Gavin Newsom didn't choose this fight, but now that he's in it, he's relearning an important lesson: fighting MAGA is a good look. More Democrats should pay attention.
Salon.com
Gavin Newsom rediscovers that "fighter" is a good look
Other Democrats should pay attention
The press continues to credulously report that Elon Musk is "leaving" the White House. The first rule of writing about Musk: His words are meaningless. There are 20 years of Musk's broken promises. Be skeptical, folks.
Salon.com
Elon Musk claims he's leaving politics β€” no one should believe him
The far-right billionaire has a long history of making false promises
Gov. Abbott supports a bill in Texas that is being hyped as a "furries" bill. When you read it, it's a draconian ban on a common form of children's play: dressing up. But really, the goal here is to stoke anti-LGBTQ hysteria.
Salon.com
Texas GOP wants to ban kids from playing dress-up: Yes, really
Lone Star Republicans propose a ban on "non-human behavior" in school β€” like dressing up in costumes
Trump is a lifelong liar, but I've been struck by how the strategy behind the "Tren de Aragua" lie resembles Bush's "weapons of mass destruction" lie. Trump's sociopathy plugs into decades of GOP degradation. But it's also not working as well.
Salon.com
Blame Bush for Trump's deportation lies
Before Trump invented an "invasion" by Venezuelan "terrorists," Bush cooked up fake evidence for war in Iraq
Harvard figured out what everyone else in power needs to understand: Complicity with Trump will not save you. Standing up isn't just the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do. He will renege on any "deal" you make and come after you anyway.
Salon.com
Harvard stands up to Trump β€” they get that complicity will not save you
Other institutions take note: It's delusional to lie low and hope Trump goes away in four years
In the melee, you may have missed it: Rubio is telling State employees to snitch on colleagues for "anti-Christian bias." Said "bias" is defined as not agreeing that right-wing Christians are superior and get to dictate the choices of everyone else.
Salon.com
Rubio wages new war on federal workers who reject theocracy
Under the guise of fighting "anti-Christian bias," State employees are told to snitch on people with Pride flags
RFK's pledge to find "what caused the autism epidemic" in a few short months is a transparent lie, to cover a preordained conclusion. But digging deeper, it gets much worse: it's about justifying a downright sadistic assault on children's health.
Salon.com
RFK's phony study into autism isn't just an assault on science β€” it's a war on children's health
The head of this "research" is no doctor β€”Β and has a history of torturing kids with fake autism "cures"
Both Elon Musk and Christian nationalists call empathy "toxic," "suicidal," and even "satanic." But what they're really worried about is that empathy is *feminine*. And in MAGA, a woman is the worst thing a person can be. An analysis.
Salon.com
Elon Musk and the Christian right call empathy "toxic" and "suicidal" β€” blame their shared misogyny
MAGA demonizes empathy as the "pathological feminine" β€” and it's why women shouldn't be Supreme Court justices
Several male commentators have expressed confusion over why Mike Johnson was mad about the bill allowing new parents to vote remotely. The answer is simple. He is a sincere misogynist who does not want women in power. Most Republicans agree. Analysis.
Salon.com
Mike Johnson's latest tantrum shows how the "pro-family" MAGA just wants women back in the kitchen
Nine House Republicans voted to let new moms keep working in Congress, and the sq23peaker pitched a fit
I joined the discourse on "Mar-a-Lago face" and the MAGA love of weird AI art. The hideousness of Cybertrucks also matter. Yes, it's all gross and ugly. That's the point. The visual assault is yet another fascist display of power.
Salon.com
From "Mar-a-Lago face" to uncanny AI art: Why MAGA loves ugliness
One of the swiftest ways to "trigger" the liberals is looking awful