Americans didn't want to be in Afghanistan, but we did not want to be defeated.
In the wake of Biden's debacle, his administration and its defenders are offering up all kinds of excuses. The worst of these is that they "inherited" a bad deal from Trump. Not only have they done away with lots of other things, including international agreements (see Central America), that Trump negotiated, but the fact is that the negotiations with the Taliban began under Obama -- and they were far worse than anything Trump did. (Remember the Beau Bergdahl prisoner swap -- 5 Taliban generals for one deserter?) Trump, at least, dropped the MOAB before negotiating, and broke off talks when there was violence.
It's really demoralizing to think of the U.S. suffering this kind of humiliation. It places us all in danger, and our allies as well. I wondered last night whether the American moment really is over -- how much we are at risk of future attacks, and whether the freedom we have taken for granted is doomed to fade in the face of growing Chinese power and the machinations of other rival powers.
The answer, per Charles Krauthammer, is that decline is a choice. Now, it's true that there are many Americans pushing for decline -- all the wokesters, and the BLM protesters, and the Antifa kids, and the college professors, and the media types, and Hollywood. In short, the intellectuals, the culture brokers, the elite.
But there are many of us who will refuse to accept this defeat -- and who will turn our energies, instead, to building an opposition, and holding Biden, and the media that supported him, accountable for this failure. More than that, we are going to replace his odious administration with a true pro-American one. It may be a return of Trump; it may be another candidate; but it is going to happen.
The first step is the California recall. Then the midterms. Then 2024.
We are coming.
This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
...
Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
