Bob’s Hailstone 7-19-25
Hoaxes Cracking, Accountability Knocking
Bob’s Hailstone 7-19-25
Hoaxes Cracking, Accountability Knocking
By Jim Reynolds | www.reynolds.com
Grook:
Hoaxes unravel like cheap yarn,
Media crutches snap under strain.
Fifth pleas echo in hollow halls,
While shadows demand the truth’s domain.
Unifying Introduction
Saturday dawns in the Trump redux, where old deceptions are finally fracturing under the weight of hindsight and hearings. Taibbi’s takedown of the Russia hoax sets the tone for a reckoning that targets media enablers, unpunished aides, and elite amnesia, while policy skirmishes over spending, benefits, and working-class woes reveal the system’s deeper rot. It’s a mosaic of exposed lies and lingering hypocrisies, where “accountability” looms like a promise—or just another punchline. Bob sees it as the long-overdue bill coming due; I see the human cost in the forgotten receipts of trust betrayed.
Story Summaries
Russia Hoax Exposed, New Era of Accountability Begins
Matt Taibbi in Racket News dissects the Russia collusion narrative as a deliberate intelligence op, citing declassified docs and whistleblowers that pin blame on Brennan, Clapper, and media amplifiers who peddled it for years. He argues recent congressional probes and Trump-era reforms mark the start of real consequences, like revoked security clearances and potential perjury charges. Taibbi mocks the “resistance” as complicit, urging a purge of the deep state echo chamber.
Leans: [Center-iconoclastic, hoax-hammering, left-elite skewering]
Bob: Lies don’t retire; they just get promotions until someone calls bullshit.
Jim: The narrative’s collapse echoes like a bad echo in an empty newsroom—poetic justice for the fooled and the foolers.
Button: And just like that, the hoax that launched a thousand op-eds gets its pink slip.
A Bad Week for Democrat Media Mouthpieces
James Antle at the Washington Examiner chronicles a rough stretch for liberal pundits, from Maddow’s ratings dip amid hoax fallout to Stelter’s failed comeback book tour, blaming their echo-bubble blindness on Trump 2.0 realities. He highlights gaffes like downplaying Biden-era scandals while hyping minor GOP missteps, suggesting the public tunes out partisan spin. Antle quips that without narrative crutches, these voices are stumbling into irrelevance.
Leans: [Right-sardonic, media-mocking, center-reality check]
Bob: Mouthpieces without a script? Just hot air leaking from a popped balloon.
Jim: Watching them flail is like seeing clowns without makeup—sad, but strangely honest.
Button: Turns out, when the media bubble bursts, it’s not champagne that’s spilling.
Why Trump Keeps Clawing Back Spending
Ed Kilgore in New York Magazine analyzes Trump’s ongoing push to slash federal budgets, focusing on his veto threats against “big beautiful bills” loaded with pork, driven by MAGA base demands for fiscal restraint amid inflation fears. He notes clashes with GOP spenders and Dem holdouts, predicting drawn-out battles that could redefine government bloat. Kilgore critiques it as populist theater but admits it resonates with debt-wary voters.
Leans: [Left-skeptical, fiscal-frugal mocking, center-pragmatic]
Bob: Clawing back? More like stopping the bleed from the endless pork barrel.
Jim: Trump’s scissors on the budget strings—cutting the fat, or just the threads holding it together?
Button: Trump’s budget claws: because nothing says ‘America First’ like trimming the fat off Uncle Sam’s belt.
Republicans’ Job on ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Is Only Just Beginning
Shane Harris for AMAC outlines the GOP’s uphill fight to pass Trump’s signature infrastructure overhaul, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” amid Dem filibusters and internal squabbles over funding sources. He details early wins in committee but warns of Senate roadblocks, emphasizing the need for unity to deliver on promises like border walls and energy independence. Harris praises it as a jobs boon for forgotten America.
Leans: [Right-optimistic, bill-boosting, center-partisan push]
Bob: Beginning? They’ve been promising this since forever; time to deliver or shut up.
Jim: The bill’s beauty lies in the eye of the beholder—grand vision or just another bridge to nowhere?
Button: Big Beautiful Bill? More like Big Beautiful Headache for the filibuster crowd.
Bobby Kennedy, Liberal Patriot
Ruy Teixeira and Richard Kahlenberg on Substack profile RFK Jr. as a bridge-builder for Democrats, blending classic liberal values with patriotic populism to reclaim working-class voters lost to Trump. They cite his vaccine skepticism and environmental crusades as authentic appeals, urging the party to adopt his anti-corporate stance over identity politics. The piece positions him as a potential 2028 contender if Dems wise up.
Leans: [Left-reformist, patriot-pitching, center-bridge building]
Bob: Liberal patriot? Sounds like common sense in a fancy wrapper—about time.
Jim: Kennedy’s torch lights the path back from the wilderness, flickering but fierce.
Button: RFK: The liberal who remembered patriotism isn’t just for barbecues.
Another Biden Aide Invokes Fifth Before House Panel
John Parkinson at ABC News reports on a former Biden staffer pleading the Fifth in a House Oversight hearing on classified docs mishandling, adding to a string of aides dodging questions about Hunter ties and foreign deals. He details the GOP-led probe’s frustration and Dem accusations of witch hunts, with implications for ongoing special counsel investigations. Parkinson notes the optics fuel perceptions of a cover-up culture.
Leans: [Center-straight reporting, fifth-plea spotlighting, left-defensive]
Bob: Invoking the Fifth? That’s not silence; it’s screaming guilt from the rooftops.
Jim: The Fifth as a shield—protecting secrets, or just the fragile house of cards?
Button: Pleading the Fifth: Because sometimes, silence is the loudest confession.
Voters Say Keeping Illegals Off Benefits Is Important
Sharyl Attkisson’s independent report cites polls showing broad support for barring undocumented immigrants from welfare programs, with 70% of voters prioritizing it amid border strains. She breaks down bipartisan agreement, criticizing Biden policies for inflating costs and eroding trust in the system. Attkisson calls for reforms to prioritize citizens without xenophobic overtones.
Leans: [Right-practical, benefit-barring, center-voter echo]
Bob: Important? It’s basic math—can’t feed the world if your own house is starving.
Jim: Voters’ voices rise like a tide, washing away the open-border illusions.
Button: Voters on benefits: ‘Citizens first’—shocking concept, right?
Dems Don’t Realize How Much They Rely on Media Crutches
Mark Halperin on 2-Way argues Democrats are crippled without favorable press, exposed by recent scandals where outlets like CNN soft-pedaled Biden gaffes while amplifying Trump critiques. He warns the party’s echo chamber blinds them to public shifts, predicting electoral pain unless they adapt to a more skeptical media landscape. Halperin draws from his insider experience for a balanced takedown.
Leans: [Center-insider, crutch-calling, left-wakeup call]
Bob: Crutches? More like training wheels on a sinking ship—time to swim or drown.
Jim: The media mirror cracks, revealing the unflattering truth beneath the gloss.
Button: Dems without media crutches: Like a toddler without stabilizers—wobbly and headed for a fall.
The Problem at NPR Starts With Executives Like Maher
Nicole Russell in USA Today blasts NPR leadership, spotlighting CEO Katherine Maher’s past biases and DEI excesses as root causes of audience distrust and funding woes. She details internal memos favoring progressive narratives over balance, urging a return to neutral journalism to salvage public radio’s credibility. Russell ties it to broader media polarization.
Leans: [Right-critiquing, exec-exposing, center-balance plea]
Bob: Problem starts at the top? No kidding—rotten heads spoil the whole barrel.
Jim: NPR’s static hums with bias, a symphony out of tune with reality’s rhythm.
Button: NPR’s exec woes: Because nothing says ‘public radio’ like private agendas.
Crypto Week Revealed the Dittohead Congress
David Dayen in The American Prospect lambasts bipartisan congressional hearings on crypto regulation as echo-chamber theater, with lawmakers parroting industry lobby lines while ignoring fraud risks and consumer harms. He highlights ties to big donors and predicts weak reforms that favor Wall Street over Main Street. Dayen calls for genuine oversight to curb the “dittohead” conformity.
Leans: [Left-progressive, congress-calling, center-skeptical]
Bob: Dittohead? That’s polite for bought-and-paid-for puppets on strings.
Jim: Crypto’s wild west meets Capitol’s echo canyon—gunfire of greed resounding.
Button: Congress on crypto: Echoing lobbies so loud, even the blockchain blushes.
Emil Bove Will Be an Effective, Pro-Liberty Judge
Beth Brelje at The Federalist praises Trump’s judicial nominee Emil Bove as a liberty defender, citing his prosecutorial record against overreach in cases like January 6 probes. She argues his confirmation would bolster constitutional protections amid DOJ weaponization claims. Brelje contrasts him with “activist” judges, hailing a win for rule of law.
Leans: [Right-libertarian, judge-boosting, center-procedural]
Bob: Pro-liberty? Finally, a judge who remembers what the Constitution says.
Jim: Bove’s gavel strikes for freedom, echoing the founders’ forgotten cadence.
Button: Bove on the bench: Liberty’s comeback kid, with a robe and a grudge.
How the Left Can Win Back Working Class
David Kusnet in Washington Monthly offers a roadmap for Democrats to reclaim blue-collar voters, advocating policies like union boosts, trade protections, and ditching elite cultural wars. He draws on historical successes and recent losses, stressing authenticity over polling. Kusnet warns ignoring this dooms the party to minority status.
Leans: [Left-strategic, class-courting, center-pragmatic]
Bob: Win back? They lost ‘em by ignoring the lunch-pail crowd for laptop elites.
Jim: The working class heartbeat—strong, steady, waiting for the left to listen again.
Button: Left’s working-class woo: Trade the ivory tower for a hard hat—stat.
End Note
In the end, it’s not about left or right, but the quiet erosion of trust that binds us. We’ve watched hoaxes bloom and wilt, aides hide behind amendments, media limp on crutches—yet the real story is our collective memory refusing to fade. Let’s hold the mirror up, demand the receipts, and rebuild from the shards. Tomorrow’s another frame; make it count.
Note on Sources:
All stories referenced here come from the RealClearPolitics homepage. For full articles and original context, visit the site directly.
Optional Extra
[Setting: A darkened TV studio. Bob sits across from Stephen Miller under a single spotlight. The coffee is lukewarm. The script is not.]
Bob:
Stephen, thanks for being here.
Before we start—have you invoked the Fifth today?
Stephen Miller (deadpan):
Not yet, Bob. But the day is young.
Bob:
Let’s talk about this news cycle. Russiagate collapsing, Epstein echoes, crypto hearings turning into TED Talks with subpoenas—what are we watching here? Journalism? Theater? Or is it just the world’s worst group chat?
Miller:
It’s the inevitable endgame of narrative inflation. If every headline is a bombshell, eventually nobody flinches at the blast.
Bob:
So you’re saying outrage has become a subscription model?
Miller:
Exactly. Outrage is monetized, memory is optional, and accountability is just something that happens to old sitcom actors.
Bob:
Do you think the Left still believes its own headlines?
Miller:
Some do. The others are paid not to. The smart ones don’t care—they just want the algorithms to like them.
Bob (nodding):
You’ve worked in the White House. You’ve seen classified briefings. Can we ask—what’s real?
Miller:
What’s real is that half the institutions we grew up trusting are now job placement centers for ex-lobbyists. The other half write press releases pretending they aren’t.
Bob:
So if the truth is out there, it must’ve taken a sabbatical.
Miller:
It’s updating its résumé.
Bob:
Final question. What would you say to the average voter who feels like they’re trapped between a dying media industry and a hyperactive deep state?
Miller:
Read everything. Believe little. Remember more. And when someone screams “conspiracy theory”—check their donors.
Bob:
Thank you, Stephen.
And folks, if that didn’t make you paranoid enough, we’ll be back after this break with a cardboard cutout of Rachel Maddow nodding solemnly to jazz.