Independent public servants are a prerequisite for a functioning democracy. Photo from a protest outside the USAID HQ. Independent public servants are a prerequisite for a functioning democracy. Photo from a protest outside the USAID HQ.

Judge Orders Illegally Fired Probationary Feds Rehired

A rebuke of pretextual firings but likely not a permanent solution.

USAID Ordered to Destroy Its Records

Salting the earth and breaking the law.

Winning the Battle Against Drugs

The war is another thing, entirely.

SCOTUS Rejects Trump Bid to Halt Foreign Aid

A seemingly obvious ruling was nonetheless 5-4.

Mass Firings Ruled Illegal

A judge says OPM has no authority to fire workers in other agencies.

Judge Questions DOGE Constitutionality

The unorthodox non-agency agency run by no one in particular may violate the basic rules of our system.

Hegseth Fires Service JAGs

The top uniformed lawyers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been relieved.

January 6ers Want Blanket Pardon

Only the best people.

Adams and Homan

The abuse of power is obvious.

Adams Dismissal Filed After 7 Resignations

The inevitable happened, inevitably.

Line of the Day: Resignation in the Face of Corruption Edition

At least some people have character and are displaying it.

Thousands of Federal Employees Fired

A Valentine’s Day massacre.

Constitutional Crisis?

When does Executive overreach become something more?

Legalizing Corruption

The 47th President had a busy Monday.

Some Observations on the Legal, Illegal, and the Extralegal

Part of our current quandary.

Looking for a Few Good Toadies

Willingness to lie is now a requirement for senior intelligence and law enforcement posts.

El Salvador Offers to be an Out-Sourced Prison for the US

This would include US citizens.

DOGE Now Runs Treasury and OPM

An evil genius controls the key levers of government.

The Purge: FBI Edition

The administration is compiling a list of every single agent who participated in the January 6 investigations.

The Purge Continues

The new administration is gutting the senior ranks of the civil service.

No Kings rally Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 14, 2025 No Kings rally Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 14, 2025

Trump Testing Legal Limits

The courts will decide whether we have a President or a King.

An Expansive Attack on Birthright Citizenship

Trying to upend 150 years of legal understanding with the stroke of a sharpie.

Muted Outrage Over Trump Pardon Outrage

Only a handful of Republican Senators have objected. Mildly.

President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump, Wednesday, November 13, 2024, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith) President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump, Wednesday, November 13, 2024, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith)

Bad Pardons and Outrageous Pardons

A difference in degree is a difference in kind.

Trump Pardons Capitol Rioters, Even Most Violent

Proud Boys and Oath Keepers insurrectionists are now free.

Biden Pardons Family

It was a busy eleventh hour.

A Few Thoughts On Resistance And Pardons

Today’s an appropriate on to think about the role of suffering in change

Biden Pardons Fauci, Milley, And Others

Going out on another unforced error

SCOTUS Allows Trump Sentencing to Proceed

Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Barrett sided with the Court’s liberals.

Trump Wants Smith Report Quashed

The public has a right to know what its prosecutor has found.

Xenophobia is the Trumpian Move

Fomenting fear, not demonstrating leadership.

The War Against Porn

Pornhub has banned itself in nineteen states to the delight of legislators.

Trump Loses to Carroll Yet Again

Yet again, a court affirms he committed sexual assault.

Congress To Release Gaetz Report

Gaetz’s own party hates him almost as much as the Democrats hate him

ABC Pays Trump $15 Million For Telling Truth

They repeatedly said he has been found “liable for rape.” The nerve.

FBI Director Wray to Resign Before Trump Inauguration

The move paves the way for Kash Patel or another Trump appointee.

Biden Team Considering Pardoning Trump Foes

Abusing power to prevent the abuse of power?

Kash Patel to the FBI

Speaking of inexperienced cronies…

Mass Deportations and Local Authorities

The dark side of federalism.

All Federal Charges Against Trump Dismissed

Justice delayed is justice denied.

A Bit Of Wheat Among The Chaff

Trump’s Deputy AG nominee is an promising choice

A Lame-Duck Session SCOTUS Nominee?

Could Democrats replace their oldest Justice before it’s too late?

This isn’t “Pro-Life”

The consequences of the post-Roe world.

With Early Voting Comes Early Claims Of Vote Switching

And the real destruction of mail-in ballots

Why We Can Say Crime Is Down Despite The FBI Upward Revision 2021’s Crime Estimates

Ignorance and motivated reasoning are never a good combination

An Example of Attempted Election Interference

Six GOP members of the House are targeting military ballots.

No Kings Act and Judicial Supremacy

Was Marbury v. Madison a mistake?