NATIONAL INSECT REPELLENT AWARENESS DAY UPDATES

Methinks One Is Often Very Aware Of Needing Insect Repellent ...

-As parts of the country recover from the verdicts going against now-Convicted Felon Ex-President Trump (R-apist) and Trump allies continue to attack the trial in an effort to protect their Dear Leader and delegitimize a totally legitimate trial, a new trial begins that will both make MAGA-land orgasm in delight and stand (not that they will notice) as a total rebuke of their ludicrous claims of federal tampering in the Trump trial against Trump. In Delaware, a jury will be chosen in a federal trial charging Joe Biden’s son Hunter with attempting to purchase a gun in 2018 while being addicted to crack cocaine.

-The trial, somewhat unusual in that federal prosecutors are not willing to negotiate a plea with Biden, is not unusual in that it is clear the White House is NOT in any way involved in decisions involved in the prosecution (unless you wanted to argue with a straight face that the White House wants Hunter to be prosecuted). The case is also likely to generate bothsider journalism from outlets who will have the story pushed by the likes of House persecutors James Comer (HunteR!, KY) or Jim “Gym” Jordan (OtheR Way, OH) as a way to play down and delegitimize to their followers the Trump convictions.

-As for the Trump convictions, MAGAts continue to try to claim despite its being totally false the idea that the New York trial was in some way tainted. Some eyebrows were raised when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Jay-EE-Zuz!, LA) claimed that he was “confident” the Supreme Court would review the case – a claim that should be ludicrous because of the state-based charges, but one that might not be completely discredited given this Court’s willingness to entertain all manners of precedent-busting cases for their radical right political agenda. There is also a call from MAGA Party Leader Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Z-Q-R, GA) to pull all Federal funds from New York City as punishment for their anti-Trump aposty.

-As for Trump, his heavily-edited interview with Fox News over the weekend made ‘news’ for two more ludicrous-to-questionable claims. The first is his insistence that he’s “okay” with the idea of being imprisoned – a fate that is not likely to happen for a number of reasons, and one that experienced Trump-watchers note is likely hiding Trump’s real feelings about the prospect: terror. The second is his claim in the interview that he “never” told or instructed crowds to chant “LOCK HER UP!” in reference to 2016 opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton. This, of course, is utter bunk – he did so continuously, also called for imprisonment, and there is plenty of audio and video to back it up. Whether this is gaslighting or sundowning or some combination of the two remains to be seen.

-Speaking of House clown shows, look out – Dr. Anthony Fauci is about to testify before a House committee this morning, so expect lots of loud and ludicrous conspiracy theories about Covid and Fauci’s ‘role’ in … things … it’s gonna be an unwanted throwback – this despite the fact that, as we need to be reminded, #CovidIsNOTOver …

-If you are a fan of signs and symbolism, consider THIS: yesterday, a pro-Trump rally was organized in the lone New York City Trump stronghold of Staten Island, and a bus (or possibly an RV) festooned with pro-Trump signage featuring a huge TRUST JESUS sign in the middle of the windshield was getting ready to head to the rally bursting with MAGAts. Unfortunately, it never got to the rally, as the empty vehicle was stopped but apparently not braked while the driver went to a local drug store, when the bus started rolling down a hill, before hammering a power pole and coming to a stop. The side panel was sheared off it, Trump signs littered the path to the crash, and the front of the bus sustained heavy damage. Jesus works in mysterious ways …

-In 2000 election denialism good news, the distributors of 2000 MULES, a movie purporting to be a documentary about the “steal” of Trump votes in GA in 2000 that never happened, have announced they will stop distributing the film. It also apologized to a man who was defamed by the maker of 2000 MULES, Trump sycophant and pardoned-by-Trump felon Dinesh D’Souza, as being a central part of the non-existent plot. D’Souza, of course, continues to defend both the defamation and the movie, which is both full of lies and a clownishly bad bit of ‘film making’.

