Pat Sobkowski
@patsobkowski.com
Political Science Professor at Marquette. APD, Constitutional Law + history & Administrative Law. Writing a book on the Steel Seizure case. Contributor, @liberalcurrents.com
https://patsobkowski.com/
https://patsobkowski.com/
Pinned
Pat Sobkowski
@patsobkowski.com
· May 6
The Unitary Executive and Politics
The Unitary Executive Theory has inspired debate for nearly half a century. The meaning of Article II of the Constitution has been debated within the academy, t
papers.ssrn.com
My article, "The Unitary Executive and Politics," is forthcoming in the Ohio Northern University Law Review!
I'm very excited to work with the student editors at ONU.
Link to the paper below; comments are welcome.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I'm very excited to work with the student editors at ONU.
Link to the paper below; comments are welcome.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I always forget how exhausting the first week of classes is.
January 14, 2026 at 4:06 PM
I always forget how exhausting the first week of classes is.
Huge day for Notre Dame in the portal today.
Quincy Porter, WR (from Ohio State)
Keon Keeley, DL (from Alabama)
Jayden Sanders, CB (from Michigan)
DJ McKinney, CB (from Colorado)
Quincy Porter, WR (from Ohio State)
Keon Keeley, DL (from Alabama)
Jayden Sanders, CB (from Michigan)
DJ McKinney, CB (from Colorado)
January 13, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Huge day for Notre Dame in the portal today.
Quincy Porter, WR (from Ohio State)
Keon Keeley, DL (from Alabama)
Jayden Sanders, CB (from Michigan)
DJ McKinney, CB (from Colorado)
Quincy Porter, WR (from Ohio State)
Keon Keeley, DL (from Alabama)
Jayden Sanders, CB (from Michigan)
DJ McKinney, CB (from Colorado)
This is why I think the “normal” Republicans who occasionally oppose authoritarianism deserve very little credit.
At the end of the day, they’re still single minded seekers of reelection.
At the end of the day, they’re still single minded seekers of reelection.
Lisa Murkowski endorses Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan over Democrat Mary Peltola, tells reporters she still thinks Republican policies are better for Alaska.
(She and Peltola previously had endorsed each other.)
(She and Peltola previously had endorsed each other.)
January 13, 2026 at 1:11 AM
This is why I think the “normal” Republicans who occasionally oppose authoritarianism deserve very little credit.
At the end of the day, they’re still single minded seekers of reelection.
At the end of the day, they’re still single minded seekers of reelection.
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
BREAKING: Senator Mark Kelly sues Pete Hegseth, DOD, and others over Hegseth's censure of Kelly and effort to reduce his retirement grade, alleging violations of the First Amendment, due process, Speech & Debate Clause, and federal laws.
Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.
Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.
January 12, 2026 at 6:41 PM
BREAKING: Senator Mark Kelly sues Pete Hegseth, DOD, and others over Hegseth's censure of Kelly and effort to reduce his retirement grade, alleging violations of the First Amendment, due process, Speech & Debate Clause, and federal laws.
Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.
Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
"Despite President Jackson’s pretensions, the Bank War he began was not a mass movement against unelected, usurious elites. It was a president grabbing at power denied to him by the people’s duly elected representatives in Congress, as is Trump’s recent feud with the Fed." (from September)
Trump Must Lose the Second Bank War
Henry Clay understood what was wrong with the unitary executive theory back in the 1830s.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:26 AM
"Despite President Jackson’s pretensions, the Bank War he began was not a mass movement against unelected, usurious elites. It was a president grabbing at power denied to him by the people’s duly elected representatives in Congress, as is Trump’s recent feud with the Fed." (from September)
I’m dedicating a full day of class to citizenship in constitutional law this semester. In previous years I would just do Dred Scott and then talk about how 14A overruled it.
Unfortunately, I have to talk more in depth about it this year.
Unfortunately, I have to talk more in depth about it this year.
January 12, 2026 at 2:13 AM
I’m dedicating a full day of class to citizenship in constitutional law this semester. In previous years I would just do Dred Scott and then talk about how 14A overruled it.
Unfortunately, I have to talk more in depth about it this year.
Unfortunately, I have to talk more in depth about it this year.
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
Excited to announce that my book, REVOLUTION IN REDLINE, is finally out! I compile key docs leading to the Founding, then present the Founding Docs in "redline," visually tracking the drafters' edits to show how the text evolved. (The Founders didn't start from scratch, and they disagreed often.)1/6
January 11, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Excited to announce that my book, REVOLUTION IN REDLINE, is finally out! I compile key docs leading to the Founding, then present the Founding Docs in "redline," visually tracking the drafters' edits to show how the text evolved. (The Founders didn't start from scratch, and they disagreed often.)1/6
Gotta be up at 4am to catch a flight. I developed a cold and can’t sleep. Blah.
January 11, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Gotta be up at 4am to catch a flight. I developed a cold and can’t sleep. Blah.
I made a new starter pack of scholars and other folks who I think have been really insightful in the current moment. My apologies if you’re not in it now, I made this very quickly.
go.bsky.app/KBZErNC
go.bsky.app/KBZErNC
January 10, 2026 at 6:36 PM
I made a new starter pack of scholars and other folks who I think have been really insightful in the current moment. My apologies if you’re not in it now, I made this very quickly.
go.bsky.app/KBZErNC
go.bsky.app/KBZErNC
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
I can't describe how bad Minneapolis feels right now. My neighbors are pulling kids out of school. The public schools are offering remote learning until 2/12. We are having conversations in our alleys about how to protect ourselves. It feels like a military occupation with a blockade.
The US Department of Agriculture suspends all federal funding to Minnesota, effective immediately.
January 10, 2026 at 4:29 PM
I can't describe how bad Minneapolis feels right now. My neighbors are pulling kids out of school. The public schools are offering remote learning until 2/12. We are having conversations in our alleys about how to protect ourselves. It feels like a military occupation with a blockade.
Rest in peace, Daniel Walker Howe. A legendary historian of the early republic. newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/in-m...
In memoriam: Daniel Walker Howe, 88, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and UCLA professor
His scholarship reshaped how Americans understood the nation’s political, intellectual and religious past.
newsroom.ucla.edu
January 9, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Rest in peace, Daniel Walker Howe. A legendary historian of the early republic. newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/in-m...
These ICE agents are nothing more than domestic terrorists. They must be held accountable by the next Democratic administration.
January 8, 2026 at 10:48 PM
These ICE agents are nothing more than domestic terrorists. They must be held accountable by the next Democratic administration.
Hey @carlcecere.bsky.social @meplusdog.bsky.social you think I’d get arrested if I lit these on fire in the store?
January 7, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Hey @carlcecere.bsky.social @meplusdog.bsky.social you think I’d get arrested if I lit these on fire in the store?
Found for $3 at a used book store in Largo, FL. First edition.
January 7, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Found for $3 at a used book store in Largo, FL. First edition.
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
War powers disputes are often sites of conspicuous constitutional hypocrisy: Members of Congress affiliated with the president usually support executive unilateralism while those opposed to the president demand congressional authorization. When positions change, hypocrisy is a common result.
January 4, 2026 at 1:06 AM
War powers disputes are often sites of conspicuous constitutional hypocrisy: Members of Congress affiliated with the president usually support executive unilateralism while those opposed to the president demand congressional authorization. When positions change, hypocrisy is a common result.
I’m seeing some people celebrate toppling Maduro. Maybe Maduro should have been toppled.
It’s a separate question whether the president of the United States has the legal/constitutional authority to do it.
It’s a separate question whether the president of the United States has the legal/constitutional authority to do it.
January 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
I’m seeing some people celebrate toppling Maduro. Maybe Maduro should have been toppled.
It’s a separate question whether the president of the United States has the legal/constitutional authority to do it.
It’s a separate question whether the president of the United States has the legal/constitutional authority to do it.
We’ve learned absolutely nothing.
TRUMP on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition."
January 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
We’ve learned absolutely nothing.
Worth reading if you haven’t, for no reason in particular.
January 3, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Worth reading if you haven’t, for no reason in particular.
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
Cover reveal. It's about how & why colonies/states controlled international & domestic migration until 1888, why in the late 19th c the feds took over, & what it was like for politically disfavored groups to live under that arrangement of power. You can't understand voluntary migration history 1/
January 2, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Cover reveal. It's about how & why colonies/states controlled international & domestic migration until 1888, why in the late 19th c the feds took over, & what it was like for politically disfavored groups to live under that arrangement of power. You can't understand voluntary migration history 1/
I was watching Philadelphia the other day. Really sad movie, but also given the context of the movie, probably an important movie.
January 1, 2026 at 3:33 PM
I was watching Philadelphia the other day. Really sad movie, but also given the context of the movie, probably an important movie.
Happy New Year to my friends here! As I type, I’m working on a symposium paper, part of which involves spending time with Jack Balkin.
January 1, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Happy New Year to my friends here! As I type, I’m working on a symposium paper, part of which involves spending time with Jack Balkin.
Reposted by Pat Sobkowski
Jim Jordan was really scared on Jan. 6 after being in contact with the White House, Mark Meadows told Jack Smith’s team.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
December 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Jim Jordan was really scared on Jan. 6 after being in contact with the White House, Mark Meadows told Jack Smith’s team.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
If you’re a sports fan, I recommend the new Netflix documentary on John Elway. All time great.
December 31, 2025 at 6:21 AM
If you’re a sports fan, I recommend the new Netflix documentary on John Elway. All time great.
Aside from snow, I think the thing I hate most about winter is having to constantly put air in my tires.
December 31, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Aside from snow, I think the thing I hate most about winter is having to constantly put air in my tires.
Seven Samurai is on YouTube. It’s basically a perfect film. Kurosawa was a genius.
youtu.be/DljC7euaCiw?...
youtu.be/DljC7euaCiw?...
Seven Samurai
YouTube video by YouTube Movies
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Seven Samurai is on YouTube. It’s basically a perfect film. Kurosawa was a genius.
youtu.be/DljC7euaCiw?...
youtu.be/DljC7euaCiw?...