Garrett M. Graff
@vermontgmg.bsky.social
Journalist & Pulitzer finalist Historian. Fmr ed, @PoliticoMag & @washingtonian. Author of "Watergate: A New History" and "The Only Plane in the Sky" and other books. garrett.graff AT gmail OR ProtonMail. Subscribe to my newsletter: Doomsdayscenario.co
Pinned
Garrett M. Graff
@vermontgmg.bsky.social
· Jan 24
If anyone in or out of government wants to chat securely as the unraveling unfolds, I’m vermontgmg.14 on Signal. That’s my normal username, everywhere, with an extra Vermont: the 14th state.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
At the FedSoc’s National Lawyers Convention last week, high-ranking DOJ officials spoke very openly about their weaponization of civil rights laws and their prioritization of helping those who feel victimized by equality. I listened so you didn’t have to: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/doj-offici...
DOJ Officials Hype Up Ongoing Efforts to Weaponize Civil Rights Laws
If you feel victimized by equality and fairness, this DOJ is working for you.
nominationnotes.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
At the FedSoc’s National Lawyers Convention last week, high-ranking DOJ officials spoke very openly about their weaponization of civil rights laws and their prioritization of helping those who feel victimized by equality. I listened so you didn’t have to: nominationnotes.substack.com/p/doj-offici...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Thank you, more of this please.
Q: So Dr Oz said that--
JEFFRIES: Who? Nobody who is serious in this country takes Dr Oz seriously.
JEFFRIES: Who? Nobody who is serious in this country takes Dr Oz seriously.
November 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Thank you, more of this please.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Though Trump’s pardons can’t extend to state crimes, I think it’s worth pointing out the message being conveyed:
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
News coverage of this has focused on the pardon of those involved in the fake electors plot.
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
But the pardon also extends to key figures who participated in the unauthorized breach of voting systems in Coffee County, Georgia
My reporting on the breach: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...
November 10, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Though Trump’s pardons can’t extend to state crimes, I think it’s worth pointing out the message being conveyed:
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Trump’s allies are alleged to have stolen data from state voting systems in an effort to help him overturn an election he lost.
Now he’s pardoning them for it.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Happy week, everyone! 🌲
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Happy week, everyone! 🌲
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
New:
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
![STEWART RHODES (FOUNDER, OATH KEEPERS): And one other thing I want to say is that President Trump, as commander in chief, always has absolute authority to call all of us up as the militia because every one of us — in federal statues defining the militia, it's every able-bodied male from age 17-45. And for us veterans, it goes up to age 64 because of our prior training and experience.
Right now, under federal statutes, President Trump can call us up as the militia if he sees it necessary, especially for three purposes: to repel invasions, to suppress insurrections, and to execute the laws of the union. And right now, we see all three of those in play.
...
And the militia is all of us. So the National Guard is part of the militia, which is why it's completely lawful for him to use the National Guard as he has, and he should do more of that, I think, across the country.
...
He could just say given the circumstances of an invasion, insurrection, and resistance against federal law being being enforced, I'm calling up the militia, ordering all the men to come together [in] every county, put the veterans in charge of training and organizing all the other men and just have them stand too and await his orders. He can do that and I think he should do that. And so that's what I'll be advocating for from him. So from the bottom, from down the rank and file, we can let President Trump know that we're ready to serve, encourage him to do that, call us up as a militia, order us all to come together in our counties under his command, which gives you complete legal sanction to do what you're doing.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:af7tqcetuyt352aolf3znlxe/bafkreialm4skuozqobejpd6vx4m6kuwsgtidxmmxvj3ftcff6otiuyohiy@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
MSNBC reported Schumer's office felt that the longer that shutdown went on, the more likely it was that people would start to blame the Dems.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
November 10, 2025 at 2:18 AM
MSNBC reported Schumer's office felt that the longer that shutdown went on, the more likely it was that people would start to blame the Dems.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
. @vermontgmg.bsky.social’s The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making & Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb is a deep dive into past that we shouldn’t look away from, and one that we should continue to remember.
Here’s my review: transfer-orbit.ghost.io/atomic-bomb-...
Here’s my review: transfer-orbit.ghost.io/atomic-bomb-...
Hand to a hot stove
Garrett M. Graff’s The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making & Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb is a deep dive into past that we shouldn’t look away from, and one that we should con...
transfer-orbit.ghost.io
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
. @vermontgmg.bsky.social’s The Devil Reached Toward the Sky: An Oral History of the Making & Unleashing of the Atomic Bomb is a deep dive into past that we shouldn’t look away from, and one that we should continue to remember.
Here’s my review: transfer-orbit.ghost.io/atomic-bomb-...
Here’s my review: transfer-orbit.ghost.io/atomic-bomb-...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Congrats to the eight Democrats who gave this regime a huge win over the weekend. Here’s your reward.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Trump Pardons Giuliani and Others Involved in Effort to Overturn 2020 Election
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Congrats to the eight Democrats who gave this regime a huge win over the weekend. Here’s your reward.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
👇🎯 Unfortunately, this is true & probably the only way. Voters need to realize that hating government, & illegally defunding & dismantling it, & pretending that we can run a modern society/economy on Ronald Reagan's shabby talking point & worn copies of Atlas Shrugged & Mein Kampf is untenable.
