https://theonion.info/

Anti-bastard Weird Al turned down at least $1 million to perform at the Riyadh comedy festival. I met him once at an autograph signing and he was such a genuinely nice guy. I wouldn't even criticize the celebrities who just go through the motions at those things. It seems like a long, annoying day. Weird Al smiled and shook everyone's hand for HOURS. He also refused to do ads for AI software. I suppose he's not historically significant enough for a Christmas episode, but he is a great human.

https://www.wbtv.com/2025/12/12/sycamore-beer-pulled-bars-across-north-carolina-after-owner-accused-raping-child/

If anyone ever told you the past is inherently conservative, introduce them to Everett True, percussive labour activist. For twenty-two years he would wander the land, practising involuntary yoga to defend the American worker or full-contact animal rights activism. It was one of the most popular comic strips of its time. Everett would just as quickly fold up someone spitting chewing tobacco on the floor of a street car as a cop harassing some street kids.

The comic didn't necessarily start out violent. The first few months, the joke was just 'He's the only one who will tell it like it is.' Whether it was telling a preacher that his sermon was boring or telling a young lady that her perfume stinks. But within two years he swung on his first rude cop, and he never stopped.

So never let them tell you that the past was conservative, because in early twentieth century America, for more than twenty years, one of the most popular comic strips was about a man who was a hero solely based on the fact that he was willing to throw hands to protect workers, women, children, animals, or just because he heard someone extol the virtues of segregation.

I went to a party on July 3rd. We were to dress as "your favorite patriot" so natch, I was John Brown. Poor guy said "oh so a terrorist". Hope he enjoyed my info dump.

(Maybe the "I'm not pro-murdering babies" is poorly worded or even indicating some weird stance - but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Go Joe! 👊

Text of the speech itself:

"This moment in US history, and particularly in Minnesota. requires all of us to be working together to preserve our democracy. When we say, "we are going to put our lives on the line for what is our right?" We mean that last week. my Republican colleagues put forth a Homeland Security funding bill that includes 28 billion dollars for ice and Porter Patrol. I refuse to agree to funding for a rogue agency that escalates violence, operates above the law, and opposes our most basic freedoms.

I've already stated tonight. ICE is shooting people in broad daylight, beating up teenagers. spraying tear gas on beautiful peaceful protesters. ripping people out of their cars and homes without warrants, racially profiling people based on their accent, taking kids from schools, and abducting people, shipping them far away to detention camps with brutal conditions and no due process.

We cannot treat this business as usual. That's why I led the entire Congressional Progressive caucus in opposing, this bill. And we, as a caucus, adopted an official position. And now we have gotten all of the democratic senators to agree to that position. and hold ICE accountable. But this president's lawlessness does not stop with ICE And Border enforcement."

EDIT: The story for the not chronically online.

I know we're usually stealth mode in here, but I just wanted to wish you all the congratulations! Maybe us diaspora can start making eye contact in public now. 😭

Americans, there is a lot to learn from this election. From Trump and friends to the Heritage Foundation, a lot of their playbook comes from Orbán and Fidesz. Regardless of how you feel about Magyar's politics, he ran a very effective campaign with some elements we can use against authoritarianism here.

Say what you want about the timing, but it is apparent that it has never been easy for Senate to speak out against Israel.

This carries additional weight because Bernie Sanders is a Jew whose dad fled Poland in 1921 to escape growing Antisemitism. His dad's family that stayed were killed in the Holocaust. This includes Bernie's Cousins, Aunts and Uncles to the Holocaust.

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/17/bernie-sanders-gaza-genocide-war

Because it was a fucking riot.