hessians at which city.

a. Philadelphia

b. New York

c. Monmouth

d. Trenton

25. Which English general surrendered at Yorktown, VA effectively ending the Revolutionary War?

a. Howe

b. Cornwallis

c. Burgoyne

d. Kensington

26. Who was the king of England during the RW?

a. George I

b. George II

c. George III

d. Edward I

27. Each of the following famous personalities was born on July 4 EXCEPT:

a. Geraldo Rivera

b. Neil Simon

c. George M. Cohan

d. Tom Cruise

ANSWERS: 1. (d); 2. (a); 3. (c); 4. (b); 5. (a); 6. (a); 7. (c); 8. (d); 9. (b); 10. (d); 11. (c); 12. (b); 13. (d); 14. (d); 15. (c); 16. (d); 17. (a); 18. (c); 19. (b); 20. (d); 21. (c); 22. (d); 23. (a) 24. (d); 25. (b); 26. (c); 27. (c)

CONCLUSION

Well, there you have it. Let me know how you did.

Enjoy the holiday whatever you do, wherever you are. If you’re driving stay safe. Watch out for the “other guy.” Don’t be the “other guy.”

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MY HERO

July 5 will mark the ten-year anniversary of the most horrific day in the lives of my wife and I, a day no parent should have to endure. Eventually, the ordeal had a happy ending, but it was touch and go for a while. Subsequently, I shared our experiences in a blog entitled “My Hero.”

As the aforementioned anniversary approaches I would like to re-publish the blog as I do every year at this time. (Some of you are new followers of my blogs and may not have seen it.) I believe it is as inspirational now as it was then. Perhaps, you could forward it to a friend or relative who has suffered a stroke, or other live-threatening health issue, and might benefit from reading it. So, read, enjoy and be inspired by “My Hero.”

“Who is your hero? Who has inspired you by exhibiting extreme courage and achievement in the face of adversity? Is it a historical figure, like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, or a religious figure, like Moses, Jesus or Muhammed, or maybe, a civil rights icon, like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela? Or, perhaps, it might be an ordinary person you know or know of who, while not famous, has accomplished something so truly remarkable, against such long odds that you are truly inspired. Not all of us can point to such a person, but I can. It is someone very close to me that I have known all his life. It is my son, Matt.

It all began on July 5, 2015, a day I will never forget. Like the JFK assassination and the 9/11 terrorist attacks I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard the awful news. It was a typical summer’s day in the NYC area, bright and sunny. Matt was enjoying a family day with some friends and his lovely wife and two young children at a local club. Suddenly, after swimming in the lake he became dizzy, lost vision in one eye and collapsed. He had suffered a dissection of his carotid artery, which had triggered a massive stroke.

Luckily, there was a doctor present. He immediately recognized what was happening and knew exactly what to do. This doctor accompanied Matt in the ambulance and stayed with him at the local hospital to ensure that the ER doctors gave him the clot-buster shot and other appropriate treatment, including emergency surgery to remove the clot within the five-six-hour window that is considered to be optimal for treating strokes. This certainly mitigated the effects of the stroke and may even have saved his life.

My wife and I were eating dinner with friends at a local restaurant when we got the shocking telephone call that Matt had suffered a stroke. It seemed impossible. Matt was only 40 and in excellent physical condition. He worked out regularly, ran, and practiced jujitsu. The caller did not know any details, not even if Matt were alive. If you’re a parent, you know that type of telephone call is as bad as it gets. Luckily, our friends insisted on driving us to the hospital in Westchester to which Matt was being transported (the Westchester Trauma Center). I don’t think I was in any condition to drive. We arrived at more or less the same time as Matt. We were able to see him and ascertain that although he was in very serious condition, he was alive. After the surgery he was only able to breathe with the aid of a ventilator, and his skin was the color of white porcelain.

Over the next few days the medical news was very dire. The doctors confirmed that Matt had, indeed, suffered a massive stroke. He was not conscious; he was paralyzed on his right side; he might need a craniotomy; he was blind in his left eye; and he had only partial vision in his right eye. He was in such bad shape that I felt elated a few days later when I squeezed his hand and felt him squeeze mine back.

The doctors told us he was facing a long, arduous recovery, one – two weeks at the hospital followed by six to nine months at a rehab facility. In addition, they said there was a good possibility that he would never recognize us, speak, or be able to walk unassisted. As far as returning to a normal life as a husband and father and resuming his career as a senior research analyst, that was seemingly too unrealistic to even contemplate. (Later, Matt told us that one of the doctors had flat-out told him he would not recover sufficiently to do so. When we asked him if that had bothered him, he said “no, I knew he was wrong.”). I realize that doctors feel compelled to disclose all possibilities, but there is a natural tendency to focus on the most negative ones, and that was an extremely disturbing prognosis.

Over the next year. Matt made a remarkable recovery. He was discharged from the hospital in only six days and transferred to the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, NY for rehab. Not only did he have to rehabilitate himself physically, but he also had to rehab his mind and his memory.

At first, he didn’t even recall very basic elements of his life, such as the names of his wife and children and his current address. He had to relearn how to speak. His rate of progress was beyond anyone’s most optimistic expectations. He attacked his rehab with a vengeance. He attended every session. He never once told them he was in too much pain, too tired, or not in the mood, as many rehab patients do. Many times he would cut short our visit by telling us he had to leave for a rehab session. If they told him to do ten of something, he would do 15. He would complete the most tedious and frustrating of tasks without complaint. His course of rehab included robotics, which helped considerably. Of course, it helped that he was only 40 years old and in excellent physical condition, but, nevertheless, he astounded the doctors, the therapists, and, indeed, even us with his progress.

In August 2016, after less than one month at Burke, he was discharged. For a while, he continued to undergo private rehab once a week. Now, he exercises by running.

CONCLUSION

Matt’s astounding recovery included the following accomplishments:

1. He completed his rehab at Burke and returned home to his family well ahead of schedule.
2. The day he was discharged he accompanied his wife and son to Nassau Coliseum, which was over a one-hour drive, to see Billy Joel’s last concert there.
3. He climbed up to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
4. He has resumed his career as a senior research analyst at a Wall Street firm. This is a remarkable achievement since his job is very demanding, requiring many hours of complex analysis, a high level of prolonged concentration, high-level meetings with clients, and travel.
5. He has completed the NYC marathon and various half marathons and works out regularly. How many non-stroke victims can say that?
6. Most importantly, has resumed his role as husband and father, and my wife and I have our son back.

During his recovery period Matt was fond of saying his full-time job was to get better. He applied the same single-minded determination and dedication to that task as he has to everything else in his life. He is not all the way back to where he was, but if you were to meet him today for the first time you would likely not realize that he had suffered a massive stroke.

My wife and I know that Matt was extremely lucky that there was a doctor present who ensured he received the immediate care he needed as well as benefiting from an amazing support system of friends, relatives and colleagues, and, for that, we will be eternally grateful. However, the determination with which he attacked his rehab virtually willing himself to get better was nothing short of amazing!

We have always been very proud of Matt, but, now, he is and will always be, our hero.”

Even now, ten years later, it is hard for me to read this blog without getting emotional. We know we dodged a major bullet. Matt has pretty much returned to normalcy, although he is still blind in one eye and has a weakness in his right hand. However, I remain optimistic that one day medical science will progress to the point that he will regain his sight. Who knows?

We have suggested to Matt that he could become an inspirational speaker to give others the benefit of his experience. Although he has made a couple of appearances with a friend who was also a stroke victim, for now, he has chosen to focus on his family and career.

Alternatively, his experience would make a fine inspirational movie, although Hollywood would probably dismiss it as too unrealistic. Indeed, as the saying goes, “truth is stranger than fiction”

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SAY IT AIN’T ZO

For those of you who may not have comprehended the reference of the title of this blog, it refers to the Black Sox Scandal of 1919. That year eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of “throwing” the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. It was arguably the worst black mark against baseball ever, and the eight players were banned from the sport for life. This was inconceivable. The fans were shocked. Their faith in the sport was damaged severely. The continued viability of the sport as “America’s Pastime” was in danger. Supposedly, one distraught young boy confronted “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, one of the accused, and said, “Say it ain’t so, Joe. Say it ain’t so!”

And so, we come to the June 24 Dem primary for mayor in which Zohran Mamdani scored an upset victory over Andrew Cuomo and others to snare the nomination of the Dem Party. To be sure, Cuomo was a flawed candidate with a lot of “baggage.” Nevertheless, this was hard to believe since there are 1.3 million Jews living in NYC, the most of any city outside of Israel. Surely, thought the prognosticators, Zo, an avowed antisemite, would not get their support. Wrong!

In the wake of the primary various local politicians are scrambling to “stop Zo” by mounting independent challenges. However, I believe that is a long shot. I am not cognizant of any third-party candidate ever winning an election. Given the heavily Dem composition of the electorate in NYC it is very likely that his nomination will be tantamount to winning the election.

Make no mistake about it. Zo is not just a socialist. He is a COMMUNIST as well as an ANTISEMITE. Some of the policies he has been espousing sound like they were written by Karl Marx. He will probably try to moderate some of his prior statements and views in order to win the election, but don’t be fooled.

Mamdani, 33, was born in Kampala, Uganda but moved to New York City with his family when he was seven. He is currently the three-term representative for Assembly District # 36 of the New York State Assembly, which is located in Queens. He is the first South Asian man and Ugandan to serve in the Assembly and the third Muslim to do so. Prior to that he worked as a foreclosure-prevention housing counselor and in the film industry as a rap music producer and writer, not your classic background to qualify one to run a large and complex city like NY.

Some of his policies include the following:

  1. In his view the entire police force is racist. He has said he wants to emasculate the department by freezing the level of membership and/or reducing its funding. Now, he is trying to moderate some elements of this radical policy, but the police are not buying it. According to multiple media reports if he were to win police officers will see the handwriting on the wall and leave in droves. He wants to create a Department of Community Safety whose members would presumably assume some or most of policemen’s duties. Many 911 calls would be handled by “violence interrupters” and “mental health teams.” No one knows what that means, but it sounds inane. These people are supposed to confront violent criminals?! Good luck with that. Needless to say, the city will be even less safe than it is presently.
  2. He advocates free bus service, but he doesn’t articulate where the money will come from to pay for it.
  3. He wants to freeze rents on some one million privately-owned apartments, and tax homes owned by white people at higher rates than those owned by non-whites. This in a city with sky-high housing costs.
  4. Besides “immediately” freezing rent for rent-stabilized tenants, Mamdani’s platform also outlines a plan for constructing some 200,000 new “affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized” units over ten years and fast-tracking approval for “affordable” developments.
  5. Among Mamdani’s plans to “resist” Trump are strengthening sanctuary city protections by ending cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and barring them from city facilities, increasing legal support for migrants, preventing personal data from being given to ICE, protecting abortion rights and increasing the budgets of the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
  6. Running on a platform of pushing back against the proverbial “big guys,” Mamdani has proposed an extensive series of soak-the-rich policies. He maintains that they are “not driven by race” despite his assertion to significantly raise property taxes on “richer and whiter neighborhoods.”
  7. He asserted that billionaires “shouldn’t exist.” “I don’t think that we should have billionaires, frankly.” Note that NYC has more billionaires (123) than any other city in the world.
  8. He advocates levying a 2% tax on residents earning above $1 million annually and raising the corporate tax rate to 11.5%. I can see the stampede to other states now.
  9. He advocates a Green Schools for a Healthier New York City initiative that will seek to renovate some 500 public schools with renewable energy infrastructure and HVAC upgrades, make asphalt schoolyards into green spaces and build hubs in 50 schools for community emergency situations.
  10. Another cost of living strain on New York families, beyond rent, is the price of essentials, like groceries. Mamdani has said he plans to address the cost of food by creating city-owned grocery stores that will pay no rent or property taxes, buy and sell at wholesale prices from centralized warehouses and partner with local vendors to keep prices down. (Pure Soviet doctrine.)
  11. Mamdani claims he will offer free childcare for every New Yorker aged six weeks to five years. He will also seek to implement the distribution of baby baskets to parents of newborns, which would include items like diapers, baby wipes, nursing pads, post-partum pads, swaddles, books and local resource guides.
  12. Mamdani will aim to raise NYC’s minimum wage to $30 by 2030 and regulate delivery apps like DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats by strengthening licensure requirements.
  13. He has declined to support the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, refused to denounce the term “global intifada” and supports an organized effort to put economic pressure on Israel through boycotts and other tactics.
  14. Apparently, his extensive antisemitic, anti-Israel beliefs are no longer as toxic as they once were. He received support from many Democratic voters, including Jews, who have grown dismayed by Israel’s conduct in the war and are deeply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That is especially true among younger, more progressive voters, many of whom have rejected the once-broadly accepted notion that anti-Israel sentiment is inherently antisemitic. Also, support for Israel has declined since the advent of the current war. According to a March poll by the Pew Research Center a slight majority of Americans now express a “somewhat” or “very” unfavorable opinion of Israel, compared with 42% in 2022. Overall, Democrats’ views are particularly negative, with nearly 70% holding an unfavorable opinion versus less than 40% of Republicans.

The allure of all this largesse is seductive. Who doesn’t like free stuff? But it is totally unrealistic and irresponsible. Be warned that all this free stuff is not really “free.” It has to be paid for by someone, somehow in some way. Zo doesn’t specify where the money will come from to pay for all of it. Hint: he plans to get it from the “rich,” i.e. people like you and me, but that won’t be nearly enough particularly with a shrinking tax base. According to the NY Post NYS is already the “number one exporter of residents to other states,” even ahead of CA, which has a much higher population. Surely, Zo’s agenda will bankrupt NYC and maybe NYS (joining CA).

I don’t understand the motivation of Jews who support Zo. In my view, they may be well educated, but nevertheless, they are ignorant. They demonstrate a deep lack of knowledge of Jewish history and the current conflict in the ME. Put simply, Zo and others who share his antisemitic bias are very dangerous for Jews’ welfare. The argument that American Jews don’t have to worry, that they have always been safe is deeply flawed. I would remind readers that Jews were living in Germany for some 500 years before the rise of the Nazis. They were an integral part of the German culture. They, too, were safe, until they were not.

Droves of politicians are scurrying to distance themselves from Zo, including Dems who are afraid he will hurt their re-election chances. For example, NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand denounced him. President Trump labeled him a “pure communist” and vowed that if he were to become mayor federal funding could be at risk. Of course, (Up)Chuck Schumer’s reaction was typically benign. He did not condemn Zo’s antisemitic policies. He merely said he “looked forward to meeting [with] him to discuss his ideas.” Way to stick up for your brethren, Chuck.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, NYC has always been the shining light of the US if not the entire world. It has been a symbol of all that is great about America. It has always been a vibrant, exciting city and a leader economically, politically and culturally. Unfortunately, in recent years under the leadership of a succession of various ultra-liberal politicians it has begun a slow deterioration into the abyss. Zo’s election as mayor would accelerate this slide, perhaps, irrevocably. In plain English it would be the death knell for the city as we have known it. In the computer and internet age it is no longer necessary to be physically located in NYC. The exodus of the middle class and businesses would accelerate. There is a plethora of other locations with lower taxes, lower crime and lower cost of living.

In short, Zo is a threat to the American way of life as we have known it and MUST NOT BECOME MAYOR.

