Seashells Are Threats? 5.15.25 Ally Sammarco May 16 Good Thursday evening, readers, and welcome back to Common Sense, your source for news and analysis on the circus that is American politics and entertainment. Former FBI Director Comey takes pictures of seashells and Republicans say it’s a threat on Trump’s life… Politico reports (in real life), “James Comey posted, and then deleted, a social media message about President Donald Trump that sparked outrage among Republicans and federal scrutiny of the former FBI director. Comey shared a photo Thursday of the numbers ‘8647’ spelled out in seashells on a sandy beach, along with the phrase ‘cool shell formation on my beachwalk.’ Republicans quickly condemned the message as a threat to Trump, interpreting the numbers ‘86’ as suggesting he should be killed…” Common Sense with Ally Sammarco is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Source: PBS DHS wants 20,000 guard troops to help with mass deportation… CBS News reports, “The Department of Homeland Security has requested roughly 20,000 National Guard troops to assist with the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, two U.S. officials told CBS News Thursday. The Defense Department is still reviewing the request, and National Guard troops could be pulled from different states to help DHS. The officials said the troops are being requested to assist law enforcement authorities with logistics and operations related to immigration actions in the interior of the U.S., which would represent the latest expansion of the Trump administration's unprecedented use of the military to support its large-scale immigration enforcement campaign. There are already about 8,600 federal troops at the border. The U.S. military has recently created two National Defense Areas, narrow ribbons of land stretching around 230 miles along the border in New Mexico and Texas, which are being treated as extensions of military bases.” Supreme Court begins hearing arguments on birthright citizenship… ABC News reports, “The Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments over President Donald Trump's emergency request to roll back nationwide injunctions blocking his executive order to end birthright citizenship. The rare May sitting of the court sets the stage for a decision by this summer on whether Trump can move forward with plans to limit U.S. citizenship only to children born on American soil to lawful permanent residents. The case is also expected to address the legality of individual district court judges single-handedly blocking a presidential policy nationwide. Trump is seeking to dissolve judicial orders preventing mass federal layoffs, funding freezes, and expedited deportation protocols. For more than a century, courts and the government have interpreted the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause to apply to anyone born in the U.S., regardless of the citizenship status of a child's parents.” OUR TAKE: The question before the court in this case boils down to: Is the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in the U.S. Constitution? That’s the extent to which President Trump disrespects our founding document. Sylvia N. Thompson (left) with her daughter Addie Jean Haynes and Addie's ten-year-old son Bryan Haynes (later Dr. Haynes, DDS) at the Portland NAACP office in 1964. Source: Oregon History Project Senate Republicans not on board with House Republicans on Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill... NBC News reports, “As House Republicans scramble to corral the votes to pass a massive bill for President Donald Trump's agenda, their Senate counterparts are making clear the emerging package won’t fly as written when it reaches them. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., was categorical that the product coming out of various House committees cannot pass the Senate as it currently stands. ‘No. We’ll make changes… in a number of areas.’” Hoeven said. Senate Republicans are looking to make changes “from Medicaid concerns to clean energy funding to spectrum policy and overall red ink.” OUR TAKE: Hardline Republicans in the House won’t budge on cuts to Medicaid, but Senate Republicans know their states rely on those federal dollars. Trump will have to sort out their disagreements. Today’s Furry Friend Funny cat videos have a lot of competition… check out this hilarious canine compilation from @FunniestPetsOfYouTube! Today’s Buzz Mel Gibson finds a studio partner for Passion of the Christ sequel... Mel Gibson doesn’t have a whole lot of friends in Hollywood, due in no small part to his backward social views. But he has at least one studio willing to work with him for his latest work. The Hollywood Reporter writes, “Lionsgate will be the home for Mel Gibson’s The Resurrection of the Christ, the follow-up to their landmark 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. The company announced Thursday that it was teaming up with Gibson and his Icon Productions banner partner Bruce Davey on the production and will distribute the completed movie worldwide. Passion of the Christ, which starred Jim Caviezel as Christ and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalen, was produced and self-financed by Gibson and his production company for a reported $30 million. The gamble on himself paid off when the film had an opening weekend of $83 million, took in $370 million in North American theaters and more than $610 million globally. It was, until last year, the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time domestically, and the highest-grossing indie of all time.” Thank you for following along. Check back in tomorrow (Friday!) evening for the next edition of Common Sense. Common Sense with Ally Sammarco is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.