I think we’re going to start to see candidates actively campaign on pardons. Not great when you consider the president can basically overrule statutes and Congress can’t do anything about it.

*go to newspapers dot com* Ctrl+F BANG, (•_•) <) )╯ original / \ (•_•) \( (> Public / \ (•_•) <) )╯ meaning / \

It has been a bracing moment for American federalism, with both unprecedented efforts to extend executive control over state and local govts, novel forms of subnational resistance. Where is federalism going? Paul Nolette and I have edited a new issue of Publius on that question. Short thread:

Polish Christmas Eve involves a lot of fried seafood, dough in various forms, and very few vegetables. It’s great, but I can hear my ventricles slamming shut.

For a libertarian, big-bad-government-out-to-get-the-little-guy, guy, Gorsuch doesn’t seem to have a problem with the president illegally federalizing the national guard to detain and deport brown people, without due process of law.

NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

We went from Walter Cronkite to this coward who does nothing but drag his legacy through the mud. zeteo.com/p/bari-weiss...

Self owns are becoming part of Heritage’s heritage.

Silverado, free on YouTube. All timer. youtu.be/8Vhplk52dFg?...

Bondi is a disgrace to the DOJ and the country.

The committee thought this Alabama team deserved to be in over Notre Dame. What a joke.

Man I hope Oklahoma beats the crap out of Alabama.

Congratulations to Cristina Rodriguez on being named the next Dean of Yale Law School.

Matthew Stafford has been unreal this season. Career year at 37.

My forthcoming book— For which I began research in 2006. Is now posted on the website for Princeton University Press. Cover will be added soon. The King’s Slaves: The British Empire & the Origins of American Slavery

NB: When I, a professor of law, profess that an act is unlawful, I am not doing it to inform the lawbreaker, but rather to inform you, the reader. So the question “what, like you think he cares?” is inapposite. The question is whether *you* care. I think you should, which is why I bother.

Both my fantasy teams are playing for a trip to the championship this weekend. My teams are on the left.

I woke up to this yesterday.

I submitted a verification form to @bsky.app @support.bsky.team a long time ago. Has anyone who submitted one actually gotten verified?

Here's the piece (again) if you want to read it: muse.jhu.edu/pub/275/arti...

Hey, guys! If you need a reason to *not* go back to Twitter, see below. I QT’d the first post with what I think is an uncontroversial historical point. It blew up, and out of the woodwork came the neoconfederates, antisemites, white nationalists, and other racists.

Good discussion between @jedshug.bsky.social and Tom Berry of Cato. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Student eval: "Sobkowski served and left no crumbs."

"Burkeanism and the Administrative State" I really enjoyed doing this podcast episode with Sarah Isgur, @williambaude.bsky.social, and @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social. It was framed around separation of powers debates, but the conversation ranged much more widely. thedispatch.com/podcast/advi...

I don't know, Aaron. I think we need to take this seriously. In fact, after surveying hundreds of years of history in the past few days, I've written an article assessing the originalist case here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

I love the Sherlock Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

If one believes in Hell, he will be there someday.

The President of the United States is a despicable human being.

I think one of my first moves during break will be to watch the Princess Bride.

WHAT????

Just horrible.

Oh no.

I’m quoted in this story. www.cbs58.com/news/sen-joh...

I went to see Christmas Vacation in the theater last night. What a classic. Even better on the big screen. Never gets old.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Grades submitted. Hello winter break. 🙌🏻

One of my students titled their paper: “Sorry, Mr. Hamilton: The Unintended Rise of the Supreme Court” 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Some of you probably know, my pet interest is the civil war era, and this book is incredible. It’s one of those books that makes me think “I should start writing about this period.”

Just keep grading Just keep grading grading grading 🎶🎶

Nina Varsava (@ninavarsava.bsky.social) and I just posted our paper "Originalism's General-Law Turn" to SSRN. The paper is still a work in progress, and comments and criticisms are very welcome. papers.ssrn.com/abstract_id=...

Breaking News: Republicans in the Indiana Senate defied President Trump and joined Democrats in voting down a congressional map aimed at adding GOP seats.

Really interesting video from @tribelaw.bsky.social. Do any appellate lawyers on here do something like this? @smmarotta.bsky.social @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social @joedudekjd.bsky.social youtu.be/pqZ-xtwamXY?...

I PROMISE this article is in the works.

history of unitary executive theory, in one tweet Step 1 - Formal logic requires you, a principled legal movement, to override centuries of tradition. Functionalism is irrelevant. Step 2 - Functionalism requires you, a sensible legal movement, to create exceptions to the formal logic of Step 1.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

1/ A few thoughts about @williambaude.bsky.social’s comment in yesterday’s NYT chat that, “It’s amazing how many of our problems today could be solved by a Congress that was willing and able to legislate in response to national problems.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...

I'm listening to the Slaughter oral argument now, and man, is @beaubaumann.bsky.social right on this.

Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution (3d ed. 1858).

2000%.