The three judges who struck down Alabama's unlawful gerrymandering are to be commended. Some might say it's a low bar—simply following the law—but there's more to it than that. There's no doubt each of these judges have received threats of every conceivable kind. But in the face of those threats, they still did the right thing. It's a shame that's the world we live in, but some people are still fighting the Civil War. One day I believe we'll get to that more perfect union the founders envisioned, and some brave politicians like Congressman Clyburn have fought for. I blame Trump for setting us back in this and so many other areas, but we will overcome.
I agree that these three judges are brave where too few in our various institutions are standing up. Sadly Trump is just a symptom of far deeper problems. Should he not finish his term, we get Vance....
I agree that Vance is also uniquely unqualified to be president. He's a weird, political chameleon. But at least he doesn't invoke the fear factor in people. He's not a mob boss. The Democratic majority—aided by some Republicans no longer afraid of Trump's threats of endorsing their opponents—after November's midterms will run roughshod over him and the remainign scum who created Project 2025. We're so close to taking this country back... as long as we all do what we can to reach voters who previously stayed at home on Election Day.
Really “taking the country back” is a process that starts with winning elections. It won’t be over until we can credibly say that Project 2025/MAGA and the folks who put them together will never be able to make another attempt to transform the US into a permanent authoritarian regime. While winning at the polls in 2026 and 2028 are the immediate tasks before us now, we have to be sure that the people we put in office won’t turn away from the truly Herculean task of rooting out creeping fascism all across the nation.
Kim, I will know there is hope when we can take our schools and public lands and libraries back. We need to be teaching civics and our Constitution in our public schools and not let our rights slip away, as they have recently.
And we need to get a handle on what the tech bros are doing with AI. It may have good uses, but it certainly could get out of hand if we don't jump on it now. Their flash construction of huge data centers while pushing the costs on to public citizens must be halted and looked into before it does more damage to those local environments. Truly serious damage to towns and counties water supplies as well as diminishing property values and local government funds to pay for the massive changes needed to accommodate these data centers.
We’re on the same page. I want to be sure that the miscreants are truly gone and that our institutions are safe for future generations. This isn’t going to be easy and I’m hoping no one is operating under the illusion that the cleanup process will be simple or quick. It took us a long period of slow decline to get here.
On the AI front, I was much encouraged by Pope Leo’s pronouncement on the subject this past Monday. It’s nice to see a public figure actually try to assert some moral authority over a technology that has the potential to get seriously out of control very rapidly.
Kim, yes I agree we have a huge number of things to not only get back on track but also to build security measures around for the next no-good-nicks. Because they are out here among us and raising kids to be just as hateful as they are. Still 'they' have always been in this world and so we will learn to give them less room to flourish.
Yes, the Pope's statement was so clear and encouraging. I am not a member of any doctrine of faith. Yet, I have faith that has grown over the years. The Pope's statement needs to be read by anyone who needs to see clear reasoning about our current situation.
At least at this point, there is no evidence that Vance is crazy. What we have now is a crazed impetuous man-child calling the shots as his damaged mind sees them.
Admittedly, MAGA is not normal. Vance does not stay up late into the night posting garbled texts on social media, and he can speak in complete sentences without repeating catch phrases. He also doesn't wield the 'fear power' over congress that Trump does. Vance may not be normal, but he's not certifiably nuts.
What do you mean that there is no evidence that Vance is crazy?!?!? I see him as a willing puppet to a guy (Peter Theil) who believes in the anti-Christ, because there is money to be made in doing so as pretty strong evidence. Enough said.
A 'willing puppet' isn't necessarily crazy. Vance isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, and just because he's easily manipulated doesn't say much about his mental condition. Maybe he should be evaluated first.
One would think a VP would follow, but after recently reading the NY Time's article about how his puppet master Peter Theil has left the US to avoid California tax laws and is now cozying up to Argentina's President Javier Milei with their curious belief in the Anti-Christ.... god only know what he might have in mind for Vance?!?
Sad to think that with all the money behind the “tech-bros” that JD Vance was the best they could come up with. Lucky for us, though, that they don’t have a more polished frontman to take over the operation.
