The 'Usual' Narrative: What's *really* going on and why you're still falling for it

The January Jolt: When Will the Chaos End?

So, the government giveth, and the government taketh away… or at least delays. This whole Social Security payment shuffle for December? Total clown show. We're talking about people's livelihoods here, not some damn tech demo that can be "patched" later.

See, SSI folks are gonna get two payments in December – one on the 1st, normal enough, and another on the 31st. Sounds great, right? Free money! Except that second payment is actually for January. Which means come January 30th, 2026, those same people are gonna be staring at their empty bank accounts wondering where their lifeline went. December’s Social Security payments won’t arrive as usual: Here’s why

Talk about a kick in the teeth, especially after the holidays. It's like dangling a carrot and then yanking it away just as they're about to take a bite.

And the reason? Oh, it's because January 1st is a holiday. As if these folks don't have enough to worry about without the calendar conspiring against them.

The COLA Charade

Then there's this "generous" 2.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Please. Let’s be real, that ain't gonna cover the rising cost of… well, anything. Groceries? Forget about it. Healthcare? You're better off consulting a shaman. Rent? You’re dreaming. It's like throwing a bucket of water on a house fire and expecting it to do something.

"Increased payments for the average recipient [will increase] by $56 per month." Fifty-six bucks. That's, what, two lattes a week? Maybe three if you skip the fancy syrup. It's insulting.

They parade this COLA around like it's some grand gesture, while inflation continues to eat away at people's savings and purchasing power. Are people really supposed to be grateful for this?

Honestly, it feels like watching Kirk Ferentz’s press conferences. All choked up and emotional, but at the end of the day, the offense still can't score. Speaking of Ferentz, that dude's been extra weepy lately. Some folks are wondering if he's about to hang up the headset. All that emotion...it reminds me of my uncle after too much whiskey at Thanksgiving. Is he retiring? Who knows. But at least his players seem to think he's sticking around for awhile longer. Maybe. Kirk Ferentz more emotional than usual causes speculation about his future

The Nigerian Nightmare

And while we're on the topic of things falling apart, let's hop over to Nigeria for a sec. School abductions are now just "defining insecurity" over there? 303 kids and 12 teachers snatched from a Catholic school? This isn't a news story anymore; it's a damn genre.

"Armed gangs see schools as ‘strategic’ targets to draw more attention." Strategic? What in the actual hell? Schools are supposed to be sanctuaries, not bargaining chips. And these aren't just random thugs; we're talking about Boko Haram and other militant groups who think education is some kind of Western plot.

Trump's claims of targeted killings against Christians? Maybe he's onto something, maybe he's just stirring the pot. Doesn't really matter at this point, does it? The chaos is the point.

It's just… everything is so messed up.

Piggy This

Oh, and speaking of messes, let's not forget Trump calling that reporter "piggy." Real classy, Don. Real classy.

“Quiet, piggy,” he told a female reporter, pointing his finger at her angrily.

That’s what our political discourse has devolved into. Name-calling and playground insults from the highest office in the land. And the White House doubling down on it? Saying the reporter "behaved in an inappropriate and unprofessional way?" Give me a break.

It's almost impressive how consistently he manages to find new ways to be awful. But then again, maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy.

Can't We Just Have One Damn Normal Month?