Podcasts about Historic preservation

June 10, 2026- We get to know Kathy Moser, the recently confirmed commissioner for the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. We discuss land conservation efforts, making parks more accessible and celebrating the country's 250th birthday.

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This Day in Legal History: The Burning of the GaspeeOn this day in 1772, a Royal Navy revenue schooner called HMS Gaspee, captained by a notably overzealous Lieutenant William Duddington, ran aground in shallow water in Narragansett Bay while chasing a Rhode Island packet boat called the Hannah. Within hours of the grounding, roughly sixty Providence merchants, sailors, and “Sons of Liberty” — led by John Brown, one of the wealthiest men in the colony — rowed out under cover of darkness in eight longboats, boarded the Gaspee, shot Duddington, and burned the ship to the waterline. The legal significance lies in what came next. The Crown convened a Royal Commission of Inquiry with authority to ship the perpetrators across the Atlantic for trial in England, bypassing colonial juries entirely, a procedural maneuver that the colonies read as a direct attack on the right to jury trial in the vicinage.The Virginia House of Burgesses responded in March 1773 by forming the first Committee of Correspondence, a sustained intercolonial communication network that became, two years later, the institutional skeleton of the Continental Congress. The Gaspee Affair never produced a single prosecution — the commission could not get the colonial governor or the Rhode Island courts to cooperate, and witness testimony evaporated — but it produced something more durable: the colonial conviction that the Crown's willingness to detour around local juries was itself a constitutional grievance worth organizing against. The right-to-jury-in-the-vicinage point that Madison wrote into the Sixth Amendment seventeen years later is, in a real sense, the Gaspee Affair's longest-lived legacy.The Supreme Court on Monday granted, vacated, and remanded the D.C. Circuit's decision in American Gas Association v. Department of Energy, sending the long-disputed Biden-era Department of Energy efficiency rule on non-condensing residential gas furnaces and commercial water heaters back to the D.C. Circuit “for further consideration in light of the position asserted by the Solicitor General.” That last phrase is the operative one. The new Solicitor General, on behalf of the second Trump administration's DOE, told the Court in late April that the prior administration's reading of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act was, in DOE's current view, wrong, and that the rule effectively bans non-condensing units that millions of homes and small commercial properties were built around. A confessed-error from a new administration doesn't automatically win a case, but the procedural vehicle — a grant-vacate-remand, or “GVR” — is the Court's standard way of saying “go look at this again with the new posture in mind” without resolving the merits itself.The trade-group plaintiffs, led by the American Gas Association and the American Public Gas Association, framed the rule from the start as a de facto product ban dressed up as efficiency standards. The environmental and consumer groups that intervened to defend the rule will get another bite at the apple on remand, but their position is harder when their own client agency has switched sides. Watch the D.C. Circuit's case calendar over the next few weeks for an expedited briefing schedule.Supreme Court Vacates Decision Outlawing Gas Stoves, Water Heaters | NewsBustersSCOTUSblog on Monday published a careful overview of an increasingly organized litigation campaign to ask the Supreme Court to overrule Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. The campaign now includes Liberty Counsel, MassResistance, and the Southern Baptist Convention, which last year voted overwhelmingly to urge the Court to reverse the decision. The underlying ground for the push is partly the Court's reasoning in Dobbs four years ago, which gave conservative litigants a road map for unwinding substantive due process precedents, and partly the gradual erosion of public-opinion support for same-sex marriage in one slice of the polling, with Republican support falling from 55 percent in 2022 to 37 percent now. The legal headcount at the Court is, however, the part of the story that is not yet there.Only Justice Thomas has been a consistent vote to revisit Obergefell, having said so in his Dobbs concurrence. Justice Alito, despite being one of Obergefell's original dissenters, recently emphasized in a public speech that he is not suggesting the case should be overruled, citing stare decisis. Justice Gorsuch's dissent in 303 Creative seems to concede that Obergefell is good law and tries instead to carve out specific exceptions to it. None of which is a reason for litigants on the marriage-equality side to relax. The path Dobbs opened up is wider than any single justice's current voting pattern, and the campaign is plainly playing a long game.The next round of test cases on standing and ripeness will start to surface in the lower courts in the next term or two — that is when the campaign's seriousness becomes measurable.The campaign to overrule Obergefell | SCOTUSblogThe third and most constitutionally significant story of the day is one we've been watching: the litigation over President Trump's $400 million ballroom — built on the site of the demolished East Wing — is on track to land in front of the Supreme Court, SCOTUSblog reported Monday. The D.C. Circuit panel that heard the case for more than two hours in late April has not yet ruled, but the questioning made clear that a more substantial opinion is coming and that an appeal to the Court is the likely next stop regardless of which side wins. The legal question is unusually fundamental. The plaintiff, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, argues that the President has no “free-floating” power to construct major federal buildings without an appropriation from Congress, and that the Antideficiency Act and the Public Buildings Act both require the kind of statutory authorization the East Wing ballroom never received.The administration's response, delivered in a tone that several court-watchers described as unusually defiant, has essentially been that construction has “gone too far to be stopped” and that the courts have no role in second-guessing a presidential building decision once the steel is up. The structural separation-of-powers questions here — what does the Appropriations Clause actually constrain, and can a federal court enjoin a President from continuing to build something that is partially constructed — are large enough that the Supreme Court will almost certainly want to take the case if it reaches the high court. Construction, meanwhile, continues. The most likely Supreme Court resolution is a narrow opinion on standing or remedies, with the broader Appropriations Clause questions deferred for another day. We will see.White House ballroom battle may soon arrive at the Supreme Court | SCOTUSblogIn my Bloomberg Tax column this week, I argue that the SALT deduction cap's biggest problem is not that it is unconstitutional, but that it is badly designed. The latest failed challenge, Sims v. United States, involved two New Jersey taxpayers who claimed the cap violated the 10th Amendment, the 16th Amendment, and broader federalism principles. The federal district court rejected those arguments, finding that Congress has broad authority to tax income and decide which deductions are allowed, limited, or denied. My point is that opponents of the SALT cap should stop looking for constitutional defects that courts are unlikely to find and instead focus on forcing Congress to fix the policy it created.I explain that the cap has always been politically loaded: supporters see it as a needed limit on a deduction that benefits many high-income taxpayers in high-tax states, while critics see it as a targeted attack on those states. But unfair or politically motivated tax policy is not automatically unconstitutional. The real weakness, I argue, is the cap's uneven design, especially the pass-through entity tax workaround. Many business owners can effectively get around the cap when state taxes are paid at the entity level, while wage earners, sole proprietors, and many individual taxpayers remain stuck behind it.That creates a serious mismatch: two taxpayers can live in the same state, earn similar income, and face similar state tax burdens, but receive different federal treatment depending on whether one has the right business structure. I argue that this kind of selective relief may be a more promising target for a narrower administrative or legal challenge than another broad constitutional attack on Congress's taxing power. Congress partly recognized the problem when it raised the cap from $10,000 to $40,000, but I note that the fix is temporary, only lightly indexed, and still leaves major structural problems in place. The marriage penalty remains especially glaring because married couples filing jointly do not receive double the cap available to similarly situated unmarried taxpayers.I also criticize the phaseout design because it can create cliffs or marginal-rate spikes that reward tax gamesmanship rather than sound policy. A better fix, in my view, would make the higher cap permanent, index it meaningfully, eliminate the marriage penalty, smooth out the phaseout, and require Treasury to rationalize the treatment of pass-through entity taxes. The lesson from Sims is that courts may uphold the SALT cap, but that does not make it good tax policy. If the cap is unfair, incoherent, or selectively porous, Congress owns that problem.SALT Deduction Cap Falls Short in Design, Not Constitutionality This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Administrative Law: Does the President need Congressional approval to demolish the White House? - Argued: Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:31:1 EDT

National Trust for Historic Preservation v. NPS

What do the National Labor Relations Board, Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, and Lindsey Halligan have in common? They're all swimming in the chaos soup cooked up by a Supreme Court that engages in motivated reasoning and jettisons precedent whenever it gets in the way. Eat up!   Links:    Richman v. US https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71982634/richman-v-united-states/?order_by=desc   Corporate Union Busting in Plain Sight, Economic Policy Institute, January 28, 2025 https://www.epi.org/publication/corporate-union-busting/   Amazon Services LLC v. New York State Public Employment Relations Board (New York Litigation) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71421477/amazoncom-services-llc-v-new-york-state-public-employment-relations-board/   National Labor Relations Board v. State of California (California Litigaton) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71657795/national-labor-relations-board-v-state-of-california/   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Parks Service https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/   List of Trump Clemency Grants https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present   US v. Abrego  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70475970/united-states-v-abrego-garcia/?order_by=desc   Abrego Garcia v. Noem  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71191591/abrego-garcia-v-noem Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

DOCKET ALERTS:   Pam Bondi is GTFO! But the mess she leaves will take a generation to repair.   The Supreme Court paved the way to disappear Steve Bannon's conviction for contempt of Congress.   Trump commands the NCAA to quit being woke. He also has thoughts about the transfer portal.   MAIN SHOW:   Judge Richard Leon! Preliminarily enjoins! Trump's tackyass ballroom! Administration files ridiculous appeal!   Justin Baldoni is back to teach us CivPro. This time, he's largely prevailing on his motion for judgment on the pleadings, as Judge Liman dismisses ten of Blake Lively's 13 counts. Turns out, she never signed her contract, and the contract established that she was an employee, not an independent contractor. Since independent contractors can't sue for discrimination under Title VII, her harassment claims are out. And the contract had a choice of law provision that agreed to abide by California law. No contract … no automatic California law.   And of course we'll break down the Supreme Court's birthright decision hearing. So many clips!   SCOTUS Orders List April 6, 2026 https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040626zor_5iek.pdf   Trump Executive Order to De-Woke the NCAA https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/urgent-national-action-to-save-college-sports/   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service [Ballroom trial docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service [Ballroom appeal docket] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73127510/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-v-nps/   Lively v. Wayfarer https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69510553/lively-v-wayfarer-studios-llc/?order_by=desc   Blake Lively's (unsigned) Actor Loan-Out Agreement [Exhibit 263] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304.964.121.pdf   Birthright Citizenship SCOTUS Transcript https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/25-365_l6gn.pdf   Birthright Citizenship SCOTUS Audio https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/25-365   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

The Fifth Circuit is crossing out laws just for sport. This time it's a 140-year-old ban on making homebrew hooch, because YOLO.   Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over an article describing his creepy birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein was dismissed. But … that dismissal was without prejudice, so he can take another swing at it. The trollsuit against the BBC is still limping along.   Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Education Josh Kleinfeld makes an interesting pitch to George Mason's Antonin Scalia Law School, which is currently under investigation by … the Department of Education.   And Trump's ballroom blitz takes a tumble in court.   MAIN SHOW:   Trump discovers one weird trick to make the Presidential Records Act disappear. All he has to do is order the Office of Legal Counsel to come up with a memo saying it's unconstitutional and — hey, presto! — he can steal or shred or delete any document he likes.   SUBSCRIBER BONUS:   Are we the pirates now?   Trump v. Murdoch https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70843413/trump-v-murdoch   Trump v. BBC https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72040010/trump-v-british-broadcasting-corporation   Fifth Circuit Home Distillers Ruling https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-10760-CV0.pdf   Trump Admin Lawyer Applies To Be Law School Dean, Suggests It Might Help Investigations Go Away https://abovethelaw.com/2026/04/trump-admin-lawyer-applies-to-be-law-school-dean-suggests-it-might-help-investigations-go-away/   Ballroom Blitz Blocked https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/ballroom-blitz-blocked   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73127510/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-v-nps   April 1, 2026 OLC Memorandum on the Presidential Records Act https://www.justice.gov/olc/media/1434131/dl   Judicial Watch v. NARA ("Socks Case"), 845 F.Supp.2d 288 (DC Cir. 2012) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15818036517066124081   Trump v. Mazars, 591 US 848 (2020) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2096461232780826445   Nixon v. Administrator of General Svcs. et al., 433 US 425 (1977) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11884364268460571560   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

DOCKET ALERTS:   The lady who wore a penis costume to a No Kings protest in Fairhope, Alabama was acquitted of disturbing the peace.   DNI Tulsi Gabbard referred the Ukraine Whistleblower and former Intelligence Community Inspector General to the DOJ for criminal prosecution. Crime: TBD.   US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro continues to harass the Federal Reserve. This time she sent prosecutors to bang on the door demanding to inspect the ongoing renovations.   The Trump administration uses the threat of administrative sanctions to force changes it can't get from Congress or the courts. The Justice Department extorted $17 million from IBM — which just so happens to have billions of dollars in government contracts! — for committing DEI "fraud." And the FTC forced brand advisers to agree not to "discriminate" against conservative media outlets.   On a more positive note, a judge in Maryland continues to block the ICE facility being constructed in the state, and Judge Richard Leon put the kibosh on Trump's ballroom … again.   MAIN SHOW:   A jury slapped Live Nation and Ticket Master in the antitrust lawsuit filed in New York. The feds noped out two days into trial, but the states who picked up the baton and ran with it. The jurors found the company liable on all counts. We talk about the ins and outs of the decision and some pending legal questions still waiting for resolution.    We also break down a new lawsuit brought by a lawful resident of Maine with no criminal record who was seized by ICE during "Operation Catch of the Day" and brutalized. Can he sue under the Maine Civil Rights Act? And if so, is this a path forward for blue states to fill the gap left by inadequate federal laws?   Penis costume protester prevails in court https://www.courthousenews.com/penis-costume-protester-prevails-in-court/   Tulsi's "Criminal Referral" of the Ukraine Whistleblower and ICIG https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2026/4154-pr-06-26   Prosecutors from Jeanine Pirro's office tried to access Federal Reserve headquarters, but were turned away https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prosecutors-jeanine-pirro-office-visit-federal-reserve-headquarters-jerome-powell/   Justice Department settles with IBM over alleged DEI practices https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/16/justice-department-settles-with-ibm-over-alleged-dei-practices/   Ad firms settle with Trump FTC over claims they boycotted conservative media https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/04/ad-firms-settle-with-trump-ftc-over-claims-they-boycotted-conservative-media   Maryland v. Mullin https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72313096/state-of-maryland-v-mullin   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national   US v. LiveNation [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68557723/united-states-of-america-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc/?order_by=desc&page=1   Carvajal-Munoz v. Ravencamp [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73186770/carvajal-munoz-v-ravencamp/   Maine Civil Rights Act, 5 M.R.S. 4682 https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec4682.html   "State Law, the Westfall Act, and the Nature of the Bivens Question," [2013 U. Penn. L. Rev.] https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1976&context=facpub   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

DESCRIPTION:   Elon Musk discovers that filing a lawsuit against Sam Altman and sh*tposting about it on social media is a lot more fun than testifying   Alex Jones is back on his BS. He managed to delay a proposed deal to license InfoWars assets to the satirical news outlet The Onion. Again.   The judge presiding over Trump's shakedown case against the IRS for the wrongful disclosure of his tax returns in 2020 has appointed a whole squad of lawyers to serve as amici. They'll brief the issue of whether the court has jurisdiction to preside over a case where the president appears to be suing himself.   L&C's Doofus of the Day is Pete Hegseth.   MAIN SHOW:   James Comey has been indicted again. This time his "crime" is posting a picture of seashells arranged to say "8647." It is exceptionally stupid, but we will break it down in exceptional detail.   As a companion to our written post, we unpack Wednesday's Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais effectively gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Subscribers will get a deep dive into what the new districts might look like with Joe Dye.   Finally, we'll cringe our way through the DOJ's latest motion in the ballroom case — it's the most inappropriate, unprofessional thing we've ever seen, including from pro se litigants. Louisiana v. Callais [Supreme Court opinion] https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf   The Supreme Court Just Effectively Repealed The Voting Rights Act  https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/the-supreme-court-just-effectively   US v. Comey https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73256624/united-states-v-comey   Trump DOJ Pursuing Separate Comey Probe for Classified Leaks https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/trump-doj-pursuing-separate-comey-probe-for-classified-leaks   Trump v. IRS https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72207870/trump-v-internal-revenue-service   Live updates from Elon Musk and Sam Altman's court battle over the future of OpenAI https://www.theverge.com/tech/917225/sam-altman-elon-musk-openai-lawsuit   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

DOCKET ALERTS: Judges in Maine and Wisconsin hand DOJ two more losses as they sue to get access to state voter rolls to check for non-existent election fraud.   Associate Attorney General Stan Woodward is back with another batsh*t ballroom filing.   DOOFUS OF THE DAY:   Attorney D. Hayden Fisher, who filed a bumptious SLAPP suit against locals in Norfolk who dared to disparage a MAGA-coded brewery for perceived anti-LGBTQ+ bias.   MAIN SHOW:   We'll revisit the implosion of the Broadview 6 prosecution. Turns out, the government's main goal all along was to hide the corruption and misconduct at the heart of this case.   And Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free! Judge Waverly Crenshaw dismissed his criminal case on the basis of vindictive prosecution.   US v. Bellows [Maine Voter Rolls] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71367730/united-states-v-bellows/   US v. Wisconsin Elections Commission [Wisconsin Voter Rolls] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72055967/united-states-v-wisconsin-elections-commission   National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service [Ballroom] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/   Armed Forces Brewing Co. v. Coplon [Doofus SLAPP suit] https://armedforcesbrewingco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Complaint-26-5-18-Final.pdf   Broadview 6 May 21 Hearing https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/95/75/a403b7674c31b8f5bb0ecae58921/25cr693-usa-v-rabbitt-052126.pdf   US v. Rabbit [Broadview 6] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71795281/parties/united-states-v-rabbitt/   United States v. Abrego (TN criminal docket) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70475970/united-states-v-abrego-garcia/?order_by=desc   Abrego Garcia v. Noem (MD Civil litigation) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71191591/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?order_by=desc   United States v. Carey (DC flag burning) [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71223464/united-states-v-carey/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod

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The Trump administration is moving to undo a 20-year ban on oil and gas drilling near Chaco Canyon, a place of major cultural significance to pueblos in the Southwest. The threat of new oil leases on nearly 340,000 acres of public land surrounding Chaco Canyon has put the site on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of America's Most Endangered Spaces. It is the second time on the same list for the land that is already a protected National Historic Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The moratorium was instituted in 2023 by then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is a Laguna Pueblo citizen. We'll hear about the options ahead for the land and the cultural significance it holds. GUESTS Charles Riley, governor of Acoma Pueblo Brian Vallo (Acoma Pueblo), chairman of the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association and former governor of Acoma Pueblo Mario Atencio (Diné), Navajo allotment stakeholder

The Trump administration is moving to undo a 20-year ban on oil and gas drilling near Chaco Canyon, a place of major cultural significance to pueblos in the Southwest. The threat of new oil leases on nearly 340,000 acres of public land surrounding Chaco Canyon has put the site on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of America's Most Endangered Spaces. It is the second time on the same list for the land that is already a protected National Historic Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The moratorium was instituted in 2023 by then-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is a Laguna Pueblo citizen. We'll hear about the options ahead for the land and the cultural significance it holds. GUESTS Charles Riley, governor of Acoma Pueblo Brian Vallo (Acoma Pueblo), chairman of the Chaco Heritage Tribal Association and former governor of Acoma Pueblo Mario Atencio (Diné), Navajo allotment stakeholder Break 1 Music: Anasazi Sun (song) Injunuity (artist) Fight For Survival (album) Break 2 Music: Cauyaqa Nauwa [Where's My Drum] (song) Pamyua (artist) Drums Of The North: Traditional Yup'ik Songs (album)

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DOCKET ALERTS:Judges in Maine and Wisconsin hand DOJ two more losses as they sue to get access to state voter rolls to check for non-existent election fraud.Associate Attorney General Stan Woodward is back with another batsh*t ballroom filing.DOOFUS OF THE DAY:Attorney D. Hayden Fisher, who filed a bumptious SLAPP suit against locals in Norfolk who dared to disparage a MAGA-coded brewery for perceived anti-LGBTQ+ bias.MAIN SHOW:We'll revisit the implosion of the Broadview 6 prosecution. Turns out, the government's main goal all along was to hide the corruption and misconduct at the heart of this case.And Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free! Judge Waverly Crenshaw dismissed his criminal case on the basis of vindictive prosecution.US v. Bellows [Maine Voter Rolls]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71367730/united-states-v-bellows/US v. Wisconsin Elections Commission [Wisconsin Voter Rolls]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72055967/united-states-v-wisconsin-elections-commissionNational Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service [Ballroom]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/Armed Forces Brewing Co. v. Coplon [Doofus SLAPP suit]https://armedforcesbrewingco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Complaint-26-5-18-Final.pdfBroadview 6 May 21 Hearinghttps://cst.brightspotcdn.com/95/75/a403b7674c31b8f5bb0ecae58921/25cr693-usa-v-rabbitt-052126.pdfUS v. Rabbit [Broadview 6]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71795281/parties/united-states-v-rabbitt/United States v. Abrego (TN criminal docket) [docket via CourtListener]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70475970/united-states-v-abrego-garcia/?order_by=descAbrego Garcia v. Noem (MD Civil litigation) [docket via CourtListener]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71191591/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?order_by=descUnited States v. Carey (DC flag burning) [docket via CourtListener]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71223464/united-states-v-carey/Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Day in Legal History: Andrew Johnson Impeachment Trial EndsOn May 26, 1868, the United States Senate ended the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson, bringing one of the most dramatic constitutional confrontations in American history to a close. Johnson had been impeached by the House of Representatives earlier that year after clashing repeatedly with Congress over Reconstruction. At the center of the dispute was the future of the defeated South and the legal status of formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. Johnson favored a more lenient approach toward former Confederate states, while the Republican-controlled Congress sought stronger protections for freedmen and stricter conditions for reentry. The immediate trigger for impeachment was Johnson's attempt to remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, which Congress argued violated the Tenure of Office Act. The Senate had already voted on one article of impeachment on May 16, and Johnson survived by a single vote. Ten days later, on May 26, the Senate voted on two more articles, with the result again falling one vote short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction. The final vote of 35 to 19 meant Johnson would remain in office.After that result, the Senate adjourned as a court of impeachment and the trial came to an end. The acquittal did not make Johnson politically strong, but it preserved the principle that removing a president required more than intense political disagreement. The trial also tested the separation of powers during a period when Congress and the presidency were fighting over who would control Reconstruction. In later years, the Tenure of Office Act was repealed, and its constitutionality remained deeply suspect. Johnson's impeachment became a lasting example of how legal rules, political conflict, and constitutional design can collide in moments of national crisis.The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has advanced a major five-year transportation funding bill that would send about $580 billion toward roads, bridges, transit, rail projects, and highway safety programs. The measure, called the BUILD America 250 Act, passed the committee by a 62-2 vote after a lengthy markup and now heads to the full House. The bill is meant to replace the current surface transportation law, which was part of the 2021 infrastructure package and is set to expire at the end of September. Supporters from both parties framed the proposal as a way to keep infrastructure funding moving while giving states flexibility and speeding up project delivery.One of the most closely watched additions is a rail safety package inspired by the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. That section would require at least two crew members on many trains, add inspection requirements, regulate defect detectors, and place limits on certain hazardous-material trains. Rail labor groups and the White House have backed stronger rules, while the major railroads argue the proposal is driven more by politics and labor demands than by the causes of the East Palestine crash.The bill would also create a first federal regulatory structure for autonomous commercial vehicles, including automated trucks, buses, and other larger vehicles. Industry supporters say that framework would help the United States compete globally in autonomous transportation, while transit labor leaders say the bill includes important human-oversight protections to keep workers involved and improve safety. Another contested provision would impose a new annual federal registration fee on electric vehicle owners, starting at $130 and later rising to $150, to help support the Highway Trust Fund.Backers say EV drivers should contribute to road funding because they do not pay federal gas taxes. Electric vehicle advocates, however, call the fee punitive and argue it would discourage EV adoption without meaningfully solving the trust fund's long-term funding gap.What's In The House Surface Transportation Funding Bill? - Law360The Justice Department has asked a federal court to lift an injunction blocking work on President Donald Trump's ballroom project, arguing that a recent shooting outside the White House shows why stronger security is needed. In a short filing Sunday, DOJ said the incident highlights the need for high-level security upgrades at the White House, including the ballroom, and again sought dismissal of the lawsuit challenging the project. The case was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has opposed the project and previously refused to withdraw its suit after an alleged foiled attack connected to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April. DOJ had already cited that earlier incident in asking the court to end the case. According to the Secret Service, the person who fired at a White House checkpoint on Saturday was shot by officers and later died at a hospital. The filing ties the shooting to the government's broader argument that the project is important for national security.US Justice Department seeks to lift injunction on ballroom project after shooting | ReutersMy column for Bloomberg this week argues that Tennessee's recent decision in SAP America, Inc. v. Gerregano shows how poorly traditional state tax categories fit modern software. The court treated SAP's software licenses as nontaxable intangible property, while allowing Tennessee to tax cloud hosting and cloud-based services delivered electronically into the state. That split made sense because SAP's products were cleanly separated into licenses, hosting, and cloud services. But the column argues that most modern software is not so tidy. Even products that seem local often rely on remote tools for logins, updates, syncing, storage, analytics, customer support, or payment processing. As AI becomes built into ordinary software, the line between software and cloud-based service will become even harder to draw.The column focuses on the “true-object” test, which asks what the customer is really buying when a transaction has multiple elements. That test works when the taxable and nontaxable pieces are visible and separately priced, but it becomes much harder to apply when remote processing is hidden inside a product the customer experiences simply as software. The piece argues that states should adopt a software-specific safe harbor rather than treating every remote feature as taxable cloud access. Under that approach, software would be presumed to remain software when remote functions are limited to things like authentication, updates, syncing, security, or modest product enhancements. A state could rebut that presumption if the customer is really buying hosted processing, managed infrastructure, AI model access, inference, or other platform-level functionality. The point is not to abandon the true-object test, but to give it a clearer threshold for hybrid software. Without that guardrail, AI could give states an easy but flawed path to reclassify almost any software product with a remote model feature as taxable cloud access. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Photo: The All Pueblo Council of Governors were in attendance at a press conference in Santa Ana Pueblo on Wednesday May 20, 2026 in support of Chaco Canyon making the list for America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. (Jeanette DeDios) The National Trust for Historic Preservation has placed the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape on this year's list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The nomination came from the All Pueblo Council of Governors, which supports the preservation and cultural significance of the landscape in the face of increasing threats. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) has more. On the lands of Santa Ana Pueblo, Council members highlighted their ancestral ties to the archaeological and cultural site. Chaco features over 600 rooms built 1,200 years ago with precise geometric masonry and crafted without the use of metal tools. This endangered listing comes after the Bureau of Land Management tried last year to revoke or modify a public order, that currently safeguards over 300 thousands acres of federal land from new oil and gas leasing for 20 years. Pueblo of Acoma Gov. Charles Riley says there's a cultural responsibility to Chaco Canyon. “When we speak of Chaco, we are not merely speaking of ruins, we are speaking of the spirits of our ancestors, who are still present, still teaching, and still carrying and asking us to carry forward what they entrusted to us.” Riley says the Pueblo of Acoma is not opposed to development. “We are opposed to development that proceeds without meaningful consultation, without honest environmental review, and without regard for places that are irreplaceable.” This year's listing is the second time in 15 years that Chaco has been placed on the list. This is the first year that the 11 sites nominated will receive a one-time grant of $25,000 from the National Trust to help with conservation efforts. The council is asking the U.S. Department of Interior to stop the process of dismantling the public land order and make the current ten-mile buffer around Chaco permanent. They are also asking members of the public to contact their Congress in support. A number of Pueblo governors have reached out to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum through letters and invitations to visit Chaco, but he has not responded. Southern Ute Indian Chairman Melvin Baker, left, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ink the first-ever Tribal Energy Resource Agreement on May 11, 2026. (Photo: Lowell Whitman / Interior Department / Public Domain) A tribe from the Four Corners region has inked a historic deal with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum advancing the Trump administration's domestic energy agenda. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe in southwest Colorado has entered the first-ever Tribal Energy Resource Agreement (TERA), more than two decades after Congress enacted the law. This allows the nearly 1,500 member tribe to handle its own business without obtaining expressed permission from the Interior Department. Councilman Andrew Gallegos testified before Congress last month. “Having the tribe regulate and be the one that oversees all of our compliances and makes us more sovereign as a tribe, and the economic value that it brings is the health and welfare of our membership.” That will include the leasing of energy projects and issuing of right-of-ways on the 700,000 acre reservation near Durango. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, May 25, 2026 – Wide disparities persist when encountering ancestors' remains

Feliks Banel's guest on this BREAKING NEWS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Lloyd Lytle, a leader of the grassroots group working to prevent demolition of the historic Masonic Home of Washington in Des Moines, Washington. Lytle joined us by phone immediately after a hearing at King County Superior Court in Seattle was adjourned, and provides an update on the day's proceedings. Lytle's group is seeking to have a demolition permit for the Masonic Home revoked and sent back to the City of Des Moines for further review. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Lloyd Lytle on Friday, May 22, 2026. Background via the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation's List of Most Endangered Places https://preservewa.org/most_endangered/masonic-home-washington/ CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

Municipalities, nonprofit, residents challenge review As anticipated by votes earlier this month by the Cold Spring and Philipstown boards, the municipalities on Wednesday (May 20) filed a state lawsuit challenging the conclusions of a mandated environmental review of the proposed 7.5-mile linear park that would connect Beacon to Cold Spring. At the same time, a nonprofit group, Protect the Highlands, filed its own lawsuit. The legal actions name Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc., a subsidiary of Scenic Hudson, and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Both allege that a recently completed state environmental review fails to adequately assess the project's impact on the village and town. The lawsuits had to be filed before May 20, or 120 days after the end of the environmental review process, to meet a state deadline. The legal actions are Article 78 proceedings, which enable municipalities and others to challenge the actions or inactions of local and state agencies. Protect the Highlands filed its challenge in Albany County, along with four Cold Spring residents — Tom Impellittiere, Stephanie Impellittiere, Stephanie Skiptunis and Rosanne Powell — whom the filing says "will suffer direct environmental, aesthetic and community impacts distinct from those experienced by the public at large." The village and town filed their lawsuit in Putnam County. The municipalities hope to have Putnam County join them, but the Legislature did not vote on the request before the filing deadline. At the Wednesday meeting of the Village Board, Mayor Kathleen Foley said that the lawsuit "does not stop the project, as some have erroneously asserted," but that "we would be delinquent in our duties if we did not challenge the findings." She said that, earlier in the week, the village received an email signed by residents who support the Fjord Trail, requesting a referendum on the project. Foley said a vote "is not a possibility under state law." She added that she could say "with certainty that even if every resident in this village stated their unconditional support for the Fjord Trail project, this board would still be asking fiscal, environmental and quality-of-life questions." The lawsuit also names Putnam County, and Cold Spring resident Laura Bergman, which Foley said was done to give both the opportunity to join as petitioners or respondents. Bergman owns property at the entrance to Dockside Park. Both lawsuits focus on the southern section of the trail, from Cold Spring to Breakneck Ridge. In February, HHFT said it would delay construction on the southern end by at least two years to collect data on a stretch of the Hudson River where an elevated boardwalk is planned. A pedestrian bridge at Breakneck, which underwent a separate environmental review in 2022, is under construction, along with a parking lot on Route 9D across from the former Dutchess Manor, which will be the HHFT headquarters. Protect the Highlands alleges that the state's "findings statement," which cleared the way for HHFT to move forward, was "arbitrary, capricious and irrational on several fronts" and should be annulled. The municipal suit asks that the findings statement be nullified for the southern section, and notes that HHFT must get land-use and Zoning Board approvals from Cold Spring and Philipstown for sections of the trail on private property or within the state park. (The environmental review concluded that HHFT does not need local approval for parts of the trail built on state land.) In addition, the suit says that access to Dockside Park, which is owned by the state and maintained by the village, would only be available through an easement on private land. It asks the court to rule that the easement does not provide the access required to reach the trail. Cold Spring and Philipstown argue that concerns regarding traffic and emergency services "were marginalized, if not completely ignored," and that several findings were "arbitrary a...

Send us a text and chime in!The Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers - Riverfront, 1083 E. Riverfront Road, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. The following items are scheduled: Discussion and Consideration for Approval of a Request to Sponsor a Public Speaking Event Discussion – 2026 Property Tour Committee Update For additional project information or questions, contact Planner Conner Bustamante (928) 634-5505 ext. 3322. All interested persons are encouraged to send comments to the Community Development Planner by noon on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. A verbal comment period will be provided during each...   For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/cottonwood-historic-preservation-meeting-agenda/ Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

This episode features a conversation on New York State Parks, featuring public spaces that enhance recreation, strengthen communities, and celebrate New York's history. NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario is joined by Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. They discuss New York's state parks and historic sites, the growing role of parks in tourism and economic development, and the state's preparations for America's 250th anniversary. This episode also highlights county partnerships and how New York is expanding recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated the Stonewall National Monument in NYC as one of America's "11 Most Endangered Historic Places." As an antidote to the threat of erasure facing the country's only national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history, MGH is re-releasing its season about the Stonewall uprising with the support of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Parks Conservation Association. MGH's Stonewall 50 season first aired in June 2019. Visit our ⁠season webpage⁠ to access background information, archival photos, and other resources, as well as episode transcripts.  ——— To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy 50th anniversary to Sanford Historic Preservation! To celebrate half a century of protecting our city's heritage, we are letting the experts take over the Sanford Says podcast.This episode features an incredible roundtable with Jerry Mills, Alexander Then, Tammy Agnini, Barbara Farrell, and Michael Skat. They're diving into the early days of the local preservation movement, sharing the personal stories behind their favorite historic landmarks, and giving us an exclusive look into Sanford's past. Tune in straight from the source!

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Lloyd Lytle, a leader of the grassroots group working to prevent demolition of the historic Masonic Home of Washington in Des Moines, Washington. Later this week, the group will appear in King County Superior Court, seeking to have a demolition permit for the Masonic Home revoked and sent back to the City of Des Moines for further review. Lytle's group is called Citizens for the Protection of Des Moines Historic Resources. They formed a coalition with Des Moines Historical Society and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and filed an appeal of the demolition permit issued in August 2025 by the City of Des Moines to property owner Zenith LLC. When the City of Des Moines Hearing Examiner ruled against their appeal in December 2025, the group at first considered giving up. However, as first reported in the B-Town Blog in early January 2026, they decided to appeal the Hearing Examiner's decision to King County Superior Court. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Lloyd Lytle on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Zoom link to upcoming hearing at King County Superior Court this Friday, May 22, 2026 at 9am Pacific Time: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/89132548853 Meeting ID: 891 3254 8853 Passcode: 945543 Lloyd Lytle writes, “For those attending by Zoom, the court asks that you have your Zoom profile state your first and last name and that you're a member of the public, and also to please have your audio turned off throughout the proceedings, thank you.” The Alien Blog - Post about Masonic Home from May 18, 2026: https://aguedawrites.substack.com/p/last-ditch-appeal-aims-to-save-masonic Interview with Lloyd Lytle from February 2026 about deciding to appeal the Hearing Examiner: https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/bonus-episode-masonic-feb LIVE BROADCAST from the street in front of the Masonic Home on September 14, 2025: https://soundcloud.com/cascadeofhistory/ep-119 Background via the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation's List of Most Endangered Places https://preservewa.org/most_endangered/masonic-home-washington/ CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated the Stonewall National Monument in NYC as one of America's "11 Most Endangered Historic Places." As an antidote to the threat of erasure facing the country's only national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ history, MGH is re-releasing its season about the Stonewall uprising with the support of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Parks Conservation Association. MGH's Stonewall 50 season first aired in June 2019. Visit our ⁠season webpage⁠ to access background information, archival photos, and other resources, as well as episode transcripts.  ——— To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Founder of Nepal Cleft and Burn Center and owner of Foothill Oriental Rugs, Jim Weber, details his annual fundraiser and hopes of opening a second hospital in Nepal. Then, the CEO of Summit Land Conservancy, Cheryl Fox, discusses open space issues, initiatives and upcoming fundraisers. Park City Manager Adam Lenhard and Deputy City Manager Heather Sneddon preview this week's city council meeting. And Sally Elliott and Brian Buck, with Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History, talk about winning a Historic Preservation award.

Clark County is accepting applications for one open seat on its seven-member Historic Preservation Commission. The three-year term begins July 1, 2026, appointed by the County Council. The commission oversees nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, the Clark County Heritage Register, design review, and the Special Valuation Tax Incentive program. The application deadline is May 27. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/clark-county-seeks-volunteers-for-the-historic-preservation-commission-4/ #ClarkCounty #HistoricPreservation #Vancouver #WashingtonState #ClarkCountyToday #CommunityNews #Volunteer #CountyCouncil #HeritageRegister

This Money Manager Is Helping Companies Grow & Financing The American Dream.Guest: Damien Dwin Founder & CEO Lafayette Square$1.1B AUMCompany Name: Lafayette SquareWebsite: www.lafayettesquare.comDamien's Bio:Damien Dwin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lafayette Square®, a private credit firm lending capital to growing middle market companies in working-class places. Previously, Damien served as Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Brightwood Capital Advisors from its founding in 2010 to October 2020. Damien began his career as a trader with Goldman Sachs, New York & London, there earning the Michael P. Mortara Award for Innovation. At Credit Suisse, he was the Co-Founder and Head of the North American Special Opportunities business until 2010. Damien also served on the Vice President Selection Committee and led the Fixed Income Division Credit Training Program. Damien serves on the non-profit boards of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Studio Museum in Harlem, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Boys' Club of New York, and Vera Institute of Justice. He is a Council Member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.Damien received a B.S./B.A. from Georgetown University. Company bio: Lafayette Square® is a private credit firm lending capital to growing middle market companies in Working-Class places. The firm focuses on non-sponsored deals, significant managerial assistance, and a data-driven investment strategy. Lafayette Square's thesis holds that Working-Class people and places are overlooked by private credit creating an attractive investment opportunity subject to conservative underwriting, managerial assistance, and technology. Lafayette Square® aims to support 100,000 Working-Class jobs, invest 50% of capital in Working-Class places, and curate benefits for 50% of its portfolio by 2030. For more information, please visit www.lafayettesquare.com.

Today marks the 200th Anniversary of Frederic Church's birth, and we are here to explore the creation, creativity, landscape, preservation, and importance of the home and gardens in history and in the Hudson Valley.The Olana State Historic Site operates through a public-private partnership. The 250-acre property is run by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and The Olana Partnership.Our first guests this morning are President of the Olana Partnership Sean Sawyer and Consulting Senior Curator and Chair of The Church 200 Committee Dr. Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser. She has lead planning efforts for this national celebration, the 200th anniversary of the artist Frederic Church's birth.

As we mentioned earlier in the program, The Olana State Historic Site operates through a public-private partnership. The property is preserved and run by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and The Olana Partnership. They also work closely with regional historical and conservation groups in the area.In that vein, we are joined now by New York State Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Kathy Moser and President of Scenic Hudson Ned Sullivan. Scenic Hudson has long been considered a leader in safeguarding the Hudson Valley's irreplaceable landscapes.

Elon Musk discovers that filing a lawsuit against Sam Altman and sh*tposting about it on social media is a lot more fun than testifyingAlex Jones is back on his BS. He managed to delay a proposed deal to license InfoWars assets to the satirical news outlet The Onion. Again.The judge presiding over Trump's shakedown case against the IRS for the wrongful disclosure of his tax returns in 2020 has appointed a whole squad of lawyers to serve as amici. They'll brief the issue of whether the court has jurisdiction to preside over a case where the president appears to be suing himself.L&C's Doofus of the Day is Pete Hegseth.MAIN SHOW:James Comey has been indicted again. This time his “crime” is posting a picture of seashells arranged to say “8647.” It is exceptionally stupid, but we will break it down in exceptional detail.As a companion to our written post, we unpack Wednesday's Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais effectively gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Subscribers will get a deep dive into what the new districts might look like with Joe Dye.Finally, we'll cringe our way through the DOJ's latest motion in the ballroom case — it's the most inappropriate, unprofessional thing we've ever seen, including from pro se litigants.Louisiana v. Callais [Supreme Court opinion]https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdfThe Supreme Court Just Effectively Repealed The Voting Rights Act https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/the-supreme-court-just-effectivelyUS v. Comeyhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73256624/united-states-v-comeyTrump DOJ Pursuing Separate Comey Probe for Classified Leakshttps://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/trump-doj-pursuing-separate-comey-probe-for-classified-leaksTrump v. IRShttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72207870/trump-v-internal-revenue-serviceLive updates from Elon Musk and Sam Altman's court battle over the future of OpenAIhttps://www.theverge.com/tech/917225/sam-altman-elon-musk-openai-lawsuitNational Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Servicehttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In episode 2050, Jack and guest co-host Sofiya Alexandra are joined by host of Go Home Bible, You're Drunk and White Homework, Tori Williams Douglass, to discuss… DOJ Weaponized Against National Trust for Historic Preservation and James Comey... With Embarrassingly Written Court Filings, Ghosts = Plumbing? And More! Exclusive: Former FBI Director James Comey indicted over alleged ‘threat’ against Trump Justice department indicts ex-FBI director James Comey over Instagram post showing seashells Comey interviewed by the Secret Service over ’86 47' social media post Definition of 86'd What does 'eighty-six' mean? The Department of Justice is now a joke. This is an official filing signed by its top leadership. This woman is at the center of the legal claim against Trump's ballroom project Group says it won't drop its White House ballroom lawsuit, despite DOJ pressure No, your house isn’t haunted by ghosts — spooky experts reveal simple explanation for things that go bump in the night Haunted by Ghosts? New Study Provides a Surprising Explanation Hidden Phenomenon Could Explain Why Old Buildings Feel Haunted, Study Finds Scientists Say: Infrasound The Science of Silence: Disquieting Uses of Infrasound in Movies The mystery of the ‘ghost frequency’, the most terrifying sound known to man Scientists Investigated a Frequency Linked to ‘Paranormal’ That ghostly presence may just be bad plumbing 'Paranormal feelings': Edmonton researchers study frightful sounds at haunted house The fear frequency Organ music 'instils religious feelings' LISTEN: Pop Out (feat. ScHoolboy Q) by Larry JuneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and Preserve Route 66 Manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We explore the fascinating history and ongoing cultural impact of Route 66, and how this 2,448-mile linear village has driven economic growth and inspired travelers around the world for nearly a century. As Route 66 gears up for its Centennial Celebration, Rhys shares behind-the-scenes insights on managing a celebration of this magnitude, the creative events planned along the legendary highway, and how local and national organizations are working together to secure Route 66's legacy for future generations. What You Will Learn in This Episode: How Rhys became passionate about Route 66 and took on leadership roles in both local and national organizations dedicated to its preservation Why Route 66 remains a powerful economic engine and cultural icon for communities What makes the centennial celebration of Route 66 such a significant milestone How planning such a widespread, multi-state centennial collaboration is managed How communities along Route 66 have adapted to changes over time, reinventing themselves to stay vibrant and relevant after the highway was bypassed Why increased communication and collaboration among state associations, local businesses, and international partners is crucial to ongoing success What creative and large-scale events, like the Capitol Cruise and national caravans, are being organized to celebrate Route 66's 100th anniversary How the Route 66 experience builds authentic connections between travelers, communities, and cultures Cultural Legacy of Route 66 Route 66 is a linear village, a chain of communities bound together by shared history and mutual destiny. Its legacy is evident in the preservation of historic theaters, vintage motels, quirky museums, and neon-lit diners, all lovingly maintained by local volunteers and business owners committed to keeping the legend alive. Over time, especially as interstates bypassed many towns, Route 66 evolved, communities that once faced decline have reinvented themselves as hubs of nostalgia and culture. Planning the Centennial With eight states and thousands of miles to coordinate, the Route 66 Centennial is a massive collaborative endeavor. Rhys shares how, since the 1980s, state Route 66 associations have formed a grassroots network, filling the organizational gap left when the federal designation was removed in 1985. These groups work together to create unified celebrations, coordinate marketing efforts, and share resources, exemplifying how communication and a shared purpose can overcome even vast geographical distances. The centennial plans include an ambitious Capital Cruise in Tulsa, aiming for a Guinness World Record with over 3,000 classic cars, cross-country caravans, and international motorcycle tours. The centennial is as diverse and dynamic as the road itself. Lessons in Partnership and Unity At the heart of Route 66's success is partnership, communication, and an ethos of shared benefit. What happens in Oklahoma brings value to New Mexico and Texas, and vice versa. The route becomes a metaphor for unity, proving that travel, when rooted in conversation and curiosity, can bridge differences and create genuine human connection. Resources: Website: https://oklahomaroute66.com/ Website: https://route66centennial.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oklahomaroute66 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-jbzQdNt4g2eqSIqTG2mQ We value your thoughts and feedback and would love to hear from you. Leave us a review on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you want to hear more o​f. Here is a quick tutorial on how to leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

April 26, 2026The Department of Justice demands that the National Trust for Historic Preservation drop its lawsuit against Trump's White House ballroom, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate claims that the shooting at the WHCA dinner proves the  need for the ballroom, The administration has awarded a $17.4 million no bid contract for the repair of two fountains, Public money will pay for the fountain repairs, By May 1st, a deadline determined by the War Powers Act, Congress must either authorize the Iran War or let Trump continue the war without congressional approval, Trump has claimed the War Powers Act is unconstitutional, The idea that the president can act without authority from Congress demolishes a fundamental principle of our democracy.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

What the hell happened Saturday night? Never give Donald the benefit of the doubt. Why didn't Donald fire his entire Secret Service detail? Secret Service was warned. Blanche blames the victims for rightfully criticizing Trump. Karoline Leavitt's insane prediction. Stephen Miller hid behind his pregnant wife. They're trying to censor Jimmy Kimmel again. The National Trust for Historic Preservation refused to drop its ballroom lawsuit. Norah O'Donnell rabbit-seasoned Donald. Trump voters regret “horror movie” presidency. The Iran War is a lot worse than is being reported. Gas prices hit highest level since 2022. With David Ferguson, music by The StaRiders, Alexis Wiley and the Wilderness, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's Headlines: Cole Tomas Allen was charged in federal court with attempting to assassinate President Trump plus two gun charges — more charges may be coming, and conviction alone could mean life in prison. Trump, meanwhile, has pivoted from brief media civility straight back to ballroom obsession, with Lindsey Graham leading the charge to get Congress to approve $400 million in taxpayer money for a White House ballroom-and-bunker — never mind that it wouldn't hold half as many people as the Washington Hilton it's meant to replace. The National Trust for Historic Preservation told the DOJ to go pound sand and is keeping its lawsuit blocking construction. Trump is also back gunning for Jimmy Kimmel's job over a joke that Melania has the glow of "an expectant widow" — Karoline Leavitt backed him up at the podium, Melania tweeted at Disney to "take a stand," and all of this happened four days after the joke aired. On the Iran front, Iranian officials sent a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with either a long-term ceasefire or full peace deal, while punting nuclear negotiations to later — the White House hadn't responded as of this recording, and Iran's foreign minister was in Moscow meeting with Putin. King Charles is visiting Trump, with British officials doing everything possible to keep Charles out of Trump's infamous armchair photo sessions. Journalist Katie Phang sued acting AG Todd Blanche for failing to release the Epstein files as required by law — she's not seeking damages, just the documents the law already mandates. Gateway Computers founder and Ghislaine Maxwell ex-boyfriend Ted Waitt — the man who brought her as his plus-one to Chelsea Clinton's wedding — is testifying before Congress about his Epstein ties. Ron DeSantis proposed a Florida congressional map creating 24 Republican districts and just 4 Democratic ones, directly violating the Fair Districts Amendments that 63% of Floridians voted into their state constitution, and the legislature immediately scheduled a special session to ram it through. And Paramount filed an FCC petition requesting that foreign investors from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar be allowed to indirectly own over 50% of the company post-merger — and asked for up to 100% foreign ownership approval for "future investments." Resources/Articles mentioned: Axios: Correspondents' Dinner suspect charged with attempted assassination of Trump NYT: Republicans Push for Trump's White House Ballroom After Gala Attack National Trust rejects Trump demand to drop ballroom suit in wake of shooting WSJ: Trump Calls on Disney to Fire Jimmy Kimmel After Melania Joke - WSJ Axios: Iran offers U.S. deal to reopen strait but postpone nuclear talks The Guardian: King Charles to meet Trump off camera over fears of Zelenskyy-style clash The Daily Beast: Top Trump Goon Sued for Failing to Release the Epstein Files KTIV: Gateway Computer co-founder Ted Waitt called to testify in Epstein investigation Axios: DeSantis unveils gerrymandered Florida map as redistricting war rages WSJ: Paramount Requests FCC Approval for Hefty Middle East Ownership Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Morgan, Jamil, Amy and Algene examine the alarming incident at the White House Correspondents Dinner, where a 31-year-old teacher fired shots before being tackled by Secret Service agents at the Washington Hilton. The dinner, held annually since 1921 to celebrate the First Amendment and the press, took on heightened stakes this year as President Trump chose to attend for the first time. The incident has since reignited debate over presidential security protocols and prompted the Justice Department to pressure the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit against the planned White House ballroom construction.Does this incident reveal meaningful gaps in the protection of American leaders, or did the Secret Service handle the situation as well as could be expected? Should Americans expect — or accept — higher security measures for high-profile events, and what would that cost in terms of civil liberties and normalcy? What does the political response to this incident say about how America chooses to confront gun violence more broadly?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@morganlroach@jamil_n_jaffer@amykmitchell@algenesajeryLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/eRg_QgGvbqs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OA1253 - It's spring cleaning time in this week's news, in which we answer patron questions on everything from DOJ lying to a federal judge about ICE's policy on arresting immigrants in courthouses to DOJ lying about violating court orders. Also: the Trump administration's unbelievable gift to some of the worst of the worst J6rs, the D.C. Circuit's inexplicable termination of Judge Boasberg's contempt proceedings against the administration for violating his orders, and a major ruling in one of the most important deportation cases in US history. We chase these shots of 200-proof reality out with a chaser: Did the 5th Circuit really just legalize bathtub gin?  Find out in today's boozy footnote! “DOJ admits ICE courthouse arrests relied on erroneous information,”  Sergio Martinez-Beltran (NPR, 3/26/2026) Email in which ICE revised its policy to exclude arrests at immigration court, filed March 24, 2026 in the Southern District of New York Appeals court again blocks Boasberg contempt probe into Alien Enemies Act deportations (Politico, 4/14/2026) On Petition for Writ of Mandamus, In Re: Trump et al, D.C. Cir (April 14, 2026) Unopposed Motion to Vacate Convictions and To Remand For Dismissal With Prejudice filed April 14, 2026  Order in National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States v. National Park Service, et al. filed April 11, 2026 in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Federal Law Banning Home Alcohol Distilleries (Reason, 4/11/2026) Decision in McNutt et al. v. United State Department of Justice, Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau filed April 11, 2026 in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!

The lady who wore a penis costume to a No Kings protest in Fairhope, Alabama was acquitted of disturbing the peace.DNI Tulsi Gabbard referred the Ukraine Whistleblower and former Intelligence Community Inspector General to the DOJ for criminal prosecution. Crime: TBD.US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro continues to harass the Federal Reserve. This time she sent prosecutors to bang on the door demanding to inspect the ongoing renovations.The Trump administration uses the threat of administrative sanctions to force changes it can't get from Congress or the courts. The Justice Department extorted $17 million from IBM — which just so happens to have billions of dollars in government contracts! — for committing DEI “fraud.” And the FTC forced brand advisers to agree not to “discriminate” against conservative media outlets.On a more positive note, a judge in Maryland continues to block the ICE facility being constructed in the state, and Judge Richard Leon put the kibosh on Trump's ballroom … again.MAIN SHOW:A jury slapped Live Nation and Ticket Master in the antitrust lawsuit filed in New York. The feds noped out two days into trial, but the states who picked up the baton and ran with it. The jurors found the company liable on all counts. We talk about the ins and outs of the decision and some pending legal questions still waiting for resolution. We also break down a new lawsuit brought by a lawful resident of Maine with no criminal record who was seized by ICE during “Operation Catch of the Day” and brutalized. Can he sue under the Maine Civil Rights Act? And if so, is this a path forward for blue states to fill the gap left by inadequate federal laws?Penis costume protester prevails in courthttps://www.courthousenews.com/penis-costume-protester-prevails-in-court/Tulsi's “Criminal Referral” of the Ukraine Whistleblower and ICIGhttps://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2026/4154-pr-06-26Prosecutors from Jeanine Pirro's office tried to access Federal Reserve headquarters, but were turned awayhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/prosecutors-jeanine-pirro-office-visit-federal-reserve-headquarters-jerome-powell/Justice Department settles with IBM over alleged DEI practiceshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/16/justice-department-settles-with-ibm-over-alleged-dei-practices/Ad firms settle with Trump FTC over claims they boycotted conservative mediahttps://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/04/ad-firms-settle-with-trump-ftc-over-claims-they-boycotted-conservative-mediaMaryland v. Mullinhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72313096/state-of-maryland-v-mullinNational Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Servicehttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-nationalUS v. LiveNation [docket via CourtListener]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68557723/united-states-of-america-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc/?order_by=desc&page=1Carvajal-Munoz v. Ravencamp [docket via CourtListener]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73186770/carvajal-munoz-v-ravencamp/Maine Civil Rights Act, 5 M.R.S. 4682https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec4682.html“State Law, the Westfall Act, and the Nature of the Bivens Question,” [2013 U. Penn. L. Rev.]https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1976&context=facpubShow Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Deqah (host) as she sits down with guest, k. Kennedy Whiters– a preservationist, registered architect, business owner, educator, writer, and founder of interdisciplinary firms wrkSHäp kiloWATT,  Studio kW Architecture + Preservation for an IRL chat about architecture, preservation, reparative action, and the power of language in shaping historical narratives. In addition to managing wrkSHäp kiloWATT and Studio kW, kennedy has founded historic preservation initiatives Beyond Integrity in (X), (un)Redact the Facts, and Black in Historic Preservation. In this convo, Deqah and kennedy talk about their shared experience in a Columbia University studio co-taught by Whiters and Dr. Erica Avrami (and TA-ed by Deqah) about New York's Tenderloin district and dive into kennedy's “The Pledge to Unredact the Facts,” a framework that helps students and practitioners confront the ways grammar, narrative structure, and omission can obscure Black harm when writing about history. This is a conversation about more than buildings. It is about repair, truth-telling and care. Credits: Hosted and produced by Deqah Hussein-Wetzel. Edited and mixed by Skyler Ficklin.Urban Roots⁠ is brought to you by ⁠Urbanist Media⁠, a non-profit dedicated to preserving place through story. Please consider supporting us on ⁠Venmo⁠ or ⁠Paypal⁠. Sign up for our Newsletter: @urbanistmedia Other LinksYouTube: @urbanrootspodcast.IG: ⁠urbanrootsculture⁠ TikTok: @urbanistmedia Patreon: @urbanist_media 

The Fifth Circuit is crossing out laws just for sport. This time it's a 140-year-old ban on making homebrew hooch, because YOLO.Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over an article describing his creepy birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein was dismissed. But … that dismissal was without prejudice, so he can take another swing at it. The trollsuit against the BBC is still limping along.Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Education Josh Kleinfeld makes an interesting pitch to George Mason's Antonin Scalia Law School, which is currently under investigation by … the Department of Education.And Trump's ballroom blitz takes a tumble in court.MAIN SHOW:Trump discovers one weird trick to make the Presidential Records Act disappear. All he has to do is order the Office of Legal Counsel to come up with a memo saying it's unconstitutional and — hey, presto! — he can steal or shred or delete any document he likes.SUBSCRIBER BONUS:Are we the pirates now?Trump v. Murdochhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70843413/trump-v-murdochTrump v. BBChttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72040010/trump-v-british-broadcasting-corporationFifth Circuit Home Distillers Rulinghttps://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-10760-CV0.pdfTrump Admin Lawyer Applies To Be Law School Dean, Suggests It Might Help Investigations Go Awayhttps://abovethelaw.com/2026/04/trump-admin-lawyer-applies-to-be-law-school-dean-suggests-it-might-help-investigations-go-away/Ballroom Blitz Blockedhttps://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/ballroom-blitz-blockedNational Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Servicehttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73127510/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-v-npsApril 1, 2026 OLC Memorandum on the Presidential Records Acthttps://www.justice.gov/olc/media/1434131/dlJudicial Watch v. NARA (“Socks Case”), 845 F.Supp.2d 288 (DC Cir. 2012)https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15818036517066124081Trump v. Mazars, 591 US 848 (2020)https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2096461232780826445Nixon v. Administrator of General Svcs. et al., 433 US 425 (1977)https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=11884364268460571560Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pam Bondi is GTFO! But the mess she leaves will take a generation to repair.The Supreme Court paved the way to disappear Steve Bannon's conviction for contempt of Congress.Trump commands the NCAA to quit being woke. He also has thoughts about the transfer portal.MAIN SHOW:Judge Richard Leon! Preliminarily enjoins! Trump's tackyass ballroom! Administration files ridiculous appeal!Justin Baldoni is back to teach us CivPro. This time, he's largely prevailing on his motion for judgment on the pleadings, as Judge Liman dismisses ten of Blake Lively's 13 counts. Turns out, she never signed her contract, and the contract established that she was an employee, not an independent contractor. Since independent contractors can't sue for discrimination under Title VII, her harassment claims are out. And the contract had a choice of law provision that agreed to abide by California law. No contract … no automatic California law.And of course we'll break down the Supreme Court's birthright decision hearing. So many clips!SCOTUS Orders List April 6, 2026https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040626zor_5iek.pdfTrump Executive Order to De-Woke the NCAAhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/urgent-national-action-to-save-college-sports/National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service [Ballroom trial docket]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service [Ballroom appeal docket]https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73127510/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-v-nps/Lively v. Wayfarerhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69510553/lively-v-wayfarer-studios-llc/?order_by=descBlake Lively's (unsigned) Actor Loan-Out Agreement [Exhibit 263]https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304.964.121.pdfBirthright Citizenship SCOTUS Transcripthttps://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/25-365_l6gn.pdfBirthright Citizenship SCOTUS Audiohttps://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/25-365Show Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Day in Legal History: Civil Rights Act of 1968On April 6, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law, marking a major expansion of federal civil rights protections. Commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, the legislation aimed to eliminate discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. It prohibited unequal treatment based on race, religion, and national origin, later expanding to include sex and other protected characteristics. The law emerged during a period of national unrest, passed just days after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. King had long advocated for fair housing as a central component of racial equality, particularly in Northern cities.The Act addressed systemic practices such as redlining, steering, and discriminatory lending that had historically segregated communities. It gave the federal government authority to enforce fair housing standards, though early enforcement mechanisms were relatively weak. Over time, amendments strengthened the law, adding protections for people with disabilities and families with children. The statute also allowed individuals to file complaints with the Department of Housing and Urban Development or pursue private lawsuits. Courts have since played a key role in interpreting the scope of the Act, especially in recognizing claims based on disparate impact.A central legal concept tied to the Fair Housing Act is disparate impact, which refers to policies that appear neutral but disproportionately harm protected groups. Unlike intentional discrimination, disparate impact does not require proof of discriminatory intent, only that a practice has an unequal effect. This theory became firmly established in housing law through later litigation and was upheld by the Supreme Court in cases interpreting the Act. It remains a critical tool for challenging structural inequality in housing markets.The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 represented both a response to national tragedy and a continuation of the broader civil rights movement's legislative achievements.A federal judge refused to reverse his earlier decision blocking subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, effectively pausing a criminal investigation and setting up a likely appeal. Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled that prosecutors failed to show any valid basis for suspecting wrongdoing and criticized the lack of evidence supporting fraud allegations. He had previously found that the subpoenas were issued for an improper purpose, suggesting they were meant to pressure Powell to lower interest rates or step down.The subpoenas, issued by prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, sought information about cost overruns at the Federal Reserve's headquarters and Powell's prior congressional testimony. However, the court found no good-faith basis for believing a crime had occurred. Prosecutors argued the judge applied too strict a standard and misread the timeline of the investigation, but the court rejected those claims. Pirro's office has said it will appeal the ruling, a move supported by Justice Department leadership.The dispute reflects broader tensions between Powell and allies of President Donald Trump, with Powell arguing the investigation is an attempt to influence Federal Reserve policy. The appeal could delay efforts to confirm Kevin Warsh as a replacement for Powell, as some lawmakers have pledged to block the nomination while the case continues. Powell has said he will remain in his role until the legal challenge is resolved.US judge upholds block on subpoenas to Fed's Powell, teeing up likely appeal | ReutersA federal judge blocked the Trump administration from requiring public universities in 17 states to provide extensive admissions data related to race and sex. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV issued a preliminary injunction after state attorneys general challenged the policy, arguing it was imposed too quickly and created legal risks for schools. The data request came from the Department of Education, which sought seven years of information to evaluate whether colleges were complying with the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard that ended affirmative action in higher education.The states argued that the reporting requirement was confusing and could expose universities to penalties for accidental errors. The court agreed that the rollout was “rushed and chaotic,” noting that officials failed to properly consider concerns raised by universities. At the same time, the judge acknowledged that the Department of Education does have legal authority to collect such data in general. The issue, he emphasized, was how the policy was implemented, not necessarily the underlying power itself.The ruling also pointed to practical problems, including staffing shortages within the agency after workforce reductions, which made it harder to manage the data collection process. Officials in states like New York and California supported the decision, saying schools should not be forced to produce large amounts of sensitive information under unclear requirements.Trump administration can't make colleges provide race-related data, judge rules | ReutersThe Trump administration filed an emergency motion asking an appeals court to allow construction to resume on a planned White House ballroom after a judge ordered the project paused. The administration argued that stopping the work creates serious security risks, claiming the site has been left vulnerable and could endanger the president, staff, and the building itself. The pause was ordered by Judge Richard Leon, who halted construction while a legal challenge moves forward.The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues that President Donald Trumpexceeded his authority by demolishing the historic East Wing and beginning a $400 million replacement project without congressional approval. In response, the administration claims the lawsuit is legally flawed and that the president has full authority to renovate the White House. It also argues that the plaintiffs lack standing, meaning they do not have a sufficient legal stake to bring the case.Judge Leon temporarily paused his own order for 14 days to give the administration time to appeal, and the new emergency motion asks the appellate court to lift the construction halt entirely. The administration further contends that the lower court should not have heard the case at all, characterizing the claims as based on subjective concerns rather than legal injury.Trump administration files emergency motion to resume ballroom work, citing security issues | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

I've got a story about an artist that I've been obsessed with for years. In this episode, Patricia Hoerth Batchelder talks about her new biography of Evelyn Beatrice Longman, The Woman Who Sculpted Golden Boy, Thomas Edison, and Other Monuments. Poor, motherless at five, and uneducated after elementary school, Longman made the highly ambitious claim at nineteen that she could create monumental sculpture. The book tells the story of how she created beauty, moved into upper class society, and succeeded in a field of art that was overwhelmingly dominated by men. Ms. Batchelder has worked for The Washington Star and written for The Tulsa Tribune before co-writing her father's memoir. She is married to Nathaniel Horton Batchelder III, the grandson of sculptor Evelyn Beatrice Longman Batchelder. Look for Evelyn Beatrice Longman, The Woman Who Sculpted Golden Boy, Thomas Edison, and Other Monuments by Patricia Batchelder and published in 2025 on Amazon or at your favorite bookstore. It's also available at the publisher's website, Bloomsbury.com. There are two places I'd encourage you to visit when the weather warms up. The first is the Spanish-American War Memorial in Hartford's Bushnell Park. It's on the south side on Elm Street-if you go at lunch time, there might be food trucks. The second is Chesterwood, sculptor Daniel Chester French's summer estate in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It's only a smidge over the Connecticut border in the Berkshires and is run as a museum property by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Here's the website: chesterwood.org/   -------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to Connecticut Explored magazine today-our summer issue is full of fun ideas for daytrips and staycations! Remember, you can help us celebrate our 10th anniversary and keep the podcast alive by pledging $10 dollars a month. It's easy to set up a monthly donation on our website at ctexplored.org/ Connecticut history matters - be part of it! This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan at highwattagemedia.com/   Follow GTN on our socials-Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky. Follow executive producer Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at West Hartford Town Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!  

This Day in Legal History: Constitutional Reform Act of 2005On April 1, 2005, a major shift in the structure of the United Kingdom's legal system began with the passage of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. This legislation fundamentally reshaped the relationship between the judiciary and the other branches of government. Before the Act, the highest court functions were carried out by the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, blending judicial and legislative roles in a way that raised concerns about separation of powers. The reform sought to modernize the constitution by clearly distinguishing judicial authority from Parliament. It also redefined the role of the Lord Chancellor, stripping away many of that office's judicial and legislative functions to reduce institutional overlap.One of the most important outcomes of the Act was the creation of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which would eventually take over as the country's highest appellate court. Although the Court did not begin hearing cases until 2009, the legal foundation for its existence was firmly established on this date. The reform also created a new Judicial Appointments Commission, designed to make the process of selecting judges more transparent and independent from political influence. By doing so, the Act aimed to strengthen public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.The legislation reflected broader constitutional trends toward accountability and institutional clarity in democratic systems. It also aligned the UK more closely with other nations that maintain a clear separation between judicial and legislative bodies. Critics at the time questioned whether the changes were necessary in a system that had long functioned without a formal written constitution. Supporters, however, argued that the reforms were overdue and essential for maintaining the rule of law in a modern state. Over time, the changes introduced by the Act have become a defining feature of the UK's constitutional framework, shaping how justice is administered at the highest level.A federal judge in Washington, D.C., blocked plans by Donald Trump to build a large ballroom on the White House grounds, granting a preliminary injunction requested by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Judge Richard J. Leon concluded that the nonprofit is likely to succeed on its claim that the administration acted beyond its legal authority. He emphasized that Congress had not approved the project and that no statute gives the president power to construct new buildings on White House grounds without authorization. The court relied in part on the Constitution's Property Clause, which gives Congress control over federal land. The judge rejected the administration's argument that existing statutes or agencies, such as the National Park Service, provided sufficient authority. He also criticized the government for shifting explanations about which entity was responsible for the project.The lawsuit stems from the administration's decision to demolish the historic East Wing and move forward with construction without completing required reviews. These include environmental assessments, planning approvals, and congressional authorization. The court found that the potential harm to the White House's historical and cultural value justified immediate intervention. The judge also dismissed claims that delaying construction would create national security risks, calling those arguments unpersuasive. Although the project was described as privately funded, the court said that funding sources do not override statutory limits. As a result, construction must stop unless Congress explicitly approves the project. The judge temporarily paused enforcement of the injunction to allow the government time to appeal.‘Construction Has To Stop!': Judge Blocks Trump's Ballroom - Law360Judge orders Trump to halt $400 million White House ballroom project, for now | ReutersThe Supreme Court of the United States is considering whether Donald Trump can restrict birthright citizenship through an executive order, a move that could significantly change how citizenship is granted in the United States. The policy would deny citizenship to children born on U.S. soil if their parents are neither citizens nor lawful permanent residents. Lower courts blocked the order, finding it likely violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and existing federal law. The justices are now reviewing that decision on appeal, with a ruling expected later this year.At the center of the dispute is the meaning of the Citizenship Clause, which has long been interpreted to grant citizenship to nearly all people born in the United States. The Trump administration argues that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction” excludes children of undocumented immigrants or those in the country temporarily. Opponents contend this interpretation contradicts over a century of legal precedent, including United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed birthright citizenship for children of foreign nationals.The case could have far-reaching consequences, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of births each year and requiring families to prove a child's eligibility for citizenship. It also reflects broader debates over immigration policy and constitutional interpretation. The Supreme Court's decision will determine whether the longstanding understanding of birthright citizenship remains intact or is significantly narrowed.US Supreme Court considers Trump's effort to limit birthright citizenship | ReutersA federal judge refused to approve a proposed agreement that would have allowed churches to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status. Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that he did not have jurisdiction to sign off on the deal between the Internal Revenue Service and several religious groups. The agreement sought to carve out an exception to the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits nonprofits from supporting political candidates.The judge based his decision on the Tax Anti-Injunction Act, a law that generally prevents courts from interfering with tax collection. He reasoned that approving the agreement would effectively limit how much tax the government could collect, placing the case outside the court's authority. The proposed settlement had been designed to resolve a lawsuit brought by religious broadcasters and churches challenging the Johnson Amendment.Supporters of the ruling argued it preserves the long-standing separation between political campaigning and tax-exempt religious activity. Opponents, including the groups that brought the lawsuit, said they plan to appeal and believe an exception should be allowed for religious speech. The dispute reflects a broader legal and political debate over the balance between free exercise of religion and restrictions tied to nonprofit tax benefits.US judge rejects IRS pact allowing churches to endorse political candidates | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

In this episode, host Brett Barry joins Jan Jaffe, board president of Wellington Blueberry LLC, outside the shuttered Wellington Hotel on Main Street in Pine Hill, New York — a 12,000-square-foot, 19th-century landmark and one of the few remaining intact Catskill hotels that survived the era's notorious fires.Jan shares the origin story of this ambitious community-driven project: how roughly 20 neighbors pooled resources in the fall of 2022 to purchase the long-vacant building. Their goal: rehabilitate the historic structure into 10 units of workforce housing (studios and one-bedrooms targeted at residents earning 60–80% of area median income) and a much-needed community grocery store.Four years in, Wellington Blueberry has made remarkable pre-construction progress — clearing 60 dumpsters of debris, completing environmental review, obtaining all necessary permits, securing a letter of intent from Bank of America for historic tax credits, and earning a 2025 designation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Their developer and construction manager is RUPCO, the region's leading nonprofit housing developer, and their architects are Albany preservation firm Thaler Riley Wilson.But they're still at "the last mile" — approximately $1 million short of the full funding needed to break ground.Topics covered:What workforce housing means and who it's designed to helpHow historic tax credits work and why they matter for this projectThe "Dagwood sandwich" of layered funding sources (grants from Restore NY, Ulster County, anonymous donors, and more)What the community has already accomplished — including two volunteer clean-up events with 40 people eachPlans for a local grocery store serving both residents and visitorsHow prospective tenants will eventually apply via lotteryTo learn more or donate, visit pinehillwellington.com. Donations can currently be made through RUPCO's website.