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
TIME TO REMEMBER WHERE THE PINK TRIANGLE CAME FROM
They have now removed the Pride flag from the Stonewall Inn.
Erasure. Just like the Nazis.
gaycitynews.com/trump-rainbo...
Erasure. Just like the Nazis.
gaycitynews.com/trump-rainbo...
Trump administration removes Rainbow Flag from Stonewall National Monument
The Trump administration removed a large Rainbow Flag from a flagpole at the Stonewall National Monument, the National Park Service confirmed to Gay City News
gaycitynews.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:41 PM
TIME TO REMEMBER WHERE THE PINK TRIANGLE CAME FROM
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Important from Arne Duncan and David Pressman:
"There is little effort among university leaders to coordinate a political response to attacks on academic independence by the administration. Appeasement is being coordinated while resistance is not."
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
"There is little effort among university leaders to coordinate a political response to attacks on academic independence by the administration. Appeasement is being coordinated while resistance is not."
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Universities are sending Trump a dangerous message
Higher education is under attack. Drop the appeasement.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Important from Arne Duncan and David Pressman:
"There is little effort among university leaders to coordinate a political response to attacks on academic independence by the administration. Appeasement is being coordinated while resistance is not."
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
"There is little effort among university leaders to coordinate a political response to attacks on academic independence by the administration. Appeasement is being coordinated while resistance is not."
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
"Whatever happened to good ol' Merican music, like 'Wichita Lineman.'?"
Puerto Ricans did not choose to be colonized by the US and held as second-class citizens in perpetuity. The historical irony of certain White people in the US still being angry over a 15 minute celebration of a nation that their ancestors seized by force is indeed very rich.
February 10, 2026 at 2:43 PM
"Whatever happened to good ol' Merican music, like 'Wichita Lineman.'?"
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
discord: please verify your age
me: *lets out a sigh that seems to crawl out of my lungs rather than be exhaled, dense with fatigue, disappointment, so profoundly Gen X it practically hums with the ghosts of mixtapes, dial-up modems, and being told to “just deal with it”*
discord: age verified
me: *lets out a sigh that seems to crawl out of my lungs rather than be exhaled, dense with fatigue, disappointment, so profoundly Gen X it practically hums with the ghosts of mixtapes, dial-up modems, and being told to “just deal with it”*
discord: age verified
February 10, 2026 at 1:37 PM
discord: please verify your age
me: *lets out a sigh that seems to crawl out of my lungs rather than be exhaled, dense with fatigue, disappointment, so profoundly Gen X it practically hums with the ghosts of mixtapes, dial-up modems, and being told to “just deal with it”*
discord: age verified
me: *lets out a sigh that seems to crawl out of my lungs rather than be exhaled, dense with fatigue, disappointment, so profoundly Gen X it practically hums with the ghosts of mixtapes, dial-up modems, and being told to “just deal with it”*
discord: age verified
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Damn is it going to be that bad?
Peter Navarro: "The jobs report comes out tomorrow. We have to revise our expectations down significantly for what a monthly job number should look like ... Wall Street has to adjust for the fact that we're deporting millions of illegals out of the job market."
February 10, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Damn is it going to be that bad?
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This is the 38th time that the U.S. military has unlawfully killed civilians on the orders of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. At least 130 people — never charged with crimes, their identities unknown to their executioners — are now dead.
We are murdering people and it is basically just background noise at this point. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...
U.S. Boat Strike Kills 2 in Pacific, With One Survivor
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:29 AM
This is the 38th time that the U.S. military has unlawfully killed civilians on the orders of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. At least 130 people — never charged with crimes, their identities unknown to their executioners — are now dead.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Becky Ringstrom was heading home after following federal immigration officers in her gray Kia SUV in suburban Minneapolis when she was suddenly boxed in by unmarked vehicles.
ICE is cracking down on people who follow them in their cars
Becky Ringstrom was heading home after following federal immigration officers in her gray Kia SUV in suburban Minneapolis when she was suddenly boxed in by unmarked vehicles.
reut.rs
February 10, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Becky Ringstrom was heading home after following federal immigration officers in her gray Kia SUV in suburban Minneapolis when she was suddenly boxed in by unmarked vehicles.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
More Trump Admin defiance of court orders, by @kyledcheney.bsky.social . “This was not a misunderstanding or lack of clarity; it was knowing & purposeful,” writes one judge. (Read the brazen non-denials by DHS spox Trish McLaughlin.)
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
!["As this Court has observed now on too many occasions, [administration officials] continue to advance legal positions that are indefensible and illogical," U.S. District Judge Christine O'Hearn, a New Jersey-based Biden appointee, wrote in a recent order. "This was not a misunderstanding or lack of clarity; it was knowing and purposeful."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vrmx2e5gsi23srsy2n7vljvb/bafkreibcnr5rggqg73stw2z23zjwldbnkhe67rswhvx7ib3smokyhfuazm@jpeg)
February 10, 2026 at 2:22 PM
More Trump Admin defiance of court orders, by @kyledcheney.bsky.social . “This was not a misunderstanding or lack of clarity; it was knowing & purposeful,” writes one judge. (Read the brazen non-denials by DHS spox Trish McLaughlin.)
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
A lot of people left and right have worked very hard to convince people that Donald Trump is just a normal Republican, or the natural evolution or endpoint of American conservatism.
That's just not true. He's an aberration and an outlier.
That's just not true. He's an aberration and an outlier.
February 10, 2026 at 2:06 PM
A lot of people left and right have worked very hard to convince people that Donald Trump is just a normal Republican, or the natural evolution or endpoint of American conservatism.
That's just not true. He's an aberration and an outlier.
That's just not true. He's an aberration and an outlier.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Kids of immigrants aren’t going to school out of fear of being grabbed.
Not only no school, but also, no free meals.
So folks in Minnesota are distributing food.
(gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/d...
Not only no school, but also, no free meals.
So folks in Minnesota are distributing food.
(gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/d...
Hungry Families, ICE and Secret Grocery Networks in Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Kids of immigrants aren’t going to school out of fear of being grabbed.
Not only no school, but also, no free meals.
So folks in Minnesota are distributing food.
(gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/d...
Not only no school, but also, no free meals.
So folks in Minnesota are distributing food.
(gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/d...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
AOC on DHS Warehouses: I think every American should be alarmed. They are building—and have built—a black box system that disappears people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.
February 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
AOC on DHS Warehouses: I think every American should be alarmed. They are building—and have built—a black box system that disappears people, both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
In the least shocking news ever, the DOJ illegally redacted Trump's name from manyEpstein files. [And of course that doesn't count the ones they just didn't release because they are about Trump]
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Jamie Raskin accuses DoJ of cover-up after viewing unredacted Epstein files
Ranking member of House judiciary panel said ‘mysterious redactions’ in files obscured names of abusers
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:42 PM
In the least shocking news ever, the DOJ illegally redacted Trump's name from manyEpstein files. [And of course that doesn't count the ones they just didn't release because they are about Trump]
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
A simple proposal for federal judges frustrated that Trump Regime isn’t freeing people in response to habeas corpus orders:
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
February 10, 2026 at 12:17 PM
A simple proposal for federal judges frustrated that Trump Regime isn’t freeing people in response to habeas corpus orders:
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
Order that DHS bring each individual to court for their habeas hearing. If the judge grants habeas, the petitioner walks out free.
Bonus: huge pre-hearing burden on feds.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The Trump administration is cracking down on Americans who protest its immigration raids, the government is charging people with assaulting or impeding federal agents at a rate even faster than after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol.
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
February 10, 2026 at 2:14 PM
The Trump administration is cracking down on Americans who protest its immigration raids, the government is charging people with assaulting or impeding federal agents at a rate even faster than after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol.
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This makes sense if you assume the court is a basketball court and Dems just keep passing the ball to the opposing team
Our DHS reform demands are exceedingly reasonable.
We're asking ICE to do nothing more than follow the standards that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies already follow.
Republicans, the ball is in your court. The clock is ticking.
We're asking ICE to do nothing more than follow the standards that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies already follow.
Republicans, the ball is in your court. The clock is ticking.
February 10, 2026 at 8:22 AM
This makes sense if you assume the court is a basketball court and Dems just keep passing the ball to the opposing team
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The biggest "landslide" over that period was Obama winning by seven points. Every other presidential race since 2000 has been less than four. By both historical US and international standards, it has been and still is a period of remarkably unshifting electoral stasis for any party system.
February 10, 2026 at 6:20 AM
The biggest "landslide" over that period was Obama winning by seven points. Every other presidential race since 2000 has been less than four. By both historical US and international standards, it has been and still is a period of remarkably unshifting electoral stasis for any party system.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
We talk a lot about trends and marginal shifts, this purple state got bluer while that one got a bit redder, but the fundamental political geography and coalitions of the major parties have been locked in for a quarter century. The vast majority of Trump voters are still Bush-McCain-Romney voters.
one thing that will always be a mystery to me is the number of trump voters who basically thought they were electing george bush again reut.rs/3Mc4h4H
As Trump presidency enters second year, his voters share hopes – and concerns
Trump voters urge him to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on domestic issues, especially clearer pathways to legal status for law-abiding immigrants, healthcare reform, curbing waste and fraud, a...
reut.rs
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 AM
We talk a lot about trends and marginal shifts, this purple state got bluer while that one got a bit redder, but the fundamental political geography and coalitions of the major parties have been locked in for a quarter century. The vast majority of Trump voters are still Bush-McCain-Romney voters.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Anyway I don’t believe there will be a moon base in under ten years but I DO believe that there’s a chance that inside ten years Jeff Bezos, Nikki Minaj, and Kyle Rittenhouse will get Titan Submerisbled on the maiden voyage because Musk fired all the “woke” engineers
February 10, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Anyway I don’t believe there will be a moon base in under ten years but I DO believe that there’s a chance that inside ten years Jeff Bezos, Nikki Minaj, and Kyle Rittenhouse will get Titan Submerisbled on the maiden voyage because Musk fired all the “woke” engineers
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Albus's background recently summarized this way in @theatlantic.com :
February 10, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Albus's background recently summarized this way in @theatlantic.com :
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Missouri US Atty Thomas Albus, head of Trump administration's election investigations, formally takes over lead in Fulton County, GA, search warrant litigation.
February 10, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Missouri US Atty Thomas Albus, head of Trump administration's election investigations, formally takes over lead in Fulton County, GA, search warrant litigation.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
It will surprise y’all to hear that there are no “Muslims taking over the state” and there is no “sharia law” in Texas that threatens anyone.
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
February 10, 2026 at 1:09 PM
It will surprise y’all to hear that there are no “Muslims taking over the state” and there is no “sharia law” in Texas that threatens anyone.
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
This is genuinely disgusting.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Judge Tunheim (Clinton) declines to dissolve his temporary restraining order blocking Trump policy requiring warrantless detention of 5,600 refugees in MN. Says DHS's new reading would mean govt has been violating the law for past 45 yrs.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Judge Tunheim (Clinton) declines to dissolve his temporary restraining order blocking Trump policy requiring warrantless detention of 5,600 refugees in MN. Says DHS's new reading would mean govt has been violating the law for past 45 yrs.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 11:48 AM
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...