Saturday, August 22, 2026

The Charlie Kirk Assassination: Theories???

$CharlieKirk #assassination #Israel #DanBongino 

RantWoman is filing this video in the zome of threads RantWoman wants to know more about--even thought the phrase "conspiracy theory" os all over the story



Friday, August 21, 2026

WILL there be two women at the top of the SC Senate ticket???

 #SCsen #SCpol


For anyone watching the SC #GOP runoff between Darline Graham (Nordone) and Roger Norman, there are too many cringe-worthy moments to list. RantWoman does not apologize for neglecting all the reasons Roger Norman is terrible. He is. Read up. Perhaps President #StableGenius would not be thrilled that he endorsed Nikki Haley in 2024


During the only runoff debate, Darline mistakenly said there are 50 million people instead of 5 million in SC. RantWoman is tempted to quip, well President "StableGenius is going to wrack up votes one way or another." Was the mistake a teleprompter error or someone else's fault? Either way, cringeworthy.


When asked about why Taiwan matters for US foreign policy, Darline quite candidly said foreign policy is not her thing. Candor for a not a politician politician is ALWAYS to be praised  even though one might also desperately wish for better debate prep. Also "I don't know but I can learn" would be exactly on point.


The other part of Darline's non-answer answer: "I support our military," with comments about service by both her brother and her dad. Perhaps it is a good thing that RantWoman was not on scene. RantWoman would have blurted out some version of "Support our military. Keep them out of STUPID wars, Get them adequate provisions. DO NOT FIRE all the competent senior officers. And worst of all, get rid of the lying clueless #SecDef.


To RantWoman, after watching a whole lot of candidates endorsed by President #StableGenius lose in their primaries, after watching the President sink and sink and sink in the polls, it must be hard to stay someone's friend and still try to chart a course that is good for the country and for one's state. It is also amusing to read comments on Twitter / X fighting over who is the better Republican and who is more loyal to the President.


Based on Darline's professional background, RantWoman has the strong sense that if Darline would just reality test what she knows of voters' real experiences against #GOP policies, she could nail LOTS of points that would speak to current realities.


Other than that, RantWoman will also continue to try to rehabilitate the term DEI.

Dedication Empathy Imagination

Diligence Energy Initiative....


Darline followed up her Taiwan oopsie at the debate during an interview with Sean Hannity: they both agreed that lots of people in the US, (probably including President #StableGenius?) also don't know where Taiwan is. And of course, with rhetoric firmly on voters' biggest problems, Darline is 100% against transgender women in women's sports.


Even if a Democratic candidate looks good, RantWoman also HATES a sense of being extorted: "Vote for the Democrats or else." RantWoman is still angling for a sense of a Congress willing to work on serious problems, not just get mad and go out of town whenever things get too hard. Plus, RantWoman does not care whether it sounds sexist to say that it would just be cool for once to have strong women candidates from both parties. 


OK, RantWoman has a vivid imagination, and does not vote in SC and ...



As a bonus, welcome to the easily misspelled name club. RantWoman has seen SO many sloppy posts that refer to DarlENE rather than DarlINE.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Iran expanding targets to Europe?

 #Iran #Russia #Europe #MemorandumOf Understanding


It's not like Russia is not already "accidentally" lobbing things at the edges of NATO. I t would be really nice if SOMEONE on the current US team understood diplomacy enough to get the US out of the mess it has gotten itself into.


In the meantime, enjoy

35 years ago today in the USSR / Russia

 #USSR #Russia #Eltsin #Putin

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

BBC Interview with Dmitry Muratov and major status updates

#Russia #Ukraine

(Oh my: a journalist conducting an interview in the local language.) 


RantWoman offers this item as one Russian voice on Russia's war on Ukraine and Putin's thinking.






And on the other hand: ways Ukraine could make things A LOT worse for Russia, even if N Korea helps






Drones war game with heavy armoed vehicles

Grieving sucks...and then there are bagpipes

 Pssst: RantWoman likes bagpipes more than many people do.


RantWoman has no idea what makes a bagpipe band the champions. Comments at the end explain a little. 


RantWoman is simply posting this video in fond memory of the bagpipers who practiced in the park across the alley from the RantFamily home in MT.



Grieving gets month anniversaries right now.


Grieving as in working out love and rage, grief and gratitude, gratitude for others sharing the thoughts, encrusted with different details.

Seaborne shipping Chokepoints!

 

#StraitOfHormuz #BabAlMandab #PanamaCanal #BlackSea #ArcticRoute #SouthChinaSea #RhineRiver #DanubeRiver #GlobalFoodSystem #OilPrices #FoodPrices


An excellent rundown of all the ways global conflicts as well as the effects of climate change in the Panama Canal or European rivers are affecting oil and food prices.


RantWoman has no topical policy or diplomatic suggestions but hopes this outline gives readers info to counteract streams of media nonsense. RantWoman is also looking into more local food production and a solar battery for some key household needs. 

 

Putin Buddies up with North Korea, Did Ukraine take out a train of Korean missiles?

 #BallisticMissiles #Wildberries #NorthKorea #LaborPipeline



Did this actually happen?



And a hit on Wildberries in Voronezh

Monday, August 17, 2026

The nuclear button is still a REALLY bad idea

 #NuclearWeapons #MadmanTheory  #Iran #Oman



Bombing allies also a DUMB idea


Oh, and cozying up to N Korea because South Korea won't play about the US war on Iran.

Words of faith about the Spokane Wildfires

RantWoman disagrees with former Spokan Spokesman Review Columnist Suelanie Madsen abou A LOT but appreciates an authentic voice. DO NOT subscribe to her substack if you are not prepared to read in spite of disagreement.



RantWoman had been wondering about Suelani's experiences in connection with the Spokane wildfires. Please appreciate these comments in that spirit. 

Being a good friend in bad times by Sue Lani Madsen

Leading with love after the Spokane Complex fires

Read on Substack

General Dynamics contracting fiascoes

 Jaded US taxpayers are probably all too used to endless #DoD cost overruns and the Department of DEFENSE chronic inability to pass any kind of audit. But $500 Million to do NOTHING is a whole new level of kleptocracy.


So on brandin light of a president who managed to bankrupt SIX casions and a #SecDef known for running two veterans' services into the ground.

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Ukraine Russia this week

 #Ukraine #Russia #GrainMarket

Grain not moving out of Russia. Silos are full and there are no ships willing to pick it up.


Hits continue on Russian oil production, Wildberries consumer goods warehouses.


Russia losing 20-30 long haul vehicles per day.


This is what a war of attrition looks like.


Stuff on missile requests starts about minute 19:40

LOGISTICS and the Navy

 #NavalDeployment #Logistics


RantWoman's comments
Thank you for all your insights. Clearly allies are a good thing. Wonder who squandered those relationships. A general calling it a "war?" Shouldn't there be CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL, not just the #SecDef pleading for more $$$ ? The current state of affairs is fundamentally disrespectful of lots of people doing hard jobs.

(RantWoman is not commenting about the framing of the last 30 years of procurement patterns)


RantWoman is not watching the whole thing.


Some other links




And the #SecDef has a go with insider trading


Friday, August 14, 2026

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

James Carville on the Iran War, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Catering Truck caper

#USSAbrahamLincoln #SecDef #AirForceOne 

Dude speaks RantWoman's mind, though RantWoman would not be nearly as salty-tongued about it.


lexicography digression: "salty" used to mean basically foul-mouthed. Now "salty" often just means angry, PO'ed... RantWoman mainly has in mind the older usage.


RantWoman is not going to hold back on the other side.


Dear world,

WHY does anyone expect either President #StableGenius or the #DUIHire #SecDef to CARE about the well-being of the troops on the USS Abraham Lincoln. How many cracks about "suckers and losers?" How much whining about troops' physical appearance or the fact that, gasp, there are women in Leadership???

RantWoman is a cynical witch wandering whether the whole drama is just part of an orchestrated campaign to drag money out of Congress for an unpopular and unaccountable war.


Next the catering cart caper.
First, congratulations to #DonSnoreleone for destroying Iranian military infrastructure over and over, especially since you have destroyed the Iranian miliatary so well that you had to scurry out of Ankara via a catering cart for fear that your plane would get shot down. Congratulations! BRILLIANT!


Dear staff and press gaggle mad about flying on a plane President #StableGenius was not on.

Don't y'all have to sign a lot of liability waivers and other paperwork just for the priviliege of being stenographer to the Toddler in Chief. News flash. The President might get shot at. If you are on the President's plane, you might get shot at too. RantWoman wonders whether there was the same military escort for the presidentless AirForceOne as there would be with the President on it? Why would you expect this president to care AT ALL about your well-being????

Inquiring minds...

Ukraine attacks WildBerries distribution centers and Russian oil infrastructure

 #Ukraine #Russia #PatriotMissiles #Boeing


Sooo, are all the assaults on the global oil and gas trade enough to re-energize moves away from dependence on fossil fuels and toward decarbonization????

Are US defense contractors afraid of Ukraine making Patriot missiles more cheaply than the US does?





Monday, August 10, 2026

No. No! No! DO NOT say a woman candidate with decades of service in state government is UNQUALIFIED. DO NOT DO IT!

 #SCpol

Tomorrow is the SC #GOP Senate Primary.


First, a debate video.

Adventures of RantWoman: Spectator in Someone Else's Election: the SC GOP Senate primary


RantWoman's instinct is "vote for the woman." RantWoman would SO prefer that Darline Grham had focused more on her experience working in state government in SC than on national GOP talking points.


HOWEVER, here is how Annie Andrews, the Democratic candidate describes the rest of the SC primary field in a fundraising email entitled "Quite the Lineup"


Someone endorsed by Trump, and utterly unqualified.

