Reading

“Eight senators in the Democratic caucus broke with the party late Sunday to vote with Republicans and advance legislation to end the government shutdown.” — New York Times

Great news, everybody: We finally got them to agree to the deal they wanted in the first place, no concessions. That’s right, we held all the cards and we played them perfectly—by folding.

Here’s the kicker: We even got them to agree not to pass the healthcare subsidies that we’ve been working for. You know, the ones average Americans rely on. Here’s how we did it: We asked, then they said, “No way,” and then we said, “Okay.” That’s how you win.

But we didn’t stop there. We confronted them in the hallway and asked again. They said, “Not now,” and we said, “Great, so next time?” Then they said, “Sure, next time,” and started laughing a little too loudly at each other before walking away. Boo-yah. Mic drop.

DAY 1

The secret police appear at my door and drag me from my apartment. “What about my desert island discs?” I shout, thinking this will get a laugh. A rag soaked in ether is stuffed in my mouth, and a baton hits me in the back of the head, hard.

DAY 1 (CONT.)

I am forced to get on a stationary bicycle—one in a row of thousands—and pedal to generate electricity for the Loyalist States. The power plant guard does not chuckle or show any recognition when I ask, “Is it a fixed gear, at least?” He just stares for a moment and then hits me in the temple with his baton.

DAY 1 (CONT. CONT.)

At lunch, I try to cheer everyone up with a lighthearted discussion of ways the gruel could be improved.

“Ehremgee! What if it had bacon?!” I joke.

My fellow detainees stare forward into their bowls, not even meeting my eyes.

The second time I say, “Oh my god, how can I make my budget work with all this avocado toast?” the mess hall guard clubs me with his baton.

Use AI thoughtlessly and it dulls your mind. But with a strategic approach and the right prompts, it can be a powerful tool

- by Nick Kabrel

Read on Psyche

The immense complexity of the climate makes it impossible to model accurately. Instead we must use uncertainty to our advantage

- by David Stainforth

Read on Aeon

“less than a week after voters loudly repudiated Trump, how are Senate Democrats—including minority leader Chuck Schumer—responding? By negotiating a shutdown deal with Republicans that will give Trump almost everything he wants, entrench the GOP’s austerity budget, and deepen the affordability crisis.” — The Nation

Well, everyone, it was a valiant and brave endeavor. We refused to capitulate during the Dread Lord Nyarlathotep’s nationwide psychic siege for over forty days. Sure, we already conceded on almost everything to keep the Necro-Regime open for another season of blight, including the subclause ensuring we keep delivering innocent souls unto the Wraith Brigade’s Trauma Division. But we knew where to put our foot down, and held strong in our demand: Death cultists, refill those fountain pens of yours with goat’s blood and add a protection incantation against the Affordable Care Act’s “Pound of Flesh” Premium.

Sen. Dick Durbin said the fight proved “Republicans are not sensitive to health care insurance premiums and we are.” That won’t keep costs down.

The post Key Senate Dem Says Party Caved on Shutdown to Make a Symbolic Point About the GOP appeared first on The Intercept.

ICE is considering hiring private investigators to track down immigrants inside the United States. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has questions.

The post Lawmaker Challenges ICE Plan to Hire Bounty Hunters appeared first on The Intercept.

Mired in scandal over his leadership, the FBI director is lashing out against MAGA influencers for mocking his girlfriend as a Mossad honeypot — and activating his legal network to slap them with frivolous multi-million dollar lawsuits. The wind was at Kash Patel’s back in the early months of 2023. It was during this period that the Trump-aligned legal operative met Alexis Wilkins, then a 24-year-old wannabe country music star who would become his girlfriend, and launched his foundation, “Fight […]

The post Kash Patel’s GF files $5 million lawsuit against podcaster for ‘insinuation’ she’s Mossad honeypot first appeared on The Grayzone.

The post Kash Patel’s GF files $5 million lawsuit against podcaster for ‘insinuation’ she’s Mossad honeypot appeared first on The Grayzone.