Eric Columbus
@ericcolumbus.bsky.social
Senior Editor @lawfaremedia.org. Previously: Obama appointee at DOJ/DHS. Litigator for Speaker Pelosi and Jan. 6 Committee. Yankee Stadium 🌭 vendor. NYC born and bred. Wannabe historian. Dad joker.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Breaking: Supreme Court Agrees to Review Bonkers 5th Circuit Opinion Holding that Federal Law Prohibits the Counting of Timely Mailed Ballots That Arrive after Election Day electionlawblog.org?p=152963
Breaking: Supreme Court Agrees to Review Bonkers 5th Circuit Opinion Holding that Federal Law Prohibits the Counting of Timely Mailed Ballots That Arrive after Election Day #ELB
The cert grant is here. Here is what I wrote when the 5th Circuit first decided this case: Fifth Circuit in Bonkers Opinion Holds It Violates Federal Law for Miss. to Accept Ballots Postmarked by Elec...
electionlawblog.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Breaking: Supreme Court Agrees to Review Bonkers 5th Circuit Opinion Holding that Federal Law Prohibits the Counting of Timely Mailed Ballots That Arrive after Election Day electionlawblog.org?p=152963
Reposted by Eric Columbus
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
King’s point is that it didn’t work because Trump was cutting SNAP benefits. But lower courts had required Trump to pay full SNAP, and while Trump *probably* would have won at SCOTUS, that outcome wasn’t guaranteed and would have been known soon anyway.
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
King’s point is that it didn’t work because Trump was cutting SNAP benefits. But lower courts had required Trump to pay full SNAP, and while Trump *probably* would have won at SCOTUS, that outcome wasn’t guaranteed and would have been known soon anyway.
Trump has no formal power to affect this decision, and of course a presidential pardon has no bearing on state prosecutions, but now he can claim credit if the decision goes his way.
Notably, this pardon comes just days ahead of a Nov. 14 deadline for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a replacement prosecutor for Fani Willis, who was disqualified from pursuing the case.
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Trump has no formal power to affect this decision, and of course a presidential pardon has no bearing on state prosecutions, but now he can claim credit if the decision goes his way.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Interestingly, Trump notes at the end that he’s not pardoning himself:
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Interestingly, Trump notes at the end that he’s not pardoning himself:
Interestingly, Trump notes at the end that he’s not pardoning himself:
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Interestingly, Trump notes at the end that he’s not pardoning himself:
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
With a “WOW!,” President Trump posts a claim about DOGE and “royalties linked to Obamacare” that originated on a satirical website. That site’s own About section reads: “Everything on this website is fiction… If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
November 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
With a “WOW!,” President Trump posts a claim about DOGE and “royalties linked to Obamacare” that originated on a satirical website. That site’s own About section reads: “Everything on this website is fiction… If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Maybe—just maybe—sports leagues getting in bed with gambling companies wasn’t such a hot idea…
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Maybe—just maybe—sports leagues getting in bed with gambling companies wasn’t such a hot idea…
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Ramesh Ponnuru: Dick Cheney was right not to get over Jan. 6, and the rest of America shouldn’t either. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Dick Cheney couldn’t get over Jan. 6
Other Republicans returned to Trump, but the former vice president was unforgiving, to his credit.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Ramesh Ponnuru: Dick Cheney was right not to get over Jan. 6, and the rest of America shouldn’t either. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun strijd tegen racisme binnen het leger – werden zonder toelichting verwijderd.
www.nrc.nl
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Republicans waged a relentless, decades-long campaign to privatize Medicare and Medicaid
They fought even mild efforts to expand public insurance
Now they are objecting to extending extra ACA subsidies, supposedly because money flows to private insurers
We are supposed to take this seriously?
They fought even mild efforts to expand public insurance
Now they are objecting to extending extra ACA subsidies, supposedly because money flows to private insurers
We are supposed to take this seriously?
November 8, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Republicans waged a relentless, decades-long campaign to privatize Medicare and Medicaid
They fought even mild efforts to expand public insurance
Now they are objecting to extending extra ACA subsidies, supposedly because money flows to private insurers
We are supposed to take this seriously?
They fought even mild efforts to expand public insurance
Now they are objecting to extending extra ACA subsidies, supposedly because money flows to private insurers
We are supposed to take this seriously?
Reposted by Eric Columbus
DHS spokespersons consistently give petulant, amateurish, deeply unserious responses to inquiries about extremely serious matters.
After @mandophotos.bsky.social photographed federal agents pointing rifles at 26th/Lawndale yesterday, I inquired with DHS about what threat had prompted them to pull weapons on a busy commercial strip (pictured). This is the response I got from a representative of the United States government.
November 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM
DHS spokespersons consistently give petulant, amateurish, deeply unserious responses to inquiries about extremely serious matters.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Not ICE. Border Patrol. They’re wearing Border Patrol uniforms with clear Border Patrol patches on them.
There are many videos of ICE officers doing outrageous stuff but a lot of the absolute worst videos are of Border Patrol, who are basically Bovino and Miller’s most aggressive tool right now.
There are many videos of ICE officers doing outrageous stuff but a lot of the absolute worst videos are of Border Patrol, who are basically Bovino and Miller’s most aggressive tool right now.
ICE agents in Chicago violently detain a non verbal autistic man for being “non compliant”
He couldn’t “comply” because of his disability…they don’t care
This is not the first time they’ve gone after a disabled person
They target the most vulnerable because it’s an easy way to meet their quota
He couldn’t “comply” because of his disability…they don’t care
This is not the first time they’ve gone after a disabled person
They target the most vulnerable because it’s an easy way to meet their quota
November 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Not ICE. Border Patrol. They’re wearing Border Patrol uniforms with clear Border Patrol patches on them.
There are many videos of ICE officers doing outrageous stuff but a lot of the absolute worst videos are of Border Patrol, who are basically Bovino and Miller’s most aggressive tool right now.
There are many videos of ICE officers doing outrageous stuff but a lot of the absolute worst videos are of Border Patrol, who are basically Bovino and Miller’s most aggressive tool right now.
Ed Martin has the impulse control of a toddler but far worse judgment. I bet Todd Blanche forced him at (figurative) gunpoint to delete those tweets.
Very interesting that the replacement tweet from his account refers to him in the third person.
Very interesting that the replacement tweet from his account refers to him in the third person.
Right-wing accounts on X have been spreading a baseless conspiracy theory accusing a former Capitol Police officer of planting the J6 pipe bombs.
Amid all that, Ed Martin posted a thread that spelled out “P I P E ?”
He later deleted some of the tweets and then posted this on his DOJ account:
Amid all that, Ed Martin posted a thread that spelled out “P I P E ?”
He later deleted some of the tweets and then posted this on his DOJ account:
November 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Ed Martin has the impulse control of a toddler but far worse judgment. I bet Todd Blanche forced him at (figurative) gunpoint to delete those tweets.
Very interesting that the replacement tweet from his account refers to him in the third person.
Very interesting that the replacement tweet from his account refers to him in the third person.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
The plan: take money from insurers, give it to people, then have people give it back to the insurers.
November 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The plan: take money from insurers, give it to people, then have people give it back to the insurers.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
I think about this often.
!["The title of the film for the Swedish release uses the translation of the name of the play within the story, Springtime for Hitler. As a result of its success, most of Mel Brooks's subsequent films in Swedish were given similar titles, despite being otherwise unrelated: Springtime for Mother-In-Law, Springtime for the Sheriff, Springtime for Frankenstein, Springtime for the Silent Movies, Springtime for the Lunatics, Springtime for World History, Springtime for Space, and Springtime for the Slum.[29] The practice ended by the time Robin Hood: Men in Tights was released, at Brooks's request."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cmvc2f5b5fou3ijbgagiovlj/bafkreigspzsxhx2jgwnlvrmgkzyenlwal2wrxbzkrqqmree5c55z6os6n4@jpeg)
November 8, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I think about this often.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
New guidance from USDA says they will administer full SNAP benefits.
However, less than 45 minutes ago, the Attorney General tweeted about asking for a stay on the order forcing full benefits.
Seems weird to send this guidance if they’re hoping for a stay by 4pm.
However, less than 45 minutes ago, the Attorney General tweeted about asking for a stay on the order forcing full benefits.
Seems weird to send this guidance if they’re hoping for a stay by 4pm.
November 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
New guidance from USDA says they will administer full SNAP benefits.
However, less than 45 minutes ago, the Attorney General tweeted about asking for a stay on the order forcing full benefits.
Seems weird to send this guidance if they’re hoping for a stay by 4pm.
However, less than 45 minutes ago, the Attorney General tweeted about asking for a stay on the order forcing full benefits.
Seems weird to send this guidance if they’re hoping for a stay by 4pm.
Interesting thread👇👇
The incredible shrinking attack on U.S. universities continues.
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Interesting thread👇👇
Reposted by Eric Columbus
I have long argued that the single best thing you could do to improve the functioning of the US government is double the salaries of everyone working on Capitol Hill. Serving Congress shouldn’t involve poverty wages in DC. You could attract a much wider set of perspectives netting a better result.
people hate hearing this but it's 100% true, creating a huge pay gap between political leaders, their staffs, and other elites is a recipe for corruption. of course the flip side of that is taxes on the rich should be jacked way the hell up
The Mayor of New York only makes $260k. I bet there are police that make more than that in NY with overtime.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I have long argued that the single best thing you could do to improve the functioning of the US government is double the salaries of everyone working on Capitol Hill. Serving Congress shouldn’t involve poverty wages in DC. You could attract a much wider set of perspectives netting a better result.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
SCOOP: Alexander Smirnov, the FBI informant convicted of lying about a fake bribery scheme involving the Bidens has been quietly released from prison just months into a six-year sentence—raising concern he could be pardoned by Trump any moment.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/fbi-inform...
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/fbi-inform...
FBI Informant Who Lied About Bidens Quietly Released From Jail Sparking Trump Pardon Fears
Alexander Smirnov was quietly furloughed from prison months ago.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
SCOOP: Alexander Smirnov, the FBI informant convicted of lying about a fake bribery scheme involving the Bidens has been quietly released from prison just months into a six-year sentence—raising concern he could be pardoned by Trump any moment.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/fbi-inform...
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/fbi-inform...
Once again I must note that one is not humbled by *good* things.
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Once again I must note that one is not humbled by *good* things.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
Great and important reporting here. But the administration has been pretty clear about how these judges need to rule in order to keep their jobs. So I think we’re well beyond perception of fairness.
Immigration judges with prior immigrant defense work make up the largest share of those fired by the Trump admin. NPR identified 70 fired immigration judges. The changes have at least shifted perception of fairness in these courts
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
My latest investigation: www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g...
The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds
NPR's data analysis shows that the DOJ has tended to fire judges with immigrant defense backgrounds in its recent rounds of dismissals.
www.npr.org
November 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Great and important reporting here. But the administration has been pretty clear about how these judges need to rule in order to keep their jobs. So I think we’re well beyond perception of fairness.
Reposted by Eric Columbus
The drop in gun violence in DC following the Federal deployment starting in mid-August has more or less completely subsided.
November 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The drop in gun violence in DC following the Federal deployment starting in mid-August has more or less completely subsided.