Seems relevant

 As he would with any thug, Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump not to use social media to promote violence in the wake of his criminal indictment yesterday.  But he failed to warn Junior, who immediately posted a photo of Loren Merchan, the judge's daughter, noting, "Seems relevant."  Ms. Merchan is president of Authentic Campaigns, which has raised money for progressive candidates including Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris.  According to Bolivia's Man of the Year, this means her father cannot be impartial about the case against Trump.  That and his "Trump-hating wife," one of many suddenly in the public eye.  I don't where they got the idea that all judges are controlled by their wives.  After all, he's not Clarence Thomas.

And now every gun-toting Trumpanzee knows what she looks like.  In addition to lawyers, this is a magical season for personal bodyguards.  Alvin Bragg and his family are awash in death threats seasoned with the unmistakable racism of the radical right, which kicked off with Trump calling him an "animal."  I daresay the social media feature more incendiary terms, but I'm not looking.  

So obsessed is Trump with his own calamities that he hasn't said a word about yesterday's two "radicaleft" victories in the heartland:  Brandon Johnson was elected mayor of Chicago and Janet Protasiewicz won her election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  Johnson defeated Paul Vallas, putatively a Democrat but actually the favorite of the Fraternal Order of Police; their president has predicted hundreds of police resignations and "blood in the streets."  Protasiewicz stomped Daniel Kelly, who graciously observed, "I wish that in a circumstance like this I would be able to concede to a worthy  opponent.  But I do not have a worthy opponent."  Wisconsin voters disagreed.  The court's liberal majority can now get busy dismantling the state's anti-abortion laws and outrageous gerrymandering, and with Trump's popularity soaring among his base, Republicans should practice not being sore losers.  Next year they'll be losing to a lot more women and Black people.  

Usually we don't do social notes but it seems the Rupert Murdoch-Ann Lesley Smith engagement is over.  Apparently she was too evangelical for him.  Although not a Catholic, Murdoch was made a Knight Commander of St. Gregory by Pope (now saint) John Paul II, for his generous love offerings to the church.  I guess he takes that as seriously as one can.  The award was urged by Archbishop Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, best known for covering up sexual abuse by priests.  It always comes full circle.  Now, who gets custody of the $2.5 million engagement ring?

This is the most sought-after invitation in the world, we're told, so why does it look like the guests are expected to dress like characters in an episode of "Brother Cadfael"?  Dr. Jill Biden will represent the United States.  Maypole dancing will follow the ceremony.  (Charles once said he wanted to be "defender of all faiths," so why not Wicca?  Seriously, that "defender of the faith" title should have been returned to the Vatican, which bestowed it on Henry VIII in the most ironic act of the 16th century.)

Lauren Boebert alert!  Public urination is a major problem -- in London.  That's a place in Europe, Congresswoman.  Lavs were closed during the pandemic and people -- mainly men -- formed the habit of weeing all over the place, even letter boxes.  It's everywhere now, from Glastonbury to Edinburgh, and some of the proposed solutions are brilliantly creative.  Maybe the Carolingian age will be better than anyone hopes.