@fdrtoday
Attorney, active in politics & public policy half a century starting with JFK & civil rights movement, Ex Publisher California Progress Report & Legal Counsel to Speaker of CA Assembly. Trying to enjoy life in difficult times with music, photography travel
The dangerous rise of decapitation warfare
by David Ignatius
Removing an enemy leader is easy compared with producing a stable political outcome
“Decapitation” emerging as the American way of war is the strategic equivalent of a “fire and forget” missile
Read Ignatius' analysis
bit.ly/4b3hfeN
Lindsey Halligan Is Under Investigation by the Florida Bar
NYT Gift Article
Her actions as U.S. attorney bringing criminal cases against Trump’s enemies, are under review by the organization that licensed her to practice law
Shades of Rudy Giuliani and other lawyers ruined by Trump
bit.ly/4r8Avfn
Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump
NYT Gift Article
One inmate paid lobbyists and lawyers with ties to the president’s team and walked free. Others are following his blueprint but it is not always clear who can deliver
These pardons are a major scandal and issue
bit.ly/4ueu3WU
The Rot Is Real And There Is More To It
The Atlantic Piece Just Scratched The Surface
By Phillips P. O'Brien
Pushes back on criticism of Atlantic article just published
We have seen the worst friendly fire incident in modern US history, worst articulations of war aims
A must read
bit.ly/3P6jNQx
U.S. Capabilities Are Showing Signs of Rot
When a military force begins to decline, the first symptoms may be subtle
By Phillips P. O’Brien
Atlantic Gift Article
O'Brien skewers Trump and Hegseth for vulnerabilities to attacks by drones and other vulnerabilities in Iran
A must read
bit.ly/46K30Jf
Crockett after warning of disenfranchisement concedes to Talarico in Texas Senate race
Politico
A class act: “Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. With the primary behind us Democrats must rally around our nominee and win”
bit.ly/4b67o6C
After Khamenei, What Now?
Iranians want democracy. Trump wants a brief conflict. Neither seems likely
by Hanna Rosin
Atlantic Gift Article
Before strike killed Khamenei nuclear deal was ultimate objective, now maybe regime change but Trump has no plan on how that might come about
bit.ly/4aLUyeQ
Donald Trump’s dangerous ‘war of whim’
Anyone who claims to know where this conflict will go is bluffing
By Edward Luce
Financial Times Gift Article
He chose to go to war. After that he lost control on how it unfolds. Many others not just Iranians now have a say over its direction
bit.ly/4rO5bDQ
Arkansas Democrats just flipped a Republican seat in the state House
The Downballot
Marking the ninth time Democrats have flipped a district from red to blue in special elections since the start of Donald Trump’s second term
The trend continues!
bit.ly/476Pxew
Kash Patel gutted FBI counterintelligence team tasked with tracking Iranian threats days before US strikes
CNN
Fired agents from DC-based unit responsible for tracking Iranian threats
All were involved in investigating Trump classified document retention dase
Made us weak
bit.ly/4cWQo59
Six data-driven reasons Texas could actually go blue in 2026
By G. Elliott Morris
Democratic candidate James Talarico might be the best chance in recent history to flip a U.S. Senate seat Republicans have held for 65 years
Perhaps my number one recommended article to read today
bit.ly/4l4SKB0
WATCH: Sen. Tillis calls for Noem's resignation as DHS head at oversight hearing
PBS
Blasted Noem for leadership decisions in Minneapolis, said lack of accountability over DHS including response to killings of two U.S. citizens did not protect law enforcement
Powerful with rage
bit.ly/46yoI2M
Internal DHS watchdog: Noem is obstructing our work
Office of the Inspector General said in a letter he has been denied access to records in at least 10 investigations
Politico
As Noem faced withering accusations by Tom Tills in yesterday's Senate hearing and House hearing today
bit.ly/4rag1mC
Senators Sound the Alarm as Trump Moves Closer to Boots on the Ground While CIA Arms Iran Opposition to Cause Uprising
by Aaron Parnas
A lot here including the CIA working with Iraqi Kurds to arm opposition forces and help trigger uprise inside Iran
Must read
bit.ly/40busMd
Texas win by Talarico for Dems in November may be lynchpin for pickup of 4 and taking over the US Senate
The good news that pops out is the record turnout by Democrats and the lower turnout by Republicans
The other good news is that there is a dog fight still going on the Republican side
Talarico Defeats Crockett in Texas Senate Democratic Primary
WSJ
As of early Wednesday Talarico has 53% to Crockett’s 46%
Cornyn and Paxton advance to runoff May 26
Republicans to spend millions fighting with each other with Cornyn slinging mud
If Trump endorses that could be key
bit.ly/4u97iUu
By retiring Tillis is unchained.