Democrats have to stop bailing out Republicans from facing the consequences of their own policies. And yeah, that means they have to stop sparing voters from experiencing what GOP government truly means.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
So Democrats get:
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
👇🎯 Unfortunately, this is true & probably the only way. Voters need to realize that hating government, & illegally defunding & dismantling it, & pretending that we can run a modern society/economy on Ronald Reagan's shabby talking point & worn copies of Atlas Shrugged & Mein Kampf is untenable.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Must read from Reuters on how Trump officials are coordinating with right-wing social media influencers.
They know that big scoops build subscribers. So many big news stories are handed to reporters. Now, Trumpers give them to social media posters. It works wonders for their numbers.
They know that big scoops build subscribers. So many big news stories are handed to reporters. Now, Trumpers give them to social media posters. It works wonders for their numbers.
In Trump 2.0, MAGA-aligned influencers and media emerge as the new mainstream
How right‑wing influencers and Trump officials work in lockstep — targeting perceived adversaries, amplifying false claims and reshaping US media.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Must read from Reuters on how Trump officials are coordinating with right-wing social media influencers.
They know that big scoops build subscribers. So many big news stories are handed to reporters. Now, Trumpers give them to social media posters. It works wonders for their numbers.
They know that big scoops build subscribers. So many big news stories are handed to reporters. Now, Trumpers give them to social media posters. It works wonders for their numbers.
This was one of the best things government has done in a while:
The I.R.S. is shutting down its free online system for filing tax returns, a program that the Biden administration introduced last year and that users gave high marks.
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
I.R.S. Halts Free Online Offering for Filing Taxes Directly
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This was one of the best things government has done in a while:
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Nice reporting from the Sun-Times on the Girl Scout aspect of my experience yesterday
tinyurl.com/4azkbhjy
tinyurl.com/4azkbhjy
Masked ICE agents put damper on Oak Park Girl Scout food drive: ‘It’s heartbreaking as a mom’
Federal immigration agents were confronted in Oak Park on Saturday morning by residents blowing whistles as local Girl Scouts collect food for local pantries, rattling some girls and their parents.
tinyurl.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Nice reporting from the Sun-Times on the Girl Scout aspect of my experience yesterday
tinyurl.com/4azkbhjy
tinyurl.com/4azkbhjy
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.”
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
In honor of Viktor Orban's visit to Washington, here's a reminder that Orban has made his country corrupt, stagnant, and impoverished:
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
America’s Future Is Hungary
MAGA conservatives love Viktor Orbán. But he’s left his country corrupt, stagnant, and impoverished.
www.theatlantic.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
In honor of Viktor Orban's visit to Washington, here's a reminder that Orban has made his country corrupt, stagnant, and impoverished:
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
“The Fox News guy texted the Road Rules guy to talk about half-baked solutions for keeping all our planes from crashing” is a cool sentence to have to say in 2025
Sean Duffy: "The secretary of war texted me yesterday and said, 'I might have some air traffic controllers. If you could use them, I'm gonna offer them to you.' I don't know that I can, Jake, because they're not certified in the airspaces that we need them. But if I can, I'm going to use them."
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“The Fox News guy texted the Road Rules guy to talk about half-baked solutions for keeping all our planes from crashing” is a cool sentence to have to say in 2025
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
She doesn’t even say his name.
November 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
She doesn’t even say his name.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
My auto-boilerplate for all such binary left-right Whither Democrats journalism. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 PM
My auto-boilerplate for all such binary left-right Whither Democrats journalism. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
I’ve come to believe that we need to gather considerable forces and a campaign to demand the removal of face masks by ICE, Border Patrol, FBI and police.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
Video on social media shows an immigration agent pulling a gun in Little Village and holding it to the side — which is not an appropriate or safe way to hold a gun. (Among other issues.)
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 AM
I’ve come to believe that we need to gather considerable forces and a campaign to demand the removal of face masks by ICE, Border Patrol, FBI and police.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun strijd tegen racisme binnen het leger – werden zonder toelichting verwijderd.
www.nrc.nl
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Watching another president demolish these odes of self-importance will go a long way to restoring a sense of public service.
He was elected thanks to microplastics so it makes sense he’d decorate with macroplastics
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Watching another president demolish these odes of self-importance will go a long way to restoring a sense of public service.
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
During an event on Thursday, Donald Trump seemed to repeatedly struggle to keep his eyes open.
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.
New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.
New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
During an event on Thursday, Donald Trump seemed to repeatedly struggle to keep his eyes open.
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.
New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.
New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Garrett M. Graff
Went back to the history of the Sicilian Mafia to illustrate something obvious but worth stating explicitly: The Trump administration behaves like an organized crime syndicate running a protection racket, not a representative government www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Went back to the history of the Sicilian Mafia to illustrate something obvious but worth stating explicitly: The Trump administration behaves like an organized crime syndicate running a protection racket, not a representative government www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...