Latest articles from Crooks and Liars

Increased Odds Of Super El Nino Could Mean Very Bad Hurricane Year

Susie Madrak — Thu, 07 May 2026 12:34:42 +0000

Not that this is anywhere near as important as Trump's Versailles ballroom, but it seems like we will pay this year for decades of thumbing our nose at climate change. Because while climate change doesn't cause El Ninos, it can make them much worse.

One of the most powerful El Niño events in a hundred years could form in the coming months, according to scientists, raising concerns about global temperatures, hurricanes, drought conditions and other extremes this year. For several months, forecasters have been predicting a possible “super El Niño” that could emerge and persist through the end of 2026, and now the odds are increasing.

An El Niño event means warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. This pattern usually boosts global temperatures and can influence weather conditions around the world. El Niño events typically exacerbate background warming from human-caused climate change, increasing the likelihood of hotter-than-normal global temperatures.

The European center’s latest prediction shows that sea surface temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean could be as high as 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above average by the fall. If so, that would make this El Niño event one of the most powerful on record and could qualify it as a “super El Niño.”

John Roberts: Wahh! Wahh! You People Don't Understand Us!

Susie Madrak — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:49:07 +0000

John Roberts is having a little hissy fit over how Americans view the court as "truly political actors." He also added that the court takes great effort to "figure out what the Constitution means," even though he acknowledged that some of the court's decisions are "unpopular.

Roberts made the comments at a conference of lawyers in Hershey, Pennsylvania, according to the report.

“I think at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, [that] we’re saying we think this is what things should be as opposed to this is what the law provides,” Roberts said. “I think they view us as truly political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do. I would say that’s the main difficulty.”

Clearly, some of those "people" who don't understand legal reasoning include Justices Sonia Sotomayer, Elana Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who all simply lack the legal brilliance and judicial temperament Robert and his chorus of yes-men illustrate.

Roberts also criticized Americans who think the court has become part of the political process.

“We’re not simply part of the political process, and there’s a reason for that, and I’m not sure people grasp that as much as is appropriate,” Roberts said.

Oh, puh-LEEZE. It's bad enough that you've turned the Court into a policy arm of the Republican party, but you get to piss on our legs and tell us it's raining?

Military Moms Not Fired Up To See Trump And Melania

NewsHound Ellen — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:48:27 +0000

Journalist Aaron Rupar caught what he described as the “crowd going mild” for Donald and Melania Trump at an event to honor military moms.

And who could blame the moms? Trump has not only put America’s sons and daughters in harm’s way to wage his unnecessary and disastrous war, it is being led by the shockingly unqualified and unfit Whiskey Pete Hegseth. Last month, one of the soldiers wounded in that war made it clear he thinks Hegseth is responsible for the deaths of six Americans which, the soldier said, were “absolutely” preventable.

In addition, gas prices are skyrocketing as the result of the war. And while Commander Bone Spurs Trump claims it’s so important, his and Melania’s military-aged son, Barron Trump, has shown no signs of enlisting.

On top of all that, Trump has called fallen soldiers “suckers" and "losers” and refused to visit their graves at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery when he was in France, during his first term.

To add insult to ego-bruising injury, the crowd laughed loudly when Melania, in her still-awkward English, described her husband – the guy who boasted about grabbing women by the p***y – as “the strong commander in chief” whose “empathy transcends the role and shapes a caring leader who constantly remembers each and every American soldier is someone’s child.”

Sure he does.

Mike's Blog Round Up

Batocchio — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:48:12 +0000

You Might Notice a Trend: This is not victory; this is Iran punching back.

Bark Bark Woof Woof: Kent State remembered.

God's Spies: Resisting the licensing revolution.

Obsidian Wings: It's funny what conservative pundits leave out.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: People are losing food assistance as the Republican megabill is implemented.

This installment by Batocchio. E-mail tips to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.

John Roberts Is George Wallace With A Harvard Law Degree

Miles Mogulescu — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:48:09 +0000

George Wallace was sworn in as Governor of Alabama in 1963 and famously declared in his inauguration speech (written by a Ku Klux Klan leader) “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Two years later, Alabama state troopers violently broke up a nighttime voting rights march during which a police officer shot and killed young African American protester and Baptist deacon Jimmie Lee Jackson who was unarmed and protecting his mother.

In response, civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King and John Lewis, organized a mass march from Selma to Montgomery over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in an attempt to deliver a civil rights and voting rights message to Gov. Wallace. It became known as “Bloody Sunday” as state troopers gassed and beat the protestors, including fracturing Lewis’ skull and sending 57 others to the hospital. Televised images of the brutal attack shocked the nation, directly leading to President Johnson’s push for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

86'ing 61 Years

Steve Greenberg — Thu, 07 May 2026 03:00:02 +0000

Open thread below...

‘Shame!: Utah Residents Livid After Shark Tank Billionaire’s Data Center Approved

Stephen Prager — Thu, 07 May 2026 02:00:01 +0000

County commissioners in Box Elder County, Utah, were deluged with chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” from a crowd of hundreds on Monday night as they voted unanimously to move forward with a sprawling “hyperscale” artificial intelligence data center project that many residents fear will cause energy prices to soar and imperil water access.

The project, known by state officials as “Stratos,” was proposed by the celebrity venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary and has been rushed along by Utah’s Military Installation Development Authority, which recently approved a gigantic energy tax break for the program to help “lure” the billionaire “Shark Tank” investor.

GOP Rep Swears Billion Dollar Funding For The Ballroom Is Not For The Ballroom

John Amato — Wed, 06 May 2026 22:38:03 +0000

Rep. Dan Meuser claimed that the billion dollars earmarked for the White House ballroom in the 72 billion dollar Senate reconciliation bil is not really for the ballroom at all.

Gotcha.

Even the Newsmax hosts didn't believe this ridiculous lie.

Meuser was told by Wake Up America hosts that Democrats are planning to use the billion dollars targeted for White House ballroom as a 2026 midterm talking point because people are struggling to pay for gas. Yet, taxpayers are going to now be forced to pay for this outrageous rebuild.

As usual, Rep. Meuser ranted about the Democratic Party being Iran supporters and then finished his diatribe by saying this.

MEUSER: I mean, when they speak, they sound like, heck, they're more for Iran than they are for America, not just for de-escalation.

Look, it's a security project.

Yes, it's on the it's on the east wing, but it's a security initiative, though, that funding really has nothing to do with the construction of the of the so-called ballroom, which is being privately funded.

The estimated cost of Trump's ballroom was $400 million.

Could you explain why the security for that project is almost triple the cost?

Rep. Meuser is as ridiculous as the words he speaks.

Bracing For The Blue Wave: White House Lawyers Prep For A Post-Election Reckoning

Conover Kennard — Wed, 06 May 2026 22:38:03 +0000

The Trump White House is in panic mode, treating a likely blue wave like an alien invasion. The votes aren't even cast, and they're preparing their team for gridlock and the likelihood of being subpoenaed into oblivion.

According to The Washington Post, the White House Counsel's Office has been quietly holding internal briefings for political appointees, walking them through how congressional oversight functions and how to handle it effectively. The sessions reportedly last around half an hour and include a presentation covering the basics of oversight and recommended best practices.

According to two anonymous sources familiar with the meetings, staff have been advised to be mindful of written communications and to respond promptly to any inquiries from Congress. All of this comes as the administration appears to be quietly acknowledging the real possibility of major Democratic gains in this fall's midterm elections.

“It’s obvious to everyone that it’s very likely,” said one of the two officials, who attended a private briefing, the outlet reports. “It was a sober-eyed conversation.”

While one official insisted that “This is nothing new,” some of the meetings during the past month have had “a strong overtone” of the midterms, two people said.

Trump Posts New Logo Rebrand For ICE As NICE

Ed Scarce — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:05:38 +0000

Pretty much every day that ends in "y" is a day when you have to question whether the Trump administration is just an elaborate prank played on the American public.

Source: WIO News

US President Donald Trump has sparked attention online after sharing a proposed ‘NICE’ logo featuring a prominent eagle with outstretched wings, styled in gold and black, holding arrows and an olive branch. A shield with stars and stripes sits at the center, with stars above and below, and the acronym ‘NICE’ displayed in bold lettering. The design closely mirrors traditional US government insignia, with ‘National Immigration and Customs Enforcement’ written beneath the emblem.

Earlier, Trump expressed support for the proposal to rename US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to National Immigration and Customs Enforcement (NICE), amplifying a suggestion that has gained traction on social media. In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a screenshot from X featuring the idea: “I want Trump to change ICE to NICE (National Immigration and Customs Enforcement) so the media has to say NICE agents all day everyday.” Responding to the proposal, he wrote, “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT. President DJT”.
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Why Won't Trump's Judicial Nominees Say The 22nd Amendment Bars A Third Trump Term?

Chris capper Liebenthal — Wed, 06 May 2026 19:02:08 +0000

During a confirmation hearing of Trump's judicial nominees, Sen Chris Coons asked one of the nominees, John Marck, to explain the 22nd Amendment. Marck couldn't. Coons threw the question to the other nominees when one said that it was setting the two-term limit for the President of the United States. Then Coons went deeper.

COONS: Correct. It states no person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice. Mr. Mark, is President Trump eligible to run for president again in 2028?

MARCK: Senator, with it, without considering all the facts and looking at everything, depending on what the situation is, this to me strikes of more of a hypothetical of something that could be,,,

COONS: It's not hypothetical. Has President Trump been elected president twice?

MARCK: President Trump has been certified the President of the United States two times.

COONS: Is he eligible to run for a third term under our Constitution?

MARCK: I would have to review the...

COONS: I need to tell you the language of the constitutional amendment that makes it clear that no, he is not eligible to run for a third term. Anybody else brave enough to say that the Constitution of the United States prevents President Trump from seeking a third term?

[SILENCE]

Anybody willing to apply the Constitution by its plain language in the 22nd Amendment?

[SILENCE]

Nobody.

All right, let's move on.
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CA Gov Candidate Boasts He’s ‘Very Proud’ Of Being An Oath Keeper

NewsHound Ellen — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:17:00 +0000

The California gubernatorial debate took a bizarre turn Tuesday night. It began when Antonio Villaraigosa, the Democratic former mayor of Los Angeles, declared, “We all know Chad Bianco, the Republican sheriff of Riverside County, is an Oath Keeper.

As Raw Story noted, the Oath Keepers are “a far-right American militia that was involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.”

So, it was surprising, to say the least, to hear Bianco respond, “And I’m very proud of it.” He was so proud, apparently, that he literally doubled down and repeated how “very proud of it” he is.

He even tripled down. “You should know what you were swearing and be proud of defending it,” Bianco added.

“I don't think an Oath Keeper is qualified to be governor," Villaraigosa said.

Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra chimed in to call Bianco’s endorsement of the extremists a "chilling answer."

Villaraigosa and Bianco went back and forth on immigration until moderator Kaitlan Collins interrupted to come back to the Oath Keepers topic. “You said you’re a proud Oath Keeper. Are you referring to the group?” she asked Bianco.

Yep, he absolutely was. “I have sworn an oath three times to defend my constitution, yes. And everybody that wants to, like, again lie and emotionally get all spun up about the Oath Keeper organization … I want you to go read the mission statement of the Oath Keeper mission statement [sic]” Bianco replied. “I know none of you have.”

Hassett's Hot Take: Racking Up Credit Card Debt To Buy Gas Is Economic Strength

Conover Kennard — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:01:12 +0000

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett's Fox Business interview is peak administration spin: "Credit card spending is through the roof... they're spending more on gasoline and everything else!" delivered with that smug grin, of course.

Hassett thinks maxed-out cards signal booming confidence instead of households leaning on plastic to cover higher prices for basics. He was so close to acknowledging the obvious pressure on consumers (rising costs forcing more borrowing). Still, he landed on a sunny interpretation instead, even as Americans struggle in an unaffordable economy.

"In fact, I had the head of one of the big five banks in my office yesterday going through the credit card data, and just as Secretary Besant said, credit card spending is through the roof," Hassett said before putting a sunshine-y spin on it.

"They're spending more on gasoline, but they're spending more on everything else, too," he continued. "And so in terms of the jobs picture for the rest of the year, you know, it's really hard to see having the unemployment rate go up, for example. "It's probably going to drop a little bit, but it's already very close to full employment."

Ben Ferguson Accuses Democrats Of 'Victim Shaming' Trump

Heather — Wed, 06 May 2026 15:53:14 +0000

This has to be one of the more disgusting things to come out of this wingnut's mouth. Sorry Ben, but pointing out the hateful rhetoric that Trump spews day after day isn't "victim shaming."

Right wing radio host Ben Ferguson made an appearance on this Tuesday's The Faulkner Focus on Fox not "news," and was asked by host Harris Faulkner about Democrats pushing back on people telling them they need to tone it down criticizing Trump after the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Ferguson used the occasion to do more of what Hakeem Jeffries was responding to in the first place in the clip they showed -- which is the right's nonstop attempt to use the assassination attempt as a cudgel to silence Trump's critics.

Ferguson also made the ridiculous analogy that saying anything about the hatred and violent rhetoric Trump spews is somehow akin to someone blaming a rape victim for how they dress. Sorry Ben, but those two things are not remotely the same.

FAULKNER: It was the third assassination attempt on President Trump. But many on the political left are now doubling down on the dangerous rhetoric. Some are actually blaming the president himself.

JEFFRIES: Get lost. Clean up your own house before you have anything to say to us about the language that we use.

TODD: Chaos follows him. And you are less safe if you decide to go into his orbit. He does not care about your safety. He's not going to protect you.
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Cosplay AG Todd Blanche Vows To Bring Law And Disorder Back To Denver

Susie Madrak — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:55:47 +0000

Trump's Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the city of Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, claiming the city “unconstitutionally bans certain constitutionally protected semi-automatic rifles.”

Yes, Todd Blanche is pushing hard to make his temporary appointment as Attorney General into a permanent gig. He'll do that by nonsense lawsuits like this that no one actually wanted.

“The Constitution is not a suggestion and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement about the suit, adding, “Denver’s ban on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles directly violates the right to bear arms. This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the liberties of law-abiding citizens nationwide.”

You may remember that the Denver area has been plagued by some of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history, beginning in 1999 with the Columbine High School massacre. In April of 2025, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law one of the strictest gun control regulations in the country. “Under the new law, it is illegal to buy, sell and make most semi-automatic firearms without background checks and training,” reported CBS News at the time, which noted Republicans planned to immediately challenge the law in court.

Marco Rubio Heads To Italy To Accost Pope Leo Over Iran War Criticisms

John Amato — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:08:46 +0000

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Italy to try and cajole, bully, or force Pope Leo to stop criticizing Trump's attack on Iran.

The Pope has heavily criticized the U.S. for this war, and refuses to be intimidated by Trump or his goons. After Trump reinstated the death penalty, Pope Leo continued his barrage of insults.

"I offer my support to those who advocate for the abolition of the death penalty in the United States of America and around the world," he added. "I pray that your efforts will lead to a greater acknowledgement of the dignity of every person, and will inspire others to work for the same just cause."

In this time of war, you'd think the United States Secretary of State would have better things to do than visit with the Holy See, but Trump can't handle any criticism of himself or his crazy actions.

“Secretary Rubio will meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere,” the department said. “Meetings with Italian counterparts will be focused on shared security interests and strategic alignment.”

How is the Vatican supposed to share in our security interests?

Secret Service Officer Arrested For Masturbating In Hotel Hallway

Red Painter — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:46:25 +0000

Lots of weird stuff happens in Florida. But this...this is next level weird. I read the headline and thought it had to be a joke or an article by The Onion. But, no. It is real. NBC News is reporting that an off duty United States Secret Service agent was arrested for...taking matters into his own hands while walking down the hall of a hotel completely buck naked. And by "taking matters" I mean *masturbating*....in a hallway. Of a hotel. Where other people were.

This happened around midnight at a Miami-Date hotel, so hopefully there were no underage witnesses to his personal pleasure session. The officer, 33-year old John Spillman, was placed on administrative leave.

The chief of Secret Service uniformed division put out a statement saying:

"We are aware of the arrest of an off-duty Secret Service officer by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The alleged conduct is unacceptable and stands in stark contrast to the professionalism and integrity that I demand of our personnel. This agency takes these matters with the utmost seriousness."

Police were called to the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel and found Spillman naked and masturbating in the hallway, leading to his arrest for indecent exposure.

Yikes.

FDA Is Hiding Studies Showing Vaccines Safe And Effective

Susie Madrak — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:18:58 +0000

FDA Officials have blocked publication of several studies supporting the safety of widely used vaccines against Covid-19 and shingles in recent months, a DHS spokesman confirmed.

The studies, which cost millions of dollars in public funds, were conducted by scientists at the agency, who worked with data firms to analyze millions of patient records. They found serious side effects to be very rare.

In October, the scientists were directed to withdraw two Covid-19 vaccine studies that had been accepted for publication in medical journals. In February, top F.D.A. officials did not sign off on submitting abstracts about studies of Shingrix, a shingles vaccine, to a major drug safety conference.

The withdrawal of the studies is the latest step by the administration to try to limit access to vaccines. It has sharply cut research funding for vaccine development, released unvetted information casting doubt on vaccines, and blocked other information supporting their safety, most recently a paper on Covid vaccine effectiveness by career scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Black Democrat Elected Mayor In Deep-Red Texas City

Susie Madrak — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:18:43 +0000

In Texas, Pearland's new mayor, Quentin Wiltz, won a close election on Saturday, but his victory has sparked heated debate on social media.

Wiltz said he knows there is a divide in Pearland, but added it's a chasm he hopes to bridge when he becomes the city's next mayor.

He recognized the historic nature of his win: he will be Pearland's first Black mayor and the first Democrat in decades.

"This election was important because the mayor's race is at large. So every person who showed up mattered," Wiltz told ABC13. "My message hasn't changed. It's always, will, and continues to be about the people. The people that I serve, the people that I know, the people that I meet. Because that's what I think public office is about."

Wiltz won the election by 263 votes out of 11,743 cast. He is hopeful about the growing city's future despite its infrastructure and budget challenges, and he wants to hear from residents.

Surrounded By Kids, Trump Gives Gory Description Of Dead Protesters

NewsHound Ellen — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:18:27 +0000

Donald Trump could not be bothered to keep his talk child-appropriate even as he used kids as photo ops.

John Amato covered some of Trump’s disgustingly inappropriate behavior. For example, he said to the children, “When you have men and women's sports, when you have open borders, when you have transgender mutilization, don't listen to this case of your children, of your children, transgender mutilization of your children for everyone.”

This from the guy who doesn’t want colleges discussing transgender issues.

But Trump wasn’t done with the inappropriate talk. He began describing Iranian protesters getting murdered and his desire for them to be armed. He used the kind of graphic language I doubt parents would have approved.

TRUMP: They want to protest, but they don't have any guns. So you could have 200,000 people protesting, and have five or six sick people with guns, and when they start shooting them right between the eyes, and you see a guy fall and another one fall and you have no guns, very few people would be able to stand there. …
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Eugenicist Hired A Publicist And Started A Wellness Newsletter

Cliff Schecter — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:18:05 +0000

Let me tell you about a patient I saw not long ago. Diabetic. No insurance—kicked off the ACA when his restaurant job disappeared. Walked into my office in Coconut Creek with a 3 cm ulcer eating through the plantar surface of his right forefoot. Six other clinics had turned him away. Some wanted $250 to $400 per visit. One didn’t call him back. I put him in a treatment room, debrided the wound, did a full vascular workup, fitted him with a walking boot, and wrote scripts for generic meds he could actually afford.

When he asked how much he owed, my office manager said: zero. He cried. I walked him to the door and told him what I tell everyone: you pay it forward. That’s the medicine I practice. That’s the oath I took.

Now I’m watching a group of men—some in federal office, some on Sand Hill Road, some in both places simultaneously—dismantle the infrastructure that allows any of this to work, all while wrapping themselves in the language of health and wellness. And what they’re building in its place has a name. It’s not a new name. It’s a very old one. I want to talk about it plainly, as a physician and as someone who has spent a career watching what happens when systems decide certain bodies aren’t worth the investment.

Mike&CL&s s Blog Round Ups May Donation And Subscription Drive

Batocchio — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:16:50 +0000

First Draft: What kind of country do you want?

One First: Long read – Congress and the Supreme Court.

Balloon Juice: Conservative media collapses.

News From Me: A fact-checking round-up.

Alas, a Blog: Centrist Dems before and after elections.

This installment by Batocchio. E-mail tips to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.

Mike&CL&s s Blog Round Ups May Donation And Subscription Drive

John Amato — Wed, 06 May 2026 11:16:00 +0000

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Incredibly, it's our 22nd year doing what we do and it's only because of you guys we are still here.

We need your help to stay viable.

We are asking for a $25+ donation through PayPal or Kindest, which will support our work and be an investment in saving American democracy.

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Dozy Vonshitzhispants

John Amato — Wed, 06 May 2026 03:00:01 +0000

No wonder Trump never shuts the fuck up.

If he stops talking, he'll fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

Is narcolepsy a part of narcissism?

Trump, surrounded by kids, is struggling to stay awake as RFK Jr drones on and on

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-05-05T15:25:17.941Z

Open thread.

Trump Falls Asleep While Linda McMahon Outlines Keys To A Sound Mind

Conover Kennard — Tue, 05 May 2026 23:19:33 +0000

Donald J. Trump, 79, just sat there, with his eyes shut, while failed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon lectured about how you need to "eat well and exercise" for a "sound mind," clearly things that the president lacks.

The White House announced that Trump plans to sign a presidential memorandum on Tuesday to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test Award, reviving a school fitness competition that was discontinued under President Obama because of course. The optics were poor, showing a declining President who needed a nap at a White House event. He does that a lot! The entire spectacle was disturbing.

The guy who once called sleeping a "waste of time" is out here power-napping during his own event, right as they're talking about mental sharpness. Classic. At least he's consistent — conserving energy for all those late-night Truth Social posts.

"...all of us are saying the same thing, but let's not forget it's about also a sound mind and a sound body," McMahon said. "In order to have a sound mind, you do have to eat well, you do have to exercise, you do have to train, and you do have to be fit to do that."

"And if we all are, we are the best of who we can be," she added. "So I encourage all of you to enjoy playing and competing and being good sports, you know, while you're doing, but don't forget your studying, all of your academics, because it is all part of the total package."