Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Slow Cooker Meatloaf


Ingredients

2 1/4 pounds ground meatloaf mix (a combination of beef, pork and veal)
1 cup panko breadcrumbs 
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 scallions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for topping
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
12 ounces small fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
3 carrots, sliced 1 inch thick
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

Directions
Combine the meatloaf mix, panko, eggs, 3/4 cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, the scallions, parsley, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl; mix with your hands until just combined. Form into a 5-by-9-inch loaf.
Transfer the meatloaf to a 6-quart slow cooker. Scatter the potatoes and carrots over and around the meatloaf. Pour in the chicken broth. Cover the slow cooker and cook 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
When the meatloaf is done, skim off any excess fat from the juices in the slow cooker. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and the brown sugar in a small bowl, then whisk in 1/4 cup juices from the slow cooker. Brush the top of the meatloaf with the ketchup mixture. Cover the slow cooker and let the meatloaf rest, 10 minutes.
Remove the meatloaf from the slow cooker and slice in half. Serve half with the vegetables; top with more parsley. Reserve the remaining half for Meatloaf Quesadillas.


It's a good recipe and it's a slow cooker recipe which makes it twice as helpful. 




As November inches closer, Mike Johnson’s desperation is somehow becoming even more palpable, especially after a one-two punch of epic mess-ups this weekend.
Last week was unusually busy for Johnson, who headed to Albuquerque to stump for Tr*mp’s latest pick, congressional hopeful Greg Cunningham.
Speaking to prospective voters at River City Brewery, Johnson didn’t choose to harp on Cunningham’s policies or beliefs, some of which come straight from a notoriously anti-LGBTQ+, pro-life church. Instead, he focused on what he and Tr*mp really care about: Cunningham’s burly good looks.
“Look at him Mikey,” Johnson said of Cunningham while doing his best Tr*mp impression. “He’s so handsome, he’s so strong…Mike he’s a lot bigger than you.”

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out the homosexual panic that Johnson and Chump always appear to be in was the result of their own fears and their own attractions. 

This is C.I.'s "The Snapshot" for Monday: 


Monday, August 31, 2026.  Chump's war with Iran continues, Pete Hegseth argues with generals and brings in social media types to work undercover for the government, Hegsteh also appears to be getting on Chump's nerves, and much more. 

 


Chump's Iran War continues. Haley Britzky, Zachary Cohen abd Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) report:

Iran retaliated against US forces on Sunday after the US military struck Iranian rocket launchers, a US official said, marking the first escalation between the sides in over a month.

Iranian missiles fired into Jordan have been intercepted, the official said, and no impacts have been reported so far.

The attacks came after the US military struck Iran’s Larak Island, where it observed Iranian forces preparing to launch rockets with mines into the Strait of Hormuz.     


The United States and Iran exchanged attacks for the first time in a month overnight on Monday, underscoring how a war that President Trump had promised would be over quickly has repeatedly frustrated his attempts to end it.

The U.S. military said on Sunday that its forces had bombarded Iranian troops on Larak Island that were preparing to launch rockets armed with mines into the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping corridor for oil and gas that Iran has blockaded. The Iranian foreign ministry said several people were killed and wounded, without providing specifics.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it retaliated by firing at bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates that host U.S. military personnel. The Jordanian authorities said that they had intercepted eight missiles that entered their airspace, while the Emirati military said it had “responded to” a drone coming from Iran. There were no reports of any damage or casualties.


There are numerous waves of Operation Happy Talk being put out by Chump supporters.  Yesterday morning on NBC's MEET THE PRESS, Senator Ted Cruz relied on one wave of Operation Hapy Talk only to face the obvious response from moderator Kirsten Welker, "Senator, I hear you arguing that military objectives have been achieved. If that’s the case, why can’t the troops come home? There are still some 50,000 troops there."  He did not attempt an honest answer to that question (instead he tried to spin it).  Why?  There is no honest answer to that question the administration can afford to make. 



Joe DePaolo (MEDIAITE) notes Chump attacked Kristen Welker for something she said on NBC's MEET THE PRESS when, in fact, she made the comment on another program:

:

President Donald Trump blasted NBC’s Kristen Welker early Sunday morning — but the comment that triggered him actually wasn’t made on Meet the Press.

Welker was appearing on NBC 4 Washington during the 6 a.m. ET hour to promote Sunday morning’s Meet the Press. In her brief comments, Welker — citing NBC News reporting — noted that Trump has taken a few losses in recent GOP primaries.

“He’s going to loom large over these midterms,” Welker said on NBC 4 Washington. “There’s no doubt about that. He, of course, has endorsed a slate of candidates in the primaries. He’s had some mixed results, but most recently, his pick of Senator Darline Graham, of course, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, was successful in her primary battle, so now she takes on Dr. Annie Andrews in South Carolina.”


Chump took to social media to attack the journalist.  Jennifer Bowers Bahney (MEDIAITE) notes a reaction to the attack:

Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called President Donald Trump’s Truth Social demand to punish NBC News’s Kristen Welker for saying something he didn’t like, “dangerous” for democracy.

Trump became enraged with Welker after a promo clip of her aired on Washington, D.C.’s, local NBC affiliate, where she noted Trump’s recent endorsement losses — and wins.

[. . .]

In response to the president’s tantrum, Gomez wrote on X, “As I’ve said many times, the FCC has no authority to punish journalists this administration doesn’t like. These threats to press freedom are dangerous. They undermine the foundation of our democracy, and they have no place in it.”


The president’s attack on Welker comes after the Treasury Department barred economics journalists from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg from attending this week’s G20 meetings in North Carolina, according to the Times.

The reporters were not granted credentials by the Treasury Department.

Nearly 300 members of the media, including one Times reporter, will have high-level access to policymakers throughout the event, a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement.


The war on reporters is a war on the truth and that's what Chump and Hegseth focus on the most: Deceiving the American people.  They do it by hiring social media people to write hype about Hegseth and not disclose that they are now on the government payroll and writing what they are ordered to do.  They do that by attacking the press when true reports come out.  For example,  Erkki Forster (DAILY BEAST) reports:

Pete Hegseth’s top spin doctor lashed out at a report that top military brass are pushing back against Hegseth’s orders, only for his meltdown to blow up in his face.

The Washington Post revealed Sunday that commanders are warning Hegseth, the Fox News host-turned-defense secretary, against extending the deployment of more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East for President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.

Sources told the Post that four-star commanders overseeing operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, along with the Navy’s top admiral, each registered a formal ‘non-concur’ with proposals contained in the latest Secretary of Defense Orders Book, a classified Pentagon document produced twice a month to outline the worldwide availability, readiness, and movement of U.S. forces.

A ‘non-concur’ formally records a commander’s disagreement with a proposed course of action, even though the commander may ultimately be required to carry out the final order.


James West (MOTHER JONES) notes the report by THE POST and adds:


On Day 10 of the Iran conflict, Trump declared the war “very complete, pretty much.” It’s now many months later, with no deal, no end date, and a $37.5 billion price tag, according to Hegseth’s July testimony to Congress. Last week we documented the ongoing whiplash in our video below—from demands for unconditional surrender, to negotiations, to this week’s “Operation Economic Outcast,” a sanctions campaign that amounts to a tacit admission that six months of bombing didn’t get the job done.

Watch:



And today on MS NOW's MORNING JOE, they address the issue.


  Sarah-Jane Collins (DAILY BEAST) reports:


President Donald Trump has quietly begun to pin his hopes for resolving the Iran conflict on his treasury secretary rather than Pete Hegseth as the defense secretary is increasingly sidelined.

That’s according to inside sources quoted Saturday by the Daily Mail, which described a subtle shift within the 80-year-old president’s inner circle when it comes to Situation Room briefings on the war, now in its seventh month. 

While Hegseth is still routinely asked for updates on the war, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, an unnamed insider claimed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s take is now given more attention by Trump in the meetings. 

[. . .]

While Hegseth is still routinely asked for updates on the war, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, an unnamed insider claimed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s take is now given more attention by Trump in the meetings. 


Bennito L. Kelty (RAW STORY) adds:


Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has become afraid of President Donald Trump over mounting frustrations with the Iran war, The Daily Mail reported Saturday.

Anonymous insiders say that Trump is increasingly turning away from Hegseth after the two got into an argument at Camp David earlier this month, according to the report. Instead, Trump is turning more to another one of his favored "yes-men," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.


Still on the disaster that is Hegseth, THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC ADVOCATE reports:


Three senior Stars and Stripes employees have taken their dispute with Pentagon leadership to federal court, turning a months long fight over the military newspaper’s independence into an urgent First Amendment case. Editor in chief Erik Slavin, Middle East reporter Lara Korte and publisher Max D. Lederer Jr. filed suit Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Their 45 page complaint names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, senior public affairs official Andrew Brey and the Defense Department. It seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions aimed at stopping proposed terminations that the plaintiffs said could take effect as early as Aug. 28.

The core allegation is retaliation. Slavin and Korte say the Pentagon targeted them after they publicly defended Stars and Stripes’ editorial independence in a July 5 CBS Sunday Morning segment. Lederer says he was later targeted after refusing an instruction to deliver separation notices to the pair and after publicly explaining why he planned to retire.

The complaint also ties the timing of the disciplinary action to an Aug. 11 Stars and Stripes report by Alison Bath about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The article described an unusually long deployment, strained morale, reported food and water shortages, disrupted mail, long workdays and concerns among sailors and families about mental health and self harm.


This is a First Amendment case.  Hegseth has stuck his nose into something it doesn't belong in -- again.  What STARS AND STRIPES decides to print or not print has nothing to do with him or his duties.  Being Secretary of Defense comes with enough tasks, supervising STARS AND STRIPES is not one of them.  But this is part of Hegseth's continued assault on the First Amendment.  Kathleen Culliton (RAW STORY) notes:


Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's desperate efforts to control the narrative on the Iran war have succeeded only in revealing how little control over the situation he has, a columnist argued Saturday.

This withering rebuke of Hegseth's actions against military journalists and service members who have reported untenable conditions, as the war drags into its seventh month, came courtesy of Salon analyst Sophia Tesfaye.

"Rather than addressing any systemic failures on the part of the department, Hegseth’s command structure has resorted to authoritarian retaliation," wrote Tesfaye.

"The silencing of the press and scapegoating of desperate sailors does not hide Hegseth’s mess."


Hegseth's moves do nothing to improve morale or to address his obligations as Secretary of Defense.  In that regard, he's very much like Chump who does nothing to address the needs of the American people.  Tony Romm (NEW YORK TIMES) notes:


 Tony Romm (NEW YORK TIMES) notes:


In the nearly two years since President Trump clinched his return to office, the U.S. economy has come under great duress, leaving families and businesses to suffer through the expensive consequences of constant global conflict and soaring government debt.

It was the financial frustration of a pandemic-weary electorate that helped Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans take charge in Washington in 2024, which they promised to use to defeat the scourge of inflation and slash the profligate government spending they saw as the root of the problem.

But Mr. Trump’s actions in office have complicated — if not undermined — those pledges. With two months until the midterms, some of his policies have prolonged or worsened the economic fortunes of those he promised to help.

It began with a punishing global trade war, which exacerbated the nation’s long quest to bring down the cost of living in the years following the pandemic. This week, the president escalated that offensive and took renewed aim at Canada, setting off a costly tariff tit-for-tat that could drive up prices for Americans.


His tariffs, his war on Iran, his war on immigrants?  They've all helped destroy the American economy.  People are struggling to buy groceries or to fill their car tanks.  And Chump doesn't care.  He can't relate to the average American and he doesn't even pretend to try to relate to them.



Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:

In New Letter, Murray, Colleagues Demand NIH Director Restore Lifesaving Pediatric Research

***LETTER HERE***

ICYMI: Senator Murray Presses NIH Director on Trump’s Proposal to Cut Medical Research Funding to Pay for $1.5 Trillion War Budget

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, led her colleagues in sending a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya demanding restoration of a promising clinical trial to help children that is ending because of the Trump administration’s budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities impacting pediatric research, specifically the NIH’s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). As a direct result of this administration’s actions the PTN is ending the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. The abrupt end to this trial means that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this scientific effort will not see the trial’s goal achieved.

“We write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH’s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children,” write the senators. “Ending the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial’s goal achieved.”

“You cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decision making to Congress and the families of the children who rely on this research,”

In the letter, the senators slam the Trump administration for this wasteful and unnecessary move. “Cancelling this research doesn’t save a dime, in fact it wastes millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Congress established the BPCA and appropriated the funding for this research. Now the Trump administration is forcing it to shut down, and throwing years of data and children’s blood down the drain. Clinical trials aren’t light switches – you can’t turn this research on and off, and now lifesaving research for our kids is gone.”

The lawmakers also call out Director Bhattacharya for his hypocrisy—because in May, during the FY 2027 NIH Budget Hearing before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, he vowed to protect these sorts of trials. They note: “When asked if you were aware that last year NIH’s PTN received only part of its funding, you replied that you ‘were absolutely committed to making sure that we do have opportunities for children across the country to participate in clinical trials.’ But your actions are ripping away opportunities for children to participate in clinical trials and scientists’ ability to learn from trials that could benefit all children. Your actions are squandering the investments previously made by NIH to secure data and specimens in a highly productive trial; and wasting the contributions of children and families participating in the POPS study.”

In addition to Senator Murray, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Adam B. Schiff (D-CA).

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Director Bhattacharya:

We write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH’s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. Ending the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial’s goal achieved. We urge NIH to reinstate the POPS study to prevent the irreplaceable loss of benefit of these precious blood samples from our most vulnerable populations.

The PTN was authorized by Congress in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) (P.L. 107-109), bipartisan legislation that authorized $25 million per year for trials of off-patent medicines and devices used in children. Since then, the PTN has developed into an NIH-funded consortium of over 100 clinical research sites across the United States dedicated to conducting studies on the safety, efficacy, and dosing of drugs and medical devices for children. It aims to improve pediatric medication labeling and reduce off-label prescribing in children and provides critical data on how medications act across developmental stages of childhood and adolescence. Currently, the infrastructure for the BPCA trials is supported by contracts. Thus, reductions in contract funding pose barriers to the BPCA implementation. Due to an arbitrary new rule concocted by the Trump administration, the “Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Cost Efficiency Initiative,” created in response to Executive Order 14222, that institutes an agency-wide maximum contract spending cap for fiscal years (FY) 2025 and 2026, the BPCA trial funding was cut to substantially less than what has been authorized by Congress.

POPS provides infrastructure to support pediatric research at 33 sites in 25 states including Washington, New Jersey, and California. Until its recent cancellation, the study was investigating 60 medicines and had enrolled over 2,000 children. Due to its abrupt, unplanned termination, there are drugs for which the PTN will not be able to provide appropriate dosing information for one or more subgroups of children. Stopping this trial will diminish the value of irreplaceable blood samples donated by children and will prevent our ability to learn the safe dose of medicines routinely used to treat American children.

Cancelling this research doesn’t save a dime, in fact it wastes millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Congress established the BPCA and appropriated the funding for this research. Now the Trump administration is forcing it to shut down, and throwing years of data and children’s blood down the drain. Clinical trials aren’t light switches – you can’t turn this research on and off, and now lifesaving research for our kids is gone.


The National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) previously announced it was planning to support a unified pediatric research consortium. However, that potential effort was discussed nearly a year ago at the NICHD’s Advisory Council. To date, NIH has not released a Notice of Funding Opportunity, meaning that it will likely be years before awards are made and children are enrolled in approved trials.On top of the years it will take to get a unified pediatric research consortium up and running, the PTN was informed that there will be further cuts to the network in FY 2026 because NICHD was directed to reduce the amount of money they spend via contracts in compliance with the administration’s Cost Efficiency Initiative rule.

This is not the first time cuts to the PTN has been brought to your attention. In May, during the FY 2027 Budget Hearing before the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray asked you about this very issue. When asked if you were aware that last year NIH’s PTN received only part of its funding, you replied that you “were absolutely committed to making sure that we do have opportunities for children across the country to participate in clinical trials.” But your actions are ripping away opportunities for children to participate in clinical trials and scientists’ ability to learn from trials that could benefit all children. Your actions are squandering the investments previously made by NIH to secure data and specimens in a highly productive trial; and wasting the contributions of children and families participating in the POPS study.

