Chiraag Bains
@chiraagbains.bsky.social
Civil rights lawyer • Democracy Fund • Brookings • Fmr Deputy Director, Biden White House Domestic Policy Council | DOJ under Obama | Demos. https://www.brookings.edu/people/chiraag-bains/
This framing by the Washington Post... Trump hasn’t chipped away at the wall between DOJ and the White House on enforcement actions — he bulldozed it. And early on. We’re just seeing it in its fullness now because he put it on social media.
September 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This framing by the Washington Post... Trump hasn’t chipped away at the wall between DOJ and the White House on enforcement actions — he bulldozed it. And early on. We’re just seeing it in its fullness now because he put it on social media.
This is not the way to restore confidence in government
www.notus.org/health-scien...
www.notus.org/health-scien...
May 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This is not the way to restore confidence in government
www.notus.org/health-scien...
www.notus.org/health-scien...
80% of Americans want the U.S. to be made up of people from all over the world
86% think schools "should teach American history that includes both our best achievements and our worst mistakes"
from PRRI survey, per @axios.com : www.axios.com/newsletters/...
86% think schools "should teach American history that includes both our best achievements and our worst mistakes"
from PRRI survey, per @axios.com : www.axios.com/newsletters/...
May 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
80% of Americans want the U.S. to be made up of people from all over the world
86% think schools "should teach American history that includes both our best achievements and our worst mistakes"
from PRRI survey, per @axios.com : www.axios.com/newsletters/...
86% think schools "should teach American history that includes both our best achievements and our worst mistakes"
from PRRI survey, per @axios.com : www.axios.com/newsletters/...
Remember when the law firms that settled with Trump said their $100 million pro bono ransoms wouldn't alter their work?
Trump is now going to make them defend against police brutality and racial profiling claims
From last night's "Unleashing Law Enforcement" EO:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Trump is now going to make them defend against police brutality and racial profiling claims
From last night's "Unleashing Law Enforcement" EO:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
April 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Remember when the law firms that settled with Trump said their $100 million pro bono ransoms wouldn't alter their work?
Trump is now going to make them defend against police brutality and racial profiling claims
From last night's "Unleashing Law Enforcement" EO:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Trump is now going to make them defend against police brutality and racial profiling claims
From last night's "Unleashing Law Enforcement" EO:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
And now they say agents can *enter your home without a warrant* if it’s impracticable to get one.
There’s no general impracticability exception to the 4th Am. Police can enter in rare “exigent circumstances” like to prevent injury/death, destruction of evidence, or escape. This is not that.
There’s no general impracticability exception to the 4th Am. Police can enter in rare “exigent circumstances” like to prevent injury/death, destruction of evidence, or escape. This is not that.
April 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
And now they say agents can *enter your home without a warrant* if it’s impracticable to get one.
There’s no general impracticability exception to the 4th Am. Police can enter in rare “exigent circumstances” like to prevent injury/death, destruction of evidence, or escape. This is not that.
There’s no general impracticability exception to the 4th Am. Police can enter in rare “exigent circumstances” like to prevent injury/death, destruction of evidence, or escape. This is not that.
Um, this is not “erosion.” Trump has been directing DOJ enforcement since Day 1.
This is thuggish targeting of his political opponents to ensure he stays in power.
This is thuggish targeting of his political opponents to ensure he stays in power.
April 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Um, this is not “erosion.” Trump has been directing DOJ enforcement since Day 1.
This is thuggish targeting of his political opponents to ensure he stays in power.
This is thuggish targeting of his political opponents to ensure he stays in power.
At $0 savings, to be clear
April 25, 2025 at 2:32 AM
At $0 savings, to be clear
In a 120-page opinion, a federal judge just BLOCKED Trump's attempt to require people to show a passport to register to vote with the federal form.
Also blocked: making it harder for people receiving public assistance to register to vote.
assets.aclu.org/live/uploads...
Also blocked: making it harder for people receiving public assistance to register to vote.
assets.aclu.org/live/uploads...
April 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
In a 120-page opinion, a federal judge just BLOCKED Trump's attempt to require people to show a passport to register to vote with the federal form.
Also blocked: making it harder for people receiving public assistance to register to vote.
assets.aclu.org/live/uploads...
Also blocked: making it harder for people receiving public assistance to register to vote.
assets.aclu.org/live/uploads...
Like with woke, CRT, and DEI, the right is now twisting disparate impact, claiming it's racist.
Hogwash. I wrote this explainer as part of a call for disparate impact liability for biased AI. Hope it's helpful. www.brookings.edu/articles/the...
Hogwash. I wrote this explainer as part of a call for disparate impact liability for biased AI. Hope it's helpful. www.brookings.edu/articles/the...
April 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Like with woke, CRT, and DEI, the right is now twisting disparate impact, claiming it's racist.
Hogwash. I wrote this explainer as part of a call for disparate impact liability for biased AI. Hope it's helpful. www.brookings.edu/articles/the...
Hogwash. I wrote this explainer as part of a call for disparate impact liability for biased AI. Hope it's helpful. www.brookings.edu/articles/the...
Trump's EO says disparate impact requires "racial balancing"
No. Plaintiffs can't just point to a statistical disparity. They win only if there is a less discriminatory way to achieve the goal.
The doctrine also helps smoke out hidden intentional discrimination
All explained by Justice Kennedy:
No. Plaintiffs can't just point to a statistical disparity. They win only if there is a less discriminatory way to achieve the goal.
The doctrine also helps smoke out hidden intentional discrimination
All explained by Justice Kennedy:
April 24, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Trump's EO says disparate impact requires "racial balancing"
No. Plaintiffs can't just point to a statistical disparity. They win only if there is a less discriminatory way to achieve the goal.
The doctrine also helps smoke out hidden intentional discrimination
All explained by Justice Kennedy:
No. Plaintiffs can't just point to a statistical disparity. They win only if there is a less discriminatory way to achieve the goal.
The doctrine also helps smoke out hidden intentional discrimination
All explained by Justice Kennedy:
self-described defender of free speech chokes off social media traffic to those who disagree with him
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
April 24, 2025 at 1:45 AM
self-described defender of free speech chokes off social media traffic to those who disagree with him
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump has always taken rural America for granted. He takes their votes and then destroys their access to health care.
April 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Trump has always taken rural America for granted. He takes their votes and then destroys their access to health care.
Harvard should wear this distinction like a badge of honor. Choose self-respect and rule of law over short-term conflict avoidance every time.
April 15, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Harvard should wear this distinction like a badge of honor. Choose self-respect and rule of law over short-term conflict avoidance every time.
🙌🏾 Harvard refuses to bow to Trump’s unconstitutional demands. "The university will not surrender its independence." Harvard fighting back when others are caving is huge for protecting academic freedom and preventing government takeover.
Every peer institution should prepare to go to court too.
Every peer institution should prepare to go to court too.
April 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
🙌🏾 Harvard refuses to bow to Trump’s unconstitutional demands. "The university will not surrender its independence." Harvard fighting back when others are caving is huge for protecting academic freedom and preventing government takeover.
Every peer institution should prepare to go to court too.
Every peer institution should prepare to go to court too.
Sotomayor also called out the administration for its obvious forum shopping
April 8, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Sotomayor also called out the administration for its obvious forum shopping
So much wrong here. Creating new law on the shadow docket, ignoring precedent, rewarding the Admin's bad behavior.
But also this: All justices agree Alien Enemies Act deportations require notice & judicial review
Meaning the secret 3/15 deportations--involving neither--were flagrantly unlawful.
But also this: All justices agree Alien Enemies Act deportations require notice & judicial review
Meaning the secret 3/15 deportations--involving neither--were flagrantly unlawful.
April 8, 2025 at 3:55 AM
So much wrong here. Creating new law on the shadow docket, ignoring precedent, rewarding the Admin's bad behavior.
But also this: All justices agree Alien Enemies Act deportations require notice & judicial review
Meaning the secret 3/15 deportations--involving neither--were flagrantly unlawful.
But also this: All justices agree Alien Enemies Act deportations require notice & judicial review
Meaning the secret 3/15 deportations--involving neither--were flagrantly unlawful.
This @theatlantic.com piece by Aziz Huq about how the legal system could evolve under Trumpism is clarifying -- and chilling.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
April 2, 2025 at 9:47 PM
This @theatlantic.com piece by Aziz Huq about how the legal system could evolve under Trumpism is clarifying -- and chilling.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Judge Ho made the right call -- dismissal w prejudice prevents Trump from keeping Adams directly on his puppet strings
But don't take your eye off DOJ's corruption. As Judge Ho wrote, “Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.”
But don't take your eye off DOJ's corruption. As Judge Ho wrote, “Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.”
April 2, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Judge Ho made the right call -- dismissal w prejudice prevents Trump from keeping Adams directly on his puppet strings
But don't take your eye off DOJ's corruption. As Judge Ho wrote, “Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.”
But don't take your eye off DOJ's corruption. As Judge Ho wrote, “Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.”
Jenner & Block just sued over Trump's unlawful EO: "To do otherwise would mean compromising our ability to zealously advocate for all of our clients and capitulating to unconstitutional government coercion, which is simply not in our DNA."
static1.squarespace.com/static/67d44...
static1.squarespace.com/static/67d44...
March 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Jenner & Block just sued over Trump's unlawful EO: "To do otherwise would mean compromising our ability to zealously advocate for all of our clients and capitulating to unconstitutional government coercion, which is simply not in our DNA."
static1.squarespace.com/static/67d44...
static1.squarespace.com/static/67d44...
People shouldn’t torch Teslas.
Also, there are over 13,000 hate crimes each year. And that attack on the Capitol...
Also, there are over 13,000 hate crimes each year. And that attack on the Capitol...
March 20, 2025 at 2:48 PM
People shouldn’t torch Teslas.
Also, there are over 13,000 hate crimes each year. And that attack on the Capitol...
Also, there are over 13,000 hate crimes each year. And that attack on the Capitol...
For a savings of $0, to be clear
March 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
For a savings of $0, to be clear
And just to be clear, this program was explicitly authorized by Congress in the IRA, to reduce pollution and lower energy costs. EPA has no authority to shut it down. Yet another example of the Trump Admin invoking the evidence-free magic words of "waste, fraud, and abuse" to usurp Congress's power.
March 13, 2025 at 4:47 AM
And just to be clear, this program was explicitly authorized by Congress in the IRA, to reduce pollution and lower energy costs. EPA has no authority to shut it down. Yet another example of the Trump Admin invoking the evidence-free magic words of "waste, fraud, and abuse" to usurp Congress's power.
DOJ fired the Pardon Attorney because she didn’t think it wise for Mel Gibson to get his gun rights back in light of his DV conviction.
They weren’t interested in her on-the-merits analysis. All that mattered was that Gibson is friends with Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/u...
They weren’t interested in her on-the-merits analysis. All that mattered was that Gibson is friends with Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/u...
March 11, 2025 at 4:31 AM
DOJ fired the Pardon Attorney because she didn’t think it wise for Mel Gibson to get his gun rights back in light of his DV conviction.
They weren’t interested in her on-the-merits analysis. All that mattered was that Gibson is friends with Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/u...
They weren’t interested in her on-the-merits analysis. All that mattered was that Gibson is friends with Trump. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/u...
This is quite persuasive analysis. The court relied on DOGE/Musk’s own statements to show it operates like an agency with independent authority and is therefore subject to FOIA.
March 11, 2025 at 3:13 AM
This is quite persuasive analysis. The court relied on DOGE/Musk’s own statements to show it operates like an agency with independent authority and is therefore subject to FOIA.
Alito's dissent may be exasperated but it's very weak. What he describes as a "$2 billion penalty on taxpayers" is actually debt the government owes for work contracted and completed. In this clearer light, the hubris lies not with the district court but with the government.
March 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Alito's dissent may be exasperated but it's very weak. What he describes as a "$2 billion penalty on taxpayers" is actually debt the government owes for work contracted and completed. In this clearer light, the hubris lies not with the district court but with the government.