375 Comments
User's avatar
Deb's avatar

I receive SNAP

65 years old

Taking care of my 90 year old folks

You tell ‘em Jeff

Expand full comment
Wendy The Druid 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈's avatar

I just do not get how its possible for the Trumpington AssGrabber to expect the people who depend on stuff like SNAP and welfare benefit to "support him making america great again", when he's bringing in Argentinian beef to give all the American cattle ranchers a middle finger, and a fuck off.

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

Because they don't KNOW. Lost SNAP? The website tells you it's the Dems. Lost your healthcare? Those demon Dems - again. Listen to Sinclair radio, watch Fox news - and you'll NEVER hear a whisper of truth.

Expand full comment
Jodi Richard's avatar

Saw this meme recentky: “Science Fact: A dog gets more factual information from sniffing another dog’s ass than a human does from watching Fox news.” This certainly is true.

Expand full comment
Ethereal Fairy's avatar

They did a study that showed people who watched no news, were better informed than people who watch Fox Propaganda channel.

Expand full comment
Stranger Than Friction's avatar

Honestly, I don't know whether I'd rather they demonstrate their cruelty and crimes right out in the open like this because it's more truthful and more people might pay attention, or that I'm shocked they are not even trying to fake compassion and empathy any more, and in fact are going out of their way to shut down the government, hurt people, blame it on their political opposition that is not in power/in charge, and use the shutdown to cover for further crimes and cutting more government funding and jobs. With the full cooperation of corporate media.

Expand full comment
Runfastandwin's avatar

the last part about the corporate media is tragic. at this point it can't die off fast enough.

Expand full comment
mark rubin's avatar

The equal time precept wherein both parties are insured equal media time which was nuked by Ronnie Raygun would be a valuable addition to level the playing field. However even that sounds like a pipe dream today's f'd up environment where the currency is "alternate facts" and lies.

Expand full comment
Ethereal Fairy's avatar

Sadly it needed updating and did not apply to cable tv which was new at the time with all the various avenues of information not regulated, I'm afraid that horse has long since left the barn. (And is in the next zip code.)

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

Like when the Orange Canklesaurus floats the idea of running for a 3rd term and all the corporate media nod their collective heads and go, Hmmm... rather than pushing back and say, 'It's a violation of the 12th and the 22nd Amendments for you to even try that.' and act like it's a perfectly normal thing.

Which it is not.

Like Jeff always says, the first one in the press who says, 'What the fuck are you talking about?' should get a million trillion bazillion dollars instead of just being a lapdog.

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

Trigger words - it’s an Art form‼️

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

HOPING that Ds got out in front of this fast enough though?

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

In what way specifically? They don't control what goes on websites run by the executive department. They control neither house of Congress and can't dictate its schedule. The government works union has laughably demanded they "compromise" with the Republicans in congress meaning "capitulate" because there's nothing the Republicans are willing to concede — NOTHING — and they'll probably blame Democrats if the Republicans, drunk on concessions, then halve government workers' pay and take away their health care. And they certainly don't control the lopsided, one-sided rightwing sanewashing "mainstream" media.

Expand full comment
Ethereal Fairy's avatar

👆👆👆👆👆👆👆🎯

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

Oh, please. . .you got your name right -"Always look on the sunny side. . ."

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

I’m just in my bubble - thought they’ve been pretty clear with the ‘Republican Shutdown’ framing but I guess not :/

Expand full comment
Cyndi's avatar

There is a limit to how much anyone can tell those who willfully do not listen.

Expand full comment
Doc Blase''s avatar

None so blind as those who will not see. Or who Nazi.

Expand full comment
DJS's avatar

Dem Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon (my state) last week stood for nearly 24 hours and talked about how cruel and lawless the Republicans are - if anyone cares to watch C-Span it's on there. But who watches anything but their favorite shows on cable or streaming services anymore? Meanwhile, Trump and Musk defunded PBS and NPR.

Expand full comment
Runfastandwin's avatar

stupid is as stupid does. if they don't know it's their own fault.

Expand full comment
Doc Blase''s avatar

" Listen to Sinclair radio, watch Fox news "

My gin budget is already maxxed out.

Expand full comment
Denise Donaldson's avatar

I read about that BS on the SNAP webpage yesterday, and it just outraged me. If the average person reads this notice on a GOVERNMENT AGENCY's website, he or she is going to take it for granted that the notice is the real deal. How many everyday working people are going to question it? It's pure evil genius, insidious as hell. It's illegal, too, of course, but Rump and his minions couldn't care less.

Expand full comment
Leigh Hamilton's avatar

We can boycott beef as much as possible - especially beef from Argentina, which I wouldn't trust anyway.

Expand full comment
Laura Blackburn's avatar

We're not going to need to boycott anything. People are going to be starving in the streets soon,if the perks in congress don't go back to work. Mike "Moses" Johnson needs to hear from his "gawd" soon, or the masses may actually be forced to eat the rich.

Expand full comment
Leigh Hamilton's avatar

Dominionist Johnson isn't going back to work any time soon. He'd have to release the Epstein files and refuse to continue the ACA subsidies - both of which he thinks he's going to successfully blame on the Democrats.

You're right, starving people don't blame - they pick up pitchforks.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

I'd like to see Mike Johnson tarred and feathered.

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

A lot of people who were on SNAP will be boycotting beef. In fact, they'll be "boycotting even minced chicken." It'll be beans, beans, beans every day. Strange how one old fart will change us all into a nation of farters.

Expand full comment
Outdoorluvr's avatar

Right. And then the grocery conglomerates will raise the price of beans to make up for the lost profits on meat.

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Beans are easy to grow, luckily. Just watch out for groundhogs and rabbits.

Expand full comment
Eva Porter's avatar

He doesn't want to fart alone

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

I just had beans for lunch. They were good! I love beans!

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

And was that your choice? If you'd fancied a burger, could you afford it? Do your kids like beans?

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Yes, they were delicious. I love beans. Lima beans in particular are a special treat. I can afford a burger, and I have a freezer full of veggie burgers now. I don't have kids and I don't police other people's diets.

Expand full comment
Terri Nighswonger's avatar

I am a vegan. Haven’t had animal since 2015.

However it wasn’t due to beliefs.

I had a TERRIBLE cold. Couldn’t get rid of it. Couldn’t play tennis. No oxygen

Our daughter came by on day. She had had it too. Terrible. Nothing worked.

So she read that giving up animal food would clear your whole body.

I’m did it of course. No animal whatsoever.

In 3 days I was better. In 4 out playing tennis. Forever a vegan. ✌🏾👍🥳😻🇺🇸⛑️

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

I've been a vegetarian for 40 years. I am in excellent health and very fit. Hoping to live at least 2 more months so I can collect my social security before the orange cheeto pockets that too!

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

Right on, KP! Thanks, my fellow veggie! 🌱 Here’s to Social Security! I got my SS early (applied the day after I turned 62) coz I didn’t trust him either. So far, so good.

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

I've called SS a few times and asked whether this money is going to disappear. They can't answer but they've told me that this administration has tightened the penalties on people who collect SS but who are still working and who estimate their monthly hours total too high. I'm still working (healthy and energetic as hell!) but I can't collect until I'm 66 and 9 months. Tick tock. Bravo to you, fellow veggie!!

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Ditto. Not a vegan but a vegetarian going back 50 years to college.

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

Me too, my vegan sister! Hear hear. For the animals 🌱

Expand full comment
Jan Moon's avatar

I'm vegetarian. Can't even kill a spider. Beans it is. And I'll fart all I want. I live alone and my kitties are very tolerant. So fuck you, Argentina beef growers.

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

LOL, Jan! Hehehe. Good for you, my veggie sister. 🌱 We also eat lots of beans and pulses. Remember this funny rhyme?

Beans, beans, the magical fruit

The more you eat, the more you toot. 😆

For the veggie-curious: The good thing about beans is they are loaded with fiber and keep your intestinal tract regular. Once you get used to eating all that extra fiber, the body adjusts and you toot much less. Animal flesh, on the other hand, gets stuck in your colon and putrifies there - meaning stinky flatulence, bloating and painful constipation. Nobody wants that, right? Eat beans instead!

