Saturday, March 14, 2026

FCC Chair Threatens Media: Cheer Trump's War Or Else!

 


More outrageous extortion from the Malignant Fascist's regime as this uniquely awful and dangerous chode continues to audition for Propaganda Minister:

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr threatened media stations with losing their broadcast licenses if they don't fall in line producing positive war coverage.

"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up," Carr posted on X Saturday. "The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not."

Carr was referring to a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump, who whined over negative media coverage of the ongoing war with Iran started by the U.S. and Israel.

Trump claimed reports about Air Force refueling planes hit by an Iranian missile strike at a Saudi Arabian air base were "intentionally misleading."

“The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other Lowlife ‘Papers’ and Media actually want us to lose the War,” Trump posted. “Their terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts!”

Trump claimed the planes were not struck. But it's increasingly difficult to take the president at his word as the war progresses. Trump has refused to give a timeline, saying the war will end "when I feel it in my bones," has bragged about taking out "100%" of Iran's military while begging allied nations for help, and has denied the U.S. struck an elementary school in Iran that killed more than 170 people, despite evidence that points to the U.S. as being responsible.

For all of these life-costing blunders, Trump and Carr blame the press.
"The American people have subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars by providing free access to the nation’s airwaves," Carr said in his post. "It is very important to bring trust back into media, which has earned itself the label of fake news." (our emphasis)

So far, very few in the media who've been pressured by the Malignant Fascist and his toadies have stood up.  Freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution, something that is of no interest or import to these fascists.  The media needs to stand up -- en masse -- now.   The courts might have something to say about this extortion also.

BONUSThis is the correct response from Democrats.

(Image: Getty)


Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(David Horsey, The Seattle Times)

(Bas van der Schot, Die Volkskrant, Netherlands)

(Kevin Kallaugher, The Economist, UK)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Matt Davies, Newsday)


 (Rick McKee, caglecartoons.com)

(Bill Day, caglecartoons.com)

(Matt Wuerker, Politico)

(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Bob Englehart, caglecartoons.com)

(Tom Toro, @tbtoro)


Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Epstein Fury: complacent markets, bad bones, warnings, moral rot, more --


"My biggest fear is the market is still working under the assumption that this will not get out of control.” Are markets being too complacent about the Iran war? Me, 300 free clicks: - as.ft.com/r/0c0e8ae1-b...

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— Katie Martin (@katie0martin.ft.com) March 14, 2026 at 3:25 AM

 

What Americans will read this weekend when they’re in line at the grocery checkout. @people.com people.com/trump-says-i...

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 5:04 PM

 

Before US went to war, Gen Dan Caine, chairman of Joint Chiefs, told Trump an American attack could prompt Iran to close Strait of Hormuz. Caine said in several briefings that U.S. officials had long believed Iran would deploy mines, drones and missiles to close the world’s most vital shipping lane

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— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) March 14, 2026 at 9:21 AM

 

Ossoff: "The WH put out a video depicting this war as a video game. When service members are returning in flag-draped coffins, & even more have lost limbs or suffered brain injuries or are fighting for their lives, this WH treats war like a game. It's a disgrace. And it speaks to a moral rot."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM


David Byrne on Trump’s illegal war on Iran and his thoughts on artists speaking out: "I think it’s completely illegal…No one voted for it, the public did not endorse it. It's a small group of maniacs who decided they're going to do that"

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— WuTangIsForTheChildren (@wutangforchildren.bsky.social) March 12, 2026 at 7:34 PM

 

"I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!”

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— Helen Kennedy (@helenkennedy.com) March 13, 2026 at 6:46 AM


What War?— Trump Announces Palm Beach Getaway Trump will spend the weekend enjoying the amenities of his Mar-a-Lago resort as U.S. troops remain deployed to the Middle East. meidasnews.com/news/what-wa...

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— PatriotTakes πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ (@patriottakes.bsky.social) March 14, 2026 at 9:21 AM

 

The real Operation Epic Fury needs to take place in November.

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 8:20 AM

 

The Trump Crime Family's corruption: Mr. Ivanka Trump edition -- 


The least insane person in the Trump administration might turn out to be, in sheer dollar terms, the most financially corrupt. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/b...

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— Will Saletan (@saletan.bsky.social) March 14, 2026 at 9:15 AM


Did Ukraine get a "thank you" from the Malignant Fascist? You must be kidding -- 


Did Trump and Vance say thank you?

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— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM


Meanwhile, Putin rains death and destruction in Ukraine -- 


⚡️Russian strikes kill 7, injure 46 across Ukraine as energy grid targeted again. "Ordinary homes, schools, and civilian businesses have also been hit," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) March 14, 2026 at 4:24 AM

 

Bezos' money-grubbing, privacy-invading destruction of the Washington Post -- 


Many Washington Post readers have been notified via email that their subscription rates are set to increase. Nestled at the bottom of these emails, you’ll find an asterisk and the following: “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.”

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— Washingtonian (@washingtonian.com) March 13, 2026 at 3:18 PM 


 Winning! --


U.S. Suffers Additional Casualties In War It Won Last Week

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— The Onion (@theonion.com) March 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM

 

 

QOTD -- Incompetent And Incoherent

 

"This is the most incompetent, incoherent war America has fought in the last 100 years.  And that's saying a lot.  This administration has no idea what they are doing.  There is no viable war plan.  They change their goals and their aims every single day.

I have great sympathy for our soldiers and our military leaders.  They are being given directions by a senile old man who is losing his mind." -- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), on CNN yesterday, stating facts known to all but the willfully-or-naturally ignorant.

And so it's no surprise that this war is going horribly.

Compounding the incompetence, the Malignant Fascist is also surrounded by chickenshit advisors who're afraid to correct even his most ridiculous mistakes, much less something like the Operation Epic Epstein Fury shitshow.


Today's Extortion: $10 Billion To Trump Regime

 



With his allies in the tech world ready to take over TikTok, the corrupt Malignant Fascist's regime is collecting a $10 billion "fee" for brokering the deal with China.  From Newsweek:

"A federal law required TikTok to either shut down in the United States or be sold to domestic owners at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in 2025.

However, the president issued a series of executive actions extending the deadline, while the White House helped broker a sale to a group led by cloud-computing tech giant Oracle Corp. and private-equity firm Silver Lake Management LLC. [snip]

The new entity, called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will oversee content moderation on the platform and safeguard the data of U.S. users.

The fee is to be paid by investors involved in the TikTok transaction, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. [snip]

The payment is part of a broader agreement that transferred control of TikTok’s U.S. operations from ByteDance to a group of investors seen as friendly with the administration, according to people familiar with the matter. It comes on top of investments used to establish the new company that now operates the app in the U.S.

Those investors include Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi–based investor MGX. The group and its backers paid about $2.5 billion to the Treasury Department when the deal closed in January and are expected to make additional payments until the total reaches $10 billion, the Wall Street Journal reports." (our emphasis)

Of course, oligarch billionaire Larry Ellison of Oracle fame is going to benefit from this payoff to the MF, much like the MF's regime rigged his son David's Skydance purchase of Paramount, and subsequently the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery which was facilitated by regulatory favoritism. CBS, CNN, TikTok and other outlets are now under the control of a right-wing Trumper, who has suggested he'll fire those who are critics of the MF.  Let's hope this latest venture goes south on them.

(photo: The MF and his ally Ellison / Andrew Harnik, Getty)

 

Snowy Rural Mountain Areas Of Kyoto

 

Vlogger Mei takes us to beautiful, snow-covered mountain area surrounding Kyoto, Japan, in a video just posted this morning.  Somehow, the late winter heavy snow makes the rural surroundings even more lovely.  Food stops, of course.  Ease into your weekend.

Friday, March 13, 2026

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Christopher Weyant, Boston Globe)

(Jeff Koterba, caglecartoons.com)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Joe Heller, hellertoon.com)

(Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News)

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

(Clay Jones, claytoonz.substack.com)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Drew Sheneman, The Star-Ledger, Newark, NJ)

(Paul Duginski, caglecartoons.com)

(Asher Perlman, @asherperlman)


"War Is Not For Clowns And Fake Tough Guys"

 



Salon.com's wonderful Amanda Marcotte has some thoughts on clownish, butched-up TV pundit turned Secretary of War Defense "Whisky Pete" Hegseth and his transparent persona as a "tough guy," now that we're in a real war with a serious adversary:

"Hegseth’s Saturday morning cartoon idea of manhood, though, has impressed other men of similar persuasions. One is podcaster Joe Rogan, who praised Hegseth last fall, crowing that there was 'no more identity politics' and whining about 'guys in dresses' in the military. In December, the head of Hegseth’s church’s denomination, Doug Wilson, celebrated the secretary as a counterweight to “men with a My-Little-Pony fetish.” Last year the Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh applauded Hegseth for supposedly sticking it to “nagging” women who insist that gender does not disqualify them to serve in the military.

As long as Hegseth keeps his chest-thumping and pull-up contests in the land of make-believe, these men are happy. Like their hero, the only masculine strength they seem interested in is the kind performed for cameras, far away from real-world challenges that might easily defeat their self-image as the mightiest of men. Hegseth, however, had to ruin it all by leading the U.S. into a real war with Iran. Unlike the imaginary wars conducted in right-wing rhetoric, which are won by yelling 'no homo,' real wars are hard. They require planning, foresight and smart people, including women and minorities, to win — and even then, only if you’re quite lucky. War is not for clowns and fake tough guys."  (our emphasis)

Clowns and fake tough guys are what we have now in political positions throughout the Government, epitomized by the draft-dodging, makeup-wearing, senile felon currently staining the White House.  If this were peacetime, it would be merely laughable, but war is serious business best not left to fools like the Malignant Fascist and his loudmouth, chest-thumping Pentagon chief. 

(photos: Cadet Bone Spurs and Whiskey Pete, not so macho)

 

Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Epstein Fury / costs and benefits -- 

 

My thoughts are with the loved ones of the U.S. service members who were killed or injured during the KC-135 refueling mission in Iraq. Their deaths bring the total number of Americans lost since the war began to eleven. Their sacrifice is a solemn reminder of the true cost of war.

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— Congressman Eugene Vindman (@repvindman.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM

 

Trump will depart to Palm Beach for the weekend to spend time at his private club and participate in a fundraiser. This is the second weekend in a row Trump has gone golfing as he risks the lives of American service members.

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— FactPost (@factpostnews.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 10:35 AM

 

If it costs 300 million Americans more to go about their daily lives, but 250 thousand already-rich oil executives and investors get to experience another boom—this is good for the economy.

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— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 8:48 AM

It’s almost like Putin and Netanyahu control our foreign policy.

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— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 10:03 AM

 

🧐

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— Veterans Against Trump (@vetsat.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 10:12 AM

 

The Trump regime's overwrought propaganda and plans for the media --

 

"President Trump will hit the home run, score the touchdown and win the marathon. He will bring home the bacon AND fry it up in a pan. He will bring in the funk, he will kick out the jams. And I assure you -- he will, he will rock you."

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— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 9:22 AM

 

Two things here. One, you don't sit there and whine about media coverage and headlines if things are going well. Two, the administration is just outright saying that they fully expect Ellison to use CNN to be a Trumpist propaganda organ.

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— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 8:29 AM

 

 Guardians of our nation's top secrets? --


Details… meidasnews.com/news/trump-o...

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— PatriotTakes πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ (@patriottakes.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 10:25 AM

 

But Russia gets them for free.

— thyroid-2303.bsky.social (@thyroid-2303.bsky.social) March 13, 2026 at 10:28 AM

 

The state of play on DHS funding --


In 24 hours, Republicans have blocked FIVE attempts from Democrats to fund TSA, FEMA, our cyber defenses, & Coast Guard while talks continue to rein in ICE & Border Patrol. Republicans are holding TSA agents' paychecks hostage so they can give more $ to ICE, with no reforms.

— Senator Patty Murray (@murray.senate.gov) March 12, 2026 at 1:57 PM

 

The hell you say!? --

 

You know what we're not griping about enough? That Donald Trump's face is going to be on U.S. currency—on $1 coins—later this year. This will be the first time a living president has appeared solo on a coin, and one of the very few times a living individual has ever been on U.S. coinage.

