Biden pardoned his entire family practically (except for little Navy) on the way out for crimes uncharged. He pardons Fauci and J6 persecutors for crimes uncharged. A last-minute disgrace cherry on top.
Biden and his media apologists need a quick lesson on what an oligarchy is. Hint: Its much more than wealthy, influential folks. The oligarchy is government-donor-activist network that sent the machinery of government after Musk. Just a coincidence that DoJ, FAA, FTC, NLRB, SEC, Fish & Wildlife, CA Coastal Commission all separately and more or less simultaneously were investigating Tesla, SpaceX, and StarLink? Also curious how Musk-Bezos-Zuckerberg were not a problem when they were with the Democrats...just sayin'
If the media gave any thought whatsoever to double standards, if they ever for a second considered how double standards work, and hinted at some faint recognition of when a double standard exists or is being applied…. What a wonderful world it could be
every president has had an "inner circle". Musk happens to have money, no doubt. Probably a lot came from government contracts and govermint spending. No doubt. But he'd have figured out how to get rich regardless.
Every time he opens his mouth -- Musk that is -- I find surprisingly I agree (almost always, but not always). He's gonna get run over by DOGE. No way that'll happen. If they cut $100 I'll be surprised. I suspect spending will actually go up but they'll find a way to call that efficiency.
Should we bring back Bebe Ribozo for the inner circle? hahahahahah. OK Boomers. You know what I'm talking about.
Fauci lied to Congress repeatedly under oath; he gets a Pardon. Michael Flynn “lied” to the FBI during a phone call, he lost his job, was bankrupted and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent (which applies to much of DC, usually ignored); he had received congratulations from the Russian ambassador, that was his crime. To the Democrats their political opponents are automatically the biggest criminals, maybe the only criminals. Fauci no doubt killed more than he saved from Covid; maybe from his bioweapons job?
John Campbell reviewed a recent Japanese scientific article which showed that if you received the Covid mRNA vaccine, you were much more likely to be infected by SARS-CoV2 (and if you are more likely to be infected, you are more likely to die). This fits with the much worse Covid outcomes in vaccinated countries than in poor unvaccinated countries. The CDC did not count people as vaccinated until three weeks after the second jab (KFF.org); this fits with the biggest US Covid death wave at the start of the Covid vaccine rollouts, and totally explains the “epidemic of the ‘unvaccinated’” (Norman Fenton).
Scientifically, everyone who was vaccinated with the spike protein vaccine, gets a weak partial immunity based almost solely on circulating antibodies to the original Wuhan spike protein (which mutated and escaped as new strains). The initial spike protein antibodies titers are not protective (that’s why the CDC refused to count vaccinated as officially vaccinated until over a month after the first jab.) The Japanese publication suggests early antibody dependent enhancement (ADE); the spike protein antibodies bind the virus and increase infection (the Bat Lady published a nice paper on ADE and increased coronavirus infection). The same thing happens four months or so after vaccination; the spike protein antibodies fade and no longer protect; ADE occurs increasing chance of Covid infection and death. The CDC found that by April 2022 most Covid deaths were in the vaccinated; they quit counting (or publishing) vaccinated vs unvaccinated by August 2022. Most Covid deaths (two-thirds) occurred after the vaccine rollouts (imagine if that had happened with new vaccines in children). No one under age 50 should have received the Covid vaccine, the majority of Covid deaths were in those over age 80, and the Japanese data suggests those might have been better off without the vax. (and this is ignoring adverse effects of the vaccines).
Virtually everyone who was unvaccinated eventually got superior natural infection immunity. Probably most had been infected with common cold coronaviruses and had partial immunity due to cross reactivity of broad natural infective immunity (some scientists toyed with the idea of giving mild coronaviruses similar to an attenuated viral vaccine). Gazit et al with a massive database showed that natural infective immunity was 27-fold more effective in preventing symptomatic Covid (and probably death) than the Pfizer double jab; other investigators with much smaller populations of subjects saw qualitatively the same results. While antibodies also fade with natural immunity and are no longer very protective against coronaviruses (like the spike protein antibodies from mRNA vaccines, low titers are still easily measurable and show who has been infected) natural immunity involves long lasting cellular immunities and mucosal immunities, even to mutated SARS-CoV2 variants, which makes natural infection immunity much better than spike protein immunity.
So you might ask, since all the vaccinated also were eventually infected with Covid (Biden at least three times after six vaccinations, still lying about the vaccines protecting “grannies” and mandating their use), don’t they get the benefits of natural infection immunity? Not necessarily. There is a very important immunological concept known as Original Antigenic Sin (OAS). So if the vaccinated survive Covid outbreaks for the month or two while their immunity to the original Wuhan strain of Spike Protein matures, rechallenge by SARS-CoV2 viral infection throws up more protective Wuhan strain spike protein antibodies (thus selecting for mutated ‘escape’ strains). While the broader (lots more viral antigens mean lots more protective immunities) viral infection immunity means much more cross-reactivity to evolving SARS-CoV2 strains, the vaccinated will just throw up largely ineffective Wuhan spike protein antibodies each time they are infected. New spike protein vaccines help briefly but just select for more mutated strains which quickly escape the Spike Protein antibodies.
Obviously Fauci either didn’t understand basic immunological concepts (he worked most of his career on a failed AIDS vaccine) or both he and the CDC dismissed ADE, OAS and natural infection immunity. That seems unlikely. There was clearly another agenda at play, and why the US has the 14th highest Covid death rate of about 220 countries (worldometers.info). Follow the money?
Agreed! But Matt still managed to say more with less, imho. The pardons are next level madness - but, as Matt ruefully reminded us, entirely predictable.
As expected, lots of kvetching here about the Biden pardons, not a peep about pardons issued to people literally convicted of attacking police officers and guilty of seditious conspiracy (if you don't know what this, look it up). Way to 'back the blue', folks.
And before you start with the false equivalencies, note that 14k people have been arrested in connection with the BLM riots, and not pardoned.
You see *this* is why I have called Trump and you guys authoritarian in your instincts, and claim that you have been radicalized by the current POTUS--and he is busy validating my diagnosis.
In your view, but you see black as white and up as down so when it comes to false equivalents you are the master. BLM committed violent acts everywhere before and after the capitol protests which was peaceful compared to BLM or ANTIFA and the agents and cops supposedly protecting the capitol committed murder, mayhem and acts of terrorism. The J6 crowd did what, asshole?
Biden will be remembered as a good president, and historians will continue their assessment of convicted felon, traitor and blustering narcissist Donald Trump as the worst ever. This in spite of Taibbi's hit pieces against Biden and his silence in the face of Trump's crimes past and future.
There have to be some limits placed on blanket pardons? What if we later learn that one of the people pardoned by Biden today is a serial killer? Is that person off the hook? What if a President promised pardons to everyone in his or her administration? Is the Executive branch now above the law? I hope to see some analysis on what limits are or can be placed over blanket pardons. Also, isn't it true that persons pardoned by the President can still be sued civilly for damages. So, even with the pardon, couldn't someone injured by the vaccine or someone victimized by law-fare still sue for civil damages?
From what I read earlier, they are basing this on Ford pardoned Nixon with no charges.
However, I also read that for someone to accept a pardon they also accept they were guilty, even though Biden stated that the pardon should not imply guilt. Of course, he also decreed on the way out the door that ERA should be considered passed. No Constitutional process required.
He also didn't say if that placed transfemales over cis-females, so who knows.
What evidence leads you to call this woman a “vulnerable narcissist feminist”? What does that even mean? Apply to all women? Or just women who have an opinion?
Ironically you comment is that of a vulnerable narcissist. You imply the nasty claim that I am a misogynist while shrinking for protection by also claiming a protected class "female" identity. That is a common behavior of all bitter vagitarians.
Here are your traits:
Hypersensitivity: They are highly sensitive to criticism, rejection, and perceived slights.
Insecurity: They may feel insecure and have low self-esteem.
Need for validation: They crave constant praise and attention from others.
Difficulty handling rejection: They may struggle to cope with failure or rejection.
Emotional manipulation: They may use manipulation to gain attention or sympathy.
Self-pity: They may engage in self-pity to reinforce their victim mentality.
Difficulty maintaining relationships: They may have trouble forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
Lack of empathy: They may lack empathy or use empathy to build their own self-worth.
Passive aggressive behavior: They may exhibit passive aggressive behavior.
Projection: They may use projection as a defense mechanism to regulate anxiety.
Interpersonal coldness: They may appear cold and hostile in their interactions with others.
Trump will give you your fondest wish and declare the 19th Amendment repealed. He’s already abrogated the 14th, so why shouldn’t he do wha all his male supporters want and revoke all women’s citizenship?
It's unbelievable how much Racket News is willing to ignore. When are they going to talk about the very real threats on the right? I thought Matt was not a partisan hack! I'm willing to criticize the Dems or I wouldn't be a paying subscriber. But -- if they do not start covering the ROT in the GOP soon, I will be so disappointed. Where are the real independent news sources? Trump's MEME Coin? Zucks MAGA transformation now censoring things like @sharonsaysso's MLK post. Matt has done great work on media transparency in the past. I implore him to hold Republicans accountable to the same standards. I cannot bear the thought of yet another respected public figure betraying their supposed values when push comes to shove. If anyone knows of any truly independent NON PARTISAN news sources, please lmk.
It used to be that you could count on them to call out illiberalism on both the right and the left. Now it's call out the illiberal actions of some leftists and then ignore Trump's much more stridently authoritarian behavior.
Lots of talk about oligarchy, barely a peep about Musk playing co-president and becoming the nation's richest man by funding Trump's re-election. Outrage about press freedom but a shrug of the shoulders at Trump suing the press and ABC bending the knee, much less his lawsuit against Anne Selzer for publishing a poll Trump didn't like. (But Matt had time for another rant about 'Russiagate', despite having already enough words on the issue to put Tolstoy and War and Peace to shame lol)
I'd put the odds of a sober look at pardoning someone like Enrique Tarrio--and the very real parallels to fascist leaders erecting legal protections for massive numbers of violent supporters to establish de facto paramilitaries, Brown Shirts style--at zero right now.
I don't know if Taibbi and Kirn explicitly identify themselves as part of the authoritarian right, but they are acting exactly how tools of the authoritarian right would act, intentionally or not. It's depressing to watch, much less read.
Historically it’s been no, but both have changed their attitudes quite a lot and Taibbi is a long way from the guy who wrote ‘Hate, Inc.’, so who knows it’s possible somewhere along the line they jumped ship. I doubt it, though. I think they’re just blinded to the fact that they’re functionally supporting the authoritarian right.
Sad but true. It’s so disappointing. Hilarious about Russiagate. Like WE GET IT. That accusation did not end up being supported. It was years ago and never really took off. People were concerned but there was no there there. NOW WHAT ABOUT MUSK and his censorship? What about Meta bending the knee? How will ttump admin use censorship on social media to their advantage? Inquiring minds want to know.
If you are a person engaged in actual critical thinking, I think you can both admit A.) some collusion did go on, as the Mueller Report affirmed, and B.) the extent of that collusion and Russian operations were hugely exaggerated. Someone whose memory extends beyond Trump would also note that this manner of 'scandal-inflation' was pioneered and presaged before Trump arrived, in the Benghazi investigation.
The issue, as another poster here mentioned, is that Walter and Matt are not subjecting Trump, the oligarchs of his inner circle, and the Republican party to the same criticism they rightly subjected Biden and the Dems to. It is not the impartial, non-partisan criticism their independent, non-partisan readers have come to expect and respect, and it furthers the cause of illiberalism. Good, fair-minded critics are part of what keeps authoritarianism in check.
I don't think most independent thinkers who follow Matt Taibbi are still looking for a pee tape or whatever. We simply want to know that Racket will subject the Trump/Musk party to the same standards of incisive reporting.
Walter has been a little extreme lately. I can relate to his expressions on at least one of my shoulders. I do think they will continue to be even handed. I’ve seen little evidence to the contrary. I suggest leveeing the same standard for CNN and others. Just continuous intellectual dishonesty. They’ll make mistakes, but you could do worse than smart, honest, thoughtful and funny analysis.
I look forward to Taibbi’s blubbering praise of all of Trump’s executive orders today, especially the one abrogating the 14th Amendment and the one canceling flights rescuing Afghan refugees from the Taliban.
The 14th amendment wasn't abrogated. However, the interpretation of his EO will surely make it's way up the the supreme court, and I for one will be interested to hear the arguments from both sides. If you're going to complain about presidents usurping power through executive order, the 14th is a strange hill to die on, considering how both parties have continually sh*t on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th, and probably others for quite some time. Who cares if the CIA and FBI spy on you daily and censor the news-- illegal immigrants have the right to anchor babies! So long as they vote the right way! Tell me, Karen, now that Trump is in power, is it okay for him to order Elon and Zuck to take your posts down as the Biden administration has done? Can Donald ask Chase and BofA to de-bank you as the Biden administration has done? Do you want to have a gun when the nazis come knocking at your door? Why the selective outrage? In your version of the constitution, which amendments besides the 14th matter?
I honestly doubt you care about the constitution or even knew what the 14th amendment was until you received your new programming. It's all about scoring points, isn't it, Karen?
Birthright citizenship is in the plain text of the 14 th Amendment and was affirmed in ‘United States v Wong Kim Ark’ in 1898. (Same Court that issued noted Wokeness ‘Plessy v Ferguson’ in 1896.) It’s a 127 year-old precedent.
Don't you think Karen is here as a supporter of Racket News because she does care about the violations of speech and the suppression of information on the left? I know that is what led me and my wife and others I know to Taibbi's reporting. Yet, now that we are here, we are noticing a conspicuous absence of reporting about the encroachments on the right and we are hoping that they will apply the same standards to both parties.
No, I don't think Karen cares, nor do I think she wishes to support Matt. She just called him a Nazi, do you think Karen supports Nazis? I have found that people who spend all of their time vocally caring about the rights of others generally don't care about the rights of others and have ulterior motives. It wouldn't surprise me if Karen in some way makes a living off of her fake caring. I have seen nothing but muck-flinging, name calling, and the endless bleating of recycled talking points from Karen. If you have some examples of he/she/it/xe standing up for free speech, condemning warrantless FISA surveillance, or railing against online censorship, etc, please share some links. Perhaps I missed them. One tends to start auto filtering with so much name calling.
I think he/she/it/xir is most likely either a bot or an employee from some political group/partisan nonprofit that's paid to disrupt discussions and sow discord. He/She/It could also be a troll, in it for the lolz.
You are aware of Taibbi's long standing criticism of the right aren't you? This includes writing a book about Trump called "Insane Clown President". Those of us who have been following Taibbi for 10-20+ years have absolutely no concerns about him. Perhaps you should spend a little more time reading his past works if you are in doubt.
As for non-partisan, there aren’t any. Your best bet is to start reading Democrat and feminist sites. I recommend Lyz Lenz’s ‘Men Yell At Me’ for starters
Okay well calling Matt a Nazi is nuts and just makes left-leaning people look bad. I have not seen anything to suggest that he's antisemitic. I have questioned his interest in and respect for women but that's just based on the fact that his reporting tends to disproportionately object to specific women. I was glad to see him feature Sacha Stone's story recently.
Yeah I second this. I've become critical of Matt's recent turn, but he's not a Nazi, that's ridiculous. Nor have I ever seen anything to suggest he's a bigot. There are some instances lately where he's gone a little 'too easy' on people that *are* unreconstructed bigots, but I don't get the sense it's because he holds any kind of bigoted beliefs on a personal level, and there's lots of evidence that the opposite is true.
Yes, are you starting to see why everyone here dismisses Karen's rants? If you made yourself a little more familiar with her nonsense before posting you'd probably save everyone a lot of time. She really does just post insane nonsense and is completely immune to any counter argument or evidence.
No thank you to the invitation to spend a lot of my time reviewing a commenter’s history commenting on past posts before I respond to a comment on a present post— for the ostensible purpose of “saving everyone a lot of time.” I tend to pick up pretty quickly when people are immune to counter argument or evidence, so no need to waste time holding my hand through the process. Ad hominem attacks inserted into an intellectual argument are usually the first giveaway.
What threats from the right? Be specific. Perhaps the time you spend alone, deeply depressed are the real threats you are imagining coming from the right.
Are you okay? You seem unable or unwilling to discuss topics without resorting to personal insults. There is no indication that anyone posting in this thread is "depressed and alone." We are discussing the reporting of Racket News who we all apparently follow as paid subscribers, as I believe that is the only way you can comment here. Why not stick to the topic at hand? In the event your comment was directed towards me personally you can rest assured that I have been happily married to my wife for 20 years. We have two kids ages 17 and 15 and a broad community of family, friends, neighbors, and professional relationships. My wife and I are both lawyers; we coach the public school debate team, and we are involved in our Bar organizations and loosely our church. We own homes in California and Colorado and enjoy traveling around the world. I am not lonely; however, loneliness is an epidemic especially for younger men and we are attentive to this as we send our son off to Columbia university next year, hopeful that he does not isolate in the cold weather and grow depressed. But enough about my identity. Do you think that Matt and Walter will scrutinize the relationship between the Trump administration and Musk/X and the effect that entanglement might have on speech? Do you hope that they do, or do you not care? Are you comfortable with the level of money in politics in 2025? Do you support Trump's wealth generating meme coin? It would be great to discuss issues without attacking personal identities.
I decided to return to your biography post as an issues argument. You wrote: "When are they going to talk about the very real threats on the right?"
I asked you to specify what real threats. You ignored that simple request then began trolling comments of mine unrelated to your post and my question. You began your self-serving bio describing your wealth accumulation history with what appeared to be a passive/aggressive shallow inquiry into my mental state as if you are latter day Dr. Ruth. You are not asking me about issues you are moaning about Matt and Walt as if these are big policy issues of the day. I suspect both will treat the daily news as they see fit and if they don't agree with your fantasy ideology, that's just too bad. By the way why does what Trump's wealth got to do with the issues of Walt and Matt given your proclivity to braggadacio of your own? Would like like to discuss Zhou Baidan's corruption as a wealth accumulation scheme? Dude, your an ass!
Lynch raise $100m dollars and spoke w 1 million students worldwide in last 20 years about transcendental meditation. There was a 10 global minute TM celebration at 10 EST today. Kind of Lynch like timing.
I have watched every film adaptation of dune and i believe David lynch did it best. Even taking into account the creative fuckery that ripped his vision from his hands. The acting in the villeneuve version is so limp it’s pathetic and makes the lynch version sparkle in comparison.
I still do, even after watching the Villenueve versions a 2nd time. Just better special effects now. Sting was a really fun Harkkonnen. And Lynch didn’t change Chani’s character from the book. That’s what bothered me the most with the new ones.
Walter is correct re the billionaires. Those are OUR billionaires, Matt. Do you know how happy I am to see the Founder club types be on our team? I'm so happy to see Bessent, Musk, et al at the table. If you note, these are all people who built something. Conservatives are aspirational. We are not envious. That is the other team. And I appreciate Walter's righteous anger at what has happened during the corrupt Biden admin, and the media flacks who covered for them.
They are not your billionaires--there is no such thing, unless you are helping the billionaire in acquiring power. That is because billionaires do not care about normal people and their interests. They are in it to beat other billionaires in the acquisition of power, and if you are smashed underfoot all the better to them.
Also, he hangs around with the smartest people in the world, which I believe was mentioned today. But additionally, the choice implicitly refutes the ubiquitous idea that only stupid people support Trump.
Any chance you'd be willing to take on the Fauci pardon in the livestream? That one has me more bugged than any of the rest of the preemptive pardons! I'm trying to come up with some plausible motive for Biden to issue this "pardon" and I can't seem to come up with one.
The Covid episode can still be investigated. What bothers me more is Biden preemptively pardoning his entire family. I noticed Jill wasn't in the list.
Because they are a mafia. If not for Fauci playing along during COVID, the 2020 election wouldn’t have been so easy to steal. So he had to be protected so future partisans don’t go off the reservation.I hope there will be investigations anyway. Not to mention challenges to all his actions given his senility.
I just watched an incredible documentary on Tucker Carlson's site on Fauci. Aside from whether the blanket "get out of jail free pass" is Constitutional, I heard one commentary today that goes like this- Call them to testify and if they lie, charge them with perjury. They have no reason to take the fifth because of the pardon, so they have to answer the questions and if they lie, charge them. But I still think a pardon needs to be for at least charged crimes or delineated potential crimes. I know others, including Nixon, got somewhat blanket pardons but no one bothered to challenge them for a variety of reasons....too old, long national nightmare over, not worth using prosecutorial resources etc. Maybe that is what they will use here. Tony Fauci ought to stay away from Florida though.
Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon probably cost him the Presidency. And Ford did it to heal the nation.
The Biden family pardonfest is breathtaking. As for Fauci. Oh no. The multimillionaire that he is; it would be unfair for him to have hire an attorney. After killing all those people. Those people, alone. Cut off from their families. Because Dr. Fauci said it had to be that way. You go, Rand Paul.
Fauci must be hung. Yes, by the neck, and on national television.
While I doubt my comment here will become a movement, I genuinely mean this. I don't believe it's possible for this country to reclaim its sanity without a reckoning of the man who architected that insanity.
Every single day I am baffled that the line of thinking is not like this: Fauci is responsible for the deaths of more people than Hitler, but a bit less than Stalin, ranking him #2 in the most evil human beings that have ever lived. HOW THE FUCK IS THIS MAN WALKING FREE? The amount of destruction just in my personal life alone would warrant a life sentence for the monster. This country cannot have a viable future if we cannot get our values straight. Imagine a post-war Germany with Hitler bumming around like nothing ever happened. People always exclaim, how could the Germans have allowed this to happen? Well, look around right now, that's the answer. If 0.01% of what I've read about him is true (including primary sources and his own emails), it would warrant execution.
I might have been shouting at my phone today 'shut up Kirn!'. I don't care so much about what he says but yes, I want to hear the rest of Taibbi's thoughts...
I was going to count how many times I was irritated by interruptions but I can't be bothered. Turned the show off.
I love his insights and dry wit but geeze! And the more worked up he gets the raspier his voice gets…..I’m certain he’s a nice guy and I’ve heard him even apologize for interrupting but then he just keeps doing it. I’m surprised he doesn’t seem to feel bad for constantly cutting Matt off. I’ve shouted too and today did turn it off — for the first time. Somehow I know he’ll rein himself in tonight on Gutfeld.
Walter is an arrogant blowhard who constantly tells his American audience what it is that Americans think. I can't imagine something more arrogant and narcissistic than constantly interrupting your co-host to correct them on what his own audience TRULY thinks which Walter knows with perfect clarity because Walter is King America.
Sick of his nonsense prattle washed in sappy midwestern romanticism. Actually repulsive, and I say this as a Midwesterner who lives in a city of under 30,000.
Yeah, Walter has lost the objective here. His lean is so far over. I wonder if Walter will ever critique Trump? Walter gets so defensive when Matt posits any potential negative.
Also, Lynch doesn't know it, but he helped me quit smoking. Read an interview with him a couple weeks before i quit. Bit more between A and B there, but if i see him on the other side i owe him one.
God, Walter, you assertion about government being inept and private enterprise doing a better job at providing services is ahistorical. The reasons roads suck is because federal funding was cut off or severly reduced for maintaining the roads. In the case of WI. which boasted the best secondary roads in the country, 'tax cuts' beginning, with Lee Dreyfus, cut off funds. The federal government could have brought broadband to all of the country if it incentivesed providers to go into rural America and do the fucking job. Again, that requires $ which is hoarded by the DOD. So, you are stuck with star link (which you clearly love).
Yes, the Dems are barking up the wrong tree focusing on billionaires. We all know they are too stupid to live. Matt's point, however, no matter how often you interrupt him, is correct. At some point a movement will arise because tax cuts for rich people means bad roads, bad schools, reduction in social benefits, and no internet.
The private sector 'heros' will be exposed for the money grubbing pieces of shit that they are. Maybe an Uber rich oligarch (class traitor) will become the next FDR.
None of the above happens without a broad based mass movement. In the 30's it was unions who led to the creation of of that movement. Looks like unions must stand up and lead now.
Agree about congressional reps voting their districts not their donors. Taxing the rich increases $ for roads and public services. The US government built the federal highway system. Uber Wealthy ($200k) paid 91% on income made that year. Even 50% rate, plus tax on investments would make a difference
So you think people who make $200k should pay 50% to the feds? Is that before or after they pay state and local taxes?
Whoever is building the roads, ev stations, dams whatever should be held accountable with regular open book reports on progress and costs.
Shellenbergers reports on how money flows in CA with no progress on water reservoirs voted on, and how pols hand money for homeless projects to friends and family is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether it is government spending or NGOs spending without public scrutiny they will all skim off the top.
My god, the military hasn't passed 7 audits. That should make the media scream like their hair's on fire. I suppose now that a republican is in the wh that may happen.
That is perhaps why the founders envisioned decisions would be made more locally with the federal government handling details involving other countries, defense etc. Things that required national attention.
Of course, Biden administrations insistence that all contracts had to go to properly equity delineated companies may have had something to do with things not getting done on time, on budget, or getting done at all. It's pretty hard to find enough POC companies who might have the needed skills for some technical project in some states. NOT because POC can't do the job, just that in some states the percentage of companies that are POC headed is very low. Just adds a layer of complexity that adds to the costs and headaches
Please note that those taxes applied when $200k was an enormous amount of money. Please account for inflation which i should have done.
Totally agree that CA is a cesspool under both Dems & Repubs.
I do not know enough about the contracting business you describe. What i do know, the standard use to be goals & timetables based on the local population, which took into account the circumstances you described.
Sure it would make a difference: bureaucrats would have more money to blow on BS projects. They can't even spend the money they have now in a responsible manner, so I have no faith in them to do better with more money. Voters need to demand better utilization of resources, not simply demand that taxes continue to rise.
Do you personally know any public sector bureaucrats? It strikes me that you don't. Reagan demonized public sector workers and, unfortunately, it stuck as you so clearly believe.
I do know some bureaucrats and they are serious people who do serious work per their mandate.
No one goes into public service to waste their time and sabotage government programs. They don't get paid enough, nor are they inclined to do it.
Public employees enter government to do good work. Are there rules and regulations that impede quick action? Yes. Those rules & regs come about due to malfeasance on the part of elected officials and private sector actors.
I worked for a public library system and was able to observe the effects of no accountability, abysmal management, slacking coworkers, and a bloated, non-responsive administration at close range.
I have occasionally encountered a bureaucrat who was knowledgeable & willing to help, but those were the exceptions.
When I qualified for Medicare, I only had insurance for about 6 months, due to a glitch between Medicare and Social Security. Premiums continued to be deducted from my benefits, but I had no coverage. I made multiple phone calls, filed a report with the Office of the Inspector General, and sent a snail mail letter to Social Security. Neither the report nor the letter were ever replied to. I encountered a total of 3 workers at Medicare/Social Security who were able to tell me what had happened, but they didn't have the ability to fix it. Most of the workers with whom I spoke were disinterested, baffled, and displayed absolutely no empathy. During all those months, I was unable to schedule a mammogram, get new glasses, or receive any medical care at all.
Nobody ever even bothered to let me know the issue had been fixed, & I only found out by making another phone call during Open Enrollment.
And now, as the cherry on top, I've been notified that I must pay a penalty for the rest of my life for having gone without prescription drug coverage for more than 90 days, or whatever.
You really can't make this stuff up.
Pardon my skepticism toward government workers, but it did come from life experience, not from anything Reagan said.
Do include those "public sector bureaucrats" that thought it was worthwhile to spend $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland. (Ireland can't afford to produce their own DEI musicals?)
More examples
$1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”
$2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
$47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia
$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations — even AFTER an inspector general launched an investigation
Millions to EcoHealth Alliance — which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab
“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
Funding to print “personalized” contraceptives birth control devices in developing countries
Hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban
Non of these expenditures do anything to advance AMERICAN interests.
Progressive liberal democrats agenda perhaps but we should not be paying for that!
Good thoughts. Private companies and public unions have taken advantage of a less scrupulous government in more recent history. Privatization of the heath care system is a quiet abomination. We have a low grade corporate kleptocracy right now. I think Matt drew the line well today with we don’t hate success as long as there is progress and value. Government no longer has incentives to go back to what you accurately recall but the alternative is currently their benefactors.
Roger Ebert, who really didn't 'get' Lynch until late in the game finally got it with Mulholland drive: <<David Lynch has been working toward “Mulholland Drive” all of his career, and now that he’s arrived there I forgive him “Wild at Heart” and even “Lost Highway.” At last his experiment doesn’t shatter the test tubes.>> There was nothing wrong with Wild at Heart, but Lost Highway was impenetrable to me, a Lynch fan since the original art-house run of Eraserhead. However, after watching Mulholland Drive -- more than one time -- I was able to watch Lost Highway, with some appreciation, if not pleasure. RIP, David. You'll haunt my dreams.
I admired both Roger Ebert and David Lynch. Ebert approached films with an emphasis on narrative storytelling. While Lynch approached films with an emphasis on emotional impact, with narrative logic being an afterthought. Ebert gave positive reviews to Eraserhead, The Straight Story, and Mulholland Drive, which I agree are his three best films.
Disappointed there was no mention of Melania Trump showing up as a full on gangster babe, wearing an outfit that said: I am hotter than you, richer than you and more powerful than you - fuck off Resistance.
Well I apologize! I know little about her, but I remember when the NYTIMES trashed her for requesting privacy and not granting an interview. The commentariat went all out to trash Trump for seeking attention and then Melania for the opposite. Then they trashed me for pointing this out.
One would think..... They seem to avoid Trump/Musk. Did you see Matt's email to Musk that Matt recently published where he's all -- "what's wrong Elon? I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT YOU..." Did he make that promise to Trump too?
There is a 100% chance that Milley and many Generals failed to follow Trump directives and actively worked to undermine him, Syria is the most obvious.
Biden pardoned his entire family practically (except for little Navy) on the way out for crimes uncharged. He pardons Fauci and J6 persecutors for crimes uncharged. A last-minute disgrace cherry on top.
Biden and his media apologists need a quick lesson on what an oligarchy is. Hint: Its much more than wealthy, influential folks. The oligarchy is government-donor-activist network that sent the machinery of government after Musk. Just a coincidence that DoJ, FAA, FTC, NLRB, SEC, Fish & Wildlife, CA Coastal Commission all separately and more or less simultaneously were investigating Tesla, SpaceX, and StarLink? Also curious how Musk-Bezos-Zuckerberg were not a problem when they were with the Democrats...just sayin'
If the media gave any thought whatsoever to double standards, if they ever for a second considered how double standards work, and hinted at some faint recognition of when a double standard exists or is being applied…. What a wonderful world it could be
You mean Musk, the guy who became the richest man in the world by funding Trump's reelection, now going around acting as co-president?
Can't get much more government-donor-activist than that, my friend. Thank you for making the fact of Trump's capture by oligarchs clear.
Musk became the richest man in the world in September of 2021. Elon's support of Trump has nothing to do with his wealth.
every president has had an "inner circle". Musk happens to have money, no doubt. Probably a lot came from government contracts and govermint spending. No doubt. But he'd have figured out how to get rich regardless.
Every time he opens his mouth -- Musk that is -- I find surprisingly I agree (almost always, but not always). He's gonna get run over by DOGE. No way that'll happen. If they cut $100 I'll be surprised. I suspect spending will actually go up but they'll find a way to call that efficiency.
Should we bring back Bebe Ribozo for the inner circle? hahahahahah. OK Boomers. You know what I'm talking about.
Yeah, Nixon's Cuban buddy. Spelled Rebozo, with an E, if I recall correctly.
Fauci lied to Congress repeatedly under oath; he gets a Pardon. Michael Flynn “lied” to the FBI during a phone call, he lost his job, was bankrupted and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent (which applies to much of DC, usually ignored); he had received congratulations from the Russian ambassador, that was his crime. To the Democrats their political opponents are automatically the biggest criminals, maybe the only criminals. Fauci no doubt killed more than he saved from Covid; maybe from his bioweapons job?
John Campbell reviewed a recent Japanese scientific article which showed that if you received the Covid mRNA vaccine, you were much more likely to be infected by SARS-CoV2 (and if you are more likely to be infected, you are more likely to die). This fits with the much worse Covid outcomes in vaccinated countries than in poor unvaccinated countries. The CDC did not count people as vaccinated until three weeks after the second jab (KFF.org); this fits with the biggest US Covid death wave at the start of the Covid vaccine rollouts, and totally explains the “epidemic of the ‘unvaccinated’” (Norman Fenton).
Scientifically, everyone who was vaccinated with the spike protein vaccine, gets a weak partial immunity based almost solely on circulating antibodies to the original Wuhan spike protein (which mutated and escaped as new strains). The initial spike protein antibodies titers are not protective (that’s why the CDC refused to count vaccinated as officially vaccinated until over a month after the first jab.) The Japanese publication suggests early antibody dependent enhancement (ADE); the spike protein antibodies bind the virus and increase infection (the Bat Lady published a nice paper on ADE and increased coronavirus infection). The same thing happens four months or so after vaccination; the spike protein antibodies fade and no longer protect; ADE occurs increasing chance of Covid infection and death. The CDC found that by April 2022 most Covid deaths were in the vaccinated; they quit counting (or publishing) vaccinated vs unvaccinated by August 2022. Most Covid deaths (two-thirds) occurred after the vaccine rollouts (imagine if that had happened with new vaccines in children). No one under age 50 should have received the Covid vaccine, the majority of Covid deaths were in those over age 80, and the Japanese data suggests those might have been better off without the vax. (and this is ignoring adverse effects of the vaccines).
Virtually everyone who was unvaccinated eventually got superior natural infection immunity. Probably most had been infected with common cold coronaviruses and had partial immunity due to cross reactivity of broad natural infective immunity (some scientists toyed with the idea of giving mild coronaviruses similar to an attenuated viral vaccine). Gazit et al with a massive database showed that natural infective immunity was 27-fold more effective in preventing symptomatic Covid (and probably death) than the Pfizer double jab; other investigators with much smaller populations of subjects saw qualitatively the same results. While antibodies also fade with natural immunity and are no longer very protective against coronaviruses (like the spike protein antibodies from mRNA vaccines, low titers are still easily measurable and show who has been infected) natural immunity involves long lasting cellular immunities and mucosal immunities, even to mutated SARS-CoV2 variants, which makes natural infection immunity much better than spike protein immunity.
So you might ask, since all the vaccinated also were eventually infected with Covid (Biden at least three times after six vaccinations, still lying about the vaccines protecting “grannies” and mandating their use), don’t they get the benefits of natural infection immunity? Not necessarily. There is a very important immunological concept known as Original Antigenic Sin (OAS). So if the vaccinated survive Covid outbreaks for the month or two while their immunity to the original Wuhan strain of Spike Protein matures, rechallenge by SARS-CoV2 viral infection throws up more protective Wuhan strain spike protein antibodies (thus selecting for mutated ‘escape’ strains). While the broader (lots more viral antigens mean lots more protective immunities) viral infection immunity means much more cross-reactivity to evolving SARS-CoV2 strains, the vaccinated will just throw up largely ineffective Wuhan spike protein antibodies each time they are infected. New spike protein vaccines help briefly but just select for more mutated strains which quickly escape the Spike Protein antibodies.
Obviously Fauci either didn’t understand basic immunological concepts (he worked most of his career on a failed AIDS vaccine) or both he and the CDC dismissed ADE, OAS and natural infection immunity. That seems unlikely. There was clearly another agenda at play, and why the US has the 14th highest Covid death rate of about 220 countries (worldometers.info). Follow the money?
Pardoned his whole family? I missed that one. Did he pardon himself too?
Yes, indirectly - all investigations of most of the gang of a-holes have become much more challenging.
Matt and Walter are absolutely on fire - best ATW ever by far. More of the same, please.
I suppose I'd prefer it if Walter let Matt get a couple of words in edgewise.
Agreed! But Matt still managed to say more with less, imho. The pardons are next level madness - but, as Matt ruefully reminded us, entirely predictable.
Glenn Greenwald has Michael Tracey on a lot, who can also get excitable. But he seems to be able to manage him.
Not himself or, from what I saw, Jill.
It's like he came out and said, my family is a corrupt pack of grifters. Nyah nyah.
And the J6 committee is a flaming pack of liars.
Adam Schiff said a week or 2 ago that he'd decline a pardon if offered. Let's see if that happens.
Bill said he'd talk to Joe about a pardon for Hillary. Looks like it didn't happen.
He will be dead soon. And Dr. Jill, isn't Hunter an attorney? She has free rep.
As expected, lots of kvetching here about the Biden pardons, not a peep about pardons issued to people literally convicted of attacking police officers and guilty of seditious conspiracy (if you don't know what this, look it up). Way to 'back the blue', folks.
And before you start with the false equivalencies, note that 14k people have been arrested in connection with the BLM riots, and not pardoned.
You see *this* is why I have called Trump and you guys authoritarian in your instincts, and claim that you have been radicalized by the current POTUS--and he is busy validating my diagnosis.
If someone is arrested but then the charges are dropped by the DA, they don't need a pardon, do they?
In your view, but you see black as white and up as down so when it comes to false equivalents you are the master. BLM committed violent acts everywhere before and after the capitol protests which was peaceful compared to BLM or ANTIFA and the agents and cops supposedly protecting the capitol committed murder, mayhem and acts of terrorism. The J6 crowd did what, asshole?
PS- not a huge Lynch fan- did like the video for Wicked Game.
Biden will be remembered as a good president, and historians will continue their assessment of convicted felon, traitor and blustering narcissist Donald Trump as the worst ever. This in spite of Taibbi's hit pieces against Biden and his silence in the face of Trump's crimes past and future.
There have to be some limits placed on blanket pardons? What if we later learn that one of the people pardoned by Biden today is a serial killer? Is that person off the hook? What if a President promised pardons to everyone in his or her administration? Is the Executive branch now above the law? I hope to see some analysis on what limits are or can be placed over blanket pardons. Also, isn't it true that persons pardoned by the President can still be sued civilly for damages. So, even with the pardon, couldn't someone injured by the vaccine or someone victimized by law-fare still sue for civil damages?
But that is just it
These aren’t pardons they are amnesties.
A pardon is given when some has committed a crime and they are charged and found guilty.
You cannot pardon someone who hasn’t even been charged with a crime?
Hunter could be pardoned for the crimes he’s charged with but not for everything he’s done in 11 years?
These are amnesties and I’m not aware that the USA law allows for blanket amnesties?
The Trump justice dept should at least look into it.
There is no truth without reconciliation just as there cannot be a pardon until the crimes are exposed.
Yes, I am hoping we see some analysis from legal scholars on this. It seems common sense that there be limitations on the power to pardon.
From what I read earlier, they are basing this on Ford pardoned Nixon with no charges.
However, I also read that for someone to accept a pardon they also accept they were guilty, even though Biden stated that the pardon should not imply guilt. Of course, he also decreed on the way out the door that ERA should be considered passed. No Constitutional process required.
He also didn't say if that placed transfemales over cis-females, so who knows.
And Musk gave a Nazi salute.
Trump and Musk are NAZIs.
Biden did what was necessary to save his family from the incoming NAZIS.
We are ignoring you
Thanks Glitterpuppy
Go ahead, but know that TRUMP AND MUSK ARE NAZIS.
You are a NAZI.
If you can be a Nazi and sleep at night, go right ahead. You are destroying every single good and decent thing on Earth.
Karen, you must know that vulnerable narcissist feminists like you in control of the Democrat party are why Trump and Republicans won.
What evidence leads you to call this woman a “vulnerable narcissist feminist”? What does that even mean? Apply to all women? Or just women who have an opinion?
You must be new here.
Ironically you comment is that of a vulnerable narcissist. You imply the nasty claim that I am a misogynist while shrinking for protection by also claiming a protected class "female" identity. That is a common behavior of all bitter vagitarians.
Here are your traits:
Hypersensitivity: They are highly sensitive to criticism, rejection, and perceived slights.
Insecurity: They may feel insecure and have low self-esteem.
Need for validation: They crave constant praise and attention from others.
Difficulty handling rejection: They may struggle to cope with failure or rejection.
Emotional manipulation: They may use manipulation to gain attention or sympathy.
Self-pity: They may engage in self-pity to reinforce their victim mentality.
Difficulty maintaining relationships: They may have trouble forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
Lack of empathy: They may lack empathy or use empathy to build their own self-worth.
Passive aggressive behavior: They may exhibit passive aggressive behavior.
Projection: They may use projection as a defense mechanism to regulate anxiety.
Interpersonal coldness: They may appear cold and hostile in their interactions with others.
Trump will give you your fondest wish and declare the 19th Amendment repealed. He’s already abrogated the 14th, so why shouldn’t he do wha all his male supporters want and revoke all women’s citizenship?
Your posts here certainly make repealing the 19th a much more enticing proposition
Taibbi and his lapdog haven't seen real censorship yet
No they haven’t.
Musk is not a Nazi and neither is Trump. That's a pretty desperate comment.
Libs: Elon is clearly a Nazi, believe your own eyes (with selective editing)!
Also libs: Biden is not decrepit and demented, don't believe your own eyes!
It's unbelievable how much Racket News is willing to ignore. When are they going to talk about the very real threats on the right? I thought Matt was not a partisan hack! I'm willing to criticize the Dems or I wouldn't be a paying subscriber. But -- if they do not start covering the ROT in the GOP soon, I will be so disappointed. Where are the real independent news sources? Trump's MEME Coin? Zucks MAGA transformation now censoring things like @sharonsaysso's MLK post. Matt has done great work on media transparency in the past. I implore him to hold Republicans accountable to the same standards. I cannot bear the thought of yet another respected public figure betraying their supposed values when push comes to shove. If anyone knows of any truly independent NON PARTISAN news sources, please lmk.
Careful, Karen is a Nazi.
Is it her actions or the fuzz on her upper lip?
Yeah 2024 might be the fall of Taibbi and Kirn.
It used to be that you could count on them to call out illiberalism on both the right and the left. Now it's call out the illiberal actions of some leftists and then ignore Trump's much more stridently authoritarian behavior.
Lots of talk about oligarchy, barely a peep about Musk playing co-president and becoming the nation's richest man by funding Trump's re-election. Outrage about press freedom but a shrug of the shoulders at Trump suing the press and ABC bending the knee, much less his lawsuit against Anne Selzer for publishing a poll Trump didn't like. (But Matt had time for another rant about 'Russiagate', despite having already enough words on the issue to put Tolstoy and War and Peace to shame lol)
I'd put the odds of a sober look at pardoning someone like Enrique Tarrio--and the very real parallels to fascist leaders erecting legal protections for massive numbers of violent supporters to establish de facto paramilitaries, Brown Shirts style--at zero right now.
I don't know if Taibbi and Kirn explicitly identify themselves as part of the authoritarian right, but they are acting exactly how tools of the authoritarian right would act, intentionally or not. It's depressing to watch, much less read.
"I don't know if Taibbi and Kirn explicitly identify themselves as part of the authoritarian right"
Yes you do, and you know the answer is "no". Quit with the feigned outrage.
Historically it’s been no, but both have changed their attitudes quite a lot and Taibbi is a long way from the guy who wrote ‘Hate, Inc.’, so who knows it’s possible somewhere along the line they jumped ship. I doubt it, though. I think they’re just blinded to the fact that they’re functionally supporting the authoritarian right.
Aw, and you'll be so disappointed when Matt & Walter continue.
I love the fact that you're all tetchy over the release of Enrique Tarrio.
Cope and seethe, Minsky, cope and seethe.
Enrique Tarrio is a thug who leads a gang of thugs and who committed violent crimes. Why are ypu celebrating his release?
Sad but true. It’s so disappointing. Hilarious about Russiagate. Like WE GET IT. That accusation did not end up being supported. It was years ago and never really took off. People were concerned but there was no there there. NOW WHAT ABOUT MUSK and his censorship? What about Meta bending the knee? How will ttump admin use censorship on social media to their advantage? Inquiring minds want to know.
Russiagate "never really took off"?????
That is hilarious!
I STILL see Dems claiming that Trump is being controlled by Putin.
Many Dems are fundamentally incapable of ever admitting that they were wrong about anything.
If you are a person engaged in actual critical thinking, I think you can both admit A.) some collusion did go on, as the Mueller Report affirmed, and B.) the extent of that collusion and Russian operations were hugely exaggerated. Someone whose memory extends beyond Trump would also note that this manner of 'scandal-inflation' was pioneered and presaged before Trump arrived, in the Benghazi investigation.
The issue, as another poster here mentioned, is that Walter and Matt are not subjecting Trump, the oligarchs of his inner circle, and the Republican party to the same criticism they rightly subjected Biden and the Dems to. It is not the impartial, non-partisan criticism their independent, non-partisan readers have come to expect and respect, and it furthers the cause of illiberalism. Good, fair-minded critics are part of what keeps authoritarianism in check.
I don't think most independent thinkers who follow Matt Taibbi are still looking for a pee tape or whatever. We simply want to know that Racket will subject the Trump/Musk party to the same standards of incisive reporting.
Yes, Russiagate took off like Bezo's rocket. Phizz, bang then nothing there. Such projection on your part.
THANK YOU!!!!
Walter has been a little extreme lately. I can relate to his expressions on at least one of my shoulders. I do think they will continue to be even handed. I’ve seen little evidence to the contrary. I suggest leveeing the same standard for CNN and others. Just continuous intellectual dishonesty. They’ll make mistakes, but you could do worse than smart, honest, thoughtful and funny analysis.
I definitely question MSM as well. But Walter is off the rails lately, like questioning the Luigi shooting as a false flag? Real tinfoil hat shit.
I look forward to Taibbi’s blubbering praise of all of Trump’s executive orders today, especially the one abrogating the 14th Amendment and the one canceling flights rescuing Afghan refugees from the Taliban.
The 14th amendment wasn't abrogated. However, the interpretation of his EO will surely make it's way up the the supreme court, and I for one will be interested to hear the arguments from both sides. If you're going to complain about presidents usurping power through executive order, the 14th is a strange hill to die on, considering how both parties have continually sh*t on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th, and probably others for quite some time. Who cares if the CIA and FBI spy on you daily and censor the news-- illegal immigrants have the right to anchor babies! So long as they vote the right way! Tell me, Karen, now that Trump is in power, is it okay for him to order Elon and Zuck to take your posts down as the Biden administration has done? Can Donald ask Chase and BofA to de-bank you as the Biden administration has done? Do you want to have a gun when the nazis come knocking at your door? Why the selective outrage? In your version of the constitution, which amendments besides the 14th matter?
I honestly doubt you care about the constitution or even knew what the 14th amendment was until you received your new programming. It's all about scoring points, isn't it, Karen?
Birthright citizenship is in the plain text of the 14 th Amendment and was affirmed in ‘United States v Wong Kim Ark’ in 1898. (Same Court that issued noted Wokeness ‘Plessy v Ferguson’ in 1896.) It’s a 127 year-old precedent.
Don't you think Karen is here as a supporter of Racket News because she does care about the violations of speech and the suppression of information on the left? I know that is what led me and my wife and others I know to Taibbi's reporting. Yet, now that we are here, we are noticing a conspicuous absence of reporting about the encroachments on the right and we are hoping that they will apply the same standards to both parties.
No, I don't think Karen cares, nor do I think she wishes to support Matt. She just called him a Nazi, do you think Karen supports Nazis? I have found that people who spend all of their time vocally caring about the rights of others generally don't care about the rights of others and have ulterior motives. It wouldn't surprise me if Karen in some way makes a living off of her fake caring. I have seen nothing but muck-flinging, name calling, and the endless bleating of recycled talking points from Karen. If you have some examples of he/she/it/xe standing up for free speech, condemning warrantless FISA surveillance, or railing against online censorship, etc, please share some links. Perhaps I missed them. One tends to start auto filtering with so much name calling.
I think he/she/it/xir is most likely either a bot or an employee from some political group/partisan nonprofit that's paid to disrupt discussions and sow discord. He/She/It could also be a troll, in it for the lolz.
You are aware of Taibbi's long standing criticism of the right aren't you? This includes writing a book about Trump called "Insane Clown President". Those of us who have been following Taibbi for 10-20+ years have absolutely no concerns about him. Perhaps you should spend a little more time reading his past works if you are in doubt.
Projecting is another sign of mental illness, Karen.
Exactly, “cosmo kat.” So stop doing it if you want to be taken more seriously.
Exactly what, telling the truth? I don't need advice from a self-centered clown like you.
As for non-partisan, there aren’t any. Your best bet is to start reading Democrat and feminist sites. I recommend Lyz Lenz’s ‘Men Yell At Me’ for starters
Matt is a Nazi. Matt always hated women. He only cares about HIS right to insult women and wants to see his opponents arrested and shot.
Okay well calling Matt a Nazi is nuts and just makes left-leaning people look bad. I have not seen anything to suggest that he's antisemitic. I have questioned his interest in and respect for women but that's just based on the fact that his reporting tends to disproportionately object to specific women. I was glad to see him feature Sacha Stone's story recently.
Yeah I second this. I've become critical of Matt's recent turn, but he's not a Nazi, that's ridiculous. Nor have I ever seen anything to suggest he's a bigot. There are some instances lately where he's gone a little 'too easy' on people that *are* unreconstructed bigots, but I don't get the sense it's because he holds any kind of bigoted beliefs on a personal level, and there's lots of evidence that the opposite is true.
Taibbi has definite fascist sympathies.
Sacha Stone is much farther along the road to fascism.
"Taibbi has definite fascist sympathies."
Bwahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaaa!
Yes, are you starting to see why everyone here dismisses Karen's rants? If you made yourself a little more familiar with her nonsense before posting you'd probably save everyone a lot of time. She really does just post insane nonsense and is completely immune to any counter argument or evidence.
No thank you to the invitation to spend a lot of my time reviewing a commenter’s history commenting on past posts before I respond to a comment on a present post— for the ostensible purpose of “saving everyone a lot of time.” I tend to pick up pretty quickly when people are immune to counter argument or evidence, so no need to waste time holding my hand through the process. Ad hominem attacks inserted into an intellectual argument are usually the first giveaway.
Prove it.
Show us where Matt EVER expressed a desire to "see his opponents arrested and shot."
Karen, stop being a Karen, it’s not a good look.
You support Trump. You have no moral authority on anything. If you didn’t hate me I would rethink all my life’s decisions.
You have no morals let alone authority, you have mental illness.
What threats from the right? Be specific. Perhaps the time you spend alone, deeply depressed are the real threats you are imagining coming from the right.
Are you okay? You seem unable or unwilling to discuss topics without resorting to personal insults. There is no indication that anyone posting in this thread is "depressed and alone." We are discussing the reporting of Racket News who we all apparently follow as paid subscribers, as I believe that is the only way you can comment here. Why not stick to the topic at hand? In the event your comment was directed towards me personally you can rest assured that I have been happily married to my wife for 20 years. We have two kids ages 17 and 15 and a broad community of family, friends, neighbors, and professional relationships. My wife and I are both lawyers; we coach the public school debate team, and we are involved in our Bar organizations and loosely our church. We own homes in California and Colorado and enjoy traveling around the world. I am not lonely; however, loneliness is an epidemic especially for younger men and we are attentive to this as we send our son off to Columbia university next year, hopeful that he does not isolate in the cold weather and grow depressed. But enough about my identity. Do you think that Matt and Walter will scrutinize the relationship between the Trump administration and Musk/X and the effect that entanglement might have on speech? Do you hope that they do, or do you not care? Are you comfortable with the level of money in politics in 2025? Do you support Trump's wealth generating meme coin? It would be great to discuss issues without attacking personal identities.
I decided to return to your biography post as an issues argument. You wrote: "When are they going to talk about the very real threats on the right?"
I asked you to specify what real threats. You ignored that simple request then began trolling comments of mine unrelated to your post and my question. You began your self-serving bio describing your wealth accumulation history with what appeared to be a passive/aggressive shallow inquiry into my mental state as if you are latter day Dr. Ruth. You are not asking me about issues you are moaning about Matt and Walt as if these are big policy issues of the day. I suspect both will treat the daily news as they see fit and if they don't agree with your fantasy ideology, that's just too bad. By the way why does what Trump's wealth got to do with the issues of Walt and Matt given your proclivity to braggadacio of your own? Would like like to discuss Zhou Baidan's corruption as a wealth accumulation scheme? Dude, your an ass!
Karen wandered off the Godwin Law asylum. Somebody help her. I hear there is room where old Joe will be getting his care.
So, touching your heart is a Nazi salute. Karen you are the ultimate Karen.
You ARE joking
These are not "Pardons". They are "Immunity". Hope Trump DOJ challemges them. I know there is some president but that could change!!
David Lynch's films were like ice cream, there are no bad flavors.
Hands down, The Straight Story is one of my all time favorite films and a big departure from what I'd come to expect from him.
Lynch raise $100m dollars and spoke w 1 million students worldwide in last 20 years about transcendental meditation. There was a 10 global minute TM celebration at 10 EST today. Kind of Lynch like timing.
What about his version of Dune?
I have watched every film adaptation of dune and i believe David lynch did it best. Even taking into account the creative fuckery that ripped his vision from his hands. The acting in the villeneuve version is so limp it’s pathetic and makes the lynch version sparkle in comparison.
I liked Lynch's Dune.
I still do, even after watching the Villenueve versions a 2nd time. Just better special effects now. Sting was a really fun Harkkonnen. And Lynch didn’t change Chani’s character from the book. That’s what bothered me the most with the new ones.
Yes, I’m not liking the Chani character arc.
She was cooler in the books.
David Lynch would disagree with you.
I can live with that.
Walter is correct re the billionaires. Those are OUR billionaires, Matt. Do you know how happy I am to see the Founder club types be on our team? I'm so happy to see Bessent, Musk, et al at the table. If you note, these are all people who built something. Conservatives are aspirational. We are not envious. That is the other team. And I appreciate Walter's righteous anger at what has happened during the corrupt Biden admin, and the media flacks who covered for them.
No, he is not correct.
They are not your billionaires--there is no such thing, unless you are helping the billionaire in acquiring power. That is because billionaires do not care about normal people and their interests. They are in it to beat other billionaires in the acquisition of power, and if you are smashed underfoot all the better to them.
Also, he hangs around with the smartest people in the world, which I believe was mentioned today. But additionally, the choice implicitly refutes the ubiquitous idea that only stupid people support Trump.
Any chance you'd be willing to take on the Fauci pardon in the livestream? That one has me more bugged than any of the rest of the preemptive pardons! I'm trying to come up with some plausible motive for Biden to issue this "pardon" and I can't seem to come up with one.
The Covid episode can still be investigated. What bothers me more is Biden preemptively pardoning his entire family. I noticed Jill wasn't in the list.
Because they are a mafia. If not for Fauci playing along during COVID, the 2020 election wouldn’t have been so easy to steal. So he had to be protected so future partisans don’t go off the reservation.I hope there will be investigations anyway. Not to mention challenges to all his actions given his senility.
I just watched an incredible documentary on Tucker Carlson's site on Fauci. Aside from whether the blanket "get out of jail free pass" is Constitutional, I heard one commentary today that goes like this- Call them to testify and if they lie, charge them with perjury. They have no reason to take the fifth because of the pardon, so they have to answer the questions and if they lie, charge them. But I still think a pardon needs to be for at least charged crimes or delineated potential crimes. I know others, including Nixon, got somewhat blanket pardons but no one bothered to challenge them for a variety of reasons....too old, long national nightmare over, not worth using prosecutorial resources etc. Maybe that is what they will use here. Tony Fauci ought to stay away from Florida though.
Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon probably cost him the Presidency. And Ford did it to heal the nation.
The Biden family pardonfest is breathtaking. As for Fauci. Oh no. The multimillionaire that he is; it would be unfair for him to have hire an attorney. After killing all those people. Those people, alone. Cut off from their families. Because Dr. Fauci said it had to be that way. You go, Rand Paul.
Listened to prof. Dershowitz on this subject of pardons. He says there is no going back on pardons, and they are legal, based on history
Fauci must be hung. Yes, by the neck, and on national television.
While I doubt my comment here will become a movement, I genuinely mean this. I don't believe it's possible for this country to reclaim its sanity without a reckoning of the man who architected that insanity.
Every single day I am baffled that the line of thinking is not like this: Fauci is responsible for the deaths of more people than Hitler, but a bit less than Stalin, ranking him #2 in the most evil human beings that have ever lived. HOW THE FUCK IS THIS MAN WALKING FREE? The amount of destruction just in my personal life alone would warrant a life sentence for the monster. This country cannot have a viable future if we cannot get our values straight. Imagine a post-war Germany with Hitler bumming around like nothing ever happened. People always exclaim, how could the Germans have allowed this to happen? Well, look around right now, that's the answer. If 0.01% of what I've read about him is true (including primary sources and his own emails), it would warrant execution.
I'm also infuriated. But perhaps there are others who can be held responsible for the lies and corruption
Investigate Fauci anyway. Publish all of his malfeasance for us to see
Not to mention all the pardon to Biden’s family. SMH.
Oddly enough, I’d actually like to hear what Matt has to say……tired of the interrupting raging voice……
Seriously. The only time I listen to Walter these days is about literature. He seems to be out in la la land.
I might have been shouting at my phone today 'shut up Kirn!'. I don't care so much about what he says but yes, I want to hear the rest of Taibbi's thoughts...
I was going to count how many times I was irritated by interruptions but I can't be bothered. Turned the show off.
I love his insights and dry wit but geeze! And the more worked up he gets the raspier his voice gets…..I’m certain he’s a nice guy and I’ve heard him even apologize for interrupting but then he just keeps doing it. I’m surprised he doesn’t seem to feel bad for constantly cutting Matt off. I’ve shouted too and today did turn it off — for the first time. Somehow I know he’ll rein himself in tonight on Gutfeld.
He’s not a “nice” guy.
Walter is an arrogant blowhard who constantly tells his American audience what it is that Americans think. I can't imagine something more arrogant and narcissistic than constantly interrupting your co-host to correct them on what his own audience TRULY thinks which Walter knows with perfect clarity because Walter is King America.
Sick of his nonsense prattle washed in sappy midwestern romanticism. Actually repulsive, and I say this as a Midwesterner who lives in a city of under 30,000.
Yeah, Walter has lost the objective here. His lean is so far over. I wonder if Walter will ever critique Trump? Walter gets so defensive when Matt posits any potential negative.
Absolutely. He is more of a hack every week.
Blue Velvet.
Also, Lynch doesn't know it, but he helped me quit smoking. Read an interview with him a couple weeks before i quit. Bit more between A and B there, but if i see him on the other side i owe him one.
God, Walter, you assertion about government being inept and private enterprise doing a better job at providing services is ahistorical. The reasons roads suck is because federal funding was cut off or severly reduced for maintaining the roads. In the case of WI. which boasted the best secondary roads in the country, 'tax cuts' beginning, with Lee Dreyfus, cut off funds. The federal government could have brought broadband to all of the country if it incentivesed providers to go into rural America and do the fucking job. Again, that requires $ which is hoarded by the DOD. So, you are stuck with star link (which you clearly love).
Yes, the Dems are barking up the wrong tree focusing on billionaires. We all know they are too stupid to live. Matt's point, however, no matter how often you interrupt him, is correct. At some point a movement will arise because tax cuts for rich people means bad roads, bad schools, reduction in social benefits, and no internet.
The private sector 'heros' will be exposed for the money grubbing pieces of shit that they are. Maybe an Uber rich oligarch (class traitor) will become the next FDR.
None of the above happens without a broad based mass movement. In the 30's it was unions who led to the creation of of that movement. Looks like unions must stand up and lead now.
I don't see how continued high taxation on the wealthy will solve anything.
Money isn't the problem; a wise allocation of resources is the problem.
I agree that we should be wary of wealthy people who manage to snag a lot of government contracts.
It is possible that they may be able to come up with more creative approaches to solving problems than bureaucrats will, though.
I am much more upset over Congress Critters ignoring the wishes of their constituents in favor of doing whatever their donors want.
Agree about congressional reps voting their districts not their donors. Taxing the rich increases $ for roads and public services. The US government built the federal highway system. Uber Wealthy ($200k) paid 91% on income made that year. Even 50% rate, plus tax on investments would make a difference
So you think people who make $200k should pay 50% to the feds? Is that before or after they pay state and local taxes?
Whoever is building the roads, ev stations, dams whatever should be held accountable with regular open book reports on progress and costs.
Shellenbergers reports on how money flows in CA with no progress on water reservoirs voted on, and how pols hand money for homeless projects to friends and family is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether it is government spending or NGOs spending without public scrutiny they will all skim off the top.
My god, the military hasn't passed 7 audits. That should make the media scream like their hair's on fire. I suppose now that a republican is in the wh that may happen.
That is perhaps why the founders envisioned decisions would be made more locally with the federal government handling details involving other countries, defense etc. Things that required national attention.
Of course, Biden administrations insistence that all contracts had to go to properly equity delineated companies may have had something to do with things not getting done on time, on budget, or getting done at all. It's pretty hard to find enough POC companies who might have the needed skills for some technical project in some states. NOT because POC can't do the job, just that in some states the percentage of companies that are POC headed is very low. Just adds a layer of complexity that adds to the costs and headaches
Please note that those taxes applied when $200k was an enormous amount of money. Please account for inflation which i should have done.
Totally agree that CA is a cesspool under both Dems & Repubs.
I do not know enough about the contracting business you describe. What i do know, the standard use to be goals & timetables based on the local population, which took into account the circumstances you described.
I hear your frustration
Sure it would make a difference: bureaucrats would have more money to blow on BS projects. They can't even spend the money they have now in a responsible manner, so I have no faith in them to do better with more money. Voters need to demand better utilization of resources, not simply demand that taxes continue to rise.
Do you personally know any public sector bureaucrats? It strikes me that you don't. Reagan demonized public sector workers and, unfortunately, it stuck as you so clearly believe.
I do know some bureaucrats and they are serious people who do serious work per their mandate.
No one goes into public service to waste their time and sabotage government programs. They don't get paid enough, nor are they inclined to do it.
Public employees enter government to do good work. Are there rules and regulations that impede quick action? Yes. Those rules & regs come about due to malfeasance on the part of elected officials and private sector actors.
I worked for a public library system and was able to observe the effects of no accountability, abysmal management, slacking coworkers, and a bloated, non-responsive administration at close range.
I have occasionally encountered a bureaucrat who was knowledgeable & willing to help, but those were the exceptions.
When I qualified for Medicare, I only had insurance for about 6 months, due to a glitch between Medicare and Social Security. Premiums continued to be deducted from my benefits, but I had no coverage. I made multiple phone calls, filed a report with the Office of the Inspector General, and sent a snail mail letter to Social Security. Neither the report nor the letter were ever replied to. I encountered a total of 3 workers at Medicare/Social Security who were able to tell me what had happened, but they didn't have the ability to fix it. Most of the workers with whom I spoke were disinterested, baffled, and displayed absolutely no empathy. During all those months, I was unable to schedule a mammogram, get new glasses, or receive any medical care at all.
Nobody ever even bothered to let me know the issue had been fixed, & I only found out by making another phone call during Open Enrollment.
And now, as the cherry on top, I've been notified that I must pay a penalty for the rest of my life for having gone without prescription drug coverage for more than 90 days, or whatever.
You really can't make this stuff up.
Pardon my skepticism toward government workers, but it did come from life experience, not from anything Reagan said.
OMG!!! Your experience is an outrage and certainly explains alot. Fortunately, I have not been subjected to that treatment.
Did you have the opportunity to reach out to your Congress Member or Senator to run interference on this?
There are no words for what you went through.
Do include those "public sector bureaucrats" that thought it was worthwhile to spend $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland. (Ireland can't afford to produce their own DEI musicals?)
More examples
$1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”
$2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
$47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia
$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations — even AFTER an inspector general launched an investigation
Millions to EcoHealth Alliance — which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab
“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
Funding to print “personalized” contraceptives birth control devices in developing countries
Hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban
Non of these expenditures do anything to advance AMERICAN interests.
Progressive liberal democrats agenda perhaps but we should not be paying for that!
Yep. Mike Benz flushed out why that $ was spent: https://x.com/TCNetwork/status /1887218996912459842
Good thoughts. Private companies and public unions have taken advantage of a less scrupulous government in more recent history. Privatization of the heath care system is a quiet abomination. We have a low grade corporate kleptocracy right now. I think Matt drew the line well today with we don’t hate success as long as there is progress and value. Government no longer has incentives to go back to what you accurately recall but the alternative is currently their benefactors.
Please be specific about how public employees have screwed things up.
What you said. ("Like" links here don't work for me.)
Probably Twin Peaks and even more specifically Twin Peaks The Return. So, so good, and I’m bummed that we will never have another return.
Yup , the movie really did work
Roger Ebert, who really didn't 'get' Lynch until late in the game finally got it with Mulholland drive: <<David Lynch has been working toward “Mulholland Drive” all of his career, and now that he’s arrived there I forgive him “Wild at Heart” and even “Lost Highway.” At last his experiment doesn’t shatter the test tubes.>> There was nothing wrong with Wild at Heart, but Lost Highway was impenetrable to me, a Lynch fan since the original art-house run of Eraserhead. However, after watching Mulholland Drive -- more than one time -- I was able to watch Lost Highway, with some appreciation, if not pleasure. RIP, David. You'll haunt my dreams.
I admired both Roger Ebert and David Lynch. Ebert approached films with an emphasis on narrative storytelling. While Lynch approached films with an emphasis on emotional impact, with narrative logic being an afterthought. Ebert gave positive reviews to Eraserhead, The Straight Story, and Mulholland Drive, which I agree are his three best films.
Blue Velvet
I love it when Walter gets going. I always feel relieved, like he has said all the things I want to scream at people. Keep ranting!
Disappointed there was no mention of Melania Trump showing up as a full on gangster babe, wearing an outfit that said: I am hotter than you, richer than you and more powerful than you - fuck off Resistance.
I think you misunderstand - I was giving her my highest compliment. I absolutely love Melania!
Well I apologize! I know little about her, but I remember when the NYTIMES trashed her for requesting privacy and not granting an interview. The commentariat went all out to trash Trump for seeking attention and then Melania for the opposite. Then they trashed me for pointing this out.
Is it offensive that a woman is slender, graceful, and well dressed?
It's offensive to me because I couldn't pull it off ;-)
Bwahahahahaa!
The Inaugural Address alone will give you plenty to talk about.
One would think..... They seem to avoid Trump/Musk. Did you see Matt's email to Musk that Matt recently published where he's all -- "what's wrong Elon? I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT YOU..." Did he make that promise to Trump too?
I love Walter’s tirades tonight!
Walter, may you shine tonight as you usually do...
There is a 100% chance that Milley and many Generals failed to follow Trump directives and actively worked to undermine him, Syria is the most obvious.