Trump orders halt to US trade with Spain over NATO spending, Iran | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-cutting-off-all-trade-with-spain-2026-07-08/

51% of the US electorate voted for this. Don’t say you didn’t. Don’t say you didn’t know.

A third of the US electorate still supports this. Are you stupid or evil? (Or both?) Pick one, because there is no way this is reasonable, in any light.

When Beautifying Your Grief Doesn’t Work

https://karenattiah.substack.com/p/when-beautifying-your-grief-does

«To embrace hopelessness is to realize that beauty and discipline can easily tip into the ugliness of avoidance— a way of trying to run from death and the reality of impermanence. Instead of rushing to re-invention, there is true strength in sitting with my multiple deaths, and resisting the urge to put fake flowers and plastic glitter over the very real bones of old dreams.»

Not a sentiment one runs across very often.

This is a really great essay.

Is Pete Hegseth gay?

I just had a crazy thought, having seen my 8,000th picture of Pete Hegseth: is he gay?

Just kinda hit me. I’m sure 100,000 people have wondered this before me; I’m kinda slow, but I get there.

I mean… the whole emphasis on manliness. Haven’t we seen this before?

I know, all the gay men out there are saying, “Oh, welcome to the party, John.”

I saw all Reform’s weaknesses on display in Makerfield – Farage should be worried | John Harris in Makerfield | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/19/reform-uk-weaknesses-makerfield-nigel-farage-labour

«And the next year or so will be one of the most crucial and fascinating political periods that the UK has ever seen.»

And I’m over here going “Huh? What? Who’s Andy Burnham? Where’s Makerfield and why is it important? What’s a by-election? What happened to Keir Starner?”

The Democratic Urge to Lose | Welcome to Garbagetown (Catherynne M. Valente)

«Nobody here heard “working class ex-military white guy fisherman” and didn’t assume he was rough around the edges at a minimum.»

https://catvalente.substack.com/p/the-democratic-urge-to-lose

«I have been furious at voters for not being able to look past whatever flaws Kamala, Biden, and Hilary had and pull the lever for the smallest hope of things getting better instead of the certainty that they wouldn’t.»

She correctly blames voters, not the Democratic Party. I love it.

«Look, I didn’t like Graham Platner at first, either. I’m not sure if I “like” him now. But liking someone is not actually my primary criteria as a voter.»