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Robert Richards

Robert Richards

@rrichard09.bsky.social

2.9K followers 8.4K following 480 posts

I study how people talk about politics and law and participate in governing their communities. Opinions expressed here are mine alone, not those of my employers or institutions.
https://rcrjr.wordpress.com

Political science 19%

Environmental science 17%

more

Posts Replies Media Videos

Robert Richards @rrichard09.bsky.social · 4h

I’m so sorry for your loss. Much comfort to you and your family

Reposted by Richard Price, Robert C. Richards, Mary L. Dudziak

Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 6h

Here's a short piece I wrote to explain to smart laypersons what the birthright citizenship clause is for and why it's in the Fourteenth Amendment. Excerpted from my forthcoming book. Ungated:

History Shows Why Birthright Citizenship is so Important

The 14th Amendment aimed to overturn restrictive state laws while making the Constitution more inclusive.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Lisa W. Fazio, Steve Peers , and 3 more Anna O. Law, Lisa W. Fazio, Steve Peers, Daniel W. Drezner, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 6h

During ratification of the 14th Amendment, senators discussed whether the Citizenship Clause would apply to the children of immigrants and resoundingly concluded that it did. The text and history all point in one direction and the counter-arguments are patently fraudulent. I am going to lose my mind

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 7h

The evidence is the text. All you have to do is read the Constitution.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Trevon D. Logan , and 3 more Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Trevon D. Logan, Robert C. Richards, Stephen A. Meserve, Nathan P. Kalmoe

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 7h

bad actors like wurman are why i think it is important to place the birthright clause in the full context of section 1 and section 1 in the context of both dred scott and the two decades of antislavery and abolitionist agitation and political thinking that proceeded it

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 7h

The evidence is the text. All you have to do is read the Constitution.

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Robert C. Richards

Julie Cohen ❌👑 @filmmakerjulie.bsky.social · 7h

Early morning prayer service at Delaney Hall ICE Detention, Newark. This mom of detainee Carlos David - picked up by ICE this week buying supplies at Home Depot - movingly came forward to thank those speaking out against the injustice which has now come for her family.

Tearful woman with hand at her heart speaks to woman with a guitar in front of the gates of a detention center.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Robert Black , and 3 more Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Robert Black, Maya Sen, Robert C. Richards, Stephen A. Meserve

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 7h

The evidence is the text. All you have to do is read the Constitution.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Lynda Lopez @lyndab08.bsky.social · 7h

“It’s a crime to be a Latino right now in New Orleans,” he said. “I can be arrested just because of my face.”

In New Orleans, a sanctuary city's policies are being tested in a state that supports immigration enforcement

Louisiana’s top officials welcome federal immigration enforcement efforts, even as officials in the state’s largest city have expressed an unwillingness to aid them.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 12h

For policymakers, lawmakers, commentators and the public:

We provide a detailed review of the international law relevant to lethal operations against suspected drug boats

I teamed up with @mikeschmitt.bsky.social and @tessbridgeman.bsky.social

Operation Southern Spear: Why the Crews, Drugs, and Boats are Not Targetable

A deep dive on the international law applicable to the U.S. military's lethal operations against suspected drug boats

www.justsecurity.org

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 14h

There are several academics, not Anthony, who jumped into this research area AFTER Trump issued his EO on birthright, had never/rarely written in the area. For what ends? To try to create a constitutional controversy where there is none. Framers' intent, text, doctrinal development are clear.

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone who knows this history should know there’s no contested issue.

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, Colm O’Cinneíde , and 3 more Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, Colm O’Cinneíde, Christina Pagel, Aidan O’Sullivan, Dunlap

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 1d

"Bradley told lawmakers that the orders he received from Hegseth were to kill the individuals on the approved target list, which included everyone on the boat, then destroy the drugs and sink the boat, those sources said."

They were civilians.

Admiral told lawmakers everyone on alleged drug boat was on a list of military targets

Adm. Frank Bradley said U.S. intelligence had identified the 11 people on the boat and determined the military was authorized to kill them as part of Trump’s campaign against alleged drug-smuggling ve...

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 1d

Notably, the judge rules that the government likely violated Richman's Fourth Amendment rights by digging around through his data as part of the effort to build a case against Comey

The Court concludes that Petitioner Richman is likely to succeed on the merits of his claim
that the Government has violated his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and
seizures by retaining a complete copy of all files on his personal computer (an “image” of the

computer) and searching that image without a warrant. See United States v. Comey, No. 1:25-CR-
272-MSN-WEF, 2025 WL 3202693, at *4–7 (E.D. Va. Nov. 17, 2025). The Court further

concludes that Petitioner Richman is also likely to succeed in showing that, because of those
violations, he is entitled to the return of the image under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g).
Petitioner Richman has also shown that, absent an injunction, he will be irreparably harmed
by the ongoing violation of his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizures arising
from the Government’s continuing retention of the image of his computer and related materials.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

mspwhistles.bsky.social @mspwhistles.bsky.social · 1d

We’ve reached the point in this crisis where comrades from out of state are shipping us packages of thousands of whistles to distribute.

Know that when we win here- we’ll return that favor for the next city. Just as Chicago has taught us.

We are all in this together.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Butterflies Katz ⓥ @butterflieskatz.bsky.social · 1d

North Carolina-based graffiti artist JEKS ONE is known for his hyper-realistic portraiture & mastery of spray paint.

(Check comments for a different view of how this mural looks on the street).

#StreetArt #murals #WallMural #mural #art #artist

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Ed Belongia MD @belongia.bsky.social · 1d

Must-read review of the CDC ACIP meeting by @doritreiss.bsky.social 👇

"These people make decisions that impact people’s lives. Given that, the members’ lack of expertise, incompetence, and blatant anti-vaccine biases were dismaying"

www.statnews.com/2025/12/06/a... via @statnews.com

RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisory panel is beset by incompetence, bias, and procedural chaos

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) meetings used to be a geek’s dream: hours of long, maybe dreary presentation of extensive data

www.statnews.com

Jonathan Lemire @jonlemire.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Joe R. Feagin, Trevon D. Logan , and 1 more Anna O. Law, Joe R. Feagin, Trevon D. Logan, Robert C. Richards

Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 1d

It's the 160th anniversary of the United States' refounding, the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Richard E. Lenski, Joe R. Feagin , and 11 more Anna O. Law, Richard E. Lenski, Joe R. Feagin, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Eric Goldman, Ryan Enos, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Nazita Lajevardi, Scott A. Imberman, Michael D. McDonald, Christina Pagel, David Darmofal

Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 1d

“Traumatized, humiliated, degraded.”

The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.

It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.

Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

Exclusive: Woman detained by feds in Keys says she was following agents’ orders

“This is not the America that I grew up in, and this is not the America that we represent.”

www.miamiherald.com

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Robert C. Richards, Timothy D. McBride

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 1d

It happened again: The Trump administration has admitted illegally deporting a man to Guatemala despite an immigration judge's order that he was likely to be tortured there.

A judge has ordered the administration to facilitate his return by next week.storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Amy Cooter, Ph.D. @amycooter.bsky.social · 2d

So nice to have @noellecook.com's book out in the world! It's a helpful contribution to understanding white women's involvement not just in Jan 6th but also in radicalization more broadly. I was lucky to see this project as it was first coalescing, and I'm excited for other people to see it now, too

The Conspiracists by Noelle Cook

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Senator Angela Alsobrooks @alsobrooks.senate.gov · 2d

I joined the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership for a discussion about housing in our state.

No matter where I go – everyone is concerned about affordable housing.

That's why I'm working to make home ownership a reality for more Marylanders and to lower the cost of rent.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2d

A man pardoned by Trump for his role in the Jan. 6Capitol attack returned to Washington in recent days and has been wandering the neighborhood of Rep. Jamie Raskin — alarming police and prosecutors, who urged a judge to immediately jail him. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

Justice Department urges judge to jail former Jan. 6 defendant after alarming return to DC

Taylor Taranto is the latest Jan. 6 defendant who was pardoned by Trump to face new legal trouble.

www.politico.com

Reposted by Andreas Ortmann, Ian Campbell, Robert C. Richards , and 1 more Andreas Ortmann, Ian Campbell, Robert C. Richards, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 2d

Vanity Fair to part ways with journalist Olivia Nuzzi

Exclusive | Vanity Fair to Part Ways With Journalist Olivia Nuzzi

Nuzzi’s contract with Vanity Fair expires at year-end, following new allegations and revelations about her conduct while she reported on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller , and 4 more Kim L. Scheppele, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Gerald Friedman, Mary L. Dudziak, Michael Jones‐Correa, Élisabeth Vallet

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 2d

NEW info on shipwreck attack. It gets worse.

The 2 survivors climbed atop wreckage and waved to overhead.

"Some of the people viewing the video thought ... could have been an attempt to surrender"

Others "said the most logical explanation was ... signaling for a rescue."

1/

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: cert. was just granted in our @democracydefendersfund.org case to defend birthright citizenship

We and our wonderful coalition incl. ACLU, LULAC & more have won at every level & we have a strong case at SCOTUS as well

We are fighting for the babies, their parents--& the Constitution!

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Don’t Post About Crimes @katerosebee.bsky.social · 2d

We did it! Hosted another Flock camera community discussion in my rural WA town, and the sheriff came to confirm they won’t be renewing the contract or considering them again.
This is why I believe so strongly in neighbor-run town halls, especially trying it before ex: a lawsuit or ballot measure.

A community center with folding chairs, a table and laptop with projector in front of a screen that reads “Gorge under surveillance.” Someone is about to give a presentation to a local audience.

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Anne Cronin @annecronin.bsky.social · 2d

Robert F. Kennedy Jr's hand-picked vaccine panel is about to vote to stop giving the hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns. @jessicanix.bsky.social digs into one piece of evidence presented and how an expert witness saw things in the chart many others wouldn't >
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Taking a Harder Look at Data Presented to RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel

Chart shows sharp drop in hepatitis B cases after the universal birth dose was introduced.

www.bloomberg.com

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Jess Davis @jessmarindavis.bsky.social · 2d

While this reporting is interesting, a comparative piece looking at flight to gold versus crypto would be super useful. One of the only real use cases for crypto (and specifically stablecoins) is exactly this scenario.

apnews.com/article/iran...

Iranians seek portable wealth as hedge against falling currency after Israel war

Iranians are turning to gold as a trusted hedge against inflation, sanctions and a weakening rial currency.

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Robert C. Richards

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 3d

Alito on the first point he finds “decisive”: “the impetus for the adoption of the Texas map…was partisan advantage plain & simple.”

Red herring. Everyone concedes this.

Kagan with the actual dispositive question: “did TX accomplish its partisan objectives by means of a racial gerrymander?”

Reposted by Robert C. Richards

Harry Litman @harrylitman.bsky.social · 3d

Kagan: Court “announces that Texas may run next year’s elections with a map the District Court found to have violated all our oft-repeated strictures about the use of race in districting. Today’s order,” she continued, “disrespects the work of a District Cour that did everything one could ask..."

Reposted by Steve Peers, Robert C. Richards

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 3d

JUST IN: Statement from Abbe Lowell, defense counsel for Letitia James, on Virginia grand jury’s refusal to re-indict the NY Attorney General on mortgage fraud charges:

"The grand jury's refusal to re-indict Attorney General James is a decisive rejection of a case that should never have existed in the first place. A federal court threw this case out after President Trump illegally installed a U.S. Attorney to file baseless charges against Attorney General James that career prosecutors refused to bring. This should be the end of this case. If they continue, undeterred by a court ruling and a grand jury's rejection of the charges, it will be a shocking assault on the rule of law and a devastating blow to the integrity of our justice system.