September 4, 2026

Marie: I'm not able to publish comments today. I tried in both Firefox & Chrome, and in both cases, my attempts to publish got hung up with a "forever" sign reading "publishing." Apparently not. If you're having trouble, I'm sorry. I'm working on it, but so far my attempts to fix the problem are for nothing. ~~~

~~~ Update: Art Intel has changed his mind about what the problem is. Now he admits, "There is currently a widespread, platform-wide technical issue on Blogger affecting many creators using standard .blogspot.com URLs. Because your attempts are hanging infinitely on "Publishing" across multiple browsers, the breakdown is happening on Google's backend authentication servers rather than your local setup." Art suggests a complicated workaround, and I'm going to give it a go. If it doesn't work, then we're just stuck. ~~~

~~~ Update 2: So I did what Art said to do. And it didn't work. In fact, it made it worse: now Ken W., who sneaked through as "Anonymous" can't get thru anymore. Gah! ~~~

~~~ Update 3: I've wasted all day on this. Finally, Art Intel said Google will work on a patch. Starting tomorrow, I'll still post some links on the site, and I'll keep checking for the patch. But I don't expect anything soon. This is exhausting. If you need to write to me about something, you can find me on

marieburns2022@gmail.com 

Zach Montague of the New York Times: “A federal judge in Boston ruled for the third time on Friday that the Trump administration’s plans to restrict mail-in voting are likely illegal and it should be prevented from implementing them ahead of the midterm election. Judge Indira Talwani had already temporarily blocked the U.S. Postal Service from moving forward, in a ruling that was set to expire Sept. 10. The new order extends that block indefinitely. What the ruling did not do was move the issue much closer to a resolution, even with time rapidly running out for state election officials to start distributing mail-in ballots to voters. The Trump administration had already appealed her temporary block to the Supreme Court, and the justices are likely to have the final word on ... [Donald] Trump’s plans ahead of the election. The ruling came just a day after Judge Talwani held a two-hour hearing in Boston, with lawyers representing large coalitions of Democratic-led states and voting rights groups squared off with lawyers representing the Postal Service and a smaller group of Republican-led states that support the rule.” The link is a gift link.

Because of Course They Did. Abbie Van Sickle of the New York Times: “In a victory for Republicans in the run-up to the midterms, the Supreme Court on Friday found that political parties are entitled to the same low-cost TV ad rates as candidates. The ruling focused on an obscure but crucial part of political campaign funding that has given Democrats an advantage in recent years. The court’s majority found that Republican Party committees were likely to suffer 'irreparable harm' unless the justices cleared the way for them to receive the low-cost ad rates, saying that requiring party committees to pay more for advertising would hamper 'their efforts to reach the electorate in the critical weeks leading up to the midterms.' The majority added that such an injury 'implicates their First Amendment rights to speak and coordinate their political activities freely.' As is typical in such emergency applications, the order did not include a vote count. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, one of the court’s liberals, dissented.” The link is a gift link.

Salvador Rizzo of the Washington Post: “A federal magistrate judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration must identify the people who came up with the idea for a now-defunct $1.8 billion fund to compensate those who claim they were unfairly investigated by the Justice Department. The ruling came as part of an ongoing lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. A former federal prosecutor who was fired by the Trump administration and other plaintiffs challenged the 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' as an unconstitutional giveaway of taxpayer dollars designed to benefit ... Donald Trump’s political supporters. Acting attorney general Todd Blanche issued orders establishing the fund in May and scrapping it last month, after the proposed payouts spurred a bipartisan backlash in Congress. But several lawsuits over the plan remain pending in the federal courts. The case playing out in Virginia is the only one to have reached the legal discovery phase, in which the parties exchange evidence to prepare for trial.”

Nick Corasaniti & Alan Feuer of the New York Times: “The Justice Department has subpoenaed the Nevada secretary of state for voter information, according to a person familiar with the operation, at a time when the government is rapidly escalating efforts to prove ... [Donald] Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud. The office of Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s secretary of state and its chief election officer, confirmed receiving seven 'voter-related' subpoenas from F.B.I. agents over the last three months, but declined to offer details. It is unclear whether other states have received similar subpoenas. The U.S. attorney in Nevada, Sigal Chatta, whose office would have overseen the request, is a pro-Trump prosecutor who has repeatedly sought to cast doubt on the integrity of federal elections.... The Trump administration has deployed hundreds of investigators to hunt for voter fraud, despite decades of evidence that it is exceptionally rare in the United States. The administration is also aggressively trying to shape how the midterm elections are run, demanding private voter information across the country and seeking to change election rules.” The link is a gift link.

Alan Feuer, et al., of the New York Times: “Markwayne Mullin, the homeland security secretary, has asked the Justice Department to examine whether a commonly used voting machine can be trusted to create a verifiable record, in what appeared to be the Trump administration’s latest effort to cast doubt on digital voting systems. In a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday, Mr. Mullin asked the Justice Department to determine whether devices that tally votes through bar codes or QR codes provided what he described as a 'reliable record for a manual audit.' The letter, which asked Mr. Blanche for his department’s help in ensuring that machines known as ballot-marking devices comply with federal law, raises questions about whether the request sought to lay the ground for claiming that some electronically cast or counted votes are invalid.” The link is a gift link.

     ~~~ Marie: I have a feeling that no matter what stunts the Trumplodytes pull on or around Election Day, it will be months before half the members of Congress can be seated. I'm not sure the House will be able to muster a quorum. We are living in dangerous times.

Getting Back at Fetterman. Annie Karni of the New York Times: “Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, has for years detested the day-to-day duties of his job, dismissing such tasks as going to hearings and casting votes as a 'performative' waste of time. Now, a group of his disillusioned former staff members — of which there are many — is threatening to reveal more about his private disdain for what is expected of him as an elected representative of 13 million constituents. On Friday afternoon, a new account, @FettermanStaff, sprang up on X, threatening to publicize unflattering material about the first-term senator, including screen shots of his internal communications. It came after The Wall Street Journal published fresh revelations highlighting Mr. Fetterman’s deep antipathy to the daily work of being a senator, including meeting with groups from his state and attending a funeral for fallen police officers.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

Gregory Svirnovskiy of Politico: “A swath of Democrats denounced Sen. John Fetterman in the aftermath of a Wall Street Journal report that showed the Pennsylvania Democrat routinely ducking meetings with constituents, skirting committee hearings and contemplating skipping a police funeral in his home state. 'John Fetterman is a disgrace,' Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) wrote Thursday night on X. 'Our state deserves better than a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job.' 'There is a lot I could say about this report of John Fetterman’s pathetic behavior as a Senator,' Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) wrote on the platform Friday morning. 'But between the laziness, disrespect, and willingness to carry water for a foreign government, it shows us something we already know: this man has no sense of duty. He is not up for the high office he was elected to — and we in Pennsylvania will do something about it in 2028.'”

Jeff Cox of CNBC: "The U.S. economy added jobs at a brisk pace in August, reversing a summer slowdown in hiring, while the unemployment rate held steady. Nonfarm payrolls rose a seasonally adjusted 162,000 for the month while the unemployment rate, as expected, held steady at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a payrolls increase of 53,000. August’s total was the strongest monthly gain since March." ~~~

~~~ Mad Man Demands Fed Cut Interest Rates. Or Else. Kevin Breuninger of CNBC: “... Donald Trump on Friday demanded that the Federal Reserve slash interest rates or else he will cut off trade with countries with which the U.S. maintains trade deficits. Trump issued the sweeping ultimatum in a Truth Social post reacting to a much-stronger-than-expected monthly jobs report by urging the central bank and its chairman, Kevin Warsh, to 'get smart' and cut rates.... Taken at face value, the threat to end trade with deficit-harboring countries is extreme: The U.S. has large trade deficits with dozens of countries, including its top trading partners.” Thanks to Ken W., who sent this link to me via email marieburns2022@gmail.com 

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Ana Swanson of the New York Times: “The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services grew to the biggest gap in 16 months in July, as America imported more electronics to feed the country’s artificial intelligence boom. The monthly trade deficit, the gap between what the United States imports and what it exports, hit $88.6 billion in the month, according to data the Commerce Department released on Thursday. That was an increase of more than 24 percent compared with June. While some economists said the data mostly reflected the strength of the U.S. economy and the A.I. build out, the data still threatened to present a setback for the Trump administration. Mr. Trump has imposed steep global tariffs on the theory that they will reduce the trade deficit and bolster domestic manufacturing.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.)

