Greetings! Worth noting: Not every right wing media outlet is in lockstep with Donald Trump's pardon of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists.  Both the Wall Street Journal and National Review came out against The Donald’s get out of jail free blanket pass to the Capitol rioters. Trump’s unconscionable actions put some MAGA acolytes resorting to pretzel logic. Newbie Today Show anchor Craig Melvin showed real journo chops grilling of Sec. of State designate Marco Rubio. During a tense segment yesterday morning where Rubio wanted to discuss foreign policy, Melvin adroitly pivoted to Rubio’s 2021 remarks when he called January 6 “one of the saddest days in American history.” When Rubio bobbed and weaved, Melvin persisted probing the former Florida Senator on what  message the pardons sent to the rest of the world.  A peeved Rubio never answered.  Here’s the transcript… Meanwhile on the POTUS pardon front, Trump took to Truth Social to trumpet the release of convicted drug dealer and crypto pioneer Ross William Ulbricht who was serving a life sentence for a slew of offenses including conspiring to create fake ID’s and money laundering. Trump's rationale was bizarre.  “I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” he wrote. “The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponization of government against me”…Cannabis reform advocate and ex-heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson takes a swing at weed regulations.  He’s co-written a Fox News op-ed calling for Trump to give the 10-count to “awful marijuana laws”…If you keep reading, I’ll keep Righting. Howard

Greetings! It’s merely 1,385 days until the next presidential election, according to TheRighting’s election ticker which is posted in the newsletter and on the top right side of our website…Trump 2.0 Day One was about as bad I expected.  As for the outrageous but predictable J6 pardons, the NY Times said it best, “(T)he mass pardon sends a message to the country and the world that violating the law in support of Mr. Trump and his movement will be rewarded…,” the Times editorial team wrote.  “It loudly proclaims, from the nation’s highest office, that the rioters did nothing wrong, that violence is a perfectly legitimate form of political expression and that no price need be paid by those who seek to disrupt a sacred constitutional transfer of power”.…Trump gave a joyless, low-energy inauguration speech. I don’t think he smiled once.  He’s really perfected his scowl…Hat’s off to Melania for wearing the weirdest outfit of the inauguration. What statement was she trying to make with her buttoned-up dark outfit and hat with such an extra-wide brim that it shrouded her eyes?  Her clothes and rigid body language suggested that she wanted distance from the proceeding and perhaps even Trump.  But the National Review complimented Melania’s fashion choices.  The headline said it all: Melania’s Revenge Hat…And the award for the most inappropriately dressed person at the inauguration goes to Jeff Bezos’ fiancé Lauren Sánchez who sported a revealing lingerie-like top.  However, the Washington Free Beacon praised Ms. Sanchez for her fashion choice at the inauguration ceremony.  She was described as “exuding female empowerment” and an “an icon of American fashion and the physical embodiment of national restoration under President Donald Trump.”  Sheesh. Gonna be a long four years…If you keep reading, I’ll keep Righting. Howard