Three-byline alert: 🚨
“.. an assessment that means the conflict’s economic impact could extend late into this year or beyond.”
@danlamothe.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
There's lots of shady shit out there re John C. Phelan – but why in TF was a guy who flew on Epstein's plane ever confirmed by the Senate to be Secretary of the US Navy?
BREAKING:
A Virginia judge just temporarily halted the implementation of the state's new voter-approved redistricting measure.
Election officials cannot move forward now unless the ruling is overturned by a higher court.
Virginia's AG has vowed to appeal the ruling.
NEW: Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) introduced spending bill amendment “to block the federal government from hiring individuals pardoned for their roles in the January 6 insurrection”
Justice Dept has already hired a pardoned Jan 6 defendant
BREAKING: US House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer says some panel members are open to US President Donald Trump pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell to secure her cooperation in the Epstein investigation, Reuters reports.
We expect the following amendment votes for the Budget Resolution Vote-a-rama starting now:
1 - Schumer #4799
2 - Lujan #4798
3 - Ossoff #4897
4 - Hirono #4884
5 - Hickenlooper #4956
BREAKING NYT:
The FBI began investigating a New York Times reporter last month after she wrote about Kash Patel using bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend with government security and transportation, according to a person briefed on the matter.
JUST IN: A federal judge has thrown out @LauraLoomer's lawsuit against Bill Maher for comments he made about a potential sexual relationship with Donald Trump.
They were obvious jokes, the judge ruled, not statements of fact. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
BREAKING: Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is OUT — effective immediately, according to the Pentagon.
Section 10 requires any non-uniformed "federal law enforcement officer" operating in California, with narrow exceptions, to "visibly display identification" while performing federal law enforcement duties. Officers who violate the law may be criminally prosecuted by the State. We previously granted the United States's request for a temporary administrative injunction. We now address the merits of the United States's motion for an injunction pending appeal. We conclude that § 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the United States in its performance of governmental functions. The Supremacy Clause forbids the State from enforcing such legislation. The United States is therefore likely to succeed on the merits of its Supremacy Clause claim, and the other preliminary injunction factors also weigh in its favor. Thus, we grant the motion for an injunction pending appeal.
![Section 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the federal government in its performance of law enforcement operations. It expressly applies to federal officers. Cal. Penal Code § 13654(d)(2). It seeks to control their conduct in performing law enforcement operations. Id.
Case: 26-926, 04/22/2026, DktEntry: 31.1, Page 12 of 16
12
USA V. STATE OF CALIFORNIA
§ 13654(a); see also id. § 13654(d)(1). It purports to override the federal government's power to determine whether, how, and when to publicly identify its officers. See id. § 13654(a). And in so doing, it aims to regulate the manner and conditions under which federal agents can enforce federal law. See id. Thus, the state law regulates the performance of "governmental action[s]" which are "carried on by the United States itself." Mayo, 319 U.S. at 448.
These provisions do not merely affect "persons who [a]re acting for themselves and not for the United States." Id. at
447. They "layl] hold of" federal agencies and officers "in their specific attempt to obey orders and requirell qualifications in addition to those that the [federal]
Government has pronounced sufficient." Johnson, 254 U.S. at 57. Section 10, in short, directly regulates the federal government.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreigw3edc27q4nr3tisr24anu3jwlpdfu5a6mjqlihicnwjquoof4fy)
Section 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the federal government in its performance of law enforcement operations. It expressly applies to federal officers. Cal. Penal Code § 13654(d)(2). It seeks to control their conduct in performing law enforcement operations. Id. Case: 26-926, 04/22/2026, DktEntry: 31.1, Page 12 of 16 12 USA V. STATE OF CALIFORNIA § 13654(a); see also id. § 13654(d)(1). It purports to override the federal government's power to determine whether, how, and when to publicly identify its officers. See id. § 13654(a). And in so doing, it aims to regulate the manner and conditions under which federal agents can enforce federal law. See id. Thus, the state law regulates the performance of "governmental action[s]" which are "carried on by the United States itself." Mayo, 319 U.S. at 448. These provisions do not merely affect "persons who [a]re acting for themselves and not for the United States." Id. at 447. They "layl] hold of" federal agencies and officers "in their specific attempt to obey orders and requirell qualifications in addition to those that the [federal] Government has pronounced sufficient." Johnson, 254 U.S. at 57. Section 10, in short, directly regulates the federal government.
![The Supremacy Clause does not "barl] all state regulation which may touch the activities of the Federal Government." Hancock, 426 U.S. at 179 (emphasis added).
For example, the Supreme Court has suggested that States may impose "general rules" regulating conduct that any ordinary citizen could perform, like a "statute or ordinance regulating the mode of turning at the corners of streets." Johnson, 254 U.S. at 56. But the Supremacy Clause does bar direct state regulation of the federal government. See Washington, 596 U.S. at 838; City of Arcata, 629 F.3d at
991-92. And that is precisely what the No Vigilantes Act does. The Act does not regulate conduct that any ordinary citizen could perform. Rather, it applies exclusively to law enforcement agencies and their officers, including federal law enforcement agencies and federal law enforcement officers. The Act thus directly regulates conduct reserved to sovereigns.
And so it is barred by intergovernmental
Case: 26-926, 04/22/2026, DktEntry: 31.1, Page 14 of 16
14
USA V. STATE OF CALIFORNIA
immunity, which forbids States from regulating the federal government qua government and from controlling federal governmental functions in any manner and to any degree.
See California, 921 F.3d at 883. Because § 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the United States, we conclude that it is likely unconstitutional. See Blackburn, 100 F.3d at 1435.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiguqewyhnoai2vaevinor767lsdwscbc6q2xyvkjg75s5kom74dru)
The Supremacy Clause does not "barl] all state regulation which may touch the activities of the Federal Government." Hancock, 426 U.S. at 179 (emphasis added). For example, the Supreme Court has suggested that States may impose "general rules" regulating conduct that any ordinary citizen could perform, like a "statute or ordinance regulating the mode of turning at the corners of streets." Johnson, 254 U.S. at 56. But the Supremacy Clause does bar direct state regulation of the federal government. See Washington, 596 U.S. at 838; City of Arcata, 629 F.3d at 991-92. And that is precisely what the No Vigilantes Act does. The Act does not regulate conduct that any ordinary citizen could perform. Rather, it applies exclusively to law enforcement agencies and their officers, including federal law enforcement agencies and federal law enforcement officers. The Act thus directly regulates conduct reserved to sovereigns. And so it is barred by intergovernmental Case: 26-926, 04/22/2026, DktEntry: 31.1, Page 14 of 16 14 USA V. STATE OF CALIFORNIA immunity, which forbids States from regulating the federal government qua government and from controlling federal governmental functions in any manner and to any degree. See California, 921 F.3d at 883. Because § 10 of the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the United States, we conclude that it is likely unconstitutional. See Blackburn, 100 F.3d at 1435.
NEW: Ninth Circuit panel blocks California from enforcing No Vigilantes Act provision requiring federal law enforcement to "visibly display identification," granting DOJ's request for an injunction pending appeal.
The unanimous panel previously had granted an "administrative injunction."
NEW: Capitol pipe bomb defendant Brian Cole has just pleaded NOT guilty to new superseding indictment, including “weapon of mass destruction” & terror charges
Justice Dept reveals there have been NO plea negotiations between the parties.
Defense wants trial date
Masoud Pezeshkian & @drpezeshkian X.com The Islamic Republic of Iran has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so. Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations. World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.
JUST IN: The Trump administraiton tells SCOTUS that it has reached a settlement with CARTER PAGE over misuse of FISA surveillance in his case. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
"During public appearances and in interviews, local officials have mentioned that gun violence is a familiar experience in Shreveport, breeding its own kind of indifference." Resist that.
Heritage president Kevin Roberts is super upset that
Democrats responded to Republican gerrymandering with Democratic gerrymandering. So now he wants Trump to “return Arlington to DC” via Executive Order. The replies are brutal. 1/
Rest in peace, Rep. David Scott.
NEWS — Democratic U.S. Representative David Scott (GA-13) has died, per Axios. He was 80.
NEW: Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) asks Justice Dept if/how Ghislaine Maxwell is pressing Trump Admin for a pardon
Great thread, and I think the conclusions here are undeniable.
In fact, if I’m right about this, the only way to solve the problem is to defeat them utterly, break up their power structures, put their leaders on trial for war crimes, and spend the next several decades regarding them as a symbol of evil and hate, practicing zero-tolerance for maga.
bsky.app/profile/pook...
The miserable assholes who keep claiming genAI is a disability aid, are lying. They don't give a fuck about whether it makes life harder for the people they claim it can help.
They should be treated like any jackass advocating bleach enemas.
Trump is within sight of an under 30% overall approval rating.
One of the most important causes right now is to establish a media narrative and popular support behind severe punishments and consequences to our present criminals running things.
New gas-powered data center projects linked to OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and xAI could emit more greenhouse gases than entire nations, according to a @wired.com investigation from @mollytaft.com --
happy earth day, don't miss this one!
Convicted sex criminal Ghislaine Maxwell socialized with Melania from Palm Beach to Manhattan. Emails revealed in the Epstein Files show that the two communicated. Today, the DOJ is still hiding nearly half the files. Why? What’s being hidden? Oversight Dems will find out.
SARA EISEN: I think it was a bit of a trap to ask Kevin Warsh about the election denial, to get him to disagree w/ President Trump. You know no Fed Chair is going to weigh in on politics like that
WARREN: Look, I asked him a fact. We need a Fed Chair who can assert reality. Kevin Warsh can't do it
Reuters: Iranians took to the streets of Tehran as the military paraded its arsenal of ballistic missiles as US President Donald Trump said he would indefinitely extend the current ceasefire
NEW: Startup CEOs are bragging that they are spending more money on AI compute than it would cost to hire human workers. Astronomical AI bills are now, in a certain corner of the tech world, a supposed marker of growth and success.
Unusual 6-3 lineup this morning at SCOTUS in Hencely v. Fluor Corp on state-law tort preemption. Thomas writes; Alito, Roberts and Kavanaugh dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
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US halts shipment of Iraq’s oil dollars to curb Iran-linked groups: WSJ: The United States has halted shipments of US dollars to Iraq and paused security cooperation programs as a measure to pressure Baghdad into curbing powerful Iran-aligned groups. A recent cargo pl… https://ranked.news/692034?u=b
