home

Trump: Friends With Benefits (Pardons) and Open Thread

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Donald Trump has pardoned 65 people, including his cronies who helped him try to overturn the 2020 election. Many of these people were not even charged in federal court. How is Trump pardoning people charged or convicted in state court?

Pardon Secretary Ed Martin made the announcement. and published the list. His comment, according to the article linked above: "No Maga Left Behind".

Better Slogan: "It's time to scrape that sh*t right off your shoes." (Hat tip for the line to the Rolling Stones, "Sweet Virginia", which although not about Trump or Maga, fits perfectly in my mind).

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Sunday Open Thread: Clocks | Thursday Open Thread >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Better late than never (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 03:06:55 PM EST
    Johnson Will Swear In Adelita Grijalva
    November 10, 2025 at 11:25 am EST By Taegan Goddard 112 Comments

    Speaker Mike Johnson plans to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) before the House votes on a government funding package, Punchbowl News reports.

    Grijalva's installation in the House does not change the voting math for the funding bill. But she said she will sign the discharge petition to release the Epstein files. Grijalva's signature will force a vote in the House.

    So when (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 04:35:07 PM EST
    is this? Does the source say? Because I have not heard Johnson say that he is calling back the house.

    Parent
    He has said (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 04:46:01 PM EST
    They are coming back I believe.

    Parent
    This (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 04:47:56 PM EST
    Post

    See new posts
    Conversation
    Jake Sherman

    @JakeSherman
    NEWS -- SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON plans to swear in Rep.-elect ADELITA GRIJALVA before the government funding vote.

    This will not change the vote count on the funding bill. But it will put the EPSTEIN discharge petition over the 218-signature threshold

    Parent

    Okay. (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 04:57:12 PM EST
    I googled and found out that they are on their way back to DC.

    Parent
    Why I Am Resigning (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 03:16:22 PM EST
    A serial criminal (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 05:13:20 PM EST
    avoided jail time for a child sex offender thanks to Trump's pardon for his  attack of a police officer during the January 6 insurrection.   At the time of this attack, Andrew Taake, of Texas, was out on bond for the charge of solicitation of a 15-year old girl for sex.  

    Taake pleaded guilty and was able to stay out of prison due to the "credit" he was given for

     time served for his role in the Jan 6 violent attempt to overthrow the government.  He accrued three years and seven months while serving in pretrial detention, and is a registered sex offender.  Using credit from a pardoned federal crime for a separate crime to keep him out of prison on an unrelated state charge is, apparently, rare.  Especially, moving from a political protest crime to child exploitation.

    Is it just me? (5.00 / 5) (#11)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 10:15:19 PM EST
    Or is Mike Johnson the skeeviest person ever in public life?

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    You are correct, Sir. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by desertswine on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 10:39:01 PM EST
    In 2023, when (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 11:43:10 AM EST
    then Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced a plot from his members to remove him from the Speakership, the House Democrats helped show McCarthy the door.

    In May 2024, seven months later, House Republicans, lead by Marjorie Taylor Green, launched an attempt to oust the new Speaker, Mike Johnson. However, this time the vast majority of House Democrats, including their leadership, voted to save Johnson's bacon.

    Johnson was known, at the time , as being a Christo-fascist, a 2020 election denier and supporter, and  a commonplace MAGAt. Apparently, it was considered a smart strategy for the Democrats to reward Johnson for a modicum  of cooperation he showed, such as Ukraine aid.  The reasons for throwing Johnson a life-preserver instead of an anvil were reported as being that a successor might be worse and that the Democrats wanted to demonstrate that they are the adults in the room that can be counted on as responsible curators of the the institution.

    It seems to me that working with  the fascist Trump regime is not the fabled "bipartisanship", but rather, collaboration.  The electorate appears to have acknowledged this reality, but some Democratic officials continue to be slow to do so.

    Parent

    MAGA Mike Johnson faces stiff competition ... (none / 0) (#71)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 07:18:22 PM EST
    ... from Vice President J.D. Vance, judging by Vance's latest appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity. His slobbering and unctuous praise of Donald Trump oozes with all the sincerity of a North Korean general who's desperate to stay on the mercurial Kim Jong-un's good side and forestall his own family's summary executions at Dear Leader's whim.

    (I recently heard that just like at least one of MAGA Mike's GOP predecessors as House Speaker, the pious Christianist rather enjoys stiff competition - whenever the wife's out of town, of course, nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more, say no more - but alas, that's another discussion for another time.)

    Ciao for now.

    Parent

    To offer an answer to J's question (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 02:24:43 PM EST
    in the post itself:  Tr*mp cannot and did not pardon anyone for state offenses relating to the fake electors (or anything else), such as the charges that Giuliani faces in Arizona, or John Eastman in Georgia (or to which atty Sidney Powell pleaded guilty in Georgia). However, yesterday's proclamation does appear to pardon anyone who is, was, or may be federally charged with illegal voting for President in 2020 (other than a non-citizen), or any other election fraud in 2020 affecting the race for President, regardless of the circumstances or facts.

    I've been spending the day watching (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by desertswine on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 04:02:09 PM EST
    The Twilight Zone.  I can't believe there are a few that I hadn't seen before.  Or maybe I just forgot them.  I can't tell which anymore.

    Its (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 05:36:03 PM EST
    a good life

    Parent
    I never thought about (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 05:44:20 PM EST
    how much that story about the all powerful 6 year old was like Trumpism.

    Sir, it's good you bulldozed the East Wing
     

    Parent

    Did you ever watch "Room for One More" (none / 0) (#29)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 06:23:50 PM EST
    I saw it as when I was around 12 or 13 and never forgot it. It's # 53 (or season 2 episode 17) in the series and its official name is "Twenty Two" but everyone knows it as the tag line, "Room for one more, honey". It scared me so much. According to this Reddit thread, I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Wikipedia has a bunch of details.

    I watched it again about 5 years ago and still found it unsettling (though I wasn't as scared of course.)

    Parent

    Arlene Martel.. (none / 0) (#32)
    by desertswine on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 08:59:14 PM EST
    More famous (?) for her role as T'Pring in Star Trek Amok Time.

    Parent
    About pardons (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 04:18:57 PM EST
    The pardon power comes from the constitution.  That's hard to change but boy, something needs to be done about what's happening now.  Surely there are ways for laws, restrictions, sanity?

    This is one of the many powers of the executive that need to be reviewed by the next sane sane government.

    I think there will be lots of support for real post Watergate type reform once Trump has been scraped off our shoe.  Pardons should be part of that conversation.

    If an amendment is needed let's talk about that.

    My 3 cents.


    The single most heinous thing (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 04:43:06 PM EST
    Trump ever did was pardon the J6s.

    This is a flaw in our system that needs attention,

    IMO

    (I just picked one)

    Jan. 6 Defendant Cleared by Trump Charged With Kidnapping and Sexual Assault



    Parent

    A lot (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 06:05:38 PM EST
    of people agree with you and it's not just liberals. How many additional victims have there been because Trump let these monsters out of prison?

    Parent
    Kent State retrospective... (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by desertswine on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 08:48:06 PM EST
    John Cleary, who was shot in the chest by Ohio National Guard troops during an antiwar protest at Kent State University in 1970, a chilling moment in American history that was captured in a Life magazine cover photo, died on Oct. 25 at his home in Gibsonia, Pa., near Pittsburgh. He was 74.

    We won. Please stop the circular firing squad (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 06:56:02 PM EST
    Democrats Get New Shutdown Polling
    November 12, 2025 at 6:20 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 58 Comments

    "House Democratic leadership presented fresh polling to rank-and-file members this afternoon, arguing their party won the shutdown even amid fury on the left over Senate Democrats' decision to fold after a 40-plus-day impasse," Punchbowl News reports.

    "Voters blamed "Trump and Republicans in Congress" for the shutdown over Democrats by a 14-point margin, 48% to 34%... Independents blamed the GOP over Democrats, 46% to 24%."

    We may have "won" the battle (5.00 / 4) (#54)
    by Peter G on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 09:58:13 AM EST
    for public opinion. But the battle to protect the ACA is far from "won" at this point, which is what the critics of the eight Democratic senators are referring to when attacking their vote to end the shutdown. And the Republicans' hypocrisy of claiming they were insisting on a "clean continuing resolution," while slipping in that boondoggle provision allowing senators whose phone records were lawfully subpoenaed in the January 6 investigation to sue for phony "damages" -- which the eight Dems did not even go to the trouble of detecting and having removed (as, shall we say, "unclean") -- is particularly galling.

    Parent
    How about this (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 02:49:02 PM EST
    Please stop the circular firing squad

    Parent
    Operation Distract From Epstein (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by jondee on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 01:15:28 PM EST
    "The anti-war President" is sending an armada to threaten South America as if this was 1800 and they were the Barbary Pirates..Even a lot of the most slack-jawed, tribalistic Magas aren't buying it anymore.

    A civil war is metastasizing on the Right and I'm here for it.

    It does (none / 0) (#77)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 02:09:41 PM EST
    seem the long last expected conservative civil war is upon us though it has been predicted since about 2006. And yet all the press can talk about is "Democrats in disarray"

    Parent
    MAGA (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by leap2 on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 05:24:10 PM EST
    The republican civil war (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 03:38:32 PM EST
    Has has become about classism and income inequality.

    Along with the one about 'if we like Nazis'

    This is a chart I just saw on tv.  


    It says the median ages of home buyers is 59.  And how much that has changed

    Turns out income inequality really is bipartisan

    Parent

    I know I shouldn't laugh (none / 0) (#82)
    by jondee on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 04:35:45 PM EST
    but, apparently there's a noisy Maga faction that's accusing Kash's country singer GF of being a "Mossad honey pot."

    I mean, just because Mr Bug Eyes isn't what we usually think of as a chick magnet, doesn't mean people should go off half-cocked.

    Parent

    But his (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 05:49:28 PM EST
    Jet is so big

    Parent
    And in the immortal words (none / 0) (#88)
    by jondee on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 06:06:13 PM EST
    of Roseanne Cash, she puts the c..t in Country.

    Parent
    Sure (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 03:23:10 PM EST
    It's a distraction but he is dead serious about the oil.

    Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, primarily heavy, sour crude. Despite this abundance, production has declined significantly from its 1990s peak due to factors including mismanagement, underinvestment, political control over the state-owned oil company (PDVSA), and U.S. sanctions, which have limited exports and access to technology. While exports to the U.S. have dropped sharply, Venezuela now exports much of its oil to countries like China and India.

    Parent

    Doesn't want a "stake" (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 03:27:59 PM EST
    he wants it.

    AI Overview

    +9
    Yes, President Trump has expressed interest in Venezuela's oil, with recent reports indicating Venezuelan officials have offered the U.S. a stake in the country's oil and other resources in an attempt to de-escalate tensions. This is part of a complex situation where Trump has also imposed tariffs on countries that import Venezuelan oil to pressure the Maduro regime, while simultaneously granting licenses for companies like Chevron to operate in Venezuela, suggesting a dual-track strategy of sanctions and engagement.



    Parent
    About AI answers (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 04:05:37 PM EST
    This bit from the link (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 04:44:57 PM EST

    Predictably, the story sparked some amusement among web users, who were surprised and amused by how quickly the network's artificial intelligence contradicted its own owner's statements.

    For this reason, among others, insiders say that changes will soon be made to the software's settings to align it with the president's policies.

    A while back I had lots of exchanges with a former Co worker who was then working for Microsoft.  Still is I think.   That was long ago in AI terms, a couple of years,  but I asked if AI could be made to lie.  He said he didn't think it could be.  Not AI as he understood it. Think HAL, he said.

    So it will be interesting if they can get Trump's AI to lie.  Maybe I will drop in on Caleb.

    Parent

    It'd be funny (none / 0) (#84)
    by jondee on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 04:55:30 PM EST
    if it ended up telling lies about Trump. Nasty, radical left lies.

    Parent
    Sort of a plan (none / 0) (#89)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 06:18:06 PM EST
    I'm sure he does

    Trump `Sort of' Has a Plan for Venezuela
    November 15, 2025 at 12:53 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 45 Comments

    President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One last night that he's "sort of" decided how to move forward on Venezuela, but "I can't tell you what it would be," CBS News reports.

    Washington Post: Trump weighs Venezuela strikes as U.S. forces prepare for attack order.



    Parent
    He will (none / 0) (#90)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 11:31:54 AM EST
    probably be stupid enough to declare war on Venezuela. It will be a greater mistake than Iraq due to giving China and India the ability to be involved in a proxy war.

    Now Maga is going to have to be defensive about Mr. "No More Forever Wars" and Mr. "Peace through Strength". I can't believe maga hasn't just at this point between Epstein and all the other crap just gone back under their rocks.

    Parent

    Larry Summers.. (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by jondee on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 07:46:59 PM EST
    try not to live up to all my expectations.

    A worthy (5.00 / 2) (#149)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 08:25:56 PM EST
    expectation would be if he resigned his tenured-faculty position at Harvard. university.

    Parent
    I wonder what the odds (none / 0) (#156)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 12:21:38 PM EST
    Are of that happening? He likes to give his Teflon a workout.

    Parent
    He's leaving his positions (none / 0) (#187)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 11:37:29 PM EST
    While Harvard conducts a fresh investigation. Could consequences really be coming for some of these people?

    Parent
    Been watching (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 05:32:35 PM EST
    The American Revolution

    I've learned a lot of stuff I didn't know and I'm only half way through

    It's not the version I remember from public school

    It's free with the PBS app

    A qoute that stuck (5.00 / 2) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 05:43:32 PM EST
    Paraphrase maybe

    "The "Founding Fathers" were not really interested in democracy.  Democracy was never the goal of the revolution.  Democracy just happened."

    They do not paint rosy portraits of most of major players.

    Jefferson seems like a d!ck.

    Parent

    These white men of property were actually quite enlightened for their time, and that's how they were able to create out of whole cloth an operable and evolutionary framework of governance that allowed subsequent generations to expound on their initial work. And in some instances, those subsequent efforts often proved to be a very heavy and costly lift.

    Considering in full context those times in which they lived, our country's founders clearly rose to the occasion to meet the challenge and then some. It is our own generation that has so resolutely failed to live up to their initial ideals, voting to return Donald Trump and his authoritarian clown car to the presidency as we did a year ago. That said, we (thankfully) still have an opportunity to redeem ourselves - but it's now going to take another one of those aforementioned heavy and costly lifts.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Kinda (none / 0) (#169)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 05:58:06 PM EST
    glad to see that. Honestly this worship in some corners of the founding fathers has always annoyed me. They were just men, ordinary men.

    And I got in this debate with a conservative friend of mine on the founding fathers and the federalist papers. So I researched the papers and found out that some of the founding fathers actually wanted a KING believe it or not. We get such an outline growing up that we don't even really know our own history.

    Parent

    Some people (none / 0) (#170)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 05:58:49 PM EST
    get really bent out of shape about these 'warts and all' presentations of the Founding Fathers. Like it's unpatriotic to show them as the flawed human beings they were.

    I hate to point fingers, but 99% of the time, it's conservatives who get their panties in a bunch when historical reality rears it's (sometimes) ugly head. Which is where Prager University comes in..

    Parent

    Slavery (5.00 / 2) (#172)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:05:28 PM EST
    played a bigger part in the revolution that I understood.

    The whole western economy that was based on the slave trade

    And the fact that it was the British that tried to protect the native land and the indeginious people,  part of the reason for revolt was we wanted that land "West of the Appalachian".

    Parent

    Yes, slavery (5.00 / 1) (#186)
    by KeysDan on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 10:15:18 PM EST
    was the unifier in  what was, in essence, the first Civil  War.  The offer of freedom of slaves by the Crown's Governor of Virginia solidified the southern states to the cause.

     Moreover, there' were the different camps--loyalists to the Crown, loyalists to the Crown who  saw themselves as protesters demanding representation in the British Parliament (George Washington was initially in this camp), and the rebels.  The  camps, in large measure,  became fused  by  the pamphleteer, Thomas Paine,  who  persuasively directed the  grievances not just to the Parliament, as was being done, but directly to  King George.

    Parent

    I can hear them now.. (none / 0) (#174)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:17:26 PM EST
    "Ken Burns' Woke History of the Founding"

    Parent
    Gore Vidal (5.00 / 1) (#173)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:14:08 PM EST
    used to invariably upset certain people with his habit of portraying historic icons as actual flesh-and-blood human beings.

    Lincoln might have had syphilis? Eleanor Roosevelt was snobbish sometimes? Only someone who hated America could write such things!

    Parent

    Oh, (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:33:16 PM EST
    and the part about the embarrassing failed invasion of Canada AFTER signing the Declaration of Independence

    That made the French think we were F'ups who might not be worth the effort.

    wait, what?

    I can't say I ever remember a history class that included the story of the failed invasion of Canada

    Parent

    Talk (none / 0) (#177)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:38:39 PM EST
    about what's relevant today from history.

    I learned about the attempted foray into Canada only recently from Canadians who are taught that fact.

    Parent

    But seriously (none / 0) (#180)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:58:26 PM EST
    were you taught this that you remember?

    Parent
    Never (none / 0) (#193)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 11:07:52 AM EST
    taught this. Never heard of it until a few months ago.

    Growing up in SC you know the only war that ever happened was the Civil War. One time my brother in law was spewing the nonsense about the civil war being fought over states' rights. I said read the letters of secession and you will see it was all about slavery

    Parent

    If I recall, the us invaded Canada (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by desertswine on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 12:21:33 PM EST
    during the War of 1812, too, which was also a failure.  Not that I remember that personally, but I remember reading about it.

    Parent
    You might even say the Canadians (none / 0) (#178)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:48:23 PM EST
    kicked our asses. Except that if you talk about it too much, it could trigger an outbreak of erectile dysfunction at Prager University.

    Parent
    I checked out a history book (none / 0) (#188)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 11:40:06 PM EST
    About violence in Congress leading up to the Civil War. Haven't started it yet.

    Parent
    Canings.. (5.00 / 1) (#191)
    by jondee on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 07:41:36 AM EST
    People pulling Bowie knives, emptying spittoons over each other's heads. And that was just the wives..

    Dueling, defending one's honor and 'good name' was still a thing, particularly in the Deep South.

    Parent

    It's kind of funny how we tend (none / 0) (#192)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 10:04:41 AM EST
    To think of ourselves as always being proper, civil, and emotionally sturdy on the floors of the Capitol. I can remember some real screamers and hollerers tho lol. Am I misremembering? Wellstone, Jack Murtha.

    Parent
    A fork on the road (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 05:27:42 PM EST
    The Court has been punting.  I think punting time us over.  They have repeatedly said we will decide later but you can slide for now.
    This is it.  They either enforce the law or they don't but the WSJ has it right, it's time to decide.

    the Wall Street Journal reports.

    "Over Trump's first year back in office, the court has given the president wide latitude to implement his policies, through some two dozen emergency orders that paused the effect of lower-court rulings against the administration. But it hadn't fully reviewed any of Trump's actions until last Wednesday's hearing on Trump's global tariffs, where the dynamics shifted: Most justices suggested the president acted beyond his legal authority."

    "If those sentiments find their way into a ruling, it would be the court's first real blow to Trump in more than five years. Now it is up to Roberts to cobble together a decision on a policy that Trump has portrayed as essential to the nation."



    Pundits (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 07:55:46 PM EST
    Seem to think that there are definite nos but not sure if there will be a 5th.

    With this possible blow and that of Epstein maybe he will be starting to collapse.

    Parent

    Boooooooooo (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 10, 2025 at 05:53:09 PM EST
    I (state your name) do solemnly swear .....

    Is he supposed to be taking a pledge?

    He was administering the oath (none / 0) (#13)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 11:36:05 AM EST
    to an assembled group of new military recruits.

    Parent
    I'm sure it was (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 11:49:46 AM EST
    memorable for them

    Parent
    I hope it was informative and made a (5.00 / 4) (#16)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 01:54:21 PM EST
    lasting impression on them that a broad cross-section of ordinary Americans (football fans) do not respect (to put it mildly) their new "Commander in Chief." If and when the time comes when they have to make a decision about defying a plainly unconstitutional or otherwise unlawful order, that is.

    Parent
    That's just lovely. (none / 0) (#72)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 07:24:55 PM EST
    I wonder how many of the new officers and their parents were also booing.

    Parent
    Unseen things (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 02:23:53 PM EST

    The Seattle Times reported on this curious segment of the documentary.

    The attack happened "in my bed at night and I got attacked while I was asleep with my wife and four dogs in the bed and mauled, physically mauled ... by a demon or by something unseen that left claw marks on my sides," Carlson says.

    The newspaper reports a 5-minute segment of the documentary "includes creepy music, reenactments of Carlson firing a gun and dogs running through the woods in slow motion."

    According to Carlson, his wife and dogs slept through the attack but he woke up out of breath, walked to his bathroom and saw bloody claw marks on his rib cage, under his arms and on his left shoulder.

    He thought he had a bad dream until he saw bloody sheets on his bed, he says.

    His response to these nocturnal events? A "very intense" need to read the Bible.

    "That happened to me," he says. "No one has to believe me. I don't care."

    Tucker Carlson seeing demons in his bedroom is not a good sign



    Commentary (5.00 / 5) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 02:25:09 PM EST
    If your dogs slept through a demon attack you need new dogs.

    Parent
    Everybody's forgetting about (none / 0) (#86)
    by jondee on Sat Nov 15, 2025 at 05:37:24 PM EST
    the segment Tucker aired in which he claimed to be positive that Obama was a secret gay crackhead.

    Or his "they were just peaceful tourists" BS about Jan 6th.

    The real crackheads are the ones at Turning Point and Megyn, Rogan, and Dave Smith, who are hallucinating that Tucker has set the standard for journalistic integrity.

    Parent

    One really has to wonder ... (none / 0) (#96)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 03:37:16 PM EST
    ... what planet these people are living on. This mass delusion isn't limited to the crackpots on TV and online. It's infested our own circles of relations and acquaintance, our family members, friends and co-workers.

    Further, it's not that they're simply shading the truth to soften a harsh reality. They're inhabiting a parallel universe full of false absolutes. They're embracing cult-like beliefs, insane concepts and conspiracy theories that simply aren't even close to being true. Our country is spiraling out of control because of it. We're trapped in "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and we can't get out.

    :-O

    Parent

    It's Chuck Todd but it's true (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 02:35:51 PM EST

     "For now, it looks like Democrats are the divided party. Their debates are loud, public, and occasionally messy -- but they're mostly tactical. The fights are about how to win, or how to confront Trump -- not what they believe, and certainly not whether to confront him. Tactical splits heal quickly when a party is united in opposition. And being in the minority tends to concentrate the mind."

    "So while the `Democrats in disarray' storyline is getting more attention this week, it isn't fractious enough to derail the party's midterm strategy. The big ideological debate about the future of the party won't happen until the 2027-28 Democratic presidential primaries."

    "Republicans, by contrast, are living inside a cult of personality. Their unity isn't ideological or tactical. It's gravitational -- held together by one man. And the problem with cults of personality is that when the personality loses touch with reality, the whole structure begins to wobble

    The Fracture Is Coming
    (Why Trump's economic reality check could finally break his hold on the GOP)



    I have (none / 0) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 03:24:50 PM EST
    watched his podcast and since leaving the NBC news operation he actually has decent insights into what is going on. I was frankly kinda shocked to see him do this since he was eternally stuck in the DC narrative mindset while running Meet the Press.

    Parent
    I have not heard it (none / 0) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 06:22:09 PM EST
    and will not if I can avoid it.  
    And I won't link

    This is sad.   It's one thing if it a novelty thing.  Like singing nuns.  I don't think it is.  

    A country-music song featuring a male singer's voice generated by artificial intelligence reached the top of the US charts for the first time this week.

    "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust -- an artist with no identity but widely reported by US media to be powered by generative AI technology -- made it to the top spot on Billboard magazine's chart ranking digital sales of country songs, according to data published Monday



    Because, why not (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 11, 2025 at 06:31:09 PM EST
    This SC.. (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by jondee on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:42:11 PM EST
    What can you say? They endure sleepless nights fretting about 'the unborn,' but are perfectly okay with withholding food from hungry children. It's a paradox.

    If they convened somewhere and happened to be mashed back to their slimy essence by a falling  near-earth object, it would be no loss to humanity.

    Parent

    The dog that hasn't barked (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 09:30:05 AM EST

    "i want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is trump.. (a redacted victim's name) spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned. police chief. etc. im 75 % there," Epstein wrote to Maxwell in a message dated April 2, 2011.

    Maxwell responded: "I have been thinking about that...



    Cold sweat (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 12:28:21 PM EST

     House Claims Virginia Giuffre Is Unnamed `Victim'
    November 12, 2025 at 12:48 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Time the victim's name blacked out in two of the emails from Jeffrey Epstein's estate released by House Democrats on Wednesday is Virginia Giuffre.

    Said Leavitt: "The Democrats selectively leaked emails to the liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump. The `unnamed victim' referenced in these emails is the late Virginia Giuffre, who repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and `couldn't have been friendlier' to her in their limited interactions



    Parent
    How convenient that for them that she's (5.00 / 4) (#35)
    by desertswine on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 01:18:35 PM EST
    deceased then.  And how does Leavitt claim to know who it is.

    Parent
    That's nice (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 02:54:39 PM EST
    but she asking for a commutation
    How about one of those, sir?

    White House Says Trump Won't Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell
    November 12, 2025 at 3:32 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 45 Comments

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has no plans to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the central figure in the Jeffrey Epstein case and convicted sex offender serving a 20-year prison sentence, Axios reports



    Parent
    There's a lot of construction going on at the (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 04:14:24 PM EST
    White House.  A lot of fresh concrete.  So much concrete.  You look at it and wonder, what in there?

    Trump Warns Republicans to Stay Out of Epstein Trap
    November 12, 2025 at 4:34 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 65 Comments

    "President Donald Trump told Republicans in Congress to stay away from House Democrats' push to force the full release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files after the Nov. 12 release of three emails from the disgraced financier that mentioned the president's name," USA Today reports.

    Said Trump: "There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else, and any Republicans involved should be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!"



    Parent
    There are (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 04:12:32 PM EST
    victims (plural).  Virginia was one victim but there are, tragically, many more.  Note: observation: Trump has difficulty pronouncing names and places, garbling most of them. However, he pronounces the uncommon name, Ghislaine, perfectly.

    Parent
    LOL. (none / 0) (#38)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 03:27:27 PM EST
    Nobody is going to believe that because Guiffre never said she spent hours with Trump and had "limited interactions"

    Parent
    This new email stuff bad (none / 0) (#39)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 03:56:01 PM EST
    really bad.  There's a lot of it.  They have been going thru it on MSNBC.

    It's bad,  and it's mentioned the "Estate" is cooperating.  And why wouldn't they.

    The news is Trump is calling these individuals who signed and begging them.
    They are being told not only am I going to botie to release the files, almost everyone is going to vit to release the files,

    No one is going to vote against this,  sorry pal.


    Parent

    The most (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 13, 2025 at 09:48:37 AM EST
    interesting new thing to me is that the NYT turned down a pic of Trump with children in bikinis? And all these people who interacted with Epstein after his conviction? Larry Summers asking for dating advice? Obama's legal advisor?

    Also emails showing Epstein was in contact with the Kremlin. So we can be pretty sure the Kremlin has all the information contained in those files.

    And by the hour it gets worse because the GOP decided to just do a dump of the emails. This has been handled masterfully by Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin.

    Swalwell says 100 Republicans will vote to release the files. Others with contacts in the GOP say 40 will vote to release. I am willing to bet that my rep votes against releasing the files. And I bet Trump's threats work with a lot of them.

    Putting Boebert in a SCIF threatening her and pleading with her to take her name off? There is a lot of really bad stuff in there.

    And Fuentes says "MAGA is over". Might be the only thing he is right about.

    Parent

    Sorry, tiny keys (none / 0) (#40)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 03:58:29 PM EST
    The news is Trump is calling these individuals who signed and begging them.
    They are being told not only am I going to vote to release the files, almost everyone is going to vote to release the files,

    Parent
    Pro Publica (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 03:00:50 PM EST
    This would be a really good time (none / 0) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 12, 2025 at 04:29:45 PM EST

    - the emails are really sick -

    for the Supreme Court to tell him he can't impose tariffs.

    Just get all the bad news out of the way.

    For now.


    Their (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 13, 2025 at 09:50:29 AM EST
    usual trick is to wait until the end of the session for that kind of decision. We shall see. Would actually be worse for them to do it at the end IMO due to it being closer to the midterms.

    Parent
    Peter said (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 13, 2025 at 05:26:18 PM EST
    He did think we would wait until June.  I don't either.

    I think it could come at any time.


    Parent

    Right. I expect a decision fairly soon (5.00 / 3) (#53)
    by Peter G on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 09:48:38 AM EST
    (like, possibly, January). In my understanding, the Supreme Court does not "wait" to release any of its decisions, once completed. But the more consequential ones, and particularly if there are dissenting opinions, are longer, more deeply researched, and subject to extensive editing. This includes drafts going back and forth between the majority, the concurring justices, and the dissenters to allow each to be modified in response to the others, to include attempted refutations of the other opinions, or even for individual justices to change sides in exchange for modifications of the language. This process goes on for as long as it takes, or until they run out of time (which is June 30).

    Parent
    I just remember (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 02:52:38 PM EST
    a vague promise of a decision quickly.

    Parent
    2011 (none / 0) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 13, 2025 at 11:01:54 AM EST
    email from Epstein says bubba never visited the island. At least that lie from Trump and maga has been completely debunked.

    I guess this is the new strategy (none / 0) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 13, 2025 at 05:11:27 PM EST

    This is pretty amazing

    Megyn Kelly Questions If Jeffrey Epstein Was A Pedophile Because 'He Wasn't Into, Like, 8-Year-Olds'

    Kelly said the unnamed source told her they didn't think Epstein was a pedophile, just "into the barely legal type, like, he liked 15-year-old girls."



    If you (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 13, 2025 at 06:02:43 PM EST
    want any evidence that Trump was actually abusing children there it is. Sounds like Megyn has been let in on what is coming

    Parent
    Several of my child p*rn clients tried (5.00 / 3) (#51)
    by Peter G on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 09:28:13 AM EST
    to make that argument at sentencing. Y'know, how hebephilia (sexual attraction of an adult to  children just entering puberty or even 15-17 years old) is not the same as pedophilia, and is entirely normal psychologically, even though not legally. Judges uniformly viewed these assertions as a confession, as demonstrating a lack of insight or remorse, and as proof of future dangerousness.

    Parent
    A 15-year-old is not "barely legal" (5.00 / 4) (#52)
    by Peter G on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 09:41:31 AM EST
    (Particularly if she is "bare.") "Barely legal" for consensual sex is someone who just turned 16 in half the states, and 17 or 18 in the rest. (Some states flex the line if the other person is only a year or two older.) But not if the minor is being paid (which makes it prostitution), if she is being controlled and coerced by one adult for the sexual pleasure of another (sex trafficking), or if pictures or videos are made (child p*rn).


    Parent
    Amazing that Megyn's a lawyer (none / 0) (#67)
    by jondee on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:50:09 PM EST
    and she still can't parse-out what "barely legal" means.

    Parent
    ... and a 15-year-old? Eight years. Legally, both are children who can't give their consent. I wasn't at all surprised to hear Megyn Kelly try to rationalize a distinction without any real difference. That sanctimonious woman's moral compass and ethical guidelights have been completely disabled for quite some time now.

    Parent
    Apparently Megyn (none / 0) (#74)
    by jondee on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 11:05:24 PM EST
    has a 14 year old daughter, who's getting to the age where she's going to start hearing things from friends and classmates like "Seriously, what the hell is wrong with your mother?"

    Parent
    Talk about utterly tone deaf (none / 0) (#75)
    by jondee on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 11:20:21 PM EST
    and not knowing when to let sleeping dogs lie, The Catholic League released a statement coming to Megyn Kelly's defense, because Catholics know what it's like to be wrongly accused of pedophilia.

    Example number 1001 for why so many people say religion makes people stupid.

    Parent

    55% of Catholics voted for Donald Trump. (none / 0) (#98)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 04:02:08 PM EST
    You talk to some of them, and it's clear that they've somehow managed to convince themselves that this convicted felon, serial adulterer and thrice-married adjudicated sex offender is the Second Coming. I mean, who would Jesus punch down on, eh?

    Or maybe they're just outright racists who perversely enjoy seeing people of color terrorized and stomped upon, all the while pretending not to notice that their own pockets are being picked by the very Republicans they voted for.

    Roman Catholicism is the faith in which I was born and raised. And while I may no longer attend mass regularly for a myriad of reasons, nevertheless that faith remains the bedrock foundation which underscores my own moral and ethical code.

    I refuse to cede that identity to corrupt heretics like Tom Homan, Gregory Bovino and Newt Gingrich, all of whom converted to Catholicism as the means to an end and use the Catholic Church in service of their own agendas.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Isn't J.D. Vance also (none / 0) (#101)
    by Peter G on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 08:16:39 PM EST
    a fairly recent Catholic convert?  As is Clarence Thomas.

    Parent
    I see the Catholic League (none / 0) (#103)
    by jondee on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 11:40:01 PM EST
    has staunchly defended the anti-Vatican II and probable antisemite (only when he's drunk and coked-out) Mel Gibson on numerous occasions.

    One gets the sense that having high profile 'big names' associated with the Catholic brand is the priority here.

    Parent

    To quote Megyn Kelly (none / 0) (#116)
    by jondee on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 06:38:41 PM EST
    and bolster the Catholic League's devastating argument, those Priests and Epstein weren't pedophiles, they were just attracted to "very young teen types that could pass for younger than they were, but would look legal to a passerby."

    Try that one out in court sometime.

    Parent

    As Peter noted above, ... (5.00 / 1) (#199)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 12:30:57 PM EST
    ... some of his own clients have indeed tried to invoke that clinical distinction between pedophilia and hebephilia as a mitigating factor at sentencing. That didn't work out so well for them because our statutory rape laws were drafted and enacted with an age-related ceiling, rather than a floor, in mind.

    Parent
    Redistricting is not going a planned (none / 0) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 02:47:25 PM EST
    Trump is suing CA because, this is good -

    Civil rights groups have sued over the new Texas map, claiming it reduces the electoral power of minority voters.
    The Republican-led lawsuit in California alleged that the state's redistricting effort violates provisions of the U.S. Constitution. It said California illegally drew new congressional district lines based on race to favor Hispanic voters.
    The Justice Department in its complaint said California's map "manipulates district lines in the name of bolstering the voting power of Hispanic Californians because of their race."
    Reporting by Mike Scarcella and Jan Wolfe in Washington and Christian Martinez in Los Angeles; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chris Reese and Matthew Lewis

    Good luck with that.

    And then there is Indiana

    Indiana Senate won't meet to redistrict, stopping Trump's Indiana push. Here's why



    ... at nullifying Proposition 50, from what I understand. The previous four filings were promptly tossed out of court. Curiously, MAGA DOJ filed two of those complaints in the Amarillo, TX judicial district presided over by that right-wing judge who loves to issue nationwide injunctions to own the libs. But even he said no.

    Parent
    The most interesting thing (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 03:20:04 PM EST
    about the current batch of emails is that Tod Blanche said the DOJ did not have them.  And he had not seen them.
    So first, Is that true.  I think it could be.
    So then, why not?
    Maybe a halfazzed investigation. Maybe looking for other things in his house like finances.

    Who knows.  The thing is, this suggests the best stuff might not even be the stuff the DOJ is protecting.  And the Estate is cooperating.

    Big week next week.  Will Thune bring it up on the Senate?  Will it pass? What then?

    I read a rumor that did there might be a veto proof majority.   I just saw Sen John Kennedy on tv sounding like a Democrat.

    He even said " I might get a sombrero for this"

    He's not the only one (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 03:21:51 PM EST
    Oh, (none / 0) (#60)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 03:52:10 PM EST
    it's gonna be bad for Trump. You can tell by the way he is reacting. He is flailing around screaming.

    Parent
    This might be (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:16:09 PM EST
    that constitutional crisis I've heard about.

    What if it passes the Senate veto proof and he just says, no.  

    Parent

    I have thought (none / 0) (#63)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:29:51 PM EST
    the same thing. I had thought the senate might not take it up but that looks to be happening. he will probably veto it. And once he does that his base cannot no longer be in denial about all this. I can see Johnson twisting enough arms though to not have the veto overridden.

    Parent
    Hopefully all just background (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:37:14 PM EST
     to the waves of new information.

    Parent
    I think we see his response (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:45:29 PM EST
    The largest, most well-armed, (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by jondee on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 05:35:07 PM EST
    high-tech Navy in the world and they can't detain people and determine who they are rather than blowing them up?

    I guess doing things the right way isn't the macho Hollywood photo-op that blowing people to bits is.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 05:45:22 PM EST
    The Department of War

    That's all you need to know.  

    Parent

    It's (none / 0) (#70)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 06:49:41 PM EST
    all a reality show. He hires incompetent attorneys because they look good on TV. It's all about TV. Hegseth, Noem etc.

    Parent
    I guess this is just the recent dump (none / 0) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 14, 2025 at 04:26:54 PM EST
    Trump: (none / 0) (#91)
    by KeysDan on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 12:50:00 PM EST
    "I will be asking AG Pam Bondi, and the DOJ, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions to determine what was going on with them and him."

    Bondi quickly responded with the appointment of US Attorney Jay Clayton to lead the probe ( a probe that, of course, excludes Trump).  Perhaps this will be Trump's/Bondi's ploy to avoid releasing Epstein materials, claiming there is an ongoing investigation and any such files may be evidence.  (of a similar vein to not being able to release his tax returns because they were under audit).  

    Don't think this will work, Marge and other MAGAts will likely not have it, but it is not something he would not try.  Many Republicans, to this day, believe Nixon's mistake was not in destroying the incriminating tapes.  And, a historical lesson for Trump.

    Well (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 02:43:07 PM EST
    there were a ton of FBI agents who saw the files and then there was a ShareFile that anyone could see. So if he tried anything like partial release there are a lot of people who could tell on him. Also Maurene Comey has been quiet and she knows everything that is in that file. Once she started talking there is no guessing what she might or would say.

    Parent
    The first problem he would have (none / 0) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 02:07:05 PM EST
    is all the stuff is not in one place.  Even the DOJ stuff is reported to be in many different agencies.  Then there is the Estate stuff that he has no control over.

    Nixon had a tape.  Maybe a couple of tapes.
    He had not been the target of years of investigations.

    Trump has the destroy something like the library of congress.

    The thing about the new investigations blocking the release seems a little to clever to work ultimately.  To me.

    Parent

    "Trump has to destroy something like (5.00 / 3) (#93)
    by Peter G on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 02:26:19 PM EST
    the Library of Congress." Please, don't give him any ideas ....

    Parent
    What do you think (none / 0) (#100)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 04:57:29 PM EST
    about the success of delay using the excuse of alleged  ongoing investigations into Democrats.

    It seems pretty transparent.  Even in the world we live it.

    Parent

    I do not believe that excuse, even if (5.00 / 2) (#102)
    by Peter G on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 08:18:52 PM EST
    it could pass the laugh test, would override an Act of Congress directing the release of all the DoJ's files.

    Parent
    As we (none / 0) (#104)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 08:39:46 AM EST
    know Trump and Bondi have no problem breaking the law. So it passes the house and senate and let's say Trump signs it and then Bondi says no, can't, under investigation. So do courts get involved at that point?

    I honestly don't think we are going to see those files as long as Trump is in the WH.

    Parent

    You've seen this? (none / 0) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 09:23:19 AM EST

    Trump says he supports release of Epstein files



    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 09:38:45 AM EST
    and he did a 180 because he was going to lose the house vote. according to some by a lot.

    However I still think he's going to try to figure out a way to weasel out of this, blame Bondi or do some kind of crap.

    Parent

    That he will try (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 09:58:57 AM EST
    is a safe bet

    Parent
    I think he thinks (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 09:59:56 AM EST
    the Senate will kill it.   I think he is wrong about that.

    Parent
    who knows? (none / 0) (#109)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 10:45:24 AM EST
    I would have thought they would have wanted to keep the Obamacare subsidies since a lot of them have to be elected statewide. Originally I thought they wouldn't even bring it up to a vote but there's too much attention on Epstein right now to do that.

    Parent
    It is apparent that Tr*mp has not actually (5.00 / 3) (#125)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:01:40 AM EST
    reversed his position to now support release of the DOJ's Epstein investigative files. If he did, the proposed statute he claims to support would be moot. The President could just direct the Atty General to have the DOJ, which he ultimately controls, release the files now, as he did with the remaining MLK and JFK assassination files. Saying he now supports the statute but then not actually releasing the files unilaterally proves he has something up his sleeve and does not, in fact, plan to release them.

    Parent
    His plan (none / 0) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:25:24 AM EST
    is becoming less relevant.  If he tries that this is going to explode.  IMO.

    as I said I think at this point the coverup alone is going to kill him.  And participating republicans.

    Parent

    Also worth noting (none / 0) (#129)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:35:55 AM EST
    IMO
    this will all come to a head at the moment Trump is at his weakest point ever.  He is officially a lame duck being defied right and left and on top of that his base is going to learn they can't afford health insurance and their food assistance is royally screwed at the same time they learn Trump never really intended to release anything about his pak Epstein.

    Popcorn please.

    Parent

    Getting (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 02:43:48 PM EST
    the information from the estate has been a stroke of genius. Otherwise we would still have nothing.

    Parent
    Ro Khanna, (none / 0) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Sun Nov 16, 2025 at 03:39:11 PM EST
    Democratic Congressman from California, credited the idea to subpoena the Epstein Estate from Bradley Edward's, an attorney for some of the victims, during an appearance on MSNBC's Last word with Lawrence O'Donnell.

    Parent
    Girrrllll (none / 0) (#110)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 11:11:12 AM EST
    Katie Britt is begging for those 2K checks

    Maybe these people should have paid attention to the Trump economic plan or the Trump business plan that he used in NYC. His plans failed always in the past but the recycled plans from the past are supposed to be a "success"???

    Katie Britt...ugh (none / 0) (#189)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 11:43:41 PM EST
    She went to school with my son-in-law. He is always talking about what a good person she is lol, I'm always standing behind him with a sign that says "She's a fraud!!!" lololol

    Parent
    She had to get Space Command (none / 0) (#190)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 11:48:16 PM EST
    Redirected to Huntsville, because Trump is going to wipe out Ft Rucker. They are downsizing Army aviation pretty dramatically in anticipation of drones. If we aren't going to need all those helicopters anymore, they aren't going to need all those airfields and towers either for training. They can sell a lot of that post off if they want.

    Parent
    Oops (none / 0) (#111)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 11:47:00 AM EST

    Judge Finds Misconduct in James Comey Prosecution
    November 17, 2025 at 11:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard 63 Comments

    A federal judge found evidence of "government misconduct" in how a prosecutor aligned with President Trump secured criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and ordered that grand jury materials be turned over to Comey's defense team, Reuters reports



    Says He Would Sign Bill to Release Epstein Files N (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 04:46:31 PM EST
    He is saying this because he thinks Pam can hide everything bad by saying it's all evidence in some ongoing investigation of Epstein ties to Clinton.

    But he obviously knows it's going to the Senate.

    President Trump said he would sign the bill to compel the Justice Department to release all files relating sex offender Jeffrey Epstein if it comes to his desk, ABC News reports.

    Said Trump: "I'm all for it."

    He added: "Let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it. But don't talk about it too much, because, honestly, I don't want it to take away from us. It's really a Democrat problem."



    Don't talk (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 05:56:19 PM EST
    about it too much because it's a democrat problem? Seems that makes no sense because if it was then he would want to talk about it forever. It seems even maga isn't falling for his BS anymore.

    And I agree that he thinks he can hide behind Bill Clinton.

    Parent

    "All that they (5.00 / 2) (#115)
    by KeysDan on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 06:09:28 PM EST
    are legally entitled to. ".    Trump's little caveat to availability of Epstein files.

    Parent
    If this is blocked (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 07:11:31 PM EST
    by political nonsense information is going to start coming out other ways.  Beyond the Estate there's the victims who have already said if the have to they will name famous names.

    Plus leaks.  There's to much of this stuff.

    At this point the information itself has become subtext to the coverup.

    Everyone is free to imagine.  

    Parent

    I still (none / 0) (#121)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:46:10 AM EST
    can't believe with all those eyes on those files that nothing has come out. Maybe they are waiting for an opportune time?

    I can actually see releasing nothing working better for Trump than selectively redacting names like leaving some names in and others out.

    Parent

    It was said at the press conference (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:55:16 AM EST
    this morning that the victims will know if stuff is being selectively released.

    And they are not going away.

    This "investigation of Dems" krap is to cute by half.  It won't work.

    Parent

    I agree based on today's opinion (none / 0) (#118)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 17, 2025 at 09:41:23 PM EST
    that Comey's indictment will likely be dismissed. The Supreme Court has made it very hard to prove a sufficient case of grand jury misconduct to get a dismissal, but this one seems to rise (or sink) to meet that standard.

    this comment has to go (none / 0) (#119)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 05:39:18 AM EST
    because it states opinion as fact and defames a public servant. You can resubmit with "I believe" she lied but you can't state it as a fact. Thank you for understanding.

    Kos on the so called "cave" by dems (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 08:26:01 AM EST

    More likely, Trump would take credit for "saving" his supporters' health care. And even if he didn't bother, his supporters would give him credit anyway.

    The Democratic cave angered activists, but the broader voter base remains mostly oblivious. Had Democrats won, the rural Republicans benefiting most would have stayed just as oblivious to what their own party tried to take away from them.

    Now, instead, they'll lose that health care. Senate Republicans will vote in mid-December to strip those subsidies away, right before a pivotal midterm election in which health care and affordability will be central issues. When rural conservatives receive their new, much higher premium bills, the blame will sit squarely with the GOP.

    Like been sayin

    Even (none / 0) (#122)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:49:53 AM EST
    the SNAP situation is going to hurt. The Department of Agriculture has said that everyone has to reapply  it seems.

    My sister got SNAP at one point. Her social worker had to help her fill out the application. In NC you have to renew and reapply every 6 months I think anyway. But it seems that would be done on a rolling basis as not all recipients at once. They once again have no idea the chaos they are creating or maybe they do and want the massive chaos.

    Parent

    This is not going away either (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:59:13 AM EST
    Said Greene: "I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for five, no, actually, six years, and I gave him my loyalty for free. I won my first election without his endorsement beating eight men in a primary, and I've never owed him anything, but I fought for him, for the policies and for America first, and he called me a traitor for standing with these women and refusing to take my name off the discharge petition."

    She added: "Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves. A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America, and Americans like the women standing behind me."

    Maybe (none / 0) (#127)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:15:08 AM EST
    some can finally learn a lesson from Greene's treatment? Ten years in far too many think they are special and will escape the wrath or come away unscathed.

    Parent
    David Frum (none / 0) (#126)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:14:05 AM EST
    had an interesting take on maga. He said there's 2 magas. One is the hardcore believers who will be for the Epstein release when Trump wants it and against the Epstein files release when Trump is against it. The other group is para Maga. And these are people who have a single issue like the anti-vaxxers that voted for Trump. As long as he adheres to that one issue they are fine with him. And so if he's right about these groups there's one para maga group that is solely about the Epstein files and those are the ones in revolt right now.

    Tina Brown (none / 0) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:43:52 AM EST
    Ugh (none / 0) (#131)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 11:54:33 AM EST
    on the Rina Oh story informative as it may be. Maxwell must have regularly played tennis at the Mar A Lago courts.

    Parent
    I agree. I would have preferred not to (5.00 / 1) (#133)
    by vml68 on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 12:51:56 PM EST
    know the tiny details of Epstein.

    Capt, thanks for the link to the article. I learned two new words, louche and manqué.

    Parent

    It does possibly (none / 0) (#134)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 01:23:53 PM EST
    explain a lot tho doesn't it.

    Parent
    From Google AI (none / 0) (#137)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 02:33:22 PM EST
    During a 2009 deposition as part of a civil lawsuit, a lawyer for the accusers, Spencer Kuvin, asked Epstein directly if he had an "egg-shaped penis," at which point Epstein walked out of the room.

    Parent
    Oops (none / 0) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 12:42:30 PM EST
    Federal Three-Judge Panel Strikes Down New Texas Map
    November 18, 2025 at 1:18 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 80 Comments

    A federal court blocked Texas from using its new congressional map for the 2026 midterms -- which created five new likely Republican districts -- and ordered the state to use its 2021 map, Punchbowl News reports.

    Texas Tribune: "The decision is a major blow for Republicans, in Texas and nationally, who pushed through this unusual mid-decade redistricting at the behest of President Trump..."

    "It was not immediately clear if the state still has a legal path to restoring the new map in time for 2026."

    It is most certainly clear (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 02:05:26 PM EST
    that the "Supreme" "Court" -- which has direct appellate jurisdiction from the decision, as here, of a special three-judge district court -- can and likely will grant a stay of the injunction pending appeal, to allow Texas to go forward with their dastardly plan. The legal principle involved is the well-known "better for Republicans" rule.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 02:11:49 PM EST
    If they can't stop Texas then they can't stop California (which has also been challenged on racial grounds) either.

    Indiana told Trump to pound sand. They are not doing it.  

    After this I can't imagine a rush to try this in other states.

    I wonder if CA would be different because it was passed as a ballot measure by the voters.  

    Parent

    Unlike Texas, as I understand it, (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 02:36:52 PM EST
    there is no evidence that the California plan -- whatever else you may think of it -- was racially rather than purely politically motivated. To disenfranchise white voters from selecting their preferred representatives? Really? I do not see any federal court in California holding an evidentiary hearing or a trial and finding racial motivation as a conclusion of fact (as occurred after a multi-day hearing in Texas). Although this year's Louisiana case will tell us more, without a trial-court finding of anti-white racial discrimination it will be much harder to overturn the California gerrymander. The Supremes, after all, have held that political gerrymandering is not unconstitutional, nor does it violate the Voting Rights Act.

    Parent
    It looks like it's going around (none / 0) (#139)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 03:46:43 PM EST
    Lame duckery is starting (5.00 / 2) (#140)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 03:50:28 PM EST
    to take effect, it seems.

    Parent
    This is good (5.00 / 2) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 04:14:03 PM EST
    "Things happen" (none / 0) (#141)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 03:54:50 PM EST
    said Trump to  a reporter's question  about the Bone Saw Prince's role in the murder of  WaPo  journalist and Saudi dissident, Jamal Khashoggi.  He was after all, controversial, some liked him, some did not,  Trump continued.

    He then proceeded to bite the head off of the reporter who asked the question, called ABC fake news, and  stated that  ABC should have its license revoked.  It was especially terrible to ask the question in the Oval Office in the presence of the Saudi Crown Prince., he bellowed.   And Trump stated, flat out, that the Prince knew nothing about it.

    That whole thing was (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 04:05:11 PM EST
    sickening.  I could not watch but I've seen the bad parts.  

    I think he was thinking media strategy.  If I suck up to MBS if I say a bunch of really horrible stuff about some women reporters, maybe I'll call one a pig, they will maybe talk about it for a news cycle.  

    Parent

    Yes, (5.00 / 2) (#146)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 05:00:41 PM EST
    it was stomach turning.  Both the no bigwig deal about Khashoggii, he probably had it coming, and the  impression that he is bought and paid for by  the Bone Saw Prince.

    Parent
    Epstein Passed the Senate (none / 0) (#144)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 04:43:45 PM EST
    Unanimous consent

    Is it (none / 0) (#145)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 04:48:56 PM EST
    EpstEin

    or EpsteIn

    Asking for a friend

    Epstein

    Parent

    Are you asking about the pronunciation? (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by desertswine on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:11:44 PM EST
    I think its like tom-ay-to, to-mah-to.

    My Googlething says,

           In English, Epstein is almost always pronounced EP-stine.

    Some German or Yiddish origins of the name may lean toward EP-shteen or EP-steen.

    Parent

    In my part of the country, at least, (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:24:42 PM EST
    most Jewish families with that name would pronounce it "EP-steen."  Some, more pretentious perhaps, would say their family name was "EP-stine," which is more like the German pronunciation. Like the families that pronounce "Levine" as "La-VINE" (rather than "l'veen") or "Shapiro" as "Sha-PIE-row" (rather than "Sha-PEE-row").

    Parent
    Yeah, in my part of the country too (none / 0) (#157)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 01:03:22 PM EST
    I've never heard Ep-stine in my life.

    Parent
    Franken-steen (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 01:29:45 PM EST
    Ein-steen

    Etc


    Parent

    Franken-steen (5.00 / 2) (#161)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 01:50:46 PM EST
    That guy was a shanda for the goyim if there ever was one.

    Parent
    hmmm. (none / 0) (#165)
    by leap2 on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 04:52:23 PM EST
    One of my best friends was an "EP-stine." And Jimmy Levine was Jimmy LeVINE. And Art Shapiro was Art ShaPEERO.

    I grew up in the midwest. Lots of German/Austrian ancestry.

    Parent

    My last name is Casey (none / 0) (#166)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 05:03:32 PM EST
    Like "at the bat".  We have always pronounced it that way but When I was growing up it was often pronounced Cazey.   My old brother didn't like this and during his career in being a teacher and coach in my (his former) school system managed to get everyone to stop pronouncing Cazey.  

    Then in 2007 I moved to Champaign IL to work for four years.  Very near Champaign there was a town, Casey.  Except EVERYONE pronounces it Cazey.  The whole time I was in IL everyone mispronounced my name.


    Parent

    I before E except after C. (none / 0) (#150)
    by fishcamp on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 08:26:07 PM EST
    Except for 'weird' (5.00 / 3) (#158)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 01:18:46 PM EST
    'their,' and other words I can't think of at the moment, that makes me wonder why that rule was drilled into our heads in grade school.

    To this day, decades later, I still doubt myself when I have to write an E I or an I E word.

    Parent

    But in Jeffries name (none / 0) (#151)
    by fishcamp on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 08:30:59 PM EST
    it's Epstein

    Parent
    Jefferys' (none / 0) (#152)
    by fishcamp on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 08:33:17 PM EST
    I think you mean (5.00 / 1) (#154)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 10:18:46 PM EST
    Jeffrey's

    Parent
    So Schumer (none / 0) (#147)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 18, 2025 at 07:06:14 PM EST
    seems to be getting kudos on this voice vote in the senate. I guess that is because Thune had planned to bottle up the bill in the senate?

    This is good (none / 0) (#160)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 01:35:26 PM EST
    The PBS News/NPR/Marist survey, conducted between November 10 and 13, revealed that 55 percent of voters would elect a Democratic candidate, compared to 41 percent who would opt for a Republican.

    The 14-point lead for the Democrats is the party's largest since November 2017. In 2018, during Trump's first term, the Democrats won more than 40 seats in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections

    Yes, but ... (none / 0) (#162)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 02:28:02 PM EST
    Even when people say that generically, they continue to make an exception for their own (often Republican) incumbent.

    Parent
    True (5.00 / 2) (#163)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 02:31:02 PM EST
    in normal times but we aren't in normal times.

    Parent
    When were we in normal times? (5.00 / 3) (#164)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 02:39:16 PM EST
    Make America Normal Again.

    At this point, I think it might require an intervention by highly-evolved extraterrestrials.

    Parent

    I would (none / 0) (#171)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:01:59 PM EST
    say since Bush 2000 we definitely have been in abnormal times. Maybe it even started before then but that's when I noticed it. It has been autocratic minority rule of the country pretty much since then. The GOP always complained about polling but polling tells you where the American people are as imperfect as that may be. And they have ignored what the American people want over and over. James Talarico, who is running in TX, said it best: An autocrat is bad enough but an autocrat who thinks he is acting on what God wants is the absolute worse and since the rise of the Evangelicals that's pretty much how I see it.

    Parent
    To quote Susan B. Anthony: (5.00 / 1) (#200)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 12:40:32 PM EST
    "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."

    Amen, sister.

    Parent

    One (none / 0) (#176)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:36:11 PM EST
    thing I thought about with regards to the Epstein file release and it's that other people like some of these Wall Street types had to know what Trump was doing because they were there too and saw or Epstein told them.

    Perhaps some mutually declared destruction on the menu?

    Names (none / 0) (#179)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 06:57:38 PM EST
    are going to be named.  They just repeated the threat that if things don't happen MTG and a dem I forget WILL read a list of names on the House floor.

    Which they can do because of the "speech and debate clause"

    The girls could be destroyed by defamation suits, they can't.  It's coming.  And I really think it's going to be big.  Big surprising names. I haven't kept up but Noam Chomsky was a surprise

    Parent

    Jayapal (none / 0) (#181)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 07:22:03 PM EST
    That's the democrat

    Parent
    This is why that's important (none / 0) (#185)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 07:56:58 PM EST
    If they read names this will happen to others. The more investigation the better

    Harvard  Opens Probe Into Larry Summers
    November 19, 2025 at 2:20 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 67 Comments

    "Harvard University will open a probe into individuals mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files recently released by Congress, after the documents showed a close relationship between its former president, Larry Summers, and the late convicted sex offender," Reuters reports.



    Parent
    I had (none / 0) (#194)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 11:35:43 AM EST
    heard about Chomsky a while back. Seems he was hanging around with Epstein in the late teens during Trump 1.

    Another one that had an association with Epstein was Ann Coulter.

    Is there anyone who didn't at this point? I mean sheesh.

    Parent

    How does one distinguish between (none / 0) (#195)
    by Peter G on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 11:54:57 AM EST
    those who only "hung out" with JEE because he was a big donor to Harvard with pretenses to being an intellectual, who needed to be coddled to ensure that the donations continued, and those (like Summers and Dershowitz, apparently) who may have initially been Harvard props but then seem to have allowed JEE to seduce them into the sexual misconduct side of his world.

    Parent
    The (none / 0) (#201)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 02:37:12 PM EST
    Epstein files

    Parent
    Trump (none / 0) (#182)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 07:27:12 PM EST
    Signed THE BILL

    Anyone have a link for the full wording (none / 0) (#196)
    by Peter G on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 11:56:02 AM EST
    of the bill, so I can form my own opinion about the significance of the exceptions and loopholes?

    Parent
    This is (5.00 / 1) (#202)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 20, 2025 at 02:40:09 PM EST
    Best joke I heard today (none / 0) (#183)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 07:33:04 PM EST
    about Pam, Kash et al..

    I could get a better cabinet at IKEA, and it would have fewer nuts and loose screws.


    As an IKEA lover (5.00 / 2) (#184)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 19, 2025 at 07:44:13 PM EST
    I'm offended

    Parent