POKING AROUND AT THE END OF WEEK TWO OF THE SECOND 100 DAYS

It’sDay 109 of the Enshittification of America. There are 543 days left to the midterms. The cost of a Ford just went up $2,000. After serving more than 130 million total meals and 26 million loaves of bread over the past 18 months, World Central Kitchen announced they no longer have the supplies to cook meals or bake bread in Gaza.

From the Department of Let’s Replace Ed Martin With Someone Far Worse: Yesterday, Donnie Two Dolls nominated Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former judge, to serve as the top prosecutor in the District of Columbia. Trump announced on true social that he was appointing Pirro to the job on an interim basis (In other words, another temporary US Attorney since she has no chance of being approved by the Senate) “In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television,” Donnie posted, once again confusing show business experience with actual experience.“Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!” "Break out the breathalyzer," jabbed national security lawyer Bradley P. Moss, referring to accusations that she was "tipsy" during an on-air appearance in 2020. In the last 24 hours, Trump has fired his FEMA Director, Surgeon General, and pulled the nomination of DC US Attorney Ed Martin today, as the Maladministration II continues flailing in complete disarray. Politico reported that FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton was fired by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem one day after he testified to a House Appropriations subcommittee: “I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate FEMA.” It is now 3 weeks before the start of hurricane season. Literally the exact time that Noem was firing Hamilton and he was being escorted out of the building, Rep. Mark Green was posting this: “Cameron Hamilton’s service at the helm of FEMA has been nothing short of amazing. Since taking the helm at FEMA, thousands of Americans have seen FEMA’s promises fulfilled, from housing to disaster relief. President Trump made the right choice!” As Martin was doing an interview with Newsmax about his nomintion being dropped outside his office this afternoon, a woman walked by, cursed at him, and then spit on him. The MAGAmorons swiftly seethed with fury on X, and calling for the woman to be locked up. "This afternoon acting DC US Atty Ed Martin was spit on by a psychotic lib during our interview," stated Newsmax's Rob Schmitt, who had been conducting the interview when it happened. "Hope she’s ready for a nice stretch in jail.""A miserable single childless cat lady just walked up and spit on the Ed Martin on live television," said right-wing commentator Benny Johnson. "This is assault. Arrest her." (You miserable fucking dumbfuck - did you not see she was walking a dog? God, you miserable fucking ignoramuses are a damn embarrassment.)

All in all, this is definitely not good news, since we will still have Martin to kick around. After Pirro's announcement, Donne went in Lies Anti-Social: "Ed Martin has done an AMAZING job as interim U.S. Attorney, and will be moving to the Department of Justice as the new Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney. In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims. Congratulations Ed!"

From the Department of The Billionaire Tax Cut Looks Less And Les Likely: Key New York House Republicans say they are rejecting a proposal from GOP leadership to raise the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap to $30,000 in the party’s bill. The House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the tax portions of the GOP megabill, had been discussing increasing the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $30,000. Four Republican lawmakers in the SALT caucus — Elise Stefanik, Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota and Mike Lawler — said the $30,000 proposal was a nonstarter. “We’ve negotiated in good faith on SALT from the start—fighting for the taxpayers we represent in New York. Yet with no notice or agreement, the Speaker and the House Ways and Means Committee unilaterally proposed a flat $30,000 SALT cap—an amount they already knew would fall short of earning our support,” the group wrote in a statement. “It’s not just insulting—it risks derailing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get back—unlike many so-called ‘low-tax’ states that depend heavily on federal largesse. A higher SALT cap isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of fairness,” the lawmakers added. “We reject this offer.” Four votes is enough to sink the Big Beautiful Bill. But there’s other opposition: Trump’s push to increase taxes on the 1% is seen as a non-starter by the House Fweedumberer Kawkuss. Then there are the “Moderates” who have announced yesterday that they will not support the cuts to Medicaid the bill proposes. Sen. Rand Paul went on Fox Business and said: “The bill they put forward will allow the debt ceiling to rise $5 trillion over two years. This is the largest increase in the debt-ceiling ever in our country, and it indicates that not only will the deficit this year exceed $2 trillion, that they're planning on it exceeding $2 trillion next year, which to me means they're not really cutting. That's not fiscally conservative. And as long as that's in there, I can't support the bill.” Newsmax asked Sen. Ron Johnson if he was confident they will pass a budget by the 4th of July like Trump wants. “No, I’m not. That bill’s not going to pass. I’ve been trying to make everyone aware of it. So no, I'm not particularly optimistic right now, because at those spending levels, I'm not going to vote for it." The Big Beautiful Bill is now another Donnie Two Dolls’ Big Beautiful Mess.

From the Department of We Will See Trumpscum Going to Jail: Yesterday, former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) late Thursday left no doubt that the Supreme Court won't give Maladministration II a free pass to snatch people off the street and ship them out of the country without due process. McCaskill explained, "I think [Chief Justice John] Roberts wanted a 9-0; I think he wanted everybody in the boat and so they kind of played games with the semantics of this, this 'effectuate' versus 'facilitate.'" "The bottom line is this Supreme Court has unanimously told Donald Trump, you can't race to the airport with a bunch of people and get them out of the country and then claim you can do nothing about it," she continued. "That no longer can happen, that game is over, and that's really the takeaway here. This and we had a Trump judge yesterday also basically citing the Supreme Court saying you've got to give notice, you've got to have a hearing and that's really what I think we need in this country is the court to unanimously, even if the language was a little hinky, and they're going to have to go back and figure out the difference."

From the Department of Donnie Two Dolls Shoots Himself Again: Donnie Dumbfuck announced he would end the Digital Equity Act, which provided $2.5 billion in grants to ensure everyone had equal access to the digital economy. Writing yesterday on Lies Anti-social, he said: "I have spoken with my wonderful Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, and we agree that the Biden/Harris so-called 'Digital Equity Act' is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! No more woke handouts based on race! The Digital Equity Program is a RACIST and ILLEGAL $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR giveaway. I am ending this IMMEDIATELY, and saving Taxpayers BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!" he added. The act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden, targets seniors, incarcerated individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, those facing a language barrier, members of racial or ethnic minority groups, and people in rural areas. Before being scrubbed by Maladministration II, the government’s broadband website explained: "Too many communities lack access to high-speed internet. Many more can't afford it or don't know how to use it. The divide between those who have internet access and those who don't is stark. To create an equitable economy, we all need access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet."

From the Department of Some Lawyers Do Have Legal Ethics: Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, a law firm that has operated since 1792, "already was facing troubles, including imminent attorney departures, before its April 11 deal with the White House in which it avoided a punitive executive order by pledging at least $100 million of pro bono work to support the president’s priorities." However, the deal "now is pushing more lawyers to leave, people familiar with the matter said, spurred by anger that the firm capitulated to Trump instead of fighting back against an administration campaign that many in the industry believe to be unconstitutional."“Departures can be tough,” said a spokesman, who added, “Some attrition is normal and expected; it is part of the typical rhythm of a successful firm.” The anger at law firms and other institutions caving to Trump's threats to use the might of the government against them extends to many other firms; 500 attorneys at another firm that cut a deal with Trump - Allen Overy Shearman Sterling - revolted against management. Meanwhile, a group of students at Georgetown Law has tracked which law firms have cut the deals in a public list that new graduates can use to reject them for job applications.

From the Department of RFK Jr Strikes Again: After dropping his original nominee for Surgeon General, Donnie Two Dolls has come up with one that non-medical non-expedrt RFK Jr thinks “has what it takes.” Dr. Casey Means - who has served as Kennedy's longtime adviser - is definitely “different.” While US surgeons general tend to have extensive experience in medicine and public health, Means was described as a “wellness influencer” who dropped out of her surgical residency program and has no experience in public health administration. She has supplemented her income by selling dietary supplements, creams, teas and other products sponsored on her social media accounts. The Independent: “President Trump has selected a conspiracy theorist and self-styled Make America Healthy Again ‘wellness influencer’ who is not currently licensed to practice medicine to be the nation’s next Surgeon General.” Means believes in using spiritual mediums, praying to ancestor shrines, doing full moon ceremonies to amplify her dreams, asking the trees in the forest to deliver advice on men, and dabbles in hallucinogenic mushrooms. Donnie was asked about her: Reporter: “You just announced a new nominee for US Surgeon General who never finished her residency, and is not a practicing physician. So can you explain why you picked her to be America's top doctor? Donnie: “Because Bobby thought she was fantastic. I don't know her.” Nicole Shanahan isn’t happy with the pick: “Doesn't make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that Means would not be working under HHS or in an appointment. I don't know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on. It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isn't President Trump). There is something very artificial and aggressive about her, almost like she was bred and raised a Manchurian asset.” Lots of MAGA influencers are not happy. Loomer: “A TOTAL CRISIS! It’s crazy how many Republicans make excuses for some of the absolute whack jobs RFK Jr has brought into the Trump admin. Some of these people are full blown Marxists. I will be doing my own personal vet of HHS Marxists to show people who has infiltrated MAGA under the guise of MAHA. It’s incredibly disturbing. And mark my word it’s going to backfire miraculously. You’ll see. This is arguably Witch Craft. I want to know which one of President Trump’s geniuses chose a woman who literally talks to trees and spiritual mediums and who doesn’t even have an active medical license to be the US Surgeon General. I would call her a Witch Doctor, but she doesn’t even have a valid active medical license.This is honestly insane. I do not believe for one second that Donald Trump made this decision. I refuse to believe it.” RFK Jr got pushback on gthe choice in an interview on FauxSnooze with Brett Baier: "She never finished her residency and she doesn't currently have an active medical license." RFK Jr replied: "She was top, the very top of her medical class at Stanford," said Kennedy. "During her residency, she won every award that she can win. She walked away from traditional medicine because she was not curing patients. She couldn't get anybody within her profession to look at the nutrition contributions to illness. And she said if we're really going to heal people, if we're healers, we can't just make our life about billing new procedures. We actually have to figure out new approaches to medicine."(FACT CHECK: Contrary to Kennedy's assertion, doctors extensively study and advise patients on nutrition as part of both preventative medicine and as a way of treating or managing conditions when appropriate.)

From the Department of The “Trade Deal” Isn’t A Trade Deal: Trump attempted to make a big deal about a trade agreement with the UK in the Oval Office today, but with all things Trump you have to wait a bit for the details. Bloomberg: “UK providing a polite reality check to Trump’s posts about a ‘full and comprehensive’ deal. UK-US deal will set out general terms of agreement. Will set framework for further negotiations. Focused on specific sectors, not a traditional free trade agreement.”

… UK official: “Despite Trump’s language, any agreement is likely to be limited. The UK-US deal has never been billed as a full-scale free trade pact, which typically take years to negotiate.”

… Economist Justin Wolfers: “It’s a framework, not a deal. The UK is our 11th largest trading partner. The average tariff the UK charges countries around the world is 1%. so the best we can do is knock the UK from 1% down to 0, and it’s already clear we didn’t get them down to 0. And along the way, Trump is imposed a 10% tariff on the UK making it harder for Americans to do business with trading partners in the UK. It’s a photo op with very little macroeconomic significance.”

The Liberation Day reciprocal tariff on UK imports was 10% and it's now going to be 10%. Art of the Deal folks. Populism is now reducing tariffs on British steel and aluminum imports in exchange for the UK lowering taxes on Google and Facebook.”

From the Department of Howard The Nutlicker Is A Fucking Moron: Commerce Sec Howard Lutnick: “The Arizona high tech manufacturing boom is here! Local community colleges, Universities and vocational schools have designed new training programs to fill these thousands of new jobs. Thanks to this $165 billion massive semiconductor fab construction project and others, this admin is delivering high-paying wages for great Americans and strengthening our national security.” The program Lutnick is taking credit for was funded by Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi’s CHIPS Act.

From the Department of The Fed Still Thinks Donnie’s A Fucking Moron: Fed Chair Jerome Powell explained why they are not lowering interest rates right now: "If the large increases in tariffs that have been announced are sustained, they are likely to generate a rise in inflation, a slowdown in economic growth, and an increase in unemployment." Donnie went on Lies Anti-social and said: “Jerome Powell is a FOOL, who doesn’t have a clue. Other than that, I like him very much! Oil and Energy way down, almost all costs (groceries and “eggs”) down, virtually NO INFLATION, Tariff Money Pouring Into the U.S. — THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF “TOO LATE!” ENJOY!” (FACT CHECK: like everything else this senile old moron says, the truth is the exact opposite of every word that oozed out of his anusmouth.)

The State Dept and US embassies are now pushing countries to buy Elon Musk’s Starlink if they want tariffs lifted. WaPo: “Sect of State Marco Rubio has increasingly instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk’s satellite firm at a moment when the WH is calling for wide-ranging talks on trade. In India, govt officials have sped through approvals of Starlink with the understanding that doing so could help them cement trade deals with the admin. WaPo source briefed on the matter by Indian leadership: “It’s not likely to be an explicit element of the trade negotiations with the US, but the Indian side sees this as an important lubricant that facilitates a deal.” State Dept responded to the report: “Starlink is an American-made product that has been game-changing in helping remote areas around the world gain internet connectivity. Any patriotic American should want to see an American company’s success on the global stage, especially over compromised Chinese competitors.”

From the Department of Boo-Fucking-Hoo: After whining about Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda backing out of their performances at the Kennedy Center, Trump’s new Director Ric Grenell is now complaining about a new protest by the cast of Les Misérables, who are planning to boycott Trump’s scheduled appearance next month. Grenell issued a statement to the NYT: “Any performer who isn’t professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won’t be welcomed. In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn’t hire — and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience.” Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda: “The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center.”

Rep. Marge Greene’s bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico passed the House with all Dems and one Republican (Don Bacon) voting against it: “Democrats are FURIOUS that we want to permanently rename the Gulf of America, but they had no problem renaming military bases and tearing down statues of Lincoln and Washington. They don’t hate the name. They just hate America.” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) responded to Greene on the floor: “Republicans think this juvenile legislation is the best use of this House's time. This is the only thing we're doing today, folks. What a sick joke this is. Very frankly, my self-confidence in America does not need that. I don't need Canada to be the 51st state. I don't need to invade Greenland. And I don't need the Gulf of America to have confidence in the greatest country on Earth. Are we so small? Do we feel so belittled by the rest of the world that we have to do this silly, silly, silly step?” The problem for Greene is that Senate Majority Leader John Thune doesn’t seem interested in her nonsense. He was asked by CNN if he will bring it to the floor for a vote: “Does it take Congress to do that? I suppose. I don't know. I haven't have thought that far ahead. We have got a lot of other work directly in front of us at the moment.”

From the Department of More Winning: Not only has Donnie Dumbfuck been responsible for the victories of the Liberals in Canada and the Labour Party in Australia because of his bullshit, he has maintained the “opposite effect” with his attempt to separate Greenlanders from Denmark. In recent weeks, Greenland and Denmark have moved closer together as officials in Nuuk and Copenhagen sought to reinvigorate their relationship and to look with fresh eyes at outstanding problems. Pipaluk Lynge, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of Greenland’s parliament: “We know it’s not about the people, it’s never been about the people. It’s about our land, our resources, our oil, our minerals. Trump sees us as real estate that you can buy, and we are really offended by that. The relationship with Denmark will always be complicated because they were the colonial nation, but we can’t get through this without them.” Mike Bird with The Economist: “Trump is a transformative nationalist figure on the global stage, in the sense that only he has the power to make Greenlanders warm to Denmark and Quebecers plant Canadian flags on their land.” Soooo much winning...

From the Department of They Keep Revealing The Truth About Themselves: This morning, Sen. Mark Kelly said that he called out Trump's crypto coins and his effort to make "millions of dollars" from the effort. Kelly noted that he co-sponsored legislation that would make it illegal for top officials to engage in what he called crypto "corruption." The End Crypto Corruption Act would ban the president, vice president, top administration officials and their immediate families "from issuing, endorsing, or sponsoring crypto assets, such as meme coins and stablecoins.” Lifelong wingnut fuckwit Roger Stone went on Xitter and posted: said, "Senator Mark Kelly is cashing in on his US Senate seat as a partner in a Chinese communist company that makes surveillance balloons. He should be charged with treason and if convicted executed, consistent with federal law."

From the Department of This Is So Sad: AP reported Thursday: “Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was meeting last week with representatives from a teachers union in his home state when things quickly devolved. Before long, Fetterman began repeating himself, shouting and questioning why “everybody is mad at me,” “why does everyone hate me, what did I ever do” and slamming his hands on a desk, according to one person who was briefed on what occurred. As the meeting deteriorated, a staff member moved to end it and ushered the visitors into the hallway, where she broke down crying. The staffer was comforted by the teachers who were themselves rattled by Fetterman's behavior, according to a second person who was briefed separately on the meeting. Things have gotten so troublesome that, according to Politico, Pennsylvania Democrats are discussing primarying John Fetterman: “Private chatter about primary challenges to Fetterman has ramped up. And in recent days, some Pennsylvania Democrats have begun to quietly review the rules about what would happen if he stepped down and whispered about potential replacements. Fetterman has vowed to serve his full term, which ends in 2029.Even some top Democrats in his state, who would normally be expected to be in contact with their legislative counterpart, aren’t speaking out in support of their party’s only senator.”

Here’s some good news to end the week:

MAGA is flipping out over “Marxist” Robert Prevost, elected Pope Leo XIV. While Leo XIV opposes abortion, he advocates efforts to combat climate change, spoke out against racism during the George Floyd protests, and vastly disagrees with Trump/Vance on immigration. His last post on Twitter was on April 14, when he reposted the following criticism of Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's controversial immigration policies: "As Trump & Bukele use Oval to Feds' illicit deportation of a US resident , once an undoc-ed Salvadorean himself, now-DC Aux +Evelio asks, "Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?" He also took JD Vance to task: The love Jesus speaks of is not about calculation or a choice between our families or neighbors. It is not a finite resource to ration out, but a river that flows, wild and without restraint. The empire's vision of love is built on scarcity, but the kingdom of God is built on abundance.” Pope Leo XIV appeared to take aim at Donnie Two Dolls during his first speech as pontiff. “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, [and is] always open to receive—like this square, with open arms—everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love," he said. Last nihgt, Jimmy Kimmel pointed out: “Right-wing social media is losing its collective mind because the new pope cares for the poor and the sick and the plight of immigrants, and they don’t like that at all.”All this is the exact opposite of MAGAthink. And they can probably expect more -Leo XIV is young enough to be around a good 20 years.

The Terrible Twosome: Ginger and his brother Sebastian - a pair of gentle giants

Comments are for paid subscribers.