Patrick Schmidt
@pdwschmidt.bsky.social
Political scientist @MacalesterCollege: American law, comparative and historical constitutionalism, architecture, and...just curious about everything. Moot Court coach. Rarely refuses an opportunity for a dad joke.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
Except Mary, Jesus and Joseph were brown…
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
December 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Except Mary, Jesus and Joseph were brown…
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Maybe "golden" isn't exactly right. Given his skin tone, it might be like a yam. Or maybe a tomato. How about we call this ship "The Yamato"...?
He is indeed announcing a “Golden Fleet of battleships like you’ve never seen before”.
December 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Maybe "golden" isn't exactly right. Given his skin tone, it might be like a yam. Or maybe a tomato. How about we call this ship "The Yamato"...?
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
December 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
Maybe they'll get this to work someday, but right now the ROI is ridiculously poor and quite funny.
It's time for another batch of Verge articles that are completely free to read for the day.
First up: @superantonio64.bsky.social made a list of all the prompts in Microsoft's holiday-themed Copilot AI ad, then checked them twice. Guess what happened
First up: @superantonio64.bsky.social made a list of all the prompts in Microsoft's holiday-themed Copilot AI ad, then checked them twice. Guess what happened
Microsoft made another Copilot ad where nothing actually works
I don’t want Copilot for Christmas.
www.theverge.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Maybe they'll get this to work someday, but right now the ROI is ridiculously poor and quite funny.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
The US Administration has banned Americans from *adopting babies* from much of the African continent.
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
The US Administration has banned Americans from *adopting babies* from much of the African continent.
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
a good and necessary read for many
December 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
a good and necessary read for many
The tree is ready.
December 14, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The tree is ready.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
Damnit this is good writing, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social.
December 13, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Damnit this is good writing, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
SCOOP: The Trump administration is providing the names of all travelers passing through U.S. airports to immigration officials in search of people with deportation orders, a substantial expansion of government efforts to draw on data to hunt down immigrants.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Immigration Agents Are Using Air Passenger Data for Deportation Effort
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
It's annual con law meme time, from my undergraduates
December 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
It's annual con law meme time, from my undergraduates
Perhaps visitors to D.C. will start a tradition of throwing a Trump quarter onto the White House lawn. Render unto Caesar what is Caeser's.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/b...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/b...
Killing the penny was just the start. Trump is rewriting the rules on America’s coins | CNN Business
The next signs of the nation’s political divide might be jingling in your pocket next year.
www.cnn.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Perhaps visitors to D.C. will start a tradition of throwing a Trump quarter onto the White House lawn. Render unto Caesar what is Caeser's.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/b...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/b...
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
"When men’s freedoms are threatened... we call it fascism. But when women are controlled through forced birth, criminalized for their trauma... or stripped of autonomy, it’s “bad men,” “culture,” “personal tragedy,” or crickets." ~@sorayachemaly.bsky.social katemanne.substack.com/p/anti-abort...
Anti-Abortion Surveillance as Fascism
A guest post by Soraya Chemaly—and a holiday sale!
katemanne.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
"When men’s freedoms are threatened... we call it fascism. But when women are controlled through forced birth, criminalized for their trauma... or stripped of autonomy, it’s “bad men,” “culture,” “personal tragedy,” or crickets." ~@sorayachemaly.bsky.social katemanne.substack.com/p/anti-abort...
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
all i'm saying is that there were better options
December 12, 2025 at 5:25 AM
all i'm saying is that there were better options
A work colleague just tried to sell me on the band, Ripe, but since their tour is in town tonight and I can't make the show, it's Moot.
December 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A work colleague just tried to sell me on the band, Ripe, but since their tour is in town tonight and I can't make the show, it's Moot.
Breaking news: Donald Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon to Herod the Great for any slaughtered babies or attempts to murder the infant Jesus, saying, "Isn't it cool to have 'the Great' in your name? Everyone is saying I should, too. Donald the Great. Sounds pretty good, right?"
UPDATE: Another Chicago-area church has put up an immigration-themed Nativity scene.
A church member at Urban Village Church sent this one along, where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are gone and replaced with a sign that reads: “Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding.”
A church member at Urban Village Church sent this one along, where Mary, Joseph and Jesus are gone and replaced with a sign that reads: “Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding.”
December 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Breaking news: Donald Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon to Herod the Great for any slaughtered babies or attempts to murder the infant Jesus, saying, "Isn't it cool to have 'the Great' in your name? Everyone is saying I should, too. Donald the Great. Sounds pretty good, right?"
It's as if these people are sitting in a room to brainstorm new, ever more imaginative ways of being cruel.
"Officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled,” Breslow said of her client.
“People are devastated, and they’re frightened."
“People are devastated, and they’re frightened."
They are now targeting people who did everything by the book and were literally at the ceremony where they were going to become citizens...
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
"Immigrants lined up to become U.S. citizens in Boston on Dec. 4 were pulled from line by USCIS officials moments before the oath ceremony"
December 8, 2025 at 3:49 AM
It's as if these people are sitting in a room to brainstorm new, ever more imaginative ways of being cruel.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
The Supreme Court cannot “uphold the longstanding principle” or “strike down birthright citizenship.” The Supreme Court can follow the plain text of the constitution or declare itself in rebellion to the constitution. These are the only two options wrt birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment.
