“‘We’re witnessing a breakdown in the ways in which any administration ordinarily carries out its responsibilities, through the Justice Department in particular,’ said Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw.bsky.social), Just Security’s co-editor-in-chief.”

“Just Security (@justsecurity.org), an online law and policy journal, has been tracking cases in which federal judges have admonished Trump’s prosecutors, including those involving the presumption. ...

ProPublica@propublica.org · 3w ago

Federal judges say they are losing faith in the Justice Department’s trustworthiness, legal scholars say. “Judges simply don't believe the representations that are being made by United States attorneys,” one former federal judge said.

I’m on vacation but I gotta say, as much fun as it is to debate woke1 and Hasan Piker, the Trump administration is currently engaged in mass murder on the high seas as surely as any serial killer or lynch mob. And viewed from the distance of vacation, The Discourse doesn’t seem to give a shit.

"During a blistering hearing on Thursday, a federal judge skewered the Trump Justice Department’s justifications for withholding the Epstein files and warned that he has a history of holding government attorneys in contempt." By @klasfeldreports.com

Judge raises specter of contempt in Epstein files case

"That's not a threat. That's a promise," Judge Sullivan said.

allrisenews.com

NYT: "Far out in the Pacific Ocean, Ecuadorean fishermen have been attacked by unidentified 'gringos' using drones, survivors say." Now, Washington Post: "The mysterious strikes targeting multiple Ecuadorian fishing boats...were carried out as part of a covert CIA program." 1/🧵

Covert CIA program said to be behind mysterious attacks on Galápagos boats

A surveillance plane flew from El Salvador toward the fishing boats before drones attacked, flight data shows.

washingtonpost.com

I'm thrilled to publish Syllabus Supplements for law teaching (educators and students).⤵️ Each draws from @justsecurity.org authors and articles. Laws of War Immigration Law & Policy Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Tech Thanks to brilliant colleagues Danae Askar & @bechamilton.bsky.social 1/

More like this coming. "An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge on Wednesday for throwing an activist to the ground near Chicago." This one brought by Cook County prosecutors. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/12/u...

ICE Agent Who Pushed Activist to the Ground Near Chicago Pleads Guilty

The agent, Adam Saracco, was charged with misdemeanor after the altercation at a gas station near Chicago last year during the Trump administration’s crackdown there.

nytimes.com

"The enduring threat to shipments from the world’s energy hub points to a major strategic setback from the war launched in February." "Persian Gulf energy producers are concluding that Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz will become permanent." www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Gulf States Accept a New Normal in Hormuz: Iran Is in Control

Some of the world’s largest energy exporters dislike the emerging deal to reopen the waterway but fear going back to war would be worse.

wsj.com

News media in informing the public that Judge Bove swore into office Todd Blanche should note not only their relationship as Trump's defense attorneys but also ... How the two are under spotlight for alleged criminal contempt for evading DC court order. www.justsecurity.org/142031/boasb...

Chief Judge Boasberg’s Contempt of Court Inquiry Involving Blanche and Bove

How the DC Circuit Court of Appeals can address Judge Boasberg's contempt of court proceedings involving senior DOJ officials.

justsecurity.org

I appreciate John Oliver @lastweektonight.com referencing our research on the 'Presumption of Regularity.'⬇️ We document all of the federal judges findings of Justice Dept dishonesty. John Oliver quite brilliantly connects this to what grand jurors are doing and can do in their civic duty. 1/🧵

This is an example of why we need to spend a lot more time combating the ideologies driving the New Right. Pete Hegseth is an acolyte of Doug Wilson, a Christian nationalist who doesn’t believe in women’s rights. Is it any wonder why Hegseth is blocking women nominees? Christian nationalism.

Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Falls as Hegseth Blocks Nominees

The percentage of high-ranking officer nominations going to women is currently at its lowest level in over two decades.

nytimes.com

"Industry groups ranging from construction to agriculture are raising concerns with the Trump administration over its ongoing immigration crackdown, arguing it is undercutting President Donald Trump’s agenda and weakening the economy."

‘It’s been chaotic’: Trump’s immigration crackdown prompts worries from industry groups | CNN Politics

Industry groups ranging from construction to agriculture are raising concerns with the Trump administration over its ongoing immigration crackdown, arguing it is undercutting President Donald Trump’s ...

cnn.com

Kendall, who hasn't served in government for over one and a half years: “I’m mystified." “I’ve been extremely careful to not say anything that could be classified, and as far as I know I have not said anything classified.” “So far no one has told me what I’m supposed to have revealed.”

Hegseth Strips Security Clearance From Biden’s Air Force Secretary

Frank Kendall, accused of leaking sensitive information, is the latest former defense official to lose access to classified information.

wsj.com

This might be the greatest example of "Twitter isn't real life."

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · last wk.

By UNANIMOUS consent, the Senate adjourned for recess until Monday, September 14 without passing the SAVE America Act. Nobody objected to the request, or asked for a roll call vote.

Senator @whitehouse.senate.gov discusses the study we published @justsecurity.org ⤵️ The study tracks scores of (Republican and Democratic-appointed) federal judges who have harshly criticized the Department of Justice for dishonesty and worse. The fall of a 'presumption of regularity.' 1/🧵

2/ At Trump's DOJ, Watchdogs Gutted as Misconduct Complaints Soar Andrew Goudsward and Brad Heath (@bradheath.bsky.social) www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...

At Trump's DOJ, watchdogs gutted as misconduct complaints soar

In one courtroom after another, federal judges have accused President Donald Trump’s Justice Department of an extraordinary spate of misconduct, including making false statements, failing to comply wi...

reuters.com

"Department policy requires attorneys to report any judicial finding or substantial allegation of misconduct to the OPR." "The number of investigations opened by the ... Office of Professional Responsibility fell to the lowest point in at least 20 years during the most recent fiscal year."

Napolitano: Blanche nomination should be rejected One of two main reasons: "He permitted and accepted ... the presidential order to enforce U.S. laws against drug trafficking by murdering 221 persons in 67 speedboats on the high seas. Needless to say, none of these folks received due process."

NAPOLITANO: Why the Blanche nomination should be rejected

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is not qualified to be the attorney general of the United States because he has demonstrated a hopeless conflict between the rule of law — which he has taken an oa...

standard.net

DOJ now dropping the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn is part of a broad pattern of abuse of power. I kept receipts.⤵️

Ryan Goodman@rgoodlaw.bsky.social · last mo.

In this brief video, I put the prosecution of Davey Hearn, former Olympian, in the context of U.S. Attorney Pirro's pattern of abuse of power. The arraignment (for reflecting pool felony charges) is on Thursday in DC. 1/🧵

Holy wow. We've been tracking the DOJ withdrawals of indictments, dismissals by judges, rejections of subpoenas, no bills by grand juries and more. All those are collected here: www.justsecurity.org/146665/court... Add this one to the list:

Scott MacFarlane@macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 2w ago

FLASH: Justice Dept seeks to dismiss Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn Trump Admin acknowledges: "Damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June 2026 was the result of flawed installation by the contractor"

The postponement of Todd Blanche's nomination hearing brings this to the fore: Some Senate Republicans say no real harm/difference in confirming Blanche since he'd be "acting" A.G. anyway. But, as I discussed last night, that's not the proper comparison.

US murder campaign also counterproductive. The "military strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats" has been "undermining traditional investigative methods, according to a previously unreported assessment by the Drug Enforcement Administration, a closed-door congressional briefing and interviews" 🧵

WALTZ: "The people leaking this nonsense" - about depleted military stockpiles - "deserve to be in jail." Pro tip: If they deserve to be in jail then ... it's not nonsense. Jail time is for leaking genuine intelligence information.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3w ago

WELKER: Is America backing away from a larger attack bc our stockpile has been depleted? WALTZ: We have to take a step back. A lot of our stockpiles were depleted because of Biden WELKER: But you acknowledge they're depleted? WALTZ: No. And the people leaking this nonsense deserve to be in jail

Overwhelming vote by states to dismiss the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. A great moment for the #metoo movement. Workplaces -- and all places -- must be free of people who engage in sexual abuse. Now let the International Criminal Court continue its important work.

ICC members dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan, diplomatic sources say

Member states ​of the International ‌Criminal Court on Friday voted ​to dismiss ​Karim Khan as prosecutor ⁠following allegations ​of sexual misconduct, ​two diplomatic sources told Reuters.

reuters.com

Today marks 3 years since anti-corruption activist & economics professor, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, was arrested & detained on politically motivated charges in Azerbaijan.   Despite his deteriorating health, the Aliyev govt has denied him access to the life-saving care he needs. (1/2)

1,000 Days and Counting: A Father, A Professor, and a Government That Won't Let Go

The son of an Azerbaijan economist and anti-corruption activist appeals for the release of his father and uncle, both political prisoners.

justsecurity.org

There are two people among the most responsible for this abject violation of the First Amendment -- And the Republican-led Senate is contemplating confirming them for Attorney General of the United States and Director of National Intelligence.

Ryan Goodman@rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 4w ago

4/ In NYT case: "'Subpoenas are the last step, not the first step, but the last step,' the judge said, citing rules set to protect against violations of the First Amendment. He said the government’s actions had turned the law and the regulations 'on its head.' apnews.com/article/usme...

"Under heavy pressure from a federal judge, prosecutors agreed on Thursday to unilaterally withdraw subpoenas issued to New York Times reporters. The move followed sharp grilling about prosecutors’ actions ... The government called the subpoenas to reporters’ family members a 'mistake.'" 1/

BREAKING: Feds withdraw NYT subpoenas into reporting on Qatar-gifted jet

The government called the subpoenas to reporters' family members an “error.”

allrisenews.com

The International Criminal Court has vital work to do. That is why the Assembly of State Parties should now remove the Prosecutor. If not, it will be further downhill for the Court, its staff morale, and global justice. This expert analysis properly frames the question before the vote.⤵️ 1/🧵

Before the Assembly: The Removal Vote and the Question of Fitness for Office

Analysis of the issues before the Assembly of State Parties in Friday's vote on removal of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor.

justsecurity.org

Trump’s DOJ has unleashed investigations against critics and political opponents. Courts and grand juries have blocked case after case, finding the government had little or no evidence and was abusing its power. An essential new report from @justsecurity.org.

Judges and Grand Juries Reject Trump's Efforts to Investigate

A detailed record of federal courts and grand juries rejecting the Trump administration’s use of subpoenas, search warrants, and indictments.

justsecurity.org

I joined forces with @dschulkin.bsky.social and Huzaifa Khan. “Zero Evidence”: How Judges and Grand Juries Have Rejected Trump Administration’s Efforts to Investigate and Prosecute We document EXTRAORDINARY number of subpoenas, indictments and more rebuffed. New searchable resource.

Judges and Grand Juries Reject Trump's Efforts to Investigate

A detailed record of federal courts and grand juries rejecting the Trump administration’s use of subpoenas, search warrants, and indictments.

justsecurity.org