Because I’m in Spain, I posted this in the middle of the night, U.S.-time, so … ICYMI, a 🧵 on Congress.

I don’t write the headlines but I do like this one (post-Slaughter argument roundtable for @nytimes.com with @stevevladeck.bsky.social & @williambaude.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...

My take in this morning’s @nytimes.com on Trump v. Slaughter, on the future of independent agencies. Arguments before SCOTUS today @ 10am Trump Wants Complete Control. Will the Supreme Court Hand It to Him? www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/o...

This segment is so so good. Truly no one out there uses his platform like John Oliver

We had the BEST time at #CrookedCon - the episode we recorded will be out Monday!! @profmmurray.bsky.social @leahlitman.bsky.social @kateshaw.bsky.social @crooked.com

Justice Brett Kavanaugh: “If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen...they promptly let the individual go." The reality: Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents. A must read from the very talented @nicolefoy.bsky.social:

And now Penn rejects the compact! Students, faculty and staff unite. @aaup-penn.bsky.social @aaup.org 🔥 www.thedp.com/article/2025...

Re Brown, here’s a letter signed by a number of Brown alums who are law professors - there are a lot of us! (With huge thanks to @courtneygjoslin.bsky.social among others for organizing)

We prevail through solidarity. Much organizing is behind this decision by Brown U to not cave, on the day that the Pentagon press corps walked out in unison rather than submit to censorship. In the year that so many non-immigrants showed up to stand with immigrants. #nokings

Brown rejects the compact! President Paxson’s letter references the views of stakeholders - & I know as an alum how activated the Brown community was while the school considered its response - an important reminder of how much organizing matters

Great guide to what’s on the ballot in November - including three Democratic justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court up for retention

ICYMI:

Sat down with @stevevladeck.bsky.social & @williambaude.bsky.social to talk start of a new SCOTUS term, end of an unprecedented summer on the shadow docket, & 20 years of Chief Justice John Roberts www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/o...

the case against comey is an illegal, selective, vindictive prosecution. Trump vowed vengeance and retribution; prosecutors concluded there was no case against comey; Trump forced out the prosecutors & replaced them with a loyalist who got an indictment. The case should be dismissed before trial.

Finally had a chance to watch this, and it’s very much worth your time if you haven’t - late night tv as a site of popular constitutionalism

A fantastic installment of @stevevladeck.bsky.social’s (always essential) newsletter

There’s so much more to say about SCOTUS, but one thing I hope came through in this convo is what a winning streak Trump is on at SCOTUS right now - & how insane it is that the court is blessing many of his assertions of executive authority w/o a word of explanation @strictscrutiny.bsky.social

Here's an interview Kate Shaw @kateshaw.bsky.social did with Lev Menand, the expert on the Fed (the headline does not capture the substance of the piece): www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/o...

Can President Trump fire Lisa Cook? Under a proper understanding of the Federal Reserve’s place in our constitutional order, says ‪Kate Shaw, the answer should be no.

I sat down with Columbia Law School’s Lev Menand, a genuine expert on the Fed, to talk through Trump’s effort to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook - and its implications for both Fed independence & what remains of the separation of powers www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/o...

A real treat to take a break from the horrors of this timeline to talk to my amazing @penncareylaw.bsky.social colleague @serenamayeri.bsky.social about her fantastic new book “Marital Privilege”

NEW: The band is back together to chat legal news, including the shadow docket insanity on NIH research funding. Then Leah chats with Eli Savit, candidate for Michigan AG, about threats to marriage equality & Kate with Serena Mayeri on her book MARITAL PRIVILEGE crooked.com/podcast/trum...

new piece from on the 60th anniversary of the voting rights act, and what the law has meant for american democracy www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/o...

ICYMI - in the second half of this episode of @strictscrutiny.bsky.social, @leahlitman.bsky.social & I took a break from the news cycle to remember the one and only David Souter. Thanks to former Souter clerks Erin Delaney & Alli Orr Larsen for joining us & sharing some lovely Souter stories

Bracing analysis from Columbia Law School’s David Pozen about the significance and implications of Columbia’s settlement with Trump. balkin.blogspot.com/2025/07/regu...

Urgent piece by @ambpressman.bsky.social about the dangers of capitulation to the administration - we know from Hungary what happens when “those best positioned to uphold democratic norms chose the comfort of an illusion over the courage of action”

Sat down with @stevevladeck.bsky.social & @williambaude.bsky.social to talk through our (very different) reactions to this SCOTUS term @nytimesoped.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/o...

The first segment of this episode of @strictscrutiny.bsky.social has an excellent overview of the legal questions surrounding the Iran strikes, via @becingber.bsky.social in conversation with @leahlitman.bsky.social

SCOTUS majority not deigning to give *any* reasons for staying the injunction of the district court - in the highest-possible stakes context & where the executive branch has acted appallingly - evincing real contempt for both district courts & the rule of law

Joining @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social a bit later this morning to talk Trump & the courts, including whatever new opinions the Supreme Court issues today

Brad is an incredible public servant and this is absolutely horrifying

Non-lawyers: this is….not how this is done

Constitutional law expert: Many attacks on the judiciary don’t appear to be animated by a desire for good-faith debates… they seem instead of a piece of other efforts to neutralize any actor or institution that would “seek to limit this President’s power.”

HAWLEY: Let's see the Trump chart. You don't think it's a little bit anomalous that Trump has so many more nationwide injunctions against him? KATE SHAW: A very plausible explanation you have to consider is that he's engaged in much more lawless activity than other presidents

DC, you were the best!!!

We had a great time in DC for a @strictscrutiny.bsky.social live show Saturday night - thanks to the amazing crowd for coming out, & my truly hilarious cohosts for making us laugh so hard while keeping focus on the fight @profmmurray.bsky.social @leahlitman.bsky.social @melodyrowell.bsky.social

It’s been weeks since we’ve recorded an episode of @strictscrutiny.bsky.social without news breaking post-recording, & this week it was the SCOTUS order allowing the president to fire members of the NLRB & MSPB - very grateful to @narosenblum.bsky.social for jumping in to expertly break it down

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com “Over the last four months, the legal world — and the country — has been plunged into chaos, and the Supreme Court bears a heavy dose of responsibility,” writes Kate Shaw in a guest essay.

I’ve got a piece in the @nytimes.com this morning on the Supreme Court’s quiet but radical shadow-docket order last week handing Trump yet another tool to eliminate independent expertise & authority and consolidate presidential control over the executive branch www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/o...

Happy pub day to the one and only @leahlitman.bsky.social !!! We talk some of the highlights on this week’s episode of @strictscrutiny.bsky.social - so you can listen then go pick up your copy!

🚨Jefferson Griffin has FINALLY conceded to Justice Allison Riggs following his defeat in federal court on Monday. Griffin spent six months attempting to overturn his 734-vote loss in November: www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

As we’ve discussed at length on @strictscrutiny.bsky.social, Ed Martin is a chilling pick for DC US Attorney - looks like there might be enough Senate opposition building to keep him from being confirmed

'Perhaps U.S. Court of Appeals Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III had such actors in mind when he wrote, in Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case, of the hope that “it is not naïve to believe our good brethren in the executive branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.”' Important piece:

I’ve got a piece up in the @nytimes.com this morning arguing that more than a constitutional crisis, we’re in a rule of law crisis. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/o...

I already shared this to highlight a quote but realized I didn't use a gift-link. This is an excellent summary of the criminal conspiracy also known as the President of the United States. They are breaking things that are difficult to fix (like democracy). www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/o...

NEW: We recap the argument on LGBTQ+ reading materials in schools & the insights it provided into Neil & Sam's minds. + Developments on AEA litigation & exiling US citizens + Emily Amick @emilyinyourphone.bsky.social joins to discuss the concerning rise of pro-natalism! crooked.com/podcast/can-...

We were mid recording of this week’s episode of @strictscrutiny.bsky.social when this Wilkinson opinion dropped - you really hear him talking to not only the executive branch, but also his fellow conservatives on SCOTUS

I’ve found the @justsecurity.org litigation tracker indispensable for keeping up with the administration’s actions & legal responses - really happy to see them expanding their crucial work

🚨Here is Judge Boasberg's opinion finding that he has probable cause that the government in CRIMINAL contempt for defying his orders on March 15: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...