Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
@mermaidsailor.bsky.social
Historian, Jedi, Fan of Steel. Wahoo Lawyer. Opinions are mine. “Without kindness, what is your homeland worth?”—Lois Lane 🫐
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#WeRespectVets My grandfather wasn’t a loser or a sucker. He volunteered for the Army during World War 2 and fought in the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, for a country that at the time still denied him equal rights.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Ryan Coogler explains why he declined the invitation to join the Academy www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/m...
December 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Ryan Coogler explains why he declined the invitation to join the Academy www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/m...
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Instead of folding like cheap chairs, Democrats should have forced the GOP to end the shutdown by killing the filibuster. Holding onto the archaic, antidemocratic tradition doesn't help them stop fascism, it makes them complicit to it.
My latest in @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
My latest in @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Democrats Should Have Let Republicans Kill the Filibuster
Instead of caving on the shutdown, Democrats should have waited for the GOP to cave on Trump’s demand to scotch this antidemocratic tactic.
www.thenation.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Instead of folding like cheap chairs, Democrats should have forced the GOP to end the shutdown by killing the filibuster. Holding onto the archaic, antidemocratic tradition doesn't help them stop fascism, it makes them complicit to it.
My latest in @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
My latest in @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Think about buying a car, a fun, stress-free negotiating process that everybody loves. Now imagine that if you don’t buy a car you die and if you buy the wrong car you also die
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Think about buying a car, a fun, stress-free negotiating process that everybody loves. Now imagine that if you don’t buy a car you die and if you buy the wrong car you also die
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
life really is all about perspective instead of thinking “i’m stuck in a sewer drain 😢 ” say “i’m going to meet a fireman 😃 “
October 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
life really is all about perspective instead of thinking “i’m stuck in a sewer drain 😢 ” say “i’m going to meet a fireman 😃 “
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Boat strikes put US service members in legal jeopardy:
"Some junior officers have asked military lawyers, known as judge advocates general or JAGs, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes .... It does not appear that such memos were furnished, said one of the people."
"Some junior officers have asked military lawyers, known as judge advocates general or JAGs, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes .... It does not appear that such memos were furnished, said one of the people."
Top Democrats demand details of spy agencies’ role in boat strikes
Democrats are demanding that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard share intelligence on lethal operations against alleged narcotics traffickers.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Boat strikes put US service members in legal jeopardy:
"Some junior officers have asked military lawyers, known as judge advocates general or JAGs, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes .... It does not appear that such memos were furnished, said one of the people."
"Some junior officers have asked military lawyers, known as judge advocates general or JAGs, for written sign-off before taking part in strikes .... It does not appear that such memos were furnished, said one of the people."
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Like Trump and Vought didn’t do illegal impoundments when the government was open? Or Thune did anything to stop it?
“.. This is the risk of shutting down the government and handing the keys to Russ Vought,” the Senate majority leader said ..
@politico.com
www.politico.com/live-updates...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/live-updates...
October 2, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Like Trump and Vought didn’t do illegal impoundments when the government was open? Or Thune did anything to stop it?
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Very important to understand that this is the posture of a flailing loser who has no idea what he’s doing, and is keenly aware that the people he’s in charge of hate his guts
Hegseth: “No dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship, no more gender delusions.
“We are done with that shit.”
“We are done with that shit.”
September 30, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Very important to understand that this is the posture of a flailing loser who has no idea what he’s doing, and is keenly aware that the people he’s in charge of hate his guts
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
The U.S. president just ordered all the military generals to an unprecedented gathering in Washington, then told them that they should plan to participate in a war on American cities.
Trump: "The ones that are run by radical left Democrats -- what they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles. They're very unsafe places & we're gonna straighten them out one by one. This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
September 30, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The U.S. president just ordered all the military generals to an unprecedented gathering in Washington, then told them that they should plan to participate in a war on American cities.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
I fully understand how difficult it is to remain focused on any one particular atrocity but this really ought to be a serious scandal and people need to pay heavy prices for this
I think the Trump admin assumed no one would try to find out who the people on the boats they blew up really were
September 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I fully understand how difficult it is to remain focused on any one particular atrocity but this really ought to be a serious scandal and people need to pay heavy prices for this
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Bondi fires a Jewish lawyer while he was out of the office for Rosh Hashanah (and fires him for illegal reasons)
Fired for comments he made 8 years ago on social media when he was in private practice & had a perfect 1st Amendment right to do so. Welcome to the Trump-loyalty corps at the Justice Department. www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Bondi fires a third federal prosecutor in Miami office, linked to anti-Trump posts
Will Rosenzweig was considered a rising star at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami.
www.miamiherald.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Bondi fires a Jewish lawyer while he was out of the office for Rosh Hashanah (and fires him for illegal reasons)
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Good time to release the Epstein files
September 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Good time to release the Epstein files
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
“Frankly, part of the problem we have in terms of the punditry, is to suggest that we are waiting for a Messiah.
It’s counter-productive to keep saying ‘who is the one’ instead of seeing in-front of us how RICH we are with talent - and let’s support that.”
- Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party
It’s counter-productive to keep saying ‘who is the one’ instead of seeing in-front of us how RICH we are with talent - and let’s support that.”
- Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party
September 23, 2025 at 12:57 PM
“Frankly, part of the problem we have in terms of the punditry, is to suggest that we are waiting for a Messiah.
It’s counter-productive to keep saying ‘who is the one’ instead of seeing in-front of us how RICH we are with talent - and let’s support that.”
- Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party
It’s counter-productive to keep saying ‘who is the one’ instead of seeing in-front of us how RICH we are with talent - and let’s support that.”
- Kamala Harris on the Democratic Party
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that."
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Jimmy Kimmel Returns: ABC Ends Suspension Starting Tuesday
Jimmy Kimmel will return to late night on Tuesday
variety.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that."
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner: “Where has all the leadership gone? Who will step up against these bullies for the first amendment?”
September 19, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner: “Where has all the leadership gone? Who will step up against these bullies for the first amendment?”
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
September 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Damon Lindelof takes a stand.
September 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Damon Lindelof takes a stand.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Previous generations fought fascism in nearly every corner of the earth. Today it’s on our streets, silencing opposition and attempting to control the airwaves.
The GOP has declared all out war on free speech. It’s up to us to fight for it.
The GOP has declared all out war on free speech. It’s up to us to fight for it.
September 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Previous generations fought fascism in nearly every corner of the earth. Today it’s on our streets, silencing opposition and attempting to control the airwaves.
The GOP has declared all out war on free speech. It’s up to us to fight for it.
The GOP has declared all out war on free speech. It’s up to us to fight for it.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Totally agree. It's the deep state frame. Call it The People's Government or something
Substantively, I think this is great. But given the US has no history of this and a core Trumpist belief is the deep state conspiracy theory, I think "shadow government" is a poor name to use. Particularly in fighting fascists, rhetoric matters.
Fuck yeah, shadow government
Dems are learning. Here, they seem to be adopting an approach to opposition that's common in parliamentary systems, whereby the opposition offers their own concrete alternatives to the incumbents
Dems are learning. Here, they seem to be adopting an approach to opposition that's common in parliamentary systems, whereby the opposition offers their own concrete alternatives to the incumbents
September 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Totally agree. It's the deep state frame. Call it The People's Government or something
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
The Third Reich didn't last 1,000 years.
Pinochet was ousted with a referendum.
And the US isn't exactly dealing with the smartest, most competent fascists.
Those of you insisting that 2025 is forever need to read a book, touch grass, go to therapy, anything other than trying to make others quit.
Pinochet was ousted with a referendum.
And the US isn't exactly dealing with the smartest, most competent fascists.
Those of you insisting that 2025 is forever need to read a book, touch grass, go to therapy, anything other than trying to make others quit.
September 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The Third Reich didn't last 1,000 years.
Pinochet was ousted with a referendum.
And the US isn't exactly dealing with the smartest, most competent fascists.
Those of you insisting that 2025 is forever need to read a book, touch grass, go to therapy, anything other than trying to make others quit.
Pinochet was ousted with a referendum.
And the US isn't exactly dealing with the smartest, most competent fascists.
Those of you insisting that 2025 is forever need to read a book, touch grass, go to therapy, anything other than trying to make others quit.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
Defund the White House Counsel's Office; defund OMB's ability purport to impound; defund Miller; &c.
yes! congressional control of the purse applies to the white house as well. you can defund stephen miller.
See this is very sharp, but it's the kind of thing that should populate the budget bill. Any illegal impoundment should result in the immediate elimination of the presidential travel budget, for example.
September 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Defund the White House Counsel's Office; defund OMB's ability purport to impound; defund Miller; &c.
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
I know it's frustrating when lawyers point out when something the administration is doing is not legal. But responding with "the law doesn't matter anymore" is really unhelpful and defeatist. Clarifying the law is important because it reminds us not to comply in advance and to resist and take action
September 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I know it's frustrating when lawyers point out when something the administration is doing is not legal. But responding with "the law doesn't matter anymore" is really unhelpful and defeatist. Clarifying the law is important because it reminds us not to comply in advance and to resist and take action
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
September 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Melissa Esq. 👩🏽⚖️ Elphaba’s Lawyer 🧹
The last political column I was allowed to write in the @washingtonpost.com was a criticism of Obama.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
September 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The last political column I was allowed to write in the @washingtonpost.com was a criticism of Obama.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.