The Only Thing about the Government Shutdown You Need to Know

Republicans have the White House and majorities in the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. And they can’t keep the government open. John Thune could overrule the parliamentarian and move the CR in the Senate if he wanted to. Russ Vought is talking about how the shutdown lets him fire federal workers. This isContinue reading “The Only Thing about the Government Shutdown You Need to Know”

The Regime Restricts COVID Vaccines

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration announced its new guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine. Per NPR: The agency is limiting the updated shots to people who are at risk for serious complications because they are 65 or older or have other health problems. Until now, COVID vaccines had been available to anyone 6 months andContinue reading “The Regime Restricts COVID Vaccines”

Some Thoughts on Politics

I don’t talk as much about politics as I used to on this here site, but today I must. The Republican “Big, Beautiful Bill” — aka, the budget reconciliation bill — amounts to civilizational suicide. I’ve been thinking in terms of Sid Meier’s Civilization games. The United States has basically been sitting a few turnsContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Politics”

The Madness of King Donald

America has no king.America needs no king. Seen on the official White House Twitter feed. Donald Trump, calling himself a king. A king. Donald Trump increasingly reminds me of Denethor. As he threatens our nearest neighbors, as he covets lands governed by our allies, as he spurns decades-long alliances and parcels up territory not hisContinue reading “The Madness of King Donald”

Empathy Is Not a Sin

A deacon of a church in Utah weighs in on the prayer service at the National Cathedral to mark the inauguration of convicted felon Donald Trump as president of the United States where Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde exhorted the president to show mercy on migrants and the LGBTQ community. Let me reiterate the Community NoteContinue reading “Empathy Is Not a Sin”

Writing My State Legislators

Last week I wrote letters to my Pennsylvania state legislators. Why? Because both were hopping mad that Governor Tom Wolf’s Department of Health had issued a statewide mask mandate in the schools to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 infections due to the Delta variant. They issued a press release. Like I said, hopping mad.Continue reading “Writing My State Legislators”