The Death Of Putin May 12, 2026May 9, 2026 MAKE MEASLES GREAT AGAIN They Fired the People Who Would Save You A cruise ship. Three dead. A gutted CDC. And a paramedic in Florida who knows exactly what went wrong. THE DEATH OF PUTIN This is fanciful but fascinating and hopeful and exciting.
Netanyahu And Trump May 11, 2026May 9, 2026 NETANYAHU AND TRUMP ‘They have screwed each other pretty badly’: tensions emerge in Netanyahu-Trump alliance “He told Trump: ‘The Iranian economy is in shambles. The people are on the precipice of revolt. The Revolutionary Guards are losing control. Life in Iran is intolerable. This is our time,’” Pinkas said. “‘What we could do together is bring down the regime … think that together, jointly, we can win the war in three, four days.’” According to multiple reports, US intelligence and military officials stressed the risk that Iran could attack US allies in the Gulf and close the strait of Hormuz. But Netanyahu – and US administration hawks including the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth – prevailed, arguing that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were overrated and would not have the strength to hit back. They were proved wrong on every count. 86 THE SEASHELLS Blanche Is Bluffing. An interesting essay on how prosecutions usually work. Back when the rule of law was taken as a serious thing. EPSTEIN Well? Are the Republicans, who control all three branches of government, ready to stop protecting powerful pedophiles? CIAO BELLA! If all goes according to plan, I am “abroad” as you read this. If some amazing thing happens this week and you find me posting about “the happiest cities in America” — or not posting at all — it’s because I haven’t been able to figure out the Internet. Rest assured, I will extend your subscription to make up for any lost days.
I Don’t Blame Them A Bit For Not Paying More Than The Tax Code Requires May 9, 2026May 8, 2026 OPRT Thursday’s earnings call left the market underwhelmed. The stock barely budged. And admittedly, there was a lot in the numbers to ponder. But I continue to think the new CEO — barely three weeks on the job — may deliver a strong win. If earnings hit $2 in the next year or three, and the stock sold at 15X earnings, shares would be trading at $30, not $5.75. And since you bought yours only with money you can truly afford to lose . . . and at perhaps as little as half its current price . . . I’d suggest just sitting tight. ARE YOU SOCIALLY LIBERAL BUT FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE? Then, with the U.S. deficit projected to hit $2 trillion, double fiscal target and Republicans controlling all three branches of government, I would argue that you must be a Democrat. It was Reagan, Bush 43, and Trump who’ve done the most to get us into this National Debt quicksand. Mostly, they did it by overdoing tax cuts for those who needed them least.* It was Bill Clinton who famously left his successor a surplus . . . Barack Obama who left his successor, Trump 1.0, a National Debt shrinking relative to the economy as a whole . . . and Biden who averted a Covid-induced financial collapse / global depression — averting even the widely predicted recession — and handing his successor a growing economy and inflation of just 2.7%.** Two no-brainers for shrinking the deficit: (1) Adequately fund the IRS to collect the taxes due. (2) Close loopholes and raise rates modestly on billionaires and billionheirs — while making it clear every time the subject arises that, in the main, we celebrate their achievements and admire their success, wish them well, appreciate their numerous good works (truly) . . . and don’t blame them a bit for not paying more tax than the tax code requires. It’s just that the tax code has gotten out of whack, and it’s tearing our country apart. Join the Patriotic Millionaires if you are one (annual income $1M+ or new worth $5M+) . . . or support their proposals if you believe the playing field has been tilted a little too far in their favor. THE LINE OF SUCCESSION This is the kind of thing — Our Perilous Succession Process — that, because it’s not urgent (until it is), isn’t likely to go anywhere anytime soon. But Norm Ornstein and Thurgood Marshall, Jr. make a compelling case that it should. Catnip for the historians in the crowd. * The Debt was 30% of GDP at the beginning of the Depression, 41% at the beginning of World War II, 122% in 1946, at the end of the war . . . and then fell gradually back to 30% by 1981 when Reagan began cutting taxes for the rich. Sensibly, at first, but then by too much. Made worse by Bush 43 and now Trump. **In hindsight it’s pretty clear that Biden overdid the Covid stimulus; but underdoing it, I believe, would have been far worse.
