| TL;DRLeon Cannizzaro has returned to public life on Louisiana’s Judiciary Commission. Meanwhile, Liz Murrill is raising campaign money after her indictment, congressional Republicans are demanding special protection for Caitlin Clark, and Louisiana leaders continue advancing political and economic agendas that deserve closer scrutiny. |
| Key Points• Leon Cannizzaro now holds a four-year seat on the state Judiciary Commission.• Liz Murrill’s “Stand With Liz” fundraiser directs donations to her attorney general campaign account.• Murrill’s defense attorney is Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, Leon Cannizzaro’s daughter.• Republican members of Congress claim Caitlin Clark faces racially motivated workplace violence in the WNBA.• Mike Johnson and Jeff Landry continue pushing election and energy policies with major political consequences. |
A month ago, the former D.A. announced his retirement to spend more time with his family. That didn’t last long. He’s now serving a four-year term on the state Judiciary Commission, where he’ll oversee judges across Louisiana.
Yes, this is the same Leon Cannizzaro whose shady practices once tanked his shot at becoming mayor; the same practices cost him reelection as D.A. too.
But here he is. Back, baby. Back…in our lives.
Liz Murrill’s Facebook Grift
Attorney General Liz Murrill is running a Facebook fundraiser under a false pretense. Yes, this is the same Attorney General who was just indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury.
“Stand With Liz,” the post says. Any reasonable donor would assume their money helps clear her name.
The fine print says otherwise. Contributions actually benefit “Liz Baker Murrill for Attorney General.”
Here are some fun facts to consider.
Fun fact #1: Murrill isn’t up for re-election this year.
Fun fact #2: Murrill has said she’ll seek reimbursement from the state for her legal fees.
One not-so-fun question follows from facts #1 and #2: what exactly will she do with the money?
A Wrinkle Cooper’s Collage Can’t Resist
Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, Leon Cannizzaro’s daughter, is defending Liz Murrill.
Murrill’s defense attorney in that indictment is Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue. She’s Leon Cannizzaro’s daughter.
In his new role on the state Judiciary Commission, will Leon Cannizzaro recuse himself from any complaint his daughter files against a judge?
Do Black Women Hate Caitlin Clark?
Eleven members of the Republican Study Committee sent an angry letter to the WNBA. They claim Black women are subjecting Caitlin Clark to workplace violence. Their reasoning: she’s a white woman who became the face of a predominantly Black women’s league.
“Caitlin Clark has been hip-checked,” they wrote, “poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games.” They cited “concerning reports” suggesting these attacks might be racially motivated.
Like some of Clark’s fans, these eleven Republicans clearly never watched a WNBA game before she arrived. The WNBA is a physical league, and the officials rarely call fouls. Players complained about that long before Clark showed up. The WNBA Players’ Association pushed for rule changes over the summer. Those changes were for the whole league — not just Caitlin Clark
Still, the Republicans gave the WNBA until the 24th to fix Clark’s alleged mistreatment.
Apparently, the WNBA responded a week early. This past Friday, July 17th, in a game against the Seattle Storm, Clark was sent to the free throw line a career high 19 times.
Back to Standing With Liz
$25 is the minimum suggested donation to Stand With Liz. That’s not much these days. In this Trump economy, $25 barely covers half a tank of gas.
You can also give up to $1,000 or more, if you’re feeling civically engaged. You can even cover the processing fees yourself and set the donation to recur monthly. That way you can perpetually Stand With Liz, even when she isn’t having trouble standing.
Mike Johnson Channels the President
“Only Americans should be deciding American elections. Pass the SAVE and Protect America Act.”
That’s Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Louisiana’s own, parroting President Trump’s false election claims. At this point, there must be some connection between Trump’s fingers and Johnson’s brain.
Governor Landry’s Bottom Line
“The most important commodity in the world today is a reliable, uninterrupted megawatt of power.”
That was Governor Landry back in January. He was describing how the state plans to use its energy (literally) to make data centers Louisiana’s biggest economic driver. Unofficially, he was also saying that the state of Louisiana will no longer find itself financially propped up by New Orleans anymore — not a city run by Democrats and black people.
In his new role on the state Judiciary Commission, will Leon Cannizzaro issue fake subpoenas to judges?
Back, baby! Back…in our lives.
Columnist — Black Source Media
Kenneth Cooper
Veteran New Orleans Journalist • Columnist • Cooper’s Collage
Kenneth Cooper is a veteran New Orleans journalist whose column, Cooper’s Collage, has become one of Black Source Media’s most distinctive voices. He writes the way New Orleans thinks — in multiple directions at once, connecting the sardonic to the serious, the political to the personal, never letting a target escape without a precisely aimed observation.
Cooper covers Louisiana and New Orleans politics, Saints football, and the cultural life of Black New Orleans with the authority that comes from decades of watching the same cast of characters fail in the same predictable ways. His format is the collage — several subjects, one through-line, each section ending with a pivot that lands harder than it looked coming.
He is unimpressed by politicians of any party and unafraid of uncomfortable truths. He does not perform outrage. He delivers verdicts. Cooper’s Collage publishes on Black Source Media and is required reading for anyone who wants to understand New Orleans without the official version.
