Major flooding in Western Washington soaks towns, breaks records. Nearly every river that drains the western Cascades is expected to flood. So far Seattle is getting nothing but light rain, but high winds are knocking down trees, which fall into power lines, houses, cars and people. Bracing for losing the lights. --- nordy
Oh, goodness, nordy. Do you have supplies to endure a long power outage, should one occur? In addition to food, what sort of heat sources might you have? We have a parlour stove that still works in an outage and on which we can heat water and soup. Our hybrid truck would be able to recharge our phones and computers. It makes a real difference.
Slept 7.75 hours last night without meds!! I sure wish my body would decide what it needs me to do! I have until December 26th to cancel nasal surgery if I decide I don't need it.
The sleeping sounds good! I understand the frustration of not knowing whether you actually need a procedure or not. Why don't you put it out of your mind and let it stew and brew beneath the surface for a few days. The right answer will come to you.
Well, what will answer the question is careful data collection. I have kept a sleep log ever since this allergy reared its ugly head. I have begun adding more specific notes about how well I slept, not just how many hours. I need to see if there's a shift or not.
But what I expect is that I will go through with the surgery. It will make it easier to be around our kitties.
Texas Representative Jasmin Crocket is running for the Senate! She'll be running for Cornon's seat, though it looks like he'll be facing AG Ken Paxton in the primary. Paxton is a MAGA SOB to the right of Cornon who is, more or less, an old fashioned Republican. I'm very excited to see Jasmin running. She's just terrific! Reminds me a bit of the great Barbara Jordan and the equally great Ann Richardson.
The Trump administration has demanded that the International Criminal Court amend the Rome Statute to explicitly bar investigations or prosecutions of Trump and his top officials, warning that if the court does not comply—and if it does not drop probes into Israeli leaders and formally end its investigation into U.S. actions in Afghanistan—the U.S. will impose new sanctions on additional ICC judges, prosecutors, and potentially the court itself.
Officials that spoke with Reuters say they fear that when Trump’s term ends in 2029, the ICC could pursue cases against him, the vice president, the secretary of war, and others, particularly as the U.S. military has conducted lethal operations abroad that are already attracting scrutiny.
A Joint Economic Committee report finds Canadian tourism to the U.S. has collapsed in 2025, with vehicle crossings down nearly 20% overall and up to 27% in some states as Trump’s tariffs, annexation threats, and hostile rhetoric strain relations, causing sharp drops in hotel stays, restaurant traffic, retail sales, winery visits, and festival attendance across northern border communities; business owners warn the damage may be long-term as Canadians form new travel habits and abandon states that once relied on them for up to a quarter of their customers.
NBC News has confirmed that the Trump administration has proposed requiring all tourists to the U.S., including those from visa-waiver countries, to disclose five years of social media activity, email addresses, phone numbers, and extensive family details as a mandatory condition for entry. The plan, published in the Federal Register, has raised concerns about privacy and is expected to further damage an already declining tourism industry, potentially affecting major events like the upcoming World Cup. It also reflects the administration’s broader escalation of digital scrutiny, visa crackdowns, ideological vetting, and expanded searches of travelers’ devices.
Bloomberg has confirmed that U.S. forces intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to sources familiar with the operation, in what officials describe as a significant escalation in already strained U.S.–Venezuela relations; the action targets Venezuela’s sanctioned oil network and signals a more aggressive enforcement posture by Washington.
Trump: “It’s been an interesting day from the standpoint of news. As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Largest one ever seized actually. And other things are happening.”
Articles of impeachment have been filed against RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth today.
According to CNN, House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers is prepared to conclude his committee’s investigation into a September double-tap strike on an alleged drug boat after a classified briefing and video review convinced him the operation was legal. He is now pushing for all committee members to receive a similar classified briefing with access to the footage, which is expected to occur next week.
New court declarations from more than 100 detained families depict worsening conditions inside ICE’s South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas — including children becoming ill from spoiled food and inadequate medical care; limited access to safe drinking water; overcrowded, brightly lit rooms that make sleep difficult; emotional distress and weight loss among children; pressure from ICE agents to sign voluntary departure forms with promises of $1,000 stipends; and threats of punishment or family separation — all sharply contradicting government reports that the facility is improving and compliant with federal standards.
The Trump administration reached a settlement with seven states to end Biden’s SAVE student loan repayment plan—an income-based program that lowered monthly payments and offered faster forgiveness—potentially forcing millions of borrowers to find new, likely costlier repayment options as the plan is dismantled.
Germany’s far-right AfD embraced the Trump administration’s claim that Europe faces “civilisational erasure,” calling for a nationalist revival and deepening its ties with MAGA Republicans, while other European nationalist parties remained cautious due to Trump’s unpopularity on the continent. The AfD argued it is building international alliances around national sovereignty and anti-immigration policies, as Trump’s new national security strategy criticized the EU and praised the rise of patriotic European parties.
A New York federal judge granted the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex-trafficking case, citing the newly enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires release of Epstein-related documents; the judge emphasized that victims’ identities and sensitive personal or medical information must be protected, noted survivors’ warnings about privacy and safety, and issued the order one day after a similar ruling regarding Ghislaine Maxwell’s records, though the release date for the materials remains unclear.
A different federal judge ordered the release of grand jury materials from Ghislaine Maxwell’s case, noting they contain no significant new information and mostly summarize already public evidence; he emphasized strict protections for victims’ privacy, reversed an earlier denial due to the newly passed Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the Washington Post it is purchasing six Boeing 737 aircraft under a nearly $140 million contract to expand deportation operations, with officials saying the new fleet will allow ICE to conduct removals more efficiently and save an estimated $279 million through streamlined flight patterns. Funding comes from the $170 billion budget Congress approved for Trump’s border and immigration agenda, which also includes money for detention centers, enforcement operations, and additional border wall construction.
The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking to remove Trump’s face from national parks passes, arguing the imagery is an inappropriate politicization of public lands.
A federal judge ordered President Trump to halt the deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles and return control to the state, finding the administration’s use of state troops without the governor’s approval unlawful; California argued conditions had changed since the June deployment and that Trump was improperly using the Guard as a domestic police force, while the administration claimed the troops were still needed to protect federal personnel, and although the judge granted the injunction, he put the order on hold until Monday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans will bring a health care package to the floor next week as Covid-era ACA tax credits expire and premiums rise, but he signaled the plan will not extend the enhanced subsidies. He argued the system is “broken” and needs major reform, said GOP proposals will move through regular order with a goal of finishing by January 30, and insisted it would be a “dereliction of duty” to continue the subsidies without significant changes.
Senate Republicans are pushing a health care plan that would allow enhanced ACA subsidies to expire and instead fund health savings accounts, setting up a side-by-side vote with a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies, though both are expected to fail. GOP leaders argue their approach lowers costs and increases choice, while Democrats and experts warn it would cause premiums to double for millions and shift more costs onto sicker patients. With hikes looming next month, Republicans remain divided and worry voters will blame them if premiums spike.
Leaders from roughly 30 nations in the “coalition of the willing” will hold a video call as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal, with Zelenskyy submitting a revised peace plan to American negotiators beforehand. European leaders including Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz are coordinating closely with Ukraine and discussing potential security guarantees, though doubts remain about Western willingness to deter future Russian aggression.
The Fed’s decision to cut interest rates to 3.5% to 3.75% exposed unusual divisions within the normally unified FOMC, underscoring policymakers’ uncertainty as the economy absorbs tariffs, labor shifts from Trump’s immigration crackdown, and major government cuts. Officials are also hampered by missing price and employment data due to the government shutdown while Trump considers whom to appoint as Powell’s successor.
Have to say I fully expected it but am still angry that the Repubs aren't keeping the ACA tax credits in the bill coming to the floor. Neither bill will pass (theirs or the Dems), so it was all just hot air when it was used as a bargaining chip. But we truly knew that at the time.
Major flooding in Western Washington soaks towns, breaks records.
ReplyDeleteNearly every river that drains the western Cascades is expected to flood. So far Seattle is getting nothing but light rain, but high winds are knocking down trees, which fall into power lines, houses, cars and people. Bracing for losing the lights. --- nordy
Sending love and dry thoughts. ♥
DeleteOh, goodness, nordy. Do you have supplies to endure a long power outage, should one occur? In addition to food, what sort of heat sources might you have? We have a parlour stove that still works in an outage and on which we can heat water and soup. Our hybrid truck would be able to recharge our phones and computers. It makes a real difference.
