Barry Burden

There is too much news.

This week in the USA * FCC chair threatens licenses of media whose coverage he doesn’t like * President calls SCOTUS unjust, inept * DOJ does away with experience requirement for new attorneys * 3 organizations report that US has fallen further from being a full democracy

Is it overwhelmingly players & coaches from football who run for office simply because there are more of them (bigger teams) than in other sports? politico.com/news/2025/12/2…

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With the federal SAVE Act in trouble, why don’t more GOP trifecta states enact their own versions?

Extinction of my beloved banana is taking longer than projected. I read 15 years ago the Cavandish would be gone in 15 years. vox.com/videos/482252/…

This week in the USA * US eases sanctions on Russia while Trump says Putin is helping Iran * GOP pays to hold retreat at Trump property * FBI seizes 2020 election material from Arizona * Pres floats idea that US bombing of girls school where 125 died was done by Iran

Why does this puzzle keep doing this? merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dec…

For decades neither party would renominate a candidate who lost the last election. The GOP’s successful return to Trump & the unusual nature of Harris’s short run could change that norm.

I’m in favor of bringing back the “talking” filibuster. But: the bill Trump is throwing down over does not exist, Congress doesn’t need his signature to enact laws, & it’s weird to kick DHS funding bill to the side thehill.com/homenews/admin…

Employment won’t be the only factor in the midterms, but the jobs drop off starting with Trump will be inconvenient for the GOP this fall

This week in the USA * DOJ pledged to continue defending political targeting of law firms * US troops told by commanders war in Iran is part of biblical Armageddon * Admin officials attend summit organized by election deniers looking to take federal control of 2026 elections

Oklahoma law says appointee to Mullin’s vacated Senate seat must swear not to run for it later. Probably unenforceable.

@derektmuller *convention* is later not *election*

@derektmuller And the incumbent party normally has a later election, so GOP could presumably be even later

@thejdelrio @ElectionsCenter @UWLawDemocracy eventbrite.com/e/election-mat…

@bcburden @ElectionsCenter @UWLawDemocracy I got a 403 error when i tried to register 👀

Can states redraw maps in the middle of the decade — and what does that mean for democracy? Join @ElectionsCenter & the @UWLawDemocracy March 6 (3–4:15pm CT) for Election Matters 2026: The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting. Register: eventbrite.com/.../election....

This week in the USA * DOJ withheld & removed Epstein files involving Trump * President used constitutionally-mandated SOTU message to call opposition party “crazy,” “sick,” destroying the country * Plans revealed for gold currency coin featuring image of the sitting president

Say what you want at the airport. No one else is.

Trump approval rating is ranging wildly from 36% to 50% — not only because of diverging samples of adults versus reg/likely voters

Who exactly selects this person? I student asked this week but I didn’t know the answer.