Andrew Selbst
@aselbst.bsky.social
UCLA Law Prof. Focused on law, tech, and justice. Posting is mostly rage at fascists, their journalist enablers, and feckless Dems who need to retire. Sometimes I even post about things people call me an expert in. He/him. http://ssrn.com/author=1328346
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
The Trump administration is pushing the Federal Trade Commission to override state AI consumer protection laws, but the agency’s power is constrained by federalism, says TechFreedom’s Andy Jung. And any preemption effort must clear several hurdles, including a lengthy rulemaking process.
The FTC’s AI Preemption Authority is Limited
Andy Jung takes argues the Trump administration’s effort to use the FTC to preempt state AI consumer protection laws will run into significant constraints.
buff.ly
February 8, 2026 at 3:30 AM
The Trump administration is pushing the Federal Trade Commission to override state AI consumer protection laws, but the agency’s power is constrained by federalism, says TechFreedom’s Andy Jung. And any preemption effort must clear several hurdles, including a lengthy rulemaking process.
Don't let up on this story. ICE thugs are still there, terrorizing the community. The institution needs to be abolished, and everyone working there needs to be made permanently unemployable.
🚨BREAKING: Local Minneapolis police SWARM ICE protesters making mass arrests in front of ICE prison. One protesters forehead is gushing blood ⬇️
February 7, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Don't let up on this story. ICE thugs are still there, terrorizing the community. The institution needs to be abolished, and everyone working there needs to be made permanently unemployable.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
Luttig: It doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court does from this point forward. For two years, the Supreme Court has authorized the absolute lawlessness and unconstitutional activity of this president.
February 5, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Luttig: It doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court does from this point forward. For two years, the Supreme Court has authorized the absolute lawlessness and unconstitutional activity of this president.
I think this intuition is flipped in the Supreme Court/FedSoc understanding of the world. Right are important—if ever—only to the extent they don’t get in the way of the executive doing what it wants.
That flip is fundamental to a lot that’s messed up right now.
That flip is fundamental to a lot that’s messed up right now.
The only response here is a motion to enjoin the whole operation
If the government's position is "I'm sorry your honor but we don't be the capacity to both respect constitutional rights and conduct the operation as it is currently being conducted" the answer is "then you must stop the operation"
If the government's position is "I'm sorry your honor but we don't be the capacity to both respect constitutional rights and conduct the operation as it is currently being conducted" the answer is "then you must stop the operation"
Flooding the zone with shit, but for the legal system. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
February 5, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I think this intuition is flipped in the Supreme Court/FedSoc understanding of the world. Right are important—if ever—only to the extent they don’t get in the way of the executive doing what it wants.
That flip is fundamental to a lot that’s messed up right now.
That flip is fundamental to a lot that’s messed up right now.
To be fair, he’s probably got the right invitation legally speaking. Both are just murder.
He cannot be clearer. There is no difference to him between bombing random fishermen on boats and shooting Americans protesters in the face
I swear this clip is not edited. Trump pivots from downplaying the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti ("two people out of tens of thousands and you get bad publicity") to in the very next breath claiming "we've been very tough on the waters," leaving Tom Llamas baffled ("the waters?")
February 5, 2026 at 4:32 PM
To be fair, he’s probably got the right invitation legally speaking. Both are just murder.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
STOP talking shit about 2028 Democratic presidential primary candidates:
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
February 4, 2026 at 11:23 PM
STOP talking shit about 2028 Democratic presidential primary candidates:
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Walz is PERSONABLE
Shapiro is RHETORICALLY GIFTED
AOC is CHARISMATIC
Pritzker is SUCCESSFUL
Newsom
Buttigieg has EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE
Billionaires shouldn’t exist, exhibit #45286
“The values of The Post do not need changing. The paper’s duty will remain to its readers and not to the private interests of its owners. We will continue to follow the truth wherever it leads,” -Jeffrey Preston Bezos, August 5, 2013 www.washingtonpost.com/national/jef...
Jeff Bezos on Post purchase
Letter to the employees of The Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Billionaires shouldn’t exist, exhibit #45286
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
the defund police movement was pilloried as unpopular and an electoral loser. but it wasn't about winning elections; it was about building antifascist power.
now even centrist dems are (veeeery tentatively) using those ideas as we face a fascist crisis. www.everythingishorrible.net/p/now-is-def...
now even centrist dems are (veeeery tentatively) using those ideas as we face a fascist crisis. www.everythingishorrible.net/p/now-is-def...
Now Is Defund's Moment
The movement was always about fighting fascism, not winning elections
www.everythingishorrible.net
February 4, 2026 at 3:33 PM
the defund police movement was pilloried as unpopular and an electoral loser. but it wasn't about winning elections; it was about building antifascist power.
now even centrist dems are (veeeery tentatively) using those ideas as we face a fascist crisis. www.everythingishorrible.net/p/now-is-def...
now even centrist dems are (veeeery tentatively) using those ideas as we face a fascist crisis. www.everythingishorrible.net/p/now-is-def...
