UK Greens Vote to Declare Zionism as Racism & Support Replacing Israel with a Palestinian State

The UK Greens convened in Brighton yesterday and voted to declare Zionism as racism and to replace Israel with the "establishment of a single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital."

I'm sure Hamas chortled at the notion of a democratic Palestinian state as I am sure Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently serving the 21st year of his four-year term as President of the Palestinian Authority.

Nevertheless, I have no doubt Hamas and the Palestinian Authority welcome any measure by a Western political party that delegitimizes Israel as a nation state.

It should be clear there is nothing racist about Zionism. Indeed, Zionism is at its essence the establishment of a Jewish homeland and Jews have ancestral ties to Israel.

But in declaring Zionism as racism (as the UN did half a century ago), the Greens have taken the first step in dismantling Israel and replacing it with a Palestinian state.

Of course, in order to supplant Israel with a single Palestinian state would involve more October 7th attacks.

Simply put, replacing Israel with a single Palestinian state requires the murder of every single Jew living in Israel.

In other words, an actual genocide.

For this is what Free Palestine truly means.

It should be noted that an amendment stating Green Party members who attend "Zionist synagogues" would not be targeted was defeated.

It is also worth noting that Green Party Leader Zack Polanski was notably absent from the proceedings as he is ostensibly campaigning in a by-election in Holborn and St. Pancras to replace former UK PM Keir Starmer who stepped down from the House of Commons after being ousted as Labour Party leader by new PM Andy Burnham this summer.

Still, it is a copout on Polanski's part. The fact that the Green Party leader who is currently running for the House of Commons skipped his own party's convention demonstrates how little control he has over the party. Polanski couldn't have stopped it even if he so desired and all evidence suggests he had no desire to say stop. Why would he? He has openly tolerated anti-Semitism within his party for months now notwithstanding being Jewish himself. 

The inmates are officially running the asylum that the UK Greens have become. They have traded the green of environmentalism for the green of Islamism as represented by Hamas. The UK Greens are now little more than a Hamas front. 

Goodbye to Charlie's Kitchen - For Now

 

If you have spent any amount of time in and around Harvard Square in Cambridge, one of its landmarks is Charlie's Kitchen. 

It is part dive bar, part diner and all around a good place to be. When we were roommates, no trip to Harvard Square was complete without a stop at Charlie's. Indeed, I remember when we attended the Bruins Stanley Cup victory parade in Back Bay 15 years ago, we took a long walk to Harvard Square just to have a bite at Charlie's. I particularly enjoyed their portobello mushroom sandwich although they would discontinue this item. In the absence of the portobello mushroom sandwich, I would settle for a veggie burger or a salmon burger. 

When I moved back to this area more than five years ago, Charlie's was among the things with which I was looking forward to renewing acquaintances. Usually, I would go to Charlie's for a quick bite either before or after taking in a film at the Brattle.

This year marks Charlie's 75th anniversary. Unfortunately, it's not been much of an anniversary. In late January, Charlie's was forced to close due to extensive water damage.

However, I must confess I did not realize this had happened until the Friday of Memorial Day weekend when I went to see Taxi Driver at the Brattle. I ended up grabbing a bite at IHOP. Less than two months later, the IHOP would be shuttered.

A few days ago, it was announced that Charlie's would be selling off everything at a public sale which took place both yesterday and today. I ventured by Charlie's today and bought a chalice with a sticker bearing Charlie's logo for $15.

The sale is intended to help finance the gutting of Charlie's and to rebuild it. Of course, nothing is the same as it ever was before. Yet a Harvard Square without Charlie's is unthinkable. 

When Charlie's might reopen is anyone's guess. But when it does, it will be a good thing. Especially if they bring back the portobello mushroom sandwich.

Democrats Shouldn't Be Overconfident About Retaking The Senate

In one month from today, the 2026 mid-term elections will take place.

It is widely expected that Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives.

Recently polling would also suggest that Democrats could also retake the Senate.

Democrats need to hold onto the seats they have and win four more to take control of the Senate.

It appears that voters in North Carolina will choose former Governor Roy Cooper as their new Senator with Republicans all but ceding this race.

So, can the Democrats gain three Republican seats? Democrats are banking on former Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio, James Talarico in Texas, Troy Jackson in Maine, Josh Turek in Iowa, former Congresswoman Mary Peltola in Alaska. Democrats also have visions about winning Senate seats in Kansas and Mississippi along with an independent in Idaho.

Let's say for argument's sake the Democrats win three of those seats - Brown in Ohio, Turek in Iowa and Peltola in Alaska. Along with Cooper, that is 4 seats and it gives the Democrats a majority in the Senate.

Well, not so fast.

Remember, the Democrats still need to hold onto the seats they have, and Republicans have a chance to gain Senate seats in Michigan with Mike Rogers, in Minnesota with Michele Tafoya and in New Hampshire with former Senator John Sununu. 

It is true that Abdul El-Sayed has consistently led Rogers in the polling in Michigan, but generally within the margin of error. That's too close for comfort.

The race in Minnesota should really worry Democrats. Given everything which has gone on in Minnesota with ICE this year, one would think that Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan would win in a cakewalk, but the race is a virtual tie. 

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, Democratic candidate Chris Pappas, who currently serves in the House of Representatives, has openly said that Democrats don't retake control of the Senate without retaining NH and is concerned the DNC is taking his race against Sununu for granted. Pappas doesn't appear confident about his chances.

If the scenario that I present comes to pass, then Republicans retain the Senate by a margin of 52-48.

But let's say Trump becomes so toxic that Democrats manage to win two more Senate seats making it a 50-50 Senate. In that case, Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman becomes the next Joe Manchin. Fetterman has become virtually persona non grata in his own party for his stalwart support of Israel and his friendliness towards President Trump. Democrats are going to have to make nice with him and forget any futile attempts to try to impeach Trump even if he is guilty as sin. Republicans will move Heaven and Earth to have him join their ranks. 

