January 28, 2025
Marie is NOT on the way to Guantanamo, her computer(s) are down. She will be back to light a fire under Fat Hitler's flabby butt asap. Do not worry.
Monday, February 24, 2025
Describing a “complex” clinical picture, the Vatican said that the kidney ailment was 'at present under control,' and that there had been no repeat of the respiratory crisis that the pope had experienced on Saturday. The pope was 'alert and well oriented,' the Vatican said, and he attended Mass in his suite along with the medical staff caring for him.”
To keep the Conversation going, please help me by linking news articles, opinion pieces and other political content in today's Comments section.
Link Code: <a href="URL">text</a>
OR here's a link generator. The one I had posted died, then Akhilleus found one, but it too bit the dust. He found yet another, which I've linked here, and as of September 23, 2024, it's working.
OR you can always just block, copy and paste to your comment the URL (Web address) of the page you want to link.
Note for Readers. It is not possible for commenters to "throw" their highlighted links to another window. But you can do that yourself. Right-click on the link and a drop-down box will give you choices as to where you want to open the link: in a new tab, new window or new private window.
Thank you to everyone who has been contributing links to articles & other content in the Comments section of each day's "Conversation." If you're missing the comments, you're missing some vital links.
Marie: Sorry, my countdown clock was unreliable; then it became completely unreliable. I can't keep up with it. Maybe I'll try another one later.
Public Service Announcement
Zoë Schlanger in the Atlantic: "Throw out your black plastic spatula. In a world of plastic consumer goods, avoiding the material entirely requires the fervor of a religious conversion. But getting rid of black plastic kitchen utensils is a low-stakes move, and worth it. Cooking with any plastic is a dubious enterprise, because heat encourages potentially harmful plastic compounds to migrate out of the polymers and potentially into the food. But, as Andrew Turner, a biochemist at the University of Plymouth recently told me, black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid." This is a gift link from laura h.
Mashable: "Following the 2024 presidential election results and [Elon] Musk's support for ... Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse. And this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.... Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well. Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky[.]"
Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."
Democrats' Weekly Address
Marie (Feb 23): As far as I can tell, there isn't any. I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like Democrats are so screwed up, they can't even put together a couple of minutes of video to tell us how screwed we are.
New York Times: “Joy Reid’s evening news show on MSNBC is being canceled, part of a far-reaching programming overhaul orchestrated by Rebecca Kutler, the network’s new president, two people familiar with the changes said. The final episode of Ms. Reid’s 7 p.m. show, 'The ReidOut,' is planned for sometime this week, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly. The show, which features in-depth interviews with politicians and other newsmakers, has been a fixture of MSNBC’s lineup for the past five years. MSNBC is planning to replace Ms. Reid’s program with a show led by a trio of anchors: Symone Sanders Townsend, a political commentator and former Democratic strategist; Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; and Alicia Menendez, the TV journalist, the people said. They currently co-host 'The Weekend,' which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings.” MB: In case you've never seen “The Weekend,” let me assure you it's pretty awful.
Y! Entertainment: "Meanwhile, [Alex] Wagner will also be removed from her 9 pm weeknight slot. Wagner has already been working as a correspondent after Rachel Maddow took over hosting duties during ... Trump’s first 100 days in office. It’s now expected that Wagner will not return as host, but is expected to stay on as a contributor. Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary, is a likely replacement for Wagner, though a decision has not been finalized." MB: In fairness to Psaki, she is really too boring to watch. On the other hand, she is White. ~~~
~~~ RAS: "So MSNBC is getting rid of both of their minority evening hosts. Both women of color who are not afraid to call out the truth. Outspoken minorities don't have a long shelf life in the world of our corporate news media."
As we watch in horror the rapid destruction of our democratic form of government, it is comforting to remember there is life outside politics. I took a break a while ago to enjoy a brief lesson in the history of the moonwalk: ~~~
But it may go back even further:
And this chronological account is helpful:
New York Times: “Chuck Todd, the former 'Meet the Press' moderator and a longtime fixture of NBC’s political coverage, told colleagues on Friday that he was leaving the network. A nearly two-decade veteran of NBC, Mr. Todd said that Friday would be his last day at NBC.... Mr. Todd, 52, is the latest TV news star to step aside at a moment when salaries are being scrutinized — and slashed — by major media companies. Hoda Kotb exited NBC’s 'Today' show this month, and Neil Cavuto of Fox News and CNN’s Chris Wallace departed their cable news homes late last year.”
CNBC: “ CNN plans to lay off hundreds of employees Thursday [Jan. 23] as it refocuses the business around a global digital audience.... The layoffs come as CNN is rearranging its linear TV lineup and building out digital subscription products. The cuts will help CNN lower production costs and consolidate teams, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. Certain shows that are produced in New York or Washington may move to Atlanta, where production can be done more cheaply, said the people. For the most part, the job cuts won’t affect CNN’s most recognizable names, who are under contract, said the people. CNN has about 3,500 employees worldwide.... NBC News is also planning cuts later this week, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. While the exact number couldn’t be determined, the job losses will be well under 50....”
New York Times: “The president of MSNBC, Rashida Jones, is stepping down from that position, the company said on Tuesday, a major change at the news network just days before ... Donald J. Trump takes office. Rebecca Kutler, senior vice president for content strategy at MSNBC, will succeed Ms. Jones as interim president, effective immediately. Ms. Jones will stay on in an advisory role through March.... MSNBC is among a bundle of cable channels that its parent company, Comcast, is planning to spin out later this year into a new company.” ~~~
~~~ MSNBC: “On Monday, Jan. 20, MSNBC will present wall-to-wall coverage of the inauguration of ... Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance and will kick off special programming for the first 100 days of the new Trump administration.... On the heels of her field reporting during the last 100 days of the 2024 presidential campaign, Alex Wagner will travel the country to follow the biggest stories as they develop in real-time during Trump’s first 100 days in office, reporting on the impact of his early promises and policies on the electorate for 'Trumpland: The First 100 Days.'... During the first 100 days, Rachel Maddow will bring her signature voice and distinct perspective to the anchor desk every weeknight at 9 p.m. ET, offering viewers in-depth analysis of the key issues facing the country at the outset of Trump’s second term. After April 30, 'The Rachel Maddow Show' will return to its regular schedule of Mondays at 9 p.m. ET and Wagner will return to anchoring 'Alex Wagner Tonight' Tuesday through Friday.”
Contact Marie
Email Marie at constantweader@gmail.com
Marie is NOT on the way to Guantanamo, her computer(s) are down. She will be back to light a fire under Fat Hitler's flabby butt asap. Do not worry.
Reader Comments (17)
Thanks, Marie
Oh, what a relief it is...
Yes, I was worried that maybe you had been shipped to Columbia,
but then I thought---Trump isn't a RealityChex follower since he
doesn't read.
Glad you're O.K.
Since it coincides with the shutting down of everything, I was worried also. Glad you are okay!!
Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, As Ken said.
Now I can stop worrying and go back to DeSantis and the Florida Legislature flinging poo at each other.
I hear that DEI is hiring really unqualified individuals:
D--onnie Jr.
E--ric
I--vanka
Can't get much worse.
TB is back!
Yay!
“Health officials are contending with an ongoing outbreak of tuberculosis in the Kansas City metro area that reportedly has become the largest in U.S. history.”
Too bad scientists and medical researchers controlled by the MAGA king are not allowed to communicate with each other. Also…the CDC is headless. And to top it off, pretty soon we’ll have an idiot in charge of it all who wants to bring back polio!
Making America sick again.
The Trump Way. The GOP way.
But not to worry, I’m sure Fatty will find some drunken rapist he can put in charge of coming up with some way to blame Biden, Fauci, the Chinese, Taylor Swift (she’s in Kansas a lot these days).
But TB’s not that bad, right? I mean, just like Covid. Just a bad cold.
Bobby Lee, do you have a ringside seat? Sounds lovely...
I just wrote yet another missive to Fetterman. He's the only Dem to NOT condemn the pardons of everyone and their monkeys on J6. He called Fatso "kind and courteous." (who knows whom he really met--)and he has apparently voted for absolutely asanine candidates for the Cabinet. I think he has lost his bald mind. And to think I really liked the guy and wanted him in the Senate as opposed to the R yahoos always put forth in this state for elected office. He also has spoken out against Fats' felonies-- actually called them "politically motivated." They were not. The juries said so. (F***face is such a lucky monster, though-- he suffers never.)
I am wearing a t-shirt ostensibly from Fetterman's dog, and my daughter follows his wife...I bet they don't understand what the hell has happened to the guy who was elected from PA.
TB? Trump's already got that figured out. Just put a tariff on it.
Or blame it on the Chinese.
Or blame it on immigrants (if they aren't white, straight males).
Or blame it on Governor Newsom.
He's got all the answers,.Too bad they're always the wrong ones.
The birthright citizenship question was settled over 127 years ago because of the insistence by a young cook, Wong Kim Ark, who lived in San Francisco and who was born there, that he was in fact an American citizen.
Wong, born in San Francisco in 1870, made a trip to China to visit relatives still there. Upon his return, he was denied entrance to the country. Newly passed laws restricting Chinese residents to second class status kept Wong in limbo for several years until his case made it to the Supreme Court, which eventually ruled in his favor, but not because it was the right thing to do, but because denying birthright citizenship to everyone meant trouble for millions of white Americans whose parents were immigrants.
“It’s important to note, Frost said, that the supreme court was not ‘sympathetic to Chinese immigrants’. The justices had, just two years earlier, legalized racial segregation in public spaces in Plessy v Ferguson. They sided with Wong, Frost said, because denying birthright citizenship to children of immigrants meant that descendants of European immigrants would be affected too.”
So here we have guys who were racist enough to rule, with Plessy, that segregation was legal, but recognized the inherent stupidity of axing a major part of the 14th Amendment. Only now we have a president* whose racism is so embedded that he just doesn’t give a shit about any of that. As long as he can beat his chest (with his tiny hands) and brag to his racist MAGAts that he stuck it to brown people (again), he’s good with pissing on the Constitution (again).
Now the question will be is the current Supreme Court more racist than the Court responsible for Plessy?
I’m not betting no.
RFK Jr
"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Once Pitched Deadly Human Vaccine Experiment
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, once pitched the idea to run an experiment on the children of Samoa to see whether vaccines actually work."
Tillis as reliable as Marie's computers.
"Tillis Assured Hegseth’s Former Sister-in-Law Her Testimony Could Convince GOP Senators to Vote No
North Carolina senator provides pivotal 50th ‘yes’ vote to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary"
RAS,
Jeeezus!
Shades of the Tuskegee syphillis “study”. Why not line ‘em up and shoot ‘em to test the efficacy of bullets to the head?
Appallingly inhuman or just astoundingly stupid? Just wondering if this brilliant idea was pre or post worm.
If was pre-worm, there’s no possible way this idiot should be confirmed to hand out band-aids at a skateboard park. If post-worm, it’s evidence ne plus ultra of his unfitness for any job requiring decisions about the health even of rodents.
Re: Tillis’ risible belief in the “possible” humanity and decency of Party of Traitors lemmings.
Never underestimate the existential cowardice of these craven douchebags when it comes to denying Fat Hitler every racist, fascist, misogynistic, unconstitutional, illegal, inhumane whim.
If he is a whiny titty baby, what are they? Whiny titty baby diaper changers? I’d like to see that on a Fox chyron some day:
“Ron Johnson, Whiny Titty Baby Diaper Changer.”
No front row seat to the Florida Poo Party, just reading the stories as they come up online. If anyone is interested Floridapolitics.com is the site I'd suggest even if it does have a red tinge.
attempt #2:
It's Stealing
so says Russell Berman, in The Atlantic, on the executive orders to pause spending.
Glad Marie was not visited by the thought police!
$Higher$ $Education$
"Republican Proposal Would Make College Scholarships Taxable Income
Republicans are gearing up to extend tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that mostly benefitted wealthier Americans, per an Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center analysis, along with other new spending on their policy priorities such as immigration. To pay for the tax cuts and new spending, Republican lawmakers are considering slashing dozens of federal programs and benefits—including making college scholarships that help students pay for tuition, taxable income."
Taxing college scholarships is yet another attack on higher education, which the MAGAts and their Dear Leader fear encourages students to think for themselves and to develop the ability to critically assess and debunk specious claims, stoopid demands, and Trump’s myriad lies.
Can’t have that.
They wouldn’t have gotten much from my college and graduate scholarships, but these days, when tuitions are far more than a down payment for luxury homes, taxing financial assistance to get a good education could be draconian.
But what can you expect from a silver spoon dimwit who has had everything handed to him, who has to whine repeatedly about how smart he is? Who does that? Truly smart people don’t have to gripe about how they have “all the best words”, especially when they have a fifth grade vocabulary, nor do they have to repeatedly protest that they are “stable” geniuses. Most true geniuses are not exactly what you’d call stable. They exist in a higher plane of intellectual, artistic, scientific, and literary achievement. Their goals are typically not “Isn’t my casino/plane/steak/tie/phony mortgage scam/gaudy building/university/bimbo wife/the bestest ever?”
Truly smart people scare the crap out carnival hucksters like Fat Hitler. So make it harder than ever for those people to excel.