Jonathan Choi, JD
@jonjchoi.bsky.social
PhD candidate studying offshore wind and migratory shorebird conservation with Duke’s Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab. He/him
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
New from me: Big Law is fearful of representing anyone Trump sees as his enemies, and it's thwarting challenges to his agenda.
“There are cases that aren’t being brought at a time when civil rights abuses are maybe at the highest they’ve been.” www.propublica.org/article/trum...
“There are cases that aren’t being brought at a time when civil rights abuses are maybe at the highest they’ve been.” www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Trump’s War on Big Law Means It’s Harder to Challenge the Administration
Some of America’s largest law firms are refusing to take pro bono and paid legal work from groups that seek to hold the government to account on issues like environmental protection, LGBTQ+ rights and...
www.propublica.org
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
New from me: Big Law is fearful of representing anyone Trump sees as his enemies, and it's thwarting challenges to his agenda.
“There are cases that aren’t being brought at a time when civil rights abuses are maybe at the highest they’ve been.” www.propublica.org/article/trum...
“There are cases that aren’t being brought at a time when civil rights abuses are maybe at the highest they’ve been.” www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
"I’m a freaking expert on 'the law' and I can no longer tell you if the latest thought bubble out of Trump’s mouth is “constitutional.” ... I can perhaps tell you how [SCOTUS] will make whatever thing Trump wants to do legal. What I can’t tell you is what would happen if the court told Trump 'no.'"
The Rule of Law is officially dead in the US. How do we know? Here, @elienyc.bsky.social explains what the rule of law actually means and how we know it’s stopped functioning.
The Rule of Law Is Dead in the US
The rule of law presupposes that there are rules that provide a consistent, repeatable, and knowable set of outcomes. That’s no longer the case.
www.thenation.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
"I’m a freaking expert on 'the law' and I can no longer tell you if the latest thought bubble out of Trump’s mouth is “constitutional.” ... I can perhaps tell you how [SCOTUS] will make whatever thing Trump wants to do legal. What I can’t tell you is what would happen if the court told Trump 'no.'"
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
They did it.
Supreme Court Rules 6-3 To Open Evil Tomb Of Batibat
WASHINGTON—Despite polls that show the American public overwhelmingly supports keeping the ancient burial chamber sealed, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Friday to pry open the evil tomb of Batibat, a ven...
theonion.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
They did it.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
NSF is getting kicked out of its headquarters to build a parking garage, an executive dining hall, and maybe a gym for the HUD secretary
Here's the official union statement on the HUD takeover.
Small correction that's not included in the screenshot: "Correction: currently 1,833 NSF employees work in the NSF headquarters building."
Small correction that's not included in the screenshot: "Correction: currently 1,833 NSF employees work in the NSF headquarters building."
June 24, 2025 at 11:55 PM
NSF is getting kicked out of its headquarters to build a parking garage, an executive dining hall, and maybe a gym for the HUD secretary
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
I care less about Signal chats and more about the blacksite offshore concentration camps we're sending random people to without any semblance of a trial, so I'll be interested to see if the national media can rub their bellies and pat their heads at the same time this week. Historically they can't.
April 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I care less about Signal chats and more about the blacksite offshore concentration camps we're sending random people to without any semblance of a trial, so I'll be interested to see if the national media can rub their bellies and pat their heads at the same time this week. Historically they can't.
Today, like all days, I am grateful to the folks who tirelessly work statistical magic without whom my dissertation would simply not happen. To keep an R package functional is wizardry that I could never do.
April 15, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Today, like all days, I am grateful to the folks who tirelessly work statistical magic without whom my dissertation would simply not happen. To keep an R package functional is wizardry that I could never do.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
Foreign Friends with Travel Plans to the U.S. for Conventions:
A bit back I said you should maybe reconsider those plans.
I would like to amend my prior statement.
Cancel them. Cancel them now. We cannot keep you safe from our own government. Take your holiday in Spain or something.
A bit back I said you should maybe reconsider those plans.
I would like to amend my prior statement.
Cancel them. Cancel them now. We cannot keep you safe from our own government. Take your holiday in Spain or something.
April 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Foreign Friends with Travel Plans to the U.S. for Conventions:
A bit back I said you should maybe reconsider those plans.
I would like to amend my prior statement.
Cancel them. Cancel them now. We cannot keep you safe from our own government. Take your holiday in Spain or something.
A bit back I said you should maybe reconsider those plans.
I would like to amend my prior statement.
Cancel them. Cancel them now. We cannot keep you safe from our own government. Take your holiday in Spain or something.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
You don’t have to be particularly sharp to decipher the code here.
But if you need someone to say it, this is a major technology company and a sizable defense and intelligence contractor publicly declaring, with only the thinnest patina of deniability, that its cause is white nationalism.
But if you need someone to say it, this is a major technology company and a sizable defense and intelligence contractor publicly declaring, with only the thinnest patina of deniability, that its cause is white nationalism.
![Palantir @PalantirTech • 26m
Dropping at select colleges today.
[Embedded image of a billboard ad:]
A moment of reckoning has
arrived for the West.
Our culture has fallen into shallow consumerism while abandoning national purpose. Too few in Silicon Valley have asked what ought to be built - and why.
We did.
We built Palantir to ensure America's future, not to tinker at the margins. On the factory floor, in the operating room, across the battlefield - we build to dominate.
Join us.
[signed by the Palantir founder]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:on5oeywiqx32fh2zau473wz6/bafkreibnnhk4kfvgsvqnrjitt27efuetj44x5opwvjayzgrr55eqa5eive@jpeg)
April 14, 2025 at 1:35 PM
You don’t have to be particularly sharp to decipher the code here.
But if you need someone to say it, this is a major technology company and a sizable defense and intelligence contractor publicly declaring, with only the thinnest patina of deniability, that its cause is white nationalism.
But if you need someone to say it, this is a major technology company and a sizable defense and intelligence contractor publicly declaring, with only the thinnest patina of deniability, that its cause is white nationalism.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
BREAKING from @science.org: The Trump admin is seeking to kill nearly all climate research at NOAA, its climate science agency.
Its near-final budget proposal would end all NOAA research labs, academic institutes, and regional climate centers. And it wants to fully end the NOAA Research division.
Its near-final budget proposal would end all NOAA research labs, academic institutes, and regional climate centers. And it wants to fully end the NOAA Research division.
Trump seeks to end climate research at premier U.S. climate agency
White House aims to end NOAA’s research office; NASA also targeted
www.science.org
April 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
BREAKING from @science.org: The Trump admin is seeking to kill nearly all climate research at NOAA, its climate science agency.
Its near-final budget proposal would end all NOAA research labs, academic institutes, and regional climate centers. And it wants to fully end the NOAA Research division.
Its near-final budget proposal would end all NOAA research labs, academic institutes, and regional climate centers. And it wants to fully end the NOAA Research division.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
NC Court of Appeals rules 2-1 for Judge Jefferson Griffin. The court didn't throw out 65,000 ballots, but it's requiring all of those voters to jump through more hoops to have their vote counted. NONE of these voters broke the rules. appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=... #ncpol
April 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
NC Court of Appeals rules 2-1 for Judge Jefferson Griffin. The court didn't throw out 65,000 ballots, but it's requiring all of those voters to jump through more hoops to have their vote counted. NONE of these voters broke the rules. appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=... #ncpol
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
Unidentified men grabbing someone off the street and putting her in a car because she wrote an op-Ed. This as flatly authoritarian as anything we’ve seen in this country in a very long time.
Video of the international student at Tufts being arrested by "federal authorities" in Massachusetts has been released and it's terrifying.
They're not even uniformed officers. Just secret police thugs in hoodies and masks.
From WCVB: youtu.be/PuFIs7OkzYY
They're not even uniformed officers. Just secret police thugs in hoodies and masks.
From WCVB: youtu.be/PuFIs7OkzYY
March 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Unidentified men grabbing someone off the street and putting her in a car because she wrote an op-Ed. This as flatly authoritarian as anything we’ve seen in this country in a very long time.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
The Signal leak is a prime moment for Democrats to get caught trying. Call for resignations or impeachment hearings or both. Be omnipresent in the media demanding and explaining accountability measures. Don’t let this fade away. Treat this the way the GOP treated Hillary’s emails. Make it a thing.
March 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
The Signal leak is a prime moment for Democrats to get caught trying. Call for resignations or impeachment hearings or both. Be omnipresent in the media demanding and explaining accountability measures. Don’t let this fade away. Treat this the way the GOP treated Hillary’s emails. Make it a thing.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
Paging @thetattooedprof.bsky.social and @kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Hoping you aren’t the end of the video just yet.
Hoping you aren’t the end of the video just yet.
March 19, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Paging @thetattooedprof.bsky.social and @kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Hoping you aren’t the end of the video just yet.
Hoping you aren’t the end of the video just yet.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
The terrible CR Budget bill — written by right-wing House Republicans with no input from anybody but themselves — was passed tonight with the support of 10 Democrats.
An absolute failure of Democratic leadership. NOBODY in the Senate should have voted for this dangerous bill.
An absolute failure of Democratic leadership. NOBODY in the Senate should have voted for this dangerous bill.
March 15, 2025 at 12:49 AM
The terrible CR Budget bill — written by right-wing House Republicans with no input from anybody but themselves — was passed tonight with the support of 10 Democrats.
An absolute failure of Democratic leadership. NOBODY in the Senate should have voted for this dangerous bill.
An absolute failure of Democratic leadership. NOBODY in the Senate should have voted for this dangerous bill.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
Among the material devastation to everyday people, Senate Dems have now blown a hole in their ability to work with the House.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
March 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Among the material devastation to everyday people, Senate Dems have now blown a hole in their ability to work with the House.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
March 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
Graphic design is my passion.
March 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Graphic design is my passion.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
It’s amazing to find out at this late date how much the rule of law depended on people simply deciding, on a voluntary, daily basis, not to break the law.
March 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It’s amazing to find out at this late date how much the rule of law depended on people simply deciding, on a voluntary, daily basis, not to break the law.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
A Public Citizen report obtained exclusively by NPR shows the new administration has halted or tried to dismiss cases or investigations against at least 89 companies in the last month.
Trump agencies drop dozens of Biden-era cases against crypto, other companies
A Public Citizen report obtained exclusively by NPR shows the new administration has halted or tried to dismiss cases or investigations against at least 89 companies in the last month.
www.npr.org
March 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
A Public Citizen report obtained exclusively by NPR shows the new administration has halted or tried to dismiss cases or investigations against at least 89 companies in the last month.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
I can personally guarantee that this project (to build affinity groups to support diverse ornithologists) is still moving forward in the hope that crowdfunding will replace the NSF funding (I just got out of a monthly meeting for the queer Flock leadership).
We still need your fundraising help!
We still need your fundraising help!
Help Flocks take flight! With no further NSF funding for this project, we need your donations to move forward with this important initiative for diversity and belong in #ornithology.
Your Support Needed to Continue Flocks Project
We need your help to continue an important initiative to promote diversity and belonging in our field.
wilsonsociety.org
March 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I can personally guarantee that this project (to build affinity groups to support diverse ornithologists) is still moving forward in the hope that crowdfunding will replace the NSF funding (I just got out of a monthly meeting for the queer Flock leadership).
We still need your fundraising help!
We still need your fundraising help!
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
I think the strategy is to make universities destroy themselves. Force the president to choose between academic freedom and losing all federal funding (+ thus bankruptcy), and they'll have to throw freedom overboard. Then the rest of the university, unwilling to accept that, will tear itself apart.
Hot take: I don’t think university presidents are going to be the morally righteous leaders academics want them to be
March 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I think the strategy is to make universities destroy themselves. Force the president to choose between academic freedom and losing all federal funding (+ thus bankruptcy), and they'll have to throw freedom overboard. Then the rest of the university, unwilling to accept that, will tear itself apart.
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
The anti-environment SCOTUS has:
Limited EPA to from regulating #water pollution, sewage discharges.
Blocked EPA from regulating air pollution that crosses state lines.
Stopped EPA from capping #climate change emissions.
Eliminated protections for wetlands, inland waters, and aquatic ecosystems.
Limited EPA to from regulating #water pollution, sewage discharges.
Blocked EPA from regulating air pollution that crosses state lines.
Stopped EPA from capping #climate change emissions.
Eliminated protections for wetlands, inland waters, and aquatic ecosystems.
March 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Choi, JD
NOAA Cuts Leave Wind Chimes As Sole Predictor Of Approaching Hurricanes
NOAA Cuts Leave Wind Chimes As Sole Predictor Of Approaching Hurricanes
SILVER SPRING, MD—As mass firings of career experts and scientists continued to roil the federal government, officials confirmed Friday that cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
theonion.com
February 28, 2025 at 8:01 PM
NOAA Cuts Leave Wind Chimes As Sole Predictor Of Approaching Hurricanes