News for what its worth...

[shadowkat]

Some interesting news:

1. From Bloomberg: Something interesting just happened in the US Senate, my colleague Alicia Diaz reported, that shows some resistance to Trump’s trade war growing in the GOP.

"Republican senators were forced late Wednesday to do something they’ve avoided: take a public stand on the trade war President Donald Trump is instigating.

The Senate voted to end Trump’s emergency tariffs on Canada on a 51-48 vote, with four Republicans joining Democrats: Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.

The resolution isn’t expected to get a vote in the House, and doesn’t have a veto-proof majority. But it’s the most tangible sign of resistance."

While.."The UK has a fairly sanguine response to the 10% tariff it now faces, treating it almost like a win:

“While we are disappointed that UK is within the scope of global tariff announcement, the fact the UK is on the lowest rate of any G7 nation reflects the fact we have a balanced trade relationship with the US.”

-- Per NY Senator Chuck Schumer: "BREAKING: The Senate just passed our bill to liberate America from Trump’s reckless and inflationary trade war with Canada that only helps fund his billionaire tax cuts while making families pick up the tab."

And.."The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday night that would thwart President Donald Trump’s ability to impose tariffs on Canada, delivering a rare rebuke to the president just hours after he unveiled sweeping plans to clamp down on international trade. The Senate resolution, passed by a 51-48 vote tally with four Republicans and all Democrats in support, would end Trump’s emergency declaration on fentanyl trafficking that underpins tariffs on Canada. Trump earlier Wednesday announced orders — his so-called “Liberation Day” — to impose import taxes on a slew of international trading partners, though Canadian imports for now were spared from new taxes." GO HERE

2. Democrat Susan Crawford didn't just win her Wisconsin judicial race, she won it by ten points..

3. Daredevil Born Again Casting News: Lily Taylor and Mathew Lillard join the cast in recurring roles.

"No one would comment but I hear she would play a political foe for Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk. Taylor joins fellow new Season 2 cast addition Matthew Lillard who also is set to recur. Filming on the new season is currently underway in New York."

4. Per Alt National Parks:

"Emails reveal that Dudek Leland, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, knowingly took illegal action to punish the people of Maine for political reasons.
In response to Governor Janet Mills refusing to comply with what’s being called a potentially unlawful executive order from President Trump, Leland terminated two vital SSA contracts with the state. These contracts managed enumeration at birth and electronic death registration—programs designed to reduce fraud and ensure payment accuracy.

Here’s what the emails show:

- February 21, 2025: Trump threatens Maine directly: “You’d better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
- February 27, 2025, 3:30 PM: An SSA staffer warns Leland that canceling the contracts would increase improper payments and create risk for identity theft.
- February 27, 2025, 7:09 PM: Leland replies, ordering the contracts be canceled anyway, writing:
“While our improper payments will go up, and fraudsters may compromise identities, no money will go from the public trust to a petulant child.”
That “petulant child” is a direct reference to Governor Mills—for standing up to Trump.
Despite reinstating the contracts on March 7, Leland’s email clearly shows:
- He knew the consequences (fraud, waste, identity theft),
- He ignored professional warnings,
- And he acted out of political revenge, not public service.
The bottom line? Leland admitted—in writing—to intentionally harming the people of Maine and risking taxpayer dollars to serve political ends. This isn’t just unethical. It’s criminal."


4. Val Kilmer Dead at the Age of 65, of Pneumonia - RIP Val.

5. John Lithgow reads "10 Lessons on Tyranny"

6. Senate Republican Accuses Trump of Violating Law on Spending

"WASHINGTON — A top Senate Republican on Thursday accused President Donald Trump of illegally refusing to spend $2.9 billion approved by Congress, teaming with Democrats in an early salvo in the simmering struggle between Congress and the White House over which has the ultimate power over federal spending.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Appropriations Committee, initiated a letter to the White House that was signed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the panel’s senior Democrat. The letter asserted that the administration had violated the six-month spending law approved by Congress this month.

They pointed to a memo Trump had sent to Congress on Monday that declared that only a portion of the $12.4 billion designated as emergency funding in the legislation would actually be spent, “because I do not concur that the added spending is truly for emergency needs.”

The appropriators vigorously contested that assertion, arguing that the law requires the administration to spend all emergency money or none of it, and does not allow the president to decide for himself what money to spend and what not to. "

Comments

[mefisto]

Susan Collins is the least trustworthy person in the Senate (and that's a very high bar). She makes mouth sounds of "concern" or whatnot, but she never ever casts a vote in which the Rs might lose. The Canada tariff bill is a perfect example: she knows that the House Rs will never bring it to a vote, so she can safely pretend to be "centrist". I find her even more despicable than some of the open MAGAts because of her insincerity.