It seems in a way, that Vance has turned into their 'bright shiny object' to take our mind off of the frightful data processing centers and what they are intending to make AI useful for, for governments and big money corporations. while not caring a hoot about how many jobs will be lost because of it.
I’m in SE Pennsylvania and we’re having our share of knock down drag out zoning fights over data centers recently. I’m not a dyed in the wool IT person but I understand most of the arguments on both sides of this topic. I certainly wouldn’t want one in my back yard but I also grasp the real technical constraints that require them to be placed reasonably close to the people who will actually use them. Like a lot of public policy questions this one ain’t easy to solve.
On the learning from history perspective, remind your impassioned friends on the left that perfect kills the good. The Florida Green Party voters delivered Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. In the garden of forking paths view of history we would be in a very different place under President Gore.
After 2028 expand the court to 13 justices to match the number of Federal appeals districts
If the make up of the federal and state legislatures ever allows, amend the constitution for 10 year term limits with no reappointment. (While we are at it, change the Presidential pardon to requiring a 2/3 vote in the Senate)
Good ideas, all! I keep thinking that the Ds cannot let the perfect kill the good! There is so much to shout about to repair/counter DJT and his minions. We must advocate for change and make the case for how it will benefit the country! There is another former Faux News person running for gov in CA. It appears that Faux News is a pipeline for R politicians and administration folks. Who could have guessed?
The federal judges in the district court in Alabama thankfully rejected the racist map drawn by the state in 2023. I have hope that their judgement will stand and the voters will get to vote on the same map that got Sewell and Figures elected in 2024. We want our minority communities to have a fair say in their representation. Having these two minority districts is representative of our state and they balance out our state delegation in congress. We need these two!
What can be done to stop 47 from m selling off the ocean floor before irreparable damage is done? Who can take away ALL of his ability to sign executive orders? Elections are too far away and he is crazy!!
We can't let our Democracy muscles go flaccid. We must continue to act to support a stronger form of Democracy than ever. Each of us in our own way must earn our place in this non violent struggle to save and repair what is our Democratic Republic.
Yes, we cannot get discouraged! It would be easy just to pull inward and try to shut out the noise. My paying (read taxpayer money, better known as DJT's bank account) to create a structure for a UFC cage fight on the WH lawn to represent our country has energized me anew.
It is still stunning to me that Republicans are happy to destroy their legacies for this guy. Trump is going down in history as a clown and a criminal. Yet these people are content to let their families be embarrassed by how history records their actions in service of a man who couldn't care less about them.
A-MEN! What an apt description to call them! There’s no way else to describe these complete failures of Justice—-who serve to uphold the Republican Agenda, rather than uphold the Law under the Constitution.
We cannot let the twin evils of power and greed determine the rights of our citizenry. The first question to ask every candidate is who do your support, those who are rich, or those who are in power. Money, of course, can determine political outcomes, but it shouldn't. Paxton's support by DJT may have determined the Texas primary outcome, but it can't and should not determine the general election - it's up to us to make that decision!
Kudos to all who continue to work to nullify/minimalize what should be called 'the callous' decision. Why are voting rights even an issue in a democratic republic? Every citizen should have the right to vote and to have that vote counted equally. The only thing wrong with that is that a restrictive minority believe that their will should prevail over what is right and proper.
There are too many of us still alive who fought the first big fight in the Sixties for the reimposition of Jim Crow to succeed for long.
This is the moment, to say loudly and clearly, who we are and what we stand for as Americans. We will NOT go back.
Spot on!!
We will not go quietly.
The three judges who struck down Alabama's unlawful gerrymandering are to be commended. Some might say it's a low bar—simply following the law—but there's more to it than that. There's no doubt each of these judges have received threats of every conceivable kind. But in the face of those threats, they still did the right thing. It's a shame that's the world we live in, but some people are still fighting the Civil War. One day I believe we'll get to that more perfect union the founders envisioned, and some brave politicians like Congressman Clyburn have fought for. I blame Trump for setting us back in this and so many other areas, but we will overcome.
