Simian Silverback

In case you wanted to know what the inside of a Cheesecake Factory looks like. Curious that a joke about this interior design, as might be redone by Saddam Hussein, is elitist, but dissing Home Depot (see the link) shows class. youtube.com/shorts/4gnjf...

The irony: RFK is speaking FOR Mike Rogers, who has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and sociology, and AGAINST El-Sayed, who was a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, where he earned a doctorate in public health, then a MD from Columbia, and is an asst. prof. of epidemiology.

Social media, especially BlueSky, could be a forum for the exchange of news and thoughtful ideas. And if you sort through the BS it is. But, man, do you have to sort! Mostly, people use it to express contempt in 300 characters or less. What a waste of potential!

I am a notorious skinflint, but I think I will subscribe to this substack. This is a very interesting article (which I got for free). geneweingarten.substack.com/p/the-dopes-...

Donald Trump said that he could murder a man in public and not lose any votes. Apparently HE thinks very little of his supporters' moral discernment. Why should his opponents give those supporters more credit than he does? youtu.be/qC16c98hDPc?...

The flip-flopping is amazing. Can't wait for Congress to subpoena Musk and Hegseth. These lying liars need to be questioned under oath. thehill.com/policy/inter...

Yeah, I detest Hegseth, too; but announcing before the midterms that impeaching him is a top priority is political malpractice. Things are finally looking good for Dems, but this is in spite of, not because of, their leadership. www.wsj.com/politics/hou...

Susan Collins proves she can persuade Trump to be slightly less insane whenever there is a midterm election that she might lose. wapo.st/4BGqXz1

Acton's stepfather was charged with her rape and, together with Acton's mother, skipped town. The rapist remained a fugitive until he died. Acton's mother, convicted of fraud in 1996, lived with the fugitive rapist until his death. Ramaswamy sides with the fugitive rapist and his enabler.

Not so fun fact: According to one study, and consistent with my experience as a lawyer appointed in Child in Need of Assistance cases, where a child accuses a father or stepfather of sexual abuse, mothers side with the husband in 32% of the cases. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3336581/

Questions: Where can one person to stand next to another while the first is voting? Why marry a woman so stupid that she needs you to tell her how to vote? Why did you think your wife could not be trusted to vote as you no doubt discussed beforehand? Does she fake "joy" in other activities?

Maybe these allegations are unfounded. Kushner's lawyer makes a valid point about the lack of specificity. But, since we know the DOJ will not investigate, and a GOP congress will not investigate, a newly elected Dem majority should get to the bottom of it.

This article reads like applause for GOP gerrymandering, but ends with, "The gerrymandering wars will continue. Until the voters say 'enough.'” This tells us that even GOP partisans may back a constitutional amendment against the practice. It's time. www.wsj.com/opinion/abou...

Memo to Amy Acton: Prepare a 30 second ad describing how at age 12 you escaped from the clutches of an abusive family, and went on to medical school and a career in public health. Maybe end by noting that your opponent sides with the sex abuser. Vivek Ramaswamy just gave you a gift. Run with it.

Ohio voters should know that one of the candidates stands behind a convicted felon whose pre-teen children were taken from her after she failed to stop her husband from sexually abusing them. And JD Vance sees nothing wrong with that. Class Act politifact.com/article/2026...

Re: Amy Acton As a young lawyer I often was appointed in cases where the state had learned that a child was being sexually abused by a father or stepfather. It was remarkable to me how common it was for the mother to side with her husband. Really, really, common.

You want to see how bias skews perspective? Compare two articles by the WSJ. The more recent article condemns Obama for suggesting that the Omar investigation, just before midterms, is politically motivated. The earlier article condemns the search of Mar-a-Lago. www.wsj.com/opinion/merr...

This is not as sexual as the picture, and the "adult animation," suggest. It is very funny. I realize people on BlueSky are serious folks, but everyone needs a laugh now and again. youtu.be/PZHR29X75Hk?...

Great article from The Atlantic. You may think the author has it wrong, but if you do without acknowledging that he makes valid points . . . well, congratulations on your self confidence. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

This Pravda article makes me wonder whether Trump's criticism of Zelensky and praise of Putin aren't intended for a Russian audience. www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...

Trump writes, "Russia is . . . sending . . . millions of barrels of diesel to the World." Meanwhile, his secretary of energy claims that Russia is not exporting ANY diesel, none. Kinda makes you wonder if these guys can be trusted. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEPa...

Can you hear history rhyme? Echoing the infamous Munich Agreement, Putin suggests he, Xi, and Trump determine Ukraine's fate w/o that country's involvement. Trump has not agreed to a meeting, but the fact that Putin thinks he might tells you everything. www.wsj.com/world/russia...

The leader of Trump's "election fraud task force" admits that his job is minister of propaganda: “They’re worried about the court of law, and what the president has created here is something that can serve the court of public opinion . . .” wapo.st/4eC7Qfe

Politicians always pander to the activist base during primaries, then move to the center for the general election. Suddenly some Dems think they don't need the centrists. That mindset led to Trump. It also is Trump's mindset. It is why he will be rebuked by the midterms. Don't be like Trump.

I heard a panel of journalists speculate as to whether Hegseth had gotten Trump's approval before announcing that an execution would be livestreamed. I am surprised that none of them recalled Trump expressly saying he had approved the plan. wapo.st/4s64oz4

This is what will happen, and what should have happened in all the lawsuits Trump filed: Trump will not sit down for an under-oath examination by a skilled trial lawyer. But in a civil case refusal is not an option. The judge will dismiss, or Trump will dismiss. newrepublic.com/post/216587/...

It is true. wapo.st/4AUE7Yy

Finally got my tombstone designed

A little perspective: On August 7, 2025, Trump's IRS provided ICE with information on 47,289 taxpayers (undocumented aliens). That violated 26 U.S.C. § 6103. On January 29, 2026, Trump (relying on 26 U.S.C. § 6103) sued the IRS because a rogue contractor shared his information. See the problem?

Once again, the WSJ characterizes a disastrous and morally corrupt Trump decision as a "mistake" that might have been avoided if only he had better advisors. God only knows how the poor man got stuck with so many stupid and ineffective advisors. It must be a curse. www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...

Everyone just relax. The Trump administration assures us that there is nothing to see here. Everything is under control. Tech billionaires can be trusted to protect us. They promised. And that promise is morally binding. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/09/t...

New story of rich men giving Guilfoyle extravagant gifts. She uses her influence to steer business their way. And she documents it all. Explicit quid pro quo. Is it bribery? Probably, but I bet tax evasion would be an easier case. A Congressional hearing is in order. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Thom Tillis says of Trump, "He has that potential, if he starts to recognize advice that he’s getting that I think is bad advice and won’t age well." Even Republicans who stand up to Trump treat him like the doting mother of a juvenile delinquent. "He's a good kid, but fell in with a bad crowd."

The public did not witness the execution of Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz. Polish public executions ended after one that took on a carnival-like atmosphere. People brought their children. You think kids won't watch Hegseth's livestream? www.wsj.com/us-news/pent...

The administration that thinks Jimmy Kimmel is too corrosive for public television wants to livestream a man getting shot to death. www.wsj.com/us-news/pent...

In this article, the WSJ, a paper that will not frankly address Trump's disastrous foreign policy, gushes over Rubio for the simple reason that in this one speech he doesn't sound like Trump. Lets us know the WSJ knows how bad Trump is but won't say because he lowers taxes for billionaires.

James Freeman quotes Mark Warner as saying, "What a sad state of affairs when a president can joke about" demolishing US cities. Ignoring that Warner acknowledged the "joke" Freeman writes, "It's hard to believe these . . . hacks actually believe . . ." www.wsj.com/opinion/demo...

Great story about an election skeptic who gets himself appointed to the office that runs local elections, micromanages the election where he runs for that office, then claims fraud when he loses. It's a story about how we don't let facts get in the way of hardened beliefs. wapo.st/4B5OHfF

The Wall Street Journal says it is important that voters know about Russia's brazen attacks on NATO countries so that they understand why we need . . . (wait for it) more defense spending. As opposed to a president not in bed with Putin. www.wsj.com/opinion/russ...

"AI will kill us all" is an exaggeration. The human race has survived despite a lot of setbacks. But AI clearly can create problems. Avoiding those problems will assist, rather than hinder, the US in the AI race. It doesn't take SI to see that. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This poll could be a blueprint for Dem election strategy, EXCEPT: The poll fails to address structural reforms, such as an end to gerrymandering, campaign finance reform, etc. To convince the public that you are not just another political hack, offer STRUCTURAL changes. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

If a general loses battle after battle, he gets replaced. If a coach loses when the team should have won, the coach is fired. But for some reason Democrats keep the leadership that led to Trump being president and the GOP running Congress. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQjw...

I watched Hakeem Jeffries being interviewed. I can't say that he put me to sleep; but half way through each answer I wished that I was asleep. Dem approval ratings are in the toilet, but Dems keep the leadership that brought them to these historic lows. Weird. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQjw...

The willingness to break the law in broad daylight is amazing. Not new, of course, but amazing. wapo.st/4xKcu1B

Most people are unaware of the damage Meta does because it is substantially immune from tort claims, and because its influence is embedded in algorithms nobody ever sees. This article explains the problem and offers a solution. danielbrucestageman.substack.com/p/its-2026-w...

I hear a lot of people quick with opinions about what Ed Sheeran should have done. So far none of them have known a thing about his contractual obligations or what it would have cost him to renege. High horses must be selling cheap. So many people ride them.

Every day Trump does something outrageous. BUT on Sept. 4 he threatened to stop trading with countries "with which we have a deficit." He's like Cleavon Little in "Blazing Saddles," holding a gun to America's head, "Do as I say or the bitch gets it!" It's beyond stupid. This is batshit crazy!

Referring to the Federal Reserve, Trump writes, “LOWER THE RATE OR I’LL STOP TRADING WITH COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE HAVE A DEFICIT.” Competition is stiff, but I think this is the most irrational thing the man has ever said. Seriously bonkers. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/b...

In this article Pete Buttigieg explains why Dems, if they gain power, must institute actual reforms, and not just reel back Trump's excesses. Note that he does this w/o dehumanizing the opposition. Take notes, Dems. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Inflation is 3.4%. Trump says investors should buy bonds that pay 1%, meaning their investment will depreciate 2.4% a year. How will this work? By stopping the import of cheap goods so that domestic businesses can charge even more. King Canute, meet the tide. www.nerdwallet.com/finance/lear...