Eric Columbus
@ericcolumbus.bsky.social
Senior Editor @lawfaremedia.org. Previously: Obama appointee at DOJ/DHS. Litigator for Speaker Pelosi and Jan. 6 Committee. Yankee Stadium 🌭 vendor. NYC born and bred. Wannabe historian. Dad joker.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
there should be states in earlier timezones called ninessee, eightessee and sevenessee
December 3, 2025 at 1:23 AM
there should be states in earlier timezones called ninessee, eightessee and sevenessee
Reposted by Eric Columbus
NEW: The official USCIS guidance on this pause is out. Until further notice from the USCIS Director, all immigration benefits (including citizenship) are indefinitely suspended for nationals of 19 countries, as are all affirmative asylum applications from nationals of any country.
![Page 3: Guidance
…
USCIS will conduct a thorough review on a case-by-case basis to assess benefit eligibility including whether:
1. The alien is listed in the Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS) as a Known or Suspected
Terrorist (KST) under Tier 1 or Tier 2 classifications or is included in Tier 3 or Tier 4 of the
TSDS with significant derogatory information related to the alien.
2. The alien is connected to prior, current, or planned involvement in, or association with, an activity, individual, or organization described in sections 212(a)(3)(A), (B), or (F), or 237(a)(4)(A) or (B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
3. The alien is linked to prior, current, or planned involvement in, or association with, an activity, individual, or organization that may pose a risk of serious harm or danger to the community, including criminal conduct described in INA 101(a)(43), 212(a)(1)(A)(iii), 212(a)(2), 237(a)(2), or 237(a)(4)(A)(ii).
4. The alien is unable to establish their identity as outlined in PP 10949."'
This process ensures that USCIS exercises its full authority to protect national security and public safety while adhering to the provisions of the INA and applicable laws. USCIS has considered that this direction may result in delay to the adjudication of some pending applications and has weighed that consequence against the urgent need for the agency to ensure that applicants are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. Ultimately, USCIS has determined that the burden of processing delays that will fall on some applicants is necessary and appropriate in this instance, when weighed against the agency's obligation to protect and preserve national security.
Within 90 days of issuance of this memorandum, USCIS will prioritize a list for review, interview, re-interview, and referral to ICE and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate, and, in consultation with the [two other offices] issue operational guidance.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreiflg3ofmvb5gya5mycqjtkvis6ltjx6n7j2bxd5basepl67uqtqay@jpeg)
December 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
NEW: The official USCIS guidance on this pause is out. Until further notice from the USCIS Director, all immigration benefits (including citizenship) are indefinitely suspended for nationals of 19 countries, as are all affirmative asylum applications from nationals of any country.
Elon vindicated almost immediately
December 3, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Elon vindicated almost immediately
Might as well predict TN-07: GOP by 7.
December 3, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Might as well predict TN-07: GOP by 7.
Timeline poetry
December 2, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Timeline poetry
Reposted by Eric Columbus
George Will: "Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement. ... The killing of the survivors by this moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans. A nation incapable of shame is dangerous, not least to itself" www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | A sickening moral slum of an administration
Regarding Venezuela, Ukraine and much more, Trump and his acolytes are worse than simply incompetent.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:53 PM
George Will: "Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement. ... The killing of the survivors by this moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans. A nation incapable of shame is dangerous, not least to itself" www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Whatever inspires you to donate to @lawfaremedia.org this Giving Tuesday, including my abject humiliation at the hands of @annabower.bsky.social, I salute: givebutter.com/journalism?s...
December 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Whatever inspires you to donate to @lawfaremedia.org this Giving Tuesday, including my abject humiliation at the hands of @annabower.bsky.social, I salute: givebutter.com/journalism?s...
LARRY SUMMERS: I hereby resign from your organization.
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION: Oh yeah? We hereby ban you from having anything to do with us until you die.
www.aeaweb.org/news/aea-sta...
