Dahlia Lithwick

judges always like that

The US Will Prioritize Visa Processing for Fans With World Cup Tickets In the face of heavy travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, the United States announced that soccer fans going to the World Cup will enjoy a certain priority for processing tourist visa.

In the face of heavy travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, the United States announced that soccer fans going to the World Cup will enjoy a certain priority for processing tourist visa. www.wired.com/story/the-us...

At the Justice Department, civil rights now means gun rights The Civil Rights Division was created to protect the disempowered. Under Trump, it’s working to dismantle gun restrictions.

At the Justice Department, civil rights now means gun rights [via @thetrace.org]

“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas. Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.

NEW:

In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.

She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.

Then she died.

www.propublica.org/article/texa...

Not satisfied with merely filing a motion with the Supreme Court to avoid paying SNAP benefits

The Trump administration is implementing changes pursuant to the Big Ugly Bill to deprive 3 million Americans of food assistance

You can simply never underestimate the callousness of this government

“You are our president. Please start acting like it. Show some class. Show some real leadership. Show that you actually care about the people other than yourself. I voted for you, but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment.”

JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Judge orders grand jury material to be given to Comey, citing "disturbing pattern" of DOJ missteps A federal magistrate judge wrote that there is a "disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps" in the case involving former FBI Director James Comey.

A blistering opinion from judge overseeing James Comey criminal case: "The record points to a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps, missteps that led an FBI agent and a prosecutor to potentially undermine the integrity of the grand jury proceeding"

www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-o...

He Quit the Bench to Raise the Alarm Podcast Episode · Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · 11/15/2025 · 1h 16m

Heard AG Bonita interviewed by @dahlialithwick.bsky.social on her Amicus pod (2nd 1/2). I was so impressed by his passion, courage, integrity and his ability to meet this moment fighting valiantly for the rule of law. So much gratitude for the Dem AGs stepping up. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

this is your story

FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff As the FBI’s deputy director, Bongino receives some of the country’s most sensitive secrets, including the President’s Daily Brief. His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau backgr...

FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff

Michael Wolff Is All Over the Epstein Emails. He Isn’t Sorry. Wolff’s critics see a breach of journalistic ethics in the relationship, with one New York Times editor accusing Wolff of treating Epstein as a “client."

deep dive with @jeremystahl.bsky.social on what the cryptic Epstein emails meant
slate.com/news-and-pol...

60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.

They’ve destroyed the Justice Department.

‘It’s a Culture Now of Fear: A Year of Chaos Inside the Justice Department’ www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

MONACO IL SUPPLI • MADElI® CHARLOTTE FOOD AND DRINK 'They're not chasing criminals.' Manolo's Bakery owner closes store to protect customers Updated 5 hours ago POLITICS & GOVERNMENT Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship Updated 5 hours ago

LOCAL Super G executive in Pineville describes agents dragging out teen store employee Updated 5 hours ago LOCAL 'Just walked up to them.' Border Patrol questions people at a Charlotte Walmart Updated 6 hours ago LOCAL Federal Border Patrol sweep across Charlotte sparks fear, closed shops and protests

5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:

“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”

“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”

“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”

“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”

“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”

He Quit the Bench to Raise the Alarm Podcast Episode · Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · 11/15/2025 · 1h 16m

💥This too. Do NOT Miss:
“if we're going to have a government of laws & not men, then it takes particularly men & women dedicated to being zealous, but also being fair to make clear that the law is not an instrument of partisan purpose.”
@dahlialithwick.bsky.social w Mark Wolf; his 1st pod interview!

This is important context from Julie K. Brown.

With alt text.

Trump says he's "sort of" made up his mind on Venezuela after top officials spent 3rd day mulling options The president told reporters Friday evening he's "sort of" made up his mind about his next steps in Venezuela, which his administration blames for narco trafficking.

Trump says he's "sort of" made up his mind on Venezuela as top officials mull options.

He knows he needs to change the subject before the House vote Tuesday on the Epstein files?

www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-v...

He Quit the Bench to Raise the Alarm Podcast Episode · Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · 11/15/2025 · 1h 16m

Judge Mark Wolf -- who stepped down from the federal bench last week -- on his first podcast and also California's AG Rob Bonta on the blue state resistance

Kristi Noem sits on a horse wearing a cowboy hat. In the background is Mount Rushmore.

NEW: We’ve uncovered the first known example of taxpayer money flowing from DHS to businesses controlled by Kristi Noem’s allies and friends.

It’s part of a money trail that’s been shrouded in secrecy—and involves $220 million, a mysterious Delaware LLC & a horse named Gill.

NEW: DHS launched a $200mln+ ad campaign, featuring, Kristi Noem, aimed at stemming illegal immigration.

We found the firm secretly hired for the work has ties to Noem.

@justinelliott.bsky.social, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social & @amierjeski.bsky.social:

www.propublica.org/article/kris...

More than 10 years ago, I was an Army Colonel assigned to SOUTHCOM. I cannot EVEN imagine what is going through the minds of our servicemembers & civilians that serve at that HQ. The cherry on top is the HQ is directly across the street from DT's Doral golf course. Don't let this story disappear📣

Justice Department sues to block California US House map in clash that could tip control of Congress The Justice Department has sued to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters, joining a legal battle that could determine which party wins control of the U.S.

BREAKING: The Justice Department sues to block California’s new congressional map, joining a fight that could shape control of the House in 2026.

She was 17 and a high school junior in Florida. She was working at McDonald’s. And she was living in and out of a homeless shelter. Hoping to save up to buy braces to fix her teeth, she falsely advertised herself in 2017 as 18 years old on a website that matches men looking for “companionship” with young women looking to make money. What followed would set off a chain of events that would have a dramatic impact on her life and help upend the political career of one of the men she would encounter, Representative Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican.

The woman whom the House Ethics Committee determined Matt Gaetz paid for sex when she was 17 years old was living in a homeless shelter, working at McDonald's, and needed the money for braces www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...

But Judge Currie said that was not possible because Bondi "couldn't have" reviewed all of those materials. The judge revealed during the hearing that there is a portion of the transcript of Halligan's presentation to the grand jury -- from 4:28 p.m. on the day of the indictment until the indictment was returned -- that is missing. It "appears to me," the judge said, that there was "no court reporter present," and if there was, "she didn't transcribe that portion." "How does the AG say she has reviewed" the grand jury material "when they didn't exist?" the judge asked.

Holy shit: Lindsey the Insurance Lawyer has FAR MORE than an 18-minute gap.

That grand jury came back late--after 6 or something.

abcnews.go.com/US/attorneys...

Timeline of US government shutdown that left workers and services in chaos Week by week, key moments from the 43-day shutdown that disrupted flights, food benefits and federal work

This article is a must-read.
You will see and follow the horrific timeline of trump's government shutdown ;
the longest and worst in the history of our country.

#TrumpsShutdownStillDragsOn

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

gift link www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...

My expectation is that Todd Blanche is currently the subject of a multi pronged ethics investigation that is likely to lead to bar disciplinary action. He conduct here violates multiple provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility, but it is likely not sufficient for disbarment.

Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants

This is far worse than anyone expected.

Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.

All as mass internment camps are being built.