Academia

“An Old White Cultural Institution”: Professor Denounces Romance as a Creation of White Supremacy
In higher education, there is a virtual cottage industry of academics declaring everything from math to meritocracy to be forms of white supremacy and racism. Now, it appears romance will be added to the list. University of California Santa Barbara Black Studies Professor Sabrina Strings has written how romance promotes white supremacy and “global pigmentocracy.” In The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance, Strings recounts having “endured” her own bad relationships and maintains that “Romance is an old white cultural institution that began in the Middle Ages.” Continue reading ““An Old White Cultural Institution”: Professor Denounces Romance as a Creation of White Supremacy” →
Academia

University of London Professor Loses Racial Discrimination Claim Over a Recommendation of a Local Sushi Restaurant
Academia, Free Speech

Tick, Tick, Tick: One Month Before the Release of “The Indispensable Right” and Early Reviews are In

We are now exactly one month from the release of my new book, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage. I am happy to share the reviews from writers, academics, journalists, and civil libertarians of the book, which is available for pre-order here. Those ordering now will have the first prints shipped to them on June 18th.

I am deeply grateful to these early reviewers for their generous comments about the book. It is meant to offer a comprehensive look at the meaning, history, and current threats to free speech in America. While it may displease or discomfort others in these fields, it is offered as a foundation for restoring this truly indispensable right.

Continue reading “Tick, Tick, Tick: One Month Before the Release of “The Indispensable Right” and Early Reviews are In” →

Columns, Criminal law

Getting Played: The Demolition of Cohen on Cross Examination Reveals “The Grift” to a New York Jury

Below is my column in Fox.com on the approaching end of the Trump trial in Manhattan. With the dramatic implosion of Michael Cohen on the stand on Thursday with the exposure of another alleged lie told under oath, even hosts and commentators on CNN are now criticizing the prosecution and doubting the basis for any conviction. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper admitted that he would “absolutely” have doubts after Cohen’s testimony. CNN’s legal analyst Elie Honig declared “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a star cooperating witness get his knees chopped out quite as clearly and dramatically.” He previously stated that this case would never have been brought outside of a deep blue, anti-Trump district. Other legal experts, including on CNN and MSNBC, admitted that they did not get the legal theory of the prosecution or understand the still mysterious crime that was being concealed by the alleged book-keeping errors.  The question is whether the jury itself is realizing that they are being played by the prosecution.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Getting Played: The Demolition of Cohen on Cross Examination Reveals “The Grift” to a New York Jury” →

Academia

Sonoma State University President Suspended For Caving to Pro-Palestinian Protesters

Sonoma State University President Mike Lee has been suspended after sending out an email yielding to the demands of pro-Palestinian students and faculty. In a Wednesday statement, California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia criticized Lee for “insubordination” and placed him on administrative leave. Lee had only been in the position for 20 months.

Continue reading “Sonoma State University President Suspended For Caving to Pro-Palestinian Protesters” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Politics

No, President Biden Did Not Commit an Impeachable Offense in Freezing the Arms Shipment to Israel

Below is my column in USA Today on the effort to impeach President Joe Biden over his freezing of arms shipments to Israel. While one can strongly disagree with the policy or the motivation behind the action, it is not a high crime and misdemeanor in my view.

Here is the column: Continue reading “No, President Biden Did Not Commit an Impeachable Offense in Freezing the Arms Shipment to Israel” →

Columns, Criminal law, Lawyering

Did Michael Cohen Commit Perjury in the Trump Trial?

Below is a slightly expanded version of my column in the New York Post on the first day of cross examination for Michael Cohen. He still has one day of cross examination ahead of him on Thursday. With the government resting after Cohen’s cross examination, I believe that an honest judge would have no alternative but to grant a motion for a directed verdict and end the case before it goes to the jury. Judge Juan Merchan will now have to give the full measure of his commitment to the rule of law. Given the failure to support the elements of any crime or even to establish the falsity of recording payments as legal expenses, this trial seemed to stumble through the motions of a trial. Michael Cohen was only the final proof of a raw political exercise. For critics, some of Cohen’s answers appear clearly false or misleading. Like their star witness, the prosecutors have shown that they simply do not take the law very seriously when there is an advantage to be taken. Cohen has truly found a home with the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Did Michael Cohen Commit Perjury in the Trump Trial?” →

Columns, Criminal law

Unfixable: Michael Cohen Faces a Reckoning of Biblical Proportions on Cross Examination
C-Span/YouTube Screenshot

Below is my column in the New York Post on the first day of the examination of Michael Cohen. He is expected to start his cross examination today. How bad will it be? After lying to Congress, courts, banks, and most everyone else, it will be bad. Years ago, Cohen threatened a journalist and told him “what I’m going to do to you is going to be f—ing disgusting.” Well, that bad. On cross examination, Cohen faces a reckoning of biblical proportions.

