Thursday, April 16, 2026
Off The Trump Train
You don't have to hand it to her, but she does have lines.
For years, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy enjoyed leverage as the right-wing leader who could bridge the gap between Europe and President Trump.What is with this first sentence, though? "For years." Meloni wasn't PM until 2022. The New York Times made no mention of her relationship with Trump (broadly defined) during his first term.
This week, though, she seems to have decided that Mr. Trump is a bridge too far.
After suffering major political setbacks because of her association with Mr. Trump, who is deeply unpopular in Italy and seen as the cause of rising gas prices, Ms. Meloni seized on an opportunity to extricate herself from a relationship that had grown domestically and internationally poisonous. After Mr. Trump launched a broadside on Monday against Pope Leo XIV, Ms. Meloni rallied to the American pontiff’s defense, saying, “I find President Trump’s remarks about the Holy Father unacceptable.”
Mr. Trump, clearly jilted, lashed out at Ms. Meloni, saying in an interview with an Italian newspaper on Tuesday that he hadn’t talked to her “in a long time,” was vexed by her lack of participation in the war in Iran and was “shocked by her,” adding, “I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.” He responded to her “unacceptable” criticism by snapping, “She’s the one who’s unacceptable.” On Wednesday, he added in a television interview that with Italy, “we do not have the same relationship.”
DeTrumpify
It isn't the most important thing in itself, perhaps, but any Dem presidential wannabee who isn't willing to take a wrecking ball - and willing to pledge to do so - to Trump's various monuments to himself is unlikely to move beyond the "look forward, not backward" ethos that is the cause of many of our current problems.
The Commission of Fine Arts, which is filled with Mr. Trump’s appointees, is scheduled on Thursday to consider Mr. Trump’s plan to build a 250-foot arch on the other side of the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial.A good first "official act" to put in terms John Roberts can appreciate.
But Mr. Trump’s push to build the giant arch — more than quadrupling its size from original plans — has alienated early proponents of the project, classical architects and veterans groups who say it will diminish nearby Arlington Cemetery.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Well Okay Then
Mr. Trump, sir, if you wish to drink some herbicides I have some more recommendations.
Donald Trump defended his consumption of diet soda by suggesting it might help prevent cancer, according to recent comments shared by Mehmet Oz in an interview with Donald Trump Jr.
The remarks have even prompted some doctors to remind the public that, no, diet soda will not do anything to prevent cancer.
“Your dad argues that diet soda is good for him because it kills grass – if poured on grass – so, therefore, it must kill cancer cells inside the body,” Oz said on Triggered with Don Jr, the president’s eldest son’s podcast.
Just War
That there is "just war doctrine" does not mean it is being followed, obviously. The chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine:Mike Johnson on the Pope: "If you wade into political waters, you should expect some political response & the Pope has received some. Frankly I was taken a bit aback by him saying something about 'those who engage in war, Jesus doesn't hear their prayers' or something. There's 'just war' doctrine.'"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) April 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM
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“For over a thousand years, the Catholic Church has taught just war theory and it is that long tradition the Holy Father carefully references in his comments on war. A constant tenet of that thousand-year tradition is a nation can only legitimately take up the sword ‘in self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2308). That is, to be a just war it must be a defense against another who actively wages war, which is what the Holy Father actually said: ‘He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.’ “When Pope Leo XIV speaks as supreme pastor of the universal Church, he is not merely offering opinions on theology, he is preaching the Gospel and exercising his ministry as the Vicar of Christ. 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.”Not my theological dispute, but it is funny how these guys (republicans) are just dumbasses.
Pope-A-Dope
Trump rarely has a filter, but I am slightly curious about what is motivating JD to pick a fight with Pope Bob. Not that it has to make sense to me, but how does it make sense to him?
It's Us, Yes We're Back Again
Do we think there's even the notion of a plan here, or are they just following the random 3AM brain eruptions of the sundowning Mad King.
The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops into the Middle East in the coming days, as the Trump administration attempts to pressure Iran into a deal that could end the weeks-long conflict there while considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if a fragile ceasefire does not hold, U.S. officials said.
Schism
Very public converts (not all converts) have just decided they've found the religion which conveniently tells them God is behind everything they do, and in the case of some Catholic converts, that they certainly know better than the Pope.
It's just very funny because he is a recent convert lecturing the Pope about Catholicism. Also because he's a dumbass.
Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV should “be careful” when he talks about theology, rebuking the pontiff over his criticisms of U.S. foreign policy.I actually think treating the Pope like a political actor when he is being one is fine. I don't think religious figures should be entitled to automatic deference and respect. And, hey, if Vance breaks that taboo a bit, good for him.
It's just very funny because he is a recent convert lecturing the Pope about Catholicism. Also because he's a dumbass.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Corrupt Systems
One problem with corruption (very broadly defined), is that once it becomes entrenched in any institution, corrupt people make sure to push noncorrupt people out. One can't have any pesky whistleblowing dogooders around, even in the Political Party For Doing Good, as they might get in the way of everybody getting rich. The bad people push out the good people.
I'm not always a perfect judge of character, and sadly I've found that "being more cynical" is the best defense against getting conned by people, but it is often not too hard to look at the people in politics and guess which ones are not, actually, primarily in it for the Do Gooding.
In early April, Stephanie Cutter, a former senior adviser to the 2024 Harris campaign and former Obama deputy campaign manager, was announced as a policy adviser for the prediction market firm Kalshi, where she will presumably work alongside Kalshi’s strategic adviser, Donald Trump Jr. In addition to her new gig, Kalshi has hired Precision Strategies, the communications firm Cutter co-founded, where she currently works as managing partner. Precision Strategies will help bolster the quasi-gambling firm’s presence in Washington as lawmakers become increasingly skeptical of the prediction markets industry. So far, so revolving door.
...
Cutter is not the first prominent Democratic insider to have moved from selling cryptocurrency to peddling prediction markets. Sean Patrick Maloney, the former DCCC chair, recently launched a prediction markets trade group that is backed by Kalshi. David Plouffe, Cutter’s former colleague on the Obama and Harris campaigns and at Precision Strategies, might also be interested in joining the effort. He has previously advised both Coinbase and Binance. Perhaps the most shameless sellout of the Obama presidency, former principal deputy solicitor general Neal Katyal, is also working on behalf of Kalshi.Everybody's gotta eat, but I'm pretty sure Cutter has enough cash to eat well for the rest of her life.
I'm not always a perfect judge of character, and sadly I've found that "being more cynical" is the best defense against getting conned by people, but it is often not too hard to look at the people in politics and guess which ones are not, actually, primarily in it for the Do Gooding.
I won't claim I have had numerous opportunities to sell out, or that I never had my price for doing so, either, but I am regularly stunned by how easily people transition from supposedly being one of the good guys to working for Evil Corp.
Yes I do think there's something corrupt about being a senior adviser to a Dem presidential candidate while having one eye on your next lucrative gig.
This Is Not The Way
There is not a single voter in America, especially right now, who will be persuaded to take climate change seriously because of its impact on military readiness.
Deals
Seems like a "we'll push our scumbag guy (Swalwell) out if you push your scumbag guy (Gonzales) out" trade, perhaps necessary given the very close House.
I'm glad they resigned and I'm all for pressuring people to resign, but I actually don't like the idea of opening the door to making explusion votes a normal thing.
I'm glad they resigned and I'm all for pressuring people to resign, but I actually don't like the idea of opening the door to making explusion votes a normal thing.
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