61 thoughts on “Sunday Serendipity”

  2. coming to you this week — the SOTU

    Attribution: State of the Union by Bill Day, FloridaPolitics.com
    [Bill Day is a two-time winner of the RFK Journalism Award in Cartooning, and his cartoons are syndicated internationally by Cagle Cartoons. He is currently the editorial cartoonist for FloridaPolitics.com]

  3. WARNING: not-suitable-for-tender-ears language ahead

    once more relevant 6 years later

    Sep 25, 2020 #PublicEnemy #WYGDWTGGD #FightThePower2020
    The legendary Public Enemy is back! Stream the new album “”What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down”” Now: https://PublicEnemy.lnk.to/WYGDWTGGD

  6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/22/trump-disapproval-post-poll/

    As President Donald Trump prepares to address the nation Tuesday evening, Americans remain generally sour about his performance, with majorities disapproving of his handling of priority initiatives while saying he has overreached the authority of his office, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.
    The president’s approval rating stands at 39 percent positive and 60 percent negative, including 47 percent who say they strongly disapprove. The last time Trump’s disapproval touched 60 percent was shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Among registered voters, Trump’s approval is 41 percent and his disapproval is 58 percent.
    Dissatisfaction with Trump applies to specific issues, as well, with significant majorities saying they disapprove of how he is handling the economy, tariffs, inflation and relations with other countries. His worst rating is on inflation — 32 percent approve of how he has dealt with the issue. On the question of his handling of the economy overall, 41 percent approve, but while he still gets low ratings on this, the gap between negative and positive assessments has narrowed from 25 points negative in October to negative 16 this month.
    For Democrats, Trump’s relatively low standing provides opportunities for the upcoming midterm elections, but the party out of power has made little headway in persuading Americans that they have better ideas or policies to offer and are seen as no more in touch with the concerns of the average person.
    Asked whether they trust Trump or Democrats in Congress to handle major issues, 33 percent cite the president, 31 percent say Democrats, 4 percent say both equally and a crucial 31 percent say neither. In April, Trump led by 37 percent-30 percent on this question.
    Trump will deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress after a disruptive first year that has produced some successes but more controversies.
    Though his approval rating has sagged from the early months of 2025, it is not statistically changed from 41 percent in October. That highlights the degree to which opinions about Trump remain firm and largely fixed among both his supporters and the far larger group of detractors. In the new poll, 85 percent of Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance while 94 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of independents disapprove. Those numbers are almost identical to the partisan breakdown in a Post-ABC-Ipsos poll in October.
    Trump has issued more executive orders by far in the first year of his second term than any recent president, and those efforts do not sit well with most Americans. Nearly 2 in 3 (65 percent) say he has gone beyond his authority in exercising the powers he claims, rising from 57 percent early in his second term.
    Most Americans (56 percent) say he is not committed to protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms. More than 6 in 10 (62 percent) say he is using the presidency to enrich himself, and 56 percent say his administration has not been transparent in releasing government files from the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.
    Other aspects of his presidency also draw negative reactions. After earlier threats to take over Greenland, from which he has backed away, and only six weeks after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a majority (54 percent) say they oppose his use of the military to force changes in other countries, while 20 percent support him, with 26 percent expressing no opinion. Those findings provide a snapshot of public opinion as the president weighs possible military action against Iran.
    […]
    There have been some cracks in the GOP’s solid support for Trump recently with a record-low 48 percent of Republicans now saying they “approve strongly” of his performance, down from 63 percent one year ago.
    Assessments of Trump’s character and fitness show some change over time. Americans remain roughly evenly split on whether Trump is a strong leader, as they have been for several years. The percentage of people who say Trump is not honest and trustworthy — 70 percent in the new poll — is as high as at any time in a Post-ABC poll.
    On two personal attributes, negative perceptions have grown. The percentage saying he lacks the mental sharpness to serve effectively has increased steadily over the past three years and now stands at 56 percent. On the question of his physical fitness to serve, Americans are split almost evenly, 48 percent saying yes and 51 percent saying no. At the beginning of 2024, 57 percent said he had the physical health to serve effectively.
    For Democrats, the new poll offers a reminder of the challenges they face, not just in the 2026 elections but looking further ahead. For one, they have struggled to persuade Americans that their ideas are superior to Trump’s.
    Asked whom they trust to deal with reducing the cost of living, for example, about one-third of Americans say Trump, one-third say Democrats and one-third say neither. On immigration, Trump continues to have a slight advantage, 38 percent to 34 percent for Democrats.
    Similarly, when asked who is more connected to the concerns of people, Trump and the Democrats fare equally poorly. By nearly 2-1, Americans say each is out of touch. Trump has shown a slight deterioration on this measure over the past year while Democrats have shown a slight improvement. But the broad findings are a reminder of the distrust that Americans have about their elected officials no matter the party.
    Recent special and off-year elections have shown, however, that the Democratic base appears more energized. That could prove to be a potentially critical advantage in a midterm election year when turnout historically dips from the previous presidential campaign. Because of the combination of Trump’s poor ratings and those special election results, Republicans are braced for losses in November that could return Democrats to the majority in the House.
    Read detailed results The Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. The poll was conducted Feb. 12-17 among 2,589 U.S. adults. The sample was drawn through the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, an ongoing panel of U.S. households recruited by mail using random sampling methods. The sample is weighted to match population demographics, 2024 turnout/vote choice and political partisanship. Overall results have a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points; the error margin among 2,087 registered voters is 2.2 points.

