Glad to hear you are making time for discussion. Everyone experiences down days and discussions with fighters and others who are tired and need a boost will all benefit from gathering together. As much as I have a community I’m part of fighting T and his administration I often feel alone too. Thank you for meeting our moment and keeping all of us afloat.
Yeah. There are down days and lonely days. It's good to hear folks express that. I'm off to make persimmon cookies to share with our Saturday Art Build to make signs for NO KINGS III. It helps to be in community with people who don't need persuasion and who are on the same page. It makes resistance fun again.
The property is zoned agricultural and does not allow a facility like that. I wouldn't assume that the Santa Fe Co. Planning Commission or the Santa Fe County community will approve of any such non-permitted plans. The Zorro Ranch sounds like a crime scene, with allegations of dead bodies buried there. Here's some more info.
Thanks, Laura, but running for office is not one of my ambitions. My work is more behind the scenes with the Democratic Party and I hold three elected positions in DPNM. It's fun supporting local candidates and working on their campaigns. I've been a union organizer with other scientists who are public servants, and Chief Steward of our Local, including lobbying on behalf of the union for better health care coverage for employees.
LOVE to see Trump's poll numbers now consistently below 40% favorable across multiple polls. It was always more than annoying to see them hover around 40% for an extended period of time. That period has come to an end, and we're all going to work hard to push them even lower.
Called my MAGA Congressman Tim Burchett this morning. He is now Chair of the DOGE Committee in the House. Suggested his Committee investigate Noem's $70 million tricked-out airplane, the no-bid contracts going to her pals, the $10 billion in unappropriated money to Trump's "Peace Board," the $2 billion Kennedy wants to build a rival WHO, the administration officials living rent free in housing meant for the military, Vaught's use of $15 million in Congress-appropriated funds for US AID to pay for his personal security. The staffer hung up before I could finish my list. But there will be more calls. They can't hide.
Simon, Thank you for sharing Juliana Stratton's ad; it brought a smile to my face!
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE concentration camps and the need to keep discussing Trump's mental decline. I'm working on postcards to NC voters today.
It appears that even the Supreme Court, who has allowed his criminality to go unchecked has now handed over a very big problem for the regime. What happens next?
"The 6-3 decision centers on tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs he levied on nearly every other country."
Thank you for the link. It states that administration officials claim they can keep the tariffs in place under other authorities. Whatever that means. Simon will have more work now to help us understand what this ruling means.
They may be able to do so in specific instances for specific causes, but legal authorities like Jeffrey Rosen are saying there has *never* been a law passed by Congress that gives him the legal authority to do what he's been doing at will without so much as a by your leave from Congress. The international trade emergencies act was the *only* one that gave him authority to take sweeping economic actions without prior authorization, which is presumably why it was passed--to deal with emergencies--and why, like all dictators, he chose to invoke it.
The Supremes could have questioned whether this was really an emergency, or pointed to the provision that puts a time limit (60 days, I think) on how long tarrifs can be put in place before Congress has to agree to continue them, and if they’d done something like that, we might now be in the same kind of paralyzed limbo as we've been whilst trying to parse the difference between official and unofficial acts.
But instead they went forcefully to the separation of powers, called tariffs a tax, and said that Congress has sole authority over taxes and can't delegate that authority (though presumably it could direct the executive branch to do what the founders intended--execute its (Congress's) will). At a minimum, I would think a decision this emphatic should make it easy to get a lower court injunction against any funny business he tries in this area going forward.
When I read “ The Supremes could have questioned whether this was really an emergency,” I thought, “what does Diana Ross have to do with any of this?” 😆
Seriously though, great news today. Let’s enjoy the win.
OMG... this is amazing.... heartening for democracy... But because of this group I also understand what an economic mess this is going to be to clean up. Keep praying for the country and keep working. Today my action is signing up to be a poll worker.
Don’t forget how much Howard Lutnick and friends will be directly profiting from this SCOTUS decision: they have paid importers for the rights to collect on the tariff refunds in the expectation that this ruling would go against trump.
I would think this provides a golden opportunity for the Dems to add the demand Simon and the rest of us have been insisting on to the conditions for re-opening DHS. Whether it said so explicitly in the law itself or not (hoping yes) and whether the CBO assumed them in scoring the Big Ugly or not (hoping yes), these tarrifs were clearly supposed to be a key mechanism for paying the costs of the bill.
