NEWS AND OPINION:
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has decided to run for the Senate, and has named his first campaign coalition group. The name tells all: Veterans for Hogan, to be chaired by retired Air Force Brig. Gen. John Teichert.
Mr. Hogan has also produced his first campaign message, filmed at the Peace Cross in Bladensburg, a site revered by local residents. It was built in 1925 by families in Prince George’s County and members of the American Legion to honor the fallen from World War I.
In 2019, the then-governor led the fight “all the way to the Supreme Court — to keep the Peace Cross standing in recognition of the valor, endurance, courage, and devotion of Maryland’s World War I veterans,” according to an advisory from his campaign.
There’s more.
The Veterans for Hogan coalition is launching its outreach with the help of 45 Maryland veterans, who hail from 24 jurisdictions across the state. The coalition members served in all branches of the military services, including the Coast Guard.
“Like so many Americans, Larry Hogan is completely fed up with politics-as-usual and politicians in Washington who are more interested in arguing than getting anything done for the people,” the campaign site said in a public message.
“This is a fight for Maryland and America’s future, and that is a fight worth fighting,” it stated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hogan will host a “Back to Work Barbecue” this weekend on a Maryland farm. Find his campaign at larryhogan.com.
THE DERBY ECONOMY
The Kentucky Derby is Saturday. According to KentuckyDerby.com — the event’s official site — the racing industry in the Bluegrass State directly generates work for 24,402 employees, with 9,433 other jobs coming from “indirect and induced sources.”
The event also generates $1.9 billion in income for the many people actively associated with the sport, along with $115 million in tax revenue for the state. And for those who wonder, Kentucky is home to 240,000 horses.
Traditional mint juleps are so popular at the Kentucky Derby that they have warranted an analysis from Forbes.
“Under the giant feathered hats and watchful eyes of the estimated 150,000 attendees to this year’s Kentucky Derby, the culinary team at the Churchill Downs race track will will use roughly 1,000 pounds of mint, 20,000 bottles of Woodford Reserve and 24,000 bottles of Old Forester to create tens of thousands of mint julep cocktails in a derby tradition that has carried on for almost 150 years,” writes Mary Roeloffs, a reporter for Forbes.
The libation has been served at the big race since 1875 and calls for muddled mint leaves and half an ounce of simple syrup in a cocktail glass, followed by crushed ice, 2 ounces of Kentucky bourbon and a fresh mint sprig.
About 120,000 mint juleps are served at the race each year, along with the “Hot Brown” — an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon, and Derby pie, which is a pie boasting pecan, chocolate and … drumroll, please … bourbon.
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Let’s recall that the Defense Department released an “Operational Energy Strategy” report in 2023 that exposed certain challenges the U.S. military might encounter during operational energy distribution and use. The report also stated that the department had limited oversight of fuel distribution, including fuel infrastructure and investment in national oil companies in China and the Middle East.
Sen. Marco Rubio, however, has introduced the Fuel Utilization for Enhanced Logistics, or FUEL, Act, which would require Defense to assess vulnerabilities in the military’s fuel supply and logistics network — particularly in the Indo-Pacific region — and require a “strategy to identify rapid deployment energy solutions for contested environments.”
Among many things, the Florida Republican’s legislation also addresses the possibility of “kinetic and cyberattacks” on operational energy infrastructure owned by commercial companies or host countries.
“Ensuring the strength and resilience of our military means safeguarding every aspect of our defense, including our energy supply. The FUEL Act will make sure we are assessing vulnerabilities in the energy supply required to fight and win conflicts,” he said in a statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: “The Alamo,” a historic house built in 1928 on a quarter acre in San Antonio and “reimagined” in 1958 by architect Phil Lloyd Shop in midcentury modern style. The house is 2,778 square feet and boasts three bedrooms, three baths with original tile work, generous windows, dining room, living room with marble fireplace and natural stone accents. A unique kitchen combines wood and glass shelves and a built-in buffet, a den features rustic ceiling beams, an oversized fireplace and a circular sitting area. Oak floors, 10-foot ceilings and pecky-cypress accents throughout. Two-car garage, small but lush garden; priced at $600,000 through Sothebysrealty.com; enter 1759498 in the search function.
POLL DU JOUR
• 36% of U.S. adults believe the most important value to teach children is “treat others as you want to be treated”; 46% of Democrats, 40% of independents and 21% of Republicans agree.
• 24% believe the most important value is “faith in God”; 13% of Democrats, 24% of independents and 34% of Republicans agree.
• 18% believe the most important value is “discipline and hard work pay off”; 9% of Democrats, 18% of independents and 27% of Republicans agree.
• 10% believe the most important value is “education is the key to success”; 15% of Democrats, 7% of independents and 7% of Republicans agree.
• 10% believe the most important value is “be happy and follow your dreams”; 14% of Democrats, 8% of independents and 7% of Republicans agree.
• 3% believe the most important value is “money does not grow on trees”; 3% of Democrats, 2% of independents and 2% of Republicans agree.
SOURCE: An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll of 1,199 U.S. adults conducted April 22-25.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook at HarperUniverse — and have a good weekend.