Science post Blue Dogs, squirrels, cats

When I've had more than enough from Chump and the Crooked Court, I check in on science.  So this is a grab bag science post.  First up, blue dogs?  I've heard of yellow dog Democrats, but blue dogs?  Tom Hale (IFL SCIENCE) reports:

Dogs with blue fur have been spotted snooping in Chernobyl, the restricted area surrounding the epicenter of the infamous nuclear disaster. Rest assured, the dogs have not changed color due to any freakish mutation from decades of radiation – the explanation is likely to be far more mundane, if not a little bit gross.

Speaking to IFLScience, researchers from the Dogs of Chernobyl program confirmed that their geotagged images were authentic, noting that at least three blue dogs were documented in Chernobyl on October 6, 2025.

After a few failed attempts to catch the tinted dogs, the team eventually found a likely culprit: a nearby porta-potty.

“They appear to have been rolling in a substance that had accumulated on their fur. We are suspecting that this substance was from an old portable toilet that was in the same location as the dogs; however, we were unable to positively confirm our suspicions,” Dr Jennifer Betz, Veterinary Medical Director for the Dogs of Chernobyl program, told IFLScience.

"We are not in any way saying that it is related to radiation in Chornobyl," she added.

Next up, liking that bird's nest in your tree?  Are you sure it isn't a squirrel's nest?  Emily Hannemann (BIRDS & BLOOMS) explains:

Often, especially in fall, large clusters of leaves seem to show up on tree branches. Many might assume those are bird nests, but more critters than birds build their homes in trees.

Alissa Kakatsch, assistant turkey and pheasant ecologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, says squirrels build two kinds of nests. The first, she refers to as a den — these nests show up inside existing structures, such as tree cavities, boats or buildings. The second, called a drey, you might spot in your yard.

“The standard squirrel nest would be up in trees, and it would be made of twigs, leaves, and other, softer material on the inside,” Alissa says. “Those, you’ll typically see high up: 20 to 25 feet, or even 35 feet high in the trees.”

So, the structures you’d find that look like massive clusters of leaves in the treetops likely aren’t bird nests. They’re dreys!

One key to distinguishing a squirrel nest from a bird’s nest is to check the size. According to Alissa, while both birds and squirrels can build nests on forked tree branches, squirrel nests tend to be larger. “Also, typically birds’ nests will be secluded or more hidden,” Alissa notes, “and they won’t be as open in the branches of trees where you can see.” Red squirrels build nests in pine trees, while gray squirrels are typically responsible for the dreys we spot in treetops.

Let's move over to cats.  Amy Glover (UK HUFFINGTON POST) writes about why cats lick people:

According to PetMD, we can’t be 100% sure (typical felines) ― but one of the leading theories vets have is that your cat might lick you to get closer to you.

“Mothers groom their kittens and cats may groom one another, which is called allogrooming,” the publication shared.

This helps to strengthen social bonds and increases a sense of belonging (aww).

Blue Cross’ animal behaviourist, Claire Stallard, said that allogrooming is the most likely reason your cat is licking you.  

Other causes may include your cat seeking attention from you, your cat liking the taste of your skin (yes, really ― be careful with this if you’re wearing lotions, fake tan, or perfume), and them identifying you as a part of their group.

"The Snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):

Wednesday, October 29, 2025.  Chump's war on immigrants continue to terrorize everyone including children, his destruction of the US economy continues, some Democrats and 'Democrats" rally behind racist, sexist, Nazi-tattooed Graham Platner, and much more.

The US economy suffers and Chump's tantrum last week has resulted in predictions that EV vehicles will be selling better in Canada than the US.  This all results from Chump's tantrum.  The editorial board of THE ALBANY TIMES UNION notes:

In the wake of a TV ad released by the province of Ontario that utilized excerpts of a speech from President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs, President Donald J. Trump's announced a decision to break off trade talks and impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian products.

In his continued attempt to destroy US auto, Chump made a little sales pitch in Japan to US troops.  Harry Thompson (DAILY BEAST) explains:

President Donald Trump has told a hangar full of American military personnel to go and buy Japanese cars. The president was speaking aboard the USS George Washington, docked at the Yokosuka naval base on Tuesday. “They’re going to be putting auto plants all over the United States to the tune of $10 billion,” Trump said, wearing a white USA baseball cap. “So that’s Toyota, so go out and buy a Toyota.” 

Rhian Lubin (INDEPENDENT) adds, "Japan exported over 1.37 million vehicles to the U.S. last year, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, and cars are the country’s top export to America. On the flip side, American cars have proved a tough sell in Japan, which imported fewer than 17,000 American cars last year, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association."

And, again, Chump's tantrum from last week.  Brad Anderson (CAR SCOOPS) reports the latest:

After Stellantis and GM scaled back production in Canada, the federal government has decided to limit how many tariff-free vehicles they can import into the country.

This is bad news for the Detroit automakers and has already prompted warnings from both of them, along with Ford, that reduced investment could follow, potentially denting Canada’s manufacturing base.

Samuel Joseph (FODMAP) notes that Detroit is one of the 14 cities expected to be heaviest hit by Chump's tariffs:

As the historic center of the U.S. automotive industry, Detroit is profoundly exposed to tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and auto parts. Any increase in the cost of these components forces car manufacturers to raise prices or slow production.

Detroit is also highly dependent on trade with Canada, which has historically been a key export market for U.S.-made vehicles and parts. Retaliatory tariffs from Canada would directly cut into the demand for goods produced in the “Motor City,” impacting thousands of manufacturing jobs.

Where's the strong economy?  Are we going to have to wait for Chump to leave to provide jobs to Americans again?  Tom Peterson (PENNY GEM) reports, "Amazon announced it will cut up to 30,000 corporate jobs on Oct. 27, 2025 – about 10% of its ~350,000 white-collar workforce.  This is 'the largest reduction in Amazon’s corporate workforce in the company’s history,' surpassing the 27,000 cuts of 2022–23. The decision shocks Seattle and ripples through the tech sector."  Tomi Kilgore (MARKETWATCH) adds of UPS, "The company disclosed that through September, it had reduced its workforce by 34,000 employees, which represented 6.9% of the approximately 490,000 employees it had at the end of 2024. UPS also closed 93 leased and owned buildings this year. The company had said it planned to cut 20,000 jobs and close dozens of buildings this year."  Because of another one of Chump's tantrums, we no longer have the jobs report from the Labor Dept.  We do have the ADP National Employment Report which isn't as exhaustive but REUTERS reports, "ADP's employment report showed private payrolls decreased by 32,000 jobs in September."

