Trumpisms

• Maybe we[ICE] can use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough. These are criminals. We’re dealing with really hardened criminals. [They aren’t, of course.]
• They’re all paid, protesters. They have beautiful, professionally-made signs. Lovely wooden handles, with leather grips. I really like their signs and want to have some myself.
• Trump says he’ll free infrastructure funds for New York if Penn Station is renamed after him. He’s also demanded Dulles airport be given his name in exchange for funding the NY-New Jersey tunnel and subway extension. [Is there really no limit to his egocentric shystering?]

News

Trump re-posted a racist video showing the Obamas as apes. The White House initially defended the post and mocked the media for highlighting the scandal. But – after widespread outrage over the ‘vile, unhinged’ post – later took it down, claiming it had been a mistake by a staffer. The implication was that Trump hadn’t actually read but the original post but Trump’s defence was that he’d only seen the first bit of the 62 second video but not the part people objected to. He has refused to apologise, saying “No. I didn’t make a mistake”.

Only a smattering of Republicans have spoken out and none from the party’s congressional leadership.

Vance was booed at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy.

NBC cut the booing out of their showing of the ceremony..

Quotes/Observations

About 22% of Americans worship Trump and actually enjoy seeing him being nasty to reporters..

Non-comedic Commentaries

Cage fights at the White House! A gigantic arch! Trump’s gaudy plans for America’s 250th anniversary. From minting coins featuring his own face to covering buildings with gold, the president’s proposals for marking America’s semiquincentennial say a lot about the country’s backwards outlook.

Trump’s authoritarian envy: The plight and peril of a lame duck. Envious of Putin, Xi, and other authoritarians who have no clock ticking, the president is more dangerous than ever.

Trump’s plans to rig the midterms: What he can do and what he can’t do but might well try to.