Episode Notes 2026 is off, and the Delaware legislature is also just getting started. This episode covers some general state news and a few New Castle County soundbites, but everything connects back to a proposed constitutional amendment for a basic right to privacy. In a world hellbent on surveilling us, inspecting our lives and our bodies, and making images of us -- all without our consent -- what can our legislature due to slow the tide? (Content warning in the last five minutes for mention of the word "p*rn," just in case you listen while your kids are around.) Links Weapons of Math Destruction DelawareOnline: Delaware open government coalition calls for moratorium on data centers Letter sent from Councilman Carter to Starwood What Happens When Data Centers Come To Town - Univ of Michigan Science, Technology, and Public Policy Spotlight Delaware: Following settlement, lawmakers propose changes to hospital oversight board Futurism: Cops Forced to Explain Why AI Generated Police Report Claimed Officer Transformed Into Frog NCCo Council Public Safety Committee Dec 9, 2025 meeting: Video, Agenda Spotlight Delaware: Laurel police created a list of Haitian immigrants’ addresses, shared it with FBI John Kowalko Wikipedia entry Lemkin Institute: Experts Warn U.S. in Early Stages of Genocide Against Trans Americans AI Likeness Protections Legislative Update Questions? Email: [email protected]

Episode Notes Let’s talk data center ordinances! Well, just the one. There’s a big ordinance vote on Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30pm. New Castle County Council is set to make a decision that will affect everyone in the entire state, as it will directly affect energy prices throughout Delaware. This episode covers a bit about the ordinance, and digs into the opposition to it as well as several proposed amendments that would weaken its protections in the future. Links List of NCCC meetings and locations (scroll for "County Council Meeting" on Tuesday Nov 18 at 6:30pm) County Council Meeting link for 11/18/2025 Toole's amendment striking Abandonment's clause Kilpatrick's amendment adding additional retroactivity protections Kilpatrick's amendment removing community protections November 5th Spotlight article: NCCC may relent on regulating Project Washington data center November 16th Spotlight article: NCCo Council set to vote Tuesday on amended data center rules Elon Musk's diesel generators poisoning communities in Memphis: "How Come I Can't Breathe?" - Politico; 'We Are The Last Of The Forgotten' - Time Highlands Bunker podcast episodes on reassessment: Reassessment Reassessed, The Dark Triad, A Better World Is Possible? Questions? Email: ask[at]thisisthedelawareway.com

Episode Notes Hear how some of the discussion went in Tuesday's special session. The bills that were passed were expected, but some amendments did make it in that were pleasant surprises. Most of this episode is spent wishing that our legislators spent more time using their power responsibly and less time demanding obedience. Links Spotlight article - State lawmakers ease residential property tax burden in testy special session Watch the recording of the House session Watch the recording of the Senate session Questions? Email: [email protected]

Episode Notes What's a special session, and why is it happening today? Which bills will be considered, and which won't, and what is the difference? We'll go over all of that and more for you today. Bonus content: data is beautiful and we can get more of it. Links Spotlight Delaware Special Session Live Blog -- the best way to catch up on what is happening or has happened in Aug 12th's special session State Constitution - Time and frequency of sessions State Constitution - Governance of revenue Spotlight article - After property tax outcry, leading lawmakers focus on three bills for special session Urban3 - Financial assessments for cities, towns, counties, and municipalities Land value tax links State Constitution - Land value tax ban Strong Towns article - Big Box Stores: Core Insights Strong Towns article - Big box stores are costing our cities far more than we ever imagined Video - Is a Land Value Tax the Best Option? - Chuck from Strong Towns

Episode Notes We cover a few news items, including a bill to protect medical providers in Delaware from being sued based on other states' laws. We dig a little deeper behind the company that wants to build a data center in New Castle County, as it would impact our electric bills but we wouldn't get any of benefit from the billions of dollars it may generate for its owners. We also look at the process of running for office and being a first-time legislator, and give some tips on how to look into running for office. Data Center Town Hall Thursday, July 24th, 5:30pm Delaware City Fire Hall Form to submit questions to Data Center Town Hall Links Campaign to replace Rep. Parker Selby heats up between two educators Proposed Delaware data center’s energy needs would dwarf all state households AI Tech CEOs are lying to you - listen to just the first 15 minutes to understand how bad data centers are for all of us Why the true water footprint of AI is so elusive Latest Delaware City Refinery emissions prompt investigation, ongoing questions AI data centers could make your electric bill go up by 70% Jack Kemp Foundation Leadership Awards Delaware Department of Elections Run For Something Network Delaware Change Agent Journey Delaware Working Families Party contact form to request training Day in the Life of a Legislator: State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton

Episode Notes Where are they now, legislative edition. What happened to the bills we've talked about this year? How are we feeling? There's some extra philosophizing in this episode, because that's the mood of the moment. But also some yelling. And the word "flabbergasted" is used. Links 2025 Session Legislative Report - DE WFP End of Session Live Blog - Spotlight Delaware

Episode Notes We get through most of the notable bills being heard on the House and Senate floor on Tuesday June 24th in 15 minutes. Then we get into it with a recap of the lead paint remediation bill's committee hearing, in preparation for it being heard on the House floor on Tuesday as well. After some light philosophizing, we lightly laugh at a Senator's spin of one of his bills. To submit corrections or questions, email: [email protected] Note: the sound quality is a bit off, I apologize. This will tighten up! Session is almost over, and then episodes will be more planned out for a while. The rest of the summer into the fall will be a series of deep dives on different processes, legislators, and of course bills we've seen fall short of passing.

Episode Notes This episode comes with a content warning, as it discusses a bill on educating minors about sexual extortion. The timestamp for that section is 8:24. Enjoy the rapid-fire delivery of most of the bills our state legislature will discuss on Wednesday, June 11th. As we near the end of session, the schedule will become more and more crowded, and there are some big deal bills being heard! Links Speed cameras are not a permanent solution to dangerous streets Well planned street design

Episode Notes We kick off a hectic week by looking at just Tuesday's agendas. You've heard of most of these bills before, but there are a few hot ticket items that might have you wanting to reach out to your legislators. Surprise surprise, we see one of the two school meals bills yet again, and wonder about the timing of how the saga went down. We also look at what's happening with the slate of immigration protection bills.

Episode Notes Disappointment abounds in this week's episode, from opening to close. But we start off giving people more info on how a bill gets written, and what qualifications someone needs to run for office (hint: not many). In the middle, we go over the long list of bills the General Assembly worked on the week of May 20th. The GA is now on a break while the Joint Finance Committee finalizes budget decisions, and will be back in session next week. We round out the episode with a personal story from the host that leaves her with more questions than answers about her House Representative. Links Ask questions for the pod! [email protected] Division of Legislative Services Staff House Speaker: Income tax reform may be delayed Babies smacked, slapped, knocked over at Delaware day care, then director lied to parents about state’s investigation Examples of what a bill looks like HB 142 - edits that remove permission for citizen's arrest HB 153 - edits that make citizen's arrest illegal Timestamps (00:00) Intro and outline (4:14) Who actually writes the bills? (14:14) House Speaker speaks on delay of tax bracket bill (24:28) House bills (24:55) Affordable housing through Site Readiness Fund (26:55) Slate of immigration bills (29:59) Increasing vehicle fees (31:43) multi-level marketing schemes (32:10) Creates new crime charge for discharging a firearm in public (35:00) Elimination of citizens’ arrests (36:02) Threshold for automatic election recounts (36:19) Protecting seniors from property reassessments (38:23) Constitutional amendments for voting (39:43) Senate bills (40:06) right to marry (41:29) rape kits monitoring (41:42) Dental usage of general anesthesia & Medicaid dental coverage (43:11) Bills related to evictions of renters (44:18) Reducing property taxes for Low Income households (49:31) Interaction with my House representative (1:02:20) Closing