.

Well, Rudy's stall tactics have collapsed. His refusal to turn over discovery materials and then his "I admit I was wrong but not really so the case is moot but I don't have to pay any damages" filings have worn out the judge. She's ruled that he is de facto liable and that the jury will only determine damages.

She added that he can still reverse this and get a normal trial if he complies with all the orders - but he's not going to do that.

#Politics

While Fox hosts sneer "If there were climate change, storms would be getting WORSE!"

This latest conspiracy theory is one of the dumbest yet. If such emails exist, they obviously weren't created to evade detection, as one would - with burner phones, secret servers etc. - if acting nefariously. Because then they *wouldn't be included in the National Archives!*

I mean, the right-wing rant is "this MUST be where Biden hid his corrupt dealings and ran the global crime operation through Hunter!"

And then he included it all in his official papers?

#Stupid #Politics

Worth emphasizing again that judge Jones (an Obama appointee) has said removal has a low bar - precisely because it doesn't have dramatic implications for the prosecution.

But what Meadows really wants is *immunity* from prosecution. Jones's query here shows that he is considering removal, but immunity isn't going to happen.

Oh, I deeply trust the site already swarming with Musk-protected lies, distortions, and abuse to create "election teams"... to promote whoever Elon tells them to promote.

Encouraging distracted driving is actually a *bad* thing, Elon.

So the judge in the Meadows removal matter - an Obama appointee - was openly skeptical of Meadows's claims to have been acting officially... but indicated removal was still a possibility because *the bar for getting such a move is low.*

IOW because it doesn't profoundly alter the prosecution.

Which hasn't stopped the media from frantically playing it up as "THE MOMENT THAT COULD NULLIFY ALL LIABILITY FOR #TRUMP!"

They're better than in '16, but nowhere near good enough.

From CNN:

I. HATE. MISPLACED. MODIFIERS.

This headline does NOT say what CBS News editors seem to think it says. Don't proofreaders actually read anymore?

Um, no. He wasn't "thrust into the spotlight." As a character in Quiz Show says, he had to be dragged away from the spotlight with his teeth marks still on it.

The entire Obama confrontation was a cynical setup. He wasn't a plumber, the injury he claimed was made up, and he frantically parlayed it into national R adulation - which many pundits hysterically claimed would swing the election to McCain.

Um... I really fail to see how this helps anyone.

Credit where it's due - kudos to Bernie.

#Politics

In addition to the general obscenity of Carlson's worship of brutal dictators and his grotesque claim that they somehow epitomize Christian values, don't miss the rest of his hateful dog-whistle here: his barely concealed claim that American policymakers conspire against Christianity, e.g. are all controlled by "THE JEWS!" And "nobody wants to say it" of course = "Jews control the media."

#Politics

The constant smug appropriations of Judaic cultural and religious tradition by these deranged ultra-right maniacal bigots sickens and infuriates me more than I can really express.

Surely I wasn't the only kid who had a crush on Jan and thought Marcia was obnoxious?

This climate of fear is of course what Putin wanted.

But it has the potential to cut two ways. Caligula might warn that such a climate also runs the risk for Putin that those around him will decide "he'll kill us all if this continues" - and then they *might* risk banding together against him.

Time will tell.

Oh, how utterly perfect. And how did I not think of this?

Oh man, you've gotta love the community note on this unintentionally ludicrous Trumpist 'threat.'

#Politics

Ah, Stormy can usually be relied on for a good gibe. 😆

Just how deluded is the Trump cult, part 2.