Years ago, I ran into a relative newcomer to the American political scene at the Aphrodisias museum in Türkiye. I did a few double takes b4 snapping the photo! Little did I know then that he had aspirations to be the Emperor of America......

California’s Blue Armageddon One of the most liberal states in the country can’t find a Democrat to lead it.

For all Californians, this is a good one to read b4 June's primary. Who's leading "Team Donkey," as @markleibovich.bsky.social calls it. His description of candidates & "Wizard of Oz wrap party" left me wondering about the 💙 party, but not enough to vote 🟥.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Win or lose, there remains a real measure of promise and decency in America that is worth the fight. And win or lose, there is no dignity for any of us unwilling to have that fight.

Ex-Kennedy Center staffer alleges chaos and cronyism under Trump leadership Unless courts intervene, the Kennedy Center will shut down this July for two years, as part of a roughly $250 million renovation. In the lead-up, there’s been a wave of layoffs and a controversial reb...

Now we have a better idea why Trump shuttered the #KennedyCenter.

www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

Opinion | A Stunning New Verdict Rewrites the Rules of Corporate Morality

#CorporateComplicity
"For the first time in France, and possibly for the first time ever, anywhere, an entire corporation had been put on trial and found criminally liable for enabling terrorism." @mashagessen.bsky.social on new chapter in the prosecution of war crimes that may begin.

April 15, 2026 On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln went to Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C., to see a production of the comedy Our American Cousin. The Linc...

This is one of her most brilliant essays! I've never read about the last hours of Lincoln's life. In an alternate world, what would our country be now if Abe and Mary had been able to take that trip to California?

"The ideas of the Confederacy never became odious."
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

Where is your name, @usrepjimmypanetta.bsky.social?

Hannah Arendt suggested political action is distinguished from other activity by fact that it's irreversible. Once done, it cannot be undone, it can only be atoned for or answered. The Geneva Conventions prohibits "acts or threats of violence whose primary purpose is to terrorize civilians.”

April 9, 2026 The ceasefire President Donald J.

"But it is hard to miss that hours after his wife gave an unexpected press conference about Jeffrey Epstein, Trump posted a video of a woman’s murder."

When is enough enough?

open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

What @pkrugman.bsky.social sadly states, that the US no longer has world respect, is a reflection upon our current system of governance and each of us. "We" officially elected the man. If there is an election in 26 AND 28, it's up to us to ensure this train wreck ends.

Are there any realistic, enforceable consequences for not appearing: contempt, bench warrant, fines, jail?

Forty days of war crimes How do you lose a war against a country with one-tenth the wealth of the U.S.?

We should be thankful Trump is an outrageous crook. What’s saving us from a nuclear disaster is his greed. Of course, if he figured a way to make $$ from blowing up a civilization/killing millions, he would. @lktiv.bsky.social

luciantruscott.substack.com/p/forty-days...

The Next Attorney General Has an Impossible Job Just like the last one

Well, at least there's something to make Pam Bondi rise above Kristi Noem in our memory. She loved dogs.

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

PEN Pinter Prize Acceptance Speech "No Propaganda on Earth Can Hide the Wound That Is Palestine"

I missed Arundhathi Roy's speech @englishpen.bsky.social ceremony in 2024.

"A party to the genocide cannot be a mediator."

I wonder what she'd say today?
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Deep Pockets DEEP POCKETS… It’s that time of year when Squid’s sea-snail mailbox starts filling up again, thanks to the political mailers. In Squid’s lair, your likelihood of being elected has more

Glad @montereycountynow.com shines 🚨 on $96K @usrepjimmypanetta.bsky.social got from @aipac1.bsky.social vs @lofgren.house.gov $0. Panetta has very little competition. Why does he need $ from AIPAC when he already has more than $4M in his coffers?
www.montereycountynow.com/opinion/squi...

2028 Dem hopefuls scramble for distance from AIPAC Democrats eyeing White House bids are distancing themselves from the powerful pro-Israel group amid slumping support for Israel within the party’s base.

"That so many Democrats declined to comment on the organization suggests that AIPAC still has some influence."

1st of all, big $$ should be banned from elections. Then, how about you, @usrepjimmypanetta.bsky.social, are you still taking AIPAC $$?
www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Opinion | The U.S. Is No Longer the Leader of the Free World

"If Pax Americana meant fostering an enduring American peace, Lax Americana means America getting a piece of the action. The world’s policeman is on the take." Carlos Lozado @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/o...

What “boots on the ground” really means It’s not boots.

"Boots are inanimate objects until they are laced onto the feet of soldiers." @lktiv.bsky.social
luciantruscott.substack.com/p/what-boots...

One Man a Hero. One Man a Monster. America has lost a very good man. It must find a way to control a very bad one.

Here's the question @jfallows.bsky.social suggests we ask all members in the administration of the "moral monster" Donald Trump: “The president says he is glad Mr. Mueller is dead. Do you agree?”
fallows.substack.com/p/one-man-a-...

Bloodbath My friend Terrence Goggin, who writes the excellent Substack newsletter “West Point History Professor” — and yes, he did teach me history at the Academy back in the stone age — published an excellent ...

If this is what Trump envisions the mission of f the US Marines heading to Iran, I agree with @lktiv.bsky.social,
we'll be responsible for a bloodbath.
luciantruscott.substack.com/p/bloodbath?...

HUGE: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — Trump's former personal lawyer who was also responsible for Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to a cushy club fed — has intervened to block the DEA from providing details of a mysterious Epstein investigation to my Finance Committee team.

Senator calls for DEA to provide info on "incredibly disturbing" Epstein drug investigation Federal drug enforcement investigators targeted Jeffrey Epstein and 14 others in a yearslong probe first reported by CBS News.

This is a big one. A newly uncovered document has revealed the existence of a mystery Epstein investigation. It was spearheaded by the DEA and involved drug trafficking and money laundering. Epstein was one of 15 targets. The other 14 names are redacted. I've got questions.

March 18, 2026 I was intending to take tonight off, but there’s big news—I mean, aside from all the other big news—that I want to make sure gets attention.

We now know there are no congressional Republicans willing to stand up to demand DOJ release this particular #Epsteinfile. Is there one brave, civil servant inside DOJ who can save us from this maniacal regime?
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-18-2...

UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach Exclusive: Jonathan Powell thought Tehran’s ‘surprising’ offer on its nuclear programme could prevent rush to war, sources say

“We regarded Witkoff and Kushner as Israeli assets that dragged a president into a war he wants to get out of.” So, @jenrubin.bsky.social is rt, Trump called it, but the "diplomats" sure did facilitate it.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Actually, my head's ⤵️

UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach Exclusive: Jonathan Powell thought Tehran’s ‘surprising’ offer on its nuclear programme could prevent rush to war, sources say

“We regarded Witkoff and Kushner as Israeli assets that dragged a president into a war he wants to get out of.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

My night off with Gracie Gracie, another of our strays rescued from an icy winter by Tracy, came equipped with five unexpected extra guests born three years ago in our sun room behind the spokes of a bicycle wheel, her safe p...

Trump's kind of war is characterized as redolent of "petulance, ignorance, and of course, resentment."

"Death, destruction, depression, despair and disgust are its results."

@lktiv.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...

Thanks for posting this, Larry. I might never had seen this man's work. It's awesome!

The Story Behind Michael Moore’s Controversial 2003 Oscar Acceptance Speech Days after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Michael Moore used his moment in the spotlight to rail against the war. Here’s what he and others onstage remember.

Now that I seen/read this excellent reminder of one past #Oscar, I can hardly wait to see what's going to happen this Sunday.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...