03/31/26
Good morning! It’s Tuesday, March 31st.
Farmworkers Day
In California, at least.
Up until about a month ago, this day was called Cesar Chavez Day, but after the bombshell report came out that included multiple allegations of rape, including two minors, we’re definitely not going to be naming days after him anymore!
But the labor movement has always been bigger than one person. And so of course, this day is bigger than one man. Especially when the man in question turned out to be pretty small.
So happy Farmworkers Day.
Life’s better in a union.
And now, the news.
Iran
Starting in, you guessed it, Iran, where Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are leading our Gulf allies, including Kuwait and Bahrain, in a plea to Trump to continue the war until there are significant changes in either Iranian leadership or behavior.
This comes after first being frustrated that the US and Israel launched the attack on Iran without any warning to the allies. Now the thought seems to be – well, we’re in it. Might as well, you know, be in it.
Their call to Trump comes at an interesting time for the president, who, out of one side of his mouth says the war is done and dusted and, out of the other side of his mouth, said on Monday he’s “completely obliterating” power plants and oil wells, among other things, if Iran doesn’t make a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz soon.
And out of the third side of his mouth, he’s like… where am I? Do you know about Sharpies? Can someone help me draw a clock for this test I’m being asked to take again?
But while Trump talks about completely obliterating power plants and keeping this war going like it’s the easiest thing in the world, and for him it is because all he has to do it say it (remember, he has to real concept of the physical cost of any of this because he paid to get out of serving in Vietnam), NPR confirmed that more than a dozen, and possibly up to twenty, US service members were wounded on Friday during an Iranian strike on an air base in Saudi Arabia.
The US casualty toll sits at 13, with more than 300 injured.
ICE Thanks You for Your Service
-via NBC News
Speaking of the war… this Friday, the next class of Marines will graduate from Parris Island, South Carolina. These brave men and women have signed up, on their own accord, to spend at least part of their lives in service of their country.
They are going to risk their lives for this country.
They are going to move all over this country. All over this world.
They will give their time. They will miss birthdays, births, anniversaries, and their friends’ and families’ weddings. Their loved ones will make sacrifices as well. Asked to pick up and move or stay while they go.
In service of this nation.
And on Friday, when they pledge their lives to this servitude… ICE agents will be standing by to snatch up any undocumented friends and family members attending that graduation.
Now, I will note that ICE says they will not be making arrests at the graduation.
But, you know… they also said they wouldn’t murder in cold blood. So…
What we do know for sure is that ICE agents will be standing by at the graduation. And frankly… for what? If not to arrest or intimidate?
All at the direction of a president who paid so he’d never have to serve his country.
TSA Workers
-via Reuters
On Monday, most TSA agents received retroactive paychecks to cover the last two full paychecks that they had missed since the partial shutdown began 45 days ago.
Let it be known that tens of thousands of DHS workers aren’t being paid right now, because DHS funding is what’s kept this partial shutdown going. However, Congressional Democrats asked to negotiate funding for TSA separately from the rest of DHS. It was denied by Republicans, who know not to lose a negotiating tactic when they’ve got it. Who cares that there are human beings attached! We’re talking about political capital!
Get your priorities straight, you nerdz!
Anyway, TSA agents got a little retroactive jingle in their pocket at least.
Kid Rock
-via ABC News
And finally – hey, what’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever posted online?
Don’t worry, Kid Rock posted something dumber.
On Saturday, he posted two videos of him standing at his pool, where he has a mini statue of liberty (so that’s just… something), saluting two Apache helicopters flying low and hovering at his pool.
An investigation is taking place into whether it was a violation of safety standards, professionalism, and/or established flight regulations.
The helicopters were part of a training exercise that just happened to take place on the same day as the No Kings rally.
And then they just happened to pass right by Kid Rock’s house and just happened to be there so he could stand next to the Statue of Liberty and watch them as they hovered to pose for the video.
Crazy coincidence.
So, the post was dumb but it launched an investigation.
It’s also dumb just in general because this was the caption: "This is a level of respect that s--- for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her."
Dude, what are you talking about? First of all, you’re not in California. So what does Newsom have to do with it? What respect are you talking about? You’re standing next to a miniature Statue of Liberty while getting military pilots in trouble.
Not everyone from Michigan deserves to be recognized as a Michigander. He is a prime example of that.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of Farmworkers. Laborers in general.
This country would factually stop without them.
Also anesthesia. Because it’s Anesthesia Tech Day and they do a whole lot of hard work, and good math, to keep us alive during surgery and I’m very thankful for them but would love for them to do me a solid and let me nap through the rest of this presidency.
And so more than an anesthesiologist… because you’d let me nap… I’m proud of you.