NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MINT DAY

You Would Think Those Flavors Would Not Work Together ... But Boy Howdy Do They Ever!

-Not that anyone was particularly waiting for it, but after almost 72 hours since his announced death, Ex-President Trump (R-apist) XCI finally made a social media post in response to the apparent assassination of Russia dissident Alexei Navalny – and, taking his cue from fellow MAGAt brainiacs like Dinesh D’Felon D’Souza, adultering knob Newt Gingrich, and already-heeled former candidate Lee Zeldin, Trump eulogized Navalny by trying to draw a parallel between Navalny … and … himself and MAGAts, again continuing to try to depict Joe Biden as both ancient and decrepit and unable to put two thoughts together AND a criminal mastermind pulling all the municipal, state, and federal judicial systems to persecute Dear Leader Hero Virile Manly Man’s Man Donald Trump. (OF COURSE!)

-Meanwhile, in the real world, Navalny’s widow, Navalny’s widow, Yulia, vowed today to continue her husband’s fight against Vladimir Putin and to resist the Russian strongman at every opportunity, as well as to ‘avenge’ her husband’s death. The body of Navalny will not be transmitted to the family for another 14 days, and an autopsy is likely to be taken to discover his true death (Russian authorities claim Navalny dropped dead during a walk the day after a video appearance in a court proceeding in which Navalny displayed no illness of any kind.)

-As Trump continues to reel somewhat from the ever-growing pile of fines and somewhat-imminent loss of his ability to do bid-ness in his home state of New York, even his allies at Fox News had more frustration-bordering-on-humiliation for him. On the occasion of President’s Day, Fox released an annual survey of historians to determine their Best and Worst Presidents. Not surprisingly, Abraham Lincoln continues to be number one, but the rest of the list was sure to have upset Trump and the MAGAts. The survey had Barack Obama at number seven, Joe Biden at number 14 (above Ronald Reagan!), and Donald John Trump firmly and solidly in place as The Worst President In American History EVAH.

-Sad!

-President’s Day means no courtroom proceedings today, and that means the next two potential Trump rulings are at bay. The hearings on whether Fani Willis will need to recuse herself or be recused from the RICO trial involving the attempted theft of 2020 GA electoral votes are about over, with testimony from Willis’ father – a legendary attorney whose client list includes Nelson Mandela – corroborating her testimony that the cash she spend during her relationship with fellow Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade was personal habit and not done in a way that profited from the Trump trial (which most observers believe Trump defendants’ attorneys have not come close to proving). And the Supreme Court’s decision about if they will hear the Trump assertion that his new speakers give him all the power (or something) is now in their hands, with SCOTUS sages believing the longer there is no ruling, the better for Trump. The world waits …

-MEANwhile, while Trump Sneakers are apparently beinig ‘sold’ on off markets for dumb prices (even though they are allegedly not shipping for months), MAGAts trying to help Their Favorite “Billionaire” by raising money for him are finding their efforts are running into the law. A number of those followers attempted to create a GoFundMe site to pay part of Trump’s fines and reportedly raised close to $600,000 when the fund was challenged because of prohibitions involving raising money for things like fines and penalties and crime. The only shock of the story is that the original site was not set up by Trump or one of his family members. (Yet …)

-The House is also off today and this week, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Jay-EE-Zuz!, LA) both continuing to stave off demands to vote for Ukrainian aid (SLAVA UKRAINI!) and now dealing with a massive exodus of non-MAGAt Republicans from Congress. 23 Repubs have announced they will not be seeking re-election, including five who hold committee Chairs, and with the “George Santos” seat now flipping Democratic, his overall majority stands at a super-tenuous two seats. Fealty to Trump is never helpful …

-OH, and speaking of “Santos,” “he” is still around! Besides trolling Repubs taunting that he should still be in office (HA!), “Santos” has also filed a lawsuit against late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Seems “Santos” has undies in a bunch over Kimmel buying a number of “Santos’” Cameo credits and recording messages that found their way into Kimmel’s show as bits used to mock “Santos.” “Santos” does not see the humor in this but instead demands Kimmel should pay damages for the mockery. There is no official response from Kimmel or his bosses at ABC, though when the “What Would Santos Say?” pieces first aired, Kimmel did observe, “Can you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for fraud? How good would that be?” Apparently we are about to find out …

-BRAVOS are in order – or is it “On Wisconsin!” – to Governor Tony Evers signing off on a new set of legislative maps that have broken what have been considered some of the most egregious gerrymanders in the country. Despite multiple cycles where Democrats got more votes statewide, Republicans nonetheless maintained legislative supermajorities first set last decade thanks to The Bastard Scott Walker and a state Supreme Court stacked with Republican majorities. That state SCOTUS majority was broken last year, and the direct result of that are the new legislative maps that give Democrats their first opportunity to regain state control in 20 years – and not a moment too soon with the state another likely Presidential battleground as well as a hot Senate race likely to pit incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin against a CA-based Republican who promises to self-fund to the tune of at least $20M. Badger Badger Badger Badger!!!!

-Closing with film award news, OPPENHEIMER continues to position itself nicely heading into next month’s Academy Awards after winning seven BAFTA Awards for the best movies in Great Britain. OPPENHEIMER got Best Picture, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.) and Best Director (Christopher Nolan), while its wedded-at-press-release megahit BARBIE was shut out of any awards – a trend that may continue as other awards shows carry on.

-On this date in 1942, the order that created Japanese internment camps in the U.S. was signed by Franklin Roosevelt. On this date in 1945, American forces began the Battle of Iwo Jima. On this date in 2008, Fidel Castro stepped down as the leader of Cuba.

-Debuts on this date: The phonograph (1878), THE FAMILY CIRCUS (1960), THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE (1963), MISTER ROGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD (1968), “Losing My Religion” (video premiered in 1991).

-Happy Birthday to Nicholas Copernicus, Eddie Arcaro, Carson McCullers, Lee Marvin, John Frankenheimer, Smokey Robinson, Lou Christie, Karen Silkwood, Big John Studd, Tony Iommi, Amy Tan, Jeff Daniels, Dave Wakeling, Jeffrey Immelt, Katherine Beller, Peter Holsapple, Falco, Seal, Justine Bateman, Benicio Del Toro, Nikola Jokic, and Millie Bobby Brown.

-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Bon Scott, Adolfo, Celi, Charlie Finley, Leo Rosten, Grandpa Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Ollie Matson, Umberto Eco, Harper Lee, Don Newcombe, Karl Lagerfeld, and Richard Belzer.

-Feed the Worms: Deng Xiaoping bought it on this date.

-NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was born on this date. You decide if he gets a Happy Birthday or if he Feeds the Worms.