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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

How stupid are these people?

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

We are aware of all internet traditions.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Everybody saw this coming.

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sandy beach, with water and sky. i'm a toes in the sand kind of girl

TaMara

You are here: Home / Archives for TaMara

TaMara has been a Balloon Juice writer since 2015.

Here I Am Again, With Another Positive Message

by TaMara|  June 13, 20258:35 pm| 46 Comments

This post is in: 2025 Activism, Something To Think About, We All Need A Little Kindness

Let’s start out right here: if you’re not interested in a positive take on current affairs or interested in hopefulness instead of hopelessness, move right along. This is only going to piss you off.

But I have to get through the day. And I know there are some folks here struggling to find a way to get through the day, too. I feel like I can at least do something to help with that.

Here are two videos I watched today that I found helpful, especially since I have been both angry and heartbroken hearing all the lies about California, particularly LA. A city where I have lived, worked and played off and on over the past thirty years. A vibrant city, a lot in part due to its beautiful immigrant population.

If you’re not familiar with Hank Green, he and his brother are worth learning about. The end of the video, when he casually adds the fact they funded the hospital center in SierraLeone, should at least pique your interest in what he and his brother do in addition to their day jobs.

I really like this video, because yesterday Hank was having my day, when everything felt hopeless and I actually had to quit watching that video halfway through, because I was already depressed and stressed. I went and walked the dogs, listening to music instead. And remembered there are A LOT of good people out there.

Hank seemed to have a similar experience:

Jun 13, 2025

I’ve got three or four strategies in this video, depending on how you count. But overall, I probably need to shift my brain out of a mentality where I think about whether I’m winning or losing, and shift toward simply asking whether I am acting in ways that are in concert with my goals.

===

The second video is the one Hank refers to in his video. I was curious, and I wasn’t disappointed.  Jamelle Bouie’s thoughts:

Jun 10, 2025 CHARLOTTESVILLE

Lots of conversation about whether the Los Angeles protests will help or hurt President Trump’s political standing. Here’s my case that they are more likely to hurt him than help him, and that his response — and his decision to escalate to using the military — represents weakness rather than strength. Of course, we’ll ultimately see what happens. I hope I’m right. Also, for those of you care, I’m wearing a ballcap from my alma mater, the University of Virginia, an Italian linen sportcoat from J. Crew, a blue oxford from Proper Cloth and a emblematic tie from Polo Ralph Lauren, bought second-hand.

===

Finally, just for fun – the top 10 dogs this week:

===

If you are feeling overwhelmed, find one thing you can do, no matter how simple, even if it’s just being kind to someone you know is vulnerable, every day. Those acts make a difference. And don’t forget to do something nice for yourself, too.

Stay safe this weekend!

This is a positive vibes thread. Including sharing how you get to hope when you feel hopeless.

 

 

Here I Am Again, With Another Positive MessagePost + Comments (46)

Open Thread: Gus Walz Interview

by TaMara|  June 10, 202512:08 pm| 255 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

I somehow missed this…but what a great interview.  What a great young man.

I’m just back from LA – I have thoughts, but no energy to put them together. But I have said to others that this summer could make 1968 look like a party.

This is the spirit of Los Angeles.

This is California.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

#FreeDavidEndRaids

[image or embed]

— California Fast Food Workers Union (@cafastfoodunion.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 2:43 PM

Someone suggested everyone should carry American Flags so when the US military, etc, attack them, the media, as stupid as they are, gets the point.

#California

[image or embed]

— 5nark Twain (@5narktwain.bsky.social) June 10, 2025 at 8:17 AM

 

Also, I spent some time with young folks this past month as they graduated; it was eye-opening, somewhat inspiring, and a little concerning. Again – I have the intention of sharing that, too. Just need the brain cells/energy to do that.

This is an open thread

 

Open Thread: Gus Walz InterviewPost + Comments (255)

We Are Just Incubators

by TaMara|  May 15, 20253:37 pm| 106 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

This is what they want:

A pregnant Georgia woman who was declared brain-dead is being kept alive by ventilators because of the state’s law banning abortions, the woman’s mother says, telling local news that the family has no say in the matter.

===

Newkirk told the station that her daughter is currently 21 weeks pregnant.

“It should have been left up to the family,” Newkirk said, telling the station that doctors informed the family they are legally not allowed to consider any other options.

“I’m not saying that we would have chose to terminate her pregnancy, but what I’m saying is, we should have had a choice,” she said.

A spokesperson for Emory Healthcare said it “uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia’s abortion laws and all other applicable laws.”

“Our top priorities continue to be the safety and wellbeing of the patients we serve,” the spokesperson said.

Newkirk said the family is also having to deal with the financial responsibility of keeping Smith on life support.

They are fucking ghouls. But we knew that.

Open thread

We Are Just IncubatorsPost + Comments (106)

Overnight Open Thread: This and That Plus Some Music

by TaMara|  May 13, 202512:58 am| 30 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

WaterGirl nudged me this weekend to see if I was still posting…which I am…but right now I’m on my last chapter of the latest book and traveling for the week.  So I won’t be around much to do the overnight thing for a bit. But here are a few videos I had set aside…

And if you can – the full moon is pretty spectacular – so check it out.

 

Feb 28, 2023 • #EarthRestoration #GlobalMovement #JohnDLiu

John D. Liu, the filmmaker, journalist, and ecologist, has created a global movement to restore the Earth. His objective has spread to six continents and has brought together people from different social and cultural contexts. It’s about creating harmony with nature and minimizing poverty, hunger, and social disruptions. Together, we can restore the Earth and create a better future.

 

This is in my Netflix queue when it drops.

 

And a little music:

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Overnight Open Thread: This and That Plus Some MusicPost + Comments (30)

A deep cut of Prince…

I saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre perform Revelations (among other amazing dances) when I was in college. I cannot remember a live performance that changed my life like this night did. My world opened up in ways I couldn’t even understand (and I was a theatre major, so I had seen and participated in some spectacular performances).

This was transformational.  Still is…

That’s it for me until I’m back in town and hopefully with a completed book off to my editor. Which should give me a break until the revisions hit.

If you need critter updates (including Reggie’s new backyard friend – we are not counting the garter snake he dropped – unharmed – in my kitchen) you can find them here.

This is a totally open thread

 

 

Open Thread: Habemus Papam

by TaMara|  May 8, 202512:45 pm| 351 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Not much would compel me to turn into a news broadcast, but I am curious. How far will they stray from Pope Francis, or will they continue with his more liberal agenda? The Catholic church has a lot to answer for in bad behavior, but returning to a more restrictive, conservative pope would be discouraging. A lot of people follow the church’s lead.

Open thread

 

Open Thread: Habemus PapamPost + Comments (351)

Climate Solutions: More Regenerative Agriculture Facts

by TaMara|  May 3, 20259:56 am| 41 Comments

This post is in: Climate Change, Climate Change Solutions, Positive Climate News

I’m off to get some gardening done. A few things to put in the ground that will be okay with our still very cool nights. Transplanting the tomato plants to bigger containers while we wait for the threat of frost to pass.  Then pray for me, it’s time to give those beasts a bath. Fun times will be had by no one.

Meanwhile, here are a few climate solutions items I ran across this week:

***

Peter Byck has started a long-form video/podcast for more in-depth discussions of the benefits they are seeing across the board for regenerative agriculture.

I know I’ve been focusing heavily on this topic, but the data suggests we have all we need to reduce humans’ carbon footprint. It’s a matter of time and perseverance.  In Europe and China, more miles are driven by EVs than ICE vehicles. China (among others) has been making huge strides in EV batteries.  EVs and their batteries* are lasting 18 years and are expected, as data continues, to last longer. Heat pumps, magnetic cooling systems, efficient, small wind turbines, and on and on, are up-and-coming technologies designed to reduce carbon output.

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Climate Solutions: More Regenerative Agriculture FactsPost + Comments (41)

While there are people/industries/companies who work to stall progress, there are many more people out there determined to solve the climate crisis despite the current political climate.

What stands out, though, is that regardless of how much and how soon we reduce carbon output, we still have to resolve the problem of the excessive carbon in our atmosphere. Sure, there are people researching mechanical ways to do that, and others who want to spray toxins into the atmosphere to block the sun (!) because I’m sure that will end well.

But research is showing that regenerative agriculture is not only healthier for ecosystems, but also captures more carbon than originally expected. Research is ongoing, but so far the results are promising and most importantly, fast. Add to that the water savings and increase in beneficial wildlife, plus the economic benefits to farmers.

Peter’s work focuses on grazing, but I do have other resources on how this is also used in food crop production that I will post when time permits.

***

In a more political vein, David Roberts has a discussion with IL Gov. JB Pritzker. I’ll be listening to it while I garden today, but I thought some of you might be interested.  Listen here.

A conversation with JB Pritzker.

In this episode, I speak with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, one of the depressingly few Democratic leaders showing real fight in the face of Trumpism. We get into the weeds on how Illinois is defending its climate laws, advancing clean energy and manufacturing, and tackling thorny challenges like the housing crisis, the transition away from natural gas, and the looming “fiscal cliff” facing transit agencies. Oh, and the governor explains what quantum computing is.

 

***

*Too much battery news to report here – but recycling, reusing, and less toxic batteries are all in the mix.

This is a climate solutions thread. Love to hear of any innovations you have come across.

Despair only limits future action – Simon Clark

Late Night Open Thread: Yay Canada?

by TaMara|  April 29, 202512:56 am| 158 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics

Started streaming 2 hours ago #Carney #Liberals #election

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to speak after his ruling Liberals retained power in Monday’s election. It is too soon to say whether they will form a majority government, CTV News and CBC predicted.

 

I don’t think at the time I’m posting he’s spoken yet.

From NPR:

Mark Carney has been elected as prime minister of Canada, according to the projections of the national broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada, in one of the country’s most consequential elections in decades. But it’s still not clear if his Liberal party will win the 172 seats needed for an outright majority in parliament. The full results will not be available until late Monday evening, or early Tuesday morning.

The vote was widely seen as a decision about which candidate could best handle President Trump, who helped spark a wave of nationalism across Canada by threatening to annex Canada and placing stiff tariffs on the country.

I’m only up because I watched the Avalanche get their butts kicked tonight. Ugh.

Open thread

Late Night Open Thread: Yay Canada?Post + Comments (158)

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