Whiter Shade of Refugee Edition

America’s golden doors have swung open — but only for the melanin-deficient. The Trump administration, which has largely slammed the gates shut on war-torn refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, or anywhere Trump has designated a “shithole country,” has made a heartwarming exception: white South African farmers fleeing the unspeakable hardship of... potential land redistribution.

While 12,000 vetted refugees from actual conflict zones are ghosted at the terminal, Afrikaners are being whisked into America faster than you can say “model minority.” Their new homeland? Idaho—a land of potatoes, patriotism, and 92.5% racial comfort.

These newcomers, whose ancestors once architected apartheid, are now rebranded as victims of “reverse racism.” Trump, always the humanitarian, personally green-lit this agrarian airlift, proclaiming the farmers were being “brutally killed” (statistically not really) and “having their land stolen” (finally, some irony).

Church groups aren’t having it — one even ended a 40-year partnership with the feds rather than play a role in this selective sainthood. Meanwhile, desperate Afghans who served alongside U.S. troops are told to enjoy Taliban hospitality once again.

The pièce de résistance? Government officials greeted the Afrikaners like they were sowing the seeds of American greatness. “You’re quality seeds,” one gushed, echoing a certain Blut und Boden aesthetic we thought had been left in the dustbin of history.

So if you’re fleeing genocide, war, or repression, better make sure your skin tone matches your paperwork.

By Lalo Alcaraz (Andrews McMeel)

By Nick Anderson (Nick’s Substack newsletter)

by Pedro Molina (Counterpoint Media)

And now on to other timely topics…

By Rob Rogers (Andrews McMeel)

By Lisa Benson (Counterpoint Media)

By Michael Ramirez (Creators)

By Mike Luckovich (Creators)

By Jeff Danziger (Counterpoint Media)

Our final cartoon by Steve Breen (Creators) refers to the new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. In Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, Tapper and Thompson present a deeply reported investigation into President Joe Biden’s physical and cognitive deterioration during his presidency — and how his inner circle worked to shield that reality from the public.

Based on over 200 interviews, the book portrays a White House increasingly dominated by loyalists and family members who isolated Biden from criticism, discouraged dissent, and dismissed concerns from allies, staffers, and journalists about his fitness for office. The authors argue that this "cover-up" enabled Biden to pursue a second term even as his health visibly worsened, contributing directly to his disastrous debate performance in 2024, his eventual withdrawal from the race, and Donald Trump's return to power.

Key Takeaways:

• Sharp Decline: The authors document a dramatic decline in Biden’s communication abilities and physical stamina between 2022 and 2024. Reports include shortened speeches, shrinking vocabulary, and moments of confusion. Some aides even considered the possibility of needing a wheelchair if he won a second term.

• A Culture of Denial: Biden’s family and a tight circle of aides — dubbed “the Politburo” by the authors — played a central role in minimizing or denying the president’s decline. The book suggests they filtered negative information, discouraged open discussion, and discredited those who raised concerns.

• Ignored Warnings: Despite widespread voter perception by 2023 that Biden was too old to serve, Democratic leaders failed to intervene or challenge his candidacy. The book blames party leadership for ignoring warning signs and squandering the chance to nominate a more viable candidate.

• Impact on 2024: Tapper and Thompson argue that Biden’s decision to seek reelection — despite previous suggestions he would serve only one term — was the “original sin” of the 2024 election. It limited the party’s options and left Vice President Kamala Harris scrambling to lead a fractured campaign after Biden’s late exit.

• Early Signs: The book traces signs of Biden’s decline back to as early as 2015, following the death of his son Beau. During the 2020 campaign, Biden reportedly required significant support and teleprompters to navigate interviews and public appearances.

Ultimately, Original Sin presents Biden’s reelection bid as a political and institutional failure, shaped by denial, misplaced loyalty, and fear of dissent within the Democratic Party—leading to consequences that reshaped the nation’s political landscape.