-In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum (SHANE-balm) is celebrating a landslide victory (at or near 60%) to become its first female President. Sheinbaum comes to the job with a Ph.D. in energy engineering, a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in advocating for climate change, the former Mayor of Mexico City, and the chosen heir to the legacy of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Mexico’s challenges range from multiple concerns over the state oil company to political violence within the country driven in large part by drug cartels and, always, migration and the country’s relationship with the United States. Mexico now becomes another country not the United States to be led by a woman, so BRAVO to Mexico, and good luck, President Sheinbaum!

-In Russia troll news … reports from Semafor claim the newest target of Russian-supported internet troll farms is next month’s Paris Olympics, with online fake news combining with AI to try to forment fears that the Games will be rife with terrorism and violence. There are legitimate concerns, particularly with the Opening Ceremonies which will reportedly feature teams entering Olympic Stadium via a procession down the Seine River (admittedly a cool idea!), but Olympics officials are pushing back on the charge.

-In China troll news … Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has charged China with formenting division within Western countries that is resulting in a scheduled Ukrainian peace conference becoming difficult to conduct. The conference is scheduled in mid-June, and President Biden has already said he would not attend (he will instead be at a high-profile Hollywood fundraiser for his campaign), which is frustrating Zelenskyy as his country continues to fight off a newer Russian offensive focused around the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

-SLAVA UKRAINI!

-And in closing … it has not been verified for its voracity, but yesterday an apparently super-emotional and even-redder-than-normal Alex Jones – sporting new facial hair that comes from the Martin Van Buren school of 18^th century facial design – wept and moaned that the video show would be the last one, as he claimed authorities looking to make him pay part of the $85 million he owes to families who Jones defamed in the wake of the Sandy Hook gun massacre were about to “PADLOCK!” the doors to his studio and make him stop broadcasting his lie-mongering conspiracy theory promoting Info Wars podcast. While independent confirmation is vital, the mere prospect that justice may finally be coming to this creatin-consuming pig is something we should hope to occur as the week begins.

-Here’s hoping!

-On this date in 1943, U.S. servicemen and Mexican-American youths began rioting in what is now known as the Zoot Suit Riots. On this date in 1965, Ed White became the first American to walk in space. On this date in 1989, the Chinese Communist Party ordered tanks to roll into Tiananmen Square to literally crush protestors demanding more democracy. On this date in 1992, then-candidate Bill Clinton blasted “Heartbreak Hotel” on the sax during an appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. And on this date in 2001, THE PRODUCERS won a record 12 Tony Awards.

-Debuts on this date: “Light My Fire” (1967), EXODUS (1977), LARRY KING LIVE (1985), BIG (1989).

-Happy Birthday to Josephine Baker, Paulette Goddard, Ellen Corby, Leo Gorcey, Alain Resnais, Colleen Dewhurst, Tony Curtis, Allen Ginsberg, Boots Randolph, Chuck Barris, Larry McMurtry, Ian Hunter, Curtis Mayfield, Billy Cunningham, Hale Irwin, Penelope Wilton, Suzi Quatro, Denice Williams, Melissa Mathison, Jill Biden Ph.D. (who is at Hunter Biden’s trial, unlike OTHER First Ladies whose alleged loved ones are by their family member’s side), Anderson Cooper, Jamie McMurray, Travis Hafner, Al Horford, Rafael Nadal, and beabadoobee.

-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Stephen A. Douglas, Georges Bizet, Franz Kafka, Ozzie Nelson, Roberto Rossellini, Stiv Bators, Eva Le Gallienne, Robert Morley, William Gaines, Anthony Quinn, David Carradine, Koko Taylor, Rue McClanahan, Andrew Gold, James Arness, Deacon Jones, Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Piersall, Johnny Majors, F. Lee Bailey, and Jim Hines.

-Feed the Worms: Jefferson Davis entered Earth on this date. The Ayatollah Khomeini bought it on this date.

-Raul Castro was born on this date. Dr. Jack Kevorkian died on this date. You decide if they get a Happy Birthday / Rest in Peace/Power or if they Feed the Worms.