Andrew Raff
@andrewraff.com
Renaissance man, privacy, copyright, in-house law-talking guy, saxamaphonist, bicycle pilot
Reposted by Andrew Raff
The government failed at actually redacting the Epstein files because DOGE cancelled the feds adobe acrobat premium subscription is the funniest shit.
December 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The government failed at actually redacting the Epstein files because DOGE cancelled the feds adobe acrobat premium subscription is the funniest shit.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
When you're grumpy because three annoying ghosts kept you up all night.
December 25, 2025 at 9:34 AM
When you're grumpy because three annoying ghosts kept you up all night.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Thanks for sharing this document, @rweingarten.bsky.social.
I read it, and I believe it's inexcusably inadequate and will not prepare teachers or schools to confront the very real dangers of the "A.i." products pushed by your partners, including OpenAI.
A few thoughts for your consideration...
I read it, and I believe it's inexcusably inadequate and will not prepare teachers or schools to confront the very real dangers of the "A.i." products pushed by your partners, including OpenAI.
A few thoughts for your consideration...
Read about Commonsense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in Schools aiinstruction.org/sites/defaul...
aiinstruction.org
December 24, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Thanks for sharing this document, @rweingarten.bsky.social.
I read it, and I believe it's inexcusably inadequate and will not prepare teachers or schools to confront the very real dangers of the "A.i." products pushed by your partners, including OpenAI.
A few thoughts for your consideration...
I read it, and I believe it's inexcusably inadequate and will not prepare teachers or schools to confront the very real dangers of the "A.i." products pushed by your partners, including OpenAI.
A few thoughts for your consideration...
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Big ups to Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social who flagged this argument that SCOTUS relied on (that regular forces refer to military forces, not federal law enforcement).
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
![The Government asked this Court to stay the District Court's order. After the response and reply were filed, JUSTICE BARRETT referred the application to the Court. We directed the parties to file supplemental letter briefs on an issue that the District Court had addressed but the parties' initial briefs had not: the meaning of the term "regular forces" in §12406(3). In its supplemental brief, the Government argues that the term refers to civilian law enforcement officers, such as those employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Federal Protective Service.
Respondents, echoing the District Court, maintain that the term refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary.
We conclude that the term "regular forces" in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under §12406(3), the President must be "unable" with the regular military "to execute the laws of the United States." Because the statute requires an assessment of the military's ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from "execut[ing] the laws" "except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress."
18 U. S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be "unable" with those forces to perform that function.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreiftbhzwvn3vgwhqsi7k2paizvdw4t26ailljvovso3chqupnmj364@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Big ups to Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social who flagged this argument that SCOTUS relied on (that regular forces refer to military forces, not federal law enforcement).
Reposted by Andrew Raff
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
Great piece on the Trump administration's use of CECOT from 60 Minutes in Canada archive.org/details/60mi...
Pulled 60 Minutes segment on CECOT : CBS : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
This is a screen recording of a 60 Minutes segment about the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison in El Salvador, which was intended to be...
archive.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Great piece on the Trump administration's use of CECOT from 60 Minutes in Canada archive.org/details/60mi...
Reposted by Andrew Raff
to Bari (verb): To attempt to bury a damaging political story—only to amplify it massively by drawing attention to the act of censorship itself.
Example:
“They tried to Bari the segment, but it got Streisanded and everyone watched it twice.”
Example:
“They tried to Bari the segment, but it got Streisanded and everyone watched it twice.”
December 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
to Bari (verb): To attempt to bury a damaging political story—only to amplify it massively by drawing attention to the act of censorship itself.
Example:
“They tried to Bari the segment, but it got Streisanded and everyone watched it twice.”
Example:
“They tried to Bari the segment, but it got Streisanded and everyone watched it twice.”
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Pantone just updated their Color Of The Year
December 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Pantone just updated their Color Of The Year
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Calling it now:
The word of the year for 2026 is going to be "Bates number."
The word of the year for 2026 is going to be "Bates number."
Here's a better view of the now-deleted photo showing Trump with Epstein and Trump with a group of young girls.
The photo was originally posted as item EFTA00000468 but was later deleted. Now the 'official' list simply jumps from EFTA00000467 to EFTA00000469.
The photo was originally posted as item EFTA00000468 but was later deleted. Now the 'official' list simply jumps from EFTA00000467 to EFTA00000469.
December 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Calling it now:
The word of the year for 2026 is going to be "Bates number."
The word of the year for 2026 is going to be "Bates number."
Reposted by Andrew Raff
the people who made the Epstein gmail simulator did it again, but this time with the photos www.jmail.world/photos
December 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
the people who made the Epstein gmail simulator did it again, but this time with the photos www.jmail.world/photos
Reposted by Andrew Raff
It was such a joy to celebrate Hanukkah with Mandy, Kathryn and their son, Gideon. As Jewish New Yorkers across our city prepare to light candles and mark the seventh night today, I wish you and your families a Hanukkah full of light and love.
youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng
youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng
Happy Hanukkah
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
youtu.be
December 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM
It was such a joy to celebrate Hanukkah with Mandy, Kathryn and their son, Gideon. As Jewish New Yorkers across our city prepare to light candles and mark the seventh night today, I wish you and your families a Hanukkah full of light and love.
youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng
youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng
Reposted by Andrew Raff
It's so embarassing to see so-called progressives like @amyklobuchar.com and @senpeterwelch.govpeeps.us on this list.
Blowing up Section 230 would be devastating for abortion access
www.wired.com/story/sectio...
It would harm LGBTQ communities
www.teenvogue.com/story/some-d...
Blowing up Section 230 would be devastating for abortion access
www.wired.com/story/sectio...
It would harm LGBTQ communities
www.teenvogue.com/story/some-d...
Section 230 Is a Last Line of Defense for Abortion Speech Online
Dobbs should be a wake-up call for anyone seeking to undercut the immunity protections afforded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
www.wired.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:40 PM
It's so embarassing to see so-called progressives like @amyklobuchar.com and @senpeterwelch.govpeeps.us on this list.
Blowing up Section 230 would be devastating for abortion access
www.wired.com/story/sectio...
It would harm LGBTQ communities
www.teenvogue.com/story/some-d...
Blowing up Section 230 would be devastating for abortion access
www.wired.com/story/sectio...
It would harm LGBTQ communities
www.teenvogue.com/story/some-d...
Reposted by Andrew Raff
From this point on, I'm forced to assume that every elected politician who does not immediately call for Trump's impeachment is in the Epstein files. Sorry. Just cutting the Gordian knot here, as one does during societal collapse.
December 20, 2025 at 12:05 AM
From this point on, I'm forced to assume that every elected politician who does not immediately call for Trump's impeachment is in the Epstein files. Sorry. Just cutting the Gordian knot here, as one does during societal collapse.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
This studio awards-season email is really matching the current mood in a way I’m not sure they intended.
December 19, 2025 at 11:36 PM
This studio awards-season email is really matching the current mood in a way I’m not sure they intended.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
I wrote about Trump’s ballroom and the right’s quest to remake the symbolic order for @nyreviewofarch.bsky.social nyra.nyc/articles/wre...
Wrecking Ballroom
Trump is tearing down the White House. Good riddance.
nyra.nyc
December 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I wrote about Trump’s ballroom and the right’s quest to remake the symbolic order for @nyreviewofarch.bsky.social nyra.nyc/articles/wre...
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Powerful stuff.
Watch Rep. Sarah McBride's Powerful Statement on Republicans' Anti-Trans Obsession
The first openly trans member of Congress made a rare, personal appeal as the GOP wages an all-out assault on trans youth.
www.readtpa.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Powerful stuff.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
I’m at the combination Pizza Hut and Kennedy Center.
December 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I’m at the combination Pizza Hut and Kennedy Center.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
The U.S. is giving dying mall vibes.
I can't explain it, but you know I'm right.
I can't explain it, but you know I'm right.
December 17, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The U.S. is giving dying mall vibes.
I can't explain it, but you know I'm right.
I can't explain it, but you know I'm right.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
There is no national security logic that would impel the US to want to do regime change in Venezuela. It's simply not that important. I'm not even sure wag the dog is the right metaphor for what's happening here. Seems like an insane misallocation of US national security assets and attention.
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Apropos to a post I'm not going to quote: no, you are not fucking obliged to battle the fucking right on fucking social media, or go to where they are. Why make yourself miserable shouting at bots (who don't care) or trolls (who get off on your misery). Make your fucking social media enjoyable, FFS.
December 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Apropos to a post I'm not going to quote: no, you are not fucking obliged to battle the fucking right on fucking social media, or go to where they are. Why make yourself miserable shouting at bots (who don't care) or trolls (who get off on your misery). Make your fucking social media enjoyable, FFS.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Wrote about how the late, great Rob Reiner had the most impossible 7-movie beginning to any director's career, and yet that's not even what he was most famous for:
December 15, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Wrote about how the late, great Rob Reiner had the most impossible 7-movie beginning to any director's career, and yet that's not even what he was most famous for:
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Rob Reiner was a true patriot, a champion of democracy who understood the risks we face and strove to ensure that future generations of Americans would live in a free country. May his memory be a blessing.
December 15, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Rob Reiner was a true patriot, a champion of democracy who understood the risks we face and strove to ensure that future generations of Americans would live in a free country. May his memory be a blessing.
Reposted by Andrew Raff
Rob Reiner was one of the key people behind the effort to go to court to overturn California's anti-marriage equality Proposition 8 when it passed in 2008.
Working with Chad Griffin, they founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights and got Ted Olson and David Boies to team up to fight Prop 8.
Working with Chad Griffin, they founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights and got Ted Olson and David Boies to team up to fight Prop 8.
December 15, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Rob Reiner was one of the key people behind the effort to go to court to overturn California's anti-marriage equality Proposition 8 when it passed in 2008.
Working with Chad Griffin, they founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights and got Ted Olson and David Boies to team up to fight Prop 8.
Working with Chad Griffin, they founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights and got Ted Olson and David Boies to team up to fight Prop 8.