Maybe the way to break Trump is to shrug him off.

The standout moment in Kamala Harris’s first interview as Democratic presidential nominee consisted of a mere seven words: “Same old tired playbook. Next question, please.”

That was her answer when CNN’s Dana Bash brought up Donald Trump’s recent outrageous suggestion that the vice president, who is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican parents, “happened to turn Black” as a matter of political expediency.

Let’s hope Harris continues to shrug off Trump’s racist and misogynist attacks. It’s clearly driving him crazy.

I’m no good at shrugging things off, myself. I prefer to try to hammer them into the ground like a frustrated Bugs Bunny. But if Harris is driving … Read the rest

Seattle Center – the site of a long-ago world’s fair, with theaters and galleries and landscaped open space – has a large block of restrooms aka toilets, with one set labeled women and the other men, in the familiar way, but also now sporting a sign that says (paraphrasing from memory) “you can use whichever restroom you feel comfortable in.” Of course it enrages me anew every time I walk past it, but not just for the obvious reason. The slightly less obvious reason is the idiocy of the wording, because if some hulking guy “feels comfortable” stomping right on into the women’s toilets then guess who no longer does “feel comfortable” – eh?

So. Yeah.

Hey ladies, do you

Some men harass women in the street because “spread your legs for me right now” and some men harass women in the street because “you are a whore and God hates you.”

Unbelievable but true—Germany now has its own morality police. A Muslim man in Berlin is chasing down two women for their ‘improper hijab,’ lecturing them on how to dress ‘correctly.’ This isn’t just harassment; it’s a terrifying echo of the Hijab police we’ve battled in Iran and Afghanistan—now taking root in the heart of Europe. For years, we’ve been silenced, accused of ‘Islamophobia’ when we dare to speak out against the brutality we endure for refusing to cover ourselves ‘properly’ in the name of religion. But silence

Peter Boghossian raging at “western” feminists for what Allah-botherers do to women.

Don’t play the clip. Word is it’s as horrible as you’d expect.

There continues to be near total silence of western feminists about these barbaric practices. Feminists’ failure to advocate for the rights of these women is so shameful as to completely undermine their judgment and discredit their movement. pic.twitter.com/FGjafjncKv

— Peter Boghossian (@peterboghossian) August 31, 2024

I’m a feminist, and I suppose I’m “western.”

Not one but two men beating women in a women’s race.

Originally a comment by KBPlayer on The magic in everyday life.

During the Edinburgh Festival I saw Jenny Lindsay in a talk with a guy called Darren McGarvey. McGarvey was host of a series of talks on the Industrial Trauma Complex, i.e. how people frame their traumas, and the dangers of airing them (see a quote below about the lived experience and how airing it can harm the sufferer). McGarvey is from a very tough Glasgow background (and looks it) and a recovering addict. He got known as a rapper and then as writer and talker on social issues eg The Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us, about class poverty and class differences.

The talk was well … Read the rest

The tedium gets ever more tedious.

A women’s college in Virginia has instituted an admissions policy that bars transgender women next school year because of a new interpretation of the founder’s will.

Sweet Briar College, a private women’s liberal arts school, said the policy stems from the legally binding will of its founder, Indiana Fletcher Williams, who died in 1900. Sweet Briar’s leadership said the document requires it to “be a place of ‘girls and young women.’”

So in other words they’re not changing anything, they’re just pointing out that the college is still a girls’ college, as it’s been all along.

The phrase “must be interpreted as it was understood at the time the Will was written,”

Another woman marked out for silencing:

As a self-styled witch, Dr Alice Tarbuck offers online Tarot card readings for £50 an hour and courses in how to embrace the ‘magic’ in everyday life. Her freelance lessons run throughout the year and are described as ‘perfect for anyone with an interest in the history, ethics and practice of witchcraft’. But the rest of the time the author and poet has another role – as a ‘literature officer’ for controversial arts quango Creative Scotland, currently at the centre of a political firestorm.

…

Her role was to provide backing for writers as part of Creative Scotland’s mission to help people and organisations to ‘make work of quality and ambition that enriches

The courts are forcing people to lie on pain of arrest and/or massive fines.

A podcast episode of Hoss and Hopf had to be deleted by court order because the moderators called a trans-identified man “a man” and used male pronouns to refer to him. The podcasters may be facing potential prison time or a fine of up to €250,000.

Germany thinks men who pretend to be women are the Jews. Nuh uh. The people being punished for not saying men are women are the Jews. (Not literally, obviously, but in the sense of being the party that is being treated like scum.)

In the controversial podcast episode, the hosts discussed the case of Laura Holstein, formerly known as Nicolas.

Is it bonkers to ban outdoor smoking?

Keir Starmer is on a collision course with the hospitality industry and political opponents after signalling plans for major curbs on outdoor smoking.

The proposals, not denied by the prime minister, would potentially prohibit tobacco use outside pubs and restaurants, including on pavements. The restrictions would come on top of existing plans to gradually outlaw smoking year by year.

While the latter proposal was devised under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives argued restrictions on outdoor smoking were about “social control”, with Priti Patel – among those standing to replace Sunak as Tory leader – calling them “beyond stupid”.

Well let’s wait a minute here. Lots of restrictions are about social control, because that’s … Read the rest

I just want to underline this trendy new brand of feminism.

What she says:

I’m so baffled by terfs – trans exclusionary radical feminists. I don’t understand how anyone takes them seriously when they’re so fucking ugly.

How much more feminist can you be?… Read the rest

Thanks Mr Menno.

Ah yes the “sex workers” – especially the ones who happen to be children. Julie Bindel in Al Jazeera:

In recent decades, so-called “sex workers’ rights” campaigners working to decriminalise pimping and buying of sex have attached themselves, just like trans rights activists, to the movement for the rights of same sex attracted people. This was a logical – and highly beneficial – move on their part. Being seen as part of a proud, widely-respected social justice campaign undoubtedly helps their efforts to perpetuate the myth that “sex work is work” and “prostitution is liberating”. 

One of the more…er…surprising moments of the hostile divorce between Freethought Blogs and me was when Greta Christina and her enforcers labeled me a … Read the rest

These eight incredible Canadian Women, Elle Canada exclaims, then promptly goes on to reveal that #1 and #3 are men (while #2 sports a tight bandage over her hair and neck because Islam is such a women-friendly religion).

Quadruple threat Vivek Shraya is all the things: musician, writer, actor and artist. Last year, she debuted her Canadian Screen Award-winning CBC web series, How to Fail as a Popstar, which is based on her own adventures growing up in Canada and trying to make it big and become the world’s first trans, brown Madonna. Shraya is also the founder of the award-winning imprint VS. Books, which offers publishing opportunities to emerging BIPOC writers. Meanwhile, her last book, 2022’s 

It’s almost as if this controversy isn’t medical at all but purely political.

‘Witch-hunt’: BMA tries to identify who leaked planned opposition to Cass review

The British Medical Association (BMA) has been accused of undertaking a “witch-hunt” to try to identify which senior figure leaked that it was set to oppose the landmark Cass review on transgender healthcare.

It has warned its ruling council’s 69 members that whoever tipped off the media about its stance should own up or face their non-cooperation being seen as “an act of dishonesty”. Critics said its action is “disgraceful”, “Orwellian” and “witch-hunt-like”.

In other words not medical, not technical, not about evidence or argument, but a matter of loyalty and commitment. Politics rather than … Read the rest

Not vulgar enough yet? He can do more!

Donald Trump has reposted a crudely misogynistic comment about Kamala Harris on Truth Social in a move that reprised his past record of sexist behaviour and brazenly flouted pleas from members of his own party to emphasize issues over personal attacks.

With fresh polls showing Harris further improving her standing – and widening the gap with her opponent among women voters – Trump drew online opprobrium by sharing a vulgar post on his social media site implying that the Democratic nominee owed her political rise to sexual favours.

Trump is a rapist, and proud of it, while he tries to pretend to believe that Harris is that other thing. Your basic good … Read the rest

Photographic confirmation – Trump grinning and poking his thumb up at Arlington National Cemetery.

There is no greater sacrifice than giving one’s life in defense of our country. It was my solemn privilege to stand alongside the family of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover at Arlington National Cemetery today as we paid tribute to his legacy and the 12 others who lost their lives… pic.twitter.com/tR6dhpMYsB

— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) August 26, 2024

… Read the rest

Oh COME on.

The erasure of women goes against everything Islam stands for.

I stand in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan. https://t.co/fs4421dFjp

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 28, 2024

Really? Really? Because Islam famously stands for women’s rights and women’s visibility and women’s non-erasure?

On what PLANET you woman-hating goon?… Read the rest

Is it goodbye Don at last?

Democrat Kamala Harris has surged ahead of Republican Donald Trump, 48%-43%, a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll found.

The findings reflect an eight-point turnaround in the presidential race from late June, when Trump had led President Joe Biden in the survey by nearly four points.

…

“I think people are cautiously optimistic that they’re going to have a lot better chance with Harris than they would have had with Biden going head-to-head with Trump,” said Amy Hendrix, 46, of Fort Worth. An independent who usually votes Democratic, she was among those called in the poll. “I’m very excited to vote for a woman, and that’s just the truth.”

I’m excited to smack Trump in … Read the rest

The Army slaps Trump upside the head.

The US Army issued a stark rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign over the incident on Monday at Arlington National Cemetery, saying in a statement on Thursday that participants in the ceremony “were made aware of federal laws” regarding political activity at the cemetery, and “abruptly pushed aside” an employee of the cemetery.

“Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside,” the Army spokesperson said in the statement on Thursday.

“This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate