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...
Yes it’s cold here, but I don’t at all regret the state in which I’ve chosen to live.
Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group
Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group
Joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is the state’s latest move into an area that was previously the domain of the federal government, before the…
trib.al
February 4, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Yes it’s cold here, but I don’t at all regret the state in which I’ve chosen to live.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group
Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group
Joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is the state’s latest move into an area that was previously the domain of the federal government, before the…
trib.al
February 4, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group
Reposted by Sam Brunson
They may look alike for some but he's not the Dos Equis guy... He was one of the most interesting persons of his time, though. Cheers! 😉🐄🥛
February 4, 2026 at 2:13 AM
They may look alike for some but he's not the Dos Equis guy... He was one of the most interesting persons of his time, though. Cheers! 😉🐄🥛
Reposted by Sam Brunson
ultimately we live in places, we eat food, we get medical care, and we can be arrested by police in our local area
we pay rent to landlords, we work at jobs. we vote.
those power relationships are real. not liking them does not excuse us from participating in them.
we pay rent to landlords, we work at jobs. we vote.
those power relationships are real. not liking them does not excuse us from participating in them.
February 4, 2026 at 1:45 AM
ultimately we live in places, we eat food, we get medical care, and we can be arrested by police in our local area
we pay rent to landlords, we work at jobs. we vote.
those power relationships are real. not liking them does not excuse us from participating in them.
we pay rent to landlords, we work at jobs. we vote.
those power relationships are real. not liking them does not excuse us from participating in them.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
i guess, fundamentally, i am just anti-crank. if your position is that normal, everyday people getting out into the streets to protest in the tens of thousands are doing it wrong, you’re a crank, and i assume you believe a lot of other crank shit i don’t care about.
February 3, 2026 at 8:54 PM
i guess, fundamentally, i am just anti-crank. if your position is that normal, everyday people getting out into the streets to protest in the tens of thousands are doing it wrong, you’re a crank, and i assume you believe a lot of other crank shit i don’t care about.
Reed Smoot could be a little dramatic, but this is his take on power that Congress was getting ready to grant President Wilson in 1917.
It's consonant with Thomas Paine's view of the power that the Constitution would grant the president, and also it's aspirational for Donald Trump.
It's consonant with Thomas Paine's view of the power that the Constitution would grant the president, and also it's aspirational for Donald Trump.
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Reed Smoot could be a little dramatic, but this is his take on power that Congress was getting ready to grant President Wilson in 1917.
It's consonant with Thomas Paine's view of the power that the Constitution would grant the president, and also it's aspirational for Donald Trump.
It's consonant with Thomas Paine's view of the power that the Constitution would grant the president, and also it's aspirational for Donald Trump.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
"dumpster fires are an absolutely vital protest tactic" okay, listen, i've been nice, but shut the fuck up.
you want to take a nice nighttime protest pic for the 'gram limned against the red revolutionary fire of burning garbage.
that's it. that's all of the it. you're setting fires for fun.
you want to take a nice nighttime protest pic for the 'gram limned against the red revolutionary fire of burning garbage.
that's it. that's all of the it. you're setting fires for fun.
February 3, 2026 at 11:43 PM
"dumpster fires are an absolutely vital protest tactic" okay, listen, i've been nice, but shut the fuck up.
you want to take a nice nighttime protest pic for the 'gram limned against the red revolutionary fire of burning garbage.
that's it. that's all of the it. you're setting fires for fun.
you want to take a nice nighttime protest pic for the 'gram limned against the red revolutionary fire of burning garbage.
that's it. that's all of the it. you're setting fires for fun.
My daughter's favorite word/concept is "rage-baiting." And honestly, that's what Schumer's Bluesky presence seems to be all about. Because there's no way he doesn't know that vast majorities of Democrats and independents, and even some Republicans, want ICE gone.
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 3, 2026 at 11:34 PM
My daughter's favorite word/concept is "rage-baiting." And honestly, that's what Schumer's Bluesky presence seems to be all about. Because there's no way he doesn't know that vast majorities of Democrats and independents, and even some Republicans, want ICE gone.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Just got out: seems pretty clear Kelly will win. Judge Leon extremely skeptical about members of congress who are retired military not being able to criticize the pentagon. How could they serve on armed services committees, he asked - “how are they able to do their jobs?”
February 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Just got out: seems pretty clear Kelly will win. Judge Leon extremely skeptical about members of congress who are retired military not being able to criticize the pentagon. How could they serve on armed services committees, he asked - “how are they able to do their jobs?”
Maybe slightly more realistically:
If you were writing my article and had to title it, would you use:
(1) Decentralized Philanthropy
-or-
(2) Charity on the Blockchain
If you were writing my article and had to title it, would you use:
(1) Decentralized Philanthropy
-or-
(2) Charity on the Blockchain
Yeah or nay: I should title my article on charitable DAOs "Do Androids Dream of Electric Philanthropists?"
February 3, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Maybe slightly more realistically:
If you were writing my article and had to title it, would you use:
(1) Decentralized Philanthropy
-or-
(2) Charity on the Blockchain
If you were writing my article and had to title it, would you use:
(1) Decentralized Philanthropy
-or-
(2) Charity on the Blockchain
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Martinez: "[I] sat in federal court and watched from 20 feet away as the border patrol agent who attempted to kill me testified at a hearing. Agent Charles Exum—Charles Exum, my attempted executioner was Charles Exum—I hope the government does not consider my use of his name here to be...doxxing."
February 3, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Martinez: "[I] sat in federal court and watched from 20 feet away as the border patrol agent who attempted to kill me testified at a hearing. Agent Charles Exum—Charles Exum, my attempted executioner was Charles Exum—I hope the government does not consider my use of his name here to be...doxxing."
Reposted by Sam Brunson
holy shit
In an interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates confirmed that she ended her marriage with Bill Gates because of allegations contained in the Epstein files.
February 3, 2026 at 6:52 PM
holy shit
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Local news is reporting that Le contracted with DOJ precisely because ICE is breaking the law so often and so seriously that DHS is being hammered with habeas petitions. Some people get what they deserve.
Not a DOJ attorney but a former ICE attorney who volunteered to help just a MONTH ago and is already having a nervous breakdown.
There are ethical considerations to quitting a case but it feels like begging the court to rule contempt because your client sucks does too.
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
There are ethical considerations to quitting a case but it feels like begging the court to rule contempt because your client sucks does too.
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
February 3, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Local news is reporting that Le contracted with DOJ precisely because ICE is breaking the law so often and so seriously that DHS is being hammered with habeas petitions. Some people get what they deserve.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
If this is true, I have less than zero sympathy for her.
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
February 3, 2026 at 10:07 PM
If this is true, I have less than zero sympathy for her.
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
Reposted by Sam Brunson
tfw you're used to EOIR "court" and suddenly find yourself in a real Article III court with real rules and a real judge who isn't automatically in your pocket, unlike the remaining ALJs who survived the immigration judge purges
If this is true, I have less than zero sympathy for her.
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
www.fox9.com/news/federal...
February 3, 2026 at 10:33 PM
tfw you're used to EOIR "court" and suddenly find yourself in a real Article III court with real rules and a real judge who isn't automatically in your pocket, unlike the remaining ALJs who survived the immigration judge purges
Yeah or nay: I should title my article on charitable DAOs "Do Androids Dream of Electric Philanthropists?"
February 3, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Yeah or nay: I should title my article on charitable DAOs "Do Androids Dream of Electric Philanthropists?"
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Amazing post
Bitcoin still ~$75,000 above eventual price.
#ettd
BITCOIN DROPS TO LOWEST PRICE SINCE TRUMP’S ELECTION VICTORY
BITCOIN DROPS TO LOWEST PRICE SINCE TRUMP’S ELECTION VICTORY
February 3, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Amazing post
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Republicans do NOT like Supreme Court expansion (bad, political) but LOVE expanding state supreme courts that issue rulings that Republicans don't like (noble, just)
Republicans Love Supreme Court Expansion When It Gets Them What They Want
When it comes to state supreme courts, Republican politicians have been happy to add (or subtract) justices as they see fit.
ballsandstrikes.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Republicans do NOT like Supreme Court expansion (bad, political) but LOVE expanding state supreme courts that issue rulings that Republicans don't like (noble, just)
Reposted by Sam Brunson
US immigration policy: pushing capital overseas since 2025. 🤡
@bloomberg.com #$GOOGL
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@bloomberg.com #$GOOGL
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
February 3, 2026 at 6:09 PM
US immigration policy: pushing capital overseas since 2025. 🤡
@bloomberg.com #$GOOGL
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@bloomberg.com #$GOOGL
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Winning!
Thanks, Trump.
Thanks, Trump.
Alphabet plots big expansion in India as the US restrains visas. $GOOGL
February 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Winning!
Thanks, Trump.
Thanks, Trump.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Woke 2.0 is that we're going to make the cops and criminal justice system not racist, by force, but we're still going to have cops and a criminal justice system, and they will arrest and prosecute you for illegal asinine antisocial behavior like lighting a dumpster on fire in the middle of a street
I'm pretty sure the correct charge for deliberately lighting a fire that damages property is fifth degree arson in Minnesota
but it's interesting you frame this as "minor vandalism" when the people doing it don't live there while the people telling them to stop do
larping ass mOvEmEnT
but it's interesting you frame this as "minor vandalism" when the people doing it don't live there while the people telling them to stop do
larping ass mOvEmEnT
Actually, yes, domestic terrorism and arson is a trumped up charge for some minor vandalism / property damage.
February 3, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Woke 2.0 is that we're going to make the cops and criminal justice system not racist, by force, but we're still going to have cops and a criminal justice system, and they will arrest and prosecute you for illegal asinine antisocial behavior like lighting a dumpster on fire in the middle of a street
Dutch breakfast this morning.
February 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Dutch breakfast this morning.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Soon as I saw the NYT headline that the administration was dropping the $200m demand on Harvard I knew, just absolutely knew, that he would tweet out an escalation to ONE BILLION DOLLARS while denouncing the FAKE NEWS.
February 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Soon as I saw the NYT headline that the administration was dropping the $200m demand on Harvard I knew, just absolutely knew, that he would tweet out an escalation to ONE BILLION DOLLARS while denouncing the FAKE NEWS.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
Forgive me, Jesus, because I genuinely deeply enjoy how perpetually unhappy and desolate these losers are.
February 3, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Forgive me, Jesus, because I genuinely deeply enjoy how perpetually unhappy and desolate these losers are.
Reposted by Sam Brunson
As far as I can tell, this is the strongest by-right entitlement for faith based orgs ever filed in America
Thank you to my senator Sara Feigenholtz for sponsoring!
Thank you to my senator Sara Feigenholtz for sponsoring!
February 3, 2026 at 1:43 AM
As far as I can tell, this is the strongest by-right entitlement for faith based orgs ever filed in America
Thank you to my senator Sara Feigenholtz for sponsoring!
Thank you to my senator Sara Feigenholtz for sponsoring!