July 15, 2026

RESHAPING THE MIDDLE EAST, THE MAGA WAY:

More:

Behind the phrase: Chevron negotiating to take over oilfield assets previously run by Russia’s Lukoil, HKN Energy targeting 140,000 barrels a day at the Hamrin field, and Halliburton managing the Bin Omar and Sinbad fields in the south.

The stated reason: diversify away from Hormuz risk and away from Chinese and Russian dominance in Iraqi energy, with new pipeline routes planned through Turkey to the Mediterranean.

This is the American energy leverage thesis playing out in crude and infrastructure now, not just gas.

The spice oil must flow.

Posted at 10:24 am by Stephen Green

COLORADO IS ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST STATES IN THE UNION: Commission examines Colorado’s runaway health care spending.

The most recent Commission meeting raised questions about the government’s priorities in addressing Medicaid and the state budget.

A recurring theme of discussion —nothing new, yet one that actually exacerbates the very problem the Commission is attempting to address — is the idea that the health care funding deficit could be solved by Colorado improving its ability to draw down federal dollars.

However, as previously explained, the system of drawing down more federal matching money for health care creates a self-perpetuating loop of increasing costs in pursuit of increased federal funding.

If the Commission’s focus is on increasing federal funding, it suggests that the exorbitant cost increases will continue.

During witness testimony, it was claimed that Colorado is the number one destination for Americans with disabilities in the country, and that is often because of how quickly they can access state benefits.

While many progressive legislators are sure to feel proud of the ease and speed of providing benefits to new residents, what they may miss is how this drives unsustainable spending and potential abuse.

Legislators must reconcile their desire to offer everything to anyone with the reality of the state’s fiscal situation.

That sure looks like a recipe for fraud.

I’d also add that while Colorado still ranks in the top tier for overall health, we’ve dropped from around #5–#8 ten years ago to #12 today.

Posted at 9:38 am by Stephen Green

LEFTISM AS A MENTAL ILLNESS, EXHIBIT 1,000,006:

Posted at 9:22 am by Stephen Green

KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEFING: Gavin Newsom Really Doesn’t Want to Be President. “California has suffered so much under Newsom’s rule because no politician in America embraced the opportunity to become a tyrant during the pandemic like he did. Once he got a taste for it, he never let up. The supermajority Democrats in Sacramento are merely puppets who do his bidding.”

Posted at 9:07 am by Stephen Green

21ST CENTURY HEADLINES: Frontier joins airlines betting on Starlink to lure travelers.

Airlines are increasingly turning to ⁠premium amenities to differentiate themselves from competitors. Frontier’s ​Starlink rollout follows the airline’s introduction of first-class seating ​and loyalty program changes aimed at winning over higher spenders.

“We’re continuing to invest in the products and services that matter most ​to our customers,” Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Dempsey said ​in a statement.

The carrier did not disclose the terms of the ‌deal. ⁠Installing Starlink can require a substantial investment, running into the hundreds of millions of dollars for large fleets.

Frontier is among five Indigo Partners portfolio airlines that expect to ​install Starlink on ​more than ⁠1,000 aircraft.

Inflight wifi is almost base-level service now — I just wish airlines would do more to speed up the login and purchase process.

Posted at 8:36 am by Stephen Green

THE AUTHORS OF THESE EVIL IDEAS GENERALLY PROSPER EVEN AFTER BEING PROVED WRONG:

Posted at 8:36 am by Glenn Reynolds

HMM:

We’ll learn more tomorrow night.

Posted at 8:20 am by Stephen Green

WHEN YOU’RE A REPUBLICAN WHO’S GONE TOO FAR LEFT FOR HAKEEM JEFFRIES:

Posted at 7:49 am by Stephen Green

LATE, BUT WELCOME: Defense industry’s major players gather in Pennsylvania as US weapon stockpiles hit new low.

President Trump himself will join a roundtable Wednesday as part of the two-day Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, hosted by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.).

Keystone State companies produce thousands of parts along the US military’s supply chain, playing vital roles in producing ships, vehicles and weapons, according to a new report produced by logistics firm Exiger and shared exclusively with The Post Tuesday.

Pennsylvania-based defense organizations supply 113,000 parts, employ 190,000 people, and have received more than $263 billion in Department of War funding over the past two decades, the seventh-most among the 50 states.

Firms like Philadelphia-based Rhoads Industries and Howmet Aerospace in Pittsburgh produce a “substantial number of components that cannot be readily replaced,” the report found, adding that some 2,000 weapon systems rely on parts manufactured in Pennsylvania.

“Our report gives leaders convening at the US Army War College deep visibility into the Commonwealth’s supply chain and into the role it plays in the larger defense industrial base,” said Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels.

It was clear — at least to anyone who pays much attention to history — even before the full-scale Russo-Ukraine War, that the West simply didn’t stockpile enough munitions. The start of that war made it undeniable.

That was four and a half years ago, and we’ve only started coming out of denial.

Posted at 7:34 am by Stephen Green

NUKE IT FROM ORBIT, IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE: Killing Woke At West Point. “Like a cancer, the acceptance of both military personnel and civilian academics that are antithetical to ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ have infiltrated the Academy.”

Posted at 7:30 am by Glenn Reynolds

MUSK HAD TO DELIVER A PRODUCT, NEWSOM HAD TO WET EVERYBODY’S BEAKS:

Posted at 7:18 am by Stephen Green

DISPATCHES FROM THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE:

Posted at 7:14 am by Ed Driscoll