Trump’s Claim re: Chicago
Apparently, there is a shopping mall in Chicago with a 28% vacancy rate. I’m not an expert in commercial real estate, but that doesn’t sound terrible, given what I’ve seen the few times I’ve had the misfortune to be in such a facility. They seem like ghost towns (see pic below).
The popularity of shopping malls has been falling over the last couple of decades, exacerbated by e-commerce and finally COVID-19, which had a crippling effect on top of America’s falling affinity for this type of shopping experience.
Making Trump’s claim even less supportable is the fact that the crime rate in Chicago is not rising. An AI overview:
Chicago’s overall crime rate is higher than the U.S. average, with a total crime rate of 4,012.2 per 100,000 people and a violent crime rate of 539.8 per 100,000 people. However, recent data from November 2025 show significant decreases in violent crime, including a 24% drop in homicides and shootings, and a 41% drop in robberies compared to the same period in 2024. The city’s violent crime rate has increased over the past decade, largely driven by increases in vehicle thefts and assaults, although some reports show an overall decrease in violent crime for 2023 and 2024.
Even through the barrage of nonstop lies, Trump somehow manages to maintain the support of 33% of American voters. It’s hard to imagine how this is possible.
There is so much we don’t know about all the moving parts that affect regulating our planet’s climate.
Re: the “one simple question” posed at left, it’s not that easy.
Regardless of what Jeffrey Epstein said about Trump, most of his supporters believe he’s a saint.
The meme here is from the “Daily Patriot Report,” and undoubtedly this idea will appeal to some folks.
What makes life here in the United States so interesting is the vast amount of horsecrap we’re fed on a daily basis.
It’s interesting to watch the slow but steady fall of the president’s approval rating, as folks “jump ship.”
I found this (at left) interesting. But how does one “develop creative skills, create value, and learn how to solve problems?” If the author has answers here, please provide them.
The “Chris” referred to here is Chris Pappas, a person I know nothing about, other than that he’s a Democrat trying to prevent his state from voting in a Republican senator.
Those of you who have seen Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” will remember the scene in which young (9 years old?) Alvy Singer is so depressed about the ultimate fate of the Earth/universe (see clip below) that he cannot function and refuses to do his homework (“What’s the point?”). Even a kindly psychologist hired by his mother fails to console him.
