Posts by Matt Bernius

Matt Bernius
About Matt Bernius
Matt Bernius is a design researcher working to create more equitable government systems and experiences. He's currently a Principal User Researcher on Code for America's "GetCalFresh" program, helping people apply for SNAP food benefits in California. Prior to joining CfA, he worked at Measures for Justice and at Effective, a UX agency. Matt has an MA from the University of Chicago.
Former Congressman and Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows Former Congressman and Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows

The Implications of 11th Circuit’s Mark Meadows Decision

The denial of transfer to Federal Court could signal problems for Trump’s Presidential Immunity Claims

Why Trump Will Almost Certainly Stay On The Colorado Primary Ballot

A few predictions that are going to disappoint just about everyone.

[Clarence Thomas] [Clarence Thomas]

What Role Have “Gifts” Played In Keeping Justice Thomas On The Supreme Court?

Might not be bribery, but it’s still exerting influence.

Saturday Forum

Former Trump Attorney Chesebro Pleads Guilty & Is Cooperating

Yesterday the Kraken. Today the Cheese. Whose flipping tomorrow?

Mitt Romey with pained look on face as he has dinner with President-Elect Trump. Mitt Romey with pained look on face as he has dinner with President-Elect Trump.

Mitt Romney Confirms What We’ve Suspected For Years!

The rare case where a clickbait headline is actually appropriate.

Trump’s First Federal Trial Set For 2024

For the moment, the “January 6th” trial begins on March 4th, 2024

Trump Lawyers: Win Some, Lose Some

They chose the ticket, now they are going for the ride.

Why Trump Will Most Likely Be Convicted If Any Trial Moves Forward

tl;dr: Trump is a nightmare client & nightmare clients don’t do well in criminal courts

The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere

Raining On Parades

With the help of Popehat, I call out issues with the Fulton County case &, in doing so, piss everyone off

Is Trump Protected Because Of “Political Speech”?

Why “the First Amendment protects Trump” defense doesn’t make sense

Does Taking The High Road Make Political Sense?

What’s more important, appearances or action?

Tweet of the day

Shut it down for the day, because it isn’t going to get better than this one.

The Emotional Labor Of Debating In Good Faith

In a world of fixed positions, is debating in good faith really worth it?

[Johnathan Turley testifying before Congress] [Johnathan Turley testifying before Congress]

What happens when you lose [Insert Name]?

When a go-to “nonpartisan” defender breaks rank does that change your opinion?

Fox News Finally Finds A Bridge (Or Three) Too Far

Turns out that costing your employer nearly a billion dollars isn’t good for your career.

Tucker Carlson In Private: “I Hate [Trump] Passionately.”

Tucker is one of those “elites” he saying hates his audience.

Playing Politics: How Would You Move Democrats To “The Center”

A chance for readers to play political strategists

An Observation About “Classically Liberal” Punditry

“Classical liberals” really need to rediscover self examination

Scott Adams Unintentionally Offers Important Political Insight

What’s that phrased about broken clocks?

Self Promotion: An Interview On Becoming Trauma Informed

A brief primer on trauma and a link to an interview and paper on being trauma informed

[Image of a human brain] [Image of a human brain]

The Value Of Cultivating Some Self Doubt

Tips for how to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Cool Free Event: Disclosing Government Content Moderation Requests

A free panel on how transparent social media platforms should be about government requests

Yearly Reminder: Dr. King Had A Lot More To Say Than That One Sentence

My (apparently) annual reflections on “The content of their character” day

Blurbing Your Own Book Is Never A Good Sign

Mike Pompeo’s PAC wants you to know that Mike Pompeo’s book is a “thriller with stories from the heart” of Mike Pompeo

The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0 via pXhere

Walgreens CFO Says He ‘May Have’ Overblown Concerns About Retail Theft

An example of why its a good idea to wait for data before making policy decisions.

False information about Greta Thunberg and Andrew Tate. False information about Greta Thunberg and Andrew Tate.

How Misinformation Spreads

What a too-good-too-be-true story shows us about the modern news business.

The More Things Change…

A couple of old cartoons feel like they could have been published today.

NY Congressman-Elect George Santos (AP Photo/John Locher) NY Congressman-Elect George Santos (AP Photo/John Locher)

Follow Up On Yesterday’s Santos Column

Why a paper got the story right and no one paid attention and polls over opposition research

NY Congressman-Elect George Santos (AP Photo/John Locher) NY Congressman-Elect George Santos (AP Photo/John Locher)

A consequence of shrinking newsrooms

How an apparent serial fabulist got elected to Congress

[Inigo Montoya: I don't think that Memes what you think it Memes.] [Inigo Montoya: I don't think that Memes what you think it Memes.]

A Meme For Monday

The launch of a new feature… featuring Drake!

[Death penalty - image of a stretcher with shackles] [Death penalty - image of a stretcher with shackles]

The Parkland Shooter Sentence And The Death Penalty

Another example of the arbitrariness of the death penaly

[Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search] [Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search]

[Updated] – DOJ Appeals To 11th Circuit

The Department of Justice takes an utterly unsurprising, but important step in the Mar-a-lago document case

[Danielle Ponder - Some of Us are Brave] [Danielle Ponder - Some of Us are Brave]

An Album For Friday

Start your weekend with some soul!

[Judge Cannon's decision] [Judge Cannon's decision]

Trump’s Reliable Cannon

The former president shopped for the right judge.

[Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search] [Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search]

District Judge Grants Trump’s Request For Special Master

I warned you all, my predictions are notoriously wrong.

Mar A Lago Mar A Lago

The Latest on the Mar-A-Lago Document Case

Both sides have had their say and now we wait for a ruling.

[Updated unexpectedly] Three Questions Brought Up By The DOJ Filing & Trump’s Reaction

Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in again… [update: x2]

[The weakest of tea] [The weakest of tea]

When This Is The Best Defense Turley Can Raise, Things Are Really Bad

I mean, really, really, really bad for the former President and his legal team.

[Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search] [Documents taken in August Mar-A-Lago search]

Initial Analysis Of Yesterday’s DOJ Filing In Trump Document Investigation

It appears that the DOJ has enough evidence to indict someone.

[Top Secret Clip Art] [Top Secret Clip Art]

[Update] Analysis of NARA’s Letter to Former President Trump

Why would the Trump team release a document that casts them in such a bad light?

[Voter Fraud Graphic] [Voter Fraud Graphic]

Reflections On “Voter Fraud” And The Design Of Government Systems

Are 20 arrests worth a $1.2 million dollar investment?

[Top Secret Clip Art] [Top Secret Clip Art]

Commentary On Presidential (De)Classification Powers

“Declassification, even by the President, must follow established procedures.” (Trump Administration 2018)

[Updated x 2] The Latest On The Trump Document Investigation

Running down the latest “known knowns” with just a bit of analysis

[Merick Garland] [Merick Garland]

Justice Department Calls Trump’s Bluff

This is as close as we get to Garland saying “Eff around, find out!”

Stupid Takes From “Smart” People: Trump/FBI Edition

Tell us you don’t know anything about Federal Warrants without telling us you don’t know anything about Federal Warrants

The Respect for Marriage Act Versus The Filibuster

Another example of why the filibuster needs to go.

Illegal Drugs Illegal Drugs

Perpetuating A Fentanyl Hysteria

When belief is more important than facts

Uvalde police and the punisher skull desktop Uvalde police and the punisher skull desktop

[Updated] Picturing The Gap Between Fantasy And Reality

Police and the Punisher Skull

The Uvalde City Budget The Uvalde City Budget

The Graph Of The Day

It doesn’t appear the Uvalde TX police were underfunded