My Thanksgiving weekend related hot take - Black Friday, just as a concept, is disgusting. We just spent the day being thankful for what we have and not 24 hours later we are greedy piggies trying to get more shit we don’t need. But I will grant that part of that is just the timing. /1

Several members of Congress that were also military vets released a video pointing out that military members take oaths to the constitution and not any one particular person, and as such it’s actually their duty to disobey an order if they think it’s unlawful. Guess how Trump took it. /1

Well, that’s exciting. The Epstein Transparency act passed in the house, 427 to 1. Apparently, both Johnson and Trump’s thought Thune would sit on it for a while and make some changes to the house would have to vote on it again at a later date. Nope. The ETA passed the Senate 100-0 today too.

A few hours ago Trump changed his mind and said the Republicans should vote to release the Epstein Files. Could be because his allies think they have scrubbed enough, but I think it’s more likely it’s just the files are going out Tuesday either way and this way it looks like he’s still in charge.

Plot Twist - So in one of the new release emails, Epstein implies that Trump actually gave someone referred to as “Bubba” a blowjob. Bubba is a common nickname for Bill Clinton, but allegedly Ms Maxwell also owned a horse by that name at the time. There’s a conundrum. Which way is funnier?

Just a reminder - A big step forward to end the shutdown happened last night. But I still don’t think it’s gonna happen anytime soon because anything the Senate passes has to also go through the House and at this point the House can’t officially meet without also releasing the Epstein files.

Well, it is Extra Life Game Day. The one day a year where I come out of my cave to try to raise some money for children’s hospitals. I will be trying to keep everyone up-to-date on games and events as they transpire. Game on, be cool. www.extra-life.org/participants...

As we start to talk about hurricane Melissa, I want to remind people of the old legend that hurricanes of female names average having higher death tolls because of unconscious sexism leading to people taking them less seriously than they should. It’s actually kind of true, but there’s a caveat. /1

>The Maine senatorial candidate has a skull and crossbow themed tattoo that is rumored to be Nazi adjacent. Drama ensues. “Oh come on, let’s at least hold off judging until we’ve actually seen the tattoo.” >Pics happen. It totally is a Totenkopf. “…Huh. Well, you are right. Carry on.”

Well, unless they make a deal a few major assistance programs run out of money at the end of the month including SNAP. Meanwhile, construction has started on the new Whitehouse ballroom nobody but T wanted. If this were happening in a novel I’d call the writer a hack.

www.extra-life.org/participant/... Thought I'd try to do something positive with social media for a change. I'll be tossing this page up once in a while. I'm doing a charity thing to raise money for children's hospitals. Basically a walkathon, but instead of walk a mile it's game for an hour. /1

In response to No Kings protests yesterday, Trump used the official White House social media to post an AI video of himself wearing a crown, flying a plane, and dropping poop on protesters. Basically he argued that they’re wrong by admitting they are right and just saying it with stank on it.

YR Chat Scandal Abridged - Everyone Else: “You just want to be bigots and kill people with no consequences.” YR, to Public: “No! We’re just Free Speech Absolutists!” YR, internally: “Yo, how did they figure out that we just want to be bigots and kill people with no consequences?” *Fascism Noises*

In today’s “things that are apparently hot takes, but I don’t even understand why” - I’m not saying I know for a fact that there is no God. I’m just saying that the hard evidence for it is not there; so basing our laws, our society, and our personalities on a God concept seems wildly irresponsible.

A lesser news story, a chat log of the leadership of the Young Republicans group got leaked. If you were wondering what’s in there, well - let me put it this way. There’s an argument in there over whether or not gas chambers truly meet the “Hitler Aesthetic”.

One thing that gives me a little bit of a giggle is the one big and important difference between Trump and any other fascist dictator throughout history. Fastest dictators, arguably all dictators but especially fascist ones, always present an aura of vitality and strength. /1

Well, he didn’t win the peace prize. Turns out his bold peace promotion strategy of “intentionally escalate the conflict for his own gain and then demand credit for promoting peace when he just stops escalating things” didn’t impress the committee.

Today is the last day of government funding and yesterday Trump told the generals that they will be used against “the enemy within”. That feeling when you know your government wants to do a full concentration-camp-style genocide and go hot with a civil war, but can’t because it’s too broke.

Let me repeat saying that I absolutely agree that in a healthy society things like what happened to Charlie Kirk don’t happen. That said, something that came up for no reason…

Update - So, the Kimmel/Kirk situation? so many people went to the Disney subscription cancellation page that it crashed the site, so Disney offered a compromise where they’ll let him back on the air if he apologizes for his remarks and pays the Kirk family some money. Did we just win?

Spot of good news - the push to turn Charlie Kirk into a martyr? It’s not working. A poll that was scheduled to be conducted right after when the shooting took place anyway found that the percentage of people that think the country is headed in the right direction has basically been cut in half. /1

Kash Patel just testified that they can’t find any evidence at Epstein trafficked any underaged girls to other people. It would be equivalent to busting Escobar with several million dollars worth of cocaine but insisting that it’s all for personal use. That’s what Kash is trying to do for Trump.

Worth mentioning that just today the Trump DoJ deleted one of their own studies that found yet again that the hard right does almost all of the political violence in the US. So much of it that even when they try to fudge the numbers it fails and they still come out the #1 threat.

Jamie Lee Curtis sobbed all the way through video about the Charlie Kirk shooting. Jamie, do you realize just how many times he’s called for your or your daughter‘s death? Because I don’t, it’s so many times that I’ve literally lost count. Stop gaslighting everyone.

On the Charlie Kirk show today, the VP went on and promised a broad crack down on political violence from liberal/leftwing groups. In a healthy society political violence doesn’t happen, but the part he’s leaving out is that the right is responsible for *orders of magnitude* more violence.

Update - The Kirk shooter had an antifa message written on one of the bullet casings, but that might’ve just been a video game reference. It looks like it’s entirely possible that it. The guy wasn’t against fascism so much as just a Nick Fuentes fan. Nick Fuentes is another right wing influencer /1

Update - They think they have the Kirk shooter in custody. They have a guy who apparently told his dad that he did it, unconfined otherwise. If this is the guy - white rightwing conservative Republican, but didn’t like the outright fascist direction his party is currently going.

Update - rightwing sources claim they have found the gun, and I found ammo near the gun that had carved pro-antifa and pro-trans slogans carved into them. Most prominently LCO10+, which they claim means “let’s change our penises into vaginas, children too”. But… /1

I know we as a culture have a habit of trying to accentuate the positive things about famous people when they die, especially if they die in a way that was arguably unexpected. So some of this is just reflex. I get that. Charlie Kirk literally made a career out of being a Nazi troll, cut it out.

Sure, I’ll say that in general settling politics with violence is bad. But Charlie Kirk is on record saying the only thing the Nazis did wrong is lose the war so can’t say I’m going to lose any sleep. Also, because he tried to kill me. Arguably only technically, but enough that it counts.

The Trump Whitehouse has ceased doing monthly job reports because Trump keeps not liking the numbers. An independent organization has determined that in August the US gain about 22,000 jobs. Which given that on average 80,000 people age into the job market every month - that’s really bad.

Trump DoD blew up a Venezuelan boat, killing all 11 people on board. Supposedly all cartel members. I do not approve doing that without a trial, but it’s been noted that the government of Venezuela is pretty quiet actually. Like weirdly so considering the US government just murdered their citizens.

DOJ is looking into excuses to keep trans people from owning guns, claiming they’re more prone to gun violence. Gentle Reminder- Trans and NB people are responsible for about 0.1% of mass shootings, while being about 0.5% of the population. They’re actually *less* likely to commit a mass shooting.

After today’s testimony, let’s be real here - who is actually shocked that the Republicans are actually OK with pedophilia as long as it’s their guys doing it? Nobody?

The P2025 people want there to be a “Manhattan Project” scale research priority on getting straight marriages to have more kids. You realize it’s your fault people aren’t having more kids, you and the politics of people like you - right Heritage - right?

DNC are admitting that they’re scared that if very popular Zohran wins NYC the Republicans will paint all Dems as left leaning socialists. You could reanimate Ronald Reagan and they’ll label him a left-leaning socialist. If you’re going to do the time either way, you might as well do the crime.

Happy Labor Day Everybody. Apparently a study found that if you compare two jobs that are identical save that one is unionized and the other isn’t, pay is on average 13% higher at the union job. So unless your fees add up to over 13% of your salary you’re probably coming out ahead with a union.

Update - Aside from the brief appearance at a DC golf course, the Trump blackout continues. As of today JD Vance and the kids haven’t posted for two days either, and Melania may have been just spotted at Walter Reed. I still don’t believe he’s dead, but something fucky is definitely going on.

Trump has not been seen public or press event since Tuesday, has canceled all plans such events, and is not played a round of golf in about three weeks. There is a rumor of him walking into a DC golf course this morning, but that’s it. Dead? No, but something health related is definitely happening.

There’s an upcoming movie called Bugonia. The premise is to conspiracy nuts kidnap a CEO convinced that she’s an alien trying to destroy the planet. The gag is that she’s so fake corp enlightened and her company is so destructive that whether or not she is what they think she is purely academic.

RFKJ says he’s investigating whether or not trans healthcare causes school shootings. Mass shooters, last 10 years: ~3,900 Trans or NB: 4, and one is probably lying. School shooters, last 30 years: ~1,450 Trans or NB: 2 Obvious conclusion: No. If anything it’s preventing mass/school shootings.

Just saw someone trying to argue that Taylor Swift is turning conservative because her and Kelse are now officially engaged. I know the saying is yet to respect other people’s opinions. No, you don’t. You do have to respect other people‘s ability to form their own opinions. /1

Trey Gowdy is in trouble with the other MAGAts because he went on Fox News and admitted that the vast majority of mass shooters are young white men and we may have to tighten gun laws if we would prevent school shootings like what happened in Minnesota. Yeah, I’d be shocked too. /1

There’s a growing list of countries that will just not give our mail if it has a US address. Mostly because when Trump‘s wrote the new tariff rules he forgot about for standard post office stuff, and the Trump PO instinct when they find out to force the other guy to pay the fees and tariffs. /1

I’m gonna let you know in a little secret. Personally, I’m not too worried about Trump running in 2028. Not because I think he’ll grow a conscience or suddenly respect the constitution, but because I just don’t think he’s gonna live that long. /1

So Gavin has set up a “Patriot” store that’s literally going Blue MAGA style merch and bibles to troll Trump and the original MAGA. Even has a few things marked as “Make America Gavin Again”. Can’t say I’m a fan of literally going BlueMAGA, and I have long held a theory that - /1

Houston - A homeowner says that two men in ski masks and vests marked as police said they were police officers that were working with ICE and they needed to be let inside his house. Homeowner told them to either A.) Take their masks off, show badges and ID, and show a warrant /1

In slightly better news, amusing development with the Texas gerrymandering. Most of the Texas GOP thinks they just gave Trump five more seats in Congress in 2026. However, some of them have realized there might be a big flaw on their plan. /1

DOJ did release some Epstein files to congress today, claiming it’s everything important and only took this long because they wanted to redact victim names. Which is bullshit, the release today works out to be about 1% of all the material they have and 97% of it is stuff we’ve seen before.

So the FBI right at John Bolton‘s house for missing security documents. I mean, sure, the guy grows a new mustache hair every war crime he’s responsible for - but if you’re missing classified security documents you should check Mar-a-Lago.