Max Brashear
@maxbrashear.bsky.social
Upstate New Yorker. Buffalo Bills fan. Cornell & Cornell Law alum. Regulatory lawyer.
At what point are we allowed to revisit the idea that Republicans are for limited government—and Democrats are for cancelling and telling people what to do?
What right does the federal government have to do this? Another attempt to exert authoritarian power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...
Trump Administration Halts Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
At what point are we allowed to revisit the idea that Republicans are for limited government—and Democrats are for cancelling and telling people what to do?
The Trump administration raises money for cop-beaters—and goes after prosecutors.
So much for “law and order.”
So much for “law and order.”
EXCLUSIVE: Ed Martin is leading Trump’s “weaponization” group tasked with investigating Jan. 6 prosecutors.
Martin’s nonprofit helped raise cash for dozens of violent Jan. 6 defendants, Rolling Stone has found.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Martin’s nonprofit helped raise cash for dozens of violent Jan. 6 defendants, Rolling Stone has found.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Trump's 'Weaponization' Lawyer Raised Cash for Violent Jan. 6 Militia Members
Ed Martin is leading Trump’s “weaponization” group, tasked with investigating Jan. 6 prosecutors. His nonprofit supported dozens of violent Jan. 6 participants.
www.rollingstone.com
May 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The Trump administration raises money for cop-beaters—and goes after prosecutors.
So much for “law and order.”
So much for “law and order.”
Rules are only as effective as those who enforce them.
May 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Rules are only as effective as those who enforce them.
I think this is right. Democrats should embrace primaries as a way to move the party forward and elevate new voices—but avoid burning down the house. A primary should strengthen the eventual winner, not weaken all candidates involved.
If Dems embraced primaries and required candidates to abide by a primary code of conduct for party support in the general they could command attention and interest while making it harder for opponents to strategize against & smear a candidate who is simply anointed by the party.
April 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
I think this is right. Democrats should embrace primaries as a way to move the party forward and elevate new voices—but avoid burning down the house. A primary should strengthen the eventual winner, not weaken all candidates involved.
Grifter-in-Chief
Trump Offers a Private Dinner to Top 220 Investors of His Memecoin
The offer, which caused President Trump’s memecoin to surge in price, was his family’s latest effort to profit from cryptocurrencies.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/t...
The offer, which caused President Trump’s memecoin to surge in price, was his family’s latest effort to profit from cryptocurrencies.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/t...
Trump Offers a Private Dinner to Top 220 Investors of His Memecoin (Gift Article)
The offer, which caused President Trump’s memecoin to surge in price, was his family’s latest effort to profit from cryptocurrencies.
www.nytimes.com
April 24, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Grifter-in-Chief
If you don’t have the courage to react to an event without poll-testing every possible response, you’re not a leader.
And if you don’t have the ability to convince people that certain issues matter, you shouldn’t even pretend to be one.
And if you don’t have the ability to convince people that certain issues matter, you shouldn’t even pretend to be one.
Dems and their allies have to get over their fear of setting off a backlash. Do the right thing, demonstrate passion unconstrained by calculations about public opinion, which is not immutable and can be changed. We have ample evidence that pulling punches does not work at all in the age of Trump.
OPINION | Trump's treatment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is wrong, but that won't stop it becoming a monumental trap for Democrats making an issue of it.
April 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
If you don’t have the courage to react to an event without poll-testing every possible response, you’re not a leader.
And if you don’t have the ability to convince people that certain issues matter, you shouldn’t even pretend to be one.
And if you don’t have the ability to convince people that certain issues matter, you shouldn’t even pretend to be one.
Reposted by Max Brashear
Head Start, an early childhood education program for low income families, is on the chopping block. Growing up, my own mom was an aide with the program; it’s helped countless young mothers, including the one who tells her story here.
www.kqed.org/news/1203596...
www.kqed.org/news/1203596...
April 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Head Start, an early childhood education program for low income families, is on the chopping block. Growing up, my own mom was an aide with the program; it’s helped countless young mothers, including the one who tells her story here.
www.kqed.org/news/1203596...
www.kqed.org/news/1203596...
Once again, if Trump’s goal was to undermine American national security, it’s hard to see what his administration would be doing differently.
Alarming state of affairs. In past 3 months, Trump has:
1. Closed FBI Foreign Influence Task Force
2. Closed State Dept Global Misinformation office
3. Ordered CISA to no longer address misinfo
4. Redirected Cyber Command away from Russian disinfo
5. Fired NSA Director
6. Sacked 6 NSC officials
1. Closed FBI Foreign Influence Task Force
2. Closed State Dept Global Misinformation office
3. Ordered CISA to no longer address misinfo
4. Redirected Cyber Command away from Russian disinfo
5. Fired NSA Director
6. Sacked 6 NSC officials
Under Trump, National Security Guardrails Vanish
America’s adversaries have more room to operate, at least in the disinformation space, cybersecurity experts say.
www.nytimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Once again, if Trump’s goal was to undermine American national security, it’s hard to see what his administration would be doing differently.
Here’s an idea: Decide what issues are important and how you feel about them—then explain to your constituents why those issues matter.
If you can’t react to an event without poll-testing every possible response, you’re not a leader.
If you can’t react to an event without poll-testing every possible response, you’re not a leader.
There’s a real divide among House Democrats on whether to focus on Trump’s deportation policies.
After one Dem called it a “soup du jour” issue, another told @Axios.com: “Should it be the big issue for Democrats? Probably not."
Comms staffers have debated this too.
www.axios.com/2025/04/17/d...
After one Dem called it a “soup du jour” issue, another told @Axios.com: “Should it be the big issue for Democrats? Probably not."
Comms staffers have debated this too.
www.axios.com/2025/04/17/d...
Democrats clash internally over how hard to fight Trump's deportations to El Salvador
Said one House Democrat: "Should it be the big issue for Democrats? Probably not."
www.axios.com
April 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Here’s an idea: Decide what issues are important and how you feel about them—then explain to your constituents why those issues matter.
If you can’t react to an event without poll-testing every possible response, you’re not a leader.
If you can’t react to an event without poll-testing every possible response, you’re not a leader.
Are you the CEO of a multinational enterprise with deep pockets and a direct line to the White House? Great—Trump’s open for business.
Oh, you run a small- or mid-size company and have nothing to offer the king? Kick rocks.
Oh, you run a small- or mid-size company and have nothing to offer the king? Kick rocks.
Crony capitalism. Be friends with the president and your company gets special favors. You support him, he supports you.
Trump excludes smartphones from reciprocal tariffs
https://www.ft.com/content/3eb48a07-7cb0-4a44-9159-eb5b402c2fec
https://www.ft.com/content/3eb48a07-7cb0-4a44-9159-eb5b402c2fec
April 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Are you the CEO of a multinational enterprise with deep pockets and a direct line to the White House? Great—Trump’s open for business.
Oh, you run a small- or mid-size company and have nothing to offer the king? Kick rocks.
Oh, you run a small- or mid-size company and have nothing to offer the king? Kick rocks.
Skadden—one of the most prestigious law firms in the country—just offered the Trump Administration $100 million in pro bono legal services to avoid being targeted.
Targeting law firms for who they represent.
Removing things from museums.
Deporting legal residents without due process.
Threatening companies that raise prices.
Playing loose with classified intel.
Impeaching judges for their decisions.
We’re losing our country—fast.
Removing things from museums.
Deporting legal residents without due process.
Threatening companies that raise prices.
Playing loose with classified intel.
Impeaching judges for their decisions.
We’re losing our country—fast.
March 28, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Skadden—one of the most prestigious law firms in the country—just offered the Trump Administration $100 million in pro bono legal services to avoid being targeted.
Is Trump’s team physically capable of taking accountability—for anything?
Of all the stupid hills to die on, this has to be the stupidest.
Of all the stupid hills to die on, this has to be the stupidest.
Laura Ingraham: "How did a Trump-hating editor of The Atlantic end up on your Signal chat?"
Mike Waltz: "I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but of all the people out there, somehow this guy...he's the one that somehow gets on somebody's contact and then gets sucked into the group?
Mike Waltz: "I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but of all the people out there, somehow this guy...he's the one that somehow gets on somebody's contact and then gets sucked into the group?
March 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Is Trump’s team physically capable of taking accountability—for anything?
Of all the stupid hills to die on, this has to be the stupidest.
Of all the stupid hills to die on, this has to be the stupidest.
If Trump’s goal was to undermine American national security, it’s hard to see what his administration would be doing differently.
American war planning usually takes place in highly secure facilities. But the Trump administration planned its strikes on the Houthis using a group chat—and accidentally included The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. theatln.tc/IuULQFiY
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.
theatln.tc
March 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM
If Trump’s goal was to undermine American national security, it’s hard to see what his administration would be doing differently.
Thanks, Pam. Now do January 6.
Pam Bondi: "If you're gonna touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out, because we're coming after you."
March 19, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Thanks, Pam. Now do January 6.
This is a timely conversation between @markhertling.bsky.social and @timmiller.bsky.social, who discuss the potential impact of Trump’s VA cuts—and the limitations on active duty service members speaking out (as well as the broader culture of restraint among veterans).
"To throw something directly at the entire European Union, it just represents a big hand, little map approach to national security."
@markhertling.bsky.social talks Trump's trade policies, such as they are, with Tim Miller on today's Bulwark Podcast:
@markhertling.bsky.social talks Trump's trade policies, such as they are, with Tim Miller on today's Bulwark Podcast:
Mark Hertling: Aiding and Abetting a War Criminal
Putin has been named a war criminal because of the Russian way of war in Ukraine—bombing Kyiv and other cities, attacking civilians and first aid workers, and destroying infrastructure.
www.thebulwark.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:05 AM
This is a timely conversation between @markhertling.bsky.social and @timmiller.bsky.social, who discuss the potential impact of Trump’s VA cuts—and the limitations on active duty service members speaking out (as well as the broader culture of restraint among veterans).