Category Archives: Politics

The Latest About Mad King Donald

Posted on Monday 19 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Trump’s letter to Norway, about threatening a hostile takeover of Greenland because he didn’t win a Nobel Prize, written as if by a petulant 12-year-old child; With big picture comments by Tom Nichols; While Trump voters think he’s doing a … Continue reading →

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Trying to Understand How Modern Life Makes Sense in Larger Contexts

Posted on Sunday 18 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

I like to think that this blog isn’t about politics, per se, but about following current events and trying to make sense of them in larger contexts, especially the broad contexts both of history and of what science fiction explores. … Continue reading →

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Daily Outrages. Tyrant.

Posted on Thursday 15 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

It is too tiring to keep up on the daily outrages. I have things to do. But we can’t become complacent. So headlines today, with minimal comment. Items about gaslighting, Bari Weiss, Trump not as fascist but as tyrant, winking … Continue reading →

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Further Evidence

Posted on Wednesday 14 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Another busy day; no time for a big think piece. Short pieces then. Every day there’s more evidence of my running themes. * ICE are the terrorists. The Telegraph, 14 Jan 2026: Moment ICE agents drag ‘disabled woman’ from car … Continue reading →

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The Political Divide

Posted on Tuesday 13 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Eric Levitz at Vox on the “fiction” of the Left/Right divide, and how core principles nevertheless do divide the parties; Brief items about ICE recruiting and the right presuming the worst about everyone; Noting the death of Erich von Däniken, … Continue reading →

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Their Core Priority: Make Money

Posted on Monday 12 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Busy day so a quick post for now and no time to dress up yesterday’s post. Today I have a couple long items that will have to wait until tomorrow. \\ There may be a tie in all this to … Continue reading →

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Our Era of 21st Century Villains

Posted on Sunday 11 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Just the headline will do here. Washington Post, Letters to the Editor, 11 Jan 2026: MAGA justice: Shoot first, don’t even ask questions later \ NY Times, 10 Jan 2026: F.B.I.’s Inquiry Into ICE Shooting Faces Doubts After White House’s … Continue reading →

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Does Human Morality Progress, or Not?

Posted on Saturday 10 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Apropos of nothing else in this post, but anyone following social media will understand. \\\ The big story of the week, which I’m not quite letting go. This could be a growing story that actually has consequences. Unlike so many … Continue reading →

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The Paradox of MAGA

Posted on Friday 9 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

My fascination with this ICE killing in Minnesota is, again, that it’s a perfect example of the paradox of MAGA, if not of conservatives in general. They claim to be Christians, and to revere the Constitution and the US Founders, … Continue reading →

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ICE Thugs

Posted on Thursday 8 January 2026 by Mark R. Kelly

Today’s posts are about the Minnesota ICE killing and the responses, from Trump and Vance to Jesse Bering, Jonathan V. Last, and others. An essay by Elay Shech about why we should trust science even though it keeps changing. (Because … Continue reading →

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