David Kurtz
@davidkurtz.bsky.social
TPM editor at large + all things Morning Memo: https://morningmemo.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Signal: davidkurtz.88
Proton: [email protected]
Signal: davidkurtz.88
Proton: [email protected]
Reposted by David Kurtz
An excellent discussion with @davidkurtz.bsky.social of the lawless Trump regime’s absolute bungling of his vindictive prosecutions, and Hegseth’s half baked attempt to court martial Senator Mark Kelly. As they said, we clearly need a post-Watergate style course correction in our legal system.
On this pod:
-why restoring rule of law after Trump will be so challenging
-the need for a post-Trump reckoning that rivals what happened after abuses of Vietnam/Watergate
-why Trump's effort to get revenge on Sen Mark Kelly is so deeply corrupt
@davidkurtz.bsky.social is very good throughout:
-why restoring rule of law after Trump will be so challenging
-the need for a post-Trump reckoning that rivals what happened after abuses of Vietnam/Watergate
-why Trump's effort to get revenge on Sen Mark Kelly is so deeply corrupt
@davidkurtz.bsky.social is very good throughout:
Trump's prosecutions of Comey and Letitia James fell apart precisely because he ousted career prosecutors who insisted on following facts and law. His installation of a pliant stooge is what blew up in his face.
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 PM
An excellent discussion with @davidkurtz.bsky.social of the lawless Trump regime’s absolute bungling of his vindictive prosecutions, and Hegseth’s half baked attempt to court martial Senator Mark Kelly. As they said, we clearly need a post-Watergate style course correction in our legal system.
Reposted by David Kurtz
@davidkurtz.bsky.social joined @gregsargent.bsky.social on TNR's The Daily Blast to talk about the James Comey and Letitia James prosecutions getting thrown out, and how President Trump’s own corruption is blowing up in his face
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Raging Trump Spirals Further as Push to Jail Enemies Backfires Badly
With Trump seething at Dems even as his efforts to prosecute foes hit new setbacks, a sharp legal commentator explains why Trump’s revenge project is running aground—and why he’s at fault for all of i...
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
@davidkurtz.bsky.social joined @gregsargent.bsky.social on TNR's The Daily Blast to talk about the James Comey and Letitia James prosecutions getting thrown out, and how President Trump’s own corruption is blowing up in his face
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Pam Bondi long ago gave up her dignity, so the implosion of her corrupt Comey and James prosecutions is not a humiliation in the usual sense. But as a lickspittle AG whose career rides on currying favor with Trump, it was a personal and professional disaster.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Pam Bondi’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
No Dignity Left Behind Pam Bondi long ago gave up her dignity,...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Pam Bondi long ago gave up her dignity, so the implosion of her corrupt Comey and James prosecutions is not a humiliation in the usual sense. But as a lickspittle AG whose career rides on currying favor with Trump, it was a personal and professional disaster.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Reposted by David Kurtz
Trump's prosecutions of Comey and Letitia James fell apart precisely because he ousted career prosecutors who insisted on following facts and law. His installation of a pliant stooge is what blew up in his face.
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Raging Trump Spirals Further as Push to Jail Enemies Backfires Badly
With Trump seething at Dems even as his efforts to prosecute foes hits new setbacks, a sharp legal commentator explains why Trump’s revenge project is running aground—and why he’s at fault for all of ...
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Trump's prosecutions of Comey and Letitia James fell apart precisely because he ousted career prosecutors who insisted on following facts and law. His installation of a pliant stooge is what blew up in his face.
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
On the pod, @davidkurtz.bsky.social is great on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
For almost a decade, Trump has exploited one loophole after another and managed to turn every legal ambiguity in his favor. So it’s worth noting that one relatively small structural guardrail held firm and provided a check today on one of Trump’s worst abuses. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/linds...
One Small Guardrail Finally Held Up Against Trump
For almost a decade now, we’ve watched as Trump plowed through guardrails...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
For almost a decade, Trump has exploited one loophole after another and managed to turn every legal ambiguity in his favor. So it’s worth noting that one relatively small structural guardrail held firm and provided a check today on one of Trump’s worst abuses. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/linds...
The dual rulings by U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of South Carolina are the most significant judicial rebukes yet to the politically motivated prosecutions driven by the White House of political nemeses of President Donald Trump.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/comey-a...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/comey-a...
Comey and James Cases Dismissed Over Halligan’s Invalid Appointment
A federal judge has ruled that former insurance lawyer Lindsey Halligan was...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The dual rulings by U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of South Carolina are the most significant judicial rebukes yet to the politically motivated prosecutions driven by the White House of political nemeses of President Donald Trump.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/comey-a...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/comey-a...
Incisive new reporting from Charlie Savage on the sprawling investigate the investigators charade going on in South Florida puts U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon back in the thick of things.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Aileen Cannon Is Back In A Bad Sequel To Her Trump Debut
Investigating The Investigators: Aileen Cannon Edition Incisive new reporting from Charlie Savage...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Incisive new reporting from Charlie Savage on the sprawling investigate the investigators charade going on in South Florida puts U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon back in the thick of things.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Undermining the already-dubious claims the Trump administration has been making in court, Costa Rica says it remains willing to accept Abrego Garcia on the same terms it has offered since August:
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Costa Rica says it would accept Kilmar Abrego García, contradicting U.S.
The statement from a Costa Rican official conflicts with what the Trump administration told a federal judge about its attempts to deport the undocumented immigrant
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Undermining the already-dubious claims the Trump administration has been making in court, Costa Rica says it remains willing to accept Abrego Garcia on the same terms it has offered since August:
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by David Kurtz
As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, @johnalight.bsky.social & I co-moderated a discussion of TPM's history as a publication, featuring @davidkurtz.bsky.social as well as TPM alum NY Mag's Katie Thompson, ProPublica's @paulkiel.bsky.social & NOTUS' @evanmcs.bsky.social
Audio version here!
Audio version here!
The One With the History of TPM
Take a trip into the Wayback machine in this bonus episode, as...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:17 PM
As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, @johnalight.bsky.social & I co-moderated a discussion of TPM's history as a publication, featuring @davidkurtz.bsky.social as well as TPM alum NY Mag's Katie Thompson, ProPublica's @paulkiel.bsky.social & NOTUS' @evanmcs.bsky.social
Audio version here!
Audio version here!
Adding to @gregsargent.bsky.social's spot-on post:
SefDef Pete Hegseth laid the groundwork for this back in February by firing the top JAGs for the Army and USAF (the Navy JAG post was already vacant). He wanted pliant JAGs who wouldn't get in the way of illegal orders. apnews.com/article/pent...
SefDef Pete Hegseth laid the groundwork for this back in February by firing the top JAGs for the Army and USAF (the Navy JAG post was already vacant). He wanted pliant JAGs who wouldn't get in the way of illegal orders. apnews.com/article/pent...
Is Trump Giving Illegal Orders? Dems Just Blew That Question Wide Open
From the boat bombings to deportations to prosecutions, the evidence mounts. And the speaker of the House could get to the bottom of it if he wanted to. Yeah, right.
newrepublic.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Adding to @gregsargent.bsky.social's spot-on post:
SefDef Pete Hegseth laid the groundwork for this back in February by firing the top JAGs for the Army and USAF (the Navy JAG post was already vacant). He wanted pliant JAGs who wouldn't get in the way of illegal orders. apnews.com/article/pent...
SefDef Pete Hegseth laid the groundwork for this back in February by firing the top JAGs for the Army and USAF (the Navy JAG post was already vacant). He wanted pliant JAGs who wouldn't get in the way of illegal orders. apnews.com/article/pent...
In fairness, Norman fooled 'em by calling it "Marshall Law!!" ...
talkingpointsmemo.com/feature/mark...
talkingpointsmemo.com/feature/mark...
November 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
In fairness, Norman fooled 'em by calling it "Marshall Law!!" ...
talkingpointsmemo.com/feature/mark...
talkingpointsmemo.com/feature/mark...
