ed
@wardobitrot.bsky.social
Grinding lenses. Resistant to professionalization.
Reposted by ed
I am as big a sucker as anyone for the fine-grained legal analysis, but I do sometimes worry it distracts us a little from the big, dumb, obvious points. This is appalling & precisely what the Framers were terrified of. Whether it’s technically legal if you squint right doesn’t change that.
The president of the United States in our time is not supposed to wield armed troops and even station marines on American soil because of political speech and assembly he doesn’t like, that is typically not allowed and no I don’t care if any of it is technically “legal”
June 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I am as big a sucker as anyone for the fine-grained legal analysis, but I do sometimes worry it distracts us a little from the big, dumb, obvious points. This is appalling & precisely what the Framers were terrified of. Whether it’s technically legal if you squint right doesn’t change that.
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Kristi Noem must resign. She has deported a four year old with cancer, detained a U.S. marshal, and arrested two members of Congress. She’s lost the confidence of the American people. ICE must stop terrorizing our communities.
June 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Kristi Noem must resign. She has deported a four year old with cancer, detained a U.S. marshal, and arrested two members of Congress. She’s lost the confidence of the American people. ICE must stop terrorizing our communities.
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Booker: He was made to kneel before the authority of the executive… They treated a member of the United States senate violently after he identified himself, dragged him out of a room, threw him upon the ground, and put him in handcuffs
June 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Booker: He was made to kneel before the authority of the executive… They treated a member of the United States senate violently after he identified himself, dragged him out of a room, threw him upon the ground, and put him in handcuffs
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This is the most straightforward thing they've said so far. They're using the military to "liberate" Los Angeles from its mayor and governor.
Kristi Noem: "We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
June 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This is the most straightforward thing they've said so far. They're using the military to "liberate" Los Angeles from its mayor and governor.
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Senator Alex Padilla was fulfilling his Congressional oversight duties when he was thrown to the ground and handcuffed.
This is no isolated instance; this is a pattern of behavior by the Trump administration.
There is simply no justification for this abuse of authority.
This is no isolated instance; this is a pattern of behavior by the Trump administration.
There is simply no justification for this abuse of authority.
Booker condemns forced removal and detention of Senator Padilla by Trump Officials in Los Angeles
YouTube video by Senator Cory Booker
youtu.be
June 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Senator Alex Padilla was fulfilling his Congressional oversight duties when he was thrown to the ground and handcuffed.
This is no isolated instance; this is a pattern of behavior by the Trump administration.
There is simply no justification for this abuse of authority.
This is no isolated instance; this is a pattern of behavior by the Trump administration.
There is simply no justification for this abuse of authority.
Reposted by ed
Padilla: “We will hold this administration accountable”
June 12, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Padilla: “We will hold this administration accountable”
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House Democrats need to bring articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem, while Senate Democrats need to bring that chamber to a fucking halt.
June 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
House Democrats need to bring articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem, while Senate Democrats need to bring that chamber to a fucking halt.
Reposted by ed
Yes. According to Army protocol, congressional staff are VIP Code 5, with a rank equivalent to a two-star general/admiral. Members of Congress are of course significantly higher.
I have never seen USCP, FPS, or any other federal LEO treat any Member with anywhere near this disrespect and violence.
I have never seen USCP, FPS, or any other federal LEO treat any Member with anywhere near this disrespect and violence.
We drill into military officers that Members of Congress have Constitutional oversight rights, Members outrank four-stars in protocol, and even Congressional staffers are treated like generals/admirals.
To see sworn federal officers manhandle and handcuff a U.S. Senator... I'm still shook up.
To see sworn federal officers manhandle and handcuff a U.S. Senator... I'm still shook up.
"There's no recording allowed out here, per FBI rights"
June 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Yes. According to Army protocol, congressional staff are VIP Code 5, with a rank equivalent to a two-star general/admiral. Members of Congress are of course significantly higher.
I have never seen USCP, FPS, or any other federal LEO treat any Member with anywhere near this disrespect and violence.
I have never seen USCP, FPS, or any other federal LEO treat any Member with anywhere near this disrespect and violence.
Reposted by ed
Sen. Alex Padilla, who was just forcibly removed from a DHS press conference, is the ranking member of Judiciary’s subcommittee on immigration, citizenship, and border safety, which has “oversight of federal agencies with citizenship, asylum, refugee, and immigration enforcement responsibilities.”
June 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Sen. Alex Padilla, who was just forcibly removed from a DHS press conference, is the ranking member of Judiciary’s subcommittee on immigration, citizenship, and border safety, which has “oversight of federal agencies with citizenship, asylum, refugee, and immigration enforcement responsibilities.”
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This is an out-of-control paramilitary agency, taking orders from radical white supremacists, operating outside the law and attacking Americans and states. Shut the whole thing down
Kristi Noem: "We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
Sen. Alex Padilla is then forcibly removed!
June 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
This is an out-of-control paramilitary agency, taking orders from radical white supremacists, operating outside the law and attacking Americans and states. Shut the whole thing down
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Sitting US Senator Alex Padilla forcibly wrestled to the ground and arrested by the FBI for attempting to ask a question of DHS secretary Kristin Noem.
June 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Sitting US Senator Alex Padilla forcibly wrestled to the ground and arrested by the FBI for attempting to ask a question of DHS secretary Kristin Noem.
Reposted by ed
A staff member for Sen. Padilla shared this photo with @samsteindc.bsky.social:
June 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A staff member for Sen. Padilla shared this photo with @samsteindc.bsky.social:
Reposted by ed
political journalists obsess over the public’s lack of trust in our profession but strangely see that as downstream of things like “we didn’t talk enough about how biden was old” and not “many of us appear to be indifferent to a nihilistic attack on the constitution”
May 15, 2025 at 12:29 PM
political journalists obsess over the public’s lack of trust in our profession but strangely see that as downstream of things like “we didn’t talk enough about how biden was old” and not “many of us appear to be indifferent to a nihilistic attack on the constitution”
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It’s elementary. If only one side is pushing it will get a lot of its way. The only workable remedial action is to make clear to all relevant parties that there are two sides pushing. And act accordingly.
Key Democrats sent scathing letters to 5 top law firms demanding details on the lucrative deals they cut with Trump to avoid being punished by him.
“Your agreement makes you complicit in efforts to undermine the rule of law." www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...
“Your agreement makes you complicit in efforts to undermine the rule of law." www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...
Democrats Demand Answers From Top Law Firms That Caved To Trump's Wishes
“Your agreement makes you complicit in efforts to undermine the rule of law," they fumed to five prominent firms that paid off Trump to avoid his attacks.
www.huffpost.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It’s elementary. If only one side is pushing it will get a lot of its way. The only workable remedial action is to make clear to all relevant parties that there are two sides pushing. And act accordingly.
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It’s time to build.
March 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
It’s time to build.
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6/ But the thing itself is a criminal enterprise by any reasonable reading of the constitution. The fact that Congress hasn't stopped it doesn't change that fact. It's the essence of remaining sane and steady in moments of chaos and national tribulation to not lose sight of which way is up ...
March 28, 2025 at 9:52 PM
6/ But the thing itself is a criminal enterprise by any reasonable reading of the constitution. The fact that Congress hasn't stopped it doesn't change that fact. It's the essence of remaining sane and steady in moments of chaos and national tribulation to not lose sight of which way is up ...
Reposted by ed
Pete Hegseth must resign or be fired immediately.
March 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Pete Hegseth must resign or be fired immediately.
Reposted by ed
In his case, after all, there were mountains of public facts establishing his guilt. Whereas the public has been provided no information meaningfully establishing that the people deported without process are really criminals, or even really aliens, never mind "terrorists."
March 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
In his case, after all, there were mountains of public facts establishing his guilt. Whereas the public has been provided no information meaningfully establishing that the people deported without process are really criminals, or even really aliens, never mind "terrorists."
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There's something grimly ironic about Trump, whose criminal guilt was quite clear based on public information, managing to land in the White House rather than a prison cell thanks to dragging out Due Process, now handwaving process away and assuming the right to brand criminals by fiat.
March 17, 2025 at 1:38 PM
There's something grimly ironic about Trump, whose criminal guilt was quite clear based on public information, managing to land in the White House rather than a prison cell thanks to dragging out Due Process, now handwaving process away and assuming the right to brand criminals by fiat.
Reposted by ed
Reposted by ed
I don't think it's a coincidence the person with the most courage to take ownership for a failure is also the person I probably blame the least
Walz: I own this. We wouldn’t be in this mess if we'd have won the election and we didn't. We have to make sure that Americans know it's not just that Donald Trump is bad, but we're offering them something better
March 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I don't think it's a coincidence the person with the most courage to take ownership for a failure is also the person I probably blame the least
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The detention of Mahmoud Khalil puts all Americans fundamental rights at risk. And if you can’t see that because you oppose his politics, well that’s exactly the reaction Trump and his cronies are counting on. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Mahmoud Khalil’s Detention Is a Trial Run
The pro-Palestine student was arrested without due process for exercising his right to free speech. He will not be the last.
www.theatlantic.com
March 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The detention of Mahmoud Khalil puts all Americans fundamental rights at risk. And if you can’t see that because you oppose his politics, well that’s exactly the reaction Trump and his cronies are counting on. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
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Musk and Trump could not possibly be sending a clearer signal that the Tesla protests are working than this pathetic stunt today.
March 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Musk and Trump could not possibly be sending a clearer signal that the Tesla protests are working than this pathetic stunt today.
Reposted by ed
There's been lots of debate on the left over the last 8 years about whether Trumpism qualifies as fascism or not, and I've never seen a semantic debate so handily settled
This is straight-up fascist dictatorship activity. Not fascist-adjacent or “reminiscent of authoritarian regimes” or whatever euphemistic bullshit — fascism.
UPDATE—Mahmoud's attorney says they do NOT know where he is.
They were first told he was sent to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, NJ. But when his 8-month-pregnant wife tried to visit him, she was told he's not there.
They've received reports he may be sent as far away as Louisiana.
They were first told he was sent to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, NJ. But when his 8-month-pregnant wife tried to visit him, she was told he's not there.
They've received reports he may be sent as far away as Louisiana.
March 9, 2025 at 11:44 PM
There's been lots of debate on the left over the last 8 years about whether Trumpism qualifies as fascism or not, and I've never seen a semantic debate so handily settled