We knew it was bad.  Russia flooded social media with propaganda using thousands of fake identities.  Of course the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, picked it up and ran with it.  The Trump campaign and the Republican Reich quoted it as fact ad nauseam.  The deplorable Sheeple ate it up.  Confused voters stayed home.  And even some progressives, who I have known and respected for years, quoted it to argue against me and my ‘Vote Blue’ position, because they didn’t realize it was bogus Russian propaganda.  I suspected that Russia had infiltrated our vote counting infrastructure in a few places to a limited extent.  I had no idea how bad it really is!

The Senate Intelligence Committee concluded Thursday that election systems in all 50 states were targeted by Russia in 2016, an effort more far-reaching than previously acknowledged and one largely undetected by the states and federal officials at the time.

But while the bipartisan report’s warning that the United States remains vulnerable in the next election is clear, its findings were so heavily redacted at the insistence of American intelligence agencies that even some key recommendations for 2020 were blacked out.

The report — the first volume of several to be released from the committee’s investigation into Russia’s 2016 election interference — came 24 hours after the former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III warned that Russia was moving again to interfere “as we sit here.”

While details of many of the hackings directed by Russian intelligence, particularly in Illinois and Arizona, are well known, the committee described “an unprecedented level of activity against state election infrastructure” intended largely to search for vulnerabilities in the security of the election systems…

Inserted from <NY Times>

Click through for the rest of the article.

Both Chris Hayes and 11th Hour reported on the importance of this story.

Democrats are trying to give themselves a political advantage. They have a political advantage anytime Republican cheating is prevented!

Why are Republicans blocking funds for election security? They are counting on Russian help.  It’s the Republican way to win!

RESIST!!

The next couple days, here in the stinky old CatBox promise to be most uncomfortable, with highs in the 90°s.  The humidity is now 87%.  When WWWendy de-stinks the rancid TomCat later this afternoon.  I’ll be dripping sweat by the time I get back to the room from the shower room.  ARGH!!  On the plus side, one week to go.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:20 (average 5:14).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Mueller Knocks Down Trump’s ‘No Obstruction’ Claim

I thought the second hearing was far better than the first. For those, who listened carefully, the substance we needed was there. However, the optics stunk. Unfortunately for optics is the limit to the attention span of far too many voters. RESIST!!

From NY Times: A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to continue accepting asylum claims from all eligible migrants arriving in the United States, temporarily thwarting the president’s latest attempt to stanch the flow of migrants crossing the southern border.

Judge Jon S. Tigar of the United States District Court in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction against a new rule that would have effectively banned asylum claims in the United States for most Central American migrants, who have been arriving in record numbers this year. It would have also affected many migrants from Africa, Asia and other regions.

Kudos to Judge Tigar. We are a nation of refugees. RESIST!!

From Alternet: On Tuesday, July 23 — the day before former special counsel Robert Mueller publicly testified before Congress — President Donald Trump was the victim of an apparent practical joke that referenced Russia as well as his interest in golf.

At a student summit hosted by the right-wing group Turning Point USA, Trump spoke in front of a presidential seal — which, on the surface, appeared normal. But upon examination, it became apparent that the seal had been altered in two ways: the eagle had two heads (not unlike Russia’s national symbol), and the bird is holding golf clubs rather than its usual arrows.

Was it a prank, or was it the Fuhrer’s design? RESIST!!

Cartoon:

A blast from the past.

It’s a busy day, here in the crappy old CatBox.  Store to Door is delivering groceries and I’ll have to put them away.  WWWendy isn’t coming to destink the sweaty TomCat until tomorrow.  She is vacationing at the coast.  I’m so, so jealous, because it’s 10° – 15° cooler there.  Happy Hump day to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:45 (average 5:14).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: The Real Reason for Impeachmen

The Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. There is only one valid reason not to impeach the Fuhrer of the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich. That reason is Pence. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): American Held By Immigration Released After Three Weeks

The Republican Reich would love to deport Latino citizens, who were born here. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Queen Elizabeth II is moving to Canada “immediately” and should take up full-time residence there by the end of the week, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday.

The Queen offered no reason for the move, but the palace indicated that she had been packing her bags for the past several weeks.

In a sign that the Queen’s decision is irrevocable, the palace revealed that her beloved corgis had already been flown to Toronto.

In a brief farewell statement to the British people, the Queen explained why she had chosen Canada as her new home. “We speak the language, and our picture’s on the money there,” she said.

Dang, Andy! Queen Lizzie has the right idea. Perhaps we should all follow suit. RESIST!!

Cartoon: