Political Memo: States’ Money Woes Show No Favorites

It’s almost as if “pro-life” Republicans use that label as cover for pro-death policies. The latest case in point is the state of Texas repealing requirements for safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles, as of Jan. 1. The fee remains part of a vehicle’s registration cost, though. Texas roads have not become so safe that there’s no need for laws to make them less perilous.

The active-duty Green Beret who was driving a Tesla cybertruck that blew up outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas “was a 100 percent patriot,” his uncle said Thursday. Via The Independent: Matthew Livelsberger, 37, was “like a Rambo-type, for lack of a better word,” Dean Livelsberger told The Independent. Dean, whose older brother is Livelsberger’s father, Roger, himself an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam, said his nephew “loved the Army.” “He used to have all patriotic stuff on Facebook, he was 100 percent loving the country,” he continued.

A federal appeals court struck down the FCC’s landmark net neutrality rules yesterday, ending a nearly two-decade effort to regulate broadband internet providers like utilities. If they're not utilities, what the hell are they? I just keep thinking how shocked and surprised they'll be: if and when the next CEO hits the ground, the question "Why do they HATE us?" can be answered with a printout of THIS ruling.

If you're like me, you often wonder how someone as corrupt and venal as Susan Collins has remained in the U. S. Senate for so long. Surely, they can elect someone who serves Maine's interests more than just the Republican Party? Well, having a compliant and complicit local press helps a lot, and that's just what the Bangor Daily News has been doing for years.

First Draft Jimmy and Ronald, and a farewell to a decent man. Balloon Juice: There ain't much to country living. Balkinization: Thinking way outside the box on constitutional design. ProPublica: The American oil industry’s playbook, illustrated. This Modern World: Age of anxiety. This installment by Batocchio. E-mail tips to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com. read more

Donald Trump's picked a myriad of of the most awful people alive, those who've committed every offense, violated every social norm--just absolutely despicable "humans" for his cabinet. It's almost like he's going out of his way to pick people who were unacceptable in politics just a decade ago, and still aren't wanted in most parts of our society. I discuss this topic w John Fugelsang, noting who will & won't make it, some of their worst qualities the press has ignored and who was picked just as shiny objects to distract attention from the worst of them, i.e.