Mark Herrmann

Writer at Freelance

Former reporter at Newsday, from 1983 through 2019. Freelance writer

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Articles

Remembrance Of Tweets Past

3 days ago | dealbreaker.com | Mark Herrmann

The news is a deluge. It arrives relentlessly in daily, or hourly, or minutely cycles. The tweets are even worse. They “begin, and cease, and then again begin,” frothing and vanishing into the twittersphere. So slow down this week and think about some of Trump’s best tweets.
Remembrance Of Tweets Past

4 days ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

The news is a deluge. It arrives relentlessly in daily, or hourly, or minutely cycles. The tweets are even worse. They “begin, and cease, and then again begin,” frothing and vanishing into the twittersphere. So slow down this week and think about some of Trump’s best tweets.
Swalwell, Noem, And A Lesson About Cross-Examination

2 weeks ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Observers of jury trials have seen the fight often enough. The lawyer wants the witness to say, “Yes.” The lawyer has the goods on the witness; there’s no way the witness can avoid the admission. But the witness nonetheless evades. When asked again, the witness evades again. A third time, and the witness still won’t answer. The lawyer gets frustrated, shakes, starts to sweat. The lawyer raises his or her voice. The witness stays calm and continues to evade.
Republican Heads Spin Round And Round

3 weeks ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Once upon a time — I’m thinking about during the Clinton administration — Republicans devoutly believed that the character of a president mattered. We had to impeach Clinton; no person of bad character belonged in the White House. Now, of course, neither liability for sexual assault nor criminal conviction for falsifying business records (nor inciting an attack on the Capitol Building) disqualifies a president from office. Character’s irrelevant. That’s one.
The Worst 100 Days Of A Presidency

1 month ago | dealbreaker.com | Mark Herrmann

The 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency is today, And I ask you this: What president had the worst first 100 days of his presidency? And I answer, without hesitation . . . . May I have a drum roll, please? Abraham Lincoln, of course. Don’t be silly about this. Between Lincoln’s election (in November 1860) and inauguration (in March 1861), seven states seceded from the Union. Four more states seceded in the first 100 days after Lincoln’s inauguration.
What Would You Include In A Vindictive Project 2029?

1 month ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Donald Trump acts as though he’ll always be president. Trump has, for example, threatened to eliminate Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, assuming, presumably, that the Democrats will never again be in charge and able to retaliate. Which got me to thinking: What would you include in a truly vindictive Democratic Project 2029? Thoughtful people have said that the Democrats should create their own Project 2029, which would include such noble ideas as strengthening the administrative state.
The Worst 100 Days Of A Presidency

1 month ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

I’m jumping the gun. The 100th day of Donald Trump’s presidency is actually tomorrow, April 29. But I have a Monday column here at Above the Law, so I’m celebrating early. I ask you this: What president had the worst first 100 days of his presidency? And I answer, without hesitation . . . . May I have a drum roll, please? Abraham Lincoln, of course. Don’t be silly about this. Between Lincoln’s election (in November 1860) and inauguration (in March 1861), seven states seceded from the Union.
An Apologist For Law Firm Capitulation?

1 month ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

Stop foaming at the mouth. I know that many of the country’s largest and most prestigious law firms have capitulated in the face of President Donald Trump’s executive orders (or threats of executive orders) punishing the firms for having taken action against the administration’s interests. But I’m here to tell you that capitulation is not crazy. Exhale. Think about this. You’re the managing partner of a fancy-pants law firm.
On US Presidents And Empty Threats

1 month ago | abovethelaw.com | Mark Herrmann

In 2012, President Barack Obama said that the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria would constitute a “red line” that would trigger a strong U.S. response. Assad used chemical weapons; the U.S. opted for a diplomatic response; Obama was criticized for having bluffed. Republicans — including Donald Trump — were relentless in their attacks on Obama. And — sorry, Democrats — the critics were right. The president of the United States is a powerful guy. He should not make empty threats.
What’s The Over/Under On How Long Trump’s Tariffs Will Remain?

1 month ago | dealbreaker.com | Mark Herrmann

Donald Trump’s tariffs are, of course, insane. Trump may well be insane himself. This prompts me to ask the bettors among you: What’s the over/under bet on how long Trump’s recently announced tariffs will remain in place? In March, Trump announced tariffs on Canada, and then removed them, in the course of 24 hours. The current tariffs have already remained in place for more than 24 hours, so 24 hours can’t be the right over/under bet.