Thursday, April 09, 2026

Today's News: Comics roundup, Liberal majority nears, Iran ceasefire ceases, Pope Leo won't be silenced, plus Carney talks to Artemis II

Comic roundup
I found lots of good comics about Wednesday's events.








Gladu's vote puts the Liberals on the cusp of majority
Like many Liberals, I don't like Gladu nor do I respect her. But at this dangerous point in Canada's history, with Trump threatening Canada, my own feelings about her just aren't important. 

Evan Scrimshaw
...What Donald Trump has done to Canada is not an invasion, but it’s an attempt at economic coercion and an attempt to take backdoor control of us. That might not be a war, but it’s not exactly something to sneeze at. And if what we face is actually a crisis (and it is), then the Liberals need to do what it takes to protect Canadian industry, Canadian workers, and Canadian interests. And if that means taking the vote of someone who voted to keep conversion therapy legal in 2021, then I really can’t care.
...Gladu is a tough pill to swallow, but the counterfactual - that there is a Conservative MP who wants to help us enact our agenda and we said no - is impossible to square with what we are saying about the state of the country. If the country is in as precarious a position as we say it is in, then it’s all hands on deck. And that means making peace with a deeply flawed (now-former) Conservative.
It’s also worth pointing out that the journey many Conservative MPs are on is the same journey Carney wants the Canadian public to go on. There are many people who voted for Harper’s Conservatives or Scheer’s or O’Toole’s or Poilievre’s that want a new home given the circumstances. We can either close the door because of admittedly heinous comments and beliefs, or we can use their willingness to come over now as a way to achieve what Canada needs, and to deliver wins for Canadians....
Marilyn Gladu will presumably be a reliable vote for a Liberal agenda. That’s it and that’s all to me. We are in a time of economic war, and getting a clear Parliamentary majority is hugely valuable. We cannot act like this is a crisis and then purity test the Conservatives who cross. Either we have the luxury of pickiness or we don’t. If it’s a crisis, we don’t.
Fuck Gladu’s previous beliefs, sure. But I’d much rather her voting for us than against us.
I'm seeing mostly negative Gladu takes from the people I follow on social media, but here are some positive points:

I am disheartened at the assumption that Gladu will change the Liberal party - and not that the Liberal party will change Gladu. Agreed that she fit with the conservatives - but the assumption that she will poison the governing liberals is very pessimistic. #cdnpoli #canada

— Prairie Socialist 🇨🇦 (@prairiesocial.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 11:58 PM

What MP Gladu recognised is that she can accomplish a lot more for her constituents by joining the ruling party with its plans/strategies to strengthen our nation than to stay with the #CPC. Just like MP Idlout. That’s what #CPC MPs don’t get. If Poilievre were in Carney’s place, he’d be gloating.

— muse1267.bsky.social (@muse1267.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:24 PM

If Gladu of all people crossed, giving how conservative she is, that just means that the spectrum for potential floor crossers just got way bigger

[image or embed]

— Polling Canada (@canadianpolling.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 9:51 AM


Iran War Update
Nobody seems to know what is happening. Except apparently Israel is still bombing the hell out of Lebanon and the Strait is closed again.

This is an account close to the Iranian leadership. We are now seeing the shape of why Iran agreed so enthusiastically to this "ceasefire". They will control and toll the Strait for the first time. They keep their nuclear program. They keep their missiles. What a disaster.

[image or embed]

— Chris Murphy (@chrismurphyct.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Phillips O'Brien
... Iran has basically proposed a detailed plan for its victory and Trump has accepted it as the basis of negotiations. Now we will see how those talks go, but it looks like Iran is in an excellent position to improve its security, secure massive reparations/tolls, end its diplomatic isolation and improve its nuclear technology.
Its hard to think of a more comprehensive US strategic failure....
I would have supported the removal of the Iranian regime, had that been achievable and a key part of US policy. But it never was. This was a war to change dictators in Iran (like in Venezuela) it was never to bring freedom to Iran—and now that is clear.
And in the end, the people who will really suffer are those Iranians who want a different, better future. Their government will come down on them now with greater and greater force.
Courtesy of the USA.
So the US has failed strategically and weakened itself. However the real price to be paid is in Iran...
Rudy Martinez
...International press tonight is covering Day 1 of the ceasefire as a deal that announced itself and then immediately began to come apart, confirmed via Reuters, Al Jazeera, CBC, and Argus this session. The relief that swept markets in the morning lasted approximately four hours before the Beirut strikes, the suspended strait, and the competing violation lists reframed it. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of “persistently seeking to sabotage” the ceasefire, confirmed via OPB/AP this session. Canadian PM Carney said “when we say peace, we mean peace in the region, very much including Lebanon,” confirmed via CBC this session. The Gulf states are watching two things: whether oil tankers move overnight, and whether the IRGC — which declared all restraint over yesterday morning and has been acting semi-autonomously throughout this war — accepts the civilian government’s ceasefire. Neither question has been answered. The gap between what Trump says was agreed and what Iran says was agreed has not narrowed since last night. It has widened.
Paul Krugman
...The Iranian regime has emerged far stronger than it was before, controlling the Strait of Hormuz and having demonstrated its ability to inflict damage on both its neighbors and the world economy. The U.S. has emerged far weaker, having demonstrated the limitations of its military technology, its strategic ineptitude and, when push comes to shove, its cowardice.
We’ve also destroyed our moral credibility...
There will be many analyses by military and strategic experts of the Iran debacle. But let’s not lose sight of the larger picture: We were led to disaster by the boastful ignorance of men like Trump and Hegseth — boastful ignorance made even worse by claims that God supports whatever they want to do.
With men like that running America, major disasters were just a matter of time. I’d like to think that they have been chastened by this debacle, that they have learned something. But I don’t believe that for a minute...
Some random comments about the so-called "ceasefire"

The funny thing about this ceasefire is that it very clearly does not exist Do not hold your breath for corporate media to admit this even as every conceivable indicator it is obligated to report on objectively confirms it

— Seth Abramson (@sethabramson.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM

Donald Trump entered the ceasefire talks with Iran like Adolf Hitler—and left like Neville Chamberlain.

— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:21 PM

View on Threads

One good use of the supposed two-week ceasefire is to get back to talking about the Epstein files

— George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 (@gtconway.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 6:56 AM
And its not surprising that the Pentagon has also told Trump they will ignore his ceasefire too.
View on Threads

Dale Smith makes a worthwhile point, too.

Trump expects the rest of the world to clean up his mess in Iran, while American voters expect the rest of the world to clean up the mess they made in electing Trump. Just perfect. Chef's kiss.

[image or embed]

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) April 7, 2026 at 10:03 AM


The Pope and the Pentagon
A year ago, the world assumed Trump was joking when he said he thought he should be elected Pope. Of course he wasn't - he never actually jokes about anything.
The world can be grateful that Pope Francis worked so hard before he died to set up his own successor, to give Bishop Robert Prevost the experience and credibility that validated his election. Pope Leo is an outstanding pontiff, and I think his leadership is particularly necessary during this time when the United States is becoming a fascist state.

I don't think we are talking enough about the astounding historical twist that one of the most powerful institutions standing up to defend liberal democracy around the world today is the Papacy

— Paul Cohen (@paulecohen.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Today an incredible story came out that illustrates how important Pope Leo has become as a leader to rally the world against Trump.

News recently broke that after a speech about world peace Pope Leo made in January the Trump administration found unfavorable, Cardinal Pierre (then ambassador to the U.S. from the Vatican) was summoned to the Pentagon. He was told by Trump’s Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and several other officials that the U.S. "has the military power to do whatever it wants—and that the Church had better take its side." Another Pentagon official showed Cardinal Pierre a medieval weapon and invoked the Avignon Papacy, a period during the 14th century where French monarchy the used its military power to control the papacy, seizing Pope Boniface VIII, beating him, and leaving him to die. The officials picked apart Pope Leo’s January 9 speech line by line, and found most grievous his quote: “a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force.” Since this address, we’ve only seen Pope Leo continue to speak with clarity against the injustices and war crimes inflicted by the Trump administration. Today, I’m feeling so, so proud of my Catholic Church.

- Eliza Monts

Read on Substack

The gangsters in Washington tried to shake down the Roman Catholic Church. Are they looking to set up their own pope in Dallas?

[image or embed]

— Charlie Angus (@charlieangus104.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:23 PM

View on Threads

View on Threads


Armetis II Briefing
View on Threads

Today was Canada's day in space: Carney spoke to the astronauts today
View on Threads

#Canada youtu.be/ZejEuLwCHF4?... Mark Carney called Artemis2 … and it’s brilliant…. #canadian #Space #Artemis2

[image or embed]

— Electronica (@electronicad.bsky.social) April 9, 2026 at 12:07 AM

Canadian PM Mark Carney asks the Artemis II crew the question on every Canadian's mind. What's *your* preference? #GoArtemis #LunarCodex #MapleSyrupOrBust __ Video via NASA

[image or embed]

— Samuel Peralta (@samuelperalta.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 11:40 PM
The Spotify wake up songs playlist they are talking about is here.
View on Threads

View on Threads

View on Threads

View on Threads

Once you see it, you can't ever un-see it!

Artemis II: mission accomplished.

[image or embed]

— Jigu (a.k.a. Pedro Giglio) (@jigu.com.br) April 8, 2026 at 3:47 PM

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)