Cole
@colearmstrong.bsky.social
Just struggling to make the world a better place one small step at a time.
Pinned
Cole
@colearmstrong.bsky.social
· Apr 4
If Trump nuked every other country on earth except Russia and North Korea and called it “a retaliatory bombing,” every MSM talking head would chant that phrase in unison for the final 15-20 minutes of all of our lives
Reposted by Cole
Jon Finer, one of the negotiators of the JCPoA: "To people who say, how can you trust Iran? You didn't have to trust Iran under [the JCPoA]. There were weapons inspectors... all over Iran's facilities, and they were saying right up until the minute that Trump pulled out that Iran was complying."
June 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Jon Finer, one of the negotiators of the JCPoA: "To people who say, how can you trust Iran? You didn't have to trust Iran under [the JCPoA]. There were weapons inspectors... all over Iran's facilities, and they were saying right up until the minute that Trump pulled out that Iran was complying."
Reposted by Cole
While defending itself from the many, many legal challenges to its actions, this administration has consistently acted as though district court orders are suggestions at most. With this order, the Court basically says: yes, we agree. You can defy the lower courts all you want until we’ve weighed in.
#BREAKING: Over a (sharp) public dissent from the three Democratic appointees, #SCOTUS clears the way for the Trump administration to remove migrants to third countries *without* giving them an additional opportunity to contest whether they face persecution or other forms of mistreatment there:
www.supremecourt.gov
June 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
While defending itself from the many, many legal challenges to its actions, this administration has consistently acted as though district court orders are suggestions at most. With this order, the Court basically says: yes, we agree. You can defy the lower courts all you want until we’ve weighed in.
Reposted by Cole
It's also quite the message to send to district court judges: don't even bother trying to hold this government accountable to due process - we are not there to back you, no matter how egregious the DOJ has been in your court.
June 23, 2025 at 9:00 PM
It's also quite the message to send to district court judges: don't even bother trying to hold this government accountable to due process - we are not there to back you, no matter how egregious the DOJ has been in your court.
Reposted by Cole
This decision is bad enough on the merits. But it also gives the government relief in a case in which it defied the district court at least *twice.* That’s quite a message to send to the government with respect to the costs of its litigation behavior in other cases—or the complete lack thereof.
June 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This decision is bad enough on the merits. But it also gives the government relief in a case in which it defied the district court at least *twice.* That’s quite a message to send to the government with respect to the costs of its litigation behavior in other cases—or the complete lack thereof.
Reposted by Cole
SCOTUS majority not deigning to give *any* reasons for staying the injunction of the district court - in the highest-possible stakes context & where the executive branch has acted appallingly - evincing real contempt for both district courts & the rule of law
#BREAKING: Over a (sharp) public dissent from the three Democratic appointees, #SCOTUS clears the way for the Trump administration to remove migrants to third countries *without* giving them an additional opportunity to contest whether they face persecution or other forms of mistreatment there:
www.supremecourt.gov
June 23, 2025 at 9:21 PM
SCOTUS majority not deigning to give *any* reasons for staying the injunction of the district court - in the highest-possible stakes context & where the executive branch has acted appallingly - evincing real contempt for both district courts & the rule of law
Reposted by Cole
Trump Says Iran’s Nuke Sites Are “Obliterated.” The Military Isn’t So Sure.
Defense officials say his claims are “overblown” — and the intelligence community said Iran wasn’t building a bomb.
theintercept.com/2025/06/23/t...
Defense officials say his claims are “overblown” — and the intelligence community said Iran wasn’t building a bomb.
theintercept.com/2025/06/23/t...
Trump Says Iran’s Nuke Sites Are “Obliterated.” The Military Isn’t So Sure.
Defense officials say his claims are “overblown” — and the intelligence community said Iran wasn’t building a bomb.
theintercept.com
June 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Trump Says Iran’s Nuke Sites Are “Obliterated.” The Military Isn’t So Sure.
Defense officials say his claims are “overblown” — and the intelligence community said Iran wasn’t building a bomb.
theintercept.com/2025/06/23/t...
Defense officials say his claims are “overblown” — and the intelligence community said Iran wasn’t building a bomb.
theintercept.com/2025/06/23/t...
Reposted by Cole
DISASTROUS. This means they will send people to horrific situations with no due process — in direct violation of promises the Solicitor General made to the Court in previous cases.
This greenlights sending people to be enslaved in Libya or tortured in any random foreign country.
This greenlights sending people to be enslaved in Libya or tortured in any random foreign country.
#BREAKING: Over a (sharp) public dissent from the three Democratic appointees, #SCOTUS clears the way for the Trump administration to remove migrants to third countries *without* giving them an additional opportunity to contest whether they face persecution or other forms of mistreatment there:
www.supremecourt.gov
June 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
DISASTROUS. This means they will send people to horrific situations with no due process — in direct violation of promises the Solicitor General made to the Court in previous cases.
This greenlights sending people to be enslaved in Libya or tortured in any random foreign country.
This greenlights sending people to be enslaved in Libya or tortured in any random foreign country.
Reposted by Cole
Sotomayor: "Given its conduct in these proceedings, the Government’s posture resembles that of the arsonist who calls 911 to report firefighters for violating a local noise ordinance."
SCOTUS' intervention "expos[es] thousands to the risk of torture or death." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
SCOTUS' intervention "expos[es] thousands to the risk of torture or death." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
June 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Sotomayor: "Given its conduct in these proceedings, the Government’s posture resembles that of the arsonist who calls 911 to report firefighters for violating a local noise ordinance."
SCOTUS' intervention "expos[es] thousands to the risk of torture or death." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
SCOTUS' intervention "expos[es] thousands to the risk of torture or death." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Reposted by Cole
In dissent, Sotomayor accuses the Trump administration of openly defying a lower court order, and says SCOTUS now "rewards" it.
"Each time this Court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
"Each time this Court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
![Here, in violation of an unambiguous TRO, the Government flew four noncitizens to Guantanamo Bay, and from
there deported them to El Salvador. Then, in violation of
the very preliminary injunction from which it now seeks relief, the Government removed six class members to South
Sudan with less than 16 hours’ notice and no opportunity
to be heard. The Government’s assertion that these deportations could be reconciled with the injunction is wholly
without merit. Notice at 5:45 p.m. for a 9:35 a.m. deportation, provided to a detainee without access to an attorney,
plainly does not “‘affor[d]’” that noncitizen with “‘a reasonable time’” to seek relief. A. A. R. P. v. Trump, 605 U. S.
___, ___ (2025) (per curiam) (slip op., at 4).
Even if the Government’s overnight notice had been adequate, moreover, DHS also did not provide the required
“meaningful opportunity . . . to raise a fear of return” under
the Convention. ECF Doc. 64, at 46. The affected class](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreigwb5i6oa64oihdnnngqielsghai4dxgtr5vanrnnwm3rqrmqpxwe@jpeg)
June 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
In dissent, Sotomayor accuses the Trump administration of openly defying a lower court order, and says SCOTUS now "rewards" it.
"Each time this Court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
"Each time this Court rewards noncompliance with discretionary relief, it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law." www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
Reposted by Cole
ICE has imprisoned the wife of a Marine veteran who was still breastfeeding a 3-month-old baby because her *mother* failed to attend a hearing in 2018 apnews.com/article/ice-...
ICE detains Marine Corps veteran's wife who was still breastfeeding their baby
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained the wife of a Marine Corps veteran in Louisiana during a routine immigration appointment in New Orleans.
apnews.com
June 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
ICE has imprisoned the wife of a Marine veteran who was still breastfeeding a 3-month-old baby because her *mother* failed to attend a hearing in 2018 apnews.com/article/ice-...
I should have predicted the eventual betrayal bsky.app/profile/cole...
So Vader is Musk, basically?
June 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I should have predicted the eventual betrayal bsky.app/profile/cole...
Reposted by Cole
can't believe it's 2025 and i'm stressed about tariffs and measles, like am i a character in an american girl book
March 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
can't believe it's 2025 and i'm stressed about tariffs and measles, like am i a character in an american girl book
Reposted by Cole
Look, folks, this is it. The entire ballgame. Either we're a Republic of laws & the Constitution, or we have a dictator. This is fascism, & the impeachment vote should be happening today. Every single university president in the country should be out, in front of microphones, condemning this.
Trump takes credit for Mahmoud Khalil's arrest by ICE:
March 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Look, folks, this is it. The entire ballgame. Either we're a Republic of laws & the Constitution, or we have a dictator. This is fascism, & the impeachment vote should be happening today. Every single university president in the country should be out, in front of microphones, condemning this.
Reposted by Cole
Again, if the Mad King can just disappear legal residents on personal whim, he can do it for any citizen of the Republic. And if he can do that, without consequence, then I have no idea why you still believe the 2026/28 elections are going to be free, fair, & competitive.
I really, really want to be wrong about this. But it's textbook stuff, on a daily basis, right now, & we were starting, in 2025, from a baseline that isn't fully democratic anyway. If the last weeks are what the next several years have in store, then 2026/28 simply will not competitive elections.
Again, elections happen under competitive authoritarianism. What doesn’t happen is legal accountability for criminals allied with the government, or elections that are fully free & fair. We already don’t have those. If the claim is we’re still going to be a full democracy in 2026/8, I have bad news.
March 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Again, if the Mad King can just disappear legal residents on personal whim, he can do it for any citizen of the Republic. And if he can do that, without consequence, then I have no idea why you still believe the 2026/28 elections are going to be free, fair, & competitive.
Reposted by Cole
For those not aware, ICE has always been able to arrest, detain, and deport lawful permanent residents who (usually through a criminal conviction). They are not immune from deportation. Thousands lose their status every year.
What's so outrageous about this incident is the targeting due to speech.
What's so outrageous about this incident is the targeting due to speech.
The ICE arrest of a lawful permanent resident goes well beyond the administration's previous deportation actions. There are actually more green card holders (13.9 million) than people living here without legal status (11.4 million). www.kenklippenstein.com/p/trump-is-c...
Trump Is Coming After Legal Residents. Are Citizens Next?
Green card holder arrested; 25 million living in U.S. now subject to deportation
www.kenklippenstein.com
March 10, 2025 at 10:44 PM
For those not aware, ICE has always been able to arrest, detain, and deport lawful permanent residents who (usually through a criminal conviction). They are not immune from deportation. Thousands lose their status every year.
What's so outrageous about this incident is the targeting due to speech.
What's so outrageous about this incident is the targeting due to speech.
Reposted by Cole
It was enriching trump insiders. Plain and simple. He can manipulate the market at will now. I’m not sure that’s a good thing for confidence in the us stock market.
April 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
It was enriching trump insiders. Plain and simple. He can manipulate the market at will now. I’m not sure that’s a good thing for confidence in the us stock market.
Reposted by Cole
They're going to pretend that this was all "The Art of the Deal" and not a tail-between-the-legs last-minute reversal after it was clear that Trump single-handedly set the global economy on fire.
But we all know what was being said just yesterday.
But we all know what was being said just yesterday.
April 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
They're going to pretend that this was all "The Art of the Deal" and not a tail-between-the-legs last-minute reversal after it was clear that Trump single-handedly set the global economy on fire.
But we all know what was being said just yesterday.
But we all know what was being said just yesterday.
Reposted by Cole
there's no amount of lying from the press secretary that will get the media to stop covering them. the fact that no one knows what trump will do from day to day just makes parsing every fart and lie even more urgent and valuable, by their estimation.
They're going to pretend that this was all "The Art of the Deal" and not a tail-between-the-legs last-minute reversal after it was clear that Trump single-handedly set the global economy on fire.
But we all know what was being said just yesterday.
But we all know what was being said just yesterday.
April 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
there's no amount of lying from the press secretary that will get the media to stop covering them. the fact that no one knows what trump will do from day to day just makes parsing every fart and lie even more urgent and valuable, by their estimation.
Reposted by Cole
the thing about this presidency is that there is zero doubt he is letting all his friends and family know before any trade move he makes, which would be in a top 10 presidential scandal of all time, but it doesn't even register with Trump because he does so many crimes & media gives him a pass
welcome to rugpull nation
April 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
the thing about this presidency is that there is zero doubt he is letting all his friends and family know before any trade move he makes, which would be in a top 10 presidential scandal of all time, but it doesn't even register with Trump because he does so many crimes & media gives him a pass
Reposted by Cole
great day for insider trading
April 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
great day for insider trading
Reposted by Cole
Bartiromo to Bessent: "You're talking about $6 trillion in market value lost in a week. You're talking about CEOs now unwilling to give guidance for 2025. Is there a response or a backup plan for what seems to be corporate America shutting down corporate activity?"
April 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Bartiromo to Bessent: "You're talking about $6 trillion in market value lost in a week. You're talking about CEOs now unwilling to give guidance for 2025. Is there a response or a backup plan for what seems to be corporate America shutting down corporate activity?"
Reposted by Cole
What’s really annoying is hearing people whisper about this like he’s a king or emperor and not like he’s an elected official in a government where power is derived from the people. If he’s deranged, people should be asking for him to be removed, not just hoping he’s a raging asshole
FUNDSTRAT tonight:
“.. in the last few days, we have had many conversations with macro fund managers. .. A few have quietly wondered if the President might be insane.”
“.. in the last few days, we have had many conversations with macro fund managers. .. A few have quietly wondered if the President might be insane.”
April 9, 2025 at 2:45 AM
What’s really annoying is hearing people whisper about this like he’s a king or emperor and not like he’s an elected official in a government where power is derived from the people. If he’s deranged, people should be asking for him to be removed, not just hoping he’s a raging asshole
Reposted by Cole
My detained client was scheduled for a bond hearing this AM in a MA immigration court. He wasn't brought in, and he and his case have disappeared.
I then received this notice of activity on a nonexistent docket in which his name was changed to "N/A"
It's all happening a lot faster than I expected
I then received this notice of activity on a nonexistent docket in which his name was changed to "N/A"
It's all happening a lot faster than I expected
April 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
My detained client was scheduled for a bond hearing this AM in a MA immigration court. He wasn't brought in, and he and his case have disappeared.
I then received this notice of activity on a nonexistent docket in which his name was changed to "N/A"
It's all happening a lot faster than I expected
I then received this notice of activity on a nonexistent docket in which his name was changed to "N/A"
It's all happening a lot faster than I expected
Reposted by Cole
UPDATE: ICE is wildly unconcerned about where this man is and no one will tell me, his registered attorney. The universal answer so far is "let's wait and see where he ends up." This is deeply off.
We would have more rights at this point if UPS had lost a pair of shoes I'd just bought from Zappos
We would have more rights at this point if UPS had lost a pair of shoes I'd just bought from Zappos
My detained client was scheduled for a bond hearing this AM in a MA immigration court. He wasn't brought in, and he and his case have disappeared.
I then received this notice of activity on a nonexistent docket in which his name was changed to "N/A"
It's all happening a lot faster than I expected
I then received this notice of activity on a nonexistent docket in which his name was changed to "N/A"
It's all happening a lot faster than I expected
April 8, 2025 at 10:41 PM
UPDATE: ICE is wildly unconcerned about where this man is and no one will tell me, his registered attorney. The universal answer so far is "let's wait and see where he ends up." This is deeply off.
We would have more rights at this point if UPS had lost a pair of shoes I'd just bought from Zappos
We would have more rights at this point if UPS had lost a pair of shoes I'd just bought from Zappos
Reposted by Cole
THE WORST DEFENSE OF THE TRUMP TARIFFS:
I wrote in the newsletter today about how annoying it is to hear people talk about how we need these tariffs to reindustrialize and counter China in high tech manufacturing.
We were literally just doing that!
Sub here www.bloomberg.com/account/news...
I wrote in the newsletter today about how annoying it is to hear people talk about how we need these tariffs to reindustrialize and counter China in high tech manufacturing.
We were literally just doing that!
Sub here www.bloomberg.com/account/news...
April 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
THE WORST DEFENSE OF THE TRUMP TARIFFS:
I wrote in the newsletter today about how annoying it is to hear people talk about how we need these tariffs to reindustrialize and counter China in high tech manufacturing.
We were literally just doing that!
Sub here www.bloomberg.com/account/news...
I wrote in the newsletter today about how annoying it is to hear people talk about how we need these tariffs to reindustrialize and counter China in high tech manufacturing.
We were literally just doing that!
Sub here www.bloomberg.com/account/news...