Josh Chafetz
@joshchafetz.bsky.social
Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Law and Politics, Georgetown Law: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/josh-chafetz/
Author, most recently, of _Congress's Constitution_: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300248334/
Author, most recently, of _Congress's Constitution_: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300248334/
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Josh Chafetz
@joshchafetz.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Congress's Constitution: Legislative Authority and the Separation of Powers: Chafetz, Josh: 9780300248333: Amazon.com: Books
Congress's Constitution: Legislative Authority and the Separation of Powers [Chafetz, Josh] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Congress's Constitution: Legislative Authority and the Separation of Powers
www.amazon.com
Hi new followers!
If you happen to be interested in the separation of powers, Congress, government shutdowns, contempt of Congress, the filibuster, and more, have I got the book for you! www.amazon.com/dp/0300248334/
If you happen to be interested in the separation of powers, Congress, government shutdowns, contempt of Congress, the filibuster, and more, have I got the book for you! www.amazon.com/dp/0300248334/
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
WaPo is reporting that Bradley told lawmakers that Hegseth DID give a kill order.
December 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
WaPo is reporting that Bradley told lawmakers that Hegseth DID give a kill order.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
This is the third newsroom (at least) with an FBI leak about the suspect being a Trump supporter. Seems some FBI folks — presumably not the political hires —are very eager to get this out there.
BREAKING on MS NOW:
Brian Cole Jr., the suspect accused of being the Jan. 6 pipe bomber, confessed to agents that he planted the bombs and has indicated he supported President Trump, according to two people familiar with his interview.
Brian Cole Jr., the suspect accused of being the Jan. 6 pipe bomber, confessed to agents that he planted the bombs and has indicated he supported President Trump, according to two people familiar with his interview.
December 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This is the third newsroom (at least) with an FBI leak about the suspect being a Trump supporter. Seems some FBI folks — presumably not the political hires —are very eager to get this out there.
I'm leaving for 2 weeks in Spain today, which means I don't have to read the Isgur op-ed, and you can't make me.
December 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I'm leaving for 2 weeks in Spain today, which means I don't have to read the Isgur op-ed, and you can't make me.
National political elites in a polarized age act in a purely partisan manner
a woman with a surprised look on her face and the words `` pretends to be shocked '' .
ALT: a woman with a surprised look on her face and the words `` pretends to be shocked '' .
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
National political elites in a polarized age act in a purely partisan manner
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Breaking News: A grand jury is said to have declined to re-indict Letitia James, rejecting a Trump effort to revive a criminal case.
Grand Jury Said to Decline to Re-Indict Letitia James
After a judge dismissed the Trump administration’s first attempt to indict the attorney general of New York State, a new grand jury effort failed, according to people familiar with the matter.
nyti.ms
December 4, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Breaking News: A grand jury is said to have declined to re-indict Letitia James, rejecting a Trump effort to revive a criminal case.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Reuters: U.S. SUPREME COURT REVIVES REDRAWN PRO-REPUBLICAN TEXAS VOTING MAP INTENDED TO HELP TRUMP'S PARTY KEEP CONTROL OF CONGRESS
December 4, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reuters: U.S. SUPREME COURT REVIVES REDRAWN PRO-REPUBLICAN TEXAS VOTING MAP INTENDED TO HELP TRUMP'S PARTY KEEP CONTROL OF CONGRESS
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
I thought this was a joke. It’s real.
From JD Vance on Houthi PC small group, the day after Signalgate broke:
December 4, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I thought this was a joke. It’s real.
Reminds me of when Jesse Helms in a hearing kept referring to Kim Jong Il as "Kim Jong the Second." So his staff wrote it out phonetically as "Kim Jong ILL" ... and naturally, he read it as "Kim Jong the Third."
-Often US prez needs to say "difficult" foreign name.
-Any COMPETENT prez, w competent staff, has close-enough version phonetically in text.
