The first steam-powered passenger rail trip was on 27th Sept 1825 (200th bday is nuanced - regular passenger steam slightly later). Here's transport carbon footprint today - Eurostar easily cleanest cos fully electrified. I hope the next 200 yrs has even more (electric) trains! With lower prices...

"Best friends forever"? Trump doesn't have friends. His relationships are strictly transactional. So the obvious question is - what were the nature of the transactions he so cherished Epstein for? What was it that the sex trafficer traded in that Trump made such an investment to receive?

Market-based Armageddon.

Trump and Epstein were friends? He served a purpose for Trump. What purpose? "Anybody that tells you they’re friends with Donald Trump is misjudging the relationship. He has no friends. You might interact with him, but he’s so transactional that you’re actually not his friend." - Anthony Scaramucci

Please note that Trump will NOT be seeking his usual retribution for this "disloyalty." The one free "no" vote was gifted to Collins to support her reelection bid next year. She is indebted now for that and eager to please.

Explain the Big Ugly budget bill to me like I’m five… Seriously, this demo is a must see—anyone can understand it. Share it with family and friends. #VoteNo

Exactly. Few know Collins’ MO better.

Two different portraits of diversity in the USA. First, Rama Duwaji, the lesser-known spouse of Zohran Mamdani. This newlywed Muslim couple is now the toast of NYC. They are the embodiment of progressive sensibilities in the emerging generation determined to live their values. 1/2

The cheerleading in the New York Times is absurd. Trump! Brilliant! Carefully calculated! 1/4

Orwellian spin - war is peace: "...a reactive approach in the Middle East can now be transformed into a proactive vision: one that curbs Iran’s malign ambitions and efforts, stabilizes Gaza and lays the foundation for a new Middle Eastern order built on security, integration and peaceful relations."

AOC: “It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

Theater of the absurd. The bogus gravitas of the supposed deep deliberation to come to some sort of thoughtful decision... Does anyone really buy that this thoughtless, feckless person and the crew of know-nothings around him are capable of such decision-making? thehill.com/homenews/adm...

The absurd chatter to pretend that there's any serious deliberation underway is unbearable.

#NoKings in Cape Town! A gathering of extraordinary, committed Americans ready to defend the constitution. The whole world is watching!!! #democratsabroad #notyrants #nokingsinamerica

My latest: "Fellow liberal democracies should not stand by idly while the country that was once the standard-bearer for their movement falls into tyranny. When is intervention appropriate, and how to go about it?"

I can’t speak for anyone else, but this analogy of “Lady Liberty’ held captive, is exactly how I feel about this presidency & administration and what their attempting to do with our rights and freedoms… The New Yorker captured the feelings perfectly… One word, UNACCEPTABLE!

Some cultural translation needed to understand the most shocking video shown in the Oval Office to catch the South African delegation off-guard. The sight of Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) comrade Julius Malema shouting "Kill the Boer!" seems a clear-cut case of inciting racial violence. BUT 1/3

Our trade deal so far is no tariffs on Rolls Royces and Bentleys and our refugee policy is white South Africans only.

Don't they know the formula for success in Trump 2.0? Bring RFK Jr and MTG on board, then launch a memecoin to give insiders a piece of the action.

Had another go at this - how does this "climate comedy" hold up amidst realities more absurd than satire?

Rubio publicly criticizing an ally for cracking down on right-wing extremism. And Germany hitting back. We are in a new world

@bestese34.bsky.social's extraordinary exchange over the doctored image - was it some confusion on Trump's part? Perhaps the finest scene in Star Trek TNG speaks to that. Patrick Stewart captures the significance of this moment (with plot twist) that transcends the confines of the series.

@mimiswartz.bsky.social gave this heads-up on Dan Patrick, Trump's newly appointed Defender of the Faith, in 2007. Get ready for the inquisition ahead!

@nytimes.com makes you wade pages deep before getting a clear statement of what's with the US surrender monkeys: "Ukraine is ready to negotiate — but not to surrender. There will be no agreement that hands Russia the stronger foundations it needs to regroup and return with greater violence.”

An extraordinary soul.

Meeting JD was too much to bear.

Any bets about a downturn in the tattoo business?

"There are some spectacles of US decadence and decline that almost seem too on the nose – the sort of orgies of vulgar provocation or fantastic lack of self-awareness that exceed the limits of parody, so that if they were in a novel, you’d think the writer was laying it on a little thick."

The next turn in the constitutional crisis is entirely predictable. The federal judge will charge Trump officials with criminal contempt. Then, Trump will pardon them. Whatever Trump's part in this, he's immune from prosecution, thanks to SCOTUS.

Congress has the power of the purse. Isn't it responsible for the millions of taxpayer dollars funding CECOT to hold those kidnapped? Trump's rent-a-tyrant scheme won't fly if the dictator isn't paid.

BIG crowd, no media there @Hands off #columbus #ohio #handsoff

The only likely consequence for Egregious Pete is a mild drubbing for not using Telegram instead of Signal so that the Russians could listen in.

Off on a 10-day silent retreat. No image/sound of The Orange One! A much needed break.

The budget shutdown is the D's last stand. Musk's Social Security sabotage figures into that. The systems to pay 73 million Americans will soon crumble and require serious effort to fix. That won't happen while the government is shut down. The D's will be blamed for it all, of course.

From WSJ. This is Hungary-level authoritarian stuff. Add big law to big media & big business. “Back-channel efforts to persuade major law firms to sign public statements criticizing Trump’s actions thus far have foundered, in part because of retaliation fears, people familiar with the matter said.”

"The plain fact is that each of you some time ago has crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic," says the judge. Even the reduced sentences are a fanatical defense of the consumer culture consuming us. History will be unkind to this - presuming there's a civilization left to judge.

What a wonderful idea…👇 Let’s. Do. This. ✨

Am I missing something? Peace through strength is not the same as weakness, capitulation and surrender.

@nytopinion.nytimes.com Farah Stockman's apparent misread of Thucydides is notable. The ancient Athenians invaded Melos much like the Russians invaded Ukraine. In her retelling, the Americans play the role of the Athenians. It only makes sense if they're just a proxy for the Russians.

From a small astronomy vendor that designs their own excellent telescopes that are manufactured overseas. Who pays the tariffs? Small family-owned businesses like this. There's a time-lag between orders and delivery. How would you like to have to come up with an extra $200k to cover this cost?

It’s Time to Hold States Responsible for the Climate Impact of War In Gaza, removing the debris and rebuilding the damaged infrastructure will release 53.4 m tons of GHGs - roughly 15 times what the Palestinian territories emit in a year www.yahoo.com/news/time-ho...

This is speculation? The @nytimes.com, as usual, is confused about the obvious. "The American alignment with Moscow has led many inside and outside Ukraine to speculate that Mr. Trump believes the quickest way to end the war is to force Kyiv to essentially surrender."

Tesla stockholders have gotten one thing lately from their CEO - adopting his same approach for accountability. Name 5 things Musk has done for Tesla this past week. Destroying the brand and the stock value, plus inspiring nationwide protests at dealerships - that's just three.

I found this script read calculated and uninspiring. The writing, too, was forgettable. If this is the best theyve got, then the D's just don't have what it takes.

Business-as-usual in America's new "golden" age.

I wonder how many D's who foolishly pitched up to the State of the Fascist Union address realize what a tragic mistake they've made? How many of those will have the humility to admit it?