Vladimir Lenin, Russian revolutionary and founder of the Soviet State, had a term for it: “useful idiot.”
Yes, there’s some question as to whether he said it — or said it exactly that way. Doesn’t matter. As a term for American leftists who furthered the Soviet cause, it hit the target awfully well.
The Soviet Union may be gone, but idiots useful to our enemies have never gone away. And so our congratulations to Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. You’ve moved to the top of the leaderboard!
So readers if you weren’t aware, last week Senator Van Hollen of Maryland traveled to El Salvador to attempt to free accused MS-13 member, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, recently deported by the Trump administration.
Now, there is no question that Garcia was here illegally. But Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act seems to be a bridge too far for some — including Van Hollen.
Then, in a delicious stroke of timing, while Van Hollen was down there literally drinking margaritas with this verified wife-beater, news surfaced that demonstrates without a doubt that Garcia is, indeed, a member of the gang.
Garcia has the tats, for one. He’s run with the gang, the police in Maryland previously identified him as a gang member, and a confidential informant verified it for the cops, providing Garcia’s gang rank and street name.
But most important to our minds: Garcia was picked up with other confirmed gang members, while wearing their colors. Distinctively altered Chicago Bulls gear, to be specific.
Trust us when we tell you: you don’t do this if you’re not a member. It’s not a solid lifestyle choice.
Now you know Van Hollen, whether you realize it or not. He’s the kind of politician who assumes that if someone says they’re oppressed, they must be. He’s quick to moralize, slow to fact-check, and allergic to context. It’s almost charming, in a painfully outdated “Woodstock meets C-SPAN” kind of way.
But Van Hollen isn’t just misguided. He’s proudly walking in the footsteps of the OG useful idiot: The New York Times’ Walter Duranty.
Duranty, for the unfamiliar, was The New York Times’ man in Moscow during the 1930s. He was similar in many ways to Van Hollen: ambitious, a child of privilege, and a naive jackass.
If you ever wondered why the Ukrainians have such a deep-seated hatred for Russia, we have a word for you: Holodomor. Translated from Ukrainian, it means, “death by hunger.” As in: eight to ten million deaths from hunger, thanks to Josef Stalin, who hijacked grain from the Soviet Union’s breadbasket — Ukraine — and distributed it inside Russia.
Duranty downplayed Stalin’s crimes because he believed in the cause, or maybe just liked his access to the Kremlin buffet (he was much-caressed by the Soviet elite). Either way, he won a Pulitzer for writing PR pieces for a regime that raised mass-murder to a national achievement well before Hitler came along.
Duranty’s reporting didn’t just miss the truth; it helped bury it.
Fast forward 90 years, and you have Van Hollen, inserting himself from the left into a major foreign policy issue without knowing — or perhaps while ignoring — the facts.
Recall when it was discovered that the UN Relief Agency UNRWA had ties to Hamas— and that under UNRWA food and supplies were not getting to the people of Gaza? That was too much even for the Biden administration, and they cut funding (it remains suspended). Here’s Van Hollen on that issue: "Denying funding for UNRWA is tantamount to denying food to starving people and restricting medical supplies to injured civilians."
Never mind that the supplies seemed to be going to Hamas, not the Gazan street.
Does this guy ever do his research? Like Duranty, he finds a narrative he likes, and sticks with it, no matter how many civilians it buries—or how many facts it dodges.
Just like Duranty’s soft spot for Stalin helped shield a monster from scrutiny, Van Hollen’s reflexive sympathy for violent illegal aliens gives cover to a terrorist group preying on Americans. Just as he gave similar cover to another terror group, Hamas.
Is it any surprise that Van Hollen voted against The Laken Riley Act, which mandates deportation for violent illegal aliens?
History has already judged Walter Duranty. His Pulitzer still hangs, but his reputation is dust. Alas, Van Hollen now proudly carries on the tradition.
Because siding with those who harm others isn’t just foolish. It’s dangerous. And sadly, it’s not even original.
Just ask the American media, that paragon of unoriginality, who as a group have cheered Van Hollen on while consistently referring to Garcia as just “a Maryland father.”
Does it not feel undeniable that on some deep-seated level, as Donald Trump said recently about CNN, these people simply hate America?
Feels like it to us.
A Canonized Killer
Karmelo Anthony was arrested for stabbing another young man to death at a track meet in Frisco, Texas on April 3. There is little question that he committed the act – Anthony reportedly admitted to the killing, claiming self-defense.
The homicide occurred at a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The current narrative is that Karmelo Anthony went under a tent set up for Frisco Memorial High students. Austin Metcalf told him to leave, and a dispute ensued. Karmelo Anthony told Metcalf not to touch him while putting his hand in a bag he was holding. Metcalf did grab or push Anthony and Anthony pulled a knife from the bag, stabbing Metcalf once in the chest. Anthony then threw the knife and was immediately arrested by a cop who was detailed to the event. Austin Metcalf was dead within minutes.
Anthony reportedly made a spontaneous utterance that the stabbing was in self-defense. He later asked if his actions would be considered self-defense.
Defense from what is at question. Supporters of Karmelo Anthony claim that he stabbed Metcalf because he was being bullied. The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as, “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological.”
Karmelo Anthony was a standout high school football star, playing defense for Centennial High School and receiving offers to play college ball. He was 5’11” and 162 lbs. Not exactly a target for bullies.
Reports are that he did not know Austin Metcalf, the person he allegedly killed. That may or may not be true as they both played football in the same town (although not in the same division). Regardless, this incident does not appear to be an example of bullying.
Legally, being grabbed or pushed at a crowded high school sports event does not give anyone the right to use deadly physical force, even in a stand-your-state like Texas.
For reasons unclear, Karmelo Anthony has become a cause celebre despite his alleged crime. This is a similar narrative to the one we saw with millionaire prep school kid Luigi Mangione, who murdered United Health CEO Brian Thompson. Many loons see these two cases as a righteous murder. That is an insane narrative, not based in reality.
Yet people are supporting Karmelo just as they did Luigi. As if killing someone over a dispute at a high school sporting event is a brave and just act.
There is even an online fundraiser for Karmelo at givesendgo.com. Remarkably, over 14,000 people have given money to support the alleged murderer, donating $476,045 at the time of this writing. An additional 3,603 people are “praying” for Karmelo.
The donators have left messages for the accused killer, many of them tinged with racial hatred. Some of these missives include:
· I pray you get the best help out there...serves them right – Nikita Harris
· Good luck Karmelo. I'm so sad that you were bullied into this predicament. – Bird
· Let’s get this baby home. I have a young black son as well, and I live in Collin County. This baby was bullied and was defending himself, I know it’s more to this story. I’m praying 🙏🏾 for you and your family. Please let me know how else I can help. - Stephanie Crutchfield
· Karmelo, your village is here man. I'm here for you brotha - Anonymous
· I’m proud of you for not being afraid to defend yourself, lil bro. You stood up for yourself, and now I’m here to stand up for you. - Adam EDEM Bryant
· I am praying without ceasing for the safety of the Anthony Family and Judge Angela. Karmelo is worthy of the BEST self-defense! He's one of US, he's OURS! - The Reparationist Perspec
· Equity, Equality, Justice for US. Free Karmelo! - Anonymous
· Black America is 💯 on code and it's lovely ✊🏿. These white supremacists losing they minds 😡👿and I am enjoying it so much I just cured my depression…. FREE KARMELO 🙏🏿 PEACE VICTORY AND BLESSINGS KARMELO.
· Use the money how you deem fit! He has been traumatized and this money is to let y'all know y'all are not alone! May he never suffer in life! They came at him! And we so solidarity! Let them be mad because you become a millionaire! I wish nothing but success for this young man, progress and mental stability after this life-changing event has happened to him! Imagine people walking to attack you! – Mother Essence
· You are an amazing young man. You are an amazing Beautiful BLACK Family. The BLACK Community IS On Code and it IS BEAUTIFUL. Together we are powerful. United we stand. We Love You Karmelo and the entire Anthony family…. The Most High and the Ancestors are proud of you and have your back Beloveds!! – The Real Chosen Ones
· Can't put your hands on strangers. It's our turn for a piece of justice. - Mall
You can even buy your own Justice for Karmelo t-shirt for $22.95.
Even the criminal justice system seems to think Karmelo Anthony is a sympathetic figure, as his bail was reduced from $1 million to $250, 000. He was easily able to post this bail with family resources backed by support from moronic donors. Pretty light bail for a guy who appears to be facing a slam-dunk murder conviction and getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.
We are not sure what is going on in the USA of late. Supporting alleged murderers. Donating money for the defense of people who seemingly admit to heinous crimes. Sending adoring fan mail and appearing at court hearings for absolute strangers. It seems like the country has lost its moral compass and can no longer tell right from wrong. It is a sure sign of greater influence from the “tear it all down” crowd. They can only lead us to a place of chaos and misery.
This — THIS — is the cause they’ve taken up? A murder over the fact that one kid pushed another?
As with Luigi Mangione— there’s only one just outcome here. Sanity must prevail.
Tish James’s Empty Threats
It turns out that, “Show me the man and I will show you the crime” works on anyone. New York Attorney General Tish James recently found this out the hard way.
James, who ran for office with the promise to “get Trump,” was recently implicated in multiple instances of mortgage fraud and filing false documents. How the worm has turned! Donald Trump is salivating as he sics the Department of Justice on James. Is it a revenge move, or simply “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander?”
Although we are usually not in favor of using the DOJ as a weapon against the President’s enemies, we have to make an exception here.
Because this is not simply revenge for Trump’s past civil case. She continues to go after him. This time, with a completely baseless accusation of insider trading. James recently announced an “inquiry” into the tariff announcements and potential market winners and losers. We take it that “inquiry” is a step down from an investigation. A further step down? Another “Get Trump” fishing expedition.
This is simply more of the same from a dishonest politician and attorney. There is no evidence that this occurred. Not even a suspect other than Donald Trump. Yet a public statement to the press, baselessly besmirching Trump and his associates.
So, we applaud the DOJ going after this potentially corrupt politician. It’s time to stop this charade.
Trish is sure to get her day in court. One wonders if she’ll like the view from the defendant’s table.
Or, potentially, a prison cell.
Today’s Podcast: Just How Serious IS The Tish James Case?
Over on the pod, Paul, Chris, and Eric dissect the Tish James criminal referral, bringing over 80 combined years to the discussion.
With Chris’s years as the NYPD’s Commanding Officer of Financial Crimes, and Eric’s decades of prosecuting pretty much every type of case there is… this is real analysis.
Will she be indicted? If so, how soon? What are the likely charges? What effects will it have on her status as NYS AG?
This is real, folks, and it’s not going away. But how serious really is it?
Click below for a preview… or HERE for the full thing.
And finally…
We’ve gotta agree.
On no planet is Anthony justified—that’s got to be a given. What I fail to understand is why this kid does not appear to be showing any remorse; rather, he insists he was justified. I believe the race hucksters hope to use this crime in a similar manner to many similar crimes—as an opportunity to grab some cash from the mindless left. I know, I’m stating the obvious.😎
Spectacular issue!!!