DL Open Thread: Monday, May 18, 2026

Some political stories simply won’t wait until the Political Weekly.  This is one of them:  Dwayne Bensing is primarying incumbent AG Kathleen Jennings.  Here’s his statement on why he’s running:

Our state stands at a crossroads, and it’s time for a new generation to take up the torch for justice. I’m ready to lead a New Guard at the Department of Justice – one that is unburdened by the status quo and ready to fight for every Delawarean.

From the classroom to the courtroom, I have proven throughout my career that I will always stand up for what is right. That’s what this campaign is about – standing up for our friends, neighbors, and values against the powerful and privileged in a rapidly changing world:

Corporations are consolidating power and wealth through unimaginable leaps in technology, leaving the working and middle class behind;

Our government officials seem to be guided by their quest for power and control, rather than their accountability to “we, the people”;

And our civil rights have been diminished to an afterthought, rather than remaining the bedrock of our democracy.

We can’t keep doing the same thing, expecting different results

We need an Attorney General ready to tackle corporate greed, ensure government oversight, and champion our fundamental civil rights.

I’ve assembled an amazing team of friends to join me on this campaign. We’re ready to hit the ground running and let Democrats throughout Delaware know that they have a choice in the September 15th Primary. This race will be a sprint, and we’re ready for Delaware to pass the torch.

I hope you’ll join us. Learn more about the campaign at dwaynebensing.com. You can donate, host a house party, join the voter outreach team, or follow us on social media to stay connected.

To a stronger, brighter, and freer Delaware,

Dwayne.

Bensing has taken a sabbatical from his position as Legal Director For Delaware ACLU.  He’s right about one thing for sure–this will be a sprint.  He had long been rumored to be considering a run, but I thought that he had decided that it might conflict with his work.  Hence, I presume, the sabbatical.  Readers know that I’ve praised AG Jennings for standing up to the Trump Administration.  So, we have two candidates who I see as legitimately capable of being our AG.  I’m really looking forward to hearing from both of them.

The Mother African Union Church In Wilmington Destroyed In Fire:

Overseer Dr. Ron Whitaker II, Senior Pastor, released this statement late Sunday:

On May 17, 2026, at approximately 3:00 a.m., a devastating fire consumed the building of our beloved Mother African Union Church. To see a sacred space where generations have wept, rejoiced, worshipped, and praised God suffer such destruction brings an indescribable grief.

However, as scripture reminds us in Matthew 16:18, ‘Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ Today, we weep for the brick and mortar, but we stand firm in the knowledge that the Church is not simply a building. The Church is the people, the spirit, and the unyielding faith of the community.

Mother African Union Church carries a rich and sacred history of resilience. Established through the foundational spirit of the independent Black church movement—pioneered right here in Wilmington by the free African American Peter Spencer in 1813—our congregation was born out of a radical pursuit of freedom, dignity, and self-determination. For more than two centuries, through our annual August Quarterly Festival and the Peter Spencer Family Life Foundation, we have stood as a beacon of liberation, faith, and hope. We have weathered the storms of history, and by the grace of God, we will weather this fire as well.

To the Wilmington community, our neighbors, our members, and all those near and far who have reached out: we cannot overexpress our love and heartfelt gratitude to the countless individuals, churches, organizations, civic leaders, nearby cities, and members of the broader community who have already extended prayers, encouragement, and offers of support during this heartbreaking moment. Your compassion has reminded us that we do not stand alone.

While our physical sanctuary has been damaged, our mission remains completely unburned. Our commitment to serving this community, standing for justice, uplifting the vulnerable, and advancing the liberating work of the Gospel remains stronger than ever.

Trump A No-Show For His Marathon Christian Nationalist Event.  Guess what he was doing instead:

For nine hours in steamy Washington, D.C. on Sunday, President Donald Trump’s most ardent evangelical supporters gathered on the National Mall for a “historic” event to “rededicate” America to God. The Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving was part of Freedom 250, a series of tacky Christian nationalist semiquincentennial festivities orchestrated by the Trump administration. But as much as Trump berates other people for being insufficiently patriotic, or for being “anti-Christian” for failing to follow the edicts of his Christian nationalist supporters, he could only be bothered to send in a very strangely presented video. He then spent the afternoon golfing.

You must have cheated–just like Trump cheats at golf.

Something tells me Kash’s libel suit over his ‘alleged’ drinking is going nowhere:

Just a thought–Big Pharma, The Insurance Companies, and the Hospital Industry are all blaming each other for the high cost of health care.  Stating the obvious, They’re ALL guilty:

Two of the most powerful lobbies in the country are turning on a third in the hopes of deflecting Washington’s wrath and securing bigger shares of the $5 trillion Americans spend on health care each year.

Drugmakers and insurers are aiming to take advantage of lawmakers’ worries about affordability to convince them it’s the hospitals they should regulate, and not them, if they want to bring down Americans’ bills. Some of the changes the drugmakers and insurers are pursuing would pad their own profits.

Apparently, the words ‘socialized medicine’ must not be uttered in the corridors of power.

I’m A Cheese Guy. So:

Exciting news from over the Channel: a viral cheese has dropped, but good luck spelling, or saying, it. As Libération reports, la cancoillotte (even native speakers struggle with the pronunciation, apparently), a liquid cheese from Franche-Comté in the east, is taking over fitness social media, thanks to its 16g of “prot” per 100g (as the French muscle bros and girls say), low fat content and bargain price. Its secret ingredient is a skimmed milk product, metton, traditionally a byproduct of butter-making repurposed by thrifty peasants to avoid waste.

But watching endless social media videos of people in Gymshark vests and crop tops manipulating cancoillotte has left me feeling queasy. For a start, I’m a cheese-hater and its eerie texture creeps me out: it’s like a whey-based slime; fondue’s sinister skinny cousin; a low-fat lactose ectoplasm.

Mmmm, ‘low-fat lactose ectoplasm’.  Heading over to Trader Joe’s to see if their supply has come in yet.

What do you want to talk about?