Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Too little, too late, ftfnyt. fuck all the way off.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

The lights are all blinking red.

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

People are complicated. Love is not.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

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

Optimism opens the door to great things.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

This chaos was totally avoidable.

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

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Consistently wrong since 2002

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

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Sunday Evening Open Thread: Readership Capture

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Yes, I'm going to Hell, but….
"They can't take the sky from me"—Starbuck

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— Sister Golden Bear (@sistergoldenbear.bsky.social) May 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM

Hey y'all: event alert:
I'll be talking So Very Small with Dr. Rabia DeLatour on SiriusXM-Doctor Radio, live at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. Drive time!
The book & this conversation have become only more timely with the news over the last week or so. I hope you'll tune in.
www.siriusxm.com/channels/doc…

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— Boston Tom Levenson (@tomlevenson.bsky.social) May 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM

Trump: "I don't think a beautiful baby girl that's 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls … they don't need to have 250 pencils. They can have five."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) May 4, 2025 at 10:08 AM

describing eleven year old children as beautiful babies and saying they need fewer toys is some old person shit so severe that if biden did it the washington post would call for him to be shot

— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) May 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM

command economy but instead of a committee it’s one guy and he is 78 years old and doesn’t understand economics and also is the worst person alive

— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) May 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM

Sunday Evening Open Thread: Readership CapturePost + Comments (109)

The Guy Who Uses His Mugshot As His Favored Likeness Is Not Having a Good Week

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Happy to say that I don’t recognize any of the people in the “all star panel part of this image.

This poll was from 2 weeks ago, and you know he’s lost ground since then!

But okay, this is a comparison at the 100-day mark, so these numbers stand.

What has the orange menace and his cohorts been up to?

Here are the first 10 I came up with, I’m sure you can add more!

  1. The economy is taking a nosedive and he is blaming his economy on Biden  (good one, now pull the other leg!)
  2. He had to fire his National Security Advisor (and deputy) while in the middle of ongoing military operations.
  3. He set high expectations (prices will be lower on Day 1!) that he couldn’t meet, so the rubber is starting to hit the road.
  4. He lost the election in Canada (oh my god, authoritarianism doesn’t look so great after all!)
  5. He lost the election in Australia (oh my god, authoritarianism doesn’t look so great after all, again!)
  6. His approval rating on immigration is sinking like a stone.
  7. Michael Flynn, considered nearly a saint on the right is the victim of a conspiracy theory that he orchestrated Jan 6 (are we sure that’s a conspiracy theory?)
  8. SCOTUS (okay, SCOTUS -2) signals that they have had enough of his shit.
  9. Federal Judge Beryl Howell’s slaps down attempts to punish law firms critical of his administration.
  10. Looks like the muskrat may be slinking out the side door.
  11. Bonus: he beat his own record for worst job approval!

Tim Sheehy – Unfit for the Senate – Caught in More Lies and Scandals Every Day

He is trashing the place faster than we can clean it up, but it’s also good to look at his losses.

Surely we can pile on some more, right?

 

The Guy Who Uses His Mugshot As His Favored Likeness Is Not Having a Good WeekPost + Comments (85)

Hakeem Jeffries – Evolving Strategy – ‘Dumb Effing Individuals’

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UNITED STATES – APRIL 30: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks about President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Punchbowl seems to think that Hakeem Jeffries has a new media strategy.

Something has changed with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He seems to be everywhere these days and coming out from under the shadow of the louder progressive voices who are taking on President Donald Trump.

This week, Jeffries participated in an over 12-hour sit-in on the Capitol steps on Sunday along with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and other House Democrats. In addition, Jeffries made an off-campus speech to a crowded theater near Capitol Hill to mark Trump’s first 100 days in office.

The Democratic leader has also beefed up his direct-to-camera videos, while increasing his rhetoric against Trump. And he now has two news conferences a week instead of one.

Jeffries’ new media strategy is a stark contrast to the typically measured leader we’ve long covered.

In a video he posted earlier this month, Jeffries referred to Trump’s Cabinet officials as “dumb effing individuals.” He also hit back at Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on X after Cruz criticized Democrats for going to El Salvador to advocate for the release of wrongfully detained Salvadoran immigrant, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

[snip]

During his speech to supporters this week, Jeffries also acknowledged the shift in his attitude towards Republicans. If you recall, Jeffries was “Mr. Bipartisan” at the start of the Congress, hoping to work with his GOP counterparts after a crushing election last November.

But the Democratic leader said Republicans rejected that plea  and that Democrats can not stand for what they’re doing now.

“Donald Trump is doubling down, and instead of being a check and balance on this president’s abuse of power, Republicans in Congress are nothing more than a rubber stamp for his extreme agenda,” Jeffries said.

First of all, I wonder why Punchbowl thinks this is a “media strategy” rather than a strategy to oppose the orange monster.  Arrogance?  Does the media think everything is about them?  Do they see everything as kabuki, rather than actual tactics or strategy?  These days, is there an actual difference?  I think YES.

Anyway, let’s not take their word for it.

We will not let this guy abolish Veterans Day.

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— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM

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This is not Joe Biden’s economy.

It’s your failed economy, Donald.

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— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) April 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM

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What do you guys think?

Hakeem Jeffries – Evolving Strategy – ‘Dumb Effing Individuals’Post + Comments (221)

Australia Day (Open Thread)

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I am declaring today Australia Day.  My day started at 4 am to get the Australia election post going, and it was so interesting that I stayed up to read it  – if you missed it, check it out.   This photo is the other Australia bookend, totally making my day.

I have been assured by our two Aussie BJ peeps who did the live blogging election thread that this is indeed a real photo of people voting.  I’ll share it again later this week, with the article that’s the source of the photo, when we get an update on how things are playing out after the election.

It’s not enough that you guys get Democracy Sausages.  Nope, you even vote in your swimsuits, and every one of you is more fit than I am and has more shapely legs and a better rear end than I have.  I am making a note to remind myself to speak to the manager about that! :-)

Anyway, big thanks to Pete Downunder and Viva CrisVegas for all their time and effort in keeping us informed!

I am almost tempted to change my laptop wallpaper to this image because it makes me smile every time I look at it.  I can’t explain why I love it so much; I just do.  I will try to restrain myself from making this the sidebar image at some point this week.

Totally open thread.

Australia Day (Open Thread)Post + Comments (63)

War for Ukraine Day 1,164: Ukraine Establishes a Another First in the Annals of War

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Two quick housekeeping notes. First, I’m going to be very busy – not bad busy, just busy busy – for the next two weeks, so unless something really major happens I’m just going to be running through the basics.

Second, Rosie had her monthly post-chemo check in today. This is the sixth one since her last treatment. The vet is thrilled with how she’s doing. The lymph nodes are all normal, her weight is good, and despite being 14 and 1/2, her hips are hanging in there.The vets was also thrilled to hear that she wants to and does go for a 1.5 mile every night and wants plenty of attention. Thank you all again for the good thoughts, well wishes, and the donations last year to help cover the cost of her chemo.

Air raid alerts are up at 10:15 PM EDT/5:15 AM local time in Ukraine for almost all of eastern and north/north central Ukraine as Russian drone swarms move across Ukrainian skies.

What Ukraine is doin ova der is setting a new first in the annals of war:

And now it’s official: for the first time ever, Ukrainian naval drone destroyed warplane.

Magura sea drone struck Russian Su-30 near Novorossiysk — where Moscow hides what’s left of its Black Sea fleet.

Estimated loss: $50 million.

No place for Russia in the Black Sea.

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— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 6:30 AM

/2. A map shared by Russian sources indicates that the Russian Su-30, which was shot down, had taken off from the Saky airbase in Crimea on a mission to search for and destroy naval drones.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 4:51 AM

**UPDATE**

Significant that a Ukrainian Magura maritime drone (USV) has shot down a Russian Su-30 FLANKER jet. The first time a jet has been shot down by an uncrewed vessel.

Info on Ukr HUR’s ‘FrankenSAM’ USV:
www.hisutton.com/Ukraine-USV-…

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— H I Sutton (@covertshores.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 7:56 AM

From Covert Shores:

Footage has emerged, taken from the Russian side, of a Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) armed with an improvised air-defense system. This is the first time anything like this has been observed. (UPDATE: The vessel was subsequently confirmed to be a Magura design used by GUR).

The system uses repurposed air-air missiles in an arrangement often termed a ‘FrankenSAM’. The USV was engaged by Russian helicopters.

The USV is armed with two AA-11 ARCHER (R-73) air-air missiles. They appear to be on their aircraft pylon rails but mounted upside down at a fixed elevation. This arrangement is simple and straightforward. The AA-11 is a late-Soviet dogfighting missile which is still used by both Ukraine and Russia today. It has an air-air range of 30-40km although theoretical surface to air range would be around half that. And the actual engagement ranges would be limited by onboard sensors, so likely much shorter. All the same it is likely generally effective as a surface to air missile.

More at the link.

Zelensky said Kyiv would not be “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere” on May 9, when some foreign leaders are due in Moscow for WWII commemorations.

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— The Moscow Times (@themoscowtimes.com) May 3, 2025 at 7:29 AM

From The Moscow Times:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

Moscow said the truce, set to coincide with its World War II commemorations on May 9, was aimed at testing Kyiv’s “readiness” for long-term peace and accused Zelensky of making a “direct threat” to events on the holiday.

The Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington in March, and has since made only slim contributions to U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker an end to the three-year Russian invasion.

