September 17, 2026

Marie: Maria Salazar is a member of the House of Representatives. See if you can figure out her party affiliation from this ad:

     ~~~ I didn't think so. She's a Republican.

Reuters, published in the Guardian: "A federal immigration officer wanted on assault charges for shooting and ​wounding a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis was arrested there on Wednesday, eight months after a confrontation that became a flashpoint over ‌Donald Trump’s deportation sweeps. Christian Castro, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, was taken into custody by agents of the Minnesota bureau of criminal apprehension in Minneapolis and was booked into the Hennepin county jail on his outstanding arrest warrant, the agency said. Castro had been released on bond from federal custody earlier this month, after an initial appearance in a district court ​in McAllen, Texas, on charges of lying to investigators about the circumstances of the 14 January shooting. Under an agreement with Minnesota law enforcement, ​Castro voluntarily drove to Minneapolis from Texas to turn himself in to state authorities at his attorney’s office but ended ⁠up being arrested minutes before he was due to arrive, the lawyer, Daniel Gerdts, told Reuters."

This post is going viral. Thanks to RAS for the link: ~~~

other photos show that this placard was carried off the plane by Bill Pulte. I expect Trump will post this image on Truth Social sometime soon. Watch this space.

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 17, 2026

Marie: Republicans must be really glad this guy is Constitutionally barred from becoming president (thanks to RAS for the link, via Digby:

      ~~~ That guy does kinda remind a person of this other guy. Remember, Donald Trump asserted this other guy also was Constitutionally barred from the top job, even after said other guy was elected. Twice: ~~~

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Jeff Cox of CNBC: "The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved its first interest rate hike in more than three years and indicated another is to come, as part of an effort aimed at combating inflation brought on by spiraling oil prices and other factors. In a move that markets widely anticipated, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee voted 12-0 to increase its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point, or 25 basis points. The move brought the overnight funds rate to a target range of 3.75%-4%." (Also linked yesterday.) The New York Times report is here; this is a gift link. ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times liveblogged developments; this is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Tony Romm of the New York Times: Donald “Trump lashed out at the Federal Reserve on Wednesday over its decision to raise interest rates, as he reprised his earlier threats to cut off a broad swath of U.S. trade unless the central bank bows soon to his demands for lower borrowing costs. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Trump acknowledged that he had talked to Kevin M. Warsh, his newly confirmed Fed chairman, at some point before the Fed board voted unanimously to lift rates by a quarter of a percentage point for the first time in three years. 'I told Kevin, I said, you might as well vote with the board because it’s just not going to matter,' Mr. Trump said. 'The board is very hostile. They’re very political. They’re doing the wrong thing. They’re a bunch of politicians. They are people put on by politicians.'...\

“'If we wanted to get rid of deficits, which we could do with the swipe of the pen with every country, we’d make a trillion and a half dollars a year,' Mr. Trump said. 'We’d pay off our debt. We’d do all sorts of things. But we haven’t chosen to do that. But at some point, we will. Interest rates are too high.' Such a move could cause immense blowback for U.S. families and businesses, while the rate cuts that Mr. Trump seeks — to 1 percent or lower, he said — could exacerbate inflation and make the central bank’s job even more difficult. Still, Mr. Trump ... doubled down during a speech later in North Carolina, where he pivoted from a broadside against the Fed to blasting U.S. allies including Canada, Mexico and the European Union.” The link is a gift link. The Hill's report is here.

     ~~~ Marie: I don't know what the professors at the Wharton School's undergrad program taught the very stable genius, but I seriously doubt their lessons advocated for strict economic isolationism because it would be a huge moneymaker for the U.S. See also RAS's commentary (below) on Trump's little chat with Warsh; I'd say RAS is right on the money, so to speak.

Julia Jacobs & Zach Montague of the New York Times: “Lawyers for a Democratic lawmaker on Wednesday requested an emergency hearing in federal court over whether the abrupt closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts violates a judge’s earlier order that barred the institution from shuttering. On Tuesday, the center announced it was temporarily closing to the public over what officials described as dire safety concerns after a five-foot section of water-damaged ceiling plaster fell to the ground during a storm.... [Donald] Trump, who has pushed for months for the building to be closed for a $257 million renovation project, said the building was in a 'virtual state of collapse.' Lawyers for Representative Joyce Beatty, who is suing the center as an ex officio board member, said that the move appeared to run afoul of a judicial order in May, in which Judge Christopher R. Cooper temporarily blocked the center from closing because of what he described as a lack of meaningful scrutiny over the decision from its Trump-allied board.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

Jonathan Edwards & Jade Tran of the Washington Post: “... Donald Trump said Wednesday that his administration deserves to have its name recognized at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in exchange for rescuing the financially troubled institution, warning that without his intervention the venue will eventually close and be 'ripped down.'... The president said the center would require years of financial support even after a roughly $250 million renovation. 'Frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close,' he said [to reporters in North Carolina]. 'It’ll end up being ripped down.' Trump’s remarks sharpened his position that saving the Kennedy Center hinges on putting his name on the building, a day after he threatened to block its renovation unless the courts allow the institution to do just that.... On Wednesday, fencing went up around the main building and security guards continued to turn away visitors. But center management drew a distinction Wednesday between the closure already underway and the roughly two-year shutdown approved by trustees.” ~~~

~~~ Alex Woodward of the Independent: “A member of the legal team fighting Trump’s attempts to rename the property after himself wrote in court filings that she saw a forklift 'run into and hit the pillars on the building several times.'... The venue’s abrupt closure and installation of orange barricades have drawn fears that the president is not merely closing the building for planned renovations but potentially demolishing it altogether, an idea first floated by the Department of Justice in court filings this summer.” ~~~ 

~~~Tom Nichols of the Atlantic on "Trump's Kennedy Center Shakedown": "The only way to avert letting the center go bankrupt, according to the executive board, is to let Trump raise money — and heaven knows what kind of ethical issues that effort would entail — and then to add his name to thank him.... Painful as it would be to see the Kennedy Center go bankrupt, it would be more painful to cave to Trump’s deeply cynical refusal to save a national treasure unless he gets his name on it." Thanks to akaWendy for this gift link. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Other than Joyce Beatty (D), where's Congress in all this? Congress should have been looking into just why the Kennedy Center is insolvent. (Besides the fact, as Nichols notes, that donors fled in protest of Trump's commandeering the place.) Yesterday, Patrick noted that Congress appropriated $257 million for the Center in its infamous, Trump-approved Big Ugly Bill. What happened to the $257MM? Did the board spend it all on gold lettering spelling out "Donald J. Trump"? Can't they find a fellow who will charge them less than $257MM to slap some tar paper over the leaky sections of the roof? (Maybe the Reflecting Pool contractor would help as long as he gets a no-bid contract.) The Congress appropriated the taxpayers' money (or, more accurately, authorized borrowing on the taxpayers' good credit) to maintain the Kennedy Center. Has Trump's handpicked board squandered all those funds? Where did it all go, people? Haul those board members before Congress and turn them upside down and shake them. I'll bet millions of dollars fall from their pockets. 

Emily Badger of the New York Times: “The National Park Service[, part of the Interior Department,] is sprinting through one of the final hurdles before approval of ... [Donald] Trump’s proposed triumphal arch in Washington. In doing so, it’s brushing aside outside objections — and its own assessment — that the towering monument would alter the views and symbolism at dozens of historic sites around it. The Park Service has been meeting with local preservation officials and outside organizations as part of a legally required review.... But a senior Park Service official abruptly signaled this week that the agency would soon conclude the review, giving local officials and preservationists just days to review a memorandum of agreement that would do little to address their concerns. The review, which participating preservationists have described as flouting the intent of the National Historic Preservation Act, is the latest process the administration has short-circuited on its way to building the project. The Park Service is aiming to complete the review in time for the project to receive a final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission in early November. The Park Service has acknowledged that the arch, given its massive scale, would 'adversely affect' more than 40 historic sites and districts around the capital.” The link is a gift link.

Marie: What's this? The Bobby Kennedy Junior Memorial Roadkill Exception? They just can't stop this all-of-government approach to destroying things. ~~~

~~~ More Interior Department Shenanigans. Catrin Einhorn of the New York Times: “In what would be a seismic shift, the Trump administration is quietly moving to strip a core protection [link fixed] of the Endangered Species Act, according to an internal memo obtained by The New York Times. Under a new interpretation of the law’s language outlined in the memo, the accidental killing or injury of an animal would no longer be considered illegal; only actions specifically intending to target an animal would. The change would be transformative because, in the United States, the killing of endangered animals almost always happens incidentally, in the course of economic activity. Until now, industries and individuals could be held accountable for those foreseeable deaths and, as a result, they have been incentivized to avoid them.... 'This is really an assault on the act like we’ve never seen before,' said Andrew Mergen, a law professor at Harvard University who previously worked for the Justice Department, where he spent two decades supervising Endangered Species Act litigation....” The link is a gift link. 

Maggie Astor of the New York Times: “Nearly three weeks after the Food and Drug Administration approved updated Covid vaccines, about half of American children still cannot receive them, because the federal government has not made the doses available through the Vaccines for Children program. Emily Hilliard, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, confirmed on Wednesday that the department had not yet made a decision about whether to provide the shots through that program. Vaccines for Children provides free shots to children who are uninsured, underinsured or eligible for Medicaid, as well as to American Indian and Alaska Native children. Pediatric doses are available for children who have insurance, or whose parents can afford to pay for vaccines out of pocket. 

“Vaccines for Children doses are distributed to state and local officials through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state officials cannot place orders until the department signs off.... The delay and confusion may be related, at least in part, to the uncertainty surrounding a C.D.C. advisory panel that makes recommendations on vaccines. The panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, normally votes on whether specific vaccines will be covered by the Vaccines for Children program. But the panel has been in legal limbo since a federal judge ruled in March that the members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were not qualified to make vaccine recommendations.” The link is a gift link.

     ~~~ Marie: If this is Bobby's vengeful idea to first kill all the poor kids, I would remind him that viruses know no politics. They are happy to enter the bodies of rich kids and adults, too, no matter if the little beasties got their head-start in hosts whose parents could not afford vaccines. ~~~

~~~ An Anti-Vax Homecoming Party. Rachel Roubein & Daniel Wu of the Washington Post: “Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is slated to give the keynote speech Thursday at a conference hosted by Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine group he founded and where he served as chairman.... The address comes as the anti-vaccine movement has spent years on the fringes of the medical community, but has become increasingly encouraged as ... Donald Trump’s administration has attempted to significantly alter U.S. vaccine policy, prompting concerns from major medical groups.” 

Pranshu Verma of the Washington Post: “...  the Pentagon’s vulnerabilities to AI cyberattacks represent an urgent threat to America’s national security apparatus, and a more pressing concern compared with the existential debate gripping the nation’s capital, cybersecurity experts said.... The Pentagon’s leading cyber defense officer [-- Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton --] said the agency has seen a 'tenfold' increase in cybersecurity vulnerabilities amid the rise of AI, leaving the Defense Department’s computer systems prone to zero-day attacks, highly disruptive cyber hacks that require immediate intervention to prevent significant damage.... For nearly three decades, the Pentagon has put off upgrading its antiquated computer networks, instead focusing its funds on cutting-edge weapons systems. But as artificial intelligence grows in power, it has become increasingly capable of finding low-level weaknesses in the agency’s digital systems and morphing them into debilitating intrusions that could significantly compromise national security.” The link is a gift link.

Evan Halper, et al., of the Washington Post: “The effects of the U.S.-led war on Iran are about to intensify in the form of huge jumps in the prices of gasoline and diesel, analysts predict. And despite the Trump administration’s assurances, a new and potentially even more economically damaging phase of the war may be about to begin. Damage inflicted on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline last week, along with continuing strikes on oil infrastructure and contested control over a key waterway, threaten to elevate what had been a shipping crisis into a broader disruption of oil. The 745-mile pipeline is Saudi Arabia’s principal overland alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, linking eastern oil fields to Red Sea export terminals.... Trump has tried to downplay the risk, saying over the weekend that 'everything will work out just fine,' when asked about developments in Yemen that appeared to choke off Saudi Arabia’s remaining outlet for oil exports.... 

“U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tuesday that the pipeline would be operational again in a matter of days, and the White House has touted renewed tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. But analysts who reviewed images of the pipeline damage anticipate a significantly longer disruption, likely resulting in high prices for consumers well beyond the midterm elections. And maritime tracking organizations say that far less oil is getting through the Strait of Hormuz than the Trump administration claims.” The New York Times report is here; this is a gift link. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Since the pandemic, I've bought gas only four or five times a year. Looks like I'd better make today one of those days. 

Adeel Hassan of the New York Times: “Two former U.S. Navy service members pleaded guilty this week [link fixed] to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to active-duty sailors stationed in San Diego, including during their deployments, the Justice Department said. The former sailors, Bailey A. Szramowski and Johnnese H. Poomaihealani, who are married and live in Hawaii, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court in San Diego, where the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln is based. One sailor to whom Mr. Szramowski sold pills died of an overdose, and another was hospitalized, according to court records. Mr. Szramowski, 29, provided an active-duty U.S. Navy service member assigned to the Lincoln with 10 such oxycodone pills in December 2022, court records show. The victim ... overdosed and died of acute fentanyl intoxication in January 2023.” The link is a gift link.

Mattathias Schwartz of the New York Times: “Immigration and Customs Enforcement had violated nearly 100 orders issued by Minnesota’s Federal District Court during the month of January, including some mandating the release of undocumented immigrants from detention. The violations needed to stop immediately. 'ICE is not a law unto itself,' Judge [Patrick] Schiltz wrote in his Jan. 28 order. Judges around the country took notice, not only of the scale of the allegation but because such a harsh reproach was coming from the pen of Judge Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee with almost 20 years of experience on the bench. He clerked for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the 1980s and has enjoyed close ties to the conservative legal establishment for decades.... In a rare 90-minute interview seven months later, Judge Schiltz said his order had been prompted by concern that the Trump administration’s disregard for court orders was clogging his courthouse to a near standstill, contributing to rising tensions in the protest-filled city and, ultimately, putting the constitutional order at risk. What happened in Minnesota’s federal court, he said, 'created a grave threat to the rule of law.'” The link is a gift link.

David Andreatta of the New York Times: “A federal judge this week ruled that the Trump administration appeared to have violated the First Amendment rights of a Rochester, N.Y., man by threatening him with prosecution after he sent a scathing email to a top immigration official. Federal agents had delivered a written warning notice in June to the home of the man, David Streever, informing him that he “may be in violation of federal law” and directing him to stop criticizing the acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Judge Rudolph Contreras of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said in a decision issued Tuesday that the warning probably amounted to unconstitutional coercion of protected political speech. 'Americans have long voiced their displeasure with their government,' the ruling began. 'Today is no different,' the judge later wrote, adding, 'What is different is how the government responded in this case.'... The Department of Homeland Security ... did not say whether it would appeal the decision.” The link is a gift link. 

