The tariffs went to the Supreme Court. Court of International Trade, 3–0. Federal Circuit en banc, 7–4. Supreme Court, February 20, 2026, 6–3: the statute did not authorize the tariffs. Some $166 billion in duties had been collected. Show up Nov. 3. Vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

9th Circuit today, 2–1: California need not set aside ~20,000 ballots. "No feasible way" to segregate them without "catastrophic effects on the entire system" (AP). Wednesday, the district judge: it would "wreak havoc." Our read: the courts are holding. Read the record. Then vote. — Laurence J. Hale

Four days before the midterms, a short thread on the record. The administration has spent the year telling Americans their elections can't be trusted while pressing states for voter data and ballots. Judges, the president's own appointees among them, kept saying no. Five rulings, newest first. 1/6

Utah charged Kalshi and its founders with 13 felonies. The CFTC sued Utah, claiming sole authority. Donald Trump Jr. advises Kalshi (KUER, KSL). 2025: Justin Sun's SEC fraud case was paused after his $75M into the Trump family's World Liberty. Nov. 3: vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

4 days to Nov. 3. Before you vote: October 2018, the last month before the midterms of his first term: more than 1,200 false or misleading claims, by the Washington Post Fact Checker's count. Earlier that year the pace was 200 to 250 a month. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

"Jihadist." "Metal detector." "Crazy anyway." What the president, a cabinet secretary and two senators said this week about Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan-born doctor, and what the evidence shows. Fox's own digital desk found no ties. Vote by Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

"Jihadist." "Metal Detector." "Crazy Anyway." What Is Being Said About Abdul El-Sayed, On the Record

Four days out: the exact words from the president, a cabinet secretary and two senators about a Michigan-born doctor, what the evidence shows, and the decade-long pattern behind it.

laurencejhale.substack.com

Two impeachments. Four indictments. Thirty-four felony convictions. Also: two acquittals, two federal cases ended without trial, a half-billion-dollar penalty erased on appeal. The book keeps both columns. Show up Nov. 3. Vote. THE RECORD, $0.99 on Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B0HMCFGHCY

THE RECORD: Lies, Self-Dealing, and the Abuse of Power in Trump's America

Fifty years of the documented record, laid end to end. By Laurence J. Hale. Kindle, paperback and hardcover.

amazon.com

Four days out, two campaigns at once: one telling voters elections can't be trusted, one cutting the safeguards. Judges, the president's own appointees among them, keep saying no. My new piece lays out the record on both sides. Facts matter. So does your vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Sowing Doubt, Cutting Safeguards: The Administration's Campaign Against Election Confidence, and the Courts That Pushed Back

Four days out: the two campaigns running at once, and the judges who said no.

laurencejhale.substack.com

405 Washington voters flagged by DOJ; one entry last voted in 1994 (AP). Earlier lists, once checked: Nevada 1,500 → 0; Maricopa 207 → 8. Our take: the lists are loud. Checked, they shrink. Vote by Nov. 3: vote.gov — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Lafayette Square, June 1, 2020. Federal forces cleared the square with chemical irritants and mounted police. Minutes later, the president walked through it to St. John’s Church and held up a Bible for the cameras. Show up Nov. 3. Vote. — Laurence J. Hale, author of THE RECORD · laurencejhale.com

A 250-foot arch beside Arlington National Cemetery, now a "generational national defense opportunity" per Hegseth's court filing (CNN). Veterans suing say it blocks the sight lines. Our take: a monument argued as defense. Vote by Nov. 3: vote.gov — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

A Washington grand jury refused to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, a key Jan. 6 witness, AP and Reuters report, citing sources. In February, a D.C. grand jury refused to indict six Democratic lawmakers. Ordinary citizens keep saying no. Vote by Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked Judge Timothy Kelly for their Oval Office and Air Force One access back (Reuters, Bloomberg). In 2018, the same judge ordered Jim Acosta's revoked press pass restored. Same judge, same playbook. Facts matter. So does your vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Five days left. Registration, polling place, early or mail options: it all differs by state, and it's all at vote.gov

5 days to Nov. 3. Before you vote: Diesel, per the EIA: $3.81 a gallon the week before the U.S. went to war with Iran. Two weeks in: $5.07. Sept. 21: $6.53, a record. Congress never authorized the war. — Laurence J. Hale, author of THE RECORD · laurencejhale.com

THE RECORD is in today's Bargain Booksy nonfiction deals, and the Kindle edition stays at $0.99 through Nov. 3. Every claim sourced to the public record. amazon.com/dp/B0HMCFGHCY Read it, then make your voice heard: vote.gov

Six months out of the White House, Jared Kushner's new firm got $2 billion from the Saudi fund the crown prince chairs, over the fund's own screening advisers' objections, per reported panel minutes. Read the record. Then vote. THE RECORD, $0.99 on Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B0HMCFGHCY

THE RECORD: Lies, Self-Dealing, and the Abuse of Power in Trump's America

Fifty years of the documented record, laid end to end. By Laurence J. Hale. Kindle, paperback and hardcover.

amazon.com

A federal judge said no: holding up to 20,000 California ballots "would wreak havoc" on an election 3.7 million Californians had already voted in (AP). Our take: counting is not a loophole. It is the election. Cast yours by Nov. 3: vote.gov — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

$787.5 million. What Fox News paid to settle Dominion’s suit on the eve of trial, after its own internal correspondence showed hosts and executives privately calling the stolen-election theory false. A settlement, not a verdict. Your turn: vote by Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Trump offered $1M for voter-fraud tips that lead to convictions; the White House didn't say who pays (NYT, Reuters). 2020, Trump-appointed Judge Bibas: "Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here." Nov. 3: vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Trump says he's "terminating" a Biden-era rule to cut methane from oil and gas drilling (NPR). His oil and gas stocks are up ~43% this year, per JEC Democrats; the WH says they're independently managed. Our take: the regulator owns the stock. Vote Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Asked if he'd respect the midterm results, Trump said he will "if they're honest elections" (WaPo, Al Jazeera). Oct. 20, 2016: "I will totally accept the results … if I win." The pattern: the condition comes before the count. Facts matter. So does your vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

6 days to Nov. 3. Before you vote: Week of April 7, 2025: the average effective U.S. tariff rate hit 22.5%, the highest since 1909 on the tracker that reported it. CNN's fact check: "Tariffs are paid by US importers, not foreign exporters." — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

A note for anyone who picked up THE RECORD: if you've finished it, an honest rating or review on Amazon or Goodreads, positive, mixed or critical, helps other readers judge it. No obligation. $0.99 on Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/B0HMCFGHCY Your vote is your part of the record. Nov. 3.

Jan. 17, 2025, three days before the oath: a Trump memecoin launched, 80% of supply held by Trump-affiliated entities. In May 2025 its top 220 holders, ranked on a public leaderboard, got a black-tie dinner. Show up Nov. 3. Vote. THE RECORD, $0.99 on Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B0HMCFGHCY

THE RECORD: Lies, Self-Dealing, and the Abuse of Power in Trump's America

Fifty years of the documented record, laid end to end. By Laurence J. Hale. Kindle, paperback and hardcover.

amazon.com

“The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese” A tweet dated November 6, 2012, ending “in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” At the first presidential debate of 2016, Hillary Clinton cited it. Make it count. Vote Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

THE RECORD is $0.99 on Kindle through Election Day. Trump's lies, self-dealing and abuse of power — every claim sourced to the public record. www.amazon.com/dp/B0HMCFGHCY Read it. Then vote by Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

A judge ruled DOJ unlawfully fired prosecutor Maurene Comey and ordered back pay (ABC, Fox). 2025: pardon attorney Liz Oyer refused to recommend restoring Mel Gibson's gun rights. Fired the next day. Removal first. The law, later. Vote by Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

Trump's oil and gas stocks: up ~43% since end-2025, now $22.5M–$81.6M, per Joint Economic Committee Democrats (CBS). WH: independently managed, no conflicts. Our take: past presidents used broad funds. He stays in markets he moves. Vote by Nov. 3. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com

DOJ charged James Comey a third time, over an alleged 2016 leak, in a filing it says extends a 10-year deadline (AP, CNN). Grand juries twice refused to re-indict Letitia James. This one skipped the grand jury. Facts matter. So does your vote. — Laurence J. Hale · laurencejhale.com