(1736) With Labor Day over in the US, politics is light-on today and all we have here is Portsmouth … important, yes, but think we might have covered it. So I’m in Gab just now, seeing what’s going on.
21. Back to X
20. Over in Britain
19. Moo revisited
18. Lainey
Please note that members of the House of Representatives have worked 81 DAYS this year.
Let’s give a little perspective here – A typical Monday–Friday employee, after federal holidays, would have worked roughly 170 days during the same period.
 So House members have spent less than half as many days in Washington as a conventional full-time employee has spent at work.
And their 2026 schedule just got shorter. House leadership canceled voting for the weeks of September 21 and September 28. After the current break, members are scheduled for only four more legislative days, September 14–17, before the November 3 election.
In regards to lodging/per diem reimbursement, here’s a “fun fact” –
The House allows members to claim Washington lodging on qualifying days, up to the applicable GSA rate. And, unusually, they don’t have to provide lodging receipts if they certify that they incurred the eligible expense.
This year will be the one with the least number of days in Congress for the House Oc Representatives.
Tell me, are you OK with this?
(and this is not even getting into the overall reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, including staff, etc., and that we’re going to have this year)
Did you know this?
Congress appropriated $849,834,914.41 for the 2026 Members’ Representational Allowance. That’s the official figure, not an estimate.
Divided across 435 voting districts, that’s about $1.95 million per district on average, although individual allowances differ because things such as distance from Washington (related to travel/lodging/per diem).
Are we getting what we are paying for?
17. Mintwolf
Should you get any vaccine? A few months ago my Dr. recommended that I get the flu, measles, pneumonia vax’s. Without giving a yes or no answer, I asked that he send the vaccination nurse in (at the clinic, this is all she does, is give vaccinations) as I had a couple of questions. When she came in, she started with her assurance that these were totally safe, and that she has been doing this for 6 years. I asked her what was in the vaccinations. She looked at me kind of crabby and said she didn’t know. Let that sink in, 5+ yrs. giving vaccines and has no idea what is in them. This really happened and I declined.
16. Diamond and Silk
Nike is officially being removed from the S&P 100 index before trading opens on September 21, 2026! After a nearly 18-year run, the company’s shares have plummeted 76-79% from their November 2021 peak.
With over $200 billion wiped from its market cap and controversial marketing campaigns sparking debate, what’s next for the iconic brand?