Day of the Rusted Machines, 56th of Autumn, 525 M.E. (Electra):  And now the government's shut down in the latest sign of the Stable Genius' failure of leadership and the further collapse of amerika. 

Last night, in back-to-back Senate votes, each party blocked the other’s stopgap budget proposal. The Republicans’ version didn't restore Medicaid funding or extend Obamacare subsidies, so Democrats didn’t vote for it. The Democratic version added more than $1 trillion in spending, so Republicans didn't vote for that. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed due to the shutdown. However, ICE agents will keep on icing although some may stop receiving paychecks.

The Stable Genius suggested he could take advantage of the shutdown by "cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that [Democrats] like, cutting programs that they like.” He added, “a lot of good can come down from shutdowns.” Jackass. He's already announced that he will withhold $18 billion in federal funds from New York City for expansion of the Second Avenue subway and new train tunnels under the Hudson River because of "DEI concerns."

On other news, Pope Leo, an unexpected ally, has called for unity on climate and environmental issues and for Catholics not to treat them as divisive issues. By taking this position, he joins his predecessor, Pope Francis, who criticized  those who derided the evidence of climate change, ridiculed those who speak of global warming, and blamed the poor for the very thing that affects them the most.

Meanwhile, Jane Goodall passed away today. Impermanence is swift. She was too good for this world, anyway.