MAYOR MAMDANI WAS RIGHT TO SHUT DOWN NYC

MAYOR MAMDANI WAS RIGHT TO SHUT DOWN THE CITY

By: Derek Varsalona

I applaud Mayor Mamdani for shutting down NYC in this time of crisis.   No one should be out on the streets of New York City during this time of crisis.  The city is facing the worse snow storm that it has seen in decades.  All events are closes including sporting events, schools are closed, and even recreational activities are halted.  The city transportation network is also shut down except for emergency personnel.  The city is literally a ghost city.

NYC Mayor Mamadani has declared a city-wide State of Emergency on Monday.  The entire traffic network in New York City is shut down.   Nobody is going anywhere any time soon.  The only people allowed on the streets are emergency personnel.  The city is about to see at least  3 inches of snow per hour.

Mayor Mamdani has the right approach.  He was right to shut down the city during this major snowstorm.  The people I worry about the most are the homeless people.  Where are they going to spend the nights? When I used to work at Nassau  County Department of Social Services, some of the homeless people said it was safer on the streets than it was in a homeless shelter.  As always, comments accepted.

Massive Snow Storm in NYC
Image: New York Welcome
Monday, February 23, 2026

Source: Al Jazeera. " New York  Mayor Zorhan Mamdani orders  Citywide Shutdown as Snow Storm Hits."  New York City: Monday, February 23, 2026. 

PRESIDENT TRUMP TARIFFS STRUCK DOWN BY SUPREME COURT

TRUMP TARIFFS STRUCK DOWN BY SUPREME COURT

By: Derek Varsalona

Get your tickets now, ladies and gentlemen.  The greatest show in America is President Trump throwing a tempertantrum.  This week, the Supreme Court delivered a significant blow to President Trump and his administration by striking down the tariffs imposed in the United States.  To be fair, President Obama would have done the same thing if his socialist health care plan, the Affordable Care Act, had been struck down.

The Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs on Friday.  This is a massive blow to President Trump and his administration.  Instead of manning up and taking responsibility for the failed policy, President Trump instead threw a shit fit.  This is very unbecoming for the most powerful man in the world.

Like always, President Trump resorted to attacking the Supreme Court and calling them out as unpatriotic.  No, that is wrong.  Just because you lose in the Supreme Court does not make you unpatriotic.  The Justices looked at the Constitutionality of the tariffs and found that it did not meet the criteria as Constitutional.

So sad, President Trump, you lose. As always, comments accepted.

Tariffs Struck Down
AGWeb.com
Sunday, February 22, 2026

Source: Nina Totneberg. "Trump Touts a Temper Tantrum After Tariffs Loss." NPR.org: Saturday, February 21, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/g-s1-110961/supreme-court-tariffs

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING TO CONTROL AI

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CONTROLLING AI

By: Derek Varsalona

Well, President Trump brought out all the stops now.  He is trying to control AI.

President Trump called an AI Summit of world leaders.  I wish I could have done my comedy there.  But this is a very scary event.  When the government controls AI I do not expect that they are going to use it for good.  It can be used to spy on American people such as bloggers like myself, spy on podcasters like myself, and also spy on professional journalists.

I would not be surprised if AI is spying on your children in the classroom.  I would not be surprised if computer manufacturers like Apple use AI in their computers in the coming months.  I would not be surprised if AI is used in your television and other household items, like your refrigerator and other household appliances.

Yes, AI can be used for good.  However, when the government has a hold of AI, it is most likely to be used for evil intentions, such as spying on American citizens and citizens worldwide.  As always, comments accepted.

President Trump is trying to control AI
Image: Youtube.com 
Money control

Source: President Donald J. Trump. "U.S. Promotes AI Adoption, Sovereignty and Exports at India AI Impact Summit." The White House. Washington, DC: Friday, February 20, 2026.  https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/02/u-s-promotes-ai-adoption-sovereignty-and-exports-at-india-ai-impact-summit/

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PREPARED TO STRIKE IRAN

TRUMP TO FIGHT A NEVER-ENDING WAR

By: Derek Varsalona

By the time this article is published, America might be involved in an illegal war with Iran.  I hope that is not the case.  If President Trump does not go to Congress and ask for a declaration of war, he should be impeached.  I hope the war with Iran isn't going to happen; that is the dreamy side of me.  The more realistic side of me says that war is inevitable.

As of right now, the United States military has a massive buildup in the Persian Gulf.  America is acting in the same way that it did in 1776; we are the Minute Men now.  We are ready to strike at a moment's notice when President Trump gives the order.  But that would be an illegal war and something that would be impeachable if he did not give the order first.

A strike on Iran or the Iranian military would be harmful to America.  With a strike on Iran, there will be a rise in oil prices.  If we do strike Iran, I would suggest drilling in Alaska and other places in the United States to prevent the automatic rise in oil prices.

I am afraid to say it, but I think war with Iran is inevitable. Let's try to give peace a chance first and talk with Iran.  As always, comments accepted.

Trump to Strike Iran
Image: Times of India

Source: France 24. "US Build up of Warships and Fighter Jets Set Stage for Potential War with Iran." Washington, DC Thursday, February 19, 2026 https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260219-us-buildup-warships-fighter-jets-armada-sets-stage-potential-war-with-iran

ICE SHOULD NOT BE IMMUNE FROM CRIMES THEY COMMIT

ICE SHOULD NOT BE IMMUNE 

By: Derek Varsalona

There was a time in America when if you committed a crime, you did the time.  Not anymore.  Increasingly, people of color are given harsher sentences than people who just so happen to be white.  Additionally, federal agents appear to be immune to criminal prosecution.

America, your legal system is broken.  Usually, if a person of color is convicted, they seem to get a harsher sentence and penalty than their white counterparts.  There is overt racism in the communities.  Also, many of the police do not represent the communities they serve.

I am not for watering down the police examinations.  I am for strict examinations of the police.  As someone with a disability, I was given extended time and sometimes modifications on my exams.  No, exams in schooling or in the police force should be modified or watered down.

Also, no elected official can be immune from the law(s).  If you do the crime, you do the time.  I like President Trump, but if he does the crime, he must do the time.  I also think that President Obama should be arrested for letting Ambassador Christopher Stevens get assassinated in Benghazi.  If you do the time, you must do the time.  And always comments are accepted.

Ice should not be immune to crime
Image: Whyy
Whyy.org
Charles Reed
May 24, 2026

Source: Josephine Walker. "State Testing Limits of ICE, CBP Agents' Immunity." Axois.com, Washington, DC: Wednesday, February 18, 2026. https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/ice-federal-agents-accountable

KRISTI NOEM MISUSES THE NATIONAL GUARD

A MESSAGE TO NOEM: COST GUARDS ARE NOT YOUR SECURITY

By: Derek Varsalona

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noam is misusing the U.S. Coast Guard.  She is now using them to deport illegal aliens in America.  That is not their intention.  Maybe she did not read the fine print, but the U.S. Coast Guard is there to guard the coast and possibly stop drug trafficking.

A message to Secretary Norm.  The Coast Guard is not your personal secretary or your private security force.  There is an elite American armed forces that reports to President Trump and protects American interests at home and abroad.

Basically what Secretary Norm wants is to contribute to Noems round up.  She can sod that on her own time.  But the Coast Guard's job is to guard the coast, not be Noem's personal rent a cops.  As always, comments are accepted.

Noem Misuses National Guard
Image: Kristi Noem
Spectrum Local News
January 14, 2026

Source: Bassyoni. "Noems Use of Coast Guard Resources Strains Military Branch Relations." El Bald.co,m Washington, DC: Tuesday, February 17, 2026. https://www.el-balad.com/6854017

REVERNED JESSE JACKSON DIES

REVEREND JESSE JACKSON DIES

By: Derek Varsalona

Civil Rights Activist Rev. Jesse Jackson died yesterday at the age of 84.  A Baptist minister and civil rights icon will leave a huge emptiness in many hearts today.

Reverend Jesse Jackson was the founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition.  Some people would describe the man as a racist, but I do not think that he was a racist.  Reverend Jackson was a Civil Rights icon of the modern era.  But no means was he greater than Martin Luther King.

Jesse Jackson's legacy will live on.  As always, comments accepted.

Reverned Jesse Jackson

Source: Char Adams. " Reverend Jesse Jackson, A Civil Rights Icon Dies at 84." NBCNews.com Washington, DC: Tuesday, February 17, 2026.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rev-jesse-jackson-civil-rights-activist-dies-rcna42408