If Trump’s bragging is accurate for once, not only has today's decision blown a $220 billion/year hole in the budget going forward, but the government now owes importers the $220 billion they've already collected. The fiscally responsible thing to do about this (which the GOP claims to be, whilst accusing Dems of making Xmas wish lists) is to make cuts in the budget passed over the assumption that we could legally collect that $220 billion and keep on collecting it.
Said budget was the Big Ugly, not the FY budget just passed--by the time this latest budget was passed, the writing was clearly on the wall for tarrifs--it was only a question of how and why they'd be struck down, and the answer to that is: so broadly and emphatically they can't be put back together again."
The most obvious place for a fiscally responsible Congress to make cuts? The unspent ICE slush fund obtained under pretenses so false that he's in no position to smear the midterms: when you lie to win an election and then do the opposite of what you promised, that's by far the biggest voter fraud of all. And everyone (or at least 70-75% of America) can see it as clearly as they/we can see who was really responsible for Renee's and Alex's deaths.
Bottom line: if he were in any business other than politics, he'd be in jail or on the hook for even more than he's suing his own administration for. We're letting him off easy by only fining him the $75 billion he never should have gotten.
OK, y'all don't know me from Adam, but I'm a tenured professor with a month like a Teamster. So, it's work when I post to refrain from typing out the obscenities bouncing around my head. So, thank you Juliana Stratton, for a truly inspired campaign ad...I damn near fell off my f***ing chair when I watched it!
Great stuff and great speakers! Somewhat off-topic, and with deference to the possibility that you may already have more requests for featured speakers than days left in the year, might you consider bringing on an expert on climate change and how Republicans have kneecapped the progress made in reducing carbon emissions?
I'm looking forward to today's interview to Stand Up for Science! Although I won't be able to attend a local National Day of Action on Saturday, I will definitely be joining in spirit. It is a conflict with our DPNM State Convention and I am a Delegate.
The interesting thing to me after reading the post today is that while David Jolly will most certainly focus his campaign primarily on local issues to Florida specifically, the Epstein files I think are going to open up a front for him to contest the gubernatorial race there that taps into the national body politic as well. He can promise aggressive investigations into the Epstein activities that took place all over Florida, and that could be an effective way for him to boost his campaign nationally while still addressing catastrophic hazard insurance and other issues that are more hyper localized. The potential implications of the Epstein files this year are difficult to overestimate.
Those of us who have been counting on the US Supreme Court to hold crucial red lines to preserve the Rule of Law are encouraged by today’s important decision on tariffs. I find it unfortunate to see Justice Kavanaugh in dissent. (Justices Thomas and Alito are partisan warriors who put ideology over principle, so I expected them to dissent.)
Agree, Kevin. We (my beloved and I) were puzzled and disappointed by Kavanaugh--maybe we misheard, but we thought he was one of the justices asking some of the more skeptical questions of Trump’s lawyer. And unlike hermetically sealed Alito and Thomas, he's been part of the hurly-burly of everyday politics. Of course, given his past history, it wouldn't surprise me if Trump/Putin had some kompromot on the man
Get ready, Senators Daines and Sheehy. A political reckoning is coming. Voters won't endure your allegiance to a president who prizes vengeance and corruption over experience and national security. A despot who disguises his fear as strength, and who uses lies and cruelty to punish those who defend our democratic traditions. Rule by the few, for the few.
This is the madness you and your Republican colleagues have unleashed, Senators.
But the injustice won't last. In a country where democracy has reigned for 250 years, government by dominion will not withstand a strong and sustained opposition. Dictatorships are brittle, and their invincibility delusional. The tragic spectacle in Minnesota and the dismal effort to conceal the Epstein files are signs of weakness and desperation, not strength. The grip on this type of power is fragile.
So, senators, declare your commitment to freedom and equality - the democracy our ancestors fought and died for. Honor your Constitutional Oath and stop the mayhem and fraud emanating from the White House. Do it now. Before the president's guerrilla troops brutalize and kill more Americans on the streets, in their homes or in 'so-called' detention centers. Before the president trashes our economy and destroys what's left of our international order.
Get to work for the people, Senators, and history will look upon you kindly. Otherwise, betrayal will be your legacy.
Right on, BD! I feel the people in your state are a lot like mine (Wisconsin, though I live in CT now). They're independent thinkers, well above average when it comes to creativity, not knee-jerk anything, so they have long histories of voting for independent thinkers of both parties. But woe betide you if they figure out you're a phony, amirite?
Yes, definitely the Montana of the past. But trending more Trumpy of late. We had a great Senator, Jon Tester, for three terms. But he was defeated in 2024 by a backward thinking young MAGA charlatan, Tim Sheehy. Hoping we've learned our lesson.
How about support for Dr. Jasmine Clark (GA13), running in the primary against incumbent octogenarian Clark, who failed to vote in the last severn elections (including for Harris), and is an object lesson in why so many voters disapprove of the Democrtatic Party.
Keep up the defiance. Stay on top of the Epstein class and scandal.
Glad to hear you are making time for discussion. Everyone experiences down days and discussions with fighters and others who are tired and need a boost will all benefit from gathering together. As much as I have a community I’m part of fighting T and his administration I often feel alone too. Thank you for meeting our moment and keeping all of us afloat.
Yeah. There are down days and lonely days. It's good to hear folks express that. I'm off to make persimmon cookies to share with our Saturday Art Build to make signs for NO KINGS III. It helps to be in community with people who don't need persuasion and who are on the same page. It makes resistance fun again.
Turning “Epstein New Mexico” into a Christian retreat. Nothing creepy about that!
Kind of like if Jesus were to use Ceasar Augustus’ palace or King Herod’s palace to preach the Word of God. Ewwww.
Some things need to be destroyed and labeled unclean for the generations.
The word ABOMINATION comes to mind.
The property is zoned agricultural and does not allow a facility like that. I wouldn't assume that the Santa Fe Co. Planning Commission or the Santa Fe County community will approve of any such non-permitted plans. The Zorro Ranch sounds like a crime scene, with allegations of dead bodies buried there. Here's some more info.
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-attorney-general-reopens-investigation-into-epsteins-zorro-ranch/article_8de923e3-77ed-4478-97e5-f19468d1f4f4.html
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/texas-businessman-running-for-office-owns-epsteins-zorro-ranch-in-santa-fe-county/article_14a05944-1e00-47c8-a4c3-071895abfb57.html
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/texas-gop-politician-don-huffines-plans-christian-retreat-at-zorro-ranch/article_2418e5c4-b30f-499d-a1c6-e2c81995f829.html
Deborah, we don’t know each other, but have you thought about running for office? I consider you one of our important leaders.
Thanks, Laura, but running for office is not one of my ambitions. My work is more behind the scenes with the Democratic Party and I hold three elected positions in DPNM. It's fun supporting local candidates and working on their campaigns. I've been a union organizer with other scientists who are public servants, and Chief Steward of our Local, including lobbying on behalf of the union for better health care coverage for employees.
There is nothing Christian about what MAGA, Trump, and Putin are doing. They would crucify Christ again if he dared to preach "love thy neighbor."
LoL ('Nothing creepy about that!).
LOVE to see Trump's poll numbers now consistently below 40% favorable across multiple polls. It was always more than annoying to see them hover around 40% for an extended period of time. That period has come to an end, and we're all going to work hard to push them even lower.
Called my MAGA Congressman Tim Burchett this morning. He is now Chair of the DOGE Committee in the House. Suggested his Committee investigate Noem's $70 million tricked-out airplane, the no-bid contracts going to her pals, the $10 billion in unappropriated money to Trump's "Peace Board," the $2 billion Kennedy wants to build a rival WHO, the administration officials living rent free in housing meant for the military, Vaught's use of $15 million in Congress-appropriated funds for US AID to pay for his personal security. The staffer hung up before I could finish my list. But there will be more calls. They can't hide.
That sounds like that was a very constructive call! Bravo :)
Right on!!! 👊🏻
Simon, Thank you for sharing Juliana Stratton's ad; it brought a smile to my face!
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE concentration camps and the need to keep discussing Trump's mental decline. I'm working on postcards to NC voters today.
The Guardian is reporting that the Supreme Court has ruled against the tariffs:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/feb/20/us-iran-nuclear-deal-trump-agreement-strikes-latest-news-live-updates
And now the NY Times and Cnn are reporting the same. This is a big fucking deal.
Celebrate the wins, baby!
The ketchup crew will be busy today!
Scotusblog has a good write-up.
https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/02/supreme-court-strikes-down-tariffs/
It appears that even the Supreme Court, who has allowed his criminality to go unchecked has now handed over a very big problem for the regime. What happens next?
Here's what Simon wrote on BlueSky.
"In most democracies Trump’s reckless and wild abuse of power through his tariffs would cause the government to fall or the leader to be removed.
The imposition of these harmful tariffs against the will of Congress, the courts, our allies, and our people are clear grounds for his removal."
https://bsky.app/profile/simonwdc.bsky.social/post/3mfcqadleqk2p
from the NYT -- "The Supreme Court’s Declaration of Independence
The court’s rejection of President Trump’s tariffs program is the latest in a series of clashes between him and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr."
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-roberts-tariffs.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NlA.n17T.2pC98mfSqiSL&smid=url-share
NYT too
Gift link here:
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/20/us/trump-tariffs-supreme-court?unlocked_article_code=1.NlA.F_Iq.SOPT9fowmgVp&smid=url-share
TY BB
Most welcome, MGB
Holy Fuck Trump! We won big time!!!
"The 6-3 decision centers on tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs he levied on nearly every other country."
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/supreme-court-strikes-down-trumps-sweeping-tariffs
Thank you for the link. It states that administration officials claim they can keep the tariffs in place under other authorities. Whatever that means. Simon will have more work now to help us understand what this ruling means.
No worries. The only tariff authority resides with Congress. No matter how else dt tries, he will continue to be a failure.
They may be able to do so in specific instances for specific causes, but legal authorities like Jeffrey Rosen are saying there has *never* been a law passed by Congress that gives him the legal authority to do what he's been doing at will without so much as a by your leave from Congress. The international trade emergencies act was the *only* one that gave him authority to take sweeping economic actions without prior authorization, which is presumably why it was passed--to deal with emergencies--and why, like all dictators, he chose to invoke it.
The Supremes could have questioned whether this was really an emergency, or pointed to the provision that puts a time limit (60 days, I think) on how long tarrifs can be put in place before Congress has to agree to continue them, and if they’d done something like that, we might now be in the same kind of paralyzed limbo as we've been whilst trying to parse the difference between official and unofficial acts.
But instead they went forcefully to the separation of powers, called tariffs a tax, and said that Congress has sole authority over taxes and can't delegate that authority (though presumably it could direct the executive branch to do what the founders intended--execute its (Congress's) will). At a minimum, I would think a decision this emphatic should make it easy to get a lower court injunction against any funny business he tries in this area going forward.
When I read “ The Supremes could have questioned whether this was really an emergency,” I thought, “what does Diana Ross have to do with any of this?” 😆
Seriously though, great news today. Let’s enjoy the win.
nice phrase you coined there!
Should have been unanimous but I will take the win!
OMG... this is amazing.... heartening for democracy... But because of this group I also understand what an economic mess this is going to be to clean up. Keep praying for the country and keep working. Today my action is signing up to be a poll worker.
Don’t forget how much Howard Lutnick and friends will be directly profiting from this SCOTUS decision: they have paid importers for the rights to collect on the tariff refunds in the expectation that this ruling would go against trump.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/lutnick-family-angling-to-make-astronomical-sums-off-court-nixing-tariffs
Once again: heads they win, tails we lose. Enjoy it while you can, Nutlick: accountability will be a bitch.
How in the holy F is that even legal?
Dear God...
I would think this provides a golden opportunity for the Dems to add the demand Simon and the rest of us have been insisting on to the conditions for re-opening DHS. Whether it said so explicitly in the law itself or not (hoping yes) and whether the CBO assumed them in scoring the Big Ugly or not (hoping yes), these tarrifs were clearly supposed to be a key mechanism for paying the costs of the bill.
If Trump’s bragging is accurate for once, not only has today's decision blown a $220 billion/year hole in the budget going forward, but the government now owes importers the $220 billion they've already collected. The fiscally responsible thing to do about this (which the GOP claims to be, whilst accusing Dems of making Xmas wish lists) is to make cuts in the budget passed over the assumption that we could legally collect that $220 billion and keep on collecting it.
Said budget was the Big Ugly, not the FY budget just passed--by the time this latest budget was passed, the writing was clearly on the wall for tarrifs--it was only a question of how and why they'd be struck down, and the answer to that is: so broadly and emphatically they can't be put back together again."
The most obvious place for a fiscally responsible Congress to make cuts? The unspent ICE slush fund obtained under pretenses so false that he's in no position to smear the midterms: when you lie to win an election and then do the opposite of what you promised, that's by far the biggest voter fraud of all. And everyone (or at least 70-75% of America) can see it as clearly as they/we can see who was really responsible for Renee's and Alex's deaths.
Bottom line: if he were in any business other than politics, he'd be in jail or on the hook for even more than he's suing his own administration for. We're letting him off easy by only fining him the $75 billion he never should have gotten.
OK, y'all don't know me from Adam, but I'm a tenured professor with a month like a Teamster. So, it's work when I post to refrain from typing out the obscenities bouncing around my head. So, thank you Juliana Stratton, for a truly inspired campaign ad...I damn near fell off my f***ing chair when I watched it!
Same!
Great stuff and great speakers! Somewhat off-topic, and with deference to the possibility that you may already have more requests for featured speakers than days left in the year, might you consider bringing on an expert on climate change and how Republicans have kneecapped the progress made in reducing carbon emissions?
Now the American people must make sure Republicans are removed from power.
CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN TO: http://www.dscc.org and https://dccc.org
Good info, not found in the media. Thanks.
I'm looking forward to today's interview to Stand Up for Science! Although I won't be able to attend a local National Day of Action on Saturday, I will definitely be joining in spirit. It is a conflict with our DPNM State Convention and I am a Delegate.
The interesting thing to me after reading the post today is that while David Jolly will most certainly focus his campaign primarily on local issues to Florida specifically, the Epstein files I think are going to open up a front for him to contest the gubernatorial race there that taps into the national body politic as well. He can promise aggressive investigations into the Epstein activities that took place all over Florida, and that could be an effective way for him to boost his campaign nationally while still addressing catastrophic hazard insurance and other issues that are more hyper localized. The potential implications of the Epstein files this year are difficult to overestimate.
Those of us who have been counting on the US Supreme Court to hold crucial red lines to preserve the Rule of Law are encouraged by today’s important decision on tariffs. I find it unfortunate to see Justice Kavanaugh in dissent. (Justices Thomas and Alito are partisan warriors who put ideology over principle, so I expected them to dissent.)
Jim Acosta, Katie Phang and Norm Eisen had a fascinating discussion about the unique alliances formed within SCOTUS to reach this decision.
ooh, thanks - here's the link: https://open.substack.com/pub/jimacosta/p/breaking-news-supreme-court-slaps
Agree, Kevin. We (my beloved and I) were puzzled and disappointed by Kavanaugh--maybe we misheard, but we thought he was one of the justices asking some of the more skeptical questions of Trump’s lawyer. And unlike hermetically sealed Alito and Thomas, he's been part of the hurly-burly of everyday politics. Of course, given his past history, it wouldn't surprise me if Trump/Putin had some kompromot on the man
And how about that SCOTUS decision just now?!!. Tariffs struck down. We all did that!!!!
Way to go people and all of America. Hope it doesn't take a million years to fix everything. What a s. show.
My latest f.u. LTE. (subject: Montana MoC)
Get ready, Senators Daines and Sheehy. A political reckoning is coming. Voters won't endure your allegiance to a president who prizes vengeance and corruption over experience and national security. A despot who disguises his fear as strength, and who uses lies and cruelty to punish those who defend our democratic traditions. Rule by the few, for the few.
This is the madness you and your Republican colleagues have unleashed, Senators.
But the injustice won't last. In a country where democracy has reigned for 250 years, government by dominion will not withstand a strong and sustained opposition. Dictatorships are brittle, and their invincibility delusional. The tragic spectacle in Minnesota and the dismal effort to conceal the Epstein files are signs of weakness and desperation, not strength. The grip on this type of power is fragile.
So, senators, declare your commitment to freedom and equality - the democracy our ancestors fought and died for. Honor your Constitutional Oath and stop the mayhem and fraud emanating from the White House. Do it now. Before the president's guerrilla troops brutalize and kill more Americans on the streets, in their homes or in 'so-called' detention centers. Before the president trashes our economy and destroys what's left of our international order.
Get to work for the people, Senators, and history will look upon you kindly. Otherwise, betrayal will be your legacy.
Thanks Doc. You really let it rip there. Powerful letter. Cudos to you.
Grazie, Michael!
Love it!!
Thank you, Susan!
Right on, BD! I feel the people in your state are a lot like mine (Wisconsin, though I live in CT now). They're independent thinkers, well above average when it comes to creativity, not knee-jerk anything, so they have long histories of voting for independent thinkers of both parties. But woe betide you if they figure out you're a phony, amirite?
Yes, definitely the Montana of the past. But trending more Trumpy of late. We had a great Senator, Jon Tester, for three terms. But he was defeated in 2024 by a backward thinking young MAGA charlatan, Tim Sheehy. Hoping we've learned our lesson.
How about support for Dr. Jasmine Clark (GA13), running in the primary against incumbent octogenarian Clark, who failed to vote in the last severn elections (including for Harris), and is an object lesson in why so many voters disapprove of the Democrtatic Party.