Ed Darrell
@edarrell.bsky.social
Unhappily retired teacher, real estate (inter alia) law guy, legislative support, etc. Teacher of history and economics. Former air pollution researcher. Opinions often at Millard Fillmore's Bathtub, timpanogos.blog.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Dan Bongino’s civilian podcast was “grifting.”
I want to normalize the proper term—a similar word—for FUNNELING GOVT RESOURCES TO YOUR PERSONAL CRONIES.
I want to normalize the proper term—a similar word—for FUNNELING GOVT RESOURCES TO YOUR PERSONAL CRONIES.
Graft (politics) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Dan Bongino’s civilian podcast was “grifting.”
I want to normalize the proper term—a similar word—for FUNNELING GOVT RESOURCES TO YOUR PERSONAL CRONIES.
I want to normalize the proper term—a similar word—for FUNNELING GOVT RESOURCES TO YOUR PERSONAL CRONIES.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
In a statement, DHS said, “DHS has no involvement with the selection of subcontractors.”
They said the agency does its contracting “by the book” and the process is run by career officials. “It is very sad that Pro Publica would seek to defame these public servants,” DHS added.
They said the agency does its contracting “by the book” and the process is run by career officials. “It is very sad that Pro Publica would seek to defame these public servants,” DHS added.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In a statement, DHS said, “DHS has no involvement with the selection of subcontractors.”
They said the agency does its contracting “by the book” and the process is run by career officials. “It is very sad that Pro Publica would seek to defame these public servants,” DHS added.
They said the agency does its contracting “by the book” and the process is run by career officials. “It is very sad that Pro Publica would seek to defame these public servants,” DHS added.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
McLaughlin’s husband, Strategy Group CEO Ben Yoho, didn’t respond to questions. It’s not clear how much his company has been paid.
Sheahan also didn’t respond to questions.
Sheahan also didn’t respond to questions.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
McLaughlin’s husband, Strategy Group CEO Ben Yoho, didn’t respond to questions. It’s not clear how much his company has been paid.
Sheahan also didn’t respond to questions.
Sheahan also didn’t respond to questions.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Asked about the firm’s work for DHS, DHS spox Tricia McLaughlin said, “We don’t have visibility into why they were chosen.”
“I don’t know who they’re a subcontractor with, but I don’t work with them because I have a conflict of interest and I fully recused myself," she said.
“I don’t know who they’re a subcontractor with, but I don’t work with them because I have a conflict of interest and I fully recused myself," she said.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Asked about the firm’s work for DHS, DHS spox Tricia McLaughlin said, “We don’t have visibility into why they were chosen.”
“I don’t know who they’re a subcontractor with, but I don’t work with them because I have a conflict of interest and I fully recused myself," she said.
“I don’t know who they’re a subcontractor with, but I don’t work with them because I have a conflict of interest and I fully recused myself," she said.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
We’re still reporting on Kristi Noem, contracts at DHS, and the ad deal. If you have any information we should know, my email is [email protected] and I’m on the encrypted messaging app Signal (you can message me at js_kaplan.85)
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
We’re still reporting on Kristi Noem, contracts at DHS, and the ad deal. If you have any information we should know, my email is [email protected] and I’m on the encrypted messaging app Signal (you can message me at js_kaplan.85)
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Read the full story here: www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rule...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Read the full story here: www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Reposted by Ed Darrell
The same year the company got that big South Dakota ad contract, it sent up to $25k to one of Noem’s closest aides.
That aide, 28-year-old Madison Sheahan, now second-in-command at ICE.
That aide, 28-year-old Madison Sheahan, now second-in-command at ICE.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The same year the company got that big South Dakota ad contract, it sent up to $25k to one of Noem’s closest aides.
That aide, 28-year-old Madison Sheahan, now second-in-command at ICE.
That aide, 28-year-old Madison Sheahan, now second-in-command at ICE.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
This isn’t the first time the firm has gotten public money through a Noem contract. When she was governor of SD, the company got $8.5M in state funds for another ad campaign (starring her).
A former Noem admin official told us that Noem quietly intervened to push the deal.
A former Noem admin official told us that Noem quietly intervened to push the deal.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This isn’t the first time the firm has gotten public money through a Noem contract. When she was governor of SD, the company got $8.5M in state funds for another ad campaign (starring her).
A former Noem admin official told us that Noem quietly intervened to push the deal.
A former Noem admin official told us that Noem quietly intervened to push the deal.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
This is the latest ad in the campaign, made by the Strategy Group at Mount Rushmore.
