Michael Pastor
@mikejpastor.bsky.social
Law, tech, policy.
Dean for Technology Law, Professor, New York Law School.
Views, mine.
Dean for Technology Law, Professor, New York Law School.
Views, mine.
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And if a majority of the Supreme Court reasonably analyzes the applicable federal statutes, there will be *zero* tariff revenue absent further Congressional action.
And if a majority of the Supreme Court reasonably analyzes the applicable federal statutes, there will be *zero* tariff revenue absent further Congressional action.
It can be hard to do math in your head, while standing up, on national television. Nerve-wracking, too. But even so, in twenty seconds on the air, I did a better job than the President in costing his latest idea and figuring out whether his new idea of a $2,000 rebate check will work. (It won't.)
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
💯
And if a majority of the Supreme Court reasonably analyzes the applicable federal statutes, there will be *zero* tariff revenue absent further Congressional action.
And if a majority of the Supreme Court reasonably analyzes the applicable federal statutes, there will be *zero* tariff revenue absent further Congressional action.
"The FBI describes a few signs of impersonation: forged or mismatched credentials, outdated protective gear, and cloned vehicle markings." Good luck to your average citizen sorting this out when a gaggle of masked men approach! Must-read via the @wired.com team, who continue to crush so many beats.
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM
"The FBI describes a few signs of impersonation: forged or mismatched credentials, outdated protective gear, and cloned vehicle markings." Good luck to your average citizen sorting this out when a gaggle of masked men approach! Must-read via the @wired.com team, who continue to crush so many beats.
"Do no harm" applies to doctors but it ought to apply to those with law licenses too tbh.
"[T]he well” has not 'run dry' on SNAP. The program has a reserve of about $6B that could fully fund SNAP for several more weeks. The USDA’s current position is that these funds 'are not legally available to cover regular benefits' [...] This, however, directly contradicts [recent USDA] guidance."
Choosing to let kids go hungry
The USDA asserts that Democrats are blocking funding to secure “health care for illegal immigrants” and funding for “gender mutilation procedures.” All of these claims are false.
popular.info
October 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
"Do no harm" applies to doctors but it ought to apply to those with law licenses too tbh.
In order to pass signature legislation to increase affordable health care options President Obama fought tooth and nail to get to sixty votes in the Senate, conceding many points along the way. Johnson and Thune should be working day and night for the same goal. They choose dereliction instead.
JOHNSON: “.. The pain register is about to hit level 10.”
@politico.com #Shutdown
www.politico.com/live-updates...
@politico.com #Shutdown
www.politico.com/live-updates...
October 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
In order to pass signature legislation to increase affordable health care options President Obama fought tooth and nail to get to sixty votes in the Senate, conceding many points along the way. Johnson and Thune should be working day and night for the same goal. They choose dereliction instead.
Shoutout to the Wikimedia Foundation and to @wikipedia.org, one of the most beautiful, user-informed information sources the internet has ever seen. A veritable miracle.
October 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Shoutout to the Wikimedia Foundation and to @wikipedia.org, one of the most beautiful, user-informed information sources the internet has ever seen. A veritable miracle.
"...when Patrick Henry expressed concern that the President 'may easily become king,' James Madison replied that this would not occur because '[t]he purse is in the hands of the
representatives of the people,'" - Federal Circuit in the tariff opinion.
www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-ord...
representatives of the people,'" - Federal Circuit in the tariff opinion.
www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-ord...
www.cafc.uscourts.gov
October 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"...when Patrick Henry expressed concern that the President 'may easily become king,' James Madison replied that this would not occur because '[t]he purse is in the hands of the
representatives of the people,'" - Federal Circuit in the tariff opinion.
www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-ord...
representatives of the people,'" - Federal Circuit in the tariff opinion.
www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-ord...
Reposted by Michael Pastor
perfect subject/writer pairing and a must-read www.wired.com/story/ai-pr-...
Ed Zitron Gets Paid to Love AI. He Also Gets Paid to Hate AI
He’s one of the loudest voices of the AI haters—even as he does PR for AI companies. Either way, Ed Zitron has your attention.
www.wired.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
perfect subject/writer pairing and a must-read www.wired.com/story/ai-pr-...
Reposted by Michael Pastor
Yesterday, I went to an ICE check-in with 16-year-old Joel Camas and his lawyer, who expected him to be out in time for school by 8am because he has special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) status. Instead, he was detained.
