“You should be ashamed”
AOC captures the essence of the Big Ugly Rich People Scam in under 90 seconds…
AOC: “Regarding the tax on tips, as one of the few who have lived off tips, let me explain the scam… the cap is $25,000 while you’re raising taxes on those earning less than $50,000 across the US… and simultaneously removing them from the ACA.”
They’ve taken advantage, stolen from, and really messed over 99% of us right in plain sight.
Happy birthday, America. Enjoy your crumbs.
And now, on to our main feature…
C&J for Thursday, July 3, 2025
Note: Tomorrow morning around 8am ET, we’ll post C&J’s first column, written on July 4, 1776, celebrating the birth of our Republic that eventually swallowed itself in a toxic mix of greed and apathy. No evening C&J, but we’ll return bright and early on Monday. In closing: God bless Canada. —Mgt.
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By the Numbers:
Days until fall: 81
Days until the Elsie Dairy Festival in Elsie, Michigan: 7
Percentage of Americans polled by NPR/PBS/Marist who believe democracy is “under serious threat”: 76%
Odds that the Fed will maintain interest rates at its July 29-30 meeting: 81%
Percentage chance that “Extreme heat is now the new normal” according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: 100%
Average daytime high temperature in July at Four Corners National Monument: 93F
Year Independence Day became a formal federal holiday: 1941
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Your Thursday Molly Ivins Moment:
Happy birthday, America! The Fourth of July rolls around again, and our nation, well, isn’t in the best of spirits. Lots of blaming and name-calling. But there’s always a silver lining. The vice president claims that letting loose with some expletives can be therapeutic. I agree—anything to bring that notorious Dick Cheney back to his usual cheerful demeanor.
Yes, we’ve had better days, but if we can overlook Iraq for the weekend, celebrating our heritage should be possible without literally fighting each other.
So let’s toast to what makes America unique, starting with us. Here’s to all the musicians across genres—country, hip-hop, rock, jazz, and everything in between. To the artists who often go unrecognized, the washboard players, lute strummers, harmonica enthusiasts, and banjo pickers. Their generosity in supporting retired musicians in need is remarkable. And let’s not forget Ray Charles and his rendition of “America the Beautiful” this holiday.
– July 2004
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**Puppy Pic of the Day: Tis the season…**
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CHEERS for some progress. Here’s a bright spot, rare as it may be: good news for abortion rights in Wisconsin. If recent elections had gone differently, we might not be reading this, but fortunately…
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has officially struck down an abortion ban dating back to 1849 that had been in effect after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed federal abortion rights.
In a 4-3 decision, the court’s liberal majority upheld a lower court’s ruling, allowing a more recent law permitting most abortions up to about the 20th week of pregnancy. This is a win for abortion rights advocates in a key state where the issue has been pivotal in elections over the past years.
To celebrate, Wisconsin plans to distribute their famous cheddar cheese across the country. (Crackers and summer sausage are on you, though. Tight budgets and all that.)
JEERS for lack of progress. The vision of our commerce secretary to create a successful economy powered by dedicated middle-class Americans tirelessly assembling tiny parts into iPhones remains a distant goal. But he might want to ramp things up, especially considering the latest employment report…
Private sector jobs unexpectedly decreased in June, ADP revealed, suggesting the economy may not be as robust as some investors think.
Private payrolls dropped by 33,000 in June, a first since March 2023. Experts had anticipated an increase of 100,000 jobs. The May job growth was revised down, too—only 29,000 jobs added instead of 37,000.
Today’s government report drops at 8:30 ET. Prediction: watch for the greatest job growth in the previously lagging “American Concentration Camp Alligator Poop Scooper” sector.
CHEERS to history. This week in 1865, the Secret Service was formed with the original purpose of combating counterfeit currency.
It wasn’t until after the assassination of McKinley that the service began protecting the president. A little tip: if you ever want to make a strong impression, just maintain eye contact while speaking into your wrist. Trust me.
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CHEERS to currency milestones. A notable first occurred during this week in 1785 when Congress decided that the dollar would be the official unit of U.S. currency. Ironically, over time, the dollar almost became an “endangered species” in many households.
CHEERS to boycotters impacting a giant. Tesla’s sales fell by 13% recently as boycotts against Elon Musk’s political stances seem to be resonating with consumers, challenging expectations that the backlash would fade.
This wraps up today’s headlines. What are you cheering or jeering about?
Today’s Testimonial
“This is only the start of our growing coalition to make the Cheers and Jeers kiddie pool a viable option. Together, we can make it happen.”
—Zohran Mamdani
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