June 2, 2026
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Michael's Daily Notes
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The $1.8 billion J6 compensation fund is dead - for now. Good riddance.
It was legally dubious, politically toxic, and - as Republican senators made clear - a threat to the very reconciliation bill Trump needs to pass. The idea that someone who assaulted a Capitol cop could even apply for compensation is repulsive.
But let's not dismiss the underlying grievance so fast.
Political prosecutions are real.The weaponization of law enforcement against political enemies is real. And people who are targeted, charged, and had their lives destroyed because of partisan motivation absolutely deserve a path to compensation. I'll give you two examples: the way the statute of limitations was manipulated to enable the prosecution of Trump in the hush money case was, in my view, political. And the report that the Trump DOJ is now investigating E. Jean Carroll is equally egregious. There needs to be a remedy for people subject to political prosecution.
We already have one - in theory. The Federal Tort Claims Act allows citizens to sue the federal government for misconduct by its employees, including prosecutors. Pair that with a malicious prosecution claim - which requires proving charges were brought without probable cause and with demonstrable malice - and a victim has a legitimate legal path to remedy.
The problem is the bar is almost impossibly high.
The most instructive example is Ted Stevens. The longtime Republican senator from Alaska was prosecuted by the Justice Department in 2008 on corruption charges, convicted days before his re-election, and lost his Senate seat. Then the case collapsed - prosecutors had deliberately withheld exculpatory evidence. The charges were thrown out. But Stevens never saw full justice. He died in a plane crash in August 2010, before investigators completed the report documenting the full extent of the prosecutorial misconduct against him.
Stevens shows two things simultaneously: political prosecutions happen, and the existing system can provide remedy - however slowly and painfully. What it cannot do is hand out $1.8 billion with no oversight, no standards, and no accountability.
That's not justice. That's a political payoff.
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DAILY POLL
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Trump vs. Netanyahu - if you had to stand with one, and "neither" is not an option.
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TOP STORY
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The Justice Department has paused work on its $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund after a federal judge temporarily blocked the program amid mounting legal challenges and bipartisan political backlash.
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TODAY'S YOUTUBE
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SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
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IN OTHER NEWS
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Trump reportedly berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a heated call over Israel’s escalation in Lebanon, warning that further attacks could deepen Israel’s isolation and jeopardize ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Democrats are increasingly worried that a string of scandals surrounding Senate candidate Graham Platner could hurt not only his challenge against Susan Collins in Maine but also broader Democratic prospects in key statewide and congressional races.
AI startup Anthropic has confidentially filed for an IPO with the SEC, positioning itself ahead of rival OpenAI for a potentially landmark AI deal amid explosive growth, a soaring $965 billion valuation, and expanding influence in AI and infrastructure markets.
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A MESSAGE FROM COMCAST
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At the Minnesota Republican Convention in Duluth, GOP delegates held a brief moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who killed George Floyd, prompting criticism and renewed questions about Republican views on Chauvin’s conviction and potential pardon.
A.J. Brown’s blockbuster trade from Philadelphia to New England reshapes both franchises, boosting the Patriots’ offense and key figures like Drake Maye while leaving the Eagles — especially Jalen Hurts — facing major adjustments in Brown’s absence.
California’s crowded gubernatorial primary remains highly competitive, with former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra leading recent polls while Republican Steve Hilton and billionaire activist Tom Steyer battle for the second general-election spot amid low turnout, high spending, and a large bloc of undecided voters.
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CARTOONS
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by Jack Ohman
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MORE NEWS
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Serena Williams has confirmed her return to competitive tennis at age 44, accepting a doubles wildcard at Queen’s Club ahead of a potential Wimbledon comeback nearly four years after her last match.
With no declared candidates and no clear front-runner, the 2028 Democratic presidential race is already taking shape around a diverse field field led by figures such as Mark Kelly, Gavin Newsom, and Josh Shapiro, alongside governors, senators, former contenders and political newcomers jockeying for early attention.
Parents, educators, and policymakers are increasingly turning to "The Digital Delusion", a bestselling book by Jared Cooney Horvath that argues widespread classroom technology use is undermining student learning, fueling a growing national debate over whether schools should scale back screens and return to more traditional teaching methods.
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For the Left
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation amending steel, aluminum, and copper tariffs to lower duties on select agricultural and industrial imports while preserving protections aimed at boosting U.S. metal production and manufacturing.
For the Right
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotions of at least seven Navy officers, including women and Black candidates, leaving an admiral nominee list with no women and prompting criticism that the move could weaken military leadership diversity and experience.
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