Trent Gear
@trentgear.bsky.social
Courts aren’t strictly subordinate in every conflict.
Do really appreciate you taking the time to respond tho, it’s been helpful seeing my thinking.
Do really appreciate you taking the time to respond tho, it’s been helpful seeing my thinking.
January 4, 2026 at 5:46 AM
Courts aren’t strictly subordinate in every conflict.
Do really appreciate you taking the time to respond tho, it’s been helpful seeing my thinking.
Do really appreciate you taking the time to respond tho, it’s been helpful seeing my thinking.
here is not a farce on par with the DOJ counsel arguing courts must defer to immigration determinations. There are bounds on deference, and inconsistent responses, to me, are the cue for the Court to not accept the govt position without further inquiry.
January 4, 2026 at 5:46 AM
here is not a farce on par with the DOJ counsel arguing courts must defer to immigration determinations. There are bounds on deference, and inconsistent responses, to me, are the cue for the Court to not accept the govt position without further inquiry.
You aren’t wrong, I keep finding myself trying to make a first principles argument that I really cant make, so Ive been trying to limit myself to just the text.
The relevance is less clear than id assumed, that much you’ve helped point out; but I also am not convinced that granting deference
The relevance is less clear than id assumed, that much you’ve helped point out; but I also am not convinced that granting deference
January 4, 2026 at 5:46 AM
You aren’t wrong, I keep finding myself trying to make a first principles argument that I really cant make, so Ive been trying to limit myself to just the text.
The relevance is less clear than id assumed, that much you’ve helped point out; but I also am not convinced that granting deference
The relevance is less clear than id assumed, that much you’ve helped point out; but I also am not convinced that granting deference
the lawful HOS, what does the Court do with that?
January 4, 2026 at 4:13 AM
the lawful HOS, what does the Court do with that?
There wasn’t anything analogous Noriega could put forward if he wanted to. Think that’s where I’m taking issue.
If Maduro, subject to the court by executive decree, gets a statement by the person the USG is negotiating with as the HOS for Venezuela stating that, actually, Maduro is
If Maduro, subject to the court by executive decree, gets a statement by the person the USG is negotiating with as the HOS for Venezuela stating that, actually, Maduro is
January 4, 2026 at 4:13 AM
There wasn’t anything analogous Noriega could put forward if he wanted to. Think that’s where I’m taking issue.
If Maduro, subject to the court by executive decree, gets a statement by the person the USG is negotiating with as the HOS for Venezuela stating that, actually, Maduro is
If Maduro, subject to the court by executive decree, gets a statement by the person the USG is negotiating with as the HOS for Venezuela stating that, actually, Maduro is
It certainly seems inconsistent to me to take the USG position he’s illegitimate but his VP is legitimate. She isn’t elected independently of Maduro.
re: 2) The position I’m taking is that consistency is implicit in the In re Doe categories 1 and 2.
re: 2) The position I’m taking is that consistency is implicit in the In re Doe categories 1 and 2.
January 3, 2026 at 10:46 PM
It certainly seems inconsistent to me to take the USG position he’s illegitimate but his VP is legitimate. She isn’t elected independently of Maduro.
re: 2) The position I’m taking is that consistency is implicit in the In re Doe categories 1 and 2.
re: 2) The position I’m taking is that consistency is implicit in the In re Doe categories 1 and 2.
I may be the one confused - the way im understanding it is the court in Noriega declined to second guess the State Dept. re: Noriega did not have HOS immunity. It was a SD decision and the USG’s actions were consistent with the decision.
I’m saying that for Maduro, the USG consistency is absent.
I’m saying that for Maduro, the USG consistency is absent.
January 3, 2026 at 10:12 PM
I may be the one confused - the way im understanding it is the court in Noriega declined to second guess the State Dept. re: Noriega did not have HOS immunity. It was a SD decision and the USG’s actions were consistent with the decision.
I’m saying that for Maduro, the USG consistency is absent.
I’m saying that for Maduro, the USG consistency is absent.
Right, that is the USG position. But now he’s declining to talk with the opposition/USG recognized ‘appropriate’ leader and instead treating Maduro’s VP as the most appropriate HOS with Maduro otherwise occupied.
Kind of pokes holes in the premise.