Imagine . . . May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 IMAGINE IF THIS HAD BEEN HUNTER BIDEN The US Air Force is buying interceptor drones from Powerus, a Florida company partly owned by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. The president’s sons profit directly from a defense contract awarded by their father’s administration. The commander in chief signs the procurement reforms, the Pentagon writes the checks, and his sons cash them. All of this is troubling enough. But hell, as it turns out, has a basement. And a subbasement. And a parking garage. Read in full . . . but not before bedtime. IMAGINE IF JOE BIDEN HAD DONE THIS EVEN ONCE Post by @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social — Bluesky He’s now nodded off multiple times in front of an audience in the Oval Office. But I haven’t heard the corporate media mention it once. Imagine if Joe Biden had done this even once?! It’s mind-boggling! IMAGINE Imagine a day where we take Ukraine’s side over Putin’s, as we once did. Where we contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions with years of painstaking diplomacy that end with a multi-national Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as we also once did. Where we somehow regain our standing as the civilized world’s indispensable nation — not its widely reviled bully. Where medical research is not abruptly cut off . . . climate leadership is not ceded to China . . . billionaires are celebrated for their achievements — but taxed . . . billionheirs are celebrated for their parents’ and grandparents’ achievements — but taxed. Where “public service” is not a grift but a calling. Where civility and competence, compassion and integrity are once again the norms to which those at the highest levels of government aspire.
Of Dead Journalists And Iran May 6, 2026May 6, 2026 JOURNALISTS A Senate candidate was recently asked for his views on Gaza. He gave a long, nuanced answer. A better answer, one of the guests suggested — when out on the campaign trail, at least — would be, simply: “I love Israel. I hate Netanyahu.” It came to mind as I watched Nick Kristof lament the killing of Palestinian journalists (2 minutes). This post by Carole Cadwalladr is even more raw. I don’t know how much of it is “fair and balanced” — I’m way out of my depth, here. But with the President of the United States relentlessly branding journalists “the enemy of the people,” ala Stalin, it strikes me as the kind of cry that should be heard. She begins: Two weeks ago, I attended and spoke at the International Journalism Festival, an annual event held in the beautiful Italian hilltop town of Perugia. How nice for you, I suspect you’re thinking, and it was, but this is not the point of this post, although this story does begin with me drinking wine on a spring evening on a beautiful Italian square with a bunch of international friends from journalism and its allied fields. So far, so unbearably smug, you’d be quite right to think, but then the friend I was with suddenly took a sharp intake of breath . . . Fasten your seatbelt as you read on. IRAN No one has 4 hours to watch Morning Joe in full; but yesterday’s podcast was 45 oh-so-insightful minutes on Iran. IMAGINE Imagine a day where we take Ukraine’s side over Putin’s, as we once did. Where we contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions with years of painstaking diplomacy that end with a multi-national Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as we also once did. Where we somehow regain our standing as the civilized world’s indispensable nation — not its widely reviled bully. Where medical research is not abruptly cut off . . . climate leadership is not ceded to China . . . billionaires are celebrated for their achievements — but taxed . . . billionheirs are celebrated for their parents’ and grandparents’ achievements — but taxed. Where “public service” is not a grift but a calling. Where civility and competence, compassion and integrity are once again the norms to which those at the highest levels of government aspire.
Proud Young Fascists May 5, 2026May 5, 2026 TIRED YET? We’re gonna win so much you may get TIRED of winning (19 seconds). THIS IS NOT NORMAL Pete on Trump (2 minutes). PROUD YOUNG FASCISTS As seen on Sunday’s 60 Minutes (14 minutes). Just wow. Join Indivisible. Support the opposition.
Spending Time With Tucker C. May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 LIVE LONG ENOUGH . . . . . . and anything is possible. A friend took this photo at the 6th annual Antiquarian Book Fair in New York. If you squint at the bottom right corner of the business card, you can see they’re asking $750 for a book that sold for $5.95 in 1978. The thing is, anyone who’s actually read that book knows that $750 not spent is like $1,500 earned (after tax). In case you’re wondering, to have grown from $5.95 to $750 in 48 years is to have appreciated at 10.6% compounded. Not so great, especially as you’d probably have to split it with the bookseller or the auction house or whomever. And then pay tax the “collectibles” capital gains tax. TUCKER CARLSON He dropped his press badge as he deplaned on the way to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. I picked it up, tapped him on the shoulder, handed it to him, he said thanks, and that was the extent of our relationship . . . until yesterday, when I listened to the longest podcast ever, his two-hour interview with The Daily. So interesting. (I am not a fan.) FIRST IN HIS CLASS According to this (which I have not independently verified), Trump was not “first in is class” at Wharton (into which he transferred from Fordham), as claimed since 1968, he was 147th. The clip says he wasn’t even in the top half of the class, though 147th out of 362 most assuredly is . . . but (if true), I’d say it proves two things: > First, that Trump is, at least in his way, smart. He surely spent much of his time partying rather than studying, so 147th ain’t bad. (And does anyone really think he’s not smart? Ill-informed, incurious, intellectually lazy — all that. But of course he’s smart.) > Second: that’s he’s a liar, dishonest all his life. Which is a big deal to people like you and me.
Oath.Vote May 2, 2026May 1, 2026 Some of you know Oath.Vote, arguably “the smartest way to do your political giving.” We analyze thousands of elections from President to school board to find which candidates need your support the most. We provide our recommendations for free and we don’t sell or share your contact information. > If you’re a donor, the website is well worth checking out. > Whether or not you’re a donor, watch yesterday’s strategy Zoom (20 minutes plus very good Q&A; shorter if you listen at 1.25X or 1.5X speed). I think you’ll come away smarter. I did.
Vicarious Catharsis April 30, 2026April 30, 2026 Need some? Then enjoy these 14 minutes in which Representative Adam Smith addresses the Secretary of Defense. The first minute may start a little slow, but boy does he ever get going. And going. THE SUPREME SETBACK We’re still going to win back the House, but the White Christian Leonard-Leo-stacked Court has just made it much harder. You’ve gotten dozens of emails and texts about this already, I’m sure, so all I want to say is that if your budget to help save democracy and pull our wonderful country back from the brink was half of one percent of your net worth, consider doubling it to a full 1%. If it was 3%, consider making it 4% or 5%. That would still leave 95%. Instead of leaving that extra 5% to your kids or grandkids, consider leaving them a country they can be proud to live in. > A good place to find House races where your money will matter: A House United. > A good place to fund infrastructure that all our 50 state parties and 8,000+ candidates rely on: the unsexy but indispensable DNC, currently chaired by an indefatigable winner. (If you’d like to meet him, come to the 27th annual LGBT Leadership Council dinner in New York June 29 — straight allies welcome! It’s produced by an Academy Award winner and is thus, as fundraising dinners go, pretty good. Click here. And while you’re in town, see Hamilton. Or John Lithgow’s stunning Giant. Or the Raphael exhibit at the Met. Both Giant and Raphael close the day before, so if you come for the weekend, you’ll be just in time!) > If you’re a normal person, just trying to make ends meet — or a formerly wealthy person who, thanks to me, has run out of money “he could truly afford to lose” — then skip all that and join the tens of millions whose $20 here and $30 there collectively dwarfs the money from high-dollar dinners . . . and whose volunteering will produce the blue wave we need to restore sanity, competence, dignity, and the rule of law. BONUS Our leavingMAGA billboards are gaining more and more traction: DUMPING TRUMP: MAGA loses voters as Trump polling plummets (3 minutes). In leavingMAGA, disillusioned Trump voters find a welcoming, non-judgmental community of folks who’ve been down the same road.