Joel Connelly

Vladimir Putin is mastering, primarily relishing an English language U.S. expression: “There’s one born every minute.”

During his promised Seattle visit, Trump’s border czar Tom Homan will: 1) Raid a cathedral with armed men; 2) Send masked agents into UW classrooms; 3) Seize victim of domestic violence in front of her kids.

A query for ABC News Tonight? why no reporting of Senate vote to defund public radio? What was more important, eulogizing Connie Francis?

Right-wing media would be wetting itself over latest inflation figures, had they come under Biden. Tariffs a major reason. A curious silence, both on fascist fringe and in mainstream non-coverage.

I half expect to wake up one morning to Stephen Miller post suggesting 1934 Blood Purge in Germany as model for treating dissent against ICE immigration raids by masked agents.

Overmatched, a Fox News mouth in high places: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pauses military aid to Ukraine at time of record drone attacks.

A Texas joke: What’s the difference between God and Sen. Ted Cruz? God is everywhere, and Ted Cruz is everywhere but Texas.

Coyotes spotted prowling in Seattle neighborhoods. Young single men urged to take shelter.

The relentless sameness of local TV news, the same quartet of topics: Car crashes, house fires, fights and drive-by shootings. No depth, e.g. proliferation of guns. Seasonal sermons on fireworks dangers, swimming in cold water.

The relentless sameness, banality and shallowness of TV news.
On Sunday of Independence Day weekend, the lineup has consisted of two shootings, two car crashes and two fires. Arrghh!

Will Trump use Guadalupe River flood scene in Texas as backdrop to repeat his denial of climate change, call to abolish FEMA and cut National Weather Service? Will Melania break out spike heels worn on Hurricane Harvey trip?

We’re Canada dragooned into becoming the 51st state, can you envision Trump flipping flapjacks at the Calgary Stampede? Or stop as horse in the kickoff parade?

Will our Republican U.S. Reps Baumgartner and Newhouse be on the dais as guests at closing of first Eastern Washington rural hospital as the result of GOP slashing Medicaid?

The big grovel: Blue Dog moderate Democrats, led by our Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, offer to help draft bipartisan fiscally responsible budget resolution. Offer spurned by Trump toadies.

Seattle TV stations offer news without nutrients, an endless succession of car crashes, house fires, drive-by shootings and drownings. Down deep, how shallow!

“True North, Strong and Free” — not 51st state with vengeful, authoritarian ruler — Happy Canada Day!!!!!

Watching TV spot with our ghastly Homeland Security Secretary, threatening immigrants and groveling before Trump, question comes up: Will Kristi Noem try to sand blast words of welcome from base of the Statue of Liberty?

In another time and place, would U.S. Secretary of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem have led a raid on the Frank family’s hiding place in Amsterdam?

I am very worried that Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, will vote to complicate, curtail and cut off Medicaid to thousands of Down East constituents.

The wealthiest 1 percent of Americans own 30 percent of nation’s wealth. Memo to Republicans: They don’t NEED welfare.

How to harm ratepayers, workers & the planet. @Big Beautiful” Republican bill taxes wind and solar, provides new coal subsidy: 300,000 wind/solar workers lost jobs.

J’ever notice? Annual Pride Parade has totally eclipsed Seafair Parade as summer happening in Seattle. The former is more fun, the latter is transposed 1950’s. We are diverse, inclusive, life enriched that it is so.

A stirring service, a standing ovation, St James Cathedral bids farewell to longtime pastor Fr Ryan. A bearer of Christ’s message of love, peace, justice, compassion, care for poor — opposite priorities from current federal regime.

When Trump and MAGA cronies liken socialists to communists, we ought to recall words of former British Columbia Premier Dave Barrett: “We social democrats know all about the communists. We’re the poor bastards they shoot first.” Very true.

Strongly recommend new Netflix offering “Downfall”, on how McDonnell Douglas brass took over Boeing, cut corners, the resulting crashes, efforts to offload blame on pilots.Kudos to Oregon ex-Rep DeFazio as truth seeker.

Germany, 1933: New National Socialist government ousts rector of Humboldt University in Berlin; USA 2025, Trump Administration forces resignation of University of Virginia president.

The new Gilded Age: Flashy, tacky, forward appearance of new Bezos bride mirrors that of Trump hotel.

Kudos to Sen. Cantwell, pushing back against Trump cuts to National Weather Service. He may deny climate change, but we must live with sudden weather extremes, whether Oklahoma tornadoes or NW atmospheric rivers.

Fifteen minutes long gone: Rright index finger getting exhausted deleting money appeals by Tim Eyman.

Happy Pink Shirt Day, Canada’s annual anti-bullying observance. Orange hair guy, take notice!