-Once Prez Carter welcomed Coptic Pope, Shenouda III, from Egypt
-Carter's text said "sheh-NOO-dah" (via consultation w Arabists)
DAMHIK. This is basic stuff.
-Any COMPETENT prez, w competent staff, has close-enough version phonetically in text.
-Once Prez Carter welcomed Coptic Pope, Shenouda III, from Egypt
-Carter's text said "sheh-NOO-dah" (via consultation w Arabists)
DAMHIK. This is basic stuff.
Trump tries to read President Tshisekedi's name
December 4, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reminds me of when Jesse Helms in a hearing kept referring to Kim Jong Il as "Kim Jong the Second." So his staff wrote it out phonetically as "Kim Jong ILL" ... and naturally, he read it as "Kim Jong the Third."
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
“I became both heroine and heroin to him. And sometimes, a heron, for when we did bird play.”
More Excerpts from Olivia Nuzzi’s American Canto
“Forget the sex; the real scandal here is the crime against language.” — Brian Phillips, The Ringer, on Olivia Nuzzi’s new memoir, American Canto, ...
buff.ly
December 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
“I became both heroine and heroin to him. And sometimes, a heron, for when we did bird play.”
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
cat below: "i forgot something, what did i forget? the scratching post? the toy, what?"
December 4, 2025 at 6:37 PM
cat below: "i forgot something, what did i forget? the scratching post? the toy, what?"
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Rand Paul tells me that he wants the full video of the Venezuelan boat strike released.
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
December 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Rand Paul tells me that he wants the full video of the Venezuelan boat strike released.
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
The worst idea that somehow got mainstreamed is that you should not care what others think about you. One of the most important aspects of virtue is thinking about how others will judge your actions.
One of my most conservative-coded opinions is that one of the reasons we're in this mess is because of the profound decadence, solipsism, moral rot, and general lack of personal virtue afflicting much of the upper PMC / bourgeoisie.
December 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The worst idea that somehow got mainstreamed is that you should not care what others think about you. One of the most important aspects of virtue is thinking about how others will judge your actions.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
There's been weirdly little coverage of this point. Trump/ McMahon are demanding an end to gender-based affirmative action in admissions and they clearly still believe we're in the world where aa benefits young *women* applicants, but that world is long gone.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Trump’s attack on DEI may hurt college men, particularly White men
The Trump administration’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion also targets gender. The ban may impact gender balancing practices that often benefit college men.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
There's been weirdly little coverage of this point. Trump/ McMahon are demanding an end to gender-based affirmative action in admissions and they clearly still believe we're in the world where aa benefits young *women* applicants, but that world is long gone.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Also, most importantly: It was an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of the United States.
Reminder about Jan 6:
it really happened
It was a horror
140+ police were injured
A range of violent weapons were used by attackers
Chants to hang Mike Pence were heard
There was a gallows and guns
Pipe bombs diverted police as mob approached
it really happened
It was a horror
140+ police were injured
A range of violent weapons were used by attackers
Chants to hang Mike Pence were heard
There was a gallows and guns
Pipe bombs diverted police as mob approached
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Also, most importantly: It was an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of the United States.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
That last point. Cassidy really has enormous leverage if he wants to use it. He would win this fight. Worst case is he winds up losing a primary and spends his 70s (he's 68 now) as a hero to millions. He'll likely never have as much influence over anything again as he has over this right now.
ACIP may end universal Hep B vaccination today.
Hep B prevention is Cassidy's passion, as he made clear during RFK Jr's confirmation hearings.
But let's not forget... his vote to confirm RFK Jr. got us into this mess!
He needs to use every lever of power he has in the Senate to fix it.
Hep B prevention is Cassidy's passion, as he made clear during RFK Jr's confirmation hearings.
But let's not forget... his vote to confirm RFK Jr. got us into this mess!
He needs to use every lever of power he has in the Senate to fix it.
