Barton Gellman
@bartongellman.bsky.social
@BrennanCenter | ex Atlantic, WaPo | Author, Angler & Dark Mirror | bartongellman.com/contact
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Barton Gellman
@bartongellman.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Verification: this is the real Barton Gellman, senior advisor at the Brennan Center, author of Dark Mirror & Angler, and former staff writer at The Atlantic and The Washington Post.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
A Trump administration request to the Supreme Court to deploy troops in Chicago contains factual errors, mischaracterizing the responsiveness of local police and the actions of protesters, our Visual Investigations team found. nyti.ms/43T7qfn
Times Analysis Finds Errors in Trump’s Supreme Court Filing That Calls for National Guard in Chicago
The Trump administration has claimed the police were slow to protect federal agents on Oct. 4, but videos and audio show that their rationale conflates hours of events involving a shooting, a protest, a car crash and a police radio call.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A Trump administration request to the Supreme Court to deploy troops in Chicago contains factual errors, mischaracterizing the responsiveness of local police and the actions of protesters, our Visual Investigations team found. nyti.ms/43T7qfn
Reposted by Barton Gellman
We're now at the RE-PARDONS stage of this presidency www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump re-pardons a Jan. 6 defendant to erase unrelated gun conviction
The new pardon ends a legal clash over the limits of Trump’s sweeping Day One clemency for those who stormed the Capitol.
www.politico.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We're now at the RE-PARDONS stage of this presidency www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
It's a revealing moment...
J.D. Vance welcomes a two-legged robot helping on the job site. But if that helper is a person named Jose, he calls it a threat. Same tasks, same productivity boost.
The inconsistency reveals this isn’t about economics.
J.D. Vance welcomes a two-legged robot helping on the job site. But if that helper is a person named Jose, he calls it a threat. Same tasks, same productivity boost.
The inconsistency reveals this isn’t about economics.
November 16, 2025 at 12:52 PM
It's a revealing moment...
J.D. Vance welcomes a two-legged robot helping on the job site. But if that helper is a person named Jose, he calls it a threat. Same tasks, same productivity boost.
The inconsistency reveals this isn’t about economics.
J.D. Vance welcomes a two-legged robot helping on the job site. But if that helper is a person named Jose, he calls it a threat. Same tasks, same productivity boost.
The inconsistency reveals this isn’t about economics.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
“The shock value is wearing off and, in fact, the targeted communities are fighting back faster and with a more tried-and-true playbook: Organize quickly, step up and document the abuses, protest loudly, and fight in the courtrooms.”
Greg Bovino is leading a rebel cavalry terrorizing America—and it's important to recognize that it's in retreat. While the trauma and terror Bovino’s raiders instill is real and damaging, it’s remarkable to note how ineffective the force has turned out to be. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/trump-bord...
Trump, Border Patrol Retreat in Failure from Chicago
Five important lessons of the first six months of Trump’s immigration raids — and why CBP’s Greg Bovino is the Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Trump era.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
November 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
“The shock value is wearing off and, in fact, the targeted communities are fighting back faster and with a more tried-and-true playbook: Organize quickly, step up and document the abuses, protest loudly, and fight in the courtrooms.”
Reposted by Barton Gellman
We’ve talked about how we in the media normalize (even incentivize) aberrant behavior by public figures who make it their brand.
But just imagine if an official in your city or town had told a female reporter asking about a sex abuse scandal, “Quiet, piggy.” Headlines for days.
But just imagine if an official in your city or town had told a female reporter asking about a sex abuse scandal, “Quiet, piggy.” Headlines for days.
When asked on Air Force One if there was anything "incriminating" in the Epstein emails, Trump pointed a finger at the female reporter's face and said “Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.”
November 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We’ve talked about how we in the media normalize (even incentivize) aberrant behavior by public figures who make it their brand.
But just imagine if an official in your city or town had told a female reporter asking about a sex abuse scandal, “Quiet, piggy.” Headlines for days.
But just imagine if an official in your city or town had told a female reporter asking about a sex abuse scandal, “Quiet, piggy.” Headlines for days.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
The fact that no one in the room stood up for her says a lot about how we got here bsky.app/profile/pale...
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The fact that no one in the room stood up for her says a lot about how we got here bsky.app/profile/pale...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
Can confirm that Fox News totally ignored the press conference where Epstein survivors and lawmakers called for the release of the Epstein files.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Can confirm that Fox News totally ignored the press conference where Epstein survivors and lawmakers called for the release of the Epstein files.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
Really ties all the threads together, this one
Andrew Johnson — a Jan. 6 rioter who went by "Am🇺🇸rican T🇺🇸rrorist” on Elon Musk’s platform — has been arrested on child molestation charges, with police saying he used the promise of a taxpayer-funded payout from Trump's DOJ to try and keep one of the victims silent.
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/p...
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/p...
Pardoned Capitol Rioter Tried to Hush Child Sex Victim With Promise of Jan. 6 Reparation Money, Police Say
Pardoned Capitol rioter Andrew Johnson tried to keep a child sex abuse victim quiet with claimed $10 million Jan. 6 reparations, police say.
theintercept.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Really ties all the threads together, this one
Reposted by Barton Gellman
JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
“They’re trying to somehow tie President Trump to the scandal”
November 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
“They’re trying to somehow tie President Trump to the scandal”
Reposted by Barton Gellman
Here’s an example of journalistic dedication. My husband, @danfagin.bsky.social, wrote the butterfly story. To fact-check the rice grains analogy, he asked a rice scientist (yes, there are such a thing) to weigh a dozen grains so Dan could get the average weight of a single grain.
wake up babe, new units of measurement just dropped www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
November 17, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Here’s an example of journalistic dedication. My husband, @danfagin.bsky.social, wrote the butterfly story. To fact-check the rice grains analogy, he asked a rice scientist (yes, there are such a thing) to weigh a dozen grains so Dan could get the average weight of a single grain.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
This opinion demands to be read in full.
Among the problems with the grand jury proceedings:
* The key evidence presented to the grand jury came from a search that may have violated the Fourth Amendment.
* Lindsey Halligan apparently misstated the law to the grand jury, twice.
Among the problems with the grand jury proceedings:
* The key evidence presented to the grand jury came from a search that may have violated the Fourth Amendment.
* Lindsey Halligan apparently misstated the law to the grand jury, twice.
November 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This opinion demands to be read in full.
Among the problems with the grand jury proceedings:
* The key evidence presented to the grand jury came from a search that may have violated the Fourth Amendment.
* Lindsey Halligan apparently misstated the law to the grand jury, twice.
Among the problems with the grand jury proceedings:
* The key evidence presented to the grand jury came from a search that may have violated the Fourth Amendment.
* Lindsey Halligan apparently misstated the law to the grand jury, twice.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
A federal judge ORDERS the disclosure of James Comey's grand jury minutes to the defense, citing a "disturbing pattern pattern of profound investigative missteps" and casting doubt on Lindsey Halligan's declaration about the gap in the record.
Background www.allrisenews.com/p/halligan-c...
Background www.allrisenews.com/p/halligan-c...
November 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A federal judge ORDERS the disclosure of James Comey's grand jury minutes to the defense, citing a "disturbing pattern pattern of profound investigative missteps" and casting doubt on Lindsey Halligan's declaration about the gap in the record.
Background www.allrisenews.com/p/halligan-c...
Background www.allrisenews.com/p/halligan-c...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
Todd Blanche would have had these emails before interviewing Maxwell. Why didn’t he question her directly about her exchanges? Why did he not follow up when she said things that were onviously a lie?? This shows that was a performance intended to dupe the public and benefit her (and Trump)
November 12, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Todd Blanche would have had these emails before interviewing Maxwell. Why didn’t he question her directly about her exchanges? Why did he not follow up when she said things that were onviously a lie?? This shows that was a performance intended to dupe the public and benefit her (and Trump)
Reupping my look at Cheney’s legacy for those who sensibly spent time with friends and family over the weekend. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What I Learned About Dick Cheney
The former vice president was certain he knew better than the citizens he served what was good for them.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reupping my look at Cheney’s legacy for those who sensibly spent time with friends and family over the weekend. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
First kids at a Halloween parade getting tear gassed and now this. Abhorrent and unacceptable.
Girl Scouts in a Chicago Suburb hosted a food drive. But the girls encountered masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with weapons.
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Masked ICE agents put damper on Oak Park Girl Scout food drive: ‘It’s heartbreaking as a mom’
Federal immigration agents were confronted in Oak Park on Saturday morning by residents blowing whistles as local Girl Scouts collect food for local pantries, rattling some girls and their parents.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:17 PM
First kids at a Halloween parade getting tear gassed and now this. Abhorrent and unacceptable.
Rebuttal from a very smart lawyer (and friend) to one of my arguments in @theatlantic.com piece on Cheney.
This is excellent. I don't think it's true, though, that Cheney never exercised power that plainly belonged to another branch. When the Bush admin launched the warrantless wiretapping program, it did so in violation of a federal statute. Same with torture--there was a statute that prohibited that.
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Rebuttal from a very smart lawyer (and friend) to one of my arguments in @theatlantic.com piece on Cheney.
Nearly two decades after my book on Cheney, I took a shot at assessing his legacy. It’s more complicated than you might think. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What I Learned About Dick Cheney
The former vice president was certain he knew better than the citizens he served what was good for them.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Nearly two decades after my book on Cheney, I took a shot at assessing his legacy. It’s more complicated than you might think. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
so far, grand and petit juries are the institutions with the best track record in standing up to authoritarianism
Trump’s Revenge Campaign Has a Weakness
Prosecuting his enemies is turning out to be more difficult than he’d hoped—at least for now.
www.theatlantic.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
so far, grand and petit juries are the institutions with the best track record in standing up to authoritarianism
Reposted by Barton Gellman
President Trump’s troop deployments in Los Angeles, DC, Chicago, and other cities pose real threats to civil liberties and the rule of law.
Experts will discuss the legality of Trump's domestic military deployments. Join us for a virtual event on Mon., Nov. 10, at 3pm EST. RSVP: bit.ly/4hJjSnB
Experts will discuss the legality of Trump's domestic military deployments. Join us for a virtual event on Mon., Nov. 10, at 3pm EST. RSVP: bit.ly/4hJjSnB
Troops in American Cities
Experts discuss the legality of domestic military deployments.
www.brennancenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:02 PM
President Trump’s troop deployments in Los Angeles, DC, Chicago, and other cities pose real threats to civil liberties and the rule of law.
Experts will discuss the legality of Trump's domestic military deployments. Join us for a virtual event on Mon., Nov. 10, at 3pm EST. RSVP: bit.ly/4hJjSnB
Experts will discuss the legality of Trump's domestic military deployments. Join us for a virtual event on Mon., Nov. 10, at 3pm EST. RSVP: bit.ly/4hJjSnB
Reposted by Barton Gellman
A reminder that if you are called to be part of a jury in a political prosecution you have a right to refuse to convict on the grounds the prosecution is unjust. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Trump’s Politicized Prosecutions May Hit a Roadblock
When the president puts his political enemies on trial on pretextual grounds, jurors have the option of refusing to convict.
www.theatlantic.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
A reminder that if you are called to be part of a jury in a political prosecution you have a right to refuse to convict on the grounds the prosecution is unjust. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Barton Gellman
A U.S. Senate investigation led by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) "has uncovered dozens of credible reports of medical neglect and poor conditions in immigration detention centers nationwide — with detainees denied insulin, left without medical attention for days and forced to compete for clean water."
Senate report details dozens of cases of medical neglect in federal immigration detention centers
A U.S. Senate investigation has uncovered numerous credible reports of medical neglect and poor conditions in immigration detention centers across the country.
apnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
A U.S. Senate investigation led by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) "has uncovered dozens of credible reports of medical neglect and poor conditions in immigration detention centers nationwide — with detainees denied insulin, left without medical attention for days and forced to compete for clean water."
It's like an ICE competition for most heartless arrest. And it's so unnecessary to do it this way that it must somehow be deliberate. This is not who we are as a country.
this morning, ICE went into a Spanish language immersion daycare and took a teacher from the building in front of screaming and crying kids and parents at dropoff and the daycare had to shut down for the day (near Lane Tech, where they were yesterday). Really hoping today's "theme" is not "daycare."
November 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
It's like an ICE competition for most heartless arrest. And it's so unnecessary to do it this way that it must somehow be deliberate. This is not who we are as a country.
Reposted by Barton Gellman
"Former vice president Dick Cheney, who recast an understudy’s job into an engine of White House power, becoming chief architect of a post-9/11 war on terrorism that involved bypassing restrictions against torture and domestic espionage, died Nov. 3. He was 84." @bartongellman.bsky.social
Dick Cheney, powerful vice president during war on terrorism, dies at 84
After 9/11, he used his role as President George W. Bush’s chief strategist to approve the use of torture and steer U.S. occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"Former vice president Dick Cheney, who recast an understudy’s job into an engine of White House power, becoming chief architect of a post-9/11 war on terrorism that involved bypassing restrictions against torture and domestic espionage, died Nov. 3. He was 84." @bartongellman.bsky.social