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Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Texas announced her bid for the US Senate yesterday with a video in which she listens implacably while President Trump insults her. The President sarcastically brands Crockett the “new star of the Democratic party.” “Wait until she gives it back,” tweeted Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Moron).
“Turning Texas blue is what I want to talk to y’all today. There are people who say ain’t no way. We tried it 50 kinds of ways,” Crockett said in yesterday’s campaign announcement speech. “Let me be clear: y’all never tried it the JC way… they have no idea what Crockett’s crew will do!”
Later, on CNN, Crockett said that she doesn’t need to convert Trump’s supporters. “That’s not our goal,” she said. In her mind, there’s a hidden bloc of voters out there in Texas that refused to support normal Democratic candidates such as Beto O’Rourke and Colin Allred. They will apparently push Crockett over the top.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Crockett is someone with “a big, strong national voice” – you can say that again – while Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania branded her a candidate “Republicans want to run.” Cockburn, who enjoys craven political entertainment above all other forms, heartily endorses her campaign.
On our radar
RFK JR.’S WINTER ARC At the behest of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a pull-up bar was installed in Reagan Airport Monday. Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr. used it to work out in front of the press.
BACK TO PENNSYLVANIA President Trump is headed to the state where it all got going for him during his first campaign. He will speak in Mount Pocono tonight to assuage Americans’ concerns on affordability.
AUR NARRR Over a million social-media accounts held by Aussies under the age of 16 will be deactivated this Wednesday. Australia’s world-first social-media ban for children has been met with controversy, with some seeing it as a form of censorship.
Minnesota not-so-nice
An amusing spat has been playing out between various outlets over who deserves credit for reporting out the welfare-fraud scandal in Minnesota’s Somalian community. The chief actors are the 19th-century pastiche paper County Highway, who published a detailed report by Armin Rosen last month, and Manhattan Institute outlet City Journal, whose contributors Christopher Rufo and Ryan Thorpe intoned on November 19, “The Largest Funder of Al-Shabaab Is the Minnesota Taxpayer.” The New York Times followed up with their own write-up 10 days later.
“We broke this story wide open with our investigation,” Rufo tweeted after the Times follow-up. “Sorry, but we beat you by a week on this story, with deeper and more accurate reporting,” responded the official County Highway account to Rufo. “Learning to give credit to others when it is due will only enhance your credibility as a journalist.”
One rather blue reply points out that both outlets are “six years late to the ‘breaking story’” and demands, “Apologize To @billglahn for being arrogant and disrespectful.” “Suck dick,” responded the official County Highway account.
Cockburn has a long history of giving credit where it’s due – and a fondness for the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where he will spend the festive season. Allow him, therefore, to sing the praises of Bill Glahn and Scott Johnson, who have dedicatedly pursued this and other Somali scandals via the Center of the American Experiment and Powerline sites, respectively.
“I can only say I covered the Feeding Our Future case because I thought it was important and wanted to make it a national story. I tried and failed,” Johnson told Cockburn. “I obviously need a course in public relations or self-promotion.” Cockburn is happy to provide lessons to our friends in the north any day.
World Cup draw festivities with Mexico and the UK
The Mexican Cultural Institute hosted an exuberant event on Friday, succeeding the FIFA World Cup draw, with several Mexican diplomats and local celebrities in attendance.
A live mariachi band played in the back room. Attendees drank margaritas through tamarind and tajin candy straws. While waiting in line at the open bar, Cockburn noticed the walls were covered in colorful murals – a novelty in a city dominated by white, black, navy and the occasional pop of red – and took a blurry photo. Our old party boy can’t seem to get his phone camera clean.
Word on the street is that earlier that day President Claudia Sheinbaum also visited the Institute, following an hour-long conversation with President Trump. “She said that the relationship [with the United States] is very strong,” a young woman who had had the chance to speak with President Sheinbaum at the Institute, told Cockburn. Despite the game of telephone required to receive the message, he is passing it on in the spirit of international unity.
“Today is a very important day for North America,” Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán began his remarks. “We are the only region that can compete with the rest of the world, generating 30 percent of the global GDP. President Taft gave us this house as a gift. The strongest diplomacy is cultural. Fútbol, like the murals [on the walls], is a phenomenon.”
Speeches were delivered en Español. Cockburn was lucky enough to have a translator standing next to him. The governor of Jalisco declared that Guadalajara would be the most Mexican World Cup host city. “Jaliscan pride!”
The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García – a heartthrob – also took the stage alongside his wife. “We may not have beaches like in Jalisco but we have access to Texas,” he said. There would also be sushi with chicharrones and chili in the new high-rise tower he’s building – hard to resist.
Clara Brugada, a top government official in Mexico City, told Cockburn that when the World Cup comes to the capital, every corner of the city will feel it. Soccer festivals and a tournament for children of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds will take place alongside the World Cup games. The US might take note. Among the three North American countries gearing up to host the World Cup in 2026, it appears Mexico is the most committed to touching proverbial grass.
World Cup-draw festivities continued over at the British Embassy, where a brunch was hosted Saturday morning. The party was complete with the requisite bagpipe player greeting guests at the entrance, an endless stream of mimosas and the best smoked salmon Cockburn has ever had. Soccer-themed decorations included winter scarves representing the three host countries and rambunctious children. The dress code was “Smart casual. Jerseys.” Multiple men wore sport coats over their favorite team’s kit.
Acting UK ambassador James Roscoe addressed the room. Host-city announcements then began to play on the television. When it was confirmed that England would be playing their opening match against Croatia at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Texas, Roscoe leaned over to speak with Cockburn’s circle to say: “That’s going to be HOT!”
“The dome,” Cockburn’s companion quickly replied. “Don’t worry, the stadium has a dome.”
“Ohh, I see,” he said nodding and walking away.
Spotted on Saturday: Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance, Representative Ilhan Omar, Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Andrew Giuliani, Will Lewis, Antonia Hitchens, Harry Cole, Bev Turner, Raheem Kassam and Connor Stringer.
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