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Let’s just make her the Queen Of All Maga and get it over with Of course she finally did it: On Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to formally boot Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) from the office. Greene’s move, which came amid conservative outrage over Johnson’s deal on a spending package to avert a government shutdown that passed Friday, threatens to throw the chamber into chaos just months after a hard-right faction ousted Kevin McCarthy from the top job. Due to the procedural details of the so-called motion to vacate the chair, it was unclear when exactly the vote on Johnson’s fate would be held—or if it would be held at all. Greene did not notice the resolution as privileged, a special designation that forces a vote. If and when she does, it would give House leadership two legislative days to hold a vote on the measure. However, the chamber was scheduled to leave for a two-week recess on Friday, so any vote on a motion to vacate would happen at the earliest on April 9. Speaking to reporters after filing the resolution, Greene said it was time to find a new Speaker of the House.

The beltway press is very excited about the possibility that Marco Rubio might be tapped for VP (which he has said he’d be honored to accept.) Obviously Trump thinks this is going to boost his standing with Latinos and maybe he’s right. Blue collar Americans, including blue collar Latinos, do seem to like him more than they used to even though all he really did during his first term was give vast sums to rich people like himself. Anyway, maybe it will happen. Rubio is showing real talent for energetic boot licking so he may be the perfect choice. But I think this guy, who is on the short list for Attorney General could be a bit of a problem. To say the least: If the Republicans take the Senate this nut could be confirmed. Sound good?

The timbre of a violin or a sitar can affect how dissonant music sounds to us.

The post How Different Instruments Shape the Music We Love appeared first on Nautilus.

Congress passed a one-year ban on UNRWA funds even as several Western countries have resumed funding for the U.N. agency that aids Palestinians.

The post U.S. Doubles Down on Defunding UNRWA — Despite Flimsy Allegations appeared first on The Intercept.

It’s not just whales who were decimated, but the creatures
who live where they fall.

The post The Unseen Deep-Sea Legacy of Whaling appeared first on Nautilus.

Following Disney+, BBC dropped its official trailer for Showrunner Russell T. Davies and Ncuti Gatwa & Millie Gibson's Doctor Who Season 1.

I’m already seeing commentary that says this wasn’t good enough. They demand to know ALL the details and what exactly they are doing for her and what the kids said when they told them and how William feels and blah, blah, blah. Leave them the fuck alone.

At first sight there might not seem to be much connection between health and the AUKUS military alliance. But the threats posed by AUKUS to health are multiple and strong, at local, national, regional and global levels. A serious examination of those threats should form an important part of preventive healthcare. The AUKUS agreement between Continue reading »

The quick count of Indonesia’s recent elections indicates the winner is previously disgraced Prabowo. Accusations abound of voting fraud, vote buying, court-rigging, and corruption within the electoral commission, and many friends are despairing of Indonesia’s retreating democracy. I share that concern, but I can see a potential different interpretation of the facts. My prayer, and Continue reading »

Recently, Freedom House, a non-profit organisation that assesses democracy freedom, and human rights, reported that globally democracy has been in decline for the past 18 years. Moreover, this has been most evident in the West. According to a study published by Rand Corporation, a U.S. government supported think tank, Asia is the only place in Continue reading »

The ideas of Peter Dutton and Jürgen Habermas, the government shifts ground on intergenerational politics, a fact check on law’n’order fearmongers, and How the American left is becoming more stupid. Read on for the weekly roundup of links to articles, podcasts, reports and other media on current economic and political issues. Economics Even the IMF Continue reading »

Australia’s system of GST distribution — despite some serious mutilation by WA — remains one of the most effective and fairest in the world. That’s why the NSW government wants to blow it up. The way the states and territories are supported by the GST is founded on the notion that every Australian deserves access Continue reading »

Grenville Cross says new legislation incorporates guarantees lacking in other common-law jurisdictions’ similar laws. Although it was inevitable the West’s anti-China forces would criticise Hong Kong’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (the Ordinance), which was passed by the Legislative Council on March 19, its shameless myth-making exceeded expectations. Regardless of its content, they viewed it as Continue reading »

Israel’s lawlessness has a history that those in the West share with the apartheid state. It is remarked often enough, including in this space, that Israel’s savagery in its determination to exterminate the Palestinians of Gaza — and we had better brace for what is next on the West Bank of the Jordan — marks Continue reading »

Read Act I

“Good Thing Going” (Merrily We Roll Along): You’re a hugger, and you look at everyone’s Instagram stories no matter how long it’s been since you last spoke. You can name all five original members of the Rat Pack.

“Liaisons” (A Little Night Music): You have a close relationship with your grandmother. You love drag queens and your favorite on season sixteen of RuPaul’s Drag Race is Sapphira Cristál.

“Gee, Officer Krupke” (West Side Story): You’re the first person on the dance floor at weddings, and your dance moves are heavy on the elbows. You have a criminology degree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

“Marry Me a Little” (Company): Your thumbs are sore from swiping. You have an anxious-avoidant attachment style. You read about attachment styles instead of going to therapy.

Reform-minded district attorneys like Minnesota’s Mary Moriarty are facing backlash for prosecuting police shootings and misconduct.

The post Prosecute a Cop? You’ll Face Removal From Office appeared first on The Intercept.

I would not characterize Brian Beutler as a super optimistic fellow and certainly not one to blow smoke about the Democrats. But in today’s newsletter he shares a little bit of good news which, coming from him, is reassuring. The short version is that over the past couple weeks President Biden has caught up with Donald Trump, as depicted in the Economist’s polling average above.   Now that’s not the whole story, or even an entirely good story, as I’ll detail momentarily. But deeper in the tea leaves, most recent developments are also pretty favorable to Biden and (thus) bad for Trump.  Consistent with the head-to-head polls, Biden’s approval ratings have ticked up (or, for copium abstainers, his disapproval rating has ticked down) while Trump, who has been more popular of late than in many years, has seen his numbers fall. But to me, the best case for optimism lies outside the realm of survey data. It’s better for Biden to be slightly ahead than slightly behind, but what he needs more than anything is upside potential to open a large lead.

Returning on May 10/11, here's the official Season 1 trailer for Showrunner Russell T. Davies and Ncuti Gatwa & Millie Gibson's Doctor Who.