And\u00a0culturally they are the losers they have always been. The great majority of Americans prefer joy, talent and DEI \u2014\u00a0who knew? (yes, we knew!) \u00a0\u2014\u00a0over hateful, untalented exclusionary \u201cartists\u201d. The estimated viewership of Bad Bunny\u2019s halftime show is 135-\u00a0142 million<\/a>, while the Alt American thing drew between 5-\u00a06.1 million<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Existential crisis’ hits MAGA as Super Bowl show leaves Trump scrambling: analysis<\/a>, Ewan Gleadow, Raw Story, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201ca stress test MAGA may not survive\u201d<\/p>\n (Christopher Bucktin, writing in The Mirror<\/a>) wrote, “For most viewers, Bad Bunny\u2019s show was exactly what the Super Bowl has long claimed to celebrate \u2014 scale, swagger and culture. For MAGA, it was an existential crisis. Spanish lyrics. Brown bodies. Dancing that didn\u2019t look like it came from an Arkansas country bar in 1987. Clearly, civilization was under threat.”\u2702\ufe0f<\/p>\n “MAGA\u2019s solution, as ever, was to retreat into a parallel reality. Rather than engage with the halftime show the rest of the world was watching, Trump-aligned groups promoted an \u201calternative\u201d performance headlined by Kid Rock \u2014 marketed as a wholesome, values-driven counterweight to the NFL\u2019s spectacle.”<\/p>\n Bucktin also noted Trump<\/a> had abandoned the MAGA showcase Kid Rock had put on and instead voiced his distaste for the Super Bowl halftime show.<\/p>\n He wrote, “Even Trump, a man famous for inflating crowd sizes, didn\u2019t bother watching. Instead, he tuned in to Bad Bunny<\/a> like everyone else, before angrily informing the world that he hated every second of it…\u201d<\/p>\n MAGA ideology is losing across the country and their political leaders are losing it, too. Read on!<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude29 Republicans in Disarray \ud83d\ude21<\/p>\n Senate Republicans face civil war over filibuster: ‘We’d be schmucks to sit here!’<\/a>, Matthew Chapman, Raw Story, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n Senate Republicans are increasingly at each other’s throats over whether to change the filibuster rule to ram through bill<\/a> that would mandate new voting restrictions nationwide and require proof of citizenship to register to vote.<\/p>\n A loud contingent of the party is increasingly convinced that Republicans should simply axe the practice, which allows any senator to object indefinitely to debate on a bill and effectively requires a 60-vote supermajority for any legislation that doesn’t fit into a few narrow carved-out exceptions. Analysts have long suggested that the filibuster makes policymaking in general much more difficult<\/a>, and disproportionately constrains Democrats’ agenda more than Republicans’<\/a>.\u2702\ufe0f<\/p>\n Democrats debated scrapping the filibuster the last time they had complete control of Congress, but did not have the votes to do so, with the most vocal opposition coming from then-Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Both have since left Congress.<\/p>\n According to Bobic, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), another outgoing senator who has become more outspoken against certain Trump<\/a>administration policies, is adamant that the situation has not changed with Republicans in charge \u2014 and despite Johnson’s frustration, Republicans do not have the votes to change the filibuster either.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n x<\/p>\n Sen. Cynthia Lummis keeps a fairly low profile but on Jan 6 she was one of only 8 Senators to vote against certifying electoral votes. And her phone records were then subpoenaed in the Jan 6 investigation for very good reason. It’s big for her to break with Trump now. [image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 capitolhunters (@capitolhunters.bsky.social<\/a>) February 9, 2026 at 10:22 PM<\/a><\/p>\n Trump Team Lashes Out at MAGA-Curious CBS Boss<\/a>, Laura Esposito, Daily Beast, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n CBS News\u2019 new, controversial editor-in-chief is at odds with the MAGA world she was reportedly hired to placate.<\/p>\n The Trump administration lashed out at the network and its MAGA-friendly boss, Bari Weiss, <\/a>branding CBS reporting \u201cfake news\u201d after Weiss publicly questioned the administration\u2019s hostile immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n Weiss, 41, promoted a CBS News report<\/a> on X on Monday revealing that just 14 percent of those arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Donald Trump\u2019s first year back in office had violent criminal records.<\/p>\n \u201cMy party is taking up for pedophiles\u201d: Massie explains split with MAGA<\/a>, Trump, Alex Galbraith, Salon, February 8, 2026.<\/p>\n Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie<\/a> has been persona non grata in MAGA<\/a> circles since he co-sponsored the bill that forced the release of the Department of Justice<\/a> files on late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>. The regular target of Donald Trump<\/a> and his allies explained \u00a0the growing rift between himself and the president during a stop by CNN<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n Massie touted his Republican bona fides in an interview with \u201cInside Politics\u201d host Manu Raju, saying he votes the party line the overwhelming majority of the time. He\u2019s broken with the president on foreign policy and the Epstein controversy, and that\u2019s been enough for Trump to put a target on his back. The president has encouraged his supporters to vote for Massie\u2019s primary opponent ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.<\/p>\n \u201cI vote with the president 91% of the time. The 9% of the time my party is taking up for pedophiles, bankrupting this country or starting another war, I don\u2019t vote with them,\u201d Massie said. \u201cThey want 100% compliance. That\u2019s why they\u2019re trying to take me out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrump-hating degenerate\u201d: Steve Bannon faces conservative wrath over Epstein ties<\/a>, Garrett Owen, Salon, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n Former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon<\/a> has found himself the target of intense criticism from fellow conservatives and MAGA<\/a> influencers over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bannon appears frequently in the Epstein files<\/a>. Hundreds of emails and texts<\/a>revealed in the recent document drops detail their relationship. Numerous photos<\/a> show Bannon and Epstein together. Several files<\/a> show that Bannon was taking advice from Epstein on political matters, as Epstein was working with Bannon to \u201crebuild\u201d his own public image as \u201ca philanthropist.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83e\udeb1 \u00a0Worms are Turning \u00a0\ud83e\udeb1<\/p>\n Ford Defies Trump After Worker Heckled President<\/a>,\u00a0<\/p>\n Ford has refused to fire the factory worker who heckled President Donald Trump<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n Thomas \u201cTJ\u201d Sabula, 40, was suspended after calling Trump a \u201cpedophile protector,\u201d but United Auto Workers Vice President Laura Dickerson says the 40-year-old is back working and does not have a negative mark on his personnel file.<\/p>\n Cameras captured Trump, 79, responding to the heckle by flipping Sabula off at a plant in Dearborn, Michigan, and saying, \u201cF–k you.\u201d Dickerson said that the president also told the auto worker, \u201cYou\u2019re fired.\u201d\u2702\ufe0f<\/p>\n Dickerson added of Trump\u2019s visit to an F-150 plant, \u201cThere was a worker at that plant that day who famously told Mr Trump exactly what he thought of him. Unfortunately, in that moment, we saw what the current president really thinks about working people and the way he responded\u2014he gave us the middle finger.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcad \ud83e\udd14 Something\u00a0to think about\u00a0\ud83e\udd14\ud83d\udcad<\/p>\n I ran out of time to complete a proper \u201cto your good health\u201d section this week, so I removed the incomplete section to beef up for next time. In its place this week, I\u2019m putting in these three brief videos for you to mull over.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc29 \ud83d\udc99 CG\u2019s Picks \ud83d\udc99 \ud83d\udc29\u00a0<\/p>\n Hello Everybody! It\u2019s me, Curlygirly! Did you watch the superball game last weekend? We did and it was quite a game! At one point me and Mama wondered if there had ever been a super football game that was won with no touchdowns! The winning team had 4 field goals and no TDs for awhile! \u00a0<\/p>\n Anyway it was fun and the best part was the halftime show. Although I am a little bit confused about where was the bunny? \ud83d\udc07 I was told there would be a bunny performing! Instead there was a cool man doing rap and hip hop and singing\u00a0and there were loads of people dancing and doing fun things. I liked it, especially the end with all the flags and the big sign about the power of love!<\/p>\n So, to make a long story short, I was busy this past weekend but I did manage to find a few nice stories for you \u2014\u00a0mostly videos!<\/p>\n First, TWO stories about dogs and cats who are friends. I really like these.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc15\ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b Stray cat follows dog and inspires something good<\/p>\n Here is a video about a stray cat who is stuck like glue to a little white dog every time the dog and his owner try to go for a walk. The human starts to try to provide some comforts for the cat as winter comes, and eventually she brings the cat indoors, even though she doesn\u2019t know anything about cats.<\/p>\n Luckily, the little white dog is very helpful, as dogs usually are, and they resume their friendship.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the lady who now has them both as her pet companions decided to try to help other stray cats. She started a TNR program in her community. That\u2019s a thing where people capture stray cats and neuter them before returning them to their neighborhoods.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc15 \ud83d\udc08\u00a0Mom Cat Shows Her Kittens The German Shepherd Is Safe<\/p>\n And here is the second story about a cat and a dog who are friends. I have shown a video featuring this German Shepherd Dog before. He seems especially gentle with cats and kittens! This video is just a fluffball delight!<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd89\ud83d\udc27 Bird stories! \ud83d\udc27\ud83e\udd89<\/p>\n Just look at this amazing video of a man walking in the woods with his brother and they spy an owl and they want to take a picture of it, but then they notice the owl is STUCK, tangled up in some fishing line or something! So they help the owl get untangled and the man is very gentle and the owl just stays really calm and just blinks like we dogs do to send calming signals. What a thing to capture on video (and yes the owl is OK in the end!)<\/p>\n Two Canadian brothers, Mike and Brian Hay, came across this owl. At first, they walked over to take a photo, but quickly realized the bird was in trouble and needed help. Without hesitation, they kicked off their boots and stepped into the cold water to rescue the poor thing. The beautiful owl stays calm, watching them closely, as if it understands they\u2019re there to help \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc27 These photographers were taking pictures of penguins and then one of the guys realized that a penguin was coming right up by him! He is almost afraid to move a muscle! It\u2019s fantastic!<\/p>\n Also, I was kind of surprised at how small the penguin was! I thought they were as big as humans or at least half as big! Mama thought so too! We had to laugh because we should have known \u2014\u00a0after all, people are always surprised at how tiny puffins are, too (but we DID already know that! \ud83d\ude05).<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc15 Dog Video! \ud83d\udc15\u200d\ud83e\uddba<\/p>\n Last, but not least \u2014\u00a0the top dogs of the week video! And that\u2019s all I have for today. Thanks for reading my section! Bye for now, Luv CG \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc3e<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f Lightning RoundUp \u26a1\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\u00a0How Worried Should Democrats Be About Trump Stealing the Next Election?<\/a> Bill Scher, Washington Monthly, February 6, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cBe vigilant, be imaginative, but also remember that everything Trump is doing to impose restrictive voting measures is backfiring on Republicans, just like his previous efforts. \u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\u00a0Republican Frostbite<\/a>, Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cDefense of ICE has become a political loser, and the deal to trade reforms for continued funding is off the table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\u00a05 glaring warning signs for Republicans in this year’s midterm elections<\/a>, Domenico Montanaro, NPR, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cDemocrats’ hopes for taking over the House are more likely by the day, while the Senate remains a longer shot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\u00a0The Trump Bubble Is Impregnable for Now\u2014but Boy, Is It Going to Burst<\/a>, Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201dThe Trump bubble will burst, and it\u2019ll be like the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments, crashing down on Pharoah\u2019s head. Until then\u2014patience. And rage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\u00a0The Hilarious Decline of MAGA\u2019s Brief Cultural Relevance<\/a>, Alex Shepherd, The New Republic, February 7, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201dA year ago, everyone was doing the \u201cTrump dance.\u201d Now the president is too scared to show his face at the Super Bowl, and the right\u2019s \u201calternative\u201d halftime show features the cringey, washed-up Kid Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\u00a0Does America Really Want to Pick a Fight With Greenland?<\/a> Ken Harbaugh, the Atlantic, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cRemote, frigid, desolate, and armed to the teeth: Greenland isn\u2019t planning on submitting to Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\ud83c\udfa7\u00a0American Conversations: Senator Ron Wyden<\/a>, Heather Cox Richardson, YouTube, February 9, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s about accountability. It’s about ensuring that the American people get\u00a0the facts. I’m going to make sure we stay at it until everything comes out blue, red, whatever. And then we’re going to have a reform plan so that the banks in America, the Wall Street banks can never look the other way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\ud83c\udfa7\u00a0James Carville: Trump is About to Get the Ass-Whippin’ of His Life<\/a>, James Carville, February 8, 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ass-whippin\u2019 that is coming is going to be complete and it\u2019s going to be total…because the country hates you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\ud83c\udfa7\u00a0The Military\u2019s Silent Rebellion (w\/ Kori Schake) | Shield of the Republic<\/a>, The Bulwark, February 8, 2026.<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\ud83c\udfa7\u00a0Epstein Isn\u2019t an Aberration. He\u2019s an Inevitable Outcome – Barry’s Economics<\/a>, Barry\u2019s Economics (YouTube), February 8, 2026.<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0f\ud83c\udfa7\u00a0What do we do with exMaga? My first question is what are they doing with themselves?<\/a> Knitting Cult Lady, February 8, 2026.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea7 \ud83e\ude77 How Can You Help Build a Better World?\u2763\ufe0f<\/p>\n I am close to some people who are walking the walk here in Chicagoland \u2014 people helping their neighbors however they can \u2014 and here is what some of them told me the approach for ordinary people like us who care about justice and liberty boils down to:<\/p>\n Three steps for effective individual activism:<\/p>\n 1. Find something you can do consistently in your community or neighborhood (join your block group, be a grocery deliverer, or a school watcher)<\/p>\n 2. Pick a mutual aid cause you can contribute to outside your community (bail fund for protestors, supply fund, immigration rights funds etc) and<\/p>\n 3. Badger the fucking feds daily (calling reps every day, postcards, supporting candidates in the upcoming elections with phone banking, etc)<\/p>\n YOU WILL FIND LINKS BELOW TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU HELP OTHERS, ORGANIZE, OR WHO DO THE WORK YOU WANT TO SUPPORT \u2b07\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u27a1\ufe0f Specifically for Minnesota, here is a website that looks like it has rounded up a lot of resources to which you can contribute, or to whom you can turn for assistance: Stand with Minnesota<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa9 \u00a0GOODNEWSROUNDUP:<\/p>\n There are many ways to get involved. \u00a0Everyone can find something that works for them.<\/p>\n Here are some ideas. \u00a0<\/p>\n If you can, I strongly recommend going to an in person meeting in your area. \u00a0<\/p>\n One way is through indivisible: \u00a0\u00a0INDIVISIBLE<\/a><\/p>\n \tElection Response Center is a project hosted by Working Families Party, MoveOn Civic Action, Indivisible, and Public Citizen. \u00a0They are organizing lots of events to get people fighting. \u00a0Join one at this link<\/a><\/p>\n The ACLU plays a key role in filing lawsuits that often stop voter suppression. \u00a0Get involved with them at this link: \u00a0\u00a0ACLU<\/a><\/p>\n Get involved with the Democratic party. \u00a0We aren\u2019t perfect, but they are fucking evil. The Democratic Party<\/a><\/p>\n Get involved with the States Project. They are working on turning state legislatures blue. \u00a0The\u00a0States Project<\/a><\/p>\n \tGet involved with Swing Left.<\/a> \u00a0They are working on races right now! Other Things You Can Do<\/p>\n \u203c\ufe0f Check your voter registration<\/a> \u203c\ufe0f \u2190 Seems obvious, but super important.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf0 \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NEWS SOURCES!! \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f \ud83d\udcf0<\/p>\n If you are able to at all, lend your financial support to local newspapers, PBS and NPR stations and community newsletters.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa PBS<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udce1 NPR<\/a><\/p>\n \n\ud83d\udcde Call your Congress critters and register your concerns!\n<\/p>\n (202) 224-3121 is the main switchboard number for Congress. They will ask for your city and state or your zip code and connect you with your representatives. It\u2019s easy and it does make a difference.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcde\u2757\ufe0f OR, check out 5Calls<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcea Write postcards to help Democratic candidates and progressive judges get elected: Postcards to Voters<\/a><\/p>\n Newsie Progressive Muse usually posts an update in comments each day letting us know what PTV campaigns are currently happening.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8\u2757\ufe0fNew\u2757\ufe0f\ud83d\udea8 Here is a 123 page guide to ways that we can act to counter political violence:<\/p>\n HOPE: HARNESSING OUR POWER TO END POLITICAL VIOLENCE<\/a><\/p>\n Boycott the regime funders<\/p>\n 3\ufe0f\u20e3 Check out Third Act Actions<\/a> page \u2014 there might be something there that you can do.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcb5 Donate \ud83d\udcb3<\/p>\n \u2757\ufe0f New \u2757\ufe0f bilboteach has set up a donation page for Democrats running for the Senate:<\/p>\n
docs.google.com\/spreadsheets…<\/p>\n
\n\tPeople For the American Way is a national progressive advocacy organization that inspires and mobilizes Americans to defend freedom, justice, and democracy from those who threaten to take them away. Get involved with them here:\u00a0People For the American Way<\/a>
\n\tCenter for American Progress Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan policy institute and advocacy organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. \u00a0Get involved with them here:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Center for American Progress (CAP).<\/a><\/p>\n![\"IMG_4080.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_4080.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4080.jpg\\"\/")
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