Monday, May 18, 2026
New Jersey's Own Congressman Jeff Van Drew!
Victims of crimes committed by illegals!
"Behind every debate over sanctuary policies, there is a family sitting at a dinner table with an empty chair.
They are forced to live with heartbreak that never should have happened."Behind every debate over sanctuary policies, there is a family sitting at a dinner table with an empty chair.
— Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@Congressman_JVD) May 14, 2026
They are forced to live with heartbreak that never should have happened. pic.twitter.com/al67j8vzG1
Oh, My . . . How Times Have Changed!
THE WORLD YOU WERE BORN IN NO LONGER EXISTS pic.twitter.com/N6z9SgPlrz
— illuminatibot (@iluminatibot) May 17, 2026
Race Baiting Dems Are Losing It!
Tennesse state legsislature.
The Tennessee Democrat party has become increasingly unhinged. With no hope for election to statewide or national political office, this is what they do, just act like complete clowns. This is embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/GiiTseYf8b
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 18, 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Usha Vance Champions Literacy Effort
On Friday, May 15, 2026, Second Lady Usha Vance visited AcadeMir Academy Charter School East in Doral, Florida to showcase her Summer Reading Challenge and share her love of reading with students and faculty.
During her visit, the Second Lady read Ada Twist the Scientist by Andrea Beaty to students, spoke about why reading is so important to her, and answered questions asked by the students.“It was such a joy to meet so many amazing kids in Miami and share the gift of reading with them. I loved telling them about my upcoming Summer Reading Challenge and the fun updates we’ve made since last year’s challenge. I’m excited for children all over the country to learn and grow through stories this summer,” said Second Lady Usha Vance.
“Today’s visit is especially meaningful as we unite in support of literacy, learning, and the transformative power of education through the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Initiative. At AcadeMir Charter Schools, we believe reading opens the door to imagination, opportunity, and lifelong success. We are proud to support this important initiative and remain committed to inspiring our students to become lifelong readers, critical thinkers, and future leaders," said Olivia Bernal, Chief Operating Officer, AcadeMir Charter Schools.
As part of her larger childhood literacy initiative, the Second Lady recently launched a podcast, "Storytime with the Second Lady," where she hosts various guests and celebrities to read children’s stories aloud. Recent guests include former Nascar driver Danica Patrick, actor Cheryl Hines, Inter Miami CF Soccer Player Ian Fray, and her mother, Dr. Lakshmi Chilukuri.
For more information about the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge please visit www.wh.gov/read. To tune in to “Storytime with the Second Lady,” visit Spotify and YouTube.
A Rich Italian American Tradition: Great Food, Too!
Philadelphia's Italian Market Festival held today in Philly's original "Little Italy" neighborhood was an astounding success, drawing huge crowds amidst bright, sunny weather.
As always, the highlight of the two-day festival was the beautiful Procession of the Saints. The procession starts at Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Church (712 Montrose Street) and pauses at 9th and Washington Avenue for the Blessing of the Market, before concluding at Saint Paul Catholic Church at the corner of South Hutchinson and Christian Streets.
The pinning of money to ribbons dangling from the statues seems to have origins in the practice of many new immigrants, who, to be remembered and as a declaration of their newfound prosperity, sent money back home to be visibly displayed on the statue of the community’s patron Saint, in the church and in processions. Today, many devotees simply make a prayer and pin money as an offering in support of the religious institution that is fostering their spiritual belief and needs.
The procession pauses from time to time to give blessings by sprinkling Holy Water, a ritual tradition for expiatory and purificatory purposes attributed to the Apostle St. Matthew, which recalls the baptismal rite that spiritually bound the community together.
We hope you enjoy the photos we took during this marvelous procession which winds its way through a neighborhood rich in Italian American history.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Rededicate, Renew, Reawaken: Washington 5/17!
Rededicate 250 is coming to life in the heart of Washington, D.C. tomorrow, Sunday 5/17 and it’s going to be one of the most unforgettable moments leading into America’s 250th anniversary.
The stage is up. The National Mall is transforming. History is calling.Rededicate 250 is coming to life in the heart of Washington, D.C. and it’s going to be one of the most unforgettable moments leading into America’s 250th anniversary.
— Freedom 250 (@Freedom250) May 14, 2026
The stage is up.⁰ The National Mall is transforming. ⁰History is calling.
RSVP FOR THIS SUNDAY, MAY 17! 🇺🇸🙏 pic.twitter.com/259zYGoKgS
A BIG Change For The Wildwood (NJ) Tramcars!
"Watch the Tram Car, Please" - 3 Tram cars in Wildwoods will be Volvo electric vehicles this year
— Wake Up NJ 🇺🇸 New Jersey (@wakeupnj) May 16, 2026
Whose American company HQs is in NJ & an executive ties to the Wildwoods, donated the cars, free of charge
Only thing I'm curious of, how does this vehicle make that U-Turn to go… pic.twitter.com/k6vv85aMxs
Is There A Superman In LA's Future?
I’m laughing, but he’s exposing Bass and Newsom for the cartoon characters they truly are.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) May 16, 2026
The simple fact is that you’d have to be out of your mind to reelect Karen Bass after what she has done to our beautiful city. She is a living nightmare. pic.twitter.com/xZYV490cBD
Friday, May 15, 2026
The Great Communicator At His Very Best!
This is one of Ronald Reagan‘s famous stories about a bride that walks into a bridal shop.
— Leah Rain ✝️🇺🇸🎸🏝️ (@LeahRain77) May 15, 2026
This was filmed from a tribute to him many years back. 😁 pic.twitter.com/KTy8pOewVb
We'll Just Leave This Here For Awhile . . .
Spencer Pratt @spencerpratt released another banger!
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) May 15, 2026
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
📽️👇 pic.twitter.com/bPsnKo9vh6
The Death Penalty For Him? Damned Right!
🚨 NOW: US Attorney Jeanine Pirro is formally seeking the DEATH PENALTY for Elias Rodriguez in the killing of two young Israeli Embassy staff members at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 15, 2026
Good, we need SWIFT JUSTICE.
Judge Jeanine doesn't hold back: "We filed notice… pic.twitter.com/l7hG9JaBx3
A Fascinating Story From My Hometown
Walt Whitman died on March 26, 1892, in Camden after years of declining health caused largely by strokes he suffered beginning in the 1870s.
By the end of his life, Whitman had become something unusual in American culture: a living literary icon. Admirers, writers, artists, and curious pilgrims regularly visited his modest home on Mickle Street to sit with the aging poet.
Interesting to note: Whitman designed his tomb himself and he reportedly visited it while it was being completed.
Whitman’s funeral drew hundreds of mourners, including laborers, intellectuals, artists, politicians, and ordinary readers, a remarkably diverse crowd that reflected the democratic ideals Whitman held dear.
His coffin was displayed in his Camden home, and people reportedly passed through to pay respects before burial.
Whitman’s brain was removed for scientific study by the American Anthropometric Society to analyze his genius. However, the brain was accidentally dropped and destroyed by a laboratory assistant before it could be properly examined. The remains were discarded, making it a "spectacular failure" in early brain studies.
What makes Whitman’s burial site in Harleigh Cemetery so powerful is that it feels deeply connected to his character and poetry itself, rough, rooted, public, imperfect, democratic, intimate, and strangely alive more than 130 years after his death.
"The powerful play goes on..."
Thursday, May 14, 2026
What The Hell Happened To Penn State?
It's been reported that in a mandatory anti-racism class, Penn State told first year law school students they must "acknowledge the reality of systemic racism" and "dismantle systems that racialize, subordinate, and oppress." Listen to the recording!
NEW: In a mandatory anti-racism class, Penn State told 1L law students they must "acknowledge the reality of systemic racism" and "dismantle systems that racialize, subordinate, and oppress."
— Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) May 14, 2026
One student withdrew from the law school over the class. We obtained shocking audio.🧵 pic.twitter.com/zPxbqVY0K8
Trump's China Trip Scoring Big Time Wins!
From Benny Johnson on X:
Trump is winning BIG today… China trip is going better than anyone could have imagined. China helping bring Iran War to an end. Buying American oil. Massive trade deals. Stocks roaring. Chinese Army Band even played YMCA Expect TDS doomers to have a psychotic breakdown
Fathers Day Will Be Heree Soon . . .
Look at these dads holding their babies for the first time!
This is so precious.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 13, 2026
The moment fathers hold their babies for the first time, like with the mother, the child’s breathing and heartbeat are regulated better than any incubator or monitor ever could.
Nothing captures the beauty of fatherhood quite like this. pic.twitter.com/mvdmr7SeQE
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Trump's Unwavering Support For Police Pays Off!
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A Dog's Fascination With -- An Escalator!
Childlike wonder!
A dog figured out how to use escalators and now won’t stop taking rides on them. pic.twitter.com/rr7bHrDOcp
— aka (@akafaceUS) May 13, 2026
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
OMG! The Contrast Is VERY Revealing!
President Trump just posted this clip of VP Vance and Michelle Obama comparing what it’s like to have kids and live in the White House.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 12, 2026
The drastically different perspectives of these two people epitomize the difference between the right and the left.
Vance says it’s a… pic.twitter.com/vJclomOXmw
Sherril Is Savaging Public Education In NJ!
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) released the following statement regarding his request for Governor Sherrill to restore school aid that was arbitrarily capped in the Governor’s proposed budget.
“Our first big test of the Sherrill Administration’s interest in veering away from the disastrous, unfair, and amoral direction of the Murphy Administration when it comes to education & property taxes is in. And it’s a whopping smash in the throat to the property taxpayers and school children of New Jersey. The issue is simple. Hundreds of school districts were told by the Murphy Administration, while they were having their aid slashed massively that ‘sorry, we don’t care how much it devastates your kids education or property taxpayers, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FORMULA!’ This ‘formula’ by the way was outdated since before Murphy took office. It’s unfair, unsustainable & devastating to hundreds of school districts. Regardless, Murphy plowed on. But as soon as the devastated districts were due aid increases under the formula, suddenly following it was optional! Random caps on aid increases were applied. Because the Governor and legislative leaders wanted to give $ hundreds of millions in pork to pet projects…someone had to get screwed. New Jersey’s property taxpayers and school children were the victims. It’s that simple. And Governor Sherrill has followed that path. It’s incredible, It’s devastating, and it’s a horrific omen.“This release isn’t a blind political attack. It comes after months of discussions and warnings that it was coming. We presented the problem, we outlined scalable solution options. The Governor’s response was essentially, ‘too bad, so sad.’ That kind of dismissive arrogance might play well in Trenton political circles, but it’s a slap in the face to the families watching programs get cut, the taxpayers getting hammered with higher property taxes, and the students sitting in overcrowded classrooms because the state once again decided fairness was optional. And to be clear, this isn’t something that can be fixed next year. The damage, to taxpayers and kids year on year, is permanent.
“What makes this even more infuriating is that the money exists. Revenue projections are improving, hundreds of millions in wasteful pork spending remain untouched, and the Governor and legislative Democrats continue throwing taxpayer dollars at politically connected pet projects like it’s Monopoly money while schools are told to tighten their belts yet again,” said Sen. O’Scanlon.
Below are some recent examples of districts negatively impacted by the arbitrary 6% cap:
Brick Township Public Schools:
Lost nearly $20 million in formula aid under Murphy
Plans to cut 40 positions, including 24 general education teachers and 12 special education staff members
Average class sizes are projected to rise to 27 students in elementary schools
Missing out on almost in $3 million in aid for the upcoming school year as a result of Sherrill’s 6% cap on aid increases
Jefferson Township School District:
Has already closed two schools and terminated 100 staff members
Lost more than $10 million in formula aid under Murphy
Missing out on more than $1 million in aid for the upcoming year due to the 6% cap
Lacey Township School District:
Has cut 163 staff positions over the past eight years, including 17 teaching jobs and two administrative positions last year
Courtesy busing and new curriculum materials have been eliminated
Class sizes have climbed to more than 30 students
Lost nearly $14 million in formula aid under Murphy
Missing out on more than $800,000 for the upcoming year due to the 6% cap
Little Egg Harbor School District:
Plans to lay off 81 full-time paraprofessionals from local elementary schools and refilling their positions with part-time workers who won’t receive benefits
Lost more than $1.7 million in formula aid under Murphy
Missing out on more than $1 million for the upcoming year due to the 6% cap
Middletown Township School District:
Plans to cut 40 teachers and close two schools
Lost more than $2.6 million in formula aid under Murphy
Missing out on more than $1 million for the upcoming year due to the 6% cap
Toms River Regional School District:
Has cut 250 positions, slashed programs, and sold a school building
Lost more than $37 million in formula aid under Murphy
Missing out on nearly $4 million for the upcoming year due to the 6% cap
“Republicans offered practical solutions to restore this aid without raising taxes, but those ideas were ignored. Trenton has hid behind the school funding formula while districts were getting screwed with aid cuts. Now that the very same formula says these communities are finally entitled to relief, the Administration suddenly decides the formula only matters when it benefits their political agenda. At some point, this stops being a budgeting issue and starts becoming a question of values and basic respect for the people paying the bills and the kids whose quality education is being dismantled. That time is now, and Governor Sherrill has failed the values and respect test with disappointingly flying colors,” O’Scanlon concluded.
Early Successes: Melania's Impressive Record!
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Sondheim's Life: Struggles, Demons, Triumphs
The brilliant Broadway composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, was every bit as difficult, complicated, and sometimes frustrating as the puzzles that he collected and so enjoyed over his lifetime.
Sondheim's many quirks, squabbles, grudges, demons, peaks and valleys are richly detailed in the new biography, Stephen Sondheim, Art Isn't Easy, by Daniel Okrent, for the Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press.
Here are some of the things we learn in this biography which illuminates the life, struggles and triumphs of Sondheim in a way heretofore unavailable:
- The author tells us that for all intents and purposes, Sondheim was an alcoholic. He drank almost every day of his life. Yes, there were periods when he went off the bottle, but invariably he returned to his previous ways. He enjoyed almost every kind of alcoholic beverage, including scotch, vodka, bourbon, martinis, champagne, wine or whatever would do the trick and he resisted any efforts to get him into a program such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Like many great artists, Sondheim was also a perfectionist who obsessed over his work and, even after he completed a composition, was often less than satisfied with it. He was known to return to previously "finished" works to correct what he still perceived as mistakes or oversights. And no, whatever natural talent he had didn't make the pursuit of his art any easier. Thus, the subtitle Art Isn't Easy.
- Sondheim was also a notorious procrastinator, either because he found it difficult to face a looming task or because he worked best under pressure. This often presented a difficult dilemma for his collaborators and the many others who depended on his output in the high-pressured theatrical world of Broadway. Still, when the pressure was on, more often than not, he delivered mightily. But oh, the waiting!
- They called Sondheim a genius, and he certainly was significantly above average in intelligence. In school, he skipped both kindergarten and seventh grade and entered college at 16. In first grade he read aloud from the New York Times. But, like many high IQ people, he could be awkward in social situations and found such settings difficult. He was an enigma, difficult to get to know and not what you would call a "people person."
- Yes, some might characterize him as a "tortured genius" as he also sometimes obsessed over small slights or things that were said or written about him and he was known to hold grudges, sometimes letting things fester for years or even decades. But, he could just as easily blow up, let off steam and then put his anger aside and act as if all was well again. Friends learned to deal with his sometimes volatile behavior and treasured their relationships with him nonetheless.
- Drugs were another part of Sondheim's life, though apparently not to the point where he became an addict. The musical Sunday in the Park With George was written largely with the help of marijuana at a time when weed was not legal and Into The Woods was reportedly helped along with cocaine and even ecstasy.
- Sondheim suffered two heart attacks, one just beyond the middle of his life and one a bit later and he did clean up his act a bit after each one, incorporating an exercise regimen and sticking with wine instead a variety of liquors. But, in both instances, he returned to his old ways and, incredibly, managed to live to the age of 91 -- still very alert, cogent, and still working on a new musical (Here We Are) at the time of his death.
- Though he avoided sentimentality in all his shows, Sondheim himself proved to be a sentimentalist at times. He was deeply moved by the mere mention of the word "teacher" because he felt that teachers had the greatest impact on his life and on the life of others. And though, he was an insular person, Sondheim was known to cry easily. In fact, he cried, whenever he played the song Someone In a Tree which was deeply personal to him.
The product of a fractured marriage (and a resulting deep personal animus toward his mother) Sondheim, according to Okrent, was motivated by a feeling of vengeance, and this unfortunately carried over into many of his dealings with others. Throughout his life, he also felt a deep sense of separateness and an inability to connect with others. On top of all that was a persistent ambivalence, which carried over into the lyrics of many of his songs. This ambivalence added to the mystique of Sondheim and was depicted in the tales disconnected prople, particularly in an urban setting. And this, of course, is most dramatically expressed in the musical Company.
Alienation. Ambivalence Revenge. These three run through some of Sondheim's greatest works.
Alienation crops up in characters who often appear to be mere observers of the world around them rather than active participants and it is a frequent trait of artists who spend the bulk of their time observing and creating, often necessarily shutting themselves off from others. Think Sunday In The Park With George and Merrily We Roll Along. Ambivalence finds a home in a secular world devoid of moral underpinnings, guidelines or even any semblance of a road map. Think Company and Follies. Revenge often grows from past traumatic events, sometimes even criminal. Think Sweeney Todd.
As gruesome as Sweeney Todd was, the strong propulsion of revenge that characterized his macabre tale was something that Sondheim could understand. Asked once about the difference between himself and Sweeney, Sondheim didn't flinch. "I tuned it into art," he answered.
Though Sondheim may have passed on nearly five years ago, we remain abundantly grateful for the art he created which lives on among all of us. Or, as George Bernard Shaw once said: "You can lose a man like that by your own death, but not by his".
Monday, May 11, 2026
Worlds Out There: Alien Revelations And UFOs
We're talking ALIENS. No, not those aliens but aliens from way, way out there (and those newly released UFO files) as I chat with Adam Perry. And we're considering the spiritual implications as well.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Rarely Seen Video: President Trump's Mother
Circa 1991. President Trump's mother, Mary Anne, talking about her Scottish roots, her family and the son she tragically lost.
🚨 President Trump’s mother in a rare interview talking about her family, including the son she tragically lost.
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) May 10, 2026
At the time, Trump was filming his Home Alone 2 cameo. She also talks about the thrill of flying on her son’s helicopter.
Trump was raised by a First Class Mom. pic.twitter.com/R1szJY5Oak
A Plea For My Mother -- And ALL Mothers!
It's been one of those sort of Hallmark Holidays that has become wildly commercialized to the point where some moms simply want to be left alone during the holiday. They'd like a break -- some quiet, peaceful time away from the daily work and stresses of motherhood. With moms working harder than ever (both at home and on-the-job) can you blame them if they think the best gift they can be given is a bit of refreshing solitude?
My mother was a working mom long, long before working moms were common. She worked as a seamstress in a coat factory, otherwise known as a sweat shop. No, there was no air conditioning and summer was their busiest season because that's when they made winter coats. It was hard work -- grueling work.
But my mother was always there for me. She would rush to my nearby schoolyard at lunch time to bring me a fresh orange while my classmates and I were out to play. These and millions of other loving memories of her fill my heart every hour of every day.
Which only reinforces the fact that we shouldn't need Mother's Day to remind us that mothers are important.
And hopefully most people really don't need Mother's Day for such a reminder.
I know I don't.
Even though my Mother passed away more than 20 years ago, she is still with me every day. She is still at my side. And I remember the simpler, more meaningful observances of this day. Those essential memories endure.
So, my mom is still here for me.
She still comforts me.
She still encourages me.
She still cheers me up.
She still urges me onward.
Why?
Because she gave me unconditional love.
And love really is eternal.
It never leaves us. It never goes away. It never dies.
When a mother gives boundlessly and unconditionally of her love, she actually seizes a slice of immortality. That's one of the great miracles of motherhood. And that's why it's been said that God's greatest gift is a mother's love.
My mother was a very proud woman -- proud but always accessible, always approachable. She carried herself with great dignity and actually appeared taller and more regal than she really was. In fact, she was our Queen!
But she was irrepressibly human.
She was also funny and quite a cutup. She had a knack for mimicking others in a generous but nonetheless targeted manner. Quickly, and shrewdly, she sized people up and then followed her instincts.
Though not formally educated past grade school, she read the newspapers assiduously every day. So, she had a keen sense of what was going on around her and throughout the world. She was curious and engaging and modern in her own way.
She did not dwell on the past but rather always looked to the future.
She didn't burden herself with unpleasant thoughts and didn't have an ounce of spitefulness or vindictiveness in her.
She was not a complainer, even under the most trying circumstances. She rarely cried and never whined. She never wanted to be fussed over and even on Mother's Day, she sought no special attention.
Always, she was sustained by her immediate family. Her family always came first.
She was happiest when her family was with her. She never smiled so brightly or so warmly or so genuinely as when she gazed upon her family.
And we were there for her till the very end, doing all that we could to give back to her just a bit of the love that she gave us.
So, we never needed Mother's Day then and we don't need it now.
Just as my Mother's love was never in doubt, the love that my sister and I gave back to her was constant and unequivocal.
And it continues to this day and every day.
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