Damon Root
@damonroot
Journalist & author writing about law, history, & politics. Latest book: “A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass & the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution.”
Books about Frederick Douglass make great holiday gifts. This one is now available in both hardcover & a new 2023 paperback edition. Check it out: amazon.com/Glorious-Liber…
Frederick Douglass fought the good fight, helping to make his country a freer place than it was before. He set an example for all of us to follow, not only on Independence Day, but on every day. reason.com/2025/07/03/wha…
“They say that when the Ramones first played in England, members of the Clash were in the audience...then away they went... While the Ramones launched a million bands, Jack McAuliffe launched 10,000 American craft breweries.” nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/…
Black Sabbath, live at Madison Square Garden in 2016 on the band’s final world tour. I was lucky to be there. Thanks for the music, Ozzy. RIP.
Today in 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry storms the walls of Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. Despite failing to capture the objective, the unit's heroism proves the mettle of African-American troops, paving the way for the raising of even more Black regiments.
Churchill was today in Hyde Park, praising those who defended city during the Blitz: “London is so vast & strong that she is like a prehistoric monster into whose armoured hide showers of arrows can be shot in vain.”
4th Amendment: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.”
Homan: "People need to understand ICE officers and Border Patrol don't need probable cause to walk up to somebody, briefly detain them, and question them ... based on their physical appearance."
Unfortunately, this is all too accurate.
Good training to be a future SCOTUS justice: denigrate substantive due process while simultaneously treating the text of the 9Am and the 14Am’s Privileges or Immunitites Clause as having zero legal effect. In other words, project your own personal desire for a Constitution that…
Jul 4th 1996 - President Whitmore delivers the most rousing Independence Day speech ever and the humans fight back against the aliens in #ID4 📽️📅 Independence Day (1996)
A nice quick read this July 4th morning is this piece by @damonroot on Frederick Douglass. I would also highly recommend Root’s book on Douglass, A Glorious Liberty. What Frederick Douglass Can Still Teach Us About the Fourth of July reason.com/2025/07/03/wha…
On this day in 1863, Union troops capture the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg after a 44-day siege. The victory leaves Union forces in control of the Mississippi River. "The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea," remarks Lincoln.
Today in 1863, a 34-year-old college professor from Maine named Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain helps fend off repeated Confederate attacks against the left flank of the Union line at Gettysburg. The fight for Little Round Top will become one of the battle's most celebrated moments.…
Today in 1863, Union and Confederate forces meet at a small town in southern Pennsylvania called Gettysburg. The ensuing three-day battle sees George Meade's Army of the Potomac defeat Robert E Lee's Army of Northern Virginia thereby ending the Rebel invasion of the North.
A new @wethefifth podcast is out! Episode 513 - Birthright Jamaican Babies and Russian Trashmen (w/ @damonroot) As the Supreme Court wraps up its term, the boys again summon Damon Root. wethefifth.com/p/513-birthrig…
Jun 29th - Alex M. Kintner and the dog Pippit were killed by a great white shark. #NeverForget 📽️📅 Jaws (1975)