Stockholm syndrome

 The Swedish government is all in on DEI -- it even has a Ministry for Gender Equality and Working Life.  Nevertheless the lawless Trump regime, which isn't sure if it's obliged to follow its own Constitution, is trying to force the city of Stockholm (and private corporations) to sign a pledge not to follow the rules of diversity, equity and inclusion.  Even the Nazis did not interfere in Sweden's internal affairs as long as high-quality steel was delivered on time.  Since February similar tactics have been applied to companies around the world if they want to do business with the new fascists; Stockholm was merely the first to reveal the colossal chutzpa of it and to say, "Hell, no."

Wait till they see what they're missing.  The CDC announced that at least 216 children have died of seasonal flu (not covid, not avian) this year, the highest number of pediatric deaths since 2010.  There have been 702 cases of measles this year in Texas alone and three deaths in New Mexico, for a disease that was considered eradicated in 2000.  Our maternal mortality rate continues to increase, especially among black women.  The next nation, France, isn't even close.

Nevertheless the regime has a hare-brain scheme to bribe women to have more babies, a princely $3,000 per live birth.  For pre-natal care, hospitalization, pediatric exams, day care -- zilch.  If the child lives to age 14, plenty of good jobs await in lumber mills and meat processing plants.  Or as Howard Lutnick, secretary of commerce and Tesla pitchman, put it, "It's time to train people not to do the jobs of the past, but to do the great jobs of the future.  This is the new model where you work in these kinds of plants [making phones] for the rest of your life and your kids work here and your grandkids work here."  Did I mention that he's also a billionaire?

The Great Dealmaker has concluded that the absence of trade is actually good because "that means we lose less money," a novel approach to commerce.  "China was making over a trillion," he asserted, when the actual amount of Chinese exports to the US was closer to $525 billion last year, three time what we sold them.  Wharton arithmetic must be different.  Anyway, the near closure of the Port of Los Angeles means -- it's working!  Whatever it is.  And the Chinese government's failure to pick up the phone means they're desperate to make a deal in our favor.  See how that works?  And all we had to do was get the lady admirals and trans people out of the military, and Sweden should do the same.

The Very Important Trade Deal we all got up early for turned out to be nothing very new involving Britain, with which we do 3 percent of our business and which charges a tariff of 1 (one) percent.  Although Trump was impressed with Peter Mandelson's accent.   

The European Union is a different story.  They plan to tariff a hundred billion euros' worth of goods including cars, planes, medical devices, wine and spirits, plastics and chemicals.  Retaliation -- how does it work?  FAFO

To the dismay of many gamblers Cardinal Robert Prevost, Archbishop of Chicago, was elected pope today and Trump surprised nobody by making it a tribute to himself.  "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.  What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.  I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV.  It will be a very meaningful moment!"  Probably bring him an autographed Lee Greenwood Bible.  Wait until he finds out about Pope Leo's commitment to immigrants, especially from Latin America (he spent years in Peru and is fluent in Spanish).  Like the new German chancellor Friedrich Merz he was elected on the second ballot.  Coincidence?

(Trump will hate meeting Merz, who is six feet six inches tall.  President Shoe Lifts does not like anyone to be taller than he is.  Why do you think he fired James "But her emails!" Comey, who did him the favor of a lifetime?)

It turns out that Thom Tillis has a red line and Ed Martin crossed it by organizing the January 6 riot.  MAGA is losing its shit but Tillis was in the Capitol that day and said he could not vote to make him US attorney for DC.  In keeping with his practice of depopulating Fox News Trump is said to be considering Jeanine Pirro to replace Martin.  The last drunk he found on Fox turned out so well.

At first MAGA shared in its cult leader's excitement at the American pope.  Then his comments about J.D. Vance and his support for science came to light and by five o'clock Laura Loomer was calling him "gross" because he asked people to pray for George Floyd.  Also "MARXIST POPE!"  Shortest honeymoon since Lucia di Lammermoor.  I would love it if Loomer handcuffed herself to the big bronze door of St. Peter's.  It's a Jubilee Year!