De Adder Du Jour

You may have heard desperate rumors that the Moose & Squirrel movie is pulling in money. Don't believe them. We cats PURR.

(IMAGE: Michael de Adder, deadder.net)

Postively Nobelicious

By Sniffles

What a great idea: The progressive news site The Nation has nominated the people of Minneapolis for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

And why not? Minneapolis has been under siege from ICE for months now, and has seen two of its citizens murdered, in broad daylight and on video — which means the rest of the country has seen it, too. At one point, it seemed a very dicey possibility that the city would respond the way Trump and his Nazi minions were hoping: with rioting and violence and disorder, so they could invoke the Insurrection Act. Nope!

Instead, Minneapolitans not only protested peacefully, they kicked their George Floyd and COVID networks back into action to support their immigrant communities. They've grocery shopped for people too afraid to go out, shepherded kids to school, patronized local businesses, and most importantly, they have continued to shadow ICE activities in their neighborhoods and record them, for now and for posterity.

How wonderful it would be if Benedict Donald didn't get the Peace Prize, but Minneapolis did. Love it! We've had our differences with The Nation over the years (actually, decades), but in this case we can only say, well done, lads. We cats PURR.

ETTD*

By Hubie and Bertie

In all the coverage of the latest Kennedy Center debacle, has anybody brought up the fact that the National Symphony Orchestra is royally screwed? After multiple artists and productions flaked off, and even when Philip Glass canceled the June premiere of his Lincoln symphony, the music director of the NSO said, "We're staying."

The orchestra's board chair was even more emphatic. "We are going to make this work," she said. "I was born in Washington, grew up with the Kennedy Center, grew up in the NSO, and I can’t let it disappear. We will make it through this." Well, oops.

The Kennedy Center shutdown is nothing to celebrate, for sure. But despite all of Benedict Donald's bravado about "Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding" (capitalizations his), we all know the real reason. Everyone walked. "Instead of just commanding performances — which they can't do — the Trump people are closing it down and slinking away," writer Tom Nichols skeeted on Bluesky.

But what about the NSO? Their Kennedy Center funding will continue, but where will they play? We cats have a suggestion: DAR Constitution Hall, their old stomping grounds. Even better, it's a private venue, so the Trumpsters can't touch it.

In the bad old days of segregation, the DAR barred Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson from performing there. (Their insult to Anderson turned out badly for them, though, with a little help from Eleanor Roosevelt.) But that shameful history just makes it totes nifty to have Glass's Lincoln symphony premiere there. We cats like the idea, and we PURR.

*Everything Trump Touches Dies

GOP: "Fort Worth, We Have A Problem"

By Miss Kubelik

Another special election, another jaw-dropping Democratic overperformance. This time, in Tarrant County, Texas.

Benedict Donald must have been worried, because he phoned in last-minute endorsements of the GOP candidate for State Senate District 9. Really? Trump has to tear himself away from his ballroom plans to rush out a statement of support for a Republican in Texas?

The thing is, it didn't work. The Democrat, Taylor Rehmet, squished Repub Leigh Wambsganss by an Abigail-Spanbergerish margin of 15 points. (!) Just for the record, District 9 isn't pink, or rose, or light red — it's deep, dark, ruby, blood-red. It went for Benedict Donald by 17 points in 2024. The Hill, not a publication known for its fondness for our side, called the result "stunning" and a "shock upset."

Well, we don't know about "shock." Team Rehmet obviously worked to get their vote out. And maybe folks in this district who normally vote Republican didn't this time. Or both. But it's not like the GOP hasn't had warning bells clanging like mad in all the latest public opinion polls. Perhaps they just covered their ears? We cats PURR.