National Catholic Reporter has several articles regarding Pope Francis

Senate Republicans set to bypass parliamentarian on Trump Tax Cuts

Source: The Hill

Republicans are set to make the audacious play of bypassing the Senate parliamentarian and moving forward with a budget resolution based on a scoring baseline set by Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that would allow them to argue extending President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts won’t add to the deficit.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5226747-republicans-tax-cuts-deficit-senate-parliamentarian/

Canada announcing 25% tariffs on $29 billion of US imports

Source: Live feed CBCNN

Listening to the announcement. Reciprocal tariffs. Mostly aluminum and steel.

No link yet.

NATO chief says Zelensky must restore relationship with Trump

I recommend watching the entire Trump - Zelensky press conference

I found it on YouTube. C-span was the source.

While watching keep this in mind. Per Newsweek TASS was in the Oval Office until it got really rough - the stuff getting all the attention. Supposedly it was an oversight that was remedied once it was recognized TASS wasn’t on the approved list “The removal occurred during a tense exchange between Trump and Zelensky.”

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-kicks-russian-state-news-agency-out-zelensky-meeting-2037970

The bluster and Biden bashing were expected, but the repetitive nature of it perplexed me until I realized the audience for Trump’s performance was Putin.

Trump must have been frustrated that Zelensky didn’t take the bait. To no one’s surprise, Trump repeatedly failed to offer security assurances for Ukraine. But I think what might have pushed Trump over the edge was the following: 1) Trump claimed Ukraine is pile of rubble. Zelensky contradicted that claim as Russian propaganda. He invited Trump to visit Ukraine. 2) Zelensky gave a geopolitical history lesson Ukraine and on the unreliability of agreements negotiated with Putin. Trump had the deer in the headlights look. If TASS was there long enough, Putin got an earful. Trump had no response other than to bash Biden.

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Then think about this: Zelensky invited JD to visit Ukraine so he could learn about the country and the war firsthand. He was just in Europe. How hard would have been? Of course JD said he was well informed by reading. Funny, Vice President Harris was blasted for not visiting the southern border. Double standard?

I just wonder if Trump and JD won’t visit Ukraine because they fear Putin might drop a bomb on them. Or maybe they are just cowards in general.

Bishop Stowe addresses Christian Nationalism

Addressing the Kentucky Council of Churches, Bishop Stowe gave a 40 minute address that among other things called Christian Nationalism the “oxymoron of oxymorons.”

He spent about 15 minutes addressing Project 2025, noting how it meshes with Christian Nationalism. The article contains a Facebook link to a video of the entire speech. It was well done and worth watching if you have the time. The following is from the National Catholic Reporter article covering his address

Marsh Family tune about Vance on YouTube

Just saw this on Kos. These folks are pretty darned good and effective communicators.

If you have about 5 minutes and like Dancing Queen, you might smile a bit

Ohio Redistricting Reform will be on the ballot

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Voters will decide in November whether to overhaul Ohio’s system of drawing political district maps after state officials said Tuesday the campaign had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Citizens Not Politicians, the campaign group backing the amendment, needed to get 413,487 signatures, including a minimum number from 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Secretary of State Frank LaRose said Tuesday the group had exceeded that goal, turning in 535,005 signatures while exceeding the minimum requirement in 58 counties.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/07/ohio-redistricting-reform-amendment-qualifies-for-november-ballot.html

A bipartisan committee will investigate the shooting at TFG's rally

How easy was that? Apparently very easy. Compare what is happening now to the obstruction to the formation of a bipartisan committee to investigate J6. Compare this to the whining about the J6 committee being illegitimate because Pelosi had to act on her own.

The TFG party is consistently inconsistent.

I am sending Joe a thank you note

I encourage others to do the same. I would love to see the White House smothered in letters of appreciation. Let the world know we love Joe.