Steven L. Taylor

Never has so much US combat power been assembled with so little explanation to the public, allies, or Congress regarding why or how it will be used. Never.

You did.

CNN's Kristen Holmes reports that Trump blew up during a meeting after learning of the SCOTUS ruling on tariffs.

"He started ranting about the decision, not only calling it a disgrace, but started attacking the courts and at one point saying these effing courts, but using the actual language there"

Looking forward to reading it! I preordered today.

Trump plans to send $10 billion in funds that Congress hasn’t appropriated from the US Treasury to an organization that he will continue to chair personally even after he is out of office.

This is looting.

It is a major example of American exceptionalism.

So, the UK and the Republic of Korea (to go along with Brazil from a few years ago), as contrasted with SCOTUS's immunity ruling, are providing quite the illustration of "American exceptionalism."

Thanks to @himself.bsky.social for the inspiration.

A Return to the Median Voter – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/a-return-to-...

Movie description of the B horror move Death PhD. Gawdawful movie.

Now this is a movie plot!!! Someone understands grad school.

Senators chosen by states would still be partisan loyalists.

@jonathanbernstein.bsky.social explains why the 25th is not a solution and makes me think about why parliamentary systems create better incentives

Meanwhile, someone best protect the Stanley Cup!

The 25th Amendment isn’t Coming to Save Us – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/the-25th-ame...

In Front of Our Noses: Judicial Nominees and Their Public Obeisance – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/in-front-of-...

If only there were some other, more representative way to run elections...

It is profoundly frustrating that the only way that exists, given SCOTUS's treatment of actual scholarship on this topic as “gobbledygook,” is over-the-top political gerrymandering. It is doubly annoying to hear Rs complain about the recent redistricting wars that they started.

How could I have left Weird Al off my list?

Fair.

But I would counter that Samberg has Muppet energy, and I feel like more people need to see Ego.

Statler and Waldorf have more of a comment than a question

Also:

Tawny Newsome
Jack Quaid

To add to the list:

Conan
Ego Nwodim
Andy Samberg
Bowen Yang
Hugh Laurie

Every American needs to watch this:

I agree. This is a truly remarkable display and is a bit of a gut-punch to think that these individuals will be in positions of power and authority.

Today in "neither our media nor our political system is designed to deal with a far right authoritarian party"

What is the point of this farce in February 2026? You're aiding & abetting performative public lying & authoritarianism. Don't bother or ask him actual hard questions.

Reminds me of a simpler time when a student cut-and-pasted a huge chunk of a Wikipedia article into an assignment and did so in a way that the entire pasted section had a slightly different background color than the rest of the file.

He literally pulled a "you should smile more" IN RESPONSE TO AN EPSTEIN QUESTION.

A Blake's 7 Reboot? Count me in!

someancientgeek.substack.com/p/a-blakes-7...

A Chapo bit that's really stuck with me is that Trump has the passions of a certain gay stereotype: award shows, celebrity gossip, ostentatious decor, lying about how in shape he is, petty rivalries, and being beguiled by handsome younger men (Mamdani!).

January 2026 Was a Long Month – Outside the Beltway outsidethebeltway.com/january-2026...

Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."

Astonishing thing for a judge to do.

Among the many reasons why Juan Linz was right that presidentialism was a grave mistake, is that it puts the Justice Minister outside of the Parliament & under the purview of a separately elected Chief Executive, rather than under the control of the legislative branch by direct no confidence vote.

"MindMeld". #gouache #commission on 9"x12" coldpressed cotton paper. #startrek #doctorwho #comicprofessional #art #scifiart #comicart