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In It to Win It

In It to Win It's Journal
In It to Win It's Journal
May 5, 2026

Brightline finances create 'substantial doubt' about company's future

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/brightline-finances-create-substantial-doubt-011920372.html

MIAMI - Brightline faces "substantial doubt" that it can "continue as a going concern," the company says in newly released financial statements for the period ending Dec. 31, 2025.

Auditor Ernst & Young, which prepared the financial statements, says in its accompanying report that the Orlando-Miami passenger operation "requires funds to service its debt and meet such other obligations as they become due and has stated that it does not currently have the liquid funds necessary" to meet those requirements.

The company says it is pursuing two avenues to address its debts and obligations: obtaining additional extensions on the debt, or raising additional capital through methods "including but not limited to one or more of the following: newly issued senior secured indebtedness, subordinated secured indebtedness, unsecured indebtedness and/or additional equity contributions, which may be in the form of preferred equity, from our Parent and its affiliates or third parties."

The statements show that Brightline sustained an operating loss of $127 million in 2025 and a net loss of $233.1 million in 2025. Both figures are improvements over 2024, when the company reported an operating loss of $153.5 million and net loss of $548.7 million.

They also show the company faces a total of $5.85 billion in long-term debt, interest on that debt, leases, and other contractual obligations. Of that, $4.96 billion is debt or interest on debt.
May 5, 2026

'Disappointed,' 'Surprised,' 'Betrayed': 11 Trump Voters on What Has Gone Wrong

Gift Link
NYT


Eighty percent of Republicans approve of President Trump’s performance, but his national standing has dipped, especially among independents.

That leaves plenty of people who voted for Mr. Trump but who may not feel good about the direction of the country. For Opinion’s latest focus group, conducted earlier this month, we spoke with voters like this: people who cast their ballots for Mr. Trump and said they were disappointed with his second term. A few said they even regretted their votes.

Some participants had been hopeful in 2024, but many of them felt that Mr. Trump was the “lesser of two evils” and the alternative might have been not voting at all: social conservatives, antiwar Republicans, people with hopes about prices and taxes coming down or deep dissatisfaction with Democratic policies. Their frustration mostly came in three categories: the implementation of Mr. Trump’s immigration policies, the Iran war and the continued high cost of living. People had praise for what Mr. Trump had done with the border, on crime and the idea of DOGE, but many of these voters are unhappy, some depressed and upset, with the direction of the country.

How do you talk about a situation you’re disappointed about or even a decision you regret, though, especially with people you know might disagree? It can be difficult.

My takeaway from the Times focus group of Trump voters is that they are collectively dumb as a bag of hair, do not have a single clue about how the world works, and are as disingenuous as they are defensive. No taking responsibility in any real way. Just narcissistic whiners.

Grits for Breakfast (@gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T17:41:53.156Z

Most are just lying about "regrets." You believed Trump would reduce inflation? He promised new taxes on imported goods, if you believed that, you're an idiot.

You wanted non-bigoted immigration enforcement? You voted for the "Mexicans are rapists" guy, go straight to hell.

It's just not credible.

Grits for Breakfast (@gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T17:41:53.157Z

Only one truly sounded like they understood the gravity of their error, saying Dem family member warned them and: "time and time again, all of the things that they pointed out would happen have ended up happening. And I looked dumb as hell believing in fairy tales and wishy-washy promises."

Grits for Breakfast (@gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T17:46:01.378Z

.

That's actually saying, "I was wrong." All the others are saying, "I was really right, but Trump isn't doing the assholery I voted for the right way." Sorry, but you don't get cut any slack for that and deserve every bit of criticism coming your direction.

Grits for Breakfast (@gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social) 2026-04-28T17:54:07.655Z
May 5, 2026

9 Out of 12 Trump Voters Express Shocking Regret - John Vibes




A New York Times focus group of Trump voters reveals widespread regret. When asked to grade his second term, nobody raised their hand for A or B. One person gave him a C. Most gave him a D or F.

Multiple voters said they thought he would learn his lesson from the first term. They hoped Congress would keep him in check and he would have better advisors. One woman from Alabama said she thought he was going to prove he learned from his mistakes and turn the country around. She called it a horror movie.

A military veteran said he voted for Trump because Republicans are usually pro-military, but the Iran conflict is uncalled for. He said he is very disappointed. Several voters complained about how immigration enforcement only targets one demographic. One woman said her boyfriend who looks Mexican was pulled over by ICE just because of how he looked.

The frustrating part is that all of this was obvious before the election. He told everyone exactly what he was going to do.
May 5, 2026

The Supreme Court's Jim Crow Jurisprudence - Jamelle Bouie




How John Roberts, Sam Alito and the conservatives on the Supreme Court flipped the Equal Protection clause on its head to disempower black Americans, empower white conservatives and make genuine democracy that much harder to achieve.
May 5, 2026

Tennessee GOP to repeal 1970s law barring redistricting between census

https://archive.ph/8MOct

For more than 50 years, Tennessee law has blocked state lawmakers from redrawing congressional districts except every 10 years after the U.S. census.

Republican leaders are planning to change that this week.

President Donald Trump has called on Tennessee to redraw district lines to help protect the narrow Republican U.S. House majority during the 2026 midterms. Republican Gov. Bill Lee answered the president's call, bringing lawmakers back to Nashville to ensure congressional districts “accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters.”

But, asked specifically on May 4, Republican leaders did not cite any specific legal authority for holding a special session to redraw congressional district maps.

Elizabeth Johnson, a spokesperson for Gov. Bill Lee, said the governor believes the legislature has the power to do so, but did not point to any law that gives them such authority.


https://x.com/Taniel/status/2051464577464881381
May 5, 2026

SCOTUS rushes to let the Louisiana GOP change a map *while an election is underway.*

This is partisanship at its rawest. SCOTUS has clamped down on lower courts for rulings that could alter maps many *months* before an election—even when those maps have been judged illegal.

Here, it's rushing to let the Louisiana GOP change a map *while an election is underway.*

The Downballot (@the-downballot.com) 2026-05-04T23:19:00.065Z

BREAKING: SCOTUS grants the Callais plaintiffs' request to issue the judgment now, meaning the ruling goes into effect and back to the district court immediately.

This was done over a strong dissent from Jackson — prompting Alito (w Thomas & Gorsuch) to author an opinion concurring with the grant.

Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T23:13:01.532Z

Remember, back in December this same SCOTUS said it was too late to change Texas' maps (that had just been changed in August) after they were deemed (by a Trump-appointed judge) to be unconstitutional.

So Dec. was too late, but May (after ballots have been sent) is fine? WTF?

Mike Masnick (@masnick.com) 2026-05-05T00:12:21.717Z

*clears throat*

literatibookstore.com/book/signedl...

in a TX case, SCOTUS said federal courts were wrong to pause a map they found illegal *in Dec 2025* bc that was too close to election.

now, in a LA election already underway, SCOTUS jumps in to alter the state map - & free LA to do more.

Leah Litman (@leahlitman.bsky.social) 2026-05-05T00:18:44.302Z

May 4, 2026

Inside the Quiet Republican Effort to Flip Fetterman

It’s a few days after the election this November, and the results have become clear: Democrats have netted the four seats they need to claim a Senate majority.

But then there’s a disturbance in the force: Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump persuade Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) to switch parties or at least become an independent to ensure Republicans retain power in the chamber.

It’s a scenario that’s becoming less fantastical by the day.

The political environment is curdling for Republicans, and the quiet campaign to lure Fetterman across the aisle is underway.

Trump has made the sell, offering his patented total and complete endorsement plus a financial windfall to the Pennsylvanian. A handful of Senate Republicans are also gently feeling out Fetterman and responding to his concerns over the prospect of defecting from the Democratic Party, multiple high-level GOP officials tell me.

If Fetterman does flip, according to officials who were given anonymity to talk about sensitive matters, it will be thanks in large part to his deepening friendship with a pair of senators and their high-profile spouses: Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), and his wife Dina, and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and her husband, Wesley.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/05/04/fetterman-switch-parties-republican-00904177
May 4, 2026

Marc Elias sues to block Florida's new illegal and unconstitutional congressional map.

COMPLAINT


🚨BREAKING: On behalf of Equal Ground Education Fund and Florida voters, my law firm has sued to block Florida's new illegal and unconstitutional congressional map. www.democracydocket.com/cases/florid...

Marc Elias (@marcelias.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T17:47:06.892Z
May 4, 2026

Marc Elias sues to block Florida's new illegal and unconstitutional congressional map.

COMPLAINT


🚨BREAKING: On behalf of Equal Ground Education Fund and Florida voters, my law firm has sued to block Florida's new illegal and unconstitutional congressional map. www.democracydocket.com/cases/florid...

Marc Elias (@marcelias.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T17:47:06.892Z
May 4, 2026

The Fifth Circuit would like to run the United States - Chris Geidner

https://www.lawdork.com/p/the-fifth-circuit-would-like-to-run-the-us

On May 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a ruling that would ban the mailing of an abortion drug during litigation — an order that the court acknowledged would have nationwide effect.

Although the drugmakers quickly went to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking relief, the decision in Louisiana v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration immediately upended the post-Roe landscape in the United States.

It was one of a trio of issues in which the appeals court and the district court judges who are subject to the court’s appellate jurisdiction sought to act this past week in ways that could have varying levels of control and influence outside of the Fifth Circuit states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

And though it is true that the Supreme Court has regularly reversed the Fifth Circuit in recent years, that — as I’ve written previously — paints a misleading picture, because many of the court’s rulings are also affirmed by the Supreme Court or not even reviewed by it. More importantly, this report explains why, regardless of what the Supreme Court ultimately does, the Fifth Circuit’s actions can be (and are often intended to be) extremely destabilizing in the interim.


NEW: The Fifth Circuit would like to run the United States.

The far-right federal appeals court and the district court judges below them are taking actions to control and influence what happens outside of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Tonight, at Law Dork:

Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner.bsky.social) 2026-05-04T02:09:12.768Z

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