Noem filmed it on the second day of the government shutdown. It’s aired in recent days on “Fox & Friends.”
Noem filmed it on the second day of the government shutdown. It’s aired in recent days on “Fox & Friends.”
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This is the latest ad in the campaign, made by the Strategy Group at Mount Rushmore.
Noem filmed it on the second day of the government shutdown. It’s aired in recent days on “Fox & Friends.”
Noem filmed it on the second day of the government shutdown. It’s aired in recent days on “Fox & Friends.”
Reposted by Ed Darrell
The consulting firm, the Ohio-based Strategy Group, has longstanding personal and business ties to Noem and her senior aides at DHS.
It played a central role in Noem’s 2022 reelection campaign.
And the company’s CEO is married to Noem’s chief spokesperson at DHS.
It played a central role in Noem’s 2022 reelection campaign.
And the company’s CEO is married to Noem’s chief spokesperson at DHS.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The consulting firm, the Ohio-based Strategy Group, has longstanding personal and business ties to Noem and her senior aides at DHS.
It played a central role in Noem’s 2022 reelection campaign.
And the company’s CEO is married to Noem’s chief spokesperson at DHS.
It played a central role in Noem’s 2022 reelection campaign.
And the company’s CEO is married to Noem’s chief spokesperson at DHS.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Where that $220M ended up has been unknown. The main recipient listed on public docs was a Delaware LLC created days before the deal was signed.
We found there's been a secret beneficiary: a GOP consulting firm with a much longer — & more interesting — track record.
We found there's been a secret beneficiary: a GOP consulting firm with a much longer — & more interesting — track record.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Where that $220M ended up has been unknown. The main recipient listed on public docs was a Delaware LLC created days before the deal was signed.
We found there's been a secret beneficiary: a GOP consulting firm with a much longer — & more interesting — track record.
We found there's been a secret beneficiary: a GOP consulting firm with a much longer — & more interesting — track record.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
First, let's back up.
Noem has starred in a sprawling ad campaign she’s said is a crucial tool to stem illegal immigration—so crucial that DHS bypassed the normal competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Noem has starred in a sprawling ad campaign she’s said is a crucial tool to stem illegal immigration—so crucial that DHS bypassed the normal competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rule...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 PM
First, let's back up.
Noem has starred in a sprawling ad campaign she’s said is a crucial tool to stem illegal immigration—so crucial that DHS bypassed the normal competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Noem has starred in a sprawling ad campaign she’s said is a crucial tool to stem illegal immigration—so crucial that DHS bypassed the normal competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Reposted by Ed Darrell
I recently found out he'd said the 1972 ban on DDT ended polio outbreaks, not the 1950s vaccines. It's dangerous to have this man in the position he's in.
September 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I recently found out he'd said the 1972 ban on DDT ended polio outbreaks, not the 1950s vaccines. It's dangerous to have this man in the position he's in.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Facts matter. The rapid drop in polio cases was due to the Jonas Salk vaccine, definitely not from the banning of DDT.
RFK Jr. must be removed from office. #SaveHHS #SavePublicHealth #SaveAmerica
RFK Jr. must be removed from office. #SaveHHS #SavePublicHealth #SaveAmerica
September 7, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Facts matter. The rapid drop in polio cases was due to the Jonas Salk vaccine, definitely not from the banning of DDT.
RFK Jr. must be removed from office. #SaveHHS #SavePublicHealth #SaveAmerica
RFK Jr. must be removed from office. #SaveHHS #SavePublicHealth #SaveAmerica
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Claiming Polio was caused by DDT when the polio virus was discovered and diagnosable before the invention of DDT really goes to show that Spotify is subsidizing misinformation through the Rogan podcast on a level that should inspire an international boycott of their platform.
September 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Claiming Polio was caused by DDT when the polio virus was discovered and diagnosable before the invention of DDT really goes to show that Spotify is subsidizing misinformation through the Rogan podcast on a level that should inspire an international boycott of their platform.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Since DDT wasn't sprayed until 1939 for insect control, maybe Mr. Brain Worms can explain where polio came from before then? Or where FDR got polio in 1921?
September 10, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Since DDT wasn't sprayed until 1939 for insect control, maybe Mr. Brain Worms can explain where polio came from before then? Or where FDR got polio in 1921?
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Me. I have been vaxxed since the Salk polio vax days. We were one of the first families in our hometown to line up for the Salk vaccine. I’m 76 yoa, grew up under coal dust darkened skies, chemically polluted creeks,
and DDT filled planes and trucks that dusted our little bodies. A vax is nothin’
and DDT filled planes and trucks that dusted our little bodies. A vax is nothin’
September 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Me. I have been vaxxed since the Salk polio vax days. We were one of the first families in our hometown to line up for the Salk vaccine. I’m 76 yoa, grew up under coal dust darkened skies, chemically polluted creeks,
and DDT filled planes and trucks that dusted our little bodies. A vax is nothin’
and DDT filled planes and trucks that dusted our little bodies. A vax is nothin’
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Trump is undecided how to deal with Venezuela. He can’t decide whether to follow the US model in Vietnam, or the model of Russia in Afghanistan, or Russia in Ukraine.
November 4, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Trump is undecided how to deal with Venezuela. He can’t decide whether to follow the US model in Vietnam, or the model of Russia in Afghanistan, or Russia in Ukraine.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
Translation: he has no idea how insurance works
November 10, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Translation: he has no idea how insurance works
Reposted by Ed Darrell
🚨BREAKING: On behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee my law firm has filed to intervene to defend the new California congressional map from attack. www.democracydocket.com/cases/califo...
🚨 Tangipa et al v. Newsom et al
Learn more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
🚨BREAKING: On behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee my law firm has filed to intervene to defend the new California congressional map from attack. www.democracydocket.com/cases/califo...
Reposted by Ed Darrell
File this under “we all saw it coming,” Mike Johnson says he won’t commit to a vote on healthcare subsidies.
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 PM
File this under “we all saw it coming,” Mike Johnson says he won’t commit to a vote on healthcare subsidies.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
This is super low key rebuttal of govt case, focusing solely on comms after Richman left FBI. There's reason for that: bc Comey shared classified details of SVR in January 2017.
![The government’s silence is particularly striking because, despite its extended (ECF No.
138 at 4-11, 14-15) description of events that purportedly form the basis for the indictment here,
it does not attempt to explain how its narrative supports its theories. On the contrary, the
narrative undercuts its case. For instance, while Count One of the indictment alleges that Mr.
Comey authorized Mr. Richman to serve as an “anonymous source” about the “Clinton
investigation” while he was “at the FBI,” ECF No. 1 at 1, most of the communications the
government cites occurred long after Mr. Richman left the FBI in February 2017—and none
provides support for Mr. Richman being a source of information (as opposed to an explainer of
public facts) and none so much as mentions Mr. Richman being anonymous. ECF No. 138-6. It
is therefore unsurprising that every career prosecutor to touch this case reportedly declined
charges. The government’s own narrative thus provides further evidence that this case would never have been charged but for the President’s animus.
256 (2006); see also Vullo, 602 U.S. at 189. Accordingly, a defendant may raise a vindictive
prosecution claim when a prosecution was brought to “deter[] [the defendant’s] exercise of his
First Amendment rights.” Bragan v. Poindexter, 249 F.3d 476, 483 (6th Cir. 2001).
10](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreidym7gwnqy34ujpzrwgoh4dihyd44emhkcrwscvrzaozlu75rjznm@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 11:54 PM
This is super low key rebuttal of govt case, focusing solely on comms after Richman left FBI. There's reason for that: bc Comey shared classified details of SVR in January 2017.
Reposted by Ed Darrell
This passage, arguing that 1A can be a basis for vindictive prosecution, is super important.
![6. Finally, the government’s suggestion (ECF No. 138 at 24-25) that a vindictiveprosecution argument cannot be based on the exercise of First Amendment rights lacks support
in precedent or principle. A prosecution brought to “punish[]” an individual “for exercising a
protected statutory or constitutional right” is “a due process violation ‘of the most basic sort.’”
United States v. Goodwin, 457 U.S. 368, 372 (1982). Nothing in that rule suggests that certain
constitutional rights are less worthy of protection than others. On the contrary, the Supreme Court has made clear that “government officials” may not “subject[] an individual to retaliatory
actions, including criminal prosecutions, for speaking out.” Hartman v. Moore, 547 U.S. 250,
256 (2006); see also Vullo, 602 U.S. at 189. Accordingly, a defendant may raise a vindictive
prosecution claim when a prosecution was brought to “deter[] [the defendant’s] exercise of his
First Amendment rights.” Bragan v. Poindexter, 249 F.3d 476, 483 (6th Cir. 2001).
10](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreigbmv5nlaqnilifshaje7zqwn4ktoacjbkpal4jvmepvspcpv4z4a@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 11:44 PM
This passage, arguing that 1A can be a basis for vindictive prosecution, is super important.