It’s just wrong. Zelyenskyy a DICTATOR? Ukraine shouldn’t have started the war? Spoken by Trump, his agents, repeat and repeat — that does not make these lies true. What I’m seeing and hearing of this administration’s position on Ukraine, slamming Zelyenskyy, and supporting Putin and mouthing his words, it’s disgusting beyond belief.

Try reaching Department of Defense — the contact form does not work, there’s no “captcha” but it says my “captcha” was wrong, try again! Try finding a phone number — from PR, got this: (703) 697-5131 and left a message. Dept. of State was a little easier, (202) 647-6575, or secretary@state.gov So these, in addition to “our” Representatives and Senators, right? And the White House — got through to a recording on Comment line today — but only when connected by the Switchboard: 202-456-1414 so try that first (the Comment line, 202-456-1111 still is not working).

Trump echoes Russia as he upends US position on Ukraine

Trump says Ukraine started the war that’s killing its citizens. What are the facts?

Trump aide tells Zelenskyy to ‘tone it down’ as US envoy cancels Kyiv press conference – Europe live

Extortion much? Access to Ukraine’s minerals??

Trump’s latest broadside against Zelensky came after the Ukrainian leader publicly rejected an American bid to gain access to – and profits from – Ukrainian minerals. Also from the BBC:

“That’s not a serious conversation,” Zelensky said. “I can’t sell our state.”

BBC News; Kyiv needs to rein in criticism of US, White House security adviser says

White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz says Ukraine needs to rein in its criticism of the US, as Washington tries to secure a peace deal to end the war.

“It’s unacceptable, they [Ukraine] need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal,” he tells Fox News. The deal he is referring to is a push by Donald Trump for access to rare minerals in Ukraine in return for aid, or even as compensation for the support the US has already provided.

“We presented the Ukrainians really an incredible, and a historic opportunity,” the adviser says, adding that it would be “sustainable” and “the best” security guarantee they could hope for.

Zelensky has publicly rejected an American bid to gain access to – and profit from – Ukrainian minerals, saying: “I can’t sell our state.”

But he says that the two countries can reconcile their differences.

Check out “The Order of the Day,” by Eric Vuillard (many affordable options at abebooks.com):

Trump’s extortion, Ukraine’s minerals for US support, is right out of Hitler’s playbook. In “The Order of the Day, there’s a similar scene of extortion where the head of Austria was invited to meet with Hitler, and Hitler “offered” not to invade Austria if Hitler’s minions were put in major offices in Austria. He stalled, hemmed and hawed, under extreme pressure of Goebbels & crew, and ultimately “agreed.” Shortly afterward, Hitler “invaded” though the “invasion” was a slo-mo attack of broken down tanks, and not exactly a show of military strength.

Vance poses immigrants as ‘greatest threat’ to US and Europe in CPAC speech

US vice-president also reaffirmed the administration’s Ukraine stance at largest conservative voters conference

And Vance’s rant on Twit

When you click on this, compare the url with the headline, “Fired” v. “Dismissed.” Fired seems most accurate:

Fired Nuclear Bomb Specialists Recalled by Energy Department

They’re trying to round up those employees, but get real, who would want to come back to work in those circumstances? Get a grip. From the article:

The agency’s quick reversal was announced Friday in an all-staff meeting. The NNSA is seeking to recall the workers because they deal with sensitive national security secrets, according to the people, who weren’t authorized to talk about the matter, which is not public.

Those cuts are especially concerning because the positions typically require high-level security clearances and training that can take 18 months or longer, said Jill Hruby, who served as the NNSA administrator during the Biden administration.

“These people are likely never going to come back and work for the government,” Hruby said in a phone interview. “We’ve had a very active program requiring an increase to our staff so the indiscriminate layoffs of people will be really difficult for the coming years.”

And as if that isn’t bad enough, more nuclear news:

Fed workers in Tri-Cities lose jobs in 1st round of federal layoffs. Nuclear site impacted

Haphazardness of federal layoffs causes concern with Sen. Murray, Public Power Council

And from that article:

“This administration is sending (Elon) Musk into agencies he knows nothing about, randomly telling people they’ve lost their jobs,” Murray claimed. “This will impact the safety and security of people across our country.”

Firings were ‘indiscriminate,’ says Sen. Patty Murray

Murray called the layoffs “indiscriminate,” saying that none were based on competence or performance.

“We are losing some of our best and brightest researchers, scientists, and cybersecurity experts,” the senator added. “This is not how you ensure your country’s security.”

This has been just too much to bear, but it’s time to acknowledge that there are indeed 765kV transmission lines targeting Minnesota, more targeting the “Midwest,” and get these (*#&%#( things posted. Thanks, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), thanks a bunch.

In the Jackson County Pilot:

Upper Midwest’s first 765-kV line could run through county

Here’s the general idea:

In numerical order, PUC Docket wise, the first is MISO #22, is the Big Stone-Brookings-Lakefield part of the system, promoted by our friends at Xcel Energy. The PUC Docket number is CN-25-117, and it only covers the part that’s mostly in Minnesota, Brookings to Lakefield Junction. The Big Stone to Brookings is in South Dakota, though a 345kV “Big Stone-Brookings” line was built not long ago, 2017, so why another, and why a 765kV?

Here’s the rough for this new proposal, duplicating the Big Stone to Brookings, and then, from Brookings to Lakefield Junction (anyone remember the “Split Rock-Lakefield Junction” circa 2001??? That was the first of the 345kVs in the area, Docket 01-1958.

Thus far, the only filing for that project in Minnesota is from Xcel Energy, opening a docket and the notice that it plans to apply for this Brookings-Lakefield Junction transmission line. PAY ATTENTION TO THIS LANGUAGE ABOUT MISO:

Right out the gate, they’re asserting MISO as the basis for need. There’s the statement that “MISO, a federally registered planning authority and regional transmission organization, approved its Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 2.1 portfolio of projects…” and why? Here’s what our new Minnesota statute says:

Yes, really. Did legislators have a clue that this means? I doubt it. Here’s the full statute, 216B.246 FEDERALLY APPROVED TRANSMISSION LINES; INCUMBENT TRANSMISSION LINEOWNER RIGHTS.

What’s MISO Tranche 2.1?

• MISO MTEP 24 Transmission Portfolio
• MISO LRPT Report
• Tranche 2.1 Fact Sheet
• LRTP Tranche 2 Business Case Metrics Methodology Whitepaper

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has long been allowing reliance on MISO “approval” for PUC “approval,” and there’s been no recognition that the MISO standards for “approval” are NOT the Minnesota standards. For too long, utilities, typically Xcel Energy, but any utility proposing high voltage lines, have not been required to demonstrate need for their transmission projects.

The next one is a continuation of that project, heading south, MISO #23, this time an ITC project, from Lakefield Junction to East Adair.

ITC filed its Notice of Intent at the same time Xcel filed its Notice in the other docket, using that same language as Xcel to describe it’s project and relation to MISO’s Tranche 2.1:

What about that connector from Lakefield Junction heading east, MISO #24, a 765kV from Lakefield Junction to North Rochester, and MISO #25, a 345kV from Hampton down to Pleasant Valley (note the existing Hampton-North Rochester CapX 2020 345kV line, and the OLD Prairie Island-Byron-Adams 345kV line).

And yes, next up is MISO #26, a 765kV from North Rochester to La Crosse to Columbia, paralleling part of the CapX Hampton-LaCrosse & eastward line. Who’s claiming MISO #26? Yes, that’s coming too…

In PUC Docket order, Docket CN-25-121, another Notice of Intent to file a Certificate of Need application, Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) intends to “to construct, own, and maintain the Minnesota portion of the North Rochester – Columbia 765 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (the “Project”) from a midpoint structure on the new 765 kV line from North Rochester to Marion Road (as will be agreed between Dairyland and Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy) to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.”

Dairyland uses the same language as Xcel, except adding its “abundance of caution” at the end:

And then Xcel Energy chimes in, Docket CN-25-122, stating that “Xcel Energy intends to construct, own,
and maintain the North Rochester – Columbia 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission line.”

Xcel Energy again discloses its reliance on MISO:

Earth to Mars, MISO is not the decider in any of these Minnesota Certificate of Need proceedings.

And on eastward to Wisconsin… It looks like MISO #30 is a 765kV from Columbia to Rockdale. Is it going through Middleton/Madison on existing corridor?

Dropping four HUGE lines, 765kV, which has not before been done at 765kV in the Midwest, and all relying on MISO “approval” as a demonstration of need?

Today in the Red Wing Republican Eagle:

Regrets? Redemption?

• Published on Feb 14, 2025

You voted for Trump. When you see the flurry of actions that harm you and your loved ones, our community, our nation, is this what you wanted?

A clear majority of Red Wing voters voted for Harris. For Red Wing’s minority who did vote for Trump, did you intend that all federal funding come to a screeching halt through an unconstitutional “pause” while agencies consider compliance with “Presidential” policies? Did you want to freeze Congressional appropriations and lockdown funding portals, putting non-profits, businesses, cities and counties at risk, unable to operate?

Many city projects are federally funded. Without federal support, no project, no jobs, equipment and materials wouldn’t be purchased, and without workers, hotels, restaurants, and stores would lose business. How much federal funding does Red Wing receive?

Was it your intent that Special Education funding would be slashed, if not disappear, that rebuilding of Mississippi dams stop?

Did you intend a federal hiring freeze, removal of job postings, rescinded job and internship offers, cancelled student grants and loans, that federal workers be fired, laid off, told to resign or else? Did you intend short staffing of our National Parks, airport control towers, IRS collection offices, and every other federal agency?

Did you intend for ICE to detain citizens and legal immigrants and that legal methods of immigration be shut down? Did you intend for your neighbor down the block, your children’s friends and schoolmates, your sister-in-law, to be living in fear?

This is what your vote got us. What are you doing to fix this mess? Regrets and remorse may be yours, and redemption too. It’s on you, if you voted for Trump.

Carol A. Overland

Red Wing

Oh, I love it when this happens. There are times when it’s such a delight, and privilege, to be an attorney watching all these court orders come down.

From the Court Order, get those sites back up TODAY!!:

Here’s the Order and Memorandum:

And Doctors for America Complaint and Memorandum of Support of TRO: