I imagine Cole and Adam will be along sometime soon, but it looks like we could use a new thread in the meantime.
Here you go!
Oh, Yikes, Looks Like We Could Use an Open Thread!Post + Comments (116)
In July, We Could Do Nothing about Destruction of USAID Items that Could Save Lives. Today, with $5k, We Can Do Something for Ukraine.
Update at 5:20 pm: You guys answered LOUD and CLEAR!
And the winner is:
the people of Ukraine
One of our mostly lurkers is part of a group called Ukraine Defense Support, and they have asked for our help.
Landfill or the people of Ukraine?
Medical supplies will either end up in landfills, or in the hands of the people of Ukraine.
It looks like that is up to us. Because right now there is no one else.
They need to raise a total of $7,000, and they have only raised about $1,500 so far through their usual sources.
If you feel sick about USAID, as I do, and if you feel sick at the U.S. betrayal of Ukraine by the new administration, as I do, and if you can afford to help, then this is an opportunity to make a real difference.
They have to vacate their current warehouse ASAP, so this is kind of now or never.
Balloon Juice has raised $119,000 for Ukraine since the war started in 2022. Here’s hoping we have another $5k in us this weekend.
Open Thread: Graham Platner Is Getting Noticed
My name is Graham Platner and I’m running for US Senate to defeat Susan Collins and topple the oligarchy that’s destroying our country.
I’m a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who’s seen this state become unlivable for working people. And that makes me deeply angry.— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 8:37 AM
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If you build it, they wil come……..
The oysterman trying to oust Susan Collins raised $1 million in nine days mainemorningstar.com/2025/08/28/t…— Louise Altman (@intentionalcom.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Early days yet, but he’s got a lot of left-of-center people excited:
… According to his campaign, Platner’s average donation was $33 dollars, with 98% of donations under $100. His campaign has also recruited more than 2,700 volunteers who will help with phone banking, text banking, and door knocking operations.
Collins told Maine Morning Star in the spring she intends to run for reelection in 2026, and although she has yet to officially launch a campaign, she raised $2.4 million to close the quarter with more than $5 million on hand…
… Platner’s splashy campaign launch in the The New York Times and team of progressive strategists with records of successfully running against establishment Democrats has set him apart. He’s pitched progressive ideas but rejected the label of liberal, while embracing a working man’s appeal to supporters of President Donald Trump.
Platner was reportedly scouted by unions, while establishment Democrats in Washington, D.C., have been trying to convince Maine Gov. Janet Mills to run. She’s still unsure but said Tuesday that she’d likely decide by mid-November…
i am very skeptical of big lunk white guy populists, and i think there’s still a long way for this guy to go on a very high and very tight wire, but i *do* think he gives some answers in this piece that are meaningfully different from the typical shouty, “fuck the establishment” guys we have seen
— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) August 29, 2025 at 1:18 PM
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starting from the premise that he is first and foremost a democrat and has always been a democrat, and acknowledging that you have to do the work whether people show up or not are both pretty encouraging and set him apart from the usual, imo
— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) August 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This is a long piece, but worth the read, if only for the digressions on oyster farming. Ana Marie Cox, at New Republic, on “The Political Awakening of the Oyster Farmer Taking on Susan Collins”:
… I flew here to profile Graham Platner because his announcement video for his Senate campaign (produced by the same company that’s done work for Zohran Mamdani) struck the same deep chord in me as it did in the millions of others who watched it. His plainspoken fury at the billionaire economy broke through the noise of the Trump presidency to capture extravagant donations of voters (the campaign says they’re closing in on $1 million) and the attention of media outlets across the country.
That he’s been added as speaker at Bernie Sanders’s anti-oligarchy rally on Labor Day is unsurprising. That Sanders has had to move the rally to a bigger venue since Platner got on the bill is telling…
Between the gentle morning sun, the complex flavors of the oysters, and lulling water, it is easy to believe Platner when he says that he hasn’t paid himself to work for his company since he took it over five years ago. Anyone would do this job for free. His wife and business partner take checks for their labor but his contribution to the household comes in the form of checks from the Veterans Administration based on his 100 percent disabled status.
Open Thread: Graham Platner Is Getting NoticedPost + Comments (161)
Late Night Open Thread: Don’t Let the Door Hit Ya, Senator Ernst…
BREAKING: Sen. Joni Ernst not running for re-election.
— MSNBC (@msnbc.com) August 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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Joni Ernst, who cast key vote on Hegseth, vandalizes U.S. military and walks away.
— Mark Jacob (@markjacob.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
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Beating the rush to a cushy sinecure in the private sector…
Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa plans to announce she will not seek reelection in 2026. She intends to retire after two terms and move to the private sector. Ernst has served since 2015 and was a top Republican leader. Several Democrats have already entered the race.
— sasha (@krassotkin.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
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Republican Sen. Joni Ernst announced she will not run for reelection. When asked why, she said, “Well, we’re all going to die anyway.”
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@nothoodlum.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
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Iowa’s Joni Ernst to retire from Congress, despite pressure from Republican leaders www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo…
— 🦋 Still Standing 🦋 (@imstillstanding.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Steve Benen, at MaddowBlog — “Iowa’s Joni Ernst to retire from Congress, despite pressure from Republican leaders”:
By any fair measure, the last year has been challenging for Sen. Joni Ernst. Shortly after Election Day 2024, for example, the Iowa Republican ran for a Senate GOP leadership post and lost. Soon after, she was rumored to be in contention to serve as Donald Trump’s latest defense secretary, but that job instead went to Pete Hegseth, whom she supported despite his record.
In March, ProPublica ran a damaging report on unconfirmed allegations surrounding Ernst’s personal relationships with military officials who lobbied her committee (a spokesperson for Ernst did not comment on the details of the allegations but insisted that the senator maintained her independence).
Two months later, the senator caused quite a bit of trouble for herself and her party with a macabre defense of Medicaid cuts in the inaptly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act when she told constituents, “Well, we all are going to die.”…
For those keeping score, there are now 10 incumbent senators who are preparing to give up their seats next year, including five Republicans: Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn (who’s running for governor), Ernst, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, North Carolina’s Thom Tillis and Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville (who’s also running for governor in that state).
Among Democrats, four incumbent senators are retiring — Illinois’ Dick Durbin, Michigan’s Gary Peters, New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen and Minnesota’s Tina Smith — while Colorado’s Michael Bennet, who’s midway through his term, is running for governor with plans to appoint his own successor.
As for the upcoming race in the Hawkeye State, it’s too soon to say which Republicans might run to replace Ernst, though there’s been unconfirmed scuttlebutt about Rep. Ashley Hinson. Among Democrats, there’s been some coalescing of late around state Rep. Josh Turek’s candidacy, although it remains to be seen whether others reconsider their interest in the race in light of the Ernst news. State Sen. Zach Wahls, Des Moines School Board Chairwoman Jackie Norris and military veteran Nathan Sage are also running…
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Late Night Open Thread: Don’t Let the Door Hit Ya, Senator Ernst…Post + Comments (44)
War for Ukraine Day 1,282: Another Brutal Early Morning for Ukraine
(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A quick housekeeping note: Tomorrow night’s post will come later/late in the evening as I have something I have to do in the late afternoon/early evening.
The cost:
Anhelina, her mother Nadia, and 23 other people — rest in peace, innocent souls.
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Anhelina was born under russian attack in October 2022 and died from a russian attack in August 2025.
She was only 2 years old when russia killed her yesterday along with her mother.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
In Kyiv, a dog refuses to leave the ruins of a building destroyed by a russian strike — still waiting for its owner, who was killed💔
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 2:36 AM
At 4:10 AM local time in Ukraine/9:10 PM EDT, air raid alerts for drone swarms and ballistic missiles are up for almost all of Ukraine.
At 4:40 AM local time in Ukraine, the air raid alert maps have posted the warning that a Russian cruise missile has been launched at a target in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
At 4:45 AM local time in Ukraine:
First russian cruise missiles entering Ukrainian airspace. We all hold our breath. We can do nothing more
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Kyiv metro stations right now ‼️
People gather there for the night, seeking shelter from Russian drones and missiles.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Yet another night of russia “seeking peace” by launching missiles and drones across Ukraine. Explosions echo through cities, including Kyiv, still reeling from the last attack.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Swarms of fascist Russian/Iranian drones threatening most of Ukraine, and 5 Tu-95 strategic bombers in the air, threatening cruise missile launches, but democratic Ukraine’s own drones (some jet powered) are thrusting into Russia in 7 or 8 directions.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
President Zelenskyy did not make an address today. He did go and pay respects to the victims of Russia’s strikes on Kyiv.
The President Paid Tribute to the Victims of the Russian Strike in Kyiv on the Night of August 28
29 August 2025 – 21:02
At the site of a Russian strike on a five-story building in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to those who lost their lives.
The Head of State laid flowers at the destroyed building, which was hit by a Russian missile on the night of August 28. As a result of the attack, 22 residents of the building were killed, including four children.
The President expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and spoke with residents about their needs regarding housing, document recovery, and compensation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed all relevant authorities to provide maximum assistance to those affected in resolving all their problems.
“We will resolve this issue, as we have in other cases, quickly. Temporary housing is available. You will definitely receive compensation soon so that you can rent an apartment and later have your own home. The state is taking action, and the relevant programs are in place,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During this missile and drone attack on Ukraine, Russia launched nearly 600 drones and 31 missiles, including ballistic ones. Dozens of buildings, enterprises, and diplomatic facilities were damaged. In the capital alone, 25 people were killed in the attack, more than 50 were wounded, and dozens remain hospitalized.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko reported to the Head of State that over 300 people sought psychological support. Overall, damage was recorded at 19 locations across six districts of the city. Search and rescue operations lasted a day and a half and were only fully completed late today.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the rescuers, police officers, and everyone who assisted the victims and worked to eliminate the consequences of the attack.
Here is the video of his press conference:
War for Ukraine Day 1,282: Another Brutal Early Morning for UkrainePost + Comments (13)
Impeach RFK Jr. (Open Thread)
In addition to being the most obsequious assemblage of ass-kissing sycophants outside North Korea, the Trump cabinet is remarkable for comprising individuals who are singularly unqualified, corrupt and dangerous in their individual positions. Attempting to suss out which cabinet member is the worst is like ranking acute food poisoning symptoms, e.g., which is worse, explosive diarrhea or projectile vomiting?
So who’s most dangerous in the Trump cabinet? Is it the paranoid, black-out drunk second-tier Fox News personality Trump put in charge of the Pentagon? The dumb, culty Russian asset overseeing intelligence agencies? The reality TV dunderhead in charge of transportation, including aviation safety? The pollution lobbyist in charge of the EPA? The vapid, lying puppy shooter heading up Homeland Security?
I could go on, but in my opinion, the worst of that historically horrid bunch is the fossilized testicle* who is currently laying waste to the nation’s public health and medical research infrastructure. The roadkill desecrating sewer swimmer whose own famous cousin warned us to keep far, far away from a critical agency in charge of safeguarding life and health because he’s a fucking psycho.
“When I call Kennedy a ‘dangerous crank,’ I’m not saying that as an insult or as hyperbole, but honestly as the most economical way of describing the man’s views,” says @chrislhayes.bsky.social on RFK Jr.
— All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris.bsky.social) August 28, 2025 at 8:19 PM
One of the perils of our deeply stupid era is that every bad thing is happening everywhere, all at once, so it’s hard to focus. There’s also the problem of nanosecond-length attention spans, a sick compulsion to simply gawk at destruction and a hazy nostalgia for fake bygone times.
These poor qualities have combined to allow the dangerous crank RFK Jr. to wreak unprecedented levels of havoc, mostly under the radar. So, maybe it’s time to focus and shine a harsh spotlight on one dangerous individual, which is one of the few tools a party out of power has. Perhaps it’s time for a House lawmaker to file an impeachment resolution with an aim to remove this crackpot from his office.
It’s a timely issue. The CDC is in crisis. Senate-confirmed Director Susan Monarez was forced out when she refused to rubberstamp Kennedy’s anti-science opinions on vaccines. Career professionals resigned in protest. Trump and Kennedy are putting a Thiel lackey, Jim O’Neill, in charge. Also, the organization Stand Up for Science started a petition to Congress asking lawmakers to impeach and remove Kennedy.
Impeachment isn’t likely to go anywhere since Republicans hold power in both chambers and are either scared shitless of or in thrall to the aspiring dictator Trump. But a period of unified focus on RFK Jr.’s unfitness could draw attention to the destruction at Health & Human Services. It could underscore Republican complicity in the dismantling of medical research and public health capabilities.
And if Democrats retake power in Congress in the upcoming federal elections, an impeachment in the House could be the start of an effort to punt the wizened ball-sack RFK Jr. into the sun via a conviction in the Senate. That’s also unlikely with the ossified partisan divide in that chamber, but we have to start somewhere. This seems like a good place to start.
Open thread.
*Thanks, Tony Jay!
There goes the STEM pipeline
PhDing is a weird and arduous process with substantial variance and unpredictability. I was weird in that I effectively did a post-doc before I ever even thought to apply for my PhD so I was able to get out in three years with a tenure track job lined up. Most programs in my discipline/area of interest expect that good, well prepared students who have excellent mentorship and can line everything up right to take four years to get out in the best case. The median case is probably a five year course of study and research. After seven years, there should be substantive discussions about progress and future milestones as something likely went off-kilter somewhere.
To do it well, PhDing is not a speed-runnable event .
The Trump Administration wants to make it a speed running event for international students which will destroy a critical talent pipeline:
Trump admin planning to change student visas from lasting for duration of academic program to fixed 4-yr term, and then much harder to renew
Could destroy US ability to attract global talent, particularly those seeking advanced degrees in STEM. The median time to complete a PhD is 5.7 yrs per NSF.— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) August 29, 2025 at 6:52 AM
I am so glad I am not applying for any PhD program director positions this fall as I like not having only gray hair.