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Barnes Brief: Valentine's Day, 2023
February 14, 2023
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Barnes Brief

Schedule This Week

Tuesday: Early Bourbon w/ Barnes at 6 pm eastern

Wednesday: Sidebar w/ Duran at 1 p.m eastern; Bourbon at 9 p.m. eastern

Thursday: Bourbon w/ Barnes at 9 pm eastern

 

The Introduction: News in Brief

  • Neocon Nikki Haley announced her candidacy for the Presidency, as fellow South Carolinian Tim Scott plans his own Presidential bid.
  • CPI “falls” to 6.5%
  • Biden forms new UFO task force, as this increasingly looks like a mass distraction campaign.
  • Trump’s new nickname for DeSantis is “Meatball Ron”, which is kinda funny.
  • Feinstein retiring finally.
  • House committee to investigate Fauci.
  • USA Today now admits the obvious: Russia winning in Ukraine.
  • Smart legislation in Arkansas: expand ability to sue for misguided gender transition treatment.
  • England ends boosters for under 50.
  • T-Mobile outage hits across the country.
  • Georgia Trump grand jury report to be partially released.

Wisdom of the Day: “Agents and informers do not merely spy. Their main purpose is to discredit, disrupt and negatively redirect action.” COINTELPRO.

 

The Evidence: Barnes Daily Curated Library

  1. Media complicity in Covid polices precludes real accountability. https://www.eugyppius.com/p/dont-be-fooled-by-dumb-talkshows
  2. Did the response to Covid cause the early deaths attributed to Covid? https://substack.com/inbox/rec/102633007
  3. Forgetting lessons from past foreign wars. https://thefederalist.com/2023/02/14/republicans-who-want-war-to-the-hilt-against-russia-forget-the-lessons-of-iraq/
  4. Everybody thinks they can be President. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/02/13/anti-woke-ramaswamy-2024-election-00082414
  5. Backlash on economic war on Russia. https://asiatimes.com/2023/02/breaking-russia-more-like-breaking-ourselves/
  6. Battery problems set back Ford’s electric truck. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ford-sinks-after-halting-production-shipments-electric-f-150-battery-issues
  7. The bull in b.s. https://gainspainscapital.com
  8. Basham’s take on 2022. https://chroniclesmagazine.org/recent-features/an-underwhelming-haul/
  9. Ukraine history. https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2023/02/_since_when_did_ukrainians_become_entitled_to_a_giant_state_.html
  10. One example of interesting story covered by new news aggregator. https://ground.news/article/nyc-schools-sent-fbi-fingerprints-of-teachers-who-refused-covid-vax_34c0b8

*Bonus: Curious George’s Valentine.

 

 

The Argument: A Reasoned Rant

  • An argument (I suspect originated from allies of Pfizer) recently emerged in the public discourse that the Covid vaccines are really “bioweapons” which required no clinical testing for safety or efficacy, because Pfizer was merely an agent and instrumentality of the Defense Department. This basically blames Trump for starting a bioweapon program “intended to kill and disable” people under the guise of a vaccine, while also immunizing Pfizer from any suit (including Brook Jackson’s whistleblower claim) as a mere “agent” of the government. To get to this conclusion, various authors misconstrued the procedural manner Operation Warp Speed functioned.
  • I see some substack authors pushing a theory that would immunize Pfizer and shift blame to the DOD. These authors often mis-cite the pleadings in the Brook Jackson case I am co-counsel on. They are mistaken. The DOD is definitely in bed with Big Pharma, but legally speaking, Pfizer was not a mere agent of the DOD in this context, and their lies to the government material to Pfizer's funding. Indeed, the contract required the vaccines not be administered if the FDA ever withheld authorization or withdrew authorization. 
  • The quickest way to fund an expedited vaccine project was through the Defense Department using its legal authority to develop “prototype” projects. In this case, the prototype was not the vaccine, but the method used to create it – a wide scale, sped-up process of producing medical countermeasures in a pandemic for national security and future military use. The prototype was the process, not the product. This has been misconstrued to make the vaccine a “prototype weapon” because the prototype legislation primarily presumed purchases for weapons, but this confuses the most common use of the law with the purpose of the project here. 
  • The second, separate item they misconstrued was the legal pleadings in the Brook Jackson case I am co-counsel on. According to these same authors, Pfizer argued they were immune because it was a bioweapon project they were performing as an agent of the government, and the clinical trials were never required to measure for safety or efficacy. According to these same authors, the Government filed paperwork “admitting” to this. This claim is false. 
  • Pfizer’s DOD contract focused on logistics solely because FDA compliance was a precondition of payment for the contract all the way through. Pfizer tried to play off of this by claiming the absence of all the FDA rules from their DOD contract meant the FDA rules were not preconditions of payment. We rightly satirized Pfizer’s claim as absurd. The reason is the plain language of the contracts Pfizer themselves admitted into the record, contracts these same authors oddly fail to discuss in detail while spinning their seductive Dominion-like conspiracy tale that the Covid vaccines were bioweapons (which, if true, did something they managed to forget to talk about – completely immunize and inoculate Pfizer under sovereign immunity and eviscerate Brook Jackson’s case.) 
  • In order to procedurally facilitate Operation Warp Speed, the Department of Defense utilized its prototype funding program to accelerate the development of the vaccine. That has been misconstrued to mean the vaccine was a Government "bioweapon", that clinical trials were neither necessary nor welcome for its production and distribution, and that Pfizer was merely acting as an agent/instrumentality of the federal government. Part of this stems from people accepting Pfizer's defense at face value that clinical trial regulatory compliance was not a precondition of the award of a $2B DOD contract. This is flatly erroneous. Indeed, the only reason no separate regulation was required by the Defense Department was, as the agreements explicitly and expressly state, because "these clinical trials are regulated by the FDA and HHS."
  • The OTA Base Agreement cited by Pfizer didn't discard FDA rules, but actually reinstated, reinforced and reincorporated them. 
  • Section 21.06 of the Base Agreement
  • "Deployment and production of medical products and processes fall under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and research on these products involving animal or human studies is regulated by other laws, directives and regulations....Efforts conducted under this OTA shall be done ethically and in accordance with all applicable laws, directives, and regulations." So much so that Pfizer had to share all FDA information with the DOD, including listening to conferences, sharing all documents , exchanging all communications, allowing government attendance at all visits and audits. 
  • Section 21.12 of the Base Agreement
  • Pfizer had to comply "with current Good Manufacturing Processes as defined by FDA guidance", including "clinical trials", and any "failure to comply" that had any "material adverse effect on the safety" of the product would be a "material failure." 
  • The Statement of Work (SOW) – the second binding agreement Pfizer admitted and filed into the public record -- incorporated the terms of the Base Agreement, as 1.1 of the SOW states the agreement is entered into "pursuant to" it. 
  • The SOW further stated the agreement is Pfizer’s "provision to the Government, a state of the art candidate vaccine...providing protection against the SARS-Cov-2 threat and related coronaviruses” but only after “subject to technical, clinical and regulatory success." Pfizer led the government to believe Pfizer could do "unprecedented phase" clinical trial design and its mRna technologies would "abolish the risk of anti-vector immunity." Indeed, Pfizer promised they could scale fast "while preserving high quality and safety standards." Pfizer promised its product would be "for the prevention of Covid-19." The agreement required "regulatory approval" after "conducting clinical trials." The agreement only provided for funding "if clinical trials are successful and the FDA grants" EUA and BLA licensure. 
  • Just in case this wasn't clear enough, the Statement of Work is crystal clear: "Pfizer will meet the necessary FDA requirements for conducting ongoing and planned clinical trials." Pfizer can only seek FDA approval or authorization if "the clinical data supports such application for approval or authorization." Indeed, the only reason no separate regulation was required by the Army was because "these clinical trials are regulated by the FDA and HHS." 
  • The SOW even goes into detail on the kind of study necessary to "evaluating the safety" of the vaccine -- "a randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blind, dose-finding, and vaccine candidate-selection study in healthy adults." The SOW describes the clinical trials as "pivotal efficacy study design." Only upon "adequate safety and efficacy data" could it be approved. The words "FDA approval or authorization" repeat throughout. The SOW even expressly incorporated the EUA preconditions for approval with express EUA process document incorporation. Pfizer's promise was that "doses shall establish the effectiveness of a technology capable of potentially providing immediate and long-term solutions to coronavirus infections." 
  • The SOW repeated throughout that Pfizer must comply "in a manner compliant with applicable laws and regulations" and expressly referenced the Good Manufacturing Practices regulation (21 CFR 210 & 21 CFR 211). The payment was only for "safe and effective doses required for vaccination" and Pfizer was being paid to "deliver those doses" at scale and speed. Any additional production required "particularly favorable" results. Over and over again, the SOW required Pfizer's drug be a "FDA-approved or authorized vaccine." Again and again, the DOD required any approval was "subject to FDA-approval or authorization" and "subject to FDA-approval or authorization." There would be no approval if "clinical" or "regulatory" failure occurred. 
  • In fact, to further enforce this, Pfizer had to provide the DOD all "data updates from clinical studies." Additionally, Pfizer had to "notify the Government of any event, risk, formal or informal FDA communication, or other issue" that could impact the project. All payments were "subject to change" based on "clinical trials and the validation of the product." Just as no payment could be made until successful clinical trials and FDA authorization or approval, the Government could stop payment whenever the FDA withdrew approval or authorization. That is why Pfizer had to provide all the "data updates" from the clinical trials as well as "any and all inspection and compliance notices, observations and responses" of those clinical trials. 
  • Every great crime needs a great patsy. Pfizer found theirs – the Defense Department. But Pfizer’s still the criminal. Eternal Truth #3.
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https://event.gives/anamishouting

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🇺🇲 Just look at the UK. 🇺🇲

🇺🇲 WAKE UP AMERICA! 🇺🇲

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Questions for Bourbon with Barnes: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Early bird version at 6 pm eastern. Ask in replies and answering Live.

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The Barnes Brief: Friday, March 27, 2026

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

  • The artful studio, the hidden cigar room, and the secret negotiations place. The well-structured chairs, the comfortable cushions, the wood-paneled walls, the delicate lamps, the simple table, the luxuriant rug, the seafaring sailboat beckoning on the wall. The simple art of everyday aesthetics that shape mind and soul alike, the art that envelops and motivates at the same. An inviting, beckoning, hidden welcome. 

B. Recommendation of the Week

C. Wisdom of the Week

  • “The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war.” Desiderius Erasmus. 

D. Appearances

  • Interview w/ Dr. Parsi.
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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. The Gallipoli example. https://responsiblestatecraft.org/veterans-iran/
  2. Private credit risks spread. https://substack.com/home/post/p-192317151
  3. Doomberg’s perspective. https://newsletter.doomberg.com/p/house-of-pain
  4. Exit ramps. https://www.cato.org/commentary/how-end-war-iran
  5. Dr. Malone exits. https://thehighwire.com/watch/

 *Bonus: Rescued by hanging onto a cliff. https://abc7news.com/post/live-crews-working-rescue-person-clinging-cliff-house-san-francisco/18773788/

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

  1. Comedic wisdom. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7802545/this-ones-for-you-janet-fly-the-friendly-skies
  2. American roulette. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7802590/seems-pretty-accurate-from-where-i-sit-both-parties-are-poison-they-just-have-different-ideas-on
  3. Light and shadow at the Lighthouse. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7802467/title
  4. Malone warns. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7801997/they-tried-it-s-over
  5. Ideas for reformers. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7802626/here-it-is-robertbarnes-a-highly-detailed-and-extensively-researched-list-for-1776-law-center-u

*Bonus: Art meets nature. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7801135/title