Elizabeth Harris of the New York Times: “Mortgage rates climbed to their highest levels in more than a year, as recent turmoil in the bond market continued to spread, putting pressure on consumers already struggling with persistent inflation and compounding the housing crisis in the United States. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most common home loan in the United States, hit 6.71 percent, the mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday, up from 6.66 percent the week before and the highest since July 2025.  The U.S. housing market has essentially been stuck for the past several years, squeezed between high prices and high mortgage rates. Jonathan Miller, a real estate appraiser and consultant, said mortgage rates had ascended at their steepest pace in history. Rates are now double what they were during the Covid-19 pandemic.” The link is a gift link.

Cat Zakrzewski of the Washington Post: “... Donald Trump plans to fly to Ireland next week aboard the Boeing 747 gifted to him by Qatar, a senior White House official said, marking his first international trip on the jet since a security threat in July prompted him to leave Turkey secretly aboard an alternate aircraft. The trip underscores Trump’s continued fondness for and reliance on the Qatari jet despite concerns that it lacks some of the security features of the highly customized, heavily fortified Boeing 747-200B jumbo jets that have carried presidents for decades. In the absence of those upgrades, Trump is poised to use the Qatari-gifted plane more frequently as he ramps up his campaign-season travel. He is scheduled to travel to Texas next week to headline the Republican miniconvention in Dallas and said this week that he will be traveling to Alaska and other states with tight races before the Nov. 3 elections.” MB: Hmm, flying over Canada, are we?

⭐Burgum to Break Ground on Grotesque Arc de Trump. Luke Broadwater & Emily Badger of the New York Times: Donald “Trump is breaking ground on his 250-foot-tall triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, even before a federal review panel has approved the project. Doug Burgum, the interior secretary, on Thursday announced plans for the excavation work. 'After a very long wait (over 125 years!), we are preparing to start, over the next two-week period, the excavation work necessary for the Great Triumphal Arch' he wrote in a social media post.... The rush to push ahead with work on the arch follows a familiar pattern for Mr. Trump, who has frequently embarked on large-scale changes to historic properties in Washington without approvals from Congress or anyone else. And it comes days after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the administration to continue building a ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing.” The link is a gift link. MB: So, once again, thanks, Supremes! (Also linked yesterday.) 

     ~~~ Here's Politico's report, which downplays that little Congressional approval thing & instead relays Burgum's opinion that Congress approved the arch in 1925, so a century later that approval is still good.

⭐Justin Jouvenal of the Washington Post: “The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow new restrictions on mail-in balloting, potentially setting up a major legal clash that could affect millions of voters for November’s midterm elections. The fight could possibly upend election procedures just as states begin to send out mail-in ballots in pivotal contests that will determine control of the U.S. House and Senate. North Carolina is set to distribute ballots Friday, and other states follow in coming weeks. The administration says the new rules, set out by ... Donald Trump in an executive order, are necessary to keep noncitizens from voting.... The administration is taking the highly unusual step of seeking to appeal a federal judge’s temporary restraining order, which generally cannot be appealed.” At 5:00 pm ET, this is a developing story. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Zach Montague of the New York Times: “A federal judge on Thursday expressed concern that if she allowed the Trump administration to move ahead with plans to restrict mail-in ballots ahead of the November election, it could cause so much chaos that states would experience 'major disenfranchisement.' During a winding two-hour hearing in Federal District Court in Boston, Judge Indira Talwani asked sharp questions of attorneys from the Justice Department and a coalition of Republican states about how they believed they could implement the new rule on the eve of early voting across many states. The hearing highlighted concerns raised by a broad coalition of nonprofits and Democratic states that, if allowed to forge ahead with the new rule, the Postal Service could haphazardly reject thousands of valid ballots. Judge Talwani last week blocked the Postal Service from implementing the plan for 14 days, a period that expires Sept. 10. Thursday’s hearing was intended to help her decide whether to extend her injunction indefinitely.” The link is a gift link. Related stories & opinion linked yesterday. (Also linked yesterday.)

A Lake By Any Other Name Is Still Lake Ontario. Zane Irwin of the New York Times: “With the stroke of a sharpie last week..., Lake Ontario ... joined an extensive group of bodies of water with disputed names. The United States’ latest rechristening is mostly about 'rage-bating [sp.??] and trolling Canadians,' said Reuben Rose-Redwood, a professor of geography at the University of Victoria in Canada. He said the tiff surrounding Lake Ontario lacks the deep symbolism and geopolitical stakes of some more longstanding naming disputes.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: In yesterday's Comments, Akhilleus objected to this report as another means to "help out the Orange Monster ... [by] sanewashing ... Fat Hitler's infantile temper tantrum." I'm inclined to disagree with Akhilleus here, as Rose-Redwood's comment, placed near the top of the story, seems to put Fat Hitler's infantile temper tantrum/rage-baiting into perspective. It's nothing more than childish trolling. But it's in the mind of the beholder. You decide. ~~~

~~~ Anyway, here's a predictable Trumpian twist: ~~~

~~~ It's a Trump Grift, Too! Kathryn Wilkens of Mediaite: “After signing an executive order to officially rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America,' ... Donald Trump wasted little time turning the new moniker into merchandise, with the Trump Store hawking $55 hats.... On the president’s website, hats reading 'LAKE AMERICA' are now sold for $55 in both red and blue.... Trump’s son, Eric Trump, was already sporting one on Thursday, posting a selfie on X.... The Trump merchandise store is no stranger to cashing in on the president’s geographic rebrandings. After Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' in 2025, the store rolled out merchandise celebrating the change. Those hats initially sold for $50, yet they are currently on sale for $37.50.” MB: The discount notwithstanding, we're seeing a 10 percent increase in the initial prices of the two griftorama caps. Why is that, Donald? Inflation?

Simon Romero, et al., of the New York Times look into our new partner-in-crime in Trump's (and seemingly Viceroy Rubio's) imperialistic Venezuelan scheme, Alejandro Betancourt: “Prosecutors in Spain targeted the Venezuelan oilman Alejandro Betancourt in one money laundering inquiry. Swiss authorities investigated him in another. Both countries requested his extradition from Britain, where Mr. Betancourt lives in a 14-bedroom country estate, and British authorities arrested him less than a year ago, barring him from traveling abroad. All of it hardly mattered. As part of the Trump administration’s takeover of Venezuela’s oil industry, the United States is forming an extraordinary partnership with Mr. Betancourt. Under the arrangement, the Pentagon could seek to take a large stake in his company, a deal that defies easy comparison in recent American history.... That would make Mr. Betancourt the main partner of the Trump administration as it pushes not just to control the sale of Venezuela’s oil, but to own a chunk of it directly. And it would place Mr. Betancourt at the core of Venezuela’s deepening transformation from a sovereign nation into essentially a vassal state of the United States.” The link is a gift link.

JayDee Steps Out. Mallory Wilson of the Hill: “Vice President Vance defended his relationship with right-wing media personality Tucker Carlson during Thursday’s White House press briefing, saying he won’t allow political disagreements to ruin friendships. Carlson this past week has said ... [Donald] Trump should be removed from office for 'actively considering' preemptive nuclear strikes, while also saying he wouldn’t vote for former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), the GOP candidate in Michigan’s Senate race, 'at gunpoint.'” MB: So are we finally inching into 25th Amendment territory? Let's see: the way the 25th Amendment works is that the veep & a majority of the Cabinet invoke it. So here the veep's BFF says the president* should be removed, presumably by the 25th Amendment. And the veep won't repudiate the BFF. JayDee did say, “[Carlson] said some things about the president of the United States that I think are just wrong.” But he didn't say what things, did he?

Chris Cameron of the New York Times: Donald “... Trump said on Thursday that he was appointing Adam R. Telle, the official overseeing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to take over as the acting Army secretary, following the resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll earlier this week. Mr. Driscoll, formerly the civilian leader of the Army, resigned on Monday after clashing repeatedly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the purge of top generals in the Army. Under the regular chain of command, Michael Obadal, the under secretary of the Army and principal deputy to Mr. Driscoll, would have become acting secretary in Mr. Driscoll’s place.” The link is a gift link. The Hill's report is here.

Rusty Tub Docks in Thailand. Brad Lendon of CNN: “As the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into port in Thailand on Wednesday, observers were shocked by its appearance. The almost 1,100-foot-long warship was covered in rust from bow to stern. But experts say that’s to be expected from what the Navy says was 286 days at sea since the Lincoln left its homeport of San Diego last November. The warship also saw months of combat and blockade operations against Iran in the Middle East. 'Rust along the waterline is not unusual on a ship that has spent 60 days or more of operations continuously at sea,' said Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain.... Tackling the rust problem is not something that could be done at sea, especially during combat operations, Schuster told CNN.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Barak Ravid of Axios: "U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is conducting an internal review of a civilian casualty incident at a wedding during the strikes in Iran on Tuesday, U.S. officials say. While it still hasn't been confirmed that the incident was caused by the U.S. strike, it is one of the more significant civilian casualty incidents since the war began six months ago.... According to the Iranian Red Crescent, a humanitarian network, five people were killed and 67 wounded in the blast that hit the home where the wedding was happening. Iranian officials accused the U.S. of striking the building and killing civilians."

Jenna Monnin of NOTUS: “The Pentagon has 'temporarily rescinded' the clinical guidance draft published Wednesday detailing its new testosterone screening policy for service members. The document was removed from the Defense Health Agency’s website, as first reported by Reuters, though the interim guidance still remains in place, a Department of Defense official told NOTUS.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Andrew Solender of Axios: "Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) said Thursday he was informed by the Department of Justice that his phone calls with a Virginia state legislator in the spring were wiretapped.... The ... congressman is casting the tap as part of a pattern of the DOJ targeting ... [Donald] Trump's political enemies, calling the incident 'deeply concerning.'... Subramanyam said the wiretap was part of the DOJ's corruption probe into Louise Lucas, the president pro tempore of the Virginia state Senate, who has denied wrongdoing." 

Mitch Smith & Ernesto Londoño of the New York Times: “A federal grand jury has indicted an ICE officer on charges of making false statements about the nonfatal shooting of a man during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota last winter, according to a person familiar with the case.... The charges against the officer, Christian Castro of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, represent a rare instance of ... [Donald] Trump’s Justice Department accusing a federal agent of criminal wrongdoing at work. The indictment against Mr. Castro was filed under seal and officials expect to make it public once he is in custody.” The link is a gift link. The Guardian's story is here. MB: To understand what is really going down here, it's necessary to read the rest of the Times story as well as the ProPublica story linked yesterday. This may be a “rare instance” of Todd Blanche's DOJ indicting an ICE agent, but the agent should have been brought up on charges more serious than making false statements. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Update! Sarah Lynch, et al., of CBS News: "A federal prosecutor in Minnesota who was investigating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer for possible civil rights crimes has been fired.... Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Evans was investigating ICE officer Christian Castro over the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant earlier this year. The Justice Department ultimately charged Castro this week with making false statements about the incident, but the indictment remains sealed, CBS News has previously reported. Earlier this week, ProPublica reported that Evans told attorneys for the man who was shot, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, and other victims to prepare for Castro to only be charged with making false statements, which would carry lesser penalties than criminal charges that he violated people's constitutional rights under color of law. ProPublica quoted directly from an email it said Evans had sent to the attorneys. 'This is being directed by the Main Justice and the US Attorney,' the email from Evans reportedly said. 'I objected in the strongest possible terms and fought it as hard as I could. It wasn't enough.'" MB: Looks like this is what happens when you ruffle Todd Blanche's feathers.

Oh Noes! DHS Has Been Lying to Us. Christoph Koettl, et al., of the New York Times: “Customs and Border Protection claimed that construction on a border security project in Big Bend National Park in Texas was limited to 'survey and design' work. Visual Investigations’ satellite specialist Christoph Koettl tracked the activity and found evidence of patrol roads and vehicle barriers already being built.” This is a video report. At 6:30 am ET, it's on the front page of the online Times. MB: I don't know if you can access it without a subscription at the link I've provided.

