Insight

“It must be admitted that the tendency of the human race toward liberty is largely thwarted, especially in France. This is greatly due to a fatal desire — learned from the teachings of antiquity — that our writers on public affairs have in common: They desire to set themselves above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy.” —Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850)

Friendly Fire

“That is a concern — the ability to run a rigorous, vigorous campaign and manage the presidency at the same time when [Joe Biden is] in his 81st year.” —Barack Obama’s former chief strategist David Axelrod

For the Record

“Joe Biden is the pay cut president. Year-over-year real wage growth — your paycheck accounting for inflation — has been negative EVERY SINGLE MONTH since Biden passed his $1.9T ‘stimulus.’ By contrast, real wages were only negative one month during Trump’s entire 4-year term.” —Tommy Pigott

Spin Doctor

“Today’s report is a reminder that inflation is too high — fighting inflation is my top economic priority. And while the numbers today are not acceptable, they are also outdated. In the past 30 days, the average price of gas has dropped by 40 cents a gallon. That’s breathing room for American families, but oil prices have come down $20/barrel while gas at the pump has only come down 40 cents. Oil and gas companies must pass these lower costs on to consumers.” —Joe Biden (“They’ve tried to condition Americans into thinking $4.60 per gallon gas is acceptable. It’s not. They aren’t buying it and Biden continues to insult them as they watch their savings and paychecks burn away.” —Katie Pavlich | “The Consumer Price Index data measures each month, so today’s numbers measure from June 1 to June 30. ‘Outdated’? Just how different do you think the economy is today from 13 days ago?” —Jim Geraghty)

Dumb and Dumber

“If you were to ask me what do I think of the economy, I’d say we have a very strong economy.” —Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo

“With the attitude or the approach of originalism, the justices who take that approach go all the way back to our Founding Fathers and pretend that they know what our Founding Fathers meant when they drafted the Constitution. I use the word ‘pretend’ because who the heck would know what our Founding Fathers meant? Is there any reference to AR-15 rifles in our Constitution? No.” —Senator Mazie Hirono

Veep Thoughts With Kamala

“There is a connection between what we want to have happen and the power of Congress to actually make it happen when it comes to changing the laws.” —Vice President Kamala Harris

This Just In…

“One of the things that’s clear from the data [is] that even though vaccines … don’t protect overly well, as it were, against infection, they protect quite well against severe disease leading to hospitalization and death.” —National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci

Potomac Fever

“Everybody wants to put this pandemic behind us and feel and hope that it doesn’t exist. It does.” —Anthony Fauci

Say That Again … Slowly

“The plain fact is that Dobbs is a death sentence for many women around our country.” —Senator Richard Blumenthal

Non Compos Mentis Awards

“I think that the person with the capacity for pregnancy has value and they should have the ability to control what happens. … There are also trans men who are capable of pregnancy as well as nonbinary people who are capable of pregnancy.” —Berkeley Law School professor Khiara Bridges

“Gender identity exists on a continuum and … sex is not limited to male or female.” —World Health Organization

And Last…

“The politically correct term for Latinos is Brxxkfxst Txcxs.” —Kyle Mann