#Lame Duck session

[govtshutdown]

The Can has been Kicked

[rjzimmerman]

Environmentalists Have a Wish List for the Lame Duck Session. (Sierra Club)

Excerpt from this story from the Sierra Club:

Americans who care about public lands conservation, wildlife protection, and climate action are bracing for a grim future. President-elect Donald Trump has boasted about gutting key climate programs to appease fossil fuel interests. And right-wing lawmakers, who will control both houses of Congress, are sharpening their axes to cut funding for endangered species protections, aiming to rescind laws meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and even daydreaming about selling off public lands.

Environmental groups will be an essential check on the next administration. Leaders at groups like the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, and Earthjustice are already preparing legal strategies to combat Trump’s policies, activating their grassroots networks and seeking legislators who will advocate for environmental protections. 

But there’s another antidote to the next administration’s antics—and that’s President Biden. Congress is in session for four more weeks, and the president has committed to working up until January 20. Environmental organizations have a list of suggestions that they’re urging the president to consider, and he and his team seem eager to continue at least some of their environmental work. The challenge for environmental groups and the White House now is to merge their ambitions. 

More national monuments

Conservation groups' biggest public lands priority is getting the president to designate more national monuments. These areas protect some of the country's most treasured public lands, and monuments often serve as a precursor to national park designation, one of the highest forms of preservation. Outdoor coalitions have prepared a list of outstanding areas they think are ripe for monument status. Establishing them should be an easy lift for the president—these lands are already public, there’s local support, and all that’s needed is his signature. 

Last month, at the United Nations biodiversity conference in Colombia, Native American tribes called on President Biden to create three national monuments in California. These areas include the Kw’tsán National Monument in Southern California, the Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree National Park, and the Sáttítla National Monument close to the Oregon border. While President Trump may threaten to downsize these areas if designated, just as he attempted with Bears Ears National Monument, it’ll likely be an uphill battle. 

Fill judicial vacancies 

Another significant step the president could take would be to nominate federal judges who have a strong grasp of environmental law. In recent years, federal judges have shaped American policy perhaps even more so than legislators. The most recent high-profile environmental decision ended the Chevron Doctrine, a 40-year-old legal theory that judges have cited when deferring to federal agencies to interpret ambiguous statutes. 

In the wake of the 2024 election, Senate leaders and the White House have hinted at ramping up nominations. Filling the 46 open judgeships, split between the US district courts and the courts of appeals, will likely mean the difference between protecting an endangered species and letting developers run roughshod over the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.

New rules

At the administrative level, conservation groups hope two federal agencies will finalize long-overdue decisions before the next president takes office. The US Fish and Wildlife Department has been mulling over federal protections for grizzly bears for almost two years. The agency was supposed to release a decision back in the summer but punted to January at the last minute. Conservation groups want the agency to keep bears listed throughout their range, given that there are so few bears and limited connectivity between populations. Keeping the bears listed would make it harder for a future administration to delist them in the immediate future, said Bradley Williams, the deputy legislative director for the Sierra Club's Wildlife and Lands Protection campaign.  

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy is updating the studies it uses to assess pending and new LNG export applications. The agency announced a pause on new LNG exports in January while it conducted its analysis. Now climate advocates are hoping the administration will reject six pending requests to build new facilities, especially Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass 2 facility on the Gulf Coast. If completed, it would be the region’s largest LNG facility, pumping out the annual emissions of 51 coal-fired power plants. 

Action in Congress 

There is still work to be done by Congress. Lawmakers have until December 20 to pass a spending bill to fund the federal government. This package could be an opportunity to squeeze in funding for land-management agencies, like the National Park Service, or pass last-minute environmental legislative packages, such as the EXPLORE Act, which expands access to the outdoors. House lawmakers passed a version of the bill in the summer. Now it only needs to get through the Senate to reach the president's desk. 

Smaller lands packages, like the effort to preserve Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, or the Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon, could also be included in the yet-to-be-passed National Defense Authorization Act. That bill, which sets annual funding for the armed forces, has typically had broad support and has been reauthorized every year for the past six decades. 

[botgal]

A heads up to anyone who is still looking out for KOSA news.

Supposedly there's going to be a push from KOSA supporters to go to DC and try to convince House leadership to push it through before the end of the Lame Duck period. This being after Donald Trump Jr and Elon Musk have voiced their support for it in the past couple days.

To be clear, there's no votes set to happen anytime soon or anything, and all news out of the GOP from sources like Evan Greer and Fight For The Future indicate that there's little to no chance Speaker Johnson or anyone intends to push it forward before the end of this year.

But even so, if you will have the time and energy to call and write to your House and Senate reps, especially House leadership like Johnson, to let them know that there's still a great amount of resistance to it, your efforts would be much appreciated. And this amount of vocal resistance could also help us try and push back against it being stuck onto any last minute must-pass financial legislature even if it won't pass under its own power.

Thank you in advance for your time and efforts! Only two weeks to go until the end of the legislative session. Let's work hard until the end and then hope that we can put it to rest for this year so we can build up our energy to work full force for all that's important to us next year!

[thewertsearch]

I’m pretty sure this is from back at the start of Act 5.2, when John was wingmanning hard for Rose. We’ve never seen Vriska talk to an incarnation of John from before the session, but we know it happened at least once, because he remembers her threatening to kill him...

...which, now that we've seen the full breadth of Vriska's arc, is a little strange. I thought John might become a thorn in her side later, leading her to seek vengeance, but that didn't end up happening. Vriska is at her least murderous when talking to John, so why would any incarnation of her actually want him dead?

AG: Hi, John human. [...] GT: excuse me, alien time troll, but i am TRYING to wrap a present. GT: really, you all have the worst timing.

Aradia might officially represent the Aspect, but they’re all Time trolls to John, and Kanaya literally just got done trying to explain Paradox Space to him. Hell, he probably thinks this is Kanaya’s alt.

AG: Yes, I can see that. Two ugly garments, and seeds for some kind of strange earth vegeta8le? Pretty lame present, John!!!!!!!! GT: nope, not going to ask how you know my name, or what i'm sending, don't care.

We’re back in John’s Denial Era. The deeper truth of his existence is currently hidden from his perception, a fact represented in his sleeping Dream Self.

I don’t think we’ve ever seen him ignore this much weirdness, though. It’s incredibly suspicious that Vriska knows so much about him, but the suspicion just rolls off his brain, like water off a duck's back.

GT: and one of these ugly garments is for me, also, it's not ugly, it's awesome. AG: Not as awesome as something you will 8e wearing later, thanks to me.

Ah, this is starting to make sense. She’s not really threatening John, she’s just promising to kill him. Which – look, I know that sounds just as 8ad, 8ut hear me out, John!

AG: I will 8e giving you the gift of immortality! GT: oh sweet, that has been on my wish list, ranking just below a mint condition little monsters poster, starring hollywood superstar, howie mandel. GT: can i expect it to arrive on my next birthday?? AG: Yes, as a matter of fact. Nice guess! AG: It will come at a cost though. GT: the mandel poster, or immortality?

John, you funny fuck. It’s quips like these that made Vriska fall for you.

[fizzigigsimmer]

Omegaverse au where Billy is a surfer who makes ends meet as a cam boy during the off season. He could probably make more if he really devoted himself to it, but it's just a side hustle to him and he doesn't really have to worry about fishing for subscribers because he's got this one fan who he can count on to throw down stacks of money. He doesn't talk much in the public room but he's almost always there without fail whenever Billy goes live, just waiting for Billy to offer a private session.

Sometimes he doesn't bother waiting and goes straight to offering money for things like private sessions, custom photos and videos etc. He usually wants Billy to be doing something super femme and stereotypically, omega like 'too horny to continue vacuuming in the nude with nothing but the pearls alpha bought me, oh no!' Rains gifts down on Billy for begging for his knot and to be filled with his cum etc. He likes when Billy flirts with him and plays the dutiful little mate, pouting cause his alpha is away on a business trip. He's so easy for it Billy almost feels bad, like he's taking advantage.

But it's a cozy little arrangement and since they are both getting what they want out of it, he doesn't think too much about it. Until the guy offers him a truly insane amount of money to have his baby, for real. He'll set Billy up in some swanky apartment and give him a ridiculous allowance on top of his pay, and all Billy has to do is play happy omega. And have a baby of course. Which Billy won't even have to help raise if he doesn't want to, because apparently Steve wants to be a daddy just that bad and would pay any price to have a piece of Billy to call his own.

Billy thinks it's some kinda weird prank until he looks into the name Steve game him and realizes he's the nepo baby of some fortune 500. Also Steve, totally not the sad lame-duck Alpha spending his life savings from his mothers basement that he imagined. But this is still so weird. Heather still thinks Billy would be crazy to go through with it - the fact that Mr. Harrington is hot just makes it more likely that his plan is to skin Billy and wear his face. But Billy ends up agreeing to meet with Steve because it's just too much money not to at least look into it.

I've read a few really sweet plots along similar lines, and don't get me wrong they were great. But I kinda just need Steve to be a creep with it. lol just a teensy creep. You know?

[retrograde-tonic]

Something to Do

⚠️NSFW: Minors DNI⚠️

After a broken ankle during training, Levi helps you to a chair in his office, intending to only take a mere break there on the way to your room to rest. However, as you converse, you catch a peculiar glint in your captain’s eye.

Maybe you were just imagining things, but…

aka someone on the Ace spectrum attempts smut for the first time— cross posted on Ao3 (under the user andrastes_amazing_archives)

⚠️ CWs: sexual tension, injury care, grinding, praise, unprotected sex, explicit sexual content

Other things: No use of Y/N, female!Reader, one shot

Word Count: 2.6k

“Shit, it hurts.” You wince as you try and put any sort of weight in your ankle, and nearly collapse entirely— your only saving grace being the railing on the stairs.

“Hey, hey, hey— come here.” Levi says softly, ducking under your arm and slipping his hand around your waist for support. “I’ll help you get to your room.”

“Thanks. But—Nnngh—“ You bite your lip and shake your head as another shot of pain courses through your body. “Fuck. It’s too far; can I take a break up here?”

“Sure.” Instead of turning left down the hallway, Levi instead leads you right; straight into his office, which was right there. Quickly, he brings you to his chair, and you don’t hesitate to collapse into it.

“Oh shit… oh fuck. Ah—“ As you collapse into the chair, you realize you’re panting a little from the pain. You cross your injuried leg over your good knee, the ankle injury pulsing painfully. You look up to your Captain with tired eyes for a moment, sigh, and put your head in your hands. “God, I’m such an idiot.”

“What makes you say that?” Levi raised an eyebrow and glanced over at you, crossing his arms and leaning over against his desk as he did so.

“It was a fucking training session, not even an actual mission!” You exclaim, throwing your hands up in frustration. “I thought if I worked at it hard enough, I’d improve. Instead, it was a fucking tree branch that took me down. A tree branch. Tch. How pathetic.” You just scoff, rolling your head back to the top of the chair and staring at the ceiling.

The sound of Levi’s footsteps approaching didn’t make you look at him, but his gentle touch did. His hand on yours brought you back to the moment.

“Hey,” he starts, “you didn’t know that branch was rotten to shit. No one knew it would collapse on you— hell, even I wouldn’t have been able to clock that.”

You just let out an appreciative sigh. “It’s still fucking lame, though. What the fuck am I gonna do for a couple weeks?” You ask aimlessly into the air, not expecting an answer.

You didn’t particularly get one, but you saw a peculiar glint in your Captain’s eye; something… unreadable. You blinked, unsure that you’d even seen anything, but by the time your vision re-adjusted, it was gone.

Maybe you were truly imagining things, but…

“Care for some tea?” Levi suddenly asked, turning to you, but taking a couple steps back to one of his drawers, sliding it open and picking up a box of what you assume to be his favorite tea leaves.

“Ah, sure. Not sure I’m particularly ready to be stuck alone in my room. You know, your company’s nice,” you admit, stretching in the chair and shifting slightly in the seat, being careful of your injury in the process.

Levi just hummed, clearly unsure of how to respond.

The tea was quickly yet carefully made, with Levi bringing a secondary chair up next to you and setting the pot of tea in between the two of you. He served you, and then himself, and then leaned back in his chair, letting the tea cool for a moment.

“Hey, thanks. For everything,” you suddenly say, leaning closer to him as you. “I appreciate it.”

“Of course.”

As he made eye contact with you, you could have sworn his gaze flicked down to your lips for a moment, making your heart skip a beat.

You just smile, letting the conversation fall silent. Your eyes fall to your tea for a moment, but you quickly look up at Levi’s slight movements. He had leaned into your space once more, reaching over and adjusting your shirt collar, which had flipped up from your fall. “Oh.. thanks.” Your words fizzle out as you naturally lean in closer, your heart beginning to pound as you begin to close the gap between the two of you.

When you locked eyes, time seemed to stop completely, as if everything disappeared except for Levi. All that was left was his gaze, his body, even down to his gentle touch on your hand earlier. It was just him.

And you wanted it.

The light but alluring scent of sage and bergamot cologne pulled you into him, and you let out a nervous chuckle, a part of you still unsure if you were reading the situation right.

Until—

“Well?” He whispered.

And that’s all you needed for your lips to be on his.

He doesn’t hesitate to kiss back, inhaling sharply as he leaned in, wrapping his hand around your neck to pull you in closer. His kisses were so desperately hungry, like he’d had his eye on you the entire time.

You wrapped your hands around his waist as you let out a shocked laugh, your hipbone pressing slightly uncomfortably into the chair’s arm as you reached over to him. His lips were soft, yet his kisses were confident, making you lean in as far as you could without toppling the chair.

He seems to notice this, so he stands up, eyes locked in on you, and beckons you forward. “Let’s make this easier on you, okay?”

You oblige, still in pure disbelief that he kissed you back, but you slowly stand, balancing carefully on your good foot, before he gracefully picks you up and sits you down on his desk, pushing the tea aside as he did so.

As he stepped in to close the gap, tilting your chin up so your lips met his, you wrapped your legs around his waist and pressed your chest into his. He was already hard through his pants, and his dick pressed into you as he leaned in.

“How long have you been wanting this?” You ask, your voice low and sultry as you whispered in between kisses.

“Wanting you?” Levi pulls away for a moment, choosing to just stare at you with half-lidded eyes as he traced your lips gently with his thumb. “Months.”

A sultry laugh escapes you, and your heart skips a beat as you process his words. Months? “Oh god, same.”

It didn’t take him long to kiss you once more, and you quickly reciprocated, pressing your hips into his as you throw your hands over his shoulders. They hung there clasped for a moment, before you chose to run them through his hair, his passionate kisses sparking your own arousal and making you let out a soft moan.

“Oh, I see how it is.” Lust dripped from his voice as his hands began to slowly travel up your body, tracing up your waist before eventually settling on your chest. You lean into it, wrapping your hands around his waist as he squeezed your boobs.

You then took his hands in yours, guiding them exactly where you wanted; slipping them under your shirt and under your bra. “That’s better, isn’t it?”

He doesn’t respond in words, but he lets out a low laugh before slowly tracing a finger around one of your nipples, making you lean your head back and let out a noise you didn’t even know you had in you as you.

Hearing your desperation, his eyes flick up to meet yours for a moment, before he slides his hands out from under your shirt and begins to unclasp your chest harness. “This shit’s just in the way, huh?”

You just hum in approval, reaching over and beginning to start with his own harness, before moving on to his cravat and shirt. Knowing Levi, you gently and neatly place the cravat on the desk beside you.

Your own shirt laid crumpled on the desk behind you, and your harness sat at your waist, so when you leaned in to kiss him once more, your bare chest met his.

But it wasn’t long before he raised your chin ever so slightly to catch your attention. “You know what? You’re coming with me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hearing your approval, he pulled away for just a moment, but only to confidently pick you up right from the desk and take you straight into his adjacent bedroom. He swiftly kicked the door closed with one foot and promptly pinned you against the wall, all while not taking his lips off of yours.

“Shit, that was hot.” As you leaned back in to kiss him, you let your hands run up his sculpted back, settling on his shoulders for a moment before they ran through his silky black hair. You grasp it just above his undercut and pull it slightly to bring him closer into you, biting his lip hungrily as you did so.

You feel Levi smile through his passionate kisses, moaning slightly as he pushed into you, his erection pressing lightly on your inner leg. You tried to maneuver your body in a way where his dick would rub your clit, but it was no use, the way he held you didn’t allow for it.

A soft moan escapes you as he begins to kiss down your neck, each deliberate kiss increasing your own arousal tenfold. “Hey, Levi. Bed?” you whisper, lifting his chin to make him meet your gaze.

“Yeah.” He swiftly agreed, carrying you over and placing you on his immaculately made bed, being aware to be gentle with your injury. He immediately straddled you and pressed his hips into yours as he leaned in to kiss you once more.

Your hands quickly found his belt, and you unclasped it hastily, running the leather through the metal buckle before reaching to unbutton his pants. He leaned into your touch for a moment, before sitting up and briefly climbing off of you, but only just to remove his clothes.

You make haste of your own, taking extra care of your pants around your busted ankle. Levi had quickly tossed his clothes on a chair, and when he turned back to face you, he gently helped you remove your pants and harness from around the injury, making sure to not disturb the wrapping.

He quickly topped you once more, and grabbed your hands to pin them against the pillow while he bent down to kiss your neck and grind into you, his dick pressing right on your sweet spot. “Ah, Levi—“ you moan, letting the heat course through you, before sitting up ever so slightly in the bed. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”

“Do you want to?” He paused for a moment, taking himself off of you as he waited for an answer.

“Absolutely I do. You?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing his consent, you take one hand and just lightly brush the vein on his dick gently with your finger as he climbs back on top of you, making him arch his back and grasp the sheets around you so tightly. “Oh shit…”

He traced the outline of your vagina with the tip of his dick as he tried to find your entrance, sending a chill up your spine as he brushes past your clit. “Here, let me.” Your words were slurred by lust as your hand falls to his, gently holding it to help guide him in.

“Oh… shit you’re tight. But you can take it,” he whispers in your ear as he begins to rhythmically move his hips, pounding himself into you as your breathing quickens and your eyes begin to roll back.

“Hey, eyes on me,” he demands lustfully as he tilts your chin up with his hand, before he traces the outline of your lips with his thumb.

You try to oblige, but the way he pounded into you made your eyes flutter closed once more, the pleasure from it being almost overwhelming.

“Tch.” He clicks his tongue. “What did I say? Eyes on me.” He grasps your hair as he thrusts into you, making sure your eyes stayed locked with his. “Good girl,” he purrs as you obey.

You let him continue for just a moment longer, then suddenly take his shoulders in your hands and push him off of you. “Hey, my turn on top.”

He smirks, a bit of an eager aura shining clearly in his expression, and grabs your waist to settle your hips on top of him, then rests his head back on the sheets as you begin to ride him.

His feet were planted on the bed frame while your ankles hung off the edge of the bed; it was the only way to make it work with your injury, but it worked nonetheless.

“Oh shit—“ Levi lets out as you settle into a rhythm. You knew he was enjoying it— the way his mouth hung open slightly and the way his cheeks were dusted pink were all the signs you needed.

“You’re mine now…” you whisper into his ear, tracing your finger gently up his chest and around one of his nipples, before bending down to kiss his neck.

Your kisses were deliberate, one on the collarbone, one on the neck, the cheek, and finally the lips, where you bit his lip for a moment, making him let out a noise you’ve never heard from him before.

“Oh my god… that—“ Levi started, “oh, shit…”

“Mm. I like it too.” You sit up directly on him so his dick rubs the best side of you, and you roll your hips back and forth as you run a hand through your hair.

Levi reached up and grabs your boobs as he lets out a bit of a grunt. “Oh fuck… I’m close.” His brows were scrunched very lightly and his back was arched, and he moved his hands from your boobs down to your waist as he began to control your movements. “Just like that— oh, don’t stop… oh fuck—“

You quickly fall in line with his movements, your bodies moving as one as the euphoria you feel consumes your entire body. “Me too— I’m gonna… together?”

He just nods weakly, his hands still firmly on your hips. “Hey. Look at me. I want to… see you when you—”

“Yeah.“ You met his glazed over eyes, and as soon as you did, your own vision swirled as your whole body jerked forward, the sensation from your intense orgasm taking over your entire being.

As your body seized, your orgasm clenching his dick so tightly within you, you hear Levi let out an intense moan as he reached his own climax.

You let yourself bask in it, then you collapse onto his chest as you both come down from the high, panting heavily as the last of the intense pleasure leaves your body. As your vision comes back, you see Levi, whose head was laid back on the bed, his eyes closed, and his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to catch his breath.

“You know,” you laugh, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this out of breath.”

He just exhales sharply; something akin to a chuckle, and shakes his head. “Shut up,” he quips back, before raising his head to slowly meet your gaze.

After you had regained some feeling in your legs, you get up and shift yourself to his side, laying your head against his chest as he wraps an arm around you.

“It’s pretty obvious that I’m into you, huh?” You eventually say, breaking the silence that had naturally fallen around the both of you.

“With the way you moaned like that?” Levi scoffed playfully. “Shit’s clear as day. But I guess it’s pretty fucking obvious that I’m into you too.”

[daytimemin]

GENERAL KOSA UPDATE:

OCTOBER-DECEMBER IS WHEN TO CALL

According to this calendar that was shared in the KOSA discord, this is when the House will be in session for possible lame duck sessions. October-Decemeber will be a key period for us to contact House Leadership and your representatives. Remember that KOSA is a censorship bills that will be misused to target content regarding minority communities and important movements and organizations. Continue to call and share posts and also keep in mind that a lot of people are actively working both for (😡) and against (🙂) this bill, we just have to keep going!

HOUSE LEADERSHIP NUMBERS:

(202) 225-2777

(202) 225-3015

(202) 225-5936

[apomaro-mellow]

Love a good rockstar eddie, how about rockstar au for the bingo?

Steddie Bingo Prompt: Rockstar AU

"You're on in five!"

Eddie smiled at himself in the mirror, looking himself over one final time. It was one TV appearance out of many. But this one was special to him. Once the last check on his makeup was done, he was led to the wings of the stage, waiting to be called on. He could feel the audience's buzz come to a crescendo as the host of the show came out and welcomed everyone.

Late night talk show hosts seemed a dime a dozen to Eddie. They all asked the same questions and the audience clapped at their lame jokes and Eddie felt like he was reading off a script the entire time. He kind of was, given that they obviously had to rehearse and screen the questions beforehand. But this host was different.

"Alright, let's give a big hand to our guest for tonight! Eddie Munson!"

Eddie walked out, both hands in the air as he waved to the studio audience as they roared for him. But once he turned to greet the host, he knew he wouldn't be looking anywhere else for the rest of this recording. Eddie usually gave handshakes to people he was meeting, as most did. Sometimes the ladies got a bow. And Eddie had reined himself in and done that the first time he met this host.

But now, for all the world to see, he took the man's hand, gave him a deep bow, and kissed the back of his hand. There were squeals in the audience, but Eddie swore he could hear an intake of breath from the man before him. Then, just as smooth as anything, they both found their seats, one behind a desk and one on a couch.

Steve Harrington. Dressed in a navy suit that made his skin seem like gold. To say Eddie was obsessed was an understatement. He'd seen a video that went viral two years ago, of Steve interviewing a young child actress. She was eight and they spent the interview coloring on his desk. Eddie knew he wanted to meet him then. But there was getting in the studio, shooting music videos, convincing his uncle to leave the trailer and move into the house he deserved to own, and of course, other interviews.

But through all that time, Eddie hardly missed an episode of Steve's show. It was the first time he’d ever paid more attention to the host than the person being interviewed. Didn’t matter who it was or how little Eddie cared about their career. It was all to see Steve’s bright smile, sparkling eyes, to hear his laugh and the little inflections in his voice. And now it was all directed at him.

They started with the softball questions of course, how his new album was going, if he had any hopes for the new year, how he spent the holidays. Eddie answered, enjoying talking with him but then he saw a glint in Steve’s eye.

“So you know we couldn’t have a musician on here without having them play a little song for us.”

“Ah, of course”, Eddie grinned, figuring they’d want a little sample of the new single as a guitar was brought out for him. But he should have known it wasn’t that straightforward as Steve brought out another guitar from under his desk and strapped it to himself.

Eddie raised a brow as he watched Steve tune his. Then Steve was looking at him again, smiling before he strummed a simple tune, one that started off soft but then got foreboding.

“~Lions, and tigers, and bears bring woe~ What animal is your natural foe~?”

Eddie beamed and got ready to rip into it. Admitting he was scared of ducks wasn’t entirely ideal. But he figured the audience would get a kick out of it. Besides, he was hoping that if he played his cards right (and this interview/jam session) he’d be leaving with Steve’s number.

@steddiebingo

Card:

[vague-humanoid]

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a controversial bill into law that could charge the public hundreds of dollars for footage from law enforcement agencies, including body cameras.

At 11 p.m. Thursday, DeWine announced signings and line-item vetoes on bills. The governor is able to make line-item vetos on provisions in bills that contain appropriations, meaning he has the ability to pick and choose which policies within a larger piece of legislation get to stay or must go.

H.B. 315

Around 2 a.m. during the 17-hour marathon lame duck session, lawmakers passed H.B. 315, a massive, roughly 450-page omnibus bill.

In it was a provision that could cost people money to get access to video from police and jails. Law enforcement could charge people for the “estimated cost” of processing the video — and you would have to pay before the footage is released. Governments could charge up to $75 an hour, with a fee cap of $750 per request.

Legal experts say this could affect access to video from dash and body cameras, as well as surveillance video from inside jails — which are public records in Ohio.

The policy was not public, nor did it have any public hearings, prior to being snuck into the legislation.

[projectreclaim]

39-year-old Canadian-born Amir Hatem Mahdy Ali, the first Muslim and Arab DC judge, clerked on the Supreme Court of Canada and later led a radical leftwing group that called for defunding the police. In the lame-duck session after Democrats lost the White House and Senate on November 5, 2024, Senate Democrats confirmed Ali on November 20 with a vote of 50-49.

Yesterday, he gave the Trump administration about 36 hours to pay out hundreds millions of dollars for work performed by foreign aid contractors — and is demanding details about potential defiance of his orders.

Let me get this straight, a Canadian born Muslim judge is telling the President of the United States, what he can or cannot do with American foreign policy???

UNACCEPTBLE!

[govtshutdown]

Here it is, our current hope to avert a shutdown. This would extend FY2024 spending until December 20th, setting us up for a Christmas showdown in a lame duck session of what has been one of the worst sessions of Congress in our history.

Also included in this CR are multiple extensions of expiring programs and waivers as well as a compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau. It's relatively short reading if you have the time.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Chris Geidner at Law Dork:

On Monday, 13 months after President Joe Biden announced that Adeel Mangi would be his nominee for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Mangi issued a searing indictment of a system that has left him as the longest-pending appellate nominee in the nation. “I have battled for justice, even if it meant there would be none for me,“ Mangi wrote in the letter, acknowledging there is “no pathway to confirmation” at this point.

[...] Mangi would have been the nation’s first Muslim American federal appeals court judge, and the attacks against him never stopped. After Republicans questioned him at his confirmation hearing largely with anti-Muslim guilt-by-association attacks, the opposition later expanded to include baseless claims of terrorism and anti-law enforcement connections. Then, three Democrats — Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia — announced earlier this year that they would not support Mangi’s nomination. As I wrote at the time, their opposition “is appalling cowardice, and they should be ashamed.” And yet, their opposition stood — and Mangi’s nomination went nowhere, as many others were confirmed.

Then, in the lame-duck session, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asserted that Mangi’s nomination lacked the votes to succeed — along with three other appeals court nominees — in reaching a deal with Republicans to allow district court nominees to proceed more easily. Of the other appellate nominees, Ryan Park, who was nominated for the Fourth Circuit, has already withdrawn his nomination — prompting the judge he was to replace, Judge James Wynn, to rescind his decision to take senior status upon the confirmation of his successor. The other two include Julia Lipez, nominated for a now-vacant seat on the First Circuit, and Karla Campbell, nominated for the Sixth Circuit seat currently held by Judge Jane Stranch. Like Wynn, Stranch was planning to take senior status upon the confirmation of her successor. Many are watching now to see if she, also like Wynn, rescinds her plans.1

Adeel Mangi got screwed out of being confirmed to a seat on the 3rd Circuit Court due to three craven cowardly Senate Democrats: Joe Manchin and both Nevada Senators (Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez-Masto).

Such a move reeked of pandering to Islamophobia, as Mangi would have been the first Muslim to serve on the federal appeals court level.

[mjonthetrack]

Grown Up 4

Camille was so grateful for the added week

Paul so kindly allotted when the others had

to return back to their routine. She specifically

requested no one be alerted of her absence

which he professionally accommodated. But

Now it was Monday and she knew it was time

to show her face, Camille ignored all calls and

texts from those at the party, especially from

Sefa whose notifications she muted. Her

suitcases were unpacked at the hotel they’d

be staying at and the woman left out for the

space behind the scenes she was going to set

up for later that afternoon. When she arrived

she only offered smiles when people like Sami

and live said they were glad she was okay. In

reality she wasn’t, that kiss unlocked a lot

of memories and even more troubling feelings

she didn’t know she was capable of anymore. Camille took a break from setting up her studio

area deciding to go to Gorilla where the

production team was running through the show.

Sitting quietly she sipped at her matcha latte

thanking the anxiety meds she had soothing

her heart beat as the entrance music of

someone she was avoiding ran through for

practice. There he was in all his glory with his

back turned in the ring wearing a hoodie,

unaware of her presence but Camille could

only see him. “Mimi,” Trinity’s voice pulled her

attention she spotted her friend looking at her

worriedly sitting beside the woman. Camille

ducked her head not missing the man in the

ring undo his hoodie and stare at her with

an expression mixed with too many emotions

for her to decipher. “Sorry girl, I just had to

go,” Camille muttered looking up as the other

woman placed a hand on her shoulder,” you

know he wasn’t trying to hurt you,” Trinity

talked lowly locking eyes with the woman.

Shaking her own head,” I know he wouldn’t

hurt me,” “then why did you run from him?” Trinity searched her friends eyes finding the

same mix of emotions she saw in Sefa at the

party after the others caught up with him

having a mini crash out seeing the woman’s

taxi disappear down the road. Camille

swallowed harshly, her lips parted but she didn’t

have an answer, her eyes wandered finding

the intense brown eyes looking at her own. “I-

I can’t,” she uttered standing she excused

herself hurriedly walking to the backstage once

again. Sefa had spotted the woman and his

heart bumped harshly, his eyes locked on hers

and he wished he hadn’t put her through that,

but fuck why couldn’t he just be with her, he

deserved that woman. Sefa noted the two

talking as soon as Camille began to look

distressed he stopped his session and paced

behind her. He caught the woman by the arm

to which she yanked free only after noting the

offender was the man she was avoiding she

shook her head backing up. “Why did you run

from me?”, she gaped at him scoffing,” you’re

fucking with me right?!” Sefa clenched his jaw

tugging her into her studio shutting them in,”

I’m being dead ass, you kissed me back so

why the fuck did you run from me?” When

she didn’t respond he tsked,” is it Marcus, is

that lame ass little bruh back?!, is that why

you’ve been ignoring my damn calls.” Her

patience thinned she snapped,” who you

talking too Sefa, because I know damn you

haven’t lost your big headed mind to speak

at me like that.” He frustratedly pushed the door

loudly behind him ensuring they were locked in,”

why the fuck is he contacting you again?!”

Angry tears filled her eyes a trait that pissed

her off than being mad herself,”I am not seeing

nobody! who the fuck are you to be questioning

my moves, you not my damn daddy or my man.” That struck a nerve making the tall man pin her

against the table she worked at,” I said who the

fuck got you avoiding me Mimi, I’m not gonna

ask you again.” Despite how her pussy

moistened at this side of Sefa she scoffed

closing her mouth in defiance. Sefa growled

his bottom set of grills showing as he sucked

in grasping her chin forcing her attention to

him,” Camille Martin, I swear to fucking God

if you don’t answer me ima find whoever

got you acting up and kill them my damn self.” Ignoring her heart racing she rolled her eyes

speaking bluntly,”suicide isn’t very cash money.”

Sefa froze the pieces clicking in place and he

let out a small laugh in disbelief,” you’re not

fucking serious.” Camille sneered at his

mouth, she shoved past him,”whatever I

thought forget it, leave me the fuck alone

you big headed bastard.” Sefa squinted at

her running that mouth, he gripped her wrist

spinning her to him pressing her back against

the door,” you need to watch that damn mouth

of yours.” Dead panning the man in front of her

Camille sucked in her teeth,”me and my mouth

are my fucking business now are we done here

or is it about to get ugly forehead.” Sefa

scoffed,”you’re so fucking difficult why are

you always running from something good?!”

Camille shrugged him off with the slip of the

door knob she glared,” don’t follow me, matter

of fact let the stand in do your hair tonight I

don’t even want to see that stupid face!” She

hiked her purse over her shoulder and stormed

out leaving him to cuss kicking over an empty

tub. “You better pick that shit the fuck up!” She

yelled behind her shoulder exiting out the

employee parking lot ignoring the twins asking

where their brother was. “Nah fuck that,” he

stormed after the woman yanking her driver

side door open,” get out of the car Camille.” Now

feeling petty and aggravated with him she

picked at her nails boredly,” close my door so

I’m not late for my date.” Sefa froze, his face

stoned,”Get the fuck out of this damn car

Camille, I swear to God if it’s Marcus I will

put my hands on him for the first and

last time.” Satisfied with him now being

angry enough to match her pinched nerve

Camille yanked her door close and began

backing out sliding her shades on rolling up

hey tinted windows ignoring the very

obvious shouts from Sefa who had tried to

pry the door opened until she’d gotten

out of reach. If his anger was palpable it would

burn anyone who came near him, but Liv was

walking towards her own car seeing him

standing angrily she winced trying to quickly

get into her car when her wrist was caught

making her cuss but turn pasting a smile on

her face like she was in the ring,”Solo, my man

how are you?” Sefa’s eye twitched slightly,” cut

the shit Morgan, where’s Camille going

tonight?” Liv groaned promising solidarity with

her friend first she shrugged,” no clue, I gotta

go.” Sefa glared at the short woman,” I would

really hate to let that work stash of yours to

be found.” The woman cussed,” fuck you Solo,

she’s going to Cozelle’s,” she yanked her wrist

away flipping the male off speeding off. Sefa

clenched his jaw at the sound of the nice

restaurant downtown, so she really thought

that she could just kiss him back and then go

on a date,” Sefa laughed humorously clicking

his tongue to make his own way to his suite to

get ready for his date. “Well they’re both

fucking crazy,” came Jonathan’s voice to his

twin who gaped at the entire spiel they just

witnessed,” I bet she clocks him with her purse,”

came Trinity’s voice making the pair shake their

heads,” nah it’ll be either a drink tossed or a

hand,” Jey uttered as he awkwardly went into

the van transport to the hotel.

Camille was over the rush of emotions

caused by that stupid prick ass Fatu, she

had earlier in the day decided that she would

take herself out on a date. It wasn’t until after

spotting the man in the ring that she uttered

going to Cozelle’s to Liv who was nearby. The

place was a fairly nice jazz lounge with moody

lighting but had a nice vibe to it. Not to even

mention they had bomb ass original cocktails

she had her mind on. Camille put on a showy

dress adding some cute strap heels she made

her way out having ubered to the destination

planning on getting trashed at a nice ass

establishment. When she arrived her legs

carried her to the bar where she ordered two

of the days specials on cocktails, the bartender

chuckled as she quickly nursed one glass like

a shot,”long day?” Camille snorted swallowing

the remainder of the second drink, she carried

herself to the balcony looking down at where

the live jazz played. Her racing thoughts

simmered to a stop with the aide of the

alcohol in her system, in all honesty her brain

was not even processing the music zoned out

from the sudden stoppage of her mind rushing.

Sefa dressed up for the restaurant having

looked into it, so some asshole wanted to

be cute and take his girl out on some swanky

lame ass date? He tsked bitterly, that mother

fucker would be on his last damn date was the

thought coursing his veins as he headed directly

to the venue. He wandered in surveying the

space his eyes peering out for that smart

ass mouth that would be answering for this

bullshit. When he noted that most of the

guests were older adults he gaped, so she

not only wanted to piss him off she didn’t

think he could take care of her so she was

gonna meet up with some elderly fuck. Sefa caught the brief flash of familiar tattoos

his feet marching ahead when he caught

the heavy whiff of alcohol he growled, she

was a light weight, “who the fuck got you

drinking like this,” he growled tugging her

protectively against him looking around

for the perpetrator. Camille squinted her

eyes, when she made out familiar features

she shoved him off,” get away from me,

I can’t even take myself out on a damn

date without you suffocating me.” Sefa

prodded his inside cheek with his tongue,” Ima

act like you didn’t just say that, get your stuff

we are going.” Camille gritted her teeth,” I’m not

going anywhere, not with you.” Sefa shook his

head she was damn lucky he had a public image

to maintain, “yeah we’re done here, say good

night Camille.” The woman didn’t get a chance

to throw a slurred cuss out at him being lifted

like a bag of apples over his shoulder to his car

where she was strapped harshly into the

passenger seat, the muscular male just as

quickly pulled off being deadly silent. “Take

me home, right now,” she yelled out. Sefa

ignored her tantrum instead picking up speed to

the hotel, it was with only a little attention from

staff when he punched in his code and was in

his own suite with her thrown on his bed.

Camille cussed at him feeling dizzy, he yanked

her heels off and tossed them,” you’re a fucking

lightweight, if I hadn’t shown up who would

have protected you from creeps huh?!

Camille snapped,” the only creep is you,

why are you always fucking following me?!”,

she kicked at his arms when he was trying to

take her shoes off. Sefa took a deep breath,

pinching the bridge of his nose,” you’re so

fucking impossible Camille, as if you didn’t

know.” The woman gaped at him standing up

she shook her head,” what the fuck are you

talking about Sefa?!” He glared,” you can

drop the act Camille we both know what

this is.” She smacked his chest,” you are

getting on my last damn nerves, why did

you have to change?!” His eyes widened a

small flash of hurt hit his features though it

went to a new anger,” I was sick and fucking

tired of you making the same fucking mistakes.”

Camille froze at his outburst,” now wait a damn

minute, what fucking mistakes Sefa Fatu?! right now the only mistake I’m realizing is not

knocking them teeth out your damn mouth.”

Sefa began pacing trying to calm himself down

but an intoxicated Camille was her most blunt

form. “I’m talking to you Fatu why the fuck are

you talking to me any type of way?!” Sefa

found his repetition of counting up and down

no longer soothing the way his nerves were

singed by the frustration he’d been carrying for

years. “You’ve been constantly making the

wrong choices when it came to men, from the

time we met to now you’re so damn clueless,”

he threw the words at her. Camille froze,” If

you’ve had enough insulting me, I think I’m

going to leave before you make me say

something I’ll regret.” Sefa laughed out,” that’s

fucking rich, go do what you’re a champ at and

run away,” he clapped sarcastically pissing her

off, Camille went to slap him but his reflexes

snatched her wrist mid air,” you’re the most

aggravating damn woman I’ve ever met, I don’t

know why I follow you around, I’ve spent years

trying to be seen by you and you never spare a

glance, like I’m damn invisible, like I’m not the

best option.” Camille shook her head,” yeah

you clearly are fucking insane, I’m out,” she

found some strength wrenching her hand free. Her mind seemed to catch up a bit, her anger

sobering her up,” wait a fucking minute,you’ve

been dick riding me and pissing me off any

chance you get over that kiss?!” Sefa

frustratingly sighed,” just leave Camille, I don’t

know why I ever fell for your stupid ass.” Camille

steadied herself,” you’re insane, what are you

damn talking about?!” He cussed out knocking

something over, causing the woman to jump

sitting down on the edge of the bed out of

surprise. “I’ve been in love with your clueless

ass since we first met at that party my brother

had with Trinity.” He didn’t wait feeling the

words rush out like angry waves of water,” if you

weren’t so fucking blind you wouldn’t have been

through all those lame ass ex’s, especially

Marcus.” The information dump made her

head spin, shaking her head in a daze the

woman gripped the blankets by her fingers

trying to steady some sense of reality,” you

don’t mean that shit.” Sefa dropped to the

ground in front of her,” is this what your cruel

ass wants huh?!, me to be on my knees and

beg for you to see me as a man and not

some fucking kid.” He wiped at his face

bitter with agitation,” I am the perfect man

for you, I have been here in the shadows, I

know everything about you, I know all of

your likes and dislikes, I have seen you

in all aspects, and I am in love with you, fuck

Camille I love you, so damn much, and I know

you feel it too , that kiss showed me.” Camille

felt overwhelmed by the situation she found

herself as the admittance from the man

mixed with the way her head violently

thrummed. Her head hit the ground quicker

than she fell unconscious, Sefa yelled out

catching her head in his arms,”Camille what the

fuck?!,” he pulled out his phone dialing Trinity

and Jonathan who were there quickly helping

him with her on the hotel bed with their own

company medics coming in and setting her up. “What happened?,” Trinity spoke urgently to

him seeing some things tossed about and

the younger Fatu looking overwhelmed. “I told

her I had feelings for her.” Jonathan gaped,”

so she knows you like her,” Sefa shook his head

frustrated tears fell down his cheek,” I told her I

was in love with her, I told her I loved her.”

“Fuck,” the married couple coughed out in

realization of the importance of the moment.

[tomorrowusa]

If the increasingly demented and hideous Weird Donald Trump isn't enough to scare voters away from the Republican Party, there's also the House Freedom Caucus planning to disrupt Congress when it returns from summer break.

The far-right House Freedom Caucus is gearing up for a government-shutdown fight at the end of September and a chaotic lame-duck session after the election, no matter who wins. “In the inevitability that Congress considers a Continuing Resolution,” the House Freedom Caucus said in a statement Monday, referring to a possible short-term spending bill, “government funding should be extended into early 2025 to avoid a lame duck omnibus [bill] that preserves Democrat spending and policies well into the next administration.” They want this so that “Democrats cannot undermine President [Donald] Trump’ second term,” in which Trump would expectedly obliterate the funding agreements that President Joe Biden and Congress made for the 2025 fiscal year. That’s not their only demand, though. In the statement, the Freedom Caucus also said the continuing resolution should include bogus legislation to prevent noncitizens from voting. The Freedom Caucus called on Republican House leadership to "use our leverage in the September spending fight to prevent non-citizens from voting in our elections." Noncitizens don’t vote, of course. As the Brennan Center for Justice explains, it’s a “federal crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. It’s also a crime under every state’s laws. In fact, under federal law, you could face up to five years in prison simply for registering to vote. It’s also a deportable offense for noncitizens to register or vote.”

About as many non-citizens vote in the US as there are occasions when Donald Trump is truthful and humble at the same time.

Noncitizen Voting Is Already Illegal — and Vanishingly Rare

GOP allegations of vote fraud are an attempt to pander to Trump's delusional obsession with the 2020 election. He just can't handle the fact that he's a LOSER.

Trump hired me to find election fraud in Arizona. Here's what I found instead

Conservative group finds ‘absolutely no evidence of widespread fraud’ in 2020 election

Vote fraud and election tampering are far more common among Republicans.

The Pattern of GOP Voter Fraud

This is hardly recent behavior on the part of Republicans. NPR's This American Life in 2004 did a segment (Episode 276, Act Two) on election sabotage.

Cold-cock The Vote (transcript – scroll down to Act Two)

Weird Donald has hijacked the GOP. Eric Trump's wife is now co-chair of the Republican National Committee. They do little these days which does not involve kowtowing to Weird Donald and his bizarre whims. House Speaker "MAGA Mike" Johnson will be doing what he can to placate the Dear Leader's kinks when Congress returns.

[firstagent]

What It's Like To Get Elected

Has it been another month since my last story update again? Uh… it’s still going.

Anyway, switching to another subject since I promised to talk more politics. As I mentioned before, I’ve been active with my local Democratic party. As far as getting into the room, getting access to important people, and giving them reality checks (and boy, do they need reality checks sometimes), I can’t recommend joining enough. Assuming you’ve got the spoons for it, and your local party don’t turn out to be assholes. That’s another conversation.

I also mentioned I was running for local school board. And guess what? I won!

In a small miracle for this town, we only had three candidates for three positions. Well, a small miracle and some excellent coordination from the local lefties. Because we were essentially unopposed, a lot of the steps of normal campaigning didn’t apply this time. Which is a shame, because I had a design for yard signs all set to go.

I did, however, interview for unions! That looks like a big Zoom call with a bunch of local reps where they ask you questions to make sure you support unions. The teachers union asked me about supporting LGBTQ+ students. Anyway, if you stalk me and find my Ballotpedia page (I only discovered a couple weeks ago that I had a Ballotpedia page) you’ll find two union endorsements. So that’s fun.

So is defending those endorsements and my Dems activity on community Facebook groups when people were under the impression they don’t get involved in local races. Maybe they should ask the county board candidate who swore up and down he didn’t take outside money, while taking $700 from the county Republicans. We have receipts.

Because of that nonsense I was more focused on his race than mine on Election Day. Hearing results when you’re running sometimes works a little differently, as you probably know someone working the polls that will share the results before the internet and news networks find them. So I heard about the local results well before they were published. And yes, I won! And that Republican guy lost. Bonus.

What happens next? For starters, training sessions. The state’s school board association emailed me the next morning with a login for their site. Three meetings in the next month will help get me up to speed: an orientation with the actual board, a gathering for new members in the region, and then an all-day affair about the specific governing model we have. It’s a lot, but it shows how much they prepare you going in, if you’re committed to actually doing the job right.

The biggest reality check came when I went to the next school board meeting, the lame duck session, if you will. For one, when I got there I got handed payroll paperwork. It hadn’t really sunk in that I was getting paid for this. Another is a discussion that frequently mentioned waiting on a vote until the new members could chime in. Or even the kudos from the other board members for crossing the finish line.

Yesterday I took my oath of office. Reading the email I was expecting a small private thing where I do an LBJ-style swearing in in a secretary’s office, maybe a picture. I just had to sign a thing, in the office because it had to be notarized. I was in and out in five minutes.

We’re going from roughly a 6-1 progressive majority to 7-0. That’s great news for our school, even if my first meeting I get to vote on whether elementary school registration fees are tripled, or doubled with the district subsidizing the balance. Thanks state legislature!

If you go in intending to do the job right, it’s a lot of work. That’s why it’s so important to elect people who intend to do the job right. Because so much of this is optional. It’s entirely possible to skip most of the trainings, to take your seat and either do nothing productive with it, or try to push policy whether or not it’s relevant, appropriate, or even legal. That’s how we get bad leadership, and why participation in this process is the only way anything’s going to get better.

(Feel free to use my Ask box for any political questions, including what the hell Democrats actually do at the local level and why I encourage joining them even with all the baggage attached.)

[meret118]

Republicans in the state are trying to overturn Democratic victories and prevent them from occurring again

. . .

North Carolina Republicans — representing the party that lost the gubernatorial race — voted to strip power from the incoming Democratic governor. Under the guise of hurricane relief, the state’s GOP-led legislature voted to eliminate Gov.-elect Stein’s ability to appoint members of the state election board, where Democrats presently hold a 3-2 majority, shifting the authority to the state auditor, a Republican. To further limit the possibility of Democrats gaining and exercising power, GOP legislators also voted to slash the time voters are permitted to request absentee ballots and cure any problems with ballots they’ve cast.

Lt. Gov. Robinson, presiding over a Senate session earlier this month, called the police on protesters who had entered the gallery to express opposition to the power grab, according to Carolina Public Press, a nonprofit news organization. Had Robinson won, he would be inheriting the power to make appointments to the state utilities commission, which sets electricity rates, and pick the head of the state’s highway patrol — all powers that have now been stripped from November’s victor.Republicans also voted to block the state’s Democratic attorney general from arguing any legal positions that are opposed by the GOP legislature, per Axios, and curbed the power of the state superintendent, another Democrat, to exercise oversight over charter schools. And they did all this in a lame-duck session after losing their veto-proof majority in the state house.

. . .

Also in November, Allison Riggs, a Democrat and associate justice on the state Supreme Court, narrowly defeated her Republican opponent, Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin. After two recounts, Riggs was determined to have won by just over 700 votes.

No matter: Griffin and the state GOP are trying to throw out 60,000 other ballots, relying in part on a legal argument already rejected by courts prior to the election — that votes cast from people overseas, including members of the military, should be tossed if they were not accompanied by a photocopy of their photo identification; the party also maintains that ballots should be tossed from voters if there is no copy of such identification in their registration file, its challenge disproportionately targeting younger voters and people of color.

“Prior to 2020, you never saw these types of claims,” Democratic election attorney Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket, commented this week. “Donald Trump popularized it.

”So far, at least, the claims have been just as successful — which is to say, unsuccessful. On Wednesday, the state Board of Elections, still led by Democrats, rejected the GOP arguments on Wednesday, moving Riggs one step closer to having her victory certified. But, as NBC News reported, their decision could be appealed and the case ultimately decided by the GOP-led state Supreme Court.