REAL ID
It’s Coming. THIS MAY !!! .. (Maybe)…
The REAL ID Act of 2005, was passed on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to set federal standards for identification, like driver’s licenses, because the terrorists were able to get them so easily. The enhanced license requirement was to go into effect May 11, 2008. .. and.. well… Obviously, it didn’t.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), tasked with enforcement, pushed the deadline multiple times: first to 2009, then 2011, 2013, and 2020. Why? States didn’t want to spend the money to upgrade their systems…and some politicians didn’t want to make it harder for immigrants to get a license.
The pandemic prompted further extensions—October 1, 2021, then May 3, 2023, and finally, on December 5, 2022, DHS set the current deadline of May 7, 2025.
As of now, May 7, 2025, is when the REAL ID requirement officially goes into effect for air travel. After that, anyone 18 or older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license (marked with a star) or another acceptable ID (like a passport) to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities.
I’m told they will initially hassle you, but likely let you board .. However, in May of 2027 you will be denied boarding or entrance.. How big of a deal is this? .. Well, as of last year about HALF of licenses were REAL ID.
Personally, I have TSA Precheck and Global Entry. Pay a hundred bucks and give up your Constitutional Rights (You consent to background checks into you without a warrant) so you can jump the line at TSA and customs .. .. I figure, “What do I care?” ..
I mean, what are they gonna find out? That I like pretty women and sports… and I curse too much and drink too much wine? They can find that out by reading the RANT!!! ..
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SCOTUS: The Supreme Court has a few really interesting things on its plate.
KERR vs Planned Parenthood: This issue (briefly) .. Federal Law requires every state’s Medicaid program to ensure that “any individual eligible for medical assistance” may obtain that care “from any institution, agency, community pharmacy, or person, qualified to perform the service or services required.”
South Carolina (and a few other states) have rules that “abortion clinics” cannot from being paid through Medicaid. This, of course, seems to run afoul of the Federal Law saying the individual can choose.
It appears that Planned Parenthood has the more solid legal argument. But, if the SCOTUS finds for KERR it could mean chaos in the Medicaid world.
If you have been paying attention, the cost of Medicaid to the taxpayer has SKYROCKETED in the past 5 years (partially due to Covid) and is almost a trillion which is DOUBLE what it was 10 years ago.
The other issue that SCOTUS has to deal with are these “National Injunctions by lower court judges”.
As I said last week, they are out of control. They were almost unheard of before the 1960s. Only 12 were issued against George W. Bush and 19 against Barack Obama during each of their two terms. Joe Biden faced 28. Mr. Trump faced 86 during his first term, almost all issued by Democrat-appointed judges.
The SCOTUS has mentioned in decisions over the past few years their disdain for this practice. Well, Justices… YOU have the power to nix them.. You don’t need Congress ..
The Rules Enabling Act of 1934 gives the SCOTUS the power to set rules of the Federal Courts. Nationwide injunctions are issued under Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which was promulgated under the REA.
The SCOTUS simply needs to “notify Congress by May 1 and the new rules go into effect December 1 of that same year” .. So, “lower court injunctions can only apply to the case in front of them and will not be enforceable in other districts” .. Q.E.D. (Shout out to Professor Foley of FIU for this one)
One more SCOTUS .. Guns..
The SCOTUS ruled that “Ghost Guns” or guns sold in kits that you put together DO count as guns under the law and have to have serial numbers. In the 7-2 ruling Justice Gorsuch pointed out this ruling concerns kits that “can easily be assembled in minutes” .. “When you buy a table at IKEA you call it a table even though you haven’t assembled it. But, you can have a pile of logs and call it a table”
The ruling is considered a “loss” for the NRA and a win for gun control advocates.. I am VERY pro-second Amendment .. But, the ruling seems logical to me. The “bad guys” are buying these things. Real hunters and people looking to protect themselves buy guns the regular way ..
and..
UKRAINE: During a “round table” Ukraine President Zelenskyy expressed confidence that "America will lead Putin to accept an unconditional ceasefire” (Hmm.. even if that’s the case.. probably not wise to boast about that in public) .. but.. he also said.. “Putin will die soon, that’s a fact”
Ummm.. “Someone else will negotiate a peace deal and maybe the other guy will die” ??? .. Not the best “War Strategy” I’d say.. . and.. depending on your time horizon .. We’re ALL gonna die soon..
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IN DA SWAMP:
President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on all cars shipped to the United States.
The tariffs, set to take effect on April 3, are aimed at expanding America’s auto manufacturing prowess. For decades, because of a free trade agreement, automakers have treated Canada, Mexico and the United States as one big country, with no tariffs among them.
“Frankly, friend has been oftentimes much worse than foe. And what we’re going to be doing is a 25% tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States,” Trump told reporters before signing an executive proclamation in the Oval Office. “If they’re made in the United States, it’s absolutely no tariff.”
and..
President Trump (on his social media) is calling to de-fund NPR and PBS .. calling both a “Scam” and “arms of the Radical Left Democratic Party” ..
Ya know .. at a point in history it was probably a good idea to have the government help the flow of information to rural parts of the country .. But.. with the internet, information spans the world in seconds.. There is media EVERYWHERE.. There is NO need for taxpayer funded media ..
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Dollar and a Dream? The price of a MegaMillions ticket is going to $5 next week. (April 8) .. Talk about inflation !!! Why? The company says Jackpots will get bigger, faster .. and they are bumping the lowest prize to $10 .. I dunno man.. You think people will buy a greater “dollar amount” of tickets? .. I guess we’ll see..
SPORTS:
GOLF: PGA TOUR: HOUSTON OPEN: RAIN and storms expected for the first two rounds
The DP Euros are in New Delhi for the Hero Indian Open .. Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcus Kinhult lead mid - first round .. No LIV Golf this week .. They are in Miami next week ..
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MLB: OPENING DAY !!! Milwaukee at NY Yankees at 3:00pm .. 14 Games in all ..
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NCAA HOOPS: March Madness .. SWEET 16 TONIGHT !! (and Tomorrow) The highest seed left is #10 Arkansas .. Will it be all #1 and #2 seeds in the Final Four???
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NHL: Then there were 5 .. Alex Ovechkin has 889 career goals .. Wayne Gretzky has 894 .. Ovi plays tonight at Minnesota .. I doubt he scores 5 or 6 .. But, you might wanna look at tickets for mid-April.. Chicago, NY Islanders, Carolina? .. Columbus? .. Anyways.. Even when he breaks it.. Gretzky will still be The Great One .. He has 2857 total points.. Ovi has 1610 ..
CELEBRIDIOTS:
Will Smith was honored by Philadelphia Mayor Parker by naming the street next to his High School, “Will Smith Way” .. Sure .. Awards and Rewards for a thug.. Sorry.. Not impressed ..
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Comedian Nikki Glazer went on Jimmy Fallon and caused a stir.. She is showing pictures from when she “Started” and of her now, at 40 years old .. HERE.. HERE.. Of course, the haters scream “OZEMPIC” and “Plastic Surgery” .. Well, yeah .. But, she looks GREAT !!! You GO, Nikki !!!
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Almost Single? Sydney Sweeney ..HERE… and her fiancé Jonathan Davino have called off their wedding as the couple faces “major issues” in their relationship according to “sources” .. “Sydney and Jonathan have been having major issues but are not fully split” ..
Hmmm.. Jonathan said that “until she deals with her infatuation with this Raj Searing guy we can’t get married”. .. HERE..
OK Fine .. More like, “she’s gotten so famous and has so much work (and money) thrown at her right now she has no time for him.. or anyone” ..