Pete

King Lear has a ring to it, and Kurosawa cut a good cover.

Revealed: police across US spread false rumors about Venezuelan gang threats Claim that Tren de Aragua planned to attack officers was widely shared – only for FBI to later acknowledge it was mistaken, internal files show

Huh. So the whole TdAragua thing was an invention. A fear tactic. Based on no evidence.

I guess I’m mistaken; all this time I thought the FBI investigated evidence.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

How Trump Is Making China Great Why we’re going to lose the trade war, and much more besides

If you want to read about why we (USA) are going to experience decline, a quick read.
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

I got a weird phone message claiming to be from the CDC. It asked me to complete a survey about my children’s vaccine history. Time was, specifically 8 months ago, I absolutely would have completed the survey.
Now? I muttered F U and deleted the message.

GIF by Giphy QA - Find & Share on GIPHY Discover & share this GIF by Giphy QA with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2l...

What happened to freedom of speech?

I guess Trump went golfing so he’s cheating at that and death, too.

They’d give him oral sex if they thought it would play well.

Important. Clear, concise, imperative. Please watch.

So the most culpable person in the Epstein operation besides Epstein himself, infamous for perjury and lying to protect her interests, wanting out of jail, convicted felon Groomin Gislaine is the spokesperson for Donald Trump’s character.
Comical. Where is the Gavin Newsom post on this?

I'm sorry, nine HUNDRED former DOJ lawyers all signed this letter opposing Emil Bove's nomination to be an appellate federal judge?

900?!

Hard to take seriously the red-white-and-blue rhetoric of freedom on a 4th of July where the US president has cut off aid to a democracy fighting for its independence against ferocious attack by a foreign tyrant.

Great episode with Molly. I always enjoy the pod, even the other, more ordinary ones.
But one thing, which I realize you may have no control over. That Bally casino app ad is HORRIBLE. please never let them run this piece of garbage ever again, for the love of all that is decent.

Is Sarah Silverman writing riot the onion?

I don’t think trump plays cards very well.

The latest pod features @timmiller.bsky.social and @jvl.bsky.social outlining the new Trump economy as Oligarchic Capitalism with a little central planning (just a soupçon!) with 15c era papal indulgences. ( referring to Trumpcoin bribery). I think this is spot on.

Thank goodness elections still count in NC.

Says the bone spur pussy in the White House.

Love the new opening music. An overture of joy for a dark podcast! 💜

Seems like Ukraine has been saying “Yeah we’re still fighting these fuckers and we will never be ruled by them.”
So JD, maybe look on your side of the border (Russia.)

The Coming Economic Nightmare Trump’s tariffs could cause stagflation for the first time in decades. It may go on for a long, long time.

David Frum.
An ominous future. And the longer the Trump insanity goes on, the heavier the price WE will pay.

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Which tactic(s) do you like most: Corey Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Charles Schumer? Let’s throw in AOC, and Gavin Newsom as well. Pick one?

Note to the Democratic Party: Senator Van Hollen has a spine. Y’all could learn something there.

Just finished listening. Boy I like Pete even more, and not just because of his noble given name. Great discussion. Great to see Pete grow a beard, though like me, I expect he will have his fun with it and when it has had its run, shave. Go Pete!

I just can’t get SpongeBob and Patrick out of my head with this Musk Navarro spat.

The chapter on insider trading

“But he thrives when no one dares to challenge him.”

“The psychological battlefield matters. The Trumpist movement understands this. It projects dominance through sheer force of will. Every concession made to it—every inch surrendered without a fight—reinforces the illusion that Trump is inevitable, unstoppable, and above consequence. He is not.”

Looking forward.
Gary Kasparov’s new Substack, a good topic.

Hey @nytimes.com here’s a scoop you missed in this morning’s edition.