Kind of pokes holes in the premise.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Right, that is the USG position. But now he’s declining to talk with the opposition/USG recognized ‘appropriate’ leader and instead treating Maduro’s VP as the most appropriate HOS with Maduro otherwise occupied.
Kind of pokes holes in the premise.
Kind of pokes holes in the premise.
Strictly, Court’s holding was “that is an article II decision”, but tail end of III.A1.:
“given that the record indicates that Noriega never served as the constitutional leader of Panama …[he] likely would not prevail [] if this court had to make determination …
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
“given that the record indicates that Noriega never served as the constitutional leader of Panama …[he] likely would not prevail [] if this court had to make determination …
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
scholar.google.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Strictly, Court’s holding was “that is an article II decision”, but tail end of III.A1.:
“given that the record indicates that Noriega never served as the constitutional leader of Panama …[he] likely would not prevail [] if this court had to make determination …
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
“given that the record indicates that Noriega never served as the constitutional leader of Panama …[he] likely would not prevail [] if this court had to make determination …
scholar.google.com/scholar_case...
I do enjoy being on the receiving end of a socratic dialog, but I don’t think I know what “that” you’re referencing now. Can’t really tee myself up again.
The quote? Relevance of Noriega’s HOS determination? Who got to determine his HOS? Applicability to present circumstances?
The quote? Relevance of Noriega’s HOS determination? Who got to determine his HOS? Applicability to present circumstances?
January 3, 2026 at 9:05 PM
I do enjoy being on the receiving end of a socratic dialog, but I don’t think I know what “that” you’re referencing now. Can’t really tee myself up again.
The quote? Relevance of Noriega’s HOS determination? Who got to determine his HOS? Applicability to present circumstances?
The quote? Relevance of Noriega’s HOS determination? Who got to determine his HOS? Applicability to present circumstances?
Actually, I see now it was Endara as proper Panamanian HOS eventually. Rest of what I said stands though.
January 3, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Actually, I see now it was Endara as proper Panamanian HOS eventually. Rest of what I said stands though.
Delvalle was the HOS as far as USG was concerned.
But here, I don’t understand how you can deny HOS status while declining to recognize the legitimacy of the opposition *and* recognizing the legitimacy of Maduro’s VP as the next most appropriate HOS.
But here, I don’t understand how you can deny HOS status while declining to recognize the legitimacy of the opposition *and* recognizing the legitimacy of Maduro’s VP as the next most appropriate HOS.
January 3, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Delvalle was the HOS as far as USG was concerned.
But here, I don’t understand how you can deny HOS status while declining to recognize the legitimacy of the opposition *and* recognizing the legitimacy of Maduro’s VP as the next most appropriate HOS.
But here, I don’t understand how you can deny HOS status while declining to recognize the legitimacy of the opposition *and* recognizing the legitimacy of Maduro’s VP as the next most appropriate HOS.
Noriega’s non-evidentiary part, as I understood it, turned on Noriega not being the proper HOS. Technically never was, and Reagan admin “…by pursuing Noriega's capture and this prosecution, [] manifested its clear sentiment that Noriega should be denied head-of-state immunity.” AFAIK,
January 3, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Noriega’s non-evidentiary part, as I understood it, turned on Noriega not being the proper HOS. Technically never was, and Reagan admin “…by pursuing Noriega's capture and this prosecution, [] manifested its clear sentiment that Noriega should be denied head-of-state immunity.” AFAIK,
If we’re declining to recognize Machado/González as the proper head of state following Maduro’s removal, and are talking with VP Rodriguez, I feel like most of US v Noriega now goes out the window.
January 3, 2026 at 6:33 PM
If we’re declining to recognize Machado/González as the proper head of state following Maduro’s removal, and are talking with VP Rodriguez, I feel like most of US v Noriega now goes out the window.
The tarpit factions in TWH fantasy got avant garde with their interpretation of ‘rectangle’.
I can see a world where it becomes a bounding box of space the models are allowed to act inside. Sort of blend Company of Heroes interaction with terrain with TW formation.
I can see a world where it becomes a bounding box of space the models are allowed to act inside. Sort of blend Company of Heroes interaction with terrain with TW formation.
December 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The tarpit factions in TWH fantasy got avant garde with their interpretation of ‘rectangle’.
I can see a world where it becomes a bounding box of space the models are allowed to act inside. Sort of blend Company of Heroes interaction with terrain with TW formation.
I can see a world where it becomes a bounding box of space the models are allowed to act inside. Sort of blend Company of Heroes interaction with terrain with TW formation.
Given the UK and Argentina are unique shades of red and blue, I think this is supposed to be mapping the alignment of support during the falklands war, not specific colonial heritages.
I’m not familiar enough with the history to decipher the shades of red in, e.g. Africa.
I’m not familiar enough with the history to decipher the shades of red in, e.g. Africa.
December 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Given the UK and Argentina are unique shades of red and blue, I think this is supposed to be mapping the alignment of support during the falklands war, not specific colonial heritages.
I’m not familiar enough with the history to decipher the shades of red in, e.g. Africa.
I’m not familiar enough with the history to decipher the shades of red in, e.g. Africa.
As for the mechanics of how we’d make it work? Well, there’s no other place with the sheer depth and breadth of expertise in every subject. We spent the 90s giving new democracies the run down on effective governance.
I think reconciliation and accountability is an issue of Will, not ability.
I think reconciliation and accountability is an issue of Will, not ability.
November 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
As for the mechanics of how we’d make it work? Well, there’s no other place with the sheer depth and breadth of expertise in every subject. We spent the 90s giving new democracies the run down on effective governance.
I think reconciliation and accountability is an issue of Will, not ability.
I think reconciliation and accountability is an issue of Will, not ability.
True, but there’s also a strong through-line in American mythos that “we had to flee from state persecution”. Some people here today really did run for their lives, others it’s just the story they tell themselves about their family 200 years ago; but I think the seeds are already there.
November 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
True, but there’s also a strong through-line in American mythos that “we had to flee from state persecution”. Some people here today really did run for their lives, others it’s just the story they tell themselves about their family 200 years ago; but I think the seeds are already there.
All I’ve got is that Eastern Europe and the GDR had to deal with a far more entrenched, explicitly political state security force.
I don’t know enough about lustration panels successes or failures, but they at least give a point of reference.
I don’t know enough about lustration panels successes or failures, but they at least give a point of reference.
November 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
All I’ve got is that Eastern Europe and the GDR had to deal with a far more entrenched, explicitly political state security force.
I don’t know enough about lustration panels successes or failures, but they at least give a point of reference.
I don’t know enough about lustration panels successes or failures, but they at least give a point of reference.
It’s the source of his power to drive others to madness. I just enjoy the show.
October 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
It’s the source of his power to drive others to madness. I just enjoy the show.
… and that upper limit never really moves.
And those levels also aren’t the kind of growth that cause you to leave a piece of content untouched eventually, à la “I’m level 30, there’s nothing for me in the lower level dungeon”.
And those levels also aren’t the kind of growth that cause you to leave a piece of content untouched eventually, à la “I’m level 30, there’s nothing for me in the lower level dungeon”.
September 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
… and that upper limit never really moves.
And those levels also aren’t the kind of growth that cause you to leave a piece of content untouched eventually, à la “I’m level 30, there’s nothing for me in the lower level dungeon”.
And those levels also aren’t the kind of growth that cause you to leave a piece of content untouched eventually, à la “I’m level 30, there’s nothing for me in the lower level dungeon”.
Are we considering player levels, gear, difficulty settings, and leaderboards all to be forms of vertical progression? Or is the focus of that also “players leave content behind” like seasonality?
My mind jumps to Darktide or Vermintide. There is player power growth, but it’s sigmoid …
My mind jumps to Darktide or Vermintide. There is player power growth, but it’s sigmoid …
September 27, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Are we considering player levels, gear, difficulty settings, and leaderboards all to be forms of vertical progression? Or is the focus of that also “players leave content behind” like seasonality?
My mind jumps to Darktide or Vermintide. There is player power growth, but it’s sigmoid …
My mind jumps to Darktide or Vermintide. There is player power growth, but it’s sigmoid …
I think, much like the senate, knowing the beliefs of what it does may be more enlightening to understanding it than knowing the truth of what it does.
So it really is a perfect analogy.
So it really is a perfect analogy.
June 12, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I think, much like the senate, knowing the beliefs of what it does may be more enlightening to understanding it than knowing the truth of what it does.
So it really is a perfect analogy.
So it really is a perfect analogy.