It’s caught up with me again: NEWS OVERLOAD.

So I’m giving my brain and my psyche a rest for the remainder of the day, while I catch up on a few mind-numbing household chores. I know things are tough when I find myself actually looking forward to doing laundry.

So, barring something huge — such as Russia withdrawing its troops from Ukraine, or the Taliban in Afghanistan deciding to embrace a “woke” philosophy — I’m out of here.

‘Til tomorrow, then.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/27/26

The Buddha said:

“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?”

– Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni

Indeed.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/27/26

How do you solve a problem like Minneapolis?

Well, if you’re smart, you will never have created the problem by sending in your goon squad in the first place. But, since it’s obviously too late for shoulda-woulda-coulda in this case, what you do in order to squirm out of a tight spot is what you always do when you’ve screwed up: find a fall-guy (or several) to take the blame for you.

And it seems that the first person to be thrown under the bus in this case is Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino.

Not that he doesn’t deserve it. Of course, he’ll tell you he was “just following orders” (where have we heard that before?). But in the wake of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens — one trying to leave the scene and the other attempting to help a woman who had been knocked down by ICE agents — even Bovino had to realize that things were out of control.

And so on Monday — when it was clear that the public and the federal courts weren’t buying the administration’s lies, and the problem wasn’t going to go away of its own accord — Trump did one of his whiplash-worthy U-turns: he recalled Bovino from Minneapolis, sent in his Border “Czar” Tom Homan, said he would withdraw some of the troops from the city, and had a “very good call” with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, thereafter posting on social media:

“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession. The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future.” [Julia Manchester, The Hill, January 26, 2026.]

I’d be willing to bet that the Governor’s “request” was more of a demand that Trump get his hit squad out of Walz’s state, whereas Trump will gaslight it as a victory — perhaps even the ninth “war” he’s managed to settle in his second term. But whatever works to end the madness . . .

Then word came out yesterday evening that Gregory Bovino had not only been pulled out of Minnesota; he has been removed from his role as Border Patrol “commander at large,” and will be returning to his former job in California — where, according to a DHS official and “two people with knowledge” of the matter, he is expected to retire soon. [Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, January 26, 2026.]

Score one under the bus.

By the way, did Trump offer to bring back Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti? Oh, that’s right . . . he can’t. They’re still dead.

*. *. *

So now it’s damage control time, wherein someone is sacrificed on the Altar of Trump. If I had been allowed to make the choice, I know who it would have been: the ICE Queen herself.

Although, if some Democrats in Congress have their way, she may already be on her way out the door. One can only hope.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/27/26

I have just been informed by a sharp-eyed reader that I goofed.

In an earlier post today — “The Inevitable Collapse of Empires” — I included a photo of the French Emperor Napoleon and erroneously described him as the last Roman Emperor, Flavius Romulus Augustulus.

Here, in the interest of accuracy, is the real Romulus Augustulus, or the best available representation of him . . . in which, interestingly, his name is written as “Augustus.”

So thankful for readers like Jillian who keep me on the straight and narrow!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/26/26

Ordinarily, a nationwide snowstorm of historic proportions — cancelling flights, closing schools, causing power outages, highway accidents, and even a number of deaths — would be enough to deal with.

But in the Oval Office, it’s doubtful that the focus is on the weekend’s weather woes. Donald Trump is buried under a bigger load of problems today than that pile of snow outside his front door.

Judging from the morning news, things are not going his way. Where to begin?

> Well, on the domestic front, there are the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite the frigid weather, the political climate there is heated to the point of erupting, following the murders of two innocent citizens by ICE agents and the attempted cover-up by the government. It has reached the point where Trump has found it necessary to dispatch his so-called “Border Czar,” Tom Homan, to try to find a way out of the mess his troops have created. And Trump is said to be considering reducing the number of ICE agents on site, though that hasn’t been confirmed.

The White House rhetoric, as usual, is anything but helpful. Trump posted on Truth Social this morning:

“I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.” [Kit Maher and Kristen Holmes, CNN, January 26, 2026.]

So far, so good. But then he mentioned an investigation he has launched into alleged fraud in Minnesota, which he claims “is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.” And, just for kicks, he threw in a comment that the Justice Department and Congress are “looking at” Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, saying that “Time will tell all.” [Id.] (Surely it is just a coincidence that Omar happens to be a naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia . . . right?)

Then that font of all White House wisdom, Karoline Leavitt, had to add her two cents’ worth of venom:

“Tom Homan will be managing ICE operations on the ground in Minnesota and coordinating with others on the ongoing fraud investigations” . . . adding in a post on social media that Homan’s mission will be “to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” [Id.]

Of course. “Illegal aliens” like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

*. *. *

Then there are the foreign entanglements.

> NATO and the European Union: I’m sure Trump is wishing he could turn the clock back just one week, when he would still have been able to cancel his trip to Davos . . . or at least to re-think that disastrous hour-long diatribe in which he insulted and demeaned every single ally he could think of. Because he crossed so many red lines that day, that now our friends are pushing back. They’ve had enough. The UK, France, Germany and Italy have flatly refused to join his “Board of Peace,” and have spoken out against his belittling remarks. Even his threats of increased tariffs are being met with talk of retaliatory measures that would cause total chaos to the U.S. economy.

And even the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, said on Sunday that she had had “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela. Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and our internal conflicts. This Republic has paid a very high price for having to confront the consequences of fascism and extremism in our country.” [Laura Sharman, CNN, January 26, 2026.]

Trump thought that invading Venezuela, kidnapping President Maduro and his wife, and decreeing that he would “run” the country until a successor could be chosen would be enough to frighten Rodriguez into submission. And for the past few weeks, she has been trying to balance between leading her nation and keeping Trump happy. But even she is growing sick of his bullying.

> Iran has similarly refused to knuckle under to Trump’s threats, continuing its massacre of anti-government protesters, with one estimate of those killed being as high as 30,000 since December.

> China, while not directly issuing threats, is in the midst of a military purge that could bode ill for the U.S. and a number of other countries, including Taiwan, as President Xi Jinping takes complete control of the country’s military.

> And Greenland . . . well, bless their 55,000 souls, they have simply stood up and said “NO!” They love their “piece of ice,” and they’re not giving it up to anyone — and least of all to Donald Trump.

*. *. *

Add to all of that the fact that even some of his most loyal Republican leaders are beginning to realize that it’s time to face reality and think about the future of the country they took an oath to protect and defend — not to mention their own political futures — and you’ve got a picture of a very, very worried man.

As well he should be.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/26/26

Once again I turn to the words of German-born Holocaust survivor and naturalized-American writer Hannah Arendt for words of wisdom drawn from her own lived experience, to warn us of what the future will bring down upon us if we — like so many in 1930s Europe — fail to heed the warning signs.

This is what the young woman who fled Nazi Germany had to say:

We are seeing it now — not only in the halls of government, but in the streets of some of our finest, most peaceful cities: Minneapolis, St. Paul, and two Portlands on opposite coasts. The vicious, barbaric, senseless cruelty, covered up by lies designed to instill in us an acceptance of such behavior as “normal.” And — like the violence portrayed in movies and TV shows — to immunize us against its effects; to kill the natural human tendency toward empathy for the victims as long as it doesn’t touch our family.

Hannah Arendt witnessed it firsthand, and had the foresight and the courage to speak out against it. We need to listen to her, before it is too late.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/26/26

> The Roman Empire endured for 500 years.

> The Ottoman Empire lasted for six centuries, from the 14th to the early 20th.

> The British Empire continued to expand from its beginning in the late 16th century through the 19th, only to begin contracting in the 20th century following two economically-devastating world wars and the drive for independence by many of its territories.

> And now the United States — conceived and built on the democratic principles of peace and individual liberty — will be lucky to make it to its 250th birthday in July because of the expansionist ambitions of a man who would be Emperor at any cost.

While the historic details are vastly different, each empire has fallen for one simple, basic reason: the innate desire of human beings for political autonomy and personal freedom, and their refusal to continue living under oppressive regimes.

No one lives, or rules, forever. From Rome’s Emperor Augustus, to the Ottoman Empire’s Osman I, to England’s “Mad” King George III — each had his day of glory. And each passed into memory along with his empire. So why would anyone be foolish enough to emulate those long-ago autocrats who set their nations on the path to inevitable doom?

A psychiatrist would be far better qualified than I to analyze the character flaws that drive such men. But we, the people, have the advantage today of historic perspective, and the opportunity to prevent it from happening again.

The question is: Do we have the courage?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/26/26

When the first statements were issued following the Ukraine-U.S.-Russia meetings in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday, they sounded more optimistic than usual.

U.S. officials said that the talks had “surpassed expectations,” and that the mood in the room was “very upbeat, very positive, very constructive.” [Jessie Yeung, et al., CNN, January 24, 2026.]

One official said that, while a final deal was still not guaranteed, “Getting to this place was a really big step,” and that the parties were working creatively toward solutions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky added:

“. . . a lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive. . . . The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war. All sides agreed to report back in their capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and to coordinate further steps with their leaders. Provided there is readiness to move forward — and Ukraine is ready — further meetings will take place, potentially as early as next week.” [Id.]

A further comment from a U.S. official was in agreement:

“De-escalation is important. Yes, territory is important, as well, but we’ve eliminated lots of things that the parties couldn’t agree on before Geneva. It’s important for us to keep up the momentum.” [Id.]

Then word came from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who told state news agency TASS that Moscow wants to develop a plan that “fully corresponds to the fundamental understandings” reached between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska last August. [Id.]

But since we don’t really know what “understandings” were reached between the two leaders in Alaska — other than a mutual desire for improved trade relations — I find that comment worrisome.

The TASS report, citing another source, also said that the parties at Abu Dhabi had discussed “buffer zones and various control mechanisms,” but that the issue of territories remains difficult. [Id.]

And there’s the crux of the problem: that ever-present, all-important, seemingly insurmountable issue of the Donbas region. Putin insists that Russia must have it; Zelensky refuses to be bullied into giving away 20 percent of his country’s territory.

So, for all of the optimism as to the issues that may have been resolved, the most contentious one remains.

The parties have agreed to resume talks on February 1st, again in Abu Dhabi. In the meantime — even during the time the talks were underway — the shelling of Ukraine has continued in the midst of a relentlessly bitter winter.

*. *. *

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman was stating the obvious when he said during the American Civil War that “War is hell.” I doubt anyone in Ukraine would disagree with him.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/25/26

We all know who Anne Frank was: the young Jewish-German girl who spent the last two years of her short life hidden with her family in a secret room in her father’s office in Amsterdam — only to be discovered and incarcerated by the Nazi regime at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where she died just two months before the end of World War II.

And most of us have heard of the diaries she kept during those two years — diaries rescued by employees of her father’s firm, and later published as a book by her father, Otto Frank, who miraculously survived the war.

Her words belie her youth and inexperience; her undaunted spirit inspires us still. And this one sentence particularly speaks to me in today’s atmosphere of political uncertainty:

“People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn’t stop you from having your own opinion.”

– Anne Frank, “The Diary of a Young Girl”

That teen-aged girl, who was forced to keep silent for fear of discovery yet found release in her writing, is a compelling reminder that the most dangerous thing we can do in difficult times is to surrender our opinions and our freedom of expression.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/25/26

They are everywhere, not just in Vladimir Putin’s archipelago of prison camps, but held by brutal regimes around the world for purely political reasons. And so this weekly column is being renamed.

Welcome to “The World’s Hostages – Bring Them Home.”

Sadly, this change was inspired by news of yet another American, 64-year-old Dennis Coyle of Colorado, who has spent the last year in a basement room in Afghanistan, under the watchful eye of the Taliban.

For nearly 20 years he had been conducting academic research and assisting the Afghan community, when he was forcibly taken from his apartment in January of 2025 by Taliban forces. It was nine months before his family in the United States learned that he was alive.

From the occasional phone calls that he is permitted to make, his mother and three sisters have grown increasingly concerned for his mental health due to his prolonged isolation. In the words of one of his sisters, Molly Long:

“With each phone call that we get from him, we get more and more desperate to get him home.” [Damita Menezes, Chris Cuomo, News Nation, January 15, 2026.]

He has been declared by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained, which prioritizes official efforts for his release. Ms. Long said that the family has been assured by administration officials, including Dr. Sebastian Gorka and U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler, that Coyle’s release is a top priority.

But . . .

Why, then, during an interview with News Nation on January 21st, did Donald Trump not even know who Dennis Coyle is?

When host Katie Pavlich spoke about Trump’s efforts on behalf of various hostages, and asked about a U.S. citizen who was reportedly being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, he said:

“Well, if you give me the name” . . . despite the fact that she had just told him. She repeated, “Dennis Coyle,” and he responded, “Well, if you give me some information, I’ll take care of that.” [Edith Olmsted, The New Republic, January 21, 2026.]

The exchange continued:

Pavlich: “I know that your administration is working on it . . .”

Trump: “I know they are. But I could do some things on the internet that are pretty impactful.”

Pavlich then asked if Trump had a message for the Taliban about Coyle, who had been taken “for no crime,” to which he replied:

Trump: “Well, I’m not happy about them holding anybody. And especially if he’s not guilty of anything. And it sounds like— from what I’ve heard, and again I’m not that familiar with it like you are, but I will certainly take a very strong position on it.” [Id.]

Well, that will certainly be reassuring to Dennis Coyle and his family: Trump will jump onto the internet — presumably his Truth Social platform — and take a “very strong position.” Whoopee!

*. *. *

I certainly hope that the people actually negotiating on behalf of Dennis Coyle and all of the other hostages being held on specious charges are more aware of what is going on than Trump appears to be. And as a further reminder to them, here again is my list — admittedly incomplete — of their names and locations:

Victims of Greed:

The President, First Lady, and citizens of Venezuela

Europeans Under Threat:

The Nation and the People of Greenland
The people of NATO and EU member states

Prisoners of War:

The 19,500 Kidnapped Ukrainian Children
The People of Ukraine

Immigrant Detainees in Russia:

Migrants from the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Endangered Exiles:

Mikita Losik
Yulia Navalnaya
Countless Journalists and Other Dissidents

Political Prisoners:

In Afghanistan:

Dennis Coyle (American)

In Azerbaijan:

The “Azerbaijan 7”:
— Farid Mehralizada
— Ulvi Hasanli
— Sevinj Abbasova (Vagifqiai)
— Mahammad Kekalov
— Hafiz Babali
— Nargiz Absalamova
— Elnara Gasimova

In Belarus:

Andrei Chapiuk
Uladzimir Labkovich
Andrzej Poczobut
Marfa Rabkova
Valiantsin Stafanovic
Yuras Zyankovich

In Georgia:

Mzia Amaglobeli

In China:

Chenyue Mao (American)

In Russia:

The “Crimea 8”:
— Oleg Antipov
— Artyom Azatyan
— Georgy Azatyan
— Aleksandr Bylin
— Roman Solomko
— Artur Terchanyan
— Dmitry Tyazhelykh
— Vladimir Zloba

James Scott Rhys Anderson (British)
David Barnes (American)
Gordon Black (American)
Hayden Davies (British)
Antonina Favorskaya
Konstantin Gabov
Robert Gilman (American)
Stephen James Hubbard (American)
Sergey Karelin
Timur Kishukov
Vadim Kobzev
Darya Kozyreva
Artyom Kriger
Michael Travis Leake (American)
Aleksei Liptser
Grigory Melkonyants
Nika Novak
Leonid Pshenychnov (in Russian-occupied Crimea)
Nadezhda Rossinskaya (a.k.a. Nadin Geisler)
Sofiane Sehili (French)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Grigory Skvortsov
Eugene Spector (American)
Joseph Tater (American, disappeared)
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland (American)

You will not be forgotten.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/25/26