@davidplymyer.bsky.social
Semi-retired attorney, Army vet. Commentary on law and government published in Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Brew, Maryland Matters and elsewhere.
Am I the only one who leaves the room when Matthew Continetti starts talking on PBS Newshour? What a shifty, supercilious windbag.
November 22, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Am I the only one who leaves the room when Matthew Continetti starts talking on PBS Newshour? What a shifty, supercilious windbag.
Another "disgrace" is that the part-owner of and opinion columnist for @baltimoresun.bsky.social blamed Trump's advisors. As if Trump isn't responsible for surrounding himself with unqualified lunatics. This is just unforgivable opinion "journalism."
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/22/a...
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/22/a...
Armstrong Williams: Diplomatic debacle in Oval Office was a disgrace | STAFF COMMENTARY
Donald Trump’s Oval Office ambush of the South African president was unacceptable, writes Armstrong Williams.
www.baltimoresun.com
May 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Another "disgrace" is that the part-owner of and opinion columnist for @baltimoresun.bsky.social blamed Trump's advisors. As if Trump isn't responsible for surrounding himself with unqualified lunatics. This is just unforgivable opinion "journalism."
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/22/a...
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/05/22/a...
And if they are arrested, let's demand that the firms that capitulated to Trump defend them pro bono.
BREAKING 🚨 🚨 🚨
Democratic members of Congress who were part of a scuffle with law enforcement officers at an ICE facility in New Jersey may face arrests, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Axios Saturday.
www.axios.com/2025/05/10/t...
Democratic members of Congress who were part of a scuffle with law enforcement officers at an ICE facility in New Jersey may face arrests, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Axios Saturday.
www.axios.com/2025/05/10/t...
Trump administration threatens to arrest House Democrats over ICE facility incident
"There will likely be more arrests coming," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said.
www.axios.com
May 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
And if they are arrested, let's demand that the firms that capitulated to Trump defend them pro bono.
This is deeply admirable action by Ms. Hartwell. It needs to be built upon by concerted action that shames and shuns the law firms that capitulated to Trump. There's no hope for democracy if the frontline defenders of the rule of law, judges and lawyers, back down.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/n...
Can Elite Lawyers Be Persuaded to ‘Wake Up and Stand Up’?
www.nytimes.com
May 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This is deeply admirable action by Ms. Hartwell. It needs to be built upon by concerted action that shames and shuns the law firms that capitulated to Trump. There's no hope for democracy if the frontline defenders of the rule of law, judges and lawyers, back down.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/n...
The law firms that settled with Trump must be ostracized by other lawyers and shunned by clients. With fascism threatening the rule of law, institutions and individuals tempted to collude with the facists must know that, if they do, there will be consequences.
www.reuters.com/business/mic...
www.reuters.com/business/mic...
Microsoft swaps law firms in shareholder case, hiring Trump adversary
Microsoft is switching the law firm representing it in a shareholder case, replacing one that settled with the Trump administration to avoid a punishing executive order with one that is fighting the White House.
www.reuters.com
May 4, 2025 at 4:39 AM
The law firms that settled with Trump must be ostracized by other lawyers and shunned by clients. With fascism threatening the rule of law, institutions and individuals tempted to collude with the facists must know that, if they do, there will be consequences.
www.reuters.com/business/mic...
www.reuters.com/business/mic...
Respectfully, perhaps Dems can pivot from Abrego Garcia to a concerted effort to persuade their GOP colleagues to tell Trump "hands off" Jerome Powell before Trump causes a financial panic that makes 2008 look like child's play. This is a priority. Trump could cause damage that cannot be repaired.
Breaking News: Stocks slumped as President Trump’s attacks on Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, added to investors’ concerns about the economy. The S&P 500 fell 2.4%.
