Joke 'em if they can't take a ....

 I was kidding when I suggested that George Soros would be accused of rigging the conclave that elected woke Marxist Pope Leo XIV.  Kidding!  I forgot that the Trumpites have no sense of humor as we understand the term, only the capacity to laugh about cancer as long as it's not their own.

Ten inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail over the weekend.  Five have been re-captured and a maintenance worker admitted he helped them by turning off the water so they could remove a sink-toilet unit and squeeze through the hole.  Until today the big story was how budget cuts contributed to the escape; the jail operates at 60% staffing capacity and inmates are often left unattended.

Of course the implied parsimony of the red state government could not go unchallenged, so Gov. Jeff Landry hove into view on NewsNation to blame George Soros.  Soros "spent a ton of money in the city of New Orleans, electing these progressive people," he explained, presumably meaning the jail custodian.  Who else?  Mayor LaToya Cantrell?  District Attorney Jason Williams?  Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson?  Where they all in on the jailbreak?

The government of Vietnam approved $1.5 billion to build a golf course and has begun discussions for a Trump Tower in Ho Chi Minh City.  Do you suppose we will see a reduction in Vietnam's 46% tariff now?

After congratulating himself bigly on the election of the first American pope, Trump has yet to abuse him in a spittle-flecked late-night rant.  He settled for a sneak attack, inviting the pope's MAGA brother Louis Prevost for a "great meeting" in the White House.  Prevost, who lives in Florida, has quite the online presence, calling Nancy Pelosi a "drunk cunt" whose "husband had Grindr dates," and the parents of trans children "shitty."  Also "OBAMA WAS A CIA ASSET PUT IN PLACE TO DESTROY THE USA."  Genetics, huh?  Thanksgiving dinner at the Prevost house must have been tense.

Following the announcement that the FDA will limit covid shot approval to high-risk people and those over 65, Moderna withdrew its application for approval of a combined covid-flu vaccine.  In the UK, where science continues to determine medical practice, the NHS announced the rollout of a new vaccine for gonorrhea.  Let me guess, Trump FDA -- people over 65 and cloistered nuns?

China is stepping up with a $500 million donation to the World Health Organization after the withdrawal of the United States.  It expects, of course, to have a bigger say in global health policy.  

Trump invited South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the White House and then forced him to watch a series of discredited videos alleging mass killings of white people.  At the end of the ambush Ramaphosa said snarkily, "I am sorry I don't have a plane to give you," to which Trump responded, "I wish you did.  I'd take it."  You know he would.  

Since the subject came up, Peter Alexander asked about the Qatari bribe and got this measured response:  "They're giving the United States Air Force a jet and it's a great thing.  It's NBC trying to get off the subject.  You are a terrible reporter.  Number one, you don't have what it takes to be a reporter.  You're not smart enough.  You ought to go back to your studio.  No more questions from you!  Quiet!  Quiet!  These articles over the last few days -- death of people, death, death, horrible death!  White South Africans are fleeing because of the violence.  These are all farmers being buried and he asks me about a jet!  You ought to be ashamed!  You are such a bad reporter.  This is a group, NBC, that is truly fake news!"  Etc.  Now what was that about Joe Biden forgetting someone's name?

Never mind.  Trump had a triumph when he re-posted a fake video of himself hitting Bruce Springsteen with a golf ball.  First he played it over and over with one hand down his pants.  Allegedly.  Springsteen's response to Trump's threats has been to issue an EP, "Land of Hope and Dreams," mixing songs and his political remarks from the Manchester concerts.

Today in the Homeland Security Committee it was Josh Hawley's turn -- not to teach Kristi Noem about basic legal principles, a hopeless task, but to beg for FEMA aid: "We are desperate for help in Missouri."  She promised to "expedite" the requests that have piled up since March while Trump was busy scooping up goodies and insulting foreign leaders.  

Those two toxic gases Rudolph Giuliani and Steve Bannon met on the latter's podcast and it was like old times.  The disbarred ex-prosecutor assured the convicted felon that Biden's "cancer cover-up" is "treason," while the felon called for a special prosecutor.  And can you believe it?  Roodles volunteered.  He's the best.  He said so.  He knows all about it because he had prostate cancer and "there's no way in the world you develop that cancer in two days."  License?  He don't need no stinking license!  Trump can just EO him un-disbarred.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside an ICE detention center two weeks ago, and low-rent parking garage lawyer and acting US attorney Alina Habba threatened an investigation.  The charges against the mayor have been dismissed and federal magistrate judge Andre Espinosa basically tore her a new one:  "Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs...nor to advance political agendas.  Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law..."  Quite a lot of legal education going on these days but Habba did not benefit from it -- she simply decided to go after a larger target, Rep. LaMonica McIver, for the crime of attempting to visit constituents.

Also in need of a refresher:  J.D. Vance.  He took issue with John Roberts's assertion that "the role of the Court is to check the excesses of the executive."  The other half, says Jade, is to "check the excesses of his own branch" and stop mere judges from interfering with the vengeful hatreds and whims of the demented clown who despises the Constitution and worships despots.  Or else, was implied.  Or else expect to see more judges perp-walked in shackles like Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee.  This is how fascism always begins.

It may not be too late.  People in Omaha are paying attention.  They just elected John Ewing, Jr., as the city's first black mayor by sixteen points.  The Republican incumbent chose trans people as her designated enemy but this time it didn't work.  Perhaps this night will turn out to be a mere eclipse.