Sign in

Chris Edelson

@chrisedelson.bsky.social
2.6K followers 836 following 3.6K posts

Lecturer @umassamherst.bsky.social US presidential power & authoritarian dangers; speaking only for me. New book on emergency presidential power March 2026: www.rienner.com/title/Above_the_Law…

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 6h
A welcome change to see Dems go left on immigration, something Obama didn't do until pushed by DACA activists and Biden didn't either. We need to see a full-throated defense of immigration as a good thing, and not just on economic grounds. Talarico is doing that. Hope more Dems follow.
430164
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 4h
One of the many dangerous things about trump is his lack of shame. The authors of Regime Change make the mistake of referring to this as a superpower. There's nothing powerful about being shameless. Shame plays an important function in society but trumpists have worked to eliminate it for trump 1/2
110
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 5h
I don't find the Schmitt Senate fiasco remotely funny. It's just McCarthyism but more incompetent. It's appalling, & a constitutional order that can't end this level of unserious lying & extremist nonsense isn't worth saving. We need massive institutional reform to make sure it never happens again.
35701160
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Simon Marks @simonmarksfsn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Offered without comment, because what can you possibly say? www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/p...
cnn.com
Inside the Texas courtroom where toddlers face immigration judges | CNN Politics
Migrant children as young as 2 are showing up at immigration courts nationwide, many without attorneys, to try make their case to stay in the US and avoid deportation.
157620
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 14h
Not just impeachable. Impeachment, both pres. and agency heads, is the only option. It's impeachment or nothing. Courts won't stop it. Other tools are impotent. Put them on trial the only way you can. Even if you can't get 2/3, use process as punishment. Make it miserable and costly. It can be done.
13440115
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 5h
when members of Congress are unable/unwilling to carry out their constitutional responsibilities, that is constitutional failure. rick scott is describing, acknowledging, condoning, and normalizing constitutional failure--even as he occupies a seat in the senate.
1106
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Lindsay Beyerstein @beyerstein.bsky.social · 7h
Ominous.
nytimes.com
German Town Votes to Stop Adding Memorials Outside Homes of Slain Jews (Gift Article)
Councilors in an eastern German town voted to stop installing memorial plaques outside homes of Holocaust victims, saying they would instead build a memorial at a cemetery.
0189
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 6h
My greatest frustrating has been with policy wonks who persist in thinking we can just keep doing normal policy analysis ("calling balls and strikes") in this situation. The President of the United States is both lawless and out of his mind. That preempts all normal discussion.
10518136
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 6h
For connoisseurs of historical irony, watching the USA reinstate James II will certainly be an experience to add piquancy to the last years of our civilisation.
022
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 6h
"The Chinese are actually in the process of trying to embed a new status quo and the US is, remarkably, in the process of helping them. The Chinese wanted to support Trump as part of the summit as they like what he is doing to the US position in the world, which has sometimes been overlooked."
000
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 6h
This is what is at stake w/trump--the very idea of the US itself as a representative democracy that rejects monarchy. trump calls into question all that we as Americans claim to stand for, all that we claim to celebrate for 250th anniversary of Decl of Ind. One can choose *either* trump or US
011
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 6h
This is absolute prerogative, the power claimed by Charles I in 17th C. Britain. Civil war ensued, Charles's side lost, and British monarchs were forced to agree that they could not set aside the law. The American Revolution flowed from this principle, rejecting the idea of tyrannical monarchy1/2
292
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Matthew J Kuiper @matthewjkuiper.bsky.social · 7h
It’s tempting to say that all these AI pushers and boosters should’ve taken more humanities classes. But the fact is, we are indeed talking “basic” or lowest common denominator morality (and logic) here. They do know better, but they’re in too deep to care.
082
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 8h
Just saw headline on CNBC: "AI breaches--who's responsible?" Um, maybe the companies and people who created the AI that caused the breaches? Why is it so hard to engage in basic moral reasoning?
371
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Hannah Walser @hkpmw.bsky.social · 23h
It’s been clear since the first round of Alien Enemies Act “deportations” to CECOT that the U.S. is outsourcing immigrant detention to countries that have less robust human rights protections. It is a continuing disgrace that the Court pretends not to know this. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Men deported from US bound and beaten in Equatorial Guinea detention hotel, lawyers say
Group trapped at Hotel Bamy after US removal as rights groups sound alarm over poor conditions and violence
03614
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Hannah Walser @hkpmw.bsky.social · 23h
If “irreparable harm” means anything, it means being sent to a country you’ve never seen, where you may well be imprisoned, tortured, or killed, under a policy that (the cert grant implicitly acknowledges!) may well be illegal
318078
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Josh Zingher @zingherpolisci.bsky.social · 23h
There is criminal exposure everywhere you look in this administration, from the obvious of ICE murdering civilians in the streets, to more discrete stuff like insider trading or agencies funneling tax money into pro-Trump ads. This is what wanton corruption looks like, and the hammer must fall.
312051
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Heidi Kitrosser @heidikitrosser.bsky.social · 23h
I was just thinking about the fact that Amy Coney Barrett told Congress that her children have had to think about things that children should never have to think about. But for children of immigrants shipped off to torture dungeons, I guess it's ... character building?
39519
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Paul Gowder @gowder.io · 23h
SCOTUS, I guess: "who cares if immigrants are sent to torture dungeons in Equatorial Guinea? It's not like they're humans with rights."
410231
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 21h
To bottom line this for you, the Supreme Court has allowed Trump to deport people without giving them a hearing, and said "we will consider next year whether this violated the laws against torture". They think it's worse to make Trump wait than risk him torturing people.
nytimes.com
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration’s Third-Country Deportations, for Now
The court also announced it would hear arguments in December on the legality of the Trump administration policy to swiftly deport immigrants to countries not their own.
14729
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Dave Karpf @davekarpf.bsky.social · 19h
Jesus this is bleak. Just boilerplate “we, the undersigned CEOs, promise to try really really hard to only make good artificial super intelligences. We’ve got this. We promise.”
1014830
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 8h
The most notable thing of the last so hours and the Schmitt-Hawkeye screw up of epic proportions, is how Trumpites are primed to pump out any narrative handed to them without thought or reflection. It’s Putinesque.
37931172
Reposted by Chris Edelson
David Ryan Miller @davidryanmiller.com · 29/09/2026
In academia, if you publicly falsely accuse someone of research fraud, you should be so embarrassed that you retreat into your office, never to be seen again In the US Senate, if you publicly falsely accuse a witness of perjury, you just go on with your day and preen about how you were "tough"
042
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It’s somehow more depressing that our constitutional order is being dismantled by people who demonstrably cannot find their own asses with both hands.
17757162
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This has a HUAC feel to it, but I guess Schmitt is more bumbling than Richard Nixon
040
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Comrades, we must ask you to work harder
static.klipy.com
Medaille Preis
ALT: Medaille Preis
020
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
why is it that there is never accountability for the false accusations that trump and his minions casually hurl at their perceived enemies? This needs to change--can't have a system where one side operates with impunity.
010
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Evil. Shame on everyone who voted for this.👇
54751257
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026
Jack Smith: "Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation ... rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 election, he engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power"
336122454522
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Russia has one enormous strategic advantage of which it is taking advantage. It can daily attack civilian targets--hospitals, universities, markets--knowing that while Ukraine can do the same, the Ukrainians are too humane to do so.
25492196
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Looking forward to being Tufts' Tisch College on Oct. 21 to discuss current issues involving emergency presidential power, including the aftermath of constitutional failure, a path toward accountability, and what this means in context of upcoming election: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-presid...
eventbrite.com
The Presidency Unbound?
The Evolution of Emergency Presidential Power & the Rise of Authoritarianism.
030
Reposted by Chris Edelson
G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 29/09/2026
These are outliers and you should read a polling average like ours at fiftyplusone.news/polls/generi...
fiftyplusone.news
FiftyPlusOne - Generic Ballot Polls and Average for 2026
A comprehensive list of polls and polling averages for elections and politician approval.
1014915
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Ami Fields-Meyer @fieldsmeyer.com · 28/09/2026
You think we’re just going to move on from the secret police rounding up our neighbors?
23530141
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The most amazing thing is that this is like a page 29 story across the US
23854232
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Heidi Kitrosser @heidikitrosser.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This truly is horrifying. Not only is he unlawfully spending OUR money on a political ad, the whole point of the ad is that roughly half of the country consists of enemies who must be conquered.
44748161
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Alexander Ross @hardpolitics.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I'm sure our political-media ecosystem would have a completely chill reaction to Joe Biden asking China "Want to buy some armaments designed in the United States?" in the wake of China acquiring F-35 parts.
0636
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Leah Greenberg ❌👑 @leahgreenberg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEWS: More than TWO THOUSAND events have been registered so far with No Kings: Vote Early, making it the largest early vote mobilization in history. It's not too late to get your town on the map - submit today: www.nokings.org
Photo of No Kings event map
13764264
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"President Donald Trump suffers ego injury from mild-mannered Canadians, initiates geopolitical standoff with Canada and issues annexation threats" is a mid-tier South Park plotline from 2005 unleashed on the world
471334220
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Andy Kaczynski @kfile.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A new CNN KFile investigation finds two past accounts from Texas GOP candidate Bo French calling for public executions of government officials, Obama, Adam Schiff, and more. Repeatedly asked Texas GOP, Paxton, Abbott campaigns if they stood by him and got no response. www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/p...
cnn.com
KFile: Texas GOP candidate Bo French has a history of calling for public executions | CNN Politics
Bo French, the Republican nominee for one of Texas’ most powerful statewide offices, is facing bipartisan criticism over a racist post about the crowd at a University of Texas football game.
19344147
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Your Internet Friend Tom Tomorrow @tomtomorrow.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
new toon: morning briefing www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
dailykos.com
Morning briefing
A cartoon by Tom Tomorrow.
1124453
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Jeff Lazarus @jlazarus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Wait Trump is blackballing CNN and Tapper is still bringing cabinet-level officials on air? Words cannot describe how gutless and sad this is. All the courage of a used piece of bubblegum.
23912
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Lara Schwartz @laraschwartz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Good morning again! In 2025 #cornell reached an agreement with the Trump Admin that, among other things, threw transgender people under the bus in service of the admin's libel that trans women somehow threaten other women. Meanwhile, actual threats to women were. .. . not so important.
031
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Roger Parloff @rparloff.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
When Trump launched “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country” without ICE facilities to accommodate it, inhumane overcrowding was inevitable. Judge Kaplan’s 9/24 ruling shows the results. Diagrams simulating a NYC holding cell in Aug 2025 look like slave ships. 1/5
Hold Room 1(820.78 sq. ft.)
With 87 people
(out of 193 people total)
Lying Down/Sitting
Diagram showing the largest tenth-floor hold room containing eighty-seven detainees in which each rectangle represents one lying-down detainee with the average height and shoulder width of an adult man and each circle represents one sitting-down detainee with the average shoulder width of an adult man. PX303, Ex. 1.
14470249
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is a central argument in my new book on emergency presidential power: trump seeks to consolidate the kind of power associated with absolute monarchs, emboldened by the S Ct & Rs in Congress. No guarantee he succeeds, but those are the stakes in this 250th anniversary of US break w/monarchy 1/2
131
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Omri Marian @omrimarian.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Thank you. Finally.
513223
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
In what world is it the purview of the President/Executive branch “to force conservative cultural changes on academia‘? And why end the paragraph without noting that there is no legal justification whatsoever for Trump and his minions to “force cultural change” on institutions of higher education.
Inside the White House, some of Mr. Trump’s top lieutenants have expressed frustration about a perceive slowdown in the adminstration’s attempts to force conservative cultural changes on academia.
7692165
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
3/Second, AI will deskill humans. See the research on student test taking in China. The answer, thats ok, people will lose some 'intellegince" but become 'systems operators'. What does that mean for a teacher in Ohio? papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com
The Generative AI Learning Penalty: Evidence from Chinese Secondary Education
Using 30 months of panel data on 26,811 Chinese students in grades 7-12, we study how generative AI affects homework productivity and learning. The data combine
1101
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Patrick De Klotz @patdeklotz.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Widespread gross legal and human rights violations going on 2 years now, we are in the midst of a major rip of our social contract
183
Reposted by Chris Edelson
Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It's a scandal that Jack Smith's classified-documents report is still being withheld from the public, and today's filing from former FBI agents (see below) makes that even clearer. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Trump Was Indicted Under the Espionage Act. Why Can’t We Read the Report?
Its suppression is highly irregular and disturbing.
511160
Chris Edelson @chrisedelson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Those aren't real people" is a revealing statement, to say the least. The trump admin has made clear it literally sees undocumented immigrants as disposable. This is what happens when you don't see someone as a "real person". Really ugly stuff recalling some of history's worst chapters.
172