Trump’s Renewed Attacks on Powell Drive Markets Lower and Weaken Dollar
President Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve, on top of the uncertainty about his tariff policy, continued to jar investors as stocks, bonds, oil and the U.S. dollar all tumbled.
www.nytimes.com
April 21, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Respectfully, perhaps Dems can pivot from Abrego Garcia to a concerted effort to persuade their GOP colleagues to tell Trump "hands off" Jerome Powell before Trump causes a financial panic that makes 2008 look like child's play. This is a priority. Trump could cause damage that cannot be repaired.
Liz is correct. If whatever energy that is out there isn't converted into this kind of concrete action, it is energy wasted. And I'm including the Bernie and AOC rallies. Political rallies are a poor use of time and energy at this point.
A MUST READ.
DEMOCRATS - We're all frightened and already, spending less, holding tight to our hard earned savings. We are being told the coming recession to hurt us badly because of #47 and his corrupt administration.
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue
georgiatoday.ge/former-us-co...
DEMOCRATS - We're all frightened and already, spending less, holding tight to our hard earned savings. We are being told the coming recession to hurt us badly because of #47 and his corrupt administration.
#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue
georgiatoday.ge/former-us-co...
Former US Congresswoman Liz Cheney issues urgent call to Democrats: “stop fundraising and start fighting”
In the US, as political tensions reach a boiling point and democratic norms continue to erode under what many now
georgiatoday.ge
April 19, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Liz is correct. If whatever energy that is out there isn't converted into this kind of concrete action, it is energy wasted. And I'm including the Bernie and AOC rallies. Political rallies are a poor use of time and energy at this point.
The capitulation by these firms to the most damaging and least defensible attack on the rule of law imaginable, punishing the firms because they represented unpopular clients, is a stain on the legal profession that will never be removed. These firms were uniquely...
www.npr.org/2025/04/13/g...
www.npr.org/2025/04/13/g...
Trump attacks on law firms begin to chill pro bono work on causes he doesn't like
The ripple effects of Trump's actions targeting specific law firms already are being felt beyond boardrooms, in declining interest in pro bono work for causes that are unpopular with the president.
www.npr.org
April 15, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The capitulation by these firms to the most damaging and least defensible attack on the rule of law imaginable, punishing the firms because they represented unpopular clients, is a stain on the legal profession that will never be removed. These firms were uniquely...
www.npr.org/2025/04/13/g...
www.npr.org/2025/04/13/g...
Is is just me, or is there something incredibly demeaning and insulting to women (and to men, for that matter) for Trump to select Karoline Leavitt, a pretty young woman, to spew outrageous lies on his behalf? That just had to be deliberate.
March 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Is is just me, or is there something incredibly demeaning and insulting to women (and to men, for that matter) for Trump to select Karoline Leavitt, a pretty young woman, to spew outrageous lies on his behalf? That just had to be deliberate.
The negative impact of many of Trump's actions will be obvious and felt quickly. What is being done to the FBI is insidious, but just as scary, maybe scarier. The FBI protects us against some really bad actors, including terrorists, organized crime and spies, and now it's run by 2 lunatics.
March 4, 2025 at 5:39 AM
The negative impact of many of Trump's actions will be obvious and felt quickly. What is being done to the FBI is insidious, but just as scary, maybe scarier. The FBI protects us against some really bad actors, including terrorists, organized crime and spies, and now it's run by 2 lunatics.
Reposted
An important statement from the American Bar Association. www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...
March 3, 2025 at 11:35 PM
An important statement from the American Bar Association. www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...
I'm a vet, served in the RA and retired after 20 yrs in Army Reserve. I'm wondering how those friends who served and spent years learning about and training to counter the threat from Russia, and who then turned MAGAT, are reconciling what happened at the White House on Friday?
March 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I'm a vet, served in the RA and retired after 20 yrs in Army Reserve. I'm wondering how those friends who served and spent years learning about and training to counter the threat from Russia, and who then turned MAGAT, are reconciling what happened at the White House on Friday?
Reposted
America is standing up. Let’s keep the momentum going—more protests are planned for next week. Together, we can stop this coup.
