Garrett Epps
@garrettepps.bsky.social
Con Law Jock; Legal Editor, WASHINGTON MONTHLY; closing in on 50th anniversary of first novel; he, him, what's-his-face. BTW, I block accounts that consist of pictures of women.
Pinned
Garrett Epps
@garrettepps.bsky.social
· Jan 21
I've been writing about birthright citizenship for 20 years. This thread strings together my opinion pieces (not law review tomes, which I will post separately). I wrote a book about the Fourteenth Amendment and I debated John Eastman 20 years ago about his vile plan to end birthright citizenship./1
Yes, the Constitution covers people Pete Hegseth doesn’t like.
Opinion from Judge Richard Leon, a GWB appointee: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Order: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Order: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
.Order AND Preliminary Injunction – #38 in KELLY v. HEGSETH (D.D.C., 1:26-cv-00081) – CourtListener.com
ORDER. Consistent with the attached, plaintiff's 2 Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Stay is GRANTED in part. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 2/12/2026. (lcrjl1) (Entered...
storage.courtlistener.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Yes, the Constitution covers people Pete Hegseth doesn’t like.
"And Mr Trump repeated his claim that aliens are attempting to control his mind and are only being kept at bay with his tinfoil hat. Some experts expressed doubt that this entirely true, but we will report it as if it were not batsputum crazy."
February 11, 2026 at 5:04 PM
"And Mr Trump repeated his claim that aliens are attempting to control his mind and are only being kept at bay with his tinfoil hat. Some experts expressed doubt that this entirely true, but we will report it as if it were not batsputum crazy."
"Unfounded claim" or psychotic delusion?
February 11, 2026 at 4:24 PM
"Unfounded claim" or psychotic delusion?
Trump annoyed when told he can’t federalize Super Bowl teams, call in plays from Resolute Desk.
February 9, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Trump annoyed when told he can’t federalize Super Bowl teams, call in plays from Resolute Desk.
I am excited for the Super Bowl. I have loved Fierce Bad Rabbit since my childhood days!
February 8, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I am excited for the Super Bowl. I have loved Fierce Bad Rabbit since my childhood days!
Announcement from @astrolabe.bsky.social: "There's so much news about Minnesota that I can spell it!"
February 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Announcement from @astrolabe.bsky.social: "There's so much news about Minnesota that I can spell it!"
My view of the Supreme Court has become so jaundiced that I felt excitement that the Court did _not_ approve the Texas redistricting and find some reason why California's wasn't okay. Less that explicit hypocrisy--in today's Court, that's integrity.
February 4, 2026 at 8:38 PM
My view of the Supreme Court has become so jaundiced that I felt excitement that the Court did _not_ approve the Texas redistricting and find some reason why California's wasn't okay. Less that explicit hypocrisy--in today's Court, that's integrity.
Reposted by Garrett Epps
I wanna keep doing this work, in any form (podcast! newsletter! movie? AI literacy class!). Pls msg me on Signal at nitasha.10 if you need someone who’s well-sourced in AI & SV, worked hard to understand the technology + ideas + players, cares about getting it right and informing the public
February 4, 2026 at 7:40 PM
I wanna keep doing this work, in any form (podcast! newsletter! movie? AI literacy class!). Pls msg me on Signal at nitasha.10 if you need someone who’s well-sourced in AI & SV, worked hard to understand the technology + ideas + players, cares about getting it right and informing the public
Reposted by Garrett Epps
I don't want to quote dunk but I saw another "body cams don't do anything" post and I just want to say that I, a criminal defense attorney, very much like having body cams.
February 4, 2026 at 5:40 PM
I don't want to quote dunk but I saw another "body cams don't do anything" post and I just want to say that I, a criminal defense attorney, very much like having body cams.
Reposted by Garrett Epps
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:45 PM
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
In 1973, I covered a press conference by a candidate for Governor of Virginia. A young woman fasked a question & he responded that she was ignorant. He turned to another reporter, who said, “I thought her question was pretty good. Why don’t you answer that one?”
