Any insight on why the House Democrats blocked a bill that would continue the shutdown, but pay Federal Workers now? My assumption is they want Trump to cave, but using Federal workers paychecks seems a bit harsh.

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/425858-house-rejects-gop-measure-to-pay-workers-but-not-open-government

you can be sure that whoever Trump/Pence throw their support behind in Venezuela is the true dictator...

Not sure if this made it to Slog yet, but an episode of the 1950s teevee show Trackdown featured a con artist named Trump that comes to town and creates a social hysteria among the rubes to convince them to build a wall. You cannot make this crazy shit up:

“Narrator: The people were ready to believe. Like sheep they ran to the slaughterhouse. And waiting for them was the high priest of fraud.

Trump: I am the only one. Trust me. I can build a wall around your homes that nothing will penetrate.

Townperson: What do we do? How can we save ourselves?

Trump: You ask how do you build that wall. You ask, and I’m here to tell you.”

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trackdown-trump-character-wall/

Roger Stone had better get used to the early morning wake-up.

@4 Maybe that's why I've been feeling less like reality is real and that the US feels like we're being Truman Show'd.

First they came for the horse fuckers, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a horse fucker.

First they came for the dwarf tossers, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a dwarf tossers...

I look forward to reading Tump's unhinged Twitter tantrum about this new miscarriage of justice, despite never having any interactions with Stone, never coordinating with Stone or Wikileaks, never heard of him, who's Roger Stone anyway?

Conspiracy truth time: The treasonous Tdumpists know that Johnny Law is about to catch up with them and send them to the slammer for the rest of their miserable lives, so they’ve decided to destroy the US government via the shutdown, the ultimate insider attack.

Congressional Rapeuplinazis also want to destroy the US government because it ended prayer in schools and told the wimmins and blacks and hummuhsekshuls and Messicans that they’re fully equal under the law. That’s why the GOPnazis are on their knees with their asses in the air begging Prezinazi AntiChrist to pound them hard with his limp mushroom thimble.

It’s a smashing sucksess! For neo-Confederate traitors.

@10

1973 called, they're wondering if anyone has seen the cringe-inducing stylistic tics from their mimeographed leftist "humor" newsletters. Most of the words have simply vanished, there's nothing left on the pages but coupons for bulk wheat germ and those unsettling cartoons of naked women.

So maybe give 'em a call back, eh?

I'd be interested to try tossing OFF a dwarf sometime...

@10: Why entertain oneself over conspiracy theories when the truth is far more entertaining?

@8: LOL

Mr. Art of the Deal caves and Pelosi wins. Never send a man to do a woman's job. How is he gonna spin this as a huge win for himself when he doesn't have the votes in Congress to pass his campaign promises? Phony national security threat? Hilary Clinton's fault? Or maybe he can just go back to saying Mexico is cutting a check any day now.

@15: It is really more like punting the ball for another three weeks.

@16

You only punt when you know you can't make the yardage on the next play. Punting relinquishes possession to the opposition. And you can't fake the punt when you've already kicked the ball.