The Problem with Voting-Counting in California [Updated]

Spoiler: the problem isn’t the vote-counting.

An Excellent Illustration of Christian Nationalism

Hegseth didn’t label Mormons as “Christian” on his list and Mike Lee isn’t happy.

Meanwhile in North Korea…

The Trump promenade?

Tales from the Dumbest Timeline

Hegseth commencement speech edition.

Dispatches from the Dumbest Timeline

Diplomacy in action…

What Occupies The President’s Mind?

More than any of his predecessors, we know in real time.

The Pretzel Logic of SCOTUS on Districting

Plus, I question the timing.

Keeping the Strait Straight

News whiplash and the weird communications stylings of the Trump administration.

Trump’s Nuclear Folly

Plus: Pete visits the Hill.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to military families at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Friday, February 13, 2026. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to military families at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Friday, February 13, 2026.

Scenes from the Dumbest Timeline

It would all be just absurd if it didn’t matter so much.

In Front of Our Noses: Contempt for the Press

Also contempt for citizens.

More on This Week in Religion and Politics

Pete’s prayer and Franklin Graham weighs in.

Well, That Was Weird

Preemption?

Meanwhile in North Korea…

…love is in the air.

The Same Subject Continued

Another example.

Moral Degeneracy

With pundits like this, no wonder we have the problems we have.

Shooting Ourselves in the Foot on Immigration

Xenophobia’s cruel wages.

Iran War at 5 Weeks

So much winning.

Meanwhile in North Korea…

Truly unbelievable praise for Dear Leader.

Speaker Johnson’s Lack of Institutional Ambition

Johnson is acting more as an agent of the president than of the Congress.

Mid-Week Tabs

Trump Demands a Coalition

That’s not how any of this works.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine conduct a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2026. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine conduct a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2026.

In Front of Our Noses: Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

Plus: the Strait of Hormuz.

Unserious and Reprehensible

Memes, movies, TV shows, and actual war. One of these things is not like the other.

A THAAD interceptor is launched from the Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, during Flight Test THAAD-23, August 30, 2019. label_outline A THAAD interceptor is launched from the Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, during Flight Test THAAD-23, August 30, 2019. label_outline

The Logistics of Massive Air Defense

Shooting down cheap drones with expensive missiles is problematic in more ways than one.

In Front of Our Noses: Manipulating the Media Landscape

Trump admin helping pick winners and losers

In Front of Our Noses: This is Just Weird

Really, more under RFK’s nose.

A Photo of Christian Nationalism

Right in front of our noses, one might say.

Jobs Report

A better than expected January, but downward revisions for 2025.

In Front of Noses: Petty Policy-Making

Of course, “policy-making” is giving more credit than is due.

Pentagon Cutting Ties With Harvard

Other schools are likely to follow.

Federal agents ram a man's vehicle and demand identification at Park Avenue and 35th Street in Minneapolis on January 12, 2026. The Latino man says he was let go once they realized he was a US citizen. While doing so, a crowd as well as more officers continued to arrive before releasing tear gas and pepper spraying members of the media and their cameras. Federal agents ram a man's vehicle and demand identification at Park Avenue and 35th Street in Minneapolis on January 12, 2026. The Latino man says he was let go once they realized he was a US citizen. While doing so, a crowd as well as more officers continued to arrive before releasing tear gas and pepper spraying members of the media and their cameras.

Take off the Masks

There is no reason for ICE operatives to wear masks save they don’t want to be held accountable.

Grifty Grifters Who Grift

He’s back to easy street.

The Affordability President

This’ll help those approval numbers…

In Front of Our Noses: Trump’s Values

Two examples to throw on the pile.