Bacon's Rebellion

  • Derangement Update

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    Two mugshot images side by side showing two men with different hairstyles and expressions.
     John Wilson Bennett (left) and Mark Booth Bennett

    From The Virginia Mercury:

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced the arrests of two Virginia brothers accused of plotting violent attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — a case that immediately drew national attention amid the ongoing immigration crackdown and heightened threats against federal law enforcement.

    John Wilson Bennett and his brother, Mark Booth Bennett, both U.S. citizens, were taken into custody last week. 

    According to DHS, the investigation began Nov. 17 after an off-duty Norfolk police officer overheard the men discussing plans to “kill police officers and ICE agents.” Authorities say Mark Bennett also talked about meeting “likeminded individuals” in Las Vegas to buy firearms equipped with explosive rounds.

    John Bennett has served as Assistant Principal of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach since 2009.

    (more…)

  • A Thanksgiving Tribute to Governor Youngkin

    Posted on

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    James A. Bacon

    A man in a suit carving a turkey, smiling at a Thanksgiving gathering, with festive decorations in the background.
    Image credit: Grok

    by Srilekha Reddy Palle

    This Thanksgiving, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Governor Glenn Youngkin and his administration. My passion for politics and policymaking intensified significantly during his campaign, and I am proud to say I was among those who believed in him even before the primaries. During those early days, I introduced him to the Indian American community and later to the broader Asian American community.

    During the height of the TJ Coalition efforts—when many parents and community members were closely watching merit-based education issues—I arranged a meet-and-greet for him at TEJ Restaurant in Herndon. At that event, I asked him directly: If you win the election, will you appoint us to the Asian Advisory Board so that we can continue advocating for these issues?
    He gave his word — and he kept it. I remain deeply grateful that he appointed me to the Board, demonstrating once again that promises made are promises kept, just as we have seen with President Trump.

    Hundreds of thousands of parents in Northern Virginia supported Governor Youngkin because he championed a return to merit-based principles in education, jobs, and public institutions. His leadership ensured that race-based divisiveness did not deepen — and for that, we are thankful.

    Despite serving his entire term with a Democrat-controlled General Assembly, he delivered strong, measurable results, including:

    (more…)

  • No, Health Care Is Not a “Fundamental Right”

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    James A. Bacon

    Bernie Sanders isn’t “lying,” as Delegate Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, says here. The Vermont socialist believes what he says. Rather, he’s confused about what constitutes a “fundamental right.” However, Freitas nails it when he explains that a fundamental right such as free speech, freedom of religion, etc., does not entitle you to the property and labor of others without which government-sponsored healthcare is impossible. — JAB

  • Let’s Hope the Fiscal Prudence Lasts

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    James A. Bacon

  • Publication of 2024 “Crime in Virginia” Data a Half Year Late

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    by

    James A. Bacon

    A list of annual publications related to crime statistics in Virginia, organized by year from 2000 to 2023.
    Source: Virginia State Police as of November 26.

    For years the Virginia State Police has published its annual “Crime in Virginia” report each May detailing the number of violent crimes, non-violent crimes, arrests, hate crimes, officer-involved shootings, and other crime-related data for the commonwealth. Then something strange happened last year: The 2023 report came out late — in August, as I recall.

    This year, something even stranger is occurring. Here it is, nearly December, and the 2024 report has yet to be released. What the H-E-double hockey sticks is going on?

    I asked Robin Lawson, public relations director for the Virginia State Police, why the report has not been released. Her response:

    “It is still under review by Administration.”

    I’m sure Lawson is just repeating what she’s been told, but this is totally unacceptable.

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  • The Great “Affordability” Debate

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    James A. Bacon

  • Redistricting Roulette

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    Close-up of a roulette wheel with a white ball resting on the edge of the betting area.

    by David J. Toscano

    “Unprecedented” and “outrageous” were the words most often heard in response to Texas Republicans’ attempted mid-cycle redraw of congressional maps to boost GOP odds of keeping control of the U.S. House after the midterms. Now, a federal district court has concluded that the legislature’s new plan is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander—placing the strategy in jeopardy and leaving Republicans wondering whether this power play was worth the trouble.

    Reading Judge Jeffrey Brown’s opinion brought back memories of my time in the Virginia General Assembly, including my years as House Democratic leader. Brown, a Trump appointee, cited the Virginia case that overturned the Virginia GOP’s 2011 redistricting plan to underscore his conclusion that Texas Republicans relied on race in drawing their maps. The parallels between the two states are striking.

    The Virginia Precedent

    When Virginia Republicans drew the 2011 maps, they controlled the governorship and both legislative chambers—conditions like those in Texas today. Unlike Texas, however, Democrats in Virginia regularly won statewide races, including those for Governor and every presidential contest since 2008. Despite this statewide success, Republicans maintained large majorities in the Virginia House for years, aided by a partisan and racially discriminatory gerrymander. Much of this can be traced to the GOP’s national strategy after Barack Obama’s 2008 victory. Republicans invested heavily in winning state legislatures so they could shape congressional redistricting. And they succeeded. In Virginia, the 2011, 2013, and 2015 House elections were conducted using maps designed to entrench GOP control. In 2016, the GOP held a 66-34 majority in the Virginia House.

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  • The Coming Madness…

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    James A. Bacon

  • The BoV Didn’t Create UVA’s Problems

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    by

    James A. Bacon

  • High Cost Kills One, Maybe Two Clean Economy Act Projects

    Posted on

    by

    Steve Haner

    by Steve Haner

    Citing the high cost, the Virginia State Corporation Commission on Friday denied a request to add a battery project to the Appalachian Power Company grid. In the same decision, an out-of-state wind project for Appalachian was approved, but only if it qualifies for major federal tax credits to keep down the cost.   

    Without those tax credits, set to expire under legislation signed by President Donald Trump, the 261-megawatt wind project in Illinois that Appalachian plans to buy will also be too expensive to justify, the SCC ruled. Any cost overrun on the $1 billion plus construction cost will also void the Commission’s permission for Appalachian to buy the turbines, being built by another company. 

    The rulings were part of Appalachian’s annual proposal for adding non-carbon emitting energy projects to comply with the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). The Commission’s order, and a more extensive discussion in the September 26 report from its hearing examiner, D. Mathias Roussy, highlight the growing costs of VCEA compliance.   

    Appalachian serves about 550,000 customers in Western Virginia, and most of its power generation is done out of state. Under the VCEA, it must move toward ending its use of coal, natural gas, or oil to make electricity.  

    The application also updated the ongoing costs of previously approved VCEA-compliant Appalachian facilities mandated by the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and one small solar addition. Those portions of the application were approved, and Appalachian customer bills will rise on March 1, 2026, to pay for them. 

    (more…)

  • Lawlessness and Disorder

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    James A. Bacon

  • Chicanery & Circus at the Courthouse

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    A serious-looking judge sits at the bench in a courtroom, while four clowns in colorful costumes playfully pose in the background.
    Image credit; Grok

    by Jon Baliles

    There have been a lot of embarrassing moments in the history of city government, but one that will soon be in the Hall of Fame is taking place before our eyes, with the latest edition occurring last Tuesday in the John Marshall Courthouse. A trial that began more than 18 months ago has turned into a full blown circus with clownish embarrassment as the cost to the city has already gone through the roof with the Mayor claiming what you are reading about from reporters (who are actually in the courtroom) is not true.

    The truth is that under the big top, the city is being represented by a third- party legal team led Jimmy Robinson, Jr. of the Ogletree Deakins law firm. Robinson was confrontational with Judge Claire Caldwell on Tuesday because she called him out for making statements that directly contradicted what he had told both the court and Graham Moomaw from The Richmonder concerning a motion filed on November 5th (and she read his emails aloud to the court).

    It got to the surreal moment that when Robinson began to admonish Judge Caldwell and raised his voice towards her, the Sheriff’s Deputy serving as bailiff moved from her position on the side wall of the courtroom into a position between the lawyer’s table and the judge, and at one point told Robinson to calm down. The judge also at one point told Robinson to “lower your voice.”

    If your legal strategy includes sparring with the judge to the point and volume where the bailiff gets concerned enough to take a defensive position, then you’re no longer making a solid or coherent legal argument; you don’t need to be a lawyer or stay at a Holiday Inn Express to figure that out. Before we get to more of Tuesday’s fireworks however, rewind to the last hearing in September.

    (more…)

  • Jeanine’s Memes

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    by

    James A. Bacon

    A man in a cowboy hat and jacket stands with a serious expression, accompanied by the text: 'I, TOO, WAS ONCE A MAN TRAPPED IN A WOMAN'S BODY. THEN I WAS BORN.'

    View more memes at The Bull Elephant

  • Spanberger’s Letter to UVA Board Threatens Rule of Law

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    by Emilio Jaksetic

    On November 13, 2025, Bacon’s Rebellion posted an article by The Jefferson Council entitled “Spanberger’s Political Amnesia.” That article criticized Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s letter to the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Board of Visitors (BOV) in which she asked the BOV to refrain from choosing a new President for UVA until she can appoint new members to the BOV. The Jefferson Council succinctly identified the political double standard displayed by Governor-elect Spanberger’s request by comparing it to the political hardball efforts of Virginia Democrats to make significant post-election decisions and appointments affecting UVA before then Governor-elect Youngkin could become Governor.

    The Jefferson Council’s discussion of the political aspects of Governor-elect Spanberger’s letter is apt and noteworthy. However, it is important to also consider how her letter also raises serious rule-of-law issues. Why? Because although Governor-elect Spanberger’s letter may appear to be reasonable on the surface, it is problematic when viewed in the context of the Virginia Constitution and the Virginia Code. What follows are the reasons why I assert Governor-elect Spanberger’s letter poses a threat to the rule of law.

    First, Governor-elect Spanberger’s electoral victory in November 2025 gives her the right to take the oath of office and become Governor at the end of Governor Youngkin’s term, but it does not give her any legal basis to exercise any authority that an incumbent Governor possesses. The authority and power of Virginia’s Governor rest with the incumbent Governor, not a Governor-elect. Governor Youngkin’s November 13, 2025, letter to Governor-elect Spanberger properly points that out. But beyond the traditional practices referred to by Governor Youngkin, there is an important rule-of-law aspect involved.

    The idea that a Governor-elect is not yet the Governor is more than a mere truism. It reflects an important legal distinction.

    (more…)

  • Bacon Meme of the Week

    Posted on

    by

    James A. Bacon

    A humorous image of a surprised dog with big eyes and a confused expression, accompanied by text that reads 'WAIT, WHAT? DID YOU SAY, BACON?'

Now Available

Book cover of 'Dust Mites: A Second American Revolution' by James A. Bacon, featuring astronauts planting a flag with a blue and white emblem on a lunar landscape, with Earth visible in the background.
For sale on Amazon.com

The year: 2075. The American colonies on the Moon are getting restless under Washington’s tyrannical rule….

This second edition of “Dust Mites” has a snazzy new cover, includes helpful lunar maps, and is 5,000 words tighter than the original. The sequel, “Trogs,” is scheduled for publication this summer.

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Bacon’s Rebellion is Virginia’s leading politically non-aligned portal for news, opinions and analysis about state, regional and local public policy. Read more about us here.

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