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION: Oh yeah? We hereby ban you from having anything to do with us until you die.
www.aeaweb.org/news/aea-sta...
December 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
LARRY SUMMERS: I hereby resign from your organization.
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION: Oh yeah? We hereby ban you from having anything to do with us until you die.
www.aeaweb.org/news/aea-sta...
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION: Oh yeah? We hereby ban you from having anything to do with us until you die.
www.aeaweb.org/news/aea-sta...
Even if Hegseth didn’t authorize the second strike, he has since said that it was the right thing to do so. That’s enough to disqualify him.
A most important question on the Sept. 2 double-tap strike is who had "target engagement authority" (TEA).
Wall Street Journal:
"A Defense Department official ... said Hegseth was the 'target engagement authority,' the key figure who authorized the strike."
www.wsj.com/politics/whi...
Wall Street Journal:
"A Defense Department official ... said Hegseth was the 'target engagement authority,' the key figure who authorized the strike."
www.wsj.com/politics/whi...
December 2, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Even if Hegseth didn’t authorize the second strike, he has since said that it was the right thing to do so. That’s enough to disqualify him.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Didn't someone just get murdered in DC that was front page news around the country and caused the Trump administration to change its immigration policy toward an entire country?
December 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Didn't someone just get murdered in DC that was front page news around the country and caused the Trump administration to change its immigration policy toward an entire country?
Just a reminder that the flack doing this Pentagon presser for the Mos Eisley crowd (because DoD booted the legit journos) is a frothing bigot. www.npr.org/2025/03/06/n...
A Pentagon press secretary has history of pushing antisemitic, extremist theories
Members of Congress and civil rights groups are condemning past comments from Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, including some which critics called antisemitic.
www.npr.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Just a reminder that the flack doing this Pentagon presser for the Mos Eisley crowd (because DoD booted the legit journos) is a frothing bigot. www.npr.org/2025/03/06/n...
Reposted by Eric Columbus
This year, Lawfare has published analysis and reporting on the prosecution of the president's adversaries, the legality of domestic deployments, how AI is impacting national security, and more–always without a paywall.
On this #GivingTuesday, support our work at givebutter.com/journalism.
On this #GivingTuesday, support our work at givebutter.com/journalism.
Lawfare's Nonpartisan Journalism and Expert Analysis
Support the impactful and trustworthy coverage of Lawfare
givebutter.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This year, Lawfare has published analysis and reporting on the prosecution of the president's adversaries, the legality of domestic deployments, how AI is impacting national security, and more–always without a paywall.
On this #GivingTuesday, support our work at givebutter.com/journalism.
On this #GivingTuesday, support our work at givebutter.com/journalism.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Trump had a full-blown meltdown on social media last night that went on for hours and featured more than 160 posts and reshares, plus a new conspiracy about Michelle Obama. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Trump Launches Into Massive, Unhinged Late Night Posting Spree
The president made over 160 posts and reshares in just a matter of hours including one "WILD" claim from far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
www.huffpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Trump had a full-blown meltdown on social media last night that went on for hours and featured more than 160 posts and reshares, plus a new conspiracy about Michelle Obama. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Eric Columbus
December 2, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Fox News faces critical test in 2nd big defamation suit over spurious 2020 election fraud claims
My story for NPR
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
My story for NPR
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
Fox News faces critical test in 2nd case over false 2020 election claims
The allegations in the multibillion-dollar case sound familiar: A voting-tech company accuses Fox News of defamation for false claims it broadcast about rigged votes in the 2020 presidential election.
www.npr.org
December 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Fox News faces critical test in 2nd big defamation suit over spurious 2020 election fraud claims
My story for NPR
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
My story for NPR
www.npr.org/2025/12/02/n...
I read the relevant posts yesterday but seeing it summarized in a sentence just might break me.
The publisher of “Franklin the Turtle,” a book franchise aimed at preschoolers, expressed criticism after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a doctored image that showed the well-known turtle character attacking the crew of a narcotics vessel.
