Greg Sargent
@gregsargent.bsky.social
Politics, politics, politics
Reposted by Greg Sargent
There's ample evidence that Trump/Miller saw Abrego Garcia as a test for the broader MAGA project. Miller hopes to carve out power for Trump to remove people with zero legal constraints. JD Vance's dishonesty has been reprehensible. It all now looks even worse. 4/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
There's ample evidence that Trump/Miller saw Abrego Garcia as a test for the broader MAGA project. Miller hopes to carve out power for Trump to remove people with zero legal constraints. JD Vance's dishonesty has been reprehensible. It all now looks even worse. 4/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Reposted by Greg Sargent
For weeks, Trump officials have refused to send him to Costa Rica even though he said he'd accept that. The ruling savagely details extensive misconduct here.
We all know what happened: Trump/Miller decided sending him there wouldn't be sufficiently dehumanizing. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
We all know what happened: Trump/Miller decided sending him there wouldn't be sufficiently dehumanizing. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
For weeks, Trump officials have refused to send him to Costa Rica even though he said he'd accept that. The ruling savagely details extensive misconduct here.
We all know what happened: Trump/Miller decided sending him there wouldn't be sufficiently dehumanizing. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
We all know what happened: Trump/Miller decided sending him there wouldn't be sufficiently dehumanizing. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Reposted by Greg Sargent
For Trump and Miller, the Abrego Garcia case was a crucial gauge of how far they could get in disappearing undesirables and placing them beyond the law entirely.
Judge Xinis' ruling is important in that context. It calls out Trump's lawless conduct throughout. 2/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Judge Xinis' ruling is important in that context. It calls out Trump's lawless conduct throughout. 2/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 5:45 PM
For Trump and Miller, the Abrego Garcia case was a crucial gauge of how far they could get in disappearing undesirables and placing them beyond the law entirely.
Judge Xinis' ruling is important in that context. It calls out Trump's lawless conduct throughout. 2/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Judge Xinis' ruling is important in that context. It calls out Trump's lawless conduct throughout. 2/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
ICYMI, new piece/thread from me on the remarkable new turn in the Abrego Garcia case. Everyone should read the judge's latest ruling. It goes deep. It neatly captures the essential lawlessness and state terror of the Trump era:
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:50 PM
ICYMI, new piece/thread from me on the remarkable new turn in the Abrego Garcia case. Everyone should read the judge's latest ruling. It goes deep. It neatly captures the essential lawlessness and state terror of the Trump era:
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Trump and admin lawyers know Pete Hegseth and others in the chain of command on the boat bombings are legally vulnerable. Adding to this from @swin24.bsky.social and @premthakker.bsky.social, the Trump Murder Memo "justifying" the bombings also makes this clear:
zeteo.com/p/trump-is-a...
zeteo.com/p/trump-is-a...
Trump Is Already Discussing Preemptive Pardons For His Lawless Administration
The revelation comes as Pete Hegseth faces scrutiny for a possible war crime, and as a judge pursues a contempt inquiry into the defiance of his order.
zeteo.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Trump and admin lawyers know Pete Hegseth and others in the chain of command on the boat bombings are legally vulnerable. Adding to this from @swin24.bsky.social and @premthakker.bsky.social, the Trump Murder Memo "justifying" the bombings also makes this clear:
zeteo.com/p/trump-is-a...
zeteo.com/p/trump-is-a...
Good case from @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com for impeaching Pete Hegseth. A key point raised here is that we shouldn't ever assume anything is politically out of reach. Think big and it shapes a better form of opposition politics:
www.liberalcurrents.com/impeach-and-...
www.liberalcurrents.com/impeach-and-...
Impeach and Remove the Bastards
A scenario for 2027.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Good case from @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com for impeaching Pete Hegseth. A key point raised here is that we shouldn't ever assume anything is politically out of reach. Think big and it shapes a better form of opposition politics:
www.liberalcurrents.com/impeach-and-...
www.liberalcurrents.com/impeach-and-...
Reposted by Greg Sargent
It’s really atrocious how they threw the full force of the federal government at this one guy because he embarrassed them by being innocent of everything except trying to live his life.
Only one of many, unfortunately. But he got publicity so he had to be destroyed.
Only one of many, unfortunately. But he got publicity so he had to be destroyed.
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:29 AM
It’s really atrocious how they threw the full force of the federal government at this one guy because he embarrassed them by being innocent of everything except trying to live his life.
Only one of many, unfortunately. But he got publicity so he had to be destroyed.
Only one of many, unfortunately. But he got publicity so he had to be destroyed.
Exactly. The full weight of the White House propaganda and legal apparatus bearing down on one day laborer and his family for months simply because the addled despot can never be wrong.
It’s really atrocious how they threw the full force of the federal government at this one guy because he embarrassed them by being innocent of everything except trying to live his life.
Only one of many, unfortunately. But he got publicity so he had to be destroyed.
Only one of many, unfortunately. But he got publicity so he had to be destroyed.
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 13, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Exactly. The full weight of the White House propaganda and legal apparatus bearing down on one day laborer and his family for months simply because the addled despot can never be wrong.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Sending him to Costa Rica wasn't sufficiently cruel enough to satisfy Trump and Miller.
For weeks, Trump officials have refused to send him to Costa Rica even though he said he'd accept that. The ruling savagely details extensive misconduct here.
We all know what happened: Trump/Miller decided sending him there wouldn't be sufficiently dehumanizing. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
We all know what happened: Trump/Miller decided sending him there wouldn't be sufficiently dehumanizing. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Sending him to Costa Rica wasn't sufficiently cruel enough to satisfy Trump and Miller.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Trumpers envisioned the torment of Abrego Garcia as a showcase for their lawlessness and assault on constitutional protections, and a demonstration that resistance was futile
But due to the efforts of advocates, legislators and lawyers -- and resolute adherence to the law by judges -- they've failed
But due to the efforts of advocates, legislators and lawyers -- and resolute adherence to the law by judges -- they've failed
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Trumpers envisioned the torment of Abrego Garcia as a showcase for their lawlessness and assault on constitutional protections, and a demonstration that resistance was futile
But due to the efforts of advocates, legislators and lawyers -- and resolute adherence to the law by judges -- they've failed
But due to the efforts of advocates, legislators and lawyers -- and resolute adherence to the law by judges -- they've failed
Reposted by Greg Sargent
I keep saying it: Courts. (Well, and federalism, and other things.)
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I keep saying it: Courts. (Well, and federalism, and other things.)
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Yes, @gregsargent.bsky.social is exactly right here, and that is a far bigger story than just Kilmar himself.
It is about who we, as the United States writ large, are. It cannot be that which Trump and Miller are.
It is about who we, as the United States writ large, are. It cannot be that which Trump and Miller are.
There's ample evidence that Trump/Miller saw Abrego Garcia as a test for the broader MAGA project. Miller hopes to carve out power for Trump to remove people with zero legal constraints. JD Vance's dishonesty has been reprehensible. It all now looks even worse. 4/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Yes, @gregsargent.bsky.social is exactly right here, and that is a far bigger story than just Kilmar himself.
It is about who we, as the United States writ large, are. It cannot be that which Trump and Miller are.
It is about who we, as the United States writ large, are. It cannot be that which Trump and Miller are.
Matt is a very good decoder of right wing pathologies -->
Had a great Theory of Change chat with @molly.wiki about the crypto industry and Trump and also the very strong overlap between crypto advocates and Wikipedia haters.
Here's the transcript, audio, and video: plus.flux.community/p/web3-has-b...
Here's the transcript, audio, and video: plus.flux.community/p/web3-has-b...
Web3 has been great for Republican billionaires—and awful for almost everyone else
Molly White on how the cryptocurrency industry ate Trump’s second presidency and possibly the global economy as well
plus.flux.community
December 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Matt is a very good decoder of right wing pathologies -->
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Thread.👇
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Thread.👇
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Awesome thread 🧵 👇
Greg is super thoughtful in this analysis
Greg is super thoughtful in this analysis
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Awesome thread 🧵 👇
Greg is super thoughtful in this analysis
Greg is super thoughtful in this analysis
Reposted by Greg Sargent
I do agree with this point from Greg, something I wrote about over the spring — www.lawdork.com/p/trump-told... — and that has become all the more clear since. It should be noted, however, that aspects of this plan — particularly as to third-country removal — have largely been successful
There's ample evidence that Trump/Miller saw Abrego Garcia as a test for the broader MAGA project. Miller hopes to carve out power for Trump to remove people with zero legal constraints. JD Vance's dishonesty has been reprehensible. It all now looks even worse. 4/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I do agree with this point from Greg, something I wrote about over the spring — www.lawdork.com/p/trump-told... — and that has become all the more clear since. It should be noted, however, that aspects of this plan — particularly as to third-country removal — have largely been successful
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Sociopathy is nothing more than the relentless prodding of norms to see which are weak, and then exploiting that weakness.
The Martin Niemöller "First They Came" concept is fundamentally true of authoritarian governance, but the order of operations is always subject to change.
The Martin Niemöller "First They Came" concept is fundamentally true of authoritarian governance, but the order of operations is always subject to change.
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Sociopathy is nothing more than the relentless prodding of norms to see which are weak, and then exploiting that weakness.
The Martin Niemöller "First They Came" concept is fundamentally true of authoritarian governance, but the order of operations is always subject to change.
The Martin Niemöller "First They Came" concept is fundamentally true of authoritarian governance, but the order of operations is always subject to change.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
People breathe a sigh of relief that the judiciary is holding, but it's just a lesson that the confederates need to degrade it more in order to completely destroy America, the country that refused to bow to them. They did the same thing with the civil service. They learn.
It's hard to know exactly what will happen now, given how unprecedented this is. But Trump and Miller envisioned this as a test of their ability to spread fear of lawless state terror. For now, the lower courts are admirably defending the rule of law. 5/5
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 7:46 PM
People breathe a sigh of relief that the judiciary is holding, but it's just a lesson that the confederates need to degrade it more in order to completely destroy America, the country that refused to bow to them. They did the same thing with the civil service. They learn.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Courts are derailing the Trump/Miller scheme to unlawfully disappear people who are inconvenient to them—which could be any of us. Important reading. #NoFascistUSA
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Courts are derailing the Trump/Miller scheme to unlawfully disappear people who are inconvenient to them—which could be any of us. Important reading. #NoFascistUSA
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Read this whole thread, and Greg's whole piece. Flagrant and malicious abuses of power indeed. Kudos to Judge Xinis for being wise and firm.
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Read this whole thread, and Greg's whole piece. Flagrant and malicious abuses of power indeed. Kudos to Judge Xinis for being wise and firm.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Excellent thread, valuable distinction of the various actions (and inactions) that were not only unlawful, but intentionally cruel.
The point about refusing to send him to Costa Rica is patent and decisive just on its own.
The point about refusing to send him to Costa Rica is patent and decisive just on its own.
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Excellent thread, valuable distinction of the various actions (and inactions) that were not only unlawful, but intentionally cruel.
The point about refusing to send him to Costa Rica is patent and decisive just on its own.
The point about refusing to send him to Costa Rica is patent and decisive just on its own.
Reposted by Greg Sargent
Another great @gregsargent.bsky.social thread on efforts to #FreeKilmar. The admin's plan to persecute Kilmar, and in process, to arrogate power, and to vitiate judicial guardrails has backfired. My only addition would be to say "For now, the lower courts *AND KILMAR* are admirably...."
It's hard to know exactly what will happen now, given how unprecedented this is. But Trump and Miller envisioned this as a test of their ability to spread fear of lawless state terror. For now, the lower courts are admirably defending the rule of law. 5/5
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Another great @gregsargent.bsky.social thread on efforts to #FreeKilmar. The admin's plan to persecute Kilmar, and in process, to arrogate power, and to vitiate judicial guardrails has backfired. My only addition would be to say "For now, the lower courts *AND KILMAR* are admirably...."
Trump and Stephen Miller are going to transform Kilmar Abrego Garcia into a civil rights icon if they keep going at this rate
Another great @gregsargent.bsky.social thread on efforts to #FreeKilmar. The admin's plan to persecute Kilmar, and in process, to arrogate power, and to vitiate judicial guardrails has backfired. My only addition would be to say "For now, the lower courts *AND KILMAR* are admirably...."
It's hard to know exactly what will happen now, given how unprecedented this is. But Trump and Miller envisioned this as a test of their ability to spread fear of lawless state terror. For now, the lower courts are admirably defending the rule of law. 5/5
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Trump and Stephen Miller are going to transform Kilmar Abrego Garcia into a civil rights icon if they keep going at this rate
Reposted by Greg Sargent
It was bad to begin with, but they keep doubling down on their reprehensible conduct.
There's ample evidence that Trump/Miller saw Abrego Garcia as a test for the broader MAGA project. Miller hopes to carve out power for Trump to remove people with zero legal constraints. JD Vance's dishonesty has been reprehensible. It all now looks even worse. 4/
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
December 12, 2025 at 6:06 PM
It was bad to begin with, but they keep doubling down on their reprehensible conduct.