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zackford.bsky.social
Zack Ford
@zackford.bsky.social
3.3K followers 410 following 2.3K posts
Press/Editorial: AFJustice
Formerly: ThinkProgress (RIP).
Queer/cis, atheist, SJW, pianist, gaymer, IC alumni, union member. https://linktr.ee/zackford

Opinions my own. (He/Him) 🏳️‍🌈🖖
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zackford.bsky.social
There's nothing more feminist than defending the most conservative vision of a woman's place, says Amy Coney Barrett. 🤮

She sounds JUST LIKE the tradwives I see on TikTok. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Important footnote from the Fifth Circuit:
We have genuine doubt, however, that pulsing prosthetic breasts in front of people, putting prosthetic breasts in people’s faces, and being spanked by audience members are actually constitutionally protected—especially in the presence of minors. While nude dancing receives some constitutional protection, “intentional contact between a nude dancer and a bar patron is conduct beyond the expressive scope of the dancing itself. The conduct at that point has overwhelmed any expressive strains it may contain. That the physical contact occurs while in the course of protected activity does not bring it within the scope of the First Amendment.” Hang On, Inc. v. City of Arlington, 65 F.3d 1248, 1253 (5thCir. 1995). “It is possible to find some kernel of expression in almost every activity a person undertakes . . . but such a kernel is not sufficient to bring the activity within the protection of the First Amendment.” Id. (quoting City of Dallas v. Stanglin, 490 U.S. 19, 25 (1989)). Even though the performers here are not fully nude, Hang On’s reasoning is persuasive. At a minimum, Hang On confirms that each action in a performance is not necessarily protected even if the performance as a whole may receive some constitutional protection.
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
zackford.bsky.social
They don't know that they're the orcs. 🤦
October 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Trump's McCarthyist immigration goon Joseph Edlow consistently wears an American flag pin with SOMETHING on it, but I can't make it out in any of the pics or videos. Does anybody recognize what it might be?
October 17, 2025 at 1:17 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Fuck Megan McArdle and Fuck WaPo for publishing her transphobic bullshit. When someone is arguing that "biological sex is an essential fact" or claiming transition needs to be studied with "randomized controlled studies," they're only making clear they will never accept trans people are real.
October 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
zackford.bsky.social
I think she maybe just watched Star Trek: Generations and confused her Kirks.
October 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
zackford.bsky.social
ADF's lawyer keeps insisting that the research on consequences aren't valid because they account for forms of therapy beyond speech. But there is plenty of evidence of the harms of just speech. The ex-gay survivor survey shows most only had speech-based treatments: beyondexgay.com/survey/resul...
October 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Survivors of ex-gay therapy have been very open about how painful their experiences were. It taught them to hate themselves and devastated their mental health, with long-term effects even after removing themselves from the torturous treatment. beyondexgay.com/survey/resul...
October 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Lots of places in DC have shutdown drink specials, but only one place has drink specials AND the chance to belt out your feelings with live piano Broadway karaoke. Come sing with me tonight at Sid Gold's Request Room in Union Market from 6-9 then stick around for even more karaoke!
October 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Having my usual reaction to my COVID shot from yesterday and so grateful I have Tylenol on hand. 😉
September 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
zackford.bsky.social
I hope everyone has a great rapture tomorrow.
September 23, 2025 at 2:48 AM
zackford.bsky.social
Funny, you never hear any accountability from them when the vast majority of politically motivated violence is right-wing motivated, but they have to cite non-deadly examples from 2012 to fabricate this narrative.
September 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
zackford.bsky.social
If you're not following the work of @afj.org and @afjactioncampaign.org, you're missing out on great events like tonight's panel previewing the upcoming Supreme Court term.
September 9, 2025 at 10:55 PM
zackford.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
zackford.bsky.social
He seems nice.
September 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
zackford.bsky.social
So this week's episode of #StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds has a planet called Purmantee III that is known for its sandwiches with french fries right on the sandwich. Clearly this is a reference to the Primanti Bros. chain out of Pittsburgh, right?

@seanferrick.bsky.social @trekculture.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Goodbye and good riddance to one of the worst state supreme court justices.
August 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
zackford.bsky.social
I sure hope when tides turn that Democrats remember that Republicans openly admitted how much they abused the blue slip to obstruct judges, because it was a lot more than the Democrats!
August 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Revisited some of the best years of my life this morning.
August 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
zackford.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Time to chat about a captured Supreme Court with Evan Milligan (Milligan v. Allen), @alexaronson.bsky.social, @ashdashlee.bsky.social, @elienyc.bsky.social, and @brianbeutler.bsky.social at #nn25!
August 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Glad to see @mmfa.bsky.social still kicking and keeping the oppo research movement alive at #nn25!
August 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
zackford.bsky.social
I was pretty disappointed in how @petebuttigieg.bsky.social talked about the transgender sports issue, so I recorded a TikTok offering what I think is a better approach to winning people over on full inclusion and countering the right's fear: www.tiktok.com/@zackfordblo...
August 3, 2025 at 7:41 PM
zackford.bsky.social
Senate Republicans just confirmed Trump loyalist Emil Bove to the Third Circuit. Here is @afj.org's statement from @rachelrossi.bsky.social:

afj.org/article/with...
Alliance for Justice President Rachel Rossi issued the following statement: “Senate Republicans just declared that loyalty to Trump is their first and only priority for judicial nominees — not protecting the rule of law. Emil Bove’s confirmation undermines the foundational principle of our legal system: an independent judiciary that provides essential checks and balances against abuses of power and that applies equal and fair justice under the law. By voting to confirm Emil Bove to a powerful circuit court, Republican senators have betrayed their obligation to provide advice and consent. They rushed this confirmation in hopes of hiding Bove’s egregious activity because they didn’t want to be held accountable for their vote. But his confirmation is a tragedy for our nation, and he will do untold harm during this lifetime appointment. As we look to the courts to protect us from Trump’s unlawful behavior, we must steel ourselves for the dark turn our courts will take if the bench is stacked with extremists like Bove.”
July 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
zackford.bsky.social
Here is @afj.org's statement about this morning's disturbing display from Senate Republicans: afj.org/article/sena...

@rachelrossi.bsky.social:
Alliance for Justice President Rachel Rossi issued the following statement: “What we saw this morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee was a troubling display of fealty to Trump. Senate Republicans have abandoned all decency and decorum to advance the president’s agenda and his disturbingly unfit and unqualified nominees to serve as lifetime judges. This should be a wakeup call that Senate Democrats need to appreciate that Senate Republicans will not respect a single norm if it prevents them from getting their way. As Sen. Whitehouse said, the committee has officially become a ‘partisan rubber stamp,’ and it’s time to oppose them and slow them down in every conceivable way. Enough is enough; our democracy deserves better.”
July 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM