[Townhall] How do you have a democracy if you don’t have laws? And how do you have laws if you don’t enforce them? Laws are gifts; we reject law at our peril. One of the most troubling aspects of recent American political discourse is the absolute willingness to simply ignore laws, which is kind of a problem. You see, the basis of democracy is we the people, through our legislature and the guy we elect president, make laws. So democracy is, at its most basic level, the ability to make laws. But if you make a law, and then you don’t enforce it because you choose not to, or you use obnoxious methods like deceit and corrupt judges to prevent its enforcement, then you don’t really have laws. And if you don’t have laws, you don’t have a democracy.
But now, the things we decree through the democratic process have become lawless. The left has absolutely no hesitation in simply ignoring what the people want. Oh, they’ll argue that they’re doing what the people want, but in a democracy, the people manifest what they want through the passage of laws through the Democratic process. What we have today is the neutering of laws through the process of a bunch of leftists getting together and deciding what they want and trying to jam it down our collective throat.
It’s easy to understand the temptation for lawlessness. The best way to deal with an obstacle is to ignore it where possible, and it’s entirely possible when you have a regime media, court system, and an absolutely anti-democratic Democrat Party all angry because they can’t get what they want because the majority of Americans don’t want the same kind of deviant communist race garbage that the left prefers. So, ignoring the law, therefore ignoring democracy, is imperative. They imagine we must to save democracy by burning it down; all that they will do is end up with ashes.
Now, after spending 30 years as a lawyer, I’m under no illusion that the law or the justice system is perfect. But I’m also under no illusion that if you don’t have a law or justice system, you have a dictatorship. There are various kinds of dictatorships. You can have some ridiculous clown doing the Mussolini thing in front of a bunch of slack-jawed thugs. But you can also have a technocratic dictatorship where a bunch of people collectively take power and dictate to everyone else. That’s what we’ve got here with the kind of globalist nanny state goofs that we see demanding to run our country like some frigid wine-woman teacher runs her kindergarten. But make no mistake. While the Mussolini type will default to taking you out and shooting you quickly, the nannies will start with hectoring, badgering, and pestering you, but if that doesn’t work, eventually, they’ll also be happy to murder you. And they’ll blame you for making them do it because you asked for it, you racist, sexist, transphobic, Islamophobic, fatist, cis, Christian, Republican, gun-owner of pallor who refuses to submit to your betters.
🚨 POWERFUL TRIBUTE: Trump just credited the late Charlie Kirk for helping GROW Christianity!
“In Charlie’s memory, we must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God and we must totally reject political violence of any kind.” pic.twitter.com/kv5EeiQQ05
#2
I think the writer expects way too much from the Mexican government. Hopefully not too much from our own government but there is a certain stench that comes from many of our own politicians.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
02/25/2026 13:00 Comments ||
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Another crazy video from Kherson, this time on the Antonivka bridge, where around 30 russian special forces (probably came with helicopters) are ambushing first 3 anti-tank canons and then 2 ukrainian BRDM-2.
Another crazy video from Kherson, this time on the Antonivka bridge, where around 30 russian special forces (probably came with helicopters) are ambushing first 3 anti-tank canons and then 2 ukrainian BRDM-2.
Video was probably taken at 12:30, since we have additional videos of russian columns crossing the bridge later, before ukrainians regain control at 15:30.
Before the arrival of the 2 BRDM-2 (and two others behind), russian SOF inspected ukrainian canons (a video was also shared), the ukrainians failed to retake the bridge and temporarily retreated to Kherson at that time.
Geoloc : 46.679357, 32.719334
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Hostomel Airfield Assault: The Daring Airborne Operation That Opened the War
Exactly four years ago, on 24 February 2022, the first day of the special military operation, one of the boldest and most legendary missions of Russia’s Airborne Forces began: the tactical airborne… pic.twitter.com/GT5TCFlghP
Hostomel Airfield Assault: The Daring Airborne Operation That Opened the War
Exactly four years ago, on 24 February 2022, the first day of the special military operation, one of the boldest and most legendary missions of Russia’s Airborne Forces began: the tactical airborne landing at Antonov airfield in the Kyiv suburb of Hostomel.
On the morning of 24 February, about 30 to 34 Russian helicopters, Mi-8 transport aircraft escorted by Ka-52 and Mi-24 attack helicopters, flew at extremely low altitude over the Kyiv Reservoir along the Dnieper River. Despite heavy Ukrainian air defense fire and the loss of several aircraft, paratroopers from the 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade and the 45th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade were landed directly on the runway.
Around 11 a.m., the first wave of paratroopers, estimated at 200 to 300 troops, engaged units of the Ukrainian National Guard defending the airfield. By about 1 p.m., Antonov Airport had come under Russian control, and a Russian flag was raised over the control tower.
At that moment, 18 Il-76 military transport aircraft carrying roughly a thousand additional paratroopers were already airborne and preparing to land. Understanding the strategic importance of the airfield, Ukrainian forces launched a massive artillery strike on the runway, rendering it unusable. The Il-76s were forced to turn back and divert to Gomel in Belarus.
The airborne troops were left without the rapid arrival of their main forces. For nearly three days, until ground units advancing from the Chernobyl direction reached them, they held a circular defense of the airfield, repelling fierce counterattacks by superior enemy forces. Both sides suffered losses in the fighting. Guards Colonel Andrey Sukhovetsky, commander of the 31st Brigade, was killed in action near Hostomel.
Although the runway was disabled and the second airborne echelon could not land, the capture of Antonov Airport played a major role. The landing force tied down significant opposing troops, secured a foothold for approaching ground forces, and disrupted Ukrainian defensive plans on the distant approaches to Kyiv. The operation is often described as an example of courage and high training of the airborne troops.
Fighting for Hostomel airfield continued until the end of March 2022, when Russian forces were redeployed to other directions. The feat of the paratroopers who were among the first to enter the battle, the channel “Winged” writes, will remain in memory.
More from Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
Scouts from the 45th Spetsnaz Brigade of the Airborne Forces at the Mozyr airfield before loading onto aircraft and departing for Gostomel, February 24, 2022.
Four years have passed since the heroic deeds of the airborne troops and army aviation during the capture of the airfield in the urban-type settlement of Gostomel, Kyiv Oblast.
On February 24, 2022, an armada of Mi-8s, covered by Mi-24s, Mi-35s, and Ka-52s, carried waves of tactical troops from the 45th Spetsnaz Brigade and the 31st Airborne Assault Brigade of the Airborne Forces to capture the airfield. —
Night of February 23-24 — Personnel preparation for the combat mission.
— 09:00 — Departure of KamAZ trucks and other equipment with personnel to the helicopter parking area at the Mozyr airfield and the Khoyniki-Bragin highway.
— 12:00 — the first Mi-8 and cover helicopters depart towards the Kyiv region.
— 12:30 — crossing the border with Ukraine.
— 13:20 — the first wave of paratroopers lands at Gostomel. The seizure and inspection of buildings on the airfield territory begins.
— 15:00 — the Russian flag is planted at the command post. After capturing the airfield, servicemen from two airborne brigades will begin organizing a defense and repelling enemy attacks.
Despite enemy claims on the 24th that the paratroopers had been completely destroyed, the paratroopers of the 31st and 45th brigades will complete their mission.
On February 26, columns of airborne forces, the Russian National Guard, and other units of the Ministry of Defense will break through to Gostomel, thus beginning the history of Direction V.
A battle between a company of the 3rd Operational Brigade of the National Guard and a company of the 1st Battalion of the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces at the northeastern intersection of the Kharkiv bypass road on February 24, 2022.
On the morning of February 24, 2022, a long column of vehicles from the 1st Battalion of the Tactical Group of the 200th Rifle Brigade (Group Z in the white square) crossed the border with Ukraine near Zeleny without a fight and moved towards Kharkiv along the Veseloye-Petrivka route.
At around 10:30 Kyiv time, its advance column, consisting of a mechanized platoon of MT-LB vehicles, one T-80BVM tank, and a KamAZ truck with a 23-mm anti-aircraft gun, drove through Petrovka and Butenkovo without a fight and captured a road junction (50.0544, 36.36077) on the Kharkiv bypass road, north of Saltykovka.
As a result of this maneuver, a platoon of the battle group of the 1st battalion of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, still covering the Liptsi area, was cut off from Kharkiv. The commander, informed of this from the city defense headquarters at around 11:00 local time, began a retreat along the Liptsi-Tsyrkuny road in the direction of Kharkiv, without having precise information that part of the 200th brigade of the Russian Armed Forces was already deployed on the northern outskirts of the city.
Upon reaching the junction near the city bypass, a brief battle ensued. The surprised Ukrainian group lost two BTR-4 armored personnel carriers and a GAZ-66 truck and retreated in disarray toward Tsyrkun, partially dispersing.
The remnants of the group reached the city on foot only on the evening of February 24.
Around 11:30 a.m., the reserve combat group of the 3rd Operational Brigade of the National Guard received orders from the Eastern Territorial Command to provide assistance to the encircled soldiers of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the village of Tsyrkuny.
A group consisting of three BTR-4 armored personnel carriers, a Kozak-2 reconnaissance vehicle, and a Kugar command vehicle was dispatched to the area. However, as before, its commander was not informed that our troops were already on the northern outskirts of the city.
A convoy of National Guard vehicles entered the Kharkiv bypass road junction at high speed from the direction of Lesnoye. Unfortunately, this time the surprise was mutual, as the enemy was able to react first.
In close combat, an BTR-4—the second in the convoy behind the leading "Kazak"—knocked out a T-80 BVM parked near the trees next to the road to Tsirkuny, while another BTR-4 destroyed an MT-LB parked at the turnoff to Tsirkuny.
In response, Russian soldiers, using RPG-7s, destroyed the second BTR-4 in the convoy and opened fire on the "Kazak-2," disabling it. However, fire from the remaining Ukrainian Armed Forces BTR-4s forced our soldiers to abandon their remaining vehicles and retreat on foot in the opposite direction from Kharkiv.
As a result, in this short but intense battle, the Russian Armed Forces lost a T-80BVM, three MT-LB tanks (one destroyed, two abandoned), and an abandoned KamAZ truck with a 23mm cannon (which they never managed to use).
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost a total of four BTR-4s destroyed and one damaged, as well as a Kozak-2 patrol car and a GAZ truck. Some time later, part of a company from the 22nd Battalion of the 92nd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, supported by two T-64BV tanks, arrived at the intersection and organized its defense.
1 - Map showing the situation at the intersection of the Kharkiv bypass road near Saltykovka.
2. Video, filmed at approximately 11:30, showing the aftermath of the attack by the 3rd National Guard Brigade on Russian positions at the intersection of the Kharkiv bypass road.
3. Another video from this location, this time from around 12:00 PM, after the arrival of reinforcements from the 92nd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
In the background, Ukrainians can be seen retrieving a captured KamAZ truck with a 23mm cannon from the intersection.
The global implications of CJNG’s operations are reflected in a 2024 research by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). A widely circulated map prepared by the institute outlines the international supply chains linked to Mexico’s two dominant cartels CJNG, and the Cartel de Sinaloa.
That map has drawn particular attention in Türkiye because it lists the country among the global nodes connected to CJNG’s procurement networks. The implication has fueled questions about whether any connection exists between Mexico’s criminal underworld and illegal organizations in Türkiye.
[PJ] President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union speech gave every American a front-row seat to see exactly who Democrats are — and more importantly, what they refuse to stand for.
According to reports, more than 70 Democrats chose not to attend the speech, but most did, and several times over the course of the evening, they made a choice. They sat. They scowled. They heckled. While Republicans rose time and again in applause, the left side of the chamber looked like a group of children being punished.
And Trump noticed.
He called them out — repeatedly — for refusing to show even the most basic bipartisan enthusiasm for moments that should have been beyond politics. But nothing cut deeper than one specific challenge he laid down for every lawmaker in that room.
"One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe," Trump said. "So, tonight, I'm inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens."
Republicans exploded. They stood, clapped, and whistled for a solid two minutes. It was the kind of raw, spontaneous reaction you can't manufacture.
I wonder what We the People (US Citizens) will be treated to this go around.
Because, too much of America is fed-up with the Left, Socialists & Democrats (LSD's).
For the LSD's to take over the House and/or Senate in Mid-Terms. It will require a new process to sell their Racism, Perversion, and Fascist agenda. All coupled with a new way to rig certain METRO level elections.
#4
It's time to recognize the Democrat party for what it is: an international terrorist organization. Treat accordingly.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
02/25/2026 8:50 Comments ||
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#5
"The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens."
That was likely not on the teleprompter (maybe it was, but seemed more spur of the moment) and something he'd been keeping for a bit to use in just such a scenario when the expected reaction was anticipated.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
02/25/2026 9:31 Comments ||
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#6
I said to my wife the moment I heard it was 'That's a trap'.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
02/25/2026 9:33 Comments ||
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#7
who's the "That isn't funny" blonde on the left?
[SashaStoneSubstack] With great timing and a gift for performance and storytelling, Trump pauses and lets the applause grow. He luxuriated in the moment as the Democrats sat there, stone-faced, thinking it would play well at MS-Now. It probably will. Trump wanted all of America to see it and remember it. He set a trap. They walked right into it.
You should be ashamed," he said. Probably, he also knew it would agitate the Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, and it did. They screamed back at him, "YOU should be ashamed!" Yet another viral moment for a president who is really good at TV.
Trump embarrassed the Democrats again by paying tribute to a mother who rescued her daughter from the gender cult, and when the Democrats didn’t stand for that, Trump said, "These people are crazy." Another viral moment that will live in infamy. USA! USA! USA! USA!
I stood up from my chair, shook my fist in the air and chanted along with them. It felt like Lake Placid 1980 again there for a moment.
It was a very good State of the Union. I watched as I was doing articles for the Burg. As always, click on the headline to go to the web page and read the rest
#1
I have not seen the viewer numbers yet, but I suspect they will be massive. The military recognitions and awards were quite impressive. Well done Mr. President. Very well done.
#2
Impossible to know how many watched it because, for example, a person on line might have had speech going while looking at other sites, and of course, parts of the speech were shown on thousands of sites with hundreds of millions of potential viewers.
What we do have a handle on was cable and network and this is number of devices not number of people.
FoxNews 9.1M
MS-NOW 2.4M
CNN 2.2M
ABC 5.1
NBC 3.6
CBS 3.3
Fox Broadcast 2.1M
Fox Business 0.3M
a bit better than Biden in 2024
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
02/25/2026 19:29 Comments ||
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Nearly $1 billion in U.S. federal research funds have been funneled into projects involving the Chinese regime’s defense laboratories that pose “critical risks” to America’s national security, according to a new study.
The report, released by the Center for Research Security and Integrity (CRSI) on Feb. 19, identifies nearly 1,800 research papers published between January 2019 and July 2025 that involve U.S. collaborations with Chinese defense laboratories.
About one-third of the articles specifically credited U.S. federal funding for the research. The topics of these projects ranged from directed energy systems and energetic materials to radar and sensing, artificial intelligence, flexible electronics, and high-performance computational physics.
Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, accused three of China’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies of creating more than 24,000 fraudulent accounts to tap into its system and train their own models.
The three companies—DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax—allegedly used those accounts to send more than 16 million prompts to Claude, siphoning off output to refine their own products, Anthropic said in a Feb. 23 blog post.
“These campaigns are growing in intensity and sophistication,” the San Francisco-based company said.
The tactic, known as “distillation,” involves training a smaller, less powerful “student” model on the outputs, behavior, and knowledge of a much larger, more advanced “teacher” model. This allows the student system to imitate the teacher’s capabilities without the time and money required to develop them independently.
#1
To me, the casualty reports with respect to volume, severity and symptoms did not match the use of military grade chem weapons. Probably some variety of tear gas was used. That said, there was one claim that 100k people were blinded, but I didn’t see any other info as to what that meant.
With respect to the propaganda war, I have noticed that fat and unattractive people appear to be totally safe to protest in Iran.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/25/2026 5:39 Comments ||
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#2
Military Grade chemical weapons use is not a recommended measure for domestic riot and crowd control in built-up areas.
#4
It’s like the Imperial Japanese troops after WWII. They created a large number of homicidal sociopaths. What do you do with them after regime change?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
02/25/2026 21:34 Comments ||
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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.
[PJ] President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union speech gave every American a front-row seat to see exactly who Democrats are — and more importantly, what they refuse to stand for.
