That tarp explains why they built the scaffolding up to the higher level. NPR has a still photo from the side of one of the workmen removing the P (I think). So it is happening. I suspect the tarp may stay up for a while, as there will probably have to be some repair work done to the wall where the letters were attached.
There’s a new link to the current live feed, which just shows the tarp covering the scaffolding.
The tarp might be a safety thing. They don’t want the letters themselves, or any dropped tools or other debris, falling on spectators.
Or anyone taking shots or lobbing debris at the workers.
That could be true. I wonder if a permit was pulled to put them up or take them down. Hahahaah. A permit wasn’t even pulled to destroy 1/3 of the white house.
As noted above, when the letters were installed they used cherry pickers and scissor lifts instead of scaffolding. And they had big blue tarps over the whole front, which were then pulled down for the dramatic reveal.
I wish the removal could have as much theatricality, but instead it’s all very practical and mundane. Maybe that’s the way it should be.
Trump is underwater in most states as he reaches his birthday, with a net approval negative across much of the battleground map
- Kentucky has seen the sharpest decline since the start of his second term, followed by Montana and Idaho
- Several states that began his term in positive territory, including Florida, Ohio and Texas, are now net negative
- Deep-red states still form Trump’s strongest base, but many of those margins have narrowed sharply since January 2025
- Younger voters, independents and women remain among the groups most negative on Trump in the latest national Civiqs tracker
Nationally, Trump’s approval stands at 36 percent, with 59 percent disapproving
All the South, except Alabama and West Virginia (if you might call that state part of the South) are now a net negative approval rating. Wyoming is his big happy place- +25, but only 3 EC votes, along with his other strongholds- the Dakotas.
Bulwark: Trump’s Arrested Agenda
I think this is true. Courts are catching up to him. For a while, you could reasonably argue we were a plain old non-fascist dictatorship, but I can’t see us as anything worse than a hybrid regime this year.
Andy Borowitz is usually funny, but today he’s serious.
[I haven’t read the thread]
My mom visited a few days ago. I’m sick, and – let’s face it: she’s old (Sorry, Mom!), so we didn’t go “peak-bagging” (summiting mountains) or gravel biking while she was here.
But we walked around the neighborhood a few times.
And each time we did, we encountered quite a few of the neighborhood dogs, generally along with Their People.
And dogs – overwhelmingly, and IMHO – radiate joy and contentment, particularly when they’re out for walks.
And their people tend to beam when you ask if you can pet their dogs, and ask them about their dogs.
God made beer because he loves us and wants us to be happy.
–Ben Franklin
Except he didn’t say it. And if he had, my hunch is that he would have said it about dogs.
I don’t care if you’re a dog lover or not (well, of course I do, but I’m making a point here. Work with me). The next time you spot a neighbor dog out for a walk with its person/people, watch its gait. Watch its carriage and demeanor. Ignore whether or not you believe they can smile. Watch as they make you smile.
Don’t cost nothin’.
Woof.
No, but he came close. The actual quote was about wine, and compared the natural process of rainwater being absorbed by grapevines and converted to juice, and thence to wine, to the miracle of Cana. But he also wrote in praise of beer, in other places. And he’d probably agree with the sentiment for either beverage.
I’m not sure off the top of my head what Franklin ever said about dogs.
I actually caught that (first) on Quote Investigator before posting 
[/slight digression]
The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs. - Charles De gaulle
(Just bringing this a tad more on-topic.)
We have two dogs. Border Collie mixes. We have a big yard but they also go for walks ever day and there is a dog park not 1/4 mile from our back gate.
They are very well trained. Lani heels on the left, Jax on the right. I always have leashes with me though.
Otherwise, in open space, they prance and trot. It’s a joy to watch.
We do have training collars for them though. We only use the vibrate mode (rarely). I just let them do their thing unless I think they are going to cause trouble.
They have to be VERY distracted to not come back with a simple call of their name.
From The Hill:
Postal Service’s proposed restrictions on mail-in voting blocked
Because Democrats disproportionately vote by mail, this is big.
Note that Trump is/was trying to get the mailing of ballots to the voter stopped. So even if you use a special purpose ballot drop box, that would not help. The only thing that will help is courts stopping the Trump executive order on mail ballots, and they are doing it.
- A Florida federal judge in a blistering order said President Donald Trump had sued the Internal Revenue Service “for an improper purpose” — to gain the appearance of “judicial legitimacy” for a controversial settlement with the Justice Department, which the president effectively controls.
- Judge Kathleen William referred Trump’s lawyer in the lawsuit, Alejandro Brito, to the Florida bar for consideration on whether Brito should be disciplined in light of the findings in the new order.
- Trump had sued the IRS for $10 billion over the leak of his tax information by an agency contractor.
- The Justice Department’s settlement of the lawsuit included the creation of a $1.8 billion “lawfare” fund that was ultimately abandoned after blowback by Congress.