assholery

The Huffington Post reports: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) made two false calls for emergency help from U.S. Capitol Police last week ― just to see how long it would take for officers to arrive, according to two Capitol Police officers. Fortenberry told Capitol Police he wanted to test the duress button in his office, which signals an emergency situation. It …

The Insider reports: California Rep. Maxine Waters erupted at Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan on Thursday while the Republican lawmaker was berating Dr. Anthony Fauci during a House subcommittee hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. Jordan has frequently made headlines for his loaded, and often misleading, criticisms of Fauci, who is the US’s top infectious disease expert. Waters intervened on Thursday as …

The New York Daily News report: A self-proclaimed “incel” YouTuber who previously grabbed headlines for climbing the Queensboro Bridge was arrested Wednesday for making a bomb threat at a Manhattan restaurant, authorities announced. Malik Sanchez, known online as “Smooth Sanchez,” walked into an outdoor seating area in the Flatiron on Feb. 13 and announced the hoax threat, prosecutors said. He …

Minneapolis’s CBS News affiliate reports: A Minnesota man refuses to take down a “Trump 2020” flag that’s in violation of city ordinance. Jay Johnson is flying the custom-made flag on a crane at his construction business in Buffalo. He says he took down the flag, which measures 50 feet by 30 feet, after the election — but decided to put …

The Huffington Post reports: Amid a raging upsurge in attacks on Asian Americans, former Arkansas Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee posted an outrageously dismissive, mocking tweet about people of Chinese ancestry in America. Huckabee appeared to be mocking a connection between opposition to racist hate and concerns about vote suppression in Georgia and free speech criticism against it. Both Coca-Cola and …

The Atlantic City Press reports: Atilis Gym owner Ian Smith, who infamously defied the state’s COVID-19 restrictions last year, may begin incentivizing vaccination refusal at his business. Smith tweeted Tuesday that the gym in Bellmawr, Camden County, will give out free memberships to anyone who doesn’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The offer, according to the tweet, is a counter to …

CNBC reports: In a fiery exchange during a Senate hearing examining the nation’s coronavirus response efforts, Paul told Fauci that Americans shouldn’t have to wear masks after getting vaccinated because there is “virtually 0% chance” they are going to get Covid-19. “Isn’t it just theater?” the Kentucky junior senator, an ophthalmologist, asked during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions …

“We were almost rattled. Then we realized if the woke generals treat us like they’ve treated the Taliban, we’ll be fine. “Twenty years later, the Taliban are still here. Maybe we ought to promise the Pentagon that we’ll get rid of traditional gender roles on this show. “Change the pronouns, defeat the patriarchy, and all that.” – Tucker Carlson, responding …

CNN reports: In an extraordinary rebuke, the Pentagon and several senior members of the US military called out Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Thursday for a sexist segment in which he mocked women serving in the armed forces. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shared the same “revulsion” that many …

Click Orlando reports: Robert Burck, 50, who’s better known for wearing nothing but underwear, cowboy boots and a hat as he plays his guitar at Times Square in New York City, was taken into custody Saturday on a panhandling charge during Daytona Beach’s Bike Week. “So the blacks can walk around and take tips all day long?” Burck said in …

Axios reports: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is forcing the Senate clerk to read the entire 628-page bill on the floor, a procedural move that will likely add 10 hours to the 20 hours already allotted for debate. During that time, Republicans will propose amendments — some unrelated to COVID relief — intended to force uncomfortable votes for Democrats, in a …

The Hill reports: Merrick Garland’s attorney general nomination is hitting GOP roadblocks that will likely delay his confirmation to lead the Justice Department until next week. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) — a member of the Judiciary Committee viewed as a potential 2024 contender — said on Wednesday that he is blocking an effort by Democrats to expedite Garland, whom they …

“This is what politicians do, they live in a world where they work a room. You go in there, you backslap, you handshake, you hug, you kiss and people come up to them, and they do the same thing to them, their fans. They say I love you, governor, you’re the best. “So, you get this familiarity with this closeness …

The Hill reports: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a staunch Trump ally and fiery fiscal conservative, has told colleagues that he plans to force the Senate clerks to read aloud the entire $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill on the Senate floor, which could slow it down by as much as 10 hours. Democrats on Wednesday were grumbling over the prospect of having …

The New York Post reports: Sen. Ted Cruz joked about his trip to Cancun amid a crisis-level storm in Texas last week, which brought frigid temperatures, widespread power outages and burst pipes that flooded homes. Speaking Friday morning at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Cruz (R-Texas) made the remarks while kicking off his speech. “God bless CPAC,” the Texas …

The Insider reports: Speaking on Fox News on Thursday, Trump said that more Republicans were not willing to stand up to Democrats and needed to act like the former president. “The Republicans aren’t willing to do it. They have shown that over the decades,” he said in an interview with host Sean Hannity. He continued: “They’d just rather lose gracefully, …

New York City’s CW affiliate reports: A man carrying a “Trump 2024” flag was tackled by an ice skater at Wollman Rink in Central Park over the weekend, video of the incident shows. The crowd of ice skaters booed the man, who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, as he skated on the ice holding the flag, the …

Yahoo News reports: Newsmax host Greg Kelly and a guest on his show on Friday went after the appearance of President Joe Biden’s dog, Champ, prompting a wave of criticism and ridicule on Twitter. Kelly said that Champ, a German Shepherd, looks like he’s “from the junkyard.” “Did you see the dog? I wanted to show you something I noticed. …

Bakersfield’s ABC News affiliate reports: The group came into a Trader Joe’s over the weekend and ignored calls from store employees to leave. They say they have the right to shop freely at a business open to the public without wearing masks, but Santa Cruz PD says that’s not the case. They say private stores can refuse service. The video …

“I don’t believe in a stimulus check. Because if $600 or $1400 changes your life, you were pretty much screwed already. You’ve got other issues going on. “You have a career problem, you have a debt problem, you have a relationship problem, or a mental health problem. “Something else is going on if $600 changes your life.” – Right wing …