Today's Cartoons

(click on images to enlarge)


(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)


(Rob Rogers, via robrogers.com)


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


(David Horsey, Seattle Times)


(Jeff Darcy, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Scientific Research Threatened by Trump Shutdown

We've looked at the growing impacts of the Trump shutdown, from a real crisis at America's airports to compromised food safety, not to mention the immediate impacts on 800,000 unpaid Federal employees, their families and their communities. There's also the impact on science research:

"The [National Science Foundation] NSF hasn’t divvied out a single dollar in grant money since the shutdown began Dec. 22. During the same time period a year ago, the federal agency awarded more than 400 research grants valued at $127.3 million, according to a running tally by Benjamin Corb, public affairs director of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

'The impact on science is a slow strangling of the American scientific enterprise,' Corb wrote in an email."  [snip]

The NSF is among several government agencies that fund research grants. And derailing the flow of grant money is just one of many ways that the shutdown has stymied scientific research around the country. Thousands of scientists remained furloughed across agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Geological Survey." (our emphasis)

Of course, the corrupt regime of demagogue and Kremlin asset Donald "Rump" Trump has its own priorities:

"Meanwhile, the administration has managed to forge ahead with fossil fuel development in its relentless push for so-called 'energy dominance.' The Interior Department is continuing to process oil and gas drilling applications and permits and recently amended the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s shutdown contingency plan to bring back dozens of furloughed employees to continue work on offshore drilling activities."  (our emphasis)

We noted in the post below that the voices of millions of Americans need to be heard today as the Senate votes on a House bill to reopen the government without giving in to Rump's hostage-taking. Make the calls.

Make The Call!

The Senate votes today on a Republican bill (with full funding for Trump's wall) and a Democratic bill (opening government with no wall money). Here's what you can do to press your Senators to vote for the Democratic bill:

RED ALERT! I talked with a few sources on Capitol Hill and am hearing Trump folks are paying to barrage offices with pro-wall calls ahead of Thursday's vote. These calls are BS but can make it seem like there's public support for the wall. Here are three ways we can combat this:

— Ezra Levin (@ezralevin) January 23, 2019

1) Dem or GOP - it doesn't matter. We need positive reinforcement for Dem Senators and pressure on GOP Senators. Simple message: tell them you want govt reopened & no wall.

1-844-236-2373 connects you to both your senators. A junior staffer is standing by to take your call!

— Ezra Levin (@ezralevin) January 23, 2019

When you call, make sure the staffer verifies you are resident of the senator's state. Ask for the staffer's name and request a written response on the senator's position - this forces the staffer to actually record your message. Be friendly/polite but firm on your position.

— Ezra Levin (@ezralevin) January 23, 2019

Tweets Of The Day -- Sickening

News item:

The percentage of Americans without health insurance has reached its highest point since 2014, when ObamaCare was still in its early years of implementation.  

The uninsured rate was 13.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, well above the record-low rate of 10.9 seen in 2016, the last year of President Obama's second term, according to a survey released by Gallup Wednesday.

The nation's uninsured rate was steadily improving. Then Donald Trump and congressional Republicans got to work. https://t.co/YsHHyAjuGl

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) January 23, 2019

BREAKING: 7 million Americans have lost insurance under Trump as he has steadily undermined the law & people. https://t.co/FQbtOMe8uP

— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) January 23, 2019

Today's Cartoons

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(Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star Tribune)


(Tom Toles, Washington Post)


(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)


(Jeff Stahler, via gocomics.com)


(Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News)

Lock Him Out (UPDATED)

Demagogue and Kremlin asset Donald "Rump" Trump ("Individual 1") was disinvited to deliver a State of the Union message by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by letter on January 16. Rump, being the narcissistic man-baby that he is, sent a smarmy, arrogant letter back to the Speaker today saying that he looked forward to delivering the SOTU address on January 29, despite the Government being closed because of him. Click to enlarge:

There's no question that he wants to use the speech to continue his campaign of lies and bigotry, centered on his inane promise to his red cap racist supporters to build a wall that Mexico would pay for. Sadly for Rump, the official process for an invitation to deliver a SOTU address involves both houses of Congress passing a resolution inviting Rump. Needless to say, that won't happen in the House.

So what to do? Make it clear to Rump that unless the Trump shutdown ends before the 29th, the House chamber will not be available for him to rant from. Make it clear that he's not the Emperor or absolute ruler, despite his delusions to the contrary, and that the House will decide who speaks there. Finally, make it clear that the House chamber will be off limits to him, to the point of locking his lying, bigoted bigly ass out. #LockHimOut.

BONUS:



UPDATE:  Sad!

BREAKING:  @SpeakerPelosi to decline steps to permit a State of the Union Jan 29 pic.twitter.com/ZDbKGjduNT

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) January 23, 2019

Mid-Week Zephyr Song

We last featured DC-based jazz piano virtuoso Kayla Waters almost two years ago, after the release of her debut album "Apogee." Her latest album, "Coevolve," is full of soulful, melodic and up tempo tracks, beautifully executed. Here's her chart-topping single from that album, "Zephyr." Enjoy.

Court In Iowa Rules Against Abortion Restriction

It's only a beginning, but an Iowa court judge has ruled that Iowa's "fetal heartbeat" ban on abortions -- the most restrictive in the U.S. -- violated Iowa's state constitution. State district judge Michael Huppert ruled that the ban, enacted by Iowa's reactionary Rethuglican state legislature last May, could mean abortions would be illegal as early as six weeks into pregnancy, before many women realize they're pregnant, but when a heartbeat might be detected. Medical consensus is that a fetus is viable outside the womb at 24 weeks, the cut off point for most laws restricting abortions.

The point of the "fetal heartbeat" ban was to effectively make abortions illegal well before the viability threshold was reached, and to prompt a challenge to Roe v. Wade:

"The district court decision is a victory for supporters of abortion rights, but abortion opponents have vowed to take the fight to Iowa’s appellate courts, the Des Moines Register and other media reported.

The legislation is aimed at triggering a challenge to Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 landmark decision which established that women have a constitutional right to an abortion, activists on both sides of the issue previously told Reuters."

Anti-choice Rethuglican zealots have been emboldened by the election of their degenerate demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump and are pushing legislation like the "fetal heartbeat" ban on abortion to ultimately overturn Roe v. Wade in court. They lost this round, but their fight against women's reproductive rights goes on, as should ours to oppose them.

(photo: Pro-choice demonstrators outside the Iowa capitol last May. Barbara Rodriguez/AP)

Poll: Trump Wall Not Worth Trump Shutdown

Despite the efforts of both-siders in the media to blame Dems for the Trump government shutdown (see post below), a new CBS News poll out this morning shows 71% of Americans don't think the vanity wall fantasized by demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump is worth holding government workers hostage. By a large majority (66%), Americans want Rump to agree to a budget without wall funding, and 60% believe the shutdown is causing serious problems to the economy.

As for Rump's approval ratings, he now stands at a low of 36% approval, with 59% disapproving of his job performance. Also, the poll reveals that among Rethuglicans, 40% disapprove of the job hunan/turtle hybrid and reactionary Sen. Mitch "Missy" McConnell is doing. The resolution is simple: Open. The. Government.

BONUS:  Polls just out by Politico/ Morning Consult and Public Policy Polling show very similar results.  In the Politico/ Morning Consult poll, only 7 percent of voters said that they support dedicating funding to a border wall if it was the only way to end the government shutdown.

Once Again: The Shutdown Isn't About "Both Sides"

Once again, in case there's any confusion at this late date over what the positions of the Democratic and Republican parties are on the Trump shutdown and border security, Steve Benen puts it as succinctly as possible:

Congressional Democrats: We just want to re-open the government. We don't have any extraneous policy demands and we're asking for no concessions. 

The Trump White House and congressional Republicans: We'll consider re-opening the government if Democrats approve billions of dollars in spending for an unpopular border wall. *

Oh, and the Trump "deal" that's supposedly a compromise?  Elie Mystal boils it down:

Donald Trump’s “major announcement” to end the government shutdown is an offer based on his belief that the American people are stupid and the media are dupes. In exchange for releasing the 800,000 federal workers Trump currently holds hostage, the president is offering to do something the courts will say he has to do anyway.

A healthy percent of the American people are stupid and will fall for it because, well, they've already fallen for a con artist.  But, so far, the American people as a whole know who to blame (including some Rump supporters).  Of more concern is the media, a healthy percentage of whom are dupes and will fall for it.  In fact, many in the media already have, and are framing Trump's "deal" as a "compromise" offer.  As journalism professor Jay Rosen notes:

My explanation: Alongside the production of news and analysis, journalists in the major media are constantly engaged in another manufacture: the production of their own innocence. They have to continually prove they are being even-handed. The shutdown is an opportunity for that. https://t.co/LtPsJgaK9L

— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) January 21, 2019

Also, when you see or read a story about a "blame game" going on, recognize this as a lazy media trope intended to demonstrate their unbiased innocence.  Don't be shy about calling them on it via calls, emails, letters, etc.  It's one way we can try to keep them honest and to let them know that while they may wish to be dupes, we don't.

*BONUS:  Oh, and (surprise!) Trump and McConnell are lying about the bill they're going to bring to the floor of the Senate.

BONUS II:


(via democraticunderground.com)

Today's Cartoons

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(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)


(Ann Telnaes, Washington Post)


(Jim Morin, Miami Herald)


(Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun)


(Nick Anderson, Washington Post Writers Group)


(Matt Bors, via gocomics.com)

Trump's Most Notable "Accomplishment"

Over the first two years in office, Kremlin asset and con artist Donald "Rump" Trump, who likes to brag about imaginary wins, at least has surpassed his 44 predecessors in one thing: lying. The Washington Post has been carefully tallying his lies since his inauguration, and has the mindboggling tally of 8,158 lies. Keep in mind that, according to the Post, he's now averaging 16.5 per day, roughly triple the pace in his first year, so that number has gone up since it was published yesterday. For an up-to-date tally, the Post has a fascinating interactive tool for the public.

The biggest focus of his lying is, unsurprisingly, on immigration, an issue he's demagogued to maintain support among his red cap racist base. That figure is 1,433. Lies about the economy, trade and jobs are the next most popular topics.

Good work by the dogged journalists who are documenting this monster's lies and demagoguery. It will be one of Rump's primary legacies.

Trump's Tariffs And Government Shutdown Rattling Executives

The international money brokers meeting at Davos are warning about the effects of a Very Stable Genius' tariffs and government shutdown:

Today growth is decelerating, especially in China and Germany, Trump’s tariffs are starting to bite and the U.S. government is in the midst of the longest ever shutdown, which is starting to have a serious impact on the economy. Trump was supposed to speak in Davos this year but his entire delegation is staying home because of the shutdown. [snip] 

The U.S. was supposed to be a bedrock of the global economy this year as hiring and confidence remained strong heading into the year, but the shutdown is starting to shake sentiment. 

The IMF warned that a “protracted” government shutdown would be a sharp drag on U.S. growth. The Federal Reserve and many others have made similar warnings. What’s concerning for many executives about the shutdown is that Trump appears unwilling to make necessary compromises. 

“If you want to be a superpower in the world — and the U.S. still is — you have to engage with people,” said Hans-Paul Bürkner, chair of the Boston Consulting Group. He warned that “everybody will be a bit more careful” until the shutdown and trade disputes are resolved.

If the rotted out Republican Party wants to keep its campaign money spigots going, as well as avoid an economic slowdown (if not recession) that the Very Stable Genius and his enablers will be blamed for, it might behoove them to extricate themselves from the catastrophes said Very Stable Genius has blundered into.  But we won't be holding our breath.

Ocasio-Cortez Shines On Colbert

From last night's Late Show with Stephen Colbert, charismatic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reveals how many f*cks she gives about critics who tell her to wait her turn and keep quiet. She also explains (to the likes of plutocrat puppet and former Gov. Scott Walker) what a marginal tax rate is.

Riff-Raff And Vipers: The Trump Regime

We noted last week that bloated bully and George Washington Bridge traffic controller, former NJ Governor Chris "Krispykreme" Christie has a score-settling book coming out on January 29. In it, he trashes current and former members of the regime of Kremlin asset and incompetent buffoon Donald "Rump" Trump, clearly angry that he was summarily canned as Rump's transition director. Here are some of his latest bouquets, via Axios:

"Donald so urgently needed the right people around him and a solid structure in place. ... Far too often, he’s found himself saddled with the riffraff. ...

Instead of high-quality, vetted appointees for key administration posts, he got the Russian lackey and future federal felon Michael Flynn as national security adviser. He got the greedy and inexperienced Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency." (our emphasis)

We'd dispute Krispykreme's choice of "saddled": these were Rump's "only the best people" that he chose because they kissed his bigly behind. But please go on, oh rotund avenger:

"The day after Trump was elected, he was handed a detailed road map that would have avoided many of these pitfalls and launched him on a far more promising path, a plan that was fully consistent with his values [ed.: WTF are those?], his campaign promises, and his publicly stated views. 

But that plan was thrown in the trash. Literally.

All thirty binders [ed.: full of women?] were tossed in a Trump Tower dumpster, never to be seen again. Steve Bannon, Rick Dearborn, Jared Kushner and others, for their own selfish reasons, got rid of the guidance that would have made their candidate an immensely more effective president and would have saved him an awful lot of heartache, too. In so doing, they stole from the man they’d just helped elect the launch he so richly deserved." (our emphasis)

Actually, he got the launch he richly deserved, and we've been paying for it ever since. Life would be so grand if Krispykreme had run the show!

It seems there's also some reptilian life in the White (Supremacist) House, too. A Guardian review of ex-Rump employee Cliff Sims' tell-all book, "Team of Vipers," reveals that there's a lot of biting and scratching going on:

"Sarah Sanders, Trump’s press secretary, possessed a casual attitude toward truth-telling when it came to the press, according to the book. In Sims’ words, Sanders 'didn’t press as hard as she could have for the rock-bottom truth', adding that her 'gymnastics with the truth would tax even the nimblest of prevaricators, and Sanders was not that'. At least Sims believes that Sanders was not a 'natural liar'.

Likewise, Kellyanne Conway, the high priestess of 'alternative facts', comes in for her share of incoming. Sims spills the beans on Conway repeatedly trashing Jared Kushner, Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon and Sean Spicer to the mainstream media, while recounting to the press ostensibly private conversations with the president." (our emphasis)

Their Secret Santa gifts must have been a hoot.