Big Picture – Erie Canal Bicentennial

Casten: 'I think Trump commits impeachable offenses on a daily basis'

lead image

President Donald Trump is returning to the White House after a trip to Asia — and he's facing ridicule over the "kids' menu" choices his hosts offered him while visiting.

The president's culinary preferences – fast food, well-done steaks and spaghetti – are well known, and his Asian hosts attempted to strike a balance between regional specialties and his Americanized tastes, according to the New York Times.

"The lunch he shared with President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea and business leaders on Wednesday was summed up by Mr. Lee’s office as 'fusion Korean cuisine featuring regional specialties from across the nation and tailored to President Trump’s preferences,'" the Times reported.

"The White House picked up on the gesture, calling the Thousand Island dressing, tossed with South Korean shrimps, scallops and abalone, 'a nod to Trump’s New York roots,'" the report added. "It appeared to be his preferred dressing. He also had the condiment, which hails from near the border between New York and Ontario, the night before in Tokyo at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence."

The South Koreans also served braised short ribs made with U.S. beef, along with kimchi and other traditional sides, but also served beef patties with ketchup and brownies decorated with what Lee's office described as "the color of gold that President Trump favors.”

The president's tastes drew mockery online.

"Alito writes for the 6-3 majority, ruling that there’s nothing in the Constitution that says a 79-year-old can’t order off the kids’ menu," joked Seth Michaels, of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"The ketchup banchan is destroying me," said Sarah Jeong, editor of The Verge.

"When 'Can we have a trade deal?' pivots on 'Do you have a kids menu?'" posted freelance writer Tabatha Southey.

"I am married to a Korean-American," added attorney Bradley Moss. "My kids have been raised eating standard American fare, Jewish deli food, and Korean delicacies. The absurdity of this menu to handhold Trump is something else."

"South Korea gave Trump a literal crown and mini beef patties with ketchup hahahaha," said freelance journalist Laura Bassett.

"How embarrassing for all involved," sighed journalist Sarah Posner.

The teetering campaign of Maine oysterman Graham Platner to be the Democratic Party’s nominee to oppose Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) should she run for re-election in 2026 suffered another blow over the weekend.

According to a report from Axios’ Holly Otterbein on Monday, Kevin Brown, who took the place of departed former political director Genevieve McDonald on the Platner campaign, is bowing out after taking the job last Tuesday.

Brown, a longtime friend of the potential nominee for the U.S. Senate seat, issued a statement to Axios explaining, “Graham is a dear friend. I started this campaign Tuesday but found out Friday we have a baby on the way. Graham deserves someone who is 100% in on his race and we want to lean into this new experience as a family, so it was best we step back sooner than later so Graham can get the manager he deserves."

The political neophyte has been battered by revelations about his past for days after making a splash as a potential threat to Collins, whose seat is considered vulnerable because of Donald Trump’s unpopularity.

As Otterbien wrote, “It's the latest in a series of personnel shakeups for Platner's campaign, which was endorsed by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) but has been thrown into turmoil because Platner made controversial social media posts in the past and had a tattoo that looked like a Nazi symbol.”

“The Democratic Senate primary in Maine has become a battle between the party establishment and its progressive wing. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is the top target for Senate Democrats in the 2026 midterms,” she added before pointing out the Gov. Janet Mills (D) jumped into the race last week, adding more turmoil to the closely-watched race.

You can read more here.