Trump’s fascist fetish by Ann Telnaes
A huge banner of Trump is hung on USDA building Read on Substack
Open Windows
Tag: Comics
That Time of Year
Car Repairs
Brazen Corruption
Bone Spurs meets Bone Saw by Clay Jones
How does Trump sleep? Probably with a lot of fartin’ and snorin’. Read on Substack
Donald Trump loves asskissers because he is an asskisser. That explains why his lips are constantly puckered.
During his speech in Saudi Arabia at the Investment Forum, he spent a good portion of it waxing non-eloquently about the awesomeness of Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince.
Trump said, “Riyadh is becoming not just a seat of government but a major business, cultural, and high-tech capital of the entire world.”
MBS was sitting in the audience directly across from Trump, and Trump asked rhetorically, “Mohammed, do you sleep at night? How do you sleep? Critics doubted that it was possible, what you’ve done, but over the past eight years, Saudi Arabia has proved the critics totally wrong.”
“He’s your greatest representative, greatest representative. And if I didn’t like him, I’d get out of here so fast. You know that, don’t you? He knows me well. I do — I like him a lot. I like him too much.”
The crowd applauded and giggled as Trump flirted with the man who directed the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist living in the United States for his safety. The crowd was made up of the world’s most powerful CEOs, like Jensen Huang, Larry Fink, and Sir Shit-for-Brains Elon Musk. So naturally, this audience lacked morals and integrity. What’s a little murder when it comes to making billions of dollars? These people, like Trump and MBS, aren’t the biggest fans of journalists.
I shouldn’t have to refresh your memory, but just in case, in 2018, Jamal Khashoggi was lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, murdered and hacked up with bone saws by Saudi agents on the orders of Trump’s buddy, Mohammed Bin Salman.
After the murder, Trump said it was a “bad event,” and went on to defend MBS. He said, “Nobody has directly pointed a finger.” That’s a lie. Our intelligence agencies have “directly pointed a finger at him.” The United Nations has “directly pointed a finger at him.”
Trump also said that MBS is “innocent until proven guilty.” But MBS will never be proven guilty because they don’t have fair trials in Saudi Arabia. The nation doesn’t have due process, freedom of speech, human rights, or elections. Those are things Trump hates, which is probably why he spent another portion of his speech whining and lying about our elections. He lied that he won the 2020 election to people who don’t hold elections.
There will never be an investigation into Khashoggi’s death in Saudi Arabia. MBS will never stand trial. This man didn’t just order the murder, but that Khashoggi be cut into pieces with bone saws. Mohammed Bin Salman is a sick murderous fuck.
When Jared Kushner, who worked directly with MBS as a White House adviser, was asked about the murder last year, he said, “Are we really still doing this?” Jared said he hadn’t seen the US Intelligence report that concluded MBS ordered the murder of Khashoggi, finding fault with it because it was made during the Biden administration.
Of course, not reading the report made it a lot easier for Jared to accept $2 billion from MBS. Jared acts like being made to feel uncomfortable about accepting a $2 billion gift from a murderer is worse punishment than being sliced apart by a bone saw.
Under the Trump regime, our nation feels it’s more important to secure arms deals with Saudi Arabia than to stand up for our American principles. Plus, those arms deals deliver a quid pro quo as the Saudi Government will conduct golf tournaments at Trump golf courses, and invest in new Trump resorts in their nation.
Just remember that all the money Trump and Jared take from MBS is blood money.
How does Donald Trump sleep at night? Probably in a bed full of KFC and Big Mac crumbs.
Did I do that? ToonAmerica, the site using AI to steal my cartoons, is down.
Why is it down? Because of this.
The thieves can’t fight my reports or those from my colleagues, so they remove the videos, avoiding copyright strikes and saving their channel from deletion. They saved the channel, but now there’s no content because all their content was stolen copyright. That’s all they had.
I’m not declaring victory yet because I don’t know if the ToonAmerica YouTube channel will start over, create a new channel, find another scam to fuck people over with, or give up. But for now, they can’t monetize the cartoons they stole, at least not on YouTube.
But TikTok is something else.
Now I have to take them down on TikTok.
AmeriSatire, the other one stealing cartoons with AI, is still up, but they’re next on my target. Thanks to my friend and colleague, Pedro Molina, I now know that they’ve stolen one of my cartoons.
That means I can file a report on them. And why did AI make Flynn a donkey?
Creative note: I almost did my bone saw cartoon yesterday, but went for the Pete Rose one instead. I think this cartoon is better and more important.
Music note: I listened to Blondie.
Drawn in 30 seconds: (snip-go see it!)
Wry Giggle…
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
By Zach Weinersmith
https://www.gocomics.com/saturday-morning-breakfast-cereal/2025/05/15
Have A Great Wednesday!
Clay Jones Works, Adds a Few Words About A.I.
MAGA Wishlist by Clay Jones
Trump takes bribes Read on Substack
I was watching Trump talk about the “gift” from Qatar, the 747 jet that’s going to be our newest Air Force One. He said, “I could be a stupid person and say we don’t want a free plane, but this helps us out.” That sounds a lot like an excuse from a guy who just took a bribe.
This plane doesn’t help us out, it helps him out. If Qatar were trying to help us out, they would have given the gift without any stipulations, except they didn’t give us the gift. They gave it to Trump, and only to Trump.
Yeah, sure. It technically belongs to the Air Force, but the stipulation is that when Trump leaves office, which is supposed to be in January 2029, the plane is transferred to his presidential library. Three odd things about this is, why does Qatar get to tell us how to use its gift, why can’t the plane remain in service, and why does an illiterate fuckface get a library?
Don’t believe me on the illiterate part? Check this out from 2017. I noticed three things in that video.
One, he can’t read.
Two, he’s calling out his new friend in Qatar and accusing them of financing terrorism, which includes groups like Hama, ISIS, al Qaida, and the Taliban (who are also his friends now).
Three, the wind is having a very difficult time budging that bleached, dead aardvark on his head. What the hell does he put in that shit, concrete?
Maybe Qatar bribed Trump to stop accusing them of financing terror while encouraging him to learn how to read. There’s no help with the bleached, dead aadvark shit.
So what does Qatar get from this bribe? Maybe we’ll find out from his personal business deals in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Trump is visiting all three nations during this trip. By the way, the Trump Crime Family’s net worth increased by $3 billion since January. I’m sure that happening after Trump becoming president (sic) is just a coincidence.
It was announced last week that a brand new Trump Tower and hotel resort will be built in Qatar. It’s even being developed by one of the government’s companies. The Trump Organization announced an ethics (haha) pledge for Trump 2.0, and that it would permit foreign business deals, but explicitly bar partnerships with foreign governments. HAHAHA. Ethics from the Trump Organization.
On my GoComics page, there’s an idiot still screaming about Joe Biden’s “foreign” business deals.
There’s also going to be a $5.5 billion Trump beachside golf course in Dubai in the UAE, which was canceled years ago but re-approved in 2025. What explicit timing.
Saudi Arabia, the nation that butchered an American-protected journalist, recently announced new deals for Trump properties in several of its cities, which I’m sure had nothing to do with Trump giving them huge arms packages today.
Also, I should have scratched out the hamberders on the list, because the Saudis rolled out a full-size, mobile McDonald’s truck ahead of Trump’s arrival, knowing that a corrupt toddler with power was coming.
Trump is announcing investments in America from these three nations worth billions and perhaps even trillions, but the thing with these promises is that they’re just promises. Sure, they’ll invest, but in what and for how much? You can’t trust Trump’s numbers. It’s like all those factories he promised would be built by companies that exported jobs. They didn’t arrive.
The Trump Organization also announced deals for new golf resorts in Vietnam, which are with the Communist Party.
One last point for the day: If President Joe Biden were corrupt, some foreign country would have bought him a plane.
Speaking of Gocomics: The streak of posting a brand new cartoon every day on GoComics is now at eight years. I passed it on May 6, but I was too busy drawing a cartoon to notice.
AI thieves: So this is new. A couple of YouTube channels are using AI to copy cartoons, or as ToonAmerica says, reported by the Daily Cartoonist, finish “manually sketch[ed] unique, raw cartoon concepts”
First off, when my cartoon is published, it’s “finished.” I get annoyed simply by a reader telling me how the cartoon could be better or how I should have drawn it, but this shit?
I don’t like to give these guys publicity, but I do need to post the links so you know where to go to report them.
The Are, AmeriSatire and ToonAmerica.
I’m very protective of my work. I don’t like it when Facebook pages steal my cartoons to build their audience, don’t even give me a tag or credit, and then argue that they had the right to steal it. But this theft of copying my work, and doing it with AI, really pisses me off.
Someone defending AI posted to Facebook a few days ago, “What’s the problem?” This. This is the problem, asshole. Another user of AI “art” told me today not to take it personally. I hope he doesn’t take it personally after I block him.
So, when people steal my work, I go after them. Fortunately, I’m not alone this time, because he/it/they hit a bunch of cartoonists.
Most of the time, my colleagues support me in these fights and say, “Go get ‘em, Tiger,” but they don’t get off the bench. They were too afraid to go after Ted Rall when he was working for a Russian propaganda outlet, they remained silent about the anonymous cartoonist (Rivers) or outright supported him, and most refuse to call out all the tracers out there (there’s a bunch). But now, they want to form a posse. Welcome to the game, fuckers.
I’ve been trying to fight for this industry, and not just for myself. Other cartoonists don’t want to ruffle feathers or get in trouble with colleagues. Maybe I’m the stupid one for doing so. But now, other cartoonists are ready to fight because someone stuck their fingers in their pies.
I told a couple of colleagues on Facebook, who are victims of this AI theft, that I would help them, and that was before I found out I was a victim too. They should take note of that. So far, the only ones I’ve noticed who have spoken out about this are the ones who’ve been affected.
Comic Strip of the Day: Mike Peterson does a great service for political cartoonists with his daily feature, Comic Strip of the Day, which can be found at the Daily Cartoonist. But there are times when I think he’s full of himself.
Today, he included two cartoons about the pope being an American. The cartoons were the same cartoon, and he wrote, “I’m ignoring cartoons about Leo XIV being a White Sox fan or refusing to put ketchup on hot dogs, and even the mildly sacrilegious jokes about deep-dish communion hosts. While I don’t think they’re insightful or funny, I’m not particularly offended.”
Peterson uses my work quite often, and I appreciate it. A lot of the White Sox and Hot Dog jokes did get old (but I was the first with the hot dog thing). But, Mike, with all due respect, I would never rely on you for what’s insightful or funny.
Creative note: I chose this over Trump pausing tariffs on China. I may go back to that tomorrow.
Music note: I listened to Lit.
Drawn in 30 seconds: (snip-go see)
2 From Clay Jones
Darth Hideous by Clay Jones
Trump is looking to suspect habeas corpus Read on Substack
The Trump regime is openly talking about suspending habeas corpus without the approval of Congress. This is the right to see a judge, challenge the government’s evidence against them, and present a defense if you are detained in the United States.
Why would the regime not want you to have that right?
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen “Baby Goebbels” Miller told reporters while hanging upside-down by his feet from a ceiling, “That’s an option we’re actively looking at.”
If Baby Goebbels is looking at it, then you know it’s the wrong idea.
Article 1 of the Constitution states, “the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”
Senator Chris Murphy said at a Democratic rally in Sarasota, Florida, “The one power you cannot give the executive is the power to arbitrarily imprison people who oppose the regime. Today, it may be an El Salvadorian immigrant or a foreign student, but tomorrow it is you or me. The slope to despotism can be slippery and quick.” (snip-MORE)
Toon For Flagler by Clay Jones
Palm Coast has a paranoid mayor Read on Substack
This cartoon was drawn for Flagler Live in Palm Coast, Florida. Palm Coast has a weird mayor, and I blame Trump. Donald Trump has made it acceptable for politicians to spout of stupid crazy shit without concern for how ridiculous it sounds.
Want to know more? Read the column this cartoon accompanies.
Creative note: Flagler Live has been good to me. Not only are they a client, but they’re also paid subscribers to this Substack. So when I woke up to a request from the editor for a cartoon on a local subject, I wanted to give him what he wanted. I hate to say no to clients, even if it’s on a Saturday when I already have two deadlines. He was also very easy to work with.
The editor described the situation, sent me the column the cartoon would accompany, and sent photos of the mayor, his truck, and of city hall. He didn’t give me a hard time about the cartoon either. I sent two ideas, he picked his favorite, and he didn’t request any changes to the cartoon when it was completed.
I think I would kick a lot of ass if I lived in Florida and covered the subjects there. But ya know, it’s Florida. It’s full of Republicans and flying buzzy stingy things. (snip-MORE)
Clay Jones Def Deserves His Pizza
(Cubbies fan here. I’m not Catholic, so it matters not to me which team the Pope prefers.)
Chicago Pope by Clay Jones
The Pope is a Sox fan Read on Substack
I apologize for the lateness of today’s blog, but I had three deadlines today. I’ll explain further in a future blog.
We have the first American pope, and to add to that, he’s from Chicago. How cool is that? I think Chicago all by itself spites Trump, but a pope who’s criticized the administration for its policies on immigration is a nice plus. Also, Pope Leo XIV is against the death penalty, racism (Trump is a racist), and understands that Climate Change is a real thing and not a “hoax” created by China.
One of the first things I was curious about with our Chicago pope was if he is a Cubs fan. The Chicago Cubs posted on their famous marquee above Addison Street at Wrigley Field that Pope Leo is a Cubs fan. They got it wrong. So did some cartoonists.
Henry Payne is already an idiot. That’s not new news. Randy Bish rushed to judgment.
But it didn’t matter to him because he just made a simple swap when he found out he was wrong.
Sorry, Randy, but this is generic cartooning. Plus, nobody should listen to you about Chicago. You’re from Pittsburgh.
What else is from Pittsburgh is this shit.
What is it? It’s ketchup. There’s nothing special about this ketchup. It’s just regular shitty Heinz ketchup, but the company was trying to trick Chicagoans to fuck up their hot dogs with it. It didn’t work, and Eater.com let them know it.
I’m sure the Pope would agree that it’s sacrilege to put ketchup on a hot dog, but since he’s the Pope, he would probably forgive you, but I won’t. How dare you put ketchup on a hot dog? What are you? Five?
I used to have a theory that people who love ketchup had mothers who couldn’t cook. I developed this theory because my ex-wife LOVED ketchup, and her mother could not cook. I hope she doesn’t read this because she’s very nice and my son’s grandmother. My father-in-law, may he rest in peace, made the best fried pork chops I’ve ever had.
I think there are only four acceptable reasons for using ketchup, and they are, for crinkle-cut fries, very bad fries, meatloaf, and if you’re five. I kid, I kid. I know some of you love your ketchup, and none of us is perfect. For example, Donald Trump LOVES ketchup. Let that sink in.
What I learned about Chicago pizza is that most Chicagoans eat more tavern-style than deep dish. Chicagoans like deep dish, but it’s more for special occasions and when they have visitors. Deep dish is more for tourists. I don’t really get deep dish, and I don’t even think it should be considered a pizza.
Do you remember Pizza Rat’s first trip to Chicago last year? He tried the deep dish.
Not a fan.
Today’s cartoon put me in the mood for tavern-style tonight, and Pizza Hut has it as a special. When I picked it up, the manager apologized because they had accidentally cut it into triangles instead of squares. A lot of Chicagoans would not stand for that, but I’m tolerant. I thought of Pope Leo, and I forgave them…this time.
Shout-out and dedication: I dedicate this cartoon to Greg Zaborniak, who introduced me to Old Style beer and tavern-style Chicago pizza last year during the Democratic convention. Thank you again, Greg.
Creative note: I didn’t know what I was going to draw today, and I also had a deadline for the Advance. And then, one of my clients contacted me wanting a cartoon on a local issue, and they wanted it today. So, I was facing three deadlines with zero ideas. But they came to me, one by one, and I knocked ‘em all down.
I deserved that pizza.
There’s a version of this cartoon without Pizza Rat. I didn’t include him because not everyone who will see this cartoon will be a regular reader of mine, and they might think the rat is an aspersion on Catholicism. So I sent it to my clients without Peezy. But then, a reader changed my mind because he thought it was a bigger sin to include a pizza without Pizza Rat. I figured I was going to hear more howls about missing Peezy than I’d hear from angry Catholics. The version at GoComics may not feature Peezy because sometimes a new file won’t override the existing file. I did resend the Peezy version to my clients, but they’ll use the one they want, and maybe not even care.
Drawn in 30 seconds: (snip-go see it!)
Clay Jones, & Open Windows
A funny thing happened on the way to the airport… by Ann Telnaes
Wow. I won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Illustrative Reporting and Commentating. Read on Substack
Thank you so much for all your comments and notes of congratulations!
I feel like I am late to my own party but I’m traveling overseas to to do presentations about Press Freedom and the time zones are really messing with me. Once I head again to the airport for the next leg of my trip, I’ll post some thoughts and photos for paid subscribers. And yes, I was in my lyft heading to the airport when I got the Pulitzer news.
Meanwhile, here’s what my lovely Norwegian hosts had waiting when I checked into my room.
*** and some more great news! Due to you all, my Substack Open Windows has reached 100,000 subscribers!!
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New Pope by Clay Jones
America needs a president, not a troll Read on Substack
The news that we had a new Pope hit just as I was wrapping up this cartoon, so I quickly finished and posted it on social media before the name was announced, even before I sent it to my clients. I don’t know what I was thinking, that the cartoon would have an extra ten minutes of shelf life? As Trump said about the Constitution, I don’t know. Is this cartoon still relevant?
Trump posted an AI-created image of him as Pope. He’s really big about fake photos right now. I think Trump was trying to troll Democrats, but what he ended up doing was insulting Catholics. Catholics can take a joke, but they also know an insult when they see one.
Instead of doing presidential things like lowering egg prices, ending either of the two wars he promised would be over by now, or negotiating tariffs and legislation, Trump was trolling. Later, he denied it.
He said he didn’t know how the AI image ended up being tweeted from his or the White House’s official Twitter accounts. What happened? Did he lose control of his presidency (sic), Twitter account, and bladder all on the same day? Of course not. He lost control of his bladder years ago.
Trump also claimed that the AI image didn’t upset Catholics, but it did, with one priest calling him a “clown.” (snip-MORE)
Scottie's Playtime 