Billy F. R.
@wfrison89.bsky.social
Vermont, Law, Higher Ed Policy, & DC Sports
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Such a great discussion — talking about MAHA and health policy, and what we could learn from Japan too
Thanks for having me on the podcast @thehowie.bsky.social and @hmkyale.bsky.social insights.som.yale.edu/podcasts/hea...
Thanks for having me on the podcast @thehowie.bsky.social and @hmkyale.bsky.social insights.som.yale.edu/podcasts/hea...
Jonathan Cohn: Health Policy in the Age of MAHA
Howie and Harlan are joined by health policy writer Jonathan Cohn to discuss the RFK Jr. food agenda, the barriers to universal healthcare in the U.S., and working alongside former political adversari...
insights.som.yale.edu
January 22, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Such a great discussion — talking about MAHA and health policy, and what we could learn from Japan too
Thanks for having me on the podcast @thehowie.bsky.social and @hmkyale.bsky.social insights.som.yale.edu/podcasts/hea...
Thanks for having me on the podcast @thehowie.bsky.social and @hmkyale.bsky.social insights.som.yale.edu/podcasts/hea...
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Time and again, successful resistance to Trump’s authoritarianism comes from ordinary Americans putting their actual bodies on the line, when institutional leaders can’t even deign to use strong language.
Watch that. And then tell me how we replace Schumer with her
January 21, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Time and again, successful resistance to Trump’s authoritarianism comes from ordinary Americans putting their actual bodies on the line, when institutional leaders can’t even deign to use strong language.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
It’s notable that the president can go on TV and be a total gutter racist, and somehow this isn’t news in the slightest. Says a lot about the sickness of American society right now.
Trump: "They're paid agitators and insurrectionists. Nobody talks about the fact that $19 billion at a minimum is missing in Minnesota, given to a large degree by Somalians. They've taken it. Somalians. A lot of very low IQ people."
January 20, 2026 at 11:50 PM
It’s notable that the president can go on TV and be a total gutter racist, and somehow this isn’t news in the slightest. Says a lot about the sickness of American society right now.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Getting rid of disparate impact liability under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act would mean cutting millions of people of color off from recourse for anything but the most obvious and explicit discrimination
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
How the Trump Administration Is Quietly Resegregating the American Workforce
The Justice Department’s rollback of disparate impact is just one new policy that makes it harder for people of color to challenge illegal discrimination.
ballsandstrikes.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Getting rid of disparate impact liability under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act would mean cutting millions of people of color off from recourse for anything but the most obvious and explicit discrimination
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Former Rep. Tom Perriello, a Virginia Democrat who won his sole term in a huge 2008 upset, unexpectedly announces campaign against GOP Rep. John McGuire. Trump carried the current version of #VA05 56-43, but it could look a lot different if Democrats convince voters to approve a new map this spring.
Tom Perriello For Congress Launch Video
YouTube video by Tom Perriello
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Former Rep. Tom Perriello, a Virginia Democrat who won his sole term in a huge 2008 upset, unexpectedly announces campaign against GOP Rep. John McGuire. Trump carried the current version of #VA05 56-43, but it could look a lot different if Democrats convince voters to approve a new map this spring.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
again, it is just arrogance. “there is one true meaning of the constitution and it can only be derived by a special caste of lawyers with a special interpretative lens and once discovered it is binding.”
December 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
again, it is just arrogance. “there is one true meaning of the constitution and it can only be derived by a special caste of lawyers with a special interpretative lens and once discovered it is binding.”
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
December 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Reposted by Billy F. R.
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
Bye 👋
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Kim Davis' call to overturn its 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
www.mississippifreepress.org/us-supreme-c...
www.mississippifreepress.org/us-supreme-c...
US Supreme Court Rejects Kim Davis' Call to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage Rights
The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Bye 👋
Reposted by Billy F. R.
New: The Supreme Court DENIES Kim Davis' request to overturn Obergefell, the marriage equality decision. No noted dissents. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New: The Supreme Court DENIES Kim Davis' request to overturn Obergefell, the marriage equality decision. No noted dissents. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Fun fact. Trump destruction of soybean exports (rightfully) gets lots of attention. But you know what we sell even more of to China? Education.
2024 soybean exports to China: $13B.
Higher Ed: $14B.
Yes, all those internat’l students count as *exports.* Trump is STILL actively destroying that market.
2024 soybean exports to China: $13B.
Higher Ed: $14B.
Yes, all those internat’l students count as *exports.* Trump is STILL actively destroying that market.
Bessent says China to delay rare earths rules by a year, buy U.S. soybeans reut.rs/42YJMO9
Bessent says China to delay rare earths rules by a year, buy U.S. soybeans
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that he anticipates that China will revive substantial purchases of U.S. soybeans for several years and will delay its expanded licensing regime for rare earths by a year and re-examine it after two days of trade talks in Malaysia.
reut.rs
October 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Fun fact. Trump destruction of soybean exports (rightfully) gets lots of attention. But you know what we sell even more of to China? Education.
2024 soybean exports to China: $13B.
Higher Ed: $14B.
Yes, all those internat’l students count as *exports.* Trump is STILL actively destroying that market.
2024 soybean exports to China: $13B.
Higher Ed: $14B.
Yes, all those internat’l students count as *exports.* Trump is STILL actively destroying that market.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.
'Uncharted territory': Ongoing shutdown threatens food aid for 42 million people
SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.
n.pr
October 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Pregnant women detained by ICE report horrifying treatment: shackling, solitary confinement, no prenatal vitamins, inadequate food. ICE's own directives and regulations require the agency to avoid detention of pregnant people in the first place. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Pregnant women describe miscarrying and bleeding out while in ICE custody, advocates say
The ACLU and other groups are pressing for ICE to identify and release all pregnant women in custody and to stop detaining anyone known to be pregnant, postpartum or nursing.
www.nbcnews.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Pregnant women detained by ICE report horrifying treatment: shackling, solitary confinement, no prenatal vitamins, inadequate food. ICE's own directives and regulations require the agency to avoid detention of pregnant people in the first place. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Reposted by Billy F. R.
"A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 may have to pay $31,000 for a health insurance plan in Kentucky...
$28,000 for a plan in Oregon...
$44,000 for a plan in Vermont..."
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
$28,000 for a plan in Oregon...
$44,000 for a plan in Vermont..."
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Health insurance sticker shock begins as shutdown battle over subsidies rages
Many states have shown rising premiums ahead of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans. The government shutdown is driven by Democrats and Republicans being far apart on the issue of extended s...
www.washingtonpost.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 may have to pay $31,000 for a health insurance plan in Kentucky...
$28,000 for a plan in Oregon...
$44,000 for a plan in Vermont..."
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
$28,000 for a plan in Oregon...
$44,000 for a plan in Vermont..."
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Billy F. R.
From a month ago, talking about the extrajudicial murders in international waters. An evil joke that's become true. No conscious.
Vance on Trump's strikes on boats: "I wouldn't go fishing right now in that area of the world."
October 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
From a month ago, talking about the extrajudicial murders in international waters. An evil joke that's become true. No conscious.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Watch this. And then the whole thing. They are destroying the rule of law: www.cbsnews.com/news/justice...
October 20, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Watch this. And then the whole thing. They are destroying the rule of law: www.cbsnews.com/news/justice...
@roxanegay.bsky.social is one of the best writers of our time. Persuasive, passionate, and right. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Opinion | Civility Is a Fantasy
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
@roxanegay.bsky.social is one of the best writers of our time. Persuasive, passionate, and right. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Lucy, when you're done messing around, there's a football to be kicked.
Happy New Year, Mr. President.
When you’re finished ranting, we can sit down and discuss health care.
When you’re finished ranting, we can sit down and discuss health care.
September 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Lucy, when you're done messing around, there's a football to be kicked.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Kagan’s short dissent is unanswerable.
Order here: www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p....
www.supremecourt.gov
September 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Kagan’s short dissent is unanswerable.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Why is this horrible for Universities?
Just about everyone who isn't a citizen or green card holder already who's hired for a tenure track faculty position is hired through an H1B and then, after 3-5 years, applies for a green card.
This is literally "No more foreign professors can be hired"
Just about everyone who isn't a citizen or green card holder already who's hired for a tenure track faculty position is hired through an H1B and then, after 3-5 years, applies for a green card.
This is literally "No more foreign professors can be hired"
Those on an H1B cannot return to the US from tomorrow (Sunday) unless paying $100K. This is an out-of-the blue presidential action. We’ll see software engineers stranded abroad.
One easy to predict outcome: those on US visas will travel less… for work, for conferences etc.
One easy to predict outcome: those on US visas will travel less… for work, for conferences etc.
September 20, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Why is this horrible for Universities?
Just about everyone who isn't a citizen or green card holder already who's hired for a tenure track faculty position is hired through an H1B and then, after 3-5 years, applies for a green card.
This is literally "No more foreign professors can be hired"
Just about everyone who isn't a citizen or green card holder already who's hired for a tenure track faculty position is hired through an H1B and then, after 3-5 years, applies for a green card.
This is literally "No more foreign professors can be hired"
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
July 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Today's bonus "One First" goes deep into Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence in the ICE roving patrols case:
"If this is the kind of analysis that’s driving the justices’ votes in the other Trump-related cases, perhaps it really is understandable why the Court is so often declining to explain itself."
"If this is the kind of analysis that’s driving the justices’ votes in the other Trump-related cases, perhaps it really is understandable why the Court is so often declining to explain itself."
Bonus 177: A Closer Look at Justice Kavanaugh's ICE Raids Opinion
Walking through the only opinion written in support of Monday's Supreme Court stay in the ICE roving arrests case helps to highlight *how* the Court may be stacking the deck in Trump-related cases.
www.stevevladeck.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Today's bonus "One First" goes deep into Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence in the ICE roving patrols case:
"If this is the kind of analysis that’s driving the justices’ votes in the other Trump-related cases, perhaps it really is understandable why the Court is so often declining to explain itself."
"If this is the kind of analysis that’s driving the justices’ votes in the other Trump-related cases, perhaps it really is understandable why the Court is so often declining to explain itself."
Reposted by Billy F. R.
Yeah, @jaywillis.net nails it: "One possible reason the conservative justices usually don’t explain their pro-Trump shadow docket opinions: Their pro-Trump shadow docket opinions might read like this."
Brett Kavanaugh’s Racial Profiling Apologia Is Bad and Embarrassing
One possible reason the conservative justices usually don’t explain their pro-Trump shadow docket opinions: Their pro-Trump shadow docket opinions might read like this.
ballsandstrikes.org
September 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Yeah, @jaywillis.net nails it: "One possible reason the conservative justices usually don’t explain their pro-Trump shadow docket opinions: Their pro-Trump shadow docket opinions might read like this."
Reposted by Billy F. R.
I wrote this story because the case of the Guatemalan children hasn’t received nearly as much media attention as it deserves.
I wanted to highlight the full extent of the government’s depraved conduct.
I hope you’ll read and share. Don’t look away.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
I wanted to highlight the full extent of the government’s depraved conduct.
I hope you’ll read and share. Don’t look away.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
September 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I wrote this story because the case of the Guatemalan children hasn’t received nearly as much media attention as it deserves.
I wanted to highlight the full extent of the government’s depraved conduct.
I hope you’ll read and share. Don’t look away.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
I wanted to highlight the full extent of the government’s depraved conduct.
I hope you’ll read and share. Don’t look away.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...