Rebecca Durcan
@rdurcan.bsky.social
Professional Regulation Lawyer in Toronto, Canada
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
Imagine if The Atlantic’s editor chose blackmail over journalistic integrity.
There’s a lot of blackmail potential here. Isn’t that exactly why security clearances get denied?
There’s a lot of blackmail potential here. Isn’t that exactly why security clearances get denied?
March 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Imagine if The Atlantic’s editor chose blackmail over journalistic integrity.
There’s a lot of blackmail potential here. Isn’t that exactly why security clearances get denied?
There’s a lot of blackmail potential here. Isn’t that exactly why security clearances get denied?
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
When your bluff is called:
![Late yesterday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emailed a response: “As we have repeatedly stated, there was no classified information transmitted in the group chat. However, as the CIA Director and National Security Advisor have both expressed today, that does not mean we encourage the release of the conversation. This was intended to be a an [sic] internal and private deliberation amongst high-level senior staff and sensitive information was discussed. So for those reason [sic] — yes, we object to the release.” (The Leavitt statement did not address which elements of the texts the White House considered sensitive, or how, more than a week after the initial air strikes, their publication could have bearing on national security.)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kjjhbsc3pp3vkqjsivk6z2yd/bafkreigottidwsyciyy37233etybj5nesrt3i7igrbhgzvj7eigtudjtty@jpeg)
March 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
When your bluff is called:
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
The Atlantic has now published the Signal texts with attack plans in response to administration denials.
I worked at the Pentagon.
If information like this is not classified, nothing is.
If Hegseth is claiming he declassified this information, he should be shown the door for having done so.
I worked at the Pentagon.
If information like this is not classified, nothing is.
If Hegseth is claiming he declassified this information, he should be shown the door for having done so.
March 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The Atlantic has now published the Signal texts with attack plans in response to administration denials.
I worked at the Pentagon.
If information like this is not classified, nothing is.
If Hegseth is claiming he declassified this information, he should be shown the door for having done so.
I worked at the Pentagon.
If information like this is not classified, nothing is.
If Hegseth is claiming he declassified this information, he should be shown the door for having done so.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
“As the American Bar Association put it: a lawyer is not just a representative of clients, a lawyer is ‘an officer of the legal system and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of justice.’”
www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-...
www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-...
As lawyers, we have duties to the rule of law that are more fundamental… | Harry Wilson
As lawyers, we have duties to the rule of law that are more fundamental than our duties to our clients. To join the profession, we must swear to uphold the…
www.linkedin.com
March 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
“As the American Bar Association put it: a lawyer is not just a representative of clients, a lawyer is ‘an officer of the legal system and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of justice.’”
www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-...
www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-...
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
A law firm stands up to Trump.
“The leaders of Keker, Van Nest & Peters called Trump’s memorandum ‘inexcusable’ and ‘despicable.’ ‘Our liberties depend on lawyers’ willingness to represent unpopular people and causes, including in matters adverse to the government.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...
“The leaders of Keker, Van Nest & Peters called Trump’s memorandum ‘inexcusable’ and ‘despicable.’ ‘Our liberties depend on lawyers’ willingness to represent unpopular people and causes, including in matters adverse to the government.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...
With New Decree, Trump Threatens Lawyers and Law Firms
A presidential memorandum aimed at lawyers everywhere struck a menacing tone.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 11:11 PM
A law firm stands up to Trump.
“The leaders of Keker, Van Nest & Peters called Trump’s memorandum ‘inexcusable’ and ‘despicable.’ ‘Our liberties depend on lawyers’ willingness to represent unpopular people and causes, including in matters adverse to the government.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...
“The leaders of Keker, Van Nest & Peters called Trump’s memorandum ‘inexcusable’ and ‘despicable.’ ‘Our liberties depend on lawyers’ willingness to represent unpopular people and causes, including in matters adverse to the government.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...
"all serving members are trained to understand that America stands for more than naked self-interest. Above all, it stands up for the Constitution and the rule of law, including the laws of armed conflict and those that restrict the use of the military against American citizens."
Opinion | America Has a Rogue President (Gift Article)
The firing of three judge advocate generals is one more element of this administration’s attack on the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
Barbenheimer: we’ve got the best Oscars campaign of all time
Conclave: hold my beer
Conclave: hold my beer
February 24, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Barbenheimer: we’ve got the best Oscars campaign of all time
Conclave: hold my beer
Conclave: hold my beer
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
The loudest voices rarely represent the majority. They're usually speaking for the extremes.
You won't understand the views of a group until you've invited the quieter voices into the discussion.
Don't mistake silence for disengagement. It's often a sign of deep reflection.
You won't understand the views of a group until you've invited the quieter voices into the discussion.
Don't mistake silence for disengagement. It's often a sign of deep reflection.
February 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The loudest voices rarely represent the majority. They're usually speaking for the extremes.
You won't understand the views of a group until you've invited the quieter voices into the discussion.
Don't mistake silence for disengagement. It's often a sign of deep reflection.
You won't understand the views of a group until you've invited the quieter voices into the discussion.
Don't mistake silence for disengagement. It's often a sign of deep reflection.
Be warned. If you are driving in Toronto today be prepared for a LOT of angry/rage drivers.
#snowmageddon
#snowmageddon
February 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Be warned. If you are driving in Toronto today be prepared for a LOT of angry/rage drivers.
#snowmageddon
#snowmageddon
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
BREAKING: In response to doctors' lawsuit, Judge John Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, orders CDC, NIH, and FDA to put back up websites and datasets cited by the doctors in their lawsuit as having been relied upon and pulled down without notice. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![TOTE ASTRICT COLOR
DOCTORS FOR AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. 25-322 (JDB)
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT et al.,
Defendants.
ORDER
Upon consideration of [6] Plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order, [8]
Plaintiff's supplemental declarations, [9] Defendants' opposition, [10] Plaintiff's reply, the
hearing on February 10, 2025, and the entire record herein, and for the reasons stated in the
accompanying Memorandum Opinion, it is hereby ORDERED that
1. Defendants Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control, and Food
and Drug Administration (hereinafter "defendants") shall, by not later than 11:59 pm on
February 11, 2025, restore to their versions as of January 30, 2025, each webpage and dataset
identified by Plaintiff on pages 6-12 of its Memorandum of Law in Support of the Motion for
a Restraining Order [ECF No. 6-1];
2. Defendants shall, in consultation with Plaintiff, identify any other resources that DF A members
rely on to provide medical care and that defendants removed or substantially modified on or
after January 29, 2025, without adequate notice or reasoned explanation; and defendants shall,
by February 14, 2025, restore those resources to their versions as of January 30, 2025;](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreifoaihlyxzbiko32lmralzpicfxnzwfoxp3ki5w4wniiihonzxira@jpeg)
February 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
BREAKING: In response to doctors' lawsuit, Judge John Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, orders CDC, NIH, and FDA to put back up websites and datasets cited by the doctors in their lawsuit as having been relied upon and pulled down without notice. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
Very unusual for ABA to do this Proud lawyer moment: www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/
The ABA supports the rule of law
It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accor...
www.americanbar.org
February 11, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Very unusual for ABA to do this Proud lawyer moment: www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
We’ve been watching Wolf Hall, a fascinating study of how the fragile male ego of a fickle, greedy despot creates a culture of deep cruelty and mistrust, where everyone lives in fear of saying the wrong thing. Thank goodness we’ve moved on from those times.
February 2, 2025 at 9:22 AM
We’ve been watching Wolf Hall, a fascinating study of how the fragile male ego of a fickle, greedy despot creates a culture of deep cruelty and mistrust, where everyone lives in fear of saying the wrong thing. Thank goodness we’ve moved on from those times.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
A lesson we all learned in grade school. Don’t let bullies bully you. #TeamCanada ❤️🇨🇦
February 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A lesson we all learned in grade school. Don’t let bullies bully you. #TeamCanada ❤️🇨🇦
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
This 👏🏼 is 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 normal 👏🏼
Leavitt: "The president will be implementing tomorrow 25 percent tariffs on Mexico, 25 percent on Canada, and a 10 percent tariff on China."
January 31, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This 👏🏼 is 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 normal 👏🏼
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
The highest compliment from someone who disagrees with you is not “You were right.” It’s “You made me think.”
Good arguments help us recognize complexity where we once saw simplicity.
The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It’s to promote critical thinking.
Good arguments help us recognize complexity where we once saw simplicity.
The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It’s to promote critical thinking.
January 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The highest compliment from someone who disagrees with you is not “You were right.” It’s “You made me think.”
Good arguments help us recognize complexity where we once saw simplicity.
The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It’s to promote critical thinking.
Good arguments help us recognize complexity where we once saw simplicity.
The ultimate purpose of debate is not to produce consensus. It’s to promote critical thinking.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
There was a lot to choose from this year, but here’s what we @eurasiagroup.net think you should be worried about in 2025. #TopRisks2025
www.eurasiagroup.net/TopRisks2025
www.eurasiagroup.net/TopRisks2025
Eurasia Group | The Top Risks of 2025
www.eurasiagroup.net
January 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM
There was a lot to choose from this year, but here’s what we @eurasiagroup.net think you should be worried about in 2025. #TopRisks2025
www.eurasiagroup.net/TopRisks2025
www.eurasiagroup.net/TopRisks2025
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
One of the clearest signs of learning is rethinking your assumptions and revising your opinions.
January 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
One of the clearest signs of learning is rethinking your assumptions and revising your opinions.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
For the diary: on Tuesday 18 March, I shall be giving a UCL lunchtime lecture on ‘Lawyers and ‘acting in the best interests of clients’’. It's online, free and booking details are at www.ucl.ac.uk/events/event...
Lunch Hour Lecture | Lawyers and ‘acting in the best interests of clients’’
Professor Stephen Mayson discusses what it should mean for lawyers to fulfil their professional duty to act in the best interests of their clients.
www.ucl.ac.uk
January 3, 2025 at 9:18 AM
For the diary: on Tuesday 18 March, I shall be giving a UCL lunchtime lecture on ‘Lawyers and ‘acting in the best interests of clients’’. It's online, free and booking details are at www.ucl.ac.uk/events/event...
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
Jimmy Carter was a great president and an even better man.
May he rest in peace.
May he rest in peace.
December 29, 2024 at 9:30 PM
Jimmy Carter was a great president and an even better man.
May he rest in peace.
May he rest in peace.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
You can’t judge people only by how they treat you. The true test of character is how they treat those they don't like or need.
Even if someone is kind to you, proceed with caution if they’re consistently unkind to others.
Selective civility is a sign of deep-seated hostility.
Even if someone is kind to you, proceed with caution if they’re consistently unkind to others.
Selective civility is a sign of deep-seated hostility.
December 21, 2024 at 2:52 PM
You can’t judge people only by how they treat you. The true test of character is how they treat those they don't like or need.
Even if someone is kind to you, proceed with caution if they’re consistently unkind to others.
Selective civility is a sign of deep-seated hostility.
Even if someone is kind to you, proceed with caution if they’re consistently unkind to others.
Selective civility is a sign of deep-seated hostility.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
When groups meet to brainstorm, good ideas are lost. People bite their tongues due to conformity pressure, noise, and ego threat.
A better approach is brainwriting: generate ideas separately, then meet to assess and refine.
Group wisdom begins with individual creativity.
A better approach is brainwriting: generate ideas separately, then meet to assess and refine.
Group wisdom begins with individual creativity.
December 16, 2024 at 1:07 PM
When groups meet to brainstorm, good ideas are lost. People bite their tongues due to conformity pressure, noise, and ego threat.
A better approach is brainwriting: generate ideas separately, then meet to assess and refine.
Group wisdom begins with individual creativity.
A better approach is brainwriting: generate ideas separately, then meet to assess and refine.
Group wisdom begins with individual creativity.
Reposted by Rebecca Durcan
"’The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled. We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,’ rebel leaders said in a statement.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters that thousands of Damascus residents had gathered in the city center, chanting ‘Freedom.’”
kyivindependent.com/breaking-syr...
Eyewitnesses told Reuters that thousands of Damascus residents had gathered in the city center, chanting ‘Freedom.’”
kyivindependent.com/breaking-syr...
BREAKING: Syrian rebels announce fall of Russia-backed Assad regime
"The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled. We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," rebel leaders claimed on Dec. 8.
kyivindependent.com
December 8, 2024 at 3:56 AM
"’The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled. We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,’ rebel leaders said in a statement.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters that thousands of Damascus residents had gathered in the city center, chanting ‘Freedom.’”
kyivindependent.com/breaking-syr...
Eyewitnesses told Reuters that thousands of Damascus residents had gathered in the city center, chanting ‘Freedom.’”
kyivindependent.com/breaking-syr...