Shit I Read Yesterday - May 21, 2025
Dispatches from the Shit Show
US/POLITICS
Tariffs, the Economy & Trade Wars...
Good. They're beginning to feel it.
CNBC - Target cuts sales outlook as retailer blames tariff uncertainty and backlash to DEI rollback
The company in part blamed falling consumer sentiment, uncertainty about tariffs and backlash to its rollback of key diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for its performance.
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Grift Inc...
CNN - Sources contradict Trump narrative about Qatar offering plane as ‘gift’
The Trump administration first approached Qatar to inquire about acquiring a Boeing 747 that could be used as Air Force One by President Donald Trump, four sources familiar with the discussions told CNN. That’s contrary to the narrative from the president that Qatar reached out and offered the jet as a “gift” to him.
AP - How much did Mideast countries promise to invest in the US? Trump keeps jacking up the number
The figure has gone from $2 trillion last week to potentially as much as $7 trillion as of Tuesday, according to statements by Trump and the White House.
And there it is. The Constitutional crisis. Well...another one.
AP - Defense Department accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar for Trump’s use
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a gifted Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said Wednesday
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On the Chopping Block...
All Rise with Adam Klasfeld - Trump's climate "fraud" lie collapsed in court
His EPA chief Lee Zeldin kept sowing baseless doubt about $20 billion in climate funding in Congress today anyway.
NBC - RFK Jr. grilled on health department funding cuts at his 3rd congressional hearing this month
Lawmakers expressed concerns about specific programs and funding that would be cut if Trump's proposed 2026 budget passes.
Guardian - Flights at New Jersey airport capped temporarily amid air traffic control issues
Cuts to continue through October amid runway construction aimed at curbing delays and cancellations.
AP - IRS nominee who sponsored legislation to abolish the agency faces pointed questions
Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, who sponsored legislation to abolish the IRS and is now the nominee to lead that agency, faced pointed questions from senators Tuesday about his past promotion of questionable tax credits, his lack of background in tax administration and the political contributions he received after being picked to lead the agency.
The Hill - Democratic senator says he has recordings of favors ‘promised’ by Trump’s IRS pick
Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said Tuesday he has recordings of business associates of President Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), saying they expect to get favors from him once he is in office.
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Alien Enemies Act/Immigration...
SFGate - Potential ICE raid thwarted at Central Calif. strawberry packing facility
Federal immigration agents were reported at a major strawberry packing facility in Ventura County late Thursday morning, sparking fear among workers and prompting at least one to leave early. That fear, however, never culminated in a full-scale raid thanks to informed staff who knew their legal ground and asserted their right to deny entry without a warrant.
New Republic - Kristi Noem Gives Bonkers Definition of Key Constitutional Right
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem struggled to answer a single question on habeas corpus.
Guardian - Rubio clashes with Democrats over decision to admit white South Africans
Tim Kaine condemns secretary of state for admitting Afrikaners while cancelling refugee schemes for others. (WAPO)
BBC - Judge warns US deportations to South Sudan may breach court order
Judge Brian Murphy said the removals could violate his order last month barring the US government from sending migrants to third countries without being given "meaningful opportunity" to challenge their deportation. In an emergency submission to the judge, immigration attorneys said a flight carrying a dozen people had landed in South Sudan on Tuesday. (AP via ABC)
NBC - DOT confirms Trump order to get truck drivers who aren't proficient in English off the road
The Trump administration restored a penalty of taking truck drivers with limited English out of service, raising concerns over a shortage of drivers and discrimination.
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Miscellaneous...
Good lort. It's a cult.
ABC WSYX - Ohio representative proposes study on 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' to NIH
On May 15, Representative Warren Davidson, a Republican from Ohio, introduced the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) Research Act of 2025. The proposed legislation aims to direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the psychological and social origins of Trump Derangement Syndrome, a term used to describe extreme negative reactions to former President Donald J. Trump. Representative Barry Moore, a Republican from Alabama, joined Davidson as a cosponsor of the bill.
AP - Trump selects concept for $175 billion 'Golden Dome' missile defense system
Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said he expects the system will be “fully operational before the end of my term," which ends in 2029, and have the capability of intercepting missiles “even if they are launched from space.”
Why is she airing all her dirty laundry like this?
Politico - Mace, alleging assault, shares nude photo of herself during House hearing she says was taken without her consent
The South Carolina Republican’s remarks follow accusations made by Mace against her ex-fiancé and other men on the House floor earlier this year.
Independent - DOJ investigates former governor Andrew Cuomo over pandemic testimony
A spokesperson for the former New York Governor says he was never informed of any such investigation. (CNN)
Deadline: Legal Blog - SCOTUS grants emergency relief for Maine Republican in transgender sports dispute
The state’s attorney general had said such intervention by the justices would be unprecedented.
May he RIP
NBC - Rep. Gerry Connolly, top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, dies at 75
Connolly had previously announced plans to retire at the end of his term after his esophageal cancer had returned.
GOOD TROUBLE
USA Today - Shoppers are boycotting Walmart over rollbacks in DEI efforts. Here's when.
The boycott of Walmart, which runs from May 20 to May 26, is organized by The People's Union, the same grass-roots group that coordinated the one-day economic consumer blackout on Feb. 28.
CRIME
Politico - A Jan. 6 rioter tried to recoup $63K he made filming the mob. A judge said no.
John Sullivan had forfeited his film profits to the federal government as a consequence of his criminal conviction.
NBC - Former Jan. 6 defendant who was arrested near Obama's house is convicted on gun charges
Taylor Taranto, a military veteran, was one of the roughly 1,500 Capitol riot defendants President Donald Trump pardoned in January.
NBC - California man charged after authorities say he lured and beat cats to death
Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, 46, is accused of a one-man animal crime spree after witnesses said they watched him lure the felines with food and subject them to blunt force trauma.
WORLD
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine...
Guardian - Putin visited Kursk region on Ukraine border, says Kremlin
Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the border region of Kursk on Tuesday, several weeks after Russian forces pushed Ukrainian troops out of the area, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
Guardian - Former Ukrainian presidential aide killed in Madrid - reports
An unidentified gunman or gunmen shot and killed former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov outside a school in a wealthy suburb of Madrid, Reuters reported, quoting a source close to the police investigation.
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Miscellaneous...
CNN - New intelligence suggests Israel is preparing possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, US officials say
Such a strike would be a brazen break with President Donald Trump, US officials said. It could also risk tipping off a broader regional conflict in the Middle East — something the US has sought to avoid since the war in Gaza inflamed tensions beginning in 2023.
NPR - U.K. suspends free trade talks with Israel and announces sanctions
The U.K. suspended free trade talks with Israel on Tuesday and hit West Bank settlers with sanctions, less than a day after vowing "concrete actions" if Israel didn't stop its new military offensive in Gaza.
SCIENCE
AP - New Trump vaccine policy limits access to COVID shots
The Trump administration said Tuesday it will limit approval for seasonal COVID-19 shots to seniors and others at high risk pending more data on everyone else — raising questions about whether some people who want a vaccine this fall will be able to get one. (Mother Jones)
NPR - Large tornado outbreaks are becoming more common. But it's unclear why
An above-average number of tornadoes in the Midwest have occurred so far this year, according to data collected by the National Weather Service. Usually, by this time in May, a little over 600 tornadoes have been reported in the U.S. This year, it's more than 850 tornadoes.
WAPO - WHO signs international pandemic response treaty without the U.S.
As countries overwhelmingly passed a WHO global pandemic agreement, top U.S. health official Robert F. Kennedy Jr. invited states to reject the “moribund WHO.”
TEXAS
RANDOM
May he RIP
Variety - George Wendt, Who Played Norm on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76
George Wendt, an American actor and comedian who earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm Peterson on the beloved NBC comedy series “Cheers,” died Tuesday morning at his home. He was 76.
The Verge - Chicago Sun-Times publishes made-up books and fake experts in AI debacle
The May 18th issue of the Chicago Sun-Times features dozens of pages of recommended summer activities: new trends, outdoor activities, and books to read. But some of the recommendations point to fake, AI-generated books, and other articles quote and cite people that don’t appear to exist.
