ANNALS OF TRUMPI$TAN: GOP secretaries of state ask Supreme Court to block Trump mail-in ballot rule (Violet Jira, WaPo, September 10, 2026)

From The Washington Post:

GOP secretaries of state ask Supreme Court to block Trump mail-in ballot rule

The proposed change would significantly increase the likelihood of midterm election issues, they warned.

September 10, 2026 at 3:36 p.m. EDT26 minutes ago

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Americans are already voting; North Carolina sent out absentee ballots on Sept. 4.

By Violet Jira

A group of Republican secretaries of state have asked the Supreme Court to prevent the Trump administration’s new mail-in ballot rule from taking effect during the 2026 midterm elections. 

The officials in Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Georgia, New Hampshire and Kansas warned in an amicus curiae letter to the Supreme Court on Wednesday that late implementation of the rule could disrupt the midterms. 

“The principle rests on incontestable facts about voters and about the people who run elections: that late changes breed confusion, that confusion keeps eligible voters from voting, and that a chaotic election erodes confidence in the result,” they wrote.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March that he said was designed to “enhance election integrity” through a series of changes like unique ballot envelope identifiers.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued a new rule in response to that order, the legality of which has been challenged by lower courts. The rule calls for states to share voter data with the USPS, which would deliver only those ballots that meet certain standards, including whether they could be reviewed using automation.

On Sunday, the Trump administration made a last-ditch plea to the Supreme Court to allow the USPS rule, which has been blocked in part by the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to be implemented. 

The officials told the court they have no position on the legality or policy goals behind the change — only concerns about their ability to administer the election smoothly if they are forced to implement the new rule on such short notice. 

“In short, election officials’ plates are already full with the normal but crucial tasks of preparing for the election,” they said. “Attempting to implement this rule now significantly increases the risks of problems to the election.”

The letter was also signed by Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, 26 local election officials in Georgia and Utah and other election authorities.

Key races in Georgia and New Hampshire will help determine which party controls the Senate. 

Americans across the country are already voting; North Carolina sent out absentee ballots on Sept. 4. 

The officials pointed out in the letter that federal law requires states to send ballots to military members and voters overseas by Sept. 19. 

“In many respects, the election is already underway,” they said. 

Nearly 1 in 3 voters used mail-in ballots in 2024. In some states, like Arizona, the majority of voters use ballot-by-mail to vote early. 

Elections are typically administered on the state level, but Trump has made numerous attempts to leverage executive authority over how elections are run nationwide. 

The Supreme Court is currently considering whether to allow the new rules to be implemented. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

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Mosquitoes Suck, as Do the Diseases They Carry. (Zeynep Tukeci, NY Times opinion, September 5, 2024)

In Sicily, in 1943, my Father, an 82nd ABN DIVN paratrooper, was bitten by a mosquito. That mosquito gave my dad malaria.  (An Army Captain, a "90 day wonder" physician" claimed my Dad was infected in North Africa in 1942, as if my dad did not know when he was infected by malaria!) Dad recovered in Army hospitals, but we saw dad suffer lifetime effects. Likewise, Dr. Rudy Xue, Director of our Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, was bitten by a mosquito in China in his youth.  The most dangerous deadly animal on Earth is the mosquito. Our way of life in St. Johns County and Florida would not exist without mosquito control. Our tourism economy would be wiped out if mosquitoes infected us with mosquito-borne diseases, which once caused Memphis to cease to exist as a city in Tennessee. Global climate change is increasing mosquito-borne diseases, a clear and present danger to our Florida economy and way of life.  That's why I'm running for a seat on our Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County. Let's get this right.  More here:

BTW: Vulgar crass title of a NY Times opinion column with sexual reference to fellatio, like inarticulate bullies of another era.  So sad. But perhaps some people will read this column, whose title cheapens the quality of debate in our country, typical during the time of DJT.  From The New York Times: 

Sept. 5, 2024, 5:07 a.m. ETSept. 5, 2024

Zeynep Tufekci

Opinion Columnist

Mosquitoes Suck, as Do the Diseases They Carry

Anthony Fauci recently disclosed that he was hospitalized after catching the dreaded mosquito-borne West Nile virus, telling Stat News, “I really felt like I’d been hit by a truck.”

Well, mosquitoes suck. And mosquito-borne illnesses — malaria, yellow fever — have long sucked for humanity. Cases of eastern equine encephalitis, another mosquito-borne illness, have recently popped up in Massachusetts. Some outdoor events in high-risk areas, such as Oktoberfest celebrations in Vermont, are being canceled.

Mosquito-borne diseases like these are widening their range partly because of climate change, but they’re still relatively rare in the United States.

This wasn’t always the case. Yellow fever, for example, caused multiple major epidemics in the United States, changing the course of history. But advances in science led to better understanding of its transmission and the development of a vaccine, as well as a public health response to eradicate mosquitoes in urban areas. The United States hasn’t had a major yellow fever outbreak since the one in New Orleans in 1905. And that history also points to what Americans need to do now, when faced with other mosquito-borne illnesses: We need a widespread public health response to eradicate mosquitoes in more densely populated areas and to place a renewed focus on developing new vaccines.

In addition, the best individual defenses are to use nets and screens to keep mosquitoes from entering indoors, to properly cover up as much as possible when outside — stuff those hiking pants into socks! — and to use a proper insect repellent. In many studies, DEET, Picaridin and PMD top lists of effectiveness.

I personally stick with DEET — it’s been around the longest, and thus is most studied. Yes, DEET has an unpleasant odor at first, but I’d rather smell that than contract a mosquito- or tick-borne illness, like Lyme. (Picaridin seems like a good alternative, too, and lacks the odor.)

With time, I do truly hope that we will develop new vaccines. It’s easy to forget what it took for past successes against terrible illnesses, but the price of public health is constant vigilance.

ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD EDITORIAL, "ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO STICK TO YOUR GUNS." (NOVEMBER 19, 2006)

Lived here since 1999. Proud to have been a part of dozens of public interest victories here in St. Augustine, where the late David Brian Walace and I moved on November 5, 1999. Here's our heroic reform Mayor of St. Augustine, Nancy E. Shaver, elected in 2014. 

Check out the November 19, 2006 St. Augustine Record editorial, "Always Important to Stick to Your Guns," defending me against angry attack by then-Mayor of City of St. Augustine, stating inter alia: 

Editorial: Always important to stick to your guns

St. Augustine Record
Editorial: Always important to stick to your guns
From Staff
Publication Date: 11/19/06

Soon-to-be-former-Mayor George Gardner let one rip at the St. Augustine City Commission meeting last week when he went after city gadfly Ed Slavin.

For those of you who don¹t know, Slavin is a regular at City Commission meetings. He is quick to point out what he thinks is wrong with city government, which is plenty.

Slavin is not subtle. If he thinks you¹re a crook, he¹ll tell you to your face.

And, yes, Hizzoner is correct that Slavin can be abrasive, although he¹s always polite when he calls us, even if he is questioning our competency, which means he¹s not always alone in his views.

Hizzoner pointed out that Slavin has asked the City Commission about 200 questions, which the mayor thinks is an abuse of the public comment section of its meetings.

And he went after Slavin, pointing out that he was disbarred in Tennessee in part because of his harassment and intimidation of officers of the court. Slavin questioned judges¹ competency in court and hurled insults at other lawyers.

Well, that¹s true.

It¹s also true that without Slavin the citizens of St Augustine would not have known the city was illegally dumping waste material in a borrow pit off Homes Boulevard.

After the mayor spoke, he got a standing ovation from almost everyone in the room. Only our reporter and Slavin remained seated.

We¹re here to tell you this. Ed Slavin is brilliant. Not just bright, brilliant. The Supreme Court of Tennessee, in finding fault with him, acknowledged his ³intellect and legal skills.

Here¹s some stuff you may not know about Slavin. As the editor of the Appalachian Observer in 1982, he filed a request to get some federal documents declassified. Because of his persistence, he found out and shared with the world that the Department of Energy Oak Ridge (Tenn.) Operations had ³lost¹¹ 2.4 million pounds of mercury in Oak Ridge. Later it turned out they had actually lost 4.2 million pounds of mercury.

His work discovered widespread DOE and contractor misconduct. That became a national story.

He went on to become a public interest attorney, armed with his view of never giving up because individuals can change history.

Yes, Slavin is persistent. Yes, he overplays his hand a lot. Yes, he can be obnoxious. And, yes, we would not want to be on the receiving end of Slavin¹s barbs any more than we already are.

But we¹re happy that there are gadflies like Slavin in our world. They add texture to our public forums and, as in the case of the illegal dumping, get it right sometimes.

So, to our public officials, we suggest you get thicker skins.

To those of you who stood up to applaud the mayor after he lambasted Slavin, shame on you for trying to stifle free speech. All of us should defend people¹s right to express their views, even when they are unpopular.

And to Slavin, you may want to soften your delivery, but don¹t be hushed. Remember that it¹s not important to be popular; it is important to stick to your guns.


Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/111906/opinions_if83a3k.shtml 

© The St. Augustine Record

I would be honored to have your vote for Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County in early voting or on Election Day, November 3, 2026

General Election 2026

Election Day November 3, 2026

Early Voting

October 21 - October 31, 2026

Voter Registration Deadline is October 5, 2026. 

Thank you!

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours, 

Ed Slavin

Box 3084

St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084

www.edslavin.com

http://www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com

http://www.staugustgreen.com

(904) 377-4998

Mosquito Control and Overdevelopment

I am running for Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County in the November 3, 2026 election.  May I please have your vote?

Flooding is increasing.  Increased flooding flows from every single proposed "development" here. Mosquitoes flourish amid flooding. 

The frequency and severity of storms and flooding is increasing.  We must use good science to prepare for the storms and remediate the flooding.  

We must protect people from persistent flooding, evidenced by testimony at government meetings.  

Whenever a development (sic) proposal is discussed, residents testify about flooding.  Too often, our governments are flummoxed, failing to present scientific evidence in response. 

Our Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County does its best to apply good science to mosquito control.  It has five Ph.D. scientists.

But our St. Johns County Commission has no Chief Scientist, no Chief Economist, and makes decisions substantially unencumbered by good data and good science.  

Poorly-staffed County Commissioners rather remind me of what Sir Winston Spencer Churchill said in 1937, "The Government simply cannot make up their mind, or they cannot get the Prime Minister to make up his mind. So they go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent. So we go on preparing more months and years – precious, perhaps vital to the greatness of Britain – for the locusts to eat."

Mosquitoes are eating us alive.  Building "developments" in mosquito swamps is unwise and unscientific.  It needs to stop. 

Our St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners and our Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County are two separate local government agencies, with their own boards.  

SJC abolished its Intergovernmental Relations Committee under  controversial former County Administrator MICHAEL DAVID WANCHICK (2007-2019), who sought a County takeover of mosquito control.  We, the People stopped him. 

Our County must better regulate "development" by greedy "developers," who build homes in swamps, exposing residents to hordes of mosquitoes. 

Worldwide, some 1,000,000 people die every year after mosquito bites. My Father was bitten by a mosquito in Sicily in 1943, contracting malaria.  We saw his suffering.  Due to the effects of malaria, I was born fourteen (14) years later, after my parents prayed to Saint Jude (patron Saint of hopeless causes).. 

Our County's "Growth Management (sic)" staff must consult with experts with our Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County and AMCD's scientists and professionals.  

Every single "development (sic) order" must include a mosquito control plan. Every single one. No excuses. Protection against mosquito-borne diseases must not be a "hopeless cause."

I am running for Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County (Seat 2) in the November 3, 2026 election.  

May I please have the honor of your vote?

Thank you.

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Ed Slavin

Box 3084

St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084

www.edslavin.com

http://www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com

http://www.staugustgreen.com

(904) 377-4998

Slavin family values -- putting people first

On June 6, 1944, my late paratrooper Father parachuted into France and helped liberate the first French town from the Nazis, before the sun even rose that day.  

My Dad taught me, as JFK's dad taught me him, that "you have to stand up to people with power, or else they walk all over you."

In his spirit, my Mother helped organize the employees of Camden County College in Blackwood, N.J. into what became International Union of Electrical Workers Local 440.  Mom got some 40 union cards signed in an hour in 1970.  The clerical and custodial employees prevailed.  

One of my law professors in Memphis told a mutual friend that I was a "natural born attorney."  My Mother said, "I always knew you were an S.O.B."

My late mentor, the Honorable Nahum Litt, was the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the United Staes Department of Labor, 1979-1995.  

Chief Judge Litt stood like Horatius at the bridge, protecting the independence of hearings in whistleblower and in workers compensation cases for Black Lung disease sufferers from the coalfields.

Judge Litt helped me to understand. We worked to understand administrative law's perversion of justice by rich and powerful corporations.  

I later wrote about ACUS for Common Cause Magazine.  In response, Congress defunded a federal agency from 1995-2010: the prestigious Administrative Conference of the United States lost funding because it wasted federal tax dollars on worthless studies by pro-agency law professors.  ACUS sought to inflict Alternative Dispute Resolution on workers and corporations. ACUS sought to defang and declaw the Freedom of Information Act.  ACUS sought to stifle lawyer representation of workers in cases against powerful employers, while encouraging non-lawyer representatives. 

My Mother, my Father, and Chief Judge Litt taught me valuable lessons. 

Here in St. Johns County, we're learning what happens when soulless corporations control and contaminate our governments.  

Deforestation. 

Flooding.  

Unplanned overdevelopment. 

Overcrowded schools with hundreds of unsafe portable classrooms. 

Since 1981, I've investigated and helped expose corruption in our country.

 I've lived in St. Augustine since November 5, 1999. 

We've seen the murder of a Sheriff deputy's girlfriend reported in The New York Times and PBS Frontline, 

My Mother had decades of experience in purchasing for Camden County College and corporations like F.W. Woolworth.

 

When I learned that our Mosquito Control Commission bought a $1.8 million no-bid helicopter, I asked my Mother if she would buy a helicopter withoutn competitive bidding: "absolutely not."  

Working with the late Robin Nadeau, John Sundeman,Jeanne Moeller, Don Girvan,  and other community leaders, 

We, the People helped persuade our Mosquito Control District to cancel the no-bid contract.  Taxpayers won a full refund of our MCD's 10% deposit. 

Chief Judge Litt was tight as a tick with government money. Judge Litt taught me that any government budget can be cut by 10%. Here in St. Johns County, we have a $4.5 million mosquito museum, with 41% cost overruns. There's too much waste in government. 

Mosquito-borne diseases kill one million people annually.  My Father was bitten by a mosquito in Sicily in 1943 as an 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper.  

I believe in miracles. They called me a "miracle baby."

Likely due to my Father's suffering from malaria, it took my patents a dozen years, praying to Saint Jude, (patron Saint of hopeless causes), before they were able to have their only child (me).   Mom said the chances of my being born were less than one in 100,000.

We've achieved dozens of public interest victories. 

We can control pestiferous mosquitoes.

We can control corruption. 

Help me help you save money and save lives. 

I would be honored to have your vote to serve on the board of the Anastasia Mosquito Control Commission. Vote on or before November 3, 2026.

Thank you.

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Ed Slavin

Box 3084

St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084

www.edslavin.com

http://www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com

http://www.staugustgreen.com

(904) 377-4998