An asylum-seeker wrongfully deported to CECOT then repatriated to Venezuela may have succumbed to the violence he was fleeing, a federal judge says in a newly unsealed opinion that declines to hold the Trump admin in contempt of court for violating her orders
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
A Brutal Ending to One of the Worst Trump II Cases
A Thoroughly Unsatisfying Result U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher just unsealed this...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
An asylum-seeker wrongfully deported to CECOT then repatriated to Venezuela may have succumbed to the violence he was fleeing, a federal judge says in a newly unsealed opinion that declines to hold the Trump admin in contempt of court for violating her orders
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
My report from court in the Abrego Garcia case, where the Trump admin continued giving US District Judge Paula Xinis the runaround, defying her explicit orders by once again putting a cipher on the witness stand who couldnt survive even friendly DOJ questioning talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump...
Trump DOJ Defies Another Court Order in Abrego Garcia Case
GREENBELT, MD—If the Justice Department had brazenly defied a judge’s order a...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:39 PM
My report from court in the Abrego Garcia case, where the Trump admin continued giving US District Judge Paula Xinis the runaround, defying her explicit orders by once again putting a cipher on the witness stand who couldnt survive even friendly DOJ questioning talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump...
Judge Boasberg wants to hear testimony from DOJ lawyers involved in the Alien Enemies Act case at the outset: Erez Reuveni, who became a whistleblower, and Drew Ensign, who’s rarely been seen in this case since his dubious representations to the court in March.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Will Emil Bove Have to Testify in AEA Contempt of Court Inquiry?
The Most Important News of the Day While the James Comey case...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Judge Boasberg wants to hear testimony from DOJ lawyers involved in the Alien Enemies Act case at the outset: Erez Reuveni, who became a whistleblower, and Drew Ensign, who’s rarely been seen in this case since his dubious representations to the court in March.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
There was one moment in particular when the judge sounded convinced that Comey had cleared the high bar for a successful vindictive prosecution claim. Plus other highlights from the hearing BEFORE it was revealed the Comey indictment might be fatally flawed:
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/how-j...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/how-j...
How James Comey’s Vindictive Prosecution Claim Fared In Court
ALEXANDRIA, VA—This morning’s hearing on James Comey’s motion to dismiss for vindictive...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
There was one moment in particular when the judge sounded convinced that Comey had cleared the high bar for a successful vindictive prosecution claim. Plus other highlights from the hearing BEFORE it was revealed the Comey indictment might be fatally flawed:
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/how-j...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/how-j...
In a hearing Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg signaled that he wants to begin taking testimony from Trump administration officials involved in the mid-March 2025 Alien Enemies Act deportations as soon as the Monday after Thanksgiving. My report:
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/contemp...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/contemp...
Contempt Proceedings in the Original AEA Case Are Back On … For Now
WASHINGTON, DC—After months of delays, a federal judge is prepared to swiftly...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
In a hearing Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg signaled that he wants to begin taking testimony from Trump administration officials involved in the mid-March 2025 Alien Enemies Act deportations as soon as the Monday after Thanksgiving. My report:
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/contemp...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/contemp...
Breaking: In DOJ Paperwork Snafu, James Comey May Never Have Been Properly Indicted
Just out of court, where judge established that second operative two-count indictment of Comey was never presented to or voted on by the grand jury.
Judge wanted immediate additional briefing on that issue.
Just out of court, where judge established that second operative two-count indictment of Comey was never presented to or voted on by the grand jury.
Judge wanted immediate additional briefing on that issue.
November 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Breaking: In DOJ Paperwork Snafu, James Comey May Never Have Been Properly Indicted
Just out of court, where judge established that second operative two-count indictment of Comey was never presented to or voted on by the grand jury.
Judge wanted immediate additional briefing on that issue.
Just out of court, where judge established that second operative two-count indictment of Comey was never presented to or voted on by the grand jury.
Judge wanted immediate additional briefing on that issue.
A quick update on the big coverup in the Letitia James case:
In a new filing Monday, James lawyers asked the judge in the case to order the gov't to produce the documents reportedly turned over to prosecutors by former FHFA acting Inspector General Joe Allen.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
In a new filing Monday, James lawyers asked the judge in the case to order the gov't to produce the documents reportedly turned over to prosecutors by former FHFA acting Inspector General Joe Allen.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
What Is Lindsey Halligan Hiding From Letitia James?
The Retribution: Letitia James Edition A quick update on the big coverup...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A quick update on the big coverup in the Letitia James case:
In a new filing Monday, James lawyers asked the judge in the case to order the gov't to produce the documents reportedly turned over to prosecutors by former FHFA acting Inspector General Joe Allen.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
In a new filing Monday, James lawyers asked the judge in the case to order the gov't to produce the documents reportedly turned over to prosecutors by former FHFA acting Inspector General Joe Allen.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Trump and the White House seem to be leaving themselves a pretty big out. In his social media post declaring he didn’t care if House Oversight got the Epstein files, Trump caveated it by saying they “can have whatever they are legally entitled to.” Well...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Trump Gives Himself An Enormous Out on the Epstein Files
Epstein Politics Shift on the Hill President Trump’s absurd effort to avoid...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Trump and the White House seem to be leaving themselves a pretty big out. In his social media post declaring he didn’t care if House Oversight got the Epstein files, Trump caveated it by saying they “can have whatever they are legally entitled to.” Well...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
The extent of the prosecutorial and investigative misconduct in the James Comey case is even greater than previously known, a federal magistrate judge revealed in an extraordinary new ruling today.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/james-c...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/james-c...
Judge Just Blew a Gaping Hole in the Comey Prosecution
The extent of the prosecutorial and investigative misconduct in the James Comey...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The extent of the prosecutorial and investigative misconduct in the James Comey case is even greater than previously known, a federal magistrate judge revealed in an extraordinary new ruling today.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/james-c...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/james-c...
Reposted by David Kurtz
Perfect @davidkurtz.bsky.social headline. “The House Should Vote to Force Me to Release the Epstein Files That I Won’t Release.”
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Trump’s New Sham: The House Should Vote to Force Me to Release the Epstein Files That I Won’t Release
LOL Wut? Poised to lose a House vote this week calling for...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Perfect @davidkurtz.bsky.social headline. “The House Should Vote to Force Me to Release the Epstein Files That I Won’t Release.”
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Poised to lose a House vote this week calling for DOJ to release its Jeffrey Epstein files, President Trump snookered a good chunk of political media by declaring in a social media post last evening that the House should vote to release the files.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Trump’s New Sham: The House Should Vote To Force Me To Release The Epstein Files That I Won’t Release
LOL Wut? Poised to lose a House vote this week calling for...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Poised to lose a House vote this week calling for DOJ to release its Jeffrey Epstein files, President Trump snookered a good chunk of political media by declaring in a social media post last evening that the House should vote to release the files.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Keep trying?
Looks like Pam Bondi is purporting to re-ratify Halligan's actions before the Comey's grand jury.
November 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Keep trying?
A unanimous Nevada Supreme Court reinstated criminal charges against six people allegedly involved President Trump’s 2020 fake electors scheme. The case had previously been dismissed on grounds that it had been filed in the wrong county.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Nevada Supreme Court Revives Fake Electors Case
Not Dead Yet A unanimous Nevada Supreme Court reinstated criminal charges against...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A unanimous Nevada Supreme Court reinstated criminal charges against six people allegedly involved President Trump’s 2020 fake electors scheme. The case had previously been dismissed on grounds that it had been filed in the wrong county.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
In a joint hearing in the Jim Comey and Letitia James cases, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie gave no indication that she thinks Lindsey Halligan was lawfully appointed as interim U.S. attorney. But it wasn’t at all clear what Currie will do about it now. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/pam-b...
Pam Bondi Takes a Beating in Court Over Lindsey Halligan’s Dubious Appointment
I was in federal court this morning in Alexandria, Virginia, for a...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In a joint hearing in the Jim Comey and Letitia James cases, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie gave no indication that she thinks Lindsey Halligan was lawfully appointed as interim U.S. attorney. But it wasn’t at all clear what Currie will do about it now. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/pam-b...