The Commentariat -- Juneteenth 2021

Late Morning Update:

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Saturday are here.

This Happens When You Don't Render Unto Caesar Every Time. Tal Axelrod of the Hill: "Former Vice President Mike Pence was heckled with calls of 'traitor' at a conservative conference Friday as he continues to draw criticism from members of the Republican base for his role in Congress's certification of President Biden's Electoral College victory. 'It is great to be back with so many patriots dedicated to faith and freedom and the road to the majority,' Pence said to applause at the Faith & Freedom Coalition summit before the heckling began. 'I'm a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order,' Pence continued, as the hecklers in the audience began to grow louder, yelling 'traitor.' Some of the hecklers were reportedly removed from the event as Pence went on with his speech." MB: Not very Christian of them, was it? I just don't think Jesus would heckle mikey for doing his Constitutional duty.

Missouri. Michael Levenson of the New York Times: "A Missouri man pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges that he had threatened to lynch a Black congressman the day after the Jan. 6 siege at the U.S. Capitol and a Jewish congressman in 2019, court records show. The man, Kenneth R. Hubert, 63, Marionville, Mo., was arrested in March after, prosecutors said, he had directed the threats at Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri and Steve Cohen of Tennessee, both Democrats."

Iran. Vivian Yee of the New York Times: "Iran's ultraconservative judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi, has been elected president after a vote that many Iranians skipped, seeing it as rigged in his favor. The Interior Ministry announced the final results on Saturday, saying Mr. Raisi had won with nearly 18 million of 28.9 million ballots cast in the voting a day earlier. Turnout was 48.8 percent -- a significant decline from the last presidential election, in 2017.... Mr. Raisi, 60, is a hard-line cleric favored by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and has been seen as his possible successor. He has a record of grave human rights abuses, including accusations of playing a role in the mass execution of political opponents in 1988, and is currently under United States sanctions. His background appears unlikely to hinder the renewed negotiations between the United States and Iran over restoring a 2015 agreement to limit Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in exchange for lifting American economic sanctions. Mr. Raisi has said he will remain committed to the deal and do all he can to remove sanctions." An AP report is here.

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Derrick Taylor of the New York Times: "Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, has been celebrated by African-Americans since the late 1800s. But in recent years, and particularly following nationwide protests over police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other Black Americans, there is a renewed interest in the day that celebrates freedom. The celebration continues to resonate in new ways, given the sweeping changes and widespread protests across the U.S. over the last year and following a guilty verdict in the killing of Mr. Floyd. Here's a brief guide to what you should know about Juneteenth." ~~~

~~~ Marie: I Googled "how to celebrate Juneteenth," and there were quite a few articles that weren't especially helpful. This one, from what seems to be a home-decorating site called the Spruce, is surprisingly useful. Here's another, from the AARP. Also, if you live in an area where Juneteenth has been recognized for some time, you will likely find local events to attend. So put on your red dress and get out and party! ~~~

~~~ MEANWHILE, for folks of a different persuasion, there is another summer event to anticipate:

     ~~~ A friend of ours sent me these tickets, and he obviously paid a lot of money for them, so it's kind of a shame I'll be unable to attend due to previously-scheduled plans to try to behave like a decent human being. But we can be confident the money will be put to good use. As someone who happened to see the tickets observed, "I bet you get these if you check that box for automatic withdrawals."

Elizabeth Dias of the New York Times: "The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States, flouting a warning from the Vatican, have overwhelmingly voted to draft guidance on the sacrament of the Eucharist, advancing a political push by conservative bishops to deny President Biden communion because of his support of abortion rights. The decision, made public on Friday afternoon, is aimed at the nation's second Catholic president, perhaps the most religiously observant commander in chief since Jimmy Carter, and exposes bitter divisions in American Catholicism. It capped three days of contentious debate at a virtual June meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The measure was approved by a vote of 73 percent in favor and 24 percent opposed.... The move to target a president, who regularly attends Mass and has spent a lifetime steeped in Christian rituals and practices, is striking coming from leaders of the president's own faith, particularly after many conservative Catholics turned a blind eye to the sexual improprieties of ... Donald J. Trump because they supported his political agenda. It reveals a uniquely American Catholicism increasingly at odds with Rome." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Those old farts, with all due respect, should read the part of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells his followers not to do as the hypocrites do. The hypocrites Jesus calls out are rabbis -- that is, the equivalent of priests & bishops. Funny how some religious zealots are all for the First Amendment guarantee that government may not interfere with religious practices, but they think it's A-okay for religion to interfere with government practices. Not exactly a "wall" between church & state. ~~~

~~~ Matt Viser of the Washington Post: Joe "Biden is arguably the most [religiously] observant president in decades, and his faith is a core part of his identity. He rarely misses Mass. He crosses himself in public. He quotes scripture, he cites hymns and he clutches rosary beads ahead of key decisions. But now, the nation's most prominent Catholic is at odds with many of the American bishops of his church. He has been the catalyst for an explosive disagreement that had been playing out for years, over whether Communion should be granted to politicians whose public stances go against church doctrine, and on Friday they took a step toward barring Biden and others from the Eucharist. The move puts Biden, who rarely discusses his Catholicism, at the center not only of a political fight between conservatives and liberals but also a church battle between traditionalists and reformers. In that sense he is aligned with Pope Francis as world-renowned liberal Catholics, a phenomenon that presents a challenge to traditionalists."

Betsy Swan & Paul McLeary of Politico: "The Biden White House has temporarily halted a military aid package to Ukraine that would include lethal weapons, a plan originally made in response to aggressive Russian troop movements along Ukraine's border this spring. The aid package would be worth up to $100 million.... The National Security Council directed officials to put the package together, as Washington grew increasingly concerned over a massive Russian military buildup near the border with Ukraine and in the Crimean Peninsula, according to three ... people.... Officials at the State Department and Pentagon worked to assemble the proposal. But officials on the National Security Council ended up putting the proposal on hold after Russia announced it would draw down troops stationed near Ukraine and in the lead-up to President Joe Biden's high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin." ~~~

     ~~~ Oh Yeah? White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Statement: "The idea that we have held back security assistance to Ukraine is nonsense. Just last week -- in the run-up to the U.S.-Russia Summit -- we provided a $150 million package of security assistance, including lethal assistance. We have now provided the entire amount appropriated by Congress through the Ukraine security assistance initiative. Two days before the Summit, President Biden stood on the stage ... at NATO and said that we would keep putting Ukraine 'in the position to be able to continue to resist Russian physical aggression.' We have also prepared contingency funds in the event of a further Russian incursion into Ukraine. As President Biden told President Putin directly, we will stand unwavering in support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." MB: The Politico story addresses Psaki's statement, made after the Politico story was first published.

Philip Bump of the Washington Post: Tucker Carlson's quickly debunked assertion that the FBI may have helped organize the January 6 insurrection is gaining GOP backers. Among them, Gohmert, Gaetz & Greene. It's a convenient story because it relieves Trump -- and them -- of responsibility for the insurrection; the fact that they story is completely bogus matters not a whit. (Also linked yesterday.)

Across GOP-USA, Jim Crow Is Already at Work. Nick Corasaniti & Reid Epstein of the New York Times: "Republican state lawmakers have introduced at least 216 bills in 41 states to give legislatures more power over elections officials.... The maneuvers risk eroding some of the core checks that stood as a bulwark against ... Donald J. Trump as he sought to subvert the 2020 election results.... The new laws target [not only] high-level state officials.... The laws allow Republicans to remove local officials they don't like.... [These] officials ... are responsible for decisions like selecting drop box and precinct locations, sending out voter notices, establishing early voting hours and certifying elections.... In Georgia, the legislature passed a unique law for some counties.... In [rural Republican] Morgan County, east of Atlanta, Helen Butler has been ... a member of the county board of elections.... [She] is also runs the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, a group dedicated to protecting the voting rights of Black Americans and increasing their civic engagement. But Ms. Butler will be removed from the county board at the end of the month, after [Georgia Gov. Brian] Kemp signed a local bill that ended the ability of political parties to appoint members." Local Republican officials who acted honorably during the last election cycle are being replaced, too. In De Kalb County. "Republicans nominated Paul Maner, a well-known local conservative with a history of false statements," to replace a long-serving GOP election board member who had opposed a GOP elections bill.

Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The arrival of Justice Amy Coney Barrett in October seemed to create a 6-to-3 conservative juggernaut that would transform the Supreme Court. Instead, judging by the 39 signed decisions in argued cases so far this term, including two major rulings on Thursday, the right side of the court is badly fractured and its liberal members are having a surprisingly good run. That picture may change, as the court has yet to issue the term's last 15 decisions. But some trends have already come into focus.... This term, Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh has voted with the majority in divided cases 87 percent of the time, more than any other member of the court.... The two other Trump appointees are not far behind.... By contrast, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr..., was in the majority in divided cases just 36 percent of the time. That helps explain his aggrieved tone in concurring and dissenting opinions on Thursday...."

Matt Phillips & Jeanna Smialek of the New York Times: "Stocks had their biggest daily decline in over a month on Friday, capping a week of turbulence on Wall Street as investors struggled to calibrate their expectations for inflation and interest rates. The S&P 500 fell 1.3 percent, its biggest drop since May 12 and a decline that stood out because the index had made only small moves over the past month. It was the fourth consecutive daily decline for the index, bringing the S&P 500's losses for the week to 1.9 percent. That's its worst showing since late February. Wall Street's focus this week was on the Federal Reserve and the potential for it to increase interest rates or take other steps to cut back its emergency support for the economy. The central bank said on Wednesday that it had no immediate plans to change its policy, but it did release projections that showed most officials expected interest rates to start to rise in 2023."

Thanks for the Short Commute, Jeff! Lauren Gurley of Vice: "Natalie Monarrez's commute to work at Amazon's colossal warehouse in Staten Island, New York City, known as JFK8, is just a few hundred steps. Since 2019, she's been homeless and has lived out of her SUV, camping out in the facility's parking lot.... Monarrez earns $19.30 an hour as a full-time Amazon ship dock worker at JFK8 -- more than $4 above New York City's $15-an-hour minimum wage. Still it's not enough, she says, to afford a studio apartment in Staten Island or neighboring New Jersey once she subtracts her other expenses such as her cell phone bill, health insurance, the cost of gas and groceries, the lease on her car, car insurance, and her Planet Fitness membership. 'Jeff Bezos donates to homeless shelters for tax write-offs and PR. He needs to know that some of his own workers (without family or a second income) can't afford rent,' she said." MB: Perhaps Monarrez could drop her gym membership if she got an apartment, because its primary use for her seems to be as a place to shower. In any event, an SUV is no place for a working woman to live.

The Pandemic, Ctd.

Covid May Ruin the Rest of Your Life. Pam Belluck of the New York Times: "Hundreds of thousands of Americans have sought medical care for post-Covid health problems that they had not been diagnosed with before becoming infected with the coronavirus, according to the largest study to date of long-term symptoms in Covid-19 patients. The study, tracking the health insurance records of nearly two million people in the United States who contracted the coronavirus last year, found that one month or more after their infection, almost one-quarter -- 23 percent -- of them sought medical treatment for new conditions. Those affected were all ages, including children. Their most common new health problems were pain, including in nerves and muscles; breathing difficulties; high cholesterol; malaise and fatigue; and high blood pressure. Other issues included intestinal symptoms; migraines; skin problems; heart abnormalities; sleep disorders; and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Post-Covid health problems were common even among people who had not gotten sick from the virus at all, the study found."

Michael Levenson of the New York Times: "A federal judge ruled on Friday that, beginning on July 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer be allowed to enforce its rules intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on cruise ships in Florida. In his ruling, the judge, Steven D. Merryday of U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, granted Florida's request for a preliminary injunction blocking the C.D.C. from enforcing the rules in Florida's ports, finding that they were based on 'stale data' and failed to take into account the prevalence of effective vaccines. The judge said that, beginning on July 18, the rules 'will persist as only a nonbinding "consideration," "recommendation" or "guideline," the same tools used by C.D.C. when addressing the practices in other similarly situated industries, such as airlines, railroads, hotels, casinos, sports venues, buses, subways, and others.'... Judge Merryday gave the agency until July 2 to propose a 'narrower injunction' that would allow cruise ships to sail in a timely fashion." MB: Pappy Bush appointed Merryday. On the upside, Merryday does not seem to be a vaccine skeptic.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Friday are here. The Washington Post's live Covid-19 updates for Friday are here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Darlene Superville of the AP: "President Joe Biden took a cautious victory lap Friday in his quest to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, announcing that 300 million vaccine shots have been administered in the 150 days since he took office. Biden credited scientists, companies, the American people and his whole-of-government effort. The president noted that the widespread vaccination campaign had set the stage for most Americans to have a relatively normal summer as businesses reopen and employers hire.... But as Biden marks one milestone, he is in danger of failing to meet another: his target to have 70% of American adults at least partially vaccinated by July Fourth, in a little over two weeks.'" (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Sheryl Stolberg & Noah Weiland of the New York Times: "With the United States unlikely to reach his self-imposed deadline of having 70 percent of adults partly vaccinated against the coronavirus by July 4, President Biden on Friday stepped up his drive for Americans to get their shots, warning that those who decline risk becoming infected by a highly contagious and potentially deadly variant. In an afternoon appearance at the White House, Mr. Biden avoided mentioning the 70 percent target that he set in early May and instead trumpeted a different milestone: 300 million shots in his first 150 days in office. But even as he hailed the vaccination campaign's success, he sounded a somber note about the worrisome Delta variant, which is spreading in states with low vaccination rates. 'The best way to protect yourself against these variants is to get vaccinated,' the president declared." ~~~

Beyond the Beltway

Missouri, etc. Glenn Thrush & Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs of the New York Times: "Missouri has become the latest state to throw down a broad challenge to the enforcement of federal firearms laws.... A bill signed by Gov. Mike Parson over the weekend -- at a gun store called Frontier Justice -- threatens a penalty of $50,000 against any local police agency that enforces certain federal gun laws and regulations that constitute 'infringements' of Second Amendment gun rights. At least eight other states -- Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia -- have taken similar action this year, passing laws of varying strength that discourage or prohibit the enforcement of federal gun statutes by state and local agents and officers." MB: You know, Mike, you aren't just dangerous; you're damned silly. How is anyone supposed to take seriously a governor who signs a bill at a gun store, much less a store called "Frontier Justice"? Did you wear a cowboy hat, boots & spurs, and sport a packed holster riding low on your hips? (Also linked yesterday.)

News Ledes

AP: "Tropical Storm Claudette dumped heavy rain across the U.S. Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Florida as it chugged inland Saturday, triggering flash floods and tornado warnings along its soggy course across the Southeast. The National Hurricane Center declared Claudette organized enough to qualify as a named storm at 4 a.m. Saturday, well after the storm's center of circulation had come ashore southwest of New Orleans. It was north of the city three hours later, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (72 kph) as the storm plodded to the northeast at 12 mph (19 kph). The heaviest rains were far from the center, near the Mississippi-Alabama state line." ~~~

     ~~~ The Weather Channel's main report (at about 8 am ET Saturday) is here.

The Commentariat -- June 18, 2021

Late Morning Update:

Darlene Superville of the AP: "President Joe Biden took a cautious victory lap Friday in his quest to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, announcing that 300 million vaccine shots have been administered in the 150 days since he took office. Biden credited scientists, companies, the American people and his whole-of-government effort. The president noted that the widespread vaccination campaign had set the stage for most Americans to have a relatively normal summer as businesses reopen and employers hire.... But as Biden marks one milestone, he is in danger of failing to meet another: his target to have 70% of American adults at least partially vaccinated by July Fourth, in a little over two weeks.""

Elizabeth Dias of the New York Times: "The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States, flouting a warning from the Vatican, have overwhelmingly voted to draft guidance on the sacrament of the Eucharist, advancing a political push by conservative bishops to deny President Biden communion because of his support of abortion rights. The decision, made public on Friday afternoon, is aimed at the nation's second Catholic president, perhaps the most religiously observant commander in chief since Jimmy Carter, and exposes bitter divisions in American Catholicism. It capped three days of contentious debate at a virtual June meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The measure was approved by a vote of 73 percent in favor and 24 percent opposed.... The move to target a president, who regularly attends Mass and has spent a lifetime steeped in Christian rituals and practices, is striking coming from leaders of the president's own faith, particularly after many conservative Catholics turned a blind eye to the sexual improprieties of ... Donald J. Trump because they supported his political agenda. It reveals a uniquely American Catholicism increasingly at odds with Rome." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Those old farts, with all due respect, should read the part of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says not to do as the hypocrites do. The hypocrites Jesus calls out are rabbis -- that is, the equivalent of priests & bishops.

Philip Bump of the Washington Post: Tucker Carlson's quickly debunked assertion that the FBI may have helped organize the January 6 insurrection is gaining GOP backers. Among them, Gohmert, Gaetz & Greene. It's a convenient story because it relieves Trump -- and them -- of responsibility for the insurrection; the fact that they story is bogus matters not a whit.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Friday are here. The Washington Post's live Covid-19 updates for Friday are here.

Glenn Thrush & Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs of the New York Times: "Missouri has become the latest state to throw down a broad challenge to the enforcement of federal firearms laws.... A bill signed by Gov. Mike Parson over the weekend -- at a gun store called Frontier Justice -- threatens a penalty of $50,000 against any local police agency that enforces certain federal gun laws and regulations that constitute 'infringements' of Second Amendment gun rights. At least eight other states -- Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia -- have taken similar action this year, passing laws of varying strength that discourage or prohibit the enforcement of federal gun statutes by state and local agents and officers."MB: You know, Mike, you aren't just dangerous; you're damned silly. How is anyone supposed to take seriously a governor who signs a bill at a gun store, much less a store called "Frontier Justice"? Did you wear a cowboy hat, boots & spurs, and sport a packed holster riding low on your hips?

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Kate Sullivan & Maegan Vazquez of CNN: "President Joe Biden said that signing legislation into law on Thursday establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day -- a US federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States -- will go down as 'one of the greatest honors' of his presidency.... 'I regret that my grandchildren aren't here, because this is a really, really, really important moment in our history. By making Juneteenth a federal holiday, all Americans can feel the power of this day and learn from our history -- and celebrate progress and grapple with the distance we've come (and) the distance we have to travel,' Biden said. Th ceremony, which took place in the East Room, included some 80 members of Congress -- including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, local elected officials, community leaders and activists. The President specifically noted that Opal Lee, the activist who campaigned to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday, was in attendance. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. Only a handful of states currently observe Juneteenth as a paid holiday." ~~~

     ~~~ Annie Karni & Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: "At the White House, Mr. Biden singled out Opal Lee, an activist who at the age of 89 decided to walk from her home in Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., in an effort to get Juneteenth named a national holiday. The president called her 'a grandmother of the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday' and got down on one knee to greet her in the audience." ~~~

     ~~~ Video of the full ceremony is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Ashley Vaughn of CNN profiles Opal Lee. ~~~

     ~~~ John Wagner, et al., of the Washington Post: "Because June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, most federal employees will get this Friday off." ~~~

     ~~~ Michael Collins of USA Today: "Mail delivery will go on as scheduled on Friday and Saturday even though Friday is a federal holiday under a new law signed Thursday by President Joe Biden.... 'The U.S. Postal Service is fully supportive of the new Juneteenth National Independence Day Act and making June 19 a federal holiday. Unfortunately, it is not possible to cease the operations of the Postal Service to accommodate an observance over the next 24-48 hours,' the postal service said in a statement."

Reuters, via Yahoo! News: "Russian President Vladimir Putin lavished praise on ... Joe Biden on Thursday, a day after the two leaders held a summit, saying Biden was incorrectly portrayed in the Russian and U.S. media as being unfocused and vague.... Speaking to university graduates by video link later on Thursday, Putin, 68, had only warm words for Biden, 78, in contrast to Russian state media which has sometimes portrayed the U.S. president as struggling to do his job both physically and mentally. 'I want to say that the image of President Biden that our press and even the American press paints has nothing in common with reality,' Putin told the graduates. 'He was on a long trip, had flown across the Ocean, and had to contend with jet lag and the time difference. When I fly it takes its toll. But he looked cheerful, we spoke face-to-face for two or maybe more hours. He's completely across his brief,' said Putin. 'Biden is a professional, and you have to be very careful in working with him to make sure you don't miss anything. He doesn't miss anything, I can assure you.'"

Spencer Hsu of the Washington Post: "U.S. prosecutors for the first time have charged a defendant in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach with violating a federal law that makes it a crime to transport a firearm or explosive for unlawful use in a riot. The rare weapons charge was handed up Wednesday in a five-count superseding indictment against Guy Wesley Reffitt, 48, who prosecutors say brought a rifle and semiautomatic handgun to Washington and recruited members to a right-wing Texas Three Percenters group claiming he had created a new security business to circumvent gun laws.... Prosecutors in court filings said he brought an AR-15 rifle and a Smith & Wesson on his trip, and was recorded telling his family he carried them to the Capitol."

Marshall Cohen & Katelyn Polantz of CNN: "The Justice Department on Thursday released horrifying new police body camera footage from the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, after CNN and other outlets requested the tapes. The footage was used in the case against Thomas Webster, a former Marine and retired police officer from the New York City Police Department accused of participating in the Capitol attack. Prosecutors say that the 56-second tape shows Webster, wearing a red coat among a large crowd of pro-Trump rioters, screaming profanities at officers, threateningly wielding a flagpole, and finally rushing at the officers, who engaged in hand-to-hand combat with him and other members of the mob. One of the officers eventually wrestles away the flagpole, but Webster then tackles the cop to the ground."

Ryan Goodman & Andrew Weissman in a Washington Post op-ed: During two days of testimony before House committees, FBI Director Christopher Wray failed to answer where the FBI was during the weeks leading up to the January 6 insurrection. "What is clear is that the FBI knew enough to take further action, but failed to do so.... [Wray's] responsibility for leading the FBI during a foreseeable domestic terrorist attack needs to come under greater scrutiny, as it should in a healthy democracy, and he must do more to give lawmakers the information they need to assure this kind of assault does not happen again." MB: It seems to me Wray has not mentally transitioned from working for Trump to working for Biden. He thinks he still has to hide facts from the American people and a Democratic Congress. Once again, a Democratic president had made the mistake of thinking it's a good idea to have a Republican leading the FBI.

Mike DeBonis & Vanessa Williams of the Washington Post: "Senate Republicans vowed Thursday to block voting legislation from advancing later this month, rejecting ... key Democratic senator [Joe Manchin]'s compromise offer that adopted some GOP ideas in a bid to break partisan gridlock on the issue. The pledge from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) all but guarantees that Republicans will filibuster a sweeping voting bill that Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is sending to the floor Tuesday. Parts of the bill are meant to overrule provisions contained in a host of GOP-passed state laws that have placed restrictions on early voting, mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes and other policies that make it easier to cast a ballot, in response to ... Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election." The AP's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Whaddaya think of the filibuster now, Clueless Joe? ~~~

     ~~~ Greg Sargent of the Washington Post: "On Thursday morning, leading voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams ... told CNN she supports Sen. Joe Manchin III's (D-W.Va.) compromise bill to protect democracy.... Republicans were thrilled because..., as Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri candidly put it, they now get to rebrand Manchin's compromise as 'the Stacey Abrams substitute.'... Which should illustrate the folly of seeking bipartisanship as a precondition for protecting democracy in the first place." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: In an episode of Piling on Metaphors, some pundit said yesterday that senators were playing a game of "kabuki chess" as they positioned themselves on voting rights legislation. This assumes that Manchin, Schumer & McConnell all know what they're doing. I'll reserve judgment until these voting rights bills become laws & Texas legislators can no longer discriminate against the people of Harris County.

Andrew Desiderio & Connor O'Brien of Politico: "The House voted to repeal the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq on Thursday, a rare and historic effort by lawmakers to rein in presidential war powers.... The 268-161 vote was bipartisan, drawing support from 49 Republicans and all but one Democrat. It was also a victory for Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who has pushed for the repeal for several years while presidents from both parties have undermined Congress' role.... Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his support for repealing the 2002 authorization and said it would get a vote on the Senate floor sometime this year. President Joe Biden also backs the effort. A complementary bill is making its way through the Senate beginning next week with a Foreign Relations Committee markup; but the upper chamber's version, crafted by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), also repeals the 1991 authorization --which Congress passed in the run-up to the first Gulf War -- in addition to scrapping the 2002 measure."

Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Affordable Care Act on Thursday survived a third major challenge as the Supreme Court, on a 7-to-2 vote, turned aside the latest effort by Republicans to kill the health care law. The legislation, President Barack Obama's defining domestic legacy, has been the subject of relentless Republican hostility. But attempts in Congress to repeal it failed, as did two earlier Supreme Court challenges, in 2012 and 2015. With the passing years, the law gained popularity and became woven into the fabric of the health care system. On Thursday, in what Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. called, in dissent, 'the third installment in our epic Affordable Care Act trilogy,' the Supreme Court again sustained the law. Its future now seems secure and its potency as a political issue for Republicans reduced." (Also linked yesterday.) Politico's report is here.

This decision might as well be written on the dissolving paper sold in magic shops. -- Justice Samuel Alito, Fulton v. Philadelphia, dissent ~~~

