Federal Judge Blocks WA Mail-in-Voting EO

A Federal Judge on 6/25/2026 Blocked Trump’s (R) Executive Order (EO) aimed at Restricting Mail-in-Voting, formally Pausing the Order’s Implementation in Washington State. Thursday’s Ruling came as Part of a Lawsuit filed by 23 Attorneys General, including Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown (D).

The EO Issued in late March, asked the U.S. Postal Service to Start Rulemaking on Vote-by-Mail Services. A USPS Proposal came 6/2/2026, which would Require States to Submit a List of Voters Receiving Mail-In or Absentee Ballots to USPS Envelopes, would then Undergo Strict Barcode Requirements. The Post Office will Time Stamp your Ballot if you ask them.

This Rule would Not Apply to Local Elections, or to Primaries and Overseas Military Voter Ballots. It would Change how Special, General, and Run-Off Federal Elections are Overseen.

Thursday’s Decision Blocked Trump from Enforcing the Executive Order and said USPS Cannot Refuse to Transmit Ballots within the Lawsuit’s Plaintiff states, including Washington. Postmaster General David Steiner (I) said on 5/24/2026 that the USPS would Follow any Court Orders, and that Under the Proposed Rule, the Postal Service would Not Deliver Ballots in any State thatRrefused to Turn Over Voter Rolls to the Trump Administration, Reuters Reported.

While the EO has been Blocked, it’s likely that the Trump Administration will Appeal. “Trump’s executive order lawfully protects our elections, and we are confident that we will ultimately prevail in its implementation,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson (R) said in a Statement.

The Deadline for Public Comments on the Proposed USPS Rrule is 7/2/2026. The Federal Government has Not Publicly said what Action they will Pursue Next. Supporters Argue the Proposal is Needed to Uphold Federal Election Security. Trump has Regularly said, Without Evidence, that Widespread Voter Fraud led to His 2020 Presidential Election Defeat. In Recounting GA Votes, Trump Lost by a Wider Margin.

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs (D) has said the Proposal Represents an Intrusion on State Authority over Eelections. In a Press Release issued 6/16/2026, Hobbs Shared His Comments to the USPS, that Urge the Postal Service to Withdraw the Proposed Rule.

“The executive order on which this proposed rule is based and the proposed rule itself are unconstitutional intrusions on state authority over elections and also violate the constitutional separation of powers,” Hobbs wrote. “A court recently agreed that the executive order’s directions to USPS were unlawful, and the USPS has no constitutional authority to interfere with state regulation of the time, place, and manner of holding elections. The court specifically forbid the USPS from proposing or implementing rules outlined in the executive order for the November 3, 2026 election and all earlier elections.”

Hobbs Argued that there isn’t Enough Ttime to put the Rule in Place before the Election in 2026, and that it “would be a financial burden on an electoral system that currently functions well despite limited resources.”

He said that the Proposed Rrule would have “an equal effect on state and local ballots that appear on our consolidated election ballots.”

Putting theRrule in Place in 6/2026 would mean that “counties may not be able to use the ballot envelopes they have already purchased,” He wrote.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

NYC Mayor Will Not Enforce End of TPS for Haitians and Syrians

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) said 6/25/2026, that He will Not Enforce the Supreme Court's Ruling that Ends Deportation Protections for Haitian and Syrian Migrants.

In a Majority Opinion Authored by Justice Samuel Alito (I) Earlier in the Day, the Court held that the Challengers of-Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Beneficiaries from Syria and Haiti, were Not Entitled to Interim Relief, Blocking the Termination of their TPS Designations.

The High Court Concluded that the TPS Statute Limits Judicial Review of Non-Constitutional Claims, and Prevents Courts from Second-Guessing the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) TPS Termination Decisions on those Grounds.

"To have people who frankly taught the world about freedom have their own freedom put into jeopardy by the actions of a Supreme Court and federal administration - it is not only cruel, it's not something we will ever accept," Mamdani said in a Video Message.

Mamdani also Accused the Supreme Court, in a Separate Statement, of Indirectly allowing One of the "largest attacks against immigrants in modern American history" to take Place.

"This decision will cause enormous pain across the five boroughs" Mamdani said. "Here in New York, it falls hardest on our Haitian community, one of the largest in the country, alongside Syrian families."

"To the tens of thousands of New Yorkers with TPS who are watching the news, frightened about what comes next, hear me clearly: New York City is your home," He continued. "You belong here. We will not turn our backs on you."

The Mayor's Ooffice added that it will Release Resources for Migrant Families soon, and the City's Sanctuary Laws, already Prevent Local Law Enforcement from Enforcing Federal Immigration Laws and Operations, or Cooperating with ICE.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Raises Flag on Black Sea Spit

Russia Retreats after 4 years. A Spit is a type of Coastal Landform, a Narrow, Elongated Strip of Land that Extends from the Mainland or an Island into the Sea, often formed by Longshore Drift Depositing Sediment along the Shoreline.

Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces Raised the National Flag on the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast on 6/25/2026, a Strategic Territory Russia has Occupied since 3/2022.

Russian ForcesR Retreated under Heavy Fire, after Ukrainian Strikes Severed All Supply Lines to the Peninsula.

The Kinburn Spit Controls Access between the Black Sea and the Dnipro River Delta, Threatening Russian Fire Capability against Mykolaiv, Ochakiv, and Odesa Ports.

Ukraine's Navy Confirmed: "The enemy was forced to retreat, that is true."

Ukraine's Southern Command Declared: "Our tanks will reach Dzhankoi" in Occupied Crimea.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Picks OK Law Enforcement Official to Lead ICE

Trump (R) on 6/27/2026 tapped little-known Oklahoma Law Enforcement Officer, Lance Schroyer (R) to Serve as the Next Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Elevating a Relatively Obscure Figure to Lead One of the Administration’s Hhighest-Profile Agencies, as it Ramps Up its Mass Deportation Campaign.

Trump described Schroyer as “a PATRIOT with real operational experience" in a Post on Truth Social, calling Him a "proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.”

Trump Highlighted Schroyer's nearly 30 years in Law Enforcement, including HisWwork as an Oklahoma State Trooper, Marine, and Leader of Partnerships between Local Law Enforcement and ICE, under the Agency's 287(g) Program. Trump said Schroyer "has what it takes to DETAIN AND DEPORT Illegal Alien Criminals" and urged the Senate to "CONFIRM Lance, IMMEDIATELY."

The Nomination comes as the Trump Administration continues to make Immigration Enforcement the Centerpiece of its Second Term Agenda. ICE has Expanded Wworkplace Raids and Interior Enforcement Operations, while Relying more Heavily on State and Local Law Eenforcement Agencies through 287(g) Agreements. But the Agency has moved away from the Flashy, and Controversial, Enforcement Tactics, Championed by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (R) over the last few months.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin (R), who was a Senator from Oklahoma before joining the Cabinet, Praised the Nomination, saying Schroyer is "coming straight from the operational field" after Leading Large-Scale Enforcement Efforts alongside State and Federal Partners in Oklahoma. He said Schroyer's Experience would Help ICE "target, arrest, and deport illegal aliens."

Schroyer would Replace Acting ICE Director David Venturella (R), who has Lled the Agency since May 2026, upon the Retirement of Embattled ICE Chief Todd Lyon (I).

Venturella is a Close Ally of Border Czar Tom Homan (R), who did Stints at ICE, and as a Major Immigration Detention Contractor before Joining the Second Trump Administration. Venturella will Remain as Acting Director until Schroyer’s Confirmation.

If Confirmed, Schroyer would become the First Senate Cnfirmed ICE Director, since Sarah Saldaña (I) was Confirmed in 2014, Ending an 11-year Stretch in which the Agency has been Run by Acting Leaders.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Millions Dropped ACA Care Plans after Subsidies Ended

About Four Million Americans have Dropped Out of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Insurance Coverage this year, as Costs Soared due to the Loss of Enhanced Subsidies.

The Figures released late 6/26/2026 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Offer the Most Complete Look to Date, at what happened to Enrollment after Republicans in Congress Failed to Extend Enhanced ACA Subsidies at the End of 2025.

The Loss of those Subsidies Spiked many People’s Premiums by Double Digits; the New Coverage Numbers likely Reflect the Sticker Shock Americans Experienced. Unable to Pay, they Dropped their Coverage.

The Report from the Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation said that an Estimated 19.2 Million people are Enrolled in ACA Plans as of 2/2026. That’s a Drop of more than 16% from the 23 million People who Signed Up for Coverage at the End of Open Enrollment, which Itself was about 1 million Fewer than 2025.

Health Costs will likely Play a Key Role in November’s Midterm Elections, with Democrats pointing not just to the Subsidy Expiration, but also to Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill and Other Trump (R) Regulatory Moves.

Democrats Shut Down the Government for a record 45 Days in 2025, but Failed to get an Extension of the Enhanced Credits in Return for their Support on Voting to Reopen the Government. Instead, Republicans promised to give them a Vote on a Bill of their Choosing to Extend the Subsidies. But the vote Failed, and the Subsidies Expired at the start of 2026.

ACA Enrollment grew sharply during the Biden (D) Administration, and the Latest Numbers are Still the Highest Enrollment of any Year before 2024.

Administration Officials and Congressional Republicans contend the Estimates of the Numbers of People Losing Insurance have been Overblown. The HHS Report focused on Fraud and Improper Enrollments, insisting that the Decreased Enrollment is because of the Trump (R) Administration’s Fraud Control efforts.

But Insurers and Health Policy Experts have been Warning that a Steep Enrollment Drop was Imminent, Once People’s First Premium Bills came Due.

Experts have said they are Not Expecting a “Death Spiral” in the Marketplace or a Repeat of 2017, when Political Uncertainty about the Future of the Law, combined with Rising Premiums and Plan Exits, Raised Fears of “insurance deserts.”

But Falling Enrollments as well as Large Numbers of People Switching to Less Generous, High-Deductible Bronze Plans are Contributing to Concerns about Stability.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukrainian Strikes Major Russian Missile Plant

Ukraine’s Home-Made Flamingo Missiles have Struck a Key Russian Military Facility more than 300 miles Behind the War’s Front Lines. The Long-Range Missiles, which only entered Service 5/2026, Targeted the Titan-Barrikady Research and Production Center in the City of Volgograd, Overnight on 6/26/2026.

the Strike, which caused a Fire at the Plant, Volodymyr Zelensky said the Facility was a “just target for our long-range sanctions. It is a major industrial complex where the enemy produces artillery systems and specialised military equipment”, the Ukrainian President wrote on X.

Launchers for Russia’s Yars Nuclear Missile system are Manufactured at the Facility, as well as those for the Iskander Ballistic Missile. Titan-Barrikady is Considered One of the Leading Centres of Russia’s Military Development. Besides the Launchers, it Produces an Array of Weaponry, including Artillery Systems and Anti-Ship Missile Systems.

Part of Roscomos, the State-Owned Space Agency, the Complex is One of the Few Russian Sites that can Manufacture Military Equipment All the Way from the First Design Stage to the Final Production. Denis Shtilerman, the Co-Founder of Fire Point, which Manufactures the Flamingos, posted Footage of the Launch of Five of the Missiles on Social Media.

Andrei Bochrov, the Governor of the Russian Oblast, Confirmed that “production facilities” at an Unnamed Enterprise were Damaged in a Strike by “high-speed aerial targets”. He added that 10 People were Injured and were Receiving Medical Treatment.

Zelensky announced last Week that Kyiv was Beginning a 40-day Campaign aimed at Pressuring Russia to End the War. Further Ukrainian Strikes Struck a Pantsir-S1 Air Defence System and a Car Ferry in Occupied Crimea, where Residents have beenIincreasingly Cut Off from Supplies of Fuel and other Goods, by a Punishing Series of Drone Attacks along the Land-Bridge back to Russia. When they can get Fuel they have to pay with Case.

The Flamingo Missile has a Reported Range of around 2,000 miles. Its Development allows Ukraine to Carry Out Heavy Strikes Deep inside Russia, without Support from Western Partners, a Potentially Critical Development in the War. Long-Range Drones have Smashed into Russian Fuel Facilities over the Course of the Year, Cutting Output by around 20%.

Ballistic Missiles such as the Flamingo Travel much Faster and Carry a Significantly Heavier Payload, bringing Sensitive Sites such as Titan-Barrikady into Fresh Danger. Earlier this Month, Flamingo Missiles Flew 600 miles to Strike a Factory making Components for Russian Drones.

They Hit the Progress Factory in Cheboksary, the Capital of Russia’s Chuvash Republic, where Moscow has Produced Antennas that Help Drones Resist Electronic Jamming. Russian Citizens have begun to Bear more of the Costs of the War as Ukrainian Strikes on Fuel Facilities have seen Supplies of Petrol run Short.

On Saturday, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said its Drones Attacked the Vtorovo Oil Pumping Station in Russia’s Vladimir Region, Near Moscow, for the Second time this month. The Station is a Key Logistics Hub used to Ship Petroleum Products to Russian Domestic Consumers and also for Export, the SBU said on Telegram. Also Overnight, Russian Strikes on Ukraine Killed Two People and Injured 20, according to Ukrainian Authorities.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

UK to Help Ukraine at Russia’s Expense

How much does London Plan to Receive from the Confiscated Russian Shadow Vessel, in Support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine? The United Kingdom (UK) Plans to Auction off Oil from the Seized Russian Shadow Tanker Smirtos, to Raise Funds for Ukraine’s War Wffort.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is Considering the Sale of 98,000 tonnes of Russian Urals Crude Oil. The Market Value of the Cargo is Estimated at around £35 million (over $44 million). Since the Vessel Violated Sanctions Legislation, UK Officials believe the Seized Oil now Legally belongs to the UK.

Two Options are currently being considered for the use of the proceeds: A Direct Ttransfer of Funds to Ukraine, or Financing Military Equipment and Supplies for the Front Line An Alternative Option is also being Discussed, Processing the Fuel Ddomestically for the UK’s Internal Energy Supply. However, a Mechanism for Transferring the Oil from the State to Private Energy Companies has Not yet been Defined.

The Russian Tanker Smirtos was Detained in the English Channel on 6/14/2026, with the Involvement of the Royal Marines. The Vessel is Currently Anchored Off the Coast of Weymouth, under the Control of the UK Ministry of Defense. After the National Crime Agency's Investigation is Completed, the Ship is Expected to be Released and Aallowed to Return to Russia.

At the same time, the Ship’s Captain, an Indian National named Ajay Pant, has been Charged with Intentionally Evading Sanctions and Illegally Transporting Russian Petroleum Products. He will remain in Custody until a Court Hearing Scheduled for 7/16/2026. The Defense Argues that the Captain was merely Following Orders and did Not Control the Route.

UK Officials Stress that the Operation is Only the Beginning of a Broader Campaign against Russia’s Shadow Fleet. The Situation is further Complicated by the Fact that some Russian Tankers, in the English Channel, are Escorted by Russian Warships, which Hinders their Direct Seizure. Interception of Russia’s Shadow Fleet Vessels

European Countries have Recently Significantly Increased Pressure on Russia’s Shadow Fleet, which Attempts to Bypass International Maritime Restrictions. In Particular, French Naval Forces Detained the Oil Tanker Deliver off the Coast of Sicily, after it was Found to be Operating in Violation of Maritime Law.

As French President Emmanuel Macron Stated, Europe is Closing Maritime Loopholes for Russian Oil, Thanks to a United and Decisive Stance by its Allies. This became Possible after the EU Council Decided to Expand the Mandate of the IRINI Naval Mission in the Mediterranean.

At the time, the Relevant Authorities also Clarified how Measures against Russia’s Shadow Fleet Vessels would be Enforced, and why Military Personnel are now Allowed to Board Ssuspected Tankers even Without the Consent of their Captains.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker