No fault of the article but it kind of sucks, though, that the best that can be said of Republicans in congress is that they sometimes don't make things worse (and never make things better) for the people...
Great post, Noah. The sooner they oust Mike Johnson as speaker, the better. I am shocked about Hawley’s vote, but not really. The video of him running from the Jan 6 riot still plays in my head…
Look, any pushback by MAGAts to the orange-faced lunatic's madness, however small, offers a small ray of hope. I was shocked that Josh "Run For Your Life" Hawley voted for the resolution to block Drumpf from using military force against Venezuela. Is hell freezing over or what?
Little Mikie "Bible Thumper" Johnson, one of several embarrassments in Congress from my home state, is skating on thin ice that continues to melt. His blind fealty to the mad king will hopefully bring him down. If there is any justice in the universe, the 2026 midterms will see the Dems retake the House (and maybe the Senate?), Hakeem Jeffries will be elected Speaker, Little Mikie will be gone and at least half of the legislative branch will serve as a pushback to the lawlessness and cruelty of the current fascist regime/junta.
On the other side of the aisle, I was stunned to read that 6 Dems voted to confirm the judicial nominee who refused to plainly state that Drumpf lost the 2020 election. WTF?
The grip of Trump on Congression Republicans is weakening and that it predictable and initeslf a good thing. But given that it passed the Big Ugly Bill and the Senate confirmed Pete Hesgeth, Kennedy and Bondi I'm inclined to think that as far as this Congress is concerned the damage has already been done.
Jesus fucking Christ, I hate democrats so much. Every chance they have to fuck over the child rapist the fail, fail, fail. WTF is wrong with these supposed people who love this country. Doing something right every once in a while is not enough anymore. It should have been FULL OPPOSITION from day one!
Pardon me if I don't rejoice at Republicans showing the absolute minimum support for Dem-backed bills, showing half-assed support while still safeguarding passage of Trump-favored bills. Fearing backlash at the polls on their stance on healthcare and other issues, a few sacrificial lambs join Dems on critical issues and then throw up their hands when the measures fail. They're covering their asses in view of coming midterms.
While I do not reside in the congressional district of the Arkansas Valley Pipeline project, by chance my work took me there. It is a poor, rural area. The pipeline would add considerable value to an area that needs help to fund it. Congress has a history of supporting such projects (for example, the Central Arizona Project, that was much, much more expensive).
Bobo the Clown has shown only one act of intelligence in her entire tenure in congress that was not self serving in sponsoring the legislation. With the help of representative Jeff Hurd (R, CD-3) and Senators Hickenlooper and Bennett, Bobo introduced the legislation. There is no doubt that TFG was giving her the middle finger to her and to Colorado.
I realize this is just a tiny portion of the story, but that vote to confirm Van Hook absolutely infuriated me. At the time I assumed Democratic opposition wouldn't have blocked his confirmation but was still mortified to see seven Democrats sign on - most especially Klobuchar, given what was happening that very day in her home state. To now know that without their support he wouldn't have been confirmed - well, wow. Pathetic would be an understatement, Hassan, Shaheen and Durbin have been consistent disappointments for months now but this takes the cake. Nice job all around, folks.
I know this is not an article on Greenland, but I have to pass along a single NYT article, which has a cogent point. Here:
“Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand”
According to the 2004 amendment, the United States is supposed to consult with Denmark and Greenland before it makes “any significant changes” in its military operations on the island. The 2004 amendment, which was signed by Gen. Colin L. Powell, who was then the secretary of state, explicitly recognizes Greenland as “an equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Peter Ernstved Rasmussen, a Danish defense analyst, said that in practice, if American forces made reasonable requests, “the U.S. would always get a yes.”
“It is a courtesy formula,” he said. “If the U.S. wanted to act without asking, it could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
That’s what infuriates longtime Danish political experts. If Mr. Trump wanted to beef up Greenland’s security right now, he could. But there has been no such official American request, said Jens Adser Sorensen, a former senior official in Denmark’s parliament.
“Why don’t you use the mechanism of the defense agreement if you’re so worried about the security situation?” he said, adding, “The framework is there. It’s in place.”
But Greenland’s strategic location is not the only thing that’s attracted Mr. Trump’s inner circle. The enormous island has another draw: critical minerals, loads of them, buried under the ice. Here, too, analysts say, the United States doesn’t need to take over the island to get them.
Greenlanders have said they are open to doing business — with just about anyone.
"[S]even Democrats crossed party lines to confirm Alexander Van Hook to a lifetime appointment as a district judge. Van Hook, like all Trump nominees in 2025, refused to acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 election in questions for the record he submitted in writing to the Senate.
In response to the question “Did Trump lose the 2020 election?” Van Hook responded with evasion: 'Congress certified Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election and he served as the 46th president of the United States.' When asked whether the Capitol was attacked by a violent mob, or whether it constituted an insurrection, he claimed that he could not express a view on a political matter."
All of a sudden “Legacy” is concerning Republicans. Propping up white supremacy is one thing, but murdering citizens … not a good look. Kent State 1970, not a good look. Trump threatening invasion of non belligerent Greenland then blathering delusions, not a good look. Is this how we’ll be remembered?
Will the Republican Senators ever push back against all the "Acting" and "temporary" US Attorneys? We had a firing of #2 here in eastern VA (perhaps #1 since Halligan is not legitimate), seemingly over Comey case but maybe not. This used to be a serious office with major cases, not a late night joke. So sad and destructive.
It’s obvious to me that the small number of Republicans willing to occasionally defy Trump will be offset and therefore inconsequential to the overall trajectory of the country by the Democrats who continue to support some aspect of Trump’s agenda.
Republican lawmakers are still not able to distinguish between right and wrong. They’ve been blurring the distinction for decades so that now, no one in the party knows there is a distinction.
Democrats are not able to articulate strongly that they can distinguish the difference either. 77 million Americans made the wrong decision in 2024. It was morally wrong to vote for Trump in 2024, given all the information about his character and corruption and criminality that was available to use to make an informed choice. Any nation that has 77 million citizens making immoral choices is a failed democracy.
We are no longer a constitutional republic. We are no longer a nation of laws. Because, over the last four decades, we became an immoral democracy.
Because at least 77 million Americans chose exclusion, criminality, corruption, lies, vindictiveness over inclusion, fairness, forgiveness, humaneness. All the way down the ballot. That’s the definition of moral collapse of a society. There’s no sign we’ve hit bottom yet either.
Great article as always Noah!
No fault of the article but it kind of sucks, though, that the best that can be said of Republicans in congress is that they sometimes don't make things worse (and never make things better) for the people...
Great post, Noah. The sooner they oust Mike Johnson as speaker, the better. I am shocked about Hawley’s vote, but not really. The video of him running from the Jan 6 riot still plays in my head…
Look, any pushback by MAGAts to the orange-faced lunatic's madness, however small, offers a small ray of hope. I was shocked that Josh "Run For Your Life" Hawley voted for the resolution to block Drumpf from using military force against Venezuela. Is hell freezing over or what?
Little Mikie "Bible Thumper" Johnson, one of several embarrassments in Congress from my home state, is skating on thin ice that continues to melt. His blind fealty to the mad king will hopefully bring him down. If there is any justice in the universe, the 2026 midterms will see the Dems retake the House (and maybe the Senate?), Hakeem Jeffries will be elected Speaker, Little Mikie will be gone and at least half of the legislative branch will serve as a pushback to the lawlessness and cruelty of the current fascist regime/junta.
On the other side of the aisle, I was stunned to read that 6 Dems voted to confirm the judicial nominee who refused to plainly state that Drumpf lost the 2020 election. WTF?
Who were they?
Durbin, Klobuchar, Hassan, Kaine, Shaheen, Welch
The grip of Trump on Congression Republicans is weakening and that it predictable and initeslf a good thing. But given that it passed the Big Ugly Bill and the Senate confirmed Pete Hesgeth, Kennedy and Bondi I'm inclined to think that as far as this Congress is concerned the damage has already been done.
Jesus fucking Christ, I hate democrats so much. Every chance they have to fuck over the child rapist the fail, fail, fail. WTF is wrong with these supposed people who love this country. Doing something right every once in a while is not enough anymore. It should have been FULL OPPOSITION from day one!
Pardon me if I don't rejoice at Republicans showing the absolute minimum support for Dem-backed bills, showing half-assed support while still safeguarding passage of Trump-favored bills. Fearing backlash at the polls on their stance on healthcare and other issues, a few sacrificial lambs join Dems on critical issues and then throw up their hands when the measures fail. They're covering their asses in view of coming midterms.
While I do not reside in the congressional district of the Arkansas Valley Pipeline project, by chance my work took me there. It is a poor, rural area. The pipeline would add considerable value to an area that needs help to fund it. Congress has a history of supporting such projects (for example, the Central Arizona Project, that was much, much more expensive).
Bobo the Clown has shown only one act of intelligence in her entire tenure in congress that was not self serving in sponsoring the legislation. With the help of representative Jeff Hurd (R, CD-3) and Senators Hickenlooper and Bennett, Bobo introduced the legislation. There is no doubt that TFG was giving her the middle finger to her and to Colorado.
I realize this is just a tiny portion of the story, but that vote to confirm Van Hook absolutely infuriated me. At the time I assumed Democratic opposition wouldn't have blocked his confirmation but was still mortified to see seven Democrats sign on - most especially Klobuchar, given what was happening that very day in her home state. To now know that without their support he wouldn't have been confirmed - well, wow. Pathetic would be an understatement, Hassan, Shaheen and Durbin have been consistent disappointments for months now but this takes the cake. Nice job all around, folks.
I know this is not an article on Greenland, but I have to pass along a single NYT article, which has a cogent point. Here:
“Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand”
According to the 2004 amendment, the United States is supposed to consult with Denmark and Greenland before it makes “any significant changes” in its military operations on the island. The 2004 amendment, which was signed by Gen. Colin L. Powell, who was then the secretary of state, explicitly recognizes Greenland as “an equal part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Peter Ernstved Rasmussen, a Danish defense analyst, said that in practice, if American forces made reasonable requests, “the U.S. would always get a yes.”
“It is a courtesy formula,” he said. “If the U.S. wanted to act without asking, it could simply inform Denmark that it is building a base, an airfield or a port.”
That’s what infuriates longtime Danish political experts. If Mr. Trump wanted to beef up Greenland’s security right now, he could. But there has been no such official American request, said Jens Adser Sorensen, a former senior official in Denmark’s parliament.
“Why don’t you use the mechanism of the defense agreement if you’re so worried about the security situation?” he said, adding, “The framework is there. It’s in place.”
But Greenland’s strategic location is not the only thing that’s attracted Mr. Trump’s inner circle. The enormous island has another draw: critical minerals, loads of them, buried under the ice. Here, too, analysts say, the United States doesn’t need to take over the island to get them.
Greenlanders have said they are open to doing business — with just about anyone.
Full article.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/world/europe/trump-greenland-denmark-us-defense-pact.html
"[S]even Democrats crossed party lines to confirm Alexander Van Hook to a lifetime appointment as a district judge. Van Hook, like all Trump nominees in 2025, refused to acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 election in questions for the record he submitted in writing to the Senate.
In response to the question “Did Trump lose the 2020 election?” Van Hook responded with evasion: 'Congress certified Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election and he served as the 46th president of the United States.' When asked whether the Capitol was attacked by a violent mob, or whether it constituted an insurrection, he claimed that he could not express a view on a political matter."
WHAT??????????????????????????????
All of a sudden “Legacy” is concerning Republicans. Propping up white supremacy is one thing, but murdering citizens … not a good look. Kent State 1970, not a good look. Trump threatening invasion of non belligerent Greenland then blathering delusions, not a good look. Is this how we’ll be remembered?
Thanks, Noah! Clear and straightforward writing as usual. Tim Kaine?? WTAF ❓️
Will the Republican Senators ever push back against all the "Acting" and "temporary" US Attorneys? We had a firing of #2 here in eastern VA (perhaps #1 since Halligan is not legitimate), seemingly over Comey case but maybe not. This used to be a serious office with major cases, not a late night joke. So sad and destructive.
Great analysis which we need to understand what is going on in Congress. Thank you!
Have any of the Democrats who voted to confirm Van Hook explained themselves?
It’s obvious to me that the small number of Republicans willing to occasionally defy Trump will be offset and therefore inconsequential to the overall trajectory of the country by the Democrats who continue to support some aspect of Trump’s agenda.
Republican lawmakers are still not able to distinguish between right and wrong. They’ve been blurring the distinction for decades so that now, no one in the party knows there is a distinction.
Democrats are not able to articulate strongly that they can distinguish the difference either. 77 million Americans made the wrong decision in 2024. It was morally wrong to vote for Trump in 2024, given all the information about his character and corruption and criminality that was available to use to make an informed choice. Any nation that has 77 million citizens making immoral choices is a failed democracy.
We are no longer a constitutional republic. We are no longer a nation of laws. Because, over the last four decades, we became an immoral democracy.
Because at least 77 million Americans chose exclusion, criminality, corruption, lies, vindictiveness over inclusion, fairness, forgiveness, humaneness. All the way down the ballot. That’s the definition of moral collapse of a society. There’s no sign we’ve hit bottom yet either.
Got it: 'henchghouls', 'hate and cruelty for all'. I had run out of words.