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Nathan Newman 🧭🌹
@nathansnewman
, 5 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
Tough-on-crime rhetoric used to drive mass incarceration was heinous- but Kamala Harris was using that rhetoric to in practice support non-prison alternatives- and did so as jail and prison populations were dramatically falling in California. /1

static.prisonpolicy.org/images/overtim…
If Harris maintaining that rhetoric calmed fears of California voters while policy was dramatically reducing mass incarceration in that state, then critics of Harris are privileging saying the right words over presiding over one of key progressive transformations in nation /2
Failure of stop mass incarceration is one of the signal failures of modern liberalism AND the left in the past few decades - so a bit more humility by critics of the pros and cons of Harris's rhetorical strategy during a success story in addressing that is warranted. /3
That doesn't mean Harris couldn't or shouldn't have used better language or different strategies in general, but posting a couple of video clips and acting like that is a reasonable evaluation of Harris's record is embarrassing - especially when done by white critics. /4
California reducing its jail and prison population by hundreds of thousands of people after its peak in the mid-1990s is one of the relatively unheralded national progressive success stories- so at least acknowledge that success before critiquing those involved. /5
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More from @nathansnewman see all

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Nathan Newman 🧭🌹
@nathansnewman
The Texas decision is complete idiocy.

Of course it could be upheld but that will be a decision by Chief Justice Roberts to make the Supreme Court an object of ridicule. /1

documentcloud.org/documents/5629…
The original federalism theory of the dissent in NFIB v. Sibelis (partially endorsed by Roberts) was that the individual mandate was in some ways a criminal punishment - even though structured as a tax /2
Following earlier federalist decisions like Lopez and Morrison, such a penalty was outside Congress's power since buying individual insurance is not covered by the Commerce Clause (a ridiculous stretch but let's go with it). Roberts saved ACA by putting it under the tax power /3
Read 11 tweets
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Nathan Newman
@nathansnewman
From US v. Cruikshank (1875)

You would think this was an anti-gun decision-- but was actually written to limit reach of Congress to prosecute white racists killing freed blacks. It was the core decision that dismantled Reconstruction.
Individual gun ownership became a key tool for private racist militias to support segregation at the state level

BTW cowrote a whole exploration of the role of the courts in destroying Reconstruction and the use of "states rights" in modern era to undermine civil rights. The Constitution has never been our friend, fellow progressives!

brennancenter.org/publication/ne…
Read 3 tweets
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Nathan Newman
@nathansnewman
Why the gun issue matters beyond the immediate horrors of children getting gunned down repeatedly.

Gun issue gets horribly simplified in public debate but here is part progressives who care about how we ended up with current racist rightwing GOP coalition should focus on. /1
Gun issue has never really been about guns themselves -- first serious mention of 2nd Amend in Cruikshank case (1875) where 100 black folks burned alive inside courthouse fighting to defend local Reconstruction government (theoretically as a militia under the 2nd Amendment). /2
Supreme Court said, sucks to be them but since it was private KKK-style actors killing them, the federal government could do nothing to punish the white murderers because the 14th Amendment under a "states rights" view only covered official government actions. /3
Read 12 tweets

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pdx law grrrl
@pdxlawgrrrl
In February, I’m moving to NYC to work with @BklynDefender and @ScottHech on a cutting-edge public defender and client-led media advocacy project. I’m excited to be expanding my work in the movement to end mass incarceration.
I've been moved by the work @BklynDefender has been doing that uses media and strategic campaigns to leverage issues public defenders are seeing on the front lines of the criminal justice system into action and change. The following is some of their work to date.
Prosecutorial Power: Prosecutors have the power to drive mass incarceration, but they also have the power to end it. If you believe in ending mass incarceration so should your district attorney. Vote for a DA who shares your values. PowerOfProsecutors.com
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ME2
@OneLord__
#TRAGICALLY "Kamala Harris"
#Abuses #MLKDay to
Narcissistically ANNOUNCE
That s/he/it/they/we/thee/ye/x/y/z
Is Running for #President in the #2020election .
Study this...
1. #KamalaHarris , like every other #Democrat ,
Is NOT what she appears to be.
She loves to be portrayed as an African-American,
But she isn't.
She is Jamaican-Indian.
.
legacy.com/obituaries/sfg…
2. #KamalaHarris2020 also known as
#Kamala Sutra Harris rose to
Prominence when she became
Involved with a rich #Caliphornia
#sugardaddies who propelled her to the top
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emptywheel
@emptywheel
Kennedy: Do you know of any instance when someone has tried to interfere in Mueller's investigation.

[Aside from GOP Congressmen, you mean?]

Barr: I'm not in DOJ.

Kennedy: He's tough?

Barr: He's a Marine.
Kennedy gets Barr to state no one asked him to fire Mueller or interfere.

Kennedy: This CI investigation started abt Trump. How did NYT get that info?

[it came from leaks from OGR, and GOP COngressmen have been leaking those reports for months]
Barr talks about culture and leaks.

He needs some questions about the SDNY IG leak report.
Read 60 tweets
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EuroYankee is all in for #Bernie2020 🇪🇺🌹🇺🇸
@EuroYankeeBlog
"Work hard and play by the rules" was the anthem and catchphrase of Clintonian Neoliberalism. Bill Clinton coined these exact words in 1992 and used them throughout his term in office. 1/7
They encapsulate the Neoliberal tenets that say no one has inherent Rights; you must "earn" your way into civil society, and you are only worth as much as The Market says you are worth. I describe these tenets here. 2/7 progressivearmy.com/2018/02/16/thi…
Bill Clinton used THESE EXACT WORDS about "working hard" when he ended "Welfare as we know it" with his Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, which immediately threw millions of children into poverty. 3/7 theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
Read 8 tweets
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Socialist With SE Asian Diaspora Characteristics
@diaspora_is_red
Long due: A thread on SE Asian refugee deportation.

Aiming to get closer to answering:
1) History of SEA deportation
2) Domestic and geopolitical motivations for deportation
3) What this means for our community (esp. Khmer)

khmertimeskh.com/50560058/rise-…
BACKGROUND: Deportation of SE asians with undocumented or refugee status was limited by a MOU between US State Dep. and the mother countries.

Migrants arriving before July 12, 1995 were exempt from deportation. Those with criminal records are included.

state.gov/documents/orga…
This MOU has since been unilaterally reinterpreted to allow for the deportation of refugees who arrived prior to that date, leaving many with criminal records who arrived before 1995 subject to deportation orders, even after they have served their criminal sentences.
Read 27 tweets
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@JulieZebrak
@YesMomsCan
Quick thread: I spent 18 yrs at DOJ. My friends prosecuted ⁦@KevinARing⁩ - a guy who looked like someone I’d be friends with, who didn’t live far from me. My other friend was 1 of Kevin’s defense lawyers. Kevin went to prison. Later in my DOJ yrs, /1 usatoday.com/story/opinion/…
When @EricHolder was the AG and I worked for the DAG, I learned about the disparate affect that mandatory minimums have on the African American community. I am so impressed that @KevinARing is using his prison experience to raise awareness on an issue that has to be pushed not /2
Just by the African American community but by everyone - including white men - in order to make real progress on criminal justice reform. Mass incarceration & mandatory minimum sentences cost American taxpayers billions of $$ a year, often for non-violent drug offenses. Kevin /3
Read 4 tweets

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