I think you and others have misread my politics and theology.

So you say “Come here and we’ll help,” which I agree I’d do - and have done, many times. But then she comes, it turns out she doesn’t need help, because she’s lying. I don’t see that as moral failure.

So if you had, say, $100 to use to help people, and this woman asks for it, you’d give it to her? Because as it turns out, she doesn’t really need it. It’s a hoax. And because you gave to the hoaxer, you cannot give later to someone who really does need it. Doesn’t sound wise to me.

Pulitzer Prize photo right here.

What makes you think they are lying? Maybe they are, and are greedy & selfish.

But they might be trying to filter out dishonest people b/c they get dishonest appeals like this one & they want to use the resources for people who are in need.

The churches are failing because they don’t accept her story, when she’s lying? I’ve taken similar appeals - both calls & in person - at my house of worship. If there is no relationship already, it’s hard to know who is telling the truth. This woman was not.

Mike Johnson gets a look at Trump’s browser history.

Republican ousted in Pennsylvania borough that has voted GOP for 113 years The Democratic Party flipped the mayor's office in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

This is how you know the blue wave is hitting everywhere - Beaver County elected Democratic Lincoln Kretchmar as the new mayor on November 4. In doing so, the Democrats broke the GOP's 113-year winning streak in the borough. 917 to 904. Clearly every vote counts!

incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty

Interesting. MTG is also saying that if (1) Adelita Grijalva is sworn in, and (2) there is a vote on releasing the Epstein files, she expects "several dozen" GOPers to vote with all the Democrats for releasee. Which explains Mike Johnson's embarrassing dilemma.

In case there was any doubt.

Will the Supreme Court Side With Trump—Or Itself? The Roberts Court has tried to curb exactly the kind of power Trump is abusing in the tariff case.

Excellent review of primary arguments before SCOTUS.

I still think plain language interpretation fails here:
“In any plain sense of the word emergency, the trade deficit is not one—it is neither an existential risk nor new, having existed for 50 yrs.”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

The modern GOP makes the Know Nothings look like the Mensa Society

“And so we beat on, like boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into to past.”

Just sublime. And - applies to DJT.

Last 2 paragraphs -
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then; it eludes us now. But that is no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, we will stretch out our arms farther, and then one fine morning…”.

During Trump I, DJT was the least qualified or knowledgeable person in the room, & folks like Tillerson or Mattis held influence. A frightening aspect of Trump II is that Trump is MORE knowledgeable & experienced than his cabinet.

Hard to imagine what goes thru the mind of Hegseth’s counterparts

“Only 2”??

Maybe at the federal district court level. Plus 7 higher up the chain.

Opinion | I Thought Graham Platner Was Finished. What I Saw in Maine Changed My Mind.

A persuasive piece,and God knows we need what she is describing.

I’m willing to be open-minded about him. And I certainly agree about Mills. Too old. Leaders should decide whether Platner is our guy. If not, find someone else.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/o...

#Thugs

Trump Is Very Confused About Nuclear Weapons The president says he wants to resume nuclear testing but doesn’t seem to know why.

Worth reading on its own, but "random thoughts that have escaped the weak gravity of Trump’s attention span" would make it worthwhile even without the otherwise strong content.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

I will note with a dollop of sardonic humor that for a columnist with your expertise, this guy makes the job easy. You can just write each column about whatever inane statements he has made in the last few days.

Patel's girlfriend performed at Penn State last weekend. A government jet arrived at State College Regional Airport, according to its FAA registration, with an address listing the FBI HQ. The plane then flew to Nashville, where his girlfriend lives.

All on the taxpayer’s dime.
trib.al/TBvPo7A

Ohmygod this affects *us* too? Did anybody know this would happen?

Point taken. Still - golly, it would be nice to hear a court say officially, “Presidential findings of fact must be tethered to reality.” And then let them appeal up to SCOTUS.

Thx. I hope they move quickly. The agony of watching Cannon and SCOTUS just drag things out to kill them remains with me.

What do we know, if anything, about timing of the hearing and delay before a decision?

Anything known about timing of hearing or decision?

AND … while at it, point out that Obama is more popular than he is. In fact, BOTH Michelle and the former POTUS are more popular. That would be fun to watch.

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”

If Trump runs does that mean we get to run Obama?

Lawyers in the case before Judge Sara Ellis in Chicago respond today to this DHS statement about Greg Bovino’s use of tear gas:

“The statement is a lie,” they say.