“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.

Yeah, I know that I skipped last week.  If you’d like your subscription $$’s back, please send me some subscription $$’s first, and I’ll ‘consider’ returning it to you.  Just be advised that I will use the Krista Griffith version of ‘consider’.  As in, and I quote:

“There was an attempt by State Rep. Frank Burns (D-Newark) to change the effective date to the day the new changes were signed into law as to not effect any ongoing books and records request, but that amendment ultimately failed.

During debate on the House Floor, Rep. Burns noted the amendment was largely drafted out of concern for the ongoing books and records requests made by Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — shareholders, as reported by CNBC, and worried that those probes could be hindered.

“I am aware of two actions against Meta where books and records discoveries were going on, and they can continue, but what they were looking into can now never be brought to bear under the SB 21 rules,” Rep Burns said during debate.

The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Griffith (D-Fairfax) explained the date of Feb. 17 was “very carefully considered” and did not support the amendment along with the majority of her colleagues.

But I (only slightly) digress.

1. John Atkins in a three-way? No, I’m not referencing the aftermath of one of the ‘lingerie’ parties that John attended. You people disgust me.  There is now a third announced R candidate for the 41st RD seat being vacated by Rich Collins.  One Jacki Slonin of Dagsboro. She describes herself as an ‘Essential Services Solutions Expert and business owner’, said business being JS Strategies.  She’s also a huge ‘parental rights’ activist.  Hey, it’s the 41st.  The best you can hope for is a candidate who doesn’t come from a family where cousins marry.

2.  Stephanie Bolden Isn’t Retiring.  She’s filed for the ballot.  Lest you’ve forgotten who she is, this clip should remind you.

3.  Campaign Finance Reports Start To Trickle In.  The reporting deadline isn’t until January 20.  So, what we have so far are those reports where either no money was spent and/or inactive committees.  I checked so that you don’t have to.  One of Greg Lavelle’s committees spent his remaining balance–on behalf of Brent Burdge and Bryan Shupe. Although–he transferred the remaining funds, some $5100, to his other PAC, the FirstStateFirst PAC.  We’re not done with him yet.

4.  Curtis Linton On Ballot For NCC District 4.  Apparently with the imprimatur of James Maravelias.  The Wilmington area district seat is currently held by Penrose Hollins, who has announced his retirement.

That’s all I’ve got.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

THE GOOD:

Jan. 17: Gov. Meyer commits to scaling back windfalls to large corporations.  Says he will focus on small business development instead.

March 5:  Gov. Meyer proposes energy reforms, including more power to challenge rate increases.  Both the Governor and the General Assembly ultimately follow through on these proposals.

March 7: Delaware Supreme Court rules that Matt Meyer, not Bethany Hall Long, can nominate the members for the Diamond State Port Board.  The unholy alliance between BHL and Senate leaders stunk to high heaven.

March 17:  How Delaware Will Reform Opioid Grants Process.

March 18:  End-Of Life Decisions Bill Passes House, 21-17.  Entire Wilmington delegation votes no, as do Reps. Cooke and Heffernan.

April 3:  Leg Hall Expansion Delayed.  You know, because the state actually has needs for the $50 mill designated for the project.

April 17:  Kevin Hensley hands over his car keys.  The bad news? It’s only for a year.  April 17, 2026 will be here before you know it.

April 17: End-Of-Life Options bill passes Senate and goes to Governor, who has promised to sign it.

April 22: Meyer nominates a new marijuana czar.  A good one who, later in the year, actually gets the industry up and running.  The new czar is not an ex-cop.  Coincidence?

April 23: Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown does one (and only one) thing right this year–she boots Kevin Hensley from the Joint Finance Committee.

April 25: Protestors picket ICE’s favorite airline, Avelo (which linguists will no doubt parse as deriving from ‘Evil’) at the Wilmington Airport.

April 30: ACLU Of Delaware wins key case for UD students.  You say you wanna contribute?

May 14:  Excellent bill endorsed by AARP passes despite continued attempts of Ciro Poppiti, who had a blatant conflict-of-interest on the bill, to kill it.

May 20:  Gov. Meyer signs End Of Life Options Act into law.  So glad to see Paul Baumbach front and center at the signing ceremony.

June 10: Sen. Stephanie Hansen artfully and successfully shepherds legislation enabling a wind power project through the Senate.

June 16:  Our Man In Pakistan Announces he will resign from the Christina School Board next month.  About the time that legislation making him ineligible to serve becomes law.

June 21:  Evelyn Brady skunks Cassandra Marshall and is elected the new Delaware Democratic Chair. I was there, and voted the right way.

June 24:  Stell Parker Selby resigns from the House of Representatives after having denied her 20th RD constituents representation during the entire 2025 legislative session.

July 3:  Alonna Berry chosen to be the D candidate to replace Stell Parker Selby.  She seems like the best option they had.

July 23:  NCC Councilman Dave Carter introduces legislation to regulate data centers:

New Castle County, DE – Councilman David Carter (District 6), working with the New Castle County Department of Land Use, announced      today that legislation will be introduced on August 26, 2025 to establish clear and enforceable standards for the siting and operation of data centers in New Castle County.

The proposed ordinance will reflect the growing need to responsibly manage the infrastructure demands and environmental impacts associated with large-scale technology facilities.“We are taking action to make sure we have the right tools in place to evaluate and regulate these massive projects,” said Councilman Carter.

July 29:  A really thoughtful assessment of the reassessment controversy.

August 1: Delaware’s recreational marijuana market launches its first retail locations.

August 5: D Alonna Berry wins Special Election by 121 votes.  In the ‘good’ column.  For now.

August 7: Delaware Fights Back Against Julianne Murray’s MAGA-ism.

August 12: General Assembly passes some temporary fixes for reassessment tax bills.  Animosity reigns in the House.

August 14:  Gov. Meyer signs the Inspector General bill into law.  Y’know, I really should’ve included Sen. Laura Sturgeon on my 2025 MVP list.

August 17:  Kathleen Jennings stands up against Nemours Children’s Hospital on behalf of transgendered youth.

August 20:  Our PAL Val Longhurst dumped as the head of the Delaware Police Athletic League.  Something about a shitload of missing money despite government largesse.  Included under the ‘Good’ category because anything that reflects negatively on Longhurst is automatically good.

Sept. 2:  Free school breakfasts, but not lunches, begin in Delaware.  Kim Williams really should be primaried.

Sept. 4:  Great choice for Delaware Teacher Of The Year.

Sept. 14:  Matt Meyer issues order enabling virtually all Delaware residents to get COVID vaccines.

October 13:  Delaware abuse victim rescued from ICE deportation.

October 15: Christina School Board boots Navid Baqir, Our Man in Pakistan, from the Board by a 4-2 vote.

October 18: A spectacular day of No Kings events in Delaware.

Nov. 6: Gov. Meyer creates a new Office Of New Americans to assist immigrants. Something that would never have even entered what remains of John Carney’s mind.

Nov. 12:  Could Delaware get its own medical school?

Nov. 13:  House Passes bill decoupling Fed tax breaks for corporations from their Delaware tax obligations.  The bill was passed in the Senate the following week.  The bill will help whittle down a projected $400 mill budget deficit caused by Trump’s Big Beautiful bill.

Nov. 17: Federal judge denies gun rights lobby request to halt enforcement of the state’s new law requiring permits to purchase handguns.

Nov. 26: Wilmington Council members Shané Darby and Coby Owens call for Gov. Matt Meyer to keep the Plummer House open.

Dec. 1: ‘Non-partisan’ Julianne Murray left the Delaware Rethuglican Party in debt.  Sad.

Dec. 5: Delaware ACLU challenges Fenwick for allowing corporations to vote. 

Dec. 8: Jason’s Greatest Hits–The Case Against Chris Coons.

Dec. 10: Wilmington to finally get rent escrow program?

Dec. 17: Redding Consortium Recommends One NCC Mega-District north of the Canal.  (This item belongs on whatever list you THINK it belongs on.)

Dec. 18: Meyer Administration partners with not-for-profit to provide medical debt relief to 18,000 Delawareans.

Dec. 19: Gov. Meyer intervenes on behalf of ICE detainee.

Dec. 31: Delaware to receive $157 mill To expand rural health care.

THE BAD:

Jan. 3:  News-Journal reports that Rep. Kevin Hensley had been charged with a DUI, and that the police kept the story from the public.

Jan. 7:  Elections Scofflaw Bethany Hall-Long becomes Delaware’s temporary governor.  Immediately schemes with some State Senators to nominate members to the Wilmington Port Board.

Feb. 6: We learn that Dan Cruce is thrilled that he lives in Rehoboth.  Nobody does anything.

Feb. 7:  Delaware school leader indicted on child porn charges.  Doesn’t look like the school did even a cursory background check on the guy.

Feb. 7:  State Auditor says she’ll investigate the expedited transfer of $200 mill to the Diamond State Port Corporation. ‘Expedited’ as in five days before Matt Meyer took office. 

Feb. 15:  Two non-entities elected to the State Senate. Dan Cruce.  Ray Seigfried.  Both candidates chosen by party insiders, not in a primary.

Feb. 17:  SB 21, The ‘Musk Pass’ Bill, is introduced.  The headline on this Delaware Call piece had it right:  ‘Deldems Roll Over For Musk’.

Feb. 24:  Delaware Offers $30 Mill Bribe To Merck.  ‘No-comments’ all around.

March 6:  Bryan Townsend’s blatant conflict-of-interest on SB 21.

March 13:  Musk-Pass bill unanimously passes the Senate.

March 16:  Nick Merlino, speaking for Gov. Meyer:  “Gov. Meyer doesn’t believe that trans girls should be playing in girls’ sports, but ultimately he defers those decisions to the leagues and localities,” Merlino said.

March 19:  Commenter ‘Another Mike’ points out that Rep. Stell Parker Selby has been absent every day of this legislative session.  I had been unaware, but he’s right.

March 25:  House Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown disgraces herself in shutting down legitimate dissent to SB 21.  Specific victims include Reps. Frank Burns and Sophie Phillips, who had the temerity to submit improvements to the bill via amendment.  Don’t think I’ve ever seen a Speaker behave like that.  The bill passes, 32-7, and is immediately signed into law.

March 26:  My day-after screed.

April 8:  How Krista Griffith ran interference for Meta And Zuckerberg:

“There was an attempt by State Rep. Frank Burns (D-Newark) to change the effective date to the day the new changes were signed into law as to not effect any ongoing books and records request, but that amendment ultimately failed.

During debate on the House Floor, Rep. Burns noted the amendment was largely drafted out of concern for the ongoing books and records requests made by Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — shareholders, as reported by CNBC, and worried that those probes could be hindered.

“I am aware of two actions against Meta where books and records discoveries were going on, and they can continue, but what they were looking into can now never be brought to bear under the SB 21 rules,” Rep Burns said during debate.

The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Griffith (D-Fairfax) explained the date of Feb. 17 was “very carefully considered” and did not support the amendment along with the majority of her colleagues.

May 6:  The Town of Camden (DE) PD cuts deal with ICE. A reflection on the town.  Being outed by Spotlight Delaware, Camden reneges on the deal.

May 14: Diamond State Hospital Cost Review ain’t doing shit, ain’t gonna do shit.  Especially after Gov. Meyer appointed two Christiana Care ‘foxes’ to investigate the henhouse.

May 15:  AG Jennings, Governors Carney and Meyer, and Buccini-Pollin vs. Joint Finance Committee.   Pretty sure the good guys won on this one.

May 16: Mean Girls Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown and Kim Williams vs. Rep. Rae Moore.  Turns out the real issue is that Williams doesn’t want to fully-fund school meals.  As opposed to the fake issue they used as a pretext here. 

May 16:  Meadow Wood Hospital repeatedly put patients at risk.  What’s not bad is Nick Stonesifer’s award-worthy reporting on this.

June 2: The Delaware City Refinery has been illegally spewing pollution for over a week.

June 9-12:  House D Leadership has kept status of always-absent Stell Parker Selby from public.  Spotlight Delaware version.  Coast TV (Part 1).  Coast TV (Part 2).  Great work from an independent press smokes out a disingenuous Speaker of the House.

June 24:  Feud between Speaker Mimi Minor-Brown and Rep. Rae Moore becomes public, with a side order of Kim Williams.

July 9:  AG Pam Biondi names Julianne Murray as the ‘interim’ US Attorney for Delaware.

July 10:  Wilmington vs. Weed.

July 10: Appoquinimink: An $8 mill accounting error?

July 17: Massive Data Center proposed for Delaware City.

July 27:  Prison whistleblowers punished for calling out inhumane conditions?

August 4: Yet another release of toxins from the Delaware City Oil Refinery.

August 6: Middletown officials killed police accountability.

August 6: ‘Non-partisan’ interim US Attorney Julianne Murray demands that Delaware hand over local businesses’ payroll records to ICE.

August 21:  Yep, the Congo Legacy Center was basically out of compliance on everything.

August 25:  Owner shuts down Galluccio’s, shits on employees.

August 28:  Gov. Meyer breaks word on county marijuana restrictions.  Legislators won’t forget this.

Sept. 3:  Wilmington cops doing cop things.

Sept. 10:  Smyrna School District offers teachers a 0.0% raise.

Sept. 16:  John Carney and his odious co-conspirator Claire DeMatteis release a despicable preliminary report on homelessness. Including the first plans for the Carney Concentration Camp.

Sept. 22:  Delaware legislators lie about why they went to Israel.

Sept. 23: The real reason why Carney wants to create his Homeless Concentration Camp.  To keep them away from a brand-new Buccini/Pollin luxury development.

October 1:  NCC Executive Marcus Henry throws his predecessor, Matt Meyer, under the bus on reassessment.

October 3: Christiana Care banks profits while skimping on required care for the poor.

October 8: Matt Meyer and Christiana Care bury the hatchet (in consumers’ backs).

October 15:  Did Our PAL Val leave the Police Athletic League $700K in debt?  Where’d the money go, Val?

October 19: CR School Board sought to purchase a $10 mill property–from a school board member.

October 21:  Mayor Carney vetoes bill that would have protected renters.

October 24:  Suxco D Chair Jeff Balk’s sex-offender conviction raises questions about whether he should resign.  (He ultimately did.)

October 27:  Former Mayor Mike Purzycki and political operator Bud Freel in a hinky arrangement to rehab the Gibraltar estate that just happens to be right next door to Purzycki’s house.  Using lots of taxpayers’ $$’s. 

October 27:  Yet another bribe to keep a company in Delaware. From a FOIA-exempt body expending taxpayer $$’s.

October 30:  The Carney Concentration Camp.

Nov. 1: Carney blames Wilmington homelessness on Philly.  It’s a lie, of course, designed to justify his signature Concentration Camp.

Nov. 10:  An absolute stinker of a land deal involving a DELDOT bigwig and–DELDOT.  Delaware Way-ism at its worst.

Nov. 12:  Gibraltar–An Inside Job.

Nov. 18: Yet another delay on NCC Council consideration of data center legislation as Janet Kilpatrick tosses a last-minute killer amendment into the mix.

Nov.18: Delaware River & Bay Authority is using $500 K of public money to fund ICE’s favorite carrier, Avelo Airlines.

Nov. 23:  Brandon Toole sells out. Drops sponsorship of data center bill, goes to fundraiser sponsored by chief lobbyist for the project.  Makes it official here.

Dec. 5: State Auditor: Port Of Wilmington Board did lots of stuff wrong.

Dec. 17: Yet more emissions that the Delaware City oil refinery kept hidden from the public.

Dec. 23: Delaware State Trooper Shot Dead At DMV in Minquadale.

THE RIDICULOUS:

Jan. 9:  Delaware Rethugs fete guest speaker Nancy ‘Mace (teh trans)’ at a fundraiser.  Future acting District Attorney Julianne Murray says it’s merely something about protecting the sanctity of women’s bathrooms.

Feb.18: The Delaware Rethugs’ Battle For State Chair.  Spoiler Alert–’Incremental Progress’ carries the day over a 78-year-old’s spittle.

Feb. 20.  Karen Hartley-Nagle files for Brandywine School Board election.  She will go on to lose, but not before Marcus Henry gives her an equally-ridiculous endorsement.

March 25:  Oopsies, Wilmington didn’t get opioid funding because Mayor Mike never showed for the meetings:

“Spotlight Delaware reached out to multiple committee members, asking why they didn’t attend meetings. Most didn’t respond.

Former Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki — the most prominent absence from the committee meetings — said he didn’t have “any recollection” about being asked to participate in the Local Governments Committee.

If he was invited, he said, it must’ve “got lost in translation.”

April 6:  Doesn’t anybody want to build the Underwater City at Fort DuPont?

“The developer of a 135-acre site next to Fort DuPont in Delaware City is seeking a new partner for its RV park and campground project on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal near the Delaware River.

An Ocean City, Maryland-based company called Blue Water Development had for several years been set to develop the property with a Michigan company called Sun Outdoors. But now Sun Outdoors is no longer pursuing the project and the site is for sale.” (Note to self: Did anybody answer the call?)

April 28:  LBR and Chris Coons respond to protestors on Israel/Gaza:

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester was echoing sentiments expressed by Coons and Meyer when she was interrupted by a heckler questioning policy regarding Israel and Hamas.

“That’s one of the–that’s one of the bigger issues–(heckler interrupts) “You told us you would listen! You haven’t listened to us!”

Coons told those who shouted questions from the audience that their behavior “wouldn’t move him in a positive way” toward their position.

April 28:  Karen Hartley-Nagle argues that we should vote for her b/c she had her car stolen from the exact same location twice:

“This morning, as I was getting ready to go door-knocking, excited to meet more neighbors across Brandywine, there was a knock at my own door.

Two of my neighbors had urgent news: around 4:00 a.m., two young men had broken into my car, right outside my home. Security footage caught them — hoods up, gloves on — moving quickly through the neighborhood while most of us slept.

Soon after, a New Castle County police officer arrived to take the report.

Standing there, I couldn’t help but think back to another morning — last Labor Day Eve — when my car was stolen from that very same spot. Found days later, damaged and abandoned just a mile away.

The young man charged was only 18. Last week, he appeared in court and was given probation.

Two incidents.

Two reminders that even in neighborhoods we cherish, challenges are growing — and we must come together to meet them.”

May 1:  General Assembly creates a Port Task Force with no legal authority.

June 30: Senate Rethugs’ attempt to hold the Bond Bill hostage dies before it ever was born.  Sad. I mean, at least Mike Ramone got some Skittles out of his hostage-taking efforts.

July 3: Stephanie Bolden, outing herself as a petulant would-be police officer.

August 26:  A joke of a NCC Council meeting.

Sept. 16: Five Delaware legislators take part in blatant pro-Israeli propaganda–in Israel.

Sept. 30: The barely-read Blue Delaware blog implodes after its sole proprietor is revealed to have plagiarized articles from The Downballot blog for all of 2025.  Said proprietor used to be Hillary’s resident ass-kisser here on DL.

October 3:  Former drug mule Lauren Witzke calls out a Black woman apparently taking advantage of the limitless soda privilege at Costco.

October 7:  James Spadola joins the Democratic Party.  Nobody but Cassandra Marshall cares.

Dec. 11: Julianne Murray resigns as acting Attorney for Delaware.  Blames Coons and LBR.

 

We start with the inevitable announcement that ‘The Other Mike Smith’ is running for yet another office.  This time, State Treasurer.  You may recall that, in 2024, His PAL Val Longhurst granted him leave from his legislative job to primary Frank Burns in RD 21, a Newark-area district.  Burns had come oh-so-close to defeating Mike Ramone in 2022, and was poised to finish the job in 2024, but Ramone beat him to the punch by retiring and moving downstate, only to subsequently challenge Matt Meyer for governor.

Smith and Longhurst had other ideas. For Longhurst, the idea of having one of her go-fers in the House was infinitely preferable to having a progressive in the seat.  ‘Sadly’, Val never realized that her seat was in jeopardy until it was too late.

Here is the piece I wrote about the Burns-Smith primary in 2024:

You all know Dr. Frank Burns.  He almost defeated Mike Ramone in 2022 and likely hastened Ramone’s decision to abandon his home turf for Sussex County.  And a race for Governor.  Burns is a true progressive, twice endorsed by WFP, who has helped to train other progressive candidates for office.  He gives back.

His campaign opponent is The Other Mike Smith, who recently arrived in Delaware  from (take your pick) Alabama  and/or Illinois, got a job working for Pete and Val, and was gifted money for a not-for-profit start-up by Mumsy and Daddy.  Or somebody.  Got $175K from somebody in 2022 despite not yet having lived in the state for even a year.  His tax forms don’t say from who (or is it whom), but, if he is being lawful, it must be from his family.  Paid himself over $46K while he was allegedly working for the General Assembly. Oh, check out this so-called ‘not-for-profit’ and tell me what it does other than serve as a photo op for ‘The Other Mike Smith’. Or, um ‘did’.  Gave out some leaf-blowers and LED bulbs. Allegedly.  Hasn’t been updated since September of 2023.  Doesn’t look like it exists.  (Hmmm, wonder if Smith has applied for an Opioid Slush Fund grant–you know,to teach addicts to operate leaf blowers–or something.)  BTW, the alleged location of this not-for-profit is/was Lewes, which, far as I can tell, isn’t in RD 21.  Here is how he describes himself:

Michael Smith is an energy economist who has worked in think tanks, consulting firms and political campaigns. He was driven to use that experience to facilitate the installation of clean energy infrastructure across Delaware. Michael founded Powering Our Future to do exactly that, and now serves as our Executive Director.

He bills himself as a ‘founder of an environmental non-profit’ on his lit, which sounds great–until/unless you realize there’s no there there.  Here’s his bio. Check out his ‘brush with greatness’ attempt to imply that he’s been endorsed by several members of the Philadelphia Eagles (they just happened to attend the University of Alabama at the same time he allegedly did).  I know smarm when I see it.  I just saw it. ( More smarm–on his new site, he has his picture taken with several elected officials, implying that he has their endorsement.  It was, of course, not an endorsement photo.  Sleazy.)

Frank Burns, OTOH, is a real leader.  Check out this bio:

Dr. Burns established the first diagnostic molecular pathology laboratory at the MCP/Hahnemann (Now Drexel) medical school and latter directed the molecular Pathology and onco-cytogentics laboratories at Thomas Jefferson Medical school. He continued research on the underlying mechanisms of disease while developing and putting into use nucleic acid-based tests for patient diagnosis. He was one of the founding members of the Association for Molecular Pathology and co-authored the first set of guidelines for teaching nucleic acid-based diagnostics to medical residents in pathology programs. His laboratory was first in the Delaware Valley to offer HIV viral load testing for patients not in research programs at a time when the early detection of treatment failure provided by this method was critical to keeping patients alive.

An opportunity to actually prevent disease, rather than diagnose and guide its treatment beckoned and Dr. Burns joined Qualicon, a small biotech company in Wilmington, developing DNA based methods to screen the food supply for pathogens. DuPont, one of the partners in the Qualicon business, took over the company. Dr. Burns developed, patented, and DuPont commercialized several improved diagnostic methods for pathogen detection in food production. Several of these methods were adopted world-wide by industry and government food safety regulators agencies alike.

Could you imagine how much good someone with Burns’ background could do in Dover?

Smith is young, has ‘ants in his pants’ to get elected,  so, from that perspective, he’s formidable.  With Mike Ramone having vacated the premises, the district will likely flip.  Registration figures are 8187 D; 4823 R; and 5904 I.  Here is the district map for this Pike Creek/Newark-area district.

There is one more reason to support Frank Burns–Burns has pledged to push for progressive leadership in the Democratic Caucus.  Smith owes his job to the current Speaker.

That’s the body of the piece. Of perhaps even more worth are the comments, which lay out just what an unethical cipher this Mike Smith is.  Yes, click on the link.

Here is his apparently one and only tax filing for his so-called non-profit.  For 2022.  You will see $175,000 in ‘Contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts received’.  Nowhere on the form does it state from whom he received those funds.  You will see that he compensated himself $46,800 while ostensibly working at the same time for the House.

Just because it’s his one and only tax filing doesn’t mean that ProPublica hasn’t kept track of his side-hustle.  What they found raises, um, questions:

This organization is not listed in the IRS’s most recent list of tax exempt organizations, but we have data associated with this Employer Identification Number.

Interesting, in that you will note that Powering Our Future, Inc. proclaims itself as being ‘Tax-exempt since Aug. 2022’.  Is it, or isn’t it?

Anyway, in 2024, it claimed to have received no revenue, and claimed $24,516 in expenses, $19,200 of which went to Mike Smith for ‘compensation’.  How much for leaf-blowers and LED’s?

In 2023, it claimed to have received $5036 in revenue, and incurred $50,127 in expenses, $28,800 of which went to Mike Smith for ‘compensation’.

I don’t hold myself out as a tax expert nor an expert on tax-exempt organizations.  But the organization claims to be tax-exempt but they are not on the IRS’ current data base of tax-exempt organizations.

I have an idea–Mike, I know you’re out there reading this, could you fill us in on this organization that you’ve touted on your lit, including your current on-line profile?  It should be easy–I mean, you’re running for State Treasurer.

That’s not to me even the main reason why this guy doesn’t belong anywhere near elective office.  The guy is skeezy.  He stalked Burns’ campaign events in 2024–parking what he thought was a safe distance away to observe, but got observed.  Paid staff to literally lie to voters and misrepresent Burns’ positions.  He’s a kid with money who is in a hurry to get elected to something/anything. He claims to have already raised $80K for this campaign.  Can’t wait to see where that money came from, if it came in at all.  I’m guessing a big loan, but we’ll have to see.

Hey, we don’t even really know where he’s from, where he attended school and/or if he graduated. Did he come from wealth, or were his parents poor?  Is his real name Michael Smith?  I don’t know.  He has provided scant details, unusual for a political bio. All I know is that he almost lied his way into the General Assembly.  So unless it’s verified, I can’t take anything he says at face value.  Why does the name George Santos come to mind?

BTW, that makes two ‘Democrats’ running for State Treasurer who I can’t vote for.

Remember that Ted Lauzen guy who Brian Selander is drooling over? Well, yes there is Treasurer cred in the family.  Christopher Lauzen, Ted’s dad, is the Treasurer of Kane County, Illinois. Oh, he’s also served in elective office as a Republican since 1992.  He, too, like his son, attended Duke as an undergraduate.

In other words, Brian, even Jack Markell was more of a Democrat than Ted Lauzen is.

Time to see who’s behind Door #3.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.

