John Branning

The Not-at-Home-on-the-Range Edition Early November, 2026

As threatened... er, promised -- here's a new edition of my Substack, following closely on the heels of my last edition. Read and enjoy!

The Meme and My Shadow Edition Strolling down the avenue of various trials and tribulations in late Oct. 2026

A link to my new but not necessarily improved Substack can be found as pictured below. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!

Left Speechless “Free speech is the counterweight–it is the check on government control.” ~ Brendan Carr (who just got Jimmy Kimmel knocked off TV)

I am your President, DJT –
you should not dare make fun of me,
or criticize the things I do...
[speaking of criticism: you're more than welcome to offer yours in response to the post linked below]

Oh, but Kilmeade apologized so... water under the bridge. He's still on TV, whereas Michael Dowd isn't.

Taking A Hit “Violence does not need to be used very often; it merely needs to be convincing when it is used.” ~ Judith Lewis Herman

I’ve stopped all crime in Washington – that is, if you agree
that when a husband smacks his wife around, it’s not a felony.
As long as it’s a little fight, and takes place in a dwelling...
[no need to get punchy -- just poke the link pictured below to read the rest of this post]

My favorite dance? The Hokey-Pokey.
Most comedians are jokey.
Japanese love karaoke...
[if you love the smell of light verse in the morning, click on the link below and inhale deeply]
trumpinverse.com/2025/09/07/t...

Picture Perfect “Look at this photograph / Every time I do, it makes me laugh” ~ Nickelback

In the midst of Putin sending drones,
an action that no one condones,
I thought that I would be remiss...
[picture what you think comes next, and then click on the link pictured below to see if you were right!]

Carpet Diem “I see myself within your eyes / And that’s all I need to show me why / Everything I do always takes me home to you / Ever and ever” ~ “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend'&#8…

I laid out a long, red carpet, and exchanged a hearty handshake –
not some wussy one, but robust – like the kind a real man makes.
Vlad was welcomed to our country, even though accused of war crimes...
[i'd be honored if you'd stroll through the rest of this verse, as found in the link below] #Trump

Leavitt-ation “A free press is one where it’s okay to state the conclusion you’re led to by the evidence.” ~ David Carr

Watch her lips move like a machine gun,
with those lies spit out rat-a-tat.
There’s a better brain? I’ve never seen one...
[press on to the link pictured below to read more of this post]

Scot Under the Collar Trump’s typical response: “I’m rubber, and you’re glue.” Guess that’s why we’re stuck with him.

My skin is thin. How thin is it?
The slightest slight – I’ll lose my shit.
You ridicule me on TV?...
[if you have any interest in the rest of the skinny on this topic, please click on the link pictured below]

Bar None - John Branning Here's something to chew on.

They say the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has become "toothless" under the current administration -- fortunately, I am possessed of the dental fortitude to take on these issues all by myself.

List-less Three-ring binders lead to three-ring circus.

The Epstein Files have caused a schism;
MAGA’s full of criticism.
Bondi, Kash Patel, Bongino...
[don't file this under "to be read" -- read the rest of it right now by clicking on the link pictured below]

Written Off “The Moving Middle Finger writes; and having writ, Moves on…”

I sent a bunch of letters to address this tariff feud.
Within them, there were errors; they contained a multitude:
the use of random Capitals, and one rogue honorific...
[by now, you should be checking by wrote... er, by rote for the link below to the rest of these verses]

How Like a Fawning (Re)publican “If I am (allegedly) shot in the ear, do I not bleed?”

I don’t know what a “shylock” is, because I’ve never read a book.
My teachers used to offer them to me: “Here, Donny – take a look…”
They told me Shakespeare wrote some plays, their language crafted with precision...
[you'll see the rest of this verse anon by clicking on the link pictured below]

Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test A ruse by any other name would still stink.

“Ah, the smell of it!” – the tagline used for Calvin Klein’s Obsession;
it sure made him lots of money. So – I now will sell perfume.
It’s my latest money-grubbing grift and ethical transgression...
[you can sniff out the rest of this one by clicking on the link pictured below]

Boom Harangue Besides a mention of the bunker buster, there’s also an f-bomb in this post. Just following Trump’s example…

I used the word “OBLITERATE”
to prove that I am liter-ate.
Its meaning? Clear and absolute...
[there's nothing crater...er, I mean greater than the rest of this verse, found by clicking on the link pictured below]

Credit Risky “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.” ~ Andrew Carnegie (a real billionaire)

I do a lot, but never get the credit.
I say that it’s OK, but still it burns.
With all I’ve done… how quickly they forget it...
(give yourself credit for good taste if you continue to read this post by clicking on the link below)

March for a Wouldn’t Soldier There were many more attending Boot-Him-Out Camp than there were attending his parade.

I had a bunch of soldiers march, to celebrate the Army.
‘Twas its birthday (also mine) in a most fortunate confluence
of events. I made it clear that if you threaten us with harm, we...
(troop on down to the link below to read the rest of this post)

Sunken Pride To the U.S. Navy’s core values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” — we can now add the caveat “… Unless You’re Committed to Social Justice”

The Navy has an oiler ship that’s named for Harvey Milk.
He served in the Korean War; discharged for being gay.
He fought for civil rights, along with others of his ilk...
(to read more about the *pride* Pete Hegseth has for our nation's fleet, click on the link pictured below)

Dead On Arrival Neither death nor Joni Ernst should be proud of this sentiment.

[Sen. Joni Ernst (and most of her GOP colleagues)]
People are going to die – that’s a fact.
So let’s not sugar-coat it or overreact.
Your death is a certainty; likewise, your taxes...
(and while it's not inevitable, I hope you'll read the rest of this by clicking on the link pictured here)

A Roasted Chicken Trump calls fowl on TACO trades.

Investors have announced a game of chicken they will play,
depending on the state of tariffs any given day:
I’ll threaten to increase them in my version of a tweet...
(another poultry... er, paltry attempt at political humor via light verse, found in the link below)

Putting A Little English On It - John Branning "It's only words, and words are all I have" ~ the Bee Gees

A post in which I attempt to clarify use of the English language by mangling it.

Down and Divert-y I mean… he’s still throwing a tantrum over the 2020 election.

While I attack Bruce Springsteen, and claim Swift’s no longer “HOT” –
it all serves as distraction: I’ve accomplished diddly-squat.
My bill that’s big and beautiful? The GOP won’t pass it...
[like his approval rating: head down to the link below for more of this one]

Fly the Friendly Spies Thinking of him as a “stupid person” is not a pending matter.

I could be a stupid person and then not accept a plane
that has been offered up for nothing – turn it down? I’d be insane!
I’m quite certain that this offer’s made without a string attached...
(fly on down to the link below for the rest of this verse)

Writ’s Impossible Any deport in an alleged storm…

Habeas corpus is SO overrated.
The concept, my lawyers now claim, is outdated.
My power as POTUS (your favorite, no doubt!)...
[no need to issue a continuance; you may proceed with reading this by clicking on the link below]

These Are the Daze “These are days you’ll remember / Never before and never since / I promise” ~ 10,000 Maniacs

I've been on vacation for the last 10 days... so there's lots to catch up on.

A Clutch Moment I guess we can bag her ever shouldering the blame for what’s happened with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

*Kristi Noem*
As I was having dinner with my family at a restaurant, something happened – I was victim of a crime, which was appallin’.
Someone walked off with my Gucci bag: a bandit in dark clothing. It appears my purse was purloined – or, as Trump would say, was STOLLEN...

Salivating Over El Salvador “A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few.” ~ John Lewis

“Due process” is a term with which I’m really not acquainted,
and won’t apply to those whose rectitude I claim is tainted.
Commit a crime (allegedly) – or even *think* the wrong way...
(click on the link below to continue to read and form your own opinion... before that is forbidden)

That is correct. Trump said he needed "24 hours"... perhaps he can tear himself away from the golf course for one weekend and finish the job.

I didn't see any mention of his ability to predict the future in the results of that recent physical -- so I guess he's not as much of a very stable genius as he thinks he is.