Bob’s Hailstone Chronicles 7-8-25
One Day. Twelve Stories. Storm Incoming
The Well-Tempered Recursive Hailstone: July 8, 2025 Edition
One Day. Twelve Stories. Storm Incoming.
By Jim Reynolds
You know the drill.
Twelve stories. One daily RealClearPolitics feed. Different outlets, tones, and axes to grind—but all part of the same news cycle. The goal? Find the shape of the storm while the media’s still busy naming the raindrops.
This isn’t curation. It’s reassembly.
We’re not looking for balance. We’re looking for pattern: crosswinds of intent, ideology, misdirection, and confession. If yesterday’s compendium proved the concept, today’s version sharpens it. You’ll get policy clashes, media feints, cultural spasms, and the occasional deadpan punch to the ribs.
We added a new element: each story gets a "Leans:" label to highlight its ideological lean. It’s not exact, but it’s useful. Think of it as a compass, not a verdict.
So tighten the tie, warm up Bob’s side-eye, and grab a poncho. Here comes the hailstone.
1. Camp Mystic and the Storm That Killed More Than 100
Chaffin et al., WSJ / Cox, TNR / McKay, Spectator
A flash flood hits a Texas summer camp, killing over 100 and destroying roads, buildings, and assumptions. The WSJ leads with logistics, the New Republic leans into climate and policy failure, and American Spectator goes after the Twitter mobs exploiting grief.
No heroes? Wrong. Texans pulled off daring rescues and ferried kids to safety in bass boats. But politics, as usual, washed ashore.
Leans: WSJ: Center-right / TNR: Left / Spectator: Right
2. Trump, Tehran, and the Ghost of JFK
Penn & Stein, RealClearPolitics
Trump’s recent precision strike in Iran—decapitating the IRGC chain of command—gets compared to JFK’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Penn and Stein don’t suggest Trump’s a Kennedy clone, but they argue the move was strategic, not reckless.
Meanwhile, Washington’s still wondering if the Ayatollah’s going to blink—or retaliate with something that glows in the dark.
Leans: Center-right
3. The MIGA Movement: Make Iran Great Again
Tabaar, Foreign Affairs
In a rare shift, Foreign Affairs wonders aloud if the real story is inside Iran—not the regime, but the people. Over 70% of Iranians oppose the Islamic Republic, want peace with the West, and crave normalcy. So maybe Trump’s not triggering a war—maybe he’s betting on the Persians to finish what he started.
Leans: Center-left
4. Netanyahu and the Legal Minefield
Mike Davis, RCP
Israel’s Supreme Court just gutted Netanyahu’s judicial reform. Davis argues it’s time to drop the charges and stop the circus. The real threat, he says, isn’t Netanyahu—it’s the erosion of political legitimacy through lawyer warfare.
Bob’s take: “It’s not a courtroom. It’s a stage play, and the ushers have better seats than the citizens.”
Leans: Right
5. Can Trump Actually Deliver Peace?
Bevan, Cannon & Walworth, RCP on SiriusXM
Middle East peace, take 937. A roundtable wonders aloud if Trump’s strange cocktail of unpredictability and leverage can break through where Biden’s hugs and Kerry’s PowerPoints failed.
Spoiler: It’s not impossible. If Trump threads Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, he’ll have done what four administrations couldn’t.
Leans: Center-right
6. Big Beautiful Bill: Hero or Hazard?
Baharaeen, The Liberal Patriot / McCarthy, New York Post
One bill, two takes. The Liberal Patriot says the GOP’s new mega-package could backfire if it overreaches on immigration and budget cuts. McCarthy fires back: the bill just saved the Republican Party from a demographic death spiral.
Reality: it’s big, brash, and risky. Which is to say—very Trump.
Leans: Baharaeen: Center-left / McCarthy: Right
7. Elon Musk: Third Party Menace or Meme Lord?
Burns, Politico / Kimball, Spectator
Politico says Elon’s third-party dabble could matter—especially if the GOP implodes or Kamala surges. The Spectator calls him America’s “dumbest smart person,” a genius techie with the instincts of a Golden Retriever in traffic.
Bob: “If he’s on the ballot, buy popcorn futures.”
Leans: Burns: Center-left / Kimball: Right
8. Epstein Files and the Memory Hole
Shellenberger & Gutentag, Public on Substack
Where’s the Epstein list? Why haven’t we seen the client files? Shellenberger and Gutentag say what we all suspect: the elites are slow-walking this until nobody cares.
Bob: “If this were about anyone else, Netflix would already have a docuseries and three Emmy nominations.”
Leans: Center-right
9. Russia Hoax: Who Lit the Fuse?
Cleveland, The Federalist
The Federalist names names: Obama. Cleveland argues that the Russia hoax wasn’t just overreach—it was orchestration, driven by a departing president who didn’t want Trump to undo the narrative.
Strong claim. But the receipts are piling up.
Leans: Right
10. Mamdani: Martyr or Manipulator?
Sullivan, The Guardian / Gurri, NY Post
Margaret Sullivan warns that the NYT is sabotaging NYC socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, perhaps to clear the path for a Kamala-aligned mayor. Martin Gurri counters with a flamethrower, calling Mamdani a whiner with “radical ingratitude.”
Welcome to progressive civil war. No helmets provided.
Leans: Sullivan: Left / Gurri: Right
11. Kamala’s Comeback?
Sadler, Washington Times
Kelly Sadler wonders if the VP’s internal polling just got Botox. Biden’s limping, Gavin’s grinning, and Kamala’s suddenly everywhere—churches, campuses, TikTok dance circles. She smells blood.
Bob: “You don’t need a crystal ball to see the maneuvering. Just a calendar and a pulse.”
Leans: Right
12. Chuck Schumer’s Farewell Tour?
Solomon, The Hill
Norman Solomon politely suggests Schumer step aside. Not now, but soon. Not because he’s unqualified, but because the party needs fresh blood and fewer knee replacements. Translation: It’s Kamala Time.
Bob: “There’s no such thing as a soft coup. Just one with better lighting.”
Leans: Left
Conclusion: Three Takeaways From the Storm
1. Iran is the center of gravity. Whether it’s Trump, the ayatollah, or ordinary Persians craving change, half the global chessboard tilts toward Tehran this week.
2. Kamala is back on stage. No longer just the understudy, she’s rebranding in real-time. Her party is either clearing the path—or handing her the grenade with the pin half-pulled.
3. The public’s patience is eroding. From Epstein files to DOJ leaks, the “trust us” class is running out of runway. Every delay feels like another insult.
Bob’s still watching. The hailstone’s still rolling.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings.