Everyone quotes the “Dream.” Almost everyone ignores the Demand. In a new Trail Mix Brief and on ELEVEN TO NOON we’re deep diving into Dr. King’s final, most radical chapter: the fight for a Guaranteed Annual Income.
In 1968, King had a disapproval rating of nearly 75%. Why? Because he stopped asking for a seat at the table and started asking for the money to buy the meal. We dig into the data behind his “Economic Bill of Rights,” his prediction of the AI era (“cybernation”), and the modern bill in Congress trying to make his theory the law.
🔴 Join our 11am ET chat.
Attribution: MLK dream unfinished by Dave Granlund, PoliticalCartoons.com
given today’s turmoil, to paraphrase the good Rev: I have a dread… and more than one… about what happens next
musical message from MLK
https://www.wgbh.org/news/2018-01-12/examining-the-precious-hymn-that-inspired-mlk
more music and a message that could be preached today for the MN protestors
“let us march in discipline”
‘…. take a stand against bigotry because it is wrong, it is evil and injust”
Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Chicago Freedom Movement in the 1960’s.
“The movement included a large rally, marches and demands to the City of Chicago. These demands covered a range of areas beside housing discrimination in the United States, including educational inequality, transportation and employment discrimination, income inequality, health inequality, wealth inequality, crime in Chicago, criminal justice reform in the United States, community development, tenants rights and quality of life.”
a verse to continue our sermon of the day;
“and the lying will lie down with the lame”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jan/19/
Board of Peace. What a load of horse shit. (Or is it horseshit? I’m never sure)
In his 1967 speech, “Where Do We Go From Here,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. laid out a direct case for a guaranteed annual income as a primary tool to abolish poverty.
Key Highlights from the Speech:
The Necessity of Income: King argued that the nation must either create full employment or create incomes to ensure every person is a consumer.
The Failure of the Market: He observed that the blind operation of the economic system and discrimination often force industrious people into idleness against their will.
Individual Dignity: King believed that stable and certain income allows individual dignity to flourish by putting life decisions back into the hands of the person.
The Cost of Priorities: He famously noted that if the United States could afford $35 billion a year for the Vietnam War and $20 billion to put a man on the moon, it could certainly afford to spend billions to “put God’s children on their own two feet right here on earth”.
This address remains the foundational text for the modern debate on Guaranteed Annual Income and Universal Basic Income.
Read the Trail Mix Brief on the continuing debate — MLK: The Forgotten Demand. More on our 11am ET chat.
“Those who are capable of tyranny are capable of perjury to sustain it.”
― Lysander Spooner
In addition to remembering MLK, give some thought to another birthday boy born on January 19: Lysander Spooner (1808-1887).
The civil rights movement didn’t end with a vote—it was moving toward a paycheck. Before he was taken, MLK was demanding a guaranteed annual income for every American.
We’re digging into the radical economics of Dr. King on today’s ELEVEN TO NOON livestream. 🎙️
Pogo – These are the details on the ~Board of Peace~ and it’s that last paragraph that shows the purpose of his madness (in addition to the grift).
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-wants-nations-pay-1-215228202.html
The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least $1 billion.
According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, President Donald Trump would serve as its inaugural chairman and would decide on who is invited to be members.
Decisions would be taken by a majority, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman’s (tRUMP’s) approval.
“Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force,” the draft says.
Critics are worried that Trump is trying to build an alternative, or rival, to the United Nations, which he has long criticized.
As COB of the ~Board of Peace~ Orange Adolf would be dictator of the world (or anyone corrupt or stupid enough to pay to get into the clubhouse). Dictator to the dictators.
He & his regime are gonna run the table if not stopped now. Europe still thinks it’s just Orange Adolf who is the problem.
Universal Basic Income talk:
https://www.obama.org/presidential-center/campus/
The Obama Presidential Center is an awe-inspiring 19.3 acre campus nestled within Chicago’s historic Jackson Park.
***
…scheduled to open in June 2026, as announced by Obama himself this week. [early Dec]
*Trail field trip? (After Sean Duffy isn’t in charge of the planes, though.) I suppose Orange Adolf will try to ruin the grand opening, which is easy because all he does is ruin things. Anyway, the renderings of the campus look beautiful.
remember when the internet was fun and easy to use and every page didn’t crash from ads
BiD, i am not a fan of that Obama library building. Maybe I’ll get used to it, but it looks like randomly piled sheet metal to me. But yes, a Trail field trip is a fine idea.
