April 2 Open Thread: Irony, Where Is Thy Sting?

A friend of mine maintains that conservatives just don’t get irony, which makes the story about right-wing broadcast syndicate Sinclair Broadcasting a bit less surprising: The company forced reporters at many if not all of its 139 stations to read a script about fake news and warning of reporters with “personal agendas.” As opposed, one supposes, to employer agendas.

In Greek tragedy, success often leads to doom, which probably makes what’s happening to the Kushner family sound more noble than it is. The old man, who did time after being successfully prosecuted by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, was hoping for redemption, but his son’s position has led to legal problems, a split in the family and looming bankruptcy. Sophocles would be impressed.

Trump’s businesses are doing better — 18 months ago he’d never heard of emoluments, and now he’s making millions from them! — but the Ginger Generalissimo faces pressure on several fronts that threaten to piece the wall around his finances.

I’m calling it right now: Roseanne Barr’s comeback is going to be one of the shortest in entertainment history. She’s using her moment back in the spotlight to remind people that, like a lot of comedians, underneath the laughs she’s nucking futz. This weekend she for tweeted out her thanks to Trump for…well, here’s the tweet:

President Trump has freed so many children held in bondage to pimps all over this world. Hundreds each month. He has broken up trafficking rings in high places everywhere. notice that. I disagree on some things, but give him benefit of doubt-4 now.

OK, first of all, if there really were child sex rings, Donald Trump would totally be a customer. This a guy who has publicly creeped on a 10-year-old girl and his own daughter. Second, WTF? Donald Trump won’t get off his fat ass to fetch his own cheeseburger, you think he’s going to bring down child sex rings and not brag about it himself?? She’s apparently getting this stuff off the RWNJ fringe of the internet. As I said, I’m calling it. Shortest. Comeback. Ever.

This story is wonky but of interest to anyone interested in the intersection of jobs and government. It argues that –you might want to sit down for this — the best way for government to create jobs is to hire people directly. Yes, it’s that simple.