The Bystander
@thebystander99.bsky.social
Attorney. Spoonie. Tired most of the time. Criminal justice, disability & autoimmune disease, cats, Dodgers, hopefully something positive every now and then. He/him. Hopes to make sense of all this eventually, but probably won’t.
Please stop saying such incredibly accurate stuff about everything
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Please stop saying such incredibly accurate stuff about everything
It likes attention, though, so if you don’t sit on the kitchen counter and stare at it, it won’t work
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 AM
It likes attention, though, so if you don’t sit on the kitchen counter and stare at it, it won’t work
I’ve got limited mobility in both hands, and just want to say that seeing this is the kind of beautiful, uplifting moment that really makes any day better
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I’ve got limited mobility in both hands, and just want to say that seeing this is the kind of beautiful, uplifting moment that really makes any day better
I mean, I think that’s a result we can all seriously get behind
November 23, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I mean, I think that’s a result we can all seriously get behind
Seems like this just shows that they are each, in fact, a good cat, and have just been patiently waiting for you to say it out loud
November 23, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Seems like this just shows that they are each, in fact, a good cat, and have just been patiently waiting for you to say it out loud
Oh yes, in my house we call those flipper paws
November 23, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Oh yes, in my house we call those flipper paws
…cause a lot of destruction, and not all of it is logical from a personal gain standpoint; there’s lots of flailing. “Clark Rockefeller” is an example. I see RFK Jr. as what happens when one of these people is born with that name for real—and how much damage, chaos & weirdness can result from that
November 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM
…cause a lot of destruction, and not all of it is logical from a personal gain standpoint; there’s lots of flailing. “Clark Rockefeller” is an example. I see RFK Jr. as what happens when one of these people is born with that name for real—and how much damage, chaos & weirdness can result from that
Yeah, there’s some very frightening, inexplicable stuff. I look at it like this (& forgive the 2-parter here): there’s a long tradition of sociopathic fraudsters who’ve adopted famous names of royalty/wealth not only as the vehicle for their fraud but to really define their identity. These people…
November 22, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Yeah, there’s some very frightening, inexplicable stuff. I look at it like this (& forgive the 2-parter here): there’s a long tradition of sociopathic fraudsters who’ve adopted famous names of royalty/wealth not only as the vehicle for their fraud but to really define their identity. These people…
Oh god…yeah, “It was the worst of times, it was also the second worst of times” doesn’t have quite the same poetry to it, but
November 22, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Oh god…yeah, “It was the worst of times, it was also the second worst of times” doesn’t have quite the same poetry to it, but
Totally. Nothing means more to Trump than genuine admiration—which people feel for Mamdani. After Trump just publicly failed to bend his party to his will, he’s drawn to that admiration like a starving vampire. He wants in. Ideology’s irrelevant
Meanwhile, no one has EVER admired Don Jr. Eric or JD
Meanwhile, no one has EVER admired Don Jr. Eric or JD
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Totally. Nothing means more to Trump than genuine admiration—which people feel for Mamdani. After Trump just publicly failed to bend his party to his will, he’s drawn to that admiration like a starving vampire. He wants in. Ideology’s irrelevant
Meanwhile, no one has EVER admired Don Jr. Eric or JD
Meanwhile, no one has EVER admired Don Jr. Eric or JD
Billions of dollars are missing from where, exactly?
Seems like the real solution to this problem (if it were real) would be to bolster divisions investigating and prosecuting white collar/major fraud offenses in the FBI, DOJ, and IRS criminal division, rather than dismantling them
Seems like the real solution to this problem (if it were real) would be to bolster divisions investigating and prosecuting white collar/major fraud offenses in the FBI, DOJ, and IRS criminal division, rather than dismantling them
November 22, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Billions of dollars are missing from where, exactly?
Seems like the real solution to this problem (if it were real) would be to bolster divisions investigating and prosecuting white collar/major fraud offenses in the FBI, DOJ, and IRS criminal division, rather than dismantling them
Seems like the real solution to this problem (if it were real) would be to bolster divisions investigating and prosecuting white collar/major fraud offenses in the FBI, DOJ, and IRS criminal division, rather than dismantling them
What’s the point, I guess, of lusting after and accumulating all this power if you can’t brag about abusing it afterward?
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
What’s the point, I guess, of lusting after and accumulating all this power if you can’t brag about abusing it afterward?
100%. It basically could’ve just been a list of “please believe me,” followed by “no, seriously, PLEASE BELIEVE ME!”
November 21, 2025 at 1:41 AM
100%. It basically could’ve just been a list of “please believe me,” followed by “no, seriously, PLEASE BELIEVE ME!”
This seems like it makes things so, so much worse when they said the exact opposite yesterday. And is objectively hilarious in suggesting that “okay, understood” leaves no room for ambiguity
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This seems like it makes things so, so much worse when they said the exact opposite yesterday. And is objectively hilarious in suggesting that “okay, understood” leaves no room for ambiguity
I personally don’t think you’re a cold, unfeeling monster just because you can’t picture an apple, but you may be one if you watch Erin Brockovich and root for PG&E
November 20, 2025 at 4:15 AM
I personally don’t think you’re a cold, unfeeling monster just because you can’t picture an apple, but you may be one if you watch Erin Brockovich and root for PG&E
You can hardly be blamed for that—the I-Dissent-a-thon is more torture than anyone should have to endure. It’s p. 13. And it’s so idiotic; but to him, because it’s all just “voting rights jurisprudence,” he’s not gonna let a little thing like the legal basis for the claim get in his way…
November 20, 2025 at 2:54 AM
You can hardly be blamed for that—the I-Dissent-a-thon is more torture than anyone should have to endure. It’s p. 13. And it’s so idiotic; but to him, because it’s all just “voting rights jurisprudence,” he’s not gonna let a little thing like the legal basis for the claim get in his way…
This is 100% why no one should ever engage in proactive responsible behavior
November 20, 2025 at 2:40 AM
This is 100% why no one should ever engage in proactive responsible behavior
It’s all so insane and nonsensical, but I guess that’s the ass-backward kind of thing one can expect from a case in which the defendant is a former U.S. Attorney, and the U.S. Attorney really isn’t one
November 20, 2025 at 2:21 AM
It’s all so insane and nonsensical, but I guess that’s the ass-backward kind of thing one can expect from a case in which the defendant is a former U.S. Attorney, and the U.S. Attorney really isn’t one
You’re so welcome—and they don’t. Until you experience the collective toll of day after day after DAY of struggling through pain, fatigue, malaise, brain fog, whatever—the way it warps everything—and then try to embrace a little hard-won freedom, only to get burned…it’s brutal. I’m rooting for you
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
You’re so welcome—and they don’t. Until you experience the collective toll of day after day after DAY of struggling through pain, fatigue, malaise, brain fog, whatever—the way it warps everything—and then try to embrace a little hard-won freedom, only to get burned…it’s brutal. I’m rooting for you
It’s so infuriating to have such a reasonable request ignored…and to have that coupled with the pain of its creating such a setback—when you’re finally, mercifully making progress after so much waiting and surviving—is just a LOT for any of us to handle. I know it well, and I’m so sorry
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 PM
It’s so infuriating to have such a reasonable request ignored…and to have that coupled with the pain of its creating such a setback—when you’re finally, mercifully making progress after so much waiting and surviving—is just a LOT for any of us to handle. I know it well, and I’m so sorry
It’s insane. And along w/ everything, a few paragraphs rage at Brown for not just waiting to see if Callais changes things, because it MIGHT. It’s the echo of all the shadow docket stays: don’t apply the law as is, apply what we’ll probably make it later. It’s no way for a trial court to function
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
It’s insane. And along w/ everything, a few paragraphs rage at Brown for not just waiting to see if Callais changes things, because it MIGHT. It’s the echo of all the shadow docket stays: don’t apply the law as is, apply what we’ll probably make it later. It’s no way for a trial court to function
Officially, there was just a no bill on the 1st indictment.
Halligan only had the foreperson’s statement and signature that the GJ approved 2 of 3 charges. While the two new counts may have been identical, the whole GJ still has to see and vote on what actually gets presented to the court.
Halligan only had the foreperson’s statement and signature that the GJ approved 2 of 3 charges. While the two new counts may have been identical, the whole GJ still has to see and vote on what actually gets presented to the court.
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Officially, there was just a no bill on the 1st indictment.
Halligan only had the foreperson’s statement and signature that the GJ approved 2 of 3 charges. While the two new counts may have been identical, the whole GJ still has to see and vote on what actually gets presented to the court.
Halligan only had the foreperson’s statement and signature that the GJ approved 2 of 3 charges. While the two new counts may have been identical, the whole GJ still has to see and vote on what actually gets presented to the court.
Yeah, wow…really wish I could go back in time and tell childhood me that his Teddy Ruxpin-inspired nightmares will turn out to be pretty spot-on someday. I think it’d do wonders for his self-esteem
November 19, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Yeah, wow…really wish I could go back in time and tell childhood me that his Teddy Ruxpin-inspired nightmares will turn out to be pretty spot-on someday. I think it’d do wonders for his self-esteem