Mid-morning link roundup Thursday, 22 August 2019 10:51:35 CDT David-Braverman Chicago, Entertainment, Politics (0) So much to read, so much eye strain from the fluorescent lights: The federal budget deficit will hit $1 trillion in 2020, due mainly to the Republican tax cuts and spending increases. Note that Republicans have raised holy hell for smaller deficits during Democratic administrations. The 10th Circuit ruled this week that electors can vote for anyone they choose, which could have subtle effects in any presidential election. Drew Margary warns that President Trump "is not a cosmic 404 error." Brookings Institution senior fellow Thomas Wright thinks "Trump has defected." And Matt Ford bemoans "Trump's tax on the American psyche." The Prime Minister of Denmark finally said out loud what a lot of people have thought about the president's foreign policies. Chicago Gourmet has announced its lineup for this year's festival, to be held September 24th through 29th. And finally, this year's Punderdome competition took on food; the audience ate it up.