Josh Smith
@jtsmith.bsky.social
Lawyer. Chess player. Hip hop fan. I try to be intellectually curious. I believe questions are the best way to both understand others beliefs and advocate for my own.
Reposted by Josh Smith
My very strong suspicion is that the left/right axis and the fight/don't-fight axis are in the process of unlinking, and that the fight/don't-fight split is emerging as the core struggle in the Democratic Party.
We seriously need to separate the left/right axis from the fight/don’t fight axis.
Polls show that Democrats simultaneously want policy moderation and less cooperation with Republicans
March 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
My very strong suspicion is that the left/right axis and the fight/don't-fight axis are in the process of unlinking, and that the fight/don't-fight split is emerging as the core struggle in the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Josh Smith
CHOTINER: So you're delivering toys to *all* the good boys and girls?
SANTA: Yes, I check the list twice.
CHOTINER: The list...that you make yourself?
SANTA: Yes, I check the list twice.
CHOTINER: The list...that you make yourself?
December 25, 2025 at 3:05 AM
CHOTINER: So you're delivering toys to *all* the good boys and girls?
SANTA: Yes, I check the list twice.
CHOTINER: The list...that you make yourself?
SANTA: Yes, I check the list twice.
CHOTINER: The list...that you make yourself?
Reposted by Josh Smith
It used to be that the United States would use Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to transmit truth across the borders of repressive regimes.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
The 60 Minutes piece on the Trump Administration’s torture prison that Bari Weiss doesn’t want you to see has leaked.
December 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
It used to be that the United States would use Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to transmit truth across the borders of repressive regimes.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
Now the work of American reporters, having been censored, is being smuggled across the border to reach Americans.
Reposted by Josh Smith
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
Reposted by Josh Smith
My favorite piece of content today.
November 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
My favorite piece of content today.
Reposted by Josh Smith
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
Reposted by Josh Smith
This is actually a pretty standard and unremarkable move, as evidenced by Justice Jackson issuing it.
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
#BREAKING: Justice Jackson has issued an "administrative" stay, temporarily pausing a district court order that would've required the USDA to continue using contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits.
The stay expires 48 hours after the First Circuit rules on USDA's request for a stay pending appeal.
The stay expires 48 hours after the First Circuit rules on USDA's request for a stay pending appeal.
November 8, 2025 at 2:40 AM
This is actually a pretty standard and unremarkable move, as evidenced by Justice Jackson issuing it.
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
But most people won't believe that for several good reasons.
/1
Reposted by Josh Smith
lmao this is incredible, strong contender for one of the least useful charts ever made
you could do this with anything, draw a straight trend line plus one exponentially up and one exponentially down
average baseball fastball pitch speed in 2050:
0mph, 105mph, or 1000000mph
you could do this with anything, draw a straight trend line plus one exponentially up and one exponentially down
average baseball fastball pitch speed in 2050:
0mph, 105mph, or 1000000mph
AI could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2 percentage points
November 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
lmao this is incredible, strong contender for one of the least useful charts ever made
you could do this with anything, draw a straight trend line plus one exponentially up and one exponentially down
average baseball fastball pitch speed in 2050:
0mph, 105mph, or 1000000mph
you could do this with anything, draw a straight trend line plus one exponentially up and one exponentially down
average baseball fastball pitch speed in 2050:
0mph, 105mph, or 1000000mph
Reposted by Josh Smith
this might be the funniest possible way they could have characterized it
![Dunn’s lawyers have claimed the case is “selective and vindictive prosecution,” arguing he was singled out for prosecution “not because of the nature of his alleged conduct — throwing a soft object that caused no injury — but because his outspoken, viral critique of the current administration’s policing and immigration policies made him a political target.”
Federal prosecutors opposed Dunn’s lawyers’ motion to dismiss the charge, writing that Dunn was “recorded throwing a sandwich at a federal officer [highlighted text] at point-blank range [end of highlighted text].”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:e2lstqtgvpff2nvcwujl6lap/bafkreiafzsb4ugsfgcyakvvgzanaajk3fknbtv4pbusxw3c67eod7yljg4@jpeg)
November 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
this might be the funniest possible way they could have characterized it
Reposted by Josh Smith
This quote continues to rattle me to my core:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
Awful: Pentagon officials told lawmakers Trump now claims authority to bomb people merely “affiliated” with “narco-terrorist" groups, Rep Adam Smith tells me. But under questioning, they wouldn't say what “affiliated” even means!
Lots of fresh info in my new piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
Lots of fresh info in my new piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
November 3, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This quote continues to rattle me to my core:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
Reposted by Josh Smith
BREAKING: Over 460 people were reportedly killed at a hospital in western Darfur that was taken by Sudanese paramilitary forces, the WHO chief says.
Sudan's paramilitary killed hundreds including hospital patients in Darfur, residents say
Sudan's paramilitary forces have killed hundreds, including patients in a hospital, after seizing el-Fasher city in Darfur.
bit.ly
October 29, 2025 at 3:11 PM
BREAKING: Over 460 people were reportedly killed at a hospital in western Darfur that was taken by Sudanese paramilitary forces, the WHO chief says.
@dansavage.bsky.social “They're about the economic destruction of tariffs, but they are also really about how much will we let a president get away with?” Kaine asked. “Do my colleagues have a gag reflex or not, in terms of powers that constitutionally are handed to Congress?”
Senate Republicans deal Trump a rare rebuke on trade with vote against Brazil tariffs — NPR
Five Republicans joined with Democrats on a vote to end the national emergency that President Trump has declared as the basis for sweeping tariffs on Brazil.
apple.news
October 29, 2025 at 2:53 AM
@dansavage.bsky.social “They're about the economic destruction of tariffs, but they are also really about how much will we let a president get away with?” Kaine asked. “Do my colleagues have a gag reflex or not, in terms of powers that constitutionally are handed to Congress?”
Reposted by Josh Smith
Reposted by Josh Smith
I don't understand why nobody ask : Would you like to run against Obama?
Honestly at some point you have to start doing psyops with these people:
Have Obama announce that he will seek a third term tomorrow. Then watch all the con law “scholars” and Fix News MELT DOWN trying to explain why he can’t but Trump can. (It’s like Newsom taking over his social media persona)
Have Obama announce that he will seek a third term tomorrow. Then watch all the con law “scholars” and Fix News MELT DOWN trying to explain why he can’t but Trump can. (It’s like Newsom taking over his social media persona)
Q: One theory on how you might try to serve a 3rd term is that you could run at the vice president
TRUMP: Yeah, I'd be allowed to do that. But I would rule that out because it's too cute.
TRUMP: Yeah, I'd be allowed to do that. But I would rule that out because it's too cute.
October 27, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I don't understand why nobody ask : Would you like to run against Obama?
Jon and Ponch are outgunned…
An artillery shell fired during 250th anniversary celebration of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton on Saturday detonated prematurely over Interstate 5, damaging a California Highway Patrol vehicle on JD Vance's security detail www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/u...
Artillery Shell Detonated Over Interstate 5 During Marines’ Celebration, California Officials Say
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Jon and Ponch are outgunned…
Reposted by Josh Smith
New in PN: The 1,287,923 defects in the Comey case ... so far
"Dismissal is probably the best result for the government, since it would spare the DOJ having its dirty laundry aired in court before getting spanked for having brought such a garbage case. But even so, it'd be very, very funny."
"Dismissal is probably the best result for the government, since it would spare the DOJ having its dirty laundry aired in court before getting spanked for having brought such a garbage case. But even so, it'd be very, very funny."
The 1,287,923 defects in the Comey case ... so far
Welcome to the Rocket Docket, Lindsey Halligan!
www.publicnotice.co
October 15, 2025 at 1:13 PM
New in PN: The 1,287,923 defects in the Comey case ... so far
"Dismissal is probably the best result for the government, since it would spare the DOJ having its dirty laundry aired in court before getting spanked for having brought such a garbage case. But even so, it'd be very, very funny."
"Dismissal is probably the best result for the government, since it would spare the DOJ having its dirty laundry aired in court before getting spanked for having brought such a garbage case. But even so, it'd be very, very funny."
Reposted by Josh Smith
NEWS: Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans issued an order today meant to prevent immigration arrests -- "civil arrest" -- for individuals attending court proceedings in Cook County.
October 15, 2025 at 12:14 AM
NEWS: Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans issued an order today meant to prevent immigration arrests -- "civil arrest" -- for individuals attending court proceedings in Cook County.
I AM SPARTACUS!
Ran into antifa outside a rest stop on the Thruway
October 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I AM SPARTACUS!
Reposted by Josh Smith
Fitzgerald vs that insurance lawyer lady is 92 Dream Team vs Angola.
September 30, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Fitzgerald vs that insurance lawyer lady is 92 Dream Team vs Angola.
Reposted by Josh Smith
@goingmedieval.bsky.social I’m very interested in the history of medieval record keeping. Are there any books that you personally recommend? I already have “From Memory to Written Record” by M.T. Clanchy, and it’s great, and I need more of it!
July 31, 2025 at 12:53 PM
@goingmedieval.bsky.social I’m very interested in the history of medieval record keeping. Are there any books that you personally recommend? I already have “From Memory to Written Record” by M.T. Clanchy, and it’s great, and I need more of it!
We can end the trade war overnight by getting Trump to levy a 25% tariff on all berries purchased for - but never eaten by - any toddler.
July 29, 2025 at 3:39 AM
We can end the trade war overnight by getting Trump to levy a 25% tariff on all berries purchased for - but never eaten by - any toddler.
Reposted by Josh Smith
I think it is underrated that the magic glass boxes we carry in our pockets can be recharged by sticking them to a magnet for a while.
July 29, 2025 at 1:49 AM
I think it is underrated that the magic glass boxes we carry in our pockets can be recharged by sticking them to a magnet for a while.
Reposted by Josh Smith
Just realized I haven’t seen anyone post the Tom Lehrer-2 Chainz letter yet today.
July 27, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Just realized I haven’t seen anyone post the Tom Lehrer-2 Chainz letter yet today.
Reposted by Josh Smith
Some people are unhappy and always will be and deserve to be.
July 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Some people are unhappy and always will be and deserve to be.