krankydoodle

Trump Order Threatens University Libraries, Museums I work at a public library and we've already gotten word that this may impact our interlibrary loan service.

Have you looked at any non-US news sources lately--I mean any that aren't part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire? Just a cursory look at sites like the BBC, CBC, or Germany's DW would show you how many of our traditional allies have turned against us. And I truly don't know what to say about the claim that the failure of Trump's tariffs would be everyone else's fault but his.

Stirring speech by Claude Malhuret, a member of the French Senate, who says, "Washington has become the court of Nero: an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers, and a buffoon on Ketamine tasked with purging the civil service." He describes our current dire situation with painful clarity, but also sees signs of hope.

That's the moment that right wing spaces seems to have latched onto. It was the main story on Fox News when I checked this morning, and there are also featured articles about the other people he mentioned in his address with complaints about the way Democrats responded. I know I shouldn't be surprised but I can't believe they're still able to rile people up and make the focus individual cases when Trump is destroying institutions, relationships with allies, the economy, regulations, etc. I've wanted to read more about propaganda tactics because it's kind of fascinating, but fanfiction is really the only thing I'm able to read right now.

This motherf*ucker, sorry I mean couchf*cker: Anger over Vance 'random country' peacekeeping remark

JD Vance is also on vacation: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/jd-vance-vermont/3645316/ These a**holes created a mess and then immediately fled to ski/golf/revel in all the chaos they caused. While the article mentions protests being planned, there's also this: It feels like we're on a rapidly sinking ship and some people are still blissfully unaware of it. Or maybe they're fine with it as long as they can see people they dislike drown first.

Like the leader that he is, following the shitshow yesterday that shocked and horrified people around the world, Trump's gone to Florida again where I'm sure he'll somehow manage to carve out time to golf in addition to working feverishly on preventing another world war. This will be his fifth visit to Florida since he took office. What a disgrace.

I saw that article yesterday (Washington Post gift link: She hoped Trump’s victory would change her life, but not like this). I've been reading the increasing number of posts in the leopards ate my face subreddit with a bit of grim satisfaction, but this story hit different--maybe because I'm also from Michigan or because some of the details are just so tragic: one of the poorest areas of the state being so pro-Trump, her family crowing about the federal job cuts, that she was sexually assaulted but held her nose and voted for him anyway because she was so desperate for the possibility of free IVF, etc. I don't know that I feel sorry for her, but I at least give her credit for agreeing to the article since she must be getting it from both sides now.

I've asked before but if you aren't getting news from 'the media,' then where are you getting it from? On that subject, though: Newsmax and Fox News quietly back AP over White House ban — after celebrating it on air

I can't remember the last time I came across the word parvenu, but I love this description, it's so apt. Anyway, more accidental firings, this time from the USDA: USDA says it accidentally fired officials working on bird flu and is trying to rehire them Gee, you think? Then do something about it!

This is how much care is being taken in the rush to cut supposedly wasteful spending: Trump administration wants to un-fire nuclear safety workers but can’t figure out how to reach them

I just watched Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and have mixed feelings. I didn't read the book so don't know how accurate an adaptation this is, but I kind of like that Bridget is still a bit of a mess and found the emotional scenes moving. A lot of the situations seemed painfully contrived, though: the cashier reading out the types of condoms she was buying, Roxster jumping in the pool to save a dog that was clearly in no danger, etc. I guess that's to be expected in a romcom, but they didn't work for me here. But I'll admit I've probably become grumpier about this kind of thing as I've gotten older (and oof, did this movie make me feel old). I liked Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor, but their relationships didn't get much development. Hugh Grant's Daniel was fun, though, and I love that they brought back so many of the actors from previous installments and that the callbacks didn't feel shoehorned in. And between the scene in the snow and at the party, I thought it ended on a high note.

I was looking this up because--speaking of wasteful spending--I was interested to see if there were any articles discussing the cost of making this change in terms of having to update official documents, maps, etc. and found this from NPR in 2012: Call It 'Gulf Of America,' Not Gulf Of Mexico, Lawmaker Says In Bit Of Satire We really have become a joke. But I agree with others that ridiculous moves like this are potentially a distraction. It just makes it harder to track all the awfulness happening.

Has anyone watched the interview today with Trump in the Oval Office? He's sitting behind the desk and Musk is standing right next to him, along with his young son for some reason, and it's bizarre. I only saw the segment with Musk carrying on about how unelected officials have been given too much power. The irony, it burns.

Trump's Gaza proposal frustrates his new Arab American supporters (Washington Post gift link) I asked another poster here about where they got their news from because there have been times when I've read comments that makes it feel like we're living in different realities. The people in this article, though, are fully aware of Trump's recent statements and some are still contorting themselves to give him the benefit of the doubt and justify their vote. It's discouraging to say the least.