Trump Organization gifts Neiman with Black Hills logging bonanza

There aren't enough litigators to sue the Forest Service allowing Republicans to infiltrate management of the Black Hills National Forest and there is no evidence to support the claim that logging is effective insect control. Some imaginary war with the bark beetle on the BHNF is really more a fight for clean water because after all dead trees don't suck aquifers dry. Until forest managers and South Dakota's Earth hating congressional delegation get that they are being preyed upon by the Neimans to take legacy trees and leave the doghair for someone else to deal with because they aren't focused on hardwood release, prescribed fire and restoring the Hills bioregion to what it was 150 years ago.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the State of South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) have signed a 5-year shared stewardship agreement that expands cross-boundary forest management and strengthens South Dakota’s forest products industry. Following the initial 5-year term of the agreement, parties may then consider extension in increments of three years. [press release]

Cannabis sales elevate ABQ families

Want to reduce prison overcrowding? Legalize cannabis. 

2020 presidential candidate, Andrew Yang wanted to implement a universal basic income of $12,000 a year and guaranteed income demonstration projects are underway in several states including in Colorado and New Mexico where cannabis is legal. 

New Mexico is second in worker equity, fourth in language diversity, the sixth most diverse state overall and second best in progress toward racial equality but my home state of South Dakota is nearly dead last. 

Cannabis taxes have raised the standard of living in bluer states and after a 2023 study, a yearlong pilot project providing an income of $750 per month from the City of Albuquerque has elevated 59 families to become more food secure and improve their credit scores.

The households participating saw a 26% increase in savings, according to a survey of recipients, while 45% of families reported feeling secure enough in their financial future to be able to enjoy life more. While many other cities have similar programs supported by grant money, Albuquerque’s is fully funded through tax revenue on cannabis sales. “Rather than working multiple jobs at a time, they’re there to be with their families, to learn from one another, and to have that time at the dinner table,” said Dillon Shije, the deputy director for the Office of Equity and Inclusion. [ KOB teevee]

In a related story Yang's New Mexico Forward Party earned enough status for potential candidates to appear on November's ballot.

South Dakota, Trumpistan sinking fast

Creighton University's Ernie Goss has been warning that the Trump Organization is bad for American agriculture and follows the economies of several breadbasket states including South Dakota's — one of the slowest growing in the US. 

Almost 57% of rural banksters are freaking out because the Rural Mainstreet Index fell to 45.7 in May from 47.9 in April and three quarters of them recommend no change to Federal Reserve interest rates. Farm equipment sales dropped to 18.2 marking the 33rd straight month below growth neutral or 50.0.

The May RMI for South Dakota declined to 45.7 from 47.9 in April. The state’s farm and ranchland price index climbed to 52.3 from April’s 48.0. South Dakota’s new hiring index for May sank to 44.8 from 48.0 in April. According to trade data from the [International Trade Association], South Dakota exports of agriculture goods and livestock for the quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, fell by 55.1% to $25.6 million. [Creighton]

Threatened dipper fighting back against LawCo

ip image: a Say's phoebe nested in the tractor in 2024.

In South Dakota over a hundred native species are at risk to the Earth hating Republican Party including the endangered pallid sturgeon, paddlefish, black footed ferret, northern long-eared bat, the black-backed woodpecker that feeds on bark beetles and a bird that actually walks underwater – the American dipper plus the occasional black bear, moose and wolf, just to name a few.

Work to replace a bridge on Elmore Road in Spearfish Canyon has been delayed again after an American dipper returned to nest on the existing structure despite the county’s best efforts to encourage the bird to move on. The Black Hills marks the eastern limit of their home range. Construction on the structure was scheduled to start in May, but after it was discovered that the dipper had come home to nest again, construction has been put off until Aug. 1. [American dipper strikes again on the Elmore Road bridge]

In a related story, a brand-new Ford F-250 at Olathe Ford Lincoln in Kansas was legally placed "on hold" from customer pickup because a mama robin built an active nest directly on top of one of its tires.

Polls showing Democratic momentum

Generic Ballot Polling trend among Independent voters by NYT/Siena (A+) 🔴 Sep 2022: Republicans +10 🔵 Sep 2025: Democrats +10 🔵 Jan 2026: Democrats +15 🔵 May 2026: Democrats +18 Net-28 point swing towards Democrats

— Poll Tracker 📊 (@polltracker.bsky.social) May 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM

House Model Update: 🔵 DEM: 233 (+18) 🔴 GOP: 202 (-18) - May 24, 2026 - (Seat change with 2024 Election) Full article available for Substack subscribers here -> unitedstatespolling.com/p/new-pollin...

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— Polling USA (@usapolling.bsky.social) May 24, 2026 at 7:56 AM

Generic Ballot Polling: 🔵 DEM: 48% 🔴 GOP: 40% WSJ / May 18, 2026

— Polling USA (@usapolling.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 2:40 PM

woof, Trump's approval among REPUBLICANS is down to 57%, among those who strongly approve it

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— Polling USA (@usapolling.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 2:40 PM

Generic Ballot Polling: 🔵 Democrat: 49% 🔴 Republican: 42% Zogby / May 22, 2026

— Polling USA (@usapolling.bsky.social) May 22, 2026 at 7:39 PM