Outside the Beltway

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1. charontwo says:
   Tuesday, 10 February 2026 at 05:44

   “Drop Site”

   A crisis is rapidly developing in Cuba, as the Trump administration’s efforts to block fuel from reaching the island have become increasingly effective since an executive order threatened tariffs on any country trading with Cuba. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has buckled under the pressure and halted oil deliveries to Cuba. Drop Site’s José Luis Granados Ceja reports on the catastrophic consequences of the energy starvation.

   “Read his dispatch here”

   Meanwhile, back in Washington, President Trump claims that negotiations are underway to resolve the standoff. That, it turns out, is simply false—a lie being told to him by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of his ambitious play to overthrow the Cuban government.

   The story below is written by Noah Kulwin, who reported from Havana; Granados Ceja, who reported from Mexico City; and myself.

   …

   The Cuban-American Rubio answers to a political base in south Florida that would revolt if he struck any deal normalizing relations with the communist government—and who, ultimately, would have the power to undo him. Rubio’s rise through Florida and national politics — which now has him on the cusp of the Oval Office — has been accompanied by a string of corruption scandals, yet with unified support back home, he has managed to emerge with a relatively clean reputation nationally. If Trump successfully lands a deal with the Cuban government that Rubio would have to sign off on, Rubio would be left to either betray his life’s cause and that of his backers in Miami, or resign in protest.

   This does not just affect transportation fuels, most of the island’s electric power is generated from imported oil. People will starve.

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2. Scott says:
   Tuesday, 10 February 2026 at 07:10

   In Texas, we start early voting for the primaries in two weeks. If you are not online, it would barely register that elections are going on. Maybe if you watch the news you would be exposed to more politicking. A couple of postcards here and there.

   On line, John Cornyn is going full MAGA, bragging that he is 99% in tune with Trump. Plus screaming anti Sharia nonsense. Despite huge buckets of money and tons of endorsements, Cornyn is running behind Ken Paxton, our adulterous, indicted felon (but not convicted, he brags) Attorney General.

   But they are all riding Trump’s coattails, such as they are these days.

   The big D primary is for Senator with Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico running. Similar platforms, different styles. Crockett is a modern media puncher. Talarico is a State Senator who is in seminary studying to be a pastor. He has sharp things to say about the Christian Nationalist right which, of course, enrages them because they pretend they are the alpha and omega of Christian belief.

   It is going to be interesting.

   I’ll leave with this quote from one of the Democratic candidates for Attorney General, Joe Jaworski:

   Dim bulb Maga republicans are demanding his (State Senator Gene Wu) citizenship be revoked. Denaturalized. These maga knotheads are the same ones saying horrible things about Texas Muslims. They prey on people because their base likes that.

   Part of being a free American is having to put up with ignorant, racist people posing as important people. It’s a hassle, but we persevere.

   It’s upsetting to hear such ignorant un-American hate expressed by anyone, much less a candidate for office. But that’s one of the things we have to endure in a free society governed by the Bill of Rights.

   What’s really irritating is these loser maga candidates actually think this is what state and federal government is for – to be a bloody hate machine to accept certain insiders’ complaints, as if there were a Texas royal court of fatted elite who at the flick of their wrists can have their target’s citizenship stripped. Their fantasy is to see their marks bagged, cuffed and deported. “Be gone.”

   It’s Nazi-esque, even if not actual naziism. The point here is the Texas Democrats running for office represent the America we all know and love; the maga lot are a political cult blindly following a few authoritarian fools over the cliff.

   America isn’t following them into oblivion. Americans who understand the freedoms we enjoy are staying right here, feet firmly planted on free soil.

   We are past the polite stage.

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