As a senior in 2011, Velchik submitted a paper for an assignment & wrote from the perspective of Hitler. His Professor, horrified by his choice, refused to grade the paper.
He told Velchik to redo it.
‘Is it bad that…my favorite book I’ve read this year is Mein Kampf?’ -Velchik, in a 2013 email
For the DOJ, attorney Michael Velchik argues: "It's not arbitrary and capricious. It's good policy."
Trump is known for his "eloquence" in telling employees: "You're fired," Velchik says.
"Eloquence?" Judge Illston repeats, incredulously.
Illston: You think it's okay when [Trump] says, 'I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity'? .... That's OK, as an APA matter."
Velchik says that his tweets, posts and "truths" can't be considered under Trump v. Hawaii.
Judge Illston expresses skepticism about Velchik's denial that the shutdown-related mass layoffs are politically motivated.
"The President said so," she notes.
Illston begins by noting that she understands that beyond administrative policies, the case is about "human lives."
She quotes a filing from combat vet saying of the uncertainty: "I have never gone through anything as traumatizing as what I'm now experiencing."
“.. developments in Virginia, New York and Illinois mark an escalation among Democrats after months of internal deliberations and inaction on how to combat President Donald Trump’s push to redraw congressional lines ..”
@politico.com #Redistrict
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
3 VERY DIFFERENT MESSAGES
Trump Admin (USDA) government website blames Senate Democrats for SNAP benefit shortfall
Massachusetts and Illinois state government sites blame.... Trump and "Republican federal government shutdown"
@repemilyrandall.bsky.social @cantwell.senate.gov @murray.senate.gov thanks for all you do for federal workers (and all workers). As a fed I was disappointed by AFGE's letter today. I badly want to work, but not at the expense of the people who need the benefits you are fighting to protect!
This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings
And now we wait to see if we are impacted or not…
Duck them all.
Front page of NYT on September 22, 2025, with large top-of-page photo of a Charlie Kirk memorial service, and the lead page-one story on the same topic.
Front page of today's NYT, Oct 19, with no story about the nationwide protests, and a "below the fold" montage of two photos, and a link to a story on page 23.
Those with sharp eyes might detect a subtle difference in NYT play last month of an event in one city, w 100,000+ attendees, versus play this morning of some 2500+ events w many millions of attendees, in all 50 states.
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
NEW: Court documents and proceedings show the government altering, withholding, and possibly even deleting evidence. Check out the latest Breakdown on the @meidastouch.com network at 3:30 PT / 6:30 ET today! Always free! www.youtube.com/live/Ams4OLn...
🚨NEW: After we revealed Russ Vought's "put them in trauma" video, I spent the next year reporting on him, his influence, and his vision for America.
Yes, I got *new* recordings & videos of Vought.
Here is the story.
A @propublica.org + @newyorker.com collab: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
A really good and timely piece from @andykroll.bsky.social that dives deep into Russ Vought, a key architect of Trump's destruction of the constitutional order: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Yeah I definitely want us to win these. Thank you for voting!
Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators
Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators
Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators
Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators
Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.
Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.
The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism
In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.
👇
NEW: A 20-year federal prosecutor, fired abruptly this week even as he lead case against Abbey Gate bomber, warns his colleagues: the Trump administration is sacrificing national security to purge Trump's perceived adversaries.
w/ @dnlbrns
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
BREAKING: A federal judge says there is a realistic likelihood that the prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was driven by vindictive motives — reflected in the public statements of Bondi, Blanche, Noem et al.
He has ordered discovery on the question.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
My husband was detained by ICE today
Juan Muñoz, an American citizen, father of 2, and local government official, was peacefully protesting w. other elected officials. He was assaulted and taken away
I have had zero contact or updates since
#SOS
@duckworth.senate.gov @durbin.senate.gov
Thanks for all the kind words. I finally heard from my husband who is safe. He is being detained and it is not clear why he was detained or even if charges will be pressed.
Please pray for my family and if you can, reach out to your representatives and senators about this assault on our freedoms.
What a dark day for press freedom in the United States
Overwhelming evidence coming in on multiple fronts that Donald Trump has no idea what the people who work for Donald Trump are doing on a regular basis.
Wanna know whose shutdown this is?
Pay attention to who’s enjoying it.
What the fuck do you mean I got a longer prison sentence than Diddy
Kristi Noem is mad they wouldn’t let her in to use the restroom in Illinois today.
JUST IN: Judge Lamberth has *blocked* a new wave of terminations at Voice of America, offering harsh words for Kari Lake and saying the Trump administration’s conduct in his case would support civil contempt proceedings, if only the plaintiffs had asked. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
