Manoj Mate
@manojmate.bsky.social
Prof @ University at Buffalo School of Law. Con Law, Election Law, Comparative Con Law. Posts and opinions my own.
Bad Bunny halftime show offered a much needed message about unity and love after a year full of hate.
February 9, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Bad Bunny halftime show offered a much needed message about unity and love after a year full of hate.
Bad Bunny: The only thing more powerful than hate is love.
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Bad Bunny: The only thing more powerful than hate is love.
The Bills would have at least scored in the first half.
February 9, 2026 at 1:16 AM
The Bills would have at least scored in the first half.
Reposted by Manoj Mate
they performed American Idiot
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
A rocking start to the Super Bowl.
pagesix.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:33 AM
they performed American Idiot
Reposted by Manoj Mate
three things are true:
1. Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States
2. People born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States
3. US citizens who live in Puerto Rico have fewer rights than other U.S. citizens b/c the Supreme Court of the United States said so
bsky.app/profile/wash...
1. Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States
2. People born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States
3. US citizens who live in Puerto Rico have fewer rights than other U.S. citizens b/c the Supreme Court of the United States said so
bsky.app/profile/wash...
The Super Bowl halftime show, with Bad Bunny showcasing Latin music before a global television audience expected to top 100 million, will illustrate the nation’s immigration divide whether or not the reggaeton star delivers an explicit political message.
The enthusiasm — and scorn — surrounding Bad Bunny’s star turn at the Super Bowl
The halftime show will illustrate the nation’s immigration divide whether or not the reggaeton star makes an explicit message about Trump’s deportation drive.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:38 PM
three things are true:
1. Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States
2. People born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States
3. US citizens who live in Puerto Rico have fewer rights than other U.S. citizens b/c the Supreme Court of the United States said so
bsky.app/profile/wash...
1. Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States
2. People born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States
3. US citizens who live in Puerto Rico have fewer rights than other U.S. citizens b/c the Supreme Court of the United States said so
bsky.app/profile/wash...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
2️⃣ And in Texas, the Democratic-endorsed candidate easily won the mayoral race in Leander, a suburb of Austin.
(Trump narrowly carried the city in 2024.)
(Trump narrowly carried the city in 2024.)
Late result for anyone still awake: Na’Cole Thompson, the Democratic candidate in the mayoral race today in Leander, Texas, has won the election.
She got 57% and won’t need a runoff, with two Republicans adding up to 43%.
She got 57% and won’t need a runoff, with two Republicans adding up to 43%.
February 8, 2026 at 3:52 PM
2️⃣ And in Texas, the Democratic-endorsed candidate easily won the mayoral race in Leander, a suburb of Austin.
(Trump narrowly carried the city in 2024.)
(Trump narrowly carried the city in 2024.)
Reposted by Manoj Mate
There were two elections I was watching yesterday—and both ended up as clear Democratic wins.
Let's recap for those who weren't glued on here last night.
1️⃣ In Louisiana, Dems very easily held a seat that had gone for Trump by 13 percentage points in 2024.
Let's recap for those who weren't glued on here last night.
1️⃣ In Louisiana, Dems very easily held a seat that had gone for Trump by 13 percentage points in 2024.
RESULT: Democrat Chasity Martinez wins a special election for a legislative seat in Louisiana, 62% to 38%.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
February 8, 2026 at 3:28 PM
There were two elections I was watching yesterday—and both ended up as clear Democratic wins.
Let's recap for those who weren't glued on here last night.
1️⃣ In Louisiana, Dems very easily held a seat that had gone for Trump by 13 percentage points in 2024.
Let's recap for those who weren't glued on here last night.
1️⃣ In Louisiana, Dems very easily held a seat that had gone for Trump by 13 percentage points in 2024.
Reposted by Manoj Mate
“Late Friday night, the Fifth Circuit adopted the extreme minority view—that the government can indefinitely detain without bond millions of non-citizens who have been here for generations; who have never committed a crime; and who pose neither a risk of flight nor any threat to public safety.”
