Another in a (generally ) weekly series of posts with interesting reading / viewing material (note: some linked articles contain adult language).
We’re all a bit overwhelmed by the steady flow of dread in the news — it’s my contention that there are just a handful of key stories in the news each week, but we’re flooded by a million “hot takes” on those few things. So I’m organizing these posts along the lines of (no more than) 5 things a week. Look over the things’ titles, see which of them are of interest, read into them as far as you want to go — an easy way to implement a media diet!
Thing 1 — Trump goes to China
So Trump went to China to talk about Iran, AI, and Taiwan. He came back without any agreements, but did manage to make the U.S. look smaller on the world stage. China’s Xi referred to the Thucydides trap of the two countries’ trajectories; Trump took a while to respond since, of course, Thucydides is a big word and his folks had to look it up for him. Even then, he drew the wrong message from it.
Trump leaves China without breakthroughs on Iran, Taiwan or AI
Xi Told The Truth About America. The President Heard A Thank You Note.
Why Desperate Trump Can’t Spin This Failure: Biographer
They Were Playing Different Games
(Dobbs) “That’s Not A Good Look For Us.”
Thing 2 — Iranflation
Things still aren’t going well with Iran, and it’s driving inflation in the U.S. via fuel prices. Trump, naturally, blames Obama and Biden.
Trump didn’t expect Fox News to bring the receipts on his broken Iran war promises
Trump Has Officially Lost The War In Iran And The Great Energy Collapse Of 2026 Is Coming.
This War’s Lies Are Different—And More Dangerous
THE BOY WHO CRIED HORMUZ: The Complete Clusterfuck of Trump’s Iran Timeline
Biden And Obama Push Inflation To Highest Rate Since May 2023, Those Monsters
The Iran war is hitting home as gasoline prices fuel inflation surge of 3.8% in the US
US inflation jumped to 3.8% in April as war with Iran continues to drive up prices
My President Went to China, and All I Got Was Even More Expensive Gasoline
Thing 3 — Open corruption
The regime isn’t even trying to hide their cons anymore. The latest is a $1.8 Billion slush fund for those that took part in the January 6 pseudo-coup attempt. Oh, and it includes legal language blocking the feds from pursuing any tax / fraud cases against any of the Trumps!
Trump’s Golden Age Has Arrived—It’s a Golden Age of Grift
The January 6 Cashback Program: Loyalty Points for Insurrection
Trump’s justice department scrubs its website of news releases about January 6 defendants
US justice department ‘forever’ bars IRS from auditing Trump’s past tax returns
It’s Not Just Separate Money Grabs. It’s A Whole Profit Machine.
Officers who defended Capitol from rioters sue to block payouts from $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
(Dobbs) The Banana Republic Is Alive And Well
A shameless grift: Trump cashed in after his administration boosted a company he was betting on
UPDATED: Trump & Cronies’ Top 10 Corruption Scandals
Trump’s Corruption: By the Numbers
(Dobbs) More corruption. Out in the open. No oversight. It never stops.
Thing 4 — Tina Peters
Gov. Polis commutes the sentence of Colorado’s own election denier / voting machine hacker. CO Dems censure him, but he doesn’t appear to care.
Gov. Jared Polis reduces Tina Peters’ sentence, says she will be released June 1 (Denver Post)
Colorado governor commutes sentence of election denier Tina Peters (The Guardian)<
Colorado governor grants election denier Tina Peters clemency, reduces sentence (Democracy Docket)
Polis shortens Tina Peters’ prison sentence, orders her paroled on June 1 (CPR)
Colorado Democrats officially censure Gov. Jared Polis for Tina Peters clemency (Denver Post)
Colorado Democrats censure Gov. Jared Polis over Tina Peters commutation (CPR)
Gov. Jared Polis faces political pile-on after freeing Tina Peters
Jared Polis says his Tina Peters decision “will be remembered fondly,” despite growing outrage
Granting Tina Peters Clemency Is a Big Mistake
What The Actual F*ck Is Wrong With Colorado Dem Gov Jared Polis?
“This will be Polis’ legacy and may it haunt him forever”
Littwin: In reducing Tina Peters’ sentence, Jared Polis taught us where arrogance leads
Thing 5 — DNC’s 2024 ‘Autopsy’
After months of foot-dragging, the DNC finally released its autopsy of their failed 2024 election efforts — and it’s… certainly a mess. Filled with missing material, misspellings, and other editorial flaws — while simultaneously lacking any meat w.r.t. substantive issues. Biden’s age-related issues? Unmentioned. Gaza? Same. The lack of a convention? Ditto. The DNC chair may not / likely should not survive this.
The Least Curious People in America
The DNC Autopsy Says the Quiet Part Out Loud
The DNC’s “autopsy report” is even worse than you think
Democratic chair faces calls to quit over ‘shambles’ of election autopsy release