Comment on Open thread: Sojourner Truth, Zika and Appalachia

The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in another major abortion access case as it grapples with the aftermath of reversing Roe v. Wade. Follow here for live audio of the arguments, news updates, analysis and more.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been a staunch supporter of aid for Ukraine and Israel, blamed Tucker Carlson for stoking anti-Ukraine sentiment amongst Republicans, as Congress gets one step closer to passing a foreign aid package.

The Federal Trade Commission voted yesterday to adopt a historic and far-reaching ban on noncompete agreements, which are common now in almost all job markets. Thanks, Lina Khan! Via HuffPost: The agency has said that the agreements, in which workers are forbidden from seeking a job with a competing business for a certain period of time, lead to an “unfair method of competition” and violate federal law.

Donald Trump’s ongoing New York criminal trial hinges on payments of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. It’s not the hush money, per se, that is illegal, it’s the fact that Trump allegedly falsified business records to cover up the payment and avoid damage to his presidential campaign. Nevertheless, compulsive liar Trump denies he ever had an affair with Daniels. Sen.

P. M. Carpenter. Avedon's Sideshow. Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters. Press Watch. By M. Bouffant. Submit to mbru@crooksandliars.com. read more

If you look closely, you'll notice that Zhanna Polupanova is wearing a sweatshirt with the English words "Follow Your Dreams." Apparently, hers includes a new roof for her modest house in the country, which with any luck will be repaired with what the Russians call "coffin money." Zhanna also rather cold-bloodedly says she does not feel sympathy for her sons going to war in Ukraine as they are meant to serve the Motherland.