Various and Sundry, 7/12/26

What now? South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham Dead: And it must be said, not especially missed by most people on Bluesky and Threads, although I have to admit not going to X to see how the bots there are reacting to his passing. I remember him mostly for not having a spine with regard to Trump, but in that he’s not materially different than nearly any other Republican, inside of Washington or outside of it. As far as I know there has been no cause of death announced; the more responsible speculation I’ve seen suggests a blood clot and/or deep vein thrombosis caused by the extensive travel he’s recently undertaken, most recently to Ukraine. We’ll know eventually, I would assume. He was 71, there are lots of ways for a 71-year-old to suddenly die of mostly natural causes. His death complicates matters for the GOP in South Carolina, since they have to now hold a special nominating session to replace him on the ballot. I understand Nancy Mace is making noises to get his senate chair,…