I am not so naive, but one did hope that “if he can’t see it, it isn’t happening” would be limited to Trump’s tiny geographic orbit in DC and what he saw through the warping windows of The Beast. But no, whether its climate, people, labor numbers, or hunger, there will be no official seeing-of-it. https://apnews.com/article/trump-ending-america-hunger-report-snap-cuts-750f90757f50ab2d8bc97dfca5a917dd

It’s grift all the way down for these clowns. https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/tom-homan-cash-contracts-trump-doj-investigation-rcna232568

Hell, a Man Show era Jimmy Kimmel who also did blackface would be in the cabinet. https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/updated-trump-administration-fcc-guidelines-for-late-night-tv-hosts

Just some curious bullshit https://dcdispat.ch/2025/09/18/just-some-curious-bullshit.html

What did he fight for? https://dcdispat.ch/2025/09/17/what-did-he-fight-for.html

I think I remember when it seemed that a president would very likely and quickly get impeached for ordering a murder… but honestly, I’m not sure anymore. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5528890/international-crisis-group-adviser-on-legality-of-u-s-strike-on-venezuelan-boat

The climate crisis, slow-roll-WWIII, no better than band-aids on the social safety net between axe swings at it, and a duopoly political system oscillating between making it all happen or doing nothing people actually need to stop it, and an economy teetering on realizing it.

Imagine, in terms of the kinds of things being cut in proposed House and Senate GOP budget bills, what we could pay for already (accepting ludicrous premises) if we just weren’t flying all those KC-135s and C-17s constantly at $20k+/hour/plane re: Israel/Iran. Or you know, the fucking parade.

Oh, neat. Democracy. (h/t kottke.org https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1017072 https://kottke.org/25/05/0046829-in-shanghai-a-new-crowd-s

If you told me 30 years ago that an adult me, not a lawyer, would listen to Supreme Court oral arguments “for fun,” I’d have spit my Mountain Dew in your face.

Did a filibuster happen if no one being opposed had to bat an eyelid? https://dcdispat.ch/2025/04/01/did-a-filibuster-happen-if.html

The Signal chat seems to be evidence of a war crime, right? https://dcdispat.ch/2025/03/25/the-signal-chat-seems-to.html

I've been quiet here (not so much directly on Bluesky). I hope I can say it is because I have been busy in worthwhile efforts.

I have to hope that enough enthralled by fascism are not fascists https://dcdispat.ch/2025/03/24/i-have-to-hope-that.html

We’re getting snowed but I don’t mean the weather.

The blowback is going to come in all forms https://dcdispat.ch/2025/02/06/the-blowback-is-going-to.html

USAID shutdown reportedly styming anti-human trafficking direct service efforts https://dcdispat.ch/2025/02/05/usaid-shutdown-reportedly-styming-antihuman.html

I hear the ghost of Ed Sullivan: “We have a very big shew today!” https://live.house.gov

We finally got here—I’ve got a double Manhattan, a lit tree, most things cleaned and cooked before the holiday, only some wrapping (and lots of Santa-ascribed assembly) to sneak in tomorrow … so, eff it, now I will kick back and watch A Very Murray Christmas.

Tonight I’m remembering Phillip Wearne again. A friend in a chaotic time, and perhaps still also a missed opportunity to learn more from him. He introduced me to Graham Greene’s works, for which I’ll always be grateful. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jun/22/phillip-wearne-obituary