Catholic convert JD Vance appears to have missed a shot at a reunion with Pope Leo XIV—with his frenemy Marco Rubio tapped for the honor instead.
A Vatican source told Reuters that the secretary of state is expected to travel to Italy and meet with the pontiff on Thursday.
This marks almost a year since Rubio and Vance met Pope Leo together on May 19, 2025, with the Illinois-born pope has so far declined Vance’s invitation to visit the White House.
White Sox fan Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in the South Side of Chicago, has had a strained relationship with his homeland since ascending to the papacy.
While Leo has made many veiled comments about “tyrants” and “warmongers,” President Trump threw down the gauntlet last month with an unhinged 334-word Truth Social post claiming that the pontiff “wouldn’t be in the Vatican” without him, and is “hurting the Catholic Church!”
Vance himself took a swipe at the pope while at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, suggesting of God’s voice on earth: “I think it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.”
This post warmed my heart and brought me to tears. Thank you. Like science, Canada and Canadians have been under siege. This post is a great reminder that the Canadian-American friendship will endure this horrible Administration.
Thank you for the Canada/Buffalo/hockey/O Canada content from this Kentuckian who spent 12 happy years in Niagara Falls and enjoyed both sides of the river.
When I go to a sports event I have a long standing tradition of going to the bathroom during the Star Spangled Banner just so I don’t have to participate in that performative crap.
Tomorrow morning, we will be dropping a ~12,000 word story on Paul Pressler, the alleged sexual predator who remade the Southern Baptist Convention and helped ordain the marriage between the GOP and white evangelical voters. There is *a lot* in there and I hope you'll read it.
This is a story I've worked on and off on since 2018, when allegations against Pressler kickstarted our yearslong investigation of the Southern Baptist abuse crisis. It's about Pressler's rise and legacy, but also about the lesser-known power struggle that broke out as a result of our reporting.
In reality, there is absolutely no intellectual justification to choose Trump over Harris To make that choice you must be an overt bigot, have some nefarious financial interest, or be dumber than a sack of hair
I saw it yesterday with a nice group of biddies outside of the grocery store soliciting donations for a local food pantry. And even on the tailgate of a truck, which had a small sticker of the US flag, but an "Are We Great Yet?" sticker right next to it. Without that, conclusions could be drawn, but I try not to do that without more evidence.
Pro tip: Start digging around the golf course for buried Epstein files. Or bodies.
Trump administration seizes DC golf course amid legal fight
"The Trump administration has moved to take over East Potomac Golf Links from the National Links Trust, ending its lease and initiating pre-approved renovations as part of a broader plan to redevelop parts of Washington, D.C.’s waterfront. The effort, tied to a new nonprofit’s fundraising for a championship-level course and a National Garden of American Heroes, faces lawsuits from preservation groups and local residents over alleged unlawful actions and potential environmental hazards. The push comes alongside a controversial White House ballroom proposal linked to a recent security incident, drawing criticism over priorities, legality, and public access."
So Ann Telnaes and (Oscar-nominated documentarian) Laura Nix have made a documentary called Democracy Under Siege, and you can watch it for free today and tomorrow at
Trump’s painting the reflection pool on the Mall blue. Meh, it’ll look better. But, he’s missing an opportunity. He could paint his portrait on the bottom. Face down or blowing bubbles would be cool.
*Of course* Saint Gord was a Bruins fan. It seems all the best people are.
Apple TV's F1 feed is a bit borked- no announcer audio, and it's quite nice, honestly.
I wish the capability was there to mute announcers but keep the live audio for the majority of sporting events.
Awwwww...See what happens when you piss off The Pope?
Vance Loses Out to Rubio in Major Diplomatic Snub
Outspoken about his Catholic faith since converting at 35, JD Vance is now being sidelined from a rare papal meeting.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/vance-loses-out-to-rubio-in-major-diplomatic-snub/
Catholic convert JD Vance appears to have missed a shot at a reunion with Pope Leo XIV—with his frenemy Marco Rubio tapped for the honor instead.
A Vatican source told Reuters that the secretary of state is expected to travel to Italy and meet with the pontiff on Thursday.
This marks almost a year since Rubio and Vance met Pope Leo together on May 19, 2025, with the Illinois-born pope has so far declined Vance’s invitation to visit the White House.
White Sox fan Pope Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in the South Side of Chicago, has had a strained relationship with his homeland since ascending to the papacy.
While Leo has made many veiled comments about “tyrants” and “warmongers,” President Trump threw down the gauntlet last month with an unhinged 334-word Truth Social post claiming that the pontiff “wouldn’t be in the Vatican” without him, and is “hurting the Catholic Church!”
Vance himself took a swipe at the pope while at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, suggesting of God’s voice on earth: “I think it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.”
Go, P. Bob!!!
For those keeping score...
Pope 2
Vance 0
This post warmed my heart and brought me to tears. Thank you. Like science, Canada and Canadians have been under siege. This post is a great reminder that the Canadian-American friendship will endure this horrible Administration.
Thank you for the Canada/Buffalo/hockey/O Canada content from this Kentuckian who spent 12 happy years in Niagara Falls and enjoyed both sides of the river.
Six-foot snowdrifts must have been a change of pace.
Memories of Maru, 6. "Maru Confronted the Strong Wind"
The mighty and fearless Maru with some of his amazing accomplishments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai3WLgOOacE
When I go to a sports event I have a long standing tradition of going to the bathroom during the Star Spangled Banner just so I don’t have to participate in that performative crap.
That's me, in the stalltotheght, losing my patriotism.
I understood that reference!
Truth be told, it's not a very good song anyway.
I vote we swap it out for Martha and the Vandells' "Dancing in the Street."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuCBXTfoVq8
Or James Brown’s “Living in America”
Incoming bombshell...
Tomorrow morning, we will be dropping a ~12,000 word story on Paul Pressler, the alleged sexual predator who remade the Southern Baptist Convention and helped ordain the marriage between the GOP and white evangelical voters. There is *a lot* in there and I hope you'll read it.
https://bsky.app/profile/robertdownen.bsky.social/post/3mkxl35k4tc2a
This is a story I've worked on and off on since 2018, when allegations against Pressler kickstarted our yearslong investigation of the Southern Baptist abuse crisis. It's about Pressler's rise and legacy, but also about the lesser-known power struggle that broke out as a result of our reporting.
https://bsky.app/profile/robertdownen.bsky.social/post/3mkxmbepjak2a
O/T: From "Girl with the Dogs", Vanessa gives Lola, massive St. Bernard, a spa day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As3XzEwaVzA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AcS49UdrIM
In reality, there is absolutely no intellectual justification to choose Trump over Harris To make that choice you must be an overt bigot, have some nefarious financial interest, or be dumber than a sack of hair
That perfectly describes 72 million Americans.
Stupid is forgivable, nefarious financial interests understandable, overt bigotry gets NO absolution.
Seventy-SEVEN million Americans, actually. Kamala got just under 72 million. And 85 million couldn't be arsed enough to vote.
Sometimes I need a reminder a lot of my fellow Americans aren't jerks. I hope trump saw that.
That's why I think, ironically, I need to get out more so I can actually see this for my own eyes.
I saw it yesterday with a nice group of biddies outside of the grocery store soliciting donations for a local food pantry. And even on the tailgate of a truck, which had a small sticker of the US flag, but an "Are We Great Yet?" sticker right next to it. Without that, conclusions could be drawn, but I try not to do that without more evidence.
Pro tip: Start digging around the golf course for buried Epstein files. Or bodies.
Trump administration seizes DC golf course amid legal fight
"The Trump administration has moved to take over East Potomac Golf Links from the National Links Trust, ending its lease and initiating pre-approved renovations as part of a broader plan to redevelop parts of Washington, D.C.’s waterfront. The effort, tied to a new nonprofit’s fundraising for a championship-level course and a National Garden of American Heroes, faces lawsuits from preservation groups and local residents over alleged unlawful actions and potential environmental hazards. The push comes alongside a controversial White House ballroom proposal linked to a recent security incident, drawing criticism over priorities, legality, and public access."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/trump-administration-seizes-dc-golf-course-amid-legal-fight/gm-GM243125A3?gemSnapshotKey=GM243125A3-snapshot-3&ocid=i
Wasn't that a thing early on - that he wanted to seize all the public courses, renovate, and make then for-profit/private?
Also, didn't they dump the toxic debris from the East Wing on one of them?
I dunno'. So much hatefulness, hubris, and grifting, it's hard to keep track.
So he can just seize any land the government owns, for whatever he wants?
He's going to put his giant victory arch in Yosemite Valley or some damned thing.
There's plenty of empty space in Alaska.
We aren't talking about the inside of Sarah Palin's cranium here.
What part of he needs a golf course to keep him safe do you not understand?
He's fuckin nuts!
So Ann Telnaes and (Oscar-nominated documentarian) Laura Nix have made a documentary called Democracy Under Siege, and you can watch it for free today and tomorrow at
https://www.democracyundersiegedoc.org
Andy Borowitz interviews the two film makers about it here
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/the-film-trump-doesnt-want-you-to?source=queue
You'll have to give your email to watch it, which is to "be used sparingly for future updates about the film."
Do I need to show ID to comment here?
Your avatar is a blatant forgery.
Guards, take him away!
Yeah, we need to know if you're hot enough.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Show us your tits!!!!!! /s
"Show us your nuts."
"Well, I bought $Trump meme coins, and am eagerly awaiting my Trump phone."
"Your, not you're."
*LMMFAO*!
Clearly not
Not even “Last Call” hot
Just like the Pentagon. No fatties!
You could show an eye or a D, or both.
You need to identify the bear in a group of two animals.
as long as you're not wearing any pants, you should be good
Uh oh! Randy Newman Time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwD_SulAWP8
YES.
Trump’s painting the reflection pool on the Mall blue. Meh, it’ll look better. But, he’s missing an opportunity. He could paint his portrait on the bottom. Face down or blowing bubbles would be cool.
Face down with fart bubbles.
Putting his portrait there would result in it being DC’s largest urinal.
Don't you put that evil out there.
All new meaning to 8647…. Oh wait, that’s “deep six”.
Latest piece is finished
https://substack.com/profile/11126466-arachne/note/c-253122362?r=6mh8i
This isn't only gorgeous, your skill is just stunning, Arachne.
Love the colors!
I love that I bought the same colorway 3 times unintentionally. The contrast in how the dye takes up on the different fibers is also fascinating
Glorious!
Absolutely gorgeous. 😍 Flawlessly made too (a friend of mine, now deceased, had her own loom, I learned a lot about the craft from her).
Thank you! Actually far from flawless, had a major mishap but seem to have gotten it in hand.
Okay, I can amend to APPEARS flawless lol. It's the result that counts!
Lovely!