The Spoon in the Road

Nice! Among the most satisfying outdoor chores of the Spring.

Expect authority to make decision to rest above supervisors and for surviving probation to be exception not rule in short term. Even if they continue to lose the probationary firing cases, they’ll get many of those employees out this way. federalnewsnetwork.com/wp-content/u...

People are sleeping on this OPM guidance on probationary employees. Its timing - the EO & OPM guidance coming shortly after recent court losses on terminating probationary employees - and terms set stage for agencies to broadly conclude most probationary employees aren’t in best interest 1/

The stats about removing employees are interesting because I’d venture the majority of poor performers are not covered by this rule and, moreover, can simply allege “doesn’t like President Trump” to get their supervisor immediately terminated.

Finally, I always look for experienced attorneys who are talented and enjoy mentoring: they’re impactful. And be wary of any poor performers who are excited about mentoring: that’s usually where problems develop.

And personally it’s about trying to be as transparent as you can be with them. They’ll understand you can’t tell them everything, but want to believe there’s some logic to your decisions and that, in the right cases, you’ll listen to their input.

A red line has to be honesty. I’ve pulled someone off all cases when I caught them lying about something non-trivial. Decency to paralegals/court staff isn’t red line for young attorneys, it’s more yellow until I’ve ensured they’ve been mentored and haven’t changed.

I’ve never supervised more than five prosecutors, but I’ve tried to find/encourage people who have shown willingness to say “no” at least once to a boss. I ask in interviews about a time they disagreed with a leader: I want to understand whether they used it to start conversation about “why.”

My grandfather died of black lung before I was born. I’m told he was drunk almost every day of his life to deal with coal mines. All he wanted was his kids to go to college and get away.

Great grandfather died in a coal mine “paying back” the company for bringing him to America.

Feldman has never lived or worked in what most Americans would recognize as the “real world.”

Wow

Senate should ask Caine why so many of the President’s nominees for Defense positions primarily come from NG backgrounds. Which enemy does that selection suggest he’s most interested in defeating?

District 1 is filled with Vets and military bases. Which means:
- high demand for VA services;
- schools that rely on payments for students of federal employees;
- massive local economic boost from defense industry.

By November, District 1 could be looking at $1B in economic impact lost.

Sorry “everyone” not “anyone.” The limitations on locations took out people serving in places most Americans didn’t know we were, but where the burn pit risks were just as severe.

The hard part about the PACT Act is that it didn’t capture anyone from the era who served near a burn pit. I spent 6 months within a mile of one and the VA hands me the info every time I go and I have to say “Yes, I know. But it doesn’t include me.”

Which goes to broader point about legislating.

This should be a reality show:

“Alive” but you’re put in a situation like this. Call it “Drive.”

There’s a campaign ad about Gay Valimont that begins with saying that she HATES Trump. Then it plays a video of her saying that she does indeed dislike what he’s doing immensely.

It’s ostensibly a Patronis ad, but honestly makes a strong case for Valimont: they had me at “she hates Trump.”

Early voted for Gay Valimont. No idea how this election will turn out, but even some very openly conservative folks I know have expressed concerns. It’ll be closer than it was in November.

Huge for consumers, especially military members. The CFPB is a force that regularly not only helps train military legal assistance offices but also works to solve consumer issues that uniquely harm our military (whether intentionally or not)

The 1st has one of highest concentrations of military and veteran populations anywhere with multiple military installations. VA funding is big deal as is economic impact of threatened DOD cuts.

I like how Pam Bondi caught herself revealing they pushed for the alleged MS-13 leader’s arrest (whose name isn’t released yet) over the past couple days and realized that sure sounds like this is a distraction, so then she added “probably weeks.”

(Even News Nation noted no name’s been given.)

They seem like the people who join the military because they want the chance to kill someone without consequence or perhaps for glory, honor and praise.

It’s one of the scariest things I’ve seen because it drives home in a very real way that we’re dealing with people who truly cannot even feign empathy or compassion.

I once visited a prison like this on official business. I stood in front of a cell very similar to this one filled as this one is with “criminals.”

There isn’t anything like it. It is a harrowing experience that permanently damages your soul even when you think there’s nothing left to damage.

Makes you wonder if the TJAGs and Gen Brown opposed (or were expected to oppose) the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act… the Feb 21 firings put them at the point in timeline where they go from detaining to preparing deportations.

I’m confident none of them would’ve concurred with Act’s invocation.

But the corners of hell that can be manipulated to look like heaven in pictures will be very popular.

Vance’s comments here caught my attention because they reveal a lot:
- Despite their claims, they know the economy matters and their ability to do crazy stuff depends in part on the economy;
- Their playbook is to do “messaging work” to prime their audience to accept their actions.

Why I'm Speaking Out – And So Should You Until recently, I worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where I represented the United States and its agencies in civil litigation. Everything changed on ...

Just read an interesting piece by a recently fired AUSA. It touches on a question I’ve been grappling with: what should a govt employee do in this environment? What factors should weigh in decision to stay or go? Does it matter who relies upon you professionally? How are others handling this?

And anyone who stays (attorney or client) does so with the knowledge that this firm will not only sacrifice them if politically expedient, they’ll offer to process the butchered free of charge.

I’ve thought about that. I’m sure they’ll tell themselves that they’ve agreed to nothing new (like Canada and Mexico in first round of tariffs), so what’s the big deal.

But they must know it won’t end here. His unquenchable thirst for submission will be whetted only a moment.