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SUMMER SOLSTICE

What is the summer solstice?  What does it mean?  When does it occur?  Good questions.  Read on for the answers.

As many of you know, the ss is the date with the longest period of daylight, and when the sun’s shadow is its shortest. Furthermore, in most of the US it is the date on which the sun appears to be at its highest point in the sky. In extreme northern locales the sun will be “out” the entire day.  In the NY area, where I live, we typically get about 15 hours of daylight.

The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin sol, meaning “sun” and sistere, meaning “to stand still.” As the seasons progress from winter to summer in the northern hemisphere, the sun appears to move north in the sky. On the date of the ss it has progressed as far north as it will get, and it momentarily “stands still” before it appears to begin to slide southward toward the point of its winter solstice.

Depending on the particular year, in the northern hemisphere the summer solstice can occur anytime between June 20 and June 22.  The 2025 summer solstice arrived at 10:42 EDT yesterday, June 20. At that time the sun was directly over the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude).

In most cultures and countries, the summer and winter solstices are intertwined with the seasons.  For example, in the US and many other countries the ss marks the commencement of summer.  (I find it somewhat incongruous that the days grow shorter during the summer and longer during the winter.) On the other hand, in extreme northern and southern locations the solstices mark the midpoint of summer or winter.

For many ancient cultures the ss was a festive time. Most of them were sun worshippers anyway, and the longest day of the year was a reason to celebrate the renewal of life. The recurrent themes, in various forms, were life, light, femininity, marriage and fertility. (Perhaps, this concept was the derivation of the custom of holding weddings in June.)

For example:

1. The pagan holiday, Litha, which is a celebration of light and life, was celebrated on that date.
2. According to English Heritage, a charity that acts as caretaker for over 400 historic buildings, monuments, and sites, the ancient culture that constructed Stonehenge in about 2,500 BC intended it to be a crude calendar used to mark the summer and winter solstices and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The stones do seem to have been placed to align with the sunrise on the dates of those events.
3. The ancient Chinese marked the date with celebrations of the femininity, the “Yin” forces, and the Earth, itself. This served as a counterpoint to the winter solstice, which was a celebration of the heavens, masculinity, and the “Yang” forces.
4. Typically, Native Americans held festivals featuring body paint and ritualistic dances.
5. In ancient Gaul (modern-day France) the celebration was called the Feast of Epona after a mare goddess that protected horses and personified fertility.
6. Slavic and Germanic cultures celebrated with huge bonfires.

In modern times the ss is a time to celebrate the arrival of summer.  In many extreme northern areas, such as northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, where the people may not see the sun at all for certain parts of the year, people spend the entire day outside to “reconnect with nature.” Many of them decorate their homes, light bonfires, and dance around Maypoles.

CONCLUSION

I have always enjoyed a warm summer day as much as the next guy.  But, truthfully, to me the day of the ss is just another day. Rest assured, I will NOT be lighting any bonfires or dancing around any maypoles. (Wouldn’t that be a scary image.) Depending on the weather I play golf, play outside with the kids (or grandkids), go to a pool, or, if it’s inclement, just stay inside.  Yesterday was brutally hot in the NY area so I spent most of the day lounging at the pool followed by a spirited game of water volleyball with friends.

Whatever you did I hope you enjoyed the day.

One final thought on the date, it has always seemed contradictory to me that the beginning of summer also marked the time when the days started to get shorter, and I view shorter days as a harbinger of winter.

One final thought on the date, it has always seemed contradictory to me that the beginning of summer also marked the time when the days started to get shorter, and I view shorter days as a harbinger of winter.

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IRAN’S COMEUPPANCE

The following is a compendium of various news reports regarding the Israel-Iran War, which, as most of us know is currently raging in the Middle East, supplemented by my own opinion sprinkled in where noted.

In my view, almost anyone who was paying attention to world events knew it was only a matter of time. It was obvious that Iran, despite its continuous denials, was developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them. Also, everyone knew that it would not hesitate to use them once it was able to do so. Iran has been very blunt with respect to its goal to destroy Israel and then wreak havoc on other countries it perceived to be enemies, including the US.

I maintain it was equally obvious that Israel would never allow Iran to possess such weaponry. Jews have already suffered through one Holocaust; they do not need another.

Israel has been at war since its founding as a nation. It knows this war is literally a fight to the death. If the US leadership were to continue in its appeasement policy, it was prepared to act alone. Once Donald Trump became president and the US expressed unwavering and unconditional support of Israel’s “no nuclear weapon for Iran” policy the die was cast. I’m surprised it waited so long to “drop the hammer,” but I suppose Trump and Netanyahu wanted to give peace a chance.

As I have written many times Trump is not wishy-washy like Joe Biden and other former US presidents. He says what he means and means what he says. He gave Iran 60 days to agree to a deal, and on the 61st day he gave Israel the go-ahead. In turn, Israel has unleashed holy hell on Iran. In just a few days Israel has destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear capacity, killed much of its leadership and nuclear scientists, virtually destroyed its air force, and has the country at its mercy.

As I said, Trump has repeatedly said he wants peace, but he is prepared for war. The US already had substantial assets in the ME region, and recently, as a show of force, it tasked another aircraft carrier group to the area due to what the US military termed “an emergent operational requirement.” As the expression goes, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”

Messrs. Trump and Netanyahu have been working closely together to thwart Iran. In a sense they have been providing a blueprint of how to deal with a genocidal terrorist autocratic regime. Now, it appears that there is a real chance to transform the geopolitics of the ME. In due course, perhaps other Arab nations will join the “Abraham Accords” that Trump has been advocating. You may have noticed the deafening silence from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the other ME nations. They didn’t want Iran to have nuclear capacity either. No one does. No one trusts them not to use it.

Predictably, the biggest opposition has been coming from within the US from the TDS-afflicted far-left wing of the Dem Party and their allies in the media. For example, Hakeem Jeffries wants it both ways. While acknowledging that “Iran should never be allowed to become nuclear capable” he has backtracked by advocating for a “reduction in hostilities.” Doofus Tim Walz is bemoaning the fact that the US, by its unwavering support of Israel, has ceased to be a “neutral arbitrator.” Not to be outdone, Ilhan Omar has chimed in with what the NY Post termed her usual “antisemitic dog whistles.” As expected, the country’s leading Jewish politician, (Up)Chuck Schumer, has failed to express support for Israel. One of the few voices of reason among Dem leaders has been PA Senator John Fetterman who told the Jewish Insider he was “shocked by his ‘party pals’ ‘ views.” I say, he shouldn’t have been.

Iran is the very definition of a rogue nation with an unhinged leadership. It is an integral part of a rogue’s gallery of nations that includes Russia, China and North Korea. It has been the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism. Through its proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Hootie’s and other terrorist organizations it has fomented mayhem and death throughout the ME, Europe and the US. It has attempted to assassinate President Trump at least twice, and it is reputed to have several terrorist cells active in the US. In my view, it deserves what it gets.

CONCLUSION

Clearly, Iran’s leadership, through arrogance or blind hatred, miscalculated the situation. They were used to dealing with appeasers like former presidents Biden and Obama whom they were able to “string along” with deceit and deception and who offered only tepid support for Israel. They didn’t realize that Trump is totally different from them. Their insane hatred of Israel blinded their reason, and now they will pay for it.

Now, Israel is in total control of the situation. If it chooses it could assassinate the Ayatollah, and destroy Iran’s oil fields, which would render the country leaderless and bankrupt. Trump has urged some restraint “for now.” Perhaps, he is patiently waiting for the Iranian people to rise up and displace the country’s current leadership, which is reputed to be widely unpopular. The Ayatollah could always follow in the footsteps of Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad who fled to Russia. However, Trump’s patience won’t last forever. The situation has been evolving rapidly. Stay tuned.

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