Josh Chafetz
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joshchafetz.bsky.social
Josh Chafetz
@joshchafetz.bsky.social
Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Law and Politics, Georgetown Law: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/josh-chafetz/

Author, most recently, of _Congress's Constitution_: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300248333/congresss-constitution/
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Hi new followers!

If you happen to be interested in the separation of powers, Congress, government shutdowns, contempt of Congress, the filibuster, and more, have I got the book for you! yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
Congress's Constitution
A leading scholar of Congress and the Constitution analyzes Congress’s surprisingly potent set of tools in the system of checks and balances. Congress is w...
yalebooks.yale.edu
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Update:

As of today, February 13th, there are still NO Dem-aligned candidates for the 3 Georgia State Supreme Court elections on May 19th.

The filing deadline is March 6th.

So why aren't any challengers filing?

See next post in the thread for a possible explanation...
Shortly after the much-discussed Wisconsin State Supreme Court election on April 7th will be *3* Georgia State Supreme Court elections on MAY 19TH.

All 3 seats are held by GOP-appointed Justices.

We need Dem-aligned candidates to run and win in these nonpartisan races to send a midterm message.
February 13, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Oh I LOVE that Georgetown Law just issued a gigantic fuck-you to the forces of fascism by naming Liz Magill as their new dean.
a woman is sitting at a table with her hands folded in front of her .
ALT: a woman is sitting at a table with her hands folded in front of her .
media.tenor.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:35 PM
this looks like more than "trying" to set a fire tbh
KMBC: "A woman tried to set a fire at a South Kansas City warehouse that had been rumored as a possible ICE detention center. Earlier today, the company that owns the property confirmed it is no longer moving forward with a sale to the U.S. government."
February 13, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
polls don't really support this. people really loathe the gestapo murdering people in the streets. 1
US voters would be cheering fascism if Trump had delivered $3-per-pound ground beef.

That should fucking haunt us all.
February 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
This book absolutely rules. Feels like I'm taking a college course on Congress when I'm reading it.
Hi new followers!

If you happen to be interested in the separation of powers, Congress, government shutdowns, contempt of Congress, the filibuster, and more, have I got the book for you! yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
Congress's Constitution
A leading scholar of Congress and the Constitution analyzes Congress’s surprisingly potent set of tools in the system of checks and balances. Congress is w...
yalebooks.yale.edu
February 13, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
CBO significantly raised its projections of the interest rate the government pays on its debt. This is a key driver of debt/gdp sustainability.

It also means higher interest rates on credit card debt, auto loans, mortgages, etc. And it means higher prices, since business investments cost more.
February 13, 2026 at 3:51 PM
On our first date, my spouse and I spent like an hour talking about footnotes.
What better way to say "I love you" than with the Chicago Manual of Style
February 13, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Holy moly: Seattle’s millionaire tax, passed last year, is expected to bring in $115 million in its 1st year, way more than the $50 million anticipated.

The funds will go to the city’s new social housing developer publicola.com/2026/02/11/t...

(Is NY Gov Hochul paying attention?)
Seattle’s millionaire tax is a huge success. Here is how grassroots groups beat big money and are now raising tons of money for mixed income, rent stabilized housing. (We call it “social housing.”)

www.tiktok.com/t/ZP89WjsvH/
Seattle’s millionaire tax is a wild success. #taxtherich @House Our Neighbors: Yes on 1A @Tech 4 Housing
TikTok video by Ron Davis
www.tiktok.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Hi new followers!

If you happen to be interested in the separation of powers, Congress, government shutdowns, contempt of Congress, the filibuster, and more, have I got the book for you! yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
Congress's Constitution
A leading scholar of Congress and the Constitution analyzes Congress’s surprisingly potent set of tools in the system of checks and balances. Congress is w...
yalebooks.yale.edu
February 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
In terms of what cures are being lost:

- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
🚨 BREAKING: In a big win for voters, the Virginia Supreme Court said the state could hold a special election on Democratic lawmakers’ redistricting plan aimed at countering Trump’s GOP gerrymanders nationwide.

Virginians will get the chance to vote on the measure on April 21.
In victory for Democrats, Virginia Supreme Court says redistricting vote can go forward
Voters will get to decide on a proposed “10-1” map that could deliver four more Democratic seats in Congress.
www.democracydocket.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
New Foreword up on SSRN, previewing new projects on the history of constitutional history and what it can teach about legal frameworks at the heart of our "constitutional crisis"-federal Indian law, territorial law, expansion, immigration, and executive power. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 13, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Hello Josh, There is an issue with our references that we are actively working on fixing. This was not intentional and it will be fixed as soon as possible. I apologize for the inconvenience!
February 13, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Hey @ssrn.bsky.social: why have you stripped the publication information from articles posted on your site?
February 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Good news, in these times...

We’re less than 151 people away from reaching 1,000 new members since Jeff Bezos’ gutting of The Washington Post.

Join today to help us reach this milestone and build a people-powered newsroom for D.C. 🤝
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 12, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
The White House is making a lot of strategic mistakes lately — my theory is that none of them have a good understanding of the electoral conditions right now because they're all just trying to perform their loyalty to Trump for followers on X and Fox News
Whoa. Two vulnerable House Rs in Michigan have still not commented on Trump's threat to block Detroit-Windsor bridge, per Michigan Advance.

Trump/MAGA miscalculated badly, assuming people would thrill to this idiocy because it hurts Canada and a state that didn't vote for Trump (see my piece below)
February 12, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Good indicator of how far the needle has moved. You’ll never hear the heads of the Park Police or the Postal Inspection Service saying this.
Homan: "ICE is a legitimate federal law enforcement agency. We're not out scouring the streets to disappear people or deny people their civil rights or due process."
February 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
It me.

Swipe for democracy!
February 11, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
New poll: In 2024, low-engagement voters went for Trump over Harris by 11 percentage points. But now they disapprove of the way he's handling the presidency by 13. They have moved 25 points against Trump — 2x as large as the shift for high-knowledge voters www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-lost...
Trump has lost the voters who weren’t paying attention in 2024
The least-engaged Americans have swung 25 points against him since 2024 — about twice the shift among everyone else. Trump has flattened the engagement gap.
www.gelliottmorris.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
This whole AI "video" of the Supreme Court justices reading their opinions is totally unnecessary. John Oliver solved this problem years ago. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9p...
Supreme Court Dogs: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Why is it called the Stanley Tucci Collection at Williams Sonoma when Panley Tucci was right there?
February 12, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
PASSED: the House just passed the resolution to end Trump's tariffs on Canada.

Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.

Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
February 11, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Five years ago, when Twitter could still be good
February 11, 2026 at 7:44 PM