{"id":60276,"date":"2026-10-16T05:50:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T12:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=60276"},"modified":"2026-10-16T01:51:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T08:51:21","slug":"open-thread-october-16-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2026\/10\/16\/open-thread-october-16-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread October 16 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, I filled out my ballot, which had arrived last week, but which I had not yet opened because the booklet on the Amendments and propositions was the size of a small town telephone book. It turned out to be easier for just othan I expected -many of them had clearly been written by MAGAts.\u00a0 For just one example, there were two anti-trans propositions.<\/p>\n

Robert Reich<\/a> spells it out. Y’all probably don’t need it spelled out – but you probably know someone who does.<\/p>\n

Michael Sellers calls his Substack “A Deeper Look<\/a>,” and from this post alone – you can see why. He doesn’t mention that some or all of this decision is likely related to the attempt to destroy empathy (which so many in that camp consider to be our worst weakness) – but I do think that needs mentioning. I have seen films of staged (fake) executions by firing sqauds – it is how the tenor character in “Tosca” dies. The camera never focuses on it, but usually on Tosca watching (believing it fake.) I would never watch a real one of my own volition. BTW, the Orange Ogre\u00a0 told Axios last week that this execution would not<\/strong> be atreamed.<\/p>\n

Not what anyone<\/a> wanted to hear. I note the shooter, now dead, was only 16. Clearly one doesn’t have to have reached any particular age to become infected by toxic masculinity. Not that this should surprise anyone.<\/p>\n