    Isabelle Gibson contributed to this report.

  7. A fat orange man, delusional and demented, says he is going to send a U.S. hospital ship to Greenland to pick up a sick U.S. sailor. The sailor was transferred from his submarine to Greenland’s healthcare system for care.

    The U.S. has two hospital ships, often sent to disaster zones and support for presidential military adventures. The two ships are in dry dock undergoing repair and maintenance work, they will not be going anywhere anytime soon. The harbor in Greenland cannot handle the size vessel either.

    But mangomoron is ready and willing to do anything for the U.S. military. (okay, that is a joke, he hates the military)

  8. BB, the response
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/22/

    Greenland does not need US hospital boat sent by Trump, says Denmark
    Defence minister rebuffs US president’s claim that Arctic islanders are ‘not being taken care of’

    Greenland does not need medical assistance from other countries, Denmark has said, after Donald Trump said he was sending a hospital ship to the autonomous Danish territory that he wants to acquire.

    “The Greenlandic population receives the healthcare it needs. They receive it either in Greenland, or, if they require specialised treatment, they receive it in Denmark. So it’s not as if there’s a need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland,” the country’s defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, told the Danish broadcaster DR on Sunday.

    In Greenland, as in Denmark, access to healthcare is free. There are five regional hospitals across the vast Arctic island, with the Nuuk hospital serving patients from all over the territory.

    Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, defended Denmark’s healthcare system, writing on Facebook that she was “happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all. Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment.”

    “You have the same approach in Greenland,” she said, before adding: “Happy Sunday to you all” in front of a blushing, smiling emoji. [continues]

  9. A masterclass in dignity and rhythm at the Digital Diner 11-NOON ET.

    From the biting wit of Laurence Fishburne’s reading of “To My Old Master” to the powerhouse soul of Big Mama Thornton, we’re exploring the composition of American freedom (whatever we actually end up talking about).

    Join us at https://trailmix.cc/chat

  10. Like it, Jack, particularly the letter from Jordan Anderson to his prior master.

    I always marvel at the old jazz and blues recordings and what the recording engineers have been able to do with them.

  11. BB, perhaps he might consider sending ICE Barbie’s toy over to Greenland with a medical team and fly the sailor back to WRH for the healthcare the demented orange man receives on our dime. And he doesn’t even have to come up with the idea – it’s right here.

  12. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Our daily Digital Diner podcast airs at 11-Noon ET on YouTube. JOIN the chatroom here — or WATCH a replay here.

    What America is Actually Clicking: February 22, 2026

    1. Trade War: Trump says he’ll raise tariffs to 15 percent after Supreme Court ruling. Associated Press
    2. Banking: JPMorgan Chase admits closing Trump’s accounts after Capitol riot. Associated Press
    3. Travel Delays: Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs amid government shutdown. Associated Press
    4. Winter Storm: South Jersey could see 18 inches of snow as a severe winter storm approaches the Philadelphia area. CBS News
    5. Economy: The Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs. Now comes the hard work of issuing refunds. Associated Press
    6. Politics: [Ongoing] Trump boasts of over $1.5B in political funds. How he chooses to spend it could rock the midterms. Associated Press
    7. Criminal Justice: Amateur YouTube detectives’ constant streams put cases in jeopardy as search for Nancy Guthrie continues. The Guardian
    8. Local Governance: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani warns blizzard will bring massive snow totals, dangerous icy roads. CBS News
    9. Business: [Ongoing] Tariffs paid by midsize US companies tripled last year, a new study shows. Associated Press
    10. Offbeat: [Ongoing] To aficionados, fungi are freaky, mystical and overlooked. They’re helping scientists learn more. Associated Press

    These are the stories driving the most traffic across major U.S. outlets right now—not necessarily the stories we think you should read, and not always the most recent.

    — Silas

  13. The Presidency is not a Fucking Toy The Unredacted Bastard has a few words to share.

    Let’s stop pretending this is normal.

    It is not normal for executive power to be waved around like a middle finger with a seal on it. It is not normal for constitutional limits to be treated like annoying speed bumps on the road to ego gratification. And it sure as hell is not normal for half the political class to clap like trained seals every time another institutional guardrail gets kicked in the shins.

    Under Donald Trump, the presidency keeps getting handled like it’s a personal toy chest full of levers labeled “Push This and See What Happens.”

    That’s not leadership.

    That’s reckless as shit.

    And if you can’t see the difference anymore, that’s part of the problem.

    This Is What Erosion Looks Like, You Oblivious Bastards (I’m talking to you, MAGA)
    You don’t wake up one morning and find democracy duct-taped to a chair.

    You wake up to a thousand tiny “adjustments.”

    A power expansion here.
    An emergency justification there.
    A “temporary” measure that never actually goes away.
    A loyalty purge disguised as reform.

    And every time it happens, the excuse machine revs up.

    “It’s legal.”
    “It’s within authority.”
    “The other side did it first.”
    “Stop being dramatic.”

    Here’s a fun fact: a whole lot of authoritarian garbage starts out technically legal. The law can be bent. The boundaries can be stretched. The spirit of the Constitution can be pissed on without technically setting it on fire.

    That’s how it works.

    It’s not one giant coup. It’s death by a thousand rationalizations.

    💣 TRUTH BOMB
    If you keep cheering while your team stretches executive power, don’t act shocked when the next asshole uses the exact same stretch to screw you.

    “He’s Just Talking” — No, He’s Testing the Damn Fences
    Every time Donald Trump floats some wild expansion of executive authority, you get the same tired chorus:

    “He’s just talking.”

    Bullshit.

    Presidents don’t “just talk.” Presidents signal. Presidents pressure. Presidents condition the system.

    When the most powerful executive in the world starts publicly probing what he can get away with, that’s not random chatter. That’s a stress test. It’s poking the fence to see where it bends. It’s daring institutions to push back.

    And here’s where it gets ugly: when the pushback is weak, delayed, or politically inconvenient, the message is clear.

    Push harder.

    So he does.

    And the next test is bolder. The next suggestion is more aggressive. The next “maybe we’ll try this” edges closer to the line that used to be sacred.

    Sacred doesn’t mean shit if nobody defends it.

    The Cult of “Own the Libs” Governance
    Let’s say the quiet part loud: a frightening number of voters don’t care whether something is constitutional. They care whether it humiliates their enemies.

    If a policy pisses off the right people? Fantastic.

    If it bulldozes an institution they already distrust? Even better.

    That’s not civic engagement.

    That’s blood sport.

    And when politics becomes blood sport, the Constitution becomes collateral damage. Limits are framed as weakness. Due process becomes an obstacle. Oversight becomes sabotage. Suddenly, the only virtue that matters is dominance.

    That is not how a republic functions.

    That is how a strongman narrative hardens.

    Democracy Damage Report — And Yes, It’s Real
    You want specifics? Fine.

    When executive power is treated like a personal battering ram, civil servants stop feeling insulated from political revenge. Career professionals get labeled traitors for doing their damn jobs. Inspectors general get sidelined for not playing ball. Judges get smeared as enemies because they enforce limits.

    Over time, that pressure reshapes behavior.

    People self-censor.
    People hedge.
    People decide it’s safer to nod than to object.

    That’s how you hollow out a system without formally dismantling it. You make integrity costly. You make independence risky. You make obedience the safer bet.

    And once that culture sets in, good luck unfucking it.

    💣 TRUTH BOMB
    Exhaustion is the tactic. If you’re too damn tired to track the power grab, you won’t fight it.

    “The System Will Hold” — Stop Saying That Shit (I’m talking to you again, MAGA)
    The system is not a magical force field.

    It’s human beings.

    It’s lawyers who can be fired. It’s officials who can be replaced. It’s watchdogs who can be neutered. It’s norms that only survive if people respect them.

    Norms are not self-enforcing. They are agreements.

    And when the guy at the top repeatedly treats those agreements like optional suggestions, the signal travels downward fast.

    Why respect limits if the boss doesn’t?

    Why defend guardrails if your own side calls them betrayal?

    That’s how degradation becomes culture.

    Not overnight.

    But steadily.

    Relentlessly.

    This Is Bigger Than Party — It’s About Power, You Stubborn Hellions (Pay attention, MAGA)
    Here’s the part tribal die-hards hate: executive overreach is dangerous no matter who’s doing it. If you only scream when the other party stretches authority, you don’t believe in limits. You believe in winning at any cost.

    And that mindset is how you wake up one day with a presidency that’s effectively untethered from restraint.

    The presidency is not a fucking toy.

    It is not a revenge fantasy fulfillment device.
    It is not a loyalty sorting machine.
    It is not a goddamn ego amplifier strapped to nuclear codes.

    It is a constitutional office built with deliberate friction because the Founders understood something very basic:

    Unchecked power turns ugly.

    Always.

    I don’t care what red hat or blue bumper sticker you’re rocking. If you normalize the steady expansion of executive authority because it feels good in the moment, you are laying bricks in a wall that will eventually box you in, too.

    And when that day comes, screaming “this isn’t fair” won’t mean a damn thing.

    You helped make it normal.

  14. Pog – Yep, because she lied and said that the new, tricked-out jet would be used for deportations…this is the absolute least she could do.

    Will they time SFB’s meds do he’s semi-coherent for the SOTU? Will Stephen Mitler’s actual hand be up Adolf’s suit jacket, moving his neck waddle around? Will they falsely claim there’s been some sort of threat against him, and let him sit behind his desk with full diaper and unload to Congress via camera? Will it be an ai tRUMPsky (apres Charlie Kirk) that appears via video?

    Will Dems muff it up on the National Mall by letting Jeffries take the lead? A leader he is not, and hopefully on his way out in favor of someone more progressive.

  15. So UFO files are his latest attempt at distracting from prices, the Epstein cover up and tariff slap down? Nice try Dumbass. It isn’t working.

  18. Law enforcement shot and killed armed man trying to enter Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service says

    Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw said during a press conference that a deputy and two Secret Service agents went to investigate when the security detail detected that someone entered the Florida club’s perimeter.

    “They confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun,” Bradshaw said. “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.”

    “At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat,” he continued. “He is deceased at the scene.”

    No law enforcement officers were injured, the Secret Service statement said.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/law-enforcement-shoots-kills-man-mar-lago-secret-service-rcna260141

  20. Jack, I like that you go digging for the good stuff and better stuff. It make Sunday into an actual “happening” here. I always look forward to seeing what you’re going to pull next out of your magical mystery musical hat. Thanks.

  22. Conservative columnist Nicole Russell of USA Today wrote a column recently that the Detroit Free Press shared. Nicole, a mother of 4, said she voted for Trump and she’d do it again. But, that doesn’t make her a racist. Yesterday, the Free Press posted replies to her column in which people pushed back on her take. As for me, if you have to say that you’re not a racist because you voted for a guy that should tell you about the person you voted for. Also, Matthew Moroun (whose family essentially owns Detroit’s Ambassador Bridge) made a $1 million dollar donation to the MAGA Inc. PAC less than a month before Trump spoke out against the Gordie Howe Bridge. The Morouns were angry when the other was was proposed. They’ve had quite the monopoly since they’ve owned the Ambassador Bridge.

  23. The more someone says they are proud to be American, the more I think they are MAGAts and that’s just coded language.

    There’s not much to be proud of, especially now.

  24. GOLD!!!

    Rick and I got up early to see the gold medal hockey game between the USA and Canada. It was worth it… the USA won the gold 46 yrs to the day of when the 1980 team beat the Russians. It took overtime to do it.. the US won 2-1…

  26. RR, what a great ending, eh? What was it = goal at 1:41 into the first O/T? Have to say that with a very few disappointments, this was a good Winter Olympics for the US.

  27. Robert De Niro Warns There’s ‘No Way’ Trump Ends 2nd Term in 2028 Without a Fight: ‘It’s Up to the People’ | Exclusive Video

    Robert De Niro warned MS NOW anchor Nicolle Wallace that President Donald Trump will not go willingly at the conclusion of his second term.

    “He will never leave,” De Niro told Wallace in an exclusive “The Best People” clip obtained by TheWrap. “We have to make him leave. He jokes now about nationalizing the elections. He’s not joking. We’ve seen enough already.”

    Trump has teased that he has not ruled out seeking a third term as president, despite the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which prohibits this action. De Niro told Wallace that Americans should believe he means what he says.

    “Let’s not kid ourselves,” he added. “He will not leave. It’s up to us to get rid of him.”

    *I think Father Time might take care of him.

  28. Pogo… I grew up with hockey. Both my parents being from Canada. I watched the women’s team take the gold over Canada and now the men’s team. Yup… it’s been a fun Olympics… glad it’s done now. I’ve spent 2 weeks staying up past my bedtime to see the highlights.

    Looking forward to the Celtics vs Lakers BB game later tonight.

  29. As of February 2026, reports indicate Russian military casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) have reached approximately 1.2 million, with around 325,000 killed. Ukrainian casualties are estimated at 500,000 to 600,000, with 100,000–140,000 fatalities. Russian losses significantly exceed Ukrainian losses, often cited at a 2-to-1 ratio.

    Russian Casualties (Estimated as of early 2026)
    Total Casualties: ~1.2 million (killed, wounded, or missing).
    Fatalities: ~325,000.
    Context: These losses are considered the highest for a major power since World War II, dwarfing combined Soviet/Russian losses in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

    Ukrainian Casualties (Estimated as of early 2026)
    Total Casualties: 500,000–600,000.
    Fatalities: 100,000–140,000.
    Context: While significantly lower than Russia’s, these losses represent a high toll on personnel, sustained through a “defense-in-depth” strategy using fortifications and drones.

    Key Factors Influencing Numbers
    Attrition Strategy: Russia has largely employed a high-cost war of attrition, resulting in heavy infantry losses.
    Defensive Advantage: Ukraine’s use of trenches, minefields, and surveillance has resulted in higher Russian losses.
    Data Reliability: Neither side releases official, accurate figures; these numbers are based on estimates from organizations like the CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies, RAND, and Western intelligence.

  31. Olympic gold in overtime, $8 canned tomatoes, and the mystery of the missing diner door.

    We’re digging into Wendy’s chili secrets, FDR’s view of the Russians, and why the Nighthawks can’t find the exit.

    Watch today’s Digital Diner here:

  34. Just finished one of the stupidest little chores I could do here in the Mid-Atlantic area, I stopped at the local grocery stores to find some Paisley Farms 5 Bean Salad. We are expecting a storm, currently rain mixed with snow flakes, but changing to all snow in a few hours, about two to eighteen inches of wet snow. The place is packed; at least everyone is civilized, so far. TP multi-paks are selling well. I did not find the 5 Bean Salad, but I did find pickled herring in wine sauce. I can survive on that for a while.

  37. The Unredacted Bastard has a few words to share.

    he’s “writing” that shit with ai, has all the hallmarks

  38. ai loves saying “something isn’t this, it’s that”

    be advised any other ai “writers”, dead giveaway

  40. I know from my gardening that San Marzano tomatoes take forever to ripen so I guess that’s why they are so expensive

    but EIGHT DOLLARS??

  41. I splurged on Cento authentic, Anon — they are certified by Italian monks or something like that. I usually get “San Marzano style” made in California with real seeds, less than half the price

  50. Dodo, dat you?

    Soon after the Supreme Court ruling striking down President Donald Trump’s tariffs was announced, CSPAN opened up its phone lines and got a call from an incensed viewer who identified himself as “John Barron.”

    John Barron, of course, was the alias used by Trump to plant stories with journalists in the 1980s and ’90s. In a clip which spread widely on social media Sunday, a CSPAN caller borrowed that moniker to impersonate Trump and rage against the Court’s opinion.

    “John in Virginia, Republican, let’s hear from you,” said CSPAN host Greta Brawner — bringing Barron on the air.

    “This is John Barron,” the caller said. “Look, this is the worst decision you ever have in your life, practically. And Jack’s gonna agree with me, right? But this is a terrible decision. And you have Hakeem Jeffries, who — he’s a dope! And you’ve have Chuck Schumer, who can’t cook a cheeseburger. Of course these people are happy! Of course these are people happy, but true Americans will not be happy. And you have the woman earlier — I assume she’s a woman, she’s a Democrat — but she’s … devastated by this.”

    “All right, John,” Brawner said — cutting off Barron after 32 seconds.

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/watch-john-barron-calls-cspan-145438563.html

  51. lol is he at that again??

    what a weirdo damn

    ah ok that’s an impressionist on that c-span call

    the trump impressionists fail to capture the dementia influence on his current speech pattern

  52. San Marzano tomatoes are the ultimate chili flex. I confess to dropping $8 on a single can of peeled tomatoes for today’s slow cooker recipe. Extravagant? Yes. Worth it? Probably not. Katie talks up brown sugar as a flavor influencer.
    Watch the moment in today’s Digital Diner podcast:

  56. Craig – like many others who grew up eating “ethnic” foods and did not know it until much later in life. I became lazy and buy prepacked pickled herring rather than make my own. I still do my own pickled salmon because it is not a common shelf item around here. I suppose I should put a recipe up for the TrailMix cookbook sometime.

  57. Everyone knows Elvis sang “Hound Dog,” but Big Mama Thornton actually did it first. DJ WhskyJack drops some wild music history to close out Black History Month on Trail Mix Live. 🎙️
    Watch the clip from today’s Digital Diner…

  60. MAXWELL BLACKMAIL?l

    We’re kicking off Monday at the Digital Diner with the explosive reports that Ghislaine Maxwell is holding a “90,000-page secret” over the administration. Is she really offering “truth for clemency,” or is this just a high-stakes leverage play using sealed trial documents?

    We start with the Maxwell files at 11:00 AM ET, but as always, once the coffee is poured, anything is on the menu.

    Grab a stool and join the chat room:
    https://trailmix.cc/chat

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