Cartoons Monday
Plus John Oliver on police spying and another hummers.
Still free to subscribe to this nearly daily newsletter! Greg Mitchell is author of fourteen books and director of five films for PBS since 2022. In a previous life, he was a longtime editor at the legendary Crawdaddy. His latest film “Woody Guthrie and The Ghost of Tom Joad Today” is now streaming everywhere via PBS.
John Oliver last night on HBO focused on new police surveillance tech and controversies.
NYT Times on Sen. Moreno suddenly denoouncing Rep. Miller—after backing him for re-election when he knew all about the alleged abuse. Miller still refusing to quit. Two swine.
Senator Bernie Moreno, Republican of Ohio, broke his silence on Sunday about a yearslong family struggle involving domestic abuse allegations against his former son-in-law, Representative Max Miller of Ohio, saying in an emotional statement that Mr. Miller was not fit to hold public office.
Mr. Moreno, saying the dispute had put his family through “pure hell,” scathingly denounced Mr. Miller, whose ex-wife, Emily Moreno, has accused him of abusing her and their 2-year-old daughter.
“If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them,” Mr. Moreno wrote in a post on X. He added: “I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”
Heather Cox Richardson looks beyond DOJ dismissal of Reflection Pool case:
The Department of Justice has been caught repeatedly misleading grand juries or committing misconduct in getting indictments. Hearn’s lawyers were suggesting that the Department of Justice engaged in the same misconduct in the indictment of David Hearn for damaging the bottom of the reflecting pool.
On July 28, J. David McSwane, Pratheek Rebala, and Carla Astudillo of ProPublica reported that judges across the country are calling out lawyers for the Department of Justice, questioning whether they can be trusted to tell the truth and whether they are operating according to centuries-old norms. Judges have called behavior by Department of Justice lawyers “unlawful,” “unethical,” “unseemly,” and otherwise dishonest.
The degradation of the Department of Justice, which is charged with defending the rule of law for the American people, into an instrument of Trump’s political wrath has been illustrated in the fight over the confirmation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to attorney general.
Axios analysis:
President Trump doesn’t much care if Republicans lose the House and/or the Senate in November.
Yes, he’d prefer a big win. But he seems indifferent to the election and the possibility of endless Democratic investigations of his family, wealth and policies, close advisers tell us.
A big reason: Trump knows he’ll emerge just as strong, or even stronger, heading into his final two years, at least among Republicans.
The big picture: Trump is not a share-the-stage, pass-the-torch, groom-your-successor kind of guy. Instead, he’ll exploit his leverage:
🏛️ A more MAGA Senate. Almost all of his critics will be gone through defeat or retirement. The incoming class is very Trumpy. If they keep the Senate, Trump loyalists like Mike Lee (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Rick Scott (Fla.) will chair committees.
🗳️ A more MAGA House. Trump already serves as de facto speaker, but his few outspoken GOP critics — Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) — will be gone, replaced by members who won because of him.
👑 A ‘28 kingmaker. Trump’s firm hold on the base means he will dictate the GOP’s nominee and shape their message. He wants a Vance-Rubio ticket and will likely get it if his mind doesn’t change. Imagine any ‘28 hopeful, especially Marco Rubio or JD Vance, trying to break with the boss while working for the boss.
💰 Cashing in. Trump will use levers of power to keep raising money to expand his clout beyond the presidency. “He likes the fact that when he tells someone, ‘Give me money,’ they give him money,” an adviser told us.
Music Pick
Obscure Woody Guthrie/Jeff Tweedy song from Vol. III of “Mermaid
Avenue” very apt for today, “Chain of Broken Hearts.”
More Toons
Bramhall:
Kemensky:
Baron:
Deering:
Sack:
Wahhad:
Photo Finish:
One more hummer photo from the past few days. Mary Oliver:
And then, he came no more. And I’m still waiting for him, ten years later,
To come back, and he will, or he will not.
There is a certain commitment
That each of us is given, that has to do with another world
If there is one. I remember you, hummingbird. I think of you every day
Even as I am still here, soaked in color, waiting, year after honey-rich year.
John Oliver! Very good selection of cartoons.
Amazing. Seals & Crofts pleaded, Hummingbird, don't fly away...