Cartoons: men in the hot seat

With so many women stepping forward, I'm guessing just about every man in America is in the hot seat.

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Scott Stantis, The Week

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Of course, those on the distaff side have been there for a long time.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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My apologies if my references to gender are poorly worded; it's increasingly difficult to know how to talk about men, women, and those self-identified.

-- Marge

Cartoons: American politics as seen today

If the constant barrage of Trumpisms and Trump-tropes is getting you down, take a look at Paste Magazine's "How to Survive Trump: A 7-step Guide for Those Who Can't Move to Canada." You could also try taping the cartoon below to your wall. However, it would work better as an affirmation when stated, "This circus closes soon."

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: news-worthy news

Trump's firing Comey was the move that broke my inaction. If you think Trump should go, sign up at Impeach Trump Now.

During the ascension of Trump we've learned a number of things. Such as anyone, including the Democrats, can have a white whale in her/his life.

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Nate Beeler, The Week

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The short view (vs. the long view) will eventually bite you in the a**.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Trump bears no resemblance to what a good president is/was.

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Steve Benson, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: brutality in the aisle

Just to be clear, United Flight 3411--the one where Dr. David Dao was ejected--was not overbooked (money.cnn.com, usatoday.com, inc.com, and forbes.com). Christine Negroni in the Forbes article says:

On Tuesday, United appeared to acknowledge that this was not technically an overbooked flight. And the reason for that equivocation is also clear. The four airline employees who needed the seats, presented themselves to the gate agent after the flight was boarded. Further, they were not fare-paying passengers, therefore not "booked."

Some argue this parsing of words is irrelevant and that the airline's contract of carriage is meant to be applied more broadly. Not true. Airlines are required to present bumped passengers with the written document explaining their rights. I would not bet on the success of a legal argument that begins, "what the document intended to express."

 So much for legalities, here are some cartoonists' takes on the incident.

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Nate Beeler, The Week

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Drew Sheneman, The Week

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Jack Ohman, The Week

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And, if only...

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: Say good-bye to Big Bird

If the federal budget as currently proposed passes, Big Bird, National Public Radio (NPR), and support for local art projects may go away: Trump's Budget Plan Cuts Funding For Arts, Humanities And Public Media. These aren't the only proposed cuts, but the ones that strike me hardest.

"Millions of Americans depend on their local public radio station for the fact-based, objective, public service journalism they need to stay informed about the world and about the news in their own communities. Public media serves the public interest with essential educational, news and cultural programming not found anywhere else, as well as vital information during local and regional emergencies. Federal funding is an essential ingredient to making this possible." -- NPR COO Loren Mayor 

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Gary Varvel, The Week 

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Speaking of strikes, Trump's hit a lot closer to home than Obama's did.

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Tom Toles, The Week

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So who's running the White House: Trump or Bannon?

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Drew Sheneman, The Week

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Am I being paranoid or is the aim of Trump's billionaire cabinet to take total and absolute control?

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Bill Day, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: next, the impeachment

No doubt some (the protesters) are saying Trump's Inauguration was a success and some (his supporters) are saying it was spoiled by the protesters. At any rate he's been sworn in and the CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) says he's now eligible for impeachment.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Setting up the Inaugural ball appears to have been difficult, with a number of performers declining to appear. Here's what NPR has to say about it: For The Inauguration, Trump's Music Picks Look A Lot Like Richard Nixon's.

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David Horsey, The Week

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Those of us on the sidelines may be feeling like a great shadow has fallen across America.

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John Cole, The Week

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And the threat of Russian interference still hangs in the air.

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RJ Matson, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: Trump's first war is with the press

Trump, the guy who appointed the former head of Breibart, known propagator of conspiracy theories, as chief strategist and senior counselor, loves to accuse any reporter who challenges him of reporting "fake news."

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Meanwhile, Trump is winning GOP converts with Cabinet picks.

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Tom Toles, The Week

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Jack Ohman, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: Christmas turmoil

Today I'm looking at some not-so-sweet aspects of Christmas.

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Walt Handelsman, The Week

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Pat Bagley, The Week

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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May you find what you want this Christmas. Or, at the least, what you need.

-- Marge

Cartoons: is there a mystery candidate?

Batten down the hatches, the GOP convention starts Monday in Cleveland. It should be quite a show.

In 2012 the Onion published a video, GOP Introduces New "Mystery Candidate" With Paper Bag Over Head. The text of the article reads "Republicans will reveal the identity of the Mystery Candidate only after he, or she, wins the election." Cartoonist Bob Gorrell remembers.

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Bob Gorrell, The Week

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Trump will go into the convention with his new running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. (Be aware, Hillary's campaign ads are posted smack dab in the middle of the article.)

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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So, is the GOP deceased?

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Tom Toles, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: open carry

Today's collection looks at our response to the Zika virus threat; VA health-care lines compared to standing in line at Disney World; and Wall Street crime.

It's open carry against mosquitoes now. Consumer Report asks Does 'Natural' Mosquito Repellent Work?

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Nate Beeler, The Week

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VA Secretary McDonald recently compared health-care lines to Disney.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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News just in: Wall Street Crime: 7 Years, 156 Cases and Few Convictions

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David Horsey, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: heart of darkness

Today's mix looks at Wall Street, currency, wrongdoing in office, and the Republicans' mid-July convention.

The central role of Wall Street is ...

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David Horsey, The Week

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The word 'contention' works better, in my view.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Those who covered up the problems with water in Flint, Michigan, may pay: ..Criminal charges against three state and city workers. Considering that they're white and good ol' boys, they may not.

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Joe Heller, The Week

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So, whose face will be on the new $20 bill? Here's everything to know about the new paper money: Q&A: Harriet Tubman, Alexander Hamilton and the Currency Redesign. No, the Republicans didn't refuse Harriet Tubman; it's Merrick Garland they're not willing to consider yet.

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Mike Luckovich, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: please like me

Life in America is a curiouser and curiouser. Take for example the topics of these cartoons: Sarah P. endorses Donald T.; oil brings the stock market down, then back up; 67% of the voters are angry; and business in the like-me era.

Sarah P. + Donald T.

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Steve Sack, The Week

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Oil + US stock market.
News today--Crude oil has finally stopped crashing -- and that's excellent news for the stock market.

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Steve Breen, The Week

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Voters | Republicans
Pollster Rasmussen Reports reports Most Voters Are Still Angry.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Then there's business as it's practiced today...

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Andy Singer, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: Broken politics and American heart

Today there's a cartoon about Jeb!, one on D. Trump and the GOP, one on the US budget and one looking at the real Americans. They're pretty much self-explanatory and chosen for hints of humor.

Jeb spoke out in the recent Republican debate and there's hope his campaign may be revived. Here's the transcript.

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Dana Summers, The Week 

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Now that Trump has allied himself with the GOP, will the GOP nominate him to run for president?

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Everybody on the bus, today we ride for free.

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RJ Matson, The Week

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Where do politics and opinion end and the real America begin?

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Pat Bagley, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: walls real and conceptual

Today's cartoons are about walls, ones intended to separate people physically and ones that appear to separate. Wall Street is its own phenomenon.

China's economic woes (see The Great Fall of China) are causing quite a stir on Wall Street.

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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D. Trump wants to wall out Mexicans any way he can. Click this link for more of Trump's views on the issues this election.

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Steve Breen, The Week

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Many feel the NRA's stance (and lobby) on gun rights contributes to gun violence.

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Mike Luckovich, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: so many options, some down the drain

Greece's economic crisis is big news with editorial cartoonists now, followed by Trump's racist comments, and Hillary's manipulations of the truth, whatever it is. Here are the editorial pieces that caught my attention.

Glitch Freezes NYSE Trading for Hours (Wall Street Journal).

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Nate Beeler, The Week

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Confederate flag comes down on South Carolina’s statehouse grounds (The Washington Post).

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Jack Ohman, The Week

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Greek Economy Under Siege, With Fears That the Worst Is Coming (The New York Times). The Huffington Post echoes other reports on ...The Terrible State Of Greece's Austerity Economy...

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Steve Sack, The Week

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Meanwhile, GOP candidate Chris Christie Bypassed Traffic In New Hampshire With Sirens: 'Bridgegate' Gov Doesn't Get Stuck In Traffic Jams (International Business Times).

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: I identify as...

Rachel Dolezal told Matt Lauer, "I identify as black." Her statement has struck a chord with at least two cartoonists.

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David Horsey, The Week

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Nate Beeler, The Week

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Meanwhile, we been trumped. And Jebbed.

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Chan Lowe, The Week

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Gary Varvel, The Week

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Does it really matter who's president anyway?

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RJ Matson, The Week

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-- Marge