Radley Balko
@radleybalko.bsky.social
Journalist. Quattrone Center journalism fellow.
Author: Rise of the Warrior Cop.
Co-author: The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist.
New podcast: Collateral Damage
Substack: radleybalko.substack.com
Signal: radleybalko.52
Author: Rise of the Warrior Cop.
Co-author: The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist.
New podcast: Collateral Damage
Substack: radleybalko.substack.com
Signal: radleybalko.52
Reposted by Radley Balko
November 25, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Radley Balko
Did, uh, anyone notice that when Carville claims in his NYT piece that “defund the police” was bad that the link takes you to an Appeal story about why ”fund the police“ was bad? Any editors, perhaps?
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Did, uh, anyone notice that when Carville claims in his NYT piece that “defund the police” was bad that the link takes you to an Appeal story about why ”fund the police“ was bad? Any editors, perhaps?
If you asked everyone in the country, “Quick, name two charismatic people with a much needed perspective who have been shut out of The Discourse,” Prince Andrew and Martin Shkreli would get more votes than these two.
"elevate charismatic figures such as Alan Dershowitz"
-____________-
-____________-
November 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
If you asked everyone in the country, “Quick, name two charismatic people with a much needed perspective who have been shut out of The Discourse,” Prince Andrew and Martin Shkreli would get more votes than these two.
ICE arrests, detains British woman with US husband and newborn when she shows up for her green card interview. She’s now in a detention center, separated from her 6-month-old. No criminal record. She had overstayed her visa.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
British mum detained by ICE agents in California as six-month old baby and stunned husband watch on | LBC
Katie Paul, 33, was in the process of applying for a green card when she was ambushed by immigration agents
www.lbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM
ICE arrests, detains British woman with US husband and newborn when she shows up for her green card interview. She’s now in a detention center, separated from her 6-month-old. No criminal record. She had overstayed her visa.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/brit...
Reposted by Radley Balko
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Trump Admin planning a rule to re-decide whether *every* refugee who entered under Biden meets their criteria for a refugee. That’s 230,000 people! And no appeals!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Reposted by Radley Balko
You're not supposed to say that part, Rep Salazar. It's just supposed to be implied.
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 25, 2025 at 1:28 AM
You're not supposed to say that part, Rep Salazar. It's just supposed to be implied.
I was told recently that the FBI and DC Metro PD take academy cadets to the Holocaust Museum to punctuate the danger of mindlessly following illegal and immoral orders.
Be curious to know what other agencies do this — and if they’re still doing it.
Be curious to know what other agencies do this — and if they’re still doing it.
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I was told recently that the FBI and DC Metro PD take academy cadets to the Holocaust Museum to punctuate the danger of mindlessly following illegal and immoral orders.
Be curious to know what other agencies do this — and if they’re still doing it.
Be curious to know what other agencies do this — and if they’re still doing it.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Radley Balko
We really do have two different kinds of law now: District Court law (aka the law), and Supreme Court "law" (aka the U.S. House of Lords upholding Trump's personalist regime)
I don’t know what the Supreme Court will do, but I am confident that at the District Court level it is still the case that the Pentagon cannot recall a sitting US Senator to active duty in order to court martial him for something he said. Article 1, Section 6, among other constitutional provisions.
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
We really do have two different kinds of law now: District Court law (aka the law), and Supreme Court "law" (aka the U.S. House of Lords upholding Trump's personalist regime)
Reposted by Radley Balko
Here's wishing them all coal in their stockings and a well funded primary opponent
These 20 House Democrats just joined Republicans in voting to fully repeal DC's police reform laws.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Here's wishing them all coal in their stockings and a well funded primary opponent
Again, every elected Democrat needs to put out a video stating exactly what Kelly and the others said. If ever there were a line to draw in the sand, it’s here. The military is not the president’s Praetorian Guard.
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Again, every elected Democrat needs to put out a video stating exactly what Kelly and the others said. If ever there were a line to draw in the sand, it’s here. The military is not the president’s Praetorian Guard.
Reposted by Radley Balko
The TN-07 congressional election between Rep. Aftyn Behn and Matt Van Epps is defying gerrymandered expectations, with some polls calling it a 6-point race. Matthew Klein from @cookpolitical.com joins us to share his outside analysis as we head towards Election Day Dec. 2:
Why This Nashville Congressional Election is Getting National Attention - City Cast Nashville
Last week, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District from “Strong Republican” to “Likely Republican.” Matt...
nashville.citycast.fm
November 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The TN-07 congressional election between Rep. Aftyn Behn and Matt Van Epps is defying gerrymandered expectations, with some polls calling it a 6-point race. Matthew Klein from @cookpolitical.com joins us to share his outside analysis as we head towards Election Day Dec. 2:
Reposted by Radley Balko
I talked to Aftyn Behn, who's making a race of a U.S. House seat in and around Nashville that Trump won by 22 points.
Her big proposed bill in the state legislature would have ended grocery taxes in Tennessee and paid for it by stopping corporate tax avoidance. Perfect for the political moment.
Her big proposed bill in the state legislature would have ended grocery taxes in Tennessee and paid for it by stopping corporate tax avoidance. Perfect for the political moment.
Aftyn Behn: Running for Congress in deep red Tennessee
Aftyn Behn is trying to flip a seat Donald Trump won by 22 points in a December special election. Grocery bills and corporate taxes dominate.
prospect.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I talked to Aftyn Behn, who's making a race of a U.S. House seat in and around Nashville that Trump won by 22 points.
Her big proposed bill in the state legislature would have ended grocery taxes in Tennessee and paid for it by stopping corporate tax avoidance. Perfect for the political moment.
Her big proposed bill in the state legislature would have ended grocery taxes in Tennessee and paid for it by stopping corporate tax avoidance. Perfect for the political moment.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Sen. Mark Kelly has released a statement.
"If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies..."
"If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies..."
November 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sen. Mark Kelly has released a statement.
"If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies..."
"If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. I've given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies..."
Every Democrat in Congress should put out a video saying troops have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders. Make them prosecute all of you. This isn't a close call.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Every Democrat in Congress should put out a video saying troops have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders. Make them prosecute all of you. This isn't a close call.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
Reposted by Radley Balko
apparently they get 6 months
18 U.S. Code § 3288 - Indictments and information dismissed after period of limitations
www.law.cornell.edu
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
apparently they get 6 months
Doesn't dismissing "without prejudice" when the statute of limitations has expired practically mean with prejudice? Or does the government get a do-over?
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Doesn't dismissing "without prejudice" when the statute of limitations has expired practically mean with prejudice? Or does the government get a do-over?
Reposted by Radley Balko
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
November 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Hegseth responded to Kelly telling the military not to obey illegal orders by . . . illegally ordering the military to investigate Kelly.
apnews.com/article/pent...
apnews.com/article/pent...
Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for video urging troops to defy 'illegal orders'
The Pentagon says that it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona for possible breaches of military law after Kelly joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for U.S. t...
apnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Hegseth responded to Kelly telling the military not to obey illegal orders by . . . illegally ordering the military to investigate Kelly.
apnews.com/article/pent...
apnews.com/article/pent...
Reposted by Radley Balko
Queue the ‘Streisand Effect’ so the American people become even more knowledgable about the law concerning ‘Illegal Military Orders’ and the oath taken to uphold The Constitution.
BREAKING: The Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for possible military law violations after he joined a video urging U.S. troops to refuse "illegal orders."
Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for video urging troops to defy 'illegal orders'
The Pentagon says that it is investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona for possible breaches of military law after Kelly joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Queue the ‘Streisand Effect’ so the American people become even more knowledgable about the law concerning ‘Illegal Military Orders’ and the oath taken to uphold The Constitution.
Elon's "Rosebud" is posting. His deepest desire is for everyone to tell him what a hilarious and clever poster he is. The problem is that he isn't funny. And it kills him.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Elon's "Rosebud" is posting. His deepest desire is for everyone to tell him what a hilarious and clever poster he is. The problem is that he isn't funny. And it kills him.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
Reposted by Radley Balko
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
A Disabled Child’s Mom Reported Him Missing. He Was Locked Away by Federal Immigration Authorities for 48 Days.
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old who has an intellectual disability, walked away from his mom’s fruit stand in October. Houston Police called ICE.
thebarbedwire.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...