...story here🚨 NPR reports that it has learned that the White House has begun the search for a new Secretary of Defense.
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) April 21, 2025
Monday, April 21, 2025
How About Sean Hannity
What Did They Think Would Happen
I don't mean Trump, as his brain is mostly worm castings at this point, but any of the people around him. Did it not occur to them that countries would retaliate?
A Boeing jet intended for a Chinese airline landed back at the planemaker’s US production hub on Sunday, a victim of the tit-for-tat bilateral tariffs launched by Donald Trump.
The 737 MAX, which was meant for China’s Xiamen Airlines, landed at Seattle’s Boeing Field at 6.11pm, according to a Reuters witness. It was painted with Xiamen livery.
The jet, which made refuelling stops in Guam and Hawaii on its 5,000-mile (8,000-km) return journey, was one of several 737 MAX jets – Boeing’s bestselling model – that had been waiting at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion centre for final work and delivery.
Leaky Pete Is A No Show
Hegseth, for his part, has still not weighed in on the firings or turmoil inside his office and has avoided situations over the last week in which he may have encountered the press. Reporters were invited to cover the defense secretary welcoming his French counterpart to the Pentagon on Thursday, but Hegseth failed to show up, sending an aide instead.
At first I thought this meant Hegseth didn't show to the meeting at all, but then I realized there was some formal protocol greeting that he avoided, probably to avoid the press.
The guys who got fired are pissed that they were slimed on the way out (whether or not they deserved it) and Pete's worried about what they'll say.
Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll wrote Saturday in a joint statement that they are “incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended” and denied leaking information.
“Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door. All three of us served our country honorably in uniform — for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it,” they wrote. “At this time, we still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with.”
RIP Francis
The Pope died. Shame one of his last moments was meeting Vance briefly.
A pretty good Pope, to the extent that I have any understanding of these things. Aside from the things "we" hear about, he also was involved with purging some nasty orders in his home continent.
I don't think there's too much argument from decent people against the idea that he was the best pope in my lifetime.
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Clogged Circulatory System
I don't claim to know every much about this stuff, but you don't need too much of an imagination to see how much of a problem this is for businesses that are used to relying on things working a particular way.
DHL Express, a division of Germany’s Deutsche Post, said it would suspend global business-to-consumer shipments worth over $800 to individuals in the United States from April 21, as US customs regulatory changes have lengthened clearance.It isn't all Musk, but it is a government by people like Musk, by people who don't know how anything works, and who believe they are smarter than everyone else so there's no point in asking.
But They Won't Cover It
I know - and if you have ever read this very fine blog you should know that I know - the media game is rigged against Democrats in various ways for various reasons, but it is also true that it is not hopeless. You can get coverage.
Sunday morning April 20, 2025 Fox News Sunday — Van Hollen NBC's Meet the Press — Van Hollen CNN's State of the Union — Van Hollen CBS’ Face the Nation — Van Hollen ABC’s This Week — Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov #AbregoGarcia #RuleOfLaw
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Nobody Could've Predicted
Leaving aside all the obvious concerns about Hegseth, he's obviously not qualified to run the world's biggest bureaucracy.
Bullies
Always stand up to them.
Basically - we didn't mean to send you that, you should've talked to us, but also we mean it 200% actually.
The broader point is that no one is in charge, because Trump isn't in charge, and maybe that's the story journalists should be telling more.
Harvard University received an emailed letter from the Trump administration last Friday that included a series of demands about hiring, admissions and curriculum so onerous that school officials decided they had no choice but to take on the White House.It's quite clear what happened here (the Trumpers are full of shit), but even though the journalists clearly know this they still privilege the bullshit to make it sound as if Harvard is the unresonable party, that Harvard should've accepted the "mistake" claim and continued to grovel.
The university announced its intentions on Monday, setting off a tectonic battle between one of the country’s most prestigious universities and a U.S. president. Then, almost immediately, came a frantic call from a Trump official.
The April 11 letter from the White House’s task force on antisemitism, this official told Harvard, should not have been sent and was “unauthorized,” two people familiar with the matter said.
The letter was sent by the acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, Sean Keveney, according to three other people, who were briefed on the matter. Mr. Keveney is a member of the antisemitism task force.
Basically - we didn't mean to send you that, you should've talked to us, but also we mean it 200% actually.
A senior White House official said the administration stood by the letter, calling the university’s decision to publicly rebuff the administration overblown and blaming Harvard for not continuing discussions.The simple point is that if they can't beat this stuff in court then there's no point in going on. It's all over already. Spend your endowment then turn out the lights.
The broader point is that no one is in charge, because Trump isn't in charge, and maybe that's the story journalists should be telling more.
Slowing The March
Late last night, the Supremos stopped Trump's latest kidnapping efforts, not even giving Alito time to write his "to come later" dissent.
At the very least this is recognition that it is hard to unshit the bed, but it is not yet a promise to stop the shitting.
At the very least this is recognition that it is hard to unshit the bed, but it is not yet a promise to stop the shitting.
Friday, April 18, 2025
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