This pediatric trial didn’t have to end prematurely. It is just one example of a direct impact of the arbitrary decisions the Trump administration has made that are hurting our most vulnerable population – children. The contracts that support BPCA infrastructure received 40% less last year (FY 2025) than was received in 2024, and researchers were told by NIH that this year’s funding (FY 2026) will be even less. Senator Murray warned you in May that “researchers at Seattle Children’s were going to have stop their work investigating how pain medications could be safely used to help some of our sickest children as they face surgeries and hospitalization.” Yet, here we are, in the exact place we feared we would be just a few months ago.

We urge you to do whatever is necessary to ensure full funding for the NIH’s BPCA infrastructure for the PTN so the important work of the POPS trial and other vital research can move forward. This is not about a budget line—this is about keeping our kids safe and healthy. You cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decision making to Congress and the families of the children who rely on this research.

###



The following sties updated:


Posted by at

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce in the Kitchen



Ingredients
Milk: Cow or non-dairy milk at your fat level of choice. All should work just fine.
Cottage cheese: Whole milk or low-fat; pick your favorite. Good Culture Low-Fat is my go-to since it has no added sugar and contains gut-friendly live and active cultures.
Parmesan cheese: This lends a lovely layer of umami and delivers enough richness so you get an Alfredo-like experience. To ensure it incorporates easily into the cottage cheese, I use a microplane to finely shred Parmesan from a wedge of cheese.
Cornstarch: A small scoop brings this sauce together, lending a thick and luscious consistency.
Garlic: Two cloves of fresh garlic infuse so much flavor into this sauce. If you're not a huge fan of robust garlic flavor, swap in an equal amount of roasted garlic or use a single clove. No fresh garlic on hand? ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder or ½ teaspoon of jarred minced garlic both work as a garlic substitute that’s equivalent to 1 fresh clove of garlic. 
Pasta water: The starches that remain in the water after cooking noodles help thicken sauce. If you’re making this cottage cheese Alfredo recipe when you’re not boiling a pot of water for pasta, stir ¼ teaspoon cornstarch and ¼ teaspoon salt into 1 cup of water, then microwave for 1 minute.
Fresh parsley or basil: This acts as a bright, colorful, and perky garnish that really makes this Alfredo recipe feel restaurant-quality.

 
Ingredients
4 oz. dried fettuccine

1 cup milk

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp. cornstarch

2 cloves garlic

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground black pepper

2 Tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions
Cook Pasta
Cook pasta according to package directions until just past al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.

Blend Sauce
While pasta is cooking, in a blender or food processor, combine milk, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, cornstarch and garlic. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add cheese mixture and cook until bubbly and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Assemble
Add cooked pasta to skillet. Toss to coat with sauce, adding pasta cooking water to desired consistency.

Finish and Serve
Sprinkle with parley and/or fresh basil.


News?  Social media news.  Aryeh Cohen-Wade (USA TODAY) reports:

The social media site once known as Twitter is a shell of its former self, overrun by explicit bigotry, fascist memes and scams. Yet a number of liberals, leftists and "normies" still regularly use Elon Musk's site, tacitly contributing to his larger far-right political project.

Are you a "Very Online" poster who feels like leaving X but can't break the habit? I'm here to help. Without intending to, I followed three steps in the first half of the 2020s that made it very easy to quit using the site. 

First, delete the app off your phone. Second, make your account private. Third, get on Bluesky.

I did and I did it because I wanted to support an alternative to Twitter.  I should be doing stuff on Bluesky but it's probably been six months since I've posted there.  



This is C.I.'s "The Snapshot" for Friday: 

Friday, August 28, 2026.  Chump's got troubles, lots and lots of troubles, ICE is arresting more -- much more -- immigrants with no charges against them than they are arresting and deporting convicted immigrants, Hegseth and Chump go after a sailor who will need therapy as a result of their actions, the House Oversight Committee releases a transcript of a recent interview, Greg Bovino insists some in the administration are trying to kill him and much more. 


  

Chump got his own forever war but it didn't make him appreciate the military.  No, the scorn he's shown all along is still on display as Erkki Forster (DAILY BEAST) reports:

A sailor who jumped from the USS Abraham Lincoln in an apparent suicide attempt is now facing disciplinary action from the Navy.

The 19-year-old sailor went overboard on Aug. 3 after sending his wife desperate messages about the toll of the extended deployment on the aircraft carrier, which had spent months at sea amid President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.
Now, the sailor is facing non-judicial punishment for violating articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), according to an MS NOW report, which cites his wife and charging documents.

The documents accuse the sailor of “malingering,” which is defined as a service member “intentionally faking an illness or hurting themselves to avoid work, duty or service,” according to MS NOW.

Here's the video from yesterday morning of Stephanie Ruhle's new MS NOW program MONEY, POWER AND POLITICS.


So that's how Chump and Secretary of Fancy Nancy Pete Hegseth roll?  There's no effort to get he sailor help, just to prosecute.  
If we're going to prosecute, when do we prosecute Chump and Hegseth for their dereliction of duty that allowed the USS LINCOLN to be on a mission that long?  Or their dereliction of duty when it came to not having basic supplies on board -- including food?  


