11/13/2025

Thursday, November 13, 2025

1964 Pope Paul VI gave up the jewel-encrusted gold papal crown, donating it to the poor 

1969 VP Spiro Agnew accused network TV news departments of bias and distortion.  The beginning of the "fake news" business?

1979 Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for US President in NYC.  He opened the door for Newt Gingrich, Bush/Cheney, the Tea Party, and Trump.

In bed at 9, up at 6:05.  Right hip pain during the night. 35°, wind chill 24°, high 51°, partly cloudy day ahead.

Epstein's emails.  Big media excitement on the Left yesterday over the NY Times story about JE's emails saying "Trump knew about the girls," and "Trump spent several hours at JE's house with [victim Giuffre.]  Will the emails make a difference in the end?  I doubt it.  Will the government's complete (redacted) files be released?  I doubt it.  If they are, will they have already been purged?  We can probably count on it.  So it goes.

Prescience?  Last year today, we were 8 days post-election.  I wrote:

Shaking in my boots.  Pete Hegseth will be the Secretary of Defense.  Kristi Noem will be the Secretary of Homeland Security.  Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswami will lead the "Department of Government Efficiency."  Almost beyond belief. Right out of Dr. Strangelove and Swift's Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal.  Or should it be The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire?

Bluebirds.  Two eastern bluebirds at our feeders today. 

Yesterday, a text exchange with Andy.

Charles Clausen:

HI, Son.   Geri is planning on making a Thanksgiving dinner this year.  You’re welcome to join us if you don’t have other plans.  The usual caveat exists: Steve and Nikki have to bring their dog.   The bad news is that the dog is a bit neurotic.  The good news is that he sticks like glue to Nikki.  He’s not even very friendly to Steve.  In any event, he doesn’t roam around but stays with Nikki like a shadow.  Right now we’re planning on Steve, Nikki, David, Sharon, Ellis, and Sharon’s mother and sister but we could happily put up a second table for a bigger feast if you and Anh and the kids could come.  

Andy Clausen:

Thanks, we are actually hosting a small group at our house. I was going to invite you when I remembered, but it looks like we’ll be ships passing in the night. 

Not:

Thanksgiving plans: health permitting, I will be on a private retreat over some or all of the Thanksgiving weekend.  I’m going back to a Capuchin facility west of Wausau that I visited with my friend Father Matthew when I was running the House of Peace.  I’ll have my phone and laptop with me, but otherwise hope to use the time for some reflection, private thanks-giving, private grieving, and private penance.  I have a need for all of that.  I’ll be thinking of both of you, of course, and hoping you are having a good holiday. 

Someday?