Sam Brunson
@smbrnsn.bsky.social
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Georgia Reithal Professor Law, Loyola University Chicago. Lots of taxes, jazz, cooking, and cats. Author "God and the IRS: Accommodating Religious Practice in United States Tax Law"
Pinned
Sam Brunson
@smbrnsn.bsky.social
· Dec 11
Okay, it's not the Black Friday 50% off, but if you wanted my book, think its sticker price is too expensive, but missed the Black Friday sale, you can still get it for 40% off! www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
Reposted by Sam Brunson
lol. and furthermore: lmao.
February 6, 2026 at 7:20 PM
lol. and furthermore: lmao.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
1. this is bullshit
2. it is a good thing that an outcry against extremely racist stuff led to a bullshit excuse rather than a defense on the merits
2. it is a good thing that an outcry against extremely racist stuff led to a bullshit excuse rather than a defense on the merits
POLITICO reporting that the White House has now claimed the ape video was an accident and removed it.
February 6, 2026 at 9:03 PM
1. this is bullshit
2. it is a good thing that an outcry against extremely racist stuff led to a bullshit excuse rather than a defense on the merits
2. it is a good thing that an outcry against extremely racist stuff led to a bullshit excuse rather than a defense on the merits
Honestly, the second you claim that Harris's loss had something to do with Liz Cheney, I know exactly how seriously to take your analysis.
(Tbc: not even in the least bit seriously.)
(Tbc: not even in the least bit seriously.)
... that the strategy to appeal to those voters was by signaling moving right. Ergo, the Liz Cheney appearances, zero trans people or Palestinians featured at the DNC, the positioning of her speech, the top spending outside ad featuring a lifelong Republican talking about tax cuts, etc etc.
February 6, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Honestly, the second you claim that Harris's loss had something to do with Liz Cheney, I know exactly how seriously to take your analysis.
(Tbc: not even in the least bit seriously.)
(Tbc: not even in the least bit seriously.)
Reposted by Sam Brunson
In an opinion dismissing Trump's attempt to get an unredacted copy of Oregon's complete voter registration list, a federal judge cites Bondi's extortion letter to Gov. Walz as support for denying the government a presumption of regularity
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 6, 2026 at 8:22 PM
In an opinion dismissing Trump's attempt to get an unredacted copy of Oregon's complete voter registration list, a federal judge cites Bondi's extortion letter to Gov. Walz as support for denying the government a presumption of regularity
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Sam Brunson
a thing you really can’t afford to lose if you’re the DOJ is the presumption of regularity, especially when both the quality and quantity of your attorneys are falling through the floor
In an opinion dismissing Trump's attempt to get an unredacted copy of Oregon's complete voter registration list, a federal judge cites Bondi's extortion letter to Gov. Walz as support for denying the government a presumption of regularity
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 6, 2026 at 8:34 PM
a thing you really can’t afford to lose if you’re the DOJ is the presumption of regularity, especially when both the quality and quantity of your attorneys are falling through the floor
I'll list two: I recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Because I checked the ebook out from the library, I had no idea how massive it was when I started. But by the time I found out what I'd gotten myself into, I was hooked. And it was worth every word. (This is one I may buy.) 1/
February 6, 2026 at 8:22 PM
I'll list two: I recently finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Because I checked the ebook out from the library, I had no idea how massive it was when I started. But by the time I found out what I'd gotten myself into, I was hooked. And it was worth every word. (This is one I may buy.) 1/
There is literally no better way to say this and I hope the Nation did it on purpose rather than just stumbling into the perfect headline.
February 6, 2026 at 8:05 PM
There is literally no better way to say this and I hope the Nation did it on purpose rather than just stumbling into the perfect headline.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
So, you know how the current cold water realism response to "put humans on Mars!" is "no matter what the problems are making Mars habitable, they're harder than keeping the Earth habitable"?
The "the Democrats are useless we need a new opposition party" gets the same cold water response, sorry.
The "the Democrats are useless we need a new opposition party" gets the same cold water response, sorry.
January 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
So, you know how the current cold water realism response to "put humans on Mars!" is "no matter what the problems are making Mars habitable, they're harder than keeping the Earth habitable"?
The "the Democrats are useless we need a new opposition party" gets the same cold water response, sorry.
The "the Democrats are useless we need a new opposition party" gets the same cold water response, sorry.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Proud to have attended @mayor.nyc.gov’s interfaith breakfast, where Zohran reaffirmed New York City’s commitment to being a sanctuary city. This Executive Order will protect our immigrant neighbors and defend NYC as a place of safety and opportunity for all people.
February 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Proud to have attended @mayor.nyc.gov’s interfaith breakfast, where Zohran reaffirmed New York City’s commitment to being a sanctuary city. This Executive Order will protect our immigrant neighbors and defend NYC as a place of safety and opportunity for all people.
If that's actually what lawyers are telling her to do, she might have bad lawyers. Or she might be a bad client.
A lawyer's job is to help a client achieve their goals, in part by identifying the risk associated with each pathway and in part by recommending pathways to achieve it. 1/
A lawyer's job is to help a client achieve their goals, in part by identifying the risk associated with each pathway and in part by recommending pathways to achieve it. 1/
In case you missed it, Senator Slotkin makes a great point here about how lawyers have advised her to lay low and not make any waves with Trump. And instead, she has done the exact opposite by standing up to him. This is the way. open.substack.com/pub/jimacost...
Senator Elissa Slotkin and Liz Oyer on DOJ Injustice and Florida Gubernatorial Candidate David Jolly
Plus Jim makes a personal plea for information in disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
open.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:21 PM
If that's actually what lawyers are telling her to do, she might have bad lawyers. Or she might be a bad client.
A lawyer's job is to help a client achieve their goals, in part by identifying the risk associated with each pathway and in part by recommending pathways to achieve it. 1/
A lawyer's job is to help a client achieve their goals, in part by identifying the risk associated with each pathway and in part by recommending pathways to achieve it. 1/
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Job of a lawyer is to tell you what the risks of various options are.
It's up to you to decide how much risk you're willing to take on
It's up to you to decide how much risk you're willing to take on
The job of a lawyer is generally to tell you what the safest option is, and that’s not always the best option.
In case you missed it, Senator Slotkin makes a great point here about how lawyers have advised her to lay low and not make any waves with Trump. And instead, she has done the exact opposite by standing up to him. This is the way. open.substack.com/pub/jimacost...
February 6, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Job of a lawyer is to tell you what the risks of various options are.
It's up to you to decide how much risk you're willing to take on
It's up to you to decide how much risk you're willing to take on
It's so strange to me--my Reddit experience is 95% r/windsynth (a forum for wind synthesizers) and 5% researching guitar pedals. (In fairness, both are echo chambers of people who like specific musical stuff!)
February 6, 2026 at 6:39 PM
It's so strange to me--my Reddit experience is 95% r/windsynth (a forum for wind synthesizers) and 5% researching guitar pedals. (In fairness, both are echo chambers of people who like specific musical stuff!)
Reposted by Sam Brunson
DEVELOPING: Federal judge will let Marimar Martinez release text messages sent by Border Patrol agent who shot her
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/f...
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/f...
Federal judge will let Marimar Martinez release text messages sent by Border Patrol agent who shot her
U.S. District Judge Georgia Alexakis pointed out that Martinez is "presumed innocent of any offense of which she has not been convicted." Martinez's attorney said the text messages and other evidence ...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:18 PM
DEVELOPING: Federal judge will let Marimar Martinez release text messages sent by Border Patrol agent who shot her
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/f...
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/02/06/f...
Reposted by Sam Brunson
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
February 6, 2026 at 3:47 PM
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
Reposted by Sam Brunson
this is such a profound misunderstanding of what art is and what it means
![2. being poor means having to make hard choices like:
[a] drawing something yourself in a way society would call "bad" (i.e. unprofessional)
[b] sacrificing resources you don't have to pay a real artist what they're worth (or learn yourself)
[c] not doing it at all, or
[d] using AI.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jb2q4yqmgpmefxd4xx66gepm/bafkreif2bp3na5nfvtvrsdljkuycvteizzcclwmgcg4u55mybhpx4qqvxm@jpeg)
February 6, 2026 at 6:18 PM
this is such a profound misunderstanding of what art is and what it means
Exactly this. When I listen to Sonny Rollins, I hear the notes he put down on the record, but I also hear the two years he spent practicing on the Williamsburg Bridge out of the public eye. And those two years matter.
it seems like a lot of people don’t understand that creating art is usually pretty intensely process-based; the process is part of the art.
February 6, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Exactly this. When I listen to Sonny Rollins, I hear the notes he put down on the record, but I also hear the two years he spent practicing on the Williamsburg Bridge out of the public eye. And those two years matter.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
it seems like a lot of people don’t understand that creating art is usually pretty intensely process-based; the process is part of the art.
February 6, 2026 at 6:25 PM
it seems like a lot of people don’t understand that creating art is usually pretty intensely process-based; the process is part of the art.
Like, every time I think about this, it seems more self-evidently correct. Force ICE to decide whether they'd prefer to violate rights or keep immigrants from getting citizenship. (Honestly, my guess is they prefer violating rights.)
One of my craziest political ideas which is also self-evidently correct is that if your constitutional rights are violated during any immigration enforcement you should get a green card automatically and be put on a fast track for citizenship
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
February 6, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Like, every time I think about this, it seems more self-evidently correct. Force ICE to decide whether they'd prefer to violate rights or keep immigrants from getting citizenship. (Honestly, my guess is they prefer violating rights.)
Reposted by Sam Brunson
kind of amazing to think that there are people who wake up in the morning, get mad at a fox news post and then send this stuff
February 6, 2026 at 12:46 PM
kind of amazing to think that there are people who wake up in the morning, get mad at a fox news post and then send this stuff
Reposted by Sam Brunson
One of my craziest political ideas which is also self-evidently correct is that if your constitutional rights are violated during any immigration enforcement you should get a green card automatically and be put on a fast track for citizenship
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 6:05 PM
One of my craziest political ideas which is also self-evidently correct is that if your constitutional rights are violated during any immigration enforcement you should get a green card automatically and be put on a fast track for citizenship
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Exclusionary rule for regular police. Inclusionary rule for immigration police. This is genius.
One of my craziest political ideas which is also self-evidently correct is that if your constitutional rights are violated during any immigration enforcement you should get a green card automatically and be put on a fast track for citizenship
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
February 6, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Exclusionary rule for regular police. Inclusionary rule for immigration police. This is genius.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
President Donald Trump went on a wild social media posting spree late Thursday night and into Friday morning, one that included a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
Trump Posts Wildly Racist Video of the Obamas
Donald Trump posted a video that included a clip depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, set to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
www.rollingstone.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:13 PM
President Donald Trump went on a wild social media posting spree late Thursday night and into Friday morning, one that included a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
OK, credit where it’s due, this is fairly good, if too credulous of the excuses.
February 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
OK, credit where it’s due, this is fairly good, if too credulous of the excuses.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
I really wonder if there is a level of overt racism from the Trump Administration, whether rhetorical or as explicit basis for policy, that would get traditional media outlets like @nytimes.com and @washingtonpost.com and @cnn.com to say he’s being racist.
February 6, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I really wonder if there is a level of overt racism from the Trump Administration, whether rhetorical or as explicit basis for policy, that would get traditional media outlets like @nytimes.com and @washingtonpost.com and @cnn.com to say he’s being racist.