The Breakfast Club (The Absurd)

Welcome to The Breakfast Club! We’re a disorganized group of rebel lefties who hang out and chat if and when we’re not too hungover we’ve been bailed out we’re not too exhausted from last night’s (CENSORED) the caffeine kicks in. Join us every weekday morning at 9am (ET) and weekend morning at 10:00am (ET) (or whenever we get around to it) to talk about current news and our boring lives and to make fun of LaEscapee! If we are ever running late, it’s PhilJD’s fault.

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This Day in History

Sputnik, the first man-made satellite, is launched into orbit; U.S. Blackhawk helicopters shot down in Somalia; Silent movie comedy star Buster Keaton born; Rock singer Janis Joplin dies of drug overdose.

Breakfast Tunes

Something to Think about over Coffee Prozac

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd.

Bertrand Russell

Breakfast News

Battle for Trump’s tax returns pits feds against state

Consumer watchdog agency probes Juul and 5 more vaping firms

US authorities seek access to Facebook encrypted messaging

Finland agrees to return Native American remains to tribes

Western utility to quicken move away from coal-fired power

Bar donates bills taken from wall for Bahamas storm victims

Home sweet volcano: Alaska fur seals thrive at unlikely spot

Boris Johnson’s conciliatory tone on Brexit falls flat on EU

Pakistan, Afghan Taliban call for resumption of peace talks

Iraqi protesters defy curfew as violence leaves 33 dead

US-Europe dispute threatens main artery of world trade

EU court: Facebook can be forced to remove content worldwide

Deadly protests squeeze Haitians in shrinking economy

Ukraine’s president defends election in rebel-held east

Winds from ex-hurricane Lorenzo roar toward Ireland, UK

Breakfast Blogs

Apparently Knuckling the Homeless Is Now Part of the Republican Platform Charles P. Pierce, Esquire Politics

Trump Has Weaponized the Departments of Justice and State to Accomplish These Extremely Dumb Tasks Jack Holmes, Esquire Politics

The Conspiracy Theories Flynn Wants to Resuscitate and the McCabe Investigation emptywheel aka Marcy Wheeler, emptywheel

Was The Trump Phone Call With Zelensky Paused For Discussion On US Side? Jim White, emptywheel

“I really don’t like where we are right now,” said one prominent Republican pollster. digby aka Heather Digby Parton, Hullabaloo

Precious bodily fluids Tom Sullivan, Hullabaloo

Trump’s Extortion of Ukraine Is an Impeachable Abuse of Power Frank Bowman, Just Security

Three Lessons From the First Time a Head of State Was Impeached Michel Paradis, Lawfare

Poll finds nearly two-thirds of Americans don’t oppose removing Trump via impeachment and conviction Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns and Money

Today in Dean Baquet Scott Lemieux, Lawyers, Guns and Money

Lowlife] Yastreblyansky, The Rectification of Names

THE MEDIA’S TRUMP RULES ARE KILLING HIM NOW Steve M., No More Mister Nice Blog

You Know What Liz Warren Was Missing? SEXY. Thanks Jacob Wohl And The Other One! Doktor Zoom, Wonkette

GOP Impeachment Plan To Dress Up Like Grandma And Devour Swing State Dems Hits A Snag Five Dollar Feminist, Wonkette

Trump Can Add ‘GINA To His Articles Of Impeachment, Please? Evan Hurst, Wonkette