Today's News: Remembering what happened

Revisionism about the convoy insurrection:

Remember Canada 5 months ago? The Convoy Insurrection destroying Ottawa's downtown, border blockades messing up trade, protestors fanning out across the country to block nurses and doctors from going into hospitals, thousands of counter-protestors risking street fights, a spreading contagion of trucker blockades all over.  It was madness and it needed to stop. 

The Emergencies Act was what did it. 

So now here we are 5 months later. And we are seeing bad-faith attempts to gaslight Canadians, to establish a revisionist history that minimizes the emergency we were facing, that pretends everybody was acting all calm and reasonable and willing to compromise, that denies the seriousness and the danger Canada was in.  The last refuge of a scoundrel is when the media starts talking about optics -- because they cannot identify any actual malfeasance or misconduct, because Trudeau and Mendicino didn't actually do anything wrong. 

So before I get into today's tweets, I just wanted to post a few photos from last February -- remember these? 

I must admit that until I hunted these photos down, I myself had forgotten about some of the more bizarre happenings around the convoy insurrection - case in point, the protests at hospitals - how stupid was that?

Two solitudes

Justin Ling's column today made this observation about the Jan 6 hearings "We're trapped in a 

hall of mirrors"

What’s novel and disconcerting is the degree to which an emerging far-right ecosystem tooled itself into a totally insulated rapid response organ. A real-time streaming funhouse hall of mirrors....

What is big appears small. What is small appears big. Everything is warped and reflected into infinity. But perhaps the single most significant change we’ve seen over the past year is the total decoupling from quasi-mainstream networks and platforms into something wholly separate.

A key component of Donald Trump’s 2016 election effort was speaking to the masses on Facebook. The core way he diffused his message as president was on Twitter. Fox News, even if it was sycophantic to the administration to the extreme, at least existed as part of the mainstream news ecosystem.

Last night’s committee hearings showcased the degree to which this new alternative system is fully operational. Revolver News and The Gateway Pundit are now fully normalized as respected news sources (they are not.) Politicians like Gatez and Taylor-Greene can count on huge numbers as they begin livestreaming, doing instant commentary on the hearings. Telegram channels give you the requisite clips from the right sources, so you don’t even need to run the risk of turning on the TV and experiencing an uncomfortable opinion. The sheer number of platforms — to continue my list from above: Odysee, Parler, Bitchute, Frank Speech, and more — gives the illusion of choice, diversity, and multiple perspectives. In reality, they’re all rowing the same direction.

This is full-service disinformation.

This isn’t thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands — we are talking about millions, maybe tens of millions, of people entering this hall of mirrors and refusing to leave.

This is, in a word, very bad.

This reminded me of the 1945 Hugh MacLennan novel Two Solitudes - this title phrase describes the social and cultural isolation, a chasm of communication, between French Canada and English Canada 

in the first half of the 20th Century.  And his articulation of this distance helped to wake up Canadians to understand how distorted our nation had become, and how necessary it was that people of good will from both sides take steps to change things. 

Thus in the 1960s and 1970s in Canada we experienced the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, the English Canadian commitment to bilingualism and biculturalism, a significant increase in French Canadian participation in the federal politics, repatriation of the constitution, the charter of rights, and so forth.  Though our nation also endured the FLQ and the October Crisis, in the end, it worked - Canada did 

not shatter, though it came close.

I think the same problem is happening now between left/progressive people and right/conservative people - to a significant degree now in the United States and also now to some extent in Canada, we again have a society with Two Solitudes. 

A significant proportion of the 70 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump in 2020 evidently 

no longer seem to feel any sense of patriotism or purpose or common cause or even common humanity with the 80 million Americans who voted for Joe Biden.   

I don't know where this will end, or how. But it could be, in a word, very bad.

Some gamed it out in advance.
Their running assumption was that violence would be seen as another round of 2020 riots and that the police would be on their side.https://t.co/WRfkCTS2DA

— Nicholas Grossman (@NGrossman81) June 10, 2022

Here is the beginning of CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane's tweets describing what has happened to some of the insurrectionists seen in the video last night. Many of them have been jailed 

for a year in pre-trial detention.

At 0:22

The Proud Boys. Some are newly charged with *seditious* conspiracy. Yesterday a group of them appeared in DC court and pleaded not guilty to new charges. Some are seeking to move their trials from DC.. claiming jurors are biased pic.twitter.com/wdq6SjwNbX

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) June 10, 2022

Its worth reading the whole thing. And here's another one worth reading:

This is a terrifying article on the radicalisation of the GOP and a hostile takeover of local and state government by some of the most extremist people you can imagine

Democracy in the US is dying so long as these authoritarian tendencies are gaining.https://t.co/KYUnZrdQ2Q

— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) June 10, 2022

Today's News: Carnage. Chaos. Criminal.

Wow, did you see this tonight?

Carnage. Chaos. Criminal.#January6th wasn't a random event.

It was a coordinated, deliberate conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election. pic.twitter.com/mrzoJG6W4M

— American Progress (@amprog) June 10, 2022

Here is the complete, raw, without network graphics, version of the video just aired by the January 6th committee. Drop it in your Facebook feed so your Fox News-watching friends can see it. https://t.co/R23NIWWM7F

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) June 10, 2022

It was an inexcuseably long time coming - 17 months! -  but Trump is finally being called out directly and in detail, for fomenting insurrection on Jan 6 2021.

Before any of my *own allies* yell at me again, I think this is one of the most important hearings in U.S. history. No, I don't think it will change MAGA minds - but I hope it stirs the rest of us to get off our asses and save our democracy.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 10, 2022

The message of the Watergate hearings, and Nixon’s eventual resignation, was that the system works.
The message of these hearings, I very much fear, will be that the system no longer does. https://t.co/j34FhUdyT1

— Andrew Coyne 🇺🇦 (@acoyne) June 10, 2022

Some key moments in tonight's hearing:

Liz Cheney alleged that Trump made no effort to deploy National Guard and made no contact with federal law enforcement. Pence assumed the role of executive. If true, and the members who voted to acquit knew this, they abdicated their responsibility to defend the Constitution.

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) June 10, 2022

Rep. Cheney: “Tonight I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day where Trump is gone. But your dishonor will remain.”

— Sarah Ewall-Wice (@EwallWice) June 10, 2022

Audible noises of gasps inside the room as Cheney relates Trump's words about the Hang Mike Pence chant: "And maybe our supporters have the right idea, Mike Pence deserves it"

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 10, 2022

The Proud Boys admitting that Trump's "stand by" comment helped recruitment and how they wish they'd made merchandise.#January6Hearings

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 10, 2022

Oath Keepers were central to keeping Trump in office, and were standing by for insurrection act. #HATH

— Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) (@HC_Richardson) June 10, 2022

They were so close to lynching(s) on that day.

— Matt Waters (@mattwwaters) June 10, 2022

“I was slipping in people’s blood.” — United States Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards testifying about Jan. 6

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 10, 2022

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Antifa performed an outstanding service to America that day by NOT showing up. 

Instead of violence in the streets, which would have justified a declaration of martial law and shutting down the certification, America saw the attempt to overthrow their government, and their shock gave Congress and Pence the fortitude to finish certifying Biden's victory. 

And that brings me to these funny side notes:

And if fucking Pence comes out of this with honor, I'll be just as pissed.

— The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) June 10, 2022

pic.twitter.com/OZoo6D5g8X

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) June 9, 2022

Animal crackers

Busy day today so just some funny animal tweets to enjoy:

pic.twitter.com/kxBADuoqhj

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) June 7, 2022

Bear sits next to guy 🐭💞 pic.twitter.com/0mkauOqsaL

— 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐝 (@farhad55526050) November 8, 2020

Paraglider meets a black vulture. 😎 pic.twitter.com/ogIsUvg87Y

— Paul.Nelson (@batsy09) June 5, 2022

This little man helping a lost lamb find its mom is the Twitter content I’m here for… https://t.co/ee4mAhBc0k

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) June 6, 2022

I have so many questions. Watch as the cowboy comes riding to the rescue. Is there a cowboy quick reaction force? Are a platoon of cowboys just standing by in case of loose cattle? If so, that would be amazing. https://t.co/fKXdNIVtGk

— David French (@DavidAFrench) June 6, 2022

This is heartwarming 🤗

Love of animals is a universal impulse🧡💞 pic.twitter.com/9dig9j2Wbb

— Angie KaranⓋ🌱🐾🌻🇺🇦 (@angie_karan) June 8, 2022

The giant one at the end is particularly startling!

Just a Fabulous Fun Doggy Day Care Slides Happy Mood 😆 #DogsofTwittter #cutenessOVERLOAD @DannyDeraney @CONTEMPRA_INN🌹
pic.twitter.com/WLViqrz6fi

— ContempraINN🌹 (@CONTEMPRA_INN) June 9, 2022

We don’t deserve dogs.

Credit: Imgur/madametutu pic.twitter.com/qXlYTxqbEy

— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) June 8, 2022

Bravo---a group of British military vets has rescued nine lions from the Biopark zoo in Odesa, Ukraine. They are now safe in Romania. pic.twitter.com/BOIROJFr6v

— Lorenzo The Cat (@LorenzoTheCat) May 26, 2022

Today's News: News from all over

First, in Canada, the Mass Casualty Commission into the 2020 Portapique massacre is continuing with RCMP testifying today. 

Here's the worst of it: as shown in Tim Bousquet's hearing coverage this morning, RCMP seemed overly focused on crafting Perfect Tweets to warn Nova Scotians about Wortman's murderous rampage -- they were afraid that trigger-happy Nova Scotia yahoos might shoot at real RCMP vehicles, and that chatty cathys might pester 911 with trivialities. So RCMP PR staff were hyper-concerned about getting every detail precisely right regarding the replica RCMP car before sending out the news. Also, chain of command delays. Also, nobody understood how to use the Alert system. Also, nobody thought to issue a Shelter In Place warnings by local radio or TV ...

The shooter killed 1 police officer and 21 civilians and apparently that ratio is ok for the RCMP. https://t.co/8QFRCRf5gQ

— James McLeod (@jamespmcleod) June 7, 2022

Understand that both Heather O'Brien and Kristen Beaton were killed in this 17-minute interim, at about exactly 10am. Both we communicating with people about the incidents unfolding #MCC

— Tim Bousquet (@Tim_Bousquet) June 7, 2022

I would call it a non-self-reflective but arrogant self-confidence, as if they are above the reality of events. Shit just happens, but they're better than being responsible for the shit. [shrug] #MCC

— Tim Bousquet (@Tim_Bousquet) June 7, 2022

Thus they allowed the carnage to continue for 13 hours, after knowing the shooter’s ID within a few minutes. Hearing he may have been a paid informant doesn’t help.

— Ryan Landreville (@LandrevilleRRP) June 7, 2022

When this is over, I don't think there will still be any mystery about why the federal and provincial governments seemed reluctant to hold this inquiry.

Today's News: Lest We Forget

Follow this tweet thread for some sad photos of the brave Canadian boys who lost their lives fighting in D-Day 78 years ago. They were all so young:

@CAFinUS has a remarkable, heartbreaking series today in recognition of the D-Day anniversary and the sacrifice of so many Canadians. https://t.co/agUZelry77

— Laura Dawson (@DawsonCanada) June 6, 2022

Wounded Warriors Canada
78 years ago today some 14,000 Canadians secured Juno Beach as part of the largest seaborne invasion in history. Total Allied casualties on D-Day reached more than 10,000, including 1,074 Canadians. We will remember them. pic.twitter.com/bMNX3EOaL4

— WithoutMalice🍁 (@WithForethought) June 6, 2022

3090 Indigenous soldiers served Canada in WW2, NOT including Inuit, Metis and non-status First Nations. On D-Day 33 of those soldier gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy alongside over 300 other Canadians.#DDay #IndigenousHistoryMonth

— Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club (@BELacrosse) June 6, 2022

The Canadians. #DDay pic.twitter.com/OjxlxfKhKE

— Canadian Forces in 🇺🇸 (@CAFinUS) June 4, 2022

D-Day Remembered.
Utah. Omaha. Gold. Juno. Sword.
Though the last to land, and despite heavy casualties initially, the Canadians were the first to break through German defenses. #DDay #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/jDKlJOi0XF

— Dave Langille (@cdnusboy) June 6, 2022

One last D-Day post, remembering Canada's 3rd Division landing at Juno Beach. #WeWillRememberThem pic.twitter.com/CW2wSMwc2q

— Dave Langille (@cdnusboy) June 7, 2022

Today's News: Just a few odds and ends

Just a random collection of news tonight. 

First, from Uvalde: 

The more the media tries to dig into what happened in Uvalde, the less it makes sense. 

It is beginning to remind me of the confusion around the Portapique massacre, where 22 people died and where, among other questionable judgement calls, RCMP did not even issue an Alert Ready to warn the community during the hours these shootings were happening.  At least Canada responded by banning 1,500 assault-type weapons, and a Commission is now trying to investigate what happened, though it has been difficult. 

The inexplicable cowardice of Uvalde police cannot be explained:

Saw the attempted interview of Arredondo the Uvalde ISD police chief. His whole demeanor was absent of any grief, remorse or any sign of a traumatic event having recently occurred which he was a part of. It appears that the Uvalde power structure is in “status quo” mode.

— Roy M. Mireles (@Roy111255) June 4, 2022

Replace Texas police with Ukrainian grandmothers. pic.twitter.com/HzQBtbDgjS

— adorable smudgie (@adorablesmudgie) June 4, 2022

Sneak peek: The Austin American-@Statesman is topping Monday's print edition with an exclusive opinion piece from actor Matthew McConaughey. Rather than arguing about "gun control," he says, "it's time we talk about gun responsibility..." pic.twitter.com/EZ1UOKMUyJ

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 6, 2022

In other news, American politics:

I don’t know how this benighted country is ever going to wash itself clean of the stench of Trumpism.

Though shoving the Republican Party into oblivion would be a good start.

— Benjamin Dreyer (@BCDreyer) June 5, 2022

Dang it, someone leaked our secret antifa plan to destroy the Republican Party. 🕵‍♂️😆 pic.twitter.com/VfChRAMa39

— StrictlyChristo 🇺🇦🌻 (@StrictlyChristo) June 5, 2022

Today's News: Why does Europe care about Putin's delicate fee-fees?

So this is discouraging news:

There’s a growing divide in Europe over what would constitute an acceptable conclusion to the Russia/Ukraine war. Macron is saying publicly what a lot of senior people say in private. https://t.co/5XIqEPEclI

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) June 4, 2022

Macron says, once again, that he does not want to "humiliate" Putin. But unless Putin loses - and fully understands that he has lost- the war will not end. https://t.co/8P22WPBGct

— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) June 4, 2022

Security analyist Michael Horowitz says:

The main problem is not that Macron's call is "sheltering Putin from the sense that he is losing", but sending the message that Russia is, in fact, winning https://t.co/wNsBI5nUAU

— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) June 4, 2022

The Russian gamble is that the West just can't bear even the slightliest crisis, whereas Russia can withstand sanctions, giving it ample time to break the West's resolve.

Macron is not giving Putin an off-ramp, he is giving him a reason to persevere.

— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) June 4, 2022

And Ukraine is winning. But I'm afraid that some in the West don't believe it -- or, perhaps, they are just swallowing Russian propaganda. Or worse, they are promoting it:

Obliterated / A whole Russian army has been destroyed at Izyum, Ukraine official reveals https://t.co/bhMrMUibIq

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) June 5, 2022

The fighting in the city of Severodonetsk is becoming interesting; in my many years of urban warfare research I cannot recall any urban battle in history where such a large counter-attack by the defending force has occurred. A new precedent? @ChasAHKnight? @INTELonIRAN? https://t.co/stJqUJgR5N

— Jayson Geroux (@JaysonGeroux) June 4, 2022

As I mentioned this morning, if the Russians don’t try and move forward again soon, that might be it. Culmination. Actually failure is a better word. People talking about some important Russian victories in the Donbas might have to reconsider. Here is the report btw. https://t.co/s2kfw87qbb

— Phillips P. OBrien (@PhillipsPOBrien) June 4, 2022

Today's News: 100 days

It has now been 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

The yellow markings on this map from Australian Strategic Policy Institute researcher Nathan Ruser show how successful Ukraine has been in retaking its territory from the Russian invaders. Ruser notes that more than a thousand Ukrainian settlements have been saved from Russian occupation
And here is a fascinating video:

2/2 Above all, it was based on wildly optimistic assessments about the welcome Russian troops would receive in Ukraine. Russia has now adopted a “strategy of attrition” and is achieving slow and costly gains in the Donbas. #StandWithUkraine

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 3, 2022

But some pundits in the West are getting bored -- they seem to want this war to end so they can get back to planning holidays at the lake. 

We're seeing articles now like this one in today's New York Magazine: The War in Ukraine Can Be Over If the U.S. Wants It -- written by a 32-year-old journalist Ross Barkan who has never done anything except write novels and cover New York politics. He describes a three month war as "dragging on" and says Kissinger and Chomsky are merely "facing reality" when they urge the West to give up on Ukraine. 

Here's the reaction to this article from war correspondent Danny Gold, who knows Ukraine:

What will happen is more Ukrainians will die. Russia will take more territory. Ukrainians will fight a brutal and bloody insurgent campaign. Those under Russian occupation will be tortured, imprisoned, deported, possibly executed. We know this became THIS ALREADY HAPPENS

— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) June 3, 2022

They literally sent kill teams into Kyiv. This is a real thing that happened in the first days of the war. You think they’ll listen to anything but force? You think Ukrainians trust anything they say when it comes to peace?

— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) June 3, 2022

This Atlantic article, though it also talks about a truce, makes a little more sense:

Western Support for Ukraine Has Peaked - The Atlantic https://t.co/UMTf4JsJmh

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) June 2, 2022

Former assistant defense secretary Andrew Exum writes:

 ...the economic costs of the war are starting to seriously concern American and other Western policy makers.

...The twin pressures of an ailing economy and surging populism will be on the minds of Western decision makers as they wrestle with a war that will continue to take a toll on the world’s leading economies. 

For that reason, the conversations between Ukraine and its supporters abroad are likely to grow harder, not easier, as the year progresses. 

Ukraine will come under more pressure, and not just from Henry Kissinger, to concede some territory and allow Russia to save face. Even a hasty termination of the conflict, however, seems unlikely to arrest the world’s slide into greater economic pain.... 

 

Today's News: Ford takes it

Ontario voters sent a message tonight, and the message was: Meh! We're good.

On a side note.. once I saw at 5 pm that voter turnout was only 35%.. i knew the opposition parties were in trouble. Low turnout rates always favour incumbents. #onpoli

— Scott Tribe (@stribe39) June 3, 2022

Brief (drunk) thoughts on the Ontario results ... NDP doing a bit better than I thought, PCs impressive, Liberals fucking suck https://t.co/Cy0oQdGqef

— Evan Scrimshaw (@EScrimshaw) June 3, 2022

They’re like ants at a picnic.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) June 3, 2022

The big news in the US today continues to be whether they can get Republicans onside in the national goal of stopping mass shooters. 

Americans may finally have reached their gag limit on guns 

Maybe this time:

Hey...I get it. My (elderly father) has been an NRA member since I was in HS. He decided that he is done with NRA & called Greg Abbott's office to tell him so. He doesn't own an AR-15, but he got rid of his hand guns (still has hunting rifle). But hey, got to start somewhere.

— Jean Ard Neill (@ArdNeill) June 3, 2022

Or maybe not:

Desantis will veto the bill to fund the Tampa Rays new Spring Training facility because of their recent statements about gun violence following the Buffalo and Uvalde mass shootings. pic.twitter.com/TcpvMJHN7Y

— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) June 2, 2022

We'll see how the Rays react to DeSantis' blatant thuggery. 

 

Today's News: Birds!

Another miscellaneous collection of news items tonight from hither and yon. 

First up, birds! 

One of the people I now follow on twitter is Saskatoon's Tim Brown, who is doing a series of "Birds of Saskatchetoon" which is a portmanteau of "Saskatoon" and "Saskatchewan".  He has a blog, too - artgeekbrown. 

I love his bird artwork and how he also tells the story of how he spotted each one on his journeys somewhere in or near Saskatoon.  Here are some examples for you to enjoy:

Turkey Vulture#birbsofsaskatchetoon pic.twitter.com/iWlAl4sXNk

— Tim Brown (@timinsaskatoon) June 1, 2022

Yellow-Headed Balckbird.
It was kind of windy and a bad feather day for everyone.#birbsofsaskatchetoon pic.twitter.com/9CJG5BoiI7

— Tim Brown (@timinsaskatoon) May 23, 2022

Spotted Towhee#birbsofsaskatchetoon#spottedtowhee pic.twitter.com/4uimYtTebr

— Tim Brown (@timinsaskatoon) May 20, 2022

And speaking of birds, isn't this sweet?

Wait for it.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/QlwTFCg3Ri

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 31, 2022

Today's News: From all over

I just watched Global's balancing act.
They have criticized PMJT for going too far and not going far enough at the same time.

— ㄒ๏𝕟 ɨ๏ ㄒɨ𝕞 e̴ 🇮🇹🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@Aho2ToMan) May 31, 2022

But really, Canadian media are just playing another version of "If it's not Scottish, it's crap". 

The proposed Liberal legislation to prevent more handgun sales obviously isn't going to solve every gun problem in Canada and the rest of North America. Therefore, argue the cynics, it is worthless and just political. 

But the thing to remember is this: 

it took more than a century for North America to create this gun culture problem -- a century marked by wars around the world, plus significant improvements in gun designs and manufacturing capacity due to billions in government armament purchases, plus the deliberate fostering of the "gun rights" legal framework in the US. 

So there will never be a single piece of legislation or even a single legislative plan that will solve North American society's gun problems. But Trudeau's attempts to limit handguns is progress, just as limiting assault rifles is progress, and improving background checks, and improving society response to red flags, etc etc. 

Inch by inch, it can be changed. 

When I was 20, nobody wore a seatbelt to drive. By the time I was 30, everybody wore them all the time. 

When I was 40, everybody smoked indoors everywhere. By the time I was 55, the only place people could smoke was outside. 

So yes, society can change.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is one of the most successful progressive leaders in the world and it scares the shit out of the US Republicans.

— Rod Farva's litre of cola 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@RodKahx) May 31, 2022

American right wing pundits and politicians tweeting about PM Trudeau’s hand gun restrictions is scaring them. I really don’t care, do you?

— Pete Bear (@MadHabber) May 31, 2022

A reminder (since Tristin Hopper apparently forgot) that the vast majority of Canadians are perfectly fine with that #cdnpoli https://t.co/en5E9InMlf

— Steve Manta (@mantalicious) May 31, 2022

Canada: We are banning handguns and assault rifles
MAGA: No guns, we ain't gonna go to Canada
Canada: That worked better than we thought...

— Alpha A. (@teach_n_travel) May 31, 2022

AMERICAN BS… pic.twitter.com/qpGF5AkazE

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 30, 2022

Today's News: American Grotesque

Nuts!

Sorry, I should say: Both the Uvalde *and* the Buffalo shooting are being characterized as false flag operations. Even worse!

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) May 31, 2022

The idea that the World Economic Forum is some evil and all-power globalist force, hellbent on forcing this New World Order has grown popular amongst right-wing politicians in the U.S, Canada, and Australia.

(Stories to come on that) pic.twitter.com/Q28alOrF1O

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) May 31, 2022

It was simply grotesque to see Trump mangling his reading of the Uvalde victims' names, as a cowbell rang and they kept messing up the timing. Then there was the dancing.

I still can't get over Trump reading the names of the Uvalde victims like a kill list to the sound of bells at the NRA convention. One of the most fucked up things I've ever seen in my life.

— Brett Meiselas (@BMeiselas) May 28, 2022

What the freedom to over throw the government. Save it dear!!#VoteBlueToSaveDemocracy #AbbottCruzMassacre #GOPCowards #GOPDomesticTerrorists #GOPGunsOverChildren #TrumpIsALaughingStock #TrumpDancedOnUvaldesGraves #TrumpIsACriminal #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace pic.twitter.com/l7haYGNKvb

— Colleen Nolan (@collenols) May 30, 2022

Scorch! Pow!

I see that Trump is saying that money should go to schools rather than to Ukraine

Maybe there's enough money to help both ?

Still, this is probably the best he can do at the moment to help his old buddy Putin

— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) May 28, 2022

Funny stuff, with dogs too

 

What a week!  

Here's some funny stuff to start the next one. With dogs too, of course:

man i don’t think i have another “why is jk rowling trending?” left in me

— Roy🌾 (@Roy_oh_Roy) May 30, 2022

Legend states that when you’re overwhelmed and on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a small child will appear to tell you that you cut their sandwich wrong

— Maryfairyboberry🧚🏻‍♀️ (@maryfairybobrry) May 28, 2022

a praying mantis’s face really sneaks up on you, like you think “bug” but then a little green man face is looking back at you

— Amy (@lolennui) May 30, 2022

Me: I have over 22k followers on Twitter.
Kid sitting next to me: I have imaginary friends too.

— Crac⚡ked (@a_simpl_man) May 29, 2022

it’s astonishing that, without fail, if a tweet goes over 1K you immediately get complete strangers responding to it as if the two of you have had a lifelong beef that you’re only just finding out about

— Brandon Streussnig (@BrndnStrssng) May 28, 2022

pic.twitter.com/GTVXflp5XY

— Meanwhile in Canada (@MeanwhileinCana) May 29, 2022

Today's News: Waiting for the other shoe to drop

Waiting for more shoes to drop:

There is non zero chance they shot one of the kids. Why else make this statement oh yeah it will get worse. https://t.co/xaVehvFMug

— Derek Burke (@DBurke_20) May 29, 2022

The careful phrasing of "shot and killed" may be a tip off. 

Here's the best story I have seen describing the chain of events in the school:

Federal agents DEFIED Uvalde police chief's order not to enter school https://t.co/pAka9bW8N5 via @MailOnline

— Texas Lady Veteran (@Shelly54533945) May 29, 2022

The idea that schools need to be "hardened" even more is just so stupid - in Uvalde, it was the police who needed to be "hardened".

The Parkland Cops ran away. The Buffalo Cop was killed instantly. The 3 Cops at Uvalde were overpowered, then waited 40 min to enter the school.

Veteran Cops repeatedly failed—but we’re supposed to expect Lunch Lady Doris & School Nurse Betty to stop a terrorist with an AR-15.😑

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) May 26, 2022

When the NRA has lost Jon Voight:

I did not see that coming. https://t.co/0XQ2VjGIPj

— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) May 28, 2022

Here's a photo from the NRA convention in Texas that's getting a lot of comment:

You got it all wrong. He was just giving his best impression of the cops who stood in the hall while children got shot. Between the rounds going off and the cries of children, you have to believe they too covered their ears.

— NeuronGarageSale (@NeuronSale) May 29, 2022

I don’t wish to sound apocalyptic about this, but one has the sense that at present our society is simultaneously characterized by wildly disproportionate accountability for trivial transgressions and zero accountability for profound institutional failure.

— David Polansky (@polanskydj) May 27, 2022