Reposted by Matthew Cooke
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
This is exactly why this piece is so important. The national conversation has largely flattened the effects of the VRA -- and it's potential demise -- to which party controls Congress. There's so much more to the VRA than that, and so much more on the line
I, for one, have only really thought about the VRA through the prism of federal elections, not local elections.
But this well-reported piece reminds us that ending the VRA will have an impact on ALL levels of representative government.
Via @pascalsabino.bsky.social.
boltsmag.org/voting-right...
But this well-reported piece reminds us that ending the VRA will have an impact on ALL levels of representative government.
Via @pascalsabino.bsky.social.
boltsmag.org/voting-right...
Black Residents in West Tennessee Just Won Fairer Districts. Now Comes SCOTUS. - Bolts
The Supreme Court may further erode the Voting Rights Act in an upcoming decision. Beyond affecting Congress, that would reverberate across local governments nationwide.
boltsmag.org
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 PM
This is exactly why this piece is so important. The national conversation has largely flattened the effects of the VRA -- and it's potential demise -- to which party controls Congress. There's so much more to the VRA than that, and so much more on the line
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
My new one @slate.com with @cooke-m.bsky.social: "Republicans Are Suing to Kill California’s Pro-Democratic Gerrymander. They Have a Huge Problem." slate.com/news-and-pol...
November 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
My new one @slate.com with @cooke-m.bsky.social: "Republicans Are Suing to Kill California’s Pro-Democratic Gerrymander. They Have a Huge Problem." slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
This is almost literally what the English Civil War was fought over.
President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.
Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money
The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.
nyti.ms
October 16, 2025 at 12:17 AM
This is almost literally what the English Civil War was fought over.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Justice Kavanaugh: “If the person is a U. S. citizen or otherwise lawfully
in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.”
in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.”
September 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Justice Kavanaugh: “If the person is a U. S. citizen or otherwise lawfully
in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.”
in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.”
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
🚨NEW: For the first time in history, the single largest group of people arrested in the interior and sent to ICE detention is people with NO criminal record.
As of yesterday's data release, 40%(!) of those arrested in the interior and detained by ICE had no prior conviction or pending charges.
As of yesterday's data release, 40%(!) of those arrested in the interior and detained by ICE had no prior conviction or pending charges.
September 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🚨NEW: For the first time in history, the single largest group of people arrested in the interior and sent to ICE detention is people with NO criminal record.
As of yesterday's data release, 40%(!) of those arrested in the interior and detained by ICE had no prior conviction or pending charges.
As of yesterday's data release, 40%(!) of those arrested in the interior and detained by ICE had no prior conviction or pending charges.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
a lot of normal people just think a case happens organically but there’s so much ground to be gained by informing the public that this is how their state governments spend their tax money
South Carolina has literally gone to the Supreme Court, seeking emergency intervention from the justices, to keep one (1) boy out of the boys’ restroom in his school because he is transgender. www.lawdork.com/p/two-cases-...
Two cases, involving 20 people, show how dangerous the attack on trans people has gotten
DOJ wants to send 19 trans women to men's prisons. South Carolina wants to keep one trans boy out of the boys' restroom. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.
www.lawdork.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:30 AM
a lot of normal people just think a case happens organically but there’s so much ground to be gained by informing the public that this is how their state governments spend their tax money
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
All scientific grant funding must now be approved by a political appointee and "demonstrably advance the President's policy priorities."
I wonder where innovation will happen in the future? It won't be in the US
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
I wonder where innovation will happen in the future? It won't be in the US
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
New executive order puts all grants under political control
All new funding on hold until Trump administration can cancel any previously funded grants.
arstechnica.com
August 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
All scientific grant funding must now be approved by a political appointee and "demonstrably advance the President's policy priorities."
I wonder where innovation will happen in the future? It won't be in the US
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
I wonder where innovation will happen in the future? It won't be in the US
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
A senator saw racism, threats to democracy were tearing America apart, so he spoke out, even after colleagues warned he'd be attacked. Charles Sumner was nearly caned to death in 1856, but he lives on as a hero.
Today, fear is winning in Congress. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/lisa...
Today, fear is winning in Congress. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/lisa...
Lisa Murkowski, Charles Sumner, and a cowardice crisis in Congress | Will Bunch
The driving force on Capitol Hill is cowardice, as both GOPers and Dems confess to fear of violence. It wasn't always that way.
www.inquirer.com
July 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
A senator saw racism, threats to democracy were tearing America apart, so he spoke out, even after colleagues warned he'd be attacked. Charles Sumner was nearly caned to death in 1856, but he lives on as a hero.
Today, fear is winning in Congress. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/lisa...
Today, fear is winning in Congress. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/lisa...
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Love this @jamellebouie.net interview with Zaakir Tameez on his biography of Charles Sumner. Great to see George Downing's contributions highlighted. I'm writing about a moment of convergence involving Sumner, Downing, Frederick Douglass, and Andrew Johnson.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/o...
Opinion | The Civil War That Never Ended
www.nytimes.com
July 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Love this @jamellebouie.net interview with Zaakir Tameez on his biography of Charles Sumner. Great to see George Downing's contributions highlighted. I'm writing about a moment of convergence involving Sumner, Downing, Frederick Douglass, and Andrew Johnson.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/o...
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Abrego is the *only* prisoner ever released from CECOT, so this is the sole account we have of the horrifying conditions in the prison in El Salvador where Trump has sent over 260 people from the US.
Abrego said he shared a cell with 20 people, who were forced to kneel overnight, “with guards striking anyone who fell from exhaustion.”
He was denied bathroom access and soiled himself. Detainees were confined to metal bunks w/no mattresses in an overcrowded cell w/no windows, bright lights…
He was denied bathroom access and soiled himself. Detainees were confined to metal bunks w/no mattresses in an overcrowded cell w/no windows, bright lights…
Politico - Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was illegaly deported by the Trump administration, details his mistreatment in a Salvadoran prison, claiming he suffered "severe beatings," sleep deprivation, malnutrition and other forms of torture at the hands of his jailers.
July 3, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Abrego is the *only* prisoner ever released from CECOT, so this is the sole account we have of the horrifying conditions in the prison in El Salvador where Trump has sent over 260 people from the US.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Reading this … it is just nauseating. And clear why they didn’t want Abrego Garcia to return or be free - to tell this story.
Thinking about the men there - including Andry Hernandez Romero, who Michelle Goldberg wrote about months ago: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/o...
Thinking about the men there - including Andry Hernandez Romero, who Michelle Goldberg wrote about months ago: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/o...
July 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reading this … it is just nauseating. And clear why they didn’t want Abrego Garcia to return or be free - to tell this story.
Thinking about the men there - including Andry Hernandez Romero, who Michelle Goldberg wrote about months ago: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/o...
Thinking about the men there - including Andry Hernandez Romero, who Michelle Goldberg wrote about months ago: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/o...
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
The cruelty in today's politics feels horribly corrosive. Bringing up that hard-working immigrant families — undocumented, yes, but not violent criminals — are being ripped apart based on immigration status doesn't bring compassion or even pause, but gleeful cheers.
June 12, 2025 at 7:25 AM
The cruelty in today's politics feels horribly corrosive. Bringing up that hard-working immigrant families — undocumented, yes, but not violent criminals — are being ripped apart based on immigration status doesn't bring compassion or even pause, but gleeful cheers.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Amazing how hard it is to write: “Police shoot at journalists.”
June 11, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Amazing how hard it is to write: “Police shoot at journalists.”
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
note that this completely inverts the public justification for the deportation scheme. they claim they’re deporting criminals, but they deported Kilmar without knowledge of a crime, and now that they supposedly found one they’re bringing him BACK.
🚨🚨🚨 Kilmar Abrego Garcia is on his way back to the U.S. from El Salvador to face criminal charges.
abcnews.visitlink.me/dp2AxT?cid=s...
abcnews.visitlink.me/dp2AxT?cid=s...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia on way back to US to face criminal charges: Sources
Mistakenly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia is on the way back to the United States to face charges of transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S., sources say.
abcnews.visitlink.me
June 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
note that this completely inverts the public justification for the deportation scheme. they claim they’re deporting criminals, but they deported Kilmar without knowledge of a crime, and now that they supposedly found one they’re bringing him BACK.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
So after years of bluster, incl yesterday on the courthouse steps, Lindell joins the long list of others (Giuliani, Lake, Fox News) who, when offered the chance to present evidence - in court - of their claims of alleged election fraud, conceded and ran away.
NEW: Attorneys for MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell said in opening statements at his defamation trial in Denver that they won’t present evidence of his claim that the 2020 election was rigged. “It’s just words. All Mike Lindell did was talk,” said Lindell’s attorney. #copolitics
June 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
So after years of bluster, incl yesterday on the courthouse steps, Lindell joins the long list of others (Giuliani, Lake, Fox News) who, when offered the chance to present evidence - in court - of their claims of alleged election fraud, conceded and ran away.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
yes this is famously how free societies treat their universities
Linda McMahon: "Universities should continue to be able to do research as long as they're abiding by the laws and in sync, I think, with the administration and what the administration is trying to accomplish."
May 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
yes this is famously how free societies treat their universities
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Normatively it should not matter but practically it does, so it’s worth reiterating: all this woman did was write an op ed in a student newspaper. That’s it. She didn’t lead violent or disruptive protests, she didn’t advocate for violence, she co-wrote an op ed calling for divestment. That’s it.
May 9, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Normatively it should not matter but practically it does, so it’s worth reiterating: all this woman did was write an op ed in a student newspaper. That’s it. She didn’t lead violent or disruptive protests, she didn’t advocate for violence, she co-wrote an op ed calling for divestment. That’s it.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Sen. Van Hollen: "I don't think it's ever wrong to fight for the constitutional rights of one person because if we give up on one person's rights, we threaten everybody's rights...Anyone who is not prepared to stand up and fight for the Constitution doesn't deserve to lead."
April 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Sen. Van Hollen: "I don't think it's ever wrong to fight for the constitutional rights of one person because if we give up on one person's rights, we threaten everybody's rights...Anyone who is not prepared to stand up and fight for the Constitution doesn't deserve to lead."
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.
April 18, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump admin must facilitate the return of SMART Union Local 100 apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
April 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump admin must facilitate the return of SMART Union Local 100 apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
If the President can ignore court orders and send anyone he wants to a prison overseas, we are all at risk. An insult to the Constitution and to our values as Americans.
Abrego Garcia must be returned now.
Abrego Garcia must be returned now.
April 15, 2025 at 10:19 PM
If the President can ignore court orders and send anyone he wants to a prison overseas, we are all at risk. An insult to the Constitution and to our values as Americans.
Abrego Garcia must be returned now.
Abrego Garcia must be returned now.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
i'm watching a group of conservative law professors insist that there is a grand debate over birthright citizenship that somehow escaped generations of scholarship and only popped into existence after a right-wing president announced an effort to nullify the 14th amendment.
April 15, 2025 at 1:59 PM
i'm watching a group of conservative law professors insist that there is a grand debate over birthright citizenship that somehow escaped generations of scholarship and only popped into existence after a right-wing president announced an effort to nullify the 14th amendment.
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
Abrego Garcia's wife: "I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive. Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasn't forgotten about you. Our children are asking when you will come home ... they miss their dad so much."
April 15, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Abrego Garcia's wife: "I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive. Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasn't forgotten about you. Our children are asking when you will come home ... they miss their dad so much."
Reposted by Matthew Cooke
The American President pardons guilty insurrectionists but allows innocent men to rot in foreign prisons.
April 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The American President pardons guilty insurrectionists but allows innocent men to rot in foreign prisons.