Some of the nation's leading defense lawyers have been trying to wrap their heads around what they consider abnormal behavior by the U.S. Department of Justice over the past year.
Now, they're debuting a tool to help track criminal cases that appear to involve irregular charging practices, including aggressive legal theories and possible political retribution against President Trump's foes.
"We created the Case Tracker because you cannot defend against an enemy you cannot see," said Steven Salky, a lawyer in the Washington, D.C., area who oversees the project. "The Tracker is intended to spotlight for the next several years the unusual cases being prosecuted by the Department of Justice."
The new database includes the federal cases against Sean Charles Dunn, who threw a sub sandwich at a federal immigration officer, and Jacob Samuel Winkler, a homeless man accused of directing a laser pointer toward the Marine One presidential helicopter. Juries in Washington, D.C., acquitted both men. Nekima Levy Armstrong holds up her fist after speaking at an anti-ICE rally for Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19 in St. Paul, Minn. National Anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church leads to 3 arrests but no charges for a journalist
The tracker, sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), also monitors cases where government charges of resisting federal law enforcement have been undercut by videos and eyewitness accounts from protesters.
Truth is that I am not as certain as I might be about getting a HD pickup truck. But I think the half-ton trucks right now are such crap with the EPA fuel economy regulations with their thin oils and blown turbo-charged engines. It just seems like both GM and Ford half tons are complete crap these days, and even Toyota Tundras are having issues. Even the compact trucks are pretty bad, Toyota Tacomas included have reliability issues, but maybe not that bad. The Godzilla is a very reliable engine, but there are still people who have issues with it and even more so with older versions of the 10R100 or 10R140 tranny. If I had to get a non-HD truck I am pretty sure I would go with a Tacoma. My neighbor has a Taco truck, he apparently likes it, he got a new one when wrecked the one he was driving.
I think a lot about fuel economy and ease of driving in the city, though that is not why I am buying a truck. I’d rather have a vehicle that is difficult to drive in the city, so I can park on the outskirts of the city and take the bus or bike where I need to go. And there is the issue of smaller campsites, though an HD truck ain’t going to be that much bigger then my old lifted Silverado half ton. For a recreational vehicle, who cares if it costs a bit more to fuel up – the past years I’ve been averaging only about 6,000-7,000 miles primarily recreationally, with winters racking up less then 200 miles some months.
But the bigger problem I have Taco trucks – besides my ego and my broke penis – is they are just too damn small for a week plus worth of camping gear. I’ve just acquired a lot of crap that I use and set up at camp. It’s a lot of food, tarps, gear, heaters, tables, etc. that I bring to camp. I guess I could get rid of some of my stuff, camp more minimally, but that sucks. If anything, I want to add more gear for winter and late autumn camping, like the diesel heater. With the enhanced battery and solar set up, and bigger alternator of SuperDuty, I should be able to pack enough gear to head out to wilderness for a week or more without ever going to town. But if I go the Taco truck route, I was considering getting a utility trailer, to tow behind for all that gear, I can’t fit in the small cap. Then, it doesn’t improve fuel economy or maneuverability over a SuperDuty. Add in the cost of utility trailer and the Taco truck doesn’t actually save money.
I was thinking about ways to become more confident about making a good decision. Mostly about my next truck, but also about so many other things in life. There are many options out there in life, and I thought it would be interesting to see the Internet consensus using Google AI.
Building confidence in decision-making is less about being “right” and more about trusting your process and your ability to handle any outcome.
1. Strategic Frameworks to Reduce Uncertainty
Using a structured approach removes the “guesswork” and replaces it with logic.
The 10-10-10 Rule: Ask how you will feel about the decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. This helps put short-term anxiety into long-term perspective.
Weighted Decision Matrix: List your options against key criteria (e.g., cost, time, happiness) and score them from 1–10 based on importance.
The “Premortem”: Imagine the decision has failed. Work backward to determine why it might have happened and address those risks now.
Limit Your Choices: Having too many options leads to analysis paralysis. Narrow your selection to the top 2 or 3 choices to make the final call easier.
2. Practical Habits for “Decision Strength”
Confidence is a “muscle” that grows with repeated, intentional use.
Start Small & Scaffold: Practice being decisive with low-stakes choices—like where to eat or what to wear—to build comfort before tackling life-altering decisions.
Set Firm Deadlines: Indecision often breeds more anxiety. Give yourself a strict time limit for a decision; for minor ones, try a 2-minute rule.
The “Coin Toss” Trick: Flip a coin to decide between two equal options. While it’s in the air, notice which side you are hoping it lands on—that is your true preference.
3. Mindset Shifts for Self-Trust
Align with Core Values: When you know your “why,” decisions become clearer. Ask, “Does this choice align with the person I want to be?”.
Embrace “Good Enough”: Perfectionism is the enemy of confidence. Accept that many decisions have no “perfect” answer, only the best one available at the time.
Separate Worth from Outcome: A “bad” result doesn’t mean you made a “bad” decision based on the information you had then. View outcomes as data for the next choice rather than a reflection of your intelligence.
Listen to Physical Cues: Pay attention to your “gut.” If an option makes your chest tighten, it might be a signal to pause; if it feels “light,” it may be the right path.
4. Managing External Factors
Curate Advice Carefully: Asking too many people leads to conflicting opinions that drown out your own voice. Consult 1–2 trusted, impartial sources instead of holding a “poll”.
Avoid “Decision Fatigue”: Your ability to make sound choices depletes throughout the day. Make your most important decisions in the morning or after a break.
I’ve always tried to be a fairly mindful spender, adopting many of these techniques as suggested by Google AI.
Spending mindfully is the practice of being intentional and aware of where your money goes, ensuring your financial choices align with your core values and long-term goals rather than fleeting impulses.
Core Strategies for Mindful Spending
The “Pause” Method: Before any non-essential purchase, implement a mandatory waiting period—typically 24 hours for small items and up to 30 days for larger ones. This “cooling-off” period helps determine if the item is a true need or a temporary craving.
Identify Spending Triggers: Reflect on whether your urge to spend is driven by emotions like boredom, stress, or social pressure. Finding alternative ways to de-stress, such as exercise or a hobby, can curb “retail therapy”.
Add “Friction” to Purchases: Disable one-click buying on sites like Amazon and remove saved payment information from your browser. The extra steps required to check out provide a vital moment to reconsider.
Calculate “Life Energy”: Before buying, translate the price into hours worked. Asking, “Is this item worth 5 hours of my life?” often shifts your perspective on its value.
Use Physical Cash: Research suggests that handing over physical money feels more “real” than swiping a card, which can naturally reduce overspending.
Helpful Frameworks
The 50/30/20 Rule: A common guideline where 50% of income goes to needs, 30% to wants (mindful fun), and 20% to savings or debt.
Values-Based Budgeting: Instead of just cutting costs, identify your top values (e.g., travel, health, family) and prioritize spending there while aggressively cutting what you don’t care about.
Zero-Sum Budgeting: Assign every single dollar a “job” at the start of the month so no money is left to be spent mindlessly.
