Cheers and Jeers: Thursday

An Update: Year 1 You know I like to hold myself accountable for the stuff I write, especially when it comes to looking forward to, in the immortal...

Cartoon: A Calvinesque and Hobbesian peek in at Mar-a-Lago

TWO brand new Tom the Dancing Bug books! Tom the Dancing Bug Awakens; and Tom the Dancing Bug, Without the Bad Ones! Order today, RIGHT HERE AND...

Manchin and Sinema had the chance to restore U.S. democracy. They proudly rejected it

Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema made it official Wednesday night: Whatever they say, the reality is that they oppose voting rights. Democracy...

Republicans are working to subvert democracy, but the media is howling because Biden dared say it

President Joe Biden dared to acknowledge that Republicans don’t have the warmest view of fair elections these days, and a series of media big...

Civil rights leaders, Democrats (who aren't Manchin and Sinema) vow to keep fighting for democracy

What comes next? Republicans teamed up with two faithless Democrats, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, to deliver a body blow to President Joe...

Georgia D.A. asks to seat grand jury to hear evidence of Trump team's attempted election fraud

It's well over a year since the 2020 elections and the subsequent Republican attempted coup, and there has still been zero consequences for even...

Biden on Republicans: 'What are they for? Name me one thing'

During a nearly two-hour press conference Wednesday, President Joe Biden posed a piercing question as he addressed reporters in the White House...

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's favorables among Democrats were abysmal even before she tanked voting rights

Here’s where the polling of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona stood, according to Civiqs’ tracking, as of Jan. 14—before she helped tank...

Months after releasing remaining immigrant, California jail is once again locking people up for ICE

Immigrants and their advocates won a major victory last fall, following the release of Ricardo Vasquez Cruz from a northern California jail last...

The FBI just raided this conservative House Democrat's home. Fortunately, we have a better choice

On Wednesday night, the FBI raided both the home and campaign headquarters of conservative Rep. Henry Cuellar, the last anti-choice Democrat in the...

Georgia Republicans want one polling site in county that currently has seven

An election board in a rural Georgia county held a meeting on Wednesday intended to slash the number of polling locations in the county from seven...

Military background among far-right extremist criminals has exploded since 2017, study finds

One of the primary reasons that far-right groups like the Oath Keepers pose such a grave threat to American democracy is that they specifically...

DeSantis giddy over giving people with COVID a treatment that doctors say is equivalent to a placebo

I must admit, it confounds me that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is so openly ignorant. And it infuriates me that his ignorance is costing so many...

Despite major loss on voting rights, Biden has accomplished a ton in his first year in office

As we lick our wounds following the devastating failure of two historic voting rights bills in the Senate, let’s try to look to the...

Republican running for governor in Texas refuses to cut ties with his white nationalist staffer

As if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wasn’t repulsive enough, now another, even more, racist and xenophobic Republican is hoping to replace him. Don...

Jan. 6 committee requests critical meeting with Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump, who once addressed the mob storming the U.S. Capitol as “American patriots” on Twitter before swiftly deleting the post—has...

Trump's secret meetings, as told to the Jan. 6 Committee

According to a report from The Guardian published Thursday, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has revealed to investigators on...

Abbreviated Pundit Roundup: Voting rights, rogue electors, and Bojo the Clown

As the punditry from last night’s failed U.S. Senate votes on voting rights and scuttling the Senate filibuster in order to pass those voting...

News Roundup: Senators block voting protections; Georgia grand jury to probe Trump, allies

In the news today: As expected, two Democratic senators joined all Republican senators to filibuster a vote on voting rights protections that would...

This Week in Statehouse Action: Happy Bidenversary! edition

On the first anniversary of Joe Biden’s inauguration, I can’t help but think … So? And it has absolutely nothing to do with Pres. Biden himself....

Indigenous woman charged after protesting wall construction wins case on religious grounds

An Indigenous woman who faced up to six months in prison after blocking border wall construction on sacred lands back in 2020 won her case on...

GOP has its eye on keeping poor people imprisoned while allowing the rich get-out-of-jail-free cards

Republican state legislators in Kentucky are trying to push through the legislature a bill that would make crowdfunding bail and nonprofit...

Biden nominates first Muslim woman and first Bangladeshi-American to serve as federal judge

In some exciting news to start off your weekend, President Joe Biden announced his latest round of judicial nominees on Wednesday. What’s so...

Navy revises estimates for families affected by Red Hill water crisis as lawsuits loom

The Navy recently released new estimates for when families impacted by the Red Hill water crisis can safely move home. The estimates are dependent...

Rep. Ashley Hinson proves the truth of 'Vote no, take the dough—that's what the Republicans do'

Today in Republicans With No Shame: Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa. ” BREAKING: We secured $829 million in federal funding to upgrade locks & dams...

Couple alleges state-funded ‘Christian’ foster agency discriminated against them for being Jewish

One of the great things about the ultra-right-wing’s blurry church-state distinction, which they like to call “religious liberty,” is that...

Perdue copies DeSantis, wants new state agency to investigate imaginary election fraud

The winners of the next Republican primaries will be determined based on who among the candidates can create the most paranoid far-right...

Arizona state representative wants to require parental consent for students to join LGBTQ clubs

Arizona is no stranger to anti-LGBTQ legislation. For example, Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers proposed Senate Bill 1045 to block gender-affirming...

After promising more humane immigration system, Biden admin defends Stephen Miller policy in court

The Biden administration was in front of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday to defend its continued use of the debunked, Stephen...

Solar panels and battery storage are the future of how the U.S. gets its power

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its latest findings this month as part of its multi-year Storage Futures Study. The...

Earth Matters: SupCt may gut EPA's regulatory authority; ultra-rightist goes after Liz Cheney's seat

Fifteen years ago, by 5-4, the Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA  that carbon dioxide greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants under...

As Trump's support among Republicans softens, DeSantis poised to capitalize

Donald Trump has a question for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.  "Why won't he just say he's not going to run against me?" Trump has reportedly griped...

Build Back Better needs to get back on track

Riding high after his work helping Republicans dismantle democracy, Sen. Joe Manchin has imperiously declared that President Joe Biden is just...

News Roundup: Senate battle for voting protections; Supreme Court rejects latest Trump gambit

In the news today: Tonight saw the latest Senate battle to protect voting rights even as Republican-held state legislatures pass unprecedented...

Colorado MAGA elections official two steps closer to permanent ban

Since August of 2021, the MAGA-conspiracy-theory supporting elections official in Mesa County, Colorado, Tina Peters, has been under investigation...

The fight for voting rights is heating up on the Senate floor

On Wednesday around 6:30 PM ET, the Democratic Party’s senators will attempt to break the filibuster in order pass essential voting rights...

Abbreviated Pundit Roundup: Is Boris Johnson facing a no confidence vote?

The Independent: What is a no confidence motion and what could it mean for Boris Johnson? Liberal Democrats have called for Conservatives to back...

Trump loses again as Supreme Court clears the way for Jan. 6 Committee to receive records

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected, 8-1, a request by former President Donald Trump to stop the release of presidential records pursued by the January...

Seven states discovered to have forged election docs, one GOP signer says he has 'no regrets'

As the mountains of documents are gathered and combed through by the House committee investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to...

Texas stumbles over its own voter suppression laws in new voter registration form snafu

Owing to a paper shortage and a change in voter registration documents, it’s become that much harder for some of the most marginalized Texans to...

'Get a job or leave': Tucker Carlson's latest rant attacks homeless people

Our favorite Fox News idiot is at it again. This time, instead of targeting women or people of color, Carlson has come to belittle the unhoused....

Ron Johnson thought he could 'freep' a poll on Twitter, boy was he wrong

As Wisconsin lawmakers argue on rules to pass voting rights legislation, Republican senator is learning the consequences of online polling. Not...

Unlike the other senator from Arizona, Mark Kelly supports doing what it takes to protect democracy

What will it take for Democratic Sen. Krysten Sinema to actually act like a Democrat and protect her constituents? In fact, it’s not only her...

‘I’ve got two negatives’: Utah Senate President fails to mention positive tests before session

We are two years into the pandemic, yet some Republicans do not understand the depth of the issue. Across the country, GOP members are not only...

New York attorney general releases evidence on Trump's shady business practices

New York Attorney General Letitia James has responded to attempts by Donald Trump and the adult children of his first marriage to defy...

Omicron continues to batter schools, with staffing shortages forcing many to close

Staffing shortages have forced more school closures around the country in recent days, and the locations of some of those schools should give pause...

Jan. 6 select committee is on the brink of getting first few Trump White House documents

If Donald Trump’s lawyers don’t get quick action from the Supreme Court, the first four pages of White House records relating to Jan. 6 could...

The Senate, along with democracy, could be saved by Democrats—if Manchin and Sinema really care

Despite what you might be hearing from Republicans and Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, the proposal Senate Democrats will advance for reforming the...

It's official: Manchin and Sinema are the lone holdouts among Democrats, refusing to save democracy

At 6:30 PM ET Wednesday, the Senate Democrats will try to break the filibuster on voting rights and election reform. There will be 48 Democrats...

Support for Trump softening among Republicans, independents in Civiqs tracking poll

In a recent call among former Trump administration officials, an aide to former national security adviser John Bolton reportedly shared polling...

Cheers and Jeers: Wednesday

Life Lessons & Other Bon Mots from January Birthday Kids “If you’re full of bullshit, I’m coming for ya. I just don’t have time. I’m a...

Emily's List reminds Sinema groups are happy to withhold endorsements if she doesn't do her job

Senate Democrats are trying to get rid of the filibuster for voting rights legislation. This shouldn’t be a controversial decision, and in some...

Stacey Abrams is running for governor again—and Daily Kos has her back, again

Stacey Abrams is back—and we’re right there with her. Daily Kos is extremely excited to endorse Abrams’ new bid for governor of Georgia, whose...

Florida Republicans back bill to ban making white people 'feel discomfort' about oppression

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is so toxic we could really have a DeSantis section at Daily Kos, and it still likely wouldn't be enough coverage of how...

DOJ appears to be working its way up Jan. 6 chain of command to include Trump’s inner circle

Last week’s indictment of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes for seditionist conspiracy revealed more than simply the mountain of evidence that...

After months of protests, three officers are charged in shooting death of 8-year-old Fanta Bility

After six long months, the family of 8-year-old Fanta Bility has found some small piece of justice. The little girl was killed on Aug. 21 when...

This week on The Brief: Joe Trippi on an optimistic vision for 2022 and the pro-democracy movement

What lies ahead in 2022? While conventional wisdom might indicate that Democrats stand to lose big in this year’s elections, many factors could...

Giuliani and other members of Trump's inner circle hit with subpoenas from Jan. 6 investigators

Former President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani, along with a handful of other Trump world figures who helped spread disinformation about...

Prosecutors: Oath Keepers had weapons stockpile, supplies for 30 days

Oath Keeper and alleged seditionist Edward Vallejo goes before a judge in Arizona Thursday for a detention hearing, but before he does,...

Ted Cruz is fundraising with a pro-seditionist conspiracy theory meant to protect the Jan. 6 rioters

Sen. Ted Cruz has been beating pro-seditionist conspiracy theory drums since before the Jan. 6 insurrection ever took place. It's still a bit novel...

Nearly the entire relief fund for New Jersey's excluded workers is getting reallocated to the state

Nearly all of the $40 million emergency fund established for New Jersey immigrants and other workers excluded from federal pandemic relief is set...

Biden strikes optimistic tone, but acknowledges some missteps, in press conference

President Joe Biden marked the eve of the first anniversary of his inauguration with a press conference that developed along predictable...

Harvard immigration clinic sues ICE after request for records goes ignored for more than four years

The Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program said it submitted a number of requests to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and...

Republicans are known for dodging questions, but this Tennessee lawmaker takes it to the next level

Tennessee Republicans are hoping to turn the “blue bastion of Nashville” red by splitting it up between two more Republican-strangled...

Florida suspends county health officer for daring to encourage vaccination among his employees

Republicans are really on a roll, aren’t they? First, they support Donald Trump, then Vladimir Putin—and now they’re using the copious...

Former Trump officials plot to blow up his influence and political future

A group of some three dozen former members of Donald Trump's administration held a conference call Monday to strategize about countering his...

Sen. Amy Klobuchar gives a lesson on the Voting Rights Act to a strangely misinformed reporter

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats went to the press to explain why they feel it is essential that our federal government protect the voting rights of...

After comparing Fauci to Nazi doctor, Fox News’ Lara Logan dumped by agent

Former CBS war correspondent Lara Logan continues her descent into MAGAness. Recently, Logan has been creating a “documentary” series for Fox...

Remember the school board member who said he wanted to burn books? He's been appointed chair

Another day, another chilling turn of events taking place in a school board here in the United States. At this point in the political cycle, if...

Charter airline that deports Black asylum-seekers slammed for tweet claiming to honor MLK

Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema weren’t the only ones slammed for tweets on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this...

News Roundup: Free COVID-19 tests now available; Gaetz's ex-girlfriend testifies to grand jury

In the news today: There's a new federal website for ordering COVID-19 tests. A bit of light has been shed on why one liberal Supreme Court justice...

DeSantis introduces $6 million legislation for 52-member Gestapo-style 'election integrity unit'

Today, as the Senate debates two of the most important bills in the nation’s history on voting rights, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning some...

Louisiana Senate candidate points out hypocrisy of marijuana laws in very blunt campaign launch

We’ve come a long way from the days of Bill “I Didn’t Inhale” Clinton and our overwrought collective freakout over ordinary and...

Rep. Jerry McNerney, a California Democrat who triumphed in the 2006 blue wave, announces retirement

Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney, who got to Congress in 2006 by unseating a longtime Republican incumbent, announced Tuesday that he would not seek...

Youngest victim in Bronx fire was 2 years old, and cultural leader says borough neglect is to blame

The fire that killed 17 people, eight of them children, in a Bronx high-rise building has netted its first lawsuit filed on behalf of surviving...

Cartoon: Copy shop

Cheers and Jeers: Tuesday

"Have You Tried Penicillin?” Kimmel’s covid wayback machine whisks us to the last week in office for TFG, who left with a 38 percent approval...

Abbreviated pundit roundup: Banning stock trades, Republicans blocking voting rights, and more

We begin today’s roundup with Michelle Cottle’s piece in The New York Times about new efforts to ban members of Congress from trading stocks...

Justice Department asked to investigate after Republicans in several states faked election documents

After Republicans in several states forged documents claiming Donald Trump had won their states and submitted the documents to the federal...

Democrats have possible Plan B to force simple majority vote on voting rights

The Senate resumes Tuesday at noon, foregoing what would have been a week of recess for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in order to debate the Freedom...

Justice Sotomayor is hearing arguments remotely because Neil Gorsuch refuses to wear a mask

NPR’s Nina Totenberg has a long look at whether the Supreme Court justices get along as swimmingly as each of them claims in their off-the-court...

Two Florida men and a turtle walk into a very dark bar. The joke's on them

If you’re rooting for Republicans to spontaneously combust over the next few years on the road to the greater American good, this story is just...

Lawmakers urge watchdog to probe Abbott's border scheme following string of National Guard suicides

El Paso Rep. Veronica Escobar leads a dozen members of Texas’ Congressional delegation in calling on the state’s military department inspector...

GOP teeing up racist ads going into midterms. Democrats can fight back by championing immigrants

Two organizations tracking anti-immigrant advertising say they’ve documented more than 700 such ads leading into the 2022 midterms, including...

Public service announcement! The link to order four free COVID tests per household is now live

A short but sweet service announcement: The White House can now place an order via USPS for four free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to be sent to...

A worthy tribute: 'The real Dr. King cannot be commodified, homogenized, and white-washed'

Count on Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones to pull white supremacists in hiding right into the light. Author of  “The 1619...

Five decades after MLK championed guaranteed income, initiative launches for Black women in Georgia

Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood is one of the most historic in the country. It is home to the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the childhood home of...

Arkansas inmates given ivermectin for COVID but told it was 'vitamins,' and/or 'steroids'

In November 2020, a group of male inmates from the Washington County Detention Center in Arkansas were diagnosed with COVID-19. The medical staff...

Deal for immunity reportedly cut with Gaetz's ex-girlfriend

As part of an ongoing sex trafficking probe, the ex-girlfriend of Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz testified before a federal grand jury last...

Stevie Wonder just called to say 'the filibuster is not working for democracy'

Stevie Wonder had a blunt message for U.S. senators who refuse to support voting rights legislation when it comes up for a vote this week: “Cut...

Democrats stymied as Manchin holds the key to doing anything to help them get reelected

Frustrated front-line House Democrats desperately need to pass some part of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better (BBB) plan to have something...

'Pregnant Texans are needlessly suffering' as appeals court keeps abortion ban in place

Texas women seeking abortions will continue to face harsh, unconstitutional restrictions for months longer after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the...

Jim Langevin, a longtime Rhode Island Democratic congressman, announces his retirement

Rhode Island Rep. Jim Langevin, a Democrat whose 2000 win made him the first quadriplegic to ever serve in Congress, said Tuesday that he would...

Questions loom over photos of Mike Pence from Jan. 6

Somewhere out there, there is a photo of former Vice President Mike Pence taken by a White House photographer on Jan. 6. It reportedly depicts...

The Washington Post makes European vaccine resisters sound so much more sophisticated than ours

In a story that takes up a sizable portion of its front page, The Washington Post brings us the travails of one unvaccinated Italian man—a...

Another Black man wrongfully jailed—this time for a crime a white man allegedly committed

A Black man arrested and sent to jail for six days filed a federal civil rights lawsuit earlier this month after two different Nevada police...

Either John Cornyn is an idiot or he thinks you are

It doesn't get any more dimwitted than this. Last week, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas claimed that Democrats' focus on protecting the right to vote was...

Did you read more books than the average American adult in 2021? Let's find out

Unfortunately, here in the United States, we tend to be inundated with wellness advice that basically sums up to: Do more, try harder, and be...

Why volunteering for Obama in 2008 gives me hope that we can still save democracy

The first time I got involved in politics in a real way was the 2008 presidential election. A friend of mine convinced me to volunteer to make...

Why doesn't the government mandate an annual flu shot? The answer can be found in one word

During the Supreme Court’s hearing on the validity of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch directed a question at the...