Navy documents accuse the sailor of ‘intentionally faking an illness or hurting themselves to avoid work, duty or service,’ while a separate charge claims he failed to report to his required place of duty during the mental-health crisis. 'I think they’re insane for doing this to people who need mental help,' the sailor's wife told MS NOW. 'Instead of giving them help, this is just another huge stressor.' His wife said he repeatedly requested paternity leave to meet his newborn daughter for the first time but was denied each time.

Chump's Iran War is driving a number of things home to voters.  Mike Catalini and Steven Sloan (AP) note:

Mike Gibbons sat out the presidential election two years ago, frustrated that Democrat Kamala Harris did not take a stronger stand against Israel's war in Gaza and unable to bring himself to cast a vote for Republican Donald Trump.

That is not his plan this year.

The 33-year-old restaurant server in this eastern Pennsylvania town that once housed one of the world's largest steelmakers is eager to vote for any Democrat he can in November. As the war with Iran that Trump initially said would last weeks surpasses six months on Friday, Gibbons is feeling the fallout every time he fills his tank at nearly $1 per gallon more than last year.
“The price of gas affects the price of everything and the price of everything's up and my pay hasn't gone up,” he said. “I'm doing blue no matter who this time.”


But while the Iran War has cost Americans blood and money, it's been a boom for Chump.  Kathryn Watson (CBS NEWS) notes:

President Trump's investment accounts have continued to purchase and sell stock holdings in oil and natural gas companies while he oversees the U.S. war with Iran, according to his financial disclosure filings through the second quarter of 2026. 

As the Iran war continued, paused for a ceasefire and then restarted, Mr. Trump has purchased and sold oil and gas stocks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars,  according to the most recently available data from the Office of Government Ethics. 

Corrupt Chump has been on quite the ride since he returned to the White House.  Nikki McCann Ramirez (ROLLING STONE) explains: 

Donald Trump has been milking every dollar and cent he can find out of his second presidency. Personal jets, real estate deals, crypto rug pulls and shady foreign investment deals are just the tip of the international corruption iceberg, and while far less grand, he's also partaking in more mundane forms of graft. Namely lots, LOTS, of stock trades. 
New stock trading data published this week by the Office of Government Ethics revealed that Trump made over 1,000 stock trades in the month of June. The president, whose financial portfolio is theoretically supposed to be held by an independent third-party trust, moved millions in stocks and ETFs for major companies including SpaceX, Palantir, Vanguard, Berkshire Hathaway, Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. 

According to an analysis by Yahoo Finance, the total volume of trades made in June clocked in between $78.1 million and $263.1 million. The administration denies that the president had any direct hand in the trades. 

"Neither President Trump nor any member of his family has any ability to direct, influence, or provide input regarding how the portfolio is invested or when investments are bought or sold," the White House told The Wall Street Journal. "All holdings are maintained in discretionary accounts and invested through computer-based model portfolios that automatically replicate recognized indexes, such as the Schwab 1000."
Yet, given how openly the president and his family are building a multi-billion dollar fortune by exploiting the power of the presidency, the notion that their trade portfolio is their last bastion of ethical behavior has been received with a heavy serving of skepticism. For example in April, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was a "GREAT TIME TO BUY" just hours before announcing his first round of global "liberation day" tariffs, triggering wild swings in investment markets.

In July Trump bragged to CNBC that his sons - who manage the majority of his family's business empire - had access to "insider information" when conducting transactions and crafting deals. 

That insider information may have benefitted Chump back in June.  Rae Deng (SNOPES) reports:

Trump's June 2026 financial disclosure indicates he bought between $250,001 and $500,000 of Boeing stock on June 18, 2026. That same day, the Department of Defense announced an $880 million contract with Boeing. 

Thus, we have rated this claim as true. 

We look at Chump and we see corruption.  Aniket Verma (BENZINGA) reports:

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Wednesday called President Donald Trump the “most corrupt” president in American history.
Warren criticized Trump’s second-term business activities, including the disclosures that he earned more than $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025.

The windfall included over $520 million from the sale of tokens issued by World Liberty Financial and more than $635 million in royalties collected from the Official Trump (CRYPTO: TRUMP) memecoin.
Warren also mentioned the service by Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. (NASDAQ: DJT)  that charges between $60,000 and $100,000 a month for early access to posts from 10 prominent Truth Social accounts, including Trump’s.



With midterms only 67 days away, the GOP appears to be in very bad shape and that's a result of Chump's actions.  Garrett Downs (CNBC) reports: 

Voters are worried about the cost of living. Comments from the GOP this week are not likely to console them.

President Donald Trump, in an interview Wednesday, said the word "affordability" was "devised" by Democrats to disparage him. The Republican National Committee sent out a fundraising text attributed to Vice President JD Vance that said groceries "cost what they cost." And Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who won the nomination for a full Senate term on Tuesday, disparaged federally run universal healthcare before recalling with nostalgia her parents heading to work even if they were sick.

Nostalgia of her parents heading to work even if they were sick?  Her mother died of cancer.  Her father of a heart attack.  What happy moments those were for Darline.  She says she's faced everything but she can't publicly face the fact that her brother was gay.  She's in denial about so much. 

The set of comments over the past 24 hours exemplifies the challenges ahead for Republicans as they race to save their majorities in Congress in the midterm election, which looms less than 10 weeks away. Democrats are hammering Republicans on the campaign trail over the cost of living, which remains stubbornly high amid the war with Iran. The White House and Republicans also have few levers to pull to remedy affordability concerns immediately.

Voters are also loud and clear that affordability is their top concern in this election. Respondents to CNBC's most recent All-America Economic Survey said the cost of food and groceries was voters' top concern, and Democrats held a 7 percentage point lead on handling that issue.


In other bad news for Chump and the Republicans, Ewan Palmer (DAILY BEAST) notes:'

President Donald Trump has been given a major midterm warning as a poll shows the GOP is cratering among female voters.

A survey by Christine Matthews, a pollster at Bellwether Research and Consulting, found that Democrats hold a whopping 18-point lead over Republicans (52 percent to 34 percent) in a generic congressional ballot among 1,291 female registered voters.
For comparison, in the 2018 midterm elections—where Democrats rode a Blue Wave by winning 40 congressional seats and regaining control of the House—women favored Democratic candidates by 18 points (58 percent to 40 percent).

Among the key Republican voting bloc of white women, the numbers are particularly dire. The poll shows Democrats winning 47 percent to 39 percent. During the 2024 elections, white women favored Republican House candidates over Democrats by 55 percent to 44 percent, and by 53 percent to 45 percent in 2022.

We've repeatedly noted Chump's support for AI data centers and how they are increasingly unpopular with We The People.  Lisa Kashinsky (POLITICO) reports:

Battleground Republicans are breaking from President Donald Trump on data centers. So far, they’re getting away with it.  

In recent weeks, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers and Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity have called for temporary pauses on data center projects. Rep. Tom Tiffany, Republicans’ gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin, launched an attack ad painting his Democratic rival as too pro-data centers. Michigan GOP Rep. Tom Barrett also rolled out an ad last week saying “I stood up to my own party” on data centers and introduced legislation to shore up local control over them.
It’s a stark shift in a party that had previously embraced the burgeoning industry, which Trump has positioned as a critical piece of winning the artificial intelligence race with China. In some cases, the candidates are issuing their new, restrictive data center policies without consulting the White House, according to Garrity and advisers to Barrett, Abbott and Tiffany.
[. . .]
Trump recently called Abbott’s move to pump the brakes on projects in his state a “mistake” in a Punchbowl News interview. But the Texas governor still defends his crackdown, telling ABC on Sunday that he’s putting guardrails on an unruly industry that risks straining the state’s resources.

Pete Hegseth can't win a war and he can't make sure that the USS LINCONLN has enough food on board or isn't out to sea for too long but he can try to intimidate the Scouts of America.   James Dale (USA TODAY) writes:


On Feb. 27, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted a video announcing that he had forced Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) to bend the knee regarding its inclusive policies. Hegseth said the organization would purge what he called "an insidious, radical, woke ideology" and membership would be based on birth certificates. Hegseth gave the organization's leaders six months to prove themselves, and he closed with a threat: "We're watching, and we're watching closely." 
I know that rhetoric. I heard it in 1990 at 19 years old, when the Boy Scouts of America expelled me for being openly gay. I was an Eagle Scout and an assistant scoutmaster in Matawan, New Jersey, and a one-page form letter told me I no longer met the standards for leadership.

I spent the next decade fighting that decision all the way to the Supreme Court, and in 2000 I lost 5-4. The conservative court held that the scouts had a First Amendment right to decide their own membership, free from government interference, overturning a unanimous decision of New Jersey's highest court.
Beneath the bluster in Hegseth’s video, he kept referencing an agreement or memorandum but never shared it.

Scouting America's news release described a "renewed, strengthened partnership with the Department of War" but didn’t mention a memorandum. The Scouting CEO told the media that transgender members would remain in the program.
[. . .]
Now for a healthy dose of irony. The Supreme Court case I lost, Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, established that the government cannot dictate the membership of a private expressive organization. The precedent built on my expulsion is now the strongest legal shield Scouting America has against the Pentagon's coercion. The weapon that scouts leaders used on me is sitting there, waiting for them to pick it up.


Turning to Chump's decades long roll dog -- going all the way back to the eighties -- Jeffrey Epstein.  A number of documents were released by the Justice Dept as a result of Congress passing a law to require the release of all documents; however, Attorney General Todd Blanche protected Chump as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and continues trying to avoid releasing documents related to Chump now that he's Attorney General.  Congress released a transcript on Wednesday of their interview last month with JPMorgan Chase's Jes Staley. Misty Severi (JUST THE NEWS) reports: 

The former executive admitted in the transcript that he had a consensual sexual encounter with someone who he described as "an assistant to Epstein" around 2009 or 2010, but that he did not know if the woman was paid by Epstein. 

The interview, which took place July 24, was part of the panel's investigation into the federal government's handling of the Epstein case and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Staley consented to a voluntary transcribed interview with the committee. 

Following Epstein's arrest and death, Staley came under scrutiny in a lawsuit filed by the disgraced financier's victims, who argued in court filings that JPMorgan Chase and Staley ignored red flags that helped enable Epstein to traffic women and girls. JPMorgan Chase settled the case in 2023 for $290 million. 



The former Barclays boss Jes Staley has denied having sex with a woman dressed as Snow White, after being questioned about an infamous email exchange about Disney princesses with Jeffrey Epstein.

The comments were detailed in newly released transcripts from a closed-door interview last month with US lawmakers as part of their investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in August 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges.

In the email exchange on 9 and 10 July 2010 Staley and Epstein referred to Disney princesses. In those messages, the details of which have been circulating in the media since 2021, Staley tells Epstein: “That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.”

Epstein then asks: “What character would you like next?” to which Staley replied: “Beauty and the Beast.” Epstein responded: “Well one side is availble [sic].”

[. . .]
In the transcript, Staley is then asked: “Would you agree that’s a pretty incredible coincidence, that you email him on July 9th, saying, ‘That was fun, say hi to Snow White,’ and then [the unnamed individual] emails him the next day, reporting back on something that just didn’t have anything to do with you?”

“Sure. Why not?” Staley said.

“That’s pretty hard to believe,” the representative said.


 

Melanie Stansbury, a Democratic congresswoman from New Mexico, highlighted inconsistencies in what Staley was able to recall. 

“You’re claiming that you can remember this interaction you had with Mr Epstein when you went and made a friendly visit while he was doing his sentence, but you have no recollection of these emails and exchanges you had over a woman that was referenced as ‘Snow White’ years later?” she asked him. “That’s ridiculous,” she said. 

Staley said many of the exchanges scrutinised by the committee happened a long time ago and he was not able to recall many of the details.

Julianne McShane and Lisa Rubin (MS NOW) note of the woman Staley did admit to having sex with:

In the transcript, Staley also recounts what he characterized as a consensual sexual encounter with someone who he described as “an assistant to Epstein” around 2009 or 2010, which he previously testified about. He says the woman was in her 20s or 30s, that the encounter occurred at her New York City apartment and that he “assumed” Epstein did not instruct the woman to have sex with him. According to the transcript, the woman later sued Epstein for sexual abuse and settled with his estate, but reserved the right to pursue legal action against Staley — a fact he said he was unaware of.

If Staley lied to and misled the Committee, that is in keeping with his pattern.  Helen Cahill (TIMES OF LONDON) notes:

Barclays has been seeking to rebuild its standing after Staley’s departure, but it was dragged into the scandal once again in July when Elizabeth Warren, a senior Democratic senator, and two colleagues wrote to Nigel Higgins, the chairman of Barclays, to ask whether the lender performed sufficient due diligence on Staley before appointing him chief executive. 

Warren said the FTSE 100 lender should provide details on its internal processes as its “apparent failure” to vet Staley posed “significant governance questions regarding the bank’s ability to hold senior executives accountable for wrongdoing”.

The bank has said that new information has emerged in the years since his appointment that showed Staley “misled Barclays and many others as to the nature of the relationship with Epstein”.

He and Epstein were very close.  Gabrielle Saulsbery (BANKING DIVE) notes:


In one email, Staley suggested getting Epstein out of prison “for the weekend” to discuss business.

One questioner, whose name was redacted in the committee transcript, asked at last month’s hearing if it struck Staley as “problematic to be asking a convicted sex offender” to do that.

“Epstein had very interesting insights into the financial markets,” Staley told the questioner.


In other Epstein news, Cameron Adams (DAILY BEAST) notes:

Beleaguered billionaire Bill Gates has been grilled over claims that he was targeted for “blackmail” by child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Gates, 70, was mired in controversy after appearing in the Epstein case files. Among the documents released by the Department of Justice were photos of Gates posing with the late financier, as well as email correspondence between the two men.
The Microsoft co-founder was probed by the House Oversight Committee in June over his links to Epstein, whom he met with around 30 times between 2011 and 2014. In 2008, Epstein pleaded in Florida to state charges of soliciting a prostitute and procuring a minor for prostitution. He died in jail in 2019.
Gates appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 on Wednesday to share his concerns about the AI industry not opeing up about the possible risks of the technology.

However, Cooper ended the interview by asking Gates about his connections to Epstein, noting it was his first television appearance since his behind-closed-doors grilling by the House Oversight Committee.
The CNN host asked Gates about the series of “graphic, unverified” allegations Epstein reportedly made in draft emails from 2013 that were never sent.

The billionaire previously admitted to having extramarital affairs with two Russian women, but Epstein’s draft emails alleged he had contracted an STD from the women, and wanted antibiotics to give to his then-wife Melinda. Gates previously said the sordid allegations in the unsent emails were “false.”
“It sounded like he was trying to blackmail you,” Cooper asked of the contents of the draft emails, adding, “Were you aware he was trying to do that?”

“No,” Gates said firmly, pointing out how “complicated” the “several hundred pages” of testimony was.

“I didn’t know that he was considering blackmailing me. Uh, he never did blackmail me, but, you know, it just shows how foolish I was uh, to spend time with him,” Gates said.


Journalist Katie Phang went on UNION SQUARE to explaing her lawsuit against the Justice Dept to force Attorney General Todd Blanche to follow the law passed by Congress and release all of the Epstein files.



And below, Katie reports on Epstein pal and business buddy Leon Black.


Turning to ICE, though not as flashy as Kristi Noem, Greg Bovino is a nut case as well.  David Edwards (RAW STORY) reminds Bovino was let go for the following:

He was removed in January after federal agents fatally shot U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti during the Minneapolis operation, the last of the deployments that also took him to Los Angeles and Chicago, CNN reported.

A federal judge in Chicago found last year that Bovino lied about why he threw a tear gas canister into a crowd, CBS News noted.

Yet, David Edwards reports that Bovino is insisting that the administration doesn't want him to have security because "they want me dead at this point" and he fingers Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and border czar Tom Homan -- and I seriously doubt either person even thinks about Bovino, let alone wants him dead.  It's just the crazy that Bovino has always functioned under and why he was such a threat to the American people. 

Still on immigration, Julia Ingram (CBS NEWS) reports: 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a record high of more than 800 people without criminal records a day in July on average, new federal data shows. The surge in arrests comes as the White House pushes the agency to hit a target of 2,000 per day.

July is the first month in President Trump's second term when people with only civil immigration violations — rather than pending criminal charges or convictions — made up more than half of those arrested. An average of more than 1,580 people were arrested each day in July, also a new high for the current administration.
Enforcement ramped up this summer after a drop following public backlash to the Department of Homeland Security's operation in Minneapolis, a funding standoff and a shake-up in DHS leadership. But, as has been the case with ICE's previous big city crackdowns, rising arrest totals come with spikes in community arrests of people without criminal records.
Administration officials have repeatedly claimed that their enforcement efforts are focused on "the worst of the worst" and often tout arrests of immigrants with violent criminal convictions. Those with convictions for violent crimes as defined by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics make up about 6% of all those booked into ICE detention under the current administration, and about 4% of those taken into custody in July, the data show. 


Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:


Murray: “I will make sure Spokane’s recovery is a priority at every opportunity. Whatever it takes—for as long as it takes.”

ICYMI: Senator Murray Vows to Get Spokane and WA Federal Resources for Wildfire Response and Recovery

***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***  

Spokane, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited families, first responders, and community leaders in Spokane to hear about the ongoing wildfire debris clean up and recovery efforts, and witness firsthand the current state of local communities that have been hit hard by the devastating Spokane Complex Fires.

Melinda and Brent Howard invited Senator Murray to visit their neighborhood to see the destruction from the Old Trails wildfire. The Howard family lost their home in the wildfire and their neighborhood was one of the hardest hit in the community.

“Washington state is no stranger to wildfires—but this has been one of the most destructive wildfires our state has seen. I want every family in Spokane, and those across the state who are still battling wildfires, to know I am with you, today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes to rebuild,” said Senator Murray. These fires may have destroyed homes and so many families lost a lifetime of memories, but Spokane’s spirit was never broken. The Spokane community rallied together and took care of each other—and I had the opportunity to see that firsthand. Firefighters, law enforcement, health care workers, and volunteers mobilized, stepping up to help one another. The VA staff were also critical and got Mann-Grandstaff evacuated, continued to ensure veterans had the care they needed, and stepped up to get it reopen as soon as possible—even as many were affected by the fires themselves. So, with my deepest gratitude, thank you, to everyone who has helped battle these fires and keep the community safe, and thank you as we all continue working together to rebuild and recover.”

Senator Murray continued, “The fires may be contained but the fight does not stop. The people of Spokane need action and deserve to know their government has their back. I have been hard at work in DC ensuring Washington state received an expedited Emergency Declaration so communities could get resources faster. Rebuilding homes, rebuilding businesses, it will take a long time, and it will not be easy. But as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I want the people of Eastern Washington to know they have a voice in the United States Senate who will speak up for Spokane, and I will make sure Spokane’s recovery is a priority at every opportunity. Whatever it takes—for as long as it takes.”

“We lost everything in the fire, as did many in our community. We are so grateful for the amazing response from firefighters, first responders, and the greater Spokane community, including the rapid formation of the Disaster Assistance Center. The outpouring of support has been nothing short of incredible. We have a long road ahead of us with many unknowns. Continued support from local, state, and federal agencies will be critical in the months and years to come,” said the Howard Family.

While in Spokane, Senator Murray held a briefing with first responders and local leaders to hear about the response and recovery efforts for the Spokane Complex Fires. Senator Murray is committed to supporting the wildfire recovery efforts and will ensure resources for Spokane are a top priority in federal funding bills.

“Federal assistance is critical to our ability to respond to the aftermath of these devastating fires. Senator Murray will be a key partner in that effort, and I am grateful for her leadership and commitment to Spokane as we navigate the road to recovery,” said Lisa Brown, Mayor of Spokane.

“I am grateful to Senator Murray for coming to meet with the Spokane Fire Department and see firsthand the areas impacted by these devasting fires. She has helped bring federal partners to the table, which will ensure local families, businesses, and neighborhoods have the resources they need to rebuild and come back stronger,” said Tom Williams, Spokane Fire Chief.

Senator Murray also toured CHAS Health, including their new Learning Institute and their mobile medical unit, and met with health care providers who helped families evacuated due to the wildfires. Senator Murray secured $3 million in Congressional Direct Spending (CDS) for the CHAS Learning Institute in FY22 to help create a health care training facility to expand community access to health care apprenticeship programs and on-the-job training for students in medical, dental, and pharmacy programs.

“When these historic fires hit the Spokane community, CHAS Health was well positioned to provide support. From the Red Cross Shelter to the Disaster Assistance Center, our employees quickly stepped up in assisting with medical care, prescription refills, providing essential needs, and other resources throughout the early recovery effort. We thank Senator Murray for her continued advocacy and support for the individuals, families, and communities impacted by the fires,” said Aaron Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of CHAS Health.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in the Interior and Environment appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026, which Senator Murray negotiated and helped pass into law, Murray worked to include essential investments in wildfire preparedness and suppression. In FY26, she secured $6.13 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, with separate additional funding for the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve. The bill rejected the steep $1.4 billion cut to the Forest Service’s non-fire budget proposed by President Trump and provides funding for the Forest Service to improve forest restoration and fire risk reduction efforts on federal lands. The FY26 bill also fully funds essential wildfire preparedness and suppression efforts by providing $4.25 billion for wildfire suppression, of which $2.85 billion is for the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund and continues to support the increased pay for federal firefighters enacted into law last year. Senator Murray continues to push back against Trump’s FY27 budget request, to protect our public lands.

###





 Isaiah's THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Linda Learning Stuff" went up last night and the following sites updated:








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