Category: Uncategorized

Hinderaker Thinks Ms. Harmeet Dhillon Is Actually… A Lawyer?! Hilarious!

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Tonight, John offers lots of “fear factor-esque“ nonsense, about some DOJ wanna be pretend lawyer… who is coming for various Minnesota educational initiatives.

As Marcy Wheeler has amply demonstrated, this chucklehead knows less about the law than any 20 random Virginia graduates of the same age and class/program.

This is the same woman who — just about a year ago — tweeted out an ADA violative insult at some influencer, while she herself was knitting, libeling the influencer a “retard”. That term is now a slur in civilized society.

This is the malignant, four-times married and divorced piece of crap that Trump put in charge of the DoJ’s civil rights division.

John wants us to be afraid of her prowess as a lawyer. Forgive me if I don’t take to my fainting couch.

She’s already been shown to be a liar under oath in Minnesota, in the Don Lemon case there.

So yeah, I won’t worry too much about any stupid crap she’s throwing at the federal courts these days in the form of spurious complaints at law.

Out.

The Plaintiffs Will Now Likely Get To Trial, In DC US District Court, On Whether Trump Needed The Senate’s Consent, In Order To Put Musk In — To Head DOGE. Sweet.

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In DC, the very capable USDC Judge Tanya Chutkan published a 31 page opinion, last week — explaining how and why Musk and Trump acted lawlessly last Spring. [Just one of several of my backgrounders, here.]

Do read it all — but here is a bit:

…The Appointments Clause is concerned only with the appointment of officers. See New Mexico, 784 F. Supp. 3d at 199 (“To state an Appointments Clause violation, a plaintiff must allege that an ‘Officer of the United States’ has not been constitutionally appointed.” (quoting U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 2)). The Clause “cares not a whit” about the appointment of “nonofficer employees”—the “lesser functionaries” who make up the vast bulk of “the Government’s workforce.” Lucia v. SEC, 585 U.S. 237, 245 (2018); see also Freytag, 501 U.S. at 880 (nonofficer employees “need not be selected in compliance with the strict requirements of Article II”). But contrary to Defendants’ contention, Plaintiffs have adequately pled that the head of DOGE is an officer of the United States. “In the constitutional context, an ‘officer’ is someone who”: (1) “‘occupies a continuing position established by law,’” and (2) “‘exercises significant authority pursuant to the laws of the United States.’” Al Bahlul v. United States, 967 F.3d 858, 869 (D.C. Cir. 2020) (quoting Lucia, 585 U.S. at 245). The Complaint sufficiently alleges both.

…Plaintiffs have adequately pled that the head of DOGE occupies a continuing position. A position is “continuing” when it (1) is “not transient or fleeting,” (2) is “not personal to a particular individual,” and (3) carries out duties that are “more than incidental to the regular operations of government.” United States v. Donziger, 38 F.4th 290, 297 (2d Cir. 2022). Although a continuing position cannot be transient or fleeting, it need not be permanent….

Plaintiffs have also sufficiently pled that “the position is not personal to a particular individual.” Donziger, 38 F.4th at 297. Although DOGE is most closely associated with its first leader, Elon Musk, the Complaint alleges that Musk led DOGE as a special government employee, a position he was required to vacate after 130 days. See Compl. ¶ 36; see also 18 U.S.C. § 202(a) (defining a “special government employee” as “an officer or employee” who cannot serve for more than 130 days a year).

Given that DOGE will exist for at least 18 months, Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged that “the position [of DOGE’s leader] is not personal to Musk” and does not disappear after he leaves government. New Mexico, 784 F. Supp. 3d at 201; see also Donziger, 38 F.4th at 297 (a position does not “depend on the identity of the person occupying it” if that individual “could be replaced without the duties of the position[] terminating”). Plaintiffs’ Appointments Clause claim may thus lie against whoever succeeds Musk in leading DOGE. See New Mexico, 784 F. Supp. 3d at 201; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d)….

Now you know. Onward, as sanity makes a comeback… grin.

नमस्ते

The Rise In “Independent” Voters… Doesn’t Support A Hinderaker “Democrats In Decline” Narrative.

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As is often the case, John’s actual proffered data — closely parsed — does NOT support his major premise.

The 20 year data indicates more people identify as “independents”.

The 20 year data also supports a 20 year trend of INCREASING democratic turnout — and that in the main, independents tend to vote Democratic when they actually go to the polls. [Harris/Trump II was a slight outlier here.]

But even old Hinderaker admits that there are fewer self-identified GOP members, than there are Democratic ones.

And he admits that in the last four or so national elections, the Democrats have turned out in very large numbers.

So — all in all — the demographics, and turnout data… are all pointing away from any continued MAGA ascendancy.

That much is crystal clear. His conclusion is so erroneous, as to fairly raise the question of whether he is intentionally lying — to his rubes.

Onward, in any case — and resolutely so.

Several Regulatory Warning Letters, To Major Bio-Pharma Concerns, During March 2026. That’s News, Under Tangerine 2.0.

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To be fair, Iovance, Novartis and BMS all received similar biological/pharmaceutical letter warnings, from FDA’s CBER.

The point of the spear then, is that even under Tangerine 2.0, the working parts of FDA (CBER) will expect major biopharma- to be careful — in what each claims, in its marketing materials. . . as to indications, and efficacy — each, not yet established by FDA vetted and approved studies.

[To my experienced eye, it would seem that the letter to Iovance makes the most serious allegations, by CBER.]

In any event, since we follow Gilead closely, here’s a bit of the FDA’s Kite / Gilead March 9 letter:

…The promotional materials make false or misleading claims and representations about the benefits of TECARTUS. Thus, the promotional materials misbrand TECARTUS within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and make its distribution violative. 21 U.S.C. 321(n); 331(a); 352(a), (n). See 21 CFR 202.1(e)(5). These violations are particularly concerning from a public health perspective because the promotional materials make misleading representations about TECARTUS being more effective or having greater clinical benefit than has been demonstrated. This may cause doctors and patients to inaccurately weigh the risks versus benefits of treatment with TECARTUS, which can be fatal or life-threatening….

Now you know. Be careful out there, folks. Onward, grinning — on a perfectly sunny Spring afternoon in the steel and glass canyons.

नमस्ते

Merck Discloses Very Impressive Cholesterol Lowering Data, With Its Next Gen PCSK9 Inhibitor, Enlicitide.

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We last mentioned this development in early September of 2025 — when Rahway posted excellent top-line results. The detailed data is now out, and the next-gen cholesterol lowering pill is a very clear winner.

In a clinical study called CoralReef AddOn, Merck’s PCSK9 inhibitor effectively doubled the lowering effect seen with old Vytorin, a legacy Schering-Plough / Merck drug (with a troubled FDA disclosures / approval history — circa 2006).

So, this brings our narrative arc full circle — away from the debacle that largely caused the break-up of old S-P. Here’s that good news, from Fierce Biotech:

…Merck & Co. has lifted the lid on the third successful phase 3 trial of its PCSK9 inhibitor, showing the edge the cardiovascular disease prospect has over other oral non-statin therapies.

Last year, Merck said the study, dubbed Coralreef AddOn, met its primary and key secondary endpoints, but the company kept the data back for a medical meeting. The Big Pharma arrived at the American College of Cardiology’s annual get-together clutching the data, which show its oral macrocyclic peptide enlicitide comfortably beat the control treatments across multiple measures of cardiovascular health….

On Day 56, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) had fallen by an average of 64.6% in the enlicitide cohort. Patients on the combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe had the next biggest decline in LDL-C, but the drop lagged well behind the study drug at 36.5%….

And so, the Fred Hassan era is long-gone — as no more than a speed-bump, in the history of bad big pharma. Onward, smiling… yep — that’s the power-alley. And, has it really been two decades? I guess so, because “time flies — when you’re having fun….”

नमस्ते

UPDATE: On The Class Action Pending Since 1985, Under Reagan: ICE Violations Of Migrants’ Rights…

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The ongoing court-ordered mediation, to resolve what has now become 42 years of lawlessness, at the border, and in detention centers. . . continues, in the federal court complex, in LA — in the case captioned Flores (before the ever capable USDC Judge Dolly Gee), with hope for some specific relief at the federal Dilley detention complex.

We’ve been here (in this back and forth) before — in Tangerine 1.0. So, I don’t hold out a ton of hope for a complete resolution — but this is the process — so we follow it (from Friday past):

…The parties provide the Court with the following update regarding mediation. Defendants submitted supplemental reports by the Juvenile Coordinators of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, on March 13, 2026, see ECF Nos. 1735 and 1736, and Plaintiffs’ counsel responded on March 20, 2026, see ECF Nos. 1747 and 1748.

Dr. Wise visited Dilley Immigration Processing Center on March 24, 2026, and the parties await his report of the visit.

After further communications by mediator Andrea Sheridan Ordin with counsel for Plaintiffs, and, separately, counsel for Defendants, on March 27, 2026, the parties agreed to continue discussions, with particular attention to time in custody and medical care, for the next 30 days. The parties agree to provide the Court with an update no later than April 27, 2026.

Dated: March 27, 2026

NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW | Mishan Wroe | Diane de Gramont | Rebecca Wolozin

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS | Leecia Welch | Eleanor Roberts

CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | Carlos Holguín | Bardis Vakili | Sarah E. Kahn….

Now you know. Onward, resolutely. Damnation.

नमस्ते

Again, My Answer Is The Same: A Week Ago — And Tonight: Hinderaker Realizes (Too Late) That Morons Are “Running” This War Of Choice.

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Again tonight, as Hinderaker sees that Trump is really sending the Marines in, even in small numbers — he wants to cut his fish-line, and run.

He knows he’s been shilling for this crowd of incompetent, malevolent dunces for far too long. Not even Nixon would have tried this. Nor would his regular whipping boy, Jimmy Carter.

But here we are. John has no face left to… save. He too is a moron’s… moron.

So — here is what I wrote a week ago, now: “John is finally accepting what everyone else has long known: Trump’s actual story is “the emperor’s new robes” — incarnate….”

That is all still true.

But is past time for Hinderaker and Mirengoff and Johnson and Hayward to apologize to the nation. They have tried to portray themselves as the “brains” in the MAGA movement.

And so, to all of us — in the reality infused world, it has been (for over a year!) clear — the lights, and the elevators, in the MAGA lighthouses… do not go all the way to the top floor.

Largely because the Hinderakers of the world designed it all that way. “Put dunces in cabinet positions… and trust Trump to stop anything awful, by theatrical and mostly nonsensical flourishes.”

Except that not even Trump is following the reality TV script — any longer.

Trump is likely only cogent when overdosing, on Adderall. Damn — he is a vacant CoC 95% of the time — letting Hegseth wander aimlessly about, and destroy things. Important things. Historical things.

What a nightmare.

Own it John.

O U T.

In Which Hinderaker (Wrongly) Assumes We “No Kingers” Are… Cowards, Solely Because… He IS.

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This afternoon, John is bloviating about his perhaps one minute coming appearance (likely this coming Wed., he says — but I bet it is tonight, on Weekend edition, Sunday) on Online NewsHour, on PBS — to provide a supposed “counterpoint” — to the No Kings coverage by the public broadcasting network. He was interviewed by Judy Woodruff, he says. [He may yet get cut from the segment; we shall see.]

In any event, he says that no liberals actually believe Trump is a tyrant, for if they did, and… he were… said tyrant, we would run in fear for our very lives — and never have the courage to protest, as over 11 million of us did, just yesterday.

Welp, John — just because you’ve been a feckless coward your whole life long… does not mean we are so afflicted.

Trump is a tyrant. And YOU are the one who is afraid to say so.

Sit your a$$ down, son.

We are ready — over eleven million of us.

Out.

As Ever, Amazon Wildly Outspends Even Pharma- — On Lobbying. This Year Was No Exception…

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I am (as ever!) tardy with this — but it makes a nice pair of bookends, with my immediately prior Amazon labor lawlessness, in British Columbia.

For the year, Amazon again increased lobby spend — to nearly $18 million. This is what all the Bezos controlled concern bend Congressional ears on (culled, to include only health-, and life sciences, and telemedicine, and employee relations and tax matters):

…Issues related to intellectual property, including the NO FAKES Act (S. 1367), counterfeits, music licensing, and issues related to patent reform, International Trade Commission patent investigations, intermediary liability, and patent reform, including the RESTORE Patents Act (H.R. 1574 / S. 708), the Patent Eligibility Restoration (PERA) Act (H.R. 3152 / S. 1546), and the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act (H.R. 3160 / S. 1553)….

Issues related to taxes, digital goods and services, renewable energy tax credits, and international and corporate taxation, including H.R. 1 – To provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14. (P.L. 119-21), the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double Tax Relief Act (H.R. 33 / S. 199), and implementation of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97)….

Issues related to data protection, encryption, data retention, data breach notification, data security, cross border data flows, privacy, law enforcement access, fraud prevention, product safety related to the sale of counterfeit and/or stolen products, including the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (S. 1404 / H.R. 2853), cloud computing, and implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-314). Issues related to artificial intelligence safety and research and development, including the CREATE AI Act (H.R. 2385)….

Issues related to immigration, high-skilled immigration, and non-immigrant visas, including issues related to employment-based visas, green card backlog, and the STEM visa exemption provision….

Issues related to technology, procurement, and space policy, including the Fostering Reform and Government Efficiency in Defense Act (draft bill – no numbers), implementation of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (P.L. 118-159), and the FoRGED Act (S. 5618) and implementation of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 119-60)….

Issues related to surface transportation, including autonomous vehicles, community infrastructure investments, hazardous materials, U.S. internal supply chain and goods movement, and maritime transportation; issues related to infrastructure….

Issues related to USDA SNAP online purchasing, including reauthorization of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), Electronic Benefit Transfer, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and food safety….

Issues related to health information technology, Medicare, healthcare, pharmacy policy, and telehealth, including the Telehealth Expansion Act (H.R. 1650 / S. 763), the CONNECT for Health Act (S. 1261), and the Telehealth Modernization Act (H.R. 5081 / S. 2709)….

Issues related to Amazon’s Climate Pledge, including carbon-free energy development, grid modernization, energy and grid reliability, Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED Act) (H.R.4776), and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 4553/S.3293)….

Now you know — and come on, Tennessee! Give the Illini an easier path to glory, by taking out Michigan. Smile.

नमस्ते

Two Items, This Sunday: On Amazon — Canadian Labor, And US Lobbying…

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From time to time, we check in on Mr. Bezos’ ongoing efforts to abuse the labor rights of various working people, on a global basis. That is our first story, today. The Canadian labor relations regulators have ruled that Amazon unlawfully retaliated against Vancouver BC area warehouse workers during contract negotiations, for the “offense” of voting in a… union.

Amazon stopped paying annual raises and bonuses, during the negotiations, while paying them out at all non-union shops. [There was a five year track record of annual raises and bonuses, in the facility — before unionization.] What an out of touch billionaire-putz this Bezos guy is — workers are teammates, and peers — not serfs, in the 21st Century. He needs a wake-up call. Here’s that, from Friday, at a Canadian outlet:

…Employees at Amazon’s Delta warehouse on Annacis Island will be getting some back pay following a B.C. Labour Relations Board ruling last month.

Jonathan Hanvelt, vice-chair of the board, said that Amazon contravened Sec. 45 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Code.

That section says that wages and working conditions should remain unchanged during the time when talks for a first contract are underway at a newly certified operation…. one of those working conditions was regular, annual pay reviews and increases, which Amazon paid at its other locations, but missed in 2025 at the Delta location on Derwent Place because bargaining for a first contract with Unifor was underway….

[T]he LRB’s decision… points out that from 2020 to 2025, Amazon has provided yearly pay reviews and wage increases at its metro Vancouver locations. Hanvelt said the question was whether Amazon had breached Sec. 45 last September by not providing the 2025 pay increases to YVR2 that it had given at other locations….

“I find that this was a change from business as usual for the purposes of Section 45 and constitutes a breach of the Code,” Hanvelt wrote. Sec. 45 (1) (b), says that an employer can’t increase or decrease wages, or alter another term of employment, until either a new contract is signed or a year following certification, whatever comes first….

Now you know. Amazon’s 2025 lobby spend trends, next up — down here in the USA. Stay tuned, while the March Madness rumbles onward on your tee-vees. Heh.

नमस्ते