Distraught Plea from Guthrie Family. Tariffs. Massive WaPo Staff Cuts Have MSM Shouting Murder! Blue State Demographic Nightmare. Justice Ketanji at the Grammys. More
In a riveting moment of TV, Samantha Guthrie, “Today” co-host, and her siblings begged for the return of their missing mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie:
Savannah Guthrie opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.
“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light,” Savannah Guthrie said. “She’s funny, spunky. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you’ll see.”
The video underscores how little is known about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Was she abducted? Samantha Guthrie directly addressed possible kidnappers:
“We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,” she added. “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
Savannah Guthrie later addressed her mother directly, offering words of faith and reassurance as the family waits for answers.
No suspects have been identified. CNN suggests that the emotional video is a way to “humanize” Nancy Guthrie to alleged captors. Not to be a pessimist, but I’m not sure about the kidnapper with a heart approach. An emotional President Trump called Samantha Guthrie and ordered federal law enforcement to assist in the search. This has to be one of the strangest of episodes: Who would take Ms. Guthrie’s mother? Why? The New York Post on an alleged ransom note.
In a previous attempt to overthrow a tyrannical regime, Iranian dissidents cried out to an American President, asking, “Where are you, Obama?” Washington Post Columnist Marc Thiessen writes that President Trump’s place in history will be determined by his response to the current Iranian uprising:
Trump is right to carefully weigh the risks of military action, which must be taken seriously. But there are also risks to inaction, which are arguably far greater.
Start with the risk to America’s credibility. Trump told the Iranian regime in no uncertain terms that if it “violently kills peaceful protesters … the United States of America will come to their rescue,” adding: “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” The regime ignored his threat and slaughtered thousands. He then urged the Iranian people: “KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. … HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” Iranians listened to those words and took to the streets — and many paid with their lives.
The U.S. and Iran will hold nuclear talks tomorrow in Oman. I thought that was John Kerry’s schtick? Townhall’s Kurt Schlichter is not subtle: Kill the mullahs, he advises.
Polling indicates that Americans haven’t yet fallen in love with President Trump’s tariffs. Nor has the Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board. “Are Trump’s Tariffs Winning?” is the headline of a WSJ editorial, which is a decided thumbs down. Another poll indicates that most Americans want the Supreme Court to reverse the tariffs.
The Washington Post, the Watergate newspaper, now owned by Jeff Bezos, has announced stunning layoffs—around a 30% reduction in its staff. The Atlantic calls it “murder,” while the New Yorker settles for “How Jeff Bezos Brought Down the Washington Post.” Never known for modesty, the Washington Post calls it a “blow to a legendary news brand.”
Meanwhile, as National Review’s dry-eyed John Puri writes, “People Aren’t Actually That Upset over the Washington Post Layoffs,” and at the same esteemed outlet, Jeffrey Blehar comments on the Grim Reaper’s visit to the hallowed newspaper. Them’s the breaks, as Charles Darwin might characterize the situation.
The Verdict Is In: Ryan Routh, President Trump’s attempted assassin, is sentenced to life in prison. It should carry weight that Fox Special Report Anchor Bret Baier told FBI Director Kash Patel that he doesn’t believe we yet have the full story on the earlier Butler attempt on the president’s life. Look for “Free Bryan Routh!” signs sprouting at your next zany lefty rally. (Just kidding—I hope.)
“Blue States’ Demographic Nightmare” is the headline on Steven Malanga’s latest City Journal piece:
When we seek explanations for why today’s Democrats refuse to call those here without permission “illegal,” oppose lawful deportations, and seek government benefits for those who’ve snuck into the country, we probably need to look no further than the population woes of Democratic states. …
Looking at these results, one might conclude that Democratic voters and the politicians they elect would consider reforms to keep and attract more voters. But states like California, New York, and Illinois have been racking up losses for more than a decade with no sign of political change. If anything, Democratic states seem to be pressing ahead with the very policies that repel a substantial number of citizens and businesses. During the Biden years, Democrats decided that the solution to this problem was to import a cohort of new voters. That immigration policy, ironically, had as much to do with the improbable reelection of Trump as any other Democratic strategy.
Considering this, it’s interesting that California’s Governor U-Haul—aka Gavin Newsom—is considered the Democratic frontrunner for 2028. Ms. Must has been hearing a lot about New York Times columnist Bret Stephens’s recent offering, “Will Newsom Be the Democrats’ Next Mistake?“
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s attendance at the anti-Trump Grammy awards hasn’t gotten as much attention as others. Until, that is, Miranda Devine explained the meaning of the Justice’s applauding the anti-ICE speeches removed any shred of impartiality regarding many issues likely to come before the Court:
But she should have stayed home rather than laughing and clapping in the audience with a bunch of virtue-signaling luvvies ranting “F–k ICE” every time they got on stage. …
Her attendance at the rancidly partisan anti-ICE Grammy Awards on Sunday was a joke.
The 55-year-old Biden DEI candidate was nominated for a Grammy for narrating the audiobook of her memoir “Lovely One,” which she unashamedly believes herself to be.
Meanwhile, singer Billie Eilish’s “stolen land” comments led an LA real estate law firm to question whether to evict her because her mansion sits on land of the Tongva Tribe, the land’s original inhabitants. This apparently is a joke. But Ms. Must wishes it weren’t. Would love to see Ms. Eilish defend her stolen property.
“Is AI the Next Climate Change?” Another terrific piece from the Wall Street Journal’s Barton Swaim. “Disaster looms, they tell us. Empower experts, raise taxes! Here we go again.”
Must Be Briefly Noted: Warm the of Collectivism Update: Tens of thousands of New Yorkers left without heat as temperatures drop to 4°—and tenants blast Mamdani for failing to act. … But the Mayor’s Health and Mental Hygiene is very active. They are busy organizing employees to protest against the state of Israel. … “Hillary Clinton Wrote a Hit Piece on Me. Here’s My Response” in The Free Press is by Allie Beth Stuckey, whom Mrs. Clinton accused of being lacking in empathy! … Amazon reportedly asked a movie theater in Oregon to cancel showings of Melania after it posted this on its marquee: “To defeat your enemy, you must know them. Melania starts Friday,” a quote attributed to Sun Tzu, author of “The Art of War.” Another line read, “Does Melania wear Prada? Find out Friday.” … Calling Mamet Mavens. The playwright sits for a chat with The Free Press.