Now is the ideal time to donate to your favorite Democratic candidates–before the end of the year.  Contributions made before then will strengthen the coffers of. our favorite candidates in time for the $$’s to be reflected in the year-end financial reports.

Here’s the latest from the candidates who I think are deserving of your consideration:

SD 1: Adriana Bohm.

SD 5:  Shay Frisby.

RD 1:  Shané Darby.

RD 6: Rae Krantz.

RD 9: Gemma Lowery.

Michelle Wall.

RD 12: Rob Bahnsen.  Here is Rob’s campaign launch video.  It’s real good!

RD 16: Pam Salaam.

RD 38:  Maureen ‘Mo’ Madden.

Let’s give them some holiday season love!

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.

A Random Factoid Totally Unrelated To Anything That May Appear In Today’s Column:  When a sociopath tells you that they’ve changed, just remember that they are lying because sociopaths, by definition, are incapable of telling the truth.

The week’s big news: Two incumbent R legislators announce their retirement.

1.  RD 33: Rep. Charles Postles announces that he will not seek reelection:

State Representative Charles Postles (R), who has served the 33rd District since 2016, says he will not seek reelection in 2026. Postles, 76, made the announcement after recovering from a recent illness and says he wants more time to focus on personal family matters.

The 33rd District covers parts of southeast Kent County, including Milford, Frederica, Bowers, Magnolia and Houston.

We had already gotten a clue that perhaps Postles might retire with the filing of a campaign committee by R Morgan Hudson.  Hudson has previously run for office twice before.  She ran in the 2016 33rd RD primary that was won by Postles. Hudson finished third in the three-person race with slightly over 19% of the vote.  She then ran for a Kent County Levy Court seat in 2022, and lost to Robert Scott by a total of 61 votes.  Scott, BTW, had finished second in that 33rd RD primary with about 35% of the vote.  So, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Hudson will have the R field to herself in 2026.  In fact, that’s officially the case.  R Matt Bucher, Milford School Board Vice-President, filed this week for the seat:

The reason I am running is I believe we need representation in the 33^rd District from someone who knows how to fight, knows how to win, and believes, as I think most of you do, that we need to speak our values clearly and protect our area’s interests when faced with a state government that doesn’t always seem to have us in mind. I also think, at this point in time, I am that person.

The current registration figures in RD 33 are as follows: 6145 D; 6481 R; 7018 I.  I’m not yet aware of any D who is running.  Postles’ last contested race was in 2020 (before redistricting).  He defeated Rachael King by a 58-42 margin.

2. RD 41.  Rep. Rich Collins announces that he will not seek reelection.  Two candidates have officially filed for the seat, R Doug Conaway and D Ryan Stuckey:

Two local business owners have already filed to run for Collins’ seat in House District 41, which covers Millsboro, Dagsboro, and Gumboro. Republican Doug Conaway, who runs Douglas Builders, and Democrat Ryan Stuckey, owner of a coffee shop in Dagsboro, are seeking the open seat.

However, the big story is the Scurvy Dog Who Hasn’t Barked.  Or, to be more precise, the scurvy dog who hasn’t stopped barking but hasn’t yet filed.  We’re talking John Atkins who, during his two stints in Dover, was first rejected by the Republican Caucus, and later rejected by the Democratic Caucus, including by Atkins’ ‘rabbi’, Pete Schwartzkopf.   The online lovefest between Collins and Atkins suggests that a handshake hand-off between the two is what they both want.  Can’t think of two people who deserve each other more.

Raising the question, is someone with the following record (according to Wikipedia) even eligible to serve in the General Assembly?:

On October 29, 2006, Atkins was caught drunk driving and used his representative identification to gain leniency from the Ocean City, Maryland police officers and avoid arrest for the incident. An investigation by the House Ethics Committee found that Atkins had continued to drive across the Delaware state line after being instructed to refrain from driving and was arrested later that morning on a charge of offensive touching following a physical altercation with his then wife.

He had attempted to avoid the domestic violence arrest by making “several attempts to speak with Millsboro police chief.”[13] Fellow Republican Richard C. Cathcart sponsored House Resolution 13 to censure Atkins, and it was approved by the House Ethics Committee. The proposed sanctions included requiring him to forgo use of his legislative identification card and legislative license plate, be removed as chairman from any legislative committees, pay a fine, receive an alcohol evaluation, and comply with court-ordered counseling. Atkins resigned from his seat on March 27, 2007, before the official censure took effect.[13][14]

He subsequently switched his party registration and was reelected in the next election as a member of the Democratic Party.
In 2012, Atkins resigned from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee after attacking a police officer in an angry email.[15] He had received a verbal warning from the police officer after being caught speeding and sent the email to a state police captain to complain.[16]

On June 5, 2014, the Delaware Family Court issued a restraining order for Atkins to stay away from his estranged wife and children due to allegations of violence and abuse.[15][17] The next day, Atkins filed a petition against his wife claiming she was the one being abusive.[18] As of June 13, 2014, Atkins and his wife were sharing joint custody of their children, although his wife maintained allegations of harassment and abuse.[19] In June 2016, Atkins was arrested after a physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend. He was charged with offensive touching and criminal mischief, and decided against a bid to regain his seat that he had been considering.[20] The charges were later dropped on the basis of insufficient evidence.[9]

In July 2018, Atkins was arrested and charged with felony strangulation and assault after an argument with his then girlfriend where he squeezed her neck until she could not breathe.[15][21] He was arrested two more times that month for domestic violence and harassment that violated a no-contact order.[5][22] On August 17, 2018, he pled guilty to misdemeanor assault and breach of release charges, and was sentenced to time served, which was 22 days in prison, along with one year of probation. He remained incarcerated until he received an electronic GPS device and was prohibited from possessing a firearm for five years.[7]

I’m well aware of the decision by then-AG Charles Oberly that enabled Herman Holloway Jr. to seek office after having been found guilty of an ‘infamous crime’, albeit a non-violent misdemeanor.  But Holloway never assaulted anybody.  It’s incumbent on the Attorney General to determine whether the Sussex Strangler is similarly eligible to run.  To me, strangulation is a huge step up from fiscal impropriety, but what do I know?

BTW, take a look at the timeframe for Atkins’ legal misadventures–2006 to 2018.  How many times during that period did his defenders claim that he had changed?  Including Pete Schwartzkopf.

Atkins is a proven threat to those who dare cross him. When even mildly provoked, he resorts to violence.   The Attorney General should determine that he is ineligible to serve in the General Assembly.  Or at least require that he include on his campaign lit:  Vote For John Atkins–Woman-Beaters Deserve Representation Too.

Speaking of who should be ineligible to run, it is past time for someone to question whether Dan Cruce resides in his district.  They changed the law after Dave McBride was defeated.  We have almost the exact same situation here.  I think a legal challenge is essential.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss and whaddayathink?

‘MVP’ stands for ‘Most Valuable To The Progressive Cause’ in Delaware.

Your deadline for submissions is December 15.  Remember that the criteria is solely what your choices did this year to earn consideration.

So please suggest names and share why you think they deserve inclusion.

While it’s ultimately ‘my list’, in recent years, the vast majority of the suggestions have come from you.  Making this list ideally inclusive and comprehensive.

Now, get crackin’!

“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.

1. The Rev has re-released a timely podcast from Feb. 6 of this year.  It explains why I lead off every Political Weekly with the above quote.  Listen and learn:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/fun-part-senate-121614824

Y’see, Dan Cruce lives in Rehoboth.  He says so himself (see above).  He lived in Rehoboth when a bunch of Delaware Way insiders decided to install him as a State Senator representing mostly Wilmington.  Perhaps the worst current Delaware Way hack, Bud Freel, championed the carpetbagger’s candidacy.  Yes, the same Bud Freel who narked out Brandon Fletcher Dominguez for the ‘crime’ of being homeless.  The same Bud Freel who is now running interference to enable ex-Mayor Mike to fund a rehab at Gibraltar using taxpayers’ money.  The same Bud Freel who conspired with Gerald Brady to move money around to enable the St. Anthony’s parking lot to be resurfaced using taxpayers’ dollars.  (What can I say, Bud? Gerald bragged about that one.  To me.)

I post that quote weekly in hope that it will eventually sink in that Cruce doesn’t give two shits about the district he allegedly represents.  When the alternative is Adriana Bohm, he doesn’t even belong in the race.  Perhaps the Department of Elections will review his eligibility to run with the same dogged determination it took for them to strike the name of a homeless person from the ballot. As if.

2. R Primaries–Or Incumbent Retirements?  I report, you fill in the blanks:

RD 33.  The incumbent is R Charles Postles, who is four years older than me.  Meaning, officially old.  One Morgan Hudson, also an R, has filed to run for the same office.  I at first thought that this likely meant that Postles was retiring, which could still be true.  However, a quick search of the intertubes revealed that Hudson had run in a 2016 primary for the same office, where she finished third in a three-way primary for the seat that Postles won, garnering less than 20% of the vote. Robert Scott finished second in that primary, with 35.4% of the vote.  Postles won with 45.2%.  I’m guessing that, even if Postles retires, Hudson may not have the R nomination all to herself.

RD 41.  The incumbent is The Odious Rich Collins.  R Douglas Conaway has filed for the seat. Conaway is the owner of Douglas Builders in Millsboro, and has already committed to at least one more selfless deed than Collins ever has:

We are excited to announce Doug Conaway will be contributing all of his labor and forfeiting any profits from the cost of construction towards a new house to a deserving Veteran family. Douglas Builders has selected Jason Genshaw as the recipient of this honor. Jason a graduate of Sussex Technical High School enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving as an Air Frame Mechanic on Attack Helicopters. He served four years at Marine Corps Air Satiation (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, NC. After fulfilling his commitment to our country, he returned to Seaford and married his high school sweetheart Julianna in 2023. Douglas Builders is honored and excited to share this blessing with a local veteran. Construction is set to begin in the beginning of 2026 and we will show progress of the Genshaw’s new home.

Again, I don’t know if this means that Collins is retiring, although I suspect that there are several R House staffers who would welcome that outcome. A Democrat, Ryan Stuckey, has also filed for that race.  I’d link if there was something to link to.

3. Party-Jumper Greg Fuller Files For Reelection.  For Suxco Register of Wills.  He was a Democrat until after he lost to Bryan Shupe in the general election for RD 36.  He also finished 5th in a 6-way primary for Lieutenant Governor in 2016 that was won by Bethany Hall-Long.  Today’s Trivia:  Who finished 6th in that race?

4. Filings: State Senator Gerald Hocker (R-SD 20).  

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

ABLE are savings accounts to enable people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing state and Federal means tested benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, etc), according to those familiar with the program. The program is under the purview of the State Treasurer, who, according to concerned parties, should be promoting the program, but isn’t, and growth is slowing. Major legislation was passed on the federal level two years ago calling for ABLE expansion. Currently, a person can qualify for an ABLE account if the onset of disability was before age 26. Come January 1, that expands to 46. An estimated 6 million additional Americans will qualify and she’s not talked about it. 

So, there are people who would likely qualify for the program, but the State Treasurer is apparently not promoting it.

In addition ,if the Trump Administration reduces the number of Medicare and Medicaid recipients, costs are going to skyrocket for people, and without a viable savings plan, they could be in big trouble. People receiving benefits have an asset cap of just $2,000 without ABLE accounts.

There is also concern about possible inaccuracies in the State Treasurer’s calculations concerning ABLE accounts.  This information was shared with me:

 At the most recent meeting of the Plans Management Board (which oversees ABLE accounts in Delaware), the Treasurer reported 600 funded accounts showing an increase of 81% from the same time last year. However, the number she lists from last year was 502. That’s an increase of just 19.5%.

She also lists assets under management at 7,455,438.85, and calls it an increase of 70.1% over last year’s number of $5,233,773.60 while in reality, it’s an increase of just 42.4%, not 70.1.

Hard to argue with that.  Especially since this is the cut-and-paste from the Treasurer’s report:

Second Quarter (2025) Highlights:

600 Funded DEpendABLE ACCOUNTS as of June 30, 2025, compared to 502 as of June 30, 2024 (81.1% Increase).  (Uh, even my mathematically-challenged brain knows that this does not compute.)

New accounts decreased by 15.5% (49 new accounts) through Q 2 2025 with (58 accounts) over the equivalent time period in 2024.  Total assets as of June 30, 2025 are 7,455,438.85 (a 70.1% increase).  (It’s not.)

People who depend on this program really depend on this program.  Raising the question:  Is The State Treasurer ready, willing and ABLE to protect this vulnerable population?

I, for one, would like to hear from the State Treasurer on this.

The incumbent is the irredeemable ex-cop Franklin Cooke.  His only legislative ‘accomplishment’ of note is/was destroying legitimate LEOBOR reform,  Which, to be fair, is precisely why fellow ex-cop and then-Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf placed Cooke in a position to do so.

Pam Salaam is a beloved figure in the Southbridge community, a community that has both been overlooked and exploited by a series of city and state public officials.  Including, of course, John ‘What’s Wrong With Slag Grinding’ Carney. The 16th RD runs from Southbridge to Jefferson Farms.  I think it’s tailor-made for Pam.

Her top stated priorities are environmental justice and safer communities.

Environmental justice issues include: Excessive tractor-trailer traffic; cancer cluster caused by industrial businesses surrounding residential communities;  food deserts/food insecurity; and Southbridge being below flood level.

