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-As Israel resumed its war on HAMAS after a series of hostage releases, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's already increasingly-tenuous political position may have taken a final blow after the New York Times reports Israeli intelligence knew a year ago about the literal plans to attack HAMAS - right down to the methods of attack and types of targets it wanted to attack. The article claims that Mossad and Netanyahu government brushed off the plan as "aspirational," even when this article seems to confirm earlier reports that members of the Israeli military all but watched a dry run of the attack near Gaza City days before it took place. Internal pressures on Netanyahu have already amped up because of the attack itself and his entire political career being built on being the "protector" of the country, so while attacks resume, the world watches to see how long he can remain in power given the evidence building of his culpability in allowing the attacks to happen.
-You will all be thrilled to hear that there is a new political leader who is vowing to protect democracy in the United States! That leader is ... Ex-President Trump XCI, who in a speech in IA yesterday countered the claim that it is the Democrats and President Biden who are the ones protecting democracy. Trump - the man who attempted to overturn an election he lost, the man who is promising to use the federal government as an instrument of vengeance against his enemies, the man who vows to oppress minorities with camps and deportations - accused Biden of being "the destroyer of democracy," citing as 'proof' rampant potential voter fraud in cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and Philadelphia (wonder what those places have in common ... ???), and garnering a headline in this morning's New York Times that repeated Trump's claims without batting an eye.
-Now, Trump has other worries in his head as well. In the same speech, he went on an extended rant about one of his favorite obsessions: water pressure in home appliances, this time kvetching about how dishwashers don't do a good job cleaning up splattered ketchup like they used to. In a Friday appearance at his FL property, Trump helpfully opened a speech as follows: "We don't let people use Mar-a-Lago very much because, as you know, we hold very important documents here."And in an interview with a group called Moms for America, Trump gushed about one of his children thusly: "He's a tall guy. Very tall. 6'8". He's a great young man. Very good student. I think he's doing a good job - Barron! I think he's doing a very good job."
-Speaking of moms, we need to talk about Moms for Liberty and the FL Republican Party. Moms for Liberty is essentially a hate group targeting the LGBTQI+ community, with particular venom aimed at attacking the trans community. They have spearheaded numerous book banning efforts nationally and have tried to load local school boards with their reactionary members (most of whom lost their campaigns in this year's cycle). So what's up with them? WELL ...
-TRIGGER WARNING for those who have suffered sexual abuse and attacks.
-Earlier this week, FL Republican Party Chair Christian Ziegler was accused of going to the home of a woman and sexually assaulting/raping her. The woman in question was, according to multiple reports, part of a consensual three-way sexual relationship that also included Christian's wife, Bridget Ziegler - the co-founder of the aforementioned Moms for Liberty. Sarasota FL police are investigating the allegation, and the Zieglers have made no public comments since the stories began to appear two days ago. The Zieglers remain at their jobs.
-In minor election news, the campaign of FL Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to implode, with the latest self-inflicted humiliation occurring late last week where, despite having help from 'moderator' Sean Hannity, DeSantis voluntarily debated CA Governor Gavin Newsom - and the debate went so poorly that Republican voters polled after the event gave Newsom the clear 'win.' Newsom for his part took the event to tout the successes of the Biden Presidency to an audience (Fox News) that rarely hears such information.
-The post-Congressional career of now former-Representative "George Santos" has begun, with the ex-representative posting multiple accusations at former members with charges ranging from financial improprieties to sexual affairs and one possible outing - and vows to spill more tea in the weeks to come. We can watch the vengeance run and also wonder what's up at HBO, where a "Santos" movie is apparently in the works - a move that does not appear to have anything to do with "Santos" "himself" and is being produced by VEEP creator Frank Rich. (Hopefully they cast Bowen Yang in it!)
-And in sportsball news, The Athletic reports NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is not a fan of what has become one of the most recognizable plays in football in decades: the "Tush Push." The old-timey play that is a signature of the Philadelphia Eagles, involves a runner - usually QB Jalen Hurts - taking the snap and then getting shoved by whoever is in the backfield forward along with the rest of the offensive line to try to gain a few inches or a yard or so. The play harkens back to plays that were ultimately banned because in the leather helmet days of football it was deemed too dangerous even for football. Goodell sees a similar concern and, according to the report, may move to ban the play at the end of the season. Given the Eagles are not represented on the rules committee, fans may need to settle on more Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce news instead of the Tush Push.
-On this date in 1776, George Washington reported the Continental Army had successfully relocated across the Delaware River. On this date in 1947, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE opened on Broadway, debuting Marlon Brando. On this date in 1967, the first human heart transplant was performed. On this date in 1968, Elvis Presley appeared on an NBC special in a full leather outfit, re-launching his singing career. On this date in 1979, 11 people were killed in a stampede attempting to get seats to see The Who in Cincinnati. On this date in 1984, a toxic gas leak from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India killed approximately 20,000 and gave over half a million other chronic medical illnesses. And on this date in 1989, George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Malta and signaled the coming end of the Cold War.
-Happy Birthday to Charles Alfred Pillsbury, Joseph Conrad, Anna Freud, Nino Rota, Sven Nykvist, Andy Williams, Jean-Luc Godard, Jaye P. Morgan, Mary Alice, Bobby Allison, Ozzy Osbourne, Mickey Thomas, Rick Mears, Franz Klammer, Daryl Hannah, Julianne Moore, Terri Schaivo, Katarina Witt, Brendan Fraser, Montell Jordan, Harold Steinbrenner, Sean Parker, Tiffany Haddish, Anna Chlumsky, Amanda Seyfried, and Lil Baby.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Robert Louis Stevenson, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Charles Ringling, Philip Barry, Frank Gannett, Walter Knott, Elizabeth Glaser, Madeline Kahn, Gwendolyn Brooks, Scott Weiland, John Anderson, Philip Bosco, and Alison Lurie.
-Feed the Worms: George McClellan entered Earth on this date.
-The Number One Nonfiction Book in America on this date ... in 2023, THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears ... in 2013, THINGS THAT MATTER by Charles Krauthammer ... in 2003, I AM A SOLDIER TOO by Rick Bragg ... in 1993, SEE I TOLD YOU SO by some guy who was once apparently popular named Lush Rimbaugh or something ... in 1983, MOTHERHOOD: THE SECOND OLDEST PROFESSION by Erma Bombeck ... and in 1973, HOW TO BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND by Mildred Newman and Bernard Berkowitz with Jean Owen.