The Shallow State

If a movie plays in a theater, and there's nobody there to hear it, will it make any sound?

Absolutely true. He does that all the time. His presidency is a collection of contrived video bites, contrived sound bites, and false narratives.

One stupid false narrative that Trump puts forth out of insecurity and vanity is that protestors are "paid agitators." It cuts deeply to Trump's fragile ego any time there is a sizable crowd against him. Crowd size-related lies, and him getting booed, will be comedic fodder for many years to come.

They're flailing. They're overreaching. Their lies are unconvincing. They're infighting. The cracks are becoming fissures. I can smell the cognitive dissonance.

Look for a new distraction soon.

Yeah, I have to agree ... I used the word "thinking" as a figure of speech in this case.

Megyn Kelly, whose feeds deliver clickbait for the brainless in what has become a desperate search for renewed relevance, suggests that whistles, used to alert citizens of the presence of ICE, should be banned.
She spends her time thinking of crap like this. Arguably the worst feed on social media.

Whether he was or not is only a tiny distinction - a small technicality.

MAGA influencers are confused, trying to process Bovino's demotion. The diminutive fascist was excised by Trump for political reasons. Trump didn't want the lilliputian sociopath to add more hurt to his polls. Yet influencers are supporting the hostile dwarf AND Trump. No wonder they're confused!

JUST IN: Greg Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis and return to ... wherever they fly him to.
NOTE: They always like to fly him places because it's free - since he fits into a carry-on bag.

Every single story about Good and Pretti has to continue to drill home on the post-shooting propaganda, the brazen insensitive constant falsehoods and politicization.
The murders are unconscionable. The lies are manifestations of what divides us at the core. Push the lies.

Trumpism IS lies.

I don't know about you, but I have a very hard time believing that this administration is going to allow our own US midterms to transpire in a free and fair manner.

Tim Walz - once again - is spot-on in his tone, content, and messaging. He's direct, articulate, informational, empathic - you can feel his genuineness and sincerity.

He'd have been an excellent Vice President.
Sigh.

Todd Blanche knows better. Todd Blanche sold his soul. Todd Blanche is an utter disgrace - as a jurist, as an American, and as a human being.

Trump's four-prong plan of petrifying our population, provoking our partners, protecting pedophiles, and personally profiteering, is playing poorly - people are pissed.
I'm feeling a behavioral change now. Organized outrage - not around policy or partisanship, but around reality. Against the lies.

This is not 1984. We cannot allow the controlling Party to oppressively manipulate and determine reality. I don't care who you voted for, we cannot disregard your own perceptions, and we must never reject the evidence of our eyes and ears.

This WAS murder in cold blood.

EVERYBODY walking around, especially in a blue or purple state, needs to have their cell phone with them, easily accessible, ready to film at a moment's notice, set to video.

Good one.

All Jeff Bezos' billions cannot salvage the film, Melania.
There are some things that money cannot buy nor fix.

The incessant normalization of this narcissistic psychopath and his cast of grifters and idealogues buries the increasing likelihood that he has no intention of ceding power.

If the midterms are forecast to go against him, he won't allow them to fairly take place.

This shouldn't be normalized.

It's important for us to remember that besides being a narcissist, sociopath, grifter, thief, sexual deviant, traitor, sadist, and serial criminal, he's also an idiot.

Imagine starting a new enterprise comprised of world leaders called Board of Peace - invitation only - but two of your most prominent members cannot attend the inaugural event because they'd get arrested for war crimes.

Here's exactly what each of 9 banana leaders is thinking as they smile, make small talk, and shake his hand:
"What a moron."
"What a fool."
"What a moron."
"He'll be dead soon."
"I feel bad for America."
"He's a psycho."
"What an idiot."
"Whoa - what's that smell?"
"What a moron."

Smith is measured, clear, completely apolitical, and totally professional.

I honestly have not seen any Republican ask a single question of Smith yet, in which they've allowed him to respond fully, before jumping in. I haven't seen Smith show any frustration or even make any face. I can't imagine that any Republican has scored a single sound bite.

I have to say that as I watch the Smith hearing, the person I find myself feeling the most contempt for, excluding Trump, is neither in the room nor has he been mentioned, but yet his specter hangs heavily over it all.
It's John Roberts.

This is Trump's LEFT hand ... his good hand.
Is it because he's hemorrhaging support?

Coffee, yes. Gazing out the windows, yes. In nature, perhaps. But I'd choose something more intrinsically apolitical, l think, to accompany yoga.

"Correction. Should say my dog is a VERY good boy." - Copper

Good morning, everyone. The air is invigorating. My dog is a good boy. Trump is a delusional old man who gained nothing at Davos, embarrassing America on a global stage with lies, hyperbole, and threats. Europe stood strong, Carney was awesome.
Jack Smith speaks truth to Congress today.

Judge Aileen Cannon is blocking the classified docs release.