Customer: "You're still going way too fast! What's the hurry! It's not like they fire you for going too slow!"
Me: *Still scanning.* "Actually, they can. They literally keep track of scans per hour. We are graded and given a rating. If we have a lower rating, we are given a review, too many reviews is a termination, regardless of the reason, so, yes, we can be fired."
Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley criticized Lindsey Halligan, President Donald Trump's illegally appointed prosecutor, after a judge dismissed two cases she brought against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
After United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled that the indictments against Comey and James were invalid on Monday, Fox News host John Roberts noted that Attorney General Pam Bondi had issued a memo to declare that she had "ratified" the indictments in an attempt to insulate the charges in case Halligan was found to be illegally appointed.
"I mean, did the judge take this into consideration? Can the judge still throw out the cases if they'd been ratified by the Attorney General?" Roberts asked Turley.
"He can in the sense that novelty is not good when it comes to criminal indictments," Turley explained. "And there was a lot of novelty in the final day to get this indictment through. They were right up against the clock. And particularly with Comey, they had rejected one of the counts. And so Halligan sort of put together the other two counts rapidly and then submitted that."
In the end, Halligan's last-minute shenanigans to secure indictments had no bearing on the dismissals.
Russia responded to the new peace talks in Geneva by saying Trump's "28-point peace plan" is the one they can get behind and use as a framework, while Europe's is a nonstarter.
Is anyone surprised?
Politico Europe reported that Russian President Putin told "Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan about the plan on Monday, and, according to the Kremlin, said that Trump’s first proposal was a “good base for the future deal.”
“Vladimir Putin noted that these proposals, in the version we have seen, are in line with the discussions at the Russian-American summit in Alaska and, in principle, can be the basis of a final peaceful settlement,” the Kremlin said in its readout of the call.
The gap between the two sides’ preferred endgames remains vast, and largely incompatible
Any true peace deal is incompatible with Vladimir Putin's blood-lust and obsession to retake Ukraine.
The idea that Ukraine would submit to a Russian-scripted peace deal will never happen -- no matter how much Trump tries to force their surrender.
Did Trump complain that Putin wasn't grateful enough to him? Absolutely not.
Former CIA adviser Jim Rickards, a MAGA supporter, admitted that President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Ukraine was to give Russian President Vladimir Putin "everything he wants."
"The criticism of the plan is that it gives Putin almost everything he wants," Rickards told MAGA influencer Steve Bannon on Monday. "Well, I have news for you. That's how we're going to end the war. That's the only way you're going to end the war. The Russians won, you know, with a lot of casualties and a lot of people."
"So why should the Russians concede anything? They shouldn't."
Bannon agreed: "The Russians won the war."
"If you're the United States, you've got two choices. Keep fighting or keep supporting the war, or agree to Putin's plan," Rickards asserted. "Now the criticism that, oh, you know, you're agreeing to Putin's plan. Well, that's the only outcome here, short of World War III."
"Ukraine has lost," he added. "The brilliance of this 28-point plan was that it recognizes what I just described."
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the federal government's indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that President Donald Trump unlawfully appointed his personal attorney, Lindsey Halligan, as interim U.S. attorney.
"I agree with Mr. Comey that the Attorney General’s attempt to install Ms. Halligan as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid. And because Ms. Halligan had no lawful authority to present the indictment, I will grant Mr. Comey’s motion and dismiss the indictment without prejudice," the judge wrote on Monday.
UPDATE: The full ruling is here. Here's a pretty strong nugget:
In light of these principles, I conclude that all actions flowing from Ms. Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey’s indictment, constitute unlawful exercises of executive power and must be set aside. There is simply “no alternative course to cure the unconstitutional problem.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's so-called Department of War threatened to court-martial Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) after he appeared in a video stating that U.S. troops have a constitutional duty to refuse illegal orders.
"The Department of War has received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures," the Department of Defense said in a statement on Monday.
"All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful," the statement added. "A servicemember's personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order."
President Donald Trump has suggested that the Democrats who reminded troops of their duty to refuse illegal orders could be hanged for treason.
