Mar 31, 2025
6:31 PM
Steve Randy Waldman
@interfluidity.com

from @mmasnick.bsky.social www.techdirt.com/2025/03/31/l... 1/

Text: This argument fails spectacularly on both moral and practical grounds. This isn’t a routine settlement discussion over a contract dispute. This is about preserving the fundamental ability of our legal system to check unconstitutional power and criminal behavior. The “rational business decision” framing completely misses the point. But even on pure business terms, capitulation is suicide. Think it through: If clients are fleeing firms targeted by Trump, how does surrendering help? A firm that caves ends up with three strikes against it: (1) it’s proven useless in standing up to government overreach, (2) it’s demonstrated it has no principles, and (3) the administration still views it as an enemy. The “settlement” buys nothing except shame. Text: This argument fails spectacularly on both moral and practical grounds. This isn’t a routine settlement discussion over a contract dispute. This is about preserving the fundamental ability of our legal system to check unconstitutional power and criminal behavior. The “rational business decision” framing completely misses the point. But even on pure business terms, capitulation is suicide. Think it through: If clients are fleeing firms targeted by Trump, how does surrendering help? A firm that caves ends up with three strikes against it: (1) it’s proven useless in standing up to government overreach, (2) it’s demonstrated it has no principles, and (3) the administration still views it as an enemy. The “settlement” buys nothing except shame.
Mar 31, 2025
6:31 PM
Steve Randy Waldman
@interfluidity.com

i wish i could wholly agree with @mmasnick.bsky.social here, but there is some method to the madness. yes, you will lose all clients with any integrity. but there is a growing market of clients, big corporate clients, willing and even eager to profit by collaborating, participating in the grift. 2/

in reply to self
Mar 31, 2025
6:31 PM
Steve Randy Waldman
@interfluidity.com

collaboration is a plus, even a prerequisite, to collaborators. we can only hope that the leopard eats all of their faces. /fin

in reply to self