This outcome will be very dissatisfying for Democrats. But for better or for worse, this is what democracy looks like.

Thoughts on The Inaugural Cambridge Cat Tour & Meowfest: Too Many People, Too Few Cats

 

This afternoon, I attended the inaugural Cambridge Cat Tour & Meowfest.

Those of you who take the time to read my dispatches will know that cats mean a great deal to me. One of the best things about living in Cambridge is occasionally encountering Remy the Harvard Cat although it has been nearly two years since I last gazed upon him. A year ago, less a day, I spent part of a Saturday afternoon at a cat cafe in Boston. 

So, I was delighted to learn that the City of Cambridge was organizing this event. For everything cats give to us, I don't think we give nearly enough back.

The gathering point for the tour was Dana Park which is situated in Cambridgeport. Much to my surprise, leading the parade was Cambridge Mayor Sumbdul Siddiqui.

The plan was to walk around the neighborhood where we would see approximately 15 different cats. This would take approximately 90 minutes. At the conclusion of the procession, we would return to Dana Park for the Meowfest. 

I think the city underestimated the number of people who would be interested. As we returned to Dana Park, I overheard one of the organizers state that they expected maybe 50 people would show up. Now perhaps that is how many people actually registered to walk. My estimate of the crowd would be 200-300 people. 

While it is great that there are people who want to see cats, the problem is there was a paucity of cats. Or should I say pawcity?

Many of the cats were part of the tour viewed us from the safety of a window. Although a few of the cats were comfortable with the large amount of attention, many were freaked out by the site of hundreds of people converging on them. 

Let us remember that cats are not dogs. They do not take orders. You cannot make them do things they do not want to do. Standing in front of a window to see a large mob is a hard no unless there are treats to follow.

Because of the crowds, it would take 5 to 10 minutes even to get a glimpse of a cat. As a result, there were a couple of instances when I would arrive at a destination only for Mayor Siddiqui to ask us to turn around which caused considerable confusion.

Considering we were in a residential neighborhood, not everyone could use the sidewalk. So, many of us had no choice but to walk in the streets. Although Cambridge PD were accommodating this did have the effect of clogging up traffic. We eventually had to pause to either allow traffic to pass or pause to wait for people to catch up. I will say that Mayor Siddiqui and the Cambridge PD were in close communication with each other in real time. So, they were able to adapt on the fly.

I should note that this event was supposed to take place a week ago but was postponed due to the Nor'easter which brought massive rain and heavy winds. After a week worth of clouds, it was nice to get into the sun in comfortable weather and see parts of Cambridge I don't regularly see up to and including its feline population.

All things considered, with the inaugural cat tour under their belt, the city will hopefully plan more effectively for next year's edition and plan with the expectation that more people will attend. Because people do love cats. It is an idea whose time has come.

Next month, there will be a cat tour in Somerville. Unlike this cat tour, the Somerville Cat Tour is sponsored not by the city but by Tandem Vet Care. Somehow, I missed last year's inaugural edition. In any case, I plan to make up for that error of omission. It will be interesting to see its logistics. Hopefully, this cat tour will have more cats.

Zach Bryan Becomes The Latest Useful Idiot

 

Last night, while performing at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, country music star Zach Bryan and his band sported "Free Palestine" t-shirts. Bryan's drummer Nate Head wore a t-shirt bearing the name of Hind Rajab, the 5-year-old girl allegedly killed by the IDF which Israel is currently probing.

It remains to be seen if this was a one-night only gesture as Bryan is scheduled to perform a second concert at Gillette this evening. In which case it could be argued Bryan and his band merely may be objecting to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's removal Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour for shouting "Free Palestine" during a concert at The Meadowlands earlier this month on free speech grounds. 

But even if Bryan and his band don't don the apparel at other tour stops, the fact remains that when I see someone, anyone, wear a "Free Palestine" t-shirt the message I see is "Kill Jews". When people make the Free Palestine statement, they are not clamoring for Gaza to be freed from Hamas. Wearing a Free Palestine t-shirt once is enough to convince me that you wish my people harm.

In which case, were Macklemore to take his Free Palestine tour to this country, it would not shock me if Zach Bryan were to join his Artists for Anti-Semitism cavalcade. 

Like many who don Free Palestine apparel, I doubt Zach Bryan could find Gaza on a map. But like all demagogic movements, Free Palestine is built on the pillars of hate and ignorance. 

Bryan and his band might be part of the latter pillar. Hell, this might have nothing to do with Macklemore at all. They might just want to be trendy. It could be the case that wearing a Free Palestine t-shirt is current day equivalent of wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt. Yet statements borne out of ignorance have a way of turning actions driven by hatred.

In which case, Zach Bryan has become the latest in a long line of useful idiots. Sadly, this line gets longer with every passing day.

No Sunny Skies for Sonny Gray & The Red Sox

 

(Screenshot of Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray following Game 2 of the 2026 AL Wild Card Series)

There is considerable frustration among the Boston Red Sox and Red Sox Nation follow a sweep in the AL Wild Card by the New York Yankees. 

In my commentary on the series last night, I briefly alluded Red Sox manager Chad Tracy pulling both Game 1 and Game 2 starters Peyton Tolle and Sonny Gray before the end of the fifth inning and the bullpen not rising to the occasion.

It turns out Tracy's decisions, especially in last night's game, proved very unpopular with Red Sox players. Following their elimination, it was clear there were no sunny skies for Sonny Gray:

I think I’m the best pitcher in the American League going through the order the third time. I think that’s a fact. Yeah, I would have liked to live or die with me in that moment but that’s the competitor I am. I think you can probably ask the guys, and they feel the same way. I felt strong, I felt confident, I felt convicted, but what can you do?

I would have liked to have been trusted in that moment.

I don't blame Gray for his cloudy outlook on what was the brightest season of his 14-year MLB career. Gray, who turns 37 next month, posted a career high 18 wins and a career best 2.72 ERA in 29 starts with the Red Sox this season. 

Gray is evidently considering retiring. But if he does return to the mound in 2027, I cannot see him pitching in a Red Sox uniform given his public rebuke of Tracy.

Meanwhile, Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras seemed to take aim at the Red Sox front office led by Craig Breslow:

It's not enough when you have talent, or you have data, or you have computers that are telling you what to do, because this is baseball. The data is here to help us, but at the end of the day, you're going to have to need experience and veteran guys to win games.

Writing for CBS Sports, Julian McWilliams wrote, "Don't be fooled by the summer surge. Don't be fooled by the progress. This season wasn't a success."

However, McWilliams does not define success. Now if success constitutes winning the World Series, then 29 out of 30 teams will have had unsuccessful seasons. But if that is the criteria then there is no difference between a team which makes the post-season and a team which loses 100 games. 

In the space of five weeks, the Red Sox went from the worst record in the AL to claiming an AL Wild Card berth. That is certainly successful even if post-season success was elusive. Of course, what dampens the spirits is the fact the Red Sox have been ousted in back-to-back years by the Yankees.

As such, there will be considerable cloudiness hovering over Fenway through this off-season. Hopefully, things will thaw by spring and perhaps Chad Tracy and whoever is part of the 2027 Red Sox can move past. But if the Red Sox get off to a slow start in 2027, Tracy might end up wearing Alex Cora's shoes three-year contract be damned.

Israelis Passengers & One Brave Indian Pilot Avert Another October 7th In The Air

One week away from the third anniversary of the October 7th attacks, it can be said that the Israeli passengers aboard and Indian born pilot on Flydubai FZ Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv prevented another October 7th and quite possibly another 9/11.

The pilot, identified as Captain Smit Machchhar was repeatedly stabbed by his co-pilot in an effort to crash the plane. Despite his wounds, Captain Machchhar managed to open the door thus allowing several Israeli passengers to access the cockpit and subdue the assailant and quite possibly getting the plane back under control. All of this happened as the plane plummeted 18,000 feet in 90 seconds. Eventually, two other pilots who were aboard the plane would make a safe landing in Saudi Arabia.

Of course, Jew hatred runs so deep there were invariably charges of a false flag operation. At heart, these people are conspiracy theorists and anti-Semitism is the world's oldest conspiracy theory. So, conspiracy theorists are going to spread conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, with AI accelerating the internet these conspiracy theories are going to spread faster than they can be debunked. 

The important thing is that everyone aboard survived.

This is good news and good news is in short supply.

Red Sox Overmatched By Yankees in AL Wild Card For Second Year in a Row

To quote the late Yogi Berra, "It's deja vu all over again."

For the second year in a row, the Boston Red Sox were overmatched in the AL Wild Card Series by the New York Yankees. 

Only this time it was worse. A year ago, the ALWC went the full three games.

This year the Yankees swept the Red Sox outscoring them 18-2.

Yankees ace and likely 2026 AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler was a big part of the deja vu as he fanned 10 batters in 6.1 innings pitched while Ben Rice hit 2 HR and knocked in 6 runs en route to a 9-0 win in Game 1. Both Yankees are natives of Massachusetts.

Things looked better tonight. In the middle of the sixth inning, the Yankees were up 2-1 with the Red Sox scoring their first run of the ALWC on a solo HR by Wilson Contreras. But then the Yankees scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth highlighted by a 3-run HR by Cody Bellinger who had 4 RBI tonight. The Sox would score one other run on a solo HR by Nick Sogard in the 8th inning. But the Red Sox simply could not put together a rally.

Methinks that Red Sox manager Chad Tracy didn't help matters by lifting starting pitchers Peyton Tolle and Sonny Gray before five innings were in the book and with gas in their tanks. Of course, it might not have made a difference. Tracy could have left them in and had either of them been lit up, Red Sox Nation would demand to know why he didn't lift his starters.

In the grand scheme of things, it is a small miracle the Red Sox reached the post-season at all given the early dismissal of Alex Cora and having the worst record in the AL in late June. Tracy exceeded all expectations in the regular season and justly earned a chance to manage the team on a full-time basis.

However, in this series, the Yankees were once again the better team. 

The Bronx Bombers advance to the ALDS against the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays starting Friday evening in St. Petersburg. In the other ALDS, the Chicago White Sox will face the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians after sweeping the Houston Astros in their ALWC matchup.

As always, anybody but the Yankees.

Maine Democrat Senate Candidate Jackson Scolds Jews for Not Using Term Genocide re: Gaza

Maine Democrat Senate candidate Troy Jackson got himself in hot water yesterday for lecturing his state's tiny Jewish population for not being prepared to use the term "genocide" where it concerns Gaza:

It’s unfortunate that there are people here in Maine that don’t like to use that term only because they’re Jewish and what that means to them with the Holocaust. It fits that description, and it is [a genocide].

Jackson would "apologize" for his remarks today:

I believe what’s happening in Gaza is genocide, and I also understand that word carries particular weight for many Jewish families given the Holocaust—the genocide of six million Jews. In trying to acknowledge that, I misspoke and made a generalization about Jewish Mainers’ views that doesn’t reflect what I meant to say.

Yeah, whatever.

Jews comprise less than 1.5% of the population in Maine. That's fewer than 20,000 people. Jackson knowingly and willingly saw fit to scold and publicly shame Jews in his state for being unwilling to accuse Israel of committing genocide.

Jackson is entitled to his opinion, but he is not entitled to his facts. 

To accuse Israel of genocide is to willfully ignore Hamas' genocidal intentions and actions.

To accuse Israel of genocide is to willfully ignore Hamas imbedding themselves within Gaza's civilian population.

To accuse Israel of genocide is to deliberately not making any distinction between Hamas and the civilian population.

To accuse Israel of genocide is to deliberately ignore Israel's efforts to pour in food aid which is stolen by Hamas.

To accuse Israel of genocide is to willfully ignore the fact that Gaza's population has grown.

It is very clear that Jackson knows nothing about the Holocaust, and I don't think he is willing to learn. A visit to the U.S. Holocaust Museum would be wasted on him.

Troy Jackson isn't interested in the facts where it concerns Israel. He simply wished to pillory Maine's Jewish community.

In so doing, Jackson has given Maine's Jews a reason to vote for Susan Collins.

Burnham Claims of "Strictest Possible Bail Conditions" for Suspects in Iranian Terrorist Plot at RAF Fairford Doesn't Inspire Confidence

Notwithstanding UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's disclosure that Iran was involved in the plot to attack RAF Fairford over the weekend, he defended the release of the five suspects on bail.

Burnham claimed the five British nationals were subject to the "strictest possible bail conditions."

Sorry, this simply does not inspire confidence.

Of course, based on personal experience, nothing Andy Burnham says inspires my confidence.

If there are people arrested in connection of being involved in a terrorist attack and are known to the authorities, then it is in public interest that these people be held indefinitely. 

There is no margin for error here.

Besides, what the hell does "strictest possible bail conditions" mean?

These men are free and they are free to commit murder and mayhem.

If these men end up being part of a successful terrorist attack on UK soil, then Burnham will not be residing at 10 Downing Street for very long.

Mamdani Fighting Anti-Semitism is Like Asking The KKK to Combat Racism

 

If nothing else, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has chutzpah.

A man who is one of the leading causes of the rise of anti-Semitism in this country announced a citywide initiative to combat it.

Let's be serious for a moment. I would never ask Mamdani to launch an initiative to combat anti-Semitism. It would be like asking the KKK to unveil a strategy to combat racism.

After all, this is a man who has excused the behavior of anti-Semitic mobs who have blocked entrances to city synagogues, refers to American Jews as "monsters". His rants against Israel have led to Jews being stabbed outside NYC synagogues and congregants being attacked inside NYC synagogues.

As the kids like to say, this is a hard pass.

Schmitt's Creek

 

Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt has become a household name for all of the wrong reasons.

Schmitt, a former Missouri Attorney General, had planned to nail former Special Prosecutor Jack Smith for perjury. In anticipation of this slam dunk, Schmitt's name was bandied about as a running mate for JD Vance come 2028. 

Schmitt asked Smith if he had attended an NBA game between in Atlanta between the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors. Smith had no recollection of attending said game nor being in Atlanta. To which, after holding up a sign of Smith with former Fulton County DA Fani Willis and some text messages, Schmitt accused Smith of perjury before calling him a "dirtbag."

The problem was that while Smith was indeed at a basketball game, it was a college basketball game and a women's college basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes at that. At the time, the Hawkeyes star player was none other than Caitlin Clark. So, the Hawks in question were the Hawkeyes. Also, Smith lives in Maryland.

But even if Smith had been in Atlanta, that would not have established that Smith had met with Willis or her staff. It would have also been peculiar had they conducted their business during an NBA game.

Yet we must keep in mind that Schmitt has demonstrated he cannot discern the NBA from NCAA, men's basketball from women's basketball, Hawks from Hawkeyes and it would seem Steph Curry from Caitlin Clark. How could he discern between Jack Smith being in Atlanta and Jack Smith meeting with Fani Willis? After all, discernment requires diligence and neither Schmitt nor his staff care to exercise it.

And must also keep in mind that he even after his arrogance, dishonesty and hubris was exposed Schmitt kept repeating his lie on The Charlie Kirk Show and with TMZ. So, there will be a portion of the MAGA base who will believe that Schmitt caught Smith in a lie.

Yet I think any aspirations Schmitt might have had to be VP much less President went afoul today. At most, he can either remain in the Senate as a Trump sycophant or perhaps return to Missouri to run for Governor. He'll continue to enjoy the trappings of office and whatever sinecures await after his public service has concluded. But any higher ambitions will be impeded by virtue of being up Schmitt's Creek.

A Belated Thought for PAC

 

Sunday evening came the news of the sudden death of professional wrestler PAC (born Benjamin Satterley) at the age of 40. No cause of death has been released as of this writing though he was found unresponsive in his car outside a restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. No foul play is suspected.

His passing came less than 24 hours after wrestling in the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) PPV All Out in Chicago in a losing effort against Andrade. 

But what I found really eerie was that PAC was one of many AEW wrestlers who paid tribute to Andy Williams (a.k.a. The Butcher) who passed away earlier this month. 

While there were many emotional tributes to The Butcher, PAC's stood out for its brevity and for saying so much in less than 30 seconds:

We always knew you were an anomaly. Too good for this world. So, Andy, I just want to say I love you, man. And you always made sure I knew you loved me too. I miss you my friend. 'Til we meet again. 

Sadly, PAC and The Butcher have met again and far too soon. 

I first remember PAC during his WWE days when he was known as Adrian Neville and later Neville. The match that I remember best was his shot at the WWE Title held by Seth Rollins in 2015. His skill and commitment to his craft was undeniable. While he was never booked to win the big prize he certainly more than held his own whether as the man gravity forgot when he was cheered or as the Bastard when he was jeered. 

AEW will formally pay tribute to PAC on its programming this coming Wednesday. R.I.P.

My Thoughts on The 2026 MLB Post-Season

 

The 2026 MLB post-season picture is complete. 

Let's begin with the AL.

