America has had many scoundrels as President. Seems likely we’ve never had anything but.
The historical habit, though, of the good, the bad, the ugly and horrific US Presidents, is that they’ve all put genuine effort into the appearance of dignity, statesmanship, and giving a damn about We the People.
It’s always been fake, of course, but it’s sad to see that long tradition of fakery has ended. The current criminal-in-chief, Donald J Trump, makes no attempt to conceal his criminality. The grift is right there, out in the open, every day, in everything he does.
And this is what America voted for.
AND NOW THE NEWS #609
Sunday,
June 14, 2026
Postal Service seeks to block mail ballots in states resisting Trump’s illegal demands
FBI raids Ohio voting rights organization
US accepts only white refugees for sixth consecutive month
The Supreme Court’s conservatives have one consistent rule: black votes shouldn’t count
The Trump White House is tackling America’s most urgent crisis: upwardly mobile black people
Millions lose SNAP benefits as One Big Beautiful Bill’s stricter requirements kick in
Trump is taking aim at forest and wildfire research just as the West is poised to burn
Pro-Palestinian activists at U-Michigan face conspiracy charges
‘We call it the P-word’: Chicago professor suspended after assignment mentions Palestinians
CEO of Anti-Defamation League explains his strategies
John Oliver autopsies New College of Florida
Trump DOJ proudly rewrites history by deleting January 6 insurrection press releases
Idaho Solicitor General suggests DNA testing over bathroom ban
Seattle turned on the surveillance cameras before it wrote the rules
ICE plans to let cops around the country scan faces to verify immigration status
Women who fled Iran are to be deported to Central African Republic, lawyers say
How ICE uses mystery ‘shuffle flights’ to move — and break — detainees forced from America
Why do other detainees tell such a different story than ICE about how Tuan Van Bui died?
Minneapolis leaders say Operation Metro Surge did over $700 million in damage
Report: ICE wasted millions, endangered detainees in largest immigration facility
UFC to pay White House fighters in crypto issued by Trump company
Trump isn’t giving up on his slush fund
Trump’s dismantling of USAID has killed at least 600,000 to date
How Trump transformed the White House lawn into a fighting arena
Trump officials illegally cut federal funds to LA homeless services agency
FBI fires several analysts tied to disputed ‘Catholic ideology’ memo
US intelligence employees brace for cuts under new director
Nobody outside of US intelligence really understands what US intelligence does, and I’m sure I’d oppose 90% of it if I knew, but sending ignorant and incompetent people to fire everybody — the ‘DOGE’ method, again — is only going to make things worse.
Trump’s Kennedy Center steals $17-million from Washington National Opera
The Times‘ headline is “Inside the White House freakout over the Trump-Epstein files,” but the only reason they’d freak out is that Donald Trump fucks children.
The Times‘ headline is “Bill Gates says Epstein tried to use his extramarital affairs against him,” but the most obvious reason Epstein would have such leverage is that Bill Gates fucks children.
Unlike Democrats, I oppose Republicans, which is why I am not now and never will be a Democrat.
Grass on the National Mall is vandalized with ‘86 47’ stains
First glitzy interactive advertising kiosks hit Seattle’s streets
Wherever someone hawks a loogie on a kiosk, I’ll be there. Wherever someone spray paints graffiti over an ad, I’ll be there. When someone swings a baseball bat and shatters a kiosk’s plexiglass shield, I’ll be there, too.
Analysis of satellite image and videos suggest precision US strikes on Iranian water facility
That’s a war crime, and not accidental. One of many. And again the New York Times is unwilling to say it plainly.
Israel deports French journalist over coverage critical of its policies in Gaza and the West Bank
Scott Pelley shows how legacy media got it wrong — before Bari Weiss made it worse
Kash Patel keeps suing the press
RFK Jr. seeks to peek at 90% of Americans’ medical records for clues on autism and vaccines
American Diabetes Association fucked up real bad trying to placate Trump regime
Wingnut doctor sheds his wings?
US insurers’ move to back vaccines sends ‘powerful’ message about safety of shots, experts say
OB-GYNs release their own vaccine schedule, rejecting RFK Jr.’s meddling
New York Times notices private Medicare plans often deny access to special care, analysis shows
Medicare is pretty good, I’ve heard. Private Medicare isn’t really Medicare, and shouldn’t be allowed to call itself Medicare.
Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire, is a killer
Justice Department approves Paramount’s Warner Bros Discovery takeover without any strings attached
You can make free money on Polymarket, if you know math
It’s only a $13 billion aircraft carrier, why would we expect the toilets to work?
Super-rich’s assets cause outsized amount of climate harm, study says
Revealed: Three U.S. states waived at least $57.8m in taxes to host World Cup games
Trump reportedly considers buying Chagos Islands from Mauritius
Which World Cup teams, players and officials were denied US visas, entry?
Trump officials say ICE won’t raid World Cup games, but fans are worried
Cuban leader Díaz-Canel announces sweeping economic reforms to fend off U.S. pressure
US officials told Colombia to cancel president’s meeting with Mamdani
If the AI investment thesis actually works, it completely breaks the economy
The world’s leading deepfake expert no longer trusts his own eyes
Thousands fall victim to AI voice cloning scams
The Pope’s AI warning could help workers seek religious exemptions from using AI
Every future imagined by a tech company is worse than the previous iteration
Chatbots keep telling stories about lighthouse keeper ‘Elias Thorne’
Arkansas trooper resigns after wife files ‘white supremacist’ messages in divorce records
It’s not possible that this cop’s partner & his buddies at the precinct didn’t know he’s a ginormous throbbing racist. But they never said anything about it because, guess what, they’re all ginormous throbbing racists.
California correctional officer allegedly took inmate off grounds, sexually assaulted her
San Diego Police classify nearly 80% of complaints as “miscellaneous” to thwart oversight
Suspended Delaware officer indicted on multiple charges including unlawful sexual contact
Indiana police misplace more than $30,000 seized in massage parlor raids
Indiana police officer found guilty after sexually assaulting 14-year-old runaway
Louisville chief moves to fire officer who shot, killed unarmed naked man
Louisiana deputy arrested for home invasion, assault, police say
Missing teen investigation leads to arrest of Louisiana police officer
Michigan sheriff hit with second whistleblower lawsuit in two days
Former Detroit officer sentenced to probation & jail for stealing nude images from woman’s phone
New Jersey cop pulls over disabled black man for wearing a hoodie
New York man victim of police brutality after traffic stop caught on camera
No jail time for NYPD officer who had boinked arrested woman in exchange for leniency
Ohio police cover up names of killer cops
Three Oregon sheriff’s employees take paid leave after misconduct complaints
Pennsylvania cop gets prison for kiddie porn, bestiality, etc
Pennsylvania cop gets probation for pepper spraying protesters
Texas jailer arrested for human smuggling at border checkpoint
2 dead after freeway police chase because driver passed trooper’s car
Scramble for biofuel as oil prices rise ‘could push world closer to food crisis’
Four days of extreme rain in Indonesia killed 7% of world’s rarest great apes, study finds
Record winter temperatures in Antarctic raise fears over speed of climate breakdown
Alabama pastor arrested after sheriff’s office investigates church finances
California cult leader sentenced to 225 years for raping, molesting followers
The difference between a cult and a religion is what, exactly?
Kansas priest reportedly used parish credit card for cruises, travel, other unauthorized purchases
Former Lexington pastor sentenced for rape and sexual abuse of minor
Louisiana’s Jesuit High School agrees to pay seven figures to settle child molestation claim
Louisiana church to pray rosary for priest charged with child sex crimes
New York pastor gets 17 years on child porn charges
Jury convicts Ohio youth pastor of child sex assault
Former youth pastor accused of sexually abusing children appears in Ohio court
Not the same pervy youth pastor as the previous headline, but there are so many pervy youth pastors you’d need a spreadsheet to keep track of ’em all…
Ohio pastor arrested, charged with sexual battery of a minor
Former Oklahoma City pastor to stand trial on human trafficking charges
Texas pastor gets bond reinstated – but can only lead church services through video calling
Texas Diocese had allegations against sex offender priest years before arrest, conviction
No, Doctor Who hasn’t been canceled, but the news isn’t good
Also not good: the recent several seasons of the show. I still give my highest recommendation to the show’s first five seasons, though.
A bull jumped a fence at a packed Oregon rodeo. Now, 2 trampled spectators are suing for $11.5M.
Is it sad when terrible things happen to terrible people?
Maureen Duffy
author, The Microcosm
Martha Graham Cracker
Pig Iron Theater Company
Anthony Head
actor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Margaret Kerry
actress, The Ruggles
Idaho Lorax
Toxic Avenger
Riley O’Neil
Chicago Complete Streets
Bob Packwood
lecherous Republican
but I repeat myself
David Plowden
photographer
Ronnie Schell
comedian and actor, Gomer Pyle USMC
Gene Shalit
fuzzy film critic
Nothing will meaningfully improve until billionaires fear for their lives.
6/14/2026
Logo illustration by Jeff Meyer. Tip ‘o the hat to the Anderson Valley Advertiser, Daily Grail, Voenix Rising, What Not’s, Jamie Zawinski, and anywhere else I’ve stolen links, illustrations, or inspiration.
Special thanks to Linden Arden, Becky Jo, Joey Jo Jo & John the Basket emeritus, Jeff Meyer, Dave S, Name Withheld, and always extra special thanks to my lovely late Stephanie, who gave me 21 years and proved that the world isn’t always shitty.
News always and only from reliable sources, and I decide what’s reliable — no right-wing bullshit, no Substack because fuck Nazis, and no RawStory, Newsweek, or other clickbait sites. Written news is preferred; video links will be rare, and damned near never to videos where the reporter sits, stands, or strolls in front of a camera — that’s show biz, not news.
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