Hearing how the Right has immediately called for a war with Democrats without knowing who the shooter is or what was their intent, it makes you think they don’t care.
They want Epstein out of the headlines. They want Russia owning Trump out of the headlines.
Roughs, Volume 258 by Clay Jones
Ding-Dong! Roughs are here! Read on Substack
You’re not going to get a new cartoon from me until Sunday. Say what? I’m ahead of schedule with last night’s Charlie Kirk cartoon, dated for September 19. But you will get new content here daily.
I’m in North Bethesda, Maryland for my cartoonist association’s annual convention today, and that’s why I got ahead with work. But I’m going to post stuff about the convention while I’m there. I plan to do at least one Zoom conversation with another cartoonist while at the convention. And today, you’re getting a blog of roughs.
Speaking of the Charlie Kirk cartoon, I got a death threat today. First, it was a death wish, as in, “I hope you and your family get what Charlie Kirk got,” and then it turned into, “you’re easy to find.” I consider that a death threat. And why is he threatening my family? They’re innocent, and in fact, two of them posted on the cartoon on Facebook to tell me I’m disgusting and an asshole. Anyhoos….
DING-DONG! Roughs are here!
I drew this on August 27 and made it a real cartoon a few days later.
I liked it so much that I nearly roughed it out twice.
This was my first idea, and I roughed it out on August 28. By the way, I’m writing this on a train. Let’s blame today’s typos on that.
Here’s another I roughed out twice. This was drawn on August 28.
I even lettered this version. It grew up to become a real cartoon.
this was drawn on August 29 and became a real cartoon. It got comments.
I roughed this out on August 29, and became a real cartoon for the FXBG Advance.
I drew this on September 1, and it became a two-panel cartoon.
I drew this on September 2, and I might like it more than the version I went with.
I was just goofing around with this on September 9. Why do I keep hearing about pickleball?
I roughed this out for the FXBG Advance on September 5. It became a real cartoon.
I liked naming some of my colleagues here, but I thought it was too many words. I roughed this up on September 9.
This was also drawn on September 9, but I went with something else.
I drew this on September 9, it became a real cartoon, and it got a lot of comments. A LOT of comments. I can’t wait for it to land on GoComics, which will be tomorrow.
I just got my idea for the FXBG Advance’s Sunday cartoon approved, but it wasn’t my first idea.
For context, we have some new public schools in this area. I got this idea and emailed it to my editor early this morning (September 11) with the subject line: “How brave are you feeling this morning?” (snip-MORE, both roughs and commentary)
On 9-11-2025 My car shut down while I was driving. I managed to coast to a side road to stop and thankfully I was able to get the car off the main road and to a safe place to stop. Called AAA and then used the app to get a two truck. So I was needing the breakdown lane. Hugs
The below cartoon was done by an extreme right cartoonist who refuses to admit the right doesn’t anything wrong and puts the entire blame for anything wrong on the left / democrats. Notice that in the list of voices the right wing hate media is missing. Hugs
I do not mourn for Kirk. Nor will I sanitize the hate and desire for harm that Kirk spewed. He preached harm for anyone not white Christian straight cis and male. The fact that the very violence and lies he was throwing at others was the cause of the anger at him is something tRump and the right refuses to see or admit. tRump gave a speech where he attacked those who belittle and insult those they disagree with and call them names. Of course he failed to include himself in that list. He spoke of all the republican figures subject to violence from the rhetoric being spoken, but he failed to mention anyone on the left or democrats that had been harmed including the recent democratic state senators and house members. His own son Don Jr joked about the Paul Pelosi attack by a right winger and said his hallowing costume was a hammer and tight whites. But according to tRump it is the left, the entire left that is causing the violence and of course no trans person should have a gun. Hugs
Cartoonists Conspiracy by Clay Jones
See you in Bethesda Read on Substack
22 years ago, at a convention for the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) (probably in Denver, Sacramento, Washington, DC, or Long Island, who can remember these things?), someone mentioned the president. It was 2003, so of course, the president was George W. Bush.
Someone at the bar (because these things are always in a bar) said, “If you think Shrub is dumb, wait until Donald Trump is president. Another cartoonist, probably someone named Steve, replied, “What? Are you out of your gourd? After this disaster of a presidency, there’s no way America would elect another idiot, especially one as vulgar and gross as Donald Trump.”
Then a cartoonist, probably named Matt, said, “But what if we elect a Black guy as president, and he’s decent, kind, accomplished, intelligent, with an equally intelligent wife, and they both have high morals and beautiful and smart daughters, the presidency is hugely successful?” And then a cartoonist named Dick says, “My God, you’re right, Matt!” Another Matt said, “What?” And Dick said, “Not you, Matt. The other Matt.” Other Matt says, “Huh?” Dick says, “Yes, you. You’re right. If we have a Black president and he’s a great success, Republicans and other racists will lose their minds!” (snip-MORE)
Another Trump drawing by Ann Telnaes
Read on Substack
When I first saw Trump’s drawing for Epstein’s birthday book, something immediately caught my eye. Putting aside the horrible context for the sketch, the fact he drew a female body with no head or arms was really disturbing to me.
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Leavitt To Beaver by Clay Jones
The White House says it’s not Trump’s signature on the birthday card Read on Substack
When The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump sent his best friend and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein a card and drawing for his 50th birthday in 2003, Trump said it didn’t exist. It was reported that the drawing was lewd.
Yesterday, we found out that it does exist, as the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the “birthday book” from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. The drawing and note are lewd…and really weird.
The sketch is an outline of a woman’s body with text of an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein. At the bottom, Trump’s signature of just his first name appears to be the drawn woman’s pubic hair. (snip-MORE)
DJTJ Invades Boca Raton by Clay Jones
He should stay in the sewer Read on Substack
This cartoon was drawn for the Boca Raton Tribune. Apparently, Donald Trump Jr’s new real estate firm has plans for Boca Raton, which is already struggling with other tasteless capitalist groups.
Corrections: Please email all typos, boo-boos, and any other mistakes to clayjonz@gmail.com. If you put it in the comments, I may not see it until hours or days later. Thanks.
Creative note: I don’t like the way my trees turned out. I’ll do a better job the next time I have to draw Banyan trees for Boca. (snip-MORE)
Citizenship Blues by Clay Jones
The citizenship test is going to become more difficult Read on Substack
Republicans don’t just hate illegal immigration. They hate most immigration, even legal.
During his first term, Trump complained about people immigrating to the United States from “shithole” countries, and wondered why we couldn’t get more people from nations like Norway. You know, majority White nations.
During the campaign last year, Trump held a fundraiser in Palm Beach with millionaires and bemoaned the lack of immigrants from “nice” countries.
Trump said to the millionaires, “And when I said, you know, ‘Why can’t we allow people to come in from nice countries,’ I’m trying to be nice. Nice countries, you know, like Denmark, Switzerland? Do we have any people coming in from Denmark? How about Switzerland? How about Norway?” You know, White countries.
Except, people from the “nice” countries, like Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway, don’t want to come to an asshole country. These nations are ranked as some of the happiest in the world. Why would they want to come to the angriest? They know we have an ugly orange garden gnome as our leader. Guess what nation they’re talking about when they complain about immigrants from shithole countries.
Trump also complained of criticism over his “shithole countries” comment, saying, “And you know, they took that as a very terrible comment, but I felt it was fine.” Of course, he felt it was fine. It was racist. (snip-MORE)
Zuckerberg just pulled the Meta $600 BILLION investment out of thin air. He lied. It is complete fiction. A hot mic recorded it.
All to appease a rapist pedophile.
(I admit this CI story is some pretty quick thinking/delivery for Republicans. It’ll probably work with the Qanon folk.)
Agent Orange by Clay Jones
Speaker Mike Johnson claims Trump was an FBI informant, spying on Jeffrey Epstein Read on Substack
If you believe Donald Trump was an FBI informant in the Epstein case, then I have a slightly used Venezuelan speedboat I will sell to you…cheap.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson claimed yesterday that Donald Trump was an FBI informant in its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.
Johson was questioned by CNN reporter Manu Raju about how Trump has been using the term “hoax” a lot in regard to Epstein. Johnson argued that it was not about downplaying Epstein’s abuse of underage girls, but attacks and accusations against Trump’s relationship with Epstein.
Johnson said, “What Trump is referring to is the hoax that the Democrats are using to try to attack him.” But why would Trump use that regarding a press conference last week of survivors of Epstein, where nobody accused Trump of any wrongdoing? That doesn’t make sense, unless Trump was trying to intercept something he believed they would accuse him of. (snip-there are more than 3 comics here, so commentary is snipped, but Highly Recommended Reading.)
Crystal Ball, Fake Ball, Hoax Ball, Woke Ball by Clay Jones
It’s Abigail’s race to lose Read on Substack
This cartoon was drawn for the FXBG Advance.
The Advance wrote this to go with my cartoon today: “The races for Lt. Governor and Attorney General are tightening, but the race for governor in Virginia as we head into early voting — it begins September 19 — looks about as one-sided as a governor’s race in Virginia is likely to get in the current political environment. Abigail Spanberger has consistently been at least 5 points ahead of her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears, in every poll to this point. No one is suggesting landslide-like numbers of Spanberger (even Mark Robinson polled 40% in the North Carolina gubernatorial election in 2024 — and candidates don’t get much worse than Robinson), but this is her race to lose. When numbers don’t go the Republicans’ way these days, how do they respond? Blame the messenger. Clay Jones has noticed.”
I did notice.
I was hanging out at J. Brian’s Tap Room last week, and a stranger sat next to me and started chatting. I guess I have one of those faces.
Anywhosies, I forgot what topic he started with, but for some weird reason, he started talking about the governor’s race. He’s from Virginia but lives in Florida, and golly gee whiskers, he sure did think Florida was a great place. He described himself as a moderate who leans right, which means he’s downplaying it and is a MAGAt. But he was nice. A little dense and outside reality, but nice.
At one point, he said, “See? Two people who disagree on politics can have a civil conversation.” And I replied, “Yeah? See how civil I’ve been despite you being full of shit and gaslight?” Warning, it’s not just online where I don’t tolerate bullshit. I won’t start screaming at you, but if you dish out bullshit to me in the real world, I’ll tell you what I think. I’m not afraid of MAGA fuckers. (snip-MORE)
Exhibition in Norway by Ann Telnaes
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting or living in Norway Read on Substack
The Museene i Akershus (MIA) just opened an exhibition of my work and is offering a number of prints for sale. It runs from September 6 – October 12, 2025.
Epstein File Missile Strike by Clay Jones
Would Trump conduct a missile strike to keep the Epstein Files covered up? Read on Substack
I can’t figure out why Trump and Nicolás Maduro are not besties yet. And I say “yet” because at one time, Trump and Kim Jong Un were at each other’s throats, figuratively.
Maduro is a dictator, which is what Trump is trying to be. He has manipulated the courts to increase his power. He has dismantled democratic institutions that would challenge his authority. His legislature is a mere puppet to pass his agenda. He’s crashed his economy. He runs sham elections. He doesn’t seem to want to ever leave office. He’s serving a third term. He stayed in office despite losing an election. He surrounded himself with sycophants and lickspittles. He’s suppressing opposition. He describes all accusations against him as hoaxes. He likes to glorify himself as all dictators do. He uses the military to maintain his power. His government has seized corporations. He’s friends with Vladimir Putin. He’s even survived assassination attempts. And like Trump, most of his constituents hate him.
Why Maduro isn’t eating chocolate cake at MAGA-Lardo is beyond me. But instead, Trump hates the guy, and we may soon be at war with Venezuela. (snip-MORE)
Department of Bone Spurs by Clay Jones
Trump is renaming the Defense Department Read on Substack
Do we have a military for defense or to wage war? President Harry Truman, who made the decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, believed it was for defense. Truman signed the law that turned the War Department into the Defense Department. Today, Donald Trump plans to sign an Executive Order to revert the Defense Department back to the War Department. Does anyone think Donald Trump is smarter or a better president than Harry Truman?
Just like the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” this is a stupid idea. When Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico, he told the world that America was xenophobic. Now, he’s telling the world that America has a tiny penis.
We are always prepared to defend our nation, which is why “Defense” is appropriate, and hopefully, more accurate. “War” means we’re either at war or looking for a fight. Remember when Trump boasted about not getting us into any foreign wars? And “War” is a bad look for a guy lobbying for a Nobel Peace Prize. (snip-MORE)
Scottie's Playtime 