“Imposter” US Atty. Lindsey Halligan’s Nonsensical Response — Eastern District Of Virginia

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What a steaming pile of orange elephant dung, this is. And perhaps that unduly insults [useful for fertilizer!]… elephant dung.

[And our prior coverage may be found here.]

In any event, here’s all that silliness, and a bit:

…True, federal courts possess inherent authority “to manage their own affairs as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases,” Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 43 (1991), but that bears little resemblance to what the Court proposes here. The Court’s proposal is not to manage its own affairs but to prevent the Executive Branch from acting according to its own legal position in this litigation. And using disciplinary authority to manage the Executive Branch’s affairs would be anything but the “great caution” with which the Court’s disciplinary authority “ought to be exercised.” Id.

To answer the Court’s inquisition directly: “the basis for Ms. Halligan’s identification of herself as the United States Attorney, notwithstanding Judge Currie’s contrary ruling” is that, in the Government’s view, Ms. Halligan is the United States Attorney, and Judge Currie’s ruling did not and could not require the United States to acquiesce to her contrary (and erroneous) legal reasoning outside of those cases….

See, kids — when a federal judge rules (echoing Nixon in 1971), it’s… “just a suggestion“, if you are a Trump acolyte, on the government payroll.

Poppycock. Prepare for a disciplinary inquiry, Lindsey.

नमस्ते

As TX MAGA Gov. Abbott Dawdles — And Noem Wanders Aimlessly Into Corners, Of Her Own Making… The People Lacerated By Razor Wire Still Wait For Justice, Three Years On.

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We followed this closely — during the Biden administration, as many will recall.

Back then, federal Border Patrol and ICE and DHS were aligned against Texas Gov. Abbott’s installing Berlin Wall style concertina wire along the shores, and in the waters of the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas. Dozens of people crossing that river were lacerated — many with now life-long injuries. And at least three people drowned.

Here, now — in Tangerine 2.0, the feds are more than happy to join Abbott and AG Paxson, in slow-walking any recovery for the people injured. The case would be dismissed altogether, if they could collude to do so — but this is no longer just a fed-state fight. Real humans have been ruled, by appellate courts, to be entitled to monetary recoveries for Abbott’s cruel and lawless acts. [The razor wire in the water was a clear act of trespass… into Mexican waterways and to federal lands and waterways. The government of Mexico owns the more shallow southerly side of that river, the Rio Grande. But that is where Gov. Abbott put up his concertina wire — on Mexico’s holdings. That much is beyond dispute.]

Yet these cases still sit in limbo — almost four years on — awaiting a USDC Judge with the courage to say (in Thurgood Marshall’s majestic turn of phrase)… some times, “justice delayed, is justice denied“. The time will come, when a US President will say (just as John F. Kennedy did, re the University of Alabama) “that’s enough“.

These people must be paid, by the taxpayers of the State of Texas, for this wanton lawlessness:

…On February 7, 2025, this Court placed this matter in abeyance to afford the new federal administration time to assess this matter. Dkt. No. 267….

On March 27, 2025, this Court continued the abeyance of this matter until further notice of the Court, with a status report due 45 days from the Court’s order. Dkt. No. 273.

Since March 27, 2025, the parties have submitted status reports at 45-day intervals. Dkt. Nos. 274, 275, 277, 280. Since the parties’ last status report, the parties have been in discussions regarding how to resolve this matter without further discovery or trial. Those discussions are ongoing.

The United States thus asserts this matter should remain in abeyance.

Texas does not oppose the continued abeyance of this matter.

The parties will submit their next status report within 45 days….

This. Is. Deplorable. A pure “four corners” stall. Damn.

Let’s take Congress back in 2026!

नमस्ते

Power Alley: Merck Open To “Tens Of Billions” In M&A Scale: CEO Davis, At JP Morgan Health Care Conference Yesterday…

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And the current rumor mills have it that Rahway is circling the waters, with Revolution Medicines in its sights.

That may be accurate — and the rumored price would be around $32 billion. For his part, the CEO of Revolution, Mark Goldsmith, said it would take “over $30 billion” to get them — while taking a firm “no comment” on any specific talks (that might be pending).

Here is the latest on all that (subs. req.) — but Merck could use some new bolt-on capapbilities that might come online around 2030 — and that fits nicely into Revolution’s expected timelines, for its RAS(ON) inhibitors, like daraxonrasib and elironrasib:

…Investors attending the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference packed themselves into a hotel meeting room Monday to hear Revolution Medicines CEO Mark Goldsmith explain why Merck — or some other pharma buyer — should pay $30 billion or more to acquire the developer of targeted cancer drugs.

Goldsmith didn’t specifically address the media reports of an imminent deal, of course. It was the subtext of his remarks, delivered in a dry, matter-of-fact style, that spoke much more loudly….

The wry smile said it all — indeed. Onward resolutely, very proud of Minneapolis — and of my Chicago — standing up to… evil incarnate.

नमस्ते

[U: Hinderaker Idiocy, At Bottom] Officials In Chicago AND Minnesota Bring Similar New Federal Suits Against Tangerine 2.0’s Noem And Bovino — For Lawless Brutality.

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These are new federal suits. They both allege intentional, knowing and flagrant violations of the US Constitution — and the checks and balances inherent in individual states’ limited sovereignty.

Here’s the Chicago version — a 100 plus page complaint at law, filed in the Dirksen Building tonight — and a bit of it:

. . .Unable to force Illinois and Chicago through legal challenges to alter their policies, the federal government attempted to coerce the same result by unlawfully withholding federal funds. Defendant Noem issued a directive to cease federal funding to “sanctuary” jurisdictions.

The federal government then withheld millions of dollars in funds wholly unrelated to immigration — including homeland security and disaster relief funds — and promised to continue withholding funds unless and until Illinois diverted resources from the investigation and suppression of violent crime to federal immigration enforcement. Federal courts have barred the administration from implementing these illegal actions. See, e.g., Illinois v. FEMA, No. CV 25- 206 WES, 2025 WL 2716277 (D.R.I. Sept. 24, 2025); see also City & Cnty. of San Francisco v. Trump, 25-CV-01350-WHO, 2025 WL 2426858, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 22, 2025); Martin Luther King, Jr. Cnty. v. Turner, 798 F. Supp. 3d 1224, 1255 (W.D. Wash. 2025) (barring federal government from requiring Chicago to enforce federal immigration policies as a condition of receiving public safety, transportation and health grants).

Angered by his inability to force Illinois and Chicago to adopt his policies, President Trump threatened to unleash a military assault upon them. On September 6, 2025, the President shared on social media an image of himself dressed as a military officer from the film Apocalypse Now, rebranded as, “Chipocalypse Now.” The post riffed on a line from the film in which a character celebrated using napalm on a Vietnamese village, writing “I love the smell of deportations in the morning. . .” Referring to the announcement by Trump and Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth a day earlier that they would rebrand the Department of Defense as the “Department of War,” the post also threatened that “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR. . . .”

[Then, months later,] the United States Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s application for an emergency stay concluding that “the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois.” Trump v. Illinois, No. 25A443, 2025 WL 3715211, slip op. at 2 (U.S. Dec. 23, 2025). . .” [See at right.]

Because of the purpose of border security (to prevent entry into the United States of smugglers, contraband, and undocumented immigrants) and the realities of border security (including rugged terrain where backup is often miles away and radio equipment frequently fails), Border Patrol agents operating at or near the border may engage in enforcement tactics that are not permissible for removal enforcement in the interior [like inside Chicago or Minneapolis], like warrantless searches of vehicles within a reasonable distance of the border and trespass on private property. CBP officers also may collect the biometric information of all noncitizens entering and leaving the United States, whereas such biometrics collection is only authorized in narrow, limited circumstances when effectuating removals. Compare 6 U.S.C. § 211(c)(10) (requiring Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection to “deploy technology to collect the data necessary for the Secretary to administer the biometric entry and exit data system”), and 8 U.S.C. § 1365b (addressing the creation of a biometric entry and exit data system), with 8 U.S.C. § 1357(f) (authorizing collection of biometric information from immigrants “14 years of age or older against whom a [removal] proceeding is commenced under section 1229a of this title”). . . .

Defendants have implemented an illegal policy of deploying Border Patrol to the interior of the United States [Where they are not authorized to operate], including the Chicagoland area. On October 30, 2025, Defendant Noem stated she was “thrilled with all the work that ICE and Border Patrol are doing to help clean up our streets… I would say that we actually are using our ICE officers and our CBP officers everywhere….”

[Border Patrol was observed on video, on the Chicago Riverfront, and in Little Village,] patrolling in large numbers wearing military gear and brandishing military weapons in crowded areas of Chicago, including the Loop, Magnificent Mile, and Millenium Park, and interrogating people without belief the person was an alien or unlawfully in the country; arresting or detaining hundreds of people without a warrant or sufficient cause, and seemingly based solely on race or ethnicity; indiscriminately releasing tear gas in urban neighborhoods among civilian populations….

[Since the early 1950s, under well settled federal law] U.S. citizens are not required to carry, much less produce upon request, documentation establishing their citizenship or otherwise prove their citizenship while going about their day. [But many are now doing so, to avoid these goon squads]….

Commander-in-charge Bovino has acknowledged and affirmed the Roving Patrol Policy in stating to a reporter named Priscilla Alvarez: “I can question anyone anywhere in the United States as to their citizenship. Priscilla, what’s your citizenship? See I just did it now, and I can do that anywhere in the United States, and our border patrol agents are trained to do that.” [That is a false statement of the law. He is not so empowered.]….

Updated: John Hinderaker says there is nothing to the Minnesota version of this suit.

He is mistaken.

The complaint and the related motion for a TRO — will be winners. You may find all the law [about which John and his minions complain “is missing”] and that supports the Minnesota version… in this 50 page memo of law, filed tonight with the complaint. Hilarious that John can’t read the docket for comprehension. The State of Minnesota will prevail. Bank on it.

Onward, resolutely — we, the people will prevail — these cretins will not. Our well-vetted system of ordered liberty will — bank on that, too.

नमस्ते

The EU Commission (And Its Member States) Authorize A New €1.2 Million, For Marburg Arrest Efforts In Ethiopia…

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The good news is we are now under 16 days away from declaring the current outbreak at an end — no new cases in almost thirty days’ time.

But to be certain, the aid will be put to good use in Jinka and outside of it. Here’s the latest, from a Commmission presser:

…The European Union has allocated €1.2 million in emergency humanitarian aid to respond to the Marburg outbreak in Ethiopia, currently affecting the South Ethiopia Region. The funding will support a coordinated response to strengthen the ongoing operations, prevent a major disruption to local health systems and avoid widespread social and economic consequences.

On 14 November 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute declared the outbreak of the Marburg virus disease in southern Ethiopia.

As of 16th December 2025, 14 cases were confirmed, including 9 deaths, and over 600 identified contacts including around 400 already discharged. Population in the Jinka Town and other districts within the region are experiencing the impact of the outbreak. Mobility across regional and cross border routes, like Kenya and South Sudan, increases the risk of a wider spread….

Now you know — onward, resolutely, all as Trump hits about 60% unfavorable, to 40% favorable — overall, here stateside.

नमस्ते

Otis & Hinderaker: Now Wanna-Be Interventionists / Foreign Nation-Builders?!

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This is a new one on me: the GOP I knew generally held that the US should stay in its own lane — not Willy-Nilly invade other nations; nor threaten to kill their leaders, so long as they weren’t immediate threats, on shore to the US (see the immediately-post 9/11 GOP, here).

But tonight (again!) Bill Otis can’t wait to start the quagmire / nation-build in Iran. Even if Trump were capable of such a thing — and he’s not, Bill‘s real goal is a jingoistic decapitation of all that is Islam — both the good, and the less so.

But here’s a little hint, Bill: just like any other area of the world — and any other religion — there are good and bad people within it. It’s time to stop your black-and-white thinking and stop throwing babies out with bathwater.

This admonition applies with even greater force… to John Hinderaker’s — of this evening.

John’s is openly racist and bigoted from a religious point of view. John preposterously expects that Donald Trump is going to impose a new world of Western order — throughout the Persian Gulf, and the Middle East, more broadly. There is not a chance, John.

The guy can’t even incompetently use his own ballroom toilets, at Mar-a-lago. [He thinks it’s a presidential library for stolen top secret documents, remember…?]

Damn — what sort of peyote buttons have these glib idiots… ingested?!

Geez — have they completely forgotten the last 12 years? This man can do nothing. Nothing — at least — other than commit crime.

Out.

Are We Getting Closer To Solving… “The Final Parsec Problem”? The Math Doesn’t Work, When Two Super Massive Galaxies Collide — So, How Do Their Black Holes… Merge?

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If one envisions this as a simple rubber sheet, around a center pole in which two very, very heavy steel marbles are rolling toward one another (and thus, the rubber sheet itself increasingly sags — toward the center pole), we can easily imagine that — at some point, as the two are “whirlpooling” around each other, closer and closer and picking up speed — eventually they will bump into each other at the bottom — and in the language of astrophysics… that’s the moment of merger. And we “hear” the blip — as a gravity wave — even across hundreds of millions of lightyears, here.

At least, that is how middle schoolers are taught it might happen. But out there, across billions of light-years in scale. . . the observed reality seems a little different. The black holes often reach a sort of. . . equilibruim point — and don’t fall in any further, for the last three or so light years of separated distance [the so called Final Parsec]. Or so all the mathematical models hold.

But in point of fact, over billions of years (as light from thousands of galaxies reaches us)… we can observe that the pairs of two do, indeed… merge into one ultra super massive black hole, forever changing the shapes and orbits of the galaxies that host them. So what gives? Let’s listen to the Beeb, here (for a plain English tour through the high math problems):

…[A]stronomers encounter [a mathematical contradiction] when they try to model exactly how [super massive black holes merge]. In order to spiral towards one another, the two black holes must first shed energy. To start with, that energy is transferred to surrounding material, including gas and dust. Except when the galactic black holes get within a parsec of each other – just over three lightyears – it seems there’s no longer enough ‘stuff’ to shed energy to….

There must be solution to this “Final Parsec Problem”, and recent experiments such as NANOGrav have picked up a lot of gravitational waves that look like they come from colliding supermassive black holes.

There’s clearly something we are missing in our models.

That could be the influence of a third black hole, but that’s unlikely to account for all cases….

Perhaps the black holes interact with their environment in some other way that causes them to lose orbital energy, spiral in and collide.

For now, the Final Parsec Problem remains one of the biggest mysteries in black hole and galactic astronomy….

Perhaps your own super bright young mathematician / offspring will solve this for us, in a few years’ time. Smiling… perhaps.

नमस्ते

Again, Paul: Two Things Can Be True — At Once. Black/White Thinking Infects The Far Right…

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Paul again sets up a false dichotomy — claiming that Democrats only rely on opinion polls, as to foreign military actions. That is plainly false. Even in the examples he offers, Paul is in error: Barack Obama won two terms by being the lone dissent, on Iraq II. And by being a voice of reason, on the 2007/2008 Mortgage Crisis/Meltdown — one the GOP tried to say was “not a real thing”. See the Palin/McCain lunacy.

Moreover, Paul seems unaware that Tangerine 2.0 runs his foreign “policies” (whatever that air-quoted term might mean to him) by Rasmussen polls, nearly exclusively — and the feckless whims of billionaires that want to seize assets, of course.

Note that none of the supposed principled far right would have invaded, and decapitated a South American dictatorship that DID NOT possess the most tempting heavy crude reserves on the planet, here Paul.

So again — Mirengoff is accusing the Democrats of things that he himself and the GOP are equally if not more fully guilty of.

Yes, Paul one can agree that Maduro was a bad guy — and still respect the law, and say we possess no right to take out a foreign President.

And if we really believe in democracies — we certainly should not be DELAYING free elections after we’ve done so, in any event.

We all know, if elections were held tomorrow, Machado would win about 67% of the free and fair vote, if allowed. But Trump, Rubio and Mirengoff hate that she would not be the supplicant they seek.

She might sell the oil to… Russia. And Cuba. [And that — money — is the only principle, the MAGA nuts adhere to. Not freedom, for just… anyone. And especially not any brown… one.]

Wake up, Paul.

Tonight, Hinderaker Only Cares That “The Trains Run On Time”*

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Hinderaker clearly knows better.

He knows ICE is acting lawlessly.

But he cheers them, as the “good German” he tries to mimic.

Again Hinderaker tells knowing lies — to keep the rubes in line.

In many ways, then — he is worse than the sociopath of a leader he supports.

The rubes don’t know better — but John Hinderaker does.

Out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* This is, of course, what the early Germans said was Hitler’s chief virtue — and they would overlook what turned out to be… his genocidal intentions.

John should take heed.

A Fascinating Half-Hour [Late Night Friday] Visit, From The NY AG’s Office — Looking At Over 12 Pages… Hmmm.

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[This admitted tangent is from another property of mine — related to Martin Shkreli’s now nearly fifteen years of run-ins with the law. And his eventual jailing — and various lifetime barring orders.]

But first… is it possible that they will call me, feeling I might be harassing a law abiding citizen of the tri-borough area? Perhaps, but that seems… unlikely. [I am in truth, outside the NY AG’s jurisdictional reach, in any event. They’d need to call the IL AG. Smile.]

No, Occam’s Razor would suggest the NY AG wants to know how it is… that Martin is serving as a paid consultant (presumably to include both securities pricing matters, and even perhaps waning pharmaceuticals research), for an intrepid / nascent ’34 Act public company.

As I’ve pointed out a few times in the last month or so… even forgetting that he’s been generally a bear — on quantum computing (and so, may not be in the role as a genuine advocate — but just a $120K a year “buy-off”, to avoid his running a shorting scheme, against QC Tech?)… it is my guess that the able USDC Judge Cote, in Manhattan, will frown on this whole arrangement, given the FTC and SEC case resolution orders.

But we shall see — maybe they were just at the office late, and ordered pizza and beers — and were doing some recreational reading while Indiana crushed Oregon, in a conference room with a TV on. Maybe.

And… go Bears! Escape safely from Wildcard weekend. Yep, my Ducks were crushed last night. Ugh. [Indiana will slaughter Miami for the title, though now.]

Onward,