Search Results: Donald Trump

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Beyond - Media Articles and chronicles by the author and debater Mats Sederholm BlogEngine.NET 3.3.5.0 en-US opml.axd Mats Sederholm Beyond 0.000000 0.000000 The contempt for the radicals <p>Also published on <em><a title="The contempt for the radicals" href="" target="_blank"><strong>Democracy Chronicles</strong></a></em><br /><br /></p> <p><strong>In the New York Times article “<a href="">What’s Wrong With Radicalism</a>” (December 11) columnist David Brooks generalize about radicals. And actually, if one thoroughly consider his exact conclusions even though it’s nicely put together,  it carries a patronizing tone. Having all radical political voices of today bundled into an unserious package should be met.</strong>  </p> <p><br />If you have a radical view of societal change today, you belong to a mob of factually misguided, gullible, irresponsible, malicious loudmouths who create unrest.<br /><br />That is the conclusion of New York Times columnist David Brooks’ analysis in his article "What's Wrong With Radicalism". An easy and ingratiating read for the diminishing host of readers who are still convinced that the cause of increasing populism, the mistrust of the establishment, and a new political landscape across the western world is only an unusual virus; namely this radical, malignant and infectious mob. But it will soon pass; the well-established politicians, economists and opinion leaders are the obvious shepherds and healers.<br /><br />There is something religious about this. Or at least a strong sense of escapism. Thoughts veer towards the Titanic and the orchestra that played for the 1st class passengers until the end. Well-dressed, cultured and wealthy people, mostly men, who share an illusory culture that just has to remain.<br /><br />To me - politically engaged in an activist movement consisting of 70000 members with concrete economic, social alternatives to the current order, in pursuit of genuine democracy and transparency - and others who left the sinking ship long ago; columnists such as Brooks seem like a dying race, with neither political argument nor vision. In the United States as well as in Europe, wise and innovative people and activists work to create a different and worthwhile social structure that can put an end to people's increasing distaste for those in power and politics.<br /><br />The Panama papers, paradise leaks, persuasive and dishonest presidents, surveillance, a small autocratic clique of people in the financial industry who are allowed to own most of the world´s resources, media companies controlling millions of people’s digital lives, increasing numbers of people suffering from mental disorders, and globalization that has removed power so far away from people's everyday lives that no one cares anymore, are some aspects of our reality. Perhaps Brooks considers this fake news and behind the denial is, of course, the insight that this miserable state is not caused by "political fools"; it has been created by all the common democratic and undemocratic forces that have, for so long ruled the western world. Most of the passengers aboard this sinking ship are now trying to protest, knowing that we have crashed into an iceberg - and knowing who steered us into it. But in one of the sloping salons you will find people like Brooks. Clad in evening dress, puffing on a cigar, still in the process of ordering the best available cognac, in conversation with a small clique of opinion leaders who live in the past.<br /><br />It may be that in this time of doom some of the passengers are screaming, are raging and shoving at each other and that every little pronouncement is not always true, but still, in comparison with Brooks, they stand on firm ground in the understanding that our society no longer primarily serves its citizens.</p> post/2018/01/24/the-contempt-for-the-radicals info@beyond.humancreations.se post/2018/01/24/the-contempt-for-the-radicals#comment post.aspx?id=1041ab68-7fb3-42bd-b6bc-914cbed538c4 to, 25 jan 2018 00:32:00 +0200 Activism Media Admin pingback.axd post.aspx?id=1041ab68-7fb3-42bd-b6bc-914cbed538c4 0 trackback.axd?id=1041ab68-7fb3-42bd-b6bc-914cbed538c4 post/2018/01/24/the-contempt-for-the-radicals#comment syndication.axd?post=1041ab68-7fb3-42bd-b6bc-914cbed538c4 Liberation or Protectionism <p><em><strong>Also published on <a href="" target="_blank">Dissident Voice</a> and <a href="" target="_blank">Democracy Chronicles</a><a href="" target="_blank"><br /><br /></a></strong></em>The Western world has slowly been forced to realize that the old cornerstones of society are no longer a given. Liberal market economy, representative democracy and the shift of influence away from citizens up to a global and unreachable level makes for a drop in confidence.</p> <p>The new political currents have led the rulers of the West to react with alarm. Finally, there has begun to be an understanding that the left-right-scale no longer applies. It has been replaced by a people-elite scale or a close-large scale. But instead the debate is dominated by the fear of populism. News reporters and political analysts now travel across Europe in droves, from election to election, country to country, in pursuit of a single election result that may indicate a break in the trend and a return to the old ways.</p> <p>In fear of the new politically radical currents, whether they have traces of right, left, liberal, green or anarchy, what is perhaps the West’s greatest cause for pride, the tolerance of minorities, has been curtailed. Radical political ideas are under constant attack from a middle layer of politicians and the powers that be.<br />People’s longing for something new remains.</p> <p>This was already noticeable 5-6 years ago with the North African uprising, the protest movements around the Mediterranean Sea and the Occupy Movement and the “1% of the population ruling over 99%”. The two western political “people’s outrages”, Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as president, are thus a natural consequence of years of a growing fatigue in the political status quo in favor of the more popular and cohesive.</p> <p>In Spain, a referendum on independence is due in September. In Scotland, a new application for one has been submitted and in California, signatures are being collected to create a referendum on independence. In Europe, there is a growing dissatisfaction with the EU as a sphere of power. In all these examples, calls are made for independence, nationalism and/or regional rule. But the trends are rarely discussed in the same debate. Self-government in the form of a protectionist nation state seems to be something completely different from a struggle for independence, even though there is merely a difference of degree in the aspiration for self-rule and control.</p> <p>It is a longing for liberation from the big and incomprehensible beyond human contact that is the motivating common denominator. In a smaller context, this can be noticed when social services such as schools, healthcare or different types of service facilities are concentrated into central municipalities in the name of efficiency and economics. Or when jobs disappear or are moved elsewhere and people are forced to break up from their loved ones and their neighborhood culture. A development that few politicians want to touch and which is beyond people’s influence.</p> <p>The western growth machine creates communities with millions of “non-people”, unemployed youth or senior citizens who lack social significance. At the same time, a clique of financially well-off’s just grows stronger. Solutions seem to be lacking within the current political and social western framework.</p> <p>The longing for a real society; for justice and community, seems impossible to stop in these times of break-ups, individualization and lack of human dignity.</p> <p>The new perception of in what direction society is heading, has created new alliances of political movements as, for example, the European DIEM25 which works for a democratized and transparent EU. DIEM25 and the new French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the radical American Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, reflect rather well the current state of affairs, both in Europe and the US; either new radical political currents beyond the classical political choices, or, as in the case of Macron, a longing to move away from the old at the same time as there is a wish to be anchored in the old. A political three-way-forecast à la 2017. But the biggest political change is not about who is elected but rather about the distrust of the eligible. Both Macron and Donald Trump are both politically skilled businessmen who have perceived a new radical need for change, unlike the classic politicians and their eternal promises of change which are no longer considered credible. The political change from left versus right to small scale versus large scale, regardless of which political icon that represents it, was completely unthinkable just 3-4 years ago.</p> <p>The direction of regionalization and “the small-scale” causes fears; both among those who are afraid of an increasing intolerance to minorities as well as among liberal market forces and globalists. Those who want to restore participation, proximity and popularity see liberation.</p> <p>Is it then possible to regionalize our societies without losing a tolerance for others? The answer should be obvious. Intolerance is not created by diversity; it is created by economic injustice and the lack of influence, involvement, belonging, respect plus the absence of a sense of community. People who are satisfied and feel visible do not look for someone to blame.</p> post/2017/06/26/liberation-or-protectionism info@beyond.humancreations.se post/2017/06/26/liberation-or-protectionism#comment post.aspx?id=ddaf1d88-1bbd-4438-934d-4434d7a47a8d ma, 26 jun 2017 17:16:00 +0200 Media Politics Power of the people Admin pingback.axd post.aspx?id=ddaf1d88-1bbd-4438-934d-4434d7a47a8d 54 trackback.axd?id=ddaf1d88-1bbd-4438-934d-4434d7a47a8d post/2017/06/26/liberation-or-protectionism#comment syndication.axd?post=ddaf1d88-1bbd-4438-934d-4434d7a47a8d

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Beyond - Norms of this society Articles and chronicles by the author and debater Mats Sederholm BlogEngine.NET 3.3.5.0 en-US opml.axd Mats Sederholm Beyond 0.000000 0.000000 The Polarization lacks an ideological solution <p><strong>Also published on <a href="" target="_blank">Open Democracy </a>and  <a href="" target="_blank">Democracy Chronicles</a><br /><br />The increasing political polarization, a problem of the entire western world, is based on misconceptions to which today's politicians find themselves without an ideological solution.</strong><br /><br />During the night of the midterm elections, I switched on CNN International for the first time in a year, but no longer found a newsroom but rather something that looked like a military headquarters. Us against the president - the president against us.</p> <p>In Sweden, almost all parties, media and people in general, support the Democrats. Thus it took me almost a whole day to disentangle news reports and subjective analyses, romantic reviews of Barack Obama and, not least, Trump's self-assured victory rhetoric, before I dared to form my own opinion of how the election actually turned out. The polarization is not just political, it permeates the whole of society, and, just like in war, it's soon hard to trust anyone.</p> <p>The biggest winner in the election was the polarization or division of the United States; the dislike of “the others” and the desire to tell them how wrong they are. It’s an attitude that permeates both sides, but, as most people can figure out, is a deeply destructive development, not only occurring in the United States but in the whole western world.</p> <p>Many point to Donald Trump when talking about polarization, but as it had already started in the 70's, according to Nolan McArthy Professor of Politics, one has to look deeper. Also, it isn’t caused by social media. And when trying to understand who was supporting the right-wing radicalization, it turns out that the idea that it was the poor who supported Trump isn’t correct. In the Presidential election, Trump had more support from the wealthy than Clinton did. In addition, it wasn’t people suffering from the high unemployment who voted for Trump; they tended to vote for the Democrats.</p> <p>But isn’t immigration, at least, a crucial and steady indicator of all the successes of right-wing radicals around the western world? No, not even that is correct. Right-wing nationalism also occurs in countries with almost no immigration at all!</p> <p>The quest for a simple explanation, for absolute numbers, obscures the view of an explanation that is to be found on a somewhat more analytically demanding level. You have to ask at least two consecutive questions if you want to understand it - which many journalists lack both the time and unpolarized attitude to do. One is that few people ask themselves <em>why</em> immigrants are disliked. Also, could there be a common negative experience of society that includes an economic and cultural, as well as an emotional and social, explanation for the right-wing radical support? Some researchers have actually asked these questions and received answers but these haven’t been widely reported. A new perspective of why people vote right-wing radical is:</p> <p><strong>The experience of being marginalized, not being seen, losing one’s status and ending up an outsider.</strong></p> <p>For example, it is not immigration itself which is the problem but the fear of finding oneself outside a particular social group, thus losing one’s identity, which creates the resistance to immigration. And it's not unemployment itself that generates the most dissatisfaction but the <em>fear</em> of being affected by it - rich or poor. Those who really suffer from unemployment tend to vote for left-leaning parties or democrats.</p> <p>Instead, it’s both a cultural and a social concern to lose one’s dignity and status. New values, new cultures, rapid societal change and a general experience of becoming a loser in this turmoil erodes people’s trust in the entire establishment.</p> <p>The longing for dignity, stability and equality is so great in the United States today that people who despise the establishment, in their desperation, still resort to one of its most dominant cornerstones and its leader, to capitalism and the capitalist Donald Trump. But the trend is the same in Europe; Sweden is today among the most unequal countries in Europe and the gap between rich and poor increases at the same rate as the number of right-wing voters. The “Yellow Jacket” movement and the recent dramatic protests all over France is another voice of the marginalized..</p> <p>Decades of increasing political polarization should have given politicians plenty of time for reflection and solutions. But the political establishment in the western world is de facto those who created polarization and are as trustworthy as a runaway train!</p> <p>The Left's focus on economic justice can contribute to less dissatisfaction, but not to a different experience of the societal machinery as a whole. Their open approach to immigration, cultural integration and disregard to tradition will increase polarization. And Liberalism - favouring an independent market economy, privatization and a world where human value is measured in consumer spending with no concern for the increasing gap between the poor and the wealthy - has no hope. Furthermore, with global players beyond democratic control, mistrust grows. And this climate of fear and anxiety turns people towards conservatism.</p> <p>Another democratic and ideological new order is required and a wave of social/humanistic unrest is already noticeable, but we need the courage to ask the questions that actually reveal the social and cultural background to what the media reduce to "violence and protests".</p> post/2019/01/02/the-polarization-lacks-an-ideological-solution info@beyond.humancreations.se post/2019/01/02/the-polarization-lacks-an-ideological-solution#comment post.aspx?id=315deca0-2431-435b-9a1b-c581dff9a1a9 on, 2 jan 2019 20:56:00 +0200 Norms of this society Politics Power of the people Admin pingback.axd post.aspx?id=315deca0-2431-435b-9a1b-c581dff9a1a9 0 trackback.axd?id=315deca0-2431-435b-9a1b-c581dff9a1a9 post/2019/01/02/the-polarization-lacks-an-ideological-solution#comment syndication.axd?post=315deca0-2431-435b-9a1b-c581dff9a1a9 The social body and the threatening infection <div id="articleContent" align="left"> <p>It is a common view that 2017 is a politically unpredictable year and unpredictability is anything but what our Western society wants.</p> <p>On the wish list are: Stable economic growth; political stability; a reliable government; a steady cycle of work and consumption and, not least, a reliable information system - a news media which reflects and analyzes what is happening as the "voice of society". All of these are interdependent in the “social body".</p> <p>Many scoff at this kind of holistic approach. They believe that, on the contrary, society is made up of different stakeholders such as rival companies, the news media and a variety of political currents, preferring to stress that it is these differences that have created our eminent society and provided its diversity, dynamism and vitality.</p> <p>Nevertheless, everything is dependent on a common system of norms. Without its common standards, the social body would quickly disintegrate. Principles and ideals such as representative democracy, liberalism, capitalism, competition, individualism, hierarchical arrangements, materialism, the human being seen as primarily an economic creature, and so on are ways of thinking that we never question but take for granted. Why would we not? Every conceivable alternative would be worse anyway, isn’t that right? For most people the machinery is, in short, just "our civilization". Everything west of the United States and east of the EU is generally seen as less civilized.</p> <p>One might think that it would be the most learned, the most successful people who had the ability to look further and avoid this sectarian, societal self-image. But much of what happens is the opposite of that: The most successful and prominent people are those who have dug deepest into the current system. They are the ones who have been most richly awarded in our society by being the most diligent in following standards and adapting to them. They will not betray "their law". No, it is not intellectualism and in-depth knowledge that give people wider perspectives. On the contrary, it’s the ability to deprogram from the existing order which provides that liberating sense of clarity and insight. But the most profound insights are often left unacknowledged because they rarely serve the governing system. This applies in all social orders of the world and for all its dissidents.</p> <p>Brexit, the US presidential election and the inauguration day have unveiled and exposed the social body for those who might have believed that society consisted solely of independent competing forces. Throughout the Western world, a wave of condemnation is currently emanating from the influential people in society towards all those who don't support the status quo, whether it's to do with Hillary Clinton, the European Union or trade agreements. Suddenly liberal, conservative and socialist seem to have merged into one and the same political force. Throughout the entire Western world, news media convey similar analyzes and the same conclusions. Banks in France unanimously refuse to lend money to the "wrong" presidential candidate and their campaign. The social body that never was now emerges into its complete form. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump both attacked the prevailing system. One had more success than the other but in both cases their rhetoric was grounded in the only currency that ultimately counts; people. Real people who think, feel and make definite choices. And more and more people seem to be veering away from society’s accepted standards.</p> <p>A rot is spreading rapidly in the West.</p> <p>The social body is infected, it has a fever and is feeling desperately ill. Millions of people are increasingly rejecting their own civilization. The Western social body's defense system has no remedy against this epic threat; it trembles and cringes in pain, anger and fear. Its mouth - our old media - sometimes judges, sometimes threatens the citizens to quickly return to the “right thoughts”, because everything is a misunderstanding. Mostly it’s Fake news, the Russians are to blame or Nazis are hiding around the next street corner. During the Christmas holidays Barack Obama signed the ”National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA), thus also legalizing the “Global Engagement Center”, the propaganda center that will fight ”false information” as well as allow non-governmental organizations the right to gather information and contribute towards counteracting false information about the US and its allies; the new Riders who will carry forward the "good" eye of Sauron. The rot must be combated; Western ideals must prevail.</p> <p>Society’s foundation and source of energy is the citizens themselves and when only a quarter of the US population support the old ideals and, furthermore, lose or when the European population reject the EU, the bedrock of Western culture has eroded significantly.</p> <p>The Panama documents revealed economic crime and corruption endorsed by Prime ministers and thousands of economic stake holders. The societal body is already full of rot and on the ropes; everyone knows that. It is in a state of denial, like an old dictator who, before his fall, threatens with even more control, censorship and external menaces.</p> <p>All the while, people look around and let the old decompose.</p> </div> post/2017/02/20/the-social-body-and-the-threatening-infection info@beyond.humancreations.se post/2017/02/20/the-social-body-and-the-threatening-infection#comment post.aspx?id=bc24c55e-6c8c-4603-a7e6-5c140130cfd7 ma, 20 feb 2017 01:08:00 +0200 Power of the people Norms of this society Admin pingback.axd post.aspx?id=bc24c55e-6c8c-4603-a7e6-5c140130cfd7 0 trackback.axd?id=bc24c55e-6c8c-4603-a7e6-5c140130cfd7 post/2017/02/20/the-social-body-and-the-threatening-infection#comment syndication.axd?post=bc24c55e-6c8c-4603-a7e6-5c140130cfd7

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POLITICS – Beyond Borders News Sun, 20 Sep 2026 16:02:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cropped-Untitled-design1-32x32.png POLITICS – Beyond Borders News 32 32 Baja California Water Project Takes Center Stage as Sheinbaum Outlines Federal Infrastructure Agenda /baja-california-water-project-takes-center-stage-as-sheinbaum-outlines-federal-infrastructure-agenda/ /baja-california-water-project-takes-center-stage-as-sheinbaum-outlines-federal-infrastructure-agenda/#respond Sun, 20 Sep 2026 16:02:39 +0000 /?p=35015 TIJUANA, Baja California — Water infrastructure emerged as one of the central issues during President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s visit to Tijuana Saturday, as federal and state officials outlined a broad portfolio of planned investments spanning water, transportation, energy, housing, health care and education. Speaking at an event held as part of her national “Honestidad y Resultados” tour, Sheinbaum announced that construction of the long-discussed Playas de Rosarito desalination plant is expected to move forward, with Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda scheduled to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony next week. The project is designed to strengthen water supplies for Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito. The Baja California government has placed the total investment at 12.5 billion pesos. Federal officials previously described the desalination project as part of a larger water-infrastructure strategy for the state. Sheinbaum said the need for additional water infrastructure had been repeatedly raised by Ávila Olmeda since she took office in 2021. “Every time we met, she told me: The most urgent issue in Baja California is water for Tijuana, for Rosarito,” Sheinbaum said during the event, according to the official transcript and local reports. The announcement comes after delays