Retiring Guy's Digest: 2026-03-29

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Latest University of Michigan Survey of Consumers reveals drop in confidence due to Trump War of Whimsy

Headline and graph: Survey of Consumers

Joanne Hsu reports:

Consumer sentiment fell back 6% this month to its lowest level since December 2025. Declines were seen across age and political party. Consumers with middle and higher incomes and stock wealth, buffeted by both escalating gas prices and volatile financial markets in the wake of the Iran conflict, exhibited particularly large drops in sentiment. Overall, the short-run economic outlook plunged 14%, and year-ahead expected personal finances sank 10%, while declines in long-run expectations were more subdued. These patterns suggest that, at this time, consumers may not expect recent negative developments to persist far into the future. These views are subject to change, however, if the Iran conflict becomes protracted or if higher energy prices pass through to overall inflation. Interviews for this release were collected between February 17 and March 23, with about two-thirds completed after the start of the US military conflict in Iran. [emphasis added]

Related posts:

March 16-31, 2026

Q: What's the difference between Vietnam and Iran? (3/28)

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander gives it straight to South Dakota audience: Trump War of Whimsey is not going well. (3/28)

New York Times mistakes Trump's mental incompetence for "freestyle diplomacy". (3/27)

"Dear Media, stop acting like Trump means what he says" (Iran War edition). (3/24)

Dear New York Times, Have you considered the possibility that Trump "dizzying turnabouts" have everything to do with his mental health and cognitive decline? Best, Retiring Guy (3/18)

March 11-15, 2026

Donald Trump is not a details person (Iran War edition). (3/13)

Sleepy Don started a most unpopular war. (3/12)

First tariffs, now war in Iran. Trump is fucking over American farmers big time. (3/13)

Meet Chris Wright, clown serving as Trumps energy secretary. (3/12)

March 6-10, 2026

Sycophants at Fox News give Trump cover with old news clip for his disrespect of slain soldiers. (3/9)

Thanks to Trump War of Whimsy, you are now paying more at the pump. (3/9)

Trump War of Whimsy on Iran: From "yours to take" to "unconditional surrender". (3/8)

Donald Trump foolishly takes Randy Newman's advice: You can leave your hat on. (3/8)

Stranded in the Middle East? Sorry, folks, Trump doesn't give a shit about you. (3/7)

Crude oil futures up 35% since start of Iran "conflict". (3/6)

GOP as a bag of pretzels. (3/6)

March 1-5. 2026

Thanks to Trump's War of Whimsy against Iran, the price of crude oil has recently shot up 22%. (3/5)

War of Whimsey aided and abetted by cowering and caving GOP. (3/5)

Pete Hegseth at the podium: This is exactly what an authoritarian's henchman and fulltime sycophant would say. (3/4)

When it comes to Trump breaking news, transcribers @nytimes are at the ready. (3/4)

Thanks to Trump, price of oil spikes like a bad fever. You’ll soon be feeling the chill at the gas pump — if not already . (3/3)

Apparently, coordination is not Pete Hegseth's strong suit. (3/2).

Corporate media needs to stop acting like Trump means what he says (Iran War edition). (3/2)

February 2026

Donald Trump: Not a details guy (Attacking Iran edition). (2/26)

This is how they do things in Toms River Township New Jersey

Headline: NBC Philadelphia, 3/27/2026

Cherise Lynch reports:

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, around 8:10 p.m., officers from the Toms River Township Police Department responded to the Ocean County Mall on Hooper Avenue for a report of a shooting.

When officers got to the scene, officials said they found a 17-year-old boy suffering from a single gunshot wound to his face. The boy was transported to a nearby hospital and listed in stable condition.

Officials reported that an investigation revealed the boy was sitting in a common area of the Ocean County Mall when he was confronted by an individual attempting to provoke a confrontation.

As this individual began to walk away, he turned and fired multiple gunshots in the boy's direction, with one of the bullets striking the boy in the face, police said. The suspect then fled the scene.

Further investigation has revealed that a child was responsible for the shooting.

Best shit show in America is currently running in Toms River New Jersey. (3/26/2026)

Fracas in Toms River, New Jersey; Not a lot of smiles in council chambers anymore. (3/20/2026)

It's open season on the Bari Weiss Clown Show and its enablers

Even techdirt has joined the party!

Headline: techdirt, 3/27/2026

Karl Bode takes the gloves off:

When right wing billionaire Larry Ellison (and his nepobaby kid David) hired trolling blogger Bari Weiss to run CBS News, Weiss arrived with the promise of “balanced, fact-based news,” “independent, principled journalism,” and a unique “entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision” that would completely modernize the network and reach the “everyday Americans” traditionally ignored by mainstream media.

As we noted at the time, that was all bullshit code for turning CBS into yet another outlet that panders to global autocrats, normalizes far right wing extremism, coddles corporate power, and generally shits all over progressive societal reforms.

Weiss wasn’t a journalist, had no serious journalism experience, isn’t good at journalism, and wasn’t hired to do journalism. She was hired specifically to do ratings-grabbing, viral, right wing friendly agitprop which the Ellisons mistakenly seemed to think there was a massive market for. But unfortunately for Weiss, she’s not good at that either.

And it’s just observationally true that nobody actually wants what CBS’ new ownership is selling. [emphasis added]

According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of 'agitprop', as in PROPAGANDA, occurred in 1925.

Other coinages from the same year include:

bail out
bench jockey
fellow traveler
headbutt
hilarious
hot seat
miscast
nervous Nellie

Related posts:

March 2026

Bari Weiss Clown Show runs CBS News into the ground. (3/25)

MAGA-infused Bari Weiss takes a wrecking ball to CBS News. (3/20)

And who is responsible for this debacle in the first place? That would be the Bari Weiss Clown Show! (3/19)

Ratings for the CBS Evening News Clown Show plummet since hiring of Tony Dokoupil. (3/18)

MAGA-infused Bari Weiss Clown Show takes GOP hypocrisy -- and CBS News -- to new lows. (3/4)

Bari Weiss Clown Show moves the needle to the right @CBSNews. (3/1)

February 2026

According to UCLA, the future of journalism is a clown show. (2/26)

Anderson Cooper "60 Minutes" departure provides an opening at the Bari Weiss Clown Show. (2/22)

11 of 40 CBS News staffers flee Bari Weiss Clown Show. (2/13)

CBS News honcho Bari Weiss finds her star hire in the hot seat. (2/1)

January 2026

Bari Weiss new hire as contributor at CBS News is a well-known quack. (1/31)

MAGA-coded Bari Weiss continues to flail at CBS News. (1/28)

It hasn't been a good year so far for MAGA-coded Bari Weiss at CBS News. (1/23)

Why is Bari Weiss picking on Gayle King, whos been with the network for more than years? (1/22)

See the funny little clown. (1/21)

Bari Weiss and the Tony Dokoupil CBS Evening News Clown Show humiliation ritual. (1/18)

Bari Weiss gets kissy face with Sleepy Don. (1/17)

More Bari Weiss Clown Show shenanigans at CBS News. (1/16)

The Bari Weiss and Tony Dokoupil Clown Show at CBS News is not going over well with viewers. (1/15)

Tony Dokoupil Clown Show a ratings disaster for CBS News. (1/14)

Hire a clown, expect a circus (Bari Weiss CBS News editiona0. (1/14)

2025

Watch the "60 Minutes" CECOT Segment. (12/23)

CBS News censorship: Media undertaker Bari Weiss strangles the last breath of life out of "60 Minutes". (12/22)

Looks like Bari Weiss forced CBS News to chase a dream yesterday. (11/5)

The Bari Weiss Clown Show era has arrived at a severely tarnished CBS. (11/3)

CBS has a history of Trump sycophancy. (10/17)

Dear Jessica Testa @nytimes: Make that CBS's tarnished crown jewel. Best, Retiring Guy. (10/7)

All you need to know about CBS News. (10/6)

Paramount/CBS statement on cancellation of Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show".

(7/18)

Servile CBS remains in thrall to Donald Trump (Alligator Alcatraz concentration camp edition). (7/5)

Running scared, Mickey Mouse legacy network CBS bows down, releases fawning Trump poll. (2/12)

White House press corps is in a Leslie Moonves kinda of mood. (1/23)

2024

Former CBS exec Leslie Moonves spilled the beans about news media priorities 9 years ago: Democracy, meh! "throwing crap", YEE-HAW!!!!! (11/10)

2023

WATCH LIVE!!! Mainstream media savors its Leslie Moonves Trump moment: "It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for us". (6/13)

2018

CBS makes a damn good decision about Leslie Moonves severance. (12/18)

Good riddance to Leslie Moonves, Donald Trump enabler. (9/17)

2016

Why TV executives LOVE Donald Trump. (10/7)

2015

And you wonder why we get nothing but fluff from the mainstream media!. (12/10)

MISCREANT PREACHERS: Child abuse in the Name of the Lord (#287 in a series)

Photo and headline: Henryetta Free-Lance, 3/27/2026

Patrick Ford reports:

An Okmulgee pastor, who also serves on the Okmulgee City Council, was arrested on a felony warrant stemming from a child abuse investigation involving an incident at a local church, according to court documents.

Marcus Davy Jeffrey, 63, is charged in Okmulgee County District Court with one count of child abuse, a Class A3 felony. The charge relates to an alleged incident on Nov. 12, 2025, during a youth gathering at Eastside Baptist Church in Okmulgee.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, the Okmulgee Police Department requested assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Special Agent Melissa Jackson was assigned to investigate and reviewed both a police report and video surveillance from inside the church sanctuary.

Investigators allege Jeffrey, who identified himself as the church’s lead pastor and had recently taken over youth group teaching duties, struck multiple juveniles with a belt.

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." (Psalm 127:3)

Other miscreant preachers (which cover a multitude of sins):.

March 2026

Misi Tagaloa. (3/28)

Da'Qwone Hill. (3/27)

Zachary King. (3/26)

Bienvenido Lopez. (3/25)

James Randolph. (3/24)

Craig and Megan Hagin. (3/23)

Aidan Smith. (3/22)

Laurence LaPointe. (3/21)

Curtiss Tolefree Jr. (3/19)