"The effect of this order is confined to this proceeding."

So ends the first paragraph of the Cannon dismissal in the documents case.

The argumentation is more general - claiming Smith's appointment is unconstitutional in principle, and all of his funding violates the Appropriations clause of the Constitution as well. Since both Cannon and everybody else knows a second case is proceeding in another district, this sentence is doubly meaningful. First, and most obviously, Cannon is acknowledging that she only has the power to make a ruling on a case that she was assigned to in her own district. Yes, fine. That's the manifest meaning of "The effect of this order is confined to this proceeding." The secondary meaning, however, is an invitation to the Supreme Court to get itself involved, and quickly.

If the special counsel's appointment is deemed unconstitutional in one federal district, while a case by that same special counsel proceeds apace in another, we have a constitutional issue on our hands. Appealing up through the circuit courts is certainly the proper order of events, but it won't answer the general question. How can the special counsel's appointment be unconstitutional in the Southern district, but perfectly constitutional in the District of Columbia? That's an intolerable constititional situation that the Supreme Court will have to jump in on.

Macron rejects Attal's resignation, La Pen's sister loses her election, etc.

Just some updates from the French election. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal submitted his resignation this morning to French President Macron. Macron rejected it, calling on Attal to remain Prime Minister for the time being for the "stability of the nation." Of course, once the new parliament is seated, that will likely change, especially if the NPF (left) coalition refuses to back him, as they have already signaled.

In other delicious news, Marine La Pen's sister, Marie Caroline La Pen, was defeated by a narrow margin in her own election, losing to NFP-backed candidate Elise Leboucher (LFI).

If Trump has taught us anything, it's that you have to brazen a thing out for two weeks

No Trump scandal really lasted longer than two weeks. He'd get absolutely dragged for two weeks, but would just push on, and it would go away. You know who recognized that and used it to good effect? Ralph Northam. When he was hit with the blackface scandal, he just apologized and then ignored the media's calls for his resignation. He simply ignored it. He brazened it out, and it went away.

It's not clear that Biden will be able to do the same, but he might. We are in the throes of the media feeding frenzy right now. I wouldn't say at the peak, but in the throes. You never make any decision while in the throes. Ask Al Franken. The latest NY Times story about Biden's slips is almost a petulant footstomping that Biden didn't resign over the weekend. It's pouty. Brazen it out. Brazen it out. Brazen it out. Call again in two weeks.

New York Times Editorial Board Calls for Biden to Step Aside

NY Times Opinion Piece: The Case for the Lab Leak Explanation of COVID 19

This really is an excellent piece, combining a strong written argument with nice visual design. Highly recommend, even (and especially) if you don't agree.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/03/opinion/covid-lab-leak.html

Chicago police clear out pro-Palestinian DePaul quad encampment

Fighting Flares Anew in Gaza as Hamas Reconstitutes

Source: The New York Times

As the Israeli military stepped up pressure on what it calls Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza, fighting elsewhere in the Palestinian enclave on Sunday led to warnings that the militants might remain a force for a long time to come.

Close-quarters ground combat between Hamas fighters and Israeli troops raged in parts of northern Gaza over the weekend, both sides said on Sunday, even as the world’s attention was largely focused on the southern city of Rafah, where Israel escalated military operations last week.

It has become a familiar scenario in the Gaza Strip over the course of the seven-month war: After pitched battles, Israel declares an area clear of Hamas, only to return after the militants reconstitute their forces.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said he was concerned that Israel’s failure to lay down a template for the governance of Gaza meant that its victories might not be “sustainable” and would be followed by “chaos, by anarchy and ultimately by Hamas again.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza.html

CPS students protest Gaza war and march to University of Chicago, DePaul encampments

Students at several Chicago high schools are protesting the war in Gaza on Wednesday by first demonstrating in their schools then marching to encampments at the University of Chicago and DePaul University.

Anti-war protests have swept college campuses in recent weeks as students support Palestinians in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, decry what they call censorship from their universities and call on institutions to divest from weapons manufacturers and companies supporting Israel.

Chicago Public Schools students are joining those efforts with “sit-in” demonstrations at several schools throughout the day before heading to local universities to support college students. Hundreds of CPS kids last held a walk-out and protest in January against the war in Gaza and in support of a City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire.

Students were expected to demonstrate at schools including Chicago High School for the Arts, Payton College Prep, Hancock College Prep, Jones College Prep and Kenwood Academy High School.

https://www.wbez.org/stories/cps-students-protest-gaza-war/508fc9ac-6c96-4c30-ab24-d8d77bd93edf

Anyone else seriously impressed by Wes Moore (Governor of Maryland)?

Anyway, I am.

Well done thus far.

Bring Chicago Home Referendum Failing in Illinois

The referendum was to raise taxes on big ticket properties in order to pay for homeless services. Higher transfer tax on properties over $1 million was the big ticket item, with proceeds going directly to homeless services.

It's currently losing 54-46, with 91% counted. Looks over.

In more comical news, Trumpy dipshit Darren Bailey is losing in a Reoublican primary in IL-12. Embarrassing. I mean, he just got smoked in the governor's race two years ago, but this one was supposed to be doable. Ooops.