Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 5/3

[SVPete]

Elizabeth Warren Killed Spirit Airlines and Now She’s Complaining About It

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/05/02/elizabeth-warren-killed-spirit-airlines-and-now-shes-complaining-about-it-n2675422

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in partnership with former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and President Joe Biden are the ones with Spirit Airlines’ blood on their hands after working tirelessly to block the merger of the budget airline with JetBlue.
...
Now that the company is dead, the hyper-progressive Democrat wants to complain about the lack of competition in the air travel industry.

Warren had previously touted the decision to kill the merger as a huge win for consumers and warned that the deal would’ve “led to fewer flights and higher fares.” The judge who was pressured into blocking the deal stated “to those dedicated customers of Spirit, this one’s for you” before immediately shooting the company dead with his decision.

Progs on FB are blaming Trump and the Iran War for Spirit's demise.

[ADsOutburst]

I agree with the substance of the article, but I wish they had talked more about why Spirit wanted the merger, which is that they were hemmorhaging money. It would have driven the point home even more.

And holy crap, what idiotic reasoning by the judge who blocked it.

[SVPete]

Appeals court temporarily blocks access to mail-order abortion drugs

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/appeals-court-temporarily-blocks-access-mail-order-abortion-drugs

A federal appeals court in New Orleans Friday temporarily blocked ‌a federal rule allowing the abortion drug mifepristone to be dispensed through ​the mail.

A panel of the 5th ​U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana would likely succeed in its challenge to the federal rule that was adopted under the Biden administration, according to Reuters.

The order also adds to a lower court's ruling that found Louisiana and the abortion drug coercion survivor Rosalie Markezich would likely win the case, but said the lower court erred in denying immediate relief and the Food & Drug Administration can still complete its safety review of mifepristone.

“The public interest is not served by perpetuating a medical practice whose safety the agency admits was inadequately studied," the ruling reads. "Indeed, the public interest demands the opposite.”

This will probably go to the USSC.

[SVPete]

California Man Sentenced to 12 Years for $59M COVID Unemployment Fraud Scheme

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/scott-mcclallen/2026/05/02/california-man-sentenced-to-12-years-for-59m-covid-unemployment-fraud-scheme-n2675413

A California man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for allegedly committing wire fraud and laundering about $59 million.

Bruce Jin, age 61, a resident of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to 144 months in prison by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Jin previously pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025, and admitted that he and his coconspirators Brian R. Cleland, age 72, and Carlos A. Grijalva, age 60, both of Los Angeles, California, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds and other public funds through fraudulent means.

Jin, Cleland, Grijalva, and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID-19 personal protective equipment. The funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation benefits. The indictment alleges that Economic Impact Payments, or “stimulus payments,” were also obtained through fraudulent means.

Federal prosecutor and court.

Covid relief $$$$ was an engraved invitation to fraud, and CA's UEI program was also milked during Covid by fraudsters. Had these fraudsters not involved Federal $$ they might not have been caught and prosecuted, IMO.

[SVPete]

By way of a contrast to the above:

Guilty plea in largest Medicaid fraud case in state history nets probation, $2.2 million penalty

https://www.startribune.com/guilty-plea-in-largest-medicaid-fraud-case-in-state-history-nets-probation-22-million-penalty/601831272

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office secured a guilty plea Friday from the only defendant involved in the largest Medicaid fraud case in state history who is still in the United States.
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In pleading guilty, Ibrahim had a racketeering charge and two additional theft by swindle charges dismissed. He agreed to pay $2.2 million in joint restitution and will be placed on five years supervised probation. His 150-day jail sentence will be stayed as long as he complies with probation and sticks to a payment plan that will be determined at sentencing.

Five years of probation and paying part of $2.2M for assisting in $11M (that is known) fraud? Seriously?!