A ‘Bad Faith’ Crusade
The Trump Justice Department went to court Wednesday to continue its fishing expedition for the most sensitive information about trans children.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in two parallel cases: one in which a federal district judge in Massachusetts quashed a subpoena of Boston Children’s Hospital, and one in which a federal district judge in Texas upheld a subpoena of Rhode Island Hospital while a federal judge in Rhode Island quashed it.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone. The DOJ sued Rhode Island Hospital in the northern district of Texas, a blatant attempt to try the case in a region full of Trump judges. The child advocate for the state of Rhode Island responded in kind, moving to quash the subpoena in the less right-wing (and more relevant) district court of Rhode Island.
“The government moved to enforce a subpoena in a Texas court 1,500 miles from the hospital, its many patients and the records sought by the subpoena — records including personal information for an entire class of minor patients,” said Eric Olshan, the attorney for the hospital.
“Is forum shopping evidence of bad faith?” asked Judge Lara Montecalvo, as the hospital and child advocate argued that the subpoenas are not part of a legitimate investigation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act — as the government claims — but an attempt to endanger trans kids.
The “quagmire” of the dueling courts, as Judge Ojetta Thompson put it, tangled up the second set of arguments, as the judges tried to figure out what happens if they decide the case one way and the Fifth Circuit does the other way.
But the heart of both cases is clear, argued the hospitals: The government is abusing its broad investigatory powers to attack trans kids under the pretense of probing drug labeling and prescription. And it’s doing so this way to circumvent the reality that policing the practice of medicine is the job of the states — the better to pierce the shield of protection many blue states have erected around gender affirming care. Making life as difficult as possible for trans kids and adults in states Republicans control isn’t enough; the Trump administration wants to stamp out every safe haven. And it’s working: Even hospitals in blue states are dropping gender affirming care rather than fighting the full might of the Justice Department.
“The government has made explicitly clear its detest for these individuals,” said Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, attorney for Boston Children’s Hospital. “It has said, in connection with transgender military people, that they are incapable of service and honor and dignity.”
“They know that asking for that information is going to keep those people from getting the care they need,” he added.
The Colorado Candidate Who Did Battle With Satan Is Back at it
Victor Marx, the colorful gubernatorial candidate in Colorado who claims to have freed a little girl from demonic possession, told supporters last night that he doesn’t regret a physical altercation with his wife, per 9News Denver.
“It’s the same thing with me grabbing my wife, pushing her against a door — show the before and after,” he said on a Zoom call. “They don’t want the full truth — my wife was fake crying, suckered me in — I was like ‘oh my gosh, are you okay?’ — and she does a spin back-kick into my luggage.”
“People have called us the real Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” he added after his wife came into the frame and mimed putting him in a headlock.
Angie Craig Goes on Offense
The congresswoman who lost in the Democratic primary for the retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s (D-MN) seat tweeted in response to the news that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is stepping down: “I’m a free agent in January.”
“If the WNBA called, that’s the one job my wife would say, ‘Take the call,’ at this moment in time,” Craig told the Star Tribune. “WNBA commissioner is every middle-aged lesbian’s dream job.”
Read This From TPM
President Trump needs all the help he can get in addressing the GOP’s inflation woes, and he seems to see pressuring the Fed to lower interest rates as one solve. But as Layla A. Jones reports, that’s very unlikely to happen any time soon — especially before the November midterms.
Yesterday’s Top Story
Court Ruling Hobbles Trump DOJ’s Jihad Against Elusive Threat of Noncitizen Voting
What I’m Reading
Detained immigrants at Georgia ICE facility launch mass hunger strike — José Olivares, The Guardian
Trump sons’ investments have won billions in Pentagon contracts since his election — Nathan Lee, ABC News
The Trump Administration: Full of guile, cruelty, and hate.
“People have called us the real Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” he added after his wife came into the frame and mimed putting him in a headlock.
two sick people
Why all the hated for trans kids? (The few that there are)
Imagine if they just put as much energy and money into developing housing for homeless seniors.
That would be a more Christian thing to do. Oh, never mind…
Trans kids are not the reason gasoline is expensive. Trans kids are not the reason women’s sports aren’t respected. Trans kids are doing no harm.
Trump, stay away from me and my family.
If you live in Washington State, please vote, “no” on the three initiatives that seek to harm me and my family.
You forgot the stupid.