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michaelepley.bsky.social

@michaelepley.bsky.social
396 followers 876 following 212 posts
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Sadly our immigration laws simply may not care. Many provisions are 'status' without any required mental state (eg knowingly) depending only on what facts the government can establish as civil infractions with a lower burden of proof, relaxed evidentiary standards, fewer civil rights protections.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Sotomayor is awesome. That is all.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
So now that he has a new helipad we are back to inaudible shouting of questions over the blaring noise of rotors.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Mostly I lament that we could have a kick butt space exploration program / commercial industry 10 years earlier but instead minted the world's first trillionaire on the backs of NASA engineers. Just to save a few bucks.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Way back in 1993 for $60m a ~2 year project with industry and NASA collaboration proved reusable rockets would work. Most of today's space industry is built off NASA's work. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonne...
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Reposted by @michaelepley.bsky.social
Rex Huppke @rexhuppke.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I don't mean to make waves or anything, but as a journalist, I am definitely opposed to the president talking about arresting journalists.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
These cocktails will be a triumph of speculative mixology, wherein the astronomical capital expenditure is distilled into a potable tribute, eagerly quaffed by fawning courtiers who mistake the bitter dregs of deferred liability for the vintage of divine favor.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
This standing order itself is hugely problematic. If the president is assassinated, the powers of the office flow to the vice president. By it's very nature, the order has no legal effect: but its existence creates massive uncertainty precisely where command and control certainty is critical.
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Reposted by @michaelepley.bsky.social
Thor Benson @thorbenson.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Elon attacks the best human being on the planet
Elon Musk calling Jose Andres an "asshole" for telling him to chill out
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Agree that this is all very unclear, but not with some of the results. But isn't there precedent that revealing passcodes is essentially forced speech implicating (presumably stronger 'no law') 1st amendment vs merely 4th amendment seizure law (scope, reasonableness, applicability).
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Incomprehensible indeed! Why are the members of range greetings?
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Yet the phrase "commander in chief" has somehow implicitly overrode these explicit powers. Usually under some unproven assertion by courts and the president himself that only the president could possibly act when needed - and that decision is his alone.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
On the subject of accountability. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the only mechanism to hold the President accountable is impeachment. Why is that also not a sufficient remedy for leaders of independent agencies and departments under the federal executive branch?
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Or could be about operating under international law in holding leaders accountable under that system. Individual countries can sometimes struggle under their own laws to hold leaders to account. We need a robust international law system with some real teeth.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
When we finally do rewrite the constitution, how about a new branch: 'Tribunus Plebis' with automatic and unconditional standing and investigative powers over the other branches. Funding augmented via any awarded punitive awards.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The power seems to be one the courts have read as an implicit aspect of national sovereignty. Despite creating a government ex nihilo and the 9th/10th amendments suggesting there are very limited inherent powers.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
More evidence that China is the real winner in the Trump 2.0 era. Even as Trump props up the AI sector to the detriment of all else.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Clearly we need more checks and balances. The Supreme Court has basically told us the only check against the president is impeachment. Which has a very high bar & has never happened in our history: effectively rendering this sole remedy meaningless. No wonder he thinks himself a king.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Harmonizing domestic virtues of a national birthday party with a thunderous, Machiavellian display of aerial hegemony requires a theatrical level of doublethink; the administration seems quite unable to distinguish between inspiring its own citizenry and rehearsing the annexation of the neighbors.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Sold!
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Because Republicans have spent 40 years intentionally, methodically shifting the Overton window. So they get what they want no matter who is in power, merely by having to tolerate the fringe.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
And the administration’s attempt to brand a massive military flyover for the 4th of July as a 'wholesome family holiday' is remarkably ambitious; nothing says 'peace and unity' quite like the deafening roar of tactical bombers reminding the populace exactly who holds the leash.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Or a corollary: the founders didn't intend to enshrine their particular cultural eccentricities but create high aspirational goals and serve a larger purpose. So why would we look to their social quirks of tradition to constrain those goals?
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
A fair description of the fundamental flaw of the history and tradition test "Better to start with the text and purpose of the Amendment and apply that to the facts of particular gun regulations, than the reverse!".
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I wonder how much chained CPI changes -- that allowed for greater product substitutions -- affected our ability to accurately measure inflation for a given standard of living. Seems clear people are downgrading to stay afloat.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Chaos that probably comes with real costs - extra staff, last minute cancelled or replanned events, reduced traffic to venues, disrupted routes/flights - that will never be compensated for.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Been waiting for an excuse to revisit the ad coelum doctrine under the new SCOTUS history and tradition test!
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
"they get 24/7 medical access" as if we are somehow mercifully bestowing a privileged benefit on them for which they should be grateful.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
"Categorically false" means a statement is completely, absolutely, and unconditionally untrue in every possible way. It emphasizes that there is no element of truth, nuance, or exception to the claim being made.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Not only that, but the claim is that it is an estimate of the value of future claims. So someone ran some kind of NPV for an ensemble of varying types and probabilities of claimants and claims. And then conveniently arrived at this exact number? I'd like to see that excel spreadsheet.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
And 28 USC 2414 does not seem to apply -- once the suit was filed, or withdrawn, it is no longer 'imminent'... By definition it is a past event.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
The AG letter states the arrangement is a consequence of a 'Settlement Letter'; the funding authority is claimed to be the judgement fund; Blanche described it as a settlement. Sure looks like a settlement, a factual inquiry that should still fall under the jurisdiction of Judge Williams.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Pro tip: Courts can (and have the duty to) block settlements as against the public interest. This seems like the model example.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
What? No "thank you for your attention to this matter"?
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
A deal was cut wrt Gonzales. But both should have resigned immediately and of their own accord, period.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
What about "Weak on Nuclear Weapons"?!? Surely that is up there on the all time greats list.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Judges approve and can reject settlements as against the public interest.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
There are also alternatives to hard term limits. Just make it harder for incumbents to win -- a bias to offset inherent incumbent advantages. Say increase the vote threshold by 5 or 10% every time an individual is elected. Want a third term? You need to win 70% of the vote share.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
They "fixed" that. Felons can vote now, but only rich, well connected felons that can manage to jump through the unnecessary hoops.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Why even bother with having law if the merits don't ultimately matter and it's just all political choice?
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Expect ICE to assert: broad search powers based on a claim that all TSA checkpoints are the functional equivalent of the border, even for domestic travelers; profiling under Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem, no search warrant is needed per 8 USC 1357; & administrative arrest warrants per recent DHS memos.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Our foreign policy was obsessed about the threat of a client state of the USSR off our coast. This keeps up and we'll have a client state of China off our coast.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
We need to impeach Trump just to prove ours is actually a viable government structure.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Official acts are only "When the President acts pursuant to “constitutional and statutory authority”.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Pretty sure humans created the matrix and willingly entered. They intended to advance into the future as synthetic consciousness; the architect tried even but just found it unstable. The whole human battery was just the AI squeezing some system efficiencies out. The rest, just a cover story.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Counterpoint: Who says "War Ships" and not "warships"? And also has no idea what 100% means. And this strategy just helps China.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Pretty sure 'less is more' is an idea foreign to him.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Awesome stuff. That cover letter has the same vibe of "what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard... I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul" -- just more professional.
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
We had an opportunity to back a global minimum tax that would have brought in revenue without damaging trade and competitiveness. Would have meant believing in the liberal international order to implement and funding research and education to maintain competitiveness, so....
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michaelepley.bsky.social @michaelepley.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Theft. Insider trading and market manipulation should be called theft. The money that was gained by some was lost by others. And it's not just day traders that are affected. Maybe its you -- your retirement or insurance funds.
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