Daily Kos

Daily Kos https://www.dailykos.com News Community Action Copyright - Kos Media, LLC Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:38 +0000 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:38 +0000 rsshelp@dailykos.helpscoutapp.com rsshelp@dailykos.helpscoutapp.com States face another challenge with Medicaid work rules: Staffing shortages https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/12/2377285/-States-face-another-challenge-with-Medicaid-work-rules-Staffing-shortages?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= By <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/author/sam-whitehead/" target="_blank">Sam Whitehead</a> for <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medicaid-cuts-work-requirements-state-staff-shortages/" target="_blank">KFF</a> <hr> Katie Crouch says calling her state’s Medicaid agency to get information about her benefits can feel like a series of dead ends. <div> “The first time, it’ll ring interminably. Next time, it’ll go to a voice mail that just hangs up on you,” said the 48-year-old, who lives in Delaware. “Sometimes you’ll get a person who says they’re not the right one. They transfer you, and it hangs up. Sometimes, it picks up and there’s just nobody on the line.” She spent months trying to figure out whether her Medicaid coverage had been renewed. As of late March, she hadn’t been reapproved for the year for the state-federal program, which provides health insurance for people with low incomes and disabilities. Crouch, who suffered a debilitating brain aneurysm a decade ago, also has Medicare, which covers people who are 65 or older or have disabilities. Medicaid had been paying her monthly Medicare deductibles of $200, but she’d been on the hook for them for the past three months, straining her family’s fixed income, she said. Crouch’s challenges with Delaware’s Medicaid call center aren’t unique. State Medicaid agencies can struggle to keep enough staff to help people sign up for benefits and field calls from enrollees with questions. A shortage of such workers can keep people from fully using their benefits, health policy researchers said. Now, congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last summer, will soon demand more from staff at state agencies in places where lawmakers expanded Medicaid to more low-income adults — nearly all states and the District of Columbia. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1451983/large/lk070325dAPR.jpg?1751497497" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> Under the law, which is expected to reduce Medicaid spending by almost $1 trillion over the next eight years, these staffers will have to not only determine whether millions of enrollees meet the program’s new work requirements but also verify more frequently that they qualify for the program — every six months instead of yearly. KFF Health News reached out to agencies that will need to stand up the work rules, and many said they’ll need additional staff. The mandates will put extra strain on an already-stressed workforce, potentially making it harder for enrollees like Crouch to get basic customer service. And many could lose access to benefits they’re legally entitled to, said consumer advocates and health policy researchers, some of them with direct experience working at state agencies. States are already “struggling significantly,” said Jennifer Wagner, the director of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and a former associate director of the Illinois Department of Human Services. “There will be significant additional challenges caused by these changes.” <div class="dk-editor-embed dk-datawrapper-embed center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder datawrapper dk-embed" data-frameborder="0" data-height="817" data-src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IhFNA/2/">Datawrapper Content</a></div> <h3>Long Wait Times for Help</h3> Republicans argue the Medicaid changes, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, in most states, will encourage enrollees to find jobs. Research on other Medicaid work requirement programs has found little evidence they increase employment. The Congressional Budget Office <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61367" target="_blank" title="">estimated the rules</a> would cause more people to lose health coverage by 2034 than any other part of the GOP budget law. It said last year more than 5 million people could be affected. Many states don’t have the staff to process Medicaid applications or renewals quickly, said consumer advocates and researchers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services tracks whether states can handle the most common type of benefit application within a 45-day window. In December, about 30% of all Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, applications in Washington, D.C., and Georgia <a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/downloads/eligib-oper-and-enrol-snap-dec2025.pdf" target="_blank" title="">took more than 45 days</a> to process. More than a quarter took that long in Wyoming. In Maine, 1 in 5 applications missed that deadline. CMS began publicly sharing state Medicaid call center data in 2023, revealing a taxed system, researchers and consumer advocates said. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/13/2368428/-New-Medicaid-work-rules-likely-to-hit-middle-aged-adults-hard" title="" target="_blank">New Medicaid work rules likely to hit middle-aged adults hard</a> <hr> In Hawaii, people waited on the phone for more than three hours in December. They waited for nearly an hour in Oklahoma, and more than an hour in Nevada. In 2023, state Medicaid agencies began making sure enrollees who were protected from being dropped from the program during the covid pandemic still qualified for coverage. That Medicaid unwinding process <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medicaid-unwinding-disenrollment-redetermination-state-delays/" target="_blank">didn’t go well in many states,</a> and <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/as-medicaid-unwinding-concludes-in-most-states-kff-finds-25-million-lost-medicaid-coverage-but-enrollment-is-10-million-higher-than-pre-pandemic-levels/" target="_blank" title="">more than 25 million</a> lost their benefits. Health policy researchers and consumer advocates say rolling out the new Medicaid rules will be a bigger challenge. The Medicaid work rules will require extensive IT system changes and training for workers verifying eligibility on a tight timeline. “It is a much larger scale of administrative complexity,” said Sophia Tripoli, senior director of policy at Families USA, a health care consumer advocacy organization. After months of trying to get someone on the phone, Crouch said, she finally got answers to questions about her Medicaid benefits after writing to the office of U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.). McBride’s office contacted the state’s Medicaid agency, which eventually called with an update, Crouch said. Crouch didn’t qualify for Medicaid after all. She said that had never come up in two years of interactions with the state. “It makes absolutely no sense” that the state never realized she shouldn’t have been on the program, Crouch said. Delaware’s Medicaid agency didn’t respond to requests for comment on Crouch’s situation. <h3>States Short-Staffed for Medicaid</h3> Some states told KFF Health News in late March that they’ll need more staff to roll out the work rules effectively. Idaho said it has 40 eligibility worker vacancies. New York estimated it will need 80 new employees to handle the additional administrative work, at a cost of $6.2 million. Pennsylvania said it has nearly 400 open positions in county human services offices in the state. Indiana’s Medicaid agency has 94 open positions. Maine wants to hire 90 additional staffers, and Massachusetts wants to hire 70 more. As of early March, Montana had filled 39 of 59 positions state officials projected it would need. The state still plans to roll out the rules early, starting July 1, despite its long struggle with system backlogs that applicants said <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medicaid-unwinding-public-assistance-access-problems/" target="_blank" title="">have delayed benefits.</a> Missouri’s social services agency has been cutting staff and has 1,000 fewer front-line workers than it did roughly a decade ago — with more than double the number of enrollees in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, according to comments Jessica Bax, the agency director, made <a href="https://stateofmo.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/stateofmo/recording/f9f326803de7465f8c71e0e7766ec85d/playback" target="_blank">during a public meeting</a> in November. “The department thought that there would be a gain in efficiency due to eligibility system upgrades,” Bax said. “Many of those did not come to fruition.” <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/28/2370786/-Red-states-target-SNAP-fraud-errors-under-threat-of-costly-federal-penalties" title="" target="_blank">Red states target SNAP fraud, errors under threat of costly federal penalties</a> <hr> States could have a hard time finding people interested in taking those jobs, which require months-long training, can be emotionally challenging, and generally offer low pay, said Tricia Brooks, a researcher at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. “They get yelled at a lot,” said Brooks, who formerly ran New Hampshire’s Medicaid and CHIP customer service program. “People are frustrated. They’re crying. They’re concerned. They’re losing access to health care, and so sometimes it’s not an easy job to take if it’s hard to help someone.” States are <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/state-medicaid-work-requirements-eligibility-systems-deloitte-accenture-optum/" target="_blank" title="">paying government contractors millions of dollars</a> to help them comply with the new federal law. Maximus, a government services contractor, provides eligibility support, such as running call centers, in 17 states that expanded Medicaid and interacts with nearly 3 in 5 people enrolled in the program nationally, according to the company. During a February earnings call, company leadership said Maximus can charge based on the number of transactions it completes for enrollees, independent of how many people are enrolled in a state’s Medicaid program. Maximus has “no one-size-fits-all approach” to the services it offers or the way it charges for those services, spokesperson Marci Goldstein told KFF Health News. The company, which reported bringing in $1.76 billion in 2025 from the part of its business that includes Medicaid work, expects that revenue to continue to grow, even as people fall off the Medicaid rolls, “because of the additional transactions that will need to take place,” David Mutryn, Maximus’ chief financial officer and treasurer, said during the earnings call. Losing Medicaid health coverage isn’t just an inconvenience, since many people enrolled in the program probably don’t make enough money to pay for health care on their own and may not qualify for financial help for Affordable Care Act coverage, said Elizabeth Edwards, a senior attorney with the National Health Law Program. People could be unable to afford medications or get essential care, which could lead to “devastating” health impacts, she said. “The human stakes of this are people’s lives,” she said. KFF Health News correspondents Katheryn Houghton and Samantha Liss contributed to this report. </div> rss@dailykos.com (KFF) HealthCare Medicaid Medicine _2377285 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:02 +0000 Can't stop winning https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/12/2375578/-Can-t-stop-winning?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Since President Donald Trump launched his expensive and unpopular war on Iran, everything has gotten worse—chief among them <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/03/31/2375688/-trump-s-support-is-dwindling-to-just-the-MAGA-die-hards" target="_blank">Trump’s own approval</a>. As gas prices <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">surge</a>, unemployment <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375693/-Labor-secretary-spins-new-jobs-report-before-it-s-even-released" target="_blank">skyrockets</a>, and the Trump team <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375686/-Trump-and-Hegseth-scream-at-the-world-as-their-war-spirals" target="_blank">embarrasses</a> the United States on the global stage, everything <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376800/-Don-t-assume-Trump-will-TACO-on-Iran-war-crime-threats?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_4&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">feels pretty bleak</a> right now. So let’s all take a moment to have a laugh.  Here are some of our favorite Iran-related cartoons, and feel free to share more in the comments. <hr> <h3>Eating their hat, by Clay Bennett</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/29/2373896/-Eating-their-hat" target="_blank">Originally published</a> March 29. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Bennett" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1536536/large/20260322edcbc-a.jpg?1773942114" title="Cartoon by Clay Bennett"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Exit strategy, by Tim Campbell</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375502/-Exit-strategy" target="_blank">Originally published</a> March 31. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Tim Campbell" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1539979/large/20260330edtcc-a.jpg?1774885986" title="Cartoon by Tim Campbell"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Fifth horseman, by Mike Luckovich</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/03/30/2375500/-fifth-horseman" target="_blank">Originally published</a> March 31. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1539974/large/lk032926dAPR.jpg?1774885711" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Boots on the ground, by Clay Bennett</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/1/2375593/-Boots-on-the-ground" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 1. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Bennett" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540068/large/20260331edcbc-a.jpg?1774915373" title="Cartoon by Clay Bennett"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Someone, please, get this emperor some clothes, by Mike Luckovich</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/1/2375738/-Someone-please-get-this-emperor-some-clothes" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 1. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540273/large/lk040126dAPR.jpg?1774984706" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Tom the Dancing Bug’s Dementia Donnie and his ballroom and war, by RubenBolling</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/2/2375852/-Tom-the-Dancing-Bug-s-Dementia-Donnie-and-his-ballroom-and-war" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 2. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="1778ckCOMICdementiadonnie-ballroom.png" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540593/large/1778ckCOMICdementiadonnie-ballroom.png?1775051659" title="1778ckCOMICdementiadonnie-ballroom.png"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Blessed are the peacemakers, by Jack Ohman</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/2/2375774/-Blessed-are-the-peacemakers" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 2. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Jack Ohman" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540369/large/20260331edohc-a.jpg?1774993165" title="Cartoon by Jack Ohman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Reality vs. delusion, by David Horsey</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/03/30/2375532/-reality-vs-delusion" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 3. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by David Horsey" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540013/large/20260328edhoc-a.jpg?1774897214" title="Cartoon by David Horsey"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Looking for the off-ramp … , by Jack Ohman</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/5/2376015/-Looking-for-the-off-ramp" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 5. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Jack Ohman" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540946/large/20260401edohc-a.jpg?1775147028" title="Cartoon by Jack Ohman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>A selfless leader, by Mike Luckovich</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376108/-A-selfless-leader" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 7. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1541105/large/lk040526dAPR.jpg?1775173931" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <h3></h3> <hr> <h3>Victory in Iran, by Clay Bennett</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376600/-Victory-in-Iran" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 7. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Bennett" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1541973/large/20260404edcbc-a.jpg?1775491429" title="Cartoon by Clay Bennett"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Ooga!, by David Horsey</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376842/-Ooga" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 7. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by David Horsey" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542342/large/20260407edhoc-a.jpg?1775593560" title="Cartoon by David Horsey"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Name that bellicose babbler, by Jen Sorensen</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376795/-Name-that-bellicose-babbler" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 8. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Jen Sorensen" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542293/large/bellicose915.png?1775578736" title="Cartoon by Jen Sorensen"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Space purge, by Clay Jones</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376832/-Space-purge" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 8. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Jones" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542336/large/CjonesRGB04082026.jpg?1775590730" title="Cartoon by Clay Jones"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Trump method, by Pedro Molina</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376847/-Trump-method" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 8. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Pedro Molina" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542350/large/20260407edpmc-a.jpg?1775596150" title="Cartoon by Pedro Molina"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Trump age, by Clay Jones</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2376596/-Trump-age" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 9. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Jones" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1541971/large/CjonesRGB04052026.jpg?1775491096" title="Cartoon by Clay Jones"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>The boy who cried nuke, by Drew Sheneman</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/04/08/2376987/-the-boy-who-cried-nuke" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 9. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Drew Sheneman" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542634/large/20260408edshe-b.jpg?1775665958" title="Cartoon by Drew Sheneman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>Presidential profanity, by Clay Bennett</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/04/06/2376684/-presidential-profanity" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 9. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Bennett" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542103/large/20260407edcbc-a.jpg?1775515473" title="Cartoon by Clay Bennett"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> <h3>The other nuclear option, by Drew Sheneman</h3> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2376858/-The-other-nuclear-option" target="_blank">Originally published</a> April 10. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned"><img alt="Cartoon by Drew Sheneman" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542387/large/20260407edshe-b.jpg?1775599623" title="Cartoon by Drew Sheneman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals" target="_blank">Inflation surges as Iran war spirals</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos Staff) Cartoons DonaldTrump Economy GasPrices Iran MAGA Oil War _2375578 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:00:13 +0000 Let's celebrate jazz legend Herbie Hancock's 86th birthday https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/12/2374630/-Let-s-celebrate-jazz-legend-Herbie-Hancock-s-86th-birthday?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/tags/BlackMusicSunday" target="_blank">Black Music Sunday</a> is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/tags/BlackMusicSunday?filter=stories" target="_blank" title=""> 300 stories</a> covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new. <hr> Herbie Hancock turns 86 years old today—so let’s celebrate! His<a href="https://musicianguide.com/biographies/1608002320/Herbie-Hancock.html" target="_blank"> Musician Guide biography </a>was written by Sonya Shelton. <blockquote> Herbert Jeffrey Hancock was born on April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to Wayman and Winnie Griffin Hancock. His father was a grocery store clerk, while his mother worked as a secretary. Both parents instilled a love and appreciation for music in all of their children. When Herbie Hancock was a toddler, he was always happy if a piano was near. His love for the piano grew even deeper when his parents bought him an old upright piano for 25 dollars. Instead of getting involved in sports or running the back streets of Chicago with his school friends, Hancock opted to stay home to practice the piano. He used his extra time to pursue his growing interest in science and electronics. However, his interest in music never caused his schoolwork to suffer. His inexhaustible discipline allowed him to skip two grades. During elementary school, his teachers and his mother encouraged him to listen to opera on the radio, which helped his understanding of both music and the piano. At the age of 11, Hancock won a scholastic award for his concert performance of a Mozart concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Delved into Jazz Music Growing up in Chicago, Hancock was surrounded by the blues, as it echoed through the city during his high school years. Yet, Hancock didn't gravitate toward rhythm and blues, but instead, was moved by the more complex jazz styles. When he heard a classmate play an improvisational piece at a talent show, he was so taken by its freedom that he became devoted to learning all about it. As Lynn Norment noted in Ebony Magazine, "He closeted himself for hours alone with Oscar Peterson and George Shearing records, committed their notes to paper and then reproduced them. This tedious exercise led to his ability to analyze and dissect harmonic structures, rhythmic patterns, and choral voicings." After graduating high school, Hancock enrolled at Grinnell College, in Iowa, in 1956 to study engineering. While there, he learned the fundamentals of electronics, which later translated into his own music in the 1970s. Hancock went on to change his major to music composition and graduated in 1960. He returned to Chicago, and worked with such artists as Coleman Hawkins, Donald Byrd, Dexter Gordon, and Freddie Hubbard. The following winter, a treacherous snow storm prevented the pianist for Donald Byrd's group from getting to Chicago where they were scheduled to play. Hancock stepped in for the missing pianist. Byrd was impressed by Hancock's performance, and took him under his wing. Byrd took him to New York and introduced him to the jazz establishment, which laid the groundwork for Hancock's 1962 debut album, Takin' Off, which included musicians like Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard. A year later, his song "Watermelon Man," was covered by Mongo Santamaria, and subsequently recorded over the years by more than 200 artists. </blockquote> Here’s Hancock on “Soul Train” performing “Watermelon Man”: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=Qt8agHeK1as" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Qt8agHeK1as?si=E21ADESXjRfg7uOy" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> <a href="https://www.herbiehancock.com/biography-full-page/" title="" target="_blank">His official webpage</a> continues his story: <blockquote> In 1960, Herbie was discovered by trumpeter Donald Byrd. After two years of session work with Byrd as well as Phil Woods and Oliver Nelson, he signed with Blue Note as a solo artist. His 1963 debut album, ‘Takin’ Off’, was an immediate success, producing the hit “Watermelon Man.” In 1963, Miles Davis invited Herbie to join the Miles Davis Quintet. During his five years with Davis, Herbie and his colleagues Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums) recorded many classics, including ‘ESP’, ‘Nefertiti’ and ‘Sorcerer’. Later on, Herbie appeared on Davis’ groundbreaking ‘In a Silent Way.’ Herbie’s own solo career blossomed on Blue Note, with classic albums including ‘Maiden Voyage’, ‘Empyrean Isles’, and ‘Speak Like a Child’. He composed the score to Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film ‘Blow Up’, which led to a successful career in feature film and television music. After leaving Davis, Herbie put together a new band called The Headhunters and, in 1973, recorded ‘Head Hunters.’ With its crossover hit single “Chameleon,” it became the first jazz album to go platinum.  By mid-decade, Herbie was playing for stadium-sized crowds all over the world and had no fewer than four albums in the pop charts at once. In total, Herbie had 11 albums in the pop charts during the 1970s. His ’70s output inspired and provided samples for generations of hip-hop and dance music artists.   Herbie also stayed close to his love of acoustic jazz in the ’70s, recording and performing with VSOP (reuniting him with his Miles Davis colleagues), and in duet settings with Chick Corea and Oscar Peterson. </blockquote> Hancock’s autobiography,<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313520/herbie-hancock-possibilities-by-herbie-hancock-with-lisa-dickey/" target="_blank"> “Possibilities,” </a>shares a title with his<a href="https://www.herbiehancock.com/music/discography/album/possibilities/" title="" target="_blank"> 2005 album “Possibilities.”</a> He was named a<a href="https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/herbie-hancock" title="" target="_blank"> National Endowment for the Arts jazzmaster in 2004</a>: <blockquote> In 1961, trumpeter <a href="https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/donald-byrd" target="_blank">Donald Byrd </a>asked the young pianist to join his group in New York, leading to Blue Note offering him a recording contract. His first album as leader, Takin' Off, which included the hit single "Watermelon Man," demonstrated a gift for composition and improvisation. His talent impressed <a href="https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/miles-davis" target="_blank">Miles Davis </a>enough to ask Hancock to join his band in 1963. In the five years he worked with Davis, who became a mentor as well as an employer, Hancock established his standing as one of the greatest pianists of all time. Along with <a href="https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/ron-carter" target="_blank">Ron Carter </a>(bass) and Tony Williams (drums), Hancock altered the role of the rhythm section in jazz to include expanded solos and spontaneous changes in mood and tempo. He also composed a number of pieces for the band as well as for his outstanding solo recordings with Blue Note. It was toward the end of his tenure with Davis that he began to use electric piano. After leaving the band in 1968, Hancock continued to explore the use of electronic instruments in his music. In 1973, he formed a quartet whose first recording, Head Hunters, launched him into jazz stardom and became a bestselling jazz album. In the late 1970s, Hancock revived the old Miles Davis band (<a href="https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/freddie-hubbard" target="_blank">Freddie Hubbard </a>stood in for Davis) under the name V.S.O.P. and they toured extensively. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated stunning artistic versatility. In 1983, "Rockit," a single that resulted from a collaborative effort with the rock band Material, became a hit on MTV. Hancock then switched gears completely, partnering with Gambian kora virtuoso Foday Musa Suso on two albums, Village Life and Jazz Africa. He also has written scores for several films, including Blow-Up in 1966, Death Wish in 1974, and Round Midnight, for which he won an Academy Award in 1987. Hancock has won 12 Grammy Awards in the past two decades, and continues to work as a producer and in both the electric and acoustic spheres of jazz. In 2008, he won the Grammy Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, the first jazz album to win that award in 43 years. </blockquote> This hour-long profile of Hancock hosted by Heart songstress<a href="https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/nancy-wilson" target="_blank"> Nancy Wilson</a> is a comprehensive look at his life and music: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=zvhZTdLxY9Y" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zvhZTdLxY9Y?si=X6bWzjX0AaR58KRU" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> <div> <div> <div> <div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvhZTdLxY9Y" target="_blank">32 Bar Blues video notes</a>: <blockquote> There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. With an illustrious career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography, “Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t heard anybody yet who has come after him.”As part of the Peabody Award-winning documentary series “Jazz Profiles,” this episode about Herbie Hancock was produced in 2000 by John Diliberto and narrated by the show host Nancy Wilson. </blockquote> I admit to wearing this album out back in the 1970s: </div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=STKxbUmVCkg" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/STKxbUmVCkg?si=JqusUdJaD6PuWvkY" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> Let’s take a “Maiden Voyage” back to 1965: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=P6NRfitSCxw" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P6NRfitSCxw?si=09ObGnE0o89DfEkY" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> Back in 2014 when The Kennedy Center was still The Kennedy Center, Hancock teamed up with <a href="https://concord.com/artist/esperanza-spalding/" title="" target="_blank">Esperanza Spaulding</a> to honor<a href="https://www.sting.com/biography" target="_blank"> Sting</a>. <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=mOTigo5U-JY" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mOTigo5U-JY?si=CP4a609hK6yLxvrg" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> This breathtaking rendition of<a href="https://www.johnlennon.com/music/singles/imagine/" target="_blank"> John Lennon’s “Imagine”</a> which featured <a href="https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/bios/moore__alecia" target="_blank">P!nk</a>,<a href="https://www.biography.com/musicians/seal" target="_blank"> Seal</a>,<a href="https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/arie-india-1975/" target="_blank"> India.Arie</a>, and various African musicians is a must-listen. <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=mVAQl7qq-aI" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mVAQl7qq-aI?si=wbHw8yslL9msjRlQ" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> Join me for lots more music in the comments section below.  Happy 86th, Herbie! rss@dailykos.com (Denise Oliver Velez) BlackMusicSunday EsperanzaSpaulding HerbieHancock Imagine KennedyCenter SoulTrain Sting _2374630 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:00:20 +0000 Cult dues https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/12/2377055/-Cult-dues?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Drew Sheneman. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">Thanks, Trump: Gas prices will remain high for months due to Iran war</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Drew Sheneman) Cartoon DonaldTrump DrewSheneman GasPrices Iran MAGA War _2377055 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 How Iran became the GOP’s go-to bogeyman https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377179/-How-Iran-became-the-GOP-s-go-to-bogeyman?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/tags/ExplainingTheRight" target="_blank" title="">Explaining the Right</a> is a weekly series that looks at what the right wing is currently obsessing over, how it influences politics—and why you need to know. <hr> President Donald Trump spent the last week causing global panic,<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" title="" target="_blank"> threatening to wipe out</a> Iranian civilization before <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376880/-Trump-walks-back-bombing-threats-for-2-weeks-if-Iran-agrees-to-ceasefire" target="_blank">walking it back</a>—at least for now.  But his callous threats are nothing new.  This is just the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/15/2303779/-Why-conservatives-are-obsessed-with-phony-masculinity" target="_blank">latest example</a> of Republicans indulging themselves in phony masculinity by championing loud and obnoxious aggression. And this type of behavior didn’t begin with Trump, and it isn’t even the first time the right’s saber-rattling has involved Iran. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Residents watch and take pictures as flames and smoke rise from an oil storage facility struck as attacks hit the city during the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Alireza Sotakbar/ISNA via AP)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1536785/large/AP26071723807433.jpg?1774017652" title="Residents watch and take pictures as flames and smoke rise from an oil storage facility struck as attacks hit the city during the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Alireza Sotakbar/ISNA via AP)"> <figcaption>Residents watch as flames and smoke rise from an oil storage facility struck by U.S.–Israeli bombs in Tehran, Iran, on March 7.</figcaption> </figure> Back in the 1970s, when the Iranian revolution overthrew the Western-backed Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Jimmy Carter was faced with the biggest foreign policy crisis of his presidency.  Republicans have long <a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/jimmy-carter-iran-and-the-canadian-caper" target="_blank">argued</a> that Carter demonstrated weakness by attempting to negotiate the release of hostages and failing a rescue mission—which they now associate with the Democratic Party. In reality, details have since emerged that, while campaigning for the presidency in the 1980 election, former President Ronald Reagan’s campaign actively worked to undermine the release of hostages for his own political benefit.  Texas politician Ben Barnes<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/jimmy-carter-october-surprise-iran-hostages.html" target="_blank"> has admitted</a> that he was part of a team that pushed Iran to delay the release of hostages until after the election, providing a public relations coup for Reagan as they were released in early 1981, at the start of his presidency. Iran would <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/reagan-iran/" target="_blank">later emerge</a> as Reagan’s biggest scandal. His Iran Contra operation involved shipping arms to Iran during its war with Iraq in exchange for the release of hostages, while funding anti-communist forces in South America. Decades later,<a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/january-29/bush-describes-iraq-iran-north-korea-as-axis-of-evil" target="_blank"> during the presidency</a> of George W. Bush, Iran was yet again invoked as a boogeyman. During his attempt to push the U.S. invasion of Iraq over nonexistent weapons of mass destruction, Bush claimed that—along with North Korea and Iraq—Iran was part of an “axis of evil” that required a military response.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1538233/large/lk032626dAPR.jpg?1774476957" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption>A cartoon by Mike Luckovich.</figcaption> </figure> There was no connection between any of those states and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but Bush went there anyway as part of his ill-fated war policy that ultimately killed hundreds of thousands. By the time Democratic President Barack Obama took office, fears that Iran was attempting to build nuclear capability had grown. Obama negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran, freeing up assets that had been frozen after the original revolution.  But instead of hailing the action as a step toward peace, Obama came under attack from the right. His administration<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/trumps-lies-blaming-obama-administration-iran-crisis-echo-fox-news" target="_blank"> </a>was even <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/trumps-lies-blaming-obama-administration-iran-crisis-echo-fox-news" target="_blank">falsely accused</a> of capitulating to the pro-terrorist Iranian regime, when in reality Obama’s actions had finally started to make the world safer. Among the most prominent figures pushing this phony narrative? Trump, of course. Trump’s recent actions are in line with Reagan’s and Bush’s threatening approaches, meant to be a repudiation of the tactics embraced by Carter, Obama, and other Democrats. The policy is a failure, both as a matter of economic fallout and in protecting lives around the world. But Trump is doing what Republicans always do with Iran—and everyone else is made to suffer. rss@dailykos.com (Oliver Willis) DonaldTrump Economy ExplainingTheRight Iran MiddleEast Oil War _2377179 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:00:09 +0000 First lady and her pedophile https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377312/-First-lady-and-her-pedophile?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Jack Ohman. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377143/-Donald-isn-t-the-only-Trump-America-hates" title="" target="_blank">Donald isn’t the only Trump America hates</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Jack Ohman) Cartoon DonaldTrump EpsteinFiles JackOhman JeffreyEpstein MelaniaTrump _2377312 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:55:08 +0000 Despite apocalyptic warnings, California fast food wage hike didn’t kill jobs https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377257/-Despite-apocalyptic-warnings-California-fast-food-wage-hike-didn-t-kill-jobs?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= UC Berkeley study finds employment held steady — and only pennies were added to menu prices. By <a href="https://capitalandmain.com/author/mkreidler" target="_blank">Mark Kreidler</a> for <a href="https://capitalandmain.com/despite-apocalyptic-warnings-california-fast-food-wage-hike-didnt-kill-jobs" target="_blank" title="">Capital & Main</a> <hr> In their <a href="https://irle.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Effects-of-a-20-Minimum-Wage-Evidence-from-Granular-Data-on-Wages-Employment-and-Prices-April-1-2026.pdf" target="_blank" title="">third report</a> on the subject and second update of data, University of California researchers reach the same conclusions that have twice bedeviled the anti-wage hike sector of the restaurant industry: California’s $20 an hour fast food minimum wage, instituted in 2024, did not reduce employment. It led to only the most modest of price increases — barely noticeable to a consumer. It significantly improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of California workers in many of the industry’s largest fast-food chains, with an average wage increase of more than 10%. Those results have held steady across three years of work by UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. They also align with a <a href="https://shift.hks.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ca_fastfood_MW_Final.pdf" target="_blank" title="">previous study</a> on the California law conducted jointly by Harvard University’s Kennedy Center and UC San Francisco, as well as with long-established research showing that minimum wage increases generally <a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/most-minimum-wage-studies-have-found-little-or-no-job-loss/#:~:text=But%20with%20improvements%20in%20research,trying%20to%20make%20ends%20meet" target="_blank" title="">don’t affect employment numbers</a> or <a href="https://www.upjohn.org/research-highlights/does-increasing-minimum-wage-lead-higher-prices" target="_blank">prices</a> much. That won’t end the debate over the wage law, which was established in 2023 and took effect two years ago this month. But the growing body of research suggests a much milder reality than the apocalyptic visions that some in the fast-food industry projected when the $20 figure — from a previous $16 an hour minimum — was initially approved. “We have some entirely new data” in the report issued April 1, said Michael Reich, chair of the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the Berkeley institute. “The results, though, are pretty much the same as before.” <h3 class="AlignCenter">*   *   *</h3> The wage law has been the subject of overheated rhetoric since it was first discussed, when opponents suggested that raising the floor for fast-food workers from $16 to $20 an hour would prompt employers to shed jobs, dramatically raise prices or both. The Berkeley studies, beginning in 2024, have consistently found no such thing. In the most recent research, Reich and co-author Denis Sosinskiy concluded that the higher minimum has increased the average weekly wage for covered fast food workers by about 11%, but did not reduce employment. In terms of what we pay at the cash register, the report found that restaurant owners had increased their prices by only about 1.5% — or six cents on a $4 item. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the fast food bill surrounded by fast food workers at the SEIU Local 721 in Los Angeles, on Sept. 28, 2023. Greg Flynn, a wealthy campaign donor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said the Panera Bread restaurants he owns will start paying workers at least $20 an hour on April 1 after controversy over whether a new state minimum wage law for fast food workers applies to his businesses. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1543347/large/AP24066731358665.jpg?1775848841" title="FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the fast food bill surrounded by fast food workers at the SEIU Local 721 in Los Angeles, on Sept. 28, 2023. Greg Flynn, a wealthy campaign donor of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said the Panera Bread restaurants he owns will start paying workers at least $20 an hour on April 1 after controversy over whether a new state minimum wage law for fast food workers applies to his businesses. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)"> <figcaption>California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the fast food bill surrounded by fast food workers at the SEIU Local 721 in Los Angeles in Sept. 2023.</figcaption> </figure> Those relatively benign findings suggest there was some initial confusion about what the wage law would actually do and whom it would affect. First, it’s applied only to the largest fast-food chains, those with more than 60 locations nationally. In California, that means that about 525,000 employees are potentially affected by the $20 minimum out of the roughly 750,000 who work at fast-food locations in the state. Second, the effect of the wage was never going to be as severe as threatened, because a significant number of workers were already making well more than $16 an hour — and some chains, including In-N-Out Burger, routinely paid far more than that in order to attract talent and prevent turnover. Moreover, major population centers like Los Angeles and the Bay Area already have local minimum wages set well above $16. (San Francisco’s is $19.18 per hour, with the city of Los Angeles moving to $18.42 on July 1.) In other words, actual wages didn’t go up 25% just because the minimum went from $16 to $20. The Berkeley study found that average wages in the state went up by less than half that. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/4/2331392/-Stop-overthinking-it-Cost-of-living-is-the-most-important-issue" title="" target="_blank">Stop overthinking it: Cost of living is the most important issue</a> <hr> The latest report compiles pay data from Glassdoor job postings and Square payroll data, while using a new data set from Advan Research, a company that aggregates cell phone locations — in this case, to determine the precise number of workers who enter a fast-food establishment each day. (Reich said only those who stayed at the store for more than four hours were presumed to be workers.) The Berkeley studies have consistently used Door Dash for price comparisons, since all significant fast-food companies participate. So why did prices go up only 1.5%? Reich says it’s because labor costs account for only about 30% of most fast food businesses’ overall costs. Thus, an 11% average raise meant their overall costs went up only about 3%, half of which they passed on to the customer. <h3 class="AlignCenter">*   *   *</h3> Industry-funded research has attempted to paint a grimmer picture of the wage law. A <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qwllx1iv8q1ecudz6z59v/BRG_Impacts-of-20-Min-Wage-Report_2.18.25_FINAL.pdf?rlkey=zy6b96c3s5ngjeactf30hui77&e=2&st=guugtn2c&dl=0" target="_blank">report</a> by one group last year blamed 10,700 fast food job losses in California on the $20 figure, though it began counting those losses almost 10 months before the new law took effect. The conservative Hoover Institution, meanwhile, had to <a href="https://www.hoover.org/research/california-loses-nearly-10000-fast-food-jobs-after-20-minimum-wage-signed-last-fall" target="_blank">retract</a> a similar report after concluding that its author included data points that proved to be misinterpreted. Asked for comment on the new UC Berkeley findings, the advocacy group Save Local Restaurants CA pointed to a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11verL7V6LYaSyfLJVO96Jurk9gyYPyAt/view" target="_blank">UC Santa Cruz study</a> that found higher menu prices, fewer hours and benefits for workers and an accelerated move toward automation by fast-food store owners — the result, it said, of the higher minimum wage. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="A cartoon by Clay Jones." class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1464103/large/CjonesRGB08052025.jpg?1754336649" title="A cartoon by Clay Jones."> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> The report was based primarily on interviews with local Santa Cruz restaurants. Reich said the authors made “no attempt to validate their motivated responses with interviews with workers, a control group or objective government data. In other words, not at all informative, and not cited as such by any economists as far as I know.” That won’t stop the rhetoric — and undoubtedly, some fast-food businesses or franchisees have struggled to compete under the new wage structure. The flip side, of course, is that hundreds of thousands of California workers have been able to move closer to an actual living wage thanks to the change. In most of the state, $20 an hour still isn’t near enough, and the state government-appointed Fast Food Council has not approved a cost-of-living increase since the law’s inception.The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates that a single adult with no dependents needs to earn $30.48 an hour to afford basic living costs in the state, and worker groups in Oakland and Alameda County are both engaged in battles to reach $30 an hour over the next few years, with <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-12-05/la-city-council-president-moves-to-delay-full-olympic-wage-boost" target="_blank" title="">Los Angeles</a> involved in a more targeted push directed at tourism industry workers. Still, the fast-food wage remains a significant achievement, one that, according to the Berkeley research, was pulled off without the serious side effects that its detractors foretold. That body of evidence continues to grow, while the wage’s beneficiaries continue to scrap for a decent living in the Golden State. rss@dailykos.com (Capital and Main) California Economy Jobs MinimumWage _2377257 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:00:01 +0000 Welcome, repeat ethics offenders https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377185/-Welcome-repeat-ethics-offenders?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/tags/InjusticeforAll" title="" target="_blank">Injustice for All</a> is a weekly series about how the Trump administration is trying to weaponize the justice system—and the people who are fighting back. <hr> This week, we’ve got a whole crop of frequent fliers. Ed Martin is here, still being a hot mess even as his role at the Department of Justice diminishes, Pam Bondi is trying to skip out on Congress, and MyPillow guy Mike Lindell … is being Mike Lindell. And of course, President Donald Trump is here too, because why let a week go by without asking the courts for treats? <h3>Ed Martin takes executive privilege to new lows</h3> Ed Martin, formerly the Interim U.S. attorney for Washington D.C., and also<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/7/2367482/-Trump-s-favorite-DOJ-conspiracist-gets-demoted-and-Musk-faces-deposition" title="" target="_blank"> the former</a> head of the Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group, has been a living breathing avatar of ethics violations from<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/3/2356550/-Legal-watchdogs-won-t-bite-Trump-s-corrupt-pet-lawyers" title="" target="_blank"> Day 1</a>. Now, he’s facing<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/12/2372742/-Trump-s-bogus-US-attorney-picks-keep-flaming-out" title="" target="_blank"> disciplinary proceedings</a> before the D.C. Bar because of his unhinged threats to Georgetown University Law School, where he threatened the school for not eradicating all its DEI efforts without ever explaining what the offending diversity might be, and went on to kinda sorta threaten the school’s nonprofit status.  But old Ed doesn’t believe the D.C. Bar has any right to tell him what to do, so he filed a deranged<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291224/gov.uscourts.dcd.291224.1.0.pdf" title="" target="_blank"> notice of removal</a> demanding that his case be moved to federal court because—you guessed it, charges against Martin are actually an attack on the separation of powers and on the president himself.  <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/7/2367482/-Trump-s-favorite-DOJ-conspiracist-gets-demoted-and-Musk-faces-deposition" title="" target="_blank">Trump's favorite DOJ conspiracist gets demoted, and Musk faces deposition</a> <hr> Martin also offered 40<a href="https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-ed-martin-washington-dc-misconduct-charges-defense/" title="" target="_blank"> separate defenses</a> to explain why he shouldn’t be disciplined. Totally normal amount of defenses to plead and not at all evidence of an angry toddler who believes he’s untouchable.  It’s great to see that Martin continues to behave very coolly and rationally here, after<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/12/2372742/-Trump-s-bogus-US-attorney-picks-keep-flaming-out" target="_blank"> demanding</a> an ex parte meeting with multiple judges upon learning about the complaint during his brief, unsuccessful tenure as interim U.S. attorney, repeatedly insisting that the judges meet with him alone and that they open an investigation into the disciplinary counsel for the crime of investigating him.  Martin is a legendarily bad attorney, but even he knows that judges cannot and would not meet with him ex parte and ice out the other party, aka the disciplinary counsel. Since that didn’t work, he’s now trying to get things into federal court in the hope that his belief that he is one with the president will fly there.  <h3>Trump needs more treats from the courts, and this time it’s personal</h3> Apparently, getting out from under a $500 million civil fraud<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/8/21/2339516/-Appeals-court-tosses-massive-civil-fraud-penalty-against-Trump" title="" target="_blank"> judgment</a> isn’t enough for President Donald Trump. Poor Trump turned out his pockets before the New York Appellate Division and got a ruling that the fine imposed for his years-long habit of giving fraudulent financial statements to lenders and insurers to get more favorable terms was simply too unfair and violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.  Come. On.  After doing Trump a solid on that half a billion, the court did keep in place a ban on Trump and his large adult sons holding corporate leadership roles for three years, along with a ban on Trump or any of his infinite number of business entities from getting loans from any bank with a branch in New York state for that same three years.  <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/11/2358028/-Grand-juries-won-t-prop-up-Trump-team-s-dumbassery" title="" target="_blank">Grand juries won’t prop up Trump team’s dumbassery</a> <hr> But that’s simply untenable for President Deals. So, Trump is<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/08/donald-trump-civil-fraud-appeal-00864123" target="_blank"> appealing</a> the decision—yes, the one where he won a reprieve from a $500 million fine—to make those remaining conditions go away. Trump even had the gall to argue that New York Attorney General Letitia James had targeted him for “unconstitutional selective enforcement.”  We know what selective prosecution looks like, buddy, and it’s exactly what the DOJ is continuing to<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/11/2358028/-Grand-juries-won-t-prop-up-Trump-team-s-dumbassery" title="" target="_blank"> try to do</a> to James. <h3>DOJ is pretty sure the Constitution means ICE gets to use tear gas whenever it wants</h3> Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol agents have been attacking protesters in Portland for months, deploying tear gas, pepper balls, and a hodgepodge of other chemical munitions. The ACLU managed to get a<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ord.190589/gov.uscourts.ord.190589.68.0_3.pdf" target="_blank"> temporary restraining order</a> in February barring federal goons from using less-lethal weapons as retaliation against people who had the nerve to exercise their constitutional right to peacefully protest the government.  The administration then ran to the Ninth Circuit and got a<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ord.190589/gov.uscourts.ord.190589.169.0.pdf" target="_blank"> stay</a> pending appeal, meaning that ICE gets to keep brutalizing protesters while the case proceeds. During oral arguments earlier this week, the DOJ<a href="https://courthousenews.com/trump-administration-challenges-portland-ice-protest-tear-gas-restrictions/" target="_blank"> explained</a> that it is just too dangerous for heavily armed and ‘roided ICE thugs not to be able to deploy tear gas based on vibes, and that putting any restrictions on them “irreparably harms the government.”  It also apparently violates the Constitution if the government can’t deploy tear gas near an apartment complex, sending chemicals directly into the homes of people whose only crime is living close to wherever ICE is popping off.  Must have missed that part of our nation’s founding document. <h3>Pam Bondi really doesn’t want to talk about the Epstein files</h3> Pam Bondi may be out of a job, but the Justice Department she used to oversee is still doing her a solid.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1526736/large/AP26042750382489.jpg?1771007354" title="Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)"> <figcaption>Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 11.</figcaption> </figure> The DOJ helpfully told the House Oversight Committee that, despite being subpoenaed, Bondi will<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/08/bondi-epstein-files-testify-house/" title="" target="_blank"> not be appearing</a> to testify under oath about the Epstein files, because she is no longer attorney general.  This is nonsense, of course, a ridiculous<a href="https://abovethelaw.com/2026/04/pam-bondi-to-congress-new-phone-who-dis/" title="" target="_blank"> hypertechnical</a> argument that since the subpoena was issued to Bondi in her capacity as attorney general, it just disappears now that she isn’t.  It’s also a comically thin, cynical excuse given that the committee secured the testimony of former President Bill Clinton and his wife by<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/13/2363215/-Hypocritical-GOP-targets-Clintons-in-BS-Epstein-probe?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI01132026" target="_blank"> threatening</a> to jail them if they didn’t comply. If an ex-president has to honor a congressional subpoena, surely an ex-attorney general does as well. Indeed, Bill Barr, also an ex-attorney general for Trump, already testified under oath after being<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/09/16/more-epstein-documents-come-hill/" target="_blank"> subpoenaed</a>.  You can’t dodge this forever, Pam. <h3>Mike Lindell can’t stop losing</h3> Mike Lindell, one of the weirdest yet most stalwart backers of Trump’s Big Lie, was not able to convince Trump appointee Judge Carl Nichols that he’s just too broke to pay the $56,369 he owes Smartmatic in sanctions for bringing frivolous legal claims against the voting machine company.  Nichols had<a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/smartmatic-judge-unseals-contempt-order-against-mike-lindell/" target="_blank"> ordered</a> Lindell to pay up all the way back in January 2025, but Lindell claimed he had a “negative $18.7 million” net worth and couldn’t pay. But then Lindell decided it was a good idea to<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/12/2358144/-Election-denying-MyPillow-CEO-wants-to-be-Minnesota-s-next-governor" target="_blank"> launch</a> a campaign for governor in Minnesota, for which he had<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/17/2369024/-MyPillow-guy-isn-t-losing-sleep-over-scamming-his-donors" target="_blank"> raised</a> $350,000 by February of this year. He then promptly spent $187,000 of that on scads of copies of his own book, a 2019 self-published memoir entitled “What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO,” saying it served as his campaign literature.  Nichols<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227759/gov.uscourts.dcd.227759.254.0_1.pdf" target="_blank"> noted</a> that Lindell continues to crowdsource funds to pay for his other legal bills, and therefore had sufficient funds to pay Smartmatic but just decided not to.  Lindell was ordered to pay the full $56,369 by April 7, which he most<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227759/gov.uscourts.dcd.227759.255.0.pdf" target="_blank"> certainly</a> did not do. Now he’s on the hook for civil contempt and a $500 penalty for each day until he pays in full. Better get to scamming your gubernatorial donors for some more cash, Mike—or sell a whole lot of pillows.  rss@dailykos.com (Lisa Needham) DOJ DonaldTrump EdMartin InjusticeforAll MikeLindell PamBondi _2377185 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:00:24 +0000 A real ceasefire https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377149/-A-real-ceasefire?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Tim Campbell. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377109/-Trump-whisperer-NATO-chief-faces-a-fresh-test-over-Iran" title="" target="_blank">'Trump whisperer' NATO chief faces a fresh test over Iran</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Tim Campbell) Cartoon ceasefire DonaldTrump Iran TimCampbell War _2377149 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:55:14 +0000 Republican lawmakers push state control over Democratic cities https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377287/-Republican-lawmakers-push-state-control-over-Democratic-cities?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The takeover efforts reflect a wider struggle over race, democracy and power. By <a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/" target="_blank" title="">Anna Claire Vollers</a> for <a href="https://stateline.org/2026/04/09/republican-lawmakers-push-state-control-over-democratic-cities/" target="_blank" title="">Stateline</a> <hr> In late March, a handful of Black faith leaders gathered on the steps of the Alabama State House to protest a bill that could allow the state to seize control of the police force in the capital of Montgomery. Supporters of the Republican-sponsored proposal cast it as a response to Montgomery’s police officer shortage and public concern over unchecked crime. Opponents called it a power grab aimed at a Democratic-led, majority-Black city, pushed by Montgomery’s white Republican state senator over the objections of the city’s mayor, police chief and its other state senator, a Black Democrat who represents a larger swath of the city. “We’ve seen this before. This is nothing new,” Richard Williams, lead pastor of Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Montgomery, told reporters and others gathered for the news conference. The bill “empowers the state to remove elected Black officials from their operational control of the Montgomery Police Department.” The following day, the Alabama Senate’s Republican supermajority shut down any debate on the bill and approved it. Kirk Hatcher, Montgomery’s Black state senator, and other Democrats were not allowed to speak on the Senate floor until after it passed. The measure now awaits a vote in the House. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="081225.Dont_Tread_On_Me_Tank.jpg" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1467388/large/081225.Dont_Tread_On_Me_Tank.jpg?1755192700" title="081225.Dont_Tread_On_Me_Tank.jpg"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> Similar efforts have played out in recent years in other states — including Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee — as Republican lawmakers push for state takeovers of police departments and other municipal agencies in Democratic cities that often have significant Black populations. Conservative lawmakers frame their proposals as necessary for improving public safety or financial accountability. Critics say the takeover efforts undermine democracy by overriding local control, exceeding the traditional bounds of state power while perpetuating racist stereotypes. Many of the nation’s big cities<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/15/homicide-rates-highest-blue-cities-red-states#:~:text=The%20big%20picture%3A%2013%20of%20the%2020%20U.S.%20cities%20with%20the%20highest%20murder%20rates%20were%20in%20Republican%2Drun%20states.%20Many%20of%20those%20cities%20were%20run%20by%20Democrats%20who%20often%20are%20at%20odds%20with%20state%20officials%2C%20an%20Axios%20analysis%20of%20FBI%20data%20finds." target="_blank" title=""> with the highest murder rates</a> are located in Republican-led states but are governed by Democrats — a dynamic that fuels tension between state and local leadership. “It’s frustrating for the citizens of Montgomery whenever they’re the victims (of crime) and their neighbors are victims,” Alabama Republican state Sen. Will Barfoot, who represents a slice of Montgomery, told fellow legislators on the Senate floor in March. “You know that at the very least that it’s partially because Montgomery doesn’t have the law enforcement officers that they need.” Barfoot did not respond to Stateline’s request for comment. The Montgomery Police Department hasn’t publicly released its staffing figures. Barfoot said on the floor that while he hadn’t been able to get those numbers, he estimated the department has around 220-230 officers, which he said falls short of the roughly 400 it would need to be staffed effectively. In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe put the St. Louis police department under the control of a state-appointed board last year. Kansas City, Missouri, is the only other major city police department under state control. That arrangement dates from 1939, when the state assumed authority to combat corruption. In 2023, Mississippi’s white Republican supermajority gave the state-run Capitol Police expanded jurisdiction over the state capital of Jackson, which has been called the “Blackest City in America,” and created<a href="https://mississippitoday.org/2023/03/30/house-bill-1020-jackson-court-district/" target="_blank"> separate appointed courts</a> for the affluent, whiter parts of the city. In Tennessee, state lawmakers are trying to create<a href="https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/03/26/top-republicans-push-creation-of-a-new-state-board-to-oversee-nashville-tourism-tax-revenues/" target="_blank" title=""> a state-controlled tourism board</a> to oversee millions in surplus cash generated by Nashville. It’s the latest in a line of moves by the Republican-controlled state legislature to exert more influence in Democratic-led Nashville, including over its metro council, airport authority, electrical utility, and even its sports authority. “Society is collectively tolerating the loss of democracy in these limited pockets,” said Louise Seamster, a sociologist at the University of Iowa whose research has focused on politics and urban development. “They don’t understand it’s going to come for them eventually.” <h3>Echoes of division</h3> The state-local power struggle over the St. Louis police department dates to the eve of the Civil War. White secessionist leaders in Missouri took control of the St. Louis police to keep its officers from fighting against the Confederacy. Kansas City’s arrangement dates back to post-Civil War Reconstruction, when state lawmakers were trying to limit Black political influence and civil rights gains. Kansas City briefly regained control in 1932 before the state reasserted itself seven years later. At the time of Reconstruction, the growth of Black governance was seen as a major threat to white political power at the local and state levels, Seamster said. “All kinds of political arrangements, up to legalized and unsanctioned violence, were carried out to reset things to what white people in power thought was the norm, which was them in charge,” she said. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/27/2360159/-Inside-the-North-Carolina-GOP-s-decade-long-push-to-seize-power-from-the-state-s-democratic-governor" target="_blank">Inside the North Carolina GOP's decade-long push to seize power from the state’s democratic governor</a> <hr> Fast-forward to the Obama era: In a 2012 ballot initiative, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved returning control of the St. Louis police department to the city. But Republican state lawmakers tried in 2023 to repeal the measure, claiming St. Louis’ leaders at that time <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/02/state-takeover-of-st-louis-police-prosecutors-office-blocked-by-senate-democrats" target="_blank">couldn’t decrease crime on their own</a>. The effort failed after a nine-hour Democratic filibuster. GOP lawmakers got it passed in 2025 with the backing of Kehoe, who’d made the effort a priority of his first year in office. He<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/26/gov-mike-kehoe-signs-bill-to-put-st-louis-police-under-state-control/" target="_blank"> said</a> state control would give law enforcement the tools it needed to combat high crime rates. Missouri Democrats, noting that crime rates were decreasing,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/26/gov-mike-kehoe-signs-bill-to-put-st-louis-police-under-state-control/#:~:text=The%20bill%20passed%20on%20party%2Dline%20votes%20in%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%2C%20with%20Democrats%20opposing%20the%20move%20with%20arguments%20that%20it%20was%20racist%20because%20Black%20Democrats%20hold%20the%20major%20offices%20in%20St.%20Louis%20and%20unneeded%20because%20crime%20is%20decreasing." target="_blank" title=""> called</a> the measure racist; Black Democrats held the city’s major offices at the time. St. Louis has one of the highest homicide rates in the nation, though police officials said their data shows the murder rate<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/law-order/2025-04-02/police-homicides-in-st-louis-are-the-lowest-theyve-been-since-2005#:~:text=homicides%20dropped%20to%20their%20lowest%20level%20in%20the%20past%2020%20years%2C%20and%20that%20overall%20crime%20is%20down%20by%2028%25%20compared%20to%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%20last%20year." target="_blank" title=""> dropped to its lowest level in two decades</a> during the first three months of 2025. In Michigan, researchers found, financial stress alone didn’t explain municipal takeovers. Residents’ race and economic status, as well as a city’s reliance on state funding, were better predictors of state intervention, according to a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0160323X211038862" target="_blank">2021 study</a> from University of Michigan researchers. “Black communities show signs of being successful or having access to resources that might increase their autonomy or ability to develop,” said Seamster, who has studied city-state conflicts over resources. “Then it is often a trend where, formally or informally, white communities step in to take it back.” In 2019, the Republican-led Georgia state legislature<a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/senate-approves-state-takeover-of-atlanta-airport/85-8dd66027-6d20-423f-ad0e-bffb2e6369c6" target="_blank" title=""> tried to take over operation</a> of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, citing concerns over safety and corruption. Atlanta City Hall had been embroiled in a sprawling corruption scandal that eventually resulted in federal charges against multiple city staffers. Then-Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms denounced the move as an <a href="https://gpbnews.org/post/watch-atlanta-mayor-calls-state-airport-takeover-move-act-war" target="_blank">“act of war”</a> against the Democratic city, long a national hub of Black culture and business. Many of the cities targeted for state intervention struggle with the kind of persistent poverty and structural disadvantages that contribute to higher crime rates. Cities’ finances and power get siphoned away in myriad ways, Seamster said, from reduced state financial support or required power-sharing with a larger county, to more subtle changes, such as state decisions on how federal block grant funding is distributed that give cities less to work with. <h3>Taking back power</h3> Baltimore<a href="https://baltimorebeat.com/baltimore-finally-has-local-control-of-its-police-force-now-the-fight-for-accountability-can-begin/" target="_blank" title=""> regained control of its police department</a> last year after voters twice approved a ballot measure in the wake of a decade-long fight for local control. The police department had been under some form of state control since the Civil War. Lifelong resident Ray Kelly became interested in the issue when a student in his community was arrested. He soon learned that to lobby for changes in the department, he’d have to leave Baltimore for the state capitol in Annapolis, nearly an hour’s drive south. “Accountability starts at home, so the first place we naturally think we should go if we have an issue in our community is to our local representative,” he said, “and for 160 years the local representative had no authority, so it was like banging your head against the wall.” Kelly is now executive director of the Citizens Policing Project, a nonprofit that was part of a coalition of Maryland organizations that worked for years to get the ballot initiative passed. In the year since Baltimore gained control of its police, the Baltimore City Council has been holding regular public hearings on public safety. They’re “packed,” Kelly said, adding that one hearing had such a huge turnout that both the hearing room and the overflow room were full, with even more residents standing outside to listen. Kelly counts that as one visible and positive result of getting local control restored. “The ultimate goal is to have local people be able to shape how the operations of the police department happen on a day-to-day basis, and not have to travel all the way to Annapolis to do it,” he said. “People will be more involved as they learn we don’t have to write the state senator anymore, and we can just go to City Hall.” <h3>Missteps and breathing room</h3> Barfoot, the Alabama Republican state senator who represents a portion of Montgomery, told lawmakers he’s gotten more calls and messages about his bill proposing a takeover of the Montgomery police department than any other piece of legislation in his eight years in office. Most of them have been supportive, he said. Montgomery citizens, he said on the Senate floor, are “tired of turning on the news and hearing about the violence that we’ve had here in Montgomery. We’re tired of having the thefts that are occurring. We’re tired of having the robberies, the home invasions. And believe me, that is across Montgomery.” He pointed to other large cities in Alabama that he said had a much higher number of officers per 1,000 residents than Montgomery, and criticized the city for going through five different police chiefs in the past seven years. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and Hatcher say Barfoot never consulted them before introducing the bill. Barfoot acknowledged those “missteps” on the Senate floor, but said he’d since held a public hearing and said those leaders didn’t reach out to him, either. The current police chief spoke against the bill before lawmakers. Montgomery leaders say the bill unfairly singles out their city. As written, it applies only to Montgomery and Huntsville, a Republican-led city. It would give law enforcement in those cities five years to have a certain number of police officers per resident before the state steps in. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/8/18/2339034/-Blue-states-battle-Trump-over-threat-to-pull-funds-for-crime-victims" title="" target="_blank">Blue states battle Trump over threat to pull funds for crime victims</a> <hr> After Huntsville leadership approached lawmakers with concerns about the bill, sponsors lowered the staffing requirements to 1.9 officers per 1,000 residents to give Huntsville some “breathing room,” Barfoot<a href="https://aldailynews.com/spicy-lawmakers-return-from-spring-break-with-controversial-bills-on-calendars/#:~:text=Barfoot%20told%20Alabama%20Daily%20News%20last%20week%20the%20bill%20will%20be%20amended%20on%20the%20Senate%20floor%20to%20decrease%20that%20ratio%20to%201.9%20officers%20for%20every%201%2C000%20residents.%20He%20said%20that%20will%20give%20Huntsville%20%E2%80%9Ca%20bit%20more%20breathing%20room.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank"> told local media</a>. Huntsville now meets the requirements. But Montgomery is about 150 officers short of the bill’s mandate, Barfoot estimated. If it doesn’t hire the required number of officers within five years, the state can take over and charge the city for filling those vacancies. Williams, the Montgomery pastor, called that restitution clause a “financial weapon.” After the Senate passed the bill, Hatcher chastised his Republican colleagues for withholding resources from people who need it and voting against public safety measures that law enforcement wants. An Alabama law enacted in 2022 allows gun owners to carry a<a href="https://jeffcosheriffal.com/understanding-the-new-permit-less-carry-law/" target="_blank" title=""> handgun without a permit</a>, background check or safety training. “What I’ve come to believe is that when everybody around you has everything they need, that’s the safest we will be,” Hatcher said. “When people have health care, when people have food, SNAP benefits, that’s the safest we’ll be.” rss@dailykos.com (Stateline) Alabama Cities Republicans States _2377287 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:00:26 +0000 Trump TACOs on war crimes, and GOP races to defend him https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377157/-Trump-TACOs-on-war-crimes-and-GOP-races-to-defend-him?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= President Donald Trump spent the week terrifying the world <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376880/-Trump-walks-back-bombing-threats-for-2-weeks-if-Iran-agrees-to-ceasefire" target="_blank">flip-flopping</a> on war crimes threats. In response, the GOP and Fox News <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376996/-GOP-senator-fails-history-to-defend-Trump-s-war-crimes-threat" target="_blank">rushed</a> to cravenly <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2377005/-Fox-News-attempt-to-rebrand-TACO-Trump-is-extra-cheesy" target="_blank">play apologetics</a> for the deranged orange tyrant.  And it was all on video. <hr> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376636/-Please-keep-bombing-Trump-gives-most-unhinged-press-conference-yet" target="_blank">‘Please keep bombing’: Trump gives most unhinged press conference yet</a> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=ZHx8-2JThmw" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZHx8-2JThmw" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> If Trump wanted to make the case that there’s no reason for Congress to consider invoking the<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxxv" target="_blank"> 25th Amendment</a>, he undermined it bigly during his press briefing on the Iran war. <hr> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376618/-Giant-child-gripes-about-his-political-enemies-to-a-bunch-of-kids" target="_blank">Giant child gripes about his political enemies to a bunch of kids</a> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=yB7D56Aq8jg" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yB7D56Aq8jg" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Last year, Trump<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/21/2317842/-In-Trump-s-White-House-even-Easter-is-for-sale" target="_blank"> turned</a> the annual White House Easter Egg Roll into a cauldron of corporate sponsorships. And this time around, Trump<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/06/white-house-easter-egg-roll-watch-live/89442073007/" target="_blank"> subjected</a> the children in attendance to his petty grievances.  <hr> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376773/-GOP-cowards-race-to-defend-Trump-s-insane-Iran-war-crime-threats" target="_blank">GOP cowards race to defend Trump’s insane Iran war crime threats</a> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=VRMRvYhFbxg" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VRMRvYhFbxg" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Following Trump’s<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961" target="_blank"> threat</a> to<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376770/-Trump-threatens-to-end-Iran-s-civilization-Democrats-warned-us" target="_blank"> extinguish Iran’s civilization</a>, House Republicans defended their mad king. <hr> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2377005/-Fox-News-attempt-to-rebrand-TACO-Trump-is-extra-cheesy" target="_blank">Fox News' attempt to rebrand TACO Trump is extra cheesy</a> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=2QBAd01K7oc" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2QBAd01K7oc" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Trump is being slammed from all sides for his latest<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376880/-Trump-walks-back-bombing-threats-for-2-weeks-if-Iran-agrees-to-ceasefire" target="_blank"> TACO</a>, in which he backed down from his<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376800/-Don-t-assume-Trump-will-TACO-on-Iran-war-crime-threats" target="_blank" title=""> horrific threat of genocide</a> in Iran and agreed to a ceasefire that<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_2&pm_medium=web" target="_blank"> gives Iran more power</a> than it had before the war began. <hr> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377158/-JB-Pritzker-has-always-known-Trump-is-evil" title="" target="_blank">JB Pritzker has always known Trump is evil</a> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=LaYczeCBXO0" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LaYczeCBXO0" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Illinois Gov.<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/18/2373702/-JB-Pritzker-gets-2028-bump-after-his-favored-candidate-wins-election" title="" target="_blank"> JB Pritzker</a> was interviewed by civil rights activist Al Sharpton during the National Action Network Convention, where he reminded the audience that his opposition to Trump goes back to his first term. <hr> For more video content, check out Daily Kos on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DailyKos" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DailyKosMediaDesk" target="_blank">here</a>.  rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) ClipsOfTheWeek DonaldTrump FoxNews Iran Taco War _2377157 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:00:14 +0000 We’re stuck in the worst timeline https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377155/-We-re-stuck-in-the-worst-timeline?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Comic books and science fiction have long delved into the concept of alternate timelines, which creatively allow writers to show alternate versions of reality. They explore paths where small choices lead to radically different outcomes—where things either break better, or not at all. Think of the goateed evil Spock in the “Star Trek” mirror universe, or the countless comic book arcs where a single moment creates a darker, more distorted world. Help. Somehow, we got stuck in that darker timeline. Just look at this week. Everything is slipping further out of bounds, while the media, financial markets, and political establishment wander around pretending it’s all perfectly normal. After weeks dominated by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi (and <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kristi-noem-husband-bimbofication-fetish-photos-1235539805/" target="_blank">Bryon)</a> Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, attention on Daily Kos snapped back to President Donald Trump. Not because he was unhinged—that’s baseline—but because he crossed into something more dangerous. <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376650/-Donald-Trump-has-completely-lost-his-political-mind" target="_blank">Donald Trump has completely lost his political mind</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376636/--Please-keep-bombing-Trump-gives-most-unhinged-press-conference-yet" target="_blank">‘Please keep bombing’: Trump gives most unhinged press conference yet</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever" target="_blank">Trump declares victory after making Iran more powerful than ever</a> </li> </ul> It was so extreme that even <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/7/2376770/-Trump-threatens-to-end-Iran-s-civilization-Democrats-warned-us" target="_blank">Tucker Carlson</a> of all people warned about Trump having access to nuclear codes. Yet while right-wing media figures sounded alarms, the mainstream press did what even Carlson and many of his ilk wouldn’t: it softened, filtered, and protected. <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376583/-NY-Times-once-again-caught-sanewashing-Trump-s-unhinged-rhetoric" target="_blank">NY Times once again caught sanewashing Trump’s unhinged rhetoric</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376688/-CBS-turns-late-night-into-a-snoozefest" target="_blank">CBS turns late-night into a snoozefest</a> </li> </ul> There are few things more dangerous than an unhinged Trump. A compliant media is one of them. Trump has trashed the world order, rattled the global economy, and undermined democracy itself—and still, major outlets hesitate to describe what’s plainly in front of them. CBS has its excuse, now owned by a MAGA billionaire. The New York Times does not. And it’s not just the media. Wall Street surges every time Trump claims peace is around the corner, only to drop when reality catches up. Democrats push war powers resolutions that, even if passed, would spend years tied up in courts before a friendly Supreme Court neuters them. Everyone is still operating within boundaries Trump has already blown past, reacting to events instead of confronting the reality driving them. Trump is a demented, dangerous demagogue. Acting like procedural guardrails will contain him is fantasy. Even nutbags like Alex Jones and Candace Owens are openly talking about <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/1/2365623/-What-the-25th-Amendment-could-mean-for-Trump-and-all-of-America" target="_blank">the 25th Amendment</a>. Meanwhile, Democrats hesitate to overtly call for Trump’s ouster, to force Republicans to either defend Trump or break with him.  Because Republicans know exactly what this is costing them. <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" target="_blank">Anxious Republicans worry Trump's Iran mess has already cost them the midterms</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376630/-This-is-how-we-know-Republicans-are-terrified-they-ll-lose-the-Senate" target="_blank">This is how we know Republicans are terrified they'll lose the Senate</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376963/-Why-the-latest-elections-were-the-most-ominous-yet-for-the-GOP" target="_blank">Why the latest elections were the most ominous yet for the GOP</a> </li> </ul> Beneath the bluster, there’s panic. Republicans can see what voters are seeing, yet remain frozen—paralyzed and unwilling to stop Trump as he damages the country’s global standing and economy. For 15 months, voters have been sending the same message: do something. Instead, whether out of devotion or fear, Republicans have chosen complicity in Trump’s self-inflicted disasters. And underneath all of that, the machinery of government continues to erode. <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/3/2376197/-Republican-sets-bizarre-goals-for-next-attorney-general?detail=emaildkre" target="_blank">Republican sets bizarre goals for next attorney general</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376990/-Trump-s-Justice-Department-is-becoming-a-ghost-town" target="_blank">Trump’s Justice Department is becoming a ghost town</a> </li> </ul> Trump is leaving damage that will take decades to repair—if it can be repaired at all. The illusion that the United States is a stable, reliable force has been broken. The world now knows that no matter how many competent leaders might follow, the system itself can still produce someone like Trump again. In comic books, there’s always a timeline where the hero turns. In ours, Captain America isn’t a symbol of what’s best about the country, but something darker—wearing the same uniform while standing for the opposite of what it once meant. Same country. Same system. Just stripped of the assumptions that once held it together. And we’re stuck here.  rss@dailykos.com (kos) 2026 DailyKos DonaldTrump Elections House Iran JusticeDepartment PamBondi Senate theconversation War _2377155 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:00:03 +0000 US blockades on Cuba have a long history—and plenty of fallout https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2375326/-US-blockades-on-Cuba-have-a-long-history-and-plenty-of-fallout?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/tags/CaribbeanMatters" target="_blank">Caribbean Matters</a> is a weekly series from Daily Kos. Hope you’ll join us here every Saturday. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/9/28/2052768/-Caribbean-Matters-Getting-to-know-the-countries-of-the-Caribbean" target="_blank"> Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean</a>. <hr> The current<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-oil-blockade-cuba-economic-violence-opinion-11536015" target="_blank"> oil blockade of Cuba</a> handed down by President Donald Trump including the machinations of<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/30/rubio-denies-us-punitive-actions-blames-cuba-for-economic-failures" target="_blank"> Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a> and<a href="https://latinostudies.nd.edu/assets/95278/original/grenchun.pdf" target="_blank"> right-wing Cuban Americans </a>isn’t new. But many Cuban exiles have been waiting for over half a century for the fall of Castroism and <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-01-26/from-the-bay-of-pigs-to-the-capture-of-maduro-over-half-a-century-of-waiting-for-the-fall-of-castroism.html" target="_blank">to be able to return home</a>. Some of you reading are old enough to remember<a href="https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/bay-pigs-invasion" target="_blank"> The Bay of Pigs</a> invasion: <blockquote> The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed military operation undertaken by the United States in April 1961, aimed at overthrowing the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. Following Castro's rise to power in 1959 and the establishment of a socialist regime, many Cubans fled to the U.S., particularly Florida, where exile groups began organizing against him. Under President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later John F. Kennedy, the CIA trained a group of Cuban exiles for an invasion intended to spark a popular uprising in Cuba. The operation, however, faced numerous setbacks, including poor intelligence and a lack of local support, which ultimately contributed to its failure. </blockquote> But America’s intervening with Cuba really began during the <a href="https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/gp/90609.htm#:~:text=On%20April%2011%2C%201898%2C%20President,U.S.%20citizens%20on%20the%20island." target="_blank">Spanish-American War</a>: <blockquote> On April 11, 1898, U.S. President William McKinley requested congressional authorization to intervene in Cuba, marking a pivotal moment in the Spanish-American War and the transition of Caribbean territories under U.S. influence. Additionally, in 1899, the treaty ending the Spanish-American War took effect, ceding Puerto Rico to the U.S. </blockquote> This video from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFj_lpZ7HUc" target="_blank">Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education </a>helps to explain Cuba and U.S. relations from the early 1800s and then its independence from Spain until today: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=ZFj_lpZ7HUc" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZFj_lpZ7HUc?si=wXlhOwtxdiRtcwKS" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> The website of the <a href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/spanish-american-war" target="_blank">U.S. Office of the Historian </a>states: <blockquote> The Spanish-American War of 1898 ended Spain’s colonial empire in the Western   Hemisphere and secured the position of the United States as a Pacific power.         U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to          relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and    the Philippines to the United States. The United States also annexed the                 independent state of Hawaii during the conflict. Thus, the war enabled the           United States to establish its predominance in the Caribbean region and to             pursue its strategic and economic interests in Asia. </blockquote> Here’s an American’s perspective, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guWvEsMtArE" target="_blank">which visits</a> Havana, Cuba, and talks to Cubans about the country’s history with the U.S. and the effects that the embargo has on its residents, especially as things have intensified: <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=guWvEsMtArE" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/guWvEsMtArE?si=Xd-1Cb7o6xoulyMr" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> Here in the U.S., there are people who have continued to support Cuba. <a href="https://vb4cuba.com/" target="_blank">The Venceremos Brigade</a>, founded in 1969, continues today: <blockquote> In 1969, a coalition of young people formed the Venceremos (“We Shall Overcome”) Brigade in an act of solidarity with the Cuban Revolution, by working side by side with Cuban workers and challenging US policies towards Cuba, including the economic blockade and the US government’s ban on travel to the island. The people who came together to initiate this project represented a broad cross-section of the radical movements of the era: they were members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Communist Party, the Black Panther Party, the Young Lords, and other organizations on the frontlines of the struggles for socialism and against racism, sexism, and US imperialism and war. The first Brigades, comprised of as many as 700 “brigadistas”, traveled to Cuba via converted cattle ship and participated in sugar harvests across the island; subsequent Brigades, traveling by more modern means, have continued this legacy in agricultural, construction, and light manufacturing work: whatever has been needed. In the last 50 years, approximately 10,000 people from the US have traveled to Cuba with the VB, including elected officials, labor leaders, artists and entertainers, academics, activists, and social movement leaders, among them the late Yuri Kochiyama, who described the experience in 1989 as a “golden opportunity to work, study, and learn about global liberation struggles and socialism in Cuba.” </blockquote> <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-bluesky-content="&lt;blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5rawkhmxc2w" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreigdviydwombnbnwwr7kujgltrne4vxpyqibcebp2jmhfwpvdu3tfy" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"&gt;&lt;p lang="en"&gt;Looking through my OneDrive collection of photos, I came across this. Over 52 years ago, I was privileged to spend a couple of months in Cuba as a member of the 6th contingent of the Venceremos Brigade. One of the people who traveled with me was the current Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm/post/3m5rawkhmxc2w?ref_src=embed"&gt;[image or embed]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Rick Ladd (&lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm?ref_src=embed"&gt;@retreado.bsky.social&lt;/a&gt;) &lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm/post/3m5rawkhmxc2w?ref_src=embed"&gt;November 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;"><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5rawkhmxc2w" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreigdviydwombnbnwwr7kujgltrne4vxpyqibcebp2jmhfwpvdu3tfy">Looking through my OneDrive collection of photos, I came across this. Over 52 years ago, I was privileged to spend a couple of months in Cuba as a member of the 6th contingent of the Venceremos Brigade. One of the people who traveled with me was the current Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm/post/3m5rawkhmxc2w?ref_src=embed" target="_blank">[image or embed]</a>— Rick Ladd (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm?ref_src=embed" target="_blank">@retreado.bsky.social</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:bvxxibrii5qamtg6kox3jskm/post/3m5rawkhmxc2w?ref_src=embed" target="_blank">November 16, 2025 at 12:40 PM</a></blockquote></div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=jayEwZCgLmg" data-frameborder="0" data-height="315" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jayEwZCgLmg?si=T1FDqB_JGwgUoy-1" data-width="560">YouTube Video</a></div> There is also the<a href="https://nnoc.org/" target="_blank"> National Network on Cuba</a>, a U.S.-based umbrella organization composed of more than 60 organizations advocating for an end to Washington’s hostility toward Cuba, especially the inhumane U.S. economic blockade against the country. Join me in the comments section below to discuss not only this history but the current U.S. policies and for the weekly Caribbean News Roundup. rss@dailykos.com (Denise Oliver Velez) BayofPigs CaribbeanMatters Cuba USBlockadeofCuba USCubaPolicy VenceremosBrigade _2375326 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:00:09 +0000 American Nero https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/11/2377150/-American-Nero?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by David Horsey. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376880/-Trump-walks-back-bombing-threats-for-2-weeks-if-Iran-agrees-to-ceasefire" title="" target="_blank">Trump walks back bombing threats for 2 weeks—if Iran agrees to ceasefire</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (David Horsey) Cartoon DavidHorsey DonaldTrump Iran Nero War _2377150 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:30:16 +0000 ‘Absurd and inhuman’: We all know who Pope Leo is talking about https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377290/--Absurd-and-inhuman-We-all-know-who-Pope-Leo-is-talking-about?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope in history, has proven in his first year in Vatican City that he has no qualms with criticizing the cruel and corrupt megalomaniac who occupies the Oval Office. The head of the Catholic Church has <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/global-issues/article/2025/11/19/pope-leo-condemns-trump-s-immigration-policies_6747602_199.html" target="_blank">condemned</a> President Donald Trump and his administration multiple times over the mistreatment of immigrants and the Iran war, in which the United States and Israel have killed thousands of civilians—many of them <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/12/2372865/-Democrats-demand-probe-into-Trump-s-bombing-of-Iranian-school" target="_blank">children</a>—while <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_4&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">destabilizing</a> the global economy. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1430725/large/AP25128630402031.jpg?1746727290" title="Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)"> <figcaption>Pope Leo XIV appears at St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.</figcaption> </figure> "God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs," Pope Leo <a href="https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2042588417578668338" title="" target="_blank">wrote on X</a> Friday morning. "Military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples." And he didn't stop there. “Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East, profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people’s lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest. But no gain can be worth the life of the weakest, children, or families. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood,” he <a href="https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2042589665648099632" title="" target="_blank">wrote in another post</a>. It’s also not the first time that Pope Leo has made biting comments about the war in Iran. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/16/2373410/-Not-even-the-Pope-can-tolerate-Trump-and-Vance" title="" target="_blank">Not even the Pope can tolerate Trump and Vance</a> <hr> In March, he said that political leaders should go to confession for a "serious examination of conscience." And in his Palm Sunday message, he <a href="https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2038209125646016547" target="_blank">said</a> that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” "Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons!  Remember that you are brothers and sisters!" he <a href="https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2038209128682627517" target="_blank">added</a>. On Easter, Pope Leo explicitly slammed Trump, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-iran-trump-threat-unacceptable-332059536d7c4d6071c8f5abb35d8c8d" target="_blank">calling</a> his <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376770/-Trump-threatens-to-end-Iran-s-civilization-Democrats-warned-us?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_3&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">threat</a> to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” “truly unacceptable.” “I would like to invite everyone to truly think in their hearts about the many innocent people, so many children, so many elderly, completely innocent, who would also become victims of this escalation of a war that began from the very first days,” he <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/07/pope-leo-denounce-trump-iran-threat/" target="_blank">said</a>. <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=n72IjvykI3Q" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n72IjvykI3Q" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Sounds like even the pope doesn't think Trump is going to Heaven. Pope Leo’s sharp criticism of Trump’s warmongering came after <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/10/trump-vatican-pentagon-meeting/" title="" target="_blank">reports</a> of a tense January meeting between the Vatican and Defense Department. The Vatican denies reports that the Trump administration threatened the Holy See during the meeting, but Pope Leo has since <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-spend-us-july-4-holiday-italys-lampedusa-known-migrant-arrivals-2026-02-19/" target="_blank">announced</a> that he won’t be visiting the United States in 2026. Instead, he will travel to an Italian island that serves as a stop for Europe-bound African immigrants.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="Pope Leo XIV meets with Vice President JD Vance, center, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, on the occasion of their meeting at the Vatican, Monday, May 19, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1434585/large/AP25139264652249.jpg?1747694633" title="Pope Leo XIV meets with Vice President JD Vance, center, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, on the occasion of their meeting at the Vatican, Monday, May 19, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP)"> <figcaption>Pope Leo XIV meets with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on May 19, 2025.</figcaption> </figure> What’s more, there’s <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/pope-leo-xiv-meeting-david-axelrod-obama-advisor/" target="_blank">speculation</a> that Pope Leo will meet with former President Barack Obama before he meets with Trump—something that will absolutely crush Trump’s fragile little ego. "Being president, or even being an ex-president, I can kind of meet everybody. So I've met a lot of folks,” Obama <a href="https://barackobama.medium.com/my-conversation-with-brian-tyler-cohen-e25cac125f44" target="_blank">said on a podcast</a> in February. “The person who I have not yet met, and that I'm looking forward to meeting—and I hope I get an opportunity sometime in the future—is the new pope, who is from Chicago and a White Sox fan.” Meanwhile, the fact that the pope isn’t a fan of this administration has to eat away at Vice President JD Vance, who just <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/us/politics/jd-vance-book-communion.html" target="_blank">wrote a book</a> about his journey converting to Catholicism. In fact, former Pope Francis <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/21/2317794/-Pope-Francis-shames-the-crap-out-of-JD-Vance-in-final-acts-on-earth" title="" target="_blank">overtly criticized</a> Vance and his interpretation of Catholic doctrine in one of his final acts before his death last year. So far the Trump team doesn't seem to be doing much better with this pope either. rss@dailykos.com (Emily Singer) DonaldTrump Immigration Iran JDVance PopeLeoXIV Vatican War _2377290 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:01:01 +0000 Inflation keeps growing, and Trump's MAGA media loyalists jump ship https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377307/-Inflation-keeps-growing-and-Trump-s-MAGA-media-loyalists-jump-ship?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A daily roundup of the best stories and cartoons by Daily Kos staff and contributors to keep you in the know. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377173/-Barron-Trump-gets-in-on-the-family-grift?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">Barron Trump gets in on the family grift</a> If there’s one thing the world desperately needs right now, it’s a virgin piña colada soda from a Trump. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377237/-The-End-of-Beta-Week?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">The End of Beta Week</a> There’s still time to hit us with your fixes and comments! <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">Inflation surges as Iran war spirals</a> Just because Trump pretends it’s not a problem doesn’t make it true. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2376858/-The-other-nuclear-option?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank" title="">The other nuclear option</a> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Cartoon by Drew Sheneman" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542387/large/20260407edshe-b.jpg?1775599623" title="Cartoon by Drew Sheneman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> We’d much prefer this one. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377240/-Trump-admits-his-right-wing-backers-are-nut-jobs?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank" title="">Trump admits his right-wing backers are 'nut jobs'</a> A broken clock is right twice a day. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377241/-The-math-is-the-math-Buttigieg-schools-CNBC-host-on-inflation-Iran?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">‘The math is the math’: Buttigieg schools CNBC host on inflation, Iran</a> “We didn't have to be fighting this war. What are we doing?”  <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377266/-Trump-s-costly-coal-obsession-is-killing-the-environment?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">Trump's costly coal obsession is killing the environment</a> A $900 electricity bill is no way to live. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377259/-Can-t-afford-food-That-won-t-stop-this-Trump-crony-from-smiling?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">Can’t afford food? That won’t stop this Trump crony from smiling.</a> How we’d love to wipe that smile off Kevin Hassett’s face. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377258/-Republicans-are-celebrating-the-latest-inflation-report-Yes-really?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">Republicans are celebrating the latest inflation report. Yes, really.</a> The things Republicans do to avoid painting Trump as wrong … <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/blogs/Comics?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04102026" target="_blank">Click here to see more cartoons.</a> rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos Staff) AlexJones BarronTrump Coal Inflation IranWar KevinHassett PeteButtigieg TheRecap TuckerCarlson _2377307 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:52:06 +0000 Congressional crisis kit https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377182/-Congressional-crisis-kit?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Brian McFadden. Support <a href="https://www.patreon.com/BrianMcFadden" target="_blank">my Patreon</a> for early access and exclusives. Follow me on <a href="https://mastodon.social/@mcfadden" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mcfadden.bsky.social" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, or at <a href="https://brianmcfadden.org/" target="_blank">my website</a>. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376821/-Republicans-helped-make-Trump-s-mess-and-only-they-can-clean-it-up" target="_blank">Republicans helped make Trump's mess—and only they can clean it up</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (BrianMcFadden) BrianMcFadden Cartoon Congress DonaldTrump Impeachment _2377182 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:59:05 +0000 These Democrats are dropping hints about their 2028 plans https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377305/-These-Democrats-are-dropping-hints-about-their-2028-plans?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= During the National Action Network Convention in New York City on Friday, civil rights activist Al Sharpton interviewed former Vice President Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, directly asking them about their <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/1/2370649/-Sure-it-s-early-but-let-s-talk-about-2028" target="_blank">potential 2028 plans</a>. “Let me say this: I am thinking about it,” Harris said. “I think that the American people have a right to expect that anyone who wants to run for office and be a leader—that it can't be about themselves and what they want for themselves—it's gotta be about the American people.” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=izMml5CNRe8" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/izMml5CNRe8" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Meanwhile, Buttigieg made it clear that he intends to run again in 2028. “When you ran for president, you met me, and we went up to lunch at Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem,” Sharpton said. “Just so my calendar is clear, should I be reserving a table at Sylvia's? Are you gonna run again?”  “You save me a seat, I'll be there,” Buttigieg replied. <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=IELrVr8Z9Qg" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IELrVr8Z9Qg" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Harris and Buttigieg joined other potential presidential contenders at the convention, including Illinois Gov. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377158/-JB-Pritzker-has-always-known-Trump-is-evil" target="_blank">JB Pritzker</a>. Regardless of who runs, it’ll sure be a hell of a lot better than the madman who’s currently in power. rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) 2028 AlSharpton Elections KamalaHarris NationalActionNetwork PeteButtigieg _2377305 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:15:02 +0000 WTF is going on with Melania? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377314/-WTF-is-going-on-with-Melania?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Melania Trump’s senior adviser, Marc Beckman, went on<a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/melania-trump-adviser-speaks-led-surprise-epstein-statement/story?id=131918888" title="" target="_blank"> “Fox &  Friends</a>” on Friday to try to explain the first lady’s extremely<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377154/-Kristi-Noem-s-flying-loveshack-finds-a-new-home" title="" target="_blank"> weird</a> Thursday press conference about Jeffrey Epstein, but did not illuminate why she chose to read a six-minute<a href="https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/melania-trump-epstein-press-conference" title="" target="_blank"> statement</a> saying she had no connections to the accused sex trafficker.  The statement she read was essentially just a really long version of the famous Mariah Carey “I don’t know her”<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/mariah-carey-i-dont-know-her-eun4dZ28aHE1lu4MFN" title="" target="_blank"> gif</a>, with Melania denying any meaningful connection to Epstein or to his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and then not taking any questions from the assembled press. <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder dk-x-embed" href="#" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="365" data-src="https://giphy.com/embed/eun4dZ28aHE1lu4MFN" data-width="480">Embedded Content</a></div> <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/mariah-carey-i-dont-know-her-eun4dZ28aHE1lu4MFN" title="" target="_blank">via GIPHY</a> Besides<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/jeffrey-epstein-melania-trump.html" title="" target="_blank"> saying</a> she never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims, she made sure to slam the shadowy unnamed cabal of haters who are telling lies about her.  “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect,” Melania said. “I do not object to their ignorance, but rather, I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.” Beckman, who is also somehow one of the<a href="https://variety.com/2026/music/news/melania-documentary-producer-jonny-greenwood-music-interview-1236670805/" target="_blank"> producers</a> of the first lady’s vanity<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/4/2367141/--Melania-tickets-are-the-latest-way-to-bribe-Trump" title="" target="_blank"> documentary</a> along with being her adviser, said she spoke out because “She’s ready to fight” and that “it’s time for the public to refocus their attention on what achievements our first lady has done.” Come on. Melania has a<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/24/2374530/-Oh-boy-Melania-has-another-pretend-job" title="" target="_blank"> fake job</a> helming her “Foster the Future” initiative—for The Children, of course. However, at a two-day conference that she was supposedly running, she stayed for seven minutes on Day 1 and showed up briefly, inexplicably, with a<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/25/2374783/-White-House-graced-by-weird-android-devoid-of-human-emotion-and-a-robot" title="" target="_blank"> robot</a> on Day 2. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/25/2374783/-White-House-graced-by-weird-android-devoid-of-human-emotion-and-a-robot" title="" target="_blank">White House graced by weird android devoid of human emotion—and a robot</a> <div style="text-align:right"> <div> <hr> Melania did address<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/9/us-first-lady-melania-trump-denies-connection-to-epstein-in-rare-speech" title="" target="_blank"> an email</a> she’d once sent to Maxwell, saying it “cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence.” </div> </div> The famously indifferent first lady didn’t specify which email, but it seems likely it was<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02332411.pdf" title="" target="_blank"> this one</a> from 2002, which was released months ago. “Dear G, how are you?” the email read. “Nice story about JE in New York Mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in New York. Have a great time. Love, Melania.” The first lady also<a href="https://www.ms.now/news/melania-trump-denies-all-but-casual-ties-to-epstein-and-maxwell" target="_blank"> decided</a> to functionally demand that Epstein’s victims appear before Congress.  “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record,” Melania intoned. “Then, and only then, will we have the truth.” Melania didn’t exactly<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/10/epstein-survivors-melania-trump-reaction" target="_blank"> clear that</a> with those victims. Thirteen of the women who hve accused Epstein of abuse issued a statement saying that “Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice.” Melania also didn’t clear it with Trump, who straight-up denied that he knew his wife was going to hold her little press conference and also said that Melania “didn’t know” Epstein.   <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Jack Ohman" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1543364/large/20260410edohc-a.jpg?1775852847" title="Cartoon by Jack Ohman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> Buddy, there is a literal<a href="https://abcnews.com/US/melania-trump-jeffrey-epstein/story?id=131899025" target="_blank"> picture</a> of you and Melania hanging with Epstein and Maxwell.  One possibility: Melania was trying to get ahead of some news about Amanda Ungaro and Paolo Zampolli. Zampolli, a longtime Trump associate, asked ICE to do him a solid and get Ungaro deported so that he could<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/us/paolo-zampolli-ice-melania-trump-epstein.html" target="_blank"> prevail</a> in a custody battle over their son. Zampolli has long claimed he<a href="https://www.latintimes.com/who-amanda-ungaro-why-internet-thinks-she-triggered-melania-trumps-epstein-statement-596500" target="_blank"> introduced</a> Melania to Donald, and Ungaro was still hanging out with Melania as late as the 2017 inauguration. But Zampolli is in the Epstein files a bunch, and once discussed buying a modeling agency with Epstein. He also met Ungaro thanks to Epstein, after she flew from Paris to New York on his plane in 2002, when she was 17. Later that year, she met Zampolli, who was 32—but hey, he totally did not date her until she was 19, you guys. But though Zampolli succeeded in getting Ungaro deported to Brazil, she still has her X account. On Wednesday, she<a href="https://x.com/AmandaUngaroA/status/2042104952110076000" target="_blank"> posted</a> to Melania that she would “take legal action against you and your pedophile husband.” She also reminded Melania of their long friendship. “I have known you for 20 years. You knew I was detained in ICE. You were present in my life — every year on my son’s birthday, even sending Secret Service and being the first to congratulate him, back in 2016,” Ungaro wrote. On Thursday, Ungaro stepped up her<a href="https://x.com/AmandaUngaroA/status/2042105392285487353" title="" target="_blank"> posting game</a>, telling Melania, “I will tear down your corrupt system, even if it’s the last thing I do in my life. I will go all the way—I am not afraid. Maybe you should be afraid of what I know… of who you are, and who your husband is.” So, the math checks out, as Ungaro’s post hit at midnight on Thursday, and Melania’s surprise press conference happened only about<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/acyn.bsky.social/post/3mj3hcbkqye2g" title="" target="_blank"> 13 hours later</a>.  Now, no one except Beckman is talking, and all he’s doing is lavishing completely untrue<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/melania-adviser-marc-beckman-reveals-why-she-addressed-epstein-now/" target="_blank"> praise</a> on Melania and telling us we all need to straighten up and fly right. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377143/-Donald-isn-t-the-only-Trump-America-hates" title="" target="_blank">Donald isn’t the only Trump America hates</a> <hr> “We as a society need to get back to respect, and certainly, our first lady, the first lady of the United States, deserves respect,” her flack insisted. “When she’s out there working every single day for Americans, helping children, helping families, driving to make this country better, that’s what she deserves for people to pay attention to, not this nonsense.” This is as<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/8/26/2340369/-Watch-this-Trump-Cabinet-meeting-devolve-into-ass-kissing-assembly" target="_blank"> ridiculous</a> as when all of Donald Trump’s Cabinet members try to one-up each other in how much they can fawn over the embattled president. If you’d like to know more, too bad. Melania said that any questions about whether Trump knew about her statement in advance should be<a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/melania-trump-adviser-speaks-led-surprise-epstein-statement/story?id=131918888" target="_blank"> addressed</a> to the West Wing, but the White House directed questions back to her.  So, it could be that Melania came forward to try to get ahead of Ungaro spilling the tea, or it could be for some other reason that only made sense in Melania’s brain. But no matter what, we can rest assured that everyone in Trump’s orbit will keep spinning to protect him at all costs. rss@dailykos.com (Lisa Needham) AmandaUngaro GhislaineMaxwell JeffreyEpstein MelaniaTrump paolozampolli _2377314 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:30:03 +0000 House Republican says Congress should butt out of Trump’s war https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377279/-House-Republican-says-Congress-should-butt-out-of-Trump-s-war?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Big-time <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/9/2308392/-How-Republicans-are-making-pathetic-excuses-for-Trump-s-inflation" target="_blank">Trump apologist</a> Rep. Russell Fry of South Carolina appeared on Fox Business Friday to offer a powerfully convoluted—but telling—excuse for why the GOP-controlled Congress remains unwilling to do its job and rein in the war in Iran. “Congress, right now, certainly has an obligation in some ways to assist in matters of international importance,” Fry said. “But to micromanage the president with 535 CEOs of the country doesn't make a lot of sense to me—doesn't make a lot of sense to the American people.” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=QeKWjMj7CjQ" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QeKWjMj7CjQ" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> “We don't need Congress, right now, micromanaging a war—or a conflict—that the president is trying to engage in,” he added. From referring to Congress as “535 CEOs” to catching himself mid-sentence, realizing that the word “war” <a href="https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/news/war-powers-resolution-1973" title="" target="_blank">carries actual weight</a>, Fry’s cowardly dodge encapsulates the GOP’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376996/-GOP-senator-fails-history-to-defend-Trump-s-war-crimes-threat" target="_blank">historic levels</a> of amorality and inaction. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/25/2374804/-Trump-s-propaganda-princess-drops-absurd-excuse-for-not-declaring-war" target="_blank">Trump’s propaganda princess drops absurd excuse for not declaring war</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) Congress Constitution DonaldTrump Iran RussellFry War _2377279 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:00:06 +0000 Kristi Noem might already be out of her new fake gig https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377278/-Kristi-Noem-might-already-be-out-of-her-new-fake-gig?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= If you’re keeping your ear to the ground in Washington, D.C., you might have heard some whispering that Kristi Noem’s new gig already has an expiration date. According to the latest gossip floating around town,<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/5/2371788/-Kristi-Noem-commits-Trump-s-one-unforgivable-sin" target="_blank"> the fired </a>former Department of Homeland Security secretary has been noticeably absent from her newly created role, special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. Then again, state officials told the Daily Mail that she was never meant to hold this job for the long haul anyway.  “This post was intended as a soft landing so it didn’t look like Noem was immediately being fired,” sources<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15716841/kristi-noem-husband-bryon-bimbo.html" target="_blank"> told the tabloid</a>. <figure class="image-captioned align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Tim Campbell" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1541014/large/20260402edtcc-a.jpg?1775156996" title="Cartoon by Tim Campbell"> <figcaption>“Have some respect” by Tim Campbell</figcaption> </figure> “But no one really thinks she should have this job. The State Department was not happy to have her here and the understanding is that she’s not going to be here for much longer.” Noem has quite an excuse for playing hookey as of late. Last month, <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375727/-Kristi-Noem-s-very-bad-month-takes-jaw-dropping-turn" target="_blank">news broke</a> that the former South Dakota governor’s husband, Bryon, has a very expensive “bimbofication” fetish that he has been living in secret for years. Since the cat was thrust out of the bag, more details have emerged about Bryon’s extracurricular activities, including extremely personal details, photos, and money spent.  But Kristi, who has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/13/politics/south-dakota-kristi-noem-transgender-minors" target="_blank">pushed an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda</a> throughout her career, maintained that she and her family were “blindsided” by this revelation. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375727/-Kristi-Noem-s-very-bad-month-takes-jaw-dropping-turn" target="_blank">Kristi Noem's very bad month takes a jaw-dropping turn</a> <hr> It’s unclear if all of this is impacting her new gig or if a quiet exit from the newly made-up role was the plan all along.  However, even her aides are getting the axe. According to the New York Post, three aides brought over from her time at the DHS have been placed on administrative leave, reportedly due to their ties to Corey Lewandowski. “They didn’t want any people that would be tentacles for Lewandowski,” a source <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/09/us-news/kristi-noems-loyal-staffers-axed-after-following-scandal-ridden-boss-to-new-gig-youre-obviously-not-welcome/" target="_blank">told the Post</a>. Lewandowski, despite being a contracted worker, was Kristi’s right-hand man throughout her time in the DHS position and was rumored to have more control than originally led on, not to mention the allegations that they were having an affair. Then again, someone had to take the helm while Kristi <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/24/2312256/-Here-s-where-cosplaying-homeland-security-chief-will-be-performing-next" target="_blank">cosplayed her way across the nation</a>, and in <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/27/2312907/-Kristi-Noem-takes-her-evil-influencer-act-to-Salvadoran-prison" target="_blank">El Salvador’s prisons</a>, while <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/11/15/2353850/-Firm-tied-to-Kristi-Noem-secretly-got-money-from-220-million-DHS-ad-contracts" target="_blank">charging taxpayers</a> hundreds of millions of dollars for her fun. rss@dailykos.com (Alix Breeden) bryonNoem CoreyLewandowski DepartmentofHomelandSecurity KRISTINOEM _2377278 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:00:13 +0000 Trump finds new way to meddle in state elections https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377286/-Trump-finds-new-way-to-meddle-in-state-elections?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A Republican state senate candidate in Indiana is <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/white-house-failed-push-candidate-indiana-republican-senate-primary-rcna267361" target="_blank">alleging</a> that the Trump administration tried to entice her to drop out of her race by offering up a job to clear the path for President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate. Alexandra Wilson said that she was contacted by White House officials in February as part of a pressure campaign to get her to leave the race, a move that would assist Brenda Wilson, the administration’s preferred candidate. Both women are running against state Sen. Greg Goode. Goode is in Trump’s crosshairs because he is<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/12/2358107/-Indiana-spurns-Trump-s-attempt-to-rig-2026-elections" title="" target="_blank"> among the Indiana officials</a> who opposed White House efforts to pass a redistricting measure to squeeze out Democrats and favor Republicans. Faced with increasingly likely odds of a midterms wipeout, Republicans have been trying to change the rules to rig election results. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Republican 3rd district congressional candidate Greg Goode talks with supporters at a Johnson County Republican election watch party in Overland Park, Kan., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1543330/large/AP16216087353586.jpg?1775848041" title="Republican 3rd district congressional candidate Greg Goode talks with supporters at a Johnson County Republican election watch party in Overland Park, Kan., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)"> <figcaption>Indiana state Sen. Greg Goode</figcaption> </figure> Wilson told NBC that she was contacted by an array of White House officials. In one call shared with the outlet, White House Political Director Matt Brasseaux said he could personally contact the White House Presidential Personnel Office to get her a job with the administration that would be based in Indiana. “I’m going to ask the point-blank question here: Is there a pathway to where you would put some thought into another route to making an impact in your community?” he asked. Brasseaux also texted Wilson and indicated that he had spoken to the office of Indiana Gov. Mike Braun about possibly getting her a job with boards and commissions in the state so she could leave the race. In another call, Trump’s deputy chief of staff James Blair told Wilson that he had dirt on Wilson’s past, referencing her husband’s past charges for resisting arrest and driving under the influence. He also told her that the race would get “ugly.” Wilson told NBC that she found Blair’s call “a little threatening” but declined to do as the White House requested. The behind-the-scenes pressure campaign follows the pattern of Trump’s past underhanded behavior. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/2/2366862/-Why-Trump-s-raid-on-Georgia-election-site-is-so-chilling" title="" target="_blank">Why Trump's raid on Georgia election site is so chilling</a> <hr> For instance, after it was clear that he lost the 2020 election in Georgia to former President Joe Biden,<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/d45acb92-4dc4-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html" target="_blank"> </a>Trump <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/d45acb92-4dc4-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html" target="_blank">called</a> Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to demand that he find votes to overturn the results. In another instance,<a href="https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trumps-ukraine-call-context-damning/" target="_blank"> </a>Trump <a href="https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trumps-ukraine-call-context-damning/" target="_blank">spoke</a> to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an effort to pressure him to find dirt on Trump’s political opponents. Trump’s first impeachment was a direct result of that call, as he misused the presidential office. Trump’s involvement in local Indiana politics demonstrates his continued use of his presidency to settle personal political scores.  It also highlights the dire straits that Republicans find themselves in as their effort to redraw congressional districts has<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/3/26/2374906/-Florida-GOP-gets-cold-feet-about-rigging-House-map" title="" target="_blank"> become a political albatross</a> while Democrats surge toward electoral victory. rss@dailykos.com (Oliver Willis) Corruption DonaldTrump Elections Indiana Midterms Redistricting _2377286 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:00:14 +0000 Greedy, myopic knuckleheads https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2376986/-Greedy-myopic-knuckleheads?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by David Horsey. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376790/-Best-part-of-being-an-astronaut-Escaping-Trump-s-mess-on-Earth" title="" target="_blank">Best part of being an astronaut: Escaping Trump's mess on Earth</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (David Horsey) artemisII Cartoon DavidHorsey Earth Moon NASA _2376986 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:59:03 +0000 Republicans are celebrating the latest inflation report. Yes, really. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377258/-Republicans-are-celebrating-the-latest-inflation-report-Yes-really?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Inflation in March saw the<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank"> biggest month-over-month spike in three years</a>, all thanks to President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/9/2372351/-Trump-s-war-spikes-gas-prices-and-gets-Iran-a-worse-leader?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_2&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">boondoggle</a> of a war in Iran that led to the largest single-month <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/26/2374929/-Trump-team-says-Americans-are-cool-with-high-gas-prices-for-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">increase in gas prices</a> since the 1967 oil embargo. But rather than acknowledge that Americans are being squeezed by higher prices, Republicans actually celebrated—yes, celebrated—the inflation report. "Core inflation just came in LOWER than expected for the month of March!" the Republican National Committee<a href="https://x.com/GOP/status/2042585562024902958" target="_blank"> wrote</a> in a post on X. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals" target="_blank">Inflation surges as Iran war spirals</a> <hr> The RNC continued, "President Trump continues defying the 'experts' and beating expectations," ending the absurd spin with an emoji of money floating away and an American flag. Indeed, core inflation—which doesn't include volatile energy and food prices—was 2.6% in March, a 0.2% increase from February.  But that does not negate the fact that Americans last month paid <a href="https://x.com/tracyalloway/status/2042583069379490125" target="_blank">21.2% more for gasoline</a>, and 30.7% more for fuel oil that helps heat homes—totals that helped spike overall inflation to 3.3% in March. <figure class="image-captioned align-right"><img alt="Ray Ruda fills his van with fuel at a gas station Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1538367/large/AP26084675982187.jpg?1774539166" title="Ray Ruda fills his van with fuel at a gas station Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)"> <figcaption>Ray Ruda fills his van with fuel at a gas station on March 25 in Brentwood, Tennessee.</figcaption> </figure> That 3.3% inflation meant that Americans' weekly pay actually saw a net loss last month, as the spike in gas prices outstripped a nominal rise in wages. It's why polls show Americans strongly disapprove of Trump's handling of the economy, and why consumer confidence in March fell to the<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/10/consumer-sentiment-inflation-fears-iran-war.html" target="_blank"> lowest level ever recorded</a>. “The reason it feels hard to get ahead right now is because it's hard to get ahead right now,” University of Michigan economics professor Justin Wolfers <a href="https://x.com/JustinWolfers/status/2042612338583314631" target="_blank">wrote</a> in a post on X. “Wages are barely keeping up with prices, and prices are just starting to heat up.” What's more, experts say that the inflation reports will likely get worse in the coming months, as rising fuel costs have downstream effects. “Core inflation excludes food and energy, it’s too soon for those prices to be impacted by the Iran war, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be. Higher energy prices ultimately effects the cost of making and transporting many things,” Betsey Stevenson, a former member of Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, <a href="https://x.com/BetseyStevenson/status/2042585226707185999" target="_blank">wrote</a> in a post on X. For example, shipping companies are already tacking on fuel surcharges to make up for the rising cost of gas—added expenses that businesses are sure to pass down to consumers. Same with airlines, which are raising baggage fees and flight prices to compensate for the spike in jet fuel. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" target="_blank">Anxious Republicans worry Trump's Iran mess has already cost them the midterms</a> <hr> After reading the GOP's response to the inflation report, many are probably asking why they would release such a tone-deaf comment. But it's easy to understand when you realize that Republicans can never admit that Trump is wrong. As far as the MAGSA faithful are concerned, Dear Leader can only be failed, not fail anyone else. Yet that message is unlikely to be a winning one in a midterm election that will be based on affordability. It's no wonder Republicans are privately <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" target="_blank">fretting</a> that the war in Iran will lead to bruising midterm losses. rss@dailykos.com (Emily Singer) 2026election 2026midterms DonaldTrump Gas GasPrices Inflation Oil RepublicanNationalCommittee RNC _2377258 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:00:05 +0000 Can’t afford food? That won’t stop this Trump crony from smiling. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377259/-Can-t-afford-food-That-won-t-stop-this-Trump-crony-from-smiling?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= National Economic Council Director <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/11/10/2353147/-Inflation-is-way-down-Trump-team-lays-a-rotten-egg" title="" target="_blank">Kevin Hassett</a> dragged himself to Fox Business Friday to try to polish the turd that is last month’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals" target="_blank">dismal inflation report</a>.  Hassett rambled, slicing off percentage points here and there to make the recent surge in inflation sound more palatable. “A fine performance, if I may say,” host Stuart Varney replied. “3.3% inflation and you smiled all the way through, as you usually do.” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=e6u7jUf8wmI" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e6u7jUf8wmI" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> It’s hard to tell if that was a compliment. Since the beginning of last year, Hassett’s job has been to smile and tell Americans, who are <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/17/2373557/-Trump-team-doesn-t-care-if-Iran-war-breaks-your-bank" target="_blank">struggling with rising costs</a> on everything from health care to food and housing, that <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/3/2376192/-Trump-official-tells-tall-tale-about-how-the-economy-is-great-now" target="_blank">everything is great</a>. And it’s true—<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377120/-Unless-you-re-a-billionaire-Trump-just-raised-your-taxes" target="_blank">if you’re a billionaire</a>. rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) DonaldTrump Economy Inflation Iran KevinHassett War _2377259 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:55:01 +0000 Trump's costly coal obsession is killing the environment https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377266/-Trump-s-costly-coal-obsession-is-killing-the-environment?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= In his continuing quest to prop up a dying coal industry, President Donald Trump’s latest move is to make it more toxic—literally. Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency, which<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/12/2368448/-Trump-s-EPA-revokes-scientific-finding-that-underpinned-US-fight-against-climate-change" target="_blank"> these days</a> is more of an Attack the Environment Agency, is<a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5824750-trump-administration-coal-waste-regulations/" title="" target="_blank"> proposing</a> to let coal plants use “alternative groundwater protections standards,” which sounds benign, but actually means that it will be easier for coal companies to dump coal ash, which contains a whole host of contaminants like mercury and arsenic. Fun! Also, coal companies would be off the hook for cleaning up their toxic mess on their entire<a href="https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-coal-climate-fossil-fuels-industry-emissions-20260409.html" title="" target="_blank"> properties</a>—only where they dumped the coal ash. Basically, this just makes it easier for coal companies to leave their poisonous sludge in groundwater. And some<a href="https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/epa-proposes-to-gut-federal-coal-ash-cleanup-requirements-and-health-protections" title="" target="_blank"> coal ash dumps</a> would be exempt from any regulation at all under the new rules. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Pedro Molina" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1530539/large/20260225edpmc-a.jpg?1772065963" title="Cartoon by Pedro Molina"> <figcaption>“Money (doesn’t) talk” by Pedro Molina</figcaption> </figure> The EPA’s proposed rule would allow the agency and individual states to determine that their residents can be exposed to higher levels of cobalt, lithium, and lead in their coal-ash-contaminated groundwater. And if coal companies want to make a little extra coin on the side? That toxic coal ash could be used in place of normal non-toxic soil in things like playgrounds and parks.  Enjoy that arsenic, kids! The EPA also decided that health risks from coal ash have been “overstated” by the agency previously, and since this new rule would result in cost savings for coal companies, which is all that really matters, those health risks don’t matter anyway. Those health risks actually<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/epa-coal-ash-rule" title="" target="_blank"> include</a> links to cancer, heart disease, and brain damage, which seems very not great, but it’s just the price we have to pay for the administration’s<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/epa-coal-ash-rule" title="" target="_blank"> commitment</a> to “restoring American energy dominance,” as EPA head Lee Zeldin explained.  Yeah, about that. While the whole country is in the grip of <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war" target="_blank">r</a><a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war" title="" target="_blank">unaway gas prices thanks to Trump’s war,</a> folks in West Virginia, the very heart of coal country, are also in the grip of insane electricity costs. Such energy dominance!  These days, West Virginia residents face monthly electric bills that<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electricity-utility-bills-west-virginia-trump-coal-38ad648f99a42eb2c73d7affaddadbcb" title="" target="_blank"> can exceed</a> their mortgage payments. So much for Trump’s election<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-electricity-prices-wind-solar-7c089e33bf237a218f7ea9fe54ecb019" title="" target="_blank"> promise</a> to cut energy bills in half, claiming that renewable energy was somehow responsible for higher electricity prices. It’s so great that our entire energy policy is driven by Trump’s inexplicable, unhinged hatred and fear of windmills and wind power, which he<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/6/12/2327566/-Trump-thinks-windmills-are-killing-our-country-yes-really" title="" target="_blank"> claims</a> are “killing our country” and that<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/28/2335598/-Noted-windbag-is-freaking-out-about-windmills-again" title="" target="_blank"> windmills</a> “destroy the beauty of your fields and your planes and your, and your waterways, and look, look out there.” Destroys the beauty of … planes? What? <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/29/2346095/-In-Trump-s-America-your-tax-dollars-will-help-wreck-the-planet" title="" target="_blank">In Trump's America, your tax dollars will help wreck the planet</a> <hr> Meanwhile, back in the real world, electricity costs in February <a href="https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/trump-promised-cut-electric-costs-half-bills-energy-131865347" title="" target="_blank">were up 4.8% nationwide </a>compared with the same time last year, while natural gas prices spiked 10.9% higher. But things are far, far worse in West Virginia, where the average household electricity rate is up 73% per kilowatt hour. That translates to monthly bills of up to<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/29/2346095/-In-Trump-s-America-your-tax-dollars-will-help-wreck-the-planet" target="_blank"> $750</a>. Oh wait, sorry. Bills were as high as $750/month last September. Now, they’re pushing $900 monthly. In part, that’s thanks to the state’s Public Service Commission, which has approved a plethora of rate hikes. Not really surprising when you learn that the three-member panel includes a former power company lobbyist and the former head of the state coal association. Neat how that works. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="coalie3.png" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1520242/large/coalie3.png?1769127600" title="coalie3.png"> <figcaption>Coalie, Trump’s new coaling mining mascott</figcaption> </figure> Meanwhile, your tax dollars are<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/29/2346095/-In-Trump-s-America-your-tax-dollars-will-help-wreck-the-planet" title="" target="_blank"> going</a> to coal companies to upgrade aging power plants. At the same time, the administration is also forcing<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/6/9/2326852/-We-re-getting-coal-whether-we-want-it-or-not" title="" target="_blank"> companies</a> to keep coal plants open, even when they don’t want to, and even though it costs consumers more to keep them open. It’s a financial giveaway to coal companies at the expense of the health of everyone in coal country.  But hey, at least we have<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/23/2364887/-Meet-Coalie-the-Trump-team-s-absurd-new-mascot" target="_blank"> Coalie</a>, that cute lil piece of coal mascot. Too bad he won’t keep West Virginians warm at night when utilities cut off their power because they simply can’t pay the staggering bills. And those bills are a direct result of Trump’s hatred for renewable energy and fixation on fossil fuels. He’s wrecking the environment, and we’re all paying the price.  rss@dailykos.com (Lisa Needham) Coal EPA windmills _2377266 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0000 ‘The math is the math’: Buttigieg schools CNBC host on inflation, Iran https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377241/--The-math-is-the-math-Buttigieg-schools-CNBC-host-on-inflation-Iran?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took CNBC’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/25/2374758/-Democrat-shuts-down-CNBC-host-over-conservative-spin" target="_blank">Joe Kernen</a> to pieces when the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/12/2363030/-Watch-a-Trump-apologist-struggle-to-defend-ICE-ineptitude" target="_blank">MAGA apologist</a> tried to defend President Donald Trump’s dumpster fire of an economy. Buttigieg presented the inflationary numbers since Trump came back into office, adding, “There's no obvious way out now,” when Kernen tried deflecting by asking if the Afghanistan veteran wanted the U.S. to “just pull out” of <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever" target="_blank" title="">Iran</a>. Kernen's attempts to downplay <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">Trump’s high inflation numbers</a> were so tortured that co-host Andrew Sorkin felt compelled to step in and remind him that “the math is the math.”  “His central campaign promise was he was going to take inflation and drive it down, and instead he took inflation up,” Buttigieg explained. “It was three when he got here, and now it's more. It could not be simpler than that.”  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=Htvis7BuMQk" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Htvis7BuMQk" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Kernen then pivoted to the old “<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/9/2372429/-Trump-crony-blames-oil-crisis-on-Biden-because-of-course-he-does" target="_blank">blame it on Joe Biden</a> and the Democrats” play, with Buttigieg reminding the audience that Biden inherited Trump’s mismanagement of a global pandemic before pressing Kernen. “It's 2026—they're in charge. You guys are in charge,” he said. “What are you going to do differently to make the prices actually go down like you promised a year ago?”  “Number one, we've got to get through this war,” Kernen responded.  “We didn't have to be fighting this war,” Buttigieg shot back. “What are we doing?”  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=jSjKpPlZIEk" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jSjKpPlZIEk" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Kernen offered up a weak defense that Trump’s disastrous war in the Middle East is “a matter of opinion.”  “It's a matter of opinion that I share with most Americans and a large number of Republicans and a whole bunch of MAGA people who bought into this president because they actually believed when he said he wouldn’t get us into war,” Buttigieg replied. Buttigieg’s talent for <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/8/20/2264595/-Watch-Pete-Buttigieg-demolish-another-Fox-News-host" target="_blank">simply articulating the facts</a> is like kryptonite to conservatives. rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) Economy ForeignPolicy Inflation Iran JoeKernen PeteButtigieg _2377241 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:00:10 +0000 Trump admits his right-wing backers are 'nut jobs' https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377240/-Trump-admits-his-right-wing-backers-are-nut-jobs?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= President Donald Trump has turned on his biggest supporters in the world of right wing media, calling them out for being attention-obsessed hucksters who promote falsehoods and disinformation.  But Trump was perfectly happy with this collection of dishonest propagandists when they were in alignment with his cause. Right-wing media figures have publicly dissented from Trump over the Iran war, which runs counter to the narrative that he and his cohorts pushed for years in opposition to “forever war.” And as they have on so many issues, Trump clearly expected silence and acquiescence. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones returns to the federal courthouse for a hearing in front of a bankruptcy judge Friday, June 14, 2024, in Houston. The judge is expected to rule on whether to liquidate Jones' assets to help pay the $1.5 billion he owes for his false claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1311914/large/AP24166547088013.jpg?1718630271" title="Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones returns to the federal courthouse for a hearing in front of a bankruptcy judge Friday, June 14, 2024, in Houston. The judge is expected to rule on whether to liquidate Jones' assets to help pay the $1.5 billion he owes for his false claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)"> <figcaption>Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones</figcaption> </figure> But instead, figures<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/1/2375879/-Alex-Jones-calls-to-dump-Trump-over-busted-brain-and-body" target="_blank"> </a>like conspiracy theorist <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/1/2375879/-Alex-Jones-calls-to-dump-Trump-over-busted-brain-and-body" target="_blank">Alex Jones</a> said that the war was a bad idea, perhaps understanding that their audiences have been willing to swallow a lot of flip-flops from Trump, but this one was too brazen to cover up. That was too much for Trump. “I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs. They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!” he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116376634773749603" target="_blank">wrote on Truth Social</a> Thursday. Trump added, “They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some ‘free’ and cheap publicity.” <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/26/2374955/-Trouble-in-MAGA-land-Trump-skips-top-conservative-confab" title="" target="_blank">Trouble in MAGA land? Trump skips top conservative confab.</a> <hr> He called Carlson a “broken man” after<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/tucker-carlson/tucker-carlson-out-other-fox-extremists-now-have-spotlight" target="_blank"> he was fired</a> from Fox News, and he said that Owens is “crazy” and mocked<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/24/2370232/-Conservative-civil-war-erupts-as-Candace-Owens-targets-Erika-Kirk" target="_blank"> </a>her <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/24/2370232/-Conservative-civil-war-erupts-as-Candace-Owens-targets-Erika-Kirk" target="_blank">conspiracy theory</a> that France’s first lady Brigitte Macron is transgender.  Trump also criticized Jones for<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/9/25/2272857/-Alex-Jones-will-finally-pay-for-his-horrific-lies-about-Sandy-Hook" target="_blank"> slandering the survivors</a> of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, highlighting the resulting lawsuits that have bankrupted his company. In a departure from his usual habit of lying about everything, what Trump said about these figures is true. But he’s only admitting to what has been on the public record for more than a decade because these figures have distanced themselves<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever" target="_blank"> </a>from his <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever" target="_blank">disastrous was</a> in Iran. His attempt to claim that a ceasefire, with terms that have elevated the strength of the Iranian leadership, have fallen flat with all but the most dedicated MAGA supporters. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS MARCH 12-13 - In this Feb. 29, 2016 photo, Anti-Bullying Initiative: Degree180 CEO Candace Owens speaks about racism and bullying at her home office in Stamford, Conn. Owens was bullied with racist threats as a student in high school and is now launching an anti-bullying website, Social Autopsy, which launches its beta version on Friday, March 4. (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media) MANDATORY CREDIT" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1488634/large/AP593991218967.jpg?1760642336" title="ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS MARCH 12-13 - In this Feb. 29, 2016 photo, Anti-Bullying Initiative: Degree180 CEO Candace Owens speaks about racism and bullying at her home office in Stamford, Conn. Owens was bullied with racist threats as a student in high school and is now launching an anti-bullying website, Social Autopsy, which launches its beta version on Friday, March 4. (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media) MANDATORY CREDIT"> <figcaption>Right-wing political commentator Candace Owens</figcaption> </figure> The right-wing media voices that Trump has lashed out against were his most loyal foot soldiers, more so than even congressional Republicans. For instance, Jones has<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/infowars/right-wing-religious-warfare-staple-alex-jones-and-infowars-rhetoric" title="" target="_blank"> spent years arguing</a> that the United States was under demonic attack from the left and that Trump was empowered by God to save the country. Since he started running for office in 2015, Trump happily promoted Jones’ brand of conspiracy thinking, palled around<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/24/2370232/-Conservative-civil-war-erupts-as-Candace-Owens-targets-Erika-Kirk" target="_blank"> with Owens’ demagoguery</a>, and laughed along with Carlson’s racist rants. Right-wing media has<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/2/28/2370620/-Why-grifting-the-right-is-so-lucrative" title="" target="_blank"> always been focused</a> on deceiving their audiences while earning millions based on inciting fear. Trump happily went along with that because he realized he saw an opportunity to attain political power. But now<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" title="" target="_blank"> public dissatisfaction</a> with Trump has reached a boiling point, and the media figures have finally voiced what has been obviously broken about Trump’s presidency. So now Trump is admitting what the rest of us knew all along: These media personalities are nothing more than attention-seeking “nut jobs.” rss@dailykos.com (Oliver Willis) AlexJones CandaceOwens DonaldTrump FoxNews Iran MAGA Media MegynKelly TuckerCarlson War _2377240 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:00:14 +0000 The other nuclear option https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2376858/-The-other-nuclear-option?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Drew Sheneman. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376800/-Don-t-assume-Trump-will-TACO-on-Iran-war-crime-threats" title="" target="_blank">Don't assume Trump will TACO on Iran war crime threats</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Drew Sheneman) 25thAmendment Cartoon DonaldTrump DrewSheneman Iran War _2376858 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:59:03 +0000 Inflation surges as Iran war spirals https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377234/-Inflation-surges-as-Iran-war-spirals?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Inflation rose nearly one full percentage point in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" title="" target="_blank"> reported</a> on Friday, a jump that is entirely thanks to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/26/2374929/-Trump-team-says-Americans-are-cool-with-high-gas-prices-for-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" title="" target="_blank">skyrocketing gas and other fuel prices</a> created by the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/9/2372351/-Trump-s-war-spikes-gas-prices-and-gets-Iran-a-worse-leader?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_2&pm_medium=web" title="" target="_blank">war President Donald Trump started in Iran</a>. The 0.9% jump was the <a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUSR0000SA0&output_view=pct_1mth" title="" target="_blank">biggest monthly increase since June 2022</a>, when pandemic shortages and the war Russia launched in Ukraine led to a major spike in costs. Ultimately, inflation now stands at 3.3%, far higher than the Federal Reserve Bank's 2% target and high enough to wipe out any corresponding wage increase American workers received. That means that thanks to Trump’s war-fueled price spikes, Americans’ weekly earnings went down in March.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Bennett" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1540953/large/20260405edcbc-a.jpg?1775150008" title="Cartoon by Clay Bennett"> <figcaption>“Fill ‘er up” by Clay Bennett</figcaption> </figure> The spike in inflation is almost entirely due to rising energy costs, with gasoline up nearly 19% and fuel oil used to heat homes up a staggering 44.2%. Those increases are <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376582/-Wall-Street-is-enabling-Donald-Trump-s-catastrophic-war-in-Iran?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" title="" target="_blank">solely due to Trump's war in Iran</a>, which has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that serves as the transport route for nearly one quarter of the global oil supply. The supply shocks without corresponding demand dips has led to soaring oil prices, which saw the<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/march-inflation-report-iran-war-gas-prices-rcna267535" target="_blank"> largest one-month increase since 1967</a> when yet another war in the Middle East led to an oil embargo. While March’s inflation was due to oil increases, experts say that the oil price spikes will soon trickle down into other areas of the economy, likely leading to even more inflation in the coming months. “Obviously soaring gas prices were a key part of the inflation story in March. But those higher shipping and transit costs will start to filter through to Core Inflation as well in April and May,” Heather Long, chief economist at the Navy Federal Credit Union, <a href="https://x.com/byHeatherLong/status/2042588369423565169" title="" target="_blank">wrote</a> in a post on X. For example, almost all of the major shipping companies have <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/amazon-ups-fedex-and-usps-to-add-fuel-surcharges-as-gas-prices-soar/ar-AA20kUdh?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds" title="" target="_blank">implemented fuel surcharges</a>, which retailers will begin to pass down to customers. Airlines have also <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/travel/airfare-bag-fees-fuel-surcharges.html" title="" target="_blank">increased baggage fees and flight prices</a> amid surging jet fuel costs.  Worse still is that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is also impacting other important commodities that pass through the shipping channel, including fertilizer, plastics (which are made with petrochemicals), and helium which is used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Spiking fertilizer costs may soon cause farmers to raise their food prices. A <a href="https://j2sourcing.com/blog/helium-crisis-semiconductor-manufacturing-electronic-components-2026/" title="" target="_blank">helium shortage</a> will impact the price of semiconductors, which are used in everything from consumer electronics to automobiles to the AI industry. And a surge in the price of plastics will cause prices to rise in everything from food packaging to medical supplies to electronics, just to name a few, which will cause inflation to rise in large chunks of the economy. It's no wonder Trump's approval rating is in the toilet. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" title="" target="_blank">Anxious Republicans worry Trump's Iran mess has already cost them the midterms</a> <hr> Trump was elected to lower prices.<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2377009/-Oh-we-re-doing-tariffs-again" title="" target="_blank"> But his tariffs </a>and now the quagmire he mired the United States in in Iran is doing the exact opposite. It’s no wonder Trump—who just a few months ago ludicrously declared that he “<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/28/2365935/-Deluded-Trump-declares-inflation-is-solved" target="_blank">solved</a>” inflation—is <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" title="" target="_blank">desperate for an off-ramp</a> for the war he never should have started in the first place. If Trump <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war" title="" target="_blank">can’t get out of this mess</a>, the world will sink into a devastating recession, and the GOP he leads will face an <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" title="" target="_blank">extinction-level midterm election</a>. rss@dailykos.com (Emily Singer) 2026election 2026midterms DonaldTrump Gas GasPrices Inflation Iran IranWar Oil _2377234 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:00:07 +0000 The End of Beta Week https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377237/-The-End-of-Beta-Week?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= It's Friday, and we're marking the end of beta week. The beta site will come down early next week, probably on Monday. As a reminder, Daily Kos as a whole will be down on Tuesday, April 14, while we migrate the comments and diaries that have been posted since the last migration on April 6, and do any final checks. The new site will come up on Wednesday, April 15. Even when we have fully switched over, the new site isn't going to be "done" -- we have at least a month's worth of fast-follow fixes and improvements that will be made (that we know of right now; I'm sure there will be more). So if you don't see something working correctly, or there's something missing that you really need, feel free to keep letting us know. What a week, right? I can't thank everyone enough who helped with beta testing and QA. I want to call out a few folks in particular who found bugs that were fixed this week and as a result will show up correctly on the live site: brillig found a bug where scheduled stories were not showing up in the user's profile, so it was impossible to find them again Rob in Vermont found a number of things, but in particular one bug where he had to scroll horizontally on his phone to see the whole site menu kiwi2 found a bug where the story editor was complaining about "post meta" when they tried to save a photo A number of people indicated that the Recommend Story button didn't show who recommended the story, and then only showed avatars and not names. I think we got that right now? A number of people, including RandomNeuron, Ralph Kramden, and freebird, sent examples of the solid rectangle image upload failure with sizes and the browser they were using, to help us troubleshoot that problem A number of people, including belinda ridgewood, noted that there was no button to save your cover photo on your profile. There still isn't, but uploading the photo automatically saves it now (it is a known issue that if the cover photo isn't exactly the right size, the part of the photo that is visible when you're uploading the picture isn't the part of the photo that shows up on your profile, we will fix that later) A number of people said that the font size in comments was too small. We have bumped that up on the live site. A number of people said that they miss the old home page: <a href="https://beta.dailykos.com/blogs/main/" target="_blank">voila</a>! (it is not sticky yet, don't come for me about that yet please!) A number of people pointed out that comments don't show up if you are using enhanced internet security (including ad blockers and Firefox high-security mode). We can't fix that, but we are adding a message so that if that happens to you, you at least know what's going on. And my very favorite bug of all: GrumpyOldGeek figured out a way to get into the staff-only back-end of WordPress. We plugged the easy way to do that, but I'm sure if you're tech savvy enough, you can still do it ;-) I had to go get another cup of coffee after he reported that one! I want to send special thanks to our Community Advisory Panel members, especially brillig, belinda ridgewood, angela marx, Denise Oliver Velez and Tara the Antisocial Social Worker, who sat in on meetings with vendors, went to demos, gave early feedback, have helped debug issues, and just in general have put in a ton of time making sure this transition would go as well as possible. It was kos's idea to convene this panel, and now I can't imagine having tried to do this without their help. Finally, thank you to our community staff (especially minos and peregrine kate), our technical staff (especially iterology), our infrastructure partner, <a href="https://wpvip.com/" target="_blank">WPVIP</a>, and our agency partner, <a href="https://xwp.co/" target="_blank">XWP</a> -- I will not call individuals from XWP out by name for their privacy, but I think they know who they are. This is not the end, it's the beginning. rss@dailykos.com (Allison McHenry) Announcements DailyKos Meta wordpress _2377237 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:12:25 +0000 Barron Trump gets in on the family grift https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377173/-Barron-Trump-gets-in-on-the-family-grift?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Trump family members seem to have only two kinds of businesses.  They make mad cash by trading on daddy being president and all—see World Liberty Financial’s spectacular<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/7/2341986/-Crypto-is-the-grift-that-keeps-on-giving-for-the-Trump-family" title="" target="_blank"> results</a> at crypto grifting. Or they sell random stuff and sorta hope the Trump name carries the day—see nepo-grandbaby Kai Trump’s<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/10/13/2348407/-Trump-family-proves-grift-does-not-skip-a-generation" title="" target="_blank"> clothing</a> line and so-called golf career. Barron Trump’s newest venture is definitely the latter. The littlest and <a href="https://www.fox5dc.com/news/how-tall-is-trump-family-melania-trump-barron-trump" target="_blank">biggest</a> Trump is<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/barron-trump-beverage-company-b2954672.html" target="_blank"> launching</a> a yerba mate beverage company, but in a real stroke of genius from the true master dealmaker—just like dad!— Barron has proudly declared that his company will only produce one beverage: a pineapple-and-coconut ready‑to‑drink yerba mate. Dear lord, what? Have the souls of Americans been crying out for an energy drink that is basically a virgin piña colada? <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/7/2341986/-Crypto-is-the-grift-that-keeps-on-giving-for-the-Trump-family" title="" target="_blank">Crypto is the grift that keeps on giving for the Trump family</a> <hr> If the flavor sounds dumb, the name sounds even worse. Barron’s new bevvy is called “Sollos” because “sol” is the Spanish word for “sun,” and “los” is “sol” spelled backward, which Barron thinks symbolizes the day’s end rather than being the Spanish word for “the.”  Here’s the company explaining this over on<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sollos-yerba-mate_weve-had-a-lot-of-people-ask-us-about-the-activity-7429561641421266945-P9md/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABz_EIIBc2ZUYYgSA4qd54jxECU1zSOHcNc" title="" target="_blank"> LinkedIn</a>, which is definitely where all super cool beverages announce their launch: “Together, SOLLOS captures the full cycle of the sun and that ‘It Begins Where It Ends™.’” <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Jones" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1533854/large/CjonesRGB03102026.jpg?1773087347" title="Cartoon by Clay Jones"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> Imagine trademarking “It Begins Where It Ends.” Also, what begins where what ends? The sun? The drink?  Also, imagine bragging that your company will only ever make just one drink. “We didn't set out to make a flavor lineup; we set out to make the perfect drink,” according to the breathless announcement. “Most brands launch with five flavors, hoping you'll like one of them. We spent all of our time, energy, and resources obsessing over a single recipe until it was flawless.” Dude, again—it’s a virgin piña colada with caffeine for people who think they’re being healthy by drinking yerba mate instead of coffee. There are already<a href="https://www.haggen.com/shop/product-details.960477253.html" title="" target="_blank"> several</a> versions<a href="https://mbdiscountwinesliquors.com/shop/product/tea-of-a-kind-yerba-mate-pineapple-coconut/5d27d0ddc9bb180da0836974?option-id=656c3fc135012d0ab9406af83ca42709cd345f19e80cf6b2178a83f29e1e5add&srsltid=AfmBOorAyLRAEN6xRULveFJOmtR42Kx3N3rG7PA-OKnex3lHkD75Dji9" target="_blank"> of this</a> sort<a href="https://vira-health.com/products/yerba-boost?variant=50645543256340&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23731548878&gbraid=0AAAABDFqGjJNiCt0y05Njjoub1hlNnuc3&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYeqjm5_yU0VuCnObW7dytiY6xBO0SOUp0VsPoXHvmXkTfGWmFU3vXiRoCULIQAvD_BwE" target="_blank"> of thing</a>.  Honestly, nothing says “pretend business” more than launching with one product that duplicates things already on the market, yet vowing to have just one product. Unsurprisingly, somehow this venture also involves a big Trump donor. Barron’s cool new business is<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/barron-trump-drinks-business-sollos-yerba-mate-11564751" title="" target="_blank"> registered</a> to Jay Weitzman at his residence, a homey little $16 million dwelling that just so happens to be right by Mar-a-Lago. Also, Weitzman donated $25,000 to Trump’s first inauguration, and he just so happens to run Park America, which has been landing federal contracts for a couple of decades now. Cool, cool.  <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/10/13/2348407/-Trump-family-proves-grift-does-not-skip-a-generation" title="" target="_blank">Trump family proves grift does not skip a generation</a> <hr> According to Barron’s pretend company, any implication that there’s something shady at work is scurrilous, unfair nonsense, because the business is only registered there because one of Barron’s business partners is Weitzman’s grandson, and he lives there.  Sure, yeah, except that normal actual businesses that raised over $1 million dollars before manufacturing a single thing and have one owner who is the son of the literal president and is worth $150 million thanks to his<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2025/10/06/how-19-year-old-barron-trump-is-worth-150-million/" target="_blank"> share</a> of the family crypto grift usually use professional<a href="https://kmfbusinessadvisors.com/what-a-registered-agent-is-in-florida/" title="" target="_blank"> registered agent</a> services rather than grandpa’s house. God, Trump is probably going to make White House visitors drink this crap, isn't he? Hope everyone loves sickly sweet libations! rss@dailykos.com (Lisa Needham) BarronTrump Grift Sollos _2377173 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:30:06 +0000 Prediction markets are back in the spotlight—this time because of the war in Iran https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377210/-Prediction-markets-are-back-in-the-spotlight-this-time-because-of-the-war-in-Iran?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <div> <div> <div> <div id="P_body"> Prediction markets let people wager on just about anything — from <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kalshi-polymarket-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl-663ec7f5da78aeed7d7c145bb9cb65ca" target="_blank" title="">basketball games</a> to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/betting-elections-gambling-cftc-kalshi-trump-harris-892d98e4d358fbc2b1022744b5827c45" target="_blank">elections</a>. And among more jarring bets recently, the fate of the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran. Shortly ahead of a fragile ceasefire agreement earlier this week, a new group of accounts on prediction market platform Polymarket made <a href="https://apnews.com/article/polymarket-iran-trump-ceasefire-prediction-markets-350d9fe5ffefa74080ff5dd973aef48b" target="_blank" title="">highly specific, well-timed trades</a> betting there'd be an announcement about a halt in fighting for April 7. Some quickly pocketed awards, which amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits combined. Others are still awaiting payouts as an end to the deadly conflict <a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-09-2026" target="_blank">still seems uncertain</a>. Regardless, the trades once again put the spotlight on a murky — and growing — world of speculative, 24/7 transactions now filling the internet. And some have raised questions about suspicious activity, including an anonymous Polymarket trader <a href="https://apnews.com/article/prediction-markets-maduro-trades-1f47e737f915fff00c57f03e7390b41f" target="_blank" title="">pocketing more than $400,000</a> following the U.S. military's capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="FILE - The Polymarket prediction market website is displayed on a computer screen, Jan. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Wyatte Grantham-Philips, File)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1543154/large/AP26099732446186.jpg?1775789900" title="FILE - The Polymarket prediction market website is displayed on a computer screen, Jan. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Wyatte Grantham-Philips, File)"> <figcaption>The Polymarket prediction market website is displayed on a computer screen on Jan. 11.</figcaption> </figure> The timing and subjects of such trades have fueled concerns about potential insider trading — with calls <a href="https://apnews.com/article/polymarket-kalshi-trump-iran-prediction-congress-d16d7bdf9a56cc1466b44baaf634aeeb" target="_blank">increasing among lawmakers</a> for investigations. Popular platforms, including Polymarket, have rolled out added guardrails in efforts <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kalshi-polymarket-prediction-markets-cftc-trump-insider-trading-fe7435cf6efefd922aa2edb9a0e80a05" target="_blank" title="">to combat insider trading</a> recently, but critics say it isn't enough. Meanwhile, because prediction market wagers are categorized differently than traditional forms of gambling, tensions about government oversight have erupted. President Donald Trump's administration has already <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kalshi-polymarket-cftc-selig-prediction-gambling-cf1fa23f126a77400a363ba920afcfbf" target="_blank" title="">thrown its support</a> behind company operators — and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/prediction-markets-kalshi-polymarket-lawsuits-bf02dafc40758887b03b4e9fc8aac104" target="_blank">sued three states</a> over their efforts to regulate them further. Here's what we know: <h3>How prediction markets work</h3> The scope of topics involved in prediction markets can range immensely. Recently, there’s been a surge of wages on elections and sports games. But some users have also bet millions on things like a rumored — and ultimately unrealized — “secret finale” for the Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” whether the U.S. government will confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life and how much billionaire Elon Musk might post on social media this month. In industry-speak, what someone buys or sells in a prediction market is called an “event contract.” They're typically advertised as “yes” or “no” wagers. And the price of one fluctuates between $0 and $1, reflecting what traders are collectively willing to pay based on a 0% to 100% chance of whether they think an event will occur. The more likely traders think an event will occur, the more expensive that contract will become. And as those odds change over time, users can cash out early to make incremental profits, or try to avoid higher losses on what they’ve already invested. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/18/2373619/-Perhaps-it-s-time-to-regulate-gambling-on-wars-and-elections" target="_blank">Perhaps it’s time to regulate gambling on wars and elections</a> <hr> Proponents of prediction markets argue putting money on the line leads to better forecasts and allow you to gauge public opinion as an alternative to polling. And some think there's value in monitoring prediction markets for potential news, particularly elections. Still, prediction markets can also be wrong. People investing their money may be closely following certain events, but others could just be randomly guessing. Who is behind all of the trading is also pretty unclear. The companies running today's biggest platforms know who their customers are — as they collect personal information to verify identities and payments. But most users can trade under anonymous pseudonyms on public-facing websites, making it difficult for the world to tell who is profiting off many event contracts. Critics also stress that the ease and speed of joining these 24/7 wagers leads to financial losses everyday, particularly harming users who may already struggle with gambling. <h3>The major players</h3> Polymarket is one of the largest prediction markets in the world. Users can fund event contracts through cryptocurrency, debit or credit cards and bank transfers. Restrictions vary by country, but in the U.S., the reach of these markets has expanded rapidly over recent years, coinciding with shifting policies out of Washington. While prediction markets have found backing from the Trump-controlled Commodity Futures Trading Commission, former President Joe Biden was more aggressive in cracking down. Following a 2022 settlement with the CFTC, Polymarket was barred from operating in the country. That changed under Trump late last year, when Polymarket announced it would be returning to the U.S. after receiving clearance from the commission. American-based users can now join a “waitlist” to access the platform. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/3/2371449/-What-could-possibly-go-wrong-with-betting-on-wars" target="_blank">What could possibly go wrong with betting on wars?</a> <hr> Meanwhile, Polymarket’s top competitor, Kalshi, has been a federally-regulated exchange since 2020. The platform offers similar ways to buy and sell event contracts as Polymarket — and it currently allows event contracts on elections and sports nationwide. Kalshi <a href="https://apnews.com/article/betting-on-elections-kalshi-gambling-trump-harris-765c318244e3fc60dd2bb56f32bc7603" target="_blank" title="">won court approval</a> just weeks before the 2024 election to let Americans put money on upcoming political races and began to host sports trading last year. The space is now crowded with other big names. Major League Baseball <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-prediction-markets-polymarket-79965008b559ea3c00940ea6e92dd509" target="_blank" title="">inked a deal</a> with Polymarket last month, following other partnerships in professional hockey and soccer. Meanwhile, sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel have launched their own prediction platforms. Trump’s social media site Truth Social has also promised to offer an in-platform prediction market through a partnership with Crypto.com — and one of the president’s sons, Donald Trump Jr., holds advisory roles at both Polymarket and Kalshi. Last month, The Associated Press <a href="https://www.ap.org/media-center/press-releases/2026/ap-to-provide-kalshi-its-gold-standard-elections-data-ahead-of-primaries/" target="_blank" title="">agreed</a> to sell its U.S. elections data to Kalshi. <h3>Loose regulation and calls for reform</h3> Because they’re positioned as selling event contracts, prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC. That means they can avoid state-level restrictions or bans in place for traditional gambling and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-betting-nba-gambling-probe-1c49fcf651b8e6906c21811eec3b860f" target="_blank">sports betting</a> today. “It’s a huge loophole,” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/prediction-markets-maduro-trades-1f47e737f915fff00c57f03e7390b41f" target="_blank">said</a> Karl Lockhart, an assistant professor of law at DePaul University who has studied this space. “You just have to comply with one set of regulations, rather than (rules from) each state around the country.” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kalshi-polymarket-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl-663ec7f5da78aeed7d7c145bb9cb65ca" target="_blank">Sports betting</a> is taking center stage. There are a handful of big states — like California and Texas, for example — where sports betting is still illegal, but people can now wager on games, athlete trades and more through event contracts. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Advertisements by the company Kalshi predict a victory for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election before the votes are counted and polls close, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1536029/large/AP25308712465340.jpg?1773792270" title="Advertisements by the company Kalshi predict a victory for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election before the votes are counted and polls close, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)"> <figcaption>Kalshi ads predict a victory for Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election before the votes are counted and polls close in Nov. 2025.</figcaption> </figure> A growing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-kalshi-criminal-charges-prediction-markets-gambling-3687ec3ea6725fa53389d9d594433580" target="_blank" title="">number of states</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tribal-gambling-prediction-markets-kalshi-2ceec44d51d4afce484242e63d83389a" target="_blank">tribes</a> are trying to stop this. But the Trump administration has already pushed back, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/prediction-markets-kalshi-polymarket-lawsuits-bf02dafc40758887b03b4e9fc8aac104" target="_blank" title="">maintaining</a> that the CFTC has the sole authority to regulate prediction markets. Many lawyers expect litigation to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite overseeing trillions of dollars for the overall U.S. derivatives market, the CFTC is much smaller than the Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates the securities industry. And at the same time event contracts are growing rapidly on prediction market platforms, there have been sizeable workforce cuts and leadership departures. CFTC chairman Michael Selig is the sole member filling just one of five commissioner slots. Meanwhile, Congress members from both sides of the aisle have introduced broad legislation for more guardrails in recent months. Soon after, Kalshi — which has maintained that it's always banned insider trading — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kalshi-polymarket-prediction-markets-cftc-trump-insider-trading-fe7435cf6efefd922aa2edb9a0e80a05" target="_blank" title="">quickly moved</a> to bar political candidates from trading on their own campaigns, and preemptively block anyone involved in college or professional sports from contracts related to the sports they play or are employed by. Polymarket rewrote its rules to clearly say users cannot trade on contracts where they might possess confidential information, or could influence the outcome of an event. The CFTC can also bar event contracts related to war, terrorism and assassinations, which experts say could put some prediction market trades — including those related to the Iran war — on added shaky ground, at least in the U.S. Lawmakers like Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff are seeking an outright ban of these kinds of trades. Still, users might find ways to buy certain contracts while traveling abroad, or through connecting to different VPNs. </div> </div> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (Associated Press) Gambling Iran Kalshi Polymarket predictionmarket _2377210 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:00:15 +0000 A reasonable renovation https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/10/2377040/-A-reasonable-renovation?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Pedro Molina. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/3/2376175/-The-most-transparent-administration-in-history-strikes-again" target="_blank">The most transparent administration in history strikes again</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Pedro Molina) Cartoon DonaldTrump EpsteinFiles PedroMolina WhiteHouse _2377040 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:30:03 +0000 GOP’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ is coming back to bite them https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377138/-GOP-s-One-Big-Beautiful-Bill-is-coming-back-to-bite-them?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= When Republicans <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/1/2331151/-Trump-s-cruel-budget-bill-squeaks-by-Senate" target="_blank">passed</a> the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/5/2320672/-You-won-t-believe-what-the-GOP-wants-to-call-its-awful-budget-bill" target="_blank">One Big, Beautiful Bill Act</a> last summer, they were sure that it would be their silver bullet to win the midterms. Never mind the bill's <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/10/2315714/-House-GOP-passes-budget-that-guts-Medicaid-to-give-tax-cuts-to-the-rich" target="_blank">massively unpopular cuts</a> to health care and social safety net programs in order to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/3/2331470/-GOP-passes-bill-to-steal-from-the-poor-and-give-to-the-rich" target="_blank">fund tax cuts</a> for the wealthy—Republicans insisted that, once tax season came, Americans would reward them at the ballot box. <figure class="image-captioned align-right"><img alt="UNITED STATES - MARCH 17: President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., are seen in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall after the Friends of Ireland luncheon with Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1536843/large/AP26076709815287.jpg?1774033411" title="UNITED STATES - MARCH 17: President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., are seen in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall after the Friends of Ireland luncheon with Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> "Every American will feel it. And the big beautiful bill was geared and written for lower- and middle-class earners in the country. They're going to be feeling really good as we go into that midterm election in 2026," Speaker Mike Johnson <a href="https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2644" target="_blank">said</a> last July when the bill was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/04/trump-bbb-bill-signing/" target="_blank">signed</a> into law. It's a message that the GOP is still desperately trying to make stick, with <a href="https://x.com/KenCalvert/status/2042259999712534836" target="_blank">multiple</a> Republican lawmakers <a href="https://x.com/VernBuchanan/status/2042266623483019618" target="_blank">posting</a> on <a href="https://x.com/RepMarkAlford/status/2042233403274055851" target="_blank">social media</a> about the alleged tax benefits that Americans could see from their sham of a bill. “Tax Day is next week, and the @HouseGOP's Working Families Tax Cuts have delivered more money and more opportunity for everyone from our newborns to our seniors,” Rep. Mike Carey of Ohio <a href="https://x.com/RepMikeCarey/status/2042254703505850643" target="_blank">wrote on X</a>. “We are unshackling the American economy for the future!” But it's not working. <div class="dk-editor-embed dk-datawrapper-embed center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <a class="iframe_placeholder datawrapper dk-embed" data-frameborder="0" data-height="677" data-src="//datawrapper.dwcdn.net/G3s35/4/" data-width="757">Datawrapper Content</a></div> The most recent <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-record-number-say-taxes-too-high-government-spending-seen-wasteful" target="_blank">Fox News survey</a> found that 70% of voters think that their taxes are too high—an increase of 11 points from the previous year. According to Fox, that marks "the largest year-over-year increase since the question was first asked in 2004, when 51% felt taxes were too high." <figure class="image-captioned align-left"><img alt="Ray Ruda fills his van with fuel at a gas station Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1538367/large/AP26084675982187.jpg?1774539166" title="Ray Ruda fills his van with fuel at a gas station Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)"> <figcaption>A man fills his van with fuel at a gas station in Tennessee on March 25.</figcaption> </figure> “I was certainly expecting there to be more than $120 worth,” Matt Dangel, a 39-year-old machinist, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html" target="_blank">told</a> The New York Times. In fact, Trump's clusterfuck of a war in Iran is likely to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377120/-Unless-you-re-a-billionaire-Trump-just-raised-your-taxes?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">cut into whatever amount</a> that many Americans get from their tax returns, as gas prices <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">continue spiking</a>. Americans are still being <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/20/2374118/-Good-luck-finding-a-job-and-affording-groceries-in-Trump-s-America" target="_blank">squeezed by higher prices</a>—many of which are exacerbated by Trump's <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/22/2369621/-Republicans-pick-the-worst-hill-to-die-on" target="_blank">tariffs</a> and Iran war—resulting in Trump’s abysmally low ratings for his handling of<a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54485-inflation-americans-most-important-political-issue-one-where-donald-trump-particularly-unpopular-april-3-6-2026-economist-yougov-poll" target="_blank"> inflation</a> and the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/01/politics/cnn-poll-trump-approval-rating-economy" target="_blank" title="">economy</a>. Republicans bet big on their “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” But it's <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_3&pm_medium=web" target="_blank" title="">not going to save them</a> in the midterms.  rss@dailykos.com (Emily Singer) DonaldTrump Iran Midterms MikeJohnson OneBigBeautifulBill Taxes War _2377138 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:01:12 +0000 Trump hates taxpayers, and everyone hates Melania https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377140/-Trump-hates-taxpayers-and-everyone-hates-Melania?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A daily roundup of the best stories and cartoons by Daily Kos staff and contributors to keep you in the know. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377039/-Trump-team-launches-new-tactic-to-spy-on-federal-workers?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">Trump team launches new tactic to spy on federal workers</a> HIPAA who? <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377120/-Unless-you-re-a-billionaire-Trump-just-raised-your-taxes?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">Unless you’re a billionaire, Trump just raised your taxes</a> Because not being able to afford health care, gas, or groceries just wasn't enough. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">Anxious Republicans worry Trump's Iran mess has already cost them the midterms</a> Even the Trump die-hards know his war is a pointless disaster. <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Jones" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1541971/large/CjonesRGB04052026.jpg?1775491096" title="Cartoon by Clay Jones"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> </div> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2376596/-Trump-age?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">Trump age</a> The man is full of empty threats. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377143/-Donald-isn-t-the-only-Trump-America-hates?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">Donald isn’t the only Trump America hates</a> They’re the power couple of record-breaking low approval ratings. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377135/-Stop-the-steel-Bribe-loving-Trump-strikes-again?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">Stop the steel: Bribe-loving Trump strikes again</a> Just when you thought his dumb ballroom couldn’t get any worse … <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377123/-GOP-lawmaker-can-t-stop-spouting-racist-BS-about-Mamdani?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" title="" target="_blank">GOP lawmaker can’t stop spouting racist BS about Mamdani</a> He’s either afraid of Zohran Mamdani because he’s Muslim, brown, or capable of following through on his campaign promises. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/blog/Comics?pm_source=ICYMI&pm_campaign=ICYMI04092026" target="_blank" title="">Click here to see more cartoons.</a> rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos Staff) ballroom Billionaires bribe DonaldTrump HealthCare MelaniaTrump Racism Taxes TheRecap ZohranMamdani _2377140 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:50:25 +0000 Presidential profanity https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2376684/-Presidential-profanity?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Clay Bennett. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376636/-Please-keep-bombing-Trump-gives-most-unhinged-press-conference-yet" title="" target="_blank">‘Please keep bombing’: Trump gives most unhinged press conference yet</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Clay Bennett) Cartoon ClayBennett DonaldTrump Easter Iran War _2376684 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:59:14 +0000 Hegseth gets caught in yet another lie as he fails to spin Iran war https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377172/-Hegseth-gets-caught-in-yet-another-lie-as-he-fails-to-spin-Iran-war?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A survivor of the Iranian drone attack on a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, where six Americans were killed, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-war-kuwait-drone-attack-survivors-us-army/" target="_blank">has revealed</a> that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lied about the incident.  In comments to CBS News, the whistleblower backs up previous reporting about the vulnerabilities of the facility, which run contrary to Hegseth’s statement that the attack got past fortifications. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="A bridge struck by U.S. airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1541285/large/AP26093249853321.jpg?1775246735" title="A bridge struck by U.S. airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)"> <figcaption>A bridge struck by U.S. airstrikes is seen in the town of Karaj, Iran, on April 3.</figcaption> </figure> The survivor, who remains anonymous to avoid possible retaliation from the administration, told CBS that he believes that the deaths were “absolutely” preventable. In a <a href="https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4418959/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-and-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-of-staff-gen-dan/" target="_blank">press conference</a> after the attack, Hegseth told reporters that the drone attack was a “squirter” that hit a “fortified” tactical operations center. But the whistleblower says this isn’t true. When asked by CBS what fortifications were in place, he replied, “I would put it in the ‘none’ category, from a drone defense capability … none.” One of the injured surviving soldiers also denied that the operations center was fortified. “I want people to know the unit … was unprepared to provide any defense for itself. It was not a fortified position,” the soldier told CBS. The account backs up<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/03/04/troops-killed-kuwait-base-iran-attack/" target="_blank"> previous reporting</a> about inadequate protection at the facility. The area hit by the drone was not in compliance with the Army’s counter-drone manual, which requires steel reinforcements to protect against drone attacks. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="Cartoon by Clay Jones" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542336/large/CjonesRGB04082026.jpg?1775590730" title="Cartoon by Clay Jones"> <figcaption>A cartoon by Clay Jones.</figcaption> </figure> Meanwhile, in his efforts to sell the American public on the Iran war, Hegseth has spent<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/4/2371618/-Hegseth-cares-more-about-fake-media-coverage-than-dead-troops" target="_blank"> </a>far more time <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/4/2371618/-Hegseth-cares-more-about-fake-media-coverage-than-dead-troops" title="" target="_blank">complaining about reporters</a> than addressing safety concerns. He has repeatedly claimed that U.S. forces hold the upper hand, minimizing the severity of Iran’s responses. But officials <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/07/hegseth-iran-rhetoric/" title="" target="_blank">have explained</a> that Hegseth is painting a far rosier picture than the reality on the ground. For instance, Hegseth claimed that Iran had “no air defenses.” Several days later, a U.S. jet <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/3/2376177/-Iranian-TV-channel-claims-US-pilot-ejected-from-aircraft-over-southwestern-Iran" target="_blank">was shot down</a>, and the pilot had to be rescued. In another episode, he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/iran-war-military-father-pete-hegseth" target="_blank">insisted</a> that families of fallen servicemembers urged him to “not stop until the job is done.” But Charles Simmons, the father of slain Tech Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons,<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/father-servicemember-killed-iran-war-never-told-hegseth-finish-the-job-rcna264297" target="_blank"> told NBC News</a> that did not happen. The whistleblower’s allegations are further evidence undermining the disastrous war, which the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/8/2377008/-Loser-Trump-claims-victory-in-Iran-and-latest-election-results-have-GOP-quaking" target="_blank">has still failed</a> to justify. rss@dailykos.com (Oliver Willis) DonaldTrump Iran Military peteHegseth War Whistleblower _2377172 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:00:10 +0000 What the hell has Trump done to the Forest Service? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377162/-What-the-hell-has-Trump-done-to-the-Forest-Service?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The Trump administration has announced it is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/climate/forest-service-research-stations.html" title="" target="_blank">shuttering</a> 57 of the 77 research facilities tied to the U.S. Forest Service.  Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the cuts on April 3, which followed a decision to move the Forest Service’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins laughs with President Donald Trump during an event to promote investment in rural health care in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1522685/large/AP26016591356736.jpg?1769803333" title="Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins laughs with President Donald Trump during an event to promote investment in rural health care in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)"> <figcaption>Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins laughs with President Donald Trump during an event to promote investment in rural health care in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 16.</figcaption> </figure> So what’s really behind these drastic moves? On one hand, the administration has claimed relocating the headquarters to Utah will bring employees closer to the great outdoors and the heart of their work. “Moving the Forest Service closer to the forests we manage is an essential action that will improve our core mission of managing our forests while saving taxpayer dollars and boosting employee recruitment,” Rollins <a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/03/31/usda-prioritizing-common-sense-forest-management-moves-forest-service-headquarters-salt-lake-city" title="" target="_blank">said in a March 31 press release</a>. Officials also defended the cuts to research facilities, arguing that their work would now be more focused.  <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/forest-service-california-stations-22192356.php" target="_blank">SF Gate</a> reported that Forest Service representatives claim the decision is an effort to “unify research priorities, accelerate the application of science to management decisions, and reduce administrative duplication.” But critics say the decision to move the agency headquarters 2,000 miles is an attempt to deliberately weaken the Forest Service by forcing longtime employees to quit instead of upend their lives.  “This is nothing more than intentionally trying to create chaos,” Tracy Stone-Manning, the former director of the Bureau of Land Management,<a href="https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/forest-service-california-stations-22192356.php" title="" target="_blank"> told SF Gate</a>.  The administration pulled a similar headquarters move on the BLM during Trump’s first term, which Stone-Manning said “crippled the agency.” <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/5/2376204/-Forest-Service-shake-up-comes-as-risky-wildfire-season-looms" title="" target="_blank">Forest Service shake-up comes as risky wildfire season looms</a> <hr> “Hundreds of people walked out instead of being forced to relocate. And with that is a loss of a deep, deep understanding how things are supposed to work, and a deep understanding of how best to manage our public lands.” This isn’t the first attack on the Forest Service. At the start of Trump’s second term, he authorized Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to slash the division’s workforce.  According to an<a href="https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2025-12/USDA%20Staffing%20Levels%20Final%20Report%20-%20Dec%2017_508-signed.pdf" title="" target="_blank"> inspector general’s report</a>, the agency lost 5,860 of its 35,550 employees during the first half of 2025. And part of this restructuring plan includes, eventually, transitioning to what officials call a “<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/5/2376204/-Forest-Service-shake-up-comes-as-risky-wildfire-season-looms" title="" target="_blank">state-based model.</a>” As for the 57 research facilities that are being shuttered, they were mostly stationed at universities and conducted work related to how climate change, droughts, and wildfires impacted the forests, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/climate/forest-service-research-stations.html" title="" target="_blank">according to The New York Times</a>.  They also investigated endangered plant and animal species, logging techniques, and how forests grow back following large-scale wildfires. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/7/2361729/-Inside-Trump-s-push-to-smother-FEMA" title="" target="_blank">Inside Trump’s push to smother FEMA</a> <hr> But “woke” buzzwords like climate change have become a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/08/zeldin-stars-at-climate-denial-conference-00863533" title="" target="_blank">point of contention</a> for the Trump administration. Even Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin, who was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/29/climate/lee-zeldin-epa.html" title="" target="_blank">once a climate change believer,</a> has wielded it as a weapon to slash agencies under his command. Now, it seems, the U.S. Forest Service will suffer a similar fate. Unfortunately, the organization managing 154 national forests and 193 million acres of forest and grassland is facing more consolidation.  The Trump administration’s slash-and-burn approach is disregarding potentially destructive weather patterns.  With nervous chatter about a possible “<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/07/weather/super-el-nino-extreme-weather-climate-disaster" title="" target="_blank">Super El Niño</a>”—as opposed to the already abysmal regular El Niño—warming the oceans, the possibility of flooding, droughts, and wildfires are more terrifying than ever.  Despite these growing risks, the government agencies normally tasked with researching how to handle these situations and to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/7/2361729/-Inside-Trump-s-push-to-smother-FEMA" title="" target="_blank">actually handle them </a>are suffering.  rss@dailykos.com (Alix Breeden) BrookeRollins Forests USDA USFORESTSERVICE Wildfires _2377162 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:00:06 +0000 JB Pritzker has always known Trump is evil https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377158/-JB-Pritzker-has-always-known-Trump-is-evil?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Illinois Gov. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/18/2373702/-JB-Pritzker-gets-2028-bump-after-his-favored-candidate-wins-election" target="_blank">JB Pritzker</a> was interviewed by civil rights activist Al Sharpton during the National Action Network Convention Thursday, where he reminded the audience that his opposition to President Donald Trump goes back to his first term. “This is a national emergency,” Pritzker said, recalling the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, when Trump agreed to supply protective equipment in exchange for Pritzker's praise. “People are dying, and the president is essentially extorting.”  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=LaYczeCBXO0" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LaYczeCBXO0" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> “What they sent was nothing of what I asked for,” Pritzker added. “They sent me broken BiPAP machines, not ventilators. They sent me surgical masks, not N95 masks—there's a big difference. So I went on those Sunday shows, and I didn't say nice things about the president, as you can imagine.” <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/18/2373702/-JB-Pritzker-gets-2028-bump-after-his-favored-candidate-wins-election" target="_blank">JB Pritzker gets 2028 bump after his favored candidate wins election</a> <hr> Of course, as former Rep. Katie Porter of California <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/8/1935508/-America-last-Rep-Porter-has-receipts-showing-Trump-chose-a-quick-buck-over-American-lives" target="_blank">later revealed</a>, Trump chose to sell life-saving medical supplies—like N95 masks and ventilators—for a quick profit, while <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/16/1937766/-55-million-to-a-shady-company-for-overpriced-masks-Sounds-like-business-as-usual-for-Team-Trump" title="" target="_blank">handing out</a> inflated medical manufacturing contracts to dubious companies as Americans died. Pritzker went on to address Trump's ongoing anti-immigrant agenda, comparing his first term policies to his <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/29/2346096/-JB-Pritzker-isn-t-mincing-words-on-Trump-s-Chicago-invasion" title="" target="_blank">current mass deportations</a>. “It wasn't just about deportation, although that's what you heard when I stood up to him,” Pritzker said. “It was bad his first term, but you could see he was heading into his second term to really take away people’s rights.” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=mvvr8RskuOs" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvvr8RskuOs" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> “Before people saw it in Minneapolis, they did it in Chicago. We had people shot and killed by [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and [Customs and Border Protection],” he added. “They were tackling black and brown people—U.S. citizens—and detaining people and taking them in. It wasn't really about deportation; it wasn't really about immigration. It's this whole administration's view about people of color.”  As Pritzker reminds us all, the disaster that is Trump’s second term is not a departure from his first—it’s an escalation. rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) COVID19 Deportations DonaldTrump HealthCare ICE Immigration JBPritzker _2377158 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:50:02 +0000 Kristi Noem’s flying loveshack finds a new home https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377154/-Kristi-Noem-s-flying-loveshack-finds-a-new-home?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Remember how, before her unceremonious firing, back when she was living her best life on your dime, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had a very special luxury<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/18/2369164/-Kristi-Noem-is-the-worst-boss-ever" target="_blank"> plane</a> that ferried her and her alleged sidepiece, Corey Lewandowski, all across the country, like a little love nest in the sky? And remember how the ostensible reason Noem needed a $70 million extra-fancy jet was that it would somehow be used to deport detainees? But unless detainees were being deported to Noem’s<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/27/2370761/-Luxury-jets-for-deportations-Kristi-Noem-s-biggest-grift-yet" title="" target="_blank"> hometown</a> in South Dakota, it pretty much looked like Noem was just taking a very expensive ride home nearly every weekend.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Corey Lewandowski is seen during a walkthrough at the 2024 Republican National Convention, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1467492/large/AP24196834047574.jpg?1755208965" title="Corey Lewandowski is seen during a walkthrough at the 2024 Republican National Convention, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)"> <figcaption>Noem’s alleged sidepiece Corey Lewandowski</figcaption> </figure> The administration could have returned the plane after Noem’s departure and saved some coin, a thing that sounds weird until you learn that the Department of Homeland Security was doing some sort of rent-to-own thing? Surely they must have, given how much Noem is now<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/30/2375166/-Kristi-Noem-s-fall-from-grace-is-far-from-over" title="" target="_blank"> under the microscope</a> for a grifty little handout of a nearly $1 billion contract to a Noem PAC donor, and Lewandowski is being investigated over his seeming fondness for pay-for-play contracts? Lol, no. The administration is just gonna keep it. Well, to be specific, the<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/08/noem-dhs-plane-white-house/" title="" target="_blank"> White House</a> is keeping it.  Even Immigration and Customs Enforcement wanted to cut the plane loose after Noem was cut loose, but the White House intervened and took the plane away. However, a DHS spokesperson explained that the deluxe bedroom in the sky would be “available to Cabinet members who need secure command and control and rapid long-range mobility.” <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/30/2375166/-Kristi-Noem-s-fall-from-grace-is-far-from-over" title="" target="_blank">Kristi Noem’s fall from grace is far from over</a> <hr> Uh-huh. Pray tell, what Cabinet is Melania Trump the head of, and when does she need “secure command and control”? Because guess what? Melania gets to<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/the-white-house-is-keeping-kristi-noems-70-million-jet-547438aa" title="" target="_blank"> use</a> the plane. Did we mention that DHS still<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-hides-jaw-dropping-true-cost-of-buying-ice-barbie-kristi-noems-jet-for-melania/" title="" target="_blank"> had to pay</a> for the plane? Of course it did! You really think Melania or any other White House denizen was going to do so? Did we mention it’s even fancier than Air Force Two, Vice President JD Vance’s ride? It is!  Did we mention that while DHS said it purchased the plane for $70 million, that’s a lie, and it’s actually $108 million? It did! This administration simply cannot get enough of fancy planes. There’s Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/28/2335640/-Trump-brags-about-transparency-just-don-t-question-his-jumbo-jet-bribe" title="" target="_blank">$400 million</a> flying bribe palace that he got from Qatar, the one we’re paying somewhere between $400 million and $1 billion<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/us/politics/trump-qatar-air-force-one.html" title="" target="_blank"> to fix up</a> for Trump so he can take it with him when he leaves. There’s DHS somehow getting<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/27/2370761/-Luxury-jets-for-deportations-Kristi-Noem-s-biggest-grift-yet" title="" target="_blank"> eight</a> new fancy private jets, not counting Noem’s former ride. There’s FBI Director Kash Patel using his FBI plane as a<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2025/11/25/2355439/-Kash-Patel-and-Kristi-Noem-take-corruption-to-new-heights-literally" title="" target="_blank"> free ride</a> to catch his favorite sporting events and to ferry his fake country singer girlfriend and her pals around.  So, of course, why not give over $100 million in taxpayer dollars to make sure Trump’s wife can zip around to … whatever it is Melania does these days. Hang out<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/25/2374783/-White-House-graced-by-weird-android-devoid-of-human-emotion-and-a-robot" target="_blank"> with robots</a>? Take up another fake job? Maybe it’s to make a quick getaway after her weird press conference where her "Not involved in human trafficking with Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell" T-shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by her T-shirt. <div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-bluesky-content="&lt;blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3hcbkqye2g" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreign5hkobmhqr2fritfrsonmjbwo6hl5cdhcaobunlboghnsq32eb4" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"&gt;&lt;p lang="en"&gt;Melania Trump: The lies linking me with Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. I&amp;#39;ve never been friends with Epstein. I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3mj3hcbkqye2g?ref_src=embed"&gt;[image or embed]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Acyn (&lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z?ref_src=embed"&gt;@acyn.bsky.social&lt;/a&gt;) &lt;a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3mj3hcbkqye2g?ref_src=embed"&gt;April 9, 2026 at 1:37 PM&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;"><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3hcbkqye2g" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreign5hkobmhqr2fritfrsonmjbwo6hl5cdhcaobunlboghnsq32eb4">Melania Trump: The lies linking me with Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. I've never been friends with Epstein. I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. My email reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized as anything more than casual correspondence. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3mj3hcbkqye2g?ref_src=embed" target="_blank">[image or embed]</a>— Acyn (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z?ref_src=embed" target="_blank">@acyn.bsky.social</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:iu4j537hox5huj4bwnwgub4z/post/3mj3hcbkqye2g?ref_src=embed" target="_blank">April 9, 2026 at 1:37 PM</a></blockquote></div> Sure glad we’re paying to let the<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377143/-Donald-isn-t-the-only-Trump-America-hates?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_2&pm_medium=web" target="_blank"> least popular first lady in history</a>  get around in style. Definitely the highest and noblest use of public money, for sure.  rss@dailykos.com (Lisa Needham) DepartmentofHomelandSecurity KRISTINOEM MelaniaTrump _2377154 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:00:08 +0000 Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to dump Trump—and crown Vance https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377144/-Marjorie-Taylor-Greene-wants-to-dump-Trump-and-crown-Vance?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia is all in on invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump from office and may also be signaling interest in aligning herself with Vice President JD Vance—or at least his <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/52a7c7b8-945c-4357-af36-cea77645b164?syn-25a6b1a6=1" title="" target="_blank">crypto money backers</a>.   “Why was this the final straw for you?” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked Greene, referring to Trump's threats to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376770/-Trump-threatens-to-end-Iran-s-civilization-Democrats-warned-us" title="" target="_blank">end Iran’s millennia-old civilization</a>.  “Because it's absolute madness,” Greene replied. “How can any person that is mentally stable call for an entire civilization of people to be murdered, to be wiped out, to never come back again?” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=_cDX_KJGt1o" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_cDX_KJGt1o" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> But Greene was not done, calling the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376773/-GOP-cowards-race-to-defend-Trump-s-insane-Iran-war-crime-threats" target="_blank">GOP’s defense</a> of Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/6/2376636/-Please-keep-bombing-Trump-gives-most-unhinged-press-conference-yet" title="" target="_blank">unhinged rhetoric</a> against Iran “insanity.”  “That is not what I would call proper—or even decent—negotiations,” she said, before pivoting to buttering-up Vance, crediting him with the so-called ceasefire. “JD Vance did not go to his social media and threaten to murder every single man, woman, and child in Iran.” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=u1n3KVd-E_I" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u1n3KVd-E_I" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Since announcing her departure from Congress, Greene has increased her criticism of Trump—first over the continued <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/16/2373412/-Marjorie-Taylor-Greene-slams-Trump-for-putting-America-last" target="_blank">Epstein files coverup</a>, and now for his role in <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/7/2376650/-Donald-Trump-has-completely-lost-his-political-mind" title="" target="_blank">destabilizing the Middle East</a>. She appears to be trying to <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/9/2357657/-Saint-Marjorie-Taylor-Greene-says-she-forgives-Trump" title="" target="_blank">position herself above the MAGA fray,</a> framing Trump’s recent actions as aberrations rather than extensions of the political brand she spent more than a decade embracing. The Republican Party’s midterm prospects, already dimming when Greene left the House, are now <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" title="" target="_blank">virtually opaque</a>, and she may be hoping to sidestep the blame when that comes—but she’ll still need <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/8/1/2259553/-JD-Vance-seems-to-hate-women-but-he-loves-tech-billionaires" title="" target="_blank">big-money backers</a> for whatever comes next.   <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms" title="" target="_blank">Anxious Republicans worry Trump's Iran mess has already cost them the midterms</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) 25thAmendment Elections Iran JDVance MarjorieTaylorGreene mtg _2377144 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:00:02 +0000 Donald isn’t the only Trump America hates https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377143/-Donald-isn-t-the-only-Trump-America-hates?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Despite a White House-backed “<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/30/2366369/-We-really-don-t-care-about-Melania-do-u" title="" target="_blank">documentary</a>” promoting her image around the world, a <a href="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/28014525-cnn-poll-conducted-by-ssrs-2026-midterms-parties/?embed=1&responsive=1&title=1&onlyshoworg=1" title="" target="_blank">new poll shows</a> that Americans simply do not like first lady Melania Trump. In fact, she has netted some of the lowest approval ratings for a first lady in U.S. history. In the SSRS poll conducted for CNN last month, Melania had a net favorability rating of -12. In January 2025, when she and President Donald Trump returned to the White House, her net rating was +3. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="First lady Melania Trump arrives for the premiere of her movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1522715/large/AP26030629318987.jpg?1769813267" title="First lady Melania Trump arrives for the premiere of her movie "Melania" at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)"> <figcaption>Melania Trump attends the premiere of her documentary, “Melania,” on Jan. 29.</figcaption> </figure> That is the lowest rating for a second-term first lady in the history of CNN’s polling.  By contrast, both Michelle Obama and Laura Bush had a +42 rating, while Nancy Reagan netted +50. And former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was the target of yearslong right-wing smear campaigns and negative coverage from the mainstream media, still garnered a +25 rating. Jill Biden also had a positive approval rating. Recapping the data, CNN data analyst Harry Enten noted, “Melania Trump breaking records in the way that you don't want to break records—historically awful. The American people really don't care for her.” <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=VK16A4wfaP0" title="" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VK16A4wfaP0" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> The Trump administration<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/2/4/2367141/--Melania-tickets-are-the-latest-way-to-bribe-Trump" target="_blank"> went all in</a> on promoting her documentary, “Melania,” and the president and members of his Cabinet even attended a premiere for the film at the Kennedy Center. Trump also pushed MAGA supporters to back the movie, and Trump’s allies at Fox News also <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/2/2/2366875/-Let-s-all-laugh-at-Fox-News-anchor-s-ridiculous-take-on-Melania" title="" target="_blank">shilled for the film</a>. Amazon, headed by pro-Trump billionaire Jeff Bezos, paid $40 million for rights to the film<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/1/23/2365020/-Unwanted-Melania-documentary-gets-another-boost-from-Bezos" target="_blank"> </a>and <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/1/23/2365020/-Unwanted-Melania-documentary-gets-another-boost-from-Bezos" target="_blank">reportedly spent</a> an additional $35 million to promote it. The movie<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/melania" title="" target="_blank"> currently has</a> a putrid 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Shallow, sycophantic and absent a single unguarded moment, ‘Melania’ is a near-two-hour infomercial disguised as a documentary,” movie reviewer Peter Travers <a href="https://www.thetraverstake.com/melania/" target="_blank">wrote</a>. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375688/-Trump-s-support-is-dwindling-to-just-the-MAGA-die-hards" title="" target="_blank">Trump’s support is dwindling to just the MAGA die-hards</a> <hr> Melania’s recent activities may explain her poor standing with the public. In recent weeks, she<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/melania-trump-robot-video-union-teacher-education-rcna265297" title="" target="_blank"> came under fire</a> from teachers after she <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/25/2374783/-White-House-graced-by-weird-android-devoid-of-human-emotion-and-a-robot" title="" target="_blank">walked alongside a robot</a> at the White House, touting the use of artificial intelligence in education.  “This is exactly what Big Tech wants to create: a sense of a society that is being led by and taught by robots, displacing every bit of all of who we are, starting with education,” American Federation of Teacher President Randi Weingarten said. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-left"><img alt="First lady Melania Trump arrives, accompanied by a robot, to attend the "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with other first spouses, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1538241/large/AP26084659667964.jpg?1774479997" title="First lady Melania Trump arrives, accompanied by a robot, to attend the "Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit," with other first spouses, at the White House, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)"> <figcaption>Melania Trump walks beside a robot at the White House on March 25.</figcaption> </figure> Melania also <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167067" title="" target="_blank">recently chaired</a> a United Nations session on children in conflict—despite the fact that her husband’s war in Iran <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/12/2372865/-Democrats-demand-probe-into-Trump-s-bombing-of-Iranian-school" target="_blank">killed at least 168 children</a>. There is also the matter of children who have been traumatized by Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/23/2364981/-ICE-detained-5-year-old-to-keep-him-warm-says-DHS-stooge" title="" target="_blank">anti-immigrant campaign</a> and his <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/6/18/2328788/-Trump-cruelly-cuts-off-suicide-prevention-hotline-for-queer-youth" target="_blank">attacks on LGBTQ+ rights</a>. Melania’s poor ratings echo her first term as first lady, when she <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/politics/melania-trump-favorability" target="_blank">left the White House</a> in January 2021 with low favorability ratings. Historically, unpopular presidents have been able to rely on public support for first ladies, even while dealing with political headwinds of their own. But Trump has had no such luck—his wife is disliked<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/8/2376963/-Why-the-latest-elections-were-the-most-ominous-yet-for-the-GOP" title="" target="_blank"> just as much as he is</a>. rss@dailykos.com (Oliver Willis) Documentary DonaldTrump Favorability FirstLady MelaniaTrump Polls _2377143 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:00:09 +0000 The boy who cried nuke https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2376987/-The-boy-who-cried-nuke?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Drew Sheneman. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever" title="" target="_blank">Trump declares victory after making Iran more powerful than ever</a> <hr> rss@dailykos.com (Drew Sheneman) Cartoon DonaldTrump DrewSheneman Iran NuclearWeapons War _2376987 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:59:10 +0000 Stop the steel: Bribe-loving Trump strikes again https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377135/-Stop-the-steel-Bribe-loving-Trump-strikes-again?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= The saga of the big dumb bribe palace of a ballroom at the White House honestly just keeps getting worse.  No, this isn’t about President Donald Trump<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/6/2376632/-It-sure-seems-like-Trump-is-writing-the-DOJ-s-legal-briefs-now" title="" target="_blank"> insisting</a> that he’s just going to keep building the ballroom despite a court order saying he can’t, because the ballroom is just a shed on top of a military installation and is therefore necessary for national security.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1491778/large/AP25296608162831.jpg?1761247946" title="Work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington, before construction of a new ballroom. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)"> <figcaption>Work continues on a largely demolished part of the East Wing of the White House on Oct. 23, 2025, before construction of a new ballroom.</figcaption> </figure> Instead, this is a throwback to the halcyon days of<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2025/10/24/2350103/-Meet-the-grifty-fundraiser-behind-Trump-s-gaudy-ballroom" title="" target="_blank"> last fall</a>, when Trump was racking up cash from companies eager to curry favor by paying for the ballroom with “donations.” It turns out that while some donors went with cash, others got more creative. Hello, ArcelorMittal, world’s second-largest steelmaker and very much not an American<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/us/politics/white-house-foreign-steel-ballroom.html" title="" target="_blank"> company</a>! How is Luxembourg this time of year? It appears you gave Trump $37 million in steel for the ballroom last fall, but were just so darn modest you didn’t tell anyone! Surely this was simply out of the goodness of your corporate heart, right? Just a desire to show support for America in its desperate time of ballroom need? Lol, of course not. Let’s run it back so we can see the grift in action. Last October, at a special event just for big ballroom bribers, Trump<a href="https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/the-problems-with-the-white-house-using-foreign-steel-for-its-ballroom-project" title="" target="_blank"> burbled</a> on about how he found a “great steel company” that had reached out to offer him $37 million in steel, and that it would be “great steel as opposed to garbage steel, because they dump a lot of garbage around.” Trump didn’t see fit to name the company back then, perhaps because he didn’t want to make it obvious when, just a few days later, he adjusted tariff rates and cut the rate that ArcelorMittal was paying in half.  Of course, per the White House, the timing was absolutely a coincidence—why do you ask? <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/10/24/2350103/-Meet-the-grifty-fundraiser-behind-Trump-s-gaudy-ballroom" title="" target="_blank">Meet the grifty fundraiser behind Trump’s gaudy ballroom</a> <hr> Hm. Perhaps one of the economic brain geniuses who work for Trump could explain how tariffs work when a foreign company just gives the president tens of millions of dollars in steel? Surely someone has to pay something because, according to Trump, all of these tariffs on steel are necessary for our national security, which he<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2377009/-Oh-we-re-doing-tariffs-again" title="" target="_blank"> decided</a> includes “economic security.”  So, just letting foreign steel into the country all willy-nilly and untariffed hurts our national security, but magically, it appears there is no threat to our security if it’s just a bribe for Trump.  <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1491478/large/lk102325dAPR.jpg?1761164597" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> Then, of course, there’s the whole thing about how Trump is Mr. America First, especially when it comes to manufacturing. Indeed, part of the<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/business-leaders-react-trump-steel-tariffs-2046664" target="_blank"> rationale</a> for slapping tariffs on foreign steel is that it<a href="https://www.steel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Steel-Associations-Letter-to-President-Trump.pdf" target="_blank"> benefits</a> American steel manufacturers to do so. But that “America First” mentality sure melts away when Trump wants freebies from overseas. The White House's<a href="https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/gavin-newsom-trump-ballroom-steel-b2954477.html" title="" target="_blank"> justification</a> for this is no justification at all, and also, if you even question Trump, it’s only because you’re blind with rage.  Per spokesperson Davis Ingle, Trump is “making the White House beautiful and giving it the glory it deserves at no cost to the taxpayer—something everyone should celebrate. Only people with a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome would find a problem with that.” This is a tough little speech, but it’s sort of undercut by the fact that the White House was too wussy to confirm the big foreign steel gift because disclosing the specific materials being used for the ballroombunker and where they came from would be a security risk.  Trump remains convinced that as long as he finances his destruction of the White House via bribes, he’s free to do whatever he wants. So, screw you if you want to know any more than that. rss@dailykos.com (Lisa Needham) ballroom Bribes DonaldTrump Grift Tariffs WhiteHouse _2377135 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:02 +0000 GOP lawmaker can’t stop spouting racist BS about Mamdani https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377123/-GOP-lawmaker-can-t-stop-spouting-racist-BS-about-Mamdani?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= GOP Rep. <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/10/2357842/--Not-all-cultures-are-equal-Republican-goes-on-racist-tear" target="_blank">Randy Fine</a> of Florida spewed some racist sentiments about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Newsmax Monday. “Do you still believe that he should be deported because I know you've mentioned that before?” the host asked him. “Absolutely,” Fine replied. “I believe Zoran Mandani lied when he applied for citizenship. I think he was affiliated and supported groups you're not allowed to if you want to be a citizen of the United States, and I think he should be denaturalized and deported as a result.”  <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content">x</div> <div class="dk-editor-embed embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 center-block"> <div class="remove-embed-content"><a class="new_iframe_placeholder" href="#">x</a></div> <a class="iframe_placeholder youtube dk-embed" href="//youtube.com/watch?v=UDWbIOE7img" data-frameborder="0" data-height="281" data-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UDWbIOE7img" data-width="500">YouTube Video</a></div> </div> Fine didn’t specify which “groups” he believes constitute deporting an elected official who, within months of taking office, has rolled out <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376836/-Mamdani-appoints-mom-and-pop-czar-to-help-small-businesses-boom" target="_blank">programs</a> and <a href="https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani-announces-opening-of-first-of-its-kind-outposted-t" target="_blank">projects</a> aimed at <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/25/2370437/-Mamdani-and-AOC-prove-who-s-really-the-party-of-family-values" target="_blank">addressing issues</a> facing ordinary New Yorkers.  It’s hard to say what’s most provoking to right-wing zealots like Fine—Mamdani’s <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/20/2374073/-Mamdani-marks-end-of-Ramadan-with-uplifting-message" target="_blank">Muslim faith</a>, his race, or his early record of actually delivering on campaign promises.  rss@dailykos.com (Walter Einenkel) DonaldTrump Iran NewYorkCity Racism RandyFine War ZohranMamdani _2377123 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:30:04 +0000 Unless you’re a billionaire, Trump just raised your taxes https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377120/-Unless-you-re-a-billionaire-Trump-just-raised-your-taxes?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= Donald Trump and his Republican allies have portrayed themselves as champions of tax cutting for middle- and working-class Americans, but millions have seen their taxes increase from a year ago—unless you’re a billionaire. <a href="https://itep.org/despite-any-tax-refunds-youre-probably-paying-more-taxes-under-trump/" target="_blank">An analysis</a> by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that, for all income groups except the richest 5% of Americans, taxes have gone up. The poorest Americans (those making between $0 and $27,000) had the largest average increase at 3.1%, while the wealthiest people (those making over $916,000) experienced a 0.4% cut. The largest source of increased<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2377009/-Oh-we-re-doing-tariffs-again" target="_blank" title=""> taxes is the tariffs</a> Trump imposed on goods imported into the United States. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2377009/-Oh-we-re-doing-tariffs-again" title="" target="_blank">Oh, we’re doing tariffs again?</a> <hr> Trump touted his tariffs as a weapon to pressure foreign governments to open their markets up to U.S.-made goods, but in reality, the tariffs added a premium on goods purchased by consumers. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court also found that the mechanism Trump used to push his tariffs <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/2/20/2369627/-Trump-s-tariffs-are-toast-but-the-chaos-continues" title="" target="_blank">was illegal</a>, but Trump has kept most of the cost increases in place anyway. Americans also saw a tax increase resulting from<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/10/25/2350097/-Why-Republicans-want-you-to-die-and-fast" title="" target="_blank"> Republican opposition</a> to health care. A provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by congressional Republicans ended the Expanded Premium Tax Credit. The credit<a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/enhanced-premium-tax-credits-who-benefits-how-much-and-what-happens-next/" target="_blank"> was put into law</a> by Democrats and former President Joe Biden as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. These credits allowed millions of Americans to be eligible for lower health insurance premiums, but under Republican rule that option has expired. Millions have lost care and now have to pay more out of pocket. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Jack Ohman" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1434900/large/20250521edohc-a.jpg?1747779210" title="Cartoon by Jack Ohman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> The U.S. economy is also being hammered by Trump’s policies. Goods like groceries and<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/3/27/2375085/-PlayStation-hikes-console-prices-thanks-to-Trump-s-crappy-economy" target="_blank"> even video games</a> have seen price hikes thanks to tariffs. More recently, Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran has caused<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war" title="" target="_blank"> a serious spike in gas prices</a>, squeezing middle-class families already dealing with tariff burdens. Trump<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/25/2288862/-America-s-new-oligarchy-Inside-Trump-s-billionaire-administration" title="" target="_blank"> stacked his administration</a> with an unusually high number of millionaires and billionaires, both directly in his Cabinet and at the highest levels of government power and influence. Figures like<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/12/2372908/-The-DOGE-bros-are-even-dumber-and-more-racist-than-you-thought" target="_blank"> racist billionaire Elon Musk</a>, the richest man in the world, were given enormous leeway to run roughshod over the government—cutting services and functions that served millions of people while Trump and Republicans lowered his taxes. Republicans<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/1/2/2361065/-Health-care-costs-skyrocket-courtesy-of-cruel-Republicans" title="" target="_blank"> cut access</a> to health care even as Trump spent time and resources to build himself<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/30/2375542/-Dumb-and-disturbing-developments-in-Trump-s-ballroom-boondoggle" title="" target="_blank"> a glitzy ballroom</a> at the (taxpayer-owned) White House—which he has also slathered with <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/12/15/2358548/-Trump-takes-next-step-in-quest-to-turn-DC-into-Mar-a-Lago" target="_blank">tacky gold ornaments</a>. Recent elections have<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376963/-Why-the-latest-elections-were-the-most-ominous-yet-for-the-GOP" title="" target="_blank"> been a disaster</a> for Republicans. Voters are surging to support Democrats and progressive causes to express their anger with how Trump and his party have governed. Soaring costs for millions of Americans will likely lead to massive future defeat for the GOP—and it can’t come soon enough. rss@dailykos.com (Oliver Willis) DonaldTrump Economy Republicans Tariffs Taxes _2377120 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:30:02 +0000 Trump age https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2376596/-Trump-age?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= A cartoon by Clay Jones. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/1/2375859/-Republican-touts-amazing-Iran-war-despite-dead-troops-and-global-chaos" title="" target="_blank">Republican touts 'amazing' Iran war, despite dead troops and global chaos</a> <div> <div style="text-align:right"> <div> <hr> </div> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (Clay Jones) Bombing Cartoon ClayJones DonaldTrump Iran War WarCrimes _2376596 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:29:06 +0000 Anxious Republicans worry Trump's Iran mess has already cost them the midterms https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377112/-Anxious-Republicans-worry-Trump-s-Iran-mess-has-already-cost-them-the-midterms?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= As the war in Iran <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/09/world/iran-ceasefire-trump-lebanon/3e957e04-a698-518f-95cd-0c2f51bebae4?smid=url-share" target="_blank">continues to rage</a> and oil and <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/26/2374929/-Trump-team-says-Americans-are-cool-with-high-gas-prices-for-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">fuel prices continue to climb</a>, Republicans are starting to fear that the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376971/-Trump-declares-victory-after-making-Iran-more-powerful-than-ever" target="_blank">clusterfuck</a> Donald Trump started in the Middle East and can't seem to find his way out of will cost them the midterms. “This war in Iran almost cements the fact that we lose the midterms in November—the Senate and House,” an unnamed "person close to the White House" <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/08/republicans-fear-iran-will-cost-them-the-midterms-ceasefire-or-not-00864697" target="_blank">told</a> Politico. Indeed, the signs are all there. As gas prices surged <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank">past $4 per gallon</a> thanks to Iran's blockade of the Hormuz Strait, Trump's approval rating has <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/3/31/2375688/-Trump-s-support-is-dwindling-to-just-the-MAGA-die-hards" target="_blank">slid to the lowest levels of his presidency to date</a>, with his support eroding among even Republican voters. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war" target="_blank">Thanks, Trump: Gas prices will remain high for months due to Iran war</a> <hr> The New York Times also <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/us/politics/trump-truth-social-iran.html" target="_blank">found</a> that even the Trump die-hards who use his Truth Social platform are turning on Dear Leader, expressing anger over his decision to start a foreign war that is negatively impacting the cost of living in the United States. “You’re utterly destroying your presidency with this nonsense. It’s probably too late to course correct at this point. A shameful waste of a great start,” one Truth Social user told Trump. And Republicans have been losing regular and special elections alike, with Democrats posting an average of<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JGk1r1VXnxBrAIVHz1C5HTB5jxCO6Zw4QNPivdhyWHw/edit?gid=1173601967#gid=1173601967" target="_blank"> 13-point</a> over performances since Trump took office in 2025, according to data compiled by the Downballot. Yet the most recent elections on Tuesday were <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376963/-Why-the-latest-elections-were-the-most-ominous-yet-for-the-GOP" target="_blank">even worse for Republicans</a> than that.  Democrats flipped a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, winning that race by a massive 20 points in a state Trump had carried in 2024. And Democrats notched a stunning 25-point over-performance in a special election in Georgia's 14th District—the seat held by now-former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. <hr> Related | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376963/-Why-the-latest-elections-were-the-most-ominous-yet-for-the-GOP" target="_blank">Why the latest elections were the most ominous yet for the GOP</a> <hr> Worse still for Republicans is that even if the war ends today—which seems unlikely based on Trump's <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116372694697146221" target="_blank">unhinged Truth Social posts</a>,<a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2042164776927658323" target="_blank"> bombs still falling</a> across the Middle East, and the Strait of Hormuz still essentially <a href="https://x.com/DeItaone/status/2042218987187007996" target="_blank">closed</a> to marine traffic—it would <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/8/2376994/-Thanks-Trump-Gas-prices-will-remain-high-for-months-due-to-Iran-war?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_10&pm_medium=web" target="_blank">take months for gas prices to go back down</a>.  <figure class="image-captioned align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1532844/large/lk030826dAPR.jpg?1772751659" title="Cartoon by Mike Luckovich"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> And even once they do go down, they will not return to pre-war levels, as it will take months to years to repair the oil infrastructure damaged by the war, meaning there will be lower oil output until those repairs take place. Given that affordability is voters' top issue in the midterms, that's a massive problem for Trump and the GOP. “Trump’s going to own that,” an unnamed Georgia Republican strategist told Politico of the rising fuel prices. Of course, there are seven months until Election Day—a lifetime in politics. Yet there are no signs that Trump and his party’s fortunes are going to change.  November is going to be ugly for the GOP. And Republicans seem to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-georgia-special-election-donald-trump-ffbfa23ad75aabcbdf034c87ee12c85c" target="_blank">know it</a>. rss@dailykos.com (Emily Singer) 2026midterms Affordability DonaldTrump GasPrices Inflation Iran IranWar Oil _2377112 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:30:12 +0000 'Trump whisperer' NATO chief faces a fresh test over Iran https://www.dailykos.com/story/2026/4/9/2377109/--Trump-whisperer-NATO-chief-faces-a-fresh-test-over-Iran?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source= <div> <div> <div> <div id="P_body"> NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has weathered a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nato-rutte-iran-war-981d250a7265774a4913b63d8797fc34" target="_blank" title="">fresh ordeal</a> with President Donald Trump, this time over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, a conflict that does not even involve the world’s biggest military alliance and one it was never consulted about. Since launching the war, Trump has derided U.S. allies as “cowards,” slammed NATO as “a paper tiger” and compared U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Neville Chamberlain, who is probably best remembered for a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany. That comes on top of Trump’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/greenland-us-options-takeover-trump-denmark-86790903847fc8ffc27334ccb64985a9" target="_blank" title="">repeated threats</a> to seize control of Greenland, which have deeply strained relations with U.S. allies in NATO and raised fears that doing by force could spell the end of the organization. <hr> Recent | <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/4/1/2375858/-Trump-floats-quitting-NATO-after-it-won-t-endorse-his-warmongering" title="" target="_blank">Trump floats quitting NATO after it won’t endorse his warmongering</a> <hr> In recent days, the man who is as good as chairman of the NATO board suggested that the U.S. might leave the trans-Atlantic alliance. Trump already threatened to walk out in 2018 during his first term. His complaint now is that some allies ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank">the Strait of Hormuz</a>, a vital trade waterway. After talks with Rutte on Wednesday, the alliance’s most powerful leader took to social media to show his annoyance. “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” Trump posted. Peppered with questions later on CNN about whether Trump intended to take America out of NATO, Rutte said: “He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point.” <h3>Keeping America in</h3> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542928/large/AP26098505628000.jpg?1775741408" title="Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)"> <figcaption>Secretary of State Marco Rubio is joined by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the State Department on April 8.</figcaption> </figure> </div> Rutte has earned a reputation as a “Trump whisperer,” notably helping to draw up <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-ukraine-us-weapons-russia-war-ffcba0fbc060197f50a52110347472a3" target="_blank">a plan</a> that has seen European allies and Canada buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine, and keep the administration involved in Europe’s biggest war in decades. Indeed, one of his most demanding tasks since taking office in 2024 has been to keep the mercurial U.S. leader engaged in NATO, particularly as America has set its sights on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-us-europeans-ukraine-security-russia-hegseth-d2cd05b5a7bc3d98acbf123179e6b391" target="_blank" title="">security challenges</a> elsewhere, in the Indo-Pacific, Venezuela, and most recently Iran. Rutte has used flattery, praising Trump for forcing allies to spend more on defense. He has congratulated the U.S. leader over the war and refrained from criticizing Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die” should Iran not reopen the strait. “This was a very frank, very open discussion but also a discussion between two good friends,” Rutte told CNN. He declined to confirm reports that Trump is considering moving U.S. troops out of European countries that do not support the war. Asked whether the world is safer thanks to the U.S.-Israel war, Rutte said: “Absolutely.” <h3>War launched by a NATO member, not at one</h3> <div class="align-center"> <figure class="image-captioned width-xl"><img alt="NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte leaves the podium after the launch of the NATO Secretary General's Annual Report for 2025 at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1542930/large/AP26085474731941.jpg?1775741415" title="NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte leaves the podium after the launch of the NATO Secretary General's Annual Report for 2025 at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)"> <figcaption>Mark Rutte leaves the podium after the launch of the NATO Secretary-General's Annual Report for 2025 at NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 26.</figcaption> </figure> </div> The striking thing about the war on Iran is that NATO has no role to play there. As a defensive alliance it has protected ally Turkey when <a href="https://apnews.com/71c609cdb15e93a2b4070108a99f0a6a" target="_blank" title="">Iranian missiles</a> were fired in retaliation at its territory, but the war was launched by a NATO member, not at one. Rutte himself has said that NATO would not join the war, and there is no public confirmation that the U.S. had even raised the issue at the organization’s Brussels headquarters, although it cannot be ruled out that the administration made a request on Wednesday for that to happen. NATO declined to say whether security for the strait has been officially discussed and referred questions to the United Kingdom, which is leading an effort outside the alliance to make the trade route safe for shipping once the ceasefire is working. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Thursday that his country is always ready to consider providing support through NATO to partners who request it there. “If the U.S. or any other NATO ally is asking (for) our support, we are always read to discuss it,” he told broadcaster CNBC. “But for that, we need of course the official ask to discuss then what is the mission, what is the goal?” If allies “need our support, then we need to plan together,” he said. <h3>NATO trying to stay out</h3> Rutte himself insists that the alliance will only defend itself, and not become involved in another conflict outside of NATO territory, which is considered to be much of Europe and North America. “This is Iran, this is the Gulf, this is outside NATO territory,” he said. <figure class="image-captioned width-xl align-right"><img alt="Cartoon by Jack Ohman" class="width-xl" src="https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1520121/large/20260122edohc-a.jpg?1769106213" title="Cartoon by Jack Ohman"> <figcaption></figcaption> </figure> NATO has operated outside of the Euro-Atlantic area in the past, notably in Libya and Afghanistan. But there is no appetite to do so again given its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-e10e038baea732dae879c11234507f81" target="_blank" title="">chaotic U.S.-led exit</a> from Afghanistan in 2021, which former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg described as a “defeat.” Trump's ire seems most directed at Spain and France, rather than NATO itself. Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran" target="_blank">Iran war</a> and has refused U.S. forces the use of jointly operated military bases. After the two-week ceasefire was announced, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted on X that his government “will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.” “What’s needed now: diplomacy, international legality, and PEACE,” he added. France has been critical, insisting that the war was launched without respecting international law and that Paris was never consulted about it. No blanket restrictions were placed on the use of joint bases or its airspace, but French authorities have said they’re making such decisions on a case by case basis. </div> </div> </div> </div> rss@dailykos.com (Associated Press) Diplomacy ForeignPolicy Iran MarkRutte NATO _2377109 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:13 +0000