10 Takeaways from the Ninth Circuit

Thoughts on the appeals court ruling against Trump’s Travel Ban

1. If you’re short on time and want to get to the heart of why this ban is such a sick and twisted load of bullshit, then just read the part of the decision that discusses the fact that there is No Threat. The threat has been wholly invented. I have no idea if Trump or any of his minions believe there’s a real threat or not. But there isn’t. We should be fighting real life terrorism instead of wasting time and resources fighting make-believe perpetrators. Or as the court put it: The Government has pointed to no evidence that any alien from any of the countries named in the Order has perpetrated a terrorist attack in the United States.
2. Like many of Trump’s mental detours, this blunder has serious consequences. As NYT’s Rukmini Callimachi reports, our allies are dismayed and our enemies are buoyed. If that’s the art of the deal, count me out.
3. In his inevitable and immediate tweet, Trump went full-Trump: SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE! A few thoughts. First, that was court. Second, next time you call Mike Flynn at 3am, ask him what a comma is traditionally used for. Third, there’s one thing all Americans still agree on: All-caps are for dicks.
4. We don’t need a fucking wall either.
5. It’s sad that it takes the courts to stop this kind of madness while the GOP stands by and lets it happen. We get it. You won. You want to ignore the tweet-storms and get what you can out of this guy before he implodes. But there has to be a fucking line drawn when we’re talking about matters as serious as national security and America’s role and reputation in the world.
6. Donald Trump’s tweets represent a greater security risk to the US than any of the immigrants affected by this ban. That’s beyond a doubt.
7. Trump insisted this would be an “Easy D” in his favor. I guess that’s how wrong you can be when you get your law degree from Trump University.
8. Sally Yates was right.
9. Lesson: Lying works in politics. It’s frowned upon by the courts.
10. The 9th Circuit Court of appeals has also ruled that Nordstrom doesn’t have to sell Ivanka’s stuff.

(And one bonus thought: Our last president was a constitutional law professor.)

Dave Pell writes NextDraft. The Alternative to Alternative Facts.