@bobbourque.bsky.social
I’ve been a lawyer and a scientist, but not in that order
Reposted
Serious answer. If part of the U.S. govt takes possession of money/property from Venezuela and hands it to Donald Trump, that is an appropriation to Donald Trump and must be authorized by law as well.
If a check/gift goes directly to Donald Trump, it's a bribe/emolument.
bsky.app/profile/toom...
If a check/gift goes directly to Donald Trump, it's a bribe/emolument.
bsky.app/profile/toom...
I think the idea is that this money never gets to the Treasury.
January 7, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Serious answer. If part of the U.S. govt takes possession of money/property from Venezuela and hands it to Donald Trump, that is an appropriation to Donald Trump and must be authorized by law as well.
If a check/gift goes directly to Donald Trump, it's a bribe/emolument.
bsky.app/profile/toom...
If a check/gift goes directly to Donald Trump, it's a bribe/emolument.
bsky.app/profile/toom...
This is … well … just mind-boggling
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 6, 2026 at 9:17 PM
This is … well … just mind-boggling
Reposted
INBOX: Statement from Senator Kelly
January 5, 2026 at 4:40 PM
INBOX: Statement from Senator Kelly
Reposted
You know what’s weak & stupid? Dragging us into another costly endless war that puts our troops & innocent civilians in harm’s way.
Strong leaders have moral clarity & use power responsibly. Weak men like Trump make other peoples’ kids fight in their unnecessary, illegal wars.
Strong leaders have moral clarity & use power responsibly. Weak men like Trump make other peoples’ kids fight in their unnecessary, illegal wars.
FOX & FRIENDS: Rep. Jim McGovern is saying you did not get authorization from Congress and that you just launched an 'unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela.' Your reaction?
TRUMP: These are weak, stupid people
TRUMP: These are weak, stupid people
January 4, 2026 at 12:15 AM
You know what’s weak & stupid? Dragging us into another costly endless war that puts our troops & innocent civilians in harm’s way.
Strong leaders have moral clarity & use power responsibly. Weak men like Trump make other peoples’ kids fight in their unnecessary, illegal wars.
Strong leaders have moral clarity & use power responsibly. Weak men like Trump make other peoples’ kids fight in their unnecessary, illegal wars.
Reposted
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
January 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
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an “inherent power” to respond to an “imminent” attack is just a license for aggressive war on the president’s whim
How does launching air strikes and a commando raid fall under the remit of self defense for an arrest operation
January 3, 2026 at 12:39 PM
an “inherent power” to respond to an “imminent” attack is just a license for aggressive war on the president’s whim
This 👇🏻
“The biggest disappointment of 2025 may well have been not what Trump did but how so many let it happen.” @sbg1.bsky.social reviews the year in politics.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/7co9Uv
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/7co9Uv
January 1, 2026 at 1:19 PM
This 👇🏻
Yet another example of the unscrupulous, uncaring, unethical tactics of this regime
December 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Yet another example of the unscrupulous, uncaring, unethical tactics of this regime
Reposted
In the briefing yesterday, the Admin didn't even pretend the strikes were designed to stop the fentanyl trade to the U.S.. Of course - because Venezuela produces no fentanyl.
They transport cocaine - bound for...wait for it...Europe.
So this is The War On European Cocaine.
They transport cocaine - bound for...wait for it...Europe.
So this is The War On European Cocaine.
December 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In the briefing yesterday, the Admin didn't even pretend the strikes were designed to stop the fentanyl trade to the U.S.. Of course - because Venezuela produces no fentanyl.
They transport cocaine - bound for...wait for it...Europe.
So this is The War On European Cocaine.
They transport cocaine - bound for...wait for it...Europe.
So this is The War On European Cocaine.
Reposted
As luck has it, I'm writing about Grant's Attorney General Amos Akerman, who said that Reconstruction required a firm hand with lawbreakers.
"It is the business of a judge to terrify evil men, not to coax them.”
"It is the business of a judge to terrify evil men, not to coax them.”
Maybe federal judges will realize it's time to stop dicking around and time to start throwing people in jail themselves.
April 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
As luck has it, I'm writing about Grant's Attorney General Amos Akerman, who said that Reconstruction required a firm hand with lawbreakers.
"It is the business of a judge to terrify evil men, not to coax them.”
"It is the business of a judge to terrify evil men, not to coax them.”
Reposted
I invented a new phone to help save time in the morning
April 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I invented a new phone to help save time in the morning
Reposted
CARNEY: “.. we have to prepare for America’s threats to our very sovereignty. They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country.” 🇨🇦
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
April 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
CARNEY: “.. we have to prepare for America’s threats to our very sovereignty. They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country.” 🇨🇦
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
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My adult daughter Rachel works everyday, pays taxes, loves going to movies with her friends, and listens to awful (IMO) music.
Our U.S. Dept HHS has lost all of its humanity, compassion, and intellectual curiosity
Our U.S. Dept HHS has lost all of its humanity, compassion, and intellectual curiosity
April 17, 2025 at 11:22 AM
My adult daughter Rachel works everyday, pays taxes, loves going to movies with her friends, and listens to awful (IMO) music.
Our U.S. Dept HHS has lost all of its humanity, compassion, and intellectual curiosity
Our U.S. Dept HHS has lost all of its humanity, compassion, and intellectual curiosity
Reposted
This, from the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
April 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This, from the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
This is grotesque
We've reached the point where Republicans are flying to El Salvador to visit one of the most vicious prisons in the world to have photo ops so they can prove their loyalty to the President of the United States.
April 16, 2025 at 6:52 PM
This is grotesque
Astonishing is a good way to describe it
The Justice Department states that it cannot “forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation” and strongly suggests that it cannot—and will not—do anything further to bring Abrego Garcia back home.
An astonishing filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
An astonishing filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 14, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Astonishing is a good way to describe it
Reposted
The Justice Department states that it cannot “forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation” and strongly suggests that it cannot—and will not—do anything further to bring Abrego Garcia back home.
An astonishing filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
An astonishing filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The Justice Department states that it cannot “forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation” and strongly suggests that it cannot—and will not—do anything further to bring Abrego Garcia back home.
An astonishing filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
An astonishing filing: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Come on NY Times. Courts don’t “urge.” Courts order. There is a court ORDER that the Administration is flagrantly violating by pretending that it can’t do anything to get him back in the US.
April 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Come on NY Times. Courts don’t “urge.” Courts order. There is a court ORDER that the Administration is flagrantly violating by pretending that it can’t do anything to get him back in the US.
Amen
Any Democratic politician who doesn't understand Nayib Bukele's grave offense against the sovereignty of the American people and constitutional order and say as much publicly should have no future in elected office. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/bukel...
Bukele’s Offense Against the American People
Here’s how I look at today’s White House spectacle. I don’t really...
talkingpointsmemo.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Amen
Reposted
Harvard squarely standing up to the Trump. Its lawyers to the regime: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
April 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Harvard squarely standing up to the Trump. Its lawyers to the regime: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted
The president is conducting a press event with the primary purpose of flouting the decisions of the courts and the letter and spirit of U.S. law. It is a press event to celebrate the Constitutional crisis and serial violation of human rights he has set in motion.
COLLINS: Can President Bukele weigh in on this? Do you plan to return Garcia?
BUKELE: How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course I'm not going to do it. The question is preposterous
TRUMP: These are sick people
BUKELE: How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course I'm not going to do it. The question is preposterous
TRUMP: These are sick people
April 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The president is conducting a press event with the primary purpose of flouting the decisions of the courts and the letter and spirit of U.S. law. It is a press event to celebrate the Constitutional crisis and serial violation of human rights he has set in motion.
Reposted
Exiling people beyond the protection of US law without due process is not only unconstitutional, it's a rejection of the entire American revolutionary project. Sending people "beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences" is one of the grievances enumerated in the Declaration of Independence.
UPDATE: Trump seems to say for the first time that U.S. lacks ability to recover those sent to El Salvador if government deports someone erroneously. Says it’s totally up to Bukele. Seems to leave out that he could … ask Bukele to help fix an error. www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
April 13, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Exiling people beyond the protection of US law without due process is not only unconstitutional, it's a rejection of the entire American revolutionary project. Sending people "beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences" is one of the grievances enumerated in the Declaration of Independence.
Good thread
What’s this new executive order directing the Department of Defense to take over huge amounts of public land on the border? Simple: it’s yet another abuse of emergency powers—this one seemingly designed to make an end-run around the Posse Comitatus Act. 1/17 www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM/NSPM-4 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR THE
www.whitehouse.gov
April 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Good thread
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My writeup of Öztürk's declaration (filed yesterday) for @cambridgeday.bsky.social: www.cambridgeday.com/2025/04/11/i...
In her own words, Tufts grad student Öztürk describes her capture and federal detention - Cambridge Day
Rumeysa Ozturk’s attorneys filed new briefing for the federal district court in Vermont’s 5 p.m. deadline Thursday, including her own recounting of her capture and subsequent captivity.
www.cambridgeday.com
April 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
My writeup of Öztürk's declaration (filed yesterday) for @cambridgeday.bsky.social: www.cambridgeday.com/2025/04/11/i...
LOL!
Approach each day with the childlike wonder of a New York Times reporter reading a new press release from a demented 30-something right-wing basement blogger wholly devoted to the reversal of civil rights
April 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
LOL!