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration. n.pr/48E1oko
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in birthright citizenship challenge
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration.
n.pr
December 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Supreme Court cannot “uphold the longstanding principle” or “strike down birthright citizenship.” The Supreme Court can follow the plain text of the constitution or declare itself in rebellion to the constitution. These are the only two options wrt birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment.
Kudos to the music director at my daughter's school for choosing choir pieces like Paul McCartney (Yesterday), Journey (Don't Stop Believing). Because what higher calling could a 6th grade public school music program have than to pander to and justify parents' musical tastes?
December 5, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Kudos to the music director at my daughter's school for choosing choir pieces like Paul McCartney (Yesterday), Journey (Don't Stop Believing). Because what higher calling could a 6th grade public school music program have than to pander to and justify parents' musical tastes?
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
a load-bearing component of “the magic of Christmas” is the invisible domestic labor of moms
you are now realizing how much she was doing for you and instead of just thanking her you’ve decided it’s about the decline of civilization
you are now realizing how much she was doing for you and instead of just thanking her you’ve decided it’s about the decline of civilization
Because you're an adult you fucking muppet. You gotta pay the magic forward.
December 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
a load-bearing component of “the magic of Christmas” is the invisible domestic labor of moms
you are now realizing how much she was doing for you and instead of just thanking her you’ve decided it’s about the decline of civilization
you are now realizing how much she was doing for you and instead of just thanking her you’ve decided it’s about the decline of civilization
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
“Politicians who later become congressional leaders trade stocks like everyone else ... until they ascend to power.
After ascension, their portfolios beat peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts.”
After ascension, their portfolios beat peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts.”
December 3, 2025 at 4:01 AM
“Politicians who later become congressional leaders trade stocks like everyone else ... until they ascend to power.
After ascension, their portfolios beat peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts.”
After ascension, their portfolios beat peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts.”
Mentally unwell and increasingly vile, a person such as this would be pushed aside in a healthy political system.
The tools are there, but the will is not. Norms have broken down, and the written Constitution is broken, too: It can no longer be trusted as an instrument of governance.
The tools are there, but the will is not. Norms have broken down, and the written Constitution is broken, too: It can no longer be trusted as an instrument of governance.
Trump on Somalis: "We're gonna go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage."
December 2, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Mentally unwell and increasingly vile, a person such as this would be pushed aside in a healthy political system.
The tools are there, but the will is not. Norms have broken down, and the written Constitution is broken, too: It can no longer be trusted as an instrument of governance.
The tools are there, but the will is not. Norms have broken down, and the written Constitution is broken, too: It can no longer be trusted as an instrument of governance.
When we have our next constitutional convention, my starting position will be to eliminate the pardon power. I no longer see it as an essential element of executive power. I might favor a thoughtfully-selected national clemency board.
A private equity fraudster was found guilty for his role in a scheme to defraud 10,000 investors, including small business owners, farmers, and Americans living paycheck to paycheck.
Trump just let him out of prison.
Trump just let him out of prison.
December 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
When we have our next constitutional convention, my starting position will be to eliminate the pardon power. I no longer see it as an essential element of executive power. I might favor a thoughtfully-selected national clemency board.
Does a pardon immunize you from being court martialed and stripped of your military rank? Asking for a friend.
December 1, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Does a pardon immunize you from being court martialed and stripped of your military rank? Asking for a friend.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
ICE fascists:
•Detained Indigenous American actor Elaine Miles, claiming her "papers look fake"
•Arrested wife of Navy Vet AT HER Green card Interview
•Arrested & kidnapped Brazilian immigrant & mother of Leavitt's nephew
•Arrested, kidnapped,& deported to Honduras a 19-year-old student here legally
•Detained Indigenous American actor Elaine Miles, claiming her "papers look fake"
•Arrested wife of Navy Vet AT HER Green card Interview
•Arrested & kidnapped Brazilian immigrant & mother of Leavitt's nephew
•Arrested, kidnapped,& deported to Honduras a 19-year-old student here legally
November 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
ICE fascists:
•Detained Indigenous American actor Elaine Miles, claiming her "papers look fake"
•Arrested wife of Navy Vet AT HER Green card Interview
•Arrested & kidnapped Brazilian immigrant & mother of Leavitt's nephew
•Arrested, kidnapped,& deported to Honduras a 19-year-old student here legally
•Detained Indigenous American actor Elaine Miles, claiming her "papers look fake"
•Arrested wife of Navy Vet AT HER Green card Interview
•Arrested & kidnapped Brazilian immigrant & mother of Leavitt's nephew
•Arrested, kidnapped,& deported to Honduras a 19-year-old student here legally
It's all corruption, all the time. Historic levels of criminality, and the pardon power and the Supreme Court is going to indemnify all of it.
Having destroyed the norms and the shame that set boundaries, there's no way to reconstruct those.
We need a new Constitution.
Having destroyed the norms and the shame that set boundaries, there's no way to reconstruct those.
We need a new Constitution.
"Gentry Beach, a college friend of Donald Trump Jr. and campaign donor to his father, has been in talks to acquire a stake in a Russian Arctic gas project if it is released from sanctions.”
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
November 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
It's all corruption, all the time. Historic levels of criminality, and the pardon power and the Supreme Court is going to indemnify all of it.
Having destroyed the norms and the shame that set boundaries, there's no way to reconstruct those.
We need a new Constitution.
Having destroyed the norms and the shame that set boundaries, there's no way to reconstruct those.
We need a new Constitution.