Blue 812 News Issue 91 - October 25

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Every time you think “Well, Republicans can’t possibly get crueler or more depraved than THIS?!” one slimy little sleazeball will inevitably say, “Hold my beer.” Today, that is Vivek Ramaswamy, running to be governor of Ohio, who on Tuesday claimed credit for an absolutely abhorrent campaign ad attacking his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton. If you haven’t seen it, the ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a liar. However, the ad lives in a larger context. Let’s take a sad little journey: In 1975, Donna married Cledith Arthur, who at that time had already been indicted in an earlier incest case involving his eldest daughter. In 1978, he was indicted for raping then 12-year-old Amy, leading to Amy and her brother Phil being removed from their home. Donna and Cledith fled the state, and she remained married to him until his 2004 death.

The ad first appeared online earlier this week without the “paid for” disclosure required for television, and now Ramaswamy has not only confirmed it was his but has doubled down. His campaign announced they would spend $4 million promoting it. Gross! Acton’s campaign was quick to condemn this new low, releasing a statement from her brother Philip Stearns that reads: “It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point… This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core — a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants.”

The worst people in the world are cheering this on; Donald Trump Jr. and Laura Loomer are among the ad’s boosters, and the president repeatedly dismissed questions from reporters about the specific allegations of Acton's sexual abuse, asserting at multiple points that the ad has "nothing to do" with Acton's stepfather, “This has to do with the fact that a woman got out, the mother of a person running for governor of one of the greatest states, where I set records and said that she's a liar… If it were my mother speaking badly about me, you’d be making it the number one story on the news.” When Ohio’s own JD Vance was asked about the ad, he said, “Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is: if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days.” Gross! Ew! I hate it here! Meanwhile, other Republicans are… silent. Sherrod Brown, running for Senate in Ohio, called on his Republican opponent, Sen. Jon Husted, to condemn the ad. Husted has said only, “I would not have run that ad.” Husted campaigned with Ramaswamy on Wednesday. Nikki Haley, who clashed with Ramaswamy when they both ran for president in 2024, said it was proof of “what we tried to tell everyone back then… He’s a bad guy,” she said. “It’s a shame he continues to get away with it.”

Pumpkins, squash and gourds are all technically the same species. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

If you can’t beat ‘em, cheat ‘em! President Donald Trump is doing everything he can to give Republicans a fighting chance at snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the upcoming midterms — despite polls suggesting the country’s in the mood for a big blue shift. For his latest stunt, he’s throwing a Hail Mary deep into the Land of the Midnight Sun. Remember the two Dan Sullivans running for Senate in Alaska? One of them is a sitting GOP senator, while the other has faced accusations of being a spoiler candidate (which he vehemently denies). Both will appear on the general election ballot against Democrat Mary Peltola, who has been leading in the polls.

Trump’s team is already preparing to launch a legal battle should his preferred candidate not win. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit that would block the certification of the election if Peltola or the other Dan Sullivan wins, arguing that “voter confusion” could cause incumbent Dan Sullivan to lose. They previously launched an investigation into the “spoiler” Sullivan. Funny enough, Trump’s team actually should be worried about that other Dan Sullivan. Two recent polls showed that Peltola could narrowly beat the senator — seemingly thanks to the “spoiler.”

State election officials are taking steps to make it clear who’s who. The so-called “spoiler” Sullivan won’t be listed on the ballot with a party affiliation, despite running as a Republican. The senator will be listed as the incumbent Republican. Also, Alaska’s ranked-choice system allows voters to rank both men if they’re confused. The stakes are high. A single state could be the difference between holding the Senate and losing it — which, for Republicans, could mean the power to cement their grip on the Supreme Court for years to come.

For nearly three decades, Ron Alting was the kind of Indiana lawmaker who rarely made headlines, then he (allegedly) discovered an unconventional way to save on household goods. The longtime Lafayette Republican is under investigation over multiple alleged shoplifting incidents at Walmart stores in multiple states. A special prosecutor has been assigned to review the case.

After stepping back from his re-election campaign earlier this month to focus on his health, Alting now intends to resign immediately if he is re-elected. It’s too late to take his name off the November ballot. If he wins against public school teacher and Democrat Natasha Baker, who recently put out a TV ad that makes reference to Alting’s situation, his replacement would be decided by GOP party insiders, rather than district 22 voters.

Alting did not address specific allegations but said he takes responsibility for his actions: “I did things that were wrong and completely out of character for me. I take responsibility for my actions,” Alting said. “I am deeply sorry for the hurt and disappointment I have caused my family, friends, colleagues, constituents and the store employees involved.” He’s attributes his actions to a “concerning” decline in his “cognitive functioning” for which he’s undergoing medical evaluation. A consulting physician, Dr. Greg Loomis, spoke with News 18 (who received direct approval from the state senator to share what Dr. Loomis has told the news organization), explaining there has been no diagnosis, but signs are pointing to dementia, specifically Lewy body dementia. Both a brain tumor and a form of frontotemporal dementia, Pick’s disease, have been ruled out.

The US Department of Justice is sending election monitors to polling places in Marion and Lake County on election day, according to a press release from the Marion County Clerk’s office. The clerk's office was notified Wednesday that monitors would be sent to two counties in Indiana, but were not provided details as to why they were chosen. Oh, I think we know why! An unnamed DOJ spokesperson told WFYI in an emailed statement that their department will be in all 50 states this election, “doing the routine election monitoring the department has done for decades.” Various counties in states like Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington have also received notifications that monitors will be coming to specific counties, according to NPR.

The move comes as the Marion County Election Board recently approved protocol for how poll workers should react if federal law enforcement show up on Election Day. Federal law prohibits armed federal officers from entering vote centers, or federal employees from interfering with elections. These actions could include directing poll workers to change procedures, interviewing voters or examining equipment, according to the Marion County poll worker policy.

Criminal charges have been filed against a Terre Haute man, alleging that he voted illegally in Indiana elections. Francisco Aguilar Romero, identified as a noncitizen who has obtained Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status, faces charges of fraudulent voter registration, perjury and voting by an ineligible person, according to Rokita’s office. State records show Romero first registered to vote in February 2018, updated or reverified his registration in August 2023 and voted in six Vigo County elections between 2018 and 2024, including the 2020 and 2024 general elections. He faces a maximum sentence of 11.5 years in prison if convicted.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Rokita and Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt are prosecuting Romero for alleged voting violations that the FBI investigated and the U.S. Attorney’s Office ultimately decided not to pursue. The affidavit does not identify the specific office involved. The press release from Rokita’s office noted Romero had registered before Indiana’s controversial proof-of-citizenship law was passed. Although the law, House Enrolled Act 1264, has been challenged in court, Rokita applauded the new statute and advocated for Congress to pass Trump’s signature bill, the SAVE Act, which would require everyone registering to vote in a federal election to show documentation of U.S. citizenship.

Romero reportedly told Spivey he had advised the employees at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles that he was not a U.S. citizen, but after providing his DACA documents, Social Security number and driver’s license, “several supervisors” said he could vote. Moreover, Romero said he just signed the voter registration form as he was told to do and did not fill out the form himself and did not check the box affirming he was a U.S. citizen. In the affidavit, Spivey noted he spoke with employees at the Terre Haute branch of the BMV, but none remembered Romero. The voter registration process at the BMV is done on computer and the individual registering cannot see the forms. However, during the process, the individuals are required to answer verbally questions about their citizenship status and their age, according to Spivey. BMV employees reportedly told Spivey that it was not feasible for Romero to complete the voter registration process without seeing any documents and without understanding what he was signing.

Rokita and current SoS Diego Morales announced last year that a federal agency review found 21 noncitizens had cast ballots in recent Indiana elections, along with 165 noncitizens who registered to vote in the state. There are 4.7 million registered voters in Indiana.

With just the two frontrunners in the competitive race participating, this third and final Secretary of State debate went deeper than a four-way debate could — deeper into the both issues and the insults, directed far more at each other than the incumbent. Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard and Libertarian Lauri Shillings did not make the polling cutoff. To qualify for the debate, among other criteria, candidates had to receive at least 10% of the vote in a nonpartisan, professional poll.

Bayh, in particular, took a more aggressive stance than in previous debates, on multiple occasions asking Engling questions directly while staring at him. Engling did not look back at Bayh the whole debate. One of those instances happened in response to the news that the Department of Justice is sending election monitors to Marion and Lake counties on Election Day: “Why have they singled out Marion and Lake counties, Max, you have an answer for that?” Bayh said. “I’m not the DOJ, I guess I don’t have an answer for why the federal government is doing something, considering I’m not the federal government,” Engling responded.

Unlike the last debate, when Engling accused the other three candidates of not caring about voter fraud, Bayh made sure to say multiple times this debate, “one illegal vote is too many.” He took note when Engling said the same phrase. Bayh and Engling also agreed that voting hours in Indiana should be expanded, and that changes should not be made to the state’s mail-in voting system. The opponents also agreed that work needs to be done to increase voter turnout in the Hoosier state, as Indiana ranked in the bottom eight states for voter turnout in both the 2024 and 2022 general elections, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.

There was definitely less of a focus on current SoS Diego Morales’ controversies, which include no-bid contracts to campaign donors, hiring relatives and international travel, but the candidates still were asked one question about Morales’ use of taxpayer dollars during the final debate. Engling said, if elected he would push for the Indiana Office of Inspector General to investigate current Secretary of State Diego Morales’ use of taxpayer funds. Bayh disagreed with that plan, “The Inspector General has known these things for four years, and yet has refused to take action,” Bayh said. “I’m not going to wait on another entity that’s not taking action.” Instead, Bayh said he would work with David Shelton, the Republican Clerk of the Courts in Knox County, to investigate Morales’ use of taxpayer funds. “(Shelton) is an expert in fraud detection and prevention,” Bayh said. “He’s a private investigator, and he’s an honest, well-known Republican. It’s important to show bipartisan effort in this endeavor.”

Indiana State Senate dist. 38 candidate Kacey Blundell will be live on the HoosLeft podcast Oct. 29th at 7pm. Check it out here!

Just in time for the midterms, Children’s Rights, lawyers fighting in court to defend children imprisoned in Dilley detention center, is launching a petition calling on Congress to close Dilley, stop detaining children anywhere ever, and uphold legal protections under the Flores Settlement.

Since January 2025, ICE has arrested over 8,500 children. The lawyers who visit Dilley hear stories to break your heart: stark fluorescent lights that never go out, denying little children even the comfort and escape of sleep; uncertainty, fear, isolation; children going hungry; families struggling to access medical care and clean drinking water; and confinement that lasts for weeks or even months.

Meanwhile, the federal government is seeking to eliminate the Flores Settlement, one of the few safeguards standing between children and indefinite, unchecked government detention. This consent decree established nationwide minimum standards governing the treatment, placement, and release of children in immigration custody. Closing Dilley is an urgent first step, but children should not be detained. Period. And as long as one child is confined, Flores must stand.

SIGN THE PETITION

Take a look at CAP’s Trump Corruption Tracker. It’s incredible, and contains lots of information for undecided or apathetic voters. There is so much in there to enrage us—and motivate us to get to the polls!

The Center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington has launched a newsletter series to debunk and/or investigate election-related rumors. It’s called “The Election Rumor Rundown.” Today’s post takes on the “Stella Parton said that her vote got switched in the Nashville voting booth!” rumor. While what Stella posted was surely true, this article tells us, there is important context around it. Read the piece to find out what it is! Also, let’s all subscribe, shall we?

Monday, October 26th at 10am: County Council/Commissioners Joint Budget Workshop in the Vigo County Annex Commissioner’s Conference room. ALso livestreamed on the Vigo County YouTube page.

Monday, October 26th at 1:30pm: Vigo County Council School Funding Meeting in the Vigo County Annex Commissioner’s Conference room. ALso livestreamed on the Vigo County YouTube page. *Paid subscribers get to read my comprehensive recap!

Monday, October 26th at 4:30pm: VigoDems Get out the Vote rally with Mary Allen, Beau Bayh, Coumba Kebe and Tonya Pfaff at 13th& Wabash.

Thursday, October 29th at 5:30pm: Vigo County Council Special Budget Meeting in the Council Chambers in the Vigo County Government Center, 127 Oak Street

Thursday, October 29th at 6pm: Nasty Women of Vigo County meeting in Room A of the Vigo County Public Library from 6-7:30pm.

Wednesday, November 4th at 5pm: Vigo County Council Meeting in the Council Chambers in the Vigo County Government Center, 127 Oak Street *Paid subscribers get to read my comprehensive recap!

Thursday, November 5th at 6pm: Terre Haute City Council Meeting at City Hall.

Thursday, November 5th at 6pm: Nasty Women of Vigo County meeting in Room A of the Vigo County Public Library from 6-7:30pm.

Looking for an opportunity to help Vigo County candidates get out the vote? Volunteers are staffing VigoDems HQ (817 Wabash Ave) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5-7pm, plus Saturdays 10am-1pm (come early for free breakfast!) ready to set you up with door-knocking or phone banking.

Colorado’s new wildlife bridge cut crashes by 91 percent.

The Supreme Court said the Trump administration cannot enforce a new policy that restricts treatment for transgender inmates in federal prison. I’m glad, but always very suspicious whenever they do something not terrible.

Also, the Supreme Court is letting themselves do a fun one: on Monday they announced they will review a 150-year-old ban on distilling spirits in private homes.

Climate scientists kept working on a key national climate report after being ousted by the Trump administration — and published their first paper last week. Researchers aim to produce and retain studies about the environment from outside the government. “Climate science must continue to advance even if it’s not politically favored,” one of the scientists said. “Communities are still at risk of climate impacts, whether or not the government aligns with what those risks are.”

Calley Means, a top adviser to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left the administration today after growing frustrated with the White House delaying some of Kennedy’s policy ideas, the Journal writes. “It became very clear in the last few months that no progress was getting made,” Vani Hari, a MAHA leader, told the New York Times. “And when you’re spinning around in circles, you can only take so much.”

A federal court has again rejected Indiana’s attempt to restrict Planned Parenthood’s abortion-related speech. The Seventh Circuit declined to reconsider its August ruling protecting Planned Parenthood’s First Amendment right to discuss legal out-of-state abortion care with young patients.

A handful of ratings shifts have taken US Rep. Victoria Spartz's race against Democratic state Sen. JD Ford from super-safe to only kinda-safe for her. A new Democratic poll has Ford neck-and-neck with Spartz in the 5th district race.

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