There are certain situations in which the military should not fall in line. Bo Zaunders/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images Charli Carpenter, UMass Amherst and Geraldine Santoso, UMass Amherst As the Trump administration carries out what many observers say are illegal military strikes against vessels in the Caribbean allegedly smuggling … [Read more...] about Just follow orders or obey the law? What US troops told us about refusing illegal commands
Crime
Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation Two key Senate Democrats have launched an inquiry after a ProPublica investigation revealed this week that a White House official had intervened on behalf of his former legal clients — pro-Trump influencer Andrew Tate and his brother — during a federal … [Read more...] about Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
‘Jeffrey Epstein is not unique’: What his case reveals about the realities of child sex trafficking
Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivor Lisa Phillips speaks during the press conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18, 2025. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Kate Price, Wellesley College Congress on Nov. 18, 2025, passed legislation that calls on the Justice Department to release records related to … [Read more...] about ‘Jeffrey Epstein is not unique’: What his case reveals about the realities of child sex trafficking
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops When President Donald Trump told reporters on Sept. 5 he’d started looking at sending the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, he said it was because of something he saw on television. He said the city was being destroyed by paid agitators. “What they’ve done to that place, it’s like … [Read more...] about “Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
Manchester synagogue attack: why so many people in Britain’s Jewish community felt a sense of inevitability that this day would come
Embed from Getty Images Julian Hargreaves, City St George's, University of London A man believed to be Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen born in Syria, has been shot dead by police after launching an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 55, died in the attack – … [Read more...] about Manchester synagogue attack: why so many people in Britain’s Jewish community felt a sense of inevitability that this day would come
Charlie Kirk and the test of empathy
There’s an unwritten law in our doomscrolling dystopia that when something bad happens, everyone shall speedily post a clickable opinion, something that’s often little more than eye candy with empty calories. So imagine how remiss yours truly has been. I’m apparently the very last member of the far-flung commentariat to weigh in on the horrific public death of Charlie … [Read more...] about Charlie Kirk and the test of empathy
Have you ever toyed with a scammer?
Have you ever toyed with a scammer? This blogger did so recently on the website X.com or what this blogger prefers to call "Xcrement". Granted, toying with a scammer isn't for the timid, and one should be careful not to give out the wrong information. Still, toying with a scammer can be a beneficial activity if it allows one to gain incriminating evidence. For the … [Read more...] about Have you ever toyed with a scammer?
WILL UPROAR OVER TRUMP’S SALACIOUS EPSTEIN BIRTHDAY DRAWING ALSO FIZZLE?
Is the latest uproar over Donald Trump also destined to fizzle? It can't but bring a sense of deju vu. Once again, another story involving something Donald Trump did or is alleged to have done or said or is alleged to have said comes up. It sparks a furor. Pundits and social media predict it could negatively impact his political career or destroy it or wind up putting him … [Read more...] about WILL UPROAR OVER TRUMP’S SALACIOUS EPSTEIN BIRTHDAY DRAWING ALSO FIZZLE?
‘Full-Blown Constitutional Crisis’ Deepens as Bukele Refuses to Release Maryland Resident
Embed from Getty Images "If this holds," said one critic, "there is no law but Trump's law." by Julia Conley Common Dreams "Everyone here is pretending," said immigration policy expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick as a video of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele speaking in the Oval Office circulated on Monday. Bukele, said the senior fellow at the American Immigration … [Read more...] about ‘Full-Blown Constitutional Crisis’ Deepens as Bukele Refuses to Release Maryland Resident
With Signalgate, the media can show what they learned from 2016
The biggest upside of hunkering down with the fat new bio of longtime SNL producer Lorne Michaels is that it’s veritable Novocaine — it numbs the pain of tracking Team MAGA’s daily idiocies. Inevitably, some squalid acts by the moron squad are bound to break through, such as Trump’s national security guys using Signal, a hackable commercial messaging app, to discuss … [Read more...] about With Signalgate, the media can show what they learned from 2016
TESLA TERRORISM (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Turds for Tesla While announcing charges against three individuals accused of “violent destruction” of Tesla properties, Attorney General (sic) Pam Bondi said, “The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended.” No, they haven’t. Donald Trump is currently taking bribes through his products, his crypto, and his stock. He’s violating the Constitution daily. And … [Read more...] about TESLA TERRORISM (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Is a MAGA Sheriff Threatening Your California County?
Officials Across the State Are Embracing Corruption, Threatening to Work with ICE—and Remaining Above the Law by Joe Mathews If you’re a Californian who wants to fight back against the Trump administration, you might start with a campaign to remove your county sheriff. In our state, the position of sheriff is the closest approximation to the lawless, authoritarian … [Read more...] about Is a MAGA Sheriff Threatening Your California County?
Beatings, overcrowding and food deprivation: US deportees face distressing human rights conditions in El Salvador’s mega-prison
Shackled and bent over – some of the 250-plus deportees arriving in El Salvador. El Salvador Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Mneesha Gellman, Emerson College and Sarah C. Bishop, Baruch College, CUNY El Salvador President Nayib Bukele framed his offer to house “dangerous American criminals” and “criminals from any country” as a … [Read more...] about Beatings, overcrowding and food deprivation: US deportees face distressing human rights conditions in El Salvador’s mega-prison
The growing gift card racket
by Peter Funt My wife Amy purchased a gift card for our daughter at Sephora, the large retailer of beauty products, but all she got was disappointment. When Stephanie tried to use it the clerk informed her the card had a $0 balance. No money. It seems gift cards — growing rapidly in popularity — are increasingly subject to scams. Consumers lost over $250 million in gift … [Read more...] about The growing gift card racket
Long bottled up Gaetz ethics report: evidence of drug use, statuatory rape and using prostitutes
An old joke that goes back to scandal-plagued movie star Errol Flynn has now been updated: What goes into 17 twice? Matt Gaetz. The long-awaited, long bottled-up House Ethics Committee report on resigned Republican House member Matt Gaetz has been released. And the report outlines says the newly hired news anchor for the right wing One America News network was indulging … [Read more...] about Long bottled up Gaetz ethics report: evidence of drug use, statuatory rape and using prostitutes
INSURANCE SHOOTING (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Was an insurance CEO assassinated over denied claims? Good afternoon from Reykjavik. Today’s blog is late because I wanted to see some of Iceland while the sun was still out. There are only five hours of sunlight at this time of year in Reykjavik. I don’t cheer over someone’s death, though there are times when I don’t mourn. This isn’t one of them. I feel bad for … [Read more...] about INSURANCE SHOOTING (CARTOON AND COLUMN)
Social Media Plays World’s Smallest Violin For Murder Victim
"Social Media Plays World's Smallest Violin For Murder Victim" That is a fitting alternate title to an article published by Rolling Stones. This is how journalist Miles Klee starts his news article titled Social Media Has Little Sympathy For Murdered Health Insurance Exec: "The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel on … [Read more...] about Social Media Plays World’s Smallest Violin For Murder Victim
Avoiding the Future in Election Campaigns
Election Day is fast approaching, and the candidates are mostly avoiding the issues that will decide America’s and the world’s future. This may be because these problems do not resonate with voters the way past concerns do, even though they are actually more important. The focus of the candidates is on the economy, inflation, immigration and crime. Global warming, pollution, … [Read more...] about Avoiding the Future in Election Campaigns
JOE BIDEN IS NOT THE CANDIDATE WHO NEEDS TO QUIT THE RACE
I get that people who love democracy and detest MAGA fascism are alarmed about President Joe Biden. I share the concerns. What’s astounding – and it speaks to how numb we’ve become – is that virtually no one with a public megaphone, in the wake of last week’s debate, is calling for Donald Trump to get the hell out and leave us in peace. Yes, Biden ratcheted up the age … [Read more...] about JOE BIDEN IS NOT THE CANDIDATE WHO NEEDS TO QUIT THE RACE
TRUMP’S ROBED ACCOMPLICES HAVE SCREWED THE RULE OF LAW
We’ve known for many months this day was coming. It was inevitable that the MAGA-infested Supreme Court would concoct the requisite flowery language to help Donald Trump weasel out of his criminal predicament prior to the 2024 balloting. And now it has done so. With Monday’s ruling, it’s now official: Thanks to Trump’s six accomplices, there’s virtually no possibility, … [Read more...] about TRUMP’S ROBED ACCOMPLICES HAVE SCREWED THE RULE OF LAW