Happy New Year and Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Jan 01, 2026 at 02:31:18 PM EST
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Happy New Year to all! Photos of the celebrations around the world are pretty awesome.

Still, the world is not a happy place today. America has watched in disbelief as Donald Trump has chipped away bit by bit at the very core of our democracy. Even prominent hard-core MAGA supporters are scratching their heads at his latest actions, and refusing to stay silent.

Trump's primary game plan has always been deflection. Change the subject, provide false facts, promote conspiracy theories and juxtapose the victim and aggressor.

Since it worked for him the first time around, he's been back at it every day during his second term. How do we encourage more of his MAGA supporters to jump ship, and also remain engaged and vote for Democrats in the mid-term elections?

How do we turn Trump's deflection game on its head? Democrats Abroad has some ideas. I'll just quote one section: [More...]

Combatting Misinformation and Propaganda

The Trump administration was notorious for spreading misinformation, labeling legitimate journalism as "fake news," and promoting conspiracy theories. This tactic undermined public trust in the media and led to widespread confusion. Combating misinformation requires critical thinking, fact-checking claims before sharing them, and encouraging others to seek verifiable information. Social media platforms can be breeding grounds for disinformation, so promoting digital literacy is essential.

In other Trump news, the New York Times has a mind-mapping feature on Trump and his family's myriad of questionable financial dealings during his second term that has reaped them millions (if not more).

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Merry Christmas Eve 2025 and Open Thread

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Kind of misleading (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 09:51:03 AM EST

There are scores of articles about Trump's aspirin habits. Like this from RawStory

Jonathan Reiner, CNN medical analyst and interventional cardiologist, joined "The Lead" on Thursday with fill-in host Phil Mattingly to discuss a wild Wall Street Journal report in which the president said he takes 325 mg a day of aspirin to prevent a heart attack.

I just wish they would point out that 325mg is ONE aspirin. This was something I heard a lot growing up. People I knew took an aspirin a day. Then at some point I remember when they started making those 81(?)mg pills for daily usage.

Clearly this is unhealthy and inadvisable. But it's one aspirin a day.

Leave the man alone. Let him have his aspirin,

"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart ... I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?" Trump said

Aspirin dosage (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by KeysDan on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 11:43:06 AM EST

for antithrombotic effect was initially based on use for other effects of the drug, such as analgesia. However, the clinical effect of larger aspirin doses in cardiovascular disease does not bring proportionally greater benefit in light of potential adverse effects.

Adverse effects are principally gastrointestinal-intestinal hemorrhage(aspirin should be taken with or after meals). The potential for adverse bleeding is lowered with an 81 mg dose while maintaining clinical benefit.

Note: The odd 81 mg dose is the conversion from the earlier use of the grain. There are 65 mg per grain. A regular aspirin tablet is five grains or 325 mg. The lower dosage, or baby aspirin, is 1.25 grains or 81 mg.


That story in the WSJ (none / 0) (#9)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 12:20:24 PM EST

said a meal was one quarter pounder one big Mac and a fish sandwich. With fries.

I will admit to having a big Mac a fish sandwich and fries.

I've never done the trifecta


: Trump (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by KeysDan on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 02:25:56 PM EST

boasted in that article that he "Aced" a cognitive test for the third straight time. And he advocates that such tests should be "mandatorily forced" for anyone running for president or vice president since "our great Country cannot be run by "STUPID" or Incompetent people."
Medicare pays for one cognitive test a year as part of a wellness exam. It is curious that he would have three cognitive tests in a year, unless.....monitoring rate of decline? And, is he saying something about JD Vance? it is agreed about stupid and incompetent. So in a rare instance of self-awareness, does that mean we can expect resignations from both Trump and Vance?

: Wendy's fish sandwiches (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by fishcamp on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 05:21:35 PM EST

taste much better to me since they are finished with crispy panko breading. They are also larger and have lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.

