Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
ABC makes a change and the FULL Biden/Stephanopoulos interview is airing as a special on Friday, 8 PM. https://t.co/e3Ab4R4dhY
— Eugene Daniels (@EugeneDaniels2) July 4, 2024
It’s simple: Donald Trump is a threat to our democracy and fundamental freedoms.
With your vote, we will stop him this November. pic.twitter.com/8ThNfBjar8
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 3, 2024
Thursday Morning Open Thread: Independence DayPost + Comments (413)
Welcome to stage 5 of “Washington’s Ultimate Road Trip,” the Cascade Loop. Today, you’ll be joining me on the road from Wenatchee to Winthrop, with a couple of side trips to explore the Entiat River Road and Lake Chelan. The main highway ran parallel to the Columbia River.
Note: You can see full-size versions of these photos here.
On The Road – PaulB – The Cascade Loop, Part 5Post + Comments (10)
A view from the road, looking east across the Columbia River.
Late Night Open Thread: The SC(R)OTUS Immunity Theory, IllustratedPost + Comments (107)
I hope James Lileks doesn’t mind our posting the whole column that was written by his dog, Birch.
Go click the link when you’re done reading!
(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A couple of quick housekeeping notes. First, it took me three tries to spell housekeeping correctly. So we’ll see how the rest of tonight’s update goes.
Second, Rosie is still doing well during her second week off between the second and third rounds of chemo. Round three starts Monday. Thank you all for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations.
Third, my answer to hrprogressive’s question last night was meant to simply answer the question. I do appreciate the kind words. And you are all most welcome.
As of 7:35 PM EDT, most of northern Ukraine, with the exception of Kyiv Oblast, is under air raid alert.
Russia opened up on Kharkiv and Dnipro again today.
Russia hit Kharkiv with three guided bombs launched from Belgorod. Until Ukraine can hit the airfields where these planes take off, the terror will keep going. Why do we always have to ask for what’s so obvious?! pic.twitter.com/PlQQucAfIt
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) July 3, 2024
A couple stands in disbelief at the ruins of their home, destroyed by a russian air strike. Today, three aerial bombs hit Kharkiv, damaging houses and civilian infrastructure. Eight civilians were injured, including a child.
📹place_kharkiv pic.twitter.com/lKjSBVXgNw
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) July 3, 2024
The new russian FAB-500 air bomb, which is twice as powerful as the KAB and FAB-250, can now reach any point in Kharkiv, Governor Syniehubov said. With a new range of 80 km, every air alarm lasting 12-16 hours poses a real threat.
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) July 3, 2024
Russia attacked residential areas of the Dnipro city with missiles. They did it in morning when there are a lot of people on the streets. The shopping mall was damaged. At least 5 civilians killed
It’s hard to believe that there are people in Europe and USA who justify this pic.twitter.com/LWprjKGot2
— Денис Казанський (@den_kazansky) July 3, 2024
Imagine starting your morning like this. pic.twitter.com/p9PznECKCg
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) July 3, 2024
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
War for Ukraine Day 861: Russia Ramps Up the Bombardment of Kharkiv & DniproPost + Comments (46)
Sincere posting:
If you are a moderately attentive partisan D, you've known since 2020 that Biden was coming out of retirement to try to stop the apocalypse, was going to be carried out on his shield, and knows it.
— Antieukalyptustische Aktion (@bkmacd) July 1, 2024
Reuters:
WH’s @KJP46 says Biden moving forward with his presidency and re-election campaign and “absolutely not” stepping aside
— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) July 3, 2024
NBC:
President Biden on call with staff just now:
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running."
"No one is pushing me out.”
"I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end and we're going to win."
— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) July 3, 2024
I don’t read Propane Jane as often as I should, because she’s so prolific, but this thread is excellent:
When Biden announced his candidacy in April 2019, he literally framed it as ‘look, I know I’m old, but America is in such tremendous peril that I’m compelled to un-retire and lead the battle for the soul of our nation.’ We had a ginormous field of youthful candidates, but HE WON. https://t.co/n5d39FK5qE
— Propane Jane™ 🔥💣 (@docrocktex26) July 2, 2024
Wednesday Evening Open Thread: The ‘Debate’ Goes Ever OnPost + Comments (193)
First, from what I’ve seen there’s nothing in the polls to justify the bedlinen micturating that’s happening right now. The last I saw was an aggregate one point shift away from Biden, which is meaningless unless it continues.
Second, I’m seeing “when did this happen before” stories, but “this” (Biden being pushed out, in the hopes of those writing the stories) hasn’t happened before. Both Truman and LBJ, the last two Democrats who chose not to run for a second (really more like a 2 1/2) term, quit after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary. Biden won all the primaries except for Alaska, and it wasn’t even close.
We can argue all day about whether the Democrats should have more serious primaries. For example, I think that 2016 could have benefitted from a more robust set of candidates. But in 2024, unlike in 1952 and 1968, no serious candidate thought it was worth challenging Biden.
There’s never a shortage of politicians who hope that some deus ex machina moment will make them President or VP, short-circuiting the years of work that it normally takes to run for the office. I think we’re seeing some of that in the current panic. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I sure am not amused.