Vote Bucky 164: It’s Time to Dump the Chunk

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Our young insurgent faces the defending Fat Bear Week champion today.

I ate salmon last night to get properly stoked for today’s vote. Bucky and I are now brothers in fish—although he prefers his raw and still struggling.

Bear 164 Bucky faces defending champion Bear 32 Chunk. Chunk disappeared from Brooks River for much of the summer, then returned enormous and expecting another term. Classic incumbent.

Bucky earned his bulk in public. Only about nine years old, he pioneered a difficult fishing spot in the plunge pool beneath Brooks Falls. He catches salmon rising from below, leaping through the air and falling from above. Nobody else fishes there consistently.

Youth. Innovation. Transparency. Also, magnificently fat.

How to Vote

Voting runs today from noon until 9 p.m. Eastern.

  1. Go to the official Fat Bear Week ballot.
  2. Find 32 Chunk versus 164 Bucky.
  3. Select 164 Bucky.
  4. Enter your email and submit.
  5. When the totals appear, your vote has counted.
VOTE FOR BUCKY 164

Help Protect Their Home

Fat Bear Week accompanies the Otis Fund, supporting Katmai National Park through education, research, bear monitoring and the cameras that let us watch these magnificent gluttons enjoy their salmon. Voting is free; donations are separate.

Support the Otis Fund

Vote Bucky. Bear 164. Dump the Chunk.

In another election drama, Trailmix-fave Nene Royal won America’s Got Talent last night. She’s now the Queen of Rock!

💬 Add Your Voice: Comment Now
🔴 Our Podcast: Open Live Chat

91 thoughts on “Vote Bucky 164: It’s Time to Dump the Chunk”

  2. more on chunk vs bucky

    The official Fat Bear Week 2026 bracket is here—and this year, 16 contenders are fighting for the crown.
    We’re breaking down every opening matchup, including family units competing alongside individual bears, returning favorites like 32 Chunk and 903 Gully, and rising challengers like 164 Bucky.
    Who do you think will become the 2026 Fat Bear Week champion?

  4. from Reuters Judge blocks Trump’s White House media ban, orders access to be restored
    Summary
    Kelly orders administration to restore press passes immediately and bars ban’s enforcement for 14 days
    Judge says ban likely violates First Amendment and due process protections
    Justice Department had argued White House access is privilege and president can ​suspend it
    Sept 24 (Reuters) – A federal judge ordered US President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for ‌journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, saying his ban on the three media outlets was likely unconstitutional.
    In a major setback for Trump in one of his biggest battles with the media, US District Judge Tim Kelly issued his order in a lawsuit that the news organizations filed contesting the ban that the Republican president announced on September 18.
    Kelly ordered the Trump administration to ​immediately return the outlets’ press passes and blocked officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days. The judge rejected the government’s assertion that the ​ban was motivated by national security concerns.
    “The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs’ hard ⁠passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds,” he ​said, adding that Trump himself had stated the ban was due to “alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity” of the outlets’ reporting.
    The White House and representatives for the ​outlets did not immeidately respond to requests for comment.
    Trump had said on social media that the three outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES,” and Justice Department lawyers had sought to justify the ban on national security grounds.
    The three outlets sued Trump and other members of his administration in federal court in Washington on Monday, saying the ban ​violated the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press, as well as their due process rights. They requested a temporary restraining ​order that would immediately reinstate their White House access while their legal challenge plays out.
    The legal battle has unfolded just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections in which Trump’s ‌fellow Republicans ⁠are fighting to retain control of Congress. Trump’s job approval ratings are at record lows in opinion polls amid concerns over issues such as the Iran war and inflation.
    Kelly said at a Wednesday hearing that two precedents from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit made clear that journalists are entitled to due process before their White House press passes can be revoked. The judge added that it did not appear that the White House had given the ​targeted news outlets a meaningful opportunity to ​contest the revocation of their access.
    A ⁠lawyer for the news outlets told Kelly that they were banned without legally required advance notice or opportunity to contest the decisions, which he said were unprecedented, unreasonable and severe punishments.
    A Justice Department lawyer told the judge the Trump administration ​provided a sufficient explanation for the revocation of the press passes in letters sent to the news outlets on ​Tuesday. But the judge ⁠signaled skepticism of that argument, noting that the letters were sent after the revocation occurred and the lawsuit was filed.
    In a legal filing on Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that access to the White House is a privilege, not an entitlement, and that the president has the authority to suspend access by news organizations.
    A coalition of press ⁠freedom groups ​and dozens of news organizations filed a legal brief on Wednesday supporting the three news outlets. ​They asserted that “stripping journalists and news outlets of their rights because of perceived editorial viewpoint violates decades of Supreme Court jurisprudence.”
    The brief was signed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Reuters, ​the Washington Post and Fox News, among others.


  5. Sep 24, 2026 #News #Politics #Trump
    A federal judge has ordered the White House to immediately lift its ban on three news outlets, including MS NOW. Overnight, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order restoring access to MS NOW, CNN and Politico, ruling that Trump’s ban on the outlets is likely unconstitutional. The judge also rejected the Trump administration’s argument that the ban was motivated by national security concerns. Lawyers for the three outlets argued the ban was unconstitutional, retaliatory and an impediment to lawful newsgathering. MS NOW legal affairs reporter Fallon Gallagher and White House reporter Akayla Gardner join Way Too Early to break down the ruling.

  7. Trump Is the Most Judicially Restrained President in History

    Today’s restraining order is a rare judicial rebuke of a president — except for the current occupant of the White House.

    The bar is set deliberately high for a judge’s power to command an immediate halt before a case receives a full trial. Only six times in our history has it been directed against a president’s personal order.

    Half of those cases involved Trump.

    • Harry Truman, 1952: Ordered the government to seize the nation’s steel mills. A federal judge issued an injunction forcing the government to return them.

    • Richard Nixon, 1973: Continued bombing Cambodia. A federal judge ordered the bombing stopped, although higher courts quickly stayed the ruling.

    • Barack Obama, 2015: Created deportation protections for millions of undocumented parents. A federal judge blocked the program before it began.

    • Donald Trump, 2018: Revoked CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s White House credential. A federal judge ordered it restored.

    • Donald Trump, 2025: Punished the Associated Press for using “Gulf of Mexico.” A federal judge ordered the White House to stop excluding the AP, though an appeals court later narrowed the order.

    • Donald Trump, 2026: This morning a federal judge ordered the White House to immediately lift his ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico

    For injunctions of all types against a broader list of administration policies, Donald Trump is also the runaway historical leader. A Harvard Law Review study identified 127 nationwide injunctions issued from 1963 through 2023; 64—slightly more than half—targeted policies from Trump’s first term alone. His second administration has added dozens more. A 2026 Congressional Research Service count also found that Trump’s two administrations accumulated more nationwide injunctions than all other presidents.

  9. Except it doesn’t seem to have restrained him as MSNOW was refused entry this morning and another badge confiscated. It may be the system hasn’t yet caught up with the ruling, but so far they are still on lock out.

  11. “Trump Is the Most Judicially Restrained President in History”

    Mainly due to the fact that he is also the most insane.

  15. If you don’t do illegal/unconstitutional things, it won’t end up in the courts for judgements to go against you, Dumbass.

  16. Why single out LGBTQ and Trans for Furries. I don’t know anyone so inclined, but I would think they would be lean more toward straight or pan amorous.

  18. I’d like Tommy’s sources and their proof.

    If proven, I’d like proof that it diminished their abilities to fly airplanes, give the emergency talk, or provide needed support.
    As someone who once left an airplane in a wheelchair, and the airport on a stretcher, I can’t imagine how it would’ve had any negative impact on me if the full crew had been furries.

  19. And not just what he said. Look at the poster behind him. This transgender thing really is the focus of GOP end game midterm strategy. I’ve added up at least $50 million in ads on it, including almost all of Elon’s.

  20. Merlin kindly put together a list of actions by Secretaries of State to defend the vote in November. He will continue to monitor to keep me up to date. Links within document should be searchable.

    2026 Election Interference & State Safeguards

    Reference brief | Updated September 24, 2026

    Purpose. A factual snapshot of actions state election officials and allied state authorities are taking ahead of the November 3, 2026 U.S. general election, with emphasis on federal-state authority, election security, ballot handling, cybersecurity, audits, and litigation. This is not a prediction about the election outcome.

    Bottom line

    Yes. Multiple states are taking concrete actions intended to protect election administration from disruption, intimidation, cyberattack, unauthorized access to election materials, disputed federal demands, or post-election challenges. There is no single national defensive plan because U.S. elections are decentralized and are administered primarily under state law by state and local officials.

