How Bruce the Parrot Landed Atop the Pecking Order, Without a Beak

Stop what you're doing and check out this beak-less alpha kea, Bruce

Big “Republicans buy sneakers too” energy

“The best available data shows that, as of December 2025, ICE had obligated $3.8 billion (5%) of its $75 billion. CBP had obligated $11.3 billion (17%) of its $64.7 billion. Together, the two agencies had obligated just $15.1 billion (11%) of the $139.7 billion OBBA appropriated to them.”

While House Republicans block the rest of DHS funding, ICE and CBP have PLENTY of unspent money left from last year’s reconciliation bill.

Great new analysis from Kevin.

Trump Increased Tax Refunds, but a Political Challenge Still Looms

Ah yes, tax cuts, the big political winner.

"Some studies have shown that people who received a new tax benefit credited the additional funds to the person who helped them file their taxes, rather than the political party that passed the law."

The day after Amazon lets me know they're bricking my Kindle, it stops being able to hold a charge. Curse you, Bezos!

A Weakened IRS Has Significant Consequences

oh.

"The IRS reductions from funding and layoffs have likely resulted in about $861 billion in decreased revenue. The layoffs from actions like DOGE alone have likely resulted in $597.8 billion in decreased revenue over the 2026-2035."

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers are up just 0.1 percent year-over-year. Not great!

Find someone who loves you as much as Spotify thinks I love Band of Horses.

“A Shaming of the Shoes” – Incredible

Seems again like we have a clear answer to this “question,” no?

Because many of you have asked!

wabastore.square.site/product/-don...

In MLB, they’re all short kings now: new ABS measurements shrink half of all hitters New measurements for the robo-ump strike zone are ending MLB height exaggerations. “I didn't know we were going to get exposed like that."

Baseball players, they're just like us: short.

"The federal government is poised to destroy, as early as April 23, protected bike lanes that run through the National Mall."

Here's @waba.org's memo in support of a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump administration from going after DC bike lanes.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Field of Dreams (5/9) Movie CLIP - People Will Come (1989) HD YouTube video by Movieclips

Annual #OpeningDay must-watch. #PeopleWillComeRay

lol

Justice Department settles lawsuit from Trump ally Michael Flynn for $1.2 million, AP source says The Justice Department has settled for roughly $1.2 million a lawsuit with Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump who pleaded guilty during the Republican’s firs...

“Waste, fraud, abuse!” scream the wasteful, fraudulent abusers

The "private event" is a fundraiser featuring Trump. Closing the busiest Metro station for a private political fundraiser is gross.

Trump Administration to Pay $1 Billion to Energy Giant to Cancel Wind Farms

Not great, Bob.

"The deal is an extraordinary transfer of taxpayer dollars to a foreign company for the purposes of boosting the production of fossil fuels, a main driver of climate change, while throttling offshore wind power."

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Note the passive construction here.

[hot dog guy dot gif]

Punchbowl: "Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) countered that Republicans’ electoral success depends on at least trying to find a path for the SAVE America Act because voters’ beliefs about a stolen election 'have already been fomented.'"

For my money, this is lightyears of respectability ahead of watching Sen. Blackburn openly reading a novel while serving as a juror in Trump's first impeachment trial.

Honestly, props to Sen. Sheehy for reading Caro's "Master of the Senate" whilst presiding.

To be quite honest, my retort to those who say "if it's worth doing it's worth paying for" is "if it's really worth doing, it doesn't matter how it's financed." The problem, I suppose, is, who's the arbiter of what's really worth doing?

...and why isn't it me?

Never a dull moment in the Senate Budget Committee!

It is a great way to turn people into pacifists, that's for sure, so I dare these guys to try it!

Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968 - Wikipedia

I mean...

"The Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968 is a United States law that created a temporary 10 percent income tax surcharge for both individuals and corporations through June 30, 1969, to help pay for the Vietnam War."