Timothy Raben
@timothyraben.bsky.social
Genetics. Physics. Tango. Dogs. Musicals. Courts. https://traben.github.io/
Pinned
At this point I'm not interested (almost universally) in donating or campaigning for anyone who doesn't support court reform or supports current congressional leadership.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
The DC area has an amazing local professional and amateur community theater scene: music, plays, musicals, comedy, etc.
I've seen amazing shows at the Lincoln Theater, Ford Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, etc. There's also easy Megabus and Amtrak to NYC.
There's almost no trade-off.
I've seen amazing shows at the Lincoln Theater, Ford Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, etc. There's also easy Megabus and Amtrak to NYC.
There's almost no trade-off.
This is not hard. Artists are not responsible for ensuring the Kennedy Center remains relevant and successful. The center’s board is responsible for that, in a fiduciary way. All of this energy being directed at artists should be re-directed at the board.
December 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The DC area has an amazing local professional and amateur community theater scene: music, plays, musicals, comedy, etc.
I've seen amazing shows at the Lincoln Theater, Ford Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, etc. There's also easy Megabus and Amtrak to NYC.
There's almost no trade-off.
I've seen amazing shows at the Lincoln Theater, Ford Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, etc. There's also easy Megabus and Amtrak to NYC.
There's almost no trade-off.
It might have "attracted little notice", but it was definitely noticed by @marisakabas.bsky.social over the weekend. I also can't tell from this article who was tracking and asked the follow up questions on Monday. Would love to see more credit in these pieces.
bsky.app/profile/mari...
bsky.app/profile/mari...
JUST IN: The CIA conducted a drone strike in December on a remote dock on the Venezuelan coast, sources told CNN, the first known US attack inside the country. https://cnn.it/490npv8
December 30, 2025 at 3:40 PM
It might have "attracted little notice", but it was definitely noticed by @marisakabas.bsky.social over the weekend. I also can't tell from this article who was tracking and asked the follow up questions on Monday. Would love to see more credit in these pieces.
bsky.app/profile/mari...
bsky.app/profile/mari...
If these people want "blue no matter who" then why didn't they all endorse mamdani?
CNN: DC Democrats irked by surge of left-wing challengers with House majority on the line www.cnn.com/2025/12/21/p...
‘They’re attacking their own’: DC Democrats irked by surge of left-wing challengers with House majority on the line | CNN Politics
When Rep. Dan Goldman first ran for Congress in 2022, he was cheered on the left as the party’s top lawyer during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment.
www.cnn.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
If these people want "blue no matter who" then why didn't they all endorse mamdani?
There's just no way Schumer can remain in leadership. I think he should leave the senate too. He doesn't seem to understand what's going on around him. Or worse, he does.
LOL - Senate (and House) Republicans are ending their "probe" into Hegseth's boat strikes after they got Schumer, Durbin and majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus to vote for a $900 billon defense authorization bill for Trump/Hegseth.
December 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
There's just no way Schumer can remain in leadership. I think he should leave the senate too. He doesn't seem to understand what's going on around him. Or worse, he does.
I don't think Thinking Basketball ever misses, but here he *particularly* doesn't miss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NWD...
The NBA is letting offenses do whatever they want
YouTube video by Thinking Basketball
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I don't think Thinking Basketball ever misses, but here he *particularly* doesn't miss. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NWD...
AI has some good uses already, but it's certainly not universally useful & in no way shape or form profitable. But there is a lot of nuance and it's a technical topic.
What shouldn't be hard to grasp is that companies try to make their product addictive. It's a design feature.
What shouldn't be hard to grasp is that companies try to make their product addictive. It's a design feature.
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 17, 2025 at 6:27 PM
AI has some good uses already, but it's certainly not universally useful & in no way shape or form profitable. But there is a lot of nuance and it's a technical topic.
What shouldn't be hard to grasp is that companies try to make their product addictive. It's a design feature.
What shouldn't be hard to grasp is that companies try to make their product addictive. It's a design feature.
In layman's terms, these two Trump appointed judges want arguments for the proposition that only the Trump justice department can investigate if the Trump justice department broke the law when it possibly lied and and disobeyed the judicial branch.
Judges Rao/Katsas have iced Judge Boasberg's contempt hearings until at least the New Year. And they want to know whether he has the power to investigate contempt at all or must refer it to DOJ. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
In layman's terms, these two Trump appointed judges want arguments for the proposition that only the Trump justice department can investigate if the Trump justice department broke the law when it possibly lied and and disobeyed the judicial branch.
It's not that it's not a bill of attainder. It's just that these three (Biden appointed) appeals court judges *like* the attainder!
"Sec 71113...imposes no fine or other penalty for past conduct. Instead, it establishes new conditions on the receipt of appropriated funds in service of a new policy goal favored by Congress. And it does so by imposing conditions that Appellees can satisfy by halting abortion services. "
WOOF.
WOOF.
December 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
It's not that it's not a bill of attainder. It's just that these three (Biden appointed) appeals court judges *like* the attainder!
Reposted by Timothy Raben
At least 11 congressmen from 1865-1871 were arguably not citizens under Trump's interpretation of 14th A, our research finds. Yet no one challenged their eligibility to serve. Why not? Obviously, b/c no one who drafted or ratified the 14th A shared Trump's view.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The Dog That Didn't Bark: Eligibility To Serve In Congress And The Original Understanding Of The Citizenship Clause
President Donald J. Trump's 2025 Executive Order restricting birthright citizenship has prompted new interest in the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment'
papers.ssrn.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
At least 11 congressmen from 1865-1871 were arguably not citizens under Trump's interpretation of 14th A, our research finds. Yet no one challenged their eligibility to serve. Why not? Obviously, b/c no one who drafted or ratified the 14th A shared Trump's view.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Timothy Raben
The whole point of my post is that “interim” isn’t either (1) accurate or (2) neutral as a discussion of what the Court is doing in the relevant subset of cases.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
December 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The whole point of my post is that “interim” isn’t either (1) accurate or (2) neutral as a discussion of what the Court is doing in the relevant subset of cases.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
At this point I'm not interested (almost universally) in donating or campaigning for anyone who doesn't support court reform or supports current congressional leadership.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
December 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
At this point I'm not interested (almost universally) in donating or campaigning for anyone who doesn't support court reform or supports current congressional leadership.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
To put that into yet more perspective: In the chart below, the purple area is too early (the law does not exist) and the red part is too late (the Supreme Court's newest Purcell principle). The pink bit is both too early and too late. The green part is when you should sue.
December 5, 2025 at 7:46 PM
To put that into yet more perspective: In the chart below, the purple area is too early (the law does not exist) and the red part is too late (the Supreme Court's newest Purcell principle). The pink bit is both too early and too late. The green part is when you should sue.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
(1) New essay and blog post up that are coauthored with the great @jedshug.bsky.social We bring together a decade of scholarship to argue that the quasi-judicial category is both consistent w/ original public meaning and synonymous with a deeper Anglo-American “history and tradition.”
Quasi-Judicial: A History and Tradition
<div>
<p><span>In the process of bulldozing the unitary executive theory, scholars have made several seemingly unrelated discoveries. First, "judicial&quo
papers.ssrn.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
(1) New essay and blog post up that are coauthored with the great @jedshug.bsky.social We bring together a decade of scholarship to argue that the quasi-judicial category is both consistent w/ original public meaning and synonymous with a deeper Anglo-American “history and tradition.”
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
BREAKING: Supreme Court GRANTS Texas request to restore redistricting maps
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
The best case for legal realism is that the supreme court majority act like legal realists. The facts and rules don't matter, it's all power.
December 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The best case for legal realism is that the supreme court majority act like legal realists. The facts and rules don't matter, it's all power.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
The court repeatedly acknowledged the presumption of good faith, but explained that all of the evidence pointing to racial motivations overcame it. The bill's authors compiled a legislative record "replete with racial statistics!"
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The court repeatedly acknowledged the presumption of good faith, but explained that all of the evidence pointing to racial motivations overcame it. The bill's authors compiled a legislative record "replete with racial statistics!"
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Also!!!! The two things SCOTUS said the district court failed to consider were … addressed by the district court. More persuasively than SCOTUS
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Also!!!! The two things SCOTUS said the district court failed to consider were … addressed by the district court. More persuasively than SCOTUS
Reposted by Timothy Raben
The main institutions of the Federal Government—White House, Supreme Court and Congress—are in complete shambles.
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The main institutions of the Federal Government—White House, Supreme Court and Congress—are in complete shambles.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Texas & DOJ said that’s what was going on!
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
December 4, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Texas & DOJ said that’s what was going on!
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
As Justice Kagan begins her dissent by pointing out, what is even the point of trial, of fact-finding, of clear error, of standards of review, when the Supreme Court simply ignores every single part of that and decides everything purely on the papers without any real consideration of the facts?
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
As Justice Kagan begins her dissent by pointing out, what is even the point of trial, of fact-finding, of clear error, of standards of review, when the Supreme Court simply ignores every single part of that and decides everything purely on the papers without any real consideration of the facts?
An aspect I see being under reported
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
Damning report labels FBI ‘rudderless ship’ under Kash Patel — with him and Dan Bongino more concerned with building ‘personal résumés’
FBI Director Kash Patel is facing withering criticism days after the White House denied media reports that the president is about to fire him.
nypost.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM
An aspect I see being under reported
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
The only narrow crack seems to be (1) if an appeals court just overrules this or (2) if the district court appoints a new interim US attorney and the new attorney decides to indict within the 6-month 'do over' grace period.
MORE: Judge Currie basically slams the door on re-indicting Comey here. She notes that "there is no legitimate peg" to extend the expired Sept. 30 statute of limitations. The window for James is a little wider. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The only narrow crack seems to be (1) if an appeals court just overrules this or (2) if the district court appoints a new interim US attorney and the new attorney decides to indict within the 6-month 'do over' grace period.
Slot had 2 weeks off to implement changes. All the players on international duty looked great. How come #LFC look the same they have for 2 months?
November 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Slot had 2 weeks off to implement changes. All the players on international duty looked great. How come #LFC look the same they have for 2 months?
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Last month I wrote about two new papers presenting the new Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI), a resource with genetic and EHR data from about half a million participants.
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Taiwan invests in genetic resource for health
A large biobanking effort captures genetic and health data from half a million people in Taiwan, widening the diversity of genomes used to predict disease risk.
www.nature.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Last month I wrote about two new papers presenting the new Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI), a resource with genetic and EHR data from about half a million participants.
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This isn't that complicated. Both Plaskett and Trump should resign!
Plaskett: You want to talk about texting felons, how often do you text President Donald J. Trump?
November 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
This isn't that complicated. Both Plaskett and Trump should resign!