Expand full comment
Kitty Johnson's avatar

I can't kill a spider either!!!!!! I agree with everything written on this website, agree with Jeff T on everything, but I just wanted to speak out with you, Jan Moon, on the sanctity of spider lives. (Vegetarian since 1999).

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

Your choice. One of the nice things about "freedom" is that you GET a choice. Read "The Road to Wigan Pier" written by George Orwell in the 1930's. He has a lot to say about the difference between choosing to eat vegetarian - and not having the choice.

Expand full comment
Wendy The Druid 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈's avatar

yeah, I mean, Im not rushing out to buy beef that I dont trust.

I mean honestly, Argentina? how can the US trust that standard of beef?

Expand full comment
George in Atlanta's avatar

That's okay.

The FDA will do monitoring inspections.

And HHS will monitor the situation very carefully, safeguarding public health.

Bwaaahahahaha!

Expand full comment
Teri Gelini's avatar

Let me know when that happens since brainwork got rid of them

Expand full comment
Teri Gelini's avatar

You read right, screwworm and hoof and mouth disease in argentina beef

Expand full comment
Lisa's avatar

The current worm-proud CDC freak isn't the least bit worried about the screw worm in the Argentinian beef. Worms for all! Toss in some heroin! Everyone will be smarter! MAGA!

Expand full comment
DJS's avatar

MAHA!

Expand full comment
Leigh Hamilton's avatar

Soon we won’t be able to trust our own food standards.

Expand full comment
skangirl's avatar

I don't think we have any FDA standards to trust (or mistrust). I mean, who really needs to know about lead in their paint or carcinogens in their water? (I think it was Marie Antoinette who said, "Let them drink Perrier.")

Expand full comment
Jan Moon's avatar

Salmonella is a great euthanasia/genocide tool.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

How would we even know where the hamburger came from? They throw everything into the grinder, and we have no idea what's in there.

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

We shouldn't trust it. Glad I don't eat meat.

Expand full comment
Sher''s avatar

I pretty much quit eating it anyway...it grosses me out after I learned the slaughterhouse realities.

Expand full comment
Doc Blase''s avatar

I ordered a $50 steak from Kroger, and the delivery guy just slipped it under the door.

Expand full comment
Patricia Gomes's avatar

Sounds about right 😂

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

I don't have much choice. I'm a 50-year vegetarian and don't even let my cats eat meat (They get fish-flavored cat foods.)

Expand full comment
Eva Porter's avatar

Sadly, these idiots will probably still vote for him. I have very close, long time, almost family type friends who are still defending this asshole...it really depresses me.

Expand full comment
Susan P Thatcher's avatar

I think it's looking more like we won't get the opportunity to vote him out. If California doesn't pass redistricting, but Texas and North Carolina have. If California and other Big Blues pass redistricting, they'll find a mechanism to not have elections.

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

This type of comment needs to be stopped immediately. Claiming speciously that there won't be elections causes people to feel hopeless and give up. Why fight voter suppression and extreme gerrymandering if there won't even BE elections? Proof that there will be? The effort they're putting into voter suppression and extreme gerrymandering.

Expand full comment
Chris Hierholzer's avatar

And then there's that....

Expand full comment
Patricia Gomes's avatar

That’s the plan.

Expand full comment
Sher''s avatar

He doesn't...it's BS. He used those lines to seduce them. His actions show to me that he's out to Wreck America...after getting as much money out as he can. It's a total revenge tour.

Expand full comment
Linda Weide's avatar

I believe Ayn Rand who was against any government support and who many of these Billionaires worship, ended her days in poverty and on the dole.

Trump, who is successfully propping up Milei by giving him 40 bil, and supporting Argentinian soy beans and beef, can do this because no media that his followers consume is pointing this connection out to them. It is like living in China, with the government line being sold to the masses, and at this point only enterprising people get better information.

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

ARGENTINA FIRST!!!!

Expand full comment
TJTarheel's avatar

Because they simply don’t know!

Expand full comment
Leigh Hamilton's avatar

I hope you have friends who can help you and your parents. Rather than contribute to food banks, I'm going to try to help people in my county, but selectively. I'm not sorry that MAGAs are going to have to find out the hard way. I voted for them to have food, jobs, housing...they voted to destroy me. FAFO.

Expand full comment
celeste k.'s avatar

I have started doing just that. A small network of friends who reach out to those unable to make ends meet and in need of food. Food banks are great, but I won't share what I have with those who are maga, either. It's sad, but you reap what you sow.

Expand full comment
skangirl's avatar

It's interesting that you said that. My daughter expressed a desire to share with people who are suffering from "food insecurity" but wanted to know if she was being an asshole for wanting to make sure that her generosity wasn't going "to any of those MAGA assholes who are responsible." (I assured her that she was perfectly within her rights. Because, as jeff would say, "fuck them, that's why.")

Expand full comment
celeste k.'s avatar

She is not an 'asshole' for trying to help those who are hurt by the bad choices of others. I choose to funnel what I can give to those I want to help. It's a shame we are reduced to this.

Expand full comment
TJTarheel's avatar

Right but wouldn’t it be refreshing to know that the left would come through even for their adversaries? That would open their eyes a little more. We know they don’t get the info that we do and they’re left in the dark. Maybe it would open their eyes

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

Sadly, a lot of SNAP recipients did not vote for this shit.

Expand full comment
Suessl's avatar

Or they didn't vote at all. Same thing.

Expand full comment
Mirla G. Raz's avatar

Sadly, too many did.

Expand full comment
Diane Christensen's avatar

I don’t want any kids going hungry. It’s not their fault they have maga parents. So I’ll do a combination of both.

Expand full comment
Lisa's avatar

I agree. When I try and sort out the "they" and the "us", it becomes exhausting and toxic. People are people. Empathy needs to be the new buzz word.

Expand full comment
Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Luckily, I live in the city, and the church urban farm I work on is in the inner city and our stuff goes to a food pantry in the projects where people not voting is a bigger problem than people voting for Trump. Entire precincts is this area did not cast a single vote for him.

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

I’m sorry Deb—the trump administration would say that you’re young enough to get off your gh—- ass and take care of business. 😖

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

Take care of business AND take care of two really old parents? Maybe she can get a job taking care of her parents!

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

Did you not know I was being sarcastic? If I truly believed what I said, I wouldn't be reading Jeff's blog every day.

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

I often write the same way, but I don't get upset when people who are barely awake misconstrue me. ;)

BTW, i'm a Yankee living in Houston for the last 26 years.

Expand full comment
KP Johnson Austin, TX's avatar

Hello, "Fellow" Texan. (I'm originally from New Mexico and when I moved to Texas as a newlywed I used to joke that Texans are Yankees to a New Mexican)!

Expand full comment
skangirl's avatar

Since people have to be paid subscribers (or am I being scammed?) to comment on these pages, it's probably safe to assume that they disagree with every single policy within trump world.

Expand full comment
Margaret's avatar

My sister, 62, works full time and gets SNAP. About $35/month. Yeah, that's gonna break the government bank. I'm sick.

Expand full comment
Ellyn's avatar

So DID my four year old granddaughter. 🤬

Expand full comment
Neal Stiffelman's avatar

That smug mug requires a cream pie just as that of others in his admin requires an anvil dropped by Chuck Jones from Heaven.

Expand full comment
Diane J's avatar

I would waste the cream on him but a nice filling of animal diarrhea would be perfect IMO.

Expand full comment
Leu2500's avatar

Exactly. I immediately thought of the pie in The Help.

Expand full comment
BluDotInARedSewer's avatar

if you put enough sugar in it… 😎

Expand full comment
Sharon C Storm's avatar

That pie was my first thought, too. 🤣😂

Expand full comment
Jane's avatar

😂😂😂

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

He also has a *pink* mansion and is in a gay marriage… (not sure if everyone is following thru on their ‘research’?)… geezus

Expand full comment
Jayme Wolworth's avatar

Bessent must have something on Trump for him to go all DEI. I mean really, Peter Theil is one thing but to actually appoint a gay man to his cabinet, that's gotta sting.

Expand full comment
Maui Wahine's avatar

Ric Grenell (former Ambassador to Germany for Trump and is still in the administration) is also gay and married. I wonder how this will work out if SCOTUS revisits the right to marry case.

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

Forgot abt PT‼️

Expand full comment
Linda McCaughey's avatar

Ha! My Irish immigrant grandfather had this to say about people like him--or anybody who pissed him off: "I wish I had a gun that shot soft pies." I think they would sell!

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

He always reminds me of Mayor Randall in "Spin City" - just as stupid, but nowhere near as nice.

Expand full comment
Neal Stiffelman's avatar

That guy was a sweetheart. Bessent is a thug.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

"I wouldn’t water my soybeans with this swill.’" I'm laughing, but I'm really crying.

When people get hungry enough, when will the revolution begin?

America's next gilded age.

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

As of today, Bessent is the acting head of the IRS while also serving as Treasury Secretary. Proxy for the King in his Counting House counting out his money.

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

“… just like the Green Acres guy.”

😂😅😐

https://bsky.app/profile/gtconway.bsky.social/post/3m44d525gtc24

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

Omg I loved that too 🏆

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

Hoping Soybean Scott sticks

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

Hold up - lemme check - I MIGHT BE A SOYBEAN FARMER, too!?😳

Expand full comment
Kimberly Sandwisch's avatar

Revolution is what they’re (oligarchs) hoping for. Then they can institute martial law, all the better to control the peons! I’ll remove my tin foil hat now. 🫤

Expand full comment
Maui Wahine's avatar

A National Strike would be the best way to hit them. Not even on the streets, just donʻt buy anything from anyone other than your most local grocery store.

Expand full comment
Lisa's avatar

General strike is already scheduled for Nov 25-Dec 2. Tell your friends! :) Buy local and only what you need. No corporate buying.

Expand full comment
Patricia Gomes's avatar

🎯🎯🎯 At the rate it’s going, we won’t be able to afford groceries much less anything else.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Somethings gotta give. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

Soybean Scott and the rest of the 1% are going to shit themselves when we take what we need from THEM! (Time to make some impaling pikes.😈😈)

Expand full comment
Rosemary Orlandi's avatar

bring back the guillotine !

Expand full comment
Kitty Johnson's avatar

That's what my husband says! He says it's humane! Well, I say okay, as long as no one uses it on our animal brethren or spiders!

Expand full comment
Margaret's avatar

Sharpening my pitchfork.

Expand full comment
Deb (WATDmedia)'s avatar

*spray painted age

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

It makes me SICK that the USDA posts that shit! This HAS TO STOP!!!!! This administration is despicable 😡

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

The Hatch Act means nothing to this lawless regime, just like everything else

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

Yes it is, along with the racist Republicans in Congress. "Get off your fat ghetto asses" would have gotten any representative or senator censored and voted out in another era. We've had military families on SNAP for a long time, along with teachers and others who have served this country. Despicable culture of hate in power today.

Expand full comment
Cyndi's avatar

The ones who need to get off their fat asses all report to Unholy Mike.

Expand full comment
BluDotInARedSewer's avatar

i wish i knew some really good hackers…

Expand full comment
Chris Hierholzer's avatar

An ice pick would work better.

Expand full comment
Margaret's avatar

Is it true that Anonymous has hacked Russian "intelligence"?

Expand full comment
Cindy Watter's avatar

It violates the Hatch Act.

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

Time was when Mike Davis' comments would have lost him his job, his friends, perhaps even his family.

But trump has given the shrieking banshees permission to let it all out. All the bile they spew must be rotting their insides.

Expand full comment
celeste k.'s avatar

It's amazing how trump has managed to surround himself with the worse dregs of society. He is a magnet for the most disgusting examples of humans imaginable.

Expand full comment
Joyce's avatar

The one benefit is that the masks have been removed and now we all see the virulent racism that was lurking there all the time. For decades, they all pretended to be civilized; they had to be very careful about applying their sick beliefs to society. Now we see them as they truly are.

Expand full comment
Judy Luchsinger's avatar

This fascist administration is almost ripe for a French style revolution: 'let them eat nothing ' (instead of cake).

Expand full comment
Mary Hall's avatar

Oui! Oui! I've been recommending that people read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickins to get in the mood.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

And to think we read that in English class in the Sixties. No wonder they turned out the way they did.

Expand full comment
Michael Guenon's avatar

Remember it well. 10th grade, Ms. Berry, Helix High, and Bill Walton was in the class ahead of me. Thanks for the short diversion down memory lane.

Expand full comment
Lady Emsworth's avatar

There are STILL (God help us) a lot of people who think trump is the new Messiah. . .

Expand full comment
James Vander Poel's avatar

I know... I lost two family members to the dark side. Found out two weeks ago.

Expand full comment
Wendy The Druid 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈's avatar

This shocks you jeff?

Here you go, try this shit out.

The Trump Bondi Press conference.

Its a real piece of shit.

https://thistleandmoss.com/p/how-donny-turdchomper-s-press-conference-became-a-masterclass-in-american-fuckcism

"We are just gonna kill people bringing drugs into our country".

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

Does that include the Adderall peddlers?

Expand full comment
Jean Jacoby's avatar

No no no, you don't understand. Adderall is protected because it's for the children of special people so they will stay awake and pay attention in class and get A's and then get into elite universities where they will keep using it or sell it to their classmates who are not quite as special. Children of not special people who actually have ADHD won't even be told about these special drugs because they are not special.

Expand full comment
Sooz Hall's avatar

Brilliant

Expand full comment
Jean Jacoby's avatar

It's sad but true, alas.

Expand full comment
Wendy The Druid 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈's avatar

I wondered that as well.

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

Spot on Wendy!

Expand full comment
Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

Thanks for your fine post, we have a good group that likes your stuff including me, keep it going unless everything turns around and becomes decent in the country. I know that’s dreaming but it is needed.

Expand full comment
David Simpson's avatar

What’s happening right now isn’t politics — it’s vandalism dressed up as holier-than thou virtue. The GOP’s shutdown circus is less about ideology and more about proving that government itself doesn’t deserve to exist. Holy Mike Johnson, the Bible-thumping Speaker who mistakes obstinance for faith, won’t even swear in the new congresswoman from Arizona. Why? Because governing might interrupt the performance. (Oh, and because "Epstein Epstein Epstein"...) It’s all theater for Dear Leader and his army of crass out-of-touch donor-class sociopaths. They’ll happily starve 42 million Americans off SNAP, then go on Fox to brag about “tough choices.” They’ll tell you they’re defending fiscal sanity while handing billionaires tax cuts fat enough to choke a country. And when people start losing homes, meals, or medication, they’ll say it’s your fault for not praying harder or working longer hours at a job that barely pays rent. This isn’t conservative policy — it’s cruelty as political brand. The party of Reagan’s “welfare queen” has fully merged with Trump’s “vermin” rhetoric, where poverty itself is treated as a moral failure and compassion is for losers and suckers (hey, where have we heard THAT before?!) Johnson’s shutdown isn’t a stand for principle; it’s a tantrum thrown on behalf of people who already own everything and just want more -- there's no end to their greet and gluttony. And yeah, the Soybean Scotts and Howard Lutnicks of the world will be just fine. Their “hardship” is a dip in one of their seven portfolios. Meanwhile, real people — teachers, federal workers, parents feeding kids with SNAP — they are all about to get crushed by a shit weasel government that’s been hijacked by nihilists who measure success by how much pain they can cause without flinching. Cruelty is the point, as always. At this stage, it’s not even hypocrisy. It’s a death cult wrapped in a flag and waving a Bible, proudly proving that empathy is weakness.

Expand full comment
Declan's avatar

Nope, this is more than conservative policy ....it naked Democide. A kind of eugenics.....those that survive....survive. The rest had bad genes.

Expand full comment
Tom Clements's avatar

The Dems need to take some lessons from Canada and learn how to do some effective messaging. When all people hear is republican propaganda without any counter message they learn to just accept it. We've still never recovered from Reagan's welfare queen or Willie Horton.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

I totally agree. Assertive messaging has never been their strong suit.

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

What are they AFRAID OF????

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

I would love to know the answer to that. 🤦‍♀️

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

AIPAC

Expand full comment
Sooz Hall's avatar

Jeff, we need to get someone to do a ?30 second ?60 second TicTok or Substack video on Bessent “I’m a soybean farmer too”, followed by the photo you showed plus (possible to get?) a copy of an investment instrument that includes soybean production as part of it. (Awkward sentence construction noted.). Ideally read by someone with a serious if, a bit grave voice, talking about the situation with soybean farmers. A person much more clever than I would have the right touch.

Expand full comment
Megan Ross's avatar

It's time to employ a good hacker to get into these government websites that are fraudulently spewing out messages that say the Democrats are at fault for what's happening with the government shutdown, and change those messages to what's REALLY happening. It's time to fight back, the best we can.

Expand full comment
Susie's avatar

I concur. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Expand full comment
Kay's avatar

We are not the United Ststes. We are the red states and the blue states. We are democrats and the republicans. The pseudo president even calls it out daily. Let’s just do that then. Divide America in two. It’s what is happening anyway.

Expand full comment
Margaret's avatar

No such thing as a Republican any more. They are MAGA, Trumplicans.

Expand full comment
Jon Notabot's avatar

From Jeff -

"in four days, due to the government shutdown, 42 million needy Americans are going to lose their SNAP benefits. mind you, the government has the money to continue paying out these benefits — they’re just choosing not to. because fuck you, that’s why. they are literally starving people because they think they can blame Democrats for it and score political points."

They also realize that banning food is a sure way to create a crime wave - of bread thievery - which will of course require the full force of US military might to put the poor back in their place.

Expand full comment
Chris Hierholzer's avatar

...to put the poor back in their place. That's the way it works.

Expand full comment
Leu2500's avatar

“I’m actually a soybean farmer.” The next question should have been “Deere or Case”?

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

Yo that could have warranted a follow-up question or two… you know just to flesh it out :/

Expand full comment
Ole Anderson's avatar

Bessent has the indisputably Most punchable face in the entire clownocracy.

At once smug and entitled and certain he has forgotten more than untouchable You ever learned. So of course you should grovel before your lord and master!

One to the solar plexus to bend him over then the roundhouse uppercut right on the bean, leave him snorting blood !

It’s a wonderful image and one which has at least some probability - Bessent has called several administration figures including Muskrat outside for some fisticuffs

Nyuck, nyuck, ooh a tough guy, huh!?!

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

He must be RAKING IT IN to take on this job @this stage of his ‘portfolio’… 💰💰💰💨

Expand full comment
Annabelle's avatar

Ole, I love your name..

Expand full comment
Jane's avatar

🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment
LINDA ADAMS's avatar

“Bessent may look like a haughty fuckface oligarch to you” - yes, Jeff, yes he does. He manages to look haughty and pained and like he smells something unpleasant all at the same time.

“in any just world, these callous fuckfaces would lose everything — and then be forced to survive on what’s left of the social safety net they’re trying like hell to destroy.” Oh, what a world that would be.

Thank you for voicing my utter disgust.

Expand full comment
Susie's avatar

Right?! “Utter disgust” is spot on.

Expand full comment
Fastball Fredo's avatar

Jeff,thanks for highlighting the obvious to us fellow travelers, however the red hats are slowly learning that… Donald does not give a shit about you, his cabinet members feel the same. We are the little people who must be led into Trump’s Golden Age. Tired of the daily BS from Dear Leader, who is unable to distinguish between a cognitive test as opposed to an intelligence test. All these folks care about is grifting, looting and stealing from the American people.🤮🤮🤮

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

It is slowly dawning on some MAGAts. Very slowly. For many, though, enlightenment is unreachable.

Expand full comment
Peggy Hendrickson's avatar

I heard him say that on NPR - that he is a soybean farmer. LMAO. Thanks for telling us the rest of the story. These folks are the personification of greed and evil. I really hope there’s a hell.

Expand full comment
Wendymae's avatar

As soon as I heard that I knew he was lying but didn't want to do the fact checking, so thank you to Jeff for giving us the truth about that. And you know Soybean Scott would rather have the farm go under than give them a break on their rent so they can survive.

Expand full comment