Post #7756 M: McClanahan on 250 Years of Self-Determination; Supreme Court Reaffirms Birthright Citizenship; Why So Many Studies Are Worthless

 Quote of the Day

What is said over the dead lion's body 

could not be said to him alive.

Zairean proverb  

Supreme Court Reaffirms Birthright Citizenship

McClanahan on 250 Years of Self-Determination

Why So Many Studies Are Worthless

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Mike Luckovich via Politco

Musical Interlude: 1964 Top 100 Hits

Because - Dave Clark Five

Post #7755 M: Woke Jesus Calms Climate Change; I Went to Europe to Prove Americans Are Freer; The Real Independence Day;

 Quote of the Day

Your unhappiness is not due to your want of a fortune or high position or fame or sufficient vitamins. 

It is due not to a want of something outside of you, but to a want of something inside you. 

You were made for perfect happiness. 

No wonder everything short of God disappoints you.

Fulton Sheen 

Woke Jesus Calms Climate Change

I Went to Europe to Prove Americans Are Freer. I Failed.

The Real Independence Day

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Stan Mack via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1964 Top 100 Hits

See The Funny Little Clown - Bobby Goldsboro

Post #7754 Social Media Digest

Facebook

Twitter/X 

Not even $5K is worth losing a day of my life wasted on Trump.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 28, 2026

I'm one of the 58% of voters disapproving of his job performance.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

Liars use empty words. Trump is a self-serving , authoritarian political whore. The man tried to rename the Kennedy Center after himself. He's put his face on the $250 bill. He put his image in the new commemorative passport.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

No. Both Obama and Trump have been bad Presidents.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

Melania has been naturalized for almost 20 years. Yes, technically Melania jumped the gun on accepting paying gigs based on initial status, which could have derailed her immigration paperwork. It's unlikely she would be denaturalized. Mostly, it embarrasses the Trump regime.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

SCOTUS rightly blocked Trump's disingenuous attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook without cause, in a blatant attempt to politicize the Fed.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

Cheers for SCOTUS protecting mail-in voter rights in Mississippi. Trump views ballots in the process of delivery by election day as "cheating", but his preferences deprive others of their coequal rights and preferences.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

The postmaster general's threat to withhold mail delivery to states that do not comply with the federal government's demand to share privileged voter data intrinsically violates the Tenth Amendment and is illegal.https://t.co/wBS7cmsTNY

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

The cackpot Conspiracy Theorist-in-Chief's allegations are factually challenged.https://t.co/avWHQL1FsH https://t.co/2yi6rQyCet

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 29, 2026

I'm unhappy with Thomas' discussion of the 14th Amendment as reported by CNN. The reason why birthright citizenship was part of the amendment was that slaves had been excluded from common law birthright citizenship.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 30, 2026

It was obvious that Trump would lose his case against birthright citizenship, not just because the right existed in inherited English common law and explicitly7 confirmed in the 14th Amendment, but from Trump's decision to unilaterally rewrite US law independent of Congress

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 30, 2026

I am clearly battling a case of Trump fatigue.https://t.co/gwp61hM3zR

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) June 30, 2026

No, Alito is legislating from the bench. Allowing a few days to count the votes during delivery doesn't undermine legitimacy. Disenfranchising voters does. Intervening in state elections is unconstitutional. https://t.co/LQZFE9bIJl

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

The only way Congress could modify birthright citizenship would be through a constitutional amendment, which normally requires a supermajority of both the House and the Senate and the supermajority approval of state legislatures. That is not a viable political possibility.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

Even if you disregard the constitutional problems with passing Trump's birthright citizenship executive order, if you think Trump's unconstitutional SAVE Act is stuck, this bill would also be DOA.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

Kavanaugh, of course, was correct in noting that Trump's executive order was not authorized by existing US law. However, this quibbling about "subject to the jurisdiction" is absurd; I've never heard any conservative argue aliens are exempt from American laws on crime.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

Trump has not failed to advance the typical household; in many cases, including my own, we are worse off. His insane tariff wars, the worst since the Great Depression, and undeclared foreign wars have roiled global markets. https://t.co/yrG4fwqpCp

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

The disgusting corruption of Trump, selling favors for access to the White House, is traitorous. https://t.co/JUCsXwo0U1

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

I am a registered libertarian, neither Republican nor Democrat; there are only nuanced differences between the spendoholic,power-seeking duopoly, with virtue on neither side. https://t.co/kGZ0shtdRX

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

For me, this is personal. My late, beloved paternal Aunt Grace was a sister/nun for decades and a schoolteacher; I still recall her picking me up from Navy OIS at Newport for the weekend. These beautiful women of faith live modestly in service to others.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 1, 2026

The Political Whore-in-Chief is actually bragging about significantly higher gas prices than when he unconstitutionally started the unnecessary Iran War. Who is reimbursing Americans for the tariffs and energy costs that Trump's incompetent actions have caused at their expense? https://t.co/ihm6xaX3pB pic.twitter.com/sjmONeExnN

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

You mean like the RINO Trump made a hostile takeover of the GOP?

Trump's incompetent job performance has created the current democratic socialism moment. His hyperpartisan behavior has exacerbated things and alienated independent voters the GOP needs to survive the midterm. https://t.co/vivqkitFjB

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

If there is anything for which Trump is unfit for as the President, it's being a fake, unlicensed medical doctor. There is a simple treatment for Trump fatigue: ignore anything he says, and vote against his enablers this fall. https://t.co/tabMutBC7Y

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Our Founders are turning over in their graves, knowing this anniversary, an ignorant, corrupt nationalist plutocrat is opposing the foundational principles of free trade and immigration, grabbing unconstitutional power, and growing a cancer on our limited general government.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

The Founding Fathers would be among the first to reject the divisiveness of the hyperpartisan political whore. Trump. pic.twitter.com/jbVrWfP6G1

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

I thought molesting the flag violated the flag code. https://t.co/tlrZb9aYMi

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Trump is the RINO Dumocrat, reciting a socialist pledge. https://t.co/BhIefFqJft pic.twitter.com/Z3BYavjACc

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

I'm not that comfortable with the Sex Abuser-in-Chief talking about a threesome. https://t.co/3fzWQ2P4jx

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

And I thought the Train to Nowhere was in California. https://t.co/Qli6uX8YaF

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Not a chance. I would prefer a yellow dog to Obama or Trump.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Jesus! The ignorance of crackpot conspiracy theorist Trump is astonishing. Pool owners often encounter algae problems. https://t.co/Vbq6KjWXbM pic.twitter.com/vk7CwdXQx0

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Brion McClanahan, like Trumpkin xenophobes, prefers a variation of conditional jus soli like currently in Britain and Europe. However, he understands like changing state election laws you can only do that by a constitutional amendment, like eligibility of minorities and women.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Nations with unrestricted vs restricted jus sol (via globalcitizensolutions): pic.twitter.com/CVUO8ATqZr

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Historian Brion McClanahan mocks Chief Justice Roberts (correct) reference to birthright citizenship in English common law as a nationalist invention. No, unconditional jus soli was part of the US (AND STATES) legal tradition. (Britain restricted jus soli as late as 1981.) pic.twitter.com/2usZa0RzJH

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Teddy Roosevelt, like Trump, was an imperialist and a progressive. Lousy POTUS whose political ambition split the GOP and lost the White House to Wilson https://t.co/fnTOB9fsc8

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

I hate being in a position of "defending" Trump. who I personally favor impeachment and conviction from office. What the dude does out of uniform and on his own time is one thing, but as a former Navy officer I know this is a step too far pic.twitter.com/tjO8ikWMCR

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 2, 2026

Trump, impeached over his J6 crimes, like the fundamentally dishonest, feeble-minded bastard that he is, resorts to debunked crackpot conspiracy theories. https://t.co/J9iZhK2ENT pic.twitter.com/4QLiBuuRvp

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. One classic hit Elizabeth Trump Grau probably never sings:https://t.co/ppiJmxrdCU https://t.co/0Wrxzgl81l

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

This claim is a debunked Trumpkin lie: https://t.co/rtsCFtCT4s pic.twitter.com/f8mdgzNt1E

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

No. The employee wasn't taxed on the employer match, technically part of his untaxed compensation. pic.twitter.com/BEksj8kVpv

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

I am not aware of evidence of his alleged sex with minors, but let's not pretend that Trump is a faithful husband. He tried to impress other men with his extramarital experiences: https://t.co/454aCGUbnD pic.twitter.com/SwKzfP3iQ5

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

Things like court packing and eliminating the filibuster are double-edged swords. Remember, Trump lost in SCOTUS on his highest priorities: tariffs, birthright citizenship, and mail-in ballots. There is not much Dems can do with close split of parties and a veto-bearing Trump. https://t.co/VUOPkUnYDT

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

The Trump job market is the worst I've personally encountered (in the IT profession) since the Great Recession. Now part of LFPR (about up to 50%)
decline is Baby Boomer retirements, but many older workers have deferred retirements for economic reasons.

Via CNBC: pic.twitter.com/d259l5WjFP

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

I found this cartoon via Government Sucks on FB: pic.twitter.com/QAHDsXZIkF

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 3, 2026

Is this a prank? Or is the Narcissistic Bastard-in-Chief really pissing on the nation's currency to mark his territory? I am so sick and tired of his constant need for attention, wanting a place on Mt. Rushmore and signing his tweets as POTUS. He's a mentally unwell person. https://t.co/vFagVgYuGn

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

I haven't yet read Thomas' apparently stupid dissent in the birthright citizenship case, but his argument that the 14th Amendment is sort of a convoluted grab bag is not a valid constitutional argument. Slavery was an exception to birthright citizenship under common law

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

I earlier tweeted about Trump's ICE morally outrageous arrest of a religious sister/nun. This is a follow-up I found on FB: pic.twitter.com/7dpGP59mOH

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

LMAO. The story of America's birth as only The Onion would cover it:https://t.co/VDDDBsfe5A

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

No. General government run amuck is the biggest threat. We have a convicted felon as POTUS who has sicced his JD after political enemies, pardoned violent J6 criminals, issued unconstitutional executive orders, and added over $1B wealth to his own in his second term. https://t.co/jk5qdpAegx

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

I believe Jack Smith's original charges should be reinstated when Trump leaves office, and Trump should face a jury of his peers. https://t.co/7DTG6TrrUJ

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

No, American patriots did not sacrifice their lives for a self-serving narcissist political whore who engages in unnecessary wars, ignores a politically inconvenient Constitution, and demonizes immigrants and his political opposition. https://t.co/tFc7BiUXwo

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

No. Maybe on Mt. Impeachment with Johnson and Clinton.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

The problem with the left wing and the right wing is that they both lust for the power and resources of cancerous nationalism. Instead of devolving undue authority, you are just an election away from a double-edged sword.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

Trump is a lying, divisive xenophobe. Ask Rubio or Cruz if their Cuban parents were Commies. https://t.co/fVf5N8OaDI pic.twitter.com/tio80sJVwC

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

Most Jews are Democrats. Hitler is not acceptable to them. Among Jews, Trump has a 31% approval, most of those orthodox. I suspect most Jews would not vote for either. https://t.co/A8ZzuUlAcb pic.twitter.com/K9TeTyqZ4X

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 4, 2026

I am so sick and tired of Trump's compulsive cry for attention. I'm tired of his playing the victim card. I'm tired of his envy of others. Most of us who accomplish things don't do them for recognition. Trump is a desperate, failed human being https://t.co/PR4nR5AMDf

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 5, 2026

Trump's personal fortune is up over a billion his second term, mostly on his crypto gimmick. Meanwhile others, like his creditors in Trump's bankruptcies, lost a ton of money. Somehow Trump manages to sleep at night. And often in public during the day.

Via the Gray Lady: pic.twitter.com/RIBSyFFjfl

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 5, 2026

The filibuster is a stabilizing factor in our democratic republic. No, the unconstitutional SAVE America does not improve upon nearly zero vote fraud. As for Trump's laughable election claims, remember Carville's Bush era prediction about the GOP 40 years in the wilderness? https://t.co/AcPos4rCpA pic.twitter.com/TigM3Dlzhh

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) July 5, 2026

Post #7753 M: The Daily Show Celebrates 250 Years of America; What did the Declaration of Independence really proclaim?; McClanahan on 1868 Strikes Again...and Again

 Quote of the Day

The important thing is 

not to stop questioning.

Albert Einstein  

The Daily Show Celebrates 250 Years of America

What did the Declaration of Independence really proclaim? 

McClanahan on 1868 Strikes Again...and Again

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Nick Anderson via Politico 

Musical Interlude: 1964 Top 100 Hits

 Chug-A-Lug - Roger Miller

Post #7752 J

 Endemic Report

CDC weekly stats:

No updates to the major stats or epidemic trend chart.

The Sick Times:

To reemphasize The Sick Times, the seasonal summer surge seems off to a slow start, with some initial trend in the Southeast US, although we haven't seen enough follow-up data to confirm. On the national stage, we still see  Sen. Paul trying to use Gabbard's document dump to continue his obsessive pursuit of Fauci. WI Sen. Johnson continues to hype vaccine injuries.

Recent COVID-19 news items:

• "HHS Secretary Kennedy Signs COVID-19 Emergency Use Authorization Declaration Terminations"
• "Wastewater signals suggest increasing SARS-CoV-2 circulation despite low national baselines, reinforcing surveillance as an early indicator rather than a definitive predictor of near-term clinical burden. Epidemiologic analyses have identified three recurring annual COVID-19 rises in the US, with a winter peak followed by smaller spring and mid-to-late summer increases."
• "Comprehensive review affirms that COVID mRNA vaccines are safe, effective"; "MRNA vaccines much safer than getting COVID-19: review"
• "COVID-19 made mRNA vaccines mainstream. WashU researchers say flu shots are next"
• "Menstrual Cycle Phase Alters COVID-19 Vaccine Outcomes"
• "NCCN Adds Pemivibart for COVID-19 Prevention in B-Cell Lymphomas"
• "Major Study Supports Same-Day COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination"
• "Artificial intelligence could usher in a new era of vaccine development"
• "Newly Approved Xocova Cuts SARS-CoV-2 Transmission To Household Contacts"
• "Study links severe COVID to higher TB risk, and vaccination appears to blunt the link"
• "Six Years After the First COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines, Billions of Doses Clarify Their Protection and Rare Risks"
• "One Shot Could Cover Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV Tripledemic"
• "Study links diabetes to worse long COVID health outcomes"
• "COVID-19 Linked to Increased Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk"
• "Hidden protein linked to severe COVID-19 and lung disease risk"
• "FDA clears Visby Medical’s at-home Covid-19 and Influenza PCR test"
• "COVID-19 Boosters May Offer Protection Against Future Coronaviruses"
• "Still treating yesterday’s risk? Reconsidering antiviral use for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases in a broadly immune population"
• "AI Tool Finds More Long COVID Cases Than Codes"
• "Low Weight Linked to Severe Pediatric COVID"
• "Widely used pandemic pharmaceuticals harm marine aquatic ecosystems"
• "Ten weeks of cognitive rehabilitation reverses long Covid brain fog"
• "In Quebec, young adults were hit first by the pandemic"
• COVID relief  fraud/other crimes:
• "Lincoln man sentenced for nearly $1.5M COVID-19 relief fraud used to fund 'lavish' lifestyle, DOJ reports"
• "North Carolina man pleads guilty to stealing $170k in fraudulent COVID-19 loans"
• "Benton County woman given 4-year sentence for $1.4 million COVID fraud scheme"
• Legal/political issues:
• "Supreme Court rejects legal battle over New York's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers"
• "Group that won court fight over COVID vaccine records presses FDA for legal fees"
• "OIG: FEMA COVID-19 Pandemic Response Allowed More Than $13 Billion in Improper Payments"
• "Jury awards $15 million in damages to families of 2 residents at Billings care facility"
• "Years Later, GOP Wing Nuts Still Can’t Get Over Covid19 Mask Mandates"
• "Vaccine Mandate Lawsuit Judges revive lawsuit against L.A. Unified"
• "Appeals court sides with city on Chicago police union COVID vaccine mandate case"
• "Florida AG seeks judge's impeachment after baby drowning COVID insanity acquittal"

Other Notes

My regular weekend posts next weekend may be delayed due to planned travel. (I will likely preschedule relevant daily posts.) Pageviews remain in a "new normal" elevated state. Most posts reach double-digit pageviews bit it may take a few days. I did hit the 40-post goal last month with a last-day essay; we are still short of a 500-post pace for the year. X/Twitter continues at a regular pace, no breakaway tweets but my followers up modestly for the week

Post #7751 M: Trump Headlines America250 After All Artists Drop Out; They're trying to cancel the American Revolution; Stosseel on Self-Driving Cars

 Quote of the Day

I never expect to see a perfect work 

from imperfect man.

Alexander Hamilton 

Trump Headlines America250 After All Artists Drop Out

They're trying to cancel the American Revolution

Stosseel on Self-Driving Cars

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Rick McKee via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1964 Top 100 Hits 

Little Honda - Hondells

Post #7750 M: Trump Tries to Catch Reflecting Pool “Vandals"; Is Socialism Having a Tea Party Moment?; McClanahan on SCOTUS Strikes Again

 Quote of the Day

Man is ready to die for an idea, 

provided that idea is not quite clear to him.

Paul Eldridge  

Trump Tries to Catch Reflecting Pool “Vandals”

Is Socialism Having a Tea Party Moment?

McClanahan on SCOTUS Strikes Again

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Matt Davies via Politico

Musical Interlude: 1964 Top 100 Hits

Out Of Limits - Marketts