Evening Roundup, May 11
The Contrarian’s May 11 Evening Roundup spotlights a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that struck down a voter‑approved redistricting referendum, keeping the 2021 congressional map in place and handing Republicans a structural boost ahead of the midterms. The decision nullified roughly three million votes, effectively discarding the 1.6 million‑voter support for a new map. The roundup also features pieces on the Jim Crow legacy, a cultural‑history clash in Natchez, Mississippi, and commentary on JD Vance and Donald Trump’s real‑estate worldview.
A Make-Your-Own-Adventure Brunch Casserole
Marissa Rothkopf Bates shares a versatile make‑your‑own brunch casserole that can be assembled in minutes and baked as the oven preheats. The dish serves two, but the ingredient list scales up or down, allowing leftovers, assorted cheeses, meats or vegetables...
The Economic Consequences of Gutting Voting Rights Are Staggering
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais overturns the longstanding Gingles framework, requiring proof of intentional discrimination to succeed under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. By effectively gutting the evidentiary standard, the ruling makes challenges to...
The Triple Threat of Big AI
The piece warns that frontier generative AI creates three intertwined threats: entrenched monopolies, unchecked autonomous systems, and a new wave of AI‑driven hacking. Building and training large language models now costs billions, rewarding a handful of firms and squeezing rivals....
Trump’s $166 Billion Corporate Enrichment Scam
On April 2025, President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs that generated about $166 billion in revenue, later deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The Treasury is now refunding the illegal taxes, with corporations such as Ford, GM, Walmart and Target slated...
Local TV News Is Vanishing
Local TV newsrooms are disappearing as stations like Indianapolis’ WRTV and California’s KION-TV abruptly dismissed over 50 staff members and replaced local newscasts with content from distant affiliates. The closures are tied to recent ownership changes, including Circle City Broadcasting’s...
The Status of the War: From ‘Obliterated’ to ‘Give It Time’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, where the Pentagon’s acting comptroller placed the Iran war’s cost at roughly $25 billion. Hegseth deflected congressional questions, claiming the War Powers clock paused after the cease‑fire, thereby postponing the...
The Supreme Court’s Racist Rerun
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, effectively gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination rather than disparate impact. The decision leaves the statutory text intact but strips...
Evening Roundup, April 27
The Evening Roundup for April 27 aggregates several high‑impact stories shaping tech, climate policy, sports, and finance. It spotlights the public feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, which threatens to delay AI collaboration, and reports the Supreme Court’s decision to...
The Supreme Court Killed the Clean Power Plan — and Public Confidence
On April 18, 2026, internal memos revealed that the U.S. Supreme Court abruptly stayed the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) using its shadow docket, without issuing a detailed opinion. The CPP, designed to cut power‑sector carbon dioxide emissions,...
Netanyahu Shows Why U.S. Aid to Israel Must End
The article argues that U.S. military aid to Israel should end as the strategic partnership diverges under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A recent Pew poll shows 60% of Americans now view Israel unfavorably, with 80% disapproval among Democrats, reflecting growing...
'Bow Down': Why Madonna Remains in Vogue
Madonna surprised Coachella attendees by joining Sabrina Carpenter onstage, delivering classic hits “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer” alongside a brand‑new song from her forthcoming album Confessions II. The vintage costume she wore vanished after the set, a theft that the columnist...
How Trump’s Turn on Ukraine Led to His Iran Isolation
President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward NATO and Europe has deepened U.S. diplomatic isolation as the United States leads a joint war against Iran alongside Israel. While European capitals such as Germany, Poland, and the Baltics publicly back the campaign,...
Coming Soon: The New CNN
RJ Matson’s latest editorial cartoon imagines a Trump‑approved merger that would place Larry Ellison in control of CBS and CNN, merging the CNN logo with Trump’s likeness. The illustration also features logos of Skydance, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, underscoring...
This AG Fought the Ticketmaster Monopoly and Won
California Attorney General Rob Bonta discusses the landmark antitrust victory against Live Nation/Ticketmaster, detailing how a coalition of 33 states and D.C. proved the company’s monopoly practices—forcing performers, venues, and promoters to use its services—were illegal and harmful to consumers....