I. INTRODUCTION

**Alert: Amos Miller Special Dinner Fundraiser: https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7756876/1776-law-center-fundraiser-birthday-bash-at-amos-millers

A. Art of the Week

• From a board member, this photo captures a place I want to someday retreat to — out in the woods, with a wood fireplace inside & out, in a cozy cabin that embraces its surroundings while escaping the busy, busy world of concrete interiors and crowd-field valleys between mountainous walls of sky-rising office towers and condos. A place to be still with nature and within it while outside its colder embrace. 

B. Recommendation of the Week

• Pat Buchanan warning us three decades ago: America is a Republic, Not an Empire. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/765037.A_Republic_Not_an_Empire

C. Wisdom of the Week

• "My apprehension is traceable, too, to a belief that our republic has begun to retrace, step by step, the march of folly that led to the fall of the British and every other great empire.” Pat Buchanan, 1999.  

D. Appearances

• LIVE on Charlie Kirk Show
  
• LIVE w/ Baris
  
• LIVE w/ Lt. Col. Davis
• LIVE Monday on Bracket Breakdown https://sportspicks.locals.com/post/7765283/live-breaking-down-the-brackets-betting-w-barnes-monday-march-16-2026

II. THE EVIDENCE

*NOTE: 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

1. Myth of EU Military. https://eventsinukraine.substack.com/p/eu-weapons-complex-rises
2. Populists oppose the war. https://x.com/PatrickBashamDI/status/2032186099804651697?s=20
3. Trouble in private credit markets. https://www.aol.com/veteran-fund-manager-george-noble-093001166.html
4. Cuba next? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/03/13/cuba-confirms-talks-trump-economic-deal/89132765007/
5. SAVE Act struggles. https://spectator.com/article/trump-defeat-senate-republicans-save-act/?edition=us&rcp=true

 *Bonus: Rescuing sloths.

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

1. Tennessee toward top of move-in list. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7764685/title
2. Truth. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7764970/they-had-a-golden-opportunity-squandered-to-do-the-bidding-of-another-country
3. Humor. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7764477/been-there
4. Epstein as global framing. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7765282/title
5. Mematic truth. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7764927/title

*Bonus: Spooky day. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7765058/title

C. Homework: Cases of the Week for Sunday

1. Antitrust settlement controversy. https://prospect.org/2026/03/09/live-nation-settlement-spurs-chaos-in-court/
2. Social media to jury. https://courthousenews.com/landmark-social-media-addiction-trial-heads-to-jury/
3. Israel lets war criminals walk. https://x.com/TRHLofficial/status/2032256539830972614?s=20
4. Israel at ICJ. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/united-states-declaration-of-intervention-genocide-in-the-gaza-strip-icj.pdf.pdf
5. Torture verdict. https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/251043.P.pdf
6. Judges protect DEI. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/institute-for-applied-ecology-v-burgum-opinion-dei-grants.pdf
7. Online risks to kids. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/netchoice-vs-bonta-opinion.pdf
8. Richins murder trial. https://www.fox13now.com/news/crime/kouri-richins-defense-team-surprisingly-rests-case-without-calling-single-witness
9. Qui Tam win over Pharma fraud. https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/241793.P.pdf
10. Necessary parties. https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/232316.P.pdf
11. Trans care mandates. https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/movaokabwva/USA_HEALTH_TRANSGENDER_WESTVIRGINIA.pdf
12. 1st Amendment in schools. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BB-Capistrano-Unified-ninth-circuit-opinion.pdf

*Bonus: Italy court affirms citizenship limits. https://www.cortecostituzionale.it/uploads/release/69b2adc90cb9b.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawQgK8hleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0UG41c3M1aWhsTHZ4U1lyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhvXqFDR4BGvMTH3XKnxYxpQ-KxzoZCTGOtJDHeTDemH3z9pPKTgaJtL2dME_aem_rFeIHB6Nrrwte1UJXunMPA

**Bonus: Limits of Anti-SLAPP. https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/OpinionsPDFVersion/Majority%20Opinion%20-%20W2022-01636-SC-R11-CV.pdf

***Bonus: EV Mandate. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/trump-california-ev-mandate-complaint.pdf

D. Deep Dive: Iran War Risks

1. $50B more for Iran War. https://debtdispatch.substack.com/p/5-reasons-the-us-should-not-spend
2. Battle of weapons attrition. https://mrandrewfox.substack.com/p/the-iran-war-is-now-an-ammunition
3. Epic Folly? https://richardhaass.substack.com/p/epic-folly-march-12-2026
4. China? https://greenwald.substack.com/p/iran-war-supporters-invent-a-new
5. Nukes? https://sonar21.com/should-iran-build-a-nuke-game-theory-says-yes/

*Bonus: Chess strategy needed. https://fallows.substack.com/p/the-arrogance-of-ignorance

III. CLOSING ARGUMENT: Article I, Defining War Crimes 

• Two sources in the Constitution provide the power to Congress to define war crimes. 
• First, Section 8 of Article I provides three separate sources of legislative authority, as Congress is a body of only defined, express powers, not inferred, implicit or broad powers. Article 1, Section 8 provides that Congress “shall have Power” to “define and punish Piracies and Felonies on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations”; “to declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water”; “to make Rules for the government and Regulation of the land and Naval forces.”
• Second, the Congress enjoys the power to enforce Treaties. Article VI provides “all Treaties made, and which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.” 
• The phrase “the Law of Nations” derives from a popular scholastic legal work in many a library of the Founding generation entitled: The Law of Nations, or Principles of the Law of Nature, Applied to the Conduct and Affairs of Nations and Sovereigns” by Emmerich de Vattel, published in 1758. Today, we know it by another name: international customs and law. 
• First, Vattel’s Law of Nations recognized war as illegal, and any actions taken in its kinetic course and conduct, as a crime against the law of nations whenever it is fought for reasons other than self-defense and securing essential rights of sovereignty, and even then, only after meaningful sincere diplomatic and peaceful efforts fail. This was colloquially called Just War, influenced by the Catholic intellectual tradition especially. 
• Second, Vattel’s Law of Nations required moderation, sparing civilians, treating prisoners with humanity, and especially prohibited denying quarter to those who have not violated the laws of war. 
• The early Congresses recognized their obligations to declare war by authorizing conflict with France, the Barbary pirates, and American tribes on the frontier. Presidents Washington, Adams and Jefferson all recognized their requirement for Congressional authorization to initiate force against foreign adversaries. 
• The very first Congress also accepted this Constitutional authorization and included the law of nations violations in its first Judiciary Act of 1789. The very first criminal prosecution ever in federal courts enforced these Law of Nations against Gideon Henfield for violating America’s neutrality in the British-French wars at the time. Chief Justice Jay identified the source of law for the prosecution: the Law of Nations, which Congress gave the courts the power to enforce under the Judiciary Act of 1789. 
• Treaties signed by the President and affirmed by the requisite vote in the Senate governing conduct in kinetic conflicts include: the Geneva Convention; The Hague Conventions; and the Pact of Paris of 1928. Congress codified several of the precepts and principles from these treaties and conventions into federal statutory criminal law, such as section 2441 of Title 18 of the United States Code, which include the death penalty as a possible sentence. 
• The key criminal prohibitions for grave violations of these treaties and the Law of Nations, include: torture; curly or inhumanity toward anyone in custody or control; biological experiments; and murder, mutilation, maiming, or serious bodily injury in violations of the law of war, including harm to anyone “taking no active part in the hostilities” which include those “out of combat” for any reason, such as the injuries, detained or “any other cause.” The law excludes Antone harmed from “collateral damage” or “lawful attack.” 
• Thus, the Law of Nations still guides American law, as it has from the founding the of the nation, and expressly referenced within the explicit powers of Congress to enforce, be it by treaty or particular statute, or simply judicial authority to prosecute or punish. 

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

• Now free: War Is A Racket. https://www.heritage-history.com/site/hclass/secret_societies/ebooks/pdf/butler_racket.pdf

C. Wisdom of the Week

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

D. Appearances

• Live w/ Peoples Pundit.
  
• Live w/ the Duran. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7739832/live-w-the-duran

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. 

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

• Reshore. The argument for using tariffs to reindustrialize America. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230408506-reshore

C. Wisdom of the Week

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

D.  Appearances

• LIVE w/ George Gammon https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7699318/george-gammon-interview
• LIVE w/ Daniel Davis https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7694824/live-w-lt-col-davis
• LIVE w/ Alex Jones
  

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.