The Nerdy Lawyer
@nerdylawyer.bsky.social
Formerly vtaltos on Twitter. She/her. Professional attorney, hobbyist theologian, unrepentant lifelong nerd, belated AuDHD diagnosee. Kicked out of the GOP for having principles. Luke 20:46-47. Mr. Rogers had it right all along.
Pinned
I dabbled in divorce law early in my career; never again.
In almost any other legal field, negotiation to a reasonable settlement is more likely than a long, expensive court battle. (1/4)
In almost any other legal field, negotiation to a reasonable settlement is more likely than a long, expensive court battle. (1/4)
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
RFK: “Where did all this autism come from? It never existed when I was a kid!”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
December 26, 2025 at 2:43 AM
RFK: “Where did all this autism come from? It never existed when I was a kid!”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
“A Christmas Story”, a 1983 movie based on a 1971 memoir about a childhood in the 1930s: “This is my brother Ralphie. He has a ton of sensory issues and behaviors we don’t understand. Every family has a child like him.”
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Plato argued in the Republic that the 'tyrant,' or someone with unlimited wealth and power, would live the worst possible life because his soul would be devoured by lawless, unlimited desires that could never be sated. I think we've gotten confirmation of this from more cases than Trump lately
I always thought Plato was pretty pollyannaish on this point, but this is decent evidence for the view that a man of bad character will therefore be unhappy even with every external trapping of success and good fortune.
President Donald Trump gifted the world with nearly 200 Truth Social posts (and counting) on Christmas Day, where he amplified conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and called for a member of Congress to be deported.
December 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Plato argued in the Republic that the 'tyrant,' or someone with unlimited wealth and power, would live the worst possible life because his soul would be devoured by lawless, unlimited desires that could never be sated. I think we've gotten confirmation of this from more cases than Trump lately
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
This is how you do it.
President Trump’s spiteful defamation suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board may backfire, as the latter is now demanding Trump’s psychological records, prescription medication records, and tax returns in the discovery process. trib.al/LUCScTR
December 26, 2025 at 5:04 AM
This is how you do it.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”
December 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Reposting out of a response thread to remind US people: if you make people mad on the internet, it is a VERY worthwhile investment to add an umbrella policy to your homeowners' or renters' insurance. I recommend a $2m per incident minimum; we increased ours to $5m recently just in case.
This is part of why I *strongly* recommend anyone who makes assholes on the internet mad a lot should have a umbrella liability policy added to their homeowners' or renters' insurance, with a minimum coverage of $2m per incident, although we just increased ours to $5m just in case.
December 26, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Reposting out of a response thread to remind US people: if you make people mad on the internet, it is a VERY worthwhile investment to add an umbrella policy to your homeowners' or renters' insurance. I recommend a $2m per incident minimum; we increased ours to $5m recently just in case.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Broke: democrats won’t want the Epstein files released because of bill Clinton
Woke: democrats demand the Epstein files released because of bill clinton
Bespoke: bill clinton demands the Epstein files released because of bill Clinton
Woke: democrats demand the Epstein files released because of bill clinton
Bespoke: bill clinton demands the Epstein files released because of bill Clinton
December 23, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Broke: democrats won’t want the Epstein files released because of bill Clinton
Woke: democrats demand the Epstein files released because of bill clinton
Bespoke: bill clinton demands the Epstein files released because of bill Clinton
Woke: democrats demand the Epstein files released because of bill clinton
Bespoke: bill clinton demands the Epstein files released because of bill Clinton
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Bill Clinton releasing a statement saying 'release the Epstein files, you cowards' was not on my bingo list.
December 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Bill Clinton releasing a statement saying 'release the Epstein files, you cowards' was not on my bingo list.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Discworld QOTD, from Snuff
"You should look for those who can’t believe that the law would ever catch them, who believe that they act out of a right that the rest of us do not have. The job of the officer of the law is to let them know that they are wrong!"
"You should look for those who can’t believe that the law would ever catch them, who believe that they act out of a right that the rest of us do not have. The job of the officer of the law is to let them know that they are wrong!"
Discworld QOTD, from I Shall Wear Midnight
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
"Witches knew that mysterious omens were around all the time. The world was always nearly drowning in mysterious omens. You just had to pick the one that was convenient."
Discworld QOTD, from Lords and Ladies
December 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Snuff
"You should look for those who can’t believe that the law would ever catch them, who believe that they act out of a right that the rest of us do not have. The job of the officer of the law is to let them know that they are wrong!"
"You should look for those who can’t believe that the law would ever catch them, who believe that they act out of a right that the rest of us do not have. The job of the officer of the law is to let them know that they are wrong!"
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
There's a lot of people I respect who cannot come to terms with the fact that this is what the American people voted for, they're getting it good and hard, and there is little to nothing a minority party can do to stop it.
Republicans ran on a platform of mass deportation and they're delivering.
Republicans ran on a platform of mass deportation and they're delivering.
This is outright Nazi stuff, and Democrats in Congress aren’t doing enough to try and stop it.
WaPo reports that ICE is planning 7 massive human warehouses holding 5,000 to 10,000 people.
Recalls the acting ICE director 2015 statement that he wanted to see a “business”-oriented approach to deportations, “like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings”.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Recalls the acting ICE director 2015 statement that he wanted to see a “business”-oriented approach to deportations, “like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings”.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
December 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
There's a lot of people I respect who cannot come to terms with the fact that this is what the American people voted for, they're getting it good and hard, and there is little to nothing a minority party can do to stop it.
Republicans ran on a platform of mass deportation and they're delivering.
Republicans ran on a platform of mass deportation and they're delivering.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
It's actually worse. The Supreme Court has held 9-0 -- Clarence Thomas and other executive power fanatics included -- that detainees rendered to another country via the Alien Enemies Act are entitled to a pre-deportation hearing. There is no legal debate whatsoever.
Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
December 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
It's actually worse. The Supreme Court has held 9-0 -- Clarence Thomas and other executive power fanatics included -- that detainees rendered to another country via the Alien Enemies Act are entitled to a pre-deportation hearing. There is no legal debate whatsoever.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
December 23, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Belatedly, this line from Weiss' memo is...something
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Let's get someone who says banishing to CECOT was legit, she says
Here's the thing: There's a consensus among legal experts that *wasn't* legit
You can find someone who says moon is made outta Fluffernutter. Doesn't mean you should quote 'em
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
ICE is out of control.
"Her family has now been told she has been deported, despite US District Judge Brendan Hurson ruling Thursday that she could not be deported pending a hearing...attorneys said Monday that they have...confirm[ed] with the hospital she was born in Maryland." https://bit.ly/3MMdJvz
ICE detains woman whose lawyer insists is US citizen. DHS says she isn't
Federal agents arrested Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales on her way home in Baltimore, Maryland.
bit.ly
December 24, 2025 at 4:07 AM
ICE is out of control.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Anti-trans demagogue and fifth place swimmer Riley Gaines earned $470,000+ last year from a conservative non-profit.
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
December 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Anti-trans demagogue and fifth place swimmer Riley Gaines earned $470,000+ last year from a conservative non-profit.
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
Notably, $420k was incentive-based.
A neat little window into the way the transphobic grift is being compensated.
I wonder what the per-post rate is?
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
LLMs can't substitute for thought, Exhibit 8675309
I have seen DOJ do some strange redactions before, but this is up there:
December 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
LLMs can't substitute for thought, Exhibit 8675309
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Dear Media,
When JD Vance says "take the country back," what do you think he means? What would the party that controls the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, and various state goats—plus leading businesses, media orgs, and more—take back? Take what from whom?
Thanks,
Anti-bigotry Americans
When JD Vance says "take the country back," what do you think he means? What would the party that controls the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, and various state goats—plus leading businesses, media orgs, and more—take back? Take what from whom?
Thanks,
Anti-bigotry Americans
December 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Dear Media,
When JD Vance says "take the country back," what do you think he means? What would the party that controls the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, and various state goats—plus leading businesses, media orgs, and more—take back? Take what from whom?
Thanks,
Anti-bigotry Americans
When JD Vance says "take the country back," what do you think he means? What would the party that controls the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, and various state goats—plus leading businesses, media orgs, and more—take back? Take what from whom?
Thanks,
Anti-bigotry Americans
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Imagine interviewing a victim of torture and independently confirming the details of his torture and then being told you can’t broadcast it because the people who ordered the torture wouldn’t give their side of the story.
December 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Imagine interviewing a victim of torture and independently confirming the details of his torture and then being told you can’t broadcast it because the people who ordered the torture wouldn’t give their side of the story.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
He’s making people ‘illegal’ by cancelling their paperwork. Do folks understand this has never been about ‘doing it the right way’ or ‘following the law’?
ICYMI: “I don't think we've ever, as a country, seen such a huge number of people losing their immigration status all at once,” said Julia Gelatt, the associate director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute. www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...
Trump canceled temporary legal status for more than 1.5 million immigrants in 2025
WASHINGTON — Since Inauguration Day, more than 1.5 million immigrants have either lost or will lose their temporary legal status, including their work authorizations and deportation protections, due t...
www.newsfromthestates.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
He’s making people ‘illegal’ by cancelling their paperwork. Do folks understand this has never been about ‘doing it the right way’ or ‘following the law’?
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
I for one encourage a Trump Memorial Building as soon as possible.
December 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I for one encourage a Trump Memorial Building as soon as possible.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
if you will leave us alone forever we can even take Kennedy name off the damn building
Trump: "Tell me what you think of my 'Master of Ceremony' abilities. If really good, would you like me to leave the Presidency in order to make “hosting” a full time job?"
December 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
if you will leave us alone forever we can even take Kennedy name off the damn building
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Dear Internet — Yes, yes, it’s terrible OpSec to “accidentally” use a black highlighter to redact documents.
It’s worse OpSec to point that out, prior to obtaining the other 90% of the documents.
It’s worse OpSec to point that out, prior to obtaining the other 90% of the documents.
December 23, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Dear Internet — Yes, yes, it’s terrible OpSec to “accidentally” use a black highlighter to redact documents.
It’s worse OpSec to point that out, prior to obtaining the other 90% of the documents.
It’s worse OpSec to point that out, prior to obtaining the other 90% of the documents.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
The FBI put a thousand agents (their own words) on trying to hide all the links between Trump and Epstein. They failed. When people found some additional photos of Trump in the release, the DOJ promptly DELETED THEM FROM THE DOCUMENT RELEASE.
www.npr.org/2025/12/20/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/20/n...
Available to download Friday, some Epstein files no longer there Saturday afternoon
An NPR analysis of the Epstein files shows some documents, originally available on Friday, are no longer on the Department of Justice's "Epstein Library" website as the DOJ releases more files.
www.npr.org
December 20, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The FBI put a thousand agents (their own words) on trying to hide all the links between Trump and Epstein. They failed. When people found some additional photos of Trump in the release, the DOJ promptly DELETED THEM FROM THE DOCUMENT RELEASE.
www.npr.org/2025/12/20/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/20/n...
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Wrote a quick script in python to in-redact the whole thing. Here’s the file. Any more we can recover?
December 23, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Wrote a quick script in python to in-redact the whole thing. Here’s the file. Any more we can recover?
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
here’s the 60 Minutes CECOT segment, which is temporarily available in Canada
you all know what to do
you all know what to do
December 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
here’s the 60 Minutes CECOT segment, which is temporarily available in Canada
you all know what to do
you all know what to do
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
Read this thread, from a an account of the spiked 60 Minutes story that was (apparently mistakenly?) aired in Canada.
Weiss refusing to air this story isn't just journalistic malpractice, it's running interference to help cover up atrocities.
Weiss refusing to air this story isn't just journalistic malpractice, it's running interference to help cover up atrocities.
This has been made available, so for purposes of commenting on Bari Weiss's decision to spike the story, here's a live-post of that segment.
It begins with a "you may recall" summary of the deportation to el Salvador. Describes the admin's claim that it could deport the men without due process
It begins with a "you may recall" summary of the deportation to el Salvador. Describes the admin's claim that it could deport the men without due process
December 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Read this thread, from a an account of the spiked 60 Minutes story that was (apparently mistakenly?) aired in Canada.
Weiss refusing to air this story isn't just journalistic malpractice, it's running interference to help cover up atrocities.
Weiss refusing to air this story isn't just journalistic malpractice, it's running interference to help cover up atrocities.
Reposted by The Nerdy Lawyer
I grew up in Argentina and spent my teens under the military dictatorship that disappeared people.
What Akiva posted here is much, much worse. I had to stop reading about four posts in.
What Akiva posted here is much, much worse. I had to stop reading about four posts in.
December 22, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I grew up in Argentina and spent my teens under the military dictatorship that disappeared people.
What Akiva posted here is much, much worse. I had to stop reading about four posts in.
What Akiva posted here is much, much worse. I had to stop reading about four posts in.