brian pillion
@anaphoristand.bsky.social
writer | antiantiantifa | (mostly philly) sports fan | he/him
Reposted by brian pillion
EXCLUSIVE: DOGE whistleblower and former SSA Chief Data Officer Chuck Borges is running for office.
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
This DOGE Whistleblower Is Running for Office
WIRED spoke with Chuck Borges, the former SSA data chief turned DOGE whistleblower, who is running to represent southern Maryland in the state’s senate.
www.wired.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
EXCLUSIVE: DOGE whistleblower and former SSA Chief Data Officer Chuck Borges is running for office.
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
Reposted by brian pillion
November 10, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Reposted by brian pillion
Please realize: when Ed Martin drafted the pardon for the fake electors he was pardoning himself. He made it pre-emptive and general, so it covers "all United States citizens for conduct relating to ... efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 presidential election." 1/
Ed Martin: "What this pardon does is help rescue the people who were hunted. The Biden administration hunted the alternate electors who were participating in our constitutional process in 2020 ... they were Trump supporters who believed in the Constitution."
November 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Please realize: when Ed Martin drafted the pardon for the fake electors he was pardoning himself. He made it pre-emptive and general, so it covers "all United States citizens for conduct relating to ... efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 presidential election." 1/
Reposted by brian pillion
NEW: Campaign for Accountability files bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan, alleging that she violated multiple rules of professional conduct related to the prosecution of James Comey and Letitia James.
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
CfA - FL + VA Bar Complaint - Lindsey Halligan
www.documentcloud.org
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
NEW: Campaign for Accountability files bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan, alleging that she violated multiple rules of professional conduct related to the prosecution of James Comey and Letitia James.
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by brian pillion
This photo was taken by @chicagotribune.com photog @mandophotos.bsky.social this past Saturday in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. Chicago's local news journalists are doing a helluva job capturing the aggressive tactics CPB & ICE are using here.
bsky.app/profile/mand...
bsky.app/profile/mand...
a new genre of photo in the last year is federal agents working for ICE pointing guns directly at photographers
November 11, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This photo was taken by @chicagotribune.com photog @mandophotos.bsky.social this past Saturday in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. Chicago's local news journalists are doing a helluva job capturing the aggressive tactics CPB & ICE are using here.
bsky.app/profile/mand...
bsky.app/profile/mand...
Reposted by brian pillion
No one will ever sum up Bari Weiss's career more succinctly than "what's the point of standards"
“Standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She asks ‘What’s the point of standards?’
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
No one will ever sum up Bari Weiss's career more succinctly than "what's the point of standards"
Reposted by brian pillion
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by brian pillion
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by brian pillion
It’s insane to treat the filibuster as the most sacrosanct.
Article 1 power of the purse, oversight, and war? Nah.
Emoluments clauses? Bribery prohibition? Meh.
Criminal law? 14A? Doesn’t count.
But maybe the Senate changes a rule it has multiple times before? Gasp! Not that. Anything but that.
Article 1 power of the purse, oversight, and war? Nah.
Emoluments clauses? Bribery prohibition? Meh.
Criminal law? 14A? Doesn’t count.
But maybe the Senate changes a rule it has multiple times before? Gasp! Not that. Anything but that.
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
It’s insane to treat the filibuster as the most sacrosanct.
Article 1 power of the purse, oversight, and war? Nah.
Emoluments clauses? Bribery prohibition? Meh.
Criminal law? 14A? Doesn’t count.
But maybe the Senate changes a rule it has multiple times before? Gasp! Not that. Anything but that.
Article 1 power of the purse, oversight, and war? Nah.
Emoluments clauses? Bribery prohibition? Meh.
Criminal law? 14A? Doesn’t count.
But maybe the Senate changes a rule it has multiple times before? Gasp! Not that. Anything but that.
Reposted by brian pillion
This point absolutely correct and I will add that Mamdani demonstrates that an insurgency, even one with real moral clarity and anger at the status quo, can still be cheerful and inviting.
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This point absolutely correct and I will add that Mamdani demonstrates that an insurgency, even one with real moral clarity and anger at the status quo, can still be cheerful and inviting.
Reposted by brian pillion
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
Reposted by brian pillion
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Reposted by brian pillion
At 4pm Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrick will hold a telephonic hearing on whether govt must turn over grand jury minutes to Comey’s team. Tech permitting, I’ll live-blog for @lawfaremedia.org .
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
Trial Dispatch: The Comey Hearing of Nov. 5, 2025
A judge ordered grand jury minutes turned over to James Comey, as well as information from five-year-old searches of Professor Dan Richman.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
At 4pm Magistrate Judge Fitzpatrick will hold a telephonic hearing on whether govt must turn over grand jury minutes to Comey’s team. Tech permitting, I’ll live-blog for @lawfaremedia.org .
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
For background, see
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...
/1
Reposted by brian pillion
What a great few weeks it’s been for people once pardoned by Trump.
@nytimes.com @nbcnews.com @npr.org @politico.com
@nytimes.com @nbcnews.com @npr.org @politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
What a great few weeks it’s been for people once pardoned by Trump.
@nytimes.com @nbcnews.com @npr.org @politico.com
@nytimes.com @nbcnews.com @npr.org @politico.com
Reposted by brian pillion
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
New:
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
![STEWART RHODES (FOUNDER, OATH KEEPERS): And one other thing I want to say is that President Trump, as commander in chief, always has absolute authority to call all of us up as the militia because every one of us — in federal statues defining the militia, it's every able-bodied male from age 17-45. And for us veterans, it goes up to age 64 because of our prior training and experience.
Right now, under federal statutes, President Trump can call us up as the militia if he sees it necessary, especially for three purposes: to repel invasions, to suppress insurrections, and to execute the laws of the union. And right now, we see all three of those in play.
...
And the militia is all of us. So the National Guard is part of the militia, which is why it's completely lawful for him to use the National Guard as he has, and he should do more of that, I think, across the country.
...
He could just say given the circumstances of an invasion, insurrection, and resistance against federal law being being enforced, I'm calling up the militia, ordering all the men to come together [in] every county, put the veterans in charge of training and organizing all the other men and just have them stand too and await his orders. He can do that and I think he should do that. And so that's what I'll be advocating for from him. So from the bottom, from down the rank and file, we can let President Trump know that we're ready to serve, encourage him to do that, call us up as a militia, order us all to come together in our counties under his command, which gives you complete legal sanction to do what you're doing.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:af7tqcetuyt352aolf3znlxe/bafkreialm4skuozqobejpd6vx4m6kuwsgtidxmmxvj3ftcff6otiuyohiy@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
Reposted by brian pillion
This is really well done. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
What Did Men Do to Deserve This?
Changes in the economy and in the culture seem to have hit them hard. Scott Galloway believes they need an “aspirational vision of masculinity.”
www.newyorker.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This is really well done. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by brian pillion
I should write the argument up properly somewhere, but I think this is fundamentally wrong. A decisive fraction of the capitalist class does oppose addressing the climate crisis, but *not* because it would be bad for profits. If anything, a green New Deal type program would raise aggregate profits.
Yes, this is correct. And the reason is because our capitalist classes have decided that it is not sufficiently profitable, so they're not going to do it.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
We must understand this reality. Capital *cannot* be relied upon to address the climate crisis.
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I should write the argument up properly somewhere, but I think this is fundamentally wrong. A decisive fraction of the capitalist class does oppose addressing the climate crisis, but *not* because it would be bad for profits. If anything, a green New Deal type program would raise aggregate profits.
Reposted by brian pillion
Judge Mark Wolf resigns from the District Court of Massachusetts and writes why in a powerful piece in the Atlantic.
One thing he doesn’t mention in his list of reasons but I’m sure is a factor:
Erez Reuveni was one of his law clerks.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
One thing he doesn’t mention in his list of reasons but I’m sure is a factor:
Erez Reuveni was one of his law clerks.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Judge Mark Wolf resigns from the District Court of Massachusetts and writes why in a powerful piece in the Atlantic.
One thing he doesn’t mention in his list of reasons but I’m sure is a factor:
Erez Reuveni was one of his law clerks.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
One thing he doesn’t mention in his list of reasons but I’m sure is a factor:
Erez Reuveni was one of his law clerks.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by brian pillion
Sadistic, marauding fascist monsters having a tourist moment. “The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, ‘Everyone say, “Little Village!”’”
Border Patrol Agents Pose At The Bean For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, 'Little Village!'"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Sadistic, marauding fascist monsters having a tourist moment. “The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, ‘Everyone say, “Little Village!”’”
Reposted by brian pillion
The president pardoned alleged co-conspirators for crimes related to the 2020 election. This emphasizes the importance of state prosecutions after failed presidential auto-coups in our constitutional system, which I argued here in the Wisconsin Law Review: repository.law.wisc.edu/s/uwlaw/item...
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The president pardoned alleged co-conspirators for crimes related to the 2020 election. This emphasizes the importance of state prosecutions after failed presidential auto-coups in our constitutional system, which I argued here in the Wisconsin Law Review: repository.law.wisc.edu/s/uwlaw/item...
Reposted by brian pillion
At the same time the Trump administration is firing FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors who investigated the J6 insurrection, they are pardoning those directly involved in trying to overturn the election and organizing January 6th, and prosecuting the President's perceived political enemies.
Ed Martin seemed to explicitly link the pardons to his “No MAGA left behind” mantra—tweeting the news in reply to a post that said exactly that.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
In addition to his role as pardon attorney, Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which probes alleged “politicization” of the Justice Department.
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 AM
At the same time the Trump administration is firing FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors who investigated the J6 insurrection, they are pardoning those directly involved in trying to overturn the election and organizing January 6th, and prosecuting the President's perceived political enemies.
In a letter demanding answers from POTUS regarding his looming commutation of sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's sentence, @raskin.house.gov pretty directly calls out the Trump criminal defense counsel currently moonlighting as DAG's likely, "serious and far-reaching violation of the criminal law."
![Meanwhile, any inmate or staff who questions or blows the whistle on the institution’s grotesque pampering of a serial sexual abuser and human trafficker at taxpayer expense is being punished and retaliated against by Warden Hall. Within FPC Bryan, the deference and servility to Ms. Maxwell have reached such preposterous levels that one of the top officials at the facility has complained that he is “sick of having to be Maxwell’s bitch.”[2] // In light of these shocking revelations, I write to demand that you make your former personal attorney and now Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, available for a public hearing immediately with our Committee to answer for this corrupt misuse of law enforcement resources and potential exchange of favors for false testimony exonerating you and other Epstein accomplices.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:o7ad7grtfxrmybroqi6dzl3k/bafkreibrl7r2rw3tiu7iimhk36n7eh56q3ioy3yzjbsz7yjmkjsco4zqpa@jpeg)
![The time has come to cease any coy or sly answers about granting clemency to a convicted child sex predator. I am demanding answers to these three questions. // First, have you discussed a potential commutation—or any form of presidential clemency—for Ms. Maxwell with Mr. Blanche, his underlings or anyone else in your Administration? // Second, have you directed Mr. Blanche or anyone else in your Administration to provide Ms. Maxwell with the transfer to the prison camp, favorable and preferential treatment in prison, or special accommodations for her communications and interaction with her family and the outside world? // Third, what has Ms. Maxwell, her attorneys, family or representatives promised you or your attorneys? // I request that you provide responses to the above questions by November 24, 2025, and that you ensure Mr. Blanche reaches out to my staff to arrange time and place for his hearing by November 17, 2025. As I am sure you can appreciate, given the clear false statements of Ms. Maxwell in her interview with Mr. Blanche, the subsequent and repeated favorable treatment afforded to her, and her planned testimony before a congressional committee,[21] Mr. Blanche’s actions may constitute a serious and far-reaching violation of the criminal law.[22].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:o7ad7grtfxrmybroqi6dzl3k/bafkreichnqp65j77oiomueuhbegpekl5syet44o4rrrcj77nepmp37ndn4@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
In a letter demanding answers from POTUS regarding his looming commutation of sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's sentence, @raskin.house.gov pretty directly calls out the Trump criminal defense counsel currently moonlighting as DAG's likely, "serious and far-reaching violation of the criminal law."
Reposted by brian pillion
An early Monday morning order from Justice Jackson in the SNAP case—ordering DOJ to file any further briefs responding to last night's First Circuit ruling by 4:00 this afternoon, and allowing the plaintiffs to respond by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.
For how we got here: www.stevevladeck.com/p/191-taking...
For how we got here: www.stevevladeck.com/p/191-taking...
November 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
An early Monday morning order from Justice Jackson in the SNAP case—ordering DOJ to file any further briefs responding to last night's First Circuit ruling by 4:00 this afternoon, and allowing the plaintiffs to respond by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.
For how we got here: www.stevevladeck.com/p/191-taking...
For how we got here: www.stevevladeck.com/p/191-taking...
Reposted by brian pillion
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win
I have what I suspect is a somewhat counterintuitive take on the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:51 AM
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
Reposted by brian pillion
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.