Hannah Walser
@hkpmw.bsky.social
Thinking about people thinking about other people. First Amendment, interpretive methodologies, criminal law, law & philosophy. PhD (English) —> JD —> Furman Fellowship at NYU Law. Philly homer; mayor of the quiet car. she/her. hwalser.wordpress.com
Pinned
Hannah Walser
@hkpmw.bsky.social
· Apr 4
“Interpretive Facts: Textualism, Empiricism, and the Law-Fact Divide” is now available on SSRN! The article will be published next spring/summer, so I have lots of time to incorporate suggestions. 😊
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
This whole business about how Venezuela “stole our oil” (???!?!?!) is going to read as absolute gibberish to normal people
The problem with skipping the whole “manufacturing consent” part it was that without even a vague sense of what this is about, the little spike in support will disappear in about 48 hours. By the middle of the week people will just assume it’s over and get mad if it isn’t.
January 4, 2026 at 4:24 AM
This whole business about how Venezuela “stole our oil” (???!?!?!) is going to read as absolute gibberish to normal people
Reposted by Hannah Walser
The same is true for constitutional law.
It’s critical—quite literally for purposes of future constitutional meaning—that politicians say and be *seen* to be saying that Trump’s actions are illegal + unconstitutional. And ideally that they take formal institutional action grounded in that view.
It’s critical—quite literally for purposes of future constitutional meaning—that politicians say and be *seen* to be saying that Trump’s actions are illegal + unconstitutional. And ideally that they take formal institutional action grounded in that view.
For nonlawyers, it’s worth noting that statements like this have—as a formal matter—important legal effects as a matter of international law. If such statements are *not* made, and in volume, future arguments that Trump’s invasion sets a legal precedent will stand on much firmer legal ground.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide: "International law is universal and binding for all states. The American intervention in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law."
January 3, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The same is true for constitutional law.
It’s critical—quite literally for purposes of future constitutional meaning—that politicians say and be *seen* to be saying that Trump’s actions are illegal + unconstitutional. And ideally that they take formal institutional action grounded in that view.
It’s critical—quite literally for purposes of future constitutional meaning—that politicians say and be *seen* to be saying that Trump’s actions are illegal + unconstitutional. And ideally that they take formal institutional action grounded in that view.
Reposted by Hannah Walser
For nonlawyers, it’s worth noting that statements like this have—as a formal matter—important legal effects as a matter of international law. If such statements are *not* made, and in volume, future arguments that Trump’s invasion sets a legal precedent will stand on much firmer legal ground.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide: "International law is universal and binding for all states. The American intervention in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law."
January 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
For nonlawyers, it’s worth noting that statements like this have—as a formal matter—important legal effects as a matter of international law. If such statements are *not* made, and in volume, future arguments that Trump’s invasion sets a legal precedent will stand on much firmer legal ground.
Usually, when the sleepy and confused president holds a muddled press conference describing his wishes as achieved facts, it’s not too hard for his lackeys to make them come true: slap his name on a building, issue a performative executive order, hike a tariff or two. This one will be tougher.
We’re in the Make-a-Wish stage of Trump’s presidency and he has asked to do an Iraq
January 3, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Usually, when the sleepy and confused president holds a muddled press conference describing his wishes as achieved facts, it’s not too hard for his lackeys to make them come true: slap his name on a building, issue a performative executive order, hike a tariff or two. This one will be tougher.
We’re in the Make-a-Wish stage of Trump’s presidency and he has asked to do an Iraq
January 3, 2026 at 5:37 PM
We’re in the Make-a-Wish stage of Trump’s presidency and he has asked to do an Iraq
Reposted by Hannah Walser
Candid answer - as someone who handled constituent affairs calls for years - while they’re not checking the phone right now, the urgency of the moment is important.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Is there actually a benefit to leaving a VM now vs getting a staffer on Monday? Can do both but just curious
January 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Candid answer - as someone who handled constituent affairs calls for years - while they’re not checking the phone right now, the urgency of the moment is important.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Reposted by Hannah Walser
Rubio says Maduro has been arrested on criminal charges. What is he being charged with? Who issued the arrest warrant that “US law enforcement“ was ostensibly executing?
January 3, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Rubio says Maduro has been arrested on criminal charges. What is he being charged with? Who issued the arrest warrant that “US law enforcement“ was ostensibly executing?
Starting a watercolor diary of 2026. Let’s see how long I can keep it going
January 2, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Starting a watercolor diary of 2026. Let’s see how long I can keep it going
“I don’t know anything anymore”
“That sounds very hopeful, Red. That sounds just fine”
“That sounds very hopeful, Red. That sounds just fine”
(This is Cary Grant in his Socratic mode, per Cavell)
January 1, 2026 at 5:40 AM
“I don’t know anything anymore”
“That sounds very hopeful, Red. That sounds just fine”
“That sounds very hopeful, Red. That sounds just fine”
Dinah (the little sister): “it wasn't any dream!”
Cary Grant: “are you sure? It’s hard to tell once you’ve fallen asleep”
Cary Grant: “are you sure? It’s hard to tell once you’ve fallen asleep”
Incidentally, Stanley Cavell’s take on The Philadelphia Story is brilliant and everybody should read it
“For instance, she never had any understanding of my deep and gorgeous thirst”
January 1, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Dinah (the little sister): “it wasn't any dream!”
Cary Grant: “are you sure? It’s hard to tell once you’ve fallen asleep”
Cary Grant: “are you sure? It’s hard to tell once you’ve fallen asleep”
Reposted by Hannah Walser
“The prettiest sight in this whole pretty world is the privileged class enjoying its privileges”
Happy new year! 🥂
Happy new year! 🥂
January 1, 2026 at 5:08 AM
“The prettiest sight in this whole pretty world is the privileged class enjoying its privileges”
Happy new year! 🥂
Happy new year! 🥂
JS: “Champagne is a great leveleler. It makes you my equal”
CG: “Well, I wouldn’t quite say that”
CG: “Well, I wouldn’t quite say that”
Tipsy Jimmy Stewart is, as the Main Line Lords would say, teddibly charming
January 1, 2026 at 4:44 AM
JS: “Champagne is a great leveleler. It makes you my equal”
CG: “Well, I wouldn’t quite say that”
CG: “Well, I wouldn’t quite say that”
Incidentally, Stanley Cavell’s take on The Philadelphia Story is brilliant and everybody should read it
“For instance, she never had any understanding of my deep and gorgeous thirst”
January 1, 2026 at 4:25 AM
Incidentally, Stanley Cavell’s take on The Philadelphia Story is brilliant and everybody should read it
Poor Miss Embry (the lady photographer). I admire her dignity
Jimmy Stewart’s banter with the lady photographer is devastatingly good
January 1, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Poor Miss Embry (the lady photographer). I admire her dignity
Watching the greatest movie of the 20th century, The Philadelphia Story
January 1, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Watching the greatest movie of the 20th century, The Philadelphia Story
Oh dear
January 1, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Oh dear
Poppy: a limited series
December 31, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Poppy: a limited series
Reposted by Hannah Walser
Barnes & Noble is running a preorder sale for members! Snag MIDDLEMEN (my most anticipated book of 2026!) for 25% off with code PREORDER25.
Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction|Hardcover
A revealing account of how agents have shaped book publishing and the literary canon from the 1950s to todayMiddlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but le...
www.barnesandnoble.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Barnes & Noble is running a preorder sale for members! Snag MIDDLEMEN (my most anticipated book of 2026!) for 25% off with code PREORDER25.
Decision fatigue turns out to be surprisingly literal
a cat is laying on a bed with its head on its paws and looking at the camera .
Alt: GIF of a cat falling asleep so that its head flops forward dramatically
media.tenor.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Decision fatigue turns out to be surprisingly literal
Reposted by Hannah Walser
Jazz did a lot of heavy lifting for my sanity in 2025, and for whatever reason (coincidence? not?) it was a really good year for new jazz releases. I wanted to do a little thread about my favorite albums, and give a top five.
December 30, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Jazz did a lot of heavy lifting for my sanity in 2025, and for whatever reason (coincidence? not?) it was a really good year for new jazz releases. I wanted to do a little thread about my favorite albums, and give a top five.
A super fun question! My list would include (in no particular order)
Lydia Davis
Thomas Pynchon
Rachel Cusk
Cixin Liu
Anne Carson
César Aira
Pierre Michon
And based on the past year, I think Katie Kitamura has joined the list
Lydia Davis
Thomas Pynchon
Rachel Cusk
Cixin Liu
Anne Carson
César Aira
Pierre Michon
And based on the past year, I think Katie Kitamura has joined the list
Who are your auto-buy/immediate read authors?
Mine:
Kazuo Ishiguro
Patrick DeWitt
Tana French
Jane Harper
Talia Hibbs
Olivia Dade
Sarah Gailey
Victor LaValle
Kat Leyh
Tillie Walden
Donna Tartt
X Fang
Jon Klassen
Emily Henry
Sarah MacLean
Tananarive Due
Lev Grossman
Mine:
Kazuo Ishiguro
Patrick DeWitt
Tana French
Jane Harper
Talia Hibbs
Olivia Dade
Sarah Gailey
Victor LaValle
Kat Leyh
Tillie Walden
Donna Tartt
X Fang
Jon Klassen
Emily Henry
Sarah MacLean
Tananarive Due
Lev Grossman
December 29, 2025 at 4:01 AM
A super fun question! My list would include (in no particular order)
Lydia Davis
Thomas Pynchon
Rachel Cusk
Cixin Liu
Anne Carson
César Aira
Pierre Michon
And based on the past year, I think Katie Kitamura has joined the list
Lydia Davis
Thomas Pynchon
Rachel Cusk
Cixin Liu
Anne Carson
César Aira
Pierre Michon
And based on the past year, I think Katie Kitamura has joined the list
Cranky subtweet deleted. 😇 Getting an early start on my 2026 resolution to be a little nicer online and a little meaner in person
December 29, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Cranky subtweet deleted. 😇 Getting an early start on my 2026 resolution to be a little nicer online and a little meaner in person
Reposted by Hannah Walser
"With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society." A must-read from @radleybalko.bsky.social , even if you've been following Trump's use of immigration enforcement to terrorize communities. newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Trump’s Immigration Nightmare: It Is Happening Here
With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society. And the experts agree: It’s all going to get much, much worse.
newrepublic.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:39 AM
"With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society." A must-read from @radleybalko.bsky.social , even if you've been following Trump's use of immigration enforcement to terrorize communities. newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Reposted by Hannah Walser
Did you know that “felon” was a character in literature before it was a term of the law? In this essay I talk about its medieval origins and how felons (to this day) are storybook villains to us, not a person who committed a crime.
Felon and Villain: The Literary Life of Felony (Elise Wang) - Modern Criminal Law Review
➡︎ download | save | print➡︎ read the rest of this Modern Criminal Law Review Special Issue Felon and Villain: The Literary Life of Felony Elise Wang* I. Introduction Since its beginnings in thirteent...
crimlrev.net
December 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Did you know that “felon” was a character in literature before it was a term of the law? In this essay I talk about its medieval origins and how felons (to this day) are storybook villains to us, not a person who committed a crime.