Space Cadets Wanted: Vice President Mike Pence yesterday announced the administration’s plans for a sixth branch of the military in a speech at the Pentagon. In an attempt to add drama to the moment, Pence said, “Just as we’ve done in ages past, the United States will meet the emerging threats on this new battlefield.” He solemnly declared, “The time has come to establish the United States Space Force.”

Pence called for Congress to appropriate $8 billion for space security over the next five years. Like a high school cheerleader, President Trump tweeted, “Space Force all the way!”

Congress has not approved a new branch of the armed forces since the Air Force split from the Army after World War II. The Air Force now handles military matters involving space, including the communication and navigation satellites upon which every force depends. Proponents of a separate space force say Russia and China are developing anti-satellite systems that need to be met by a specific and separate space command.

The Roundup: The NY Times reports that cables obtained by the Freedom of Information Act reveal that current CIA Director Gia Haspel was in charge of a station in Thailand where an al Qaeda suspect was tortured with waterboarding. — Although President Trump has condemned what he calls “chain migration,” citizenship granted to families of naturalized citizens, his Slovenian in-laws were granted citizenship through the process yesterday. — A federal judge yesterday threatened to hold Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions in contempt after learning that a mother and daughter were being deported to El Salvador before their immigration hearing. US District Court Judge Emmet said, “Turn that plane around.” The pair was being returned to the US today.

What’s the Matter With Kansas: Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach leads Gov. Jeff Colyer by only 91 votes in the state’s Republican primary after the discovery of a 100-vote reporting error that favored Kobach.

Kobach, who headed President Trump’s failed commission on voter fraud, initially declined to recuse himself from overseeing the recount, even though it is so close. Yesterday, he did.

The Far White: Critics argue that President Trump has made racism fashionable and even mainstream. He recently attacked the intelligence of CNN host Don Lemon and basketball great LeBron James.

Wednesday night Fox News Valkyrie Laura Ingraham lamented about the changing face of America. “In some parts of the country it does seem like the America we know and love doesn’t exist anymore,” Ingraham said. “Massive demographic changes have been foisted upon the American people. And they’re changes that none of us ever voted for and most of us don’t like.”

“Most of us” means white people.

One Punch: An assistant basketball coach at Wake Forest University has been charged with assault for punching a man who later died. Jamill Jones was sitting in his car about 1:30 am on a New York street when Sandor Szabo, 35, a Florida resident who was in New York for a wedding, went down the street loudly knocking on car windows trying to identify his Uber ride. Jones is accused of getting out and punching Szabo, causing him to fall and hit his head.

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