This is true. Seattle is one of the only places I've been where I can get a good coffee on my way to the airport for my 6:00am flight. What is it about non-chain coffee shops that don't even open the doors until 8:30?!

The luxury burger place takes 45 minutes, is only open from 10:00 to 2:00 four days a week and I have to find a different one every place I go while traveling. Starbucks and McDonald's are both successful because they are fast, ubiquitous, and open all day.

What local coffee shop needs to permanently steal my business: 1) order ahead app, 2) Open by 5:30am, 3) Happily allow me to use my own cup, 4) Something with protein for breakfast.

During the Biden Admin, the GOP blocked every government reform and repeatedly forced concessions from Democrats in order to keep business as usual. We just want the DEMs to be as effective in the minority as the GOP, but the just keep caving in.

Have you read anything by Becky Chambers? "Long way to a small angry planet" is really good.

What kind of books do you like?

It is really hard to be poor. It is also really hard to be not quite poor enough. People who have been neither won't get why.

But have you seen Inside Out?

It’s a problem with that acronym, because almost everything works for both referents

“Lately SF has lost all sense of realism.”
“I know. And it has so few women.”
“It boils down to SF is obsessed with gadgets, and especially with AI.”
“And don’t get me started on BART delays.”
“Wait what”

So what you are telling me is that it is worth spending a weekend with flu like symptoms each fall because these vaccines are still doing something.

So laws requiring them to use deadnames and assigned-at-birth pronouns are also unconstitutional, right? Right?

By the way, are they still holding ceremonial votes on the original CR in the Senate every day? I think it would be a real hoot for Democrats to reopen the Government for two weeks, get everyone back pay then refuse to support another CR after Nov 21.

So, Republicans need to end the filibuster and just open the government without Democratic support. This is always an option for them, but they would rather try to make this about the minority party than actually govern.

Wars end when continuing to fight is more painful than compromise for both sides. I think you're correct that Trump is taking more blame than he expected. He's turning up the heat to try forcing a deal that is not just giving in.

Of course not. Reducing work load is the cover story. Ensuring that the shutdown is inconvenient for voters is the goal.

Exactly this. We just haven’t been given great candidates because the DNC won’t open their treasure chest for them. It’s been going on for decades and the main reason we’re in this pickle now.

I would argue we won DESPITE the Democratic party.