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...
Who has the text of the ruling or transcript? I’m very interested in this one.
1. DHS surges 3,000 officers to Minneapolis without doing anywhere near enough prep first.
2. Hundreds of habeas cases overwhelm local courts.
3. Dozens of DOJ lawyers quit in disgust/anger.
4. The DOJ brings in JAGs to cover.
5. A JAG was just held in contempt and fined $500/day for ICE's failures.
2. Hundreds of habeas cases overwhelm local courts.
3. Dozens of DOJ lawyers quit in disgust/anger.
4. The DOJ brings in JAGs to cover.
5. A JAG was just held in contempt and fined $500/day for ICE's failures.
February 18, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Who has the text of the ruling or transcript? I’m very interested in this one.
I would like to propose an Olympic rule change: each Olympic venue must have at least one cute dog causing chaos and cuteness and a cat who supervises the medal ceremonies.
February 18, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I would like to propose an Olympic rule change: each Olympic venue must have at least one cute dog causing chaos and cuteness and a cat who supervises the medal ceremonies.
I’m curious if the lawyers would have been in-house with CBS or from one of the big firms that signed deals with Trump. Any American lawyers familiar with CBS’ usual approach to legal matters? I assume it’s an in-house team who would advise on this.
If you have been following the clumsy — no, pathetic — attempt by CBS lawyers to collaborate with the FCC in reviving the pointless "equal time" rule, using Stephen Colbert and his show as their playground... then watch him explain it from his POV.
Fascinating. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQIl...
Fascinating. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQIl...
Why Everyone's Talking About Stephen Colbert, CBS, The FCC And James Talarico
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I’m curious if the lawyers would have been in-house with CBS or from one of the big firms that signed deals with Trump. Any American lawyers familiar with CBS’ usual approach to legal matters? I assume it’s an in-house team who would advise on this.
As a former competitive figure skater who quit around the age of 15, I cannot overstate how incredible this comeback is. Figure skating at an elite level is not like riding a bike. It is also very hard on the aging body.
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
Alysa Liu quit figure skating after years of chasing success. The freedom she found brought her back to the Olympics | CNN
As they hiked the Himalayas in 2023, Alysa Liu and her best friend – Shay Newton – found themselves in a deep, existential argument.
www.cnn.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:14 PM
As a former competitive figure skater who quit around the age of 15, I cannot overstate how incredible this comeback is. Figure skating at an elite level is not like riding a bike. It is also very hard on the aging body.
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/s...
Good doggo.
February 18, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Good doggo.
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.