Jim Babbitt
@jb2755.bsky.social
Retired and very happily married for 49 years
My Sunday morning thought …
December 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
My Sunday morning thought …
Recent polling shows that 57% of Americans support the Affordable Care Act, and 74% support extending the credits. When the health-care cutbacks of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act go into effect next week, millions of Americans could be forced off Medicaid, opening them up to sky-high hospital bills.
December 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Recent polling shows that 57% of Americans support the Affordable Care Act, and 74% support extending the credits. When the health-care cutbacks of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act go into effect next week, millions of Americans could be forced off Medicaid, opening them up to sky-high hospital bills.
“It’s the Unaffordable Care Act,” DJT said in his nationwide talk. And a health-care system in crisis is “the Democrats’ fault.” In fact, Dems have consistently pushed to extend the subsidies; it’s House Speaker Mike Johnson who has continually said that the House would not vote to extend subsidies.
December 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
“It’s the Unaffordable Care Act,” DJT said in his nationwide talk. And a health-care system in crisis is “the Democrats’ fault.” In fact, Dems have consistently pushed to extend the subsidies; it’s House Speaker Mike Johnson who has continually said that the House would not vote to extend subsidies.
Poll watch: Fewer than 3 in 10 Americans (29%) describe their mental health as “excellent,” according to a Gallup survey of 1,321 adults. It’s a significant drop from the 43% who felt this way in 2019 and the first time it has dropped below 30%. With DJT at the helm, I’m not surprised.
December 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Poll watch: Fewer than 3 in 10 Americans (29%) describe their mental health as “excellent,” according to a Gallup survey of 1,321 adults. It’s a significant drop from the 43% who felt this way in 2019 and the first time it has dropped below 30%. With DJT at the helm, I’m not surprised.
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time for my billboard/sign of the week …
December 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time for my billboard/sign of the week …
Statistic of the day - 4.8 million: The projected deaths worldwide of children under 5 this year, according to the Gates Foundation. This is about 243,000 more than last year, the first time in decades that child mortality has increased. The Foundation attributes this to a 27% decline in global aid.
December 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Statistic of the day - 4.8 million: The projected deaths worldwide of children under 5 this year, according to the Gates Foundation. This is about 243,000 more than last year, the first time in decades that child mortality has increased. The Foundation attributes this to a 27% decline in global aid.
DJT is purposely breaking norms and engaging in open expressions of hate and bigotry. And among a set of people, this serves as a signal that it’s now socially acceptable to do the same – i.e., look at the extremely racist and Nazi-praising chats among young Republican activists leaked to Politico.
December 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
DJT is purposely breaking norms and engaging in open expressions of hate and bigotry. And among a set of people, this serves as a signal that it’s now socially acceptable to do the same – i.e., look at the extremely racist and Nazi-praising chats among young Republican activists leaked to Politico.
A court filing by lawyers for the government claims it is legal for the administration to distribute federal money only to Republican-dominated states, withholding it from Democratic-dominated states. Without evidence, the government claimed that such discrimination “is constitutionally permissible”
December 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM
A court filing by lawyers for the government claims it is legal for the administration to distribute federal money only to Republican-dominated states, withholding it from Democratic-dominated states. Without evidence, the government claimed that such discrimination “is constitutionally permissible”
24 million Americans who buy insurance on the ACA marketplace will see their insurance premiums skyrocket, and millions will lose their health insurance altogether. The extensions would cost about $350 billion over the next 10 years; the OBBBA tax cuts will cost about $4 trillion in the same period.
December 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
24 million Americans who buy insurance on the ACA marketplace will see their insurance premiums skyrocket, and millions will lose their health insurance altogether. The extensions would cost about $350 billion over the next 10 years; the OBBBA tax cuts will cost about $4 trillion in the same period.
There’s no shame in failing to resolve every conflict around the globe. The problem is claiming to have resolved conflicts that aren’t over and announcing agreements that aren’t real. DJT doesn’t want to do the work, but he still wants the Nobel Peace Prize. At least he’s got the FIFA Peace Prize.
December 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
There’s no shame in failing to resolve every conflict around the globe. The problem is claiming to have resolved conflicts that aren’t over and announcing agreements that aren’t real. DJT doesn’t want to do the work, but he still wants the Nobel Peace Prize. At least he’s got the FIFA Peace Prize.
Poll watch - Over half of Americans (53%) think the Trump administration is doing “too much” to deport undocumented immigrants, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
December 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Poll watch - Over half of Americans (53%) think the Trump administration is doing “too much” to deport undocumented immigrants, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
Per Paul Krugman: Last week the report on employment during the month of November finally arrived. And the message of the report on the state of the US economy was clear: A+++++ my A++. While it’s too soon to declare that we’re in a recession, the data are at least pre-recessionary.
December 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Per Paul Krugman: Last week the report on employment during the month of November finally arrived. And the message of the report on the state of the US economy was clear: A+++++ my A++. While it’s too soon to declare that we’re in a recession, the data are at least pre-recessionary.
My Monday morning moment of Zen …
December 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
My Monday morning moment of Zen …
Last week, the DOJ argued that DJT’s ballroom project must proceed for national security reasons despite a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who is suing to stop the project without the legally required reviews and public input. Maybe they should have checked FIRST?
December 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Last week, the DOJ argued that DJT’s ballroom project must proceed for national security reasons despite a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who is suing to stop the project without the legally required reviews and public input. Maybe they should have checked FIRST?
My Sunday morning thought …
December 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My Sunday morning thought …
The DOJ’s release of the Epstein files’ timeline does not comply with the law, which required the release of all eligible files by Dec. 19. The portion of files released yesterday were also heavily redacted, and didn’t include a list of the redacted parties for Congress, as required by the law. SOS!
December 20, 2025 at 10:46 PM
The DOJ’s release of the Epstein files’ timeline does not comply with the law, which required the release of all eligible files by Dec. 19. The portion of files released yesterday were also heavily redacted, and didn’t include a list of the redacted parties for Congress, as required by the law. SOS!
Poll watch: Over a quarter of Americans (27%) have skipped a medical checkup in the past two years because of the cost, while almost half (46%) can’t afford a vacation involving air travel, according to a Politico poll of 2,098 adults. The majority (55%) blame DJT for soaring food prices
December 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Poll watch: Over a quarter of Americans (27%) have skipped a medical checkup in the past two years because of the cost, while almost half (46%) can’t afford a vacation involving air travel, according to a Politico poll of 2,098 adults. The majority (55%) blame DJT for soaring food prices
Per Paul Krugman: “So just reversing the Trump tariffs, almost none of which serve any valid economic or national security purpose, could shave more than 1 percent off the cost of living — around $1000 a year for the typical family.”
December 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Per Paul Krugman: “So just reversing the Trump tariffs, almost none of which serve any valid economic or national security purpose, could shave more than 1 percent off the cost of living — around $1000 a year for the typical family.”
Under the CDC’s “universal birth dose” policy, pediatric cases of hepatitis B dropped from 18,000 in 1991 to only 20 a year now. But the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, packed with anti-vax allies of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. voted 8-3 last week to undo this miracle of public health.
December 19, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Under the CDC’s “universal birth dose” policy, pediatric cases of hepatitis B dropped from 18,000 in 1991 to only 20 a year now. But the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, packed with anti-vax allies of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. voted 8-3 last week to undo this miracle of public health.
Aid to farmers is DJT’s solution to a “self-created trade mess,” per The Washington Post, and will only partly offset the $44B that US farmers are expected to suffer this year. Americans get “higher food prices and fewer options” while farmers are doing worse than if he had “never imposed tariffs.”
December 19, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Aid to farmers is DJT’s solution to a “self-created trade mess,” per The Washington Post, and will only partly offset the $44B that US farmers are expected to suffer this year. Americans get “higher food prices and fewer options” while farmers are doing worse than if he had “never imposed tariffs.”
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time for my billboard/sign of the week …
December 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
It’s Friday morning, which means it’s time for my billboard/sign of the week …
Last week, a report from Denmark’s intelligence service contained a disturbing statement. It pointed out that America is no longer acting like a friendly partner: “The United States uses economic power … to enforce its will, and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies.”
December 19, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Last week, a report from Denmark’s intelligence service contained a disturbing statement. It pointed out that America is no longer acting like a friendly partner: “The United States uses economic power … to enforce its will, and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies.”
Americans are not impressed with DJT’s handling of the economy. A poll by AP/NORC released last week shows that only 31% of American adults approve of DJT’s management of the economy, with 67% disapproving. Among Independents, that number breaks down to 15% approving and 80% disapproving.
December 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Americans are not impressed with DJT’s handling of the economy. A poll by AP/NORC released last week shows that only 31% of American adults approve of DJT’s management of the economy, with 67% disapproving. Among Independents, that number breaks down to 15% approving and 80% disapproving.
Poll watch- U.S. households making under $50,000 annually plan to spend $1,230 on holiday gifts, according to a Gallup survey. This is a drop from the $1,479 they planned to spend in October and an even bigger drop from the $1,578 for the 2024 holidays.
December 18, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Poll watch- U.S. households making under $50,000 annually plan to spend $1,230 on holiday gifts, according to a Gallup survey. This is a drop from the $1,479 they planned to spend in October and an even bigger drop from the $1,578 for the 2024 holidays.