Even for Europe’s populist firebrands, Trump is going too far The symbiosis between the president and European nationalists has reached a potential breaking point as he issues genocidal rhetoric and criticizes the pope.

When you've lost Farage ... Terrific piece from Steve Hendrix and Stefano Pitrelli: Even for Europe’s populist firebrands, Trump is going too far wapo.st/4cW55nJ

How Justin Fairfax’s obsessive quest to clear his name destroyed his family The former lieutenant governor’s obsession with his damaged reputation led to a long slide and his estrangement from his family, according to court records and those who knew him. He killed wife Cerin...

How Justin Fairfax’s obsessive quest to clear his name destroyed his family wapo.st/4eselSC

Analysis | Trump tests loyalty of Christian supporters as erratic behavior escalates The president maintains his hold on the Christian right, but his bluster, fight with the pope and portrayal of himself as a Jesus-like figure strain that bond.

Trump tests loyalty of Christian supporters as erratic behavior escalates wapo.st/4cjOF80

Quite a mess brewing in Calif. But some of us can remember a gov race there that featured a porn star, the kid from Diff’rent Strokes, Arianna Huffington, a 100-year-old woman, Larry Flynt, a sumo wrestler and … Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Is Chuck Schumer leaving his top candidate recruit twisting in the wind? Maine’s Democratic governor, Janet Mills, has gone negative against Graham Platner. The attacks have not worked, and Minority Leader Charles Schumer so far has declined to bail her out.

Great reporting from Liz Goodwin and Dan Merica -- Is Chuck Schumer leaving his top candidate recruit twisting in the wind? www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump’s Iran brinkmanship reaches truce, escalates backlash at home The president’s ultimatum drew condemnation across the political spectrum and intensified open debate about his credibility, morality and sanity.

From @iarnsdorf.bsky.social -- Truce or consequences? Trump’s Iran brinkmanship escalates backlash and intensifies debate about his credibility, morality and sanity.

wapo.st/4trpqrw

The Washington Post’s 2026 Peeps diorama contest winners What do Timothée Chalamet, President Trump and the Beatles have in common? Peeps!

In case you need something sweet to smile about: The Washington Post’s 2026 Peeps diorama contest winners wapo.st/3NM3nwF

"Choosin' Texas" is the gateway drug to a lot of her other songs that I love.

How a twangy country ballad captivated the nation Breakout Nashville singer Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is breaking genre barriers and topping multiple charts.

YES! How a twangy country ballad captivated the nation -- By Emily Yahr wapo.st/4tsQC9i

Today's shot and chaser -- US Solicitor General John Sauer: “8 billion people are one plane ride away from having a child who is a US citizen.”

Chief Justice John Roberts: “It’s a new world, but it’s the same Constitution.”

As so many things are...

And I say this as someone who is not above reading clues into how a potential presidential candidate eats his salad. This, from a profile of Haley Barbour that I wrote in 2011:

Squeezing dressing packet on salad in a plastic clamshell and then giving it a good shake is not unusual behavior. I do it and highly recommend. It's the only way to assure you don't get globs in some parts, nothing in others. (And no, no matter how much you beg, I'm not running for president.)

It's 5 o'clock somewhere...

U.S. Energy Concerns Not Spiking in War's Early Stages Gallup polling that began after the start of the Iran war shows no significant increase in Americans' energy concerns.

Gallup: U.S. Energy Concerns Not Spiking in War's Early Stages news.gallup.com/poll/704228/...

John Quincy Adams by Lindsay M. Chervinsky Short-term defeat does not end long-term influence

Fascinating essay on the significant impact of John Quincy Adams -- by Lindsay M. Chervinsky open.substack.com/pub/inpursui...

"Trump did not have to vote by mail. He was in Palm Beach over the weekend, and early in-person voting was available through Sunday."

Trump just voted by a method he calls ‘mail-in cheating’ The president’s decision to vote by mail comes as he pushes a sweeping bill to reform balloting nationwide, including restrictions on mail-in voting.

He wants you to do as he says and not how he does? From @merica -- Trump just voted by a method he calls ‘mail-in cheating’ wapo.st/47MIxnq

Presidential Emergency Operations Center - Wikipedia

There was already a bunker underneath it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preside...

I love Dana Evans. I want to BE Dana Evans. #thepitt

Senate Police Seize Packwood for Quorum Call Sen.

“I rather enjoyed it. I instructed four of my staff to get a sedan chair.” www.latimes.com/archives/la-...

The Senate sergeant-at-arms carried Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., into... - UPI Archives The Senate sergeant-at-arms carried Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., into the chamber early Wednesday in a move to round up recalcitrant senators absent from a...

As the Senate is once again considering the future of the filibuster, could we pause to remember the most entertaining filibuster of all time? @pkcapitol.bsky.social www.upi.com/Archives/198...

No animals were harmed in the making of this joke.

I hope people realize that no animals were harmed in the making of this joke.

Given what is going on in the world, have decided it is time to convert to more reliable, stable and time-tested sources of energy. All my home appliances are now running on peat and whale blubber.

Opinion | Iran’s Islamic Republic 2.0 is coming — and it won’t be pretty How Trump’s tactical victory could turn into a forever war.

Always, always read David Ignatius: Iran’s Islamic Republic 2.0 is coming — and it won’t be pretty www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

In 1972, Rita Marshall and Darlene Gilleland found the baby in a parking lot at an Ohio mall hours after she was born.

The baby, later named Pearl Marshall, was adopted and recently reunited with the women who found her. https://wapo.st/46QWz7g

A @washingtonpost.com poll of 1,005 Americans finds less opposition to the U.S. military actions than when they began, although more people still would prefer that the strikes stop than continue. Story with @erxclau.me & Isabelle Gibson www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

Police say Jan. 6 plaque is unlawfully hidden from public at U.S. Capitol Two police officers argue in a court filing that their lawsuit should continue because a law required a prominent display for the plaque.

New reporting from @oliviacgeorge.bsky.social -- Police say Jan. 6 plaque is unlawfully hidden from public at U.S. Capitol wapo.st/4bpg1t9

Wish my dad hadn’t sold that VW Diesel Rabbit.