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8 Jun, 11 tweets, 5 min read
In our #TuesdayThread we're taking a closer look at what the hell is going on with the DOJ. Confirmation that they will continue to defend Trump in the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit is utterly infuriating.

Why would the DOJ defend Trump and what does it mean?
(THREAD)
(2) First it's important to be clear what the lawsuit is about. Trump is being held personally liable for defamation in regards to remarks he made about Carroll while president.

The results of this lawsuit do have wider implications.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
(3) DOJ lawyers working under the Trump administration had already argued federal workers are protected from lawsuits while executing the duties of their office. A trial judge rejected that argument and the DOJ appealed.

Enter Biden.

newsweek.com/trump-acted-sc…
(4) The DOJ is walking a fine line.

They say Trump's remarks were inappropriate but their job isn't to defend the words he used or determine the truthfulness of Carroll's accusations. The DOJ is simply supporting federal workers executing their duties.

npr.org/2021/06/08/100…
(5) And while in theory that is understandable, in practice it's utterly horrid and offensive to victims. Even Biden was quick to question the decision.

However, if we truly have an independent DOJ, his criticism is unlikely (and shouldn't) make a dent.

forbes.com/sites/alisondu…
(6) This isn't the first time Garland's DOJ has made decisions that caused some confusion and outrage.

Garland increasingly appears to be bowing to established norms at the DOJ that thwart transparency and accountability.

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…
(7) So while we can argue holding Trump personally accountable for the crude way he responded to allegations while in office sets a precedent for other federal workers that's concerning, this is absolutely not the hill the DOJ should be dying on.

cbsnews.com/news/trump-jus…
(8) At its crux, there are some serious questions about executive power and accountability built into the ways we're grappling with the aftermath of Trump.

Executive overreach has long been used to compensate for congressional gridlock.

businessinsider.com/trump-biden-ju…
(9) Ultimately, executive power creep poses a threat to our democracy. One that was a clear and very present danger under Trump.

Just because we now trust the guy in the office not to be a fascist dictator doesn't mean we should ignore the problem.

vox.com/mischiefs-of-f…
(10) In short, there are no easy answers for Garland's DOJ. But if Trump's presidency has taught us anything, it's that an independent DOJ is crucial to democracy.

The good news is we can still support independence while pushing for accountability.

msnbc.com/opinion/trump-…
(END) Thanks to @GrouchyMarkx for the thread suggestion. Come back Thursday and we'll do this again.

Like threads like this and want to keep them coming? You can support my work here.
patreon.com/kazweida
paypal.me/kazweida

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More from @kazweida

Kaz Weida Profile picture
25 May
In today's thread we're asking what should be done about January 6th?

Republicans want the public to forget about it.
We can't let them gaslight us about what happened that day, but here's why we don't hold enough cards to force their hand.
(THREAD)
(2) The resolution to establish the commission passed the Dem-controlled house but it appears doomed in the Senate thanks to the filibuster.

So far Murkowski, Romney, and Collins have indicated they'd support the commmission but 10 GOP votes is doubtful.
cnn.com/politics/live-…
(3) What we can't do however is let an attempted coup and insurrection fade from public memory. Our nation's capitol and our lawmakers faced a domestic terrorist attack incited by Trump.

There must be consequences or democracy will continue to suffer.

reuters.com/world/us/us-re…
Read 10 tweets
Kaz Weida Profile picture
29 Apr
A study of a clustered outbreak of the South African variant in Maryland highlights a few important takeaways:

-at least three fully vaccinated people were infected, but the only hospitalizations and deaths occurred among the unvaccinated

(THREAD)
(2) Contact tracing indicates this exposure occurred at an indoor small gathering where masks were worn but removed for eating. At least one person at the gathering was symptomatic at that time and is presumed to be the origin of the infection.
(3) The symptomatic person appears to have contracted the variant at a workplace that had already been reported to the CDC for coronavirus safety violations including people reporting for work sick and lack of social distancing and masking.
Read 6 tweets
Kaz Weida Profile picture
27 Apr
In our Tuesday thread, we're tackling something that has perplexed the public for years. Why is Tucker Carlson still on the air?

From championing replacement theory to advocating harassing children wearing masks, Carlson feeds dangerous rhetoric to the public.
(THREAD) Image
(2) If you feel like this is a question we've been asking for YEARS, you're not wrong. Tucker has had so many scandals and calls for boycotts that most of us have lost track.

So why is he still on the air and how does Fox justify keeping him around?

washingtonpost.com/arts-entertain…
(3) Probably the most important thing to recognize is that boycotts of Tucker's advertisers haven't been effective in shutting down his rhetoric for a reason. Even as the show bleeds ad revenue, Fox still benefits from the outrage clicks Tucker generates.

forbes.com/sites/jonathan…
Read 10 tweets
Kaz Weida Profile picture
22 Apr
In our #ThursdayThread we're discussing how Majorie Taylor Greene wants to debate @AOC on the Green New Deal. Should Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez consent to debate Greene in a public forum?

Fuck no.
Here's the top five reasons why.

(THREAD)
(2) Reason #1:
Greene hasn't even bothered to read the bill, which is only 14 pages and pretty easily digestible.

There's no surer sign that this is a publicity stunt than Greene's lack of awareness about the topic she's proposing debating.

businessinsider.com/mtg-debate-aoc…
(3) Reason #2:
Greene is a professional provocateur. She's not there to debate policy. She's a clout chaser.

The easiest way to get her to stop poisoning political discourse is to ignore her bad faith antics.

independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…
Read 9 tweets
Kaz Weida Profile picture
20 Apr
In our #TuesdayThread , we're discussing deplorables Majorie Taylor Greene & Lauren Boebert. The cartoon villianesque evil duo seem to have become the center of every controversy in Washington.
Why?

The answer is simple.
Cold hard cash.
(THREAD) Image
(2) Majorie Taylor Greene is a textbook provocateur who perversely enjoys taunting and terrorizing people on camera. This is her entire persona in a nutshell.

If it gleans even a trickle of media attention, she's there to slurp it up. So very thirsty.

chicagotribune.com/nation-world/c…
(3) Boebert fits the same provocateur profile except she has a niche to exploit. Gun rights. And she'll go wherever the profits from 2A advocates take her.

She even runs a restaurant based on pissing off people in a state traumatized by gun violence.

kunc.org/2021-01-27/boe…
Read 11 tweets
Kaz Weida Profile picture
8 Apr
For our #ThursdayThread , we're asking a question that has no easy answers.

How do you solve a problem like Joe Manchin?
I mean honestly. What the hell does this dude want?
(THREAD)
(2) Manchin's come forward again today with more bluster about how he will never ever eliminate the filibuster, which certainly means any hope for significant voting rights legislation is withering on the vine.

So what are we gonna do about Joe Manchin?

washingtonpost.com/opinions/joe-m…
(3) There isn't much Dems can do. Historically, West Virginia was a Democratic stronghold but those days are long gone. Today the GOP dominates the state.

Manchin isn't up for re-election until 2024. And it's not clear he'll run again.

fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-j…
Read 11 tweets

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