The majority opposes the wall

Most Americans not only oppose the wall, but also don't want to compromise on that position to end the shutdown. https://t.co/67TsrkVyuB pic.twitter.com/uXRjt4eWKb

— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 17, 2019

Declaring a national emergency as a way to spend $5 billion without congressional authorization is also spectacularly unpopular: 51-36 against; 41-20 strongly against https://t.co/AxuaHcpIea

— David Frum (@davidfrum) January 18, 2019

Poll shows federal workers don’t prefer a border wall to getting paid

A metaphor squared: "The wall is…perfect for Trump because for a long time he has characterized himself as a kind of wall against these cultural and demographic changes that conservative whites and especially white Christians really worry about," says @robertpjones https://t.co/cHxk35cUNk

— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) January 22, 2019

More bad polls for Trump

Of course, it’s amusing that he complained polls where rigged when he also attempted to rig them. What a liar and hypocrite.

Trump has the same approval in January 2019 with 3.9% unemployment that Reagan had in January 1983 with 10.4% unemployment https://t.co/RQOAcuWF3Q https://t.co/xU6Jioie9r

— David Frum (@davidfrum) January 18, 2019

OK, finally had to write about the political implications of the shutdown. It's clearly hurting Trump’s approval rating. But will it hurt him in 2020? https://t.co/JNy85jXlkI

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) January 17, 2019

Long time between now and Nov 2020. But Trump numbers do not have him on a winning trajectory. https://t.co/NaDlwevM3D

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 17, 2019

A remarkably bad new poll for Trump: A quarter of his supporters aren't committed to voting for him in 2020 and among independents, who he won in 2016, 62 percent plan to vote against him. https://t.co/9FsED95mlk

— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 17, 2019

"Just 30 percent of registered voters said they will definitely vote for Trump in 2020, while 57 percent said they will definitely vote against him."https://t.co/0xlZ9G94lj

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) January 17, 2019

There's a real possibility that Trump's tendency to ignore polls he doesn't like will cost him re-election. https://t.co/2kavbJxf7G

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) January 17, 2019

Two years before the Journal reports on Cohen rigging online polls, Trump was complaining about rigged polls. https://t.co/tQrzjVXKBP

— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 17, 2019

Honestly. This isn't going well for him. None of it. pic.twitter.com/xlgsW1VCzl

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) January 17, 2019

Declaring a national emergency as a way to spend $5 billion without congressional authorization is also spectacularly unpopular: 51-36 against; 41-20 strongly against https://t.co/AxuaHcpIea

— David Frum (@davidfrum) January 18, 2019

Fact check product is coming

Sounds like a good idea.

This will combine the fact checks of the @washingtonpost, @PolitiFact and @factcheckdotorg in one place — no excuse for networks not to take advantage of this! https://t.co/7U7aL4XKfl

— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) January 18, 2019

Trump’s anti-Muslim bigotry shows through in his prayer rugs tweet

I despise Trump for many reasons but the top two are that he is a liar and a bigot.

Trump and his supporters will rightfully complain about the Buzzfeed story that said Trump told Cohen to lie. How is this different? It doesn’t have a lot of sources and they are anonymous.

Fact Check: President Trump revived an old and still unproved rumor that hints that Islamic migrants were entering the United States through Mexico and could pose a terrorism threat https://t.co/Bmdubbt713

— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) January 19, 2019

Let's be clear. The daylight between @SteveKingIA's overt racism and Trump's unsubtle "the Muslims are coming!" is PAPER-THIN. But, will any Republican lawmakers say so? https://t.co/OIRwwFEcTU

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) January 18, 2019

NEW: "Muslim prayer rug" story that Trump tweeted was written by ex-press secretary of anti-immigration hate group, @willsommer reports https://t.co/4Bd9WCyqZU

— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) January 18, 2019

The Washington Examiner article the president is quoting is very bad. The “prayer rugs” claim was made by a single rancher who would not allow her name used and who apparently provided the journalist no evidence. pic.twitter.com/iq4t0BOzR9

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 18, 2019

The president of the United States is tweeting about imaginary prayer rugs found by a supposed anonymous rancher who, if he exists, is repeating an urban (rural?) legend from a few years ago. But Trump has benefitted from stoking anti-Muslim prejudice before. Why not try again? https://t.co/TZ2FnWj2Xz

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) January 18, 2019

The whole prayer rugs on the border thing is an ancient right-wing talking point. In 2014, another "prayer rug" was discovered on the border. It turned out to be an Adidas shirt. https://t.co/QeSApcSE4P pic.twitter.com/A1BKnyKjGT

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) January 18, 2019

Reporters on the border tell me migrants often carry small heavy rugs to throw over the barbed wire and then dump them when they make it to the U.S. side. Has nothing to do with Islam, Mr. President. https://t.co/8jb9GAhlAc

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 18, 2019

A classic of the racist genre.

1. What’s wrong with prayer rugs?

2. Who would lug a prayer rug across the Atlantic, up through South America, into and across Mexico, only then to ditch it in Texas? https://t.co/5j8jL1SaAK

— Sam Stein (@samstein) January 18, 2019

Fathers and sons struck out by Nolan Ryan

Fathers and sons struck out by Nolan Ryan:

Sandy Alomar Sr.
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Roberto Alomar
Bobby Bonds
Barry Bonds
Tito Francona
Terry Francona
Ken Griffey Sr.
Ken Griffey Jr.
Hal McRae
Brian McRae
Tony Perez
Eduardo Perez
Ducky Schofield
Dick Schofield
Maury Wills
Bump Wills
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) January 18, 2019

Nolan Ryan struck out seven fathers and their sons. pic.twitter.com/yh3dby76fG
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) May 9, 2022

The other tweet lists eight sets

and there’s this:

Nolan Ryan was the only pitcher to face the last 3 single season home run leaders…

Roger Maris, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.

They were 5-28 against him with zero home runs. pic.twitter.com/zaVw8hRfVV
— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) July 22, 2022

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/bob-dylan-audiobook-actor-readers-chapters-alfre-woodard-oscar-isaac-philosophy-modern-song-1235392871/

Trump’s nonsense about border trafficking

I am sure he is just making stuff up again.

As he tries to sell his wall, Trump keeps telling stories of women being bound, gagged with tape, and brought over the border in traffickers' vans.

Experts on trafficking are aghast. They say the president has no idea what he is talking about: https://t.co/ZQAF6bvbKV pic.twitter.com/VLwLZixTGU

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 15, 2019

Democrats fail to overturn Trump administration lifting sanctions on a Russian oligarch

update – Republicans go along with Trump’s appeasement of Russia

Breaking: GOP defeats Democratic effort to maintain sanctions on key Kremlin ally Oleg Deripaska. Dems needed 60 votes, got only 57, incl 11 Republicans. Treasury accused him of election interference, bribery, ordering murder of a businessman & links to Russian organized crime

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 16, 2019

Trump is seeking to lift sanctions on Oleg Deripaska's companies for no apparent reason. Putin has not changed his policies. #NotToughOnRussia. https://t.co/1VlksKHxL1

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) January 15, 2019

Putin-friendly oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s company is trying to get out from U.S. sanctions. But the firm has quietly installed a new chairman who has expressed support for the Russian aggression that got Deripaska sanctioned in the first place https://t.co/dsqbMLYwtK

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) January 16, 2019

BREAKING: Senate GOP defeats Dem measure to enforce sanctions against companies controlled by Russian oligarch OLEG DERIPASKA.
Dems needed 60 votes, only got 57, even after GOP defections.
Sanctions now all but certain to be lifted this week pursuant to TRUMP administration deal.

— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) January 16, 2019

The Republicans who voted in favor of lifting the sanctions did so at a time when President Trump’s warmer stance toward Russia has inflamed questions about the Kremlin’s efforts to help elect him https://t.co/2O6aOw8bkH

— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) January 16, 2019

More than half a dozen Senate Republicans just joined Democrats to DEFEAT a motion by Maj Leader Mitch McConnell that would have prevented a debate over Treasury decision to lift sanctions on 3 Russian firms tied to oligarch Oleg Deripaska

— Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) January 15, 2019

The Treasury Department said it would lift sanctions on companies linked to Deripaska — triggering a statue that gives Congress just 30 days to try to reverse the decision by passing a joint resolution of disapproval. https://t.co/FoidhUoBm6

— Bruno J. Navarro (@Bruno_J_Navarro) January 9, 2019

NEW: @LeaderHoyer introducing resolution to block @USTreasury from lifting sanctions on companies of OLEG DERIPASKA, who HOYER says "has been key to much of the malign activities Russia directs against the US."
SEPARATELY: @SenSchumer will bring similar resolution for vote today. pic.twitter.com/d1VkUhGWxH

— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) January 15, 2019

Senator Chuck Schumer will force a Senate vote tomorrow on whether or not the Trump Admin should be lifting sanctions on companies associated with Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Dear Colleague Letter below… pic.twitter.com/BxHVTR8lFW

— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) January 14, 2019

Trump is seeking to lift sanctions on Oleg Deripaska's companies for no apparent reason. Putin has not changed his policies. #NotToughOnRussia. https://t.co/1VlksKHxL1

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) January 15, 2019

Income inequality articles roundup 1/15/19

Somewhere between “teachers shouldn’t have to sell their own blood to make rent” & “billionaires with helipads and full-time workers on food stamps shouldn’t exist in the same society” https://t.co/utYrwSObNN

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 15, 2019

.@AOC: "The vast majority of Americans know that income inequality is one of the biggest issues of our time." @HillTVLive https://t.co/2eO3xwiwmL pic.twitter.com/AEK8Y3tKH3

— The Hill (@thehill) January 15, 2019

Fascinating study: Americans *vastly under-estimate inequality in the U.S., particularly racial disparities.

They guess that black Americans are 80% as wealthy as white Americans.

In fact, blacks are just 5% as wealthy as whites.https://t.co/2pJoIlTw4B pic.twitter.com/H17tugsb9c

— Eric Umansky (@ericuman) January 6, 2019

As I was saying. https://t.co/Rp8Ko0U7Ka

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 10, 2019

Capitalism isn’t working right.

The U.S. economy is growing, but workers are seeing less and less of the benefits https://t.co/M5rKCRehmS pic.twitter.com/QauIZ6Ia98

— Bloomberg Opinion (@bopinion) January 5, 2019

American "meritocracy" in one graph: the growing gap in how much the wealthiest people spend on their kids, compared to everyone else. https://t.co/N8cnCWr6xI pic.twitter.com/MTQ76Tia2g

— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) December 27, 2018

The economy is growing in the US, so why are people still so unhappy and angry? This amazing chart might be the answer. (h/t Torsten Slok, @DeutscheBank) pic.twitter.com/XORk1EyZuI

— John Authers (@johnauthers) December 13, 2017

"Economists are calling the economy 'great' because that’s what they’re used to doing. They just mean that most people have jobs. This standard terminology ignores the question of how much those jobs pay, or which classes of society reap the gains."https://t.co/hq1VmkQXyF

— Binyamin Appelbaum (@BCAppelbaum) December 1, 2018

I pointed out that income inequality has grown (objectively true) and Forbes accuses me of becoming “a lefty” with “baseless disdain for capitalism.” Oh, brother. This is how ideologues react to reality. https://t.co/5kteZXfwiZ

— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) December 3, 2018

As rural America gets left behind by the rise of coastal superstar cities and the chasm between the richest and the rest widens, one entity is heavily profiting from the blight: the dollar store. https://t.co/EYuwoCasYz

— Axios (@axios) January 1, 2019

Drinking wine from a Pringles can

Authorities say a woman drove an electric shopping cart around a northern Texas Walmart’s parking lot for several hours while drinking wine from a Pringles can. She doesn’t face charges, but has been told to stay away from the store. https://t.co/RruvW0wv96

— AP Central U.S. (@APCentralRegion) January 14, 2019

My whole browser tab situation today revolves around making sure I don't lose this https://t.co/ismPfdlpNT

— Julia Azari (@julia_azari) January 14, 2019

Woman drinking wine out of Pringles can at Walmart warms internet’s jaded heart https://t.co/M2DcFVdipK pic.twitter.com/PTKHyNROWa

— The Takeout (@thetakeout) January 14, 2019

House condemns Steve King

The House condemned Steve King. What took them so long? He didn’t just become a racist last week. Of course, they won’t condemn the bigot in the White House. Trump didn’t condemn King either and has claimed he didn’t know about the issue.

Glad to see House GOP finally stand up to Steve King — who didn’t suddenly become racist this week. But hard to take their condemnation against white supremacy seriously when they’ve let it sit cozy in the White House for two years with barely a peep.

— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) January 15, 2019

Journalism isn’t just about the questions you ask, but the questions you don’t.

If you’re a reporter or pundit who has badgered every Dem about “socialism” yet aren’t asking EVERY Republican about what they plan to do about Rep. King’s white supremacy,you’re telling on yourself.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 14, 2019

Steve King is a “special guy, a smart person, with really the right views on almost everything,” the president has said. So why, asks @AdamSerwer, is King drawing condemnation, but not Trump? https://t.co/TXA2pjLL7Z

— Yoni Appelbaum (@YAppelbaum) January 14, 2019

Steve King had a Confederate flag on his desk for years.https://t.co/5UGjLEzPyL

— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) January 15, 2019

President Trump, who follows the news more closely than most Americans, told reporters this morning he was not familiar with Rep. Steve King's white supremacist comments.

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) January 14, 2019

Republicans are punishing Steve King.

But they are also all in behind a shutdown designed to realize Steve King's policy agenda.

Recall that King told Trump: "I market-tested your immigration policy for 14 years."

That's absolutely true.

New post:https://t.co/yVZa3CYc3P

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) January 15, 2019

"The punishment came on a day when Mr. King was denounced by an array of Republican leaders, though not President Trump."https://t.co/nOYDHa8G6Y

— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) January 15, 2019

Steve King serves a useful role: Giving Republicans a way to condemn problematic rhetoric without having to criticize a popular president.https://t.co/YAbJisLeri

— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 15, 2019