Taking the time to check his closets for skeletons

I watched episodes 5-8 of season 2 of Heartstopper on Netflix. It’s the story of Nick and Charlie, students at an English high school. It’s also about Elle and Tao, Tara and Darcy, and Isaac who always has a book in his hands. There’s also the art teacher (in whose room Charlie used to take refuge) and the other teacher who serves as chaperon for the class trip to Paris (which was episodes 4-6) – must be nice to be able to film a story in the Louvre. As the episodes progressed I thought about two things. First, these characters look more like college students than high school students. Second, most of the time when they talk to each other they’re quite wise about acceptance and care for themselves and each other. Spoiler alert: An example is when Nick sees Charlie is still dealing with the effects of the bullying that happened before and at the start of season 1. Another is when Charlie confronts Ben, his boyfriend before Nick, the guy who was the cause of that bullying. A third is Nick confronting his father. I enjoyed the four hours of season 2. I had heard it ends with a cliffhanger. It doesn’t. But it does give enough details to give season 3 a reason for being. Alas, that won’t be available until next summer. As in the first season Nick and Charley kiss and nothing more. At one point Nick says he’s not ready for anything more. So as is appropriate for a teen show they keep their clothes on. Good for them. That last bit fits right in with a report by Cloe Veltman on NPR this afternoon saying Gen Z wants TV and movies with “nomance.” They’re much more interested in platonic relationships than stories of sex and romance. In my most recent news post I wrote that school book company Scholastic had caved into demands that its book fairs have some books kept in an add-on collection easily excluded from their regular fairs. Yes, the excluded books would be the ones frequently challenged. Laura Clawson of Daily Kos reported that Scholastic has reversed that decision. The company wrote a letter to its authors and illustrators that included an actual apology. Many authors of the affected books responded with thanks that the company is doing the right thing, though previously a few of the authors had to explain it to them.

Both are true: It’s deeply unfortunate that Scholastic didn’t get this from the beginning, and it’s good that authors and activists organizing and speaking out did get the policy changed. The measure of Scholastic’s redemption here will be whether it seriously works to combat state and local policies banning books with LGBTQ+ themes and characters or with Black and brown characters and serious discussions of race and racism. Republicans are not letting up on passing and enforcing such laws, with groups like Moms for Liberty spurring them on and ensuring teachers and librarians are punished if they dare to expose kids to diverse books.

In the time, almost a week, since I wrote about the news there have been many articles about House Speaker Mike Johnson. Now that he’s gone from obscurity to the main event people are combing his record and are reporting on what they found. There are so many I’ll just list most of them and let you read their frightening details. Kerry Eleveld of Kos reported that Johnson is described as a “nice guy” in news reports. Eleveld then reviews how much Johnson hates LGBTQ people. Mark Sumner of Kos reviewed how much Johnson is an election denier. He was an architect of the scheme and no member of Congress did more. Republicans aren’t hiding the details. Clawson reviewed how deeply Johnson is against abortion. Sumner discussed Johnson’s Christian Nationalism. Johnson doesn’t believe in democracy. Part of that is at elections he’s had no opponents that are anywhere near close to keeping him out of office. He claims Christians face discrimination for expressing their “Chrstian viewpoints” (meaning he doesn’t want criticism for hating gay people). He wrote an amicus brief in the Colorado cakeshop case that went to the Supremes. He wants to reinstate sodomy laws and called same-sex marriage the “dark harbinger of chaos.” He has implied that if Christians (or their issue) lose at the ballot box, they should go to court. He said the goal of the Constitution is to protect the church. He has claimed the founding fathers supported his Christianist goals – Sumner wrote: “Because, as he’s made clear again and again, Johnson believes that Christians have an exclusive right to rule the United States.” Johnson said, “Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That’s my worldview.” So Hunter of Kos had a bit of fun by proposing edits to Mike Johnson’s Wikipedia page on some of the things in that worldview: witchcraft, necromancy, beating God in a fistfight, impregnating daughters, murdering misbehaving children, and not understanding seasons. And a few more. Dartagnan of the Kos community reported that Johnson is anti-abortion, homophobic, and wants to repeal no-fault divorce. That last one would trap women in bad marriages. Sumner reported it is mighty weird that Johnson’s financial disclosure forms have listed no assets for years. No bank accounts for checking, savings, or retirement. Does he get paid in cash and pay his mortgage in cash? Does he play games so his accounts are empty (at least below limits) on reporting day? Does he have hundreds of accounts so all are below the reporting limit? Or... “The simplest explanation is that Johnson is hiding his assets.” People are now taking the time to check his closets for skeletons. Clawson wrote the race is on to define Johnson.

Basically, the “race to define” Johnson boils down to this: Democrats would like voters to know about the policies he’s embraced and the things he’s said. Republicans would like voters to rest easy because Johnson doesn’t shout those things a la Jim Jordan, but says them in calm, condescending tones with a gentle smirk on his face.

Hunter wrote that while the House Republicans have a new speaker, the same problems are still there. The federal budget must still pass (a shutdown looms in 16 days). There is still a major farm bill to pass. And any performative bills or insertions into other bills won’t be touched by the Senate.

Presuming the faux Republican moderates eventually cave again, which is what happens every damn time because they are (checks notes) gutless, the most likely scenario is that the House passes an abortion pill ban the Senate won't back, an under-pressure Johnson announces that there will be no reconciliation version, and there simply isn't an agriculture bill for the foreseeable future. Repeat that for every must-pass bill and you can see why a government shutdown is much more likely than not. And Johnson is not known, and has never been known, for negotiating compromises.

He’s also facing many in the far right who want a shutdown. Joan McCarter of Kos reported that though all Republicans voted for Johnson, the moderates are now saying they’re going to grow spines and stand up to Johnson. It will be different from the time they didn’t stand up to McCarthy. Sure. Hunter explained that the nasty guy has made it clear he now owns the House. Eleveld reported that Matt Gaetz, the guy who prompted McCarthy’s ouster, has gotten a taste of power. And he’s going to use it to terrorize his colleagues. His first attack was at Jason Smith, the Republican chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee, by saying Smith “lives a lie every day.” Yep, that sure sounds like Gaetz is outing Smith. And Smith has a history of anti LGBTQ votes.

The predictability of Gaetz taking petty personal swipes at his colleagues shouldn't obscure the significance of what the House GOP's nihilist-in-chief just did: He fired a warning shot at every single one of his Republican colleagues. Gaetz’s message? Don't cross me, or I will come for you in whatever way maximizes your personal pain and jeopardizes your political future.

I’ll close today with Halloween cartoons. Here are a few. One that I like is by Jon Adams of The New Yorker showing young teens in costume approaching a door and see a bowl of candy on the stoop. One of them says, “I’m so tired of self-checkout.”