If the product were that good you wouldn’t have to force people to use it. This is insane.
Meta now forcing all employees to use AI tools and tying it to employee performance, according to @theinformation.com.
HR said "this is not an activity tracker—it’s an impact-evidence starter"
That's a fun way to rebrand workplace surveillance.
HR said "this is not an activity tracker—it’s an impact-evidence starter"
That's a fun way to rebrand workplace surveillance.
February 4, 2026 at 1:07 PM
If the product were that good you wouldn’t have to force people to use it. This is insane.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
If you missed it last night, please please please read Gwen’s great thread about why snitching is bad, even when you disagree with a tactic someone is using
What I think keeps getting lost I'm The Discourse is that there is a difference between disagreeing with a tactic (strategically or even on moral principle) and *endangering* the folks engaged in that tactic.
February 4, 2026 at 12:40 PM
If you missed it last night, please please please read Gwen’s great thread about why snitching is bad, even when you disagree with a tactic someone is using
A national conversation that Schumer is only half listening to, in between daydreaming about governing like the old days
Saturday's teargassing is now part of the national conversation.
Federal agents tear-gassed demonstrators and children in Portland.
An agent in Colorado stole a woman’s phone and threw her to the ground.
The disgraced former head of Border Patrol urged mass arrests.
This isn't what Americans signed up for. We must rein in ICE.
An agent in Colorado stole a woman’s phone and threw her to the ground.
The disgraced former head of Border Patrol urged mass arrests.
This isn't what Americans signed up for. We must rein in ICE.
February 4, 2026 at 4:01 AM
A national conversation that Schumer is only half listening to, in between daydreaming about governing like the old days
Don’t Stop Believing
And someone puts it on every damn time I’m at karaoke.
And someone puts it on every damn time I’m at karaoke.
Fuck your favourite song. Tell me your least favourite song. The one that makes you die inside the moment you hear the first 3 seconds.
February 4, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Don’t Stop Believing
And someone puts it on every damn time I’m at karaoke.
And someone puts it on every damn time I’m at karaoke.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
The amount of glazing these tech bro fascists got from the press is just staggering.
Their big bold ideas turned out to be eugenics and social Darwinism with a more than a dash of Ayn Rand bullshit.
Their big bold ideas turned out to be eugenics and social Darwinism with a more than a dash of Ayn Rand bullshit.
If you campaigned for the presidency on a promise to destroy these assholes, you would win a landslide the size of FDR in 1936, when he campaigned on a promise to destroy these assholes.
Yes, Peter decided that the continued existence of our democracies isn't compatible with his desired level of personal freedom.
An absolute enemy of humanity.
An absolute enemy of humanity.
February 3, 2026 at 3:29 AM
The amount of glazing these tech bro fascists got from the press is just staggering.
Their big bold ideas turned out to be eugenics and social Darwinism with a more than a dash of Ayn Rand bullshit.
Their big bold ideas turned out to be eugenics and social Darwinism with a more than a dash of Ayn Rand bullshit.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
We have to put a tiny amount of fear of consequences into these criminals. And then, if we get the chance, we have to actually pursue them. Sure, they can spend the rest of their lives in non-extradition countries, but never come back to the US.
February 3, 2026 at 12:12 AM
We have to put a tiny amount of fear of consequences into these criminals. And then, if we get the chance, we have to actually pursue them. Sure, they can spend the rest of their lives in non-extradition countries, but never come back to the US.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
So the next step from democrats is: “it is illegal to do this without approvals and in 2029 we will hold all companies that take part criminally liable and seize all their assets to pay for restoration.”
He's totally tearing it down.
REPORTER: Do you plan on tearing down the Kennedy Center during renovations?
TRUMP: “I’m not ripping it out, I’ll be using the steel. So, we’re using the structure. We’re using some of the marble, and some of the marble comes down.”
TRUMP: “I’m not ripping it out, I’ll be using the steel. So, we’re using the structure. We’re using some of the marble, and some of the marble comes down.”
February 2, 2026 at 11:48 PM
So the next step from democrats is: “it is illegal to do this without approvals and in 2029 we will hold all companies that take part criminally liable and seize all their assets to pay for restoration.”
I was just explaining Led Zepplin to my two year old and said well they’re a band that was really big 50 years ago…
😬
😬
February 2, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I was just explaining Led Zepplin to my two year old and said well they’re a band that was really big 50 years ago…
😬
😬
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
The California State University system spent $16.9 million last year giving ChatGPT to all students, faculty, and staff. We are asking the CSU chancellor not to renew the contract with OpenAI when it expires.
Anyone can sign the petition — link below!
Anyone can sign the petition — link below!
The CSU/OpenAI contract is set to expire June 30, 2026.
Sign this petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/cancel-chatgpt-edu-invest-in-humans/ for the CSU NOT to renew the contract and to use the savings to protect jobs at CSU campuses facing layoffs.
Sign this petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/cancel-chatgpt-edu-invest-in-humans/ for the CSU NOT to renew the contract and to use the savings to protect jobs at CSU campuses facing layoffs.
January 31, 2026 at 7:13 PM
The California State University system spent $16.9 million last year giving ChatGPT to all students, faculty, and staff. We are asking the CSU chancellor not to renew the contract with OpenAI when it expires.
Anyone can sign the petition — link below!
Anyone can sign the petition — link below!
This is predictable enough that if you are in charge of ICE you probably plan for it.
I really fear that we're reaching a point in the media cycle where all the big outlets have done multiple features on ICE in Mpls and will move on to the next topic, and the American public will also start to tune us out. Shit will continue here but with less broader attention and care.
January 31, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This is predictable enough that if you are in charge of ICE you probably plan for it.
Making employment by this administration a huge black mark is something we can—and must—all do.
Some AUSAs are decent people. Some who aren’t are probably still concerned that a Trump-era AUSA position may become a resume stain.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Handling of Pretti investigation has some prosecutors on verge of quitting
Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis, deeply frustrated by the response to the shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, have suggested they could resign en masse.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Making employment by this administration a huge black mark is something we can—and must—all do.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
reminder that a small handful of Republicans in the House and Senate could end this madness today
January 30, 2026 at 3:22 PM
reminder that a small handful of Republicans in the House and Senate could end this madness today
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
i would say "can you think of any other issue that 80% of the party base supports but just about every party grandee dismisses out of hand" but yeah at this point there are some half dozen
New poll — Abolishing ICE continues its historic surge of support.
46% support
43% oppose
80% of Democrats and 15% of Trump voters support abolishing ICE.
Independents are +8 on the question.
46% support
43% oppose
80% of Democrats and 15% of Trump voters support abolishing ICE.
Independents are +8 on the question.
January 29, 2026 at 3:57 PM
i would say "can you think of any other issue that 80% of the party base supports but just about every party grandee dismisses out of hand" but yeah at this point there are some half dozen
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
In recent DOJ attempt to lump journalists (Don Lemon and his producer) into charges against church protestors, the judge wrote:
“Two of the five protestors were not protestors at all ... There is no evidence that those two engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so.”
“Two of the five protestors were not protestors at all ... There is no evidence that those two engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so.”
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested by federal agents earlier for reporting on the church protest in Minneapolis. She was live streaming when agents arrived to take her into custody.
January 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM
In recent DOJ attempt to lump journalists (Don Lemon and his producer) into charges against church protestors, the judge wrote:
“Two of the five protestors were not protestors at all ... There is no evidence that those two engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so.”
“Two of the five protestors were not protestors at all ... There is no evidence that those two engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so.”
My guess is that Deb went from “I wonder” to “yeah obviously I know the answer” in a couple short milliseconds.
It made me wonder: why are the real world harms perpetrated by AI today not enough for some people to feel urgency? to take action? to care?
What he was hearing from corporate execs & "doomers" was scaring him but the real world issues me & Karen brought up didn't seem to have the same effect..
What he was hearing from corporate execs & "doomers" was scaring him but the real world issues me & Karen brought up didn't seem to have the same effect..
January 30, 2026 at 3:12 PM
My guess is that Deb went from “I wonder” to “yeah obviously I know the answer” in a couple short milliseconds.
Reposted by Andrew Selbst
It made me wonder: why are the real world harms perpetrated by AI today not enough for some people to feel urgency? to take action? to care?
What he was hearing from corporate execs & "doomers" was scaring him but the real world issues me & Karen brought up didn't seem to have the same effect..
What he was hearing from corporate execs & "doomers" was scaring him but the real world issues me & Karen brought up didn't seem to have the same effect..
January 29, 2026 at 7:44 PM
It made me wonder: why are the real world harms perpetrated by AI today not enough for some people to feel urgency? to take action? to care?
What he was hearing from corporate execs & "doomers" was scaring him but the real world issues me & Karen brought up didn't seem to have the same effect..
What he was hearing from corporate execs & "doomers" was scaring him but the real world issues me & Karen brought up didn't seem to have the same effect..
This is gonna be the easiest civil rights suit ever.
interested to learn what “at my direction” means because it sounds like “without a warrant”
January 30, 2026 at 3:02 PM
This is gonna be the easiest civil rights suit ever.