Well, howdy there, Internet people it spell again.

So today, we're going to talk about California, masks, and moves.

Governor Newsome of California signed a number of laws over the weekend, but one of them is likely to set up a decade's worth of legal battles and head to the

Supreme Court. It prohibits the wearing of masks by officers. The legality of California making a law

to this effect will be debated and litigated for a long time. Even Newsom himself wasn't sure it would work, saying, quote,

we're going to test the theory. The law, which the sponsors called the No Secret Police Act,

is clearly aimed at curtailing federal law enforcement's habit of concealing their faces during raids.

Newsom rhetorically asked them, quote, what are you afraid of? You're going to go out and you're going

to do enforcement. Provide an ID. Tell us which agency you represent. Provide us basic information that all local law enforcement

is required to provide. Acting U.S. attorney Bill Assaley said California has no jurisdiction over the

matter, and posted, quote, I've directed our federal agencies that the law signed today has no

effect on our operations. Our agents will continue to protect their identities. So, this is setting up a

battle over whether or not the feds must comply with state laws. The general rule on this is that

federal law enforcement needs to comply with state laws as long as it doesn't interfere with

their duties. Think of traffic laws as a ridiculously oversimplified example. Now, the question is whether or not masks are required for federal

agents to do their job. It's clear the current administration will say yes. So, this is headed to court.

But beyond that, let's say the court sides with California. The very next step would be to replace the fabric

masks with seaburn masks or even ballistic masks, and it would be designated as safety equipment.

Does the prohibition still apply? It's going to be a legal mess that won't be quickly resolved.

The real question is whether injunctions will bar the wearing of masks while this makes its way through the courts.

All of this is a relatively normal, even if it is historic, state versus federal supremacy case.

But it wouldn't be the 2020s if it didn't somehow devolve into the absurd.

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