Posts by Matt Bernius

Matt Bernius
About Matt Bernius
Matt Bernius is a design researcher working to create more equitable government systems and experiences. Matt's most recent work has been in the civic tech space, working as a researcher and design strategist at Code for America and Measures for Justice. Prior to that he worked at Effective, a UX agency, and also taught at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Cornell. Matt has an MA from the University of Chicago.

[Updated x 2] The Latest On The Trump Document Investigation

Running down the latest “known knowns” with just a bit of analysis

[Merick Garland] [Merick Garland]

Justice Department Calls Trump’s Bluff

This is as close as we get to Garland saying “Eff around, find out!”

Stupid Takes From “Smart” People: Trump/FBI Edition

Tell us you don’t know anything about Federal Warrants without telling us you don’t know anything about Federal Warrants

The Respect for Marriage Act Versus The Filibuster

Another example of why the filibuster needs to go.

Perpetuating A Fentanyl Hysteria

When belief is more important than facts

Uvalde police and the punisher skull desktop Uvalde police and the punisher skull desktop

[Updated] Picturing The Gap Between Fantasy And Reality

Police and the Punisher Skull

The Uvalde City Budget The Uvalde City Budget

The Graph Of The Day

It doesn’t appear the Uvalde TX police were underfunded

The free high-resolution photo of train, transport, vehicle, yellow, public transport, stop sign, bus, schoolbus, school bus, land vehicle, automotive exterior , taken with an NIKON D40X 02/24 2017 The picture taken with 30.0mm, f/9.0s, 10/3200s, ISO 100 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. The free high-resolution photo of train, transport, vehicle, yellow, public transport, stop sign, bus, schoolbus, school bus, land vehicle, automotive exterior , taken with an NIKON D40X 02/24 2017 The picture taken with 30.0mm, f/9.0s, 10/3200s, ISO 100 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0.

More Police In Schools Is NOT The Answer

An example of security theater with proven negative social impacts

Maybe Susan Collins Isn’t The Best Judge Of Character

The Senator from Maine once against demonstrates that she shouldn’t be prognosticating about people’s future actions.

Georgia Subpoenas Conservative Group Over Ballot Harvesting Allegations

Why would a group that claims it has evidence of ballot harvesting refuse to turn it over?

Prosecutor Drops All Charges Against Pamela Moses

And yet the state still extracted their pound of flesh

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Will It Matter That Kevin McCarthy Was Caught Lying?

Anyone familiar with Betteridge’s law of headlines knows where this is going.

The Unexpected Impacts Of A “Better Technology”

An example of when better isn’t better.

A Toxic Mix of Overcharging And Punitive Bail

An extraordinary example shines light on coercive factors that incentivize plea deals

The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere

Another Aspect Of The Trial Tax

Some of the other costs that come with exercising a constitutional right

high-resolution photo of acceptance, alphabet, bisexual, blur, close up, colorful, culture, equality, focus, gay, gay pride, gay wallpaper, gender, gender identity, hands, holding, individuality, lesbian, letters, lgbt, lgbt wallpaper, lgbtq, LGBTQIA, pride month, queer, rainbow colors, transgender high-resolution photo of acceptance, alphabet, bisexual, blur, close up, colorful, culture, equality, focus, gay, gay pride, gay wallpaper, gender, gender identity, hands, holding, individuality, lesbian, letters, lgbt, lgbt wallpaper, lgbtq, LGBTQIA, pride month, queer, rainbow colors, transgender

CRT? Tired. Groomers? Wired!

The latest strategic moral panic from the far right

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

More Details On 7 Hours “Missing” From 1/6 White House Phone Logs

They’re not missing and that points to a systemic issue

An Update On Pamela Moses, Plea Bargains, & The Trial Tax

A new trial that might not have happened with a plea

The Right Is Having A Hard Time Framing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson As An Extremist

If this is the best they have, they don’t have a lot

President Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson For The Supreme Court

The front-runner was indeed the pick

San Francisco Crime Lab Regularly Searched Victim DNA for Criminal Matches

An example of how lack of regulation leads to practices that damage public faith in policing

The impact of a record: 46% of unemployed U.S. men have criminal convictions

Why clearing criminal records makes economic sense

[Pamela Moses at sentencing] [Pamela Moses at sentencing]

An example of the “trial tax”

With choices like these it’s easy to understand why people take plea deals

Example of Why Individual Defense Advocates Are Rare on the Federal Bench

Republicans competing to see who can be the toughest on crime

The Onion is Right Again: Black History Month & CRT-Bans Edition

I’m shocked, shocked, to find that this is happening here.

[Maus & To Kill a Mocking Bird Books] [Maus & To Kill a Mocking Bird Books]

[Updated 1/31] Both Sides Are NOT the Same: “Banned” Book Edition

People, details do in fact matter!

The Children Must Be Protected!

But from what? Comparing two stories from Tennessee that show our society’s contradictory impulses when it comes to “protecting the children.”

Race and the Myth of Meritocracy: Supreme Court Edition

When “obviously qualified” apparently isn’t enough

President Joe Biden, joined by Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky and Merck CEO Ken Frazier, delivers remarks on COVID-19 vaccine production Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden, joined by Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky and Merck CEO Ken Frazier, delivers remarks on COVID-19 vaccine production Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

What the Biden Mask & Test Kit Plan Gets Right

Glimmers of hope for those involved in government service delivery

Stevie Wonder feeling the White House Bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr during a visit to the Oval Office in 2016 by White House Photographer Peter Souza. Stevie Wonder feeling the White House Bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr during a visit to the Oval Office in 2016 by White House Photographer Peter Souza.

In honor of MLK, some dubious tweets & a lesser-known speech

Once again, today marks a day where folks who would never have supported Dr. King decide they should praise him

For people living with convictions, the past is always present

Two stories about our culture’s focus on punishment

What exactly is ballot harvesting? And what happened in Georgia?

While there is an investigation, it doesn’t appear ballots were sold for “$10 a piece”

When Concern Trolling, Always Check For Unintended Uncomfortable Parallelisms

It’s always a good idea to reread a text before referencing it, especially if you’re a history Ph.D. like Newt Gingrich

Still no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election

After more than a year and countless investigations into election fraud, the big lie continues to be a big lie

Sean Hannity’s TXT Messages To Mark Meadows [Updated]

How the host’s off-camera views contradict what he was telling his audience

Today’s Counterfactual: Tea Party Incumbent Loses to Establishment Republican in House Primary

David Trott’s victory in Michigan’s District 11 Republican House primary marks the first time this year a Republican Establishment candidate has upset a Tea Party Incumbent.

From the Fools and Money Stack: Kickstarting… Potato Salad?!

Kickstarting a dream of potato salad to the tune of $40k+

Who will be the new House Whip?

GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy of California won the vote to replace Eric Cantor as the new GOP House Majority Leader. The question is who replaces McCarthy.

Amazon’s next step towards total retail (and search) domination

Some thoughts on Amazon’s new smartphone: Fire

One to watch: Alleged Voter Fraud in North Carolina

Voter ID supporters are pointing to a report from the North Carolina Board of Elections as proof of ongoing Voter Fraud. But, while long on facts, the report has yet to reach any such conclusions.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

No Previously Published Works Will Enter Into US Public Domain Between Now and 2019

No previously published works have entered the US Public Domain since 1978. And none are scheduled to enter until 1923. So what are we missing?

On Veterans, Crime, Timing, and “Other Than Honorable” Discharges

For veterans who get in trouble with the law, *when* they commit a crime can have profound implications on their future. Does this make sense?