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willoughby's avatar

The Associated Press is a hero (not telling anyone what to do, but I now make a small regular donation to them in support of their courage and their straightforward journalism).

There are other heroes here and there: millions of citizens, for starters. Not many in the world of Academe, but a few.

Some major law firms--not enough, but I'll take courage wherever I find it--are standing up, along with thousands of lawyers who don't represent the "bigs" but who do respect the constitution on which all US lawyers must swear an oath or affirmation before they can practice.

The lawyers at Paul, Weiss, Skadden Arp, and other firms swore that oath too, but it turns out that in a competition between power and cash on the one hand, honor and duty and professional courage on the other, money is the big winner, and in the eyes of a million-dollar-lawyer, our constitution isn't worth the paper it's written on.

As for journalists: there are sparks of light here and there. In an embattled industry, some have capitulated, others are uneasy and muted, but here and there you find real courage in the best tradition of journalism.

The AP isn't an "advocate" for left wing or right wing viewpoints. They just do the blasted news, and refuse to bend to a tyrant.

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Steven Branch's avatar

Willoughby, thank you for expanding on Jen's excellent piece. It is pathetic that a fine news organization like the AP was censored simply because the junta decided it would be cute to change the 400 year-old name the body water that abuts my state of Louisiana to the south. The petty lunatics truly are running the insane asylum and all of us who do not agreed with them 100% about everything are in their crosshairs. If we survive this onslaught of terror and madness, future generations will look back at this time in our history as America's Dark Ages.

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It's Come To This's avatar

To quote one of my favorite characters from literature, Professor Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter, "the time comes when all of us must choose between what is right and what is easy." The 'easy' category is filling up with those who never imagined they might have to pay something to bolster an endangered republic. Here's to all those everywhere, known and unknown, who are right now doing what is right. Some of them are paying for it with their livelihoods already. Let us pray they do not have to pay with their lives.

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Steve 218's avatar

Prayer is good and appropriate. So is physical support. Let's continue to write letters and emails, make phone calls, attend protest meetings - in other words, contribute any way that you can. It won't be easy, but it is right.

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JA's avatar

Very well stated!! Wish more law firms and publishers saw it in the same light!

One wonders just who is in charge?

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willoughby's avatar

Old King Money, in too many cases: along with Old King Fear.

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Bonny Becker's avatar

Let's never forget the cowards who capitulated--supposedly leaders and major institutions in our country. What a house of self-dealing cards they have proved to be. Watch as they try to pretend this is not what they did once the Trump regime ends.

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Marliss Desens's avatar

I saw a report that a high-ranking lawyer at Paul, Weiss has now left the firm over its deal with Trump. I hope to hear more about this person.

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SBwrites's avatar

His name is Steven Banks. "He is the former commissioner of New York City's social services agency. He said he was leaving Paul, Weiss to turn his attention to representing the Coalition for the Homeless with the Legal Aid Society."

"Banks, 68, said his 'time to make a difference as a lawyer is narrowing...At this historical moment, I know that I belong back on the front lines fighting for the things that I have believed in since I first walked in the door of the Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney in 1981.'"

https://www.reuters.com/legal/law-firm-paul-weisss-pro-bono-leader-resigns-after-trump-deal-2025-04-10/

I hope that Brad Karp, the Chairman of Paul, Weiss, is aware of what happened to the industrialists who bailed out Hitler in early 1933, "when the German Nazi Party was facing financial ruin." The quotes are from a 2016 article by Ciara Torres Spelliscy: "How Big Business Bailed Out the Nazi's."

"The industrialists who led the way were two huge German firms, I.G. Farben and Krupp. Leaders of both of companies were among the few civilians who were later charged with war crimes at the Nuremberg Tribunals after World War II."

"As the book Hell’s Cartel explains, the history of the German industrialists’ support of Hitler shows 'what can go wrong when political objectives and the pursuit of profit become dangerously entwined.' One can only surmise what might have happened if the businessmen had simply said 'no' to Hitler that night."

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-big-business-bailed-out-nazis

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805091434/hellscartel/

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Marliss Desens's avatar

Thank you for providing the name and a link to the article, as well as for the additional links.

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SBwrites's avatar

You're welcome! Happy to do it!

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Cheryl Forell-Tomasulo's avatar

Thank you for this excellent historical information

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SBwrites's avatar

You're welcome! My pleasure!

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Marliss Desens's avatar

Marc Elias, of Democracy Docket, reports that there is another such hero: "Joseph Baio, Willkie’s longest-serving lawyer, reportedly resigned to “join the fight against governmental tyranny, unconstitutional decrees, and social injustice, particularly at this critical time.”

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I Hate this Timeline's avatar

Great article and comment. On terms of who is in charge... If you are a DC lawyer or know one fight this. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/brother-us-attorney-general-bondi-runs-lead-dc-bar-2025-03-06/

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The Coke Brothers's avatar

I started regular donations as well. The Columbia Bend-Over was gross.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

And it had been such a proud name. To me, Columbia hurts almost worst of all.

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Russ's avatar

I have noticed that despite bowing to pressure The Washington Post has often been more critical of the regime than has The New York Times, which someone noted was the Susan Collins of the press.

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Susan C Shea's avatar

I cancelled then blocked all incoming from the Post. Don't be fooled.

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Russ's avatar

I am rarely fooled. :-)

On the country, shutting out things you don't agree with in such a forceful way allows you to be fooled. In my case, I did cancel a long term subscription but kept reading as I had time left. I was surprised to see that they didn't spare the regime.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

The Washington Post is making great efforts (I'm being beguilingly solicited, and it's already a month since my unsubscription took effecf).

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DisplayL's avatar

Did you notice that the WP did not cover the April 5th protests except to publish what was supposed to be a letter to the editor talking about the protests? Their headlines and content are heavily edited to soft peddle what is going on.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

I visited the WaPo website at 11 a.m. the morning of April 5. There was *nothing* about the protests on the online "front page," even as buses and people were flooding into D.C. Not even a traffic advisory!

I stopped auto-renewing my WaPo subscription a year ago in response to the relentless, anonymously sourced stories about President Biden's fitness for office. I reconsidered a few times, then Jeff Bezos's decision to not endorse Harris-Walz told me I was right the first time. I dropped the NY Times after the 2016 election, but I continue to subscribe to the Guardian (US and UK editions), several news-related Substacks, and other sources. I consider myself pretty well informed.

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DisplayL's avatar

I have had a similar experience although I didnt cancel my subscription until Bezos cancelled the Harris endorsement. I recommend your news sources, I subscribe myself to those but have not left the NYT even though its coverage of Biden I found really yellow.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

"But her emails" + the appointment of Bret Stephens that followed not long after did it for me. I'm not in the NYC orbit so I haven't missed it, apart from columnists like Jamelle Bouie.

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Russ's avatar

I think you are right. Alas it is probably the bottom line of people like you and me who cancelled long term subscriptions. I did reinstate mine, which is positive reinforcement of what I consider is a paramount consideration of the free press to shine light on sculduggery.

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DisplayL's avatar

I would say that if Susan Collins had realized Trump would go through with his threats to Maine, she would have capitulated. The Times usually has more integrity than she has, if one notices any by her moronic poses.

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Robyn E's avatar

But luckily Maine has Governor Janet Mills. She stood up to Trump when Musk/DOGE changed the rules for parents to get social security numbers for their newborns.

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DisplayL's avatar

Why do you think she is always voted in? Is just the old families' pull?

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Robyn E's avatar

Incumbency advantage? And that Senator Angus King is not a republican.

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A doc reads's avatar

Well said, Willoughby!!

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Susan C Shea's avatar

"In the eyes of a million-dollar lawyer, the constitution isn't worth the paper it's written on." Shocking to know that's accurate for the partners in those capitulating firms. Shame, coeards!

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Attapork's avatar

I too started making recurring contributions to the AP, and I now have its homepage bookmarked on my browser, right where the Washington Post used to be.

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ronbo97's avatar

Paul, Weiss made a deal with the devil when they capitulated to Trump's demands. New, current and former clients will think twice when seeking them out for representation since they know the firm will forever be in bed with the Trump administration.

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Bev Kummerling's avatar

I also signed up for their publications and am making a monthly donation.

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Robot Bender's avatar

And they a very good job of it in a nonpartisan way.

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Margaret Snow's avatar

I listened recently to an interview of the president of Princeton who stated that he will not give in to administrative pressure to modify their programs in order to continue to receive government funding.

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willoughby's avatar

There's unease at Princeton about how firmly he will hold, and some disturbing signs of compromise, but yes, he has said some admirable things.

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Susan's avatar

A stop at Willoughby sounds good right now!

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John Lucken's avatar

I remember that Twilight Zone episode!

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ronbo97's avatar

I see what you did there, with that Twilight Zone reference !

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Susan's avatar

One of my favorites!

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Daniel Solomon's avatar

Produced a-holes like Cruz and Pa's McCormick.

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Ann Rock's avatar

And also the non-a**hole, Michelle Obama….

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DisplayL's avatar

Why arent there threats against Yale? Hahaha. Makes one think that sanctions by the White House would be a badge of courage not to be squandered.

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Marliss Desens's avatar

Much will depend on the board of regents or trustees.

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Rod Taylor's avatar

DJT doesn't know any other way to interact with people, problems, and potentates than to assume the role of bully. That is his go-to persona: never admit a mistake, never back down, and attack. For those of us who saw the real DJT when he first rode down the escalator, we are left with the empty retort, Told you so. The chances of any improvement in his modus operandi in the next 3 years and 9 months are minuscule. There is little hope that Congress will morph into a real barrier, and the actions of the SCOTUS remain mediocre. That leaves it up to the public to take this fight for democracy to DJT and his misbegotten minions and resist.

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Nancy Karam's avatar

We knew all about drumpf back in the 80s, even before the dumbass rode down the escalator, when he first set foot in Atlantic City, NJ, looking to horn in on the new casino businesses being built there. At one point, he had his people build his casino around an elderly lady's home because she refused to sell her home and land to him. She was born in that home and wanted to die there. So he built it so that the only view she had from her home, on 3 sides, was concrete walls and the front faced the street, that eventually was teeming with cars, coming and going to the casinos. What a putz!! Oh, and he rarely pays any contractors for the work they do for him. He is the world's biggest cheat and scam artist. He belongs in a steel cage, not a gold-plated throne. I'm so glad the AP stood up to this moron and won!! If only everyone else he has scammed would step up and sue him, he wouldn't have the time to come up with such stupid stuff as renaming things that don't need renaming.

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willoughby's avatar

Yes indeed. In the absence of decency on the Republican side and courage and strategy on the Democratic side, we citizens carry the burden of saving our democracy.

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Steve 218's avatar

"There is little hope that Congress will morph into a real barrier"

It will eventually if the people demand it through the power of the vote. Politicians who feel threatened by the president primarying them need to look to their constituents who, when determined that their interests aren't being addressed, will vote them out. True, some will vote against their own interests. With enough resistance, they will be outvoted.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

"You won't have to vote any more".

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Steve 218's avatar

Oh yes we will. Deprived of a long held right will not be swallowed by the majority of people. Our will is going to be known; we shall vote, and fight if we can't.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Good. Right answer.

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Steve 218's avatar

Thank you. I would like to think that there will be many of us who think this way.

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ronbo97's avatar

Roy Cohn taught him well, and would be proud. See the documentary, "Where's My Roy Cohn?". Also stream the movie "The Apprentice". You will then understand what you need to know about DJT.

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Elizabeth Blanchard's avatar

AP - always a leader. Godspeed.

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Pierce Rhoads's avatar

All readers should make s donation to the AP to help it survive.

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A doc reads's avatar

That is a very good idea! Willougby also mentioned making a donation to the AAP.

Good idea! I’m in.

Let us support the brave free press.

A small donation from as many of us as possible could make a difference.

A free press is essential to our freedom!

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Pierce Rhoads's avatar

My feelings exactly. Why let the wealthy, who own all the media outlets, determine what is news worthy. Giving money to a political party or a possible candidate is a problematic donation at best.

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Rosann's avatar

I did when this started and Jen’s article is a great reminder to donate again. Wish there were more AP’s out there.

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Emily Barr's avatar

In the same way the AP defended its first amendment rights against blatant bullying, the State of Maine is now finding itself doing the same -this is what courage looks like and we need a lot more of it from our universities, law firms and corporations because the ultimate cost will be far more than lost revenue. Nothing less than our collective and individual freedoms are at stake.

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Nancy Karam's avatar

Amen to that!!

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Dr. Sara Wolfson's avatar

Republicans are unwilling to risk their finances or themselves, but they are quite willing to risk every one of their constituents and throw them under the bus.

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PS's avatar

I just donated to the Associated Press as a thank you. I encourage others to go to their website, https://apnews.com/, hit the red donate button on the top right and give what they can. That is one small way regular people can help preserve a free press.

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Tina Stein's avatar

Was just about to ask how we can support the AP. Thank you.

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Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

Thank you so much for posting that link. It took me straight there, and I donated as much as possible. It's too bad I only saw that link by scrolling through comments - would it be a violation of sorts for The Contrarian to list such links to worthy causes in one place?

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ronbo97's avatar

I think that would not be a good move, as they would end up fending off "Why are you promoting 'this' cause, but not 'that' cause". It would be divisive.

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Patricia VanBuskirk's avatar

Thank you! I just donated as well. Yes, courage to stand up in the face of those who diminish what is good and right! It is "easier" to take the low road; what will each of us decide?

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Susan C Shea's avatar

I think it's the demonstration of support small gifts will demonstrate that will matter most to the AP, and I will send that message happily.

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Molly MH's avatar

Thank you for link. Just donated. Courage among brave institutions (should be…) contagious.

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Lydia Lucas's avatar

Thanks for the link. I just donated as well.

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Thomas Moore's avatar

Huge waste of taxpayers money to needless provoke lawsuits you can't win. Why isn't Elon Musk investigating this? /s

The latest one is "we don't answer questions from journalists who list their pronouns." That from someone who clearly was the chief "mean girl" of her high school class.

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George Burns's avatar

Great article, Jen! I agree with everything you say, but I'd like to expand on your point that by standing up to a bully, one might just win. You see, even if you don't win the fight, a bully usually doesn't have the stomach of continuing the fight once their nose has been bloodied. Therefore, winning isn't the only positive outcome from standing up to a bully. They can only win once we've given up the fight.

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Lark Leonard's avatar

Well said, George!

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David Krupp's avatar

The other new organizations should have boycotted Trump's new conference in support of the AP.

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Marliss Desens's avatar

Agreed. Take away his beloved cameras, which are oxygen to him, and he cannot survive.

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Joan Donaldson's avatar

The silly WH stated that letting the AP back in would invade T's intimate spaces. Someone should tell her that the American people own the White House.

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Steve 218's avatar

Trump's intimate spaces? Folks, we aren't (heaven forfend) invading his bathroom. This is the public press room we're talking about in the house owned and paid for by the people of the United States.

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It's Come To This's avatar

So glad Jennifer (and a few others) are paying attention to this small, but vital issue nearly forgotten in the middle of the Manchurian Cantaloupe's trade silliness, the War on Penguins on Heard Island, etc. It goes to the very heart of what animates all authoritarian movements and regimes in history.

Centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson was asked point-blank if he had to choose between a free government and a free press, which would he select? He didn't hesitate -- a free press. Jeff Bezos, The Washington Post and the White House Press Correspondents Association show us exactly why. Dictators don't just want to arrogantly amass all power for themselves, they want to rewrite history to their psychotic liking. Out goes Harriet Tubman and transgender soldiers, in come the dumb brutes and louts, white supremacists, lickspittles and slobbering wormtongues eager to kiss the ass, make obeisance and do the bidding of their idiot emperor, all hoping either for a little bag of gold or terrified of losing their position at court.

Thank you to the few judges in this country willing to stand up to this bullshit on a cracker. Thank you to the reporters who do not go along with the bullshit, but report it for exactly what it is.

And historically speaking, in case inquiring minds want to know and recognizing the importance of using assigned names given at birth, it is the Gulf of Chalchiuhtlicueyecatl.

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Michelle Jordan's avatar

So thankful they didn’t cave to the WH bs. I hope more News organizations, universities and law firms stand up to this @$$. I don’t care if the government is sued a million times for lying and bullying as long as they lose.

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Dan Merz's avatar

Bravo, Jennifer. You properly note the tactic written by many scholars on bullying. You fight back. In fact you come back even harder on them than they initially have come at you. And, yes, most of the time you win. What few seem to understand is that Trump is a coward hiding behind the power of the Office of the Presidency. In the past it was the power of his father's inheritance which he stole from his siblings. Signs should read COWARD and LOSER.

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Erin's avatar

Seems like women-run institutions stand up to tyranny better. Huh.

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Bonnie Boyce's avatar

Welllll…the DOJ is a MAJOR exception

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Kim Resnick's avatar

No surprise there! 🙌🙌

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