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LetMyPeopleVote
LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
March 12, 2026
In China, praying for Trump has become a form of entertainment used to mock the U.S. president.
The Chinese are mocking trump.
https://x.com/Eng_china5/status/2032077733422043630
https://x.com/XueJia24682/status/2031962201784008949
https://x.com/XH_Lee23/status/2031912026268946933
https://x.com/Jingjing_Li/status/2031934905861750945
This made me smile
March 12, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/in-second-week-of-the-iran-war-the-white-house-emphasizes-fun-and-meme-videos
MaddowBlog-In second week of the Iran war, the White House emphasizes 'fun' and meme videos
The president and his team have embraced a cavalier, anti-humanist attitude to matters of life and death.
Team Trump thinks the way to make the war popular is through meme videos apparently made by over-caffeinated children.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-12T20:36:27.585Z
Perhaps the best thing you can say for this PR campaign is that it accurately embodies the pointless, slapdash amorality of the military offensive it’s meant to bolster.
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/in-second-week-of-the-iran-war-the-white-house-emphasizes-fun-and-meme-videos
At his political rally in Kentucky, Donald Trump told a curious story about Iranian ships destroyed by the U.S. military in recent days. According to the president’s version of events, he grew angry with his military leaders, asking, “Why the hell did we kill them? Why didn’t we just capture them and use them in our navy?”
Eventually, according to Trump, a U.S. general told him, “Sir, it’s a lot more fun doing it this way.”
.....There are a variety of adjectives that a wartime American leader should use when talking about this avoidable crisis. “Fun” isn’t one of them.
These characters, and many more figures from movies, TV, sports, music and video game memes, appeared in a series of short, trolling videos from the White House, on platforms including TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter), that reduce the war’s carnage and upheaval to flippant, dystopian amusements......
The president and his team, however, appear eager, almost gleeful, to be cavalier about matters of life and death in ways that are fundamentally at odds with basic human decency.
It’s as if the White House saw the evidence of widespread public opposition to the war and concluded the way to turn things around is through juvenile taunts and jokes an adult should be embarrassed to make.
I don’t know what, if anything, could improve public support for this inexplicable war, but if the president and his team could try acting like grown-ups for a while, it’d be a step in the right direction.
Perhaps the best thing you can say for this particular public-relations effort is that at least it accurately embodies the pointless, slapdash amorality of the military offensive it’s meant to bolster.
Eventually, according to Trump, a U.S. general told him, “Sir, it’s a lot more fun doing it this way.”
Trump: "They knocked out 54 ships in two days. I got mad at my people. I said, 'Why the hell did we kill them? Why didn't we just capture them and use them in our Navy?' They said they wouldn't have qualified for that. One of my generals said, 'Sir, it's a lot more fun doing it this way.'"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-11T21:12:41.267Z
.....There are a variety of adjectives that a wartime American leader should use when talking about this avoidable crisis. “Fun” isn’t one of them.
But by all appearances, the White House has come to a very different conclusion. As The New York Times reported:
On Feb. 28, the Trump administration launched war on Iran. The following week, it drafted Iron Man, Walter White and SpongeBob.
These characters, and many more figures from movies, TV, sports, music and video game memes, appeared in a series of short, trolling videos from the White House, on platforms including TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter), that reduce the war’s carnage and upheaval to flippant, dystopian amusements......
The president and his team, however, appear eager, almost gleeful, to be cavalier about matters of life and death in ways that are fundamentally at odds with basic human decency.
It’s as if the White House saw the evidence of widespread public opposition to the war and concluded the way to turn things around is through juvenile taunts and jokes an adult should be embarrassed to make.
I don’t know what, if anything, could improve public support for this inexplicable war, but if the president and his team could try acting like grown-ups for a while, it’d be a step in the right direction.
Perhaps the best thing you can say for this particular public-relations effort is that at least it accurately embodies the pointless, slapdash amorality of the military offensive it’s meant to bolster.
March 12, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-oil-2676014467
Trump mocked for taking credit for Biden-era investment: 'He's having waking nightmares'
This refinery was announced and started while President Biden was in office
President Donald Trump was brutally mocked by political analysts and observers on Tuesday after he announced a new oil refinery would open in Brownsville, Texas.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-11T11:20:09Z
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-oil-2676014467
President Donald Trump was brutally mocked by political analysts and observers on Tuesday after he announced a new oil refinery would open in Brownsville, Texas.
Earlier in the day, Trump claimed that his administration had attracted a new $300 billion investment from an Indian oil company, Reliance, to build a new refinery. However, some analysts and observers noted that Trump appeared to take credit for an investment announced under the previous Biden administration.
The announcement was made at a time when global markets were reeling from the aftershocks of the U.S. and Israel's decision to bomb Iran earlier this month. On Monday, the price of a barrel of oil hit nearly $120. In the U.S., gas prices are up more than $0.40-cents across the nation since last week, according to data from AAA.....
"This project began construction in 2024 and cost between $3-$4 billion, according to the company. The refinery capacity is 160,000 [barrels per day]," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, posted on X.
Earlier in the day, Trump claimed that his administration had attracted a new $300 billion investment from an Indian oil company, Reliance, to build a new refinery. However, some analysts and observers noted that Trump appeared to take credit for an investment announced under the previous Biden administration.
The announcement was made at a time when global markets were reeling from the aftershocks of the U.S. and Israel's decision to bomb Iran earlier this month. On Monday, the price of a barrel of oil hit nearly $120. In the U.S., gas prices are up more than $0.40-cents across the nation since last week, according to data from AAA.....
"This project began construction in 2024 and cost between $3-$4 billion, according to the company. The refinery capacity is 160,000 [barrels per day]," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, posted on X.
March 12, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-houses-witkoff-vouches-for-russias-trustworthiness-on-iran-and-alleged-war-assistance
MaddowBlog-White House's Witkoff vouches for Russia's trustworthiness on Iran and alleged war assistance
Confronted with evidence of Russia aiding Iran, Team Trump has shrugged, boosted Russia’s economy and vouched for Moscow’s reliability.
"Witkoff’s on-air comments came a day after Trump said that he had a 'positive call' with Putin and that the Russian leader 'wants to be helpful' and 'very constructive.'
— Khashoggi's Ghost (@urocklive1.bsky.social) 2026-03-11T20:34:26.586Z
The American president didn’t specify for whom Putin wants to be helpful and constructive."
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-houses-witkoff-vouches-for-russias-trustworthiness-on-iran-and-alleged-war-assistance
There’s ample speculation as to how this happened, but it’s hard to overlook the reports from multiple news organizations, including MS NOW, over the weekend that Russia had provided Iran with information that could help it strike American targets. One U.S. official told MS NOW point-blank, “Russia is providing intelligence help to Iran.”.....
In the wake of the reporting, the president and his team not only expressed public indifference to the news that Russia was assisting Iran, the Republican administration also extended a new reward to Vladimir Putin’s regime, temporarily easing oil sanctions on the country.
If that weren’t quite enough, one of the key figures on Trump’s foreign policy team went even further on Tuesday. MS NOW reported that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff appeared on CNBC and emphasized that Russian officials have denied the allegations.
Witkoff went on to say of the Russian officials, “We can take them at their word.”
So as far as Team Trump is concerned, when confronted with evidence that Russia is aiding Iran during the war, the proper response is to (a) shrug; (b) boost Russia’s economy; and (c) vouch for Moscow’s trustworthiness.
Witkoff’s on-air comments came a day after Trump said that he had a “positive call” with Putin and that the Russian leader “wants to be helpful” and “very constructive.”
The American president didn’t specify for whom Putin wants to be helpful and constructive.
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware appeared on MS NOW this week and said, “The clearest winner from this war in Iran is Russia.” Soon after, The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin “can barely conceal a smirk” as the war continues.
In the wake of the reporting, the president and his team not only expressed public indifference to the news that Russia was assisting Iran, the Republican administration also extended a new reward to Vladimir Putin’s regime, temporarily easing oil sanctions on the country.
If that weren’t quite enough, one of the key figures on Trump’s foreign policy team went even further on Tuesday. MS NOW reported that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff appeared on CNBC and emphasized that Russian officials have denied the allegations.
Witkoff said Russian officials told President Donald Trump on a call [Monday] that ‘they have not been sharing’ the information.
Witkoff added that Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, ‘reiterated the same’ on a call with himself and Jared Kushner, one of Trump’s sons-in-law, whom the president named as a ‘special peace envoy.’
Witkoff went on to say of the Russian officials, “We can take them at their word.”
QUINTANILLA: Do we think the Russians have shared intel about US military assets, and if so, why would we be giving waivers on oil sanctions?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-10T16:08:53.733Z
WITKOFF: I can tell you that on the call with POTUS, the Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word.
So as far as Team Trump is concerned, when confronted with evidence that Russia is aiding Iran during the war, the proper response is to (a) shrug; (b) boost Russia’s economy; and (c) vouch for Moscow’s trustworthiness.
Witkoff’s on-air comments came a day after Trump said that he had a “positive call” with Putin and that the Russian leader “wants to be helpful” and “very constructive.”
The American president didn’t specify for whom Putin wants to be helpful and constructive.
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware appeared on MS NOW this week and said, “The clearest winner from this war in Iran is Russia.” Soon after, The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin “can barely conceal a smirk” as the war continues.
March 12, 2026
Mike Luckovich- Where will trump throw his advisers?
— Mike Luckovich (@mluckovich.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T19:22:00.540Z
March 12, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-and-his-allies-pitch-a-new-idea-maybe-higher-gas-prices-arent-bad-news
MaddowBlog-Trump and his allies pitch a new idea: Maybe higher gas prices aren't 'bad news'
We’ve reached the point at which the president wants consumers to be glad they’re paying more at the pump.
Trump, in late October: “With the Democrats, you’ll be paying , , and a Gallon.â€
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-12T16:48:06.117Z
Trump, today, as gas prices approach the levels he warned about five months ago: “When oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.â€
If Dems are lucky, the White House will keep pushing this line.
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-and-his-allies-pitch-a-new-idea-maybe-higher-gas-prices-arent-bad-news
It was against this backdrop that the Republican president rolled out a very different kind of message on Thursday morning. Just 17 weeks after he wrote, “Under President Trump, ME, Gasoline will come down to approximately $2 a Gallon,” Trump tried selling Americans on the opposite message.
“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote.
Yes, we’ve reached the point at which the president wants consumers to be glad they’re paying more at the pump.
As a substantive matter, the problem with Trump’s claim is that the word “we” was doing a lot of work in his sentence. It’s true that the United States is producing a lot of oil, and it’s also true that higher prices help generate oil industry profits. But since the number of Americans who benefit from oil industry profits is very small, few will likely celebrate the hit to their wallets.
Complicating matters, Trump isn’t alone on this. Kelly Loeffler, head of the Small Business Administration, downplayed the importance of rising gas prices in a podcast interview this week. And on Thursday morning, Energy Secretary Chris Wright appeared on Fox News and pushed a line that was eerily similar to the president’s: “Fortunately, the United States, we produce more oil than we can consume; we’re a net oil exporter. So overall for the U.S. economy, this isn’t bad news.”
This is a message that Republicans will continue to embrace in the coming weeks and months if Democrats are extremely lucky.
“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote.
Yes, we’ve reached the point at which the president wants consumers to be glad they’re paying more at the pump.
As a substantive matter, the problem with Trump’s claim is that the word “we” was doing a lot of work in his sentence. It’s true that the United States is producing a lot of oil, and it’s also true that higher prices help generate oil industry profits. But since the number of Americans who benefit from oil industry profits is very small, few will likely celebrate the hit to their wallets.
Complicating matters, Trump isn’t alone on this. Kelly Loeffler, head of the Small Business Administration, downplayed the importance of rising gas prices in a podcast interview this week. And on Thursday morning, Energy Secretary Chris Wright appeared on Fox News and pushed a line that was eerily similar to the president’s: “Fortunately, the United States, we produce more oil than we can consume; we’re a net oil exporter. So overall for the U.S. economy, this isn’t bad news.”
This is a message that Republicans will continue to embrace in the coming weeks and months if Democrats are extremely lucky.
March 12, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pentagon-puts-restrictions-on-photographers-adding-to-hegseths-anti-press-campaign
MaddowBlog-Pentagon puts restrictions on photographers, adding to Hegseth's anti-press campaign
Whether the secretary realizes it or not, it’s not the photographers who are making him look bad.
Whether Hegseth realizes this or not, it’s not photographers who are making him look bad.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-12T14:44:53.756Z
He’s managing to do that all on his own.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pentagon-puts-restrictions-on-photographers-adding-to-hegseths-anti-press-campaign
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke in the Pentagon briefing room on the third day of the war in Iran, he was an unfamiliar sight: It was the first time the former Fox News host had appeared in the room since June. Not surprisingly, media photographers took a barrage of pictures of the secretary at the briefing.
That ordinarily wouldn’t be especially notable, except in this instance, the developments led the Defense Department to make some unexpected changes. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has barred press photographers from war briefings after Hegseth’s staff deemed published images of the secretary “unflattering.” From the article:
....But the shift on photographers pushes the broader effort to a new and more embarrassing level: The Defense Department isn’t just concerned about substance, it now seems to be focused on appearances.
For all of Hegseth’s rhetoric about the importance of “lethality,” the secretary and his team continue to indulge in an endless parade of distractions. In the days leading up to the U.S. military offensive in Iran, Hegseth spent his time distancing the Defense Department from some of the nation’s leading universities while whining about “wokeness,” feuding with Anthropic over artificial intelligence safeguards, and forcing Scouting America to abandon programs and policies aimed at promoting diversity.
Now, while the Pentagon is ostensibly focused on ongoing operations in the Middle East, he and his team are taking time for reprisals against photographers over “unflattering” images of the secretary.
The gap between Hegseth’s tough-guy posturing and his real-world efforts is large and growing. Whether Hegseth realizes this or not, it’s not photographers who are making him look bad. He’s managing to do that all on his own.
That ordinarily wouldn’t be especially notable, except in this instance, the developments led the Defense Department to make some unexpected changes. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has barred press photographers from war briefings after Hegseth’s staff deemed published images of the secretary “unflattering.” From the article:
Several outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images sent photographers to the briefing from Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
But after they published photos — which have broad reach because they are licensed by publications globally — members of Hegseth’s staff told colleagues that they did not like the way that the secretary looked. Hegseth’s aides decided to shut out photographers from the two subsequent briefings at the Pentagon, on March 4 and March 10, according to the two people familiar with the decision.
....But the shift on photographers pushes the broader effort to a new and more embarrassing level: The Defense Department isn’t just concerned about substance, it now seems to be focused on appearances.
For all of Hegseth’s rhetoric about the importance of “lethality,” the secretary and his team continue to indulge in an endless parade of distractions. In the days leading up to the U.S. military offensive in Iran, Hegseth spent his time distancing the Defense Department from some of the nation’s leading universities while whining about “wokeness,” feuding with Anthropic over artificial intelligence safeguards, and forcing Scouting America to abandon programs and policies aimed at promoting diversity.
Now, while the Pentagon is ostensibly focused on ongoing operations in the Middle East, he and his team are taking time for reprisals against photographers over “unflattering” images of the secretary.
The gap between Hegseth’s tough-guy posturing and his real-world efforts is large and growing. Whether Hegseth realizes this or not, it’s not photographers who are making him look bad. He’s managing to do that all on his own.
March 12, 2026
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/god-formally-notifies-mike-johnson-f8e
The Borowitz Report-God Formally Notifies Mike Johnson That he is Going to Hell
God Formally Notifies Mike Johnson That he is Going to Hell
— DigitalGypsie (@digitalgypsie.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T12:24:19.820Z
open.substack.com/pub/borowitz...
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/god-formally-notifies-mike-johnson-f8e
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In a move that many called long overdue, on Thursday God formally notified House Speaker Mike Johnson that he was going to Hell.
In a rare public statement, the Almighty said that Johnson’s support of Donald Trump’s war in Iran was the “last straw” that sealed the Speaker’s eternal damnation.
“What do you do with someone who claims to be a Christian and supports killing civilians?” God asked. “You send his ass to Hell, that’s what.”
Confronted by reporters in a Capitol corridor, Johnson said he was “disappointed” by the Heavenly Father’s decision, but added, “I serve a higher power: Donald Trump.”
In a rare public statement, the Almighty said that Johnson’s support of Donald Trump’s war in Iran was the “last straw” that sealed the Speaker’s eternal damnation.
“What do you do with someone who claims to be a Christian and supports killing civilians?” God asked. “You send his ass to Hell, that’s what.”
Confronted by reporters in a Capitol corridor, Johnson said he was “disappointed” by the Heavenly Father’s decision, but added, “I serve a higher power: Donald Trump.”
March 12, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth-pentagon-2676083316
Pentagon bans photographers for 'unflattering' photos of Pete Hegseth: report
Pete is a vain idiot
The Pentagon apparently shut out photographers from attending press briefings on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war in Iran after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's staff decided recent photos of him were "unflattering," The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-11T21:40:10Z
https://www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth-pentagon-2676083316
The Pentagon apparently shut out photographers from attending press briefings on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war in Iran after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's staff decided recent photos of him were "unflattering," The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
The images from the March 2 briefing came after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed during a joint military strike on Feb. 28. It was the first time Hegseth had appeared in the briefing room and spoken to press since June 26.
The Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images were among the media groups that sent photographers to the briefing with Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"But after they published photos — which have broad reach because they are licensed by publications globally — members of Hegseth’s staff told colleagues that they did not like the way that the secretary looked," two people who were familiar with the decision told The Post. They asked to speak under the condition of anonymity, citing concerns over potential retaliation.
Hegseth's aides then barred photographers from joining two other briefings at the Pentagon on March 4 and March 10.
“In order to use space in the Pentagon Briefing Room effectively, we are allowing one representative per news outlet if uncredentialed, excluding pool," Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a written statement. "Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use. If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential.”
The images from the March 2 briefing came after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed during a joint military strike on Feb. 28. It was the first time Hegseth had appeared in the briefing room and spoken to press since June 26.
The Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images were among the media groups that sent photographers to the briefing with Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"But after they published photos — which have broad reach because they are licensed by publications globally — members of Hegseth’s staff told colleagues that they did not like the way that the secretary looked," two people who were familiar with the decision told The Post. They asked to speak under the condition of anonymity, citing concerns over potential retaliation.
Hegseth's aides then barred photographers from joining two other briefings at the Pentagon on March 4 and March 10.
“In order to use space in the Pentagon Briefing Room effectively, we are allowing one representative per news outlet if uncredentialed, excluding pool," Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a written statement. "Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use. If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential.”
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