Those Countries Boycotting Eurovision Because of Israel Can Always Hold Their Own Contest to Support Hamas

Because Israel is being included in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, public broadcasters from Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain have announced they will not participate.

I am sure that more will join the boycott.

Well, those who choose to boycott Eurovision can always hold their own song contest. 

Of course, Jews would not be allowed to participate and monies raised would go to Hamas.

One might say the above is an extreme statement, but in publicly refusing to share the stage with the world's only country with a Jewish majority, it is abundantly clear that Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and possibly others support Hamas and its efforts to eradicate Israel. 

After all, Ireland very recently elected a President who claims Hamas "is part of the fabric of the Palestinian people." When city councilors in Dublin were thwarted in their efforts to rename Isaac Herzog Park following public outrage from the local Jewish community, they derided them as being part of "the Zionist lobby." Spain's Prime Minister called for Israel to be banned from all international athletic competitions amid violent pro-Hamas gatherings which disrupted its Vuelta a Espana cycling race. Meanwhile, Israeli soccer fans and families out for a day at the waterpark are assaulted in The Netherlands as synagogues in Slovenia are vandalized with slogans such as "Jews are the evil of the world."

At this point, you are either with Israel, or you are with Hamas. 

Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain have chosen Hamas.

Israel chooses freedom and with it, the Eurovision Song Contest which it has participated in regularly since 1973.

UK Police Use Misinformation to Ban Israeli Soccer Fans from Attending Match

Back in October I commented on the efforts by law enforcement in the U.K. to prevent Israeli soccer fans from attending a match between Aston Villa F.C. and Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C..

Well, as it turns out, authorities in Birmingham used misinformation to justify this ban:

In the report presented to the club that suggested banning Israeli fans, police presented information about a 2023 match between Maccabi and West Ham, which the report said was the Israeli club’s “last appearance on UK soil to date.”

“The most recent match Maccabi played in the UK was against West Ham in the Europa Conference League on Nov 9, 2023,” the report read.

However, no such match was played, and Maccabi has never faced off against the East London club.

And that wasn't all:

In addition to the fake match, police cited  “violent clashes and hate crime offenses” during a Europa League match in Amsterdam between Maccabi and local team Ajax last November.

The report claimed that Israeli fans threw “innocent members of the public into the river,” that 500-600 of them “intentionally targeted Muslim communities” and that the violence forced the deployment of 5,000 police officers.

Guildford admitted to MPs that he “conflated” information about the Amsterdam incidents in the report, including an example about a “running street battle” that did not take place on the day of the match.

Not only is this anti-Semitism, but it is also defamation. Israeli fans were not permitted to travel to see their team play Aston Villa F.C. on the basis of matches which never took place and on incidents which never occurred. Local law enforcement in the U.K. made up these incidents out of whole cloth. They lied because they did not want to welcome Israeli Jews in their community. 

When the rot of anti-Semitism runs this deep, it is only matter of time before the U.K. abandons democracy and any basic notion of civil society. Unfortunately, this rot is hardly confined to the U.K.

Will Devin Williams Fare Better with The Mets Than He Did with The Yankees?

Last night, relief pitcher Devin Williams signed a 3-year, $51 million contract with the New York Mets.

Nearly one year ago, Williams was acquired by the crosstown New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher Nestor Cortes, Jr. and infielder Caleb Durbin. Here is part of my assessment of the trade at the time:

From where I sit this could be an even trade. Williams and Cortes are free agents after 2025. So, it could be one and done for pitchers. On the other hand, it remains to be seen if Williams can handle the New York spotlight. As for Cortes, I think he will be comfortable pitching in Milwaukee and will add depth to that rotation. Another factor which could give the Brewers the edge in this deal is the fate of Caleb Durbin. Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2019, Durbin spent most of 2024 in AAA ball. With Willy Adames having departed for the Giants, perhaps Durbin will get his big break.

Well, as far as Williams and Cortes, Jr. were concerned it was an even trade as both pitchers had disappointing seasons. I felt sorry for Cortes, Jr. after he gave up 5 HR against his old club during his debut with the Brewers. Cortes, Jr. only pitched in one other game in a Brewers uniform before getting hurt and eventually being shipped off to the San Diego Padres. Last month, he had arm surgery and will most of the 2026 season. The trade, however, wasn't a total loss for the Brewers as Durbin enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign finishing 3rd in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Unfortunately, this ultimately means that the Yankees got the worst of this deal. Williams, who earned NL Rookie of the Year honors during the COVID shortened 2020 season, proved ineffective out of the bullpen and lost the closer role not once, but twice in 2025. Williams first lost the job in late April, regaining in early June only to lose it again in late July once the club acquired David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Complicating matters was Williams' role in ending the club's ban on beards. After posting sub 2.00 ERAs each of the previous three seasons in Milwaukee, Williams had an ugly 4.79 ERA in 2025.

Now that Williams has gone from the Bronx to Queens, the question remains if he can handle the New York spotlight or if he is better suited as a setup man going forward. After all, the Mets are still keen on re-signing longtime closer Edwin Diaz but it remains to be seen if the club is prepared to grant him a five-year deal. Diaz opted out of his contract with the Mets last month which would have seen the club owe him $38 million over the next two seasons.

If Diaz does return to the Mets, then it is very likely that Williams will be Diaz's setup man. If the Mets cannot re-sign Diaz, then do they hand the closer's job to Williams? Or do they pursue another free agent such as Kenley Jansen who saved 29 games for the Los Angeles Angels this past season? Should the Mets pursue the latter course of action could it further affect Williams' confidence by indicating the team doesn't have faith in him as a closer? Or does Williams accept his role as a setup man and be content with his $51 million to pitch in that role? There are worse choices one can face.

How Long Will It Be Before Hegseth Orders Our Military to Kill American Civilians?

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a second strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean back in September which killed two people clinging to the boat following the initial attack. Leavitt stated:

President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narcoterrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on Sept. 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Adm. Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,

Adm. Bradley worked well within his authority and the law to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated. This administration has designated these narcoterrorists as foreign terrorist organizations. The president has the right to take them out if they are threatening the United States of America, if they are bringing illegal narcotics that are killing our citizens at a record rate, which is what they are doing.

For his part, Hegseth is still denying a Washington Post report which states he gave a verbal command to "kill everybody" in the attack. But then why attack the boat again for any other reason other than assure there were no survivors?

Of course, we have absolutely no idea if this was indeed a drug boat or not. But even if it were, the Trump Administration hasn't told us why they cannot simply intercept a boat and seize the drugs before arresting and charging the crew. Perhaps such things are too dull and tedious. Indeed, back in February, then acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told DoJ officials the U.S. should "just sink the boats". In other words, the Trump Administration was setting the groundwork for arbitrarily killing people.

Which brings me to this point. How long will it be before Hegseth (or for that matter President Trump himself) orders the National Guard to give no quarter and kill American civilians for engaging in activity with which they disagree? Considering the tragic shooting last week in D.C. which claimed the life of a member of the West Virginia National Guard, it is only a matter of time before the National Guard will be given leeway to shoot their fellow Americans. 

It is well worth remembering that President Trump rechristened the DoD as the Department of War last September. Hegseth's X profile refers to himself as Secretary of War. As I argued at the time, given Trump's credo of "no new wars", the Department of War's raison d'etre is to wage war against Americans.

Today, the Trump Administration will authorize lethal force against survivors of an attack on an alleged drug boat. Tomorrow, the Trump Administration will authorize lethal force against civilians who disagree with their government. 

Clooney Now Says Pressuring Biden to Drop Out of 2024 Election Was a Mistake

Actor George Clooney now says pressuring President Biden to drop out of the 2024 election was "a mistake."

Clooney made the statement in a joint interview with his Jay Kelly co-star Adam Sandler with The Times of London adding that VP Kamala Harris "was given a very tough task."

And what exactly made Clooney think it wouldn't be a tough task?

In his now infamous July 2024 NY Times op-ed demanding that Biden withdraw from the race, Clooney insisted, “We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate."

Well, Biden dropped out and Democrats didn't hold onto the White House, didn't win the House and lost the Senate anyway.

Yet as recently as April 2025, Clooney defended his decision to write the op-ed calling it "a civic duty."

So, what exactly happened in the past 7 months to change Clooney's mind?

Is it simply to mollify angry fans for the purpose of promoting the new movie? If that is the case, then Clooney is every bit as cynical and self-serving as most politicians. As I argued the night after Biden's no good, horrible debate against Trump:

But I wish those who were calling upon President Biden to step aside would stop to think. In calling upon, President Biden to step aside they are blindly assuming that his successor would automatically defeat Trump. This is not a given. Indeed, Trump would have an incredible head start against a new opponent.

What exactly made Clooney or any other Democrat think that Biden dropping out would assure victory? The answer is that they weren't thinking or at the very least weren't thinking beyond the moment. They just wanted to get rid of President Biden. It was a classic case of ready, fire, aim. 

As far as I'm concerned, George Clooney played right into Trump's hands when he called upon President Bident to abandon his re-election bid and, in so doing, bears considerable responsibility in facilitating his return to the White House. His mea culpa is utterly meaningless.

A Belated Lament for Sarah Beckstrom

On Wednesday night (the day before Thanksgiving), I wrote some thoughts about the attack on two members of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington, D.C.

On Thanksgiving, President Trump announced the death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom. She was sworn in only hours before the attack and is now dead at the age of 20. Trump added that her colleague Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, is "fighting for his life".

The responsibility for Beckstrom's death and Wolfe's injuries are on the shoulders of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national who worked with the CIA and was welcomed into this country after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during the Biden Administration. Nevertheless, neither Beckstrom nor Wolfe nor any other member of the West Viriginia National Guard ought to have been in D.C. engaged in domestic law enforcement. The sort of work Beckstrom and Wolfe ought to have been engaged in would be disaster recovery. The sort of thing of the West Virginia Army National Guard and Air National Guard were deployed for last June following the floods in Wheeling and surrounding areas. Trump's unconstitutional policy and its consequences are on his head.

For his part, Trump plans to honor Beckstrom and Wolfe at the White House. Obviously, it is up to the Beckstrom and Wolfe families to determine whether they take Trump up on his invitation. But if they do I worry that Trump will diminish the solemnity of the occasion and take yet another opportunity to glorify himself and diminish former President Biden or anyone else who happens to peak his ire or express any other petty grievances.

After announcing Beckstrom's death on Thanksgiving, Trump was asked if he planned to attend her funeral. Trump began by stating he "hadn't given it any thought, but it sounds like something I could do." Then he added this thought:

I love West Virginia. You know, I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere. They are great people. I love the people of West Virginia.

In summation, President Trump deploys Sarah Beckstrom to D.C. where she is murdered by a terrorist. Her life is snuffed out at 20 years of age. When asked if he will pay his respects, Trump gives no thought to this young woman. Instead, Trump thinks only of himself and tells the world how popular he is in West Virginia.

So, what if Beckstrom had been from another state? What if she had been from neighboring Virginia, a state that Trump did not carry? Or California? Illinois? Massachusetts? What would he have said under those circumstances?

The Beckstrom family is free to choose to honor their daughter as they see fit and if it means including President Trump then that is their call. But given his callous comments, perhaps the Beckstrom family will choose to keep her funeral a private affair and not share their grief with a boastful man incapable of compassion towards others. R.I.P.

Some Thoughts on the Shooting of 2 West Virginia National Guardsmen Near the White House

This afternoon, the day before Thanksgiving, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot a short distance from the White House. 

West Virginia's Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that both guardsmen had died but then subsequently indicated his office had received conflicting reports about their condition. Whatever the conflict, it is agreed that both guardsmen were shot in the head. In which case, there is chance both might not survive their injuries. That this should happen at all is tragic, but that it occurs the day before Thanksgiving makes it that much more heartbreaking for their loved ones. 

A suspect is in custody and has been identified as an Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal who entered the country in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome but subsequently overstayed his visa. Not one to miss an opportunity, President Trump announced following the shooting he will now review the cases of all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. during the Biden Administration.

As far as I am concerned, should Lakanwal be convicted for what he has done (especially if the two Guardsmen die of their injuries) then he should be executed. However, I fear the remaining Afghan refugees, most of whom I suspect managed to go through life without killing anyone, will be subject to collective punishment. I shudder to think what might happen should ICE become involved.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I object to the Trump Administration deploying the National Guard for domestic law enforcement in American cities. However misguided the policy, it does not warrant acts of terrorism and violence. Indeed, such acts of terrorism and violence make it more likely this misguided policy will continue.

Two things stick out for me on a personal note. First, the shooting took place outside the Farragut West station on the Metro. During my only trip to D.C. 13 years ago this month, I took the Metro to Farragut West to attend The American Spectator dinner. Following the dinner, I took a short stroll to the White House. Second, the fact that both National Guardsmen are based in West Virginia which I visited on business this past June. 

I understand these might be inconsequential observations. But for me it puts this tragedy into further context. It serves as a reminder that violence can happen anywhere and at any time and in places one has been. Speaking of places I have been, it is also possible I have walked the same sidewalks as these National Guardsmen.

Yet when I think about it further, a verse from Neil Diamond's "Done Too Soon" comes to mind:

And each one there
Has one thing shared
They have sweated beneath the same sun
Looked up in wonder at the same moon
And wept when it was all done
For bein' done too soon
For bein' done too soon

For bein' done

At this point, I can only hope it isn't done for the two National Guardsmen.