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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 10h

That judges—by the dozen—would even vent to the press like this indicates the gravity of the shadow docket crisis. Judges ordinarily speak through their opinions. They do not complain to the press. They’ve calculated that speaking out better defends rule of law than silence—a startling calculation.

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 19h

More judges speak to the press (the NYT) about what a disaster the Supreme Court (specifically the shadow docket) has been - “incredibly demoralizing & troubling”; a “judicial crisis”; a “slap in the face to district courts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 17h

I have never seen a video of an undocumented immigrant U-turning to strike a vehicle and then kidnapping the vehicle’s driver. ICE’s “cure” is much worse than the supposed malady it purports to address.

jen sometimes aph 🌻 @bunnibytz.bsky.social · 18h

via @youranonnews.bsky.social

CHICAGO: Trump's lawless goons (ICE) make a U-turn and smash into a woman's car, then proceed to arrest her by dragging her out of the vehicle.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 17h

The Court seems to believe that being at war with its own lower courts by issuing unreasoned rulings is advisable. I am of the view that an endless parade of circular journeys up and down different tiers of review is only going to paralyze the entire judicial branch of government.

John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 18h

She was also released without charges—as good as indication as any of ICE’s confidence that it could prove its version of events beyond a reasonable doubt.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 19h

Unreasoned opinions are impossible to follow in any case presenting even slightly different facts from the case decided. Further, a Supreme Court at war with its lower courts will impair its own effectiveness and, by extension, the entire judiciary.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 20h

No one should believe a word ICE or DHS says. Their statements are regularly contradicted by video evidence.

CJ Ciaramella @cjciaramella.bsky.social · 1d

UPDATE: In emailed statement to me / @reason.com, DHS alleges that WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman "threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer."

Screencap of email from DHS public affairs: Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin:

“U.S. Border Patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers. In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a U.S. citizen, threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.

“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

I am willing to wager that an undocumented immigrant has never tackled this woman and handcuffed her. So who is the real threat to her life, person, and freedom?

Heartland Signal @heartlandsignal.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Masked Border Patrol agents aggressively arrested WGN video producer Debbie Brockman in Lincoln Square Friday morning, supposedly for "obstructing justice." (Video via Josh Thomas on Facebook)

Follow @heartlandsignal for more.

John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

Lincoln wrote this letter only 10 months after losing his own son, Willie, which affected him deeply. I find consolation, whenever I grieve anyone, in knowing that this grief is just part of the journey to my loved one becoming “a sad sweet feeling in my heart.” Thank you for the kind comment. 3/3

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

“I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once. The memory of your dear Father, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer and holier sort than you have known before.” Letter to Fanny McCullough. 2/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

Abraham Lincoln once wrote on grief: “Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now.” 1/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

In some ways, a world where we could all award ourselves Nobel peace prizes would be a lot of fun, I must confess.

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Reposted by John McKenzie

jen sometimes aph 🌻 @bunnibytz.bsky.social · 1d

ht: @nocontextmr.bsky.social

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

You knew William was a real one when he went bald like a boss—no treatments or surgery, just a dignified acceptance. Rhian Mannings is an inspiration. One of my best friends took his own life 2 weeks ago. I’m very sad about it, but there’s no judgment. I forgive him, I forgive myself, and I love him

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 2d

Expectations for lawful behavior were already lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut before these indictments. But it’s still worth expressing outrage. You don’t have to be a boiled frog. You can say the water should never have gotten this hot, and we should cool it down now. 2/2

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 2d

The Comey and James indictments are absolutely outrageous. A special prosecutor charged Trump at the federal level—not Biden. Obama didn’t charge anyone. Neither did Bush. Alberto Gonzales resigned in disgrace for the politicized firing of US attorneys—child’s play compared to these indictments. 1/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

Of course the Dems will never pass a budget unless it is conditioned on re-hiring those workers.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 4d

We're now hearing threats about withholding post-shutdown pay. They first threatened widespread new firings? So why hasn't that happened. As I noted last week despite all the threats none of the firing machinery had actually been started up. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dont-...

Don’t Believe the Hype: Trump Bum-Rushing DC Reporters Edition

News comes today that Russ Vought is now threatening not to pay...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

Miller’s real grievance is with founding-era Supreme Court Justice John Marshall’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison, and the unbroken chain of precedent that has followed it since.

Raffi Melkonian @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social · 5d

Not that you need this to know, but Miller is completely insane.

Matthew Stiegler @matthewstiegler.bsky.social · 5d

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Stephen Miller: "It's simply a factually accurate statement that when a judge assumes for him- or herself the powers that have been relegated or delegated by the Constitution to the president, that that is a form of illegal insurrection." ...

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

I remember when Biden’s Deputy Chief of Staff made similar posts after losing the student debt relief case.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 6d

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Reposted by John McKenzie

David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 10d

ICE lied about the person it shot, claiming he was a "criminal," but NBC finds that he had no criminal history whatsoever. Not even traffic tickets in 12 years! It also lied about the extent of the injuries to its agents....

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 8d

Firing good prosecutors is a good way to gut the efficacy of the prosecutors’ office in securing convictions.

Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 8d

More turmoil in the US attorney's office that brought the Comey indictment at Trump's explicit demand. Two longtime prosecutors who had risen to leadership positions in the Virginia office were fired in recent days, Salvador Rizzo reports. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Firings and resignations roil U.S. attorney’s office prosecuting Comey

Four people have been forced out of leadership roles in the U.S. attorney’s Eastern District of Virginia office that secured an indictment against James B. Comey.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by John McKenzie

NBC News @nbcnews.com · 11d

Over a two-year period, prosecutors across 16 states charged more than 400 people with pregnancy-related crimes, with most of the charges originating in states with near or total abortion bans, according to a new report released Tuesday.

New study finds more than 400 pregnancy-related prosecutions after Roe's fall

Most of the cases involved allegations of substance use during pregnancy, a nonprofit legal group found.

www.nbcnews.com

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Cato Institute @cato.org · 12d

President Trump’s new order to “counter political violence” is really a mandate to police speech. Protected advocacy becomes “radicalization.” Criticism becomes “justifying violence.”

This is an attack on the First Amendment, not on political violence, argues @walterolson.bsky.social:

President Trump Plans To Investigate and "Disrupt" Opposition Speech

A new executive order signals the White House’s intent to use law enforcement to investigate and disrupt networks and organizations Donald Trump and allies consider responsible for encouraging political...

www.cato.org

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 12d

I work in Alexandria and live in Bethesda. In my long commute, I have never seen a supportive yard sign. Ever.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 14d

Kennedy retired to give Donald Trump a guaranteed 5th seat, which Trump used to appoint the Kennedy-approved successor Justice Kavanaugh. What in that chain of events was calculated to preserve democracy or moderate the Court?

Mike Sacks @mikesacks.bsky.social · 14d

Justice Anthony Kennedy tells @npr.org's @ninatotenberg.bsky.social "very worried" about our country, and that "Democracy is not guaranteed to survive."

Kennedy wrote Citizens United and was the fifth vote in the rest of the Roberts Court's anti-democratic decisions.

www.npr.org/2025/09/27/n...

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 14d

While Stephen Miller claims that Democrats calling him a fascist constitutes incitement, there are hundreds of examples of Miller publicly calling Democrats fascists.

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