Continue reading “Unfixable: Michael Cohen Faces a Reckoning of Biblical Proportions on Cross Examination” →

Columns, Criminal law

The Appearance of Michael Cohen: A Wreck in Search of a Race

Below is an expanded version of my New York Post column on the appearance of Michael Cohen Monday in the Manhattan prosecution of former President Donald Trump. His testimony will not be for the intestinally weak or ethically strong viewers. It has all the draw of a Nascar race on a rainy day.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The Appearance of Michael Cohen: A Wreck in Search of a Race” →

Columns, Criminal law

“I See Dead People”: Bragg’s Case Against Trump Goes Paranormal

Below is my column on the completion of the testimony of Stormy Daniels and the start of the testimony of Michael Cohen. With a dubious legal theory, the testimony has only magnified the criticism of the prosecution as parading sensational rather than material evidence before the jury and the public. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is losing even CNN hosts and legal analysts. Fareed Zakaria noted “I doubt the New York indictment would have been brought against a defendant whose name was not Donald Trump” Elie Honig has observed that, if brought in a less Democratic district, “I would say there’s no chance of a conviction.” The Bragg case was never “normal” but last week it seemed to go paranormal.

Here is the column: Continue reading ““I See Dead People”: Bragg’s Case Against Trump Goes Paranormal” →

Academia, Media, Politics

The New York Times Denounces Cancel Culture . . . After Fueling Cancel Culture for Years

For those of us who have criticized the cancel culture in higher education for years, the attacks and shunning have been unrelenting. The media has played a role in that culture and none more prominently than the New York Times. Recently, however, the mob came for liberal professors and media who have remained silent for years as conservatives and others were targeted on campus. Suddenly, there is a new interest in free speech and academic freedom, including by the Times editors who blamed cancel culture for the recent demonstrations and disruptions on campus. Continue reading “The New York Times Denounces Cancel Culture . . . After Fueling Cancel Culture for Years” →

Constitutional Law, Lawyering, Politics

“It Simply Does Not Make Any Sense”: Judge Trashes Election Lawsuit by the Elias Law Firm
(MSNBC/via YouTube)

The firm of former Clinton campaign general counsel Marc Elias has lost another election case in a spectacular fashion. The Chief Judge of the Western District of Wisconsin, James Peterson (an Obama appointee), did not just reject but ridiculed the Elias Law Group challenge to a witness requirement for absentee voting. Elias has been previously sanctioned in court and accused of lying in the Steele dossier scandal by journalists and others. Continue reading ““It Simply Does Not Make Any Sense”: Judge Trashes Election Lawsuit by the Elias Law Firm” →

Academia, Free Speech

Vermont and Xavier Cave: Universities Cancel U.N. Ambassador as Commencement Speaker

We have been following universities as they cave to protester demands from elaborate settlement deals at Northwestern to the cancelation of commencement at Columbia and USC. Now both Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Vermont have yielded to expected protests and rescinded invitations to United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Continue reading “Vermont and Xavier Cave: Universities Cancel U.N. Ambassador as Commencement Speaker” →

Bizarre, Politics

“I Gave Up Shame Years Ago”: Clinton Denounces Trump for Doing What She Did in 2016

“I gave up shame years ago.” Those words from actor John Lithgow appear to have been taken to heart by Hillary Clinton who has severed any sense of self-awareness or shame in her public comments. Lithgow, who played Bill Clinton in Broadway production of Hillary and Clinton, appears to have inspired the subject of his play. In a recent interview, Hillary Clinton heralded the prosecution of former president Donald Trump in Manhattan as “election interference” by keeping “relevant information” from voters before an election. For those of us who criticized Clinton for the funding of the infamous Steele dossier, it was a perfectly otherworldly moment. Continue reading ““I Gave Up Shame Years Ago”: Clinton Denounces Trump for Doing What She Did in 2016″ →

Courts, Supreme Court

The Thomas Analogy: Why Recusal Was More Compelling for Merchan in Manhattan

There has been much talk about the decision of Judge Juan Merchan not to recuse himself from the Trump trial in Manhattan. I do believe that Merchan should have recused himself but I admit that this can be a difficult question. I wanted to address this question since it continues to be raised by the former president and others in the controversial trial. Continue reading “The Thomas Analogy: Why Recusal Was More Compelling for Merchan in Manhattan” →