Olivia, another great piece on a Saturday morning. As a fellow soccer fan, I am appalled by the WC controversy. Infintino is so corrupt around the world:
Indeed, and you really drove the point home in your interview - something that is supposed to be a worldwide joyous occasion has been politicized even more in the United States. The Administration has allowed the soccer corruptness to infiltrate this country. No one really cares about this award as most people see it for what it is, as he tries to 'one up" Obama's NPP. Honestly, I for one wish the games were moved out of this country. Mark my word, if ICE terrorizes international fans the USA will not see another WC hosting in our lifetime
OKAY! You have convinced me. I will definitely go back to drinking coffee first thing. I really need a higher tolerance for reading the news without screaming, as every day the news gets worse and worse.
Regarding the corrupt illegitimate super majority of SCOTUS, if they are truly "rebalancing" the system, they must have a far right executive branch candidate in mind. The mango Mussolini gets more deranged by the day, and even they must see the writing on the wall, despite their having absolutely no moral compass. I am ready for the next No Kings Day, and I sure hope it is a HUGE one!
The so-called "Unitary Presidency," also called a dictatorship. IMHO, our Republic died the day the corrupt, illegitimate Supreme Court gave Trump immunity.
Unconstitutional and dangerous covers literally every Trump policy. Kushner & Witkoff look like the inexperienced negotiators they are, while the world witnesses Putin’s manipulation. Please tell me Olivia, where will this end? Might need to join the nuns who are doing an end run around the Church!
Yes, coffee in the morning. Of course it's good for us, how could it not be? In these really messe up times, we need the little things to keep us going...and I think the nuns. Yes, indeed!
Olivia, you write on serious matters. My response is usually fueled by fear and outrage at what this administration is doing. But today, your story about the nuns in the run has inspired me with a different type of response.
Hear me out…
We know Trump is not mentally fit and he craves validation and admiration. So let’s use AI bots to deal with him. Build a fake Oval Office and surround him with monitors where AI congressmen, senators, judges etc agree with him and tell him he’s the best.
Liked, restacked & shared to Bluesky (as always). Apparently you followed me, here on Substack - but of course it was an imposter, so reported and blocked. Don't know why I have been targeted by so many imposters - I am not an original content creator, so why would top tier creators, such as yourself, follow me? I do not have access to fresh content! Bizarre, but at least five imposters have "followed" me...
The policy behind Congress "handing off" authority to agencies is to better serve the people. It is impossible and unworkable for Congress to write laws that handle every single possibility regarding technical, scientific and complex business activities with potential to harm the public. The point is the public is better served by an independent cadre of professional public servants ethically bound to serve the everyday citizens of this country. Congress passes a law creating the agencies, setting the boundaries of its jurisdiction and delegating a portion of its law-making jurisdiction to write rules and regulations to protect the public. Congress, not the president, can revamp or shutter these agencies based on legislative debate and compromise. Debate and compromise is how the varied interests and needs of the nation are represented. When Congress is shut out, it means the public's representation is removed.
The Administrative Procedures Act gives both the regulated industries and the public potentially harmed by those industries a right to provide their insight into the potential impacts to both the industry and the harms to the public from that industry.
So, in consideration of the above policy, to whom is the S.Ct. referring when it says it wants to create "accountability"? The New Deal framework we have makes agencies accountable to the public via Congress and via the Administrative Procedures Act. I smell a rat here.
It looks like the S.Ct. conservatives want to put accountability into the hands of the president. The reason we don't leave one politician (which is what a president is, he is not a king) in charge of agencies is because of the moral hazard we see in action at this very moment.
Agencies only purpose is to be the champions of the people. Is the FDA currently championing the people under RFK? Is the Consumer Protection Bureau currently championing the people? You get the gist here. Given how the S.Ct has eroded civil service protections, allowed DOGE to run roughshod over SS and Medicare, I do not take their "accountability" argument seriously.
It is not made in good faith. It is made in order to re-define the "public good" as "It is good to be king". From the moment FDR and the New Deal Democrats began re-defining the public good to be what is good for the public instead of what is good for Robber Barons, the Robber Barons have been working to dismantle the New Deal. They see their chance to go in for the kill by overturning the Humphrey's Executor case.
Are some regulations unnecessary? Are some regulations unworkable? Are some regulations inefficient and in need of refining? YES! Can we fix all that without throwing it all out the window? YES. This is the rhetorical framework missing from the news on these cases. The sorry state of public reporting is selling the public down the river. No one is explaining to the public that it does not have to be the way Republicans and their S.Ct. Rasputins are making it out to be.
In light of the fact that Agencies solve the problem of the inability in today's modern world of writing a law that will address and solve dynamic problems without creating more problems, that Congress represents the will of the people, and the president has a massive conflict of interest, i.e. absolute power corrupts absolutely, I submit that the S.Ct. conservatives are willfully and disastrously wrong about making Agencies accountable to the president rather than the public.
I segued from morning coffee to strong black tea about a decade ago. Hoping the caffeine is the relevant ingredient!
It’s appalling that our president is so deeply broken that he requires these gestures of bogus adulation. Like his cabinet meetings. Surreal and bizarre.
My commentary theme today: there is a surfeit of unbelievable happenings in America to choose from, that it must be difficult to decide which ones are worthy of your Saturday posts. My deepest anxiety is caused by not knowing what the tipping point will be for the toppling to occur, because it seems there is no bottom. Are you hearing from former colleagues that there are cracks appearing in their wall of support? Thanks Olivia. 🇨🇦
Your photo of Ringo and Stevie put a smile on my face. Thank you for including them in today’s Saturday Morning Covfefe!
Hi Olivia! Great post. With all the craziness going in in our world, this is the news I most needed to hear today:
Morning. Coffee. Drinkers. Live. Longer.
Thank you! Whew. So happy and relieved as I sip my third cup of the morning. 😅
The adorable photo of Ringo and Stevie on snow day comes in a close second!
Olivia, another great piece on a Saturday morning. As a fellow soccer fan, I am appalled by the WC controversy. Infintino is so corrupt around the world:
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/05/the-world-games-washington-problem-00677204
Serie A is one of the most corrupt leagues in the world. Basically, grifters and sycophants stick together.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=infintino+corruptness&mid=2EE211A236DD927663E02EE211A236DD927663E0&FORM=VIRE
Thank you!
It's so upsetting! I hate everything that's happening with the World Cup and the league.
Indeed, and you really drove the point home in your interview - something that is supposed to be a worldwide joyous occasion has been politicized even more in the United States. The Administration has allowed the soccer corruptness to infiltrate this country. No one really cares about this award as most people see it for what it is, as he tries to 'one up" Obama's NPP. Honestly, I for one wish the games were moved out of this country. Mark my word, if ICE terrorizes international fans the USA will not see another WC hosting in our lifetime
OKAY! You have convinced me. I will definitely go back to drinking coffee first thing. I really need a higher tolerance for reading the news without screaming, as every day the news gets worse and worse.
Regarding the corrupt illegitimate super majority of SCOTUS, if they are truly "rebalancing" the system, they must have a far right executive branch candidate in mind. The mango Mussolini gets more deranged by the day, and even they must see the writing on the wall, despite their having absolutely no moral compass. I am ready for the next No Kings Day, and I sure hope it is a HUGE one!
The so-called "Unitary Presidency," also called a dictatorship. IMHO, our Republic died the day the corrupt, illegitimate Supreme Court gave Trump immunity.
Unconstitutional and dangerous covers literally every Trump policy. Kushner & Witkoff look like the inexperienced negotiators they are, while the world witnesses Putin’s manipulation. Please tell me Olivia, where will this end? Might need to join the nuns who are doing an end run around the Church!
Thank you these Saturday morning reads.
I don't drink coffee. Does tea have the same affect? lol
I’m sipping my coffee now! 💜🕺🏼
My rescued Sheltie Bennie and rescued Border Collie Skye bark "Hi" to Ringo and Stevie!
Those pups are so appropriately named! Love it,
Yes, coffee in the morning. Of course it's good for us, how could it not be? In these really messe up times, we need the little things to keep us going...and I think the nuns. Yes, indeed!
"For the sake of our national security and our moral standing, Pete Hegseth should be fired or resign."
And prosecuted.
Looking good Ringo and Stevie!
Olivia, you write on serious matters. My response is usually fueled by fear and outrage at what this administration is doing. But today, your story about the nuns in the run has inspired me with a different type of response.
Hear me out…
We know Trump is not mentally fit and he craves validation and admiration. So let’s use AI bots to deal with him. Build a fake Oval Office and surround him with monitors where AI congressmen, senators, judges etc agree with him and tell him he’s the best.
What do you think?
Liked, restacked & shared to Bluesky (as always). Apparently you followed me, here on Substack - but of course it was an imposter, so reported and blocked. Don't know why I have been targeted by so many imposters - I am not an original content creator, so why would top tier creators, such as yourself, follow me? I do not have access to fresh content! Bizarre, but at least five imposters have "followed" me...
The policy behind Congress "handing off" authority to agencies is to better serve the people. It is impossible and unworkable for Congress to write laws that handle every single possibility regarding technical, scientific and complex business activities with potential to harm the public. The point is the public is better served by an independent cadre of professional public servants ethically bound to serve the everyday citizens of this country. Congress passes a law creating the agencies, setting the boundaries of its jurisdiction and delegating a portion of its law-making jurisdiction to write rules and regulations to protect the public. Congress, not the president, can revamp or shutter these agencies based on legislative debate and compromise. Debate and compromise is how the varied interests and needs of the nation are represented. When Congress is shut out, it means the public's representation is removed.
The Administrative Procedures Act gives both the regulated industries and the public potentially harmed by those industries a right to provide their insight into the potential impacts to both the industry and the harms to the public from that industry.
So, in consideration of the above policy, to whom is the S.Ct. referring when it says it wants to create "accountability"? The New Deal framework we have makes agencies accountable to the public via Congress and via the Administrative Procedures Act. I smell a rat here.
It looks like the S.Ct. conservatives want to put accountability into the hands of the president. The reason we don't leave one politician (which is what a president is, he is not a king) in charge of agencies is because of the moral hazard we see in action at this very moment.
Agencies only purpose is to be the champions of the people. Is the FDA currently championing the people under RFK? Is the Consumer Protection Bureau currently championing the people? You get the gist here. Given how the S.Ct has eroded civil service protections, allowed DOGE to run roughshod over SS and Medicare, I do not take their "accountability" argument seriously.
It is not made in good faith. It is made in order to re-define the "public good" as "It is good to be king". From the moment FDR and the New Deal Democrats began re-defining the public good to be what is good for the public instead of what is good for Robber Barons, the Robber Barons have been working to dismantle the New Deal. They see their chance to go in for the kill by overturning the Humphrey's Executor case.
Are some regulations unnecessary? Are some regulations unworkable? Are some regulations inefficient and in need of refining? YES! Can we fix all that without throwing it all out the window? YES. This is the rhetorical framework missing from the news on these cases. The sorry state of public reporting is selling the public down the river. No one is explaining to the public that it does not have to be the way Republicans and their S.Ct. Rasputins are making it out to be.
In light of the fact that Agencies solve the problem of the inability in today's modern world of writing a law that will address and solve dynamic problems without creating more problems, that Congress represents the will of the people, and the president has a massive conflict of interest, i.e. absolute power corrupts absolutely, I submit that the S.Ct. conservatives are willfully and disastrously wrong about making Agencies accountable to the president rather than the public.
I segued from morning coffee to strong black tea about a decade ago. Hoping the caffeine is the relevant ingredient!
It’s appalling that our president is so deeply broken that he requires these gestures of bogus adulation. Like his cabinet meetings. Surreal and bizarre.
My commentary theme today: there is a surfeit of unbelievable happenings in America to choose from, that it must be difficult to decide which ones are worthy of your Saturday posts. My deepest anxiety is caused by not knowing what the tipping point will be for the toppling to occur, because it seems there is no bottom. Are you hearing from former colleagues that there are cracks appearing in their wall of support? Thanks Olivia. 🇨🇦