Her safer communities issues include: addressing gun violence; providing trauma-informed care; suicide prevention; and, of course, education.  She also makes clear that police reform is another of her priorities.

Why is Pam beloved? Not just for her involvement with Neighborhood House, her founding of Postive Thinking/Positive Change, Inc,  but for her volunteerism w/o regard to gaining accolades.  Nevertheless, she got a well-deserved one.  She earned a 2020 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for:

Pam Salaam (New Castle County)
• Pam Salaam is not a member of any organization, but goes out on her own to collect and prepare food to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness in New Castle County. Pam visits parks throughout the county and meets with individuals to make sure that their needs for food and basic supplies are met, even using her own resources to purchase needed items. Her meals always include fruits, vegetables, meat and dessert, and are prepared and served fresh each day.

When you look at Pam’s priorities, you realize that Franklin Cooke could have taken the initiative on any or all of them.  But he didn’t.  Protecting the cops from suffering any consequences for out-of-control behavior was his sole priority.

I’m pretty sure that both Pam Salaam’s website and Act Blue account will be up as soon as she files early next week.  I’ll be linking and I’ll be donating.

I’m psyched!

“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.

1. A D Primary For State Treasurer?  Assuming that incumbent Colleen Davis is running again, I can only ask why.  His name is Theodore Lauzen, please don’t confuse him with Bob Forehead.  Although:

You say you want more on Bob Forehead? Here ya’ go:

Congressman Bob Forehead is `Washingtoon’s central character and the new D.C. synonym for “airhead media pol.” A former television talk-show host who now heads the “JFK Look-Alike Caucus,” Forehead is the protege of one Gerard Oxboggle, owner of the Glominoid Corporation, who has groomed him to be the savior of the “tycoon sector.” On Oxboggle’s behalf, Congressman Forehead introduces such measures as a “Dumping Rights Act,” which would recognize Oxboggle’s conviction that `nature has already provided a river that is perfect for the job of disposing of hazardous wastes.’ Glominoid’s “Credit Card Bomb” would eliminate the threat of nuclear war to economic growth by destroying only those people who don’t carry credit cards.

Until otherwise disabused of the notion, this guy reminds me most of Ken ‘Drink Up, Chuck And Di’ Simpler and fellow Duke alumnus Charles ‘Bouvier des Flandres’ Copeland.  Prove me wrong.

2. Two Very Different (Prospective) Candidates For NCC District 4.  Penrose Hollins is retiring. At the beginning of his career, he was part of the reform wing of the Democratic Party.  He leaves as kind-of a rubber stamp for developers.  We already have one announced candidate, Jason Hoover, who ran for NCC Council President in 2024.  His website is perfect–if he was running, say, for Dee Durham’s suburban seat. This is constructive criticism, not snark:  Please tailor your message and your website to the voters in Council District 4.  You don’t need to change your positions, just change your emphasis.  It is a poorly-kept secret that some insiders are paving (perhaps literally) the way for Stormin’ Norman’s stepson.  Oliver has demonstrated contradictory impulses.  His generosity is well-known.  In fact, he just recently donated $200,000 to Delaware State, his alma mater.  But he is consistently involved in malodorous Delaware Way insiderism.  Remember that TV station that was the beneficiary of BHL’s opioid fund giveaways?  Was this before or after?:

https://detvch.com/community-crossfire-with-norman-oliver-june-9-2024/

At least they kept their clothes on.  You may have noticed that I didn’t write anything about Norman’s stepson.  Because (insert joke here) I’m confused.  Norman Oliver Jr. is a producer for CBS News.  I doubt that he’d be the one running for County Council.  Although…with CBS now firmly in control of Trump propagandists, perhaps he’s the one.  Anyway, you guys know more than I do here, so fill me in.

Keep an eye on this race.  Also, just wondering, is Jea Street retiring?  I’ve always liked him, but he’s turned into the ‘Get Off My Lawn’ guy on County Council.  I mean, it’s/he’s embarrassing.

3.  Guess Who ELSE Is Retiring:  The odious Janet Kilpatrick, NCC District 3.  Wonder what Matt Meyer has lined up for her.  River and Bay, maybe?  Chances for an upgrade in this district are very good.

4.  How Many Verbal Gaffes Will Dave Lawson Commit Running Against This Opponent?  While it’s only an Exploratory Committee for now, this will almost certainly be a competitive race. Meet Nisha Lodhavia.  It’s kinda hard to find an area of Delaware life that she hasn’t been involved in.  Member of the UD Board Of Trustees.  Member of the Delaware State Board Of Education. Former Member, Board Of Professional Responsibility Of The Supreme Court Of Delaware.  Former Board Member, Meals On Wheels. Former Board Member, Easter Seals.  Masters In Public Health.  You name it.  Something tells me that fundraising won’t be a problem.

15th SD voter registration numbers:  11,172 D; 14,271 R; 14,163 I’s.   We’re talking western Kent County.  Make no mistake, this is a very heavy lift for a Democratic candidate.  But I don’t think you could find a stronger potential candidate than Nisha Lodhavia.  If she ultimately decides to run, she’ll be running to win.  She has the Paradee family firmly behind her.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

Special Legislative Session Today.  And, already it’s weird.  The House Agenda is about what we expected:  Passage of the legislation enabling the NCC Property tax bills to go out now that the Delaware Supreme Court has affirmed the Chancery Court ruling.  Consideration of the bill decoupling Delaware from the federal giveaways to corporations, legislation intended to help close a projected $400 million revenue gap.

There’s also a passing strange bill that, well, let’s just quote from the synopsis:

…changes the Rules of the House of Representatives of the 153rd Assembly by permitting remote attendance and participation by members at a special session, so long as a quorum of the House is physically present in Dover. Authorization of the Speaker of the House is required for remote participation. The definition of “special session” in this substitute differs in that for purposes of remote participation by a member, it is only allowed “during any portion of the calendar year that does not fall between the second Tuesday in January and the first day of July.”

Its presence as the first item on the Agenda makes clear (at least to me) that it’s being done to enable ‘remote’ voting for today’s session.  I’ve bolded a section of the synopsis just to raise the question–can the Speaker arbitrarily authorize some participants while excluding others?  This is clearly designed for some someones.  We just don’t know who.

Here’s where it gets weirder.  Click on the Senate Agenda and you get this:

The Senate will convene the 1st Extraordinary Session of the 153rd General Assembly in accordance with the Proclamation issued by Governor Matthew S. Meyer on October 31, 2025. This session will be procedural in nature, and no legislation will be considered. The Senate will reconvene the 1st Extraordinary Session at a later date, as appropriate, for purposes of consideration of House Bill No. 255.

So…the Senate won’t consider HB 255 today, assuming it passes the House?  Uh, why?

I know that someone out there is more wired in than I am.  What’s the story, Morning Glory?

