Deborah Pearlstein
@debpearlstein.bsky.social
Director, Program on Law & Public Policy, Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. Charles & Marie Robertson Visiting Professor of Law & Public Affairs. Still teaching Con law, still aiming to get out of the new social media market.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
The intro to Judge Rita Lin's 76-page opinion holding that the Trump admin's pressure campaign against the University of California system is coercive and retaliatory in violation of the First Amendment. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 15, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The intro to Judge Rita Lin's 76-page opinion holding that the Trump admin's pressure campaign against the University of California system is coercive and retaliatory in violation of the First Amendment. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
As the FBI’s deputy director, Dan Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau background check is unprecedented, insiders say.
FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff
As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:25 PM
As the FBI’s deputy director, Dan Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau background check is unprecedented, insiders say.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
Indiana mid-decade redistricting news.
November 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Indiana mid-decade redistricting news.
The grift is just relentless.
NEW: DHS invoked the “national emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rules for a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign.
We found that a firm with deep ties to Kristi Noem secretly benefited from the deal.
We found that a firm with deep ties to Kristi Noem secretly benefited from the deal.
Kristi Noem-Tied Firm Secretly Got Piece of $220 Million DHS Campaign
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rules for the taxpayer-funded campaign.
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The grift is just relentless.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
These cases are heartbreaking. But the new state censors are losing these battles in court. Consistently. We just have to do what we can to support and encourage those targeted to fight.
Indiana Professor Removed From Class Over White Supremacy Lesson
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 AM
These cases are heartbreaking. But the new state censors are losing these battles in court. Consistently. We just have to do what we can to support and encourage those targeted to fight.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
This is real news. Reporters, please report on it.
ELEVEN former top FCC officials, Republican and Democratic, came together to condemn FCC Chairman Carr's abuses of power and efforts to suppress legal speech.
It's not just Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC's jawboning and chill on legal speech is ongoing.
ELEVEN former top FCC officials, Republican and Democratic, came together to condemn FCC Chairman Carr's abuses of power and efforts to suppress legal speech.
It's not just Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC's jawboning and chill on legal speech is ongoing.
Government has no business policing media for viewpoint bias or balance. The FCC must repeal its news distortion policy, urges a bipartisan group of 11 former FCC Chairs, Commissioners & other top officials in a petition we filed today with @protectdemocracy.org
protectdemocracy.org/work/fcc-new...
protectdemocracy.org/work/fcc-new...
November 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
This is real news. Reporters, please report on it.
ELEVEN former top FCC officials, Republican and Democratic, came together to condemn FCC Chairman Carr's abuses of power and efforts to suppress legal speech.
It's not just Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC's jawboning and chill on legal speech is ongoing.
ELEVEN former top FCC officials, Republican and Democratic, came together to condemn FCC Chairman Carr's abuses of power and efforts to suppress legal speech.
It's not just Jimmy Kimmel. The FCC's jawboning and chill on legal speech is ongoing.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
The SNAP fight at the Supreme Court is officially over. Trump's Department of Justice acknowledges that SNAP is now fully funded through the end of the fiscal year and thus withdraws its request for an additional stay. The end of the shutdown mooted the case before SCOTUS could touch the merits.
November 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The SNAP fight at the Supreme Court is officially over. Trump's Department of Justice acknowledges that SNAP is now fully funded through the end of the fiscal year and thus withdraws its request for an additional stay. The end of the shutdown mooted the case before SCOTUS could touch the merits.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
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.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
NEW: Jeffrey Epstein said in emails that he had been advising the Russian government on how to deal with Donald Trump, one of several cases in which he wielded his connections to try to influence the course of foreign affairs. w @nahaltoosi
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
NEW: Jeffrey Epstein said in emails that he had been advising the Russian government on how to deal with Donald Trump, one of several cases in which he wielded his connections to try to influence the course of foreign affairs. w @nahaltoosi
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
In other news...Cooley, a firm that fought the Trump EOs in court, is having a banner year: "[Its] litigation department has been nothing short of swamped throughout 2025 & its work on various matters earned the firm a nomination for The American Lawyer's General Litigation Department of the Year."
Cooley's Growing Litigation Practice Navigates a 'Test of Leadership' in 2025 | Law.com
The firm was nominated for General Litigation Department of the Year, in part for its work representing Jenner & Block in its lawsuit against the Department of Justice.
www.law.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:25 PM
In other news...Cooley, a firm that fought the Trump EOs in court, is having a banner year: "[Its] litigation department has been nothing short of swamped throughout 2025 & its work on various matters earned the firm a nomination for The American Lawyer's General Litigation Department of the Year."
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
NEW: The classified opinion by Trump's Office of Legal Counsel says the US personnel taking part in lethal strikes on boats would not be exposed to future prosecution, per sources. “It sounds like an admission that there is no legal basis for these strikes” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: The classified opinion by Trump's Office of Legal Counsel says the US personnel taking part in lethal strikes on boats would not be exposed to future prosecution, per sources. “It sounds like an admission that there is no legal basis for these strikes” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
After reviewing coverage from the network and hours of social media videos that preceded Trump’s decision, ProPublica found that Fox’s portrayal of “Portland rioters” routinely instigating violence was misleading.
www.propublica.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Well this one sounds good...
A new paper from Gary Lawson & me:
"Presidential Removal as Article I, Not Article II"
Limits on congressional power to create independent agencies like the Fed & FTC don't come from Art II "Executive Power" absolutism.
See the Necessary and Proper Clause instead:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Presidential Removal as Article I, Not Article II"
Limits on congressional power to create independent agencies like the Fed & FTC don't come from Art II "Executive Power" absolutism.
See the Necessary and Proper Clause instead:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Presidential Removal as Article I, Not Article II
As a matter of original public meaning, Article I's Necessary and Proper clause is the starting point for both Congress's power to create offices and the limits
papers.ssrn.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Well this one sounds good...
Fannie Mae’s ethics & investigations group had received internal complaints alleging senior officials had improperly directed staff to access the mortgage documents of James & others... In the wake of the probes...about a dozen members of the [ethics group + the GC & IG] were fired...."
Exclusive | Fannie Mae Watchdogs Probed How Pulte Obtained Mortgage Records of Key Democrats
FHFA’s acting inspector general handed the probe report to the U.S. attorney office that had indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Fannie Mae’s ethics & investigations group had received internal complaints alleging senior officials had improperly directed staff to access the mortgage documents of James & others... In the wake of the probes...about a dozen members of the [ethics group + the GC & IG] were fired...."
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
Breaking: Mike Johnson just announced that he'll swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva on Wednesday at 4pm ET.
November 11, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Breaking: Mike Johnson just announced that he'll swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva on Wednesday at 4pm ET.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
In a single day, two different federal officers point guns at two different @chicagotribune.com photojournalists in and around Chicago. This is dangerous stuff.
1/2 Are there any experts out there who can correctly identify the weapons being pointed directly at these two @chicagotribune.com photojournalists?
What type of gun is this?
cc: @mandophotos.bsky.social
What type of gun is this?
cc: @mandophotos.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:58 AM
In a single day, two different federal officers point guns at two different @chicagotribune.com photojournalists in and around Chicago. This is dangerous stuff.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
One of many costs to US murder (sorry, no better word for it) in Caribbean:
"United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal."
"United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal."
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
One of many costs to US murder (sorry, no better word for it) in Caribbean:
"United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal."
"United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal."
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
NEW: Campaign for Accountability files bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan, alleging that she violated multiple rules of professional conduct related to the prosecution of James Comey and Letitia James.
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
CfA - FL + VA Bar Complaint - Lindsey Halligan
www.documentcloud.org
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
NEW: Campaign for Accountability files bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan, alleging that she violated multiple rules of professional conduct related to the prosecution of James Comey and Letitia James.
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Read the complaint: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Looking forward to welcoming @davidcole-gtown.bsky.social to Princeton!
I look forward to defending free speech from its progressive critics — and conservative assailants == as the Tanner Letures Nov. 12 and 13 @princeton.edu
A timely topic, sadly
lectures.princeton.edu/lectures/202...
A timely topic, sadly
lectures.princeton.edu/lectures/202...
Tanner Lecture on Human Values: David D. Cole
Progressives have increasingly lost faith in the First Amendment—at least as it has been interpreted and applied by the Supreme Court. They argue that free speech has been “weaponized” by big busines...
lectures.princeton.edu
November 11, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Looking forward to welcoming @davidcole-gtown.bsky.social to Princeton!
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Look at this new outrage. To open govt, we're retroactively letting 8 Senators sue for $500K each over having had their J6 phone toll records looked at. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
It also won’t get Giuliani and others their licenses to practice law back. Still. Every pardon of past illegality is an encouragement to present officials to do more of the same.
Breaking News: President Trump pardoned Rudy Giuliani and others who tried to overturn the 2020 election. The move doesn’t shield them from state charges.
Trump Pardons Giuliani and Others Involved in Effort to Overturn 2020 Election
The pardons of former Trump aides, which would only apply in federal court, are largely symbolic and cannot shield them from ongoing state-level prosecutions.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It also won’t get Giuliani and others their licenses to practice law back. Still. Every pardon of past illegality is an encouragement to present officials to do more of the same.
No wonder DOJ spent last week at FedSoc trying to drum up applicants. WaPo estimates DOJ is down ~5500 attys & other staff since Trump 2.0. Applicants for what law reqs to be nonpartisan jobs must describe a Trump policy "significant to them & how they would advance that initiative."
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
The Justice Department has lost thousands of experienced attorneys and backfilled a fraction of the open jobs, in part because of a lack of qualified candidates.
wapo.st
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
No wonder DOJ spent last week at FedSoc trying to drum up applicants. WaPo estimates DOJ is down ~5500 attys & other staff since Trump 2.0. Applicants for what law reqs to be nonpartisan jobs must describe a Trump policy "significant to them & how they would advance that initiative."
Reposted by Deborah Pearlstein
MORE: The pardon language is extremely broad and could apply to many others too, since it covers anyone who advocates for the false elector slates or who investigated 2020 election fraud.
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 AM
MORE: The pardon language is extremely broad and could apply to many others too, since it covers anyone who advocates for the false elector slates or who investigated 2020 election fraud.
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
One person the pardon explicitly excludes: Trump himself.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...