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Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' settlement fund
A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from paying any claims through a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for the Republican president's allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.
‘Respect for rule of law’: Miami-Dade Fraternal Order of Police backs Destiny Alvarez for Circuit Court Judge
There's a Donald Trump angle to Alvarez's bid.
Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' fund
Judge Leonie Brinkema also barred the government from moving forward with the fund's creation while litigation is pending to challenge it
Judge had sex in chambers with senior police official during business hours, report says
According to the report, employees working in the judge’s office told investigators they could hear sounds through the walls.
One Judge’s opinion: Why a ruling in Broward County doesn’t signify the end of school safety in Florida
'Elected officials still have the right to decide if school zone speed enforcement technology should be implemented in their communities.'
Federal judge refuses to block Trump order to create federal voter list and limit mail voting
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee in Washington, late Wednesday rejected the request by Democrats and civil rights groups that had argued President Donald Trump’s order would likely be found unconstitutional.
Judge hands Trump mail-ballot win for now as Democrats’ next move looms
A federal judge ruled Democrats' bid to block Trump's executive order on mail ballot delivery was premature since no agency has yet acted on it.
Judge refuses to block Trump order to create voter list, limit mail voting
The Trump-appointed judge rejected arguments by Democrats and civil rights groups that the provision exceeds the Republican president's powers
Judge refuses to block Trump order to create voter list, limit mail voting
The Trump-appointed judge rejected arguments by Democrats and civil rights groups that the provision exceeds the Republican president's powers
Yankees takeaways, Gerrit Cole's stellar command, Aaron Judge's key play
Gerrit Cole credited Aaron Judge's third inning play, erasing a runner at the plate from right field, as the launching point toward a 7-0 win at KC.
35 former judges ask court to investigate Trump's deal with IRS
In a May 27 court filing, the ex-judges contend Trump and co-plaintiffs failed to mention a planned settlement in their motion to withdraw the lawsuit against the IRS.
Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow use of congressional map helping GOP, despite racial bias ruling
The state's Republican leadership filed an emergency appeal with the justices a day after a three-judge court refused to let the state use a map it adopted three years ago that has a majority Black population in just one of its seven congressional districts.
Trump Says Iran Has Misjudged, Assumed He Feared Political Fallout of War
The president said at a cabinet meeting that he wasn’t worried about the midterms.
Supreme Court sides with Trump in dispute over immigration judges' speech restrictions
The justices overturned a lower-court ruling that questioned whether a complaint system for federal employees is still working as intended after the Republican president fired some of its top officials.
Judge says Florida can use new congressional map for Midterms
Joshua Hawkes' decision will likely be appealed.
Faith leaders, healthcare workers call for reopening of West Suburban Medical Center
The hospital has been closed since late March. The business partners who own the hospital have sued each other, and a judge is expected to rule this week on whether to appoint a receiver to oversee its operations.
Supreme Court Reverses Ruling in Immigration Judges’ Free Speech Lawsuit
A group of immigration judges in 2020 challenged work-related restrictions on their public speaking engagements, saying they violated their free speech rights.
Bellows rules trans athlete petition falls short
A judge sent the matter back to Bellows’ office to investigate claims that signature gathers left petitions unattended and in some cases, signed voters’ names without their knowledge.
Federal court blocks Alabama plan for new congressional districts that could help Republicans
A three-judge panel in the state’s long-running redistricting case issued the preliminary injunction that prevents the state, at least for now, from switching maps.
Politics & Power: How thousands of departures from the DOJ are reshaping justice
A rapid, high‑profile exodus of experienced DOJ attorneys has drained legal expertise, shifted enforcement priorities, strained remaining staff, and prompted growing concern from judges, former officials and legal observers about the department’s capacity and credibility.
Apple says U.S. is refusing to produce federal agency documents in DOJ antitrust case
Apple is asking a federal judge to force the U.S. government to turn over documents from 14 federal agencies that it says could support its defense in the DOJ’s antitrust case.
Federal health department withdraws controversial vaccine panel changes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services quietly withdrew revisions to a key vaccine advisory panel after a federal judge ruled officials exceeded their authority in a seeking vaccine changes.
William Muck: What presidential libraries reveal about American politics today
Presidential libraries show us that the standards by which we judge political leadership are always shifting.
Poll of judges, lawyers sees grave Trump threat to rule of law
A new survey finds deep concern about presidential overreach, persecution of enemies and other unchecked abuses of power. The poll shows the stakes in November.
Yankees news: Get ready to learn some second base, Volpe!
Yankees’ Volpe to learn second base, Judge points at pitch selection as main issue in slump, Cole impresses in debut
Federal judges’ responses vary to immigration authorities’ disregard of orders
Colorado’s U.S. District Court judges have responded in recent days to the government’s violations of or unclear compliance with their orders in immigration detention cases, resulting in directives to immediately free the petitioners. “I’m just struggling to understand how he was removed from the United States even though (the government acknowledges) he could not be […]
Gov. DeSantis snaps back at red snapper setback
The season almost began before a judge put the start on pause.
Google appeals search monopoly ruling, says it won business ‘fair and square’
The judge “egregiously exceeded” his discretion, according to Google.
Judges in Maine and Wisconsin dismiss attempts to force turnover of voter rolls
Federal judges in Maine and Wisconsin have dismissed lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice seeking to compel the states to hand over voter registration information to the federal government.
Maine, Wisconsin judges dismiss attempts to force turnover of voter rolls
Federal judges in Maine and Wisconsin on Thursday dismissed lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice seeking to compel the states to hand over detailed voter registration information.
Judge recommends Maine transgender sports referendum be invalidated
A judge has ruled that the proponents of the referendum, “An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex” has too many invalid signatures. It will be up to Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to make a final decision on whether or not it will appear on the November ballot.
Bonus 228: The $1.776B Political Question
Every so often a story comes along that is so brazen, so cleanly emblematic of the moment we are living through, that staying quiet about it feels like a kind of complicity unto itself. Monday’s announcement by the Department of Justice that the Acting Attorney General has unilaterally created a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to compensate so-called “victims of lawfare” is one of those stories. And the reason I want to write about it here, in a newsletter ostensibly devoted to the Supreme Court and the law and politics surrounding it, is that I’m increasingly worried that we’re asking the wrong institution to save us from one of the most offensive, alarming, and anti-constitutional things we’ve seen from any president in American history. As I explain below the fold, the Anti-Weaponization Fund is not principally a legal problem awaiting a judicial fix. It is a shockingly egregious political abuse—the President suing his own government, purporting to settle with himself, and routing nearly $2 billion from the Treasury to his own supporters as a not-so-subtle (and not-so-formal) reward, if not an incentive, for political violence. And the Constitution’s answer to political abuses of this kind and magnitude is a political remedy, not a legal one. In his majority opinion in NFIB v. Sebelius (the Affordable Care Act case from 2012), Chief Justice Roberts defended the Court’s endorsement of Congress’s power to adopt the individual mandate by noting that it is “not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.” As much of a judicial supremacist as I am, that sentiment is, for better or worse, an entirely correct (and, in the long term, normatively desirable) institutional assessment. One can believe in substantial judicial power without believing that literally every political dispute in our country can and should be resolved by unelected judges. The real upshot of this latest headline (among so, so many other similar headlines) is that it is past time to reinvigorate impeachment—not because conviction is realistic in this Senate, or even because impeachment itself is feasible in this House, but because forcing every member of Congress to vote on the record whether this brazen, corrosive, and affirmatively dangerous corruption is impeachable is itself a point worth fighting for (and fighting with our friends over). Assuming the courts will save us absolves our political leaders of both responsibility and accountability for allowing this kind of mischief to continue, and it absolves all of us of our responsibility to refuse to tolerate those who would just as quickly shrug their shoulders and move on. For those who aren’t paid subscribers, we’ll be back (no later than) Monday with our continuing coverage of the Supreme Court. For those who are, please read on.
Yankees news: Caballero eyes Friday return, Volpe’s spot?
Cabby eyes Friday return; Judge approaching historic milestone; Yanks “owe something” to Jays; Jazz dons Stanton’s pants.
Judge halts White House’s rollback of presidential records-retention policies
A federal judge said Wednesday that White House staff must preserve their official records, including communications that they send via non-official text message services, pushing back on attempts to free President Donald Trump from record-keeping obligations that were set by Congress.
Ex-prosecutor charged over handling of sealed Smith report on Trump classified files probe
A former federal prosecutor in Florida sent to her personal email account a special counsel report from the investigation into President Donald Trump's hoarding of classified documents despite a judge's order that it remain sealed, according to an indictment made public on Wednesday.
Judge orders mental health evaluation for woman accused of attempting to murder Rihanna
A judge paused the prosecution of a woman charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna and sent the case to a mental health court that will determine whether she is competent to stand trial.
Mace targets Squad Dem with proposed constitutional ban on foreign-born lawmakers
Rep. Nancy Mace proposes expanding the natural-born citizen requirement beyond the presidency to Congress, federal judges and cabinet appointees.
Tina Peters pardon by Jared Polis wrongly subverts process
Tina Peters deserved to go to jail but not for nine years, a panel of judges decreed, ordering her resentencing. Jared Polis then stepped in and substituted his own judgment. It was the height of arrogance.
‘Cockroach Janata Party’: Top Indian judge’s comment sparks satire, protest
Controversial remark by Supreme Court chief justice triggers a political movement, with thousands of Gen Z signing in.
Judge orders mental health evaluation for the woman charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna
A judge has paused the prosecution of a woman charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna while it is determined whether she is mentally competent to stand trial
Judge orders mental health evaluation for the woman accused of attempting to murder Rihanna
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Tuesday paused the prosecution of a woman charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna and more than a dozen other felonies and sent the case to a mental health court that will determine whether she is competent to stand trial.
Judge orders mental health evaluation for the woman accused of attempting to murder Rihanna
Judge orders mental health evaluation for woman accused of trying to murder Rihanna
A judge has paused the prosecution of a woman charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna while it is determined whether she is mentally competent to stand trial
Federal judge declines to toss WA legislative maps
A federal judge rejected a renewed Republican challenge to the state’s legislative map, finding no evidence that race was the primary factor in redrawing the boundaries.
Children’s Colorado must resume care to transgender plaintiffs, state Supreme Court rules by 5-2
The Colorado Supreme Court, by a 5-2 vote, ordered Children’s Hospital Colorado on Monday to resume providing certain medical services to a group of transgender plaintiffs, which it had ceased in the face of funding threats from the federal government last year. The unusual appeal before the Supreme Court stemmed from a trial judge’s rejection […]
Yankees’ Aaron Judge-Ben Rice Duo off to Historic Start
Aaron Judge and Ben Rice have put themselves alongside some legendary New York Yankees duos with their early-season home run surge.
What to know about Harvey Weinstein's cases after his recent mistrial
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge declared a mistrial Friday in Harvey Weinstein ’s rape case from the #MeToo-era that has gone to trial three times so far
Jurors struggle to decide Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial
The jury in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial says it's at loggerheads, but a judge has told the panel to keep trying for a verdict. The signs of stalemate emerged Friday,
Yankees news: Offense looking to settle down in Subway Series
Judge and Co. needing consistency; Olney’s advice for Volpe; top prospect list features 4 Yankees; Smoltz’s what-if
University at Albany opens up campus, and science exploration, to district students
The semester may be over at the University at Albany but the campus is still buzzing with student learning – it just may not be the students you expect. Junior Falcon scientists from North Albany Middle School, Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School and William S. Hackett Middle School presented their experiments, and findings, to professors and graduate students at UAlbany’s Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship (ETEC) Complex on Thursday. After the science fair, the sixth and seventh-graders explored ETEC – which houses researchers, educators and entrepreneurs – and the tour was followed by a discussion with a UAlbany atmospheric science researcher and the awards ceremony. Most will likely recognize one of the science fair judges – Damian participated in the project assessments and hopefully recruited some future Great Danes!
Louisiana Republicans' plan to gut New Orleans’ court system nears Gov. Jeff Landry's desk
In its current form, Senate Bill 217 by Sen. Jay Morris, a West Monroe Republican, cuts the number of criminal court judges from 12 to 9 and civil court judges from 14 to 13. It also halves both the number of juvenile court judges and traffic judges, from four to two.
ICE ‘materially violated’ order on warrantless arrests, Colorado judge says
A federal judge ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday to immediately train its Colorado employees about how to lawfully perform warrantless arrests, after the evidence showed officers had little understanding of the requirements. U.S. District Court Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson wrote that ICE had “materially violated” his prior order that directed immigration […]
Trump picks Daniel Domenico for 10th Circuit vacancy
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that U.S. District Court Chief Judge Daniel D. Domenico is his choice to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Denver-based federal appeals court. Domenico, who is 54 this year, is Trump’s only appointee to Colorado’s federal trial court. He became its chief judge in March, after seven years on […]
Montana voters will be able to register to vote on Election Day, judge rules
A Montana judge has blocked the state from limiting voter registration on Election Day
Roanoke family challenges VHSL policy banning homeschool athletes from public sports
Monday, a judge heard arguments over whether the student should be allowed to run while the lawsuit moves forward.
Lawsuit filed to stop Trump’s blue repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
A nonprofit dedicated to “promoting informed stewardship” of historic landscapes asked a federal judge on Monday to halt the Trump administration’s painting of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool, which has long featured a gray basin, blue.
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
Judge rejects request to ban cameras in court from man charged with killing Kirk
Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, wanted the court to allow cameras
Munetaka Murakami makes some history while tying Aaron Judge for MLB lead with 15th homer
Munetaka Murakami keeps crushing homers.
Judge rules DOGE's cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional
She permanently barred the administration from terminating the grants
Judge rules Trump administration’s cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional
The Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $100 million in humanities grants to scholars, writers, research groups and other organizations was unconstitutional, and the Department of Government Efficiency had no authority to end the funding, a federal judge in New York ruled on Thursday.
UMass Chan Reverse Science Fair has Worcester high schoolers judging grad students, postdocs
The classic science fair format was flipped at UMass Chan as Worcester high school students judged research posters by graduate students and postdocs.
Makayla Ellison ’27 wins poster award at SC INBRE Science Symposium
Ellison didn't let a few jitters get in the way of delivering an outstanding poster presentation. She won best neuroscience poster and a perfect score from all judges for her research that explores eating disorders and overall eating behaviors.
DOJ targets tech-driven health fraud on West Coast
A new team, including the DEA and FBI, is meant to combine and align resources to detect and dismantle healthcare and controlled substance schemes in Arizona, Nevada and California.
We asked kids — and Hollywood's most stylish child star — to rate Met Gala outfits. Here's who looked like 'Gru,' a 'jellyfish' and a 'basketbutt.'
The kids are back — and ready to judge Met Gala fashion. Plus, a special guest star — child actor Duke McCloud ‚— weighs in.
The dark side of weight loss drugs: Ozempic's surprising hidden cost
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are often celebrated as game-changing solutions—but new research reveals a surprising social twist. People who lose weight using these medications may actually face more judgment than those who lose weight through diet and exercise—or even those who don’t lose weight at all. The stigma seems rooted in a perception that these drugs are an “easy way out,” creating a double bind where individuals are judged both for their weight and for how they choose to manage it.
Court says lies used against Wyoming legislators are politics as usual
Freedom Caucus beat a defamation case by convincing a judge its leaders believed the falsehoods they told, opines columnist Kerry Drake.
Feathers, corsets and chaos: We asked three generations to judge the Met Gala looks
Celebrities arrived for the 2026 Met Gala, dripping in glitz and glamour and tasked with interpreting this year's theme, "Fashion Is Art." Yahoo convened a panel of multi-generational experts to weigh...
'American Idol' Fans Concerned About Randy Jackson
The show's original judge returned to mentor the Season 24 Top 5.
ND attorney general, Ethics Commission dismissed from free speech lawsuit over political ad law
A federal judge has dismissed the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office and North Dakota Ethics Commission from a former state lawmaker’s First Amendment suit challenging a political advertisement law.
“You’re Judged by Serving the Core”: Take-Two Boss Talks Why GTA 6 Arrives on Consoles First and PC Second
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick reveals why GTA 6 and Rockstar's big titles come to consoles before they arrive on PCs.
US PlayStation players could be due payout as court agrees class-action settlement of $7.8 million
Sony PlayStation users in the US could be due a collective $7.85 million (£5.8m) in refunds after a judge primarily app…
The Cost of Gutting Science Is Invisible Yet Enormous
Intelligence agencies often complain that they are judged unfairly because you hear about their failures, not their successes. It’s hard to evaluate anything based on what didn’t happen — even when that’s really the important thing. The problem is just as salient for those trying to create a better future as trying to avert a worse one. When it comes to research, we can see technologies and industries that exist. We can’t see the ones that were never invented because the science that should have
Don’t trust AI for help with citations, science-fair judges warn
Fake, AI-generated citations have begun disqualifying major science-fair projects. Such ‘ghost’ references even haunt research journals.
Yerevan and the end of Europe’s comfortable politics
The EPC will not be judged by attendance or declarations. It will be judged by whether it can translate political proximity into coordinated action
Calvin Duncan cleared to assume New Orleans court clerk role in federal court ruling
A federal judge blocked a Louisiana law abolishing the Orleans Parish criminal clerk's office, allowing Calvin Duncan, who won the November election with 68% of the vote, to take office Monday.
Cleo Fields, other House candidates ask to join to lawsuit over Louisiana suspending election
U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields has asked a judge to join a lawsuit challenging Gov. Jeff Landry’s suspension of congressional primaries in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling declaring Louisiana’s U.S. House map unconstitutional.
Sony Expected to Pay $7.8 Million in PlayStation Refunds After PSN Lawsuit Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval from California Judge
Select PlayStation users may be eligible for refunds tied to digital PSN purchases after a judge offered preliminary approval for a class action lawsuit settlement.
In Mississippi, a Democrat Challenges the Senator Who Blocked His Judgeship
Scott Colom, a state prosecutor, is running against Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican who denied him a seat on the federal bench. In a tough year for the G.O.P., Democrats see hope for his long-shot bid.
The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
2026 Best & Brightest MBA: Steven Pillon, Cambridge Judge Business School
Steven Pillon, who is graduating from Cambridge Judge, has been named a Poets&Quants Best & Brightest MBA for 2026
Event With Links to Oil Industry Teaches Judges "Healthy Skepticism" of Climate Science
As congressional Republicans accuse climate scholars and lawyers of colluding to influence the judiciary, a symposium hosted by a center funded by the fossil fuel industry educates judges about free-market views of climate science.
Gov. Jeff Landry’s order halting Louisiana congressional elections faces barrage of lawsuits
But several of those lawsuits already faced rejection from judges.
Yankees news: Max Fried, pickoff master
Pickoffs, Fried v. Pettitte; Doval’s struggles; Notes on Cole; MLB Draft; Judge and Rice
Federal judge rejects Colorado GOP’s effort to block unaffiliated voters from participating in party’s 2026 primaries
U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer said excluding unaffiliated voters days before the state’s ballot certification deadline, and just weeks before ballots start being mailed out, would create too much confusion.
Upcoming Indie Game Forces You Fight Your Steam Backlog
Game Quest: The Backlog Battler even lets you judge you Steam friends by battling against their library of unplayed games
Supreme Court leans in favor of Trump's bid to end protections for Syrian, Haitian migrants
Trump's lawyers say Congress gave the Department of Homeland Security, not judges, the power to end Temporary Protective Status granted earlier.
In Trump-like tone, government lawyers ask court to undo rulings halting work on White House ballroom
In an unusually biting court filing that mimicked the classic tone of President Donald Trump, the Justice Department asked a federal judge late Monday to undo a ruling that would have halted construction of a massive new White House ballroom.
Aaron Judge makes Yankees history on his birthday
It was a 34th birthday to remember for Aaron Judge, and one that etched his name even deeper into New York Yankees history. The superstar slugger hit a homer on Sunday against the Astros and has now launched three home…
Family of judge who advocated for Truman Sports Complex shares story
Kauffman Stadium on the Truman Sports Complex is home to the Royals but it's also home to a bronze plaque with the names of county judges who were instrumental in the naming of the complex.
Judge appears skeptical of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against IRS and Treasury
A federal judge on Friday questioned the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department over the leak of his tax returns, ordering a hearing to determine whether the president can sue federal agencies that he oversees.
Eastern Kentucky judge-executive resigns after 12 years, citing declining health
“I just don’t feel like I can fulfill what needs to be fulfilled here,” he told the Herald-Leader.
‘Fight federal overreach’: Delaware appeals federal judge’s order to surrender wage records for 15 businesses to ICE investigators
Federal authorities say they have received tips that the businesses are illegally hiring undocumented immigrants.
Scientists Discovered 700 Fossils That Rewrite What We Know About Life on Earth
The Jiangchuan Biota indicates that we may have misjudged the Cambrian “explosion” of complex life.
Secret contract for Trump’s White House ballroom revealed
The secret contract for Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom has just been revealed. The agreement was disclosed only after a lawsuit and a judge’s order, according to records obtained by The Washington Post. CNN’s Erin Burnett talks to the attorney who exposed the contract.
Legal victory for home and business owners impacted by Hurricane Harvey flooding downstream from Addicks and Barker dams
A federal judge ruled downstream property owners near the Addicks and Barker dams suffered damage after government water releases following Hurricane Harvey.
Defeated Virginia Republicans regroup for last chance fight to save House majority
Virginia's redistricting fight heads to the state Supreme Court after a judge declared ballot language unconstitutional and blocked certification.
Judge bars certification of Virginia redistricting results; state AG promises appeal
A congressional map approved by Virginia voters that aims to help Democrats net four US House seats in November’s midterms faces another legal hurdle just one day after its passage. Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley on Wednesday ordered that the results of Tuesday’s vote not be certified on several grounds, including that state lawmakers did not follow their own rules in passing the redistricting referendum. State Attorney General Jay Jones said his office intends to immediately appeal Hurley’s Wednesday ruling. The fate of Virginia’s referendum was already before the state Supreme Court, which stayed a previous ruling by Hurley in the run-up to the referendum and allowed Tuesday’s vote to proceed before deciding the merits of that case.
Federal judge calls RFK Jr. an “unsafe” leader in order protecting trans youth health care
The broad ruling was designed to deflect future attacks on gender-affirming care for kids.