Category: Uncategorized

This Is… Difficult News — Even Decades Later.

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True enough — six have survived. And all were very experienced back country skiers, we are reliably informed.

But the central object lesson here is that some times… the snow is so unstable, and the slide opens nearly instantaneously — without warning or sound — and comes down in overwhelmingly massive waves… such that nothing would prevent tragedy. Nothing other than not being on the mountain at all, that day.

Here is the NYT’s reporting, so far:

…The bodies of eight skiers killed during an avalanche were found during a rescue effort late Tuesday in California near Lake Tahoe. Six skiers from their party survived and were evacuated, while one member of the group remains missing and presumed dead in what is already the deadliest avalanche in modern California history….

The skiers, including four guides, had been finishing up a three-day backcountry expedition in a rugged but popular recreational area near Castle Peak. The six survivors were able to use a combination of emergency beacons and iPhone S.O.S. functions to contact rescuers, who braved treacherous conditions to reach them….

There are old back country skiers… and there are bold back country skiers. . . but there are very few… old, bold such skiers. May they rest in pow[d]er. Onward — but there is still (likely) one body, to retrieve off the mountain, when conditions improve. Yikes.

नमस्ते

John… Now, On Teen Beauty Pageants — And Jeff Epstein… SRYSLY?!

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Hinderaker is desperate not to talk about Trump moving more aircraft carriers into the Persian Gulf (remember here that the GOP has, since 2016 at least supposedly run on non-interventionist platforms)… that he now decides to insult AOC — by purportedly comparing her to a 2007 teen beauty contestant of no note.

Y A W N.

Hey John — AOC said what she said at the conference in Munich last week. And she was, in the main, more warmly received than the frenetic, and wildly conflicting versions of messaging Rubio offered. Those are facts.

Astonishingly, today he also claimed that “no crimes were committed” by anyone other than Jeffrey Epstien and Ms. Maxwell… again, looking to set up deflection battles — rather than genuinely address the real issues of the day.

But whatever John — talk about public transport in your frost-bitten city. But leave real international affairs to the grownups.

Please.

Much Of The Long Overdue Hudson Tunnel Federal Payments Have Been Made — Under Court Orders, In Manhattan As Of Today And Tomorrow. Whew.

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So… is the end of a bad thing — is that… a good thing? I am uncertain. I am certain, however — that it should never have happened.

Trump’s monstrous vanity was all it was. New York will not rename the tunnel after him. So he lawlessly tried to stop the workers from being paid their wages. What an a$$.

In any event, here’s that three page Treasury status report — on payments so far:

…With respect to the three loan agreements executed between the Build America Bureau (the “Bureau”) and GDC under the Railroad Rehabilitation Improvement Financing (“RRIF”) program, all outstanding reimbursement requests totaling $30,207,203 were paid on Friday, February 13. . . .

With respect to the Federal Transit Administration (“FTA”) grant agreements executed between FTA and GDC under the Capital Improvements Grant (“CIG”) program, GDC had $66,542,105 in outstanding reimbursement requests. On Friday, February 13, FTA approved the full $66,542,105 and transmitted this payment to Treasury. Treasury is processing the request. We understand that GDC should receive payment today or tomorrow….

With respect to the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) grant agreement between FRA and GDC under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (“FSP”) program, GDC had $136,724,429 in outstanding reimbursement requests. On Friday, February 13, FRA approved $8.8 million, which covers the first of five invoices GDC submitted, and transmitted this payment to Treasury. We understand that GDC should receive the payment today or tomorrow. The remaining four invoices of approximately $128 million were approved Friday evening and were sent to Treasury today at 2:30 PM. We understand that GDC should receive the payment tomorrow or Thursday, February 19, 2026…

This is… progress — but it is simply atrocious that Tangerine 2.0 jerks hard working construction people around — many living paycheck to paycheck — like this. Damnation.

नमस्ते

Mayo and Merck: “Better… Together” — A New R&D Collaboration.

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The initial three areas of focus under the collaboration agreement are Gastroenterology — Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); Dermatology — Atopic dermatitis, and Neurology — Multiple sclerosis.

As ever, Merck is playing for the long term wins — spanning decades perhaps. And it can afford to do so, with the pembrolizumab franchise to contribute over $20 billion a year, through the mid-2030s, now. Here’s the latest — and a bit, from both CEOs:

…Merck and Mayo Clinic, the world’s top-ranked hospital system, today announced a research and development agreement to apply artificial intelligence (AI), advanced analytics and multimodal clinical data to support drug discovery and development. The agreement integrates Mayo Clinic’s Platform architecture as well as clinical and genomic datasets with Merck’s ambition to harness AI-enabled virtual cell technologies to enhance disease understanding, improve target identification and drive early development decisions….

“New cutting-edge technologies are enhancing our ability to innovate with the potential to bring important new therapies to patients faster. By working with Mayo Clinic, we aim to integrate high-quality clinical data and AI-enabled insights into discovery research to improve target identification and, ultimately, the probability of success for our programs,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and CEO, Merck.

“By combining Mayo Clinic Platform’s de-identified data, clinical expertise and Platform technology with Merck’s world-class research and development capabilities, we are poised to speed innovative breakthroughs to patients and redefine drug development,” said Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO, Mayo Clinic. “This collaboration represents a new present and future for healthcare — one where platform-based collaboration leads to more answers, more cures and better outcomes for patients worldwide….”

So there’s your power alley item of the day, for Wednesday… with a lovely 60-ish degree sunny day ahead, here. Excellent!

नमस्ते

USDC Judge Paula Xinis Rules Abrego Garcia Cannot Lawfully Be RE-Detained, By Rewriting A 2019 [Supposedly Non-Final] Administrative Order… Woot!

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So it is, once again, that Kristi Noem possesses no “magic wand” that might (via evil pixie dust) undo a 2019 order — one that controls this case in Maryland.

Any attempt to detain him should have happened in 2019. That didn’t happen. So he is no longer subject to detention, as a matter of statutory rights. Here’s her much anticipated ten page ruling in full, and a bit:

. . .The matter at ECF No. 112 is now ripe for resolution. For the reasons stated below, the Court grants Abrego Garcia’s request to convert the TRO to one for injunctive relief and clarifies that the Court’s habeas relief includes enjoining his re-detention under Zadvydas and its progeny, as previously articulated….

To read the order otherwise, as [Noemites] Respondents suggest, would indeed rewrite the history of this case. It would restart Respondents “removal period” pursuant to § 1231, and by extension, eviscerate the removal period and the six years when Respondents did nothing to effectuate third-country removal. See ECF No. 110 at 7–14. Respondents reading would also conveniently erase this last year of Abrego Garcia’s detention and count none of it as relevant to the Zadvydas analysis. Because a “now for then” order cannot alter substantive rights or rewrite history, the Court must reject Respondents’ arguments….

As to what this means for Abrego Garcia’s continued release, it secures rather than undermines it. The Court had previously articulated the many reasons why the teachings of Zadvydas demanded release. ECF No. 110 at 25–30. Those reasons, and the factual underpinnings for them, squarely apply now that Abrego Garcia has a final order of removal and withholding of removal to El Salvador as of November 2019. The Court incorporates the reasons articulated at ECF No. 110….

Now you know — grinning — as expected. Onward, resolutely — to the hearings in Nashville next week.

नमस्ते

Hinderaker Is In No Manner A Serious Adult…

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From his nonsensical belchings about DEI (which is he well knows continues to this day…), to just silly claims that California is losing out to Florida and Texas (on undefined dimensions). [That would only be true if we were measuring excessive and cruel over enforcement of immigration policy.]

None of it is backed by any real evidence and none of it makes any sense.

But for John, it’s just another crazy Tuesday.

Out.

The Head Of Kristi Noem’s Agitprop Bureau… Is Departing In Two Weeks’ Time. Woot!

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It would seem plain that the bloom is off that rose, here. She knows she better get a gig at Faux or Brietbart, post haste — because no one will listen to her, once the midterm blue tsunami is fully-digested.

So she bails. I doubt very much that she was encouraged to leave — as she’s been a very useful tool, in Noem’s agitprop wars. But no more:

…One of the Trump administration’s most vocal defenders of its aggressive immigration crackdown is leaving as public opinion sours against the hardline approach, according to two DHS officials familiar with the move.

Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s spokesperson, is expected to inform colleagues Tuesday about her plans, according to the officials. She’s leaving DHS next week….

A former top communications aide to Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 presidential campaign and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, McLaughlin started planning to leave in December but delayed her departure amid the aftermath of the Renee Good and Alex Pretti shootings, according to the people briefed on her exit. (They were granted anonymity to speak about internal personnel matters.) In the instance of Good, McLaughlin was quick to characterize her actions as an example of “domestic terrorism”…. [That was immediately proven false by multiple cell-phone video captures, in near real time. She was a mom (with her partner) who dropped her daughter off, at school — and got caught in the middle. That much is clear.]

Don’t let the gate hit you in the butt, on your way out here, sister. [And my advice would be to… go home, and take two weeks off — to rethink your life — though I highly doubt you will.]

नमस्ते

Same — Same, Up In Minneapolis: No Warrant? Habeas — The Great Writ — Frees The Man.

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And the same very much obtains, in the vast majority of warrantless detentions, up in Minneapolis — see last week’s ruling, by the capable USDC Judge Donovan Frank, there.

Do take a look, here:

…A district court may provide habeas relief to a person who is being detained in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States. 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). That authority includes jurisdiction to hear habeas challenges to immigration-related detention. Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 687 (2001); Deng Chol A. v. Barr, 455 F. Supp. 3d 896, 900-01 (D. Minn. 2020). The burden is on the petitioner to prove illegal detention by a preponderance of the evidence. SeeMohammed H. v. Trump, 786 F. Supp. 3d 1149, 1154 (D. Minn. 2025). Respondents submitted a form response, arguing that Petitioner is subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A), and pointing the Court to their arguments in a pending Eighth Circuit case: Avila v. Bondi, No. 25-3248. As this Court has explained on multiple occasions, Respondents’ interpretation of § 1225 contradicts the plain language of the statute. See Jose L.M.S. v. Bondi, No. 26-cv-474, 2026 WL 185066, at *2 (D. Minn. Jan. 25, 2026); Omar E.F.G. v. Bondi, No. 26-cv-451, 2026 WL 184571, at *2 (D. Minn. Jan. 23, 2026); Victor S.M. v. Noem, No. 26-cv-400, 2026 WL 161445, at *2 (D. Minn. Jan. 21, 2026). Section 1225 applies to “applicants for admission” — noncitizens who are either “present in the United States who ha[ve] not been admitted or who arrive[] in the United States.” 8 U.S.C. § 1225(a)(1). Section 1226 applies where § 1225 is inapplicable and provides immigration judges with the discretion to grant release on bond to noncitizens subject to removal proceedings. See id. § 1226(a). Here, Petitioner is not an arriving noncitizen because he has been in the United States for over three years. See Jennings v. Rodriguez, 583 U.S. 281, 289 (2018) (noting that § 1226(a) applies to “certain aliens already in the country”).

Petitioner is therefore subject to the discretionary bond provisions of § 1226(a), not the mandatory bond provisions of § 1225(b)(2). Having found that Petitioner is being detained unlawfully, the question becomes the correct remedy. A detainee being held pursuant to § 1226(a), as Petitioner is here, must have been served an arrest warrant prior to detention….

As this Court has explained on multiple occasions, Respondents’ interpretation of § 1225 contradicts the plain language of the statute…. [Habeas granted — detainee, released forthwith.]

Damn.

नमस्ते

In The 2018-Era Chicago Class Action, Noemites Are Ordered To Both Promptly Release Detainees, And Catalog Those Still To Be Released

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Once again, the federal courts in Chicago had declared these “snatch and grab” ICE ops lawless (and ultimately, in a class action settlement that Trump signed off on!), during Trump 1.0 — in 2018-2020.

Yet, here in Tangerine 2.0, ICE is STILL failing to obtain Art. III warrants — before arresting people… and that is plainly unlawful. And it wins the detainees immediate release, either via habeas, or class action settlement orders — in Chicago, and surrounding ‘burbs.

Here’s the latest on all that from the able Judge Cummings, in Case 18-cv-3757 this morning, setting various deadlines (some for as early as tomorrow) — do read it all, but here’s a bit:

…Defendants are ordered to lift all conditions of release and to refund bond for any individuals who have been previously released pursuant to the Decree so that these individuals are released on their own recognizance without bond or conditions of release as required by Section IV(E)(2) of the Decree. . . .

For the reasons stated on the record, the Broadcast Statement of Policy, (Dckt. #155-1 at 18-20), remains in effect. No later than February 18, 2026, defendants shall re-circulate the Broadcast Statement of Policy to all ICE agents nationwide by email and they shall advise the agents that the Broadcast remains in effect as the ICE policy governing warrantless arrests until further notification by DHS and ICE….

In their February 20, 2026 certification, defendants are further ordered to provide more complete answers to the following questions that were posed to defense counsel during the February 13, 2026 hearing on plaintiffs’ motions to enforce: (1) state whether ICE agents and Customs and Border Protection agents worked together in mixed teams to effectuate individual arrests of foreign nationals during Operation Midway Blitz; (2) state whether ICE has knowledge of a foreign national’s “A number” at the time ICE issues a Notice to Appear in conjunction with an I-200 warrant to effectuate a targeted arrest of that foreign national; and (3) state whether ICE has probable cause to believe that a foreign national is removable from the United States at the time ICE issues an I-200 warrant to effectuate the arrest of that foreign national….

These people. How do they sleep at night? How?! Onward, just the same… [finally over a bout of food poisoning. Whew.]

नमस्ते

[U: Graphics] Maybe Mpox Should Be Called… Squirrel-Pox…?

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In the early stages of any viral vector outbreak, misinformation tends to spread. So too, here.

Read the latest, on what should probably be called squirrel-pox:

…Sequencing the genome of mpox viruses taken from the infected [monkeys] revealed the circulating strain was nearly identical to one isolated from a small rodent found dead three months earlier, a fire-footed rope squirrel.

The team then moved on to examining monkey droppings they had collected in the months leading up to the outbreak (the surveillance in Taï National Park is truly thorough). In one sample collected eight weeks before the outbreak, they found the DNA of the virus, alongside DNA from a fire-footed rope squirrel….

That’s… all but definitive. Fire-footed squirrels, indeed. And perhaps we should stop maligning monkeys.

Onward.