TACO Tuesday

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s letter demanding three policy changes from the state led a federal judge to ask whether the federal government was engaging in a “quid pro quo,” potentially implicating the anti-commandeering doctrine.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, a Joe Biden appointee, seems reluctant to take that opening because the Eighth Circuit paused a much more modest order to prevent civil rights abuses against peaceful protesters. A three-judge panel found today the government was “likely to succeed on the merits” of its appeal.

Even if Judge Menendez doesn’t end the surge, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security appears to be winding things down on their own amid friendly fire from conservative allies.

[...]

Gov. Tim Walz reported a “productive” phone call with Donald Trump, who reportedly agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and ensuring the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can conduct independent investigations into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

[...]

[M]ultiple news outlets reported that soon-to-be-former Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino would be leaving the state with many of the agents under his command. Bovino reportedly will return to his previous job as a sector chief for El Centro, Calif., after being the face of two unpopular operations in Chicago and the Twin Cities. During his brief tenure, one federal judge in Chicago declared in open court and in a written opinion that Bovino “lied” in a sworn deposition.

In his absence, so-called Border Patrol czar Tom Homan traveled to Minnesota to give Operation Metro Surge a more professional gloss.

  Adam Klasfeld

Yeah. Professional. The guy who took a $50,000 bribe in a Cava bag and is still in his job.

In further good news, though...

Having been forced out of the Eastern District of Virginia, ex-Trump lawyer turned fake U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan is leaving the Justice Department altogether.

[...]

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Justice Department’s application to review the disqualification of Trump’s ex-lawyer turned U.S. Attorney Alina Habba before the full bench.

All his pretty, young, incompetents are biting the dust. Eyes on Kristi Noem.

Trump’s Justice Department also withdrew a pending application for the chief judge of the District of Minnesota to pursue arrest warrants for five more people tied to the recent St. Paul church protest, including independent journalist Don Lemon.

[...]

In the face of enormous protests, internal mutiny, and mounting legal defeats, Trump appears to be cutting his losses under pressure.

When asked if Noem will step down, President Donald Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn Tuesday, "No."

  NBC