Lorie Masters

HTTP:/www.washingtoninformer.com/trump-republicans-threaten-dc-self-rule/. In this 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the fight for #NoTaxationWithoutRepresentation continues. #DCStatehood is democracy.

The Roads Have Eyes! 👁️ Turn on the Surveillance Layer in Map Options to see known license plate readers from Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia, Verkada, and other outdoor surveillance cameras.

Alaska authorities strongly oppose the Trump DOJ’s attempted “interference” in the election. This is significant because there were concerns the state—which sought to DQ the second Sullivan—would take the same side. But it didn’t. Quite the contrary. buff.ly/EJHtDpX

The Republican Party Brand Is ‘Betrayal’ https://abovethelaw.com/2026/10/the-republican-party-brand-is-betrayal/

Defending the indefensible.

I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter: Protect East Potomac Park. Oppose BAAJA.. Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

We’re celebrating two of our board members taking on new roles with the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession: @lsmlaw.bsky.social as Chair and Aracely Muñoz as liaison to Women Lawyers On Guard and Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network. #SkyLaw #AppellateSky 1/3

Good night 💤 “When a fool gains power the first thing he does is silence the wise. The next thing he does is gather other fools around him. The final thing he does is destroy the nation.” Plato

Former Bush administration lawyer John Yoo suggested the DOJ investigate a public official just for seeking a lawyer's advice on an ICC warrant. But asking your attorney for advice isn't a crime—it’s actually what the law encourages! For the full episode: https://ow.ly/xxul50ZQjOs

"a mountain of federal money has enticed the region’s police departments to serve as foot soldiers for the Trump administration’s roundup. These Faustian bargains have made Pennsylvania the most prolific such collaborator outside the South."

Just an FYI: the judge didn’t block the USPS ballot scanning rule from going into effect, she blocked them from making it mandatory. Make sure you have a back up plan to vote.

This would not be happening if people remained silent.

BOSTON…😕 ✈️

We are projected to spend $268 BILLION on deportations — costing the average American taxpayer about $2,358 (according to @epi.org). But somehow we “can’t afford” to make sure hungry children can eat or ensure everyone, no matter their income, can access healthcare. Priorities.

Trump's DOJ is revealing their hand. They know the National Guard's deployment in DC is illegal so they're going to try to intimidate DC Council to obey in advance instead. DC leaders are sworn to serve the people here. Asking governors to withdraw their soldiers is absolutely within their right.

The military occupation of DC is unjust, unwarranted, unproductive, a waste of tax payer dollars, and a threat to civil rights and civil liberties. The military occupation of DC should end now.

BREAKING: Capital One bank closed Trump’s accounts in 2021 over money laundering, per a new court filing. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Friday that she has restored voting rights for 66,085 people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to vote due to past felony convictions. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

Alex Pettis’ mom’s message. 💚 We can’t believe it’s already been six months.

Two more U.S. service members have been killed in this illegal Iran war. Another is missing in action. And I will ask again: for what? What are we accomplishing here? Trump has no plan, no clear mission, and he’s getting our sons and daughters killed for his own vanity.

👍 The New York City Bar Association released a letter it sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee opposing the nomination of Todd Blanche as Attorney General, denouncing him for his “misplaced loyalty” to President Donald Trump and numerous egregious ethical issues. www.mediaite.com/media/news/n...

🚨BREAKING: A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has denied the Department of Homeland Security’s request to pause her order shutting down use of its modified SAVE system to certify registered voters’ citizenship status. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

We have seen a surge in Milwaukee, www.wisn.com/article/ice-....

This is why we read books.

🚨BREAKING: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will introduce new legislation making ballot seizure before they are counted and certified by a state or county official a felony. In a July 4 recorded speech, Newsom was not shy about who the law targets. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

re:

After 16 years of Viktor Orbán's rule, Hungary's state television has suspended its news broadcasts for restructuring. The main state TV channel, M1, displayed a black screen with the following message: "Public media must not lie. We apologize for doing so for many years."

The American Revolution gradually transformed the way Americans understood authority itself. That transformation is on the way to being undone:

New Poll Shows Americans — Even Republicans — Think The Supreme Court Needs To Be Reined In https://abovethelaw.com/2026/07/new-poll-shows-americans-even-republicans-think-the-supreme-court-needs-to-be-reined-in/

Spot the difference

JUST IN: Todd Blanche has responded to Judge Sullivan's Order on my preliminary injunction and it's...more deflection, bullshit, and attempts to conceal. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Jack Smith on MS NOW: "I'm very concerned of what's going to happen in the next election, absolutely."   "I think the state attorney generals have a tremendous role to play here … And I would also say that I think a thing that all of us can do is support election workers and election officials."

Remember: The real freeloaders in this country are the rich — not the poor or immigrants or any other group of people vilified as scapegoats. The richest 1% evade over $160 billion in taxes every year. The United States literally has yacht and private jet tax deductions. Hello?

Jack Smith: "I think we are facing an attack on the rule of law that is different in kind and scope to anything I've seen in my lifetime"

Sam Alito Complains That Dog Ate His Homework — See Generally https://abovethelaw.com/2026/06/sam-alito-complains-that-dog-ate-his-homework-see-generally/

The RNC thought it had found a new way to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of lawful voters. It spent millions building a case in an attempt to use disenfranchisement as a systematic tool to gain partisan advantage. www.democracydocket.com/opinion/the-...

Orwellian bsky.app/profile/notu...

Have to admit it’s humiliating to see nations like South Korea unhesitatingly shut down an authoritarian takeover, while the US just lets it happen in a cascading sequence of institutional failures.

“I can only hope that it helps fuel the mounting anger toward a frivolous and reckless White House occupant who cares more about his vanity projects than the well-being of everyday Americans struggling to survive.” www.americaamerica.news/p/what-does-...

Cartoon by @deadder.bsky.social.

SEN. CASSIDY: “.. the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”

For those suing federal officers, here are two useful primers about the FCTA-one quite comprehensive & focused on Minnesota by @nora-engstrom.bsky.social and the other, more concise & focused on California by Jim DeSimone. law.stanford.edu/wp-content/u... www.advocatemagazine.com/article/2026...

March 9: "We're now totally independent of the Middle East. We don't need their oil." April 1: "It doesn't really affect us. We have so much oil, much more than we need." June 17: If I didn't agree to the MOU, we "would run out of reserves at about 4 weeks..."

At the ABA’s 250th Anniversary Celebration of the Declaration of Independence, our board member @lsmlaw.bsky.social reflected on lawyers’ responsibility to defend the rule of law and democratic institutions. #lawtwitter #SkyLaw #appellatetwitter #AppellateSky #LawSky 2/6

“.. Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense,” she wrote in her comment, according to Reuters. @variety.com variety.com/2026/music/n...

Amy Coney Barrett Swatting Incident Tests Whether Anyone Cares About Threats To Judges Who Aren’t On SCOTUS https://abovethelaw.com/2026/05/amy-coney-barrett-swatting-incident-tests-whether-anyone-cares-about-threats-to-judges-who-arent-on-scotus/

Happy Pride!

You don't have to overturn Citizens United to beat it. Corporations only exist because states charter them, so a state can decide spending in elections isn't a power they wield. Not regulation, redefinition. Hawaii made it law. Montana's gathering signatures. More states are watching.

I was proud to address the ABA Section of International Law’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on behalf of the Human Trafficking Legal Center. All deserve the ideals of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness which infuse our the Declaration & Constitution.