Matthew Stiegler
@matthewstiegler.bsky.social
Appellate lawyer, president of Third Circuit Bar Association, former prosecutor, fellow of American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Boring until fascism.
Views here: just mine.
Views here: just mine.
Pinned
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
We lose it all if we don’t unite in time.
Charles Sumner was a leading voice in Congress for abolishing slavery and Reconstruction.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from an ambitious historical biography written by a law student. It ended up being my favorite book I read in 2025.
www.powells.com/book/charles...
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from an ambitious historical biography written by a law student. It ended up being my favorite book I read in 2025.
www.powells.com/book/charles...
Charles Sumner Conscience of a Nation | Powell's Books
A landmark biography of Charles Sumner, the unsung hero of the American Civil War and Reconstruction Charles Sumner is mainly known as the statesman who barely survived a brutal caning on the Senate f...
www.powells.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Charles Sumner was a leading voice in Congress for abolishing slavery and Reconstruction.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from an ambitious historical biography written by a law student. It ended up being my favorite book I read in 2025.
www.powells.com/book/charles...
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from an ambitious historical biography written by a law student. It ended up being my favorite book I read in 2025.
www.powells.com/book/charles...
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
A really important piece. The times when we have opened our country to talented people from around the world are among the moments when America has been truly great. Trump is destroying that legacy and fomenting unconscionable racism.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
Opinion | One of America’s Most Successful Experiments Is Coming to a Shuddering Halt
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:37 PM
A really important piece. The times when we have opened our country to talented people from around the world are among the moments when America has been truly great. Trump is destroying that legacy and fomenting unconscionable racism.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
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.
One of the biggest stories most people aren’t paying enough attention to yet.
NEW:
One brought a gun home.
One moved.
Others improved home security.
Life as a federal judge in the age of Trump:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
One brought a gun home.
One moved.
Others improved home security.
Life as a federal judge in the age of Trump:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:45 PM
One of the biggest stories most people aren’t paying enough attention to yet.
I don’t read the split as moral or principled. I read it as simply disagreeing assessments about whether Trump will retain power indefinitely or not.
Which is still good news.
Which is still good news.
December 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I don’t read the split as moral or principled. I read it as simply disagreeing assessments about whether Trump will retain power indefinitely or not.
Which is still good news.
Which is still good news.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
1 - the exec branch can't decline to spend $ Congress appropriated
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
Sean Duffy on blue states: "What I can do is I can pull their money. That's the leverage I do have ... I guarantee you that the federal taxpayer is not going to fund their roads and bridges and their systems when they are putting illegals on the roads."
December 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
1 - the exec branch can't decline to spend $ Congress appropriated
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Just want to add: Being convicted of a crime in the U.S. wouldn’t justify sending someone to a foreign gulag to be tortured, and arguably violates separation of powers since the “sentence” they are legally bound to serve is one issued by a judge, not Stephen Miller (i.e. the factoid is irrelevant)
Bari Weiss lied in her memo. She said segment didn't report administration's legal justification (it does in the very first sentence) and didn't say how many detainees had been charged with crimes as opposed to just those who were convicted (it does). www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch-the-...
WATCH: The 60 Minutes CECOT Segment
I was sent the CECOT segment anonymously in a group chat.
www.muellershewrote.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Just want to add: Being convicted of a crime in the U.S. wouldn’t justify sending someone to a foreign gulag to be tortured, and arguably violates separation of powers since the “sentence” they are legally bound to serve is one issued by a judge, not Stephen Miller (i.e. the factoid is irrelevant)
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
“State constitutionalism makes it easy to consider Roberts Court jurisprudence white noise,” Hawaii Justice Todd Eddins wrote in a recent ruling that assailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority.
Hawaii Supreme Court Expands Rights of Defendants, and Once Again Rebukes SCOTUS
The justices ruled that Hawaii’s constitution requires police to record interrogations. And they vowed to protect due process for Hawaii residents—unlike, they said, the Roberts Court.
boltsmag.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“State constitutionalism makes it easy to consider Roberts Court jurisprudence white noise,” Hawaii Justice Todd Eddins wrote in a recent ruling that assailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority.
Equal Justice Under Trump
Presidents who attended Kennedy Ctr events since its opening in 1971 and did not dream of putting their names on it
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II
Obama
Biden
Very different people. None of them this vulgar.
Would have made more sense for DJT to put his name on the Supreme Court.
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II
Obama
Biden
Very different people. None of them this vulgar.
Would have made more sense for DJT to put his name on the Supreme Court.
December 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Equal Justice Under Trump
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Well put, Matt. Hard to overstate the courage it took to make this video.
Everyone should watch this video. Everyone.
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | The Judges Being Pizza Doxxed in My Dead Son’s Name
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Well put, Matt. Hard to overstate the courage it took to make this video.
If you’ve lost your capacity to be horrified by the systematic use of a judge’s murdered child to terrorize other judges, you’ve lost your humanity
Everyone should watch this video. Everyone.
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | The Judges Being Pizza Doxxed in My Dead Son’s Name
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
If you’ve lost your capacity to be horrified by the systematic use of a judge’s murdered child to terrorize other judges, you’ve lost your humanity
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
I've written a review of Rachel Maddow's new podcast #BurnOrder, about Japanese American incarceration in WWII.
This is its opening.
I'm pitching it to editors right now. Know someone you think would be interested? Please let me know!
#MSNow #Maddow #RachelMaddow #ExecutiveOrder9066 #internment
This is its opening.
I'm pitching it to editors right now. Know someone you think would be interested? Please let me know!
#MSNow #Maddow #RachelMaddow #ExecutiveOrder9066 #internment
December 18, 2025 at 3:32 AM
I've written a review of Rachel Maddow's new podcast #BurnOrder, about Japanese American incarceration in WWII.
This is its opening.
I'm pitching it to editors right now. Know someone you think would be interested? Please let me know!
#MSNow #Maddow #RachelMaddow #ExecutiveOrder9066 #internment
This is its opening.
I'm pitching it to editors right now. Know someone you think would be interested? Please let me know!
#MSNow #Maddow #RachelMaddow #ExecutiveOrder9066 #internment
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
This is extraordinary, heartbreaking, and a red alert warning sign for our democracy.
These people are about to be federal judges, and they refuse to answer whether the U.S. Capitol was attacked on January 6.
They say they can't comment because it's "a political controversy".
These people are about to be federal judges, and they refuse to answer whether the U.S. Capitol was attacked on January 6.
They say they can't comment because it's "a political controversy".
Sen. BLUMENTHAL: Was the U.S. Capitol attacked on January 6, 2021?
Trump nominee: *dodges*
Trump nominee: *dodges*
Trump nominee: Well, individuals entered the Capitol.
Blumenthal: You are in fear—how will you have the courage to be fair and impartial?
Trump nominee: *dodges*
Trump nominee: *dodges*
Trump nominee: Well, individuals entered the Capitol.
Blumenthal: You are in fear—how will you have the courage to be fair and impartial?
December 18, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This is extraordinary, heartbreaking, and a red alert warning sign for our democracy.
These people are about to be federal judges, and they refuse to answer whether the U.S. Capitol was attacked on January 6.
They say they can't comment because it's "a political controversy".
These people are about to be federal judges, and they refuse to answer whether the U.S. Capitol was attacked on January 6.
They say they can't comment because it's "a political controversy".
Everyone should watch this video. Everyone.
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | The Judges Being Pizza Doxxed in My Dead Son’s Name
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Everyone should watch this video. Everyone.
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Judge Salas is a person of extraordinary bravery, at a moment in our nation’s history when bravery is vital.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Polling: "Do you think the rich have too much political power in the U.S.?"
Yes: 80%
No: 8%
Independent voters are 81%/6% on this; even Trump voters are 68%/18%.
Maybe a political party could lead on this issue.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
Yes: 80%
No: 8%
Independent voters are 81%/6% on this; even Trump voters are 68%/18%.
Maybe a political party could lead on this issue.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
December 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Polling: "Do you think the rich have too much political power in the U.S.?"
Yes: 80%
No: 8%
Independent voters are 81%/6% on this; even Trump voters are 68%/18%.
Maybe a political party could lead on this issue.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
Yes: 80%
No: 8%
Independent voters are 81%/6% on this; even Trump voters are 68%/18%.
Maybe a political party could lead on this issue.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Maybe this new blog can respond, in one of its first posts, to the argument that the term “interim docket” is a deliberately misleading attempt to minimize the (very permanent) doctrinal and real-world consequences of #SCOTUS’s rulings on emergency applications?
www.stevevladeck.com/p/177-the-no...
www.stevevladeck.com/p/177-the-no...
December 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Maybe this new blog can respond, in one of its first posts, to the argument that the term “interim docket” is a deliberately misleading attempt to minimize the (very permanent) doctrinal and real-world consequences of #SCOTUS’s rulings on emergency applications?
www.stevevladeck.com/p/177-the-no...
www.stevevladeck.com/p/177-the-no...
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Code of Conduct for United States Judges, Canon 5: "A judge should not . . . attend or purchase a ticket for a dinner or other event sponsored by a political organization or candidate... A judge should not engage in any other political activity." (All judges receive training on this.)
Via MS NOW: Emil Bove is in attendance at Trump’s speech in Pennsylvania tonight.
December 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Code of Conduct for United States Judges, Canon 5: "A judge should not . . . attend or purchase a ticket for a dinner or other event sponsored by a political organization or candidate... A judge should not engage in any other political activity." (All judges receive training on this.)
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
There are a bunch of reasons for this, most of them bad.
The biggest reason is that Democratic leaders tend to overestimate how much trying-and-failing makes you look weak and underestimate how much not-trying makes you look weak.
The biggest reason is that Democratic leaders tend to overestimate how much trying-and-failing makes you look weak and underestimate how much not-trying makes you look weak.
For some reason Democratic leaders seem to prefer telling voters what they won’t be able to do, rather than what they’d like to do.
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
Jeffries says not to expect Democrats to pursue Hegseth impeachment over boat strikes
"Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor," he said.
www.axios.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
There are a bunch of reasons for this, most of them bad.
The biggest reason is that Democratic leaders tend to overestimate how much trying-and-failing makes you look weak and underestimate how much not-trying makes you look weak.
The biggest reason is that Democratic leaders tend to overestimate how much trying-and-failing makes you look weak and underestimate how much not-trying makes you look weak.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
BREAKING: We won! 3rd Circuit affirms illegality of Habba appointment
We @democracydefendersfund.org are honored to work on this case with the wonderful folks at Lowell & Associates, Gerald Krovatin & many others 👇
We @democracydefendersfund.org are honored to work on this case with the wonderful folks at Lowell & Associates, Gerald Krovatin & many others 👇
December 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
BREAKING: We won! 3rd Circuit affirms illegality of Habba appointment
We @democracydefendersfund.org are honored to work on this case with the wonderful folks at Lowell & Associates, Gerald Krovatin & many others 👇
We @democracydefendersfund.org are honored to work on this case with the wonderful folks at Lowell & Associates, Gerald Krovatin & many others 👇
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
The most openly racist, eugenicist monsters are running the U.S. They will use every opportunity to advance their agenda.
And as the wheels come off their regime they will only grow more brutal and obscene. These are dangerous days for us all.
And as the wheels come off their regime they will only grow more brutal and obscene. These are dangerous days for us all.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The most openly racist, eugenicist monsters are running the U.S. They will use every opportunity to advance their agenda.
And as the wheels come off their regime they will only grow more brutal and obscene. These are dangerous days for us all.
And as the wheels come off their regime they will only grow more brutal and obscene. These are dangerous days for us all.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Prof. @rachelbarkow.bsky.social's book should be required reading for *state* justices, specifically.
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
You can get Prof. Barkow's book Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
here:
bookshop.org/p/books/just...
here:
bookshop.org/p/books/just...
Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration
bookshop.org
November 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Prof. @rachelbarkow.bsky.social's book should be required reading for *state* justices, specifically.
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
Why should state supreme courts blindly follow deeply-flawed rulings responsible for widespread atrocities when they have their own, independent *state* constitutions?? bsky.app/profile/stri...
The US Marshals have posted updated data on threats to federal judges.
Comparing FY2025 to the year prior, more judges reported threats, and the total number of reported threats increased by over 10%. About 16% of all judges--1 in 6--were targeted.
The rise in threats continues so far in FY2026.
Comparing FY2025 to the year prior, more judges reported threats, and the total number of reported threats increased by over 10%. About 16% of all judges--1 in 6--were targeted.
The rise in threats continues so far in FY2026.
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The US Marshals have posted updated data on threats to federal judges.
Comparing FY2025 to the year prior, more judges reported threats, and the total number of reported threats increased by over 10%. About 16% of all judges--1 in 6--were targeted.
The rise in threats continues so far in FY2026.
Comparing FY2025 to the year prior, more judges reported threats, and the total number of reported threats increased by over 10%. About 16% of all judges--1 in 6--were targeted.
The rise in threats continues so far in FY2026.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Watch this 👇 I am proud to have @crow.house.gov as a fellow public servant and friend. Calls to arrest and execute public servants are outrageous. And calls to uphold the Constitution are important and our shared duty.
The President of the United States just called for my arrest and execution.
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
November 20, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Watch this 👇 I am proud to have @crow.house.gov as a fellow public servant and friend. Calls to arrest and execute public servants are outrageous. And calls to uphold the Constitution are important and our shared duty.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Acts of political violence are characteristic of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships – not strong democracies.
Violence of any kind has no place in our society and we must all condemn it. Especially when it comes from the President.
Violence of any kind has no place in our society and we must all condemn it. Especially when it comes from the President.
Joint Statement from Goodlander, Slotkin, Kelly, Crow, Deluzio, and Houlahan
November 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Acts of political violence are characteristic of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships – not strong democracies.
Violence of any kind has no place in our society and we must all condemn it. Especially when it comes from the President.
Violence of any kind has no place in our society and we must all condemn it. Especially when it comes from the President.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
"The Barnes and Noble in York—where Fetterman was born and raised—had sold zero copies. The Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia had sold two copies. An independent store in Pittsburgh and an independent store in Philadelphia each told me they weren’t stocking Unfettered" defector.com/john-fetterm...
John Fetterman's Memoir Is As Low-Effort As His Senate Tenure | Defector
John Fetterman’s just-released memoir, Unfettered, argues that he’s turned a corner and has everything under control. Fetterman was a “stubborn asshole” (his words), he was clinically depressed, he wa...
defector.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"The Barnes and Noble in York—where Fetterman was born and raised—had sold zero copies. The Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia had sold two copies. An independent store in Pittsburgh and an independent store in Philadelphia each told me they weren’t stocking Unfettered" defector.com/john-fetterm...