Hackwhackers

QOTD -- R.I.P. CBS News

2026-03-21T12:00:00.020-04:00

"It's worth remembering that whenever a MAGA figure enters an institution as a "leader," that institution is soon destroyed, with the MAGA figure thereafter blaming everyone else for what happened and launching a round of mass layoffs.

"Sometime in the future, the MAGA figure will be paid off to go away, even as they leave the institution they poisoned utterly destroyed forever.

"Once you start looking for this phenomenon you can't stop seeing it, and it's exactly what's happening at CBS News today.

"MAGA is a death cult. That means it doesn't build anything or innovate or foster any community or develop ethoi that inform or inspire... it has only one setting, and that setting is war. Tear everything down, attack everyone, delegitimize everything, defile everywhere. The idea that Bari Weiss has any vision whatsoever that relates to the news or anything else is simply laughable. She is a self-aggrandizing, clueless chaos agent who will throw all the toys out of the crib until she skulks away.

"The only thing any professional operating in good faith can do in the face of something like this is get as far away from it as possible as quickly as possible so that you don't get any of the moral and spiritual stink of MAGAism on you.

"The moment CBS News hired Weiss, it was gone." -- journalist and attorney Seth Abramson, on Threads, on the Bari-al of CBS News. Next up for MAGA is CNN -- like CBS, owned by the fascist oligarch Ellisons. More "moral and spiritual stink" to come.

BONUS: Industry professionals are speaking out.

What's That Musk-y Smell? X Fraud

2026-03-21T10:00:00.007-04:00

South Afrikaner fascist and crashing car maker Elon Musk had his day in court, and lost. From CNBC:

"A jury in California found that Elon Musk defrauded Twitter shareholders during the runup to his $44 billion acquisition of the social media company, according to a verdict issued on Friday.
Total damages could reach up to $2.6 billion, attorneys for the plaintiffs said.
The class action lawsuit, Pampena v. Musk, was originally filed in October 2022, after Musk completed his purchase of Twitter for $54.20 per share. He later renamed the company X, before merging it with his artificial intelligence company xAI, and then with SpaceX, his reusable rocket manufacturer.
'This is a great example of what you cannot do to the average investor -- people that have 401ks, kids, pension funds, teachers, firemen, nurses,' Joseph Cotchett, an attorney for the Twitter investors, told CNBC at the San Francisco courthouse. 'That’s what this case was all about. This was not about Musk. It was about the whole operation.'” (our emphasis)

Musk was accused of manipulating the sale price of Twitter through statements made by him that suggested the actual number of Twitter users was lower due to bots and fake accounts, making the social media site less valuable. Musk's lawyers announced that they would pursue an appeal, since the evil mogul has money to throw away and his egomania won't take this defeat as the final word. If the verdict stands, the damages would represent a tiny fraction of the ketamine-gobbling Musk, but would stand as a rebuke for his greed and deceit.

The Los Angeles Aqueduct

2026-03-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Los Angeles Aqueduct is a brilliant feat of civil engineering. But beyond its critical importance to the growth and sustainability of Los Angeles, this impressive human achievement came with a lot of downside. The brilliant engineering as well as the sometimes shady history of the aqueduct is covered in this interesting video by Practical Engineering.

Today's Cartoons

2026-03-20T19:30:00.002-04:00

(click on images to enlarge)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Ella Baron, The Guardian, UK)

(Rick McKee, caglecartoons.com)

(Pedro Molina, Tribune Content Agency)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Peter Brookes, The Times, UK)

(Patrick Chappatte, NZ am Sonntag, Switzerland)

(Christian Adams, The Telegraph, UK)

(Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News)

(John Darkow, Columbia Missourian)

(Joel Pett, Tribune Content Agency)

(David Sipress, @dsipress)

Cover Of The Week

2026-03-20T17:30:00.000-04:00

The latest cover of The Economist (UK):

See also: Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury, Operation Epic Folly, etc.

Poll: Trump "Arrogant, Dishonest, Reckless"

2026-03-20T15:30:00.000-04:00

A poll by The Economist / YouGov indicates that Americans associate the delusional and corrupt Malignant Fascist with some negative characteristics. Here are just the top seven, with their percentages ("a lot"): arrogant (65), opportunistic (57), reckless (56), dishonest (54), corrupt (54), hypocritical (53), and divisive (51). There are also smaller percentages that think he's "a little" of each descriptor, putting his numbers decisively under water.

The poll shows that the MF's numbers in such categories as ineffective, corrupt, and dishonest have risen in the past year. No surprise there either. The Dems need to tie these findings to MF cult candidates for Congress in the mid-terms, or they're guilty of political malpractice.

Skeets Of The Day

2026-03-20T13:30:00.000-04:00

The Epstein-Trump files coverup / Bondi's bogus "hearing" --

Congressman Robert Garcia speaks on Pam Bondi and her refusal to answer questions under oath about the #Epstein coverup.

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— ▪️Jules▪️ (@northjules.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 9:48 PM

Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury / fires in the hole / campaign advice / affordability advice --

It might have been a mistake to put the dumbest motherfucker alive in charge of the most powerful government on earth.

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— Max Berger (@maxberger.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 9:58 AM

is everyone tired of winning yet?

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— Attention Whore of Babylon ✝️ (@rape.fan) March 19, 2026 at 8:33 PM

Campaigns cherish a dramatic graph. www.gasbuddy.com/charts

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— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 11:37 AM

I hope Dems are collecting all the GOP “let them eat cake” clips for midterm attack ads

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— Dr. SkySkull (@drskyskull.bsky.social) March 20, 2026 at 8:34 AM

Most. Corrupt. Regime. Ever. --

Unbelievably corrupt. Companies reportedly had to bribe Corey Lewandowski—the DHS “special employee,” de facto chief of staff, and guy having an extramarital affair with then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—to win contracts. On its own would be the most corrupt thing in many presidential administrations.

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— Nicholas Grossman (@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM

What could go wrong?

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— Angry (@angrystaffer.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 5:14 PM

Bari Weiss' CBS "News" makes room for MAGAt propagandists --

CBS News employees received the following message from Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski informing them that massive layoffs are taking place.

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— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social) March 20, 2026 at 9:20 AM

"Dimmest of all men"? Hold America's beer --

There are black holes a million light years away that shine more brightly in the night sky than this dimmest of all men.

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— Otto English (@ottoenglish.bsky.social) March 20, 2026 at 8:25 AM

“It would be a thorny situation even for the wisest statesmen in world history. Alas, all we have is an elderly idiot whose primary method of diplomacy is posting barely literate screeds on his personal social media site. Folks, it isn’t looking good.” - @ryanlcooper.com on Trump’s quagmire.

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— Murshed Zaheed (@murshedz.bsky.social) March 20, 2026 at 7:13 AM

Welcome, Spring (and Happy Friday!) --

Welcome spring. #Photography #nature #EastCoastKin #flowers #bloomscrolling #spring #scape #PhotographersOfBlueSky

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— Dorota (@dorotapawlak.bsky.social) March 20, 2026 at 8:20 AM

Weekend Spring Music

2026-03-20T12:00:00.001-04:00

One of the first classical music recordings we owned in our youth was Franz Schubert's Symphony #8 in B Minor (the "Unfinished Symphony"), as performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Fritz Reiner at Chicago's Orchestra Hall on March 26, 1960. The lyrical tone and pastoral melodies (and that the album cover!) have evoked the beginning of Spring to us ever since, which is why it's become a Hackwhackers tradition to offer it at this time of year when the daffodils, forsythia and cherry blossoms are emerging. Take 24 minutes off and enjoy some of the most beautiful music ever created.

Russian Oil Tankers On Way To Cuba

2026-03-20T10:00:00.001-04:00

CNBC is reporting that two tankers carrying Russian oil are headed to the beleaguered island of Cuba, which has been under an embargo by the mentally disturbed Malignant Fascist ever since the capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. Despite their suspiciously warm relationship, Russian thug and war criminal Vladimir Putin is defying the MF's threat not to supply Cuba with the oil and gas it needs. From the report:

"The U.S. Treasury Department has said Cuba won’t be allowed to take delivery of Russian crude, even as the fuel-starved island appears poised to receive two tankers carrying oil and gas.
In a general license published Thursday, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Cuba to a list of countries that would be blocked from transactions involving the sale, delivery or offloading of crude or petroleum products that originate from Russia.
The U.S. had temporarily authorized the purchase of Russian oil stranded at sea last week, as part of an effort to stabilize energy markets during the U.S. and Israeli-led war on Iran. The short-term measure suspended sanctions that were first imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The update comes as maritime intelligence providers have been tracking two tankers carrying Russian oil and gas heading toward Cuba. [snip]

Russia, which has been allied to Cuba for decades, has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s fuel blockade and pledged to provide the country with 'necessary support, including financial aid.'” (our emphasis)

Just days ago, the delusional and corrupt MF declared that it would be his "honor" to acquire Cuba, as his thirst for regime change at the risk of war continues. We're certain that, despite their desperation, Cubans would never agree to their colonization by the MF.

(photo: Anatoly Kolodkin tanker ship/ Marinetraffic, Marjan Stropnik (c) )

Bombs Away!

2026-03-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Last night, Jimmy Kimmel offered his takes on the Malignant Fascist's meeting with far-right Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (who sucked up to her "best buddy" MF with compliments and praise -- remember her, Democrats), the Israeli attack on the gas fields in Iran which the MF claimed he knew nothing about beforehand, the MF's vampire trying to explain/ justify Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury, another twist to the Epstein-Trump files coverup, the Comer-Bondi hearing charade, and a new TSA self-check option.

Today's Cartoons

2026-03-19T16:00:00.004-04:00

(click on images to enlarge)

(Jimmy Margulies, King Features)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(David Rowe, Financial Review, Australia)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News)

(Marian Kamensky, caglecartoons.com, Austria)

(Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC)

(Matt Wuerker, Politico; context here)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Ed Wexler, caglecartoons.com)

(Steve Sack, stevesack.substack.com)

(Paul Duginski, caglecartoons.com)

(Enrico Pinto, The New Yorker)

Skeets Of The Day

2026-03-19T14:00:00.014-04:00

Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury: the f*ck up continues --

AP follows the @notus.com report on how the Trump administration had already gutted the State Dept’s staff of Middle East policy experts — and “eliminated the dedicated Iran office ..” @apnews.com apnews.com/article/iran...

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 6:16 AM

Thanks to the Iran war, Moscow’s premier oil trader is back in business.

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— The Wall Street Journal (@wsj.com) March 19, 2026 at 8:02 AM

Trump does not think strategically, historically, geographically, or even rationally. He does not connect actions he takes on one day to events that occur weeks later. Allied leaders know that if they help him in the Gulf, he won't be grateful, or even remember www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

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— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 12:43 AM

The reckless campaign against Iran will weaken America’s president. That will make him angry. Be warned: he makes a very bad loser. econ.st/4lA7lEQ

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— Jon Cooper (@joncooper-us.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 9:23 AM

Now that Tulsi Gabbard has refused to say whether Iran posed an "imminent threat," Joe Kent's resignation suddenly looks more significant. Remember, he declared in his letter that Iran did not pose one. Kent is a vile extremist, but his letter matters. Me on this: newrepublic.com/article/2078...

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— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 7:28 AM

Today in "Whiskey Pete" Hegseth news: pray to Jebus, thank you Trump, and lies --

Hegseth: "May almighty God continue to bless our troops in this fight. To the American people, please pray for them every day on bended knee with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 19, 2026 at 8:18 AM

Hegseth: The world, the Middle East, our ungrateful allies in Europe, even segments of our own press should be saying one thing to President Trump: Thank you.

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— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 8:18 AM

The 0% military capabilities that Hegseth said last week that Iran had left is causing havoc with the global economy.

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— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 6:16 AM

Markwaynesworld Mullin's nomination advances. Big turd sandwich to John Fetterman --

The Senate Homeland Security Committee just voted to advance Markwayne Mullin's nomination to be Trump's DHS Secretary, 8-7. Rand Paul voted no. John Fetterman voted yes.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 9:55 AM

The crude, ignorant MF embarrasses another major ally --

WATCH: Trump Jokes About Pearl Harbor With Japanese PM Sitting Right Next To Him

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— HuffPost (@huffpost.com) March 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM

Billionaire spends lavishly to avoid paying more taxes. The Epstein class in full view --

If you can spend millions to try to keep from paying more taxes, you can afford to pay more taxes.

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— Khashoggi's Ghost (@urocklive1.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 6:03 AM

Meanwhile, how's the Malignant Fascist's "Golden Age" going? --

Gonna be another fun day for those of us living off investments.

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— Helen Kennedy (@helenkennedy.com) March 19, 2026 at 9:15 AM

WELP fortune.com/2026/03/18/h...

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— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 11:40 PM

The Onion's man on the street reacts to labor strike --

3,800 Workers Strike At Massive Meatpacking Plant https://theonion.com/3800-workers-strike-at-massive-meatpacking-plant/

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— The Onion (@theonion.com) March 18, 2026 at 2:30 PM

Dementia Don's Further Descent Into Madness, Cont. -- "Massively Blow Up"

2026-03-19T12:00:00.004-04:00

He's basically a cornered rat at this point, blustering about a situation he created that's spiraling out of his control more and more every day, and issuing escalating, apocalyptic threats:

Throwing his partner in war crimes Netanyahu under the bus to protect his plutocratic petro-partners in Qatar, then threatening to "massively blow up" more of Iran's gas fields, all in a dimwitted 11-year-old's language and with a toddler's impulse control. We've never had a president in our 250-year history that even remotely approached this delusional imbecile's unfitness for the office.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, America.

The Cost Of Trump's Iran War

2026-03-19T10:00:00.007-04:00

We're into our third week of the undeclared war of choice with Iran and the "meter" is running at a staggering clip. It's estimated that just in the war's first six days we have burned through $12.7 billion, as estimated by the Center for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS). From The Guardian:

"A week after American and Israeli forces began their assault on Iran, and its repressive leadership, Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that the cost of the war had already exceeded $11.3bn in its first six days.
But that figure is only part of the story: sources familiar with the content of the briefing told the Guardian the estimate appeared largely limited to munitions expenditures and not the full cost of the opening days of the conflict, which could include forces deployed to the region, medical expenses, and the replacement of military aircraft lost in combat.
By day six, CSIS put the cumulative cost at $12.7bn. Today, it is likely to have exceeded $18bn – and the meter is still running." (our emphasis)

The CSIS estimate breaks down the figure as $5.5 billion for strike / offensive munitions, $5.7 billion for air defense munitions, $1.4 billion for infrastructure and combat losses, and $27 million for operations and support. (It's worth noting that Israel has been heavily bombing Iran for the same period, and will likely come to us for a replenishment of munitions, further straining production on these weapons). In yesterday's Bezos Bugle (paywall, no link), it was reported that the Pentagon would be asking for $200 billion to support the Malignant Fascist's war in Iran, setting up a major fight as the MF's regime has cut billions in funding for hundreds of programs for healthcare, veterans, education and more.

(photo: Cadet Bone Spurs, military genius)

Today's Snapshot Of Trump's "Golden Age"

2026-03-19T08:00:00.035-04:00

News Item 1:

Wholesale prices rose sharply in February, providing another sign that inflation continues to percolate even aside from rising energy costs.
The producer price index, a measure of pipeline costs that producers receive for their products, increased a seasonally adjusted 0.7% on the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, the so-called core PPI increased 0.5%.
Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for increases of 0.3% for both measures.
For the all-items index, prices rose faster than the 0.5% pace in January. However, the core increase was less than the 0.8% for the prior month.
On a 12-month basis, headline PPI inflation was at 3.4%, the most since February 2025, while core was at 3.9%, according to the BLS. The Federal Reserve targets inflation at 2%... (our emphasis)

News Item 2:

Oil and gas prices rose sharply on Thursday as strikes on key energy infrastructure in the Middle East exacerbated fears of a global supply crunch.
Qatar said Wednesday that Iranian missile strikes had damaged a key liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility. The action followed Tehran’s warning about attacking energy facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of a natural gas processing facility in Iran.
International benchmark Brent crude futures with May delivery rose nearly 7% to $114.66 per barrel, paring gains after briefly climbing above $119 earlier in the session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures, however, slipped 0.3% to $96.17.
Gas prices also moved sharply higher. The front-month gas price at the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) hub, a European benchmark for natural gas trading, traded up over 16% at 63.42 euros ($72.75) per megawatt-hour.
U.S. natural gas prices were last seen 2.8% higher, trading at $3.15 per million British thermal units. Front-month Nymex RBOB gasoline for April delivery, meanwhile, rose 2.6% to $3.18, reaching a near four-year high... (our emphasis)

News Item 3:

The numbers are striking: 80 percent of ACA marketplace enrollees say their health care costs are now higher since enhanced premium tax credits expired. More than half — 55 percent — have cut spending on food or other basic household expenses just to keep their coverage. And roughly 1 in 10 have dropped their marketplace plan altogether and are now uninsured, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey of marketplace enrollees released Thursday.

The findings arrive as health care costs have emerged as a defining issue heading into the midterm elections — one that Democrats are betting will drive voters to the polls.

For Cyndi Freeman, a freelancer in Brooklyn, the expiration reshaped the family budget overnight. Her household’s monthly premium jumped from $461 to $801.

“At this point, budgeting for the future feels uncertain,” Freeman said. “We’re focused on getting through month to month.” [snip]
The picture is similarly grim for Ellen Allen, an affordable health care nonprofit director in West Virginia, whose monthly premium has climbed to $2,000 — a roughly 300 percent increase she described in visceral terms.

“Psychologically, you know, that has an impact,” Allen said. “That’s like, gosh, a third of my take-home pay.”
Allen has pared back spending on travel and home renovations, and says she is counting the months until she turns 65 and qualifies for Medicare. “I never thought I’d look so forward to turning 65,” she said.

For Kai Samuelson, a small business owner in Asheville who survived cancer 11 years ago, going uninsured isn’t a realistic choice — but the current marketplace leaves him deeply uneasy.

“I’m going to continue voting for people who believe that health care is a right, not a privilege,” Samuelson said. He added that he senses a shift in public awareness. “I’m starting to get the sense that people are starting to see that one side is clearly not interested in our welfare.”...

You see, Trump's "Golden Age" is reserved for himself and his corrupt crime family, and his Epstein class of contributors and oligarchs who shore up his kakistocracy.

(Image: gold for me, not for thee / Bonnie Cash via CNP/ZUMA Press)

Today's Cartoons

2026-03-18T16:00:00.001-04:00

(click on images to enlarge)

(Matt Davies, Newsday)

(Joep Bertrams, caglecartoons.com, Netherlands)

(Ben Jennings, The Guardian, UK)

(Steve Brodner, @sbrodner)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Pedro Molina, Tribune Content Agency)

(Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

(Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Canada)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Pia Guerra and Ian Boothby, @mannequinonthemoon, Canada)

Skeets Of The Day

2026-03-18T14:00:00.002-04:00

The Epstein-Trump files coverup / Bondi subpoenaed --

Ranking Member @robertgarcia.house.gov statement on AG Pam Bondi subpoena. No more lies. No more distractions. We want the truth—and justice for the survivors.

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— Oversight Dems (@oversightdemocrats.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 2:47 PM

Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury --

1. A few months before it started a war in Iran, the Trump administration decommissioned the last of its four mine countermeasure ships. These ships were “capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines.” Now the Strait of Hormuz is closed.

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— Judd Legum (@juddlegum.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 8:55 AM

Pottery Barn Rule requires a sense of honor and responsibility which Trump doesn’t have.

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— Matthew Gertz (@mattgertz.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 7:24 AM

The national average price of gasoline in the US continues to climb toward $4/gal- $3.86 today- expecting where things stand now we have a 90% chance of hitting it- perhaps by the end of the month.
— Patrick De Haan (@gasbuddyguy.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 9:05 AM

"Operation Trick Cigar Will Blow Up In Trump's Face" --

Trump: "I do believe I'll be having the honor of taking Cuba. That's a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form. I think I can do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 16, 2026 at 5:27 PM

Buyer remorse --

“Apparently I’m an idiot.” Woman at Pennsylvania gas station who voted for Trump rips into him, calls him “a worthless pile of sh*t”.

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— Mike Sington (@mikesington.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 6:23 PM

Markwaynesworld Mullet won't change domestic terrorist organization's course --

Republicans claim that Markwayne Mullin will be a "course correction" for ICE. Don't believe a word. If they thought that was true, they'd vote for Democratic reforms at DHS. Also, Mullin is a dumb dickhead. An analysis. www.salon.com/2026/03/18/i...

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— Amanda Marcotte (@amandamarcotte.bsky.social) March 18, 2026 at 7:55 AM

White supremacist groypers in charge of DHS Twitter. The present and future of the GOP.

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— Wajahat Ali (@wajali.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 7:25 PM

Illinois' next Senator --

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton's come-from-behind primary win in Democratic-leaning Illinois means that, for the first time ever, the Senate is poised to have three Black women serving simultaneously for the first time.

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— The Downballot (@the-downballot.com) March 18, 2026 at 8:06 AM

Crackpot threats against Texas Dem James Talarico / the Crackpot-in-Chief's slander --

Joshua Haymes & Brooks Potteiger (Pete Hegseth's pastor) pray imprecatory psalms against James Talarico: "I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ ... If it would not be within God's will to do so, stop him by any means necessary."

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— Right Wing Watch (@rightwingwatch.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 2:18 PM

"All who oppose me are evil." Thank you for your attention to this moron.

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— David Simon (@audacityofdespair.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 5:06 PM

Coin of his realm --

SCOOP— Trump wants a 24k gold coin w/ his face on it for America 250, but an official at a late February coin advisory committee meeting called it something only done by "nations ruled by kings or dictators." After NYT reported the criticism, US Mint yanked online vid of the meeting w/o explanation.

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— Marisa Kabas (@marisakabas.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 7:26 PM

May we live to see that day --

One day I'm going to tell young people that it didn't always used to be this way.

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— Justin Wolfers (@justinwolfers.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 3:38 PM

Mid-Week Song

2026-03-18T12:00:00.002-04:00

Singer / songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats are a classic new folk, Americana band that has drawn new audiences to their music since forming in 2013. In today's featured song, Rateliff goes solo on piano with a soulful tune "Tommy's Song." Enjoy.

FAFO, Manufacturing Edition

2026-03-18T10:00:00.012-04:00

Here's another instance among countless others across the U.S., where MAGA voters express worry and regret for the unhinged and reckless Malignant Fascist's disastrous and illegal tariff policies, as reported by the Associated Press:

"Jay Allen is a fan of President Donald Trump, and voted for him on the belief that the Republican would cut taxes and trim regulations, helping his manufacturing business in northeast Arkansas.
But the tariffs at the core of Trump’s economic agenda have wreaked havoc on his company, Allen Engineering Corp., which makes industrial equipment used to install, finish and pave concrete. The import taxes have raised the costs of engines, steel, gearboxes and clutches made abroad that Allen needs to build power trowels that can sell for up to $100,000 each.
Allen’s experience embodies a growing body of evidence that the tariffs that Trump said would help American factories are, in fact, squashing many of them. The problem could get worse as the administration scrambles to craft new tariffs to replace the emergency import taxes that the Supreme Court ruled illegal in February." (our emphasis)

As they say Mr. Allen, F*ck Around And Find Out. The MF isn't concerned with your success or failure, and tariffs have been his obsession for decades if you'd bothered to check it out. Every time he raged against countries "screwing us" in trade, he was promising tariffs. Instead of protecting domestic businesses, it's ruining them, because unbeknownst to the ignoramus, the U.S. is part of a global economy, where imports and exports are woven into our economic fabric. Tariffs cost not only the consumer more, but also the business community. More from the AP report:

"Trump’s core rationale for tariffs has been that they would force more factories to open in the U.S. and would generate enough revenue to close federal budget deficits. But that hasn’t materialized.
Factories continue to shed workers, with 98,000 manufacturing jobs lost during Trump’s first full 12 months back in the White House. American companies that foot the bill for tariffs are now suing the Trump administration for more than $130 billion in tariff refunds. Meanwhile, the federal deficit is projected to climb over the next decade." (our emphasis)

MAGAts always assumed that their vote for the vengeful MF was a vote against their political, cultural and, yes, racial enemies, and not something that would affect them negatively. They're finding out differently and we couldn't be more satisfied.

QOTD -- "The Last Of Our Concerns"

2026-03-18T08:00:00.020-04:00

“It would hurt consumers and we’d have to think about if that continued what we would have to do about that. But that’s the like, really the last of our concerns right now because we’re very confident that this thing is going ahead of schedule.” -- ever-smirking shitgibbon Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council Director on CNBC, commenting on the impact of the Malignant Fascist's Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury would have on consumers should it continue over time, a quote that should be in every Democratic candidate's ads this year. With gas prices up 27% since Operation Epic ~~Epstein Fury~~ Folly began. The ripple effect is already taking place throughout the economy, and thanks to the MF's steady hand stewardship a recession is now "a serious threat." But, we're certain Hassett and the Epstein class he and the rest of his cult leader's regime represent will be just fine, thank you.

BONUS: Meanwhile Democrats want to make sure oil company windfall profits end up in those same consumers' pockets.

(Photo: via CBS News.com)

Today's Cartoons

2026-03-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

(click on images to enlarge)

(Jonathan Brown, caglecartoons.com)

(Jimmy Margulies, King Features)

(Malcolm McGookin, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Michael de Adder, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Dave Whamond, caglecartoons.com, Canada)

(Martyn Turner, The Irish Times, Ireland)

(Dennis Goris, @dennisgoris)

(Jeff Koterba, gocomics.com)

(Manny Francisco, caglecartoons.com, The Philippines)

(Robert Ariail, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, SC)

(Jeff Stahler, gocomics.com)

(Mort Gerberg, @mortgerberg)

"Mess O'Potamia"

2026-03-17T16:00:00.007-04:00

ICYMI, last night's "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart had some hilarious satire, none so good as his "panel of experts" on the Malignant Fascist's war in Iran and other topics pertinent to our slide into authoritarianism. Just the best by the best about the worst.

Skeets Of The Day

2026-03-17T14:00:00.003-04:00

Operation ~~Epic~~ Epstein Fury; ship fire, phantom ships, NATO, etc. --

Trump regime clearly censoring war reports.

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— Simon Rosenberg (@simonwdc.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 8:55 PM

Reporter: Can you tell us which countries are on their way? Trump: I rather not say yet. We have some that are really enthusiastic, they're coming already, they've already started to get there. It takes a little while to get there

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— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 1:54 PM

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— George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 (@gtconway.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 9:54 PM

An unidentified former president told Trump how right he was to launch the war in Iran. Unidentified foreign officials also told him they’re enthusiastic about Strait of Hormuz assistance. It’s amazing how Trump enjoys the support of his many secret friends, isn’t it? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

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— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) March 17, 2026 at 8:47 AM

Trump's made clear he does not value cooperation with other countries and recognizes ZERO obligations to them. The big tough bully kicked this war off alone, so he should be able to finish it the same way. Truth from @snipy.bsky.social in @atrupar.com's latest PN: open.substack.com/pub/aaronrup...

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— Susan McPherson (@susanmcp.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM

Trump Crime Family corruption: Kushner's shake down as he "negotiates" in Middle East --

Jared Kushner, one of the U.S. government's chief negotiators in the Middle East, is trying to raise more money for his private equity firm from governments in the region. Kushner has spoken with potential investors in recent weeks about raising $5 billion or more for his investment firm.

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— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 5:20 PM

National Counterterrorism Center chief resigns over Iran war --

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigns over Iran war. x.com/joekent16jan...

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— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 9:41 AM

Malignant Fascist's damage to America's reputation vs. growing trust in China --

Majority of Canadians say it’s better to depend on China than on the US under Trump. In other key allies - Germany, UK, France - a plurality say the same. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

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— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 8:41 PM

The pure evil of holding health care hostage to minerals access --

Things are not okay.

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— Justin Wolfers (@justinwolfers.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 5:48 PM

It's the MF's economy, stupid --

Moody’s economic model “put the probability of a U.S. recession—defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth—at 49%, ‘even before disconcerting events in the Middle East.’” @barrons.com www.barrons.com/articles/us-...

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 6:27 AM

The MF's full blown mental decline --

Trump: "The president of the United States, Gavin Newsum, admitted he has learning disabilities"

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 17, 2026 at 9:52 AM

The dementia-ravaged president is increasingly spewing nonsense and acting erratically, with dangerous consequences for the entire world and it seems like that really should be all we're talking about.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 7:35 AM

Bully looking for a friend and not finding one --

Ridicule is Donald's kryptonite. Well, also laws, logic, fidelity, and reality . . .

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— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) March 16, 2026 at 8:27 PM

"Not Our War"

2026-03-17T12:00:00.013-04:00

Our NATO allies, along with Japan and South Korea, have made it clear that they don't want to be dragged into the war that the delusional draft-dodging Malignant Fascist launched against Iran. Our European allies met to discuss the MF's threat to undercut NATO if he didn't get their help in opening the Strait of Hormuz, and their response was entirely warranted:

"Europe's message to Donald Trump on Monday was clear: We're not helping you secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Foreign ministers from the 27 EU countries gathered in Brussels to discuss the American president’s call for European countries to help secure the narrow waterway, a vital oil shipping channel that Iran has largely blocked in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. [snip]
But after hours of closed-door talks about the war in Iran, Europe’s foreign envoys made clear they see this as America’s problem to solve.
'Europe has no interest in an open-ended war,' EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said Monday evening after the meeting. 'This is not Europe’s war, but Europe’s interests are directly at stake.'
Although there was a 'clear wish' among ministers 'to strengthen” the EU’s naval mission in the Middle East, 'there was no appetite in changing the mandate,' Kallas said, referring to sending warships to the strait.
'Extending this mandate to cover the Strait of Hormuz ... there was no appetite from the member states to do that,' she repeated. 'Nobody wants to go actively in this war.'" (our emphasis)

NATO countries are trying to penetrate the MF's thick skull to note that the alliance is a defensive one, not meant to support members who launch offensive wars on their own, and without consultation with them. Part of the MF's plea for NATO support is likely to provide a scapegoat if something goes wrong. We've noted today that Cadet Bone Spurs is already looking at our military leaders as scapegoats, and wondering why they didn't stop his foolish attack plan, after they repeatedly warned him that Iran would close the Strait. More:

“'The Americans chose this path, together with the Israelis,' German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, adding that Germany’s main responsibility was to defend NATO territory.
'We did not start this war,' Pistorius stressed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also poured scorn on the idea of committing Berlin to the conflict, triggered when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28 and killed the Iranian supreme leader. 'NATO is a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one. And that is precisely why NATO has no place here at all,' Merz said." (our emphasis)

The damage that the MF's done to our alliances is severe and will take years to repair, if ever.

(photo: War buddies. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

Now Trump Blames Top General For Mess He Made

2026-03-17T10:00:00.005-04:00

What a colossal moron (but you already knew that):

President Trump reportedly took his top military boss to task over a vital oil route remaining snarled as a result of his Iran war.
Trump, 79, is said to have leaned on Gen. Dan Caine, 57, to explain why battlefield dominance has not translated into instant control of the Strait of Hormuz, despite Caine having repeatedly briefed him on the likely closure of the waterway ahead of the war.
The New York Times reported Sunday that the president ”pressed” Caine in the Oval Office last week about why the Strait of Hormuz could not simply be reopened.
The problem, as the Times reported, is that Iran can still threaten commercial traffic in the narrow waterway with small boats, mobile weapons and explosive devices, even after major damage to its conventional forces. The risk has kept many shipowners and insurers wary of sending tankers through the strait.
That has left the administration looking at a harder and slower fix. The option under discussion is to have the U.S. Navy escort commercial shipping through the strait. But the Times reported that such a plan would likely still be weeks away. It would require more ships, more defensive systems, and further attacks on the Iranian weapons that still menace the passage.
In multiple briefings ahead of the war, Caine had repeatedly warned Trump that Iran could respond to any American attacks by closing the strait, The Wall Street Journal reported last week. Trump is said to have responded by arguing that Iran would likely surrender before even having time to shut down the waterway... (our emphasis)

Dumbass Commander-in-Chief Bone Spurs was told what would happen and decided to go with what he "thought," via his empty head and magical thinking, would happen. And thousands of lives will be lost before it's all over, who knows when and to what end? To goose his poll numbers?!

Regime change in America can't come soon enough.

(Image: Commander-in-Chief Bone Spurs, strategic genius)