To call it 'the most corrupt administration in US history' does not do it justice; that so understates the degree of corruption as to be almost false. They have in fact instituted a new regime in which officeholders treat the public's thing—the republic—as their personal property...like kings do.

My outing this evening was a preview of the upcoming PBS show about the American Revolution by Ken Burns, at the wonderful Al. Ringling Theater in downtown Baraboo, Wis. The organist is playing old standards as people arrive.

In which the editorial board of the Washington Post effectively endorses President Nixon's claim that "when the president does it, that means it is not illegal."

But also we’re terrified of the subway

i don't understand conservative toughness, which involves being scared shitless of everything but also talking about how tough you are

"no more superficial individual expression"

Perfect weather yesterday for the Preservation Racine Tour of Historic Places. I appreciate all the volunteers and visitors who supported it. Many hours went into planning the event at seven locations, with some additional obstacles this year, and so it is gratifying to see it all turn out well.

*banjo picking and sporadic musket fire* dearest martha, the horrors of war-torn portland cannot even be described

Today is the 200th anniversary of the first railway in the world to use steam to haul passengers and freight, a key formational moment in the industry where I worked.

I’m fine with the Rapture as long as the man from Mars does not eat my cars and guitars and head

Day 2 of my spouse's @kevinshirley53403.bsky.social account being hacked. The hacker’s M.O. seems to be to find low-activity accounts (like Kevin’s), take them over, transmit unwanted sexual content, and retransmit it with the other hacked accounts.

To the followers of @kevinshirley53403.bsky.social: His account has been hacked by "at-sign" plef.bsky. social (who, in turn, since yesterday is sending out messages with sexual content). We have reported this, but in the meantime, it would help if any of Kevin's followers also reported it.

Our founders overthrew a king and created a new government on the basic principle that everyday life goes better when people have the power to choose their leaders - not the other way around.

I enjoy looking at beautiful photos from the place where I was born.

What changed? Republicans love free speech until it’s something they don’t want to hear. This Administration is fully embracing government-imposed cancel culture to squash free speech.

Good morning from Racine, Wis., where our spider overlords are plotting their eventual takeover.

This @washingtonpost.com editorial doesn’t make it past the second paragraph without a glaring (and telling) factual error. President Washington didn’t create the War Department in 1789; *Congress* did: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...

SPOTTED: Mobile billboards driving around D.C. demanding federal agents take their masks off — because public servants should face the public. Go follow @ofthebraveusa.bsky.social!

Good. Keep buying & flying D.C. Flags! They are our symbol of both pride & protest! #FreeDC #DCStatehood www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

Ashli Babbitt died doing what she loved—being a domestic terrorist.

Big Brother is watching you. #MAGA

According to federal data, 13 of the top 20 cities in homicide rates have Republican governors. None of those cities are Chicago. 8 of the top 10 states in homicide rates are led by Republicans. None of those states are Illinois. And yet Trump is sending troops here.

It’s a gorgeous, late-summer day in Racine, Wis. Some clouds, some breeze, and not at all too hot. I walked along the Root River, from which the city gets its name. I think this small suspension bridge is the only one of its type around here. This heron was quite tolerant of my presence.

The shameless hypocrisy of right-wing Christianity: Both James Dobson and Franklin Graham condemned Bill Clinton for having an affair, claiming it was not a private matter. Neither man criticized Donald Trump for his affair(s). Said it was a private matter. And they both voted for him. Twice.

Having to pretend you can't hear guys screaming PUSSY BOY and COUCH FUCKER at you while trying to make a face like Harrison Ford.

Another lie from the White House. Since they put these federal agents out across neighborhoods I’ve heard from many restaurants that business is starkly down - customers & staff concerned about the harassment by agents they’re seeing on streets.

Late last night I mapped crime rates for cities in OH, SC and WV to show how often they exceeded the rate in DC — where those states’ governors are sending National Guard troops to “combat crime.” www.pbump.net/o/more-peopl...

An article from 2020 with great scenes from downtown Milwaukee, now 80 years ago today, Tuesday, August 14, 1945, showing crowds spontaneously celebrating the end of World War II. [I wasn't born yet, but I certainly heard about this later on...] eu.jsonline.com/picture-gall...

“Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.” —Hannah Arendt h/t Paul Krugman

Challenge: post your last photo taken in DC to show what a hell-hole it is:

Rick Scott is a giant, deceitful wuss. I lived in DC for 38 years, in the middle of the city, and the day I felt least safe was when the MAGA insurrectionists were in town.

I wonder what it's going to cost to fumigate and de-Liberace the White House when this tacky fool finally leaves.

"If we stop testing, covid numbers won't be so high!"

Sending my best to a true public servant and fellow Midwesterner, Governor Tony Evers, on his announced retirement. I saw up close his commitment to doing the right thing for Wisconsinites - and countless lives are better today because he stepped up to serve.

Went for a walk in Milwaukee on Friday, on a nice day. I liked this dinosaur and the neighboring golden gargoyles. In the left distance is the building with the famous Allen-Bradley clock tower.

RIP Connie Francis, whose big hit from mid-1959 was in our front room...

the only big beautiful bill there is

@frago.cartoons

This is more like it.

Happy Pride everyone. I wrote a column about gay rights pioneer Thom Higgins, who called Minnesota home for most of his (too short) life. I really want more people to know the story of this remarkable guy. Please read and share (gift link)!

I did not become a daily transit rider in Milwaukee until very late in the era of the colorful passes described in the article, but I remember them. My father's parents went to work every day on transit, and I know somewhere around here I have a cigar box with a couple of her old passes in it.

Oh, Biscuit Head*. It’s been far too long. *Greenville, SC, location.

Through my role, I have met Melissa, and the attack on her, her husband, and another lawmaker and his spouse is devastating.  Our thoughts are with their loved ones.  No one should ever fear for their lives because of their service to their community. Statement from the WI Legislative Leadership:

Everything that’s happened over the past six months has been a response to an imaginary crisis. There is no immigrant invasion. No trade crisis. No scientific or governance crisis. Just people completely high off their own supply trying to fundamentally reorder society. None of this had to happen.

Statistically “America” is its cities. But we’re stuck with an 18th century political architecture that gives votes to cornfields & thus makes it politically viable to treat them as some kind of weird tumor.

Someone drove the SS Pontiac into town tonight. (Town being Racine, Wis.)

You mean to tell me the guy who was in charge of cutting federal spending also got a ton of federal subsidies and contracts?!

In Clear Lake town (Iowa) is the Surf Ballroom, where Buddy Holly and the others played just before boarding their plane. It’s still an active music venue, with small museum. They let you walk all around during the day, even up on stage. The town itself is quite charming.

Just north of Clear Lake, Iowa, is where a plane crashed in February 1959, killing rock-and-roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, and their pilot, Roger Peterson. I stopped to visit last week. You park where the big specs are, and walk along a fence line to the crash site.

Good morning from Prairie du Chien, Wis.! It is the second-oldest town in the state.