Just back from vacation, I looked over the headlines to see what I missed. Turns out—quite a lot.

Both House and Senate Democrats tried to rein in President Trump’s war powers over Operation Epic Fury. Bless their little hearts. It’s another classic case of “if Trump is for it, we’re against it,” regardless of what may be good for the country.

Trump obliterates Iran’s nuclear ambitions, cripples their military, and removes people who would happily impose a totalitarian regime on the world—and Democrats oppose it. Trump simply can’t be allowed another victory; it might hurt their reelection chances.

There was one surprise. Four Democrats crossed the demilitarized zone in the House and voted with Trump.

Nancy Pelosi is probably arranging their political funerals as you read this.

The Senate had already defeated a similar measure earlier. Surprisingly, Rand Paul voted against the President. He’s one of the few politicians I actually like, so I’m perplexed. Perhaps his father got to him.

Trump has done what no American president—Republican or Democrat—has managed, even though they all agreed the ayatollahs must go but never acted. To illustrate the Democrats’ absurdity, the House also passed a resolution reaffirming that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. Fifty-three Democrats voted no!

I see Kristi Noem was bounced from her position at Homeland Security. Trump reportedly grew irritated with her performance in last week’s bicameral Judiciary Committee hearings, particularly regarding a taxpayer-funded advertisement she claimed Trump had approved—something he knew nothing about.

Landing on her feet, she’s been appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of Americans, a new Western Hemisphere security initiative. Whatever the heck that is.

I’m conflicted about her departure. Compared to her predecessor, the utterly useless Alejandro Mayorkas, she did an admirable job. During her tenure, more than two million illegal immigrants self-deported and another 670,000 were removed. At the same time, more than half a million pounds of illegal drugs were stopped at the border.

Trump chose Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her. With the Republican majority so slim, selecting a sitting senator seems odd. I have no idea whether Mullin will succeed or not, but I would have preferred someone outside Congress.

You may remember Mullin from the congressional hearing where he nearly came to blows with Teamsters president Sean O’Brien. It got so heated that Mullin stood up, removed his ring, and invited O’Brien to a fistfight.

Interestingly, Democratic Senator John Fetterman has already endorsed him.

Senator Mike Lee has also introduced a bill establishing nationwide constitutional carry. If passed, it would eliminate the maze of state restrictions on firearm ownership. As Lee put it, “The Founders established a national right to keep and bear arms—not a right that requires permission from hostile local officials.”

This issue is somewhat personal for me. After becoming an Arizona resident, I applied for a concealed carry permit in Illinois, where I live part-time. Not only was I denied—the state revoked my FOID card.

There was also yet another assassination plot against Trump. A Pakistani businessman, Asif Merchant, testified he attempted to hire hit-men to kill Trump, Biden, and Nikki Haley because Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened his family. Iran denies involvement.

If convicted, I suggest we ship him back to Pakistan rather than house him in an American prison at taxpayer expense for the rest of his life.

Everyone knows about the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where entertainers congratulate each other with stars on Hollywood Boulevard. Apparently Washington now has its own “Walk of Shame.” Someone—no one knows who—is placing stars in Farragut Square naming people associated with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Honorees reportedly include Epstein, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, Elon Musk, Steve Bannon, and Prince Andrew, among others.

Finally—and this really grinds my gears—it appears my concert-going days are over.

First, an explanation. I refuse to pay good money for a concert seat only to spend the evening staring at the backs of people who insist on standing the entire show. So I look for seats where I have at least a chance of seeing the stage.

Metallica will soon play at the Las Vegas Sphere, arguably the greatest concert venue on earth. Having been there, I know the second section offers the best seats. A seat in row 18 of section two? $8,889. The cheapest seat in the nosebleed section? $1,020. No thanks.

Meanwhile, a front-row seat at Tinley Park to see Carlos Santana and the Doobie Brothers runs about $859.

To think—I paid $10 to see Grand Funk Railroad in 1973.

With Spotify and YouTube free and an album on Amazon costing about $25, I believe I’ll retire from the concert circuit.

Today’s title courtesy of Bob Seger.