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Girls Involved in Arizona School Shooting Were in a Relationship, Police Say

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Two students who were involved in a tragic murder-suicide shooting at a school in Arizona were reportedly involved in a romantic relationship, according to police.

The two 15-year-old sophomores, May Kieu and Dorothy Dutiel, were found under a patio at their school on Friday morning with gunshot wounds, and a suicide note was found nearby, according to Buzzfeed News. A police statement read:

“Although the investigation is not complete investigators working the case say evidence found at the scene leads them to believe that one female took the life of the other female before taking her own life. During the processing of the scene, a suicide note was located. Information gathered by detectives reveal the two girls were very close friends, appearing to also be in a relationship.”

Several posts on social media seem to confirm the relationship. A GoFundMe account has been created to cover funeral expenses for at least one of the victims.



A Kentucky Lawmaker Wants Men Seeking Viagra to Bring the Doc a Note From Their Wife

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A Kentucky Lawmaker Wants Men Seeking Viagra to Bring the Doc a Note From Their Wife

Democratic Representative Mary Lou Marzian of Louisville, Kentucky, filed a bill on February 11, stating that any man seeking relief for erectile dysfunction from a medical health professional needs to bring in a note from their wife that makes it clear there will be no surprise boners in the marital bedroom—or secret boners straying elsewhere.

The Courier-Journal reports that Rep. Marzian’s purported motivations for sponsoring House Bill 396 is to protect the public from potential health hazards:

HB 396 also specifies that only married men may obtain the drug and requires “a man to make a sworn statement with his hand on a Bible that he will only use a prescription for a drug for erectile dysfunction when having sexual relations with his current spouse.”

Marzian is also a nurse, and she insists the bill is about family values and has nothing to do Kentucky’s Governor Matt Bevin, pictured here squeezing a child:

A Kentucky Lawmaker Wants Men Seeking Viagra to Bring the Doc a Note From Their Wife

Under Gov. Bevin’s leadership, Kentucky has seen a number of anti-abortion measures introduced in recent months. Last week, Senate Bill 4 was passed and signed into law by Bevin. SB 4 requires women seeking an abortion to get counseling 24 hours in advance of a procedure, in person or via live telecommunications.

Okay, you got her, HB 396 is definitely intended as a protest against a predominantly male General Assembly trying to involve themselves in women’s health decisions. Rep. Marzian is also planning to file a bill that would require hopeful gun buyers to speak with victims of gun violence 24 hours in advance of purchase. With all this counseling, it’s almost impossible to get a boner these days.

Images via Flickr/Tim Reckmann and Getty.

Donald Trump Reignites Bitter Feud With the RNC Over 'Washington Tricks'

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Donald Trump Reignites Bitter Feud With the RNC Over 'Washington Tricks'

In the hours running up to Saturday night’s Republican presidential debate, candidate Donald Trump took some time out to wage a dumb, pointless war with the Republican establishment.

Trump began the spat by tweeting that the Republican National Committee (RNC) had sent out a “fundraising notice” to voters that used his name without getting approval from the Trump campaign.

CBS reporter Sopan Deb got a copy of the notice, sent from RNC co-chair Sharon Day, asked for contributions from $35 to $100 to “identify yourself as one of Trump’s earliest supporters within our party.”

In a statement, Trump said the move was motivated by “Washington tricks” and added that the RNC “does not treat me well and then they use my name, without my knowledge, to raise money for themselves.” The RNC’s notice has been withdrawn, and the committee released its own statement, calling the notice a straw poll, and saying that it was used for the other candidates, too.

And thus, the latest installment in the implosion of a party, led by a man who is as impervious to the rules of the established Republican party as he is to the rules of the spectrum of visible light.


Bears Still Safe From ISIS—for Now

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Bears Still Safe From ISIS—for Now

Much to PETA’s relief, ISIS is not, in fact, shaving bears.

Why it took NBC’s social media intern five hours to come to that conclusion, however, is anyone’s guess.


Latest Clinton Email Dump Contains Three 'Secret' Messages That Won't Be Released

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Latest Clinton Email Dump Contains Three 'Secret' Messages That Won't Be Released

A new batch of Hillary Clinton’s emails was unceremoniously dumped into the world on Saturday, totaling 1,000 pages and containing a group of ominously-classified “secret” messages.

The State Department released 551 emails from Clinton’s personal server, 84 of which contained messages that had been deemed classified and were partially or entirely censored, and with three of those were classified as “secret”—the highest classification level the State Department can use.

The New York Times reports that the messages dealt with sensitive foreign policy issues:

Each of the secret emails included Mrs. Clinton’s comments atop forwarded chains of messages discussing tensions on the Sinai Peninsula; a visit by John Kerry to Pakistan in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death; and sensitive, back-channel talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The release comes after a federal judge ordered the Democratic presidential candidate to do so before the upcoming primaries and caucuses, saying that the information revealed in them could be relevant to Democratic voters.

Other revelations in the emails include Clinton’s wanton and frankly unnecessary use of the smiley face:

And, of course, Clinton’s old buddy Henry Kissinger asking to hang out.

[Image via Getty]


Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Found Dead at 79

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Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Found Dead at 79

U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia was reportedly found dead “of natural causes” at a luxury resort in Texas on Saturday, according to The San Antonio Express-News.

Scalia’s body was reportedly found in his room when he didn’t appear for breakfast. He was on a quail hunting trip at the time at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, according to local KVIA News.

Scalia had served on the Supreme Court since he was appointed in 1986, and was 79 at the time of his death.

Update 5:42 p.m.:

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has released a statement:

As has Ted Cruz:

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Found Dead at 79

Update 5:48 p.m.:

According to The New York Times, Chief Justice John Roberts said, “He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the Court and the country he so loyally served.”

Update 5:54 p.m.:

Donald Trump, too, has some thoughts he’d like to share.

Update 5:59 p.m.:

Of course, the illustrious Supreme Court scholars of Twitter have lots of Thoughts™ about what this means for election, who are nominees might be, and just how much the Senate is going to railroad anyone Obama tries to appoint. But so far, given the state of things, only one prediction seems at all likely:

And a fair and true Justice she shall be.

Update 6:11 p.m.:

According to Michele Bachmann (remember her?) we’ve also lost our beloved Anthony Scalia today, as well.

A very dangerous time for A. Scalias, indeed.


GOP Senate Majority Leader Says Whoever Obama Chooses to Replace Scalia Is Unfit to Serve

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GOP Senate Majority Leader Says Whoever Obama Chooses to Replace Scalia Is Unfit to Serve

The official Republican response to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s untimely death appears to be an agreement that they will unilaterally railroad any Obama nominees on the logic it would be unfair for the sitting president to choose a replacement.

Scalia, who reportedly died of natural causes on a hunting trip in Texas Saturday, leaves behind a Supreme Court seat that, if filled by the Democrats, would swing the court.

http://gawker.com/supreme-court-...

That potential shift has prominent Republicans indicating they’ll block any potential justices Obama may nominate over the next year.

“What is less than zero? The chances of Obama successfully appointing a Supreme Court Justice to replace Scalia? If anything this will put a full stop to all Obama judicial nominees going forward,” tweeted Conn Carroll, a spokesman for Judiciary Committee member Sen. Mike Lee.

And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also said Saturday that a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should not be selected until after the 2016 election by asserting that President Obama no longer represents the American people.

“The American people‎ should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President,” McConnell said in a statement.

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio also released statements arguing that the next president—one of them perhaps?—should have the honor of filling the open seat.

Refreshingly, Donald Trump has thus far kept his opinion on a replacement to himself, commenting only on Scalia’s passing.


Image via AP. Contact the author at gabrielle@gawker.com.

500 Days of Kristin, Day 385: Kristin Once Served as Miss Universe Judge

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500 Days of Kristin, Day 385: Kristin Once Served as Miss Universe Judge

A reminder: Kristin Cavallari’s judicial experience is not insubstantial. In 2014, she served as a judge at the Miss Universe pageant, which was then owned by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. For more information about Kristin’s experience on the bench, click here.


This has been 500 Days of Kristin.

[Photo via Getty]


Who Will Replace Antonin Scalia? 

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Who Will Replace Antonin Scalia? 

Uniquely accomplished Twitter egg and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died. And now, our hearts and Twitter feeds are weighed down by one, big question: Who is Obama going to try to sneak past a stonewalling Senate?

http://gawker.com/supreme-court-...

Because with Scalia’s death, an already frustrating political climate is about to become an absolute nightmare. But whether or not the Senate actually succeeds in blocking Obama’s imminent nominee, Obama will still have to nominate someone to take his place.

Right now, it seems like Obama’s best best would be nominating a moderate-ish Circuit Court judge. After all, the less cause the GOP has to complain the better. Only time will tell, but for now, here’s a few possible contenders for Scalia’s recently vacated throne.


Sri Srinivasan

Jeffrey Toobin, one of the foremost legal writers in the country, seems to think that Judge Sri Srinivasan of the DC Circuit Court has the best shot. As Toobin wrote in The New Yorker before Srinivasan was actually confirmed:

The D.C. Circuit has long operated as a Supreme Court farm team (John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg played their AAA ball there), and Republicans have worked with zeal, and amazing success, to keep Obama from placing a single judge on that court. Just last month, Caitlin Halligan, an eminently qualified New York prosecutor whose confirmation had been shamefully blocked by Senate Republicans for more than two years, withdrew her candidacy. Srinivasan is next up for consideration.

Srinivasan already passed one test against the GOP, which makes him perhaps Obama’s safest bet.

Eric Holder

The former Attorney General has previously said that, if presented with the job, he would respond with “you need to pick somebody who’s a) younger and b) who’s a lot more interested.” But that was nearly a year ago—it’s anyone’s game now.

Jane Kelly

Kelly, a more moderate and thus Republican-palatable option, was actually in Obama’s class at Harvard Law. The Senate confirmed her as a U.S. Circuit Judge to the Court of Appeals just a few years ago, and she’s beloved by Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, otherwise known as the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Patricia Ann Millett

Millett was, according to Toobin, one of the least controversial judges recently confirmed to the D.C. Circuit. Like Kelly, she’s more moderate but also comes with the added bonus of being notoriously military-family friendly. And what Republican senator wouldn’t love that.

Kamala Harris

Harris is the current Attorney General of California and the author of a book that “broke racial barriers,” which is part of what prompted SCOTUSBlog to name her “the female Barack Obama.” Plus, Obama thinks she’s hot.

David Barron

Barron was the acting assistant attorney general for the first two years Obama was in office. He was approved as a Circuit Judge in U.S. Court of Appeals in May of 2014, so he’s successfully passed the Senate test once. Under different circumstances, being a white male might make him an unlikely candidate for a Court that desperately needs some diversity, but if we’re looking to get someone—anyone—past the GOP, Obama might have to make some concessions.

Omarosa

At least it’ll make President Trump happy.

Update 8:07 p.m.:

Reportedly, this may be Obama’s current shortlist.

Or not! Who knows.


Contact the author at ashley@gawker.com. Image via Getty.

Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

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Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

Cuisinart kitchen gear, an EyeFi SD card, and a $17 rainfall shower head lead off Saturday’s best deals. Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter to never miss a deal. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click hereto learn more.


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

Today only, Amazon’s offering steep discounts on a variety of Cuisinart kitchenware, including a complete tri-ply cookware set that will transform the way you cook. Our favorites are below, but head over to Amazon to see all of the deals. [Cuisinart Gold Box]

Cuisinart WMCS-12 12 Pc Try-ply Stainless Cookware Set ($180) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

Cuisinart 8-Piece Pakka Wood Block Knife Set ($60) | Amazon

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Cuisinart Stoneware Alba Collection 16-Piece Dinnerware Sets ($60) | Amazon

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Cuisinart Stoneware Jenna Blue Collection 16-Piece Dinnerware Sets ($50) | Amazon

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Cuisinart 12-Piece Ceramic Coated Color Knife Set with Blade Guards, Multicolored ($18) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...



Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

No, you probably don’t need to analyze your tennis, golf, or baseball swing, but it sure is a lot of fun. I own the tennis analyzer, and it really does give you an impressive amount of information.

Zepp Tennis Swing Analyzer ($100) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Zepp-ZA1T2NA-T...

Zepp 3D Baseball Swing Analyzer ($100) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Zepp-3D-Baseba...

Zepp Golf 3D Swing Analyzer ($100) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Zepp-Golf-3D-S...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

Most new DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have Wi-Fi built right in, but you don’t need to upgrade to a totally new kit just to transfer photos to your phone; all you need is this discounted Eyefi SD card.

If you aren’t familiar, the Eyefi Mobi works just like any other class 10 SD card, except that it broadcasts a wireless network of its own, no matter where you are. Just connect your phone, open an app, and transfer your photos and videos for easy Instagramming. You’ll still pay a premium compared to a standard SD card, but today’s $30 deal is the best we’ve ever seen. [Eyefi Mobi 16GB SDHC Class 10 Wireless Memory Card With 1-Yr Eyefi Cloud Service, $30]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eyefi-Mobi...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

~$20 water-resistant Bluetooth speakers are nothing new, but this model from Mpow cleverly includes a suction cup so you can stick it to your shower wall. It’s like one of those old FM shower radios, except you can use it to listen to Spotify and Serial. [Mpow Buckler Shower Bluetooth Speaker, $17 with code CK2XZKAQ]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014QVKEF4


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

The first thing you should do upon moving into a new house or apartment is rip the showerhead off the wall and replace it with something decent. If you haven’t gotten around to that yet, this 8" rainfall showerhead from A-Flow has fantastic reviews, great looks, and a $17 price tag today. That’s a great investment for something you’ll use every single day. [A-Flow Luxury Rain 8" Square Stainless Steel Shower Head, $17]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

If you haven’t had luck with leaf-style HDTV antennas, this ClearStream 1 might be worth a shot at $8. [Antennas Direct ClearStream 1 Convertible Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna, $8]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4010679931...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

$998 is the standard going rate around the web for this 4K Sony TV, but today, it comes with a $200 Visa gift card to sweeten the pot. [Sony XBR-55X810C - 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz Smart LED TV + $200 Visa Gift Card, $998]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3218997227...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

Today only, Amazon is offering 25 popular magazine subscriptions at insanely low prices. All of the prices quoted are for a two year subscription. [Save up to 90% on 2-year magazine subscriptions]


Amazon’s Prime Pantry program is great for stocking up on household goods and non-perishable foods without actually having to visit a store, but the $5.99 per box shipping charge has always been a drag. This month though, if you buy five select items, you can get that fee waived.

There are hundreds of eligible items running the gamut from granola bars to bandages to toilet bowl cleaner, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding five that you need. Just add them to your box (plus anything else that will fit), and use code PANTRYFEB at checkout to get free shipping. [Free Prime Pantry shipping with five eligible purchases, promo code PANTRYFEB]

Bonus: If you already have a no-rush free shipping credit in your account, this deal actually appears to stack, netting you an extra $6 discount.


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

The humble Raspberry Pi has been inspiring clever hacks for years, and whether you’re new to the Pi or just want to upgrade your original model, we’ve found a great deal on the new (and much-improved) Raspberry Pi 2.

http://lifehacker.com/the-raspberry-...

This $58 kit comes with everything you need to get started, including a case, Wi-Fi module, microSD card, power supply, and noise filter. If you need some inspiration, Lifehacker has written approximately 17 billion articles on the Pi, including a instructions to turn it into a retro gaming console, and a ton of other fun project ideas to get you started. [Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Starter Kit, $58 with code AY2SHMY9]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

We’re Uniqlo fanboys around here, with their undershirts winning our reader vote and their Heattech getting the Indefinitely Wild nod, to name a few accolades.

http://co-op.kinja.com/most-popular-m...

http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/how-to-find-th...

Today you can grab two men’s casual or dress shirts for $49.90 a pair. The same promotion applies to women’s shirts. If you really want to stock up, promo code CR25OFF takes $25 off a cart of $200+, plus free shipping on $100+.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/men/casual-...

I own their men’s slim oxford in several colors, and it’s easily one of the best values in men’s everyday work wear.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/product/men...

There’s also a $10 off promotion when you grab two select pairs of pants, and of course the sale section that the $25 off $200 code and free shipping threshold apply to.

Let us know what you’re adding to your wardrobe in the comments.


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

We occasionally see deals on individual SKUs of Apple’s newest ultrathin MacBook, but today, B&H is taking $300 off every configuration they sell, with tax only for New York buyers. [$300 off Apple MacBooks]

http://gizmodo.com/new-macbook-re...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

If you love the idea of a magnetic smartphone dash mount, but don’t want to block a vent or fill your CD slot, this one sticks to your dash via a standard suction cup. [TechMatte MagGrip Dashboard and Windshield Magnetic Universal Car Mount Holder, $6 with code 54SG7RBH]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

http://bestsellers.kinja.com/bestsellers-mp...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

If you ever pay for iOS apps, movies, music, or iCloud storage with your credit card, you’re throwing money down the drain. Instead, stock up on iTunes gift cards at a 20% discount. [$50 iTunes Gift Card, $40]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2622861780...


Saturday's Best Deals: Cuisinart Kitchen Gear, Rainfall Shower Head, and More

Waterpik is the easier (and they would argue more effective) way to “floss” between your teeth, and you can score an all-time low price on the Aquarius kit today, courtesy of Amazon.

The price might vary by a few dollars based on the color you choose, but all of them include a $10 coupon that will be applied at checkout. You can also save a few extra bucks by ordering through Subscribe & Save. Shipping will take longer if you go this route, and you’ll want to cancel the subscription after your first one arrives, but the option is available if you want to squeeze every penny. [Waterpik WP-672 Aquarius Professional Water Flosser, $63 after $10 coupon]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...


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Article 5

GOP Debate Moderator Calls Out Ted Cruz for Lying, Shames Him Into Silence

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Right off the bat at tonight’s GOP debate, the six remaining candidates got hit with questions about recently deceased Antonin Scalia and Obama’s promise to—well, do his job. While each of the responses was off in its own, special way, Cruz’s was absolute masterpiece of bullshit. And moderator John Dickerson burned the hell out of him for it.

Basically, Cruz either knowingly lied or had his facts wrong when he said that a Justice hasn’t been confirmed in an election year in 80 years (Anthony Kennedy, in fact, was). Dickerson stops Cruz to point this out and try to figure out exactly what it is Cruz is trying to say. That is, of course, counter to everything Cruz stands for.

“I just want to get the facts straight for the audience,” Dickerson says.

It is at this point, over the promise of facts, that the crowd boos furiously.


Contact the author at ashley@gawker.com.

Trump: Bush Lied, People Died

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When you’re already the white supremacist candidate of choice—how do you top yourself? Easily, apparently—just get the truthers behind you. Which is why Trump just went full on “Bush lied, people died.”

Everything about the above clip is good. There’s the part where the crowd boos in disgust after Trump says “I get along with everybody” when asked if he thinks Dubya should have been impeached.

N·ext, Trump does what he does best—rail into Jeb Bush, this time for flip flopping about the Iraq war in the beginning days of his candidacy.

Then his blood pressure starts to rise. His face blends in with the screen behind him as he screams about oil, Iran, and the fact that into Iraq being a mistake: “George bush made a mistake. We can make mistakes, but that one was a beauty. We should have never been in Iraq.”

The moderator then pushed him to actually answer the question at hand (whether or not he thinks Bush should have been impeached). Then, THEN, Trump does it:

“He lied. He said there were weapons of mass destruction—there were none. And then they knew there were none.” The audience, again, boos.

Jeb comes in, defends his brother, calls his dad the greatest man alive (again), and the crowd goes wild.

“The World Trade Center came down during the brother’s reign, remember that. That’s not keeping us safe,” Trump interjects.

He knew, Trump says. He knew.

The headline has been changed.


Contact the author at ashley@gawker.com.

Antonin Scalia Lost

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Antonin Scalia Lost

Antonin Scalia died a failure. He failed at the thing he liked to claim he was doing, and he failed at the thing he genuinely was trying to do. Both failures are captured by the furious and immediate response to his death, as Republican members of the Senate hastily announced that they will preemptively withhold their advice or consent from whoever the President of the United States might nominate to fill the vacancy.

This is a strange way to honor a man who insisted that his loyalty was always to the Constitution. He was, he said, a humble lawyer, obedient to the texts he was given. He followed the law where it led. To do otherwise was a “threat to American democracy,” as he wrote in his dissent in Obergefell v. Hodges, denouncing his colleagues on the Supreme Court for having denied the people of the states the right to pass laws against gay marriage.

“A system of government that makes the People subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy,” Scalia wrote.

What does deserve to be called a democracy? Fifteen years earlier, concurring with the court’s stoppage of the Florida presidential recount, Scalia argued that recording a count of disputed votes was also a threat to democracy. “Count first, and rule upon legality afterwards, is not a recipe for producing election results that have the public acceptance democratic stability requires,” Scalia wrote.

As Scalia put it in Obergefell, in one of his own meticulously crafted judicial analyses: Huh? The whole sentence had the shape of something authoritative, but on inspection, the inclusion of the word “not” becomes more and more peculiar. Try taking it out: Count first, and rule upon legality afterwards, is a recipe for producing election results that have the public acceptance democratic stability requires. It’s at least as reasonable as Scalia’s version.

But Bush v. Gore was not an act of reasoning. It was an act of assertion, the baldest of the many, many pieces of evidence that Scalia’s performance as an independent thinker was a sham. His great stack of dissents and concurrences, the volume of legal argument that he generated, simply reflected the fact that he enjoyed hearing the sound of his own voice. By his own confession, he did not even try to persuade his colleagues to join his reasoning. That was not what he was there for. Underneath the bombast and the pious invocations of the will of the founders, he was nothing more than a loyal member of a very contemporary partisan Republican bloc.

The moment he died, his Republican colleagues in the legislative branch stopped pretending he was anything else. All that was left of his philosophy was: How do we get a win out of this?

That was Scalia’s first failure. His second failure was visible in the Senators’ desperation: Having abandoned judicial persuasion for naked power politics, he never got the power he wanted. He grew more pugnacious and less influential. In the end he was left to fume on the sidelines, writing yet another raging dissent, as Chief Justice John Roberts, a loyal but pragmatic member of the judicial conservative movement, voted to uphold the Affordable Care Act.

The book is closed on the Scalia wing of the court. It peaked at four solid votes, with the fickle Anthony Kennedy flitting in and out of the majority. Now the Republicans are threatening a constitutional crisis in the hopes of even getting it back to four. There is Antonin Scalia’s legacy. He aimed low, and he missed.

[Photo via Getty]

Antonin Scalia Won

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Antonin Scalia Won

Justice Antonin Scalia is dead. His proteges will continue to wreak havoc throughout the country for decades. The longest-service justice at the time of his death, Scalia had more than 100 clerks work under him during his tenure. Those clerks (a couple token liberals among them, admittedly) went on to the highest ranks of the American judiciary and legal profession. There’s an army of Scalias out there.

With a couple largely symbolic exceptions (yes, Scalia supported flag-burners—he also joined the majority in Morse v. Frederick, which found that a high school principal could punish a student for unfurling a banner that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” across the street from the school), Scalia’s lifelong project was the advancement of the conservative movement, and however you slice it, he was staggeringly successful, especially considering how much of his tenure happened while that movement was being soundly defeated in multiple national elections (including one that he helped flip, in his side’s favor).

And Scalia’s project—the contortion of history and language to redefine modern conservative policy goals as the plain and obvious readings of our archaic founding documents—is as alive as ever, even if the makeup of the Supreme Court itself changes significantly. The movement may miss the way he gussied up his naked partisanship in a lawyer’s approximation of wit, but it will not any time soon lack for people willing to assert, with a straight face, that the Constitution presents a clear-cut and obvious prohibition against having the EPA regulate power plant emissions.

In a sense, his project wasn’t new. The Supreme Court has been conservative for a long, long time, and if Antonin Scalia had sat on the court for the last 200 years instead of 30, he would have written a concurrence in Dred Scott, the majority opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson, and a devilishly quotable dissent in Brown v. Board of Education. But he was the embodiment of the new kind of conservative jurist, who sought not just to maintain some favorable status quo, but (ironically) to use the courts to remake society. Before Scalia, the notions that Congress couldn’t restrict political spending, or that the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual’s right to private firearm ownership for self-defense, were widely considered considered absurd. Now they’re accepted precedent, with today’s liberals arguing how to legislate around the margins of those decisions.

So, yes, Scalia lost on the big issues where he was just too backwards to grind out a victory. He lost on sodomy laws and same-sex marriage, and was forced to live to see a world where gay people went mainstream. That can give us some satisfaction. But on nearly every question related to the power of money and people who have it to do as they see fit, Scalia won, and his victories appear pretty safe.

Meanwhile, there’s no liberal judicial project as ambitious and far-reaching as the one that produced Scalia. Assuming a Democrat wins the presidency in November, some of Scalia’s legacy will be reversed. But it will take decades to undo his toxic influence from the judiciary, if it can ever even be fully expunged.


Watch the Republicans Yell at Each Other in Terrible Spanish

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Watch the Republicans Yell at Each Other in Terrible Spanish

The dialogue during the Republican presidential debate on Saturday evening got heated. So heated, in fact, that it devolved into an entirely different language, giving everyone in the audience a fun glimpse at the Spanish skills of the candidates who want to expel many of this country’s Spanish-speaking residents.

It began when Sen. Marco Rubio challenged Sen. Ted Cruz, saying, “I don’t know how he [Cruz] knows what I said on Univision because he doesn’t speak Spanish.” Out spewed a torrent of lilted syllables from the mouth-hole of Cruz, triggering a chain reaction from the other candidates, a herd of geese squawking into the wind.

Naturally, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, hungry as ever for a chance to get in on the fray, weighed in on Twitter:


Ben Carson's Fake Stalin Quote Came From a Right-Wing Facebook Meme

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Ben Carson made a lot of questionable decisions tonight (showing up at all, to name one). His biggest mistake, though, was the active choice to end the evening with a quote from Joseph Stalin—one that was, of course, a complete lie.

“Joseph Stalin said,” Ben Carson begins, using a phrase that would rarely end well for a presidential candidate even if it were true. “If you want to bring America down, you have to undermine three things: Our spiritual life, our patriotism, and our morality.”

Unfortunately for Carson, and much like the vast majority of his information, this quote appears to have come from nothing more than a paranoid Facebook meme—according to Snopes, this Facebook meme:

Ben Carson's Fake Stalin Quote Came From a Right-Wing Facebook Meme

The only thing surprising about Carson quoting a right-wing internet meme is that it’s taken this long for it to actually happen. But then again, at least to hear Carson tell it, no one ever lets him talk in the first place.


Where Was All the Vape Talk at the Debate, Demands Right-Wing Vaping Champion

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Where Was All the Vape Talk at the Debate, Demands Right-Wing Vaping Champion

Saturday night’s hellish Republican debate covered nearly everything: mooning, 9/11, and even a quick Spanish lesson. But one important policy issue no one even touched on? Vaping.

Grover Norquist, a politician and president of Americans for Tax Reform, is not the same Republican Congressman who recently vaped mid-legislative session. But he does want to talk about vaping. As the debate wound down, Norquist fired off a series of tweets demanding justice for vapers.

A fair point! Out with the 9/11 chatter, in with the serious issue of vape policy. Norquist, a conservative who thoroughly enjoyed Burning Man in 2014, has longed for vape justice for quite some time now.

The next Republican debate is scheduled for February 25. Hopefully by then, the world will come to realize that the issue of vape policy is as serious as a heart attack, and we need to discuss it now.


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

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Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Kindle bestsellers, T-fal kitchen gear, and your favorite travel mug lead off Sunday’s best deals. Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter to never miss a deal. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click hereto learn more.


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Today only, Amazon’s offering a small-but-impressive collection of Kindle bestsellers for just $2-$4 each. The highlights are Bossypants by Tina Fey and I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, but be sure to head over to Amazon to see the rest. [Bossypants, I am Malala, and more Kindle bestsellers on sale, $2-$4]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Whether you use iOS, Android, or Windows devices, Microsoft’s folding Bluetooth keyboard is one of the slickest accessories you can own. [Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard for iPad, iPhone, Android devices, and Windows tablets, $50. Also available on eBay.]

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Univ...

http://gizmodo.com/microsofts-fol...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

My car battery doesn’t even last three years, so I can’t begin to imagine how this Logitech mouse can survive for that long. [Logitech - Marathon Mouse M705 Wireless Laser Mouse, $22]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logitech-M...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Today only, Amazon’s deeply discounting a small collection of T-Fal kitchen accessories. I’m partial to the tri-ply cookware set—if you’re still using cheap nonstick pans, it will change your life—but all of them have good reviews.

T-fal ActiBread Programmable Bread Machine ($80) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

T-fal Clipso Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker ($58) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

T-fal Tri-ply Stainless Steel Multi-clad Dishwasher Safe Oven Safe Cookware Set, 12-Piece ($140) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

T-fal Oil Filtration Ultimate EZ Clean Easy to clean 3.5-Liter Fry Basket Stainless Steel Immersion Deep Fryer ($90) | Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

If you don’t currently own something that can slice julienne vegetables, you really don’t have any reason not to buy this $5 peeler. [X-Chef Stainless Steel Dual Julienne & Vegetable Peeler, with Cleaning Brush & Blade Guard, $5]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0129AICNK


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

If you hurry, Amazon’s selling your undisputed favorite travel mug, the Contigo Autoseal West Loop, for just $15 in black, one of the best prices we’ve ever seen, and a solid discount from its usual $18-$20. Just be sure to grab one before the deal cools off. [Contigo Autoseal West Loop, Black, $15]

http://www.amazon.com/Contigo-Autose...

http://co-op.kinja.com/the-best-trave...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Admittedly, this is a pretty niche Gold Box deal, but if you’ve been thinking of buying a ping pong table, this highly rated Stiga model is down to $300 today, an all-time low by more than $60. [STIGA Triumph Table Tennis Table, $300]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CBQURRM/...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Apple’s expansive (and expensive) iPad Pro is finally starting to get some discounts, and today, you can save $100 on the base 32GB Wi-Fi model, or $150 off the 128GB model. Those are the best deals we’ve seen to date. [Apple iPad Pro, $700-$800]

http://gizmodo.com/what-its-like-...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

If you enjoy cooking, and you don’t own a KitchenAid mixer, it’s a pretty safe assumption that you want one. You can pick up a refurb of the KitchenAid Artisan on eBay today in a spectrum of colors for just $170, one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen. [Refurb KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, $170]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1316281359...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

Most new DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have Wi-Fi built right in, but you don’t need to upgrade to a totally new kit just to transfer photos to your phone; all you need is this discounted Eyefi SD card.

If you aren’t familiar, the Eyefi Mobi works just like any other class 10 SD card, except that it broadcasts a wireless network of its own, no matter where you are. Just connect your phone, open an app, and transfer your photos and videos for easy Instagramming. You’ll still pay a premium compared to a standard SD card, but today’s $30 deal is the best we’ve ever seen. [Eyefi Mobi 16GB SDHC Class 10 Wireless Memory Card With 1-Yr Eyefi Cloud Service, $30]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eyefi-Mobi...


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

The humble Raspberry Pi has been inspiring clever hacks for years, and whether you’re new to the Pi or just want to upgrade your original model, we’ve found a great deal on the new (and much-improved) Raspberry Pi 2.

http://lifehacker.com/the-raspberry-...

This $58 kit comes with everything you need to get started, including a case, Wi-Fi module, microSD card, power supply, and noise filter. If you need some inspiration, Lifehacker has written approximately 17 billion articles on the Pi, including a instructions to turn it into a retro gaming console, and a ton of other fun project ideas to get you started. [Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Starter Kit, $58 with code AY2SHMY9]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...


Amazon’s Prime Pantry program is great for stocking up on household goods and non-perishable foods without actually having to visit a store, but the $5.99 per box shipping charge has always been a drag. This month though, if you buy five select items, you can get that fee waived.

There are hundreds of eligible items running the gamut from granola bars to bandages to toilet bowl cleaner, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding five that you need. Just add them to your box (plus anything else that will fit), and use code PANTRYFEB at checkout to get free shipping. [Free Prime Pantry shipping with five eligible purchases, promo code PANTRYFEB]

Bonus: If you already have a no-rush free shipping credit in your account, this deal actually appears to stack, netting you an extra $6 discount.


Sunday's Best Deals: Kindle Bestsellers, Kitchen Gear, Foldable Keyboard, and More

If you ever pay for iOS apps, movies, music, or iCloud storage with your credit card, you’re throwing money down the drain. Instead, stock up on iTunes gift cards at a 20% discount. [$50 iTunes Gift Card, $40]


More Deals


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Driver Admits To Possessing Drugs, 'Snapchatting And Instagramming' During Police Chase

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Driver Admits To Possessing Drugs, 'Snapchatting And Instagramming' During Police Chase

Following over an hour of pursuit, a Texas police chase ended in both gunshots to the tire and spike strips on Thursday night. Once the whole ordeal concluded, the man being chased admitted to a few illegal actions on camera before telling the media that he is “done with people trying to take [his] freedom.”

The chase began as an attempted traffic stop and went through five state counties, according to WFAA-TV. Reportedly reaching speeds of 100 mph, the driver, identified as Jonathan Davis, kept on trucking at 50 mph after popping two of his tires on spike strips. When police shot out at least one other and Davis crashed his car into a median, KCEN TV reports that he finally stopped.

Reporters caught up to him afterward, and below is his description of what went down—marijuana, Snapchat, Instagram, police hatred, freedom pleas and all:

Davis said he doesn’t know why cops pulled him over, but believes it was due to him being “on [his] iPhone, [his] little iPad, changing music.” No reports on which device he actually used. In response to the gunshots, Davis told reporters:

Dude, I was trying to get to San Antonio. I don’t know what the [bleeped out] roads I was on until they shot my car. I didn’t know they was going to shoot at me. I was like, “Damn, they shooting at me—I ain’t even got no gun.”

As for why he fled from the cops, Davis said that he’s tired of getting arrested for marijuana—something he “always” has on him. Davis said the drug charges on his record prevent him from being able to get a job, but did admit that this recent police chase was a thrill. All 90 minutes of it.

But the chase wasn’t all about high-speed thrills, as Davis said he posted to both his Snapchat and Instagram accounts while driving. Following a check of his account, Fox 4 did not find any Instagram posts related to the chase.

According to Fox 4, Davis now faces charges for evading arrest, possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession and driving while intoxicated. Since Davis told us all the extent of his police hatred in his minute of media fame, we can make an educated guess on how he feels about that.

Hat tip to William!


Top photo via Facebook screen capture

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