@marcsebastian.bsky.social
Civil rights attorney in DC. Reader, writer, Spartan, and occasional Wolverine.
Reposted
Interesting compelled public employee speech case. (Opinion linked from the story, thankfully.) www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/p...
Editing federal employees’ emails to blame Democrats for shutdown violated their First Amendment rights, judge says | CNN Politics
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Department of Education violated the First Amendment rights of some agency employees when it sent out-of-office messages on their behalf that blamed Democrats for...
www.cnn.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Interesting compelled public employee speech case. (Opinion linked from the story, thankfully.) www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/p...
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The Illinois legislature had passed the “Illinois Bivens Act,” allowing people to sue ICE agents in state court. Just waiting for Pritzker’s signature.
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
November 5, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The Illinois legislature had passed the “Illinois Bivens Act,” allowing people to sue ICE agents in state court. Just waiting for Pritzker’s signature.
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/03/c...
Reposted
Amen.
There was no one unified and tidy movement, but rather multiple overlapping ones with rival leaders and disparate constituencies, generational and sectional tensions, arguments over strategies and tactics, wildly different attitudes to capitalism and religion, focal points all over the map …
There was no one unified and tidy movement, but rather multiple overlapping ones with rival leaders and disparate constituencies, generational and sectional tensions, arguments over strategies and tactics, wildly different attitudes to capitalism and religion, focal points all over the map …
Here’s the thing about the Civil Rights Movement people don’t realize, shit was messy.
October 23, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Amen.
There was no one unified and tidy movement, but rather multiple overlapping ones with rival leaders and disparate constituencies, generational and sectional tensions, arguments over strategies and tactics, wildly different attitudes to capitalism and religion, focal points all over the map …
There was no one unified and tidy movement, but rather multiple overlapping ones with rival leaders and disparate constituencies, generational and sectional tensions, arguments over strategies and tactics, wildly different attitudes to capitalism and religion, focal points all over the map …
Reposted
All you peacenik liberals wringing hands over what to do: Yes, of course, vote. It's your primary responsibility as a citizen.
But now more than ever, fulfill your second civic responsibility: Serve on juries. Never has it been more imperative to thwart rogue injustice.
But now more than ever, fulfill your second civic responsibility: Serve on juries. Never has it been more imperative to thwart rogue injustice.
October 11, 2025 at 8:56 PM
All you peacenik liberals wringing hands over what to do: Yes, of course, vote. It's your primary responsibility as a citizen.
But now more than ever, fulfill your second civic responsibility: Serve on juries. Never has it been more imperative to thwart rogue injustice.
But now more than ever, fulfill your second civic responsibility: Serve on juries. Never has it been more imperative to thwart rogue injustice.
Reposted
MIT's response to the Trump admin's proposed "compact" is excellent and should be a model for other universities. orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
October 10, 2025 at 2:14 PM
MIT's response to the Trump admin's proposed "compact" is excellent and should be a model for other universities. orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
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Thirty years ago, a peace-loving Austrian theologian spoke to Peter Thiel about the apocalyptic theories of Carl Schmitt, the German legal theorist tapped by the Nazi's to justify Germany's slip from democracy to dictatorship.
Those theories have been a roadmap for the billionaire
ever since.
Those theories have been a roadmap for the billionaire
ever since.
The Real Stakes, and Real Story, of Peter Thiel’s Antichrist Obsession
Thirty years ago, a peace-loving Austrian theologian spoke to Peter Thiel about the apocalyptic theories of Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt. They’ve been a road map for the billionaire ever since.
www.wired.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Thirty years ago, a peace-loving Austrian theologian spoke to Peter Thiel about the apocalyptic theories of Carl Schmitt, the German legal theorist tapped by the Nazi's to justify Germany's slip from democracy to dictatorship.
Those theories have been a roadmap for the billionaire
ever since.
Those theories have been a roadmap for the billionaire
ever since.
Reposted
"This used to be the best job I’ve ever had, the best environment I’ve ever had, the best culture I’ve ever had—and they fucking ruined it.
I will never ever forget how much they ruined it."
I will never ever forget how much they ruined it."
The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers
WIRED spoke with more than 200 federal workers in dozens of agencies to learn what happened as the Department of Government Efficiency tore through their offices.
www.wired.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"This used to be the best job I’ve ever had, the best environment I’ve ever had, the best culture I’ve ever had—and they fucking ruined it.
I will never ever forget how much they ruined it."
I will never ever forget how much they ruined it."
Reposted
A man in Washington, DC, plays the Imperial March from Star Wars while following patrolling soldiers. One of the soldiers threatens to call the police.
September 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
A man in Washington, DC, plays the Imperial March from Star Wars while following patrolling soldiers. One of the soldiers threatens to call the police.
This story has haunted me since I first read it. Beautifully presented and discussed here by Victor Lodato. So good.
Victor Lodato Reads Denis Johnson
Podcast Episode · The New Yorker: Fiction · 09/01/2025 · 1h 31m
podcasts.apple.com
September 1, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This story has haunted me since I first read it. Beautifully presented and discussed here by Victor Lodato. So good.
Reposted
Lot of people posting about jury nullification right now. One thing to keep in mind: if you want to be on a jury, where you can hold the government to its burden or nullify when necessary, you have to be able to get on a jury. 1/
August 15, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Lot of people posting about jury nullification right now. One thing to keep in mind: if you want to be on a jury, where you can hold the government to its burden or nullify when necessary, you have to be able to get on a jury. 1/
Reposted
The Michigan @aclu.org is looking to hire a senior staff attorney. These jobs don't come around that often, and they've got a great team -- wanted to make sure folk saw it!
www.aclumich.org/en/jobs/staf...
www.aclumich.org/en/jobs/staf...
Staff Attorney / Senior Staff Attorney
For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been at the forefront of every major civil liberties fight in our country’s history. Whether it’s reducing the prison and jail population, achieving full equality
www.aclumich.org
July 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The Michigan @aclu.org is looking to hire a senior staff attorney. These jobs don't come around that often, and they've got a great team -- wanted to make sure folk saw it!
www.aclumich.org/en/jobs/staf...
www.aclumich.org/en/jobs/staf...
Reposted
1977: why would the bartender in star wars even care if some robots with artificial intelligence came into his bar
2025: ohhh ok
2025: ohhh ok
July 9, 2025 at 2:12 AM
1977: why would the bartender in star wars even care if some robots with artificial intelligence came into his bar
2025: ohhh ok
2025: ohhh ok
Reposted
Most of the bidding action was online. But at a ritzy Beverly Hills hotel, hopeful bidders united by genuine affection for Lynch admired the tools of the late artist's trade. It was a mirthful wake.
The David Lynch estate auction doubled as a caffeinated wake
Most of the bidding action was online. But at a ritzy Beverly Hills hotel, hopeful bidders united by genuine affection for Lynch admired the tools of the late artist's trade. It was a mirthful wake.
n.pr
June 23, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Most of the bidding action was online. But at a ritzy Beverly Hills hotel, hopeful bidders united by genuine affection for Lynch admired the tools of the late artist's trade. It was a mirthful wake.
Reposted
If this disingenuous, mealy mouthed order doesn’t convert everyone to being a legal realist, I don’t know what will.
May 22, 2025 at 9:03 PM
If this disingenuous, mealy mouthed order doesn’t convert everyone to being a legal realist, I don’t know what will.
Reposted
the establishment clause
May 22, 2025 at 2:12 PM
the establishment clause
Reposted
Everything is awful, but Sam Alito is really mad, so there's that.
May 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Everything is awful, but Sam Alito is really mad, so there's that.
At a certain point you have to admire the brazenness. It’s basically performance art at this point.
Fed. judge strikes EEOC's guidance that interprets Title VII to bar workplace harassment on account of gender identity and sexual orientation. Says that sort of harassement is not on account of biological sex and so not barred.
Judge Kacsmaryk, of course.
assets.law360news.com/2341000/2341...
Judge Kacsmaryk, of course.
assets.law360news.com/2341000/2341...
May 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
At a certain point you have to admire the brazenness. It’s basically performance art at this point.
If this has the same effect on the papal conclave as he did on the Canadian election, I'll take it.
May 3, 2025 at 3:00 AM
If this has the same effect on the papal conclave as he did on the Canadian election, I'll take it.
Reposted
I want to give credit to my editors, who asked me to write 2,000 words on why Andrew Tate wears such tight pants. I submitted 3,700. They asked if I really needed to start with a story about the industrial revolution and I said "yes, absolutely don't cut."
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
Why So Many MAGA Men Look Like Joe Rogan
The slim-fit uniform of grindset entrepreneurs and right wing podcasters can be traced back decades.
www.bloomberg.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I want to give credit to my editors, who asked me to write 2,000 words on why Andrew Tate wears such tight pants. I submitted 3,700. They asked if I really needed to start with a story about the industrial revolution and I said "yes, absolutely don't cut."
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
Reposted
BREAKING: Trump admin says it mistakenly deported a Maryland father who had *withholding of removal* back to El Salvador on March 15. Govt told court Monday it won't bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back. "What.The.Fuck..." one govt attorney told me. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc... @theatlantic.com
An ‘Administrative Error’ Sends a Maryland Father to a Salvadoran Prison
The Trump administration says it mistakenly deported an immigrant with protected status but that courts are powerless to order his return.
www.theatlantic.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:25 AM
BREAKING: Trump admin says it mistakenly deported a Maryland father who had *withholding of removal* back to El Salvador on March 15. Govt told court Monday it won't bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back. "What.The.Fuck..." one govt attorney told me. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc... @theatlantic.com
Reposted
A reminder for this Transgender Day of Visibility:
Trans people have always existed, and we always will.
No president, politician, or court can change that.
Trans people have always existed, and we always will.
No president, politician, or court can change that.
March 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
A reminder for this Transgender Day of Visibility:
Trans people have always existed, and we always will.
No president, politician, or court can change that.
Trans people have always existed, and we always will.
No president, politician, or court can change that.
Reposted
Many Medicaid recipients do not know they receive it because Medicaid is called different things in different states. The public narrative of Medicaid focuses on a distant other, but 40% of US children and 60% of nursing home residents receive Medicaid. Just SOME of the names by state are below:
February 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Many Medicaid recipients do not know they receive it because Medicaid is called different things in different states. The public narrative of Medicaid focuses on a distant other, but 40% of US children and 60% of nursing home residents receive Medicaid. Just SOME of the names by state are below:
Auditioning for @spartanpod.bsky.social foreign correspondent
February 26, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Auditioning for @spartanpod.bsky.social foreign correspondent
Reposted
This is incredible reporting that must shock the conscience of each and every one of us.
February 19, 2025 at 11:57 PM
This is incredible reporting that must shock the conscience of each and every one of us.