Jacob T. Levy
@jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory, Associate member of Philosophy, Coordinator of Research Group on Constitutional Studies, McGill.
Posts here speak only for myself.
Americo-Canadian; liberaltarian; aging geek.
http://jacobtlevy.com
Posts here speak only for myself.
Americo-Canadian; liberaltarian; aging geek.
http://jacobtlevy.com
(though not, of course with a picture of a little girl who speaks Spanish.)
January 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
(though not, of course with a picture of a little girl who speaks Spanish.)
When confronted with the choice between two different bad actions, Trump will always respond
January 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
When confronted with the choice between two different bad actions, Trump will always respond
Nope, I refuse to google that, I don't want it in my browser history *or* in my brain.
January 17, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Nope, I refuse to google that, I don't want it in my browser history *or* in my brain.
I see you posting about this comic strip every day or three and yet I cannot believe that it is real.
January 17, 2026 at 5:21 PM
I see you posting about this comic strip every day or three and yet I cannot believe that it is real.
Reposted by Jacob T. Levy
January 17, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Anyway, I really would like to know whether this is standard practice in other states.
January 17, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Anyway, I really would like to know whether this is standard practice in other states.
At best, this was one of the (many, many) rules, procedures, and institutions that worked fine as long as nobody was playing partisan hardball.
Guardrail institutions can fail under extraordinary pressure, but fragile practices like this one require extraordinary forbearance to succeed.
Guardrail institutions can fail under extraordinary pressure, but fragile practices like this one require extraordinary forbearance to succeed.
January 17, 2026 at 2:53 PM
At best, this was one of the (many, many) rules, procedures, and institutions that worked fine as long as nobody was playing partisan hardball.
Guardrail institutions can fail under extraordinary pressure, but fragile practices like this one require extraordinary forbearance to succeed.
Guardrail institutions can fail under extraordinary pressure, but fragile practices like this one require extraordinary forbearance to succeed.
It is perfectly possible to actually damage or ruin people's lives with malicious targeted investigations and prosecutions! Weaponization is a real phenomenon! But it requires some effort, some knowledge of the law, validly appointed prosecutors, etc.
January 17, 2026 at 2:44 PM
It is perfectly possible to actually damage or ruin people's lives with malicious targeted investigations and prosecutions! Weaponization is a real phenomenon! But it requires some effort, some knowledge of the law, validly appointed prosecutors, etc.
So they keep doing lazy and incompetent weaponization, not putting in any work, just having Patel or Bondi or someone do a Michael Scott "I declare bankruptcy!" for criminal allegations.
January 17, 2026 at 2:44 PM
So they keep doing lazy and incompetent weaponization, not putting in any work, just having Patel or Bondi or someone do a Michael Scott "I declare bankruptcy!" for criminal allegations.
(and let's not forget that the obsessive planning includes things like "deliberately induce a multiple personality in oneself so that you have a backup personality available in case of emergency...")
My joking point was just about the always-still-in-need-of-therapy childhood trauma.
My joking point was just about the always-still-in-need-of-therapy childhood trauma.
January 17, 2026 at 2:17 PM
(and let's not forget that the obsessive planning includes things like "deliberately induce a multiple personality in oneself so that you have a backup personality available in case of emergency...")
My joking point was just about the always-still-in-need-of-therapy childhood trauma.
My joking point was just about the always-still-in-need-of-therapy childhood trauma.
I mean, conditional on the "process the childhood trauma of having your parents murdered in front of you through the other childhood trauma of falling into a cave full of bats and then start to dress up" etc etc, yes, he's depicted as generally sane with a side order of paranoia and obsession.
January 17, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I mean, conditional on the "process the childhood trauma of having your parents murdered in front of you through the other childhood trauma of falling into a cave full of bats and then start to dress up" etc etc, yes, he's depicted as generally sane with a side order of paranoia and obsession.
All the better to fund ICE?
January 17, 2026 at 2:10 PM
All the better to fund ICE?