A FUN SERIES OF CHARTS: Putting Time in Perspective. A reminder, among other things, that Cleopatra lived closer to the building of the first Pizza Hut than to the building of the first pyramid.
Catching up on some of the latest news regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Here are 10 links to insightful reporting and thoughtful analysis about Russia and Ukraine.
The polarization in today’s Congress has roots that go back decades
“It’s become commonplace among observers of U.S. politics to decry partisan polarization in Congress. Indeed, a Pew Research Center analysis finds that, on average, Democrats and Republicans are farther apart ideologically today than at any time in the past 50 years. But the dynamics behind today’s congressional polarization have been long in the making. The analysis of members’ ideological scores finds that the current standoff between Democrats and Republicans is the result of several overlapping trends that have been playing themselves out – and sometimes reinforcing each other – for decades.
- Both parties have grown more ideologically cohesive. There are now only about two dozen moderate Democrats and Republicans left on Capitol Hill, versus more than 160 in 1971-72.
- Both parties have moved further away from the ideological center since the early 1970s. Democrats on average have become somewhat more liberal, while Republicans on average have become much more conservative.
- The geographic and demographic makeup of both congressional parties has changed dramatically. Nearly half of House Republicans now come from Southern states, while nearly half of House Democrats are Black, Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander.
The Center’s analysis is based on DW-NOMINATE, a method that uses lawmakers’ roll-call votes to place them in a two-dimensional ideological space. It is designed to produce scores that are comparable across time. This analysis focuses on the first dimension, which is essentially the economic and governmental aspects of the familiar left-right spectrum and ranges from 1 (most conservative) to -1 (most liberal). (For more details on DW-NOMINATE and this analysis’ geographical definitions, read “How we did this.”)
Restoring the Rule of Law through Department of Justice Reform
Finkelstein, Claire and Painter, Richard W., Restoring the Rule of Law through Department of Justice Reform (February 16, 2022). In Overcoming Trumpery: How to Restore Ethics, the Rule of Law, and Democracy (Norman Eisen ed., Brookings 2022), U of Penn Law School, Public Law Research Paper No. 22-21, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4036891 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4036891
“As the nation’s principal law enforcement agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ) plays a unique role in protecting U.S. democracy. Even though the attorney general is appointed by the president and serves at the president’s pleasure, a recognition of the comparable independence of the DOJ from the political priorities of the rest of the executive branch has been critical for maintaining the department’s integrity and credibility over the course of its roughly 150-year history. The DOJ powerfully reinforces both rule of law norms and democratic governance when it faithfully conforms to law and ethics.
But the flip side is also true: The DOJ is particularly well situated to corrupt the rule of law when it bends legal principles to suit political aims. This chapter elaborates on a report the authors produced as co-chairs of a bipartisan working group organized in 2020 by the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Issued in October of 2020, the Report examines the tenure of former Attorney General William Barr and the functioning of the DOJ under his leadership.
A core theme that arose across the many different areas of DOJ activity in that period was the degree to which the Department had become politicized and the profound effect that this had on the rule of law for the country as a whole. As this Chapter makes clear, politicization within the DOJ is not new. Over the course of the past twenty years, one can observe a wide range of DOJ functions where the effects of politicization are apparent.
These include the prosecutorial functions of United States attorneys, legal advice to the Executive Branch from the Office of Legal Counsel, the supervisory role of the Attorney General, Congressional oversight of DOJ and compliance with Congressional subpoenas, appointment of independent special counsels for politically sensitive investigations and DOJ investigations of the intelligence community. This chapter includes specific suggestions for reform of DOJ to restore the law enforcement mission that is so critical to upholding the rule of law.”
Finkelstein, Claire and Painter, Richard W., Restoring the Rule of Law through Department of Justice Reform (February 16, 2022). In Overcoming Trumpery: How to Restore Ethics, the Rule of Law, and Democracy (Norman Eisen ed., Brookings 2022), U of Penn Law School, Public Law Research Paper No. 22-21, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4036891 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4036891
“As the nation’s principal law enforcement agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ) plays a unique role in protecting U.S. democracy. Even though the attorney general is appointed by the president and serves at the president’s pleasure, a recognition of the comparable independence of the DOJ from the political priorities of the rest of the executive branch has been critical for maintaining the department’s integrity and credibility over the course of its roughly 150-year history. The DOJ powerfully reinforces both rule of law norms and democratic governance when it faithfully conforms to law and ethics.
But the flip side is also true: The DOJ is particularly well situated to corrupt the rule of law when it bends legal principles to suit political aims. This chapter elaborates on a report the authors produced as co-chairs of a bipartisan working group organized in 2020 by the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Issued in October of 2020, the Report examines the tenure of former Attorney General William Barr and the functioning of the DOJ under his leadership.
A core theme that arose across the many different areas of DOJ activity in that period was the degree to which the Department had become politicized and the profound effect that this had on the rule of law for the country as a whole. As this Chapter makes clear, politicization within the DOJ is not new. Over the course of the past twenty years, one can observe a wide range of DOJ functions where the effects of politicization are apparent.
These include the prosecutorial functions of United States attorneys, legal advice to the Executive Branch from the Office of Legal Counsel, the supervisory role of the Attorney General, Congressional oversight of DOJ and compliance with Congressional subpoenas, appointment of independent special counsels for politically sensitive investigations and DOJ investigations of the intelligence community. This chapter includes specific suggestions for reform of DOJ to restore the law enforcement mission that is so critical to upholding the rule of law.”
A horrific outcome to a grim photo from Ukraine
How to securely store and share sensitive files
PopSci: “Your computer is not as secure as you think. If you use it to store sensitive information—think tax forms, legal documents, and other files—you need to take extra steps to keep that data safe from prying eyes.
Stashing sensitive files on your computer is much more convenient than hoarding stacks of papers in filing cabinets. But just as you lock your filing cabinet with a key, you need to lock those digital files so thieves and hackers can’t access them. Despite what you may think, a regular user account password is not enough. If someone has access to your device, they could easily find and steal your files with free and easy-to-obtain software…”
Vladimir Putin appears at big rally as Russian troops press attack in Ukraine