208. The Fifth Circuit Jumps the Immigration Detention Shark
Late Friday, two of the nation's most right-wing circuit judges adopted an odious legal claim that district court judges from across the country (and ideological spectrum) have overwhelmingly rejected
www.stevevladeck.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:34 PM
“Late Friday night, the Fifth Circuit adopted the extreme minority view—that the government can indefinitely detain without bond millions of non-citizens who have been here for generations; who have never committed a crime; and who pose neither a risk of flight nor any threat to public safety.”
Reposted by Manoj Mate
This is overriding a ballot initiative approved by voters.
BREAKING: The Nebraska Legislature has approved a bill lowering Nebraska’s minimum wage from $15 an hour to $13.50 for young workers, and slowing down minimum wage increases for others.
February 7, 2026 at 3:19 AM
This is overriding a ballot initiative approved by voters.
Reposted by Manoj Mate
Regardless of one’s feeling about it, such a public response to a political leader is news, and deliberately failing to mention it is self-censorship. It’s like if reporters agreed not to report on the man who threw a shoe at George Bush. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
NBC appears to cut crowd’s booing of JD Vance from Winter Olympics broadcast
The US vice-president, JD Vance, was greeted by a chorus of boos during when he appeared at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Regardless of one’s feeling about it, such a public response to a political leader is news, and deliberately failing to mention it is self-censorship. It’s like if reporters agreed not to report on the man who threw a shoe at George Bush. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
The United States government is retaliating against 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his family for having the temerity to challenge their unlawful detention with a habeas petition.
That’s retaliation. This is Kilmar Ábrego García all over again. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
That’s retaliation. This is Kilmar Ábrego García all over again. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:52 PM
The United States government is retaliating against 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his family for having the temerity to challenge their unlawful detention with a habeas petition.
That’s retaliation. This is Kilmar Ábrego García all over again. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
That’s retaliation. This is Kilmar Ábrego García all over again. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
@wyden.senate.gov's record of warning that there is deep and constitutionally-serious dirt being done by the intelligence agencies in secret is unblemished. The vaguer he is, the filthier the dirt is. This is the vaguest I've ever seen him
Ron Wyden Only Talks Like This When The Spies Do Something *Real* Bad
No, I don't know what they did. But I have a lot of experience with the senator
www.forever-wars.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:10 PM
@wyden.senate.gov's record of warning that there is deep and constitutionally-serious dirt being done by the intelligence agencies in secret is unblemished. The vaguer he is, the filthier the dirt is. This is the vaguest I've ever seen him
"The Trump administration finalized a new policy on Thursday that would strip job protections from up to 50,000 federal workers, a move that would make it easier for President Trump to remove or discipline them,in his latest effort to dismantle the federal work force"
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
Trump Strips Job Protections From Thousands of Federal Workers
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:56 PM
"The Trump administration finalized a new policy on Thursday that would strip job protections from up to 50,000 federal workers, a move that would make it easier for President Trump to remove or discipline them,in his latest effort to dismantle the federal work force"
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
🚨HOLY CRAP. The Trump admin just took a SLEDGEHAMMER to due process, largely eliminating the Board of Immigration Appeals process and MANDATING DISMISSAL of ALL appeals (which cost $1,000 thanks to OBBBA) filed after tomorrow unless a majority of the BIA votes to hear the case.
February 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
🚨HOLY CRAP. The Trump admin just took a SLEDGEHAMMER to due process, largely eliminating the Board of Immigration Appeals process and MANDATING DISMISSAL of ALL appeals (which cost $1,000 thanks to OBBBA) filed after tomorrow unless a majority of the BIA votes to hear the case.
Reposted by Manoj Mate
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Reposted by Manoj Mate
Breaking: With No Noted Dissents and No Discussion, Supreme Court Allows California to Use Its Prop. 50 Congressional Redistricting Maps in 2026 electionlawblog.org?p=154139
Breaking: With No Noted Dissents and No Discussion, Supreme Court Allows California to Use Its Prop. 50 Congressional Redistricting Maps in 2026 #ELB
The entire order of the Court reads: “The application for writ of injunction pending appealpresented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied.” I am happy but not surprised with thi...
electionlawblog.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Breaking: With No Noted Dissents and No Discussion, Supreme Court Allows California to Use Its Prop. 50 Congressional Redistricting Maps in 2026 electionlawblog.org?p=154139
Reposted by Manoj Mate
NEW: A rupture between DOJ and ICE has emerged in Minnesota, where overwhelmed prosecutors keep dropping the ball — and saying ICE won't return their messages.
The crisis has had real-world consequences for migrants illegally detained
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
The crisis has had real-world consequences for migrants illegally detained
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 4, 2026 at 8:27 PM
NEW: A rupture between DOJ and ICE has emerged in Minnesota, where overwhelmed prosecutors keep dropping the ball — and saying ICE won't return their messages.
The crisis has had real-world consequences for migrants illegally detained
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
The crisis has had real-world consequences for migrants illegally detained
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Breaking: SCOTUS denies application for writ of injunction in Tangipa v. Newsom, declining to block California's congressional map.
Link to order here:
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
thehill.com/regulation/c...
Link to order here:
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
thehill.com/regulation/c...
thehill.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Breaking: SCOTUS denies application for writ of injunction in Tangipa v. Newsom, declining to block California's congressional map.
Link to order here:
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
thehill.com/regulation/c...
Link to order here:
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
thehill.com/regulation/c...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
This is nothing. It reduces the force to 2300. There are still as many DHS agents as police officers in the ten largest metro areas in the Twin Cities. (Minneapolis has 600 officers for comparison). There were around 150 DHS officers before Metro Surge.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Border czar Tom Homan says 700 ICE and CBP officers are leaving Minneapolis
The reduction is a significant scale back of the Department of Homeland Security’s presence in Minnesota and comes after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:18 PM
This is nothing. It reduces the force to 2300. There are still as many DHS agents as police officers in the ten largest metro areas in the Twin Cities. (Minneapolis has 600 officers for comparison). There were around 150 DHS officers before Metro Surge.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
Some good news: A little girl from the same Minneapolis-area school district as Liam Conejo Ramos was released from a Texas ICE detention facility late Tuesday.
Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a 4th grader, had been locked up there with her mom since Jan. 6. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a 4th grader, had been locked up there with her mom since Jan. 6. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Another Child From Liam Ramos’ School District Released From ICE Detention
www.huffpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Some good news: A little girl from the same Minneapolis-area school district as Liam Conejo Ramos was released from a Texas ICE detention facility late Tuesday.
Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a 4th grader, had been locked up there with her mom since Jan. 6. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a 4th grader, had been locked up there with her mom since Jan. 6. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
Private payrolls rose by just 22,000 in January, far short of expectations, ADP says
www.cnbc.com/2026/02/04/a...
www.cnbc.com/2026/02/04/a...
Private payrolls rose by just 22,000 in January, far short of expectations, ADP says
The U.S. labor market barely budged in January, with hiring below even muted expectations.
www.cnbc.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Private payrolls rose by just 22,000 in January, far short of expectations, ADP says
www.cnbc.com/2026/02/04/a...
www.cnbc.com/2026/02/04/a...
Reposted by Manoj Mate
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Manoj Mate
MacKenzie Scott should publicly offer to buy Washington Post
February 4, 2026 at 3:24 PM
MacKenzie Scott should publicly offer to buy Washington Post
Reposted by Manoj Mate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 2:54 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
Reposted by Manoj Mate
The guy who owns Amazon shutting down the books section of the Washington Post is beyond parody
WaPo also closing Books section and downsizing International and Metro sections
February 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM
The guy who owns Amazon shutting down the books section of the Washington Post is beyond parody