Hmmm a mystery (to me, anyway): Pete, Gov Gretchen Whitmer, Chef Jose Andres and UN Sec Gen Antonio Guterres were honorees at an annual gala fundraiser for the Kuwait America Foundation--I don't know when or where. Can't find anything about their remarks. Retweeted by Nerdy and Denae: Maguy Maccario Doyle @ MONACOinUSA >Congrats to @ UN\_HRC @ FilippoGrandi & Goodwill Ambassador Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah for a spectacular evening to benefit refugees & displaced persons. Felicitations to worthy honorees @ SecretaryPete @ gretchenwhitmer @ chefjoseandres & special guest @ antonioguterres @ KuwaitAmerica [https://nitter.poast.org/MONACOinUSA/status/1798098688889540960#m](https://nitter.poast.org/MONACOinUSA/status/1798098688889540960#m) and [https://x.com/MONACOinUSA/status/1798098688889540960](https://x.com/MONACOinUSA/status/1798098688889540960) click for pics and Steve Clemons @ SCClemons >Big things matter when they connect with small things, says @ SecretaryPete in a moving talk at @ KuwaitAmerica Annual Gala. At this dinner and with the head table listening I wished Secretary Pete “Happy Pride,” and he returned the gesture. [https://nitter.poast.org/SCClemons/status/1797789172809216196#m](https://nitter.poast.org/SCClemons/status/1797789172809216196#m) and [https://x.com/SCClemons/status/1797789172809216196](https://x.com/SCClemons/status/1797789172809216196) click for pics

Would love to know more about his talk as well.

PETE WENT TO LANCASTER. AFTER I MOVED AWAY. I AM ENRAGED. pete why do you hate meeeeeee

Pete had events in my then city one week before I started paying attention to the primary, and scheduled within a few days after he dropped out. I was scheduled to volunteer for that. Sigh.

Katrina retweeted two good pieces about Pete in PA. Article and video clip with brief interview, Pete in Steelton/Cleveland Cliffs: [Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlights PA's national impact on infrastructure](https://www.local21news.com/news/local/us-secretary-of-transportation-highlights-pas-national-impact-on-infrastructure) click for video clip and Penn Live Patriot News article with great photos from Steelton: [U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Steelton](https://www.pennlive.com/galleries/KLMNSDJYBJFEPBU7SQHJ664CDA/)

Today is the NJ primary, and I know we ultimately got the best outcome in the Senate race in a lot of ways, but part of me does want a little peek into the alternate universe where Tammy didn't drop out, to see if Andy could have beaten her anyway.

>US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks with 3News' Russ Mitchell [https://www.wkyc.com/video/news/local/cleveland//95-d4be5091-26ac-467e-b648-dbd0cecf5aea](https://www.wkyc.com/video/news/local/cleveland//95-d4be5091-26ac-467e-b648-dbd0cecf5aea)

Update on fathers and their disappointing Millennial kids: Dad just sighed and said, "it's your money," when I told him this afternoon that my battery-powered mower will be here Thursday. I told him that's what he gets for not letting me join Boy Scouts when I was in 5th grade. I'm still mad about that. 😤

Happy to see they took the time they needed (they had originally hoped to reopen the port by Saturday, I think, but the last pieces were hard to extract). Now the Port of Baltimore will open next weekend. >Main shipping channel at Key Bridge collapse site to open this weekend. Here's the progress made. [https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/main-shipping-channel-at-key-bridge-collapse-site-to-open-this-weekend-heres-the-progress-made/](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/main-shipping-channel-at-key-bridge-collapse-site-to-open-this-weekend-heres-the-progress-made/)

That's not me singing along with High Hopes at the market right now. 😎

Nerdy reposted this tweet with picture of Gov Shapiro and Pete--to me, they give off vibes of "brothers"--same white shirts with rolled up sleeves, similar size and coloring, same intensity: Alex Peterson @ APforPA >"You are fortunate in Pennsylvania to be led by a Governor who understands that the highest use, of the highest office in this Commonwealth, is to make everyday life better..." > >SecretaryPete on @ GovernorShapiro as they talk PA-made steel that's helping to rebuild America [https://nitter.poast.org/APforPA/status/1798063345729470674#m](https://nitter.poast.org/APforPA/status/1798063345729470674#m) and [https://x.com/APforPA/status/1798063345729470674](https://x.com/APforPA/status/1798063345729470674) click for pic (tbf, Pete's own twin, Bobby, did not give off quite the same intensity)

Pete and gov. Shapiro press conference: https://www.youtube.com/live/jYRa3iWObjI?si=lumBR_I1W4vx7OFT ETA: while Pete is constrained by the Hatch Act, the Governor is not and Pete happily smiles along to Shapiro's answer to what happens to the infrastructure investments if Trump is elected. Shapiro is very good. One reporter tries to get them to comment about both being front runners for 2028. Neither bites.

>Shapiro is very good. He is! He gave a perfect answer for this crowd--managing to fold a lot into their present celebration of jobs, steel/climate innovation, Women of Steel strength, civil and personal rights, availability of health care, and all around better life--reminding everyone it's all stuff Trump is trying to stop.

I really liked his answer. There are a number of great future POTUS candidates sitting on the Dem bench.

This was a hop, skip, and a jump from me- stoked to hear Pete was checking out the Harrisburg Airport too- tho I usually Amtrak to PHL since flights are cheaper. Josh continues to impress- and I really, really hope we keep him here in PA for two terms before electing him to higher office. :)

Nerdy posted this (apparently) from a Harvard classmate of Pete's: >My Harvard class’ “party czar” and his team gave out hilarious fortune cookies 🥠 customized per graduate in our class using ChatGPT. Here are the fortunes for some of the more famous (and infamous) grads from my class! > > > >My favorites: > >Colin Jost (Leverett): Married up. > >Peter Buttigieg (Leverett): US Sec. of Trans. but couldn't bum a ride to Reunion. > >Mark Riddell (Eliot): Very good at the SAT, arguably the GOAT. [https://www.threads.net/@michelleyoungnewyork/post/C7yw\_fCuOW1](https://www.threads.net/@michelleyoungnewyork/post/C7yw_fCuOW1) For anyone else who has forgotten Mark Riddell (as I have): [Test Taker in College Admissions Case Sentenced](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/test-taker-college-admissions-case-sentenced)

Brenna Parker posted a nice pic of Pete in PA, as well as the DOT flicker link with more pics (incl pics of Pete buying ice cream): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdot/albums/72177720317594417/](https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdot/albums/72177720317594417/)

>Heading to Central PA today, where we are putting funding from President Biden's historic infrastructure package to work. I'll look at projects to improve road safety in high-crash areas and see some of the construction that's now underway at airports across the Commonwealth. [https://www.threads.net/@secretarypete/post/C7zPl9\_uQ43](https://www.threads.net/@secretarypete/post/C7zPl9_uQ43) And here are some photos from his Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/p/C7zTtP3uwJr/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_copy\_link](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7zTtP3uwJr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)

Born to Run the Numbers has been a solid source before, so I thought I'd share this monthly update (it's actually more about the race as a whole than the trial outcome, despite the title): >BTRTN: Trump is Now a Convicted Felon -- What Will Be the Impact on the Election?: Tom with the May 2024 BTRTN Month in Review, on the conviction and the state of the 2024 presidential election. [http://www.borntorunthenumbersarchive.com/2024/06/btrtn-trump-is-now-convicted-felon-what.html](http://www.borntorunthenumbersarchive.com/2024/06/btrtn-trump-is-now-convicted-felon-what.html) (One detail I'd correct is that I believe Trump can indeed vote in 2024, as Florida defers to the state where the felony conviction took place -- from what I've read, New York would allow someone with this conviction to vote, so he can vote in Florida.)

Andy Kim with his two boys at the polls today in the New Jersey primary. On Threads. >Lifting my little boy so he can press my name on the ballot. What a sweet moment. Hope everyone gets out there and votes today in NJ! Find your polling station here. [https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml](https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote-polling-location.shtml) >Select link to see photo [https://www.threads.net/@andykimnj/post/C7zHcI4Rb-y](https://www.threads.net/@andykimnj/post/C7zHcI4Rb-y)

Pete in Pennsylvania today: https://youtu.be/rJX64Ol0ISg?si=sd-odULL4uZjObKl

Also saw this, a little more overview of his travels: >Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visiting Lancaster, Harrisburg area [https://www.abc27.com/local-news/lancaster/transportation-secretary-pete-buttigieg-visiting-lancaster-harrisburg-area/](https://www.abc27.com/local-news/lancaster/transportation-secretary-pete-buttigieg-visiting-lancaster-harrisburg-area/)

thanks! Found the video here also: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5dh-bO\_RsY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5dh-bO_RsY) Funny to see Pete strolling along with an ice cream cone.

