Mike Lissner
@michaeljaylissner.com
Executive director and co-founder of @free.law. Occasional long distance athlete. Woodworker. Adroitful dodger of questions.
Signal: mlissner.06
Signal: mlissner.06
Reposted by Mike Lissner
This will raise how much you pay to drive your car for the next ten years. Every time you fill up at the pump, the price should've been lower, but it won't be, because of this. Also more kids and elderly people will get sick from air pollution. Analysis: Seems bad. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
Trump Returns to Gasoline as Fuel of Choice for Cars, Gutting Biden’s Climate Policy
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:11 PM
This will raise how much you pay to drive your car for the next ten years. Every time you fill up at the pump, the price should've been lower, but it won't be, because of this. Also more kids and elderly people will get sick from air pollution. Analysis: Seems bad. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/c...
Reposted by Mike Lissner
California unveiled an online portal to report potentially illegal activity by federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to the state Department of Justice.
You can now report crimes by federal agents in California
California unveiled an online portal to report potentially illegal activity by federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to the state Department of Justice.
oaklandside.org
December 4, 2025 at 1:26 AM
California unveiled an online portal to report potentially illegal activity by federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to the state Department of Justice.
Reposted by Mike Lissner
Remember the big class action about PACER fees being too high? Well, things take time and the appellate oral argument is now scheduled for January 7th: www.courtlistener.com/docket/68504...
#52 in NVLSP v. United States (Fed. Cir., 24-1757) – CourtListener.com
NOTICE OF ORAL ARGUMENT. Panel: 2601E. Case scheduled January 7, 2026. Response to Notice of Oral Argument due: 12/04/2025. Please review the attached Notice. The response to notice of oral argument f...
www.courtlistener.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Remember the big class action about PACER fees being too high? Well, things take time and the appellate oral argument is now scheduled for January 7th: www.courtlistener.com/docket/68504...
Reposted by Mike Lissner
we have built a culture of elite impunity
NEW: The commutation Trump issued to David Gentile wipes away all further fines & restitution.
Gentile had been sentenced to 7 years for his role in a $1.6B scheme that defrauded thousands of investors.
Prosecutors had been seeking $15.5M in forfeiture.
www.justice.gov/pardon/media...
Gentile had been sentenced to 7 years for his role in a $1.6B scheme that defrauded thousands of investors.
Prosecutors had been seeking $15.5M in forfeiture.
www.justice.gov/pardon/media...
December 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
we have built a culture of elite impunity
Reposted by Mike Lissner
Nice win-win way to phase-out gas: the utility identifies pipelines due for replacement. If it is cheaper to electrify all the buildings served by that pipeline than digging, they pay for electrification. In Belgium, we're still extending the gas network 🙁
My latest is a feature about Julie Liu, one of the most fascinating women I’ve had the privilege of interviewing. She basically invented the job of electrification contractor in NY, and is currently running all of ConEd’s whole-home retrofits. heatmap.news/energy/coned...
Meet Con Edison’s One-Woman Electrification Show
Julie Liu is converting gas customers to heat pumps, one home at a time.
heatmap.news
December 3, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Nice win-win way to phase-out gas: the utility identifies pipelines due for replacement. If it is cheaper to electrify all the buildings served by that pipeline than digging, they pay for electrification. In Belgium, we're still extending the gas network 🙁
Reposted by Mike Lissner
Reposted by Mike Lissner
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
Reposted by Mike Lissner
E-bikes comprise around two-thirds of vehicles in New York City's protected bike lanes — far more than the Department of Transportation is counting, a new study found.
Report: DOT is Undercounting The E-Bike Boom - Streetsblog New York City
A new study from an MIT grad student shows that e-bikes are the most popular vehicle for those using New York City's bike lanes.
buff.ly
December 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
E-bikes comprise around two-thirds of vehicles in New York City's protected bike lanes — far more than the Department of Transportation is counting, a new study found.
I'll have a lot more to say about this soon, but for now I'll just say this: We're in a groove like never before. Every dollar you send us will empower us to help real people. Among many other achievements, this year we dished up about 800 million pages & PDFs!
Today is GivingTuesday!
If CourtListener or Free Law Project has helped you research, track a case, or build something awesome — today’s the day to give back.
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Your support keeps the law free, open & accessible
Thank you
If CourtListener or Free Law Project has helped you research, track a case, or build something awesome — today’s the day to give back.
Give back & share your story in a single step.
donate.free.law/forms/giving...
Your support keeps the law free, open & accessible
Thank you
December 2, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I'll have a lot more to say about this soon, but for now I'll just say this: We're in a groove like never before. Every dollar you send us will empower us to help real people. Among many other achievements, this year we dished up about 800 million pages & PDFs!
Reposted by Mike Lissner
Must read by @marknevitt.bsky.social on why killing survivors at sea is a moral & strategic disaster for all of us:
"If America chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice."
www.justsecurity.org/125998/boat-...
"If America chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice."
www.justsecurity.org/125998/boat-...
Killing Shipwrecked Survivors is Not Just Illegal—It Endangers U.S. Servicemembers
If the United States chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice.
www.justsecurity.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Must read by @marknevitt.bsky.social on why killing survivors at sea is a moral & strategic disaster for all of us:
"If America chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice."
www.justsecurity.org/125998/boat-...
"If America chooses a path where killing defenseless survivors becomes acceptable, American servicemembers will pay the price for that choice."
www.justsecurity.org/125998/boat-...
This is a massive step forward for us and a big expansion of our goals and mission. We’ve been studying these issues for years and now it’s time to execute. We’ve hired a team and built partnerships.
It’s go time.
It’s go time.
We are launching a Justice Initiatives Division within Free Law Project focused on turning open law into real-world impact.
Our goal is to fill the voids in the legal system that lead to gaps in fair justice.
This is a big one. 🧵 free.law/2025/12/01/j...
Our goal is to fill the voids in the legal system that lead to gaps in fair justice.
This is a big one. 🧵 free.law/2025/12/01/j...
Announcing Free Law Project's Justice Initiatives Division
Free Law Project is launching a new division—Justice Initiatives—to bring together our advocacy, partnerships, and technology development under one mission: transforming how people experience the lega...
free.law
December 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This is a massive step forward for us and a big expansion of our goals and mission. We’ve been studying these issues for years and now it’s time to execute. We’ve hired a team and built partnerships.
It’s go time.
It’s go time.
Oakland mail trucks got something special going on.
December 2, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Oakland mail trucks got something special going on.
Reposted by Mike Lissner
Spudnik Equipment Company 4 row potato harvester.
December 1, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Spudnik Equipment Company 4 row potato harvester.
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December 2, 2025 at 1:21 AM
We can use your help as we enter the fundraising season, particularly if you have a big, important title that we can quote. Help?
We've replaced our polling system that sent alerts every few minutes with a push system that sends them in real time as we gather content. It's exciting to finally push this out the gate because the old system worked ~fine~ and it was tempting not to mess with it!
If you monitor case law for new decisions that may affect you, CourtListener's alert system just got a few minutes faster. Have a great day. www.courtlistener.com/help/alerts/...
Help with Search and Docket Alerts – CourtListener.com
Get help creating and using search and docket alerts on CourtListener.
www.courtlistener.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:57 PM
We've replaced our polling system that sent alerts every few minutes with a push system that sends them in real time as we gather content. It's exciting to finally push this out the gate because the old system worked ~fine~ and it was tempting not to mess with it!
Reposted by Mike Lissner
JUST IN: 9th Circuit goes en banc on CA law requiring background checks for buying ammunition. Panel ruled 2-1 in July that the law violates 2nd Amendment under #SCOTUS Bruen case. That decision nullified & 11-judge bench will rehear. Doc: cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov
December 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
JUST IN: 9th Circuit goes en banc on CA law requiring background checks for buying ammunition. Panel ruled 2-1 in July that the law violates 2nd Amendment under #SCOTUS Bruen case. That decision nullified & 11-judge bench will rehear. Doc: cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
Reposted by Mike Lissner
It’s the year 2000. A court is considering whether ISPs can be liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
It’s 2005. A court is considering whether ISPs can be liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
It’s 2010. It’s 2013. It’s 2025.
It’s 2005. A court is considering whether ISPs can be liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
It’s 2010. It’s 2013. It’s 2025.
And we're off with SCOTUS arguments in Sony v Cox. The question at issue: whether ISPs can be liable for the copyright infringement committed by their users.
December 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
It’s the year 2000. A court is considering whether ISPs can be liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
It’s 2005. A court is considering whether ISPs can be liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
It’s 2010. It’s 2013. It’s 2025.
It’s 2005. A court is considering whether ISPs can be liable for copyright infringement committed by their users.
It’s 2010. It’s 2013. It’s 2025.
Can't rule out divine intervention.
Something very strange is happening to the Apple Podcasts app. Over the last few months I’ve found the Podcasts app will randomly open religion/spirituality podcasts. Sometimes app opens by itself and directs people to potentially malicious website. Apple no response
www.404media.co/someone-is-t...
www.404media.co/someone-is-t...
Someone Is Trying to ‘Hack’ People Through Apple Podcasts
For months Apple Podcasts has been randomly opening spirituality and religion podcasts by itself, and in one case directing listeners to a potentially malicious website.
www.404media.co
December 1, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Can't rule out divine intervention.
Reposted by Mike Lissner
"We will call the 12th month of the year 'December'... which means 'tenth month.'"
December 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
"We will call the 12th month of the year 'December'... which means 'tenth month.'"
Reposted by Mike Lissner
I hope this email finds you worthy of love.
December 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I hope this email finds you worthy of love.
Reposted by Mike Lissner
Adding to an “overwhelming body of evidence”, a recent study showed that “suicidality scores dropped significantly an average of two years and up to five years after [trans youth] received gender-affirming treatment”. [erininthemorning.com]
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Adding to an “overwhelming body of evidence”, a recent study showed that “suicidality scores dropped significantly an average of two years and up to five years after [trans youth] received gender-affirming treatment”. [erininthemorning.com]
Reposted by Mike Lissner
This explains so much of what we are seeing.
After years of struggling to find enough workers for some of the nation’s toughest lockups, the Federal Bureau of Prisons is facing a new challenge: Corrections officers are jumping ship for more lucrative jobs at ICE.
By @keribla.bsky.social
By @keribla.bsky.social
As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Leave in Droves for ICE
Many of the problems the agency is facing now are not new, but staff and prisoners fear an exodus of officers could make life behind bars even worse.
www.propublica.org
November 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This explains so much of what we are seeing.
Reposted by Mike Lissner
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November 29, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Please Donate to the Internet Archive. $25 helps.... a lot.
Useful to Journalists,
Useful to Students,
Useful to more than 2 million people a day.
Collections growing at 150TBytes/day
@internetarchive
archive.org/donate
www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/b...
Useful to Journalists,
Useful to Students,
Useful to more than 2 million people a day.
Collections growing at 150TBytes/day
@internetarchive
archive.org/donate
www.cnn.com/2025/11/16/b...
Reposted by Mike Lissner
The president has illegally declared war to stop fentanyl trafficking from a country that does not traffic that drug, claiming its leader is trafficking drugs himself, the day after pardoning a former leader of a country who is a convicted drug trafficker.
Just to level set
Just to level set
November 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The president has illegally declared war to stop fentanyl trafficking from a country that does not traffic that drug, claiming its leader is trafficking drugs himself, the day after pardoning a former leader of a country who is a convicted drug trafficker.
Just to level set
Just to level set
I appreciate that people are trying to think this way to ground the electricity use of LLMs in something tangible.
It’s probably impossible but it’s good to try. You can calculate the cost of a query or the energy of your TV during Netflix, but these are just incredibly complicated systems.
It’s probably impossible but it’s good to try. You can calculate the cost of a query or the energy of your TV during Netflix, but these are just incredibly complicated systems.
I don't mean to put Simon on blast here, but having gone through these numbers more carefully, I think it illustrates a problem with a lot of LLM defenses: this is comparing the cost of the chips themselves processing a query to *the end to end transmission of streaming video*, including your TV.
November 29, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I appreciate that people are trying to think this way to ground the electricity use of LLMs in something tangible.
It’s probably impossible but it’s good to try. You can calculate the cost of a query or the energy of your TV during Netflix, but these are just incredibly complicated systems.
It’s probably impossible but it’s good to try. You can calculate the cost of a query or the energy of your TV during Netflix, but these are just incredibly complicated systems.