The rhetoric of the Trump versus anti-Trump discourse is inescapable, however much we may want to steer clear of bombastic certitudes. Without trivializing the current political battle, I find a degree of solace in visualizing episodes of Spy vs. Spy comic strips as I move around in my home town. At least for the time being. For example, the sudden discovery of “an independent judiciary” is a lesson in hypocrisy for me. I mean, at the State level, judges are elected by both partisan and non-partisan elections, selected by state legislatures, and appointed by Governors. Federal judges across the board and at all levels are appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate.

This evening's music features Motown r&b singer William "Smokey" Robinson.