By Jon Bauer / Herald Opinion Editor
President Trump, in an interview last week with NBC News insisted that “I’m not joking,” when he confirmed he hadn’t ruled out the possibility of running for a third term.
While, the president isn’t joking, we still are; in other allegedly humorous thoughts this week:
Third term’s alarm: Pressed on the matter, Trump said, regardless of the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment provision allowing presidents no more than two terms, “there are methods which you could do it.”
True enough; an amendment to the Constitution is possible, but two thirds of the U.S. Senate and House must approve and three-fourths of state legislatures must ratify the amendment, which could take awhile. Trump will be on his fifth term of office before that happens.
Come on, Opus; pay up: Among the global and record-high tariffs imposed this week by President Trump were levies against Australian territorial islands near Antarctica that are uninhabited, except for penguins.
We understand Trump wants to maximize every opportunity for tariff revenue, but you’re not going to get much from a 10 percent tariff on tins of Gorton’s Regurgitated Herring that the penguins import to the United States.
The penguins would like a word, Mr. President: President Trump, contradicting his own trade officials and earlier talking points that the tariffs were final and not a starting point for trade negotiations, told reporters on Air Force One that he would be open to striking deals with individual countries.“The tariffs give us great power to negotiate. They always have,” Trump said.
So, how much of a tariff is charged on flip-flops and waffles?
But his emails: Fresh off the Signalgate scandal, Michael Waltz, President Trump’s national security adviser, and others on his staff have reportedly conducted government business over personal Gmail accounts, an even less secure communication network than the Signal app, rather than approved systems that are secure and encrypted. Some communications reportedly involved sensitive military positions and weapons systems involved in an ongoing but unnamed conflict. Waltz was the security individual who unwittingly invited The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to participate in a Signal group chat about a U.S. attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen last month, claiming that Goldberg’s number somehow got “sucked in” to his phone’s contacts.
Waltz also denied use of the Gmail account, arguing that his only personal account uses the address: BigMike6969@hotmail.com.
Unauthorized movement on the backfield: NFL owners have delayed a vote on a proposal to ban the “tush push,” a play made popular by the Philadelphia Eagles that involves the quarterback taking a snap from the center, then being pushed from behind — on the behind — by teammates in a rugby-like scrum to gain a first down or touchdown.
Knowing how sensitive some state lawmakers are regarding certain body parts — see last week’s Buzz — we assume that if the NFL doesn’t ban the tush push, Idaho will.
Elon must have a hole in his head, and it’s not the cheesehead hat: Special Government Employee™ Elon Musk spent upward of $25 million in Wisconsin — including handing out $1 million checks to two voters while wearing a cheesehead hat — regarding the election there for a new state supreme court justice. Musk backed a conservative judge in an election he said was “going to affect the entire destiny of humanity.” The candidate Musk backed lost by 10 points, preserving a 4-3 liberal majority on the court. Opposition to Musk’s campaigning is credited with fueling voter turnout, and perhaps against his candidate.
If you’re one of those who shelled out $100,000 for one of Tesla’s Cybertrucks, which have now been recalled eight times — compared to Musk dropping $25 million for a failed state candidate — you’re a financial genius.
Keep the hat as a parting gift, Elon: There are now whispers among Trump’s inner circle that Musk may end his Special Government Employment™, even before the scheduled conclusion of his assignment. Some among Trump’s advisers now view Musk as a liability, noting the growing unpopularity of the cuts made under his DOGE team and the poor outcome in Wisconsin. Add that to his tanking Tesla stock. down more than 30 percent since early this year.
We caught ourselves before it got too far, but we were this close to feeling sorry for The Richest Man in the World™.
Email Jon Bauer at jon.bauer@heraldnet.com. Follow him on BlueSky at jontbauer@bsky.social.
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