"I think it's important to say that there is nothing more American than standing up for the Constitution, that's what we were doing," Kelly told CNN last week. "I think his reaction is just characteristic of a political system that no one is proud of right now."
In another one of his late-night Truth Social rants and raves, Donald J. Trump not only called Democrats seditious traitors, but attacked President Zelenskyy and Ukraine for showing, "ZERO GRATITUDE," to him for negotiating as Putin's puppet and trying to force them to surrender.
Demented Donald ran on lowering inflation, fixing the economy and ending the Russia Ukraine war on his first day in office. As of this date, the country is in free fall, led by a serial liar, using yo-yo tariffs to destroy the US economy.
Since more of the country forgot how awful a president he was in his first term, they voted for this mook, over Kamala Harris.
How's that working out for you?
This is war, not a teen beauty pageant. Russia is murdering Ukrainians at will. Genuflecting to an alleged Russian asset was never going to happen by Ukraine.
The bronzed-up idiot didn't realize he admitted he lost the 2020 election. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been shambolic to say the least.
Let's hope another pandemic doesn't break out or RFK Jr., and Trump will refuse to produce a new vaccine.
Three weeks ago, a series of leaked recordings and transcripts from a private lecture series in San Francisco began circulating. They included comments from tech billionaire Peter Thiel — the most important political patron of Vice President JD Vance and one of the wealthiest, most influential minds in Silicon Valley.
In these lectures, Thiel doesn’t just flirt with the apocalyptic. He goes all in — openly discussing the Antichrist, naming Pope Leo XIV as a potential manifestation of that figure, and, most disturbingly, advising JD Vance to ignore the pope on moral matters altogether.
Let that sink in: the main backer of the likely GOP nominee for president is accusing the Bishop of Rome of being an agent of the end times — and telling Vice President Vance to disregard the pope’s moral guidance.
Ukraine President Zelenskyy responded to Trump's juvenile attacks and posted a video saying he is grateful to each and every person who is trying to help Ukraine.
However, Zelensky did not mention Trump's name once.
Everyone is offering support, giving advice, providing information — and I am grateful to each and every person who is giving this help to us, to Ukraine.
It is important to ensure that the steps to end the war are effective and that everything is doable. Ukraine has never wanted war, and we will never be an obstacle to peace.
Diplomacy has been reinvigorated — and this is good. We expect the outcome to deliver the right steps. And the first priority is a reliable peace, guaranteed security, respect for our people, and respect for everyone who gave their lives defending Ukraine from Russian aggression.
Millions of Ukrainians clearly support our state’s position. It is palpable. There is firm support for our independence and Ukrainian sovereignty. People must benefit from all political decisions.
It is being reported that the peace talks in Geneva are making progress, but how far is unknown. The released peace plan was so pro-Russia that SOS Rubio was forced to sound like a bumbling a-hole trying to defend and not defend it at the same time.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped into Trump's mental state after he continually mischaracterized, lied, and called for the death penalty after several Democrats released a video reminding the military to not obey illegal or unconstitutional orders.
To be honest, the president's remarks are, I think, indicate a level of instability.
It's not just shocking, it's not just offensive, it's bizarre, it is erratic, it's volatile. And I think it indicates a mental state that we should all be questioning right now, whether that's emotional, mental, what have you.
It is not normal to make these accusations, it is not normal to invoke these kinds of threats of violence. And it's also not normal to also dramatically misquote, as Karoline Leavitt was doing, what these members of Congress said.
They made a very clear message to U.S. service members, which is that you do not have to obey an illegal order.
And I think that's an important message to reiterate, because this administration seems to be increasingly trying to go down that path.
Me: "Sir. Sir! Please wait in the waiting area. As I said, there are tables waiting ahead of you."
Customer: "Why?!"
Me: "Why are there tables ahead of you?"
The Pentagonannounced Monday that it has launched an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona after he and several other Democratic lawmakers said that military troops should not obey “illegal orders.”
In a statement on X, the so-called Departmentof War said that Kelly may be recalled “to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures” for his comments.
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona is being investigated by the Pentagon for telling military members that they don’t have to obey illegal orders.
“If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” Kelly wrote in response to the threat. “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”
Kellyserved as a captain in the Navy and flew 39 combat missions in the first Iraq War. He then went on to a distinguished career as a NASA astronaut andwas inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame before successfully running for Senate.
Kelly was part of a group of six Democratic lawmakers, including veterans of the military and national security agencies,who created the video that sparked retribution from the Trump administration.
“You can refuse illegal orders,” they said in the video—a bedrock concept in American law.
x
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship.
The Pentagon’s threat echoes President DonaldTrump’s call for the execution of the lawmakers in the video.
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Trump falsely claimed in a Truth Social post.
In an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday, Kelly responded to Trump’s threat.
“He declared that loyalty to the Constitution is now punishable by death. Those are serious words coming from the president of the United States,” Kelly said. “He’s trying to intimidate us. But … I’m not going to be intimidated.”
Military members take theoath of enlistment, in which they vow to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and to obey orders “according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
Democrats are raising this issue because the Trump administration has committed a series of military strikes in South America, which lawyers have said are legally questionable, if not outright illegal. The administration is also reportedly pushing to expand military combat in the region,possibly leading to war.
Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman of Virginia is another military veteran being targeted by the Trump administration.
Kelly not only gives factually correct advice in the video, but he is also protected from frivolous prosecution as a senator.
In addition to the action against Kelly, the Pentagonhas reportedly been pressuring the House to launch an inquiry into Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman of Virginia, a retired Army officer.During Trump’s first impeachment trial, Vindman testified against the president’s attempts to pressure the Ukrainian government.
Both of these actions show that the administration is attempting to use the power of the government against military veterans who dare to speak out against Trump’s abuses.
Trump, who infamouslycalled military veterans “suckers” and “losers,” continues to add to his roster of attacks and slights against those who dedicate their lives to serving the country.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland was asked by CNN host Pamela Brown on Monday whether Democrats were losing the “moral high ground on the Epstein issue” by voting against the GOP’s failed effort to censure of Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
But Raskin reminded Brown of the actual purpose behind releasing the Epstein files.
Raskin: We've been demanding a complete release of the file. And now they wanted to discipline her, censure her, because she engaged in that text exchange with a convicted criminal. Of course, our Republican colleagues engage in text exchanges all the time with Donald Trump, who has 34 felony criminal offenses to his name. So I don't know exactly what she's being charged with there.
My point was simply [that] she had not violated the Constitution, she had not violated federal law, and she had not violated, to my knowledge, any rule of the House of Representatives. So, you know, look, we're not afraid of anything that's in the Epstein files, and we want to see justice done for the survivors. That's what this is about. We want to see the truth come out.
If you remember type-in computer programs, Doctype magazine is for you. But it's not an exercise in pure nostalgia—the apps you can punch in are just as simple as BASIC was, but use HTML. They run in the web browser, with no internet connection or server required: "10 wonderful web apps, including games, toys, puzzles and utilities. — Read the rest
Loraine Hutchins has left the building. The groundbreaking author, activist, and bisexual lightning rod behind Bi Any Other Name passed away this November, leaving behind a generation of writers, educators, and fierce queers who know their history because she wrote it. — Read the rest
Every cat is a little mystery wrapped in fur. Some cats like sunbeams, some cats like boxes, and some like that oddly specific popcorn tin that thumps when they scratch. Knowing your cat - and we mean, truly knowing them - can make all the difference. Their routines, their favorite hiding spots, how they respond to voices or gestures - these are the things that separate a cozy, safe home from the worry of a lost feline. Paying attention, observing, and learning their little quirks is one of the most loving things a human can do. It's not just care, it's understanding.
One family knew their cat, Juniper, inside and out. When she accidentally got outside, they didn't panic - they relied on what they'd learned about her habits. They set up the popcorn tin she loved, made sure food was visible, kept an eye on the camera, and waited patiently. When the moment was right, they acted with precision and care, safely bringing her back into the home she knew was hers. Their attentiveness, love, and understanding turned what could have been a stressful night into a happy reunion.
We're so glad to hear that she's back safe and sound. Every cat deserves that kind of care and affection. These tiny, floofy creatures fill our homes with joy, comfort, and unconditional love, and they merit every ounce of vigilance and warmth we can give. Knowing they're safe and happy is a reminder of why cats hold such a special place in our hearts.
Drug maker Novo Nordisk says semaglutide, the active ingredient for the weight loss jab Wegovy, does not slow Alzheimer's -- despite initial hopes that it might help against dementia. From a report: Researchers began two large trials involving more than 3,800 people after reports the medicine was having an impact in the real world. But the studies showed the GLP-1 drug, which is already used to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity, made no difference compared to a dummy drug. The disappointing results are due to be presented at an Alzheimer's disease conference next month and are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett has given herself a deadline: By Thanksgiving, she’ll decide whether to seek another term representing Dallas in the 30th Congressional District—or jump into the U.S. Senate race.
Over the weekend, she made the stakes plain. In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Crockett said her internal polling suggests she’d be a real threat toeither of the likely Republican nominees, Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“I am still thinking about running. We did get our polling back, so we are moving on to the next phase to determine whether or not this would make sense in the moment,” Crockettsaid, adding that Republicans are mired in a “civil war” over who should carry their banner next year.
Shereiterated that point to CBS News Texas, insisting no decision has been made—yet promising clarity before Thursday.
“Everyone thinks that I’m just holding a secret in, but our poll is in the field right now,” she said. “We are supposed to get that polling back by the end of the week or early next week. I said I would decide by Thanksgiving.”
Pressed by Tapper to reveal what the numbers look like, Crockett leaned in.
“Head-to-head, we are doing really well against Paxton,” she said. “I will also tell you we’re within the margin of error as it relates to John Cornyn. The only reason I’m continuing to consider whether or not I do this is because my polling says I can win.”
Former Rep. Collin Allred
She also plans to share that polling with her other potential Democratic rivals, State Rep.James Talarico and former Rep.Colin Allred.
“This isn’t about me,” she told CBS. “If the numbers are strong, that I am our best shot, then it’s bigger than my district. It’s bigger than the state of Texas. This is about the country because we know if we can change the Senate map in this country, then that’s where we start to get wins.”
If she enters the race, she’d instantly reorder the Democratic primary. Allred—who entered the bid in July—and Talarico—who joined in September—are already jockeying for the nomination, but neither matches Crockett’sprofile or national following.
Recent polling underscores that. AUniversity of Houston-Texas Southern University survey put her atop the Democratic field at 31%. Talarico and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke followed at 25%, with Allred at 13%. And in a matchup limited to announced candidates, Allred led Talarico 46%–42%.
O’Rourke has indicatedhe’s unlikely to run again, though hegave Crockett a nod at the November Texas Tribune Festival. “You know you’re doing the right thing when Donald Trump is shit talking you on a daily basis, right?” he said.
Crockett’s national prominence has translated into sizable fundraising—she’s sitting onmore than $4.6 million, according to The Dallas Morning News. A Senate bid, however, would open her deep-blue Dallas House seat and spark a fierce local race.
Redistricting looms over all of it. Texas Republicans pushed a mid-decade congressional map designed to net them up to five new seats. A federal panelblocked it as a racial gerrymander, but the U.S. Supreme Courtput that ruling on hold Friday, allowing the map to remain—for now.
Critics on the left argue that Crockett could squander a safe seat for a statewide campaignthey see as unwinnable, especially in a state with so many independents and Republicans. Crockett, however, says she’s testing whether she can broaden the electorate.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
“I believe that I can, but if I can’t, I can tell you for sure, 100% that I will not run,” she told CNN.
Democrats, including Crockett, are banking on Paxton emerging from the GOP primary. Beloved by conservative activists and buoyed by his2023 impeachment acquittal, he’s still viewed by some Republicans as arisky general-election nominee.
The Republican race has its own turbulence. GOP leaders in Washingtonhave been urging Rep. Wesley Huntto step aside, warning his bid could drain resources and force a costly runoff. Hunt isn’t budging.
“If Senate leadership does not like me being in this race, you know what I say? Good,” he told CNN. “Senate leadership does not pick the leadership in Texas.”
The contest has only grown more hostile, with Hunt and Cornyn trading shots while Paxton mostly watches. Paxton has spent just $1 million through Sept. 30—well behind Cornyn’s $3.5 million and Hunt’s $2.3 million.
President Donald Trumphasn’t endorsed anyone. Hunt says even if Trump backs someone else, he’s staying put.
“Trump’s endorsement is absolutely incredible in any Republican primary in this great nation, but I’m sorry you cannot revive that dead campaign,” Hunt said of Cornyn.
For Democrats to retake the Senate, they must defend every seat they hold andflip four—including at least two in red states. Texas is their longest shot and their biggest swing.
And Crockett, for now, is the person who could blow the race wide open. The question is whether she jumps. All eyes are on Thursday.
A federal judge on Monday dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, concluding that the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump’s urging was illegally appointed by the Justice Department.
The rulings from U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie halt at least for now a pair of prosecutions that had hastened concerns that the Justice Department was being weaponized to pursue the president’s political adversaries and amount to a stunning rebuke of the Trump administration's legal maneuvering to install a loyal, and inexperienced, prosecutor willing to file the cases.
The orders make Lindsey Halligan the latest Trump administration prosecutor to be disqualified because of the manner in which they were appointed. Both defendants had asked for the cases to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the Justice Department would not be able to bring them again. But the judge instead dismissed them without prejudice, though it was not immediately clear if or how the Justice Department might attempt to revive the prosecutions.
Lindsey Halligan, whose appointment was determined by a judge to be illegal.
The challenge to Halligan's appointment was one piece of a multiprong assault on the indictments by both Comey and James, who had each sought to have their cases dismissed on grounds that the prosecutions were vindictive. Comey's lawyers had also seized on irregularities in the grand jury process in seeking to get the prosecution thrown out. Each of those requests remains pending.
Monday's order deals exclusively with the mechanism the Trump administration employed to appoint Halligan, a former White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience, to lead one of the Justice Department’s most elite and important offices.
Halligan was named to the job in September after a different interim U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, was effectively forced out amid pressure from the Trump administration to file charges against Comey and James.
After Siebert resigned, Comey’s lawyers argued, the judges of the federal court district should have had exclusive say over who got to fill the vacancy. Instead, Trump nominated Halligan while publicly imploring Bondi in a social media post to take action against his political opponents, saying in a Truth Social post that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
Comey was indicted days later on charges of making a false statement and obstructing Congress, and James was charged soon after that in a mortgage fraud investigation.
In a statement, James said, “I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country.”
“I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day,” the New York attorney general, a Democrat, said.
Judges have separately disqualified interim U.S. attorneys in New Jersey, Los Angeles and Nevada, but have permitted cases brought under their watch to move forward. But lawyers for Comey and James had argued that Currie’s ruling needed to go even further because Halligan was the sole signer of the indictments and the driving force behind them.
Comey has for years been one of Trump’s chief antagonists. Appointed to the job in 2013 by President Barack Obama, Comey, at the time of Trump’s 2016 election, was overseeing an investigation into whether his presidential campaign had conspired with Russia to sway the outcome of the race. Furious over that investigation, Trump fired Comey in May 2017 and the two officials have verbally sparred in the years since.
James has also been a frequent target of Trump’s ire, especially since she won a staggering judgment against him and the Trump Organization in a lawsuit alleging he defrauded banks by overstating the value of his real estate holdings on financial statements. An appeals court overturned the fine, which had ballooned to more than $500 million with interest, but upheld a lower court’s finding that Trump had committed fraud.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated by the Associated Press with additional details.
![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png)
notalwaysright_feed) wrote2025-11-24 09:00 pm
