Congress is supposed to police its own ethics. Here’s why it falls short.; The Washington Post, April 23, 2026

Karen Tumulty, The Washington Post; Congress is supposed to police its own ethics. Here’s why it falls short.

"The U.S. Constitution could hardly be clearer about how unethical behavior on the part of members of Congress should be handled.

“Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member,” Article 1, Section 5 stipulates.

In other words, it’s up to the House and the Senate to police themselves.

That system’s effectiveness and shortcomings have been on stark display the past few weeks, which have seen three members of the House resign, rather than face the possibility of being kicked out."

In Suits and Ties, Lawyers Protest Trump’s Attacks on the Legal System; The New York Times, May 1, 2025

 Santul Nerkar , The New York Times; In Suits and Ties, Lawyers Protest Trump’s Attacks on the Legal System The National Law Day of Action, which drew roughly 1,500 people in New York City, was organized to resist the president’s threats against judges and the nation’s jurisprudence.

"About 1,500 demonstrators, many of them lawyers sporting business attire, jammed the plaza outside Manhattan’s federal courthouse as part of the National Law Day of Action, chanting in favor of the rule of law and hoisting pocket Constitutions to the sky.

It was one of around 50 similar actions around the nation on Thursday, led by lawyers who said President Trump was threatening the foundation of America’s legal system.

“The rule of law protects us all. Without it we will surely fall,” the crowd chanted.

In his second term, Mr. Trump has aimed to hobble elite law firms, threatened to impeach judges and ignored their orders. For many in the profession, his actions have presented an unpalatable choice between compromising their values by staying silent and facing professional risk by speaking out."

Judge blocks most of Trump order against Susman Godfrey, laments law firms 'capitulating'; Reuters, April 15, 2025

 Mike Scarcella and David Thomas, Reuters; Judge blocks most of Trump order against Susman Godfrey, laments law firms 'capitulating'

"A federal judge on Tuesday blocked most of Donald Trump's executive order targeting law firm Susman Godfrey, part of the Republican U.S. president's campaign against the legal industry, and lamented that other firms have been "capitulating" to what she called his coercion and abuse of power.

Washington-based U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a temporary restraining order halting provisions of Trump's directive that threatened to cancel federal contracts held by Susman Godfrey's clients and restricted access by its lawyers to government buildings and officials.

"The government is purely trying to control what private lawyers may do, which I do not think will withstand constitutional scrutiny," the judge said at a hearing.\

Susman Godfrey sued the administration on Friday, arguing that Trump's order violated the firm's rights to free speech, due process and other protections under the U.S. Constitution.

Nine firms, including Paul Weiss, Skadden Arps and Simpson Thacher, have cut deals with the White House since Trump began targeting law firms he disfavors in February. Four firms have filed lawsuits challenging Trump."

2019: The Year of the Wolves Can the Constitution withstand the partisans?; The New York Times, December 31, 2018

David Brooks, The New York Times; 2019: The Year of the Wolves

Can the Constitution withstand the partisans?

"The story reminds us how thin the crust of civilization really is. It reminds us of what otherwise good people are capable at moments of severe stress and crisis, when fear is up and when conflict — red in tooth and claw — takes control."

The First Amendment doesn't guarantee you the rights you think it does; CNN, August 8, 2017

A.J. Willingham, CNN; The First Amendment doesn't guarantee you the rights you think it does

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

That's it. That's the entirety of our Constitution's First Amendment, the central animus of our American way of life that gets dragged out every time someone's banned from Twitter.

There's a lot going on in those few sentences, and it's important to know when and how it applies to common situations -- and, equally as important, when it doesn't.

Let's look at some common First Amendment arguments; illuminated and debunked by a constitutional expert."