Avatara Smith-Carrington
@avatarasc.bsky.social
Litigating from the margins because that is the center of my world.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
A judge has tossed the racketeering charges filed by the Georgia attorney general against activists who protested against Atlanta's Cop City facility.
Fulton judge dismisses RICO charges against training center protesters
In his order issued Tuesday, the judge said Attorney General Chris Carr did not have the authority to bring RICO charges.
www.ajc.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM
A judge has tossed the racketeering charges filed by the Georgia attorney general against activists who protested against Atlanta's Cop City facility.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Brett Kavanaugh (September 2025): The facts and how they relate to the law don’t matter. Assume ICE and other federal forces always act with integrity, always respect rights, and consistently impose minimal burden.
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Kavanaugh in a footnote in today's opinion says "the officers must not make interior immigration stops or arrests based on race or ethnicity."
December 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Brett Kavanaugh (September 2025): The facts and how they relate to the law don’t matter. Assume ICE and other federal forces always act with integrity, always respect rights, and consistently impose minimal burden.
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Even in the down year of 1950, Langston Hughes’s Christmas Cards show his writing wit still bristling. For those who may have had a hard year leading up to these winter holidays, there’s some defiant joy to glean from his wry greetings.
Christmas Cheer from a Lean Year: The 1950 Holiday Cards of Langston Hughes
The Beinecke Library at Yale University is exhibiting Hughes's typewritten 1950 Christmas postcards, along with holiday cards he received from friends.
hyperallergic.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Even in the down year of 1950, Langston Hughes’s Christmas Cards show his writing wit still bristling. For those who may have had a hard year leading up to these winter holidays, there’s some defiant joy to glean from his wry greetings.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
It used to be that the United States would use Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to transmit truth across the borders of repressive regimes.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
The 60 Minutes piece on the Trump Administration’s torture prison that Bari Weiss doesn’t want you to see has leaked.
December 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
It used to be that the United States would use Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to transmit truth across the borders of repressive regimes.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Graduate instructor who gave failing grade to Samantha Fulnecky no longer teaching at OU
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university.
www.koco.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Bringing back Limewire to illegally rip copies of reporting suppressed by the government is definitely some cyberpunk shit
December 23, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Bringing back Limewire to illegally rip copies of reporting suppressed by the government is definitely some cyberpunk shit
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Archivists have saved and uploaded copies of the 60 Minutes episode new CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss ordered be shelved as a torrent and multiple file sharing sites. @evystadium.bsky.social has more.
Full story by @josephcox.bsky.social: www.404media.co/archivists-p...
Full story by @josephcox.bsky.social: www.404media.co/archivists-p...
December 23, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Archivists have saved and uploaded copies of the 60 Minutes episode new CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss ordered be shelved as a torrent and multiple file sharing sites. @evystadium.bsky.social has more.
Full story by @josephcox.bsky.social: www.404media.co/archivists-p...
Full story by @josephcox.bsky.social: www.404media.co/archivists-p...
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
I wrote about the conservative quest to restore the "true" Constitution, the Antebellum Constitution, shorn of the egalitarian nonsense in the Reconstruction Amendments, a document that replaces equality with a society of dominators and the dominated. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
December 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I wrote about the conservative quest to restore the "true" Constitution, the Antebellum Constitution, shorn of the egalitarian nonsense in the Reconstruction Amendments, a document that replaces equality with a society of dominators and the dominated. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
December 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Opinion: President Trump forces himself on top of someone who didn't consent — again.
Straight Nonsense: The Trump-Kennedy Center would make sense—if I were a nitwit
www.out.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Opinion: President Trump forces himself on top of someone who didn't consent — again.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
The Trump administration’s release of the Epstein grand jury documents are entirely redacted.
It’s 119 pages of just black rectangles.
It’s 119 pages of just black rectangles.
December 19, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The Trump administration’s release of the Epstein grand jury documents are entirely redacted.
It’s 119 pages of just black rectangles.
It’s 119 pages of just black rectangles.
Trump having his name affixed to every building possible despite the fact that legislation passed by Congress provides for another name is exactly what I would expect a sexual predator.
December 20, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Trump having his name affixed to every building possible despite the fact that legislation passed by Congress provides for another name is exactly what I would expect a sexual predator.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera
In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.
As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.
In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.
As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.
October 11, 2025 at 12:33 PM
UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera
In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.
As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.
In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.
As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
UPDATE: Judge Perry issued an opinion explaining why she blocked the Texas National Guard deployment in Chicago.
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
![OPINION AND ORDER
Since this country was founded, Americans have disagreed about the appropriate division
of power between the federal government and the fifty states that make up our Union. This
tension is a natural result of the system of federalism adopted by our Founders. And yet, not even
the Founding Father most ardently in favor of a strong federal government believed that one
state's militia could be sent to another state for the purposes of political retribution, calling such
a suggestion "inflammatory," and stating "it is impossible to believe that [a President] would employ such preposterous means to accomplish their designs." But Plaintiffs contend that such
an event has come to pass, and argue that National Guard troops from both Illinois and Texas
have been deployed to Illinois because the President of the United States wants to punish state elected officials whose policies are different from his own.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreiefrnejknswedhhz5os4kxytyubcriulytg64k2ims446uxsscsla@jpeg)
October 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
UPDATE: Judge Perry issued an opinion explaining why she blocked the Texas National Guard deployment in Chicago.
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
She begins with Alexander Hamilton’s rejection of a “preposterous” idea that the Constitution lets a President deploy a State’s militia to a different State for political retribution. 🧵
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
October 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
My first thought was “wow I hope this guy didn’t give out his name because he could absolutely be charged” and yup, he is correct to stay anonymous.
This man’s account is shocking. His neighbors’ situation is shocking. The entire Chicago raid is shocking.
This man’s account is shocking. His neighbors’ situation is shocking. The entire Chicago raid is shocking.
October 11, 2025 at 1:01 AM
My first thought was “wow I hope this guy didn’t give out his name because he could absolutely be charged” and yup, he is correct to stay anonymous.
This man’s account is shocking. His neighbors’ situation is shocking. The entire Chicago raid is shocking.
This man’s account is shocking. His neighbors’ situation is shocking. The entire Chicago raid is shocking.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
One of the things I took away from the 60s and Richard Nixon, first mentioned by Hunter Thompson, but I believe to be true, is the fact that we believed, at time, that all our protesting, marching and sign waving was futile and pointless when in fact, it drove Richard Nixon to alcohol fueled madness
Everyone is trying to have a normal Saturday night and the president's top advisor is on X announcing that civil war is necessary
October 5, 2025 at 3:16 AM
One of the things I took away from the 60s and Richard Nixon, first mentioned by Hunter Thompson, but I believe to be true, is the fact that we believed, at time, that all our protesting, marching and sign waving was futile and pointless when in fact, it drove Richard Nixon to alcohol fueled madness
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags
Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
ICE says I cause assaults on ICE by reciting facts about ICE’s recent shooting but refuses to link to the thread. Only posting a picture. ICE lies and ICE hides. You can read the facts for yourselves
October 4, 2025 at 12:00 AM
ICE says I cause assaults on ICE by reciting facts about ICE’s recent shooting but refuses to link to the thread. Only posting a picture. ICE lies and ICE hides. You can read the facts for yourselves
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
BREAKING: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members to Portland over the governor's objections.
This decision reinforces one of our country's core principles: The military has no place policing our communities.
This decision reinforces one of our country's core principles: The military has no place policing our communities.
October 5, 2025 at 12:09 AM
BREAKING: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members to Portland over the governor's objections.
This decision reinforces one of our country's core principles: The military has no place policing our communities.
This decision reinforces one of our country's core principles: The military has no place policing our communities.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
BREAKING: Federal judge BLOCKS a new ICE policy that went into effect last week to automatically detain unaccompanied migrant children on their 18th birthday when they “age out” of shelter care.
The TRO enforces a court order in a case brought by @immcouncil.org and @immigrantjustice.bsky.social.
The TRO enforces a court order in a case brought by @immcouncil.org and @immigrantjustice.bsky.social.
October 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
Abughazaleh: I think Kristi Noem should be tried at The Hague. And if the response from ICE to people exercising their first amendment right is to drive vehicles through them, they should not be an agency in the US.
October 4, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Abughazaleh: I think Kristi Noem should be tried at The Hague. And if the response from ICE to people exercising their first amendment right is to drive vehicles through them, they should not be an agency in the US.
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
BREAKING: US President Trump says Israel "temporarily stopped bombing" Gaza as 17 Palestinians killed in new Israeli attack in Gaza City.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/a1y8rg
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/a1y8rg
October 4, 2025 at 3:36 PM
BREAKING: US President Trump says Israel "temporarily stopped bombing" Gaza as 17 Palestinians killed in new Israeli attack in Gaza City.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/a1y8rg
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/a1y8rg
Reposted by Avatara Smith-Carrington
The Trump Administration’s “Compact of Excellence” for Universities is... far from excellent! Indeed, it’s unconstitutional. In this post, let me count the ways.
blog.dividedargument.com/p/the-uncons...
blog.dividedargument.com/p/the-uncons...
The Unconstitutional Conditions Doctrine and the Compact for Excellence
Members of the Trump administration love to say that federal funding is a privilege not a right and therefore something that can be granted or withheld based on changing administrative priorities.
blog.dividedargument.com
October 3, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The Trump Administration’s “Compact of Excellence” for Universities is... far from excellent! Indeed, it’s unconstitutional. In this post, let me count the ways.
blog.dividedargument.com/p/the-uncons...
blog.dividedargument.com/p/the-uncons...