Cathy Gellis
@cathygellis.bsky.social
Lawyer, writer, all-around-great person
I mostly post about technology, law, and civil liberties (especially free speech), and how they intersect. And mostly at Techdirt: https://www.techdirt.com/user/cathy/
I also post silly things too.
I mostly post about technology, law, and civil liberties (especially free speech), and how they intersect. And mostly at Techdirt: https://www.techdirt.com/user/cathy/
I also post silly things too.
Pinned
Cathy Gellis
@cathygellis.bsky.social
· Jan 3
Oaths Of Office, And How Everyone Not Moving To Impeach Trump Is Violating Their Own
Until very recently the only member of Congress excused from not having moved to impeach Trump was Rep. Grijalva, because until someone swore her in there was nothing she could officially do. But f…
www.techdirt.com
A reminder: any member of Congress not impeaching is violating their own oath of office.
It's not optional.
www.techdirt.com/2025/11/26/o...
It's not optional.
www.techdirt.com/2025/11/26/o...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
And never forget. These are asylum seekers. This is what the USA is doing to the most vulnerable people on the planet who we promised to protect.
Concentration camps: stories of as many as 50 people to a cell — men and women in some cases — with no windows and limited airflow, a single camera-monitored toilet, aluminum blankets, no showers and poor quality food.
ICE detainees from Maine being held under ‘inhumane’ conditions in Mass. facility, attorneys say
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said the allegations of overcrowding and lack of access to lawyers are false.
www.pressherald.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
And never forget. These are asylum seekers. This is what the USA is doing to the most vulnerable people on the planet who we promised to protect.
Absolutely reprehensible and potentially actionable, I'd think.
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Absolutely reprehensible and potentially actionable, I'd think.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
asking ai for medical advice: also a kind of gambling
according to a pediatric ER doctor my wife follows on Instagram they have started to see children coming in sick because their parents are asking ChatGPT what the correct dosage is on over the counter medication instead of just looking at the instructions on the bottle
One of the easiest ways to shoot down the idea that "AI" is an expert is to show how it deals with something people know about.
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
Younger readers may not get this as most appliances come pre-wired, but anyone 35+ can see these are chaotic fire hazards.
From Mastodon, AI asked how to wire a plug:
February 8, 2026 at 4:31 AM
asking ai for medical advice: also a kind of gambling
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
"Tell me you know nothing about the Muppets without telling me you know nothing about the Muppets."
February 7, 2026 at 2:20 AM
"Tell me you know nothing about the Muppets without telling me you know nothing about the Muppets."
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Proud to play a role in helping get this together for @justsecurity.org. It provides you with details from the sworn declarations filed in support of the ACLU's lawsuit in Minnesota, Hussen v. Noem. The details of abuses by federal agents across the 29 declarations we looked at are chilling.
Minnesota ICE Enforcement: Alleged Constitutional Violations
The ACLU and partners sued over alleged racial profiling and unlawful arrests in Minnesota. Read sworn declarations and case details.
www.justsecurity.org
February 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Proud to play a role in helping get this together for @justsecurity.org. It provides you with details from the sworn declarations filed in support of the ACLU's lawsuit in Minnesota, Hussen v. Noem. The details of abuses by federal agents across the 29 declarations we looked at are chilling.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This just shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how to do news. Data helps, but data doesn’t tell a reporter to spend a years-long investigation into child labor or an editor to place staff in a country on the brink of war. What exactly does Bezos think WaPo’s “journalistic mission” is?
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 8, 2026 at 12:39 AM
This just shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how to do news. Data helps, but data doesn’t tell a reporter to spend a years-long investigation into child labor or an editor to place staff in a country on the brink of war. What exactly does Bezos think WaPo’s “journalistic mission” is?
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
we should recognize that a lot of these overperformances would be flying under the radar were it not for @taniel.bsky.social and @boltsmag.org
Early returns in Louisiana’s special election:
The Dem candidate is leading 58.5% to 41.5%. That’s with a third of the vote in.
Context: this is a Dem-held seat but in a district TRUMP carried by 13%, so has been a big/obvious GOP target. Stay tuned.
The Dem candidate is leading 58.5% to 41.5%. That’s with a third of the vote in.
Context: this is a Dem-held seat but in a district TRUMP carried by 13%, so has been a big/obvious GOP target. Stay tuned.
February 8, 2026 at 3:03 AM
we should recognize that a lot of these overperformances would be flying under the radar were it not for @taniel.bsky.social and @boltsmag.org
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
NEW: Leqaa Kordia — who’s been in ICE detention for nearly a year, since ICE took her the same week as Mahmoud Khalil — has been hospitalized after having a seizure.
Her whereabouts & health are now unknown.
The Trump admin alleges she supports Hamas because…she sent money to help family in Gaza.
Her whereabouts & health are now unknown.
The Trump admin alleges she supports Hamas because…she sent money to help family in Gaza.
February 8, 2026 at 3:44 AM
NEW: Leqaa Kordia — who’s been in ICE detention for nearly a year, since ICE took her the same week as Mahmoud Khalil — has been hospitalized after having a seizure.
Her whereabouts & health are now unknown.
The Trump admin alleges she supports Hamas because…she sent money to help family in Gaza.
Her whereabouts & health are now unknown.
The Trump admin alleges she supports Hamas because…she sent money to help family in Gaza.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
stuff like this is why i have trouble with the incrementalism and slow-walking from dems. this is happening *right now*
The proposed centers are so large that some could house as many as 8,000 detainees at once, according to a DHS spreadsheet of more than 20 potential locations that was verified by NBC News. The largest federal prison in the U.S., for example, has roughly 4,000 inmates.
ICE plans to build mega warehouses for immigration detention spark growing concern
Sources at two government contractors told NBC News they were worried that new warehouses — and the large numbers of immigrants who would be housed in them — would present safety problems.
www.nbcnews.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:45 AM
stuff like this is why i have trouble with the incrementalism and slow-walking from dems. this is happening *right now*
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This is the guy who nerfed Tumblr’s usage with the porn ban btw.
Will Lewis is resigning as WaPo CEO, former Tumblr CEO Jeff D’Onofrio is the paper’s new acting CEO and publisher, per memos to staff
February 7, 2026 at 10:48 PM
This is the guy who nerfed Tumblr’s usage with the porn ban btw.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
WaPo editorial board: As a culture war compromise, Mr. Bunny should sing a medley of Kid Rick classics
The Super Bowl halftime show, with Bad Bunny showcasing Latin music before a global television audience expected to top 100 million, will illustrate the nation’s immigration divide whether or not the reggaeton star delivers an explicit political message.
The enthusiasm — and scorn — surrounding Bad Bunny’s star turn at the Super Bowl
The halftime show will illustrate the nation’s immigration divide whether or not the reggaeton star makes an explicit message about Trump’s deportation drive.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:48 AM
WaPo editorial board: As a culture war compromise, Mr. Bunny should sing a medley of Kid Rick classics
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
They’re just shutting down freeway exits now so protesters have a harder time. Absurd.
All streets surrounding & exits leading to the Whipple Federal Building have been closed. This will be the first night AFAIK that the Feds, with help from local PD and Sheriff, have eliminated all protesters from Whipple since early January. There's been nearly 24/7 presence until now.
February 8, 2026 at 3:50 AM
They’re just shutting down freeway exits now so protesters have a harder time. Absurd.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
yeah we’re going from “Dems are overperforming in a way that tracks with a normal midterm election favoring the opposition party” to “they overperformed by HOW MUCH that has to be a typo”
We're all desensitized to Democratic overperformances in special elections, but there does seem to have been a pretty significant shift in the past month
Dems are now overperforming the 2024 lean of red districts by, uh, 30+ points in special elections
I’m not sure “apocalyptic” is sufficient to describe how the environment is starting to look for the GOP in November
I’m not sure “apocalyptic” is sufficient to describe how the environment is starting to look for the GOP in November
February 8, 2026 at 3:41 AM
yeah we’re going from “Dems are overperforming in a way that tracks with a normal midterm election favoring the opposition party” to “they overperformed by HOW MUCH that has to be a typo”
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
If ICE gets even one of these facilities fully up and running, it’ll immediately be the second-largest jail in the country behind only Rikers Island.
The proposed centers are so large that some could house as many as 8,000 detainees at once, according to a DHS spreadsheet of more than 20 potential locations that was verified by NBC News. The largest federal prison in the U.S., for example, has roughly 4,000 inmates.
ICE plans to build mega warehouses for immigration detention spark growing concern
Sources at two government contractors told NBC News they were worried that new warehouses — and the large numbers of immigrants who would be housed in them — would present safety problems.
www.nbcnews.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:43 AM
If ICE gets even one of these facilities fully up and running, it’ll immediately be the second-largest jail in the country behind only Rikers Island.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Woahh
Final numbers here (Trump +13 district)
Early: D+11
EDay: D+30
Total: D+24
Early: D+11
EDay: D+30
Total: D+24
February 8, 2026 at 3:21 AM
Woahh
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The GOP just had its best chance to finally flip a legislative seat in Trump 2.0. Democrats had other ideas.
Chasity Martinez just won a rural Trump+13 in the Louisiana House in a 24-point landslide—an overperformance of 37 points.
Our complete writeup on this remarkable outcome -->
Chasity Martinez just won a rural Trump+13 in the Louisiana House in a 24-point landslide—an overperformance of 37 points.
Our complete writeup on this remarkable outcome -->
Breaking: Democrats resoundingly defend red district in Louisiana, denying GOP its first pickup
Republicans have yet to flip a single legislative seat since Trump's return
www.the-downballot.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:16 AM
The GOP just had its best chance to finally flip a legislative seat in Trump 2.0. Democrats had other ideas.
Chasity Martinez just won a rural Trump+13 in the Louisiana House in a 24-point landslide—an overperformance of 37 points.
Our complete writeup on this remarkable outcome -->
Chasity Martinez just won a rural Trump+13 in the Louisiana House in a 24-point landslide—an overperformance of 37 points.
Our complete writeup on this remarkable outcome -->
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Hi
these are concentration camps
these are concentration camps
The proposed centers are so large that some could house as many as 8,000 detainees at once, according to a DHS spreadsheet of more than 20 potential locations that was verified by NBC News. The largest federal prison in the U.S., for example, has roughly 4,000 inmates.
ICE plans to build mega warehouses for immigration detention spark growing concern
Sources at two government contractors told NBC News they were worried that new warehouses — and the large numbers of immigrants who would be housed in them — would present safety problems.
www.nbcnews.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Hi
these are concentration camps
these are concentration camps
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
again, neglect is inherent in concentration camps.
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
Exclusive: Detention Center Captives Are Throwing Lotion Bottles Wrapped With Notes to Organizers Outside Otay Mesa Facility ~ L.A. TACO
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh," an Otay Mesa captive communicated through handwritten note. "We are all in one big room with no doors...
lataco.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:45 AM
again, neglect is inherent in concentration camps.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) reacted to Trump personal attorney-turned Deputy AG Todd Blanche discussing the DOJ's intention to appeal the judges decision releasing Liam Ramos.
"Why is the Trump Administration fighting harder to arrest 5-year-old children than pedophiles in the Epstein files?" he posted
"Why is the Trump Administration fighting harder to arrest 5-year-old children than pedophiles in the Epstein files?" he posted
February 8, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) reacted to Trump personal attorney-turned Deputy AG Todd Blanche discussing the DOJ's intention to appeal the judges decision releasing Liam Ramos.
"Why is the Trump Administration fighting harder to arrest 5-year-old children than pedophiles in the Epstein files?" he posted
"Why is the Trump Administration fighting harder to arrest 5-year-old children than pedophiles in the Epstein files?" he posted
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
I think car door handles should still work when the car is on fire
February 8, 2026 at 2:37 AM
I think car door handles should still work when the car is on fire
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Read this by Oren Peleg, from Jan 28.. it’s a chilling and harrowing account
in case you’d like an example of the extensive reporting of this basic fact of trump/miller crimes
The Cruel Conditions of ICE’s Mojave Desert Detention Center
How immigration authorities have weaponized medical neglect to encourage self-deportations.
www.newyorker.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:25 AM
Read this by Oren Peleg, from Jan 28.. it’s a chilling and harrowing account
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
👀
Just by looking at a cursory glance of the turnout by precinct, this doesn't look like a case of Democratic areas turning out more than Republican areas.
In fact, the opposite. Chasity Martinez won by winning over a bunch of Trump voters
In fact, the opposite. Chasity Martinez won by winning over a bunch of Trump voters
February 8, 2026 at 3:22 AM
👀
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
RESULT: Democrat Chasity Martinez wins a special election for a legislative seat in Louisiana, 62% to 38%.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
February 8, 2026 at 3:14 AM
RESULT: Democrat Chasity Martinez wins a special election for a legislative seat in Louisiana, 62% to 38%.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Worth noting that 20 states have one-party congressional delegations.
The GOP is entering the “finding out” phase of gerrymandering. By the same metric, Dems got almost 40% of the vote in Utah and currently hold zero congressional seats due to gerrymandering
February 8, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Worth noting that 20 states have one-party congressional delegations.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Not terrifying at all. . .
February 8, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Not terrifying at all. . .