February 20, 2026

Four New Mexico candidates disqualified after failing to meet ballot requirements

This is a few weeks old but hopeful that the Dems can pick up some seats.

www.abqjournal.com/news/four-ne...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-02-20T00:46:56.353Z

Four New Mexico candidates disqualified after failing to meet ballot requirements
Rulings could mean easier paths to reelection for some New Mexico incumbents
Belinda Robertson, a Republican gubernatorial candidate from Las Cruces, files the paperwork for her campaign at the Secretary of State Office in Santa Fe last week. Robertson was one of the six candidates disqualified Tuesday by the secretary of state for failing to meet ballot requirements. Eddie Moore/Journal
Dan Boyd
Dan Boyd Journal Capitol Bureau
Published February 10, 2026 - 6:18 p.m. Modified February 11, 2026 - 11:35 a.m.

SANTA FE — If he rebuffs a primary challenge, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján is set to avoid a Republican opponent in his bid for a second term, after a potential GOP opponent was disqualified Tuesday for failing to meet ballot requirements.

The disqualification of Republican candidate Christopher Vanden Heuvel of Rio Rancho means that for the first time in modern state history the state's general election ballot for a U.S. Senate race will have only one major party candidate.

In all, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver ruled four candidates did not turn in enough qualified voter signatures to appear on the June primary election ballot.

In addition to Vanden Heuvel, other disqualified candidates include Republican Carlton Pennington of Moriarty in the 1st Congressional District race and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Belinda Robertson of Las Cruces.

In addition, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., will avoid a primary election challenge from fellow Democrat Thomas Wakely of Columbus after Wakely was disqualified from the ballot. Vasquez would face the winner of a GOP primary contest between Gregory Cunningham and Jose Orozco, both of Albuquerque, in the November general election.....................

February 20, 2026

Dictators on buildings.

Republicans and Trump claim we have no money for food for SNAP--yet they don't care that Trump et al waste tax dollars on Kash plane.


Dictators on buildings.
https://x.com/moonbreeze2/status/2024635104019034302?s=20

Government accounts estimate it costs U.S. taxpayers at least $5,000 per flight hour for the FBI Gulfstream to fly, meaning Patel’s trip to Milan is likely to cost as much as $75,000.
https://x.com/BlueATLGeorgia/status/2024619219485171846?s=20

February 19, 2026

"Today our broken hearts have lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty," -- Virginia Giuffre's f

One down--many to follow.



Prince Andrew's Arrest
Across the pond in Britain, accountability is a serious matter
https://jkbjournalist.substack.com/p/prince-andrews-arrest?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true



Julie k Brown
Feb 19, 2026

“Today our broken hearts have lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” — Virginia Giuffre’s family

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother to Britain’s King Charles, has been arrested on charges of suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Epstein Files by Julie K. Brown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is the most significant story involving British royalty since King Edward VIII abdicated his throne in 1936 — and the first arrest of a royal since King Charles I, who was detained in 1647 during the English Civil War. That’s four centuries ago.


Andrew, whose 66th birthday is today, was been taken into custody about 8 a.m. local time, 3 a.m. EST.

His arrest comes just four days after the Daily Mail reported that he passed on sensitive information about the taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland to Epstein when he was representing the UK as a trade envoy.........................

With the resignations we've seen this week, and now the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, we are finally seeing some accountability for the pedophiles named in the Epstein files. I am more than ready for it to be Trump's turn.
#ProudBlue #Pinks #SheShed #VoteOutRepublicans

— LA Blue Dot in GA 🌊🐸 (@namwella1961.bsky.social) 2026-02-19T18:07:48.350Z

February 18, 2026

The lecture from Bari Weiss on the "future of journalism" was canceled as her network is in chaos.

tsk tsk.

‪The Daily Beast‬
‪@thedailybeast.bsky.social‬
· 33m
The lecture from Bari Weiss on the “future of journalism” was canceled as her network is in chaos.

The lecture from Bari Weiss on the “future of journalism” was canceled as her network is in chaos.

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) 2026-02-18T22:13:08.467014Z

February 18, 2026

Democrats say they're escalating investigation into Gordie Howe bridge debacle

Source: www. am800cklw.com

Published: 9 min ago


Democrats say they are escalating an investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to stall the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit.

Democrats allege Trump's social media post last week came hours after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with the billionaire owner of the Ambassador Bridge.

The Gordie Howe Bridge, which will connect Ontario to Michigan, has for decades faced massive pushback from the Moroun family, which owns the rival bridge also crossing the Detroit River and is a major Republican donor.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Oversight Committee who helped to launch the probe last week, is demanding details of Lutnick's meeting and his correspondence with members of the Moroun family and the Trump administration.

In a letter issued to Matthew Moroun Wednesday, Democrats are also demanding that he provide details about his meeting with Lutnick...............

Read more: https://www.am800cklw.com/news/democrats-say-theyre-escalating-investigation-into-gordie-howe-bridge-debacle.html

---

Democrats say they're escalating investigation into Gordie Howe bridge debacle

www.am800cklw.com/news/democra...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-02-18T20:59:36.761Z

Gordie Howe International Bridge. Oct. 2025Souce: Gordie Howe International Bridge/Facebook





Rep. Mike Levin @RepMikeLevin
·
13m
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a landmark infrastructure project expected to generate economic growth in both the United States and Canada.

Why, then, is Donald Trump threatening to halt its opening?

The answer may lie in a recent meeting between President Trump’s Commerce Secretary and the owner of the only other bridge connecting the two countries—an encounter that reportedly took place only hours before the threat was made.

And it just so happens that the bridge owner has given over $1 million to Republicans.

The Trump Administration is once again trying to line the pockets of its megadonors instead of serving the interests of the American people.

https://x.com/RepMikeLevin/status/2024221028201689137?s=20

February 18, 2026

Cops STOMP on a compliant man's head TWICE! Hands up, on his knees, and they still SMASH his face into the ground. Regar

The man was already on his knees with his hands up --then the cops start bashing him.......


Cops STOMP on a compliant man's head TWICE! Hands up, on his knees, and they still SMASH his face into the ground. Regardless of his crime, he was complying.

There is no excuse for this type of policing.
https://x.com/PoliceThePolic1/status/2024173566887899323?s=20

February 18, 2026

Colbert on Kristi Noem: 'Everyone can't wait to tell a reporter how awful you are'

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/feb/17/stephen-colbert-kristi-noem-obama-aliens?CMP=share_btn_url


Colbert on Kristi Noem: ‘Everyone can’t wait to tell a reporter how awful you are’

The late-night host discussed political scandal, Obama’s alien claims and Maha teaming up with Mike Tyson
Guardian staff
Tue 17 Feb 2026 11.55 EST
Prefer the Guardian on Google

With Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel off air for the Presidents’ Day holiday, Stephen Colbert focused his monologue on a Kristi Noem scandal and Maha’s new suggested way to enjoy vegetables.

February 18, 2026

Take your pick............

BOTH


https://x.com/vamospato5/status/2024149134526046427?s=20

February 18, 2026

If Adolf Hitler had been in the Mueller report and the Epstein files, he would also have declared himself totally "exone

‪Mindcite💥‬
‪@mindcite.bsky.social‬
· 55m
If Adolf Hitler had been in the Mueller report and the Epstein files, he would also have declared himself totally "exonerated".

If Adolf Hitler had been in the Mueller report and the Epstein files, he would also have declared himself totally "exonerated".

— Mindcite💥 (@mindcite.bsky.social) 2026-02-18T13:05:13.271Z

From Nazi Germany to GOP America:

"Constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong." --Hannah Arendt

— Mindcite💥 (@mindcite.bsky.social) 2026-02-18T13:05:50.246Z

February 18, 2026

Trump nominates a hospitality executive {Scott Socha} to lead the National Park Service

Damn damn damn

Trump's nominee to lead the National Park Service, Scott Socha, helped run a company that claimed trademark ownership over historic place names at Yosemite—many rooted in Indigenous history—then sued the NPS over name use, costing taxpayers millions.

Now he wants to run the agency? Disgraceful.

— Laiken Jordahl (@laikenjordahl.bsky.social) 2026-02-17T23:43:41.827Z

Trump nominates a hospitality executive to lead the National Park Service

https://apnews.com/article/national-park-service-nomination-scott-socha-607e510eda4f57e3277505f95c6ae89f

Tourists flock to Mather Point at Grand Canyon National Park, Oct. 1, 2025, in Grand Canyon, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)


By MATTHEW BROWN pdated 6:14 PM CST, February 12, 2026


President Donald Trump has nominated for director of the National Park Service an executive from a hospitality company that holds extensive contracts with the agency he would lead.

The nomination of Scott Socha late Wednesday follows widespread firings within the Park Service as part of efforts by Trump’s Republican administration to sharply reduce its size. The administration also has faced blowback for the removal or planned removal of national park exhibits about slavery, climate change and the destruction of Native American culture.

Administration officials have said they are removing “disparaging” messages under an order last year from Trump. Critics accuse it of trying to whitewash the nation’s history.

Socha is a president for parks and resorts at Delaware North, which describes itself as one of the world’s largest privately owned hospitality and entertainment companies, with more than $4 billion in revenue in 2022. The company provides hospitality services in at least six national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Shenandoah, said spokesperson Cait Zulewski.

..................
Trump last year proposed cutting the Park Service’s $2.9 billion operating budget by more than $900 million. Park supporters and former employees said that would effectively gut the agency........................