Category Archives: National

DL Open Thread Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

Spotlight Delaware unveiled a major project yesterday that assesses the statewide reassessment that has gored many an ox. Not surprisingly, it found that poor people and minorities got hit the hardest.

The data, compiled through Freedom of Information Act requests by Spotlight Delaware and mapped in partnership with Tech Impact’s Data Lab, show that in most areas of the state, property wealth and subsequent taxation moved to areas where they would largely be expected.

In Sussex County, the Rehoboth Beach area saw the median property assessment rise more than 5,000% while much of the more agrarian western Sussex land saw median assessments rise just 1,700%.

In Kent County, growing Dover-area suburbs like Magnolia and Cheswold, along with recreational areas like Bowers Beach and Kitts Hummock, saw median assessments increase more than 1,000%, while downtown Dover areas saw increases only about half as large.

In New Castle County, however, the largest increases came in less likely places: some of Wilmington’s poorest neighborhoods. Communities like Hilltop, Eastside, Riverside and Southbridge saw increases between 700% and 1,000%. Meanwhile, chateau country communities like Centreville, Greenville and Hockessin and the booming Middletown-Odessa-Townsend corridor saw increases of 300% to 450%.

Also:

[T]he homes in Hilltop and other impacted communities were assessed against comparable sales that primarily featured renovated homes being sold by flippers. The median assessment in Hilltop now sits north of $180,000, but recent sales of unimproved properties have fallen far under their assessed values.

• A four-bedroom townhome on West Third Street sold three months ago for $125,000 – or about 46% less than its $234,800 assessed value.

• A five-bedroom row home on North Harrison Street, whose bones date back some 136 years to before cars even traveled the city’s streets, was assessed by Tyler Technologies to be worth more than $250,000. It was sold last month to investors for just $140,000, or 44% less than its assessed value.

• Another five-bedroom home on West Third Street sold for $130,000 – or about 46% less than its $214,700 assessment.

Each of those sales seemingly demonstrates that longtime residents of Hilltop who have not invested in significant renovations are likely paying more than their fair share in property taxes.

BTW, this is the kind of work the state’s largest newspaper used to do before it decided to devote its energies to high school sports and restaurant openings and closings.

By the time you read this Trump might have started another attack on Iran. Or maybe not, he hasn’t decided yet, perhaps because he hasn’t come up with a better excuse than We have to dismantle their nuclear program” – you know, the nuclear program he claimed to have destroyed in a bombing raid last year.

I don’t want to say that Trump is the highest-rising Dunning-Kruger bozo in history, but I have to, because he is. The Mango Moron, acting on the class notes someone took for him when he pretended to go to the University of Pennsylvania, keeps insisting his illegally imposed tariffs would alter the U.S. trade deficit. Guess again, Stinky. It reached new highs in 2025.

The rise emerged despite a sharp drop in trade with China, one of the earliest targets of the tariffs. The gap runs counter to one of the White House’s key aims which is to reduce the deficit, arguing that US reliance on overseas goods has hollowed out the country’s production abilities and put national security at risk.

Imports of goods – some of which US firms had rushed at the start of last year to get ahead of Trump’s tariff regime – reached a record $3.4tn, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Business investment in artificial intelligence helped drive demand, as US imports of computer parts and equipment surged. Exports also hit a new high, despite a drop in shipments of US food, cars and car parts, two of the sectors most exposed to the trade changes.

A lot of news outlets sanewashed Trump’s demented babbling at the first meeting of his Board of Peace, but I recommend not reading them unless you’re in need of an emitic.

The floor’s yours.

Delaware Political Weekly: Week Ending February 19, 2026

1. R Nikki Miller Drops Out Of RD 20 Race.  I’m surprised, TBH.  She almost beat Stell Parker Selby in 2024, and she almost beat Alonna Berry in the 2025 Special Election to replace the terminally-absent Selby.  This leaves, as of now, no Republican clallenger in this race.  Although, alleged Democrat Ruby Schaeffer has filed to challenge incumbent D Rep. Alonna Berry.  Perhaps she’ll officially revert to the dark side. A quote from Miller:

In a Facebook post announcing her decision, Miller described her recent campaign as incredible experiences “filled with memorable moments, from events and fundraisers to meeting remarkable individuals in our community.”

Miller, a lifelong educator who is supervisor of instruction with the Seaford School District and previously served as principal of Cape High, said she is choosing to focus on education and her work with students, teachers and the community where she believes she can make a real impact.

“I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supported and encouraged me throughout this journey,” she said. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, grateful for the experience and excited for what’s next.”

2. It’s Official–Shay Frisby Is On The Ballot!  As a Democrat for the SD 5 seat that encompasses Claymont, the Ardens, and much of Brandywine Hundred.  Truth in advertising:  I’ve volunteered on this campaign since we first started.  Shay is an empath and a listener who has gotten results.  She reminds me so much of Marie Pinkney and Kamela Smith.  Here is her announcement:

WILMINGTON, Del. — Community organizer and public servant Shay Frisby today announced her candidacy for the Delaware State Senate, seeking to represent Senate District 5, which includes Claymont, the Ardens, and Brandywine Hundred.

“I am running because working families, caregivers, and everyday workers deserve a senator who understands their struggles and will fight for policies that make their lives better. “I’ve always worked on behalf of the community, and I’m ready to continue that work in the Delaware General Assembly,” Frisby said.

“Now I have the opportunity to go to Dover and put my experience into legislation—to turn the lessons I’ve learned into real policy change,” Frisby said.

Frisby’s professional experience reflects her deep commitment to service and advocacy. She organized and mobilized more than 500 childcare providers across Delaware, uniting early childhood professionals to successfully advocate for workforce sustainability, economic fairness, and policies that support both providers and working parents.

“Childcare providers are essential workers and the backbone of our economy, yet they are too often overlooked,” Frisby said. “Organizing alongside them reinforced my belief that when we bring people together, we can create lasting change.”

As the former Program Manager for Stand by Me, a joint State/United Way program, Shay provided financial literacy skills to families.

Frisby works directly with constituents to navigate Delaware’s social service system—helping families access the resources and support they need. This hands-on work has given her an intimate understanding of how state policies affect everyday people and where the system falls short.

As a trainer and supervisor for the State of Delaware, Frisby supports teams delivering critical public services, and helps ensure state systems respond with care and accountability to individuals and families in crisis.

Her campaign centers on four key priorities:

  • Protecting working families from being forced out of their neighborhoods
  • Supporting caregivers and workers with fair wages and sustainable working conditions
  • Ensuring transparency and accountability in government decision-making
  • Making childcare accessible and affordable for working families

“Our district deserves leadership that doesn’t just talk about working families—but actually comes from and fights for them,” Frisby said. “I’m ready to bring that voice to Dover.”

Frisby is actively seeking volunteers and community input as she builds her campaign. To support Shay’s grassroots campaign or volunteer, visit TogetherWithShay.com.”

I might also add, to contribute.  Now that she’s on the ballot, there’s never been a better time.

3.  Spotlight Delaware’s Tim Carlin Previews The Race To Replace Kent County’s Dave Lawson.  We’re talking Western Kent County’s SD 15, which has been solid R country since Lawson defeated Nancy Cook.  Carlin does an excellent job in looking at a race where the two candidates may not be typical of the district:

Senate District 15, which spans the length of western Kent County, covers towns including Felton, Marydel and Harrington. With both a Democrat and a Republican now in the race, this year’s election could be the first real litmus test of the district’s political leaning since boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census.

As of this month, the district is home to nearly 40,000 registered voters. Of those voters, just less than 29% are registered Democrats. Nearly 36% are registered Republicans, and the rest are not affiliated with a political party.

But a Democratic challenger with institutional connections – Nisha Lodhavia – has already tossed her hat in the ring, setting up a contested election in the district for the first time in more than 15 years.

Lodhavia, a member of the University of Delaware’s Board of Trustees, announced her candidacy on the steps of Legislative Hall in January. She was joined by a slew of Kent County Democrats.

Lodhavia, a retired Delaware Technical Community College professor, has already raked in more than $16,000 in donations, according to her most recent campaign finance report.

The report includes campaign contributions from Nov. 10, 2025, through the end of last year. Although Lodhavia did not formally file to run for office until January, she was required to submit a report because she created a candidate committee last November in anticipation of her run, said a spokesperson for the Delaware Department of Elections.

In an interview with Spotlight Delaware, Lodhavia said her vision for the future of the 15th District includes investments in education, health care, small business, and making agriculture a “top priority.”

“And woven throughout all of that,” Lodhavia said, “is affordability.”

Though she has not sought elected office before, Lodhavia said she realized recently that her resume – from board service to volunteer work – has prepared her for it.

A self-described moderate Democrat, Lodhavia said her party affiliation was not a deterrent from choosing to run for State Senate. The issues at the heart of her campaign, she said, are not partisan. And making them so, she added, would only act as a roadblock to finding solutions.

“I feel like the time is now because my district needs change,” she said. “And I’m here for it.”

OK, kids, when I hear someone with these kind of connections proclaim that they’re a  ‘moderate’ Democrat while mouthing the word ‘affordability’ (kids, saying the word itself doesn’t mean shit), the first phrase that comes to mind is ‘The Delaware Way’.  Especially with ties to both UD and Del-Tech.  Raising the question–are we better off with yet another Delaware Way legislator, or an R who appears to be much more reasonable than Lawson?  The R candidate is Emily Thompson:

She explained that she had met the senator about six months before she officially filed to run in January. She expressed her interest in being his successor, and the pair began attending community events together so she could better “understand the political landscape.”

Through that work, Thompson said she has homed in on improving education and preserving the district’s agricultural community as two of her top priorities.

Thompson previously worked in child welfare, and now she oversees Delaware’s home visiting programs for young families through the state’s Division of Public Health. That work, she said, showed her just how few resources are available to children and their families. 

If elected, Thompson said she wants to ensure families in Delaware schools understand what resources are available to them, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and transparently to do so.

Along with education, Thompson, who grew up on her family’s horse farm, said she is passionate about preserving the agricultural footprint of the 15th district. If farmers are not supported, she said, more farmland will inevitably become housing developments or solar farms. 

“If we don’t have policies and legislation in place, that financially supports farmers and makes it advantageous for them to continue farming … they obviously have to look at other avenues,” she said.

So.  Looks like the entire Democratic establishment will be behind Lodhavia.  Me?  Just gonna watch this one from afar.

4.  Filings: D NCC Councilman Dave Carter (CD 6);  R State Rep. Lyndon Yearick (RD 34); D NCC Councilman Valerie George (CD 5) (will somebody primary the developers’ rubber stamp?); D Kent County Levy Court Commissioner Jeff Hall (District 2); R Suxco Recorder Of Deeds Alexandra Reed Baker. 

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?

DL Open Thread Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

For those who pay attention to polls, this recent one contains an interesting phenomenon, noted on BlueSky by Adam Bonin, a lawyer from Philadelphia.

For months I’ve banged the drum that “not sure” has become the safe harbor answer for “Republicans who know Trump’s probably wrong, but don’t want to admit it.”

Today’s Economist/YouGov Poll: Is Donald Trump racist? 41% of Republicans have No Opinion.

There’s more:

Is Trump dangerous? 43% of Republicans have no opinion.
Honest? 44% have no opinion.
Corrupt? 43% have no opinion.
Out-of-touch? 49% have no opinion.

They know who he is. They just don’t want to admit it.

As Cheryl Rofer pointed out at LGM, “Show me another poll where almost half the respondents have no opinion. People having opinions, often misguided, is the definition of polls.”

David Dayen at the American Prospect singles out what he calls the “perfect Jeffrey Epstein email.”

On June 5, 2015, Kathy Ruemmler, then a corporate lawyer for Latham & Watkins but just one year removed from her stint as White House counsel for Barack Obama, emailed her good friend Jeffrey Epstein. Ruemmler, who was once under consideration to become Obama’s attorney general, wrote, “I am working on a PR strategy for MJ White v. Elizabeth Warren.” Epstein responded, “Good[.] mj is good.” And Ruemmler followed on in a response, “Yes, and EW is the worst.”

This is the perfect Jeffrey Epstein email, with as much explanatory power about this man, and more important the world he associated with and cultivated, than anything to do with child sex abuse. It shows that there is in fact an Epstein class, which not only believes in their own personal impunity, but seeks to protect their fellow travelers as well. And that ultimately lines up with a political and economic vision that favors corporate domination over the public interest.

But you have to unravel all the backstory to best understand it.

Bad news for those in Generation X: As a group, you’re physically weaker and more depressed than Boomers were at the same age.

If you grew up in the United States during the 1970s or so, you were promised a specific kind of trajectory. You’d get a degree, get a job, and eventually, settle into a midlife that might be boring, but at least it would be stable. Maybe you’d have a crisis like your old man, buy a convertible, or dye your hair.

But a massive new study suggests that the “midlife crisis” has mutated into something far more dangerous — and uniquely American.

According to research led by psychologist Frank J. Infurna of Arizona State University, Americans currently in their 40s and 50s are suffering from a profound deterioration in health and well-being that is virtually unseen in other wealthy nations. This cohort is lonelier, more depressed, and physically weaker than the generations that came before them. They are also experiencing alarming declines in memory.

What makes this data so damning is that it isolates the United States as a global outlier. In comparable peer nations, particularly in Nordic Europe, midlife health is actually improving.

“The real midlife crisis in America isn’t about lifestyle choices or sports cars. It’s about juggling work, finances, family, and health amid weakening social supports,” Infurna said. “The data make this clear.”

The authors of the study note that rising out-of-pocket medical expenses are a uniquely American stressor. These costs don’t just drain bank accounts; they deter preventive care, leading to a population that is sicker, more anxious, and burdened by medical debt that simply doesn’t exist in places like Finland or Germany.

Finally, on a lighter note, a federal judge in Chicago has dismissed a false advertising suit against the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant chain that complained its “boneless wings” were, in fact, not wings.

The decision, issued on Tuesday, was in response to a 2023 lawsuit filed in Illinois against Buffalo Wild Wings by customer Aimen Halim, who argued that the restaurant chain was violating the Illinois consumer fraud act and was misleading customers by marketing chicken breast pieces as “boneless wings”. He sought roughly $10m in damages.

“Halim does not plausibly allege that reasonable consumers are deceived by boneless wings, so he has failed to state a plausible claim for relief,” the judge John Tharp wrote. He noted that “boneless wings” are “not a niche product for which a consumer would need to do extensive research to figure out the truth” but said that instead, “‘boneless wings’ was a common term that had existed for over two decades.

Tharp described boneless wings as “essentially chicken nuggets: pieces of chicken breast meat, deep-fried and tossed in whatever sauce or dry seasoning the customer wants.” … He wrote later in the order that “a reasonable consumer would not think that BWW’s boneless wings were truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing.”

Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, January 19, 2026

Might be a one-day session, at least in the House, this week.

Gov. Meyer is set to deliver his State Of The State Address on Thursday.  Meaning, there might not be additional business conducted that day.  Since Wednesday is reserved exclusively for committee meetings, it’s possible that Tuesday might be the only House session day this week.  Will they make the most of it? I report, you decide—looks like the main bill of note is the one designed to protect you from being treated by licensed robot doctors.  Which, I’m sure, is a concern that we all share.  (Of course, these AI creations come equipped with Musk’s ‘Grok’ software, so perhaps the concern is justified.)

Only one bill on today’s Senate Agenda.  It’s the one designed to codify Christiana Care’s victory in court that enables them to be less forthcoming on how they’re reaping huge margins while providing minimal care.  Depressing.

Hey, as long as I’ve got the time, we might as well discuss a Senate Concurrent Resolution that has been dropped from the Agenda.  SCR 123 (Seigfried) ‘urges the Delaware River and Bay Authority to scrutinize existing contracts and any future contracts with Avelo Airlines and other businesses that enter into contracts with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fly detainees without proper due process protections.’  A companion piece of legislation, SB 207, ‘disqualifies commercial airlines from receiving the aviation jet fuel tax exemption for economic development if they transport ICE detainees for deportation without meeting standards regarding presentation of judicial warrants and due process.’  The bill remains in the Senate Executive Committee, likely not to be worked since Avelo claims that they’re now out of the deportation-for-profit business.

However, Sarah Mueller of WHYY wrote an article that makes me think that both the bill and resolution should be worked.  Even if Avelo wasn’t lying through its corporate teeth when it claimed it never ‘had a contract to help deport immigrants’, it admittedly deported immigrants.

From Mueller’s story:

In a statement, DRBA spokesperson James Salmon said that “while the DRBA understands and acknowledges community concerns regarding Avelo’s activities at other airports, those activities are outside the scope of the DRBA’s authority.”

They sure have the authority to decide whether or not Avelo and other entities will receive handouts from the DRBA.  Salmon’s swimming upstream on that one.  However, there’s a second, more sinister, deal that has the DRBA salivating:

The proposed legislation could prevent or eliminate incentives on a possible lease agreement between DRBA and Daedalus Aviation Group at the Wilmington Airport.

Last month, DHS paid Virginia-based Daedalus nearly $140 million to buy six Boeing 737s to use in deportation flights. Top company officials also head a separate company that has a nearly $1 billion contract to support “self deportations.” Daedalus did not respond to a request for comment.

Gorman said the bills are needed because Delawareans should know about companies operating inside the state that may be profiting off of the deportation of people without legal documentation who have been denied due process.

“[The resolution] asks DRBA to review the existing contracts, apply greater scrutiny to future agreements involving companies that conduct ICE deportation flights,” Gorman said. “And basically says that if public money is being used, the public deserves transparency and accountability about where those dollars are going.”

Members of the Delaware Stop Avelo Coalition said they’re concerned the DRBA is trying to hide a possible deal with Daedalus Aviation because of its work helping ICE deport people who don’t have the proper documents to be in the country.

The DRBA is a bi-state government agency that owns and operates several transportation hubs across New Jersey and Delaware. It is run by a board of commissioners appointed by each state’s governor and is funded by tolls, user fees, ticket sales and retail transactions.

The DRBA is also a cushy spot for the most connected-to-the-connected to land after being Delaware Way insiders.  The very idea that they would be in league with the most amoral inhumane enablers of these deportations, while not surprising, is unconscionable.  Work the bills, and shine a light on what’s going on under our noses.  Because it’s about to happen:

The Delaware River and Bay Authority was expected to consider the Daedalus Aviation lease agreement at its Dec. 16 meeting.

Rodriguez said some activists showed up to the meeting to voice their concerns after seeing the lease agreement item on the agenda. She said the board quickly pulled it once the meeting started.

That’s because the bi-state agency is not subject to either states’ Freedom of Information laws, according to a 2020 Delaware FOIA legal opinion. DOJ lawyers said the agency adopted its own FOIA policy in 1990. Questions to Salmon about the legality of altering the December agenda went unanswered.

“DRBA contends that it is not subject to unilateral legislation, as relevant caselaw and the language of the compact itself do not permit any additional duties or obligations be undertaken by DRBA without the express authorization of both states,” the DOJ opinion reads.

That legal decision said DRBA could be subject to either of the states’ FOIA laws by passing legislation. If the states chose to do so, the bill must contain a direct statement that they intend to amend the compact under which DRBA was created to make those laws apply.

The next Delaware River and Bay Authority meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21.  That’s Wednesday, folks.  At least, the Senate should work the SCR.

Back tomorrow with Committee Day.

Remember Lymond Moses

The Trump cabal rightfully is catching shit for maintaining that Renee Good was driving at ICE agent Jonathan Ross despite multiple videos showing that’s not true. That unimaginative response has been the LEO standard for decades. Anytime they shoot someone in a vehicle, they claim the officer feared for his life because the victim was aiming the vehicle at them.

It is very often a lie.

Anybody remember the Lymond Moses killing by New Castle County police in 2021? Same excuse offered, that he drove at officers, same video debunking the claim when body cam footage showed he was driving around them, not at them.

The county paid more than $1 million to settle the lawsuit.

The big new wrinkle in the Trump response: They’re maintaining the lie even though everyone can see they’re lying. The amazing part: Many of these MAGAts claim it’s true even as they watch the videos showing it’s not. Of course, we can’t tell how many of those online MAGAts are real people or live in the U.S., but I think most people dislike having their intelligence insulted.

DL Open Thread: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

How Crazy Does Trump Have To Be Before Any Democrat Calls For The 25th Amendment?  Check out his antics from yesterday:

President Donald Trump forced Republicans Tuesday to sit through a daylong policy event at the Kennedy Center, in which he gave a 90-minute rambling of his half-baked greatest campaign hits.

Whether bragging about how awesome he is at passing dementia tests or attacking transgender children, Trump’s torturous speech seemed driven by his desperate desire for an unlikely GOP win in the midterm elections—hoping it might spare him from facing a third impeachment.

Some video:

Meanwhile–what passes for the national Democratic Party responds, not with calls for the 25th Amendment, but with endless appeals for money:

The Democratic Party can text millions of Americans every single day. Think about that. They have phone numbers, infrastructure, the technical capacity to reach into people’s pockets and demand attention—multiple times daily.

And what do they do with this extraordinary power?

They ask for money.

Not “here’s what’s happening in your state legislature.” Not “here’s a No Kings or Indivisible event where I’ll be speaking.” Not “here’s the one thing you can do this week that actually matters.”

They’ve built one of the most sophisticated mass communication systems in American history and turned it into a digital panhandling operation. Every text is designed to spike your cortisol, extract your credit card number, and leave you feeling worse than before. And you know that if you actually make a donation, then that will increase the likelihood of more appeals in the future.

Meanwhile, we’re staring down an authoritarian administration and millions of people have no idea what to do, where to show up, or how to fight back.

They could be building a movement. Instead, they’re running a shake-down.

The 1%.  No, not what you’re thinking:

“To date, the Department has now posted to the DOJ Epstein Library webpage approximately 12,285 documents (comprising approximately 125,575 pages) in response to the Act, and there are more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Act that are in various phases of review.

Does anybody else find this hard to believe?:

We noted in our prior letter the hundreds of attorneys dedicated to the review at the time of that letter. Currently, and anticipated for the next few weeks ahead, in the range of over 400 lawyers across the Department will dedicate all or a substantial portion of their workday to the Department’s efforts to comply with the Act.

I call bullshit.  This is not an attempt to comply, it’s an attempt to delay forever.  If there was any doubt of Trump’s sordid involvement with Epstein, the Justice Department has eliminated those doubts.

Rep. Eric Morrison Introduces Bill To Decriminalize Public Smoking Of Marijuana:

Even though possessing up to an ounce of weed is now a legal right, police still arrest people for imbibing outside of their home — the only place it’s permitted. State Rep. Eric Morrison, a Democrat who represents the Bear area, said about 600 people were charged with public consumption in 2024.

Morrison thinks that’s too harsh a punishment for someone to face for using a legal product, albeit an intoxicating one.

He has introduced a bill to decriminalize the act, making public consumption a civil violation subject to a fine of up to $50 for a first offense and up to $100 for subsequent violations. His bill does not prevent police from charging people for driving under the influence of marijuana.

Morrison said the proposal is a sensible one that still carries a legal consequence for a prohibited act.

“An important thing to note is that this is not sending a message that it’s okay to consume cannabis in public. It’s not,” Morrison stressed. “What it’s doing is reducing the current penalty.”

Morrison pointed out that several other states, including New Jersey, California and Illinois, have adopted similar statutes that still ban public consumption but don’t make it a crime.

“It doesn’t make sense for folks smoking cannabis in public to have a criminal record for that,’’ Morrison said. “Criminal records hurt people in terms of finding housing and finding jobs. That’s not good for society.”

Here’s the bill.

Dueling Suxco Retail Mega-Complexes:

A new competitor has entered the race to build shopping destinations in booming eastern Sussex County. And the winner may become the host to a long desired Costco store.

Local developers Joel Sens and Chris Kalil plan to build a mixed-use development near Milton at the intersection of Routes 1 and 16.

It would have almost as much retail space as Atlantic Fields, the controversial commercial development planned along the often-congested Route 24, near Rehoboth Beach.

And the Milton development, dubbed Ocean One, could face an easier path to approval than Atlantic Fields because existing road infrastructure could better handle shopping center traffic.

The planned development also includes affordable housing, an enticing detail for county planners who face pressure to lower housing costs near the Delaware beaches.

Finally, Sens said his development will be a better spot for a Costco than the Atlantic Fields development 10 miles south. Many residents who expressed support for Atlantic Fields last fall cited the planned Costco store, which would be the first in Southern Delaware, as its draw.

“It’s an easy place to pick up provisions, as opposed to driving further into Rehoboth and trying to get on Route 24,” Sens said of his development’s Milton-area location. “Route 24 is already a disaster, right? I mean, this is just about common sense at this point.”

Well, what would you expect to hear the developer say?

What do you want to talk about?

DL Open Thread: Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025

While You Were Sleeping–Trump Invaded Venezuela and Arrested Maduro:

President Trump said on Saturday that the United States had captured the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and was flying him out of Venezuela, in what would be a stunning culmination to a monthslong campaign by Mr. Trump’s administration to oust the authoritarian leader.

Mr. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, his social media platform, and said that the United States had carried out “a large scale strike against Venezuela” in an operation that was conducted “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement.” He said that Mr. Maduro’s wife had also been captured.

Venezuelan officials said in statements that while a death and injury toll was still being assessed, Venezuelans had been killed in the strikes. A U.S. official said there had been no American casualties in the operation but would not comment on Venezuelan casualties.

In a brief phone interview with The New York Times after the announcement, Mr. Trump celebrated the success of the mission to capture the Venezuelan president. “A lot of good planning and lot of great, great troops and great people,” he said. “It was a brilliant operation, actually.”

When asked if he had sought congressional authority for the operation or what is next for Venezuela, Mr. Trump said he would address those matters during a news conference at 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Palm Beach, Fla.

So. Do we own Venezuela now?  Or just the oil? Can someone please wake Chris Coons up?  If this isn’t an act of war, I don’t know what is.

Yes. It’s all about the oil:

Trump’s recent statements refer to Venezuela’s 2007 nationalization of oil assets, including those from US firms like Exxon, which he describes as “stolen” from American interests. He has called for their return via posts on Truth Social in December 2025, framing it as reclaiming expropriated property to counter the Maduro regime. Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, CNN.

A Devin Nunes sighting:

While recently pursuing a favorite pastime – searching through Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings for publicly traded companies – I saw that Devin Nunes, the CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group and others associated with Trump Media did a deal to purchase a publicly traded company Blue Water Acquisition Corp. III. I then saw that a few months prior to the deal the CEO of Blue Water, Joseph Hernandez, attempted an unsuccessful $10 billion bid to acquire the U.S. assets of Citgo Petroleum, which is majority owned by Venezuela. With Trump and his administration bombing boats in Venezuela and killing dozens of people in what some call war crimes fueled by oil interests, the latest Nunes and Trump Media related business caught my attention.

Since the Trump administration and Trump family businesses all have a somewhat loose definition of ‘conflicts of interest’ it will be interesting to see if Blue Water or any other Trump-linked businesses, show up in future opportunities to profit from the bombings in Venezuela. And even if not related to Venezuela, it will be interesting to see what business combination Blue Water Acquisition Corp. III pursues given its many links to Trump Media, which is majority owned by the U.S. president.

Like Swallows Returning To Capistrano:

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said on X that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who “informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.” Maduro was indicted in 2020.

Lee, who had initially questioned how this attack was possible under U.S. law without the consent of Congress, did a quick 180, seemingly immediately satisfied with Rubio’s insistence that the “large scale strike” described by Trump was necessary to defend law enforcement. Other Republican members of Congress are falling in line this morning too.

At Least One Democratic Senator Speaks Out:

New Jersey senator Andy Kim, a Democrat, posted on X that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”

Sen. Kim accused Trump of rejected a “constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict because the Administration knows the American people overwhelmingly reject risks pulling our nation into another war.”

Kim, a former State Department employee under the Obama administration, Kim said the overnight strikes in Venezuela “doesn’t represent strength. It’s not sound foreign policy. It puts Americans at risk in Venezuela and the region, and it sends a horrible and disturbing signal to other powerful leaders across the globe that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the US government.”

He warned that the strikes “will further damage our reputation – already hurt by Trump’s policies around the world – and only isolate us in a time when we need our friends and allies more than ever”.

Some Questions To Be Answered:

Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, has shared some analysis of the latest events in Venezuela and says attacks by the US have prompted many questions:

This isn’t a surprise. Though the narrative around the US rationale for the escalation and attacks off the coast of Venezuela has changed over time (anti-narcotics, removal of Maduro, regime change) this step was almost inevitable after the six-month escalation failed to generate internal dissent that could prompt Maduro’s removal or regime change.

It looks for now that the US focused on key military infrastructure: Tiuna Fort, an unoccupied military barracks, several airfields and bases. Will this be enough to provoke a regime change alone? Or will it need to continue. Frankly while some US special operations forces could land in Venezuela to support targeted strikes a full military invasion is unlikely. Can these strikes go on indefinitely?

According to surveys, US citizens are opposed to the use of its military in Venezuela. And any strikes inside Venezuela now will likely force a vote in Congress under the War Powers Act.

But assuming even if there is regime change-of some sort, and it’s by no means clear even if it does happen that it will be democratic-the US’s military action will likely require sustained US engagement of some sort. Will the Trump White House have the stomach for that?

I guess Trump’s invasion of US cities really was a test run for more military action.  This time, with no pesky courts around to try to make Trump follow the law.

The NYTimes Editorial Gets It Right:

The nominal rationale for the administration’s military adventurism is to destroy “narco- terrorists.” Governments throughout history have labeled the leaders of rival nations as terrorists, seeking to justify military incursions as policing operations. The claim is particularly ludicrous in this case, given that Venezuela is not a meaningful producer of fentanyl or the other drugs that have dominated the recent epidemic of overdoses in the United States, and the cocaine that it does produce flows mostly to Europe. While Mr. Trump has been attacking Venezuelan boats, he also pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, who ran a sprawling drug operation when he was president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022.

A more plausible explanation for the attacks on Venezuela may instead be found in Mr. Trump’s recently released National Security Strategy. It claimed the right to dominate Latin America: “After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American pre-eminence in the Western Hemisphere.” In what the document called the “Trump Corollary,” the administration vowed to redeploy forces from around the world to the region, stop traffickers on the high seas, use lethal force against migrants and drug runners and potentially base more U.S. troops around the region.

Venezuela has apparently become the first country subject to this latter-day imperialism, and it represents a dangerous and illegal approach to America’s place in the world. By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors. More immediately, he threatens to replicate the American hubris that led to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

As a presidential candidate, Mr. Trump seemed to recognize the problems with military overreach. In 2016, he was the rare Republican politician to call out the folly of President George W. Bush’s Iraq war. In 2024, he said: “I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.”

He is now abandoning this principle, and he is doing so illegally. The Constitution requires Congress to approve any act of war. Yes, presidents often push the boundaries of this law. But even Mr. Bush sought and received congressional endorsement for his Iraq invasion, and presidents since Mr. Bush have justified their use of drone attacks against terrorist groups and their supporters with a 2001 law that authorized action after the Sept. 11 attacks. Mr. Trump has not even a fig leaf of legal authority for his attacks on Venezuela.

What do you want to talk about?

DL Presents: Our MVP’s For 2025

‘MVP’ standing for ‘Most Valuable To The Progressive Cause’ in Delaware.  This is my list.  Your lists would undoubtedly differ.  Although–I read all of your suggestions and, in some cases, incorporated your nominees onto the list.

Two of the entries this year identify people who also serve as proxies for those who have joined them in doing essential work.  We’ll start with them:

10.  Kirsten Walther:  One of the driving forces behind Network Delaware, she works tirelessly on behalf of building a responsive and responsible progressive movement.  She’s the Project Coach of Network Delaware. She has been especially involved with the HOMES Campaign, which works on humane housing initiatives, NOCAP, which addresses police violence in Dover, and CEDP, which works to end inequitable treatment of those returning to society after incarceration.  I first met Kirsten during Kerri Evelyn Harris’ campaign for Senate.  She not only does an incredible amount of good, she does it while staying pretty much behind the scenes.

9.  Paola Subervi:  Profiled in this story by José Ignacio Castañeda Perez,  Paola Subervi exemplifies the kind of people who quietly do everything they can to assist and champion those who the Trump Administration has singled out for persecution:

Subervi has become an expert at navigating the intricacies of the new reality that many immigrants in Maryland and southern Delaware find themselves in — often alone and unsure of what to do in the face of intense federal enforcement. Her renowned wherewithal on these processes — finding people, towing cars, managing WhatsApp groups — has become indispensable to many. 

Subervi now finds herself on the front lines of confronting the aftermath of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, which has ensnared veterans, students and even U.S. citizens. The crackdown has forced people underground, with many immigrants scared to leave their homes as federal enforcement has taken place outside of grocery stores, gas stations and on the side of the road.  

Subervi has gained a reputation along the lines of, “If you can’t find someone, call Paola,” according to one Salisbury, Md, resident who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of immigration enforcement.

If she doesn’t know how to help, she will learn.

“You do whatever needs to be done to help,” Subervi said. 

There is no better mission statement for responding to this crisis than “You do whatever needs to be done to help.”

8.  Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton:  This year, mostly for ridding the Christina School Board of Our Man In Pakistan.  Also for subtly but clearly pointing out the lack of integrity at the core of Speaker Minor-Brown’s railroading through of the Musk/Zuckerberg legislation.

7.  Reps. Sophie Phillips and Frank Burns:  They tried to make the Musk/Zuckerberg legislation better.  Their amendments would have done so.  But the fix was in.  Speaker Minor-Brown prevented their witnesses from testifying while Rep. Krista Griffith just repeated ‘This is an unfriendly amendment’ as code to the legislative lemmings to vote them down.  Phillips introduced two outstanding bills that, not coincidentally, have been held up.  Check out HB 135 and HB 132.  With more enlightened leadership, those bills would have been in the Senate’s hands by, say, June 1.  Burns passed one notable bill this session addressing power grid issues.  He has also introduced legislation addressing the proposed data centers.  That bill, which was introduced on June 30, is likely to be one of the most important ones of the upcoming legislative session.

6.  Shané Darby, Coby Owens, Christian Willauer.  The much-needed antidote to the bloodless corporatism that has infected city government and city politics for generations.  In other words, challengers to the long reign of Carney-esque dim bulbs, the Chamber, and Buccini-Pollin.  Effective advocates for the under-served and ignored, challengers to the Delaware Way insiderism that is perhaps best illustrated in the Gibraltar shenanigans.  They are also a counter-balance to the generally-undistinguished Wilmington delegation in Dover.  I hope that, someday, they all might be members of that delegation.  In one case, as early as next year.

5.  Rep. Larry Lambert.  My State Rep!  For successfully sponsoring and passing HB 210, which finally holds serial polluters accountable for their actions by creating escalating fines for their actions.  ‘In addition, this Act increases the amount of penalty funds directed to communities near facilities with violations… In addition, 40 percent, rather than 25 percent, of the civil and administrative funds collected under various environmental regulatory chapters will be appropriated to the Community Environmental Project Fund under § 6042 of Title 7. The Fund will give priority to community environmental projects located within a 2-mile radius of the violation or infraction.  

Lambert is especially skilled at forging bonds with legislators and community leaders alike.  He, along with Burns and Phillips, are among those who could serve as leaders in a more progressive caucus.

4.  NCC Councilman David Carter.  He is fighting the good fight against some of the most willfully-obstinate and, in some cases, corrupt elected officials in Delaware.  His well-thought-out proposals on data centers resonate with the public and are essential to protect both our water supply and, of course, utility costs.  He is up against a toxic mix of imminent retirees and people like Tim Sheldon, who only cares about his union guys.  As opposed to the people who live in his district.  If the Delaware City project gets built, it will likely not be the last one.  It, of course, won’t get built in Chateau Country, so Janet Kilpatrick doesn’t give two shits about the impact.  The arguments against Carter’s legislation, which he continually adjusts to address stated concerns are bullshit.  Especially the ‘we can’t change the rules because they submitted the proposal already’ excuse.  Nothing’s been built yet.  Meaning, now is the time to establish the rules.  The excuse is nothing but a fig leaf.  Anyway, Carter may soon have assistance from the Governor and the General Assembly.  Let’s stand with him.  He has the facts on his side.

3.  Rep. Eric Morrison.  Hands-down, the Legislator of the Year.  I was so wrong about him.  I feared that he might be someone who settled for publicity rather than someone who was willing to do the difficult legislative work.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  He is, instead, an incredibly-inclusive and effective legislator.  He successfully sponsored and passed the End Of Life Options bill that Carney had vetoed.  Gov. Meyer signed it, and the long-time advocate for the bill, former Rep. Paul Baumbach, was there for the signing.  He also passed these worthy bills that have been signed into law:

HB 79.  HB 164.  HB 77.  HB 54 (Establishes an Office Of Suicide Prevention).  HB 37.  HB 36.

He also has at least two excellent bills that I hope get considered in the upcoming session:  HB 292.  HB 251.  Plus, if there’s a good bill that has been submitted, he is invariably on it as a co-sponsor.

Bonus points for all his volunteer work with the Food Bank Of Delaware.

2.  Attorney General Kathleen Jennings.  Nobody in Delaware has fought so consistently and effectively against the encroaching fascism of Donald Trump and his lackeys.  Filed suit after suit, some on her own, some with her like-minded AG’s who I would argue were the most relentless freedom fighters we had this year.  Here are but a few examples:

AG Joins Suit On H-1B Visa Petitions.

Jennings And Coalition Win Suit Blocking Musk Access To Sensitive Data.

Jennings And Coalition Sue To Release Funding For Survivors Of Domestic Violence And Other Violent Crimes.

Jennings And Coalition Win Suit To Release SNAP Benefits.

Jennings Joins Lawsuit To Protect Transgender Youth’s Access To Medically-Necessary Care.

Jennings Sues To Stop HUD Policy That Would Force More People Into Homelessness.

Jennings And Coalition Sue To Stop Federal Firings.

There are plenty more, and you can find them all online.  You may recall that Jennings’ 2022 R opponent was Julianne Murray.  Exactly how many of these suits do you suppose that she would have pursued?  Exactly.  None.  Jennings responded to the dangers of Trump the way you would hope all Delaware D elected officials would have responded to Trump’s destruction of American norms.

1.  Delaware’s Intrepid Journalists.  No not (just) because Truth Has A Progressive Bias.  We now have a high number of serious journalists who are shining a light on all of the often deliberately-hidden machinations of the Delaware Way.  The scribes have done far more than merely filling in the void that has been left by the collapse of legacy media, in Delaware, meaning Delaware Online.  They have advanced the cause of quality journalism despite national attempts to paint the news media as villains.  Outlets that did great work this year include Spotlight Delaware, WHYY, Delaware Public Media, Bay To Bay, CoastTV, Delaware Call, and The Cape Gazette.  

I especially want to salute the journalists who are ushering in a new Golden Era in Delaware news coverage:

Karl Baker, Cris Barrish, Jordan Howell, Brianna Hill, Joe Irizarry, Allison Taylor Levine, Olivia Marble, Julia Merola, Sarah Mueller, Madeleine Overturf, Jacob Owens, Jose Ignacio Castañeda Perez, Zoe Read, Maggie Reynolds, Nick Stonesifer.

I’m sure I’ve inadvertently left some great journalists off this list.  Please feel free to add them.  BTW, you will get to read a lot of their work in our annual “The Good, The Bad, The Ridiculous” opus appearing here on Jan. 1, 2026.  Links galore!

There you have it.  I’m sure you have strong opinions on this list.  Let’s hear ’em.

Mick Foley’s Da Man!

Also known as Cactus Jack and Mankind, among other gimmicks.

He is now WWE no more.  Here’s why:

  • PARTING WAYS WITH WWE

 

  • While I have been concerned about WWE‘s close relationship with Donald Trump for several months — especially in light of his administration’s ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants (and pretty much anyone who ‘looks like an immigrant’) — reading the President’s incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me.

 

  • I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy. Last night, I informed @WWE talent relations that I would not be making any appearances for the company as long as this man remains in office.

 

  • Additionally, I will not be signing a new Legends deal when my current one expires in June. I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me. But, in the words of Popeye the sailor, ‘I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.‘

Foley has flourished post-retirement from the ring, as he’s taken his one-man shows pretty much everywhere.  They are a combination of rasslin’ stories and his own particular brand of humor.

What he said really is something that anybody with a conscience should be saying.  Meltzer gives his comments 5 stars.  So do I.

Song of the Day 12/10: Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”

Guest post by Nathan Arizona

There’s an ‘80s revival going on. It’s been going on since about 1990. It’s the decade that wouldn’t die.

Eighties pop culture nostalgia spiked in the 2000s, bubbled on low heat for a while and now Gen Z can’t stop TikToking about big hair, bold colors, Game Boys, shoulder pads, Rubik’s Cubes, “Straight Outta Compton,” Princess Diana, one white glove, Pac-Man, MTV, Paula Abdul, downtown post-punks, popinjay New Romantic bands and the pioneers of synthpop.

“I hate being controlled by a calendar,” one guy posted. “The year is 1984.” Probably not an Orwell reader.

This is often perceived as nostalgia for the last decade before the world went to hell. Nobody was trying to ruin your life on the internet. Ronald Reagan seems a mere grandfatherly bumbler now that every day brings a new existential crisis from Washington. These kids might be surprised to know a lot of people in the ‘80s were pining for the less edgy days of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

The nostalgia has been boosted by the popular TV show “Stranger Things,” which is set in the ‘80s and saturated with the mood and artifacts of the time. The iconic ‘80s singer Kate Bush got a welcome career resuscitation when her song “Running Up That Hill” was featured prominently on the show. A-Ha’s “Take on Me” has been rediscovered through other means.

It’s easy to get confused about decade nostalgia. There’s also a ‘90s revival going on. (What the heck were the ’90s about anyway?) Maybe thoughts of the 2010s are bringing warm memories to Generation Alpha. Yeah, it already has a name.

Nothing says ‘80s nostalgia like the John Hughes teen movies and their Brat Pack actors. Especially a John Hughes movie with a theme song by one of the era’s most popular bands. It’s hard to think about “The Breakfast Club” without thinking about “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by the Scottish band Simple Minds. Judd Nelson thrusting his arm in the air after Saturday school detention while the song plays underneath is an iconic ‘80s image.

But the guys in the band weren’t seeing the song’s possibilities. They didn’t even write it. At first they said no when asked to record it for the soundtrack. They thought they were past the point of singing somebody else’s tune. It turned out to be the most popular song of their long and successful career.

“We couldn’t give a toss about teenage American school kids,” a chagrined lead singer Jim Kerr said later. As band guitarist Charlie Burchill put it, “We had delusions of being ultra-hip.”

Here’s the 1980s cultural touchstone.

Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and Aussie folk-rock band Boy & Bear did interesting cover versions.

Jason 330 Makes The Case Against Chris Coons As Only Jason 330 Could

Our Beloved Founder was on to the DINO from the Gore-Tex Dynasty before, well, pretty much anybody.  Here are some of his greatest hits, ideally to be replayed during the upcoming campaign:

Coons Piles On Hunter Biden–After Keeping His Mouth Shut About Jared Kushner.

Coons Willing To Sell Out Abortion Rights To Placate Tommy Tuberville.

Coons Helped Put Aileen Cannon On The Bench.  As in voted for her.  Coons and Carper were two of the twelve D’s to do so.

Coons Is A Media Whore–Officially.

Speaking Of Coons As A Media Whore:  “That was a wonderful State dinner last night.”

Coons Voted For Trump’s Destabilizing Of Dodd-Frank.  Preumably b/c ‘bipartisanship’.  BTW, was Coons working knowingly or unwittingly with Putin in destabilizing America’s banking system?

What Coons’ Vote On Dodd-Frank Led To.

Chris Coons On QAnon.  A Coons classic: “I wouldn’t understand what an appeal to the Q-anon base looks like. So if that’s what’s going on, I’m missing it. Because frankly, that’s not a frame that resonates with me.”  

Chris Coons–In All His Bipartisan Glory.  And Bi-partying glory.

Alby steps in with this one:

Coons Hounded D’s To Drop Witnesses In Trump Impeachment Because ‘People Want To Get Home For Valentine’s Day‘.  Not satire, I swear.

Coons Slobbers Over Abortion Foe Rob Portman.  You know why: Bipartisanship.

Coons Can ‘Hardly Stand Serving In Senate’ In 2022.

Yet Another Shitty Judge That Coons Enabled To Get On The Bench.  Using the same pathetic approach that Carper often employed.  Vote ‘yes’ on releasing the nomination, vote ‘no’ on the nomination itself.  Is this mic on? The vote on releasing the nomination guaranteed that the nomination would be approved.  See what that feckless ‘bipartisanship’ has gotten us?

Why Jason 330 Despises Chris Coons.  I’ll conclude with this one for now.  Why?  Because what Jason wrote in 2022 was not only prescient, but it sums up exactly how I feel about Chris Coons as well:

It is because, more likely than not, Trump is going to be president again in less than three years. Coons could give a fuck. And when he does stir himself out of his slumber enough to give a fuck, it will be way too late.

All the elite political discourse in this country is in denial about where we’re heading. That is a huge problem. It is a problem “leaders” could do something about like appearing on ‘Morning Joe’ and making a fuss, but Coons (for whatever reason) simply doesn’t give a fuck. Neither does Carper. They don’t fucking care.

And yes I said “I hate Chris Coons” which disqualifies me from talking about him according to the rules of polite society – but Jesus fucking Christ!!! I have really come to hate that fucking useless shit-head.

There’s lots more where these came from.  Just put Coons in the search engine and scroll away!

 

 

Delaware Political Weekly: Week Ending December 4, 2025

“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.

The best laid plans…

…I had originally planned to urge contributions to the slate of progressive candidates here in Delaware.  You know, in time for the end-of-year campaign finance reports. That, however, will have to wait.  Too much stuff happened this week.  Let’s hit it.

1.  State Treasurer Colleen Davis Announces Retirement At End Of Term.  Her announcement:

For the last seven years, it has been one of the great privileges of my life to serve as Delaware’s State Treasurer. In that time, I have worked with an extraordinary team to strengthen our state’s finances while always putting the needs of Delawareans first.

After months of reflection, I’ve decided that this term will be my last. It’s the right moment for me, both personally and professionally, and I want to make room for a new leader to step up. But in the 13 months ahead, my focus will remain exactly where it has always been: delivering results for the people of Delaware. 

I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together. We strengthened Delaware’s finances, generating more than half a billion dollars in investment returns. We refinanced our bonds during COVID, saving billions for taxpayers while easing pressure on families and small businesses. We delivered critical COVID relief funds to help people stay afloat. We launched Delaware EARNS, giving thousands of small-business workers a way to save for retirement. And we continued to grow and modernize our other savings programs – from DE529 to ABLE to Deferred Compensation.

For the remainder of my term, I will continue working closely with the Meyer Administration and the General Assembly to advance policies that will keep Delaware’s finances strong for years to come. And I’ll ensure a smooth transition for the next Treasurer.

This has been an incredible journey. I owe so much to the support of an amazing network of friends, family, and everyday Delawareans who wanted a Treasurer committed to protecting our state’s finances while uplifting working people. And I’m grateful for my incredible team at the Office of the State Treasurer. They work hard every single day to make life better in our state. 

Finally, I have to thank the people of Delaware for entrusting me with this duty. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime. 

You may have heard this before, but politics abhors a vacuum.  We already have one alleged Democrat who has filed a committee.  Said alleged Democrat, one Theodore Lauzen, could well be Ken Simpler, if one swapped out Princeton for Duke:

He’s a Marine pilot, a pentathlete, and a partner at a wealth advisory firm.  He graduated from Duke, which raises red flags to me.   So why is he running in a Democratic primary?  What are his Democratic bona fides?  I’m searching.  Let’s see–their kids all go to a private day school in Newark—his wife is on the board there–and that’s about all I can find.  He sounds like a perfect R candidate for State Treasurer.

No doubt, there will more scurrying to fill that vacuum.  Uh, anybody know what Dennis E. Williams is up to at the moment?

2.  Chris Beardsley Primaries Chris Coons.  We’re already discussing this in another thread.  I reallyreally hope that we’ll be able to interview Beardsley soon.  If the Rev gets an interview, we’ll definitely link.  Coons doesn’t even rise to Neville Chamberlain levels when it comes to passive acquiescence.  He is less than useless when it comes to, um, resisting fascism.  I’ll be posting several of Jason’s right-on screeds about this pathetic nepo baby next week.  I’d forgotten a lot of info from those posts, bet you have as well.  It’s great reading…and oppo research.  With lotsa laughs.

3.  D Jill Hicks Files In Suxco Council District 5.  She is President of the Sussex Preservation Coalition, ‘a grassroots organization that advocates for smart growth’.  She is a land use reform activist.  She is also a published novelist.  The incumbent is R John Rieley.  There is one especially notable fact about Rieley:

More importantly, though, he (literally) laid the foundation for a lifetime of faith and family, raising 12 children with his wife, Lou Ann, on her family’s farm near Millsboro.

Assuming that all of Rieley’s kids are not yet of voting age, Hicks’ more cautious approach to development could well win the day in this race.

4.  Curtis Linton Files In NCC Council District 4.  Penrose Hollins’ district.  He’s retiring.  Jason Hoover has already filed.  Norman Oliver’s son is rumored to be running.  Curtis Linton is the Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of Laborers’ International Union Local 199.  Lest you wonder who’s behind this candidacy, scroll through the officers until you come to one James Maravelias.  Any questions?  I have one:  Does Maravelias still have access to the same union accounts that he plundered on behalf of Bethany Hall Long?  2 questions, actually:  Were there no complaints from the Jersey local after Maravelias flushed tens of thousands of their dollars down the toilet on behalf of BHL?

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?