Timothy Raben
@timothyraben.bsky.social
Genetics. Physics. Tango. Dogs. Musicals. Courts. https://traben.github.io/
Pinned
At this point I'm not interested (almost universally) in donating or campaigning for anyone who doesn't support court reform or supports current congressional leadership.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
At least 11 congressmen from 1865-1871 were arguably not citizens under Trump's interpretation of 14th A, our research finds. Yet no one challenged their eligibility to serve. Why not? Obviously, b/c no one who drafted or ratified the 14th A shared Trump's view.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The Dog That Didn't Bark: Eligibility To Serve In Congress And The Original Understanding Of The Citizenship Clause
President Donald J. Trump's 2025 Executive Order restricting birthright citizenship has prompted new interest in the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment'
papers.ssrn.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
At least 11 congressmen from 1865-1871 were arguably not citizens under Trump's interpretation of 14th A, our research finds. Yet no one challenged their eligibility to serve. Why not? Obviously, b/c no one who drafted or ratified the 14th A shared Trump's view.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Timothy Raben
The whole point of my post is that “interim” isn’t either (1) accurate or (2) neutral as a discussion of what the Court is doing in the relevant subset of cases.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
December 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The whole point of my post is that “interim” isn’t either (1) accurate or (2) neutral as a discussion of what the Court is doing in the relevant subset of cases.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
The term “merits” docket seems to have neither of those shortcomings.
At this point I'm not interested (almost universally) in donating or campaigning for anyone who doesn't support court reform or supports current congressional leadership.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
December 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
At this point I'm not interested (almost universally) in donating or campaigning for anyone who doesn't support court reform or supports current congressional leadership.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Those are my lines because I don't think anything meaningful can happen without them.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
To put that into yet more perspective: In the chart below, the purple area is too early (the law does not exist) and the red part is too late (the Supreme Court's newest Purcell principle). The pink bit is both too early and too late. The green part is when you should sue.
December 5, 2025 at 7:46 PM
To put that into yet more perspective: In the chart below, the purple area is too early (the law does not exist) and the red part is too late (the Supreme Court's newest Purcell principle). The pink bit is both too early and too late. The green part is when you should sue.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
(1) New essay and blog post up that are coauthored with the great @jedshug.bsky.social We bring together a decade of scholarship to argue that the quasi-judicial category is both consistent w/ original public meaning and synonymous with a deeper Anglo-American “history and tradition.”
Quasi-Judicial: A History and Tradition
<div>
<p><span>In the process of bulldozing the unitary executive theory, scholars have made several seemingly unrelated discoveries. First, "judicial&quo
papers.ssrn.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
(1) New essay and blog post up that are coauthored with the great @jedshug.bsky.social We bring together a decade of scholarship to argue that the quasi-judicial category is both consistent w/ original public meaning and synonymous with a deeper Anglo-American “history and tradition.”
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
BREAKING: Supreme Court GRANTS Texas request to restore redistricting maps
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
The best case for legal realism is that the supreme court majority act like legal realists. The facts and rules don't matter, it's all power.
December 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The best case for legal realism is that the supreme court majority act like legal realists. The facts and rules don't matter, it's all power.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
The court repeatedly acknowledged the presumption of good faith, but explained that all of the evidence pointing to racial motivations overcame it. The bill's authors compiled a legislative record "replete with racial statistics!"
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The court repeatedly acknowledged the presumption of good faith, but explained that all of the evidence pointing to racial motivations overcame it. The bill's authors compiled a legislative record "replete with racial statistics!"
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Also!!!! The two things SCOTUS said the district court failed to consider were … addressed by the district court. More persuasively than SCOTUS
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Also!!!! The two things SCOTUS said the district court failed to consider were … addressed by the district court. More persuasively than SCOTUS
Reposted by Timothy Raben
The main institutions of the Federal Government—White House, Supreme Court and Congress—are in complete shambles.
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The main institutions of the Federal Government—White House, Supreme Court and Congress—are in complete shambles.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Texas & DOJ said that’s what was going on!
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
December 4, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Texas & DOJ said that’s what was going on!
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
So apparently the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to … allow some discrimination on the basis of race when it’s to secure Republicans electoral advantage.
Just lawless partisan hackery. No fact finding deference. No legal basis.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
As Justice Kagan begins her dissent by pointing out, what is even the point of trial, of fact-finding, of clear error, of standards of review, when the Supreme Court simply ignores every single part of that and decides everything purely on the papers without any real consideration of the facts?
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
As Justice Kagan begins her dissent by pointing out, what is even the point of trial, of fact-finding, of clear error, of standards of review, when the Supreme Court simply ignores every single part of that and decides everything purely on the papers without any real consideration of the facts?
An aspect I see being under reported
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
Damning report labels FBI ‘rudderless ship’ under Kash Patel — with him and Dan Bongino more concerned with building ‘personal résumés’
FBI Director Kash Patel is facing withering criticism days after the White House denied media reports that the president is about to fire him.
nypost.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM
An aspect I see being under reported
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
The report from current & former FBI SAs about Patel & Bongino does paint them as feckless, vain, know nothings.
But the tenor of the report makes it clear the authors wish more capable ppl were there to make the FBI more right-wing. nypost.com/2025/11/30/o...
The only narrow crack seems to be (1) if an appeals court just overrules this or (2) if the district court appoints a new interim US attorney and the new attorney decides to indict within the 6-month 'do over' grace period.
MORE: Judge Currie basically slams the door on re-indicting Comey here. She notes that "there is no legitimate peg" to extend the expired Sept. 30 statute of limitations. The window for James is a little wider. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The only narrow crack seems to be (1) if an appeals court just overrules this or (2) if the district court appoints a new interim US attorney and the new attorney decides to indict within the 6-month 'do over' grace period.
Slot had 2 weeks off to implement changes. All the players on international duty looked great. How come #LFC look the same they have for 2 months?
November 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Slot had 2 weeks off to implement changes. All the players on international duty looked great. How come #LFC look the same they have for 2 months?
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Last month I wrote about two new papers presenting the new Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI), a resource with genetic and EHR data from about half a million participants.
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Taiwan invests in genetic resource for health
A large biobanking effort captures genetic and health data from half a million people in Taiwan, widening the diversity of genomes used to predict disease risk.
www.nature.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Last month I wrote about two new papers presenting the new Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative (TPMI), a resource with genetic and EHR data from about half a million participants.
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This was special as my mom went to NTU & worked in some of these medical centers. 🇹🇼
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This isn't that complicated. Both Plaskett and Trump should resign!
Plaskett: You want to talk about texting felons, how often do you text President Donald J. Trump?
November 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
This isn't that complicated. Both Plaskett and Trump should resign!
Here's how I think the "Epstein Files" stuff will play out:
Senate will pass the bill. Trump may not even veto, but if he does it will gets overridden. DOJ will then release an extremely limited set of heavily redacted files. Patel and Bondi may end up in a cong. hearing and act sanctimonious.
Senate will pass the bill. Trump may not even veto, but if he does it will gets overridden. DOJ will then release an extremely limited set of heavily redacted files. Patel and Bondi may end up in a cong. hearing and act sanctimonious.
November 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Here's how I think the "Epstein Files" stuff will play out:
Senate will pass the bill. Trump may not even veto, but if he does it will gets overridden. DOJ will then release an extremely limited set of heavily redacted files. Patel and Bondi may end up in a cong. hearing and act sanctimonious.
Senate will pass the bill. Trump may not even veto, but if he does it will gets overridden. DOJ will then release an extremely limited set of heavily redacted files. Patel and Bondi may end up in a cong. hearing and act sanctimonious.
Reposted by Timothy Raben
I just remembered this from Glenn Kessler 3 months ago
November 13, 2025 at 4:52 AM
I just remembered this from Glenn Kessler 3 months ago
Reposted by Timothy Raben
Fall 2017: Then-NYT reporter literally warning Epstein that someone is "digging around again."
![From:
Thomas Jr., Landon
Sent:
9/27/2017 2:47:47 PM
To:
Subject:
Got another call from Connelly..
Importance:
High
Jeffrey Epstein [jeevacation@gmail.com]
He is digging around again -- not clear if its another book/or expanded paperback version. Was asking me all sorts of questions about why you hired Ken Starr. I told him I had no idea - I think he is doing some Trump-related digging too.
Anyway, for what its worth...
Landon Thomas, Jr.
Financial Reporter
New York Times
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/t/landon_ir thomas/index.h
tml](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreia6463yzmb2suqn5rbfslvtta667av3ryynaetbsl7x6tniezyawu@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Fall 2017: Then-NYT reporter literally warning Epstein that someone is "digging around again."
Reposted by Timothy Raben
First time on Bsky and first big announcement!
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes - Nature
WGS data were used from 347,630 individuals with European ancestry in the UK Biobank to obtain high-precision estimates of coding and non-coding rare variant heritability for 34 co...
www.nature.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
First time on Bsky and first big announcement!
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
This was me! I was a "whole language" kid in the 90s! I have a vivid memory of a middle school English teacher telling us that she was going to "close the doors, shut the blinds, and teach us some parts of speech".
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:41 PM
This was me! I was a "whole language" kid in the 90s! I have a vivid memory of a middle school English teacher telling us that she was going to "close the doors, shut the blinds, and teach us some parts of speech".
So it's just a complete coincidence that the only people who voted to cave are people *not* up for reelection soon? I think it's a safe bet that there were many more senate dems who wanted to cave, but also didn't want it to hurt them electorally.
I think Schumer as Chamberlain is most apt.
I think Schumer as Chamberlain is most apt.
Essentially nobody on the D side thinks the actions of the 8 "bipartisaners" were anything but wrong, indeed stupid. But now - as the Trump Regime and its captive party are badly stumbling - is not the time to encourage a fracture in the opposition, and a descent into openly warring cohorts. 1/
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
So it's just a complete coincidence that the only people who voted to cave are people *not* up for reelection soon? I think it's a safe bet that there were many more senate dems who wanted to cave, but also didn't want it to hurt them electorally.
I think Schumer as Chamberlain is most apt.
I think Schumer as Chamberlain is most apt.
@michaelhobbes.bsky.social can we get a minute by minute update on your reaction to every twist and turn of this Seattle mayor vote count?
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
@michaelhobbes.bsky.social can we get a minute by minute update on your reaction to every twist and turn of this Seattle mayor vote count?
All these feelings and plans are besides the point. It's far past time Schumer and Durbin stepped away from leadership (and hopefully the senate as well).
Many feel betrayal and frustration, and the feelings are hot right now.
I get it. I have my own feelings.
🧵
I get it. I have my own feelings.
🧵
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
All these feelings and plans are besides the point. It's far past time Schumer and Durbin stepped away from leadership (and hopefully the senate as well).