FOLLOW THE MONEY
There are LOADS of “old adages” and “Old quotes” about money… I chose the “follow the money” Watergate quote because I didn’t want to have the word BULLSHEET in the title of the Rant!!
MONEY TALKS, BULLSH*T WALKS
Many woke Universities ignored rules and statutes and suffered no consequences for YEARS .. Much of that because the warped policies and ideals they pursued were shared by politicians in power, the media, and wealthy donors .. The anti-jewish demonstrations where Jewish students were denied access to classes and buildings (after paying tuition) from last year is a glaring example.
Columbia University, “Got the picture” a few weeks ago when they called Trump’s bluff.. and he had $400 million that Columbia was expecting CANCELLED.
It’s the University of Pennsylvania’s turn
UPENN took roughly $1 billion in federal funds in 2024
(Yeah.. I know.. WHY?? They have a $22 Billion dollar endowment. I am NOT claiming they should cut ALL Federal funding.. The Cancer Research.. Medicare to their Penn Health.. Sure.. But, why are OUR tax dollars going to scholarships for students? UPENN can let the students come for FREE !!! They have $22 BILLION !!!) … Sorry… where was I.. Oh yeah ..
The Trump administration is freezing $175 million in taxpayer funding to the University of Pennsylvania for defying the president’s executive action and continuing to let transgender athletes compete in women’s sports.
GOOD!! .. I hope it works and they end this silly rule.. This is a subject that 80% of America agrees on.. (and that was a NY Times Poll) … This craziness has to end.. and while we’re at it..
Any University with over $1 Billion in endowment should be BARRED from getting Federal Aid for their students… or be stripped of their “Non-Profit” status..
and..
GEORGETOWN:
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national in the US on a student visa, was arrested at his home in Rosslyn, Virginia, by masked agents from the Department of Homeland Security for “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media”
A DHS spokesperson claimed the Georgetown student had “close connections” to a senior adviser to Hamas which Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined “rendered him deportable” under the Immigration and Nationality Act on March 15.
Suri was told his student visa had been revoked. He is married to a US resident .. But, I don’t think that matters ..
Consequences for actions .. Hmmm.. Is that really coming back??
and…
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Let’s Make a DEAL !!!
The DRC government has been under attack by powerful rebels from Rwanda. He has an offer for Trump. The DRC is LOADED with minerals needed in current tech.. Lithium, Cobalt, Copper..
Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, offered mining opportunities for the U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund in exchange for military help to help his army defeat M23 (the Rwandan rebels)..
Hmmm… Trump LOVES a deal … and those minerals are VALUABLE .. (Psst .. President Felix? ..A little advice.. Call the M23 guys terrorists instead of rebels.. Trump REALLY hates terrorists!!)
and…
NATIONAL INJUNCTIONS: National injunctions by district court judges—orders that block federal policies nationwide, not just for the parties in a case—have surged over the past 20 years .. They are NOT supposed to happen except in extreme circumstances.
The Supreme Court is VERY against the idea of a District Court issuing nationwide rulings.. yet.. the underling judges keep doing it..
Why? .. ONE answer is the political climate. The “opposition” is quick to go to court when they don’t like something in Washington. (The “right” against Biden’s Student Loan forgiveness.. Vaccine mandates..and the left against anything “Trump” ) ..
The different District Courts have different political leanings (Sorry, Chief Justice Roberts.. the data show they do) .. So, “Forum Shopping” has become a bigger “Thing” (Meaning.. if you want a left wing ruling.. go to the Ninth Circuit to files your case) .
Here are some stats … GW Bush had District Courts issue 6 National Injunctions against his policies.. 3 were by Democrat Appointed judges.. Obama 12 with 7 being from Republican appointed judges .. Trump? 64 with 59 being by the Democrat Judges.. Biden a perfect 14 for 14 .. All by Republican appointed judges .. Trump 2025? 14 already.. which if extrapolated over a full term would be 352 (obviously, not likely) .. 13 of them by Democrat appointed judges..
This is obviously a problem .. and the SCOTUS knows it .. I will predict that you will see the SCOTUS take up some, if not many, cases they would not otherwise agree to take just to make a point to the District Courts that they have overstepped their authority..
Activists judges.. on EITHER side.. are NOT good for America..
and..
IN DA SWAMP:
President Trump is set to sign an Executive Order to shut the Department of Education and turn Education back to the states, towns, and parents. .. There is NO arguing that our Department of Education has been a failure. Since its founding in 1980, test grades have gone nothing but down ..
There IS a question of how far Trump can actually go .. The DOE was created by an act of Congress so it has to be dissolved by an act of Congress… Which.. given the amount of money the Teachers Union’s give politicians.. is NOT likely.. (Isn’t that sickening? The nation’s children are getting screwed and the elected representatives won’t do anything about it) ..
Trump’s options are to trim programs and send the money to states .. or.. to Veto any budget bill that doesn’t include a shutdown of the DOE.
SPORTS:
GOLF: PGA TOUR: The Valspar: Play starts today .. Tommy Fleetwood still the favorite .. The slightly chubby Neal Shipley debuts his new ball marker labeled, “Body by Waffle House” .. and I know who I am routing for this week .. Andre Chi..
Andre Chi took up in high school and loved it .. He just wasn’t great. Played Division 3 golf badly .. but by the time he was a Senior he won a D3 college championship .. Got a job as an Assistant Pro at a golf club.. Kept working on his game.. Kept playing.. and Chi qualified Monday to play in the Valspar..
and…
NCAA: BIG DANCE !.. Get your Brackets in… Ya got a few hours until tip off !!
and..
MLB: The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series on Wednesday, winning 6-3 in the Tokyo Dome. .. The rest of the teams are still doing Spring Training..
CELEBRIDIOTS:
Ted Lasso Fans .. There WILL be a Season 4! .. Not a lot of details .. and I heard a rumor he’s gonna coach a woman’s team… I dunno.. We’ll see ..
and..
The coroner’s report for Jeff Baena (the producer/former husband of actress Aubrey Plaza .. HERE.. ) is out.. along with some “news” that wasn’t published before .. namely .. Aubrey moved out 4 months before his suicide .. She moved to NY .. He was found dead by his dog walker who came at her normal time in the morning…. I dunno .. that almost makes it WORSE for Aubrey.. I mean.. they were separated.. but… Geez..
and..
The Grand Ole Opry Turns 100 .. and Carrie Underwood.. HERE.. paid tribute to Randy Travis (who inducted her 17 years ago) at the celebration and drove the crowd to tears .. HERE…
FUN FACT: The Grand Ole Opry isn’t a place .. Its a radio show .. A group that has been putting on a radio show every week since 1927 .. For much of that time, from the Ryland Theater in Nashville .. But, now at a dedicated little theme-park setting outside of town by a mall .. It’s the longest running radio show in history..
The Grand Ole Opry's original home is the RYMAN AUDITORIUM not the Ryland Theatre...FYI