: I saw (none / 0) (#24)
by Ga6thDem on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 09:11:45 PM EST

What he ate and felt my arteries clogging. Does he eat anything other than McDonald's and steak? If he didn't have the best medical care he would probably be gone

I would encourage (none / 0) (#6)
by leap2 on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 11:27:19 AM EST

Orange Clown to take even more aspirin a day. More is better.


Intravenous (none / 0) (#8)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 12:16:18 PM EST

aspirin


Perhaps (none / 0) (#12)
by jmacWA on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 03:16:43 PM EST

He could even add a little warfarin to his regimen and get that INR up to a respectable 5 or so.


There are much better blood thinners (none / 0) (#16)
by fishcamp on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 05:32:31 PM EST

than aspirin and warfarin. I take the ridiculously expensive Eliquis due to atrial fibrillation. President Biden promised to lower the price of ten expensive drugs with Eliquis at the top of the list, and just today I read it's going to happen.


: Too Expensive for me (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by jmacWA on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 04:16:08 AM EST

With no drug plan I take the ridiculously cheap warfarin. The downside is taking my INR weekly, but it's a simple stick like for blood sugar and even with the cost of the meter and supplies added in it is way cheaper than Eliquis. I have Afib too, but have not been in Afib since I had an ablation 18 months ago.

I am distraught (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 05:00:17 PM EST

My grandfather clock has died. Apparently.

I got it in an estate sale and it has run perfectly for 15 years.

I was unprepared for how much I would miss Westminster chimes on the quarter hour.

I may have found someone to fix it.

It was not supposed to stop (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 05:03:22 PM EST

until I do. Never to go again.


I know what you mean (none / 0) (#17)
by jondee on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 05:42:43 PM EST

I've been distraught since they cut down the beautiful 200 year slippery elm tree down the street that I used to greet on my walks.

It was an act of barbarism as far as I'm concerned.


: Sorry (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 06:36:38 PM EST

for your loss. I understand.

The appelation... (5.00 / 4) (#21)
by Repack Rider on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 08:03:38 PM EST

"Grandfather clock" is not the original name for that timepiece. It is a "standing pedestal clock."

Then a guy wrote a huge hit song called "My Grandfather's Clock," and the name stuck.


I was put in mind (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by jondee on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 08:12:58 PM EST

of Grandfather Clock on Captain Kangaroo for some reason.

Funny that I remember that clearly, but not where I put my keys yesterday. The mind's a funny thing.


Oddly (5.00 / 1) (#50)
by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 05:11:50 PM EST

I have always wanted a standing pedestal clock :)

No idea why. My taste in decorating don't go in that direction generally. No one I ever knew had one. Except Captain Kangaroo.

But I saw that one and grabbed it. I have found someone to fix it. He's not even that far away.

I just got something else I've been wanting.

for my sins Satan left it under the Christmas cactus


Good for you! I hope you use it (none / 0) (#54)
by Peter G on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 11:44:17 AM EST

daily, or almost.


: I really need (5.00 / 2) (#57)
by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 03:31:32 PM EST

to walk more. More likely to do it in front of the tv.
I have a stair master that I use regularly. But I've found those are not the same as walking muscles.

Does it tick-tock? (none / 0) (#55)
by jondee on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 12:19:41 PM EST

It does (none / 0) (#58)
by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 03:31:41 PM EST

: It's usually drowned out (none / 0) (#67)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 04:34:26 PM EST

in my living room. The TV or music is usually on plus I have a 120 gal aquarium I'm my living room with splashing and bubbling
Fortunately it's a pretty big room.
But on those occasions when the power goes off, short but not unusual, and all you can hear is that
TICK TOCK TICK
I'm always briefly transported to another quieter time.
I hate it.
It's the sound of inescapable time. What a dreary day it would be sitting listening to that.

I inherited (none / 0) (#23)
by Ga6thDem on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 09:09:26 PM EST

A ate 1800s fashion mantle clock. I found someone to fix it but it took a year to get it back


Howard Miller Clockmaker Is Going Out of Business (none / 0) (#51)
by RickyJim on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 06:08:35 PM EST

They are having clearance sales now. Most of their stuff is high end. Besides buying directly from them, Bath Bath and Beyond has some of their clocks, even cheaper, online.


: I'm attached to this one (5.00 / 1) (#52)
by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 09:26:07 AM EST

I found a clock repairman.

I have lost all respect for the US military (5.00 / 2) (#49)
by Chuck0 on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 04:59:35 PM EST

I am a US Navy veteran. I was born in a Naval hospital in Maryland. My sister born in a US Naval hospital on Guam. My father was a retired career Naval officer. I grew up in and around military bases and culture. Sixteen years working in Combat Vehicles documentation for defense company. I think of have standing on this subject.

The US military is a failed institution not worthy of my respect or admiration. The entire leadship are now criminals. They will eventually blunder and Americans will die. I will shed no tears.

Trump has become America's Putin. (5.00 / 2) (#60)
by desertswine on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 01:37:03 PM EST

: As autocrats go (none / 0) (#65)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 04:21:12 PM EST

I guess it's better to have a stupid incompetent one.

Billions not millions (none / 0) (#1)
by jmacWA on Thu Jan 01, 2026 at 03:11:41 PM EST

From what I can tell the TRUMP family grift seems to be more in the billions than millions.

Many kudos (none / 0) (#2)
by jondee on Thu Jan 01, 2026 at 04:11:21 PM EST

to Chuck Redd, Peter Wolf, Kristy Lee, the cast of Hamilton and others for telling the Trump-Kennedy Center and it's renamer to go screw.

Happy new year, everyone. (none / 0) (#3)
by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 01, 2026 at 08:15:22 PM EST

It's been a wet holiday season in Southern California. A coyote has taken up residence under the lemon tree in my mother's backyard in Pasadena. I really can't tell if it's ill or not. While coyotes co-exist very well with humans, they tend to not want to hang out with us. State Fish & Wildlife personnel are coming tomorrow to catch and relocate it.

We return to Hawaii on Monday night.

This whole thing is worth a read (none / 0) (#5)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 09:58:50 AM EST

Retirements, primaries and more. When the House returns next week, the GOP's already razor-thin majority will immediately shrink. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is leaving Congress Jan. 5. Johnson's majority will then be 219-213, a two-vote cushion (Remember that tie House votes fail.)
The House GOP leadership is watching carefully to see if Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.) or Don Bacon (R-Neb.) leave before their terms are up. Stefanik and Bacon are retiring, while Mills has had a lengthy list of ethics and legal issues

The 6 things Thune and Johnson have to watch out for

Question for Jeralyn and Peter G: (none / 0) (#11)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 02:33:56 PM EST

U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh has ruled that alleged J6 pipebomber Brian J. Cole Jr. must be detained. Oddly, he's ruled that he will accept Cole's superior court indictment, inter alia, pending reconvening of a federal grand jury to secure an indictment.

Can someone please explain how a federal magistrate can detain this defendant on a superior court indictment? Why should the superior court indictment not be considered an apparent DOJ attempt to circumvent a federal grand jury requirement prior to the tolling of the statute of limitations in a few days? And as far as I can tell, there hasn't been a preliminary hearing in this case where a judge found probable cause. So, what gives?

This, of course, may all be moot if it's subsequently determined that Trump's J6 mass pardon also covers defendant Cole in this matter. But in the meantime, I'm confused as to what's going on here. Am I missing something or do I have a screw loose?

Muchos mahalos.

The District of Columbia Superior Court (none / 0) (#26)
by Peter G on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 10:13:59 PM EST

is a federal court (in a way) not a state court, as all local government in D.C. is under Congressional control. So it's not as if this weird thing happened in a California Superior Court, by contrast. The U.S. District Court for D.C. has jurisdiction over both federal and D.C. offenses, for example. I have never practiced in D.C. or studied the unique relationship between the local and (regular) federal courts there, so I don't have an opinion on this unusual procedural development. Apparently the judges there are unsure also, and are awaiting an authoritative appellate ruling.


: Thank you, Peter. (none / 0) (#28)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 04:19:20 AM EST

We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

The Last Czars (none / 0) (#19)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 06:53:43 PM EST

I've been watching this on Netflix. It's all about how Czar Nickolas turned the people against him.

It's almost funny how closely the things he did, stupid wars conspicuous consumption, being completely out of touch - and listening to crazy people - are the same things Trump is doing.

I see Barron as Anastasia.

trailer

Like this (none / 0) (#20)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 07:28:41 PM EST

Nicholas an Alexandra are unable to understand what's happening in the streets of Petrograd. They did not understand the discontent. They have become so isolated they really believe the link between the Czar and the people remains unbroken.

The more things change .....


I was having similar thoughts tonight (none / 0) (#25)
by Peter G on Fri Jan 02, 2026 at 10:07:51 PM EST

as I watched Citizen Kane again (on TCM) for the first time in several years. It's not just a great film but also a brilliant psychological study of a malignant narcissist, with extraordinary parallels to the life of the (then-)future DJT.


Czar Nicholas II ... (none / 0) (#29)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 04:51:24 AM EST

... started to lose control of the situation during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, when he ordered the Russian Baltic Fleet to sail halfway around the world to break the Japanese naval blockade and relieve the besieged Russian garrison at Port Arthur (Present-day Dairen, China). It resulted in the near-total annihilation of the Russian fleet at the hands of the Japanese Combined Fleet in the Battle of Tsushima and the subsequent Russian surrender of Port Arthur, which ended the war.

The war was a humiliating defeat for Imperial Russia and a disaster for Nicholas personally. The resultant domestic upheaval compelled Nicholas to sign the October Manifesto, in which he agreed to the establishment of the Imperial Duma, and to surrender part of his heretofore unlimited autocracy.

Nicholas II was completely in over his head, and Alexandra didn't help matters any as his closest confidante by encouraging him to resist reform efforts and fire competent advisors.

They made the Russian Revolution inevitable.


wasn't Rasputin (none / 0) (#44)
by leap2 on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:51:45 PM EST

somewhere in the mix there?


Rasputin added to the instability ... (none / 0) (#46)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 01:28:17 PM EST

... due to his friendship with and influence over Empress Alexandra and to a lesser extent, Czar Nicholas II himself. But Nicholas was an autocrat, and despite the presence of the Imperial Duma, he firmly believed in the divine right of monarchs to rule.

For some reason, the Czar ignored his imperial courtiers, many of whom had strongly advised him to negotiate a settlement with Tokyo, even after hostilities first broke out. His obstinacy and subsequent order to send the Baltic Fleet halfway around the world to the Sea of Japan where it met its utter destruction left him with no remaining options but to accept President Theodore Roosevelt's offer to mediate peace talks in Portsmouth, NH.

The resultant Treaty of Portsmouth ended the war almost entirely on Japan's terms. The disastrous Russian defeat punctured Nicholas's aura and greatly emboldened his domestic critics and opponents, which resulted in a 1905 armed uprising Nicholas's acquiescence to a reconstitution of the Imperial Duma.

It was about this time when the Orthodox mystic Rasputin first made his acquaintance of the Imperial couple, right after the birth of their fifth child and first son, the Czarevitch Alexis, who was tragically discovered after birth to be a hemophiliac.

Rasputin had suggested to Alexandra at several key moments during Alexis's various health crises that she and her husband order the doctors to leave the boy alone, because their incessant poking and prodding was making matters worse. He proved to be right. Alexis recovered, and both Alexandra and Nicholas became convinced the God had sent Rasputin to watch over their son.

It proved to be a grievously misplaced trust, particularly when the First World War broke out and Nicholas departed for the front to take personal command of the Russian forces, leaving Alexandra in charge to make domestic policy in his stead.

Aloha.


thanks for that, DoH (none / 0) (#47)
by leap2 on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 02:06:11 PM EST

By the way, are you familiar with the history podcast The Rest is History? The two Brit historians who present it, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, are so good at this. I'm addicted to it. A few years ago (the archives go back to 2021), they did an episode on Rasputin, which clicked when I was reading this thread on Czar Nicholas.


Those guys are really good (none / 0) (#56)
by jondee on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 12:26:35 PM EST

I just got done listening to Jack Weatherford on Lex Fridman doing a fascinating deep dive on the history of the Mongols and Genghis Khan.

I generally am not taken with Lex, who I thnk is an Elon and Rogan brown-noser, but he has interesting historians and scientists on on occasion.


I am familiar with Holland and Sandbrook. (none / 0) (#59)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 09:51:20 AM EST

Unfortunately, I haven't really made any opportunities for myself to listen to their podcasts - or any podcasts of late, for that matter.

The last history-related ones I listened to in full were both by Rachel Maddow, "Bagman" (about the downfall of Vice President Spiro Agnew in 1972-73) and "Ultra" (about the isolationist and far-right America First movement in the early days of the Second World War, prior to U.S. entry into that conflict).

There are a lot of very good and highly informative podcasts available out there in the ether, and I have vowed to myself to make a better effort this year to seek them out. And if anyone has any suggestions in that regard, I'm all ears.

: I know more about (none / 0) (#62)
by jondee on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 02:59:52 PM EST

the Battle of Agincourt at this point than I ever wanted to know.

Wake up and find we have invaded Venezuela (none / 0) (#30)
by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 08:12:09 AM EST

and taken Maduro into custody. Great.

US captures Maduro, carries out 'large scale strike' in Venezuela

For a minute there, (5.00 / 3) (#31)
by desertswine on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 10:08:20 AM EST

I forgot about Epstein.


: And (none / 0) (#75)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:57:52 PM EST

that tomorrow is the anniversary of Jan 6th
Oh, and Jan 3rd was the deadline for the DOJ for the Epstein stuff.
Forgot that too,

A page (none / 0) (#32)
by KeysDan on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 10:30:40 AM EST

taken out of Daddy Bush's Panama playbook--Venezuela rather than Panama, Control of oil/minerals rather than control of the Panama Canal, Maduro and wife rather than Noriega taken to US for trial on drug charges. Apparently, the Maduro's did not take refuge at the Vatican Embassy (to music blasting away) or make calls from a Dairy Queen--but we await more details. A difference is that Bush acted unlawfully, but was not a convicted felon whereas Trump has a leg up on the late Bush being both a convicted felon acting unlawfully.


I hope Venezuela is prepared (none / 0) (#33)
by desertswine on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 11:35:36 AM EST

for the coming rape.


Guess (none / 0) (#34)
by KeysDan on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 11:40:06 AM EST

this operation answers the question, will the military follow unlawful orders?


Operation Grab Venezuela (none / 0) (#35)
by jondee on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 11:45:42 AM EST

By The P...y

When do we start bombing and instituting regime change in Mexico, considering that 99% of the Fentanyl comes from there?


This has never been about drugs (5.00 / 2) (#36)
by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:12:22 PM EST

it's about oil with a side order of platinum


: And a soupcon (none / 0) (#38)
by jondee on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:17:59 PM EST

of distraction and a dash of tibalistic jingoism.

Maybe, (none / 0) (#40)
by KeysDan on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:20:22 PM EST

Rubio's arch-nemesis, Cuba, will be next


: Diaz-Canel (none / 0) (#45)
by jondee on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 01:23:52 PM EST

is already making "We shall fight them on the beaches. We shall fight them on the landing grounds" type of pronouncements. Probably for good reason.

As someone once said (none / 0) (#37)
by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:13:49 PM EST

The d!ldo of consequences is rarely lubricated.


I think Churchill said that (none / 0) (#39)
by jondee on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:19:32 PM EST

I think (none / 0) (#41)
by KeysDan on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:23:28 PM EST

Voltaire.


I'm pretty sure it was ... (none / 0) (#43)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:29:17 PM EST

... Pat Nixon.


: Sounds (none / 0) (#48)
by KeysDan on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 02:35:33 PM EST

like Mother Teresa.

Pretty sure it was (none / 0) (#53)
by vml68 on Sun Jan 04, 2026 at 11:20:44 AM EST

Gandhi :-)


As was the case with Panama's Manuel Noriega, ... (none / 0) (#42)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 03, 2026 at 12:27:31 PM EST

... it's admittedly hard to muster up much (if any) sympathy for the current plight of Nicolás Maduro, a blustery and ruthless autocrat who had been residing in Venezuela's presidential palace on borrowed time after his fraudulent refusal to acknowledge his apparent defeat in the 2024 election.

The question presently before us as a country in the immediate wake of Trump's unilateral action is "Now what?" I, for one, am not at all comfortable with the looming prospect of the U.S. governing Venezuela "for the time being" - particularly by MAGA folks who've proved themselves so inept at governance in their own country.

We're trapped in a Quentin Tarantino film and we can't get out.


Kennedy Center cancellations (none / 0) (#61)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 02:27:59 PM EST

-- Chuck Redd: the leader of the Kennedy Center's annual "Jazz Jams" Christmas concert since 2006 canceled the 2025 staging of the show. Kennedy Center leadership is now seeking $1 million in damages from Redd.

-- The Cookers: the jazz supergroup canceled a pair of shows scheduled for New Year's Eve 2026.

-- Stephen Schwartz: the Wicked composer withdrew as host of the Washington National Opera Gala set for May 16th, 2026. A representative for the Kennedy Center denied that Schwartz was ever officially booked for the gig, even though tickets listing his name were for sale on the center's website.

-- Issa Rae: the Insecure star canceled a sold-out March 16th, 2025 stop of her "An Evening With Issa Rae" tour at the Kennedy Center.

-- Rhiannon Giddens: the Grammy-winning musician canceled a May 11th, 2025 concert at the Kennedy Center.

-- Low Cut Connie: the Philadelphia rockers called off a February 2025 performance at the Kennedy Center.

-- Peter Wolf: the artist canceled a book launch event set at the Kennedy Center in March 2024.

-- Kristy Lee: the country singer has canceled a concert scheduled for January 14th, 2026 at the Kennedy Center.

-- Doug Varone and Dancers: the dance troupe will no longer perform at the Kennedy Center in April 2026.

-- Balún: the electronic indie band canceled a February 2024 concert at the Kennedy Center.

-- Amanda Rheaume: the Canadian musician scrapped an April 2024 concert at the Kennedy Center.

Additionally...
-- Renée Fleming and Ben Folds stepped down as artistic advisors as the Kennedy Center, while Shonda Rhimes resigned from the center's board of trustees

: Don't forget Hamilton.. (none / 0) (#66)
by desertswine on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 04:21:27 PM EST

The hit musical Hamilton is canceling its 2026 run at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C
The Center's new president Richard Grenell, called the move "a publicity stunt that will backfire." In a post on X, Grenell wrote that Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda "is intolerant of people who don't agree with him politically," and that Miranda and Sellers "don't want Republicans going to their shows." - NPR
This Grenell is a real a--hole. I saw him on the TV.

: Ironically (none / 0) (#68)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:07:56 PM EST

I got into an argument with a magat over this issue. He said that the Kennedy Center was doing wonderful over the top business even calling it the Trump Kennedy Center and I used the facts you used and the fact that no one was buying tickets.

A 92 yo Clinton appointee (none / 0) (#63)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 04:13:39 PM EST

who doesn't give a sh!t

92-year-old judge handling Maduro case `doesn't give a s--t what anyone thinks about him'

A time and a place (none / 0) (#64)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 04:17:29 PM EST

Minutes after his entrance, the Judge Alvin Hellerstein asked Maduro to confirm his identity so the proceedings could start.
"I am, sir, Nicolás Maduro. I am president of the Republic of Venezuela and I am here kidnapped since January 3rd," he told the court in a calm Spanish before an interpreter translated for the court. "I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela."
The 92-year-old judge quickly interjected to tell Maduro that there would be a "time and a place to get into all of this".

Two high ranking (none / 0) (#70)
by KeysDan on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:12:07 PM EST

members of the Maduro government, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Interior, are included in the Maduro "narco-terrorist"/machine gun indictment. The Maduro government, including these indicted ministers , just without Maduro, will, apparently, continue to run the Venezuelan government.

Also, the new president of Venezuela was appointed by Maduro. The party who Trump claims was illegally denied the election by Maduro is being thrown under the bus. Trump did not like the opposition leader getting the Nobel prize--he thinks it belonged to him and she would not give it up .

Unless, Rubio, Hegseth , Miller, and Trump will run it---or Barron or Junior?? will run the country. Depends on the time and place and who is speaking. Trump discussed this with oil executives prior to the invasion but not Congress. Another fine mess.


: Exactly (none / 0) (#71)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:16:48 PM EST

They are not even trying the old neocon line about free and fair elections.
This is clearly what it is. Little Marco can smear on the lipstick but Trump just keeps saying oil oil oil

I'm less worried (none / 0) (#69)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:10:48 PM EST

about further jingoism than others seem to be.. I get it. Trump has a taste and he will want more. But Greenland is not Venezuela.

This was, as usual for Cheeto, a cunning move. Maduro has no defenders. This is really all about oil. And other resources. There's a dozen ways to justify what they did.

That will not be easily repeatable. If we get a blockade of Greenland I will start to worry.

This is a election year. I have to think that is going to do some clashing with further imperialism.

We just have to get to the midterms.

Trump will definitely (none / 0) (#72)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:23:30 PM EST

bark about Mexico and wherever else because of course he will. He also just said tariff revenues the US has been collecting will exceed $600 billion.

So....


He is (5.00 / 1) (#73)
by KeysDan on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:39:08 PM EST

re-invigorating the Monroe Doctrine probably because he thinks it was something Marilyn started.


A guy on MSN (none / 0) (#74)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 05:48:50 PM EST

from Colombia said the fear there is less about military intervention and more concern about political intervention.

They are afraid Trump will interfere with the coming elections that liberals could win.

That makes sense


The president of (none / 0) (#78)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 06:14:02 PM EST

Colombia said that Trump and his band of pedophiles want to control the country. So I am thinking unless there are some covert CIA ops there it won't be very successful.


: The CIA (none / 0) (#83)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 07:01:42 PM EST

just did Maduro. Somewhat less covert ops.

Earl the Pearl (none / 0) (#80)
by jondee on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 06:17:21 PM EST

who played for the Knicks.


He is calling (none / 0) (#81)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 06:27:51 PM EST

it the Donroe Doctrine. I am going to call it the Dumbroe Doctrine.


You know (none / 0) (#77)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 06:11:51 PM EST

I almost wish he would go after Greenland. It would trigger Article 5 I think it is and maybe Europe could do to him what he did to Maduro. Then 65% of Americans would be out dancing in the streets. Even Venezuela isn't going to be so swift in a few weeks when Americans start getting captured, kidnapped held for ransom or killed by Maduros goons that are still running the country.

The best outcome I have seen from this is it starts gnawing away at his maga base. Yeah, they are all gung ho on getting Maduro but not so much on running a country of 90 million people. I guess we're going to spend a trillion setting up oil companies paid for by the taxpayers while the oil companies soak up the profits and there's nothing for the Venezuelan people. That kind of crap is what put Chavez in power in the first place.


A lot of it has to do (none / 0) (#79)
by jondee on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 06:15:44 PM EST

with him wanting to be known for doing 'big stuff' as part of his legacy after he's gone.

Whether it involves hurting a lot of people and destabilizing a hemisphere is totally beside the point. It's always been beside the point to history's overreaching, grandiose lunatics.


Howdy (none / 0) (#76)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 06:00:15 PM EST

for some reason Tom Cotton keeps coming up in my newsfeed on Facebook. I have to say I am shocked at the comments from Arkansans and the number of them that loathe him. Is that representative of what you see? If it is I would think his opposition has a chance.

: Well (none / 0) (#82)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 05, 2026 at 07:00:23 PM EST

I loath him. I know several who do. But the thumpers love him. He is Senator End Times.
The state is changing he he will probably die in office. Or run for president.