[NYP] At least three West African migrants detained in ICE’s bid to crack down on knockoff vendors on Canal Street last fall have been ordered freed — with one judge calling the busts "blatantly unlawful."
Manhattan and New Jersey judges ordered the feds to release Mamadou Ndoye, Sergigne Diop and Abdou Tall after determining that the ICE agents made illegal arrests in Chinatown, court records show.
New Jersey District Judge Karen Williams slammed ICE’s Oct. 21 apprehension of Diop — a 19-year-old who has a type of immigration status meant to provide a path to citizenship for neglected children and teens — as "blatantly unlawful from the start" in a Dec. 29 ruling.
Ndoye, 45, a Mali native who has lived in the US for decades, was ordered released on Feb. 5 by Manhattan District Judge Vernon Broderick, court records show. The feds had a final order of removal for Ndoye, but failed to explain in court how they identified him or why he was arrested, the judge said.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] In the Chinese city of Nagchu, two hungry bears broke into a local restaurant and stole meat and eggs. Footage of the bears was published by Jam Press.
According to him, the animals descended from the nearby mountains. They first explored the closed restaurant. Then one of them stood on its hind legs and began banging on the roller shutters protecting the entrance. The resulting breach was enough for the predators to enter the building.
"There are security cameras inside the restaurant, but they haven't been working for the last couple of days. I only noticed this while watching short videos online," the restaurant owner was quoted as saying in a February 18 article.
He also said he plans to return to Nagchu as soon as possible to inspect the damage.
Earlier, on December 9, 2025, a bear and a trainer got into a fight and then "made up" at a Chinese zoo. The incident occurred as a staff member was leading the animal onto the stage. Smelling treats, the hungry bear lunged at the trainer and pinned him to the ground. Other zoo staff rushed to their colleague's aid, using a basketball hoop, a bamboo pole, and plastic stools to defend themselves. The bear was eventually pulled away.
Everyone needs a morale boost from time to time. Now tell me all rap music is bad. With guest appearance by R. Lee Ermey in the middle.
Definitely intense. There’s an awful lot of really bad commercial rap out there, in accordance with Sturgeon’s Law (90% of everything is crap), but when done well, like the best formal poetry it is definitely effective communication on an emotional as well as literal level.
I've got the reach and the teeth of a killin' machine
With a need to bleed you when the light goes green
Best believe, I'm in a zone to be
From my Yin to my Yang to my Yang Tze
Put a grin on my chin when you come to me
'Cuz I'll win, I'm one-of-a-kind and I'll bring death
To the place you're about to be
Another river of blood runnin' under my feet
Forged in a fire lit long ago, stand next to me
You'll never stand alone
I'm last to leave, but the first to go
Lord, make me dead before you make me old
I feed on the fear of the devil inside of the
Enemy faces in my sights
Aim with the hand, shoot with the mind
Kill with a heart like arctic ice
Des propriétaires de dizaines de camions mauritaniens bloqués côté malien au poste frontalier de Gogui appellent les autorités de la Mauritanie à intervenir en urgence pour résoudre leur crise.
Owners of dozens of Mauritanian trucks blocked on the Malian side at the Gogui border post are urgently calling on the Mauritanian authorities to intervene to resolve their crisis.
Their vehicles have been immobilized for a week by the Malian authorities, who are holding trucks coming from Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire on suspicion of overloading.
The transporters say they are ready to correct the violation and pay the fine, but they denounce the demand for complete unloading required by the Bamako authorities, which they consider contrary to the rules in force.
[BEAgov] Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 (October, November, and December), according to the advance estimate released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 4.4 percent. The contributors to the increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter were increases in consumer spending and investment. These movements were partly offset by decreases in government spending and exports. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased.
-------------
The Atlanta Federal Reserve had estimated a much higher number and most private sector analysts also expected a higher number.
Of course some of the short term factors such as govt spending and total population of illegal immigrants which pump up the GDP in the short run are bad in the long run. We'll see what happens next quarter.
Some possibility that the data accounting ingested some bogus numbers because of the fed govt shutdown but estimating how much would be a straight wild a.. guess.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
02/21/2026 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[1760 views]
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[WND] A committee of extremists in Canada is demanding a $750,000 penalty from a former school trustee who simply stated the science that using chemicals and surgical mutilations to transition children from one sex to another amounts to child abuse.
The stunning result is from the BC Human Rights Tribunal, which has had Barry Neufeld in court for something like a decade over his refusal to adhere to the leftist ideology that boys can become girls and vice versa.
The science confirms that is impossible, as being male or female is embedded in the human body down to the DNA level.
#1
The border to the US and freedom is just to the south of BC. He may want to angle South East for 500 miles before settling on a new hometown.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/21/2026 7:14 Comments ||
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#2
^ He'd be fleeing persecution for thought crimes. He does seem to have good reason for requesting asylum. This is one foriegner I think we could welcome.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
02/21/2026 13:25 Comments ||
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[FOX] Former President Barack Obama once declared that his presidential center would be a "gift" to Chicago, but taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden costs related to the beleaguered project.
A Fox News Digital investigation shows taxpayers are now stuck footing the bill for surging public infrastructure costs required to support the project — and no government agency can provide an accounting of the total public cost, despite months of queries and FOIA requests.
"Illinois Republicans saw this coming a mile away. Now, right on cue, Illinois Democrats are leaving taxpayers high and dry and putting them on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to support the ugliest building in Chicago," Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi told Fox News Digital. "Illinois’ culture of corruption is humming along with pay-to-play deals to their allies and friends while lying to Illinois voters."
When the project was approved in 2018, Obama pledged to privately fund construction of the expansive 19.3-acre campus in historic Jackson Park through donations to the Obama Foundation — a commitment that remains in place as the center’s construction continues to be privately financed.
But the extensive infrastructure required to make the campus operationally viable — including redesigned roads, stormwater systems, and relocated utilities — is publicly financed, and without those changes, the center could not function.
At the time, projections placed public infrastructure costs at roughly $350 million, split between the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago.
OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER DEPOSITS JUST $1M INTO $470M RESERVE FUND AIMED TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS
#1
Obama Library, like everything else about him, is a grifting fiscal disaster for taxpayers, a gift to his friends, and a monumental preening display for his ego.
[JustTheNews] From Beria to Biden: Pushing DEI to targeting protesting parents, and anti-Catholic bias to pushing the Trump-Russia collusion hoax, the U.S. intelligence community has -- in what may be a first -- started to back away from politicized stances in the Obama/Biden regime that sounded more like political dictats than intelligence analysis.
First there were parents flagged at school board meetings. Then it was Catholics who preferred the traditional Latin Mass who were targeted for scrutiny.
Now, the CIA's retraction of nineteen “politicized” intel reports on Friday — on the heels of the agency’s self-critique last year on its assessment of Trump-Russia collusion in 2016 — has put the sharpest light yet on the infection of political bias inside American spy agencies dating back to the Obama era.
HISTORIC RETRACTIONS: "NO ROOM FOR BIAS"
The CIA announced on Friday that it was retracting or revising nineteen different intelligence reports, dating from 2015 through 2023 — spanning the Obama administration, the first Trump presidency, and the Biden administration. The politicized assessments — many of them focused on DEI-related issues — included pronouncements by the CIA about white women, motherhood, violent extremism, LGBT issues, abortion, and others well beyond the remit of the agency's mission.
"The intelligence products we released to the American people today — produced before my tenure as DCIA — fall short of the high standards of impartiality that CIA must uphold and do not reflect the expertise for which our analysts are renowned," Ratcliffe said Friday. "There is absolutely no room for bias in our work and when we identify instances where analytic rigor has been compromised, we have a responsibility to correct the record.”
The CIA’s retractions on Friday are the latest examples of the politicized nature of the intelligence community over the past decade, including a Biden Justice Department memo aimed at parents protesting at school board meetings, an FBI memo aimed at traditionalist Catholics, an intelligence community assessment that sought to link Trump to Russia, and more.
#2
...instances where analytic rigor has been compromised...
Maybe it is wanking over what the meaning of "is" is, but this is more like intelligence operations run against the American people than a lack of analytic rigor.
We need a functional CIA, but how do you come back from this, other than burn it down for the nails?
#3
I wouod love to see them readdress the 2003 country thingy for Iran that stated categorically they’d given up pursuing nuclear weapons, given that they wrote it specifically to keep President George W. Bush from being able to act on it, putting a hard stop on the progress of the post-9/11 War on Terror.
[NY Post] A US Air Force pharmacist and his husband are accused of stealing over $3 million from the Department of War to fund their lavish lifestyle that included purchasing a BMW, a Porsche and a mansion in Arizona.
Staff Sgt. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and Manuel George Madrid, 32, were hit with a 12-count indictment for their alleged scheme to steal from the government between January 2022 and December 2025, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Ramroop is suspected of using taxpayer funds to purchase thousands of medical devices through his position in the pharmacy at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.
After securing the equipment, the couple resold the devices and kept the profits for themselves, costing the Department of War over $3 million, Arizona US Attorney Timothy Courchaine
Bank accounts connected to Ramroop and Madrid received over $11 million in wire transfers, Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposits and other credits from companies for the devices.
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/21/2026 02:41 ||
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Link ||
[1775 views]
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#1
I owe $50 in back child support and you would think the mob was coming after me, but here we go again with a multi million dollar theft and they act like some stole a fucking bag of chips. Shoot the goddamn bastards in the head in the town square to make a lesson learned!
Posted by: chris ||
02/21/2026 3:04 Comments ||
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#2
They should make an equal protection claim. What they did is, evidently, legal for a Somali in Minneapolis or Columbus. It seems to also be legal for anyone in California who donates to Newsom’s wife’s NGO.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/21/2026 7:25 Comments ||
Top||
#3
pharmacist ... Doesn't sound like an "airman" to me
#7
Photo of the staff sgt. at the article link, Grom. He has very precise facial hair. But with that kind of money at his disposal, I suppose he can afford to be professionally groomed.
[PJMedia] President Donald Trump ...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party... came out to speak to the press from the White House on Friday to express his feelings on the Supreme Court's Decision to rule against his broad tariffs, which he imposed through a series of executive orders last year, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
He began by saying the ruling was "deeply disappointing," and that he was "ashamed of certain members of the court — absolutely ashamed for not having the courage to do what's right for our country."
The president also thanked Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito for "their strength and wisdom and love of our country." Trump claims that when you read their dissenting opinions, there's no way anyone can argue against them.
"Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic. They're so happy," he said. "And they're dancing in the streets, but they won't be dancing for long — that I can assure you.
Trump said that he knew the Democrats ...every time you hear the phrase white people, white supremacy,white anything but paint, you're listening to a Democrat. Ask him/her/it to reimagine something for you; they do that a lot, though not well. They can hear a dog whistle a mile or two away. They invented the spoils system and Tammany Hall, and inspired the addition of the word (Thomas) Nasty to the English language. They want to stop continental drift and repeal the law of unintended side effects... on the court were an automatic "no," just like the Democrat members of Congress, no matter how great the case.
"They're against anything that makes America strong, healthy, and great again," he said. He also called them a "disgrace to our nation."
He said the others, presumably Justices John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett, are being "politically correct," which happens far too often, and he called them "fools and lap dogs for the RINOs and the radical left Democrats."
"They're very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution. It's my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests, and a political movement that is far smaller people would ever thing," he said, adding, "I won by millions of votes — we won in a landslide, with all the cheating that went on, and there was a lot of it."
He claimed that "certain justices" are "afraid" of the loud, obnoxious, and ignorant minority.
"This was an important case to me, more as a symbol of economic national security and also, I would say just for our country itself — so important because we're doing so well as a country," he said. "The good news is that there are methods, practices, statutes, and authorities, as recognized by the entire court in this terrible decision, and also as recognized by Congress, which they refer to, that are even stronger than the IEEPA tariffs available to me as president of the United States."
Trump claimed he was actually modest in what he asked of other countries because he was trying to be "well-behaved," and wanted to be a "good boy" because he knows how the Supreme Court works and knows they're easily swayed.
He also touted some economic wins, like recent stock market records and the decline of fentanyl coming into our country, and how tariffs helped him settle eight wars.
The president said it's ridiculous that the law allows him to "destroy" foreign countries, tell them they can't do business in the United States, or even embargo them, but he can't charge them a cent.
"It's okay because we have other ways — numerous other way," he added. "Therefore, effective immediately, all national security tariffs, under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs... remain fully in place and in full force and effect. Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff, under Section 122, over and above our normal tariffs already being charged."
He said he's also initiating other investigations to "protect our country from unfair trading practices of other countries and companies."
Justice Thomas Blasts The Supreme Court Majority for Striking Down Trump's Tariffs
[Townhall] The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's ability impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in a massive blow to one of the president's signature policies. While it wipes out Trump's reciprocal tariffs, it still allows tariffs to be enacted under different statutes.
The split among the court was unique, as Justices John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, and Neil Gorsuch joined the liberal justices in the majority, voting against the president's tariff authority, while Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
Justice Thomas, who is often considered the most conservative Justice, wrote a scathing dissent, in which he argued that had Congress delegated a core power, the move would have been unconstitutional. However, he argued that the power to regulate foreign commerce was not historically treated as a core constitutional power, and therefore was allowed to be delegated to the Executive branch.
"I write separately to explain why the statute at issue here is consistent with the separation of powers as an original matter," he wrote.
"The power to impose duties on imports can be delegated," he wrote.
"Power over foreign commerce was not within the core legislative power, and engaging in foreign commerce was regarded as a privilege rather than a right."
Justice Thomas went on to state that the power to regulate foreign trade is not included under the legislative branch's core powers. He goes on to note that throughout American history, going back to the Founding itself, Congress has consistently delegated the power to regulate foreign trade, including the ability to "impose duties on imports," to the Executive without the move being challenged. Even when it was challenged, he noted that the ability of the president to regulate foreign commerce was regularly upheld.
#1
Or he could have done like Biden when they come down on the student loan forgiveness and tell them to go fuck themselves.
Posted by: chris ||
02/21/2026 3:06 Comments ||
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#2
Yes I agree some form of balance Tariffs are needed.
But US Taxpayers must be seriously addressed as the #1 priority. Not the Unions, or the Big Wallets and Pockets on Wall Street. Like how to apply tariffs, without further diminishing the already shrinking incomes/buying power, seen due to inflation of Citizens.
Because, I sure did not save $$$$ with tariffs over the last year the way they were applied. All I saw were a collection of price increases and fewer items in the shopping cart headed to the house.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
02/21/2026 6:07 Comments ||
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#4
We won't pay them, we just won't buy from other countries. The entire idea is to drive manufacturing onto our shores.
And punish jerks who ripped us off for decades while laughing all the way to the bank.
Europe in particular has been tariffing the shit out of US agricultural products.
If tariffs don't work, why do other countries use them so effectively against us?
Why are Europeans happy to pay inflated prices for food just to put a thumb in the eye of the Americans?
#5
Just another example of past President behavior does not apply to Trump. Roberts seems to always find a reason to uphold some actions and yet seems to ignore explicit written law in others. Go Figure.
#9
D and R don't matter. They're the DC uniparty, the blob. They hang out with each other, they intermarry. They all agree Americans suck and they want to be rid of us. Hence the Somalians and open borders. Then they can use our great wealth and power to conquer the world and spend us bankrupt maintaining it.
Oh wait we're already there pretty much.
They won't MAGA, they want us crushed and conquered. They will burn our country down to rule the ashes.
Tariffs are great when Canada uses them against us. Americans can't buy property in China (technically yes but only one apartment per). Tariffs work great when African countries use them.
But it is ONE country on the planet that uses tariffs and they're wrong and bad.
The world built its prosperity on free access to the American market while keeping their markets closed. Free lunch is over, children. Time to go to work.
#10
Tariffs supported the US for almost 150 years, until the passage of the 16h amendment, allowing an income tax. The politicians promised the income tax would -
force the wealthy to pay their "just share" of the federal burden, which had previously fallen on the working class through tariffs. Ironic.
Lowering Prices: It was promised that the income tax would allow the government to lower tariffs, thereby reducing the cost of living for everyday citizens, because exemptions excluded the vast majority of citizens. Ironic.
It may have lived up to promises for a while, but not since WW2.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/21/2026 9:35 Comments ||
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#11
I asked Grok AI. The European Union (EU) applies tariffs on many US agricultural imports as part of its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and WTO-bound rates. These tariffs vary by product, often higher for sensitive sectors like dairy, meat, fruits/vegetables, and processed foods, with some protected via tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) — lower or zero tariffs up to a quota volume, then much higher rates beyond it.
Historically and generally (pre-2025 deals), US agricultural exports to the EU faced significant barriers, including average applied tariffs around 13-14% for agriculture (higher than non-ag goods), plus non-tariff measures like sanitary/phytosanitary rules. Key examples of affected or high-tariff US products include:
Much more detail followed. I added a bit of emphasis on TRQs.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/21/2026 9:45 Comments ||
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#12
YOU pay (almost) all of those tariffs.
Only if Americans buy foreign products. Other countries have had no problem having them against American products.
#13
I read about possible refunds of 175bn dollars. Who paid these in the first place?
Posted by: European Conservative ||
02/21/2026 10:32 Comments ||
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#14
President Trump should simply smile and quietly instruct the IRS to establish a new MAGA five year corporate earnings tax exemption for all US based manufacturers. If 50% of the product is made in the States, then a 50% tax exemption should be issued.
Anyone driving an American made car should be able to visit a US National Park at NO COST.
A fuel tax discount or (MAGA 'Green Stamps') should be offered for anyone gassing up or recharging an American made car.
No tax (or an IRS 'April 15th' deduction) on American made automobile tires or repair parts. Add farm tractors, airplanes, firearms, washing machines and driers to that. Save your 'Made In America' receipts.
More than one way to skin that cat.
Below are unrelated, but nice to have:
* Any member of law enforcement Federal, State, City, should be able to shop at a DoD commissary or PX/BX while operating a police vehicle.
* A long-standing personal pet peeve.....Foreign embassy and consulate personnel should be PROHIBITED from shopping at a CONUS DoD commissary or PX/BX.
* Anyone traveling to the USA for ANY purpose should be entered into the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the primary DNA database in the United States. No exceptions, no exclusions.
* A 'Deceased Voter Data Base (DVDB)' should be immediately established to verify eligibility for voting and other federal and state financial benefits, Social Security, SNAP, etc.
The U.S. Supreme Court plays a crucial role in shaping not only domestic law but also influencing legal principles worldwide. Its rulings set precedents that affect international treaties, trade, and human rights policies. Many nations and global institutions look to the U.S. judiciary when interpreting complex legal issues.
As globalization expands, the legal landscape becomes more interconnected. Supreme Court decisions have far-reaching implications, impacting diplomacy, business, and international justice systems. Understanding this influence helps reveal how legal decisions shape the world beyond U.S. borders.
[MaritimeExecutive] The International Fleet Review being hosted by the Indian Navy has been getting underway in the port city of Visakhapatnam, home of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command. Visak, as it is known, is also India’s shipbuilding capital.
The interlinked series of exercises commenced on Thursday February 18 with a review of the ships participating by India’s President, and will be followed by parades ashore and then Exercise Milan-2026 over February 19 to 26 at sea in the Bay of Bengal, covering anti-submarine warfare, air defence, maritime domain awareness and search-and-rescue operations. The flagship of the sea phase will be the Indian Vikrant-class carrier INS Vikrant (R11), on its first international outing after its debut into combat service during Operation Sindoor, the Indo-Pakistan war of May 2025.
Initial interest is focused on who out of 135 countries issued invitations have turned up for the Review.
India will field a formidable fleet of 45 ships, led by the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (R11). Indian Navy Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan reported there had been confirmation of attendance from 55 nations, some of them on foot and some attending with naval aircraft. As at February 18, warships from 17 nations had been spotted in the harbor. Germany is participating with a recently-delivered Boeing Poseidon P-8A anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The United States Navy was to have presented Arleigh Burke Class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91), whose arrival was cancelled at the last minute for undisclosed operational reasons. It would have been embarrassing for the Indian hosts to have had Pinckney moored alongside IRINS Dena, should war have broken out with Iran during the period of the fleet review.
The Iranian Navy Moudge-class frigate IRINS Dena (F74) arrived in Visak on February 16, even though it has been confirmed that the Indian Coast Guard is detaining three Iran-associated dark fleet tankers seized last week off Mumbai.
The absence of the Royal Navy was no surprise, given its current shortage of deployable ships, although admiral-rank senior representation is still likely to be available to attend. More surprising is the absence of the French Navy, particularly as President Macron is in India visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seal a contract to supply further Rafale aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
#2
Is there a livestream? Where can we watch it? Fleet reviews are cool.
That's what livestreaming is supposed to be for, events that are happening right now. An improvement on old-fashioned live television.
But it was quickly appropriated for video games and then political commentary while playing video games.
#3
^ Uh huh. Live Stream on a secure channel, putz? Or just catch the Iranian AI vaporware clips as their fleet (sans IRINS Dena (F74) which will sit the war exchange of ideas out like Saddam's jets in Iran) becomes small reefs
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/21/2026 18:27 Comments ||
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#4
This is from the Indian Navy YouTube channel, Jairong. I’m sure you can take it from here.
#5
Good find! That's it!
Already over, but that's probably for the best. 4 hours! I hope someone clipped it and added commentary, I'll see what I can find.
#6
I searched “fleet review” in one of the Indian newspapers first — and incidentally picked up the latest Indian WoT news, as you’ll see tomorrow — found nothingm then looked on YouTube, figuring that would show what to search for elsewhere, should that be preferred.
And now you’re ready to be a Rantburg research assistant. ;-)
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[FOX] Former President Barack Obama once declared that his presidential center would be a "gift" to Chicago, but taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden costs related to the beleaguered project.
[NY Post] A US Air Force pharmacist and his husband are accused of stealing over $3 million from the Department of War to fund their lavish lifestyle that included purchasing a BMW, a Porsche and a mansion in Arizona.
...every time you hear the phrase 
