Michael Li (李之樸)
@mcpli.bsky.social
Senior Counsel, Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Redistricting, voting rights, elections. From Texas.
The front page of Sunday’s Minnesota Star Tribune.
January 24, 2026 at 9:42 PM
The front page of Sunday’s Minnesota Star Tribune.
In the first change since 1939, the government of Québec has removed the crown from the province’s coat of arms.
montrealgazette.com/news/provinc...
montrealgazette.com/news/provinc...
January 23, 2026 at 9:49 PM
In the first change since 1939, the government of Québec has removed the crown from the province’s coat of arms.
montrealgazette.com/news/provinc...
montrealgazette.com/news/provinc...
Thanks to a £1 billion security upgrade, passengers at Heathrow will now be able to have liquids of up to 2 litres (half a US gallon) in their carry-on bags without having to remove them.
onemileatatime.com/news/heathro...
onemileatatime.com/news/heathro...
Heathrow Airport Security Fully Scraps 100ml Liquids Rule, Setting New Record
Heathrow Airport has scrapped its 100ml liquids restriction across terminals as of January 2026. Here are all the details.
onemileatatime.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Thanks to a £1 billion security upgrade, passengers at Heathrow will now be able to have liquids of up to 2 litres (half a US gallon) in their carry-on bags without having to remove them.
onemileatatime.com/news/heathro...
onemileatatime.com/news/heathro...
The front page of Friday’s Minnesota Star Tribune
January 23, 2026 at 12:46 AM
The front page of Friday’s Minnesota Star Tribune
Israel’s four major Arab parties sign a preliminary agreement to run as a joint list in this year’s Knesset elections.
www.i24news.tv/en/news/isra...
www.i24news.tv/en/news/isra...
Israel’s Arab parties agree to run as a unified bloc ahead of upcoming elections - i24NEWS
Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al, and Balad have signed an agreement to revive the Joint List, uniting all Arab parties in the Knesset ahead of upcoming elections
www.i24news.tv
January 22, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Israel’s four major Arab parties sign a preliminary agreement to run as a joint list in this year’s Knesset elections.
www.i24news.tv/en/news/isra...
www.i24news.tv/en/news/isra...
UPDATE: Justice Kagan has ordered California to file a response to Republicans’ motion by next Thursday, January 29 at 4 pm ET.
And here is California Republicans' emergency filing at SCOTUS over the congressional map.
www.dhillonlaw.com/wp-content/u...
www.dhillonlaw.com/wp-content/u...
January 22, 2026 at 7:16 PM
UPDATE: Justice Kagan has ordered California to file a response to Republicans’ motion by next Thursday, January 29 at 4 pm ET.
I have lots of thoughts about today’s Oscar nominations, but let me just say I am thrilled to see Alabama Solution get a nod for best documentary. An extraordinary and important film.
January 22, 2026 at 2:11 PM
I have lots of thoughts about today’s Oscar nominations, but let me just say I am thrilled to see Alabama Solution get a nod for best documentary. An extraordinary and important film.
Happy Oscars Nominations Announcement Day to all who celebrate!
a man with glasses and a mustache is sitting in a crowd of people watching a live abc show
ALT: a man with glasses and a mustache is sitting in a crowd of people watching a live abc show
media.tenor.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Happy Oscars Nominations Announcement Day to all who celebrate!
The new footpath across northern England seems quite fun.
January 22, 2026 at 2:17 AM
The new footpath across northern England seems quite fun.
The next cover of the Economist with a rife on an (in)famous Putin photo.
January 22, 2026 at 12:55 AM
The next cover of the Economist with a rife on an (in)famous Putin photo.
BREAKING: A state trial court has struck down Nicole Malliotakis’ congressional district (NY-11) on state law vote dilution grounds. Orders advisory commission to adopt new map by 2/6.
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/Documen...
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/Documen...
January 21, 2026 at 11:05 PM
BREAKING: A state trial court has struck down Nicole Malliotakis’ congressional district (NY-11) on state law vote dilution grounds. Orders advisory commission to adopt new map by 2/6.
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/Documen...
iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/Documen...
This bill isn’t particularly clearly written, but just will flag that Alabama was also found to have intentionally discriminated against Black voters (a constitutional claim) & that to avoid being put back under preclearance agreed to use the current map thru 2030.
1819news.com/news/item/se...
1819news.com/news/item/se...
Senate committee passes bill allowing possible special primary…
Members of the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee passed legislation by State Sen. Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) on Tuesday that would…
1819news.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:33 PM
This bill isn’t particularly clearly written, but just will flag that Alabama was also found to have intentionally discriminated against Black voters (a constitutional claim) & that to avoid being put back under preclearance agreed to use the current map thru 2030.
1819news.com/news/item/se...
1819news.com/news/item/se...
FURTHER UPDATE: Another week and once again none of the three cases on whether the Voting Rights Act provides a private right of action were listed for the justices’ Friday conference.
Seems pretty clear they will wait to decide whether to hear those cases until after Callais.
Seems pretty clear they will wait to decide whether to hear those cases until after Callais.
UPDATE: None of the 3 private right of action cases were listed for the Friday 1/16 conference either.
None of the three cases at SCOTUS raising the question of whether the Voting Rights Act can be enforced by individual voters through a private right of action have been listed for the court’s 1/9 conference (conferences are where the justices decide if they want to hear a case).
January 21, 2026 at 7:49 PM
FURTHER UPDATE: Another week and once again none of the three cases on whether the Voting Rights Act provides a private right of action were listed for the justices’ Friday conference.
Seems pretty clear they will wait to decide whether to hear those cases until after Callais.
Seems pretty clear they will wait to decide whether to hear those cases until after Callais.
And the dénouement
January 21, 2026 at 7:45 PM
And the dénouement
Evergreen post
oh dear
January 21, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Evergreen post
NEW: GOP plaintiffs in the California redistricting case say they have filed their emergency request asking SCOTUS to temporarily block the state's new congressional map.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...
www.kcra.com/article/cali...
California GOP files emergency application with Supreme Court to challenge Proposition 50
The California Republican Party said Tuesday it had filed an emergency application at the U.S. Supreme Court in the hopes of blocking California from using newly approved congressional district maps i...
www.kcra.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:27 PM
NEW: GOP plaintiffs in the California redistricting case say they have filed their emergency request asking SCOTUS to temporarily block the state's new congressional map.
www.kcra.com/article/cali...
www.kcra.com/article/cali...
Macron in sunglasses leading on the front pages of both the FT and Guardian tomorrow.
January 20, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Macron in sunglasses leading on the front pages of both the FT and Guardian tomorrow.
Reposted by Michael Li (李之樸)
NEW: Ballot measures continue to be a tool in the fight over abortion rights this year, with some states attempting to expand rights and others looking to shore up restrictions. The latest from @maryrziegler.bsky.social:
2026 Abortion-Related Ballot Measures
Ballot measures continue to be a tool in the fight over abortion rights, with some states attempting to expand rights and others looking to shore up restrictions.
statecourtreport.org
January 20, 2026 at 10:43 PM
NEW: Ballot measures continue to be a tool in the fight over abortion rights this year, with some states attempting to expand rights and others looking to shore up restrictions. The latest from @maryrziegler.bsky.social:
Gov. Wes Moore’s advisory commission in Maryland has voted to approve a new congressional map for consideration by the legislature.
www.wbal.com/maryland-red...
www.wbal.com/maryland-red...
Maryland redistricting commission approves new congressional map amid criticism | WBAL Baltimore News
Maryland's redistricting commission approved a new congressional map to Gov. Wes Moore that could lead to Democrats taking all eight of the state's seats.
www.wbal.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Gov. Wes Moore’s advisory commission in Maryland has voted to approve a new congressional map for consideration by the legislature.
www.wbal.com/maryland-red...
www.wbal.com/maryland-red...
Reposted by Michael Li (李之樸)
A few quick takeaways from the just-concluded 100-minute argument on the constitutionality of LA and TX laws requiring the 10 Commandments to be posted in every classroom of every public school at the Fifth Circuit....
Today the en-banc Fifth Circuit considers laws requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom. Here’s my wee @economist.com preview in Espresso, our daily app
January 20, 2026 at 8:40 PM
A few quick takeaways from the just-concluded 100-minute argument on the constitutionality of LA and TX laws requiring the 10 Commandments to be posted in every classroom of every public school at the Fifth Circuit....
U.S. patent applications fell by 9% in 2025 to the lowest level since 2019.
www.ificlaims.com/news/u-s-pat...
www.ificlaims.com/news/u-s-pat...
U.S. Patent Applications Decrease Dramatically One Year After Reaching Record High, Falling 9%; 2025 U.S. Patent Grants Also Down
2025 Rankings Highlight Strong Focus on Sustainability in R&D: Half of the Patent Areas on the Top 10 Fastest Growing Technologies Relate to Batteries. Recovering Usable Material From Waste Also Figur...
www.ificlaims.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:15 PM
U.S. patent applications fell by 9% in 2025 to the lowest level since 2019.
www.ificlaims.com/news/u-s-pat...
www.ificlaims.com/news/u-s-pat...
New York’s Metropolitan Opera announces layoff and production cuts and is looking into selling its Marc Chagall murals.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/a...
Despite Drastic Financial Steps, Met Opera Turns to Layoffs and Cuts
www.nytimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:09 PM
New York’s Metropolitan Opera announces layoff and production cuts and is looking into selling its Marc Chagall murals.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/a...
No Callais decision today, but Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who plays role in the origins of Callais, makes her Senate run official.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 20, 2026 at 4:33 PM
No Callais decision today, but Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who plays role in the origins of Callais, makes her Senate run official.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
FWIW, there were 10 arguments in the October sitting, when Callais was argued. After today's opinions, the only justices who haven't written yet for that sitting are Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch.
January 20, 2026 at 3:58 PM
FWIW, there were 10 arguments in the October sitting, when Callais was argued. After today's opinions, the only justices who haven't written yet for that sitting are Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch.