bmaz
@bmaz.bsky.social
Criminal defense, civil rights, and occasionally civil, trial lawyer. Former Emptywheel legal writer, husband, father and generally cranky observateur. Lifetime F1 fan.
Reposted by bmaz
He certainly seems to assume not only that we have an oil shortage, but that how much other countries produce is fixed, so that if he manages to sell Venezuelan oil, the price will just drop.
He’s playing one-dimensional chess.
He’s playing one-dimensional chess.
January 8, 2026 at 7:35 AM
He certainly seems to assume not only that we have an oil shortage, but that how much other countries produce is fixed, so that if he manages to sell Venezuelan oil, the price will just drop.
He’s playing one-dimensional chess.
He’s playing one-dimensional chess.
A bit of an understatement by Ian:
I was a White House lawyer and this is not how it works.
You don’t draw up a new legal justification *after* you conduct the attack.
It proves what we know: Their attitude is “F- you to the law. We do whatever we want.” Illegal, unamerican, and dangerous. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
You don’t draw up a new legal justification *after* you conduct the attack.
It proves what we know: Their attitude is “F- you to the law. We do whatever we want.” Illegal, unamerican, and dangerous. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Administration Draws Up New Legal Justification for Raid on Maduro
The Justice Department’s opinion is expected to say the operation was lawful because it was part of a law-enforcement action.
www.wsj.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:01 AM
A bit of an understatement by Ian:
Reposted by bmaz
This photo, and any others will be incredibly important to local law-enforcement considering murder charges.
If the photo is legit, it’s clear at that moment it wasn’t self-defense, it was a crime.
If the photo is legit, it’s clear at that moment it wasn’t self-defense, it was a crime.
January 8, 2026 at 7:52 AM
This photo, and any others will be incredibly important to local law-enforcement considering murder charges.
If the photo is legit, it’s clear at that moment it wasn’t self-defense, it was a crime.
If the photo is legit, it’s clear at that moment it wasn’t self-defense, it was a crime.
Reposted by bmaz
I’m not going to lie. I’ve been writing about the War on Terror in its depravity my whole adult life. And the brazen execution of Renee Nicole Good has left me in a state since the moment I watched it.
January 8, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I’m not going to lie. I’ve been writing about the War on Terror in its depravity my whole adult life. And the brazen execution of Renee Nicole Good has left me in a state since the moment I watched it.
Wow
10,000 people honoring Renee Nicole Good
at the site of her murder
at the site of her murder
January 8, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Wow
Wow, this thread from Minnesota: www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Eyewitnesses say Renee Good posed ‘no threat’ to ICE agents
Good, 37, was identified as the woman shot and killed Wednesday morning by an ICE agent in south Minneapolis. ICE said Good was shot while trying to run over agents with her car. Mayor Jacob Frey and ...
www.mprnews.org
January 8, 2026 at 6:57 AM
Wow, this thread from Minnesota: www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by bmaz
NYT: “In the last 4 months, immigration officers fired on at least 9 people in 5 states + D.C., all while in their vehicles. In each case, officials claimed the agents fired in self-defense, fearing they’d be struck by the vehicle. At least 1 other died.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...
January 8, 2026 at 5:28 AM
NYT: “In the last 4 months, immigration officers fired on at least 9 people in 5 states + D.C., all while in their vehicles. In each case, officials claimed the agents fired in self-defense, fearing they’d be struck by the vehicle. At least 1 other died.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...
Gosh, I thought Trump had put all this war to bed.
🔴 BREAKING: Israeli forces have bombed a residential home in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, killing 3 people. The strike occurred west of the yellow line as daily Israeli violations and killings continue, despite the Trump-backed ceasefire.
Vid: Mosab Abu Toha via X (@MosabAbuToha)
Vid: Mosab Abu Toha via X (@MosabAbuToha)
January 8, 2026 at 5:39 AM
Gosh, I thought Trump had put all this war to bed.
Well, yes:
not saying it can't get worse but this week really feels like a straightforward depiction of what worst-case 'post truth' information apocalypse ppl were warning of in the late 2010s
January 7, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Well, yes:
Oh.....
"A doctor at the scene attempted to help the woman who was shot, but was kept away by federal agents. When an ambulance finally arrived, it was blocked from reaching her by law-enforcement vehicles, and paramedics had to reach her on foot. The woman has died." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
A Deadly Shooting in Minnesota
A federal immigration agent’s killing of a woman driving an SUV fits into a tragic pattern.
www.theatlantic.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Oh.....
Lol, ignorant cornpone dipshit makes a bad legal take.
Sen. John Kennedy: "In terms of the tone being set by the Trump administration, they are following the law ... I can't say the officer involved here was at fault."
January 7, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Lol, ignorant cornpone dipshit makes a bad legal take.
ICE Agent Kills Woman, DHS Tells Obvious, Insane Lies About It - defector.com/ice-agent-ki...
ICE Agent Kills Woman, DHS Tells Obvious, Insane Lies About It | Defector
On Wednesday in Minneapolis, masked government agents apparently representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surrounded a stationary vehicle stopped in the middle of a residential street. O...
defector.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:31 PM
ICE Agent Kills Woman, DHS Tells Obvious, Insane Lies About It - defector.com/ice-agent-ki...
Reposted by bmaz
Bluesky is hiding our post which shows what happened in Minneapolis, even though there's no graphic content (the victim is never shown).
Video evidence shows the public what happened and allows people to form an opinion, which is especially important when officials call it an act of terrorism.
Video evidence shows the public what happened and allows people to form an opinion, which is especially important when officials call it an act of terrorism.
January 7, 2026 at 7:58 PM
True:
It is intensely annoying to watch cable news speculate about what happened in this ICE shooting when there is ample video available. The woman was driving away, and an agent stepped out and shot her in the face. They don't need to pretend they don't know what happened.
January 7, 2026 at 7:19 PM
True:
Reposted by bmaz
January 7, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by bmaz
The Trump administration’s lawless attack on Senator Mark Kelly is part of a much broader project to turn the US military into a partisan militia and silence veterans who might speak out against that by threatening their pensions www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM
The Trump administration’s lawless attack on Senator Mark Kelly is part of a much broader project to turn the US military into a partisan militia and silence veterans who might speak out against that by threatening their pensions www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Spies v. Spies
My NYT obit on Aldrich Ames, CIA turncoat for the Russians. I interviewed him in the county lockup after his arrest in 1994, then by telephone for eight hours. Deluded, deeply alcoholic, he thought he could lift up the hood of history and tinker with the engine.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/o...
Aldrich Ames, C.I.A. Turncoat Who Helped the Soviets, Dies at 84
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Spies v. Spies
Bela Fleck has always been kickass.
Acclaimed banjoist Béla Fleck is pulling out of three Kennedy Center concerts, joining a growing number of musicians canceling events after the board voted to add President Trump’s name to the venue.
All the Kennedy Center cancellations since Trump’s name was added
“Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz is one of the most high-profile artists to have backed out of an event since the center’s name change.
wapo.st
January 7, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Bela Fleck has always been kickass.
Timing is everything:
This is arguably even worse than concluding the broadcast by blowing Marco Rubio bsky.app/profile/tvmo...
Tonight on the CBS Evening News, the 5-year anniversary of January 6 got 15 seconds of coverage 25 minutes into the show. The only pictures shown: Pardoned “defendants” marching through DC as Dokoupil said Trump accused Dems of “failing to prevent” J6 while “Jeffries accused Trump of “whitewashing.”
January 7, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Timing is everything:
Reposted by bmaz
Relentless autocracy
"The chronology is very suspicious," U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon said Tuesday.
Judge grills feds over timing of investigation into Portland police handling of ICE protests
"The chronology is very suspicious," U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon said Tuesday.
www.oregonlive.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Relentless autocracy
If Dave Neiwart wrote, probably a worthwhile read:
At some point, Americans are going to face a reckoning over what happened five years ago today. The people responsible must be held to account if the rule of law is going to mean anything. I documented the culpability.
mhpbooks.com/books/the-ag...
mhpbooks.com/books/the-ag...
The Age of Insurrection
Melville House is an independent publisher with offices in Brooklyn and London.
mhpbooks.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:30 AM
If Dave Neiwart wrote, probably a worthwhile read:
Lol, right!
You know I'm beginning to think that the 60 Minutes CECOT segment was not in fact held back because it lacked journalistic balance
January 7, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Lol, right!
Good thread:
J6 prosecutor: “It’s more maddening than it is anything else. I spent years of my life watching the events of that day unfold in front of me again and again and again. I spoke with dozens and dozens of people who were there that day and who are still dealing with the trauma.”
Five years after Jan. 6, Trump is rewriting the narrative around the Capitol siege
More actions are expected, including possible payments to compensate Jan. 6 defendants, as the White House launches a webpage dedicated to Trump's claims.
www.nbcnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Good thread:
Reposted by bmaz
The vibe is 90's Entertainment Tonight meets hair growth infomercial.
Here's the clip of Tony Dokoupil ending tonight's broadcast by absolutely gushing over "ultimate Florida Man" Marco Rubio.
January 7, 2026 at 2:24 AM
The vibe is 90's Entertainment Tonight meets hair growth infomercial.
What's law got to do with it?
Johnson says no to plaque honoring police officers for Jan. 6 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru... via @nbcnews
Johnson says no to plaque honoring police officers for Jan. 6 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru... via @nbcnews
Johnson says no to plaque honoring police officers for Jan. 6
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office says the legally required plaque to honor police officers who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is “not implementable”
www.nbcnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:11 AM
What's law got to do with it?
Johnson says no to plaque honoring police officers for Jan. 6 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru... via @nbcnews
Johnson says no to plaque honoring police officers for Jan. 6 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru... via @nbcnews