The Conclave Begins
5.7.25
Happy Wednesday evening readers and welcome back to Common Sense, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment.
Black smoke means no new pope, yet… CBS reports the Vatican conclave has not chosen a pope on its first vote. White smoke will indicate a new pope has been chosen.
Also: a poll of how U.S. Catholics view the pope.
78 arrested as pro-Palestinian protest takes over Columbia U library… NBC News reports, “New York police officers were called Wednesday after protesters took over a room of a Columbia University library in a resurgence of the on-campus pro-Palestinian demonstrations that rocked the nation last spring. Columbia University said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that it was ‘dealing with a disruption in reading room 301 of Butler Library,’ noting that its public safety team was ‘working to mitigate the situation.’ Columbia did not call in New York Police Department officers until hours after the disruptions began. At 7:10 p.m., the department said it was ‘responding to an ongoing situation on campus where individuals have occupied a library and are trespassing.’ Around 76 protesters in zip ties were ushered out of the building by officers, an NBC News crew witnessed.”
Republicans talk big about fiscal responsibility while shifting burden to states… HOW is it possible that DOGEsh*t fires thousands of dedicated public servants, claims to be saving all this money, Trump decimates USAID and the Department of Education, Congress shifts funding burden to the states and STILL Trump has managed to spend MORE than Biden during the same period? They’re ALL TALK. Politico reports, “Congressional Republicans agree that the federal government has a spending problem. Now top GOP leaders want to make it someone else’s problem — by shifting some safety-net programs onto state budgets. The plans under discussion could generate hundreds of billions of dollars in savings to finance the GOP’s domestic policy megabill. But they’re vexing Republican lawmakers — many of them former governors and state legislators — who are not interested in addressing Washington’s fiscal woes by creating them in state capitals, including those run by their own party. It’s one big reason why Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are struggling right now to build consensus for the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ with its expensive suite of tax cuts as well as border and defense spending plus-ups. Already they are scaling back ambitious plans that would force states to either subsidize health and food aid or kick thousands of residents off benefit rolls.
Real ID 101… Wondering what all this Real ID stuff is all about? ABC News has you covered with this cheatsheet including this answer to “What is Real ID?” The answer: “The federal Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 following the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government ‘set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses,’ DHS states on its website. The new rules set out which forms of identification may be used to board flights within the United States and to enter secure federal facilities such as military bases, federal courthouses and other federal facilities. Applying for a Real ID requires proof of identity, proof of residency and a trip to your local DMV. See below for more on the full requirements and application process details. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories are issuing Real IDs. DHS previously delayed the implementation of Real ID several times over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, U.S. residents have less than one week to obtain their soon-to-be federally required form of identification.”
Today’s Furry Friend
Human rescues of the unlikeliest furry friends can be so heartwarming. Here’s one you don’t see every day: A spider monkey saved from drowning in The Amazon!
Today’s Buzz
Met Gala Looks!
From the many Met Gala vids of celebs being celebs, we offer you this one on account of its efficiency: 64 looks in just 4 minutes. Enjoy!
Thank you for choosing us to help make sense of the chaos. Check back tomorrow evening for the next edition of Common Sense.
Were the protesters at Columbia pro-Palestinian or anti-genocide? For the past two months, Israel has refused to allow any food, water, or medicine into Gaza starving children, women, Hamas fighters (no sympathy for them) and Israeli hostages indiscriminately in violation of international law.
Why are Palestinian protests last spring referred to as rocking the nation, while millions have been protesting the trump administration policies referred to as many protests? Rocking the nation, really?