DL Open Thread: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

You Helped Kill The Daedalus Proposal.  Along with some great reporters who wouldn’t let go of the story.

Sarah Mueller:

The idea of Daedalus doing business with either state sparked controversy because company executives are profiting from ICE deportations. The proposal drew widespread attention after activists spotted it on the DRBA’s December meeting agenda.

Delaware Stop Avelo Coalition member Gayle Gibson said she believes it got so much attention because of outrage over recent enforcement actions by federal immigration agents, including two fatal shootings by officers in Minneapolis last month.

“I think it was due to a lot of people that pushed back on Delaware River Bay Authority and other of our elected officials around the potential to have that kind of operation here,” she said. “Just looking at what the company is involved with the Department of Homeland Security was not the type of operation we wanted.”

Gibson said she believes the DRBA was less than forthright about the proposed lease and said she hopes it will be more transparent in the future.

“We’re pleased with Daedalus’ decision to not be here,” she said. “We would be more pleased if the Delaware River and Bay Authority was making some more firm statements,” Gibson said. “And I think we look forward to seeing [Gov. Meyer] make more public statements about the actions of what he’s putting in place to meet his strong words about protecting due process for the people of Delaware.”

(Memo To Self:  Remember the name Gayle Gibson when it comes time for the 2026 MVP Awards.)

Brianna Hill:

The Delaware River & Bay Authority had planned on discussing the lease agreement at its upcoming Feb. 18 board meeting. Daedalus previously indicated that it wanted to use a vacant hangar at the Wilmington Airport “for the purpose of housing their aircraft that they’re using for VIP flights,” DRBA officials told Spotlight Delaware late last month.

The little-known Virginia-based company recently struck a $140 million contract to sell planes to federal immigration officials for deportation flights, according to a report published last month by the Washington Post. In addition, its top executives also lead a company that contracted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fly deportation flights for the Trump administration. 

Daedalus officials did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request to comment on why they decided to withdraw from the potential lease.

It is impossible to overstate the role that an energized press has played in shining a light on the worst offenses of the Delaware Way.  Long may they thrive. Still, this doesn’t happen without a public outcry. This is the kind of synergy that helps save whatever’s left of our democracy.

I Can’t Make This Up.  Remember yesterday’s announcement that El Paso airspace would close for ten days due to, and I quote from the Transportation Secretary, ‘in response to a sudden incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels that required a military response’?  Well:

But that assertion was undercut by multiple people familiar with the situation, who said that the F.A.A.’s extreme move came after immigration officials earlier this week used an anti-drone laser shared by the Pentagon without coordination with the F.A.A. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

C.B.P. officials thought they were firing on a cartel drone, the people said, but it turned out to be a party balloon. Defense Department officials were present during the incident, one person said.

The Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The F.A.A. declined to comment.  In other words, “No comment.  No comment.  No comment.”

Can’t anybody here play this game?

Man, This Pam Bondi.  She’s learned Trump’s mantra–never apologize for anything:

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on Wednesday slammed Attorney General Pam Bondi’s defense of how the Department of Justice (DOJ) has handled the release of files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrery Epstein.

“The recourse, and I keep reminding the folks at DOJ this, is that the next attorney general can bring charges against them for breaking the law,” Massie told reporters, after the attorney general’s combative testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee.

“I think that’s what’s compelled them to produce 3 million documents. And now they’re claiming that it’s incompetence,” he added. “But [Bondi’s] defense today is incompetence for why they haven’t given us all the documents they should, why they have over-redacted in the case of co-conspirators and why they failed to redact the names of the victims.”

During the hearing, Bondi got into shouting matches with multiple Democratic lawmakers, who criticized the DOJ’s slow release of the Epstein files, particularly the redactions of numerous individuals and failures to conceal the names of victims. 

At least 11 victims of Epstein were in the audience — with some wearing shirts referencing the redactions. When Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) asked the victims to raise their hands if they had not yet met with the DOJ, they each lifted a hand.

He brought that up during Wednesday’s hearing, saying the department only unredacted names from the files because “of me catching you red-handed.”

Bondi went on to say the Kentucky Republican, who frequently voted in line with President Trump last year, has “Trump derangement syndrome” and is a “failed politician.” 

Repeat after me: The Department Of Justice is a criminal enterprise.

Yep. The Progressive Working Families’ Candidate Won In NJ:

New Jersey Democrats are coalescing behind Analilia Mejia, the winner of Thursday’s special primary election to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in Congress. But that term expires Jan. 3 and Mejia could face a party challenge for a full two-year term in the June election.

Mejia, a former political director for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) who endorsed her, won the 11th District special primary election with less than 30% of about 64,000 votes cast by Democrats.

As of Tuesday Mejia leads Tom Malinowski by 1.4% with ballots still being counted.

“I’m so excited to be able to say we did it,” said Mejia, surrounded by supporters in Montclair Tuesday. “The lesson coming out of this race is people power can win.”

Although The Associated Press has not called the race, Malinowski conceded Tuesday and said he looked forward “supporting her in the April general election.” Malinowski, at former congressman from the neighboring 7th District, did not say he would back Mejia for a full term, nor did he rule out running himself in the regular June primary.

Let’s close with this from country music star Charlie Crockett.  I hereby designate it as the Mic Drop Of The Week:

“They keep saying I’m a cosplay cowboy but they love a cosplay president,” Crockett wrote on Instagram. “Some folks have been on here calling Muhammad Ali a draft dodger when yall got one in the White House. When I was at the Grammys the other night I saw a guy get up and talk about Jesus, and then I saw Bad Bunny get up there and talk like Jesus. The country music establishment should be taking notes on a Puerto Rican American who hasn’t forgotten his heritage and brought his culture’s traditional music back to the front, showing the world something new with it.

The President is a grifter who bankrupted 6 casinos. That’s pretty extraordinary considering it’s a rigged business in favor of the house. The only thing he’s good at is filing lawsuits and portraying a successful business man as a reality TV actor. Last time I checked Elon Musk was an immigrant from South Africa but there he is standing in the White House buying our elections. Let’s deport his a– and send Peter Thiel back with him since they both openly believe in a post democratic society where men of their class are above the law.”

“Forgive me if I have a problem with a 34 time convicted felon running this country when I lost the right to vote or own a weapon for years over marijuana. As long as you’re hating the oppressed and loving your oppressor you’ll never know why our generation is poorer than our parents and grandparents. As a great man once said it’s welfare for the rich and rugged individualism for the poor. If you can sleep at night licking their boots that’s between you and yours, but that type of thinking isn’t freedom. It’s mental slavery. Every single right we have as a people wasn’t handed to us. We had to fight and take it.”

“Judge a man by how he treats the poor and those who he views as being able to do nothing for him. Don’t forget why Muhammad Ali said ‘I am America.’ Remember the coal miners of Harlan County, Kentucky. I believe in what we can be. Ride on.”

Ride on, indeed.

What do you want to talk about?