Cooking with Kellyanne by Clay Jones Malfunctioning Trump spokesperson Kellyanne Conway said she saw reports of the government being able to spy on you through your microwave. No, Kellyanne. That was a political cartoon I drew last week. When Trump tweeted that Obama had wiretapped him, he specifically mentioned “Obama.” He referred to the former president as “sick.” … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Cooking with Kellyanne
The Brightest Unlit Candles in the Room
The more I think about it, the more I wish I'd pushed my book "Reality 101" a LOT harder. Because, fundamentally, it was a primer on political disinformation. C'est la vie. Rachel Maddow Turned a Scoop on Donald Trump's Taxes Into a Cynical, Self-Defeating Spectacle Willa Paskin / Slate — At 7:36 p.m. Tuesday, Rachel Maddow tweeted, “BREAKING: We've got Trump tax returns. … [Read more...] about The Brightest Unlit Candles in the Room
Hawaii judge halts Trump new travel ban before it goes into effect
By Dan Levine and Mica Rosenberg HONOLULU/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Just hours before President Donald Trump's revised travel ban was set to go into effect, a U.S. federal judge in Hawaii on Wednesday issued an emergency halt to the order's implementation. The action was the latest legal blow to the administration's efforts to temporarily ban refugees as well as travelers … [Read more...] about Hawaii judge halts Trump new travel ban before it goes into effect
The GOP masterminds behind Obamacare’s ‘death spiral’
WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) says Obamacare is in a "death spiral," and he should know: He's the one who cut the power to Obamacare's engines and pointed its nose downward. President Trump says, "Obamacare is imploding and will only get worse," and he should know: He's the one who placed the explosives under Obamacare's foundation. House … [Read more...] about The GOP masterminds behind Obamacare’s ‘death spiral’
GOP Collides With Reality on Health Care
Ezra Klein and Sarah Kliff have a terrific post up on vox.com on health care that is long but a worthwhile read. It reviews the lessons Democrats learned through the process of implementing the Affordable Care Act. It makes the case that the failure of Republicans to learn the same lessons underlies their imploding failure in realizing their oft-repeated "repeal and replace" … [Read more...] about GOP Collides With Reality on Health Care
Funny or Die Satire Video: On those “paid” anti-Trump Protesters (VIDEO)
FunnyorDie has released a new satire video. It's called "Snowflakes by the Hour," dealing with (unfounded) allegations that anti-Trump protesters aren't really protesting Trump but are paid protesters. (One of the people spreading this alternative fact has been Fox News' Sean Hackery Hannity.) The video, Snowflakes By The Hour, about paid protesters, stars Asif Ali (TBS's … [Read more...] about Funny or Die Satire Video: On those “paid” anti-Trump Protesters (VIDEO)
The Return of Tribalism
The Return of Tribalism Anthony Stahelski After the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union a political scientist named Francis Fukuyama wrote a book entitled The End of History and the Last Man. Fukuyama stated that the Soviet demise signaled more than just the end of the Cold War. He provocatively hypothesized that the demise meant that humanity’s ongoing search for a utopian … [Read more...] about The Return of Tribalism
EPA’s Scott Pruitt Flubs Answer To Carbon Dioxide Question
During an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt was asked a specific question about carbon dioxide. "Do you believe that it’s been proven that CO2 is the primary control knob for climate?" The beginning of Pruitt's answer was correct: "No, I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do, and … [Read more...] about EPA’s Scott Pruitt Flubs Answer To Carbon Dioxide Question
Cartoon: Trumpcare Balance
Russian interventions in other people’s elections: A brief history
By Eric Lohr, Professor of Russian History, American University. Demonstrators against Russian military actions in Ukraine rally in New York, March 2, 2014. AP Photo/John Minchillo In the last nine years, Russia has invaded its neighbor Georgia, annexed the Ukrainian province of Crimea, supported rebels in Eastern Ukraine and interfered in the U.S. presidential election. The… … [Read more...] about Russian interventions in other people’s elections: A brief history
Cartoon: King’s racist baby talk
King's racist baby talk by Clay Jones Congress’ most cuddly racist Steve King from Iowa (who “used” to keep a Confederate flag on his desk) was at it again Monday. He tweeted support for a xenophobic politician in the Netherlands with “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” King was backing Geert Wilders, a far-right Dutch parliamentarian who has … [Read more...] about Cartoon: King’s racist baby talk
One congressman’s unbounded racism
WASHINGTON -- White supremacism was never banished from American political thought, just shoved to the fringe and hushed to a whisper. Now, in the Age of Trump, it's back in the mainstream and ready to roar. Witness the words of Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, on the subject of immigration: "Culture and demographics are our destiny. We can't restore our civilization with … [Read more...] about One congressman’s unbounded racism
Clinton’s unexpected new ally in the email investigation: Trump
WASHINGTON -- After the "lock her up" campaign of 2016, President Trump's administration has an unexpected message for those still investigating Hillary Clinton's emails: Shut it down. Trump made clear after the election that he had no appetite to go after Clinton legally, and on Monday his administration went further: His Justice Department went to court to fight those … [Read more...] about Clinton’s unexpected new ally in the email investigation: Trump
Cartoon: President Bannon
Paying for Healthcare
New taxes are not really appealing to Republicans, but the government must somehow figure out ways to cover the increasing costs of healthcare, both within the government’s budget and in the country. The number one contributor to healthcare costs in this country is obesity. People eat too much. We already tax cigarettes and alcohol, two other major contributors to health … [Read more...] about Paying for Healthcare
Movie Review – “Kong: Skull Island”
"Aside from the film's spectacular cinematography and CGI realism, this film smartly brings two dozen expendable roles to keep the beast fed." Patrick King, REEL BRIEF As we enter the annual post-Oscars drought season of movies that will be deemed unworthy of awards consideration come December, theater expectations must be lowered accordingly. Lest viewers feel cheated… … [Read more...] about Movie Review – “Kong: Skull Island”
Trumpcare is a disaster. Attacks on CBO are desperate.
In a crippling blow that could derail Republican plans to replace Obamacare, the Congressional Budget Office Monday predicted a catastrophe, saying 24 million Americans would lose coverage over the next decade if this plan were approved, 14 million over next year alone. No wonder President Trump and his team have spent the last week trying to… … [Read more...] about Trumpcare is a disaster. Attacks on CBO are desperate.
Jobs, Not Stability Will Determine How Far Trump Falls
The line of the day comes from the opening skit on Saturday Night Live when Kenan Thompson, portraying a General, tells President Trump, played of course by Alec Baldwin how the aliens from the planet, Zorblat 9 have penetrated America. Thomson tells Trump the aliens "have the most advanced weaponized technology we have ever seen," and asks, "What should we do?" Trump's … [Read more...] about Jobs, Not Stability Will Determine How Far Trump Falls
Repeal and Replace Paul Krugman
March 13, 2017 Note to readers: This is the latest entry in Super Baby DonDon’s diary. The series imagines that President Donald Trump has the emotional make-up of a five-year-old and confides his deepest thoughts—such as they are—to Andrew Feinberg, and to readers, every day. In his private moments, he always thinks of himself as Super Baby DonDon. Oh, Super Baby … [Read more...] about Repeal and Replace Paul Krugman
The Children of Today’s Immigrants
Immigrants have been in the news a lot recently: Illegal immigrants, undocumented immigrants, unauthorized immigrants, “slave immigrants,” etc. Most of the stories have been dark and depressing because of what may be in store for so many of those immigrants. Here is an uplifting story about “children of immigrants.” Stuart Anderson at Forbes asks, “What would we lose … [Read more...] about The Children of Today’s Immigrants