NEW Senate polling

As Dems play defense in '24, they start out ahead in Pennsylvania & Wisconsin

Why races may tighten:
Dems < 50% despite incumbency/name ID
Difficult environment w/ ticket splitting rare
Plenty undecided, and they lean Republican

More: cbsnews.com/news/democrats…

Unless they add anything, no SCOTUS opinions until *next* Thursday, May 9.

Haaretz reporting that Saudi Arabia will normalize diplomatic relations with Israel but hasn’t decided on when to formalize. haaretz.com/middle-east-ne…

Today in intra-GOP warfare

Despite sounding like they were going to rule almost immediately, we’re now coming up on three weeks since the conclusion of the Louisiana racial gerrymandering trial (the case brought by white voters to challenge a VRA district) with no ruling from the panel.

Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division naturally

#America2024

With the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board coming up next month, I’ve been rereading Richard Kluger’s majestic “Simple Justice” - so many details that I had forgotten.

Contrary to early trends, Hudson Yards seems to be picking up momentum

This brochure in the tourism rack at the Utica train station is nothing short of ambitious given that Utica is, well, nowhere near the Atlantic.

Judicial line du jour: “Texas is a sovereign state, not a sovereign country.” #txlege

The winning continues . . .

This is awesome

Being at the printer was the best. Especially when you just had to wait there for last-minute deal points to be negotiated. #theworldthatwas

I feel like this would be a really great year for Robert Caro to finish the fifth volume of his LBJ biography.

News—

Justice Merchan’s signed order to show cause compelling Trump to attend a hearing on his latest alleged gag order violations has been released.

The plaintiffs in the federal suit challenging the dismantling of FL-05 are asking the 3-judge panel to reconsider their ruling finding no racially discriminatory intent. drive.google.com/file/d/1TIcWlk…

The Michigan redistricting commission will drop its appeal to SCOTUS of the order finding that some Detroit area districts had been drawn with too much consideration of race. detroitnews.com/story/news/pol…

Just found out the Angelika in SoHo is showing “In the Mood for Love” on the big screen - and I am psyched.