@kaitlancollins.bsky.social
@kaitlancollins.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM
In 1973, I covered a press conference by a candidate for Governor of Virginia. A young woman fasked a question & he responded that she was ignorant. He turned to another reporter, who said, “I thought her question was pretty good. Why don’t you answer that one?”
@kaitlancollins.bsky.social
@kaitlancollins.bsky.social
Remember that the "drawdown" of Metro Surge means that feds will now ONLY outnumber local law enforcement by a little less than 4 to one. It's an occupation, not an operation.
February 4, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Remember that the "drawdown" of Metro Surge means that feds will now ONLY outnumber local law enforcement by a little less than 4 to one. It's an occupation, not an operation.
Reposted by Garrett Epps
Plus, book reviews by @davidaustinwalsh.bsky.social, @chrisirmscher.bsky.social, @garrettepps.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, and more. Read the editor's note and explore the whole issue:
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/a...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/a...
Let the Affordability Bidding War Begin
As Trump falters, Democrats have a chance to outbid him with bolder solutions on prices, power, groceries, and health care.
washingtonmonthly.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Plus, book reviews by @davidaustinwalsh.bsky.social, @chrisirmscher.bsky.social, @garrettepps.bsky.social, @nberlat.bsky.social, and more. Read the editor's note and explore the whole issue:
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/a...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/03/a...
February 3, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Trump’s ICE Problem
J.D. Vance said “we’re focused on Minneapolis because that’s where we have the highest concentration of people who have violated our immigration laws.” A lie-78 metro areas have higher percentages of undocumented than Minneapolis.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/t...
J.D. Vance said “we’re focused on Minneapolis because that’s where we have the highest concentration of people who have violated our immigration laws.” A lie-78 metro areas have higher percentages of undocumented than Minneapolis.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/t...
Trump’s ICE Problem—and Ours
Trump can’t legally force “sanctuary” cities to help ICE. So he flooded Minneapolis with federal agents. Here’s what comes next.
washingtonmonthly.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Trump’s ICE Problem
J.D. Vance said “we’re focused on Minneapolis because that’s where we have the highest concentration of people who have violated our immigration laws.” A lie-78 metro areas have higher percentages of undocumented than Minneapolis.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/t...
J.D. Vance said “we’re focused on Minneapolis because that’s where we have the highest concentration of people who have violated our immigration laws.” A lie-78 metro areas have higher percentages of undocumented than Minneapolis.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/t...
If this be "de-escalation," imagine what escalation would be like.
Thanks to conservative justices, the law doesn’t allow Trump to compel cities, like Minneapolis, to bow to his immigration orders, and so he used ICE thuggery. It backfired. Now what? From legal affairs editor @garrettepps.bsky.social
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/t...
Trump’s ICE Problem—and Ours
Trump can’t legally force “sanctuary” cities to help ICE. So he flooded Minneapolis with federal agents. Here’s what comes next.
washingtonmonthly.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
If this be "de-escalation," imagine what escalation would be like.
Maybe say something about ICE arresting members of Congress when they try to conduct oversite?
BREAKING: Judge Cobb has barred DHS from preventing members of Congress from visiting immigration detention facilities without notice, saying the administration's policy likely violated the law requiring their unfettered access. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 2, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Maybe say something about ICE arresting members of Congress when they try to conduct oversite?
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Frankly, I say, act like Congress and you will face the same kind of leaks.
Frankly, I say, act like Congress and you will face the same kind of leaks.
How the Supreme Court Secretly Made Itself Even More Secretive
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Frankly, I say, act like Congress and you will face the same kind of leaks.
Frankly, I say, act like Congress and you will face the same kind of leaks.
The raids will continue; ICE can make warrantless arrests. Protesting is “domestic terrorism,” observing is “obstruction”; news coverage is “conspiracy”; Walz & Frey can be prosecuted for criticizing ICE. If this be "de-escalation" . . .
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/trumps-ice-problem-and-ours/
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/trumps-ice-problem-and-ours/
Trump’s ICE Problem—and Ours
Trump can’t legally force “sanctuary” cities to help ICE. So he flooded Minneapolis with federal agents. Here’s what comes next.
washingtonmonthly.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The raids will continue; ICE can make warrantless arrests. Protesting is “domestic terrorism,” observing is “obstruction”; news coverage is “conspiracy”; Walz & Frey can be prosecuted for criticizing ICE. If this be "de-escalation" . . .
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/trumps-ice-problem-and-ours/
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/02/trumps-ice-problem-and-ours/
I had the honor of meeting Sen. Klobuchar on a couple of occasions and following her career closely. She will be a brilliant governor.
This campaign is born out of one of the most difficult times for our state. But in those hard moments, Minnesota doesn’t look away or give up — we stand up and get involved.
We will never give up on this democracy or each other.
We will never give up on this democracy or each other.
February 1, 2026 at 6:39 PM
I had the honor of meeting Sen. Klobuchar on a couple of occasions and following her career closely. She will be a brilliant governor.
Reposted by Garrett Epps
This campaign is born out of one of the most difficult times for our state. But in those hard moments, Minnesota doesn’t look away or give up — we stand up and get involved.
We will never give up on this democracy or each other.
We will never give up on this democracy or each other.
January 30, 2026 at 11:52 PM
This campaign is born out of one of the most difficult times for our state. But in those hard moments, Minnesota doesn’t look away or give up — we stand up and get involved.
We will never give up on this democracy or each other.
We will never give up on this democracy or each other.
Reposted by Garrett Epps
Minnesota Nice -> Minnesota No Ice
January 31, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Minnesota Nice -> Minnesota No Ice
Reposted by Garrett Epps
by the way, a defendant of the stature and credibility of Don Lemon--who 100% isn't running away anywhere -would typically be permitted to answer a summons. Arresting him and putting him in jail overnight was a gratuitous indignity--which is to say part of the point of this performative indictment.
January 31, 2026 at 12:03 AM
by the way, a defendant of the stature and credibility of Don Lemon--who 100% isn't running away anywhere -would typically be permitted to answer a summons. Arresting him and putting him in jail overnight was a gratuitous indignity--which is to say part of the point of this performative indictment.
Reposted by Garrett Epps
A salute to journalist Georgia Ford. Trump and Bondi are so afraid of her brave reporting about the resistance in #Minneapolis that they are trying to lock her up. @jfallows.bsky.social @garrettepps.bsky.social
Journalist Georgia Fort has been released from custody (video @fox9mn.bsky.social)
January 30, 2026 at 11:01 PM
A salute to journalist Georgia Ford. Trump and Bondi are so afraid of her brave reporting about the resistance in #Minneapolis that they are trying to lock her up. @jfallows.bsky.social @garrettepps.bsky.social
Reposted by Garrett Epps
🎥 Listen to SSN Academic Director @smettler.bsky.social, Cornell, and Trevor Brown, @snfagora.bsky.social, on how Democrats lost rural voters and what it will take to bridge the rural-urban political divide.
@anne-s-kim.bsky.social & @garrettepps.bsky.social, @washingtonmonthly.com:
@anne-s-kim.bsky.social & @garrettepps.bsky.social, @washingtonmonthly.com:
How Democrats Lost Rural Voters—and How to Win Them Back
Neglect and disdain of rural voters have driven them from the Democratic party, argue authors Suzanne Mettler and Trevor Brown.
washingtonmonthly.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:01 PM
🎥 Listen to SSN Academic Director @smettler.bsky.social, Cornell, and Trevor Brown, @snfagora.bsky.social, on how Democrats lost rural voters and what it will take to bridge the rural-urban political divide.
@anne-s-kim.bsky.social & @garrettepps.bsky.social, @washingtonmonthly.com:
@anne-s-kim.bsky.social & @garrettepps.bsky.social, @washingtonmonthly.com: