DL Open Thread: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025
ICE To Spend $100 Mill To Recruit More Goons:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are planning to spend $100 million over a one-year period to recruit gun-rights supporters and military enthusiasts through online influencers and a geo-targeted advertising campaign, part of what the agency called a “wartime recruitment” strategy it said was critical to hiring thousands of new deportation officers nationwide, according to an internal document reviewed by The Washington Post.
Yes, they’re at war with us.
The spending would help President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation agenda dominate media networks and recruitment channels, including through ads targeting people who have attended UFC fights, listened to patriotic podcasts or shown an interest in guns and tactical gear, according to a 30-page document distributed among officials in this summer detailing ICE’s “surge hiring marketing strategy.”
‘Online influencers’. Wonder how much of that $100 mill ends up in Trump’s pocket.
Is it fascism yet?
Democracy At The Kennedy Center:
The Kennedy Center adopted bylaws earlier this year that limited voting to presidentially appointed trustees, a move that preceded a unanimous decision this month by board members installed by President Donald Trump to add his name to the center.
The current bylaws, obtained by The Washington Post, were revised in May to specify that board members designated by Congress — known as ex officio members — could not vote or count toward a quorum. Legal experts say the move may conflict with the institution’s charter.
Time to relocate the Kennedy Center to Branson, MO?
Israel Goes After Aid Organizations. Right after Bibi’s meeting with Trump. Coincidence? What do you think, Rep. Melanie Ross Levin?:
Israel has announced it will stop dozens of aid organisations working in Gaza within 36 hours for failing to meet stringent new requirements to hand over personal details of Palestinian and international staff deployed in the devastated territory.
The list of groups hit by the ban include some of the world’s best known humanitarian organisations such as ActionAid, International Rescue Committee and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Tuesday’s announcement by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs comes amid fierce storms that in recent days have destroyed thousands of tents in Gaza, exacerbating an already acute humanitarian crisis.
Yo, Melanie, please come on here and explain how your propaganda photo op was merely a ‘fact-finding expedition’ to, you know, help you become a better legislator.
Delaware To Receive $160 Mill From Feds For Rural Health Care Expansion:
The federal government awarded Delaware $157 million this week as part of a national program aimed at bolstering rural health care across all 50 states. The initial award represents the first batch of funding Delaware hopes to receive over the next five years.
The full award amount for the state remains unclear at this time, but the state will receive at least $500 million from the federal program.
Delaware officials said they plan to use those funds to invest heavily into health infrastructure in Kent and Sussex counties, including building the state’s first medical school and two new homeless service shelters in the lower counties.
State leaders also hope to fund 13 additional programs, including additional preventative care, financial assistance for medical students that commit to working in Delaware for five years after graduation, and robust nutritional education.
Delaware got the money because they asked, and because they had a good proposal.
Y’know, Matt Meyer gets a lot of heat here and elsewhere, some of it justified. However, tomorrow, when you peruse through ‘The Good” section of the annual “The Good, The Bad, The Ridiculous” magnum opus, ask yourselves–would any of these items have even been on John Carney’s radar were he still in office? How would Carney have dealt with ICE? How would he have dealt with the budget shortfall? We can at least be thankful that we have a Governor who is engaged and who has some genuine empathy. You know, a converted hotel as opposed to a Concentration Camp, to cite but one example.
What do you want to talk about?
