{"id":58978,"date":"2026-03-18T05:55:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T12:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=58978"},"modified":"2026-03-18T00:56:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T07:56:38","slug":"open-thread-march-18-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2026\/03\/18\/open-thread-march-18-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread March 18 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday was not the Equinox – but for all intents and purposes (don’t you just hate it when someone says “for all intensive purposes”?) it was here – we had 12 hours each of day and night. Also, I note that Ken Burns has endorsed Sherrod Brown. Not a surprise in one way, because Burns is wicked smart. And he kind of knows everyone – for instance, he knows the Vinman twins from when they were about ten years old. And he hasn’t been silent about national politics. But (and this is probably my ignorance) I’m not aware of his having made a statement about state politics before – and it’s not a state he has lived in. Kudos to him for this. I hope his endorsement hits hard. Also the Nance\/Kaarbo Warcast pointed out that, with Israel striking Lebanon, a million people are leaving southern Lebanon – and that this could easily reinvigorate Hezbollah. I would like to point out that Kegsbreath’s no rules, no quarter approach is not only in violation of national and international law, but it is also a good way to lose both the war and the peace. It makes people hate a country. And if, after making the mistake, a country does not make transformational and very public reform happen, it will never be safe again. And the incompetence – it would just be absurd – except that people are dying. All kinds of people. On the other side, the Iranians (technically the Shia Muslims, but Iran is Shia majority) have their own concept of a Messiah – the “twelfth Imam” – who will one day return (and why not now?) And we can expect a shortage of generic drugs to happen fairly soon. And so much more. This one might be worth watching<\/a>, long as it is.<\/p>\n

And other things happened. For one thing, it dawned upon me (probably way too late) that the forms of identification mentioned in the abominable “SAVE Act” do not include a Certificate of Naturalization – nor a Consular Notification of Birth Abroad, nor a Certificate of Citizenship (for people who were entitled to a Consular Notification but their parents did not get one for them before they turned 18.) I sent an email to Senator Hickenlooper’s office, but it was pretty late, and, since they were supposed to be considering it yesterday afternoon, possibly too late. I wish that I, or anyone, had thought of it earlier. I am a birthright citizen, which means I did not have to do anything but breathe to have citizenship. I have the utmost respect for those who had to work for it.<\/p>\n

Talking Points Memo<\/a> from the weekend, yes. But you’ll want to see it – exactly because the Saffron Sauron won’t want you to.<\/p>\n

Steve Schmidt<\/a> from Monday – relining this. I’ve been reliving this since the girls’ school in Iran was bombed. I don’t know which is worse – the coverup then, or the pride and bragging now.<\/p>\n

From Common Dreams<\/a>. File under “No shit, Sherlock.” That’s probably unfair to a lot of civilians who don’t know what “No quarter” or even “Take no prisoners” actually mean. Both mean the same: Kill everyone, even civilians and anyone who wants to surrender. And yes, when the “Secretary of War” says it out loud and publicly, it’s a war crime. Brcause, unlawful order or not, there are some who will follow it.<\/p>\n