But first, some news of the day. The  New York Times  this morning had some nice history of gerrymandering, which is what Democrats in California pulled off on election day this week with Proposition 50. Lawmakers realized in the 19th century that they could increase their party’s political power by redrawing legislative districts. The term of art is   gerrymandering , named after the map for the Massachusetts State Senate drawn under Gov. Elbridge Gerry. (One district looked like a salamander. Get it?) Typically, legislators gerrymander once a decade, after the census. Today, gerrymandering is a weapon of constant political warfare. State legislators, both red and blue, are furiously redrawing congressional maps in a quest to control the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections. The skirmishing began in August, when Trump persuaded Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional districts, which will probably let them send five more Republicans to Congress....

News of the day: The  Rittenhouse  killings occurred in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  The parade deaths this weekend were in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  The consensus seems to be that the Rittenhouse innocence verdict will mean more  AR-15 rifle s at protests and general outings, and further protect gun rights. The Ahmaud Arbery trial jury will begin deliberating tomorrow.  If all three white assailants are set free by the 11 white and 1 black panel, all hell will break loose.  Clearly, the timing was orchestrated for colder weather to minimize the potential backlash.  The defense strategy seems to be angling for a mistrial or deadlock. BTS got all the big awards at the  American Music Awards .  Their  Butter  won Favorite Pop Song.   Watch them perform this song last night. This weekend I viewed a special showing of  MASH:  Goodbye, Farewell and Amen  ( amazingly enough, you can watch the entire 2.5 hour movie if you...