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Paul Gowder

@gowder.io

18K followers 6.7K following 5.2K posts

Prof @ Northwestern law, political theorist, cat parent. Black lives matter. Profile, pubs, etc: https://gowder.io All my books (rule of law, racial justice, platform governance) are downloadable in free open access pdf @ https://books.gowder.io

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Paul Gowder @gowder.io · 28d

The president does not have the power to make laws. That’s literally the first (operative) sentence in the constitution.

The president does not have the power to make laws.

The president does not have the power to make laws.

The president does not have the power to make laws.

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Paul Gowder @gowder.io · 11h

From the end of an email I sent to a reporter about Trump's war on Chicago. See alt text for full relevant part

We have to understand what is happening here in the context of everything else that is going on, like the military-style attack ICE carried out on the apartment building in the South Shore---an attack that was stunningly unconstitutional, by the way, as it seems like they kicked in the doors of over 100 private residences without a search warrant and then detained hundreds of people for extended periods without even a reasonable suspicion that they were unauthorized immigrants---giant, unprecedented, police-state style violations of the fourth amendment---and then made a propaganda video about it! At the same time, Trump is making political attack after political attack on the city and state, using the government shutdown as a pretext to cut off all kinds of federal funds, like for CTA projects---it's obvious what he is doing. He doesn't like to have political opponents, because he and the people around him like Miller and Vance believe that he is entitled to rule by decree like a dictator. But dictatorship only functions through intimidation, through heavily armed bully boys roaming the streets ready to hurt anyone who questions the regime. ICE is already serving that function, but Mr. Trump evidently doesn't think that's enough and wants full-fledged military occupation to make the message perfectly clear.

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Paul Eric Scannell @pauleric70.bsky.social · 12h

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson just signed an order making city property off-limits to ICE. As federal troops deploy to Chicago, this is a bold stand for accountability and human rights. No city should ever be turned into a battleground for political power.

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Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 12h

I'm never ever gonna forget all the furrowed browed corporatist Charlie Kirk hagiography and sportsball halftime memoriams for a race baiting brigading zealot

Stephen Soldz @ethicalpsycholo.bsky.social · 12h

Professor Flees to Europe After Turning Point USA Calls Him Antifa, Leading to Death Threats for Him and His Family
newrepublic.com/post/201448/...

Professor Flees to Europe After Turning Point USA Calls Him Antifa

Rutgers University professor Mark Bray no longer feels safe at home.

newrepublic.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 11h

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

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Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 11h

This is out of hand. These agents are there to cause trouble and violence, not to keep people safe. These are the scenes that play out in war torn, destitute countries - not America.

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Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 11h

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 17h

very cool that if you are working on behalf of right-wing culture warriors, you no longer need standing to have your claim adjudicated by the supreme court

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 19h

It's not just that they're going to strike down a law against conversion therapy, it's that they're going to do it on behalf of made-up claims from a straw plaintiff who can't honestly show the law affected her at all

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 19h

One thing about American's widespread distrust and disapproval of the Supreme Court is that mainstream news coverage mostly doesn't dwell on stuff like standing, so people don't even begin to grasp how rigged the Court truly is www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

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Paul Gowder @gowder.io · 17h

One must wonder if Mike Johnson is also in the Epstein files

Rep. Dave Min @congressmin.bsky.social · 20h

It's been two weeks since Adelita Grijalva was elected and Mike Johnson has still refused to seat her, unlike in past cases where he swore in new members within 24 hours.

There cannot be one set of rules for Rs and another for Ds.

Also, release the damn Epstein files already.

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Sky Marchini @sky.skymarchini.net · 18h

Supreme Court: of course states can regulate, and restrict access to, medical procedures if there’s a compelling public interest

Colorado: (bans conversion therapy for minors)

Supreme Court: no not like that, we only meant abortion

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Paul Gowder @gowder.io · 17h

Wait someone let Hegseth into the Kennedy school??? Talk about lowered standards

The Independent @the-independent.com · 18h

Anti-woke crusader Pete Hegseth praised DEI and working with Democrats while at Harvard, report says

Pete Hegseth praised DEI and working with Democrats while at Harvard, report says

www.independent.co.uk

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Prof Caroline Mala Corbin @carolinemalacorbin.bsky.social · 21h

I guess I will live blog the argument. Unless I get too disgusted and stop.

Prof Caroline Mala Corbin @carolinemalacorbin.bsky.social · 21h

Hello!

I am your friendly neighborhood First Amendment professor here to provide some background on Chiles v. Salazar, to be argued in Supreme Court this morning.

At issue is whether Colorado can ban licensed therapists from inflicting the discredited practice of “conversion therapy” on minors

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 20h

One trademark of the second Trump administration is the open and seething contempt that his Cabinet officials have for Congress. They don't see elected officials or their oversight function as legitimate.
(see also RFK Jr, Kash Patel).

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Bondi is alternating between attacking Democratic senator when they ask her tough questions and punting them to Kash Patel (even though she's his boss)

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Jessica Lussenhop @jlussenhop.bsky.social · 22h

Well, today @deldeib.bsky.social has a very helpful explainer. Here's what an external review is, how it works, and how you can use it to help to get coverage of your own medical care: "Appeal, appeal, appeal, appeal... That’s all you have." www.propublica.org/article/heal...

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Col. Boozy Badger @boozybadger.lawyersandliquor.com · 1d

Dunno man, seems a little misleading to write an article about Trump describing activity in Portland and Chicago as “insurrection” with a 33 year old photo of a burning donut shop taken in the 1992 LA Riots (sans caption explaining that) as the header on all your posts about it.

The picture from
The article with a picture of an armed men standing in front of a burning donut shop. You must click through to read the caption “
Two National guardsmen stand guard outside a burning donut shop in Los Angeles on April 30, 1992.
The National Guard was called in to aid police during the second day of rioting in the city.”

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Jason Reifler @jasonreifler.bsky.social · 1d

“If we read this bad faith thing as if it were good faith, it doesn’t sound that bad.”

10/10, no notes.

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 1d

Danielle Allen fails the Lando test / lives out the Arrested Development meme: "A deal on the core principles in a compact could then become a framework for negotiating on legislation." Come ON. With this administration and this Congress?
therenovator.substack.com/p/why-im-exc...

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Nathan Newman- ANTIFA Since Nazis Murdered Family in Death Camps @nathansnewman.bsky.social · 1d

Nice capsule history of economic & political history of rise, fall and imposion of mainstream media- and why Bulwark is now hiring refugees from the Washington Post.

Policywise, Bulwark is conservative but they are anti-authoritarian which makes them key allies.

www.thebulwark.com/p/the-washin...

The Washington Post and CBS News are dying. The Bulwark is the future.

We drink their milkshake.

www.thebulwark.com

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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 1d

A Compact for Control:
No self-respecting institution of higher education should accept the Trump administration’s unconstitutional terms, Robert Post and Tom Ginsburg write.
@yalelawschool-yls.bsky.social @uchicagolaw.bsky.social
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

A Compact for Control (opinion)

No self-respecting institution of higher education should accept the Trump administration’s unconstitutional terms, Robert Post and Tom Ginsburg write.

www.insidehighered.com

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Jen Mercieca @jenmercieca.bsky.social · 1d

This is a long, thoughtful, and brilliant post about how to understand political campaigning & strategy from one of the progressive left's most brilliant thinkers and practitioners @anatosaurus.bsky.social. Read it and listen to her: Bringing a Survey to a Gun Fight open.substack.com/pub/michaelp...

Bringing a Survey to a Gun Fight

“Pollingism” Has Failed Democrats and Voters. Here’s Why, and What to Do Instead.

open.substack.com

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Caroline Kubzansky @ckubzansky.bsky.social · 1d

Standing room only for the Broadview, IL village board meeting this evening. Like it’s 2022 again — follow along, yes?

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Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · 1d

One guest, a retired major general, was asked about Hegseth's dismissal of the rules of engagement. He answered: "The words the president and secretary of defense are those of potential war criminals."

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Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · 1d

This discussion on NPR's 1A with experts on military affairs and civil-military relations did not reassure me at all!
the1a.org/segments/if-...

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dan sinker @dansinker.com · 1d

so at this point it seems like *nothing* the feds said was true? it's a legitimate miracle that this woman is still alive.

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 1d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Paul Gowder @gowder.io · 1d

For United that's just called "taxiing to the gate"

Steven @stevevance.net · 2d

American Airlines now has an airside bus connection between O’Hare and South Bend and O’Hare and Rockford !

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Gabe Ortíz @tusk81.bsky.social · 1d

“The goal is to generate riots to justify the expansion of authoritarian measures and to strengthen the case for the troop deployments,” @merkley.senate.gov continued. “Let me be emphatically clear: There is no ‘invasion’ or ‘rebellion’ that justifies the federalization of the National Guard.”

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Steve Kennedy @skennedy2504.myatproto.social · 1d

Everything is terrible, but the Roberts Court building a juristocracy to enable a fascist who is now gunning for Marbury v. Madison is actually kind of hilarious

Matthew Stiegler @matthewstiegler.bsky.social · 1d

❗❗❗

Stephen Miller: "It's simply a factually accurate statement that when a judge assumes for him- or herself the powers that have been relegated or delegated by the Constitution to the president, that that is a form of illegal insurrection." ...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: You called the judge's ruling 'legal insurrection.' Are you recommending the president take action against judges who rule against him?

STEPHEN MILLER: No. It's simply a factually accurate statement

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