Sign in

Antone Johnson

@antone.bsky.social
1.4K followers 900 following 488 posts

AI-forward General Counsel to emerging tech/social ventures + impact investors ⚖️ (ex- Google, eHarmony, MySpace). Incurable policy wonk, wag, proud Californian 💙 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 linktr.ee/antonejohnson

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 20/02/2025
The U.S. Department of Metaphors remains in a constant state of readiness, and no amount of illegal DOGE cutbacks and firings can stop its essential work.
0201 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Congressman Don Beyer @beyer.house.gov · 20/02/2025
Unfortunately firings have continued at the National Nuclear Safety Administration. I’ve been contacted by an NNSA worker who was fired, then told her termination was paused, then told she was fired again. She says there were numerous others at NNSA treated the same way. These people keep us safe.
801771763 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 20/02/2025
Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, with an empowering and emotional speech. "The authoritarian playbook is laid bare here. They point to a group of people who don't look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems"
718048 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Kim Zetter @kimzetter.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Two DOGE workers are now at CISA (DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) I've confirmed. Edward Coristine, the 19-yr-old known as Big Balls, and Kyle Schutt, a 37-yr-old software engineer. Marisa Kabas (bsky.app/profile/mari...) was first to report about Coristine. My piece for Wired
wired.com
DOGE Now Has Access to the Top US Cybersecurity Agency
DOGE technologists Edward Coristine—the 19-year-old known online as “Big Balls”—and Kyle Schutt are now listed as staff at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
38761328 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
William B. Fuckley @opinionhaver.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
yeah the mistake they made was assuming their colleagues would have some bare minimum of professional pride or backbone
292722302 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 20/02/2025
Remarkable thread offering guidance to current and prospective NSF grantees about how to navigate the times ahead — from an NSF program officer who was fired in yesterday's DOGE purge (!)
4509191 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Richard Branson @richardbranson.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
President Zelenskyy has been one of the greatest leaders of our time, guiding Ukraine through the darkest period of its recent history, rising up to Russia’s unwarranted aggression, being an inspiration to the Ukrainian people and ensuring that Ukraine’s voice is heard on the world stage.
275112071420751 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
580286608099 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
With all due respect, Congressman, he’s not trying to distract from anything here. He’s a grandiose pathological narcissist. A narcissistic sociopath. A malignant narcissist. A psychopath. A megalomaniac. This is what he thinks of himself. And what he wants others to think of him.
1105212914144 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Andrew (🎃) @athomashemlock.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Really important to point out that part of the reason Russia is gunning for Signal in such an ass-backwards way is that all the normal ways they have to break into communications haven't worked on Signal.
39833 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
REVEALED: we identified the operator of an overtly racist X account, "GlomarResponder," as ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden, based on an overwhelming number of biographical details matched through publicly available documents, other social media activity, and courtroom observation.
texasobserver.org
ICE Prosecutor in Dallas Runs White Supremacist X Account
The Observer has identified the operator of “GlomarResponder,” an overtly racist social media account, as ICE Assistant Chief Counsel James Rodden, based on an overwhelming number of biographical details matched through publicly available documents, other social media activity, and courtroom observation.
11083205815004 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
US Catholic bishops sue Trump administration for halt in funding for refugee settlement (this is a big deal as many have been questioning why it hadn't happened yet) apnews.com/article/cath...
apnews.com
US Catholic bishops sue Trump administration for halt in funding for refugee settlement
Catholic bishops are suing the Trump administration over its abrupt halt to funding of refugee resettlement, calling the action unlawful and harmful to newly arrived refugees and to the nation’s large...
12568164 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Minna Ålander 🌻 @alanderminna.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Trump is now an aide in Russia’s regime change plan for Ukraine. Europeans need to act NOW, not after the German elections, to make sure Ukrainians have an alternative. All the worst came true and there is no other way to put it than that the US is in Russia’s team now.
politico.com
Trump snaps back at Zelenskyy, blaming Ukraine for the war
The Ukrainian president has been excluded from the administration’s negotiations with Russia seeking an end to the war.
32787261 0
Antone Johnson @antone.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Who on earth would ever come in at that valuation today given the fundamentals? Serious question.
030 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
So many people of the people who can literally afford to be strong are so appallingly, embarrassingly weak.
351408250 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Rick Klau @rickklau.com · 19/02/2025
“She's smart, fearless, and she never speaks in mushy political talking points—she talks like a normal person.” 🎯 @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social please let me know when you declare for the Senate race. We need you and your voice.
1133 0
Antone Johnson @antone.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
We are literally paying $8-10 a dozen for eggs BECAUSE OF THIS BIRD FLU. Am I hallucinating or wasn’t this a signature campaign issue?
140 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Steve Ferra @abpow.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
"EIGHT....MILLION....DOLLARS!"
0173 0
Antone Johnson @antone.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Clowns. 🤡 But clowns wielding flamethrowers, to quote one of @sykescharlie.bsky.social favorite lines.
071 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Martha Gimbel @marthagimbel.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Ok this is making the rounds and tbc the scale of what is happening to the federal workforce and with impoundment is unprecedented - but I think we need to be really careful about assuming this is going to all hit at once in March or that we know the size of the impact 1/
25713122 0
Antone Johnson @antone.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Wow! Blanket knee-jerk RTO mandates can have a notable effect on productivity. Your tax dollars at work:
141 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Chance the Lawyer @chancethelawyer.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
So few understand enough to ask this question, but it is the central question for Meyer and the SoS and everyone else, including the legislators being asked to vote on this.
0223 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Adams’s lawyers’ letter actually makes a pretty good case for Hochul to remove him.
421553318 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
NEW: Letter from 900+ former federal prosecutors warns of decisions at Justice Dept "Some of you have been ordered to make charging decisions based expressly on considerations other than the facts & the law, including to serve solely political purposes" www.thejusticeconnection.org/wp-content/u...
thejusticeconnection.org
522691839 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
The top criminal prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Washington quit today, citing pressure by the Trump administration to open what she viewed as an improper criminal probe of a federal contract. ca.news.yahoo.com/senior-u-pro...
16152102121 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
This gives me joy.
16970931130 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
If you to send something to friends and family who don't follow the news closely something that'll bring them up to speed, try this @nprfreshair.bsky.social interview with @charliesavage.bsky.social, who has been covering attempts to expand executive power for 30 years. www.npr.org/2025/02/17/g...
npr.org
Understanding presidential power in the age of Trump
New York Times writer Charlie Savage discusses the scope of executive power as President Trump circumvents Congress, pushes legal boundaries and fires scores of federal workers, including at the FBI.
215348 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Hunter Walker @hunterw.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
There's something happening here.
1533767 0
Antone Johnson @antone.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Hillary Clinton?? What year does Secretary Rip van Winkle think this is?
041 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Alejandro Alvarez @aletakesphotos.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Big, growing crowd just west of the U.S. Capitol protesting Trump, Musk and DOGE on President’s Day. “Hey Congress, grow a spine,” they shout, gathering for a rally around the reflecting pool.
347209706115 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
John Schwartz @jswatz.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
"Big Journalism’s leaders need to think hard—and fast—about whether they are just presenting facts or actually getting the nightmarish reality across," writes @sulliview.bsky.social in her invaluable newsletter (with kind words for a recent NYT piece.) margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/four-essen...
margaretsullivan.substack.com
Four essentials for the press right now
If we have any hope of preventing a full slide into permanent autocracy, these must happen
111243 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Jason Goldman @goldman.blue · 17/02/2025
So prepare for the coup of the century Be prepared for the murkiest scam Meticulous planning Tenacity spanning Decades of denial Is simply why I'll Be king undisputed Respected, saluted And seen for the wonder I am Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared Be prepared
291 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Happy Presidents’ Day! Let’s aim for 100 weird facts about presidents, presidential elections, and maybe even vice presidents. 1. Lincoln and Washington are — as far as I know — the only two presidents to have been sculpted topless. (But please send others if they exist!)
Sculpture of a shirtless Abraham Lincoln, who is for some reason tugging at the top of his pants, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse. Sculptor of a seated, shirtless George Washington, sword in his left hand, at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.
67606117 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
It's very clear he fears him. And he shld. Trump's used to stomping people who have no power to retaliate. Appointees, GOP officeholders, semi-private citizens. Musk's money and his platform give him a vast capacity to retaliate.
4046660 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Doug Lindner @douglindner.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The Washington Post refused to run this ad. Sure would be a shame if it went viral.
Who's running this country:
MUSK
Donald Trump or
Elon Musk?
Since day one, Elon has created chaos and confusion and put our livelihoods at risk. And he is accountable to no one but himself.
The Constitution only allows for one president at a time. Call Your Senators and tell them it's time Donald Trump fire Elon Musk.
No One Elected Elon Musk
FireMusk.org
Common
Cause
Holding Power Accountable
SP
ACTION
LC
FUND
12671814997 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
FT columnist: "It is clear that the US can no longer be regarded as a reliable ally for the Europeans. But the Trump administration’s political ambitions for Europe mean that, for now, America is also an adversary" www.ft.com/content/11f1...
23555157 0
Antone Johnson @antone.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
It’s like Musk fancies himself another Frodo. Pay no attention to the Smaug-like fortune he personally hoards.
000 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · 17/02/2025
Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump say it should absolve their child-porn charges, too www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
There is Edward Kelley, who was pardoned for assaulting police at the U.S. Capitol, but who is now fighting another case. In November, a jury convicted him of conspiring to murder the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who investigated his Jan. 6 participation, with evidence showing he had a “kill list” of targets.

Kelley now argues that conviction should be tossed out, too.

The Tennessee man believes that President Trump’s blanket pardon covering “offenses related to events that occurred at or near” the Capitol on Jan. 6 extends beyond that day.

Other defendants are similarly arguing they should be absolved of other alleged crimes, such as illegal gun possession and child pornography, discovered during Jan. 6 investigations. At least one defendant has died in a post-pardon altercation with police.
1072471996 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Julia Rose Kraut @juliarosekraut.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
"Big Journalism’s leaders need to think hard — and fast — about whether they are just presenting facts or actually getting the nightmarish reality across." @sulliview.bsky.social MUST READ. ⬇️ margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/four-essen...
margaretsullivan.substack.com
Four essentials for the press right now
If we have any hope of preventing a full slide into permanent autocracy, these must happen
013652 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Robert Dale Parker @robertdaleparker.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
From Margaret Sullivan @sulliview.bsky.social: "If the tried-&-true journalistic practices of yesterday—politely presenting 'both sides,' as if autocracy & democracy are roughly equivalent—are not getting the job done, then change them." margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/four-essen... 1/2
margaretsullivan.substack.com
Four essentials for the press right now
If we have any hope of preventing a full slide into permanent autocracy, these must happen
15823 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The employee is Gavin Kliger. He’s been named by multiple large news orgs. Not sure why NBC won’t.
7145821480 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
For both procedural and substantive reasons, the first Trump case to reach #SCOTUS is *not* going to tell us much about where the justices will come down on the rest of them. I lay out all of the reasons why, and the broader background, in today’s “One First”: www.stevevladeck.com/p/125-the-co...
stevevladeck.com
125. The Court's First Trump II Case Won't Be a Bellwether
The challenge to Trump's removal of the head of the Office of Special Counsel raises unique procedural and substantive issues likely to prevent it from serving as a referendum—in either direction.
11461119 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Jed H. Shugerman @jedshug.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
@ilyasomin.bsky.social had similar criticisms at @volokhc.bsky.social @reason.com, E.g., the problems “allegiance” tests would have created for the freed slaves, contrary to the primary purpose of the clause. It’s a dog that didn’t bark, as they say. Highly recommended: reason.com/volokh/2025/...
1236 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
National Security Counselors 🕵 @nationalsecuritylaw.org · 17/02/2025
Just remember, the time between an apparent decisive victory (the destruction of the first Death Star) & an actual decisive victory (the destruction of the second Death Star) was 4 years, during which most of the time life sucked for everyone because the Empire was striking back all over the place.
361831238 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Jed H. Shugerman @jedshug.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
I dug into the only US source cited by Randy Barnett & Ilan Wurman for their theory - against birthright citizenship - in @nytimes @nytopinion: Edward Bates in 1862. He doubly contradicted their argument: "Birthright Citizenship: The Bates Backfire" shugerblogcom.wordpress.com/2025/02/16/b...
shugerblogcom.wordpress.com
Birthright Citizenship: Barnett & Wurman’s NY Times Essay and their Bates Backfire
Randy Barnett & Ilan Wurman had a guest essay in the N.Y. Times on Feb. 15th: “Trump Might Have a Case on Birthright Citizenship.” The bottom line is that their essay backfires, bec…
18787207 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
The #TeslaTakedown protestors are right about something big: -Musk is more vulnerable than Trump, and at the moment arguably more dangerous -The way to get to Musk is through his businesses. His power stems from his extreme wealth, and his wealth relies on the *perception* of his companies' value.
21665155 0
Reposted by Antone Johnson
Andrew Weinstein @andrewjweinstein.com · 16/02/2025
Donald Trump is interested in the perks of the presidency, but not the work of the presidency. And Elon Musk is more than happy to fill the void.
52752131 0