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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 18h

Don’t worry. They are now deploying their targeting “discipline” to Venezuelan fishermen. I’m sure they are only getting the “bad guys” and no innocent people are being killed.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d

Remember when Stephen Miller claimed the Chicago apartment raid was on a building “filled with Tren de Aragua terrorists”?

Well, DHS has now dropped the number of alleged TdA members arrested in the building from 2 to 1.

Just one "verified" Tren de Aragua member and one U.S. citizen with an active warrant were among the 37, DHS said, without saying how it had verified that gang affiliation. Others taken that day, the agency said, were "illegal aliens."

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

No low shall go unstooped.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 1d

Remember the assurances that ICE would only pursue “the worst of the worst,” but in practice it has been targeting grandmas, guys in the Home Depot parking lot, etc. I have no doubt that our campaign of terror on the high seas against “narco-terrorists” is equally imprecise and lethally incompetent.

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 1d

Further premeditated, lawless killing in the Caribbean.

Making at least five such US strikes.

Against unidentified "narcoterrorists" affiliated w/ an unspecified "designated terrorist organization" allegedly trafficking unspecified narcotics.

POTUS is asserting a license to kill outside the law.

Under my Standing Authorities as Commander-in-Chief, this morning, the Secretary of War, ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility — just off the Coast of Venezuela. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known DTO route. The strike was conducted in International Waters, and six male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike. No U.S. Forces were harmed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!

Reposted by John McKenzie

Republicans Against Trumpism @rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social · 1d

Chris Christie: “Thie is no longer, the Department of Justice, is no longer the premier prosecuting office in America. What it is now is a capo regime who goes out and executes hits when directed by the Don to do so. That’s what it is.”

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 2d

The “unitary executive” theory rests on extremely spare constitutional text, a very mixed or non-existent historical record, and an illogical view of Congress’s powers. It should fail (and would fail under every SCOTUS other than this one in my lifetime.) 3/3

John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 2d

It also beggars belief to assert that Congress possesses the power to create an entire federal agency, but lacks the power to prescribe the rules for staffing that agency. The greater power implies the lesser, and there is no express constitutional text that rebuts this implication. 2/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 2d

No president has claimed the powers Trump claims. Were all prior presidents mistaken as to the scope of their powers? To me, this is the best originalist case against Trump. The original presidents did not act like him 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/u...

Originalist ‘Bombshell’ Complicates Case on Trump’s Power to Fire Officials

www.nytimes.com

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 3d

Barrett’s defense doesn’t hold up. If there is no final consensus, why not let the lower court ruling stand? If it’s such a great idea to use the shadow docket as this court does, why has every prior SCOTUS done it differently? Why do the lower court judges think it’s terrible?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Amy Coney Barrett defends heavy use of the shadow docket: "If we wrote a long opinion, it might give the impression that we have finally resolved the issue, and in none of these cases have we finally resolved the issue."

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

That judges—by the dozen—would even vent to the press like this indicates the gravity of the shadow docket crisis. Judges ordinarily speak through their opinions. They do not complain to the press. They’ve calculated that speaking out better defends rule of law than silence—a startling calculation.

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 4d

More judges speak to the press (the NYT) about what a disaster the Supreme Court (specifically the shadow docket) has been - “incredibly demoralizing & troubling”; a “judicial crisis”; a “slap in the face to district courts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

I have never seen a video of an undocumented immigrant U-turning to strike a vehicle and then kidnapping the vehicle’s driver. ICE’s “cure” is much worse than the supposed malady it purports to address.

jen sometimes aph 🌻 @bunnibytz.bsky.social · 4d

via @youranonnews.bsky.social

CHICAGO: Trump's lawless goons (ICE) make a U-turn and smash into a woman's car, then proceed to arrest her by dragging her out of the vehicle.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

The Court seems to believe that being at war with its own lower courts by issuing unreasoned rulings is advisable. I am of the view that an endless parade of circular journeys up and down different tiers of review is only going to paralyze the entire judicial branch of government.

John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

She was also released without charges—as good as indication as any of ICE’s confidence that it could prove its version of events beyond a reasonable doubt.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

Unreasoned opinions are impossible to follow in any case presenting even slightly different facts from the case decided. Further, a Supreme Court at war with its lower courts will impair its own effectiveness and, by extension, the entire judiciary.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

No one should believe a word ICE or DHS says. Their statements are regularly contradicted by video evidence.

CJ Ciaramella @cjciaramella.bsky.social · 5d

UPDATE: In emailed statement to me / @reason.com, DHS alleges that WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman "threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer."

Screencap of email from DHS public affairs: Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin:

“U.S. Border Patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers. In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a U.S. citizen, threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.

“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 4d

I am willing to wager that an undocumented immigrant has never tackled this woman and handcuffed her. So who is the real threat to her life, person, and freedom?

Heartland Signal @heartlandsignal.bsky.social · 5d

BREAKING: Masked Border Patrol agents aggressively arrested WGN video producer Debbie Brockman in Lincoln Square Friday morning, supposedly for "obstructing justice." (Video via Josh Thomas on Facebook)

Follow @heartlandsignal for more.

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

Lincoln wrote this letter only 10 months after losing his own son, Willie, which affected him deeply. I find consolation, whenever I grieve anyone, in knowing that this grief is just part of the journey to my loved one becoming “a sad sweet feeling in my heart.” Thank you for the kind comment. 3/3

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

“I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once. The memory of your dear Father, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer and holier sort than you have known before.” Letter to Fanny McCullough. 2/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

Abraham Lincoln once wrote on grief: “Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now.” 1/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

In some ways, a world where we could all award ourselves Nobel peace prizes would be a lot of fun, I must confess.

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Reposted by John McKenzie

jen sometimes aph 🌻 @bunnibytz.bsky.social · 5d

ht: @nocontextmr.bsky.social

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

You knew William was a real one when he went bald like a boss—no treatments or surgery, just a dignified acceptance. Rhian Mannings is an inspiration. One of my best friends took his own life 2 weeks ago. I’m very sad about it, but there’s no judgment. I forgive him, I forgive myself, and I love him

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

Expectations for lawful behavior were already lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut before these indictments. But it’s still worth expressing outrage. You don’t have to be a boiled frog. You can say the water should never have gotten this hot, and we should cool it down now. 2/2

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 5d

The Comey and James indictments are absolutely outrageous. A special prosecutor charged Trump at the federal level—not Biden. Obama didn’t charge anyone. Neither did Bush. Alberto Gonzales resigned in disgrace for the politicized firing of US attorneys—child’s play compared to these indictments. 1/

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 7d

Of course the Dems will never pass a budget unless it is conditioned on re-hiring those workers.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 8d

We're now hearing threats about withholding post-shutdown pay. They first threatened widespread new firings? So why hasn't that happened. As I noted last week despite all the threats none of the firing machinery had actually been started up. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dont-...

Don’t Believe the Hype: Trump Bum-Rushing DC Reporters Edition

News comes today that Russ Vought is now threatening not to pay...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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John McKenzie @jwmckenzie.bsky.social · 8d

Miller’s real grievance is with founding-era Supreme Court Justice John Marshall’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison, and the unbroken chain of precedent that has followed it since.

Raffi Melkonian @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social · 9d

Not that you need this to know, but Miller is completely insane.

Matthew Stiegler @matthewstiegler.bsky.social · 9d

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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." ...

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