Monthly Archives: December 2021

Felix Rex

The Officer Tatum

This alleged plot fits neatly with the narrative — promoted by the FBI and other federal agencies — that “white extremists” are the greatest danger to America. Part of that narrative is that “white extremist” Trump supporters attempted to overthrow the federal government on January 6. This case appears tailor-made to fit that narrative,

After more than a year of investigations, arrests, and trial preparation in the case of the plot by a “right-wing” militia group to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, information is surfacing that casts a very different light on the case than that offered by the FBI and federal prosecutors. It appears the whole thing was a big government scam and the plot to kidnap the Democrat governor was all the work of the government itself.

According to investigators and the prosecution, the FBI discovered the kidnapping plot in early 2020, after a U.S. Army veteran — known only as “Dan” — joined a group of “right-wing” Trump supporters who had formed a “white” militia group and became concerned about their use of a hunting app that could be used to track the addresses of police officers. “Dan” then was put in touch with the FBI by a friend at a local police department. He subsequently became an FBI informant infiltrating the group to report on any plans to kill police officers.

“Dan” was paid $50,000 by the FBI for his trouble.

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Cobra Kai might be the best show on TV—and much of it has to do with its radical message of individualism and self-reliance.

Cobra Kai is back. Season 4 begins Friday, and my family will be watching what is perhaps the most surprising hit in a decade—and our personal favorite.

The Karate Kid spinoff had “flop” written all over it. After several sequels and reboots, the franchise felt spent. Moreover, it was launched as part of YouTube’s ill-fated plan to compete with Amazon and Netflix in original content production.

Nevertheless, Cobra Kai has proven a smash. After being acquired by Netflix in June 2020, the show dominated the Nielsen streaming charts, quickly racking up more than 2 billion streaming minutes.The acquisition, as Forbes put it, turned Cobra Kai from an obscure hit into the #1 show in America.

The show works for several reasons and has struck a chord with young people (my kids can’t get enough of it), largely by running against postmodern sacred cows and embracing some radical ideas: self-ownership, personal responsibility, and individualism (as well as 1980s-style bad*ssery).

Cobra Kai does all this with humor and a twist. The themes of individualism and self-improvement are channeled not through a wise Miyagi-like sensei—but through “ace degenerate” Johnny Lawrence, the villain of Karate Kid who famously got his face kicked in the fifth act.

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