C. Homework: Cases of the Week for Sunday

  1. Free speech win. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/03/27/a_consent_decree_for_freedom_speech_153985.html
  2. Pentagon loses Anthropic block. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.465515/gov.uscourts.cand.465515.134.0.pdf
  3. North Carolina voter id upheld. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/nc-voter-id-naacp-hirsch-berger.pdf
  4. Environmentalists lose. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reclamation-water-contracts-ruling.pdf
  5. Cop negligence. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/monica-liliana-v-san-diego-ruling.pdf
  6. Musk loses. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/x-advertiser-boycott-lawsuit-dismissed.pdf
  7. Musk loses again. https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/elon-musk-challenges-twitter-fraud-verdict-flags-4-20-joke-as-jury-bias-93424.htm
  8. Facebook loses. https://courthousenews.com/meta-and-google-hit-with-6-million-verdict-for-social-media-harms-to-young-woman/
  9. Facebook loses again. https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/new-mexico-department-of-justice-wins-landmark-verdict-against-meta/
  10. SCOTUS: copyright law. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-171_bq7d.pdf
  11. SCOTUS: more immunity. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-297_bqm2.pdf
  12. SCOTUS: mail-in voting argument. https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1260_8njq.pdf

*Bonus: A joke lawsuit over Lion King. https://www.slashfilm.com/2133281/the-lion-king-circle-of-life-singer-comedian-learnmore-jonasi-lawsuit/

**Bonus: Google settles again. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/open-lawsuit-settlements/5m-google-play-subscription-class-action-settlement/

***Bonus; MN sues over shootings. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.290713/gov.uscourts.dcd.290713.1.0_2.pdf

D. Deep Dive: Sources on X to Follow on Iran War

  1. War analyst. https://x.com/pati_marins64
  2. Former Israeli defense intelligence. https://x.com/citrinowicz
  3. War & geopolitics nerd. https://x.com/policytensor
  4. Commodity manager. https://x.com/tleilax___
  5. Geopolitics from an economics perspective. https://x.com/DarioCpx?

*Bonus: War nerd. https://x.com/ripplebrain

III. CLOSING ARGUMENT: An Answer to My Critics on Iran War

  • A few common complaints recur. Their most continuous error is the failure to step back and provide an effective overview. What are the rewards you seek? What is the probability the means you employ will obtain those rewards? What are the risks of using those means to obtain those rewards? What is the probability of those risks coming to fruition? This simple 4-step analysis is the very thing the critics can’t seem to meaningfully engage. Instead, the criticisms tend to conflate wishful thinking with geopolitical realism. 
  • For example: “Are you saying you want the Islamic regime in Iran to be the hegemon in the Middle East?” Nope. I am saying the current war is more and more likely to make them such a hegemon. This common confusion conflates wishful thinking with geopolitical realism. Recognizing a likely reality doesn’t make it a desirable reality. Wishing for a particular outcome doesn’t make it happen. This isn’t a fairytale world. 
  • Another: “Sounds like Barnes is moving the goal posts by labeling Iran's proxies as 'resistance movements. ' lol” It is important to use consistent, objective definitions for a label like “terrorism”, rather than the subjective whims of calling those you don’t like “terrorists” but excuse the identical conduct by those you support as something else. Terrorism has a long standing broadly understood definition: “the unlawful use of violence against civilians to intimidate societies for politicized objectives.” By that definition, Iran’s support tends to be for rebels who mostly use violence against states or other armed rivals — e.g., the Houthis, Hezbollah and the Shia Militias in Iraq. By contrast, they fought ISIS more than we did. By our own State Department, more terrorism happens by Israel and US backed groups than by Iran. Pretending otherwise makes the Iran critics look hypocritical and fraudulent. Equally, and more importantly for American security interests, it makes Iran’s government not an imminent threat to Americans in our own homeland. As is, even if it did, the war creates far more terrorists who will target America.  
  • A third: “I guess a 4000km range missile doesn't worry Mr. Barnes. Personally, I would prefer a non-radioactive Middle East.” Once again, what is your evidence Iran would use nuclear armed ballistic missiles against the United States when they have whenever attacked us in our homeland, ever? Even if you believed that was so, how do you think the war reduces that risk? 
  • This fundamental failure to test their own assumptions, filter their own arguments through an objectively verifiable standard, and their dubious sourcing relying on emotional appeals, the critics reveal their lack of quality arguments for their position. 
  • My take: I see the reward of a peaceful, democratic, pro-American, pro-Israel regime in Iran as highly unlikely. I see the reward of an Iran incapable of making nuclear weapons as equally unlikely. I see the reward of a docile, submissive Iran, unsupportive of Shia rebel groups and the Palestinians as equally unlikely. Indeed, I see the risk of a more hostile, more likely to get nuclear weapons, more likely to embrace true terrorism, as the more probable outcome of the war. As important, I see the risk of Democratic dominance for a half-decade as much more likely than Iran becoming the 1978 Shah’s version of Iran, due to the betrayal to anti-war voters, the economic fallout from the conflict, the budgetary cost of the war, and the way it sucks all the oxygen out of the room from achieving any meaningful reforms of the kind Trump voters elected him to achieve.
  • It is that risk-reward analysis that leads to my skepticism toward the war. Those who disagree need to do so on those terms — what is the sought after reward?; what is the price, or risk, of the means chosen to obtain that reward?; compare and contrast the two to come to a decision about the policy preferences concerning the war. The fact the critics cannot even try to do so speaks volumes about the absence of good arguments on their side of supporting the war. 
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The Barnes Brief: Weekend of March 20, 2026

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

Persepolis: the ancient city of the Achaemenid Empire founded centuries ago by Darius the Great in succession from Cyrus. The Gate of All Nations invites visitors to this 3,000 year old ceremonial city celebrating the power of Persian culture and its echoing effect across the Iranian nation today. The Gate itself integrated the languages of the time — Elamite, Babylonian and Old Persian, with its symbols of strength but solemnity, showcasing power without threat, as the columns facing the public stand the Lamas, mythical legends with the bodies of a bull, the wings of an eagle, and the heads of the human leaders. Such legends still shape much of the Persian mindset to this day.  

B. Recommendation of the Week

A unique travelogue on Iran. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/161711.Mirrors_of_the_Unseen

C. Wisdom of the Week

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” Rumi. 

D. Appearances

  • LIVE w/ Tom Woods

https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7780307/tom-woods-interview

  • LIVE w/ Nina Infinity

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. Russiagate lies. https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2026/03/20/fbi_misled_court_to_spy_on_second_trump_campaign_adviser_1171646.html
  2. Democrats lack growth agenda. https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/democrats-dont-have-a-growth-program
  3. Iran war intent. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/how-iran-sees-war
  4. Hormuz risks. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/03/20/solving_the_hormuz_problem_imposing_costs_without_incurring_risk_153960.html
  5. Polling on who benefits from Iran War. https://substack.com/@greenwald/note/c-230246413

 *Bonus: The Greeks rescue the pets. https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2026/03/greece-launches-animal-airlift-to-evacuate-pets-and-owners-from-mideast.html

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

  1. Board insight on F35. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7782690/this-is-exactly-the-weakness-i-have-been-pointing-out-in-the-f-35-design-for-years-it-uses-what-is
  2. RIP a legend. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7783832/chuck-norris-passed-away-one-of-those-men-you-just-expect-to-live-forever-thank-you-for-all-the-en
  3. Memeatic magic from the OG. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7784089/in-honor-of-chuck-norris
  4. Gas price reports from Europe. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7784098/well-we-have-hit-11-pr-gal-of-diesel-in-noway
  5. Board wisdom. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7782594/thinking-about-jd-vance-s-position-and-last-nights-bwb-comment-that-at-some-point-jd-should-step-a

*Bonus: Magical photography from a board member. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7782916/some-images-from-late-october-and-early-nov-2025-another-outing-with-my-wife-her-spotting-with-bi

C. Homework: Cases of the Week for Sunday

  1. SCOTUS: street preacher win! https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/olivier-city-of-brandon-scotus-opinion.pdf
  2. Joe Kent targeted. https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/joe-kent-fbi-leak-investigation
  3. Richin verdict. https://vivabarneslaw.locals.com/post/7779244/summary-of-closing-arguments-in-kouri-richie-trial
  4. DOJ withdraws abortion pill challenge. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/slap-in-the-face-major-pro-life-group-unloads-on-trump-admin-after-doj-moves-to-dismiss-abortion-pill-suits/
  5. Judicial coup against Kennedy. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/judge-says-hes-ruling-against-rfk-jr-move-to-block-gender-dysphoria-procedures-for-kids-6001419?utm_source=andshare
  6. Judicial coup against Kennedy part 2. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Murphy-vaccine-ruling.pdf
  7. AI plans. https://conservativeladiesofamerica.substack.com/p/nationwide-age-assurance-takes-center?triedRedirect=true
  8. Latest California insanity. https://www.thecollegefix.com/calif-democrats-advance-measure-to-allow-race-based-preferences-in-financial-aid/
  9. Powell plans to usurp Fed further. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/03/19/freekevin_153957.html
  10. Afroman wins. https://www.oregonlive.com/nation/2026/03/greece-launches-animal-airlift-to-evacuate-pets-and-owners-from-mideast.html
    Trump DOJ sues Harvard over Israel statements. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/justice-department-harvard-antisemitism-complaint.pdf
  11. Campaign disclosure laws. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/american-future-fund-ny-elections-appellant-brief.pdf
  12. Trump AG loses effort to support corporate farming. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/united-states-vs-california-ruling.pdf

*Bonus: Disney settles latest scam. https://courthousenews.com/disney-settles-livestream-subscriber-class-action-for-50-million/

**Bonus: States sue over mergers. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/attorneys-general-nexstar-lawsuit.pdf

***Bonus: Court clerk sues judge over libel & corruption. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/maness-tanner-complaint-political-defamation.pdf

D. Deep Dive: Private Capital Market Risks

  1. Financial system risks. https://goghieas.substack.com/p/is-private-credit-another-2008-not
  2. Liquidity issues. https://romulusstrategy.substack.com/p/the-liquidity-illusion-in-private
  3. Iran war ties. https://matein.substack.com/p/private-credits-meltdown-will-hurt
  4. Roaches exposed. https://eurodollaruniversity.substack.com/p/private-credit-and-the-return-of
  5. 2008 echoes. https://discussthetape.substack.com/p/the-butterfly-effect-what-is-really

*Bonus: A 401K/IRA perspective. https://felixprehn.substack.com/p/private-credit-risks-what-us-retirees

III. CLOSING ARGUMENT: Article I, Legislative Immunity

  • The Constitution affords Congress broad leniency in terms of transparency, internal operations, and immunity from the other branches of government in the exercise of its legislative duties. 
  • First, under Article 1, Section 5, Congress can exempt any of its proceedings from public transparency whenever it “may in their Judgment require secrecy” from the duty to keep and publish the journal of its proceedings. 
  • Second, under Article 1, Section 5, Congress “may determine the Rules of its Proceedings”, “punish members for disorderly Behavior”, and may expel a member “with the Concurrence of two-thirds.” 
  • Third, under Article 1, Section 6, the compensation of members of Congress can be set by them, and must be paid out of the Treasury, prohibiting the power of payment from the executive branch’s control of the Congress. The Twenty-Seventh Amendment, the last amendment to be passed, limits this power to “until an election” has “intervened” between the time of the passage of a compensation law and its enforcement. 
  • Fourth, under Article 1, Section 6, members of Congress are “privileged from arrest during their attendance” and during their transit, except for the limited crimes of Treason and Felony breach of the Peace. 
  • Fifth, under Article 1, Section 6, no member of Congress can be questioned “in any other place” for any of their “speech or debate in either house”, the so-called Speech & Debate clause immunity from libel and slander suits for their speech inside the Chamber. 
  • These privileges intend to afford members of Congress sufficient, but no more than sufficient, immunity from the other branches of government in order to capably, confidently, and competently perform their legislative duties. Of course, it can’t fix the corruptibility, cowardice, or constricted cognitive capacity of Congress. 
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The Barnes Brief: Weekend of March 13, 2026

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

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

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. 
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