Chelsea Burns
@burnschelsea.bsky.social
accordionist, music theorist. Austin, TX. I like to ride my bicycle.
Pinned
I'm so pleased to finally have this book in my hot little hands! You, too, can have this feeling—for 30% off!—with code AUFLY30 at global.oup.com/academic. Want to try before you buy? You can read the Intro for free at this link (available until October 30): academic.oup.com/book/60725/c...
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton suggested he would support cuts to federal benefits programs during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists last month, according to an audio recording obtained by The Texas Tribune, the fourth leaked clip from the Sept. 24 event.
Paxton suggests cutting federal benefits in newest leaked audio
In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and M...
www.texastribune.org
October 8, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton suggested he would support cuts to federal benefits programs during a private fundraiser with Washington lobbyists last month, according to an audio recording obtained by The Texas Tribune, the fourth leaked clip from the Sept. 24 event.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
The Smithsonian is funded by Congress and heavily intertwined with the federal government, but it's not an executive branch agency. The president is not even nominally their boss. He has absolutely no lawful power to issue orders to them.
New: The White House is conditioning $190 million for the Smithsonian on compliance with its executive order "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" through legally-binding footnotes in recent OMB apportionments.
www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
The White House Revives a Pressure Tactic Against the Smithsonian
The Trump administration is threatening $190 million in museum funding.
www.theatlantic.com
October 8, 2026 at 1:28 PM
The Smithsonian is funded by Congress and heavily intertwined with the federal government, but it's not an executive branch agency. The president is not even nominally their boss. He has absolutely no lawful power to issue orders to them.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
⚠️ Aide to Ambassador Mike Huckabee covered up Israeli killings of nine Americans
How a U.S. Diplomat Suppressed and Altered Reports Critical of Israel (Gift Article)
A top aide to Ambassador Mike Huckabee skewed information to portray the Netanyahu government in a favorable light, according to multiple officials and documents obtained by The Times.
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2026 at 12:35 PM
⚠️ Aide to Ambassador Mike Huckabee covered up Israeli killings of nine Americans
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
who knows if jackson can win this thing but i am glad that he is making clear that susan collins's whole scam is to do everything she can to make life worse for mainers and then take credit for mitigating it in the slightest way possible
Troy Jackson after Collins takes credit for rural healthcare cuts in big beautiful bill not being as bad as they could've been even though she voted to advance the bill: "Sen. Collins is like an arsonist who helped set the fire, and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out"
October 7, 2026 at 12:43 AM
who knows if jackson can win this thing but i am glad that he is making clear that susan collins's whole scam is to do everything she can to make life worse for mainers and then take credit for mitigating it in the slightest way possible
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
NEW: Harmeet Dhillon swore in 100+ new Civil Rights Division lawyers as "civil rights warriors" for "ALL Americans" — then named exactly none of them.
So we did.
Court filings let us ID 11.
At least 5 arrived with records of misconduct, controversy, or hiring irregularities.
1/
So we did.
Court filings let us ID 11.
At least 5 arrived with records of misconduct, controversy, or hiring irregularities.
1/
Meet the attorneys Harmeet Dhillon installed to turn the Civil Rights Division against its mission - Public Citizen
Introduction On July 8, 2026, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon tweeted that she had sworn in more than 100 new…
www.citizen.org
August 12, 2026 at 8:10 PM
NEW: Harmeet Dhillon swore in 100+ new Civil Rights Division lawyers as "civil rights warriors" for "ALL Americans" — then named exactly none of them.
So we did.
Court filings let us ID 11.
At least 5 arrived with records of misconduct, controversy, or hiring irregularities.
1/
So we did.
Court filings let us ID 11.
At least 5 arrived with records of misconduct, controversy, or hiring irregularities.
1/
In addition, I don't quite get it—it sounds like he violated the policies of a private service. I don't quite get where the law-breaking is, but I'm not a lawyer.
DOJ is already using "Super Intelligence" instead of Artificial Intelligence and it reads ridiculous.
www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr...
www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr...
www.justice.gov
October 7, 2026 at 1:56 AM
In addition, I don't quite get it—it sounds like he violated the policies of a private service. I don't quite get where the law-breaking is, but I'm not a lawyer.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
New analysis of ICE detainers and arrests in 2026 with @bson.bsky.social for @prisonpolicy.org shows that law enforcement collusion tends to expand ICE arrests, and that the mass deportation project falters in places that resist.
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
Cooperation with ICE doesn’t stop community arrests: New data on the results of state strategies
The Trump administration has demanded local and state collusion on immigration enforcement, and promised to pull back on community arrests in return. But our analysis ...
www.prisonpolicy.org
October 6, 2026 at 4:39 PM
New analysis of ICE detainers and arrests in 2026 with @bson.bsky.social for @prisonpolicy.org shows that law enforcement collusion tends to expand ICE arrests, and that the mass deportation project falters in places that resist.
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2026/10...
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
During the 1980s anti-apartheid protests on Beinecke Plaza at Yale then university president Benno Schmidt was out there among the students. Today Yale President Maurie McInnis remains in hiding from protesting students, faculty and alums. Come out come out wherever you are! photo: @gregpak.net
October 6, 2026 at 3:33 PM
During the 1980s anti-apartheid protests on Beinecke Plaza at Yale then university president Benno Schmidt was out there among the students. Today Yale President Maurie McInnis remains in hiding from protesting students, faculty and alums. Come out come out wherever you are! photo: @gregpak.net
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
And for our full report, with a foreword by a former immigration judge, who became a first-hand witness to the cruelty and potential illegality of this program: humanrights.berkeley.edu/architecture...
The Architecture of Cruelty — U.S. third-country removal agreements, 2025–2026
Since January 2025 the United States has concluded third-country removal and asylum-cooperation agreements with 35 countries. A Berkeley Human Rights Center investigation into what the paperwork says ...
humanrights.berkeley.edu
October 6, 2026 at 9:12 AM
And for our full report, with a foreword by a former immigration judge, who became a first-hand witness to the cruelty and potential illegality of this program: humanrights.berkeley.edu/architecture...
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Also, Trump DOJ is gonna Trump DOJ.
They didn't even submit the correct IJ decision.
They didn't even submit the correct IJ decision.
October 5, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Also, Trump DOJ is gonna Trump DOJ.
They didn't even submit the correct IJ decision.
They didn't even submit the correct IJ decision.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Fed. judge grants a habeas petition for immediate release (after 13 months) of an LPR who ICE was holding w/o bond bc even after ordering a hearing "Petitioner’s uncontested evidence on the systematic bias of the immigration judges is compelling."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![When an individual is at risk of indefinite detention, due process requires at least more than skimming the record for the first time at a twenty-eight minute hearing. However, as Petitioner does not press this argument, the Court need not base its decision on this issue. Therefore, this Court holds that the immigration judge’s decision failed to comply with this Court’s previous order and due process. The evidence before the immigration judge on both the flight risk and dangerousness determinations was plainly deficient of standard for clear and convincing evidence. 3.4 Petitioner’s Case Warrants Immediate Release Petitioner argues that he should be released because “[r]emand for a second bond hearing . . . would not adequately remedy the government’s constitutional violation” and “credible evidence suggests that the immigration court system across the country is systematically rigging bond hearings against noncitizen detainees.” ECF No. 24 at 19–20. Respondents do not argue regarding the specific remedy proposed. Because Petitioner’s uncontested evidence on the systematic bias of the immigration judges is compelling, the Court agrees. Therefore, the Court will order that Petitioner be immediately released.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:24vva42nxim6zbcmnozegoef/bafkreifm22z324wyujmfhxjws2eefaunxu7vck4ld7omsxzliiebvgqs4y)
October 5, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Fed. judge grants a habeas petition for immediate release (after 13 months) of an LPR who ICE was holding w/o bond bc even after ordering a hearing "Petitioner’s uncontested evidence on the systematic bias of the immigration judges is compelling."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Just a reminder: Tillis persuaded the woman Hegseth allegedly raped to come forward with her story, and told her that if she did, it would sink the nomination.
She did. At great risk to herself. Tillis then cast the deciding vote for Hegseth.
Because he’s a goddamned coward.
She did. At great risk to herself. Tillis then cast the deciding vote for Hegseth.
Because he’s a goddamned coward.
Outgoing Sen. Tillis regrets pivotal vote for Hegseth: ‘He’s an actor. He’s not a manager’
Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis spoke to MS NOW about regretting his vote to confirm Pete Hegseth and his strained relationship with Trump.
www.ms.now
October 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Just a reminder: Tillis persuaded the woman Hegseth allegedly raped to come forward with her story, and told her that if she did, it would sink the nomination.
She did. At great risk to herself. Tillis then cast the deciding vote for Hegseth.
Because he’s a goddamned coward.
She did. At great risk to herself. Tillis then cast the deciding vote for Hegseth.
Because he’s a goddamned coward.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
ICE took two more people from my local courthouse today. The wife of one of the guys who was taken showed up shortly after. She just had surgery. She was worried about paying rent and feeding her kids. This is happening *every day* in Massachusetts. Lives are being destroyed every single day.
October 5, 2026 at 7:06 PM
ICE took two more people from my local courthouse today. The wife of one of the guys who was taken showed up shortly after. She just had surgery. She was worried about paying rent and feeding her kids. This is happening *every day* in Massachusetts. Lives are being destroyed every single day.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
oof, yeah this ain’t gonna work
Asked Sen @schiff.senate.gov about getting rid of 230, and he suggested there might be immunity if a platform has "best practices." Just gonna go ahead and tag @jkosseff.bsky.social @klonick.bsky.social @noupside.bsky.social @masnick.com now bc dying for their reax
www.theverge.com/podcast/1004...
www.theverge.com/podcast/1004...
![We’ve had Sen. [Ron] Wyden on the show many times to talk about Section 230. I won’t go too far down that rabbit hole. The dynamic there was that Section 230 provided the immunity that you’re describing, but it was immunity for speech that would otherwise be illegal. And so it was speech that was defamatory. There’s a whole category of speech that isn’t illegal. Are you saying that taking the 230 immunity away from the social platforms would somehow make them moderate lawful but awful speech? And I bring this up because I’m very curious about how you would apply it in the AI case as well.
Yeah, no, I think that is the case. That part of their argument was, “ We want to take down really nasty, offensive, racist content, but we will be afraid to do so if you don’t give us immunity. So give us immunity, and we’ll take all that bad stuff down.” They got immunity. And I don’t know if you’ve been on X lately; it’s a cesspool. So giving them broad immunity did not allow them to enforce their community policies. And the First Amendment prohibits the government from dictating speech or prohibiting you from saying things. It doesn’t prohibit a private party from saying, “We don’t want racist content on our platform.” So there’s no problem with a private platform saying, “That violates our policy. We’re not going to post it.” And they’re not utilizing that immunity in a good way. So why should they continue to have it?
Now, we may want to create a safe harbor for companies that are meeting best practices and standards. So we may want to narrow 230 instead of getting rid of it. What is the analogy in terms of AI? I’m not sure what the analogy is.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x56l2n7i7babgdzqul4bd433/bafkreih3fcl7yh42ospec32jebremfrn6suiwvkewomsgcxspqmsf3lf3y)
October 5, 2026 at 4:12 PM
oof, yeah this ain’t gonna work
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Governor Greg Abbott has promised to use his deep campaign war chest to turn Harris County "deep red." A blue wave could sweep out even Abbott's GOP favorites.
In her newest, @michellepitcher.bsky.social looks at what this could mean for prisons, bail reform and the rights of the accused:
In her newest, @michellepitcher.bsky.social looks at what this could mean for prisons, bail reform and the rights of the accused:
A Blue Wave Could Sweep Greg Abbott's Handpicked Houston Judges Out of Office
But experts say that, as Harris County judicial seats have swung with the political tides, it’s not partisanship that matters for criminal defendants.
www.texasobserver.org
October 2, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Governor Greg Abbott has promised to use his deep campaign war chest to turn Harris County "deep red." A blue wave could sweep out even Abbott's GOP favorites.
In her newest, @michellepitcher.bsky.social looks at what this could mean for prisons, bail reform and the rights of the accused:
In her newest, @michellepitcher.bsky.social looks at what this could mean for prisons, bail reform and the rights of the accused:
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
Trump and Stephen Miller’s ICE is out of control.
Alex Pretti, a brave American and nurse, was protecting his community when ICE agents shot and killed him. Stephen Miller then tried to smear his name and lie about his death. What else is he lying about?
Alex Pretti, a brave American and nurse, was protecting his community when ICE agents shot and killed him. Stephen Miller then tried to smear his name and lie about his death. What else is he lying about?
October 5, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Trump and Stephen Miller’s ICE is out of control.
Alex Pretti, a brave American and nurse, was protecting his community when ICE agents shot and killed him. Stephen Miller then tried to smear his name and lie about his death. What else is he lying about?
Alex Pretti, a brave American and nurse, was protecting his community when ICE agents shot and killed him. Stephen Miller then tried to smear his name and lie about his death. What else is he lying about?
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
What the Laquan McDonald cover-up guy advocating against holding people accountable for doing things like wantonly killing people under the auspices of public safety?!
Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel calls on Democratic lawmakers to set aside plans to impeach President Trump if they win a majority in the House, pushing them instead to pass an ethics reform package.
Rahm Emanuel says Democrats should focus on ethics reforms rather than impeaching Trump
Democrats have publicly weighed whether they should pursue impeaching Trump for a third time.
nbcnews.to
October 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
What the Laquan McDonald cover-up guy advocating against holding people accountable for doing things like wantonly killing people under the auspices of public safety?!
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
After listening to oral arguments in Suncor v. Boulder just now, I hope someone will give Justice Kavanaugh my @yalelawjournal.bsky.social Essay on the case. It provides a detailed history of Ouellette & the other precedents invoked in Suncor. These cases do not say what Justice Kavanaugh asserted.
October 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
After listening to oral arguments in Suncor v. Boulder just now, I hope someone will give Justice Kavanaugh my @yalelawjournal.bsky.social Essay on the case. It provides a detailed history of Ouellette & the other precedents invoked in Suncor. These cases do not say what Justice Kavanaugh asserted.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
The UT-Austin Core Curriculum Task Force is requiring that Gen Ed courses draw 50% of their readings from this list of 50.
Unfortunately, it seems to think that the “Great Questions of Human Life” can only be explored through the canon of Western civ (token exception: Confucius).
Unfortunately, it seems to think that the “Great Questions of Human Life” can only be explored through the canon of Western civ (token exception: Confucius).
October 5, 2026 at 1:55 PM
The UT-Austin Core Curriculum Task Force is requiring that Gen Ed courses draw 50% of their readings from this list of 50.
Unfortunately, it seems to think that the “Great Questions of Human Life” can only be explored through the canon of Western civ (token exception: Confucius).
Unfortunately, it seems to think that the “Great Questions of Human Life” can only be explored through the canon of Western civ (token exception: Confucius).
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
🚨 New Searchlight research, shared first with @mollytaft.com and WIRED, finds MORE THAN 100 planned data centers in rural America will be eligible for new tax benefits starting next year.
www.wired.com/story/rural-...
www.wired.com/story/rural-...
Rural Data Centers Are in for a Big Federal Tax Break
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, data center projects in rural areas could be eligible for major tax benefits starting next year. Some hyperscalers do not seem eager to take the free cash.
www.wired.com
October 5, 2026 at 3:27 PM
🚨 New Searchlight research, shared first with @mollytaft.com and WIRED, finds MORE THAN 100 planned data centers in rural America will be eligible for new tax benefits starting next year.
www.wired.com/story/rural-...
www.wired.com/story/rural-...
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
I also asked her what misconceptions the kids she talked to had. She said she talked to a 9th grade class recently and asked them what percentage of sexual assault allegations were false. They put it at 80%
October 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
I also asked her what misconceptions the kids she talked to had. She said she talked to a 9th grade class recently and asked them what percentage of sexual assault allegations were false. They put it at 80%
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
NEW: Remember when John Oliver opened a church to expose how easy it was to get tax exemptions?
This year, ProPublica reporters set out to establish private schools to test if, truly, anyone could open one.
We founded two. Here’s how.
This year, ProPublica reporters set out to establish private schools to test if, truly, anyone could open one.
We founded two. Here’s how.
How ProPublica Reporters Became Private School Owners in 24 Hours
The reporting experiment demonstrates how easy it can be to open private schools that might then access public money. No credentials or background checks required.
www.propublica.org
October 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
NEW: Remember when John Oliver opened a church to expose how easy it was to get tax exemptions?
This year, ProPublica reporters set out to establish private schools to test if, truly, anyone could open one.
We founded two. Here’s how.
This year, ProPublica reporters set out to establish private schools to test if, truly, anyone could open one.
We founded two. Here’s how.
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
New boat strike tonight. Yes, they're still happening. The death toll now stands at 238.
x.com/Southcom/sta...
x.com/Southcom/sta...
October 5, 2026 at 1:44 AM
New boat strike tonight. Yes, they're still happening. The death toll now stands at 238.
x.com/Southcom/sta...
x.com/Southcom/sta...
Reposted by Chelsea Burns
The corruption is so blatant.
US-Russia discussions now include a multibillion-dollar purchase of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s global assets,to enrich Mid East businesses with ties to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who are leading the negotiations. Gift link. 👇
www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/u...
US-Russia discussions now include a multibillion-dollar purchase of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s global assets,to enrich Mid East businesses with ties to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who are leading the negotiations. Gift link. 👇
www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/u...
October 3, 2026 at 11:47 PM
The corruption is so blatant.
US-Russia discussions now include a multibillion-dollar purchase of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s global assets,to enrich Mid East businesses with ties to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who are leading the negotiations. Gift link. 👇
www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/u...
US-Russia discussions now include a multibillion-dollar purchase of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s global assets,to enrich Mid East businesses with ties to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who are leading the negotiations. Gift link. 👇
www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/u...