Jim Babbitt
@jb2755.bsky.social
Retired and very happily married for 49 years
Statistic of the day - $22 billion: The amount that companies have made from ICE-related contracts over the past year. Consulting firm Deloitte received over $100M, but the single biggest beneficiary has been CSI Aviation, a charter flight company that has earned over $1.2B from contracts with ICE.
February 11, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Statistic of the day - $22 billion: The amount that companies have made from ICE-related contracts over the past year. Consulting firm Deloitte received over $100M, but the single biggest beneficiary has been CSI Aviation, a charter flight company that has earned over $1.2B from contracts with ICE.
DJT told Chuck Schumer last month that he would unfreeze funds earmarked for a $16 billion New York infrastructure project, but only if New York’s Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport were renamed for him, several news organizations reported last week. Schumer declined.
February 11, 2026 at 2:05 AM
DJT told Chuck Schumer last month that he would unfreeze funds earmarked for a $16 billion New York infrastructure project, but only if New York’s Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport were renamed for him, several news organizations reported last week. Schumer declined.
Paul Krugman: Most Americans are decent people. They intensely dislike seeing brutal repression in their communities, even if most of the targets have brown skins. DJT’s war on immigrants is turning into a war against the decency of the American people. It would be immoral to refuse to choose sides.
February 10, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Paul Krugman: Most Americans are decent people. They intensely dislike seeing brutal repression in their communities, even if most of the targets have brown skins. DJT’s war on immigrants is turning into a war against the decency of the American people. It would be immoral to refuse to choose sides.
DJT’s administration is certainly protecting its members while releasing the Epstein files. Officials neglected to redact identifying information about survivors and even sexually explicit photographs of them, while blacking out the names of apparent friends and co-conspirators of the sex offender.
February 10, 2026 at 1:31 PM
DJT’s administration is certainly protecting its members while releasing the Epstein files. Officials neglected to redact identifying information about survivors and even sexually explicit photographs of them, while blacking out the names of apparent friends and co-conspirators of the sex offender.
Poll watch: Almost 3/4 of Americans (72%) think it’s unacceptable for ICE agents to profile people based on their appearance or accent according to a Pew Research survey. A majority of the 8,512 adults polled (61%) also don’t think ICE agents should be allowed to wear masks to hide their identities.
February 10, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Poll watch: Almost 3/4 of Americans (72%) think it’s unacceptable for ICE agents to profile people based on their appearance or accent according to a Pew Research survey. A majority of the 8,512 adults polled (61%) also don’t think ICE agents should be allowed to wear masks to hide their identities.
With 9 months to go until the midterm elections, DJT’s campaign to subvert them is escalating. His administration has recently taken a series of steps that have election officials, observers, and administrators deeply concerned about the prospects for improper interference with the election process.
February 9, 2026 at 6:37 PM
With 9 months to go until the midterm elections, DJT’s campaign to subvert them is escalating. His administration has recently taken a series of steps that have election officials, observers, and administrators deeply concerned about the prospects for improper interference with the election process.
My Monday morning moment of Zen …
February 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
My Monday morning moment of Zen …
DJT is calling for “nationalizing” the midterms, meaning to put voting and their counting under his control. He can’t do that, but his demand is a clear sign he won’t accept the public’s verdict in November. It seems realistic to say MAGA will somehow try to prevent voters from having their say.
February 8, 2026 at 7:05 PM
DJT is calling for “nationalizing” the midterms, meaning to put voting and their counting under his control. He can’t do that, but his demand is a clear sign he won’t accept the public’s verdict in November. It seems realistic to say MAGA will somehow try to prevent voters from having their say.
My Sunday morning thought …
February 8, 2026 at 2:23 PM
My Sunday morning thought …
A year ago, DJT led a hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center, saying he alone knew what the center needed. Last week, he delivered an implicit admission of defeat, announcing the center will close on July 4 for 2 years. Under DJT’s guidance, the center can’t hold on to staff, artists, or audiences.
February 7, 2026 at 11:58 PM
A year ago, DJT led a hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center, saying he alone knew what the center needed. Last week, he delivered an implicit admission of defeat, announcing the center will close on July 4 for 2 years. Under DJT’s guidance, the center can’t hold on to staff, artists, or audiences.
Poll watch: Exactly two-thirds of Americans worry about affording health care, according to a KFF survey, making it the public’s top concern. Of the 1,426 adults polled, more than half (55%) say their health care costs have gone up in the past year.
February 7, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Poll watch: Exactly two-thirds of Americans worry about affording health care, according to a KFF survey, making it the public’s top concern. Of the 1,426 adults polled, more than half (55%) say their health care costs have gone up in the past year.
The latest release of the Epstein files highlights how being a registered sex offender doesn’t make you a social pariah, at least privately, if you have enough money and influence. The files are riddled with wealthy, powerful men joking about Epstein’s reputation for procuring young women for sex.
February 7, 2026 at 2:39 PM
The latest release of the Epstein files highlights how being a registered sex offender doesn’t make you a social pariah, at least privately, if you have enough money and influence. The files are riddled with wealthy, powerful men joking about Epstein’s reputation for procuring young women for sex.
On February 1, as the 50th observance of Black History Month began, government officials in DJT’s administration removed an exhibit on enslavement from Independence Natl Historical Park in Philadelphia. The administration is openly working to replace American multiculturalism with white nationalism.
February 7, 2026 at 4:17 AM
On February 1, as the 50th observance of Black History Month began, government officials in DJT’s administration removed an exhibit on enslavement from Independence Natl Historical Park in Philadelphia. The administration is openly working to replace American multiculturalism with white nationalism.
For all Deputy AG Todd Blanche’s talk of protecting the personal information about Epstein’s victims, the latest batch of files released included the names and identifying information of a number of survivors, including some who have not previously been associated with the Epstein operation.
February 6, 2026 at 7:44 PM
For all Deputy AG Todd Blanche’s talk of protecting the personal information about Epstein’s victims, the latest batch of files released included the names and identifying information of a number of survivors, including some who have not previously been associated with the Epstein operation.
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time for my billboard/sign of the week …
February 6, 2026 at 1:48 PM
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time for my billboard/sign of the week …
Traders are weighing DJT’s actions and have lately been acclimating to the president’s caprice. The “TACO” theory (“Trump Always Chickens Out”) emerged as a way to describe his tendency to overpromise. But the markets’ resiliency over the past month indicates they are learning to ignore him.
February 6, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Traders are weighing DJT’s actions and have lately been acclimating to the president’s caprice. The “TACO” theory (“Trump Always Chickens Out”) emerged as a way to describe his tendency to overpromise. But the markets’ resiliency over the past month indicates they are learning to ignore him.
Per Paul Krugman: The world trading system as we knew it lasted for three generations after World War II. It was a rules-based system, … but now US economic relations with other nations have turned abusive, and the world is moving toward divorce. And this will make Americans measurably poorer.
February 5, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Per Paul Krugman: The world trading system as we knew it lasted for three generations after World War II. It was a rules-based system, … but now US economic relations with other nations have turned abusive, and the world is moving toward divorce. And this will make Americans measurably poorer.
When DJT and his allies were the victims of political violence, they blamed the left’s rhetoric. But when Rep. Ilhan Omar was targeted last week, DJT blamed her. The victim-blaming emanating from DJT and MAGA shows they aren’t opposed to stopping political violence, they just don’t want to face it.
February 5, 2026 at 12:12 PM
When DJT and his allies were the victims of political violence, they blamed the left’s rhetoric. But when Rep. Ilhan Omar was targeted last week, DJT blamed her. The victim-blaming emanating from DJT and MAGA shows they aren’t opposed to stopping political violence, they just don’t want to face it.
Last week, a federal judge cast doubt on DJT’s authority to build an enormous new White House ballroom. If the project stalls out, that will serve as a potent metaphor for a presidency adept at breaking but bad at creating.
February 4, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Last week, a federal judge cast doubt on DJT’s authority to build an enormous new White House ballroom. If the project stalls out, that will serve as a potent metaphor for a presidency adept at breaking but bad at creating.
One of the big victories of American science in the last few decades was conquering measles. But that achievement is being reversed, as the US now stands on the brink of losing its measles elimination status. Measles cases are “skyrocketing” across the country, with cases reported in nine states.
February 4, 2026 at 12:41 PM
One of the big victories of American science in the last few decades was conquering measles. But that achievement is being reversed, as the US now stands on the brink of losing its measles elimination status. Measles cases are “skyrocketing” across the country, with cases reported in nine states.
It is “no small thing” that DJT“ gave Kristi Noem a “serious knuckle rapping” last week, The NYT said. Publicly, DJT is “standing behind” Noem, “casting her as an effective secretary with a big job,” Politico said. But her “missteps in Minneapolis pile on top of already-existing concerns” about her.
February 4, 2026 at 2:26 AM
It is “no small thing” that DJT“ gave Kristi Noem a “serious knuckle rapping” last week, The NYT said. Publicly, DJT is “standing behind” Noem, “casting her as an effective secretary with a big job,” Politico said. But her “missteps in Minneapolis pile on top of already-existing concerns” about her.
The day after Alex Pretti was killed, FBI Dir. Kash Patel said, "You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have the right to break the law and incite violence." This is not only false, but MAGA hypocrisy at its finest.
February 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
The day after Alex Pretti was killed, FBI Dir. Kash Patel said, "You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have the right to break the law and incite violence." This is not only false, but MAGA hypocrisy at its finest.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “From the beginning of his adulthood, if not earlier, Donald was never ever held to account for anything.” Mary Trump, DJT’s niece and a clinical psychologist, added. “Eventually that creates a monster, and we see that happening with increasing impact,” she added.
February 3, 2026 at 1:03 PM
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “From the beginning of his adulthood, if not earlier, Donald was never ever held to account for anything.” Mary Trump, DJT’s niece and a clinical psychologist, added. “Eventually that creates a monster, and we see that happening with increasing impact,” she added.
Last week, DJT sent Gregory Bovino home and dispatched Tom Homan to Minnesota. Homan was previously being investigated for accepting a $50K cash bribe stuffed into a CAVA bag. As Aaron Rupar of Public Notice commented: “[I]f Tom ‘Cava Bag’ Homan is your emergency crisis comms guy, you’re f*cked.”
February 3, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Last week, DJT sent Gregory Bovino home and dispatched Tom Homan to Minnesota. Homan was previously being investigated for accepting a $50K cash bribe stuffed into a CAVA bag. As Aaron Rupar of Public Notice commented: “[I]f Tom ‘Cava Bag’ Homan is your emergency crisis comms guy, you’re f*cked.”
Perhaps the most disturbing part of DJT’s immigration operation in Minnesota is not just that ICE is killing peacefully protesting citizens on the streets. It’s that they’re doing it with the expectation of full immunity, backed by top government officials who are brazenly lying about what happened.
February 2, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Perhaps the most disturbing part of DJT’s immigration operation in Minnesota is not just that ICE is killing peacefully protesting citizens on the streets. It’s that they’re doing it with the expectation of full immunity, backed by top government officials who are brazenly lying about what happened.