Now I know what they do at faculty meetings on the humanities/social sciences side of campus » « They never learn

Infinite Thread XXXIX

It’s almost spring-like outside — the skies are clear, we’ve got cool breezes on a comfortable day, the plants are coming back… I know it can’t last but I’ll make the most of it. I’ve opened windows to let birdsong in and to drive the cat crazy.

Let the pleasant conversations flow!

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Now I know what they do at faculty meetings on the humanities/social sciences side of campus » « They never learn

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  1. says

    Energy secretary says Trump was speaking ‘casually’ with claim about taking out oil. [WTF?]

    During an Oval Office event on Wednesday afternoon, a reporter asked Donald Trump for his reaction to the news that inflation has reached a three-year high. The president responded that the new data was “great,” adding, “I love the inflation.”

    And while that was strange, it quickly got worse. As part of his explanation for why he professed his “love” of inflation, Trump went on to say, “You know, I can say it now, something you didn’t know. You know we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Nobody knows it. You know who doesn’t know about it? Iran — until right now.” [WTF?]

    He said this operation involved 22 ships that traveled “with no lights” [JFC. Delusional, dementia afflicted Trump?] and went undetected because Iranians “don’t have any radar because we blasted the crap out of it.”

    Even at face value, this was difficult to understand. The president loves inflation because the United States is taking oil out of the Middle East?

    Complicating matters, there was also uncertainty about the nature and accuracy of Trump’s claims, even within his own White House Cabinet. MS NOW reported as part of the network’s liveblog coverage:

    Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who was simultaneously testifying before the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, told lawmakers that he did not know of any such operation.

    Wright said he was not aware of “millions” of barrels of oil having been extracted from Iran, but he said earlier in the hearing that the U.S. military ‌had ⁠helped get some oil out of the Strait of Hormuz.

    As a rule, Wright can be counted on to toe the party line on pretty much anything Trump says, but when pressed by Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes of Ohio on the president’s public comments, Wright said Trump was merely “talking casually.” [social media post, with video]

    When Sykes followed up by asking about the propriety of a president speaking “casually” about a war, the energy secretary was reduced to saying, “I think you talk to all different audiences, and you talk in all different styles.”

    What did that mean in this context? Your guess is as good as mine. It’s similarly unclear whether Wright’s use of the word “casually” was meant to convey the idea that sometimes Trump just says stuff without any meaningful regard for accuracy.

    That said, it’s certainly possible that 22 ships moved through the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times noted, however, “He did not say what time period he meant. Ordinarily, dozens of oil tankers would pass through the strait each day, and thousands would have done so since the war began, if not for Iran’s blockade.”

  2. says

    For the convenience of readers, here are a few links back to the previous set of 500 comments on The Infinite Thread.

    https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2026/03/30/infinite-thread-xxxix/comment-page-5/#comment-2303192
    OB-GYNs release their own vaccine schedule, rejecting RFK Jr.’s meddling

    https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2026/03/30/infinite-thread-xxxix/comment-page-5/#comment-2303187
    Elon Musk stirs up more racist rage in Europe

    https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2026/03/30/infinite-thread-xxxix/comment-page-5/#comment-2303186
    ‘A Crock of Shit’: Amid Misconduct Allegations, Broadview Six Transcripts Offer Rare Window into Grand Jury

    https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2026/03/30/infinite-thread-xxxix/comment-page-5/#comment-2303182
    “Inflation heats up to highest pace in three years”

    https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2026/03/30/infinite-thread-xxxix/comment-page-5/#comment-2303180
    Trump peddles more mixed messages after accusing Iran of downing a U.S. helicopter

  3. says

    Trumps find tacky new way to profit from White House cage fight

    […] This time, the grift is centered around the Ultimate Fighting Championship cage fight on the White House lawn scheduled for President Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14.
    The “Trump Coins” website is currently selling UFC- and Trump-themed silver and gold coins. The site claims—without evidence—that the coins were “designed by President Trump.”

    The coins, which range in price from $250 to an eye-popping $11,999.99, also feature Trump’s signature and photos of him and UFC chief Dana White, a longtime Trump ally.

    CNN reported that, while the coins are not directly made by a Trump company, the Trump Organization is licensing the president’s name and image.

    […] By tying this new coin to the White House event, the Trump family is using public property to generate personal profits.

    […] Using the White House to supercharge sales of overpriced silver and gold coins falls right in line with his history of grifting […]

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