Simian Silverback

Family of Fisherman Killed in U.S. Military Strike Says It Wants Justice

Here's an objectively true fact: If you kill enough people based upon confidential information, some of them will be innocent of any wrongdoing.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/w...

Trump Calls Chicago’s ‘Miracle Mile’ Failing — But Data Shows The Mag Mile Is Recovering There’s no such thing as the “Miracle Mile” in Chicago — and data shows the real Magnificent Mile is seeing falling vacancies and fewer crimes.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/12/t....

What National Statistics Miss: Inside DoorDash’s First-Ever State of Local Commerce Report New report provides a unique, data-driven view into how local commerce is evolving

The lede got buried. The DoorDash report notes: In 2019 less than 1 in 200 Americans delivered for DoorDash. "[T]hat number is about 1 in 15 over the years since. Half of Dashers balance other jobs in fields like health care, retail, or education . . ."

A gig economy is not a good economy.

Dems should support those who felt they had to save hungry Americans held hostage by Trump and Johnson. THEY are the villains.

Dems disagree about the shutdown. But is it so hard to agree on how to spin the event? On TV I see Dem leaders talk about things other than the GOP hostages. That's dumb.

The people saw Trump hold hungry people hostage while he plays Great Gatsby. Dems should avoid infighting and support those who felt they had to save the hostages. The message should always remind people that Trump and Johnson were the villains.

Not for one second should it be anything else.

Before shutting down the government, one should consider the probability that the party can maintain unity when things get tough.

So, you can blame the Dem Senators who caved, or you can blame the leaders who failed to predict this very predictable outcome.

Former Jan. 6 defendant arrested on kidnapping and aggravated assault charges The Utah man was previously charged with firing a gun outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

Meet the Democrats' Willie Horton:

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

Scotus should rule against Trump's tariffs. But, the public will get no rebate for the tariffs they paid in the form of higher prices. Walmart, e.g., will keep the rebate w/o reimbursing customers for the portion customers paid. There will be no "trickle down."

The little guy will be screwed.

The reasoning is flawed. Per Keynesian economics, the economy will be stimulated by giving money back to people. But these rebates would be paid to the importers -- large companies like Walmart. Do you think Walmart will pass that money on to its customers?

Dream on.

The last straw was Maher's endorsement of the theory that the inability to explain certain phenomena proves that aliens have been visiting earth. That demonstrates a real limitation in his ability to analyze data, even more than his belief that Trump being polite - to him - for an hour is relevant.

Two stories pain a picture. In the first, Trump argues that a Walmart ad proves he has conquered inflation. In the second, Walmart prices have risen 5.3%.

The thing is, people don't need that second story.

They know.

stocks.apple.com/AUw1TMHdYSDq...

stocks.apple.com/AN7wsCGSHSgS...

Opinion | The French Secret to Healthier Eating

RFKjr sometimes speaks about the obesity epidemic in the US. Good for him.

Unfortunately, he spends most of his time curating evidence to support debunked claims about autism.

This article explores what can be done when a gov't is serious about health.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/o...

A record number of 2020 voters did not turn out for Biden. They voted against Trump. In 2025 Trump has been getting his way on tariffs, immigration, and the economy. Check the polls and see how that's working out for him.

Ending the filibuster might be the best thing to ever happen to Dems.

"Factional grifters"?

Opinion | Do Dumb Ideas Ever Die?

Bret Stephens makes some great points, but he also complains that Britain’s NHS "gobbles up roughly one third of government spending." But in the US, Americans spend $4.9T on health care, which would be 72% of the US $6.75T budget.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...

Trucker's emails, discovered in the lawsuit against Fox, reveal him detesting Trump even while publicly supporting him and denouncing his critics. But Trump later embraced him because he knew Tucker was useful.

And so the Right denounces vile statements, but not any speaker who might prove useful.

Obama never once said he should be elected because he is Black. This particular host, and his guest, argue that because some Obama supporters celebrated his race, Obama should always prefer Black candidates.

Does the host's bias blind him to the non sequitur, or is he that dumb?

Who cares?

A Confederacy of Toddlers The Trump administration is a regime of troubled children.

This good Atlantic article would have been better had Nichols explained that toddlers are in gov't because Trump prizes loyalty (to him) above competence. Incompetence leads to bad governance. Thus, Trump's corruption leads a flailing economy and jeopardizes nat'l security, not just crass optics.

Trump’s Power Faces Pressure Test in Court and at Ballot Box

Maybe economic literacy for the masses is unrealistic. Even elite journalists still inaccurately refer to tariffs as "taxes on major U.S. trading partners," rather than "taxes on American importers."

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...

Certain phenomena cannot (yet) be explained. Some invoke God for answers. Maher mocks any who rely upon a superior being to explain scientific mysteries.

But, he assumes UAPs should be explained by a different superior being (aliens), despite NO supporting scientific evidence.

Maher is declining.

Watch Maher treat a "documentary" about UFOs as though it proves something.

Maher mocks anyone who, confronted with the inexplicable, invokes God. But, he sees video that hasn't been explained and he thinks it reasonable to invoke "aliens."

It's the same thing.

If your concern is that the planet is being overpopulated, then you should have no quarrel with growing the US population through immigration.

I do not think we have a disagreement here.

A growing population expands the labor force, fuels innovation, and supports industries that depend on consumer demand. It helps balance the age structure, keeping social welfare systems sustainable. Regions with population growth typically see faster rates of technological and cultural development.

Funny how he doesn't want to talk about making money, then spontaneously talks about making money.

America’s Impending Population Collapse This year, for the first time in nearly a century, more foreign-born people will likely leave the United States than will enter.

The US economy depends upon population growth. Growth in the US (and Europe) will depend on immigration. Trump is doing everything he can to make the US unattractive to bright, hard-working, foreigners.

You can do the math.

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

YouTube video by dstageman bananas

Every time I hear Mike Johnson talk about protestors I think about this scene.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=crrp...

Pam Bondi Hit With Ethics Complaints as Calls for Investigation Into Trump Donation Grow Attorney General Pam Bondi's political headache is getting worse. Calls for an independent investigation into a $25,000 donation made by Donald Trump to Bondi's PAC continue to grow, and the AG has no...

Remember that Bondi became a Trump favorite after she (1) Said she might investigate Trump University, (2) Received $25,000 from the Trump Foundation, and (3) Said she would NOT be investigating the fraudulent university.

In that order.

www.miaminewtimes.com/news/pam-bon...

I have read The Nightmare Years, and you are spot on.

YouTube video by Focus Features BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005) - "Quit You" Official Clip

While Jack seems to be mistaken, I have been bewitched by his charm. I just can't bring myself to quit him.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd8n...

Is there a case to be made that this currency swap (it is not a gift, right?) is needed to steady the Argentine economy before it destabilizes the region, to the detriment of the US?