I agree that these three judges are brave where too few in our various institutions are standing up. Sadly Trump is just a symptom of far deeper problems. Should he not finish his term, we get Vance....
I agree that Vance is also uniquely unqualified to be president. He's a weird, political chameleon. But at least he doesn't invoke the fear factor in people. He's not a mob boss. The Democratic majority—aided by some Republicans no longer afraid of Trump's threats of endorsing their opponents—after November's midterms will run roughshod over him and the remainign scum who created Project 2025. We're so close to taking this country back... as long as we all do what we can to reach voters who previously stayed at home on Election Day.
Really “taking the country back” is a process that starts with winning elections. It won’t be over until we can credibly say that Project 2025/MAGA and the folks who put them together will never be able to make another attempt to transform the US into a permanent authoritarian regime. While winning at the polls in 2026 and 2028 are the immediate tasks before us now, we have to be sure that the people we put in office won’t turn away from the truly Herculean task of rooting out creeping fascism all across the nation.
Kim, I will know there is hope when we can take our schools and public lands and libraries back. We need to be teaching civics and our Constitution in our public schools and not let our rights slip away, as they have recently.
And we need to get a handle on what the tech bros are doing with AI. It may have good uses, but it certainly could get out of hand if we don't jump on it now. Their flash construction of huge data centers while pushing the costs on to public citizens must be halted and looked into before it does more damage to those local environments. Truly serious damage to towns and counties water supplies as well as diminishing property values and local government funds to pay for the massive changes needed to accommodate these data centers.
We’re on the same page. I want to be sure that the miscreants are truly gone and that our institutions are safe for future generations. This isn’t going to be easy and I’m hoping no one is operating under the illusion that the cleanup process will be simple or quick. It took us a long period of slow decline to get here.
On the AI front, I was much encouraged by Pope Leo’s pronouncement on the subject this past Monday. It’s nice to see a public figure actually try to assert some moral authority over a technology that has the potential to get seriously out of control very rapidly.
Kim, yes I agree we have a huge number of things to not only get back on track but also to build security measures around for the next no-good-nicks. Because they are out here among us and raising kids to be just as hateful as they are. Still 'they' have always been in this world and so we will learn to give them less room to flourish.
Yes, the Pope's statement was so clear and encouraging. I am not a member of any doctrine of faith. Yet, I have faith that has grown over the years. The Pope's statement needs to be read by anyone who needs to see clear reasoning about our current situation.
At least at this point, there is no evidence that Vance is crazy. What we have now is a crazed impetuous man-child calling the shots as his damaged mind sees them.
Wrong. Vance accused migrants of eating cats and dogs. That is not a normal person.
Admittedly, MAGA is not normal. Vance does not stay up late into the night posting garbled texts on social media, and he can speak in complete sentences without repeating catch phrases. He also doesn't wield the 'fear power' over congress that Trump does. Vance may not be normal, but he's not certifiably nuts.
Maybe not, but he still is a backer of the orange demon!
But once the 'orange demon' is gone, then what? A lot of people seem to go along to get along. Once that's no longer necessary.....
he knew it was a lie when he said it...
What do you mean that there is no evidence that Vance is crazy?!?!? I see him as a willing puppet to a guy (Peter Theil) who believes in the anti-Christ, because there is money to be made in doing so as pretty strong evidence. Enough said.
A 'willing puppet' isn't necessarily crazy. Vance isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, and just because he's easily manipulated doesn't say much about his mental condition. Maybe he should be evaluated first.
Sorry I am not happy with anyone who is easily manipulated being the president. Crazy or not.
One would think a VP would follow, but after recently reading the NY Time's article about how his puppet master Peter Theil has left the US to avoid California tax laws and is now cozying up to Argentina's President Javier Milei with their curious belief in the Anti-Christ.... god only know what he might have in mind for Vance?!?
Sad to think that with all the money behind the “tech-bros” that JD Vance was the best they could come up with. Lucky for us, though, that they don’t have a more polished frontman to take over the operation.
It seems in a way, that Vance has turned into their 'bright shiny object' to take our mind off of the frightful data processing centers and what they are intending to make AI useful for, for governments and big money corporations. while not caring a hoot about how many jobs will be lost because of it.
I’m in SE Pennsylvania and we’re having our share of knock down drag out zoning fights over data centers recently. I’m not a dyed in the wool IT person but I understand most of the arguments on both sides of this topic. I certainly wouldn’t want one in my back yard but I also grasp the real technical constraints that require them to be placed reasonably close to the people who will actually use them. Like a lot of public policy questions this one ain’t easy to solve.
What can we do about the Supreme Court? The Roberts Court will go down in history as one of the worst Supreme Courts.
A couple things:
On the learning from history perspective, remind your impassioned friends on the left that perfect kills the good. The Florida Green Party voters delivered Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. In the garden of forking paths view of history we would be in a very different place under President Gore.
After 2028 expand the court to 13 justices to match the number of Federal appeals districts
If the make up of the federal and state legislatures ever allows, amend the constitution for 10 year term limits with no reappointment. (While we are at it, change the Presidential pardon to requiring a 2/3 vote in the Senate)
Good ideas, all! I keep thinking that the Ds cannot let the perfect kill the good! There is so much to shout about to repair/counter DJT and his minions. We must advocate for change and make the case for how it will benefit the country! There is another former Faux News person running for gov in CA. It appears that Faux News is a pipeline for R politicians and administration folks. Who could have guessed?
The constitution needs a lot of reforms!
And who gave us this court????
Trump, obviously.
Not one of the worst, THE WORST.
Yes!!
Not one of, but the worst!
The federal judges in the district court in Alabama thankfully rejected the racist map drawn by the state in 2023. I have hope that their judgement will stand and the voters will get to vote on the same map that got Sewell and Figures elected in 2024. We want our minority communities to have a fair say in their representation. Having these two minority districts is representative of our state and they balance out our state delegation in congress. We need these two!
What can be done to stop 47 from m selling off the ocean floor before irreparable damage is done? Who can take away ALL of his ability to sign executive orders? Elections are too far away and he is crazy!!
To remove the ability to sign executive orders requires Congress to impeach, convict and remove from office. That, or a really serious stroke.
Which would happen if we get the House and the Senate away from the GOP insanity!
We can't let our Democracy muscles go flaccid. We must continue to act to support a stronger form of Democracy than ever. Each of us in our own way must earn our place in this non violent struggle to save and repair what is our Democratic Republic.
Yes, we cannot get discouraged! It would be easy just to pull inward and try to shut out the noise. My paying (read taxpayer money, better known as DJT's bank account) to create a structure for a UFC cage fight on the WH lawn to represent our country has energized me anew.
It is still stunning to me that Republicans are happy to destroy their legacies for this guy. Trump is going down in history as a clown and a criminal. Yet these people are content to let their families be embarrassed by how history records their actions in service of a man who couldn't care less about them.
“the partisan hacks on the Supreme Court)
A-MEN! What an apt description to call them! There’s no way else to describe these complete failures of Justice—-who serve to uphold the Republican Agenda, rather than uphold the Law under the Constitution.
We cannot let the twin evils of power and greed determine the rights of our citizenry. The first question to ask every candidate is who do your support, those who are rich, or those who are in power. Money, of course, can determine political outcomes, but it shouldn't. Paxton's support by DJT may have determined the Texas primary outcome, but it can't and should not determine the general election - it's up to us to make that decision!
If Black and Hispanic voters come out to vote in force, they may beable to turn some of the new districts blue.
If the Red States allow blacks and Hispanics to vote!!!
Show up in large numbers on June 14, the next No Kings day, and a counter to Trump’s Follies.
Kudos to all who continue to work to nullify/minimalize what should be called 'the callous' decision. Why are voting rights even an issue in a democratic republic? Every citizen should have the right to vote and to have that vote counted equally. The only thing wrong with that is that a restrictive minority believe that their will should prevail over what is right and proper.
Thank you, Jenn, for this excellent piece!
Thank as always! Assist in organized voting efforts to help ALL get to the polls. We need to not let the exhaustion overwhelm us!
Thanks Jenn. You write the truth and we the people will never allow this SCOTUS to last. We are not going back to the 50's and 60's. Hell no.