DeleteRemember the other day I posted about new citizens in Boston being denied their swearing in ceremony? Well, the same thing happened in Indianapolis.
ReplyDeleteDozens denied oath of allegiance at Indianapolis naturalization ceremony - Click
😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
DeleteSlept 7.75 hours last night without meds!!
ReplyDeleteI sure wish my body would decide what it needs me to do!
I have until December 26th to cancel nasal surgery if I decide I don't need it.
The sleeping sounds good! I understand the frustration of not knowing whether you actually need a procedure or not. Why don't you put it out of your mind and let it stew and brew beneath the surface for a few days. The right answer will come to you.
DeleteWell, what will answer the question is careful data collection. I have kept a sleep log ever since this allergy reared its ugly head. I have begun adding more specific notes about how well I slept, not just how many hours. I need to see if there's a shift or not.
DeleteBut what I expect is that I will go through with the surgery. It will make it easier to be around our kitties.
Texas Representative Jasmin Crocket is running for the Senate! She'll be running for Cornon's seat, though it looks like he'll be facing AG Ken Paxton in the primary. Paxton is a MAGA SOB to the right of Cornon who is, more or less, an old fashioned Republican. I'm very excited to see Jasmin running. She's just terrific! Reminds me a bit of the great Barbara Jordan and the equally great Ann Richardson.
ReplyDeleteLots of news today from Aaron Parnas.
ReplyDeleteThe Trump administration has demanded that the International Criminal Court amend the Rome Statute to explicitly bar investigations or prosecutions of Trump and his top officials, warning that if the court does not comply—and if it does not drop probes into Israeli leaders and formally end its investigation into U.S. actions in Afghanistan—the U.S. will impose new sanctions on additional ICC judges, prosecutors, and potentially the court itself.
Officials that spoke with Reuters say they fear that when Trump’s term ends in 2029, the ICC could pursue cases against him, the vice president, the secretary of war, and others, particularly as the U.S. military has conducted lethal operations abroad that are already attracting scrutiny.
A Joint Economic Committee report finds Canadian tourism to the U.S. has collapsed in 2025, with vehicle crossings down nearly 20% overall and up to 27% in some states as Trump’s tariffs, annexation threats, and hostile rhetoric strain relations, causing sharp drops in hotel stays, restaurant traffic, retail sales, winery visits, and festival attendance across northern border communities; business owners warn the damage may be long-term as Canadians form new travel habits and abandon states that once relied on them for up to a quarter of their customers.
NBC News has confirmed that the Trump administration has proposed requiring all tourists to the U.S., including those from visa-waiver countries, to disclose five years of social media activity, email addresses, phone numbers, and extensive family details as a mandatory condition for entry. The plan, published in the Federal Register, has raised concerns about privacy and is expected to further damage an already declining tourism industry, potentially affecting major events like the upcoming World Cup. It also reflects the administration’s broader escalation of digital scrutiny, visa crackdowns, ideological vetting, and expanded searches of travelers’ devices.
Bloomberg has confirmed that U.S. forces intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to sources familiar with the operation, in what officials describe as a significant escalation in already strained U.S.–Venezuela relations; the action targets Venezuela’s sanctioned oil network and signals a more aggressive enforcement posture by Washington.
DeleteTrump: “It’s been an interesting day from the standpoint of news. As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Largest one ever seized actually. And other things are happening.”
Articles of impeachment have been filed against RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth today.
According to CNN, House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers is prepared to conclude his committee’s investigation into a September double-tap strike on an alleged drug boat after a classified briefing and video review convinced him the operation was legal. He is now pushing for all committee members to receive a similar classified briefing with access to the footage, which is expected to occur next week.
New court declarations from more than 100 detained families depict worsening conditions inside ICE’s South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas — including children becoming ill from spoiled food and inadequate medical care; limited access to safe drinking water; overcrowded, brightly lit rooms that make sleep difficult; emotional distress and weight loss among children; pressure from ICE agents to sign voluntary departure forms with promises of $1,000 stipends; and threats of punishment or family separation — all sharply contradicting government reports that the facility is improving and compliant with federal standards.
The Trump administration reached a settlement with seven states to end Biden’s SAVE student loan repayment plan—an income-based program that lowered monthly payments and offered faster forgiveness—potentially forcing millions of borrowers to find new, likely costlier repayment options as the plan is dismantled.
Germany’s far-right AfD embraced the Trump administration’s claim that Europe faces “civilisational erasure,” calling for a nationalist revival and deepening its ties with MAGA Republicans, while other European nationalist parties remained cautious due to Trump’s unpopularity on the continent. The AfD argued it is building international alliances around national sovereignty and anti-immigration policies, as Trump’s new national security strategy criticized the EU and praised the rise of patriotic European parties.
A New York federal judge granted the DOJ’s request to unseal grand jury records from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex-trafficking case, citing the newly enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires release of Epstein-related documents; the judge emphasized that victims’ identities and sensitive personal or medical information must be protected, noted survivors’ warnings about privacy and safety, and issued the order one day after a similar ruling regarding Ghislaine Maxwell’s records, though the release date for the materials remains unclear.
DeleteA different federal judge ordered the release of grand jury materials from Ghislaine Maxwell’s case, noting they contain no significant new information and mostly summarize already public evidence; he emphasized strict protections for victims’ privacy, reversed an earlier denial due to the newly passed Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the Washington Post it is purchasing six Boeing 737 aircraft under a nearly $140 million contract to expand deportation operations, with officials saying the new fleet will allow ICE to conduct removals more efficiently and save an estimated $279 million through streamlined flight patterns. Funding comes from the $170 billion budget Congress approved for Trump’s border and immigration agenda, which also includes money for detention centers, enforcement operations, and additional border wall construction.
DeleteThe Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking to remove Trump’s face from national parks passes, arguing the imagery is an inappropriate politicization of public lands.
A federal judge ordered President Trump to halt the deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles and return control to the state, finding the administration’s use of state troops without the governor’s approval unlawful; California argued conditions had changed since the June deployment and that Trump was improperly using the Guard as a domestic police force, while the administration claimed the troops were still needed to protect federal personnel, and although the judge granted the injunction, he put the order on hold until Monday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans will bring a health care package to the floor next week as Covid-era ACA tax credits expire and premiums rise, but he signaled the plan will not extend the enhanced subsidies. He argued the system is “broken” and needs major reform, said GOP proposals will move through regular order with a goal of finishing by January 30, and insisted it would be a “dereliction of duty” to continue the subsidies without significant changes.
Senate Republicans are pushing a health care plan that would allow enhanced ACA subsidies to expire and instead fund health savings accounts, setting up a side-by-side vote with a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies, though both are expected to fail. GOP leaders argue their approach lowers costs and increases choice, while Democrats and experts warn it would cause premiums to double for millions and shift more costs onto sicker patients. With hikes looming next month, Republicans remain divided and worry voters will blame them if premiums spike.
Leaders from roughly 30 nations in the “coalition of the willing” will hold a video call as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal, with Zelenskyy submitting a revised peace plan to American negotiators beforehand. European leaders including Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz are coordinating closely with Ukraine and discussing potential security guarantees, though doubts remain about Western willingness to deter future Russian aggression.
The Fed’s decision to cut interest rates to 3.5% to 3.75% exposed unusual divisions within the normally unified FOMC, underscoring policymakers’ uncertainty as the economy absorbs tariffs, labor shifts from Trump’s immigration crackdown, and major government cuts. Officials are also hampered by missing price and employment data due to the government shutdown while Trump considers whom to appoint as Powell’s successor.
Thanks muchly for all the news snippets, Cat!
DeleteHave to say I fully expected it but am still angry that the Repubs aren't keeping the ACA tax credits in the bill coming to the floor. Neither bill will pass (theirs or the Dems), so it was all just hot air when it was used as a bargaining chip. But we truly knew that at the time.
Nurse Teri!
ReplyDeleteVaccines save lives, Mr. Kennedy