- 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- FL Bar says it erred: "no such pending Bar investigation of Lindsey Halligan...The Florida Bar received a complaint against Lindsey Halligan and, consistent with standard practice, the Bar is monitoring the ongoing legal proceedings underlying the complaint.” news.bloomberglaw.com/product/blaw... March 6, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- Jotwell Legal Profession: Rebecca Roiphe, Be Careful What You Wish For: How Conservative Groups Learned from Liberal Cause Lawyers, JOTWELL (March 6, 2026), legalpro.jotwell.com/be-careful-w.... March 6, 2026 Jotwell
- The Florida process for resolving bar complaints is very slow unless dismissed immediately, so don't hold your breath for the results in this bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/u... March 5, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- I would love to see this data disaggregated by US state. Not surprised though to see French people have a lower view of each other than the rest of Western Europe. Although whether that is due to suspicious natures or sus behavior is less obvious. March 5, 2026 Michael Froomkin
- excellent deep dive into all of the ways that the Trump administration has used the federal budget to keep punishing critics and trying to bend them to his will. FWIW, this is precisely how Viktor Orban crushed the opposition in Hungary 15 years ago. The national budget is a powerful weapon. March 5, 2026 Kim Lane Scheppele
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!