Pepper

This. I swear if I see one more Dem (or anyone) talk about how awful the Epstein files are without a plan to hold the perpetrators accountable … Do something! Otherwise it’s a sham.

@Martinsuz @jamiescoop I haven’t been able to enjoy the Fourth since he first became president.

I don’t know about you guys, but Trump has taken all the joy and pride out of the 250th Anniversary for me. I won’t watch any part of his ridiculous celebrations and nonsense. He’s destroying my country.

@highbrow_nobrow @iamgabesanchez Hoorah! 🥳

Speaker Mike Johnson on House GOP: “If we lose the majority, it would be the end of the Trump presidency.” (2026)

The president purchasing Nvidia shares a week before his own Commerce Department allows them to sell one of our most valuable assets to our main geopolitical opponent is unfathomably more corrupt than anything on Hilary Clinton's email server.

Uhhh this seems like a pretty significant story

The kind of mistake that launched a thousand BIDEN IS TOO OLD TO PRESIDENT stories but since it's Trump, won't even get a mention.

Spies do that. Not presidents.

71% of Americans oppose new AI data centers near them. They're right. So, why has Congress done nothing to address their concerns? Follow the money. Big Tech has spent $300 million on the midterm elections to ensure Congress does nothing to regulate them. End Citizens United.

Of course.

Supreme Court says TL;DR, ignores judicial duty

@NancySinatra My Sicilian grandma had a crush on your Dad; their birthdays are one day apart. A few years after her death, I was in NYC for their birthdays, and the Empire State Building was lighted blue for FS and—I felt—her, too. I know all of his lyrics thanks to her.

Twenty-eight years ago, the world lost Frank Sinatra, and I lost my dad. I don’t think I’ll ever fully get over the loss of him, or the fact that my siblings and I were disregarded and not given a chance to say goodbye. My father was one of the most extraordinary men I ever had the privilege to know. What an incredible life he lived, and what a remarkable legacy he left behind. On this sad anniversary, I find myself thinking about all he accomplished, the joy he brought to so many people, and the love he gave to those closest to him. The world could certainly use his warmth, kindness, grace, and wonderful sense of humor today. He had a way of making people feel special, whether it was one person sitting beside him or on stage in front of thousands. What I regret most is that his great-grandchildren never got the chance to know him. Oh! How they would have loved each other. Twenty-eight years later, the world still sings along with him. Young people continue discovering him for the first time, while those who loved him from the beginning still treasure the man and his music. His music is special because it came from somewhere real, and because he meant every word he sang. He left behind a body of work that continues to bring people comfort, joy, romance, and strength. Dad was always concerned that his work would be forgotten, so he would be absolutely thrilled to know that his legacy lives on across generations, not only through his music, but in the hearts and on the playlists of millions of people around the world.   Frank Sinatra is eternal. And I still miss my Daddy. I love you, Poppa.

I’d like to report a robbery …

@scarylawyerguy The WH press corps does appear to be hand picked (central casting) to stay in line for the president. (Remember: he banned scrutinizing outlets like AP.) Occasionally the pool asks a tough question—and follows up! There are no Helen Thomases there anymore.

Reporters would rather have access to Trump but be insulted than not have as much access to Biden who treated them professionally. Ultimately, these are not serious people (h/t Logan Roy) just bit players in the reality show hoping to cash in with a book deal.

@mehdirhasan I think reporters get stuck in the J-school “don’t become part of the story” mindset when deciding whether to fight back, and I also think their billionaire-controlled bosses would reprimand it. Not excusing it, just contextualizing it.

When did we normalize this? When did it become okay for a president to tell a female reporter she’s a ‘dumb person’ for asking a totally legitimate question about his contradictory answers? Was there a specific date and time it become okay? Normal? Normalized?

@NavyChief77 @JoyceWhiteVance @fred_guttenberg Behave? Try behaving when your state government removes—in one fell racist swoop—the hard-fought representation in U.S. government your community has had for more than 50 years! It isn’t democratic! We should protest, and that’s what they did!

@pepperballard @JoyceWhiteVance @fred_guttenberg Racism is forcing you to behave?

As punishment? These are the people’s elected representatives.

@cmarinucci If the economy was better they’d probably be more willing to risk their jobs.

Why do reporters continue to accept this treatment from him? “Excuse me, Mr President — do not insult me, I am doing my job.” Please, someone say it.

@WinePoppy28492 @JoJoFromJerz Ha. You’re probably right. IV drugs are only used in early-onset stages, apparently, but maybe that’s why he has to keep seeing doctors: nothing is working to mask it anymore. (This is pure speculation, of course.)

@pepperballard @JoJoFromJerz I feel like we’ve progressed beyond “early-onset”… would it be effective to administer it beyond that stage?

Gangrene hands has to go to the “dentist.” Again.

@LeonDVine @CultureCrave Both work.

@pepperballard @CultureCrave Brutal? Inhumane is the work you're looking for.

Commencement speaker repeatedly gets booed by UCF students after she calls AI the 'next industrial revolution' • Students cheered when she said 'only a few years ago, AI was not a factor in our lives' • One student yelled out 'AI sucks'

@JoJoFromJerz There is an IV drug called Kisunla that is used to treat early-onset Alzheimer’s and requires consistent monitoring. It can cause injection-site reactions and difficulty walking (among other more serious side effects.) My money would be on this: