American Politics: The Epstein Philes Still Exist

[San Lumen]

[region-tag][/region-tag]

That would crash the economy. Anyone who is not a citizen would have to leave the country including someone I know.

Are they by chance in a wheelchair?

This is truly inappropriate. I don’t know where you think writing this is ok.

[San Lumen]

[...] If you cannot open a bank account you cannot reside here. [...]

Leaving the rest of the discussion aside, sure you can. And interestingly, this won't affect people who may already be living 'off the books'.

Back to the point, though, yeah, it's bullshit.

That’s not feasible for most people

[Shrillland]

Sorry I'm late.

Plebiscite Plaza 2026:

These amendments come up on May 19. Amendment 1 would add solicitation and conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and shooting or discharging a firearm or explosive in an occupied dwelling or vehicle to the list of charges for which a judge may remand a suspect without bail.

Amendment 2 would prohibit any district attorney's pay from being reduced during their time in office.

BOTH APPROVED

Now, it's on to November measures.

The first amendment would require the office of Lieutenant Governor to be filled via byelection if there's a vacancy more than 60 days before the general election.

The second amendment would create a process where two or more counties could merge their school districts together by having both school boards on the public approve them, subject to a recommendation from the state.

The third amendment would require the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited in public schools every day and would require school districts to authorise student-led prayers.

The fourth amendment would require all public schools to broadcast or perform the first stanza of the national anthem at least once per week.

On August 18,Alaska will be voting on a measure that would impose new limits on campaign contributions for state and local offices. Individuals would be allowed to donate up to $2,000 per election cycle on individuals candidates, $4,000 on a Gubernatorial ticket, and $5,000 for a party. The parties themselves would be limited to $4,000 for candidate and $5,000 for other groups or parties.

Now for November. Their first measure would repeal RCV and top-four primaries, a system that was narrowly approved in 2020 and narrowly retained in 2024. And when I say narrowly, I mean it survived by a mere 743 votes. It would take everything back to the previous model of FPTP party primaries and general elections.

Their second measure would change the law to say only a citizen can vote in elections.

Measure number one would designate drug cartels as terrorist organisations and direct the State Homeland Security Department to do all it can to combat them.

Measure number two would prohibit cities and counties from imposing a tax on groceries without voter approval. It would also cap such taxes at a 2% maximum.

Measure number three is an amendment that would prohibit the state and any local government from enacting any vehicle mileage taxes or fees and any laws that would allow authorities to monitor a vehicle's mileage without that person's consent.

Measure number four is an amendment that would ban both the state and all localities from installing new photo enforcement systems meant to enforce traffic laws. Any municipality that has already installed one by the end of 2026 would be allowed to keep using them, but they would be subject to referenda in November 2027 and, if the voters decide to keep them, every 10 years thereafter.

Measure number five is an amendment that would ban racial or ethnic-based discrimination or preferential treatment, an Affirmative Action ban.

Measure number six is an amendment that would ban school districts and their employees from using public resources to support union activities, deducting any money from paycheques for union dues, distributing union communication efforts if they use either public funds or a school's communications system, and using public resources to perform union activities during school hours.

Measure number seven is an amendment that would ban the state from confiscating any funds from the state-maintained scholarship accounts(Arizona's voucher programme) of any children from military families and declares any law or ballot measure passed after November 1, 2026, that says otherwise is null and void. This is a response to a legislative deal that limits who could receive school vouchers and a proposed initiative(not yet on the ballot) that would limit saving unused money in such accounts.

Measure number eight would require large school districts(7,500 or more students or those in counties with populations of over 500,000) to spend at least 60% of their annual budgets on direct educational expenses, the interpretation of which would be handed to the state Auditor General.

Measure number nine would ban schools from allowing students from going into bathrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, and so on that isn't designated for their sex as defined on their birth certificate. It would also repeal a current law allowing students of all genders to join school sports teams or sports designated for biological males.

Measure number ten is an amendment that would say that only citizens could vote and would require voters to provide Voter ID for every ballot regardless of how they vote. It would also give voters the right to have their vote tabulated at their voting location and forbid foreign nationals from making election contributions.

The first measure is an amendment that would allow the legislature to create Economic Development Districts and provide grants and loans for the purposes of developing an area's economy, real estate, transportation or infrastructure, or reducing unemployment.

The second measure is an amendment that says only citizens can vote.

The third measure would allow the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to issue up to $500 million in bonds to fund water-related infrastructure projects such as drainage, flood control, wetland and river protection, water treatment, pollution and waste disposal, and irrigation.

The fourth measure is an amendment that would expand the state's already existing right to bear arms. It would now guarantee the right to ammunition, firearm components, and firearm accessories as well as firearms themselves.

First, legislative measures or initiated ones that affect legislative measures. Prop 1 is a straight up bond issue, neither a law nor an amendment, so we'll skip it.

Prop 2 is an amendment that would increase the size of the state's Budget Stabilisation Account from 10% of the state's General Fund to 20%. It would also exempt deposits into the account from the Gann Limit, the state's constitutional limit on how much the state and localities can appropriate any given year.

Prop 3 would make make the income tax increases from Prop 38(2012) on high income earners permanent. Currently, because of Prop 38, people who earn $361,000 singly and $721,000 jointly pay 10.3%, those who earn $433,000 singly($866,000 jointly) pay 11.3%, and those who make $721,000 singly($1.4 million jointly) pay 12.3%. If this measure fails, these three brackets would be eliminated, and everyone in them would see their taxes drop to 9.3%.

Prop 4 would repeal Prop 73(1988), which bans public funding for political campaigns for everyone except charter cities(basically the biggest cities in the state). In its place, the state, general law cities, and counties would be allowed to set up public funding programmes as well as impose campaign spending limits and eligibility rules.

Prop 5 would change how recall elections go. Currently, when an elected official is recalled, the successor election takes place right away alongside the recall vote. This measure would eliminate the immediate successor election and allow a position to be filled by law as if the vacancy occurred by other means.
Second, it would also allow the recalled official to run in any successor election that takes place afterward.
Third, in the specific case of the Governor's office, the Lieutenant Governor would succeed the governor for the remainder of their term unless the recall happens within the first half of a term and before the nomination period for the general election in that second year ends. In that case, a byelection would be called.

Now to initiated measures. Prop 37 would implement the Middle-Class Homeownership and Family Home Construction Act. Basically, it's a new second mortgage programme known as MCHO for working and middle-class homebuyers that will be financed with $25 billion in bonds.
First, it'll set up the programme through CalHFA(California Housing Finance Agency. Eligible applicants need to have lived in California for at least a year, agree to make the home their primary residence within 60 days of closing, have an income of up to 200% of median for a similar-sized family or group in the county or city where the house is, use a fully licenced real estate broker or agency, and provide a down payment of no less than 3% for the property they want to buy. Eligible homes would be any newly-built house, townhouse, row house, condominium, manufactured house, or any condominium or house in a formerly nonresidential property that's been recently rezoned where the aspiring buyer would be the first person to buy it for a residence. The maximum price for such a property is 125% of the Federal Housing Finance Agency's conforming loan limit for a one-unit residence in the county where the sale's taking place. This would go into effect within one year of passage.
Second, it would allow CalHFA to work with lenders to set the programme up. Originating fees would be no more than 0.5% of a property's price or $290, whichever's higher. All mortgages would be fixed-rate, and early payment penalties would be forbidden. CalHFA would set up the requirements, including credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, and so on. If someone's credit score is too low to qualify for an MCHO second mortgage, then lenders would be required to examine all voluntarily-provided finance statements to see if they can qualify that way or secure better loan terms.
Third, these second mortgages would be limited to 17% of a home's sales price, with a first mortgage taking up the rest.
Fourth, housing developers would be allowed to enter a qualified building option with higher labour and enforcement standards for new housing construction, which would include making the builder liable for any labour violations committed by contractors and subcontractors. They would also be subject to different construction defect rules. Developers would have to certify that their houses fit in MCHO guidelines, and CalHFA would be required to send a letter confirming certification within 30 days. A joint labour-management cooperation committee would be given the authority to sue for labour violations.
Fifth, A right to repair would be included in all MCHO houses. Buyers would notify builders of the defects and where they are. If a buyer doesn't do this before the sale's closed, a court can grant the builder a stay and require the buyer to pay attorney's fees if they don't provide proper pretrial documentation within 120 days. Builders would be allowed to contact buyers directly and would be allowed to secure waivers or releases from a buyer if they're satisfied with the repairs.
Finally, this could be amended by the legislature instead of by another proposition via a 60% majority of both houses. It would also supersede any competing propositions that may come up.

Prop 38 would raise $8.4 billion in bonds to set up the UC Immunotherapy and Immunology Research Institute, likely to be at UCLA given the measure's language singling them out. Half of the money would be required to be spent on cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's research, and state administrative costs could not go over 2% each year with the other half going directly to the institute. Any bond revenue would be put into the new California Immunology and Immunotherapy Medical Research Fund, after the first 10% was taken out to repay the bonds. Once those are paid, the money would go into the new fund unhindered. Any technology, medication, or treatments that result from institute-funded research would be required to have a 20% discount in price for California hospitals and residents.
The Institute would dole out their portion of the money in the form of grants to public and nonprofit universities or medical research institutes through a competitive process overseen by a research council made up of seven executive councillors-selected by the chancellors of the seven largest UC campuses-and between 10-15 other councillors appointed by the executives, who would be representatives of other California nonprofit universities or medical research institutes and would be required to be medical doctors, scientists, or researchers. They would all serve four-year terms.
Grants would be awarded to researchers within California, but partnerships with out-of-state institutes would also be allowed. Recipients would be required to offer the institute or UCLA a significant role in the research. 10% of all revenues from the research would be required to go to the state, and recipients would be required to use in-state resources as much as possible. Grant recipients would be required to own any IPs from the research, and any research using older technologies that could limit their use would be required to grant a worldwide royalty-free licence for those older technologies.

Prop 39 is an amendment that would require Voter ID cards when voting in-person or the last four digits of a unique government-issued identifying numbers(such as an SSN) when voting by mail. The state would be required to provide Voter ID cards for free on request. It also requires the Secretary of State and county election officials to maintain accurate lists, confirm citizenship attestations, and report the number of voters on their lists that have had their citizenship verified. Every odd-numbered year, the State Auditor would have to audit compliance, publicly report their findings, and make recommendations to improve things if needed. Finally, it gives all citizens the right of judicial review to ensure the state or a county complies.

Prop 40 is an amendment that would create a one-time 5% wealth tax for anyone with wealth valued at over $1 billion. Wealth would be defined as liquid assets, publicly-traded securities, private business interests, sole proprietorship assets, trusts, personal intrinsic assets-including art, vehicles, IPs, collectibles, other private financial instruments, and debts and liabilities owed to a person-Roth IRAs and Roth-style retirement funds with over $10 million, property valued at over $1 million transferred for less than fair market value after October 15, 2025, and any dependent's assets over $50,000. Real estate and pensions would not be included. It would apply to any billionaire living in the state from at least January 1, 2026, and would be required on their 2027 state taxes with an option to pay in equal installments over the next five years(with a deferred payment charge of 7.5% each year).
The money would go into a new fund that would be used to cover any federal spending cuts, Medi-Cal(the state's Medicaid), other forms of health care access, public education, and food assistance such as CalFresh, the Universal Meals Programme, and CalFood.

Prop 41 is an amendment that would require all citizen-initiated special tax measures approved after January 1, 2026, defined as taxes meant for specific purposes rather than general funding, to undergo a financial and performance audit when the petition reaches the 25% signature threshold. This audit would determine whether the programme or agency receiving tax money is paying the lowest cost for its equipment, wages, and so on, whether its maximising its output for every dollar spent and is fulfilling its stated purpose, determine the actual and potential fraud that could happen and the adequacy of its systems to stop such fraud, whether programme is following relevant laws and regulations, whether the date the programme uses to make decisions is accurate, whether the programme has identified its biggest threats and worked to mitigate them, how a similar private sector project is faring, and how they can reduce costs by 10% each year. If the tax passes, they would subject to these audits every four years thereafter.

Prop 42 is an amendment that would ban any taxes from January 1, 2026 onwards on ownership of retirement holdings, personal savings, or individually-owned assets, and it would invalidate any measures passed to the contrary, including the 5% wealth tax being proposed above. Exemptions would be allowed in case of emergency, financial or natural, if the money being raised is specifically going to address those emergencies. The measure would also forbid exempting any of these taxes passed after January 1, 2026 from the Gann Limit(see above). It would also invalidate any measures on the ballot this year that conflict with it if it passes by a large margin than those measures. If the measures have a larger margin, they would stand until struck down by courts.

Prop 43 is an amendment that would raise the threshold to enact, extend, or increase local special taxes to a two-thirds majority from the current simple majority requirement, It would also forbid property taxes from being raised via ballot initiatives.

Prop 44 would require all Federally Qualified Health Centres(FQHCs, which are community-based primary care clinics meant to serve underserved communities) and FQHC Look-Alikes(defined as any clinic that meets official FQHC criteria without being designated as one) to have an annual mission spend ratio(amount of revenue used on medical care and treatment) of at least 90%. Every FQHC and Look-Alike would have to present their current ratios to the Charities and Fundraisers Registry, and their figures would be made public. FQHCs and Look-Alikes that don't comply would be fined the total difference between the 90% threshold and their current mission spend ratio, with money going to a fund to help train and recruit clinical workers. Clinics could apply for temporary waivers from the requirement if they can prove unexpected circumstances or poor economic conditions.

Prop 45 would establish a new 30-business-day deadline for state agencies to complete environmental reviews, permitting matters, and court proceedings for essential infrastructure. This includes housing, clean energy, water systems(except for Delta conveyance), medical facilities, broadband connections, educational facilities, most public safety buildings(except for jails and prisons), and most transportation(except for the high-speed rail network). If no determination is made in that time, the permit is automatically deemed complete. Lead agencies(those primarily responsible for reviews) would be required to make permit decisions at the same time as the environmental statements. Applicants could grant more time if the deadlines are missed, and applicants could challenge adverse decisions in court with a 270-day deadline(and a 90-day extension) for the court the make a decision.
Public comment for environmental impact reports would be limited to a 45-day maximum, which could only be extended by court order. There would also be an optional preliminary scoping process where the applicant could meet with the lead agencies for discussion, whereupon the agencies could present a single alternative for EIR consideration, a reduction from the current requirement for multiple options. The EIRs would also be limited to state law and current significance thresholds as opposed to the current allowance for project-specific boundaries and limits. First Nations affected by the projects would also need to be consulted, but only federally-recognised nations would be covered as opposed to the current requirements for federally- and state-recognised nations.

Amendment 81(presumed title, subject to change) would require law enforcement agencies to notify the federal Department of Homeland Security when they've charged an individual with a violent crime or if they have a prior conviction on their record if their immigration status either can't be determined or they're known to be undocumented.

Amendment 82(presumed) would require all revenue from sales and excise taxes on motor vehicles and motor fuel and two-thirds of all revenue on such taxes from motor vehicle parts and materials to be spent specifically on funding road transportation.

Prop 132(presumed, subject to change) would stiffen penalties for fentanyl- and synthetic opioid-related crimes.
First, it would raise their felony classifications to Level I or Level II depending on the amount of the drug they have and if the crime is possession, manufacture, sale, and dispensation and include mandatory penalties of eight years imprisonment for Level I offenders.
Second, anyone found guilty of a Level I Misdemeanour related to fentanyl or synthetic opioids would have to go through court-mandated treatment as part of their sentence.
Third, existing sentencing exceptions would be reduced if the offence involves a drug-related death from these substances. This is only a statue, so it doesn't require a supermajority.

Prop 133(Presumed) would increase the penalty for human trafficking of minors for sexual servitude to life without parole or possibility of release, up from the current 8-24 year sentence required by law.

Prop 134(Presumed) would group all scholastic athletic teams to be classified into three groups: Male, Female, and Mixed. Biological males could not join female teams and vice versa. An exception is granted if a school or association doesn't have a female team for an aspiring biological female student, in which case they could join.

Prop 135(Presumed) would prohibit doctors from performing surgeries to minors that involves treatment in response to a minor's perception of sex or gender. It would also forbid using Medicaid, insurance coverage, or public funds for such surgeries.

Prop NN would raise the state's TABOR cap for education by 2% each year for the next 10 years. It would also allow surplus revenue, up to the tune of $4.6 billion, to be spent on K-12 educational programmes, reducing class sizes, increasing teacher's salaries and reducing their turnover rates, and workforce preparation programmes.

Florida's first amendment would increase the amount of funds that could go into the state Budget Stablisation Fund to 25% of annual net general revenue from the current 10% limit. It would also require an annual transfer to the fund of 25% of net general revenue of $750 million, whichever's lower. This transfer could be stopped if the fund is being used to cover shortfalls, if the money is needed for emergency and disaster spending, or it the Legislature, by a two-thirds majority, passes a law that says there's a critical need that can only be met by stopping the transfer.

Their second amendment would exempt tangible personal property used on farms, such as tractors, feeders, citrus heaters and so on, from personal property taxes if they're being primarily used for farming or agritourism and are owned by the farm's owner.

Amendment 3 came after Governor Ron DeSantis called a special session for this major property tax reform measure.
First, it would raise the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes from its current $25,000 to $150,000 in 2027, $250,000 in 2028, and adjusted for inflation each year thereafter. The school property tax exemption would remain at $25,000. Anyone who moves to Florida after December 31, 2026, would receive an exemption of $50,000 until they live in the state for at least five years.
Second, the current 10% cap on annual property value increases for non-homestead properties, like businesses and rental properties, would be reduced to 5% for non-school taxes. School taxes could still use the 10% cap.
Third, counties and municipalities would be limited as to what they could spend property tax revenues on. It could only be used for education, public safety, infrastructure, natural resource projects, flood control projects, existing bonds and debt payments, public pensions, and local government administrative costs.
Fourth, it would require the Legislature to set up a uniform procedure that would allow counties and municipalities to raise their homestead exemptions higher than the state exemption.

For these and other amendments, Florida requires a 60% majority for approval.

Georgia will be voting on an amendment that would increase the amount of land that a farmer or landowner can enter into the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment Programme. This programme allows up to 2,000 acres of farm land, timber land, or conservation land to be taxed at just 40% of its fair market value. This amendment would raise the limit to 4,000 acres.

A second amendment would create the Georgia Next Generation 911 Fund, a fund meant to maintain, update, and set up 911 emergency services. It would allow the Legislature to allocate new funds and reallocate existing ones to the new fund.

A third amendment would require all probate judges be elected on nonpartisan ballots.

Hawaii has an amendment that would increase the time frame for the State Senate to consider judicial appointments made between April 1 and December 31, the period when the Legislature isn't usually in session or is close to ending its session. Appointments made during this time would now have to be considered within 60 days instead of the current 30 day limit.

Another amendment would allow cities and counties to issue housing infrastructure growth bonds that could be used to fund public works, public projects including housing, and community development. These bonds would be excluded from funded debt considerations.

Hawaiian constitutional measures require a majority of all voters who vote in an election, not just those who vote on the measure.

HJR 4(legislative referrals use their bill number in Idaho) is an amendment that would provide that only the State Legislature could legalise or decriminalise marijuana or other narcotics and forbid any citizen initiatives from doing the same. This is meant to limit future attempts at legalisation as both medical and recreational usage may be put on the ballot later this year. If they are, this wouldn't apply to those measures. just any that come after approval.

HJR 6 is an amendment that would make English the state's official language, something that it already is in law, this would just enshrine in the constitution.

Prop 1 would grant the right, in law rather than statute(Idaho doesn't allow initiated amendments) to reproductive freedom and privacy.

Public Question 1 is an amendment that would provide that criminal offences besides murder and treason are bailable unless the accused poses a risk to any member of the community, provided the state proves it and the presumption is strong.

Public Question 2 is an amendment that would require municipal court judges to live in the county the court's in or the bordering county that's closest to the court.

Iowa will vote on an amendment that would raise the majority needed to raise corporate or income taxes to a two-thirds majority in both houses. Currently, only a simple majority is needed.

Kansas's first measure will be voted on on August 4. This would abolish the current nonpartisan Nomination Commission for Supreme Court Justices and require the seven justices to be elected in staggered six-year terms. Three of them would be chosen in 2028, two more in 2030, and the remaining two in 2032.

This amendment would be voted on in November. It says that only citizens can vote.

Kentucky will vote on an amendment that would prohibit the Governor from either issuing pardons or commuting sentences from 60 days before a gubernatorial election to 35 days after the election.

First, the amendments that will be considered on May 16. Amendment 1 would allow the legislature to add officers and positions to the state's unclassified civil service(which consist of elected officials, soldiers, teachers, registrars, railroad employees, election commissioners certain officers and staffers of Legislators, Mayors, Parish Board/Police Jury members-Police Jury's another older name for a Parish Board, and so on) by moving them from the classified civil service. It would also take away the State Civil Service Commission's authority to make such transfers themselves.

Amendment 2 would add the newly-created City of St. George(Located in East Baton Rouge Parish south of Baton Rouge made up of formerly unincorporated territory that became a city in 2019 and is now the fifth-largest in the state)school system as the sixth independent school system in the state. This means it could be run separate from the East Baton Rough Parish School District.

Amendment 3 would eliminate three education-based trust funds: The Education Excellence Fund, the Education Quality Trust Fund, and the Education Quality Support Fund. Their money would go to the Teachers' Retirement System.

Amendment 4 would allow parishes to exempt business inventory from property taxes.

Amendment 5 would raise the mandatory judicial retirement age from 70 to 75.

ALL REJECTED

Now for November's amendments. Amendment number one would raise the income limit to apply for the state's special assessment level for property taxes. This special assessment level freezes the value of eligible homes so their taxes don't rise with property values. The amendment would raise the limit to $150,000 from the current $100,000.

Amendment number two would allow the surviving spouses of disabled veterans a one-time transfer of their homestead property tax exemption to a new homestead.

Amendment number three would give taxing authorities the authority to raise their property tax rates above the rate set by the previous year's assessment of the maximum rate for their city, town, or parish, as long as it remains below the maximum currently allowed in the State Constitution.

Amendment number four would prohibit post-conviction bail for anyone convicted of an aggravated offence if their victim was a minor.

Amendment number five would create a new property tax exemption for up to $30,000 of a home's value for all people over age 65 who qualify for the income-baes assessment freeze.

Amendment number six would create a new property tax exemption for any derelict or blighted property that has been deemed rehabilitated.

Amendment number seven would ban the expropriation of property by any foreign adversary of agents of foreign adversaries.

Amendment number eight would limit the Governor to a lifetime two-term limit.

Amendment number nine would remove the current constitutional requirement saying that state pension systems that receive nonrecurring funds have to send those funds to their oldest outstanding unfunded liabilities first.

Amendment number ten would allow public money to be spent on maintaining drinking water utility lines that have been affected by hazardous materials on property owned by utility customers.

Maryland has an amendment that would allow the Chair of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities(the 11-member body that handles complaints against judges with three judges, three lawyers, and five regular citizens) to appoint former members to fill temporary vacancies due to recusal, disqualification, or expiration of their term. It would also allow the Governor to appoint substitute members or extend the terms of existing members.

Amendment number two would require the Governor's budget to provide for expenditures for wages, hours, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment for state employees. It would also make changes for the collective bargaining process for state employees. Neutral arbiters would now be a part of the negotiation process, and a binding arbitration process would be implemented.

Amendment number three would allow the state legislature to acquire land that the Maryland Transit Administration considers necessary for transportation or mass transit purposes by paying the land owners fair market value.

Massachusetts has a veto referendum this year. In 2024, the General Court passed, and Governor Maura Healey signed, H. 4885, a law that led to sweeping gun control measures in the commonwealth. Many were unhappy with the law, so they got this measure on the ballot. H. 4885 does several things:
First, it requires the Commonwealth Department of Criminal Justice Information Services to implement an electronic tracking system for all registered firearms.
Second, it expands the already-existing ban on assault weapons to include assault-style firearms, defined as a semi-automatic pistol, centrefire rifle, or shotgun that has the capacity to accept a detachable ammo feeder(for the former two) and at least two other additions such as a folding or telescopic stock, a handgrip that can be held by the non-trigger hand, a thumbhole stock or pistol grip, or an anti-heat shroud on the barrel. Detachable ammo feeders count as one of the two additions for pistols.
Third, it requires people to take a basic firearm safety training course to obtain either a Firearm Identification Card(FID) or a Licence to Carry(LTC). Only people with LTCs can create 3D-printed guns or purchase semi-automatics.
Fourth, it mandates serial numbers for all firearms except antiques but including 3D-printed guns, which must receive a unique number within seven days of assembly.
Fifth, it allows school administrators and licenced healthcare providers to petition the court for an extreme risk protection order.
Sixth, it also creates a harassment prevention order, and courts could require people under these order to surrender their firearms.
Seventh, requires gun owners to report any thefts to authorities within seven days, or they'll lose their licences. Gun shops have to report thefts immediately upon discovery.
Eighth, it creates criminal penalties for anyone who fires a gun within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling.
Ninth, minors from age 12 on are allowed to purchase and possess self-defence sprays, like mace, with a permit. Anyone applying between ages 12-15 requires parental consent.
Tenth and finally, it creates four commissions to study firearm data, violent crime prevention, and so on.
All of this is being brought up to the people for a vote. A No vote will repeal the law.

Their second measure would repeal the 2016 legalisation of recreational marijuana under Question 4. People over age 21 caught with one ounce or less wouldn't be cited unless they have five grams of marijuana concentrate. Between 1-2 grams, they would get fined $100. Beyond that, it becomes a criminal offence. People under 21 with two ounces or less would be subject to a $100 fine, 14 hours of drug awareness education(f our hours classroom discussion, 10 hours community service) and their parents/guardians would be notified. Failure to complete the awareness programme would result in a $1,000 fine. The Cannabis Control Commission would see its scope change to overseeing legal medical usage rather than medical and recreational usage.

As it must every 16 years, Michigan will be voting on whether or not to have a Constitutional Convention.

Minnesota will vote on an amendment that would alter the administrative rules regarding the state's Permanent School Fund. Currently, the fund's principal can't be touched for any reason. This amendment would allow the state to use some of the fund's principal as long as the state preserves the fund's purchasing power over time.

First, the amendments being decided on August 4. Amendment 1 would renew the current 0.1% sales and use tax for 10 years to fund state parks and soil and water conservation. This as been required since it was first passed in 1984 and comes up every 10 years.

Amendment 2 would require Jackson County to have their assessor elected rather than appointed. Jackson County themselves voted to make the position an elected one in 2025, after assessor Frank White Jr. was recalled early in the year, due to increased issues over tax assessments which partially lead to the recent decision for the Kansas City Royals to go over the border to Kansas.

Amendment 4 would require future citizen-initiated amendments to be approved in every congressional district to be ratified. Foreign nationals and foreign adversaries would be prohibited from spending on ballot measures, and add penalties for ballot initiative related signature fraud to the constitution.

Amendment 5 would reduce the state's current income tax(between 1.5 - 5.4% based on nine brackets) depending on revenue growth until the tax is completely eliminated. Once eliminated, it couldn't be brought back. It would also limit local personal property and other local taxes when their revenues increase while guaranteeing that school districts continue to be funded as before. It would also limit the use of sales and use taxes unless they're meant to offset income taxes.

Now for November's measures. Amendment 3 would basically undo 2024's Amendment 3. You may recall that after Missouri voters kept abortion legal and implemented paid sick leave that year, the Legislature made steps to undo both. This amendment is the Legislature's attempt to ban abortion once more except in cases of rape or incest as long as it's within the first 12 weeks. On top of that, Amendment 3 would also ban gender transition surgeries and gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, only allowing similar treatments for non gender-transitioning purposes.

Amendment 6 would require sherriffs to be elected in most counties except for St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. Sherriffs would be officially established in the chief law enforcement officers in thos e counties, and they coul only be removed by election or a quo warranto(a writ questioning an official's ability or competence) from the State Attorney General.

Amendment 7 would be an attempt to eliminate state-levied taxation in Missouri altogether. It would create the Show-Me Prosperity Fund, a public endowment fund that would start with an appropriation from the Legislature and would accept donations, grants, and bequests from any source. The State Treasurer would invest the fund in ETFs tracking the S&P 500 with certain fiduciary duties. No money could be taken out of the fund until the Treasurer can confirm that it would replace revenue from a tax that could be eliminated. Once money's open up, the Treasurer wouldn't be able to take out more than 3% of the fund's average market value over the previous five fiscal years. The fund's principal could not be appropriated, pledged, or borrowed against, and once all state taxes are eliminated, they could not return unless the fund goes insolvent. Also, the state would have the right to appropriate investment returns to replace federal money, offer dividends to state citizens, or both.

Nebraska has an amendment that would extend term limits for legislators from two terms( 8 years) to three(12 years).

Question 6 would create a right to abortion in the Nevada Constitution, granting the state the right to regulate it after foetal viability except if it endangers the mother's life.

Question 7 is an amendment that would require voter ID, either by photo ID when voting in person or by the last four numbers of a person's Social Security Number or Driver's Licence Number.
Both of these are citizen-initiated amendment, which require approval in two elections. They passed in 2024, so if they pass here, they'll be approved.

New Hampshire will be voting on an amendment that would eliminate the office of Register of Probate from all counties. After a 2011 court reform, the job's basically been reduced to preserving potentially significant documents, a job that many consider could be better suited by other officials. This was voted on in 2022, but in didn't get enough of a majority to pass.

Speaking of, New Hampshire requires a two-thirds majority of voters to approve any amendment.

New Mexico is voting on an amendment that would eliminate the Governor's pocket veto. Currently, if a bill is neither signed nor vetoed within three days of receipt, or 20 days of receipt if the Legislative session is near its end, then it's automatically vetoed. This amendment would make any law that doesn't get signed or vetoed law without the Governor's signature. The Governor would also be required to give a substantive reason to the Legislature for any veto they have.

A second amendment would make changes to the Board of Regents. Nominating committees would be established for both student and non-student regents, student regents coming from an elected student governing body, and both would present lists of nominees for the Governor to choose from. In addition, non-student nominees wouldn't be excluded from nomination if they've switched political parties within 12 months(Ballotpedia says six, but the updated proposal says 12).

New Mexico, like many states, has a Citizen Legislature, where legislators get a per diem when they're in session, but otherwise don't get a salary. The third amendment up would change that, setting an annual salary for legislators equal to the state's median annual income: In 2026, that would mean an annual salary of $62,300 adjusted as the median adjusts.

The fourth amendment up would allow school board elections to be held on the same day as partisan elections. Currently, they're required to be held on separate days.

North Carolina's got an amendment that would require voter photo ID for all voters. Currently, only those voting in person are required to present it.

They've got a second amendment that would require the legislature to pass a law placing limits on how high counties and municipalities can raise their property tax rates each year.

They've got a third amendment that would cut the state's income tax rate in half, from the current 7% to 3.5%.

On June 9, North Dakota will be voting on Constitutional Measure 1, an amendment creating a single-subject rule for all future constitutional measures. APPROVED

On to November. Constitutional Measure 1 is an amendment that would raise the threshold for constitutional amendments to pass to 60% from the current simple majority.

Constitutional Measure 2 is an amendment that would require all public schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to their students. Private and tribal schools would still have it as optional.

Ohio will be voting on an amendment that would require Voter ID at the polls.

SQ 832, to be decided on June 16, would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour over three years, adjust the minimum wage to cost-of-living after 2029, and make part-time employees, vendors, agricultural workers, feed store employees, students, minors, newspaper vendors and carriers, and domestic service workers subject to minimum wage requirements(they can be paid below it currently). REJECTED

Now for the August measures.
Oklahoma's Constitution has a provision where, if a manufacturing business decides to set up shop or expand their existing facilities, that business is exempt from property taxes for five years. When talking about existing businesses, that's a lot of sudden lost revenue, which is usually reimbursed by the state and other counties, so SQ 844, which will be decided on August 25, is an attempt to fix the problem. It's an amendment that would require the state to establish a set methodology on how schools parks, libraries, etc. would be reimbursed and by how much each year in case a business in their county suddenly becomes tax exempt in this way.

SQ 846 is an amendment that would requite voters to present proof of identity when voting and would allow the Legislature to define that proof. This is already law in Oklahoma, this SQ would just add it to the Constitution.

This measure will be decided in November. SQ 845 would make changes to how the state's 15-member Judicial Nominating Commission, which screens and reviews qualified judges for appellate court vacancies before handing a list to the Governor(including the state supreme court), is set up.
First, it would require that appointments be made according to the number of Congressional districts at the time of the appointment, as opposed to the current requirement of the number of districts that existed when the commission was set up in 1967.
Second, the district-based commissioners(six appointed by the Governor, six elected by the State Bar Association) would now be allowed to serve two consecutive six-year terms. Currently, they can only serve a lifetime limit of one term.
Third, the current limit on members of political parties on the commission(three for the district-based commissioners, two for the three remaining at-large citizen commissioners elected by the rest of the Commission-or by the Governor, the Senate President, and the House Speaker if the Commission can't agree on members after 30 days-for two-year terms) would be lifted.

SQ 847 would change how fair cash value for properties is calculated each year. The maximum limit on annual increases for most properties would drop from 5% to 4%, while those for farm with homestead exemptions would drop from 3% to 1.75%. The current senior freeze, which forbids increases on any property's value if the owner is over age 65, would be repealed, and a new scale with five brackets would be used to determine fair cash value increases depending on the owner's income. Increases would range from 0.35% to 1.75%.

Referendum 120, which will be voted on on May 19, is a veto measure. In late 2025, the Legislature passed and Governor Tina Kotek signed HB 3991, which raised the state's gas tax from 40 to 46 cents per gallon, raised the transportation payroll tax from 0.1% to 0.2%, and increased registration fees on cars from $43 to $85, on trailers from $63 to $105, on motorcycles and mopeds from $44 to $86, motor homes from $77 to $216, and low-speed vehicles like golf carts from $63 to $105. Many were unhappy about this, so it's going up for a vote. A No vote would repeal the law. REJECTED, LAW REPEALED

Constitutional Amendment I would make the states Medicaid expansion to ACA levels, passed in 2022, contingent on the federal government's funding share staying above 90%. If it goes below that, then the state would not be obligated to continue.

Constitutional Amendment J would make it so only citizens could vote.

Constitutional Amendment K would create a new trust fund for unclaimed property. Starting in June 2027, the State Treasurer could allocate a portion of the income and interest in that fund to the General fund.

Constitutional Amendment L would raise the threshold for future amendments to pass to 60% from the current simple majority.

Amendment 1 would remove the right to bail to people who are charged with terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated child rape, grave torture, and any offence where a convicted person can't be released until serving 85% of their sentence if there's a significant presumption of guilt.

Amendment 2 would prohibit the Legislature from enacting any form of property taxes.

Amendment 3 would add a Marsy's Law to the State Constitution. A Marsy's Law expands the rights of crime victims, including the right to be present at all proceedings, the right to fair treatment, the right to be heard in any proceeding involving a suspect's release, parole, sentencing, or plea bargain, the right to be free from harassment, abuse, or intimidation throughout the criminal justice process, the right to reasonable notice of all public proceedings, and the right of the victim and their family's safety to be considered before parole or release hearings.

The first amendment would raise the threshold for any citizen-initiated ballot measures that either impose new taxes or raise existing ones, add new products or services to sales taxes, or change property tax rates in ways that reduce them less than they would under current law. All of these would now require a 60% majority to pass compared to the current simple majority requirement.

The second amendment would require constitutional amendments going up for a vote to be published for at least 60 days in accordance with HB 481, a companion bill which will go into effect if this passes. HB 481 requires amendments to be published as Class A Public Notices in all newspapers, a more stringent requirement that the current one that requires them to be published in at least one paper per county for two months.

Proposal 3 is an amendment that would create the right to organise or join a union for collective bargaining purposes, prohibit laws that interfere with this right with regard to wages, safety requirements, hours, and other employment terms and conditions, and constitutionally ban right-to-work laws.

Proposal 4 is an Equal Rights Amendment protecting against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin.

The first measure will be decided on April 21. This amendment would allow the state to sidestep its independent redistricting commission to draw a new Congressional map for the remainder of the decade in response to the recent Gerrymandering Arms Race. Normally, Amendments get voted on in November, but special legislation is being passed to put this on in April to give Congressfolks and candidates time to adjust their primary campaigns to the new maps if passed. APPROVED/OVERTURNED

These measures will be voted on in November. Amendment number one would repeal the 2006 amendment that banned same-sex marriage in Virginia.

Amendment number two would guarantee a right to reproductive freedom that couldn't be infringed without a compelling state interest based on the protection of an individual's health based on evidence-based medicine. In such an event, it could only be limited by the least restrictive methods that don't otherwise infringe upon medical decision-making.

Amendment number three would restore the rights of convicted felons to vote upon their release from prison.

Back in 2024, the Washington Legislature passed Initiative 2081, a parental rights measure that granted parents the right to review educational materials, the right to opt out of sex education, and the right to be notified of criminal actions, questioning by law enforcement, or any medical treatment or services provided by the school. In 2025, HB 1296 amended the initiative, removing the right to know about medical treatments and services, a measure meant to protect transgender students who may be in less-than-supporting families. Now, Initiative 1 would restore Initiative 2081 to how it was before the Legislature made its changes.
It would also repeal certain rights the law added such as the right to a discrimination-free environment, the right to file a complaint on their child's behalf regarding bullying, intimidation, or harassment, and the right to an annual notice of school language policies and services.
In addition, it would also alter rights changed by HB 1296 to their original forms, such as allowing parents to review a copy of a child's educational records within 10 days instead of the 45 currently requited, an unfettered right to examine the curriculum as opposed to the current one that allows it within school protocols, a right to be notified within 48 of receiving a sexual misconduct complaint against a teacher by their child(currently a right to immediate notification), and a right for schools not to release records regarding social work, health care, counseling, or disciplinary actions to parents being investigated for abuse or neglect(currently it's a right not to release those records to any parent or guardian who is a criminal defendant in said cases where the child is involved).

Initiative 638 would require school districts and nonprofit organisations to oversee school sports to ban biologically male students from joining female teams and leagues. It would also require any student wanting to join these teams or leagues to provide proof that they are biologically female by presenting documentation from their doctor confirming their reproductive organs, genetic makeup, or average testosterone levels.

Initiative 645 is partially a veto measure. In March of this year, SB 6346 imposed a new 9.9% income tax on people making over more than $1 million. Initiative 645 would not only veto the new tax, but it would also ban any taxes on income or capital gains whatsoever.

Their first amendment would require that only citizens could vote.

The first amendment up would prohibit the state any any local government from closing or forbidding gatherings in places of worship during an emergency, including a public health emergency.

The second amendment up would ban governments from either discriminating against or providing preferential treatment to people based on race, sex, colour, ethnicity, or national origin in public education, employment, administration, or contracting.

The third amendment up would forbid the Governor from using their line-item veto to create or increase taxes and fees.

Initiative 1-the first citizen initiative since 1996-would allow homeowners that make a claim that they've lived in the state for one year and their primary residence for at least half of the proceeding tax year to exempt 50% of their primary residence's established value.

[Shrillland]

Virginia joins NPVIC, now up to 222 votes worth of states

[Kerosene Cucumbers]

So Trump isn't straight?

No I think he might be somewhat crooked.

[Magna-Parva]

Are they by chance in a wheelchair?

This is truly inappropriate. I don’t know where you think writing this is ok.

The sharpest minds have yet to discover why this is. They can only pray he'll grow up.

[Paddy O Fernature]

Are they by chance in a wheelchair?

This is truly inappropriate. I don’t know where you think writing this is ok.

I'm just asking if it's the same friend that you always drag out into a conversation like a Muppet on parade whenever it's convenient for you is all.

This is truly inappropriate. I don’t know where you think writing this is ok.

The sharpest minds have yet to discover why this is. They can only pray he'll grow up.

Careful there Pot, throwing stones in that glass house of yours could be hazardous for your health.

[Orcuo]

So Trump isn't straight?

No I think he might be somewhat crooked.

Twisted, perhaps.

[Bombadil]

Just leave this here..

The US Department of Justice has requested that a federal appeals judge overturn convictions for members of far-right groups Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, who were previously found guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the violent siege of the US capitol in 2021.

Jeanine Pirro, the Donald Trump-appointed US attorney for the District of Columbia, signed separate motions on Tuesday to vacate convictions for a slew of individuals, including the Proud Boys’ leaders Ethan Nordean and Joseph Biggs as well as Stewart Rhodes, a former attorney who founded the Oath Keepers’ militia.

The filings represent the latest move the Trump administration has made to absolve the January 6 rioters, a group composed largely of the president’s supporters who stormed the US capitol in a desperate attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump.

Link

[Shrillland]

And the Plaza has two more additions already:

Maryland: Amendment number two would require the Governor's budget to provide for expenditures for wages, hours, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment for state employees. It would also make changes for the collective bargaining process for state employees. Neutral arbiters would now be a part of the negotiation process, and a binding arbitration process would be implemented.

Amendment number three would allow the state legislature to acquire land that the Maryland Transit Administration considers necessary for transportation or mass transit purposes by paying the land owners fair market value.

[Kallorprith]

I have never seen a post that so clearly indicates the poster's canned responses than this total non-sequitur laziness right here. Fuck me, Siri could have come up with an equally empty statement that would at least appear to engage with what it's responding to. Jesus that was as lazy as it was empty.

Simple truth often seems inane to those not looking for it, or otherwise not used to seeing it.

'"Simple truth" is a lot like common sense. It's inevitably evoked by people who have nothing to say that isn't vacuous and who therefore fee that their lack of imagination, education (or both!) means that their first thought is a universal one.

[Orcuo]

And we’ve already got our first report in moderation. I’m so proud of you guys, gals, and gits.

[Zantalio]

And we’ve already got our first report in moderation. I’m so proud of you guys, gals, and gits.

We should have a day to celebrate!

Measure number one would designate drug cartels as terrorist organisations and direct the State Homeland Security Department to do all it can to combat them.

Measure number two would prohibit cities and counties from imposing a tax on groceries without voter approval. It would also cap such taxes at a 2% maximum.

Measure number three is an amendment that would prohibit the state and any local government from enacting any vehicle mileage taxes or fees and any laws that would allow authorities to monitor a vehicle's mileage without that person's consent.

Not terrible laws coming out of the Arizona Republic, eh. Not bad. I don't have much else to say. Thanks for compiling this handy list of events.

[Dtn]

Citation Needed

Citation provided: https://people.com/immigrants-approved- ... y-11863779

This article doesn’t say anything about arrests.

[Rusozak]

Just so we're all on the same page, the people trying to turn the US into a "Christian" theocracy, who are mandating the ten commandants in public classrooms and launching self-described holy wars, are telling the Pope to keep religion out of politics because he said killing is bad and peace is good? Got it.

[Zantalio]

Just so we're all on the same page, the people trying to turn the US into a "Christian" theocracy, who are mandating the ten commandants in public classrooms and launching self-described holy wars, are telling the Pope to keep religion out of politics because he said killing is bad and peace is good? Got it.

And AI posting himself as Christ.

[Bombadil]

Just so we're all on the same page, the people trying to turn the US into a "Christian" theocracy, who are mandating the ten commandants in public classrooms and launching self-described holy wars, are telling the Pope to keep religion out of politics because he said killing is bad and peace is good? Got it.

I watched a documentary on Redneck Rap and the cognitive dissonance on display is just.. what they get up to and what they profess are miles apart - I really think there's just a database of slogans in their head they trot out without giving a second's thought as to how that translates into how they should behave.

Meanwhile a journo friend of mine wrote this recently..

The Permission to Be Obnoxious (and the Price Our Children Will Pay)

I have five grown kids and ten grandkids, and every word I write, every essay, every rant, every impassioned plea, is for them, for their safety, their sanity, and whatever future we haven’t completely squandered yet. Because let’s stop pretending something smaller is at stake here: this isn’t just politics anymore, this is parenting in real time, broadcast at a national level, and corrupted right out in the open. Donald Trump isn’t just a political problem, he’s a cultural permission slip, a daily endorsement of the worst instincts we have, a man who has spent nearly a decade teaching America, loudly, proudly, that being obnoxious, angry, selfish, and cruel isn’t just acceptable, it’s aspirational. Our children and grandchildren have watched this from the front row: a president mocking the disabled, demeaning women, sneering at immigrants, lying as easily as breathing, while grown adults, the very people tasked with modeling decency, nod along, cheer, and call it strength.

So when I hear people wringing their hands about “kids these days,” about disrespect, about some imagined collapse of discipline, I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. What exactly did we think would happen? These kids came of age in a culture of televised rage, where leadership looked like a tantrum and truth was treated like a nuisance. Children don’t invent cruelty, they absorb it, they mirror it, they inherit it. They watch what we tolerate, what we excuse, what we reward, and they build their moral compass from the wreckage. And right now, that compass is being warped by a man and an administration that have made empathy optional, compassion obsolete, and basic decency something to be mocked and discarded. When ignorance is elevated, when education is undermined, when con men are pardoned and truth is demonized, we are not just failing politically, we are failing generationally. We are teaching our children, by example, that cruelty is courage and that character is expendable.

But here’s the part we don’t get to escape: it still starts at home. It always has. Parents, and frankly, any adult who gives a shit, still carry the most sacred responsibility there is: to teach kindness in a culture that profits from cruelty, to show our kids that decency isn’t weakness, that empathy isn’t naïveté, that caring about someone else’s pain is not something to be ridiculed but something to be protected at all costs. Because whether we like it or not, we are all participants in the same moral ecosystem. Consciousness isn’t some private, sealed-off possession, it’s shared, it’s shaped collectively, and what we normalize becomes the atmosphere the next generation breathes. All there is, IS consciousness, and right now, that consciousness is polluted with anger, dishonesty, and performative hate masquerading as patriotism.

This is not the world we claim we want for our children and grandchildren, and yet it is exactly the one we are handing them if we continue to shrug, to rationalize, to “both sides” something that is so clearly a moral failure. There is a price for this, and it will not be paid by the men in power, it will be paid by the kids watching, learning, internalizing. If we don’t reclaim decency now, loudly, consistently, without apology, then we are teaching the next generation a lesson that should chill every one of us to the bone: that cruelty wins, that truth doesn’t matter, and that character is optional if you’re loud enough and ruthless enough to get what you want. That is the inheritance of Trumpism if it goes unchecked. That is the bill coming due for our children and grandchildren. And if we fail to interrupt it, to challenge it, to replace it with something better, then we’re not just bystanders, we’re accomplices.

[Stalmarc]

Just so we're all on the same page, the people trying to turn the US into a "Christian" theocracy, who are mandating the ten commandants in public classrooms and launching self-described holy wars, are telling the Pope to keep religion out of politics because he said killing is bad and peace is good? Got it.

And AI posting himself as Christ.

He actually took that down already and they are already deflecting with it "being a joke" and it was some other "staffer" who posted it.

[Orcuo]

Just so we're all on the same page, the people trying to turn the US into a "Christian" theocracy, who are mandating the ten commandants in public classrooms and launching self-described holy wars, are telling the Pope to keep religion out of politics because he said killing is bad and peace is good? Got it.

I’ll take "It’s probably a cult" for 500, please.

[New haven america]

Just so we're all on the same page, the people trying to turn the US into a "Christian" theocracy, who are mandating the ten commandants in public classrooms and launching self-described holy wars, are telling the Pope to keep religion out of politics because he said killing is bad and peace is good? Got it.

That's cause they're protestant, the Pope has no sway over them.

[Cannot think of a name]

And AI posting himself as Christ.

He actually took that down already and they are already deflecting with it "being a joke" and it was some other "staffer" who posted it.

You're off script. He says he posted it because he's a doctor, you see, in that photo in support of the Red Cross. Only the 'fake news media' could read this picture that's totally him as Jesus as him being Jesus...you see. Makes total sense. Stable genius.

[Grand Federal Republic of America]

I am officially an anti-Trump conservative.

[San Lumen]

This is truly inappropriate. I don’t know where you think writing this is ok.

I'm just asking if it's the same friend that you always drag out into a conversation like a Muppet on parade whenever it's convenient for you is all.

The sharpest minds have yet to discover why this is. They can only pray he'll grow up.

Careful there Pot, throwing stones in that glass house of yours could be hazardous for your health.

How can you possibly think comments like this are acceptable? I know someone from China who is a legal resident. If this goes into effect he will have to leave the country. There is no possible way he and millions of others could stay here.

[Pasong Tirad]

God's worst Catholic, the popekiller himself, JD Vance, telling Pope Leo to "be careful" when talking about theology:

Vice President JD Vance invoked World War II on Tuesday to defend the U.S. bombing of Iran from criticism by Pope Leo XIV, extending the Trump administration’s spat with the Catholic Church and underlining the White House’s struggle to justify an unpopular war.

Mr. Vance, who is Catholic, told a conservative audience at the University of Georgia that the pope was wrong to say that disciples of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

“Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis?” Mr. Vance said after referring to the pope’s comment. “I certainly think the answer is yes.”

President Trump has appeared stung by Leo’s condemnation of the war, criticism that has highlighted the challenge the administration faces from the coalition of conservative and religious voters who helped elect Mr. Trump in 2024. The president lashed out at the pope on Sunday in a social media post that called the first American-born pontiff “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”

Leo has stuck to his antiwar stance, telling reporters Monday that he had “no fear of the Trump administration.” Without mentioning Iran or Mr. Trump, the pope posted on social media on Tuesday that “God’s heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies.”

The back-and-forth has presented a particular quandary for Mr. Vance, a convert to Catholicism who is publishing a book about his path to the faith and who has long courted the Republican religious base. Asked about the debate between Mr. Trump and the pope at an Athens, Ga., event hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA, Mr. Vance admonished Leo, saying that if he was “going to opine on matters of theology,” his comments needed to be “anchored in the truth.”

“In the same way that it’s important for the vice president of the United States to be careful when I talk about matters of public policy, I think it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” Mr. Vance said.

But the vice president also echoed the diplomatic approach he took on Fox News on Monday in playing down the political disagreement.

“I have a lot of respect for the pope. I like him. I admire him. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit,” Mr. Vance said. “It doesn’t bother me when he speaks on issues of the day — frankly, even when I disagree with how he’s applying a particular principle.”

Moments later, someone in the crowd interrupted, yelling, “Jesus Christ does not support genocide!” It was an apparent reference to Israel’s war in Gaza, or the Iran war, in which a fragile cease-fire has held since last week.

“I agree,” Mr. Vance responded. “Jesus Christ certainly does not support genocide, whoever yelled that out from the dark.”

[Zantalio]

God's worst Catholic, the popekiller himself, JD Vance, telling Pope Leo to "be careful" when talking about theology:

Vice President JD Vance invoked World War II on Tuesday to defend the U.S. bombing of Iran from criticism by Pope Leo XIV, extending the Trump administration’s spat with the Catholic Church and underlining the White House’s struggle to justify an unpopular war.

Mr. Vance, who is Catholic, told a conservative audience at the University of Georgia that the pope was wrong to say that disciples of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

“Was God on the side of the Americans who liberated France from the Nazis?” Mr. Vance said after referring to the pope’s comment. “I certainly think the answer is yes.”

President Trump has appeared stung by Leo’s condemnation of the war, criticism that has highlighted the challenge the administration faces from the coalition of conservative and religious voters who helped elect Mr. Trump in 2024. The president lashed out at the pope on Sunday in a social media post that called the first American-born pontiff “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”

Leo has stuck to his antiwar stance, telling reporters Monday that he had “no fear of the Trump administration.” Without mentioning Iran or Mr. Trump, the pope posted on social media on Tuesday that “God’s heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies.”

The back-and-forth has presented a particular quandary for Mr. Vance, a convert to Catholicism who is publishing a book about his path to the faith and who has long courted the Republican religious base. Asked about the debate between Mr. Trump and the pope at an Athens, Ga., event hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA, Mr. Vance admonished Leo, saying that if he was “going to opine on matters of theology,” his comments needed to be “anchored in the truth.”

“In the same way that it’s important for the vice president of the United States to be careful when I talk about matters of public policy, I think it’s very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” Mr. Vance said.

But the vice president also echoed the diplomatic approach he took on Fox News on Monday in playing down the political disagreement.

“I have a lot of respect for the pope. I like him. I admire him. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit,” Mr. Vance said. “It doesn’t bother me when he speaks on issues of the day — frankly, even when I disagree with how he’s applying a particular principle.”

Moments later, someone in the crowd interrupted, yelling, “Jesus Christ does not support genocide!” It was an apparent reference to Israel’s war in Gaza, or the Iran war, in which a fragile cease-fire has held since last week.

“I agree,” Mr. Vance responded. “Jesus Christ certainly does not support genocide, whoever yelled that out from the dark.”

*allegedly Catholic.