As you already know, Elon Musk staged a photo-op in the Oval Office a few days ago and took control of the event while Donald Trump sat mostly motionless at the Resolute Desk, as he was probably ordered to do, as his “Special Employee” lied to the press. But the star of the show wasn’t Trump or Elon, but Elon’s son, X Æ A-Xii. Yes, that is his name and NOT ingredients listed on … [Read more...] about SHUSH YO MOUTH (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
‘Freedom of the press’ or ‘Freedom from the press’?
by Nik Kowsar I totally understand why President Trump sees the press the way he does. Back in the good old days — before he committed the unforgivable crime of running for office — he was a media darling. Even the five enlightened sages of “The View” found him entertaining. But the second he rode down that escalator, straight out of “The Simpsons’” crystal ball, the … [Read more...] about ‘Freedom of the press’ or ‘Freedom from the press’?
OBEYING COURT ORDERS ISN’T OPTIONAL
The Trump administration must follow the law like everyone else. by Michael Waldman Donald Trump’s lawbreaking spree has now been met with an unprecedented series of judicial rebukes. Just yesterday, five federal courts blocked some of his administration’s moves to shut down agencies, illegally fire anticorruption officials, and more. Office of Management and Budget … [Read more...] about OBEYING COURT ORDERS ISN’T OPTIONAL
Nevada and Ohio report first human cases of bird flu; nominal egg prices hit record high
This week, Nevada reported the state's first human case of avian flu (H5N1); the affected worker was in contact with infected dairy cows. It was the first known infection that carried the variant that recently killed a Louisiana man, who had a backyard flock. This sub-type (D1.1 genotype) is currently the dominant strain in wild birds. Although we call it "bird flu" due to … [Read more...] about Nevada and Ohio report first human cases of bird flu; nominal egg prices hit record high
Those ‘Beautiful’ Executive Orders We Have Not Sufficiently Praised
Buried in the avalanche of Executive Orders and proclamations issued by the president in recent days are several incredibly significant ones that have not received the attention they so richly deserve. Here are a few of them. On January 20, in keeping with his “Make America Beautiful Again” (MABA) edict, Trump issued a “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture” … [Read more...] about Those ‘Beautiful’ Executive Orders We Have Not Sufficiently Praised
Trump should not fritter away the trust of India’s Modi
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump at the White House today, he may be the only world leader powerful and politically stable enough in his own country for the American leader to trust. Critics of both Trump and Modi may not like this because they would prefer to project both men as anti-democrats seeking autocratic rule. Time will tell the … [Read more...] about Trump should not fritter away the trust of India’s Modi
The Gulf of Mexico Renamed (Updates)
UPDATE II: Continuing its retaliation against the Associate Press (AP) and its attacks on freedom of the press, today the White House barred an accredited AP reporter and photographer from boarding Air Force One for a trip with Trump, continuing its reprisal against the AP for how it refers to the Gulf of Mexico. UPDATE I: Today, for a second day in a row, the … [Read more...] about The Gulf of Mexico Renamed (Updates)
MAGA Machete (Cartoon and Column)
Donald Trump met with King Abdullah II of Jordan today and the one idea he probably got from that meeting is becoming a king himself. Trump has appointed the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, to go through departments of the federal government to find so-called waste and fraud and if their own communications are to be believed, he’s cutting spending illegally. Emails from … [Read more...] about MAGA Machete (Cartoon and Column)
Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach
Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach Ronald H. Linden, University of Pittsburgh Russia President Vladimir Putin sent a guarded message of congratulations to Donald Trump on inauguration day, but then held a long direct call with his “dear friend,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping. From Putin’s perspective, this makes sense. Russia … [Read more...] about Russia’s shrinking world: The war in Ukraine and Moscow’s global reach
In Breaking USAID, the Trump Administration May Have Broken the Law
In Breaking USAID, the Trump Administration May Have Broken the Lawby Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Brett MurphyProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Reporting HighlightsCourt Fight: During internal meetings, a political appointee said Trump could not have a higher … [Read more...] about In Breaking USAID, the Trump Administration May Have Broken the Law
FLOODING THE (TWILIGHT) ZONE (CARTOON)
Efficiency – or empire? How Elon Musk’s hostile takeover could end government as we know it
Elon Musk, right, has moved to take the reins of the U.S. government. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Allison Stanger, Middlebury Elon Musk’s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is on the surface a dramatic effort to overhaul the inefficiencies of federal bureaucracy. But beneath the rhetoric of … [Read more...] about Efficiency – or empire? How Elon Musk’s hostile takeover could end government as we know it
The all-American plummet, courtesy of the willfully blind
Punxsutawney Phil popped his head from his hidey-hole last weekend and prophesied four years of fascism here in the Turd Reich. Millions of Americans are rightly terrified. Some have even emailed me to ask why I’m not sounding the alarm the way I used to, back when I inveighed against Trump as many as five times a week. My typical response: For eight long years, I tried. … [Read more...] about The all-American plummet, courtesy of the willfully blind
Trump and Musk Advance to the Rear and Lead the Rest of Us Straight to Hell
Donald Trump is a madman, Musk a craven manipulator who’s pro-Elon and anti-democracy. by Michael Winship A few days ago, I began writing this piece by saying that given the results, and because I voted early, the highlight of my Election Day 2024 was an unexpected trip to Dairy Queen. Everything went dangerously downhill from there. But given the cascading tsunami of … [Read more...] about Trump and Musk Advance to the Rear and Lead the Rest of Us Straight to Hell
ELON MUSK DOGE RANSOMWARE (CARTOON)
Trump’s administration seems chaotic, but he’s drawing directly from Project 2025 playbook
The Heritage Foundation flag flies over its building in July 2024 in Washington. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Zachary Albert, Brandeis University In his first few days back in office, President Donald Trump engaged in a whirlwind of executive actions, from exiting the World Health Organization, to deploying military personnel and National … [Read more...] about Trump’s administration seems chaotic, but he’s drawing directly from Project 2025 playbook
ELON MUSK SALUTE (CARTOON)
One-and-a-Half Billion Condoms for Tiny, Devastated Gaza? (Updates)
UPDATE II: In his New York Times “The World’s Richest Men Take On the World’s Poorest Children,” renowned opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof poignantly writes how Elon Musk’s callous actions to “destroy” the United States Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) are putting millions of the most vulnerable at risk. But he also lambasts Trump’s claim that … [Read more...] about One-and-a-Half Billion Condoms for Tiny, Devastated Gaza? (Updates)
PHISHING WITH MUSK (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Worse than a Nigerian Prince In addition to mocking people, challenging authority, and making people laugh while making others soil themselves in anger, political cartoons can be a public service. Today’s cartoon is a good example of that because every American needs to know about this shit. when I sent this cartoon to proofer Laura, she told me she was hoping I’d cover this … [Read more...] about PHISHING WITH MUSK (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Trump’s Project 2025 agenda caps decades-long resistance to 20th century progressive reform
There has long been a tug-of-war over White House plans to make government more liberal or more conservative. Douglas Rissing/iStock / Getty Images Plus Colin Gordon, University of Iowa For much of the 20th century, efforts to remake government were driven by a progressive desire to make the government work for regular Americans, including … [Read more...] about Trump’s Project 2025 agenda caps decades-long resistance to 20th century progressive reform