NEW: Trump has once again done something that is obviously corrupt but may prove impossible to unravel—unless a Congress controlled by his own party finds the rare gumption to buck him. Me and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social on the president who sued himself: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

TL/DR: Congress may have AUTHORIZED a similar project a century ago, but FUNDING has to be authorized for a specific time. Dollars to donuts, they didn't specify "100 years."

"Trump has once again done something that is obviously corrupt but may prove impossible to unravel—unless a Congress controlled by his party finds the rare gumption to buck him." By colleauges @annabower.bsky.social & @ericcolumbus.bsky.social www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

Senate Republicans Find Theirs, Won’t Fund Trump’s www.politico.com/news/2026/05...

They have mounted a visual assault on our city that makes tangible what they are doing to the country. If you live here, it's literally in your face every day. It felt surprisingly meaningful to push back, if just for a time and in a small way. Thanks @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org

Under authoritarian rule, there will always be an obscurant reason and contorted argument to explain why the consent of the governed is not really necessary to proceed. Whatever this fascist throws up in bricks and mortar before we finally spit him out, the rest of us will vote to tear down.

On today’s #DogShirtTV, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @andrewdsteele.bsky.social & @hollybfletcher.bsky.social discuss various #DoJ related news, including Ben's latest #SpecialMilitaryOperation and #ToddBlanche's congressional testimony. #ProjectionProtests www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiFE...

SpaceX just disclosed $4.7 b in revenue in the last quarter which obviously gets you to a $2 trillion valuation

The Anthropic-DOD affair has intensified a debate over how law should constrain government's use of AI. Cullen O'Keefe writes that the executive branch should receive congressional approval before deploying advanced AI systems in its most abuse-prone functions.

Judge Bates grants preliminary injunction ordering Exec Office of Pres, WH, Ofc of VP, & Chief of Staff Wiles to follow & enforce Presidential Records Act. (Injunction does not apply directly to POTUS or VP.) storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Important random information. Very recently heard that surprisingly few countries are currently capable of making jet engines. USA, UK and France with Russia limping on despite sanctions and China just establishing itself.

Yeah, they're about to pull the trigger on Cuba. I wonder if Cuban officials are watching betting markets to learn when the helos are about to take off.

NEW: Quoting George Orwell's 1984, a federal judge in D.C. granted in part the American Historical Association's motion for preliminary injunction and ordered the Trump administration to comply in full with the Presidential Records Act, effective 5/26 at 9:00 a.m.

BREAKING: Federal judge finds that Presidential Records Act is likely constitutional, issues preliminary injunction requiring compliance with the law. Judge Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, opens his opinion with an Orwell quote.

Reupping: "Those who engaged in the attacks last week will be brought to justice." ---Trump on 1/13/21, after the House impeached him but before the Senate had voted on whether to convict.

I am somewhat puzzled by this indictment. One of the charges is under 18 USC 1519, an obstruction statute. But what is being obstructed? abcnews.com/US/doj-charg...

not to dip too much into this discourse but worth saying that the fresh ingredients for this saag paneer ran me about $26 (all of that fresh spinach is expensive). made six servings, so that comes to about $4.33 a serving.

Peter Dosa has written the best account I know of the similarities and differences of living under Orban and Trump, with beautifully crafted phrase that will stick in your mind long after you've read it . . . Bravo! substack.com/home/post/p-...

It’s beyond disconcerting to see @cato.org take a position that functionally elevates the concerns of an authoritarian dictatorship over individuals not yet under its yoke, who would prefer to avoid the stomping of jackboots on their island.

In seashells case, Comey files unopposed motion to put off arraignment till October, allowing time to fully brief "multiple" constitutional motions to dismiss beforehand. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Interesting that the Trump administration is laying down a marker that a military attack on an unarmed craft can be the basis for prosecuting senior government officials who supervised the attack in home countries of the vehicles' occupants.

Sometimes the most unassuming artefacts are utterly incredible! Take this piece of wood … It is a spear point worked from yew about 420,000 years ago! 🤯 Known as the ‘Clacton Spear’ it is the world’s oldest known preserved wooden spear! Natural History Museum, London 📷 by me #Archaeology

quote with a fictional band that is not spinal tap

@nuclearanthro.bsky.social If you haven't seen it, Adam Savage building a replica of the "Gadget carrier" from WWII Los Alamos www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Y4...

So, uh, DOJ believes a federal official should be prosecuted for taking documents they’re not entitled to? abcnews.com/US/doj-charg...

DEVELOPING: ‘Broadview 6’ judge orders feds to closed-door hearing over grand jury transcripts just days before trial From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Just the latest in the escalation. Covered it in my substack today ! open.substack.com/pub/christin...

New observations show that the asteroid will safely pass by the Moon at a distance of more than 20,000 kilometers. aasnova.org/2026/05/20/a... 🔭🧪

The first 11 paragraphs of this complaint contain as accurate a summary of Trump's corrupt scheme as I have seen. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Yes, this is a real tree. He lives in Hyde Park and needs a hug.

Foot has fallen asleep but not allowed to move.

Officially, the kidnapping of Maduro was to execute a warrant.

#NAFO kudos to the always-good @alanderminna.bsky.social for accurately capturing the current geopolitical situation in the term “CGC”. Listen to their new podcast to find out what it is! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...

Wrote a short comment on Sweden’s decision to procure French frigates. It’s a big deal for Swedish air defence, French industry, and the future of European security if this turns into a deeper strategic partnership. Many people will say that France will be France, but beggars can’t be choosers !

my latest is on trump's "pecuniary presidency" (gift link)

Good morning from some emerging maple leaves, with bonus Northern Cardinal. #Photography #Nature #Trees #Canada #Birds

gtfo

Just endured all of that interview with Jeff Bezos. Too much money contorts any human being. And what was once a man is now, for the rest of the world, a fully metastasized cancer.

Urgent investment in advanced air defence, low-cost drone interceptors and robotics is essential. The strategic environment has changed dramatically, writes Baiba Braže. @baibabraze.bsky.social @latvianmfa.bsky.social #LennartMeriConference

“Color-blindness as a constitutional rule is nothing more and nothing less than the ideological preference of a majority of the current Supreme Court. It is, simply put, judicial tyranny.” www.dorfonlaw.org/2026/05/colo...

🚨 A message from John Adams to the Department Of Justice, projected onto DOJ headquarters tonight by @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org ‼️ #DogShirtDaily #ProjectionProtests www.dogshirtdaily.com/p/a-governme...

dead internet theory goes brrrr I dread to think how many not-very-clued-in consumers will be so easily misled by these

Thank you, Benjamin Wittes & all who are working to get the U.S. Department of Justice back to law-abiding and law-enforcing. (And hey, your laser hit my former Main Justice office window.) @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org

Methane beneath Svalbard may be an underestimated climate risk. Partner story by Fram Centre

From our special correspondent at the opening of Spamalot last night. “Tonight was amazing!!! Cast was on FIRE! Audience LOVED them and on their feet immediately. It was SO much fun! “ 🙌👏👏👏🥳🙌❤️❤️❤️ Make sure you book now. You don’t have to go to Ticketmaster. Try the Box Office!

Humans seek patterns in what they perceive. So does AI. But knowledge, I think, also depends on noticing anomalies and working through the complex interplay between regularities and exceptions. I don’t know if AI can do this too, but I suspect at best only at a superficial level.

Done by Great Americans, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and @justiceconnection.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/benj...

Tonight at the Justice Department—an op with the Great Americans at @justiceconnection.bsky.social. An honor and a pleasure to work with them.

You can tell I engineered today's political drama as part of our spring subscription dive! open.substack.com/pub/lifeitso...