The Chronicle has come out *very* early with an endorsement in the race for CA Insurance Commissioner. I suggest you read it. And if you rent and think this doesn't apply to you, it ultimately affects your costs too: www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/arti...

Endorsement: Ben Allen for California insurance commissioner

OPINION: In a race with no Republican, some California voters may see an opportunity to take a chance on a radical candidate for state insurance commissioner. That would be a terrible mistake.

sfchronicle.com

Two posts in one day?! Unbelievable. But please, if you need a laugh and a lift and nod of agreement, this captures us (Americans) right here, right now. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Opinion | The 25 Objects That Explain America (Gift Article)

Want to understand this country? Look at our stuff.

nytimes.com

Make that heroin addict eat them.

Jessica Nix@jessicanix.bsky.social · 1h ago

SCOOP! Restaurant chain Qdoba has now pulled jalapeños from more than 800 stores following a connection to the ongoing salmonella outbreak. Yesterday, Chipotle said it was pulling the peppers from some MN restaurants @bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

This excellent Washpost story is an illustration of how the anguish from an unjustified arrest — in this case, of a veterinarian trying to protect animals near the Reflecting Pool —can linger long after the charges are dropped. Gift link ⤵️ wapo.st/3RSQ6nU

Arrested at Reflecting Pool, woman details ‘heartbreaking’ toll case has taken

Sophie Dennison-Gibby was one of three defendants charged with a misdemeanor related to Reflecting Pool damage. The charges were all dropped.

wapo.st

Gift link for the wapo story on flock cameras: wapo.st/4xGdGUj

Best Bond villain, wrong answers only.

Absolutely Fabulous: Woman with Match Magazine

ALT: Absolutely Fabulous: Woman with Match Magazine

static.klipy.com

Call Me The Brie-ze@briesmith.xyz · 4h ago

Best Bond villain, wrong answers only

NEW: Republicans tried to get Missourians to effectively kill direct democracy and ballot initiatives. Last night, Missourians literally laughed in their face — rejecting the measure by a massive 80% to 20%. Here’s what to know:

Missourians Reject Measure That Threatened to Kill Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives - Bolts

Missourians on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted against a measure to restrict direct democracy, while state officials are trying to block even more citizen-led reforms from the November ballot.

boltsmag.org

holy shit -- Schiff ties Trump's judicial nominees in knots by asking them who won the 2016 before *before* asking them who won in 2020, which results in them sounding like election deniers about Trump's victories!

A really funny complaint about the Zohran discount grocery store idea is that non-poor people could use it when there’s a grocery store half a mile from my grocery store that has everything cost 20% more that rich people go to because they don’t want to shop with normal people.

The cruelty.

Andrew Levesque@andrewlevesque.bsky.social · 10h ago

www.huffpost.com/entry/delane... ICE officials did not report the death of someone who had been detained at Delaney Hall immigration detention center last month because they had technically “released” him in the middle of a medical emergency, a U.S. congressman alleged Monday….

Abdul El-Sayed was outspent 9-to-1 by AIPAC and corporate Super PACs in the most expensive Senate Democratic primary of all time. Last night, he proved that organized people can beat organized money.

It’s been 166 days since SCOTUS struck down Trump’s illegal tariff taxes & big corporations are getting their refunds. $2.2 BILLION for Apple, $600 MILLION for Amazon, $300 million for Nike.   When are American families going to see the $1,700 they're owed? Return the money, NOW.

Corporate America got billions of dollars in tariff refunds. Where’s your cut? | CNN Business

Apple got an estimated $2.2 billion tariff refund last quarter. Amazon got $600 million. Nike got $300 million. But American consumers who paid higher prices as President Donald Trump’s tariffs filter...

cnn.com

BREAKING: The New Mexico Department of Justice has sued Acting AG Todd Blanche and the DOJ, requesting the court for access to unredacted Epstein-related investigative files that the DOJ has been withholding.

Apparently, the ghost of Joseph McCarthy is now in charge of social media for Senate Republicans.

🧵👇

Chris Sprigman@cjsprigman.bsky.social · 6h ago

The most important thing to know re Thomas Edsall is that he is *never* interesting. He starts every column from a fixed position--that centrism is the Dems' only path--and he shapes every discussion of polling or other empirical work to align. So too here. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/o...

This is an astounding loss for the US if it comes to fruition. One of the biggest strategic losses the US has ever endured—perhaps biggest?—and all from a war the US chose to start for no reason, illegally.

Nicholas Grossman@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 7h ago

Iran and Oman have reportedly agreed that all ships transiting Hormuz have to go through an Iran-controlled corridor, and are finalizing tolls of 3, 5, or 7%. This would close off the path outside Iranian waters the US encouraged ships to use during the MOU, then started bombing again to keep open.

In May, Trump promised seniors, “Now you have the lowest drug prices anywhere in the world.” Today, his administration is ending the Medicare Part D program that helped keep prescription drug premiums lower for 25 million Americans. Promises made. Promises broken. #RepublicanMedicareCuts

El-Sayed: "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters. Because if there is one question of political philosophy that ought to animate us all, it's what would we do if we treated all our kids like they were all of our kids?"

6yrs ago from yesterday.

"Pastors in Name Only" "Wicked Witch of Woke" “I've never seen anyone commit so much blasphemy against the word of God." As pastors become Democratic nominees — at least 5 so far, and likely one more tonight — their Republican opponents are attacking their faith. religionnews.com/2026/08/04/p...

'They're not real pastors': As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith

(RNS) — 'It's a sign that they are really scared they're gonna lose this seat,' the Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor running for Congress in Iowa, said. She is part of a wave of religious ...

religionnews.com

Yep. Earlier this year I was interviewed by Sharyn Alfonsi of 60 Minutes about my Epstein investigation. Subsequently, CBS pulled the segment and fired the reporter. The MAGA buyout of media is aiding the Trump administration’s Epstein cover up.

The New Republic@newrepublic.com · yesterday

Banks permitted millions in suspicious transactions tied to Epstein—and former 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi had the story months ago. But the report would never air. trib.al/ZShZlIS

We’re officially on “Ticking Fee Watch”. ⏰ $PSKY

An emergency alert warning of a "real world active shooter" locked down Okinawa's Kadena Air Base late Tuesday, prompting a response by law enforcement before officials said no threat was found.

False active-shooter report triggers lockdown at Air Force base on Okinawa

Kadena Air Base went on lockdown for about an hour before it was lifted, and officials said no threat was substantiated.

stripes.com

Got one, see below.

JoeBIn818@joebin818.bsky.social · 23h ago

Does anybody have the ability to provide a gift link?

“Ronald Lauder, a Billionaire G.O.P. Backer, Closes His Wallet: Ronald S. Lauder, a major funder of conservative political causes, has not given a single dollar this year to Republicans in his home state, and his super PAC has gone idle.” — www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/n...

Ronald Lauder, a Billionaire G.O.P. Backer, Closes His Wallet (Gift Article)

Ronald S. Lauder, a major funder of conservative political causes, has not given a single dollar this year to Republicans in his home state, and his super PAC has gone idle.

nytimes.com

Does anybody have the ability to provide a gift link?

DrDinD.bsky.social@drdind.bsky.social · yesterday

Republican megadonor Ronald Lauder has closed his checkbook for political donations. In this case it may be due to financial and family considerations, but the ROI for billionaires is gonna need examination.

www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/b...

Uber’s Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?’ (Gift Article)

The ride-hailing giant promised to handle legal claims “in a way that is best for the survivor.” Its lawyers are pursuing a far more aggressive strategy.

nytimes.com

Uber is attacking rape survivors after their Uber drivers rapists were convicted by demanding to know “What were you wearing?” when the Uber drivers raped them. Tell AMEX to stop doing business with Uber who defends their rapist drivers. c.org/DFLxkccnRz

Sign the Petition

Demand American Express to cut ties with Uber over attacks on rape victims

c.org

An Angry Trump Struggles to Understand Iran’s Defiant Leaders Iran’s leaders have perplexed several American presidents, perhaps none more than President Trump.

An Angry Trump Struggles to Understand Iran’s Defiant Leaders (Gift Article)

Iran’s leaders have perplexed several American presidents, perhaps none more than President Trump.

nytimes.com

More than 900 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan, have been sickened with cyclosporiasis since mid-June. Almost everyone has said the same thing: It’s excruciating, and one of the worst illnesses they’ve experienced.

Nurses chase cyclospora, aided by interviews, fast-food receipts — and the messy details

denverpost.com