Chicago’s cultural opportunities get high praise from my friends who appreciate culture
Wouldn’t you know our pal Thomas Paine was proposing guaranteed income (and social security) from the start.
From his book “Agrarian Justice” (1797):
• The “Stakeholder” Payment: Every person, upon reaching age 21, would receive a one-time payment of £15. This was intended to provide young people with “start-up capital” to prevent them from falling into poverty.
• The Retirement Pension: Every person over the age of 50 would receive £10 per year for life to ensure dignity in old age.
i think you’re gonna have to get the madman, and all of his enablers, out of power before realizing any socialist pipe-dreams
first things first
and we may as well admit that people who already have theirs have no interest in equality, one can’t enjoy elevated status in an egalitarian society, and people really enjoy their elevated status
BiD… Rick is healing slowly. The hardest part is that he can’t lift weight for a few days. So I am doing everything around the house. We had 6 inches of snow overnight… so I’m the shoveler and have to take bags of pellets into the house for our pellet stove (thank god we switched from 40 lb bags to 20 lb bags a few years ago). I’m tired… but I’m surprising myself.
As for the Patriots…. I’m still trying to believe this is happening. When the season started, I wanted 8 wins for the season. If they got 9 wins, I’d be really happy as it would mean a winning season. Never dreamed this would happen.
Ivy… sorry about Bo Nix… your team earned that no. 1 seed.
It should be an interesting game next week.
today’s meme…
Thanks, Renee. Glad for the Rick update. Keep an eye on him he lets the healing process take its full course. Mr. Ivy is back to lifting and other activities. His only complication was a hematoma in the arm that they ran the stent and bruising after.
We’re feeling sad about Bo. We got to meet him (and his lovely wife Izzy) who were sweet to take time to converse with us during a chance encounter in the baggage claim of the B’ham airport. He is a such gentleman. And she wanted to know about us! It was truly kind.
I had my own fractured ankle repaired at the sports clinic in Birmingham. They will take good care of him.
🏈🏈
For guaranteed income discussion:
Federal Poverty Guidelines for FFY 2026
[Last updated 12/01/2025]
House-
hold Size 100% Poverty 110% Poverty 125% Poverty 150% Poverty 175% Poverty 185% Poverty 200% Poverty
1 $15,650 $17,215 $19,563 $23,475 $27,388 $28,953 $31,300
2 $21,150 $23,265 $26,438 $31,725 $37,013 $39,128 $42,300
3 $26,650 $29,315 $33,313 $39,975 $46,638 $49,303 $53,300
4 $32,150 $35,365 $40,188 $48,225 $56,263 $59,478 $64,300
5 $37,650 $41,415 $47,063 $56,475 $65,888 $69,653 $75,300
6 $43,150 $47,465 $53,938 $64,725 $75,513 $79,828 $86,300
7 $48,650 $53,515 $60,813 $72,975 $85,138 $90,003 $97,300
8 $54,150 $59,565 $67,688 $81,225 $94,763 $100,178 $108,300
9 $59,650 $65,615 $74,563 $89,475 $104,388 $110,353 $119,300
10 $65,150 $71,665 $81,438 $97,725 $114,013 $120,528 $130,300
11 $70,650 $77,715 $88,313 $105,975 $123,638 $130,703 $141,300
12 $76,150 $83,765 $95,188 $114,225 $133,263 $140,878 $152,300
For households in the District of Columbia or in any state except Alaska and Hawaii at 100 percent of HHS federal poverty guidelines with more than 8 members add $4,540 for each additional member. For such households at 110 percent of HHS federal poverty guidelines with more than 8 members add $4,994 for each additional member. For such households at 150 percent of HHS federal poverty guidelines with more than 8 members add $6,810 for each additional member.
Note: For optional use in FFY 2025 and mandatory use in FFY 2026
SNAP (Food Stamp) amounts vary by household size and income, with the maximum monthly benefit for a single person in the contiguous U.S. around $298-$299 (as of late 2025/early 2026), while larger households receive more, like $546 for two people; however, your actual benefit depends on deductions for expenses like shelter and medical costs, with averages often lower than the maximum, around $188 per person nationally.
Maximum Allotments (Approx. Late 2025/Early 2026)
These are the highest possible amounts before deductions:
1 Person: ~$298 – $299
2 People: ~$546
3 People: ~$768
4 People: ~$975
How Benefits Are Calculated
Your benefit isn’t just the maximum; it’s calculated based on your household’s net income (after deductions).
Calculate Net Income: Subtract allowed deductions (like shelter, medical, child care) from your gross income.
Determine Benefit: Your SNAP amount is generally 30% of your net income, subtracted from the maximum allotment for your household size.
Average Benefits
The average SNAP benefit per person was about $177 in FY 2023, though the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projected it to be around $188 per person in FY 2026.
https://people.com/trump-links-greenland-invasion-plans-nobel-loss-letter-to-norwegian-prime-minister-11888073
PBS NewsHour reporter Nick Schifrin first posted the copy of the letter, which was sent on Sunday, Jan. 18, and later confirmed by Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre.
In it, Trump wrote, “Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”
Reposted on X:
@nickschifrin
NEW: @potus letter to@jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, ano is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about What is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”
10:31 PM · Jan 18, 2026
Doing “homework” on a book I’m reviewing and decided to discuss it with AI. It was totally wrong in its recap of the book’s ending! If I had not already known the answer, I would at this time be sadly misinformed. Pity any students who rely on AI instead of doing their own reading.
https://www.diis.dk/en/research/colonial-past-and-the-us-wish-to-buy-greenland
In 1917 Denmark sold Danish West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands) to the US for 25 million dollars’ worth of gold. Denmark at that time no longer regarded the Danish West Indies as profitable.
Today the US Virgin Islands are a non-integrated territory of the United States, which means that Virgin islanders cannot vote for presidential elections and are considered a de facto colony by the UN.
However, when Denmark and the US in 1916 negotiated the sale of the Danish West Indies, the US as part of the treaty acknowledged Denmark’s right to full sovereignty over all of Greenland.
The Danish colonization of Greenland did not encompass the entire island at the time. The treaty was negotiated during WW1 shortly before the US entered the war. Only in 1921, after the Peace Treaties in Versailles that concluded WW1, did Denmark declare full sovereignty over all of Greenland. In 1953, as part of the US backed decolonization process, Denmark decided to integrate Greenland into Denmark as a county.
The Greenlandic National Council consented to the decision, but they were given only little time to decide and there was never a referendum on the matter in Greenland. This has since been criticized.
Greenland obtained Home Rule in 1979 and even more importantly in 2009 with the Act of Greenland Self Government, Greenland was recognized under international law and by the Kingdom of Denmark as a People entitled to external self-determination. The Greenlanders thus possesses a legal right to statehood.
Greenland is thus not Danish property. Any attempt by another country to “purchase” it would be a breach of international law – and neither Greenland nor Denmark would agree to that.
*China should step up and say they’ll protect Greenland from the US & Russia…confirming that they want nothing in return. If they need something then the exception could be the right to purchase exclusive mineral rights, but only as Greenlanders see fit.
How stupid is America to give its great power to a petty tyrant?
Rhetorical question, answer obvious.
it’s not common stupidity that gets me. It’s the complete abdication of responsibility by every Congressional rethuglican
oh and zionists getting in bed with neo-nazis, just foolish
at least some of them have to regret platforming some really reprehensible people
All the “power” comes from the people. That’s why programming and propagandizing them is so important.
Garbage in, garbage out.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/?s=Basic+income
For nearly a decade, a German contest has given hundreds of people 12 months of no-strings cash to see how it might change their lives.
***
The simple act of cash distribution can alleviate poverty and improve health — including families’ health and early childhood development. (NYC)
***
A cash transfer experiment in New Orleans has proven how responsible many high schoolers can be with money if given the chance.
***
The percentage of people who had housing at the 10-month check-in of the Denver Basic Income Project climbed to 45%
***
When One City Gave People Cash, They Went Out and Got Jobs
Residents of Stockton, California who received $500 a month disproved the notion that handouts make people lazy.
Shame we don’t have news stands anymore. Guess just substitute CNN
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674907852/
The roughly $250 million sale of Venezuelan crude went to Vitol, a Geneva-based energy and commodity trading firm whose U.S. arm is headquartered in Houston. The Financial Times reported late last week that John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol, was involved in his company’s efforts to secure the deal.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) noted on social media that Vitol has a “criminal history of bribing foreign governments” and called the Venezuelan oil deal “fundamentally corrupt.”
“Trump took Venezuela’s oil at gunpoint, and gave it to one of his biggest campaign donors,” Murphy wrote. “Vitol had to buy access to Trump because under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t be able to get a deal like this.”
*What happened to it being bad oil; thick, like tar; nobody wants the stuff?
Ivy, I was sorry to hear that Bo broke a bone in his foot. I was looking forward to the matchup next Sunday. Stidham was a good college QB, but his pro career has been negligible – in his 7 year career he’s played in 20 games, with 4 starts in his career (1-3) and hasn’t thrown a pass in a game since 1/7/24. Nothing like jumping from the fat into the fire.
Dr. King was fighting for a guaranteed income the day he was assassinated, but 2026 America is also interested in “Crockpot Candy” and AI replacing middle management.
From UBI pilot programs in Chicago to the National Guard on standby in Minnesota—it’s a messy, beautiful, and slightly stale world out there.
TODAY’S RUNDOWN:
00:00 Intro
01:30 MLK Guaranteed Income Philosophy
04:45 Andrew Yang Freedom Dividend Legacy
06:12 AI Job Displacement Projections 2030
07:50 Cook County Guaranteed Basic Income Success
11:15 Lazy Man Cooks: Crockpot Candy Recipe
14:30 Don Lemon and St. Paul Church Protests
18:40 Governor Walz and National Guard Activation
22:15 Trump Norway Nobel Prize Letter Analysis
26:40 Lysander Spooner Abolitionist Philosophy
31:05 Thomas Paine: Father of Social Security
#UBI #MLKDay #TrailMixLive #UniversalBasicIncome #Aut
meme #2…
Ha! Also, a joke in Soviet Union.
One newspaper is called Truth правда and one is called News извэстия (spelling?) and the saying goes: ‘There’s no truth in the news and no news in the truth.’
I was listening to today’s Trail Talk, and I have an alternative reason for C-BS airing the CECOT piece, beyond blowback; they feed on heat. Barri Weiss has not changed her tune, but (a) the piece was already out in the world so (b) they had nothing to lose by airing it except maybe fooling a few folks into thinking the network could still be trusted to deliver the truth/news. They can not be trusted, nor the other broadcast networks from what I’ve seen of the evening news.
…heard that our refinery network is designed to be able to process that type of crude
Another Trumpy meme I made.
HA!
*Disney ticked every box; lineage, birth rates, religion, education…
Anon, I heard the same thing about heavy, sour crude over the weekend. Must be true, right? Seems like it’s more expensive to produce gasoline and diesel from than light, sweet crude, but if the refineries are set up to refine it, it’s probably not going to make much difference in the market when it gets dumped there.
Pog, thanks. Alabama team surgeon is doing the operation. Roll Tide.
Honestly, I think I’ll be okay if Renee’s team wins. 🏈
it’s all profit when you steal it
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/lecture/
Dr. King delivered this lecture in the Auditorium of the University of Oslo. This text is taken from Les Prix Nobel en 1964. The text in the New York Times is excerpted. His speech of acceptance delivered the day before in the same place is reported fully both in Les Prix Nobel en 1964 and the New York Times.
*The Nobel Prize Organization put up the text of MLK’s speech today…not that Orange Adolf can read, but still 🙂
Craig,
Can you identify the WordPress plugins you used to create this comment form with the b, i, link, and quote options above Comment and the name, email, and website options below?
What TF is this about? Or should we ask Who?
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/18/politics/army-navy-football-trump-broadcast
Roger that. I was just noodling about the effect if any on the domestic gasoline market, but since when has an oil company passed any savings along to the shmucks (us) who buy the end product?
Trump vows executive order to protect Army-Navy game from competing football broadcasts
smells like he’s planning a speech at half time or is running commercials during the game and wants all the eyeballs he can get, Ivy
Good for Dumbass and the Army-Navy game (It’s the weekend following the SEC, and almost every other major conference championship game.) Not sure that EO has much chance of being incorporated into the FCC regs, but go for it. It’s traditionally not much of a game – Nay’s won it something like 17 years i a row) and I can’t remember when either of those teams competed in the National Championship race under any of the various formats. All I can say is make DAFF sit outside and freeze whatever remains of his nuts off for 3 hours.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/wall-street-journal-flags-a-dark-downside-to-donald-trump-s-greenland-push/ar-AA1Uuwrk?ocid=BingNewsSerp
yep, maybe breaking up NATO was what putie and dodo have been talking about behind closed doors since the meetings in helsinki & alaska and the many morning phone calls at WH & mal an ego.
The next Army/Navy game isn’t until December. They may be referring to the one just played on December 13 last year.
I’m hoping he’s gone by the next one.
a kleptocracy isn’t capitalism so i have no good economic analyses
Here is the video of the Powderhorn Park Art Sledding. They were going to cancel it due to Renee Good’s death, but decided to do it in honor of her! Love my Minnesotans!
Just got a Weather Channel notification about a 100+ vehicle pileup (40+ semis) on I-196 in western MI. Gotta love people who are sure they can drive in the snow – until they can’t.
Got this from a YouTube viewer (and occasional Trail Mix commenter) — below is my response (could have gone on for days but this is enough):
Pilar writes…
My response…
Why I Despise Donald Trump
It comes down to the ‘Role Model’ test. When the rhetoric and the relationship with the truth don’t align with what we teach our kids at the dinner table, it creates a friction that goes beyond simple politics. It’s not necessarily hate; it’s a defense of the standards we used to take for granted.
The Relationship with the Truth
This isn’t about “political spin”—it’s about the repeated use of demonstrable falsehoods to gain an advantage, which undermines the lesson of accountability.
The “Small Loan” Myth: For years, Trump claimed he started with a “small loan of a million dollars” from his father. Investigative reporting (notably the 2018 New York Times exposé) proved he actually inherited at least $413 million. The Role Model Issue: Teaching kids that it’s okay to rewrite your history to look more self-made than you are.
The Crowd Size Claims: Starting with his first inauguration, he insisted on “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration,” despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary. The Role Model Issue: Modeling that one should prioritize ego over objective, visible reality.
The Birther Conspiracy: He spent years promoting the debunked claim that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. Even after admitting it was false in 2016, he attempted to blame the rumor on Hillary Clinton. The Role Model Issue: Showing that you can launch a career on a lie and never truly take responsibility for the harm it caused.
The “30,000” Benchmark: Independent fact-checkers (like the Washington Post database) documented over 30,000 false or misleading claims during his first term. The Role Model Issue: Normalizing a “flood the zone” approach where the volume of untruths makes it impossible for a child to distinguish what is real.
The Empathy Gap
Empathy is the ability to acknowledge the suffering of others, even those you don’t like. The “Bill of Particulars” here involves moments where personal or political grievance took precedence over basic human compassion.
Mocking a Reporter with a Disability: In 2015, Trump physically mimicked the movements of a reporter with arthrogryposis. The Role Model Issue: It violates the “Golden Rule” taught in every kindergarten classroom: you do not make fun of people for things they cannot change.
The Reiner Comments (December 2025): Following the tragic murder of director Rob Reiner’s wife, Trump’s public response focused on Reiner’s “Trump Derangement Syndrome” rather than offering standard condolences. The Role Model Issue: Teaching that a political grudge justifies coldness in the face of a family’s grief.
The “Losers and Suckers” Reports: Multiple sources, including John Kelly (his own former Chief of Staff), confirmed Trump questioned the value of visiting a cemetery for fallen soldiers, calling them “losers.” The Role Model Issue: Modeling a lack of respect for sacrifice when it doesn’t offer a personal “win.”
Attacking Gold Star Families: His public feud with the Khan family (who lost their son in the Iraq War) showed a willingness to attack the parents of a fallen soldier because they criticized him. The Role Model Issue: Showing that no one—not even a grieving parent—is “off limits” from a counter-punch.
Jamie, no, he’s talking about establishing a 4 hour Army-Navy no football for anyone else window from here to eternity. FCC of course has no J/D over streaming services and cable content. (Google IT – “The FCC regulates broadcast content, but generally not cable networks or online platforms, due to differing regulations for traditional airwaves vs. cable/internet delivery.”) Little detail that Dumbass probably doesn’t even realize. I’m sure he’ll use the force of his personality to get streaming platforms and cable companies to honor his wishes.🤣
Katie, love the sledding video
Housekeeping note: A quirk of our code on here is that YouTube videos don’t embed unless the url is on a line by itself. Weird, I know, and i haven’t figured out why. Moved your link above to it’s own line and it magically appears!
poor Pilar still playing dumb on all platforms
hey guys, what’s so bad about the dehumanizing mendacious thieving divisive self-dealing racist arsonist mob-boss masquerading as a leader
Could somebody please explain to me?
if only someone could succinctly articulate it
China’s population has decreased for the fourth year in a row. This is great except the idiots are now trying to get people to have children because they are worried about the costs in support due to job loss, retirements because of AI.
This is actually the exact opposite of what should be done. Encourage fewer children. Support people leaving the workforce as they die off and keep decreasing until things are in balance for labor needs.
If we did this worldwide, the environment would get a much needed break.
Anon,
I believe Egalitarian should be equality of opportunity not everything even for everyone. Whatever talents a child has can be stunted by lack of food, housing, education and healthcare. That is where the emphasis should be. If they get to be a prima ballerina, Olympian, Movie Star or millionaire business person will be up to them.
A long time ago, when I worked in the oil and gas business, one California field I worked at had thick oil. Fields that have thick oil use steam to heat it so it can be pumped to the surface and transported in pipes. One day as we wrapped up working on a pumping unit a vacuum truck passed by on the way back to the yard. We were following it, but at a very respectable distance. A six inch hose was starting to drop off the rear of the truck and we were not interested in stopping it with our truck. As the hose end bounced on the road oil started to come out. Not flowing, it looked like a tube of thick, black, toothpaste slowly oozing out. It did not break off, very thick.
I use that word in the context of universal basic income
There is a large cohort of Americans that don’t want to see other people do well and they vote Republican
https://www.threads.com/@the_equinox_equation/post/DTrN-TmDLr3/media
No red flags yet. Talarico Looks like the real deal, could be the first Texas Democrat elected statewide in 30 years..
Minnesota indigenous ice out dance.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1185147630396724
Pilar
Outside of him being an evil, corrupt, racist who has gathered a group of like minded individuals in his administration, who basically are ruining this country and it’s standing in the world?
Other than that?
Was that your question?
Jack
So here’s this little excerpt from WaPo’s coverage of Dumbass’ Greenland/EU bullshit this weekend:
I wasn’t aware that Bessent doesn’t speak English, or whatever variant of it that Dumbass texts in.
That giant can of de-icer did great & the applause 💕 I thought it would tip over. Fascists don’t know what to do with whimsical resistance.
patD is probably correct. Orange Adolf wants to give a speech or, hell, maybe he’s the halftime show. He doesn’t want any counter-programming of the same genre.
One other reason; get all eyes looking for football on the same game & propagandize the heck out of it. Gotta indoctrinate as many as possible, and make sure MAGAts get their red, white & blue booster shot.
I effing dread his Super Bowl interview.
It will be interesting to hear the debate between Crockett and Talarico.
The Repugz definitely want to run against Crockett.
Will their purging of voter rolls and any other shenanigans to disenfranchise black voters (who are primarily in Crockett’s corner; I read 90% per one poll) backfire on them and give them Talarico?
***
On the first day of school, Talarico woke up to a text from his mom with a quote that would guide his next two years in the classroom: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
His students remembered him lining them up to shake their hands on the first day, and making it a point to set expectations and create a collaborative, cozy environment. He applied his mother’s advice to reading, telling his students — many of whom were reading well below grade level — why he loved books and how they would read stories together that would stay with them forever.
The “Big Goals” he set for his students, as declared on a poster above the library he built, were to advance two years in reading level, and read 40 books by the end of the year.
In an exhaustive legal opinion released on Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized decades-old and long-moot guidance issued by John Cornyn, his opponent in the March 3 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, and claimed a litany of Texas initiatives meant to offset historical discrimination against people of color and women are unconstitutional.
Legal experts quickly pushed back on Paxton’s claim in a press release that the opinion is binding, arguing that the attorney general cannot unilaterally overturn state laws by declaring them unconstitutional. And Cornyn, the state’s senior U.S. senator who served as state attorney general from 1999 to 2002, bashed the 74-page opinion, accusing Paxton of using the Office of the Attorney General as a political weapon in their closely watched GOP primary contest.
“Was this bogus ‘opinion’ an illegal, in-kind contribution to his campaign? Inquiring minds (and the Federal Election Commission) want to know,” Cornyn posted on social media. “Abusing his government office for personal and political gain. AGAIN”
“You’d think a competent Attorney General would know that what I issued more than 25 years ago was a retraction of incomplete guidance due to litigation, not an ‘opinion,’” Cornyn said on social media. “This is yet another waste of time and taxpayer dollars by the TX AG, showboating for attention.
By the way, SCOTUS upheld the logic that led to my retraction, and the case in question eventually and rightfully found that race cannot be used in admissions.”
*They deserve each other.
Yep, internecine Republican squabbles are fun to watch. Uh-huh, nunh-uh…uh-huh, nunh-uh…
Jamie, I use three comment-enhancing plugins:
— Comment Edit Core for the editing options
— DCO Comment Attachment for images/video
I think the one you might want happens to be the free one:
— Simple Comment Quicktags
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v07je1119o?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D
Lying ban for politicians in Wales prompts free speech fears
The Welsh Labour government wants to make it a criminal offence to make false or misleading statements of fact to help an election candidate.
A Conservative MS said the aim was understandable but that it had been rushed and warned it could “inadvertently restrict legitimate debate”.
It criticised the lack of a consultation, and the fact that it does not define exactly what a “false or misleading” statement is, to who it would apply or how.
*But what IS the truth, really? “It all depends on what your definition of “is” is.”
Adolf has invited Poo-tin to join his ~Board of Peace~ Will the billion-dollar entrance fee be waived or reduced? Will Adolf really be the COB, or will he be Vlad’s puppet there, too.
Wonder what intel will be traded between Adolf & Vlad in Davos this week?
https://www.kiro7.com/news/politics/judge-refuses-block/QTRYUZYBBAYYJDSITMBV6CNFNA/
A federal judge refused Monday to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring a week’s notice before members of Congress can visit immigration detention facilities.
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., concluded that the Department of Homeland Security didn’t violate an earlier court order when it reimposed a seven-day notice requirement for congressional oversight visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.
Cobb stressed that she wasn’t ruling on whether the new policy passes legal muster. Rather, she said, plaintiffs’ attorneys representing several Democratic members of Congress used the wrong “procedural vehicle” to challenge it. The judge also concluded that the Jan. 8 policy is a new agency action that isn’t subject to her prior order in the plaintiffs’ favor.
*So, no surprise inspections. No time to clean up for company. If they had nothing to hide, they wouldn’t mind a pop-in visit.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-rewarding-ice-bonus-looks-like-pay-per-cuffing3000-arrests-per-day-quota-revealed-1771886
According to The Wall Street Journal, the motivation behind these aggressive tactics is strictly numerical. The Saturday report uncovered that President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are eligible to receive a bonus if they successfully meet a quota of 3,000 arrests per day.
This setup reeks of a ‘pay-per-cuff’ culture where it doesn’t even matter if the arrest holds up in court. Agents reportedly earn these financial rewards even if the individuals they arrest are subsequently released. It is basically telling officers to cast the widest net possible to hit their daily stats, worrying about the legal details later—if at all.
*Call your Senators; no more funds for ICE. Like, what the heck happened to all funds they got in the big, ugly law? Now, they want more? Noem need a third jet? More face filler?
https://factually.co/fact-checks/employment/ice-signing-bonus-repayment-clawback-terms-before-five-years-15b2a3
Executive summary
The open reporting reviewed shows ICE is advertising signing/retention bonuses up to $50,000 as part of a large recruitment push, but none of the items examined contain the agency’s full, explicit repayment or clawback language that would apply if a new hire leaves before five years; public job postings and federal practice suggest a service-agreement repayment regime is likely, but the exact dollar-for-dollar terms, prorations, waivers, and exceptions are not published in the sources reviewed [1] [2] [3]. Reporting also documents the political and operational context driving the incentives: a massive funding increase and a rapid hiring drive that have drawn scrutiny and a brief, abortive experiment with performance bonuses for quick deportations [4] [5] [6].
*So, maybe they have to repay bonuses if they don’t stay for five years, maybe not. Hope it’s true because these guys are already whining about working conditions, not being popular with the folks that they aren’t nabbing, not being able sleep because protesters serenade them all night. They don’t seem like guys who have any stick-to-it-iveness.
Let tRUMPsky’s nasty letter to Norway be a lesson to the world that he can not be appeased. Norway’s request for a phone call and deescalation on Greenland was seen as weakness.
Complete and total annihilation is the only thing that he will understand. I hope they hand his ass to him.
Dick Cheney’s doctor …
Jonathan Reiner @JReinerMD
https://www.newsweek.com/how-to-see-northern-lights-geomagnetic-storm-power-grid-11382078
A severe geomagnetic storm forecast for January 2026 could disrupt electric grids across 11 northern U.S. states and provide a rare opportunity to see the northern lights as far south as Alabama, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC),
According to the SWPC, such space weather can overwhelm electrical systems, particularly as grid demand hits new highs and infrastructure faces increased stress from climate and technological expansion.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/18/europe/europe-greenland-threat-tariffs-analysis-intl
“NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.’ Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Earlier on Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump and told him that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong,” according to 10 Downing Street.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has tried to cultivate a good personal relationship with Trump, described the threat of tariffs as “unacceptable.”
Revealing she had already had a phone conversation with Trump, Meloni said she “doesn’t agree” with the idea of imposing tariffs against countries that contribute to Greenland’s security.
Eight European countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany and France, issued a joint statement Sunday saying that, “tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Sunday he also spoke to Trump about the issue. “We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week,” he said.
*Wow, the EU is channeling some Chuck Schumer energy. By whatever means, if the US has Greenland, it’s actually Russia that has Greenland.
well the brexiteers want their nose back and the EU is like “it’s not so easy to put back on”
looks like we’ll get a taste of that
for no good reason
Is it “name-calling” to point out that someone is insane?
Asking for a friend.
Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday said he has found “much alignment” with Chinese President Xi Jinping in their views on Greenland, which some experts say is a signal of a new pragmatism in Canadian foreign policy while facing what Carney called a “new world order.”
“I had discussions with President Xi about the situation in Greenland, about our sovereignty in the Arctic, about the sovereignty of the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark. And I found much alignment of views in that regard,” Carney told reporters after his meeting with Xi.
“Canada and China have the policy position of maintaining the status quo, vis-à-vis that of the United States,” said Lynette Ong, professor of political science and director of the China Governance Lab at the University of Toronto.
Happy Birthday, Edgar.
Anyone see the auroras? I did not.
A mind is a terrible thing to have never had one of.
*Time will tell if he’s correct, but it all tracks. Those 1,500 paratroopers in Alaska aren’t headed to MN. Elbows up, Greenland, or whatever you say over there.
Bid, nothing here.
Sturg, in the immortal words of Gregg, you can’t lose what you never had.
🚨 CHENEY’S DOCTOR: TRUMP UNFIT? 🚨
CARDIOLOGIST WHO TREATED VP CALLS FOR ‘INQUIRY’…
CITES ‘CRAZY’ GREENLAND LETTER…
‘NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO THINK OF PEACE’…
LIVE 11am ET 🗣️ https://trailmix.cc/chat
https://www.rawstory.com/stephen-miller-ice-2674910166/
Conservative commentator Jonah Goldberg had a sharp response Monday to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s unfounded claims that local and state police should “stand down” and “surrender” to ICE agents.
“First of all, on the Stephen Miller thing, I’ve read the Constitution a couple of times. Nowhere in there does it say that the White House deputy chief of staff can order local law enforcement in a sovereign state to do — I almost cursed — anything, and it’s all not like maybe I missed some reporting that there has been some order or request made from federal authorities,” Goldberg said.
“But like the president, never mind the White House chief of staff doesn’t get to tell local law enforcement officers to lay down their weapons and surrender. I don’t know what the hell that means,” Goldberg added.
*Surrender to the Gravy Seals?
Blues words to live by.
Everybody wanna go to heaven but ain’t nobody wanna die.
Nobody loves me but my mother—and she might be jivin’ too.
You know, rubber on wheel faster than rubber on heel.
—Lightin’ Hopkins
I heard Papa tell mama—let that boy boogie-woogie. It’s in him, and it gots to come out.
—John Lee Hooker
Big Boss Man…..well you ain’t so big, you just talk that’s all.
—Jimmy Reed
Tote that barge, lift that bale….if you drink a little scotch you’ll land in jail.
I got one foot on the platform and the other’s on the train
—Huddie Ledbetter
Feel like I been tied to the whipping post.
Another mule been kickin’ in my stall.
—Muddy Waters
Loves dem blues.
How ‘bout them Hoosiers?
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