Matthias Binder (24/7 FOOD RECIPES) looks at increased prices and points out, "CPI data shows that jewelry and watches have risen 5.5% in price, while coffee - one of the nation's most imported goods - jumped nearly 10%. The U.S. produces less than 1% of its own coffee, making it especially vulnerable to tariffs on key suppliers like Brazil and Switzerland. Even traditionally stable goods like bananas have seen price increases. Banana prices jumped 4.9% between April and August. Because almost all bananas in the U.S. market come from Central and South America, import tariffs have made an impact on one of America's most common grocery staples."

And, of course, Chump has betrayed American cattle ranchers.  Lindsey Granger (THE HILL) observes:

For years, Donald Trump built his brand on an “America First” trade agenda: protecting U.S. workers, punishing foreign competitors, and pulling supply chains back home.  

That was the promise. But now, in a scramble to drive down grocery prices, his administration is turning to Argentina for beef — quadrupling imports to 80,000 metric tons. That’s not “America First.” That’s foreign beef before American ranchers.  

Trump has spent the last month railing about grocery prices and pledging relief at the checkout aisle, promising “a deal” to “bring the price down.” The short-term fix he’s landed on is foreign supply, even if it runs directly against the platform that got him elected. Ranchers, who benefited from high demand and elevated beef prices, are watching their own president undercut them to bail out another country’s economy.  

And the timing isn’t subtle. POLITICO reports the average price of ground beef is $6.32 a pound, up about 14 percent since Trump took office, and meat is still one of the biggest drivers of overall grocery inflation.

Per last night's panel discussion on THE 11TH HOUR WITH STEPHANIE RUHLE, elected Republicans let Vice President JD Vnce have it yesterday regarding what's happening to cattle ranchers and how this needs to be addressed immediately.

Beef's not the only meat with a soaring price.  At DELISH, Megan Schaltegger wants to talk turkey:

Wholesale turkey prices are predicted to hit $1.32 per pound this year.

That figure is a 40% spike from 2024's average, driven by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks.

Experts say that retailers will still prioritize meal bundles and turkey deals.

The crispy October days flew by, Halloween is basically here, and we'll be quarreling with relatives around the Thanksgiving table before we know it! It's just about time to plan the menu—and your most controversial dinner-table topics.

While riling up Uncle Joe might be second nature, shopping for the big holiday family dinner may not be as easy—at least on your wallet. A new U.S. Department of Agriculture report predicts wholesale prices for frozen turkeys will jump to $1.32 per pound this year—a 40% spike over 2024's average.

And it won't just be more expensive—it may be harder to snag a turkey. too. According to the USDA report, the price spike is a direct result of lower supply: a surge of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (a severe bird flu) outbreaks in late 2024 and early 2025 majorly affected flocks (and also led to the egg shortages and price spikes). In fact, farmers reportedly raised 5 million fewer turkeys in 2025 than the year prior, and 50 million fewer than in 2016.

Now the good news: budget-friendly retailers are still offering their typical Thanksgiving meal bundles. "Retailers typically use turkeys as a loss leader," David Ortega, professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, told CBS News. "That is, they price them very competitively—sometimes even below cost—to draw shoppers into stores ahead of Thanksgiving."

Chump's an economic hit man.  He certainly assassinated the US economy.  Which is why Lucia Mutikani (REUTERS) reports, "U.S. consumer confidence eased to a six-month low in October amid worries about the availability of jobs in the near-term, offering more ammunition for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again on Wednesday."

"Media: They fail to note the pattern of ICE lies but make time to defend this year's John Fetterman" went up last night and Ava and I are covering a number of items.  But for this right now, I want to zoom in on the push behind the appalling Graham Platner.  Jen Psaki brought him on to her show last night to let him defend himself.  Why?  

Per BALLOTPEDIA, these are the people currently running for the Dem nomination for US senator from Maine (Republican Susan Collins currently holds the spot):

 

Submit photo	Natasha Alcala (D)
		David Costello (D)
	Submit photo	David Evans (D)
		Tucker Favreau (D)
	Submit photo	Andrea LaFlamme (D)
		Janet T. Mills (D)
		Graham Platner (D)
	Submit photo	Daira Rodriguez (D)
		Jordan Wood (D)

Jordan Wood would be a good guest for Jen if she could get away from trying to save Graham.  Janet?  Janet's the governor and the whole nation knows she can stand up to Donald Chump.  It's not as though Maine has nothing but Platner to go for.  

His comments, his lies, his everything should have gotten real pushback long ago.  Instead, they want to waste our time and your time trying to 'save' the new John Fetterman.  Bernie endorsed him!!!!  Yeah, old man Sanders -- a man who forces campaign staffers to sign NDAs when the racism gets too much in his campaign office -- did endorse Platner.  He also endorsed Fetterman.  And he endorsed TYT's Cenk.  I'm never impressed with any of the White men Bernie Sanders endorses, nor should you be. 

They would rather -- behind the scene operators -- give the nomination to Platner instead of (a) someone worthy and (b) someone who is not going to be destroyed by his Republican opponent.

And that's what would happen with the liar Platner.  The Branko Marcetics and the whores at COMMON DREAMS will have no influence over the Republican candidate.  They've spent weeks covering up for and lying for Platner and hissing and smearing those who have raised serious issues with regards to what this-never-elected to anything man with a Nazi tattoo has been saying online for years.

In fact, Branko published a column (at JACOBIN) on Monday defending Platner.  3229 words.  He needed 3229 words to defend Platner.  That's your first clue that he's not your best candidate to rally behind.  The only real truth I spotted in the column was in the headline "You’re Being Lied to About Graham Platner" and, if Branko's confessing, it is true -- Branko is lying to you about Graham Platner.  (Including the lie that he read all of the social media posts Platner's done -- he clearly missed the deleted ones that CNN found).  He's a racist, homophobic, sexist, rape denier who, yes, served in the US military but, more to the point, also was part of the Blackwater mercenaries long after Blackwater had to repeatedly change their name to try to escape the stigma of their many outrageous actions which did include getting US service members killed as well as Iraqi civilians as well as . . . Oh, Branko, it's so much more than just Platner's Nazi tattoo.

 

Turning to Chump's immigration war, Josh Marcus (INDEPENDENT) reports:

Two members of the Illinois National Guard say they will refuse orders to carry out the Trump administration’s long-stated goal of sending federal troops into Chicago.

“It's disheartening to be forced to go against your community members and your neighbors," Staff Sergeant Demi Palecek, a state legislative candidate, told CBS News. "It feels illegal. This is not what we signed up to do."

Captain Dylan Blaha, a congressional candidate in the state, had similar reservations, accusing the Trump administration of “actively dismantling our rights — free speech, due process, freedom of the press.”

"Look at 1930s, 1940s Germany," Blaha added in an interview with the broadcaster. "There is a point where if you didn't stand up to the [Nazi secret police] Gestapo, are you just actively one of them now?"

The Guard members could face a court martial, imprisonment, or a discharge if they refuse a lawful order.

Why would they take such a stand?  Because Chump's war is terrorizing civilians and ICE is breaking the laws.  Alex Woodward (INDEPENDENT) notes:

The border patrol chief commanding dozens of federal agents in Chicago has been ordered to appear in court every day after he and his officers faced a wave of allegations that they violently detained protesters and indiscriminately fired tear gas into neighborhoods.

Greg Bovino, the top Customs and Border Protection official for Donald Trump’s mass deportation operation in Illinois, was ordered to testify in federal court Tuesday after protesters suing the administration accused Bovino and agents of repeatedly gassing residents in violation of a judge’s restraining order.

In court filings, protesters accused agents of shooting chemical agents at close range and pointing a gun at one demonstrator while saying “bang, bang” and “you’re dead, liberal.”

Protesters also allege masked agents tossed tear gas canisters while hanging out the window from the passenger seat of an unmarked SUV and “unleashed violence” the morning before a Halloween parade in a Chicago suburb, where agents allegedly tackled three people, including a 67-year-old U.S. citizen, before filling the streets with tear gas.

“That was the instance, as well, where children were present and they were dressed up in their Halloween costumes,” Illinois District Judge Sara Ellis said Tuesday.

“Those kids were tear gassed on their way to celebrate Halloween in their local school parking lot,” she said. “These kids, you can imagine, their sense of safety was shattered ... and it’s gonna take a long time for that to come back, if ever.”

Tear gassing children.  That's what is' come to now in Chumpland as a Convicted Felon destroys our great nation and puts thugs on the street to terrorize.  Rebecca Schneid (TIME) reports:

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the architect of some of President Donald Trump’s harshest immigration policies, has claimed that federal agents carrying out arrests and deportations are immune from prosecution. 

In a recent interview on Fox News, Miller hit out at opposition to the Trump Administration’s plans to carry out the largest mass deportation in United States history, accusing Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker of “seditious conspiracy” for his attempts to block those efforts and threatening his arrest.

Miller also announced in a message to agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency: “You have federal immunity in the conduct of your duties. And anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop or obstruct you is committing a felony.”

ICE and Border Patrol agents have been the tip of the spear for Trump’s hardline deportation agenda, deploying to cities around the country to conduct arrests and raids of anyone in the country illegally.

No, idiot, it doesn't work that way.  If it did, crooked cops, crooked FBI agents, crooked anything could just breaking the law.  It doesn't work that way and only a depraved soul like Stephen Miller would think otherwise.  Kathryn Rubino (ABOVE HE LAW) writes:

Last we checked in with U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis, she didn’t seem pleased with U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. Bovino heads the Trump administration’s military presence in Chicago, Operation Midway Blitz, and there were some pretty serious allegations (and video!) that federal agents — and Bovino specifically — violated a temporary restraining order issued by Ellis.

A group of journalists, protesters, and clergy sued the Trump administration over the military occupation of Chicago, and Ellis issued a TRO limiting the tactics federal agents can use. Amongst the banned methods of riot control include the use of tear gas and other kinds of noxious gas unless there is an immediate safety threat. But over the weekend, Bovino was caught on camera throwing canisters of tear gas into a crowd without any warnings or verbal orders to disperse. It sure isn’t a good look.

So the judge hauled Bovino into court today to impress upon him the seriousness of the TRO and what sorts of actions are off limits. Specifically, Judge Ellis is deeply concerned that Border Patrol’s actions in using tear gas without appropriate warnings actually impacted innocents, specifically kids dressed in Halloween costumes, headed to a parade.

And that is why people have to stand up to Chump's illegal war and illegal actions.  AP covers a typical Chicago day now that ICE terrorizes the city:

“Mommy, mommy, mommy,” he repeated, clinging to her.

His mother, Molly Kucich, had been grocery shopping when her husband called, panicking. She heard “immigration raid.” Then: “tear gas.”

She abandoned her grocery cart and drove as fast as she could to her toddler and his 14-month-old brother, who, on that warm October Friday, were among the hundreds of Chicago children caught suddenly in the turmoil of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Parents, teachers and caregivers have been grappling ever since with how to explain to children what they’d seen: how much to tell them so they know enough to stay safe, but not too much to rob them of their childhood. A toddler shouldn’t know what a tear gas canister is, Kucich said.

“I don’t know how to explain this to my kids.”

We've covered the low standards set for ICE recruits.  The whole country is appalled.  A new development?  Alex Reimer (QUEERITY) reports:

Like millions of Americans, Josh Sorbe is outraged over the egregious conduct of ICE agents.

So the D.C. resident and politico decided to let out his frustrations in the gym, and prove a point along the way.

The Atlantic recently published a story about the wannabe Gestapo-like agency’s “athletically allergic” recruits, who can’t pass a simple fitness test. Before receiving their badges–which many don’t wear as they seize community fixtures and even U.S. citizens from city streets–new recruits must do 15 push-ups, 32 sit-ups and run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes.

For members of law enforcement, the standards aren’t supposed to be demanding. Previously, only a smattering of applicants couldn’t pass.

[. . .]

With bare minimum requirements–pass an open-book test, don’t be a criminal–the majority of American adults have the heft to be ICE agents. But there appears to be a selection bias at play: people with actual skills can find more meaningful work than rounding up tamale vendors and day laborers.

That includes Sorbe, who works as a spokesperson for the Senate Judiciary Democrats. A former college athlete, the South Dakota native would run laps around most ICE recruits.

Literally. To close a recent workout, Sorbe decided to try the vaunted fitness challenge.

He passed in 12 minutes.

But some new ICE agents struggled to make it through.  And still became ICE agents.

Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:

Murray: “People across America—across party lines, across economic backgrounds, and across nearly every divide imaginable—are now speaking out… The time has come to hold President Trump accountable for raising prices on families across the board.”

Current effective tariff rate is 18 percent—the highest since 1934; Trump’s tariffs could push nearly one million Americans below the poverty line next year

Trump’s tariffs will cost WA state nearly 32,000 jobs; $2.2 billion in revenue over the next four years if fully implemented

***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full floor speech***

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor ahead of upcoming Senate votes on three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to end the vast majority of the tariffs President Trump has arbitrarily imposed, which are costing American families thousands of dollars and crushing small businesses across the country.  

Tonight, the Senate will vote on S.J.Res.81, which would cancel Trump’s 40 percent tariffs on Brazil by terminating the emergency declaration that provides the legal basis for the tariffs. Later this week, the Senate will vote on two more Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that would similarly revoke Trump’s tariffs by canceling the emergency declarations that underpin them: S.J.Res.77, which would end Trump’s 35 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, and S.J.Res.88, which would terminate Trump’s across-the-board tariffs on nearly all countries—which include 10 percent tariffs on imports from nearly all countries and tariffs of up to 40 percent on more than 60 countries.

On the Senate floor, Senator Murray hammered Republicans in Congress for their outright refusal to put an end to Trump’s pointless trade war and price hikes on American families, and their willingness to hand over Congress’ constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs.

“President Trump has single-handedly raised taxes more than any President in my lifetime. He has, without any consultation or approval from Congress, imposed billions of dollars in new tariffs,” Senator Murray said. “These are taxes paid for by the American people. They hurt small business owners who need raw materials that just aren’t available here in the United States. They cut off crucial export markets for our farmers when other nations inevitably retaliate. And they are sending prices soaring across the board, from big things like cars, to everyday essentials like groceries. Trump’s tariffs have already raised retail prices for families by 5 percent, and this year alone, his tariffs are expected to cost American households an average of $1,800. That is staggering. Still, nearly every single Senate Republican has refused to vote with us to end this chaos… People across America—across party lines, across economic backgrounds, and across nearly every divide imaginable—are now speaking out. The time has come for Republicans to actually listen. The time has come to hold President Trump accountable for raising prices on families across the board. The time has come to end President Trump’s new taxes on everything.”

After the government of Ontario, Canada ran a TV commercial featuring a speech by President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs Saturday night during the World Series, President Trump announced an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports and said that he was halting ongoing trade talks launched earlier this month.

Right now, the effective tariff rate in the U.S. is 18 percent, the highest tariff rate since 1934. Trump’s tariffs have already raised retail prices for families by 5 percent, and this year alone, Trump’s tariffs are expected to cost American households an additional $1,800 on average. A recent analysis from Yale Budget Lab found that Trump’s tariffs will likely increase the number of Americans living in poverty by 875,000 in 2026. Last month, a nonpartisan analysis by the Washington State Office of Financial Management found that if the current Trump tariffs stay in effect for the next four years, they will cost Washington state up to 25,000 jobs—and if Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs are fully implemented, they would cost Washington state $2.2 billion and 31,900 jobs over the next four years and significantly drive up the cost of food, clothing, cars, and much more.

Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs in the state tied to international commerce. In 2024, Washington exported $57.8 billion of goods to the world, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), making Washington state the 9^th-largest state exporter of goods last year. Washington state is also the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada.

Senator Murray has been vocal in responding to Trump’s trade war, holding events in every part of Washington state, and hammering the Trump administration for driving up the cost of just about everything through their chaotic and thoughtless trade policies. When Trump first announced new tariffs, Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state to discuss how Trump’s trade war threatens Washington state’s economy, and spoke out on the Senate floor against Trump’s chaotic trade war, calling on Republicans in Congress to join Democrats in reasserting Congress’s power over trade. She has held several events across Washington state to hear directly from constituents and small business owners about how Trump’s tariffs are harming them—including in Tacoma, Yakima, Vancouver, Seattle, Skagit County, and Blaine, just across the border from Canada. On August 1^st, as Trump hiked “reciprocal” tariffs on some of our closest trading partners, Senator Murray held another virtual press conference with Washington state businesses to sound the alarm. She held another roundtable with small business owners in Vancouver in September, and last week, Senator Murray slammed Trump for the new port fees hitting ships at West Coast Ports as a result of Trump’s trade war with China.

Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

“President Trump has single-handedly raised taxes more than any President in my lifetime. He has, without any consultation or approval from Congress, imposed billions of dollars in new tariffs.

“These are taxes paid for by the American people. They hurt small business owners who need raw materials that just aren’t available here in the United States. They cut off crucial export markets for our farmers when other nations inevitably retaliate. And they are sending prices soaring across the board, from big things like cars, to everyday essentials like groceries.

“Trump’s tariffs have already raised retail prices for families by 5 percent, and this year alone, his tariffs are expected to cost American households an average of $1,800. That is staggering. Still, nearly every single Senate Republican has refused to vote with us to end this chaos.

“I’ll say it another way: Republicans are refusing to stop President Trump from raising taxes on working families.

“Now, we all saw Republicans move heaven and earth this year to shovel more tax breaks at billionaires. But when it comes to taxes on working families, well, they are downright eager to force families to pay more every time they go to the supermarket.

“I am not going to let this get swept under the rug. Especially not when Trump shows us every day that his tariffs are not about any sort of economic strategy, or any real ‘emergency.’

“Trump’s tariff policy is as strategic as a toddler who plays with a light switch.

“Last week, we saw Trump raise taxes on Americans because he was mad that Canada ran an ad quoting Ronald Reagan. That’s about as ridiculous as it gets.

“My state shares a border with Canada. There are countless families, and businesses that span our northern border. People who have built businesses that rely on strong trade relationships, from farmers who send their crops up north, to shops that bring in products, to towns that serve tourists and visitors that come down from our neighbors.

“And these Washington business owners are all having their livelihoods completely turned upside on a whim by President Trump.

“And again, let’s be clear: all Canada did to unleash more blind fury and boneheaded tariffs from President Trump was quote President Ronald Reagan.

“Now, for all the policies I disagree with, Reagan at least had enough sense to understand that we, the American people, are the ones who pay those tariffs.

“For my colleagues, these are the words Donald Trump doesn’t want you to hear. This is what Reagan had to say about tariffs—verbatim: ‘Over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.’ ‘Then the worst happens: markets shrink and collapse; businesses and industries shut down; and millions of people lose their jobs.’

“But you know what? If Republicans don’t want to listen to Reagan this time—well, then how about they start listening to American families, farmers, and small businesses back in their own home states.

“Because, as someone who has had countless discussions about tariffs with the people I represent back home, I have no doubt that Republicans’ own constituents will tell them firsthand just how painful Trump’s trade war has been for them.

“I have heard from business across my home state of Washington who are getting crushed by Trump’s tariffs. An Asian grocery store that sells goods you simply have to source from abroad, like green tea. Coffee shops that are getting hit, since most of our country can’t even grow coffee beans. Clothing stores that tell me they are struggling with higher prices for cotton canvas, zippers, threads, and buckles.

 

“And then there are farmers, across my state and across the country, that are getting boxed out of key markets by the trade wars Trump is starting left and right for no reason.

“And there the jobs at our ports that are threatened as every new chaotic tariff Trump decides to tweet out whittles away at imports and exports alike, grinds our bustling ports to an absolute standstill, and puts thousands of jobs in jeopardy.

“Foreign imports are down by a third at the Port of Seattle and Tacoma. The reality of Trump’s tariffs is painfully obvious to families and business owners who are bearing the brunt of this ham-fisted trade war.

“You can’t just ‘make it in America’ when the ‘it’ in question is fruits and vegetables we cannot grow at scale here in the U.S. You can’t just ‘make it in America’ when even making something here requires parts and raw materials from across the globe.

“There are just higher prices for working families, tighter margins for our struggling businesses, and even more worry for families and businesses being pushed to the edge. Families are feeling those price hikes every single day. Small businesses in my state and across the country are facing difficult decisions, and deciding whether they can afford to keep their doors open, right now.

“People across America—across party lines, across economic backgrounds, and across nearly every divide imaginable—are now speaking out. The time has come for Republicans to actually listen.

“The time has come to hold President Trump accountable for raising prices on families across the board.

“The time has come to end President Trump’s new taxes on everything. 

“The time has come for Congress, us, to start asserting our authority on tariffs, instead of ceding every single part of our job to a President who has already joked he is the Speaker of the House.

“Is he going to start calling himself the Majority Leader too?

“I urge all of my colleagues: join me in voting for this resolution so we can start rolling back Trump’s taxes on Americans, and take some pressure off our families and small businesses in the states we are all here to represent.”

###

The following sites updated:

• 
  NPR Topics: Home Page Top Stories

  If you liked 'Sandwich,' you'll love 'Wreck,' its warm, witty sequel

  1 hour ago
• 
  The New Republic

  How Bad Is the AI Dracula Movie?

  2 hours ago
• 
  Music

  Oklou: Tiny Desk Concert

  3 hours ago
• 
  Third Estate Sunday Review

  Media: They fail to note the pattern of ICE lies but make time to defend this year's John Fetterman

  6 hours ago
• 
  Mikey Likes It!

  Soy Boys Pete Hegseth, Donald Chump and JD Vance

  7 hours ago
• 
  Ruth's Report

  Donald's dementia is getting worse

  7 hours ago
• 
  Thomas Friedman is a Great Man

  Guess who shouldn't have been performing the duties of an acting US Attorney?

  7 hours ago
• 
  Oh Boy It Never Ends

  Who wants SCRUBS back? That ugly man Riley Gaines?

  7 hours ago
• 
  SICKOFITRADLZ

  I'm focused on right now and the mid-terms, I don't have time for panic over 2028

  7 hours ago
• 
  Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)

  Dear Prudence and Joe Rogan have a lot of problems

  7 hours ago
• 
  Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude

  the nation has not healed

  7 hours ago
• 
  Ann's Mega Dub

  Cry baby Musk wants a trillion from the company he's harmed

  7 hours ago
• 
  Trina's Kitchen

  Crockpot Taco Dip in the Kitchen

  7 hours ago
• 
  TPM – Talking Points Memo

  9th Circuit Vacates Trump Judges’ Ruling Allowing National Guard Troops To Deploy To Portland

  11 hours ago
• 
  PBS NewsHour - The Latest

  Hurricane Melissa slams into Jamaica as a Category 5 with 185 mph winds

  13 hours ago
• 
  Latino USA

  In a Looming Nuclear Arms Race, Aging Los Alamos Faces a Major Test

  20 hours ago
• 
  Paul Krugman

  The Hunger Games Begin

  1 day ago
• 
  

Guess who shouldn't have been performing the duties of an acting US Attorney?

 Danny Hakim (NEW YORK TIMES) reports:

A federal judge disqualified the United States Attorney in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the latest rebuke to the Trump administration’s attempts to circumvent congressional approval for federal prosecutors.

The ruling creates leadership uncertainty in the nation’s largest judicial district, the Central District of California, which serves seven counties in the Los Angeles area. The order was issued by Judge J. Michael Seabright of the Federal District Court in Hawaii, who ruled that the Trump appointee, Bill Essayli, “is not lawfully serving as acting United States Attorney” and “cannot continue to perform any role” that job entails.

From September 20th, C.I.'s "Gavin Newsom needs to sue Bill Essayli for making a frivolous and defamatory charge:"

Do we get the problem or do I need to do a slow walk through?  Think Alina Haba, if you're confused. 

Here's what the law in question says, per the US Justice Dept:

28 U.S. Code § 546

(c) A person appointed as United States attorney under this section may serve until the earlier of—

(1)

the qualification of a United States attorney for such district appointed by the President under section 541 of this title; or

(2)

the expiration of 120 days after appointment by the Attorney General under this section.

Get it?  His 'term' has expired.  Sunday will be 53 days after his term expired.  As a California tax payer and a US tax payer, I want him to pay for every day after 120 that he has (mis)used office space.  His term has expired.  We should not be paying for his office space of his 'on the job' transportation (his job is over).  

A month and eight days ago, when no one was telling you the man's term was over -- and he was in the news then because he reported Gavin Newsom to the Secret Service -- it was C.I. who had to point the obvious -- not THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, not THE NEW YORK TIMES, not MSNBC, not THE WASHINGTON POST, etc, etc. 

C.I. does know the law.  It's a shame that no one in the Chump administration appears to.

"The Snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):

Tuesday, October 28, 2025.  Chump's shutdown continues as he flames out in Japan, ICE continues to attack the people, the economy is tanking and so much more.

Let's wake up with Ben's news for the morning.

Last night, Trina also noted Donald Chump's attack on the American people while he's giving money to Argentina:

News?  CBS News reports:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has posted a notice on its website saying federal food aid will not go out on Nov. 1, raising the stakes for families nationwide as the government shutdown drags on.

The new notice comes after the Trump administration said it would not tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP, flowing into November. That program helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.

But he can give our money -- our tax dollars -- to Argentina (at least $20 billion, possibly $40 billion).  You cover your house bills first.  You have money after that, give it to charity, help a friend, donate it, whatever.  But you have to pay your own bills first. 

USDA -- I believe in violation of The Hatch Act -- tries to blame this on Democrats.

No, this is Chump's shutdown.  He's the president.  Republicans also control the House and Senate.  This is their shutdown.  Democrats are the only ones fighting for We The People and they are fighting to stop cuts to healthcare that will make all of our monthly premiums soar.  Chump and the GOP (other than Marjorie Taylor Greene) don't care about that.  They're more focused on Chump's tax cuts for the extremely wealthy.

Rex Huppke (USA TODAY) adds:

Great news for vegans: The cost of beef has skyrocketed, and President Donald Trump has made American cattle ranchers hoof-stomping mad with policies that appear decidedly America-last.

While U.S. consumers wrestle with record-high ground beef prices – $6.63 per pound in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – and steak restaurants boost prices, Trump has proposed helping his far-right, Trump-like pal, Argentine President Javier Milei, by quadrupling the amount of Argentine beef coming into America.

That would likely do little to help consumers, while hurting cattle ranchers already struggling with a reduced domestic herd size brought on by everything from drought to inflated feeding costs. 

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall called out Trump’s pro-Argentina plan in no uncertain terms: “This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices. … Argentina also has a history of foot-and-mouth disease, which, if brought to the United States, could decimate our domestic livestock production.”

I generally place anything involving foot-and-mouth disease in the “bad” category.

Cattle ranchers don't like it.  Mike Davis (WITCHITA EAGLE) notes:

President Donald Trump has proposed importing beef from Argentina amid efforts to ease food prices and inflation driven by drought and livestock disease. Agricultural leaders have criticized the plan, warning it could undermine the domestic cattle industry. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) said the move would harm ranchers vital to Nebraska’s economy.

Producer groups have argued that expanding imports rather than supporting domestic production could worsen financial strain for cattle operations already facing volatile markets.

Trump said, "We would buy some beef from Argentina." He added, "If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down."

Fischer wrote, "I’ve also been sounding the alarm on the bleak state of our ag economy and the negative impacts facing Nebraska’s ag industry—the economic driver of our state." She added, "Bottom line: if the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isn’t the way. Right now, government intervention in the beef market will hurt our cattle ranchers."

Yesterday, US Senator Ruben Gallego issued the following:

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and 15 Senate colleagues wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Greer calling out the Trump administration’s harmful and undeveloped plan to import more beef from Argentina, which will harm American ranchers.  

“We write in strong opposition to the Administration’s undeveloped plan to increase imports of Argentinian beef,” the Senators wrote. “This announcement has already had tangible market impacts felt by cattle producers across the country, at a time when cattle producers are looking for long-term stability to rebuild their herds. Rather than reward Argentina’s president and agricultural producers, we encourage you to focus on policies that support American farmers and ranchers and that bring down costs for all Americans.”

To meaningfully lower prices for American families, the Senators called on the Trump Administration to end the chaotic, across-the-board tariffs that are driving market instability and increasing costs.  

“In addition, we are concerned that this plan could also introduce serious animal health threats that further cripple U.S. cattle production at a time of low cattle supply…” they continued. “…these animal health threats would pose severe risks to U.S. livestock production, disrupt domestic and international trade, and have far-reaching economic consequences across rural communities and the agricultural supply chain.”

“Instead of introducing additional volatility into the market, we urge you to implement a trade policy that uses targeted tariffs and other tools to ensure U.S. producers can fairly compete in the global marketplace while also ensuring Americans have access to healthy, affordable foods,” the Senators concluded.

Read the full letter HERE.    

Last week, Senator Gallego called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to reconsider further aid to Argentina and focus instead on restoring and expanding export markets for U.S. farmers.

10/27/25

He's pissing off the ranchers and the farmers, pretty much everyone.  Now in a Bush administration or a Ford administration or a Reagan administration, this is where a cabinet member would stand up and say to the American people, "I feel your pain."  And they might be believed.  But all chump has is millionaires so they just look ridiculous. 

Katie Francis (DAILY BEAST) reports:

Scott Bessent—worth an estimated $600 million according to Forbes—wasn’t well-received when he identified himself as a fellow soybean farmer suffering under China’s boycott.

The Secretary of the Treasury appeared on This Week Sunday, and spoke to host Martha Raddatz about the U.S. relationship with China alongside the impacts of tariffs, and shared that he related with the struggles of the working man more than people realized.

Predictably, the former hedge fund manager’s self-identification as “actually a soybean farmer” wasn’t lapped up by the masses, who were quick to fact check him online.

Talking about how President Trump has stated his wish to see “our farmers to be taken care of,“ Raddatz added: “China has been boycotting American soybeans and American farmers have really suffered.”

She asked: “Do you see a real light at the end of the tunnel there, they may allow soybeans again?”

Multimillionaire Bessent earnestly responded: “Well, Martha, in case you don’t know it, I’m actually a soybean farmer. So, I have—I have felt this pain, too.”

And the country erupted in laugher.

As Stephanie Ruhle pointed out last night on THE LAST HOUR (MSNBC),  "For clarification, Secretary Bessent himself is not a farmer.  What he actually means is he collects rent on farm land that he owns in North Dakota. "

 

Jennifer Bowers Bahney (MEDIAITE) adds:

According to The New York Times, Bessent — a former hedge fund manager whose net worth is estimated to top $500 million — owns as much as $25 million worth of corn and soybean farmland in North Dakota that he rents out to farmers, netting him more than $1 million a year.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) wrote, “Bessent is hoping Americans don’t know he’s worth over $500M. He doesn’t know the first thing about the pain farmers are feeling from this administration’s reckless actions.” 

As the Chump created shutdown continues, Chump is not even in the US.  Kind of like Republicans in the House of Representatives have had a two months break thanks to Speaker of the Closet Mike Johnson.  No, Chump's overseas.  THE NEW YORK TIMES notes:

Japan visit: President Trump met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan on Tuesday as part of his six-day trip to Asia. The visit was heavy on flattery, but the leaders signaled no breakthrough in ongoing trade negotiations. Trump was set to meet on Tuesday evening with business leaders from several top Japanese companies. Read more ›

He can't even get that right.  And long before Chump skipped over to Asia, people were calling for him to address the SNAP benefits.  Senator Alex Padilla's office issued this on October 23rd, for example:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), as well as 41 other colleagues, in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November. The letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins comes as the Trump Administration’s refusal to provide SNAP funding will force at least 25 states, including California, to delay essential food benefits at the start of next month.

Approximately 40 million low-income Americans — including 5.5 million Californians — depend on SNAP benefits to help afford their groceries, which has only grown more important amid skyrocketing food prices under President Trump. In response to USDA’s withholding of SNAP funding, Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday that he will deploy the California National Guard to support food banks across the state, similar to the emergency role the Guard played to facilitate nutrition assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. California will also fast-track over $80 million in state support to protect these vital benefits.

“We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will ‘run out of money in two weeks,’” wrote the Senators. “In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.”

“In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance,” continued the Senators. “We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.”

The Democratic Senators raised the alarm about USDA’s failure to use available funding to continue SNAP, urging USDA to comply with the law by using contingency funding available for SNAP. They also urged USDA to use its interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that allows the agency to transfer funds from other USDA nutrition programs to SNAP, which they recently used to transfer funding to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to protect important benefits during the government shutdown.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Booker, Klobuchar, and Luján, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Earlier this year, Senator Padilla joined a spotlight forum titled “Hunger by Design ­— The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to question witnesses and expose President Trump and Republicans’ cruel budget proposal that cut nearly $200 billion in SNAP benefits while giving tax cuts to billionaires. He also repeatedly slammed Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that is gutting critical programs like SNAP and devastating families in California and across the country. In June, Padilla joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reverse course on Republicans’ plan to take health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans — including seniors, children, people with disabilities, and veterans — to pay for tax breaks for ultra-wealthy Americans.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.

We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will “run out of money in two weeks.” In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.

Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.

Sincerely,

###

Chump doesn't know how to inspire and he doesn't know how to lead.  He only knows how to inflict pain and destroy.   Hugh Cameron (NEWSWEEK) reports:

Labor market weakness, inflation and growing debt challenges are taking their toll on consumers’ financial health and pushing them to seek legal advice at near-historic rates, according to a new report from legal service provider LegalShield.

The report says that bankruptcy inquiries surged 17 percent in the third quarter of the year, continuing an upward trend that began in late 2021. This helped to push the Consumer Stress Legal Index up 4.4 percent between June and September, capping off seven consecutive months of increases and reaching its highest level since March 2020.

To compile its figures, LegalShield tracks roughly 150,000 monthly calls to lawyers, with levels of demand for various legal services used to create its index of consumer stress.

“We’re seeing families hit crisis mode heading into the holidays—especially around unsecured debt and rising housing costs,” LegalShield’s senior vice president of consumer analytics Matt Layton told Newsweek.

Why It Matters

Despite robust gross domestic product growth in the second quarter and early signs of an especially impressive corporate earnings season, there are concerns that the majority of Americans are missing out on the benefits of any economic expansion that may be occurring. Surveys charting consumer confidence continue to register declines, revealing widespread pessimism among households about their financial outlook and the economy as a whole.

New topic.  Someone's concerned I won't be believed.  He e-mailed the public account to note Robert Alexander's report for NEWSWEEK:

A federal court in Chicago has ordered sweeping new limits on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Midwest, ruling that agents repeatedly violated federal law and a binding consent decree by arresting people without warrants.

The decision issued October 7 by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings extends court oversight of the agency until February 2, 2026, and warns that officers who disregard the order could face contempt or criminal referral.

[. . .]

The ruling marks a rare judicial rebuke of federal immigration enforcement, signaling that ICE agents themselves can be held legally accountable for overstepping constitutional limits. By extending a consent decree and imposing new oversight measures, Cummings effectively transformed what had been an internal policy dispute into a test of whether federal courts can police the enforcers of immigration law.

The decision reinforces due process protections for immigrants and citizens alike, curbing warrantless arrests and asserting that even federal agents must answer to the same legal standards they are sworn to uphold.

I wasn't aware of the article.  But we'd made the same conclusion here weeks ago.  Because it's the law.  And they can lie all they want -- the administration -- but it is the law.  Thank you to the e-mailer who hoped that would help others grasp what was going on (it may help some) and was also afraid that a deluge of e-mail attacks might make me shift my opinion.  On the latter, I don't.  If I'm right, I'm right.  The SOFA is a good example, Thanksgiving 2008, I poured over it (it was released late that day) and provided an analysis of it.  I stuck by it.  Many said I had it wrong and that there could be no other SOFA.  Of course there could be -- and of course the administration tried to do one, the only thing that stopped a new SOFA was Nouri al-Maliki was demanding more US troops on the ground than Barack Obama was willing to guarantee.  Had other given or had both to a number in the middle, there would have been another SOFA.  And, yes, we covered the hearings when the US government, in 2012, attempted to renegotiate the SOFA.  People would e-mail -- including bloggers and others -- we'll leave it at others -- telling me I was wrong.  I wasn't.  They never understood what the SOFA was.  It was to keep US troops on the ground.  It replaced the UN mandate.  That was a yearly agreement.  Each year, Nouri had to lie to the Iraqi people and circumvent the Parliament in order to renew it.  He was taking a lot of heat.  So the SOFA replaced that and it was four years (not one year) so that he wouldn't be under pressure every year.

But again, thank you for caring.  That was sweet of you.

ICE is out of control.  Rachel Maddow addressed this last night on MS NOW (soon to be, trying to get used to it).

 

Hafiz Rashid (THE NEW REPUBLIC) reports:

A federal agent blatantly violated a court order against using excessive force against journalists and protesters last Thursday by pointing a gun in a veteran’s face, saying “Bang, bang” and “You’re dead, liberal.”

The Chicago Headline Club, a nonprofit representing journalists in the Chicago area, filed a complaint in federal court after the incident, which took place in the city’s Little Village neighborhood. Local residents had gathered to observe and protest a large presence of federal agents in the area, and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino did not respond well or care to take the earlier court order into consideration.

According to the complaint, combat veteran Chris Gentry was “lawfully standing on the side of the road voicing his opposition as agents were driving by in their vehicles.” That’s when an agent pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him.

That was just one of many shocking incidents that day. Bovino also allegedly threw a tear gas canister into a crowd of protesters, who, according to the complaint, were not violent or committing any crimes. Some of the protesters attempted to talk to Bovino and other federal agents there and were rebuffed. Bovino and his colleagues instead shoved several people and threw more tear gas canisters at them, according to the complaint.

They are out of control.  There is no oversight.  They break the law regularly and are not disciplined in any manner.  They're thugs.  I had one whine to me in an e-mail over the weekend.  He wrote that he thought I cared.  I'd warned what was going to happen to the agents -- they'll take their own lives in a few year or they'll self medicate with drugs or they'll do intensive therapy to process what they've done to other human beings.

I do care.  But I've told you not to touch the stove.  I'm not your parent.  But I've told you.  I can't monitor you every moment of the day.  You're grown up, I warned you, now I'm done.  

You know what you're doing is wrong or you and the other ICE agents wouldn't e-mail this site.  You know it's wrong.  The smart thing to do would be to quit.  The right thing to do would be to become a whistleblower and go to Congress to let them know what's actually going on.  But not everyone has that kind of bravery.  So you should just quit.  Stop breaking the law and stop harming human beings.

But I've said that over and over.  

And at this point, ICE has earned its bad image and you need to decide for yourself what you're going to do about it. 

Mitch Smith (NEW YORK TIMES) notes:

Federal agents carrying out President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration have repeatedly clashed with protesters and bystanders across the Chicago area in recent weeks. Sometimes, the agents have used tear gas, drawing criticism and bringing new attention to the chemical irritant that has been used by American law enforcement officers for decades.

Generally, police officials say tear gas can help bring unruly crowds under control without hand-to-hand violence between officers and demonstrators, and with a lower risk of serious injury. But the chemicals can also have serious health effects, and police agencies have often been accused of using tear gas without justification or without giving sufficient warnings.

Think about that.  Now think about this,   Luke Reevey (INDEPENDENT) reports:

Chaos erupted in a Chicago neighbourhood after ICE agents fired tear gas on a residential street during an immigration raid, moments before the start of a children’s Halloween parade.

Footage shows residents in Old Irving Park confronting federal agents who had several suspects pinned to the ground on Saturday (October 25), as tear gas enveloped the area.

 

Wally's "THIS JUST IN! MAYBE SOME DAY PULTE WILL LEARN TO WIPE HIMSELF!" went up and the following sites updated:

• 
  NPR Topics: Home Page Top Stories

  America's immigration crackdown is disrupting the global remittance market

  2 hours ago
• 
  The New Republic

  Trump’s Angry, Crazed Eruption over Cognitive Test Backfires on Itself

  3 hours ago
• 
  Ruth's Report

  More problems for The Chump

  6 hours ago
• 
  Oh Boy It Never Ends

  Weekend box office

  6 hours ago
• 
  Like Maria Said Paz

  Junior wrecks healthcare

  6 hours ago
• 
  Mikey Likes It!

  War Criminal Chump

  6 hours ago
• 
  Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude

  chump loses another supporter

  6 hours ago
• 
  Trina's Kitchen

  Easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast in the Kitchen

  6 hours ago
• 
  SICKOFITRADLZ

  Does Chump even know his own age?

  6 hours ago
• 
  Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)

  They had such big plans

  6 hours ago
• 
  Music

  Your favorite band has a new single? It might be AI

  11 hours ago
• 
  Thomas Friedman is a Great Man

  Bill Pulte, the man no one ever wanted -- no one.

  12 hours ago
• 
  Cedric's Big Mix

  Feel for Mrs. Bill Pulte, really feel for her

  12 hours ago
• 
  The World Today Just Nuts

  Just another loser toiling for the convicted felon Chump

  12 hours ago
• 
  Ann's Mega Dub

  Bill Pulte is unable to focus on his actual duties

  12 hours ago
• 
  PBS NewsHour - The Latest

  Abby Phillip explores the political legacy of Jesse Jackson in ‘A Dream Deferred’

  14 hours ago
• 
  TPM – Talking Points Memo

  Random Thought

  14 hours ago
• 
  Paul Krugman

  No, Ronald Reagan Didn’t Love Tariffs

  1 day ago