Michael J. Stern
@michaeljstern.bsky.social
USA Today opinion columnist. Also in: Chicago Tribune; Los Angeles Times; Guardian; Boston Globe; HuffPost; Hill; NY Daily News, etc. Former federal prosecutor, state prosecutor, and defense attorney for indigent defendants. 🌊 🏳️🌈 #LGBT
Pinned
OMG! MAGA demanded accountability for pedophiles in the Epstein files. What are they going to do now?
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
NOTHING TO SEE HERE
2013: Florida AG Pam Bondi decided not to join a multi-state fraud lawsuit against Trump University AFTER her campaign received a $25,000 donation from the Donald Trump Foundation that she personally solicited. Despite consumer complaints, her office took no action.
2013: Florida AG Pam Bondi decided not to join a multi-state fraud lawsuit against Trump University AFTER her campaign received a $25,000 donation from the Donald Trump Foundation that she personally solicited. Despite consumer complaints, her office took no action.
February 12, 2026 at 2:44 PM
NOTHING TO SEE HERE
2013: Florida AG Pam Bondi decided not to join a multi-state fraud lawsuit against Trump University AFTER her campaign received a $25,000 donation from the Donald Trump Foundation that she personally solicited. Despite consumer complaints, her office took no action.
2013: Florida AG Pam Bondi decided not to join a multi-state fraud lawsuit against Trump University AFTER her campaign received a $25,000 donation from the Donald Trump Foundation that she personally solicited. Despite consumer complaints, her office took no action.
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
AG Keith Ellison: "The surge is contributing to violent crime. Two of the three homicides committed in Minneapolis in 2026 have come at the hands of federal immigration agents."
February 12, 2026 at 2:46 PM
AG Keith Ellison: "The surge is contributing to violent crime. Two of the three homicides committed in Minneapolis in 2026 have come at the hands of federal immigration agents."
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
ELLISON: We're hoping we can gain cooperation perhaps in the Pretti matter, but we've been advised that the feds aren't investigating the Good matter and we haven't received any access to the evidence
PETERS: So in these two cases, you're being stonewalled?
ELLISON: That's a yes
PETERS: So in these two cases, you're being stonewalled?
ELLISON: That's a yes
February 12, 2026 at 2:53 PM
ELLISON: We're hoping we can gain cooperation perhaps in the Pretti matter, but we've been advised that the feds aren't investigating the Good matter and we haven't received any access to the evidence
PETERS: So in these two cases, you're being stonewalled?
ELLISON: That's a yes
PETERS: So in these two cases, you're being stonewalled?
ELLISON: That's a yes
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Hassan: "What is happening here is unacceptable to the people in my state of New Hampshire and to people from every corner, and in fact people around the globe. I just got back from the country of Greenland. Their children are scared of the United States of America."
February 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Hassan: "What is happening here is unacceptable to the people in my state of New Hampshire and to people from every corner, and in fact people around the globe. I just got back from the country of Greenland. Their children are scared of the United States of America."
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
In a normal government, this results in the resignation of multiple cabinet officials (Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security), and the closure or (at least!) radical reorg of the cartoonishly incompetent agency at the center of it: CBP.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
February 12, 2026 at 3:18 PM
In a normal government, this results in the resignation of multiple cabinet officials (Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security), and the closure or (at least!) radical reorg of the cartoonishly incompetent agency at the center of it: CBP.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Ellison: "It felt like we were being occupied by the federal govt, & I started returning to reading about the Boston Massacre. How did those Bostonians feel when a far away govt in England had imperial troops marching all over their city, harassing & abusing the citizenry. That's kind of how I felt"
February 12, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Ellison: "It felt like we were being occupied by the federal govt, & I started returning to reading about the Boston Massacre. How did those Bostonians feel when a far away govt in England had imperial troops marching all over their city, harassing & abusing the citizenry. That's kind of how I felt"
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
They zip tied children!
This administration has not 1 shred of decency or humanity. They lie & attempt to explain their atrocities away.
Let's remind them that even the people who aren't actually committing the brutality will be held accountable.
Remember the Nuremberg trials.
#ICELawlessness
This administration has not 1 shred of decency or humanity. They lie & attempt to explain their atrocities away.
Let's remind them that even the people who aren't actually committing the brutality will be held accountable.
Remember the Nuremberg trials.
#ICELawlessness
February 12, 2026 at 3:47 PM
They zip tied children!
This administration has not 1 shred of decency or humanity. They lie & attempt to explain their atrocities away.
Let's remind them that even the people who aren't actually committing the brutality will be held accountable.
Remember the Nuremberg trials.
#ICELawlessness
This administration has not 1 shred of decency or humanity. They lie & attempt to explain their atrocities away.
Let's remind them that even the people who aren't actually committing the brutality will be held accountable.
Remember the Nuremberg trials.
#ICELawlessness
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Gov. Tim Walz: "They left us with deep damage. Generational trauma. Economic ruin in some cases. The left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where and what is the process of the investigation into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?"
February 12, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Gov. Tim Walz: "They left us with deep damage. Generational trauma. Economic ruin in some cases. The left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where and what is the process of the investigation into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?"
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Walz: "The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here. There's going to be accountability on things that happened, but one of them is the incredible and immense cost borne by the people of this state. The federal government needs to be responsible."
February 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Walz: "The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here. There's going to be accountability on things that happened, but one of them is the incredible and immense cost borne by the people of this state. The federal government needs to be responsible."
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
BREAKING
Judge Boasberg ORDERS the Trump admin to facilitate the return of the more than 100 men spirited out of the country last year without notice or a hearing.
Plaintiffs may also submit habeas petitions from abroad, he says.
Doc buff.ly/rccakD7
Judge Boasberg ORDERS the Trump admin to facilitate the return of the more than 100 men spirited out of the country last year without notice or a hearing.
Plaintiffs may also submit habeas petitions from abroad, he says.
Doc buff.ly/rccakD7
February 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM
BREAKING
Judge Boasberg ORDERS the Trump admin to facilitate the return of the more than 100 men spirited out of the country last year without notice or a hearing.
Plaintiffs may also submit habeas petitions from abroad, he says.
Doc buff.ly/rccakD7
Judge Boasberg ORDERS the Trump admin to facilitate the return of the more than 100 men spirited out of the country last year without notice or a hearing.
Plaintiffs may also submit habeas petitions from abroad, he says.
Doc buff.ly/rccakD7
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Gallego: Lutnick knew he did something wrong because he lied about it. So clearly, you did something wrong. You knew you were doing something wrong. You should not have been associating with this man — and yet you did.
And now we’re supposed to believe everything you say when you’ve already lied?
And now we’re supposed to believe everything you say when you’ve already lied?
February 12, 2026 at 4:57 AM
Gallego: Lutnick knew he did something wrong because he lied about it. So clearly, you did something wrong. You knew you were doing something wrong. You should not have been associating with this man — and yet you did.
And now we’re supposed to believe everything you say when you’ve already lied?
And now we’re supposed to believe everything you say when you’ve already lied?
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Krishnamoorthi: When I saw where Ghislaine Maxwell was doing her remote deposition from, it did not look like a prison. It looked like a dining room. It looked like some nice mansion. It just reminded me that she got this sweetheart deal from Trump…
February 12, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Krishnamoorthi: When I saw where Ghislaine Maxwell was doing her remote deposition from, it did not look like a prison. It looked like a dining room. It looked like some nice mansion. It just reminded me that she got this sweetheart deal from Trump…
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Apparently, Tesla moved from California to Texas so they can dump toxic waste water on their neighbors without fear of any consequences.
February 12, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Apparently, Tesla moved from California to Texas so they can dump toxic waste water on their neighbors without fear of any consequences.
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Pam Bondi, upon being asked specific, reasonable, and highly important questions today – failed to answer almost any of them. Instead she responded by:
• Glorifying her boss
• Attacking the questioner (a profound tell of guilt/complicity)
• Glorifying her boss
• Attacking the questioner (a profound tell of guilt/complicity)
February 12, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Pam Bondi, upon being asked specific, reasonable, and highly important questions today – failed to answer almost any of them. Instead she responded by:
• Glorifying her boss
• Attacking the questioner (a profound tell of guilt/complicity)
• Glorifying her boss
• Attacking the questioner (a profound tell of guilt/complicity)
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Bondi getting appropriately savaged for citing Culver City
February 12, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Bondi getting appropriately savaged for citing Culver City
OMG! MAGA demanded accountability for pedophiles in the Epstein files. What are they going to do now?
February 12, 2026 at 10:09 AM
OMG! MAGA demanded accountability for pedophiles in the Epstein files. What are they going to do now?
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
In just a few moments, I will vote against the so-called SAVE America Act and I am a strong no. That's because this bill would place unnecessary burdens on millions of women and eligible citizens to register to vote and make their voices heard. It is un-American & undermines our democracy.
February 11, 2026 at 10:42 PM
In just a few moments, I will vote against the so-called SAVE America Act and I am a strong no. That's because this bill would place unnecessary burdens on millions of women and eligible citizens to register to vote and make their voices heard. It is un-American & undermines our democracy.
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
If my followers have been inspired by the fierce resistance the Twin Cities has put up to ICE, you should make it a point to take a trip here (April through October 😬), enjoy the wonderful things MN has to offer and support our small businesses. It continues to be a really tough time for them.
February 12, 2026 at 12:49 AM
If my followers have been inspired by the fierce resistance the Twin Cities has put up to ICE, you should make it a point to take a trip here (April through October 😬), enjoy the wonderful things MN has to offer and support our small businesses. It continues to be a really tough time for them.
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Sure, child sex trafficking is bad.
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
February 11, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Sure, child sex trafficking is bad.
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
But did you know the Dow is doing well?
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
This is crazy.
Why the fuck did she have a list of the Epstein files that Jayapal accessed?
Why the fuck did she have a list of the Epstein files that Jayapal accessed?
NEW: A page from Bondi's burn book. This is a list of the searches by Rep Jayapal of the unredacted Epstein files. That means the DOJ grabbed her search terms from the computers they set up for members of congress to view the Epstein files to use as ammunition. The photo is from Reuters.
February 12, 2026 at 1:28 AM
This is crazy.
Why the fuck did she have a list of the Epstein files that Jayapal accessed?
Why the fuck did she have a list of the Epstein files that Jayapal accessed?
I presented cases to grand jury for DOJ for years. I don’t think people have a full appreciation of how crazy this is.
They not only failed to get an indictment, they failed to get a single grand juror’s vote. It’s probable that this has never happened before.
Likely because the DOJ has never sent hack political appointees to attempt to get indictments on sitting Congress members over protected speech before.
Likely because the DOJ has never sent hack political appointees to attempt to get indictments on sitting Congress members over protected speech before.
February 12, 2026 at 9:20 AM
I presented cases to grand jury for DOJ for years. I don’t think people have a full appreciation of how crazy this is.
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Frost on seeing the "unredacted" Epstein files: A few takeaways. Number one, there's a lot of documents that are still redacted. When I asked the DOJ about it, they said they received it that way, which means that Kash FBI kept them redacted when they gave it to the DOJ, which is interesting...
February 12, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Frost on seeing the "unredacted" Epstein files: A few takeaways. Number one, there's a lot of documents that are still redacted. When I asked the DOJ about it, they said they received it that way, which means that Kash FBI kept them redacted when they gave it to the DOJ, which is interesting...
Reposted by Michael J. Stern
Listen folks, Pam Bondi was Attorney General of Florida from 2011 to 2019 so she's been covering up Epstein's crimes for a loooooong-ass time
February 12, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Listen folks, Pam Bondi was Attorney General of Florida from 2011 to 2019 so she's been covering up Epstein's crimes for a loooooong-ass time
