PERSPECTIVE:

More:

There’s still supposed to one American on the ground somewhere, and I’m sure he’d appreciate thoughts and prayers for a quick rescue.

IRAN STRIKES: Two Kharg Island Videos.

Something a little different than the usual Iran roundup: Two videos about Kharg Island, one an after-action report on a U.S. attack run, the other a description of what makes taking the island difficult.

The caveat for the after-action video, a recreation of an actual U.S. attack run, is that it’s done a breathless, overly-dramatic fashion, like something from Most Shocking. But the detailed, blow-by-blow account suggests it was taken from actual after-action reports.

Informative stuff. The second one is from Simon Whistler, perhaps better known as “the Megaprojects guy.” I don’t watch many video podcasts, but I do try to stay up to date with his.

WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR?

Nichols used to teach at the Naval War College and probably (?) knows better.

What a hack.

REAGAN ON GOOD FRIDAY: Former President Ronald Reagan was from the generation of American men who didn’t often speak publicly about their Christian faith. That was a private matter for them. But Reagan did after becoming the nation’s Chief Executive occasionally did speak of his faith. Here’s what he said on one Good Friday like today.

CLIPPY SAYS, “I SEE YOU’RE TRYING TO FLY PAST THE MOON…”

“This spacecraft survived hydrogen leaks, helium leaks, a faulty heat shield, and a broken toilet. Outlook broke anyway. The toilet actually got fixed faster.”

“SO YOU’RE SAYING YOU’LL MISS HER?”

Heh. Flashback to the infamous 2018 train wreck “interview” that instantly made Peterson a superstar by easily swatting back all of Newman’s hectoring interviewing techniques: Jordan Peterson, Hero. Clinical psychologist triumphs over ideologically-driven journalistic idiocy.

As Rod Dreher wrote at the time, “The interview ought to be shown in journalism classes as an example of what happens when a journalist believes that ideological ardor substitutes for reason, and that contempt for her interview subject should rightly override professionalism.”

Similarly, the London Spectator responded, “If I was Channel 4 I would take it down. If I was Cathy Newman I would sue or seek a super-injunction. I don’t think I have ever witnessed an interview that is more catastrophic for the interviewer.” In response, Newman initially tried to shrug off the debacle, before descending full-on into victimhood:

UPDATE:

MATTHEW CONTINETTI: Set Phasers to ‘Reboot.’

Andy Weir got in trouble for speaking the truth. His apology made things worse.

Mr. Weir is the author of two bestselling science-fiction epics adapted into blockbuster films: “The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary.” Last month, while promoting the movie version of “Project Hail Mary,” he appeared on the “Critical Drinker” podcast and told the story of his failed pitch for a “Star Trek” series.

For the last decade, “Star Trek” has been overseen by producer Alex Kurtzman, who has emptied this famous intellectual property of its treasure. Mr. Weir conceded that he’s enjoyed one or two of Mr. Kurtzman’s shows, then added, “I don’t like a lot of the new Trek.” By implication, Mr. Weir meant such series as “Star Trek: Discovery”; “Star Trek: Picard”; “Star Trek: Prodigy”; “Star Trek: Section 31”; and “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.” Mr. Kurtzman “is a really nice guy,” Mr. Weir continued. “But at the same, those shows are s—.”

Red alert!

Mr. Weir’s mistake wasn’t his harsh judgment. It was his retreat—and his failure to explain why current “Star Trek” fails.

Mr. Kurtzman’s defenders took Mr. Weir’s comments as a conservative attack on diversity, inclusion and progressive politics—all hallmarks of modern “Star Trek.” To author Don Winslow, Mr. Weir was a traitor to his class. “I’m a real fan,” Mr. Winslow wrote on X. “But when you have your moment don’t use it to crap on other writers’ work. For the record, Alex Kurtzman is a visionary writer+creator+producer & you owe him an apology . . . writer to writer.”

Hard disagree. Where is it written that a writer can’t criticize another writer’s work?

Never bend the knee — particularly to lefties like Kurtzman who murdered and skin-suited Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr. Who, and more.

TELL ME YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HEROINES AND THEIR FANS WITHOUT TELLING ME YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HEROINES AND THEIR FANS:

MAYBE IT’S TIME TO UPDATE YOUR SHOPWORN 1968 TALKING POINTS:

UPDATE (FROM GLENN): The combat arms are disproportionately white, male, and from the South.

NICE WORK HERE BY FLOTUS: 6 Ukrainian Children to Return From Russia, Reunite With Families.

A seventh Ukrainian child will also be returned to their family later this month, the first lady’s office said in a statement.

Ukraine says close to 20,000 children have been illegally sent to Russia and Belarus, where they are sometimes subject to military training and forced to fight against their own country’s troops.

Melania Trump wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin in August about the plight of Ukrainian children separated from their families by war. It was the fourth time the U.S. first lady had expedited such a return, the White House said.

“Reunifying children with their loved ones in this region of the world remains one of the most important global issues today. I am encouraged that both sides remain committed to ongoing cooperation, raising the safety and well-being of children above this abhorrent war,” the statement said.

You’d never hear the end of this story if it involved DOCTOR Jill Biden or Michelle Obama, but our press is happy to largely ignore the loveliest First Lady — inside and out — in my lifetime.

2028 PREVIEW:

He’s running.

THE COUNTRY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH CRAZY RICH WHITE LADIES:

HMM: The case for Trump’s tariffs looks strong a year on from ‘liberation day.’

The manufacturing sector began to respond as well. Demand for capital equipment grew faster after “liberation day” than in 2024, and faster still over the past three months. Industrial output, which had declined over the past decade and fell 0.3 per cent in 2024, has posted a 1.6 per cent gain. Surveys of purchasing managers by the Institute for Supply Management and S&P Global have found increasing optimism among manufacturers. Anna Wong, chief US economist for Bloomberg, confirmed the overwhelmingly positive data last week, noting that it is “corroborated by a very strong signal from the latest earning transcripts” and also that “tariffs probably played a role”.

To deny that reality, opponents of tariffs have seized on the decline in manufacturing employment as the metric that matters and proof that the project is failing. But they are doubly wrong: First, the trend has in fact improved. As compared to the sector’s 167,000 jobs lost in the 11 months prior to “liberation day”, losses in the comparable period since have been only 93,000.

Second, employment is a lagging indicator of re-industrialisation, a process that will take years.

Reshoring was never going to be instantaneous or pain-free, as Trump himself said.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SELL ME, I’M ALREADY IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING THE UN: