Brendan Benedict
@brendanbenedict.bsky.social
Lawyer. Principal, Benedict Law Group PLLC. DC/NY. Antitrust & commercial litigation. (Attorney Advertising - Prior Results Do Not Guarantee Outcomes) benedictlawgroup.com
I'm also honored that Jackson, crediting "the keepers of 'the call of remembrance' (trained historians)" at p. 19, cited, among an illustrious list of trained historians, the amicus brief @evanbernick.bsky.social & I filed, with the outstanding lawyering of Brendan Benedict & Michael Altebrando:
4/ Our amicus brief - an originalist defense of birthright citizenship - is posted here. Thanks again to the outstanding work of @evanbernick.bsky.social @mike-altebrando.bsky.social @brendanbenedict.bsky.social I can't believe it turned out to be remotely close! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Amicus Brief in <i>Trump v. Barbara</i>: An Originalist Defense of Birthright Citizenship
For nearly all of the first 235 years under the Constitution, the citizenship of every child born in the United States to alien parents, with immaterial excepti
papers.ssrn.com
The Supreme Court STRIKES DOWN Trump's anti-birthright executive order. I was honored that Sotomayor cited 5 of my articles in her dissent in Slaughter yesterday. It's a sweeter honor today as Jackson cited my historical work supporting birthright, p. 12 & 13, forthcoming in UC L.J.
Gratified that our brief was cited in Justice Jackson's concurrence and that several of its unique sources made it into the Opinion of the Court. This is a huge victory for the rule of law -- one that comes along once a century. Thank you to @evanbernick.bsky.social and @jedshug.bsky.social.
Jed H. Shugerman@jedshug.bsky.social · 5mo agoWith the outstanding teamwork with Brendan Benedict and Michael Altebrando, @evanbernick.bsky.social & I proudly filed this originalist amicus brief defending birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara: www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
Nearly a month later, and despite numerous requests to correct the misstatement, Kurt Lash has not. Larry Solum continues to stake his own reputation on his confidence in Lash's good faith. Both have blocked me on Twitter for pointing out the error. An old boys' club defending the right to lie.
Brendan Benedict@brendanbenedict.bsky.social · 4mo agoIn his draft paper, Kurt Lash says that our amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara at p.27 claims "that Republicans viewed . . . the Romani as illegally in the United States". What it actually mentions is "England’s historical exclusions against the Roma people" Still no correction.
LIVE: #BlockTheMerger hearing led by @booker.senate.gov is streaming here 👉 www.youtube.com/live/xETe83T... Here we are just before the hearing with the Senator & the witnesses--including @katiephang.bsky.social & other @democracydefendersaction.org colleagues
Mark Rufalo warns Congress against the Paramount-WBD merger: "You don't have to watch 'Citizen Kane' or read '1984' to understand that the concentrated oligarchic control this merger represents is a threat to a free press, an informed populace & democracy itself." www.youtube.com/live/xETe83T...
As @markruffalo.bsky.social strongly said - don't trust empty promises, "Trust Competition!" 🔥
Matt Wood@mattfieldwood.bsky.social · 4mo agoAs @markruffalo.bsky.social notes, merging companies promise more jobs, but it's foolish. They take on massive debt, and fire people to pay off thoses costs. Meanwhile, consumers have fewer choices and higher prices. And small businesses that serve the industry are decimated too. #BlockTheMerger
Happening now, with @booker.senate.gov kicking it off. Booker leads with the devastating layoffs from every merger like this -- as well as the impact on our media and on journalism from the corruption here. We can't let the Ellisons win this deal by promising to do to CNN what they did to CBS.
Katie Phang@katiephang.bsky.social · 4mo agoAn exciting day: I’m testifying today in a Senate hearing about the possible merger between Paramount & Warner Bros. This kind of power consolidation is a danger to freedom of speech and media independence so it must be fully vetted. Hope you’ll tune in and watch: www.youtube.com/live/xETe83T...
Mark Ruffalo, Glenn Close, Ben Stiller, Jane Fonda, John Cusack, Kristen Stewart, JJ Abrams, Katie Phang, John Leguizamo, and over a thousand actors, writers, directors, journalists, producers, composers, and Hollywood executives have signed a letter against the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger: 🧵
BREAKING: A coalition of 1,000+ stars & film pros just jumped into the fight to support state AG's investigating the Paramount-Warners merger Not a done deal! We @democracydefendersfund.org @filmcoalition.bsky.social @1acommittee.bsky.social & other GREAT partners r proud to help #BlockTheMerger
Hollywood Heavyweights Sign Letter Opposing Paramount’s Deal for Warner Bros.
nytimes.com
scoop: more than 1,000 directors, writers, actors and other entertainment industry professionals have signed an open letter opposing Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/b...
Hollywood Heavyweights Sign Letter Opposing Paramount’s Deal for Warner Bros.
nytimes.com
“'I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire life,' the congresswoman said, fighting back tears. "She described the way people were laying down inside as “like sardines.” “'It is frightening in there,' she said. 'It is disgusting'..." azmirror.com/2026/04/10/i...
Hamburger's column can be dismissed with Hitchens' Razor: what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. Hamburger cites only those writing in support of the administration, but offers no evidence or research of his own. Therefore it is not worthy of comment.
Dan Farbman@danfarbman.bsky.social · 4mo agoThis from Philip Hamburger seems slightly more careful and measured than other originalist salvos against birthright citizenship. That said, it reveals the extent to which originalism is a quibblers game--and a truly unappealing way to think about our fundamental law. lawliberty.org/allegiance-b...
I'm on the train back to DC – I call on all my colleagues to come back, too. Congress must vote to end this war IMMEDIATELY.
Senator Andy Kim@kim.senate.gov · 4mo agoTrump may have backed down for now, but he’s shown how unhinged he is by threatening the death of a “whole civilization.” I’m heading back to DC to try and get answers for the American people. Congress needs to return to the Capitol immediately and vote to end this war.
Credit where credit is due: Congressional Democrats showed up during recess - they came back early - to introduce a war powers resolution. Republicans blocked it.
Republicans block effort to halt Trump's war with Iran after 'civilization' threat House Democrats tried to force a vote on a war powers resolution during recess. Senate Democrats will launch a more serious attempt to rein in Trump next week.
Republicans block effort to halt Trump's war with Iran after 'civilization' threat
House Democrats tried to force a vote on a war powers resolution during recess. Senate Democrats will launch a more serious attempt to rein in Trump when Congress returns next week.
nbcnews.com
My plea to Democrats in Congress is this: get back to Washington. Even if you can't gavel in from recess. Even if you don't have a quorum. Even if another war powers resolution vote fails. It's not enough to Tweet. Get inside the building and show the world you are trying. NOW!
6. I erred on the side of generosity last night. I checked and assumed that he had made one change without telling us. I wanted to accept this small gesture, so I deleted many of my posts yesterday. I was wrong. These errors have not been corrected.
I was wrong - He did not correct his mischaracterization of our amicus brief about Roma, nor did he correct his claim about the 1866 debates. I checked the main article, and I forgot his wrong claim was in his "Response": papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The Allegiance Reading of the Citizenship Clause and Its Critics: A Response
<p><span> </span></p> <p><span>The Fourteenth Amendment establishes two requirements for natural born citizenship: First, one must be born in the United St
papers.ssrn.com
#BULawProf @jedshug.bsky.social's SCOTUS birthright citizenship amicus brief: “the plain meaning at the time of ratification, the Reconstruction debates and the common law history all demonstrate that children of transient aliens or unlawful entrants are citizens.” ➡️ www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/o...
Opinion | The Birthright Con
nytimes.com
At the beginning of Trump's second term, many in the odd coalition of antitrust populists still had hope that aggressive enforcement would continue, albeit with changes. At the antitrust bar's annual convening in DC last week, that hope seemed deflated www.theverge.com/policy/90522...
The Trump administration’s antitrust honeymoon is over
Don’t expect aggressive enforcement in the next three years, a fired Trump administration official said.
theverge.com
I talked with @mjsdc.bsky.social about what is looking like a 7-2 or maybe even 8-1 decision against the anti-birthright EO. And now I am going to shut up about this for awhile because I don‘t want to screw anything up. slate.com/podcasts/ami...
Trump Watched his Birthright Citizenship Case Collapse in Real Time
Trump’s off-the-wall theory about the 14th amendment falls flat at SCOTUS
slate.com
We haven’t had enough praise of people who are doing good historical work, especially younger folks getting their start. Let me say @btkeener.bsky.social has really impressed me lately, and y’all should keep an eye on his work.
When @gregsargent.bsky.social writes that Trump's arguments are "based on lawyerly hocus pocus," I'm honored he links to our amicus, providing history, not MAGA magical thinking. @evanbernick.bsky.social @brendanbenedict.bsky.social @mike-altebrando.bsky.social newrepublic.com/article/2084...
Trump’s Crazed New Eruptions of Fury at SCOTUS Already Set to Backfire
It’s a good thing that he showed up in court for the birthright citizenship arguments. It helps ensure that he’ll own this morally repugnant effort to gut the constitutional promise of equality.
newrepublic.com
"The Birthright Con" Excellent @nytimes.com essay previewing today's birthright citizenship arguments by @jamellebouie.net (and not just for quoting the amicus brief from @evanbernick.bsky.social @brendanbenedict.bsky.social @mike-altebrando.bsky.social and me) www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/o...
Opinion | The Birthright Con
nytimes.com
Did Randy Barnett not read the briefs? Did he skip over the exchange between Cowan and Conness? Or the many other statements supporting the traditional rule?
In his draft paper, Kurt Lash says that our amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara at p.27 claims "that Republicans viewed . . . the Romani as illegally in the United States". What it actually mentions is "England’s historical exclusions against the Roma people" Still no correction.
