Sam Feldman
@srfeld.bsky.social
Appellate public defender, trade unionist, NYC-DSA member. Washingtonian by birth, Chicago alum. He/him. Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
My friend Michael Kinnucan said he's going to get this tattooed. It's the last 2 paragraphs of this great piece by @dsquareddigest.bsky.social
backofmind.substack.com/p/why-this-w...
backofmind.substack.com/p/why-this-w...
February 13, 2026 at 5:31 PM
My friend Michael Kinnucan said he's going to get this tattooed. It's the last 2 paragraphs of this great piece by @dsquareddigest.bsky.social
backofmind.substack.com/p/why-this-w...
backofmind.substack.com/p/why-this-w...
Reposted by Sam Feldman
this seemingly salacious story actually buries within it several bad tendencies of modern politics & info communications
1. Trump DoJ aggressively charges for a man keeping his niece at his home after her estranged husband pulled her greed card application
2. media repeats DoJ's gossip / lies
1. Trump DoJ aggressively charges for a man keeping his niece at his home after her estranged husband pulled her greed card application
2. media repeats DoJ's gossip / lies
CBP officer faces federal charges over allegations he harbored an unauthorized immigrant who was also his girlfriend and niece.
CBP officer faces federal charges over allegations he harbored an unauthorized immigrant who was also his girlfriend and niece
The Justice Department alleges that CBP officer and supervisor Andres Wilkinson had been living in Laredo, Texas, with a woman who had overstayed her visa and is now in the U.S. illegally.
cbsn.ws
February 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM
this seemingly salacious story actually buries within it several bad tendencies of modern politics & info communications
1. Trump DoJ aggressively charges for a man keeping his niece at his home after her estranged husband pulled her greed card application
2. media repeats DoJ's gossip / lies
1. Trump DoJ aggressively charges for a man keeping his niece at his home after her estranged husband pulled her greed card application
2. media repeats DoJ's gossip / lies
Reposted by Sam Feldman
This looks valuable. Note his proposal that states should be positioned and encouraged to prosecute these crimes.
My paper, Patronage Pardons, is forthcoming in the Duke Law Journal.
This has appeared in popular press, but here is the full dress version. What distinguishes Trumpist clemency corruption is its communicative function - it powers a loyalty for protection racket.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
This has appeared in popular press, but here is the full dress version. What distinguishes Trumpist clemency corruption is its communicative function - it powers a loyalty for protection racket.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 10, 2026 at 3:03 PM
This looks valuable. Note his proposal that states should be positioned and encouraged to prosecute these crimes.
I forget who suggested recently that some lower federal judges, having given up on writing to persuade the Supreme Court, are instead now writing to persuade the public. Whatever the effectiveness of that strategy, Johnston has written a very clear defense of due process here.
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM
I forget who suggested recently that some lower federal judges, having given up on writing to persuade the Supreme Court, are instead now writing to persuade the public. Whatever the effectiveness of that strategy, Johnston has written a very clear defense of due process here.
Attorney discipline systems (run by state bars in some states, by courts or agencies in others) are slow & scared of seeming political, but have been a moderately effective method of imposing consequences on lawyers who've broken the rules to do Trump's bidding (Giuliani, Chesebro, Eastman, etc.).
The Freedom of the Press Foundation files a disciplinary complaint against the federal prosecutor who signed the search warrant of WaPo reporter Hannah Natanson, arguing he failed to cite a federal law barring the application.
Letter buff.ly/xDHJIy4
Letter buff.ly/xDHJIy4
February 9, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Attorney discipline systems (run by state bars in some states, by courts or agencies in others) are slow & scared of seeming political, but have been a moderately effective method of imposing consequences on lawyers who've broken the rules to do Trump's bidding (Giuliani, Chesebro, Eastman, etc.).
Reposted by Sam Feldman
Join a union.
The Ford worker who heckled Trump during a visit to the company's plant still has his job and "has no discipline on his record," a union official said
Ford worker who heckled Trump keeps job, 'no discipline' for incident
The United Auto Workers union said TJ Sabula remains employed and called out the president for making an obscene gesture toward the worker.
www.detroitnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Join a union.
Party systems were the backbone of Western liberal democracies in the postwar era. Anton Jager writes in @nytopinion.nytimes.com about the odd paradox that, across the West, political parties have hollowed out & withered away even as we’ve entered a period of intense political activity.
Opinion | They Used to Rule the West. Now They’re Dying.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Party systems were the backbone of Western liberal democracies in the postwar era. Anton Jager writes in @nytopinion.nytimes.com about the odd paradox that, across the West, political parties have hollowed out & withered away even as we’ve entered a period of intense political activity.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
February 6, 2026 at 5:10 AM
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
If I were a wealthy AIPAC donor, I’d think twice about trusting them with my money in the future after they aimed their fire at a moderate they were miffed at and accidentally elected the candidate most opposed to them.
Given how close the NJ-11 primary is (Mejia beating Malinowski by less than 1 point), it seems clear that Malinowski probably would have won if AIPAC hadn't done everything it could to drive liberal voters away from him, right?
February 6, 2026 at 3:35 AM
If I were a wealthy AIPAC donor, I’d think twice about trusting them with my money in the future after they aimed their fire at a moderate they were miffed at and accidentally elected the candidate most opposed to them.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
More than 1,400 pending criminal cases in Oregon must be dismissed due to a huge shortage of public defenders, state supreme court ruled.
Many defendants have waited months or years to get a lawyer, a constitutional violation leaving them unable to fight charges, indefinitely derailing their lives.
Many defendants have waited months or years to get a lawyer, a constitutional violation leaving them unable to fight charges, indefinitely derailing their lives.
Oregon must dismiss more than 1,400 criminal cases due to attorney shortage, court rules
Severe lack of public defenders has meant people charged with crimes have been routinely unable to fight their cases
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:39 AM
More than 1,400 pending criminal cases in Oregon must be dismissed due to a huge shortage of public defenders, state supreme court ruled.
Many defendants have waited months or years to get a lawyer, a constitutional violation leaving them unable to fight charges, indefinitely derailing their lives.
Many defendants have waited months or years to get a lawyer, a constitutional violation leaving them unable to fight charges, indefinitely derailing their lives.
The CURB Act would ban some of the NYPD's most notorious tactics against protesters, like kettling, tear gassing, and using sound cannons. Almost half the city council co-sponsored it last term, but it doesn't seem to have been reintroduced yet this year.
February 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
The CURB Act would ban some of the NYPD's most notorious tactics against protesters, like kettling, tear gassing, and using sound cannons. Almost half the city council co-sponsored it last term, but it doesn't seem to have been reintroduced yet this year.
The immigration court system was never a real court system, and under the Trump administration it resembles one less and less. The next administration should go in the opposite direction and allow people the government is trying to deport the protections of a real, independent Article III court.
🚨HOLY CRAP. The Trump admin just took a SLEDGEHAMMER to due process, largely eliminating the Board of Immigration Appeals process and MANDATING DISMISSAL of ALL appeals (which cost $1,000 thanks to OBBBA) filed after tomorrow unless a majority of the BIA votes to hear the case.
February 5, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The immigration court system was never a real court system, and under the Trump administration it resembles one less and less. The next administration should go in the opposite direction and allow people the government is trying to deport the protections of a real, independent Article III court.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
New: UAW reaches landmark tentative contract deal with Volkswagen in Chattanooga Tennessee, including 20% across-the-board pay hikes www.bloomberg.com/news/article... "This contract is proof that if you stand up and stick together, you can win a better life”
Volkswagen Workers in Tennessee Win 20% Pay Hike in Union Deal
Volkswagen AG employees in Tennessee have secured a 20% across-the-board wage hike in a landmark deal with the United Auto Workers union.
bloomberg.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 AM
New: UAW reaches landmark tentative contract deal with Volkswagen in Chattanooga Tennessee, including 20% across-the-board pay hikes www.bloomberg.com/news/article... "This contract is proof that if you stand up and stick together, you can win a better life”
Reposted by Sam Feldman
A Minneapolis City Council committee delayed action Tuesday on renewing liquor licenses for two Minneapolis hotels that have housed federal immigration officers.
Minneapolis Council committee delays liquor licenses for 2 hotels over hosting federal agents
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the liquor licenses for the Canopy by Hilton in the Mill District and Depot Renaissance Hotel.
www.startribune.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:44 AM
A Minneapolis City Council committee delayed action Tuesday on renewing liquor licenses for two Minneapolis hotels that have housed federal immigration officers.
The federal government has a large workforce of lawyers who sought out their jobs for some combination of prestige, stability, and desire for public service. The demands of the Trump administration have caused many to leave, and the remainder are starting to break down.
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
February 3, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The federal government has a large workforce of lawyers who sought out their jobs for some combination of prestige, stability, and desire for public service. The demands of the Trump administration have caused many to leave, and the remainder are starting to break down.
Attorney's fees is an arcane & boring-sounding area of law that matters a lot because it provides public funding that makes legal representation possible even for poor people. In several circuits, people thrown in immigration detention may be able to get freed through lawyers even if they can't pay.
3d Cir. holds that habeas corpus petitions challenging immigration detention are "civil actions," so prevailing noncitizens may be entitled to attorneys' fees and costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
Gonna be a loooooooooot of these.
www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/242...
Gonna be a loooooooooot of these.
www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/242...
