Dem
47
GOP
53
It was actually a pretty slow weekend, overall, because Eric Swalwell pushed most everything else off the page.
End of an Era: We meant to get to this last week, but after 60 years, the CIA will no longer produce the much-beloved CIA Factbook, which was simultaneously an atlas and a valuable piece of propaganda (since it showed the world, particularly the Russkies, how good the CIA is at collecting information). The explanation for discontinuing the book: "Our mission has changed."
Our Take: Maybe this work is no longer needed in a world with the Internet. Still, this administration takes every opportunity to show its disdain for knowledge.
Did They Check with Billy Joel?: Donald Trump may live in Florida now, but his heart's still in New York City. Meanwhile, he is desperately casting about for monumental projects that will allow him to leave his stamp on the world before he's done. And so, as part of plans to rebuild iconic Penn Station (and presumably add his name), he is also toying with a plan to tear down Madison Square Garden and rebuild it... somewhere else. The owner of MSG, James Dolan, is not enthused, and that's before we talk about the billion-dollar price tag.
Our Take: Maybe Trump can tear down Wrigley Field, the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland, mom and apple pie while he is at it. More evidence that the man responsible for this eyesore has no respect for tradition:
Seriously, who picks THAT font for that purpose? If you just have to slap a label on the wall, use a somewhat understated and historic-feeling font with some serifs. Definitely not a script font, which makes it look like a cheap hotel. Oh, wait...
Another Podcast: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the latest member of the Trump administration/entourage to announce a podcast, his will address the "lies" that are making America sick.
Our Take: We are confident the podcast will be chock-full of lies.
Fly Your Flag: The Trump administration was on the losing end of a lawsuit (again) and has been ordered to restore the rainbow flag at Stonewall National Monument in New York City.
Our Take: We wonder what Samuel Alito, who loves political flags, but hates gays, thinks about this.
On the Move: The Cook Political Report released its latest assessment of the Senate races, and made four moves, all of them in a Democratic direction. North Carolina (open; being vacated by Thom Tillis, R) and Georgia (Jon Ossoff, D) moved from "Toss up" to "Lean D." Ohio (Jon Husted, R) moved from "Lean R" to "Toss Up." And Nebraska (Pete Ricketts, R) moved from "Solid R" to "Lean R."
Our Take: The Republicans are still the favorite to hold the Senate in November, but we are inching closer and closer to coin-flip territory.
And that's the way it is. (Z)