Chris Polansky

A black and white mixed breed dog looks out the window at an orange/pink/purple sunset

A nearly 7pm sunset, that’s what I’m talking about

The Greater Hartford branch of the NAACP says Stevie Jones’ family has retained national civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them “in their quest for justice for Steven and to advocate for essential reforms in law enforcement's response to mental health crises.”

Cover of Nick Drake’s “Bryter Layter”

Why does the clock change make me happy? Because it means it’s going to be

Cover of Nick Drake’s “Bryter Layter”

Why does the clock change make me happy? Because it means it’s going to be

South Dakota, Mississippi, Alabama, I’m coming for you

I just realized I’ve been making an error in my mental list of states I’ve been to and my total is 47, not 48. This is devastating

Native Americans react to Sen. Markwayne Mullin's DHS appointment Many tribes are encouraged by Trump's choice of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a member of the Cherokee nation, as the new DHS Secretary. ICE agents have been accused of racially profiling Native Americans.

Via NPR's Kirk Siegler:

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief @chiefhoskin.bsky.social on Cherokee Nation citizen Markwayne Mullin: "He treats tribes with respect. ...And so I think that is beneficial to Indian country to have that kind of leadership replace Secretary Noem."

www.npr.org/2026/03/07/n...

Photo w caption: A person flees after throwing a homemade explosive device during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang in front of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence on Saturday. Charly Triballeau / AFP - Getty Images

NBC - Two arrested and two IEDs seized as right wingers hold an anti-Islam demo outside Gracie Mansion today during Ramadan. Not immediately known if Mayor Mamdani was home.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Whoa I had no idea!

The very one

I recently stopped drinking but I’ve so far genuinely enjoyed this new stage of life where I go to bars to drink a bunch of Diet Cokes and drive my friends home

Sorry this didn’t answer the question entirely. In the West End of Hartford on Farmington Ave.

The Upstate, where Tisane was

The new bar about to open in my neighborhood just posted a photo on Instagram of them hanging a David Berman portrait. Very promising

Chicken parm definitionally requires cutlets. Don’t test me

Friend just sent me a video of a guy using breaded ground chicken to make “chicken parm.” That’s a chicken patty with stuff on it, guy. Get outta here before I lose it

‘Illegal,’ ‘reprehensible,’ and ‘irresponsible’: Blumenthal, Murphy and Larson slam Trump over Iran The Democrats say the war is plainly illegal as the president bypassed Congress.

Three members of Connecticut's federal delegation called a press conference today to slam Trump over the war in Iran.

“My greatest fear is we will have boots on the ground,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “We will have Americans in another endless war, dying and bleeding for no good reason.”

CT Medicaid 'HUSKY C' eligibility needs to expand, people with disabilities and older adults say Financial thresholds to qualify for HUSKY C are unfair to many people with disabilities across Connecticut, advocates said.

From my Connecticut Public colleague Michayla Savitt:

Financial thresholds to qualify for HUSKY C are unfair to many people with disabilities across Connecticut, advocates said.

www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-03...

Forgot to get tickets for next week's Jonathan Richman shows at the Space and lamented that they'd probably be sold out but they're not. What's wrong with you, Connecticut

Yale will make voluntary payments to New Haven totaling >$230 million through fiscal year 2033, by far the largest contribution of any US university to its host city. A 2021 plan had provided >$135 million over a similar period.

news.yale.edu/2026/03/06/y...

YouTube video by Leslie McCauley Lincoln

Just found the first video I ever saw of Trout, posted by the shelter on Petfinder in 2017, and getting all verklempt

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

Chief Hoskin congratulates Cherokee citizen Markwayne Mullin on appointment as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security "The Cherokee Nation extends its warmest congratulations to Cherokee Nation citizen and Westville native Markwayne Mullin on this historic appointment as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. Senator Mullin's dedicated service in the U.S. Senate has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to progress and the well-being of all communities, including Indian Country. It is deeply encouraging to have someone with a keen understanding of federal Indian policy, law and justice elevated to such a critical leadership role within a powerful federal agency. Having a Cherokee Nation citizen serve within the United States Cabinet is a mark of high esteem for our tribe. It stands as a testament to the resilience, capability, and enduring impact of our people. We are confident in Secretary Mullin's ability to lead with historic responsibility and look forward to the positive, unitying impact his unique perspective will bring to the nation." Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. SEPT. 6, 1839

Here’s what the Cherokee Nation leadership has to say about one of its citizens tapped to run the Department of Homeland Security

“Kristi Noem’s firing is well-earned. The atrocities she oversaw, the falsehoods she peddled, and the corruption she committed – all richly deserve her discharge. President Trump should have made it explicit, rather than disguising it with another position of public trust. Whoever follows her must institute commonsense reforms that the American people have demanded and police forces around the country routinely follow. Changing only the top official is inadequate without changing the practices and power structure in the department.”

Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal: "Kristi Noem’s firing is well-earned. The atrocities she oversaw, the falsehoods she peddled, and the corruption she committed – all richly deserve her discharge."

Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro on same: "Good riddance."

"I join American families, free speech advocates, and dog-lovers across the nation in breathing a sigh of relief that Kristi Noem is no longer in a position of power in this government. She will not be missed.”

“Two months after we filed articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem, I am glad to see her days finally come to an end at the Department of Homeland Security,” said Larson. “On her watch, ICE was transformed into Donald Trump’s personal army, as federal agents executed citizens in our streets, snatched mothers from their children in our communities, and threatened peaceful protesters across the country. Make no mistake – replacing Kristi Noem is only the beginning. While she has been dismissed, she must still be held accountable. She is not above the law, nor is any future Secretary of Homeland Security.”

Connecticut Congressman John Larson on Noem's ouster:

Mullin told C-SPAN that during the attack, he positioned himself near a set of doors being battered by the rioters because he believed he could be "an asset" to law enforcement as they barricaded the House chamber from the pro-Trump attackers. "I know I was prepared, I know the people that was with me was prepared to do whatever it took to stop them," Mullin said. "You didn't, though, Congressman, have a weapon," Brawner said. "You don't always have to have a weapon to do certain things," Mullin, a former professional mixed martial artist, responded.

Just a really fascinating guy

Mullin's Whereabouts Overseas Unknown After Threatening U.S. Ambassador To Tajikistan: Report Public Radio Tulsa | By Chris Polansky Published September 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM CDT

Some wild headlines about that guy, too

"Have we seen a rise in positive tests? Yes. Have we seen an overwhelming run on our hospitals because of hospitalizations? No," Mullin said, despite health care and hospital leaders across the state stressing for weeks that intensive care units in Oklahoma are operating at, near or sometimes over capacity and some hospitals are constructing overflow tents.

Markwayne Mullin once prompted me to include the most fact-checking hyperlinks in any single sentence I've ever published

United States Senator Jackson Lahmeyer

United States Senator John Bennett