Sam Halpert
@samhalpert.bsky.social
Views are solely my own.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
“I dismissed your argument without even looking into what it was based on because I didn’t like how it was phrased” is itself the emotional position
November 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
“I dismissed your argument without even looking into what it was based on because I didn’t like how it was phrased” is itself the emotional position
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Reminder:
The use of tear gas as a method of warfare is prohibited under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
The use of tear gas as a method of warfare is prohibited under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
Reminder of all the side effects of tear gas & it's just being deployed in residential neighborhoods for a gaggle or three of people who don't want their neighbors kidnapped.
November 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reminder:
The use of tear gas as a method of warfare is prohibited under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
The use of tear gas as a method of warfare is prohibited under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
Reposted by Sam Halpert
The lawyers in the Alien Enemies Act pending before Judge James Boasberg, who is proceeding with his contempt inquiry against the Trump administration, have recommended that he consider a number of "potential witnesses."
They include now-Judge Emil Bove.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
They include now-Judge Emil Bove.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The lawyers in the Alien Enemies Act pending before Judge James Boasberg, who is proceeding with his contempt inquiry against the Trump administration, have recommended that he consider a number of "potential witnesses."
They include now-Judge Emil Bove.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
They include now-Judge Emil Bove.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Fully agree with this.
These legislators need to make a new video (with consistent audio levels unlike the last one) explaining the language of the law, with onscreen code citation numbers, giving specific examples of which orders to refuse, why and how, and a voice/sms/email/signal hotline for free legal representation.
November 25, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Fully agree with this.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Trump wrongly indicted me. I’ll rightly impeach him.
Impeachment isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. I know firsthand the lengths Trump is willing to go in order to silence dissent — but is it working?
Impeachment isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. I know firsthand the lengths Trump is willing to go in order to silence dissent — but is it working?
November 24, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Trump wrongly indicted me. I’ll rightly impeach him.
Impeachment isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. I know firsthand the lengths Trump is willing to go in order to silence dissent — but is it working?
Impeachment isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. I know firsthand the lengths Trump is willing to go in order to silence dissent — but is it working?
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Yes. 10 months in, and still not a single Trump has been sanctioned or held in contempt for their brazen perjury or defiance of court orders.
I'm not sure what it's gonna take for people to realize that being subject to a sick burn in a judicial opinion is not something that will dissuade Trump or his cronies. They will push and push and try again and again until something sticks unless they are sanctioned and punished!
November 25, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Yes. 10 months in, and still not a single Trump has been sanctioned or held in contempt for their brazen perjury or defiance of court orders.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Do they know how hard it was to get refugee status under Biden? He revoked Title 42. He broke federal and international law to refuse people asylum at the border
Trump Admin planning a rule to re-decide whether *every* refugee who entered under Biden meets their criteria for a refugee. That’s 230,000 people! And no appeals!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Do they know how hard it was to get refugee status under Biden? He revoked Title 42. He broke federal and international law to refuse people asylum at the border
Reposted by Sam Halpert
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Trump Admin planning a rule to re-decide whether *every* refugee who entered under Biden meets their criteria for a refugee. That’s 230,000 people! And no appeals!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
the thing about this sort of measure is that it gets at real problems. paying for private childcare is extremely expensive and it often puts a massive consumption burden on households with children younger than school age. but it’s very dumb to include it in a core, static consumption bundle
>i have a new poverty measure that proves everyone is poor
is it a new poverty measure or just re-defining the average as poor?
>i swear it's a good poverty measure sir
is it a new poverty measure or just re-defining the average as poor?
>i swear it's a good poverty measure sir
November 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
the thing about this sort of measure is that it gets at real problems. paying for private childcare is extremely expensive and it often puts a massive consumption burden on households with children younger than school age. but it’s very dumb to include it in a core, static consumption bundle
Reposted by Sam Halpert
JUST IN: Judge Chutkan orders expedited processing of a FOIA request for files related to DOJ's handling of the Epstein files. ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
November 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
JUST IN: Judge Chutkan orders expedited processing of a FOIA request for files related to DOJ's handling of the Epstein files. ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
Reposted by Sam Halpert
A federal judge in Chicago issued a massive opinion on *Thursday that required the Trump admin to stop brutalizing people at the Broadview ICE facility
Yet a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals blocked that order on *Wednesday 🤔
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Yet a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals blocked that order on *Wednesday 🤔
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
How Conservative Judges Turned a Throwaway Line Into a Free Pass For ICE Violence
For these judges, the White House not getting its way is a legal crisis that requires immediate intervention.
ballsandstrikes.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A federal judge in Chicago issued a massive opinion on *Thursday that required the Trump admin to stop brutalizing people at the Broadview ICE facility
Yet a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals blocked that order on *Wednesday 🤔
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Yet a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals blocked that order on *Wednesday 🤔
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Reposted by Sam Halpert
As for (2), not ideal that the speaker could unilaterally adjourn the House!
1st: This would be among the most dramatic events in US history.
2nd: I'm very skeptical resignations force a transfer of power.
3rd: If discontent is this widespread why has House done almost nothing to push back?
4th: Johnson... no bueno.
Likely hyperbole but not a good look regardless.
2nd: I'm very skeptical resignations force a transfer of power.
3rd: If discontent is this widespread why has House done almost nothing to push back?
4th: Johnson... no bueno.
Likely hyperbole but not a good look regardless.
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
As for (2), not ideal that the speaker could unilaterally adjourn the House!
I’ve been arguing ever since Trump’s 9/30 confession to US generals that he’s at war with Democrat-led cities that Congress needs to recognize that communicating for the military is a critical goal, and that articles of impeachment can serve as a vehicle for those communications.
November 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I’ve been arguing ever since Trump’s 9/30 confession to US generals that he’s at war with Democrat-led cities that Congress needs to recognize that communicating for the military is a critical goal, and that articles of impeachment can serve as a vehicle for those communications.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Since Bovino left it seems every day or every other day I hear of someone abducted by ICE agents. It’s slower, less flashy, but still happening.
“Rey Wences, senior director of deportation defense at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, noted that “abductions” continue happening “every day in both the city and the suburbs.”
November 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Since Bovino left it seems every day or every other day I hear of someone abducted by ICE agents. It’s slower, less flashy, but still happening.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
"In a decisive legal skirmish over the proposed dismantling of four federal agencies, Mass. AG Andrea Joy Campbell emerged victorious.
The court's ruling prevents the disbanding of agencies for Museum & Library Services, Minority Bus. Development, Council on Homelessness, and 1 more."
#GoodNews
The court's ruling prevents the disbanding of agencies for Museum & Library Services, Minority Bus. Development, Council on Homelessness, and 1 more."
#GoodNews
Massachusetts AG Triumphs as the Trump Administration’s Attempt to Eliminate Federal Agencies Is Thwarted by a US District Court
Massachusetts AG Campbell wins court case to prevent the Trump administration from dismantling four federal agencies.
hoodline.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
"In a decisive legal skirmish over the proposed dismantling of four federal agencies, Mass. AG Andrea Joy Campbell emerged victorious.
The court's ruling prevents the disbanding of agencies for Museum & Library Services, Minority Bus. Development, Council on Homelessness, and 1 more."
#GoodNews
The court's ruling prevents the disbanding of agencies for Museum & Library Services, Minority Bus. Development, Council on Homelessness, and 1 more."
#GoodNews
Reposted by Sam Halpert
if there's a reason to keep up the "tribunals for all involved" discourse one such reason it is to put in stark relief how far away some of the Dem politicking is from the mood on the ground
eric swalwell said on msnow that a major goal of a dem majority after the midterms would be for ice masks to come off and badges to come out, this is insufficient
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 AM
if there's a reason to keep up the "tribunals for all involved" discourse one such reason it is to put in stark relief how far away some of the Dem politicking is from the mood on the ground
Reposted by Sam Halpert
My favorite thing about impeachment is when people say “oh that’s just a publicity stunt”.
It’s not but let us say it was…so? What does everyone think members of congress do all day? They are constantly looking for publicity stunts!
It’s not but let us say it was…so? What does everyone think members of congress do all day? They are constantly looking for publicity stunts!
November 24, 2025 at 3:56 AM
My favorite thing about impeachment is when people say “oh that’s just a publicity stunt”.
It’s not but let us say it was…so? What does everyone think members of congress do all day? They are constantly looking for publicity stunts!
It’s not but let us say it was…so? What does everyone think members of congress do all day? They are constantly looking for publicity stunts!
Reposted by Sam Halpert
The idea that we get *less* migration from a destabilized Venezuela is madness.
Cracks me up how you could just replace Venezuela and Venezuelans with Iraq and Iraqis and it’d be indistinguishable from something written in 2002
November 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The idea that we get *less* migration from a destabilized Venezuela is madness.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Yale Law galaxy brain
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Yale Law galaxy brain
Reposted by Sam Halpert
The Trump admin submitted a sworn declaration under oath that Costa Rica had changed its mind and would no longer take Mr. Abrego.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Unpacked:
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
Costa Rica will accept Abrego, per @washingtonpost.com .
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
November 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The Trump admin submitted a sworn declaration under oath that Costa Rica had changed its mind and would no longer take Mr. Abrego.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
Yep, one of the biggest drivers of the elite panic around “wokeness” was the increasing prominence of Black people and particularly Black women in their fields and we’re seeing that coalition rewarded with the targeting of Black workers.
Since February, according to my latest analysis, almost 600,000 Black women have been economically sidelined. The November 20, 2025, Jobs Report makes clear this isn’t a blip. It’s a structural crisis. That is not a recovery. It is a redistribution of opportunity.
The exit economy is here. Black Women are paying the highest price | Fortune
This isn’t a blip. It’s a structural crisis. And it's not a recovery, it's a redistribution of opportunity.
fortune.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Yep, one of the biggest drivers of the elite panic around “wokeness” was the increasing prominence of Black people and particularly Black women in their fields and we’re seeing that coalition rewarded with the targeting of Black workers.
Reposted by Sam Halpert
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
Fun fact: for a little over 100 years, much of Congress’ work began as constituent petitions—including disenfranchised constituents. Congress had a formal process for considering petitions that it considered a kind of “legislative due process” protected by the Petition Clause of the 1st Amendment.
November 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Fun fact: for a little over 100 years, much of Congress’ work began as constituent petitions—including disenfranchised constituents. Congress had a formal process for considering petitions that it considered a kind of “legislative due process” protected by the Petition Clause of the 1st Amendment.