Comment on Supreme Court rules presidents have absolute immunity for official acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts

The Biden administration told emergency room doctors they must perform emergency abortions to save a pregnant woman’s health, following last week’s Supreme Court ruling that failed to settle a legal dispute over whether state abortion bans override a federal law. Via the Associated Press: In a letter being sent Tuesday to doctor and hospital associations, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Chiquita Brooks-LaSure reminded hospitals of their legal duty to offer stabilizing treatment, which could include abortions.

Justice Department officials will still pursue the criminal cases against Trump past Election Day even if he wins, under the presumption that department rules against charging or prosecuting a sitting president would not kick in until Inauguration Day in January, according to sources. Via the Washington Post: That approach may become more consequential given this week’s Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity, which probably will lead to further delays to Trump’s election interference trial in D.

A July 2 Vanity Fair article is quite the blockbuster. Besides details of RFK Jr.’s habitual infidelity and lies, it describes, with lots of specifics, his preying on a 23-year-old recent college graduate, Eliza Cooney, who had worked as both a live-in babysitter and at his environmental law clinic. For example: A few months [after other inappropriate incidents], Cooney says, she was rifling through the kitchen pantry for lunch after a yoga class, still in her sports bra and leggings, when Kennedy came up behind her, blocked her inside the room, and began groping her, putting his hands on her hips and sliding them up along her rib cage and breasts.

The "A Republic, if you can keep it" Edition Funny, not funny: Ant Farmer's Almanac & Comrade Misfit. Several thousand words worth from Pharyngula. Filosofa's Word has an obituary for America. And I went so far as to find a bonus, from Jay Kuo. Acumulated by M. Bouffant. Submissions to mbru@crooksandliar.com will be examined. read more

Please (fill in random deity) bring us more like Eric Swalwell. Had most Dems been like him we might not be in this mess right now. And if we're to get out of it, we need those willing to break some norms & stop pretending we're still fighting a normal political party in a democracy and not an authoritarian cult. My channel, Cliff's Edge, is devoted to highlighting the Swalwells.

This Independence Day, competitors at Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest may gulp down as many as 76 wieners in about the time it takes to read this article. Like ultramarathoners hoofing 50 miles or football players shaking off big hits, “speed-eating” entails natural resilience, dedicated training, and serious risks to health.