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
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
NOW THAT’S UNION
The Ford worker who heckled Trump during a visit to the company's plant still has his job and "has no discipline on his record," a union official said
Ford worker who heckled Trump keeps job, 'no discipline' for incident
The United Auto Workers union said TJ Sabula remains employed and called out the president for making an obscene gesture toward the worker.
www.detroitnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
NOW THAT’S UNION
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Every business right now thinks its such an essential part of your life that you'd give them anything to keep using it and brother I am here to tell you I don't need a chat app that bad
Discord will soon require face scans or ID for all users, or restrict access
Discord will soon require face scans or ID for all users, or restrict access
Discord has announced a major change coming to the service as part of its aim to improve teen safety features. Starting in March, all users globally will be required to submit age verification via a face scan or submitted ID, or be given teen-level access restrictions.
more…
9to5mac.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Every business right now thinks its such an essential part of your life that you'd give them anything to keep using it and brother I am here to tell you I don't need a chat app that bad
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
@discord.com, no you won’t.
Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month
Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month
Age verification for all.
buff.ly
February 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
@discord.com, no you won’t.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
feels like a “no true scotsman” problem, but yeah, some self-described libertarians went MAGA, and some went Never Trump, and i’d love to see some actual data on how they split
February 9, 2026 at 5:05 PM
feels like a “no true scotsman” problem, but yeah, some self-described libertarians went MAGA, and some went Never Trump, and i’d love to see some actual data on how they split
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Yes. It wasn't difficult to figure out Trump wasn't a libertarian.
February 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Yes. It wasn't difficult to figure out Trump wasn't a libertarian.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Something to pass on to any Irish-Americans you know who are clinging to the Trump Regime
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
February 9, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Something to pass on to any Irish-Americans you know who are clinging to the Trump Regime
The true libertarians went "NeverTrump." If they didn't, then they weren't.
every single "principled libertarian" put on the red hat in 2016 and i don't think we should let them take it off and pretend like they're real intellectuals again now that he's unpopular
February 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
The true libertarians went "NeverTrump." If they didn't, then they weren't.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Nope. Send her back to max and let her rot.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer says his client will only speak if Trump grants her clemency
February 9, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Nope. Send her back to max and let her rot.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Caller reacts to Bad Bunny's Halftime Show:
"I've never heard of Bad Bunny... The concept of saying God Bless America, all the flags of the Americas, was a brilliant, wonderful way to bring us together."
"I've never heard of Bad Bunny... The concept of saying God Bless America, all the flags of the Americas, was a brilliant, wonderful way to bring us together."
February 9, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Caller reacts to Bad Bunny's Halftime Show:
"I've never heard of Bad Bunny... The concept of saying God Bless America, all the flags of the Americas, was a brilliant, wonderful way to bring us together."
"I've never heard of Bad Bunny... The concept of saying God Bless America, all the flags of the Americas, was a brilliant, wonderful way to bring us together."
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Trump regime members treat their own lives and feelings as precious and inviolable, while thoughtlessly subjecting millions (counting USAID’s decimation) to cruelty and death.
I mean, Trump et al treated the Bad Bunny show as an intolerable blow to their sensibilities!
I mean, Trump et al treated the Bad Bunny show as an intolerable blow to their sensibilities!
The government says the people being deported are violent criminals, and they treat them inhumanely. But mostly they are subjecting ordinary people to extraordinary punishments.
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Trump regime members treat their own lives and feelings as precious and inviolable, while thoughtlessly subjecting millions (counting USAID’s decimation) to cruelty and death.
I mean, Trump et al treated the Bad Bunny show as an intolerable blow to their sensibilities!
I mean, Trump et al treated the Bad Bunny show as an intolerable blow to their sensibilities!
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Per declaration of Fulton Co elections chief, FBI arrived with warrant ~ 12:32pm on 1/28. Tulsi & “DC” folks didn’t arrive till 8pm, an hour before search ended at 9pm. Just there for optics?
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 9, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Per declaration of Fulton Co elections chief, FBI arrived with warrant ~ 12:32pm on 1/28. Tulsi & “DC” folks didn’t arrive till 8pm, an hour before search ended at 9pm. Just there for optics?
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
the suggestion that the libertarian movement has always been anti trump is infuriating, but also a sign that people may have a sense of which way the wind is blowing
February 9, 2026 at 4:03 PM
the suggestion that the libertarian movement has always been anti trump is infuriating, but also a sign that people may have a sense of which way the wind is blowing
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Cuffari is awful.
Many people in his office are not.
This is an untenable situation. Yes she has that authority. It is intended to be used when an OIG investigation jeopardizes a critical national interest. To shut down something before it causes irreparable harm.
Many people in his office are not.
This is an untenable situation. Yes she has that authority. It is intended to be used when an OIG investigation jeopardizes a critical national interest. To shut down something before it causes irreparable harm.
Inspectors general need independence to do their jobs.
Threatening to shut down their investigations is a serious attack on the accountability you deserve from your government.
We hope senators ask Sec. Noem about this when she testifies next month.
Threatening to shut down their investigations is a serious attack on the accountability you deserve from your government.
We hope senators ask Sec. Noem about this when she testifies next month.
DHS warned its independent watchdog that Noem can kill its investigations, senator says
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said she fears "repeated tacit threats" could be weakening the DHS inspector general's independence.
www.nbcnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Cuffari is awful.
Many people in his office are not.
This is an untenable situation. Yes she has that authority. It is intended to be used when an OIG investigation jeopardizes a critical national interest. To shut down something before it causes irreparable harm.
Many people in his office are not.
This is an untenable situation. Yes she has that authority. It is intended to be used when an OIG investigation jeopardizes a critical national interest. To shut down something before it causes irreparable harm.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
8th Cir. holds that although state legislator who retweeted a deepfake video of VP Harris posted by Musk has standing to challenge MN deepfake ban, she waited too long (16 months) to move for a prelim. injunction, suggesting she did not face irreparable harm.
ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/26/02...
ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/26/02...
![Franson contends that delay cannot preclude a finding of irreparable harm where First Amendment rights are involved. To be sure, the Supreme Court has said that “[t]he loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury.” Roman Cath. Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, 592 U.S. 14, 19 (2020) (per curiam) (quoting Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 373 (1976) (plurality opinion)). But the Court also has said that a plaintiff must generally show “reasonable diligence” in seeking a preliminary injunction, even where First Amendment rights are allegedly at stake. Benisek v. Lamone, 585 U.S. 155, 159 (2018) (per curiam). Elrod and Roman Catholic Diocese did not concern a delay in seeking preliminary relief, and those decisions do not undermine the district court’s ruling here. See Hotchkiss v. Cedar Rapids Comm. Sch. Dist., 115 F.4th 889, 893-94 (8th Cir. 2024); cf. Yoseph v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corr., No. 25-10113, 2025 WL 2366445, at *6 (11th Cir. Aug. 14, 2025) (per curiam). The district court entered its order on preliminary relief in January 2025, and the case likely could have proceeded toward a final resolution on the merits in the year that has elapsed since. But Kohls and Franson appealed the order denying preliminary relief, and then stipulated that the case should be stayed in the district court pending disposition of this appeal. At oral argument, counsel explained that the plaintiffs sought “guidance” from the court of appeals on the merits of their constitutional claims. This court, however, does not sit to dispense guidance on matters that are unnecessary to a decision.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:24vva42nxim6zbcmnozegoef/bafkreichzncaizn3pni3t6p3rxdwx3i54s3syd4gr75anssjgu6vhca3fa@jpeg)
February 9, 2026 at 4:19 PM
8th Cir. holds that although state legislator who retweeted a deepfake video of VP Harris posted by Musk has standing to challenge MN deepfake ban, she waited too long (16 months) to move for a prelim. injunction, suggesting she did not face irreparable harm.
ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/26/02...
ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/26/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The Freedom of the Press Foundation files a disciplinary complaint against the federal prosecutor who signed the search warrant of WaPo reporter Hannah Natanson, arguing he failed to cite a federal law barring the application.
Letter buff.ly/xDHJIy4
Letter buff.ly/xDHJIy4
February 9, 2026 at 4:19 PM
The Freedom of the Press Foundation files a disciplinary complaint against the federal prosecutor who signed the search warrant of WaPo reporter Hannah Natanson, arguing he failed to cite a federal law barring the application.
Letter buff.ly/xDHJIy4
Letter buff.ly/xDHJIy4
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
I know a prominent non-cosplaying American critic abroad who uses extreme "device hygiene" protocols when returning to the US these days, so we're already at the level of transnational precaution.
Putting down a marker that before we get to 2028 there will be a time the US government targets an American critic who is abroad, i.e., what we call transnational repression
February 9, 2026 at 3:21 PM
I know a prominent non-cosplaying American critic abroad who uses extreme "device hygiene" protocols when returning to the US these days, so we're already at the level of transnational precaution.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
My colleague got into Trump's sprawling family detention camp, which is full of toddlers, kids, & teens.
- Kids have cut themselves or talked about suicide
-There's worms & mold in food
-300 kids have been held for 30+ days, far longer court settlement allows
www.propublica.org/article/life...
- Kids have cut themselves or talked about suicide
-There's worms & mold in food
-300 kids have been held for 30+ days, far longer court settlement allows
www.propublica.org/article/life...
February 9, 2026 at 3:35 PM
My colleague got into Trump's sprawling family detention camp, which is full of toddlers, kids, & teens.
- Kids have cut themselves or talked about suicide
-There's worms & mold in food
-300 kids have been held for 30+ days, far longer court settlement allows
www.propublica.org/article/life...
- Kids have cut themselves or talked about suicide
-There's worms & mold in food
-300 kids have been held for 30+ days, far longer court settlement allows
www.propublica.org/article/life...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Look, all I'm saying is that if you just spent the last six years being frustrated with Durbin and you think there's a chance he's about to be replaced with a guy who thanks ICE for their service and takes AIPAC and crypto money, you should treat it like a very serious emergency
PPP poll | 2/2-2/3 LV
Illinois Senate Democratic primary 2026
🟦Raja Krishamoorthi 34%
🟦Juliana Stratton 23%
🟦Robin Kelly 8%
Illinois Senate Democratic primary 2026
🟦Raja Krishamoorthi 34%
🟦Juliana Stratton 23%
🟦Robin Kelly 8%
February 9, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Look, all I'm saying is that if you just spent the last six years being frustrated with Durbin and you think there's a chance he's about to be replaced with a guy who thanks ICE for their service and takes AIPAC and crypto money, you should treat it like a very serious emergency
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Boasberg notes that the government did just that.
"Given what the Supreme Court said in Abrego, if these people were illegally removed... then the remedy has to be the same as for Abrego."
"Given what the Supreme Court said in Abrego, if these people were illegally removed... then the remedy has to be the same as for Abrego."
February 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Boasberg notes that the government did just that.
"Given what the Supreme Court said in Abrego, if these people were illegally removed... then the remedy has to be the same as for Abrego."
"Given what the Supreme Court said in Abrego, if these people were illegally removed... then the remedy has to be the same as for Abrego."
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Beyonce and Ricky Martin performed at Bush's 2000 inaugural is a thing I think about a lot when considering how much more culturally isolated and extreme the right has become.
February 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Beyonce and Ricky Martin performed at Bush's 2000 inaugural is a thing I think about a lot when considering how much more culturally isolated and extreme the right has become.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Witness: He stuck his hands down my pants?
AUSA: What was he doing
Witness: Sticking his fingers in me. He said I wanted it.
AUSA: Did you?
Witness: No.. I really wanted him to stop (sobs).
AUSA: Did you tell him to stop?
Witness: No. My body wouldn't respond
AUSA: What was he doing
Witness: Sticking his fingers in me. He said I wanted it.
AUSA: Did you?
Witness: No.. I really wanted him to stop (sobs).
AUSA: Did you tell him to stop?
Witness: No. My body wouldn't respond
February 9, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Witness: He stuck his hands down my pants?
AUSA: What was he doing
Witness: Sticking his fingers in me. He said I wanted it.
AUSA: Did you?
Witness: No.. I really wanted him to stop (sobs).
AUSA: Did you tell him to stop?
Witness: No. My body wouldn't respond
AUSA: What was he doing
Witness: Sticking his fingers in me. He said I wanted it.
AUSA: Did you?
Witness: No.. I really wanted him to stop (sobs).
AUSA: Did you tell him to stop?
Witness: No. My body wouldn't respond
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
High schools all over New Hampshire have been having walk outs. *New Hampshire* ok? This generation is letting this radicalize them.
in their walkout speech, Nathalie told their classmates,
"We’re being dehumanized and there’s nothing we can really do about it because we’re high schoolers... Not only are our parents being hunted, taken and kidnapped, but it’s also our little siblings being used as bait and then being taken."
"We’re being dehumanized and there’s nothing we can really do about it because we’re high schoolers... Not only are our parents being hunted, taken and kidnapped, but it’s also our little siblings being used as bait and then being taken."
These are the high schoolers taking a stand against ICE: ‘You can’t let despair take over’
Thousands of students across the US have been walking out of their schools to protest ICE in their communities
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:20 PM
High schools all over New Hampshire have been having walk outs. *New Hampshire* ok? This generation is letting this radicalize them.