Extra, Extra
She Shed: Another day, another top general squeezed out at the Pentagon. And, in this case, Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia is being referred for criminal prosecution because of possible leaks. General ousted by Hegseth referred for possible criminal prosecution, officials say. My first reaction to this story was that the administration probably wanted Sylvia out because his last name sounds female-ish. As per usual, the reality is more ridiculous than any joke you could come up with. “When asked by a reporter Thursday what proof the administration has that the general leaked classified information, President Donald Trump appeared unaware that Sylvia is a man. ‘She’s going to have big problems,’ he said. ‘Long-term problems.'” Plus, Hegseth Fires Top General After Laura Loomer Targets Him. From the party of strong defense to the party of Laura Loomer in the blink of an eye…
+ Jump to Conclusions: Why would Hegseth be so concerned about leaks? Because the truth sucks. A Sailor Jumped From the U.S.S. Lincoln. The Navy Punished Him.
+ The Dan Plan: The faux outrage about the Alaska Dan Sullivan(s) controversy is leading to some very real legal moves. “But there’s a long history of political operatives from both parties deploying the tactic — and largely getting away with it. ‘It’s a time-honored tradition,’ said Thomas Kahn, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. ‘It’s not a good practice,’ Kahn added, but ‘if trying to confuse voters was a crime, then every politician would be in jail.'” Three Bob Fergusons and two JFKs: A brief history of same-name ballot shenanigans.
+ Infrared Light Brigade: “All the research is driven by mounting concerns over the long-term brain health of contact-sport athletes. A study published on Wednesday used a statistical model to estimate that three in four former National Football League players who died between 2008 and 2023 most likely had signs of C.T.E. in their brains at death.” Can Scientists Make Football Safer? “A college football team in Utah is donning some curious caps this season. As part of their regular recovery routine, many Brigham Young University players are wearing headsets that shine near-infrared light onto their scalps — and up their noses.”
+ Oh Captain, My Captain: “Patrick Stewart, who overcame a bleak childhood in England’s coal-mining country to find acclaim as a Shakespearean actor before making an unlikely career pivot in middle age that would bring him his greatest fame, playing a noble starship captain on the TV series ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation,’ died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86.”
+ Glazed Over: The Atlantic (Gift Article): Just Noting That Your Candy Corn Is Made of Bug Secretions. And hating Candy Corn isn’t enough to avoid this. It’s all about something called confectioner’s glaze.
+ Reef Madness: A ship that was once celebrated as “the fastest passenger liner in the world, is scheduled to be sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in November, creating what will be the world’s largest artificial reef.” The name of the ship: The SS United States. (Sometimes, the metaphors just sink themselves…)
