Hank Lacey
@hlacey.bsky.social
Journalist, retired lawyer, dad, baseball fan. From Colorado. I don't argue online.
Pinned
Hank Lacey
@hlacey.bsky.social
· Dec 14
"If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.” - Whitney v. California, 274 U. S. 357 (1927) (Brandeis, J.) #freedomofspeech #freespeech #civilliberties
If thousands, or even millions, of American children died because Trump and RFK Jr. abandon vaccines, Democrats in Congress would whine and talk but still do nothing. And Republicans in Congress would whine and talk but still do nothing. Congress is weak, lazy, entitled, and useless.
January 6, 2026 at 6:34 PM
If thousands, or even millions, of American children died because Trump and RFK Jr. abandon vaccines, Democrats in Congress would whine and talk but still do nothing. And Republicans in Congress would whine and talk but still do nothing. Congress is weak, lazy, entitled, and useless.
I am reasonably sure the First Amendment has something to say about this pronouncement by Interior . . .
Department of Interior says if you put a sticker over Trump's face on your national park entrance pass, the pass will be invalidated.
Meanwhile Trump's decision to put his face on the passes is being challenged in court
Meanwhile Trump's decision to put his face on the passes is being challenged in court
DOI cracks down on stickers covering Trump's face on national park passes
Park passes with protest stickers are facing new scrutiny.
www.sfgate.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:27 PM
I am reasonably sure the First Amendment has something to say about this pronouncement by Interior . . .
This decision is foolish. And destructive. Congress needs to do something about it. Very soon.
The Trump administration is getting ready to close NASA's largest research library, at GSFC. The library holds tens of thousands of books and documents, many of them unique, not digitized or available elsewhere. Some will be warehoused, the rest destroyed.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/c...
NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:28 PM
This decision is foolish. And destructive. Congress needs to do something about it. Very soon.
This is intended to disenfranchise voters in states that allow mail-in ballots.
As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.
USPS Announces Changes to the Postmark Date System
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has adopted a final rule (FR Doc.
share.google
December 30, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This is intended to disenfranchise voters in states that allow mail-in ballots.
Sometimes I think there are people who confuse the question whether the use of a technology is less than ideal with the question whether the technology is less than ideal.
December 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Sometimes I think there are people who confuse the question whether the use of a technology is less than ideal with the question whether the technology is less than ideal.
I continue to be amused by the people who have no idea how to use an AI chatbot. You cannot ask an open question and expect to get a very good answer. You must bound the question with the conditions you want the chatbot to meet, like what information base to examine. It's not a search engine.
December 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I continue to be amused by the people who have no idea how to use an AI chatbot. You cannot ask an open question and expect to get a very good answer. You must bound the question with the conditions you want the chatbot to meet, like what information base to examine. It's not a search engine.
@snipy.bsky.social has this exactly right. open.substack.com/pub/aaronrup...
The worst chief justice of all time
Move over, Roger Taney and Melville Fuller.
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:12 AM
@snipy.bsky.social has this exactly right. open.substack.com/pub/aaronrup...
The removal power cases at SCOTUS pose a much bigger threat than simply giving Trump the power to fire independent agency leaders. lawofthewest.substack.com/p/why-trumps...
COMMENTARY: Why Trump’s Removal Power Cases Threaten Congress, the Economy, and the Rule of Law
New removal power cases invite the Supreme Court to weaken independent agencies, sideline Congress, and destabilize public protections.
lawofthewest.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:52 AM
The removal power cases at SCOTUS pose a much bigger threat than simply giving Trump the power to fire independent agency leaders. lawofthewest.substack.com/p/why-trumps...
The Department of Justice is still withholding hundreds of thousands of pages of the Epstein files. They've released the pages that mention Clinton, but not those that mention Trump. Trump and Bondi have violated the law. Impeach.
December 20, 2025 at 1:47 AM
The Department of Justice is still withholding hundreds of thousands of pages of the Epstein files. They've released the pages that mention Clinton, but not those that mention Trump. Trump and Bondi have violated the law. Impeach.
I hope Cheney starts her campaign tomorrow now that Senator Lummis is bailing on Wyoming after one term.
December 20, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I hope Cheney starts her campaign tomorrow now that Senator Lummis is bailing on Wyoming after one term.
Meanwhile Jared Polis has done nothing meaningful to position Colorado to deal with the corruption of CDC, NIH, FDA, and HHS. Like he's done nothing meaningful about much of anything else, either.
December 19, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Meanwhile Jared Polis has done nothing meaningful to position Colorado to deal with the corruption of CDC, NIH, FDA, and HHS. Like he's done nothing meaningful about much of anything else, either.
@ncar-ucar.bsky.social is integral to this state's economy. And it is a pillar of CU-Boulder's research programs and ability to draw and retain students. Bennet and Hickenlooper must protect it, even if that means total obstruction of all Trump nominees and any and all regime priorities.
"A Democratic senator involved in the negotiations...said that Trump’s attempt to break up a premier weather and climate center based in Boulder, Colo., was like a “stick of dynamite” that exploded any chance of a bipartisan breakthrough on spending."
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Trump move to dismantle climate agency blows up Senate funding deal
A potential deal to fund large swaths of the federal government, including the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, collapsed on Thursday night after Colorado senators demanded tha…
thehill.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:35 AM
@ncar-ucar.bsky.social is integral to this state's economy. And it is a pillar of CU-Boulder's research programs and ability to draw and retain students. Bennet and Hickenlooper must protect it, even if that means total obstruction of all Trump nominees and any and all regime priorities.
Thomas Garrett, whose life is recalled by a Delaware statue, was convicted of helping two slaves escape their bondage. We do not remember the jurors that convicted him. The presiding judge was the odious Roger Taney. He is remembered only for his infamy and racism.
December 19, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Thomas Garrett, whose life is recalled by a Delaware statue, was convicted of helping two slaves escape their bondage. We do not remember the jurors that convicted him. The presiding judge was the odious Roger Taney. He is remembered only for his infamy and racism.
Judge Dugan is convicted of a felony: obstructing an ICE agent. I hope she appeals and that the Seventh Circuit tosses this conviction. It does not appear to me that the feds came close to proving their case.
December 19, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Judge Dugan is convicted of a felony: obstructing an ICE agent. I hope she appeals and that the Seventh Circuit tosses this conviction. It does not appear to me that the feds came close to proving their case.
The First Amendment prevents government from using such information against anyone. Not that the theocrats care much. But I'd like to see how any reasonable federal judge would respond to an effort by legislators or other officials not associated with the library to find out who checks out books.
Officials in Tennessee aren't just banning books, they're now demanding information on who checked out contested (largely LGBTQ+) books, including names, addresses, and "household composition."
A librarian who was given the directive has come forward asking for whistleblower protections.
A librarian who was given the directive has come forward asking for whistleblower protections.
Tennessee whistleblower says library board chair sought private data as part of state's book purge
A First Amendment expert told The Advocate that there are "huge" legal implications stemming from the situation.
www.advocate.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:23 AM
The First Amendment prevents government from using such information against anyone. Not that the theocrats care much. But I'd like to see how any reasonable federal judge would respond to an effort by legislators or other officials not associated with the library to find out who checks out books.
Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper should put a hold on all Trump administration nominees, block consideration of all administration legislative priorities, AND prevent all funding for White House staff salaries and benefits until @ncar-ucar.bsky.social funding is locked down and committed.
December 19, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper should put a hold on all Trump administration nominees, block consideration of all administration legislative priorities, AND prevent all funding for White House staff salaries and benefits until @ncar-ucar.bsky.social funding is locked down and committed.
Is there a single Democratic politician in America who is smart enough to make some simple promises of things she or he would do if elected president, like make sure Trump's name isn't on the performing arts center that honors the slain President Kennedy? Or are they all still sleeping?
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Is there a single Democratic politician in America who is smart enough to make some simple promises of things she or he would do if elected president, like make sure Trump's name isn't on the performing arts center that honors the slain President Kennedy? Or are they all still sleeping?
Donald Trump is a Nazi. You don't believe it? Listen to the words he spoke tonight about immigrants. They mirror the rhetoric of Hitler and his cronies when they scapegoated the Jewish people of Germany.
December 18, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Donald Trump is a Nazi. You don't believe it? Listen to the words he spoke tonight about immigrants. They mirror the rhetoric of Hitler and his cronies when they scapegoated the Jewish people of Germany.
Gregory Bovino reminds me of Reinhard Heydrich.
December 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Gregory Bovino reminds me of Reinhard Heydrich.
If Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper do not bring the Senate to a complete halt over this, blocking every Trump nominee, then they should think about quitting.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 6:05 AM
If Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper do not bring the Senate to a complete halt over this, blocking every Trump nominee, then they should think about quitting.
Should billionaires be illegal?
"According to the…annual Harris Poll, for the 1st time, a majority of Americans believe billionaires are a threat to democracy. A remarkable 71% believe there should be a wealth tax. A majority believe there should be a cap on how much wealth a person can accumulate." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/o...
Opinion | The Billionaires Have Gone Full Louis XV
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Should billionaires be illegal?
If you want my vote, you must advocate for the abolition of ICE and the prosecution of every ICE administrator and agent who has violated the human rights of, and abused, any immigrant and, yes, any American citizen.
December 15, 2025 at 12:45 AM
If you want my vote, you must advocate for the abolition of ICE and the prosecution of every ICE administrator and agent who has violated the human rights of, and abused, any immigrant and, yes, any American citizen.
Nate Silver is an idiot. That's been obvious for quite some time now.
December 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Nate Silver is an idiot. That's been obvious for quite some time now.
A federal appeals court upheld Friday a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that strips Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding. Read about it at Law of the West. open.substack.com/pub/lawofthe...
Federal Appeals Court Allows New Law Cutting Planned Parenthood Medicaid Funding to Take Effect
First Circuit lifts Massachusetts injunctions, rejects bill of attainder and First Amendment challenges.
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:07 AM
A federal appeals court upheld Friday a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that strips Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding. Read about it at Law of the West. open.substack.com/pub/lawofthe...
Question: When did it become unacceptable to believe that people who commit felonies should be imprisoned upon conviction?
December 13, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Question: When did it become unacceptable to believe that people who commit felonies should be imprisoned upon conviction?