The free high-resolution photo of light, night, texture, sparkler, firework, celebration, sign, symbol, flag, usa, holiday, fire, freedom, black, festive, celebrate, explode, memorial, july, american, fun, patriot, gold, illustration, happy, year, stars, party, new, day, united, labor, 4th, independence, fourth, states, patriotic, sparkles , taken with an Canon EOS 5D Mark II 03/10 2017 The picture taken with 35.0mm, f/1.6s, 1/30s, ISO 400 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of light, night, texture, sparkler, firework, celebration, sign, symbol, flag, usa, holiday, fire, freedom, black, festive, celebrate, explode, memorial, july, american, fun, patriot, gold, illustration, happy, year, stars, party, new, day, united, labor, 4th, independence, fourth, states, patriotic, sparkles , taken with an Canon EOS 5D Mark II 03/10 2017 The picture taken with 35.0mm, f/1.6s, 1/30s, ISO 400 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

American Patriotism at 250

This ain’t 1976.

Ceasefire in Iran War

This phase seems to be over. [Or maybe not!]

Headline of the Day

I don’t question the timing.

How Effective Were U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

Maximalist claims are almost surely overstated.

The Domestic Politics of the Iran Strike

Democrats are mostly condemning it and Republicans are divided.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the situation room during the bombing of Iran's nuclear sites.

U.S. Bombs Three Iranian Nuke Sites

The war is on.

Israel-Iran War: What’s the End State?

Thinking about possible outcomes.

Trump Has Approved Iran War Plans

Whatever that means.

Virginia 2025 a 2026 Bellweather?

The Commonwealth’s off-off year contests will be seen as a referendum on Trump.

Regime Change in Iran

Trump and Netanyahu do not see eye to eye on the matter.

Trump Restores Confederate Names to Army Bases

But Not Really (Wink Wink)

Tabby Tuesday

Autocracy is Popular

While critics warn of fascism, the public is thus far backing Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Great Realignment

Half the counties in America have moved more Republican in each of the last three elections.

President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office. President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office.

The Trump-Musk Breakup

The bromance is apparently over.

It’s Always Been About the Bigotry

The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk is a prominent illustration.

President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office. President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office.

Musk Calls BBB a ‘Disgusting Abomination’

Maybe they weren’t serious about fiscal discipline after all?

President Donald J. Trump is seen on a cellphone screen as he addresses his remarks at a White House Coronavirus Taskforce update briefing Monday, March 9, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen) President Donald J. Trump is seen on a cellphone screen as he addresses his remarks at a White House Coronavirus Taskforce update briefing Monday, March 9, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

Seeing Double on Doubling Down

Resisting gaslighting must be social. It’s crucial for those who oppose Trump’s falsehoods to remind each other, again and again, that 2 + 2 = 4.

Loyalty Tests For Government Hiring

It was inevitable.

Trump Lashes Out At Federalist Society

Will no one rid me of these meddlesome judges?

More Attacks on International Students

This time: Chinese students.

Court Takes Away Trump’s Tariff Toys

Well, most of them.

On Messaging and Other Variables

Hint: another variables may be the key.

DLC 2.0?

Is it time for the Democrats to move to the center?

Trump’s West Point Graduation Speech

It was rather unusual.

Tabby Wednesday

A 1,000 Words or So on Human Rights

A snapshot from Saudi Arabia.

The Case of the Afrikaners

What it tells us about race and the Trump administration.

The Authoritarian Fantasties of Stephen Miller

Habemus habeas corpus?

The free high-resolution photo of music, halloween, usa, musician, profession, performance, crazy, police, event, guitarist, trend, theme, performing arts, up to date, penalty, terrible, offender, assault and battery, evil clowns, fear and loathing, punishable, horror clowns, barmy, scare and injure people, without scruple, unscrupulously , taken with an unknown camera 04/06 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of music, halloween, usa, musician, profession, performance, crazy, police, event, guitarist, trend, theme, performing arts, up to date, penalty, terrible, offender, assault and battery, evil clowns, fear and loathing, punishable, horror clowns, barmy, scare and injure people, without scruple, unscrupulously , taken with an unknown camera 04/06 2017 The picture taken with The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

Clowns Criticizing the Clown Show

They wanted chaos but not this chaos.

Joseph Nye, 1937-2025

The scholar-statesman best known for coining “soft power” has died at 88.

The Childish President

On renaming commemorations.

President Donald Trump speaks with Secretary of Commerce Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in the Oval Office, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks with Secretary of Commerce Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in the Oval Office, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Michael Waltz Out as National Security Advisor [But in as UN Ambassador!]

A major reshuffling of the foreign policy team 100 days into the administration.

Democrats Less Popular Than Trump

The polls are showing a really weird dynamic.

On Bill Maher and Normalizing Trump

Being nice at dinner is easy.

emergency exit sign green emergency exit sign green

The Emergency

There may be no exit.

Trump Openly Defying the Courts

It’s good to be king.

Being Sent to CECOT is an Inhumane, Slow-Motion Death Sentence

To the Trump administation this a feature, not a bug.

[Updating] President Trump Kinda Pauses(?) Implementation of Non-China Tariffs

Or they maybe happening at 10%… Who knows?! Clearly not the White House.

Different Forms of Trump Apologist Copium

Remember Trump cannot fail, he can only be failed!

April 5, 2025 - Rally in downtown Boston, Massachusetts to express outrage at President Trump, his policies and his minions. April 5, 2025 - Rally in downtown Boston, Massachusetts to express outrage at President Trump, his policies and his minions.

The Backlash Has Begun

Nationwide protests yesterday show a growing outrage over Trump 2.0.

‘The Economic Version of the Iraq War’

We are about to find out the degree to which trade wars are good and easy to win.