Sometimes you can't be serious

There is a lot to talk about with Rex Huppke

America’s most beloved columnist

Rex Huppke approaches his work with a dry wit and tongue firmly planted in his cheek. He’s become a national name after writing for the Chicago Tribune and national syndication for 19 years before joining USA Today as an opinion writer last year. He takes on tough issues and shines a humorous mirror on them like few others.

We discussed many of them in the latest episode of the podcast from Trump’s mugshot being hawked as a positive thing for his campaign to Vivek Remaswamy’s hucksterism and lies. The spin has become absolutely insane with Fox News hosts and contributors fielding the absolute most racist ideas that the mugshot is leading to a rise in Black American support for Trump because they respect accused criminals.

On the serious side, as we recorded the show Hurricane Idalia was making its way across the state of Florida and there was a horrific racist mass shooting in Jacksonville forcing Ron DeSantis to go home and do his actual job and sending Casey out to bore audiences in South Carolina. What’s next for him and all of the Republican field is a constant question.

We face very serious times but also have to find ways to laugh or we will all go insane. This episode does a little bit of both.

The show

Rex Huppke

Rex is a national opinion columnist at USA TODAY where he occasionally writes mildly amusing columns on the news of the day. Before joining USA Today he was with the Chicago Tribune for an interminably long time of 19 years. Huppke started his working life as a chemical engineer before stumbling into a less distinguished career in writing by way of a master’s degree from our own University of Missouri Graduate School of Journalism. One of Rex’s greatest contributions to civil discourse and the good of the nation is his annual ‘Insult-a-Columnist’ drive for local food banks across the country which he hopes to continue this holiday season. Be sure to look for it and follow him on the usual social channels including X/Twitter Rex Huppke.

You can find all of his latest pieces at USA Today as well.

Trump will be the nominee

As much as there is a fantasy otherwise, Donald Trump is likely to be the Republican nominee for President. The crowded field isn’t coming close to pealing off significant support for him and most seem to be running to succeed him less than replace him. There is a cold calculation that he will be jailed or ineligible and they will inherit the MAGA fandom. It’s all a fantasy. Morning Consult’s latest weekly poll shows just how so. It will be an interesting campaign season.

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My latest for MeidasTouch

Republicans are desperately trying to save Donald Trump and proposing ever more ludicrous ideas to do it.