Zach Silver
@zachsilver.bsky.social
First Amendment attorney @thefireorg.bsky.social. Posting about law, politics, and my dogs.
“In the United States of America, no one should fear a midnight knock on the door for voicing the wrong opinion. Free speech isn’t a privilege the government hands out. Under our Constitution it is the inalienable right of every man, woman, and child.”
@thefireorg.bsky.social spitting hot 🔥
@thefireorg.bsky.social spitting hot 🔥
BREAKING: FIRE is suing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, challenging the laws he is using to target lawfully present noncitizens for speech protected by the Constitution.
No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.
www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...
No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.
www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit...
LAWSUIT: FIRE challenges unconstitutional provisions Rubio uses in crusade to deport legal immigrants over protected speech
FIRE seeks a landmark ruling that the First Amendment forbids the government from deporting lawfully present noncitizens for constitutionally protected speech
www.thefire.org
August 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
“In the United States of America, no one should fear a midnight knock on the door for voicing the wrong opinion. Free speech isn’t a privilege the government hands out. Under our Constitution it is the inalienable right of every man, woman, and child.”
@thefireorg.bsky.social spitting hot 🔥
@thefireorg.bsky.social spitting hot 🔥
Reposted by Zach Silver
BREAKING: FIRE has filed a lawsuit against Allentown, PA, defending a protester's rights to film and criticize police activity in public spaces after officers chased him with a patrol car and cited him for disorderly conduct and loitering.
July 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
BREAKING: FIRE has filed a lawsuit against Allentown, PA, defending a protester's rights to film and criticize police activity in public spaces after officers chased him with a patrol car and cited him for disorderly conduct and loitering.
Reposted by Zach Silver
Inject the second paragraph of this footnote directly into my veins.
(And then send it to the nine firms that have bent the knee.)
(And then send it to the nine firms that have bent the knee.)
Howell drips with disdain for the firms who capitulated to the White House and says of those who resisted "will be the models lauded when this period of American history is written." ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
May 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Inject the second paragraph of this footnote directly into my veins.
(And then send it to the nine firms that have bent the knee.)
(And then send it to the nine firms that have bent the knee.)
So am I.
Just to be clear, I'm advocating for due process for Kilmar Abrego Garcia
JUST IN: Deputy Assistant to the President and "Counterterrorism Czar" Sebastian Gorka says anyone advocating for due process for Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be viewed as "aiding and abetting a terrorist" and be federally charged. (h/t Philip Germain)
April 17, 2025 at 11:14 AM
So am I.
Reposted by Zach Silver
If the U.S. government is going to take the position that, once removed from the United States, folks can’t be brought back, then it sure seems to me that federal courts should be reflexively and categorically barring *all* removals until they’re 100 percent certain that the removals are lawful.
April 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
If the U.S. government is going to take the position that, once removed from the United States, folks can’t be brought back, then it sure seems to me that federal courts should be reflexively and categorically barring *all* removals until they’re 100 percent certain that the removals are lawful.
Reposted by Zach Silver
Good.
The First Amendment ensures freedom of the press for all news organizations, not just the president's preferred outlets.
The First Amendment ensures freedom of the press for all news organizations, not just the president's preferred outlets.
AP wins reinstatement to White House events after judge rules government can’t bar its journalists
A federal judge has ordered the White House to restore The Associated Press’ full access to cover presidential events.
apnews.com
April 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Good.
The First Amendment ensures freedom of the press for all news organizations, not just the president's preferred outlets.
The First Amendment ensures freedom of the press for all news organizations, not just the president's preferred outlets.
Because we all need some cuteness today
April 3, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Because we all need some cuteness today
Reposted by Zach Silver
I have no idea if this is really where the math is from but it does suggest an issue for AI: if search engine optimization is a thing that Google etc has to battle, what kinds of info will be created specifically to be sucked into an LLM?
April 3, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I have no idea if this is really where the math is from but it does suggest an issue for AI: if search engine optimization is a thing that Google etc has to battle, what kinds of info will be created specifically to be sucked into an LLM?
Reposted by Zach Silver
11-year-olds get it.
Was explaining to David (11) the tariff stuff and what a tariff is and he was like “you mean like what started the revolutionary war?” And I was like; yes exactly.
April 3, 2025 at 12:13 AM
11-year-olds get it.
Reposted by Zach Silver
If you impose a tariff on an atoll is it a toll or a tariff?
April 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM
If you impose a tariff on an atoll is it a toll or a tariff?
Reposted by Zach Silver
This will only be the third time in over 40 years that the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner will not be hosted by a comedian. But for those who are expecting jokes, don't worry - the White House Correspondents’ Association is filled with them.
March 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
This will only be the third time in over 40 years that the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner will not be hosted by a comedian. But for those who are expecting jokes, don't worry - the White House Correspondents’ Association is filled with them.
Reposted by Zach Silver
I can’t tell if this is accidental fascism (stupidity) or deliberate fascism. But the point of due process is figuring out—through trial, evidence, jury deliberations, etc—WHETHER YOU ACTUALLY BROKE THE LAW. Without due process, they’re just locking you up based on an accusation.
Indiana congresswoman says, “You violated the law, you don’t get due process.” These are the same lawmakers who oppose Red Flag Laws because they don’t provide armed domestic abusers with … due process.
March 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I can’t tell if this is accidental fascism (stupidity) or deliberate fascism. But the point of due process is figuring out—through trial, evidence, jury deliberations, etc—WHETHER YOU ACTUALLY BROKE THE LAW. Without due process, they’re just locking you up based on an accusation.
Reposted by Zach Silver
I am very angry. Which is weird for me because I don't usually get angry. (Depressed is more my speed). But I am very angry at the cowards, the betrayers of our oath, the colleagues who joined my profession but now abandon any pretense of pursuing the ideals of the rule of law.
March 26, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I am very angry. Which is weird for me because I don't usually get angry. (Depressed is more my speed). But I am very angry at the cowards, the betrayers of our oath, the colleagues who joined my profession but now abandon any pretense of pursuing the ideals of the rule of law.
Reposted by Zach Silver
Irony has lost all meaning.
NEW: The Trump administration invokes the state-secrets privilege, saying it will give Judge Boasberg no more information about deportation flights to inform his decision about whether the gov't defied his orders storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
March 25, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Irony has lost all meaning.
Reposted by Zach Silver
Bursts into the room: HOUTHI AND THE BLOWFISH
This is the first time Bluesky has truly felt like old Twitter, in that my entire feed is just increasingly esoteric jokes about a single news event (new phone, houthis?)
March 24, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Bursts into the room: HOUTHI AND THE BLOWFISH
My brilliant colleague @jdzeman.bsky.social is spot on: "Giving the government the power to punish hateful speech will only erode our own right to speak out against hate" and "would only deprive us of our most powerful weapon."
www.jta.org/2025/03/14/i...
www.jta.org/2025/03/14/i...
American Jews must not give an inch on free speech — even when words hurt us - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
We endanger the ability to speak out when we allow the government to erode our First Amendment protections, writes a Jewish FIRE attorney.
www.jta.org
March 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My brilliant colleague @jdzeman.bsky.social is spot on: "Giving the government the power to punish hateful speech will only erode our own right to speak out against hate" and "would only deprive us of our most powerful weapon."
www.jta.org/2025/03/14/i...
www.jta.org/2025/03/14/i...
Reposted by Zach Silver
Excellent statement from a number of Con Law scholars--including some notably conservative ones--on the government's funding cutoff at Columbia/ www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...
A Statement from Constitutional Law Scholars on Columbia | Eugene Volokh, Michael C. Dorf, David Cole
We write as constitutional scholars—some liberal and some conservative—who seek to defend academic freedom and the First Amendment in the wake of the
www.nybooks.com
March 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Excellent statement from a number of Con Law scholars--including some notably conservative ones--on the government's funding cutoff at Columbia/ www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...
Reposted by Zach Silver
Frankly, this is shameful on the part of Paul, Weiss.
The executive orders targeting law firms are an existential threat to the legal industry. Capitulation is not the answer.
The executive orders targeting law firms are an existential threat to the legal industry. Capitulation is not the answer.
Trump rescinds his Executive Order targeting Paul, Weiss because the firm entered into an “agreement” with Trump.
According to the White House, Trump agreed to rescind after a meeting w/ Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp, in which Karp “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of former partner Mark Pomerantz.
According to the White House, Trump agreed to rescind after a meeting w/ Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp, in which Karp “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of former partner Mark Pomerantz.
March 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Frankly, this is shameful on the part of Paul, Weiss.
The executive orders targeting law firms are an existential threat to the legal industry. Capitulation is not the answer.
The executive orders targeting law firms are an existential threat to the legal industry. Capitulation is not the answer.
Reposted by Zach Silver
As a Jewish man, I’m disgusted how the legacy of antisemitism is being weaponized to silence protesters. The price of religious liberty for my people can’t be there wholesale censorship of others. The powers wielded against pro-Palestinian protesters today will be aimed at so many others tomorrow.
March 15, 2025 at 1:13 AM
As a Jewish man, I’m disgusted how the legacy of antisemitism is being weaponized to silence protesters. The price of religious liberty for my people can’t be there wholesale censorship of others. The powers wielded against pro-Palestinian protesters today will be aimed at so many others tomorrow.
It actually COST money since someone had to write it, print it, etc. 🤦♂️
This doesn’t exist and will literally save $0
February 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
It actually COST money since someone had to write it, print it, etc. 🤦♂️
This guy's political career needs to be bi-gon.
Tuberville: We have to start in the Pentagon. We need to make a trigon, three sides instead of five sides in the Pentagon.
February 27, 2025 at 1:22 AM
This guy's political career needs to be bi-gon.
Reposted by Zach Silver
Valor
Danielle Sassoon, Acting U.S. attorney for SDNY - refuses to drop Adams charges and resigns
John Keller, Acting head of DOJ Public Integrity Section - refuses and resigns
Kevin Driscoll, Acting head of DOJ Criminal Division - refuses and resigns
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Danielle Sassoon, Acting U.S. attorney for SDNY - refuses to drop Adams charges and resigns
John Keller, Acting head of DOJ Public Integrity Section - refuses and resigns
Kevin Driscoll, Acting head of DOJ Criminal Division - refuses and resigns
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Top federal prosecutor in N.Y. resigns after refusing to drop Adams charges
Two top prosecutors in Washington also resigned over the DOJ order to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
www.nbcnews.com
February 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Valor
Danielle Sassoon, Acting U.S. attorney for SDNY - refuses to drop Adams charges and resigns
John Keller, Acting head of DOJ Public Integrity Section - refuses and resigns
Kevin Driscoll, Acting head of DOJ Criminal Division - refuses and resigns
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Danielle Sassoon, Acting U.S. attorney for SDNY - refuses to drop Adams charges and resigns
John Keller, Acting head of DOJ Public Integrity Section - refuses and resigns
Kevin Driscoll, Acting head of DOJ Criminal Division - refuses and resigns
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Reposted by Zach Silver
Today it's over "the Gulf of America." What state-mandated language or positions will the White House require reporters to parrot to retain access to events in the future?
Breaking: For the second day in a row, the AP reporter on pool duty who tried to attend a POTUS event was blocked from entering the Oval Office. The reporter was there to cover the swearing-in ceremony for Tulsi Gabbard.
February 12, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Today it's over "the Gulf of America." What state-mandated language or positions will the White House require reporters to parrot to retain access to events in the future?
Is this thing on?
February 11, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Is this thing on?