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Top Trump Adviser: Rising Gas Prices Show 'People Are Optimistic About The Future'

Top Trump Adviser: Rising Gas Prices Show 'People Are Optimistic About The Future'

President Donald Trump’s failure to negotiate an end to his war with Iran has led the administration to now absurdly claim the resulting rise in gas prices are a good sign for the economy.

Kevin Hassett, the Trump-appointed director of the National Economic Council, made the claim during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.

“People are spending more on gas, but they’re also spending more on everything else—not just groceries but restaurants and so on. And I think that’s a sign that you would see when people are optimistic about the future,” Hassett said.

In the weeks following Trump’s choice to attack Iran, which has caused the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route, gas prices have reached an average of $4.32 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. That is significantly more than the $3.14 that a gallon cost at this time last year.

No serious economist would argue that rapidly increasing the cost of a necessity like fuel could be seen as a positive economic indicator, and the Trump administration is aware of this.

Increased fuel costs, along with Trump’s increased tariffs, have caused inflation to rise. According to the Commerce Department, inflation reached 3.8 percent year-over-year in April, the highest rate that has been measured since May 2023.

The recovering economy that Trump inherited from former President Joe Biden is being washed away by Trump’s actions.

On his Truth Social account, Trump fumed on Sunday night that he is receiving criticism for his diplomatic impotence. Trump and his team have continually promised that a “deal” with Iran is imminent, but for weeks, nothing substantial has materialized.

“[D]on’t the Dumocrats, and various seemingly unpatriotic Republicans, understand that it is MUCH tougher for me to properly do my job and negotiate, when political hacks keep negatively ‘chirping,’ at levels never seen before, over and over again, that I should move faster, or move slower, or go to war, or not go to war, or whatever,” Trump wrote.

He concluded: “Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end – It always does!”

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Paxton's Sweetheart Plea Deal With Pedophile Looms Over Texas Senate Race

Paxton's Sweetheart Plea Deal With Pedophile Looms Over Texas Senate Race

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has only been an official GOP Senate nominee for a few days, and he’s already dealing with fallout from a controversial offer that his office made to a pedophile.

During an interview with CBS News, Democratic candidate James Talarico was asked to respond to a childish nickname that Paxton has used to describe him, “Talafreako.”

“If Ken Paxton is worried about freaks, he should stop giving Epstein-style sweetheart deals to pedophiles. This is the guy who just released Adam Hoffman from jail, an admitted child rapist, after one of Ken Paxton’s wealthy lawyer friends got involved in the case,” Talarico said.

Talarico went on to say that Paxton is “the most corrupt politician in America.”

The controversy stems from a plea deal that Paxton’s office negotiated with Hoffman, a former attorney from Waco, Texas. After being charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a young boy, Hoffman was facing a possible life sentence without parole.

But after Paxton’s team negotiated with Hoffman, he instead pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and would serve just one day in jail.

Conservative Judge Roy Sparkman was incredulous about the offer, according to court transcripts, insisting that Hoffman serve 60 days instead. Hoffman was released on Monday after only serving 29 days of his sentence.

Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn, who lost to Paxton in the primary, previously criticized the lenient sentence.

“Paxton could have stopped this one, but instead cut him loose to reoffend over and over again, putting more children at risk,” Cornyn wrote on X.

The Hoffman controversy is just one of Paxton’s many scandals, including allegations of multiple affairs and an impeachment drive sparked by alleged bribery and abuse of power.

Paxton’s current pedophile scandal has arisen as the Epstein files continue to be a major headache for President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

Trump’s administration has blocked efforts to release the Epstein files in their entirety, which has raised concerns as Trump has personal ties to Jeffrey Epstein, including sending him a lewd birthday card.

Trump’s endorsement of Paxton was a key catalyst in his primary victory, but the nomination of the scandal-plagued Republican has turned what should be an easy GOP win into an uphill battle.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

Nicole Saphier

Dumping Means, Trump Nominates A Fox Covid-19 Misinformer As Surgeon General

President Donald Trump has nominated yet another Fox News pundit for a major position in his administration.

He announced Thursday that he’s chosen Nicole Saphier as his pick to be surgeon general. Saphier distinguished herself at Fox as one of the biggest medical misinformers on COVID-19 and a shameless shill for Trump.

Saphier got the nod after Trump’s previous nominee, influencer Casey Means—who lacks a medical license—saw her nomination jammed up in the Senate.

“Nicole is a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention, while at the same time working with men and women on all other forms of cancer diagnoses and treatments,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

If her nomination is successful, Saphier will join the ever-growing ranks of Fox characters who litter this administration—including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro.

According to Media Matters for America, Saphier has made at least 640 appearances on Fox over the years. The right-wing propaganda network is obsessively watched by Trump and wields enormous influence over his actions.

Saphier primarily focuses on medical issues. Her stance, as expressed in her book Make America Healthy Again, is that people experience medical issues because of “lifestyle” choices.

“If Americans want to know why their health care is so costly and getting costlier, they need only look in the mirror,” she posits in the blurb for her book.

In this worldview, poor policy decisions, corporate greed, and other external factors play no role in ailments like cancer or heart disease. It remains to be seen how something like childhood cancer could stem from one’s “lifestyle.”

As COVID-19 ravaged the world in 2020, Saphier became one of Fox’s primary figures promoting quack takes on how Trump was handling the pandemic.

For instance, Saphier argued that Trump deserved praise for focusing on economic issues, even as he ignored advisories from medical experts. While Trump argued that COVID-19 was not a major concern and that the summer heat would kill it, Saphier said that he was doing an adequate job.

“The economic and emotional toll from misinformation is going to hit us much harder than this virus is in itself,” she said at the time.

As recently as September 2025, Saphier was still pushing COVID-19 misinformation, arguing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “lost all credibility throughout the COVID pandemic when they continued to universally recommend the COVID vaccine.”

And when she wasn’t making outlandish comments about the response to COVID-19, Saphier was a dedicated cheerleader for Trump and the GOP.

After the Trump administration pursued its widely condemned family separation immigration policy in 2018, Saphier argued that it was medically acceptable to house immigrant children “in cages or in windowless rooms.”

She also complained about the Affordable Care Act requiring insurance companies to cover serious illnesses that were previously denied, insisted that expanding Medicare would make the program worse, claimed that the ACA made people die from preventable illnesses, and lied about the GOP plan to kill the ACA, falsely claiming that it wouldn’t rescind coverage for preexisting conditions.

When she wasn’t opining and misinforming on medical issues, Saphier also engaged in typical Fox culture war bigotry. For instance, she alleged—without evidence—that a transgender fencer had gone through gender-affirming care purely to have a competitive advantage.

“These men can’t cut it with the other male athletes, so therefore they are coming into the female sports,” she said.

Trump’s senior leadership already looks like a Fox News broadcast. If Saphier joins the ranks, the network’s lies and bigotry will play an even greater role in U.S. health care.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Casey Means does not have a medical degree, which is incorrect. She does not have a medical license.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos

FBI Probed 'New York Times' Reporter Over Stories On Patel Paramour's Abuses

FBI Probed 'New York Times' Reporter Over Stories On Patel Paramour's Abuses

FBI agents investigated a New York Times reporter who uncovered that FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend was being ferried around on taxpayer-funded flights.

The New York Times reported Thursday that agents probed reporter Elizabeth Williamson in March, following the article about Patel that she wrote in February.

The FBI tacitly admitted to the probe, asserting that “investigators were concerned about how the aggressive reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking.”

The Times noted that Williamson made phone calls throughout reporting for the story, including one phone call to Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins.

“The FBI’s attempt to criminalize routine reporting is a blatant violation of Elizabeth’s First Amendment rights and another attempt by this administration to prevent journalists from scrutinizing its actions,” said Joseph Kahn, executive editor of the Times.

The revelation that federal agents were deployed in response to an unflattering news story is the latest mess for Patel in a series of highly publicized screw-ups.

Patel, who rose to prominence by writing fan fiction about President Donald Trump, is currently suing The Atlantic for reporting on Patel’s alleged drinking impacting his job performance.

That suit came after a video of Patel partying with the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team went viral. While he was being rowdy with the Olympians, a man was arrested on the grounds of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, allegedly toting weapons.

Patel has also been under scrutiny for mishandling FBI assets during investigations and for directing agency resources to pursue Trump’s long-debunked election conspiracy theories.

Investigating the Times reporter for basic journalism is in line with Trump’s actions to use the federal government to attack free speech and the freedom of the press.

Details of this episode are surfacing just before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25. For the first time, Trump will be attending, despite his opposition to journalism. Other anti-First Amendment members of the administration have been invited by CBS, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior White House aide Stephen Miller.

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who used his position to remove late-night host Jimmy Kimmel from the air, will also attend as a guest of CBS News’ parent company Paramount Skydance, which is owned by GOP donor David Ellison.

The Times is a prominent member of the White House Correspondents’ Association, though journalists from the paper will only be at the party to report—not to attend as guests.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos


Karma Comes For Alex Jones, On The Verge Of Losing His Evil Media Empire

Karma Comes For Alex Jones, On The Verge Of Losing His Evil Media Empire

Still reeling from a verbal dressing-down from President Donald Trump that was heard around the world, conspiracy theorist and right-wing podcaster Alex Jones has reached a new level of public humiliation.

On Monday, The Onion announced that its deal to take over Jones’ infamous Infowars is near completion.

The Onion entered into an agreement with Gregory Milligan, who was appointed by a bankruptcy court to manage Infowars, to turn it into a satirical website and media property. Courts still have to approve the final deal, so it will remain in Jones’ hands until then.

The original deal was first announced in 2024 but has been in a state of limbo following objections from Jones and his allies.

“There is a moment in your life where you see a bunch of evil shit happening, and you have a chance to stop something that is particularly egregious. And if you walk away from it, I just don’t know why you’re alive,” The Onion CEO Ben Collins told podcaster Pablo Torre during a discussion of his decision to buy Infowars on Monday.

Jones lost control of his brand after the families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting triumphed in a defamation case against him. Jones had pushed false theories about the shooting, including lies that it was a “false flag” operation. The families were awarded nearly $1 billion, and Jones’ company declared bankruptcy.

The Onion said it has hired comedian Tim Heidecker to serve as creative director for the new Infowars site. And in its first video teasing the new venture, the tone is clearly a satirical take on Jones’ absurdist conspiracy rantings.

https://www.theonion.info/

[image or embed]
— The Onion (@theonion.com) April 20, 2026 at 1:03 PM

“I just thought it would be just a beautiful joke if we could take this pretty toxic, negative, destructive force of Infowars and rebrand it as this beautiful place for our creativity,” Heidecker told The New York Times.

Jones first became a well-known figure by arguing that 9/11 was a plot by the federal government, and he went viral years ago for claiming that chemicals were added to drinking water to “turn frogs gay.”

Earlier this month, Trump referred to Jones as one of the “nut jobs” in the right-wing media world. Trump has been feuding with media figures—who were once loyal allies—after they criticized his war in Iran.

In the past, Jones has described Trump as a figure chosen by God to lead the United States, and he has consistently been among the biggest Trump apologists.
Jones has profited handsomely from his disinformation, raking in millions while promoting racism, sexism, and homophobia. But in the last few years, he’s paid a karmic price—and the hits just keep on coming.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Kos


Pope Leo XIV

Dismissing Trump And Vance, Leo 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