"Alito said that Black voter turnout had exceeded white voter turnout in two of the five most recent presidential elections....to [claim] discrimination...no longer exists....But....that assertion relies on an unusual methodology." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito leaned on an erroneous claim that Black voter turnout now tops white voter turnout, in his Callais v. Louisiana ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act, reports The Guardian. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

"It's no big deal that your loved ones died of COVID. In fact, if you think about it, it was sort of their fault that they died."

Born In The Roots 5/8/1911: The late, great Robert Johnson, blues man, maker of deals with the devil, crossroads goer downer, duster of brooms, charter member of the 27 club, gone before his time. #RobertJohnson #RockHonorRoll #BluesHonorRoll

If it wasn't true, they wouldn't care...

COLBERT: How dumb do you think it is for people to say that I should run for president? OBAMA: Well, you know, the bar has changed. I think you would perform significantly better than some folks we've seen. COLBERT: Is that an endorsement? OBAMA: It was not

This line in particular makes me feel ill: "The dissent would require that the 2026 congressional elections in Louisiana be held under a map that has been held to be unconstitutional." SCOTUS' Republican majority has long required elections to be held under illegal maps—when it hurts Dems.

Anyone remember the Purcell doctrine, saying courts shouldn't change electoral districts too close to the election because it might cause confusion? Remember how SCOTUS applied it six months ago to say it was already too late to invalidate the Texas districts? Funny how that didn't happen in Callais

Out of morbid curiosity, I read George Will’s column praising the VRA’s demise. As expected, it’s filled with falsehoods and reactionary bile. “The VRA was only supposed to protect the ability to vote—not for that vote to actually matter—and Congress amending it to say otherwise doesn’t count.”

Let me just tap the sign again: What works for them will not work for you. They can say anything they want and get a solid bloc of people to vote for them. You cannot.

This week, the Supreme Court finally killed off the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I've spent the past decade studying the VRA and the attacks on it, so I thought I would offer some historical perspective, and where I think we're headed. This will be a long thread; buckle up.

In the 24 hours since the Supreme Court's majority ruled to demolish the Voting Rights Act's remaining protections, Louisiana and Tennessee have already signaled that they'll redraw their congressional maps with the clear effect of shutting Black voters out.

Over at @lawfaremedia.org, we are launching a 5-week effort to sustain our independent, nonpartisan, expert analysis. Keeping our work accessible to anyone who wants it requires support from our readers and listeners. If Lawfare matters to you, reshare this and donate today!

U.S. soldier accused of threatening Jews posted whites were also victims of racism

In its latest ruling gutting the Voting Rights Act, the Roberts Court has inverted the Reconstruction Amendments to justify the same racist devices and practices they were adopted to dismantle (🎁) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

The "reactionary colorblindess" of the right-wing justices has reached its logical conclusion in finding that it is racist NOT to let Louisiana—and any other state for that matter—discriminate on the basis of race in voting. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

New ratings data shows Tony Dokoupil’s “Evening News” sinking to historic lows, with veteran TV news executives telling us the network is a “sinking ship” and blaming its woes on Bari Weiss. Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...

it is verboten for comedians to make fun of our mad idiot king

1. This is big. It was clear before that SPLC was collecting intelligence on the “Unite the Right” rally in 2017 because of the threat of violence. Now, a new filing from SPLC cites an “Event Alert” the group provided directly to the FBI. This alert undermines the DOJ’s corrupt case.

I think Gerry Conway wrote, at one time or another, all the major Marvel series but X-MEN, and all the major DC series but TITANS. And most of the minor ones, as well.

Yeah, I think this was Gerry’s best comics work too. Wish there had been more of it. DC did collect it in TPB form at long last, but didn’t correct the unfortunate coloring.

We did! We passed a bill to fund the Secret Service and TSA and FEMA 100-0. If Speaker Johnson would just call it for a vote, it would pass. That’s the problem.

So very sorry to hear that Gerry’s gone. He was a ridiculously prolific writer and, as I found out in more recent years, a very nice guy. RIP, sir.

About last night’s scrambling from gun fire at White House reporters dinner .. Rep Jamie Raskin (D-MD) makes a critical point on CNN: “This is happening in schools across the country.. the kids have no resources to process their trauma”

Writing a book is a MASSIVE achievement. Even if it's not perfect. Even if no one has read it. Even if it never gets published. No matter what happens next, appreciate everything you have done so far. The simple act of finishing a first draft is worth celebrating. You did that. 🎉

GOP - *gerrymanders* DEMS - hey stop that no fair GOP - *gerrymanders even more* DEMS - we mean it we’re gonna sue SCOTUS - *legalizes gerrymandering completely* DEMS - *start gerrymandering* GOP - HEY STOP THAT NO FAIR!!!! 😭

There’s no routine screening for pancreatic cancer, most cases aren’t operable, and the five year survival rate after diagnosis is around 13%. It’s a traumatic news. But new personalized mRNA immunotherapy is showing encouraging results in Phase 1 clinical trials. Keep funding science!

I'm really sick of people like @pauleric70.bsky.social who steal content word for word from other platforms, especially when it's not even accurate.

Also, I want to explain how this happens: 1. Someone posts the video on Twitter last month. 2. Someone shares that video on Twitter with a new/fake quote yesterday 3. Someone copies the Twitter post word for word and shares it on Bluesky

*sigh* 1. That's not a direct quote. If you're going to put something in quotation marks and then go, "Wow. He just came right out and said it," it should be a direct quote. 2. This speech is from 2018. Don't present it as new/recent. 3. The actual content of the speech is bad enough.

(Reuters) - European allies fear an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline‑grabbing framework deal with Iran that could entrench rather than resolve deeper problems, diplomats with past experience dealing with Tehran said.

"Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial: Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later."

OOP New York Times got receipts on John Roberts being like, 'I know this isn't how anything works, but a Democratic president is about to implement a policy!!' www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/u...

A Newly Discovered Recording Lets You Hear Delta Blues Legend Robert Johnson in Stunning Clarity

POV: you’re a junior reporter covering a marijuana raid and the wind changes 😭🫠 don’t remember how my story finished, but I remember being so hungry all day. Throwback to maybe 2012/13 in Coffs Harbour! 😂🤣😅 #throwback #reels #explore

Clarence Thomas ruled in favor of Citizens United. Harlan Crow's political contributions then went up 862%. Then we later find out Thomas let Crow take him on lavish trips, buy his mom's house, and help fund his wife's conservative nonprofit. But go on about how "progressivism" is a problem...

“You suggested that Black children on ADHD medication should be re-parented.” Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell calls out Health Secretary RFK Jr. for saying Black children should be taken away by the federal government from their families. Then, he denied reality. Subscribe to zeteo.com.

Over the past week, the president posted an image of himself as Jesus, the vice president challenged the pope on Catholic doctrine, and the secretary of defense quoted the speech of a fictional hit man and presented it as scripture.

I sent a classified letter to House and Senate colleagues about a secret interpretation of surveillance law that every American should be concerned about. Representative Massie is right. The Constitution requires EVERY member to vote against a clean reauthorization.

"You're just voluntarily complying with this whimsical cosplay" -- holy shit, Tim Kaine is *demolishing* Russ Vought

Good for him but I am tired of learning about all the ways a 41-year-old candidate for U.S. Senate supposedly has a lot more growing and learning to do. Maybe do that before the Senate? And maybe try out a lower office before then? Or maybe we just watch him blossom into another Sinema/Fetterman.

JUST IN: John Eastman, the conservative attorney who helped devise President Trump's last ditch strategy to overturn the 2020 presidential election, has officially been disbarred, per the California Supreme Court:

He didn’t help ‘Save America’, his strategy was to overthrow the government. John Eastman has officially been disbarred.

The end of Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world. Congratulations to Tisza, to incoming leader Péter Magyar, and to Hungarians everywhere.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio at UFC in Miami tonight as diplomatic negotiations with Iran fail (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AFP via Getty)

Reagan’s OMB Director:

I wanna point out something serious. The admin has been complaining about Iran winning the information war. This same administration shut down Voice of America, and other information operations the US govt does. It’s a self goal. Actions have consequences

Three takeaways from @nytimes.com "inside the room" account. 1) Previous US admins mostly resisted being conned by Netanyahu. Trump was a complete sucker. 2) Vance and, to lesser degree, Marco playing "we always knew this was bad idea" card. 3) Trump is an idiot. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/u...

$2 million per ship — to cross a Strait that was free six weeks ago. @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/w...

posting this 'ol thing again for no reason