Melissa Stewart
@lissajostewart.bsky.social
Civil Rights Lawyer | Drag is not a crime | 🏳🌈 | [email protected] | Memphis | they/she
Pinned
The rebound woke is hitting like a cigarette on a winter night on the back porch of the drag bar
I had no idea how much TikTok was influencing me to spend money until I left TikTok. Like goddamn.
December 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I had no idea how much TikTok was influencing me to spend money until I left TikTok. Like goddamn.
“Longstanding principle”
You mean the explicit text of the Constitution
You mean the explicit text of the Constitution
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration. n.pr/48E1oko
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in birthright citizenship challenge
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration.
n.pr
December 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
“Longstanding principle”
You mean the explicit text of the Constitution
You mean the explicit text of the Constitution
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
The hot hate of a burning sun.
December 6, 2025 at 9:38 PM
The hot hate of a burning sun.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Prouder than ever of my Minneapolis roots.
In South Minneapolis, Minnesota, nearly two dozen neighbors confronted and surrounded ICE goons after rapid-response alerts were issued. The goons were questioning an East African man when the situation escalated, and they eventually left the area without making any arrests.
December 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Prouder than ever of my Minneapolis roots.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
I remember being asked by judges, “How could lawyers have known to raise that argument when we didn’t rule on that statute until date x?”
“Statutes are effective when passed by the legislature & signed by the governor. They don’t need to be acknowledged by a court to be law.”
“Statutes are effective when passed by the legislature & signed by the governor. They don’t need to be acknowledged by a court to be law.”
*1868
They're citing the date of Kim Wong Ark but it should be the 14th Amendment itself. The Court didn't create it and that's not a nit-picky distinction here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
They're citing the date of Kim Wong Ark but it should be the 14th Amendment itself. The Court didn't create it and that's not a nit-picky distinction here.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/u...
December 6, 2025 at 2:36 AM
I remember being asked by judges, “How could lawyers have known to raise that argument when we didn’t rule on that statute until date x?”
“Statutes are effective when passed by the legislature & signed by the governor. They don’t need to be acknowledged by a court to be law.”
“Statutes are effective when passed by the legislature & signed by the governor. They don’t need to be acknowledged by a court to be law.”
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
you couldn't waterboard this from me
I decided that you lack the spirit to be worth further engagement, so I had the conversation w/ Gemini 3 Pro, instead.
You can see it here: gemini.google.com/share/34668f...
They hide reasoning chains in public share URLs, so attaching a few screenshots to show ya.
Best of luck, Kathryn! <3
You can see it here: gemini.google.com/share/34668f...
They hide reasoning chains in public share URLs, so attaching a few screenshots to show ya.
Best of luck, Kathryn! <3
December 5, 2025 at 11:10 PM
you couldn't waterboard this from me
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
This is the funniest fucking thing I have ever seen.
I decided that you lack the spirit to be worth further engagement, so I had the conversation w/ Gemini 3 Pro, instead.
You can see it here: gemini.google.com/share/34668f...
They hide reasoning chains in public share URLs, so attaching a few screenshots to show ya.
Best of luck, Kathryn! <3
You can see it here: gemini.google.com/share/34668f...
They hide reasoning chains in public share URLs, so attaching a few screenshots to show ya.
Best of luck, Kathryn! <3
December 5, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This is the funniest fucking thing I have ever seen.
Cold weather requires extra spicy Tteokbokki
December 6, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Cold weather requires extra spicy Tteokbokki
Cold weather requires extra spicy Tteokbokki
December 6, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Cold weather requires extra spicy Tteokbokki
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
No no no don’t read this just go to Costco and pick from the 7 different kinds of Dubai chocolate! The only thing you should ever think of when you hear of the UAE is Dubai chocolate ♥️
There we go. Sudan. Yemen. Somaliland. UAE's doing stuff all over right now.
An armed group backed by the United Arab Emirates has pushed into Yemen's oil-rich province of Hadramout. The military offensive was a significant escalation of its push to create an independent country and could reignite a civil war that has settled into a stalemate. Here's what to know.
December 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
No no no don’t read this just go to Costco and pick from the 7 different kinds of Dubai chocolate! The only thing you should ever think of when you hear of the UAE is Dubai chocolate ♥️
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Glad to see this reporting.
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Glad to see this reporting.
Oh hell yeah
We're proud to announce our newest endorsement: @melatkirosco.bsky.social in #CO01!
A barista & renter—who lost her job as a lawyer for defending pro-Palestine protests—Melat knows Denver's struggles because she's lived them.
#CO01 needs a leader powered by courage, not corporations.
A barista & renter—who lost her job as a lawyer for defending pro-Palestine protests—Melat knows Denver's struggles because she's lived them.
#CO01 needs a leader powered by courage, not corporations.
December 5, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Oh hell yeah
Holy hell the statement makes it so much worse
This is the first time Pantone has chosen a shade of white. The company says it's "a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection." n.pr/4rDF0jv
You read that white: Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year is 'Cloud Dancer'
This is the first time Pantone has chosen a shade of white. The company says it's "a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection."
n.pr
December 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Holy hell the statement makes it so much worse
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
just an utter joke of a court.
December 4, 2025 at 11:22 PM
just an utter joke of a court.
If you murder someone because you’re afraid to lose your job, that’s still murder.
In those military organizations, respect for the Chain of Command is sacrosanct. If you want to keep your job, you do as your told. This concept of “disobeying illegal orders” is an utopia. Especially when the Commander-in-Chief was told by SCOTUS that he cannot be found to have acted criminally.
December 5, 2025 at 1:28 AM
If you murder someone because you’re afraid to lose your job, that’s still murder.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
Sorry, but the Adolf Eichmann Theory of Law doesn’t fly with me.
There are other options other than murdering people in cold blood in violation of the law.
There are other options other than murdering people in cold blood in violation of the law.
In those military organizations, respect for the Chain of Command is sacrosanct. If you want to keep your job, you do as your told. This concept of “disobeying illegal orders” is an utopia. Especially when the Commander-in-Chief was told by SCOTUS that he cannot be found to have acted criminally.
December 5, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Sorry, but the Adolf Eichmann Theory of Law doesn’t fly with me.
There are other options other than murdering people in cold blood in violation of the law.
There are other options other than murdering people in cold blood in violation of the law.
The standard of review is for suckers
The Supreme Court majority has decided that they are the fact-finders, and the facts are what they want them to be, and quite frankly if District Courts disagree, they can pound sand because they're not the ones in charge.
They're right about the last part. But the damage they're doing is longterm.
They're right about the last part. But the damage they're doing is longterm.
December 5, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The standard of review is for suckers
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
The Supreme Court majority has decided that they are the fact-finders, and the facts are what they want them to be, and quite frankly if District Courts disagree, they can pound sand because they're not the ones in charge.
They're right about the last part. But the damage they're doing is longterm.
They're right about the last part. But the damage they're doing is longterm.
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The Supreme Court majority has decided that they are the fact-finders, and the facts are what they want them to be, and quite frankly if District Courts disagree, they can pound sand because they're not the ones in charge.
They're right about the last part. But the damage they're doing is longterm.
They're right about the last part. But the damage they're doing is longterm.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.*”
* Some restrictions may apply. See shadow docket for details.
* Some restrictions may apply. See shadow docket for details.
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
BREAKING: Supreme Court GRANTS Texas request to restore redistricting maps
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 1:11 AM
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.*”
* Some restrictions may apply. See shadow docket for details.
* Some restrictions may apply. See shadow docket for details.
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
What's changed is that the Court has become more transparent in its corruption. There's not even an argument here beyond the implicit one which is: how do you expect us to hold the House without those seats?
December 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
What's changed is that the Court has become more transparent in its corruption. There's not even an argument here beyond the implicit one which is: how do you expect us to hold the House without those seats?
Reposted by Melissa Stewart
If the Supreme Court pulled something like this while FDR was president, he would have had them escorted out of the building and nailed the doors shut. When the Dems take power, they should consider that.
This ruling only temporarily lets Texas use its new gerrymander for 2026, but by 2028, SCOTUS may have gutted the Voting Rights Act & the Texas GOP may have re-gerrymandered the map *again*, making it moot.
This SCOTUS has repeatedly let the GOP use illegal gerrymanders for at least one election
This SCOTUS has repeatedly let the GOP use illegal gerrymanders for at least one election
December 4, 2025 at 11:58 PM
If the Supreme Court pulled something like this while FDR was president, he would have had them escorted out of the building and nailed the doors shut. When the Dems take power, they should consider that.
*taps the sign*
Gerrymander 💃 Your 🕺 States 💃
December 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
*taps the sign*
Any Presidential or congressional candidate not running on court packing simply should not be taken seriously.
BREAKING: Supreme Court allows new Texas congressional map to be used in 2026. The Dem appointees dissent in the racial gerrymandering case.
Also: An "administrative stay" at the D.C. Circuit means National Guard can remain deployed in DC for now.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
Also: An "administrative stay" at the D.C. Circuit means National Guard can remain deployed in DC for now.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
Breaking: Supreme Court allows new Texas congressional map to be used in 2026
The Dem appointees dissent in the racial gerrymandering case. Also: An "administrative stay" means National Guard can remain deployed in DC for now. And: More on Cox v. Sony.
www.lawdork.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Any Presidential or congressional candidate not running on court packing simply should not be taken seriously.
I get immense satisfaction watching GOP women who expected to be the exception to their party’s raging misogyny discover in real time that misogynists do not make exceptions.
A member of the House Republican caucus said this.
Oh. So things are BAD bad.
Oh. So things are BAD bad.
December 4, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I get immense satisfaction watching GOP women who expected to be the exception to their party’s raging misogyny discover in real time that misogynists do not make exceptions.