surrounding the desalination project. In June, Sheinbaum said two previous bidding processes had been declared unsuccessful and that the federal government was considering an alternative procurement process. At that time, she described the investment as approximately 6 billion pesos, underscoring that project figures have varied depending on what components or stages of the broader water program are included. Water-related initiatives presented in Tijuana also include sanitation work on the Tijuana River and modernization of Irrigation District 014 Río Colorado, reflecting the state’s broader challenges involving supply, agricultural water use and cross-border environmental infrastructure. Beyond water, the federal agenda includes transportation projects intended to improve mobility within the region. Among them is the 11.4-kilometer Elevated Viaduct in Tijuana, along with road-conservation work, six community road projects, improvements at the Port of Ensenada and modernization of San Felipe International Airport. The federal government previously announced a broader Baja California infrastructure package totaling 37 billion pesos. Energy investment is another component of the agenda. Government figures presented during the Tijuana event included the González Ortega combined-cycle power plant in Mexicali, with an announced investment of $646 million and projected generating capacity of 641 megawatts. The government also cited the planned installation of 5,134 photovoltaic systems through the Techos Solares para el Bienestar program, with a reported budget of 2.33 billion pesos. Housing represents another significant portion of the announced agenda. Government figures cited a target of 80,880 homes and the restructuring of loans involving 238,317 families. The federal administration also highlighted social programs involving pensions, scholarships, Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro and La Escuela es Nuestra. In education, officials pointed to the Universidad Nacional Rosario Castellanos campus in Tijuana, which the government says currently has 2,150 students enrolled, as well as additional high-school construction and expansion projects. Health-care infrastructure and services were also included in the presentation, with projects or improvements identified in Tijuana, Ensenada, San Quintín, San Felipe, Playas de Rosarito and Mexicali. The event drew an estimated 50,000 people, according to the Baja California government. Ávila Olmeda thanked the federal administration for its involvement in projects she described as addressing longstanding needs in the state. For Baja California, however, the desalination plant remains one of the most closely watched projects. Its progress is particularly significant for the rapidly growing Tijuana-Rosarito corridor, where water availability has remained a persistent infrastructure concern. The projects presented in Tijuana represent a mix of investments already underway, projects in development and initiatives still awaiting construction or implementation. Their eventual impact will depend not only on federal and state funding, but also on procurement, construction timelines, execution and the delivery of the promised infrastructure. For residents and businesses across Baja California, the next phase will therefore be measured less by the number of announcements and more by how quickly these projects move from government plans to completed infrastructure. ]]> /baja-california-water-project-takes-center-stage-as-sheinbaum-outlines-federal-infrastructure-agenda/feed/ 0 Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s New Restrictions on Mail-In Voting Ahead of 2026 Elections /supreme-court-blocks-trumps-new-restrictions-on-mail-in-voting-ahead-of-2026-elections/ /supreme-court-blocks-trumps-new-restrictions-on-mail-in-voting-ahead-of-2026-elections/#respond Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:50:46 +0000 /?p=34927 -Editorial The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new requirements for election ballot mail during the 2026 elections, dealing a decisive blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand federal control over the midterm elections. The court denied the federal government’s application for a stay in United States Postal Service v. California, No. 26A305, leaving in place a nationwide injunction against the rules. The justices said the government was unlikely to succeed in challenging the preliminary injunction and that the factors governing emergency relief did not support allowing the rule to take effect. The dispute involves a Postal Service rule issued in late August that established new requirements for mail containing federal election ballots. Under the rule, ballot mail envelopes would be required to include an election-mail logo, be compatible with high-speed Postal Service processing equipment, and contain a specialized barcode unique to each voter. States also would be required to submit envelope designs to the Postal Service for review and upload basic voter information through a Postal Service portal. Mail that failed to meet the requirements would not be accepted and would be returned to election officials for correction, according to the rule. California and other states challenged the requirements after the rule was issued, and a federal district court temporarily blocked implementation before converting the order into a nationwide preliminary injunction. The federal government asked the Supreme Court to stay that injunction while litigation continued. The justices declined Monday, meaning the new requirements cannot be enforced while the injunction remains in effect. Justice Brett Kavanaugh filed a concurring opinion. He said there was “at least a fair prospect” that the Postal Service has statutory authority to establish the rule. However, he concluded that applying it during the 2026 elections would violate the Administrative Procedure Act because state and local election officials did not have sufficient time to reasonably implement the requirements. “For that reason, I concur in the denial of the application for stay,” Kavanaugh wrote. Justice Samuel Alito dissented, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas. Alito argued that the government had demonstrated that it was likely to succeed on the merits and would suffer irreparable harm if the rule remained blocked. He also questioned whether some organizations challenging the rule had legal standing and whether the states could successfully argue that the Postal Service exceeded its statutory authority. Alito cited federal law giving the Postal Service broad authority to establish regulations governing the collection, handling, transportation, delivery, and return of mail. The case stems from a presidential directive issued about five months earlier instructing the Postal Service to begin rulemaking concerning election ballot mail. California and other states, along with several organizations, challenged aspects of that directive in federal court. The Supreme Court previously intervened in the litigation and stayed an earlier injunction after concluding the district court likely lacked jurisdiction at that stage because the challenge was premature. After the Postal Service issued its final rule in August, the district court again intervened and blocked implementation. Alito acknowledged concerns raised by states about implementing the new requirements shortly before the midterm elections but said those concerns did not outweigh the federal government’s interests. He noted that 12 states had supported the rule in the lower court and argued that compliance was practicable. The Supreme Court’s decision Monday does not resolve the underlying legal dispute over the Postal Service’s authority to establish ballot-mail requirements. Instead, it determines whether the rule may take effect while the case proceeds through the courts. For the 2026 elections, the district court’s preliminary injunction remains in place, preventing enforcement of the Postal Service’s new ballot-mail requirements. ]]> /supreme-court-blocks-trumps-new-restrictions-on-mail-in-voting-ahead-of-2026-elections/feed/ 0 San Diego Mayor Leads Trade Mission to Japan and Marks 70 Years of Yokohama Partnership /san-diego-mayor-leads-trade-mission-to-japan-and-marks-70-years-of-yokohama-partnership/ /san-diego-mayor-leads-trade-mission-to-japan-and-marks-70-years-of-yokohama-partnership/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2026 17:46:02 +0000 /?p=34836 -Editorial San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria traveled to Japan as part of a regional trade mission aimed at strengthening economic ties and marking the 70th anniversary of San Diego’s sister-city relationship with Yokohama. Gloria traveled with Rep. Scott Peters and more than 40 business, civic and academic representatives as part of a delegation organized by World Trade Center San Diego, the international division of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. The mission focused on developing business and investment opportunities in industries including life sciences, semiconductors and artificial intelligence, defense and maritime technology, fusion energy and urban development. “For 70 years, San Diego and Yokohama have built a friendship that has brought our communities closer together, and now we have an opportunity to build on that foundation for the future,” Gloria said in a statement. During the trip, members of the delegation met with Japanese government officials, business representatives and academic leaders to discuss potential investment and collaboration. The delegation also promoted the San Diego region to Japanese companies, highlighting its research institutions, workforce and technology sectors, as well as its connections to the broader binational economy with Tijuana. As part of the mission, Gloria participated in an Invest in San Diego reception for prospective investors and held discussions related to life sciences, technology, maritime industries and urban development. Gloria also visited the U.S. naval base at Yokosuka, where he met with the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan. According to the mayor’s office, the discussions included economic and national security ties between the San Diego region and the Indo-Pacific. The trip also commemorated seven decades of relations between San Diego and Yokohama. Gloria addressed the Yokohama City Council and met with city leaders as the two cities reaffirmed plans to continue economic, educational, cultural and civic cooperation. San Diego and Yokohama established their sister-city relationship 70 years ago, making it one of San Diego’s longest-running international municipal partnerships. Gloria’s itinerary also included meetings and events in Tokyo and Osaka focused on investment, economic development and urban revitalization. He also met with government and business representatives during the visit. The mayor visited Hiroshima, where his itinerary included meetings with local officials and a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Gloria left San Diego on Sept. 5 as part of the international visit. The World Trade Center San Diego trade mission included activities through Sept. 11. According to the mayor’s office, Gloria’s travel expenses for the trade mission were paid by the San Diego Leadership Fund, a nonprofit organization supporting the delegation. The mayor’s office said no money from the city’s General Fund was used for his travel. The trade mission was organized by World Trade Center San Diego with support from the U.S. Embassy in Japan. ]]> /san-diego-mayor-leads-trade-mission-to-japan-and-marks-70-years-of-yokohama-partnership/feed/ 0 Trump Signs Orders Aimed at Supporting U.S. Ranchers and Meat Processors /trump-signs-orders-aimed-at-supporting-u-s-ranchers-and-meat-processors/ /trump-signs-orders-aimed-at-supporting-u-s-ranchers-and-meat-processors/#respond Mon, 07 Sep 2026 03:17:12 +0000 /?p=34788 -Editorial President Donald Trump signed executive orders aimed at supporting U.S. ranchers, expanding meat-processing opportunities and increasing federal scrutiny of competition in the livestock and meatpacking industries. The actions direct federal agencies to review regulations affecting ranchers, livestock predator policies, country-of-origin labeling requirements and restrictions affecting smaller meat processors. One order directs the Interior Department to review the status of gray wolves and Mexican wolves under the Endangered Species Act and determine whether changes to their federal protections are warranted. The department will also work with the Agriculture Department to review policies involving livestock losses caused by predators. Federal officials were directed to examine compensation standards for ranchers who lose cattle and other livestock to predators and review procedures governing the removal of predators when allowed under federal law. The Agriculture Department will also review country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef and determine whether regulatory or legislative changes should be recommended. The White House said the measures are intended to address challenges facing ranchers, including drought, wildfires, rising production costs, livestock losses and the historically small size of the U.S. cattle herd. A separate executive order focuses on competition in meat processing and expanding market opportunities for ranchers and smaller processors. The Agriculture Department was directed to increase enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, which regulates livestock and meatpacking markets. Federal investigators will examine potentially unfair, discriminatory, or deceptive practices and conduct that could restrict competition or manipulate prices. The department will also coordinate with the Justice Department when investigations identify potential violations of federal antitrust laws. Within 60 days, the agriculture secretary is expected to submit a report to the president detailing enforcement activities, staffing and other resources needed to carry out the initiative. The administration also directed federal officials to explore ways to expand interstate sales of meat produced by qualifying state-inspected processing facilities. The Agriculture Department will encourage more states and processors to participate in existing programs that allow eligible facilities to ship meat across state lines while meeting applicable food safety standards. The department was also directed to provide technical assistance to smaller processors and identify federal restrictions that could limit interstate sales. Another provision calls for establishing a guaranteed loan program intended to help small and regional beef processors continue operating, expand facilities and increase processing capacity. The White House cited concentration in the meatpacking industry as a concern, saying the four largest beef packers account for about 85% of purchases of steers and heifers. Administration officials said expanding regional processing could provide ranchers with additional options for bringing cattle to market. The executive orders do not immediately change all federal regulations covered by the directives. Several provisions require agency reviews and recommendations before changes can be implemented, while some proposals could require additional federal funding or congressional approval. Federal agencies will submit reports and recommendations to the White House as the administration considers additional regulatory or legislative actions affecting ranchers and the meat-processing industry. ]]> /trump-signs-orders-aimed-at-supporting-u-s-ranchers-and-meat-processors/feed/ 0 Mistrial Declared in Lindsay Clancy Murder Case After Jury Deadlocks /mistrial-declared-in-lindsay-clancy-murder-case-after-jury-deadlocks/ /mistrial-declared-in-lindsay-clancy-murder-case-after-jury-deadlocks/#respond Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:16:11 +0000 /?p=34766 -Editorial A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy after jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the high-profile case involving the deaths of her three young children. The mistrial was declared after seven days and about 38 hours of deliberations in Plymouth Superior Court. Jurors told Judge William Sullivan they remained hopelessly deadlocked despite additional instructions and efforts to reach a verdict. Clancy was charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of her children, Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months, at the family’s Duxbury home on Jan. 24, 2023. Clancy did not dispute that she killed the children. The central question at trial was whether she was criminally responsible for her actions because of her mental condition at the time. Her defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued that Clancy was experiencing severe mental illness, including postpartum psychosis, and therefore lacked criminal responsibility. Prosecutors disputed the defense’s argument and maintained that Clancy understood her actions. They pointed to evidence they said showed planning, including the timing of the killings while her husband was away from the home running errands. After killing the children, Clancy jumped from a second-story window in an apparent suicide attempt. She survived but suffered injuries that left her paralyzed from the waist down. The jury began deliberating Aug. 27 and repeatedly informed the court that it was struggling to reach an agreement. The deadlock became a central issue during the final days of deliberations. According to courtroom reports, 11 jurors favored finding Clancy not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, while one juror favored conviction. The defense raised concerns about the holdout juror and asked the court to investigate whether the juror was properly following the judge’s legal instructions. Sullivan questioned jurors individually before allowing deliberations to continue. Reddington later sought emergency intervention from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, asking the state’s highest court to require further examination of the holdout juror. The request was denied Friday, clearing the way for the trial judge to declare a mistrial. A mistrial does not amount to either a conviction or an acquittal, and prosecutors may seek to try Clancy again. The case has drawn national attention because of its focus on postpartum mental illness and the legal standard for determining criminal responsibility. During the trial, jurors heard testimony from family members, investigators, medical professionals and mental health experts who offered differing assessments of Clancy’s mental condition at the time of the killings. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office is expected to decide whether to pursue another trial. A status hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 29. Clancy is expected to remain under supervision at Tewksbury Hospital while the criminal case remains pending. ]]> /mistrial-declared-in-lindsay-clancy-murder-case-after-jury-deadlocks/feed/ 0 Sheinbaum Defends Mexico’s Sovereignty, Highlights Government Gains in Second Government Report /sheinbaum-defends-mexicos-sovereignty-highlights-government-gains-in-second-government-report/ /sheinbaum-defends-mexicos-sovereignty-highlights-government-gains-in-second-government-report/#respond Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:26:48 +0000 /?p=34720 -Editorial Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum used her Second Government Report Tuesday to outline what her administration described as progress in the economy, security, infrastructure, health care and social programs, while emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty and its continued cooperation with other countries. Speaking from the National Palace, Sheinbaum said Mexico is “better” and moving in a clear direction determined by its people. She also addressed the country’s relationship with the United States, stressing that her government intends to maintain dialogue and cooperation while protecting Mexico’s sovereignty and national principles. “As long as I have the honor of serving as president of the republic, I will firmly defend our sovereignty, dignity and independence,” she said. “Mexico is a sovereign country, and sovereignty is not negotiated, surrendered or shared.” Relations with the United States The bilateral relationship with the United States was a central part of Sheinbaum’s message. She said cooperation between the two countries would continue, but not at the expense of Mexico’s sovereignty. The framework she has outlined for the relationship is based on four principles: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; shared and differentiated responsibility; mutual respect and trust; and “cooperation without subordination.” That approach calls for coordination on issues including security and trade while maintaining the relationship between equals. The president has repeatedly argued that a strong partnership with the United States does not require Mexico to abandon its principles or accept outside interference. She said the two governments continue to hold discussions on trade and have reached agreements on security cooperation. Cooperation, she added, should not be interpreted as submission, just as friendship does not require Mexico to give up its principles. Economy and Investment Nearly 23 months into her administration, Sheinbaum said Mexico has undergone significant changes and rejected suggestions of divisions within the political project she inherited from former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She reaffirmed her commitment to what the government calls the “Fourth Transformation,” the political movement associated with López Obrador’s administration and now continued under her leadership. On the economy, the president presented several indicators that she said reflect continued stability. According to the figures cited in the report, Mexico attracted a record $35 billion in foreign direct investment, a 12% increase from 2024. Gross domestic product grew 1.4% in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter and 1.9% compared with the same period in 2025, she said. She also pointed to an exchange rate of approximately 17 pesos to the U.S. dollar and said Mexico recorded a positive trade balance for the second consecutive year. Government figures presented during the address showed current spending had been reduced by 200 billion pesos compared with 2024, while federal revenues reached 6.046 trillion pesos. She also reported a 12% decline in the prices of 24 basic grocery products. As part of the government’s Mexico Plan, the administration is developing industrial parks intended to attract investment and expand manufacturing. Sheinbaum said 25 of a planned 100 parks are already operating. A presidential office created to promote investment also approved 19 projects valued at $3.76 billion during its first four months, according to the report. Social Programs and Education Social spending represented another major component of the address. The government estimates that federal welfare programs will reach 42.86 million beneficiaries by the end of 2026, representing an investment of approximately 1 trillion pesos. Education was also highlighted. Sheinbaum said scholarships are now reaching students in primary and high school and that more than 73,000 basic and upper-secondary schools received funding through the La Escuela Es Nuestra program in 2026. More than 657,000 students graduated from the first generation of the National Baccalaureate, she said. The administration has also increased its six-year target for expanding higher education, with a goal of creating 400,000 additional places. The government has eliminated high school entrance exams in 17 states and introduced the Mi Derecho, Mi Lugar system, which is intended to expand access to secondary education. Security On security, Sheinbaum pointed to a reported decline in homicides as one of the most significant indicators of progress. She said the National Security Strategy has contributed to a 51% reduction in homicides over two years, a figure she characterized as equivalent to 44 fewer homicides per day. Between October 2024 and July 2026, authorities arrested approximately 63,000 people, seized 32,824 firearms and 519 tons of drugs, and dismantled 2,725 clandestine laboratories, according to figures presented in the report. The administration also reported holding 665 Peace Fairs and providing more than 1 million services through programs focused on addressing the social and economic causes associated with violence. Health Care Health care was another major area addressed during the report. Sheinbaum said 33 hospitals operated by the Mexican Social Security Institute, the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers and IMSS-Bienestar were completed and opened during the first two years of her administration. The government also reported the completion of 11 family medicine units, 36 health centers and clinics, and 650 modern operating rooms. Over the course of the six-year administration, officials plan to build another 152 health facilities, adding approximately 9,000 hospital beds. The Salud Casa por Casa program has also expanded. According to government figures, 20,000 health professionals have conducted approximately 23 million home visits. Wages and Labor On employment, Sheinbaum described the current period as a “labor spring,” pointing to rising wages and changes in labor protections. The monthly minimum wage has increased from 2,800 pesos in 2018 to 9,582 pesos in 2026, a 154% increase, according to figures presented during the address. In the northern border region, the minimum wage has reached 13,409 pesos per month. The administration also reported a record average formal-sector salary of 20,212 pesos per month, a historic low in labor poverty and approximately 60 million people employed. Sheinbaum said 86,765 jobs had been created through the end of August. Recent labor legislation establishes a 40-hour workweek by 2030. App-based workers have also gained access to social security and profit-sharing under new rules. Housing and Infrastructure Housing remains another major component of the administration’s agenda. Sheinbaum said government housing programs are expected to benefit 12 million families during the six-year term. The broader goal includes constructing 1.8 million homes. Of those, approximately 278,000 are currently under construction and 90,000 have already been assigned, according to the report. The government also reported that 779,000 families have obtained mortgage loans through the Federal Mortgage Society, while another 717,000 have received loans or assistance for home improvements. Infrastructure plans extend to roads and railways. Sheinbaum said 88% of the country’s 51,000 kilometers of toll-free federal highways have been repaved. Among the projects cited were the Bavispe-Nuevo Casas Grandes highway, the Nichupté Bridge in Cancún and the Pátzcuaro-Uruapan highway. The administration plans to invest 700 billion pesos in combined public and private funding to improve or expand approximately 5,000 kilometers of highways. Passenger rail projects are also moving forward, including planned routes connecting Mexico City with Querétaro, Querétaro with Nuevo Laredo and Guadalajara, as well as projects in southern Mexico. The government is also advancing freight rail service connected to the Maya Train network. Energy and Water Energy policy featured prominently in the report. Sheinbaum said Petróleos Mexicanos has reduced its debt by $20 billion and that national oil production currently stands at 1.77 million barrels per day. Natural gas production was reported at nearly 5 billion cubic feet per day, while the national refining system processes more than 1.5 million barrels per day. The Olmeca refinery in Dos Bocas, Tabasco, was highlighted as part of the government’s strategy to strengthen domestic fuel production and address fuel prices and supply. The administration has also built six combined-cycle power plants with a combined capacity of 3,000 megawatts and upgraded eight hydroelectric plants. The Federal Electricity Commission is implementing an investment plan exceeding 244 billion pesos to expand and modernize electricity transmission and distribution networks. Water policy has also undergone changes. Sheinbaum said reforms to the National Waters Law have resulted in the recovery of more than 5 billion cubic meters of water from private concessions and the issuance of 12,346 concession titles. The government is simultaneously working on cleanup efforts for the Atoyac, Lerma-Santiago and Tula rivers. Twenty-three water-treatment plants and 282 kilometers of collectors are being built or rehabilitated, according to the report. Women and Indigenous Communities The president also highlighted policies targeting women and Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities. More than 1,000 LIBRE Centers for women are expected to open this year, while 27 million booklets outlining women’s rights have been distributed, according to government figures. Sheinbaum said 190,375 women have joined the Red de Tejedoras de la Patria network. Her administration has also promoted legislation addressing the prevention, investigation and punishment of femicide, as well as reparations for victims. For Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities, the government reported distributing 25 billion pesos to 19,000 communities and returning 13,000 hectares of land. Another 177,632 hectares are currently in process, according to the report. Throughout her address, Sheinbaum presented the figures as evidence of progress under her administration while acknowledging that the government’s agenda remains tied to the broader political transformation launched under López Obrador. The report ultimately returned to a theme that has become central to her presidency: that Mexico’s future should be determined domestically while maintaining constructive relationships abroad. “Only with honesty are true results achieved,” Sheinbaum said. “We are doing better and we have a direction, because that direction is marked by the people.” ]]> /sheinbaum-defends-mexicos-sovereignty-highlights-government-gains-in-second-government-report/feed/ 0 Data Center Fight Takes a Turn in Court: What Comes Next? /data-center-fight-takes-a-turn-in-court-what-comes-next/ /data-center-fight-takes-a-turn-in-court-what-comes-next/#respond Tue, 01 Sep 2026 03:27:18 +0000 /?p=34683 -Editorial An Imperial County Superior Court judge has tentatively ruled that two county ordinances restricting data center development failed to meet state requirements, leaving the county to consider whether to adopt a revised moratorium, pursue other land-use regulations, or allow affected applications to proceed under existing rules. Judge Jeffrey B. Jones issued the Aug. 21 tentative ruling in a case brought by Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing LLC against the County of Imperial and the Imperial County Board of Supervisors. The case involved Ordinance Nos. 1616 and 1618, which temporarily restricted data center development while the county considered changes to its land-use regulations. Under Government Code Section 65858(c), an urgency ordinance must include findings that a current and immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare exists and that approving applicable permits or entitlements would result in that threat. Ordinance 1616 identified potential conflicts between data center development and proposed land-use regulations but did not establish that approving permits would create the required threat. He reached a similar conclusion regarding Ordinance 1618, which cited pending data center applications and imminent development but did not explain how approving those applications would create a current and immediate threat. The ruling grants the company’s petition for a writ of mandate and directs the county to set aside and cease enforcing the two ordinances. The court did not determine whether the company’s projects should be approved or denied or which zoning regulations apply to the applications. It also denied the company’s request for an order requiring the county to process its applications in a specific manner. Jones did not rule on the company’s remaining arguments, including claims involving the Permit Streamlining Act and applications previously deemed complete, because the Section 65858(c) finding was sufficient to resolve the case. The county said it is preparing a new proposed data center moratorium for consideration by the Board of Supervisors. A revised urgency ordinance would need to address the deficiencies identified by the court and satisfy state requirements for demonstrating an immediate threat. The county also could consider permanent zoning regulations or other development standards, which could follow a different legal process. Another option would be to allow affected applications to proceed under the regulations that apply to them while considering longer-term land-use changes. The court’s ruling does not establish which regulations govern the pending applications. “The Board understands the need to approach the matter carefully and responsibly,” Board of Supervisors Chair Peggy Price said. “Our priority is to ensure that any action brought forward for consideration is thoughtful, legally sound, and responsive to the concerns that have been raised.” The county said it is reviewing the ruling, state-law requirements, and the potential effect of pending litigation on its options and the timing of further action. The ruling followed a July 28 hearing in Department 5 of the Imperial County Superior Court. The court said the matter was concluded in less than one judicial day and that no statement of decision had been requested. The petitioner was directed to prepare the proposed judgment. The tentative ruling addresses the legality of the two urgency ordinances, but it does not resolve the broader policy debate over data center development in Imperial County or determine the outcome of the pending applications. ]]> /data-center-fight-takes-a-turn-in-court-what-comes-next/feed/ 0 Gonzalez Appointed to Imperial County Superior Court Bench /gonzalez-appointed-to-imperial-county-superior-court-bench/ /gonzalez-appointed-to-imperial-county-superior-court-bench/#respond Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:10:48 +0000 /?p=34623

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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:32:03 +0000podcastsphotoshopsskype salon"saturday song"no this is not a mommy blog-reallysaturday songstupid ideas that never should have seen the light of day"No Fair Remembering Stuff"vlogmetabloggingmusicmashups"blog against theocracy"Blog Tippingyoutubes"this is not a knitting blog"science fiction universityArt and ChaosmovieswritingDriftglassblogtippingpodcastvideo mashupsvideosBlog Against Theocracyfriendsnot making this stuff up"Bush is such a goddamn fuckwad."Salon chatknittingthankszappadanNewt Gingrich is such a goddamn fuckwadmedia appearancessexbirthdayfeminismquarterly fundraiserthis is not a knitting blogthis is the fucking revolution people"GOP thank you for being you"Don't Sugarcoat It Awardbookscontestsvlog skype salon"Blogroll Amnesty Day""I want Keith Olbermann to read this and I know for a bonafide fact that he googles his own name regularly""Sarah Palin is such a goddamn fuckwad"Don't they know about KARMA?GOP thank you for being youKucinich for PresidentObamaanniversarypoetrythis is the revolution people"this is not a sex blog"David Brooksmemessurprisingly not a photoshop"election 08""stating the obvious"QuakerSalonSarah Palinbirthdaysbloggingbook reviewscorrespondenceeducationpantiesreligion"Chris Matthews""caption this photo""it's my birthday""what an asshole"Am I making you hot Senator?God is loveI told you I'm gonna grab Callista Gingrich by the crotch hairs and swing her around over my headLife is knitting and the rest is just detailsRush Limbaugh is such a goddamn fuckwada-holesadvertisingchat salondo justicefunnyhappy birthdayinternet memespray without ceasingrace relationswhy?"Hello Kitty death watch""I want Keith Olbermann to read this and I know for a bonafide fact that he googles his own name regularly" Hardball"Keith Olbermann""Stephen Colbert""stinker? yep"Election 2024Fall quarterly fundraiserJohn Boehner is such a goddamn fuckwadMcCain is such a goddamn fuckwad.Michele BachmannMitch McConnell is such a goddamn fuckwadRachel Maddowactivismautismblogiversaryeconomicsfoodfundiesfundraiserhealinghello kitty death watchimmigrationjust itchin' for a fight with these peoplelolcatspassings"Americans United""Dick""Satire""apple meet tree""kill your television""stuff for Keith Olberman to read""this is not a knitting blog#knitting(thanks)5 to 4 we'll take itAlabamaAm I making you hot?Breaking BadBuh Bye TeabaggerCavuto is a verbCharles Krauthammer is such a goddamn fuckwadDarfur activismDuneElection 2012FoundationFoxGeekGlenn BeckHappy Father's DayHappy ThanksgivingJoe ScarboroughMiddle EastNetroots NationNo fair Remembering StuffObamacareRush Limbaugh is such a goddamn fuckwardSundayabout time she posted pantiesall about meannouncementsarmageddonaudiobirthersblogswarmblogswarmsbollywoodbusy busy busycarnival of the liberalschurchcomedycomputer wankingdemocratseconomyfillerfix the mediaflowersgendergetting oldhealthcarehopeintellectual honestylove mercyooh 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back.Star WarsState of the UnionStill not on iTunesSureTed KennedyThe Maltese FalconThe MartianThe New YorkerThe Questor TapesTom DelayTucker Carlson is a goddamn fuckwadWatts UprisingWingnut bitchezWrite to Marry DayYou're the bestabout time she posted Obama pantiesatheismatlasbandsbeachbloggersblogiversariesblogsbooks that aren't out there yetbras not panties thoughbut that is"ccan't get into twittercancellationscaption this bumperstickercarry water"carscasual racismcatschallengechoicecommon sensecomputerconservatismcoolcreativitycrisisdeath with dignityemailsermagerd yarnetc."evangelicalsfaithfictionfirst chapterflirtsforeign editiongay rightsgeek girls rulegetting marriedgo unionsgoalsgreedguestinghelphistoryhope I'm wronghouseworkhumorimpeachment inquiryindependentsinjusticeinterviewsiraqjunior dudejusticekeep talking Ann Romneykeeping my blogkill your televisionkoslistener mailmillion can marchmoralitymother's daymovingmusic food zombiesmy dadneoconspanties (but not at the same timepartiespay the fucking writerphotoshopplease)proudquickiesreproductiionreproductionrest in peaceright?"santorumsaturday songsscience fictionsecond lifesee you there...shit shit shit.shoppingskitssnowsome people are better than I deserve.spring finallysteal this imagestuff my kids saytaxesthanks anywaythat'll show 'emthe Clinton Surplusthe big blog across the streetthis is a knitting blogthis is not a mommy blogtime managementtime to make a wedding tagtootraveloguetriviatv showstwittertwitterfailughuh ohvideo mashupvotewe get emailswealth gapweatherweekly fiber updateworks in progresswritersyear in reviewzappaBlue Galnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)Blogger4045125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-8824873113129555058Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:40:00 +00002026-02-10T22:40:39.274-06:00podcastsThe latest podcast <div id="buzzsprout-player-18660832"></div><script src="; type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>2026/02/the-latest-podcast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-3978522465389374526Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:09:00 +00002026-01-22T19:28:15.687-06:00"No Fair Remembering Stuff"Republicans cheatRepublican Election Interference and Dirty Tricks Are A Feature, Not A Bug<p>There's a lot of angst out on the internet today about saving Republicans from themselves, because once again, we know that their choice of leadership has failed.</p><p>But treason and failed leadership <i>isn't a bug -- it's a feature</i> with Republican presidents. </p><p class="paragraph">How many voters actually know that <a href=" Nixon fired special prosecutors</a> appointed to investigate his dirty election tricks, among them breaking into Democratic National Headquarters to find blackmailable information on people running for public office, especially the presidency?</p><p class="paragraph">How many voters know that Richard Nixon <a href=" his "people" to Vietnam to delay the end of the Vietnam War</a> so that Humphrey would lose the 1968 election? Nixon wasn't even a Senator; he was an ex-Vice President. This was treason against the United States to win an election.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="; width="320" youtube-src-id="v7YkFrcucb0"></iframe></div><p class="paragraph"><br /></p><p class="paragraph"><a href=" many voters remember Iran-Contra</a>? The Reagan administration sold arms to Iran (behind Congress's back) and transferred the money from those sales to the Contras in Nicaragua (directly contradicting the will of Congress).</p><p class="paragraph">How many voters know that <a href=" Reagan people negotiated with Iran</a> behind the sitting president's back to delay the release of AMERICAN HOSTAGES until he could win the 1980 election? This was treason against the United States to win an election.</p><p class="paragraph">How many voters know or remember that the Bush supporters in New York <a href=" signatures</a> to get Dubya on the primary ballot?  </p><p class="paragraph">Do voters remember that Dubya's campaign pushed the smear that John McCain had an illegitimate Black child, when he had actually <a href=" a baby</a> from Bangladesh?  </p><p class="paragraph">Do voters remember where <a href=" term Swiftboating</a> comes from?  </p><p class="paragraph">Russia interfered in the 2016 election to elect Donald Trump. You know how I know that? Because Putin said so, out loud, in Helsinki in 2018.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="; width="320" youtube-src-id="qPh9eK3YvVw"></iframe></div><br /><p class="paragraph">What's changed with Trump is not Republicans who, like nauseous dogs, will return to their vomit every four years with no sense of what just happened or what happened fifty years ago.  </p><p class="paragraph">What's changed is that we Democrats no longer follow the fantasy of fairness.  As my husband said on The Bob Cesca Show: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='; class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="paragraph"><br /></p><p class="paragraph"><br /></p> 2026/01/republican-election-interference-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-6711157192273336021Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:35:00 +00002026-01-22T15:06:00.310-06:00"Health insurance CEOs are such goddamn fuckwads"healthcareObamacareUnitedHealth CEO Tells Congress To Do Something Called 'Expanding ACA'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="; width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I came across this in "The Hill" (ugh) this morning.  </span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><a href=" style="font-family: georgia;">UnitedHealth promises to return ObamaCare profits to customers</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Graphik Web, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Graphik Web, sans-serif">And the CEO of UnitedHealth is going to testify before a House </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Graphik Web, sans-serif">Energy </span>and Commerce subcommittee sometime today, which will likely be </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href=" by another hearing</a>, but still.  </span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Three things jump out at me: <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1.  <a href=" the law under Obamacare</a> that insurers have to refund you if they do not spend 80% <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of your premium on healthcare.  Fuck you very much for bragging to Congress that you're</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">going to obey that law, though under this Republican Congress "laws" sure do seem to </span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">be optional, see "releasing the Epstein Files." <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">2.  The CEO is expected to tell Congress his ideas on how to reduce costs.  <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">One idea he has is "<b>expanding eligibility for the lowest cost plans</b>." </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1000" height="340" src="; width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; text-align: left; width: 808px;"></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; text-align: left; width: 808px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="Graphik Web, sans-serif">3.  "</span><span face=""Graphik Web", sans-serif">He will also emphasize the price of hospital visits, <b>specialty services such as diagnostic<br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""Graphik Web", sans-serif"><b>testing</b>, and prescription drugs as major factors that are driving premiums higher, <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""Graphik Web", sans-serif">according to his prepared remarks."  </span></span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; text-align: left; width: 808px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""Graphik Web", sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; text-align: left; width: 808px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is a giant loophole in the ACA, which promises </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">to cover annual physicals,<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">but allows lab work to be subject to the deductible, which, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in more than one ACA plan, <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">means any lab work you have done that's under six to twelve thousand dollars comes out<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of your pocket, depending.  </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; text-align: left; width: 808px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">And I don't know about you, but when I see </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">my primary care physician for <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">a physical, <i>the main thing my doctor does</i> is</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> read off the results of the bloodwork.  <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Period.  Calling diagnostic testing a "specialty service" </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">is nonsense; it's the primary in primary<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">care, the number one reason </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">anyone goes to the doctor.  </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; width: 808px;"></p></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #36383d; flex: 1 0 100%; margin: 0px 0px 0.625em; text-align: left; width: 808px;"></p><span face="Graphik Web, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p>2026/01/bloodwork-is-not-specialty-service.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-252047123594186864Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:45:00 +00002026-01-21T14:45:33.912-06:00Fox News and the Art of Scandalword Brainwashing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="; width="369" /></a></div><br />There's a peculiar rhythm to Fox News outrage, and it sounds like this: Ben-ghaz-i. So-lynd-ra. Bu-ris-ma. Three exotic-sounding syllables, endlessly repeated, until they become less like words and more like incantations. These aren't just news stories—they're linguistic weapons in a war against Democrats. <div><br /></div><blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreihdv7iuedfkqlrabpjvhwowvjtmifhvpltkcmughfpbsd4wud3s6a" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:eoss3vmzem55cm5kuddhdmwn/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma5zrihbxk2y"><p lang="en">If Dems had anything remotely like Fox News there would just be a constant ticker like how Trump just recites one-word shorthand for a bunch of “scandals“ (server! Uranium One! Spygate! Benghazi! Paula Jones! Whitewater! Foster! DNC Rigging! Afghan withdrawal! Fast & Furious! Border Crisis! Tarmac!)</p>— ❀°。Der Siebenschläfer *.