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NATIONAL NUTCASERY
biased confirmations
Earlier this week, Todd Blanche – who was Trump’s personal lawyer and the man responsible for his 34 felony counts – sat for a hearing to be our next Attorney General. He’s Trump’s third choice, after pedophile Matt Gaetz and pedo-protector Pam Bondi. Some highlights:
Blanche accidentally said he is Trump’s personal lawyer, not that he was Trump’s personal lawyer. A Freudian slip if ever there was one.
He said “mistakes were made” in reference to the Epstein files. Mistakes were made! By whom?? Someone should look into that.
He dodged questions about Trump’s persecution of his political enemies, defended firing Trump’s former pardon attorney, defended sweeping pardons of January 6 rioters, and doubled down on his support for subpoenaing journalists who report on the Trump administration.
He declined to meet with Epstein survivors directly, then backtracked after Senator Thom Tillis made it a condition of voting yes. Survivors described the ensuing meeting as "a mere 'check-the-box' exercise intended to secure votes for his confirmation."
He said Trump’s $1.776 billion anti-weaponization slush fund was “dead.” Okay, like Lindsey-Graham-dead, or Mitch-McConnell-dead? There’s a difference.
He said he had “full faith” in FBI Director Kash Patel. Sorry, but even half-faith is too much faith.
Ominously, he would not promise to stop ICE from patrolling polling places.
Soooo, is Blanche headed for confirmation? Is another AG Todd going to wreck our lives? Unclear, but right now, it looks like the key vote may be John Cornyn (R-TX), who lost his primary after Trump endorsed Texas AG, Ken Paxton. I bet Trump is regretting that move now, right? JK, I’m sure he doesn’t remember.
Even if the Senate puts its foot down on Blanche, it may not matter. As The New York Times reported, “Blanche’s confirmation, however, is partly symbolic. Under law and precedent, he can probably remain in charge of the Justice Department until a new leader is confirmed or Trump leaves office.” The latter of which might never come.
Let’s let our senators know we want them to say hell no to Todd Blanche for attorney general. We can find call language here from 5calls, or send this message by texting SIGN PLJGKA to 50409.
The second day of Acting AG Blanche’s confirmation hearing process saw a Democratic witness, former Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer, accuse Blanche of lying under oath, but it turned out the real fireworks were over in the Intelligence Committee, where Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, faced his own confirmation hearing.
Clayton had been serving as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, and was chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term. He was seen as a grownup, and a far more reasonable fit for the job than Bill Pulte, the current acting DNI. But under Trump, the job isn’t really about managing our spy agencies; it’s about validating the president’s obsession with phantom election interference in 2020. When Trump installed Pulte, he gave him instructions to “find out some things about the rigged elections.” If there was any illusion that Clayton would resist that mandate, it was shattered on Wednesday.
In a stunning exchange that instantly went viral, Sen. Jon Ossoff tried to pin Clayton down on who won the presidency six years ago. It went on for the better part of three painful minutes, with Ossoff demanding over and over that Clayton to answer the question, and Clayton saying, “I have answered it,” without answering it. If you haven’t seen the whole thing, you should click over and watch.
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nothingburger bigboy speech
So, Trump addressed the nation Thursday night. The point of the speech, apparently, was to claim there was evidence that our election systems are “vulnerable,” without actually citing any new/credible evidence. Oops! It’s easy to brush this off as his typical insanity, but I do want to emphasize that this is part of a reasonably long-term plan to deny the results of the midterms if they don’t go Trump’s way (which polls suggest they will not). Obviously, that’s alarming.
In a 25-minute primetime address from the White House's East Room that included many baseless claims, Trump said he was declassifying intelligence documents that he said reveal "shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure." However, many of the documents the White House posted online during the speech did not appear to fully support claims the president made. Not to mention, the time frame in which he claims there was interference was when he was in charge of the government.
How big a flop was Trump’s speech Thursday? After getting a preview of the speech, both NBC and ABC declined to air it. Even Trump’s favorite morning show refused to touch it: FOX & Friends didn’t spend a single minute out of its three allotted hours Friday on the address. Oof.
STATEWIDE SHENANIGANS
surplus ruckus
Indiana closed out the year with a healthy surplus despite dire initial projections brought on by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and federal funding cuts. Indiana’s state government cash reserves grew by $1.5 billion over the past year as tax collections increased much faster than expected. State tax collections jumped 6.8% during the 2026 fiscal year after growth of just 0.8% was projected when the current state budget was adopted in April 2025, and a negative revenue forecast forced lawmakers to carve $2 billion out of their budget at the last minute. That belt-tightening came at the expense of working Hoosiers and important public programs, with public media and local public health programs both losing state funding.
Since then, both Indiana’s surplus and its reserves have skyrocketed while the increase in government spending has slowed. All despite a 10% decrease in federal funding at the same time. The larger general fund surplus, however, won’t trigger the state’s automatic taxpayer refund law; that process kicks in during odd-numbered years if the cash reserves top 12.5% of state spending, with the excess revenues split between paying down state pension obligations and refund payments Hoosiers. It was last triggered with $125 refund payments that were issued in 2022. We don’t get the programs, and we don’t get the money.
The State Budget Agency report released Tuesday estimated that the cash reserves will grow by $1.3 billion, or 32%, in the coming year to $5.3 billion next summer. Democrats are urging Braun to take action now on addressing urgent needs facing Hoosiers to support K-12 schools and other programs that were pinched under the current budget, rather than waiting until the Republican supermajority returns to the statehouse in January. “Hoosiers don’t pay the state their hard-earned money to watch politicians sit atop a pile of cash and brag about how high it goes,” said Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis). “They contribute their tax dollars with the expectation that the state will use it to invest in making their lives better.” For example, the SUNBucks program that Indiana has once again opted out of, citing high costs. In 2024, the program helped keep more than 650,000 Indiana children fed through the summer. (Our Indy-area US Rep. André Carson has introduced legislation to automatically enroll every state in the program.)
A significant chunk of the state's increase in reserve dollars appears to have come from an increase in Medicaid reserves, which ballooned to $274.7 million, more than six times larger than the previous year. The build-up in reserves comes as Indiana led the nation for Medicaid disenrollment between March 2025 and March 2026, according to KFF. I’m sure those are in no way related.
LOCAL FOCUS
invest in the arts
As announced on Monday by the governor, Terre Haute-based projects will receive more than $2.5 million in READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants awarded by the state of Indiana. A total of $62.3 million in grants were awarded, with the total expected statewide investment (including state and local funding and in-kind contributions) projected at $369.9 million.
Grants coming to Terre Haute will enhance the downtown area through three projects:
$2 million for the Arts Collaborative Hub at The Indiana Theatre in downtown Terre Haute, which is owned by the Vigo Capital Improvement Board. Total project cost is projected at $4.23 million.
“The primary goal is to open the theater and the first floor office space to arts oriented organizations. ... Offices, collaborative spaces, and some public art are going to be phenomenal additions to a theater available for movies and smaller shows,” according to Mayor Sakbun (also the the current president of the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board. which owns the Indiana Theatre)
$500,000 for the 8th Street Playscape and City Park Event Lawn, downtown Terre Haute. This is a partnership between the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. Susan Turner, executive director of the Children’s Museum, said the total project expense is projected at $2.5 million.
“The first part will be attached to the museum and will be fenced in and will be a part of your admission to the museum. The other part will be a sitting park and event lawn where we can have performances, art shows, all types of really neat things that we really want to bring to the area,” said Kayla Dowell, Director of Donor Relations at Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
from West Central Indiana Partnership newsletter
$52,000 for the Wabash Valley Arts Access & Touring Initiative by Arts Illiana. Total project expense is estimated at $173,500.
The Arts Illiana project will have one library in each of the five counties of Vigo, Clay, Parke, Vermillion and Sullivan host six different presentations over the next year and a half, encompassing visual arts, chamber music and small ensemble performances, artist talks, hands-on workshops and youth arts education activities. Artists will be paid for their participation.
READI stands for Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative. In all, it is a $1.25 billion program to invest in community-led projects that improve quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity, the state says. More information on READI and the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative is available at IndianaREADI.com.
GOOD TROUBLE
There are only around 100 days until the midterm election, and local candidates need your help! Vigo Dems are gearing up to hit the ground running with canvassing and phone banking, and now have weekday and weekend opportunities available. Please take two minutes to fill out the volunteer form. Whether you want to knock on doors, make phone calls, or help out around the office, there is a place for you.
RESOURCE CENTER
I was recently introduced to defiance.org through a podcast. This a pro-democracy nonprofit and activist club co-founded by former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor. Designed as a "hub of resistance", it organizes citizens, whistleblowers, and national security veterans to counter the Trump administration's abuses of power, protect targeted figures, and crowdfund legal and political defense efforts.
While it is fee-supported, access to their weekly Actions page is free & unrestricted. Each week they post 2-3 actions to take, and there are some useful documents included, from Leaving MAGA’s ‘Reaching Out’ Guide for people who want to reach out to loved ones and friends in MAGA; Unfit, a documentary about Trump’s psychology; and click-to-send letters to lawmakers. Seems worth a bookmark.
UPCOMING EVENTS
visit the Blue812News Local Events calendar to see all upcoming events
Tuesday, July 21st at 6pm: Indivisible CommUnity meeting. Every big change starts with a local conversation. Whether you want to share a new concept, listen in, or find ways to get involved locally, there is a place at the table for you! Vigo County Public Library (Rooms AB&C) 6-7:30PM
Wednesday, July 22nd at 5pm: EMBARK 2026: Moving Forward with Public Transportation, an ongoing effort to update the region’s Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan (CPTHSTP). As part of the planning process, a Public Outreach Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Vigo County Public Library. Community members are encouraged to attend and share feedback regarding transportation needs, service gaps, accessibility and opportunities to improve public transit and mobility services throughout Vigo County and the Terre Haute Urbanized Area. The public meeting will provide residents, transit riders, nonprofit organizations and social service agencies the opportunity to directly engage with the planning team and help guide future transportation priorities.
Thursday, July 30th at 6pm: Nasty Women of Vigo County meeting in Room A of the Vigo County Public Library from 6-7:30pm.
Saturday, August 1st at 3pm: Hoosier Hospitality March at Holland Park in Fishers, IN from 3-6pm. Bring positive, welcoming signs that celebrate our immigrant neighbors, friends, and families. Together, let's show Greg Bovino and others what Hoosier Hospitality really looks like. More info at fishersresists.org
END ON A HIGH NOTE
There’s a new statue poking fun at Donald Trump in Washington. This one is a giant gold participation trophy for his unending war with Iran: “We hereby award President Donald J. Trump this participation trophy for his enthusiastic involvement in the Iran War,” the plaque reads. “While some concern themselves with military strategy, diplomacy, or measurable outcomes, President Trump demonstrated the courage to participate regardless of the final score.”
Trump’s support within his base is slipping amid disapproval of his handling of the economy and the Iran war, a new Washington Post-Ipsos poll found. Just 15 percent of Americans “approve strongly” of Trump’s job performance, down four points from February.
New York became the first state to impose a moratorium on data center construction. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) framed the decision as a way to give the state time to enact standards for development, amid concerns about the impact that data centers could have on energy bills and the environment.
Democrats outpaced Republicans in fundraising for almost every Senate race in the first half of this year, according to new campaign finance filings. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico pulled in more than $54 million, compared to Republican Ken Paxton’s $3.9 million. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) also crushed his Republican opponent, Mike Collins, outraising him by more than $30 million.
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld a decision to keep individual abortion reports confidential, ruling that they should be protected as medical records.
A judge declared that Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS (the one where he sued the department that he runs for $10 billion over a leak of his tax returns) was an improper “exercise in self-dealing,” which, TBH, could describe this entire Presidency.
And finally: E. Jean Carroll has collected her $5.6 million. Get itttt.
Identical twins don’t have the same fingerprints. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.