THIS IS YOUR PARTY. HOPE YOU’RE ENJOYING IT.

The shutdown continues. Well, the shutdown on what mostly affects we the people. A lot of other stuff goes on just fine. Zip-tying kids. Manhandling elected officials. Deporting journalists. Detaining, traumatizing, disappearing innocent people, because they can. Blowing up boats on video for clicks. Drug smugglers they say. Proof? Don’t need no stinkin’ proof. Military roaming American cities. And the golden carbuncle consuming the east wing of the WH continues apace. The gilding and gutting of America continues. The House of Representatives was supposed to be back in session on Monday, but speaker Johnson has sent members home until October 14. Does anyone believe that he’s not delaying the swearing-in of newly elected Arizona rep Adelita Grijalva? Who says she will sign the discharge petition that will require the speaker to bring to the House floor a vote on instructing the DOJ to release its Epstein files? Hers is the one vote needed to force a vote. So the House will take another week away from the Capitol rather than coming back to negotiate a way to end the government shutdown. Is this about the shutdown, or is this about the Epstein files? Let’s put that question to a vote by we the people. Further…the Trump administration keeps insisting that Democrats are responsible for hateful political speech. Trump’s account just posted images of prominent Democrats, including Biden, with the heading “THE PARTY OF HATE, EVIL, AND SATAN.” It went on to say: “The Democratic Party is Dead! They have no leadership! [N]o message! [N]o hope! [T]heir only message for America is to hate Trump!” He posted another AI video. Set to the music of Blue Öyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” the video shows Trump and VP Vance as band members—Trump on cowbell and Vance on drums—and features OMB director Russell Vought as the Grim Reaper. As the video shows the US Capitol, changed song lyrics say: “Here the power’s gone.” Under Vought, they say: “Russ Vought is the reaper. He wields the pen, the funds, and the brain… Dems you babies… gonna tie your hands… won’t be able to fly… cry baby end your plan.” The video shows people as zombies walking past an unemployment office, then shows Democratic leaders behind a chorus of “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah” before ending with a Halloween image of AI ghouls trick-or-treating in MAGA garb. You know who thinks this is funny? The clique of arrested development that currently runs the country. This is their hateful American vision. You must be so proud of your tribe.