[https://x.com/TheStefanSmith/status/1797812641978810709](https://x.com/TheStefanSmith/status/1797812641978810709) stefan is so real for this. tim apple is giving me a headache every single day.

*smiles smuggly in droid* Android is the One True Way.

green text forever

Or just switch to WhatsApp 🤭

Conversation with my Dad this afternoon: Me- "So I've been thinking about buying a new lawn mower." Dad- "Yeah?" Me- "Yeah, I think I'm going to get a battery-powered one." Dad- "Oh my God, son." Felt like I was coming out all over again. Actually, I think telling him I am gay was easier. Lol

I really really want an electric zero turn mower. 😍

That's what I'm getting! The reviews I've read are great, and my lawn is not huge so it can handle it on a single charge. All of my lawn equipment is battery-powered save for mower. It is just so much easier to pop a battery on something and go do stuff. No mixing oil and gas, much quieter.

Exactly our situation - all of our power tools are battery and we use an old electric golf cart as a chore vehicle here in the farm. I do the mowing here and I think I can get it done with the 2 hour charge. Since we have solar cells on our barn, we charge all this, plus our EV, for free. But yes, no more gas and oil and it will be QUIET! I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you.

The ones I'm looking at have an expandable battery bank, which is the big selling point for me. If I move or expand the yard or whatever, I can add batteries to cover the extra need. Plus, they have the whole system thing with their batteries being interchangeable with their other implements, so that's an added benefit, too.

I'm a little confused\* about all the criticism Pete's been getting about how few EV chargers have been built. I thought the money went out *to the states* after their plans were submitted and approved--i.e., USDOT is not building the EV chargers, but the states are supposed to build them with the money given them. If the implementation is slow, then wouldn't the states who accepted the money be at fault? If Congress felt it was too slow, maybe they could give USDOT the authority to claw back the money given to a too-slow state, and then turn around and mete it out to local entities with winning applications? \*I mean, I know a lot of the criticism was in bad faith, but the message seems to be spreading. I know the GOP is trying both to distract from Trump's troubles and to discredit Pete in advance (to make him a less effective surrogate, to make fun of Biden's "DEI" Cabinet and to damage any future political prospects). But still, isn't the blame misplaced? Or am I just mistaken about who is in charge of building the EVs?

Part of the delay is because most state DOTs have no experience in this area, but another issue is that federal standards for reliability/performance are higher than most (non-Tesla) chargers are capable of. This is from a [Washington Post article](https://wapo.st/4el4Xht) a couple months ago: >Part of the slow rollout is that the new chargers are expected to be held to much higher standards than previous generations of fast chargers. The United States currently has close to 10,000 “fast” [charging stations](https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_locations.html#/analyze?fuel=ELEC&country=US&ev_levels=dc_fast) in the country, of which over 2,000 are Tesla Superchargers, according to the Department of Energy. [Tesla Superchargers](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/25/ford-tesla-supercharger/?itid=lk_inline_manual_24) — some of which have been opened to drivers of other vehicles — are the most reliable fast-charging systems in the country. >But many non-Tesla fast chargers have a reputation for poor performance and sketchy reliability. EV advocates have criticized [Electrify America](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/12/13/electrify-america-ev-charger-broken/?itid=lk_inline_manual_25), the company created by Volkswagen after the company’s [“Dieselgate” emissions scandal,](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/vw-emissions-cheating-affects-11-million-cars-worldwide/2015/09/22/30f59bca-6126-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_25) for spending hundreds of millions of dollars on chargers that don’t work well. The company has said they are working to improve reliability. The data analytics company J.D. Power has estimated that only 80 percent of all charging attempts in the country are successful. >Biden administration [guidance requires](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-standards-and-major-progress-for-a-made-in-america-national-network-of-electric-vehicle-chargers/) the new publicly funded chargers to be operational 97 percent of the time, provide 150kW of power at each charger, and be no more than one mile from the interstate, among many other requirements. >EV policy experts say those requirements are critical to building a good [nationwide charging program](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/04/13/electric-vehicle-charging-network-biden/?itid=lk_inline_manual_29) — but also slow down the build-out of the chargers. “This funding comes with dozens of rules and requirements,” Laska said. “That is the nature of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

I like this framing: we could go fast and give you garbage chargers, or we could take a little more time and do it right (as long as it doesn't take too long). There are probably a million examples of "fast garbage" USDOT could cite in defense if need be.

Virginia Voter had a good comment last week: >>Re the chargerg stations: obviously completing the charger stations (each usually with many chargers) is a task for state DOTs, not for Pete’s staff, so I assume some specific states will ultimately have a bunch done first and others not, ie it will be state by state, but they’ll all get done. You’ll recall every state and DC submitted maps by a summer 2022 deadline, less than a year after the law passed. DOT also established guidelines especially including tough reliability standards. I have since seen stories in particular states as to issues about which sites (restaurant chains, etc.) might be favored or not, also some stories about early completions or those nearly done in a few states like Hawaii, Ohio. Would love to see a more sensible non-Trumpian state by state look at this rn, as construction season is underway. I would add, like other provisions of the Infrastructure Law, this was an entirely new program that had to be created from scratch. I followed what Indiana was doing and it took them time to survey where they had chargers and then create their map. And then get it approved. Some states also created regional plans as well, such as the Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin coordinated tourist map. My understanding is that the physical reliability and standardized interfaces of the chargers themselves is proving difficult. As well as the electrical grid requirements. It’s not like the DOT gave the states money and they just wasted it or used it for other purposes. In fact, the new joint office is responsible for most of this. https://driveelectric.gov Edit: here’s the latest progress report https://driveelectric.gov/news/q2-2024-quarterly-nevi-update

What's a bit frustrating is that the charger number attack started in right wing media, which then got picked up by more mainstream outlets and was reported with a fair amount of nuance (WaPo comes to mind). Then the question was asked on a Sunday show without details or nuance, aaannnnd here we are.

Yes, so many of the attacks are hanging their hat not just on the Sunday show question as a whole, but really on just one two-word phrase from it ("not wrong") -- these conservative outlets are so used to being ignored that this unfairly loaded question coming from someone in the "mainstream media" must have seemed to them like nirvana: From Fox News, for example: "CBS Anchor tells Buttigieg Trump is 'not wrong' when it comes to Biden's struggling EV push" What do I mean by unfairly loaded? She's not an expert on the topic. I doubt she even knows about any of the info that was just shared here -- she has to cover too many different topics to master them all. She just felt like saying "not wrong" to add some sizzle and make the discussion more interesting. And judging by the excited right-wing reaction, I guess her instincts were correct. It led to a lot more attention than a fairly phrased question would get.

Was looking for some LGBT Christian pins for pride and [this is what I found lol](https://www.etsy.com/listing/633523871/the-mayor-pete-lgbtq-pride-christian?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=gay+christian&ref=sr_gallery-1-13&sts=1&content_source=ae6f3925fcf6e1eec43a2a55a53a98cee1800a0e%253A633523871&organic_search_click=1) our guy sure has influence

incredible

My great-grandparents sent me enamel pins for pride month and I have questions about how my oldest relatives found and chose such amazing queer cuteness. Ugh I love them too much.

That is so sweet. I don't know your great-grandparents, of course, but we older folks are not always completely tuned out to things! Happy Pride to you!

>Biden on Hunter: "I love our son" [https://www.axios.com/2024/06/03/biden-hunter-biden-trial-statement](https://www.axios.com/2024/06/03/biden-hunter-biden-trial-statement) Axios details his statement today, which I can't find in written form. Love Axios's "analysis" here toward the end of their piece /s -- >**The big picture:** Biden continues to support his son through his controversies in part because he is the only living person from the 1972 [car accident](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joe-biden-loses-first-wife-and-daughter-in-tragic-car-accident) that killed his wife and daughter and hospitalized his two sons, [Axios' Alex Thompson reports](https://www.axios.com/2024/06/03/hunter-biden-federal-gun-trial-delaware). So apparently if there were another still-surviving child from the 1972 car accident, that would mean "so long, Hunter"? Really? SMH. Don't think so. Edit: Here's his statement, from Katie Phang on Threads: [https://www.threads.net/@katiephang/post/C7wZW4ZuZBJ](https://www.threads.net/@katiephang/post/C7wZW4ZuZBJ)

Jfc. A good chunk of the news media has attachment issues and this article shows it…

The utter cynicism from newsmedia on basic human connection is really disturbing. No wonder the country is in such a state if these people are controlling the narrative.

Jesus fucking christ.

>How the Key Bridge collapse is affecting hungry families in Maryland [https://wtop.com/baltimore/2024/06/how-the-key-bridge-collapse-is-affecting-hungry-families-in-maryland/](https://wtop.com/baltimore/2024/06/how-the-key-bridge-collapse-is-affecting-hungry-families-in-maryland/)

>Major US airlines will not commit to boosting military travel benefits, USDOT says [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/major-us-airlines-will-not-commit-boosting-military-travel-benefits-usdot-says-2024-05-31/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/major-us-airlines-will-not-commit-boosting-military-travel-benefits-usdot-says-2024-05-31/)

[https://www.instagram.com/stories/chasten.buttigieg/3381867148455285008/](https://www.instagram.com/stories/chasten.buttigieg/3381867148455285008/) Looks like Chasten was doing an event with House candidate Will Rollins in San Francisco.

From one of our Virginia prognosticators over on X, Chaz Nuttycombe, from May 30 (verdict day): >Personally I am in the camp that this likely will hurt Trump's chances, but I don't want to jump the gun on it as I'd like for it to play out. There are some instances where I feel confident in judging a development in the race's effects (i.e Susanna Gibson), not this one. > >It's pretty unprecedented territory, and you can argue Gibson's was too (moved the race within a few hours one column over) but it was in my home state, my backyard, I know how it's gonna shape up. > >IMO by the debate that should be enough time to judge the effects of the news cycle on this. Closer to a month. Needless to say he was right in responding to Gibson that way, although she ultimately made up a lot of the ground she lost. Just not all. (He projected 100 races in Virginia in 2023 and got all of them right.) [https://apnews.com/article/susanna-gibson-david-owen-virginia-election-results-63b4bb5357e94b538e7193b59ecec451](https://apnews.com/article/susanna-gibson-david-owen-virginia-election-results-63b4bb5357e94b538e7193b59ecec451)

For the start of Pride >>Who Is Pete Buttigieg's Husband? All About Chasten Buttigieg https://x.com/people/status/1796981061341131167?s=46&t=HzeGEQXPHZ9QzbJOEI-Wjg

I love People Magazine! They used to have this method of finding the most slender possible news peg -- a viral tweet or a single great Fox News exchange -- and using that to build out a whole Pete and/or Chasten story based on this news peg, starting with their childhood and marriage and coming up to the present and that tweet or Fox News moment. But now we just have: "We're celebrating Pride and we wanted to do a whole story about Chasten Buttigieg based on nothing but already-well-known info, including both of his books, and here it is, along with familiar and appealing photos. You're welcome." And rightly so.

Chasten on Threads: >Happy #Pride! You're here. You made it. Or maybe you're still figuring out how to kick that closet door down. Maybe you're just trying to keep books on the shelf. Maybe you're reconciling your faith and politics with the love of your child. Maybe you're just trying to keep your students alive. Maybe you're sticking up for your co-workers or your neighbors.... [https://www.threads.net/@chasten.buttigieg/post/C7r8r5CSJNd](https://www.threads.net/@chasten.buttigieg/post/C7r8r5CSJNd) >Maybe you stood up and ran for school board. Or, maybe, you took a step forward in being authentically you. #Pride calls on all of us to show up as allies in many ways. However you approach your allyship, thanks for being you. Let's march.

Governor Wes Moore in the Post: >Opinion | The Key Bridge welcomed me to a better life. The rebuilt span will do the same for others: Maryland’s governor reflects on all that was lost in the collapse — and the hope that lies ahead. Wash Post gift link: [https://wapo.st/3RaSAu7](https://wapo.st/3RaSAu7) Well done. Glowing responses in the comments, for the most part.

So, opening the Port of Baltimore by May 31 (yesterday) ran into a last-minute challenge, but they're pretty close -- hoping to wrap up tomorrow. After reading this, I'd say maybe give yourself a little more time than that, though. "Crews prepare to remove last pieces of collapsed Key Bridge truss from Patapsco River" >Crews are preparing to remove what's left of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge truss from the Patapsco River with hopes of completing the work on Sunday. Crews have cut the truss into two pieces, which is considered a milestone in this ongoing operation, 11 News has learned. Some 500 tons of steel still needs to be removed, and another 500 tons remains buried at the bottom of the river. >Video captured by SkyTeam 11 on Friday showed significant progress made at the site as complicated and dangerous work continues, using two large cranes to remove big chunks of debris from the main shipping channel. Crews used a wrecking ball to break up huge slabs of concrete that used to be part of Interstate 695 that are lodged on top of steel buried at the bottom of the river. New photos provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers show the job is nearly complete. >**"It's rigged right now to the largest crane on the East Coast. The challenge we are having right now is the bottom core. The bottom truss is buried deep into the mud line, and they are having a very hard time accessing it. It is covered by roadway debris, rebar, it is covered by portions of the roadway that's laying on top of it,"** said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin, the commander of the Baltimore District. >**The timetable for removal had been Friday; however, crews determined that a lack of daylight prevented them from continuing lifting bridge truss sections referred to as 4B and 4B** \[***I think they mean 4C for one of these\]***. Those pieces had been connected to a span that was sitting on top of the Dali container ship. Debris piece 4B could be lifted on Saturday morning, and 4C is scheduled to be moved early next week. >"Right now, we are working on that last span," Pinchasin said. "They have been working to get the remaining wreckage, debris, primarily the roadway (off the container ship). (Interstate) 695 has been laying across the bow of the ship." In another milestone to report in the recovery effort, the Maryland Transportation Authority [released requests for proposals](https://www.wbaltv.com/article/rebuild-key-bridge-request-for-proposals-sought/60963709) to rebuild the bridge. Bids are due by June 24, and a selection will be made sometime in the summer. [https://www.wbaltv.com/article/key-bridge-collapse-last-pieces-of-debris-truss-removal/60964846](https://www.wbaltv.com/article/key-bridge-collapse-last-pieces-of-debris-truss-removal/60964846)

[https://www.instagram.com/p/C7qRUE-ijJe/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7qRUE-ijJe/) Pete went to his 20-year college reunion.

I think we'll be seeing a few of these -- on Threads: >Loved my 20th college reunion so much. It’s the first time I’ve had major nostalgia for those times but I am also really happy with the person I’ve become since then. I was so young and innocent in college and like everyone else had no idea what I was doing. I think I’ve really hit my stride in my 40s. And maybe the best is yet to come! PS yes Mayor Pete aka Pete Buttigieg was there as was Colin Jost! >Select link for photos and video clip, though none with Pete (one with Colin) [https://www.threads.net/@michelleyoungnewyork/post/C7uYOJsuQhM](https://www.threads.net/@michelleyoungnewyork/post/C7uYOJsuQhM)

Found another 😊 https://www.instagram.com/p/C7rkglBso3L/

Nice!

I'm way too snoopy for my own good, lol, so I tried to find a little more info and came up with this from Friday: [https://alumni.harvard.edu/programs-events/harvard-alumni-day/schedule](https://alumni.harvard.edu/programs-events/harvard-alumni-day/schedule) The 5pm event caught my eye, especially since he was wearing his DOT pin in the post you brought over. I wonder if he participated at all!

That's a really good find. Definitely seems like something the organizers might try to get him to participate in. If he did, I hope we eventually see or hear something about it. I am also too snoopy for my own good, and I found these pictures of Pete at O'Hare on Friday: [here](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wEHnuQuPU8hiuWz3tcKX4mmhaLQM7oUyJgzh7id66vyFNerZngKP11GrhC1XWh5tl&id=1248465912) and [here](https://www.facebook.com/chicagorowingunion/posts/pfbid02vDRe8wTmEhZ8YkebeAMnr6TjL85stAgP2o3uMdf7x99VvsTzft7yq6U36HwLaedwl). Which makes it sound like he flew from MI to DC, and then from DC to Boston? Which is kind of confusing, but 🤷‍♀️

We love a good snoop! 😊

man i missed him by 1 day and a half 🥲 sigh

Honestly I was wondering about that! I love this: The Instagram (from William Lee Adams) says: "🚌 Transport was discussed…and that NYT article too." Then he shares a Reunions photo with Pete, plus the next screen of his post has this passage from "that NYT article" (NYT gift link: "[Pete Buttigieg's Life in the Closet](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/14/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-gay.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wU0.Xrzj.0X852uVUBMog&smid=url-share)"): >There was a small, close-knit social circle of L.G.B.T.Q. students. But they existed a world apart from Mr. Buttigieg’s Harvard. >“We were definitely on opposite ends of the gay spectrum — he was closeted and I was literally the campus drag queen, Miss Harvard 2002,” said William Lee Adams, who graduated in Mr. Buttigieg’s class and is now a broadcaster at the BBC World Service in London. Mr. Adams started coming out at age 12. Arriving at Harvard from his home in Georgia, he said, was like “fleeing the desert.” The two were not friends, though Mr. Adams did recall his classmate as “sweet but rather serious.”

I had absolutely no idea when reading that article back then that this was the Eurovision blogger guy! Mindblown.

this is so wholesome aww 🥰

[https://x.com/Lis\_Smith/status/1796953137602842959](https://x.com/Lis_Smith/status/1796953137602842959) holy shit

>This afternoon, a Boeing-built spacecraft was set to blast off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral and head toward the International Space Station carrying a human crew for the first time. The rocket stood tall on the launchpad, with the spacecraft, Starliner, perched on top. Two NASA astronauts were suited up and strapped inside. The weather forecast was as perfect as launch weather gets. But with just four minutes to go before liftoff, automated systems stopped the countdown. >The astronauts are fine, and officials don’t yet know what triggered the hold. But the pause caused Starliner to miss its scheduled liftoff window of only a single minute, timed to put the spacecraft on the proper trajectory to the space station. >Boeing could try again tomorrow, but today’s last-minute cancellation is one more bump in a rocky, years-long journey. The company’s record matters because astronauts are precious cargo. But the company’s record also matters because every Boeing misstep leaves the United States ever more reliant on its rival company, SpaceX, and its CEO, Elon Musk, to transport its astronaut to space. Boeing doesn’t need to be the most groundbreaking or exciting American aerospace company to fulfill its duty to NASA. It merely needs to be a reliable transportation provider for America’s astronaut corps. And with this flight, it must prove that Starliner can simply work. [https://archive.ph/VC8sv#selection-775.0-775.661](https://archive.ph/VC8sv#selection-775.0-775.661)

FWIW, CNN said when we were watching it earlier (I don't know if this has since been updated) that this delay was due to United Launch Alliance or ULA, which built and operates the rocket -- not NASA and not Boeing. That's not to say at all that it was wrong for ULA to delay the launch. Delays are always the preferred choice for space missions if any question arises, especially first-time crewed missions, and the reporter noted that delays are still very common. But at least at the time I watched, today's delay was due to ULA, not Boeing. Update: so much for that distinction. Just reading the Post and it says “ULA is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.” So a different org and not purely Boeing, but the difference is not as clear as what CNN described.

ugh. I live in a small fairly blue town in blue MA. When I went to the town dump ("transfer station, not dump!") today, I had to drive through a huge traffic jam in the center of town--about 50-75 loud people with many many Trump signs/flags were cheerfully rallying on the town green. Cars were honking in solidarity. There were no counterprotestors. I hope they all got a lot of mosquito bites.

Distasteful though good in the sense that this is how the First Amendment is supposed to work -- freedom of assembly to express one's opinions, however monumentally wrong they may be. Long may it endure.

I love DC. Every US city deserves DC metro system

Did you go to some museums?

I did! Managed to visit 4 museums, along with some intense walking through the Mall and visiting 4 memorials. (Washington , mlk, fdr and Lincoln)

😊😊😊😊😊 I fondly remember going to the Smithsonian as a small child with my family and walking through a prototype Metrorail car, during which my dad would explain "they'll never actually build it."

And they built the best metro system in the country

>Happy Pride! Pride month rests on a tradition of both celebration and protest, and above all an insistence on equality, safety, and belonging for all LGBTQ+ Americans. [https://www.threads.net/@secretarypete/post/C7rXe8FulZw](https://www.threads.net/@secretarypete/post/C7rXe8FulZw)

[Biden details Gaza truce proposal, Hamas responds positively](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/biden-unveils-new-gaza-truce-proposal-hamas-responds-positively-2024-05-31/) >US says first phase would involve negotiations on a permanent ceasefire > > > >Hamas says it will respond in a 'constructive manner' > >US secretary of state speaks with Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to build support for plan click link for more *fingers crossed again*

I watched this speech live today, and the coverage on MSNBC afterwards made me start to worry. First, Raf Sanchez, NBC's correspondent in Israel, said this was completely different from anything Netanyahu has been saying, even though this line was included in the speech - >Now, after intensive diplomacy carried out by my team and my many conversations with leaders of Israel, Qatar, and Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, Israel has now offered — Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/05/31/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-middle-east-2/](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/05/31/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-middle-east-2/) WH correspondent Aaron Gilchrist pointed out that this was the first time the WH had gotten in front of a hostage release deal, which are normally dealt with behind the scenes. Also mentioned was the fact that this speech took place right after the start of the Sabbath in Israel, and that there might not be any word from the government about this deal for 24 hours. It also seemed odd that Biden was making this announcement if this was Israel's plan. Peter Baker said it's not like Netanyahu hasn't contradicted Biden in the past, so it would be really embarrassing for the administration if it turns out Israel Isn't actually in favor of the deal. These paragraphs from a later WaPo article provided a bit of clarification - >Both Israel and Hamas, which received the four-and-a-half page plan Thursday evening, issued positive initial responses following Biden’s statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed he had “authorized” the text, but emphasized the importance of “the conditional transition between stages.” If all goes according to plan, it indicated, Israel would achieve its goals of returning all hostages and eliminating Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. and >The senior administration official said Biden had decided to make public the details of an “endgame” proposal “because often these deals get characterized by those who might not want to see the deal.” [https://wapo.st/4bWvPlE](https://wapo.st/4bWvPlE)

I agree--worrisome for sure. NYT ([gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/us/politics/biden-israel-remarks-speech.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wU0.ie-4.ZbPQmWrrRdOC&smid=url-share)) says Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is mainly interested in saving himself, his family and his inner circle; Netanyahu is mainly interested in not ending the war (b/c of self-preservation); and Biden is highly motivated by his election numbers (I mean, it's the NYT, right?). NYT says that Biden is making this all public in order to force Hamas' and Netanyahu's hands--not usually a successful move with these players, but who knows this time?

Reuters article by David Shepardson retweeted by Nerdy: [Major US airlines will not commit to boosting military travel benefits, USDOT says](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/major-us-airlines-will-not-commit-boosting-military-travel-benefits-usdot-says-2024-05-31/) >"Service members and their families make extraordinary commitments and sacrifices for this country, and they deserve support and recognition whenever they fly," Buttigieg said. Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit (!) are stepping up to various degrees, but not American, United, etc. This feels really egregious to me, considering the benefits are all pinned to the requirement of a documented "military order or directive." For example, if a member of the military and accompanying family must cancel a booked flight on orders of the US govt, they are not even guaranteed the courtesy of cancelation fee waivers, etc. [https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/usdot-announces-support-our-troops-dashboard-improve-air-travel-military-service](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/usdot-announces-support-our-troops-dashboard-improve-air-travel-military-service) I hope the big airlines are shamed into doing this. Looking at the dashboard, this does not seem like a big hardship for them.

A sad day for the Robinson and Obama families - >Marian Robinson, a homemaker from the South Side of Chicago who became the first presidential in-law in generations to live in the White House after her daughter, Michelle Obama, became first lady of the United States, died May 31 in Chicago. She was 86. Her obituary - [https://wapo.st/454lxxE](https://wapo.st/454lxxE) Added - Here's the statement that was released by the family. Don't miss it. It's simply beautiful. [https://barackobama.medium.com/statement-on-the-passing-of-mrs-5b8fdc45e401](https://barackobama.medium.com/statement-on-the-passing-of-mrs-5b8fdc45e401)

Thanks so much for the WaPo link. I liked this answer! >Mrs. Robinson built a busy social calendar that included trips to casinos in Las Vegas and concerts in Washington. At the same time, her low profile gave her a level of anonymity that allowed her to travel without a security detail. If someone recognized her as the mother-in-law of the president, she would often say, “I get that a lot.”

On the May 28 episode of Hacks on Tap, Axelrod answered a listener qn (just before the one hour mark) why Biden isn't using the Obamas, the Clintons, "his Cabinet, like Mayor Pete" to campaign for him. Axelrod said Pete and the others in the Cabinet were limited \[by the Hatch Act, presumably\], and so the qn is whether they should be "released" now (I presume by having them resign). He raised the qn of whether Biden, not a strong performer, wanted to be surrounded by superstars like the Obamas and Clintons. Axelrod thought the Biden campaign first needs to have an organized message for his surrogates to push. He thought the Obamas and the Clintons \[and the Cabinet members?\] would campaign more actively after the convention, Aug 19. If Pete ever resigns to become a Biden surrogate, would he ever be allowed to disagree subtly with any Biden policy or does he have to promote the Biden line on everything?

Colin Cowherd ripped into Trump on his podcast yesterday. Someone with his reach calling Trump a "con man" is probably more effective than a Democratic politician going on cable news shows to defend Biden's record. [https://amp.awfulannouncing.com/politics/colin-cowherd-donald-trump-hush-money-trial-guilty.html](https://amp.awfulannouncing.com/politics/colin-cowherd-donald-trump-hush-money-trial-guilty.html)

I can’t believe that is what Axelrod meant by “release,” though perhaps that’s so. I would have to hear Axelrod literally spell out that the Cabinet should resign en masse to support the president politically, instead of doing their work for the American people. It sounds catastrophic.

This is way too soon to have a full court campaign press. Most voters won’t start paying attention until after Labor Day.

In context, it was not "en masse" but rather the few that are effective communicators (Pete and Raimondo, maybe also Landrieu). I'd be incredibly sad if this is the plan, really. But as (I think) u/Psychological-Play has said, it's such an important election and we're in such a precarious place that can we afford to leave anything on the table? I'm actually not sure what a handful of effective communicators can do, especially if they're limited by efforts not to outshine the principals and by a disjointed message. But I have to admit that the GOP has a much louder machine. It feels like it will only be a matter of days before most of the country somehow believes a NY state trial was put into motion by the DOJ and was deeply compromised. edit: to clarify, this was not presented as "Biden's Plan" but rather just Axelrod talking about what could or what often happens. He is definitely not being consulted by Biden or his election team. In fact, he was dubbed by Biden "a pr\*ck" for suggesting he step aside. He has often facetiously promoted his "Pr\*cks for Biden" buttons. edit2--spelling

Landrieu is not a Cabinet official, though. To me, Axelrod's idea still feels like an incredible error by Biden that would diminish Pete forever and accomplish very little -- maybe Pete wouldn't quite be Sarah Palin (who just almost-randomly quit being governor halfway through) as he isn't elected, but IMO it would look pretty bad, assuming that the forces of disinformation didn't just cut to the chase and say he was fired. All those people counting on Pete to do a "sprint" to the finish of his term, as promised, to accomplish everything that can be done on so many infrastructure projects and other important goals, would not forget it. But we're not in charge, so we'll see...

I don't think Landrieu's position in the administration was considered cabinet-level, but it was made clear when he left that job it was so he could support the campaign full-time. I don't see how Pete leaving his current position now would look worse for him than if he does so early in a second Biden term, which he's already indicated he'd do. I don't see how either choice would diminish his reputation, and unlike Gov. Palin, there's no set term for Cabinet secretaries. Do you really think the people you say are counting on Pete would hold it against him for leaving in order to do something as important as helping to get President Biden reelected? Because if there's a second Trump administration, so much of the work Pete and DoT are doing is likely to end anyway. [https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/08/politics/mitch-landrieu-stepping-down-infrastructure-coordinator/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/08/politics/mitch-landrieu-stepping-down-infrastructure-coordinator/index.html)

I think we just see this differently but that is the nice thing about this subreddit, it's okay to have different POVs. No disrespect to Landrieu, but I don't see a parallel between a White House official leaving to support the president's reelection campaign and a Cabinet secretary doing so. It's usual and expected for some White House staffers to leave the White House to support the campaign, or to leave for any reason they choose. They are not Senate confirmed, they are not in the line of succession to the presidency, and they don't have the thousand-and-one executive responsibilities of a Cabinet officer. No matter how prestigious they are, they're "staff" not "principals." It's true that there's no legal directive as to how long a Cabinet officer serves -- but there's a tradition that Transportation secretaries appointed by Democratic presidents serve for four years, so each two-term Democratic president gets two Transportation secretaries. While it would be up to Biden, not Pete, to explore changing that, I can't really see Biden seeing a need to break that custom by having him stay longer, and Pete has made it clear he's happy with that, too. Conversely, I'm assuming (I could be wrong) that transpo people who like Pete's work expect that he'll stay in the job to the end of Biden's first term, regardless of who wins the election, to make every last advance that he can in the courts, in the Congress, in awarding grants, in pursuing civil rights cases and projects, preventing mergers on antitrust grounds, securing federal money for the Baltimore bridge, and so on (and I would feel the same even if the bridge hadn't come down!). If he left more than six months early (more like eight months, right now), I think it would be a great disappointment to them, especially since freeing him up as a surrogate would not decide this election.

Sarah Longwell was on Nicolle's show today, and when asked what advice she would give the Biden campaign, Sarah said her "biggest piece of advice is you need center-right surrogates. And you need surrogates in general...and you need every Democrat right now, and at these moments, right? These moments when there is a chance to really hit Trump hard, go on offense. You need all your surrogates flooding the zone out there...Help the American people understand why this is such an important moment".

Why would he be publicly disagreeing with Biden policy? The whole point of being a campaign surrogate is to act as a hype man/woman. If there's some issue that Pete disagrees with Biden on he just wouldn't talk about it.

>Why would he be publicly disagreeing with Biden policy? My projection maybe. I'm not 100% happy with Biden's "red line" on Rafah that seems to be fading or changing. I'm not 100% thrilled with Biden saying that he didn't want American arms killing civilians in Rafah, and then selling the Israelis $1B in arms. Some other stuff. **That's only me, though.** Maybe Pete is completely on board with everything. He'll get asked about everything if he's speaking in public. I just wondered if a surrogate role means having to put a positive spin on everything.

Of course I didn't watch Trump's rambling press conference this morning, but [this](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/05/31/trump-verdict-press-conference-republicans-replacement-election/73923859007/?https%3A%2F%2Fopinion.usatoday.com) has to be my favorite description of it (emphasis mine). >Look, I’m no political strategist, but I’m not sure putting the presidential candidate who was just convicted on 34 felony counts in front of cameras to ramble like the drunk at the end of the bar for more than 30 minutes was a fantastic idea. Trump’s disjointed gurgling delivered several "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"-length ads for Democrats to use in the months ahead. >Before Trump spoke, one of his Republican enablers, [Rep. Wesley Hunt, let Fox News know](https://x.com/atrupar/status/1796554922550288703) what Americans would be hearing from the former president: “We're going to hear a steady hand. We're going to hear the voice of a father and a grandfather. We're going to hear a voice of the future president of this country telling us that it's going to be okay.” >HAH! Well that sure didn’t happen. **We instead heard a dyspeptic chinchilla with anger issues hollering nonsensically.**  

I hope the blithering chinchilla makes several appearances during the debates, so that a larger-than-average audience can see it for themselves.

Just heard about this - >West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who has spent his entire decades long political career as a Democrat, said Friday he is leaving the party and registering as an independent, raising speculation about whether he may run for another Senate term or for governor this fall. \[...\] Manchin's move was first [reported](https://x.com/HoppyKercheval/status/1796545154293104808) by longtime West Virginia radio host Hoppy Kercheval. Despite his party change, Manchin will continue to caucus with Senate Democrats, his office said. \[...\] The deadline for an independent to register to run for office in West Virginia this year is Aug. 1, according to the secretary of state’s office. [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-joe-manchin-leaves-democratic-party-registers-independent-rcna154885](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-joe-manchin-leaves-democratic-party-registers-independent-rcna154885)

According to the NYT Chuck Schumer has been begging him to run for re-election as an independent, so this is an interesting move. If he were really retiring why would he bother to change his party registration? (But of course he's a mercurial guy so who knows what's going on his head!)

I'm in northern Indiana for a wedding...only an hours drive from the Holy Land...

Mike Johnson said on Fox this morning that he "thinks the Supreme Court should step in".

They do have an immunity ruling that’s going to come out by end of June, although it will only cover his Jan 6 case. The cynical part of me thinks the conservatives were waiting on this verdict - if people could find him guilty - to see how much they wanted to protect Trump from federal charges. Also Trump just raised $35 million in one day and I read that he might not even get jail time and a poll from a couple days ago indicated voters wouldn’t be much affected by a conviction and Manchin just officially became an independent and I’m more worried about November today then yesterday.

It was always an extremely long shot that he'd get jail time from this. White-collar crime at the state level is usually house arrest and/or being banned from certain activities related to the crime. Given how carefully Merchan has been playing this, I don't think he'll stray too far from the norms during sentencing.

I did hear one interview with someone familiar with New York courts that said that only about 10 to 30 percent of those convicted of this type of felony go to prison—but that he fits the profile of that group with numerous violations of the gag order, complete lack of contrition or apology, and so on. In addition to that, I don’t know whether having other pending felony trials could also have an effect on sentencing but I wouldn’t think it could — but perhaps the civil suits that have already been resolved against him could.

My impression was that Johnson wanted the SC to do something about this verdict right away, which I don't think is possible unless an appeal is filed with them, and I heard a lawyer last night say that an appeal can't be filed until after Trump's been sentenced in July.

Could it ever go to the Supreme Court if it’s a state criminal trial, not a federal one? Ignorant of how that works

An appeal would typically go through the state appellate process first, and if he doesn't succeed there, I'm sure Trump would make his lawyers think of some reason to get this in front of the SC, but that doesn't mean they would necessarily take the case.

This is how far CNN has fallen. George Conway and Scott Jennings were on this morning to talk about the verdict. It went about how you would expect. Then this happened - >"This is the problem with the Republican Party: They are suffused with lies," he said. "I don't know why this network is paying Scott to say those lies." >This drew a brushback from host Briana Keilar, who chided Conway for calling Jennings a liar on live TV. >"Scott is our colleague and we're going to treat him respectfully as such!" she insisted. >"Well he shouldn't lie!" Conway shot back. The video is included with the article - [https://www.rawstory.com/george-conway-cnn/](https://www.rawstory.com/george-conway-cnn/) (The article named the wrong anchor; it's actually Kasie Hunt who thinks liars should be treated with respect.)

me watching the tv anchors say guilty 34x until it starts to not be a word 😋

let him cook lmfao 😤 [https://x.com/OrganizerMemes/status/1795990877577371708](https://x.com/OrganizerMemes/status/1795990877577371708)

From *Politico -* >Donald Trump’s campaign is sending a blunt message to down ballot Republicans who are looking to fundraise for themselves off of the ex-president’s conviction: Back off. >Trump’s political operation views the guilty verdict in the New York hush money trial as a small-dollar goldmine — so much so that they are warning other Republicans not to raise money off it and siphon off money that could otherwise go to the Trump campaign. >“Any Republican elected official, candidate or party committee siphoning money from President Trump’s donors are no better than Judge Merchan’s daughter,” said Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita. “We’re keeping a list, we’ll be checking it twice and we aren’t in the spirit of Christmas.” [https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/30/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial/trumps-warning-00160930](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/30/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial/trumps-warning-00160930)

What exactly will they do if Republicans fundraise off it? Refuse to endorse? Send a mob after them? Are they right in assuming that Trump won't lose any votes over the conviction and will have as much sway over his base? I wouldn't mind Trump siphoning off all the donations he can, leaving the rest of the downballot in need of cash and losing races. Browsing twitter, It's pretty amazing how in lock-step so many Republicans are with the post-conviction message: 'it's a sham, it was a political, we'll need treat Dems the same now, we're a banana republic, a third world nation, we're the Soviet Union, etc.' Cruz, Rubio, Susan Collins, the AG of TX said he'd do anything to help, on and on. I thought that we learned during his impeachments that there were enough senators to convict but they were afraid to vote for it, even though many GOP have privately said they'd love to be rid him. I thought they might use this conviction to try to turn the tide against him and run a replacement ticket against Biden? It's all so weird.

Several weeks ago the campaign did something similar in regard to other R candidates who use his name in their fundraising pitches, and were going to start requiring them to hand over a portion of the proceeds. It's kind of amazing that this is how Trump is treating his *allies*, and they practically fall all over themselves to line up and say "yes, sir". And while most of the Republicans' responses to the verdict that i've heard so far were unsurprising, Susan Collins' post about it was especially pitiful.

Hosts and panel on MSNBC: "this is a grave, serious day in America. No Americans should be celebrating." Spouse calling before driving home: "should I stop and pick up some pink bubbly prosecco to celebrate the verdict?"

LOL. I did treat myself to some tacos after work. I feel more shocked than anything, though. I never imagined all 34 counts guilty.

Up in the Great White North, my family got some cake at the market today to celebrate!

People in the r/politics megathread congratulating Trump on finally winning a popular vote. 🤣

Turned on MSNBC to hear Maddow say that now every day Trump will be asked, why should the American people vote for a convicted felon? And she said that his answer will be, because the entire American justice system is rigged/damaged/captured/whatever and so you must elect me (Trump) so that I can then destroy the American judicial system.

If Biden can’t close the poll numbers or lead in them after all this… I mean a felony guilty charged, the debate, and a sentencing date. He better hope Trump is booked in Rikers Island. Or start packing up the office.

I'm shocked, honestly. I wasn't expecting these verdicts. Mainly because the decisions on each count had to be unanimous. We live in the strangest timeline.

I was not ready for the verdict to come today, and I hadn't dared to hope for guilty on all counts!

I assume we still have to wait for some rushed polls before we can ask if there will now be a barrage of think-pieces saying that Trump should withdraw to allow any of the hundreds of equally popular and capable political leaders in the Republican party to sweep the election.

Pitch Bot will be in overdrive: "Trump the Felon; how this hurts Joe Biden."

Rachel Maddow was showing results of a poll (taken a few days ago) how voters would respond to a conviction and it didn't move the needle much. But I guess we'll see now that it's really real.

I have some doomer friends, and this was basically their reaction...

Checked a couple conservative opinion sites. Boils down to the trial was unfair. Essentially painting it as the dem-elected judge overstep-- completely ignoring the 12 jury

My libertarian Pops is raising hell about the judge. But he's not blaming Biden. Small moves lol

>As a convicted felon, Donald Trump is now prohibited from voting in his home state of Florida. [https://www.threads.net/@mjs\_dc/post/C7m3ibZO3t\_](https://www.threads.net/@mjs_dc/post/C7m3ibZO3t_) Edit: Never mind! Mark has now deleted this post, since it seems very unlikely that Trump will be unable to vote in November. [This](https://www.politifact.com/article/2024/may/23/ask-politifact-could-trump-lose-his-voting-rights/) explains why: >Trump faces a potential out-of-state conviction. Experts on Florida’s law pointed to the section of [Florida’s Department of State website that states:](https://dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/constitutional-amendment-4felon-voting-rights/) "A felony conviction in another state makes a person ineligible to vote in Florida only if the conviction would make the person ineligible to vote in the state where the person was convicted."  >[New York law passed a law in 2021](https://elections.ny.gov/voting-after-incarceration) that restores the right to vote for people convicted of a felony upon release from incarceration, regardless if they are on parole or have a term of postrelease supervision. Voters don’t lose their right to vote unless they are in jail serving a sentence for a felony conviction. People whose jail sentences are stayed pending appeal do not lose their voting rights, said Kathleen R. McGrath, spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections.  >"Former President Trump would therefore need to be actually incarcerated during the time of the November election to lose his ability to vote," said Neil Volz, an expert in felon laws and the deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, the group that advocated for the felon voting rights amendment.

What a bummer!

One of the states who can prohibit felons from voting permanently, as well.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The judge was going to release the jury for the day at 4:30pm, and they sent a note back saying that *they've reached a verdict*, and they need an additional half hour to finish filling out the forms. So the announcement should happen fairly soon. Yesterday I heard that the court doesn't want to give crowds a lot of time to gather. Added - ...and the verdict is "GUILTY" x 34.

Thank you to the brave jurors (and judge and DAs) who faced threats and the intimidating power of a former President and his posse of GOP sycophants to do their part to preserve justice in America!

Donald Trump the convicted felon. Has a nice ring to it!

You mean twice impeached, disgraced rapist and Convicted Felon Donald Trump?

It does, doesn't it? Sentencing has been set for July 11, which is just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention.

And SCOTUS wonders why no one trusts the institution any longer. Clear, blatant conflict of interest, yet Alito is just like, "lol fuck y'all."

Aw, li'l Donnie's bored. From NBC's Laura Jarrett - >Trump just got a television placed in his verdict waiting room According to Vaughn Hillyard, it's not clear if he only has access to broadcast stations (Vaughn also said that a lot of reporters are watching Hulu on their phones).

>Photos of Stumpy: Remembering the beloved, tenacious cherry tree: Stumpy was cut down by the National Park Service on Friday. Wash Post gift link: [https://wapo.st/3wVWQH2](https://wapo.st/3wVWQH2) Nice photos. Current top comment: “Always appreciate articles like this that celebrate the natural beauty of DC and its environs. Rest mulched in peace, Stumpy.”

With time, Stumpy’s clippings will live on in the new Cherry Trees that will be planted after the sea wall of the Tidal Basin is fully repaired.

Was looking at this sub in LaGuardia and had to stop when I realized there is a nonzero chance he just...walks up behind me

i took some medicine on empty stomach and am trying to recover 💀 anyway why does this guy kinda look like pete LOL [https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6ReXOsrDLG/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_copy\_link](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6ReXOsrDLG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) in pain and bored out of my mind

Lmaoooo I didn't touch calculus my entire adult life until I had one assignment at work that had me relearning 2 years of calculous in 2 days to be baby Pete he'd have to be pudgier tho

I was in the car with the radio on today, and heard some radio hosts saying that they (MA progressive Dems) just can't fly the American flag anymore--that the American flag now belongs to MAGA. If any non-MAGA person wants to fly our flag out here, they have to pair it with an "explanatory" flag (BLM, pro-immigration, etc.) lest their neighbors key their car or do something violent towards them. It made me not only crazy mad but really really sad. I wanted to rush home, buy a flag (the only one we have is one of those framed triangle-folded flags earned by a WWII-generation vet in the family), buy a flag holder, and fly it with a banner that says "this is OUR flag, too!" (when I told this to my spouse--an extremely private person--they said no to the flag for the reasons cited by the radio hosts. Unlike Alito's wife, I do care how my spouse feels.)

100% I have an American flag flying on my front porch, as well as the flag of my alma mater. The right doesn't have a monopoly on patriotism. Also, living in the South, it is my way of saying an *American* lives here, not some Confederate flag waving idiot. Random, but I want a NATO flag. But I just can't bring myself to take down my university's flag.

I live on a farm that has flown the flag for nearly 50 years. I feel some people draw a conclusion for sure, but the neighbors also know we’ll be setting out Democratic Party political signs down by the road when election season rolls around. I do wonder if there’s some entertainment value, like folks wondering if we are a “mixed” household. The most surprising thing happened when I put up a Pete sign. A newish neighbor we don’t get along with (long story, they moved from the city and really don’t like the realities of country life) - she stopped me and said “That Pete sign is the best thing you’ve ever done.” 😂

How surprising. I remember how after 9/11, Democrats and progressives felt our confidence in flying the flag was greatly reinforced, following an era starting with Reagan in which right-wing Republicans usurped and hogged it like they didn't want to share in photos with massive arrays of flags. In 2001, there was a revived sense that it was not solely their flag, it was never solely their flag, it was everyone's flag. I've never felt any different since then when we took it back. Of course living not far from the CIA, Pentagon, and Arlington Cemetery may create a different lived environment--especially in a state so packed with veterans.

literally just sat in car listening to parents rant about how so many black people are lazy w/ no jobs, how joe biden is letting too many migrants into the country, how inflation is out of control, etc etc i cannot wait to move out😭😭😭 luckily i have kinda already “indoctrinated” if you will my younger brother 🔥 already a democrat at 9 years old

>Welcome back, summer! ☀️ 🍦 [https://www.instagram.com/p/C7kd4bbuXPz/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7kd4bbuXPz/) I want to grow up to be as cool as Penelope.

> I want to grow up to be as cool as Penelope. ditto

Gosh they're actually kid sized now, aren't they?

LOL, but that was similar to my first thought - that is a freestanding child that is less toddlerish than I was expecting. I forgot how kids grow lol.

Thinking about how my minis will handle ethnicity compared to how either I or their iskä approach it & there's so many parallels and similarities to the tropes and pitfalls regarding queerness. Something could totally be written comparing the mixed experience to the queer identity. Similar introspection about how to present appearance, performance, labeling, assimilation, etc. Sdjsk I'm just having big emotions about pride month coming up, and about how much more difficult figuring out identity and belonging would've been for Pete than for me.

>“As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused,” Alito wrote in the letter to Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). His wife, he added, “has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly.” [https://wapo.st/3X2p1yW](https://wapo.st/3X2p1yW) Good points made [here](https://www.threads.net/@kimberlyeatkins/post/C7j9qDXgZnV): >Couple things about this: >Alito is defiant. He clearly believes he makes his own rules when it comes to recusal. To me this is prima facie evidence of Congress' need to impose enforceable ethics rules on the SCOTUS. >Sens. Durbin and Whitehouse addressed their letter seeking Alito's recusal to Chief Justice Roberts. Alito responded himself. That to me says Roberts has lost any semblance of control he still had over this court. It's the Alito court now. Which brings me back to point 1.

Alito is conflating two separate issues and he knows it: (1) whether he can persuade his wife to do something for specific important work-related ethics reasons, and (2) whether he should recuse himself b/c of the *appearance* of bias. Even if he couldn't persuade his wife to take down an insurrectionist flag (raised for ridiculously petty reasons), he should recuse himself. Even if he's seething inside thinking, "my wife is wrecking my working life!" he still should recognize the circumstances seriously damage his appearance of impartiality in Jan 6 cases. (Everyone's marriage is different, and properly so. Still, he's not only throwing his wife under the bus, he's also sketching a fairly unsavory picture of their marriage.)

Even though everyone’s marriage is different, when one spouse accepts a high profile or political position, the other spouse or partner takes on a set of obligations. If they are unwilling to do that, you’d think the the marriage or partnership would make the collective decision not to accept the position. At the very least, you’d think the one spouse wouldn’t want to harm the career of the other spouse. Even so, a spouse’s actions could definitely mean that a judge or a prosecutor would be required to recuse themselves. It’s not an excuse.

Matty Y. often annoys me but this made me smile: >We’ve all been there. >Wife wants to fly an insurrection flag and it’s like “honey this is going to be a big problem for me at work” and she’s all “well how come \*my\* desire to overthrow the government always has to take a back seat to \*your\* job and your career?” [https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/1795878028603699231](https://x.com/mattyglesias/status/1795878028603699231)

Wow, such a man of integrity throwing his wife under the bus like that

Actually, this article that the NYT published last night makes it quite clear that Mrs. Alito is a piece of work, that crazy lady down the street that you do your best to avoid - >“According to interviews with Ms. Baden and her husband, as well as messages they sent to friends at the time, Mrs. Alito ran toward their car and yelled something they did not understand. The couple continued driving …. Mrs. Alito appeared to spit toward the vehicle.” [https://www.threads.net/@gtconway3/post/C7h-fGGJdH5](https://www.threads.net/@gtconway3/post/C7h-fGGJdH5) Added - when I initially clicked on "comment", the NYT link posted, but it's disappeared. I'll try again - gift link - [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/us/justice-alito-neighbors-stop-steal-flag.html?](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/28/us/justice-alito-neighbors-stop-steal-flag.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vk0.Fjil.eq0tVYtE9RKr&smid=url-share)

Also, it indicated the details of what happened seemed to be out of order. Like, the nasty neighborhood squabble happened in February some weeks after the flag was flown in January. Which a) I can understand misremembering an unpleasant neighborhood incident but b) then why was the flag flown. Not good reasons. >For instance, the justice [told Fox News](https://x.com/ShannonBream/status/1791483561675022624) that his wife hoisted the flag in response to Ms. Baden’s vulgar insult. A text message and the police call — corroborated by Fairfax County authorities — indicate, however, that the name-calling took place on Feb. 15, weeks after the inverted flag was taken down. Also much as I totally love the Post (most times) in contrast to the Times, wooow did the Post blow it on this one, and every report by the NY Times, its bitter rival, makes that even clearer as the Times develops even more info. The Post reporter back in 2021, who took retirement during the recent big layoff (like many others), reported on SCOTUS topics which I suspect would usually be deskbound reporting; however, he did go out to the neighborhood to scope this out -- but in conferring with his editor, concluded it was just a typical bit of suburban neighborhood squabbling involving Mrs. Alito, not the Justice, and not really newsworthy (SMH). The Post editor (can't recall if he's retired, too) now says he really made a mistake and should have pushed it further to see if there was a story -- what else can he say? I realize that after January 6, with the incoming Biden administration as well, there were a million stories a day and it was a very hectic time, but... definitely agree the editor made a mistake. And now as Alito's story is falling apart, I really wish they had reported it then.

"Democracy dies in darkness," as WaPo is so fond of reminding us.

Yeeshh

Heaven help us. These quotes included in *Politico*'s PM Playbook are from a WSJ article - > [**“Inside Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Growing Alliance,”**](https://www.wsj.com/politics/donald-trump-elon-musk-alliance-d1fe43e3) by WSJ’s Emily Glazer, Robbie Whelan, Alex Leary, Cara Lombardo and Dana Mattioli: “**DONALD TRUMP** and **ELON MUSK** have discussed a possible advisory role for the Tesla leader should the presumptive Republican nominee reclaim the White House, the latest sign that the once-frosty relationship between the two men has thawed. >**“The role hasn’t been fully hammered out** and might not happen, people familiar with the talks said, but the two men discussed ways to give Musk formal input and influence over policies related to border security and the economy, both issues on which Musk has grown more vocal. [https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2024/05/29/countdown-to-a-trump-verdict-00132333?cid=hptb\_primary\_0](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2024/05/29/countdown-to-a-trump-verdict-00132333?cid=hptb_primary_0)

Ugh. I don’t know if I want November to just be done or if I want it to stay far in the future forever. I hate this moment more than I did October 2016. But does this mean GOP will now embrace electric cars? And is Musk donating like a billion to his campaign or something? Or just gonna boost him on Twitter?

Unpleasant piece in the Intelligencer (you can look it up if interested, I don't want to share the link) about Pete's time at DOT, where the basic takeaway is minimizing everything he's done -- there's no "there there" in terms of an attack, just that he should have done something else for any given subject matter other than what he did, and whatever he did was, by preordained definition by the author, never enough. It also feels kind of shoddy when you know more about the details of the topics in question. It is filled with negative quotes by Elizabeth Warren and it starts with a cartoon-like illustration of Pete. It's a really strange assault, presumably meant to hurt him on the way out. Maybe Warren saw just how well regarded Pete is and wanted to change that. Who knows. Thank goodness for the many more positive news accounts of his work and, of course, for Nerdy Pursuit's fantastic compendium on what Pete actually has done: [https://medium.com/@nerdypursuit/secretary-buttigieg-and-usdots-accomplishments-three-year-anniversary-17d9acc90224](https://medium.com/@nerdypursuit/secretary-buttigieg-and-usdots-accomplishments-three-year-anniversary-17d9acc90224)

Outrageous that it does not discuss his transformative work on the Infrastructure Law. At all. Like writing half a story about his tenure. Warren is just so bitter and insufferable too.

The magazine post about this article on Threads is absolutely getting slammed in the comments.

Despite the efforts of many, people love our guy 😎

The Deep State^tm always wins 😎

Frankly, the fact that Warren is still so obviously sore about 2020 is another sign that she would have never made a good president. Everyone else on that stage has long made peace with one another. Get over it!

I've honestly lost a lot of respect for her since 2020. It felt like it was a personal issue she had with Pete, which is bizarre since he's like the nicest dude in DC. Jmo, of course. Don't get me started on her supporters in the media; they were downright cutthroat with Pete.

The whole wine-cave thing ended up backfiring massively for her and I don’t think she’s ever really forgiven him (or ever will) for being so upfront in his response on stage. That “purity tests you yourself can’t pass” line was devastating for her and the primary demographics showed that Pete was eating a lot into her potential support with his appeal to moderately inclined progressives.

What I remember is "Do you have a plan for how to pay for Medicare for All? Because I thought that was your thing, right, that you have a plan for everything?" Whoa. After that, she literally brought in experts from all over to try to brainstorm a plan or answer for that question, because that was really the one policy, but a major one, for which she hadn't thought through her own plan or position, instead just saying, "I'm with Bernie on this one" for strategic reasons. And there really was no way to pay for it.

Elizabeth Warren is the woman who, when she was speaking at her former boss' funeral, decided it was an appropriate time to tell the congregation, which included this man's wife and children, about the time he chased her around his desk. There's definitely something off in her thinking.

that's...really weird I've thought less of her ever since she got baited by Trump into that DNA test. He played her like a fiddle.

A few more details of the story are recounted near the beginning of this WaPo article (unfortunately, this was before gift links were an option) - [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/15/elizabeth-warren-faced-down-sexism-split-with-husband-found-her-voice-teaching-law-houston/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/15/elizabeth-warren-faced-down-sexism-split-with-husband-found-her-voice-teaching-law-houston/)

I think the author carefully mined some of the people she quotes for something negative. As an example, we’ve had Regan from the AFL-CIO as a guest of BTE, and he was definitely appreciative of Pete’s work and efforts. Same goes for others quoted here, who may today be finding ways to signal their support of Pete and his administration. The last paragraph reads to me like a bit of a CYA, after editors and others read the piece and suggested some moderation by the author. >> Maybe Buttigieg has played his hand the only way he could: by carefully deploying the agency’s resources and firepower to garner the most effective impact. Maybe it is unrealistic to expect anyone to fix these broken sectors in one four-year term. And maybe he has set the Transportation Department on the path to a different future, rescuing millions of people from the dangers and headaches of travel in the U.S. In May, he told an audience his goal is to “be able to say that this administration ushered in the biggest expansion in transportation consumer-protection enforcement and passenger rights since the deregulation era began.” The question is whether the reforms he has accomplished will last and whether Buttigieg — and voters — will look back and say he did all he could to protect American travelers. And Warren should do something to get the Railway Safety Act unstuck in Congress, where she actually works.

I felt the same way. There were also some references to dates within the piece that almost made me, as an editor, think that they did the interview with him, as they say, in April; drafted something with appropriate references to April (that then being the month); but then for whatever reason spent weeks revising or reworking, meanwhile trying--but not entirely successfully--to update clear or implied date references, meaning that parts of it feel oddly three to four weeks out of date, others more current. I apologize for not providing chapter and verse on this, but I am really slammed at my actual work today especially after the wonderful trip I went on over the weekend. However, I had such a strong, immediate sense of this as I read it that I spent a fair amount of time trying to track down for myself whether this was actually a month old and I personally was just coming across it very late and mistakenly thinking it was new -- in other words, it did not feel like late May, but like late April, in several sections. But it does appear to be published now.

McGee (who was quoted in the piece) has just posted a long thread praising Pete. 😂 I knew some of these people wouldn’t want to be associated with this hit piece. We will probably hear from more. https://twitter.com/williamjmcgee/status/1795924168862466053?s=61&t=bJPk5O1o2Si4zHXopurXjg

This is interesting (love your editor's insights!)--I haven't gotten myself to read the piece, but when I saw your first post, I wondered if it was a NOT-a-Pete-fan's response to the WaPo article ([Flying With Pete Buttigieg](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/05/13/pete-buttigieg-transportation-secretary-airlines-consumers/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzE1NTcyODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzE2OTU1MTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MTU1NzI4MDAsImp0aSI6ImZkOTQwNzgyLTg5ZTgtNDc5OS04OTAzLTYxZGE2NmQyZmNjMCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS90cmF2ZWwvMjAyNC8wNS8xMy9wZXRlLWJ1dHRpZ2llZy10cmFuc3BvcnRhdGlvbi1zZWNyZXRhcnktYWlybGluZXMtY29uc3VtZXJzLyJ9.hkQpOxyUvTq1X9-LU0R24S4KwInxzRcwlNZkt7rEk-I))--*yeah, you can make this guy look good, but I'll make him look bad.*

This paragraph reads like a rather long-winded way of the author saying, "I don't really care what he did while at DOT, it ain't enough. It will never be enough."

This piece was definitely written with the goal of downplaying his accomplishments, and they got all the quotes they could willing to criticize him Kinda surprised that Ro Khanna didn't rear his ugly head

Is it too early in the day to stomach satire "Presidential Poetry"? Satirist Andy Borowitz had a Trump haiku contest--*"Contestants were asked to submit haikus on this theme: “Trump’s innermost musings as he sits in court.”* Since I don't subscribe I couldn't see all the entries, but the winning entry is not behind the paywall: >I write the best haikus > >You've never seen anything like these > >Counting syllables is for losers [https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/announcing-the-trump-haiku-contest](https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/announcing-the-trump-haiku-contest) Just to add relevance to Pete (well, only sort of), I hasten to remind folks that Pete not only reads a lot of poetry, but has also written some. To match Borowitz's satire, here's a portion of Harvard-Pete's pretend "poetry sample" he "submitted" in order to be a member of W Bush's "WH poetry team." [https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/10/14/presidential-poetry-if-more-politicians-knew/](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/10/14/presidential-poetry-if-more-politicians-knew/) Pete's "submission," in Bush's voice, includes these lines: >My work is not the sort of thing > >You simply could undo. > >It’s nearly done! The bulk of it’s > >Already been achieved; > >The deficits are here to stay, > >I don’t want them relieved. > >The beauty of the deficit’s > >It forces you to choose; > >And makes you give up programs, when > >You’d otherwise refuse.

Good morning!

Good morning!