. . . and it’s all Max’s fault.

Well, it’s actually Vladimir Putin’s fault, of course. But it seems to have been his introduction of Max that finally sent the people in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and practically every corner of Russia into panic mode.

It’s most noticeable in the cities, where the last 35 years have seen Russia reborn in terms of modern conveniences. Having slept through most of the 20th century, the country was able to join the rest of the world as it entered the new millennium following the collapse of the Soviet Union. And, like a pack of starving wolves, they have devoured technology with a vengeance.

Let me paint a picture of life in Moscow as it was in 1993, when I lived there.

Although Western businesses had begun arriving, there was still a lot of catching up to be done. Computers were mostly restricted to government facilities and larger companies; home computers were virtually unheard of. There were, of course, no cell phones. In fact, there was still a long waiting list for home phones.

You couldn’t order a taxi online, because there was no online. Which meant you couldn’t order anything that way: no home deliveries, no shopping, no banking transactions. There was no GPS; in fact, there were few paper maps of the city to be had, for “security” reasons dating back to the war years . . . and only a handful of telephone directories, generally located near public pay phones that rarely worked.

I became acclimated to the city with the help of my Russian co-workers and friends. I learned to navigate the Metro (which worked exceptionally well), how to hail a taxi if I needed it, and where to find the best shops for food and other necessities. In return, I educated them in the use of such miracles as a fax machine, desktop copier, and a staple remover, which they particularly loved because it rescued their fingernails from breakage.

Life was decidedly slower. I lived on the outskirts of the city, and when I had a meeting in the city center, I relied on our hired driver to get me there. On weekends, though, I rode the Metro and walked . . . and somehow survived.

In general, life was more as I remembered it in the U.S. back in the 1950s.

But now, an entire generation of Russians has reached adulthood never having experienced life without the conveniences they take for granted. And, having joined the world’s multitudes whose cell phones are like a fifth bodily appendage, they are being told that many of the most useful and vital features of those phones will no longer be available to them.

It’s a truism that you don’t miss what you’ve never had. But imagine having all of those things taken away from you today!

As I’ve written before, Putin has been gradually shutting down mobile Internet services, blocking YouTube, WhatsApp, and others, and offering instead his new, state-supported Max app, which severely limits accessibility. Even Telegram — the most widely used messaging app by the government itself, and by families trying to communicate with their relatives fighting in Ukraine — is being blocked. Max is being forced on everyone, and is pre-installed on all new smart phones.

When asked how the Kremlin is functioning without their usual services, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We’re using land lines.” [Mike Eckel, RFE/RL, March 23, 2026.]

Back to the future.

Igor Yakovenko, a Russian sociologist, described the situation:

“A significant portion of Muscovites are accustomed to a very comfortable Internet experience, accustomed to living in cozy Telegram channels and communicating via a very convenient messenger. Now Muscovites are being kicked out of this rather comfortable environment.” [Id.]

*. *. *

The Kremlin would have the people believe these steps are necessary for their protection against recent Ukrainian “aggression” (in reality, counter-attacks), in which drones have been reaching farther and farther into Russian territory. But, while that may sound reasonable to some, the truth is that these communication interruptions were started long before Ukraine began retaliating against Russia’s assaults.

In fact, it’s all about control.

According to an article written for the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center by Russian commentator Maria Kolymchenko:

“The Kremlin is trying to make the Russian Internet into a closed ecosystem, where all the important services are controlled and accessible [to the Federal Security Service]. If there are foreign platforms that haven’t been blocked yet, it’s only because there’s no viable domestic alternative yet.” [Id.]

And as Telegram’s creator and owner, exiled Russian billionaire Pavel Durov, said in a post to X last month:

“Russia is restricting access to Telegram to force its citizens onto a state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship.” [Id.]

*. *. *

It’s standard operating procedure for dictators: In order to control the populace, you must first silence them and prevent them from organizing a resistance by cutting off their means of communication. In earlier times, it meant physically attacking and seizing the local telegraph office and railroad station.

Today it’s done without firing a single shot.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/25/26

I have just finished watching Pavel (“Pasha”) Talankin’s Academy Award-winning documentary, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.” And I can’t stop crying.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit to a certain prejudice in my judgment of this film. As my regular readers know, I have a connection with Russia . . . in fact, several connections . . . and thus will read, watch, or listen to virtually anything related to that poor, misbegotten land.

First, my DNA is 99% Russian (the other 1% is rather odd). All four of my grandparents came from the Russian Empire to the United States in 1905 — that part of old Russia that is now Ukraine. So, while my political sympathies today lie entirely with the sovereign nation and the people of Ukraine, I was taught as a child that I was of Russian descent.

Because of that background, I later undertook to immerse myself in Russian studies: the language, history, politics and culture of one of the most fascinating, enigmatic, perpetually downtrodden places on Earth.

And in the middle part of my life, I found myself putting those studies to good use when I lived and worked in Moscow in the early 1990s.

So I have an emotional attachment to the place, and especially to the people — who, despite the efforts of the Putin regime to turn them into obedient servants of the state, I found to be among the warmest, most generous, most soulful people to be found anywhere.

Which is why, as I watched Pasha Talankin’s report on the effect of Putin’s war in Ukraine on the people — and specifically the children — of Russia, my heart shattered. Because I recall all too clearly the “Young Pioneers” of the Soviet era . . . now being reconfigured as “Young Patriots,” complete with chauvinistic recitations, propaganda films, rewritten textbooks, and the too-familiar red hats and neck scarves of bygone days.

These are kids who never knew the Soviet Union; they have lived their entire lives in the “new Russia” — with all of its open communications, modern conveniences, and opportunities. And now they are being fed the same propaganda and subjected to the same form of mind control that their parents and grandparents fought so hard to vanquish.

Their teachers have been given rewritten textbooks, new curricula, and new activities with which to indoctrinate their students, beginning with the very youngest. Most of the educators hate the changes . . . with some exceptions, of course, such as one history teacher in Pasha’s own school. But they know that their only options are either to obey orders, quit their jobs, or protest and risk being arrested.

In 2023, Pasha decided to resign the position he loved rather than be complicit in Putin’s tyranny. But, as school videographer in charge of filming all of the school’s (and some of the community’s) activities, he saw an opportunity to take positive action. Despite the risks, he withdrew his resignation, and began secretly keeping unedited copies of his films, which he was able to smuggle out to a movie director in the West.

And in 2024, with people in his small town beginning to avoid him because of his anti-war stance, and a mounting suspicion that he was under surveillance, he made the agonizing decision to leave his mother, his friends, his students, and the home he loved.

He stayed long enough to celebrate his senior students’ graduation with them. Then, under the guise of a one-week vacation, with a round-trip ticket that would only be half-used, he fled Russia.

And in the West, he and his co-director, David Borenstein, took his videos and made them into a simple, honest, low-key documentary that has taken the world by storm.

*. *. *

I would love to share some screen shots of Pasha’s video with you, but to do so would undoubtedly constitute a copyright violation. All I can offer instead is my strongest recommendation that you watch it for yourself.

And prepare to be moved to tears.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/24/26

If you don’t know the answer, you should: You get a highly toxic, potentially lethal gas. (Please don’t ever do it.)

Similarly, when you mix Vladimir Putin with Viktor Orban, you end up with a highly toxic, potentially lethal pair of co-conspirators, working together against Ukraine.

One of the worst-kept secrets in Europe is that Hungary’s Prime Minister has long been one of Putin’s sycophantic puppets, often using his vote as a member of the EU to advance Russia’s interests. This has been especially obvious since the onset of the war in Ukraine.

With the rapid approach of Hungary’s elections on April 12th, and the growing unpopularity of Orban’s right-wing Fidesz Party, there has been great consternation in Russia that Orban might be on his way out the door. If that were to happen, both leaders would have much to lose.

Orban, of course, would be out of a job.

But Putin would be equally unhappy. Hungary has continued to buy most of its oil from Russia despite EU sanctions. For the landlocked country, it is the cheapest and most accessible product available. But other European nations have found new sources of energy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and it is likely that Orban’s opponent, Peter Magyar, would follow suit in conformance with the sanctions. Needless to say, the loss to Putin’s economy would be substantial, and particularly distressing when he is already experiencing economic difficulties as a result of the continuing war.

So — while staunchly denying that Russia ever interferes in the elections of other countries (pause for laughter) — Putin has launched an overt campaign on Orban’s behalf and against Magyar . . . though with limited success.

And he has another card up his sleeve.

Russia has an agent inside the EU in the person of Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who has been accused of using breaks during EU Council meetings to call Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and brief him in real time on the substance of the internal discussions: discussions that shape policy, sanctions and strategic decisions, including those directly related to Ukraine and Russia. [Ukraine News, March 21, 2026.]

Yesterday, it was revealed that the EU has taken measures to restrict Hungary’s access to confidential material through the use of smaller meeting formats, rather than full 27-member sessions in which Hungary would routinely be included. As one European diplomat advised Politico:

“Overall the less-than-loyal member states are the main reason why most of relevant European diplomacy is now happening in different smaller formats.” [Euromaidan Press, March 23, 2026.]

And the Washington Post, as part of its own investigation, was told by another European security official:

“Every single EU meeting for years has basically had Moscow behind the table.” [Id.]

Another diplomat — referring to Orban’s blocking of 90 billion Euros in loans for Ukraine at last week’s European Council — said:

“Hungary has long been Putin’s ally within the EU and continues to sabotage European security. The blocked €90 billion is simply the latest example of that pattern.” [Id.]

Not surprisingly, opposition leader Peter Magyar has labelled it “outright treason.” [Id.]

*. *. *

But as disturbing as all of this is, it gets much worse.

On Saturday, March 21st, Donald Trump reiterated his “complete and total endorsement” of Orban in the upcoming election, posting a video on X that could have been mistaken for a campaign speech on behalf of a U.S. Republican candidate for Congress. [Ellen O’Regan, Politico, March 21, 2026.]

And if that isn’t enough, JD Vance is reportedly slated to fly to Budapest in April, ahead of the election, to solidify the White House’s support. [Id.]

I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, considering that Hungary is one of only two EU member countries — the other one being Bulgaria — that have joined Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace.” One hand does indeed wash the other.

Though with Trump’s worldwide credibility and popularity ratings about as low as they can get, his endorsement might actually work against Orban.

Wouldn’t that be a hoot!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/24/26

Sometimes the most inspirational thoughts are to be found, not in the writings of the ancient philosophers, but in the works of modern authors of fiction . . . and yes, even fantasy. such as the following:

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”

– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, #1: The Fellowship of the Ring

We don’t live in Frodo Baggins’ world, which is a blessing; our world is perilous enough. But even today, Tolkien’s words ring true. And like his young protagonist, we just have to keep fighting against the dark forces until they’re defeated.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/23/26

Ivanka Trump has been quoted as saying that her father summed up her first date with Jared Kushner in 2007 as “the best deal we ever made.” [Google, AI Overview.]

I don’t know how accurate that is, but it does sound like him.

Jared Kushner was born into a wealthy New York real estate family. His grandparents were from Poland/Belarus, and had survived and escaped the Nazi holocaust of World War II. His father, Charles Kushner — a first-generation American — inherited a thriving business from his father and continued to build it into the multi-billion dollar empire it is today.

Jared entered the family business, and apparently absorbed everything his father taught him — including a few extracurricular skills that landed him (Charles) in federal prison in 2005, convicted of making illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering.

But a little family scandal, and the need for Ivanka to convert to Orthodox Judaism, apparently were outweighed by the prospect of profitable deals to be made in the future, and the young couple were married in 2009.

On December 23, 2020, shortly before leaving office at the end of his first term, Donald Trump gave Charles Kushner the biggest, bestest Chanukah gift of all, in the form of a full pardon. Since then, Charles — formerly a Democratic party donor — has shown his gratitude by donating significant amounts to Trump’s campaigns.

And in 2025, Charles Kushner was nominated by Trump, and confirmed by a close vote (51-45) in the Senate, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco.

So it isn’t at all surprising that top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and the Senate Finance Committee last week launched an investigation into Jared Kushner, accusing him of soliciting billions of dollars for his private investment fund while serving as special envoy for the U.S. Government in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia. [Sarah Ewall-Wice, The Daily Beast, March 21, 2026.]

In a letter to Kushner’s company, Affinity Partners, the legislators wrote:

“President Trump has given his son-in-law Jared Kushner an unprecedented level of control over U.S. foreign policy while remaining on the payroll of numerous foreign governments. Mr. Kushner is simultaneously being paid millions of dollars by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies while leading diplomatic negotiations with Iran and Russia.

“This corrupt arrangement is not only criminal but is endangering the lives of Americans and threatening our national security.” [Id.]

Well, why not? After all, he learned from the best . . . his own father first, and then his wife’s.

And they preach — with straight faces — about the need to overthrow other corrupt regimes?

Seriously?!!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/23/26

Having just survived another birthday, and feeling somewhat out of sorts today, I’m reminded of these words on aging:

“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it.”

– Samuel Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain

I do so hope he was wrong.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/22/26

A good man died on Friday. His name was Robert Mueller; he was an American patriot, a decorated Vietnam veteran who received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and two Marine and Navy Commendation Medals for his service and bravery. He held a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from New York University, and a Law Degree from the University of Virginia. Among other things, he served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys’ offices in San Francisco and Boston; he headed the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in Washington; and he was confirmed as the Director of the FBI on September 4, 2001 — just one week before the 9-11 attacks on the United States — and saw the country through one of the most terrifying, emotionally debilitating periods in its history, quickly shifting the Bureau’s principal focus from fighting domestic crime to combatting terrorism.

In case you haven’t already seen or heard it, this is what Donald Trump had to say when advised of the death of a great American:

“Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

Let that sink in: “Good, I’m glad he’s dead.”

*. *. *

At his confirmation hearing in 2001, Mueller described the FBI as “vital to the preservation of our civil order and our civil rights. One could hardly overstate the significance of the FBI in the life of every American.” [Eric Tucker, AP, March 21, 2026.] Seven days later, the prescience of those words became tragically clear to us all.

Mueller served in that post until September 4, 2013, staying on beyond the normal tenure at the request of then President Obama.

In May of 2017, he was appointed as Special Counsel to investigate allegations of Russian influence in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. True to his principles, he stood up to Donald Trump when others wouldn’t, refusing to whitewash his findings despite being accused of conducting a “witch hunt” (Trump’s favorite term for anything that makes him or his partners-in-crime appear guilty). And that, in Trump’s twisted mind, is sufficient reason to rejoice at Mueller’s death.

*. *. *

Former FBI Director James Comey said of Mueller on Friday:

“A great American died today, one I was lucky enough to learn from and stand beside.” [Id.]

And former Director Christopher Wray called Mueller a “consummate straight shooter,” adding:

“As everyone at the FBI who worked for, or with him, is well aware, Bob Mueller embodied the virtue of prioritizing service to the country over self, and he always put the mission first.” [Id.]

Thus far, current FBI Director Kash Patel — a Trump loyalist who is probably awaiting his instructions from the Oval Office — has remained silent, though the FBI Agents Association magnanimously noted Mueller’s “commitment to public service and to the FBI’s mission.” [Id.]

And as for Trump, well . . .

Donald Trump never forgets or forgives what he considers “disloyalty.” What he said about Robert Mueller’s passing was so heinous, so completely revolting — even by his rock-bottom standards — that I wanted to vomit when I read it, and still do. Thinking (and hoping) that he may have been misquoted, I fact-checked it, and found it to be accurate.

And that is why I am in despair today: because I find it impossible to accept that anyone — let alone the supposed leader of my country, or any country — could stoop so low, and be so revoltingly, disgustingly inhumane, yet continue to breathe the same air that I do.

The “innocent people” to whom Trump referred in his comment no doubt included the likes of Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen, George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, and Roger Stone — all friends and cohorts of Trump who either pled or were found guilty of various crimes as a result of the Mueller investigation.

Just like the “good people” who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, were later tried and convicted, and then pardoned by Trump because they were his supporters.

Those are the people he honors.

Yet, as of this writing, Trump has not even ordered the flags in our nation’s capital lowered to half-staff for a man who, by the standards of most people, was a true patriot and who served his country with courage, honor and dignity.

But politics aside, the simple fact that those words could come from the mind and the mouth of an individual who is supposed to represent the people of the United States defies belief.

Such a man is beneath contempt, and beyond salvation. From the depths of my despair today at what he has done to our great nation, my only consolation is in knowing that, eventually, karma awaits him . . . as it does all of us.

So rest in peace, Mr. Mueller . . . you’ve more than earned it.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/22/26

On March 19th, the Belarusian government ordered the release of 250 political prisoners — including opposition activists and journalists — in exchange for the easing of U.S. sanctions on Belarus’ potash industry. As of this writing, it is unclear whether the release has actually taken place; but we certainly look forward to their homecoming.

Otherwise, it has been another quiet week with regard to those on our list of political prisoners. So once again, we send them greetings and assurances that they are not being overlooked during this time of crisis, not only in Ukraine, but now also in Iran and the surrounding regions. They include, among many others:

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 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)
Anastasia Dyudyaeva
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 have not been, and will not be, forgotten.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/22/26

Amish Tripathi is an author, broadcaster and former diplomat from India, whose award-winning writings run the gamut from historical fact to mythological fiction.

In one of his best-known works, The Shiva Trilogy, he wrote of his views on our individual karma as it relates to the evil in the world:

“It is your karma to fight evil. It doesn’t matter if the people that evil is being committed against don’t fight back. It doesn’t matter if the entire world chooses to look the other way. Always remember this. You don’t live with the consequences of other people’s karma. You live with the consequences of your own.”

– Amish Tripathi, “Shiva Trilogy #2: The Secret of the Nagas”

Published in 2011, The Secret of the Nagas speaks to us in the context of today’s world events as never before. As individuals, we tend to think there isn’t much we can do to change things. But collectively, the good far outnumber the evil . . . and the will of the majority is how major political changes have always, ultimately, been achieved.

Don’t worry about the bad guys’ karma; it will come to them.

Consider your own.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/21/26

Donald Trump, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, Howard Lutnick, Scott Bessent, Tulsi Gabbard, Mike Johnson, Stephen Miller, Kash Patel, Bobby Kennedy Jr., etc., etc., etc. . . . the presidential administration from hell . . . a roll call of mentally incompetent, morally impoverished butt-lickers seemingly lifted from the pages of a dystopian Dostoevsky novel.

There couldn’t possibly be any more of them waiting in the wings for top government positions, could there? Surely, that’s the lot of them.

Sorry . . . but if that’s what you believe, I have bad news for you. Just consider these two:

Markwayne Mullin: As the country was celebrating the departure of Kristi Noem from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Trump trumped himself by nominating as her replacement Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin — as nasty a piece of work as can be found anywhere. (See my post of 3/6/26: “Now You See Her, Now You Don’t.”) His views align 100% with Noem’s (except that, as far as I know, he hasn’t been accused of murdering his pets); and so, if he is confirmed, we can expect more horror stories from ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the future.

As of this writing, Mullin has been cleared by a margin of just one vote (from Democrat John Fetterman!) in the Senate, and we can only pray that the House will have more sense.

*. *. *

But wait . . . there’s more.

Gregg Phillips: Still within DHS, we have Gregg Phillips — appointed in December 2025 to head the Office of Response and Recovery of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With little or no background in federal emergency management, his qualifications for the position are questionable at best. But, believe it or not, that isn’t what I find most concerning about him.

Even when I read that he had become known as a far-right activist spreading conspiracy theories regarding voter fraud, and for his violent verbal attacks on political opponents, I was not surprised. After all, isn’t that true of virtually the entire Trump administration?

However, Phillips seems to feel no need for self-restraint when talking about people he doesn’t particularly like, as exhibited by this comment about former President Joe Biden from a January 2025 podcast with fellow right-wing whack-job Catherine Engelbrecht:

“I would like to punch that b*tch [Biden] in the mouth right now. He is a nasty, shitty, crappy human being, and he deserves to die. And I hope he does.” [Andrew Kaczynski, Em Steck and Gabe Cohen, CNN, March 20, 2026.]

Nice. Really nice.

But I seriously began to worry when I read that Phillips had made bizarre claims of having been . . . wait for it . . . involuntarily teleported — not once, but multiple times.

In the same podcast, he described his alleged experiences:

“I was with my boys one time and I was telling them I was gonna go to Waffle House and get Waffle House. And I ended up at a Waffle House — this was in Georgia and I end up at a Waffle House like 50 miles away from where I was. And they said, ‘where are you?’ and I said, ‘A Waffle House.’ And ‘a Waffle House where?’ And I said, ‘Waffle House in Rome, Georgia.’ And they said, ‘That’s not possible, you just left here a moment ago.’ But it was possible. It was real.”

Then he added:

“Teleporting is no fun. It’s no fun because you don’t really know what you’re doing. You don’t really understand it, it’s scary, but yet um — but so real. And you know it’s happening but you can’t do anything about it, and so you just go, you just go with the ride. And wow, what just an incredible adventure it all was.” [Id.]

He also claimed that on another occasion his vehicle “lifted up” while he was driving, carrying him about 40 miles before depositing him in a ditch near a church. [Id.]

From my standpoint, his hate-filled rants and his conspiracy theories are enough to disqualify him from any position of authority. But more seriously — and this is in no way a medical diagnosis — it appears that either he is a world-class b.s. artist, or he is truly delusional and needs professional help. It sounds as though he is losing blocks of time.

Equally alarming is the response to CNN by a FEMA spokesperson, who said:

“This is so silly it’s barely worth acknowledging. DHS, FEMA, and Mr. Phillips are focused on the critical mission of emergency management and ensuring the safety of the American people. Many of the comments cited are taken out of context or represent personal, informal, jovial, and somewhat spiritual discussions made in the context of barely surviving cancer; in a private capacity prior to his current role.” [Id.]

Taken out of context, possibly. But silly? Jovial? Spiritual?!! Not so much — and definitely not in a private capacity, as they were statements made in a widely-distributed podcast.

Methinks the Federal Emergency Management Agency could use a bit of emergency management itself.

Bottom line? The inmates are truly running the Washington asylum . . . and Congress is enabling them. But you already knew that.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/21/26