Dr. Andrews is referring to Darline Graham, younger sister of the late Lindsay Graham. 


RantWoman's reaction: "Oh HELL NO." You do not get to proclaim someone  with decades of leadership experience in state government unqualified either because of her pedigree or because of her gender. Oh HELL NO!

Someone who lied about being on the Appalachian Trail, while he was actually having an extramarital affair.

Someone with a career of votes against the healthcare, food assistance, and public schools South Carolina families count on.

Quite the lineup, right?

Here's a wild idea: a Senator who's spent her career caring for the communities she’s running to represent, who’s honest, and who will vote to protect your family.

I'm a pediatrician and a mom of three. I've spent decades taking care of kids in this state, I don't take a dime of corporate PAC money, and I'm not running to be another rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s chaos — I'm running for you.

But here's the reality: Whomever Republicans pick out of that mess tomorrow walks away with a multi-million war chest, Trump's machine, and super PACs behind them. The only way we'll be ready to meet that is if our grassroots movement builds up strength — right now.



RantWoman votes in WA, not in SC


RantWoman still thinks it would be just fine if there were two women on the SC Senate ballot.


In the meantime, RantWoman is not sending anyone any money in this race!

Cenk Uygur on peace options?

#Iran #Israel #Oman #negotiations


From Belle

Let's talk about Iran giving Trump new demands….


From Cenk Uygur

BREAKING: More DISASTROUS News About the War! No Way Out?!




(Cenk on "balance of power"

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Scott Bessent making himself irrelevant? You broke it; you bought it!

 #Iran #StraitOfHormuz #commodities #Houthis 


In case anyone is tempted to take US Secretary of the Treasury seriously about world trade.


OR is Secretary Bessent trying to deflect attention to some ship movement, some or all of which may be covert, eg sailing "dark."

Friday, August 7, 2026

Ukraine Russian Iran Kleptocracy

#Ukraine #Russia #WildBerries #OilProduction #PersianGulf #Iran #NorthKorea #BallisticeMissiles #Europe


RantWoman is posting two videos with divergent themes in one post for convenience.


Terminology note: WildBerries is described as the Russian version of Amazon. Its CEO is a Russian guy who lives in China


RantWoman should probably find a less snarky way to suggest that there have to be better ways out of fossil fuel dependence than the current war(s)

 

How do President #StableGenius and fam want to make money in Ukraine



The Patriot deal / non deal
"What is the mechanism by which dissatisfaction translates into action."
"The remains an ambiguous opaque ...player."
A possible mass mobilization? Importation from everywhere.
The coalition of autocracies: Russia, China, North Korea, Iran
Gulf states wanting Ukrainian interceptor technology
"Sometimes a smaller power winds up with advantages."

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Sal on the most recent Iran Oman proposal

#Iran #Oman #MoU #InternationalLaw #WarRiskInsurance


NO military solution but will President #StableGenius find the off ramp???

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Kazakh President Tokayev gives Putin What For and Russians tell him to go to N Korea

 #Russia #Kazakhstan #Ukraine #China


Serious counterpoints to Russian propaganda point




OMG. Putin is at least as pathetic as President #StableGenius
content warning. "Human safari"
US and French intelligence sharing

Monday, August 3, 2026

Testimonials from ordinary Russians

 #Russia #Fertilizer #Crops

 

A great Wind blows the Saturday Blue Angels air show out of the sky.

 What? No Blue Angels on Saturday?


Blue Angels air show canceled Saturday at Seafair due to wind | The Seattle Times


Wind gusts of up to 15 mph?


Neither RantWoman nor Little Sister has EVER heard of the Blue Angels being cancelled because of wind.


Was it REALLY wind?


Not grumpy citizen chatter about noise or surface to air missiles?


Not hacking by the IRGC?


Not a sudden urge to cut back on things like fancy air shows so that the #DoD really truly can afford all the latest war?


Not reticence about whether we even need fighter planes if everyone is busy hitting each other with better and fancier drones?


Shush RantWoman. Settle down and enjoy the peace and quite.


But Wait, videos for people who really LIKE air shows.


This must have been the Friday show.

Blue Angels July 2026 Seattle SeaFair


For anyone who might actually think a ride-along is FUN

KOMO's Molly Shen takes flight with the Blue Angels over Seattle

A few seconds here and there that might evoke motion sickness.

Listening to some of the details of the different maneuvers, RantWoman will NOT comment about the 15mph wind cancellation 


Seattle Seafair Blue Angels Airshow 2026




But wait! Couldn't we put some of that flying talent to work fighting wildfires? Just wondering.

Sunday, August 2, 2026

Snapshots from the Ukraine Russian war

 #Ukraine #Russia #Oil #EnergyEconomy #Crimea


Ukraine attacks on Russian oil production facilities and energy market



Putin Has Completely Lost Crimea | Paul Warburg

pedantic point in passing: Ufa is NOT all the way to Siberia. It's near the Volga river