#we're gonna try and regardless of success we're gonna have fun

[justanintrovertedartist]

submas november..... it begins. i got passpartout recently and figured this was a great way to set my expectations for the month lol just trying to be silly with it (which fits one of the prompts for today being humor lol)

[transhitman]

Yk what actually I'm gonna actually post thought-out Diasuke hate to prove a point here. Daisuke is also not this perfect little guy that everyone characterizes him as. He goes along with some of the casually sexist things Jimmy says during their optional conversations. He agrees to drug Swansea, which in itself is a very blunt implication that Jimmy has drugged people's drinks before. (Obviously Jimmy bullied him into it, but abusers do that with a lot of people that are labeled "enablers" so like. Daisuke isn't at fault there but it calls into question what he might have done in other scenarios, where the violence is aimed at more vulnerable people. But that's not something we will ever know.) And most of all Daisuke DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ANYA IS GOING TO KILL HERSELF. His biggest flaw is that he's completely emotionally oblivious and is not someone Anya would ever feel comfortable confiding in. And that's not an endearing trait. And just cause I know someone is gonna take me in bad faith idrc if you hc him as like neurodivergent or whatever like coming from an autistic person who really struggles with empathy, it's not fun, and it's not quirky, it just causes issues. Sympathy and self-awareness is definitely something that can be worked on regardless of your capacity for empathy. (To varying degrees of success obviously. I'm not judging people who genuinely can not sympathize with others. But also, Daisuke probably isn't even intended to be autistic. At this point we're kind of just projecting and lying about canon, aren't we? Not to say it couldn't be an interesting angle for analysis but again. It's not actually part of the text.) EVERY crewmember contributes to the systemic misogyny on that ship. If Curly intentionally ignores it, Daisuke hasn't even come to the conclusion that it exists yet. He is also part of the problem.

But none of that makes Daisuke a uniquely bad person! Obviously! Imo it doesn't even make him a bad person at all! He inadvertently contributes to the system that fucked them all over. And? All of the characters in this game are nuanced and morally grey and that's kind of the point!!! (Except Jimmy lol. Nuanced yes but there's a very clear villain there.) Like pointing out a character's flaws and concluding they're bad is not the intelligent take fandoms tend to think it is. Ok, you've identified a character flaw. Now what does it mean. What does it contribute to what the game is trying to say? And I think this is the root of what's so frustrating about people debating whether Curly or Swansea is actually Good or Bad. I really, truly don't think we're here to make moral judgements about individuals. We're here to examine the systemic issues that allowed the story to take place at all. And obviously, every character lives in a god damn society and has had those bad traits rub off on them! Like. Can we move past this base level of moral analysis already? Please. Please.

[thezombieprostitute]

Dragonfly - Part 3

Summary: Steve has just about everything he could ever want in life. He's got you, a baby on the way, and a successful Family. No one would dare interfere with that. Right?

A/N: Reader is female, pregnant. No other descriptors used.

Word Count: ~1.1k

Warnings: Death threats, Implied violence, Pregnancy. Please let me know if I missed any!

Part 2 -- Part 4

Series Masterlist

With the contract burned, you were breathing a little easier. Too bad you couldn't say the same for Steve. The insight from Mr. Smith that Dragonfly after you, not trying to hurt Steve, had him questioning anyone and everyone you'd ever met before. So far nothing had hit. There was only a couple of months until the birth and Steve was adamant that Dragonfly be found before it happened.

As much as Steve wanted to keep you locked up inside you still needed to go out every so often. When you did, the security team was always around and Steve always held you close. As much as you wanted to run free, you could pick up on his stress every time you did so. He was hyper-vigilant, had trouble keeping up with conversations, tensed and drew you close at every loud noise.

Thankfully your pregnancy was so far along that the people he worked with, outside of the Family, figured it was him being overprotective. No one questioned his propensity for pulling you away from handshakes and other physical contact.

One of the older ladies, Mrs. Devereaux, at the fundraiser smiled fondly and commented, “I remember my husband being the same way during my first pregnancy. You've got to love how protective these big strong men can be when they're nervous.”

You chuckled, “he is delightfully good at making me feel safe. You should've seen him during the ultrasounds.”

She coos, “oh, I'll bet he was a big ball of nerves!”

“He was, though he'd never admit it,” you reply. “And you should've seen him when he found out we're having a boy.”

“Oh yes,” she sighs. “My husband was the exact same way. I'm so glad to see you two have such a loving relationship. And that your bear of a husband is keeping you safe.”

“I'm just glad he isn't growling at people who get too close.”

You and Mrs. Devereaux had a good laugh over that before she went to speak to someone else.

Steve pulled you close and whispered in your ear, “if I recall correctly, you enjoy when I growl at you.”

“Exactly,” you smile at him. “At me. You growling at others isn't as fun.” You kiss him before gently hissing at the pain in your lower back. “Still, if you want to get out of here a little early, I don't think we would mind.”

Steve nods and gives his silent signal to his security team that you're getting ready to leave. The two of you say goodbyes as you head out, Steve's far more terse than yours. Anyone who takes longer than ten seconds gets a glare from Steve that has them finishing up their goodbyes quickly.

Steve helps you into the back seat before climbing in himself. Bucky sits up front with Dayton driving. You always feel safe in the car. Steve will do everything he can to keep you safe; Bucky is head of security for a reason and Dayton White is the best driver they've got on the crew. You let yourself breathe deep and relax as you rub your stomach.

“How are you holding up,” Steve asks, rubbing your arm.

“Better now that I'm sitting.”

“I keep trying to make sure we only go to events with seating,” he grumbles. “Still, it's nice to have an excuse to leave early. I don't think we're gonna be able to get that bill passed, regardless of how much time we spent there.”

“I'm so sorry, Sweetie,” you coo, moving your hand to rub his cheek. “I know it would've helped a lot of people. Oh!” Everyone in the car is on alert until you move Steve's hand to your stomach. “Yeah, he's also happy to be sitting down,” you chuckle as your baby kicks where Steve's hand is. “I think he's also hungry.”

“And what is he hungry for,” Steve asks, his eyes never leaving where his hand is.

“I'm thinking ice cream with some of that spicy sweet Tabasco sauce.”

Steve gives you a look but the baby's persistent kicks seem to confirm your choice and he chuckles.

After your ice cream and a long nap, you find yourself in the kitchen again, looking to make some baked apples with extra cinnamon. As you work, Steve comes in and watches you, smiling contentedly. At least, until your back starts hurting again, causing you to wince and look for a chair.

Steve walks up behind you, “there's something I'd like to try for that back pain, if you'll let me?”

“Of course.” He reaches around to your front and slowly, carefully, lifts your pregnant belly. “Oh, Steve,” you moan. “Oh, that helps so much.” Tears form in your eyes from the relief.

“However long you need me to stand like this,” he promises, kissing your cheek. “You know I'll always support you however I can.”

“I know,” you assure. “And you know I'll always do the same for you.” He nods in confirmation, his beard lovingly scratching your cheek.

After a few minutes your cravings get the better of you, “that was wonderful, Sweetheart, but I gotta get the baby some food.”

“Are you sure? I can stay like this for a while longer.”

You chuckle, “yeah, I'm sure you could. But then your arms would be too tired to hold me later when we're in bed.”

“Never,” he jokinglly snaps, making you laugh. He gently lets go and you get back to work on the baked apples.

“Have you given further thoughts to which friends we're naming the baby after?” It's been a major topic of discussion between the two of you. Bucky and Sam have been running their own campaigns for who the baby should be named after. So much so that the Garbage Men have a betting pool for who gets to be the namesake.

“Honestly,” Steve starts, “I'm thinking of none of them. Giving our son a name of his own.”

“A lot of people will be upset,” you chuckle. “But I very much understand what you're going for. I think it'd be good for everyone, especially baby Winston.” Steve arches an eyebrow at that and you giggle even more. “We could also call him Jameson? Being a combination of James and Wilson?”

“That one I'd give some thought to. But it feels more like a last name.”

“Oh I know,” you chirp, “Jack! For the artist who brought us together!”

“I think I like that,” he muses. “We've still got time to decide, but I do like that one.” He stands behind you and loosely wraps his arms around you again. “Hmm. Jack Steven Rogers...”

Part 2 -- Part 4

Series Masterlist

Tags:

@alicedopey; @aryhyuuga; @cynic-spirit; @icefrozendeadlyqueen; @jamneuromain; @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory; @ktficworld; @leryg0; @rayofdawnworld; @rebekahdawkins; @ronearoundblindly; @talesofadragon; @texmexdarling

[farmerlesbian]

5, 15, 21, 33

5. Are you “out” publicly? yeah! i am visibly lesbian and visibly trans/nonbinary/gnc and i flag very obviously almost all the time. i am publicly out to everyone. i'm not really able to hide it either if i wanted to.

15. How has your identity changed over time? oof well.. i .. hm. i spent a long time essentially unlabeled for my orientation because i struggled to reconcile being nonbinary and being into Ladies. and i hadn't really had many homo experiences so i wasn't even sure who i was into.

ok let's wind back a bit. so when i was a kid i knew something was.. there. i was incredibly afraid of it. (i guess now we're gonna answer the neurodivergent question haha) i couldn't even name it for myself in my own head. i would not. i was absolutely terrified.

now for context you need to know i was somewhat.. ostracized? i was lowkey bullied and i was very self-conscious, socially awkward, insecure, lonely. you know how people say little girls can tell someone is neurodivergent better than doctors? yeah. so i was extremely concerned with being Normal and being like accepted and having successful social interactions. i did not face concerns about family acceptance or religious homophobia or transphobia. this was about peer acceptance and social isolation/success.

so this is why i was terrified of the ... thing i could not name. so i wouldn't even say i was closeted because i wasn't out to myself. i remember.. telling myself something along the lines of.. like needing to be strong, and keep this secret forever and never let it out never tell anyone, ever. if i can do that it will be okay. this hyper-vigilance.

so i self identified as "boy-crazy", as a half-subconscious strategy to avoid scrutiny. i also tried very hard to make sure to act very Normal about girls and not be too avoidant with my eyes. i developed crushes on boys. now to be clear looking back on it, i intentionally did this and made sure to be conspicuous about it. oh what a time. i even had boyfriends.

around high school time i was on the internet a lot. i added tumblr to the websites i was going on and i found nonbinary people. i was fascinated by androgyny and nonbinary people, and i was learning about like social justice stuff a lot and i was like kinda Ally mode. i can't remember much exactly, i was also very much sleep deprived for much of later high school and mentally not well. i was friends with some gay people. i knew some people who were out by this time. i don't think i was thinking of myself as gay at this time yet. probably open to the idea of neutrality as a gender at this time. if i'd known a word for it i probably would have claimed it and identified with it.

then i went to college and i think something inside me knew i was like planning to be gay in college? like i completely subconsciously was like waiting for it. i was still deeply nervous and afraid but i was around a lot of new people and it's socially acceptable / normal to like experiment and stuff in college. i started experimenting with expressing attraction to women when talking with friends, or using words for myself like butch or dyke. (i didn't really know what the words meant i just was trying them on). i was around a lot more people who were out. i started trying out flirting with girls. i probably thought of myself as bi around this time.

then sophomore year i ended up on in 'gender inclusive housing' - a floor of one door building where any people could be roommates regardless of gender. we called it the queer floor. my RA was trans, manyyy of my floormates were lgbtq. there were a handful of straight people of the floor but the majority were queer. it was dramatic but fun honestly and an incredible experience being surrounded by that, and all the people i met through these people. i definitely started identifying as nonbinary and neutrois and using they/them around this time. i think i used demigirl a little bit but didn't feel super strongly towards it. i met my now-wife in the spring. i don't recall using any super specific words for my orientation other than like queer. i didn't know for sure what my orientation was so i was just keepin it vague. i didn't even really know for sure my gender i just knew somethin was going on!

couple years went by and i met a lesbian friend i became close with and i became more comfortable claiming it as an identity, at the same time as being nonbinary. around that time i started this blog.

and more years have gone by and i still feel like lesbian and nonbinary are true. I feel more secure and confident in being able to be both not a woman or girl or aligned with it at all and also being a lesbian, as well as confident in being into some nonbinary people and still being a lesbian. i think the specifics of my gender labels would include: trans, nonbinary, transgender and transsexual, transmasc (i guess? i'm unsure how i feel about this label and its usefulness in general or its accuracy for me. i kinda feel like sure i guess it is technically correct), neutrois, androgyne, neutral. stuff along those lines.

21. What message would you give to your younger self? bro... i don't even know. "it doesn't have to be great or even good, it just needs to be done". "it's okay to be gay it's okay to say it, it isn't going to help you to try to hide it and you shouldn't expect yourself to keep that hidden away forever it will eat you up inside and you don't deserve that".

33. What about your LGBT identity do you feel proud of/ want to recognize/celebrate? I'm proud that I'm me! I'm proud to be a dyke. I'm proud to be nonbinary. I'm proud to be exactly who I am, whether it's popular or not, whether anyone else gets it or not. I'm proud to be one member of a vibrant and beautiful and messy family. 🌈

send asks / #ask farmer lesbian

[virtuissimo]

Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop: Ch. 9, Skyflower Festival

Previously on:

Rabbit bookseller Espuma leaves Rueberry after a successful music night headed towards Roost. Ebenezer rushed to the pier to say goodbye moments before shove off. He had a realization about how their relationship was never going to work out, and they agreed to stay friends. While traveling, Espuma reflected on their life before arriving at the River. They felt empty and lonely, and their move to the River represented them taking charge of their life. They also reflected on their sexual habits, and how in their hometown they were expected to keep their relationships secret. Here on the River, Espuma felt no need to hide their proclivities.

Also this entry is weird, I think the description of Roost gave me Renaissance Fair campsites vibes.

FOURTH DAY OF SPROUT: SKYFLOWER FESTIVAL

Weather: 4, 4, 10. Warm in the day, cold with steady rain at nightfall.

I learned the reason for the blossoms, and the frolicking children. The Skyflower Festival! Earlier in the morning, on a warm day, the pink flowers fell from the Skyfields above. Families were busy dressing up their children in preparation for the day's festivities, and the others were already ready to attend the key events: cracking open the Skyflower cordial.

I joined them among the tents and had my first drinks. It seems on the River, alcohol is only had at certain times and there's not a lot of indulgence except for during times like these. Where I come from, moderate drinking was done year-round.

Right away I joined a game of dizzy paddle. Everyone was welcoming, but an odd thing was that everyone instantly knew that I wasn't from there. Regardless of my job, in Thistle Down and Rueberry, once I was in town I could blend in with the locals to an extent. In Roost, I felt like no matter what I did I stuck out like a sore thumb. Everyone was kind, but in the way you would be to an outsider.

It took quite a few drinks to make me dizzy, so the disorientation was mainly from the spinning. Once I began to go through the obstacle course, it was a lot of fun! I did better than I thought, particularly considering that Roost is on the River & so they would have had more paddling experience than me. The life guard, a frog named Jelly, was very impressed and invited me to hang out with her crew later.

I went with Jelly to the play event. Although Roost's bonfire is typically only for the night, on Skyflower Fest the site is used for a massive Skyflower sculpture that must have taken days of extensive labor to create. Groups putting on skits gathered there. Jelly and I joined a group. They said because I read so many stories, I must have good ideas. I'd never tried anything like it, but it was a good laugh.

Drinking cordial all the while, I helped write a short play about a little girl trying to convince her brother to do increasingly impossible tasks, and the brother keeps getting help and using elaborate devices to truck her into thinking he has done it alone.

The children performed it, and it was extremely entertaining watching them pantomime and sometimes actually attempting the impossible tasks.

Jelly introduced me to her friends, and they all had their own tent to share. The tent was full of smoke and there were jars of cordial all around. There was a heron woman, a crow woman, and an otter man. We drank and sang together, and I asked, "How do you all know each other?"

"We all like the water and decided to be lifeguards while we're on the River."

"While you're on the River?" I asked. They explained Roost's temporary existence, which surprised me.

"So we're only gonna be in town a short while. And you, an even shorter while than that."

"Yea-" I began to agree when the crow Nikki kissed me. The energy in the tent instantly made sense to me, and all five of us lay together. I thought I might like to see them again.

When we emerged from the tent, Jelly stayed behind with Zaz the otter and Bex the heron while I went back to the festival with Nikki.

We joined a group (my shirt missing in the confusion) and played the songwriting game. It was fun and merry. The night started to turn, and Nikki walked me back to the Book Shop. Rain was coming, but it was still dry when we reached the wharf. We parted ways for now, but I noticed that by drinking with the Roost animalfolk for a day, they already seemed far more accepting of me than when I docked just last night. My dalliance with the flock of lifeguards had earned me some trust as well.

I got out a new shirt since the one I'd worn that day was gone. I only had the 2, so I'd have to find it and return it to my wardrobe before I left Roost or I'd never see it again.

When I began to lock up, I saw the note that once said my name on it--- the paper beside the pen that Leon the magician pointed out to me. The paper no longer said Espuma. Now it said, "Home."

[dreamwatchpro-wrestling]

Dreamwatch: REMember (Match 1)

Elimination 8-Man Tag Match: Takaya Kiryu/Johnny McLaren/Katsu Himuro/Yamato Ryukawa vs Shota Inaba/Keiichiro Asakawa/Ewan Jacobs/Tatsuya Mido (Click here to watch!)

We start off this historic show with a huge tag match! Four of Dreamwatch's most promising talents face off against a litany of mystery opponents! Who knows what could happen in this match? Who will stand out?!

Short answer: Everyone. Everyone stood out. From the first minute of the match we knew we were in for a wild night when MMA fighter Shota Inaba decided to try and burn Ryukawa with fire! Ryukawa has faced off against Carlos Gomez in the past so he was more prepared for something like this than expected, ducking out the way despite being visibly shaken. From there the match was chaotic and frenetic, while simultaneously showing off the best qualities of every participant. Ryukawa's strategy, McLaren's striking prowess, Kiryu's speed, and Himuro's overwhelming intensity were all on full display as if they hadn't been on a hiatus at all! The enemy team was not willing to be stood up, though, as Tatsuya Mido provided the power and intensity of the team, even seeming to match Himuro's at times! Along with him was the heart and explosiveness of Keiichiro Asakawa. These two have only shown us Dreamwatch fans a glimpse of what they can do, but they did look promising out there! Ewan Jacobs looked like he came to do business, getting in the ring and hitting straightforward world-class punches like only a top-level MMA fighter can. Along with him was... "MMA fighter" Shota Inaba, who shocked everyone with his antics! Perhaps you expected a shoot fighter like Jacobs, but instead Inaba's most notable moments were breathing fire and pulling out a scythe to cut Himuro and bust him open! A wildcard to say the least!

As the match rolled on, the opposing team did well and even got off two eliminations, but the Dreamwatch team was too solid all the way through to take a loss here. Team Dreamwatch takes the victory in a chaotic and very fun opening match!

-POST MATCH COMMENTS-

*Ryukawa, Kiryu, and Himuro share a long, uncomfortable look at each other. Himuro then glances over to McLaren and the two share a look. There is no talking for a significant amount of time*

Himuro: *shoving Kiru and Ryukawa out of the way to get closer to the camera* This is the first show back and this is what you give to me. Those opponents... One of them tried to make me bleed to make a name for himself. He's an embarrassment. My heart pumps, and I have more heart than his frail body can muster. He made me bleed with his dulled tools, but I'd grind him into the ground with my bare hands. Also that shitty white-haired guy? He tried to be big and bad and he got embarrassed. Get these pieces of shit out of my ring and don't invite them back. Dreamwatch isn't a game, Dreamwatch isn't big paychecks. Dreamwatch is me. Don't step to the strongest if you're not strong. I'm done here. *Shoves his teammates out of the way to walk off-screen*

Takaya Kiryu: One legend, seven losers. This ain't a welcome party in my book. Let's not forget that I'm the most successful wrestler in Dreamwatch, I've beaten one of the most successful wrestlers in this business is under ten minutes, and yet I'm being put on the same level with the biggest disappointments in this company, facing a comedy act of a team. Gonna need a bit more love around here, considering I'm literally carrying the company on my back. I better be getting paid more than Ryukawa, at least. *Kiryu prepares to take his leave before stopping and turning to McLaren* Also... Johnny, right? I noticed the orange gear. You looking for my attention? Now that we're back, show me what you can do, yeah? I'm watching. *Kiryu takes his exit*

McLaren: I need new gear...

Yamato Ryukawa: We need to step it up now that we're back! My last big match resulted in a loss that cost me in a big way, and it seems like they're trying to replace us with... Whatever those guys were *laughs* It didn't work though, even though admittedly that Keiichiro guy... I've heard of him and he was pretty strong. Mido too... Regardless, I need to change my focus. There's still a struggle for supremacy in Dreamwatch, and no offense to you Johnny, I'm the only one that can stand at the top by the end of this. Now that I managed to avoid having my hair burned off of my head for the second time, I'll at least look good when I get there.

Johnny McLaren: Its good to be back everybody! I was getting ready to fight in the Blood Crown tournament before the hiatus, and I'm assuming that that's still going on, and the look on Ryukawa's face tells me he forgot...

Yamato Ryukawa: Sorry!

Johnny McLaren: I hope you've been working on those leg locks. I don't want to have a rival that's lost a step. No point in beating you then. Anyway, now that Dreamwatch is back its time to begin the long crawl. When I first got here, people didn't think much of me, and during the hiatus I meditated and thought back on how things went, and I can tell I'm in the right direction. Dreamwatch fans, get loud! Johnny's back baby!

--

Tatsuya Mido: Dreamwatch, huh... They ain't as tough as all the hype makes them seem. That hiatus makes it seem like you boys and girls are all crumbling under your own weight. Perfect opportunity for someone like me to swoop in and take over the whole operation. You need someone strong running things here. Invite me back, Dreamwatch. I dare you.

Shota Inaba: Look what I did to your boy, Dreamwatch! Look what I did to him! That win means nothing, that wasn't a real fight, but I let a present for that bitch! *holds up the sickle he used in the match to cut Himuro* A little souvenir from the baddest fighter on Earth! Nobody can touch me! If I see that tall fucker again I'll carve his ass up! See me one on one, boy!

Ewan Jacobs: That guy's an idiot but I like his energy! Anyway you already know who I am and if you don't you need to wake up and watch some world-class fighters instead of the bums you got here. It's Ewan Jacobs, the most infamous man in sports. Pro wrestling rules are dumb. Over the top rope eliminations, three second pins... idiotic rules for idiotic people and their low-life fans. Pro Wrestling is the most pathetic-

Keiichiro Asakawa: *Shoves Jacobs to the ground* Oy! Watch your damn mouth!

*Jacobs Lunges at Asakawa, and a brawl ensues backstage, with both men having to be separated from each other and escorted out of the building. A distant "I'll kill you!" is heard from Jacobs*

[radicalapollo]

What are your opinions on the two Sonic games we're getting this year? (i.e.: Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces)

Sonic Mania: I’m really REALLY excited for this, but I’ve been like... worried I’m a bit spoiled at this point. I’ve been playing so many Sonic-Like games recently, all of which that have crazy amazing movement options, that sitting down and playing a normal ass old school sonic game sounds like a good thing, but one that I’ll have to get out of habits I learned in Freedom Planet and Spark The Electric Jester.

It’s going to be a really fun and polished game regardless though I’m sure. They’re really banking on it being a success it seems, because they’re advertising it WAY more than I thought they would, and honestly way more than many other sonic games in the past. I’m looking forward to it but I know I gotta get these like... hyper versions of sonic games out of my mind before hopping into it.

Don’t... look up hyper sonic games you might get the wrong kind of results.

Sonic Forces: I don’t really know what to expect out of this game other than more of the same of what I liked out of Sonic Generations? Like some peeps weren’t down for Sonic Generations, and I can kinda see why in that it was a big, pretty well put together nostalgia trip, but one that was so locked into being what it was, that it couldn’t really do anything super interesting. NOW that it’s outside of those confines, which I think will help the game in a lot of ways, and give the thing it’s going for a lot more of a personality to it self.

Plus, little secret, I actually really like the create your own sonic fursona ass thing, and I think it’s gonna be really good for the game, and also think the people who DON’T like it need to learn to have fun again.

Both of these games seem like they’re gonna be pretty dope in general, and I’m excited to try them both out!

[citizentruth-blog]

Undermining Democracy, GOP-Style

Brian Kemp is a disgrace. (Photo Credit: Office of U.S. Senator David Perdue/Flickr) When it comes to the present-day incarnation of the Republican Party, always beware the shell game.  Per Dictionary.com, shell game is defined as "a sleight-of-hand swindling game resembling thimblerig but employing walnut shells or the like instead of thimblelike cups." If you're familiar with the setup of three-card Monte, the logistics are essentially the same, only with cards instead of shells. Find the pea (or the Queen of Hearts) under the shell. Double-down on your ability to find it again. If you're successful, you win big. If you're not, the opposite happens. With Donald Trump, Con-Man-in-Chief, working in cahoots with a party whose agenda seems increasingly predicated on deception—so that you don't discover how bad their policies actually are for you or the country at large—this diversionary tactic is alive and well. Before your eyes, numerous issues await your attention, but energy/money/time being limited, you can only pick one on which to act at the risk of having all three suffer. Concerning the events of the last week and change, three "shells" jump to mind being of national import, especially fresh after Election Day. All merit scrutiny as threats to democracy, and yet, there aren't enough hours in the day. That press conference President Trump has had some stupendously bad press conferences during his tenure, but his post-election presser, if not the outright worst, ranks right up there. There's a lot to unpack here, so let's get to the nitty-gritty, shall we? The great and powerful Republican Party: First things first, Trump started by lionizing the GOP's "achievements." Apparently, not losing control of the Senate and ceding control of the House qualify. At any rate, they were achievements because the Democrats had an unfair advantage in fundraising from special interests and wealthy donors and because the media is so gosh-darned mean to Republican candidates. Also, we had a bunch of retirements. But we had big rallies! And we did better than Obama! The country is booming! If the Democrats don't screw everything up, we'll all be united and thriving together! On bipartisanship: With the whining about the Republicans' handicap thus dispensed with, it was time for questions. First up, about that spirit of bipartisanship he and Nancy Pelosi talked about. Like, that's not really going to happen, right? Especially with all the investigations expected to be going on and unless y'all compromise? Trump demurred on the issue. No, we're totally going to be able to work together with the Democrats. Of course, if we can't, they're the ones in control of the House, so you know—their fault. Oh, that border wall... We're gonna build the wall. We've already started building it, in fact. Just try and stop it. The American people want it. The Democrats want it—they just don't want to admit it. Fine by me. I'll take the political capital and run with it. But the caravan is coming, ladies and gents. I can't say for sure that I'd advocate shutting down the government for it. But come on—I totally would. On the ever-tumultuous Cabinet: Trump is totally happy with his Cabinet. Good Cabinet. Great Cabinet. As long as no one suddenly displeases him, he has love for all. At this point, in a completely unrelated move, the President pushed a button revealing a pool of sharks underneath the floor and lowering a human-sized cage suspended above it from the ceiling. The Jim Acosta portion of the program: If there's one moment of the press conference you heard about, it was likely this. CNN's Jim Acosta, established persona non grata among Trump's base, pressed Trump on referring to the migrant caravan in Central America as an "invasion." Trump was all, like, well, I consider it an invasion. Acosta was all, like, but that caravan is hundreds and hundreds of miles away and you're demonizing immigrants by showing them climbing over walls, which they're not going to do. And that's when things got really interesting. As Trump settled into Attack Mode, Acosta tried to ask a follow-up question. Trump was all, like, you've had enough, pal. Nevertheless, he persisted, trying to ask about the Russia investigation. Meanwhile, a female aide tried to grab the mic away from Acosta, which he stifled with a "Pardon me, ma'am" and a hand on her arm. Before Acosta relented, Trump called the investigation a "hoax" and called Acosta a "rude, terrible person." Fun times. More about the Jim Acosta portion of the program: NBC News's Peter Alexander came to Acosta's defense as next reporter up—only to get harangued by the President in his own right—but the implications of this kerfuffle and the subsequent revocation of Acosta's press privileges in covering the White House are serious. I don't care what you think about Acosta personally, even if you feel he's a self-aggrandizing hack. Judging by the smarmy attitude of other CNN personalities like Anderson Cooper and Chris Cuomo, elevated self-appraisals seem to be a fairly common occurrence there. I also don't care what you think about Barack Obama's frosty relationship with FOX News and the questionable treatment its reporters received at the hands of the Obama White House. On the latter count, two wrongs don't make a right, and if Trump and Co. want to distinguish themselves, they should do it by being better and less petty—not the other way around. To that effect, squelching Acosta's voice in a dictatorial way should be concerning no matter where you stand politically in the name of journalistic integrity and a free press. And let's not start with the whole "Acosta assaulted that young woman" narrative. If you're relying on a doctored InfoWars clip to make your argument, you already should take the hint you're probably on some bullshit. More on bipartisanship: After Jim Acosta was given the ol' Vaudeville Hook, Alexander questioned Trump on why he was pitting Americans against one another. To which Trump asked back—and I am not making this up—"What are you—trying to be him?" He was referring to Acosta, of course. Even after what just happened, it was stunning. For the record, Pres. Trump gave a dodgy "they're soft on crime" answer and suggested the results of the election would have a "very positive impact." So, um, yay togetherness! If the Mueller investigation is unfair to the country and it's costing millions of dollars, why doesn't Trump just end it? I'm posting the whole question here, because the President sure didn't answer it convincingly. On voter suppression: "I'll give you 'voter suppression': Take a look at the CNN polls, how inaccurate they were. That's called 'voter suppression'." Um, what? On the individual mandate: You know, I could tell you what he said, but do you have any confidence that, regardless of how people feel about the individual mandate, Republicans have a plan in mind which will allow them to keep premiums down and cover preexisting conditions? Neither do I. When all questions by women of color are "stupid" or "racist": Speaking of three-card Monte, here's a shell game within the shell game in which you get to pick which one is the most flagrantly dog-whistle-y. PBS NewsHour's Yamiche Alcindor asked Trump about whether his claim to be a "nationalist" has emboldened "white nationalists" here and abroad. Trump said it's a "racist" question. Putting aside the notion held by many that racism implies power and Trump therefore has no idea what he's talking about in this regard, it's a legitimate question. Trump pivoted to his overwhelming support from African-American voters—a fabrication, at any rate—but his lack of an appropriate response betrays his complicity on this issue. More on denigrating black female reporters: While the dialog with Alcindor was the only such interaction with an African-American female reporter during the press conference, it's not his only recent unflattering characterization herein. In response to a question by CNN's Abby Phillip about whether he appointed Matthew Whitaker as acting Attorney General, he called her query "stupid" and opined that she asks "a lot of stupid questions." As for April Ryan, Trump recently referred to her as a "loser" and someone "who doesn't know what she's doing." If these comments were isolated incidents, one might be able to give Trump the benefit of the doubt. In such close proximity to one another and based on his track record, though, Trump deserves no such consideration. He's attacking these women of color because he has a problem with being challenged by strong females and because it's red meat to throw at his base. Other odds and ends: Trump evidently can't turn over his tax returns because he is under audit. This is complete and unmitigated bullshit. Trump likes Oprah. Even if she, too, is a loser. If anything is going to be done with DACA, it will apparently have to be dealt with in court. Whose fault is that? You guessed it: the Democrats. Trump claimed to have a lot of trouble understanding people from foreign news outlets. If there were anything to make him seem like more of the "ugly American," well, this would be it. What did Trump learn from the midterm results? Seeing as he learned that "people like him" and that "people like the job he's doing," he obviously didn't learn a damn thing. Will Mike Pence be Trump's running mate in 2020? Yes. Glad that's settled. Nice hardball question there. How will Trump push a pro-life agenda with a divided Congress? Like a mother trying to give birth, he's just going to keep pushing—don't you worry, evangelicals. Did China or Russia interfere in the election? The official report's, as they say, in the mail. How can we enact a middle-class tax cut alongside the existing corporate/high-earner tax cut? With an "adjustment." What kind of adjustment? Trump's "not telling." YOU HAVE NO IDEA. JUST SAY IT. Per "Two Corinthians" Trump, God plays a very big role in his life. He's also a "great moral leader," and he loves our country. On an unrelated note, a lightning bolt ripped through the ceiling during the press conference, narrowly missing Trump as he delivered his remarks. Au revoir, Monsieur Sessions Politics makes strange bedfellows. If you're thinking how strange it is to be protesting the firing of Jeff bleeping Sessions, you're not alone. Sessions' aforementioned removal as AG in favor of Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker—assuming he actually was fired and didn't resign, though how would we know?—is not something that anyone feels bad about for Sessions's sake. You make a deal with the Devil, and eventually, you expect to get burned, no? Given his profile as a notorious anti-drug dinosaur who infamously once professed that good people don't use marijuana, some drug reform activism groups are even happy he's gone. Outside of this context, though, the larger partisan hostility toward Robert Mueller and his investigation matters. I'm not going to even get into whether Trump has the right to remove Sessions and replace him with someone like Whitaker who wasn't confirmed by the Senate, or whether it matters if he was fired or if he quit. Honestly, these questions are above my ken as a citizen journalist. If past statements are any indication, however, putting Whitaker in charge of the DOJ is suspect. The man didn't exactly write the book on how to limit the scope of the Mueller investigation, but he did pen an opinion piece for Trump's favorite news outlet on how it should be done. As with invalidating Jim Acosta's White House press privileges (a move which has prompted another lawsuit against the Trump administration, mind you), such is a line the president should not cross, no matter what side of the aisle you're on. As Americans, we should all be worried about the fate of the Mueller investigation as it comes to a head, and should implore our elected officials to safeguard the inquiry's results. The ghost of the 2000 election Oh, those hanging chads. It's somehow comforting—and yet actually deeply, deeply disturbing—that not much has changed since the fracas surrounding the 2000 recount that captivated a nation and prompted cries of a "stolen" victory for George W. Bush. Then again, that Al Gore didn't win his own state and that thousands of Florida Democrats voted for Bush puts a bit of a damper on pointing to these shenanigans and Ralph Nader as the only reasons why Gore lost. As with Hillary Clinton losing in 2016, alongside legitimate concerns about Russian meddling and James Comey's untimely letter to Congress, it's not as if strategic miscues or lack of enthusiasm about the Democratic candidate in question didn't play a role. Now that I've set the scene, let's talk about 2018. There were a number of close races across the country this Election Day—some so close they still haven't been certified or conceded. Depending on your views, some were either disappointments or godsends. If you were pulling for Beto O'Rourke in Texas, while you still should be encouraged, you were nonetheless dismayed to find that enough voters willingly re-elected Ted Cruz, famed annoyance and rumored Zodiac Killer. If you were pulling for Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona, meanwhile, you likely were over the moon once the race was finally called. Of the key races not yet called at this writing, those in Florida and Georgia loom particularly large. In the Sunshine State, the candidates of both the race for U.S. Senate between Rick Scott (R) and Bill Nelson (D) and the race for governor between Ron DeSantis (R) and Andrew Gillum (D) are separated by less than half of 1%. Meanwhile, in the Peach State gubernatorial race, there are enough outstanding votes that Stacey Abrams (D) and her campaign are convinced they can force a runoff election based on the margin. In all three cases, despite the razor-thin vote disparities, Republicans have been quick to cry fraud or try to expedite certifying the results. Scott, with Trump throwing his own claim around wildly in support, has made accusations of electoral malfeasance without the evidence to back it up. And this is just speaking about what has happened after the election. Leading up to the election, DeSantis caught flak for telling voters not to "monkey this up" by voting for Gillum, dog-whistling loud enough for racists across the Southeast to hear. Brian Kemp (R), meanwhile as Georgia Secretary of State, oversaw the purging of voters from rolls, the failure to process voter applications, and keeping voting machines locked up—all primarily at the expense of voters of color, a key Democratic constituency. Depending on how far back you wish to go, the antics of DeSantis, Kemp, and Scott are only the latest turn in a long-standing American tradition of voter suppression aimed at blacks. Carol Anderson, professor of African-American studies at Emory University, provides a concise but effective history of keeping blacks from the polls—by hook or by crook. We may no longer be threatening prospective voters of color with tar and feathers, but voter purges, closure of polling locations, and disenfranchisement of felons from being able to vote aren't much of an improvement. This is 2018, after all. As Van Jones and others might insist, Kemp et al. can only win one way: by stealing. To put it another way, if these Republicans were convinced they had won legitimately, they wouldn't need all the chicanery, subterfuge, and insinuations of impropriety. Even if they do prove to have the votes necessary to win, their conduct is a stain on the offices they have served or will serve. Like it is with the White House's revocation of Jim Acosta's privileges following Trump's press conference or the suspicious installation of Matthew Whitaker as head of the Department of Justice, the injustice here is such that it should, ahem, trump partisanship. Instead, our "winning is the only thing" mentality and emphasis on results over process all but ensures bipartisan inaction. Assuming a shell game is run fairly, the customer playing need only follow the correct shell amid all the movement. This itself might be a chore depending on how much and how fast the shells move. Going back to the Wikipedia entry on the shell game, though, there's an important note about how, frequently, games of these sort are not on the up-and-up: In practice, however, the shell game is notorious for its use by confidence tricksters who will typically rig the game using sleight of hand to move or hide the ball during play and replace it as required. Fraudulent shell games are also known for the use of psychological tricks to convince potential players of the legitimacy of the game – for example, by using shills or by allowing a player to win a few times before beginning the scam. In other words, it's a con. You've been following the wrong shell all along because the eyes deceive. In the context of President Donald Trump's unbecoming behavior, his DOJ shakeup of questionable legitimacy, and the Republican Party's stacking of the electoral deck, while all of these matters merit your justifiable outrage, they are yet a distraction from something else not even on the table. For one, shortly after the press conference, Trump issued a directive designed to halt asylum-seeking at our southern border. It's a particularly problematic order, in that it appears to fundamentally misunderstand asylum law and makes it yet harder to apply for asylum than it already is. It's also reactionary policy that overstates the dangers of the migrant caravan and illegal immigration in general, and further puts us out of step with international standards on safeguarding refugees/asylees. This executive order comes on the heels of Trump's stated desire to end birthright citizenship, another move which would be of dubious constitutional validity and subject to challenge in court by civil rights advocacy groups, not to mention having U.S. troops stationed at the border with Mexico. It's easy to dismiss these as political stunts designed to fire up his base when you have no skin in the game, so to speak. For immigrants and would-be applicants for asylum/visas, this rhetoric is more worrisome. Owing to our country's poor track record of acting on behalf of vulnerable populations—I'll bring our sordid history of intimidating voters of color and otherwise acting in official capacities to deny them their rights back up, in case you need reminding—this is more than simple hand-wringing based on the theoretical. In the miasma and noise of a Republican agenda fueled by the views of FOX News talking heads, Koch-Brothers-funded legislative influence, obeisance to moneyed interests and religious conservatives, Tea Party railing against deficits, and Trump's own prejudicial outlook, it's legitimately hard to cut through all the bullshit and focus on what we can do as possible influencers. By now, the sense of fatigue is real, especially because when we act to counteract said agenda, there's also half-hearted Democratic Party policies and media clickbait designed to offend around which to work. So, what's the answer? Assuming my words are even that useful in this regard, I'm not sure. As noted, all of the above merits scrutiny, but we have our limitations. It may be useful to zero in on one or a handful of issues that arouse your personal political passions. Plus, if you can afford it, so many causes spearheaded by organizations devoted to the betterment of society deserve your donations, though throwing money at these problems does not automatically equate to solving them. At the end of the day, though, what is abundantly clear after decades of failed policy initiatives is that tuning out is not a viable option if we want meaningful change. Indeed, people-powered solutions will be necessary if we are to fix our broken democracy—and there's a lot to fix, at that. Recognize the shell game for what it is, but don't refuse to play. Instead, change the game.   Read the full article