An affection for murderous dictators

 #Trump #Russia #Putin

Monitoring the bear and WTF CIA

 #Russia #BalticRepublics #CIA #Europe #NATO #Article5 #HybridWarfare #StateTerror

#SabotageOperations #Intelligence #ClickbaitMediaBullshit #StoogesForRussia #Ukraine

RantWoman wondered about this entire news cycle when it first broke.

Leaked Report Reveals What Europe Really Thinks About Trump

Adam smith on the proposal to sell weapons to China

 #AdamSmith #China #diplomacy #Iran #StraitOf Hormuz

Posted without comment.

Tanker War 2026

 #Iran #StraitOfHormuz #FreedomOf Navigation #BabElMandab #RedSea #piracy

Lots of technical numeric details: Oil is flowing but nowhere near prewar levels.

US escorts but attacks taking their toll. Prices of transit astronomical

impact of ban on US diesel exports. 

The administration had no idea how starting the war would affect vessel traffic

The #SecDef is not the only idiot in the picture. See Secretary Bessent blithe comment at the beginning of the video.

It's the whole system, not just any one thing.

And some points about VA as a STATE being a focus for troops right on the scene of the war.

More commentary about the USS Abrham Lincoln

 #Logistics #MEntal Health #NuclearEngineer

This pretty much speaks RantWoman's mind.

Sadako: statue due back in 2027

Something genuine, troll- and ad-free flows across RantWoman's screen often enough to persuade her to stay. Today via the Korematsu Institute, information about the preparation of the Sadako statue in a city park across a street from University Friends Meeting.

Enjoy!

Community to build new Sadako statue in Seattle by 2027 | Nichi Bei News

Also, please consider sending money

The Campaign | Sadako Renewal Proje

GOP candidates' lip service to getting out of the Iran war

 #Iran #ICE #GOP

quite the laundry list of tepid comments not even backed up by feeble tgestures

Family and Community in the 21st Century: how we care for each other: ONE interest group

 RantWoman is working at as much "homework" before Pacific NW quarterly meeting as can be managed.

The only interest group that has made it onto the online listing is one by two Friends with a leading to address Christian nationalism. Here is the declaration they want to seed group discernment.

Statement of Faith Toward a Shared Declaration

RantWoman is getting very good at trying to witness movement of God in ways that are not always obvious.

Case in point: The Secretary of War Crimes whose job is to protect Freedom of Religion not cram his religion down others' throats.

Enough said?

Jake Broe: Zelensky at the UN. Putin after his election

 #Ukraine #Russia #MilBloggers #FuelRestrictions #WarCrimes #Europe #sanctions #terrorism #EU

A bunch of videos YouTube served up. All worthy of more commentary than is offered here.

Putin Is About to Make His Most Desperate Move Yet | Inside Russia

Ukraine Just Absolutely HAMMERED Moscow…Again!

Konstantin got out of Uzbekistan

Konstantin FINALLY Got Out of Uzbekistan! He NOW Reveals What REALLY HAPPENED!

"War is coming home to Russia"

And re Greenland

Europe Just Exposed Trump in the Best Way Possible

Blame Volkswagen for Diesel prices?

How Volkswagen’s Flagrant Fraud Screwed Over Russia’s Refineries a Decade Later

Sean Hannity interviews Darline Graham

 #SCsen #DarlineGraham #SeanHannity

If RantWoman were a slightly more responsible commentator, she would go look for the entire interview clipped here. RantWoman is pointedly not offering some observations related to the comments below.

Instead, RantWoman offers the rant she posted in the comments.

Y'all aren't following enough #SCsen social media. Ralph Norman set an example for #GOP candidates everywhere. He lost the runoff to Darline. He said "I don't like it but I accept it." A whole bunch of #GOP voters don't like Darline for a bunch of different reasons. Some of them plan to write in Ralph Norman. Some will vote Democrat. Among Darline's "sins:" --as Commissioner of the SC Commission for the Blind she, HORRORS, had a strong #DEI program --She once gave money to Lisa Murkowski --She supported an SC legislator taking a pro-choice position. --Her travel budget for the year after the pandemic lockdowns ended was about 10x the previous year when NOBODY was travelling either for trainings to maintain certifications or to serve agency clients. As a social services professional and head of a state agency, she certainly would have worked closely with the governor. To me that makes the leap to appointing her to fill Lindsay's seat justifiable but I don't live in SC I get that Darline does not know much about foreign policy. As screwed up as US foreign policy is right now, someone willing to engage about fresh ideas could be really valuable. But I don't live in SC and I can't tell how hot the supposed hot buttons really are.

***********

RantWoman notes to herself:

--There will be a debate. What questions would RantWoman ask

--SC has a lot of both active duty military and vets. Neither candidate is talking about the war but what strands of discontent are there?

Stay tuned.

Jake Broe interviews Eileen Laubacher, running against Lauren Boebert in CO-04

 #CO-04 #Ukraine #Russia #veterans #Iran #NoWithIran #Hegseth #SecDef #VoteVets #MailInVoting

"Stupid wars in the Middle East"

"3-day special military operation"

Full disclosure: RantWoman has visited places in CO-04 a handful of times.

Retired general running against Anna Paulina Luna

 #NationalSecurity #StockTrading #Corruption

RantWoman continually argues with herself: is the point more and better more professional military that treats all branches, all levels with respect: enough money to live on without SNAP, no forever wars, COMPETENT leadership.

OR can we count on people with military experience to bring important insights and make badly needed improvements for EVERYONE.

And we are not even going to go very near comprehensive revisioning of national security. Anyway, another strong woman on a Congressional ticket.

Ian Bremmer speaks about Antonio Gutierres and the UN

 #UnitedNations #AntonioGutierres #AI #InternationalLaw #RuleOfLaw

Really impressive optimistic comments about the use and importance of the #UN

GOP candidates demand end to war...and SOCIALISM???

 #IApol #Elections2026

Shipping hacked?

 

Be afraid. Be enough afraid to pay attention to basic

Putin has Ruined Russia: advice for the next generation

 #Russia #Ukraine

Pithy observations. 

Callie Barr running for Congress in MI-01

 Sometimes RantWoman prefers to let people speak for themselves and then to comment separately. 

Eloquent and concise commentary about one aspect of what is wrong with the current war machine.

Brother Tim Scott preaches Republican unity at Trumpalooza

Saved for a Guest Sermon. 

Praise Jesus

Brother Tim and freedom of religion

Lindsay and his sister worked together in ways that were respected by her counterparts in other states.

She probably can't say that and LORD HAVE MERCY has she said some dumb things.

Half the SC twittervers says she ahd Brother Tim are bot h DEI...

"We've Been Very Protective of them."

 #MiddleEast #USallies #Midterms

Ukrainian Drone development: necessity is the mother of fast cycle invention

 #Ukraine #Russia #DroneWarfare

NO, Ukrainian hits on Russian oil and gas sites are NOT the reason diesel prices are through the roof.

 #Ukraine #Russia #StraitOfHormuz #Kushner #Witkoff

The short version: NO, Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil and gas infrastructure are not the meain reason that diesel prices are through the roof. That would be the #WarOfChoice in the Middle East

Warning: frank discussion of torture.

Ukraine strikes DEEP into Russia

 #Ukraine #Russia #Arctic

What the Ship: shipping disruptions will hit the northern hemisphere first

 #StraitOfHormuz #PanamaCanal #FertilizerTrade #Houthis #SaudiArabia

The Geneva Convention--and Canada

 #WarCrimes #CanadaStrong

Pith from RantWoman's personal Emotional Support Canadian

Have the Houthis seized the Bab al Mandab?

 #RedSea #BabAlMandab #SaudiArabia #EuropeanUnion

Blockading Saudi flagged vessels? 

Trita Parsi On The SHOCKING Developments In The Red Sea

Trump Has a Bigger Problem Than the Strait of Hormuz

President #StableGenius goes golfing in Ireland

 

>

🚨Trump SNAPS As IRELAND Gives Him THE WORST SURPRISE!

President Trump is coming to Ireland; Command Units flown in by military aircraft

Military transporters continue to fly President Trump's cargo into Ireland

Five planes fly President Trump's new cars and motorcades to Ireland 🇺🇸 🇮🇪 

George the Shrub skips Trumpalooza and hosts a 9/11 discussion

 

#911 #NeverForget

David Reddish is one of RantWoman's favorite snarky flaming queen commentators, but even RantWoman needs a balanced media diet. RantWoman will look for some other accounts of W, Condi and their reflections on 9-11.

RantWoman will also discern about whether to go full snark herself about a number of points. But in the meantime.

UT Governor Spencer Cox writes a book on overcoming divisiveness

 #UTpol

RantWoman's first impression of UT governor Spencer Cox was to cringe when he admitted he prayed for days that the person who allegedly shot Charlie Kirk was an outsider. Sorry. The problem appears to be inside the house.

Will RantWoman add his book to her Mean to Read list? Probably not, but RantWoman will definitely cover the situation with prayers for continued dialogue.

You know what insults Jesus?

 #TXpol

RantWoman does not live in TX so maybe the fact that RantWoman is tired of seeing only James Talarico in his ads does not matter. Still, RantWoman would find it unifying to see lots of different faces endorsing Talarico. Just sayin'

But take it away Jesus.

Jimmy Kimmel’s Interview with James Talarico That the FCC Doesn’t Want You To See

And the prologue

Talarico HAMMERS Trump admin amid Kimmel controversy: 'Most dangerous form of cancel culture'

Houthis? Saudis?

 #BabElMandab #Houthis #Saudis #escalation

Math "magic" from the US Secretary of Energy: how many barrels are moving? At what price?

 #StraitOfHormuz #GulfOfOman #ShipToShip #DarkFleet #MoU

Sal talks to Sam Mandani (sp?), founder of Tanker Trackers

BRIEF mention of US escorts. Convoys timed when satellites don't see.

MAYBE get to 85% of prewar average

Iran has lowered oil production to match domestic consumption

Last week two Saudi tankers hit by Iran; Admiral Cooper ordered attacks on 3 tankers

Centcom has hit 12 tankers, 5 of them Iranian

Stephen Rosenberg: Russian media 9-8-2026

 #Russia #Economy #FuelCrisis

RantWoman PROMISES to attempt more content about the latest round of Witkoff Kuchner attempts at diplomacy. The BIGGEST deal: visiting KYIV as well as Moscow.

In the meantime, please enjoy these snippets from the Russian press and consider subscribing yourself.

Vlad Vexler on Germany, AFD, challenges for democracy in general

 #AFD Democracy

RantWoman is no Germany expert, but German dependence on fuel from Russia has long weighed heavily on European politics

Russian Media on the latest visitation by Witkoff and Kuchner

 #Russia #Ukraine

Ukraine Has Found the Weakness Russia Can’t Fix | David Petraeus

Ships getting attacked.

 #Iran #PersianGulf #GulfOfOman #DarkFleet #StraitOfHormuz

Iran Targets Aircraft Carrier - US Strikes Back

Whistleblower report on ICE outrageously cutting corners in hiring.

 #ICE #Thugs

Blistering Commenrary about the #SecDef and the budget

 #Iran #DefenseSpending #StraitOfHormuz #Midterms #EndlessWar #TacticalNukes

Who is speaking out now and what happens after the midterms?

Who is profiting from ICE??? FOLLOW THE MONEY

 #Boycott #Transparency #lauraBerlin #GEOgroup #COREcivic #1A #ConstitutionalRights 

Sal on conflicting reports about what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz

 #Iran #StraitOfHormuz #Houthis #Saudis

How much oil is moving?

Who is hitting whom?

Channels?

Mine clearance?

Who is paying what?

Who is betting on how long all this will last?

Impact of sanctions and choice about what to sanction?

Reserves on land vs at sea

Where to get data? 

Parsing US gummint speak

Who to follow for steady info.

We are NOT at prewar levels

More Ratcliffe Goes to Moscow

 #Russia #Ukraine #CIA #Iran

More theories about why.

Putin makes various decrees and rhetoric flies

Apologies for any duplicate posting

 

Trump's CIA Chief Went to Moscow - did it backfire?

Why Trump's CIA Director Just Went To Moscow — And It's Not About Ukraine

What Is Trump’s CIA Director Doing in Moscow?

Why Did CIA Chief Ratcliffe Visit Moscow?

Weapon of Mass Disruption: what General Petraeus is looking for.

 #Iran #StraitOf Hormuz 

Can global supply and demand  come to a new equilibrium?

Remembering Daniel, and...

 as the conclusion of lots of other moments that belong to a beloved Friend, not to his murderer. RantWoman will continue to hold N, the man's wife in the Light

 Recall:

RantWoman and the RSOF: Remembering Daniel Lytton well

RantWoman and the RSOF: When conversation might be too much, try Mr. GOOGLE. Further memorial.

RantWoman and the RSOF: Memorial with a side of fisheries management.

Finally, the verdict in court: Guilty on all charges. 

Content warning about contents of testimony

Man convicted on all charges in murder of Everett landlord | HeraldNet.com

Ask and ye shall receive

#ICE #CBP #Milo

In today'deportation news:

Deported: Assorted spouses and parents of active duty US military service members

A man from Afghanistan named Khalil whose deportation is evoking a familiar long litany of furious comments from US troops about how he and his family risked their lives to assist US forces in Afghanistan.

Digression: OF COURSE RantWoman does not automatically bless the missions the tropops are on. RantWoman does absolutely think service members, their spouses, and unterpreters, local who assis the US do not deserve the nonsens they are receiving from ICE/CBP.

ON THE OTHER HAND,

GOOD BYE Milo.

So Long

Ta ta

Adios

Adieu

Ciao

do svidaya

Auf Wedersehn 

Does RantWoman need to go on?

MAGA Troll Demanded Mass Deportations — Then ICE Deported Him in ONE DAY

Milo Yiannopoulos Nabbed By ICE

It Finally Happened To This MAGA BIGOT And His MAGA 'Friends' DID IT TO HIM!

 

Milo Yiannopoulos, the British commentator who spent years screaming for zero immigration and on-the-spot deportations, is sitting in a Louisiana ICE cell tonight because he overstayed his own visa.

He walked into the country legally in 2019 and never left.

When his immigration… pic.twitter.com/HGyZJ4rdcV

— Gianl1974 (@Gianl1974) August 29, 2026

Friday night popcorn kernels

There may or may not be
actual popcurn lurking in this cupboard

         Popcorn kernel No. 1

If President #StableGenius wants to keep slapping his name e\EVERYWHERE, after the ravages of deregulation, are there no toxic waste dumps, garbage gyres, uranium slag piles, junkyards, Superfund sites... desperately in need of new names?

Popcorn Kernel No. 2

Recently on one of RantWoman's encounters with theologically very different voices, one person talked about "being covered in the blood of Jesus." All RantWoman could think was "Holy murder scene Batman." Who needs to get sent off for remedial metaphor appreciation?

Popcorn Kernel No. 3

RantWoman has been inappropriately wishing for voodoo dolls of certain public figures. RantWoman has been wondering in Quaker terms what could be wished for as far as the purifying power of prayer or sudden spiritual transformation. 

The CIA Chief goes to Moscowand a swarm of speculation ensues: Why?

 #Russia #Ukraine #Israel #CIA #Iran #Kaliningrad

Why? Let the speculation roll,

What are the Russian papers saying about the CIA director's trip to Moscow?

Why the CIA Chief Rushed to Moscow: Putin’s 3 NATO Targets?

hybrid warfare?

Putin Thinks NATO Won’t Fight Back—That’s How Wars Start

Nukes and Israel / Iran

Video: surge of conscientious objector applications and the #SecDef purge

 Just watch the video

Little Bitches?

 Fond (?) recollections of the US House voting for the Big Bad Bonkers Budget Busting Billionaire Bailout Boondoggle.

Presented in celebration (?) of the announcement that the US debt has hit $40 trillion.

#VoteThemOut. Vote Them all out.

Another big ouch from Senator Darline Graham

 #SCsen #SCpol

Various comments after the SC #GOP runoff. Ralph Norman concession. "I don't like it, but I accept it." ROLE MODEL for the entire #GOP no matter what the President's enablers might be cooking up. Norman also endorsed Nikki Haley, one reason the President bypassed him for endorsement. See video below: Darline Graham: "I have a long career working hard for the people of SC...I know what it's like to be poor and struggling in SC." This is TRUE. She has never run for office but she has worked hard in her profession and is well regarded by counterparts in other states. NO QUESTION she has a learning curve about national security. Sorting that out has to be up to SC voters while I argue with my own state's delegation.

If Darline would stop there and think ...and not just swallow what she is being fed.

A certain war has a lot to do with many economic realities voters are facing. I also lean toward "support our troops. Keet them out of stupid wars of choice" but I have no idea what messaging works in SC. There is another quote about "government run health care." Lindsay adopted her after their parents died so he could list her as a military dependent. Last time I checked, that is GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE. I have not looked at final vote totals but early returns showed that President #StableGenius PLEEEEASE go out and vote" speech probably had an impact in the areas the President won. Also, interesting and worth looking into for final results: Early returns showed 20% of votes for her came as mail-in ballots and 9 % or something as early voting. If the President himself votes by mail and Darline benefited from measures he is trying to get rid of, should he maybe RETHINK?

Speaking VERY charitably, the President is an old guy who needs friends. Unfortunately, friends sometimes have to tell someone that what they are doing isn't working.

Anyway, the country needs the whole conversation, all the pieces here.

Darline Graham Just Betrayed Republicans

Please note: some of Darline's comments absolutely make RantWoman cringe.

Also, RantWoman receives fundraising emails from Democratic candidate Annie Andrews. Putting serious money behind the Andrews campaign makes sense although RantWoman will stick to her witness about supporting only non-partisan measures to support voter turnout and fight vote suppression.

Declarations of Conscientious Objector status skyrocket

 Posted here because RantWoman cannot locate the Brian Tyler Cohen video about this topic.

BOMBSHELL: Troops allege Hegseth and Trump pushing them to VIOLATE laws as discharge requests SURGE

Anti-Transgender measures in KS

 Posting as is.

By no means is RantWoman in touch with all the other places where things like this are happening.

News bait for news junkies: CIA director makes very short trip to Moscow

 #Russia #Ukraine #CIA #NATO #CyberWarfare

RantWoman has no opinion about all the threads of speculation,

CIA Director Suddenly In Moscow As NATO Prepares For Russian Attack

Did Russia Just Attack Germany? The CIA Chief Rushed to Moscow

Now iit's The Damage Report ranting about Darline Graham.

 #SCsen #SCpol #DarlineGraham

Darline Graham has decades of professional experience as head of a state agency. She is probably good friends with the governor, She did not know why Taiwan is important in a debate but SHE CAN LEARN. The President is an old guy who needs a friend. Unfortunately, sometimes it falls to friends to tell someone that what they are doing is no working. Is it too much to hope Darline might be that friend? LOTS of cringeworthy moments during the runoff so I am not making bets. I have a ridiculous sexist bias though: The news is all Epstein, Epstein, Epstein #GOP pedophiles and pedophile enablers. I think it would be great to have two women going head to head in November. Darline is trying to say things that make me cringe for example about immigration. And I am not excited by her Dem. Opponent claiming that decades of professional work in state government is no qualifiations. Finally, for everyone in SC who says people out of state should stay the hell out, two points: Because of Darline's professional background she is known by people in similar roles from other states. Also, the people of SC like the people of other states have much to gain from electing a Congress that can work for the US people, not jut get mad and go home when things get hard. Could Darline pull any of that off? Who knows? I am just tired of everyone in the media dissing her background.

The Russian Far East: Russia INVITING IN immigrants from N Korea and China

 #Russia #China #NorthKorea #immigration

Who controls the territory?

The Russian Far East is emptying of people and growing lots of homes--in ports involved in trade with North Korea and China

As an aside: Happy Ukraine Independence Day.

Economic sanctions did not produce regime change in Iraq or .. or.... Why does anyone think they will work in Iran?

 #Iran #Sanctions

What the Ship 8/24

#Iran #StraitOfHormuz #Houthis #BabalMandab #BlackSea #Ukraine #Russia #grain #Oil #WarRisk #AcrticRoute #China #Canada #PanamaCanal 

Latest survey of all the shipping hot spots and trade flows.

Useful real data to check what the US government asserts about oil flows from through the #StraitOfHormuz

global food and energy prices likely to remain high.

shift of shipping patterns northward as polar ice lessens

Echoes of Fort Chicago: USS Abraham Lincoln

The conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are appalling. There is NO EXCUSE for supplying plenty of ordnance and no food.

Also note: the percentage of black and brown people serving in the military way exceeds their percentage in the general population.

This is 82 years after a different disaster discussed here.

Well-read Black Girl on Labels

 Posting this here just because

The Sisters of Charity in NY Take on ,,,,

 

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

They Couldn't Hide It! Body Language Analyst Reacts to Candace Owens/Andrew Wilson EXPLOSIVE Debate!

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.

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

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.

Russia: petrol queues, pickles and an anti-war party barred from the election

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

Ukraine Will Soon Strike Russia’s Most Important Chokepoint (WORSE than the Crimean Bridge)

Putin Ordered a RETREAT... 160,000 Troops SACRIFICED for NOTHING

Putin Fears DEATH Is Coming After Female Assassin Takes Out Putin's War Criminal

Drones war game with heavy armoed vehicles

    Ukraine Just Did Something Insane Nobody Saw Coming

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?

Did Ukraine Just Destroy a North Korean Train Packed With Ballistic Missiles?

And a hit on Wildberries in Voronezh

Ukraine's SMARTEST Move of the War…

The nuclear button is still a REALLY bad idea

 #NuclearWeapons #MadmanTheory  #Iran #Oman

Bombing allies also a DUMB idea

Trump Is PANICKING About Losing War

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.

How to be a good friend in the face of tragedy has been on my mind, and undoubtedly on the the mind of many who have friends affected by the Spokane Complex fires. It was the inspiration for this column.https://t.co/EehLbzjKxm pic.twitter.com/fW9U22yAD6

— Sue Lani Madsen (@SueLaniMadsen) August 16, 2026

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.

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.

'The problem is not the ship, it’s their LEADERS': Trump shrugs off USS Lincoln CRISIS | COMPILATION

Some other links

BREAKING: Trump Says USS Lincoln Deployment Hasn’t Gone on “Nearly Long Enough” | Command Post

Hegseth CRASHING After Horrible Condition Leaks SHAME Him

And the #SecDef has a go with insider trading

Pete Hegseth PANICS as DAMNING Secret Goes Public!

The "Golden Dome:" another dumb weapon system idea

 In case anyone needs some "do not build this" pointers

Russia threatens global shipping to counter European seizures of shadow fleet and all sorts of other things occur

 #Russia #Ukraine #shipping 

Ukraine's Air Force Defied Every Military Rule (And It Worked)

Russia’s FSB Hid in a Paradise Resort… Then Ukraine Turned It Into HELL

Putin Crossed Romania's Red Line... The Retaliation Was BRUTAL

Putin's Pacific Refinery ERUPTS 4,000 Miles From Ukraine — Kremlin SILENT | Ben Hodges

The delivery is definitely AI. Believable citation of incidents. 3 hard choices at about minute 14

Putin’s Generals Died in a Moscow Restaurant BOMBING… FEAR Spreads Through Russian Ranks

Putin’s Generals Died in a Moscow Restaurant BOMBING… FEAR Spreads Through Russian Ranks - YouTube

Pet peeve: if your reporting requires you to fling around Russian names and place names, please, pretty please learn to pronounce them correctly.

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?

Putin’s Draft Just IGNITED A MASSIVE Nationwide Hunt

Russia’s economy just screamed for help. No one answered.

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?!

Ana Has Officially Been Lego-fied

(Cenk on "balance of power"

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."

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

Anne Applebaum on Iran, Ukraine, and Trump’s Kleptocracy

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."

Sal on the most recent Iran Oman proposal

#Iran #Oman #MoU #InternationalLaw #WarRiskInsurance

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

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

Russians DEMAND Putin to FLEE to North Korea

OMG. Putin is at least as pathetic as President #StableGenius

content warning. "Human safari"

US and French intelligence sharing

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.

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

Russian Missile HITS Poland...—Then NATO's Response Was INSTANT and BRUTAL

Lawrence O'Donnell on war and President #StableGenius

#GOP #Iran  

Lindsay Graham, known among other things for bringing home the bacon.

#LindsayGraham

Lindsey Graham Gets Eulogized, the DNC Gets Scammed & the War in Iran Gets Reheated | The Daily Show

Spoiler alert: get started wth Jordan Klepper.

"Lindsay never met a war he didn't like."

Chair of the Finance Committee with a big hand in the Big Bad Bonkers Budget Busting Billionaire Bailout Boondoggle

RantWoman is trying to locate a Lindsay Graham memorial clip talking about all the money the late Senator Graham was able to bring home to SC: Lord help us. The words come from PResident #StableGenius or at least one of his speechwriters.

Being in sync with local SC needs--and federal tax dollars--is probably one of Darline Graham's greatest strengths. Unfortunately, is this orientation going to get her tarred in a primary campaign that now features a total of SIXTEEN candidates all probably vying to prove how anti-tax and eager to cut spending they are?

WATCH LIVE: Lindsey Graham funeral service held in South Carolina

Please at least appreciate this for the cultural phenomenon of a Southern Megachurch.

Pretty rocked up rendition of Amazing Grace

FULL: Lindsey Graham funeral service at Washington National Cathedral

"Lindsay Graham never met a war he didn't like." ???

One-minute video parade of all TWELVE people in the SC #GOP primary. 3 appear to be women.

Sen. Lindsey Graham's funeral continues in home state, nine candidates remain in race to fill seat

South Carolina Honors Lindsey Graham With State Funeral, F-16 Flyover and Final Procession | AQ1G

Unity? Sense of the Meeting? Consensus?

1. The SENSE OF THE MEETING at NPYM's annual session is clearly to go forward in steps to affiliate with Friends General Conference. This was not by a long shot only RantWoman's doing, but RantWoman is clear in her Light two years ago to listen to a Friend from Missoula and Friends were well-led in two years of discernment over a topic that first arose 20 years ago.

2. It does NOT seem to RantWoman that the room was at unity since one Friend spoke unambiguously about not being in unity with the movement but also not wanted to be recorded as a separate voice. RantWoman is going to risk mishearing this Friend's concern based on what RantWoman knows of this Friend's Light: the specific concern expressed was about Friends getting drawn too much into themselves. 

One Friend noted that FGC does have space for dialogue among the many strands of Quakers. RantWoman is not clear how that point might speak to the Friend who spoke and who has strong ministry beyond the bounds of Quakers but RantWoman did not jump up and down about nuances not expressed in the room when minutes were edited.

RantWoman somewhat shares this Friend's concerns since RantWoman is also called to be a Quaker presence in many spaces where that is challenging. It is not always clear to RantWoman whether another Quaker project is where she is most called to spend energy. RantWoman is also VERY grateful to Friends in a writing workshop through FGC who just held the space one time when RantWoman just needed to sob about very visual metaphors.

3. Friend have spoken with great respect about FGC anti-racism work and youth resources

4. To RantWoman's ear one thing which helped the room find unity was clear statements from two Friends about how FLGBTQC and in particular Friends' space for transgender concerns supported them in important conversations with loved ones about life experience and transgender realities.

5. RantWoman very much appreciates voices from FGC present in person and on Zoom to up hold the Clerk.  RantWoman also appreciates many FGC resources. 

6. One of these days, RantWoman is going to summon "Dial-a-Tirade" about Quaker books with no audio book options. Quakers have to get in line, though. The blind author of a book about non-drivers also had to do extra steps and the audio version of a book aimed at lots of people with disabilities appeared months after the print edition of the book appeared. And if Quakers have to wait in line about this particular sample of RantWoman "good trouble," OH WELL. RantWoman will though start with steps to figure out whether any of Mateo Hansen's books are available in alternate formats.

7. Friends should all celebrate: Quaker capacity for public word-smithing is alive and well and the questions of unity, unity with spirit, sense of the meeting, and consensus thrive as a zone where Quakers are very good at the local version of angels dancing on the head of a pin. RantWoman as a former Recording Clerk also always holds in the Light the person brave enough for public editing.

Freedom of the Sea is not Free

 This item speaks of many sea-borne flash points.

Ukraine attacks ship in the Caspian Sea. Whose ship?

 #Ukraine #Iran #Russia #Israel #CaspianSea

RantWoman posts these two items just to note one of many events in sequence.

Ukraine Just Hit Iran and The Consequences Are Enormous

Right Sharing of World Resources: the true link, plus tirades!

#SimpleMeal #AI 

 Dear Readers

RantWoman has plenty of tirades available. First though, RantWoman invites readers interested in very down-to-earth projects supported by a Quaker organization to go straight to 

Right Sharing of World Resources | Equity & Community Development

sign up for the email list and find the link to donate.

From now on, RantWoman is probably going to repeat this exhortation every year when NPYM Annual Session invites Friends to a "simple meal" of beans, rice, and this year greens.

RantWoman eats beans and rice all the time. RantWoman eats beans and rice enthusiastically, with lots of variation. RantWoman just cannot get into the idea of making a special effort to eat beans and rice. Bon Appetit to all Friends drawn to this exercise.

The main subject of RantWoman's tirade: CoPilot. The Microsoft AI powered search engine. Other perpetrators of AI do the same thing. Somewhere down a couple paragraphs, if one is lucky and persistent, one can find the actual link one precisely asked for. BUT FIRST, please enjoy at least two paragraphs of slop to WASTE ONE'S TIME. And for this we are supposed to want to assign all our land and water and ... to big tech companies to build more data centers? Absolutely Freaking NOT!

The "near abroad" lectures Putin on the war on Ukraine

#Kazakhstan #Ukraine #Russia #Tokayev

RantWoman's attention has somewhat been elsewhere, but the carnage, corruption, and intrigue continue. Kazakhstan's President Tokayev telling Putin off is something notable.

Quakers resist ICE in MN

 #ICE #Minneapolis

Posted with admiration and the admonishment about need to inspire more resistance everywhere and among everyone of good will.

Jacob Hoopes surrenders to begin serving 900 days in prison

For the record:

1. RantWoman is a judgmental WITCH about any event where a law enforcement officer gets hit in or near the eye because a protestor throws a rock. Doesn't matter the protest. Doesn't matter if the protest is about odious and despicable official behavior. RantWoman as a legally blind / blind / low vision (choose a label) person is just a judgmental WITCH.

2. RantWoman is also a judgmental witch about everything to do with ICE. RantWoman is happy to pray that all will immediately repent, re-evaluate their lives, and work for real justice.

3. RantWoman has gone to jail more than once for actions related to protesting. Every single time, RantWoman winds up reflecting on her own privilege, By privilege, RantWoman means not only big differences between her life and the lives of others around her but also the number of potentially awkward moments when RantWoman hears "Good for you."  See also the history of early Quakers going to prison for practicing their faith and turning into giant prison reformers. What will that bode, for Jacob and for everyone following his case.

With that as intro:

Hoopes Begins 30-Month Prison Sentence at Minimum-Security Camp in Oregon [Updated] - Friends Journal

from the Daily Bulletin at Annual Session

Dear NPYM Friends,

We dropped our son Jacob Hoopes off at prison in Sheridan, Oregon, this afternoon. Our hearts are heavy, but our spirits are buoyed up by the tremendous love and Light that has been pouring in from all corners of the Earth. Thank you, more than words can say.

We have updated the https://www.900daysoflight.com/ webpage (copy and paste the url) with a brief video of Jacob, which he filmed before surrendering himself. As we said our farewells, Jacob showed his extraordinary courage, present-mindedness, and mettle. I believe in him. And thanks to so much love from so many supporters, he believes in himself, too.

Onward, with love overflowing,

Tom Hoopes

Robert Jacob Hoopes

#98782-511

P.O. Box 6000 – Camp

Sheridan, OR 97378

RantWoman quite likes the "Adopt-a-Day" concept mentioned on the website. RantWoman notes that the earliest available free day is in October. RantWoman would love a way to know what activities will come with every adopted day. RantWoman will continue to spend some part of every day fighting the horrible attitudes among many in the US who have gotten the country and ICE to the outrageous mess where the US currently finds ourselves.

And one venue for this fight: plenty of people in RantWoman's circles who think the country is already full and there are not enough resources that blind people need now so we can't afford to let anyone else in. NO sense at all that defending people's civil rights means defending everyone's civil rights.

Where in the world is Conflict Is A Gift of God Friend?

Spoiler alert: apparently many Friends were wondering whether a certain Friend had perhaps fallen ill. Conflict is a Gift of God Friend was attending a family wedding and did show up in the closing Zoom.

But wait, there's MORE.

Bless your heart to the Friend whose message of hope and reminiscence of events 20+ years ago also, probably unintentionally, summoned Conflict is a Gift of God Friend to RantWoman's mind. The memory: very lumpy ground. Conflict is a Gift Of God Friend dragging RantWoman and newly adopted white cane across lumpy ground instead of respecting RantWoman's preference for reasonable concrete on the sidewalk. 

This was only the first of several Grab the Blind Person and Bless Them moments before RantWoman decided just not ever to try to go walking with Conflict is a Gift of God Friend.

The latest from Karoline Leavitt

 #Economy #SNAP #Affordability

A fresh new crop of lies to bust through.

The base that voted for President #StableGenius is going to take a heavy hit from all the health care medicare cuts and jumps in gas prices, food.

RantWoman frequently finds this channel irritating, but tonight it lays out a whole bunch of points.

How many ways COULD war get worse?

#Iran #Ukraine #russia #NorthKorea 

"It is long past time for Congress to intervene to stop a war that has no real objectives or strategy."

But instead will these hypotheticals be turned into excuses to expand...?

Sal Surveys big shipping stories

 #StraitOfHormuz #BabElMandab #BlackSea #PanamaCanal #ArcticRoute #EuropeanRiverSystem #ClimateChange #Russia #Ukraine

Black Sea Escalation: Ukraine Shifts Tactics to Target the Dark Fleet

TLDR: no country realizes the damage being done to global trade.

Darline Graham is IN, running for a full term!

 #SCpol #DisabilityPrideMonth #SenatorGraham

RantWoman would LOVE to see an all-women Senate Race in SC.

But RantWoman, aren't you being sexist or WOKE or #DEI?

1. People decide all-men races are just fine all the time. It's women's turn. Plus, I dunno, maybe women's insight can help wring justice and accountability out of endless Epstein sludge. But first, get through the primary OF COURSE

2. Woke?

Yep. During the #DonSnoreleone administration, candidates who can stay awake are already ahead of the game.

3. #DEI?

Dignity Enthusiasm Integrity?

Dedication Excellence Influence?

Diligence Equality Investment?

Disability Eagerness Initiative.

What's not to like?

Judging by the interview here, newly appointed Senator Graham already sounds like an astute politician, so much so that RantWoman is going to have to work to contain her reflex desire for anyone endorsed by President #StableGenius to LOSE.

No, that also is not automatically an endorsement. RantWoman has resolved not to give money to partizan campaigns but will definitely be supporting projects to get people registered, fight vote suppression, and stay on top of any efforts to subvert the election process.

RantWoman will also be treading carefully about hopes for voices that undo many of the worst most inhuman policies of the current administration.

Watch the Darline Graham interview. Skip the Mitch McConnell death watch.