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The Barnes Brief: Friday, February 28, 2025
February 28, 2025
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Art of the Day

Schedule

Future

  • Friday at 9ish pm eastern: Betting w/ Barnes AMA
  • Saturday Night at 9 pm eastern: Movie TBD
  • Sunday at 6 pm eastern: Viva & Barnes, Law for the People

Book Recommendation: Have in a Heartless World by Christopher Lasch. The Family vs. the State.  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/724188.Haven_in_a_Heartless_World

Art of the Day: The last photo of my father with the family around Christmas 1985. I sit right in front of him, with my brother and mother next to him, and my sisters Martha, Brenda and little Laura rounding out the family photo. My father loved Christmas, and lived for it, and it remains my first thought whenever I think of him. I think about this as I try to defend a father stripped of the chance to even talk to his son; I can only imagine what horrifying effect such an action could have had on my father, and it reminds me why taking on difficult cases against difficult odds remains critical to defend people like him from the harms the more powerful can inflict. The family remains the haven in a world especially when that world turns heartless.

Wisdom of the Day: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglas.

The Library: Five Curated Articles of the Week

  1. Zelensky Exposed
  2. IRS Leaks
  3. Trump tariffs
  4. Bureaucracy Revealed
  5. Epstein files hidden

*Bonus: Math to the rescue?

 

Top 5 Cases TBD Sunday

  1. Senseless in Seattle
  2. Big Tech vs. Parents
  3. Hollywood drama: Privacy in Discovery
  4. SCOTUS: Trump
  5. SCOTUS: Prosecutorial Duties

*Bonus: Washington Right to Parent

 

Closing Argument: Senseless in Seattle

 

  • The upcoming trial of Kurt Benshoof is a most peculiar one – the government seeks to imprison him for a decade or more. What purports to justify this? Benshoof texted his son, sought legal claims to his car, home and custody of his son, and texted and called his son’s mother concerning his son. The government labels this “stalking” and “harassment.” Why? Because Benshoof’s real crime is his beliefs.
  • Anyone familiar with family disputes and divorces knows that people involved in such disputes can be quite unkind to one another, but rarely is it prosecuted as a crime. Benshoof’s case reveals a new front of the culture conflict: weaponizing the legal system to take away the parental rights of dissidents in a war on the family, and especially a war on fathers.
  • Benshoof objected to trans ideologies being taught to his son, objected to vaccine and mask mandates on his son, and objected to his son being given the Covid 19 vaccine. As a consequence, his son’s mother got the son vaccinated in secret, without the father’s notice or knowledge, and without informing their teenage son of any of the risk of the vaccine.
  • After the father protested, the mother took him to court. The court also did not like Benshoof’s beliefs about Covid, the vaccine, and trans ideologies being taught his son, with guardians ad litem reporting him as a “transphobe” that should be denied contact with his son. The court ultimately agreed, and prohibited Benshoof from even contacting his son or responding to his son. When Benshoof responded to his son and told him he could live with him if he wanted when he was upset, the government charged Benshoof with the crime of stalking and harassment for talking to his son and for any attempts at communicating with his son’s mother about his son. How? Because dissident belief is now “abuse”. Dissident belief is now “stalking”. Dissident belief is now “harassment.”
  • This is why the Benshoof case is consequential beyond him. It’s the fundamental right to parent one’s own children without the government dictating what beliefs are ok to share or not share with your own children, what values they will be imparted with, and whether they have to be the guinea pig in a medical experiment.
  • I took on the case despite the difficult odds – a Seattle jury pool and judicial officials hostile to Benshoof and his beliefs and fully onboard the woke cultural revolution to impose on kids – because the family is still the haven in a heartless world, and we need more fathers to care for their sons, not fewer.
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Questions for Bourbon with Barnes: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

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The Barnes Brief: Weekend of March 6, 2026

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Art of the Week

  • Roulette wheel, around, around she goes, and where she ends, nobody knows. A line from a film favorite, The Good Thief. Einstein said it could only be beat in infinity, but as the character says in the film — Einstein didn’t believe in luck. The only game of chance I ever care to play, following the wisdom of my former client and old friend, Wesley Snipes: always bet on black. Let luck be a lady, and not abandon us yet. 

B. Recommendation of the Week

C. Wisdom of the Week

  • “If wars can be started by lies, then peace can be started by truth.” Julian Assange. 

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. Trump kills MAGA. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-iran-war-has-ended-the-trump-coalition/
  2. Corny Cornyn. https://thefederalist.com/2026/03/05/10-times-john-cornyn-betrayed-trump-and-maga/
  3. Divorce Israel. https://prospect.org/2026/03/05/israel-america-alliance-iran-war-trump-rubio-netanyahu/
  4. Bye-bye One-Eyed McCain. https://unherd.com/newsroom/dan-crenshaw-lost-maga-voters-a-long-time-ago/?edition=us
  5. Delusions in Arabia. https://unherd.com/watch-listen/iran-strikes-expose-israels-permanent-war-doctrine/?edition=us

 *Bonus: Super Honey. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/scientists-make-a-super-honey-using-cocoa-bean-waste-for-chocolatey-heart-healthy-jolt/

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

  1. Wisdom. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7745503/here-s-the-simple-calculus-1-if-you-can-t-question-it-it-s-a-psyop-2-if-they-call-you
  2. Art every day. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7745081/title
  3. Proverb. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7745312/my-conclusion-is-revolution-from-above-only-benefits-those-above
  4. Prayers. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7744953/daily-morning-prayer-o-heavenly-father-forgive-us-of-our-sins-and-trespasses-give-president-trump
  5. Said it as well as anyone could. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7744989/robertbarnes-epic-fury-nah-more-like-epic-frustration

*Bonus: Chase Hughes truth. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7742399/great-quote-by-chase-hughes

C. Homework: Cases of the Week for Sunday

  1. SCOTUS: Asylum review. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-777_9ol1.pdf
  2. SCOTUS: State immunity. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1021_p860.pdf
  3. SCOTUS: Trans disclosures. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1021_p860.pdf
  4. Massie’s Iran War Resolution. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/38/text
  5. Trump tariffs challenged. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/dem-attorneys-general-sue-trump-tariffs-complaint.pdf
  6. Noem out. https://x.com/lukerosiak/status/2029613423592452409?s=20
  7. 9th Circuit affirms Trump on refugees. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2026/03/05/25-1939.pdf
  8. 9th Circuit affirms judicial limits on immigration review. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2026/03/05/24-4137.pdf
  9. Meta’s not so private glasses. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bartone-vs-meta-complaint.pdf
  10. Tik Tok sale contested. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/public-integrity-project-tiktok-us-assets-sale-lawsuit-dc-circuit.pdf
  11. Win Against DEI. https://www.campusreform.org/article/judge-blocks-california-dei-speech-mandate/29494
  12. Zoning & county authority. https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/OpinionsPDFVersion/Majority%20Opinion%20-%20M2022-01562-SC-R11-CV.pdf.

*Bonus: Psychic fortune telling turns sour. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/03/04/professor-accused-murder-tiktoker-awarded-10m

**Bonus: Uber loses. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2026/03/04/25-228.pdf

***Bonus: Not so honest sleep gummies. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/perkins-procter-ruling-030526.pdf

III. CLOSING ARGUMENT: The SAVE Act Is Constitutional

  • Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution provides for Congress to regulate Congressional elections, providing that the times, places and manner for holding state rules governing such elections to federal legislative office  “may at any time by law” be altered by Congress. 
  • Article IV, Section 2 provides that citizens of each state must be entitled all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states, while Article IV, Section 4 requires the federal government to”guarantee to every state” a “republican form of government.” 
  • Amendment XIV recognizes “the right to vote” for “citizens of the United States,” with Section 5 giving Congress the power to enforce.  
  • Amendment XV recognizes the “right of citizens of the United States to vote”, again affording Congress the power to enforce. 
  • Amendment XIX recognize again “the right of citizens of the United States to vote” and provides Congress the power to enforce.  
  • Amendment XXIV again reinforces “the right of citizens of the United States to vote” with Congress afforded power to enforce. 
  • Amendment XXVI again reinforces “the right of the citizens of the United States to vote” with Congress empowered to enforce. 
  • The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, the so-called SAVE Act, enforces these Constitutional protections and legislative powers. 
  • First, the SAVE Act does not purport to govern anything other than federal elections. 
  • Second, the SAVE Act focuses on limiting voting to “the citizens of the United States” with documentary proof required.
  • As such, the SAVE Act simply enforces the Constitutional protections for citizens the right to vote by assuring their vote isn’t diluted by non-citizens. 
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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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