I think her chances with Trump may be hurt by her friendship with Lewandowski. Can’t remember the name of Trump’s assistant who used to press his pants while he was wearing them on the plane. But I believe Trump was not happy with that woman dating Lewandowski. So he has a history there.

My plan: Trump’s wealth has increased by $1.4B over his first year. Let’s pay him a retirement of $4.2 B (3 years worth) if he leaves office now.

I wondered if that was it.

The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/

Wonder if he realizes his speech is competing with a high level fun golf event at the Trump course in Jupiter? Also, wonder how many switched to Golf Channel when he started talking?

A bit off the subject, but relevant to jobs reporting. Someone I know works for a contractor that continuously gathers comprehensive data for the Census Bureau (the American survey?). They stopped collecting data for the shutdown and haven't started back yet. Don't know when they will resume.

When Trump uses infantile derogatory language, I’m brought back to when I had my tonsils removed at age 7. Back in those days they had wards with many young patients in one big room. A five year old boy across the room kept calling me animal names. Even then I knew it was his problem, not mine.

It's obvious Trump chooses women only because they look good and many have had the Mara Lago cosmetic surgery. Don't know if she had cosmetic surgery, but Halligan sure looks like a natural beauty. Just wonder how envious the other women are of her.

When did the maximum income tax rate drop from 90 percent???? What if we had a rate anywhere near that for the extremely wealthy?

Sounds like 'vibration,' not 'vibrations'? I always thought it was plural, but am no longer sure,

Dateline

I heard long ago that when someone covers their mouth, it’s because they are trying to hide their thoughts.

Heard this was the first day for this grand jury.

Not sure about troops to CA. The governor did call up 15 troops to support ICE in MO, doing office work. We have had many demonstrations against Trump from the very beginning. I’ve let Schmitt and Hawley and my rep Bob Onder know what I think about all Trump’s nonsense and their support of him.

I am a Missourian and did not vote for him but I have close relatives who did. Missouri lost its status as a purple (bell weather) state after the Republicans took over the anti abortion issue and won votes from Catholics in the cities and suburbs and evangelicals outstate.

I've never shopped at costco, but when they voted to keep DEI, I became a member.