Vishal Agraharkar
@v-agraharkar.bsky.social
Attorney @ ACLU of Virginia
All views my own
All views my own
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
5/ In other words, I see very little reason to think that the Court would *allow* Congress to solve significant national problems—at least, when those solutions took a form the majority of justices disliked. And conversely …
December 10, 2025 at 9:49 AM
5/ In other words, I see very little reason to think that the Court would *allow* Congress to solve significant national problems—at least, when those solutions took a form the majority of justices disliked. And conversely …
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
1/ A few thoughts about @williambaude.bsky.social’s comment in yesterday’s NYT chat that, “It’s amazing how many of our problems today could be solved by a Congress that was willing and able to legislate in response to national problems.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...
Opinion | At the Supreme Court, Scenes From a Judicial Backlash
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
1/ A few thoughts about @williambaude.bsky.social’s comment in yesterday’s NYT chat that, “It’s amazing how many of our problems today could be solved by a Congress that was willing and able to legislate in response to national problems.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...
The prefatory clause of our times: “It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but”
It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but if struggling to stabilize half a burning boat to avoid drowning is “getting back in the fight,” what they’re really saying is there’s nothing the survivors could have done to avoid being killed. And that definitely isn’t the law.
there is no more shared reality. www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/p...
December 5, 2025 at 4:26 AM
The prefatory clause of our times: “It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but”
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but if struggling to stabilize half a burning boat to avoid drowning is “getting back in the fight,” what they’re really saying is there’s nothing the survivors could have done to avoid being killed. And that definitely isn’t the law.
there is no more shared reality. www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/p...
December 5, 2025 at 4:05 AM
It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but if struggling to stabilize half a burning boat to avoid drowning is “getting back in the fight,” what they’re really saying is there’s nothing the survivors could have done to avoid being killed. And that definitely isn’t the law.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
these clowns are REALLY going to say that Texas’s map - which targeted majority minority districts - was NOT discrimination on the basis of race.
But they’ll say Louisiana’s map - drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act and give Black voters representation- DID discriminate on the basis of race
But they’ll say Louisiana’s map - drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act and give Black voters representation- DID discriminate on the basis of race
December 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
these clowns are REALLY going to say that Texas’s map - which targeted majority minority districts - was NOT discrimination on the basis of race.
But they’ll say Louisiana’s map - drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act and give Black voters representation- DID discriminate on the basis of race
But they’ll say Louisiana’s map - drawn to comply with the Voting Rights Act and give Black voters representation- DID discriminate on the basis of race
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
It is simply impossible to believe on this record that this would have been the lineup (or a stay issued at all) if the district court had found a racial gerrymander in a large blue state.
Breaking: Supreme Court on 6-3 Party Line Vote, Allows Texas to Use Its Re-redistricting Maps for 2026 Congressional Elections electionlawblog.org?p=153359
Breaking: Supreme Court on 6-3 Party Line Vote, Allows Texas to Use Its Re-redistricting Maps for 2026 Congressional Elections #ELB
You can find the order. a concurrence, and a dissent at this link. [This post is in progress]
electionlawblog.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:56 PM
It is simply impossible to believe on this record that this would have been the lineup (or a stay issued at all) if the district court had found a racial gerrymander in a large blue state.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
As Justice Kagan begins her dissent by pointing out, what is even the point of trial, of fact-finding, of clear error, of standards of review, when the Supreme Court simply ignores every single part of that and decides everything purely on the papers without any real consideration of the facts?
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
As Justice Kagan begins her dissent by pointing out, what is even the point of trial, of fact-finding, of clear error, of standards of review, when the Supreme Court simply ignores every single part of that and decides everything purely on the papers without any real consideration of the facts?
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
just an utter joke of a court.
December 4, 2025 at 11:22 PM
just an utter joke of a court.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
RI judge intervenes after ICE mistakenly detains Superior Court intern
A teenager was nearly taken into federal immigration custody in Providence Thursday afternoon before a Superior Court judge intervened, according to the Rhode Island Judiciary.
www.wpri.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:51 PM
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
Greg Bovino, Kristi Noem, and DHS need to answer for their unchecked attacks on Chicago residents.
ICE is an out-of-control danger to our peaceful communities.
The images from the Sun-Times today speak for themselves.
ICE is an out-of-control danger to our peaceful communities.
The images from the Sun-Times today speak for themselves.
October 15, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Greg Bovino, Kristi Noem, and DHS need to answer for their unchecked attacks on Chicago residents.
ICE is an out-of-control danger to our peaceful communities.
The images from the Sun-Times today speak for themselves.
ICE is an out-of-control danger to our peaceful communities.
The images from the Sun-Times today speak for themselves.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
ICE arrested a 13 year old Mass boy and sent him 500 miles away alone to Virginia.
13 years old.
Trump and his enablers are sadistic monsters.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/12/m...
13 years old.
Trump and his enablers are sadistic monsters.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/12/m...
Everett 13-year-old arrested by ICE and sent to Virginia detention facility - The Boston Globe
The boy’s mother, Josiele Berto, was called to pick her son up from the Everett Police Department on Thursday, the day he was arrested.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:16 AM
ICE arrested a 13 year old Mass boy and sent him 500 miles away alone to Virginia.
13 years old.
Trump and his enablers are sadistic monsters.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/12/m...
13 years old.
Trump and his enablers are sadistic monsters.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/12/m...
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
The Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision is a travesty unsuited for a constitutional democracy
Exhibit No. <I've lost count> Mr. or Ms. Anonymous's threat to a district court judge
Exhibit No. <I've lost count> Mr. or Ms. Anonymous's threat to a district court judge
OMG this William G. Young opinion that just dropped (12:30pm) in AAUP v. Rubio.
It begins with a postcard sent to Chambers and Young's reply
card: "Trump has pardons and tanks, what do you have?"
WGY: "We the People of the United States — you and me — have our magnificent Constitution"
It begins with a postcard sent to Chambers and Young's reply
card: "Trump has pardons and tanks, what do you have?"
WGY: "We the People of the United States — you and me — have our magnificent Constitution"
September 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision is a travesty unsuited for a constitutional democracy
Exhibit No. <I've lost count> Mr. or Ms. Anonymous's threat to a district court judge
Exhibit No. <I've lost count> Mr. or Ms. Anonymous's threat to a district court judge
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
Judge Young describes how DHS pulled people from actual NatSec jobs to look thru all students Canary targeted, just like people have been pulled to arrest grannies & review Epstein files (though notes "The Court takes no position as to the Public Officials’ prioritization of HSI’s resources")
![Due to the workload, the requirement to review all 5,000
individuals on the Canary Mission Website, the assembly of the
Tiger Team required analysts be taken off of the
“Counterintelligence Unit, the Counterterrorism Intelligence
Unit, from the Cyber Intelligence Unit, from the Global Trade
Intelligence Unit, from all different parts of HSI
intelligence.” Trial Tr. vol. II, 106:16-21, Jul. 9, 2025.15
15 According to AD Hatch, the Tiger Team was needed because
“the normal unit or section or group of analysts . . . operating
in [the] normal organizational construct couldn’t handle that
workload.” Id. 111:3-5. When asked about deadlines, AD Hatch
responded, “We are an organization or an agency that, um, in a
world where . . . taking months to do things is not acceptable.
So, yeah, it -- we were not -- I was not going to be allowed to
say we've got 5 -- well you know a small number of analysts on
this, it's going to take them 6 months to get through 5,000
names. I was not given a deadline. But I knew from how we were organized and how we worked that we needed to work through this
expeditiously.” Id. 111:10-18. The Court takes no position as
to the Public Officials’ prioritization of HSI’s resources in
this manner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreiflismim6wpkqmcv5dg2xnfvdyfd6pg3w6h3kks4khnbkj4qqqihu@jpeg)
September 30, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Judge Young describes how DHS pulled people from actual NatSec jobs to look thru all students Canary targeted, just like people have been pulled to arrest grannies & review Epstein files (though notes "The Court takes no position as to the Public Officials’ prioritization of HSI’s resources")
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
This is dumb on so many levels. But perhaps the stupidest aspect is the denial of climate change, which actually cripples our military readiness. From where to build bases, to where to expect conflict (esp. re potable water and mass migration), to our military's reliance on oil to function. Moronic.
Hegseth: "No more dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship ... we are done with that shit."
September 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
This is dumb on so many levels. But perhaps the stupidest aspect is the denial of climate change, which actually cripples our military readiness. From where to build bases, to where to expect conflict (esp. re potable water and mass migration), to our military's reliance on oil to function. Moronic.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
Appalling, appalling video. I genuinely think the NYPD should investigate for assault. There was no call at all for level of violence. She perhaps brushed him with her hands but she was not posing a threat at all.
I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)
September 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Appalling, appalling video. I genuinely think the NYPD should investigate for assault. There was no call at all for level of violence. She perhaps brushed him with her hands but she was not posing a threat at all.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
I'm just gonna keep reposting this inane BS from Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence on the roving immigration patrol case from LA.
September 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I'm just gonna keep reposting this inane BS from Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence on the roving immigration patrol case from LA.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel
Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.
www.yahoo.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
When a right-wing man murdered Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, progressives asked MAGA to tone down the rhetoric to prevent more violence. Within hours of Kirk’s murder, motive still unknown, the right is demanding that the government wage a campaign of violence against their enemies.
September 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
When a right-wing man murdered Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, progressives asked MAGA to tone down the rhetoric to prevent more violence. Within hours of Kirk’s murder, motive still unknown, the right is demanding that the government wage a campaign of violence against their enemies.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
Justice Sotomayor, joined by Kagan and Jackson, in dissent: "We should not have to live in a country where the Government
can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."
can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."
September 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Justice Sotomayor, joined by Kagan and Jackson, in dissent: "We should not have to live in a country where the Government
can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."
can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."
People being picked up by ICE in DC are reportedly being held in massively overcrowded rooms in an ICE office in Northern Virginia for days on end with little food (one bean burrito a day) and no access to counsel or basic hygiene.
Inside a Virginia ICE office: One meal a day, 40 people in a room and no bathing for days
"The situation is getting worse by the day," warns Amy Fischer, an organizer with Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid. "It is an office; it is not intended to detain people."
www.msnbc.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
People being picked up by ICE in DC are reportedly being held in massively overcrowded rooms in an ICE office in Northern Virginia for days on end with little food (one bean burrito a day) and no access to counsel or basic hygiene.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
DC statehood is now an imperative. No more dicking around. Next Dem majority, get it done immediately.
August 11, 2025 at 3:18 PM
DC statehood is now an imperative. No more dicking around. Next Dem majority, get it done immediately.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
fighting gerrymanders can seem hopeless, but there is a solution. big moment right now for people to see districting and the two-party system as inherently linked, and a relic of our archaic electoral rules. congress has the power to ban partisan gerrymandering and establish multi-member districts.
August 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
fighting gerrymanders can seem hopeless, but there is a solution. big moment right now for people to see districting and the two-party system as inherently linked, and a relic of our archaic electoral rules. congress has the power to ban partisan gerrymandering and establish multi-member districts.
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
JUST IN: Abbott says he may treat fleeing lawmakers as having “forfeited” their offices and move to replace them. He also suggests they could be subject to felony charges if they accept payments to cover impending fines gov.texas.gov/uploads/file...
August 4, 2025 at 3:10 AM
JUST IN: Abbott says he may treat fleeing lawmakers as having “forfeited” their offices and move to replace them. He also suggests they could be subject to felony charges if they accept payments to cover impending fines gov.texas.gov/uploads/file...
Reposted by Vishal Agraharkar
It's easy to lose perspective on how bizarre and dangerous this moment is. But man, "current president posts AI-generated video of himself grinning as he orders his predecessor hauled off to prison" is some fascist, dystopian shit.
Guy who posted this tried to avoid felony charges in four jurisdictions by arguing that presidents are absolutely immune from criminal prosecution
July 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It's easy to lose perspective on how bizarre and dangerous this moment is. But man, "current president posts AI-generated video of himself grinning as he orders his predecessor hauled off to prison" is some fascist, dystopian shit.