Kennedy’s stupidity is far more performative than Tuberville. Tuberville is a legit idiot representing Alabama, but Kennedy is a former Democrat with multiple higher level degrees from places like Vanderbilt and Oxford where he graduated with honors. But now he likes to pretend he’s some life-long Republican combination of Matlock the country lawyer, Foghorn Leghorn, and Colonel Sanders.
Graduated with honors, so he was legit successful academically. He’s one of a series of weird GOP politicians that has extensive education at elite institutions and yet spends time saying they are woke factories that don’t teach anybody anything.
And this is where my "Trump derangement" lies. Not with him; I know what he is, and he is worthless. But to know how many of my fellow Americans - my relatives, some of them - are willing to toss 90% of their (at least) stated beliefs, are willing to accept lies even when contradicted by video and audio, and will never move beyond a sullen silence and expressions of how Trump didn't fail them, they were betrayed - THAT is what drives me deranged!
How can we move forward with policies and alliances and hope for the future with this 1/3 of the population ready to drag us into war crimes?
My brother is a MAGA and we live in the Northeast. MAGA only listen to far-right media, either radio or tv. They believe that the rest of us are lying to them. They are angry about their lives and Trump has told them to blame Democrats.
They want the same revenge that Trump wants.
They don't care about losing health care apparently. They don't care about losing SNAP benefits apparently. They expect food banks to help them out, I guess.
The only way out of this is make sure 2026 runs very Blue.
But if it does turn Blue, make sure that Red states receive nothing in benefits.
Is it a a way out, though? Will they become determined to keep wrecking and vote for any candidate who promises the most wreckage? Will they sabotage education and health care? How can we face the world with any reassurance that even though 1/3 of the population are bitter-enders, we are worthwhile allies, and even worthwhile adversaries? No Republican congresspeople have any credibility abroad now. I wonder how many are on foreign payrolls?
Maybe a rapid and convincing failure of Trumpism will at least bypass that group of people for a generation. I guess that the best to hope for - this group will never reconsider anything, much as I'd like so see bonfires of Trump trinkets in a few years.
We cannot allow a Republican administration ever again. We can't allow a Republican majority in either house and we need to impeach several of the Supremes.
Republicans are not to be trusted. The billionaires that control the media need to forced to divide up their monopolies.
Others need to be tried for treason. Especially Witcoff, Kuschner. They are traitors to the US.
Are people frightened by the second strike order? Most of us have been terrified by the first strike order and the entire pretend "war on narco-terrorists." Drug mules are not narco-terrorists; they are poor pawns. We have no proof that there were drugs. Fentanyl is coming into this country in part because it is widely used in hospitals as a painkiller. Blowing up boats in the Caribbean has NO effect on reducing drug overdoses in America.
I want to know if this White House thinks we're so stupid that we don't see the contradiction of attacking so called drug boats in the waters off Venezuela with the pardon of the 45 year sentence of a drug dealer?
Yes, you are missing the importance of a bribe and the insignificance of a poor fisherman. The drug dealer was successful and made millions. These smaller boats either carrying drugs or just fishing are poor and therefore unimportant. If these small boats were able to bribe Trump, they would also be able to carry on business without fear of attack. Every decision is based on how does this increase Trump's wealth. My dream is that Trump and his entire family is prosecuted for influence peddling and lose their entire fortune.
So right. If people in boats are carrying drugs, why not a) stop the boats; b) board the boats; c) arrest the people; d) put them in jail; e) try them, using the evidence you found in their boats? Bombing them out of the water is insane. Doubly insane to kill survivors clinging to debris "because they might call somebody to come help them." What? What? Might as well say "we killed them because we're afraid they think the moon is made of green pizza."
My theory is that, in addition to being a distraction from the Epstein scandal, this is a great opportunity to find out which military commanders are unwilling to carry out illegal orders, and either fire them or force them to resign. Then Trump will have found completely obedient military leaders prior to the 2028 election and the scheduled 2029 inauguration, when he may be planning to refuse to relinquish power.
Another factor is that his cult (like most fascist movements) is bloodthirsty. They're happy to see the action, and they don't really think or care about the fact that these people might be fishermen!
Think of Orwell's "Two Minute Hate." They watched films like this, showing people getting killed. Enemies getting what they deserve!
Ugh, someone reported that Epstein was big on invading Venezuela and talked it up, but I can't remember where I read it. I thought Wired. Although they had a huge article on Trump's first term adventures on Venezuela that is probably worth my time: https://www.wired.com/story/trump-cia-venezuela-maduro-regime-change-plot/
Fentanyl doesn’t come from South America anyway. They’re cocaine.
Trump just pardoned a big cocaine trafficker from Honduras. Why do that if he’s concerned about drugs (probably a bribe in there somewhere is my guess)?
They'll just claim it's a hoax. Didn't happen. Only people/hospitals/media outlets/financial institutions that hate Trump/Republicans/in a blue city or state/ever voted for a Democrat or have a family member who voted for a Democrat will report medical bankruptcies, hospital closings, diminished lifespan, greater incidences of disease and they are lying. After all, Sen. Kennedy et. al. get perfectly fine health insurance (paid for by us), so what's the problem?
1 million dead during the pandemic, one of the worst records worldwide.
3 unvaccinated children dead of whooping cough this week.
We can keep going like this for a while. It's really hard to get people to pay attention, though. Everyone seems to shrug and say it's out of their power to control.
"At least one Republican still refuses to actually acknowledge the story’s factual basis at all. ... Kennedy insisted that [the] reporters must be lying, even about things the administration admits to having done."
In denying it at all costs, the senator is admitting that if the story is true, it would be indefensible.
Senators should read Pete’s book War on Warriors where he brags about telling his subordinates in combat to ignore JAG advice on Rules of War. Looks like he took his own advice on the boat strike killings.
Republicans decided long ago that they had to be ALL IN with Trump or they would be ex congress members. Kennedy’s educational accomplishments are well know, but his lack of self respect is off the charts. There are plenty of “less than brilliant” Senators and HOR members. But for the southern shuck and jive show even Tuberville (who is not nearly as smart) doesn’t come close to Kennedy’s hayseed routine.
Hard to understand how he isn’t humiliated by his own behavior.
You don’t have to go too far back in time to find the Oxford-educated Kennedy making reasonable sounding speeches on video. So, was he acting then, or is he acting now?
I believe the answer is both. If we have learned anything about Republicans, they are liars and never to be trusted. The best assumption is they are always acting, always lying. The only thing, and I mean only thing they care about is themselves. Anyone else they like, including their family improving their station in life is a bonus, but make no mistake, they truly and deeply only care about themselves.
Wow. The graft-n-corruption in Congress must be really rich! Really thick on the floor, and easy to get. It's so rich, lucrative, and profitable, Rep. Issa is thinking of moving from California to Texas to get more of it! What happened to representing your district? Caring about the people---the actual humans--you represent? Running where you grew up, or representing a community that you've lived in for 20 years? Knowing the local issues? In 2025, it's just about what you can get for yourself, and how much of it you can stuff into your pocket. Pure transaction. Nothing else matters.
Politicians are the most replaceable people on Earth, but every single one thinks they are indispensable. As if you couldn't find a small toy dog to bark yes when Trump commands.
Wait it was Kennedy who thought the WaPo story about killing survivors in the Caribbean was made up? Hasn't he seen how Trump-friendly the WaPo has become in recent years?
I was sure it was Ron Johnson. I always thought Kennedy was just pretending to be stupid, but maybe if you pretend long enough, you become the thing you're pretending to be.
>"Hasn't he seen how Trump-friendly the WaPo has become in recent years?"
Trump friendly? WaPo has fired all of their left-center editors, managers, and reporters and they've filled the place with Murdock lackeys, and WaPo pages are contaminated with submissions by writers from the National Review.
WaPo basically gives Trump a tongue bath every day.
Issa represented my district for many years until we became purple, then he decided to run for a red area in San Diego County. He doesn’t even live in his congressional district.
Shocking! Another Republican sitting in a job where he doesn't meet the qualifications (in this case, the Constitutional requirement that an individual must live in the district that they represent)!
Trump orders the killing without trial at sea of people who are accused of transporting drugs. How far is that from extra-judicial killings on land in the USA? If accused drug traffickers can be executed without trial, what about political adversaries whom Trump accuses of "treason"? We are long past the point of responding to questions like these with "You're being alarmist," or "They wouldn't go that far."
Joe, Great reporting as always. Interesting commentary in all the pieces. The qoute, the only time Republicans get serious is when they are giving tax cuts to billionaires should be placed in a time capsule so future historians can remind Americans of their stupidity. Senator Kennedy is a country bumpkin. He and Tubberville would be a perfect Laurel and Hardy. Slapstick is their forte. You know it's not enough that these clowns have to gerrymandered their place in congress, and have to judge shop to get their coveted decisions but now this Issa old fart wants to move to Texas to get back on the public dole. This has become the United States of Liars and Cheats.
Even if the Republicans allow a bill to pass through extending the subsidies, there are rumblings on the Inter-Webs that they will insert poison pills in the legislation. Some of the MAGAs want to include draconian abortion restrictions and a full on attack on women's reproductive healthcare.
It's just the kind of conniving treachery that the Republicans love to do.
Kennedy is in a race with Coach Tuberville for the dumbest remarks of the year.
And I love the new word of the day "splenetic", thanks Joe!
Kennedy’s stupidity is far more performative than Tuberville. Tuberville is a legit idiot representing Alabama, but Kennedy is a former Democrat with multiple higher level degrees from places like Vanderbilt and Oxford where he graduated with honors. But now he likes to pretend he’s some life-long Republican combination of Matlock the country lawyer, Foghorn Leghorn, and Colonel Sanders.
Some are born stupid, some achieve stupidity, and some have stupidity thrust upon them. All are present in today's GOP.
Absolutely. The South has the stupidest senators, but Kennedy is not one of them. Tuberville is of course #1. Cindy Hyde-Smith here in MS is #2.
Fake stupid. That’s a new one!
Are we sure he actually did well in those schools or was he a legacy student?
Graduated with honors, so he was legit successful academically. He’s one of a series of weird GOP politicians that has extensive education at elite institutions and yet spends time saying they are woke factories that don’t teach anybody anything.
The people in this administration, including Congress, would have to race to the top of the stupidity pyramid.
Why do people vote for these absolutely incredibly idiots? Are their voters just as stupid or worse?
Ummm.......yes. Yes they are. Makes ya proud to be an American, don't it!
And this is where my "Trump derangement" lies. Not with him; I know what he is, and he is worthless. But to know how many of my fellow Americans - my relatives, some of them - are willing to toss 90% of their (at least) stated beliefs, are willing to accept lies even when contradicted by video and audio, and will never move beyond a sullen silence and expressions of how Trump didn't fail them, they were betrayed - THAT is what drives me deranged!
How can we move forward with policies and alliances and hope for the future with this 1/3 of the population ready to drag us into war crimes?
My brother is a MAGA and we live in the Northeast. MAGA only listen to far-right media, either radio or tv. They believe that the rest of us are lying to them. They are angry about their lives and Trump has told them to blame Democrats.
They want the same revenge that Trump wants.
They don't care about losing health care apparently. They don't care about losing SNAP benefits apparently. They expect food banks to help them out, I guess.
The only way out of this is make sure 2026 runs very Blue.
But if it does turn Blue, make sure that Red states receive nothing in benefits.
I'm ready for some of my own revenge.
Is it a a way out, though? Will they become determined to keep wrecking and vote for any candidate who promises the most wreckage? Will they sabotage education and health care? How can we face the world with any reassurance that even though 1/3 of the population are bitter-enders, we are worthwhile allies, and even worthwhile adversaries? No Republican congresspeople have any credibility abroad now. I wonder how many are on foreign payrolls?
Maybe a rapid and convincing failure of Trumpism will at least bypass that group of people for a generation. I guess that the best to hope for - this group will never reconsider anything, much as I'd like so see bonfires of Trump trinkets in a few years.
We cannot allow a Republican administration ever again. We can't allow a Republican majority in either house and we need to impeach several of the Supremes.
Republicans are not to be trusted. The billionaires that control the media need to forced to divide up their monopolies.
Others need to be tried for treason. Especially Witcoff, Kuschner. They are traitors to the US.
Are people frightened by the second strike order? Most of us have been terrified by the first strike order and the entire pretend "war on narco-terrorists." Drug mules are not narco-terrorists; they are poor pawns. We have no proof that there were drugs. Fentanyl is coming into this country in part because it is widely used in hospitals as a painkiller. Blowing up boats in the Caribbean has NO effect on reducing drug overdoses in America.
I want to know if this White House thinks we're so stupid that we don't see the contradiction of attacking so called drug boats in the waters off Venezuela with the pardon of the 45 year sentence of a drug dealer?
What am I missing?
The White House knows at least 77 million voters are that stupid.
That was in 2024. From what I keep reading, along with the felon’s approval rating at 37%, and Republicans at 23%, that 77 million is just a memory.
All things considered, they’re still not acting like they’re very concerned about that.
Not enough for now.
Yes, you are missing the importance of a bribe and the insignificance of a poor fisherman. The drug dealer was successful and made millions. These smaller boats either carrying drugs or just fishing are poor and therefore unimportant. If these small boats were able to bribe Trump, they would also be able to carry on business without fear of attack. Every decision is based on how does this increase Trump's wealth. My dream is that Trump and his entire family is prosecuted for influence peddling and lose their entire fortune.
That explains it!
The WSJ had an article about it. Assorted MAGA were defending Trump anyway in the comments. It’s a cult.
So right. If people in boats are carrying drugs, why not a) stop the boats; b) board the boats; c) arrest the people; d) put them in jail; e) try them, using the evidence you found in their boats? Bombing them out of the water is insane. Doubly insane to kill survivors clinging to debris "because they might call somebody to come help them." What? What? Might as well say "we killed them because we're afraid they think the moon is made of green pizza."
"Insane" would be a defense; this was/is criminal, cruel, hate-driven, egomaniacal, depraved, etc. But I of course agree w/ your point.
Precisely. Isn't that was what the DEA is for, arresting drug smugglers?
It’s a fun game for Hegseth, is my guess. There are other theories involving Venezuela.
My theory is that, in addition to being a distraction from the Epstein scandal, this is a great opportunity to find out which military commanders are unwilling to carry out illegal orders, and either fire them or force them to resign. Then Trump will have found completely obedient military leaders prior to the 2028 election and the scheduled 2029 inauguration, when he may be planning to refuse to relinquish power.
Another factor is that his cult (like most fascist movements) is bloodthirsty. They're happy to see the action, and they don't really think or care about the fact that these people might be fishermen!
Think of Orwell's "Two Minute Hate." They watched films like this, showing people getting killed. Enemies getting what they deserve!
Yeah, this is perfect. It's happening far away and nobody's getting drafted. It's a Made for FOX News War.
Could well be!
Ugh, someone reported that Epstein was big on invading Venezuela and talked it up, but I can't remember where I read it. I thought Wired. Although they had a huge article on Trump's first term adventures on Venezuela that is probably worth my time: https://www.wired.com/story/trump-cia-venezuela-maduro-regime-change-plot/
Thanks for the link.
Fentanyl doesn’t come from South America anyway. They’re cocaine.
Trump just pardoned a big cocaine trafficker from Honduras. Why do that if he’s concerned about drugs (probably a bribe in there somewhere is my guess)?
No. But it’s making a lot of sane people wanting a drink!
Kennedy went to fuckin Oxford. he needs to take his foghorn leghorn bullshit somewhere else.
Are you sure it was Oxford, England and not Oxford, Mississippi?
I promise it's Oxford in the UK. he might even be too performatively folksy for Ol Miss
People lose healthcare. More people experience medical bankruptcy. People have shorter lifespans.
The arrogance a Republican must have to screw with people’s lives in such a way is immeasurable.
The only question Republican congresspeople have is, "Is it good for billionaires?" If the answer is no...
They'll just claim it's a hoax. Didn't happen. Only people/hospitals/media outlets/financial institutions that hate Trump/Republicans/in a blue city or state/ever voted for a Democrat or have a family member who voted for a Democrat will report medical bankruptcies, hospital closings, diminished lifespan, greater incidences of disease and they are lying. After all, Sen. Kennedy et. al. get perfectly fine health insurance (paid for by us), so what's the problem?
Has that idiot read beezys WP lately ?
They truly do not give a s--t .
What I don't understand is why Republican voters, many of whom benefit from the ACA, aren't up in arms?
We've known that propaganda kills on the scale of millions of people since 1945.
Maybe some are. It doesn’t affect most people. But it could well cause a few swing voters to switch. As for MAGA, it’s a cult.
600,000 dead children due to DOGE.
1 million dead during the pandemic, one of the worst records worldwide.
3 unvaccinated children dead of whooping cough this week.
We can keep going like this for a while. It's really hard to get people to pay attention, though. Everyone seems to shrug and say it's out of their power to control.
"At least one Republican still refuses to actually acknowledge the story’s factual basis at all. ... Kennedy insisted that [the] reporters must be lying, even about things the administration admits to having done."
In denying it at all costs, the senator is admitting that if the story is true, it would be indefensible.
He sounds like he is still using or has suffered brain damage from his previous drug habit. The guy is unbelievably stupid.
Senator Kennedy, not Health Secretary Kennedy.
Oh, you're right. Forgot him.
RFK Jr is coming up. I just saw a Bulwark newsletter about him.
Senators should read Pete’s book War on Warriors where he brags about telling his subordinates in combat to ignore JAG advice on Rules of War. Looks like he took his own advice on the boat strike killings.
He can write?
No, but somebody can write it for him and Kegsbreath can slap his name on the cover.
Just like his boss, Trump. Not only did Trump not write his stupid book, he never even read it.
He also didn’t write the other books with his name on them. His ghost writer spilled the beans after he was elected in 2016.
Nobody writes their own books. I hate it. Those political books are just bribes being transferred from Murdoch to his lackeys.
His ghost can.
yes. Brings new "life" to the term ghost-writer.
More details here:
https://popular.info/p/department-of-war-crimes
Republicans decided long ago that they had to be ALL IN with Trump or they would be ex congress members. Kennedy’s educational accomplishments are well know, but his lack of self respect is off the charts. There are plenty of “less than brilliant” Senators and HOR members. But for the southern shuck and jive show even Tuberville (who is not nearly as smart) doesn’t come close to Kennedy’s hayseed routine.
Hard to understand how he isn’t humiliated by his own behavior.
Its residual damage from drug use. His brain is fried. Didn't have a stroke? I thought I heard that.
You don’t have to go too far back in time to find the Oxford-educated Kennedy making reasonable sounding speeches on video. So, was he acting then, or is he acting now?
I believe the answer is both. If we have learned anything about Republicans, they are liars and never to be trusted. The best assumption is they are always acting, always lying. The only thing, and I mean only thing they care about is themselves. Anyone else they like, including their family improving their station in life is a bonus, but make no mistake, they truly and deeply only care about themselves.
Simple. When he was a Democrat he was smart, and now as a Republican he's dumb. 😏
Wow. The graft-n-corruption in Congress must be really rich! Really thick on the floor, and easy to get. It's so rich, lucrative, and profitable, Rep. Issa is thinking of moving from California to Texas to get more of it! What happened to representing your district? Caring about the people---the actual humans--you represent? Running where you grew up, or representing a community that you've lived in for 20 years? Knowing the local issues? In 2025, it's just about what you can get for yourself, and how much of it you can stuff into your pocket. Pure transaction. Nothing else matters.
Politicians are the most replaceable people on Earth, but every single one thinks they are indispensable. As if you couldn't find a small toy dog to bark yes when Trump commands.
Wait it was Kennedy who thought the WaPo story about killing survivors in the Caribbean was made up? Hasn't he seen how Trump-friendly the WaPo has become in recent years?
I was sure it was Ron Johnson. I always thought Kennedy was just pretending to be stupid, but maybe if you pretend long enough, you become the thing you're pretending to be.
>"Hasn't he seen how Trump-friendly the WaPo has become in recent years?"
Trump friendly? WaPo has fired all of their left-center editors, managers, and reporters and they've filled the place with Murdock lackeys, and WaPo pages are contaminated with submissions by writers from the National Review.
WaPo basically gives Trump a tongue bath every day.
Their loss is The Bulwark's gain! And the Atlantic's gain. And MSNOW's gain.
Some reporters are still trying though.
The Washington Post is owned by Bezos. He came and kneeled to Trump and gave him a million dollars for his "inauguration". Best pals now.
Touche.
Issa represented my district for many years until we became purple, then he decided to run for a red area in San Diego County. He doesn’t even live in his congressional district.
Shocking! Another Republican sitting in a job where he doesn't meet the qualifications (in this case, the Constitutional requirement that an individual must live in the district that they represent)!
So now he'll move to TX.
All the roaches, has-beens, never-was, parasitic republicans and seedy entrepreneurs hot wheelz abbott welcomes with open arms.
Sounds like a great place.
Trump orders the killing without trial at sea of people who are accused of transporting drugs. How far is that from extra-judicial killings on land in the USA? If accused drug traffickers can be executed without trial, what about political adversaries whom Trump accuses of "treason"? We are long past the point of responding to questions like these with "You're being alarmist," or "They wouldn't go that far."
Joe, Great reporting as always. Interesting commentary in all the pieces. The qoute, the only time Republicans get serious is when they are giving tax cuts to billionaires should be placed in a time capsule so future historians can remind Americans of their stupidity. Senator Kennedy is a country bumpkin. He and Tubberville would be a perfect Laurel and Hardy. Slapstick is their forte. You know it's not enough that these clowns have to gerrymandered their place in congress, and have to judge shop to get their coveted decisions but now this Issa old fart wants to move to Texas to get back on the public dole. This has become the United States of Liars and Cheats.
Priceless Joe! I so look
forward to your reports.
I want a Democrat Speaker and Majority Leader who aren't bought by Israel. Not too much to ask.
I would be happy if they just stood up to Trump.
Even if the Republicans allow a bill to pass through extending the subsidies, there are rumblings on the Inter-Webs that they will insert poison pills in the legislation. Some of the MAGAs want to include draconian abortion restrictions and a full on attack on women's reproductive healthcare.
It's just the kind of conniving treachery that the Republicans love to do.