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...
I'm glad she's taking a stand. I don't quite follow how she hopes to accomplish anything with it, but it's good to see people engaged.
the Spectator accidentally recycled a subhed from a previous day’s article about Tehran
February 7, 2026 at 12:43 AM
I'm glad she's taking a stand. I don't quite follow how she hopes to accomplish anything with it, but it's good to see people engaged.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The thieves here were highly strategic. They shipped items to public pickup locations near where my mom had previously shipped items (i.e., near my house and my siblings' houses, across multiple states and US regions). Which is making the charges harder to fight with the credit card company.
My mom is convinced there's inside-job theft happening at Amazon. Despite 2-factor authentication on her account, someone was able to log in and add multiple new shipping addresses (Whole Foods pickup locations), then charge thousands of dollars in purchases to her credit card.
February 7, 2026 at 12:28 AM
The thieves here were highly strategic. They shipped items to public pickup locations near where my mom had previously shipped items (i.e., near my house and my siblings' houses, across multiple states and US regions). Which is making the charges harder to fight with the credit card company.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Last night we had 2 ICE agents get out of a car, pepper spray legal observers, shout something to the effect of "I'm fucking ICE motherfucker" and drive away.
Ice is being very aggressive with arresting observers this afternoon.
February 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Last night we had 2 ICE agents get out of a car, pepper spray legal observers, shout something to the effect of "I'm fucking ICE motherfucker" and drive away.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
A beloved workers' rights organizer in Minnesota, known for *successfully* fighting against wage theft and labor trafficking, has been detained by federal immigration agents and is now locked up in New Mexico. His family is calling for his urgent release. inthesetimes.com/article/work...
February 6, 2026 at 8:08 PM
A beloved workers' rights organizer in Minnesota, known for *successfully* fighting against wage theft and labor trafficking, has been detained by federal immigration agents and is now locked up in New Mexico. His family is calling for his urgent release. inthesetimes.com/article/work...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Democrats threatened to block funding for DHS when it expires on Feb. 13, giving the two sides barely a week to strike a deal and avert a shutdown of the department. Republicans have criticized Democrats’ proposals but say they’re willing to negotiate. https://wapo.st/4r29E5s
February 7, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Democrats threatened to block funding for DHS when it expires on Feb. 13, giving the two sides barely a week to strike a deal and avert a shutdown of the department. Republicans have criticized Democrats’ proposals but say they’re willing to negotiate. https://wapo.st/4r29E5s
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
It's called "Bottled Blonde". The chain had a Chicago location, but, uh, it didn't last
chicago.eater.com/2020/7/28/21...
chicago.eater.com/2020/7/28/21...
February 7, 2026 at 12:30 AM
It's called "Bottled Blonde". The chain had a Chicago location, but, uh, it didn't last
chicago.eater.com/2020/7/28/21...
chicago.eater.com/2020/7/28/21...
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
I suspect there are a lot of House Democrats in their 70s or 80s who think they're going to coast back into a comfortable leadership position by keeping their head down and riding the blue wave, but they're going to have to navigate these kinds of challenges first and most are not ready at all.
“I would rather you vote for what is morally correct,” Davidson said.
“Don’t talk to me about my own morality,” DeLauro shot back.
“Don’t tell your constituents what they can and can’t talk to you about,” replied Rev. Nathan Empsall. “What you are voting for is not moral.”
“Don’t talk to me about my own morality,” DeLauro shot back.
“Don’t tell your constituents what they can and can’t talk to you about,” replied Rev. Nathan Empsall. “What you are voting for is not moral.”
DeLauro to pressing clergy: 'I will not vote to abolish ICE'
The Connecticut U.S. representative found herself at odds with faith leaders.
www.ctpublic.org
February 7, 2026 at 12:17 AM
I suspect there are a lot of House Democrats in their 70s or 80s who think they're going to coast back into a comfortable leadership position by keeping their head down and riding the blue wave, but they're going to have to navigate these kinds of challenges first and most are not ready at all.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
What a stupid, stupid way to run a government
Meanwhile, in the federal government’s war on the World’s Greatest University:
February 7, 2026 at 12:30 AM
What a stupid, stupid way to run a government
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
As of Feb. 6 2026, more than a year since Trump’s minions began a rampage thru congressionally funded society, my rep @jayapal.house.gov has yet to introduce articles of impeachment or even publicly support any impeachments proposed by her colleagues
February 7, 2026 at 12:09 AM
As of Feb. 6 2026, more than a year since Trump’s minions began a rampage thru congressionally funded society, my rep @jayapal.house.gov has yet to introduce articles of impeachment or even publicly support any impeachments proposed by her colleagues
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This is an immensely significant document that continues to get virtually no attention in US media—but lots abroad. In Jul 2015, Epstein arranged a meeting between a known highest-level Russian intel operative, Sergey Belyakov and Peter Thiel,
February 6, 2026 at 9:55 PM
This is an immensely significant document that continues to get virtually no attention in US media—but lots abroad. In Jul 2015, Epstein arranged a meeting between a known highest-level Russian intel operative, Sergey Belyakov and Peter Thiel,
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
This from @anneapplebaum.bsky.social is why all the talk of Trump being dovish or isolationist, or on the flip side as a tough hawk, was always just wishcasting from people who hold those views themselves. Which is why the administration is an incoherent grab bag, the absurdity of Rubio and Gabbard.
February 6, 2026 at 10:51 PM
This from @anneapplebaum.bsky.social is why all the talk of Trump being dovish or isolationist, or on the flip side as a tough hawk, was always just wishcasting from people who hold those views themselves. Which is why the administration is an incoherent grab bag, the absurdity of Rubio and Gabbard.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
JD Vance getting loudly booed at the Winter Olympics today is exactly why Trump isn’t going to the Super Bowl on Sunday.
February 6, 2026 at 10:52 PM
JD Vance getting loudly booed at the Winter Olympics today is exactly why Trump isn’t going to the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Just horrifying what they are doing to children
This is Maria, a 6-year-old detained by ICE last year.
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
February 6, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Just horrifying what they are doing to children
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
"Even if Plaintiff did have standing to pursue the claims of individual citizens, Plaintiff’s claims are still doomed."
Lawgeeks, this decision is a fun tour of civ. pro., standing, and Title VII on the merits.
Lawgeeks, this decision is a fun tour of civ. pro., standing, and Title VII on the merits.
Federal judge throws out Missouri’s anti-DEI suit against Starbucks.
The conclusion is a multi-window defenestration:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The conclusion is a multi-window defenestration:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 6, 2026 at 11:20 PM
"Even if Plaintiff did have standing to pursue the claims of individual citizens, Plaintiff’s claims are still doomed."
Lawgeeks, this decision is a fun tour of civ. pro., standing, and Title VII on the merits.
Lawgeeks, this decision is a fun tour of civ. pro., standing, and Title VII on the merits.
This is a bogus takedown. Not sure who sent it but only the party who televised it would have any possible claim, and the newsworthiness means that it's likely fair use and thus the takedown should be invalid and actionable under 17 USC 512(f).
the fact that they’re taking down and censoring jd vance getting boo’d on twitter lol
February 6, 2026 at 11:20 PM
This is a bogus takedown. Not sure who sent it but only the party who televised it would have any possible claim, and the newsworthiness means that it's likely fair use and thus the takedown should be invalid and actionable under 17 USC 512(f).
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
February 6, 2026 at 6:40 PM
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Finneas is better at political messaging than 99% of the Democratic consultants in DC.
February 6, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Finneas is better at political messaging than 99% of the Democratic consultants in DC.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Close cousin to: “The mainstream media won’t tell you about [story I got from the Associated Press]”
“Why is NO ONE talking about this??!!!”
-person who is talking about the thing everyone is talking about
-person who is talking about the thing everyone is talking about
February 6, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Close cousin to: “The mainstream media won’t tell you about [story I got from the Associated Press]”
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
The court ultimately decides that there is no federal law requiring Oregon to provide unredacted voter information, so it didn't have to decide what the real reason was, but it's notable that a federal court is openly saying it can't trust the government's stated reasons
February 6, 2026 at 8:28 PM
The court ultimately decides that there is no federal law requiring Oregon to provide unredacted voter information, so it didn't have to decide what the real reason was, but it's notable that a federal court is openly saying it can't trust the government's stated reasons
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Importantly, Reyes just made it very difficult for DOJ to file anything in the D.C. Circuit before then — and even more difficult for the appeals court to act on it — since Reyes gave two reasons (the timing of DOJ's request and made-up deadline and the "suspect" claims) for needing more time.
February 6, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Importantly, Reyes just made it very difficult for DOJ to file anything in the D.C. Circuit before then — and even more difficult for the appeals court to act on it — since Reyes gave two reasons (the timing of DOJ's request and made-up deadline and the "suspect" claims) for needing more time.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Federal judge: "The presumption of regularity that has previously extended to [the United States Government] that it could be taken at its word—with little doubt about its intentions and stated purposes—no longer holds."
This is in a case where the Trump admin sued Oregon.
This is in a case where the Trump admin sued Oregon.
February 6, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Federal judge: "The presumption of regularity that has previously extended to [the United States Government] that it could be taken at its word—with little doubt about its intentions and stated purposes—no longer holds."
This is in a case where the Trump admin sued Oregon.
This is in a case where the Trump admin sued Oregon.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
Lawyers for former Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) are seeking to call WH Chief of Staff Susie Wiles & former Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro as witnesses at Rivera's trial set next month on foreign-agent/lobbying charges. Docs: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
RiveraMaduro020526
www.documentcloud.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Lawyers for former Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) are seeking to call WH Chief of Staff Susie Wiles & former Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro as witnesses at Rivera's trial set next month on foreign-agent/lobbying charges. Docs: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
This vector of attack worries me a lot more than the wandering ICE goons on Election Day.
Here's @rickhasen.bsky.social detailing the scenario in which Trump uses search warrant to seize ballot boxes in a contested 2026 locale. This is more worrisome than ICE at the polls. Hasen also suggests ways to act against this now.
It's harrowing stuff:
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
It's harrowing stuff:
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
February 6, 2026 at 8:54 PM
This vector of attack worries me a lot more than the wandering ICE goons on Election Day.
Reposted by Cathy Gellis
“I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.” www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Border Patrol agent's texts after he shot a Chicago woman five times will be released, judge rules
The government dropped its case against Marimar Martinez but her lawyers say it has refused to correct the record after calling her a “domestic terrorist.”
www.nbcnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:52 PM
“I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.” www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...