398 Comments
User's avatar
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

I think this the first time I've covered the same story for four consecutive days. I'm hopeful you folks are still interested in reading about it

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Absolutely---it will go down in history as one of the most consequential fuckups in America. You have made it bearable, so thanks.

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

One of the most consequential, with one of the biggest downplays by the party that committed this fuckup. Bondi, KKKaroline, Gabbard, Waltz, Kegsbreath himself all outright lied. There should be consequences for that

Expand full comment
Rick Calegari's avatar

There should be major consequences for all of this incompetent bullshit but with mob boss AG bimbo Bondi running the Dept. of Injustice, it won't happen on her very compromised watch. She's got better things to do like protect Dump from his constant fuck ups or Smuk's precious Tesla dealerships. Amazing how Dump keeps getting his personal attorney's to keep him out of trouble but in one of those so called shithole countries, he would've already gotten what he desrves.

Expand full comment
Joanne Beck's avatar

Yes Bimbo C**T Bondi. What stupid blonde bimbo. Like all the other Trump loves....

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

I think she is Bulldog Bondi. Not acting like an AG, not even being lawyerly. She is just an attack dog, and a lying one at that

Expand full comment
Joe Witkowski's avatar

A dog for sure. I wouldn’t fuck her or KKKaroline with a 59-year old’s shriveled up dick

Expand full comment
Ole Anderson's avatar

Bribery Barbie.

And she came cheap- $25,000 from some trump charity for not indicting him for the University scam in Florida. Good look out for the Floridians defrauded,

Pammy Pie

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

She’s gotta go! She is not a very smart lawyer. She has no idea how the federal judiciary works. She thinks she can run things like she did in Florida. Disrespecting the federal judges will hopefully get her removed from being the director. It may not happen right now but I feel Dems are making some momentum. This fuckup was a gift to us. Can’t let it slide…we have to keep up the pace.

Expand full comment
T L Mills's avatar

I would LOVE to see Bondi get disbarred and thrown out on her corrupt little arse. KKKaroline Leavitt will soon show the effects of constant lying in service to a corrupt, lawless old tool and start to look just like Kellyanne Conway did after a 6 or so months of Dear Leader.

Gabbard needs to be hauled off and force fed a daily dose of Prevagen until she can remember some of the texts she read--she seems to have no problem remembering how to tell lies, albeit implausible ones. Waltz is a feckless fool and should just be fired.

As for plastered Pete Hogsbreth...I think he should busted down to a general infantryman and sent off to some combat zone so he can practice his "lethality". I doubt anybody--least of all his fellow soldiers--will be terribly impressed.

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

He might get fragged

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

Should get fragged.

Along with Tom Cotton, who was voted, Most Likely to be Fragged by His Own Men.

Expand full comment
T L Mills's avatar

I think both the House and the Senate are stuffed full of people who would get fragged by their own soldiers if they were to attempt "leading" them in the fashion that they currently "lead"

Expand full comment
T L Mills's avatar

If he blusters, bloviates and projects his phony "experience" as seems to be his usual, I should think his eventual fragging a certainty.

Expand full comment
Tully's avatar

I just made a short reply above before seeing your note - you wrote it much better!

Expand full comment
Kathy H's avatar

Damn straight there should be consequences.

Expand full comment
Bob Bowden's avatar

The reason it’s so consequential is that it coicincides with other events (crippling tarriffs, destruction of Social Security staffing) showing tRump and his team are a bunch of walking/talking fuck-ups.

The bloom is off the turd blossom.

Expand full comment
Douglas's avatar

I don't think of episodes as screw ups...they simply have no regard for Nat/Sec. Destruction of American society is the goal, and 'mistakes' are part of the process.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

What is noteworthy about the chat group is who ISN'T there. We would expect these discussions to be in the Situation Room, led by the President: but of course, Dumb Antichrist was nowhere near, for deniability's sake, with Stephen Miller stepping in to relay what Dear Leader would say if he were there. And we would expect all kinds of military people, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and so on, but not a single one of those was there, because anyone in uniform would throw a shitfit at the idea of this stuff being thrown around on a Signal chat. These people KNEW that this chat group was inappropriate; the only "screwup" was letting themselves get caught.

Expand full comment
Eileen's avatar

Bingo! Plausible deniability - Core Trump. His modus operandi.

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

That was my thinking. Plausible Deniability.

That, plus he's too damn stupid to be kept in the loop, since he'd probably run to the nearest phone and call his BFF, Vlad, and let him know what was on the horizon for the Houthis. [Except 'Houthi' is a word he is unfamiliar with]

Expand full comment
Tully's avatar

I don't think Trump even knew what was going on - at least that's how he played it after they got caught.

So, Hegseth gets to play war games like a little boy without any of the bigwigs in on the decision and the others all acted as if this is a game to play along with, because, hey, they were put in charge for the big man whose main job is only to play to the cult while he's playing golf.

It's like four year olds trying to play monopoly.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

Oh, I think Trump issued a general instruction to bomb the Houthis, although of course he couldn’t be bothered to be involved with any details.

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

Exactly.

Expand full comment
Bonnie Council's avatar

It's the Keystone Cops running the circus now, not just the clowns.

Expand full comment
SPW's avatar

I wasn’t aware the turd ever blossomed in the first place but what do I know?

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Nance and many others,rated it the largest (NatSec)National Security breach in American history Susan… it’s good knowing that America’s most ignorant tosspots, are as trustworthy as the guy mowing the WH lawn!!

Expand full comment
Lynn Van Haren's avatar

How was Hillary’s emails subject to FBI investigation & hundreds of Congressional investigations, but this story dies down after a couple of days???

Expand full comment
Patricia Williamson's avatar

You know the answer to that question. Republicans can do whatever they want, but Democrats must not do anything.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

This story won't die down if we don't let it.

Expand full comment
Kristy Kanen's avatar

I don't think it's dying down

Expand full comment
Bob Bowden's avatar

1939 Winston Churchill : “It's a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma…”

2025 Jeff Tiedrich (I’m paraphrasing): It’s criminal negligence wrapped in a clusterfuck inside a Fox And Friends weekend host’s drunken stupor.

Expand full comment
George in Atlanta's avatar

Right now, Me: A bag of rabid weasels stuffed inside a flaming dumpster full of shit.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

...inside a lot of unsold Cybertrucks

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

“It’s GOLD, Jerry, gold!”

Expand full comment
Wendy's avatar

SERENITY NOW!!!! SERENITY NOW!!!!!

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

“You know what they say, serenity now, insanity later.” Frank Costanza

AssMouthPantLoad must have chanted, “serenity now” for years.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

I have misattributed this fine quote. It wasn’t Frank who said this, it was Lloyd Braun after the PC selling contest between he and George.

Expand full comment
Anonomyte's avatar

Hi Jeff, I am always interested in what you write. Can you please check into something for me. I was at my hair salon in Pembroke Pines, Florida yesterday, when I heard an announcement or ad over the radio or TV, I couldn't figure out which. The announcement was about turning yourself into ICE. I am not kidding. I was kind of stunned as I was listening to it. Could have been Kristi Noem's voice. I don't know. I was bothered by it because people are scooped up here in S Florida left and right.

Expand full comment
Krista Allen's avatar

That commercial ran here in Dallas. I saw reporting elsewhere that the Convicted Felon ordered the Puppy Killer to do a $200M ad campaign to highlight the AMAZING work he's doing getting those icky immigrants out. My husband and I just shook our heads at the SNL-esque commercial that resulted.

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

Where is DOGE with all their "waste, fraud, and abuse" accusations? To them, this is money well spent, like sending Gnome to C. America for a photo op or flying President Putinsbitch to FL every gdamn weekend to golf at our expense

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

President Elmo and his teenage minions have found NO DOCUMENTED ABUSE OR FRAUD. If they had they would parade that shit around on a Rose Bowl Parade float.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

Well, that was probably not the mission. The real mission was to gather information about all Americans and to find a way to monetize that. IMHO.

Expand full comment
Joanne Beck's avatar

Not Elmo!

Expand full comment
Ole Anderson's avatar

Tell it, Doc

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

I saw something like that on TV yesterday, during on of the evening news shows (NBC?) It was definitely her.

Expand full comment
Kristy Kanen's avatar

Nazi Noem

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

You better believe the Puppy Killer is leading the charge to dispel anyone stoopid enough to have brown skin.

Expand full comment
Mary Schweitzer's avatar

There was kind of a joke going around that some Latino migrant workers were doing construction stuff near the pit on Noem’s property. They saw her go down with a goat and a shotgun, heard a bang, and saw her come out by herself. Then she went down with the dog, followed by gunshot, then no dog. This time when she got out of the pit she looked over at them. “I’m outta here” one said, and they all left.

That joke hasn’t aged so well …

Expand full comment
Deborah Hunter's avatar

I have some American born coworkers I would gladly send them.

Expand full comment
George in Atlanta's avatar

Some day, one condition or the other will exist. Either the Fourth Reich will be solidly established to rule for generations, or the worm turns and the American people get sufficiently pissed to reverse this (after exploring all the alternatives, of course; sorry PM Churchill). In the latter scenario, many of our beloved fellow citizens will have their qualifications to vote closely scrutinized, for quality-control purposes, of course.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

I have a whole neighborhood, along with the most of the town Deborah!!

Expand full comment
Paula Dean Coykendall's avatar

Ditto

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

Well, the app that immigrants used to schedule appointments for requesting asylum (CBP One) has now been turned into an app to self-deport, so I’m inclined to believe it’s legit (but horrible)

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/03/10/dhs-launches-cbp-home-app-self-deport-reporting-feature

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

The illegality of this fascist takeover is now plain for all to see. If you choose not to see it, that’s your problem. It’s real, it’s desperate and it is happening. Now that the true intentions of President Elmo and his smelly sock puppet are out in the open, what are we going to do about it?

Mobilize and organize!

Resist this illegal overthrow of our government!

Get started on April 5th!

https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/764186/

Expand full comment
George in Atlanta's avatar

Is it gonna be wild? I hope not. I hope it's totally quiet and polite and that it does not cause Republican assholes to pucker from coast to coast. I have greatly enjoyed Grassley get beaten like a bad dog at his own town hall and then whimper about not being informed about the SS cuts. Whatta bag of tools.

Expand full comment
Chet Brandt's avatar

Old fool Grassley needs to “ move on further down the road…”

Expand full comment
Bill Corbett's avatar

It's my B Day and I can't wait. Make good trouble.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Happy Birthday! I hope you're younger than me (75) so you can risk protesting.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Hey birdwatcher! We septuagenarians still got some fight left. Participate in the April 5th protests and let’s get this big ball of democracy rolling!

https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/event/764186/

Expand full comment
Bonnie Council's avatar

We're going to two rallies on April 5. And one tomorrow too! If the only weapons we have in this fight are our voices and our signs, then so be it. They will hear our voices!!!!!!

Expand full comment
Cheri Collins's avatar

I signed up!

Expand full comment
Nancy Potter's avatar

When Mitt Romney suggested self-deportation in 2012, there was outrage for weeks. With Trump, it's just another Wednesday.

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

Right?! I’d love to know what stats there are for this self deport app. We’ll obviously never know or it’ll be some ginormous lie.

Expand full comment
shee-rah's avatar

Probably many “Donald Trumps” and “Elon Musks” signing up to self-deport.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Instead of a “self deport” app, how about a drug testing app for Congress and the Senate? Elected officials are elected to LEAD. Show us you are leaders and police yourselves! This will undoubtedly happen subsequent to the Bloated Yam of Scam giving up his golf cart and walking the course.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Oh yeah, let’s test the Corrupt Supreme 6, as well.

Expand full comment
Ole Anderson's avatar

At bc least Uncle Clarence But it might just be No Doze

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Of course they tried to pull a fast one Kay-EI, you just trashed their plan today!!

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

Holy shit!!!!!

Expand full comment
Kathy H's avatar

Wow. Stunned jaw drop. There is no bottom to the low that they go.

Expand full comment
Rick Calegari's avatar

We've seen that ad many times here in SoCal and yes, it was the evil Krusti Noem.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

People gonna miss all that cheap labor is all I'm saying. I believe people will be somewhat protected in SoCal. I mean, California is what? 51 percent Hispanic?

Expand full comment
Nancy Potter's avatar

At least it's unlikely California will resort to loosening child labor laws to make up the difference.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

The big farmers probably have Hispanic child labor.

Expand full comment
Rick Calegari's avatar

I'd like to think so although I've heard stories about ICE showing up at places like Home Depot and car washes.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Of course. Around here, Home Depot is a major hiring place for illegals. Drive by and see the line. In my city (no Home Depot) there is a specific corner where they can wait to be picked up by contractors. The city passes by at least once a week to check that people are actually being paid and not cheated of what they are promised. That's the difference between immigrants and homeless. The immigrants (illegals) are here to work. The homeless (citizens) are blocking sidewalks with their tents and refusing free housing because they can't smoke inside (a clue that they've never worked in California, where you usually can't smoke inside (including bars, etc.)

Expand full comment
Joanne Beck's avatar

I'm going to give her a middle name. Krusti twat Noem.

Expand full comment
DuduLovesBubu's avatar

We've got a celebrity called Krusty Panties here in Massachusetts injecting herself into the Karen Read case.

Expand full comment
Nancy Potter's avatar

It is Noem, in full hair and makeup, telling people (in English only) to leave now before you're deported, but at least half the video is of Trump boarding or exiting planes, or speaking to his adoring sycophants. It looks like a Trump campaign ad with a little Kristi voiceover.

Expand full comment
Ole Anderson's avatar

Of course it does. It’s all about donnie, all the time.

Expand full comment
Bonnie Council's avatar

That ad runs here in NY almost daily. Gives me the creeps, and then makes me angry. Very angry.

Expand full comment
Lynn Van Haren's avatar

Yes, Noem gave a little speech while standing outside the El Salvadoran prison, warning people not to come to the US illegally OR ELSE!

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar

It is running up here in the red part of Washington State. Lots of migrant agriculture workers here that I assume the puppy murderer is trying to scare.

Now that I say that, it is interesting it is being run in English, and not Spanish. This gestapo can't even get that right.

Expand full comment
Eileen's avatar

What will Secretary of State Marco Rubio do when the Cubans get hauled off the street and stuffed in a cell in El Salvador? Will he act like he did in the face of the Turkish Fulbright Scholar getting kidnapped by masked strangers in the light of day? She had it coming because she wrote something thinking the First Amendment rights protected her? God he was so cavalier. Made me sick.

Expand full comment
Cheri Collins's avatar

Holy shit!

Expand full comment
Wendy's avatar

I keep doing it jeff. I had to take a break from the SignalGate, and talk about Melanie Stansbury's floor speech about the directionless GOP and their motives. https://thistleandmoss.com/p/melanie-stansbury-the-gop-is-the

Expand full comment
Mingo's avatar

Did she really call Elmo Elon ShrimpMusk? Damn!

Expand full comment
Wendy's avatar

lol. Artistic license....

Expand full comment
Vicki Bruning's avatar

thank you, it's nice to see that someone on the floor has the courage to stand up and call out the sycophants. Had you not posted on SUbstack, I would never have known. I'll keep eye on her actions as she speaks out to those willing to listen.

Expand full comment
Dana's avatar

We need to keep this story in the News Cycle! Keep on bringing it up ✔️

Expand full comment
SethTriggs's avatar

The thing is, this story is absolutely bonkers huge, especially since it's an onion whose layers open up to reveal even more horrors. This is our worst ever security breach.

We're all on a 787, careening out of control and the pilots up front are asleep or have passed out from an 8-ball. And there's an armored cockpit door in the way so nobody else can save the plane.

Expand full comment
Stephen Schiff's avatar

Not only am I still interested, I 'd like to read your thoughts about whether it makes any difference whether Hegseth & Co are drunk, drugged or sober. There's nothing I've found that distinguishes any of them from pond scum. (Apologies to the last.)

Expand full comment
Carl Selfe's avatar

The lawlessness of the Trump Administration deprives us all of our civil rights. Why does not big law sue the Administration to right the ship? They are willing to GIVE AWAY $25 million as a bribe to Trump. It makes sense to spend that money on a civil suit against Trump and the Administration. DOJ lawyers are not infinite in numbers, and low-bidder consulting lawyers are not so hot. After a protracted lawsuit, awards would be substantial. This is similar to a contingency fee lawsuit, plentiful after a bus crashes. One has here.

https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/conspiracy-against-us?r=3m1bs

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

Some big law firms (like Perkins Coie, where my sister used to work) are indeed suing the Trump administration rather than surrendering.

Expand full comment
George in Atlanta's avatar

Absolutely. This one has some legs, let's ride it as long as we can. Maybe we can get vets, service members, and their families pissed off. Finally.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

I just don't get it. It is so obvious that Drump hates vets. Why in God's name would any of them support him? Why would any Hispanic vote for him? He hates anyone with a show of melanin. Bet he won't shake hands with the Veep's wife cause of brown cooties. I mean he might grab her by the hoo hoo but that's about it.

Expand full comment
Bill Corbett's avatar

He only loves himself and I can't fathom why so many people believe he cares about them or anyone's needs. It's beyond comprehension.

Expand full comment
Brooks R Susman's avatar

Please...you're the only one who can bring a laugh as the ship of state goes awry.

Expand full comment
Douglas's avatar

As Diabolical as they are, this episode is taking attention away from the fact that government agents are disappearing people of the street. By years end it could be anybody....like some schmo that says a cross word about fearless leader ....its real Saddam Hussein stuff. Of course, Democrats are chasing it down the hole....as they should.

Expand full comment
Chet Brandt's avatar

Drumph’s gestapo at work! We need to broadcast this as often as possible!

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

"bombing the shit out of another county."

Jeff, are you telling us that Nassau County is bombing Westchester?

Expand full comment
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

GODDAMNIT, and of course spell check didn't flag it, obviously. ARGH

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

Jeff, I proofread my Substack posts four times before I send them out and always catch something later. I think your errors are adorable. That goes for the rest of you too. Here's some unsolicited advice. I have my computer read my first draft to me, I find it easier to hear errors than to see them.

Expand full comment
Bill Corbett's avatar

Great idea, as I'm always going back to edit.

Thanks.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

There is no better way to catch an error than to hit Send.

I proofread my novel multiple times, rereading the text until I was tired of my own writing. I still found two typos in the published book.

Expand full comment
Joanne Beck's avatar

Practically Perfect. That's what you are, Jeff!

Expand full comment
Steve Kelly's avatar

An Almost Perfect Person.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

Personally, I found that mistake endearing.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

I missed this, I'm on west coast time. But there's a reason Kathleen proofreads her posts four times. Spellcheck can't cope with the vocabulary of a well educated person and AI has no idea what anything means. They both suck.

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

There are a lot of surrounding counties that I'd like to bomb.😆😆

Expand full comment
Nancy Potter's avatar

Yesterday afternoon, fighter jets were doing regular runs over the San Gabriel Valley (a blue area) and I did wonder for a moment whether Trump was exacting revenge. It was probably prep for a flyover of the opening day Dodger game, but that's how paranoid I'm getting.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Oakland Airport has apparently rerouted its planes, and I keep wondering if Travis AFB planes are flying over us. But I definitely saw a commercial plane yesterday, unless it was t's personal plane.

Expand full comment
Bob Bowden's avatar

I think we DO have to worry about Orange bombing Ontario. (Yes, those are both New York counties!)

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

Since Trump came down the elevator, anything is possible.

Expand full comment
Bob Bowden's avatar

It was an escalator. Too bad it wasn’t an elevator, the old fashioned kind, run by Pete Hegseth.

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

🎯

Expand full comment
Cheri Collins's avatar

😂

Expand full comment
displacedCTYankee's avatar

Why am I missing the error? Did somebody go back and change a comment?

Expand full comment
Kathleen Weber's avatar

The error was in Jeff's post, and he has corrected it.

Expand full comment
displacedCTYankee's avatar

Thanks, that's what I figured. But, but, a Jeff error? My world is destroyed!

Expand full comment
Scott Gilbert's avatar

I think this is what they're using to keep us from noticing (pretty fucking successfully, too) that they just fired a SHIT-TON of people from the Social Security Administration, or was Heather Cox Richardson incorrect this morning?

Expand full comment
Bill Corbett's avatar

The Navajo code breakers from WWII are rolling over in their graves.

Expand full comment
Peter's avatar

Their usual excuses and lies are not playing well this time. Even Fox is having trouble not least because each set of excuses and lies is worse than what came before. This is not going away until someone, or someones, get fired or resign no matter what Emperor Dipshit or Pam the Sham say.

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

Well, he threw Elise Stefanik under the bus as a token sacrifice, so it's all cool now, right?

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

"but look, let’s not bicker and argue over war plans and attack plans." 😂😂 Love that Gif.

Now this hateful, delusional asshole is going after The Smithsonian. I literally had tears in my eyes when I read this. It's all sacred space. I'm just lucky I got to walk through them all before he fucks it up. What's next? Pave Arlington over for a condo? I hate everything.

Expand full comment
Jan Moon's avatar

I hate everything too. Next they'll be deleting the names of all the women and people of color from the Vietnam Memorial. Oh, God, I hope they don't read this. Let's hope slimy Vance gets eaten by a giraffe while desecrating the zoo.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Jan, I doubt that a peaceful creature like a giraffe would “stoop” to Vance’s level.

Expand full comment
Jan Moon's avatar

Okay, a Burmese python.

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

python is good.......slow

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar

Giraffes are vegetarians.

Expand full comment
Jan Moon's avatar

I thought pond scum was a vegetable.

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

I see what you did there.

And I approve.

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar

Ah! I see what you are doing there. My mistake, although giraffes prefer more solid greenery than pond scum.

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

The Vietnam Memorial, which was designed by an Asian woman, Maya Lin. He'd have to rip the entire thing out, names and all, to destroy her legacy.

And I wouldn't put it past him, either. Bone Spurs Barbie.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

I'm sorry you mentioned the plan for Arlington. I hope the Asshole-in-Chief doesn't see it.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

😭😭😭😭😭😭

Expand full comment
Ole Anderson's avatar

He’s paving Jackie’s Rose Garden and probably looking at JFKs grave with its eternal flame. He will get muck on it- all that gas just burning up 24 hours a day!

Expand full comment
Anne's avatar

I guess he’s gonna try to get rid of the black stripes on the zebras now.

Expand full comment
Bob Bowden's avatar

In a perfect world, or even a halfway reasonable world, he’d be wearing black stripes.

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

And leg irons.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

👏👏👏👏 No doubt!

Expand full comment
Norma's avatar

Me too Susan. I find myself close to tears every time the news reports some new unnecessary just plain evil move by HIM!

Expand full comment
A.J. Madison's avatar

Speaking of he that should not be named, just incarcerated. Leaving work at 2:30pm on a Friday, when he doesn't even get into the office after noon. Great work if you can find it. Is your work schedule getting in the way or your golf, oh great rotundity of stupidity? Cannot wait for this man to die. Now, or after his term. Don't care. I'll band together with others and figure out a way to get past security to dump a yellow stream on his grave.

Expand full comment
P123Sunny's avatar

The Rose Garden was sacred space too - I hear you :/

Expand full comment
Paula Dean Coykendall's avatar

Susan, the news about the Smithsonian hit me hardest so far....my vision literally went bye-bye when I saw it. Black History, Women's History, AMERICAN HISTORY!

They're cutting the staff of Social Security and HUD in half...the two most essential services that I depend on, and yes - that worries me.

Removing the priceless artifacts of History and Science? Now they're fukking with The Gods.

Expand full comment
Kay's avatar

I don’t know how it works but who are the actual people that actually do the things he tells them to do? I just wonder who blindly follows those orders!

Expand full comment
Alex Dash's avatar

Their craving for destruction is both mind boggling and heart-breaking. They are boorish and vulgar. They appear to have no respect for anyone or anything.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Completely agree... it disgusts me.

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

They're fucking Visigoths.

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

That is indeed fucked up.😡😡🤬

Expand full comment
James Stanley's avatar

Yeah, pull Amelia Earhart's plane outta there. Too woke.

Expand full comment
Karen Hall's avatar

💔💔💔

Expand full comment
Joanne Filipo's avatar

I am so with you Susan…some days it’s hard to put one foot in front of the other! However, it’s a protest Saturday! And I’ll be out there with 1500 like minded folks here in Tucson! F Elon and the Felon! ✌️✊

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

💙💙💙

Expand full comment
Bikracer's avatar

I’m in California and have never been to the Smithsonian or the National Zoo or any of the places he’s fucking up 😭

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

I’m so sorry - if you had the time and money, I hope you can see some of it. Magnificent American Treasures. He stole of Constitution and stuck it in the Oval Office…I hope its a duplicate. :(

Expand full comment
Fastball Fredo's avatar

Jeff ..is Bondi on the FAUX payroll? It seems every day she’s on, spouting her fascist talking points with her prop cross on display.. Disgusting and insulting on every level every day. 🤮

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

It's a wonder she can stand up what with the weight of the cross and all. Soon she will be dragging a full-size one behind her as she approaches the podium. Dear Lord God, how I hate all the Christian cosplay while murdering babies.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

I can see her now, arne, dragging an 8 footer across the stage to her lectern as she prepares to break more of the Ten Commandments.

Expand full comment
MARY's avatar

Huge groan........

How do these miscreants sustain the charade of this being normal, democratic, competent governance. They appear to be impervious to cognitive dissonance.

Primary and diagnostic symptom of successful cult immersion.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

It boggles the mind, Mary. How could this possibly be okay? Evil “trumps” intelligence?

Expand full comment
Bill Corbett's avatar

When do we get to nail her to it?

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

It's a pretty great visual, isn't it?

Expand full comment
Carol C's avatar

Arne, I assume you are referring to already-born babies? It’s babies in the fetal stage in utero that concern “Christians” like Bondi.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

I was thinking of the already born babies dying of measles because their parents are idiots. That is so sad and unnecessary.

Expand full comment
Kathy H's avatar

The already born babies they don't give a flying fuck about, what they are born to, what they suffer.

Expand full comment
displacedCTYankee's avatar

I looked this up: Bondi has never been married. So there's NOT "someone for everyone."

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

All the frontline twats selected by Lump remind me of the insipid mean girls I hated in high school. They had names like "Candy Cane" and dated beefy quarterbacks like Kegbreath, inevitably ending up as Prom Queen and King. In fact, his cabinet is like a malevolent version of Animal House.

Expand full comment
Paula Dean Coykendall's avatar

THAT is EXACTLY what those MAGA "girls" are! The classic Mean Girls of the Mall! "WhatEVah"

Expand full comment
Joanne Beck's avatar

nah she's sucking someone's dick for sure.

Expand full comment
Kay's avatar

She lied at her confirmation hearing! Lying to congress. Isn’t that a thing?

Expand full comment
Kathy H's avatar

Why & the hell are these women wearing crosses? The felon doesn't give a shit about bibles except to sell them & refer to himself as the second coming. These are very confused people.

Expand full comment
Ann Anderson's avatar

Might could be that this story got legs like Tina Turner and I couldn't be more pleased - except for the part about compromising the safety of our pilots and generally fucking up national security. Has anyone seen reporting or commentary about Trump not being in the text chain? No one bothers to brief our Idiot in Chief, did he misplace his shoe phone? How much longer will the Secretary of Drunkeness hold on? So many questions. #DUIhire #Whiskeyleaks

Expand full comment
Diane Findley's avatar

I don't think he was on the text chain. Others are doing the "work" of POTUS but dumb donny has checked out. He is nothing more than a figurehead at this point. All he does is loll around watching TV, waddles out in front of some cameras to sit at the Resolute Desk and sign big folders with a page or two of text that his staff has prepared, Then he holds it up and shows it around the room like a kindergarten teacher does when reading to the kids. He follows that heavy schedule with a hamberder washed down with Diet Coke before throwing ketchup packets at the wall to see if he can create some new fingerpainting art. What an imbecile! Plus, spending $3 million of OUR money to go cheat on his golf course in FL every weekend. Why hasn't Muskrat cut that as government waste? Just kidding, I'm not seriously asking that question. Everyone knows the answer.

Expand full comment
Douglas's avatar

Hes going to Florida today....if situation had Dems in this position & BIDEN wad headed to golf in Florida, the right wing would explode in earthshattering rage!!

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Ignorance is bliss for the man with pants full of piss.

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

He's been in those diapers since "The Apprentice" so he must own stock in Aquaphor.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

It’s certainly curious that Dear Dotard wasn’t involved… it’s also interesting that the lives of the pilots and over a billion dollar aircraft armed with weapons could have easily been shot down by Waltz idiocy Ann!!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Ellis's avatar

He had no involvement whatsoever. In his pea brain, that leaves him with zero responsibility 🤷‍♀️

Expand full comment
Ann Anderson's avatar

Which is why he's in Florida today golfing.

Expand full comment
Dave Drell's avatar

The buck stops THERE!!!

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

They were mostly in pairs, a principal with a deputy. VP JD Vance and his chief of staff Dan Baker, Sec of State Marco Rubio and a staffer Michael somebody (not a Dan like the others), Sec of Treasury Scott Bessent with staffer Dan Katz, Sec of Defense Pete Hegseth with staffer Dan Crawford, DNI Tulsi Gabbard with unofficial aide Joe Kent (nominated to head the Counterterrorism Center but not confirmed by the Senate), CIA Director John Ratcliffe with an unnamed aide (Jeff Goldberg redacted the name because no CIA agents are ever supposed to be named; Ratcliffe says it was no big deal because he wasn't in an undercover role at this time, which is not the practice, you don't name any agent ever-- Scooter Libby went to prison for breaking that rule), NSA Michael Waltz with his deputy Bryan McCormack (a perfectly normal plus-one for him, but why was he adding plus-two?), Stephen Miller standing in for Donald Trump (yes really, Miller is who would tell the chat what Donald thought) with chief of staff Susie Wiles; and then the irregular two, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (might have been normal, except that he was IN MOSCOW at the time, and signed in via the wifi of a hotel OWNED BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT) and Atlantic editor Jeff Goldberg.

Conspicuous by absence: not just The Donald, but *any* member of the military.

Expand full comment
Betsy's avatar

This whole thing is so insane. I asked a client who calls himself a "centrist" but watches nothing but Fox News what he thought of the whole thing and he said "oh it's being blown so far out of proportion it's ridiculous". What can we do when half the country is in a cult?

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

It’s not half, it’s more like 30%, Betsy. We now have minority rule in America.

Expand full comment
Lynn Van Haren's avatar

We’ve had it for decades. Every time Republicans were in the Majority in Congress

Expand full comment
Douglas's avatar

I remember 16 years ago when Bill O'Reilly repeatedly said on his show that he was a 'centrist', & then he'd go on a tirade against Dem policies, Obama, etc. That was a deception to get moderate voters to vote against Obama.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Not a thing Betsy! The further someone moves toward an ideological extreme, the further they drift from reality”!

This phenomenon isn’t new. Throughout history, thousands of political and religious movements have collapsed into dogma and cut themselves off from reality!

Expand full comment
Dana's avatar

“Pam Bondi: “well first, it was sensitive information, not classified, inadvertently released, and what we should be talking about is it was a very successful mission ... if you want to talk about classified information, talk about what was at Hillary Clinton’s home.”… “ should we remind her of all the 1000’s of classified documents at the home of f4547 - mardolardo?!?!

Expand full comment
Kay's avatar

And how they had to raid maralardo to get the boxes and boxes of top secret and classified documents back and the court cases swept under the rug by Cannon. And then let’s not forget to mention that Hilary was investigated two times about the emails and they found nothing. And let’s talk about how Barbie Blondie lied to congress at her confirmation hearing swearing she would uphold the constitution and not be diaper daddies personal attorney. Yet here we are!

Expand full comment
Tina Stein's avatar

Please keep this up. you appropriately report all this mind blowing shit.

Expand full comment
Nina Nelson's avatar

Must be gay penguins at the zoo. 😂

Expand full comment
Marie Martin's avatar

U gotta a problem with happy penguins???

😆😆😆😆😆😆

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

You're right! It must be those adorable boys.

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

Oh right. CIA Chief John Ratcliffe is so trustworthy. 🙄 (P.S. I hate that smug fcker)

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

Do I hate Bondi. She's not an actual AG or even a lawyer. She's purely an attack dog. If Hilary or Bill have done even a fraction of what the wingnuts say they have, why haven't they been indicted, tried, convicted, and incarcerated? We know the right would like nothing better than to lock them up. Obviously, it's because much of what they say about the Clintons is exaggerated, fabricated, or unfounded. Just shut the fuck up about the Clintons already. Clean your own damn house, you Russia loving traitors

Expand full comment
Katherine Adams's avatar

We need a t-shirt that says: "But What About Her Emails?"

Expand full comment
Dina's avatar

I have one that has a picture of sticks of butter with "EMAILS" printed on the wrappers.

Expand full comment
duncan's avatar

Are there six Republican representatives who might leave trump’s party out of patriotism? If so we should constantly remind them of their duty.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

Duncan, we need to find ONE democracy loving Republicon first.

Expand full comment
Walt Svirsky's avatar

“but how does the CIA director know that Plastered Pete wasn’t plastered? was he there? does the Signal app have a built-in breathalyser?”

Jeff, if the Signal app had a breathalyzer I think Kegsbreath would have used something different. Sounds like a potential “feature,” though.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

I wish Amazon had a breathalyzer. Drunk shopping is hazardous. 😂😂😂

Expand full comment
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

full disclosure: this was the most-recent thing I ordered after one too many cocktails: https://food52.com/shop/products/13534-ethome-vintage-terracotta-amphora-vase

Expand full comment
Sue Munda's avatar

Lol! I ordered a combo weedwacker/edger & completely forgot until it arrived. Of course, it did neither, & was a piece of junk!🥴🫠

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

That is one ugly jug. I once ordered a witch riding a broom weather vane. Temu quality -- first big storm, it was off to Kansas (or my neighbor's backyard).

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Lovely! "you’ll get a special piece hand-selected just for you." 😂😂😂 (I ordered a jar of Peureux Griottines Cherries for Manhattans.)

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

Actually, that is a pretty good purchase. Better than a weed whacker (see below). I usually order clothes that don't fit.

Expand full comment
Marie Martin's avatar

Oh my god. You must’ve been really really smashed. That is so ugly!!!!

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆❤️

Expand full comment
Marty's avatar

Gorgeous!!

Expand full comment
Norma's avatar

Nice 😊

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

very tasteful under the circumstances

Expand full comment
Cheryl ODonnell's avatar

Don’t you shop at Savers?

Expand full comment
Dave Drell's avatar

What the hell is that for? just more schlock hanging around the house!

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

Fuck Amazon, fuck Bezos. Buy on Ebay instead. As far as I know, they are not Nazi-adjacent

Expand full comment
George in Atlanta's avatar

And fuck WaPo. A mere shill-bag now.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Mazur's avatar

Yes, I have been having great luck on eBay! The prices are good and sometimes I find used stuff I couldn't find anywhere else. Goodbye Amazon, good riddance Bezos!

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

I have recently switched to and have been reasonably satisfied with, gasp, Temu

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

Wait until dumbass’s China tariffs kick in

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

no prob for me....oops, until that 51st state thing kicks in

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

Oh, great. Now I have another shopping site to consider when intoxicated. Thanks a lot.

Expand full comment
HI2thDoc's avatar

Welcome.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

You are so right. Actually, I am using eBay more. I have resolved to let Amazon go-my membership is up in a few months. 👍

Expand full comment
Bill Corbett's avatar

My wife and I were laughing about that because she did that last fall after two martinis one Friday night, LOL.

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

Good one!

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

‘hey there, JD, when you’ve finished fucking the furniture, could you run over to the National Zoo and make sure there’s no DEI going on in the elephant house?’ -- OK. I did literally laugh out loud, and it has been many weeks since I've done that. (Also, "good. he’ll be out of our hair.") Thank you, Jeff. As things have gotten dead serious, so have I. I stopped reading your column because I didn't want to laugh at any of the increasingly terrifying done by the government as time goes by. But I decided to read your column today, and I'm glad I did.

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

gotta keep laughing to keep from screaming

Expand full comment
Steve houlette's avatar

I think that was the reason they resorted to signal rather than situation room, all together “with lead walls and ceilings”. Pete was sh$t-faced and didn’t want anyone to see or smell him. Also explains random use of all-caps

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

They all need to GO! Lying everyday so his loyal idiotic supporters will keep kingass trump in power. So… YES… keep on the story Jeff until SOMETHING sinks in!!

Expand full comment
Ingrid Robertshaw's avatar

It is clear what we will have for the next 4 years ! I can imagine how the PILOTS who flew this Yemen Mission are feeling after they found out that their boozy Commander outed them and made them SITTING DUCKS. It will not be the last time because NAZI BARBIE PAM poopoobed it away, the BOOZE HOUND @ DOD is smug and swatted critics away , COMMANDER BONESPURS tells those Pilot...NO WORRIES, Everyone in this CABAL is safe..little murmurs here & there...All is good! My husband flew Missions in Korea. If he was alive today..he would blow his top if the N. Koreans had advance that he & his squadron were on the way to attack...AMERICANS who voted for this own this!!!

Expand full comment