“This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader was speaking on Friday to a small group of journalists, including AFP, in remarks embargoed until Saturday.

Some in Ukraine have criticized the truce as an attempt to prevent Kyiv from disrupting the World War II anniversary celebrations with foreign leaders due in Moscow to watch a grand military parade on Red Square and an address by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky said Ukraine would not be “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin’s exit from isolation on 9 May.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the ceasefire was aimed at testing “Kyiv’s readiness to seek ways to achieve long-term sustainable peace.”

Leaders of around 20 countries, including China’s Xi Jinping, have accepted invitations to join this year’s celebration, according to the Kremlin.

Zelensky said some countries had approached Kyiv, warning they were traveling to Russia and had requested safety.

“Our position is very simple towards all countries that have travelled or are travelling to Russia on May 9 — we cannot take responsibility for what is happening on the territory of the Russian Federation,” he answered.

“They are ensuring your safety,” Zelensky said, adding that Russia “may take various steps on its part, such as arson, explosions, and so on and then blame us.”

Zelensky did not say what Ukraine would do during the truce, but Russia jumped on the comments, accusing Kyiv of making a “direct threat” to its May 9 commemorations.

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

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War for Ukraine Day 1,164: Ukraine Establishes a Another First in the Annals of WarPost + Comments (14)

Saturday Evening Open Thread

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My new shirt. Appropriate for this day and age, don't you think?

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— soonergrunt (@soonergrunt.bsky.social) May 1, 2025 at 6:44 PM


 

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— Cooper Lund (@cooperlund.online) May 1, 2025 at 12:36 PM


 

So he's not deporting just the criminals, he's not making us all rich, & he's not bringing peace to the world
Seems like politics journos should be asking what exactly Trump is doing for his voters (The answer is obvs "giving them idiot slop to cheer for" but I want to see each of them admit it)

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— Chatham Harrison dba TRUMP DELENDUS EST (@chathamharrison.bsky.social) May 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM

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PA Supreme Court On the Line in November

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WE’RE THE KIDS IN AMERICA

The kids are fed up, and they’ve had it up to here!

The Civics Center is targeting the youth vote where they are easiest to reach:  AT SCHOOL

Recent polls show that Gen Z voters (age 18-29) are souring on the Trump Administration.

Once seen as a wild card with surprising appeal among disillusioned young voters, President Donald Trump is now facing a sharp decline in support from Generation Z, according to new polling.

Newsweek analyzed the latest results from major pollsters since early March that included age-specific approval ratings and found that Trump’s standing among the youngest voters is currently at 37 percent approving, while 58 percent disapprove of his job performance.

This signals that Trump’s support among Generation Z voters has tailed off since the 2024 election, when 47 percent of voters aged 18-29 cast a ballot for him, up from 36 percent in 2020.

Trump is particularly losing support among young Gen Z men, who were some of the least engaged and lowest information voters – perhaps the very epitome of the “vibes” voter. 

According to the Newsweek article:

He was physically ‘tough’ as evidenced by his response to the Butler, PA, assassination attempt, he’s not ‘politically correct’ and speaks his mind, he’s a businessman who supposedly knows how to manage the economy, and so forth. This is all part of the Trumpian narrative,” Katz said.

But polls now show that Trump’s image as the “men’s” candidate may be beginning to unravel.

According to data provided by YouGov Blue, net approval for Trump declined by 29 points among young male registered voters between January and March, a significantly bigger shift than any other demographic.

We Have An Opportunity Here!

The Civic Center is smack in the middle of their on-campus High School voter education, registration and motivation drive – “Cap, Gown & Ballot” on several metropolitan area campuses in mostly swing states.  We’re helping them register and inspire students in nine urban Pittsburgh High Schools this month in advance of the Fall Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention race and next year’s midterms.

I can think of no more cost-effective way to register and engage our voters than reaching them at school.  No canvassing, no door-knocking, no texts, no postcards – just direct access to potential voters.  

This is consistent with National Ground Game on college campuses, where we will support counter-programming right wing campus rallies with our own “influencers” this is possibly our best bang for the voter registration buck.

That collapse in support for Trump among Gen Z males?

Fighting Them Where They Are

Flashback to the original post about the PA Supreme Court effort

The first post for The Civics Center effort went up a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve all slept since then, so here is the original post in case you want to go back to it.

Exciting New Effort, With An Eye Toward the PA Supreme Court Retention Election In November

Remember, the Civics Center has a double match for us

  • so every donation on BJ is a 4x match.
  • if there’s a Balloon Juice Angel, it becomes a 6x match.

Out-raise them.  Out-organize them.  Out-strategize them.

THEN we can OUT-VOTE them.

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PA Supreme Court On the Line in NovemberPost + Comments (175)