Here is what happened (free link):
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
Here is what happened (free link):
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
A Woman Self-Deported, Hoping to Shield Her Son. He Was Detained Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Yesterday, I went to an ICE check-in with 16-year-old Joel Camas and his lawyer, who expected him to be out in time for school by 8am because he has special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) status. Instead, he was detained.
Here is what happened (free link):
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
Here is what happened (free link):
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/n...
Maybe cover the cost of the gold fixtures, gold plateware, and silverware in the new Trump East Wing Social Club?
What was a hypo last year now a concrete question; can Billups just pay Trump for a pardon? Or to drop the case? #ThanksJohnRoberts
October 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Maybe cover the cost of the gold fixtures, gold plateware, and silverware in the new Trump East Wing Social Club?
Really interesting stuff. Compelling argument for a framework that's manifestly needed. Neither government agencies nor privacy companies will get the US where we need to be alone.
Interesting paper out of Dartmouth about private sector's role in U.S. offensive cyber landscape. Recommends a national offensive cyber strategy and a pilot program for private sector access to "low-risk" targets like crypto scammers and ransomware operators:
sergeybratus.gitlab.io/papers/Dartm...
sergeybratus.gitlab.io/papers/Dartm...
sergeybratus.gitlab.io
October 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Really interesting stuff. Compelling argument for a framework that's manifestly needed. Neither government agencies nor privacy companies will get the US where we need to be alone.
Not to mention that casual anti-semitism that drives naming Soros when pushing the canard that that protestors hate America.
When I say the MAGA movement is post-truth, this is the sort of thing I mean. Push blatant lies in advance of an event, see overwhelming evidence that the lies were false, know that others saw it too, but plow ahead with the same lies, opposed to the notion that living in factual reality matters.
Mike Johnson calls No Kings the "Hate America Rally" and claims "it was funded by George Soros and co-sponsored by the Communist Party and many other nefarious groups"
October 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Not to mention that casual anti-semitism that drives naming Soros when pushing the canard that that protestors hate America.
lol "lost its trucking mind", well-played @nyc.streetsblog.org team.
The federal government has obviously lost its trucking mind over the 34th Street busway — even the Trucking Industry of New York thinks so.
Truckers to US DOT: Busways Are Good for Us! - Streetsblog New York City
The federal government has obviously lost its trucking mind.
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 1:41 PM
lol "lost its trucking mind", well-played @nyc.streetsblog.org team.
Article I Section 8 has never been so badly immolated.
October 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Article I Section 8 has never been so badly immolated.
We try to stay current but Gen Xrs have a Gen X lense. This is a great interview between two Millenials that displays why those outside of that generational band may never have predicated how dominant Mamdani would be this year. (ht @katie-drummond.bsky.social)
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor
Mere months ago, New York’s mayoral front-runner was polling right next to “Someone Else.” He spoke to WIRED about building a social media machine, Big Tech capitulation, and learning from Eric Adams.
www.wired.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:26 PM
We try to stay current but Gen Xrs have a Gen X lense. This is a great interview between two Millenials that displays why those outside of that generational band may never have predicated how dominant Mamdani would be this year. (ht @katie-drummond.bsky.social)
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
www.wired.com/story/the-bi...
Free speech maxmimalists, the "public square" zealots, etc.
NEW, from me and @makenakelly.bsky.social: The FTC is disappearing blog posts about AI that were written during Lina Khan’s tenure as FTC chair www.wired.com/story/ftc-re...
The FTC Is Disappearing Blog Posts About AI Published During Lina Khan’s Tenure
The Federal Trade Commission removed several blog posts in recent months about open source and potential risks to consumers from the rapid spread of commercial AI tools.
www.wired.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Free speech maxmimalists, the "public square" zealots, etc.
Reposted by Michael Pastor
Of course, the discretion is a function of the enabling statute. Brookings has a good brief here. www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...
What is the Exchange Stabilization Fund? How was it used during COVID? How may it be used for Argentina? | Brookings
The U.S. Treasury used its Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) during the pandemic, and in October 2025, proposed to tap it to help Argentina.
www.brookings.edu
October 20, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Of course, the discretion is a function of the enabling statute. Brookings has a good brief here. www.brookings.edu/articles/wha...
What laws authorize any of the bailout of Argentina that the Treasury Secretary has floated? What authorizes a "currency swap line" with a foreign nation for $20 billion, to the extent that can even be understood?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
October 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
What laws authorize any of the bailout of Argentina that the Treasury Secretary has floated? What authorizes a "currency swap line" with a foreign nation for $20 billion, to the extent that can even be understood?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Great piece. I had forgotten that Justice Kennedy provided the fifth vote in Shelby County, which has to be one of the most bad faith decisions in SCOTUS history. He also authored Citizens United (which Roberts joined). We shouldn't see his legacy with rose-tinted glasses.
It is impossible to understand the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act cases without the context that John Roberts has hated the Voting Rights Act since he was working to water it down as a 26-year-old Reagan staffer. This is his life’s work, and he can’t wait to finish the job.
Killing the Voting Rights Act Is John Roberts’s Life’s Work
As a 26-year-old Reagan staffer, Roberts was already convinced the Voting Rights Act had to go. He can’t wait to finish the job.
ballsandstrikes.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Great piece. I had forgotten that Justice Kennedy provided the fifth vote in Shelby County, which has to be one of the most bad faith decisions in SCOTUS history. He also authored Citizens United (which Roberts joined). We shouldn't see his legacy with rose-tinted glasses.
Just got an annual subscription to @blockclubchi.bsky.social whose reporters are doing just vital beat reporting from the streets of Chicago, e.g., this searing dispatch from @themelodymercado.bsky.social.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/13/f...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/13/f...
Federal Agents Deploy Tear Gas In Albany Park As Neighbors Block Immigration Arrest
It is the latest use of chemical irritants deployed by agents in neighborhoods. The incident was also the latest example of increased neighbor resistance to immigration enforcement in Chicago.
blockclubchicago.org
October 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Just got an annual subscription to @blockclubchi.bsky.social whose reporters are doing just vital beat reporting from the streets of Chicago, e.g., this searing dispatch from @themelodymercado.bsky.social.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/13/f...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/13/f...
Since the Office of the Attorney General was founded in 1789 it's possible it has had a more dishonorable year than 2025 but I struggle to readily identify one.
JUST IN: Judge Smith says the Trump administration is violating his order prohibiting FEMA from conditioning grants to states on their willingness to assist with immigration enforcement.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 14, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Since the Office of the Attorney General was founded in 1789 it's possible it has had a more dishonorable year than 2025 but I struggle to readily identify one.
Mariska Hargitay portrays a fictionalized detective for the NYPD, whose officers and detectives have been effectively fighting crime without masks and with identifiable uniforms for 180 years.
I need a montage of famous cops in movies and TV shows flashing their badges and announcing their names, followed by a stream of masked ICE guys refusing to give theirs.
a woman is getting out of a car with the nbc logo on the bottom
ALT: a woman is getting out of a car with the nbc logo on the bottom
media.tenor.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Mariska Hargitay portrays a fictionalized detective for the NYPD, whose officers and detectives have been effectively fighting crime without masks and with identifiable uniforms for 180 years.
With bullies you fight or you yield, there is rarely if ever a middle road. Bravo indeed.
Very strong response, kudos to MIT.
October 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
With bullies you fight or you yield, there is rarely if ever a middle road. Bravo indeed.
Powerful piece from @mimirocah1.bsky.social @joycewhitevance.bsky.social @dahlialithwick.bsky.social & @rachelfoster.bsky.social & Rachel Foster reminding us to avoid tabloid framing and center Epstein's victims in lieu of him and those who reprehensibly abetted him.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
October 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Powerful piece from @mimirocah1.bsky.social @joycewhitevance.bsky.social @dahlialithwick.bsky.social & @rachelfoster.bsky.social & Rachel Foster reminding us to avoid tabloid framing and center Epstein's victims in lieu of him and those who reprehensibly abetted him.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
A true nadir given that the reason for the block is to avoid disclosure of facts on the relationships one of our countries' worst pedophiles had over his decades of malevolence.
I know it's tiresome to play the "imagine if the parties were reversed" game, but thinking about how Republicans (and right-wing media) would be reacting if a Democratic-controlled House was refusing to swear in a newly elected *Republican* member may be the apotheosis of this particular meme.
October 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
A true nadir given that the reason for the block is to avoid disclosure of facts on the relationships one of our countries' worst pedophiles had over his decades of malevolence.
