Insight: “Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense.” —Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“We have combed the internet for signs that parents petitioning school boards are anything approaching a national problem. Nearly all of what we have seen so far makes us proud to be Americans: Parents care about the education of their children, and they are not willing to allow them to be indoctrinated into a radical ideology.” —four U.S. Civil Rights Commission members pillorying Attorney General Merrick Garland

Friendly fire: “Congress should proceed with caution on any additional spending and I will not vote for a reckless expansion of government programs. No op-ed from a self-declared Independent socialist [Bernie Sanders] is going to change that.” —Senator Joe Manchin

The BIG Lie: “The cost of the Build Back Better Agenda is $0. The President’s plan won’t add to our national deficit and no one making under $400,000 per year will see their taxes go up a single penny. It’s fully paid for by ensuring big corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share.” —The White House

Non compos mentis: “I think we have to ask a very threshold question. Are we better off today than we were one year ago? Let’s just remember one year ago where we were. … This president has made life better.” —Congressman Ro Khanna

Mind-boggling: “We’ve made clear our concerns about the military capabilities that [China] continues to pursue. And we have been consistent in our approach with China: We welcome stiff competition, but we … do not want that competition to veer into conflict.” —White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki

Braying jenny: “I come from a state where I was not entitled to become the governor, but as an American citizen and a citizen of Georgia, I’m going to fight for every person who has the right to vote to be able to cast that vote.” —Stacey Abrams

The delusional doctor: “I have always stood for making science, data, and evidence be what we guide ourselves by. And I think people who feel differently, who have conspiracy theories, who deny reality, looking them straight in the eye, those are people that don’t particularly care for me. And that’s understandable. Because what I do — and I try very hard — is to be guided by the truth. And sometimes, the truth becomes inconvenient for some people. So they react against me. That just is what it is.” —Anthony Fauci

Facepalm: “If you’re vaccinated and your family members are vaccinated … you can enjoy the holidays.” —Anthony Fauci

And last… “Imagine thinking that spying on bank accounts with transactions as little as $600 will actually combat tax evasion by the 1%. What it’s really about is power, and in no universe does the IRS need even an ounce more.” —Nikki Haley