Mid-Week Music

 

Who else but National treasure and world-class mensch Dolly Parton, today and always.

Trump Threatens To Demolish Kennedy Center

 

The Malignant Fascist's bootlicking weasels on the Kennedy Center board are making a new pitch to put the MF's name back on the iconic cultural center, threatening to tear the place down if they don't get their way.  Well, why not?  Look what the moron Malignant Fascist did to the East Wing of the White House.

The Trump administration is, for the first time, threatening the demolition of the Kennedy Center if the arts institution isn’t allowed to follow its plans for the site, including adding President Donald Trump’s name to the front of the building.

“Without those efforts, the Center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down, with a determination to follow on what to build on the site, such as a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River that has been proposed, by some, for many years,” Justice Department attorney Brantley T. Mayers wrote in a court filing on Monday.

The filing notes that any potential outdoor amphitheater would “fail to adequately honor” President John F. Kennedy, “but would be simpler and more economical to build, operate, and maintain.”

The DOJ attorneys called the Kennedy Center “structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe, and embarrassing to the Nation’s Capital.”

They said the center’s board, which was handpicked by self-appointed chairman Trump, “recognizes that President Trump’s efforts and prestige provide the sole hope for the Center’s financial survival, and structural renewal.”

“The Board also underscores, and the undisputed evidence demonstrates, that without the prominent recognition of The Trump Administration, and President Trump’s efforts, the donors will not contribute, and the Center will continue to be in a financial and structural death spiral. The Trump Administration, and President Donald J. Trump, should, therefore, be given the respect and dignity of acknowledgement,” the filing says.

It notes that Trump “obtained $258 million in funding from Congress for capital restoration, and has marshalled a new donor base to finance an endowment for the Center,” but does not say what has happened to that money.

The filing makes a dramatic twist in the monthslong saga to renovate the historic arts institution, which has faced multiple legal challenges and criticism from Democrats, musicians and members of the Kennedy family.  [snip]

Trump is appealing and the board voted this month to add his name back to the building in a slightly different way- going from the since-stricken “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” to “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.”

There is a hearing scheduled on the planned name change and closure in D.C. on Thursday afternoon. The judge said in his earlier decision that only Congress has the power to rename the site.

These cultists appear to be willing to stop at nothing, even the most transparent extortionist demands, to honor their dishonorable cult leader.  We have to be every bit as relentless in seeing to it that they don't succeed.

QOTD -- "Are You Better Off?"

 

The midterm elections are already upon us, and every Democrat and Independent running against a Republican should ask voters the question Ronald Reagan asked October 28, 1980, at the end of his televised debate against Jimmy Carter: Are you better off now than you were before this presidency?

Unless you’re very, very rich, the answer is obviously No, I’m worse off.  [snip]

My humble advice to Democratic candidates in the midterms: Don’t be distracted. Don’t take the bait and discuss socialism, “woke”ism, or anything else.

Just ask this simple question: Are you better off now than you were before this presidency? And explain how badly Trump and congressional Republicans have screwed average working people.

You’re better off than you were before the start of this presidency only if you’re a major investor in the stock market, a top corporate executive, or a beneficiary of Trump’s largesse to his billionaire backers.

But if you’re an average working American, you’re indubitably worse off. Hopefully, you’ll vote your economic interests November 3 and deposit Trump’s congressional lapdogs into the dustbin of history..." -- former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, in his Substack, on "What Every Democratic Candidate Should Be Saying."  There are few messages that seem to sink in better with voters than the one posed here.  Given what the corrupt, incompetent Malignant Fascist and his team of Epstein class oligarchs have done, and are doing, to our country (and Reich provides plenty of facts on that), it's a potent political punch.

Jelly Roll Shines On Jimmy Kimmel

 

Guest host and country music star Jelly Roll is substituting for Jimmy Kimmel this week, and ICYMI Monday's monologue was a keeper.  Hilarious zingers about Trump and more, and great rapport with the audience.  The whole monologue is on fire.  Watch:

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)

(Rick McKee, caglecartoons.com)

(Jimmy Margulies, King Features)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

(Clay Jones, claytoonz.substack.com)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Christopher Weyant, Boston Globe)

(John Darkow, Columbia Missourian)

(Rob Rogers, Tinyview.com)

(Pedro Molina, Tribune Content Agency)

(Phil Hands, Wisconsin State Journal; context here)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

Dolly Parton, 1946-2026

 

She had a heart as big as her talent.