Remember, the resistance won’t be televised.
Tomorrow, there will be more of us!
Remember, the resistance won’t be televised.
Tomorrow, there will be more of us!
March 2, 2025 at 4:24 AM
America is standing up. Let’s keep the momentum going—more protests are planned for next week. Together, we can stop this coup.
Remember, the resistance won’t be televised.
Tomorrow, there will be more of us!
Remember, the resistance won’t be televised.
Tomorrow, there will be more of us!
In an alleged effort to normalize relationships with Russia. I'm sure Putin has promised to reciprocate, and Trump says he trusts Putin, so that's that. Gets scarier and scarier.
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
Exclusive: Hegseth orders Cyber Command to stand down on Russia planning
The secretary of Defense has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, sources tell Recorded Future News.
therecord.media
March 1, 2025 at 4:53 AM
In an alleged effort to normalize relationships with Russia. I'm sure Putin has promised to reciprocate, and Trump says he trusts Putin, so that's that. Gets scarier and scarier.
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
therecord.media/hegseth-orde...
Reposted
What you saw today was the Russian mob acting out of the Oval Office.
March 1, 2025 at 1:33 AM
What you saw today was the Russian mob acting out of the Oval Office.
Reposted
“Look at this little girl over here, everyone. Look at her”
“She spoke up and now she doesn’t want to suffer the consequences”
Ed Bejarana, voiceover actor & event emcee, taunted Teresa Borrenpohl as she was dragged out of the Town Hall Meeting.
WHAT CONSEQUENCES ED?? 👀 (see Ed’s podcast 👇)
“She spoke up and now she doesn’t want to suffer the consequences”
Ed Bejarana, voiceover actor & event emcee, taunted Teresa Borrenpohl as she was dragged out of the Town Hall Meeting.
WHAT CONSEQUENCES ED?? 👀 (see Ed’s podcast 👇)
February 23, 2025 at 10:20 PM
“Look at this little girl over here, everyone. Look at her”
“She spoke up and now she doesn’t want to suffer the consequences”
Ed Bejarana, voiceover actor & event emcee, taunted Teresa Borrenpohl as she was dragged out of the Town Hall Meeting.
WHAT CONSEQUENCES ED?? 👀 (see Ed’s podcast 👇)
“She spoke up and now she doesn’t want to suffer the consequences”
Ed Bejarana, voiceover actor & event emcee, taunted Teresa Borrenpohl as she was dragged out of the Town Hall Meeting.
WHAT CONSEQUENCES ED?? 👀 (see Ed’s podcast 👇)
Reposted
REVEALED: we identified the operator of an overtly racist X account, "GlomarResponder," as ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden, based on an overwhelming number of biographical details matched through publicly available documents, other social media activity, and courtroom observation.
ICE Prosecutor in Dallas Runs White Supremacist X Account
The Observer has identified the operator of “GlomarResponder,” an overtly racist social media account, as ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden, based on an overwhelming number of biographical details matched through publicly available documents, other social media activity, and courtroom observation.
www.texasobserver.org
February 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
REVEALED: we identified the operator of an overtly racist X account, "GlomarResponder," as ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden, based on an overwhelming number of biographical details matched through publicly available documents, other social media activity, and courtroom observation.
An editorial board trying without success to maintain the appearance of objectivity: Call for ppl to be "careful consumers" of information rather than call out Trump administration for serial lying and disinformation campaign.
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/02/01/f...
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/02/01/f...
Facts still matter: Don’t fall for any lies | EDITORIAL
Americans must become more critical consumers of information whether it involves California’s water supply or local events.
www.baltimoresun.com
February 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
An editorial board trying without success to maintain the appearance of objectivity: Call for ppl to be "careful consumers" of information rather than call out Trump administration for serial lying and disinformation campaign.
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/02/01/f...
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/02/01/f...
Will the pervasive attitude in both branches of Baltimore County government that residents are to be manipulated rather than informed, and that openness and transparency get in the way of that, ever change?
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/01/10/o...
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/01/10/o...
Old habits die hard in Baltimore County: Klausmeier chosen via secret vote at closed meeting | Baltimore Brew
The process of choosing a county executive was an apparent violation of the Maryland Open Meetings Act and a definite embarrassment. [OP-ED]
www.baltimorebrew.com
January 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Will the pervasive attitude in both branches of Baltimore County government that residents are to be manipulated rather than informed, and that openness and transparency get in the way of that, ever change?
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/01/10/o...
www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/01/10/o...
The quality of his administration, and his "commitment to the public interest," will be judged, not by his boasts, but by a track record of decisions by him and his appointees intended to curry political or personal favor and/or reward friends and political allies. medium.com/@dplymyer/jo...
December 27, 2024 at 6:53 PM
The quality of his administration, and his "commitment to the public interest," will be judged, not by his boasts, but by a track record of decisions by him and his appointees intended to curry political or personal favor and/or reward friends and political allies. medium.com/@dplymyer/jo...
Link to letter to Baltimore County Council offering my opinion on why the IG investigation of the Tirabassi investigation fell short, and the key question that must be answered. My suspicion is that the County Attorney would struggle to give a persuasive answer.
davidplymyer.com/wp-content/u...
davidplymyer.com/wp-content/u...
davidplymyer.com
December 27, 2024 at 5:04 AM
Link to letter to Baltimore County Council offering my opinion on why the IG investigation of the Tirabassi investigation fell short, and the key question that must be answered. My suspicion is that the County Attorney would struggle to give a persuasive answer.
davidplymyer.com/wp-content/u...
davidplymyer.com/wp-content/u...
I get no joy from saying this, but the OIG did its credibility no good but failing to state that it found no clear legal justification for paying $84K to firefighter in a matter in which Exec took a personal interest and was secreted from public in viol of law.
www.baltimorebrew.com/2024/12/20/i...
www.baltimorebrew.com/2024/12/20/i...
Investigation into secret pension payment to firefighter with ties to Olszewski fizzles out | Baltimore Brew
No wonder the settlement was hidden under the false name of “Philip Dough,” an action that Baltimore County IG Kelly Madigan bent over backwards to find was not “malicious.” [OP-ED]
www.baltimorebrew.com
December 20, 2024 at 5:35 PM
I get no joy from saying this, but the OIG did its credibility no good but failing to state that it found no clear legal justification for paying $84K to firefighter in a matter in which Exec took a personal interest and was secreted from public in viol of law.
www.baltimorebrew.com/2024/12/20/i...
www.baltimorebrew.com/2024/12/20/i...
A number of speakers at the hearing on the appointment of the successor to Baltimore Co Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. spoke about the importance of continuing his "legacy." Here's his legacy for those who obviously weren't paying attention:
medium.com/@dplymyer/jo...
medium.com/@dplymyer/jo...
Johnny O’s Special Arrangements
“I cannot recall ever having to continually address special arrangements for certain people. Every week.”
medium.com
December 13, 2024 at 4:52 AM
A number of speakers at the hearing on the appointment of the successor to Baltimore Co Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. spoke about the importance of continuing his "legacy." Here's his legacy for those who obviously weren't paying attention:
medium.com/@dplymyer/jo...
medium.com/@dplymyer/jo...
Reposted
Shout out to @davidplymyer.bsky.social of @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy for his piece on OIG.
HoCo gets high marks from Maryland Matters. “Positive Yet Premature?” villagegreentownsquared.blogspot.com/2024/12/posi... Village Green/Town² blog
Positive Yet Premature?
Today I commend to you an article at the Maryland Matters website. A tale of two counties, a tale of two culture s, David Plymer, Maryland...
villagegreentownsquared.blogspot.com
December 2, 2024 at 7:41 PM
Shout out to @davidplymyer.bsky.social of @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy for his piece on OIG.