Vivia Chen, Ex-Careerist
viviachen.bsky.social
Vivia Chen, Ex-Careerist
@viviachen.bsky.social
Opinion writer, ex-lawyer. Former columnist @BloombergLaw and AmericanLawyer. Now on Substack.
Well, this makes my choice easier.
Trump Endorses Cuomo for N.Y.C. Mayor in Race’s Final Stretch www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Live Updates: Trump Endorses Cuomo for N.Y.C. Mayor in Race’s Final Stretch
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The view from here. #NYCmarathon 2025
November 2, 2025 at 9:01 PM
What do these guys remind you of? To me, they looked like attendees at a #KimJongUn pep rally. At least nobody was abruptly escorted out of the room – never to be seen again. My take on the summit with #PeteHegseth and #DearLeader.
viviachen.substack.com/p/are-we-in-...
Are We in North Korea Yet?
Fat shaming, machismo, and the "enemy within." It's the Pete and Donald Show.
viviachen.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Did anyone notice the condescending way the #DOJ treats #JusticeRoberts in its recent complaint against #JudgeBoasberg? There's a sly suggestion that Roberts is easily hoodwinked by clever liberal judges. Is Roberts insulted? viviachen.substack.com/p/is-justice...
Is Justice Roberts a Dolt? Pam Bondi Seems to Think So.
The DOJ filed a complaint against federal judge James Boasberg for making "improper" comments that could lead the chief justice astray. Is the DOJ suggesting that Roberts is easily hoodwinked?
viviachen.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I know there's outrage over the proposal to rename #KennedyCenter for #Melania. But she's really interested in expanding our idea of art. Here's my curated version of recent news:
The Art of Melania open.substack.com/pub/viviache...
The Art of Melania
Welcome to another edition of my carefully curated news. Today, I'm featuring Melania's vision for the Kennedy Center, Trump's artistry, terror in the Cotswolds, the Gen Z stare, and more!
open.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I am a Taiwan-born, naturalized American. I came to this country legally. My slate is clean. I have no rational reason to be afraid of Trump's crackdown on immigrants. Yet I am. Is this my country? #immigration #AsianHate #ChineseExclusionAct #AlienEnemiesAct
viviachen.substack.com/p/yellow-per...
Yellow Peril 2.0
I am a naturalized American citizen. I came to this country legally. My slate is squeaky clean. I have no rational reason to be afraid. Yet I am.
viviachen.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
We need to call out #MainstreamMedia for the shoddy way it describes #BigLaw's dirty deals with Trump. The $1 billion in free legal services for Trump's pet projects is not #ProBono, and the media should stop calling it that.
viviachen.substack.com/p/big-law-ca...
Big Law Calls It Pro Bono. Gimme a Break.
Firms making deals with Trump call the free legal services they're promising him "pro bono." Who are they kidding?
viviachen.substack.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
My latest: the continuing saga of #BigLaw's capitulation to an extortionist. #Skadden #PaulWeiss
Skadden Kowtows Before the Emperor
Paul Weiss's deal with Trump was shocking. But the Skadden deal is actually worse. And is anyone satisfied with Brad Karp or Jeremy London's explanations?
open.substack.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
More than anger, I feel heartbroken about #PaulWeiss' deal with the devil. It saved its own hide but threw the legal profession to the wolves. What happens to its legacy now? Or that of its leader #BradKarp?
Here's my take:
viviachen.substack.com/p/et-tu-brad...
Et Tu, Brad Karp?
The chair of legal powerhouse Paul Weiss, a bastion of liberalism, cut a deal with Donald Trump. Is he jeopardizing the firm's legacy and his own?
viviachen.substack.com
March 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I was the interviewee for a change! I was a guest on The American Lawyer's podcast on #BigLaw's response to Trump's threats on the legal profession. #CovingtonBurling #PerkinsCoie

Listen to it here: legalspeak.libsyn.com/s
Legal Speak: Trump v. Big Law: Vivia Chen Believes the Industry Needs to Fight Back
The Trump administration has used legally questionable but economically credible threats to cow Big Law. Will it push back?   Hosts: Cedra Mayfield & Patrick Smith Guest: Vivia Chen Producer:...
legalspeak.libsyn.com
March 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Anybody out there know how to easily migrate #X , #Twitter, followers to #Bluesky???
March 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I am appalled at #BigLaw's silence on how Trump is going after #CovingtonBurling for representing special counsel #JackSmith. I get the business reasons for staying quiet. But at what point does the business strategy of silence bleed over into complicity? Read my latest:
“We Should be Ashamed” — Big Law’s Silence on Trump’s Attack on Covington & Burling
Instead of a collective “Hell No!” to Trump's threats on one of its own, Big Law is cowering.
viviachen.substack.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I am opting out of X and joining BlueSky!
February 26, 2025 at 8:25 PM