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"There has been an “advancement” in hostage negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in the Knesset plenum on Monday.

The advancement was “small,” and Netanyahu said that he did not know how much longer the negotiations would take in order to reach an agreement.

Netanyahu argued that there were three reasons for the advancement – the fact that Hamas Yahya Sinwar has been killed; the fact that Iran and Hezbollah are no longer actively backing Hamas; and the fact that Hamas continues to suffer blows. Netanyahu also said that there was a “change” among our “neighbors,” that could lead to an enlargement of the “circle of peace.” These were an outcome of “tectonic changes” in the Middle East that were a result of Israel’s actions, Netanyahu said..."
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-834598
"Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have been attacking Israel for a year, since October 7, 2023, initiating attacks almost immediately after the Hamas attack, first targeting US forces in Syria and Iraq and then expanding the attacks to strike at Israel.

These groups call themselves the Islamic Resistance in Iraq but are actually made up of several militias and groups, and usually use drones to target Israel due to the geographic distance.

A report this week indicates that some of these groups have scaled back the attacks following the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire signed on November 27, which ended Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel. An Al-Akhbar report on Monday – from an outlet generally seen as pro-Hezbollah – indicated that some of the Iraqi groups agreed to cease attacks..."
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-834583
"Violence and coercion has resulted in up to a 90% decline in the Christian population in areas under Hamas or Palestinian Authority control, according to a new study by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA).

In 1922, Christians constituted 11% of the population. Today, in 2024, they are just 1%.

The JCFA research, led by Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch and Attorney Tirza Shorr, discovered mass emigration of Christians, particularly from historically significant cities like Bethlehem. "Demographics don’t lie. We are witnessing a significant 80-90% decline in the Christian population in major cities," the researchers emphasized.

The Christian population in Gaza shrank from 5,000 before Hamas took over the area to only 1,000 in October 2023, the report found. JCFA explained that religious and legal discrimination, desecration of holy sites, and social exclusion were behind the decline in the Christian population.

The city of Bethlehem is used as an illustration of what JCFA calls "Christian demographic erasure." In 1950, Bethlehem and the surrounding villages were 86% Christian.

However, this has dwindled since 1994, when the PA took control of the city. The last census in 2017 showed Bethlehem was 10% Christian families, but many have left, or are leaving, due to systemic socio-economic hardships and instability, discrimination, and harassment, including of Christian clergy, by Muslim Palestinians and the Islam-dominated Palestinian Authority.

Bethlehem also serves as an example of Christians undergoing forced conversion to Islam, a phenomenon that Gaza’s Bishop Alexios, warned of in 2016. "Christians who converted to Islam did so under threats and violence," Alexios said at the time. "The mass exodus of the Christians risks undermining the survival of Christianity in its birthplace," the report added.

The report also collected testimonies regarding violence and harassment against Christians, especially of girls, since the PA took over.

Muslim clans reportedly also use force to resolve disputes.

Most cases, however, go unreported due to fear of retribution and a lack of legal enforcement.

"The survival of Christianity in its birthplace depends on awareness and action. Silence strengthens the perpetrators and leaves the victims without international support," Hirsch said.

"It’s unacceptable that in 2025, Christians in the Palestinian Authority fear reporting hate incidents against them for fear of arrest or worse," the report concludes."
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-834585

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Psychic ordered to pay $10 million for defamation

Bet she didn't see that one coming...

00:12:25
March 04, 2026
We got Manny outside

He didn’t go far, but it’s progress.

00:00:33
March 04, 2026
Tim Walz testifying on fraud

You’ve got to hear this exchange with him and Nancy Mace.

The man is not as stupid as he pretends to be.

But my goodness, does he pretend to be stupid.

00:04:12
February 17, 2024
Appearance on Richard Syrette

I did a quick hit on Richard Syrette yesterday. Gotta keep Canadians apprised of the U.S. madness.

Appearance on Richard Syrette
The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023

Closing Argument: Birthright citizenship is deeply American, and wholly Constitutional.

The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023
Declaration of Independence

Audio podcast style.

Declaration of Independence
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The Barnes Brief: Friday, February 27, 2026

I. INTRODUCTION

 

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The Barnes Brief: Weekend of February 20, 2026

I. INTRODUCTION

A.  Art of the Week

  • When Picasso painted me before I was born, his portrait of famous patron saint of the arts, Ambroise Vollard. The painting struck my brother when he first saw it in person, as a biographical portrait of yours truly. The intensive, internal self-reflection expresses a true self-recognition. My favorite portrait to this day, even if only of me across the psychic plains of time and space.  

B.  Recommendation of the Week

C. Wisdom of the Week

  • “I am a tariff man, with a tariff plan, standing on a tariff platform.” President William McKinley. 

D.  Appearances

II. THE EVIDENCE

  • A reminder: links are NOT endorsements of the authors or their interpretation of events, but intended to expand our library of understanding as well as expose ideas of distinct perspective to our own. 

A. Barnes Library: Curated Weekly Articles of Interest

  1. 1776 Law Center Survey: War Vote Mirrors Midterms https://www.bigdatapoll.com/blog/democrats-expand-generic-ballot-lead-in-february/
  2. Iran War risk. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/war-on-iran-is-the-opposite-of-realism/
  3. Welfare state fraud. https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/the-democrats-fraud-problem
  4. Utility battles. https://prospect.org/2026/02/19/blackstone-private-equity-utility-acquisition-new-mexico-public-service-txnm-energy/
  5. Remembering Jessie Jackson. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/jesse-jackson-complicated-man/

*Bonus: Bald eagle rescued. https://abc7ny.com/post/nypd-officers-describe-rare-rescue-trapped-american-bald-eagle-icy-hudson-river-nyc/18616678/

B. Best of the Board: Five Fantastic Posts of the Week

  1. Bill Brown’s comedic relief. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7704528/title
  2. Jonathan’s prayer. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7704685/morning-daily-prayer-heavenly-father-i-thank-you-for-blessings-everyday-i-thank-you-for-my-beloved
  3. Meme magic. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7704745/title
  4. Bountiful art. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7704798/title
  5. Board thoughts on Iran war. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7700010/board-poll-war-in-iran

*Bonus: Bondi mockery. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7703469/spotted-all-over-washington-dc-while-i-normally-don-t-share-the-political-views-of-people-in-dc

**Bonus: Weekly Wisdom. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7704649/the-intersection-of-politics-youtube-commentary-and-critical-traffic-infrastructure-https-you

C. Homework: Cases of the Week for Sunday

  1. SCOTUS: Tariffs. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf
  2. Facebook trial. https://courthousenews.com/safety-was-someone-elses-problem-ex-facebook-vp-says-in-teen-social-media-trial/
  3. Jury bias in Musk case. https://courthousenews.com/contempt-for-musk-clouds-jury-selection-in-twitter-takeover-trial/
  4. Amazon death. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/amazon-nitrite-washington-supreme-court-2.pdf
  5. Virginia redistricting stalls. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/tazewell-injunction.pdf
  6. British ex-royal arrested. https://courthousenews.com/ex-prince-andrew-arrested-on-suspicion-of-sharing-sensitive-documents-with-epstein/
  7. Firetruck monopoly. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mke-v-fire-truck-manufacturers.pdf
  8. ICE churches. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/synod-v-dhs-ice-injunction.pdf
  9. Tina Peters denied bond. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/people-tina-peters-order-bond.pdf
  10. Slushie fraud. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/slush-puppie-forged-email-with-icee.pdf
  11. The HP merger case. https://business.cch.com/ald/USvHewlettPackardEnterpriseCo122025.pdf
  12. Tunney Act Trump DOJ risks. https://prospect.org/2025/07/29/2025-07-29-law-could-blow-open-trump-antitrust-corruption/

*Lobbyist disclosure laws. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/chapter-26

**Lobbying disclosure guidelines. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/resources/pdf/S1guidance.pdf

***Transanity in Canada. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7704549/tribunal-ruling-out-of-british-columbia-canada

III. CLOSING ARGUMENT: Constitution Masterclass Series — Article I, Tariffs

  • Article I, section 7 enumerates the power “for raising revenue” to the legislative branch of Congress, commencing with the House and continuing onto the senate. 
  • Article I, section 8, clause 1 enumerates the power “to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises” to the legislative branch in Congress. 
  • Article I, section 8, clause 3 enumerates the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations” to the legislative branch in Congress. 
  • Article I, section  8, clause 5 enumerates the power to “fix the standard of weights and measures” to the legislative branch in Congress. 
  • Article I, section 8, clause 10 enumerates the power to “define and punish” those “offenses against the law of nations” to the legislative branch in Congress. 
  • Article I, section 8, clause 11, enumerates the power to “declare war” as well as “grant letters of marque and reprisal” and “make rules concerning captures on land and water,” to the legislative branch in Congress. 
  • Article I, section 8, clause 18 enumerates the power to “make all laws” that “shall be necessary and proper” for effectuating those other enumerated powers itemized above in the tariff context. 
  • Article I, section 10, clause 2 prohibits states from imposing any imposts or duties on imports or exports except as necessary for inspections. 
  • In aggregate and in particular, the Constitution enumerates to the legislative branch the power to tariff. Hence, any claim of Presidential power to tariff must derive from delegated authorizations issued by Congress. This runs into the NonDelegation doctrine. 
  • Article I, Section I enumerates “all legislative powers” must be exclusively “vested in a Congress” not the executive or judicial branch of government. Thus, the act of a tariff imposition by the President must be both exclusively authorized by Congress and not be a “legislative act” within the meaning of Article I, Section 1. That construction depends largely on the Supreme Court’s construal of it over time, which is beyond the plain text of the Constitution.  
  • Short answer: had Trump stayed strictly within the tariff authorization delegations of Congress, and without looking like “making law” in the process, then his tariffs could win judicial assent. Trump’s failure to follow those guidelines — as advised to do by Commerce Secretary and Epstein Class graduate Howard Lutnick, whose sons profit billions from the court striking down the tariffs — buried his chance at tariff approval by the Supreme Court, unfortunately. 
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The Barnes Brief, Valentine's Weekend, 2026

I. INTRODUCTION

A.  Art of the Week

  • All I want for Valentine's is Lady Justice. Archangel Michael delivering justice, as we need for those in the Epstein Class. 

B.  Recommendation of the Week

C.  Wisdom of the Week

  • “I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office.” Andrew Jackson. 

D.  Appearances

II. THE EVIDENCE

A reminder: links are NOT endorsements of the authors or their interpretation of events, but intended to expand our library of understanding as well as expose ideas of distinct perspective to our own. 

A. Barnes Library: Ten of the Top Curated Weekly Articles

  1. The Epstein elite. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/unsettling-truths-epstein-files-reveal-about-power-and-privilege
  2. Corruption of the academy. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/mellon-foundation-humanities-research-funding/685733/
  3. Israel 1st wants to end Free Speech. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/02/13/is_free_speech_really_the_highest_value_153834.html
  4. Nobody likes Newsom. https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/gavin-newsom-youre-no-bill-clinton
  5. Hawley-Warren bill seeks to end monopoly in medicine. https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/senators-seek-to-smash-big-medicine
  6. Polymarket grocery stores. https://unherd.com/newsroom/inside-polymarkets-free-public-grocery-store/
  7. Security State. https://greenwald.substack.com/p/amazons-ring-and-googles-nest-unwittingly
  8. Housing market woes. https://substack.com/home/post/p-187448844
  9. Leverage risks. https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/countdown-to-detonation-americas
  10. Epstein network. https://epstein-doc-explorer-1.onrender.com

B. Homework: Cases of the Week for Sunday

  1. Texas AG joins Dr. Bowden. https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Bowden%20Intervention%20(Filed)_0.pdf
  2. Alex Jones sues. https://www.scribd.com/document/997131709/Alex-Jones-Amended-Counterclaim-for-Filing-In-The-United-States-Bankruptcy-Court-For-The-Southern-District-Of-Texas
  3. Gail Slater removed. https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/trump-antitrust-chief-ousted-by-ticketmaster
  4. I will sue Mike Davis. https://x.com/barnes_law/status/2022467828255768629?s=20
  5. Wisconsin election integrity takes a loss. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/wisconsin-ballot-spoiling-ban-reversed.pdf
  6. Texas election integrity gets a win. https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-50783-CV0.pdf
  7. Two big 2A cases in 3rd. https://courthousenews.com/two-third-circuit-hearings-could-reshape-nations-second-amendment-rights/
  8. Another TPS order blocked. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/african-communities-v-noem-mass-ruling.pdf
  9. Epstein BOA suit goes forward. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/doe-v-bank-of-america-new-york-ruling.pdf
  10. Dollar Tree death. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/max-antonio-garay-v-dollar-tree.pdf
  11. Boasberg latest insanity. https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025cv0766-247
  12. Trump immigration win. https://www.phelps.com/a/web/r5pKxiJkFZ7QKozjTbS8V2/ca5detention.pdf

*Bonus: Livenation Ticketmaster Antitrust https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/live-nation-doj-lawsuit-after-gail-slater-resignation-1236504011/

**Bonus: NCAAF eligibility suit. https://www.knoxnews.com/picture-gallery/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2026/02/13/joey-aguilar-eligibility-hearing-tennessee-vs-ncaa/88659399007/

***Bonus: AI plagiarism win. https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/adelphi-university-ai-plagiarism-lawsuit-oh07enyz

C. Best of the Board: Ten of the Top Posts

  1. Too much truth. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7688284/best-explanation-of-our-two-party-system-benowen
  2. Life on the line. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7687846/god-bless-and-protect-thomas-massie
  3. Prayer & a cute dog. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7688117/daily-prayer-2-0-heavenly-father-give-us-comfort-and-wisdom-allow-us-to-trust-your-judgement-and-y
  4. Surf. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7688060/pipeline-hawaii
  5. Real diversity. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7688513/title
  6. Hush Hush ideas. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7688104/robertbarnes-just-saw-a-news-article-talking-about-the-great-chicago-fire-being-started-by-communis
  7. Wisdom. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7687331/title
  8. Bill Brown Proverbs. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7686413/title
  9. Truth. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7684892/title
  10. My answer is Yes. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7687202/does-god-answer-your-prayers-i-ask-because-i-pray-everyday-whether-typed-down-here-or-mentally-reci

III. CLOSING ARGUMENT: Constitution Masterclass Series — Article I, Elections

  • Article I, section 4 empowered the legislative branch of the federal government — the Congress — “may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations” otherwise set by the legislatures of the state governing the “elections for Senators and Representatives” except to the Places of chusing Senators, later modified by the Seventeenth Amendment. Each House can further be the “Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members” including the power to expel “with the Concurrence of two thirds.” The Constitution affords no express power to Congress to elect the President or elect those to state or local office. And remember, Article I powers are constricted to those “herein granted” explicitly within the Constitution. 
  • Representatives must be “apportioned” amongst the States “according to their respective Numbers”, a determination made by “adding to the whole Number of free Persons” certain individuals no longer referenced after the Fourteenth Amendment. The “actual enumeration” of this apportionment “shall be made…within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.” The original intention was that there were at least one representative for “every thirty Thousand”.
  • The Fourteenth Amendment modified these provisions by stating representatives be apportioned “to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed.” Of note, the provision also stripped representation of any state which limited Presidential electors beyond the limits of gender, age, citizenship, crime, or rebellion. 
  • The Fifteenth Amendment modified these provisions further by providing a “right of citizens of the United States to vote” and that such a right could not be denied on basis of race. 
  • The Seventeenth Amendment modified these provisions further by providing that the “people thereof” elect the Senators instead of the legislative branches of those state governments. 
  • The Nineteenth Amendment modified the provisions even further by expanding the Fifteenth Amendment’s right of citizens to vote to women. 
  • The TwentyFourth Amendment modified these provisions even further by holding the right of the citizens to vote in federal elections could not be limited based on taxes, including poll taxes. 
  • The Twenty-Sixth Amendment expanded these voting rights to include those 18 years of age or older that are citizens. 
  • Each of these Amendments repeated: “the right citizens of the United States to vote” as the entire premise of these Amendments to the Constitution for governing elections. Yet, somehow, the courts held in 2020 no such right existed to even afford standing to request judicial relief from stolen elections for the highest office in the land, and even when brought between states for the only nationally elected office? 
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