Here Is Trump, Once Again, Pretending Not to Be Racist by Making a Racist Rule. Andrew Duehren & Michael Bender of the New York Times: “The Trump administration released new rules that could revoke tax-exempt status from any school offering targeted support to Black or other minority students, a sweeping change that opens another front in the president’s campaign to reshape American education. The proposed regulations, which the Treasury Department published on Thursday, would add another element to the guidelines that schools and other organizations must follow to qualify for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service. The rules would deny tax-exempt status to any school, including secondary schools and universities, if it has any policy or program, including admissions and scholarships, that the I.R.S. finds to be racially discriminatory. Such a change would thrust the I.R.S. into the center of the Trump administration’s push to pressure schools to abandon initiatives aimed at supporting Black and other minority students, efforts meant to address the nation’s long history of racial discrimination and segregation.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I don't know whose work this is. We should remember that Trump doesn't know much about the federal government, so unless he heard a story on Fox "News" about schools helping out little Black kids, this is somebody else's brainchild: Stephen Miller? Russ Vought? (Probably not Linda McMahon; she's even more clueless than Donald Trump.)

Starve the Children: Another Consequence of the Big Ugly Bill. Juliana Kim of NPR: "The Agriculture Department's Community Eligibility Provision helps pay for universal free meals at a school or district if at least a quarter of students participate in assistance programs like SNAP. (If it's 62.5% or more, the federal government covers the full tab.) More than 49,000 public schools participated as of the 2024-2025 school year, according to the Center for American Progress.... A decline in food stamp participation can lead to a decrease in federal funding, forcing schools to pay more for universal free food...." There are other financial consequences for food districts, too, so districts may be forced to drop their free lunch programs altogether. That is, children from families who can't afford to put food on the table at home also won't have access to free breakfasts and lunches at school. Thanks to RAS for the link.

American enterprise is so innovative! It seems Flock Safety sells more than mere license plate readers and means for cops to track their ex-girlfriends. ~~~

 ~~~ “Webinars on Fascism." Jason Koebler of 404 Media: “Flock taught cops how they could surveil the No Kings protests and 'small parades' using a mix of Flock’s technology and law enforcement’s own databases in a webinar last year. As Flock publicly downplays the power of its automated license plate camera network and highlights its use to solve violent crime, the company’s seemingly endless trove of webinars, training sessions, and blog posts show it offers far more invasive capabilities. In the webinar, Flock’s director of market management Caity Peak explains how real time crime centers — which are police surveillance centers that utilize Flock cameras and other surveillance cameras — can be used for emergency response, but can also be used to surveil 'established events' like 4th of July fireworks displays, parades, bike races, Mardi Gras, and protests. The webinar shows just how routine the idea of always-on surveillance has become, and how casually it is used during extremely innocuous events.” Thanks to RAS for the link, and for the headline.

Wherefore Art Thou, Mitch? Annie Grayer of CNN: “House Oversight Chair James Comer of Kentucky said Thursday that Sen. Mitch McConnell’s staff have told him they are hoping the senator – who has had an extended absence from Washington due to health issues – will return when the Senate comes back into session on September 14. Although he said he has not spoken to McConnell directly, Comer said he communicates regularly with the senator’s staff as their offices often work together on matters for their state. Asked if McConnell is expected to be back at that time, Comer said, 'I expect that. I sure hope so.'” MB: Not exactly dispositive, is it? ~~~

~~~ MEANWHILE, John Fetterman has to be the worst Democratic senator since Joe Lieberman: ~~~

~~~ Michael Luciano of Mediaite: “Citing dozens of former staffers and lawmakers, the [Wall Street] Journal said Fetterman 'shows little interest in doing the job beyond cultivating relationships with conservative media figures and advocating for Israel.'” The WSJ article cites numerous instances in which Fetterman refused to meet with groups of constituents who needed the kind of help members of Congress typically try to assist with. Here's one: “In April 2025, veteran Pennsylvania state lawmaker Anthony Hardy Williams [D] brought a busload of constituents to Washington from Eastwick, a poorer, flood-prone neighborhood in Philadelphia, to meet with their representatives in Congress and discuss Trump administration cuts to a grant program that had helped the area. Fetterman was the only one who refused to meet with them, Williams said in an interview. At one point, they saw Fetterman walking the halls and yelled, but he didn’t acknowledge them, according to Williams. 'He was available. He just chose not to meet with us,' Williams said.”

Annals of “Journalism,” Ha Ha Ha. Well, Trump Needs a Press Secretary. Erik Wemple of the New York Times: “Maria Bartiromo, one of Fox News’s most recognizable anchors and a fierce backer of ... [Donald] Trump, is leaving the network, the company said on Thursday. In a statement, the network said: 'Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with Fox News Media.' It did not specify a reason for the abrupt departure.... Ms. Bartiromo’s departure was Fox’s decision, according to a person familiar with the details.... In July, Fox News was sued for defamation related to claims made on Ms. Bartiromo’s weekday morning show.... Her conduct was also a focal point of two major defamation lawsuits against Fox News, from the voting machine companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic.” The link is a gift link. The AP report, published by NOTUS, is here. ~~~ (Also linked yesterday.)

     ~~~ Marie: I see Akhilleus had the same thought I did about Bartiromo's next gig. However, I suppose we're wrong. Bartiromo isn't young enough or blonde enough to qualify for the job even if she has adopted the MAGA look. ~~~

     ~~~ However, there's this from media critic Oliver Darcy (firewalled) via Scott Lemieux. It seems Lemieux betrayed Fox "News" by relaying to Trump an internal Fox memo meant to protect the network from further fallout caused by more Trump lies about 2020 election fraud. So Bartiromo could at least put on the résumé she submits to the White House: "I was fired because of my loyalty to you." Thanks to RAS for the link.

Sophie Gilbert of the Atlantic on Gloria Steinem and the difficulties of coalescing into a movement women with diverse goals: “...  she maintained [a] belief in what women are capable of when they can find common ground. 'We are linked,' she once said, 'not ranked.' She felt that true feminism would ultimately liberate everyone, not least men. And she was adamant that in-person meetings, in which people could gather to listen to one another, were crucial for bringing about change and fostering community. She continued to host “talking circles” at her home into her 90s, discussing reproductive health, inclusivity, and AI over the past year, and she placed her apartment in a trust so that others can continue her work there in the years to come. She saw herself fundamentally as an activist, not a theorist, and believed that the diversity of the women’s movement was also its strength.” Thanks to akaWendy for this gift link. ~~~

~~~ Anna Kodé of the New York Times: “A brownstone on East 73rd Street was a sanctuary for Gloria Steinem.... For decades Ms. Steinem’s Upper East Side home was also a gathering space for other thinkers, activists and cultural and political figures who would assemble there to discuss social issues. A meeting held in the living room led to the formation of Ms. magazine in 1971, which Ms. Steinem co-founded, and she hosted her well-known 'talking circles' there for years. It will continue to be used for the purpose of political gathering and discussion after her death, Jill Heller, the director of programs at Gloria’s Foundation, said on Wednesday. Over the years, Ms. Steinem acquired three floors of the five-story building. The foundation occupies one floor, and the other two are now 'poised to eventually become part of the larger Gloria’s Foundation,' Ms. Heller said. Per Ms. Steinem’s own wishes, Ms. Heller said, the foundation will now maintain the home as a permanent space for organizing and activism.” The link is a gift link.

Photographs of Gloria Steinem throughout her adult life. The link is a NYT gift link. 

AP (published by NBC News): “In a strategic retreat in the fight against climate change, the United Nations has acknowledged that Earth has lost its chance to prevent some of the worst of global warming’s harms. So now the world must figure out how to get temperatures below the danger zone and back to safety, officials say. Earth is soon going to exceed the safe temperature threshold agreed upon by the world in the 2015 Paris climate accord because of warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, according to a bleak first-of-its-kind report issued by the United Nations Environment Programme Wednesday. Instead of giving up, scientists and U.N. officials recommend trying to limit excessive warming and then bring the temperature back down to the agreed-upon threshold. But it still will mean decades of increased weather-related disasters, rising seas, extinctions and melting ice and glaciers.” Thanks to RAS for the link.

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Maine Senate Race. You need to watch this video to the end (it's short) to get an idea of what a two-faced tramp Susan Collins is. (That's Jonathan Martin she's talking to. I think he's back at Politico.) Of course, we already knew that (Bart O'Kavanaugh). ~~~

Texas Senate Race. BTW, here's Trump, speaking to GOP candidates in the paved-over Rose Garden Wednesday, "endorsing" Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate (related story linked yesterday): ~~~

~~~ Here's a James Talarico ad. He doesn't say a word about how ugly and sloppily-dressed his opponent may be. But then those are not Paxton's worst liabilities: ~~~

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Maryland Redistricting. Gregory Svirnovskiy & Jalen Beckford of Politico: “The Maryland Supreme Court on Thursday gave Democrats a victory in the state’s protracted redistricting battle, allowing the Legislature’s proposed amendment on redistricting that party leaders want to clear the way for a 2028 gerrymander to appear before voters in November. If approved by voters on Election Day, the measure known as Question 3 will prevent future Democratic redraws from being subjected to strict compactness and geographic standards that undid their last attempt at an 8-0 map in 2022.”

Missouri Congressional Races. Mitch Smith of the New York Times: “The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday [link fixed] that congressional districts redrawn to benefit Republicans and used in last month’s primary election were invalid. The court ordered that the previous map go back into effect for November. While the ruling at least temporarily thwarted Republicans’ efforts to pick up a House seat in the Kansas City area, it also left urgent, unanswered questions about how to hold a general election under a map different from what was used in the primaries. The state attorney general, Catherine Hanaway, a Republican, vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. 'This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis,' she said.” The link is a gift link. MB: Uh, wait a sec, Cathy. Didn't Republicans' illegally messing with the map “thrust [y]our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis”? BTW, according to Art Intel, Republican governors appointed five of the seven members of the state Supreme Court. ~~~

     ~~~ Here's more from Travis Crum of Election Law Blog. The cause of action was over Missouri’s secretary of state's refusal to put a referendum opposing the redistricting on the ballot, as required by law. 

Missouri State House Race. An Unusual Campaign Tactic. Uwa Ede-Osifo of the Guardian: “A Missouri House race has been rocked by the Wednesday arrest of Republican candidate Thomas Ross, whom prosecutors accuse of attempting to frame his primary opponent Louise Secker for cocaine possession. In June, Ross allegedly gave his former campaign manager, identified by the initials 'CS' in court documents, a bag of cocaine and Adderall. The two allegedly devised a plan for the former manager to stash the drugs in Secker’s purse or vehicle. On 21 June, prosecutors said, Ross asked for an update on the plot. 'Taking it no luck with the substance of it all?' he wrote in a text to his staffer.... 'I am actually creeping down to the car show right now and seeing if I can see your car. I have had it on me for a couple days in order to be able to take full advantage of any opportunity that arises,' the former manager replied, according to court documents. 'I thought I had it at the forum Walter went to, but never got close [and] car was locked.'... [In a different conversation, Ross told his staffer,] 'If you can pull it off … pull it off.'...” Ross defeated Secker in the primary by 33 votes.

North Carolina Mail Ballots. Emily Davies of the New York Times: “North Carolina was set to begin sending mail ballots to voters early on Friday, the first state to forge ahead with its standard vote-by-mail program as the Trump administration escalates its efforts to restrict the practice. State election officials said they would send their first batch of absentee ballots to the more than 46,000 voters who have requested them. More ballots will go out as more requests come in. The mailing of ballots could complicate the Trump administration’s effort to impose new restrictions on voting by mail, which it claims without evidence is intended to root out tens of thousands of noncitizens who are illegally registered to vote. The administration is trying to apply a rule that calls for states to hand over voter data, and requires a particular ballot envelope design that would allow the U.S. Postal Service to scan a bar code as part of a voter verification process. The rule also threatens to withhold mail delivery of ballots in states that don’t comply.” The link is a gift link. Here's the Election Law Blog report (with links to local reports).