The Comical Incompetence of President Trump

“It's worth remembering every now and then that Trump is horrible at being president”

President Trump is spending the last few days of 2018 in signature fashion, with a series of unforced errors and comical pratfalls around the world, any one of which would have been a multi-week scandal for any previous president. The government is shut down over total nonsense, and Trump's...

60 Percent of Americans Want Trump Impeached or Censured

“A new poll shows that 60 percent of U.S. voters want Donald Trump impeached and removed from office or formally censured. The Harvard CAPS/Harris...”

Given the fact that federal prosecutors have not charged the president with a crime or even released any evidence saying he has committed crimes, these are surprisingly high numbers. The poll shows that the small amount of information about Trump’s crimes that has been reported in the media is...

White House to Freeze Pay for Federal Workers in 2019

“Those serving in the military generally not affected by executive order”

As the partial government shutdown grinds on, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday evening that would freeze pay for federal workers  in 2019. Trump telegraphed the move in his February budget request for fiscal 2019 when he proposed a pay freeze for the roughly 2.1 million...

Trump’s EPA says limits on mercury emissions from coal plants not necessary

“The Trump administration on Friday said limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants were not necessary as their costs outweighed the...”

Under the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, or MATS, enacted under former President Barack Obama, coal-burning power plants have been forced to install expensive equipment to cut output of mercury, which can harm pregnant women and put infants and children at risk of developmental problems.

Most Americans would rather spend the $5 billion Trump is demanding for the border wall on infrastructure, education, or healthcare

“As the partial government shutdown drags on into its sixth day, President Donald Trump has remained steadfast in his demands that $5 billion for a...”

"Have the Democrats finally realized that we desperately need Border Security and a Wall on the Southern Border," Trump tweeted Thursday. "Need to stop Drugs, Human Trafficking, Gang Members & Criminals from coming into our Country." But according to an INSIDER poll, most Americans would...

An end to the shutdown depends entirely on Trump’s hurt feelings

“We’re heading into the sixth day of a government shutdown that is just beginning to hurt the 800,000 federal workers who are impacted. Everyone...”

Let’s not forget that last week the Senate passed a funding bill that could have easily passed the House, and by all accounts, Trump was ready to sign it. But then Fox News hosts began criticizing him for not demanding funding for a border wall, and like a schoolyard bully who hears the crowd...

Trump Couldn't Even Say 'Merry Christmas' Without Whining About His Border Wall

“President Donald Trump is spending his Christmas mostly alone in the White House, and he’s being a real Grinch about it.”

He was referring to his lack of funding for a useless border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which has led to a government shutdown even as Republicans control the White House and both chambers in Congress....

Trump, Conservatives, and Human Rights

“During his short presidency, President Trump has downplayed human rights, preferring to emphasize American economic and military interests abroad....”

While his “America First” campaign seemed tailor-made for an emphasis on national interests at the expense of human rights, Trump’s ambivalence on human rights also reflects a broader trend among conservatives, who increasingly view human rights suspiciously, seeing their promotion as a liberal...

Fantasy problems don’t have realistic solutions

“As the government shuts down after Trump blew up a bipartisan compromise, The New Republic raises a question: What is the Democratic position on...”

To a certain extent this is the kind of problem propaganda always causes: When propagandists build an artificial crisis out of more mundane problems, opponents are usually stuck without a crisis-sized solution. The classic example of this is the blood libel: What solution could Europe’s “good”...

Conservatives Claim Religious ‘Hostility’ When They Face Consequences for Refusing to Use Students’ Pronouns

“A growing number of conservatives are claiming that using a student’s pronoun violates their Christian faith.”

W]e are here today because a specific worldview is being imposed upon me,” said West Point High School French teacher Peter Vlaming at a public hearing in early December. In fact, Vlaming was at the hearing that day because the West Point Public School (WPPS) District in Virginia had placed him...