Fresh week, fresh start. Here is today’s dose of common sense commentary:

• Operation Epic Fury
• Dignified Transfer Fundraising
• Islamophobia
• UP Women’s Wrestling Team
• One More Thing

OPERATION EPIC FURY:

The Department of War announced the death of six Air Force Airmen who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky., were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. and Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.

The six Airmen died on March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq. The incident is under investigation.

Please join me in praying for these Airmen, their families, and friends.

DIGNIFIED TRANSFER FUNDRAISING:

Several sources, including The Independent, reported that a political action committee linked to Donald Trump used a photo of the president saluting a dead soldier’s casket in a fundraising email, prompting backlash from several Democratic officials and veterans groups.

The message, sent Thursday and paid for by Never Surrender Inc., advertises a new “National Security Briefing Membership” and includes multiple donation links. The message included an image of Trump saluting during last week’s dignified transfer ceremony for six U.S. service members who were killed during an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait.

This is so very wrong on many levels. I guess I should not be surprised that Trump and his people would use photos of dead soldiers to raise money. They have shown over and over that they don’t give a shit about our military personnel. 

ISLAMOPHOBIA:

Axios reported last week that Republicans are growing more emboldened than ever in their expressions of unapologetic Islamophobia in recent weeks in response to a series of violent attacks on U.S. soil amid the Iran war. 

Here are a few examples:

• “We need more Islamophobia, not less. Fear of Islam is rational,” Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) posted to X Thursday.
• Said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), responding to a post with side-by-side photos of the September 11th attacks and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, wrote: “The enemy is inside the gates.”
• “Name one country that is freer and safer because Muslims moved there,” Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) posted.

These elected officials were elected to lead, not to feed the lowest common denominator of hate. When you weaponize Islamophobia, you don’t just fail your constituents—you betray the very office you hold.

UP WOMEN’S WRESTLING TEAM:

Big congratulations to the University of Providence Women’s Wrestling Team for their performance at the NAIA National Championships. 

The big winner was Erin Hikiji, who won her second straight NAIA National Championship at 103lbs. 

According to an Argo post on social media, at this year’s championships the Argos tied the program record with six All-Americans, took home a trophy with a program best fourth-place team finish, and saw Erin Hikiji cement her legacy as the most decorated athlete in school history as a four-time finalist, four-time All-American, and two-time National Champion.

ONE MORE THING:

There’s no panic like trying to press “End Call” when you make an accidental call. 

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##