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Pope Leo XIV

Scorning Trump Goons, Holy Father Denounces World's Warmongering 'Tyrants'

Pope Leo XIV clearly believes he answers to a higher authority than the president of the United States. On Thursday, he defied demands from Donald Trump and others in his presidential orbit, and once again weighed in on world affairs.

During a visit to Cameroon, the pope warned that the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.” The leader of the Catholic Church also noted, “Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”

His visit was centered around the separatist conflict that has ravaged that region of the world, and he did not mention Trump by name, but it is impossible to ignore the parallels between Leo’s faith-based condemnation and Trump’s actions.

Trump has attacked Iran and threatened to kill that nation’s entire civilization. On social media, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has constantly spoken about the attack on Iran purportedly being executed in the name of God and has asserted that America’s actions in the region are holy.

The pope has condemned the war and called for peace, which has raised the ire of the Trump team. Trump accused the pope of being “WEAK on Crime” for his opposition to the war, while Vice President JD Vance said the pope should “be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” and implied that his comments opposing the conflict as an unjust war were not “anchored in the truth.”

Clearly, the pope is not abiding by the Trump administration’s demands for his silence.

Simultaneously, he received institutional support from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In a release on Wednesday, the conference released a statement asserting that the pope’s comments were a part of the “long tradition” of the Catholic Church’s “just war theory.”

“The consistent teaching of the Church is insistent that all people of good will must pray and work toward lasting peace while avoiding the evils and injustices that accompany all wars,” said Bishop James Massa, chairman of the conference’s committee on doctrine.

Unlike Trump, whose approval rating has declined by double digits since being sworn in last year, the pope is popular. In a Gallup poll conducted last July, Pope Leo XIV had a 57 percent favorability rating and was the most popular of the 14 newsmakers surveyed. In that same poll, Trump had a 41 percent favorability rating.

Source: Gallup Survey conducted July 7-21, 2025, among 1,002 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of ±4 percentage points.Table by Andrew Mangan Created with Datawrapper

Before he took aim at the leader of their faith, American Catholics were turning on Trump after he chose to attack Iran, with polls showing his support among the group falling under 50 percent.

Directly attacking the pope, telling him to shut up about world affairs, and posting blasphemous imagery of the most important figure in the Christian religion is not likely to help Trump—with Catholics or anyone else.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Whistleblower: Hegseth Lied About Iran Drone Attack That Killed Six Americans

Whistleblower: Hegseth Lied About Iran Drone Attack That Killed Six Americans

A survivor of the Iranian drone attack on a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, where six Americans were killed, has revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lied about the incident.

In comments to CBS News, the whistleblower backs up previous reporting about the vulnerabilities of the facility, which run contrary to Hegseth’s statement that the attack got past fortifications.

The survivor, who remains anonymous to avoid possible retaliation from the administration, told CBS that he believes that the deaths were “absolutely” preventable.

In a press conference after the attack, Hegseth told reporters that the drone attack was a “squirter” that hit a “fortified” tactical operations center. But the whistleblower says this isn’t true.

When asked by CBS what fortifications were in place, he replied, “I would put it in the ‘none’ category, from a drone defense capability … none.”

One of the injured surviving soldiers also denied that the operations center was fortified.

“I want people to know the unit … was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position,” the soldier told CBS.

The account backs up previous reporting about inadequate protection at the facility. The area hit by the drone was not in compliance with the Army’s counter-drone manual, which requires steel reinforcements to protect against drone attacks.

Meanwhile, in his efforts to sell the American public on the Iran war, Hegseth has spent far more time complaining about reporters than addressing safety concerns. He has repeatedly claimed that U.S. forces hold the upper hand, minimizing the severity of Iran’s responses. But officials have explained that Hegseth is painting a far rosier picture than the reality on the ground.

For instance, Hegseth claimed that Iran had “no air defenses.” Several days later, a U.S. jet was shot down, and the pilot had to be rescued.

In another episode, he insisted that families of fallen servicemembers urged him to “not stop until the job is done.” But Charles Simmons, the father of slain Tech Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, told NBC News that did not happen.

The whistleblower’s allegations are further evidence undermining the disastrous war, which the Trump administration has still failed to justify.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos


Sycophant's Reward: Bondi Dumped As Attorney General With Zeldin In Wings

Sycophant's Reward: Bondi Dumped As Attorney General With Zeldin In Wings

President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after he was apparently displeased with her performance in using the Department of Justice to pursue his personal vendettas.

Trump is reportedly planning to replace her with current Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, a Trump loyalist known for pursuing a pro-pollution agenda.

Bondi wasn’t Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general. The original plan was to install former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, but a sex-trafficking scandal pushed him out, forcing Trump to pivot to Bondi.

Under Bondi, attempts have been made to pervert the criminal justice system to go after Trump’s ideological enemies. Charges were filed against figures like New York Attorney General Leticia James—who successfully prosecuted Trump—and former FBI Director James Comey—who exposed Trump’s role in the pressure campaign that led to his first impeachment.

But those cases have faced roadblocks from skeptical judges and grand juries who stand in the way of Trump using the court system as his plaything.

Bondi has also been a disaster while serving as the most public face attached to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. She touted Trump’s line early on, hinting that disclosures about the accused sex trafficker and his reported client list would be exposed. But Bondi quickly became the leader of Trump’s refusal to come clean about the lurid details of Epstein’s operation and his victims. Testifying before Congress, she was repeatedly defiant about the administration’s efforts to hide the Epstein files from the public.

The suddenly dumped attorney general has operated as a loyal foot soldier for Trump, pushing to silence his critics and rushing to defend his allies like racist billionaire Elon Musk. But like ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—another woman in Trump’s Cabinet who has been pushed out—Bondi has apparently outlived her usefulness.

House Oversight Committee Democrats issued a warning to Bondi after news of her firing broke.

“Attorney General Pam Bondi has been leading a White House cover-up of the Epstein files,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), the highest-ranking Democrat on the committee, said in a statement.

Garcia said that Bondi weaponized the DOJ to protect Trump in the Epstein case, accusing her and Trump of putting survivors in harm’s way by exposing their identities.

“She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given [Epstein accomplice] Ghislaine Maxwell,” he added.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was also Trump’s personal lawyer, will operate as interim attorney general. Blanche has demonstrated his willingness to use the publicly funded DOJ as a tool of Trump’s personal interests.

Meanwhile, during his time in Congress, Zeldin was a zealous defender of Trump. And after a failed bid for New York governor, Zeldin was appointed to the EPA, where he has pushed for relaxing rules meant to keep environmental resources clean—endangering the lives of millions of Americans.

But whether he chooses Blanche, Zeldin, or another sycophant, Trump has made it clear that his priority is to bend the justice system to his will to continue his cover-ups and corruption.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was also Trump’s personal lawyer, will operate as interim attorney general. Blanche has demonstrated his willingness to use the publicly funded DOJ as a tool of Trump’s personal interests.

Meanwhile, during his time in Congress, Zeldin was a zealous defender of Trump. And after a failed bid for New York governor, Zeldin was appointed to the EPA, where he has pushed for relaxing rules meant to keep environmental resources clean—endangering the lives of millions of Americans.

But whether he chooses Blanche, Zeldin, or another sycophant, Trump has made it clear that his priority is to bend the justice system to his will to continue his cover-ups and corruption.

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CathyMApr 02, 2026 at 02:20:28 PM

YES!! 😄😄😄😄

Now — some lawsuit to PRESERVE THE EVIDENCE against her so we can prosecute when sanity returns!! THANKS for the good news!

tmseattleCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 02:30:11 PM

It won’t make a bit of difference. She did exactly what Trump wanted, and was fired because she got backlash for following his orders. He’ll just find another sycophant to replace him, unless the Senate blocks him.

ktoztmseattleApr 02, 2026 at 02:32:18 PM
unless the Senate blocks him

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Like that’s going to happen.

AstronutktozApr 02, 2026 at 02:50:31 PM

The Senate Guardians Of Pedophiles are probably already shivering with delight at the prospect of handing Dear Leader what he wants.

alterego55AstronutApr 02, 2026 at 04:05:57 PM

It’s Trump’s fault because he never told Blondi that releasing the Epstein files was nothing more than a campaign lie. She thought she had the holy grail in her and Trump would appreciate her initiative. He’d shower praise all over her. But now he blames her.

That’s how Trump operates.

Noodlesalterego55Apr 02, 2026 at 06:09:22 PM

She made him look bad. “Sorry, now you have to go, that's the ultimate crime”. Also she probably complained. Trump doesn't need any nattering like that.

SpancosktozApr 02, 2026 at 03:04:13 PM

Otherwise, let the cavalcade of 120-day rotating, interim, acting AGs commence!
Nothing good can come of the good that’s just occurred.
Zeldin, a practicing lawyer for THREE years before entering politics.
Truly a shitshow in a rolling dumpster fire in a fourteen-ring circus.

SimnsaysSpancosApr 02, 2026 at 04:44:06 PM

...with a demented Ring Leader!

niemanntmseattleApr 02, 2026 at 02:56:58 PM

That seems to be the pattern:

Sell your soul to Donald Trump for power and money.

He throws you under the bus anyway.

They never learn that, for Trump, loyalty is a one-way thing.

RenderBotniemannApr 02, 2026 at 03:08:58 PM

In announcer her kick to the curb, Trump said she will be going to “the private sector”, which suggests his friends may have set up a sweet, golden job for her so she doesn’t … talk.

Should we expect anything less here?

PissedGruntyRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 03:16:47 PM

Or that he’s just making up shit. He does frequently.

TRsCousinPissedGruntyApr 02, 2026 at 03:34:04 PM

Apparently Bondi will start at the important new job in “two to three weeks.” We know what “in two weeks” usually means.

PissedGruntyTRsCousinApr 02, 2026 at 03:47:55 PM

What is “never”?

RenderBotPissedGruntyApr 02, 2026 at 03:58:38 PM

As many other comments in this post have said, Trump or his handlers would want Pambi to go quietly and obediently. She knows some things about him, going way back and Epstein-deep. What better way than to prearrange a cushy landing for her? I am just speculating, no inside knowledge of how this exit was structured.

PissedGruntyRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 04:01:03 PM

I’m not saying its impossible. I’m just conditioned to assume with a 90% confidence that anything he says is a lie, unless he’s promising to hurt innocent people.

FiresidemanPissedGruntyApr 02, 2026 at 08:24:07 PM

What is: “A good bet?”

for 💯

RepublicanAirPollutionRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 05:50:43 PM

"She knows some things about him"

Yeah and now watch her get her revenge!

ILoveBatsRepublicanAirPollutionApr 02, 2026 at 06:38:31 PM

Another one who needs a secret safe-deposit box to be opened in the event of her death.

MadLibrarian9RepublicanAirPollutionApr 03, 2026 at 12:38:29 AM

Awaiting the race. Who gets ahold of Bondi first, Faux Newz or Mother Jones? You can guess which I’d prefer.

Too ShyRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 11:11:27 PM

Does anyone else think that she’s made copies of every single epstein file, but she never told tfg?

walkshillsRenderBotApr 03, 2026 at 12:05:00 AM

As a former Florida AG, I bet she know a lot of shit about a lot of people aside from Trump and his gang. Florida is rather notorious for its range of crimes.

RepublicanAirPollutionRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 05:48:49 PM

Everyone in Trump's orbit goes down to the private sector.
Trump's "private sector” that is (meaning kissing his ass)😘

Desert ScientistniemannApr 02, 2026 at 04:27:13 PM

Bingo! And some of his MAGA buddies are starting to realize that! One reason his polls are going into the toilet. He should have stayed out of the 2024 race, if he wanted ti actually not get caught in his own lies!

Too ShyDesert ScientistApr 02, 2026 at 11:12:57 PM

He ran in the 2024 race in the first place so that he wouldn’t go to prison.

Blue Choir SingerniemannApr 02, 2026 at 04:28:44 PM

I Guess She Failed to Indict Senator Schiff,

I guess super-loyalist Bondi “failed” to appease “Dear Leader” because she failed to indict Senator Adam Schiff my fine junior Senator. I’m sure anyone else who takes her place will be just as wacko. But again, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.

SimnsaysniemannApr 02, 2026 at 04:49:33 PM

I keep trying and trying and trying to figure out why these folks who are willing to debase themselves on international TV, never think he will throw them under his bus. It’s like the women who think the married men who cheated on their wives with them won’t cheat on them too. It’s seems like a type of arrogance where they think they are some kind of special so the same thing won’t happen to them.

poalcat51niemannApr 02, 2026 at 07:18:22 PM

Yep. The scuttle is that Bondi and Trump got into a heated argument last week and despite her begging him to keep her job, she was out the door and on her way back to Florida by the time he stood in front of the TV cameras last night.

These folks just don’t seem to grasp the fact that if you agree to go to work for DJT you had better be good at knowing how to cover up for him and make him look good, because he sure as hell isn’t going to take the blame if anything goes wrong (which it usually does).

They just don’t get it.

Desert ScientisttmseattleApr 02, 2026 at 04:23:59 PM

Exactly! Siding with T***p doesn’t keep you safe. He demands loyalty, but never gives it. He sees the world like most extreme narcissists, as composed of enemies and fools.

NickyZCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 03:07:48 PMgiphy-Snoopyhappydance.gifskippppppApr 02, 2026 at 02:21:48 PM

So Trump is mad at her for releasing too much from the Epstein files?

abydenusskippppppApr 02, 2026 at 02:29:26 PM

It is hard to say. From what I heard Trump wanted to his please his Qanon base by releasing even more of the Epstein files. At the same time the Epstein files made Trump look bad and so he wanted Bondi to release less of them. It was basically a Schrodinger’s Epstein Files. Bondi was given an impossible task, obviously failed, and was canned for not being able to complete a contradictory and impossible mission.

Kevo2007abydenusApr 02, 2026 at 02:52:38 PM

How to please Trump enough in this job to not get fired:

Good: Redacting Trump from files and releasing them. This one is risky because sleuths could determine the subject to be Trump.

Better: Selectively releasing the files that Trump is not in and releasing all the files where he does not appear.

Best: Rewrite the files and make up fake files using AI to incriminate Democratic policitians and anyone that Trump considers an enemy.

Because Bondi was unable to perform to Trump’s demands (best), she is gone. It didn’t help that she said “Fifty thousand DOLLARS”.

abydenusKevo2007Apr 02, 2026 at 03:03:22 PM

The problem is that Trump’s supporters are morons (that is why they are Trump supporters). They were convinced that the unedited Epstein Files would vindicate Trump and convict the “perverted Dummicrats”:

The fact that Bondi did not release all the Epstein files made them conclude that she was too stupid to realize this or worse was evil and had been corrupted by the Dummicrats:

Basically good tsar, bad boyars:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_tsar,_bad_boyars

In other words, Trump is wonderful and everything that goes wrong is because of his bad Cabinet. The doublethink is mind-boggling...2nd balconyabydenusApr 02, 2026 at 03:46:33 PM

yeah, bad boyars…whatcha gonna do? anyway, although you invoke uncertainty, or indeterminancy, you also intimate that the maga version of the copenhagen interpretation is to just put a pinch between the cheeck and gum. j’approuve.

LeftleanerabydenusApr 02, 2026 at 02:55:26 PM

What she was probably supposed to do was to replace the idiot with Clinton, or better yet Obama, and then release them.

niemannabydenusApr 02, 2026 at 03:03:16 PM

She didn’t know that Trump is the only person who is allowed (for some reason) to get away with brazenly lying and claiming two completely contradictory things at the same time.

MammadiquattroniemannApr 02, 2026 at 06:06:26 PM

You forgot machine gun lips who can lie with impunity even better than her felon boss!

skippppppabydenusApr 02, 2026 at 05:01:08 PM

That sounds about right.

Sort of like how we’ve already won the war, yet we still have to get the job done.

And shame on NATO allies for not helping us win a war that we don’t need their help winning.

mungleyskippppppApr 02, 2026 at 02:30:53 PM

I read on RawStory that it was over Bondi telling Congressperson Swalwell that they are reopening an investigation about his fundraising.

(An alleged Chinese spy helped him raise funds. Orig investigation was dropped because there was no “there” there.)

CathyMmungleyApr 02, 2026 at 02:44:44 PM

I doubt that was the real reason; either she said something he took wrong, or some other toady (Blanche?) convinced him to replace her, or his dementia just took hold and he’s lashing out randomly.

I want to know what bribe (job) she got — is it big enough to keep her quiet? She’s got a lot on him… does he have enough on her to keep her from monetizing her knowledge? Stay tuned.

TKO333CathyMApr 02, 2026 at 02:59:29 PM

She took the bribe for the Trump University thing in Florida, but I heard she may have been involved with Trump and Epstein before that. I always figured the bribe in Florida was her primary qualification for this job, but I do not know if there is more in her history.

AstronutCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 03:01:08 PM

Or is he just getting rid of women? I heard that Tulsi Gabbard may be next. Or not; she’s as clearly a puppet for Putin as T**** and he’d need Pooty’s permission.

mungleyCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 03:10:47 PM

As with Noem there is no traditional TACO “I’ve never met the woman/she’s dead to me” bluster.

He said “transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.”

Bondi has to have enough dirt on TACO to bury him. He’ll have to keep her happy.

A Noah CountmungleyApr 02, 2026 at 06:13:07 PM

“Bondi has to have enough dirt on TACO to bury him. He’ll have to keep her happy.”

On the other hand, he sees himself as being just like a mafia Don. He may well have “made her an offer she couldn't refuse”, if she has any ideas about getting even with him, if you know what I mean.

Too ShyA Noah CountApr 02, 2026 at 11:29:33 PM

I’m sure she has a HUGE insurance policy set up so that doesn’t happen. Just like Ghislane Maxwell.

A Noah CountToo ShyApr 03, 2026 at 08:35:09 AM

I’d love it if she not only showed up for her appearance before Congress on the 14th, but she also “spills ALL the beans” on the Pumpkin Pinochet when she’s there.

That would be SOOOO sweet!

NYVeganmungleyApr 02, 2026 at 03:04:37 PM

Meidas just published this:

Attorneys for Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., sent a formal cease and desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel on Sunday, demanding he immediately halt any effort to publicly release a decade-old investigative file related to the congressman — and threatening to haul him into federal court if he refuses.
... It was copied to Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI General Counsel Sam Ramer — a deliberate, public paper trail that signals Swalwell’s legal team is prepared to escalate fast.
The three-page letter alleges Patel directed the FBI to dig up and release the file on Swalwell, who is currently a leading candidate in California’s June 2 gubernatorial primary. Swalwell’s lawyers say the file relates to a counterintelligence matter in which the congressman cooperated with and assisted the FBI — and that he was never accused of any wrongdoing.
skippppppmungleyApr 02, 2026 at 05:00:15 PM

Why would Trump fire her over that?

I would bet he directed her to open the investigation.

mungleyskippppppApr 03, 2026 at 12:55:39 AM

She allegedly tipped Swalwell off. TACO wouldn’t like that.

Too ShymungleyApr 02, 2026 at 11:20:06 PM

They just wanted to dirty him up, because he spoke out against the kleptocrats.

nilaskippppppApr 02, 2026 at 02:50:31 PM

Donny fired her because she’s weakening the brand...but Pam did her best with the hair...he should use it, Bondi’s hair is better than his at half the cost

Roger MexiconilaApr 02, 2026 at 03:15:46 PM

No, no, no — She needed long extensions, draped down the bosom, and “work” on her lips, eyebrows, and face in general. Plus higher heels. So she just didn’t fit in with Drumpf’s ideas about “beautiful.” Failure.

Brian3nilaApr 03, 2026 at 08:21:25 AM

Should have used a better dye.

gfpskippppppApr 02, 2026 at 03:19:27 PM

Did he consult with Laura Loomer before making this decision?

Methinks They LieApr 02, 2026 at 02:22:10 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Oh no! Does this mean she has to go back to chasing ambulances???????

CathyMMethinks They LieApr 02, 2026 at 02:45:24 PM

No — he’s set her up in a “private sector job” — paying her off somehow. Media needs to get on this and find the job…

MemoryCellsMethinks They LieApr 02, 2026 at 02:50:41 PM

She got paid big money by Qatar to be a lobbyist. Maybe Iran might need to hire someone connected to Trump to hash out the bribes?

eyesoarsMemoryCellsApr 02, 2026 at 05:40:27 PM

I gather they’re trying to get their beautiful 747 back. Maybe they can pay her to do that, but it might not sit well with Hair Furor.

RenderBotMethinks They LieApr 02, 2026 at 03:12:39 PM

She still has a Congressional subpoena to answer to, that should be fun.

A Noah CountRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 04:31:01 PM

Even if she complies with the subpoena, she’ll just do her Junior High School mean girl shit.

Roger MexicoMethinks They LieApr 02, 2026 at 03:18:04 PM

Huh? I thought only excitable pooches do that.

exlrrpApr 02, 2026 at 02:23:06 PM

The only bad thing about Bondi getting the boot is her replacement (Lee Zeldin? Todd Blanche??) will be worse. Trump's giving her the boot because--unbelievably-- she wasn't fascist enough.

TomPaineEsqexlrrpApr 02, 2026 at 02:25:37 PM

It’s Blanche, at least temporarily.

NepentheRisingTomPaineEsqApr 02, 2026 at 02:58:09 PM

Get him to testify under oath!!!

tightlikethatexlrrpApr 02, 2026 at 02:27:10 PM

Or at least she was not effective enough at imposing fascism...

exlrrptightlikethatApr 02, 2026 at 02:29:11 PM

Maybe wouldn't let him grab her whatever

SpaceElevatorexlrrpApr 02, 2026 at 02:37:54 PM

She has been at tRump’s side for a long time; odds are pretty good they have ‘bumped uglies’ in the past. She adores Fat Donnie.

barneydoggSpaceElevatorApr 02, 2026 at 02:47:19 PM

Just lost my lunch.

Will Smirk 4 FoodSpaceElevatorApr 02, 2026 at 03:30:18 PM

Jesus did you have to say that?? I was reading this while eating. Now I have to scrape chip dip off my computer screen!!!

A Noah CountWill Smirk 4 FoodApr 02, 2026 at 04:33:59 PM

You’ve been here long enough that I would think that you’d know by now this can be a “dangerous” place.

; ]

Too ShyA Noah CountApr 02, 2026 at 11:41:32 PM

LOL

tmseattleexlrrpApr 02, 2026 at 02:32:24 PM

She was plenty fascist. She was just unable to make the Epstein files go away and get retribution on Trump’s enemies, thanks to the remaining ethical judges in the justice system.

KarmalaexlrrpApr 02, 2026 at 02:34:06 PM

Plus that upcoming April 14 Oversight Committee deposition, though I didn’t really think she’d appear. There are plenty of law firms that will hire her at a much higher salary.

CathyMKarmalaApr 02, 2026 at 02:58:11 PMwww.theguardian.com/…1h ago13.33 EDT

Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democratic representative from Florida, released a statement noting that Bondi is still expected to testify before the House oversight committee, noting that her ouster “does not get her out of that bipartisan, lawful subpoena. We will see her soon.”

CathyMCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 02:59:17 PMsame post: 2h ago13.27 EDT

...Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, welcomed Bondi’s ouster and said that she led “a White House cover-up of the Epstein files”.

..Today, Garcia said that he still expects the ousted attorney general to testify.

“She will not escape accountability,” he said. “She must answer for her mishandling of the Epstein files and the special treatment she has given Ghislaine Maxwell.”

...“If they think we are moving on because they were fired, they are gravely mistaken,” Garcia said of the Democrats’ ongoing investigations into the former officials.

KarmalaCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 03:04:41 PM

I’m skeptical that she will show.

Saint StephenKarmalaApr 02, 2026 at 04:03:39 PM

As well all know, rules and laws don’t apply to Republicans.

quiet thoughtCathyMApr 02, 2026 at 03:09:31 PM

She should show up to the hearing and throw Trump under the bus. He’s earned it.

RenderBotquiet thoughtApr 02, 2026 at 03:14:52 PM

Then goodbye cushy job “in the private sector” for Pam.

CathyMRenderBotApr 02, 2026 at 07:55:35 PM

Sadly… as long as they think they are safer together, no one will rat on the other…

DartagnanApr 02, 2026 at 02:23:09 PM

Nancy Mace is a lickspittle idiot.

“Bondi handled the Epstein Files in a terrible manner and made this situation far worse than it had to be for President Trump,” Mace said.

“Far worse than it had to be?” Exactly how much worse should it have been?

PissedGruntyDartagnanApr 02, 2026 at 02:37:11 PM

“Life in prison” worse, though I doubt Mace agrees with me.

gfpDartagnanApr 02, 2026 at 03:27:30 PM

Because the most important consideration is not justice or closure for the survivors or accountability among the guilty, but whether it makes things better or worse for Trump.

They aren't even trying to pretend to care any more.

A Noah CountgfpApr 02, 2026 at 04:37:45 PM

When she flat out refused to acknowledge the Epstein victims seated right behind her showed she didn’t care one bit.

ClytemnestraApr 02, 2026 at 02:24:20 PM

What position in the “Shield of the Americas” will she now inhabit?

DurabilityClytemnestraApr 02, 2026 at 02:26:19 PM

Car Shield

Roger MexicoDurabilityApr 02, 2026 at 02:37:41 PM

I hear that car shields can be easily replaced, eh? Says so on TV.

Don DumitruClytemnestraApr 02, 2026 at 02:26:37 PM

The bleet had her being dumped into the private sector.

Olds88Don DumitruApr 02, 2026 at 02:31:11 PM

A “much needed” private sector job.

She must be hard up. Guess she didn’t charge enough to her brother’s pardon clients.

Roger MexicoOlds88Apr 02, 2026 at 02:38:50 PM

Floor mop girl at a Taco Bell. It’s a sort of living.

shabbedolleRoger MexicoApr 02, 2026 at 06:47:14 PM

“Floor mop girl at a Taco Bell” — its a honest job (that I’ve done — my roommates made me change out of the uniform on the porch tho). Much more honest and less “ewww” than covering for Trumpstein, i.e., changing his diapers.

BobRROlds88Apr 02, 2026 at 02:40:18 PM
A “much needed” private sector job.
She must be hard up. Guess she didn’t charge enough to her brother’s pardon clients.

My local Wal Mart is hiring. $20 an hour to start, $23 an hour for the optical department, no experience necessary.

Too ShyBobRRApr 02, 2026 at 11:46:38 PM

Where is your Walmart? My husband has been there for 15 yrs, and he’s making less than that.

BobRRToo ShyApr 03, 2026 at 01:32:35 AM
Where is your Walmart? My husband has been there for 15 yrs, and he’s making less than that.

It’s in Kona, Hawaii. Of course, the cost of living is higher here. Hawaii’s minimum wage is $16 an hour, and will be $18 an hour in 2028.

I’m sure the pay is also higher because the available work force is smaller.

Too ShyBobRRApr 03, 2026 at 02:24:33 AM

Probably. We live in the eastern part of the state, and the town is all about the service industry. Snowing in the winter (when we get snow) and the snooty rich valley people come up here during the summer to escape the heat.

Too ShyToo ShyApr 03, 2026 at 02:52:09 AM

btw. the minimum wage is $15.50 in arizona. Years ago, when I worked at Walmart, arizona raised its minimum wage to $9/hr. I had been at Walmart for about 10 years, and I was really aggravated that the new cashiers were making 50cents/hr less than me. You would think that if they were going to follow the new minimum wage policy of the state that they would adjust other people’s wages. Walmart is way too cheap to do that. It might hurt the corporate profits.

CathyMDon DumitruApr 02, 2026 at 02:47:19 PM

Some kind of bribe job… or maybe somewhere she’ll be watched closely. I shudder to think of the treachery involved in working anywhere near Rump…

tightlikethatApr 02, 2026 at 02:25:43 PM

Can't wait to see which ghoulish MAGA Monstrosity is appointed to replace her...

ontheleftcoasttightlikethatApr 02, 2026 at 02:31:10 PM

^^ THIS ^^

Every time, every damn time, Shitler replaces someone they turn out to be some new form of horrible.

Baby SealtightlikethatApr 02, 2026 at 02:31:31 PM

Word is that it will be Lee Zeldin.

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'Groyper' Republicans: Neo-Nazi Infestation Of GOP Keeps Getting Worse

'Groyper' Republicans: Neo-Nazi Infestation Of GOP Keeps Getting Worse

College Republicans of America, a network of right-wing clubs with more than 280 chapters, recently named Kai Schwemmer the new political director.

Schwemmer will play a vital role in directing the organization, which has contributed to the GOP’s leadership and ideology pipeline. And his new role has additional significance because, as a devotee of neo-Nazi podcaster Nick Fuentes, it hints at the future of an increasingly bigoted Republican Party.

The GOP’s affiliation with antisemitism and racism is nothing new. The party has been knee-deep in bigoted politics since at least the 1960s—and since President Donald Trump became the party’s leader in 2016, the right has more openly embraced this kind of hate.

In addition to this news from College Republicans, GOP candidates have been seeking out Fuentes for his blessing. For instance, Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback—who has been dogged by reports of sexual misconduct—has Fuentes’ support in his campaign.

Fuentes’ involvement in national politics goes back to the infamous 2017 “Unite the Right” neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which featured prominent chants of “Jews will not replace us” and eventually led to the killing of counter-protester Heather Heyer. Fuentes was among the crowd that Trump referred to as “very fine people.”

He’s also the host of a white nationalist podcast—whose devoted followers call themselves “groypers”—where he advocates for extreme right-wing politics, stemming from his desire to make the United States a white nation where nonwhite immigrants are removed.

Fuentes is a promoter of antisemitic conspiracy theories, including the false allegation that the Holocaust is a hoax.

On his podcast, Fuentes has discussed his admiration for Adolf Hitler, who he said was “cool,” argued that women should be imprisoned, expressed his desire for an American dictatorship, and spoken out in support of pedophilia—including saying that he wanted a “16-year-old wife.”

Because of his extremist views, Fuentes has already been a public headache for top Republicans. In 2022, he was a dinner guest at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property—along with fellow antisemite Kanye West—generating worldwide headlines.

After he was criticized by Fuentes for being a part of an interracial marriage, Vice President JD Vance said that Fuentes “can eat shit.”

But Fuentes, who backed Trump’s presidential campaigns, has also criticized his policies, expressing anger at Trump’s war on Iran and arguing that it breaks from the so-called “America First” ideology.

He’s also complained that Trump hasn’t deported enough people, saying, “I’m criticizing Trump because there’s not enough deportations, there’s not enough ICE brutality, there’s not enough National Guard.”

“My problem with Trump isn’t that he’s Hitler—my problem with Trump is that he is not Hitler,” Fuentes said.

The influence that media personalities have over the GOP cannot be underemphasized.

For decades, Republicans marched in lockstep with racist radio host Rush Limbaugh, who hosted leaders like former President George W. Bush on his show. And two Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and Trump, rose to prominence in the party after careers in media.

Overall, Fuentes’ toxic, extreme worldview has not been a hindrance—he’s the future of a party that just continues to be more and more hateful.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Church Leaders Rebuke Far-Right Billionaire Thiel Over Obsession With 'The Antichrist'

Church Leaders Rebuke Far-Right Billionaire Thiel Over Obsession With 'The Antichrist'

Billionaire Republican megadonor Peter Thiel is receiving international criticism, including from members of the Catholic clergy, for promoting his belief that the arrival of the Antichrist is near.

The Antichrist is a figure in Christianity who has traditionally been seen as a herald of the end of the world and who operates in direct opposition to Jesus Christ.

Thiel has an estimated net worth of more than $30 billion, making him one of the 100 wealthiest people in the world. For the last year, he’s given speeches at conferences discussing his belief in the looming Antichrist.

As part of Thiel’s crusade this week, he traveled to Rome, Italy, to speak with a conservative Christian group to explore “occult forces,” which the group says are “ceaselessly at work, intent on destroying what remains of the West.”

In previous appearances, Thiel has described the so-called Antichrist as having beliefs that align with the liberal, left worldview. He has also argued that the Antichrist intends to create a one-world government while opposing climate change and the spread of artificial intelligence.

Leaks from a previous conference show Thiel calling internationally celebrated climate activist Greta Thunberg “some sort of evil tyrant” or “a shadow of an antichrist.”

According to Rev. Paolo Benanti, who advised the late Pope Francis, Thiel is promoting “a prolonged act of heresy against the liberal consensus: a challenge to the very foundations of civil coexistence.”And Avvenire, an Italian Catholic newspaper, described Thiel as an “agent of chaos.”

Thiel exists at the upper echelon of financial donors to the GOP, and he was a major contributor to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. Currently, he is among the top GOP donors in this year’s midterm elections.

Vice President JD Vance is close to Thiel, who helped him get into the world of tech financing and investment after Thiel contributed $15 million to elect Vance to the Senate.

After supporting Trump and other Republicans, Thiel’s firm Palantir has received millions in government contracts authorized by the Trump administration. Palantir’s technology is being used by immigration agents to identify and deport immigrants.

At the elite right-wing donor level, Thiel stands beside Elon Musk in spending heavily to elect Republicans.

Let them waste their money.

'Objectively Incredible': MAGA World Splits Over Bad Bunny's Super Triumph

'Objectively Incredible': MAGA World Splits Over Bad Bunny's Super Triumph

While President Donald Trump’s supporters usually march in lockstep with him, Bad Bunny’s excellent Super Bowl halftime show has caused some to fall out of line, with some MAGA types admitting they enjoyed the pro-immigrant performer.

When Bad Bunny was first announced as the halftime-show performer this past September, conservatives lashed out. Trump kept that momentum going on Sunday, declaring that the performance was an “affront to the greatness of America.” His unofficial adviser Laura Loomer was even more explicit, writing, “This isn’t White enough for me.”

But conservative pundit Meghan McCain had a different point of view. “I’m sorry but I just genuinely question your taste level if you didn’t enjoy the Bad Bunny halftime show,” she wrote on X.

British TV host and frequent Trump booster Piers Morgan said he “absolutely loved” the performance and ranked it among the best in Super Bowl history. And podcast host Andrew Schulz, who backed Trump but has been critical of him lately, also said the half time show was “objectively incredible.”

Even neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes wrote on X, “I liked the halftime show, I thought it was fun.”

Bad Bunny’s performance also caused a rupture between influencer brothers Logan and Jake Paul, who have both been part of the pro-Trump media world. Jake Paul told his followers to turn off Bad Bunny’s performance and called him a “fake American citizen.” Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, making him a native-born American.

Responding to his brother, Logan Paul wrote, “I love my brother but I don’t agree with this,” adding, “Puerto Ricans are Americans & I’m happy they were given the opportunity to showcase the talent that comes from the island.”

While many in the MAGA world broke from Trump, his longtime allies at Fox News tried to keep up the good fight.

On Monday afternoon, The Faulkner Focus aired a segment promoting the right-wing alternative halftime show offered by conservative pressure group Turning Point USA. Fox pundit Kaylee McGhee White complained that Bad Bunny sang in Spanish, and argued that the dancing was too sexual at the Super Bowl.

So Trump still has Fox on board for his crusade.

But most Americans—and clearly many MAGA types—simply enjoyed a well-executed and unifying performance oriented around American diversity. The Super Bowl “controversy” is another moment where Trump, Republicans, and many in the conservative movement find themselves far outside of the norm, preferring hate and division over unity.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos


Pursuing 2020 Conspiracies, Trump Sends FBI To Raid Georgia Election Site

Pursuing 2020 Conspiracies, Trump Sends FBI To Raid Georgia Election Site

The FBI has raided an election facility in Fulton County, Georgia, escalating the role of the federal government in pursuing President Donald Trump’s debunked election conspiracy theories.

According to local reports, the federal agency deployed multiple law enforcement vehicles and agents to Fulton County’s Election Hub and Operation Center. Sources told Fox 5 Atlanta that election ballots from 2020 were taken from the site.

Trump lost Fulton County to former President Joe Biden in 2020 by a significant margin, with Biden winning by a margin of more than 243,000 votes—or more than 46 percentage points above Trump.

Fulton is Georgia’s most populous county and 90 percent of Atlanta is located there. Republicans have traditionally won the state, with Biden becoming the first Democrat candidate to win in 28 years, since former President Bill Clinton’s victory in 1992.

This has been a sore point for Trump, who has sought to undermine the result over the past six years.

Immediately after the 2020 election, Trump and his team immediately began pushing conspiracies. Most notably, his former lawyer and disgraced former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani argued that ballots had been manipulated in Biden’s favor in Fulton County.

The conspiracies got so out of hand that Giuliani was later sued by two Black election workers who received death threats after he claimed that they had been part of a ballot manipulation scheme. Giuliani ultimately settled out of court for millions of dollars.

Former special counsel Jack Smith recently testified before Congress, detailing how Trump’s actions to pressure Georgia officials to overturn election results became the hub in the Justice Department’s criminal case against Trump. Smith said that Georgia was “ground zero” for Trump’s criminal crusade.

With former Trump fan-fiction author Kash Patel installed as head of the FBI, the nation’s premiere law enforcement agency is now being deployed to entertain Trump’s debunked conspiracies.

But no matter how Trump misuses federal resources—which are financed by taxpayers—to pursue these conspiracies, his actions will not undo the results of the race.

Trump lost in 2020, with Biden handily defeating him in multiple states—including Georgia. Biden was then certified by Congress as the winner of the election—despite the Jan. 6 insurrection instigated by Trump—and went on to serve his full term as president.

Trump and Patel can try every bizarre FBI operation in the book. It will never change these facts.


Vowing To Buy Midterms, Musk Throws $10 Million Into Kentucky Primary

Vowing To Buy Midterms, Musk Throws $10 Million Into Kentucky Primary

Right-wing billionaire Elon Musk continues to exert his influence over the Republican Party, this time with a $10 million donation to a political action committee backing Senate candidate Nate Morris in Kentucky.

Axios reported Monday that Musk made the donation after meeting with Vice President JD Vance and other senior White House officials in November. The contribution is Musk’s largest ever to a Senate candidate.

So far, nine other Republican candidates have declared their candidacy for the seat, which is being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.of money over politics.

“Are we really living in a democracy when the richest man on earth can spend as much as he wants to elect his candidates?” Sanders wrote on X. “The most important thing our nation can do is end Citizens United and move to public funding of elections. Billionaires can’t be allowed to buy elections.”

Morris is a friend of Vance’s from when they worked together in the venture capital industry. A self-labeled MAGA extremist, Morris once said that he supports a ban on legal immigration until undocumented people residing in the United States are removed.

While Musk’s contribution to President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign certainly helped him win, Musk’s donations haven’t always translated into success. In 2025, he poured millions into the conservative candidate in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, but liberal Susan Crawford won.

Musk has announced plans to support other Republican candidates this year—a reversal from his very public fight with Trump in 2025. Musk’s support for the GOP also undermines his own political party, the “America Party,” that he rolled out last year.

But like so many other of Musk’s promises, that has gone absolutely nowhere.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Gallup Poll: Public Satisfaction With Health Care Costs Hits New Low

Gallup Poll: Public Satisfaction With Health Care Costs Hits New Low

Public satisfaction with the cost of health care plans has hit a record low in a new Gallup poll released Monday—just as GOP legislation begins to go into effect, increasing costs for millions.

The poll found that just 16 percent of respondents are satisfied with the costs of health care—the lowest recorded number in the 24 years that the pollsters have asked the question. In fact, 29 percent of respondents said that cost is the “most urgent national health problem,” followed by access to care at 17% and obesity at eight percent.

Following the passage of President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire at the start of 2026, effectively raising the cost of health care for millions. And KFF estimates that, for people with marketplace plans, premiums will double if the credits expire.

No Democrats voted for the bill in the House or Senate.

Respondents who answered "Don't know" are excluded.Chart: Andrew ManganSource: KFF Health Tracking PollCreated with Datawrapper

...

Republicans have also opposed legislative attempts to fix the premium problem before the new year.

On December 11, Senate Republicans opposed a Democratic bill that would have added a three-year premium extension, meant as a stopgap until further congressional action. The proposal was filibustered by the party majority with a vote of 51-48 preventing further debate.

The defeat of the bill falls in line with decades of GOP opposition to health care reform. The party has spent more than a decade trying to repeal the ACA and has failed to offer a serious alternative.

At the same time, Trump has argued that the issue of affordability—which includes concerns about health care costs—is a hoax invented by Democrats. This is not true, and—as polls are showing us—Americans know it.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Despite Fox's $787 Million Lawsuit Payout, Bartiromo Is Still Lying About 2020 Election

Despite Fox's $787 Million Lawsuit Payout, Bartiromo Is Still Lying About 2020 Election

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, who was arguably the network’s most high-profile promoter of election conspiracies that cost Fox millions in payouts, was back promoting those debunked conspiracies on her Monday broadcast.

The incident occurred during Bartiromo’s show Mornings with Maria, broadcast on Fox Business. Bartiromo and her panel were discussing President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon a group of 77 people who tried to help him steal the 2020 election that he lost to former President Joe Biden. The most prominent pardon recipient was disgraced former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, along with right-wing lawyer John Eastman.

- YouTube youtu.be

Conservative columnist Liz Peek said she supported the pardons (which are symbolic because no federal charges are pending) but that Giuliani and company were “wrong” in attempting to subvert the election.

“Well, we don’t know if they were wrong, by the way, with all of those mail-in ballots. There is more investigation to be done here and I suspect President Trump has his DOJ doing it,” Bartiromo responded.

The right’s conspiracies about mail-in ballots have been endlessly promoted from Trump on down and have been discredited and debunked. Conservatives have sought to cast doubt on ballots delivered via mail in elections where they lose but have not voiced similar concerns in elections they win.

Following Trump’s loss to Biden, Bartiromo took the lead on Fox’s airwaves in promoting baseless conspiracy theories arguing that Trump had actually won the election. Many of her statements helped form the basis of Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox, pushing back on claims from Bartiromo and others that the voting services company had helped Biden steal the election.Internal communications at Fox disclosed during the suit showed that Fox staffers knew that Bartiromo’s claims were false. One message from “Special Report” anchor Bret Baier admitted that allegations Bartiromo pushed out to her social media accounts were “crap.” Internal messages also showed that Fox hosts were aware that promoting these conspiracies increased their ratings with conservative viewers.

Ultimately Fox paid out a $787 million settlement to Dominion.

Bartiromo’s decision to rehash the conspiracies that caused so much damage to Fox’s bottom line makes it clear that the network cares more about pushing out right-wing lies than anything else, even the bottom line.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Soft On Crime: Trump Keeps Pardoning Corrupt Republican Fraudsters

Soft On Crime: Trump Keeps Pardoning Corrupt Republican Fraudsters

President Donald Trump added to his growing list of shady pardons after it was announced on Friday that he granted the honor to two Republicans convicted for fraud.

Trump pardoned Glen Casada, former speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, along with his former chief of staff Cade Cothren. Casada and Cothren were convicted in September on multiple charges and sentenced to 36 months and 30 months in federal prison, respectively.

In a release at the time of their conviction, the FBI noted that the men had been found guilty of fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. The government’s case alleged that Casada and Cothren defrauded the state by funneling over $50,000 of state funds to a sham business they set up that sent mail on behalf of lawmakers.

“The defendants abused their power as government officials and defrauded taxpayers for their own enrichment,” acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti said at the time.

The Trump administration justified the pardon a mere 45 days later by alleging that the Biden administration’s prosecution of the two men was overzealous. In fact, the investigation began during Trump’s first term, and the duplicitous duo was tried in front of a judge appointed by Trump himself.

The case is the latest in a series of pardons and commutations by Trump of convicted criminals.

In October he pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao after Zhao directed millions of dollars to the Trump family’s crypto dealings.

That same month he commuted the sentence of disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), despite his conviction on fraud charges after he was expelled from Congress.

Most infamously, Trump pardoned hundreds of his supporters who stormed and attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, freeing them to commit all-new crimes—now with a presidential stamp of approval.

Trump has claimed that he is in favor of “law and order” to justify his constant stream of attacks on cities led by Democratic officials. But his stream of pardons and other dodgy actions reveal just how soft Trump— a convicted felon himself—is on crime.

Elise Stefanik

Her Next Humiliation? Stefanik Announces Run For New York Governor

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik announced on Friday that she is running to be governor of New York in 2026, attempting to reignite her political career after failing to become ambassador to the United Nations.

Stefanik, a diehard MAGA supporter of President Donald Trump, said in her announcement video that she wants to bring a “new generation of leadership to Albany” and assailed the current governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, as “the worst governor in America.”

The Republican is coming off an embarrassing year after Trump first nominated her to be his U.N. ambassador. Fearing that her appointment would endanger the Republican Party’s razor-thin majority in the House, Trump ultimately pulled her nomination in March. He instead selected Mike Waltz, infamous for his role in the “Signalgate” leak scandal.

Stefanik hopes to succeed as a MAGA Republican in hostile territory, right after elections this week showed the Trump brand has once again become toxic to millions of voters.

To win the governorship in New York, Stefanik will have to make inroads in the Democratic stronghold of New York City, where Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just achieved a dominating victory on a progressive platform. Stefanik has positioned herself against Mamdani and during the campaign furthered bigoted and false allegations against him, labeling him a “terrorist sympathizer.”

The comments were in line with Stefanik’s previous embrace of racist rhetoric, including her promotion of the “great replacement” conspiracy theory. The idea, beloved by white supremacists, alleges that Latino migration to the United States is meant to replace white people.

While Hochul does not have the highest approval ratings, recent polling has not been in Stefanik’s favor. A September survey from Siena College of the possible matchup showed Hochul with a commanding 52 percent to 27 percent lead over the Trump acolyte.

The last time New York elected a Republican governor was over 30 years ago, when George Pataki defeated incumbent Mario Cuomo in 1994. The four governors who followed Pataki have all been Democrats.

New York is not fond of Trumpism. In the 2024 election, former Vice President Kamala Harris defeated Trump there by a 56 percent to 43 percent margin.

Stefanik may need a win after losing out on her U.N. job, but Albany may not be the way.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Military Leaders Deliver Scorching Rebuke Of Hegseth In Far-Right Newspaper

Military Leaders Deliver Scorching Rebuke Of Hegseth In Far-Right Newspaper

Military leaders are speaking out against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, panning his widely mocked speech delivered to a captive audience of military brass last month.

The conservative Washington Times, which has consistently backed President Donald Trump and supported the GOP and far-right causes, doesn’t usually publish anything that’s unflattering to the right—until Hegseth.

“It was a massive waste of time. … If he ever had us, he lost us,” a current Army general told the outlet.

Speaking about Hegseth’s leadership style, a senior officer explained, “Mainly what I see from him are not serious things. It’s, ’Why did this service member tweet this?’ Or internal politics and drama. That’s mostly what I see.”

Sources also told the Times that they believe Hegseth is “simultaneously doing deep damage to the military, both from a public relations standpoint and structurally behind the scenes, that may not be fully apparent until months or even years from now.”

Another officer criticized Hegseth, who served as a host on Fox News, for “the theater of it all” since assuming his position, saying his speech was “announced on stage in public in this grandstanding kind of way.”

During the September 30 speech, Hegseth demanded military leaders to ditch their traditional code of ethics, which he called “stupid rules of engagement.”

Instead of adhering to decades-old military codes to reduce violence and casualties, Hegseth said “warfighters” should focus on tactics that would “intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country.”

Taxpayers were forced to foot the bill for the speech—for which Hegseth ordered generals to travel to Washington—instead of using the Pentagon’s existing communications infrastructure.

The speech was also criticized by women veterans, including members of Congress, for his bigoted remarks about women in the armed services.

But the extraordinarily candid comments to the Times represent another controversy in Hegseth’s rocky tenure leading the military. He began under a cloud of allegations of financial impropriety, excessive drinking, and sexual assault, along with concerns about his qualifications—or lack thereof—merely spouting off during frequent Fox appearances.

In addition to executing Trump’s agenda of purging the military of references to racial and gender diversity, Hegseth has recently seen the departure of multiple military officials, most recently Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command.

At the same time, the administration has been criticized for military strikes in South America, purportedly targeting drug traffickers but without any independent verification or congressional oversight.

Before that, several journalists—including for conservative outlets—walked out in protest of new rules that required their reporting to be pre-approved by Hegseth. Even reporters from Hegseth’s former employer, Fox News, voiced concerns about the restrictions.

Hegseth was also infamously involved in a leak of military plans to a reporter in a Signal group chat, and he has since focused on hunting down his own staff for comments critical of deceased bigot Charlie Kirk.

Hegseth and Trump have tried to rebrand the Defense Department as the “Department of War,” but a real name change requires congressional action. So while he still oversees the Department of Defense, those under his command appear to be fed up with his bullshit.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Cutting Security Funding For Blue States, Trump Opens Door To Terror Attacks

Cutting Security Funding For Blue States, Trump Opens Door To Terror Attacks

President Donald Trump is proposing a cut to anti-terrorism funds being used to protect regions of the country that are among the biggest targets of international terrorism, including Washington, D.C.

The Homeland Security Grants program was created after the September 11, 2001, attacks to help states in the fight against terrorism. It is these funds that Trump is targeting.

Reuters reported on Thursday that 12 states led by Democratic officials are suing to block the cuts. Notices sent out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicate that the biggest cuts are coming for D.C. (70 percent), Illinois (69 percent), California (31 percent), and New Jersey (49 percent).

The administration also initially attempted to cut 77 percent of New York’s funding under the program—which is to say, the state most directly affected by the 9/11 attacks—but Trump reversed his decision after the states filed suit.

By contrast, states that Trump won in the 2024 election—such as Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Ohio—are slated to receive additional funding. Trump has often used the spending power of the federal government to target states led by Democrats, and he has increased this practice after Republicans shut down the federal government.

Washington is among the most obvious targets for international terrorism in the world. It is the seat of the U.S. government and the home to many federal agencies.

The city was targeted by al-Qaida on 9/11, when the group attacked the Pentagon and killed 184 people. United Airlines Flight 93 was also suspected to have been hijacked with the intent of crashing it into the U.S. Capitol building. The plan was averted by the passengers onboard, who stormed the cockpit. Instead of hitting its target, the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the proposed cuts, Trump has already made D.C. more vulnerable by ordering FBI agents tasked with anti-terrorism to instead focus on his pet issue, immigration. Harassing migrants, their families, and neighborhoods are a higher priority for the Trump administration than protecting the nation’s capital.

Similarly, other crime priorities, like investigating child predators and drug traffickers, have been put on the backburner in favor of devoting resources to anti-immigration operations.

The administration seems dead set on vindictively targeting blue states, even if it opens the nation up to more terrorist attacks.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Lawsuits And Bankruptcy Plague Dr. Phil As His 'Anti-Woke' Channel Goes Broke

Lawsuits And Bankruptcy Plague Dr. Phil As His 'Anti-Woke' Channel Goes Broke


After the end of his popular daytime talk show in 2023, Dr. Phil McGraw launched a right-wing media network, and a new report from Slate documents a network in chaos, with suspended programming and bankruptcy filings.

In the November 2023 press release announcing the launch of Merit Street Media, McGraw proclaimed that “American families and our core values are under attack.” The release also echoed many other gripes from now-President Donald Trump and other conservatives, such as the U.S. having “out-of-control immigration.”

Since the networks’ launch, Merit failed to attract viewers, averaging just 24,000 primetime viewers in 2024. In August of that year, the network laid off dozens of staffers. And that October, McGraw spoke at Trump’s racist rally at Madison Square Garden, promoting the network during his speech—to no avail.

The Professional Bull Riders league, which had an agreement to provide content to Merit, quit the network last November. And this July, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Merit is also involved in lawsuits with right-wing religious broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network, with both parties accusing the other of deceptive business practices.

McGraw and Merit tried to translate a pro-MAGA message into financial success. Most notably, McGraw conducted a fawning interview with Trump in August 2024, amid that year’s presidential campaign. The interview gave Trump an opportunity to reiterate numerous conspiracies, including the false claim that he “won the election against [Joe] Biden.”Earlier this year, McGraw rode along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids and recorded content for the network.

None of this kept his venture afloat, though. Once again, despite conservative claims that people want products that counter the “woke” ideas of equality and fairness, such things are often failures.

For instance, Target abandoned its diversity efforts after Trump’s return to the White House, and in response, the company lost millions in sales and required a management shakeup. And Elon Musk’s Tesla has seen truck sales drop after the electric vehicle company’s leader attached himself to the Trump administration.Earlier this year, McGraw rode along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids and recorded content for the network.

None of this kept his venture afloat, though. Once again, despite conservative claims that people want products that counter the “woke” ideas of equality and fairness, such things are often failures.

For instance, Target abandoned its diversity efforts after Trump’s return to the White House, and in response, the company lost millions in sales and required a management shakeup. And Elon Musk’s Tesla has seen truck sales drop after the electric vehicle company’s leader attached himself to the Trump administration.By contrast, ventures seen as favoring “woke” values have often been a hit.

Conservatives complained that this year’s Superman film was described by director James Gunn as pro-immigrant—but the film is the third-highest-grossing theatrical release of the year.

After megastar Taylor Swift endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris last year, Trump said he hated her and that the “Woke singer” was “NO LONGER HOT.” However, Swift’s newest album, The Life of a Showgirl, smashed records.

She is clearly no Dr. Phil.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

RFK JR

Impeach Bobby? House Democrat Vows Removal Of 'Dangerous' RFK Jr

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan announced Thursday that she plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing his unscientific medical practices as a threat to public health.

“RFK Jr. is making our country less safe and making healthcare less affordable and accessible for Michiganders. His contempt for science, the constant spreading of conspiracy theories, and his complete disregard for the thousands of research hours spent by America’s top doctors and experts is unprecedented, reckless, and dangerous,” she said in a statement.

Stevens added that she believes that Kennedy has violated his oath of office and that she intends to “lead the charge to remove him.”

Similar to that of the president, articles of impeachment must pass the House, followed by a Senate trial. If convicted in the Senate, an official can then be removed from office.

Stevens has accused Kennedy of dereliction of duty, citing cuts to vital research, promotion of medical falsehoods and conspiracies, lying about his views during his confirmation hearing, and failing to administer the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are under his control.

The impeachment charge follows President Donald Trump’s widely derided presentation on Monday, where Kennedy appeared alongside Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz. Together, they falsely claimed that autism can be linked to vaccines and the use of acetaminophen.

In response, scientists and doctors from around the world have lashed out at the Trump administration, highlighting the dangers of their unscientific medical claims—particularly among vulnerable children.

But despite the public outcry, the autism quackery embraced by Trump, Kennedy, and Oz has received support from key GOP figures.

“God bless President Trump and RFK Jr. for asking the questions and starting to use their positions, their platform, to give parents informed consent,” Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said.

The autism debacle is just the latest in a string of failure and embarrassment from health agencies on Kennedy’s watch. His decision to censor CDC reports and muzzle experts contributed to an unprecedented measles outbreak in Texas earlier this year.

Kennedy has repeatedly pushed unscientific fears about COVID-19 vaccines and beefed up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with compliant followers who have limited access to vaccines.

In his confirmation hearings, Kennedy said that he would uphold existing vaccine standards, but in office he has done the opposite. He’s also pushing to limit access to abortion pills while trying to pressure international scientists against publishing objective research on the effectiveness of vaccines.

Americans have died as a result of Kennedy’s malpractice, which has been enabled by Trump. If successful, Stevens’ impeachment plan could put a stop to it all.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos.

'New York Times' Has Done Too Much For Trump And GOP -- But Still Never Enough

'New York Times' Has Done Too Much For Trump And GOP -- But Still Never Enough

Following months of mainstream media capitulation toward President Donald Trump and his administration, Trump filed a $15 billion lawsuit on Monday night against The New York Times.

In his suit, which absurdly cites his Electoral College victory and his status as a bestselling “author,” Trump accuses the Times of “smears” by accurately reporting on his statements and actions.

“The Times is a full throated mouthpiece of the Democrat Party,” Trump falsely alleges. The statement ignores decades of the Times furthering right-wing propaganda and elevating attacks on the Democratic Party and the left.

In a statement the Times said Trump’s suit “has no merit” and “is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.”

Trump’s suit against the Times shows that even when the paper bends over backward for him, he will still be resentful of accurate reporting. Since he was sworn in for a second term, there have been several instances of obsequious and downright false reporting from the Times in Trump’s favor.

The paper referred to the current era as “the age of Trump” in June, a month after taking his claim—which went against his entire history as a political figure—that he would pull back support for tax increases on the wealthy as an honest statement.

In perhaps the most dishonest moment for the “paper of record” in Trump’s second term, the Times in February portrayed a Black voter supporting Trump as merely an “artificial intelligence start-up worker,” without informing readers that the supporter also happens to be the communications director for the Houston Young Republicans.

To be sure, the Times has reported accurately on numerous Trump scandals, corruption, and bigotry, but the paper’s coverage—led by star reporter Maggie Haberman—has been friendly to Trump and often regurgitated his falsehoods without calling him out. In her reporting on Trump, Haberman has shied away from noting to readers when he has clearly lied, such as this 2018 report that instead said Trump “repeatedly refused to accept a number of seemingly agreed-upon facts.” In a 2020 story, instead of directly addressing Trump’s racism, Haberman’s reporting mentioned that he was merely “stoking white fear and resentment.”

Trump’s suit is just the latest in a barrage of legal action against media outlets. He sued the Des Moines Register for conducting polls, he sued Facebook parent Meta for banning his account after he incited violence, and he is suing Fox owner Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal for reporting on his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, among others.

Many of these outlets have settled with Trump, even after legal experts have made clear the suits lack merit and have been vehicles for extortion and bribery-style payments. CBS News’ parent Paramount is under investigation by congressional Democrats after the Trump administration approved a merger soon after Paramount decided to settle his suit. ABC News parent Disney also cut a big check to Trump over a specious claim.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos.