All posts by Rick Hasen

“Attacks on Judges Undermine Democracy, Warns Justice Jackson”

May 2, 2025, 7:53 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

NYT: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the Supreme Court’s newest member, denounced on Thursday what she described as “relentless attacks” on judges, and an environment of harassment that “ultimately risks undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.” “ Across the… Continue reading

Bob Bauer on Trump’s Targeting of ActBlue

May 2, 2025, 7:51 amauthoritarian threats in US, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

Over at Executive Functions: Here was another episode in the series of this administration’s challenge to norms that constrain presidential abuse of power. Trump was directing the attorney general to initiate an investigation in disregard of any notion of DOJ… Continue reading

“Trump once joked about a third term. Now, he says it’s no laughing matter.”

May 2, 2025, 7:46 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

WaPo: President Donald Trump was sitting in the dining room off the Oval Office earlier this spring when he noticed a CNN headline scrolling along the bottom of the television about his desire to seek a third term. He was… Continue reading

“What to know about push in Shasta County to override voter ID, election laws in California”

May 2, 2025, 7:43 amfraudulent fraud squad, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Record Searchlight: A citizens group whose leaders have been at the forefront of unverified claims of local election fraud are leaning heavily on Shasta’s status as a charter county in their attempt to change its voting rules. “Save Shasta Elections”… Continue reading

“The Endless Election Law War”

May 2, 2025, 7:34 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Jason Marisam has posted this draft on SSRN (Texas Law Review Online). Here is the abstract: Since the 2000 presidential election, Republicans and Democrats have been locked in a seemingly endless war over our nation’s election laws, constantly proposing and… Continue reading

“Saving the Republic”

May 2, 2025, 7:31 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Jerry Goldfeder in the NYLJ.

“A fund backed by Abu Dhabi . . . would be making a $2 billion business deal using the Trump firm’s digital coins.”

May 1, 2025, 1:39 pmbribery, chicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

The corruption isn’t hidden; it’s right in front of our eyes: Sitting in front of a packed auditorium in Dubai, a founder of the Trump family cryptocurrency business made a brief but monumental announcement on Thursday. A fund backed by… Continue reading

“Elections expert says DOGE’s 57 potential voter registration fraud referrals are ‘a drop in the ocean'”

May 1, 2025, 1:23 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Ryan Reilly for NBC News: Election law expert Rick Hasen told NBC News on Thursday that the 57 referrals that DOGE reportedly made to the Justice Department involving resident aliens who were allegedly registered to vote are a “drop in… Continue reading

Bizarro Quote of the Day (Elon Musk Edition)

May 1, 2025, 11:20 amauthoritarian threats in US, chicaneryRick Hasen

“Doesn’t the absurdity of that seem, like, like, are we in a simulation here or what’s going on? But, like, it was a meme coin at one point . . . How did we get here?” —Elon Musk,… Continue reading

“With lawmakers’ help, Alaska political donation limits could come before 2026 election”

May 1, 2025, 11:13 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Alaska Beacon: Four years after a federal appeals court eliminated Alaska’s limits on political campaign contributions, the Alaska House of Representatives has taken a step toward reimposing them. On Monday, the House voted 22-18 to approve House Bill … Continue reading

“Coming Soon for CEOs, a MAGA-Infused Business Association”

May 1, 2025, 8:52 amlobbyingRick Hasen

WSJ: A new group out of Washington, D.C., aims to offer an alternative to longstanding executive networks like the Business Roundtable, but with a MAGA makeover. American Growth Partnership, founded by several former Republican campaign and congressional aides, will offer… Continue reading

“As of Today, the FEC Can’t Enforce Campaign Finance Laws — and That’s Only One of Its Problems”

May 1, 2025, 8:48 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Dan Weiner for the Brennan Center: Starting today, the bipartisan Federal Election Commission won’t be able to do its job. That’s because the independent agency, which oversees money in campaigns for federal office, will no longer have the minimum four… Continue reading

“Ex-Trump Official Targeted for Investigation Loses Global Entry Status”

May 1, 2025, 7:37 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

NYT: Chris Krebs, the former cybersecurity official in President Trump’s first term whom the president recently targeted for investigation because he had said that the 2020 election had been conducted securely, learned this week that his membership in a program… Continue reading

“Departure on FEC hobbles the election enforcement agency”

May 1, 2025, 7:31 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Politico: The Federal Election Commision, the agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws, is again without enough members to take official action after a Republican commissioner announced his departure on Wednesday. The agency is paralyzed without a quorum and cannot… Continue reading