Open Thread

What’s on your mind?

Comments

[Enrique]

Some thoughts on the rule of law, part 1:

https://priorprobability.com/2025/11/25/some-thoughts-on-the-rule-of-law/

[Enrique]

part 2 = https://priorprobability.com/2025/11/26/another-rule-of-law-puzzle/

[not guilty]

It appears that grand jurors are becoming more skeptical about charging bullshit matters that the Department of Justice has lately been presenting to them. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/26/trump-halligan-grand-juries-rejection-stumbles/

That could prove to be a good thing.

[not guilty]

The FBI is reportedly requesting interviews with Democratic members of Congress who appeared in a video last week reminding U.S. service members of their duty to disobey unlawful orders. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/25/fbi-democrats-unlawful-orders-trump/

I don't see any reason for any of them to agree to be interviewed. There is simply no upside there.

[bloocow2]

It feels like yet another one of those "the process is the punishment" things. Where the eventual outcome (ie. the senators being found to have done nothing illegal) is never in doubt, but putting them through the ringer in the meantime will discourage others from following suit.

Gotta say though, I never would have paid that much attention were it not for the Trump administration Streisand-Effecting it into my news feed.

[A Japanese Student]

House of Representatives of Japan restores LDP majority after 3 representatives, who are expelled from the Ishin party, joins the caucus. This might affect the balance of the power because the House rarely does a roll call, instead each caucus voting as a bloc. 3-member caucus does lack power, though, and joining a bigger caucus at least allows them to have their voices heard. (Bills must be co-sponsored by 20 members; smaller caucuses might not get good committee assignment; etc.)

At least two of the members probably aren't joining the party, though. A provision of the election law automatically expels any representative who, while elected as a candidate in proportional representation district, moves to another party. They must remain independent party-wise until the next election.

[Kazinski]

Happy Thanksgiving.

Today's Thanksgiving is the cheapest since 2021, and 8.13 cheaper than in 2022:

"Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for your friends and family will cost less than last year, marking the third straight year of price declines. "The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person.

This is a 5% decrease from 2024. Three years of declines don’t fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in 2022."

“A vote for Trump means your groceries will be cheaper”. Former President Trump Campaigns in Pittsburgh, C-SPAN (November 4, 2024)

Promises made, Promises kept.

I will concede that he went further than that a few times. And of course a more realistic promise would be to reduce prices relative to wages, which is what Bessent has been emphasizing..

On a personal observed anecdote, Wal-Mart has rolled back the price of a 750ml bottle of Jack Daniels from 19$ to 17$. Now that makes for a very very happy Thanksgiving.