The Tampa Bay Rays won the AL East. It is their first post-season appearance since 2023 & first AL East title since 2021. With the best record in the AL, the Rays earn a first-round bye.

The Cleveland Guardians won their third consecutive AL Central title. It is the Guardians' third consecutive AL Central title and fourth in five years. Since 2016, the Guardians have won 7 AL Central titles but have no World Series rings to show for it as they are in the midst of a drought which goes back to 1948. The Guardians also get a bye in in the AL Wild Card round.

After missing the post-season a year ago on a technicality, the Houston Astros have won their 8th AL West title since 2017. Granted, the Astros finished with a record of 81-81 with manager Joe Espada not returning to manage in 2027 regardless of what they do in the post-season. To put that into perspective, the Astros would have finished 22 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers were they back in the NL Central where they were from 1994 to 2012. Hell, they even finished a game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. But the Astros live to fight another day and will face the Chicago White Sox in the AL Wild Card Series.

The Chisox are a remarkable story with their first post-season appearance since the COVID shortened 2020 season. They are two years removed from losing an MLB record 121 games which they did exactly two years ago today. Last year, the White Sox lost 108 games under first year manager Will Venable. To say, the Chisox exceeded expectations would be an understatement. They won 30 more games than they did a year ago. 

Still, I'm sure the Chisox are disappointed they didn't win the AL Central having led the division for most of the second half of the season. Should the Chisox prevail against the Astros they would get another shot at the Guardians. A footnote on the upcoming White Sox-Astros matchup. The two teams faced each other in the 2005 World Series when the Astros were still an NL team with the Chisox sweeping the Astros and earning their first World Series title since 1917.

The other AL Wild Card matchup will see the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees face each other for a second year in a row. The Yankees prevailed a year ago. But this time there's no Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton. But Ben Rice has picked up where they have left off. Still, they face a resilient Red Sox squad which fired Alex Cora in early April and had the worst record in the AL in late June before winning 32 of 37 games. The winner will face their AL East rival the Rays in the ALDs. 

Now let's turn our attention to the NL.

After missing the post-season last year, the Atlanta Braves won the NL East for the 7th time since 2018 under new skipper Walt Weiss. The Milwaukee Brewers set a franchise record 103 wins en route to their fourth consecutive NL Central title and fifth in six seasons. Meanwhile, the defending back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers won their 14th NL West title in 15 years. With 100 wins of their own both the Dodgers and Brewers earn byes in the NL Wild Card round while the Braves will face the Philadelphia Phillies who reached the post-season by the enamel of their teeth.

The 2026 Phillies have had a season for the ages. The team fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start replacing him with Don Mattingly. Within three weeks, Mattingly had righted the ship. However, the Phillies were on the verge of a 1964 like collapse following a surge from the Arizona Diamondbacks but Mattingly righted the ship once more. If Mattingly navigates the waters against the Braves, the Phillies will face the Dodgers in the NLDS. Of course, Mattingly was Dave Roberts' predecessor at Chavez Ravine managing the club from 2011 to 2015 winning those first three NL West titles. 

The other NL Wild Card matchup will see the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres face each other. As with the Red Sox and Yankees, they will face each other for the second year in a row. The Cubs won last year avenging their collapse against the Friars in the 1984 NLCS. Whoever prevails in this matchup faces the Brew Crew in the NLDS.

So here are the possible World Series rematches.

New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2024, 1981, 1978, 1977, 1963, 1956, 1955, 1953, 1952, 1949, 1947 & 1941)

Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2022)

Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves (2021)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2020)

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2018 & 1916)

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2017)

Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago Cubs (2016)

New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2009 & 1950)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2008)

New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves (1999, 1996, 1958 & 1957)

New York Yankees vs. San Diego Padres (1998)

Cleveland Guardians vs. Atlanta Braves (1995 & 1948)

Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1959) 

Cleveland Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1920) 

Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago Cubs (1918) 

Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies (1915)

Chicago White Sox vs. Chicago Cubs (1906)

There are two World Series matchups which have not previously taken place which would fascinate me.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres

Should either of these teams face each other in the Fall Classic it would mark the first World Series matchup where neither team had previously won a World Series since 1980 when the Phillies bested the Kansas City Royals to win their first championship.

While I do not follow baseball with the same rigor and enthusiasm, I still keep an eye on the standings and still care who will end up winning it all. It would be nice to attend another Red Sox World Series parade if at all possible. Whatever the outcome, let the games begin tomorrow.

Dan Wilson Won't Manage Mariners in 2027 After Disappointing Season

Prior to today's 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels, Dan Wilson announced he would not return to manage the ballclub in 2027.

After winning the AL West and coming within heartbeat of their first AL pennant in 2025, the Mariners took a huge step backwards this season finishing with a 76-86 record with 14 fewer wins despite only being 5 games back of the Houston Astros. While Randy Arozerena led the AL in runs scored, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor struggled at the plate. Raleigh hit a paltry .177 with 23 HR and 68 RBI. While the power numbers were decent, consider that he finished runner up in AL MVP balloting last year with 60 HR and 125 RBI.

Wilson took over the club in August 2024 following an in season collapse under his predecessor Scott Servais. He had never had any prior managing experience though Wilson had spent 12 out of 14 MLB seasons as the Mariners catcher plus 13 additional seasons in the team's front office. It is unclear if Wilson will return to the Mariners' front office.

Given that Wilson was promoted within the organization, one wonders if Mariners' brass will look for an external candidate and try to lure the likes of former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora. 

Then again even if the Mariners had won the AL West, that might not have been enough for Wilson to keep his job. After all, Astros manager Joe Espada won't be back in the dugout in 2027 despite winning the division. 

Sometimes winning isn't enough. But in Wilson's case it was case of not being able to replicate lightning in a bottle. There was no spark in Seattle this season and Wilson couldn't ignite it.

Angels Lose 100 Games in a Season for 1st Time in Franchise History

The Los Angeles Angels have officially reached their nadir. This afternoon the Angels ended the 2026 MLB season with a 7-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

The loss leaves the Angels with a 62-100 record marking the first time in franchise history that they have reached triple digits in losses in a single season.

Since debuting in 1961, the Angels had 35 losing seasons prior to 2026. Yet the team only had five last place finishes and only three seasons with 95 or more losses. The closest the Angels came to losing 100 games was in 2024 when they lost 99 games under Ron Washington. Their last winning season was in 2015.

Earlier this month, Arte Moreno announced plans to sell the team to Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

While this is good news, it could take several more seasons before the Angels are contenders let alone play their home games in a half decent ballpark. This might mean some more losing seasons with the possibility of additional 100 loss campaigns. Perhaps the Angels won't start winning again until after Mike Trout's contract expires following the 2030 season.

Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Angels' lone World Series title. That championship seems a lot farther removed and far away than a quarter century ago.

Pirates Enjoy First Winning Season Since 2018

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the 2026 season on a positive note with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. 

This positive gives the Pirates an 82-80 record marking their first winning season since 2018.

I am sure that the Bucs are annoyed that they will have a better record than the AL West champion Houston Astros and have go to home.

Nevertheless, the Pirates are heading in the right direction despite a subpar season from 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes whose ERA nearly doubled. But Braxton Aschraft stepped up with 14-6 record along with a 3.46 ERA in his first full big-league season although he ended the season on the IL. Bryan Reynolds led the NL in doubles while Brandon Lowe led the team with 35 HR and 96 RBI though he is heading to free agency. But Konnor Griffin and O'Neil Cruz still have their future ahead of them.

To give you an idea of how rare a winning season has been for the Pirates, Don Kelly is only the second Bucs manager since Jim Leyland's departure after the 1992 season to lead the club to a winning record. The other is Clint Hurdle who led the club to three consecutive NL Wild Card appearances between 2013-2015 after 20 consecutive losing seasons as well as the 2018 team.

Of course, there is tremendous uncertainty as to whether part or all of the 2027 season will be lost due an owner-imposed lockout. But this is uncertainty is true for all 30 MLB teams. The Pirates might be sailing in choppy waters, but they are afloat.

UK Green Party Leader Polanski Blames Jews for Anti-Semitism

(UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski seated second from left)

Zack Polanski, the leader of the UK Green Party, is seeking a seat in the House of Commons vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The by-election is set for October 8th.

During a candidates' forum last week in the London constituency of Holborn and St. Pancaras sponsored by the Board of Deputies for British Jews, Polanski received a deservedly cool reception when he claimed that Jews are responsible for the rise of anti-Semitism in the UK:

Many genocide scholars around the world recognise it [Israel’s war in Gaza] as a genocide and calling it that is not antisemitic.

And I think, I think as a Jewish community, we need to come together to recognise that when we call that antisemitic, we are making ourselves as Jewish people less safe.

For starters, characterizing Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza as a genocide is certainly anti-Semitic when actual genocides such as China's genocide against Uyghur Muslims or Myanmar's genocide against Rohingya Muslims are ignored. It is also anti-Semitic when the definition of genocide itself is changed for the expressed purpose of justifying such claims against Israel.

If in fact calling out anti-Semitism, be it concerning false accusations of genocide against Israel or any other act which singles out Jews, makes Jews less safe, then that says more about those who engage in anti-Semitic behavior than it does about Jews.

Basically, it's like saying, 'Don't call us anti-Semitic or we will commit violent acts of anti-Semitism against you.'

It's no different than when Elon Musk and Megyn Kelly have publicly blamed Jews for anti-Semitism.

That Polanski himself is Jewish is immaterial. After all, he presides over a party whose candidates openly refer to Jews as cockroaches, justify the October 7th attacks and other acts of violence against Jews such as the Temple Israel attack in Michigan earlier this year.

Despite Polanski's high profile, Holborn and St. Pancaras is Labour's seat to lose. Its candidate is Sagal Abdi-Wali, who is the leader of the Camden Borough Council. For her part, while Abdi-Wali does not identify as a Zionist, she has publicly rejected the notion that Zionism is racism which, of course, Polanski supports. 

But even if Polanski loses the by-election by a decisive margin, the UK Greens have institutionalized anti-Semitism under Polanski's leadership. I suspect this institutionalization is unlikely to change with his successors.

Why El-Sayed Won't Condemn The Iranian Regime

(Screenshot from Instagram)

During a townhall at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed could not bring himself to condemn the Iranian regime after being confronted by an Iranian student named Iman Dashti whose family members were killed and detained by the regime.

Instead of condemning the Iranian regime, El-Sayed turned his ire against the United States:

While I stand with freedom and democratic movements, I also worry that once you start putting our resources toward regime change in foreign countries, more often than not, the regimes that we seek to change are the ones in which there is a natural resource interest, and it becomes a ploy for the interests of our corporations.

This amounts to a copout. After all, it is President Trump who is on public record as stating, "I never cared about regime change."

El-Sayed casually and falsely accuses Israel of genocide but cannot condemn a regime which gleefully murdered their own populace.

Well, it has to do with the fact the Iranian regime has long supported Hamas, another entity which El-Sayed cannot bring himself to condemn. He cannot condemn Hamas because he is Hamas and Hamas is a proxy of the Iranian regime. Thus El-Sayed's criticisms are confined to the United States and Israel. 

For his part, during a subsequent interview on Fox News, Dashti said:

It's so simple. Say it. Just say you're against the world's largest sponsor of terror. Just say you're against the government who's killed hundreds of thousands of Persians and Americans. But he didn't.

El-Sayed didn't because he doesn't care about Persians and Americans. They are not part of his agenda. As I have previously argued, El-Sayed is "an Islamist with a leftist facade."  

Unfortunately, being an Islamist with a leftist facade might get El-Sayed elected to the U.S. Senate.

Verlander Ends MLB Career By Walking Off Field Hand-in-Hand with His Daughter

(Screenshot of Justin Verlander walking off the field for the last time with his daughter Genevieve)

This afternoon, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander made his 557th & final MLB start at Comerica Park before a sellout crowd against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Verlander returned to the Tigers back in February with the hope that he would help Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez and company get over the hump and earn their first World Series title in 42 years.

But it was not to be. Verlander was plagued with injuries all season, Skubal would be traded to the Dodgers and Valdez did not endear himself to his teammates. The Tigers proved to be one of the biggest disappointments in MLB in 2026. By the All-Star Break, Verlander announced this would be his last season.

Verlander pitched serviceably. In 5.1 innings, Verlander surrendered 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 6 and walking only a single batter. Unfortunately, when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch came to get the ball from him, the Tigers were trailing 2-0 on account of two solo HRs Verlander surrendered to Brandon Lowe in the fourth and Jacob Gonzalez in the fifth.

But the score didn't matter when Verlander's 7-year-old daughter Genevieve ran out onto the field to give her father a hug. The pair walked off the field hand in hand.

Still, the Tigers didn't want to end the day on a losing note. Enter Tigers DH Eduardo Valencia who hit a walk off HR off Pirates closer Mason Montgomery to cap off a 3-run 9th inning to give Detroit a 4-3 win.

In 557 MLB starts, Verlander went 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA along with 3560 career strikeouts in 3576.2 innings pitched. Those 3560 strikeouts are good enough for 8th place on MLB's all-time list. Although that might not be good enough for Verlander's former Tigers and Mets teammate Max Scherzer who is 9th on the list with 3550 strikeouts. Scherzer is scheduled to start for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cincinnati Reds on the final day of the regular season tomorrow. He has not made a decision whether he will pitch in 2027 pending a possible lockout by the owners.

There might be uncertainty regarding 2026 and 2027 but come 2032 Justin Verlander will be giving a speech in Cooperstown. By then his daughter will be a teenager. I am sure the pair will walk hand in hand.

Some Thoughts on The Snap Election in B.C.

(From left to right: OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie, CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko, B.C. Premier and NDP leader David Eby, Interim Conservative Party Leader Lorne Doerkson & Green Party Leader Emily Lowan)

When it comes to politics in British Columbia, if you blink you might miss something. 

Lo and behold, B.C.'s NDP Premier David Eby called a snap provincial election on Wednesday for October 17th - 2 days shy of the last election 2 years ago. 

This election will be part of a busy month in Canadian politics with voters in Quebec going to the polls on October 5th. A fortnight later (and 2 days after the B.C. election) Albertans will vote on whether they want a referendum on separation. 

Eby claims he is calling the election because President Trump presents "an existential threat" to B.C. and to Canada. 

Oh, it's true that Trump is a threat to Canada and its provinces with his desires of annexation. 

But this isn't the reason Eby called the election.

Eby called the election because of disarray in the opposition. Earlier this month, I wrote about the implosion in the B.C. Conservative Party after former federal Tory MP and cabinet minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay became party leader last May. At the time, 9 Conservative MLAs left caucus.

In the weeks that followed, several Tory MLAs were expelled from caucus including John Rustad who came within a heartbeat of unseating Eby's government in 2024. However, Rustad couldn't keep his caucus together leading to his ouster and Findlay succeeding him. Findlay would resign as party leader after only four months on the job last Sunday.

Most of the Tory MLAs who left caucus would join the CentreBC Party including Peter Milobar who would become the party leader. But once Findlay was of the picture, Milobar and most of the defectors rejoined the Tories when Lorne Doerkson was named interim leader. Elenore Sturko remained and, by default, became the new leader of CentreBC.

Got that?

Whatever disarray there was among the Conservatives might be over long enough to unseat the NDP which has been in power since 2017. While recent polls have had the NDP in the lead, a new poll conducted by Angus Reid now gives the Conservatives an 8-point lead. 

Now this poll could be an aberration. But if it isn't then it would voters are angrier at Eby calling an early election under false pretenses than at the chaos with Conservative ranks.

In this day and age, debates don't have the same impact as they once did. But in this instance, the leadership debate could make a big difference. I am not sure if CentreBC's Sturko or OneBC's Dallas Brodie (another ex-Tory MLA) would make the debate stage. 

If they do not make the stage, then the spotlight is on Doerkson. If Doerkson comes off as a reasonable alternative to Eby then the anti-NDP vote could coalesce around him B.C. would see its first Conservative government in nearly a century. 

The wild card in all of this is Green Party leader Emily Lowan. Only 26, Lowan could help siphon off NDP votes to facilitate a Tory win or could win a sufficient number of seats for the NDP ask it once again to form a minority government as it did when the NDP returned to power in 2017 under the late John Horgan.

Actually, there is another wild card scenario should Doerkson and the Tories prevail. The B.C. Conservative Party Constitution does not allow interim leaders to serve as Premier. The Tories can try to change their constitution, but this might very well end up in court. 

As with 2024, I would not want to be a B.C. voter. It would be a question of choosing between imbeciles and morons. 

Whatever the quality of the people running, the election will take place three weeks from today. With everything which has already happened, who knows what could happen by then.

CBC Reporter Taken Off The Air For Exposing Anti-Semitism

Last night, I read a dispatch from Warren Kinsella of the Toronto Sun concerning the decision of the CBC to take journalist Neil Herland off the air for exposing anti-Semitism:

A few days ago, CBC management quietly pulled Herland off the air – because he had documented a newsworthy event. One they apparently didn’t want documented.

