Moses
@mosesbates.bsky.social
Here for: Music, pets, and Democracy!
🎸 for The Actual || Lawyer || Cat Enthusiast
🎸 for The Actual || Lawyer || Cat Enthusiast
Reposted by Moses
“In whatever becomes public on Friday, sources said there will still be extensive amounts of information redacted — the type of lack of transparency that the American public may continue to scrutinize.”
Frustration is mounting inside the Justice Department as it races to redact thousands of pages of files related to Jeffrey Epstein before they must be released Friday, multiple sources familiar with the process told CNN. https://cnn.it/44z7tNG
December 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
“In whatever becomes public on Friday, sources said there will still be extensive amounts of information redacted — the type of lack of transparency that the American public may continue to scrutinize.”
Reposted by Moses
The point of normalizing illegality is to induce people stop paying attention to lawbreaking.
Continue to pay attention to lawbreaking.
Continue to pay attention to lawbreaking.
NB: When I, a professor of law, profess that an act is unlawful, I am not doing it to inform the lawbreaker, but rather to inform you, the reader.
So the question “what, like you think he cares?” is inapposite. The question is whether *you* care. I think you should, which is why I bother.
So the question “what, like you think he cares?” is inapposite. The question is whether *you* care. I think you should, which is why I bother.
December 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The point of normalizing illegality is to induce people stop paying attention to lawbreaking.
Continue to pay attention to lawbreaking.
Continue to pay attention to lawbreaking.
Reposted by Moses
FOUR new deaths in ICE detention. That puts the total this year at 30 people dead; the highest in ICE's history and worse than even during the COVID years.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
In the 90 minutes since I posted this, I've gotten two more death notifications.
ICE has a responsibility to take care of these people, something they are clearly disregarding. This is beyond horrifying. We must ensure dignity and humanity for detained people in this country.
ICE has a responsibility to take care of these people, something they are clearly disregarding. This is beyond horrifying. We must ensure dignity and humanity for detained people in this country.
Within 15 minutes today, I got two back-to-back notifications of deaths at ICE facilities.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
December 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
FOUR new deaths in ICE detention. That puts the total this year at 30 people dead; the highest in ICE's history and worse than even during the COVID years.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
Reposted by Moses
Quick question what the fuck was Merrick Garland doing for four years
NYT: “In a newly obtained recording of a phone call from late 2020, President Trump can be heard pressing the speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives to hold a special legislative session to overturn Mr. Trump’s election loss.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
December 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Quick question what the fuck was Merrick Garland doing for four years
Reposted by Moses
The problem isn't that we can't talk to each other
The marketplace has heard the ideas
Large supermajorities reject them
Yet our anti-democratic political institutions allow the 20-25% that like those ideas to capture & control all the institutions
The problem is the anti-democratic institutions
The marketplace has heard the ideas
Large supermajorities reject them
Yet our anti-democratic political institutions allow the 20-25% that like those ideas to capture & control all the institutions
The problem is the anti-democratic institutions
CNN has a show with a similar line. That the problem with this country is we just aren’t talking to each other.
It’s the kind of diagnosis that a toddler would land on.
It’s the kind of diagnosis that a toddler would land on.
December 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The problem isn't that we can't talk to each other
The marketplace has heard the ideas
Large supermajorities reject them
Yet our anti-democratic political institutions allow the 20-25% that like those ideas to capture & control all the institutions
The problem is the anti-democratic institutions
The marketplace has heard the ideas
Large supermajorities reject them
Yet our anti-democratic political institutions allow the 20-25% that like those ideas to capture & control all the institutions
The problem is the anti-democratic institutions
Reposted by Moses
Q: Will you be seeking any authorization from Congress for any land attacks on cartels in Venezuela?
Trump: I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They leak like a sieve.
Trump: I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They leak like a sieve.
December 18, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Q: Will you be seeking any authorization from Congress for any land attacks on cartels in Venezuela?
Trump: I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They leak like a sieve.
Trump: I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They leak like a sieve.
Reposted by Moses
from: [email protected]
subj.: DC recs
Hey Jeff, taking a young friend to lunch next week in DC. Was thinking we'd try Radici?
from: [email protected]
subj.: re: DC recs
not a good idea .. xexican food prolly more her style. good cantina down the street ,, very "spicy"
subj.: DC recs
Hey Jeff, taking a young friend to lunch next week in DC. Was thinking we'd try Radici?
from: [email protected]
subj.: re: DC recs
not a good idea .. xexican food prolly more her style. good cantina down the street ,, very "spicy"
December 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
from: [email protected]
subj.: DC recs
Hey Jeff, taking a young friend to lunch next week in DC. Was thinking we'd try Radici?
from: [email protected]
subj.: re: DC recs
not a good idea .. xexican food prolly more her style. good cantina down the street ,, very "spicy"
subj.: DC recs
Hey Jeff, taking a young friend to lunch next week in DC. Was thinking we'd try Radici?
from: [email protected]
subj.: re: DC recs
not a good idea .. xexican food prolly more her style. good cantina down the street ,, very "spicy"
Reposted by Moses
They booked a bunch of 14 year old models to come to a Mar A Lago party, told them to dress sexy and tried to ply them with alcohol.
These are the people who are willing to go on the record.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
December 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
They booked a bunch of 14 year old models to come to a Mar A Lago party, told them to dress sexy and tried to ply them with alcohol.
Reposted by Moses
Women’s bodies as currency? Can’t be.
"The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents & interviews reveal an intense & complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
"The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents & interviews reveal an intense & complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
🚨 NYT DROP: "Don's Best Friend" exposé re: Trump & Epstein.
"The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents & interviews reveal an intense & complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
"The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents & interviews reveal an intense & complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
‘Don’s Best Friend’: How Epstein and Trump Bonded Over the Pursuit of Women
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Women’s bodies as currency? Can’t be.
"The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents & interviews reveal an intense & complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
"The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents & interviews reveal an intense & complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
Reposted by Moses
Republicans fought release of Epstein materials every step of the way, are now refusing to release the second strike boat video, and won’t let Jack Smith testify in public. They constantly hide everything they are doing from the American people.
December 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Republicans fought release of Epstein materials every step of the way, are now refusing to release the second strike boat video, and won’t let Jack Smith testify in public. They constantly hide everything they are doing from the American people.
Reposted by Moses
Back in July, he was on PBS trying to suggest that the whole Epstein thing was overblown and people should move on. Gee, I wonder why! www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
December 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Back in July, he was on PBS trying to suggest that the whole Epstein thing was overblown and people should move on. Gee, I wonder why! www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Reposted by Moses
These are the people who are willing to go on the record.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
December 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
These are the people who are willing to go on the record.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Reposted by Moses
He never disclosed that he’d visited Epstein in that column and did a lot of hand waving to insist that he and his fellow elites had nothing, nothing at all to do with him.
December 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
He never disclosed that he’d visited Epstein in that column and did a lot of hand waving to insist that he and his fellow elites had nothing, nothing at all to do with him.
Reposted by Moses
David Brooks, who wrote in the NYT last month, "The Epstein Story? Count Me Out" is... in the latest Epstein photo dump published by @oversightdemocrats.house.gov.
He should absolutely be fired by NYT for this. Major conflict of interest that he didn't disclose.
He should absolutely be fired by NYT for this. Major conflict of interest that he didn't disclose.
December 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
David Brooks, who wrote in the NYT last month, "The Epstein Story? Count Me Out" is... in the latest Epstein photo dump published by @oversightdemocrats.house.gov.
He should absolutely be fired by NYT for this. Major conflict of interest that he didn't disclose.
He should absolutely be fired by NYT for this. Major conflict of interest that he didn't disclose.
Reposted by Moses
i was especially struck by these paragraphs, which rang very true to me. libs who grew up around conservatives aren't embarrassed to be liberals--or confused about what conservatives want. there's a certain kind of elite media man, on the other hand--
December 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
i was especially struck by these paragraphs, which rang very true to me. libs who grew up around conservatives aren't embarrassed to be liberals--or confused about what conservatives want. there's a certain kind of elite media man, on the other hand--
Reposted by Moses
Trump really was Putin's best investment.
Meanwhile in Russia: inspired by the Trump administration’s anti-European stance, state TV host Vladimir Solovyov predicted that Russian and American combat troops will jointly storm European cities.
youtu.be/3PWkEmc0we0?...
youtu.be/3PWkEmc0we0?...
Vladimir Solovyov predicts that America and Russia will jointly attack Europe
YouTube video by Russian Media Monitor
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Trump really was Putin's best investment.
Reposted by Moses
I'm told that HHS has just terminated all funding agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
December 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I'm told that HHS has just terminated all funding agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Reposted by Moses
Terrific piece by @jamellebouie.net that articulates the central problem with the Trump presidency.
He demanded unprecedented power and has, thanks to his lickspittles in Congress & SCOTUS, been granted it. But he has little interest in using it beyond his grasping selfishness. The nation's adrift.
He demanded unprecedented power and has, thanks to his lickspittles in Congress & SCOTUS, been granted it. But he has little interest in using it beyond his grasping selfishness. The nation's adrift.
December 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Terrific piece by @jamellebouie.net that articulates the central problem with the Trump presidency.
He demanded unprecedented power and has, thanks to his lickspittles in Congress & SCOTUS, been granted it. But he has little interest in using it beyond his grasping selfishness. The nation's adrift.
He demanded unprecedented power and has, thanks to his lickspittles in Congress & SCOTUS, been granted it. But he has little interest in using it beyond his grasping selfishness. The nation's adrift.
Reposted by Moses
Making the most depressing point I can make yet again: the US media is going to treat Donald Trump with far less vitriol in response to him starting a random war in Venezuela vs the sheer level of vitriol that they hurled at Joe Biden for ENDING the War in Afghanistan.
Every major news organization should be writing about how insane this is and how, if he takes this country to war (tomorrow?), it is the act of a madman.
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Making the most depressing point I can make yet again: the US media is going to treat Donald Trump with far less vitriol in response to him starting a random war in Venezuela vs the sheer level of vitriol that they hurled at Joe Biden for ENDING the War in Afghanistan.
Reposted by Moses
“Exploiting that violence, Trump and his associates tried to call members of Congress in furtherance of their criminal scheme, urging them to further delay certification of the 2020 election,” Smith said. “I didn’t choose those members; President Trump did.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/jack-s...
www.huffpost.com/entry/jack-s...
Jack Smith Tells Lawmakers Donald Trump Brought Charges On Himself
The former special counsel came to Capitol Hill on Thursday for a high-stakes deposition.
www.huffpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
“Exploiting that violence, Trump and his associates tried to call members of Congress in furtherance of their criminal scheme, urging them to further delay certification of the 2020 election,” Smith said. “I didn’t choose those members; President Trump did.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/jack-s...
www.huffpost.com/entry/jack-s...
Reposted by Moses
Right-wing figures are escalating their calls for violence to free Tina Peters, the Colorado election denier serving a nine-year state prison sentence for her role in a voting system data breach. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Far Right Escalates Calls For Violence to Free Tina Peters After Trump’s ‘Pardon’
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Right-wing figures are escalating their calls for violence to free Tina Peters, the Colorado election denier serving a nine-year state prison sentence for her role in a voting system data breach. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by Moses
I know many of you who follow me don't work in climate science, but this is the biggest story in climate right now. Breaking up NCAR makes us all less safe and is another act of self-harm that will take decades to recover from.
Trump administration to dismantle key climate research center
Russell Vought, who directs the White House Office of Management and Budget, announced plans to split up the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, citing concerns about “clima...
wapo.st
December 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I know many of you who follow me don't work in climate science, but this is the biggest story in climate right now. Breaking up NCAR makes us all less safe and is another act of self-harm that will take decades to recover from.
Reposted by Moses
MORE from Jack Smith:
"I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump's political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy ... We took actions based on what the facts and the law required—the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor."
"I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump's political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy ... We took actions based on what the facts and the law required—the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor."
BREAKING on MS NOW:
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
December 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
MORE from Jack Smith:
"I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump's political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy ... We took actions based on what the facts and the law required—the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor."
"I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump's political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy ... We took actions based on what the facts and the law required—the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor."
Reposted by Moses
FOUR REPUBLICANS just signed the House Democratic discharge petition to force a House vote on the Hakeem Jeffries bill to extend health care tax credits for 3 years: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Rob Bresnahan (PA), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA). Gives it the required 218 signatures. Huge news
December 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
FOUR REPUBLICANS just signed the House Democratic discharge petition to force a House vote on the Hakeem Jeffries bill to extend health care tax credits for 3 years: Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), Rob Bresnahan (PA), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA). Gives it the required 218 signatures. Huge news
Reposted by Moses
Before Benny Johnson positioned himself as devoted husband and heir apparent to Charlie Kirk, the former BuzzFeed journalist was partying hard with the same mainstream media he now denounces.
“There was a lot of sex happening. A psychoanalyst would have a field day.”
“There was a lot of sex happening. A psychoanalyst would have a field day.”
How Benny Johnson went from BuzzFeed plagiarist to MAGA's chief content creator
He did “some very bad things.” But in Trumpworld, that's a plus.
www.motherjones.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Before Benny Johnson positioned himself as devoted husband and heir apparent to Charlie Kirk, the former BuzzFeed journalist was partying hard with the same mainstream media he now denounces.
“There was a lot of sex happening. A psychoanalyst would have a field day.”
“There was a lot of sex happening. A psychoanalyst would have a field day.”