[Trump] is pursuing something more out of the 16th-century, what we call neoroyalist international politics. Foreign policy has become a tool to channel money and status to Mr. Trump and his closest associates. National interests are eclipsed by those of elites."
Opinion | This Theory Explains Trump’s Baffling Foreign Policy
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:47 PM
[Trump] is pursuing something more out of the 16th-century, what we call neoroyalist international politics. Foreign policy has become a tool to channel money and status to Mr. Trump and his closest associates. National interests are eclipsed by those of elites."
2025 employment changes. While government is down, so is manufacturing, transportation, and business services. Education/health and hospitality are up.
January 20, 2026 at 2:38 PM
2025 employment changes. While government is down, so is manufacturing, transportation, and business services. Education/health and hospitality are up.
Wow. Even the National Review thinks Trump has gone too far, at least on this one thing.
The Trump Administration’s Lawfare Will Destroy More Than Just Itself | National Review
The cost of the politics of this era will be felt long after Trump is gone.
www.nationalreview.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Wow. Even the National Review thinks Trump has gone too far, at least on this one thing.
So, more grift for the oil companies: "On Monday, Trump told NBC News any oil companies that took part in the revitalization would "get reimbursed," potentially by the American taxpayers. But even with the prospect of free money, there is reason to hesitate."
Trump wants oil companies to 'fix' Venezuela's infrastructure
Even if oil was Trump's primary rationale for the invasion, asking companies to fix Venezuela for him is not so simple.
reason.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:56 PM
So, more grift for the oil companies: "On Monday, Trump told NBC News any oil companies that took part in the revitalization would "get reimbursed," potentially by the American taxpayers. But even with the prospect of free money, there is reason to hesitate."
Will be interesting to see which/whether US oil companies decide it's worth running Venezuela's oil industry. www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Trump Wants Venezuela’s Oil. Getting It Might Not Be So Simple
The administration has made it clear that Nicolás Maduro's capture was tied to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Much less certain is how US companies will actually access them—or if they even want to.
www.wired.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Will be interesting to see which/whether US oil companies decide it's worth running Venezuela's oil industry. www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Tom Lehrer, "Send the Marines", 1965. <sigh>
"For might makes right
And till they've seen the light
They've got to be protected
All their rights respected
Till somebody we like can be elected!"
"For might makes right
And till they've seen the light
They've got to be protected
All their rights respected
Till somebody we like can be elected!"
January 5, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Tom Lehrer, "Send the Marines", 1965. <sigh>
"For might makes right
And till they've seen the light
They've got to be protected
All their rights respected
Till somebody we like can be elected!"
"For might makes right
And till they've seen the light
They've got to be protected
All their rights respected
Till somebody we like can be elected!"
"Think of the oxpecker bird perched on a rhino’s back, plucking off ticks in exchange for a safe perch and a free ride. For GOP politicians, it’s much the same. Hug the president close, polish his reputation and echo his talking points."
Can former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer define "Wokeism"? Consider the oxpecker bird. • Kansas Reflector
Beyond the clichés, Jeff Colyer offered little in the way of substantive policy solutions to Kansas problems, most notably education.
kansasreflector.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
"Think of the oxpecker bird perched on a rhino’s back, plucking off ticks in exchange for a safe perch and a free ride. For GOP politicians, it’s much the same. Hug the president close, polish his reputation and echo his talking points."
"If Roberts now allows Trump to get away with the same kind of executive overreach that Roberts previously stopped Biden from getting away with, Roberts' credibility as a principled judicial arbiter will be sullied forever."
Trump’s tariffs and John Roberts’ credibility
The Trump tariff case before the Supreme Court could force Chief Justice John Roberts to confront his own precedent.
reason.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"If Roberts now allows Trump to get away with the same kind of executive overreach that Roberts previously stopped Biden from getting away with, Roberts' credibility as a principled judicial arbiter will be sullied forever."
So very true.
Keeping the House Absent, Johnson Marginalizes Congress and Himself
www.nytimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
So very true.
"Only about one-fifth of applicants for federal disaster assistance from Kerr County have been deemed eligible to get financial help so far, leaving hundreds without governmental aid more than three months after deadly floods ravaged the county on July 4."
FEMA denied or didn’t advance most Kerr County flood requests
Advocates are questioning why so many applicants from the flood-ravaged county have not received federal disaster help. Nonprofits are trying to fill in the gaps.
www.texastribune.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:09 PM
"Only about one-fifth of applicants for federal disaster assistance from Kerr County have been deemed eligible to get financial help so far, leaving hundreds without governmental aid more than three months after deadly floods ravaged the county on July 4."
Really, it was just locker room talk. <snort>
JD Vance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’
Vice-president downplays messages such as ‘I love Hitler’ in chat by 24 to 35-year-olds to ‘stupid jokes’
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Really, it was just locker room talk. <snort>
No surprise there.
A Very, Very Expensive Way to Reduce Crime
The Trump administration’s National Guard deployments are highly inefficient.
www.theatlantic.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
No surprise there.
Someone who actually believes in states' rights and follows thru. Who knew? "Gov. Kevin Stitt, the current chairman of the National Governors Association, broke with Texas, saying, “Oklahomans would lose their mind” if Illinois sent troops to their red state."
Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Someone who actually believes in states' rights and follows thru. Who knew? "Gov. Kevin Stitt, the current chairman of the National Governors Association, broke with Texas, saying, “Oklahomans would lose their mind” if Illinois sent troops to their red state."
Interesting look at his approval ratings by on demographics and issues. I found the state-by-state comparison between all voters and 2024 voters especially telling.
Donald Trump’s approval rating
Follow our presidential approval rating poll tracker to see how favourably Americans view Mr Trump
www.economist.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Interesting look at his approval ratings by on demographics and issues. I found the state-by-state comparison between all voters and 2024 voters especially telling.
No surprise there.
Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.
The White House has targeted opponents, including a Fed governor, for having more than one primary residence on their loan papers. ProPublica found that, in one case, a Trump cabinet secretary got two...
www.propublica.org
September 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
No surprise there.
"A POLITICO analysis of DOGE data reveals the organization saved less than 5 percent of its claimed savings from nearly 10,100 contract terminations."
Just how much has DOGE exaggerated its numbers? Now we have receipts.
A POLITICO analysis of DOGE data reveals the organization saved less than 5 percent of its claimed savings from nearly 10,100 contract terminations.
www.politico.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
"A POLITICO analysis of DOGE data reveals the organization saved less than 5 percent of its claimed savings from nearly 10,100 contract terminations."
No surprise there:
Some Texas private schools hire relatives and enrich insiders. Soon they can do it with taxpayer money.
An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing and conflicts of interest among 27 private schools that likely would have violated state law...
www.texastribune.org
August 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
No surprise there:
That's Trump alright.
Trump Delayed a Medicare Change After Health Companies’ Donations
www.nytimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
That's Trump alright.
Surprise, surprise.
Dropped cases against LA protesters reveal false claims from federal agents
Revealed: records show border patrol gave inaccurate testimony about people it jailed. Prosecutors now face ‘embarrassing’ dismissals
www.theguardian.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Surprise, surprise.