By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
Some very powerful metaphors came across the Dumb Desk this week, as we near the final months of the foul Year of our Lord 2025.
First, in an apparent trolling move by President Donald Trump, he posted an AI-generated video of himself wearing a crown behind the stick of a fighter jet as it dumped sewage all over “No Kings” protesters. Vice President JD Vance followed by posting a photo of himself and Trump wearing crowns.
Why? Who knows anymore. I suppose it’s “radical” to protest against a U.S. president becoming a dictator. What a time to be alive.
Also worth noting is that many in the MAGA-sphere claimed the millions of people who showed up for nationwide “No Kings” protests on Oct. 18 were paid upward of $200 each. I guess they forgot to send me a check.
A couple of days later, images circulated across the internet of the east wing of the White House being demolished by construction crews as they moved forward building Trump’s $250 million ballroom. I would love for conservatives to explain to me how we went from “eggs cost too much” to building a gilded ballroom for our Dear Leader to entertain his dictatorial and oligarchic pals.
Speaking of dictators, Trump continues to fleece the American people for all they’re worth with his latest gambit — a demand that the Department of Justice pay him $230 million that ultimately comes from taxpayers. Trump said the government owes him “a lot of money” for previous DOJ investigations into his conduct, while at the same time asserting his personal authority over any potential payout.
Think about this for a moment, because this is about as swampy as you can get: Trump as president is claiming he is the person who should decide whether Trump as a claimant receives hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for investigations into Trump as a defendant. Head spinning yet?
Trump suggested he would either donate the proceeds or use the money to fund his luxury ballroom at the White House. Meanwhile, he warned Democrats on Oct. 21 that if they don’t end the government shutdown, Medicaid and Social Security “are going to be gone.”
Remember that as recently as March 2025, Trump swore he would “always protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.” Another reminder: Democrats are refusing to accept a bill that would cut health care provisions, which Republicans argue fund medical care for illegal aliens.
Sigh. See you next week. Same Dumb place, same Dumb channel.
