452 Comments
User's avatar
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

today in Shit That Happened While I Was Busy Writing This Shit—

it looks like Todd Blanche is getting chew-toyed by the Senate, even as I type this. from nine minutes ago:

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mm7kq6zxj723

VAN HOLLEN: An individual who was pardoned by Trump went on to molest 2 children, & he tried to buy their silence by saying he would give them funds from your slush fund. Can you commit to not making that person eligible for a payout?

BLANCHE: You're obviously lying

V: I am reporting what he said

Unity In Defiance's avatar

He literally has just been sitting there in the hearing lying the entire time.

At this point I’m doubtful his name is really “Todd Blanche” cuz that’s probably a lie too.

Lairbo's avatar

Whenever any Trump flunky appears at a hearing, there should be someone standing nearby with a fire extinguisher set to "pants".

Unity In Defiance's avatar

Set to pants!! Bahahahahaha

Chris Hierholzer's avatar

Don't use the gold painted extinguisher because it won't work.

barb's avatar

Or a lie detector. Or a few yardsticks to measure their nose.

Cheri Collins's avatar

Sizzlingly perfect!

Linda Weide's avatar

If you are a US citizen or have US residency, would you please read my piece explaining the Free Speech for People campaign to impeach Trump AND his Cabinet and help them get 2 million signatures by signing the petition in it? https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/indivisible-abroad-supports-the-impeach?r=f0qfn

If you can't find the link to the petition in the above piece, here it is.

https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/

Sooz Hall's avatar

👏🏻💗👏🏻💗🤣🤩😆😄🤩😆

HI2thDoc's avatar

What ever happened to that legal concept called "perjury?"

Margaret MacKenzie's avatar

“Legal” is a word not included in any Trump appointee’s vocabulary.

Linda Weide's avatar

If you are a US citizen or have US residency, would you please read my piece explaining the Free Speech for People campaign to impeach Trump AND his cabinet and help them get 2 million signatures by signing the petition in it? https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/indivisible-abroad-supports-the-impeach?r=f0qfn

If you can't find the link to the petition in the above piece, here it is.

https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/

Tonya Browning's avatar

Blanche is young enough that the next administration, albeit blue, will put him in prison for perjury. 🤞🏻 This is all so sickening!

Rick's avatar

blanche and Drumph's pack of criminals all assume that, if need be, they will be issued pre-emptive all-encompassing pardons as Drumpf and his sucklicant repubscums lose power -- their only fear may be that Drumpf may die suddenly of whatever obviously ails him before pardons are issued and paid for --- that would sadden me immensely!!!

Tonya Browning's avatar

Haha! I love the sarcasm. Someone needs to get the MFs on some state charges because Trump can’t pardon those. I’ll be surprised if he pardons anyone though. His word isn’t worth shit. Every morning & everytime I see “breaking news”, I’m hoping to hear Trump is dead! I’m sick of waking up & wondering what the hell he did whilst I was sleeping.

User's avatar
Comment deleted
May 19
Comment deleted
T L Mills's avatar

Well, I'm not proud of it, but I am praying very, very, VERY hard that Donny dies very unexpectedly. In public. So #1, we will ALL know he's dead; #2, no chance that his handlers and enablers can do a "Weekend at Bernie's" caper, and #3, he leaves unfinished business, such as a stack of pardons unsigned.

Better make note of who controls TRUMP'S autopen after his untimely, unexpected demise.

Linda Weide's avatar

Meanwhile, if you are a US citizen or have US residency, would you please read my piece explaining the Free Speech for People campaign to impeach Trump AND his cabinet and help them get 2 million signatures by signing the petition in it? https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/indivisible-abroad-supports-the-impeach?r=f0qfn

If you can't find the link to the petition in the above piece, here it is.

https://www.impeachtrumpagain.org/

User's avatar
Comment deleted
May 20
Comment deleted
devourerofpancakes's avatar

I don't think they are wrong.

Chris Hierholzer's avatar

We should have known things were going this way when troops started occupying DC. We were warned.

Bonnie Council's avatar

The real insanity is that trump tried to sue the IRS for doing what the IRS does, and then has Blanche make a deal with the IRS saying they'll withdraw the suit if the IRS promises to never ever ever ever ever again do what the IRS does, that is, audit people who don't pay their taxes. And now he's arranged this bogus slush fund enrich a bunch of criminals who already got pardoned. My brain is exploding!

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

The lifelong scam artist flim-flam man con artist grifter figured out yet another way to steal from the public (us) and anyone didn't see it coming? This is ALL he's ever done, disgustingly! I'D put money on every single 'project' (his stupid 'ballroom' for example) costing only a fraction of his claims and HIM getting not only a 'skim' off the top, but a huge percentage of the money right into his pockets. No wonder his ugly suits never fit properly (aside from him refusing to pay for a GOOD tailor) but every pocket is weighed down by money stuffed into every crevice.

Runfastandwin's avatar

Congress has abdicated to DOJ all power to enforce their rules. One guess as to how that’s worked out.

Abby From Maine's avatar

Exactly what I'd like to know! I guess the entire justice system is now bowing to tRump!

HI2thDoc's avatar

It is undeniably now the Dept. of Injustice

devourerofpancakes's avatar

The DOJ capitulated completely to Trump when the flew a banner with his mug on in it on the building.

Frank Nuts's avatar

Doc, that went the way of usury laws and antitrust laws and the gold standard and the voting rights act etc — I would almost be surprised if you could still find those terms in the dictionary.

Next step for the oligarchs/republicans is getting rid of that troublesome constitution; although, prying those pocket constitution pamphlets (the ones the republicans waved around and held so dear) out of the republicans’ greasy palms and pockets will be pretty easy because those greasy palms and pockets are so stuffed full of our money there’s no room to hold that pamphlet anymore making it superfluous.

P123Sunny's avatar

And why do we keep underreporting the fact that said ‘tax return leak’ TOOK PLACE IN 2020 - WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT??? It was his IRS!

W O W

Carthago Delenda Est's avatar

Like Andrew Weissman said tonight:

You can't lie to Congress.

You can't lie in court.

You can lie to the public, until you're blue in the face with zero consequences.

People need to learn to distinguish between these.

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

I LOVE Andrew Weissman! He's one of the top legal minds in our Country today and is always available to explain facts (guesting on MSNow often). I mentioned some good Democrats the other day and misspoke, mentioned Andrew Littman instead of THIS Andrew whom I meant. I know the 'name' Andrew Littman, but have no real knowledge of who he is. Others I'd add to our roster of solid, upstanding fighters for democracy are Robert Garcia who's fought for the epstein victim/survivors...Governor Wes Moore and just yesterday Corey Booker came back on to make it clear that HE'S still fighting hard against the frump regime. I am a huge fan of Corey's - especially after his marathon speech on the House floor, beating the previous record even though he nearly lost his voice, BUT he still made it look almost easy. Those fucking repukes didn't know what hit them. So much for frump imagining that he/they are 'superior' to a black man. Fuck those racist fucks. THAT is what lies behind a huge amount of this fuckery.

Carthago Delenda Est's avatar

He (Weissman) was on Larry O'Donnell last night. He has a new book out--Liar's Kingdom. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

YES, Me too! I watched them together last night and made note of his new book. :) I fucked up yet again - it was 'Harry' Littman - not Andrew. Don't know where my mind wanders off to when I'm trying to put all of these Democrats' names together, lol. Today, Lawrence was on a roll with Corey Booker (again) and Sheldon Whitehouse (another of my favourites) gleefully recounting how they've stopped the fucking ballroom (he didn't use 'fucking'). ;) THEN showing the full 5-minute clip of Seth Moulton (former military guy) taking on the Admiral who couldn't come up with a good reason for the Iran War while quoting John Kerry's 'how many have to die'?

Chris Hierholzer's avatar

It went the way of climate change.

devourerofpancakes's avatar

Todd Blanch would have to hold himself in contempt?

HI2thDoc's avatar

That POS who says he's anointed by God

Has his own helper demon named Todd

They are evil incarnate

We will rejoice at their fate

When they face The Staff and The Rod

Frank Nuts's avatar

Well said Doc…it can’t come soon enough.

HI2thDoc's avatar

And I’m an atheist and I’m hoping they get their just desserts

Grace Kennedy's avatar

Tod in German means death.

Andy Klein's avatar

Let's do the whole name: White Death.

Pamela Van Sickle's avatar

👏👏👏👏Yeah Doc!

SethTriggs's avatar

When you serve the unreconstructed, things like Contempt of Congress don't apply. They're basically just paper penalties. So just like Frau Pam, Blaaanche is going to lie.

Frank Nuts's avatar

Seth, don’t you think the republicans should be forced to wear pins next to their flag pins that say “LYING LIARS”

or “WILL BE HAZARDOUS TO YOU AND ALL YOU HOLD DEAR”

or “MORE DEADLY THAN RADIATION AND POISON COMBINED”

or “APPROACH AT YOUR OWN RISK”?

or “DON’T TRUST ANYTHING I SAY”

or “I LAUNDER MY MORALS THROUGH FOX NEWS”

Actually, they should have all of them and alternate them daily.

I think I have a better idea — knowing the republicans will refuse to wear them because “reasons”, maybe someone could make a bunch of stickers with those warnings so that whenever we come across one of those “TERMINATORS” we could palm one of the stickers and give them a friendly slap on the back and say “I hope your firings and murders are going well for you!”

People should be warned right?

john augustine's avatar

'Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them'....a great book a while back by Al Franken

Alison Stoller's avatar

Thanks for that info. I met him once in Minnesota when he and Amy Klobachar (sp?) were at a local house meeting somewhere. He was very friendly and outgoing. I liked him, agreed with him politically and thought it sucked that he was pressured out of congress!

Frank Nuts's avatar

Thanks John! I’ll add that to my list. I’m very fond of Al Franken and vaguely remember that coming out.

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

Al's great - one of our best who COULD have done so much during this current mess and he WAS forced out over a complete farce. He did nothing wrong or unseemly. It was a stupid photo based on the kind of thing he and his crew used to do during the SNL days and his wife knew - still knows, the kind of guy he is. He was thrown to the wolves for NO real reason.

Kay-El's avatar

Stunning that I believe a molester over our Attorney General. Blanche is a real piece of shit.

Frank Nuts's avatar

Yes Kay-El, a POS of the worst kind.

Albert L. Berarducci, Jr. MD's avatar

Way back when…during my early professional training, the descriptive term, POS, more often than not appeared with an antecedent letter “S” standing for the word “Subhuman”.

I can not escape the crying need to apply this enhanced acronym, SPOS, to any and all of the feckless, acolytes of Mango Mussolini whenever any one of them attempts to brandish their rancid, personal skillsets as if they are governing more than 49.6% of the American voting public…sheesh!!!

Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

And now he wants to be paid!

Stephen Brady's avatar

I don't believe for one single, solitary second that Hair Furor could bring himself to sign or authorize $1 million payouts to his mob when he can just make that slush fund disappear into his Crypto account or his Qatari Venezuelan oil money account.

Victoria Wilson's avatar

I tend to agree with you.These J 6 scumbags will probably receive as much$$ from Little Donnie fuck dildo as did the numerous contractors and workers who labored for him, that amount being zilch, nada, goose eggs.When has Donnie ever been generous giving money to others when he could just grift it all to himself?

DJ Headthrob's avatar

Trump, like Crime, doesn't pay.

Sooz Hall's avatar

I haven’t cashed my tariff check yet…

Grace Kennedy's avatar

But they’ll get phones!

DJ Headthrob's avatar

Those phones are like those gold watches from Guys & Dolls.

Major Kong's avatar

Or as I learned in the Navy "zip zero point shit." Follow me for more nautical lore.🙂

PunkAtHeart's avatar

Yep. In a couple months it will come out that none of the criminal fuckfaces actually got their criminal payouts, because it was stolen by the other criminals who authorized its dispersal to themselves instead.

Bill Corbett's avatar

Just like their gold phones.

Victoria Wilson's avatar

It is really a theft, a robbery of We the People.It is our money and they are stealing it.

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

Victoria - he's been stealing from We the People since the very first day of his FIRST finagled (Russia, if you're listening) term. It's the entire reason he wanted to BE in the white house. He had zero intention of BEING President, just reaping the benefits - had no idea he wasn't to keep any of the 'gifts' which resulted in him absconding with most of the 'stuff' - especially anything gold. The grifter has been grifting for his entire life. We are not his only victims.

Terri Nighswonger's avatar

Yeah. He will pocket all the $. And his admirers will be left empty handed. Ha ha

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

'Hair Furor' is a great one, Stephen🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I agree, the money will end up in agent orange and his family's pocket one way or another😡😡😡😡😡

PTW's avatar

Oh. they'll get a pittance, just enough to impress them. Maybe let them move to a nicer trailer. Maybe pay for some dental work. Enough to keep them beholden and loyal and grateful to Dear Leader.

Donald needs these people on retainer for whatever violent fuckery he wants done in the future. This November, 2028, whenever.

DebJS's avatar

I'm thinking about $500 will do the trick.

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

The $100 was a DEPOSIT for their gold phones which actually cost $599! After it came to light that NO phones were being made (or even considered - once they'd conned 60,000 idiots into sending in their $100 deposits), their website quickly added a codicil to the effect that the $100 DID NOT GUARANTEE ANY PHONE! Can you imagine how stupid a person has to be to send in that money - especially one guy who said he ordered FOUR of them) - to accept that as a response from 'dear leader'? After the hue and cry then suddenly they probably had Xi rush a plastic gold-coloured cheapie 'made in china' phone to those still gullible enough to believe they were getting their 'made in amurrica' trump phone. The sheer stupidity of ANYONE falling for his scams after all these years of his fuckery flattens me. Why not just take out $100 and set fire to it? Same thing.

Susan Niemann's avatar

"You're obviously lying" WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK????

DrBDH's avatar

One step away from “I’m rubber, you’re glue” argumentation.

DJ Headthrob's avatar

Or the equally-pungent "smelt it-dealt it" rejoinder.

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

I think we have to come to the realization that every. single. one. of. demento's. sycophants. ARE, in fact, children just like him. What was once their partly-functioning brains either melted due to the proximity to his disgusting smell OR they were all chosen DUE TO being exactly like him. Remember that not-so-long-ago commercial for gummi-bears where the very dressed for success group of executives all speak in little kids' voices? Liddle toddy just proved it. THIS is how I imagine all 'meetings' go in our current regime. It helps.

P123Sunny's avatar

Yeah damn Overton window has been moved STEADILY :/

Frank Nuts's avatar

Thanks Sunny! Overton window is a term I wasn’t familiar with.

Unfortunately it is a term that’s approaching obsolescence because Trump, the republicans and oligarchs et al are fastly approaching getting everything they want so public acceptance of their grifting and cruelty will not matter to them anymore — sadly, we’re practically there now. I mean, when you can sue yourself and win and determine damages yourself and make the public pay for it, we’ve pretty much entered the “Twilight Zone”.

Billy Mummy can you please make a cameo appearance with some cornfield action?

Crystal Hartley's avatar

Could some talented person do an image of Billy Mumy with the signature Trump hair swoop?

P123Sunny's avatar

Right - and it doesn’t help that supposed ‘oppo’ legal commentators like Harry Litman use the term SETTLEMENT - when it actually, legally IS NOT A SETTLEMENT‼️ just lazily use their framing.

W O W

P123Sunny's avatar

Maybe “some day” the Dems will show up with a knife or two to an actual knife fight?… they seem too tired or comfortable or something

Frank Nuts's avatar

I didn’t catch that. Thanks for sharing. I like Harry Litman but you’re right — how do you have a settlement with yourself unless you have multiple personality disorder? This just gets crazier by the day.

DebJS's avatar

Comes from a career in mainstream media, old habits yadda yadda..

2Cats2Furious's avatar

Blanche is such a piece of shit. Accusing a sitting Senator of lying is beyond the pale - and Van Hollen was telling the absolute truth. What does it say when the Acting AG is unaware of all the pardoned J6 defendants who went on to commit crimes, including the child molester that Van Hollen was asking about?

DebJS's avatar

Or when he feigns ignorance?

Elizabeth Schulz's avatar

Because he'd watched Patel insult Senator Van Hollen about his meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia at Cecot when Bukele ordered margaritas stuck onto the table where they were meeting (as well as Abrego-Garcia dressed in normal clothing and a cap to cover his shaved head) - so it would look as if they were 'enjoying' a nice afternoon/evening out. Only problem is - the level of the liquid in the glasses never changed so Bukele isn't half as smart as he thinks he is. Patel then raged about Van Hollen 'pounding back margaritas with a gangbanger' or some other such stupidity - which is what the world was supposed to believe, from this falling-down drunk-ass clown who needed the feebs to break down his door with a battering-ram when he was dead to the world in an alcoholic stupor. HOW does it get more stupid than this? Enter blanche and HIS insults to Senator Van Hollen because he believes little Kashi 'scored points' the day before? They're stupid children! donny demento's surrounded himself with these fuckwits because HE is so fucking childishly dumb!

Diana Hembree's avatar

Yes, I remember that farce.

US Blues's avatar

Hope Blanche is under oath. Doesn’t sound like it.

What’s the point of “hearings” if these grifters and crooks aren’t under oath and can just lie and say anything they want?

2Cats2Furious's avatar

Even if not under oath, it’s still a felony to lie to Congress.

But who is going to prosecute him? Not this DOJ.

DJ Headthrob's avatar

"Who ya' gonna believe, me or your lying ears?"

Robert Eckert's avatar

He needs to be reminded that although Nixon did not go to prison, his Attorney General did. This regime will not last forever, and if he commits this monstrous theft from the public fisc, he deserves to go to prison for much longer that John Mitchell. In my opinion, he should never be permitted to see the Sun again.

Michael Johnson's avatar

Yeah, was watching in real time. Van Hollen's face was beet red. Was genuinely worried he may have another stroke, but had to switch it off before I had a fucking stroke.

Raquel Welch was on the FxM channel, the film , 'Baderlero.' The absolute worst Mexican accent of all time, but it was Raquel, so who cares?

Thank god for Van Hollen.

Shared this post on Blue Sky, and it's getting record (for me) engagement:

https://bsky.app/profile/bigbrohem.bsky.social/post/3mm7osvno5s2c

P123Sunny's avatar

BREAKING: The judge in the $1.7B slush fund suit has dismissed the case, but she says THERE IS NO SETTLEMENT OF RECORD. As I said earlier, the media must stop reporting that this slush fund is a settlement. It's just plain THEFT.

-@muellershewrote.bsky.social

Julie's avatar

This fucking enrages me SO MUCH and I’m so glad Van Hollen asked about it, and every Democrat running for election in November needs to be out there screaming about a child sex criminal J6er becoming a millionaire. And HE is not the only one. There have been several child predators that have committed child sex crimes since they have been pardoned by some fucking idiot. And at least 36 have committed other crimes since PARDONEMENT. This fucking shit should curdle the blood of every American. Jeff, I love your writing and look forward to it daily, and I’m also now looking so so forward to Our Daily Claudia. Today’s was so poignant and beautiful. They ALL are. Our hearts break with your heart. And we love Our Daily Claudia.

DebJS's avatar

Well now they will just deny that guy his share of the pot and cry foul, while diverting attention elsewhere. Rinse, repeat.

Yes, they do (our hearts break) and we do (love our Daily Claudia) <3

Julie's avatar

You’re so right. And I don’t think they will deny the predator his share because they are ALL predators. I hate this all so much. I hope I live long enough to see these horrible people in prison. I hope our grieving with Jeff through Our Daily Claudia is helping ease his pain 😭😭😭

T L Mills's avatar

Good. I hope they chew Toddy boy into tiny, microscopic shreds.

William's avatar

I'm also old enough to remember a time when a guy with the face like blanches would think twice before calling another man a liar.

Van Hollen is the same guy Patel was yelling at, right?

Douglas Paul Truhlar's avatar

One for the books, he’s being chew-toyed. Thanks.

Leigh Woodward's avatar

JFC I have no words—Blanche is the biggest asshole!

Andy Klein's avatar

Not while Trump is around.

Unity In Defiance's avatar

History may not repeat but ofc it RHYMES — with NAZI.

I should’ve known this slush fund wasn’t an original idea. Not a one of these Nazi fucks have an original

Fascist idea in their corrupt fucking melons.

HI2thDoc's avatar

Miller, Bannon, et al in the admin who are versed in Nazi strategy are the architects of this regime's initiatives.

Mary Hall's avatar

Ivana Trump (RIP) testified under oath during a deposition that T💩p kept a copy of Hitler's speeches in his nightstand. It's likely the only book he has ever read.

Bill Corbett's avatar

Someone had to read it to him as a bedtime story.

rlritt's avatar

Thats the only way he the gets off.

Sue Pemberton's avatar

Someone would have had to read it to him. He can't read.

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

Unity, remember that agent orange kept a book of hitler's speeches in a cabinet by his bed. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/12/festival-of-slights-trump-hitler-speeches/

So he has easy access to Nazi ideas and he's doing a great job implementing them😡

DebJS's avatar

He likely watched videos of Hitler giving speeches and copies his posture and mannerisms (the "magic") in order to influence his audiences.

Unity In Defiance's avatar

Holy shit. That’s insane!! Who keeps that by their BED?!? What a freaking psychopath…

KO in LA's avatar

When we take a big step back and ask why Trump would set up this slush fund, two things come to mind. First and foremost, he'll figure out how to direct a big ol' chunk of this to his family. Second, this is a down payment for the storm troopers he plans on using in his next call to insurrection when Republicans lose elections and he claims phony fraud. He's keeping his goons on retainer.

Suel J's avatar

This is a worry of mine.

Janet's avatar

Ditto…major ulterior motives!

Rhesus's avatar

For years, Trump has made it obvious to all but the ostriches that he wishes to rule by decree. That wish has become reality.

KO in LA's avatar

Enabled by the true villains - the cowardly, complicit Republican party.

Rhesus's avatar

And six crooked judges.

Sharon Hudnall's avatar

He and his regime have no problem with "weaponization" of government and justice, so long as he's directing it. Sorry for stating the obvious but in an insane world .... I honestly see no viable way out of this mess.

Kim Steeves's avatar

There is one way, as my Spouse says......

A Bullet!!

DebJS's avatar

The naysayers will say "but we don't want to make him a martyr, it will just increase his power" but I say how much power can he exert as a dead man?

Rick's avatar

his poor idiot sons have now lost most of the bribe money paid into world financial -- moronic crypto trades at the very high -- so fun!!

of course big daddy gon make them whole -- it's not their fault they are imbecile thieves

Rick's avatar

typo -- liberty financial

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

KO, or agent orange has also retained the goons for voter poll duty😡

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Don't indulge in "worst case" projections. They aren't helpful.

AuntTeeFa's avatar

While that may be true in normal times-in this case, think of the worst because they have a pattern of finding a new low every day

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

AuntTeeFa, I recently was talking to two women when I was at the dog park in Minnesota. I vehemently pronounced my hatred of agent orange orange. Both of these women were neutral, which I absolutely can't understand. One even commented that protesters were worse than ICE, at which point I told her I was a protester and reminded her of what happened to Renee Good and Alex Pretti on our doorstep. I regret not listing all the evil things agent orange has done and said.

AuntTeeFa's avatar

The women you encountered 🤷 hard to imagine how some can’t be passionate against the pillage and pilfer

thanks for fighting the good fight while living through the Gestapo invasion!

devourerofpancakes's avatar

Definitely the latter.

Susan Niemann's avatar

I could feel my heart pound when I read about this "anti-weaponization" bullshit yesterday. I called and left messages for both of my worthless MAGA Missouri Senators and told them they are aiding and abetting a criminal, ignoring their constituents and breaking the law. I was furious. DAMN IT.

These photos of Claudia you share...I imagine you going through albums, remembering such moments, and my heart breaks for you. She had beautiful eyes. Thanks for sharing her with us.

djw's avatar

I've wondered whether posting pictures of Claudia is helpful for healing, but after this shitshow today, I felt *so* grateful for her gentle warmth shining through. Thanks!

DebJS's avatar

Yes! and I felt a pang of regret for how Claudia had to endure this ongoing toxic fuckery during what should have been her "golden years," entitled to enjoy her family and friends and favorite pasttimes, and how very unfair it is that these sociopaths are stealing the joy (Kamala reference) from the rest of us. A life richly lived is far superior to being financially rich at the expense/hardship of others.

djw's avatar

Amen to that!

HI2thDoc's avatar

Thanks, Jeff, for the Daily Claudia feature, which is a welcome dose of humanity after the terrible things we have to endure from him EFD. Every Fucking Day.

Bill Corbett's avatar

Susan, this shit came down yesterday in the middle of the LA mosque shooting and I was scrolling through my email and found my update from Senator Moran of KS and his first topic was about "Wildfires in KS", I was like WTF, how about the dumpster fire in DC and my money going up in smoke and mirrors. It's truly maddening and almost beyond words.

Ron's avatar

As a fellow Missourian, thanks for making that call...sadly, it will fall on deaf ears.

AuntTeeFa's avatar

Same here in Desantistan. One handpicked, the other one of the biggest frauds in Medicare history. They listen to their wallets only.

Wendymae's avatar

Before I escaped that state I gave up on contacting them because their responses brought up so much rage in me it wasn't worth it.

CroneEver's avatar

Before we all get our knickers in a complete knot, remember that Trump almost never gives money away. He'll hint, promise, postpone, up the ante, hint, promise, postpone, all the w hile every freaking dime of that $1.776 billion goes straight into his own pocket. He doesn't share. With anyone.

PEACE, LOVE, RESIST's avatar

Ya know, you’re probably right. Besides, his insurrectionists did their last gig for free.

HI2thDoc's avatar

We know for sure he ain't putting that money into his T1 Phone factory 😂

DebJS's avatar

With him, it's never the performance of an action but the announcement of actions that give him the biggest (zero-cost) benefits. Like pressuring Zelenskyy to "announce" investigations into the Bidens.

myhoopbabies's avatar

That thought untwisted my knickers a little, thanks, but I'm still fuming that there's no check on this money grab! What the fuck? It's all so blatant.

CroneEver's avatar

Oh, I agree. I just want people to quit fuming over the possibility of J6rs getting $$$ and target the actual reality - that DJT is going to get all the $$$ - and be furious about THAT.

myhoopbabies's avatar

Yep, you make such a good point.

Cathy Wray's avatar

I kind of agree!! He's a greedy bastard. I hope to read his obit soon.

rlritt's avatar

He'll put Eric in charge of disbursing the funds, if there is any left after his administrative costs.

Downtown Brown's avatar

Came here to literally type this ^^^

Well said 👍

Joyce's avatar

And especially since the 1776 Cash Out replaces his lawsuit against the IRS. So, according to his best attempt at actual thinking, that is his 1776 Cash Out.

Mike Hammer's avatar

What a historic clusterfuck. Jamie Raskin made some statements yesterday about us still having some agency in this following the midterms. Everyone should read the book “They Want to Kill Americans” by Malcom Nance. Everything you don’t know but need to know about this insurgency.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Jamie Raskin is a treasure and WHEN we retake the House, he will be kicking some serious ass. On Sunday I visited a Little Free Library I haven't gone to in a while that always has good books and I found a copy of his book, Unthinkable, which I grabbed. I previously found an excellent book called How The Word Is Passed by Clint Smith, who visited a bunch of slavery-related sites and reported on what the vibe there is like today. (I also found a copy of Hillbilly Elegy that day which I took but have not been able to open.)

AuntTeeFa's avatar

I can send you some matches for that last one

Sooz Hall's avatar

Or if you have a real fireplace, enough starter for next fall/winter!

Diana Hembree's avatar

I can say for sure that Vance is not a hillbilly -- I am descended from "hillbillies" on one side of the family -- at least the kind of hillbillies who did not drink, smoke, use drugs or wear gold or silver. He was just brought up in a lower-middle class suburb. The book had a great title but it did not deliver.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

He is a liar on every level. That damn book took him to the vice presidency though. There are so many gullible fools.

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

Thanks, Mike! Just borrowed the book from the library.

Lolly Schenck's avatar

Lovely lovely Ms Spouse and Katie. Thanks Jeff. Our heads are on fire and you soothe us with these two beautiful women.

Neal Stiffelman's avatar

Haven’t seen mention of Bormann in decades. The Encyclopedia of the Holocaust Museum has this entry: “Bormann died in an effort to flee Berlin in the last days of World War II, but was long thought to be at large. He was tried in absentia at Nuremberg, where he was sentenced to death. West German authorities officially declared him dead in 1973 after his remains were discovered and positively identified.”

So, there’s hope. “Sentenced to death” might be a powerful disincentive. For some. We are already seeing those with shards of integrity fleeing this regime.

Lucius's avatar

If Democrats manage to retake the government in 28, there need to be tribunals and they *need* to end with executions. Plural.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

I don't believe in executions. I'd hate to see us lower ourselves to that savage level. Personally, my dream is to see Trump led to prison in handcuffs. Prison would be far worse for him than execution.

Daniel M Kimmel's avatar

The next Democratic administration MUST make prosecuting these criminals a priority. Not as revenge or "weaponization." But as enforcement of the law. I'm prepared for some of them to get away with their crimes because of a lack of evidence. But none of this "turning the page" we did after Bush Jr AND Trump 45.

Lucius's avatar

They should call it revenge. Revenge is absolutely a viable ticket in 28.

DebJS's avatar

Accountability in furtherance of the Rule of Law.

Lucius's avatar

I've said it elsewhere, but:

Leaving them alive would be like a surgeon suturing a stab wound closed without disinfecting it and leaving shards of rusted metal embedded in the underlying tissue. That's basically what Biden tried to do, and we're living through the consequences.

Diana Hembree's avatar

I oppose capital punishment in any circumstance. You will not stamp out evil that way, either.

Lucius's avatar

Stamp it out completely? No. Would it prevent the fuckers from rebuilding or poisoning the culture and sewing the seeds for another round of all this? Yes. See the infected wound analogy elsewhere in the thread.

Cheri Collins's avatar

Solitary confinement in a shitty facility.

George in Atlanta's avatar

I doubt that our 'lowering ourselves' is really an issue. None of these fuckers will even go to prison for long. An armed civil war was waged against the United States and we didn't have the stomach to execute more than about three for cause.

Sooz Hall's avatar

Agree. I’m unkind enough that I’d prefer llooonnnngggg suffering on his part, as he gets to go through the endless appeals (denied), and then back to the little box room, and his forced exercise to keep him healthy enough for his next appeal…

Dayum, I didn’t realize I had slipped into quite this level of rage…

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Forced exercise! Brilliant. And healthy food. Lots of salads, granola and lentils!

Martha Howell's avatar

I want a picture when he's served his first prison meal, preferably a bologna sandwich.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

No, it should be lentils and fresh vegetables. He would hate that so much.

Diana Hembree's avatar

I feel the same way, thank you. I don't want us to lower ourselves to their level.

Leu2500's avatar

why wait for 28? The hearings can start when (knock wood) Dems regain control of at least the House.

Frank's avatar

Sure. How many of executives of the big banks went to jail after Obama bailed their institutions out of financial problems? Answer: ZERO. And that’s how many executions I expect after the reign of Trump ends.

Lucius's avatar

Oh yeah. I don't expect any justice. We don't live in the timeline where we can have nice things.

Neal Stiffelman's avatar

I oppose the death penalty. But there are creative punishments that are interesting.

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

How about installing a camera in Trump's prison cell so Americans can watch 24/7 how miserable he is?

Neal Stiffelman's avatar

In theory that has appeal, but I never want to see him. Ever.

myhoopbabies's avatar

Will he have a roommate in this dream scenario?

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

Personally, I'd like to see him, Putin and Netanyahu sharing a tiny cell.

myhoopbabies's avatar

With Trump in the middle of the human centipede? (Sorry, I'm so far beyond reasonable this morning.)

Lucius's avatar

Under normal circumstances I do too, but this is an exception. Leaving Nazis alive after Nuremberg was a mistake we should learn from.

Leaving them alive would be like a surgeon suturing a stab wound closed without disinfecting it and leaving shards of rusted metal embedded in the underlying tissue. That's basically what Biden tried to do, and we're living through the consequences.

Neal Stiffelman's avatar

I understand. Nevertheless, execution takes a toll. On the executioner (that’s one reason why firing squads included several shooters, so no one would hold himself as solely responsible), and on society… and each of the other methods of execution bring their own hazards, many of which we don’t think about. The electric chair left such a mess for the staff to clean up. The gas chamber meant one had to deal with the cyanide afterword. Hanging was a popular entertainment, and fostered a callousness that broadly included lynchings, ‘nuff said in that. But most especially, the death penalty falls on those who are without political or social status, and we all know how that runs.

Lucius's avatar

I know, which is why I'm only in favor of it for the specific situation of “these fuckers are literal traitors to the country who are on par to cause Holocaust levels of death and misery.”

Neal Stiffelman's avatar

Indeed, Rubio’s acquiescence in shutting off foreign aid has resulted in this level of mass slaughter beginning. And ending public health programs and research into medical research will surely result in the needless suffering and death of millions more. Abandoning alternative energy and climate mitigation science is indeed mass murder.

I share with you a vision that these people, scores of them at a minimum, will end up incarcerated for the rest of their days. Sadly, I worry that it will never happen. It really is too much to bear.

Diana Hembree's avatar

Yes, all of the above, Thank you.

George in Atlanta's avatar

Your point is on-target. It's the flaw baked in to who we are. Lincoln made the mistake of his "malice toward none" policy which allowed two-legged maggots to live free and unafraid. We will repeat the same shit every 100 years because we want it.

Grace Kennedy's avatar

Stripped of every penny; same for the whole family.

Daniel M Kimmel's avatar

No executions. I'm against the death penalty. Life without parole, on the other hand...

George in Atlanta's avatar

.... to be pardoned by the next asshole President or Governor who finds it politically popular with the other assholes.

Daniel M Kimmel's avatar

There's a lot of reasons to be cynical these days but I don't begin by assuming a worse case scenario is inevitable.

George in Atlanta's avatar

Worst case would have been his being elected the first time, then the second time, then launching an insurrection, then pardoning everyone, then using his power to bully and intimidate his political enemies, then using his power to sell influence and directly siphon money from the Treasury, then usurp power (that he doesn't really have) to destroy government agencies and their services to citizens, then usurp power (that he doesn't really have) to damage the world trading system with tariffs, then unilaterally attack a sovereign nation to kidnap its leader, then usurp power (that he doesn't really have) to unilaterally attack Iran and collapse the world economy. I'm stopping because it's getting boring.

This is my best Willy Wonka face: 'do tell me how worst case is not the most likely outcome'.

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

Agree, George. Add to your list the points Neal Stiffelman made above.

Robert Eckert's avatar

You ALWAYS begin by assuming that there is nothing that can be done to stop the worst from occurring.

Lucius's avatar

Leaving them alive would be like a surgeon suturing a stab wound closed without disinfecting it and leaving shards of rusted metal embedded in the underlying tissue. That's basically what Biden tried to do, and we're living through the consequences.

Hanford R Wright's avatar

Hey Jeff how about this

What should happen now is a TAXPAYER REBELLION where nobody files their Federal Income Taxes for the next two years. Blue States refuse to pay Federal Taxes to the Government.

joannegucci's avatar

I’ve been saying that since trump got involved, now MORE SO with trump 02! What could they do…arrest us all and throw us in one of trump’s concentration camp? It would have to be a 100% or it wouldn’t work, do what Hungary did!

Kim Steeves's avatar

Does anyone think they have enough employees at IRS to even catch up with everyone who doesn't file?

George in Atlanta's avatar

Those are two distinct actions. The first won't happen. The second might.

barb's avatar

I have already asked my democratic senators and congressman if CO could withhold federal taxes. However this is as about as likely to happen as POtuS going to prison.

Robert Eckert's avatar

For most people taxes are withheld up front.

barb's avatar

Most retirees don't fall into that category though and that's a significant part of the population. I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes on income and they are excruciatingly painful to pay, knowing what they're funding.

Robert Eckert's avatar

My mom complains about that also.

George A. Polisner's avatar

Thank you Jeff.

Since our taxpayer funds are flowing to willfully ignorant cult extremists who have already attacked the Capitol once, I'm guessing the money is not going to be used to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds for little Betsy Sue and Jim Bob. They are going straight into guns and ammo for January, 2029.

PEACE, LOVE, RESIST's avatar

He’s funding his own personal militia for sure. Solidifying their loyalty. They’ll kill anyone trump tells them to. Is this real? Is this really our government right now? The midterms feel like a million years from now. Where will we be in two months let alone six??

CC's avatar

Scream, cry, puke, just melt into the floor…I can’t even. How does anyone possibly support him? 🤬

AMCottingham's avatar

Both NYT and WAPO yesterday characterized the new fund as an “exchange” for dropping Trump’s corrupt suit against the IRS. There was no exchange! Nothing but Plan B for more corruption and setting up his stooges to attack again fall elections. Congress might want to remember that THEY were attacked last time.

Stacy Stableford's avatar

First: Claudia is so beautiful, younger or older. You married up, Jeff🤣

Second: reading the news and reading my beloved Jeff Tiedrich, I want to pack my bags and get the hell out of Dodge. This is the sickest the USA has ever been and no, it’s not business as usual. How and why and HOW is it not being curbed? Don Jr. had his $200 million company balloon JUST WITHIN THIS YEAR to $3.5 billion. I could highlight all the other crap but we all know about all of it, preaching to the choir is not necessary, and Jeff says it best. Honestly, I’d like to get as far away from the USA as possible at this point but there’s nowhere to go. I bet if I went to live in a forest and built a hut out of sticks and mud, one of the Trumps or their buddies would tax me into the ground, would make sure that the plants I pulled for food were laced with every kind of pesticide imaginable, and the beautiful streams I’d drink from would all be polluted with forever chemicals because our government couldn’t care less about the health of our citizens, only about how to siphon off more money from sweetheart deals they make with these companies to produce and use their poisons. And imagine: they try to say DEI and LGBTQ+ issues have ruined our country! What the actual fuck?

Rant over, thanks friends. I’m just overwrought this morning, like every day but by noon, some other horror will replace this morning’s horrible news. And oh, let’s be clear: unless you’re a White Christian wealthy man, you’re endangered. The Founding Fathers thought they too were the only ones fit to rule but they got corrected…schoolhouses popped up, slavery was abolished legally, universities came into existence, and women got the right to vote. Progress, slow but steady. Until Trump. We’ve devolved into some kind of horrifying alternate reality and we all need to pay attention, not be complacent, FIGHT for our very existences.

Cathy Wray's avatar

Stacy, well said!

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

Stacy, great post!! I'd leave the country if I had the finances and weren't so old🙄

barb's avatar

I'd leave if i were younger, healthier and had a better facility for learning languages.

Lucius's avatar

Between all this and whatever the fuck the DOGE incels did at the Treasury department, one has to wonder if there's going to be any Treasury left by 28.

Frosty McGillicuddy's avatar

The Drumpfs are just like Mussolini

But their brains are just rancid linguini

They're stupid, insane!

Play the "I'm victim" game

The smarts of old veal scallopini.

They're grifters and liars and cheats

Rewarding rioters who ruined our streets

What happened to truth?

With their fake veneer tooths

Drumpf smells too - like old rotten meat!

Please subscribe to my Substack for a daily dose of poetry.

HI2thDoc's avatar

Unneeded war for profit and fun

What those two idiot killers have done

A sot and a codger

A drunk and a draft dodger

They'll soon declare victory and run

Frosty McGillicuddy's avatar

Yes, they will for sure.

Pamela Van Sickle's avatar

Yep, Doc!👏👏👏👏

Pamela Van Sickle's avatar

👏👏👏👏👏 Great Frosty!

Anastasia Pantsios's avatar

I love this line: "At press time, the Senate passed the $1.2 trillion spending measure mostly along party lines, with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) joining all Republicans in support."

Susie's avatar

Freaking spot on!!! 👏🏻🤣👏🏻🤣👏🏻

Doreen Dalesandro's avatar

Hysterical, Sister🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for sharing the post!