Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution*, the President has 60 days to obtain approval from Congress for military action. When it comes to bombing civilian boats in the Caribbean, that day is November 4th. Yet the White House doesn't plan on asking for an okay, although Donald Trump met the 48 hour deadline for alerting Congress that hostilities had begun. According to The … [Read more...] about Trump is about to blow through the 1973 War Powers Resolution
The shutdown – and the House’s inaction – helps pave Congress’ path to irrelevance
Where’s Congress? The institution is unwilling to assert itself as an equal branch of government. 4X6, iStock/Getty Images Plus Charlie Hunt, Boise State University Many Americans will be voting on Election Day – or have already cast votes – in races for statewide office, local positions and on ballot initiatives with major implications for … [Read more...] about The shutdown – and the House’s inaction – helps pave Congress’ path to irrelevance
MIKE JOHNSON IS A COWARD
SNAP benefit freeze will leave millions nationwide struggling to pay for food — including 472,711 people in Philadelphia
Currently, SNAP benefits average just over $6 per person per day. Catherine McQueen/Moment Collection via Getty Images Félice Lê-Scherban, Drexel University The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the largest, most effective tool the U.S. has to reduce food insecurity. As of late 2025, it helps more than 42 million people … [Read more...] about SNAP benefit freeze will leave millions nationwide struggling to pay for food — including 472,711 people in Philadelphia
How Would Candidates Respond to Teens Attacking Jewish Children?
by Bruce S. Ticker As the Middle East crisis stains four election campaigns, a small army of teen-agers in Skokie, Illinois, ganged up on five Jewish children on Oct. 7 as they shouted antisemitic insults and fired gel pellets at them from a recreational gun, according to media reports. Transparency to the public in this Chicago suburb, including its sizeable Jewish … [Read more...] about How Would Candidates Respond to Teens Attacking Jewish Children?
REPUBLICANS SAY GREAT TRUMPKIN WILL END SHUTDOWN
Welcome to Donald Trump’s “What Are You Gonna Do About It?” Presidency
How polarizing is Donald Trump? A hot item on Amazon and Tik Tok -- it sold out on TikTok -- is the Donald Trump toilet brush. Partial description on Amazon: "Put the world’s most renowned head of hair to great use. This COMMANDER IN CRAP Trump toilet bowl brush doesn’t merely comb over your dirty toilet, it can combat even the toughest stains and filth." It's ironic that … [Read more...] about Welcome to Donald Trump’s “What Are You Gonna Do About It?” Presidency
America flushes itself down the toilet
Is it too pretentious to launch this piece with a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche? The German philosopher and cultural critic has been dead since 1900, but he’s totally in tune with the America of 2025: “When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.” I’ve been pondering that warning ever since Trump used an AI video to pilot a fighter plane and dump diarrhea … [Read more...] about America flushes itself down the toilet
Excellent News from the Horn of Africa: Somaliland
There are rumors about in the diplomatic sphere, on twitter/X and in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa, that the Trump administration might just be about to recognise Somaliland. A short Horn of Africa primer: Prior to independence in 1960 there were basically two Somalias: the Somalia we know now (Italian) and British Somaliland (now.. "Somaliland"). They united at … [Read more...] about Excellent News from the Horn of Africa: Somaliland
Trump and Climate Change
What is up with Donald Trump? First, he was an election denier, insisting that he won the 2020 presidential election. Then with his buddy RFK Jr, he became a vaccine denier. Now he is an avid climate change denier. He has said numerous times that climate change is a total scam pushed by experts with their own agenda. He has also called it a con job. But why has he focused this … [Read more...] about Trump and Climate Change
25 states, DC, sue Trump to release SNAP funds
A coalition of 25 states plus the District of Columbia have filed suit against the Trump Administration to force release of SNAP funds. The US Department of Agriculture has $6 billion in an emergency reserve fund, authorized by Congress to be disbursed during shut-down. In September, that's what USDA said it would do. The states filed the lawsuit in Massachusetts district … [Read more...] about 25 states, DC, sue Trump to release SNAP funds
TRUMP SON OF FREDDY
Demolishing the White House East Wing to build a ballroom embodies Trump’s heritage politics
Demolition in process on the East Wing of the White House, Oct. 23, 2025. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin R. Grant Gilmore III, College of Charleston From ancient Egypt to Washington, D.C., rulers have long used architecture and associated stories to project power, control memory and shape national identity. As 17th-century French statesman … [Read more...] about Demolishing the White House East Wing to build a ballroom embodies Trump’s heritage politics
NYT front page features Iowa farmer, not Americans who are slated to lose SNAP benefits
Farmers represent 1-in-100 Americans; 1-in-8 Americans receive SNAP benefits The week that US SNAP benefits are balancing on a cliff face, the New York Times chose to highlight the Trump Administration impact on Iowa farmers. Farmers represent about 1.3% of the US population. SNAP beneficiaries: 12.3%, including 1.2 million veterans. One in eight rural … [Read more...] about NYT front page features Iowa farmer, not Americans who are slated to lose SNAP benefits
“There’s something Soviet” … about the demolition of the East Wing
"There’s something Soviet about the notion of a building that is so historic, so singularly important, that no preservation effort could save it," Kriston Capps writes in Bloomberg Sunday. And with that statement, halfway through an analysis of how Donald Trump demolished the East Wing of the White House this week, Bloomberg said the quiet part outloud. There’s … [Read more...] about “There’s something Soviet” … about the demolition of the East Wing
Trump alleges anonymous, private, illegal drop-in-the-bucket donation for troop pay
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a "friend" was donating $130,000,000 towards military pay during the shutdown. CNN and others reported Friday that the Pentagon had agreed to accept the "donation." According to Bloomberg, however, "federal law generally forbids individuals from making earmarked gifts to the government." The stunt -- Trump is a … [Read more...] about Trump alleges anonymous, private, illegal drop-in-the-bucket donation for troop pay
UN health chief’s disturbing facts about Gaza
Gaza's health factsheet is shocking. World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that more than 170 000 people have injuries in Gaza, including more than 5000 amputees and 3600 people with major burns. At least 42 000 people have injuries that require long-term rehabilitation. “There are still 15 000 patients who need treatment outside Gaza, … [Read more...] about UN health chief’s disturbing facts about Gaza
Poll: Americans not happy Trump has bulldozed the White House. Also, here’s the donor list. And news about the bunker.
According to a YouGov poll released Wednesday, only one-in-four Americans approve of the East Wing demolition. Republicans don't like it either: 55% do not approve. And it's not just because he's created a canker sore where last week there was history and beauty. Perhaps it's because he doesn't care and treats our property as though it were his. This is not the first … [Read more...] about Poll: Americans not happy Trump has bulldozed the White House. Also, here’s the donor list. And news about the bunker.
The East Wing debacle, a gaudy ballroom and more Trump lies
Imagine for a moment that you live rent-free in a historic home. You decide you want to double the size of the main residence and begin demolition without getting approval of the owner or applying for requisite permits. What do you think would happen? I think you'd go to jail or be sued into oblivion. Or both. That's what's happened to the White House this week. The … [Read more...] about The East Wing debacle, a gaudy ballroom and more Trump lies
The Private Presidency
The Trump Presidency is different than any previous presidential administrations, particularly his second occupation of the White House. Instead of considering what is best for the nation in both foreign and domestic policies, the main driver of his orders and behavior is doing what is best for Trump, his family and friends. This may not be true in every instance, but is … [Read more...] about The Private Presidency