On Monday evening, Herland was walking to a Yom Kippur service near where he lives in Toronto. The synagogue service was being held at the Meridian Centre at Yonge and Sheppard Sts. in Toronto by The Song Shul, because a large number of congregants were expected.

Upon arriving, Herland and the other Jewish attendees saw about two dozen protestors blocking the entrance to the synagogue service, waving Palestinian flags and yelling epithets and abuse. The mob yelled “free Palestine” and “Zionist alert” when Jewish congregants came near.

Herland started filming.

One man, wearing a mask, repeatedly yelled “You’re going to Hell” using a bullhorn pointed at Herland and others. Another man screamed “baby killer.” Elsewhere, a woman was called an “ugly Jewish bitch” – and, when the cantor at the service went outside and smiled at a protester, another yelled: “The Jew smiles while he kills babies in Gaza.”

A Toronto Police officer told the cantor to stop “antagonizing” the protestors.

Herland posted his video clip on social media, and it has been watched more than three million times around the world.

In his post on his personal X account, Herland writes: “I’m a journalist. And I happen to be Jewish. On Yom Kippur I went to a synagogue service in Toronto and was met by protesters trying to taunt and intimidate me from entering the building.”

And for this, the CBC sees fit to discipline Herland. On what grounds? Is the CBC claiming his account is false? Or is Palestinian anti-Semitism simply a taboo subject? Is it taboo just like declaring the attacks of September 11, 2001, to be a terrorist incident, an incident also exposed by Kinsella. The CBC sheepishly walked back its policy.

It seems the CBC never learns. At the very minimum, there is a double standard when it comes to Jewish and Muslim journalists describing their "lived experiences". More from Kinsella:

CBC’s actions seem unfair, say CBC veterans who spoke anonymously, because their journalists are explicitly permitted to write about “lived experiences,” just as Herland did. Following the tragic 2021 mass-murder of a Muslim family in London, Ont. – and after a Muslim CBC journalist gave her personal opinion about the terror attack on a national broadcast – CBC’s Ombudsman decreed that no rules were broken.

“We will reinforce that lived experience and being a part of any one community does not constitute a conflict of interest when covering those communities. We will remind all that we value lived experience and community connections in our journalists because it helps us to broaden and deepen our journalism.”

So why do Muslim journalists’ “lived experience … broaden and deepen” CBC journalism, and Jewish journalists’ “lived experience” do not?

My guess is that the CBC will quietly place Herland back on the air rather than explain the double standard. Because there is no explanation they can possibly give. 

Should this come pass, it will only be a matter of time before the CBC engages in a cowardly manner when it comes to anti-Semitism and/or terrorism committed by groups with Islamist ideologies. 

But by removing Herland from the airwaves, the CBC is basically saying anti-Semitism is an acceptable form of political discourse and that Jews ought not to complain about it unless they wish to be disciplined. 

El-Sayed is Basically "Creating Stories" When It Comes To Accusing Israel of Genocide

In an interview on the Raging Moderates podcast yesterday with Jessica Tarlov and Scott Galloway, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed revealed his thoughts on genocide, the Holocaust and accusing Israel of committing it. After stating the word genocide was created to explain the "murder of 6 million Jews", El-Sayed added:

But the whole point of creating that word isn’t that you have to wait until the crime is that big again to be able to use it, otherwise it loses its power. Its power is in naming a thing before it gets that big, so we could do something about it.

El-Sayed is wrong, of course.

It was Raphael Lemkin who coined the term "genocide" in his 1944 book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. Although the subject was Nazi rule, it was the mass murder of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during WWI that would inspire Lemkin's work. Indeed, it wasn't until the following year that the world would fully know of Hitler's efforts to exterminate Europe's Jews. Genocide did not become a legal term until 1948 when the UN adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. 

Indeed, the notion that the term genocide loses its power unless you use it is absolute rubbish. Decent people understand the horror of the Holocaust and of genocide. Decent people also understand such words shouldn't be used casually.

El-Sayed has no such reservations. Genocide is indeed a powerful word and in accusing a people of committing it without any factual basis or with dubious claims serves the purpose of promoting hatred against that people as demonstrated by the global surge of anti-Semitism since October 7th. 

You could call it a big lie. Say the word genocide loud enough and often enough then people will come to believe it.

You can also, to borrow a phrase from VP JD Vance, create stories. From where I sit, both men are one in the same.

El-Sayed isn't using the word genocide as a statement of fact. He is using it to engage in demagoguery. 

Unfortunately, he appears to be succeeding.

Don Cooper Deserved Better From The Chicago White Sox

Former MLB pitcher and coach Don Cooper passed away on Tuesday at the age of 70.

A native of New York, Cooper pitched parts of four seasons in the early to mid 1980s with the Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees.

But for Cooper coaching was his calling and he would join the Chicago White Sox organization in 1988 with the Single-A South Bend River Hawks. Fourteen years later, Cooper would become the Chisox's big league pitching coach and would remain in that position for 18½ years serving under four managers - Jerry Manuel, Ozzie Guillen, Robin Ventura and Rick Renteria. Cooper would earn a World Series ring with the Chisox in 2005 which included a starting rotation of Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Jose Contreras and Orlando Hernandez. 

After more than 30 years with the organization, the White Sox abruptly dismissed Cooper along with Renteria following the COVID shortened 2020 season despite making it to the post-season. 

Yes, managers and coaches get fired. It is a part of baseball. But in view of Cooper's long service to the organization, he deserved a better fate. The team should have promoted him to the front office and made him a special pitching adviser. 

Barring a weekend collapse, the White Sox will reach the post-season for the first time since 2020. Should they survive the Wild Card round and host ALDS games, they should formally honor Cooper's memory now. It doesn't make up for not giving him his due while he was still here, but it could give his family some measure of comfort. R.I.P.