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)

QOTD -- Magical Thinking

 

"... The initial closure of the strait, a narrow passageway through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, led to a spike in gas and oil prices. According to Swan, Trump thought Iran would have limited time to take action because the war would be over quickly — a claim he has made repeatedly during the nearly four-month-long war.

“'He felt that this regime was a paper tiger, that this was going to be a fast war,' Swan said on “The Last Word.” 'He just said he felt that that was going to be the case, that they were going to collapse very quickly.'

“'It’s a form of magical thinking, actually, is what it all boils down to,' he added.  [snip]

"Another example of such thinking was when Trump floated a plan to expel 2 million Palestinians from Gaza so he could turn it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East.' Haberman and Swan wrote in the book that one senior aide characterized the idea as 'legitimately nutso … but very on-brand.'”... -- Julianne McShane, MSNOW, reporting on Lawrence O'Donnell's Monday night interview on "The Last Word" with Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman, authors of “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.”  What a world-historical humiliation and utter shame to have twice elected this malevolent moron as the most powerful man in the world.

 

Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Surrender /  ranking blunders, money to Iran --

Are there any historians who can assess where the Iran War ranks on the list of top US military and:or diplomatic blunders? (Gift link below)

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— Bill Grueskin (@bgrueskin.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 9:27 AM

 

First the administration said they wanted unconditional surrender, and Iran did not surrender. Then they said in the deal Iran made all the concessions, and Iran made no concessions. They they said Iran would get no money, and Iran is getting lots of money. Now this....

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— Phillips OBrien (@phillipspobrien.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 9:56 AM

 

Instead of dropping expensive bombs on Iran and then negotiating to give them billions of dollars, why didn’t Trump just skip a step and drop huge bundles of cash on them?

— Mark Jacob (@markjacob.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 9:26 AM

New York Effing Times joins JD Vance's public relations team --

 

NYT trying to position Vance as anti-war pro-US responsible-diplomat is absurd.

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— David Rothschild (@davmicrot.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 8:25 AM

Were the Malignant Fascist's trips to Walter Reed Medical Center for this? --

Author asks if the patient was Trump — the White House won’t say.

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— Eric Columbus (@ericcolumbus.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 9:02 AM

The MF has no idea what he's signing. Another day the corporate media ignores his unfitness --

 

i know i know but in todays political climate no other president would be able to even joke about not knowing what they were signing without getting fuckin pilloried and for this fuck it is just another oh lets just humor him monday

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— darth™️ (@darthbluesky.bsky.social) June 22, 2026 at 10:55 PM

Pool vandals, algae attack, and the MF's rotted mind -- 

📌Seen elsewhere and stolen …

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— D. Earl Stephens (@dearlstephens.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 10:12 AM

 

I know who vandalized the Reflecting Pool! This moron 👇

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— SarahBCalif (@sarahbca.bsky.social) June 22, 2026 at 7:12 PM

Take the Kennedy Center tarp down. Screw the snowflake MF's feelings --

 

Rep. Joyce Beatty: "I can tell you his name has been removed, and we are certainly standing up against this tarp to have it also come down"

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) June 23, 2026 at 9:46 AM

See BS's Bari "Bad News" Weiss won't siphon MAGAt viewers from Fox. Sad!  -- 

You will not peel off Fox viewers to any other media because they still have Fox and it spends half the day telling them every other media source is traitors and liars.

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— Aram Zucker-Scharff (@chronotope.aramzs.xyz) June 23, 2026 at 8:08 AM

Next Dem President: impose sanctions on this corrupt, bribing shit --

 

Who asked for this?

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— Anthony Michael Kreis (@anthonymkreis.bsky.social) June 23, 2026 at 9:35 AM

 Next British Prime Minister: remember to feed the cat --

"I have accepted Keir Starmer's resignation as my chief servant and have invited Andy Burnham to lay out details for how many meals a day he'll give me"

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— Larry the Cat (@number10cat.bsky.social) June 22, 2026 at 6:37 AM

 

 

A "Reality Check" For Dementia Don?

 

Good luck penetrating his narcissistic "I can do whatever I want" bubble:

The president was invited to GOP senators’ Wednesday lunch to push for his No. 1 priority, the GOP election bill known as the SAVE America Act. But several outgoing Republicans who have clashed with Trump said Monday they will be there to deliver a reality check: The bill isn’t passing, and it’s time to move on.

“I’m going to be there front and center,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters. “It will be important if it actually is a constructive exchange of different opinions, and hopefully we can all get on the same page. Right now, we’re not in a great place.”

Cornyn, who recently lost his bid for a fifth term to a Trump-endorsed challenger, reiterated the votes just aren’t there to pass the elections bill: “I’ve been around here long enough and been through enough battles and counted enough votes to know that it doesn’t just magically occur, no matter how much you wish it would happen.”

Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) — who are also departing the Senate in part due to Trump — said Monday they, too, will be at the closed-door lunch and urged Trump to turn the page on the SAVE America Act.

“I’m a co-sponsor, but it doesn’t have the votes, and so it’s time to talk about something else,” said Cassidy, who also lost to a Trump-backed primary opponent...

Too bad it took the Malignant Fascist backstabbing incumbent Republican Senators and generally running roughshod over Congress to get to the point where these spineless Quislings are exerting even this modicum of resistance to the MF's anti-American, anti-democracy efforts.  Stopping the abomination called the "SAVE America (for white Republicans) Act" won't put an end to the MF and his fascistic toadies' ongoing efforts to rig the 2026 mid-terms and the 2028 election, a battle that's currently being waged mostly in the courts over voter rolls.  But it would be a considerable blow to their plans.

SpaceX, Tesla Stock Down

 

After an IPO last week with SpaceX's market valuation at $2.78 trillion, stock in South African fascist and mass killer Elon "Leon" Musk fell 16%, causing the white supremacist space cadet $240 billion.  His accident-plagued car Tesla is also shedding value.  From Fortune.com:

"Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) is already among the world’s most valuable companies, briefly surpassing Amazon in the days following its market float when it soared to a valuation of $2.78 trillion.

Musk owns approximately 5 billion shares in the company, meaning that a vast portion of his net worth is tied to the exploratory business. Despite SpaceX gaining some 20% in its first day of trading, a reality check soon sent its stock price downwards. The stock lost 16.43% yesterday, a selloff of approximately $400 billion. It’s market cap currently sits at $2.03 trillion.

A further dampener on Musk’s fortune is the value of shares for EV maker Tesla. Over the past month, Tesla shares have been down 6.6%, and by more than 7% for the year to date.

In turn, Musk’s net worth has dropped from a peak of $1.32 trillion to $1.08 trillion at the time of writing, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The drop—between June 16 and a week later—is some $240 billion." (our emphasis)

From today's opening, it appears that the drop will continue.  The ketamine-fueled megalomaniac has delusions of space travel, as in Star Trek, not grasping that until humanity discovers how to travel at near light speed, deep space voyage is science fiction.  But that won't stop master bullshit artists like Musk (or his nearest competitor and fellow Trump ass-kisser Jeff Bezos) from hyping and fleecing investors despite regular failures of their creations.  May the downturn continue.

(photo: Send this space cadet on a one-way trip to Mars)

 

Trump Breaks What Isn't Broken, Again

 

Last night on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart covers the Iran negotiations capitulation that beardo bellhop J.D. Vance has been assigned in order to suffer ritual humiliation and transfer some of stench from the Malignant Fascist.  The MF, meanwhile, is obsessed with ... his side gig of wrecking the Reflecting Pool and blaming it on "vandals" rather than his own incompetence and the corrupt deal he made with a sleazy crony.  Democrats should be hammering these messages home 24/7.  Real news with real humor.