So Elon's plan to remove the block function from twitter apparently violates the terms of service of both the Google and Apple app stores, which require social media apps to have such a feature.

Odds are high that Elon's tweeted ("Xed"?) announcement won't be followed through.

So Newt told Charlie Kirk that he'd heard (via "hearsay") that Biden ordered Willis to indict "Trump" when she did to distract from the R "exposure" of Weiss's corruption in the Hunter case.

Bartiromo, I gather, today presented this as fact.

The right-wing "news" cycle in all its glory.

I still use twitter (and still call it twitter because WTF is "X")... but if Musk actually goes ahead and does this, I will no longer use the site.

There is no possible reason for such a move except to empower trolls and abusers - people Musk has declared are "fun."

You've just gotta love this chyron. Seriously.

The length of the general's "long illness" was determined, one presumes, by the height of the window.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/europe/russian-general-gennady-zhidko-death-intl/index.html

Holy sh*t, the 5th Circuit is out of control.

From Chris Hayes: "One of the holdings is that the anti-abortion ob-gyns who brought the suit have standing because their patients use of the drug causes 'aesthetic injury' to them by robbing of them of the joy of looking at images of their patient's fetuses."

From Steve Vladeck: "Trying to teach the Fifth Circuit’s Article III standing doctrine as if it reflects consistent application of neutral doctrinal principles is … increasingly impossible."

So right-wingers are now demanding that the GA state legislature change its extremely limited pardon system (it can only be done by a review board and only AFTER a sentence is served) so Kemp (who doesn't defend #Trump anyway) can give a pardon.

As the R GA Speaker tiredly pointed out, the pardon system isn't set by legislation, but by the state constitution. An amendment requires 2/3 majorities of both houses (which Rs don't have) and a statewide referendum at the next general election...

Heh. Despite the assumptions of prior model makers, "Ötzi the Iceman" evidently wasn't "White" in the modern sense.

(This backs up a lot of research indicating that whiteness as known today is a quite recent genetic phenomenon in Europe.)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/16/europe/otzi-the-iceman-physical-traits-scn/index.html

So there's a new right-wing conspiracy theory spreading, declaring that while Maui was destroyed Obama's Hawaiian home wasn't touched! Which, they declare, PROVES the fires are a Democrat plot!

Obama's Hawaiian home wasn't affected by the Maui fires because it's on a different island. 🤔🙃🙄

I actually think this underplays the seriousness of Watergate. Nixon was abusing federal powers to sabotage opponents and interfere in the 1972 election. It *was* an attack on democracy.

Nonetheless, Dean is right that #Trump's direct coup attempt goes far beyond Watergate.

Remember when #Trump ranted that he shouldn't have to help CA after its wildfires because the state didn't vote for him?

Because I do.

Meanwhile Joe has been taking aggressive *action* for HI.

Rs are such sick hypocrites it's hard to fathom.

A reminder that Christie, while far better than most Rs, is still often an idiot.

There are many reasons to pursue both federal and state charges - not the least of which is the vow by most R candidates to use federal power to quash all federal indictments.

By Lindsey Lickspittle's "logic," #Trump literally could shoot someone on 5th Avenue without consequences. "LIBERAL NYC can't charge a REPUBLICAN! The voters should decide if he was right or wrong to shoot the guy! You're violating his first amendment right to say the guy should be dead! WEAPONIZATION!"

Not bad.

Kevin McCarthy's raging conspiracy theory-laden rant blaming Biden for a vast plot against his glorious (criminal) master is only missing "HEIL #TRUMP!!!" Why doesn't he just say it? It's what he means, and his target audience would love it.

I mean, what an outrage that prosecutors are saying exactly what Kevin himself briefly said before re-collapsing to the cult and running to Mar-il-legal to prostrate himself and beg forgiveness.

The introduction to the 4th #Trump indictment gets the point out with admirable clarity and directness.

TFG and 18 others charged. A 98 page indictment detailing huge and deliberate criminal actions. Every indictment sought by the DA supported by the grand jury.

And Rs are screaming that indicting their cult leader is "an attack on the rule of law." Of course they are. Everyone knows the rule of law means letting their guy stage a coup without consequences.

Heh. True. It's take work to make Zuckerberg look good by comparison, but Musk is managing.

Chuck Todd is a stain on journalism, as usual.

#Trump is barely any younger than Biden, and far less fit physically and mentally. Biden has no role in handling the Hunter investigation, which is solely controlled by a Trump appointee.

But Todd wants what he always wants: the R narrative.

He bewailed Trump as an existential threat to journalism and the country, calling him a "nightmare." But hey, getting him back means more eyeballs, right?

Oh lord no.

I've seen the two surviving episodes of "The Underwater Menace." 'Menace' is the right word. Doctor Who doesn't get much worse than that, in any era.

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-underwater-menace-animation-newsupdate/