Popularism!

NEW: Our first report on the swing voters of the 2026 midterms finds that when they are asked which policies would make them definitely vote for a Democrat, the most selected option is “raise taxes on the wealthy,” followed by “create a Medicare for All health care system.”

[image or embed]

— Data for Progress (@dataforprogress.org) July 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM

Sorry, I forgot, "popularism" means do popular stuff as long as the people funding my fake think tank like it, too.

The Internet Is Real, But Not All Of Reality

I stayed away from the Platner discourse largely because it seemed like one of those things people were fighting about, pointlessly, on the internet. Probably, most arguing on the internet is pointless, but sometimes the heat/light ratio is off the charts.

Eventually it was obvious he was going to win the Maine primary (which he did) and no arguing about it on the internet was going to change that one way or another. Sometimes it is best not to stir shit up just for the sake of it.

Even if the worst stuff about him hadn't come out, I would have still found it very odd that (some) people both Left and Center were so invested in him.

Too much of the reason is that he used to be the DC bartender for some somewhat influential people.

That kind of explanation applies to too many things.

Quick, Call Boxer

Not especially important but an odd detail.

But some Platner allies moved to canvass national Democrats to assess whether he still had support. Former Senator Barbara Boxer of California said that a representative from the campaign reached out to her on Monday afternoon to see whether she would stand with Mr. Platner.

She refused.

He's out now.

Morning

Be excellent to each other.

Happy Hour

Betting against Elon has been a loser for a long time but his latest is below the IPO price.

Afternoon

I got nothin'

Sure Why Not

I'm sure these commie stores will get as much negative attention as Mamdani's proposed FIVE urban grocery markets.

The White House launched 25 Freedom Fuel gas stations, all selling fuel at $3.47 a gallon.

The White House announced the initiative on July 7 on X with a video of customers thanking President Donald Trump for lowering gas prices. The gas stations are located in the greater Philadelphia area, the White House told USA TODAY in an email on Tuesday, July 7.

In the video, one customer claimed the gas station saved him money. "I thought gas was more expensive, but it's not," the man, who was not identified, said. "Thanks, Trump, for saving me some money."

 They aren't really commie, just some corrupt deal of some sort.

The White House did not immediately respond to CBS News' inquiry about who operates Freedom Fuel, or how it is offering gasoline at more than 30 cents a gallon below the national average. The stations are run by a private company and aren't part of a government program, nor are they receiving funding from the administration, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, citing the White House. 

Mr. President, Sir, The Stock Market Isn't Happy

 It really is the only check on his behavior.

Sure Why Not

Back to his old games.

ANKARA, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday at a NATO summit he had ordered his ​Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all ‌trade with Spain, calling Madrid a "terrible partner" in the alliance.

I don't even know what this means, or if he knows what it means, but it's funny!

"I don't want to do any trade ​with them, alright?" he said, turning to Bessent, who replied: "Yes, sir."

"Take it ‌immediately, ⁠Don't even talk to them. They're hopeless. They're bad people," he added. "They make so much money with us, and we're going to see that they make a lot less. ​I want no ​business with ⁠them."

At Least The War Is Over

Apparently President Deals didn't make a deal! 

• Air raid sirens blare in Bahrain and Kuwait as Iran says it targeted “85 US military installations” over attacks on its Hormozgan province and the port city of Mahshahr. 
• The US says it launched the “powerful strikes” against Iran after attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, including Qatari and Saudi tankers.

Happy Hour

get happy

Seems Bad

I have no larger point here.

On Tuesday, a safety manager reported that a steel beam was compromised on the 21st floor, according to Buildings Department records. The Fire Department said that two support columns inside the building were buckling, and several upper floors were sagging.

Cliff Jensen, a business agent for the Steamfitters Local 638 Union, said fitters were evacuated after the beams started to bend.

“The north side of that building is crumbling,” he said. “I-beams are bending like cigarettes in there.” The developers and authorities did not say what had caused the damage, and Mr. Jensen’s claim could not be immediately confirmed.

Show Your Papers

Something which should be obvious, but for some reason isn't to many people (other than you, dear readers), is that any "show your papers" system requires everybody to show their papers, not just the people who, you know, don't have papers!

And none of us actually have the papers to prove we are citizens, aside from our birth certificates or any subsequent documents that follow from them, like passports.  Well, except for naturalized citizens, amusingly.

Take away birthright citizenship and those birth certificates don't prove anything at all! Births would have to be logged with the citizenship of the parents, which would be proven by...

Where's Kash

Not that I really care, but he's basically been out of the news for a month (according to my scientific survey of Google News) and I'm a bit curious.

President Deals

The Art of the Deal, for Trump, is to make threats and inevitably violate deals. I think people have realized this!

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says negotiations on a final deal will not begin if threats continue, after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington will reach an agreement with Tehran or “finish the job”.

Fair Play, Belgium

#GMB: "It was Belgium who had the last laugh, in victory mocking Donald Trumps signature dance move"

[image or embed]

— Saul Staniforth (@saulstaniforth.bsky.social) July 7, 2026 at 6:30 AM

Trump will probably deport them.

Fingers Pointing

This is mostly online personality drama stuff, but it's a bit amusing to see everyone (The Left! The Centrists!) blame everyone else for Platner. The truth is that no one in Maine really wanted to run against Collins, Schumer recruited Mills (!), Platner saw an opening no one else was running through, and Maine Dems voted for him.

To the extent that it mattered, he was pushed by both "The Center" (Pod Jons, Bulwark) and various figures associated with The Left.

One of those somewhat rare non-factional things, at least not as we normally define these factions.

A certain kind of person loves an ex-military guy cosplaying as Everyman, independent of ideology. A certain kind of person loves absolution for "youthful" sins.

Morning

Tuesday funday.

Monday Night

Rock on. A couple of friends performing a composition by the 83-year-old student of the violist (who is playing violin)

Happy Hour

get happy