TGIF Blogcast: NPR Independence Day;

Just One Thing: Now he's PISSED

The Wall Street Journal published an article, and President Trump is furious.

First is the article. Next is Trump's reaction (first tweet below). Third is my reaction (second tweet below).

Exclusive | Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump. - WSJ

There's a lot of politics and "news" below, but this is really what I'm thinking about this week

I hope I have the same last words...
Wife reveals Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson's last words | Arts & Entertainment | denvergazette.com

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One More Thing: Trump is losing control of the Epstein story

This Epstein stuff is only getting bigger: Unreleased Epstein files include logbooks for private island, records show

And this means Trump is in a bad spot, one that he's not going to be able to control. His base wants answers. (I think they want answers to the wrong questions but that's irrelevant to the point at hand.)

The way you can tell that this is a tough spot for Trump and Republicans is that Democrats, who never cared about Epstein before, are talking about it now.

Thursday update: here it comes: Trump directs AG Bondi to release Epstein case grand jury transcripts

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Today's Guest:

Juan Londoño is the Chief Regulatory Analyst at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. We'll discuss the risks and potential benefits of state regulation of AI. A proposed moratorium on such regulation -- leaving all regulation to the federal government -- was initially going to be part of the BBB but it was eventually omitted.

Other Stuff

Happy Independence Day, NPR: Happy Independence Day, NPR - by Uri Berliner

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Will they or won't they? One big, beautiful special session? Colorado lawmakers still aren’t sure. - The Colorado Sun

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Gotta say I didn't think Taco Bell would score this badly: Top 10 least healthy fast food chains revealed — here's where your favorite falls

Speaking of healthy: Ice cream makers say they’ll stop using artificial dyes

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I've never enjoyed Colbert. I never found him funny. But obviously lots of people did.

CBS Will End ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ in 2026

‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ canceled by CBS

Late Night Ratings Revealed: Who's Top & Who's Lagging Behind?

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This, too, is unsustainable, politically

Which is related to the reason this seems to be happening, though as I said before the Trump team is going to have a hell of a time convincing their base that any such program isn't amnesty. To be clear: in a sense it is, but I support it. I would NOT support a path to citizenship for any illegal alien, but allowing those who aren't criminals to stay and work, especially in industries so dependent on immigrant labor, is obviously the right thing for the country.

Tom Homan hints Donald Trump farmworker policy is coming

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Wow. British liberals trolling for ignorant and brainwashed voters: 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote in next general election as government says it will lower voting age in UK - BBC News

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This is insane: Air India Pilot Flipped Fuel Switches Off Just Before Crash, Probe Report Finds

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The very definition of Public Choice Theory: Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs. And this action by a president should absolutely positively be illegal: The Tomato Trade Racket - WSJ

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This is more of a speculation than a prediction, but every once in a while a seemingly minor event can have big ripples. I wonder if this is one: Israel says deadly Gaza church strike was mistake after Trump call

That said, Israel is already going along with Trump's ceasefire demands (at least they are offering Hamas some sort of framework), so the pressure that this event might put on Israel to "come to the table" is probably unnecessary at the moment.

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Chris Martin had no idea of the truth he was speaking

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron gushed about Kristin Cabot's hiring — months before getting caught on Coldplay's kiss cam

Coldplay's 'kiss cam' zeroes in on Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot: 'Either having an affair or very shy'

The cheater put out a statement: Andy Byron breaks silence and hits out at Coldplay after awkward kiss cam moment - The Mirror

(There's also a fake statement going around in which he appears to make light of the situation and almost blame Coldplay...but again, it's a fake.)

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This appears not to be true, i.e. that Coca-Cola is going along with it. By the way, it's a weird thing for Trump to jump into especially has he is all about using the power of government to increase income to American farmers, which this would do the opposite of. (I don't care about subsidizing farmers or anyone else, but politically this is strange.)

Coca-Cola defends corn syrup after Trump claims he struck cane sugar deal | US news | The Guardian

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I've had this all week and haven't gotten to it. Hopefully today: Bluesnarfing in Denver: Phone Hackers Are Closer Than You Think | Westword

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This too: Three new gray wolf packs have established in Colorado

Pups from Routt County wolf pack mug for a trail camera

They're so cute until they're killing your livestock!

Wildlife officials approve $100,000 for rancher as new wolf pups arrive in Colorado - The Colorado Sun

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Eswa-who?

Eswatini Says It Will Repatriate Migrants Deported by the Trump Administration - The New York Times

US sends third-country deportees under secrecy to the small African kingdom of Eswatini

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Can you name a song about Colorado that isn't by John Denver? The best songs about Colorado

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As usual, it's hard to be upset about the government giving away less of our children's future earnings to buy votes now: Colorado health insurers propose huge price increases for 2026

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The free-for-all in CD8 shows how weak Yadira Caraveo is. 7th Democrat enters Colorado race to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans - The Colorado Sun

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It’s only a small % of food aid and it’s far from the first time this has been done but it still seems stupid. And the idea that dry biscuits go bad on a so-called expiration date is ridiculous. 

Trump administration says it destroyed 500 metric tons of expired food aid | AP News

Food Product Dating | Food Safety and Inspection Service

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Today's Videos

Combining camping with the worst carnival ride.

If this is real, it's just wrong