Weekend Music Twofer

 

We're staying in the avian family, so to speak, with our weekend music choices.  Minneapolis' great alt band The Jayhawks have a new album, "Sanctuary Park," coming out on August 28, and have released this single, "Keeping Our Heads Above Water."  The song exhibits The Jayhawks' beautiful 3-part harmonies and instrumental interplay, and is part of what the band's vision for the album is about: a "place where distant memories re-emerge, childhood friends from years prior start speaking again, and teenage lovers start lives that their older selves are determined to renew."

Sixty-one years ago today, The Byrds reached #1 on the charts for the first time with their cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man."  But rather than play that iconic classic again, we're flipping to the "B" side of the single, Gene Clark's gorgeous "I Knew I'd Want You."  Clark's vocal, the classic Byrds harmonies, as well as the subtle chord changes and subdued 12-string guitar work (Roger McGuinn was the only Byrd to play on the song) make this one of our favorite Gene Clark early compositions.  Hope you enjoy.

Relief Efforts For Venezuelan Earthquake Victims

The disastrous earthquakes in Venezuela have killed hundreds and left thousands injured and homeless. Please consider supporting aid and relief efforts through a charity of your choice.  We have a handful listed here to consider:

International Red Cross: Venezuelan Red Cross’ nationwide network of hospitals and clinics remains active and continues to deliver care, and rescue teams are supporting evacuation and search efforts 

International Rescue Committee: Currently on the ground delivering urgent health, nutrition, and livelihood services.

Venezuela Humanitarian Fund (UN Crisis Relief): Partners with dozens of trusted local NGOs to provide life-saving aid and healthcare.

Catholic Relief Services: Working alongside Caritas Venezuela to support nutrition programs, primary health services, and emergency shelter.

Global Empowerment Mission: A disaster relief organization actively mobilizing emergency supplies and personnel.

World Central Kitchen: Mobilizes rapidly to serve hot meals and food assistance to displaced families and first responders.

Reuters has a summary of international efforts to assist Venezuela in its search and rescue efforts, and humanitarian relief.

(photo: Pedro Mattel / AP)

 

He Drank The Kool-Aid (But Not The Reflecting Pool Water)

 

The Good Liars interviews an über MAGA moron at the Reflecting Pool.  Drink in the dumb dum.

 

BONUS:  Check out Tom Schaller's piece on the Reflecting Pool debacle as the perfect metaphor for the Malignant Fascist's second go-around.

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge) 

(Dennis Goris, @dennisgoris)

(Jesse Duquette, @misterjesseduquette)

(John Buss, @repeat1968)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Matt Davies, Newsday)

(Dave Whamond, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Steve Sack, stevesack.substack.com)

(Nick Anderson, Raw Story)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Sean Delonas, caglecartoons.com)

(Pedro Molina, Tribune Content Agency;  a little more context here)

(Jon Adams, The New Yorker)

Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Failure: no sale,  incompetence, ship hit with projectile --

Nobody believed Trump and Vance that Iran was going to spend this money on US farm products. That was a line to assuage the cultists who were told by their hero for a decade that providing billions to Iran was weak and evil.

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— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 9:34 AM

 

“America’s strategic performance was nothing short of appalling—its alienation of allies…its failure to protect Gulf States, its rough handling of an ally that had fought alongside it…were all signs of ineptitude and even incompetence.” (gift article) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

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— John Sipher (@johnsipher.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 9:09 AM

UKMTO WARNING 074-26 - ATTACK

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— Shipwreck (@shipwreck75.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 11:03 AM

 

Trump Family corruption: other son-in-law edition --

What is Tiffany Trump's husband sitting next to the U.S. Secretary of State in a meeting with the leader of the UAE in Abu Dhabi? Michael Boulos, a businessman, has no government role other than being the president's son-in-law (which is not a government role)

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— Frida Ghitis (@fridaghitis.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 8:16 AM

The Malignant Fascist's attack on the right to vote, cont'd. -- 

"The last leg of this cursed stool enlists the mailman to suppress the vote. Trump’s EO directs the Postal Service to create a 'Mail-In & Absentee Participation List' — constructed from stolen state voter rolls fed into an illegal database — & prohibit delivery of ballots to anyone who’s not on it."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 24, 2026 at 5:20 PM

ICE thugs enter polling place, harass voter over thug who shot Renee Good.  Defund and dismantle --

 

Two ICE agents tracked down a woman *inside a polling place* yesterday. Why? They demanded that she take down an Instagram post in which she named Jonathan Ross as the man who shot & killed Renee Good (after the Star Tribune identified Ross). www.syracuse.com/news/2026/06...

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— Taniel (@taniel.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 12:12 AM

Speaking of thugs and sociopaths, this ghoul is attacking disability rights --

Trump, and his now partisan DOJ, with the help of Stephen Miller, are trying to dismantle decades of disability rights — the harms to the disability community are going to be devastating and long lasting if they get their way. The list of attacks just keeps growing. www.yahoo.com/news/politic...

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— 🪷MsGrumpyBunny🪷 (@msgrumpybunny.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 2:00 AM

The MF's "Freedom 250" kickoff fizzles bigly. Sad! -- 

Yikes, catastrophically low turnout for Trump's "rally" last night kicking off the 250 festivities...

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— Matthew Gertz (@mattgertz.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 8:57 AM

Economy dropping, but MAGAt rubes will follow their cult leader -- 

Inflation hit 4.1 in May. Highest level in 3 years. Yesterday, Trump killed a bipartisan affordable housing bill designed to help Americans people struggling with rent, gas, energy bills, and the inflation he caused. Had enough of this yet, MAGA?

— The Lincoln Project (@lincolnproject.us) June 25, 2026 at 9:08 AM

President Obama and his family have a furnished suite in the sick and envious MF's head --

 

Host: Trump is still very fascinated with you and your family Barack Obama: I obviously have a room in his head. When I was president, the last thing I had time to do was worry what my predecessor did. It shows me somebody who is not focused on the American people and the job they're supposed to do

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— Headquarters (@headquartersnews.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 10:09 AM

New York Effing Times both siding the Reflecting Pool disaster. Naturally. -- 

Did The New York Times BOTH SIDES the Reflecting Pool? Of course it did!

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— scarylawyerguy.bsky.social (@scarylawyerguy.bsky.social) June 25, 2026 at 6:01 AM

They do love their beer --

 

Beer Delivery Driver Points Trembling Shotgun As Crowd Of Scottish Soccer Fans Close In https://theonion.com/beer-delivery-driver-points-trembling-shotgun-as-crowd-of-scottish-soccer-fans-close-in/

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— The Onion (@theonion.com) June 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM

 

 

 

QOTD -- Learning To Use Power

 

"... Under the old constraints, there was seemingly little a president and Democratic Congress could do to enact quick change. At least that’s what we were told. But thanks to Trump, we now know those constraints were always an illusion.  [snip]

"I want someone who will tackle the office with the same disdain for those traditions as Trump—but in service of people instead of himself. Anyone who muses wistfully about the old days when everyone got along and political enemies in Congress would have a beer afterward? Instant disqualification. Anyone who talks about rebalancing commissions to give the other party 'a voice'? Instant disqualification. Anyone who accepts this broken and corrupt Supreme Court as just the way things are, even though nothing caps it at nine justices or prohibits term limits? Instant disqualification.  [snip]

"Now imagine a Democratic president who tells the political, media, and financial establishments to fuck off, then uses the full power of their office to directly improve people’s lives and to reshape the courts to better reflect the interests of the many rather than the powerful elite.

"Those are the candidates who will grab my attention, whether they are running for president, Congress, or just about anything else." -- Markos Moulitsas, Daily Kos founder, on why Democrats need their version of a tradition-ignoring, power-wielding Trump.  To the extent we will need a Second Reconstruction after the Malignant Fascist has left (or been forced off) the stage, Democrats who are willing to use power for the good of the American people, and not for self-aggrandizement and enrichment, are the kind of junkyard Democrats that need to be elected from here on out.  As Markos points out,

"... [Republicans] treat every election as a mandate to reshape the country in their image. Democrats too often treat victory as permission to make small adjustments around the margins while explaining why bigger change isn’t possible."

That cycle has to be broken if we're to have a Second Reconstruction that doesn't repeat the catastrophic mistakes of the First.

 

Court Bars Implementation Of Trump's Election EO [UPDATED]

 

Yesterday, a Federal District Court judge in Boston slapped a permanent injunction on one of the vindictive conman and mentally unfit Malignant Fascist's attempts to rig the mid-term elections and beyond.  From ABC News:

"A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections, part of which sought to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston effectively converts a preliminary injunction she issued a year ago, in which she temporarily blocked many of Trump’s efforts to overhaul elections, into a permanent ban.

Casper rejected the administration’s argument that the lawsuit to block the changes brought by Democratic state attorneys general was premature because the rules had yet to be implemented. Instead, she agreed that the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to regulate elections, and that Trump’s requirements violated the separation of powers.

The Constitution "does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” she wrote.

Among other proposed changes, Trump’s order would have required people to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, prevented mail ballots from being counted if they arrive after Election Day, even if they were postmarked by then, and punished states that failed to comply by withholding certain federal money." (our emphasis)

In a related matter, in March, the MF ordered the U.S. Postal Service to propose a rule that States had to turn over their registered voter rolls to the USPS at least 60 days before Federal elections, or the USPS would not deliver ballots in States that don't comply.  Trumpist Postmaster General David Steiner appeared before a Senate committee yesterday to justify the desperate, egregious move by the MF to curtail mail in votes in non-complying (i.e., "blue" states). 

With each week, MAGAT hopes fade as a Dem wave election in looming, and the MF knows unless he rigs the mid-terms, he'll face investigations, subpoenas and likely impeachment for his actions. 

UPDATE: In a separate ruling this morning, Federal District judge Indira Talwani enjoined the MF regime from implement its vote rigging attempts with the USPS. Decision here.

(photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios, photo: Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)

 

Former Epstein Secretary's Testimony Questioned

 

Lesley Groff, the former secretary to child sex trafficker/ pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was interviewed by the House Oversight Committee on June 9 as to the relationship between the Epstein and the Malignant Fascist, and her knowledge of the overall sex trafficking operation run by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.  Though she minimally confirmed setting up calls between Epstein and the MF, from all appearances, she was not a particularly cooperative witness:

Lesley Groff, former executive secretary for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, told lawmakers that she set up phone calls between her boss and President Donald Trump several times a year for at least a decade, according to a transcript released Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee.

Groff, who was hired by Epstein in 2001, told lawmakers she didn’t remember setting up any in-person meetings between the two men, but said it was possible, adding later that she would describe their relationship as “friendly.”  [snip]

In her opening statement, Groff testified that she handled scheduling Epstein’s daily massages with dozens of various women, including in New York and the United Kingdom. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse, many of whom were minors, have said they were forced to perform massages on him as a pretext to sexual abuse. [snip]

Many Democrats on the House Oversight Committee took issue with Groff’s testimony and found her account of Epstein untrustworthy.

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) told reporters that he didn’t believe Groff’s claims that she never saw Epstein do anything inappropriate with a minor and never scheduled him for massages with underage girls.

“It is highly inconsistent what she is maintaining, that she really didn’t know Jeffrey Epstein even though she worked for him for 18 years,” he said. “I just question whether she can rightfully and truthfully maintain that she saw nothing improper.” 

Working for Epstein for 18 years and not knowing what he was up to doesn't remotely pass the smell test.  Clearly, there's a fear on Ms. Groff's part of incriminating herself.  Reading the transcript (linked above) gives one the unmistakable feeling that the whole truth and nothing but the truth isn't what the Republicans on the Committee or Ms. Groff are interested in.  But we could have predicted that back on June 9.

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Jonathan Brown, caglecartoons.com)

(Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News)

(Bart van Leeuwen, Oedipoes.com)

(John Darkow, Columbia Missourian)

(R.J. Matson, CQ/ Roll Call)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Lars Kenseth, @larskenseth)

QOTD: Arrests For Laughing At Them

The always insightful Amanda Marcotte, writes in Salon.com about the farcical effort of the delusional and incompetent Malignant Fascist and his cult to blame the disastrous re-make of the Reflecting Pool on nonsensical "sabotage" by imaginary box cutter-wielding, algae-loving libs. Here's an excerpt from her great read:

"Do these people believe this silly lie? With MAGA, it’s always hard to distinguish the line between self-serving tales and genuine delusion. Ultimately, it’s irrelevant: What matters more is why right-wingers are burrowing so deeply into this nonsense. Like Trump, they want an excuse to arrest people for laughing at them. It really isn’t deeper than that. Just as Trump is too egotistical to admit he screwed up the iconic Reflecting Pool, his followers cannot stomach admitting liberals were right all along about how stupid it was to vote for him.

The whole debacle is another blunt reminder that fascism is a movement for people who would rather blame everyone or everything else — including diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; the word “woke;” antifa; Obama; Hillary Clinton and three-time Olympians — for their failures than do the hard work of improving themselves and their country. This is evident in the clown car that is Trump’s Cabinet, which is stuffed full of members like Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel — people who would never succeed on their own terms, but have been able to ride the wave of conservative resentment into positions they’re not qualified for. But it’s also true of the everyday MAGA voters that fall for these politics, and constantly vote against their economic self-interest just to stick it to those smarty-pants liberals with their annoying competence." (our emphasis)

With a cult like MAGA, any lie or delusion supporting their twisted agenda and beliefs will suffice, and their pathological cult leader will eagerly supply them with those lies every hour of every day.

 

Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Failure / stupid and embarrassing Trump can't keep his mouth shut --

 

I give you the current President of the US, the most stupid and embarassing to ever hold the office.

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— Pauline - proudly Antifa (@vixenreclaim.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 4:54 AM

 

More Trump legislative hostage-taking --

 

US President Trump: “Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT” – TSL truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

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— LiveSquawk (@livesquawknews.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 10:27 AM

 

Democratic primary results --

 

The results are a big boost to the progressive wing of the party as the Mamdani-backed challengers successfully ousted two incumbent lawmakers.

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— Forbes (@forbes.com) June 24, 2026 at 3:00 AM

 

NPR is calling the Mamdani-backed candidates “far left” which I guess is shorthand for “would like to give healthcare to their constituents somewhat”

— Denny Carter (@dennycarter.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 7:40 AM

 

Rep. April McClain Delaney wins bitter primary to keep her Maryland House seat

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— Politico (@politico.com) June 23, 2026 at 11:44 PM

 

Former Utah Rep. Ben McAdams is on track to return to Congress

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— Politico (@politico.com) June 23, 2026 at 10:32 PM

 

I don’t know man, who is “the Democratic Party” if it’s not the voters?Democratic voters choose candidates, not party leaders. And party leaders need to listen to what voters are telling us - and right now they are demanding our party be bolder.

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— Chris Murphy (@chrismurphyct.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 10:12 AM

 

Toady Todd's ethics violations called out --

101 former judges have asked New York disciplinary authorities to investigate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, alleging ethics violations tied to his conduct at DOJ. My latest: open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

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— Joyce White Vance (@joycewhitevance.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 12:16 AM

 

Fascist bullies, bigots, and boneheads --

 

"When people lie about Michelle Obama’s gender, they aren’t really trying to convince voters (or UFC fans) of anything. Rather, these smears are deployed to assure an in group of bigots and fascists that they have the right, and the power, to determine whose identity is respected and whose is not."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 23, 2026 at 5:44 PM

 

Britain's fascist bully, bigot, and bonehead Farage --

Sometimes people on here despair that the British people are somehow in thrall to Farage. They're not. His popularity is sinking, and it can go much lower. Keep pushing.

