And she’s already had some success: She lobbied Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) to include $5 million for ibogaine research in the state budget, though that amount pales in comparison to the $50 million Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) approved.
Sinema said at the conference that now is a great time to advance the psychedelic cause with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of the Health Department in Donald Trump’s administration. “We are in this magical, unique time,” she said, which is certainly one way to describe Trump 2.0. She kept going, specifically praising the “Make America Healthy Again” cult….er, agenda, and its leader, RFK Jr. “It’s interesting, because I’ve seen some of my former [Congressional] colleagues really push back hard against his MAHA movement,” she said, adding, “MAHA is amazing.” She even said she’s speaking to RFK about psychedelics and added, “We’re close.” OK!
As for her own ibogaine experience, we’ll just paste from the interview:
You traveled to Mexico this spring for ibogaine treatment after seeing your grandmother’s experience with dementia. What was that like?
It’s not a fun medicine. My experience was 15 hours long. That’s a long time. There was a noise in my head for the entire 15 hours that sounded like a little machine clunking around. Clunk clunk clunk clunk clunk.
Some people say they hear a buzzing noise, I didn’t have that. It felt like there was a machine working inside my head for 15 hours. It wasn’t pleasant, but I just thought, “Well, this is what you asked for, so buckle up.”
Would you do ibogaine again?
I don’t really want to. But will I? Yeah, for my brain. I have a very sharp memory, but my number one fear in life is losing it. My mind is my favorite thing about me. It’s what makes me who I am. I would like to keep it.
What does your brain feel like now?
Crystal-clear. Sharp, sharp is the word. My brain feels snappy.
Since anyone who’s ever done a psychedelic is almost guaranteed to corner you and talk your ear off about their experience, Sinema has seemingly completed her transformation from the most annoying person in the Senate to the most annoying person at any gathering. You can’t say she’s not consistent.
For some reason, RFK Jr. photoshopped the McDonald’s meal on Air Force One into a Thanksgiving spread and posted it on his government account.
Even more barf:
- Over the summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly turned off its vaccine search tool. [NOTUS]
- And earlier this week, an anti-vaxx doctor was named second in command at the CDC. As Louisiana surgeon general, Dr. Ralph Abraham ended state campaigns to promote vaccination. [New York Times]
- Because the Department of Homeland Security is engaged in a mass deportation regime, its agents have seized way fewer guns and have made fewer drug arrests compared to the prior year. [New York Times]
- Trump wrote on Truth Social that he will “permanently pause” immigration from “third-world countries” after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard members, killing one. While the Biden administration gave the man a visa in 2021, it was the Trump admin that approved his asylum claim earlier this year. [The Guardian]
- White House chief of staff Stephen Miller is having a normal one after the Wall Street Journal editorial board defended Afghan refugees. [Bluesky]
- Trump used the r-word slur in a post to refer to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whose son is disabled. The post also attacked Somali immigrants in the state. Walz shot back: “Release the MRI results.” [The Hill]
- Trump’s insistence on keeping open a coal-fired power plant in Michigan has cost taxpayers $113 million and counting. [The Guardian]
- Buried in the bill that ended the government shutdown is an extremely rude provision that bans hemp-infused drinks and snacks. [Associated Press]
- After months of Trump’s pronouncements that he wanted to take over Greenland, a Danish territory, the government of Denmark has set up a “night watch” to monitor our big dumb president’s social media posts in Eastern time. [The Guardian]
- The “ShamWow Guy” is running for Congress in Texas as a Republican. [NBC News]
- West Virginia Sen. and coal baron Jim Justice has “agreed” to pay $5 million in back taxes after the Justice Department sued him. [CNBC]
- Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro reported to prison this week for leading a coup attempt, but not before being arrested for tampering with his ankle monitor. [Associated Press]
This has been your Friday Barf Bag, thanks for reading!
