- Digby writes about a disturbing video that was ahead of its time.
- Flablog writes about two surprisingly smart appointments announced by Florida Governor-Elect Charlie Crist. I agree they’re good, especially Bob Butterworth for the cesspool at the Dept. of Children and Families. But I’m slightly more cynical than Flablog here: part of DCF’s problem is criminal mis-management by far-right wingers. But another part of it is that DCF has been starved for resources. Putting a heavyweight honest Democrat in charge may fix the first problem (if he’s given a free hand with personnel), but that appointment alone will not fix the second. And meanwhile, the appointment conveniently hangs the albatross one of Florida’s biggest problems around the Democratic party — or at least away from the GOP. Smart politics, absolutely. Potential for good outcomes — amazingly so. But far from in the bag.
- As Lifehacker notes, This one rates a high on the geek scale, but it’s still sort of interesting to learn what you get if you have an eight-page-long URI: A graphic! Got to wonder how sp*mmers will use that one…
- Read my brother’s column, The Carpetbagger Report, TalkLeft…if you don’t already.
Recent Bluessky Posts- Jotwell Corporate: Andrew F. Tuch, Private Equity, Retail Investors, and Litigation Risk, JOTWELL (May 20, 2026) (reviewing Ludovic Phalippou & William J. Magnuson, Private Equity, Public Capital, and Litigation Risk, available at SSRN (Nov. 14, 2025)), corp.jotwell.com/private-equi.... May 20, 2026 Jotwell
- Trump has figured out the secret to getting away with astounding criminality: In modern politics it's not the crime that gets you, it's the cover-up. Other than the #epstein files, MAGA doesn't do cover-ups; all the financial thieving is loud and proud. May 20, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- Any DOJ settlement that gives the President a dollar -- or a direct material benefit -- is a plain-as-day violation of the Presidential Emoluments Clause: "The President shall not receive ... any other Emolument from the United States, or any of [the states]." Art II, S.1, cl. 7. May 20, 2026 Jed H. Shugerman
- It cannot bind, because you cannot rely to your detriment on a promise you make to yourself. The document itself is an unconstitutional violation of the presidential oath. May 19, 2026 James Grimmelmann
- Historian here this is literally about gutting the Reconstruction amendments especially the consequential 14th amendment piece by piece. May 19, 2026 Manisha Sinha
Here are a couple of things about the linked video, though. First, the singer refers to America using female pronouns. I’ve never understood why countries get gendered, and in this context, given that it was largely men who began the Iraq war, if America needs representational gonads, I’m thinking a big dick might be most suitable. Seriously, I know it sounds like a small point but language has power. Second, I wonder if the familes of the soldiers depcted in the video, who I assume are soldiers who were killed, were alerted or asked for permission with resect to the use of the photos. I know this probably isn’t legally necessary but I think it is ethically required.
I think your brother’s right on substance but “increasingly few”? CLANK!