The Devil finally takes Lindsay Graham; McConnell and Trump next?

If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 3, 2016

Cities, states grappling with cannabis dispensary oversaturation

Deeply blue cities Santa Fe, New Mexico and Missoula, Montana are about the same population. 

New Mexico's capital city ranks exceptionally high for cannabis retail density, with roughly 43 to 45 active licensed dispensaries serving a population of about 89,000 residents. This translates to an estimated 48 to 50 dispensaries per 100,000 residents, or roughly 1 shop for every 2,000 people. A year ago the NM cannabis excise tax reached 13% and will increase 1% each year until July 2030 when it will hit 18% as set in state statute. On Tuesday an interested party paid $65 in Santa Fe for an ounce of flower containing almost 31% THC as competition weeds out the weak. 

Missoula also maintains one of the highest concentrations of cannabis dispensaries per capita in the United States, peaking at a reported 30.7 dispensaries per 50,000 residents. State statistics confirm there are 54 active dispensaries operating within Missoula city limits so in February the city council mandated that any new dispensary be at least 1,000 feet away from another dispensary keeping additional location restrictions in place but assured existing dispensaries are grandfathered in under the new rules. Just recently, Missoula enacted a prohibition on new cannabis licenses to address a range of concerns while public health officials suggest the city should have no more than twelve dispensaries based on current population.

They've taken over former sandwich shops, coffee shops and other small retail outlets in nearly all corners of Missoula. [Missoula Current]

Signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek in March, 2024 after lawmakers passed House Bill 4121 Oregon established a strict, permanent population-based cap on new cannabis licenses or a maximum of one license per 7,500 residents.

Washington State has a 37% excise tax on cannabis sales so it is struggling to compete with a burgeoning black market.

Hegseth pastor says the LDS are non-christian polytheists

Pastor Doug Wilson, a christianic evangelical theologian who leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, explicitly states that he does not see members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as Christians. Wilson and his close ministry associates describe LDS doctrine as an unsound hybridization of "new age mythology" and Christianity. Under Wilson's proposed Christian nationalist model for America, the LDS Church would be categorized as a minority religion. In his ideal societal framework, the state would not permit the LDS Church to publicly promote its faith, build new religious structures, or convert others. Members would only be allowed to practice their beliefs privately. 

During public and political controversies regarding his ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Wilson directly asserted that Mormonism is a "polytheistic" belief system. Wilson’s rhetoric and his presence as a spiritual adviser to high-ranking officials sparked heavy scrutiny, especially after the Department of Defense initially released simplified military faith codes that separated the LDS Church from mainstream Christian categories. This classification drew sharp condemnation from Latter-day Saint members of Congress before being revised by the Pentagon.

Wilson was interviewed Tuesday by Morning Edition's Leila Fadel, herself a Muslim.

Unaffiliated voters hate Trump, too

Trump's net approval of -25 also is lower than Joe Biden's net approval at this stage of his presidency (-14) , and lower than Biden ever reached (-23, on several occasions in his final year in office). Majorities of Americans object to how Trump is handling important issues including the economy (-31 net approval) and inflation (-40). Many also have concerns about Trump's personal behavior. 60% of Americans say Trump is using his office for personal gain and only 27% say he isn't. [David Montgomery]

NEW Economist/YouGov Jul 3-6 % who approve | disapprove of Donald Trump U.S. adult citizens 35% | 61% (-25) Last week 38% | 58% (-20) Start of term 49% | 43% (+6) Dem 3% | 96% Ind 21% | 71% Rep 83% | 15% 18-29: 25% | 67% 65+: 40% | 56% yougov.com/en-us/articl...

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— YouGov America (@today.yougov.com) July 7, 2026 at 7:12 AM

NEW Economist/YouGov % of U.S. adult citizens who approve | disapprove of Donald Trump's job performance This week 35% | 61% (-25) Last week 38% | 58% (-20) Start of term 49% | 43% (+6) yougov.com/en-us/articl...

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— YouGov America (@today.yougov.com) July 7, 2026 at 7:15 AM

NEW Economist/YouGov Net job approval for Donald Trump [at the start of his second term | now] among... U.S. adult citizens +6 | -25 Men +17 | -16 Women -5 | -34* *New second-term low d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec... d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...

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— YouGov America (@today.yougov.com) July 7, 2026 at 7:18 AM

South Dakota's Republicans are horrible people

It's not just South Dakota Earth haters Pat Powers, Lance Russell, Kristi Noem and her husband who are horrible pieces of shit.

State Senator Tom Pischke of Dell Rapids is charged with two counts of Offering a False or Forged Instrument for Filing, according to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office. The charges relate to potentially fraudulent election forms submitted to the Minnehaha County Auditor’s office. Pischke is also a Republican precinct committeeman, and would typically be eligible to vote at the Republican party’s state convention later this week. Jim Eschenbaum is the Chair of the South Dakota Republican Party. He said Pischke told him he wouldn’t be attending the convention Monday evening, but Eschenbaum didn’t learn about the charges until Tuesday. [Bill Janklow's idea of public radio]