Heidi Li Feldman

@heidilifeldman

Law professor (emeritus), philosopher, progressive. Committed to rule of law and pluralistic democracy. Interests include art, books, history, science, cats […] 🌉 bridged from ⁂ follow @ap.brid.gy to interact

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Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jul 19

In a nutshell: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/06/15/andrew-tates-empire-of-abuse 1/

As the 2024 U.S. election approached, the team saw an opportunity. Tate forged relationships with Barron Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. In the weeks before the vote, he pumped out pro-MaGa content, mobilizing young men in such large numbers that Kamala Harris later named him as a key factor in her defeat. When the result was in, Tate posted jubilantly on X: "THE PATRIARCHY IS BACK." After the Inauguration, he
added, "The Tates will be free, Trump is the president."

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jul 17

Long day in a long political struggle. In case anybody else needs a laugh: (from The Onion)

The onion.

Thursday, July 16, 2026
POLITICS
Public Begs Mitch
McConnell To Stop
Releasing Photos Of
Himself

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jul 16

Very important. New but short comment period regarding revocation of 10 mile “withdrawal” around a beautiful #NewMexico location, #ChacoCanyon. the site is sacred to multiple tribes and is geologically significant for all. Anybody may comment. Go to the BLM […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

I indicated with a red circle where to find the “participate now” button.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jul 15

Do read this, it has very important background on how to deal with Todd Blanche and Clarence Thomas and the Comstock Act if we want to prevent nationwide abortion bans […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

But others viewed complacency as dangerous. "I fully agree
with the [Biden] administration's position ... that it's illegal to
use Comstock to ban abortion,'
" Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith told
NOTUS. "However, I can see, as can everybody else, that the
extreme right-wing MAGA Republicans have a road map for
using Comstock to do exactly that, and so, as a legislator, it's
my job to do everything I can to take that tool away from
them."

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jul 11

I’ve been deeply, intensely hard at work completing a manuscript. Submitted today. Spent some time outdoors this evening, picking my head up to the sky first time in a while.

Setting sun illuminating the clouds, turning them pink underneath.

Another angle on pink-bottomed, gray-blue-topped clouds, illuminated by the setting sun.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jul 10

Gotta love the Onion - even when the humor has real bite.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 27

My spouse and I this morning at #Pride in #SantaFe for #LandofAction.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 27

My good friend, fellow activist, and former football coach at the #LandofAction #Pride Booth in #SantaFe today. Make Phil go viral!

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 27

My spouse is helping out with #LandofAction booth at #SantaFe #NewMexico #Pride tomorrow. I got him this shirt to wear. But our cat thinks it is hers.

A very ensconced tortoiseshell resting on a Nyan Cat t-shirt. I’m holding up part of the shirt, looking down and smiling at the cat.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 26

Printing done, colorful candy to hand out purchased, shirt with cats in rainbow colors ready. Canopy, chairs, table picked up. #LandofAction and I are ready for #SantaFe #NewMexico #Pride Festival tomorrow. With the help of so many here on Mastodon I was […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Full page flyer and bookmarks publicizing Land of Action and the work we do.

Materials about some of the groups and projects under the Land of Action umbrella.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 24

We are already having a batch of free and fair elections bookmarks printed. We need people in New Mexico to be ready for whatever Trump and the Roberts Court do over the summer and through the fall to thwart voting or interfere with elections. 3/

LAND of
ACTION

Free and fair
elections ensure
everyone is
represented.
They are under
threat.

LAND of
ACTION
LandofAction.org

LAND of
ACTION
“For the first time in
modern American
history, the
machinery of the
federal government -
which is meant to
serve our democracy
- is being turned
against our
elections."
LEARN MORE
LAND of
ACTION
LandofAction.org

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 23

There is plenty of bad news in U.S. politics today, but the Senate’s passage of this resolution to limit Trump’s use of armed forces in Iran is good and significant. Even though it does not legally bind Trump, it is an assertion of Congress’s authority and a […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

15.57 EDT
Senate for first time approves a war powers
resolution in a rebuke to Trump over Iran
conflict
The Senate has for the first time approved a war
powers resolution seeking to curb US military action
against Iran, as lawmakers warily watch Donald
Trump's efforts to resolve a conflict that the
administration launched on its own and now needs
Congress to fund.
This was the 10th time the Senate had tried to stop the
war, and the outcome, on a vote of 50-48, was a
stunning turnaround from past efforts. While the
resolution is largely symbolic, and does not fully carry
the force of law, it reflects the growing concerns from
a number of GOP lawmakers in both the House and
Senate over both the war and the deal Trump has
struck with Iran to end it. The House approved the
resolution earlier this month.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 22

“If you are a progressive New Mexican, you need to know about it.” 2/ #LandofAction #NewMexico #SantaFe #Pride

Colorful bookmark front, reading
Land of
ACTION
If you are a
progressive
New Mexican,
you need to
know about it.
LAND of
ACTION
LandofAction.org

Bookmark reverse reading
Land of
ACTION
We serve as an
umbrella for
grassroots progressive
groups across New
Mexico.
We aim to make it
easier for groups to
find and learn from
each other.
We facilitate statewide
grassroots progressive
activism.
We provide
information and
resources that support
the work being done by
groups across New
Mexico.
LandofAction.org

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 20

More evisceration. 4/

Elsewhere, Plaintiffs observe that the Government is permitted to take different positions in different cases, Opp. at 11, is permitted to settle cases, Opp. at 19, and is not required to raise every available defense, Opp. at 20. All of this misses the point. Here, where the same party
controls both sides of the litigation; where an apparently collusive suit was employed to confer enormous benefits from the defendant United States to the Plaintiffs; where the parties took several steps to avoid judicial scrutiny of their actions; and where settlement terms have since been unilaterally abandoned, the settlement becomes relevant to the Court's inquiry whether a fraud has occurred. None of the cases Plaintiffs mention involved such facts.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 20

The retired judges eviscersate Trump’s effort to argue that the “settlement” was some typical outcome in ordinary litigation. 3/

The unprecedented settlement is evidence of that fraud in this case. After all, here, unlike in the vast run of cases (including the Dominion case, Opp. at 8-9), the Plaintiff controls the Defendants. The Court therefore rightly expressed serious concerns about collusion and lack of adversity and established a process to probe it; the parties then entered into a "settlement," premised on this very lawsuit, unlocking almost $2 billion from the Judgment Fund and granting releases far in excess of normal releases afforded by the Department of Justice; the Plaintiffs contrived to preserve their right to dismiss unilaterally and then dismissed the suit in a transparent effort to terminate the Court's inquiry; and then, when criticized, Defendants purported to walk away from major portions of the settlement unilaterally.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 20

Lastest filing from amici-retired-judges in the fishy lawsuit that gave rise to the $1.8 billion slush fund for Trump to hand out to J6ers and to his and his families immunity from tax audits […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Plaintiffs' filing only underscores the need to investigate whether the parties have perpetrated a fraud on this Court and corrupted the integrity of the judicial process. After Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit, they moved this Court-with Defendants' consentto exercise its "inherent authority" to
pause proceedings for the parties to engage in "discussions designed to resolve this matter." Dkt. 40. This device postponed Defendants' obligations to answer or move for dismissal. When this Court
directed the parties to address whether the parties to this case were actually adverse, they evaded their obligation to respond. Dkt. 41. Two days before the Court's deadline, they signed "settlement"
papers that invoked this lawsuit as the premise for the settlement, and Plaintiffs filed a Rule 41(a) dismissal notice purporting to strip the Court of all power to investigate and decide whether the rationale for the settlement was a collusive and non-adversarial lawsuit. Plaintiffs even warned the Court that "[u]pon the filing of this Notice, no judicial analysis is appropriate ..." Dkt. 52 at 2. There is reason to believe the parties used this suit and subsequent settlement to give cover for a give-away to the lead Plaintiff, who also controls the Defendants. Plaintiffs now seek to complete that deeply concerning process by insisting that the Court can do nothing.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· Jun 16

From yesterday’s hike. #bloomscrolling

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 31

A brief break from it all. #Bloomscrolling in Sligo County, Ireland.

A bush growing wildly, covered in small blooms, pink and white. Leaves are dark green, edged in light green.

A meadow, very green. In the foreground a splash of wildflowers, most orange, a few yellow.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 28

How (un)surprising. Sam Alito and his son both ignoring ethics rules re conflicts of interest; Sam ended up being one of two dissenters in the case in which his son is an attorney for the losing side, Treasury Dept. #LawFedi https://www.notus.org/us-news/samuel-philip-alito-trump-treasury-department

The younger Alito was an attorney at the
Treasury when a lawsuit against the department
and several other agencies was argued before the
Supreme Court in November challenging
Trump's use of emergency powers to issue
tariffs. The department never disclosed that in
court documents. His father, Justice Alito, did
not recuse himself from the case - and
ultimately joined in a dissent written by Justice
Brett Kavanaugh. The majority ruled in
February that Trump didn't have the authority
to issue sweeping tariffs, and the decision set
into motion the massive refunds that now
beguile the Trump administration.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 25

Me, in this beautiful spot, which gave me the chance to reflect. 6/6

Me, on a beach, water, mountain, sky in the background.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 22

These passages from a transcript of the hearing where this all went down convey the judge’s distress and shock at the DoJ prosecutors’ misconduct in the grand jury and then their effort to cover it up and hide it from her. 5/5

Although I am not going to prejudge the issue without
a hearing, I will say that I was incredibly shocked by the
redactions that were made. I have read hundreds, if not
thousands, of grand jury transcripts involving prosecutors who
are the most junior of prosecutors to several U.S. Attorneys
who appeared before the grand jury. I have never seen the
types of prosecutorial behavior before a grand jury that I saw
in those transcripts.
At a high-level summary for the defendants, who do
not have the benefit of having seen the transcripts yet,
several potential issues jumped out at me immediately and
glaringly.
First, improper prosecutorial vouching to the grand
jurors, with the AUSA putting her personal credibility and
trustworthiness on the line in support of the charges.

Second, improper prosecutorial communications of a
substantive nature with the grand jurors outside of the grand
jury room.
And, third, the prosecutor excusing grand jurors who
disagreed with the government's case from the deliberations
process.
Which brings me to problem Number 4, which is the
fact that all of this was redacted out of the versions of the
transcripts that I got. And frankly, it is that that I find
the most problematic. Mistakes happen. They happen to all of
us. But as I tell my children, you own it. You admit to it.
You apologize for it, and you move on. What you do not do is
hide it.
I relied on all of you and your personal
representations in this case about what has been issued in
discovery, about the types of searches you have done for

You apologize for it, and you move on. What you do not do is
hide it.
I relied on all of you and your personal
representations in this case about what has been issued in
discovery, about the types of searches you have done for
exculpatory material, about what arguments you will and will
not make in this case. And I do that because, first of all, I
treat every attorney who appears before me as an officer of
the court. But secondly, because I put even more reliance on
Department of Justice attorneys. Your sole goal is to do
justice.
Your client is justice itself.
I do believe deeply in the presumption of regularity
and that most government attorneys are doing the best they can
to do the right thing. That trust has been broken.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 20

I’m traveling for a couple of weeks, in Ireland. I know Europe faces its own challenges and every country has its political problems. But as an American it is such a relief to be somewhere that Trump isn’t president and the legislature and high court are not controlled by fascists.

Me, in front of the Superintendent’s House, St. Stephen’s Green. The Green was a significant location in the Eastern Rebellion in 1916, a key event in Ireland’s struggle to become an independent republic.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 16

The Onion is just on a roll lately.

THE ONION®
Friday, May 15, 2026
LOCAL
Everyone In Conversation
Under Different Impression
As To Which Horrific News
Being Discussed

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 14

Meanwhile, over on bluesky a great post from Lawler’s Democratic challenger. (Lawler is the Republican congressman William Paul ranted at). 4/4

Mike Sacks
@mikesacks.bsky.social
Hi, actual Jew here running to unseat
Lawler so that Rand Paul's antisemite son
can try this shit on me.
mikesacksforcongress

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 14

The Guardian for the absolute win in reporting Paul Rand’s son’s apology for drunken antisemitic and homophobic rant.

Republican senator Rand Paul's son William
apologized on Wednesday for a drunken tirade at a bar
in Washington DC, in which he reportedly told a
Republican congressman he "hates Jews and hates
gays".
"Last night, I had too much to drink and said some
things that don't represent who I really am. I'm sorry
and today I am seeking help for my drinking problem,"
William Paul posted on social media under the handle
TastyBrew1776. [Note the identification of William Paul’s social media handle.]

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 13

Once again, the Onion sustains me.

The ONION®
Tuesday, May 12, 2026

[then a photo of a gas pump with a display showing
Regular
4x10 to the fifth power
Shell
V-Power]

NEWS
Gas Station Price Sign Using
Scientific Notation

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 12

As Sotomayor emphasizes, Callais firmly announced that it did not apply to cases of intentional racial discrimination. In fact, in Callais the Roberts Court specifically announced that its decision did not overrule Allen - and its vacatur is in Allen! 4/

Callais also insisted that this Court's prior decision in Al-
len remains good law. See id., at _ (slip op., at 36) ("[Wle
have not overruled Allen"). These cases are, of course, Allen. So if Allen i good law anywhere, then it must be good law here.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 9

A snippet from Peggy Flannagan speaking in New Mexico yesterday.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 9

I had a call this morning with Peggy Flanagan’s campaign, following up on the event for her here in New Mexico yesterday. 2/

Left, Peggy Flanagan, candidate for U.S. Senate from Minnesota; right, me.

Heidi Li Feldman@heidilifeldman· May 7

I will keep you posted about this, as well as let you know anything interesting I hear from Flanagan or Heinrich at today’s event. 6/6