~~~ Supremes Say It's A-OK to Discriminate Against Gay Couples. Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that Philadelphia may not bar a Catholic agency that refused to work with same-sex couples from screening potential foster parents. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for six members of the court, said that since the city allowed exceptions to its policies for some other agencies it must also do so in this instance. The Catholic agency, he wrote, 'seeks only an accommodation that will allow it to continue serving the children of Philadelphia in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs; it does not seek to impose those beliefs on anyone else.'" The AP's report is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ "Alito Was Just Pissed." Josh Gerstein of Politico: "The key fault line in the Supreme Court that Donald Trump built is not the ideological clash between right and left -- it's the increasingly acrimonious conflict within the court's now-dominant conservative wing. Those rifts burst wide open on Thursday with two of the highest-profile decisions of the court's current term. In both the big cases -- involving Obamacare and a Catholic group refusing to vet same-sex couples as foster parents in Philadelphia -- conservative justices unleashed sharp attacks that seemed aimed at their fellow GOP appointees for failing to grapple with the core issues the cases presented.... Leading the charge from the right in both cases Thursday was Justice Samuel Alito, who penned caustic opinions taking his colleagues to task for issuing narrow rulings that seemed to him to be aimed at defusing political tensions rather than interpreting the law.... There was little doubt his criticism was aimed primarily at Chief Justice John Roberts, who provided the pivotal vote to uphold Obamacare nine years ago and voted Thursday to leave the law intact by concluding that the Republican-led states seeking to overturn it lacked legal standing to sue."

Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in favor of two American corporations accused of complicity in child slavery on Ivory Coast cocoa farms. The decision was the latest in a series of rulings imposing strict limits on lawsuits brought in federal court based on human rights abuses abroad. The case was brought by six citizens of Mali who said they were trafficked into slavery as children. They sued Nestlé USA and Cargill, saying the firms had aided and profited from the practice of forced child labor. Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, said the companies' activities in the United States were not sufficiently tied to the asserted abuses." (Also linked yesterday.)

Colby Itkowitz & Peter Hermann of the Washington Post: "Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-Ga.), who voted against awarding police officers the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery in protecting the U.S. Capitol against violent, pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6, refused to shake hands with D.C. police officer Michael Fanone on Wednesday. Fanone was beaten unconscious after he voluntarily rushed to the Capitol to help defend it from those who breached the building. He suffered a concussion and a mild heart attack. In the months since, Fanone has been one of the leading voices pushing back against Republicans who have sought to downplay the severity of what happened Jan. 6. Fanone, joined by Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, returned to the Capitol on Wednesday, the day after 21 House Republicans voted against the Gold Medal resolution, in an effort to meet them and tell his story. [Fanone] said he recognized Clyde at an elevator and that he and Dunn hopped in with the congressman. 'I simply extended my hand and said, "How are you doing today, Congressman." I knew immediately he recognized me by the way he reacted. He completely froze. He just stared at me,' Fanone said...." (Also linked yesterday.)

Aaron Blake of the Washington Post (June 16): Fox "News" host Tucker Carlson is claiming that the FBI helped organize the January 6 insurrection. Here's Tucker's "logic": some indictments of alleged Capitol insurectionists & planners refer to unnamed "unindicted co-conspirators"; since the feds won't name these individuals, they must be FBI agents. Tucker bases his conclusion on a "report" by a former White House speechwriter who was fired from that job because he was associated with white supremacists. Just to be clear, there are a number of reasons court filings don't name unindicted co-conspirators, and "because they're federal agents" is not one of them. MB: As for the logical fallacy here, I don't know; maybe it's argumentum ad tucquer's assholium. It is absolutely senseless.

Beyond the Beltway

Arizona. Fraudit Takes a Road Trip. Brad Reed of the Raw Story: "Data collected from the widely criticized pro-Trump Arizona vote 'audit' has now been shipped to a mysterious 'lab' in Montana to be 'forensically evaluated.'... However, the so-called lab's exact location in the state remains a secret. CNN reporter Gary Tuchman did some detective work and discovered a piece of property owned by Cipher's CEO in Montana, but he could not determine whether that location was the one where the data was taken." MB: I'm sure we don't have to worry about the integrity of the vote count now. (Also linked yesterday.)

Missouri. Jim Salter of the AP: "A St. Louis couple who gained notoriety for pointing guns at social justice demonstrators pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges, but the man left the courthouse defiantly pledging to 'do it again' if faced with the same circumstances. Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was fined $2,000. Her husband, Mark McCloskey, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and was fined $750. They also agreed to give up the weapons they used during the confrontation.... Mark McCloskey, who announced in May that he was running for a U.S. Senate seat in Missouri, was unapologetic after the hearing." ~~~

     ~~~ Meryl Kornfield of the Washington Post: "Video and photographs of rifle-wielding Mark McCloskey and pistol-toting Patricia McCloskey in front of their mansion on June 28 captured the attention of the country, including ... Donald Trump, who spoke out in defense of the couple.... The couple has touted themselves as conservative defenders against 'the liberal mob,' earning newfound celebrity status and a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention."

Oregon. Michael Levenson of the New York Times: "A group of about 50 police officers who had served voluntarily on a specialized crowd control unit in Portland, Ore., have stepped down from the squad after a year of sometimes violent clashes with protesters, the city's Police Department said on Thursday. The resignations came just hours after a member of the unit, Officer Corey Budworth, was indicted on a misdemeanor assault charge that he physically injured an independent photojournalist during a protest in August. Video of the episode shows an officer using his baton to shove a woman to the ground and then pushing the baton in her face.... The officers ... had complained not only about the indictment, but about what they viewed as a broader lack of support after more than 150 nights of sustained protests...."

Marie: We must never lose sight of the sheer malevolence of the Republican party. Whether it's trying to keep Americans from elemental human rights, like voting and adequate health care; whether it's discriminating against women, or ethnic or religious minorities, or LGBTQ people; whether it's inciting, participating in and then denying an insurrection against their own government; whether it's turning guns on peaceful demonstrators or making assault weapons widely available to irresponsible Americans; whether it's giving economic advantage to the rich at the expense of everyone else; whether it's slandering others or lying or cheating. Whatever. These are nasty people, and it is not "enlightened" or "even-handed" or "fair" to try to "understand" them or "appreciate their points of view."

The Commentariat -- June 17, 2021

Late Morning Update:

John Kruzel of the Hill: "The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld ObamaCare against the latest Republican challenge, preserving the landmark law and its key protections for millions of people with preexisting health conditions. The justices ruled 7-2 that the GOP challengers lacked standing to sue." MB: @10:12 am ET, this is a breaking story, so that's all there is. The argument will almost certainly come before the Court again, the next time with a plaintiff that the Court would deem had standing (i.e., someone who claimed "injury" under the law). It ain't over till it's over. Update: The New York Times report, by Adam Liptak, is here.

Supremes Say It's A-OK to Discriminate Against Gay Couples. Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that Philadelphia may not bar a Catholic agency that refused to work with same-sex couples from screening potential foster parents. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for six members of the court, said that since the city allowed exceptions to its policies for some other agencies it must also do so in this instance. The Catholic agency, he wrote, 'seeks only an accommodation that will allow it to continue serving the children of Philadelphia in a manner consistent with its religious beliefs; it does not seek to impose those beliefs on anyone else.'" The AP's report is here.

Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in favor of two American corporations accused of complicity in child slavery on Ivory Coast cocoa farms. The decision was the latest in a series of rulings imposing strict limits on lawsuits brought in federal court based on human rights abuses abroad. The case was brought by six citizens of Mali who said they were trafficked into slavery as children. They sued Nestlé USA and Cargill, saying the firms had aided and profited from the practice of forced child labor. Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, said the companies' activities in the United States were not sufficiently tied to the asserted abuses."

Colby Itkowitz & Peter Hermann of the Washington Post: "Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-Ga.), who voted against awarding police officers the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery in protecting the U.S. Capitol against violent, pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6, refused to shake hands with D.C. police officer Michael Fanone on Wednesday. Fanone was beaten unconscious after he voluntarily rushed to the Capitol to help defend it from those who breached the building. He suffered a concussion and a mild heart attack. In the months since, Fanone has been one of the leading voices pushing back against Republicans who have sought to downplay the severity of what happened Jan. 6. Fanone, joined by Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, returned to the Capitol on Wednesday, the day after 21 House Republicans voted against the Gold Medal resolution, in an effort to meet them and tell his story. [Fanone] said he recognized Clyde at an elevator and that he and Dunn hopped in with the congressman. 'I simply extended my hand and said, "How are you doing today, Congressman." I knew immediately he recognized me by the way he reacted. He completely froze. He just stared at me,' Fanone said...."

Fraudit Takes a Road Trip. Brad Reed of the Raw Story: "Data collected from the widely criticized pro-Trump Arizona vote 'audit' has now been shipped to a mysterious 'lab' in Montana to be 'forensically evaluated.'... However, the so-called lab's exact location in the state remains a secret. CNN reporter Gary Tuchman did some detective work and discovered a piece of property owned by Cipher's CEO in Montana, but he could not determine whether that location was the one where the data was taken." MB: I'm sure we don't have to worry about the integrity of the vote count now.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jonathan Lemire, et al., of the AP: "President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded their summit on Wednesday with an agreement to return their nations' ambassadors to their posts in Washington and Moscow and a plan to begin work toward replacing the last remaining treaty between the two countries limiting nuclear weapons. But the two leaders offered starkly different views on difficult simmering issues including cyber and ransomware attacks originating from Russia. Putin insisted anew that his country has nothing to do with such attacks, despite U..S. intelligence that indicates otherwise. Biden, meanwhile, said that he made clear to Putin that if Russia crossed certain red lines -- including going after major American infrastructure -- his administration would respond and 'the consequences of that would be devastating[.]'" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

     ~~~ David Sanger, et al., of the New York Times: "highly anticipated first summit meeting between President Biden and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ended early on Wednesday and was described by both sides as a series of polite but adamantly stated disagreements about which country is the greater force of global disruption. After about three hours of talks, the two leaders emerged, separately, and offered professional respect for each other, like two skilled boxers describing the other's prowess. Both expressed a desire for a better relationship, but announced no dramatic actions to arrest the downward spiral that has already hurtled them toward the worst U.S.-Russian tensions since the Cold War." ~~~

     ~~~ And He Got It Ju-u-ust Right. Marie: So the New York Times has a front-page analysis about how, after his meeting with Vlad, President Biden demonstrated "a stubborn optimism that critics say borders on worrisome naïveté." And the Washington Post has a front-page article about how Biden's "pessimism about the prospects of changing Putin's mind on issues such as human rights would inform his actions."

Anita Kumar of Politico: "A scuffle broke out among U.S. and Russian journalists outside the much-anticipated meeting between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday, leading the media to be largely shut out of the summit. Journalists from both countries rushed to the site of the meeting -- the Villa La Grange, an 18th century building located in a park near Lake Geneva -- but were stopped by U.S. and Russian security and government officials and told to line up separately and in single file.... Instead, journalists and officials screamed.... Eventually nine U.S. journalists and an unknown number of Russia journalists were allowed inside the villa's library where Biden and Putin were seated.... Journalists pushed and yelled at each other to move. After just a minute or two, Russian security pulled the red rope separating the media from the leaders to try to keep the media further away from the leaders. Russian security yelled at journalists to get out of the room and began pushing journalists. U.S. journalists and White House officials began screaming that the Russian security should stop touching them."

Katie Rogers of the New York Times: "The Education Department said on Wednesday that transgender students were protected under Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools, reversing a Trump-era policy that effectively had said the opposite.... The decision was rooted in a Supreme Court ruling last year that determined that protections in the Civil Rights Act against discrimination in the workplace extended to gay and transgender people, and similar interpretations of the ruling have appeared in agencies throughout President Biden's government." This is a reversal of the department's position under Trump.

Katie Benner & Miriam Jordan of the New York Times: "Attorney General Merrick B. Garland reversed on Wednesday Trump-era immigration rulings that had made it all but impossible for people to seek asylum in the United States over credible fears of domestic abuse or gang violence, marking one of the Justice Department's most significant breaks with the previous administration. His decisions came in closely watched cases where his predecessors, the former attorneys general Jeff Sessions and William P. Barr, broke with precedent to overturn decisions by immigration appeals judges that would have allowed such asylum claims." ~~~

     ~~~ Nick Miroff of the Washington Post: "Garland's decisions vacated Trump-era rulings that had limited asylum eligibility for immigrants fleeing gangs or gender-based attacks, which his administration characterized as 'private' forms of violence that did not constitute membership in a persecuted social group. Wednesday's decisions return U.S. asylum processing rules to pre-Trump standards."

Rachel Siegel & Jeff Stein of the Washington Post: "The Federal Reserve expects inflation will climb to 3.4 percent this year, higher than the central bank's previous forecasts, while also projecting for the first time that there could be two interest rate hikes in 2023. As recently as March, the Fed predicted inflation would be 2.4 percent for this year. Earlier estimates didn't project an initial rate hike until 2024. Fed leaders also moved up estimates for when interest rates could rise from near zero. Projections released after the Fed's two-day policy meeting showed that the Fed now expects to make two rate increases by the end of 2023, sooner than previously expected." The AP's story is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Michael Schmidt & Katie Benner of the New York Times: "The Justice Department closed a criminal investigation into whether a disparaging memoir by ... Donald J. Trump's national security adviser John R. Bolton illegally disclosed classified information and dropped a lawsuit aimed at recouping profits from the book.... The agreement ends an effort that began under the Trump administration to silence Mr. Bolton after Mr. Trump waged a campaign pressuring investigators to prosecute him. Dropping the legal action against him is a rebuke by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland of the previous administration's use of government power to suppress former Trump officials who became critics of Mr. Trump.... The White House's efforts to interfere with Mr. Bolton's book came to light in September when a career administration official [Ellen Knight] accused Trump aides of improperly intervening to prevent Mr. Bolton's account of his time as Mr. Trump's national security adviser from becoming public." A CBS News story is here.

Mike DeBonis of the Washington Post: "Congress on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday, elevating the day marking the end of slavery in Texas to a national commemoration of emancipation amid a larger reckoning about America's turbulent history with racism. It is the first new federal holiday created by Congress since 1983, when lawmakers voted to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day after a 15-year fight to commemorate the assassinated civil rights leader. The congressional fight to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday was, in comparison, a relatively rapid affair -- approved Wednesday by the House on a 415 to 14 vote just a day after the bill establishing the holiday moved suddenly and unanimously through the Senate. The push to establish June 19 as a national holiday celebrating emancipation only gained serious traction last year, as the nation erupted in turmoil over the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Great! Only a couple of days now till I try out my re-education camp lesson plans on all those white male executives. (See yesterday's Commentariat for context.) Seriously, I'm very happy for everyone who is looking forward to celebrating this new holiday, which is getting the recognition it deserves. And all those white male executives can go stuff themselves. If President Biden signs the bill today or tomorrow, looks as if Saturday will be our first official Juneteenth federal holiday. Update: President Biden is scheduled to sign the bill at 3:30 pm ET today.

Seung Min Kim of Tony Romm of the Washington Post: "A bipartisan group of senators sketching out an infrastructure proposal expanded their base of support Wednesday, even as they continue to haggle over how to pay for billions of dollars in new spending in line with President Biden's vision for a massive overhaul of the nation's public works system. The initial framework, written by the likes of Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and seven other senators, falls far short of the sweeping infrastructure proposal that Biden has pitched, yet aims to try to satisfy the president's hunger for bipartisanship. But their efforts received a big boost Wednesday, when 11 more senators joined the original 10 and said they supported the still-unreleased blueprint of a deal. The group now includes 11 Republicans, nine Democrats and one independent who caucuses with the Democrats.... However, Senate Democrats huddled privately Wednesday to devise a path forward for trillions of dollars in additional spending in infrastructure improvements and other economic initiatives that may not make it into a bipartisan deal." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I get the impression these guys want to do things like rebuild a bridge halfway across the river and repave one lane of a four-lane highway.

Mike DeBonis of the Washington Post: "Sen. Joe Manchin III, the lone Senate Democrat who is not sponsoring a sweeping voting rights and campaign finance bill, has outlined for the first time a list of policy demands on election legislation -- opening the door to a possible compromise that could counter a bevy of Republican-passed laws that have rolled back ballot access in numerous states. A three-page memo circulated by Manchin's office this week indicates the West Virginia centrist's willingness to support key provisions of the For the People Act, the marquee Democratic bill that the House passed in March -- including provisions mandating at least two weeks of early voting and measures meant to eliminate partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts[.] But Manchin's memo also sketches out several provisions that have historically been opposed by most Democrats, including backing an ID requirement for voters and the ability of local election officials to purge voter rolls using other government records." ~~~

     ~~~ Half a Loaf ... Rick Hasen in Election Law Blog: "Yes, Democrats should jump at the opportunity to pass such a bill, but it is also fair to acknowledge it is far from perfect. Many of the darlings in the For the People Act are not on Manchin's list, such as felon re-enfranchisement, public financing of congressional elections, restructuring the often-deadlocked Federal Election Commission, and limiting state voter purges." Here Hasen has published the first several paragraphs of a a piece he wrote for Slate. The Slate article is firewalled. ~~~

     ~~~ Lee Fang & Ryan Grim of the Intercept, well, intercept a Zoom call Joe Manchin made with the No Labels crybabies & some supportive billionaire donors, where they discuss how the Senate might be able to do some legislating even while hanging onto the filibuster, which they all just love. Because bipartisanship.

At Least Manchin Isn't Insane. Josh Kovensky of TPM: In "a letter that Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) sent to President Biden this week..., Cotton warns Biden that Beijing plans on using the 2022 Winter Olympics as a giant funnel for precious American DNA, harvesting the nation's fittest and finest for their genomic information as part of a plan to achieve military dominance. Written in the language of a Cold War-era B-movie and filled with a mixture of sci-fi scheming, eugenics, and stentorian warning, Cotton demands that Biden withdraw American participation from the 2022 winter Olympics absent guarantees from China that it will not collect the data or DNA of visiting American olympians.... 'The CCP has reportedly conducted tests to develop biologically-enhanced soldiers and intends to use DNA data to catapult Chinese biotechnology companies to global market dominance,' Cotton wrote, citing a column written by Trump-era Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.: ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: When you join the Trump GOP now, you get a glowing magic code ring. (As we knew all along, those ole boys wear tinfoil hats that fit perfect under their KKK hoods.)

Jaclyn Peiser of the Washington Post: "A few months before Alan Hostetter stood in triumph on the U.S. Capitol's upper West Terrace, proclaiming that the people had 'taken back their house' as rioters stormed the building, the California native launched a nonprofit that promised to protect citizens' rights, educate people on vaccines and call out media misinformation. But in the months that followed, his nonprofit, the American Phoenix Project, instead organized rallies to support ... Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election and used it 'as a platform to advocate violence against certain groups and individuals that supported the 2020 presidential election results,' federal prosecutors said in an indictment filed last Thursday. As Hostetter faces felony charges of obstructing official proceedings and breaching restricted government property, federal prosecutors also say the 56-year-old might have run afoul of IRS regulations on nonprofits' political activities."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Thursday are here.

Beyond the Beltway

Florida. One GOP Congressional Candidate Threatened to Narrow the Field by Bumping off an Opponent. Marc Caputo of Politico: "A little-known GOP candidate in one of Florida's most competitive congressional seats was secretly recorded threatening to send 'a Russian and Ukrainian hit squad' to a fellow Republican opponent to make her 'disappear.' During a 30-minute call with a conservative activist that was recorded before he became a candidate, William Braddock repeatedly warned the activist to not support GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna in the Republican primary for a Tampa Bay-area congressional seat because he had access to assassins. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), who is running for governor. 'I really don't want to have to end anybody's life for the good of the people of the United States of America,' Braddock said at one point in the conversation last week, according to the recording ... obtained by Politico. 'That will break my heart. But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. Luna is a f---ing speed bump in the road. She's a dead squirrel you run over every day when you leave the neighborhood.' Reached by text message, Braddock refused to say whether he made any threats about Luna to the person who recorded him, Erin Olszewski."

South Carolina. The Rule of Law in a Barbarous land. Michelle Liu & Meg Kinnard of the AP: "The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the planned executions of two inmates by electrocution, saying they cannot be put to death until they truly have the choice of a firing squad option set out in the state's newly revised capital punishment law. The high court halted this month's scheduled executions of Brad Sigmon and Freddie Owens, writing that corrections officials need to put together a firing squad so that inmates can really choose between that or the electric chair. The state's plans, the court wrote in an unanimous order, are on hold 'due to the statutory right of inmates to elect the manner of their execution.'"

Texas. Edgar Sandoval of the New York Times: "... Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas announced last week a vague ambition to pick up where former ... Donald J. Trump left off and complete the construction of a multibillion-dollar wall along the border with Mexico.... On Wednesday, Mr. Abbott revealed how he would pay for it: Donations.... He said he would set aside $250 million from the state's general revenue as a down payment and hire a program manager who would determine the total cost of the project and the length of the wall. But he was short on other details.... His posture comes amid a massive surge of migrants." MB: You know, Greg, the last time one of Donald's friends (Steve Bannon) decided to build a donor-funded border wall, it didn't take him long to get the feds to charge him with fraud. Are you racing Bannon to Club Fed, or what?