Not enough. The Elon Musk budget cuts designed to kill Africans are mostly still in effect. The U.S. did restore $2 billion to global health -- but Trump has already spent $37.5 billion on the war against #Iran. @garrettepps.bsky.social @jfallows.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/h...

U.S. Restores Some Vaccine and Health Aid to Unicef, Gavi and World Food Programme

The amount is still far below what the U.S. spent previously on humanitarian and health aid, but resumes the flow of money for key efforts to fight malnutrition and disease.

nytimes.com

Plus, total trade embargoes with Erewhon and Narnia

Garrett Epps@garrettepps.bsky.social · 5d ago

Trump slaps high tariffs on Wakanda, taunts Supreme Court: "Overturn this!" www.bbc.com/news/world-u...

FIFA awards first-ever “FIFA Most Hated Man in World Sport” prize to Gianni Infantino

Are you saying the DOJ withdrew that pool vandalism indictment… upon reflection?

“These are people who literally cannot be trusted to paint a swimming pool.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/vide...

Will the US midterm elections be free and fair? – Stateside with Kai and Carter

With Republicans' chances in the midterms looking shaky, Donald Trump is increasingly trying to rewrite the rules that govern US elections. Voting rights groups say he's really laying the groundwork t...

theguardian.com

Trump slaps high tariffs on Wakanda, taunts Supreme Court: "Overturn this!" www.bbc.com/news/world-u...

US government lists fictional nation Wakanda as trade partner

Officials say it was an error to add the fictional nation from Black Panther to the list.

bbc.com

Paul has discovered that certain subversive scientists, inspired by Trotskyite saboteurs, are not following the correct thoughT of Comrade Trofim Lysenko. THEY MUST BE LIQUIDATED!

Rand Paul threatens Fauci with “contempt of Congress.” I’m reminded of a story told variously of Lord Diplock and the first Earl of Birkenhead. A judge said, “You are displaying contempt of this court!” The advocate supposedly responded, “I crave pardon, my Lord, I am striving to conceal it.“

My goodness. There it is. The once-venerated white-shoe New York law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell is representing an adjudicated rapist in a case brought by the victim. I never thought I would live to see something like this. Wow. www.documentcloud.org/documents/28...

Anybody want one of the coolest appellate jobs in Maryland?

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Solicitor General, Criminal Appeals Unit in Baltimore, MD, United States

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Solicitor General, Criminal Appeals Unit in Baltimore, MD, United States

mdagcareers.ttcportals.com

What? WHAT? Be honest now: Which of us HASN’T accidentally butt-dialed Barbra Streisand?

If you asked me to come up with a list of things the Democratic Party doesn't need, Rahm Emanuel would be near the top of the list.

140 soldiers wounded just last week seems like kind of a big deal.

Who could have seen this coming? www.oregonlive.com/clackamascou...

Armed men posing as ICE agents detained, assaulted woman after fake traffic stop, police say

Oregon State Police officials are seeking information after a woman was detained and assault by three men posing as federal agents.

oregonlive.com

don’t get me started on what people will accept for cerulean these days.

This is sweet. Bottom line: equity rewards those with clean hands. USDOJ's hands are filthy.

Gabriel Malor@gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 2w ago

Fed. judge finds that Trump's DOJ—in particular AAG Harmeet K. Dhillon—was acting in bad faith and with unclean hands when it tried to bully Portland over ICE protests and the arrest of right-wing agitator Nick Sortor. In evidence: Dhillon's tweeting. www.courtlistener.com/docket/43658...

Look at that sea behind Damon: Is it dark? Not really. Is it WINE dark the way it should be.? No. This is totally unrealistic. and I haven't seen the movie but people I trust say that Dawn does not put our rosy fingers EVEN ONCE in this travesty of an adaptation. BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT

To register to vote or to check that your registration remains valid (do this check repeatedly, especially as the midterms get closer): Go to the website for the Secretary of State for your state, and use the voting related options as needed. Find yours here www.e-secretaryofstate.com

Almost every day, we hear that the administration has found some new way to fix the elections. Each new stratagem may be less a superweapon than a fresh shipment from Acme to Wile E. Coyote—Jet-Propelled Unicycle, Dehydrated Boulders, etc. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/07/06/t...

Trump’s Election Subversion Plans?

Trump has floated ways to disrupt the 2026 midterms, from mail voting crackdowns to ICE at the polls. Here’s why voters still have power.

washingtonmonthly.com

All’s I can say is don’t cry for me is all’s I can say.

Apropos of nothing, the late Senator George McGovern was asked for comment on the death of J. Edgar Hoover and replied: “I think we can regret the death of any American, any man, any mortal.”

TRUMP WILL NO LONGER ALLOW ASSOCIATED PRESS IN WHITE HOUSE UNLESS IT CHANGES ITS STYLE FOR “JAPAN” TO “ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF JAPAN”

El-Sayed has had the savvier online campaign to date but it’s only Stevens cranking out real time debate clips

Bill Scher@billscher.bsky.social · 4w ago

10 minutes into the MI-SEN debate, and both El-Sayed and Stevens came to play and came prepared. Tight answers, staying on-message. www.youtube.com/live/axQYRxJ...

Stealing an election is a complex and unpredictable process—and Trump’s team may not have the skills to do it.   washingtonmonthly.com/2026/07/06/t...

Trump’s Election Subversion Plans?

Trump has floated ways to disrupt the 2026 midterms, from mail voting crackdowns to ICE at the polls. Here’s why voters still have power.

washingtonmonthly.com

World Cup denial will become another litmus test for those wanting to join the Trump administration or to be confirmed by the Senate.

As clock winds down, Trump threatens FIFA: “This game was RIGGED!”

If I understand this article, it explains that American historians cannot explain anything about, well, America, and that task is best left to classicists who study Eastern Orthodoxy, who are experts on what’s wrong with expertise.

Kevin M. Kruse@kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 4w ago

There were 2-3 moments where I had to back up and read it again to be sure I hadn't hallucinated something weird.

Every day, we hear that Trump has found some new way to fix the elections (Postal Service, ICE, FBI, SAVE America Act, etc., etc.). Each stratagem may be less a superweapon than shipment to Wile E. Coyote—Jet-Propelled Unicycle, Dehydrated Boulders, etc. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/07/06/t...

Trump’s Election Subversion Plans?

Trump has floated ways to disrupt the 2026 midterms, from mail voting crackdowns to ICE at the polls. Here’s why voters still have power.

washingtonmonthly.com

One of our best historians of the Founding reflects on the contradictions of 7/4/2026: ""The revolutionary optimism that Adams and Jefferson felt in the springtime of independence now seems a distant memory." Independence Day, From Jefferson to Reagan to Trump washingtonmonthly.com/2026/07/04/i...

Independence Day, From Jefferson to Reagan to Trump

The 47th president has smashed norms, enriched himself, and even bungled cleaning the Reflecting Pool. But July 4 still survives.

washingtonmonthly.com