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— Adam Keiper (@adamkeiper.com) March 13, 2026 at 12:02 AM

 

No deal with the devil needed (Happy Friday the 13th!) --

 

"What was my value proposition here? With Trump slathering everything with gold paint and turning ICE into a super-charged federal employment program for neo-nazi gun nuts, what am I gaining now on paper that I’m not getting regardless when that bile-hearted bastard keels over?"

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— McSweeney's (@mcsweeneys.net) March 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM

 

 

Weekend Music

 

Bruce Springsteen covers legendary Pogues singer/ songwriter Shane MacGowan's wistful and beautiful "A Rainy Night in Soho," the first single from the all- star tribute album to MacGowan, "20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan" (out in November 2026).   Other artists contributing to the album include Tom Wait, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Steve Earle, Primal Scream, and a host of Irish and British artists.  MacGowan died at the age of 65 on November 30, 2023.  The album name comes from MacGowan himself, and the song is dedicated to his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke.  It seemed like a fitting choice heading into St. Patrick's Day weekend. 

Trump's Miscalculation, Putin's Windfall

 

Master strategist Malignant Fascist and his team of rivals clowns bungled into war with Iran with minimal consideration for one teensy-weensy complication:

The Pentagon and National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to US military strikes while planning the ongoing operation, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Pause for a moment and let that sink in.  Continuing:

President Donald Trump’s national security team failed to fully account for the potential consequences of what some officials have described as a worst-case scenario now facing the administration, the sources said.

While key officials from the Departments of Energy and Treasury were present for some of the official planning meetings about the operation before it started, sources said, the agency analysis and forecasts that would be integral elements of the decision-making process in past administrations were secondary considerations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright have been key players throughout the planning and execution stages of the conflict, the sources acknowledged. But Trump’s preference of leaning on a tight circle of close advisers in his national security decision making had the effect of sidelining interagency debate over the potential economic fallout if Iran were to respond to US-Israeli strikes by closing the strait. 

And now it may be weeks before the administration’s efforts to alleviate the intensifying economic fallout take hold, officials said Thursday, including high-risk naval escorts of oil tankers through the strait that the Pentagon believes are currently too dangerous to conduct. The president, meanwhile, has continued to downplay the tumult in energy markets.

The reality in the strait has left diplomatic counterparts, former US economic and energy officials and industry executives who spoke with CNN in a state of confusion and disbelief...

Disbelief ... at the incompetence, you say?  Haven't they been tracking the careers of the Malignant Fascist and "Whiskey Pete" Hegseth over there?  Could there have been reason to doubt the chops of former hedge fund manager Bessent and fracking company CEO Wright in knowing fuck-all about the Middle East and the history of conflicts in the region on oil stability?  Apparently not.

Luckily, the MF's mentor, war criminal Vladimir Putin, is here to help:

The United States on Thursday temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil that is currently at sea, allowing it to be shipped to buyers around the world as the Trump administration scrambles to contain energy prices that have been soaring because of the war in Iran.

The exemptions, which were issued by the Treasury Department, will be in place until April 11. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent estimated that freeing Russian oil could add hundreds of millions of barrels of crude to global markets, curbing prices that have been hovering near $100 per barrel as a result of the Iran conflict.

The decision was a significant turning point in America’s effort to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Russia has faced punishing sanctions from the United States and the rest of the Group of 7 advanced economies since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Those sanctions have included a price cap on Russian oil and a crackdown on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of unmarked vessels that oil exporters have used to evade sanctions...

So the Operation Epic Epstein Fury shitshow widens its scope in a (completely unforseen!) way to further damage American interests and national security (and continue to fund Putin's assault on Ukraine).  A perfect storm of stupid.


Stephen Colbert On Iran War And "Keen-tucky"

 

Stephen Colbert did his usual brilliant satire in last night's show, covering developments in the incompetent Malignant Fascist's war of choice on Iran ("we won" but "have to continue"), the crazed MF's trip to "Keen-tucky," Whiskey Pete Hegseth's vanity, and more. Tune in.

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Oil Spikes, Stocks Drop: Thanks, Trump!

 



The Malignant Fascist and his team of rivals clowns continue to be on top of things:

Oil prices touched $100 a barrel and U.S. stocks skidded amid worries of a protracted disruption to oil markets.

Brent crude futures jumped 9.2% after President Trump said stopping the Iranian regime from getting nuclear weapons was a higher priority than oil prices. It was the largest one-day jump for Brent since May 2020 and the first time it has closed above $100 since 2022.

The Dow industrials slid 739 points, or 1.6%, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.5% and the Nasdaq composite falling 1.8%.

Hopes of quickly restoring the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz are dimming, with Iran's new leader vowing to keep the key oil route closed and seven ships struck over the past day. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the U.S. Navy wasn’t yet ready to escort tankers through the waterway, but that he expected this to happen by the end of March.

Also adding to concerns: A report from Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency that Iran-backed groups could shut a crossing that controls traffic for vessels accessing the Suez Canal via the Red Sea.

Also Thursday, the International Energy Agency slashed its forecast for oil-supply growth this year, and said the war in the Middle East was fueling the biggest disruption of global energy markets ever... (our emphasis)

And we're only 12 days into Operation Epic Epstein Fury.  "A billionaire's war," indeed.


Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Luo Jie, China Daily, PRC)

(Ben Jennings, The Guardian, UK)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Dave Whamond, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Nick Anderson, Raw Story)

(Bob Enlehart, caglecartoons.com)

(Jimmy Margulies, King Features)

(Drew Sheneman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Pedro Molina, Tribune Content Agency)

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

(Banx, @banxcartoons, UK)



Skeets Of The Day

 

Operation Epic Epstein Fury: Iran's message to America, gas prices, winning hearts and minds, etc. --


BREAKING: The usually snarky White House account has not responded to Iran’s attacks on social media! Thank you for your attention to this matter!

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— God (@thegodshow.com) March 12, 2026 at 12:25 AM

 

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

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— Daniel Drezner (@dandrezner.bsky.social) March 11, 2026 at 9:34 PM

 

Exclusive: US intelligence says Iran government is not at risk of collapse, say sources reut.rs/4rnENQ7

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— Reuters (@reuters.com) March 11, 2026 at 10:30 PM

 

Trump, this morning: "The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money."

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— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social) March 12, 2026 at 9:23 AM

 

Dismay as ancient heritage sites across Iran damaged in US-Israel bombing

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— The Guardian (@theguardian.com) March 12, 2026 at 6:20 AM

 

finally someone with the gravitas of fdr and churchhill's wartime addresses. we shall fight on the seas, we shall fight on the shores, we shall dance like nobody's watching.

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— Oliver Willis (@owillis.bsky.social) March 11, 2026 at 8:14 PM


Whiskey Pete Hegseth has his priorities straight. Lights, camera..... --


Hegseth should spend a little less time worrying about how he looks in photos and a little more time fixing the fucking disaster he has created in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

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— Chris Murphy (@chrismurphyct.bsky.social) March 11, 2026 at 5:39 PM


Nutcase tech geeks are a major threat to our democracy, part infinity -- 

 

Turning the world over to madmen. That is what is happening. Madmen.

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— Sherrilyn Ifill (@sifill.bsky.social) March 12, 2026 at 10:41 AM


So much for a new generation of leadership -- 


Love the guy but Christ, 85?

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— Helen Kennedy (@helenkennedy.com) March 12, 2026 at 11:02 AM


Texas polls looking good, but it's a long way to November. Your vote is the real poll -- 


πŸ‘πŸ‘

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— Jon Cooper (@joncooper-us.bsky.social) March 12, 2026 at 9:25 AM


The Malignant Fascist's unending corruption, Presidential library edition -- 


Big Tech and Big Media donated some $63 million to a Trump-aligned nonprofit that was set up to help finance Trump's presidential library. Now the nonprofit has disappeared and with it the money. Three guesses on where it's gone. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

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— Tim Karr (@timkarr.bsky.social) March 12, 2026 at 6:42 AM


Melanoma Melanie Melania's new competition.  Is the Ambassador to Mongolia position filled?  --


Alina Habba divorced her husband and moved two blocks away from Mar-a-Lago. The photo below shows a man who’s calculating exactly how much Cialis he can ingest before triggering a myocardial infarction.

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— π•Šπ•¦π•Ÿπ••π•’π•– 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@sundaedivine.lol) March 11, 2026 at 8:59 AM