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thedissonance.bsky.social
Independent writer and researcher, blogging on politics, history, and the law at The Dissonance on Substack. https://thedissonance.substack.com By the way, I don't know what to make of my profile pic either. Self portrait from 45 yrs ago.
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If you feel like campaign finance reformers are swimming upstream against a strong ideological current and a constitutional order architected to foil reform, you are not wrong. The Dissonance begins to dig into the founding principles of our constitutional order. open.substack.com/pub/thedisso...

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

Latest post. The Dissonance is about to delve into the origin story of our constitutional order--a history prone to biased interpretations. So first, a sort of disrobing: my own political bias. open.substack.com/pub/thedisso...

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

We campaign-finance reformers should revisit the progressive critique of the Constitution from the early 1900s. If they were correct, it might help explain why it has been so hard to "get money out of politics." thedissonance.substack.com/p/have-we-ca...

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

Gee, maybe Columbia U can take a page from trumps playbook and claim they made a mistake when they capitulated to him in a most craven fashion. Try to walk on two feet again, Columbia! Join the ranks of the bipeds! www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/b...

submitted 70 days ago • 0 comments

“Rural counties rallied behind Trump in 2024, giving him a majority in all but 11 of the 444 farming-dependent counties last year, averaging 78% support...” Explain to me, *please*, why I should support bailing them out this time. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

Imagine a Democratic Party that would help build and coordinate an alliance of institutions under attack by trump: Law firms, universities, media/press, corporations, state governments. Why can’t we have *that* Democratic Party?

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

File under “painfully obvious”

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

Collectively, the US big law firms have enough legal horse power to stop the earth from spinning and cause it to fall into the sun. They damn well can stand up to trump. I hope to hell that Susman stays in the fight. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

this ALEC-led effort to jack up penalties for peaceful climate-change protest brings to mind JFK: “those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable”. At some point, the worm is going to turn. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

This fellow, who has a notably small and fuzzy head, displays more native intelligence than Trump and all his cabinet combined.

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

Some new law firms to announce: Paul Weiss & Quisling Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, Flom & Quisling Willkie Farr Gallagher & Quisling Milbank & Quisling Of course, their corporate clients who did not stand up for them, and their competitors who licked their chops, are also complicit.

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

Dear flood victim, you are a victim of climate change. Your kids’ lives will be 100 times harder. You can thank powerful fossil fuel companies and their political stooges. We can help. But help us. It begins with your vote. Love, America www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Dear soon-to-be flood victim, Here comes climate change. The real shit. Your wealth—all of it—may be wiped out. Thank powerful fossil fuel companies and their political stooges. We can help. But help us. It begins with your vote. Love, America www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 84 days ago • 1 comment

Trump won America’s 444 most farming-dependent counties by 77% on average. Trump was clear about wanting a trade war. How are we supposed to feel about all of this complaining from farmers now? If there’s a farmer reading this, help me understand wtf. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/b...

submitted 84 days ago • 0 comments

Dear property owners living in the path of these so-called kitty-cats. Your property—your personal wealth—is being blown, washed, or burnt away because of climate change. We can address this. But it has to start with you and your vote. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 85 days ago • 0 comments

climate change is making an increasing amount of property uninsurable. Uninsurable property can’t be used as collateral. Result: property disappears from credit markets. Small property owners see their personal wealth vaporized. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

submitted 85 days ago • 1 comment

My response in three words: Confiscatory Wealth Taxes www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 86 days ago • 2 comments

Barbara Jordon. She really towered above the rest of them. Love the part beginning at 11:40: “a president is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution”. Quoting Madison, but doubt he said it this well. m.youtube.com/watch?v=UG6x...

submitted 87 days ago • 0 comments

They say “terrorism,” we say, “not guilty” www.theguardian.com/global/2025/...

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

Speaking as an alum, if Columbia doesn’t get up off its knees, I don’t see how I’m going to be able to respect it ever again. Right now, what they’re teaching is something I don’t want taught: Cowardice, subservience, and how to live with no moral purpose. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/u...

submitted 91 days ago • 0 comments

Law firms that cave to trump must take their place on the shameful list of collaborators. Paul Weiss Skadden Arps I wouldn’t hire you to contest a parking ticket. No self-respecting lawyer should want their name associated with yours. Ever.

submitted 91 days ago • 0 comments

Dear Denmark: I apologize for the slanderous comments made by the assclown Vance in Greenland. There are still sane people in the US who are grateful and proud to consider you an ally.

submitted 91 days ago • 0 comments

Sounds like a rational, intelligent, measured leader. Can I have one of those, please? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments