Thursday, June 11, 2026

Panem et Circenses

(Except there ain’t no bread, and the circus is the clowns in the White House.)

I still don’t know what the fucking “claw” is; and I don’t want to know.
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Kristi Noem Still Wants To Know If You Miss Her Yet

Will the DOJ explain the First Amendment to him? Or will the courts have to do that? Same question as above, but who’s going to explain immigration law v. criminal law to him? (People lawfully subject to deportation are not necessarily subject to criminal penalties. Nor are the people who “harbor and abet” them by hiring them. Otherwise every company in America that hired “illegal aliens” would face prosecution. And I don’t remember ICE rounding up the farmers when they raided the fields to catch farm workers.) Is he threatening to pull CBP agents from “blue” airports again? He just got another $70 billion. Maybe he can spare some change for training ICE agents in crowd control.

“Antifa”? Are they wearing matching t-shirts or something? Why don’t you call ‘em “commies” and “outside agitators”?
Or until the next Congress in January. What one Congress does, the next Congress can always undo. Especially in the area of government spending.
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What Are We Doing Here?

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that its Missile Forces carried out an attack earlier on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan using 12 medium-range ballistic missiles, as retaliation for last night’s wave of U.S. strikes against Iran, with the attack claimed to have targeted F-35s, F-16s, and F-15s as well as a control center at Salti Air Base.
Yeah, he’s being held back by the American public. And we’re two weeks into the fourth month. Is it over in two weeks? Which we will make in 2-3 days? Also: this is George III’s revenge on the colonies for calling him “mad.” The loss of life is just a number in an equation. The bigger number is the money he imagines making. Only that number is real to him. He’s been saying that for 100 days. And bragging about how expensive your weapons are is not the flex he thinks it is. Been saying that, too. Saying it doesn’t make it so.
Trump: "The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT. At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Sure we will. And unicorns will shit rainbows, and gas will come down to $0.10 a gallon, and food will be free because it grows on trees! (Nobody tell him the major oil companies are not investing labor and material in Venezuela because the dangers that existed there before, still exist there. Grandpa doesn’t like to be awakened from his dreams.)
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🎶 Spinning Wheel, spinning ‘round 🎶

So, the same way J. Edgar used it. “Most Wanted” was never an empirical category, it was always a publicity stunt. Why advertise criminals you can’t catch? Surely the murder of Savanna Guthrie’s mother was “most wanted.” But Patel washed his hands of the case, and blamed local officials for taking too long to call in the FBI. Besides, a suspect was never identified, so he could never make the list. Speaking of “most wanted.”

We’re also still on this:
The 79-year-old president was asked Wednesday about inflation shooting up 4.2 percent last month, and he declared, "I love the inflation," and his former White House communications director from early in his first term tried to clean up a statement that seems tailor-made for Democratic campaign ads.

"It's absolutely going to be a big, fat campaign ad for Democrats," said Mike Dubke. "They are going to use it. I think what the president, in context, he was basically quoting [a 1968 song by] Blood, Sweat and Tears, 'What Goes Up Must Come Down.' I think that he's assuming that once we cease hostilities with Iran and oil prices come down, that the momentum going into the midterm elections is going to create a situation where people feel good about the economy."
Because no one can admit the President is losing control of his faculties (at least), we are supposed to believe he’s referencing a song from  1968 no one’s ever heard him mention before? And that’s better?


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Wednesday, June 10, 2026

🤷‍♂️

Why? D’you get off to ‘em? It’s a Republican thing, right?
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Didja Notice?

U.S. President Donald J. Trump spoke from the Situation Room earlier with Fox News’ Trey Yingst, telling him that 49 BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) have so far been fired at targets in Iran, along with strikes by fighter aircraft, with some strikes occurring only miles from the Iranian capital of Tehran. President Trump added that he spoke directly with Iranian officials tonight who asked him to stop bombing, stating that the strikes will stop soon and if they don't sign the agreement, “we'll bomb the shit out of them.”
Why don’t I believe him? Maybe because he’s been saying this for 100 days now? Maybe because... What will this accomplish? What has it ever accomplished? Well, of course they did. But I still don’t believe Trump.

 Same old same old. Trump declares Iran’s military is vanquished, again.  Iran has no choice but to make a deal. Trump declares a deal is possible by the end of this week. Or next week. Or the week after that.

Oh, and that the Strait is open. And we never get a clear idea just what our bombing campaign was, or what did.
That gives them an excuse to come to a quick end. See?
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“Affordability Is A Hoax”

What are the odds Trump doesn’t know what the reported inflation rate is? Grand Old Party of Irresponsibility.
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Not Since 2024!

🤦‍♂️
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Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Demographically Speaking…

... in Texas, “minority” means white. 

But, of course, Comer means “non-white.” Especially when they elect Democrats.

It’s alright, though. The Sinister Six have determined the real racism in America is against white people. 
“Teacher, who sinned, that Dr. Oz was born so stupid?” "Shit happens." Pretty much why Paxton was impeached. Yeah, there is a reason why he’s not out in public today.
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The House Is Supposedly Inquiring Into The Indictment Against SPLC

The one DOJ superseded because it was so bad. “Bad” as in FUBAR. But the relevant question is; what does SPLC’s judgment about TPUSA (clue phone calling: only MAGA cares about TPUSA, if anyone does. Charlie Kirk is dead and gone.) have to do with the criminal charges brought by DOJ? The ones likely to be dismissed soon, if past Trump DOJ indictments are any guide.

I mean, it’s pretty much a First Amendment issue. And there isn’t a question before the House of funding SPLC, is there?
Yeah, it’s not just lame duck Chip Roy. Most of the GOP members don’t seem to know what they’re doing there.
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Ironically…

...support for Paramount, CBS, TikTok, Warner Brothers, and CNN are all collapsing, too. Oh, I don’t mean they’re about to dry up and blow away. But Ellison is not exactly capturing the bleeding edge of the communication business. I’m sure people are paying for Paramount streaming now; but even Disney and Amazon are having trouble attracting subscribers. CBS was the old folk’s home network long ago, and isn’t turning that reputation around anytime soon.  Tik Tok I don’t know about, but Warner is the fabulous invalid that won’t die, and saw its best days decades ago.  CNN? Isn’t cable dead yet? Does anybody want to pay to stream that?

Even streaming services have gone to providing discounts through other service providers, like cell phone companies. It’s what’s keeping most of them alive. I remember when “premium cable channels” were the sinecure of the future. Where are they now?

There’s a reason some cell phone companies advertise dirt cheap rates: you don’t get to add several streaming services at that rate. And if you don’t want to pay for them, how does that benefit Paramount or CNN or CBS? I still have a TV antenna (I’m old, I remember those days). The Golden Child and her husband don’t. I’m pretty sure they don’t watch Paramount, CBS, or CNN. Or Warner, for that matter.

As I say, those legacy brands aren’t going to disappear tomorrow. But they aren’t exactly Google or Apple, striding confidently into a future they are helping create. CBS News once ruled; but then Cronkite retired. CNN dominated; then FoxNews came along. My parents were the last people I knew dedicated to cable TV come hell or high water. Nowadays the biggest customers seem to be bars and restaurants with lots of big TeeVees; and then it’s only sports channels. I hardly stumble across even FoxNews in public anymore. If Ellison was investing in podcasts, he might have something. If he caught one that was influential for more than 15 minutes. But all I can see is, he’s investing in the past.

And nobody lives there anymore; or at least, not for very long. (Honestly, the whinging Gen Xers and Millennials constantly blaming the Boomers for the world they are now adults in are more mired in the past than anyone I know. They seem to think they were guaranteed a world comfortable and convenient to grow up in. I lived through all the financial turmoil that followed the post war boom like a plague of locusts, what seemed like a permanent cycle of boom and bust (mostly bust), the world post-Boomers still don’t think existed before they came along. I wasn’t handed everything on a platter, either; and the country wasn’t a meritorious democracy where everyone held hands and sang “Kum bah yah.” Most of what you’re complaining about now is a result of history, not personal inconvenience to you. Get over yourselves and take responsibility for what you’re doing. The rest of us had to.)

(Yes, I am a prickly old man. What of it?)
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It Can Always Get Stupider

I promise not to ask Santa Claus for anything else for Xmas.

(“Competitive House races?” A fuck up this big would make every race in America competitive!)
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“Iran Wants To Make A Deal”*

According to the New York Times, citing a number of diplomats and officials with knowledge of ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, the U.S. and Iran have narrowed down the issue of Iran’s nuclear program to four main points. These points are a long-term suspension of Iranian uranium enrichment, the dilution or downblending of current enriched material, the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities, and Iran acceding to snap inspections to ensure compliance with whatever framework is agreed upon. Per the report, on the dilution of Iranian stockpiles, the U.S. plans to work directly with the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to realize such efforts. However, Iran has yet to be persuaded to allow direct U.S. involvement in such activities.
Is there some expert who can explain how this is fundamentally different from the 2015 JCPOA? Except that we can’t get Iran to agree to it?

And that we wouldn’t need them to if the U.S. hadn’t abandoned the JCPOA IN 2018.

 *And suddenly I realize that’s not just the title of Trump’s stupid book (which he didn’t come up with), he probably connected it to the popular game show “Let’s Make a Deal,” which had its heyday in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, a/k/a Trump’s formative years, and the ones he’s still stuck in. He thinks, in other words, that’s what “deal making” is. Basically a shallow, TeeVee game show spectacle. Requiring no attention span or concentration.
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“I Have Just Been Informed…”

12 hours earlier He had no clue. I guess the staff didn’t tell him because they knew Grandpa needed his nap.1 He didn’t have the war to worry about last night.
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🎶This Is The War That Ends and Ends!🎶

🎶 It just ends on and on, my friends! Some people started fighting it and said that it would stop!✋ But it’s been ending now forever, because it stops and stops and stops! 🎶 [repeat from the beginning ad infinitum] The war started at the end of February; it is now the second week of June. That’s a little under once every three days announcing the “deal” is imminent. The boy who cried “wolf!” didn’t get this many do overs.
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Reducing The Surplus Population

(Yes, this is a violation of Plyler v Doe and the 14th Amendment, but Tennessee obviously wants the Sinister Six to overturn Plyler and restrict Section I of the 14th to the “right” persons. It’s a slippery slope from there, but that’s alright with the white people on the Court.)
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“Generational Figure”

Trump is the first generational figure our party has produced since Ronald Reagan—the first Republican in 40 years with the standing to redefine what the party is, not merely win an election. Reagan did exactly that, and the movement he built outlasted him by a generation. The opening is real. What Trump does with it is the whole question.
I get the GOP desperation for a “generational figure.” In the 20th century, the Democrats had FDR, Truman, JFK, LBJ, just in terms of governmental accomplishments, and then the first black President (no, not Clinton) in the 21st century.

While the GOP had Eisenhower (“military industrial complex,” which became a rallying cry of the anti-war movement); Nixon (Watergate); Reagan (Iran-Contra); Shrub (9/11; “WMD;” Katrina). Their last generational figure was Lincoln, and now the GOP is the party of white racism (Reagan kicked off his first presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and ran on eliminating “welfare queens, “  black women he described as driving Cadillacs.) Which is the problem with Hegseth’s speech.

 BTW: Hegseth is not a Boomer. He’s 46.
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Trump On

Trump off:
Speaking to the Financial Times, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, has said that he “calls the shots” and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be forced to accept any deal that the U.S. and Iran agree upon. Per President Trump, “it’s [Iran’s recent strikes on Israel and Israeli strikes in Beirut, Lebanon] not going to have any impact on the deal,” speaking on the potential for a U.S.-Iran deal in the near future.
Trump on being a wholly unreliable narrator.
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Monday, June 08, 2026

115-111

And then falls asleep.
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Random Observations

It’s called “voting.” This is really all they’ve got. I mean, they are completely out. These are their “ideas.” Ted Cruz shows Vance how it’s really not done. Ya gotta love New Yorkers.
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He Loves ‘Em And Leaves ‘Em?

Is that what this is about?

He’s single.

He’s not gay.

He’s dated women. 

His current girlfriend is a vegan. (He also eats BBQ!)

The women he meets have business at the state Capitol.

Are we done here?
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So…?

"I'm saying it stinks to high heaven," Johnson said on Monday when he was asked about the results by CNN's Manu Raju. "And everybody knows that. I think California is playing around with this."

"But what evidence is there to prove this was rigged?" Raju replied.

"Some of these efforts are so diabolical and so far upstream, it is impossible to prove," Johnson said. "But I think everybody knows instinctively something is wrong here."

Mattingly chuckled as he replied to Johnson's comments on "The Lead."

"So diabolical it's impossible to prove," Mattingly said. "Which just sounds like anything my four-year-old does most days."

CNN's Jamie Gangel, a special correspondent, said Johnson's comments show he was playing to an audience of one — Donald Trump.

"He is not going to contradict Donald Trump, but the way he's saying it is really disingenuous," she said. "It's a distinction without a difference, because he is saying it stinks to high heaven. So he's not using the word rigged, but that's what he's putting out there. I think the problem here ... this is dangerous when you undermine faith in the election. Let us not forget we have seen the result of what happened on January 6th. We do not want that to happen again."
... do we expect Trump to incite a riot in LA when the new mayor takes office?

Because I’m pretty sure this election conspiracy shit has run its course. As it has to do. The only way to get rid of it is to wear it out.
Pretty sure that’s more important to people in the country than who won the LA mayoral primary, how. Though Trump thanks you for doing his job for him.
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🎶 The Bronx is up, and the Battery’s down…🎶

Why would that be? I know it’s only one offense, but it’s gonna leave a mark. And how long will Trump be there? I still say it’ll be less than 30 minutes, in and out. Again: Mamdani wins. Whither Trump’s “feral cunning’ and political instincts, his common touch and crowd appeal? Could it be he’s passed his “sell by date”?
These people have been waiting an hour to get into Madison Square Garden.

Here is a first person account:

“They routed everyone down to 34th and 8th.

Police barracade.

Through metal detectors to a point about 200 feet from MSG.

Then they came and apologized and said they were confused and instead we needed to exit the barracade and go to 34th and 7th.

We walked there and then a different set of police told us to go to 32nd and 6th.

There are hundreds, if not a thousand people, wandering around in giant herds not knowing where to go or how to get in.

The police keep saying they don’t know the protocol.”
Yeah, it could be.
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Trump Calling The Shots

Congress will love that. Although, what would they do? Declare war on Iran?
Elements of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division were secretly deployed to Israel in early April, as part of joint contingency planning between Israel and the United States, completed since February, for seizing Iranian-controlled Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf and carving out coastal territory inside Iran, according to a deployment order seen by Ken Klippenstein.

The order, issued April 7, 2026, directed paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division - the storied “Geronimo!” Battalion - to deploy to Israel on “temporary duty,” in a move not previously reported by the Pentagon. Asked about the number of troops deployed to Israel and their mission, the Pentagon referred questions to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
And a little more evidence that Trump is never going to pull that trigger.
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Continuing The Conversation There 👇

Only because I can’t embed a tweet in comments. Again, I know nothing about Platner. But he’s not a Bill Clinton Rhodes Scholar or a Barack Obama Ivy League Black man. I mention them because Obama was met with both birtherism and assaults on his UCC pastor in Chicago (Obama threw him under the bus instanter, parting easily two that were never joined). Clinton was greeted with a great deal of suspicion because he was from Arkansas, not the approved regions. But both had credentials and not working class backgrounds, alone. 

Brooks is a snob whose first claim to fame was a piece of faux socialism about the people he imagined fined at Applebees. The problem was, as those people could tell, Brooks had never darkened the door of an Applebees. He was a fake, trying to establish his bons fides with the people who set themselves apart from the people who, they imagine, dine only at Applebees.

And then there’s Platner. Like Talarico, he’s “dangerous.” He might inspire people to be less deferential to the rich. That, at least, seems the best explanation for why David Brooks is so condescending.
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I Don’t Have A Dog…

...in the Platner “fight.” But honestly, after the nation elected Trump the first time (“Entertainment Tonight”), and the second time (E.Jean Carroll; Epstein), I don’t need to hear from the self-appointed national scolds about “character” and how some men allegedly treat women, every election cycle.

It’s clearly not a subject that matters to the voters, and never has.  

I know that disappoints David Brooks but: who cares about David Brooks?
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Damned Socialist!

😈
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🤖 Is Inevitable

Shuler: A couple years ago, I was sitting in a room on Capitol Hill next to the big-tech billionaire crew.

Those tech guys talked about their vision for the future, all the possibilities they saw. Guess what one word did not come out of their mouths: workers.

And as we started talking about what AI meant to our members and the fear and anxiety folks had, out of the corner of my eye, to my right, I saw Elon Musk literally starting to do origami.
"AI is this years Beanie Babies for billionaires."

We can only hope.
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Our Man On Their Side, Or, Why Talarico Is “Dangerous”

NEWS — Ken Paxton’s impeachment defense lawyer is endorsing Democrats James Talarico for Senate, @NOTUSreports scoops

Dan Cogdell, who represented Paxton in his 2023 impeachment trial and several personal cases, told NOTUS in a statement that Paxton “has lost sight of his core mission”

Cogdell is well-connected in Texas GOP politics, and has represented top state party officials. He donated $6,500 to Paxton’s campaign, contributing as recently as last year

But he’s been critical of Trump. A clip of him calling Trump the “greatest threat” to democracy was even turned into an NRSC attack ad last year. It’s been scrubbed from the web.

Talarico said in statement “if you voted for John Cornyn, you have a place in this campaign.”
BREAKING: Ken Paxton’s own lawyer just endorsed James Talarico:

“I defended Ken Paxton for years in the impeachment trial and in state criminal cases. But in my view, I think Ken has lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas.

And unlike Ken, I believe that you, James, believe in unity over division and that you know how to assemble not only Democrats but Independents and Republicans and we need that right now.

We need unity, we don't need any more division and that's why I'm supporting you.”
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Trump Calls The Shots

The Middle East is stuck in phases of peace talks and fragile ceasefires.

Tehran's drones continue to threaten maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers were clear that Iran's actions are unacceptable. In response, EU Member States in Brussels today sanctioned Iranians over restricting naval traffic in the Strait.

This is the first time the EU applies its new freedom of navigation sanctions regime.

My press remarks in Cyprus with @PalmasVasilis ↓
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas announced new EU sanctions against Iran today, due to Iran’s threatening of commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The sanctions fall under a new EU “Freedom of Navigation” sanctions regime, an expansion of already existing EU sanctions frameworks, that was adopted in late May.
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“State’s Rights!” And Other Malarkey

In the ‘60’s, Homan would be bellowing about “outside agitators!” Because American citizens from other states have no right protesting federal government actions in New Jersey. I’m sure there was no change to the food service because Homan was there. Texas Tribune:
Screwworms usually don’t stray too far from their natural tropical and subtropical climates on their own. The parasitic flies do not tolerate prolonged periods of very dry, hot, or very cold weather. Rapid spread in a country is mainly due to humans moving infested animals over large distances.

After Mexican officials confirmed a case of screwworm in November 2024, the USDA, under former President Joe Biden, closed southern ports of entry to live cattle imports to prevent the spread of screwworm into the U.S. However, the move also strained the supply of cattle in the state, hitting some in the cattle industry hard.

The USDA reversed course in February 2025, after President Donald Trump took office, announcing the opening of the ports, only to close them again in May 2025.

In an effort to prevent its spread, the USDA shut down the southern border to live animal imports in May 2025, preventing cattle from Mexico from entering the U.S. and limiting the supply of cattle in Texas.

It’s currently unknown how the screwworm infestation reached South Texas.
But it’s bound to be Biden’s fault. See?
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“☮️”

Subject to whose ignorance and whose stupidity? Odd. Doesn’t sound like Trump was up all night working the phones. " 'Full coordination’ with CENTCOM and US Forces.” Maybe that’s why Trump waited until the day was over in Israel.
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Surprising No One

"Hold mah beer."
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Sunday, June 07, 2026

😹😹😹 ☠️

Oh, it’s not a joke?  💩
Accorded to Axios’ Barak Ravid, citing a U.S. and Israel official, during tonight’s phone conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump asked him not to respond to the Iranian missile attack and to wait a few days for the negotiations, claiming that “something good in terms of a deal” was “close,” to which Netanyahu “kind of agreed” though he reiterated his call for strikes against Iran.
"Pseudo agreed”? Is that diplomacy speak for “He had his fingers crossed”? Like they used to say in the Texas Lege, “You gotta dance with the one what brung ya.”
Speaking to the Financial Times, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, has said that he “calls the shots” and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be forced to accept any deal that the U.S. and Iran agree upon. Per President Trump, “it’s [Iran’s recent strikes on Israel and Israeli strikes in Beirut, Lebanon] not going to have any impact on the deal,” speaking on the potential for a U.S.-Iran deal in the near future.
Uh-huh. Bibi thinks he's got all the support in D.C. he needs, even if he nukes Lebanon ‘til it glows.
President Trump said that Iran’s strikes on Israel had not changed his desire to conclude peace negotiations soon with Iran. “It’s not going to have any impact on the deal,” he told the FT. Though the President said that he would consider a commando raid on Iran if negotiations totally failed, stating: “We would go in and take care of the rest of the place that we didn’t take care of militarily. Or it would just mean that we would keep the blockade on Iran because the blockade has been probably more powerful than any attack that was ever made on that country.”
I’d say it’s 0; the chance that Trump’s sends a force into Iran. Commandos probably wouldn’t be enough to take and hold Kharg Island, much less “take care of the rest of the place that we didn’t take care of militarily.”

This is going to go on and on, until Congress pulls the fucking plug.
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