    Washington

    On September 3, 2026, the Washington Secretary of State and Attorney General released a guide for county election officials explaining state and federal roles in election administration and how to respond to potential interactions with federal officials.

    The guide covers federal investigations, subpoenas and verbal requests for information, the roles of federal personnel, and the legal prohibition on deploying federal law-enforcement personnel to intimidate voters.

    Washington elections are administered primarily by counties, so the guide is intended to give all 39 county election offices a common legal and operational reference before the November election.

    Official source: https://www.sos.wa.gov/about-office/news/2026/office-secretary-state-and-attorney-generals-office-release-guide-state-and-federal-election

    Michigan

    On May 8, 2026, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, and Attorney General Dana Nessel publicly stated that Michigan elections would proceed under federal and state law and that the state would oppose efforts to interfere with, delay, or intimidate the process.

    Michigan emphasizes that election administration is carried out by more than 1,600 local clerks as part of the state system, making the structure highly decentralized within the state as well.

    Official source: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/resources/news/2026/05/08/state-leaders-will-protect-michigan-elections-from-interference-and-delays

    Minnesota

    Minnesota officials have used litigation and voter-protection guidance to respond to federal election-related actions. In August 2026, a federal court dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Minnesota’s full voter-registration list, including nonpublic personal information.

    Minnesota also joined multistate litigation over federal election executive orders and over a USPS rule affecting mail-ballot procedures. In September, the Attorney General issued voter guidance addressing intimidation, misinformation, and interference, including conduct by federal officials.

    These actions illustrate one major state strategy: use state election authority, privacy law, and federal court review to contest federal demands believed to exceed lawful authority.

    Official source: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/09/18_Voting-Rights.asp

    California

    On September 19, 2026, California enacted a package of election-protection measures.

    AB 282 makes unauthorized seizure of ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before certification a felony. AB 1664 requires prompt notice to the Secretary of State and Attorney General when an election office learns of a warrant, subpoena, or law-enforcement investigation involving election records or certified voting technology.

    AB 2281 requires the Secretary of State to assess whether additional state resources are needed to replace election-cybersecurity resources previously supplied by the federal government. Other measures address interference with vote-by-mail delivery and deceptive election media.

    Official source: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/

    Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania relies heavily on paper records, equipment testing, reconciliation, and post-election audits.

    Voting systems are not connected to the internet, and votes cast on voting machines produce voter-verifiable paper records. Counties conduct Logic & Accuracy testing before each election.

    After the election, counties conduct both a statutory 2% audit and a statewide risk-limiting audit before certification. The state says risk-limiting audits can detect interference and confirm reported outcomes.

    Official source: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/elections/election-security

    National Association of Secretaries of State

    NASS continues its #TrustedInfo initiative, which directs voters to their own state and local election officials for authoritative information about registration, voting, counting, and election procedures.

    Because election administration remains decentralized, this national layer is principally coordination and public information rather than a single federal command structure.

    Official source: https://www.nass.org/initiatives/trustedinfo

    What these safeguards can and cannot do

    States generally control the mechanics of election administration, but federal law still applies to voting rights, civil rights, postal operations, federal criminal law, and other areas. Disputes over where one authority ends and another begins can therefore reach federal court.

    Paper ballots, chain-of-custody rules, pre-election equipment testing, reconciliation, and post-election audits create independent evidence that can be checked if electronic systems, unofficial reports, or public claims are disputed.

    Litigation can block or narrow federal rules or demands, but court rulings can also change quickly on appeal. A protection described here should therefore be treated as a current snapshot, not a guarantee of what will remain in force through Election Day or certification.

    Decentralization makes a single nationwide intervention difficult, but it also means the protective posture varies substantially from state to state and sometimes county to county.

  21. By the way, there’s a felon who raped children sitting in the WH, who many Republicans and evangelical MAGAts think of as their lord and savior. Tommy is one of them, so he will use anything that will act as a shiny object to distract folks from what he and the tRUMPublican Party have done to this country.

    Forget about your health. Forget about feeding your family. Forget about gas prices.

    Flying furries! Flying furries! Flying furries!

  23. Good work, Jamie. Keep Merlin on it. We need preliminary defense moves like that. I want to see court filings too, even though i’ll be tough getting prior restraint orders. Worth trying, to all attention to what they’re doing.

  24. Craig – I’m getting a new window installed, so probably won’t be available to discuss TOMMY’S FLYING FURRIES! (Doesn’t that sound like a carnival act?)

  28. Them magats gotta be really SUPER confused at this point…..Pres stealing billions; Red carpets and love letters from N Korea, China, and Russia; Federally sanctioned masked gunmen shooting American citizens on American streets; Trying to bust on Canada; Tuchas Carlson and MTG trying to eviscerate their golden calf; totally involved in another
    un-ending mid East war; all American prices and costs skyrocketing;

    There’s more, of course…..but now they’re probably just confused to the point of schizophrenia

  30. really is the focus of GOP end game

    did warn y’all

    it’s kinda too late to formulate a response too

    then the libdems will say i can’t believe this happened

    who could have predicted

  32. listen, if you beautiful people start defending furries as a political platform, you are the pawns your overlords think you are

    stop making it easy for them

    $5 gas, $5 gas, $5 gas

  33. The right wing in SC have been totally sick of Lindsay Graham for YEARS….they only voted for him because they had to…..because he was Republican and was a great supporter of their idol Stump.
    But I guarantee you SC magats really hated having to vote for him. (For one thing, he helped remove General Lee’s Confederate battle flag from the state house.)

    So what does that genius Gov Mac Massah do?
    HE APPOINTS GRAHAM’S DUMBASS SISTER.

    You should have read the room Gov, now you go into the SC Idiot Hall of Fame.
    LOL

  40. Big announcement for anyone you know on Obamacare. Sorry about the length.

    On September 22, 2026, Vice President JD Vance and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced that the Trump administration is removing roughly 760,000 enrollees from the ACA public healthcare exchanges. The core details include: “Phantom Enrollees”. Officials alleged that a portion of those being removed are fake or fictitious identities.

    Other Forms of Fraud: The administration noted the remaining bulk of removals consist of real people who were enrolled without their knowledge by predatory brokers or those whose applications were missing required Social Security numbers. The White House stated that canceling these unauthorized enrollments will recoup $2.2 billion in federal taxpayer subsidies.

    To prevent further phantom enrollments, the administration is placing a six-month temporary suspension on new insurance agents and brokers registering to sign up enrollees on the ACA marketplace.

    The administration announced it is currently performing “additional verification” on another 419,000 individuals suspected of being improperly enrolled. Critics and healthcare advocacy groups have called the move a political stunt, expressing concern that legitimate Americans could be stripped of their medical insurance without realizing it and will face hurdles trying to appeal and reinstate their coverage.

    If a legitimate citizen was mistakenly swept up in the recent ACA enrollment cancellation, they have the legal right to appeal the decision. Because these cancellations were executed on HealthCare.gov (the federal marketplace), the appeal must go through the Marketplace Appeals Center. The explicit methods of appeal and necessary steps to reinstate coverage include:

    1. You must file your appeal within 90 days from the date listed on your official Eligibility Notice. The three ways to submit the request are: Online: Log into your account on the HealthCare.gov Appeal Portal to submit digitally.

    By Mail: Download, print, and fill out the official Marketplace Appeal Form from the HealthCare.gov Appeal Forms Page and mail it to the address listed on the document.

    By Fax: Fax the completed form directly to the Marketplace Appeals Center.

    2. Fast-Track Your Request (Expedited Review)

    If losing coverage creates an immediate health crisis—such as being currently hospitalized or needing urgent life-saving medication—you can request an expedited appeal. You must explicitly state on your form that a standard wait time “could seriously jeopardize your life or health” to fast-track the review.

    3. Provide Proof of Eligibility – Because the administration’s purge specifically targeted missing data or unverified accounts, the appeal is highly likely to require hard documentation. Appellants should submit copies (never originals) of: Proof of Identity & Social Security Number: A copy of your Social Security card, driver’s license, or US passport. Income Verification: Recent pay stubs, tax forms, or W-2s to verify subsidy eligibility. Citizenship status: Immigration documents if applicable.

    4. Appoint an Authorized Representative If you are confused by the process or too ill to handle it, you can legally designate an Authorized Representative. This allows a trusted family member, friend, healthcare advocate, or attorney to sign documents, speak to officials, and manage the appeal on your behalf.

    What Happens Next? The marketplace will first attempt an informal resolution by reviewing the uploaded documents. If they still deny coverage, you have the right to a formal hearing with a federal hearing officer. If you win your appeal, your coverage can be reinstated retroactively, meaning any medical expenses you paid out-of-pocket during the lapse can be refunded or covered.

  42. How are folks who dress up as muppet-adjacent characters any different from folks who dress up for ComicCon or a Renaissance festival?

    Probably some are doing the deed at all of them, just like GRINDR crashing during Republican conventions.

  43. “i don’t know anything about that, just that gas is $5 a gallon and trumpco is the most corrupt regime in american history”

  44. WATCH OUR LIVE FAT BEAR VOTE CAST:

    C-SPAN’S Extreme Mortman drops in just in time to witness us cast our official ballot for Bucky the Bear. History made. This is DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED.

  45. Today in the Diner…
    Why Tommy Tuberville is terrified of pilots

    Senator Tommy Tuberville pushes a bizarre furry pilot conspiracy, while C-SPAN’s Howard Mortman reveals Doug Wilder 1992 campaign secrets.

    We start the day trying to untangle Senator Tommy Tuberville and his bizarre new obsession with airline pilots dressing up as furries. It is part of a broader midterm strategy in Texas and Florida to keep voters distracted from real issues, but it just ends up looking totally unhinged. Meanwhile, a judge has slapped the Trump administration with a 14-day stay over their White House press ban, and we are tracking the live fallout.

    On a much lighter note, we celebrate Nene taking home the million dollars on America’s Got Talent and gear up for Fat Bear Week. We proudly cast our official vote for Bear 164, also known as Bucky, hoping he can unseat the defending champion Chunk down at the Brooks River.

    To top it off, C-SPAN Communications Director Howard Mortman drops in to share some incredible political history. He walks us through former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder and his often-forgotten 1992 presidential run against Bill Clinton. It is a masterclass in the messy, behind-the-scenes realities of campaign politics before the efficiency experts step in and break up the show.

    Live Chat: https://trailmix.cc/chat
    Website: https://trailmix.cc
    Alerts: https://trailmix.cc/alerts

    00:00 Intro
    00:44 Tommy Tuberville Furry Conspiracy
    14:26 Nene Wins Americas Got Talent
    16:46 Fat Bear Week Bucky vs Chunk
    20:30 Trump White House Press Ban Update
    35:05 Texas Midterm Election Polling Shifts
    42:15 Chris Christie and Jared Kushner
    49:40 CSPAN Howard Mortman Joins
    53:15 Doug Wilder 1992 Campaign
    01:03:00 Voting for Bucky Live
    — Human Prompted and Edited. Machine Drafted. (Gemini Pro)

  47. Update from Merlin re attack on voter rolls: Keep an eye on actions by YOUR Secretary of State.

    There is one significant new development since the earlier check.

    Reuters reported at 10:02 a.m. UTC today, September 24, that the White House has directed federal agencies to accelerate a Department of Homeland Security review of voter rolls from at least 47 states. DHS has reassigned hundreds of personnel to the effort and is cross-checking voter records against immigration, State Department and Social Security databases. Where states supplied redacted voter rolls, DHS is supplementing them with information purchased from the commercial data service Accurint.

    The important warning flag is accuracy. Reuters reports that federal officials themselves have encountered false positives, including U.S. citizens with names resembling those of immigrants and citizens born abroad. DHS reportedly had only “some degree of confidence” that flagged individuals were noncitizens who had registered or voted. In Nevada, DHS initially identified nearly 16,000 possible noncitizens, but when state officials requested substantiation, DHS had verified only 185 and declined to provide additional information Nevada requested.

    This does not mean voter registrations are presently being cancelled en masse. The meaningful development is the scale, direct White House involvement, and accelerated timetable of the federal review so close to voting. That makes it worth watching for what states do with any lists DHS sends them, particularly whether they independently verify individual records before taking action.

    Reuters: White House pushes for speedy review of voter rolls

  50. Jamie I don’t really understand why the administration is still putting all that effort into getting voter rolls. We’re now inside the 90 day ban on purging votor rolls. If thec intention is to throw them out one by one somehow. unlikely they can do that enough to affect outcomes? Like everything else with fascist regimes they are actually incompetent at governing. I don’t think this crowd has the competence to actually achieve any of their voter suppression goals but we still need to pay close attention and worry about it.

  52. That whole ban the press thing….just another bullshit stunt for the attention.
    They shoulda stayed out to see what his dumbass would do then. He’s so fulla shit and they all hop around him like a bunch of trained poodles on Ed Sullivan.

  58. You know….. something I just cannot fathom is how those people can tap dance. To me it’s one of the greater mysteries of the universe.
    How do they do that? I’ll never know.
    I guess it’s one of those “the journey is more important than the destination”things.
    I mean, take a gander at Cagney with “Ysnkee Doodle Dandy”.
    That’s a mystery.

  59. it’s cuz you don’t have expensive tastes like them

    you think marco can go back to living without a personal private army at his doorstep

    eg

  62. GOP’s Next Midterm Headache: Home Mortgage Crisis

    Mortgage rates just topped 7%, rising $36 a month on an average loan.

    The average 30-year fixed rate climbed from 6.76% to 7.03% in only two weeks. On a new $400,000 mortgage, that raises principal and interest by about $72 a month—roughly $864 a year. Same house. Same loan. More money disappearing before the buyer even gets the keys.

    The rise from 6.76% to 7.03% adds about $18 per month for every $100,000 borrowed on a 30-year fixed mortgage.

    A reasonable national shorthand is about $400,000 for a new purchase mortgage.
    The latest Mortgage Bankers Association figure specifically for newly built homes is $373,194. Broader purchase-application averages have recently exceeded $400,000.

    On a $400,000 mortgage:

    • At 2.98%: approximately $1,682 a month
    • At today’s 7.03%: approximately $2,669 a month
    • Difference: $987 more every month

  67. 20% down used to be standard on a 20 year mortgage. Not many have $80000 just laying around. So there is darn little equity at the top and facing 30-40 year mortgage which means paying for that house at least three times over and probably dying before it’s paid off.

  69. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/23/trump-xi-summit-us-china-trade-rare-earth-soybean-plane.html

    Here’s how the crappy negotiation Dumbass did with China in May is going so far in the article.

    Promises, promises.
    We got: A non-binding order for 200 Boeing aircraft, which was fewer than expected; soybeans they need anyway, but less from the US and more from elsewhere.
    They got: The right to buy more US farmland, and chips…which the techbros want to keep them from having.

  74. Among the guests: Elon Musk (Tesla and SpaceX)Jeff Bezos (Amazon)Tim Cook (Apple)Sundar Pichai (Google / Alphabet)Sam Altman (OpenAI)Greg Brockman (OpenAI)Michael Dell (Dell Technologies)

  76. Lest she be forgotten on this thread, the great Eleanor Powell…and Buttons.

    Ann Miller, Donald O’Conner, and many more great dancers that kids don’t know about.

  81. heard on the hill…

    The man responsible for protecting the Republican Senate majority has gone from predicting expansion to privately warning that the GOP is fighting for survival.

    Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told colleagues:

    “We’re in the fight for our lives with a record number of toss-up races.”

    Even Republicans in supposedly safe states should “run like they are behind,” because the NRSC cannot afford to rescue them.

    Just six months ago, Scott was publicly talking about building a 55-seat Republican majority.

  84. State Dinner Contrast

    Trump played up the personal connection aggressively. He leaned heavily into their “truly great friendship”. He framed the relationship as a bond built on mutual respect and affection, describing it as “a very special relationship” and praising Xi for the hospitality he received in Beijing back in May.

    Xi’s remarks, however, were much more structural and policy-driven. He noted their “personal rapport,” but used his platform to lay out strategic positions. He emphasized that competition must be “kept within bounds” and warned against conflict, explicitly bringing up the need to keep AI “under human control” and ensure Chinese companies are “treated fairly” in the U.S.

  85. Xi Goes Back To The Thucydides Trap
    Earlier in the day he stated that with the right conditions in place—such as strengthening communication and respecting each other’s interests—”the Thucydides trap can be overcome.” He paired that remark with a suggestion that “achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again go hand in hand.”

  86. BUCKY WON!!!

    Trailmix is on a roll: We got Dolly airport, Nene won AGT, and now this.

    Update, September 24, 2026, 9:05pm EDT: We will not have a back-to-back Fat Bear Week champion this year. Fishing ace Bucky Dent knocked 2025 champ Bear #32 (Chunk) out of contention. — Popular Science

  87. Was Timmy under the impression that tRUMPublicans had done anything to help people.
    Does he not understand the folks need to eat AND put gas in their car AND keep a roof over their head AND not be terrified of the militarization of US streets AND are disgusted by the corruption in government AND not want to be surveilled AND not want to be in a costly, unending, illegal war?
    As a POC, did he think anything his party is doing will help anyone walking down the street who looks like him?

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