# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 20, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175 "2025-01-20T19:23:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 110
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2181 "2025-12-07T00:56:20Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > Think Sears or JC Penney back in the 80’s or 90’s. That’s exactly what a Kohl’s is. Clothes, housewares, luggage, furniture, appliances, jewelry, and so on. Their current spokesperson is Ellie Kemper of such shows as _The Office_ and _Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt_. [![](https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/mO4NFmgru1M-omzZ5tXorBCGLjvcgpYIPdGSGaM-ea3Lx4eGeqYQrY2vmENHgMbZIvxM97lrvA=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj) ](https://yt3.googleusercontent.com/mO4NFmgru1M-omzZ5tXorBCGLjvcgpYIPdGSGaM-ea3Lx4eGeqYQrY2vmENHgMbZIvxM97lrvA=s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2182 "2025-12-07T00:58:17Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > FWIW, Kohl’s originally operated grocery stores, primarily in Wisconsin; they expanded their portfolio into department stores in the 1960s. Those grocery stores may be what @EinsteinsHund remembers. Definitely not, because I never was a kid in the 60s in the USA, actually I was born in 1968 in Germany and never have been to America. I just some time heard about an American chain called Kohl’s, probably here on this board, but misremembered what they sell. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2183 "2025-12-07T01:08:54Z")
Anyway, yeah, unless you lived in Wisconsin or elsewhere in the Upper Midwest in the '40s through '80s, Kohl’s is and always was only a department store. Their grocery stores did look pretty cool, though: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5e/ea/a2/5eeaa22fd1402364ab1ffc15add13c5d.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5e/ea/a2/5eeaa22fd1402364ab1ffc15add13c5d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2184 "2025-12-07T02:22:41Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Their grocery stores did look pretty cool, though: I want to live there. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2185 "2025-12-07T02:39:24Z")
I know what Kohl’s is, and I get that it’s clearly a joke. My only question is why use the Kohl’s name, specifically? Although, the inclusion of Kohl’s Cash is a nice touch (but only if one is familiar with the store). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2186 "2025-12-07T02:46:54Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > My only question is why use the Kohl’s name, specifically? WAG: moderately-priced store, where Trump would never be caught dead. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2187 "2025-12-07T02:53:44Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > My only question is why use the Kohl’s name, specifically? Target only gives out prizes in the sciences? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2188 "2025-12-07T02:55:35Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I know what Kohl’s is, and I get that it’s clearly a joke. My only question is why use the Kohl’s name, specifically? Because it’s such a mundane place which has so little to do with an international award for peace. It’s like “Kmart”, only with a blander name and slightly higher aspirations to quality. ETA: I’ve only been there once, so maybe it was an off day. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2189 "2025-12-07T03:12:17Z")
Good answers, all. Actually, the more I think about it, the funnier it gets. He’s got some great writers on his staff (assuming it’s not AI). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2190 "2025-12-07T03:33:25Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > My only question is why use the Kohl’s name, specifically? The Nobel Prize comes with a cash award. So Kohl’s Cash is Mr. Potato Head’s version ov getting a cash award. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2191 "2025-12-07T03:45:09Z")
Also, a rule in comedy writing. “K”'s are funny. I don’t know why, but it’s a rule. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2192 "2025-12-07T03:51:48Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > ETA: I’ve only been there once, so maybe it was an off day. I go there frequently, but not to shop. It’s a place where I can return something to Amazon without having to box it up, slap a label, go to a UPS store and wait in line, etc. They always give me a coupon for the store when I do a return, surely in the hope that I’ll shop while I’m there, but I never have. My wife likes to shop there though. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2193 "2025-12-07T04:07:38Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > …(Also, tying this back to politics: Herb Kohl, who was the president of Kohl’s in the 1970s, later served in the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from Wisconsin.) He got quite wealthy from the business, and his slogan in one election was “Nobody’s U.S. senator but yours.” Something else to set him, and the Newsom parody, apart from Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2194 "2025-12-07T05:35:50Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I go there frequently, but not to shop. It’s a place where I can return something to Amazon without having to box it up, slap a label, go to a UPS store and wait in line, etc. Wait. You can return Amazon items just by bringing them to Kohl’s? How does that work? Do you have to have a printout of how much you paid for it? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2195 "2025-12-07T06:05:00Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > You can return Amazon items just by bringing them to Kohl’s? How does that work? Do you have to have a printout of how much you paid for it? The Goodwill store near me now has an automatic Amazon return kiosk inside the store next to the checkout. It scans your return code, gives you a bag to seal the item in, spits out a label, and you drop it into the kiosk door. It’s great. If anything goes wrong, or if the item is too large for the kiosk, one of the Goodwill staff comes over and helps out. When the kiosk gets full, the staff empties the bin from inside the kiosk into a locked office next to it and replaces it. At the end of the return, the kiosk asks if you plan on buying anything while you’re there, and asks you to guess at the dollar amount you think you’ll spend. I’m guessing that it’s because either Goodwill gets paid by Amazon for the hosting the kiosk, or they pay Amazon for hosting it and getting extra customer traffic, so both Amazon and Goodwill want to know how much benefit Goodwill gets from it. I should ask the next time I’m there. Amazon Fresh stores and Whole Foods stores also have these kiosks, in addition to having actual humans at the Amazon return counter. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2196 "2025-12-07T06:09:33Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > Do you have to have a printout of how much you paid for it? You have a QR code sent by Amazon when you submit your return request. The folks at the return counter at Kohl’s will scan the QR code from your phone and take the item and give you a receipt. Then you can leave. It usually takes about a minute. They then handle the return to Amazon, and once Amazon gets confirmation of the return you get credit on your account. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2197 "2025-12-07T08:18:30Z")
Also, kohl means cabbage, which just makes it even funnier to me. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2198 "2025-12-07T09:44:39Z")
That is the fallacy that got trump voted, I believe. I don’t buy it, but would take the cars. Not to drive them, mind you, lousy things they were. But to sell them. Or donate them to Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2199 "2025-12-07T13:27:35Z")
My theory, based on no facts whatsoever, is that the chain was going to be named “Cole’s,” but some marketer thought the homonym looked fancier. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175/2200 "2025-12-07T13:41:25Z")
Heh. Nope. > **[Maxwell Kohl](https://www.ilctr.org/about-immigrants/immigrant-entrepreneurs/hall-of-fame/maxwell-kohl/)** > > Poland Kohl’s Ranked 183 in the 2022 Fortune 500 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175.md?page=109) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-3/1013175.md?page=111)