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two courts step in to stop the insurrectionist slush fund; Kennedy Center rename and shutdown halted; Bondi throws Todd Blanche under the bus, judge strikes down NH imposing burden on proof of citizenship, Talarico leads in first post-primary poll. Maybe our democracy isn't done quite yet.

Spoke with @ezralevin.bsky.social about the No Kings "Rise Up, Sing Out" concert and watch parties slated for June 14, as well as the midterms and the prospect that James Talarico might flip Texas blue. Check out the latest episode of the @contrariannews.org podcast:

Absolutely shocking how easy this is.

imagine controlling the vice president of the united states and then still decamping for south america

Freedom Summer 2026 launched today Callais gutted the VRA & nine Southern states lost federal oversight overnight Southern communities are organizing to fight back — on voting rights, safety, education, housing & economic freedom Get involved: freedomsummer2026.com -TN

BREAKING: we just won our Kennedy Center case! Both the renaming & the closure of the Kennedy Center are enjoined Kudos to our wonderful client @repbeatty.bsky.social & my colleagues @democracydefendersaction.org & Washington Litigation Group This is a 1-2 punch against Trump's corruption

You might have a 90 percent chance of winning in small claims court. But in the secret courts of "forced arbitration" -- where the corporation often pays the judge -- that chance can drop to as little as 2 in 1,000. www.contrariannews.org/p/brendan-ba...

jared mccain plays like a less squirrelly jordan poole

This is a story about how the billionare class gets to swindle you with impunity: contrarian.substack.com/p/brendan-ba...

BREAKING: Ethics complaint just filed against Pam Bondi — & it's damning She ran DOJ like a weapon — & now 100+ scholars, retired judges & retired FL Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince — joined by @democracydefendersfund.org @ldadorg.bsky.social & LFRL — are holding her accountable -TN

<<The Secret Court System That Rules Us All>> I talked to Brendan Ballou about the pervasive horror show of "forced arbitration" and how it emboldens bad behavior and deprives employees and consumers of a just day in court

Billionaires like Jeff Bezos go around talking about how super-rich people like them are paying a large share of taxes, and so why should they pay more. That's very misleading, as @gabrielzucman.bsky.social explains on his substack—republished here on @motherjones.com.

This GOP integrity thing is as bracing as it is surprising

I'm running a fundraiser to help me keep doing high-quality news and analysis about politics, technology, philosophy, and religion. We need a lot more original analysis that is more than just "Trump did a bad thing." I cannot do this without your help. Thanks so much!

Three months in: * Iran has ample military capacity * Strait of Hormuz traffic less than a quarter pre-war * highest inflation in 3 years * real wages negative for first time in 3 years * gas prices up $1.40 y-o-y * highest monthly grocery price jump in 4 years And Trump still just flailing around.

Library of Babel type shit

What if taxing the rich works?

This photo of Andy Kim in the moments before ICE gassed everyone at Delaney Hall is going into the history books. We need more of this from our electeds.

Quote “It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord,” Leo wrote. “For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”

I AM SO SICK OF ANTI-CREATIVE DIPSHITS BELIEVING THEY CAN MANIFEST THEIR SHITTIER VERSION OF EVERYTHING

It’s going great.

CALIFORNIA! ProPublica is hiring a SENIOR EDITOR to head up our 6th regional bureau. Apply here: job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/j...

it’s timeeeeeee! time for what? for your quarterly reminder that when we are angry we take a breath. drink a glass of water. talk to our therapists and friends. and we don’t do what? post anything that could be read, in any way, even ungraciously, as a threat of violence. that’s right.

Kinda defeats the point of having a grand jury if you can just boot everyone who didn’t want to indict, keep everyone who did, and keep trying until you get the result you want.

The New York Times editorial board: “Americans should be cleareyed about what the president is doing. He is taking their money and showering it on criminals.”

This guy is a hell of a communicator

Hartenstein has spent the night trying to pull Wemby’s arm off on every play and somehow doesn’t have 48 fouls

The Colorado Democratic Party censured Gov. Jared Polis for his commutation of Tina Peters in a vote of ~200 state committee members tonight. A resolution declaring Polis "materially harmed" the party and barring him from formal participation in party events was adopted with 89.8% support.

Here it comes. The latest phase of Trump building his case for war against Cuba. They’ve told you it’s coming. And it is. And this is the latest sign. They’re telegraphing their punches. And this is a big one. And it’s coming.

The whole thing is just theater now, everyone either paid or frightened into mounting a 1:1 scale global immersive performance for an audience of one. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Tennessee man jailed over Charlie Kirk post wins $835,000 settlement www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

🎯

This New Yorker cartoon is accurate but a gut punch.

i'm not sure making the white house a military installation is the answer here

If you're interested in Democratic prospects in the 2026 midterms -- and the mechanics of how progressives can win big, listen to this podcast I recorded with the executive director of Swing Left, Yasmine Radjy (@swingleft.bsky.social)

Working adjacent to tech for 20 years has taught me to be very cautious of the boosters & evangelical early adopters. Don’t be a Luddite but take maximum caution. AI rings every alarm bell that ever formed on the journey here & those people sound exactly as they always did.

Bet

A question for fellow Latin Americanists… - Pinochet kept something like $12 million in secret accounts at Riggs Bank. - Nicaragua's Arnoldo Aleman allegedly embezzled $100 million. What Latin American presidential self-dealing approaches $1.8 billion? Somoza? Duvalier?

The Blazers would have made the east finals. These teams aren't that good tbh

Thomas Massie: “Today is the six month anniversary of the Epstein Transparency Act. We’ve taken out two dozen CEOs, an ambassador, a prince, a prime minister, a minister of culture, that was just six months. I’ve got seven months left in Congress.” video courtesy @acyn.bsky.social

Remember when profitable companies were supposed to get kid glove treatment because they were the "job creators"?

Still time to cast those ballots, Oregonians

Do you know I actually think that these people are so inoculated from any public sentiment that they are legitimately shook by a handful of boos at commencements this week?

Broke down the 2026 midterms, in depth, with @swingleft.bsky.social Executive Director Yasmin Radjy:

We've had a lot of tire-kicking in the last year and a half but if this fully goes through I think we can ultimately abandon the premise that we're operating in a rules-based democracy

This sure seems impeachable

On the other hand, if you’re suing a billionaire, start demanding their AI logs in discovery

the fact that the author is like, yeah all the egregious errors prove the thesis of the book is WILD

Incidentally, Drone Empire is the name of my new indy band