She lifted people up without tearing people down.

A light that we all needed has gone out in the world, yet somehow it will always be there whenever we hear her voice or see her image or recall her many, many good works.

Rest in peace and power.

BONUS:  One of her greatest acts of humanity.  And the rest.

(Photo: David McClister)

Skeets Of The Day

 

The Trump - Epstein Files: Blanche defending his pedo client / boss, Maxwell loses --

Blanche really, really doesn't want to hand over these Epstein documents. Can't imagine why </s>

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— Allison Gill (@muellershewrote.com) August 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM

BREAKING: A federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to overturn her sex trafficking conviction on "new evidence" grounds.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 25, 2026 at 9:48 AM

 

Oh, Canada, we stand on guard for thee. And f*ck Trump -- 

Having failed at and then become bored with a shooting war, Donald Trump is returning to what really gets him up in the morning: an economic war. prospect.org?p=143351

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— The American Prospect (@prospect.org) August 25, 2026 at 6:00 AM

 

Stephen Marche: Canada accurately sees Trump's America as a pseudo-democratic fiscal basketcase of a nation, whose only apparent foreign policy objective has become domination for the gratification of its president’s slapdash vanity.

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— Scott Horton (@robertscotthorton.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 11:13 PM

 

People are missing something big about Trump's insane new trade war with Canada: Its impact will hit right in the heart of the Midwest, where many midterm races will be decided. I talked to Dems in the region. They're already using this against Rs. 1/ (new piece) newrepublic.com/article/2146...

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— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) August 25, 2026 at 7:35 AM

 

Pathetic

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— Clara Jeffery (@clarajeffery.bsky.social) August 25, 2026 at 7:39 AM

"Against Canada, Trump is fighting a trade war that very few Americans support, under leadership that most Americans reject, to achieve results that virtually all Americans would dismiss as pointless if not crazy" Read David Frum: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

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— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu) August 23, 2026 at 2:28 PM

 

Operation Epic Failure: farm economy hit hard by fertilizer, diesel costs. Winning!  -- 

 

“.. The [Iran] war has made so much uncertainty for us as farmers,” said Pam Johnson, a former president of the National Corn Growers Association. “It’s projected that farmers aren’t going to make any money for the next two years.” @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/acb6...

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) August 25, 2026 at 5:49 AM

Make America Sick Again, measles edition -- 

Two people have died from measles in Pennsylvania. They are the first people in the state to die from measles in 35 years.

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— Headquarters (@headquartersnews.bsky.social) August 25, 2026 at 10:30 AM

Bari "Bad News" Weiss continues her project to destroy See BS News -- 

She's going to wind up hiring Mark Halperin, isn't she? At this point, why not?

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— Bill Grueskin (@bgrueskin.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 9:38 PM

It's past 25th Amendment time to remove the mentally ill  Malignant Fascist -- 

He’s just days away from appointing his horse to the Senate.

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— Sanho Tree (@sanho.bsky.social) August 25, 2026 at 8:44 AM

 

This hurts so much. So beloved and undeserving of the times we live in --

Dolly Parton, the beloved global entertainment icon who sold more than 100 million records and whose songwriting prowess and sure-handed approach to her career reshaped the face of country music, popular music, and the entertainment industry at large, has died. 🕊️

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— Rolling Stone (@rollingstone.com) August 25, 2026 at 2:06 PM

 

BREAKING: Dolly Parton, iconic songwriter, singer and actor, dies at 80.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 25, 2026 at 2:13 PM

 

Dem Senate Campaign Donation Link

ActBlue has a convenient donation directory with every Senate candidate, so please contribute here.

Recently we noted that the Cook Report had moved some races from Lean Republican to Toss Up. With the likes of arrogant South Afrikaner fascist and disintegrating rocket maker Elon "Leon" Musk coughing up many millions of dollars to elect MAGAt Republicans who will protect his extreme wealth and businesses, it's important to give what you can to help level the playing field. 

 

Remembering Canada's Kindness And Courage

 

As we prepare for the pain on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border due to the sociopathic moron Malignant Fascist's illegal and immoral tariffs (remember tariffs are taxes that are paid by the consumer), it's helpful to remember several of the many times our friends and neighbors have shown kindness and courage in their dealings with us.  These are two illustrative examples out of many:

The "Canadian Caper," 1979 American Embassy Takeover in Iran

When the Iranian Revolution, which toppled the U.S.-backed regime of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, took a solid hold in early 1979, Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor and his embassy staff in Tehran scurried to evacuate the 850 Canadian workers from Iran. Having accomplished that, they processed thousands of applications for visas from Iranians anxious to flee the country. Meanwhile, Islamist militants stormed the U.S embassy on November 5, taking 66 Americans hostage. Iran’s new ruler, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, made their release dependent on the extradition of the shah (who was in a New York hospital) to Iran. As the so-called Iran hostage crisis unfolded, 14 hostages (women, African Americans, and a gravely ill individual) were released, leaving 52 Americans hostage.

Six other Americans who had escaped the militants’ notice asked for the Canadian embassy’s help and got it instantly, with the full backing of Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark and Foreign Affairs Minister Flora MacDonald. Two of the fugitives were sheltered by Taylor in the ambassador’s home; four hid in the residence of John Sheardown, the top Canadian immigration official in Iran, from whom the Americans had first sought help and who had replied, “Hell, yes. Of course. Count on us.” The Canadians also offered to take in any and all of Tehran’s foreign correspondents should they get into trouble with the unpredictable revolutionaries.

Canada’s American houseguests hoped for a quick end to their exile, but the days and weeks stretched on. Meanwhile, the dangerous threat of exposure grew. Jean Pelletier, the Washington correspondent of the Montreal newspaper, La Presse, was the first to figure out what was happening, but, though he had been presented with a career-making scoop and was encouraged by the paper’s managing editor to break the story immediately, Pelletier refused to do so.

Once it was determined that an escape had to be attempted, the CIA slipped into Iran to arrange with the Canadians the removal of the six Americans. The Canadian embassy staff, in small groups, quietly returned home, as preparations were made to close the embassy. Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport was carefully scouted. Canadian passports and identity documents were arranged for the six Americans. With the help of people from the motion picture industry, the CIA had cooked up a scheme in which the six Americans were to pose as members of a film crew scouting locations in Tehran for a fictitious Hollywood science-fiction movie called Argo. Who else but filmmakers, the CIA’s planners figured, would go to Iran in the midst of a revolution? On January 27, 1980, the “film crew” navigated its way nervously through the airport and onto an early morning flight to Frankfurt. Later that day, Taylor and the remaining Canadians shut the embassy down and left Iran.

In the wake of the daringly successful escape, the United States celebrated Canada and Taylor. “Thank You, Canada” signs proliferated, letters of gratitude poured into Ottawa, and the U.S. Congress struck a gold medal in the ambassador’s honor. The CIA’s role did not become public until 1997. Argo (2012), the real-life motion picture directed by Ben Affleck that tells the story of the Canadian Caper, won an Academy Award for best picture.

Operation Yellow Ribbon, September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, as the United States faced unprecedented terrorist attacks, Canada initiated Operation Yellow Ribbon to manage the diversion of civilian flights from U.S. airspace. This operation aimed to quickly remove potentially threatening air traffic from U.S. skies and safely ground these aircraft in Canada. Between 225 and 240 flights were diverted to 17 Canadian airports, with Gander International Airport in Newfoundland playing a pivotal role.

Gander, once a critical refueling stop during World War II due to its strategic location as the most easterly point in North America, had seen reduced activity in subsequent years. However, its expansive runways and facilities remained capable of accommodating large aircraft. On 9/11, Gander handled 38 wide-body planes, bringing in over 6,500 passengers and crew—nearly doubling the town’s population of around 10,000.

The residents of Gander and neighboring communities exemplified remarkable hospitality. They provided shelter, food, clothing, and emotional support to the stranded passengers, who were affectionately termed “come from aways.” Schools, community centers, and homes were opened to accommodate the influx, showcasing a profound sense of compassion and unity.

The story of Gander’s generosity has been immortalized in various forms of media. The Broadway musical “Come from Away” dramatizes these events, highlighting the town’s warmth and the enduring bonds formed during those days. Additionally, the documentary “You Are Here” delves into the personal stories of both the townspeople and the passengers, offering a deeper understanding of this extraordinary episode.

Operation Yellow Ribbon stands as a testament to international cooperation and the strength of human kindness in times of crisis. The swift actions of Canadian authorities and the heartfelt response from communities like Gander provided solace during a period of profound uncertainty, leaving an indelible mark on all who were touched by this act of goodwill.

Canadians also fought shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans, shedding blood in WWI, WWII, Korea, the Gulf War, and the war in Afghanistan.  After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Canada sent relief supplies, Coast Guard cutters, and engineers to the Gulf Coast to aid in rescue and recovery efforts.  Then, of course, there's the regular assistance Canada provides in fighting wildfires in the U.S., involving hundreds of firefighters and aircraft, helping save American lives and property.

To have this noble friend and long-time ally be the subject of a devastating economic attack is beyond reprehensible, especially as it springs from the damaged, disturbed ego of the worst, most corrupt, most incompetent president in our history. As expected, though, they're showing typical Canadian courage and grit in standing up to the bully.

As tariff costs are passed on to consumers, we'll of course be paying more thanks to the MF's latest insane trade war.  But the damage to our fraternal relationship with Canada is a terrible price that we'll be paying for years and years to come.

Dementia Don's Further Descent Into Madness: No More Business With Ontario Across "Lake America"

 

What was our mentally everything- challenged, dangerously unhinged from reality Malignant Fascist up to early this morning?  Looking after the concerns and welfare of the American people?  Surely you jest!

Oooh, that'll bring Canada to its knees in your insane trade war, just like Iran has been brought to its knees by bombing sanctions blockade more bombing economic warfare declaring the Strait of Hormuz an American territory!

Well played, strategic genius!  Just ignore the sounds of the world laughing at you! And thanks for letting the voters whose jobs depend on trade with Ontario, Canada (like those in Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, etc.) know that you "don't expect to doing [sic] much business with Ontario any longer."

Ontario Premier Ford On Trump: "He's A Loser"

 

These are excerpts from a news conference by Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford today, sending several messages to the Malignant Fascist and to the American people on the "tyrant" MF's starting a trade war with our friends and neighbors to the north (full remarks here):

Please Keep Promoting Data Centers, Trump

 

One of the increasingly hot button issues nationwide is AI data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity and water to run.  The impacts on local communities have brought about a grassroots movement across parties to stop them.  But, 10 weeks before the mid-term elections, the reckless and corrupt Malignant Fascist hasn't gotten the memo and continues to promote them.  From Politico:

"The intensifying late-summer backlash against data centers is inspiring panic among some corners of the tech sector — amid fears that the industry is mishandling a political crisis that will stretch into 2028 and beyond.

Those worries have deepened in recent weeks as politicians across the political spectrum embraced various curbs on data center construction, with Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, potential Democratic White House hopeful Josh Shapiro and Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers being among the latest to sign on. [snip]

'AI is going to be a massive issue for the presidential election in a way that technology has never been an issue,' a representative from a major AI company told POLITICO, adding: 'Nobody wants to lose their job and they’re already feeling squeezed while these very, very rich people who are richer than anything we have ever seen in the history of Earth are making more. And I think people are sick and tired of that.'

The person, like others quoted in this story, was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the industry’s political strategy.

The swiftness and ferocity of the backlash has caught the tech industry on the backfoot, where it’s struggled to find an effective message that assuages voters’ worries that data centers will raise their power bills, hog their water supplies and blight the landscape." (our emphasis)

Greedy and detached tech bro oligarchs like Zuckerberg are proposing bribes to local communities to get them on board with his and other data centers.  (It wouldn't be surprising, given big tech's swing to the MF's camp, that the MF also offers financial incentives to communities to host his tech supporters' massive and unpopular projects).  But the impact on voters going to the polls has MAGAt politicians very worried that once again, the MF has undermined their chances. So keep promoting AI data centers, clown.

(photo: Very Stable Genius points to what's clearly not a data center)

 

Skeets Of The Day

 

The Epstein-Trump files coverup --

 

Epstein Victim Claims Secret Tapes Show Donald Trump in Alleged Sexual Encounters With 'Many Girls' in Court Files www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-epstei...

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— Brandy (@3dogz.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 8:01 AM

 

Protecting pedophiles as a signature of this, Dept. of Justice

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— Norm Ornstein (@normornstein.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 4:02 PM

Operation Epic Quagmire / "I AM COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!!"  -- 

 

After claiming roughly 40 times that he has completely defeated Iran, no doubt this latest Donald Trump post will bring Tehran to its knees.

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— mweinstock.bsky.social (@mweinstock.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 9:09 AM

 

In only 6 months, the Trump administration has not only entangled the U.S. in another costly Middle East war of choice; it has broadcast to the world the inability of U.S. military power to achieve core political objectives against a foe that has only a fraction of America’s military might.

— Center for American Progress (@americanprogress.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 9:30 AM

 

I think this is an accurate assessment - at least somewhere around this number. The problem isn’t rebuilding the bases, it’s force protection. Iran knows what works, now they’re reconstituting their capabilities during the lull in fighting. Emboldening them was a grave mistake

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— Angry (@angrystaffer.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 3:43 PM

 

Trump's insane last- minute demands sunk trade deal with our friend Canada --

Holy hell, no wonder Canada walked.

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— Rob Reiner Fan (@rob-reiner-fan.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 8:43 AM

 

Cartoonish Jeffries' "common ground" with fascist grifters on eve of mid-terms --

 

linktr.ee/jesseduquette

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— paulpro (@mariopro.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 2:04 PM

 

anntelnaes.substack.com/p/minority-l...

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— Ann Telnaes (@anntelnaes.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 3:24 PM

 

First Amendment & journalist Karen Attiah 1, Trump oligarch Jeff Bezos 0 --

VICTORY: Karen Attiah wins her case against Bezos' Washington Post An arbitrator has now ruled that no fortune is big enough to buy the 1st Amendment. She is REINSTATED @democracydefendersfund.org is proud to rep her w/ @wbng.org in this landmark fight

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— Norm Eisen (@normeisen.bsky.social) August 24, 2026 at 9:11 AM

 

Dumb Duffy's daughter's dream derailed --

“We are terrified that given distance and a proper education, you will begin to see us for what we are and hold us in contempt.”

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— Julian Sanchez (@normative.bsky.social) August 20, 2026 at 10:44 PM

 

Trump and data centers --

 

The president's embrace of data centers comes amid growing backlash over their impact on communities and pushback from governors from both parties.

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— Forbes (@forbes.com) August 24, 2026 at 3:40 AM

 

Trump chaining himself to data centers over people is such a gift to Democrats, and I pray we don’t waste it.

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— 🗽LOLGOP🗽 (@thefarce.org) August 24, 2026 at 6:59 AM

 

Bake Trump a pie, patriots! --

 

Every true patriot needs to bake this man a pie.

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— David Simon (@audacityofdespair.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 2:28 PM

 

 

QOTD -- "The Moose That Roared"

 

"... The point is not that Canada has “escalation dominance” — the ability to retaliate to every U.S. action with an even more damaging counterreaction — in a trade conflict with the United States. Rather, the point is that an all-out trade war would create a lot of pain in the U.S. in addition to inflicting severe damage to the Canadian economy. And all indications are that the Canadians will be much more willing to bear the pain of a trade war than Americans will – especially given that the great majority of Americans are already dissatisfied with Trump’s economic management.  [snip]

"The bottom line is that Trump is going to lose his trade war with Canada as thoroughly as he has lost his shooting war with Iran. But because he won’t face reality, trade with our northern neighbor will probably be disrupted until the narcissistic bully in the White House no longer controls trade policy..." -- Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman, writing in his Substack about "The Moose That Roared."  A good read and a good explainer on the unstable, deeply disturbed Malignant Fascist using "dominance display" as trade policy (as he does with all of his interactions) in his illegal, deeply deranged tariff war with our good neighbor and longtime ally Canada.   Krugman points out that among the "cards" Canada can play involve the millions of barrels of oil a day we get from them, the electric power they sell us, the auto parts they manufacture, as well as the aluminum and steel they produce.  But, hey, destroying a friendship and an economy to placate the MF's delicate ego and pea-sized brain makes it all worthwhile!

Today's Tomorrow Cartoon

 

(click to enlarge)

The over-the-top response by thugs in the White House to Sen. Ossoff's passing mention that the sick Malignant Fascist would rather "travel with Natalie" on his Bribe Force One from Qatar's emir than do his damn job was a textbook example of the "Streisand Effect."  Instead of shutting down the story with hypocritical, pearl-clutching statements about misogyny, the story blew up, including the release of two very weird letters Harp wrote to the MF. 

Likewise their attempt to paint Ossoff as a "girly man" reflects strongly on their own insecurity (see, projection).

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