This Epstein Stuff Is Popcorn-Worthy:

President Trump’s long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein came to an apparent end in the mid-2000s. But Mr. Epstein remained intently focused on Mr. Trump for years afterward, seeking to exploit the remnants of their relationship up until his arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019.

In more than 20,000 pages of Mr. Epstein’s typo-strewn emails and other messages released by a congressional committee on Wednesday, Mr. Epstein insulted Mr. Trump and hinted that he had damaging information on him.

By turns gossipy, scathing and scheming, the messages show influential people pressing Mr. Epstein for insight into Mr. Trump, and Mr. Epstein casting himself as the ultimate Trump translator, someone who knew him intimately and was “the one able to take him down.”

What’s obvious is that Trump is doing everything he can to stop the release of all the documents:

Top Trump administration officials met Wednesday with a key GOP lawmaker about an effort in the US House to force a vote on releasing Justice Department case files related to Jeffrey Epstein, according to multiple sources familiar with the meeting.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the meeting later Wednesday when asked about reporting that administration officials were huddling with GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert.

“Doesn’t that show the level of transparency when we are willing to sit down with members of Congress and address their concerns?” she told reporters at the press briefing.

That’s not transparency, it’s brow-beating.  Hmmm, ‘brow-beating’ is a weird term.  Let’s suss out its origin.  You just learned something today. So did I. But, I digress.

Time For The ‘Wag The Dog’ Diversion:

When Donald Trump started sending warships, marines and reaper drones to the Caribbean in August to torment Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, the US’s former ambassador in Caracas, James Story, suspected the deployment was largely for show: a spectacular flexing of military muscle supposed to force the authoritarian leader from power.

But in recent days, as the world’s largest aircraft carrier and its strike group powered towards the region and the US president continued to order deadly airstrikes on alleged narco-boats, the diplomat’s thinking has shifted.

“Facts on the ground have changed tremendously,” Story said as the USS Gerald R Ford headed west amid the US’ largest military buildup in Latin America in decades.

Many observers believe the most likely next phase of Trump’s campaign – which, officially, has been ordered to fight a “narco-terrorist” drug cartel the US accuses Maduro of running – will be some kind of air strike, perhaps targeting a military installation or guerrilla base.

Is this mic on?  Trump has to get L’affaires Epstein out of the spotlight.  Don’t look for logic to play any role in what he decides to do in Venezuela.

The Scandal Within A Scandal.  Featuring Letitia James And Bill Pulte.  As a TPM member, I’m just cut-and-pasting this one:

The Trump DOJ’s bogus prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James just got a lot more difficult to pull off, with what appears to be a major administration coverup of the origins of the case against her.

In a new report, the WSJ has fleshed out a Reuters account from last week about the ousting of the acting inspector general at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. It gets a little complicated, but stick with me. It’s important.

As you well know by now, FHFA director Bill Pulte is the instigator of the bogus mortgage fraud investigations of James, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA). The Trump administration has seized on Pulte’s bogus claims to, variously, indict James, attempt to fire Cook, and launch a criminal investigation of Schiff.

It’s the James case that’s of most interest here. She is seeking to dismiss the indictment against her on the grounds that it is a vindictive and selective prosecution. The new revelations bolster her arguments for dismissal.

Watchdogs at Fannie Mae had been looking into whether Pulte had “improperly obtained mortgage records of key Democratic officials,” including James, the WSJ reports:

Fannie’s ethics and investigations group had received internal complaints alleging senior officials had improperly directed staff to access the mortgage documents of James and others, according to the people. The Fannie investigators were probing to find out who had made the orders, whether Pulte had the authority to seek the documents and whether or not they had followed proper procedure, the people said.

The investigation into who was rifling around in the personal mortgage records of prominent Democrats was serious enough, apparently, to bring it to Joe Allen, the acting inspector general for FHFA, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (For those keeping score at home, Pulte is not just just the director of FHFA, he’s also chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.)

Still with me?

Last week’s Reuter’s report went further in describing the connection between Allen’s work and the James prosecution (emphasis mine):

Allen received notice of his termination from the White House after he made efforts to provide key information to prosecutors in that office, according to four sources. The information he turned over was constitutionally required, two of them said, while a third described it as being potentially relevant in discovery.

The description by Reuters is vague, but it suggests that Allen was attempting to give exculpatory evidence to the prosecution team, which, generally speaking, the government is legally required to share with the defendant — in this case, James.

In her motion last Friday to dismiss the case for vindictive prosecution, James referenced the Reuters’ report and indicated that she had not received from prosecutors whatever it was that Allen had turned over.

Allen wasn’t the only one ousted. About a dozen officials within Fannie Mae’s ethics and internal investigations unit were fired on Oct. 29 in the wake of the probe into origins of the bogus mortgage fraud claims and who had access to the personal mortgage records of James and others.

To sum up: Internal government watchdogs who were looking into the origins of the bogus mortgage fraud claims emanating from the Trump administration were fired en masse, but not before the acting inspector general for the FHFA managed to turn over what appears to be exculpatory evidence to federal prosecutors in the James case.

Absolute corruption.

A Medical School For Delaware?  Could be–if Delaware gets the funding it seeks:

Delaware is seeking its piece of $50 billion in funding made available by the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.

Rural Delawareans make up about 26% of the state’s population, according to USDA data. And the state Division of Public Health reports the bulk of the state is considered medically underserved.

Gov. Matt Meyer said he wants $1 billion of those funds to go toward 15 projects aimed to help Delaware’s rural residents. His plan depends on the program’s application. If approved, some of the funding would go toward opening a four-year medical school.

Meyers said an in-state med school will build a more sustainable health care workforce in the First State.

“We’re going to establish Delaware’s first med school where we want to create a train here, stay here, pipeline for physicians…” Meyer said. “It’s not possible for us to address the health care crisis impacting too many Delaware families unless we truly address that workforce shortage.”

Delaware’s application also names one of its projects as establishing a network of mobile health units for rural Kent and Sussex Counties to address transportation barriers.

“We can truly make a transformational difference in lives across our state by deploying more mobile health units to schools, churches and community centers, offering screenings for chronic disease, maternal health care, behavioral health sciences and more,” Meyer said. “Medical professionals can diagnose early and improve healthy habits, ultimately saving lives before they need saving.”

The application also includes plans for new Hope Center locations in Kent and Sussex, modeled after the New Castle County location that provides housing, health care and social services. It also seeks funding for telehealth tools, school-based health centers and a Rural Diabetes Wellness Pilot Program.

Say what you will about Matt Meyer and, believe me, his first year has been quite the mixed bag.  But would John Carney even have thought about something this bold and potentially empowering?  Rhetorical question.  He had eight years.  Budget-smoothing.

What do you want to talk about?

 

Guest Post From Hi Neighbor: