emptywheel
@emptywheel.bsky.social
Coverage of American authoritarianism with a focus on legal cases. An American-Irish in Limerick, Ireland. Legendary potty mouth!
FUCK DOJ has, in general, not relied on Trump v. US, even in all its most expansive claims to be able to do what they want. But in Broadview--where defendants suspect that Todd Blanche's enforcer Akash Singh was involved--DOJ went there. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![Separately, as the Supreme Court recently held, “[i]nvestigative and prosecutorial
decisionmaking is ‘the special province of the Executive Branch,’” and so even the “President may
discuss potential investigations and prosecutions with his Attorney General and other Justice
Department officials to carry out his constitutional duty to ‘take Care that the Laws be faithfully
executed.” Trump v. United States, 603 U.S. 593, 620 (2024) (quotations and citations omitted).
Thus, members of the Executive Branch are constitutionally required to “take Care that the Laws
be faithfully executed,” and it is entirely appropriate for them to “decide which crimes to
investigate and prosecute.” Id. (quoting U.S. Const. Art. II, § 3). Although the Supreme Court in
2024 made clear that the law permits such interactions, as already noted and consistent with
Department policy, in this matter, the United States Attorney reported the Office’s charging
decision to Main Justice shortly before the first grand jury presentation in this case. R. 110 at 4,
n.2.15 Former Defendants are not entitled to any communications relating to charging decisions or](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreihyyexcusmlv2qq5dhiupo44u6dxuggoidlrpfdkddmsuesirnp2q)
I disagree. First, in MI (in both 2026 and 2024) there were TWO "factions" progressive/institutional and AIPAC/MI's significant Muslim/Arab community. Just the spending issue alone makes this relevant. BUT ALSO: it does matter that if there is a split, it's a 50-50 split.
Matthew Gertz@mattgertz.bsky.social · 2h agoMy ice-cold boring take that will definitely not go viral is that a primary result with a margin of victory of roughly 1 percent tells you precisely nothing about The Future Of The Party.
This is from DOJ's response to the Broadview 6 defendants' request for sanctions/investigation. Note how they've put 1) a demand that DOJ actually show what the crime was, 2) Sheri Mecklenburg's departure, 3) Hogan's arrival (w/o mentioning HIS past ethical investigation) 4) dismissal in 1 ¶?
ICYMI last night, DHS is currently being fined every day for contempt of court until it coughs up the cell phone records of officers involved in immigration stops in L.A. last year that looked like racial profiling rather than reasonable cause. short thread -->
Gabriel Malor@gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 15h agoFed. judge holds DHS in civil contempt of court for refusing "intentionally and not in good faith" to provide plaintiffs with phone images they intend to use to prove DHS was racially profiling people arrested in Los Angeles without reasonable suspicion. Order from July 28, unsealed today.
As a Michigan voter who is grateful as fuck I wasn't in the state for that Senate primary, I think this deserves more attention: Jocelyn Benson has a MUCH easier route ahead of her than it looked like she would in January. MUCH easier. And that's going to help unify the party.
EMERGENCY!!!!!!! 🚨🚨🚨🚨 Says Trump's moneybags. Tomorrow he has to turn over the financial information that has been obvious since he decided to sue on the basis that factual reporting harmed his net worth. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![NON-PARTY THE DONALD J. TRUMP REVOCABLE TRUST’S EMERGENCY
MOTION TO STAY ENFORCEMENT OF THE JULY 27, 2026 ORDER
PENDING REVIEW OF THE TRUST’S RULE 72(a) OBJECTIONS
Non-party, The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust (the “Trust”), by and through
undersigned counsel and pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 72(a) and 45 and Local Rule
7.1(d)(1), respectfully moves on an emergency basis to stay enforcement of the Order Following
Discovery Hearing on Joint Motion for Discovery Hearing Related to Defendants’ Subpoena to
Produce Financial Records to Non-Party The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust entered July 27,
2026 (the “Order”) (ECF No. 104), pending resolution of the Trust’s contemporaneously filed
Objections to and Appeal of the Order under Rule 72(a), and Plaintiff’s pending motion for leave
to file a First Amended Complaint [ECF No. 108], and states:
BASIS FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT
This Motion presents a true emergency under Local Rule 7.1(d)(1). The Order requires the
Trust’s “first substantial production of documentation” to occur “within ten (10) days of the date](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreide5mdokhpoaojxud3qvalibkqzri555v2ljqr3c5ru47tvokew6y)
In WSJ's ticktock of the Pirro flipflop, they reveal Pirro was PAYING AUSAs $25K bonuses. To stick around. 👀 Given pretty clear GJ misconduct laid out in Davey Hearn's response to the MTD, that looks really really suspect.
emptywheel@emptywheel.bsky.social · 2h agoWhat Did Jeanine Pirro Know and When Did She Know It? emptywheel.net/2026/08/05/w...
What Did Jeanine Pirro Know and When Did She Know It? emptywheel.net/2026/08/05/w...
What Did Jeanine Pirro Know and When Did She Know It? - emptywheel
In a bid to get the indictment against him dismissed with prejudice, Davey Hearn reveals that DOJ misrepresented the circumstances of a "before" picture proving he didn't damage the reflecting pool.
emptywheel.net
Apparently we're paying $25K bribes to AUSAs to convince the to risk their law license working for a shitshow DOJ. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Under an ethical cloud over allegations of sexual harassment involving two of his female staffers, Rep. Chuck Edwards R-NC announced overnight that he will drop his bid for re-election. jamiedupree.substack.com/p/under-ethi...
Under ethics cloud, House Republican drops reelection bid
Mixed primary night for progressive Democrats
jamiedupree.substack.com
Via @oliverdarcy.bsky.social: www.status.news/p/david-elli... CNN reporters were not amused by David Ellison's op-ed in the NYT.
![The piece was "insulting," one CNNer told Status, adding, “We all have eyes and ears and see what’s happening at CBS. You can’t just write an op-ed and erase that.” Another CNNer said it was obvious to them Ellison "says whatever is best for him to get the merger through."
"The thing David Ellison seems to be missing is the wild mismanagement and disrespect that Bari [Weiss] has displayed at '60' and CBS," a third CNNer told Status. "These people just simply do not know what they are doing. We see it. And we don’t want it here."
Indeed, several CNNers said that Ellison's stewardship of CBS News had caused them to lose confidence in his ability to run a news organization and sour on his repeated assurances about respecting the independence of newsrooms. In The Times essay, Ellison wrote, "I understand that promises from an executive in the middle of a merger invite skepticism. So judge us by the year we just had."
But the last year at CBS News has been an unmitigated disaster. Most notably, Ellison allowed his handpicked news chief to take a sledgehammer to "60 Minutes," firing multiple correspondents and senior executives from television news' most prestigious broadcast—in most of the cases, without ever stating a cause for the dismissals. Beyond that, Weiss' tenure has been defined by her expunging those she is not ideologically aligned with, presiding over the worst ratings of the century for flagship programs like the "CBS Evening News" and "CBS Mornings," establishing a cozier relationship with an overtly corrupt White House, and sending employee morale cratering to astonishing lows.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreicybrw5xm7wnrleduxjtlfwlrcvjzs7qwwjijswwlluzh5x67iadi)
"Everything that went wrong with the reflecting pool, including the damage to the pool itself and the fabricated charges against Hearn, went wrong for two reasons: Trump’s unprecedented corruption and his rush to include the reflecting pool in his Narcissistic hijacking of the Nation’s celebration."
emptywheel@emptywheel.bsky.social · 17h agoNone of the apparently Pirro-sourced columns about what happened with her and Trump have bothered to mention that she, like Trump, was rushing to get something done by July 4. emptywheel.net/2026/08/04/t...
None of the apparently Pirro-sourced columns about what happened with her and Trump have bothered to mention that she, like Trump, was rushing to get something done by July 4. emptywheel.net/2026/08/04/t...
Trump and Pirro BOTH Screwed Up by Rushing to Beat July 4 - emptywheel
Everything that went wrong with the reflecting pool, including the fabricated charges against Davey Hearn, went wrong for two reasons: Trump's unprecedented corruption and his rush to include the refl...
emptywheel.net
This guy, and his family, are Marco Rubio's literal sugar daddies.
Bloomberg News@bloomberg.com · 17h agoAlfonso Fanjul Jr., who helped build one of the world’s largest sugar empires after fleeing Fidel Castro’s communist takeover of Cuba, has died. He was 89.
Veterinarian Sophie Dennison-Gibby was one of three defendants charged with a misdemeanor related to Reflecting Pool damage. In an exclusive interview with The Post, Dennison-Gibby details what happened that day.
Arrested at Reflecting Pool, woman details ‘heartbreaking’ toll case has taken
Sophie Dennison-Gibby was one of three defendants charged with a misdemeanor related to Reflecting Pool damage. The charges were all dropped.
washingtonpost.com
BOMBSHELL story by Olivia Carville @bloomberg.com Internal Report Shows TikTok Kept Safety Feature From Millions A confidential document says an algorithm adjustment was kept from many users “by design,” as part of an experiment to measure engagement NO PAYWALL www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
TikTok Withheld a Safety Feature From Millions. One Died by Suicide
A confidential document says an algorithm adjustment was kept from many users “by design,” as part of an experiment to measure engagement.
bloomberg.com
Perhaps one of these days, Trump flunkies will learn how to disguise being a key source for a story. Today is not that day.
James Downie@jamescdownie.bsky.social · 19h ago"Jeanine Pirro had had it up to here with Doug Burgum. The famously voluble U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia strode into the Oval Office late Monday with her future on the line and the interior secretary, whom she privately called an incompetent liar, in her cross hairs."
size of corp debt one rung above junk is close to record highs
I read the Blanche call with IFA as the Trump administration panicking that they are losing evangelical support www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
Blanche assures anti-abortion supporters that Dobbs will be ‘permanent in every single state’
The acting attorney general made the remarks during a private call with faith leaders.
politico.com
I remain convinced the only reason Obamacare wasn’t repealed in 2017 is that Collins & Murkowski were certain McCain was a yes vote.
Grudgie the Whale@grudgie.bsky.social · 19h agoEvery fucking time.
Unless he’s poaching off their spying.
Senator Mark Warner@markwarner.bsky.social · 19h agoAnyone else think it’s weird that Trump alleged massive election interference by the CCP… but never really followed that up with any action? It should be abundantly clear these claims of election fraud are just a pretext to justify interfering in the midterms.
From the Center for Strategic and International Studies: Six Reasons Why the United States Is Low on Munitions www.csis.org/analysis/six...
Six Reasons Why the United States Is Low on Munitions
The Iran war has exacerbated the Pentagon’s shortage of key munitions, but it is not the only cause. There are also longstanding strategic, operational, and institutional reasons.
csis.org
Scott Horton@robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 20h agoThe US military has exhausted nearly 80% of its interceptors for a key missile defense system as senior US military commanders are warning that the Pentagon's munitions stockpile is "dangerously low," according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. cnn.it/4yZ1UWn
This column suggests that only Pirro’s critics would say she’s lying. Bullshit. Anyone who had competently read the court filings would.
Eric Columbus@ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 19h agoPirro "gave the White House a heads-up last week before filing the motion to dismiss the charge against Mr. Hearn in federal court, although it was not clear if Mr. Trump was briefed." www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/u...
A third detainee died after being held at Delaney Hall, according to Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ), who said the death wasn’t disclosed to the public by Immigration and Customs Enforcement because the agency recently changed how it reports deaths of detainees. www.thecityreporter.nyc/2026/08/04/t...
A Third Delaney Hall Detainee Has Died, New Jersey Congressman Says
Rep. Rob Menendez said ICE confirmed details of the death, which took place weeks ago, to him during an oversight visit to the facility on Monday.
thecityreporter.nyc
The paperback of Invisible Rulers is out today! To celebrate I dropped audio of the Twitter Space where Mike Benz first groomed Matt Taibbi into believing there'd been "mass censorship" of "hundreds of millions of tweets"—something he'd then testify before Congress. open.substack.com/pub/agentsof...
When Matt Taibbi Met Mike Benz
How independent media turned an obscure political operative into a "whistleblower"—and his claims into government action.
open.substack.com
That is much closer to what the AGs wanted as opposed to Paramount’s request for a November trial date. It also places the Ellisons perilous close to the June must-close date. If this has to go through appeals following a bad ruling for Paramount, you could see Warner just demand its $7b kill fee.
George Pearkes@peark.es · 21h agothat's a long time to carry the deal financing huh *JUDGE SETS PARAMOUNT-WARNER BROS. MERGER TRIAL FOR MARCH 2027
Corporations, Not Immigrants, Responsible for Most Healthcare Fraud theintercept.com/2026/07/31/i...
Corporations, Not Immigrants, Are Responsible for Vast Majority of Healthcare Fraud, OIG Report Shows
Trump officials are focused on immigrants, but the Department of Health and Human Services report on healthcare fraud doesn’t even mention them.
theintercept.com
By me at this.weekinsecurity.com: A major online ads company that claims to serve 1.5 billion ads a day was hacked and began serving malware designed to steal a person's crypto. This is the latest perfect example why you should use an ad-blocker.
Online advertising giant Adform was hacked, proving once again why ad blockers are necessary
The hacked digital advertiser was caught serving malicious ads that allowed hackers to steal a victim's cryptocurrency.
this.weekinsecurity.com
