Year: 2024

Congress, Politics

Rep. Crockett: Hispanic Voters Have “Slave Mentality” and “Can Barely Vote”

One of the most consistent elements of the identity politics practiced by the left is its selectivity. Whether in politics or higher education, the outrage that comes from allegedly racist or insensitive comments is confined to targets on the right. A case in point is the deafening silence after a diatribe by Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, during which she accused Hispanic voters of having a “slave mentality” and said that they “can barely vote.” There was no vaporous segment on The View or condemnations on the floor from members. Continue reading “Rep. Crockett: Hispanic Voters Have “Slave Mentality” and “Can Barely Vote”” →

Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

“He has Good Days and Bad Days”: The Journal Exposes the Concerted Effort to Conceal Biden’s Mental Decline

In an explosive exposé, the Wall Street Journal has revealed how the mental decline of President Joe Biden was pronounced from the start of his term. However, cabinet members and other Democrats lied to the public about his declining levels of acuity and engagement. That effort succeeded largely with the help of an alliance with the media, which showed little interest in whether the President was actually running the government.

Continue reading ““He has Good Days and Bad Days”: The Journal Exposes the Concerted Effort to Conceal Biden’s Mental Decline” →

Criminal law, Lawyering

“No Authority to Proceed”: Georgia Appellate Court Disqualifies Fani Willis

Today, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her team in the prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. The final collapse of the House of Willis came after months of her spending enormous amounts of time and money to try to stay at the lead of the high-profile case. Lawfare holds little value unless you are the lead warrior. Continue reading ““No Authority to Proceed”: Georgia Appellate Court Disqualifies Fani Willis” →

Constitutional Law, Supreme Court

Eminently Overdue: The Supreme Court Considers New York Case That Could Overturn the Infamous Kelo Decision

As an academic and a legal commentator, I have sometimes disagreed with the United States Supreme Court, but I often stress the good-faith differences in how certain rights or protections are interpreted. One case, however, has long stood out for me as wildly off-base and wrongly decided: Kelo v. New London. The case allowed the government to seize property from one private party and then give it to another private party. There is now a petition before the Supreme Court that would allow it to reconsider this pernicious precedent. The Court should grant review in Bowers v. Oneida County Industrial Development Agency precisely for that purpose. Continue reading “Eminently Overdue: The Supreme Court Considers New York Case That Could Overturn the Infamous Kelo Decision” →

Free Speech, Politics

Clouds Form Over Bluesky: “Trust and Safety” Head Embraces Canadian-Style Speech Limits
After the election, liberal pundits and media have attempted to rally the public in a shift from X to Bluesky, a smaller site that is viewed as a safe space for the left. I have been critical of the move as a retreat deeper into the liberal echo chamber after an election that showed how out-of-touch many of these writers were with the majority of voters. They would be better served engaging with a broader swath of public opinion.  Today, one of the top Bluesky officials embraced Canadian-style speech controls and rejected more robust views of free speech as the model for the site. Continue reading “Clouds Form Over Bluesky: “Trust and Safety” Head Embraces Canadian-Style Speech Limits” →
Academia

Putting You Back in Eugenics: Middlebury Accused of Hypocrisy in Removal of Name from Iconic Chapel
At Middlebury College, the most iconic image of the picturesque institution is its chapel, once known as the Mead Memorial Chapel. It is now simply called the Middlebury Chapel after the school stripped away the name of its donor, the late Gov. John Mead. The reason was his support of eugenics. However, in a recent brief, former Vermont governor James Douglas seemed to put the “you” into eugenics by claiming that it was the college itself that was committed to eugenics more than the governor. Continue reading “Putting You Back in Eugenics: Middlebury Accused of Hypocrisy in Removal of Name from Iconic Chapel” →
Congress, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics

President Biden and Others Renew Calls for Gun Control After Wisconsin Shooting

The shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, immediately prompted renewed calls for gun control from President Joe Biden and others. As I have previously written, these calls often appear entirely disconnected from the actual crime or the constitutional protections afforded gun owners, including President Biden demanding a ban on assault weapons after a shooting with a handgun. Continue reading “President Biden and Others Renew Calls for Gun Control After Wisconsin Shooting” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Politics

The Danger of White Knight Pardons: Biden Could Fundamentally Change Presidential Power

Below is my column in the New York Post on the news reports that President Joe Biden is seriously considering preemptive pardons for political allies. In granting what I have called “White Knight pardons,” Biden would achieve more of a political than legal purpose. Democrats are worried about the collapsing narrative that President-elect Donald Trump will destroy democracy,  end future elections, and conduct sweeping arrests of everyone from journalists to homosexuals. That narrative, of course, ignores that we have a constitutional system of overlapping protections that has blocked such abuses for over two centuries. Ironically, preemptive pardons would do precisely what Biden suggests that he is deterring: create a dangerous immunity for presidents and their allies in committing criminal abuses.

Here is the column: Continue reading “The Danger of White Knight Pardons: Biden Could Fundamentally Change Presidential Power” →

Academia, Columns, Media, Politics

Ghosted by ChatGPT: How I was First Defamed and then Deleted by AI

Below is my column in The Hill on recent reports that the use of my name in search requests on ChatGPT results in an error and no response. I am apparently not alone in this haunt of ghosted individuals. The controversy raises some novel and chilling questions about the rapid rise of AI systems.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Ghosted by ChatGPT: How I was First Defamed and then Deleted by AI” →

Columns, Media, Politics

Digging Out of a Mousehole: The Disney/ABC Settlement Reflects a New Reality for Media

Below is my column on Fox.com on the settlement of ABC News of the defamation case brought by President-elect Donald Trump. The settlement has enflamed many on the left as well as reportedly some at ABC News. However, ABC likely saw this as a no-win situation as it faced potentially embarrassing depositions.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Digging Out of a Mousehole: The Disney/ABC Settlement Reflects a New Reality for Media” →

International

Afuera! Milei Administration Posts Record Reductions in Deficit and Inflation Numbers

Argentinian President Javier Milei has long been an irresistible target of the press and pundits.  When he came into power with his famous “Afuera!” (or Out!) platform to dramatically shrink government spending, Argentina was viewed as a basket case that was well past the red line for recovery. He was mocked as a clown for seeking to apply libertarian policies on the economy. Milei may have the last laugh. After only a year, his government has wiped out the deficit and reduced inflation from 25% to 2.4%. Continue reading “Afuera! Milei Administration Posts Record Reductions in Deficit and Inflation Numbers” →

Lawyering, Politics

Cuomo Accuser Drops Case against the Former New York Governor…But Continues Case Against New York

A curious thing just happened in the sexual harassment lawsuit against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo: accuser Charlotte Bennett just dropped her claims against Cuomo despite continuing with litigation against the state over the alleged conduct of Cuomo. While the state has its own obligations as an employer, it is odd that you would drop the claim against the alleged actor himself. That is like dropping your product liability claim against Tesla while suing the electric company for powering the car. Continue reading “Cuomo Accuser Drops Case against the Former New York Governor…But Continues Case Against New York” →

Academia, Society

Inanity, Thy Name is Womyn: National Spelling Bee Adopts Alternative Spelling of “Women”
Babylon Bee

The Scripps National Spelling Bee has triggered a controversy after adopting the alternative spelling of “women” as permissible. Students will now be allowed to spell “women” as “womyn.” Parody and reality seem to have emerged given a past Babylon Bee skit (below).

Continue reading “Inanity, Thy Name is Womyn: National Spelling Bee Adopts Alternative Spelling of “Women”” →

Academia

Illinois Professor Issues Discrimination Warning to Students Before They Complete Her Evaluations
University of Illinois Accounting Professor Li Zhang is under fire this week after warning students about their “unconscious and unintentional biases” against women and minorities before they completed their evaluations. The College Fix reported on the complaint after Professor Zhang warned students at the end of last semester that course evaluations can be biased against racial minorities and women. She was challenged on the “passive-aggressive” messages received by some students. Continue reading “Illinois Professor Issues Discrimination Warning to Students Before They Complete Her Evaluations” →
Academia, Criminal law, Media, Politics

Former Stripper Admits that She Lied About Gang Rape by Duke Lacrosse Players

Almost twenty years ago, the country was outraged by allegations of an African-American stripper that she was hired and then gang raped by white Duke Lacrosse players. The story followed an all-too-familiar pattern. The media, professors, and pundits immediately treated the allegations as true and declared the crime as a manifestation of our racist society. Many demanded immediate suspensions of all of the students as the racial and class conflicts were emphasized in the media. As I wrote previously, Duke University joined the mob against its own students and discarded any semblance of due process or fairness. Now, the accuser Crystal Mangum has admitted that she made the whole thing up in an interview on the independent media outlet “Let’s Talk With Kat.”  The problem is that little was likely learned in higher education from the experience. Continue reading “Former Stripper Admits that She Lied About Gang Rape by Duke Lacrosse Players” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks