NEW on MSNBC: Prosecutors in the EDVA presented new U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan with a memo explaining why charges should not be brought against James Comey — because there isn't enough evidence to establish probable cause, let alone enough to convince a jury to convict.

This should be a red line. Trump is personally directing the indictment of @jamescomey.bsky.social based on personal animus even though Comey violated no law, as evidenced by the fact that the former US Atty looking into the case resigned rather than bring phony charges. Make Kimmel-level noise.

Some of us do.

Jimmy Kimmel: "Most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway."

Tonight @jimmykimmel.com and Disney stood up for free speech and our constitution. They are going toe to toe with an authoritarian president who is threatening all of our freedoms. Kimmel and Disney deserve our full support going forward. Let’s show them they have it and win this for freedom.

This is a huge win for free speech and a massive credit to the millions of people who expressed their outrage and sent a clear signal with their voices and their wallets. And it's a credit to Bob Iger and Disney as well that in the end they did the right thing. ca.news.yahoo.com/jimmy-kimmel...

Lemme spell it out. Trump's only leverage over Jimmy Kimmel and ABC came from FCC regulation. His direct power over H1-B visas gives him similar leverage over tech, higher ed, and others.

This would be a impeachment level scandal in any other Administration. Here I don’t expect to see a story about it on the cover of any major newspaper. That doesn’t change how outrageous and dangerous it is.

This is the biggest attack on free speech since the McCarthy era but it also has significantly less popular consensus behind it than the second Red Scare. It's being done on behalf of a minority faction led by the most unpopular president in modern history. Organizing against this can win.

@latenightseth.bsky.social just now: “this is a pivotal moment for our democracy and we must all stand up for free speech.”

@latenightseth.bsky.social standing up powerfully tonight for free speech and the Constitution. Bravo!!

The union representing the musicians from Jimmy Kimmel’s band releases a statement calling the FCC’s pressure on Disney “state censorship.”

Part of our constitutional crisis is that Republicans are stopping Congress from playing its fundamental oversight role.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, found myself turning on late night TV as must-watch right now. Tune in @jimmyfallon.bsky.social @latenightseth.bsky.social

LOST writer-producer Damon Lindelof says he won’t work with Disney unless Kimmel js reinstated. I’m hearing other talent weighing similar pledges.

This is a 9-0 Supreme Court decision from just last year.

Glad to see Democrats in this moment standing up for what should be a universal American value: the right to speak freely and yes even criticize the government. That’s a foundational Constitutional right. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/u...

Doesn’t get any clearer than this. We either have a First Amendment and Constitution and free society or we don’t.

I would have said “widespread deterioration of democratic norms” rather than “broad divisions”, but hey, can’t take sides right?

Must read from @thefireorg.bsky.social's First Amendment champion Bob Corn-Revere. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

The last time a govt went after Disney for its speech, Disney stood up. But it didn't get support from others. Now we're here. That's not to absolve Iger, but it is to say if our private sector doesn't stand together against censorship they will fall separately. protectdemocracy.org/work/desanti...

The WGA’s statement on ABC’s decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

ROVE: “.. Using Charlie’s murder to justify retaliation against political rivals is wrong and dangerous. It will further divide and embitter our country. No good thing will come of it.” @wsj.com www.wsj.com/opinion/they...

We're witnessing the most aggressive, fanatical crackdown on free speech in my lifetime. The speed and breadth of government censorship and private sector and nonprofit capitulation has been astonishing. As has the lack of urgency/silence from people who've long claimed to care about this stuff.

generally speaking, and with the glaring exception of november 2024, the more directly democratic an institution has been, the better it has checked Trump (eg grand and petit juries); the more elite and insular, the less effective (the Senate, the Supreme Court, big business)

Trump spent his 2024 campaign promising Americans he'd lower grocery prices. Virtually all major grocery categories are now more expensive than they were a year ago, however, some substantially so.

The murder of Charlie Kirk is part of a dangerous pattern of violence threatening our democracy & the safety of our communities. Part of the democracy movement’s work is ensuring everyone can express their opinions & engage in civic debate in peace. We must all agree violence is always unacceptable.

On left Rubio 2016: "We write to express grave concern about the campaign of extrajudicial killings...by the government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte under the guise of his so-called 'War on Drugs.'" On right Rubio 2025: Praising presidential killing of alleged drug traffickers

US health insurers are raising insurance premiums by the most in 15 years. Recall that Trump recently threatened 250% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. GOP lawmakers also chose not to extend the expanded premium tax credits that expire at the end of this year

The best way to stop Trump from deploying militarized federal forces against Americans is to cut off any funding for it. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...

This is an example of how civil society silences itself under authoritarianism. The West Point alumni group announced the award in June, and then effectively canceled it in September. No explanation, just a vague sense that they are afraid of displeasing the regime.

So we are lighting up the U.S. Open phones, right?

BREAKING: ICE is sending Russian dissidents back to Russia. When the dissidents arrived in Russia, the Russian authorities were given documents relating to their asylum applications in the US which under US law are confidential. This seems to be part of a secret agreement between Trump and Putin.

The sanitizing of insanity continues. "Tensions mount".

Massive amount of people. /

Just wondering how many folks in the Pentagon are cool with the fact that the enemy is no longer Russia or China but non-Trumpy Americans.

How is this not a screaming massive headline across every news site? This is insane, a virtual declaration of civil war. We fought a revolution to not be subjected to this kind of tyranny

The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.

I mean, once the military gets its hands on AI, what could go wrong?

Bill Pulte ended up getting his own dad busted.

If you don’t already follow @centerforballotfreedom.org and @msifry.bsky.social you should. I was fortunate to join their podcast below this week but in general they are excellent sources for important ideas on how we reform our democracy.

“The real power of Trump’s absurd autocratic brand lies in the cover it provides for the movement behind him. The unending preposterousness provides his allies… with plausible deniability for autocracy to take root.” @amandacarpenter.bsky.social www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/hes-just-j...

Want to give a lot of appreciation and praise to @nadler.house.gov. Jerry Nadler has always been an excellent representative, and his decision to pass the torch shows the same dignity, judgment, and public-mindedness that he always brought to public service. A class act and model for others.

Illinois Gov. Pritzker ahead of Trump National Guard deployment: "To Chicagoans... Look out for your communities and your neighbours. Know your rights. Film things that you see happening... Authoritarians thrive on your silence. Be loud for America."

BREAKING: 5th circuit panel rejects Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to expel Venezuelan nationals, saying there has been no "invasion" or "predatory incursion." Majority Southwich (George W. Bush) Ramirez (Biden) Dissent Oldham (Trump) s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

BREAKING: A federal appeals court just denied the Trump administration’s emergency motion to block Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter’s reinstatement to the FTC. This is a win for accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, but the fight isn’t over. Follow the case: https://protdem.org/4mKJ9zy

I love looking at this graph, showing it to my students, and sharing it on social media, even though it unerringly brings out the trolls. This is the efficacy curve of Pfizer's mRNA COVID vaccine. This, people, is what ended the emergency phase of the COVID pandemic. Despite what RFK Jr says.

You guys see where this is going? Right?