Wish all the others that are retiring or not immediately threated by Mr. T would revolt.
Make a prison break. If enough do it, there will be strength in numbers--like the collapse to the Epstein file opposition.
Tillis threatens to hijack Senate business amid frustrations with Noem
Politico
Retiring North Carolina Republican lashed embattled DHS chief during her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Will hold up all nominees and more if no answers about North Carolina crackdown
bit.ly/4rb8rYZ
Many Americans hold contradictory opinions on the same policies
by G. Elliott Morris
Our new poll finds question wording can swing opinion by 20-60 points on immigration, the budget and transgender rights. That's a problem for people who use polls to tell politicians what voters want
bit.ly/4rNqRjq
Death to prediction markets profiting on war
by Will Bunch
Philadelphia Inquirer
Plus, that time the U.S. pushed Iran regime change in 1953
Why are Americans allowed to place bets on death and destruction?
Damn good question
bit.ly/4u6Cd3J
We have some GREAT Democratic candidates for California Governor
This letter from California Democratic Party Chair should be taken to heart and some should drop out of the race because of the pernicious effects of the "Top Two" system we have where all candidates appear on the June ballot
Please!
Open Letter to the Democratic Candidates for Governor
from Rusty Hicks
California Democratic Party Chair
It's imperative that every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy
To avoid “locking out” Democrats from the contest for Governor in the General Election
Yes
bit.ly/4smJ3Av
Trump's Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer under investigation after allegations of misconduct and misuse of department funds
NYT Gift Article
Birthday party “renamed” in order to avoid greater scrutiny about use of public funds
Endemic pattern of abuse & corruption in Trump Admin
bit.ly/47cFuof
Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court Order That Redrew Congressional Map in Staten Island, with Ominous Implications for Voting Rights Act
by Rick Hasen
Election Law Blog
Alito's concurrence in 6-3 decision is bad news for the future
You can read it here
bit.ly/4l92zhq
Pete Hegseth’s Crazed, Angry Tirades on Iran Give Dems a Big Opening
by Greg Sargent
It’s not enough for Democrats to say Trump’s war rationales haven’t been fully explained. The problem is that they are patently false
Hegseth is part of a much bigger problem
Strangelovian level
bit.ly/408cA4M
War Is Expensive for the Little People
Operation Epic Fury will cost billions that could have been put to much better use
by Paul Krugman
Adds it up and draws straight line to harsh cuts in nutrition and healthcare supposedly because cost of food stamps, ACA and Medicaid is excessive
bit.ly/4cY8Iec
Dow drops 1,200 as stocks sell off around the world and oil prices leap even higher on war worries
AP
The jump for oil prices will worsen inflation and put more pressure on U.S. households and businesses by raising bills for gasoline and to ship products
Not just here but worldwide
bit.ly/4bjyIzn
Just what we need: A former Fox News host ignoramus injecting religion into a war in the Middle East.
Allowing troops to be told this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and referenced numerous citations from the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ
U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus
by Jonathan Larsen
Pete Hegseth has enshrined evangelical Christianity at the uppermost levels of the U.S. military
Commanders gave similar messages at more than 30 installations in every branch of the military
bit.ly/47nJ4vM
Fighting the executive orders took courage, and the four firms deserve praise and gratitude for standing up to the president. They all risked losing clients and even having their firms collapse.
It took a year but Trump DOJ backed down.
Trump egregiously targeted large prestigious firms