Random #93

Random #93

Retirement now?

Chuck Grassley should retire now. Iowa just elected a democrat as governor. Grassley is 93, and if he retires now, the current governor, a republican, can name his replacement. If he doesn’t, and the seat opens up before his term ends, the new democratic governor will choose his successor, which could add to the democrats’ new Senate majority. But Grassley says he isn’t going anywhere. As a spokesperson put it, “He remains committed to delivering for the people of Iowa, who overwhelmingly elected him to a six-year term in 2022.” Interesting, because Grassley himself said in September, “I don’t plan on dying in office, but if I did, I don’t want a democrat governor choosing my successor.” So hang in there until 2028, Chuck, and we will see whether Iowans elect another republican. BTW, the senator has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for the 2028 election – just in case.

What about the Supreme Court? Alito is 76 and Thomas is 78 (Roberts is 71). They will likely hang around while the democrats control the Senate, which they will for at least the next two years. If they retire now, Trump can name their successors while the republicans still hold the Senate majority. If not, Trump will get no nominee through a democratic-controlled Senate, much as Obama could not get his nominee, Merrick Garland, through a republican-controlled Senate. Thomas appears to want to serve until he dies, and Alito has ruled out a lame-duck retirement. However, a justice could make retirement conditional on the confirmation of a successor, as Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Stephen Breyer did.

Threat to democracy or threat to the republic?

“Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” – John Adams (1814)

That is why the founding fathers deliberately created a constitutional republic rather than a pure democracy. Fearing the tyranny of the majority, they constructed a system built upon limited government, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty and the protection of the unalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence.

It seems that the objective of the democrats is to tear down the republic and replace it with a democracy that installs the tyranny of the majority, which means the names “democrat” and “republican” are truly appropriate.

Drug overdose deaths decline!

The CDC reports that, for the third year in a row, deaths from drug overdoses have fallen. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/releases/20260513.html

“Provisional data from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics indicate there were an estimated 69,973 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2025—a decrease of almost 14% from the 81,313 deaths estimated in 2024. Almost all states across the nation saw decreases; Rhode Island, New York, North Carolina, Alabama and Vermont experienced declines of 25% or more. In contrast, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado had increases of 10% or more compared to the same period in 2024. The new data show that overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 55,296 in 2024 to 44,564 in 2025. Overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) decreased as well.”

“I’m cautiously optimistic that this represents really a fundamental change in the arc of the overdose crisis,” says epidemiologist Brandon Marshall. The decline is due to a combination of factors: changes in the illicit drug supply, increased awareness and education about drug risks, and the wider availability of naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Additionally, there has been a shift in drug use behaviors among younger generations, contributing to the decline.

Of course, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly attributed the decline to the president’s policies at the southern border, military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Trump’s effort to stop chemicals used to make fentanyl from being imported from China.

In 2024, the Biden administration credited its work to distribute more of the opioid-overdose-reversing drug naloxone, increased access to addiction treatment medications and support for harm reduction programs.

Regardless, kudos to all!

More security for RFK Jr. (Less for minorities?)

Lastly, the cost of enhanced security for RFK Jr. grew from $10 million to $17 million a year and was covered in part by money taken from the Office of Minority Health. In all, HHS cut $12 million from the Office of Minority Health, rather than just the $7 million that represented the increase in security costs. The Office of Minority Health was created under President Ronald Reagan after a landmark report found that Black infants in the U.S. were more likely than white babies to die and that Black life expectancy was shorter, among other disparities. The office for years has funded research and efforts to close those gaps, which have persisted. Its annual budget has been roughly $74 million. The Wall Street Journal reports that HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said the grant cuts “reflect HHS priorities and programmatic assessments—not the Secretary’s security needs.” The Trump administration in general has sought to pare back grants it views as related to diversity initiatives, and in earlier budget requests has sought to shrink funding for the office by 40%.