Cathy Gellis
LightNews LightNews
cathygellis.bsky.social
Cathy Gellis
@cathygellis.bsky.social
24K followers 1.7K following 19K posts
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.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
cathygellis.bsky.social
Cathy Gellis @cathygellis.bsky.social · Jan 3
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...
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
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
It's staggering how this political eunuch has not just done nothing at all as Speaker of the House, but has actually worked to prevent his colleagues from doing anything at all as well.

For all the right's fetishization of "originalism," this is a development that would've made the founders weep
ericmgarcia.bsky.social Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 1h
Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday he is moving forward with a plan to revive a prohibition on House votes to overturn President Donald Trump’s global tariffs.

www.politico.com/live-updates...
Johnson moves to again block House from voting on Trump tariffs
Opposition from as few as two Republicans could derail the effort.
www.politico.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
cwebbonline.com
He’s so unlikable. Add that to the fact that the MAGA base will not transfer to him. Good luck in 2028.

And let’s start doing to him what they did to Kamala: “What has JD Vance actually accomplished since he’s been VP?”
February 9, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
perfunctorynod.bsky.social
Local governments might need to start major road maintenance projects that happen to be on the roads leading in/out of these facilities and then the local governments might run out of money to complete the projects. And now the roads are all torn up and, whoops, sorry for the inconvenience, feds.
February 10, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
tiffanycli.bsky.social
Ashley Padilla from SNL. Mom’s confessions skit.
February 10, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
citizensimpeachment.com
Congress should show 1/100th the spine of any of the folks on the front lines in Minnesota.

Shame on them.
aspwriter85.bsky.social Rae Loren @aspwriter85.bsky.social · 21m
We have had strikes, and many Americans have directly put their bodies in the line of fire to defend their neighbors from this administration. People in rural places and cities and suburbs are showing up to say hell no, and weve swept +18 in special elections and congress is still doing nothing.
February 10, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
cyborgapologist.bsky.social
February 10, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
jessicavalenti.bsky.social
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”

The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
They're Coming for Our Daughters
The conservative plan to shrink girls’ futures
jessica.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
gwynnefitz.bsky.social
ICE officials, under a judge’s order to clean up overcrowded and squalid conditions inside holding cells at 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a separate floor where they decided the the ruling didn't apply. The revelation comes in a hearing today:

www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
ICE Moved Detainees to Previously Undisclosed Floor of 26 Federal Plaza
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reduce overcrowding and squalid conditions at a Manhattan holding room. Months later, he finds ICE merely shifted floors.
www.thecity.nyc
February 10, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
jvagle.me
We can never undo what was inflicted on this child.
mprnews.org MPR News @mprnews.org · 1h
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.

“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
‘He’s not the same’: Father of Liam Conejo Ramos says 5-year-old continues to suffer
Some people thought they say the 5-year-old during the Super Bowl halftime show. But Liam is still in hiding with his family, after he and his father were detained and then released from a Texas deten...
www.mprnews.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
jvagle.me
Always remember that If they build the camps, they will fill the camps.
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8h
In the last month ICE has bought warehouses in:

- Hagerstown, MD: $102 million
- Surprise, AZ: $70 million
- Hamburg, PA: $87 million
- Tremont, PA: $120 million
- San Antonio, TX: $82 million
- El Paso, TX: $123 million
- Social Circle, GA: price unknown

This is unprecedented.
February 10, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
jvagle.me
It's difficult to describe just how much I loathe the term "illegals."
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12h
Hassett: "There's a pretty big decline in the labor force because of illegals leaving the country, so the break even job number is quite a bit lower than it was under Joe Biden. So you should expect slightly smaller job numbers."
February 9, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
joshgerstein.bsky.social
JUST IN: Judge John Tunheim (Clinton) rejects Trump admin bid to lift order blocking mass detention of immigrants in Minnesota admitted to US as refugees. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
UHAvBondiOpn020926.PDF
www.documentcloud.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
evanbernick.bsky.social
Ok so this happened
February 9, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
marklemley.bsky.social
Unbelievably horrific. A lot of people in positions of power in Israel belong in jail, starting at the very top

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘No rules’: Gaza’s doctors say they were tortured, beaten and humiliated in Israeli detention
Healthcare workers are protected under international law yet hundreds were detained during the war. Now, some of Gaza’s most senior doctors have spoken of the violence and abuse they say they faced
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
timdickinson.bsky.social
You don't fight this hard to hide nothing
chrisgeidner.bsky.social Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2h
BREAKING: On February 2, Sec. Noem issued a memo asserting the lapse in appropriations for DHS meant there is no Sec. 527 — the provision protecting congressional oversight visits to immigration detention facilities — and she was issuing a new (third) policy requiring seven-day notice for visits.
Case 1:25-cv-02463-JMC Document 55-1 Filed 02/09/26 Page 2 of 2 Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 DEPARTMEN Homeland Security MEMORANDUM FOR: FROM: SUBJECT: February 2, 2026 Todd. M. Lyons Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rodney Scott Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection James H. Percival Il General Counsel Holly C. Mehringer Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Chief Financial Officer Kristi Noon at ar Secretary of Homelet Security Congressional Access to Alien Detention Facilities - Ratification of Access Policy and Use of Appropriations for Enforcement On January 8, 2026, I issued a new policy directing that requests by Members of Congress to visit an ICE facility be submitted at least seven days in advance of the visit.' On February 2, 2026, in Neguse v. ICE, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily enjoined DHS from enforcing that policy or otherwise requiring any plaintiff to provide advance notice before conducting oversight visits for a period of 14 days.? The court concluded that DHS's policy remains inconsistent with Section 527(b) of the Department's appropriation. It is odd that the court issued this decision given the appropriation containing Section 527(b) lapsed on January 31, 2026. As a result of the lapse, Section 527 is not currently in effect. Therefore, as of this date, I am issuing this new policy that is identical in substance to the January 8 access policy. The General Counsel will provide further guidance regarding the effective date of this policy in light of the court's order. ' This updated policy-issued as a result of the case against ICE-was directed to ICE. Neither CBP nor its policy has been involved in the case to date. In light of today's decision, however, I am also issuing that policy as to CBP. 2 Neguse v. ICE, No. 25-2463, Memorandum Op. at 9 (D.D.C. Feb. 2, 2026).
February 10, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
masnick.com
I remember Trump suing CBS and the BBC about "unfair" edits. MAGA insisted they had to do this because such edits are illegal (they're not). But of course they have nothing to say about @nbcnews.com editing out the boos of JD Vance
techdirt.com Techdirt @techdirt.com · 4h
NBC Hid The Boos For JD Vance. Where’s Trump’s ‘Unfair Editing’ Lawsuit?

If you watched NBC's prime time broadcast of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, you saw Vice President JD Vance in the stands at San Siro Stadium in Milan with his wife, Usha. The commentary team said "JD Vance"…
NBC Hid The Boos For JD Vance. Where’s Trump’s ‘Unfair Editing’ Lawsuit?
If you watched NBC's prime time broadcast of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, you saw Vice President JD Vance in the stands at San Siro Stadium in Milan with his wife, Usha. The commentary team said "JD Vance" and moved on. Pleasant enough. But if you were watching literally any other country's broadcast—or were actually in the stadium—you heard something else: …
www.techdirt.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
frankconniff.bsky.social
Excellent piece about Mitchell.

MITCHELL!
February 10, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
qjurecic.bsky.social
one thing that has always confused me about these hypos where the House refuses to recognize Dem winners—the House isn't a continuing body, and it wouldn't be the current House that would be seating anyone. it's the incoming House. www.vox.com/politics/478...
The “nightmare scenario” for this year’s elections has long gone something like this: Control of the House comes down to a small number of close races. Republicans lead on Election Day in many of these contests, but their advantage steadily erodes as mail-in ballots arrive. The White House attributes these adverse trends to mass voter fraud and demands a halt to vote counting. When states refuse to comply, the White House orders the military to seize ballots and voting machines from pivotal precincts before all votes have been tallied. The chain of custody over these ballots breaks down, making the elections’ true winners impossible to determine. The House’s incumbent GOP majority then asserts the authority to seat the Republican candidates in the contested races. American democracy, as we’ve known it, ends.
February 10, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
joshgerstein.bsky.social
JUST IN: Justice Department files brief w/4th Circuit, seeking to revive criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James, arguing that AG has power to make successive interim US attorney appointments. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
ComeyJamesDOJCA4OpeningBrf020926
www.documentcloud.org
February 10, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
joshgerstein.bsky.social
JUST IN: @knightcolumbia & @weareoversight ask Judge Aileen Cannon to defer action on Trump's bid to bottle up 2nd volume of Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report, argue she can't act while appeal pending. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
CannonMotStay020926
www.documentcloud.org
February 10, 2026 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
lizdye.bsky.social
Well, I'm sure that Judge Jia Cobb will be very understanding about Kristi Noem putting out a THIRD memo defying the court's order.
chrisgeidner.bsky.social Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2h
BREAKING: On February 2, Sec. Noem issued a memo asserting the lapse in appropriations for DHS meant there is no Sec. 527 — the provision protecting congressional oversight visits to immigration detention facilities — and she was issuing a new (third) policy requiring seven-day notice for visits.
Case 1:25-cv-02463-JMC Document 55-1 Filed 02/09/26 Page 2 of 2 Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 DEPARTMEN Homeland Security MEMORANDUM FOR: FROM: SUBJECT: February 2, 2026 Todd. M. Lyons Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rodney Scott Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection James H. Percival Il General Counsel Holly C. Mehringer Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Chief Financial Officer Kristi Noon at ar Secretary of Homelet Security Congressional Access to Alien Detention Facilities - Ratification of Access Policy and Use of Appropriations for Enforcement On January 8, 2026, I issued a new policy directing that requests by Members of Congress to visit an ICE facility be submitted at least seven days in advance of the visit.' On February 2, 2026, in Neguse v. ICE, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily enjoined DHS from enforcing that policy or otherwise requiring any plaintiff to provide advance notice before conducting oversight visits for a period of 14 days.? The court concluded that DHS's policy remains inconsistent with Section 527(b) of the Department's appropriation. It is odd that the court issued this decision given the appropriation containing Section 527(b) lapsed on January 31, 2026. As a result of the lapse, Section 527 is not currently in effect. Therefore, as of this date, I am issuing this new policy that is identical in substance to the January 8 access policy. The General Counsel will provide further guidance regarding the effective date of this policy in light of the court's order. ' This updated policy-issued as a result of the case against ICE-was directed to ICE. Neither CBP nor its policy has been involved in the case to date. In light of today's decision, however, I am also issuing that policy as to CBP. 2 Neguse v. ICE, No. 25-2463, Memorandum Op. at 9 (D.D.C. Feb. 2, 2026).
February 9, 2026 at 11:45 PM
cathygellis.bsky.social
Such a garbage argument from a garbage person.
chrisgeidner.bsky.social Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2h
BREAKING: On February 2, Sec. Noem issued a memo asserting the lapse in appropriations for DHS meant there is no Sec. 527 — the provision protecting congressional oversight visits to immigration detention facilities — and she was issuing a new (third) policy requiring seven-day notice for visits.
Case 1:25-cv-02463-JMC Document 55-1 Filed 02/09/26 Page 2 of 2 Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528 DEPARTMEN Homeland Security MEMORANDUM FOR: FROM: SUBJECT: February 2, 2026 Todd. M. Lyons Acting Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rodney Scott Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection James H. Percival Il General Counsel Holly C. Mehringer Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Chief Financial Officer Kristi Noon at ar Secretary of Homelet Security Congressional Access to Alien Detention Facilities - Ratification of Access Policy and Use of Appropriations for Enforcement On January 8, 2026, I issued a new policy directing that requests by Members of Congress to visit an ICE facility be submitted at least seven days in advance of the visit.' On February 2, 2026, in Neguse v. ICE, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia temporarily enjoined DHS from enforcing that policy or otherwise requiring any plaintiff to provide advance notice before conducting oversight visits for a period of 14 days.? The court concluded that DHS's policy remains inconsistent with Section 527(b) of the Department's appropriation. It is odd that the court issued this decision given the appropriation containing Section 527(b) lapsed on January 31, 2026. As a result of the lapse, Section 527 is not currently in effect. Therefore, as of this date, I am issuing this new policy that is identical in substance to the January 8 access policy. The General Counsel will provide further guidance regarding the effective date of this policy in light of the court's order. ' This updated policy-issued as a result of the case against ICE-was directed to ICE. Neither CBP nor its policy has been involved in the case to date. In light of today's decision, however, I am also issuing that policy as to CBP. 2 Neguse v. ICE, No. 25-2463, Memorandum Op. at 9 (D.D.C. Feb. 2, 2026).
February 10, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
wombatpm.bsky.social
Or utilities?
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
gabrielmalor.bsky.social
Also allowed to go into effect: the state's law allowing prosecution of federal officers for violations of state criminal law, which can only be challenged on an as-applied (that is, case-by-case) basis.
Finally, the threat of prosecution facing federal officers for a violation of state criminal law cannot be a cognizable interference with federal operations. If that were the case, then no state criminal law would be enforceable against federal employees exercising their federal duties. But the law is clear that federal officers do not have absolute immunity from state prosecution. Johnson v. State of Maryland, 254 U.S. 51, 56 (1920) (“Of course an employee of the United States does not secure a general immunity from state law while acting in the course of his employment.”); see also State of Colorado v. Symes, 286 U.S. 510, 518 (1932) (“Federal officers and employees are not, merely because they are such, granted immunity from prosecution in state courts for crimes against state law.”). To be sure, a federal officer may be immune from state prosecution under a generally applicable state law when discharging federal duties. In re Neagle, 135 U.S. 1, 76 (1890). But such Supremacy Clause immunity depends on the facts of each case.
February 9, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
gabrielmalor.bsky.social
Fed. judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of California's new law prohibiting facial coverings for federal law enforcement on Supremacy Clause grounds, but will allow enforcement of the law requiring they display ID to the public.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
federal functions or target federal practices but rather generally applies to law enforcement officers in California. However, the Act treats federal law enforcement officers differently!” than similarly situated state law enforcement officers. Accordingly, the Court finds that the United States is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that the facial covering prohibition of the No Secret Police Act unlawfully discriminates against the federal government in violation of the intergovernmental immunity doctrine.
February 9, 2026 at 10:25 PM