So it seems we’re done with head of state immunity in domestic courts (exactly where it was designed for) even as we fight for it tooth and nail at an international court? Actually, we’re probably just done with it in US courts.

Thanks to Frank Bruni and David Litt for 1st of best sentences of 2025! From The Contrarian: "One CBS article about his immigration crackdown said Trump ‘invoked muscular presidential powers,’ which is a bit like saying Jeffrey Dahmer ‘displayed omnivorous taste.’” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...

1/n Powerful and gut-wrenching photo-essay presentation in @washingtonpost.com by Jonathan Edwards. Investigative/explanatory journalism at a very high level. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int... If you haven't lived in DC, you may not appreciate how much this is a city of **trees**.

The current Supreme Court has forfeited all legitimacy. Democrats (and everyone) need to address that reality. John Roberts > Roger Taney. Court needs to expand. And have fixed terms—like *every* other supreme court in developed world. And have ethics rules, like all normal organizations.

I imagine everyone of dreaded Boomer era has similar story: -My uncle fought in Battle of Bulge, vs Nazis -My future father-in-law was in submarine, vs Nazis -My dad was in training as Navy doctor, to fight Nazis Now MAGA/Trump/Hegseth: "Who are we to judge?" www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

"I sing of a new American... I have been enslaved, yet my spirit is unbound. I have been cast aside, but I sparkle in the darkness. I have been slain but live on in the river of history." -- Pauli Murray, Nov 20 - 1910 - July 1, 1985 The Trump regime wants to erase Pauli's legacy. Don't let them.

if the president calling for the death of members of congress isn't enough for the mainstream media to figure out how to cover this dangerous, anti-democratic, violent person, i am not sure what is.

“If the president can do whatever the president wants with respect to tariff rates based on declaring a national emergency and national emergencies are nonreviewable, then basically, Congress no longer has a role to play," @gregorycshaffer.bsky.social told @kelseyreichmann.bsky.social.

A powerful address of @michelebgoodwin.bsky.social‬ It is important for all law students and those in the academy, and indeed for everyone, given at the graduate students luncheon at this year's meeting of LSA in Chicago @lawandsociety.bsky.social‬. Pass it on: www.lawandsociety.org/2025/08/06/l...

a very powerful address

Gaza Hospitals Report 15 Starvation Deaths in 24 Hours, Hunger-related Deaths Up to 101 www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Nothing sinister about this

Dozens of Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Sunday as they tried to get food aid, according to local health authorities, one of the deadliest days in recent months for those seeking assistance. By Joe Hernandez, @danielestrin.bsky.social and Anas Baba

Remember: The internet is written in indelible ink.

This seems like a notable sign of how the energy on the young US right is in a very different place when it comes to Israel-Palestine than older Republicans are: www.timesofisrael.com/in-sign-of-s...

I don’t know of a single democracy where the enforcers are masked and unidentified in the course of their regular law enforcement work and the lawyers who defend them in court are also unidentified. reason.com/2025/07/17/a...

Also, again, they're wildly illegal under both the domestic laws supposedly justifying them, as well as a host of international treaty obligations that are also part of US code. bsky.app/profile/mcop...

Do Check it out. It is in paperback at a reasonable price and available online Open Access on the CUP website.

Trump’s retaliation against law firms is having its predictable chilling effect. Punishing law firms for representing clients the president dislikes infringes on the 6th Amendment right to counsel of one’s choice and the 1st Amendment right to free association.

The Chief Justice and destruction of voting rights. www.vox.com/21211880/sup...

Today in life under competitive authoritarianism "It has been this way for a long time."

👇🎯💯 Yes, this is the only way 🇪🇺 can finance these things, or challenge the dollar. Anyone who tells you otherwise is fantasizing about 🇩🇪/🇪🇺 tolerance for national-level debt or pretending that 🇩🇪/🇪🇺 can achieve these goals without major economic policy change. bsky.app/profile/mcop...

He aims to leave up to his name -- Don.

The rush (and the need) to get all these names/have everyone on the record? Methods tried and tested by Stalin and the Mafia: Make everyone complicit.

Hey look, <yet another> rich democracy has counted all of its votes in 24 hours, all parties (yes also the far right) have accepted the results of the election, there are no lawsuits & is no political violence, & everyone is going about their business on a normal day 🇩🇪 We, too, could have that in 🇺🇸

@stevevladeck.bsky.social on the ominous removal of the judge advocates general by the Trump administration. open.substack.com/pub/contrari...

Shame on the US & Israel. UN general assembly backs resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine war US, Israel, Russia, Belarus and North Korea vote against resolution as 93 countries vote in favor. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

On Feb. 7, I joined @mccourtschool.bsky.social & @georgetownlaw.bsky.social for a critical discussion on challenges facing democracy & the rule of law after a year of decisive elections around the world. Thank you @gregorycshaffer.bsky.social & Daniel Kelemen for having me. #RuleOfLaw #Africa

1/n What Project 2025-era leadership of FAA/DOT thought worth spending time on today: Culture-war pettiness of changing name of NOTAMs (frequent safety updates) to "Notice to Airmen," from "Notice to Air Missions." Everyone in aviation just calls them NOTAMs. This adds zero to safety / efficiency.

Absurd. And another constraint that's binding until ... it's not www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Critical points here - opposition is being invisibly silenced now and in the future as people opt out of public life. We can't stand aside as "America is on the cusp of competitive authoritarianism" www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Always seeking leverage to exploit, always a protection racket in some form PS cc: the kneebenders at Meta et al. You too will face another shakedown.

My latest @thenation.com with @gregorycshaffer.bsky.social www.thenation.com/article/soci... @oneillinstitute.bsky.social @georgetownlaw.bsky.social

My article with @michelebgoodwin.bsky.social in @thenation.com on the president's attacks on the rule of law follow our symposium Democracy & The Rule of Law under Challenge @georgetownlaw.bsky.social. See www.c-span.org/program/publ... @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @tomginsburg.bsky.social

From my #UofM colleague Joachim Salvesberg “Musk’s demands are an offense against the US (and other nations’) soldiers who risked and lost their lives to put an end to the Nazi terror and murder machine.” thesocietypages.org/holocaust-ge...

@rdanielkelemen.bsky.social & I are hosting a major symposium on Democracy and the Rule of Law under Pressure on Feb. 7 at Georgetown. Over 300 are registered. Here is the registration link with the schedule: www.law.georgetown.edu/event/democr... @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @tomginsburg.bsky.social

I don't really understand how elected officials in Congress, who swore oaths on Bibles to Country and Constitution, can stand by and allow this criminal activity by people who are not even employees of the US government. I don't care what your politics or your party is. Do your damn jobs.

Today's "Who elected Elon Musk? tweet. Who elected Elon Musk?

This is a hostile takeover of the federal government by a private citizen of unlimited means with no restrictions and no transparency. Welcome to the Deep State www.reuters.com/world/us/mus...

Yes! Could the US media please focus on Trump's continuous violations of national & international law, where he is turning the US into a lawless, prerogative state. See Fraenkel on the prerogative state. @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @brendannyhan.bsky.social @rgoodlaw.bsky.social @jamellebouie.net

It is important that media covers impact of Trump's trade policy, such as here in WaPo wapo.st/4gqLDyO. Could it please note that it violates US treaty commitments & international law, & parallels his violations of US law & the Constitution, all part of the US becoming a prerogative state.

My first post on Bluesky. Our book The Rule of Law under Pressure: A Transnational Challenge is out, open access & in paperback with Cambridge: cambridge.org/core/books/r... @cambridgeup.bsky.social @tomginsburg.bsky.social @kimlanelaw.bsky.social @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social An important time!

Top officials in professional agencies—the FBI director, the FAA director, now the Census director—need to stop resigning before their terms are over. Their resignations validate the idea that they’re political appointees. Make Trump fire you! And speak out! apnews.com/article/cens...

Performative public lying is a hallmark of far right authoritarian parties

NEW: When the pillars of democracy crumble, autocrats rush in to squat We ID these 7 pillars & how actors at all levels can strengthen them Check out our Democracy Playbook 2025 @brookings.edu www.brookings.edu/articles/dem...