Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 21m

Give this man a Nobel Peace Prize already!

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 15h

I’ve tended towards alarmism before, but I’d like anyone to try to explain how the current taxing and spending powers being exercised - they key issues that motivated the existence of our country - conform to the Constitution.

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 1d

So just how bad is this? I got a text from an appropriator friend saying "The Republic has fallen. Pack it in."

1 12 45

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 17h

Today, the president of the US wrote a “memo” suspending Congress’ control over appropriations. Also, a Supreme Court justice suggested that maybe congressional laws just “expire” when the Court thinks they’re no longer needed. The Speaker of the House hasn’t commented on either.

17 34

Reposted by Tom Clark, Elizabeth Saunders, Rebecca Solnit , and 2 more Tom Clark, Elizabeth Saunders, Rebecca Solnit, Will Jennings, David R. Miller

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 19h

"a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority"

The phrasing you're looking for is that he's suspending parts of the Constitution by decree.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 19h

President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.

Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money

The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.

nyti.ms

28 550 1.6K

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 19h

President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.

Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money

The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.

nyti.ms

360 150 300

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 22h

So, Vance’s position is that 25-to-40-year olds embracing nazism, rape, and racial superiority are “kids” making “mistakes” but 18-year-old college students with offensive posters are terrorists? I guess that checks out.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22h

last i checked these young republicans were like 25 years old. but this is a classic case of infantilization to diminish the significance of the offense. www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Vance downplays group chat messages: ‘Kids do stupid things, especially young boys.’

The vice president called the texts "edgy, offensive jokes."

www.yahoo.com

1

Reposted by Tom Clark, Anna O. Law, Rebecca Tushnet , and 4 more Tom Clark, Anna O. Law, Rebecca Tushnet, David R. Miller, Daxton R. Stewart, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Magda Teter

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22h

last i checked these young republicans were like 25 years old. but this is a classic case of infantilization to diminish the significance of the offense. www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Vance downplays group chat messages: ‘Kids do stupid things, especially young boys.’

The vice president called the texts "edgy, offensive jokes."

www.yahoo.com

380 1.2K 6.2K

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 22h

Imagine if the press had stuck together when the White House started with @apnews.com. Turns out, the media do in fact respond to market pressures like all other for-profit entities.

Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 1d

Pentagon beat reporters have been handing in their press passes all day long today. It is one of the most striking examples of news media solidarity we've seen this year.

1 1

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 23h

I’m unsure whether this GOP Representative’s view is that someone has snuck into his office and pinned up Nazi propaganda or what. But somehow suggesting “foul play” seems weird. Either way, his staff member had a swastika hanging in his cubicle.

But this is the party fighting antisemitism.

Politico @politico.com · 1d

EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police are investigating a swastika found in GOP Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.

“The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms," Taylor said in a statement.

Capitol Police called to investigate swastika in GOP congressional office

An American flag altered to include an image of a swastika was found in Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.

www.politico.com

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 23h

The arguments that Louisiana advanced are so patently pretextual, it was hard to listen to.

2

Reposted by Tom Clark, Rosemary A. Joyce

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 1d

So just how bad is this? I got a text from an appropriator friend saying "The Republic has fallen. Pack it in."

5 150 830

Reposted by Tom Clark, Timothy D. McBride

Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 1d

Pentagon beat reporters have been handing in their press passes all day long today. It is one of the most striking examples of news media solidarity we've seen this year.

77 450 1.8K

Reposted by Tom Clark, Mark A. Lemley, Alan Richardson , and 3 more Tom Clark, Mark A. Lemley, Alan Richardson, Robert B. Reich, Michael D. McDonald, Timothy D. McBride

Politico @politico.com · 1d

EXCLUSIVE: Capitol Police are investigating a swastika found in GOP Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.

“The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms," Taylor said in a statement.

Capitol Police called to investigate swastika in GOP congressional office

An American flag altered to include an image of a swastika was found in Rep. Dave Taylor’s office.

www.politico.com

460 950 2.4K

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers reut.rs/4qjMIyT

White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers

White House budget director Russell Vought said he wants to close the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and expects to do so within the next two to three months.

reut.rs

240 300 570

Reposted by Tom Clark, Gavin A. Schmidt, Scott Lucas , and 8 more Tom Clark, Gavin A. Schmidt, Scott Lucas, Sanford F. Schram, Melanie C. Green, Alan Richardson, Aaron Sojourner, Jacob T. Levy, Erol Akçay, Daxton R. Stewart, Colin Woodard

Jeff Yang @originalsp.in · 1d

ICE arrested comedian Robby Roadsteamer for singing a parody of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” in a Jeffrey Epstein the Giraffe costume outside their facility.

He sings “If you hate brown people / and you are a Nazi” and ICE thugs grab him and drag him into detention. No violence—just speech.

130 1.6K 3.2K

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 1d

I've been listening to the SCOTUS arguments this morning and am pretty struck by how the conservative justices are approaching this case. Either they are being disingenuous or they are willing to radically misread history and facts to chip away at congressional power.

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 1d

This entire argument by Louisiana and the conservatives questions are premised on an erasure of Congress’ enforcement power under the 14th & 15th Amendments.

Literally swinging for the fences to wipe out the premise for the legitimacy of Congress’ power to enact civil rights statutes.

3

Reposted by Tom Clark, Anna O. Law, Richard Ashby Wilson , and 5 more Tom Clark, Anna O. Law, Richard Ashby Wilson, Rebecca Tushnet, Stephen Jones, Brian Keegan, Henrik Skaug Sætra, Nicole Guenther Discenza

Holly Anderson 🍇 @hollyanderson.bsky.social · 1d

you fucked around and now the Episcopalians are doing memes. are you happy now. are you

Screenshot of a Facebook post featuring three of the Portland protesters wearing inflatable frog costumes with the following text:

Episcopalians on Facebook
Elizabeth Rose Elrod • 22h •
Exodus 8:2-6
"But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs...
The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your officials."

41 9.5K 34K

Reposted by Tom Clark, Robert S. Chang, Josh Pasek , and 1 more Tom Clark, Robert S. Chang, Josh Pasek, David Darmofal

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 1d

This entire argument by Louisiana and the conservatives questions are premised on an erasure of Congress’ enforcement power under the 14th & 15th Amendments.

Literally swinging for the fences to wipe out the premise for the legitimacy of Congress’ power to enact civil rights statutes.

26 580 1.8K

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 2d

It’s probably unlikely that the typical (or pivotal) voter will realize how frequently, brazenly, and abnormally the Trump administration has been defying the courts. It’s really just problematic that the chief executive disregards the law like this. apnews.com/article/fema...

Judge accuses Homeland Security of bullying states into accepting conditions to get FEMA money

A federal judge in Rhode Island has accused the Trump administration of trying to “bully” states into accepting conditions that require them to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get disa...

apnews.com

6 14

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 2d

I'm old enough to remember when Republicans flipped out at the idea of the administration asking Facebook to remove harmful information.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 2d

Statement from AG Pam Bondi:

Reposted by Tom Clark, Nina Jankowicz, Henry Jones

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 2d

Statement from AG Pam Bondi:

61 35 140

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 2d

The sum total of reporting on ICE agents’ conduct in recent months suggests a degree of inhumanity and human rights abuses that is just shocking. I have little confidence we’ll ever get a full reckoning, but i hope history judges us appropriately. apnews.com/article/immi...

ICE's use of full-body restraints during deportations raises concerns over inhumane treatment

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been using a full-body restraint device called the WRAP during deportations.

apnews.com

3 3

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 3d

How is is that the Speaker of the House, during a government shutdown, has no information about the president (seemingly illegally) firing thousands of government employees as (allegedly) a bargaining tactic to resolve the government shutdown?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

REPORTER: We know the president moved forward with mass layoffs. We're also learning there were significant cuts to staff at special education services. Are you comfortable with those cuts?

MIKE JOHNSON: I haven't seen the specifics of that and I don't know

2

Reposted by Tom Clark, Nandita Sharma, Mary Feeney , and 2 more Tom Clark, Nandita Sharma, Mary Feeney, Greg Linden, Andrew Rudalevige

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

REPORTER: We know the president moved forward with mass layoffs. We're also learning there were significant cuts to staff at special education services. Are you comfortable with those cuts?

MIKE JOHNSON: I haven't seen the specifics of that and I don't know

2.8K 2.6K 8.5K

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 4d

Everyone should be getting paid. This isn’t about that. It’s about breaking the law to try to further grasp personal control of the military. And that’s really what it is.

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 4d

Unconstitutionally taking money that the law says must be spent on one purpose & using it for something else—when it's to establish personalist control over the FUCKING MILITARY—is about as dangerous a constitutional crisis/failure as you can imagine

Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

The Office of Management and Budget sent a notification to Congress about their intent to use research and development funds to pay members of the military, two sources with direct knowledge tell NBC News.

A spokesperson for the OMB confirmed to NBC News that it plans to use the research and development funds and that there are two years' worth of funds available within the Department of Defense.

2 7

Reposted by Tom Clark

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 4d

Many historians of Rome identify Roman generals becoming the personal sources of payment for their armies as a key step in the downfall of the Republic, since it personalized military authority and freed armies to fight for their immediate leader, who paid them, instead of for the Republic

7 240 1.4K

Reposted by Tom Clark, Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings , and 12 more Tom Clark, Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Juan Cole, Michael Kevane, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Michael D. McDonald, Jason Lyall, David Rosnick, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Aviel Roshwald, Stella M. Rouse, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 4d

Unconstitutionally taking money that the law says must be spent on one purpose & using it for something else—when it's to establish personalist control over the FUCKING MILITARY—is about as dangerous a constitutional crisis/failure as you can imagine

Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

110 2K 5.8K

Reposted by Tom Clark, Amy Bruckman, Daniel W. Drezner , and 7 more Tom Clark, Amy Bruckman, Daniel W. Drezner, Smith, Alan Richardson, R. M. Wilson, Bessma Momani, Christina Ho, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Colin Woodard

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 5d

“We can give $20 billion to Argentina but we can’t afford the CDC’s measles experts” is a hell of an argument

290 5.5K 19K

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 5d

Maybe they’ll make Hunter Biden a VP?

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 5d

Trump said he deserved a cut for brokering the TikTok deal, and at once there was agreement that his son Baron would have a top executive slot... though he hasn't asked for it, and has no apparent qualifications to hold it. This is how Trump 2.0 works. www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...

Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job

US president’s 19-year-old son could be appointed to the app’s board

www.telegraph.co.uk

1

by Tom Clark

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 5d

The very fact that these judges are answering NY surveys and talking to reporters is amazing evidence that the courts are crumbling. My time studying and thinking about judicial norms and legitimacy tells me these cracks are evidence of a fundamental fissure in the institutions.

6 14

References

Fields & subjects