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Attorney's fees is an arcane & boring-sounding area of law that matters a lot because it provides public funding that makes legal representation possible even for poor people. In several circuits, people thrown in immigration detention may be able to get freed through lawyers even if they can't pay.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
Currently, congestion pricing and bus fares raise roughly comparable amounts of money. If we need a billion dollars a year for transit improvements, why would we choose to get that from retaining bus fares, rather than raising the congestion fee?
February 3, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Currently, congestion pricing and bus fares raise roughly comparable amounts of money. If we need a billion dollars a year for transit improvements, why would we choose to get that from retaining bus fares, rather than raising the congestion fee?
As a federal district, DC can't even set its own tax policy without Congress trying to interfere. No one in Congress can justify why they should have this power, and none of them ever try to. And yet there are members of the Senate Dem caucus (Mark Kelly, Angus King) who don't support DC statehood.
This week the House is expected to vote on a resolution that would repeal a D.C. bill that decoupled the city's tax code from some of the tax changes Republicans made last year. City officials say that if it passes Congress, it would cost D.C. $600 million over four years.
February 2, 2026 at 9:49 PM
As a federal district, DC can't even set its own tax policy without Congress trying to interfere. No one in Congress can justify why they should have this power, and none of them ever try to. And yet there are members of the Senate Dem caucus (Mark Kelly, Angus King) who don't support DC statehood.
I think this is the key to the periodic debate about whether buying food from restaurants is cheaper than making food at home. Home cooking for one person is historically unusual and can be inefficient and expensive.
Cooking for one can come close if you shop at a high end grocery store and/or are not good at planning how to use leftover ingredients. But it scales very quickly with 2+.
February 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I think this is the key to the periodic debate about whether buying food from restaurants is cheaper than making food at home. Home cooking for one person is historically unusual and can be inefficient and expensive.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
Happy February everyone!
February 1, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Happy February everyone!
Reposted by Sam Feldman
Mayor Mamdani names criminal justice reformer Stanley Richards as NYC’s new Department of Correction commissioner
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Mamdani names reformer Stanley Richards to steer chaotic Rikers complex
Exactly one month into his term, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed a formerly incarcerated person to manage the facility.
gothamist.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Mayor Mamdani names criminal justice reformer Stanley Richards as NYC’s new Department of Correction commissioner
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
The streets of NYC are filled with giant snowbanks and temperatures are staying below freezing for the foreseeable future, so I was really glad to learn the city has a giant machine to melt snow down by dumping it into a hot tub-like contraption.
New York City digging out and melting snow piles
YouTube video by Eyewitness News ABC7NY
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:35 PM
The streets of NYC are filled with giant snowbanks and temperatures are staying below freezing for the foreseeable future, so I was really glad to learn the city has a giant machine to melt snow down by dumping it into a hot tub-like contraption.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
Today, Luke Farrell (@lukef.bsky.social) explains how complex eligibility requirements have turned America’s safety net into a lucrative revenue stream for monopolistic private contractors.
The Means-Testing Industrial Complex
As Republicans tightened work requirements and eligibility rules for Medicaid and SNAP last year, Equifax’s CEO openly celebrated the profits to be made from administering this deprivation.
lpeproject.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Today, Luke Farrell (@lukef.bsky.social) explains how complex eligibility requirements have turned America’s safety net into a lucrative revenue stream for monopolistic private contractors.
Reposted by Sam Feldman
Does Alvin Bragg still go to work? Is he even alive?
Nine DAs are coalescing to work on prosecuting federal agents for 'overreach':
—L. Krasner in Philly
—J. Creuzot in Dallas
—M. Moriarty in Minneapolis
—L. Conover in Tucson
—S. Descano in Fairfax (VA)
—R. Fatehi in Norfolk (VA)
—S. Morales in Portsmouth (VA)
—P. Dehghani-Tafti in Arlington (VA)
—L. Krasner in Philly
—J. Creuzot in Dallas
—M. Moriarty in Minneapolis
—L. Conover in Tucson
—S. Descano in Fairfax (VA)
—R. Fatehi in Norfolk (VA)
—S. Morales in Portsmouth (VA)
—P. Dehghani-Tafti in Arlington (VA)
January 28, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Does Alvin Bragg still go to work? Is he even alive?
Very audacious of the @aclu.org to invoke free speech and posture against the Trump administration while at the same time it’s asking Trump’s NLRB to change labor law by restricting free speech rights at work. All this to avoid admitting it illegally fired an employee!
January 27, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Very audacious of the @aclu.org to invoke free speech and posture against the Trump administration while at the same time it’s asking Trump’s NLRB to change labor law by restricting free speech rights at work. All this to avoid admitting it illegally fired an employee!