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— Stay European #RejoinEU 🇪🇺 #FBPE (@stayeuropean.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 8:36 AM

 

"Lonely Russian soldier in Ukraine seeks female solace" =BOOM= / also... --

 

oh my god

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— huck mason (@tylerhuckabee.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 9:43 AM

 

52 months of my 3 day war. We've gone from 3 days to Kiev to 3 days queuing for petrol. I remain a master strategist.

— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) June 24, 2026 at 6:01 AM

 

 

Mid-Week Songs

 

As we noted Sunday, The Kinks vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter Ray Davies (Sir Ray as of 2017) turned 82. The legendary Kinks (Rock and Roll HOF 1990) were the forerunners of power chord rock and indie music, influencing a generation of musicians from The Ramones, to Peter Townshend, Van Halen and Oasis. We're featuring two of their early hits: the classic, raucous "You Really Got Me," their first hit in 1964, and the catchy satire of upper class Brits in "Sunny Afternoon," released in 1966. Enjoy. 

Democrats Ask GAO To Investigate Taxpayer Funding Of Trump's Ballroom/ Bunker

 

The General Accountability Office is being asked to investigate the use of taxpayer money to *partially* fund the narcissistic Malignant Fascist's golden ballroom/ bunker (that was supposed to be paid for by private donations):

Top Democratic appropriators are calling on the Government Accountability Office to probe the Trump administration’s release of nearly $400 million of taxpayer funds for a White House East Wing modernization project that includes a ballroom.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who is the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, requested an investigation in a letter to acting Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown.

They pointed to the recent apportionments of nearly $400 million in taxpayer funding to two Secret Service accounts earlier this month. The bulk of the funds went toward the agency’s procurement, construction and improvements account, while about $11 million was apportioned to a Secret Service operations and support account for the purpose of “White House Security Measures,” according to the Protect Democracy Project’s database, OpenOMB.org, which tracks apportionments made by the Office of Management and Budget.

The funding was then directed to the “White House Repair and Restoration” account belonging to the Executive Office of the President, which controls the East Wing modernization project, the administration confirmed.

The funds were initially drawn from $1.17 billion allotted to the Secret Service as part of the 2025 reconciliation law. 

Democrats called for the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, to provide “a legal decision on whether the administration’s use of these funds violates federal law,” noting that the reconciliation law says the money “may only be used for” measures such as personnel, training facilities, programming, technology, and performance, retention and signing bonuses for agents.

“The Trump Administration has confirmed to our staff and the press that it plans to tap Secret Service funding to support the ballroom, but there is no funding available for that purpose,” Democrats wrote. President Donald Trump had said the ballroom would cost $400 million and be fully paid for by private donations... (our emphasis)

The congenital liar lied, of course.  You know, water is wet, etc. 

As others have demanded, any ballroom, triumphal arch, or other manifestation of the egomaniacal Malignant Fascist's ugliest chapter in American history needs to start coming down as soon as a Democratic President finishes taking the oath of office on January 21, 2029.  Anything less would be a galling betrayal of our Nation and democracy.

(Photo:  a desecration at the White House that needs to end / Rod Lamkey, Jr. AP Photo)

The Song Of "An Eternal Morning"

 

As we note every year around this time, a sound that's being heard in American woodlands from the Atlantic coast to the Rockies, and one of our favorite bird calls, is the song of the male wood thrush. Henry David Thoreau wrote of the wood thrush,

"This is the only bird whose note affects me like music. It lifts and exhilarates me. It is inspiring. It changes all hours to an eternal morning." 

To us, it's a sound that brings back memories of leafy, sun-dappled forests of childhood, and we like to return to it every year around this time. 

Take a few moments to relax, close your eyes, listen, and enjoy.

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(David Horsey, The Seattle Times)

(John Darkow, Columbia Missourian)

(Morten Morland, The Times, UK)

(Ben Jennings, The Guardian, UK)

(Bob Englehart, caglecartoons.com)

(Steve Nease, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Jeff Koterba, caglecartoons.com)

(Joep Bertrams, caglecartoons.com, Netherlands)

(Dave Whamond, caglecartoons. Canada)

(John Cole, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA)

(Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC)

(Ellis Rosen, @ellisjrosen)