ﾟ✿ ⋆ (<a href=";) <a href=" 17, 2025 at 12:27 AM</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src=" /><p></p> The formula is remarkably consistent. Take a complex policy issue or tragedy, reduce it to a two or three-syllable word that a normie does not use in everyday conversation, then repeat it until the word itself triggers a Pavlovian response. <div><br /></div><div>The content barely matters anymore. <a href=" dedicated hundreds of segments</a> to Benghazi between 2012 and 2016, far outlasting any genuine news value the story possessed. The word became a stand-in for an entire worldview: Democrats are corrupt, Democrats are incompetent, Democrats will get you killed.  Hillary's fault. </div><div><br /></div><div>The three-syllable brainwashing technique transforms legitimate policy debates into tribal markers, facts into feelings, and complexity into certainty. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once the word is programmed, the thinking stops. And that's exactly the point. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Solyndra" worked the same way. A failed solar company that received a government loan became shorthand for everything supposedly wrong with Obama's energy policy. Never mind that loan guarantee programs expect some failures, or that the overall portfolio performed well and brought in <a href=" profit for the American taxpayer.</a> So-lynd-ra became a three-syllable eye roll, a knowing nod between host and viewer that said "see? We told you." </div><div><br /></div><div>Burisma is perhaps the purest example. How many Fox viewers could accurately explain what Burisma Holdings actually did, or what specifically Hunter Biden's role entailed? It doesn't matter. Bu-ris-ma meant "Biden corruption." The details are irrelevant; the brainwashing word does the work. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes the Fox News brainwashers forget the rules, and it shows.  "Auto Pen"—the claim that Biden used an autopen for official documents—never gained traction despite Fox's attempts to scandalize it. "Auto[matic]" and "pen" are words used in everyday conversation.  It lacks the exotic foreignness of "Benghazi, Burisma, and Solyndra."   </div><div><br /></div><div>But then came "Ep-stein-Files."  </div><div><br /></div><div>Suddenly, the right-wing outrage machine found itself in an unexpected predicament: they'd caught the car. Here was a perfect three-syllable scandal with massive public interest and an entire QAnon cult behind it. The problem? Epstein's associations crossed party lines, AHEM, and the deeper anyone digs, the more necessary it is to redact DONALD TRUMP'S NAME.  <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreibu2q467ils57c4wziu4cqm7glmaf4kprytxkwkkmh4dnumuxhnxm" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="light" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:hgyemn6mpwsshpajgznnuetl/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbh6uwjlms2t"><p lang="en">Until I am shown different I am going to use MAGA math and say that anything redacted is nasty shit about Trump that's how they made this playing field not me.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="196" height="240" src="; width="182" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>— Jerry Toupal (<a href=";) <a href=" 2, 2026 at 9:17 AM</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="; You can't use "Epstein Files" as shorthand for "Democrats bad" when the web of connections leads right to Dear Leader himself.  But that right-wing outrage machine did it.  They convinced the pig people that there was a scandal to follow and decry.    </div><div><br /></div><div><b>And then they told those same people to forget about it. </b>  </div><div><br /></div><div> The usual playbook—reduce, repeat, outrage—had to be put back in the bottle.  Because Trump is all over the Epstein Files.  And the brainwashing that made the Epstein Files matter, just as Burisma, Solyndra, and Benghazi "mattered,"  can't be turned off so easily.  And some of these brainwashed zealots don't care at all about consequences.   <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreihmjqbdcalb3e4uwunm2uvfql2gqrcxkq5crywiulez2h3dc6bi2u" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:unx22jqnh6gz7iei54j65ngq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcucnvfsbs2f"><p lang="en">My God people! The Epstein file has become some golden calf for idiots. What has been released is damning but the apocalypse cult of maga doesn't care. There is nothing in that file that will magically make maga go away. WWIII is the end goal for many Christian nationalist.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="1000" height="108" src="; width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>— Mrs. Fibuli (<a href=";) <a href=" 20, 2026 at 7:55 AM</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="; </div></div>2026/01/fox-news-and-art-of-scandalword.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-1941792796448678644Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:07:00 +00002026-01-09T13:18:58.309-06:00Artistsmy dadpassingsMy Dad Passed Away This Morning <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="880" height="361" src="; width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my dad in 1969</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="Y3BBE" data-hveid="CAEQAA" data-processed="true" data-sfc-cp="" jsaction="rcuQ6b:&UZy00_8|npT2md" jscontroller="zcfIf" jsuid="UZy00_8" style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><p style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ian Christopher Mayow Short passed away this morning at the age of 89.<br />He was born in Seaford, Sussex, England, in 1936 to Mayow Earl deCoucey Short and Margaret Helen (Campbell) Short.</p><p style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ian was a multimedia artist, printmaker, and educator known for his work in photography, printmaking, and for integrating art with education.  He was a co-founder of the Artists Image Resource (AIR) in Pittsburgh and taught for many years at Kent State University in Ohio and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he was chairman of the Art Department from 1993-96.</p><p style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ian grew up in River Forest, Illinois. And was educated at Illinois Wesleyan University (1958).  He received his MFA from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1961. </p><p style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ian leaves behind three daughters, Frances, Marion, and Helen, and five grandchildren.  All of us loved him like crazy. </p><p style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"> Here I am telling a funny story about my dad in 2008.  </p></div><div class="Y3BBE" data-hveid="CAEQAA" data-processed="true" data-sfc-cp="" jsaction="rcuQ6b:&UZy00_8|npT2md" jscontroller="zcfIf" jsuid="UZy00_8" style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;">  <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="; width="320" youtube-src-id="ipAzt2_JJe0"></iframe> </div><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After I posted this video, Dad (who was 72 at the time) left me a Skype voicemail and said it's not a laserjet, it's an inkjet printer, and I should be sure to plug some computer thingy called "Adobe Photoshop."  So I did.  :) </span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My sisters and I agree that if there's a heaven, he's up there setting up his studio.  He's also lighting up a cigarette and drinking a Manhattan.  Probably playing darts and bragging about his grandkids.  He'll go say hi to mom after he's had a drink. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> My family is tremendously grateful to Ian's hospice care workers, and also fuck cancer. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">PS You can see some of Dad's artwork <a href="; and <a href=";2026/01/my-dad-passed-away-this-morning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-263232101223360711Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:51:00 +00002026-01-07T12:13:28.134-06:00The Trump Administration: A Zero On Rotten Tomatoes <div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="914" height="322" src="; width="482" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">"Trump Administration: The Movie" aspires to answer the question: What would happen if...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">...a greedy, white-nationalist, sex-creep version of Dumbledore, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">....but with frontal dementia and mini-strokes, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">...found himself riding an All Terrain Armored Transport to Venezuela </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">...in a desperate (yet possibly successful) attempt to escape the judgment of the Epstein Ring?  </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">The answer is: you don't care. Because by the time you make it to the end of this gaping sore of unending corruption, you'll begrudge George Lucas and J.K. Rowling and JRR Tolkien just for conceiving of worlds that could be so poorly re-imagined by the douches at Fox News and Newsmax.  (Also, CBS.)   And you won't thank the narrators, Jesse Watters, Stephen Miller, Laura Ingraham, and the rest of the prostitutes in this hellscape, for pouring their weak sauce over the whole shit sandwich.</span><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">You'll have run out of the theater before the final credits, so here's the fifty-cent tour:  </span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">In a bizarre and failed attempt to bring in "comedy" revenue, Marco Rubio is cast as "the smart one."  And all the female leads <a href=" exactly the same.</a> </span></span></div><div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">This is one mess of a story that really begs the question: why film it? Why watch it? Why? Stay away . . . and if you still decide to buy the ticket because, hey, freedom of expression and it's your country, too?  Fuck you, Bozo, your Fandango points go to Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Eli Lilly, and Meta!  </span><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">Fair warning, this movie is definitely not for kids. Unless you let your kids listen to you read explicit stories about pedophiles and enjoy extreme close-ups of lips damaged by gender-affirming injections. In which case, this is the movie for you . . . sicko!</span></div></div></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><a href=" my archives</a></span></div>2026/01/the-trump-administration-zero-on-rotten.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Fran / Blue Gal)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-6327812277462105469Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:26:00 +00002026-01-06T09:08:14.286-06:00no this is not a mommy blog-reallystupid ideas that never should have seen the light of dayThe New YorkerCould The New Yorker please put its entire letters section at the Thanksgiving table with Leslie Jones?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="; style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1194" height="292" src="; width="394" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Returning to old skool blogging with as little fanfare as possible...</p><p>The holiday mail malaise meant that I received a copy of <i>The New Yorker</i>, one per day, every day last week.  </p><p>And one particular Letters Section (<a href=" Mail," December 15, 2025</a>) has me asking, 'Were <em>the interns in charge </em>of choosing these?<em>'</em></p><p>______</p><p>Dylan M. of Brooklyn notes that yes, it's terrible that Trump has demolished Roosevelt's East Wing...</p><p>BUT...</p><p>The "original structure was built in part by enslaved people." </p><p>SO...</p><p>______</p><p>Karin S-R of Santa Rosa, CA writes as "a feminist, a therapist, and a mother of twin teen-age boys" and notes that yes, there may be a "so-called crisis facing men..." </p><p>BUT...</p><p>"if feminism does not expand its concern to include the well-being of men..."</p><p>"feminism cannot depend on the erasure of male identity." [?]</p><p>"if [emphasis mine] <b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">WE</span></u></i></b> don't help to articulate new, healthier visions of masculinity..." </p><p>[Karin, that sounds like <u>more</u> uncompensated work AND your boys are lucky to have you for a mom.] </p><p>______</p><p>George of San Leandro, CA, notes that "nowadays, commentators frequently introduce Trump by describing him as a 'felon' or a 'convicted criminal.'"  </p><p>BUT...</p><p>"[T]here are about twenty-four million people who have been convicted of felony offenses. Not all of their convictions were the result of fair processes."</p&g

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Actualité politique, information sociale ou internationale Le Nouvel Obs - BD fr Copyright 2026, Le Nouvel Obs Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:44:57 +0200 Le Nouvel Obs - BD /economie/20260919.OBS118402/pesticides-quand-on-releve-25-cancers-pediatriques-dans-un-rayon-de-15-km-on-ne-peut-pas-tout-expliquer-par-le-hasard.html /economie/20260919.OBS118402/pesticides-quand-on-releve-25-cancers-pediatriques-dans-un-rayon-de-15-km-on-ne-peut-pas-tout-expliquer-par-le-hasard.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:44:57 +0200 /monde/20260911.OBS118120/trump-est-une-tour-toxique-vacillante-faite-de-malhonnetete-rance-et-de-pure-stupidite-art-spiegelman-vingt-cinq-ans-apres-le-11-septembre.html /monde/20260911.OBS118120/trump-est-une-tour-toxique-vacillante-faite-de-malhonnetete-rance-et-de-pure-stupidite-art-spiegelman-vingt-cinq-ans-apres-le-11-septembre.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:15:47 +0200 /culture/20260829.OBS117750/les-15-bd-les-plus-attendues-de-la-rentree-2026.html /culture/20260829.OBS117750/les-15-bd-les-plus-attendues-de-la-rentree-2026.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:06:58 +0200 /politique/20260826.OBS117690/un-parc-d-attractions-dragon-ball-un-cas-consternant-de-pop-culture-washing.html /politique/20260826.OBS117690/un-parc-d-attractions-dragon-ball-un-cas-consternant-de-pop-culture-washing.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:04:42 +0200 /societe/20260821.OBS117543/guy-delisle-du-train-au-flexitarisme-les-preoccupations-ecologiques-de-mes-enfants-ont-rejailli-sur-moi.html /societe/20260821.OBS117543/guy-delisle-du-train-au-flexitarisme-les-preoccupations-ecologiques-de-mes-enfants-ont-rejailli-sur-moi.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:56:49 +0200 /teleobs/20260801.OBS117130/samuel-une-chronique-douce-amere-du-passage-de-l-enfance-a-l-adolescence.html /teleobs/20260801.OBS117130/samuel-une-chronique-douce-amere-du-passage-de-l-enfance-a-l-adolescence.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:45:08 +0200 /culture/20260719.OBS116798/11-bd-selectionnees-par-le-nouvel-obs-a-emporter-avec-vous-cet-ete.html /culture/20260719.OBS116798/11-bd-selectionnees-par-le-nouvel-obs-a-emporter-avec-vous-cet-ete.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:15:04 +0200 /culture/20260711.OBS116584/l-emouvante-histoire-de-brigitte-lecordier-voix-mythique-de-son-goku-depuis-quarante-ans.html /culture/20260711.OBS116584/l-emouvante-histoire-de-brigitte-lecordier-voix-mythique-de-son-goku-depuis-quarante-ans.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:18:16 +0200 /culture/20260705.OBS116414/ce-que-celine-dion-glissera-peut-etre-dans-sa-valise-cet-ete.html /culture/20260705.OBS116414/ce-que-celine-dion-glissera-peut-etre-dans-sa-valise-cet-ete.html Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:30:12 +0200 /culture/20260621.OBS115991/kam-hugh-sous-influence-ma-plus-grande-peur-c-est-qu-on-m-empeche-de-faire-ce-que-je-veux.html /culture/20260621.OBS115991/kam-hugh-sous-influence-ma-plus-grande-peur-c-est-qu-on-m-empeche-de-faire-ce-que-je-veux.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:30:04 +0200 /bibliobs/20260613.OBS115777/juliette-brocal-et-blanche-sabbah-deux-autrices-de-bande-dessinee-qui-reinventent-la-fantasy.html /bibliobs/20260613.OBS115777/juliette-brocal-et-blanche-sabbah-deux-autrices-de-bande-dessinee-qui-reinventent-la-fantasy.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:00:04 +0200 /bibliobs/20260605.OBS115523/emile-bravo-auteur-de-bd-marjane-satrapi-etait-la-preuve-vivante-que-tout-ce-qui-permet-de-creer-des-passerelles-nous-fait-avancer.html /bibliobs/20260605.OBS115523/emile-bravo-auteur-de-bd-marjane-satrapi-etait-la-preuve-vivante-que-tout-ce-qui-permet-de-creer-des-passerelles-nous-fait-avancer.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:30:09 +0200 /culture/20260605.OBS115520/l-arabe-du-futur-pourquoi-il-faut-relire-le-grand-uvre-de-riad-sattouf.html /culture/20260605.OBS115520/l-arabe-du-futur-pourquoi-il-faut-relire-le-grand-uvre-de-riad-sattouf.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:30:07 +0200 /culture/20260604.OBS115512/la-mort-de-marjane-satrapi.html /culture/20260604.OBS115512/la-mort-de-marjane-satrapi.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:38:45 +0200 /bibliobs/20260604.OBS115503/riad-sattouf-marjane-satrapi-etait-une-femme-tres-drole-tres-vive-extremement-mordante-et-superieurement-intelligente.html /bibliobs/20260604.OBS115503/riad-sattouf-marjane-satrapi-etait-une-femme-tres-drole-tres-vive-extremement-mordante-et-superieurement-intelligente.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:15 +0200 /culture/20260604.OBS115499/marjane-satrapi-est-morte-cette-grande-artiste-etait-l-ame-de-l-iran-en-france.html /culture/20260604.OBS115499/marjane-satrapi-est-morte-cette-grande-artiste-etait-l-ame-de-l-iran-en-france.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:27:04 +0200 /bibliobs/20260604.OBS115495/persepolis-de-marjane-satrapi-la-bd-la-plus-importante-du-xxi-siecle.html /bibliobs/20260604.OBS115495/persepolis-de-marjane-satrapi-la-bd-la-plus-importante-du-xxi-siecle.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:10:19 +0200 /culture/20260604.OBS115494/marjane-satrapi-autrice-de-la-bd-persepolis-est-morte.html /culture/20260604.OBS115494/marjane-satrapi-autrice-de-la-bd-persepolis-est-morte.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:00:13 +0200 /bibliobs/20260518.OBS115044/quand-francois-ruffin-utilise-sa-propre-bd-pour-se-poser-en-sauveur-du-peuple.html /bibliobs/20260518.OBS115044/quand-francois-ruffin-utilise-sa-propre-bd-pour-se-poser-en-sauveur-du-peuple.html Mon, 18 May 2026 19:00:09 +0200 /bibliobs/20260516.OBS114965/pascal-brutal-sauve-nous-et-si-la-bd-de-riad-sattouf-etait-la-meilleure-radiographie-de-notre-epoqu.html /bibliobs/20260516.OBS114965/pascal-brutal-sauve-nous-et-si-la-bd-de-riad-sattouf-etait-la-meilleure-radiographie-de-notre-epoqu.html Sat, 16 May 2026 09:56:49 +0200 /culture/20260514.OBS114919/riad-sattouf-parrain-de-mot-pour-mots-les-livres-sont-des-objets-magiques-qui-ont-le-pouvoir-de-changer-la-vie-des-gens.html /culture/20260514.OBS114919/riad-sattouf-parrain-de-mot-pour-mots-les-livres-sont-des-objets-magiques-qui-ont-le-pouvoir-de-changer-la-vie-des-gens.html Tue, 19 May 2026 15:28:22 +0200 /culture/20260421.OBS114372/festival-de-la-bd-d-angouleme-10-choses-a-savoir-sur-les-organisateurs-qui-reprennent-le-flambeau.html /culture/20260421.OBS114372/festival-de-la-bd-d-angouleme-10-choses-a-savoir-sur-les-organisateurs-qui-reprennent-le-flambeau.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:31:44 +0200 /bibliobs/20260417.OBS114244/moins-jeunes-plus-precaires-10-infographies-sur-le-malaise-grandissant-des-auteurs-de-bd.html /bibliobs/20260417.OBS114244/moins-jeunes-plus-precaires-10-infographies-sur-le-malaise-grandissant-des-auteurs-de-bd.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:10:50 +0200 /culture/20260416.OBS114238/bd-autobiographique-pourquoi-les-bedeastes-racontent-de-plus-en-plus-leurs-vies.html /culture/20260416.OBS114238/bd-autobiographique-pourquoi-les-bedeastes-racontent-de-plus-en-plus-leurs-vies.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:30:10 +0200 /bibliobs/20260404.OBS113877/comment-tiphaine-riviere-a-metamorphose-kafka-en-une-bd.html /bibliobs/20260404.OBS113877/comment-tiphaine-riviere-a-metamorphose-kafka-en-une-bd.html Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:00:13 +0200 /bibliobs/20260328.OBS113679/10-bd-formidables-qu-il-ne-fallait-pas-manquer-depuis-le-debut-de-l-annee.html /bibliobs/20260328.OBS113679/10-bd-formidables-qu-il-ne-fallait-pas-manquer-depuis-le-debut-de-l-annee.html Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0100 /bibliobs/20260327.OBS113656/mort-du-mangaka-yoshiharu-tsuge-pionnier-de-la-bande-dessinee-du-moi.html /bibliobs/20260327.OBS113656/mort-du-mangaka-yoshiharu-tsuge-pionnier-de-la-bande-dessinee-du-moi.html Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:09:07 +0100 /bibliobs/20260323.OBS113492/mort-d-hermann-figure-de-la-bd-franco-belge-auteur-de-jeremiah-et-comanche.html /bibliobs/20260323.OBS113492/mort-d-hermann-figure-de-la-bd-franco-belge-auteur-de-jeremiah-et-comanche.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:35:57 +0100 /bibliobs/20260321.OBS113423/et-la-bd-du-xxi-siecle-preferee-des-lecteurs-du-nouvel-obs-est.html /bibliobs/20260321.OBS113423/et-la-bd-du-xxi-siecle-preferee-des-lecteurs-du-nouvel-obs-est.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 17:00:08 +0100 /societe/20260319.OBS113350/corps-a-corps-une-bd-pour-dire-qu-on-peut-etre-mere-et-bipolaire.html /societe/20260319.OBS113350/corps-a-corps-une-bd-pour-dire-qu-on-peut-etre-mere-et-bipolaire.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:20 +0100 /monde/20260317.OBS113256/beyrouth-comment-ca-va-le-vertige-de-la-correspondance-dessinee-entre-charles-berberian-et-michele-standjofski.html /monde/20260317.OBS113256/beyrouth-comment-ca-va-le-vertige-de-la-correspondance-dessinee-entre-charles-berberian-et-michele-standjofski.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:00:20 +0100 /opinions/20260307.OBS112964/anti-france-et-si-aurore-berge-n-avait-pas-cite-maurras-mais-gotlib.html /opinions/20260307.OBS112964/anti-france-et-si-aurore-berge-n-avait-pas-cite-maurras-mais-gotlib.html Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:00:31 +0100 /culture/20260306.OBS112937/c-est-terrifiant-qu-on-ait-efface-le-genie-et-l-humour-lesbiens-pourquoi-le-test-de-bechdel-repose-sur-un-malentendu.html /culture/20260306.OBS112937/c-est-terrifiant-qu-on-ait-efface-le-genie-et-l-humour-lesbiens-pourquoi-le-test-de-bechdel-repose-sur-un-malentendu.html Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:16:40 +0100 /culture/20260217.OBS112473/comment-le-manga-a-chamboule-le-monde-de-la-bd-et-impose-son-influence.html /culture/20260217.OBS112473/comment-le-manga-a-chamboule-le-monde-de-la-bd-et-impose-son-influence.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:29:07 +0100 /culture/20260205.OBS112145/fun-home-d-alison-bechdel-comment-cette-autobiographie-tragicomique-a-ete-une-deflagration-dans-le-monde-de-la-bd.html /culture/20260205.OBS112145/fun-home-d-alison-bechdel-comment-cette-autobiographie-tragicomique-a-ete-une-deflagration-dans-le-monde-de-la-bd.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:00:12 +0100 /culture/20260201.OBS112037/catherine-meurisse-me-dessiner-m-a-prouve-que-j-etais-vivante.html /culture/20260201.OBS112037/catherine-meurisse-me-dessiner-m-a-prouve-que-j-etais-vivante.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:00:07 +0100 /bibliobs/20260131.OBS112017/delphine-panique-dessinatrice-mon-personnage-de-vieille-est-comme-une-projection-de-ce-que-je-ferais-si-j-etais-libre.html /bibliobs/20260131.OBS112017/delphine-panique-dessinatrice-mon-personnage-de-vieille-est-comme-une-projection-de-ce-que-je-ferais-si-j-etais-libre.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:30:06 +0100 /bibliobs/20260131.OBS112013/florence-dupre-la-tour-raconte-son-experience-de-la-pauvrete-personne-ne-cree-dans-la-misere.html /bibliobs/20260131.OBS112013/florence-dupre-la-tour-raconte-son-experience-de-la-pauvrete-personne-ne-cree-dans-la-misere.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:30:30 +0100 /culture/20260130.OBS111990/le-roman-graphique-vraie-revolution-dans-la-bande-dessinee-ou-astuce-marketing.html /culture/20260130.OBS111990/le-roman-graphique-vraie-revolution-dans-la-bande-dessinee-ou-astuce-marketing.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:00:42 +0100 /culture/20251026.OBS109152/voici-les-50-meilleures-bd-du-xxi-siecle-selon-notre-classement-exclusif.html /culture/20251026.OBS109152/voici-les-50-meilleures-bd-du-xxi-siecle-selon-notre-classement-exclusif.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:19:36 +0100