ERIC HOFFER’S BIRTHDAY: On this day in either 1898 or 1902, depending upon whom you ask, Eric Hoffer, the only longshoreman-philosopher ever to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was born in the Bronx. Hoffer was the author of The True Believer, an inquiry into the nature of mass movements. His other works include The Ordeal of Change and The Temper of Our Time.

Hoffer wrote one of the greatest lines I’ve ever read, “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”

He wasn’t thinking of the Southern Poverty Law Center when he said it. But, alas, the shoe fits.

If you know one of those poor souls who still thinks of the SPLC as David against the Ku Klux Klan’s Goliath, have him or her consider this: The SPLC has accumulated an endowment of about $477 million. Meanwhile, for all practical purposes, the KKK was vanquished decades ago. The remnant isn’t even a remnant.  It’s just a handful of thugs who adopted the name, knowing that it would shock people. To keep the SPLC’s gravy train rolling it has had to frighten well-heeled donors into believing that the country is crawling with other hate groups. Not a pretty picture.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest news on the SPLC, try here, here, and here. For the most recent news of Hoffer, you’ll have to be satisfied with this.

COMEY’S LEGACY: Pew Poll: Public Sours On The FBI.

The Pew Research Center finds that favorable views of the FBI have dropped 16 percentage points among Republicans since early 2017, shortly before the president took office. What’s more, negative views of the bureau have doubled within the party during the same period of time.

Just 49 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now say they have a positive opinion of the bureau, while 44 percent give it negative marks.

That’s compared with 65 percent of Republicans who gave the FBI a thumbs up just 18 months ago (and 21 percent who disagreed) — about a three-to-one margin.

Among Democrats, views of the FBI have remained about stable since last year, with more the three-quarters viewing the bureau favorably both last year and in the latest poll.

The problem for the Bureau is that support has declined the most among those who used to be its most reliable supporters.

SO I HAVE THIS COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES OUT:  So Little and So Light.

THEY WENT EVERYWHERE:  Rare ‘Viking’ discovery made in Italy.  And performed preemptive salvage operations on land and sea.

INDEED? LET ME FIND MY SHOCKED FACE:  Shock Discovery: Warmer Climates Don’t Wreck the Ecosystem.

ONE CAN HOPE:  Does Pennsylvania Court Decision Actually Allow Teachers To Carry Right Now?

ONLY A MATTER OF TIME TILL SHE’S UP FOR A HUGO:  Shannon Watts can’t write Sci-Fi.

CIVIL RIGHTS VICTORY:  Federal Court Says Hawaii Must Allow Open Carry of Guns.

OUR MONEY IS IN THE VERY BEST OF HANDS:  Over Half of the Federal Government’s Spending Data Is Wrong.

THIS IS MY SHOCKED FACE:  Not a Surprise: “Abolish ICE” Encampment Enforces Its Borders and Its Own Rules Within Those Borders.

OF COURSE HE’S RIGHT:  Rand Paul is Right: Ex-CIA Head John Brennan Should Lose His Security Clearance and Here’s Why.

WELL… WE ALL NEED A LAUGH:  The Ocasio-Cortez Highlight Reel.  But they misspelled Occasionally Cortex. (Very occasionally.)

WILL WE TOLERATE THIS?  Democrat Senators Won’t Meet With Kavanaugh.

MASS MEDIA HYSTERIA ENSUES AFTER CNN AIRS ‘SECRET’ TRUMP-MICHAEL COHEN TAPE: “It’s 2018 and Lanny Davis is on CNN discussing a sex scandal potentially imperiling a presidency.”

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YOUR DAILY TREACHER: People Will Stop Committing Race Hoaxes When They Stop Getting Results. “In 2018 America, victimhood is currency.”

Read the whole thing.

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BREAKING: TRUMP-ENDORSED BRIAN KEMP TROUNCES CASEY CAGLE IN GEORGIA GOP GOVERNOR’S RUNOFF.

THE TORONTO SUN: Meet the spin doctor behind the Hussain family statement.

UPDATE: ABC, NBC Skip CBS Scoop that Toronto Attacker Visited ISIS Websites, Lived in Middle East.

(Bumped.)

WAIT, NEXT YOU’LL BE TELLING US THAT EVEN VEGAN WOMEN PREFER TRADITIONALLY MASCULINE MEAT-EATING MEN: Suzanne Venker: Sexual inequality makes marriage work.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ACT LIKE NORMAL, SENSIBLE ADULTS, AND THEY CAN’T EVEN DO THAT: Kavanaugh comes knocking but Democrats won’t meet with him.

OPEN THREAD: Tuesday’s Groovy.

THE SCIENCE IS UNSETTLED: ‘Good’ Cholesterol May Be Bad for Some People.

#FAKENEWS: More media malfeasance: Spread false claim Jeff Sessions chanted ‘Lock Her Up’ at youth summit.

TRUE. BEST SAVE THAT FOR THE HEAVY HITTERS AT MSNBC LIKE BRIAN WILLIAMS AND AL SHARPTON: Katy Tur isn’t the woman to declare who is and isn’t a journalist.