BA Porter
@baporter.bsky.social
Old fashioned civil libertarian yelling into the ether. Master of the double-post.
The BA stands for Bad Attitude.
The BA stands for Bad Attitude.
There is this concept in warfare called perfidy. Basically, while it might achieve some short term objective, breaking faith, even with enemies—by say pretending to surrender or dressing your soldiers up as Red Cross medics or asking to negotiate then shooting the negotiators who show up—is verboten
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 11:38 PM
There is this concept in warfare called perfidy. Basically, while it might achieve some short term objective, breaking faith, even with enemies—by say pretending to surrender or dressing your soldiers up as Red Cross medics or asking to negotiate then shooting the negotiators who show up—is verboten
Reposted by BA Porter
Thirty years of concern. Never enough courage.
February 11, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Thirty years of concern. Never enough courage.
It's still crazy to me that the richest person in the world and the president of the united states are just openly white supremicists now.
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
February 15, 2026 at 10:20 PM
It's still crazy to me that the richest person in the world and the president of the united states are just openly white supremicists now.
Immigration attorneys are saints. Just exhausting, soul-crushing, tireless, thankless work, and they do it just because somebody has to. They are heroes, in my book.
I don’t really know what I expect in posting this, but maybe some people see it and can learn from it.
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
I’ll call it “lessons from an unwilling immigration attorney.”
1/
February 15, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Immigration attorneys are saints. Just exhausting, soul-crushing, tireless, thankless work, and they do it just because somebody has to. They are heroes, in my book.
Reposted by BA Porter
Not sure who needs to hear this but the voter fraud rate is a mere 0.000003%. Anyone telling you otherwise is making shit up so they can take away your right to vote.
February 14, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Not sure who needs to hear this but the voter fraud rate is a mere 0.000003%. Anyone telling you otherwise is making shit up so they can take away your right to vote.
Reposted by BA Porter
I want every single person to remember that Barack Obama Joseph Biden Bernie Sanders Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi Chuck Schumer and likely every nominee for president in 2028 will tell you we should move on.
I honestly can’t remember any prior AG being this overtly disrespectful in a Congressional hearing.
They really think they’re never going to be in the minority.
Maybe I memory holed it, but personal attacks on members of Congress during testimony just seems so out of bounds.
They really think they’re never going to be in the minority.
Maybe I memory holed it, but personal attacks on members of Congress during testimony just seems so out of bounds.
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM
I want every single person to remember that Barack Obama Joseph Biden Bernie Sanders Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi Chuck Schumer and likely every nominee for president in 2028 will tell you we should move on.
A low key kind of funny thing that happens is when right wing grifters appear, get famous, then get assimilated into celebrityhood and realize their schtick sucks bad for famous person dinner parties so they just kind of melt into "oh you know we all say shit" centrism.
February 11, 2026 at 7:40 PM
A low key kind of funny thing that happens is when right wing grifters appear, get famous, then get assimilated into celebrityhood and realize their schtick sucks bad for famous person dinner parties so they just kind of melt into "oh you know we all say shit" centrism.
There will be a time when it's worth making recriminations, and giving credit.
As a Reason Libertarian, I can confidently say the history here is embarrassing.
Libertarians spent twenty years pretending that imperial executive authority and secret police forces were bad, but also, paper straws.
As a Reason Libertarian, I can confidently say the history here is embarrassing.
Libertarians spent twenty years pretending that imperial executive authority and secret police forces were bad, but also, paper straws.
I feel like I'm losing my goddamnned mind.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
Opinion | Libertarians Tried to Warn You About Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:53 AM
There will be a time when it's worth making recriminations, and giving credit.
As a Reason Libertarian, I can confidently say the history here is embarrassing.
Libertarians spent twenty years pretending that imperial executive authority and secret police forces were bad, but also, paper straws.
As a Reason Libertarian, I can confidently say the history here is embarrassing.
Libertarians spent twenty years pretending that imperial executive authority and secret police forces were bad, but also, paper straws.
I will never, ever, ever in a million years listen to any argument from the right about how there's a difference between disapproving of something and seeking to ban it.
The right had this whole window to show us how much they valued free speech even if it was unpopular.
Judge them accordingly.
The right had this whole window to show us how much they valued free speech even if it was unpopular.
Judge them accordingly.
Alford: "On Bad Bunny - we're still investigating. There's info out about the lyrics. I don't speak fluent Spanish, but if it's true what was said on natl TV, we have a lot of Qs for entities that broadcast it & we'll be talking w/ the FCC. This could be worse than the Janet wardrobe malfunction"
February 11, 2026 at 1:34 AM
I will never, ever, ever in a million years listen to any argument from the right about how there's a difference between disapproving of something and seeking to ban it.
The right had this whole window to show us how much they valued free speech even if it was unpopular.
Judge them accordingly.
The right had this whole window to show us how much they valued free speech even if it was unpopular.
Judge them accordingly.
Quite literally, the warrant was approved, in part, because "I heard some shit about this online."
NEW: Debunked claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election made by notorious conspiracy theorists and election deniers were the basis of the evidence used by the Trump administration to obtain a search warrant for the FBI to raid a Fulton County, Georgia election hub earlier this month.
FBI's Fulton County raid was based on reams of debunked 2020 fraud claims from election deniers, records show
The affidavit mentions evidence collected by Clay Parikh, a cybersecurity specialist with ties to MyPillow CEO and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell, who is currently working as a special government em...
www.democracydocket.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Quite literally, the warrant was approved, in part, because "I heard some shit about this online."
Everyone realizes the legislative branch has all but curled up and died, but I do not think we've come close to recognizing the extent to which the judicial branch too has utterly failed us throughout the Trump era (despite law dorks getting big mad when you say it), and it's still getting worse.
Hours later and I still don’t understand how a magistrate judge signed off on this
BREAKING: The supporting affidavit for the warrant to search Fulton County election records has been unsealed.
Read it via @lawfaremedia.org:
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Read it via @lawfaremedia.org:
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 11, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Everyone realizes the legislative branch has all but curled up and died, but I do not think we've come close to recognizing the extent to which the judicial branch too has utterly failed us throughout the Trump era (despite law dorks getting big mad when you say it), and it's still getting worse.
You can see our justice system has failed us when much of the push-back against authoritarianism is just trying to re-pass things that are already laws which are being ignored now.
But it isnt the written laws that are the problem in those situations, it's the judicial system not enforcing laws.
But it isnt the written laws that are the problem in those situations, it's the judicial system not enforcing laws.
February 10, 2026 at 3:23 PM
You can see our justice system has failed us when much of the push-back against authoritarianism is just trying to re-pass things that are already laws which are being ignored now.
But it isnt the written laws that are the problem in those situations, it's the judicial system not enforcing laws.
But it isnt the written laws that are the problem in those situations, it's the judicial system not enforcing laws.
Reposted by BA Porter
i just saw someone say "Kid Rock makes music for the people who have tattoos of their kids but not custody" and hol up i need a minute
February 9, 2026 at 4:22 AM
i just saw someone say "Kid Rock makes music for the people who have tattoos of their kids but not custody" and hol up i need a minute
Reposted by BA Porter
Only one who got the ball into the end zone was Bad Bunny
February 9, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Only one who got the ball into the end zone was Bad Bunny
Absolute respect for the NFL for going Kendrick Lamar Bad Bunny back to back Superbowls, and to both artists going hard as hell at "my America IS America, bitches"
February 9, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Absolute respect for the NFL for going Kendrick Lamar Bad Bunny back to back Superbowls, and to both artists going hard as hell at "my America IS America, bitches"
Again, what Republicans do vis-a-vie voting is make up a fictitious problem—illegal immigrants are not voting—and then propose a solution that only sounds reasonable in a no-information vacuum and which would do nothing but price out millions more legitimate (usually poorer and less white) voters.
Republicans are moving quickly to pass a bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship both to register and at the polls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — a move that experts warn could disenfranchise millions of Americans. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
GOP fast tracks monster voter suppression bill that could disenfranchise millions by requiring proof of citizenship at polls
In the past few weeks, passing the legislation has been a unifying rally cry for Republicans, a welcome distraction from the party’s cratering public opinion polls.
www.democracydocket.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Again, what Republicans do vis-a-vie voting is make up a fictitious problem—illegal immigrants are not voting—and then propose a solution that only sounds reasonable in a no-information vacuum and which would do nothing but price out millions more legitimate (usually poorer and less white) voters.
I've said it a lot, but it's worth saying a lot—people who allowed themselves to be polarized into being actively anti-trans are the biggest suckers in politics.
All you had to so was mind your own goddamn business. Couldn't do it.
All you had to so was mind your own goddamn business. Couldn't do it.
You’re not crazy. The anti-trans movement is not organic; it was funded by pedophilic billionaires like Jeffrey Epstein who backed a network of conservatives to accuse the same people they were sexually abusing of being the real danger. @madycast.com exposes the truth in our in-depth report.
Epstein Backed ‘Billionaires’ Dinner’ Network of Prominent Anti-Trans Figures
Lawrence Krauss, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and other anti-trans influencers personally benefited from a right-wing academic social group backed by infamous human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, somet...
transnews.network
February 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
I've said it a lot, but it's worth saying a lot—people who allowed themselves to be polarized into being actively anti-trans are the biggest suckers in politics.
All you had to so was mind your own goddamn business. Couldn't do it.
All you had to so was mind your own goddamn business. Couldn't do it.
Reposted by BA Porter
They're Abrego-Garcia-ing a child -- punishing him because his very existence is inconvenient to them. It's gutter bigotry and petulant sadism all the way down.
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 1:29 PM
They're Abrego-Garcia-ing a child -- punishing him because his very existence is inconvenient to them. It's gutter bigotry and petulant sadism all the way down.
Reposted by BA Porter
Trump and the Republicans are trying to rig the election. That's not being a "doomer," that's acknowledging reality.
Democrats need a coordinated, national response to these coordinated, national attacks. We need an "Elections Czar"
My latest solution in @thenation.com
Democrats need a coordinated, national response to these coordinated, national attacks. We need an "Elections Czar"
My latest solution in @thenation.com
Democrats Need to Get Serious About Stopping Trump From Rigging the Midterms
Here’s one idea for a coordinated response to Trump’s coordinated attacks.
www.thenation.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Trump and the Republicans are trying to rig the election. That's not being a "doomer," that's acknowledging reality.
Democrats need a coordinated, national response to these coordinated, national attacks. We need an "Elections Czar"
My latest solution in @thenation.com
Democrats need a coordinated, national response to these coordinated, national attacks. We need an "Elections Czar"
My latest solution in @thenation.com
I'd say it's not a matter of "if" but "when" (and "where").
And for those of us who have been focused on election integrity, despite us all seeing this train headlight get bigger and bigger, there is an alarming amount of "oh but something would happen to stop them" from all quarters.
And for those of us who have been focused on election integrity, despite us all seeing this train headlight get bigger and bigger, there is an alarming amount of "oh but something would happen to stop them" from all quarters.
Here's @rickhasen.bsky.social detailing the scenario in which Trump uses search warrant to seize ballot boxes in a contested 2026 locale. This is more worrisome than ICE at the polls. Hasen also suggests ways to act against this now.
It's harrowing stuff:
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
It's harrowing stuff:
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
February 6, 2026 at 3:59 PM
I'd say it's not a matter of "if" but "when" (and "where").
And for those of us who have been focused on election integrity, despite us all seeing this train headlight get bigger and bigger, there is an alarming amount of "oh but something would happen to stop them" from all quarters.
And for those of us who have been focused on election integrity, despite us all seeing this train headlight get bigger and bigger, there is an alarming amount of "oh but something would happen to stop them" from all quarters.
Reposted by BA Porter
Every president from Nixon on released their tax returns, but Trump -- who insisted he would follow that custom -- repeatedly refused to do that. So finally they were leaked, showing he paid only $750 in 2016 and nothing in 2017.
He's now demanding all of us, who *did* pay our full taxes, pay him.
He's now demanding all of us, who *did* pay our full taxes, pay him.
Donald Trump’s frivolous $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over his leaked tax returns, if he were to win or get a settlement, would be paid entirely by U.S. taxpayers. trib.al/eiYvT8m
February 5, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Every president from Nixon on released their tax returns, but Trump -- who insisted he would follow that custom -- repeatedly refused to do that. So finally they were leaked, showing he paid only $750 in 2016 and nothing in 2017.
He's now demanding all of us, who *did* pay our full taxes, pay him.
He's now demanding all of us, who *did* pay our full taxes, pay him.
Reposted by BA Porter
The now de rigueur practice of news stories identifying the president who appointed a given federal judge is 100% a function of the politicization of the judiciary by Republicans. Editors view the appointing president to be more explanatory of judges' rulings than the law is.
February 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
The now de rigueur practice of news stories identifying the president who appointed a given federal judge is 100% a function of the politicization of the judiciary by Republicans. Editors view the appointing president to be more explanatory of judges' rulings than the law is.
I don't think future generations will ever even realize the extent to which "Smooth" by Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas was fucking everywhere in the second half of 1999. Like, their minds couldn't even comprehend that level of saturation anymore.
February 4, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I don't think future generations will ever even realize the extent to which "Smooth" by Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas was fucking everywhere in the second half of 1999. Like, their minds couldn't even comprehend that level of saturation anymore.
There really needs to be consequences for lying about stuff like this. This is the same method people use to scam old people, just stating something authoritatively that sounds like it's true and has the force of law but is a bald-faced lie that only works if you trick someone into believing it.
Q: You're a constitutional lawyer. Can you detail the 4th Amendment protections someone has if ICE approaches their home w/an administrative warrant?
MIKE JOHNSON: When ICE goes to execute a warrant, it's issued by an immigration judge, & that is a sufficient legal authority to go apprehend someone
MIKE JOHNSON: When ICE goes to execute a warrant, it's issued by an immigration judge, & that is a sufficient legal authority to go apprehend someone
February 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
There really needs to be consequences for lying about stuff like this. This is the same method people use to scam old people, just stating something authoritatively that sounds like it's true and has the force of law but is a bald-faced lie that only works if you trick someone into believing it.