Isn't it a bit disconcerting that the federal agency upon whom we all rely -- to forecast the weather and warn us of impending severe weather -- has gone stupid? ~~~

~~~ WGRZ (Buffalo, N.Y.): “... the National Weather Service ... [will] start referring to 'Lake Ontario' as 'Lake America'. In a memo released Monday, officials say, 'NWS is in the process of implementing Executive Order 14422, “Honoring the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America”. Work is underway to update naming conventions as quickly as possible on online maps, weather products, websites and other materials across the NWS." Thanks to RAS for the link.

Ariana Baio & Shrai Popat of the Guardian: “The Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, announced on Wednesday that he would again cancel votes scheduled for Thursday, sending lawmakers home one day early ahead of the midterm election recess. The latest change to the legislative schedule means House members will avoid voting on Republican Thomas Massie’s resolution to impeach the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and comes amid a frenzied attempt to propose legislation on artificial intelligence. It’s the latest round of cancellations at the hands of Johnson, who had already cut the pre-election session short by two weeks. Democrats have reacted angrily.... 'I think it shows the cowardice of the Republican party. They are canceling votes to do business for the American people because they are afraid that that impeachment resolution of Pete Hegseth would pass on a bipartisan basis,' the Democratic representative Pramila Jayapal told MediasTouch.” ~~~

     ~~~ Scott Wong & Kyle Stewart of NBC News: “GOP leaders insisted their decision had nothing to do with Massie’s impeachment efforts. But they were eager to avoid a difficult vote for many of their vulnerable Republican members who have been uneasy with Hegseth’s leadership during the unpopular six-month war with Iran. Talking to reporters Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., slammed Massie’s impeachment effort as 'ridiculous/ and defended Hegseth.” ~~~

     ~~~ Kate Santaliz of Axios: "Mike Johnson's decision to send the House home early — again — is fueling an increasingly bitter feud with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) over whether the speaker is using the calendar to dodge politically painful votes.... The House will now be gone for more than six weeks ahead of the midterms, delaying Massie's effort to force a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the Iran war. 'We had the Epstein recess last year. We got the Epstein recess this year, and then we got the Hegseth day off,' Massie told Axios coming off an hourlong tirade on the House floor Wednesday." ~~~

Kate Santaliz of Axios: "The House passed a sweeping Russia sanctions bill Thursday, sending the long-awaited legislation to ... [Donald] Trump's desk....The measure would significantly expand economic pressure on Russia while handing Trump fresh authority to impose secondary tariffs of up to 100% on buyers of Russian oil and gas. It would also target Russia's 'shadow fleet,' the network of aging tankers used to evade Western sanctions while exporting Russian oil."

Michael Gold of the New York Times: “The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill that encourages state utility regulators to insulate consumers from rising energy costs tied to data centers, as members of Congress rush to address a voter outcry over the rapid advance of artificial intelligence. It was unclear whether the legislation, introduced by Representatives Gabe Evans, Republican of Colorado, and Kathy Castor, Democrat of Florida, would have its intended effect. The bill would direct state utility regulators to consider adopting federal rules requiring data centers to cover any higher costs associated with their large-scale power use. But under current law, Congress cannot force state regulators to follow federal standards when they are setting electricity rates.... [The bill] would still have to pass the Senate and be signed by ... [Donald] Trump before it could become law.” The link is a gift link.

Michael Gold of the New York Times: “The House on Wednesday unanimously agreed to hold the billionaire investor Leon Black in criminal contempt of Congress after he refused to appear for a deposition and turn over documents to a key panel investigating the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The citation, agreed to without a recorded vote, amounts to an official recommendation that the Justice Department bring federal charges against Mr. Black. It may serve to refocus public attention on the Trump administration’s handling of investigative material related to Mr. Epstein just as lawmakers depart Washington for a final spate of campaigning before the midterm congressional elections. While President Trump has labored to avoid discussing the Epstein matter and excoriated those clamoring for more transparency, Republicans in Congress have tried to show they take the case, which has generated outrage among their core supporters, seriously.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Gosh, wouldn't it be a shame if a billionaire had to go to jail for criminal arrogance? 

Marie: I did not know this was a thing. And maybe it is not: ~~~

~~~ Laura Kelly of the Hill: “The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee took the rare step Wednesday of publicly announcing a hold on the Trump administration’s $2.8 billion plan to sell 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the panel, said in a statement posted to X that he remains firmly committed to Israel’s security and its ability to defend itself, but raised concern about the risk to civilian lives, given the high death tolls throughout Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, and against Hezbollah in Lebanon.... Meeks’s decision to publicize his opposition, which generally takes place behind the scenes and with an effort toward compromise, represents Democrats’ frustration with the Trump administration and toward the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The top lawmakers on the House and Senate foreign affairs panels are generally informed by the State Department about a foreign arms sale over a certain dollar amount, and are given the opportunity to exercise an informal 'hold' for more information on the arms sale before it goes forward. The State Department typically respects this hold and works with the member to resolve their concerns. But the Trump administration has previously ignored an objection from Meeks....” Thanks to RAS for the link. ~~~

     ~~~ David Halbfinger & John Ismay of the New York Times: “The weapons became the focus of great tension between the Biden administration and Israel after one-ton bombs were widely used in densely populated areas of Gaza where Israel had steered civilians for their safety. With opposition to military assistance to Israel growing in Washington, such a huge sale of heavy bombs, paid for by the U.S. government, could be an effort by the administration to stock up the Israeli arsenal before political shifts make such shipments impossible, analysts said. The Israeli military pivoted toward the use of the one-ton bombs after the Hamas-led attack against southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, drastically changing its shopping list, U.S. government data show.... Israel’s emphasis on buying and using some of the largest bombs currently made runs counter to that of most other modern militaries, which have been making their aerial munitions smaller and even more accurate in the hopes of limiting civilian casualties during combat.” The link is a gift link. 

Reese Gorman of the Washington Sun (formerly NOTUS): “A late-night meeting in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office went off the rails Tuesday, with multiple sources describing the session as one of the most contentious this year.... Johnson called a 9:15 p.m. meeting with other members of House Republican leadership. Among those summoned were the top leaders of the five ideological caucuses, known as the 'five families,' and some committee chairs. The speaker wanted to discuss a bill to suspend the gas tax through the election, an effort spearheaded by House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Maryland).... But the meeting quickly devolved into chaos.... Harris got livid [when other members criticized his bill] and began banging the desk, yelling, 'This is fucking war! This is war!' according to sources in the room.” And there were repercussions after the meeting.  

Jordain Carney of Politico: “Sen. Rand Paul blocked an attempt by fellow Republican Sen. John Kennedy to quickly pass legislation that would require companies to build a 'kill switch' into their artificial intelligence model. Kennedy, of Louisiana, went to the Senate floor Wednesday to try to pass his bill without holding a formal vote — a step that can be prevented by any one of his 99 colleagues. He argued that the measure was effectively a short-term step, with Congress unlikely to pass more sweeping AI legislation in the immediate future even amid fears that technological advancements could spiral out of human control.... 'I don’t oppose the spirit of this bill, but I do ask that we make sure that we have all the information,; ... [Paul said].” 

Emmy Martin of the New York Times: “OpenAI on Wednesday disclosed six new instances in which artificial intelligence systems hid mistakes, made up data and moved files onto the open internet without permission, amid an ongoing industrywide debate about A.I. safety. The San Francisco company revealed what it said was the 'unexpected or concerning' behavior of its A.I. models as part of a new framework for reporting 'misalignment,' which is when the goals or actions of A.I. systems diverge from human intentions and values. OpenAI said it did not believe the industry “has solved alignment and monitoring to a sufficient degree to continue responsibly scaling at maximum speed for much longer.” Decisions about how A.I. should advance, the company said, must rest on evidence that people outside the labs building it 'can examine for themselves.'” The link is a gift link.

William Grimes of the New York Times: “Peter Max, whose trippy posters of Day-Glo flowers, butterflies, rainbows, stars and planets sold by the millions and expressed the blissed-out exuberance of the countercultural 1960s, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 88.” The link is a gift link. 

 

 

 

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General Election 2026. Paul Waldman has a smart piece about how Republicans candidates want to highlight their racist creds without acting too racist. Waldman begins his piece by siting JayDee, which is the smart way to go.  ~~~

~~~ "Give Us Another Chance": JayDee Steps in It. Devanshi Basu of Reality Tea, republished by Yahoo! News: "JD Vance wrapped up his interview on the 'All-In Podcast' after the host asked him what message needed to reach the public before November. The vice president gave two arguments. The first promoted Trump administration achievements, including tax cuts on tips and aggressive immigration enforcement. 'There's a lot of good that's been done, but there's a lot of work left to do,' he said. 'Don't give power to the people who cause the problems that we're fixing.' Then came the line that has dominated social media: 'Give us another chance or give us another couple of years to continue to work on the amazing things that we've been doing for the past two years.'"

Michigan Senate Race. Annie Karni of the New York Times: “Democratic senators from across the ideological spectrum huddled on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Senate nominee in Michigan and vocal critic of Israel, and said they were ready to put aside differences to win the majority in November. More than a dozen Democrats flocked to the party’s political headquarters across from the Capitol to meet with Dr. El-Sayed and emerged sounding upbeat about a candidate who had not been the first choice of party leaders to defend the critical swing-state seat.... Dr. El-Sayed, the Michigan-born son of Egyptian immigrants, won an expensive and competitive primary in Michigan last month that put on display deep divides within the Democratic Party. His past criticism of Israel — he has said he opposes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state — has continued to be a concern for Jewish Democratic voters in Michigan. Republicans are working to leverage that rift to boost his Republican opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers, in the general election.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

~~~ Bayliss Wagner of the New York Times: “A group of Jewish voters in Michigan is urging support for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the state’s Democratic nominee for Senate, in an open letter that acknowledges concerns among some Jewish voters about his candidacy and his criticism of Israel. The letter, signed by more than 500 people who identify as Jewish leaders or voters in the state, says that the election of Dr. El-Sayed, a staunch critic of Israel, is 'clearly the better choice for Jews' compared with his Republican opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers. 'Some of us are enthusiastic supporters of El-Sayed,' the letter, published on Wednesday, reads. 'Some of us have reservations: There are disagreements with El-Sayed on important issues, including aspects of his approach to Israel and the language used by some of his allies. These concerns remain serious for many of us, and we will vote for El-Sayed.' It comes after a coalition of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders warned in a petition drive last week that they would withhold their support for Dr. El-Sayed if he did not change his tone and rhetoric on Israel, and as the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus continues to withhold an endorsement from its party’s nominee.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

~~~ (Alleged!) Sex Abusers ❤️ Mike. Steve Neavling of the Detroit Metro Times: "A Metro Times review of federal campaign finance filings and records in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Epstein Library found that at least seven donors whose names appear in the released [Jeffrey Epstein] files have given nearly $4.7 million since 2023 to [Mike] Rogers’ [R] campaign, committees raising money for him, his leadership PAC, or GLCF, an outside super PAC that has spent millions supporting his Senate bids. More than $4.5 million went to GLCF alone.... The largest donor identified in Metro Times’ review was Blackstone co-founder and CEO Stephen Schwarzman.... Schwarzman gave $4.5 million to GLCF during Rogers’ 2024 Senate campaign, along with $25,600 to Rogers’ campaign, joint fundraising committee, and leadership PAC between 2023 and 2025, federal records show. The $4.5 million contribution to GLCF was one of Schwarzman’s largest political donations of the 2024 election." Rogers has repeatedly said that the names of people appearing in the Epstein Files should be protected if there's no evidence they committed crimes. Thanks to RAS for the link. 

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This is an astounding, but unsurprising, development to watch: ~~~

~~~ Canada, E.U. Jeanna Smialek & Matina Stevis-Gridneff of the New York Times: “The European Union has invited Canada to work toward becoming its first 'associate member,' a title meant to underscore the nation’s growing closeness to the 27-country bloc as both face deteriorating relationships with the United States.... [Donald] Trump has waged a relentless trade war with Canada, challenging its economy. The United States has pulled back support for NATO and Ukraine, leaving the European Union scrambling to shore up its defenses. That vacuum has left both the bloc and the nation looking for new partners as the alliances established after World War II shift. 'We must urgently reimagine our partnerships,' said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, on Wednesday during a major annual speech in Strasbourg, France. Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, was seated directly to Ms. von der Leyen’s left as she made her address. 'I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the European Union,' she told him.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Sam Meredith of CNBC: "Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday welcomed the European Union’s ambition to make Ottawa an associate member of the 27-nation bloc and said Canadian lawmakers would ultimately vote on the final structure of the alliance. Canada’s prime minister did not name ... Donald Trump in his speech, but he nodded to his U.S. counterpart’s use of tariffs by saying: 'Economic integration is now being weaponized — tariffs being used to exert pressure.' Speaking in French, Carney continued: 'Financial mechanisms have been used for coercion. Supply chains constitute weak points to be exploited.' His comments come shortly after Trump described the prospect of Canada becoming the first associate member of the EU as 'laughable' and threatened the bloc with tariffs if he deemed the move to be a 'hostile act.'”

Canada’s been a terrible trade partner.... If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things. So, if they do that, if Europe does that, with a bad intention — if it’s a good intention, that’s fine — if it’s a bad intention we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility. -- Donald Trump, responding "with fury" to the E.U.'s offer to Canada ~~~

~~~ Trump Ruins Everything. Luke Broadwater & Michael Crowley of the New York Times: “Early in his second term..., [Donald] Trump wanted Canada so entwined with the United States that he even set out to make it the 51st state. Instead, he has driven Canada into the arms of the European Union, after antagonizing the Canadians for months, taunting the country’s prime minister and waging a relentless trade war. The invitation by the European Union on Wednesday for Canada to become an 'associate member' is a sign of the knock-on effects of Mr. Trump’s brand of diplomacy, which often involves threatening countries that once were considered America’s closest friends. And even if the gesture by the E.U. ends up being more symbolic than substantive, it shows how Mr. Trump is upending global relationships in ways that will be difficult to undo.... At every turn, Mr. Trump’s bullying approach to Canada has appeared to backfire.” The link is a gift link.

Sweden. A Bit of Good News. Tim Ross of Politico: “Social Democrat Leader Magdalena Andersson is on course to become Sweden’s next prime minister as her left-wing bloc holds an unassailable lead over the right and far right with 99.9% of results declared. By 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday night, Andersson’s four-party grouping was three seats ahead of Ulf Kristersson’s alliance of the right and far-right parties in the race to control the 349-seat parliament. The Swedish Election Authority is set to confirm the 'preliminary' result when all the votes have finished being counted, expected on Thursday.”

Syndey Goitia-Doran of the Washington Post: “Up to a quarter of all plastic flowing from rivers into the ocean are microplastics — delivering more than 260,000 metric tons in 2022, according to a new study published last week in Science. The staggering amount suggested there was more plastic pollution carried by rivers than previously estimated, researchers said. Almost all — 96 percent — of the pollution was from rivers in developing countries, with more than half it coming from Southeast and East Asia, according to the study. The Yangtze River in China, for example, is the largest contributor, releasing an estimated 43,000 tons of microplastic per year, despite contributing only 2 percent of global freshwater discharge.”