John Voelcker

Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles Shot Down By Friendly Fire (Updated) The F-15Es went down over Kuwait while flying Operation Epic Fury missions.

The U.S. lost $300 million worth of aircraft when Kuwait discovered the air-defense system it paid for works well.

At least in a friendly-fire scenario.

[hat tip: @chadkirchner.com ]

Chart showing the relationship between gasoline futures prices (advanced 2w) and national average gasoline prices

Attacking Iran looks like it will cost US consumers about 40 cents/gallon.

New York City Paid $117 Million to Settle Misconduct Lawsuits in 2025

My tax dollars at work: #NYC shelled out $117 million last year for settlements related to #NYPD + prosecutorial misconduct.

I wonder how much mental-health help + homeless shelter that $117 million could have bought.

2026 Subaru Trailseeker EV first drive: the most Subaru-looking EV yet The most Subaru of all the brand’s EVs is visually identifiable, competent off-road and on—and lighter than competitors. “When we showed them the side view, without any badges, and asked them what bra...

Just live: My 2026 Subaru Trailseeker first drive showed that Subaru finally has an #EV that not only does Subaru stuff but, more importantly, LOOKS like it belongs in the lineup.

As the Outback is now taller, butch-er + more SUV-like in appearance, will Outback owners be drawn to an EV instead?

Previously, the children of elected leaders did military service if the US was at war.

Today, as working-class American service members die in a war we started, we don't know where the president's children are—or at which luxury resorts—but we do know they were *not* in uniform + never have been.

How America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account Our national project of elite impunity

After the arrests of powerful men across the world, you might be asking why the US has so much trouble holding its leaders accountable for lawbreaking. Since Nixon, all three branches of government have worked hard to ensure they can break the law with impunity www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Trump campaign peace promises loom large over wartime presidency The "anti-war" candidate has bombed seven countries and launched a new regime-change war in Iran.

"Trump's lethal presidency"

No president in the modern era has ordered more military strikes against as many countries as Trump.

He has attacked 7 nations, 3 of which—Iran, Nigeria + Venezuela—had never previously been targeted by U.S. military strikes.

Oh.

On manual typewriters, I hope!

Certainly not on those silly new "electronical" ones ...

You don't say.

I've heard that called the "Shiny Bed Syndrome" ... because nothing's ever been carried in that pickup truck.

"Back in MY DAY there wasn't any of this climate change nonsense! We were fine breathing the exhaust. This whole #EV thing is just stupid, and my wife can damn well get used to gas stations.

"Buncha soft wussy librull snowflakes ya got running things now !!"

[stomps off porch, slams screen door]

Remarkable to me how all the viscerally negative comments on #EV topics on LinkedIn come from older men whose profiles say they are retired.

Adorbs.

I've so far foregone the, "Oh, do your kids + grandkids feel the same way? Bet you'll find they don't" ... but it's really not worth my time.

Oh.

Plots were hatched.

Tesla's robotaxi future in California hits a wall: Zero miles, no permits Much of Tesla’s $1.5 trillion market value is tied to investors’ belief that it will soon operate a vast fleet of robotaxis and sell millions of autonomous-driving software subscriptions.

" #Tesla logged zero miles of autonomous test driving on California roads last year for the 6th year in a row, records show."

"Waymo logged > 13 million testing miles + secured 7 different regulatory approvals from 2014 to 2023, when it was approved to chg psgrs for rides in driverless #robotaxis."

It's a cult.

Uber to invest over $100 million in autonomous vehicle charging amid robotaxi push Uber Technologies said on Wednesday it would invest more than $100 million to develop autonomous vehicle charging hubs, underscoring the ride-hailing company's latest push to scale up self-driving ope...

As Uber prepares to launch robotaxi svc in 10+ U.S. cities this year, it is investing > $100M to build dedicated #EV fast-charging hubs f/autonomous vehicles, starting at "autonomous depots" in San Francisco, LA + Dallas.

It is partnering with Lucid/Nuro in SF, Volkswagen in LA + Avride in Dallas.

I would like to live in precedented times

I remember when trying to forgive student loans was massive overreach of Presidential power.

The Deeper Politics of the Washington Square Snowball Fight There is definitely tension between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his police department. Will it break out into the open?

" #NYPD commissioners have always tended to behave like rogue operators with the officers serving as their constituency—a city unto itself.

"Peace is usually found between mayors + police bosses when they leave each other alone. This is how Ray Kelly survived all 12 years of Mike Bloomberg."

Boom.

Had not seen this until now.

I believe the colloquial summary would be, "Tearing the committee a new one."

Gather her husband also has to testify. Haven't seen any leaks so perhaps not as newsworthy as some hoped ... unless overshadowed by this week's war.

[sigh]

And there will *not* be an equivalent to the AAA, AA, etc. standard cell formats for automotive batteries. There is in the 2-wheel #EV world, because packaging is so much more restricted. Won't happen to any degree in the auto world save really harsh govt mandates. Which may only happen in China.

Brooklyn Public Library ends passport services after State Department order • Brooklyn Paper Last fall, the U.S. Department of State sent cease-and-desist letters to hundreds of nonprofit libraries across the country, telling them they were no longer

I look forward to reading multiple news stories like this one when the current State Dept shuts down passport services at public libraries ...

... in affluent, white, red-state libraries.

Before the November elections.

Go.

You missed range.

The top 3 have *always* been price, range + (perception of) public charging.

(2/2) which influenced satisfaction "across both mass-market + premium EV segments.

"It reflects public charging infrastructure growth + more automakers adopting Tesla’s NACS port for their new #EV models, giving their customers access to Tesla’s nationwide Supercharger network."

Imagine.

EV customer satisfaction hits record-high: JD Power The 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study found that 96% of current EV owners would consider another as their next vehicle.

Per JD Power's 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study: 96% of current EV owners would consider another one as their next vehicle. The study surveyed more than 5,700 owners of 2025 + 2026 #EV models.

"The most improved factor was the availability of public chargers ..." (1/2)

No commentary necessary.

Federal judge blocks new DHS policy that would allow arrest of thousands of legal refugees "The new policy turns the refugees’ American Dream into a dystopian nightmare," Judge Tunheim wrote.

BREAKING: Federal judge blocks new DHS policy that would allow arrest of thousands of legal refugees.

"The new policy turns the refugees’ American Dream into a dystopian nightmare," Judge Tunheim wrote.

Tonight, at Law Dork: