Flotsam and Jetsam - SCOTUS Nixes Racial Gerrymandering

Voting 6-3 along exactly the lines you'd expect, the Supreme Court overturned lower courts who had demanded states set aside certain seats to create safe congressional seats for racial minorities based on the Voting Rights Act. The ruling doesn't forbid gerrymandering on a partisan basis (looking at you Texas, Virginia and California), and puts a large number of seats in red states vulnerable to redistricting favorable to the GOP. As you might imagine, Democrats are throwing a hissy fit. Matt Vespa at TownHall, The Supreme Court Has Ruled on the Voting Rights Act. Matt Margolis at PJM, Supreme Court Drops HUGE Ruling on the Voting Rights Act. "In a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, the majority held that Louisiana's congressional map — redrawn to include a second majority-black district — constitutes an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Fifteenth Amendment. The Court stopped short of striking down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act entirely, but it dramatically narrowed the ways in which states may use race when drawing congressional maps." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, NEW: SCOTUS Narrows Section 2 of Voting Rights Act, Strikes Down Racial Gerrymander. Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson, "MASSIVE WIN: Supreme Court just ruled 6-3 that drawing Congressional districts solely based on race is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Republicans could flip a dozen Democrats seats in the South alone ahead of the midterms." At Althouse, "The justices, split along ideological lines, ruled that the voting map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander." "In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan accused the court’s conservative majority of gutting the Voting Rights Act. " From "Live Updates: Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Map in Voting Rights Case" (NYT)."The upshot of Rucho was that, as far as federal law is concerned, a state legislature may use partisan advantage as a factor in redistricting. And litigants cannot circumvent that rule by dressing their political-gerrymandering claims in racial garb.... [T]he Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district, [so] no compelling interest justified the State’s use of race in creating SB8." Sundance at CTH, Supreme Court Rules Racial District Gerrymandering Violates Constitution. Ace gives it the red, all-caps italic, with the flaming skull (more than third attempt at Trump's assassination), IN EPOCHAL RULING, SUPREME COURT HOLDS, 6-3, THAT RACIAL GERRYMANDERS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL -- MUCH LESS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION, "I don't know if the southern states affected like this can impose an emergency redistricting double-quick for the midterms, but some analysts believe that this ruling will eventually flip 19 Democrat seats to Republican." At Twitchy, Newsom Press Office Has Total Meltdown Over Supreme Court Gerrymandering Ruling and Florida’s New Maps. Next up? At the Free Bacon, EXCLUSIVE: In Cities Across America, Homeless Services Are Doled Out Based on Race and Sexual Identity, "Some formulas give race more weight than any other variable." Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, I Love a Theatrical Production - FL Passes DeSantis Redistricting Map, +4 for GOP and John Sexton notes a New Jersey Pregnancy Center Wins at the Supreme Court.

Jerry Dunleavy IV @JerryDunleavy, "Yes, Cole Allen is an attempted assassin, a Bluesky brain rotted idiot, and a dangerous guy, but the dork factor here should not be overlooked." Quote Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney, "JUST IN: Federal prosecutors release new images and details of Cole Allen and his alleged attempt to assassinate president Trump. Here is a mirror selfie he took about 30 minutes before charging past the magnetometers." Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "The dude is going to spend the rest of his life in federal prison. He gave it all up just for this photo. It’s horrifying." Quote Jeff Blehar is *BOX OFFICE POISON* @EsotericCD, "LOL at the glamour selfie with completely unnecessary gear. (Wire cutters??) A generation of semi-autistic narcissists. x.com/kyledcheney/st…" David F. Pierre, Jr.@TheMediaReport1, "No radical footprint." You. gotta. be. kidding. me." David M. McIntosh @DavidMMcintosh, "This is what happens when Democrats and the media rant and rave nonstop for 10 years about how Republicans are 'literally Hitler' because they disagree with their policies. This isn't a new phenomenon either, remember Robert Bork!" Hat Hair's Beege Welborn thinks It's Over If 'Don't Think Shooting People Down in the Street Is Necessarily the Answer' IS the Answer. Matt Margolis Guess Who This Democrat Blames for the Latest Trump Assassination Attempt, Give up? Trump of course! Ace, Assassination-Prep Specialist Congressman Dan Goldman: The Person Responsible for Trump's Third Assassination Trump is Trump Himself. "Do you want to take this kinetic? Because this is how you take this kinetic." Twitchy, Left: 'Trump Must Lower the Temperature!' Wajahat Ali: Literally Begs Trump to Die in FOUL Rant (WATCH). At Da Wire, Chloe Trapanatto says There’s A Reason Why The Left Keeps Trying To Kill Republicans, "It's because they despise our very existence." Michael Goodwin at NYPo, hears The Dems’ newest phrase in raging at the GOP is to go ‘Kill yourself’.

Terrence K. Williams @w_terrence, "Dear Jimmy Kimmel, listen to me very closely. I’m a comedian. I’ve made fun of Jill Biden. I’ve made fun of Michelle Obama. I’ve roasted First Ladies before. But I have never in my life joked about Jill Biden becoming a widow or Michelle Obama becoming a widow. I’ve never joked about Joe Biden or Barack Obama having an attempt made on their life. I’ve never laughed at the thought of their wives standing there in fear, wondering if their husbands are going to make it home alive. Because that is not comedy. That is sick. You could have joked about Melania being married to Trump. You could have joked about politics. You could have even gone after her accent like liberals usually do. But no — you chose to joke about Melania Trump becoming a widow. And let’s be honest, Jimmy: when you hate Donald Trump as much as you do, that doesn’t sound like a joke. It sounds like how you really feel. They always say there is truth in comedy." Stephen Kruiser at PJM says Here's an Idea — Just Let Jimmy Kimmel Continue to Cancel Himself. Tim O'Brien at PJM, The FCC’s Bad News for Disney/ABC: The Time for Playing Nice Is Over.

At Armed Forces Press, BREAKING: Air Force Academy Female Insubordination Threatens Secretary Of War During Global Conflict - Former Superintendent Lt Gen Michelle Johnson Reportedly Leads Charge Against 'Old White Men' Recently Elected To USAFA AOG. Court martials are in order. Sundance sees Consciousness of Guilt – Fed Chairman Powell Refuses to Leave Fed Board After Term Expires, “I will leave when I think it’s appropriate to do so” "Today, after announcing yet again the Fed will not lower interest rates, Chairman Jerome Powell announced he will not leave the board of the federal reserve even after his term has expired and he is replaced by recently advanced Kevin Warsh. Powell said he plans to maintain a “low profile” as a governor, but it will be the first time since 1948 that a Federal Reserve Chairman has stayed on the board at the end of their chairmanship." Hat Hair's John Sexton thinks Philip Kennicott's Ballroom Panic is Wearing Thin.

Matt Vespa thinks Speaker Johnson Just Clinched a Massive Win in the House Today Jake Sherman @JakeSherman, "BIG WIN FOR JOHNSON HOUSE PASSES BIG RULE FOR FARM, FISA, BUDGET RESOLUTION 216-210 After TWO HOURS on the floor." Cam at Bearing Arms observes the New Funding Bill for DOJ Includes Big Cut to ATF Budget, Deregulation of Some NFA Items.

Also from John Sexton, Putin Scales Back Military Parade, Seems Agreeable to a Ceasefire with Ukraine. Sundance, President Trump Notes Extended Conversation with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

Capt. Ed cites Axios: Trump Leaning Toward a Blockade-Plus-Limited(?)-Booms Strategy and 'Death Spiral': Iran May Be Near Tipping Point, Says WSJ. Seems reasonable to me. Trump far prefers using money to beat adversaries than bombs, but the Mullahs need some extra encouragement. At RedState, Ward Clark sees Rubble and Ruin: Epic Fury Now Pushing Iran Into Economic Free-Fall and Nick Arama says Iranian Leader Ghalibaf Tries a Desperate Bluster, Gets Decimated by Bessent. Open Source Intel @Osint613, "The Iranian rial hit an all-time low today, 1,810,000 to one U.S. dollar. Six weeks of war with the U.S. and Israel have flooded the open market with demand for foreign currency. Reuters." Mediaite reports Trump Slams German Chancellor for Claiming Iran Has ‘Humiliated’ USA: ‘Doesn’t Know What He’s Talking About!’ Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby, "BREAKING: The UN has elected the Islamic Republic of Iran as VP of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Conference Just last year this very committee found Iran to be in violation of the committee’s policies. You literally cannot make this up." The news is its very own parody.

From the Free Bacon, Obama-Biden Iran Negotiator Says Trump Doesn't Have Enough Experts, Bemoans ‘Genocide’ in Gaza "Wendy Sherman unloads in interview with Mishal Husain of Bloomberg." At Breitbart Bus, Dollar Diplomacy and the Breaking of OPEC.

From Da Caller, Ghost Of Kamala’s Campaign Crawls Out Of Cave For One More Zinger — Turns Out It’s A Historical Botch Job. Whining about historically accurate red coats on American soldiers at the royal visitation.

At the Center Square Calif, Agencies discuss what to cut as state deals with $35B deficit. Hat Hair's John Sexton sees it's Off the Rails: Price of CA High Speed Rail Soars to Over $230B and Dave Strom says California Is an Unfunny Joke. The Orange County Reg, More than $2 million seized from Pasadena clinic accused of Medicare fraud. Bobby Panzenbeck @Panzenbeck, "Its free, you just raise taxes on other people and expand the already bloated budget and those actions have no economic consequences whatsoever. There are adults who actually believe this." Quote Katie Porter @katieporterca, "Californians need real affordability solutions. Free Child Care. Zero-Tuition UCs and CSUs. That’s what I’ll deliver as governor." NYPo predicts Vacations under threat as California’s oil stockpile hangs on by a thread. At his substack, Born Lucky, Stacy McCain examines The Destructive Impulse of Liberalism "Where is 'progress' leading? And other questions you should never ask."

Cathy Salgado at PJM reports the North Carolina Elections Board Finds 34,000 Deceased People on Voter Rolls. Politics & Poll Tracker @PollTracker2024, "CNN: As Democrats brace for a bruising primary in Michigan’s US Senate race, Mallory McMorrow, one of the party’s top contenders, has quietly deleted thousands of old tweets — including posts in which she took jabs at the rural Midwest, lamented ever leaving California, and said she continued to vote there after she said she’d moved permanently to Michigan." 

Having failed to excite us with his threat of Global Warming, Al Gore revisits his hits of the 70s, and promises a new Ice Age. Dave Strom, More Globaloney: The Ice Age Is on the Way. Lee Zeldin @epaleezeldin, "The ultimate authority on all questions involving life on earth, Al Gore, is now declaring that global warming is out, and global freezing is in. Safe bet that he found a whole new angle to line his pockets off the climate grift." It'll come some day; he's just wrong about when.

Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "Straight from the Comey playbook. What feds have always done. If anyone deserves it, it's this treasonous douchebag. He and all the others who pushed that Russia bullshit at Obama's behest, plus all of you in the media who regurgitated it, deserve more than that." QuoteChris Cillizza @ChrisCillizza "Ronald Trump doesn't really care if Jim Comey goes to jail. He just wants to make Comey's life miserable for as long as possible." Remember Gen. Michael Flynn? Ace, Dan Bongino Flushed Deep State Leakers Out of the FBI By Using the "Canary Trap" Technique. Sundance claims Dan Bongino Says He’s Scared of the FBI. Mitch Berg at Hat Hair VIP, They Came To Chew Gum And Serve Search Warrants. And They're Out Of Gum. Raiding the "Quality Learing Center" and 21 other suspected fraudulent daycares in Minneapolis.

Megan Basham @megbasham, "Wheels coming off for Southern Poverty Law Center" as donors dry up.

Cosmin Dzsurdzsa @cosminDZS, "I WAS LEAKED a confidential Canadian Forces report that reveals a Quebec officer training platoon had 83% permanent residents. The program descended into ethnic infighting between West African factions, "lack of respect" for women and a 48% grad rate."

Stacy McCain discourses on Methods of Journalism 301. "OK, there’s your daily quota of Important News, but you didn’t need me to tell you that story, did you? Social media and 24/7 cable news have changed the game in ways that could not have been imagined back in the day when most people got their news from the daily paper, or the 30-minute nightly broadcasts on ABC/NBC/CBS. Now any random son of a bitch with a WiFi hookup can be a “journalist,” which means that I have to find a way to do something different, something valuable, something that might inspire you to hit the tip jar for $16.04. And it so happens that getting a WiFi hookup is relevant to the real reason I wrote this post:" Roger Simon says 'Sixty Minutes' Needs a Drastic Overhaul, "It's part of the problem, not the solution." Conquest's Law #2 Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing. It just take's right-wing organizations longer. Tom Odell @TomOdell, "CBS moderator Ryan Yamamoto has just lied in the debate. He claimed that Ronald Reagan (as governor of California) was responsible for cuts In social programs that created homelessness in California. That is a categorical lie. The social programs that Mr. Yamamoto is referring to were cuts signed into law by Pat Brown, Jerry Brown's father, who was Governor before Reagan..."

Ilya Shapiro @ishapiro. "Appalling behavior by @UCLA_Law." Quote FIRE @TheFIREorg, "UCLA Law has threatened its @FedSoc chapter with punishment if it publicly identifies students seen on video disrupting last week’s viral campus event with a Department of Homeland Security lawyer. But when protesters named chapter members online? No signs of concern." Campus Reform reports Harvard petition calling grading reform racist disappears from public view. Timur Kuran @timurkuran, "DEI has been counterproductive generally. By forcing people to focus on race, it has unavoidably heightened racism, not dampened it. If DEI were an antidote to racism, there would exist scores of studies providing the evidence. None exists." Quote Caleb Hammer @sircalebhammer, "A Harvard Business Review finding showed that mandatory race training in workplaces produced higher levels of racism in the end, similar to the white bear suppression effect. We were so close to a colorblind society… then all the crazies ruined it with performative politics."

Still more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 04.29.26 (Afternoon Edition) and In The Mailbox: 04.29.26 (Evening Edition).