OPEC no more. SCOTUS opinions & Hitler dead 1945.

 

OPEC no more. SCOTUS opinions & Hitler dead 1945.

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OPEC no more?

OPEC no more?:

I won’t miss the oil cartel.

If you recall the first oil embargo, circa 1973, and lining up to put gas in your dad’s Ford Gran Torino, then you remember that four letter word OPEC.  I recall people calling it “the oil cartel,” the first time I ever used that word.

We remember Bobby Vee (1943-2016)

We remember Robert Thomas Velline who was born in Fargo, South Dakota on this day in 1943.    

We known him as Bobby Vee, one of the most popular pop vocalists of the early 1960's.    

He put 30 songs in the Billboard Top 100 including several in the Top 10:  “Take Good Care of My Baby” # 1, “Devil or Angel” “Rubber Ball” “More Than I Can Say”, “Run to Him”, “The Night Has a Thousand eyes”, and “Come Back When You Grow Up”.    

As I understand, he was one of the first artists to use what we now call a video to promote a song.

Bobby Vee died in 2016.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1945: The BBC and Hitler is dead

According to reports, Hitler was shocked when he got reports that Mussolini had been executed in Italy.    Mussolini’s body, along with Clara Petacci, was put on display for Italians.

He did not want the same ending.   

On this day in 1945, he was reported dead by the BBC.  Later, we learned that it was a suicide and that his ashes were allegedly found along Eva Braun, his wife.  

The European war ended a few weeks later when Germany surrendered.    (Of course, the Pacific side of the war went on until Japan surrendered in September 1945)

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 30, 1789: George Washington became the first President of the US

On this day in 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the US.  

How do you recommend a book about President Washington?   You can't.   My suggestion is that you read one from time to time.   He was an amazing man who generated tremendous loyalty among the men who served under him.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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April 30, 1961: Willie Mays hit 4 home runs against the Braves

As far as I’m concerned, Willie Mays is the most complete player in baseball history.   He was the ultimate 5-tool player and could do everything well.  

Mays also stayed free of injuries, unlike Mickey Mantle who battled bad knees for his entire career with the Yankees.

Willie Mays had many big games in his glorious career, specially April 30, 1961.    

Mays hit 4 home runs at the old County Stadium in Milwaukee.   He went 4 for 5 with 8 RBIs.   

The Giants beat the Braves, 14-4.     

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

The week in review with Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda

 

Guest:   Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda.  Iran blockade working. Kimmel and Mrs. Trump.   OPEC out.  

They got ‘The Gardener’ in Mexico

They got ‘The Gardener’ in Mexico:

The leader of Mexico’s most powerful criminal business is now facing the music

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/they_got_the_gardener_in_mexico.html

They captured another narco in Mexico.  The Mexican authorities got a guy named “The Gardener” this time.  Let’s read it about it:

Mexican special forces ​have arrested Audias Flores, known as ‘El Jardinero’ and one of the top commanders of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in the western state ‌of Nayarit, security minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said on Monday.

Flores - a regional commander in control of swathes of CJNG territory along Mexico’s Pacific coast - was considered a potential successor to Nemesio Oseguera, alias ‘El Mencho,’ who ran the cartel and was killed in a security operation in February.

Security forces surrounded a cabin in El Mirador, some 20 km (12 miles) north of the popular resort ​city of Puerto Vallarta, where Flores was being protected by a perimeter of some 30 pickup trucks and over 60 gunmen, according to ​a press release from Mexico’s Navy, which led the operation.

Flores’ escorts scattered as a diversion but he was located as he ⁠tried to hide in a drainage ditch, it added.

‘The operation was carried out with surgical precision without a single shot being fired,’ the Navy said ​in a statement.

Congratulations to Mexican authorities for catching another one.  You probably agree with me that these narcos have great names:  “El Mencho” and now “El Jardinero” or, the gardener.  Where do they get these names?  I don’t know, but keep it coming.

Another question:  Did the Mexican president know?  The article mentions that there was cooperation with the U.S.  Really?

I hate to be nasty, but we’ve had that problem before.  There are rumors south of the border that sometimes the good guys who arrest these narcos are afraid of “leaks” if they tell too many people up the chain of command.  I don’t know if that's the case with this narco, but the rumors fly.

I can’t wait to learn the name of the next guy.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

We remember Duke Ellington (1899-1974)

We remember Duke Ellington who was born in Washington DC on this day in 1899.    He died in 1974.

Duke was a jazz giant.   However, I first heard of him many years ago when my father used to listen to The Voice of America in Cuba.

Duke’s “Take the A train” was the intro-music for Willis Conover’s jazz show broadcast to the world on short wave.     

Conover broke the Iron Curtain, The Berlin Wall and came into Communist Cuba, too. 

It was a very catchy tune and millions around the world came to know Duke that way.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Happy # 92 Luis Aparicio

We say happy birthday to Luis Aparicio who was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on this day in 1934.

Luis broke with the Chicago White Sox in 1956 and was Rookie of the Year:  .266 and led the AL with 21 stolen bases.

He also played with the Orioles, back to Chicago and finished with Boston:   .262 batting average, 506 stolen bases, 2,677 hits in 2,599 games.

Aparicio was inducted to The Hall of Fame in 1984.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Tammi Terrell (1945-1970)

Tammi Terrell was born Thomasina Montgomery in Philadelphia on this day in 1945.  

She died in 1970.    Tammi died from complications of a brain tumor.

Along with Marvin Gaye, they were the romantic duo of Motown with hits like "Ain't no mountain high enough" and "Your precious love".

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Kimmel and the "expectant widow" joke. The shooting in Washington. We remember Carolyn Jones.

 

Kimmel and the "expectant widow" joke. The shooting in Washington. We remember Carolyn Jones.

There is nothing funny about an ‘expectant widow’

There is nothing funny about an ‘expectant widow’:

I miss the decent days of Johnny Carson.

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(https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/there_is_nothing_funny_about_an_expectant_widow.html)

Once upon a time, a fellow named Carson dominated late night TV.  It was more than a show.  My father told me that men would be talking about his lines in the coffee break room.  Even people who didn’t watch it knew about his one-liners, because that’s the way it was.

Who is repeating Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes these days?  Probably not a lot of people, unless you like a joke about an expectant widow or the current First Lady losing her husband, the president.

Let’s check this out:

So this is funny?  Some writer actually presented this to Kimmel for his nightly show?  Maybe Kimmel made it up, but a joke about a woman becoming a widow is not the kind of thing that you’d associate with comedy.

So what’s the joke anyway?  I could understand a joke about a woman becoming a football widow during the NFL playoffs.  I’ve heard women say that and it can be funny, especially when the husband just becomes your neighbor that you watch games with.

So again—who thinks that this is funny?  If you do, then you need to see a doctor and get Trump out of your head.

Kimmel answered back saying something about the president’s age rather than an assassination.  He is 80 you know, but Kimmel reminded us that he’s against gun violence.  No matter what, it was a bad choice of words, given the two previous assassination attempts.

Will ABC fire him?  I don’t care, but a little decency might be in order.  

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

If you tell a lie big enough...

If you tell a lie big enough...:

By all indications, Cole Allen was aboard the Trump Derangement Syndrome train and believed every lie coming from the conductor.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/if_you_tell_a_lie_big_enough.html

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We’ve studied the manipulation of public opinion.  A good example was Joseph Goebbels who purportedly said:  “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

Enter Cole Allen, the man arrested Saturday night who allegedly wanted to kill some Trump administration officials.  By all indications, Cole was aboard the Trump Derangement Syndrome train and believed every lie coming from the conductor.

This is from The New York Post:

For the third time, an assassin Saturday night came far too close to killing President Donald Trump.

And in what’s starting to seem like a pattern, the suspect was clearly a radicalized lefty.

Thank God, no one was seriously injured this time. But is this what the left wants?

Because sane, democracy-loving Americans are beginning to wonder: What will it take to get lefty pols and media to quit their sick, dangerous accusations about Trump, which are surely fueling the hostility and deadly violence?

‘I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,’ ranted suspected would-be assassin Cole Allen in his manifesto — with its clear reference to Trump.

So here we go again.  A well educated young man with a huge future ahead of him gets addicted to a wild radical idea that Trump is this or that.  What you read in this “manifesto” is about what you would expect to hear from the craziest wing of the Democrat party.  Mr. Allen’s message was full of all of the unfounded accusations we’ve heard before, plus his conclusion that it’s time to save the land by killing everything Trump and as many helping him to govern.

It’s sad but that’s where the country is.  Once upon a time, one could count on the late Senator Lieberman to push back on this garbage.  Today, it’s Senator Fetterman, but how much can a junior senator do?  It would be nice if a candidate for president, such as a Governor Shapiro, would raise a voice and end this, but he is probably afraid of a primary too.

So the country moves on and who knows where the next one will come from?  I don’t know, but I’m sure that there is a manifesto somewhere full of all of this garbage coming from their side.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Happy # 85 to Ann-Margaret

We say happy birthday to Ann-Margaret.    She was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden on this day in 1941.   

Ann-Margaret started out as a dancer and then went into movies, such as "Bye bye birdie" and "Viva Las Vegas" with Elvis.

I can't remember when I first saw her but it was memorable.  My guess is that most young men of my generation would agree with that.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember President Monroe (1758-1831)

We remember James Monroe who was born in Virginia on this day in 1758.  He was one our 5th president and the author of The Monroe Doctrine about European interference in the Americas.    He died in 1831.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1945: Mussolini & Clara were shot by Italian partisans

On this day in 1945, Benito Mussolini & Clara Petacci were shot by Italian partisans.  

They tried to escape and were captured.  Eventually, their bodies were hung upside down and displayed publicly.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 28, 1961: Warren Spahn pitched second career no-hitter

On this day in 1961, 40-year old Warren Spahn threw his second no-hitter against a very tough Giants lineup.   

According to SABR, it was a very cold day and only 8, 518 fans showed up at County Stadium to watch the game. 

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 28, 1956: Frank Robinson hit # 1 of 586 career HR

On this day in 1956, Frank Robinson hit the first of his 586 lifetime home runs.   The pitcher was the Cubs’ Paul Minner in the old Crosley Field in Cincinnati.    Frank hit 38 in 1956 and was selected NL Rookie of the Year.    
He won the NL MVP in 1961 & AL MVP in 1966.    

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Carolyn Jones (1930-1983)

We remember Carolyn Jones who was born on this day in 1930.  She died in 1983.

Over the years, we've loved TV mothers — i.e. all of those "mom" characters we grew up watching.

Here is my list of favorites:

1) Mrs. Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver.  Barbara Billingsley died in late 2010.  She will forever be Beaver's mom and one of the most endearing characters in TV history.  Frankly, didn't Mrs. Cleaver remind you of your mom? 

2) Mrs. Ingalls of Little House in the Prairie.  She was just great.  This is a show about the "frontier mother," the courageous woman of the frontier.

3) On a more hilarious note, let me add Mrs. Adams of The Adams Family.  Wasn't Mrs. Morticia Adams just hilarious?  Doesn't every mother have a bit of Mrs. Adams in her personality?

Again, we salute all of the mothers today.  We hope they all have a lovely day.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

"They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky, The Addams Family. 

Their house is a museum Where people come to see 'em 

They really are a scream The Addams Family. 

(Neat) (Sweet) (Petite) 

So get a witches shawl on A broomstick you can crawl on 

We're gonna pay a call on The Addams Family."

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Happy # 91 to Pedro Ramos

We remember Pedro Ramos, who was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, on this day in 1935. 

Ramos was 19 when he made his debut in 1955 and beat New York 6-0.   He went on to win 83 games over 7 seasons.      

Over a 4-year span, Ramos was an "innings eater" starting 142 games, throwing 1,030 innings and leading the American League in starts twice.   He also gave up Mickey Mantle's famous HR in 1956 or the one that almost left Yankee Stadium.

My father was a huge fan of Pedro Ramos.  He would laugh and say that Ramos was known for enjoying the Havana night life when he played for Cienfuegos in the pre-Castro winter league.   

Up here, he was known as "The Cuban Cowboy" or a reference to his wardrobe and lifestyle.

My late father would also say:   "If Pedro Ramos had only pitched for the Yankees.....he'd won 200 games".

I don't know about 200 games but he'd won a lot more than the 117 he put up pitching for some very bad teams, such as the Washington Senators and a few others. 

Ramos finally made it to the Yankees in 1964-66 and saved 39 games.    Unfortunately, he was signed too late to qualify for the post season and did not play in the World Series despite being a key factor in winning the pennant.

Unfortunately, the Yankees went into decline in 1965 and did not return to the post season until 1976.   So Ramos did play for the Yankees but never got to pitch in The World Series!

Happy birthday to Pedro Ramos, a pretty good pitcher and another pride of Havana!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Mexico and CIA agents killed. DC shooting and our politics. Texas and redistricting. Babe Ruth 1947.

 

Mexico and CIA agents killed. DC shooting and our politics. Texas and redistricting. Babe Ruth 1947.

Confusion south of the border

Confusion south of the border:

 Mexico is caught between preaching sovereignty and a public fed up with crime. 

It would be better for President Sheinbaum to come clean and admit that these U.S.-Mexico operations were approved and stop all of the games about sovereignty. But this is Mexico, where standing up to the U.S., and specially Trump, is part of the game.

Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/confusion_south_of_the_border.html

1947: Baseball said goodbye to Babe Ruth

On April 27, 1947, baseball said goodbye to the Babe.    He was very sick and would eventually die in February 1948.      

Every major league park remembered Ruth with a ceremony.   Of course, the highlight was Yankee Stadium and the Babe showed up.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 27, 1973: Steve Busby no-hitter # 1

We remember Steve Busby who threw his first no-hitter on this day in 1973.     It was the first no-hitter of the DH era, or not having to face a pitcher batting.     

Busby pitched another no-hitter in 1974.    

His career ended due to injuries and then became an excellent baseball TV analyst with the Texas Rangers.    

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April, my brother and The Bee Gees many years ago!

In the spring of 1967, my brother rushed home with a new 45. (We were a couple of kids collecting 45s!)

It was Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb singing their first international hit: "New York Mining Disaster 1941"

Initially, many people thought that it was The Beatles.

Many thought that Bee Gees was "Beatles Group".

Eventually, the world realized that it was the Brothers Gibb, specially when they listened to the B-side, the wonderful "I can't see nobody".

Barry was 20 and Robin & Maurice were only 17. It was the beginning of the amazing worldwide career of the brothers!

 

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

A look at Texas politics with George Rodriguez from South Texas

 

A look at Texas politics with George Rodriguez from South Texas......The Washington DC shooting. Cornyn vs Paxton. Sheinbaum and the CIA operatives killed in Mexico.

CANTO TALK podcasts from last week

This is a summary of our podcasts from last week...........

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

The pope is right!

The pope is right!:

Pope Leo XIV issued some clarifying remarks about illegal immigration this past week. 

I’ll be happy to attend Mass this Sunday and know that my pope understands the issue of unregulated entry. 

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/the_pope_is_right.html

1963: Peggy March and "I will follow him"

Some of you may remember “I will follow him” from “Sister Act”, the movie with Whoppie Goldberg…..

The original version goes back to 1963 when 15 year old Peggy Marsh (Margaret Annemarie Battavio) put it at # 1:

I WILL FOLLOW HIM

“Love him, I love him, I love him
And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow

I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go
There isn’t an ocean too deep A mountain so high it can keep me away

I must follow him, ever since he touched my hand I knew
That near him I always must be 
And nothing can keep him from me He is my destiny

I love him, I love him, I love him And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow
He’ll always be my true love, my true love, my true love
From now until forever, forever, forever

I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go
There isn’t an ocean too deep
A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away Away from my love

I love him, I love him, I love him
And where he goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow
He’ll always be my true love, my true love, my true love
From now until forever, forever, forever

I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go
There isn’t an ocean too deep A mountain so high it can keep, 
keep me away Away from my love

Do-do do-do-do do-do-do and where he goes
I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow I know I’ll always love him…”

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Hack Wilson (1900-48)

Lewis Robert "Hack" Wilson was born in Pennsylvania on this day in 1900.   He died in 1948.

Hack, as he was known, broke with the Giants in 1923 but blossomed with the Cubs in 1926.   

In fact, he hit 190 HR with 769 RBI in 850 games.   He led the NL in RBI with 159 in 1929 & 191 in 1930.   

His stats with the Cubs were awesome.     

In 1979, the Veterans Committee selected Hack Wilson to the Hall of Fame.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

First Lady Louisa Catherine Adams 1825-29

First Lady Melania Trump was born in Slovenia.  Who was the other First Lady born out side of the US?  The answer is Louisa Catherine Adams.   Her husband John Quincy Adams was the 7th president (1825-29). 

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Happy # 79 Amos Otis

We say happy birthday to Amos Otis who was born in Mobile, Alabama, on this day in 1947.   He turned into one of the best players of the 1970s.  

Amos Otis was one of the key pieces of the Kansas City Royals who won the AL West in 1976, 1977, 1978 and finally made it to the World Series in 1980.    They were a very complete team, from George Brett to Frank White to superb pitching.

Otis was a very good outfielder and had great career numbers:  .277 batting average, a very good .343 On Base average, 2,020 hits, 193 HR & 1,007 RBI in 1,998 games.   And he stole 346 bases.

Amos was an AL All Star 5 times (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1976) and AL Gold Glove (1971, 1973 & 1974).    

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 26, 1865: John Wilkes Booth killed

We remember that John Wilkes Booth was killed on this day in 1865.  

Booth went into hiding after killing President Lincoln.  He was found by Union troops hiding in a farm and killed there.

Booth was a popular actor at the time.  His family was one of the first families of American theater.  He made his New York debut in 1862 and things were looking up.  However, a respiratory illness in 1863 put him on the sidelines for a while.

His other passion was the cause of the Confederacy or the South.  It motivated him to kill President Lincoln at Ford's Theater in Washington DC.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.