Latest Episode
GOP 2020 panic leaks as House Republicans implode; Dems notch Virginia wins; Murphy bows out; inflation bites (groceries, college); Cramer’s “deal” pitch and a heckler gets the presidential salute; small lies, big anxiety
Factory-floor heckler gets the presidential finger
Video shows President Trump reacting to a heckler who shouted “pedophile protector.” As Trump walked away, he appeared to point, mouth “fuck you,” and raise his middle finger, proving once again that the workplace is healing (for middle-school boys trapped in adult bodies).
Georgia grand jury testimony shows GOP alarm over 2020 overturn push
Sealed 2022 grand jury transcripts in the Georgia election interference probe indicate several senior Republicans were alarmed and exasperated by Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 result. The testimony is resurfacing as Trump renews claims about the defeat and says he regrets not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines, which is a totally normal regret to casually share out loud in a functioning democracy.
College sticker shock, and whether the degree still pays off
With application deadlines arriving, attention is on rising tuition and student living costs, and whether graduates’ higher earnings still justify the total cost. Translation: we are asking teenagers to sign up for adult-sized financial consequences before they can legally rent a car without getting punished for it.
Grocery prices spike fastest in three years
Grocery prices rose at the fastest pace in three years in December, squeezing household budgets even as overall inflation stayed steady. It is also a political problem for the White House ahead of the midterms, because “inflation is down” is pretty hard to savor when eggs are priced like artisanal heirlooms at the checkout line.
Small lies, bigger anxiety
A piece argues people underestimate how often they bend the truth, and that small deceptions can increase anxiety and leave them feeling isolated. In other words, the human brain is not a fan of running a little internal PR firm 24/7.
Phil Murphy’s farewell State of the State
In his final State of the State in Trenton after eight years as governor, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said his administration aimed to build a “stronger and fairer” state. He thanked voters, cited his family’s middle-class struggles, urged responsibility over partisan blame, and highlighted priorities like higher minimum wages, job creation, and property tax relief, which is the New Jersey political equivalent of promising to invent a dry ocean.
Sen. Cramer floats a “deal,” Powell resigns and the investigation goes away
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) suggested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell should resign as part of a deal to end an investigation and avoid a potential indictment, proposing Powell step down immediately in exchange for dropping the inquiry. Nothing says “respect for independent institutions” like negotiating the Fed chair’s job like it is a coupon code.
Democrats win two Virginia special elections
Democrats won two special elections to fill vacant seats in Virginia’s General Assembly, according to Decision Desk HQ. The vacancies were triggered after Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger made appointments that opened legislative seats, a reminder that politics is often just musical chairs, except the chairs control budgets.
House GOP divisions sink labor bills, another headache for Mike Johnson
Republican centrists and populists in the House teamed up to block several GOP-backed labor bills, dealing another setback to Speaker Mike Johnson and highlighting how hard it is to manage a conference that cannot decide whether it wants to govern or audition for separate reality shows.
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