December 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
That last point. Cassidy really has enormous leverage if he wants to use it. He would win this fight. Worst case is he winds up losing a primary and spends his 70s (he's 68 now) as a hero to millions. He'll likely never have as much influence over anything again as he has over this right now.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Wonder if any questions would have been asked if he’d done it in like May.
whether hegseth gets away with it remains to be seen but it is interesting to see that he thought trump handed him a license to murder with this job, no questions asked, and now questions are definitely being asked.
December 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Wonder if any questions would have been asked if he’d done it in like May.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Speaker Johnson shut the House down for 54 days — and he could do it again, ceding yet more power to an out-of-control president.
With a party revolt brewing & tough calls looming on appropriations, war crimes, and more, we interviewed Max Spitzer, a former House parliamentarian, on what to do.
With a party revolt brewing & tough calls looming on appropriations, war crimes, and more, we interviewed Max Spitzer, a former House parliamentarian, on what to do.
December 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Speaker Johnson shut the House down for 54 days — and he could do it again, ceding yet more power to an out-of-control president.
With a party revolt brewing & tough calls looming on appropriations, war crimes, and more, we interviewed Max Spitzer, a former House parliamentarian, on what to do.
With a party revolt brewing & tough calls looming on appropriations, war crimes, and more, we interviewed Max Spitzer, a former House parliamentarian, on what to do.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
This is what I was thinking. Have to go back and look at how both pardons issued by Trump could apply to the January 6 pipe bomber.
December 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
This is what I was thinking. Have to go back and look at how both pardons issued by Trump could apply to the January 6 pipe bomber.
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Rep. Jim Himes after being briefed by Adm. Bradley:
"What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States."
"What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States."
December 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Rep. Jim Himes after being briefed by Adm. Bradley:
"What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States."
"What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who are killed by the United States."
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Quite breathtaking story - military grade drones at Dublin airport which flew on the path Zelensky's plane took. The drones reached the flight path of his plane exactly the time it should have been there, but just missed it because Zelensky arrived ahead of schedule:
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
www.thejournal.ie
December 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Quite breathtaking story - military grade drones at Dublin airport which flew on the path Zelensky's plane took. The drones reached the flight path of his plane exactly the time it should have been there, but just missed it because Zelensky arrived ahead of schedule:
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
Trump's white nationalist aides are churning out vile videos glorifying migrant suffering. But Trump-MAGA are *losing* the online culture wars over deportations, because the humane side is info-warring better.
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Trump's white nationalist aides are churning out vile videos glorifying migrant suffering. But Trump-MAGA are *losing* the online culture wars over deportations, because the humane side is info-warring better.
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
Check out @paulwaldman.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2038...
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
New today from @gallup.com: "Americans' economic confidence has fallen to its lowest level in over a year, accompanied by a historic drop in planned holiday spending."
Economic Confidence Slips; Holiday Spending Plans Plummet
Americans' economic confidence has fallen to its lowest level in over a year, accompanied by a historic drop in planned holiday spending.
news.gallup.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New today from @gallup.com: "Americans' economic confidence has fallen to its lowest level in over a year, accompanied by a historic drop in planned holiday spending."
Reposted by Josh Chafetz
DOD IG report on Signalgate, which notes that investigators had to rely in part on the transcript that we posted, because messages on Hegseth's cell phone had auto-deleted. media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...
media.defense.gov
December 4, 2025 at 4:14 PM
DOD IG report on Signalgate, which notes that investigators had to rely in part on the transcript that we posted, because messages on Hegseth's cell phone had auto-deleted. media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...
"patriarchy": crazy jargon! must stop using to become popular with the masses!
"kinetic": manly terminology. must use as sophisticated alternative to simply grunting into the mic.
"kinetic": manly terminology. must use as sophisticated alternative to simply grunting into the mic.
I think Hegseth thinks “kinetic” is a magic word that turns murder into wine.
December 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"patriarchy": crazy jargon! must stop using to become popular with the masses!
"kinetic": manly terminology. must use as sophisticated alternative to simply grunting into the mic.
"kinetic": manly terminology. must use as sophisticated alternative to simply grunting into the mic.