Home - emptywheel

Aileen Cannon Interfering with Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin’s Constitutional Duty
Aileen Cannon is preventing Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley from performing their duty to advise and consent regarding Trump's appointees.

Read more
The FISA 702 Canard at the Core of Trump Debates
Surveillance contractor Peter Thiel wants to know how Americans can claim to have privacy so long as the government continues to partner with he and his Tech Bro buddies to surveil on the world.

Read more
Individuality Is A Big Deal
If someone else makes critical decisions for you, are you an individual?

Read more
Fridays with Nicole Sandler
Donald Trump is now a convicted felon.

Read more
Calvinball
The fight over the Jack Smith report moved forward in the 11th Circuit -- but it's not remotely clear what it means.

Read more

Aileen Cannon Interfering with Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin's Constitutional Duty

January 13, 2025

Aileen Cannon is preventing Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley from performing their duty to advise and consent regarding Trump's appointees.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, FISA, Scary Iran Plot

The FISA 702 Canard at the Core of Trump Debates

22 Comments

January 12, 2025

emptywheel

Surveillance contractor Peter Thiel wants to know how Americans can claim to have privacy so long as the government continues to partner with he and his Tech Bro buddies to surveil on the world.

Lemmings running off a cliff. Caption translates as Turn back? After we've come so far?

Left Theory

Individuality Is A Big Deal

63 Comments

January 11, 2025

Ed Walker

If someone else makes critical decisions for you, are you an individual?

2024 Presidential Election

Fridays with Nicole Sandler

7 Comments

January 11, 2025

emptywheel

Donald Trump is now a convicted felon.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, emptywheel, January 6 Insurrection

Calvinball

43 Comments

January 10, 2025

emptywheel

The fight over the Jack Smith report moved forward in the 11th Circuit -- but it's not remotely clear what it means.

2024 Presidential Election, emptywheel, Hunter Biden, January 6 Insurrection

Will Aileen Cannon Succeed at Suppressing Hunter Biden Dick Pic Sniffing?

83 Comments

January 9, 2025

emptywheel

I have no idea whether Merrick Garland's effort to narrow any dispute around the Jack Smith report will result in the release of the January 6 report before Garland leaves. But if it fails, I think it's likely to create big headaches for Trump's wildly conflicted DOJ going forward.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection

Why and How to Hold John Roberts Accountable

155 Comments

January 8, 2025

emptywheel

Every time Trump flouts the law, we need to remind people that John Roberts gave Trump sanction to do so.

2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection

"False in Numerous Respects:" House Democrats Package Up Liz Cheney's Evidence of "Despicable Malice"

27 Comments

January 7, 2025

emptywheel

In arguing that Speech and Debate would protect her even if there were no evidence to support the criminal referral Barry Loudermilk made against her, Liz Cheney suggested that that same Speech and Debate protection is the one thing that protects him from a defamation claim.

2020 Presidential Election, January 6 Insurrection

Barry Loudermilk Wasted $250K Making Security Footage available on Rumble

8 Comments

January 7, 2025

emptywheel

Barry Loudermilk wasted $250,000 of taxpayer money so extremists who favor Rumble could have privileged access to security footage showing how US Capitol Police defend the Capitol.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, emptywheel

Lefty Pundits Absolve Their Own Failures on Holding Trump Accountable for His Coup

54 Comments

January 7, 2025

emptywheel

In October, Jack Smith provided new information about Trump's premeditation to use violence on January 6. And most of the same people complaining that DOJ didn't provide more information on the case against Trump missed it.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election

Yes, Trump Is Trying to Prevent the Release of Jack Smith's Report

76 Comments

January 7, 2025

emptywheel

As I expected he might, Trump is trying to prevent Jack Smith from releasing his report.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election

On January 6

52 Comments

January 5, 2025

emptywheel

How January 6 was the culmination of Trump's effort to sell his grievance con.

Culture, Media

Open Thread: Reading Is Fundamental As Is Journalism

63 Comments

January 5, 2025

Rayne

In which a few birds are killed with one post: an open thread published, a discussion thread launched on a topic in which most of us have an interest, and address an essential issue critical to our survival over the next several years. LFG!

2016 Presidential Election, 2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, Hunter Biden, Mueller Probe

Gravity and Trump's Conspiracy Cabinet

31 Comments

January 5, 2025

emptywheel

Gravity will undoubtedly bring to earth the conspiracies of all the people Trump is installing to defy science. But I'm much less confident that anything will ground Kash Patel's even more expansive conspiracy theories.

2024 Election, 2024 Presidential Election

On the Ambivalence of Speaker Mike's Gavel

32 Comments

January 4, 2025

emptywheel

Mike Johnson was able to cheat and leverage blind fealty to Trump to become Speaker.

2016 Presidential Election

Judge Merchan's Half Baby

39 Comments

January 3, 2025

emptywheel

Judge Merchan's decision upholding Trump's guilty verdict offers the President-elect a choice. He can have an unconditional discharge and a mean to appeal -- replete with the judicial contempt on which SCOTUS has already upheld Merchan. Or he can have the sentence hanging over his head for his entire term.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, emptywheel, Hunter Biden

Leo Wise Buries Bill Barr with Six Year Sentencing Recommendation

17 Comments

January 3, 2025

emptywheel

Leo Wise argues that you should face six years in prison if you to try to frame Joe Biden. But his retelling gave a virgin birth to Alexander Smirnov's willingness to frame Joe Biden. Wise buries all the Republicans, starting with Bill Barr, whose concerted efforts ensured that Smirnov's effort to frame Joe Biden got aired over and over and over again.

2020 Presidential Election, 2024 Presidential Election, Hunter Biden

Alexander Smirnov's Vetting

8 Comments

January 2, 2025

emptywheel

The July 2020 assessment done of the Alexander Smirnov allegation should have given the FBI cause to question the FBI informants claims. It also suggests that claims sourced to Rudy probably did have a role in searching for Smirnov.