https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/trump-accreditors-executive-order-universities-4e4366cc?st=GmKrea&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink (gift)

“Trump this” and “Trump that.” Trump is a racist, sexist sock puppet for a racist, sexist organization, the Project 2025 people.

I have mixed feelings on higher ed.

1. It’s a racist filter as a job requirement, filtering out those who can’t afford it. (Yes, yes, I know exceptions will come out of the woodwork. (“Well, not all….” “Well, I….”))
2. It might be essential, to teach some trades.
3. It’s an artificial filter, because not all trades require a formal (4-year) education. (Of course, the “we don’t need no book larnin'” approach to software development, for example, has led to some pretty crappy software, so caution must be exercised there. It’s always possible for intelligent people to study independently, though. Nor is education any guarantee, for that matter.)
4. It’s generally good for art, visual and non-visual. Not required, but good for learning the basics.
5. It’s good for the pursuit of pure knowledge, which is good in its own right. This includes pure science, of course, but also things like history. The more we know, the better.

Maybe some reform is needed, along with better apprenticeship programs. But I do not trust the racist, sexist Project 2025 cohort to deliver that reform.

It’s a shame it might happen this way.

https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-terrorist-attack

«When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.»

(Via Wonkette. Give them some money, y’all. They do all the doom scrolling for you.)

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/21/politics/homeland-security-kristi-noem-purse-stolen/index.html

Wow, who walks around with that much cash? Hopefully, the DHS access badge didn’t get them very far.

Good to-do list from Jennifer Rubin:

«And when Democrats (because, let’s be honest: there is no critical mass of Republicans prepared to return to democratic norms) regain power, they will need to rebuild government and erect a series of reforms (e.g., Supreme Court term limits or expansion; serious civil and criminal penalties for abrogating others’ constitutional rights or blocking congressionally appropriated funds; bright red lines on private citizens assuming governmental powers; complete divestiture of presidents’ business interests while in office) to secure our democracy.»

https://contrarian.substack.com/p/stop-waiting-for-a-formal-declaration

Saw an article on The Guardian this morning by some author about how his vision of the US has been “shattered”.

It’s still there this evening.

Dude. It hasn’t been “shattered.” You’ve just not been paying attention. We’ve had several close calls with absolute idiocy and we finally hit a concrete bollard on the turn.

It seems like every democracy does this. Somnelence and then, “huh? What? OH MY GOD!”

This won’t fit on a poster, will it?

«Now it is time for these goddamned Trump Nazis to bring Kilmar home, just like every fucking court has said. And then bring all the rest of Trump’s kidnapping victims home, so that they may receive due process, and if due process shows some should be deported, then do that, and send them away if you must, but not to a Trump/Bukele death camp. That is not “deporting.”»

https://www.wonkette.com/p/kilmar-is-alive

https://www.thedailybeast.com/nate-silver-makes-shocking-prediction-for-dems-2028-nominee/

«Silver agreed with “everything” Druke had to say, but did note that AOC isn’t “sure to run.”»

Huh.

https://www.adn.com/politics/2025/04/14/we-are-all-afraid-speaking-to-alaska-nonprofit-leaders-murkowski-gets-candid-on-upheaval-in-federal-government/

«And she called on Alaskans to “be affirmative” in protesting on behalf of programs they want to remain in place so that elected leaders are kept aware of where support and frustration exist among constituents.

“I think it’s important the concerns continue to be raised rather than letting the fatigue of the chaos grind you down,” Murkowski said.»

«The multiracial American working class had shouldered deindustrialization, deunionization, the financial crisis, and the squeeze of unaffordable housing and healthcare. At a time of record corporate profits, these service workers had become the driving force of the American economy, working underpaid jobs that couldn’t be outsourced and that required human touch, voice, and judgment.»

21% through  “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee.