MUST-READ LONG-FORM PIECE FROM DATA REPUBLICAN: The Shadow Cabinet of Soros. “Inside the Soros-Funded Nonprofit That Hand-Picked Biden’s National Security Team, Then Pretended to Dissolve.”

I’m just getting into this one, but can already tell you’ll want to block off enough time to do it justice.

BOTTOM STORY OF THE DAY: Talarico Staffers Confirm His Moderation Is Fake. “He [Talarico] probably said that to try to make himself appear more centrist. He’s very liberaL… but we’ve got to get elected, so we can do something.”

PRO TIP: If you’re waling on someone with a stout stick like this, jab it like a spear, don’t swing it. What this guy is doing will just leave some bruises. Jabbing would break ribs, and it’s harder to block.

21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: More Evidence Emerges That Dating Is Becoming a Bleak, AI-Powered Office Job. “The New York Times story about San Francisco’s singles scene is worth reading in full—particularly the sections about people making startup-style pitch decks for their friends at singles events, and about the tech entrepreneurs who can barely squeeze dating into their self-imposed ceaseless workdays.”

AND ANOTHER ONE:

PREPPING: Being Prepared is a Choice. So is Choosing Not to Be. “Most of us can probably get on board with the idea that our military bases, areas critical to our national security, should indeed be self-sufficient enough that they won’t collapse or become paralyzed by either cyber or kinetic attacks on the power grid, etc. In fact, we might ask, why is this even a question? Why aren’t all military bases already up to this standard? You can answer those two previous questions for yourself. However, the primary question we should all be asking is this; if the government/military is taking active steps to protect its people and places from cyber attacks, terrorism, etc. should we be concerned?”

NEWS YOU CAN USE? McHaggis? Court Green Lights Lawsuit Alleging that the McRib Contains Non-Rib Meat. “Many were excited when McDonald’s recently announced, ‘The McRib is back.’ The question is whether it is really back or really a McRib. In an interesting decision out of Chicago, U.S. District Judge April Perry ruled that McDonald’s must go to trial on a class action lawsuit alleging that the popular McRib sandwich is made with non-rib meat. The lawsuit alleges that McDonald’s merely shapes the meat to look like ribs but uses shoulder, heart, tripe, or stomach — making it sound more like McHaggis. McDonald’s vehemently denies the accusation and stands by its representation that the only ingredients are ‘pork, water, salt, dextrose, and rosemary extract.’ The class action was filed under an array of tort, fraud, and misrepresentation theories. In the end, however, the impact on McDonald’s could have the same business impact that the ‘pink slime’ stories had on Taco Bell.”

HE SEEMS NICE: