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It's pretty crazy, Jeep. Glad to keep your mind off the (seemingly annual) impending nosedive. 🤣

It's funny, you touched on something that I thought about when I went down the rabbit hole... wouldn't it be easiest to just wheel in new turf every season rather than try to micromanage the turf for the entire calendar year? Donate it to a playground when you're done and start over the next year lol.

I'm really starting to think establishment dems are just playing the waiting game. Watching and waiting through this election cycle, carefully plotting through the midterms. They don't want to show they're a party in turmoil as the (R)s are saying they are. So, they give generic answers and hide under the "big tent", while carefully avoiding all convo about socialism and communism with catchphrase strategy. "Well, if ________, is so bad, then call me a socialist."

With that said, I'll be honest, I'm generally interested in how a lot of these true progressives shake out if elected. There are plenty of fresh ideas. They're not all terrible and they're not all communism. When you say: "I have zero confidence in their ability to do their jobs the way it was intended (public servant)." We're going to see a rash of progressives coming in and doing their job the way it was intended, whether we like the policies or not. That in and of itself is both refreshing and a threat... to both sides of the establishment.

They're like the new guy that shows up on the job with a gleam in his eye like he's going to change the world. There is no pleasing his co-workers. They'll roll their eyes; they'll call him names behind his back. They'll complain to management if he does anything outside the box. And eventually, one day, someone will pull him aside and say "Hey, I know you're new here and you think you have all the answers, but we've worked a long time to make our own jobs easy. We don't need someone showing us up, raising the bar on production or running around trying to fix everything."


Establishment puppets on both sides come in to occupy a seat and kiss enough a$$ to move to the next level. These people come in with an actual agenda. It's only a matter of time before people see who's doing the hard work. But these candidates that are willing to check boxes on some of the crazy ideas I've mentioned in this thread? They won't last long.

So, in my eyes, I see a party that's split along multiple lines. On one hand, you have traditional dems that are afraid to embrace the progressive agenda... then within the progressives, you have those who's language teeters on communism. And they're the ones with the megaphones; they're the tail wagging the dog. And the whole reason this is turning into a $h*tshow is because they're the entire reason the establish dems are leery of embracing the "progressive agenda".

So, it's not really about the numbers, in my eyes. That's why I think focusing on how many people are card-carrying members of the DSA is silly. You laid it out perfectly in your post, it's a warning to the rest of the party that the "crazy kids" aren't going away without a fight.

The DNC? They'll keep their distance from the far left... and work overtime to groom any of the more centered progressives that enter the fold. jmo.

Sorry for the book.

I read and have written some music. Played trumpet when I was young and not having a huge life experience to draw on as a youngster I loved Herb Alpert. My dad was an Al Hirt guy. lol When I hear songs I can almost see the notes. From a musical content standpoint it has made me cynical in terms of a lot of popular music. Especially if the lyrics are empty. ie..... Sex, Drugs and R&R.

So while many of my friends were listening to bands like Kiss And AC/DC I couldn't stand their "music". Hair bands in general totally missed the mark for me as well.

Having been a singer and in bands over the course of decades I'm much more susceptible to liking more simplistic musical content if the lyrics are really good. I was never in overly popular bands that had commercial success. We played mainly local clubs but the bigger clubs in town. It was always a passion of mine but I never attempted to make a full time career out of it. More of a passionate hobby you could make a little side money at.

I don't have any idea how things work in commercial music. But I do know what inspired me as a singer. Something about working with a great guitar player who shared that same passion I did brought a little magic into the room. That simpatico helped feed both parties to be better. Seeing Ozzy with Randy Rhoads for me is a shining example of that. When put together they both reached heights they had never come close to reaching before. Both from a musical and lyrical standpoint.

It's wonderful to hear great musical content but the message of a song is just as important to me. Also the way that message is packaged. For some it's a true art form IMO. I'm also a huge fan of great harmonies.

I have watched Verse mic-ed up.

He brings it all day along with constant chatter.

I don't see a drop off from Myles leaving in how the defense will perform.

Hall and Graham are going to play better. We will have a very good tackle rotation.

Wright will need to really show his best. He will have a good chance to that.

The defense will be fine.

Truth is painful that is why it is currently taboo.

trump will lie when the truth is boldly before him. He does not care. He knows his gang will follow.

I have been watching the History series on WWII.

My father fought under Patton. He was a master sergeant.

The footage because of digital technology is amazing. Looking at the scope and scale is mind numbing.

The series is both emotional but also it provides an overview that puts the events into a sequence that gives one a true picture of this time in history and how it changed the world.

I feel you in that regard. But at the same time I try to keep my expectations realistic. Some seem to see the glass as half full. Some seem to see it as half empty. I see it as simply a half of a glass.

It helps me greatly that I'm not as obsessed with this team as I used to be. Time seems to have had that effect on me. The only one that was allowing me to experience such disappointment and agony on an annual basis was myself.

IMO the Guardians were one of the teams that improved the most after the deadline.

They addressed needs and the team is better for it.

Jet lag?........

Trump DHS chief under fire from conservatives after immigration speech ignites backlash

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is facing a conservative backlash after reaffirming his opposition to amnesty in a social media post, with critics arguing the hardline message contradicted comments he made hours earlier during an immigration speech in Oklahoma.

Hours after speaking at the National Governors Association Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City, Mullin wrote on X: "NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever."

"We are a nation of laws," he wrote. "If you are illegally present in the United States of America—you will be detained and deported. Period."

The post did little to quell criticism from some conservatives, who argued it conflicted with remarks Mullin made earlier in the day.

"Why were you at the National Governors Association Summer Meeting today saying the exact opposite of what you are posting now?" one user wrote on X. "Did you suddenly radically change your mind about America's immigration policy in the past couple of hours? Or are you a liar?"

Former Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino also criticized Mullin's remarks, writing on X that "Voters asked for mass deportations. Clear demand. High priority. No ambiguity." He added, "The guy running DHS is making the case for 'immigration reform.' We've seen this script before."

In a separate post, Bovino wrote that Mullin had delivered "a masterclass in how to give terrible answers during a single interview" and argued, "Now you know why we're not getting mass deportations."

Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck also weighed in, calling Mullin's remarks "a total betrayal."

During the event, Mullin argued the U.S. needs immigration reform, distinguished between immigrants pursuing legal status and those who are not, and called for changes to some employment visa programs to address labor shortages.

"We haven't had actual immigration reform since 1959. There's a reason. It's political," Mullin said. "Do you really need immigration reform? Yes, you do."

Mullin also argued the country should modernize some employment visa programs.

"If we're looking to grow our economy, then we need to look at making more permanent solutions," he said, adding that "there's a way to utilize labor where we're not having the participation rate we need to... and we can plug those holes."

At the same time, Mullin repeatedly emphasized that immigration laws must be enforced.

"If you have a criminal background, we're not making exceptions for you," he said. "There are zero exceptions."

Mullin added that immigrants who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas without pursuing legal status could not expect relief.

"There's nothing I can do for you," he said.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-dhs-chief-under-fire-152220319.html

Oh the humanity! He made a common sense, none extremist statement about immigration reform and the extremists became unhinged!

As of August 1, 2026, Senator Mitch McConnell has been absent from public view and the U.S. Senate for 49 consecutive days, missing 38 or more roll call votes. He was last seen casting a vote on Capitol Hill on June 11, 2026, and was officially hospitalized following a fall at his home on June 14, 2026.

Every morning I check the headlines hoping it will all go away.

That somehow some way karma will find a way.

That the scales of justice will balance. Please just disappear.

That is really interesting.

I have never gotten into photography.

I have spent a lot of time outdoors. The best times of my life have come from my time outside.

The Merlin app opens up a new road. Time has slowed me down and this gives me a chance to do something at a pace that fits.

well deserved for Grant too. He's been solid for us

I'll take this opportunity to post probably the sickest plays I ever had the privilege to watch live. Even watching the replay felt like my mind playing tricks on me. 🔥

This particular story has already been discussed in this forum. Only 400 out of those 6600 actually voted. No New jersey election was decided by 400 votes. Actually none where closer than several thousand votes.

So him posting that in response to "Can you specifically name one rigged election result" is just pure BS. But then again that's to be expected.

One thing I am sure of is that the executive branch, mainly the president holds far to much power. How much power a president has is not the same as the time of the founding fathers. It has evolved and increased greatly over time. And that's not isolated to which party or who is president. As of today we see executive orders being written on an unprecedented level pushing the boundaries of the constitution and being overturned in our courts.

I'm certainly not going to say that I agree with everything they stand for. Yet I do understand when one side goes off the rails you will get a pushback that goes off the rails as well in reaction to that.

And that's where we are now. Extremism is taking over on both sides and we are all worse off for it. Surely you must have seen something like this coming in response.

Big money QBs make plays that win games or close-out games...big money DEs should do that as well...but realistically less-often.

My memory of MG will be much more of him jumping offside on 3rd/4th and short...and getting 2+ sacks in games that were essentially blowouts...rather than frequent plays that impacted the outcome of the game.

The Ravens might have the most talent, but we'll see how Minter does in his first year.


It feels like the Bengals better figure things out on D and the OL before Burrow is wasted

My daughter just received a PhD.

Her dissertation was on large scale AI integration and scalable AI integration.

She built her own AI to handle her intellectual property at UGA.

I have begun messing around with it and it blows my mind. I feel like I am living the future.

I came from when people sold encyclopedias door to door.

IMO he was one of the truly great actors.

Even when he had small roles like in Sling Blade. He made a mark.

He had a way to capture the essence of the role.

Tender Mercies was an incredible movie. It was like watching real life. The ability to be natural is what great actors do.

Great, they get free power from free solar panels.

It sounds like an effort to lower the high demand period when people come home from work and turn on lights and air conditioners. If it works and lessens the strain on the system great, though I still say it isn't "free".

What do you call it when the trump administration takes taxpayer money and invests roughly $26.7 billion across 30 equity or quasi-equity deals with private companies and corporations?

The U.S. government invested $27 billion in corporate stakes. Good luck finding them

The Trump administration has invested roughly $26.7 billion across 30 equity or quasi-equity deals, headlined by a 9.9% stake in chipmaker Intel that's now worth $42 billion.

Others include $400 million into rare-earth miner MP Materials to loosen China's grip on magnet supply chains, the "golden share" in U.S. Steel retained as a condition of its sale to Japan's Nippon Steel, or the flurry of stakes in quantum computing firms.

But with all that dealmaking, those wary of government's corruptive tendencies—and of President Donald Trump's own trading—might want to see some transparency. The portfolio, however, is nowhere to be found.

There is no consolidated ledger of the government's holdings; the stakes sit scattered across at least four agencies: 17 deals through Commerce, seven through Defense, six through the Development Finance Corporation, two through Energy. Only one of those, the Development Finance Corporation, has clear statutory authority to own equity at all, under a framework Congress built in 2018 for development deals abroad.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment. A Treasury spokesperson said agencies report equity interests "in different ways" depending on the legal authority behind each stake.

Some of the "stakes" are signed agreements, while others, including nine quantum computing deals Commerce announced in a single week, remain more ambiguous, closer to term sheets. The most complete public accounting of Washington's portfolio is kept by the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank.

"The deals that have been announced to date are only the tip of the iceberg," Jonathan Hillman, the Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow who maintains that tracker, told Fortune, "and the real test will be whether Washington can build a system to effectively manage its growing portfolio of investments over the long run."

The best-documented stake in the portfolio is the biggest one. Intel's August 2025 securities filings name the shareholder: the United States Department of Commerce, counterparty to a "Warrant and Common Stock Agreement" covering 433.3 million shares at $20.47 apiece. It's a passive stake, with no board seat or information rights, and the government has agreed to vote with Intel's board on most matters.

Yet some aspects of the deal, in the filings, look strange. Roughly two-thirds of the shares were delivered to Commerce when the deal closed; the rest sit in escrow to be released as Intel hits milestones under a Pentagon chip program, meaning a slice of the government's marquee holding is not yet in the government's hands. The claw-back and profit-sharing provisions attached to Intel's earlier $2.2 billion CHIPS Act grant were also eliminated. Grants have strings that these stocks don't.

In addition, ethics filings revealed that accounts held in the president's own name began buying Intel in March, months after his administration's stake sent the stock soaring. No insider trading has been alleged, and the White House says his assets sit in a trust managed by his children; but Trump's personal holdings are unprecedented for the modern presidency.

For the government's stakes in private companies—such as Vulcan Elements, xLight, and others—no public securities filings with the SEC exist at all.

Even where the shares can be found, the money is tricky to follow. Federal budget rules, mostly designed for grants and loans, treat an equity purchase as an outlay—money out the door—with very little mechanism for recognizing what comes back, according to research by William Henagan, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. That means the Intel position's rise from $8.9 billion to $42 billion appears in no budget document.

The Development Finance Corporation, established by Congress in 2018 to make equity investments abroad, is one exception. But the framework has a narrow lens: it was designed for financing ports in developing countries. Yet now it is the closest thing Washington has to a legal template for owning chipmakers.

A DFC spokesperson told Fortune it records its equity postions as investment assets and manages the ownership on a case-by-case basis.

The federal government has held corporate equity at scale once before, and it did so under supervision. The Troubled Asset Relief Program, the $700 billion rescue fund Congress created in October 2008 at the height of the financial crisis, came with a statutory special inspector general who filed quarterly reports to Congress, plus a congressional oversight panel and standing GAO audits to boot.

But even that apparatus was judged insufficient: in 2009, the program's own inspector general told Congress that taxpayers weren't being told what recipients were doing with their money.

Today's sprawling portfolio has none of that. The administration, for its part, has never claimed otherwise; it has hinted the stakes are the start of something bigger.

"It's like a down payment on a sovereign wealth fund, which many countries have," Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council, told CNBC after the Intel deal was announced.

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/u-government-invested-27-billion-120000768.html