Supreme Court (finally) thumps Trump's mail-ballot malice

U.S. Supreme Court: Never mind. Joe Lombardo has been on a general election ballot in Nevada three times (this year will be his fourth) — twice as a candidate for Clark County sheriff and once as a candidate for governor. He won all three of those races. So he might be expected to have some faith and trust in Nevada’s election systems and processes, no?

Last spring, Trump issued an executive order that effectively proclaimed he and his slavering henchmen and minions — not states, as authorized in the U.S. Constitution —  would be deciding who among us gets to vote by mail and who doesn’t. Last night the U.S. Supreme Court finally stated the obvious: Trump is full of it. 

The Supreme Court should have tossed Trump’s assault on democracy and the rule of law long ago. But of course the court dithered and played footsie and strived to appease and mollify the Tantrum Thrower in Chief at every turn for as long as it possibly could, because that’s how it rolls these days.

The upshot has been (at least) twofold. 

First, Trump has aggressively pushed his vile lies about mail ballots, furthering his crusade to undermine faith in democracy, which he hates, being an authoritarian and all.

And fears that a suspect Supreme Court could side with Trump, thus severely upending mail voting in Nevada and the nation, have caused widespread consternation and confusion, which has been accompanied by federal harassment and abuse of state and local election workers. 

(An obsequious Supreme/Supine Court’s preciously needless foot-dragging on this “case” is another argument for expanding and reforming the court. But I digress.)

Now, well, whew.

Mail ballots will be sent as usual. You may choose to vote with them (lots and lots of Nevadans have become fond of doing so). Or you may choose to vote in person, perhaps early, or maybe go old school and vote on Election Day.

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron Ford (the latter is running for governor against Lombardo), both of whom have been involved in fighting Trump’s imperious and unconstitutional attack on voting by mail, issued statements last night. The ruling’s upshot, as Ford put it: “Nevadans can continue to vote in the way they best see fit without burdensome, unlawful interference from Washington.”

Lombardo should consider issuing a statement of his own assuring voters of the safety and reliability of mail voting, a malignant Trump’s despicable effort to undermine faith in the popular practice notwithstanding (though Lombardo might phrase that part differently). Republicans — especially rural ones — vote by mail too, after all. Surely the governor doesn’t want them to skip the election because Trump’s hissy fits have confused them?

IN NEVADA CURRENT

Tariffs, for one thing. “This is the first time in recent history that RAN has endorsed a Democratic candidate for governor,” the Retail Association of Nevada noted in its endorsement statement. In addition to Lombardo going along with Trump policies, the association noted that Lombardo didn’t meet with the organization. Too busy, I guess. Dana Gentry reports: Business group abandons Lombardo in favor of Ford

Note: The last time RAN endorsed a Democrat for governor was 32 years ago, when Bob Miller was seeking reelection in 1994. Miller defeated Republican Jim Gibbons. Maybe Joe Lombardo is the new Jim Gibbons ha ha! (Google him, youngn’s.)

What’s up with school cops? The Clark County School District Police Department’s first legislatively mandated use of force findings, which showed when pepper spray or stun guns were deployed during the 2025-26 school year it was overwhelmingly against Black people, raises more questions about school police practices that prompted the report’s requirement in the first place. Micheal Lyle reports: Clark school district police use of force report raises more questions about tactics, racial bias

Also…

Supreme Court blocks Trump rule restricting mail voting. The D.C. bureau’s report on the court ruling, with a sidebar on reaction from NV SOS Aguilar.

Nevada among jurisdictions suing Trump administration over new green card restrictions. Via Stateline.

Good luck