Jim Saksa
@jimsaksa.com
Reporter at Democracy Docket. Formerly: Roll Call, WHYY, Philly City Paper, Big Law attorney. DC is my residence but Philly is my home.
Signal: https://signal.me/#eu/mIicLoRfHtXzNhg1AFxApfhAIErtSNegujNmob8e3mtnivM_XjJEQIQJ3JPuH6WB
Signal: https://signal.me/#eu/mIicLoRfHtXzNhg1AFxApfhAIErtSNegujNmob8e3mtnivM_XjJEQIQJ3JPuH6WB
Reposted by Jim Saksa
COUNTERPOINT RADIO airs Mondays 8-9:30 pm ET wpkn.org 89.5FM Bgpt #CT: Journalist @jimsaksa.com on warning signs that Trump is planning disruption and/or manipulation of #2026MidtermElection; @parkermolloy.com on #RFKJr's effort to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth nationwide.
December 29, 2025 at 9:35 PM
COUNTERPOINT RADIO airs Mondays 8-9:30 pm ET wpkn.org 89.5FM Bgpt #CT: Journalist @jimsaksa.com on warning signs that Trump is planning disruption and/or manipulation of #2026MidtermElection; @parkermolloy.com on #RFKJr's effort to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth nationwide.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Somehow we’ve ended up in a position where the richest most powerful people in the world are innocent benevolent bystanders while a college professor with no tenure is part of a decadent and corrupt establishment that controls everything
The perfect Yglesias post: declaring “billionaires are good, actually,” as if it was some bold, counterintuitive take.
December 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Somehow we’ve ended up in a position where the richest most powerful people in the world are innocent benevolent bystanders while a college professor with no tenure is part of a decadent and corrupt establishment that controls everything
Reposted by Jim Saksa
🚨BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi has all but confirmed the existence of the conspiracy probe, pulling back the curtain on the potential next stage in Trump’s campaign of retribution against anyone who has stood in his way. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
DOJ Organizing Vast Conspiracy Investigation Against Trump Enemies, Bondi Admits
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
🚨BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi has all but confirmed the existence of the conspiracy probe, pulling back the curtain on the potential next stage in Trump’s campaign of retribution against anyone who has stood in his way. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
December 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Keir Starmer was the model for centrists and popularists who insisted that moving right on issues, especially immigration, is how you win at politics.
Wonder if there will ever be any self-reflection here! Ah well nevertheless
Wonder if there will ever be any self-reflection here! Ah well nevertheless
December 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Keir Starmer was the model for centrists and popularists who insisted that moving right on issues, especially immigration, is how you win at politics.
Wonder if there will ever be any self-reflection here! Ah well nevertheless
Wonder if there will ever be any self-reflection here! Ah well nevertheless
Reposted by Jim Saksa
That good “writers should talk honestly about money” post inspired me to calculate how I made my income this year. I made more from writing than usual, but not enough! (I encourage others to do this and post the results!)
51% book
23% writing
11% teaching
8% speaking
7% consulting/brand work
51% book
23% writing
11% teaching
8% speaking
7% consulting/brand work
December 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
That good “writers should talk honestly about money” post inspired me to calculate how I made my income this year. I made more from writing than usual, but not enough! (I encourage others to do this and post the results!)
51% book
23% writing
11% teaching
8% speaking
7% consulting/brand work
51% book
23% writing
11% teaching
8% speaking
7% consulting/brand work
Reposted by Jim Saksa
something very important for Dems to realize is that the tech overlords are not people you can win back by promising a lighter touch and saying a few nice things
they’ve gotten a taste of mask-off fascism and they are not going back, they don’t want to play nice with the peons anymore
they’ve gotten a taste of mask-off fascism and they are not going back, they don’t want to play nice with the peons anymore
There’s a funny Politico story showing that the latest polling on AI shows 80-20 in favor of heavy regulations, an absolute slam dunk platform, but Dems are worried about not winning back mask-off tech CEO donors
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
December 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
something very important for Dems to realize is that the tech overlords are not people you can win back by promising a lighter touch and saying a few nice things
they’ve gotten a taste of mask-off fascism and they are not going back, they don’t want to play nice with the peons anymore
they’ve gotten a taste of mask-off fascism and they are not going back, they don’t want to play nice with the peons anymore
Good profile here of a long-shot candidate, but someone with the right message. Even if she loses, Dems in rural areas (perhaps not as GOP-leaning as the VA 6th) might have something to learn from this approach.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
She’s Written Bestsellers About Appalachian Struggles. She’s Running for Office. But Don’t Compare Her to JD Vance.
“Dopesick” author Beth Macy’s unlikely bid for Congress.
www.politico.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Good profile here of a long-shot candidate, but someone with the right message. Even if she loses, Dems in rural areas (perhaps not as GOP-leaning as the VA 6th) might have something to learn from this approach.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Good story. Just need all of Riley Gaines' followers to sit down to read it...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
For young transgender runner, racing wasn’t the hardest thing
Verónica García overcame poverty to become a high school track champion — twice. It made her famous for all the wrong reasons.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Good story. Just need all of Riley Gaines' followers to sit down to read it...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Reposted by Jim Saksa
NEW: What will be your New Year’s resolutions? Everyone, including SCOTUS’ conservative majority, faces this burdensome question every year.
For the justices, we suggest they adopt humility, as their 2026 docket holds cases consequential for democracy.
✍️ @jimsaksa.com
For the justices, we suggest they adopt humility, as their 2026 docket holds cases consequential for democracy.
✍️ @jimsaksa.com
Supremacy Claus — Democracy Docket’s List of (Mostly Naughty) Supreme Court Cases Coming in 2026
Read more here.
bit.ly
December 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
NEW: What will be your New Year’s resolutions? Everyone, including SCOTUS’ conservative majority, faces this burdensome question every year.
For the justices, we suggest they adopt humility, as their 2026 docket holds cases consequential for democracy.
✍️ @jimsaksa.com
For the justices, we suggest they adopt humility, as their 2026 docket holds cases consequential for democracy.
✍️ @jimsaksa.com
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Since we’re on the topic of asking people for comment …
In 2021, Bari Weiss famously published a resignation letter by former Smith College librarian Jodi Shaw.
Shortly after, I asked Smith if Weiss had reached out for comment first.
“She did not,” spokesperson Stacey Schmeidel said via email.
Weiss’ agents declined my requests for comment.
Shortly after, I asked Smith if Weiss had reached out for comment first.
“She did not,” spokesperson Stacey Schmeidel said via email.
Weiss’ agents declined my requests for comment.
December 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Since we’re on the topic of asking people for comment …
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Yeah, people, come on. Blame the people ordering them to walk around in DC, not the Guard troopers themselves.
The replies to this make me lose faith in humanity.
They’re making the best out of a situation that they don’t really want to be a part of…
But no…the candy is clearly “poisoned” like one of the other idiots commenting said…
They’re making the best out of a situation that they don’t really want to be a part of…
But no…the candy is clearly “poisoned” like one of the other idiots commenting said…
December 24, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Yeah, people, come on. Blame the people ordering them to walk around in DC, not the Guard troopers themselves.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
I was downtown earlier and they were handing out candy to random passersby.
National Guard wearing Santa hats while patrolling in DC.
December 24, 2025 at 4:20 AM
I was downtown earlier and they were handing out candy to random passersby.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Sometimes, people, criticism isn’t a sign that you’re a brave truth-teller, standing strong in the face of condemnation from the backwards masses who will SOMEDAY see how right you are.
Sometimes it just means your take is wrong. Super, super wrong.
Sometimes it just means your take is wrong. Super, super wrong.
December 24, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Sometimes, people, criticism isn’t a sign that you’re a brave truth-teller, standing strong in the face of condemnation from the backwards masses who will SOMEDAY see how right you are.
Sometimes it just means your take is wrong. Super, super wrong.
Sometimes it just means your take is wrong. Super, super wrong.
Somin is wrong about a lot, imo, but not on this.
December 24, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Somin is wrong about a lot, imo, but not on this.
I cannot repost this enough. If you’re a TV journo and NOT doing a story about massive declines in crime, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 24, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I cannot repost this enough. If you’re a TV journo and NOT doing a story about massive declines in crime, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM
Reposted by Jim Saksa
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
In 2023 I became obsessed with videos of dads in cargo shortswaiting in parking lots during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. So when she came to town, I grabbed a camera and headed down to talk to them. I thought it'd be funny. It turned out to be something else entirely.
December 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM
In 2023 I became obsessed with videos of dads in cargo shortswaiting in parking lots during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. So when she came to town, I grabbed a camera and headed down to talk to them. I thought it'd be funny. It turned out to be something else entirely.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Oh yeah, that footnote is entirely unnecessary to the case in hand otherwise. Definitely agree with Lee‘s read.
Check out the Kavanaugh FN 4; I think it's pretty clear that the Kavanaugh Stop thing has gotten to him:
December 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Oh yeah, that footnote is entirely unnecessary to the case in hand otherwise. Definitely agree with Lee‘s read.
Reposted by Jim Saksa
In other words, every opinion on both sides of the ledger in this order gives Trump the presumption of regularity he does not deserve.
Every opinion makes good points about a president’s legal authority to call up the Nat’l Guard and the procedural concerns of resolving it on the shadow docket.
But they all ignore what the district judges knew these cases are really about: Trump’s bad faith invasion of our cities based on lies.
But they all ignore what the district judges knew these cases are really about: Trump’s bad faith invasion of our cities based on lies.
In which Judge Perry all but calls the Trump admin lying fascists:
December 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM
In other words, every opinion on both sides of the ledger in this order gives Trump the presumption of regularity he does not deserve.
Big win for @martylederman.bsky.social and everyone else who doesn’t like living in state of quasi-martial law
BREAKING: The Supreme Court upholds a lower court block on Trump’s attempt to send the National Guard to Chicago, ruling the president unlawfully used an archaic statute to federalize hundreds of state troops.
Supreme Court Upholds Block to Trump’s Chicago Military Takeover
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Big win for @martylederman.bsky.social and everyone else who doesn’t like living in state of quasi-martial law
Reposted by Jim Saksa
Again: As noted in my next skeet, The Free Law Project (which is also home to RECAP, Courtlistener, etc.) is one of a handful of tech nonprofits that have low-key become super important *in general* over the years, and perhaps especially this year.
Y’all know we have a tool for finding exactly these kinds of bad redactions, right? free.law/open-source-...
December 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Again: As noted in my next skeet, The Free Law Project (which is also home to RECAP, Courtlistener, etc.) is one of a handful of tech nonprofits that have low-key become super important *in general* over the years, and perhaps especially this year.