‘Franklin the Turtle’ publisher slams Hegseth post joking about boat strike
Hegseth, who is under pressure over his order to kill the entire crew of a suspected smuggling vessel, shared a doctored image of the well-known children’s book on social media.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I read the relevant posts yesterday but seeing it summarized in a sentence just might break me.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
One notable thing about the Trump administration picking winners and losers among businesses is that that GOP bitterly complained about Democrats doing the same thing with renewable energy. It's almost like that wasn't the real reason for turning off the spigot.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Commerce Department to Back Chip Startup From Former Intel CEO
The US Commerce Department has agreed to invest as much as $150 million in xLight Inc., a chip technology startup tied to former Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger.
www.bloomberg.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
One notable thing about the Trump administration picking winners and losers among businesses is that that GOP bitterly complained about Democrats doing the same thing with renewable energy. It's almost like that wasn't the real reason for turning off the spigot.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
If Pete Hegseth is the worst Secretary of Defense of your lifetime, you're not old enough to buy alcohol.
December 2, 2025 at 12:52 AM
If Pete Hegseth is the worst Secretary of Defense of your lifetime, you're not old enough to buy alcohol.
Shorter Noem: Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.
December 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Shorter Noem: Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.
Sure the Butler cliffhanger was a letdown, but once LIZZA learned that NUZZI knew an IZZY, he had to mention her — she was a human Chekhov’s gun!
Lizza says Nuzzi had a “poor quality” recording that might or might not have included Trump saying something about his bloody ear that might or might not have contradicted the official narrative about the assassination attempt but then deleted the recording after talking with RFKJr.
So tiresome 💤💤💤
So tiresome 💤💤💤
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Sure the Butler cliffhanger was a letdown, but once LIZZA learned that NUZZI knew an IZZY, he had to mention her — she was a human Chekhov’s gun!
If memory serves, earlier this year it was reported that Trump had scheduled a meeting re Iran—and then we bombed Iran before the meeting was supposed to occur. I don't know if we ever learned whether the meeting announcement was a fake-out or plans changed.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/p...
Trump to hold Venezuela Oval Office meeting amid growing questions about his military moves | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump will hold a meeting at the White House on Monday evening about next steps on Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, as the administration intensifies its pressure...
www.cnn.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
If memory serves, earlier this year it was reported that Trump had scheduled a meeting re Iran—and then we bombed Iran before the meeting was supposed to occur. I don't know if we ever learned whether the meeting announcement was a fake-out or plans changed.
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/p...
Reposted by Eric Columbus
What did I miss in my list?
www.thebulwark.com/p/jackie-cha...
www.thebulwark.com/p/jackie-cha...
December 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
What did I miss in my list?
www.thebulwark.com/p/jackie-cha...
www.thebulwark.com/p/jackie-cha...
“A lead investigator in that case was Emil Bove, then a prosecutor for the Southern District of New York.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
This is ridiculous. It was the first TRUMP admin which developed the cases against President Hernandez. His brother Tony Hernandez was indicted in 2018 and convicted in 2019, and key ally Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez was indicted in 2020.
Both were later sentenced to life in prison!
Both were later sentenced to life in prison!
Leavitt: "The people of Honduras have highlighted to him how the former President Hernandez was set up. This was a clear Biden over prosecution."
December 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
“A lead investigator in that case was Emil Bove, then a prosecutor for the Southern District of New York.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
DOJ says immigration judges, as "inferior officers," may be fired on the basis of sex, religion, race, or national origin. Leaving aside the law, it's *politically* remarkable they're taking this position.
washingtonlitigationgroup.org/news/former-...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
washingtonlitigationgroup.org/news/former-...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
DOJ says immigration judges, as "inferior officers," may be fired on the basis of sex, religion, race, or national origin. Leaving aside the law, it's *politically* remarkable they're taking this position.
washingtonlitigationgroup.org/news/former-...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
washingtonlitigationgroup.org/news/former-...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...