Thoughtful piece by Charlie McCrary, discussing work by Liz Reiner Platt, Dahlia Lithwick, Gillian Frank, ⁦Xiao Wang⁩ and others writing on recent developments in religious freedom and repro rights. newrepublic.com/article/180531…

By me and Dahlia Lithwick (who you should wish a very happy birthday today).

Knife by Salman Rushdie is a true miracle. Yes, it describes in painful detail the horror of what happened, but it’s also a mediation on happiness and love. Surviving the attack took strength, but this kind of writing takes wisdom.

In response to “horrific” scenes of antisemitic harassment at and around campus, the Orthodox Rabbi at Columbia/Barnard sent a WhatsApp message to more than 290+ Jewish students this morning recommending that they go home until it’s safe again for them on campus:

I’m grateful to Hakeem Jeffries and Democrats, and to Speaker Johnson and the representatives of the Republican Party who worked in earnest, for getting the aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan across the finish line — helping to defend freedom against authoritarianism

Tel Aviv, Saturday night. Elections now! Special edition for those who said that people would not come out again after the Iranian attack.

Must read (always) by Dr. Mary Anne Franks on regressive devastating Idaho law forbidding pregnant women and girls from getting emergency care msmagazine.com/2024/04/19/ida… Devastating. Thank you Cyber Civil Rights Initiative President for her moral clarity.

“While it’s absolutely the case that 36% of independents saying a guilty verdict will move them away from Trump is less than the 44% saying it won’t, when your vote total is neck and neck... you cannot afford to lose anyone.” Anat Shenker-Osorio 🟧 + @dahlialithwick slate.com/news-and-polit…

“Scorched earth.” Now that’s a super unifying and uplifting campaign slogan.

In my over 20 years practicing criminal law, I have never observed a defendant refuse to stand and face the jury.

Any competent lawyer would tell their client that his fate is in the jury’s hands and they will watch everything he does.

Trump’s disrespect for the jury is unwise.

The great Yale professor & historian Timothy Snyder testified before Oversight today about foreign authoritarian propaganda in a democratic society—& then some GOP colleagues demonstrated how it works.
Thanks for your passionate defense of democracy in America & Ukraine, Tim!

From Hopium today:
- It’s clearly a new, bluer election - more encouraging polls, very strong 1st quarter fundraising
- Why I’m optimistic we’ll win this November (new video)
- Let’s make calls to Congress for Ukraine
More 👇
hopiumchronicles.com/p/why-im-optim…

BREAKING: Both articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas have FAILED in the U.S. Senate, effectively ending the Republicans' sham impeachment efforts. meidastouch.com/news/mayorkas-…

James Comer: the crime goes to another school you wouldn't know her

BARRASSO: The American people deserve an impeachment trial, they deserve accountability

CAVUTO: Don't Americans deserve some progress on this issue itself, senator? I mean, Republicans blocked a bipartisan border security measure that seemed to be very promising until Trump said

NEW: Not even 2 days in, Judge Merchan calls out Trump’s conduct, telling Todd Blanche “while the juror was about 12 feet from client, your client was audibly saying something in her direction….I will not have any juror intimidated in this courtroom.”

Justice Gorsuch pointedly asks whether pulling a fire alarm to delay a congressional vote could be prosecuted under the same criminal statute that the Justice Department has used to charge Jan. 6 rioters.

What folks are missing in the 'does Bragg actually hurt Trump' discourse is the following:
1. Elections are won/lost by millimeters. 'Only' 29% (lowest poll) of uncommitted voters saying this flips them is a tsumani. /1

George Santos reports raising $0.00 for his comeback election bid

politico.com/news/2024/04/1…