Patrick G. Eddington
@pgeddington.com
Out now: The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression from McKinley through Eisenhower. Order direct from GU Press & use code TGUF to get 30% off: https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/The-Triumph-of-Fear
Views mine alone.
Views mine alone.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Seen and raised 14 years ago at Cato: "Abolish the Department of Homeland Security."
Abolish the Department of Homeland Security
www.cato.org
December 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Seen and raised 14 years ago at Cato: "Abolish the Department of Homeland Security."
No contest: skeet of the week.
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
No contest: skeet of the week.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
This isn't just a metaphor for AI and techbro culture - it perfectly encapsulates the U.S. in 2025. So many self-inflicted kicks to the balls.
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This isn't just a metaphor for AI and techbro culture - it perfectly encapsulates the U.S. in 2025. So many self-inflicted kicks to the balls.
👇💯
Cameron's Avatar worldbuilding is like a lore anti-meme. Most big sci-fi universes, there's *something* you see or hear mentioned and think, "I want to know more about that." But with Avatar, there's really nothing. It's spectacle, but without anything remotely interesting.
I sort of get the "Avatar has no cultural impact" argument, because it connects to what Cameron prioritizes in his movies. Going to that movie is like visiting a self-contained world, and people clearly love doing it, but most people couldn't tell you who "Jack Champion" is if you held them hostage.
December 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
👇💯
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Here come the Trump drones. My take on the new surveillance state. Join me on Substack: substack.com/@thefrankfig...
The Trump Administration's Eye in the Sky
Small drones are becoming the backbone of the Department of Homeland Security's domestic surveillance state.
substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Here come the Trump drones. My take on the new surveillance state. Join me on Substack: substack.com/@thefrankfig...
I haven't been on speaking terms with Mark for over a decade because of his baseless, fact-free attacks on Edward Snowden. That said, I'm glad he's prevailed thus far in this case & hope he prevails when the litigation is done because it would aid any lawyer needing a clearance to help a client.
thehill.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I haven't been on speaking terms with Mark for over a decade because of his baseless, fact-free attacks on Edward Snowden. That said, I'm glad he's prevailed thus far in this case & hope he prevails when the litigation is done because it would aid any lawyer needing a clearance to help a client.
Given the day this is and the message that's supposed to be associated with it, I thought recirculating this Interfaith Alliance video would be appropriate. #ICE #politicalrepression
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALK...
Choose Love Not ICE
YouTube video by Interfaith Alliance
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Given the day this is and the message that's supposed to be associated with it, I thought recirculating this Interfaith Alliance video would be appropriate. #ICE #politicalrepression
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALK...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Here’s the U.S. government being officially religious in a country with no official religion.
December 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Here’s the U.S. government being officially religious in a country with no official religion.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
So I have the cover story in next month's TNR.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
Trump’s Immigration Nightmare: It Is Happening Here
With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society. And the experts agree: It’s all going to get much, much worse.
newrepublic.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
So I have the cover story in next month's TNR.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
So AG Pam Bondi said she demanded ALL of the Epstein Files in Feb, and the FBI spent thousands of man-hours redacting them (victim info is always the first thing redacted), so the Files had already been redacted.
It is not believable that they “found” a million new documents.
It is not believable that they “found” a million new documents.
December 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
So AG Pam Bondi said she demanded ALL of the Epstein Files in Feb, and the FBI spent thousands of man-hours redacting them (victim info is always the first thing redacted), so the Files had already been redacted.
It is not believable that they “found” a million new documents.
It is not believable that they “found” a million new documents.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Odd story all around. Feels like DHs ran into a messy problem and decided to move fast to beat the courts, but in this case they maybe were working with incorrect information an made a bigger error than if they had just waited and let the legal process play out
Federal agents arrested Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales on her way home in Baltimore, Maryland.
ICE Detains Woman Whose Lawyer Insists Is US Citizen. DHS Says She Isn’t
www.newsweek.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Odd story all around. Feels like DHs ran into a messy problem and decided to move fast to beat the courts, but in this case they maybe were working with incorrect information an made a bigger error than if they had just waited and let the legal process play out
The ruling was narrow & if a permanent injunction is subsequently upheld by the appellate court, the regime will appeal again to SCOTUS, cert will be granted, and we could end up with a very different result. This is far from over.
Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Trump to Deploy National Guard in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The ruling was narrow & if a permanent injunction is subsequently upheld by the appellate court, the regime will appeal again to SCOTUS, cert will be granted, and we could end up with a very different result. This is far from over.
Criminals are not deterred by gun laws, and criminalizing political speech is itself a victory for terrorists.
Australian State Passes ‘Extraordinary’ Gun and Protest Laws After Bondi Attack
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Criminals are not deterred by gun laws, and criminalizing political speech is itself a victory for terrorists.
Is anyone actually surprised?
ICE officer accused of excessive force, then sent back to work despite active probe
DHS's handling of the incident raises questions about the department's oversight mechanisms to investigate employee misconduct.
www.npr.org
December 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Is anyone actually surprised?
The case goes back to Illinois federal court, as the larger issues remain to be decided. Today’s SCOTUS ruling was relatively narrow, & the Martin v. Mott precedent from 1827 on POTUS’ virtually plenary militia (now NG) call up authority remains in place. This isn’t over by any means.
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
![The Government asked this Court to stay the District Court's order. After the response and reply were filed, JUSTICE BARRETT referred the application to the Court. We directed the parties to file supplemental letter briefs on an issue that the District Court had addressed but the parties' initial briefs had not: the meaning of the term "regular forces" in §12406(3). In its supplemental brief, the Government argues that the term refers to civilian law enforcement officers, such as those employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Federal Protective Service.
Respondents, echoing the District Court, maintain that the term refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary.
We conclude that the term "regular forces" in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under §12406(3), the President must be "unable" with the regular military "to execute the laws of the United States." Because the statute requires an assessment of the military's ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from "execut[ing] the laws" "except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress."
18 U. S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be "unable" with those forces to perform that function.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreiftbhzwvn3vgwhqsi7k2paizvdw4t26ailljvovso3chqupnmj364@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The case goes back to Illinois federal court, as the larger issues remain to be decided. Today’s SCOTUS ruling was relatively narrow, & the Martin v. Mott precedent from 1827 on POTUS’ virtually plenary militia (now NG) call up authority remains in place. This isn’t over by any means.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Big ups to Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social who flagged this argument that SCOTUS relied on (that regular forces refer to military forces, not federal law enforcement).
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
December 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Big ups to Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social who flagged this argument that SCOTUS relied on (that regular forces refer to military forces, not federal law enforcement).
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Jesus christ
ICE agents illegally break into a woman's bathroom in a NY nutrition bar manufacturing plant. "Pull up your pants," says a male agent. The agents only had a warrant to review employer documents. They didn't have a warrant to search for, detain, or arrest anyone there.
December 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Jesus christ
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Latest: I asked DHS' public affairs office if it considers recording or following federal law enforcement to be obstruction of justice.
DHS response: "That sure sounds like obstruction of justice." reason.com/2025/12/22/d...
DHS response: "That sure sounds like obstruction of justice." reason.com/2025/12/22/d...
DHS says recording or following law enforcement 'sure sounds like obstruction of justice'
Seven federal circuit courts have upheld the First Amendment right to record and monitor the police.
reason.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Latest: I asked DHS' public affairs office if it considers recording or following federal law enforcement to be obstruction of justice.
DHS response: "That sure sounds like obstruction of justice." reason.com/2025/12/22/d...
DHS response: "That sure sounds like obstruction of justice." reason.com/2025/12/22/d...
🧵👇
The CISA's new director, hand-picked by Kristi Noem, asked to be "read in" to highly sensitive, compartmentalized intelligence shared with a select few people in the civilian agency by the NSA or CIA.
It was so sensitive that his predecessor had never asked to see the raw intel. 1/
It was so sensitive that his predecessor had never asked to see the raw intel. 1/
Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation.
December 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
🧵👇
I'd prefer an inherent contempt measure targeting Bondi for telling agents to ignore the Bill of Rights re: ICE operations, etc. but here we are.
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/de...
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/de...
December 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I'd prefer an inherent contempt measure targeting Bondi for telling agents to ignore the Bill of Rights re: ICE operations, etc. but here we are.
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/de...
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/de...
The FBI's organizational pathologies have existed for decades. A key one is literally lying about the existence of records that reveal FBI failures to investigate detailed, credible allegations of violations of federal law. #EpsteinFiles
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
December 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The FBI's organizational pathologies have existed for decades. A key one is literally lying about the existence of records that reveal FBI failures to investigate detailed, credible allegations of violations of federal law. #EpsteinFiles
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
December 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Zero indication the Epstein controversy has cooled
Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY) says today’s document release
“grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law
Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY) says today’s document release
“grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law
December 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Zero indication the Epstein controversy has cooled
Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY) says today’s document release
“grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law
Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY) says today’s document release
“grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
“They’re denying that any of her birth certificates, which are from Laurel, Maryland, her records of immunization, medical records — they’re denying the authenticity of them. It is something I’ve never encountered.” www.huffpost.com/entry/us-cit...
Trump Administration Says Maryland Woman's Birth Certificate Is Fake In Dystopian Move
Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales was arrested on Sunday. ICE won’t release her despite extensive documentation of her citizenship, her attorneys told HuffPost.
www.huffpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:53 AM
“They’re denying that any of her birth certificates, which are from Laurel, Maryland, her records of immunization, medical records — they’re denying the authenticity of them. It is something I’ve never encountered.” www.huffpost.com/entry/us-cit...