Blue 812 News Issue 72 - June 7

The United States is actively engaged in war against Iran and threatening a new one against Cuba - a time where you want qualified people leading intelligence agencies. Instead, Trump is replacing Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence with Bill Pulte, who attentive readers of Blue812News will remember as the guy primarily known for using his role as Federal Housing Finance Agency director to seek political retribution for his boss and the mind behind 50-year mortgages (He’s also the dude who, apparently, introduced Trump to that controversial AI-generated Jesus meme a few months back). Now he’ll be able to weaponize the entire intelligence community against Trump’s foes. He’s a perfect Trump nominee, utterly unprepared for an incredibly important job (The 38-year-old has no background in either intelligence or law enforcement. Under federal law, the director must have “extensive national security expertise”), thoroughly corrupt (he allegedly funneled money to Trump by disguising it as a charitable contribution) and eager to abuse his power to suit the President’s whims.

Pulte can serve as an acting DNI for 210 days without Congress weighing in, but lawmakers have no obvious route to challenge the temporary appointment in the meantime, while he holds the reins of the intelligence community’s powers. Right now, the legislative branch does have leverage to use, as we are once again coming up on the expiration date for warrantless wiretapping authority (this time on June 12th). With even Republican leaders expressing skepticism about this selection and Democratic votes required to keep the surveillance state in place, there are already rumblings on Capitol Hill that Pulte’s appointment was going to make it harder to pass.

Let’s seize the moment. Indivisible has set up an email tool to allow us to demand our reps refuse to support a reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until Pulte is removed. Find the webform here and then use the language for calls as well.

Sen. Jim Banks | Sen. Todd Young | Rep. Mark Messmer | Find your sen | Find your rep

In other nomination news, the President has said he’ll nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to stay on as perma-AG. Cool, direct all future “Release the Epstein files” tweets straight at Todd. Reminder that Todd Blanche was also Trump’s personal lawyer. The one who represented him when he was convicted of 34 felonies. “The fact that I used to be President Trump’s lawyer,” he fumed during congressional testimony the other day, “is just a fact.” As newly-freed/defeated Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) told CNN the AG is “supposed to be able to tell the president ‘no.’ … So we need to talk about that.”

In his two months on the job, Blanche has distinguished himself by re-indicting Trump’s arch enemy, James Comey, launching an investigation into Trump victim E. Jean Carroll (the Department says he recused himself) and of course, managing the whole mind-bending charade of settling Trump’s IRS lawsuit and creating the weaponization slush fund. What a calling card, to be the guy Trump installed at DOJ because Pam Bondi wasn’t weaponizing it hard enough.

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The latest addition to Trump‘s long list of pardons is a Hoosier. The president has been posting letters asking him to pardon former Indiana congressman Steve Buyer to social media recently, and on Friday that pardon was issued. Buyer, 67, was convicted in connection with insider trading involving the $26.5 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, announced in April 2018, and illegal trades in the management consulting company Navigant when his client Guidehouse was set to acquire it in a deal publicly disclosed weeks later. Buyer said the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and that it was “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit.” He has maintained his innocence and claims the case against him was retribution for leading the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.

Indiana Democrats delegates cast their secretary of state votes yesterday, sending the first-time candidate Beau Bayh — with one of the state’s most recognizable political names — into a race that party leaders see as their best opportunity for a statewide seat in more than a decade. Bayh earned 61% of delegate votes: 1,385 votes to Potter’s 883, according to convention results. Party officials said 2,269 delegates cast ballots Saturday afternoon, with one blank ballot submitted. Democrats also formally nominated Jessica Bailey for state comptroller and Coumba Kebe for state treasurer. Both were uncontested.

The secretary of state contest has been a closely watched race, pitting Bayh — the son of former governor and U.S. senator Evan Bayh and grandson of former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh — against Potter, a veteran of the Iraq War and Bargersville business owner who built support among grassroots activists and first-time delegates. In the weeks leading up to the convention, delegates repeatedly described the race as a choice between competing visions for how Indiana Democrats should pursue statewide victories. Convention Chair Robin Winston emphasized that regardless of the nominee, members of Indiana’s Democratic Party “are more alike than we are unalike.” “Our job and our fight is not in this room,” he told delegates. “Our job today is to nominate candidates for winning in November.”

Republican delegates will choose their own nominee June 20 at the state GOP convention in Fort Wayne. Current scandal-plagued SOS Diego Morales faces challenges from Max Engling, David Shelton and Jamie Reitenour.

The GOP pick and Beau will join Libertarian Lauri Shillings and Independent Greg Ballard, who is in the process of collecting signatures in order to appear on the ballot. If either third party candidate cracks 10% of the votes in November, they’ll be considered a “major party” and will be eligible to appear on the ballot in future elections.

The Illinois legislature failed to pass a bill to entice the Chicago Bears to stay, prompting Governor Mike Braun to write on social media, "Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!" But the Chicago mayor's office followed up with their own statement: "Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal. Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City of Chicago will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents." Statements from the Bears and Braun did not mention any signed agreements for the stadium project.

As the Illinois legislature dithered, Indiana lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year creating a Hammond stadium district and directing more than $1 billion in taxpayer money toward district infrastructure that officials say would also support the team’s plans for surrounding retail, restaurants and residential areas. I’m sure football fans will be lining up to hang out in Hammond before the game when Chicago (the #6 top US tourism destination) is an $8, 30-minute train ride away.

Vigo County commissioners say they have not been contacted about location of a data center in the county, but that’s not to say it won’t happen. “Obviously, data centers are a big part of the future of technology and economic development,” said Mark Clinkenbeard, Vigo County commissioner, on Wednesday. “We’d always be open to a conversation, if that opportunity would arise.” Commissioner Chris Switzer had similar comments: “We don’t know of anything coming as of right now,” he said. “We’re certainly not ever going to deny anybody the opportunity to build or do something in Vigo County before we even have a conversation with them.”

The Terre Haute Economic Development Corp. says it is getting requests through the state as well as direct interests from potential developers and investors regularly, Jonathan Blake, interim director said. "I can tell you we are getting inquiries daily about a multitude of uses, including data centers, advanced manufacturing, bio tech, life science. There has been an increased awareness of available properties as well across Vigo County and west central Indiana," Blake said. Prominent Terre Haute developer Greg Gibson was asked by the Tribune-Star if he has been approached by any companies wanting to use his land for a data center. “We have been approached by many companies and individuals about available properties. We are contacted often about our vacant land…We don't currently have any active negotiations with any specific industry. That said, we are willing to talk to any company interested in locating in Vigo County. As I'm sure you know, usually words and rumors in Vigo County don't always carry much weight or truth," Gibson said.

All of this optimistic obfuscation comes as reporting by WTHR-TV in Indianapolis (supported by Good Jobs First, a nonpartisan watchdog group that tracks economic development subsidies) revealed taxpayers are losing over $655 million through these exemptions. Most of that – $611 million combined for 2024 and 2025 – to just one corporate giant: Amazon. Those are taxes data centers did not have to pay on eligible purchases, including equipment such as computer chips, servers and other technology used to operate the facilities. Plus, this total is likely incomplete because several active projects have yet to report any abated taxes. It also doesn’t include local property tax breaks. Neat.

Good Jobs First said it could not find a clear public price tag showing how much tax revenue Indiana was giving up through its data center tax exemption program. The group published a report saying some states, including Indiana, failed to disclose data center tax abatement losses. The Indiana Comptroller’s Office initially pushed back on the watchdog report, saying Indiana’s annual financial reporting complied with government accounting standards, but after further review, the Comptroller’s Office told 13News the data center exemption information had been reported to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, or IEDC, but had not been routed to the Comptroller’s Office for the state’s annual financial report. IEDC later confirmed to 13News the data center exemption reports had not previously been posted publicly.

One morning your kid asks an innocent but relevant question, and next thing you know you’re elbow deep in spreadsheets and CFA-4s. Blue812News reader and local activist K. Yousif shared a fascinating deep-dive into Vigo County campaign finance. The piece walks through where the money is coming from and what candidates are giving to each other. It’s a well‑researched breakdown of how campaign finance works at the hyper‑local level, where the budgets are small, the margins are thin, and the vibes are giving DIY democracy. Check it out here.

The Mary Allen for Congress campaign needs your help - virtual phone banking is a way to engage in politics on your own time that doesn’t require you to leave your home or even put pants on. You can team up with your family and take turns calling people in your own town. Sign up for one of the training events and you will receive a list to call in your neighborhood.

This is a recurring event that will last until the general election. More info and upcoming dates here.

Do you have an idea for your neighborhood that’s bigger than your bank account? The City of Terre Haute is proud to launch the Neighborhood Investment Fund, a new program designed to support resident-led projects that strengthen neighborhoods, build community pride, and improve quality of life across our city. This year, $75,000 is available through the program, with grants of up to $15,000 available for neighborhood projects.

They are looking for projects related to:

Possible projects could include neighborhood signs, murals, flowers and trees, community gardens, benches, accessibility improvements, crosswalk enhancements, and more.

Neighborhood associations, community organizations, and informal groups of neighbors are all encouraged to apply.

Applications will close on July 17. More information and application HERE

Tuesday, June 9th at 3pm: Mingle with the Mayor at Grand Traverse Pie Co. At this informal and relaxed gathering, various topics will be covered each month with opportunities to ask questions and voice concerns. Free pie and coffee will be served courtesy of Clinton Gardens.

Tuesday, June 9th at 5pm: Vigo County Council Meeting in the Council Chambers in the Vigo County Government Center, 127 Oak Street

Thursday, June 11th at 6pm: Terre Haute City Council Meeting at City Hall.

Saturday, June 14th at 12:30pm: ICE has caged Salah Sarsour for nearly two months. Together we speak out to protect free speech and end ICE terror! Join us for a vigil with Salah’s family, clergy, community leaders, and elected officials. All are welcome! All Out for Salah Registration Form (Clay County Jail, 611 East Jackson Street, Brazil, IN 47834) Organizers request this NOT be shared on social media.

The No Kings coalition has announced counter-programming to Trump’s birthday UFC cage fight at our expense: Rise Up, Sing Out: a Concert for the First Amendment. They’re asking folks to host strategic community gatherings on the evening of June 14th, bringing together folks from our neighborhoods to talk about organizing in our area and connect everyone to local actions we can take – along with watching the concert in celebration of a First Amendment. More info here.

Get Free and 50501 are holding a national day of action on June 27th called All of U.S. 250. While the Trump regime plans a whitewashed, anti-American celebration of our 250th anniversary, we will mobilize together to tell our nation’s story truthfully, celebrate the progress we have made through struggle and commit to the work to ensure liberty and equality for All of U.S. We can learn more, find events already on the books in our area and get involved here.

Acting AG Todd Blanche confirmed that the Trump administration won’t pursue its $1.8 billion “weaponization” fund to pay Trump’s allies, following intense backlash from Republicans. “We’re not moving forward with the fund. Period,” he told lawmakers during a hearing.

The Environmental Protection Agency updated its list of alternatives to testing animals in studies, which will use “new, innovative methods to review chemicals,” EPA chief Lee Zeldin said in a statement. Even PETA is celebrating.

Sources say the Feds are now investigating diva/disgraced former Congressman George Santos. Allegedly, he used Kalshi to bet on his own attendance at the State of the Union. After posting online that he would attend, he didn’t and cashed in.

Republicans tried attaching the anti-voting SAVE America Act to the reconciliation bill on Thursday night, but it failed after a 48-50 vote.

Illinois lawmakers have passed a reproductive rights bill that shields people’s medical records from scrutiny by out-of-state entities.

A federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against John Oliver and his HBO show’s production company over a 2024 Medicaid segment—preserving what Oliver has described as the show’s undefeated record in court.

Albanian anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. At the same time regular Albanians are taking to the streets in an effort to stop it.

The House has passed the Ukraine Support Act, 226-195, to provide new military aid to Ukraine and impose tougher sanctions on Russia. The bill advanced through a discharge petition despite Mike Johnson’s efforts to block a vote.

NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced millions of more dollars in state funding and a new legal response initiative to help protect due process rights for people in held in New Jersey’s ICE detention centers.

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