Erin Durant
@erindurant42.bsky.social
Founder of Durant Barristers. I like sports, birds and photography. Currently lawyering rarely and healing full time.
Pinned
The Destruction of a Democracy - Part I
What does the past tell us about the state of America's democracy?
open.substack.com
I wrote a long thing. This is only part I. Part II will be next week. Please share.
open.substack.com/pub/durantba...
open.substack.com/pub/durantba...
Reposted by Erin Durant
The horror stories rolling in from Minnesota are just the tip of the iceberg. This 20-year-old, who's lawfully present in the country, was arrested for being Latino, then jailed in a filthy cell where he couldn't even sit down. 18 days of illegal detention. democracyforward.org/wp-content/u...
February 17, 2026 at 8:06 PM
The horror stories rolling in from Minnesota are just the tip of the iceberg. This 20-year-old, who's lawfully present in the country, was arrested for being Latino, then jailed in a filthy cell where he couldn't even sit down. 18 days of illegal detention. democracyforward.org/wp-content/u...
I’m disappointed in 38% of people.
It’s affirming that the good people of the United States have so clearly rejected Trump’s terror campaign and mass deportation. New data from Reuters:
February 18, 2026 at 1:13 AM
I’m disappointed in 38% of people.
Just throwing it out there. If there is a law school who would pay me $100,000/year to teach one 2-credit course, I wouldn’t say no.
This is performance art: Leveraging your job as state AG to get a publicly funded state university to pay you an extra $100,000/year to teach a 2-credit class called "Executive Power." Indeed.
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
February 18, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Just throwing it out there. If there is a law school who would pay me $100,000/year to teach one 2-credit course, I wouldn’t say no.
Same. I I wasn’t paid 1/10th of this. Maybe 1/20th.
As an adjunct, I would like to report I am not paid $100,000.
February 17, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Same. I I wasn’t paid 1/10th of this. Maybe 1/20th.
America will not quickly bounce back from their new authoritarian ways. This article has several examples of the US federal government openly violating rights contained in the US constitution - as official government policy.
Incredible story that is worth your time to read. It exposes the ways in which the Trump admin is turning the legal immigration system into yet another arm of the mass deportation machine, transforming a benefits agency into a trap for those seeking legal status.
February 17, 2026 at 11:36 PM
America will not quickly bounce back from their new authoritarian ways. This article has several examples of the US federal government openly violating rights contained in the US constitution - as official government policy.
As someone who benefited significantly from OSAP by assisting me get through two degrees, this comment really pisses me off. I could not have afforded university without it. Even with OSAP, it was a big struggle that took a decade to pay off.
“You’re picking basket-weaving courses, and there’s not too many baskets being sold out there.” The hell?? www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Ford tells students to not pick 'basket-weaving courses' in wake of OSAP cuts | CBC News
Premier Doug Ford had choice words for students expressing concerns over cuts to OSAP grants Tuesday, telling them to "not pick basket-weaving courses" and to invest in education that gives students i...
www.cbc.ca
February 17, 2026 at 10:44 PM
As someone who benefited significantly from OSAP by assisting me get through two degrees, this comment really pisses me off. I could not have afforded university without it. Even with OSAP, it was a big struggle that took a decade to pay off.
These articles constantly underplay just how angry Canadians are and that it is directly attributable to President Donald Trump. We will not be back until there is a full throated rejection of Trump’s authoritarianism.
Niagara-Buffalo-Northwest NY State and tourism impacts of the Trump trade / deportation war
buffalonews.com/news/local/b...
buffalonews.com/news/local/b...
Prospectus: WNY Tourism sites are feeling the absence of Canadians
Over the past year, visitation to Western New York from Canada has dropped 25%. That's a problem for the region's tourist sites, as well as the retailers and restaurants around them.
buffalonews.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:33 PM
These articles constantly underplay just how angry Canadians are and that it is directly attributable to President Donald Trump. We will not be back until there is a full throated rejection of Trump’s authoritarianism.
Up to about 2.3 million now, which is roughly what Colbert gets nightly on TV. I imagine the clips will circulate for a while yet. Colbert played this perfectly.
Watched Colbert’s interview with Talarico. Worth your time. Up to 1.5 million views on YouTube.
February 17, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Up to about 2.3 million now, which is roughly what Colbert gets nightly on TV. I imagine the clips will circulate for a while yet. Colbert played this perfectly.
For Canadian lawyers trying to understand the FCC/CBS debacle, this is a great thread.
As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates.
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
February 17, 2026 at 8:29 PM
For Canadian lawyers trying to understand the FCC/CBS debacle, this is a great thread.
Sam the Bernese Mountain Dog-Giant Alaskan Malamute mix had his vet appointment today. I officially own a dog that weighs more than I do. He’s a 175 pound monster.
February 17, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Sam the Bernese Mountain Dog-Giant Alaskan Malamute mix had his vet appointment today. I officially own a dog that weighs more than I do. He’s a 175 pound monster.
I am starting a podcast. The first episode (and the only one planned at this point) is a plain language discussion of the rule of law. We will cover what is the rule of law, how it breaks down, and its status of in Canada. The discussion is inspired by events in the US.
February 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM
I am starting a podcast. The first episode (and the only one planned at this point) is a plain language discussion of the rule of law. We will cover what is the rule of law, how it breaks down, and its status of in Canada. The discussion is inspired by events in the US.
This segment was not permitted on The Late Show on TV last night. So they released it on YouTube. Streisand effect, do your thing and flip Texas!
youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A
youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A
Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislatu…
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
youtu.be
February 17, 2026 at 11:26 AM
This segment was not permitted on The Late Show on TV last night. So they released it on YouTube. Streisand effect, do your thing and flip Texas!
youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A
youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A
Reposted by Erin Durant
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
February 17, 2026 at 7:27 AM
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
Reposted by Erin Durant
“[James Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said.
Stephen Colbert blasted Brendan Carr after FCC scrutiny led CBS to pull an interview with Texas State Rep James Talarico. Instead, 'The Late Show' posted it to YouTube.
Colbert Says CBS Pulled Guest Over FCC Scrutiny; Posts Interview to YouTube Instead
Stephen Colbert blasted Brendan Carr after FCC scrutiny led CBS to pull an interview with Texas State Rep James Talarico. Instead, 'The Late Show' posted it to YouTube.
dlvr.it
February 17, 2026 at 6:10 AM
“[James Talarico] was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said.
Reposted by Erin Durant
We are the laughing stock of the world.
February 17, 2026 at 5:20 AM
We are the laughing stock of the world.
“The truth of the threat is simple to say but hard to accept. Under Trump’s leadership, the US administration has become a fascist, imperialist regime opposed to democracy and the rule of law, at home and abroad. And Canada sits squarely in its sights.”
In @thewalrus.ca, I argue it's time we talk about what the US administration really is, and what that means for Canada's survival. thewalrus.ca/canada-is-be...
February 16, 2026 at 11:45 PM
“The truth of the threat is simple to say but hard to accept. Under Trump’s leadership, the US administration has become a fascist, imperialist regime opposed to democracy and the rule of law, at home and abroad. And Canada sits squarely in its sights.”
Reposted by Erin Durant
So you're saying ICE is incompatible with the rule of law as practiced in this nation from the founding?
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Rep. Mark Alford: "If you tie a judicial warrant to what ICE is doing, it will never happen"
February 16, 2026 at 8:07 PM
So you're saying ICE is incompatible with the rule of law as practiced in this nation from the founding?
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
Think I see a pretty easy solution here, champ.
I’d also argue it’s not good for shareholder value to operate your company in an unpredictable dictatorship without the rule of law. A stable, predictable country with laws that are consistently applied is essential for investment.
America’s CEOs aren’t acting in the interest of shareholders by staying silent about democracy and the rule of law.
They’re acting out of fear.
They’re acting out of fear.
Role Models | No Mercy / No Malice
“Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they’ll never sit under.” There’s an inverse to that wisdom. Great societies decline when old men chop down forests meant to provide shade and...
www.profgalloway.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:27 PM
I’d also argue it’s not good for shareholder value to operate your company in an unpredictable dictatorship without the rule of law. A stable, predictable country with laws that are consistently applied is essential for investment.
Thank you @mark-carney.bsky.social.
Politico: The EU and a 12-nation Indo-Pacific bloc are opening talks to explore forming one of the largest global economic alliances, multiple people with knowledge of the talks told POLITICO. Canada's Mark Carney is spearheading the discussions.
February 16, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Thank you @mark-carney.bsky.social.
The pirate age.
U.S. military boards another oil tanker after tracking it from Caribbean -CBSNEWS
Team America World Police.
Team America World Police.
February 16, 2026 at 3:41 PM
The pirate age.
Tell me again how this isn’t a blatant violation of the oath of office.
February 15, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Tell me again how this isn’t a blatant violation of the oath of office.
We are looking for volunteer Senior Legal Editors/Researchers to help us expand the Government Lawyers Database.
Please check out the call for volunteers here:
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
Please check out the call for volunteers here:
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
GLOW - Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog hiring Senior Legal Editors/Researchers (volunteer position) in United States | LinkedIn
Posted 9:08:36 PM. Company DescriptionGLOW - Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog is dedicated to enhancing public…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:46 PM
This explains why there is such limited coverage of some of these very important court cases.
New Piece: Court Watch commissioned @rachelweiner.bsky.social , until quite recently a journalist at the Washington Post, to write about reporting on the fastest court district in America and what is lost when there are no assigned reporters left to cover it.
www.courtwatch.news/p/the-rabbit...
www.courtwatch.news/p/the-rabbit...
The Rabbit Hole: Covering the Courts from a Windowless Office
For more than a decade, Rachel Weiner, until quite recently a Washington Post journalist, chronicled the news involving the D.C. metropolitan area, which included stints at the Eastern District of Vir...
www.courtwatch.news
February 15, 2026 at 6:19 PM
This explains why there is such limited coverage of some of these very important court cases.
Reposted by Erin Durant
New Piece: Court Watch commissioned @rachelweiner.bsky.social , until quite recently a journalist at the Washington Post, to write about reporting on the fastest court district in America and what is lost when there are no assigned reporters left to cover it.
www.courtwatch.news/p/the-rabbit...
www.courtwatch.news/p/the-rabbit...
The Rabbit Hole: Covering the Courts from a Windowless Office
For more than a decade, Rachel Weiner, until quite recently a Washington Post journalist, chronicled the news involving the D.C. metropolitan area, which included stints at the Eastern District of Vir...
www.courtwatch.news
February 15, 2026 at 4:38 PM
New Piece: Court Watch commissioned @rachelweiner.bsky.social , until quite recently a journalist at the Washington Post, to write about reporting on the fastest court district in America and what is lost when there are no assigned reporters left to cover it.
www.courtwatch.news/p/the-rabbit...
www.courtwatch.news/p/the-rabbit...
This hockey game is great for country morale. 🇨🇦
February 15, 2026 at 5:29 PM
This hockey game is great for country morale. 🇨🇦