The heatwave out west is of course a huge red flag. Unless something drastic happens over the next few weeks, the stage is being set for a Spring and especially Summer of unprecedented fire danger, drought, and deadly heat.

What should concern us all is that no one cares about this in the places where people should be caring about this. Donald Trump, being the face and voice of so-called leadership in Washington, dismisses most environmental concerns as the rantings of liberal snowflakes and tree huggers, and instead kowtows to the deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry. We can expect no help from those controlling policy and purse strings, which is maddening beyond reason.

So, while the earth heats up and rids itself of the human pestilence messing with its homeostasis, the Trump administration is twiddling its thumbs and dreaming about oil wells in the Arctic Circle.

It seems that Donald Trump, the mouthpiece for Stephen Miller and his ilk, may be starting to check out. There’s a part of me that hopes this is the case. But the other part is greatly concerned with the next guy in line, who’d likely do his best to be a more sober and serious threat to our democracy, what’s left of it.

J.D. Vance comes across as more studious, more methodical and brainwashed, somehow more diabolical and way less comical than DJT—and DJT has never been funny.

In any event, things are getting pretty scary in the world. There is much speculation about the actual reasons behind starting a war with Iran. Bibi likely had something to do with it, along with being able to check off another line item on the list of distractions to use and squirrels to chase. Which all points to a serial coldness, a wanton destructiveness, pure deceit and power play and stunning incompetence.

Trump never came to lead. He came to add another notch in his belt, to play POTUS, to punish his perceived enemies and enrich himself, along with playing the stooge for the Heritage Foundation and their goal of tearing America apart.

It seems like it’s working better than they could have expected. And all because Americans by nature are hopeful and trusting and, sadly, naïve enough to believe that an empty vessel like Donald Trump could ever rise to the occasion and summon even an ounce of character.

Of course, it’s never really been about character. It’s been more about preserving white privilege and a certain brand of “Christianity.”

I was reminded, after watching a clip from the woke media personality Chris Hayes, that MAGA is right. There’s nothing to worry about, as far as Donald Trump is concerned.

Why have we left-leaning progressive types lost sleep over him? He’s assured us that all is well, so we need seek no further clarification. We can rest easy because Donald never lies and he gets feelings in his bones. When he says something ill-timed or completely tone deaf, we needn’t worry—he has a plan. Or he’s just being his hilarious shoot-from-the-hip, brutally honest self. I can almost hear the laugh track.

The same goes for when he turns a Japanese reporter’s question into a spectacle regarding the value of surprise attacks, choosing to remind said reporter—and the Prime Minister who was sitting right next to him – that Japan should know the value of a surprise attack better than just about anyone. Because, you know, 1941…

When Trump teases out the serious medical condition of a Republican Congressman and puts Yes-man par excellence Mike Johnson on the spot, it’s just Trump embracing a penchant for full disclosure. When he goes off on tangents in the middle of a Cabinet meeting or a speech at the U.N., it’s just Trump trying to be laid back and folksy. Or never missing an opportunity to sing his own praises.

It’s truly shocking to learn that Trump apparently didn’t put his ear to the ground or utilize his giftedness at horse whispering to divine the number of counterattacks Iran would mount after he and Bibi opened this can of wor… I mean whoop-ass.

But I get it now! Jeez, it took me long enough.

It is sad commentary on our standards of beauty when disfiguration becomes a norm, when injected botulinum toxin becomes a risk many are willing to take, when ridiculously puffy lips and facelifts and tummy tucks and breast augmentation and other structural manipulations become viable alternatives to—heaven forbid—the aging process.

Many obviously have no qualms committing to these changes, these “improvements,” and they just as obviously don’t care about the relatively grotesque appearance they take on for the rest of their days.

Cleft palate and other positive life-changing procedures aside, blame it on Hollywood, blame it on a fixation with image, blame it on a fear of growing old. When I see someone who’s had elective work done, I’m not thinking, “Oh, that’s better.” It’s more along the lines of “Ugh, that’s disappointing.”

And so sadly insecure.

So now I read that Europe and Japan are considering ways to dissolve the constipation in the Strait of Hormuz.

No, dammit! Don’t cave to the moron-in-chief. I understand that the choke point is causing pain at the pump and the cost of diesel is going through the roof, so do it for those reasons, if you feel obliged to do something, but don’t appease Donald Trump.

Tie yourself to the mast! Do whatever it takes to avoid falling under whatever spell he’s able to conjure. He just says stuff and expects people to listen, to fall in line. You’re under no obligation to follow through on his cockamamy demands. Don’t save his ass! He is bereft of honorable intent.

Good luck threading this needle while not contributing to the conditions that lead to WWIII, and remember: fossil fuel alternatives are too woke. “Drill, baby, drill!” is where it’s at…

Yikes.

Markwayne and Rand had a bit of a testy tete-a-tete to lead off Mullin’s confirmation hearing yesterday. A real tone setter.

Another delightful Trump appointee sits before the committee, being grilled by Democrats (and Paul), but soothed and defended by Republicans with the now-familiar defense of just another folksy guy with a different style than Kristi Noem. Qualifications are an issue with just about any Trump appointee, but none of that matters for Republicans on the committee, since it’s a Trump appointee and the mission is to just push him through.

The Dems are always the worrywarts, uncomprehending of folksy charm and apparently hidden qualifications that the Republicans somehow always see. It’s smarmy, and sickening to watch. These hearings end up being mere formalities, regardless of qualifications, or lack thereof.

Wow– how bad an option was Matt Gaetz? Was he intentionally thrown out there as a trial balloon, a sacrificial lamb, as a way of making anyone who came after him look like a saint?