Pema Levy
@pemalevy.bsky.social
Reporter at @MotherJones.bsky.social
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pemalevy.33 (Signal)
Send me secure tips:
pemalevy[at]proton.me
pemalevy.33 (Signal)
Reposted by Pema Levy
Are you someone who's Very Online, early in your reporting career, and eager to get clips? We're hiring a Breaking News Reporter at @motherjones.com. $65k-$75k salary. www.motherjones.com/careers/brea...
Breaking News Reporter
www.motherjones.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Are you someone who's Very Online, early in your reporting career, and eager to get clips? We're hiring a Breaking News Reporter at @motherjones.com. $65k-$75k salary. www.motherjones.com/careers/brea...
Thread
I had missed the SCOTUSblog post about the “interim docket blog”; wanted to scream but it’s late; texted @jaywillis.net instead; & he let me know that, oh, yes, this has been discussed.
I truly don’t understand how you just accede to Kavanaugh’s self-serving make-believe name for the shadow docket.
I truly don’t understand how you just accede to Kavanaugh’s self-serving make-believe name for the shadow docket.
Even for me, this is pretty in the weeds, but the shift in tone in SCOTUSblog's coverage since Sarah Isgur and The Dispatch took over—more deferential to the Court, more reverential of the justices as celebrities, more credulous and stenographic across the board—has been...notable
December 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Thread
“Posobiec’s email arrived the day after my inquiries… This was either an incredible coincidence or a deliberate message: Publish your article and get smeared.” ow.ly/EpQp50XHpYo
I asked the Pentagon about Pete Hegseth's mentor. Then the threats started.
Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal.
ow.ly
December 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
“Posobiec’s email arrived the day after my inquiries… This was either an incredible coincidence or a deliberate message: Publish your article and get smeared.” ow.ly/EpQp50XHpYo
Reposted by Pema Levy
Among many other things, this is a story about how real journalism works to expose the propaganda crew Hegseth has installed at the Pentagon.
1/ MUST READ: @dfriedman.bsky.social asked the Pentagon about a Goodreads page linked to the email of a top official that featured pornographic books. Then, MAGA influencer—and newly minted member of DOD press corps—Jack Posobiec threatened to smear him.
Quite the coincidence!
ow.ly/EpQp50XHpYo
Quite the coincidence!
ow.ly/EpQp50XHpYo
I asked the Pentagon about Pete Hegseth's mentor. Then the threats started.
Journalism in the second Trump administration gets personal.
ow.ly
December 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Among many other things, this is a story about how real journalism works to expose the propaganda crew Hegseth has installed at the Pentagon.
Reposted by Pema Levy
"This is what it looks like when Supreme Court justices are completely unburdened by history," @pemalevy.bsky.social writes, "the logical conclusions of their own reasoning, and the real-world consequences of their own actions. And we are all along for the ride."
SCOTUS's GOP justices are about to hand Trump way more power
The court's right-wing bloc sounds ready to axe independent federal agencies—and the precedents that guard them.
www.motherjones.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"This is what it looks like when Supreme Court justices are completely unburdened by history," @pemalevy.bsky.social writes, "the logical conclusions of their own reasoning, and the real-world consequences of their own actions. And we are all along for the ride."
Sotomayor is on fire this morning, daring Noel Francisco to claim there's no quid pro quo for donations after Musk got to run wild through the federal government after becoming Trump's biggest financial backer.
Francisco laughs awkwardly and pretends he doesn't understand what she's talking about
Francisco laughs awkwardly and pretends he doesn't understand what she's talking about
December 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Sotomayor is on fire this morning, daring Noel Francisco to claim there's no quid pro quo for donations after Musk got to run wild through the federal government after becoming Trump's biggest financial backer.
Francisco laughs awkwardly and pretends he doesn't understand what she's talking about
Francisco laughs awkwardly and pretends he doesn't understand what she's talking about
Alito in oral arguments in NRSC v. FEC: "In our much maligned, I think unfairly maligned, decision in Citizens United"
So you're saying it's maligned...
So you're saying it's maligned...
December 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Alito in oral arguments in NRSC v. FEC: "In our much maligned, I think unfairly maligned, decision in Citizens United"
So you're saying it's maligned...
So you're saying it's maligned...
Reposted by Pema Levy
Trump spent $230 million to remodel the White House. It sucks.
You can support our journalism for just $5/month. It rocks.
If you're able, please consider donating today! tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
You can support our journalism for just $5/month. It rocks.
If you're able, please consider donating today! tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
December 9, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Trump spent $230 million to remodel the White House. It sucks.
You can support our journalism for just $5/month. It rocks.
If you're able, please consider donating today! tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
You can support our journalism for just $5/month. It rocks.
If you're able, please consider donating today! tinyurl.com/y6wzer7w
Now that SCOTUS will decide the fate of the Constitution's birthright citizenship clause, here are two pieces I wrote on the Trump admin's historically nonsensical and morally broken arguments to deny some children their lawful citizenship
December 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Now that SCOTUS will decide the fate of the Constitution's birthright citizenship clause, here are two pieces I wrote on the Trump admin's historically nonsensical and morally broken arguments to deny some children their lawful citizenship
Reposted by Pema Levy
The (unconstitutional) unitary executive theory imagines a robust, presumably young president taking charge of every aspect of executive branch power. But we only have elderly, enfeebled presidents here.
Good piece from @pemalevy.bsky.social.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Good piece from @pemalevy.bsky.social.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Supreme Court is making an all-powerful president—but the one we have isn’t all that interested in the job
The unitary executive theory is premised on vigorous and vigilant leadership that the country doesn’t always get.
www.motherjones.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The (unconstitutional) unitary executive theory imagines a robust, presumably young president taking charge of every aspect of executive branch power. But we only have elderly, enfeebled presidents here.
Good piece from @pemalevy.bsky.social.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Good piece from @pemalevy.bsky.social.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Roberts court created a roadmap by which states could enact partisan and racial gerrymanders, as long as they didn't say the race part out loud. Then Texas went and said the race part out loud.
Will the GOP appointees let Texas get away with it anyway?
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Will the GOP appointees let Texas get away with it anyway?
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The Texas gerrymandering case is a test of the Supreme Court's integrity
Do the justices have any rules they won't let Republicans break?
www.motherjones.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The Roberts court created a roadmap by which states could enact partisan and racial gerrymanders, as long as they didn't say the race part out loud. Then Texas went and said the race part out loud.
Will the GOP appointees let Texas get away with it anyway?
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Will the GOP appointees let Texas get away with it anyway?
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
How right-wing superstar Riley Gaines built an anti-trans empire www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
The swimmer tied a trans woman for fifth. The MAGA industrial complex took care of the rest.
Reposted by Pema Levy
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Reposted by Pema Levy
🎯🎯Must read piece on how John Roberts created the conditions for Trump’s rise and has enabled his criminality at every turn by @pemalevy.bsky.social and @ariberman.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
🎯🎯Must read piece on how John Roberts created the conditions for Trump’s rise and has enabled his criminality at every turn by @pemalevy.bsky.social and @ariberman.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Can’t believe I have to do kid pick-up instead of finishing the Jerry Smith dissent
November 19, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Can’t believe I have to do kid pick-up instead of finishing the Jerry Smith dissent
Reposted by Pema Levy
This @pemalevy.bsky.social / @ariberman.bsky.social joint effort on John Roberts is a must-read.
"The Roberts court has spent Trump’s second term not applying the law so much as clearing it out of his way."
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
"The Roberts court has spent Trump’s second term not applying the law so much as clearing it out of his way."
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This @pemalevy.bsky.social / @ariberman.bsky.social joint effort on John Roberts is a must-read.
"The Roberts court has spent Trump’s second term not applying the law so much as clearing it out of his way."
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
"The Roberts court has spent Trump’s second term not applying the law so much as clearing it out of his way."
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Pema Levy
“Roberts has been embedding white-dominant authoritarianism into the country’s source code for two decades. It’s impossible to imagine today’s crisis without the Roberts court having first undermined the foundations of our democracy.”
This all on the leader of the MAGA #scotus ↘️
This all on the leader of the MAGA #scotus ↘️
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
“Roberts has been embedding white-dominant authoritarianism into the country’s source code for two decades. It’s impossible to imagine today’s crisis without the Roberts court having first undermined the foundations of our democracy.”
This all on the leader of the MAGA #scotus ↘️
This all on the leader of the MAGA #scotus ↘️
Reposted by Pema Levy
Agree this is an important piece.
Also:
-Don't miss Lincoln Caplan's excellent piece, on same theme, last month in Harvard magazine www.harvardmagazine.com/legal/suprem...
-Every Roberts profile should point out that he was on GWB's Florida Recount team in 2000. As were Brett K, Amy CB.
Also:
-Don't miss Lincoln Caplan's excellent piece, on same theme, last month in Harvard magazine www.harvardmagazine.com/legal/suprem...
-Every Roberts profile should point out that he was on GWB's Florida Recount team in 2000. As were Brett K, Amy CB.
I have long said people don't be hatin Chief Justice John Roberts as much as they should be hatin Chief Justice John Roberts
“Roberts has been embedding white-dominant authoritarianism into the country’s source code for two decades. It’s impossible to imagine today’s crisis without the Roberts court having first undermined the foundations of our democracy.”
This all on the leader of the MAGA #scotus ↘️
This all on the leader of the MAGA #scotus ↘️
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Agree this is an important piece.
Also:
-Don't miss Lincoln Caplan's excellent piece, on same theme, last month in Harvard magazine www.harvardmagazine.com/legal/suprem...
-Every Roberts profile should point out that he was on GWB's Florida Recount team in 2000. As were Brett K, Amy CB.
Also:
-Don't miss Lincoln Caplan's excellent piece, on same theme, last month in Harvard magazine www.harvardmagazine.com/legal/suprem...
-Every Roberts profile should point out that he was on GWB's Florida Recount team in 2000. As were Brett K, Amy CB.
Reposted by Pema Levy
Great and correct piece by @pemalevy.bsky.social. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Great and correct piece by @pemalevy.bsky.social. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Chief Justice John Roberts rigged our democracy, helped Trump retake power, and is now discarding legal and constitutional constraints on Trump's actions.
But Roberts needs Trump, too. This symbiotic relationship means there is no hope for course correction.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
But Roberts needs Trump, too. This symbiotic relationship means there is no hope for course correction.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Chief Justice John Roberts rigged our democracy, helped Trump retake power, and is now discarding legal and constitutional constraints on Trump's actions.
But Roberts needs Trump, too. This symbiotic relationship means there is no hope for course correction.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
But Roberts needs Trump, too. This symbiotic relationship means there is no hope for course correction.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Pema Levy
"From the end of February to August, grants for 383 clinical trials were terminated, and the funding disruptions affected more than 74,000 trial participants, according to new research published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine."
Trump slashed spending on clinical trials. The toll is starting to become clear.
Grants for 383 clinical trials were terminated and the funding disruptions affected more than 74,000 trial participants, according to new research.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:08 AM
"From the end of February to August, grants for 383 clinical trials were terminated, and the funding disruptions affected more than 74,000 trial participants, according to new research published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine."
Magistrate judge in James Comey prosecution says prosecutorial missteps may have so tainted the grand jury process that the indictment should be dismissed.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 17, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Magistrate judge in James Comey prosecution says prosecutorial missteps may have so tainted the grand jury process that the indictment should be dismissed.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Thanks for having me on!
this was so good
Live TOMORROW with @olurinatti.bsky.social and @pemalevy.bsky.social. Talking about the shutdown, media's reaction to the Z-man, and what's coming down next from the Supreme Court. Don't miss!
youtube.com/live/G0H11b2...
youtube.com/live/G0H11b2...
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Thanks for having me on!
Reposted by Pema Levy
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Pema Levy
Dreamers were once obvious candidates for a path to citizenship—to both sides of the aisle. Now, they’re getting picked up, detained, and set for potential deportation.
@isabelaalhadeff.bsky.social on DACA's betrayal.
@isabelaalhadeff.bsky.social on DACA's betrayal.
Then they came for the Dreamers
Immigrants brought here as children were told they wouldn’t be deported. Now, they’re being targeted anyway.
www.motherjones.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Dreamers were once obvious candidates for a path to citizenship—to both sides of the aisle. Now, they’re getting picked up, detained, and set for potential deportation.
@isabelaalhadeff.bsky.social on DACA's betrayal.
@isabelaalhadeff.bsky.social on DACA's betrayal.