DL Open Thread: Saturday, August 9, 2025
ICE Barbie Slow-Walks FEMA Aid To North Carolina. Let’s cut through the bullshit–it’s because the state has a Democratic governor:
The Department of Homeland Security is holding up more than $100 million in pre-approved funds intended to help hurricane-battered North Carolina clean up storm damage and fix infrastructure still in disrepair almost a year after Helene hit the region, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post and officials familiar with the process.
On July 22, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi L. Noem urging her to rapidly release disaster recovery funds that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had already approved, which total about $115 million in public assistance grants. The state “faces nearly $60-billion in storm related damages,” the governor said, and while the federal government has already provided “considerable financial support … unfortunately much more help is needed to rebuild western North Carolina.”
Tech Titans Toss Trinkets At Tangerine Tyrant. Ain’t no such thing as an Emoluments Clause when there’s no real DOJ:
The exchanges highlight how corporations have changed their lobbying strategies to adapt to a uniquely transactional president who prioritizes wins and deals. Executives who have long outsourced the messy practice of lobbying to consultants or dark-money groups have learned that the best way to shape Trump’s policies is often through a late-night call to the president or a visit to one of his golf resorts.
The CEOs who have pulled off these charm offensives largely have been rewarded by Wall Street, with some companies reaching record valuations. But Trump has also used the powers of his office to threaten those who don’t stay on his good side.
“The Administration has a good working relationship with industry leaders, businesses, and other stakeholders to deliver on President Trump’s mandate to Make America Wealthy Again,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement. “The only special interest that guides President Trump’s decision-making, however, is the best interest of the American people.”
Oh. Thanks for setting me straight.
Bread. Circuses. Preseason Football. Someone will die one day in an NFL game. Almost happened yesterday:
Detroit safety Morice Norris was attended to for about 20 minutes and taken off the field in an ambulance during the Lions’ preseason game Friday night against Atlanta, with the game ending with 6:31 to go after the players let the clock run.
Norris was hurt with 14:50 to go trying to tackle Atlanta running back Nathan Carter.
“We’re just praying for Mo and ask that everybody prays for him,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell, who said he had “positive information” from hospital.
The Lions led 17-10 when played was stopped.
Campbell and Falcons coach Raheem Morris made the decision to not finish the game.
“Raheem Morris is a class act,” Campbell said. “He’s the ultimate class act. We agreed it just didn’t feel right to finish that game.”
If the death happens during the regular season, they will finish the game. You know, contractual obligations.
Didja Know That There’s A Trump Burger? :
Trump Burger in Bellville, Texas, in 2023. Photograph: Jamie Lee Taete
The owner of a Donald Trump-themed hamburger restaurant chain in Texas is facing deportation after immigration authorities under the command of the president detained him.
Roland Mehrez Beainy, 28, entered the US as “a non-immigrant visitor” from Lebanon in 2019 and was supposed to have left the country by 12 February 2024, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) spokesperson told the Guardian.
Ice said its officers arrested Beainy on 16 May – five years after he launched the first of multiple Trump Burger locations – and placed him into immigration proceedings, an agency statement said.
“Under the current administration, Ice is committed to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission,” the agency’s statement also said.
“This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.”
Hmmm, is Melania still here? BTW, you can tell it’s a Trump-themed restaurant due to the paucity of ketchup on the Freedom Fries…
Notice Anything Missing From Tuesday’s House Agenda? Hint: None of the bills sponsored by Reps. Wilson-Anton or Moore on the Agenda. Some things will never change as long as Mimi and Her Meanies are in charge.:
Delaware lawmakers are set to meet Tuesday in special session to address sky-high property tax bills for residents following the first property value reassessment in decades. But Democratic House progressives and top leaders are battling over which ideas will dominate on the floor that day.
Progressive members of the Delaware House, led by Newark Democrat Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, held a news conference Friday to highlight bills they are sponsoring for the special session. However, the House released its agenda for Tuesday late on Friday without those bills listed for consideration. State senators have yet to release any proposals in that chamber.
The exclusion of the fellow Democrats’ legislation may suggest the widening of a rift between more House leaders and the more liberal wing that’s been brewing for several months or more.
Wilson-Anton complained Friday that top House members have acted as a roadblock to implementing more progressive legislation and did not communicate with Democratic lawmakers affiliated with the Working Families Party.
“I think the ball is 100% in leadership’s court,” she said. “I’m not going to waste my time trying to convince someone that my ideas are valid and worth conversation and deliberation.”
What do you want to talk about?
Delaware Way BULLSHIT! Rep Brown and her sidekick Rep Harris think they can stifle debate. If you think ALL bills on this issue should be put on the floor and debated, please contact your Rep and let them know!
As someone who is with Madinah politically (or certainly more with her than her leadership in the house) – this quote is not a great look.
“I think the ball is 100% in leadership’s court,” she said. “I’m not going to waste my time trying to convince someone that my ideas are valid and worth conversation and deliberation.”
Why isn’t that her job? Isn’t that her ENTIRE job? To convince people to take up her ideas? If not, what is her job? To simply make proposals and get media and then take no actual steps to see them through? That’s not how any of this works. She could have the best ideas in the world but she does in fact need to argue for them. And pushing her ideas does not mean she just talks shit on podcasts and in the press (never with her targets in earshot fwiw). The problem with some on the left is something that AOC solves for. She is an effective leader because she has FOLLOWERS. She does in fact argue for things. She doesn’t blow up all of her relationships and then expect people to want to work with her.
If her ideas are really good then she should work to convince people. I think that’s an obvious point and a pretty fair expectation. If she doesnt – that’s a real flaw in her approach to her job. YMMV.
I’m sure I’ll get roasted here because there are certain untouchables in this forum and others, but it’s a troubling way of running a railroad.
Consider the context. Maybe she said that because she’s well aware of the antagonism from leadership and sees no reason to piss up a rainpipe.
Life under an autocratic Speaker can be frustrating. Madinah and the rest of the progressive team will show up ready to fight for an open and transparent debate.
Fair enough and I hope so. Im aligned with the ideology and policy – I just question the tactics and strategy (not the person btw). I hope it works out.
Madinah’s comments were almost certainly aimed at leadership. Speaker Mimi said, and I quote:
“House Speaker Melissa “Mimi” Minor-Brown in response touted the progressive legislation passed earlier this year under her leadership.
“Dying with dignity, look how long it took to get that bill done,” Minor-Brown said. “Constitutional amendment to the death penalty. We could not get that done. I, as speaker, made sure that we got that bill across the finish line.”
First of all, it’s not true. Same bill passed last session, but Delaware’s Worst Governor Ever wouldn’t sign it.
Second, she did NOT get a constitutional amendment banning the death penalty ‘across the finish line’. It needs to be passed in two consecutive General Assemblies. Of which the first is always the easiest b/c it doesn’t change a damn thing. Which is what happened this year.
Third, is she saying that progressives will get one bill per session thanks only due to the largesse of the Speaker? Mimi Minor-Brown outs herself every time she opens her big yap.
You never know how a person will react to having power until they have some. Unfortunately.
I think Madinah still has options, maybe she doesn’t want to expose them all. Since all bills have to run under suspension of rules anyway, they could be brought my motion — I think.
They can be run that way–if (a) there are no objections; and/or (b) if there is an objection, it clears a roll call.
Given the uproar from New Castle County’s populace and the likelihood that a decent percentage of those barely taxed Sussex Countians will make some noise when their tax bills finally arrive, it would be an absolute disgrace for the entire GA to have Tuesday’s special session turn into a bipartisan pissing contest.
Kim Williams’ bills should get a vote, so should Madinah’s, and so should the ones the Republicans introduce.
The reality is that any solutions arrived at in a one-day session will necessarily prove imperfect. If one faction manages to bully their bills through, only they will have to face the electoral consequences. This is one issue where we need a full and open debate, so the bad ideas can be discarded quickly and the best ones survive a vigorous discussion.
I’d be shocked if such a procedure took place in the House. Happily shocked, but shocked nonetheless. The Speaker has identified more than a third of her caucus as enemies. She then routinely dismisses their ideas.
I could see such a procedure being considered in the Senate.
But, it looks like all the bills will start in the House, and the Senate will act only when the House finishes. Hope I’m wrong.
Mimi’s autocratic behavior will catch up to her. Will that day be Tuesday? We shall see.