Ever since we encountered the first and second wave of information control, a background battle has waged on multiple fronts around the internet.  CTH users may encounter disruptions, some information about ‘Subscription Notifications” follows.

I am currently working through another layer of background problem-solving directly related to CTH requests for subscriber notifications.  At the core of the problem are decisions on what terms and conditions we are willing to accept.

Currently people can subscribe to have a notification of a new article post.  Many people have written over the past several months saying they are no longer getting those notifications.  The problem is multi-layered and at the core is something no one is willing to discuss because the biggest control mechanisms in your online travel try to keep this information hidden.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that’s the entity who you select to use to access the internet (ATT, Comcast, Verizon, or whatever service you pay), long ago began a process to control the content of the information that is processed by their service.

This issue has become more problematic as various nations and governments’ have also gone beyond their geographic boundary controls with demands upon ISPs to filter information based on determinations of their various bureaucracies.

As an example, the govt of China, Russia, Europe and even Canada may restrict the flow of information available to citizens within that country.  Traditionally, they would put control mechanisms in place to block websites or traffic they deemed averse to the interests of that government.

However, as you might have realized with the Social Media restrictions in the USA based on COVID-19 (example), the issue is not always limited to “hostile” countries but can specifically be determined by the subject matter of interest.

In the advent of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) the need for control creates ever-increasing tentacles.  One of those tentacles for internet content control extends to ISP companies, who now find themselves subject to terms and conditions of operation that mean they must also adhere to the fiats of the country from which, or two which, the dataflow is connected.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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During an oval office event to highlight President Trump signing three executive orders informing all agencies of government that federal officials will not be enforcing any rule that blocks citizens from repairing or modifying their own vehicles, President Trump took questions from the media on today’s Supreme Court rulings.  WATCH (prompted):

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Now the good news. As noted by Justice Thomas, this decision when contrast against the Lisa Cook decision does not find alignment.

By a vote of 6-3, the justices struck down a federal law that bars the president from firing members of the Federal Trade Commission except in cases of “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” [PDF Ruling Here] That law, a majority of the justices ruled, violates the constitutional separation of powers between the three branches of government.

This lengthy 108-page decision supports the Unitary Theory of government in that the President can remove any agency head within the Executive Branch through plenary power, and the Legislative Branch and Judicial Branch cannot interfere.  This is a major win for President Trump and beyond.

(6-3) Chief Justice ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court, in which ALITO, GORSUCH, KAVANAUGH and BARRETT joined, and in which THOMAS joined as to all but Part III–B. [GORSUCH filed a concurring opinion.] Justice SOTOMAYOR filed a dissenting opinion, in which KAGAN and JACKSON joined.

SCOTUS Blog – […] “Monday’s decision was a major victory for proponents of the “unitary executive” theory – the idea that the president should have complete control over the executive branch. Under this theory, the president should be able to fire any member of the executive branch, and laws – like the one that the court struck down – that restrict his ability to do so violate the separation of powers. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts contended that “the President must have the assistance of officers he can trust. Although it is up to the Senate to decide whether to confirm those with whom the President would prefer to work, neither Congress nor the courts may saddle him with those with whom he cannot work. Subordinates who exercise the President’s power are subject to removal by him. Then, and only then, can they remain accountable to the President, and the President to the people.” (more)

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At issue in Trump v Cook is not whether Lisa Cook can appeal her removal, but rather where her position rests while the appeal is underway.  Does she work for the govt? Or is she technically removed from govt, pending appeal?

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lisa Cook remaining in her position as a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors whom President Donald Trump had attempted to fire. By a vote of 5-4 [PDF HERE] [the court says Cook can continue to remain in her job while her challenge to Trump’s removal moves forward.

Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court, and SOTOMAYOR, KAGAN, KAVANAUGH and JACKSON concurred.

Justice Clarence Thomas filed a dissenting opinion. ALITO filed a dissenting opinion, in which GORSUCH joined, and BARRETT also filed a dissenting opinion.

This is a rather goofball decision when you consider the previous issues with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the high court prior ruling that President Trump can remove the head of the agency.

Additionally, if Lisa Cook does not work for the President of the United States, meaning if she doesn’t work for the Executive Branch, then who exactly is she working for?  She doesn’t work for the legislative branch, and she doesn’t work for the judicial branch. Therefore, a de facto mysterious 4th branch of government is created.

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The Supreme Court has ruled 5-4 in favor of Mississippi -vs- RNC that state legislature can decide how long after election day that qualified election ballots cast may be received.  [PDF HERE] Essentially, federal election day is election day, but ballots can be received after election day for the length of time determined by state law.

Justice Barrett delivered the majority opinion, joined by Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson.

Justice Alito dissented along with Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.

The Hight Court outlined that congress could change the ability of the states by changing the statutory language of the federal election law to require ballots be received by election day.  As long as federal law does not outline the deadline for ballot reception, states can extend that process at their legislative discretion.  THIS IS A HOT MESS FUBAR!

[5-4 Ruling Here]

“The federal election-day statutes do not prevent Mississippi from counting absentee ballots postmarked by election day but received up to five days thereafter; nothing in the federal election-day statutes requires ballots to be received by election day.”

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At the conclusion of the discussions in Switzerland, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent time emphasizing the two groups attained a very important objective. Putting all other issues aside, they had formally mapped out a communication strategy for deconfliction between U.S. and Iranian leadership.

Meaning, if everything starts to go sideways both the USA and Iran agreed to the mechanism for immediate talks.  Even if fighting and hostile action was taking place, the deconfliction agreement laid out the process to keep both sides in direct communication.  This is not like the “red phone” approach toward nuclear deconfliction, even if both sides were in the midst of red zone brutality against each other.

This urgent deconfliction assembly is exactly what appears to have been triggered, when earlier today President Trump announced via Truth Social that U.S. and Iran delegations were going to meet in Doha.

[SOURCE]

Both President Trump and Secretary Rubio well understand that as long as a direct communication process is in place, all of the various regional escalations can be managed safely.

Some element within Iran attacks a ship; the USA retaliates and takes out critical infrastructure. The conflicted point does not disrupt the communication process.  This is the optimal solution approach.

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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