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Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Lazy and corrupt Goldbricker Chump

First up, Katie Phang.

Important video. Texas' gerrymandering scam should be stopped by the courts. Of course corrupt Chump's at the root of it.

If you missed how lazy and useless Chump is, let Tom Sanders (DAILY BEAST) explain it to you:

Since his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump has spent around a third of his presidency visiting Trump-owned properties and ensuring his real estate portfolio is featured heavily in overseas negotiations. New analysis from Forbes shows that of the president’s first 190 days in office, 75 of them have been spent at his own golf clubs, resorts and hotels, with his latest trip to Scotland—which has seen him host foreign leaders and dignitaries at Trump Turnberry and unveiling a new golf course in Aberdeenshire with his sons Don Jr. and Eric—exemplifying the trend.

We pay for that. We foot the bill to fly him out every weekend. Next time someone runs for president, how about we ask, "Do you plan to live in the White House or waste American taxpayer money by traveling somewhere else every weekend?" If you're not outraged yet, how about reading this from Nikki McCann Ramirez and Asawin Suebsaeng (ROLLING STONE):

President Donald Trump continued his Profit-Off-The-Presidency World Tour this week with a stop in Scotland, where he opened a new private golf course. You, dear taxpayer, footed the bill for most of the trip.

On Monday, Trump cut the ribbon at the Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen, which will officially open to the paying public on August 13. The president was accompanied by his sons, Eric and Don Jr., who have taken the helm of their fathers real estate, licensing, and growing cryptocurrency empire while he occupies the White House. Trump wielded a pair of golden scissors and hit the inaugural tee for the course, all set to a backing chorus of bag pipes.

"We have a world that's had some conflict, but we've ironed out a lot of it," Trump told those gathered to witness the grand opening, as Russia's war against Ukraine still rages and Israel continues to kill Palestinians in Gaza. "We're going to have a great and peaceful world. And on a much smaller scale, this will be a tremendously successful place, a place where people can come and enjoy life."

The inauguration of the golf course took place on the second-to-last day of Trump's formal state visit to Scotland, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The trip came as the president continues to fend off questions about his relationship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, and faces increased pressure to respond to famine conditions in Gaza. On Saturday, during a round of golf at his other Scottish golf course, Trump Turnberry, the president ducked a question about Epstein before speeding off in a caravan of golf carts while blasting "Memories," from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats.

According to an analysis by Huffpost, Trump's five-day trip to Scotland cost taxpayers around $10 million in travel, security, logistics, and lodging. While his visit with state leaders is the official reason for the expense, the visit is another blatant instance of the president dipping his hands into public coffers in order to forward his and his family's private business ventures. The White House is helping him do it, sharing videos of the ribbon cutting ceremony on their official social media accounts, and using clips from Trump's remarks at the event to bash the "fake news."

Trump and the government's promotion of the president's private golf resort is yet another example of the historic levels of corruption and lawlessness that are undergirding the authoritarian streak of Trump's second stint in the White House. It also further demonstrates how far he's come from the somehow not-as-bad, not-as-open corruption of his first presidency. As Rolling Stone reported in May, according to those close to Trump, the president has gossiped to confidants that it was "stupid" of him to leave so much money on the table during his first administration and that only a fool would make the same mistake during his second.

By the way, the song is "Memory." Not "Memoires." I know that because of C.I.'s Saturday post "."

What a lazy ass goldbricker. Besides declare bankruptcy, did Chump ever do anything in his life?

Oh, that's right. He partied with Jeffrey Epstein. How could I forget that? 15 years of them forcing themselves on women. And maybe girls too. Now he wants to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. Bill Press (THE HILL) explains:

In 2020, federal prosecutors charged that between 1994 and 1997, Maxwell personally “assisted, facilitated, and contributed” to the abuse of minor girls despite knowing that one of three unnamed victims was 14 years old.” She was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for what Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has accurately described as “terrible, unspeakable, conspiratorial acts and acts against innocent young people.”

And that should be the end of the story, but it’s not. Suddenly, having failed in every other attempt to change the narrative on Epstein, the Trump administration is now counting on Maxwell to be its lifeline. Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, now deputy attorney general, rushed to Tallahassee last week and spent nine hours over two days interviewing Maxwell.

Why? We know why Maxwell agreed to talk: She wants to get out of prison. She has already asked the Supreme Court to overturn her criminal conviction. And now she is clearly angling for a presidential pardon from a man who admits he was once one of Epstein’s best friends.

But by spending so much time with her, Blanche triggered a wave of speculation about a Maxwell pardon. This is especially bizarre, given that Maxwell has nothing to do with all the questions swirling around the White House about the Epstein matter.

What Trump’s MAGA base wants to know is why he and other administration officials spent six years spreading the conspiracy theory that Epstein was murdered while his client list was being covered up to protect powerful “elites” only, once in office, to turn around and report that Epstein committed suicide and there is no client list. Why won’t they simply release all the Epstein files?

You need another example of him wasting our money? Ailia Zehra covers the jet Qatar's bribing him with:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s memorandum of understanding with Qatar enabled the U.S. to receive a $400 million Boeing 747‑8 as a “bona fide gift”, but taxpayers may now face over $1 billion in retrofit expenses and redirected Pentagon funding, ABC News reported Monday.

In early July, Hegseth signed an agreement formally accepting Qatar’s “unconditional donation” of the jet, legally framed as a “bona fide gift” to the Department of Defense. The MoU explicitly states the transfer was made “in good faith… in the spirit of cooperation,” and disclaims any implication of bribery or undue influence.

However, despite the aircraft being cost‑free on paper, the Air Force has been ordered to prepare plans to convert it for presidential use. Although Air Force Secretary Troy Meink testified that retrofitting costs would be under $400 million, lawmakers and aviation analysts estimate the total — including classified security upgrades — could exceed $1 billion.

During a Senate hearing last month, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill) warned the move could “force taxpayers to waste over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft” while two fully capable Air Force One jets remain operational.

He's obscenely corrupt.

Here's C.I.'s "The Snapshot:"

Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Donald Chump disgraces the nation overseas, he floats pardoning his friend the convicted pedophile and sex trafficker, the Justice Dept can meet with Maxwell but not with her victims, Chump's cruelty towards the victims of assault is the same cruelty he aims at immigrants, and much more.

Let's start with Ben to give the morning some shape as he brings us up to speed.

There was a time when the United States stood for something around the world. There was a time when if you were being persecuted in another country, you could dream about coming to the United States, a time when the words on the bronze plaque at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty were something to have hope in, pride in:

Give me your tired, your poor

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore

Send these, te homeless, tempest-lost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door

Today those words are meaningless thanks to Convicted Felon Donald Chump. It's bad enough that he can't stop insulting the US when he's in our country, but in Europe now, he can't stop trashing the United States. He really is garbage trash.

He is destroying this country and everything good we have ever stood for.

At THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, Ara Torosian writes:

As a Christian who smuggled Bibles into my home country of Iran, I became a target of the country’s Islamist regime, which imprisons and sometimes kills those who invite Muslims to convert. After living under house arrest for two years, I fled as a refugee and was ultimately resettled to the United States.

I experienced true religious freedom for the first time in my life in this country, of which I am now a proud, grateful citizen — and that’s why I am shocked by the ways that my government is now treating my Iranian congregants, who have been detained by masked officers, separated from their families and threatened with deportation to a country that would kill them for their Christian faith. What I have witnessed gives me flashbacks to Tehran, and I believe that America must be better.

Two families who are a part of the Farsi-speaking evangelical congregation that I pastor in Los Angeles have been detained in recent weeks. First, a couple and their 3-year-old daughter, who are in the process of seeking asylum because they fear persecution if they were returned to Iran. They were detained at their court hearing in downtown Los Angeles on June 23. The entire family is now being held in South Texas.

The next day, I received a call from a woman in my church. Like me, she had been forced to flee Iran for Turkey when her involvement in Iran’s underground churches was exposed.

When the woman and her husband found themselves in a desperate situation in Turkey last year, they were not offered the option to fly to the U.S. as resettled refugees as I had been in 2010. Instead, they flew to South America, made a treacherous journey north and waited in Mexico for an appointment they reserved on a U.S. government app, CBP One, to be able to explain their situation to officers of the U.S. government.

Once lawfully allowed in with provisional humanitarian status, they found our church — where they could be baptized and publicly profess their faith in Jesus — and legal help to begin their asylum request. They received their work authorization documents and found jobs. Their first asylum hearing in immigration court was scheduled for this September.

When President Trump returned to office, however, his administration both suspended all refugee resettlement and canceled humanitarian parole for those who had been allowed to enter via the CBP One app. Many parolees received menacing letters instructing them to self-deport or face prosecution, fines or deportation. But these letters also noted that these instructions did not apply to those who had “otherwise obtained a lawful basis to remain,” such as a pending asylum application.

That’s why I was so shocked to receive a call from the woman in my congregation informing me that her husband had been detained by masked immigration officers on the street, just a few blocks from our church. I rushed over and began to film the shocking scene: First he was detained by masked officers, and then she was. I asked if they had a judicial warrant, but if they did, they would not show me. The woman experienced a panic attack and was taken to a hospital but discharged into ICE custody; she is now hours away in a detention center in California. Her husband is in a detention center in Texas.

And that's how Chump 'celebrates' immigrants. And that's how he degrades our image around the world.

He appears to be conditioning Americans for him pardoning convicted sex trafficker and pedophile Ghislaine Maxwell. Trina noted last night in response to Chump declaring that he's "allowed" to pardon Maxwell:

No, you aren't allowed to.

Yes, any president can pardon anyone but, no, you are not "allowed" to pardon a pedophile sex trafficker. You're insane if you think so. You'd have to be even crazier than I think you are. And I think you are bat s**t insane, Chump. You pardon Maxwell and you will find out just how disliked you can be. Some MAGA's won't go along with it. Some may. But MAGA's not Chump's problem. The rest of us are Chump's problem. I can tell you I won't go along with it nor would anyone in my church. I can't imagine parents across the country running to stage a parade for you, "Look, it's the orange man! He pardoned Maxwell! Let's give him a parade."

You are not ALLOWED to pardon Maxwell. You're insane if you think the country will stand for that. There will be such a strong push to impeach you and it will be bipartisan.

Pardon Maxwell? Ann responded:

Or how about this? We leave the criminal convicted by a jury of her peers in prison where she's supposed to be and let her serve her sentence? We leave the criminal who has refused to express any remorse at all in the prison she was sentenced to?

How about that.

Epstein and Maxwell's survivors aren't being protected by Chump. Their attacker is. That's who Chump identifies with. Here's Tara Palmeri speaking with survivors Maria and Annie Farmer.

And here's Katie Couric speaking with survivor Jess Michaels.

That's Katie and Tara speaking to the three women.

Not Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. No. Todd gets dispatched by Chump and AG Pam Bondi to visit Maxwell in prison -- to woo her for two days.

Meet with the Convicted sex trafficker and pedophile and offer her limited immunity and the prospect of a pardon. That's the reality of Donald Chump.

Remember that as he works to destroy the lives of children in the US -- especially migrant children.

CBS NEWS offers:

A child developed a rash after he was prevented from changing his underwear for four days. A little boy, bored and overcome with despair, began hitting himself in the head. A child with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was forced to go without his medication, despite his mother's pleas.

"I heard one officer say about us 'they smell like sh--,'" one detained person recounted in a federal court filing. "And another officer responded, 'They are sh--.'"

Attorneys for immigrant children collected these stories, and more, from youth and families detained in what they called "prison-like" settings across the U.S. from March through June, even as the Trump administration has requested a federal district court judge terminate existing protections that mandate basic rights and services — including safe and sanitary conditions — for children held by the government.

The administration argues that the protections mandated under what is known as the Flores Settlement Agreement encourage immigration and interfere with its ability to establish immigration policy. U.S. District Court Judge Dolly Gee, who is in California, is expected to issue a ruling on the request after an Aug. 8 hearing.

With the Flores agreement in place, children are being held in "unsafe and unsanitary" U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities such as tents, airports, and offices for up to several weeks despite the agency's written policy saying people generally should not be held in its custody longer than 72 hours, according to the June court filing from immigrants' attorneys. In addition to opposing the U.S. Department of Justice's May request to terminate the Flores consent decree, the attorneys demanded more monitoring for children in immigration detention.

"The biggest fear is that without Flores, we will lose a crucial line of transparency and accountability," said Sergio Perez, executive director of the California-based Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. "Then you have a perfect storm for the abuse of individuals, the violation of their rights, and the kind of treatment that this country doesn't stand for."

Maxwell and Epstein exploited children and so does Chump -- another thing binding to his friends of many, many years. Most people believe that you protect children in your custody. Chump believes you find further ways to harm and exploit them.

Horror stories. In Houston, US citizen Miguel Angel Ponce Jr. is attempting to drive from his home to work when ICE assaults him.

Anayeli Ruiz (KHOU) reports:

"He says, 'I need to see your ID.' I gave him the ID. When I went back down, he said, 'Get out of the car,'" Ponce said.

"For what?" Ponce said he asked. "'Get out.'"

He says officers then handcuffed him and took him away.

"I pretty much felt kidnapped. [They] told me I have a deportation order, put me in handcuffs, took me to another location. I couldn't call my wife — locked up in the back seat."

Despite showing his ID and insisting he was born in the U.S., Ponce says the officers continued to insist he was someone with immigration violations.

"[He] said, 'You've had an encounter with ICE.' I said, 'No, I've never...' At that point, he slapped handcuffs on me. They're like, 'You have an order of deportation.' That is crazy — because I was born here. I was born in College Station. 'No, you're the one I'm looking for.'"

Mistakes happen? Mistakes happen a lot with ICE and that's because (a) they don't know their job and (b) they don't know the law -- which is also part of their job. Bonuses are being handed out to ICE but, note, no ICE agent's getting in trouble for breaking the law. They're given immunity by Chump. They're basically the gestapo. Margaret Kadifa (MOTHER JONES) reports another horror story:

Three asylum seekers leaving routine court hearings at San Francisco immigration court Thursday morning were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, including one man who a judge had just said might be mentally impaired.

They’re the latest in a series of ICE actions, where over 30 immigrants have been arrested by federal agents while leaving San Francisco immigration court, at 100 Montgomery Street or 630 Sansome Street—which also has an ICE field office and is where Thursday’s arrests took place.

After a Department of Homeland Security attorney on Thursday moved to dismiss the case of the man, a strategy federal attorneys have recently been using to make asylum seekers easier to remove, immigration judge Patrick O’Brien raised doubts over his mental ability, saying, “it’s obvious to me that there are competency issues.”

The man—who was only fluent in Mam, a Mayan language primarily spoken in Guatemala—had been muttering to himself throughout the morning, O’Brien said.

Later in court, the man was unable to tell O’Brien his address. O’Brien even asked the man at one point if he was on medication.

There appear to be competency issues beyond just a language barrier, O’Brien said. (After a few hours of requesting one, the court had been able to find a remote Mam interpreter to help with the man’s hearing.)

O’Brien then proceeded to ask the Department of Homeland Security attorney for a continuance of the case, rather than a dismissal, due to the man’s possible mental incompetence. The man needed time to find a lawyer and other support, O’Brien said. “He’s clearly not understanding the questions,” O’Brien said. “Is this someone the department really wants to move to dismiss a motion to appear on?”

The DHS attorney agreed, and allowed for a continuance of the case, which essentially means the man will come back for another hearing in a few months. The DHS attorney said she could “renew” the motion to dismiss another time.

But as the man left the hearing room, Mission Local observed about five ICE officers stopping the man and then leading him out a side door. The man’s arrest was the third over the course of three hours Thursday morning.

Arrested on the way out of the court house? It's happening over and over across the country. And heartless trash like US House Rep Nancy Mace get off watching videos of it. Isaiah's THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Nancy Meets A Stranger" went up yesterday.

Isaiah's latest THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Nancy Meets A Stranger." Jesus approaches US House Rep Nancy Mace and counsels, "Glee over someone being deported isn't very Christian." Nancy, apparently ignorant of the teachings of Jesus as well as Jesus himself, barks, "F**k you, hippie. Get out of my way or I'll lie on the House floor that you assaulted me." Isaiah archives his comics at THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS.

She is the Nazi pride in the US as she brags about getting off on watching videos of immigrants reporting to courts for hearings and then, as they leave the hearings, being kidnapped by ICE.

This is apparently the sort of thing that allows the unmarried and unloved Nancy Mace to get off during her endless string of lonely nights, Alexandra Villarreal (GUARDIAN) reports:

Jerome traveled a thousand miles from California to El Paso, Texas, so he could accompany Jenny to her immigration hearing. He and his wife had promised to take her after she had fled Cuba last December, after the government there had targeted her because she had reported on the country’s deplorable conditions for her college radio station.

Everything should have been fine. Jenny, 25, had entered the United States legally under one of Joe Biden’s now-defunct programs, CBP One. By the end of the year, she could apply for a green card.

But a few days before her hearing, Jerome started to feel like something was off. Jenny’s court date had been abruptly moved from May to June with no explanation. Arrests at immigration courthouses peppered the news.

And when Jenny went before the court, the government attorney assigned to try to deport her asked the judge to dismiss her case, arguing vaguely that circumstances had changed.

Instead, the judge noted that Jenny was pursuing an asylum claim and scheduled her for another court date in August 2026 – the best possible outcome.

“She turned around and looked at me and smiled. And I smiled back, because she understood that she was free to go home,” Jerome said.

But as Jenny left the courtroom and approached the elevator to leave, a crowd of government agents in masks converged on her and demanded she go with them. Just before she disappeared down a corridor with the phalanx of officers, she turned back to look at Jerome, her face stricken, silently pleading with him to do something.

“I said, ‘She’s legal. She’s here legally. And you guys just don’t care, do you? Nobody cares about this. You guys just like pulling people away like this,’” Jerome recalled telling the agents. “And nobody said a word. They couldn’t even look me in the eye,” he told the Guardian.

No, they couldn't look anyone in the eye. They're cowards who are breaking the law and they live in shame so they hide behind masks. PASADENA NOW covers yet another one:

Federal immigration officials have detained the husband of Huntington Hospital’s Chief of Medical Staff in downtown Los Angeles, where he has allegedly endured nearly two weeks of harsh treatment and insufficient medical care, according to a civil rights group’s statement released Thursday evening.

Tunisian immigrant Rami Othmane was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on July 13 while driving to a grocery store, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network said. His wife, Dr. Wafaa Alrashid, who oversees more than 1,000 physicians associated with Huntington Hospital, claims immigration officers blocked her husband’s car, did not present a warrant, and failed to identify themselves during the encounter.

Othmane suffers from chronic pain and an untreated tumor and is reportedly being held under inhumane conditions at a federal facility in downtown Los Angeles, NDLON said.

“He is not a criminal,” Alrashid was quoted in the group’s statement as saying. “He is a kind, peaceful man with an open immigration petition. He should be with his family, not sleeping on a concrete floor without medical care.”

The family filed an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative on June 12, initiating a legal pathway toward permanent residency. The petition remains pending, according to the advocacy group.

Jasmine Mendez (LOS ANGELES TIMES) adds:

Rami Othmane was held July 13 while driving to the grocery store. His wife, Dr. Wafaa Alrashid, said agents blocked Othmane’s car and did not identify themselves or present a warrant before detaining him.

Alrashid, chief of medical staff at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, was on FaceTime with her husband during the incident. The couple married on March 5, 2024, and filed an I-130 petition last month to qualify their relationship status to obtain Orthmane’s green card.

[. . .]

“This is not just an immigration issue — this is a human rights crisis,” Alrashid said in a statement. “My husband has been subjected to 12 days of inhumane treatment in a federal building. He is not a criminal. He is a kind, peaceful man with an open immigration petition.”

Remember when the big lie was told that only violent criminals would be targeted? Alicia Victoria Lozano (NBC NEWS) notes:

Immigration officials have been repeatedly spotted outside a Hollywood homeless shelter since May, leading staff to accompany residents from war-torn countries to work, errands and court.

An executive at the shelter that serves people ages 18 to 24 said she saw two Venezuelan men handcuffed and arrested by ICE agents after they returned to the shelter from work.

“There was no conversation,” said the employee, Lailanie, who asked that her last name not be used because she feared retribution from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

She said about half a dozen immigration officers went up to the residents “and put their hands behind their backs right away.”

Homeless shelters appear to be another target in the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown, which has resulted in nearly 3,000 arrests in the Los Angeles area. They now join Home Depots, 7-Elevens and cannabis farms as locations where the federal government is carrying out its mass deportation effort.

In addition to the Hollywood shelter, service providers have reported seeing immigration enforcement at shelters in North Hollywood and San Diego, according to local media.

Chump Land is one horror story after another. And it's tanking him in the polls. Diamond Walker and Valentina Palm (PALM BEACH POST) report:

Kenny Laynez's cellphone camera captured every undocumented immigrant’s nightmare on video when it happened to him on the morning of May 2. One problem: He is a U.S. citizen. Here's more to know about what happened.

Kenny Laynez, a U.S. citizen, was driving with his mother and coworkers to their landscaping jobs when they were pulled over on Singer Island by Florida Highway Patrol and Border Patrol agents. Officers dragged them from the car, grabbing necks, twisting arms, using a Taser, and later joked about raises and promotions.

Laynez, who was born and raised in West Palm Beach, was held for six hours at a federal facility in Riviera Beach before being released. His mom, who is Guatemalan and has legal status in this country, was not detained. His coworkers were taken to the Krome Detention Center in Miami and later released on bail.

“I have rights. I was born and raised here," Laynez told the officers, according to a copy of the video shared by the Guatemalan-Maya Center of Lake Worth Beach.

"You don’t have any rights here. You are a ‘Migo,’ brother,” said the officer, who hurried him into a van. "Migo" is short for "amigo," the Spanish word for "friend, " an apparent reference to Laynez's ethnicity.

No one appears to have rights these days, not even basic human rights. Mike Schneider (LOS ANGELES TIMES) reports on Chump's concentration camp in Florida:

Lawyers seeking a temporary restraining order against an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades say that “Alligator Alcatraz” detainees have been barred from meeting attorneys, are being held without any charges and that a federal immigration court has canceled bond hearings.

A virtual hearing in federal court in Miami was being held Monday on a lawsuit that was filed July 16. A new motion on the case was filed Friday.

Lawyers who have shown up for bond hearings for “Alligator Alcatraz” detainees have been told that the immigration court doesn't have jurisdiction over their clients, the attorneys wrote in court papers. The immigration attorneys demanded that federal and state officials identify an immigration court that has jurisdiction over the detainees and start accepting petitions for bond, claiming the detainees constitutional rights to due process are being violated.

“This is an unprecedented situation where hundreds of detainees are held incommunicado, with no ability to access the courts, under legal authority that has never been explained and may not exist,” the immigration attorneys wrote. “This is an unprecedented and disturbing situation.”

Nancy Hiemstra and Deirdre Conlon (NEWSWEEK) add:

Detainees who have managed to communicate with family, friends, and lawyers report appalling conditions. Insufficient and contaminated water. Inadequate, spoiled food. Ignored requests for medical care. Swarms of mosquitoes. Unbearably hot tents that leak when it rains. Severe overcrowding. Facility personnel who berate and threaten them. We have studied immigration detention for over a decade and can say with grim certainty that it's just a matter of time until someone dies at Alligator Alcatraz.

This is what happens when detainees are seen as dollar signs. In our book, Immigration Detention Inc: The Big Business of Locking Up Migrants, we follow the money that coalesces around detention in the United States. Countless companies, state and local governments, and communities are tangled up in the economic webs tied to incarcerating migrants. These entities make money by starving, sickening, and exploiting detained migrants. The less they provide, the bigger their profits.

Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:

***PHOTOS COURTESY OF CUONG VAN HUYNH AVAILABLE HERE***

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement calling for longtime Seattle area resident Cuong Van Huynh to be allowed to remain in the United States ahead of an immigration check-in, joining a chorus of public statements in support, including from Teamsters Local 117 and MLK Labor:

“Cuong Van Huynh is a hardworking and esteemed member of the Seattle and King County community. Here’s what I know from Van and the people who love him: He works full-time at Swire Coca-Cola and also runs a beloved Banh Mi and chicken wings shop, Honey Bear, with his wife in Federal Way. Van works overtime to support his two sons who are in college studying aerospace engineering and business. He often engages in charitable works across the community and truly embodies the American dream.

“Van came to America as a refugee from Vietnam in 1984. Van was convicted back in 2006 for attempting to purchase marijuana—since then, he has made tremendous contributions to our community. It is beyond wrong to deport a man with an American wife and two American children for trying to purchase marijuana nearly two decades ago, a substance that has now been legalized in Washington state.

“I am joining local unions and community members in calling on the Trump administration to allow Van to remain here in America, his home, with his family. Seattle and King County are better off thanks to Van, his hard work, the family he’s raised here, and the community he’s built. I hope the entire community will join me in standing with Van. This man is a pillar of our community, and he should not be torn away from his family and his home after 40 years.”

###

The following sites updated:

Monday, July 28, 2025

Hate mongers Nancy Mace, Donald Chump, Robert Kennedy Junior

First up, Isaiah's THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Nancy Meets A Stranger"

Remember that song that asked "What if God was one of us?" If God was one of us and Nancy Mace saw him, she would shove him to the ground and then begin kicking him because she's a hate monger.

Let's move to a different topic. THE SIMPSONS. Melody Rivera (IRISH STAR) reports:

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening urged fans to stop watching Fox News in order to “liberate” themselves and their families.

The 71-year-old animator once again took the stage at the infamous Hall H at San Diego Comic Con to discuss the future of the hit cartoon series since it has been renewed for four more seasons.

During the panel, Matt also made some eerie political predictions, with one being directed at Donald Trump, whose death he believes will bring “dancing to the streets.” Not only did he take a jab at the president but also his supporters, specifically Fox News.

As he revealed his “final prediction,” he said, “The Simpsons predicts kids across America will liberate their Republican parents from the cult of MAGA,” referencing Trump’s infamous slogan.

Matt gave step by step instructions on how to make this prediction come true, saying, “Here’s how you do it. Grab the TV remote. Go to menu. Go to controls. Parental controls. Then edit channel list. Then delete Fox News.”

He assured, “Peace, health and mental happiness will result.”

I agree. Block FOX "NEWS" on any elderly person you know's TV. They'll be happier and healthier. FOX "NEWS" exists to panic the elderly. It preys on their fears.

People are waking up and leaving the Chump cult. Liam O'Dell (INDY 100) notes:

Further details have been revealed about the extent of the MAGA movement’s disillusionment with US president Donald Trump, as the Republican’s supporter base continues to be divided over his administration’s handling of documents relating to the late and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this month, Trump supporters began calling for attorney general Pam Bondi’s resignation (while some wanted deputy director of the FBI, Dan Bongino, to quit or get the sack) after a leaked Department of Justice memo published by Axios said there was “no incriminating ‘client list’” belonging to Epstein.

That’s despite Bondi telling Fox News back in February that the list was “sitting on my desk right now to review”.

Trump wasn’t exactly happy with his supporters turning on Bondi, as he took to his Truth Social platform on 12 July to ask, “what’s going on with my ‘boys’ and, in some cases, ‘gals?’”

[. . .]

Referencing the ongoing fallout over the Epstein files, Logis told indy100: “I don't think there has ever been a time, more so than now, in which MAGA supporters are feeling confused.

“Most MAGA supporters care about the safety and security of children. They expected Trump to keep his promise and reveal those who allegedly aided and abetted Epstein. “Now that Trump has broken his promise, MAGA supporters are feeling stunned. Many MAGA supporters have started to have doubts about their support for Trump; it’s crucial we encourage them to continue to listen to those doubts.”

Chump loves grifting and he lives to take bribes. Junior gave him an endorsement, Chump gave him Secretary of Health. It's all so corrupt and disgusting. Which brings up his jet. Joseph Gedeon (GUARDIAN) reports:

The US Department of Justice is facing a federal lawsuit for refusing to release a legal memorandum that reportedly cleared the way for Donald Trump’s acceptance of a $400m luxury aircraft from Qatar’s government.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by the watchdog group American Oversight, filed the Freedom of Information Act (Foia) lawsuit in Washington DC’s federal district court after the justice department failed to produce the document despite granting expedited processing more than two months ago.

The president’s “deal to take a $400m luxury jet from a foreign government deserves full public scrutiny – not a stiff-arm from the Department of Justice”, American Oversight’s executive director, Chioma Chukwu, said in a press release. “This is precisely the kind of corrupt arrangement that public records laws are designed to expose.”

He's just a thief and a disgrace. And if you need a gut laugh, click here for the 'latest' on Aaron Rogers' 'wife' who, I'm sure, is 100% real and, I'm also sure, 100% female. Now to little Junior who's on a mission to destroy public health in America. Kiera Butler and Anna Merlan (MOTHER JONES) report:

Long before he became secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was laying the groundwork for his war on vaccines. As the head of the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy amplified once-fringe conspiracies about vaccine safety and joined a larger crusade against the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, the government initiative that was established in the 1980s by Congress to compensate people who were able to prove a likely vaccine injury. In his current leadership role, Kennedy has leveraged political power, transforming conspiracy theories into action—and reshaping American vaccine policy in just a few short months.

They then walk you through the timeline. He is a horror show. A disgrace. Ed Cara (GIZMODO) notes more horror from Junior:

It looks as though Robert F. Kennedy Jr. isn’t quite done tearing apart the country’s public health system. The antivaccination supporter turned health secretary is reportedly planning to retire the current roster of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Kennedy’s plan last Friday. RFK Jr. is expected to remove all 16 members of the USPSTF, allegedly because they’re too “woke.” The move would follow Kennedy’s recent gutting and reshaping of the CDC’s similar advisory panel on vaccines, which has already ushered in unscientific policy changes.

The USPSTF operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but its members are voluntary outside experts. These experts meet throughout the year to review the evidence and weigh in on various preventive health topics, including if and when people should get screened for certain cancers. Doctors widely follow the guidelines created by the USPSTF, and insurers are required to cover preventative services that receive the strongest backing from the USPSTF.

When Junior and his ugly wife Cheryl Hines head home? I hope for the rest of her life, ugly, bug-eyed lying Cheryl Hines is pelted with rotten eggs and rotten tomatoes anytime she attempts to go out in public. And I hope that happens even after she finally leaves Junior after he's yet again humiliated her with countless affairs.

Here's C.I.'s "The Snapshot:"

Monday, July 28, 2025. Chump accuses four prominent Black people of crimes in his latest attempt to distract from all the times he and Jeffrey Epstein went after females together, Tulsi Gabbard flames out as most cult members tend to do, if Donald's so interested in prosecutions over politicians buying endorsement he might want to examine how he got Junior's endorsement, and much more.

Over the weekend, Convicted Felon Donald Chump raged in that empty and pathetic ways of his. This time he targeted former Vice President Kamala Harris, Rev Al Franken, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and singer-songwriter-actress Beyonce. Hmm. What do all four have in common? Oh, that's right: Black skin.

Chump is losing his base over his longterm friendship with dead and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his friendship with Jeffrey's convicted sex trafficking partner Ghislaine Maxwell and his efforts to deny the relationships and cover them up as well as his sending Deputy Attorney General Todd Blache to meet with the convicted Maxwell in prison for two days last week a

Over the weekend, more news broke there. Sasha Morris and Ellie Hook (THE MIRROR) reported:

CNN abruptly cut to breaking news about US President Donald Trump in a major twist involving Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and one-time confidante of the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.

Anchor Erin Burnett greeted viewers as she plunged into the unfolding story, announcing, "Good evening, tonight we begin with the breaking news that we are just learning in this hour that Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was granted limited immunity in order to talk with Trump's personal attorney turned deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche."

She elaborated on the implications of this limited immunity, explaining, "What does this mean, this limited immunity? Well, it allowed Maxwell to provide information without any fear that anything she said that is truthful can be used against her in the future." It comes as Trump takes no chances in an armored golf buggy as protesters storm streets across Scotland.

Possibly that's the news Chump was trying to distract from by attacking four Black people for his racist MAGA base.

According to Trump, you can't pay anyone for an endorsement. Remember that. He then lies that Kamala, in the 2024 presidential race, paid Al, Oprah and Beyonce for their endorsements. Al Franken's a livelong Civil Rights activist and a Democrat he was never going to endorse anyone but Kamala. Oprah the same and Oprah let's also add that, unlike Chump, she's not a craven whore. She's not put her name on Bible or any other tacky thing that Chump does to try to raise money. No, Oprah earned her money and built an actual empire. Chump filed bankruptcies. In 2008, Oprah endorsed Barack Obama. It's no surprise that in 2024, Oprah endorsed Kamala. Which leaves Beyonce. Many people love Beyonce, not just her most devoted fans known as the Beyhive. Those predominantly Black woman would have given her a serious case of side eye had she endorsed Chump. Her mother would have whooped her ass. But Beyonce and Jay Z, again unlike Chump, have earned actual money and, unlike Chump, they're not going around with their hand out looking for donations.

But there was bribery on 2024 endorsements. One happened in front of our eyes and maybe Chump can refer that one to the Justice Department?

In the lead up to Robert Kennedy Junior 'ending' his failed campaign, he made overtures to the campaign of Donald Chump and to the campaign of Kamala Harris.

What did he want?

The promise of a position in their administration. Whomever would make that promise would get his public endorsement.

August 14th, Aaron Pellish and Jim Acosta (CNN) reported:

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign reached out to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign to arrange a meeting about a possible role in her administration if he drops out of the race and endorses her, a Kennedy campaign official and a Democratic official told CNN.

The approach from Kennedy’s team occurred last week, and no meeting between the two candidates materialized, the Kennedy campaign official told CNN.

The effort to meet comes weeks after Kennedy and former President Donald Trump met in person during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the two discussed a possible role for Kennedy in a potential Trump administration in exchange for an endorsement.

Kennedy campaign staff also attempted to reach out to intermediaries for Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff for President Joe Biden, but those efforts were fruitless, the Kennedy campaign official said.

August 23rd, Katherine Koretski, Ben Kamisar, Henry J. Gomez, Garrett Haake and Dasha Burns (NBC NEWS) reported:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed former President Donald Trump Friday afternoon during a lengthy speech putting to rest his tumultuous independent presidential campaign.

Kennedy's campaign first confirmed the endorsement in a court filing in Pennsylvania before he took the stage for the speech in battleground Arizona. Trump has his own event in nearby Glendale later Friday, where Kennedy will speak, according to three sources familiar with the planning — the culmination of weeks of talks.

Kennedy’s decision to back Trump comes after weeks of back-channel courtship. One person familiar with the discussions said that Donald Trump Jr. had been looking to engineer a Kennedy endorsement of his father for six months, with another source noting that Trump Jr. had long felt that Kennedy’s presence in the race was hurting the GOP campaign.

For a time, polling was unclear about that question. But it changed dramatically after Harris took over as the Democratic presidential candidate and the polling landscape shifted. It's a reality the Trump campaign acknowledged in a memo from pollster Tony Fabrizio sent to reporters after Kennedy's announcement, which argues its polling shows that Kennedy's vote "breaks for President Trump" in every key state.

Still, the initial conservations started earlier, about a week before the Republican convention, with right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson connecting Trump Jr. with Kennedy.

From there, Trump Jr. and donor Omeed Malik served as go-betweens to help close the deal. The two sources familiar with the talks said that Kennedy is expected to play a role on the campaign trail going forward.

In an interview, Malik said Kennedy has not been promised a Cabinet position in exchange for his endorsement, though that's something Kennedy running mate Nicole Shanahan suggested when speaking on a podcast earlier this week. (Shanahan did not appear at Friday's event.)

But, Malik said, "I think both President Trump and JD Vance have said as much in the last 24 hours, that should they be successful, there are plenty of roles, and I think the area of health is one," where Kennedy could serve.

Junior sought to sale his endorsement. He'd endorse either campaign. Provided that if he endorsed the winner, he would be given a role in the administration.

Donald Chump is right. You're not supposed to buy endorsements. So maybe the Justice Dept should look into that. I can remember when someone sleeping over in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House was a scandal. Chump selling a cabinet level position apparently is not supposed to be a scandal?

MAGA trash doesn't know how to stop lying. Take the ridiculous buffoon from Oklahoma who stumbled into the Senate. Mike picked the fool for "Idiot of the Week" and writes:

Time for Idiot of the Week. It was a hard one. But Markwayne Markwayne, step on down and claim your prize. The Dunce Senator sees his job as lying for Chump. That's bad. What's worse? Not grasping that you're not supposed to admit that publicly. Carl Gibson reports:

During a Thursday speech on the U.S. Senate floor, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) openly said the goal of his party was to "cover" for President Donald Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.

Earlier on Thursday, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee blocked an effort by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to attach an amendment to legislation that would have compelled the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release evidence pertaining to its investigation of the convicted pedophile. Mullin proposed a resolution of his own on Thursday that would essentially outsource the job of releasing Epstein documents to the courts, whereas Democrats have taken the approach of forcing the DOJ to publish its troves of evidence on the longtime friend of President Donald Trump, which, according to ABC News, the FBI has had in its possession since 2019.

In his floor speech, Mullin characterized Democrats' Epstein-related resolutions as "political theater" while arguing that his own effort would suffice for full transparency. However, the Oklahoma Republican also said during his speech that Republicans' goal was to "cover" for the administration.

"I'm sure this would be handled just like any other thing they trued to go after like the baseless impeachments, or the baseless special counsels. Or the unbelievable amount of charges they tried to file against the president. I'm sure this will be handled the exact same way," Mullin said. "What we're simply wanting to do here is give [Trump] cover."

Mullin's remarks were met with outrage and lack of surprise on social media. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) tweeted from her personal account: "Yes, it's pretty clear that['s] what y'all are doing." Former CNN reporter John Harwood quipped that Mullin was "not the smartest senator."

No, he is not. And he is a previous Idiot of the Week winner. I have a feeling he'll end up to Idiot of the Week what Katharine Hepburn is to the Oscars -- a multiple winner.

Even the conservative WASHINGTON EXAMINER is getting in on the fun of revealing Markwayne Markwayne's stupidity. Their correspondent Annabella Rosciglione notes:

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) claimed former President Barack Obama oversaw disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal when Epstein first came into legal trouble under former President George W. Bush.

"In 2009, there was a sweetheart plea deal that was made under the Obama administration with Epstein,” Mullin said, adding, “That sweetheart has not been exposed."

"No, that's not right. It was 2008. The U.S. attorney at the time was Alex Acosta. He was a Bush appointee. He went on to become President Trump's secretary of labor,” CNN’s Jake Tapper replied on State of the Union.

Mullin continued, however, to claim incorrectly that the case was handled in 2009 under Obama.

In 2008, Epstein struck a plea deal with then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta, who was appointed to that role and several others in the Bush administration.

Markwayne Markwayne is the biggest idiot in the Senate and that's really saying something.

The equally stupid Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard flamed out with her attempt to attack Barack. She's now back to hiding in her office as others in the administration wonder about this childless cat lady and whether or not her failure to produce children is rooted to the cult she's a member of? Is her Guru Chris denying to sign off on a pregnancy because he wants the cult to proceed deeper into the federal government? Only Tulsi and her MaxiPad, all white outfits can answer that.

Last night on HBO, LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER aired it's latest episode. I transcribed the opening for a post last night. I was hoping that by this morning, the clip would be up on YOUTUBE but it's not yet. Here's a rush -- and rough -- transcript of Oliver's spot-on commentary:

John Oliver: We're going to focus on developments concerning Jeffrey Epstien, once again voted Horniest Resident by DEEPEST CIRCLE OF HELL QUARTERLY. Very basically, three weeks ago, ago after repeatedly promising to release information on Epstein the Trump Administration then promptly announced "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted" and released a video claiming to disprove there was any foul play in his suicide. But when a reporter pointed out a problem with that video, Trump's answer wasn't great.

CNN live footage of White House cabinet meeting camera focused on Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio seated next to her and Donald Chump seated next to Marco.

Reporter: Can you say why there is a minute missing from the jail house tape on the night of his death?

Pam Bondi: Yeah. Sure --

Donald Chump: Could I just say --

Pam Bondi: Sure

Donald Chump: Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? That is unbelievable. Do you want to waste the time on -- do you feel like answering?

Pam Bondi: I don't - I don't mind answering.

Donald Chump: I mean, I can't believe you're asking a question on Epstein at a time like this when we're having some of the greatest success -- and also tragedy with what happened in Texas.

John Oliver: Okay. Nothing about that is reassuring -- from Chump suspicioualy scrambling to try to change the subject to Marco Rubio quietly mourning the loss of his last shred of integrity which -- much like part of Epstein's prison video -- seems to have disappeared. That glib dismissal, understandably, didn't go down well especially given that Trump and his inner circle had been actively stoking this story in February conservative influencers were summed to the White House and handed binders labeled Epstein Files Phase One which turned out to contain virtually no new material -- this despite the covers containing the phrase "The Most Transparent Administration In History" -- a claim which is not aging great. And Trump has been struggling to move past this as new revelations keep coming out -- including a WALL STREET JOURNAL report about a gross letter Trump allegedly wrote for a book for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday.

INSIDE EDITION journalist: THE JOURNAL describes the letter as "several lines of typewritten text" and the hand drawn "outline of a naked woman" "The future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist." Trump allegedly signed off with the words "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret."

John Oliver: Okay. There is a lot there. First, "may every day be another wonderful secret" is absolutely what would be inside a Hallmark card if they had a subcategory called "BIRTHDAY FOR PROLIFIC SEX TRAFFICKERS." Second, the squiggly "Donald" below her waist was, in THE JOURNAL's words, "mimicking pubic hair" which is obviously gross but also -- and I know this isn't the point -- why the f**k is this Trump's signature? Donald Trump has eleven letters, not four hundred 'M's. His signature looks less like pubes and more like the polygraph result when he's asked if he's ever been friends with Jeffrey Epstein. Now, I have to tell you, Chump sued THE JOURNAL for defamation and strongly denied writing that letter which is understandable given it allegedly contains the line "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey." He also tried to brush it off by claiming "I don't draw pictures." The problem is people very quickly pointed out, he very much does do that. He basically spent this week desperately trying to draw people's attention anywhere else. He threatened the Washington Commanders stadium deal unless they revert to their old name. He posted an inexplicable three minute highlight reel of old internet clips like a woman grabbing a snake with her bare hands and various jet ski tricks and accused Obama of treason for trying to steal the 2016 election. And in case it wasn't obvious, that was a flagrant attempt to deflect attention from the Epstein story, Trump basically admitted it.

CBS MORNINGS clip of Chump speaking.

CBS journalist: At the White House, the president urged fellow Republicans to help change the subject.

Donald Chump: Every time they give you a question that's not appropriate, just say, "Oh, by the way, Obama cheated on the election."

John Oliver: Yeah. It's that easy and if they keep asking, just say, "Hillary shot JFK, Rosie O'Donnell did 9/11 and Nancy Pelosi f**ked a bat and that's how we got COVID. And no further questions." And while distraction is usually one of Chump's greatest secret weapons it doesn't appear to be working here. Even his sudden dumping of thousands of files related to MLK's assassination didn't do it. And King's daughter responded by posting this image captioned "Now, do the Epstein files" which is excellent. In terms of internet clapback that is up there with Wendy's asking is we can send Katy Perry back into space ["Can we send her back" [replying to POP CRAVE's post "Katy Perry has returned from space"]. I don't say that lightly. And so the harshest criticism is actually coming from Trump's most fervent supporters. ven the Qanon Shaman posted, "F**k this stupid piece of s**t... What a fraud..." And once you've lost dip-s**t Daniel Boone here, you are in trouble. And it's understandable why Trump's struggling to get even his own base to take his word for there is nothing to see here -- because to do so, you essentially have to believe everything we've learned about Trump over the years is irrelevant or sheer coincidence. All Trump did was repeatedly host Epstein at Mar-a-Lago, have him at his wedding, hang out with him at Victoria's Secret fashion shows, get listed as a passenger on his plane eight times, joke with him at a party while pointing out hot women and saying something into his ear that got the most grotesque smile in the history of human expressions, tell a reporter "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy . . . he likes beautiful women as much as I do and many of them are on the younger side," and allegedly host "a 'calendar girl' competition" where "other than the two dozen or so women flown in to provide the entertainment . . . the only guests were him and Jeffrey Epstein." You also have to forget about Trump bragging about his ability to grab women's genitals and claiming he can "go backstage" to beauty pageants while women were getting undressed -- something he was accused of doing by five Miss Teen USA contestants, and once remarking of his own daughter Tiffany, "She's got Marla's legs. We don't know whether or not she's got this [gestures towards chest] yet but time will tell." Beyond that, though, there's nothing there. Except -- except for a jury finding him liable for sexual abuse. But other than that, there's nothing to see. And I should note that Trump denies the Epstein letter, the calendar girls contest and the claims of walking in on Miss Teen USA contestants changing. He also says he broke off ties with Epstein before he was convicted of soliciting sex from a minor and he's repeatedly denied being told his name was in the Epstein files despite reports Pam Bondi told him months ago that his name was in there. I guess, ideally, Trump would have Epstein on tape vehemently denying that connection. Fortunately, what he's got instead is this moment in Epstein's 2010 deposition.

Attorney: Have you ever socialized with Donald Trump in the presence of females under the age of 18?

Jeffrey Epstein: Though I'd like to answer that question, at least today, I'm going to have to assert my Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, sir.

John Oliver: Yeah, no great. If the answer's "no," just say taht. Instead, Epstein started listing amendments like he was ordering off the value menu. 'I'll have the number five, six, 14, 10, 12, 3 and which ever else means I don't have to break bro code.' Who knows where we go from here? On Thursday, the Deputy AG Todd Blanche -- Trump's former personal attorney -- went to talk to Ghislaine Maxwell and it's not hard to imagine someone serving a 20 year sentence that only one man can commute coming up with whatever story serves his interest. But even if that happens, I'm not sure it will stop the questions because people aren't letting this go. When DHS and the White House posted this video announcing the TSA's new shoes on policy, comments on it included "Awesome. So Cool. What about the Epstein files??" and "TSA needs to check your shoes, they might find the Epstein files there." And this White House post about Trump's AI initiatives got comments like "Where's the list donny" and "Captain Cankles...where's the list?" And look maybe those files show nothing more than that Trump and Epstein are two creeps who enjoyed one another's company. Do I personally think that's possible? Though I'd like to answer that question, I think I'll plead the fourth, twelfth and twenty-second amendments. But even if that's the case and Trump still eventually ends up consumed by a conspiracy monster he cynically helped create and now can't control? Then at least that will be a sliver of something that's frankly been in short supply in this whole Epstein story and that is actual justice

There are Chump's lies and then there is his dementia. Nikki McCann Ramirez (ROLLING STONE) addresses the continued decline in Chump's cognitive abilities:

Earlier this month, while addressing attendees at a Pennsylvania energy summit, Trump told a bizarre story about his uncle, former Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor John Trump.

"[Ted] Kaczynski was one of his students," Trump claimed, referring to the prodigal mathematician turned hermit and serial mass murder known as the "Unabomber."

"That's a smart man. Kaczynski was one of his students. Do you know who Kaczynski was?" Trump said. "There's very little difference between a madman and a genius. But Kaczynski, I said, ‘What kind of a student was he, Uncle John?' - Dr. John Trump. He said ‘seriously good,' he said he'd go around correcting everybody. But it didn't work out so well for him."

Basically nothing about this story - outside of Trump's uncle being an MIT professor - was true.

Earlier this month, while addressing attendees at a Pennsylvania energy summit, Trump told a bizarre story about his uncle, former Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor John Trump.

"[Ted] Kaczynski was one of his students," Trump claimed, referring to the prodigal mathematician turned hermit and serial mass murder known as the "Unabomber."

Basically nothing about this story - outside of Trump's uncle being an MIT professor - was true.

Trump built a career on firing people. He loves it, it gives him a thrill. There's one man in D.C. he apparently cannot fire: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. And it's driving him up the walls.

Powell was appointed to his position as Fed chair in 2018 by Donald Trump, and ushered the American economy through the turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a subsequent period of persistent inflation that battered consumers. Despite the Fed having mostly gotten a handle on inflation, Trump has been publicly fuming (and threatening to fire) Powell for months now over his refusal to cut down interest rates - partially in response to Trump's inflationary tariffs and pinball economic policies.

Earlier this month, Trump complained that Powell was "a terrible fed chair."

"I'm surprised he was appointed, I was surprised, frankly, that Biden put him in and extended him," he added.

Biden did reappoint Powell - but it was Trump who initially appointed him. At this point, though, it seems that blaming his predecessor is so reflexive for Trump that he's erased his own appointments from his memory.

THE IRISH STAR's Jack Hobbs also covers this terrain:

Concerns about President Donald Trump's health continue to swirl after the president struggled to understand a reporter's question during a meeting with European Union President Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland.

During the meeting, Trump seemingly struggled to hear a reporter's question in the ballroom of his resort. "Should Israel be doing more to allow food in Gaza?" asked the reporter.

"Say it," Trump responded while gesturing to the woman. The reporter then reasked her question, which the president did not seem to hear once again, forcing him to ask someone sitting next to him, "What is she saying?" It comes as Trump made 'disturbing remarks' about his daughter in a resurfaced clip.

"Should Israel be doing more to allow food in Gaza?" the unidentified man says off-camera. It's then that the president snaps back into his normal chatty self.

"You know, we gave $60 million to Israel and nobody even acknowledged it for food," the president said. "And it's terrible. You know, you really at least want to have somebody say thank you."

"No other country gave anything," the president remarked. "We gave $60m for food for Gaza."

Users of the social media site X were quick to point out the president's hearing issue. "Trump's age is showing. Biden would never be able to get away with this," one person wrote.

"Omg, he can't even hear! Put grandpa on the porch and leave us alone," a second commented. "Pure cognitive decline," a fourth added.

Let's wind down with this from Senator Elizabeth Warren's office:

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 60,000 public schools and about 30 million K-12 students were left without a dedicated civil rights investigator due to Trump's cuts at ED.

Warren: “It’s disgraceful that Secretary McMahon is firing the people responsible for protecting our students with disabilities.”

Video of Exchange (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), in a forum held by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), “Robbing Our Students’ Futures: The Indefensible Attacks on Public Education,” highlighted the consequences of President Donald Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon’s cuts to the Department of Education (ED) for students with disabilities and their families.

“It’s disgraceful that Secretary McMahon is firing the people responsible for protecting our students with disabilities,” said Senator Warren. “This forum is a valuable opportunity to speak out and stand up against these horrible cuts so we can start building a better future for our nation’s children.”

In the hearing, Senator Warren slammed Secretary McMahon for her broken promise to “make sure that our students with special needs are taken care of.” In March, Secretary McMahon fired half of the staff at ED’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which is responsible for protecting students facing discrimination in school, and closed down 7 out of OCR’s 12 regional offices, including the one in Boston. Nearly half of all OCR complaints involve discrimination against students with disabilities, and following these cuts, OCR has begun dismissing complaints at an unusually high rate.

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, testified that due to the cuts at OCR, 60,000 public schools and 30 million K-12 students were left without a dedicated civil rights investigator, with OCR dismissing 30% more cases last year than in the previous year. She warned it would be “improbable, if not impossible” for OCR to sufficiently resolve incoming disability discrimination cases with staff cut in half.

Senator Warren also highlighted the story of G, a student with an intellectual disability whose mom filed a complaint with OCR after G was allegedly locked in a padded room at her school repeatedly, despite not posing a danger to herself or others. The Trump administration fired the lawyer assigned to investigate G's case, leaving G without any support. Ms. Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, stressed the importance of making the public aware of the impact of cuts to public education by sharing stories like G's. She described ED as an “opportunity engine” for providing educational oversight and funding for various education programs, which are crucial for students with disabilities.

“We are in this fight because we believe that the future of this nation lies with our children. We speak out, we fight back, and we do not pass budgets that leave the door open for more cuts for the education of our children,” concluded Senator Warren.

Senator Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump’s attempts to abolish the Department of Education:

On July 17, 2025, Senator Warren released a new 23-page report, “Education At Risk: Frontline Impacts of Trump’s War on Students,” highlighting warnings from 11 major national education and civil rights organizations on the impact of the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED), slashing support to millions of American students, primary and secondary school teachers, administrators, parents, and student loan borrowers.
On July 15, 2025, Senators Warren and Sanders, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging her to reverse the interest hike on student loan borrowers in the SAVE forbearance.
On July 14, 2025, Senator Warren joined a letter to the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, and Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, demanding that the Department of Education stop blocking nearly $7 billion in funds for K-12 schools, including for afterschool programs.
On July 3, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in submitting an amicus brief for NAACP v. US, arguing to the United States District Court District of Maryland that President Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education violate separation of powers and lack constitutional authority.
On June 10, 2025, Senator Warren met with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and delivered over 1,000 letters to McMahon that the senator had received from people in all 50 states who were worried about the Secretary’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
On June 9, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in pushing the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Education to open an investigation into new information obtained by her office, revealing that DOGE may have gained access to two FSA internal systems, in addition to sensitive borrower data.
On May 20, 2025, Senator Warren and 27 other senators pushed for full funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid.
On May 14, 2025, Senator Warren led a Senate forum entitled “Stealing the American Dream: How Trump and Republicans Are Raising Education Costs for Families,” highlighting the consequences of Secretary Linda McMahon’s reckless dismantling of the Department of Education and President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” for working- and middle-class students and borrowers.
On May 13, 2025, Senator Warren agreed to meet with Education Secretary Linda McMahon and promised to bring questions and stories from Americans across the country to highlight how the Trump administration’s attacks on education are hurting American families.
On May 6, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted the consequences of President Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon’s reckless dismantling of the Department of Education for American families in a Senate forum.
On April 24, 2025, Senator Warren launched a new investigation into the harms of President Trump’s attacks on the Department of Education, seeking information on the impact of the Trump administration’s actions from the members of twelve leading organizations representing schools, parents, teachers, students, borrowers, and researchers.
On April 10, 2025, following a request led by Senator Warren, the Department of Education’s Acting Inspector General agreed to open an investigation into the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.
On April 2, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Department of Government Efficiency’s proposed plan to replace the Department of Education’s federal student aid call centers with generative artificial intelligence chatbots.
On April 2, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren launched the Save Our Schools campaign to fight back against the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and highlight the consequences for every student and public school in America.
On March 27, 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to Acting Department of Education Inspector General René Rocque requesting they conduct an investigation of the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.
On March 20, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders led a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to slash the capacity of Federal Student Aid to handle student aid complaints.
On February 24, 2025, in a response to Senator Warren, Secretary McMahon gave her first public admission that she “wholeheartedly” agreed with Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education.
On February 11, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim sent Linda McMahon, Secretary-Designate for the U.S. Department of Education, a 12-page letter with 65 questions on McMahon's policy views in advance of her nomination hearing.

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The following sites updated: