02/26/26

Good morning! It’s Thursday, February 26th.

National Pistachio Day

Hey – how would you like a healthy source of protein that also comes with a side of trash? Try pistachios!

And now, the news.

Cuba

-via CNN

The big story is out of Cuba where four people were killed by Cuban border guard troops in Cuban territorial waters in an area about 100 miles away from Florida.

Cuba says the people on the boat, ten in total (including the four killed) were Cuban residents of the United States. The boat they were on was registered in Florida.

Assault rifles, handguns, and Molotov cocktails were taken from the boat. In fact, one of those rifles or handguns was used to fire upon the Cuban troops, injuring the commander and causing the Cuban forces to fire back.

The six surviving passengers are now being detained and, according to preliminary statements, they were intending to “carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes,” according to the interior ministry statement.

Two of the six were previously wanted by Cuba for terrorism.

This is a very tricky situation. One that requires patience and nuance, as true leaders work hard with everyone to try and get to the true truth of the situation.

Good thing we have just the administra- no no, just kidding.

Remember when Trump took Maduro out of Venezuela (which is good! That’s good he did that) and then was like “and next I’m taking Greenland! Aaaaaaaand…. Cuba?”

Marco Rubio was very serious about the Cuba thing.

And this could be a part of that. This could be a way in to that.

So… I guess we’ll see?

Immigration in America

-via ABC News, CBS News, and The Guardian

And moving to the state of immigration here in America – I’m going to warn you right now. These are some very disturbing stories.

I’ll ease you in.

First, a federal judge ruled that the DHS policy allowing immigration authorities to deport immigrants to countries that they’re not from, so-called “third countries”, without giving them notice or the chance to object, is illegal.

The judge’s ruling says, "This new policy — which purports to stand in for the protections Congress has mandated — fails to satisfy due process for a raft of reasons,” noting that there are, “basic questions that the Constitution permits a person to ask before the Government takes away their last and only lifeline,” and this policy does not allow for those questions.

Of  federal immigration laws and protections from persecution or torture, the judge said: "These are our laws, and it is with profound gratitude for the unbelievable luck of being born in the United States of America that this Court affirms these and our nation's bedrock principle: that no 'person' in this country may be 'deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.'"

Hey! That’s a quote from the Constitution!

And you can parse that little guy all you want but you know what it doesn’t say? It doesn’t say that you are only afforded that right if you are a citizen of this country. It just says if you’re a person in this country.

Instead, all this administration wants to do is torture people. They know exactly what they’re doing when they send these folks to some place they’re not from. Where they don’t know anyone. Where they’re in more danger than ever, perhaps.

That’s… the point.

So this ruling? Good. For this part, the disturbia comes from remembering that this administration is doing this anyway.

 And then we’ve got this story where the disturbia comes from the whole story being disturbing… Customs and Border Protection agents (aka CBP agents) are trying to return unaccompanied migrant children, including some that are protected by a federal court order, back to their home country before they have a chance to meet with a judge.

How?

According to this court filing, "Defendants are using misinformation, coercion, threats, and fear to persuade the children to relinquish their rights and sign paperwork purportedly accepting a form of expedited 'voluntary' return."

Again, these are minors.

This is heinous.

They don’t care! They are literally coercing children into leaving the country simply because the president is a white supremacist.

Just… thought I’d let you know.

The filing asks the court for an order that forces the government to prove why it should not be held in civil contempt.

Goooooooood luck!

And then we have this horrid story – Buffalo, New York officials have now confirmed that border patrol agents left a nearly blind man, a refugee, to die abandoned in the snow.

Here’s what happened – he was arrested last year when he got lost on a walk and and ended up on a woman’s porch. Someone called the police and when they arrived and he didn’t put his walking stick down, and so they tasered and beat him.

Again… nearly blind.

He was released on bail and transferred to border patrol custody, at which time he they dropped him off at a Tim Hortons about five miles from his house without even telling his attorney or family that he’d been released.

 And you’ll be shocked to hear that CBP has no comment.

Medicare in Minnesota

-via Axios

On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced they are hitting pause on $259 million in Medicaid funding to Minnesota until the state roots out the fraud the administration has decided it has.

Of the decision, Veep Vance told reporters: "I feel quite confident we have the legal authority to do this.” Oh, you feel confident? Okay, well then, by all means…

This will absolutely be in court.

And that’s it. That’s the news.

Hey guess what? Pistachios are very annoying. But pistachio flavored things? So delicious!

But more than that, because you’re not annoying and need zero caveats for me to say so… I’m proud of you!