Category Archives: authoritarian threats in US

“Trump says Elon Musk will face ‘very serious consequences’ if he funds Democratic candidates”

June 7, 2025, 11:31 amauthoritarian threats in US, campaign financeRick Hasen

NBC News: President Donald Trump on Saturday said there would be “serious consequences” if tech mogul Elon Musk funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favor of the GOP’s sweeping budget bill. “If he does, he’ll have… Continue reading

“Trump Orders Investigation of Biden and His Aides”

June 5, 2025, 8:53 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump ordered his White House counsel and the attorney general on Wednesday to investigate former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his staff in Mr. Trump’s latest attempt to stoke outlandish conspiracy theories about his predecessor. In an… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

May 31, 2025, 9:18 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

“They don’t want someone who’s just going to be like, ‘We’re going to follow the law and do the originalistic thing, and whatever the result is, so may be it,’” said the consultant. “They want someone [who] can figure out… Continue reading

“Judge strikes down Trump’s sanctions against Jenner & Block law firm”

May 25, 2025, 1:55 pmauthoritarian threats in US, election law bizRick Hasen

WaPo: A federal judge on Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order sanctioning the law firm Jenner & Block, the second time a court has quashed one of Trump’s efforts to punish a firm. U.S. District Judge John D.… Continue reading

“FTC probes Media Matters’ exchanges with ad groups, stoking fears of retribution”

May 23, 2025, 7:13 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

CNN: The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sent Media Matters for America a letter demanding communications between the progressive media watchdog and advertising entities as the commission probes whether the watchdog colluded with advertisers to pull funding from Elon Musk’s… Continue reading

“If Justice Dept. Can’t Prosecute Trump’s Foes, It Will ‘Shame’ Them, Official Says”

May 22, 2025, 6:57 amauthoritarian threats in US, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump has kept up a steady bombardment of suggestions, requests and demands to arrest, investigate or prosecute targets of his choosing — the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, various Democrats, officials who refuted his election lies, Beyoncé,… Continue reading

ELB Podcast 6:8: Danielle Lang: Is Trump’s Executive Order on Voting a Threat to Democracy?

May 21, 2025, 9:49 amauthoritarian threats in US, ELB Podcast, election administration, Election Assistance Commission, election subversion riskRick Hasen

The season finale of Season 6 of the ELB Podcast: What does the Trump executive order on elections purport to do? Why did a federal court put big parts of that executive order on hold? Does this EO threaten the… Continue reading

“Head of CBS News Is Forced Out Amid Tensions With Trump”

May 19, 2025, 6:00 pmauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

NYT: The president of CBS News, Wendy McMahon, was forced out of her post on Monday, the latest shock wave to hit the news division amid an ongoing showdown involving President Trump, “60 Minutes” and CBS’s parent company, Paramount. Ms.… Continue reading

“New standards for Oklahoma high school students promote misinformation about the 2020 election”

May 19, 2025, 6:32 amauthoritarian threats in US, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

AP: Oklahoma high school students studying U.S. history learn about the Industrial Revolution, women’s suffrage and America’s expanding role in international affairs. Beginning next school year, they will add conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. Oklahoma’s new social… Continue reading

Banana Republic Dept: “Comey under investigation for ‘threat’ to Trump on social media, officials say”

May 16, 2025, 7:14 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

WaPo: Trump administration officials said Thursday that they would investigate former FBI director James B. Comey, whom they accused of threatening President Donald Trump after Comey posted a picture of seashells on a beach arranged to spell out “86… Continue reading

“Trump Can’t Stop Trolling Everyone About 2028”

May 16, 2025, 7:04 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Political Wire: Donald Trump is once again suggesting — this time while addressing U.S. troops in Qatar — that he might run for a third term in 2028. Said Trump: “As you know we won three elections. And some… Continue reading

“Trump Administration Cancels Scores of Grants to Study Online Misinformation”

May 15, 2025, 7:03 amauthoritarian threats in US, cheap speechRick Hasen

NYT: The Trump administration has sharply expanded its campaign against experts who track misinformation and other harmful content online, abruptly canceling scores of scientific research grants at universities across the country. The grants funded research into topics like ways to… Continue reading

“The FEC Can’t Do Anything. Congress Should Leave It That Way”

May 15, 2025, 6:59 amauthoritarian threats in US, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Trevor Potter and Adav Novi in The Fulcrum: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is vital to America’s political process. As the only federal agency dedicated solely to enforcing election laws, the FEC plays a critical role in protecting voters and… Continue reading

“The End of the Rule of Law in America”

May 14, 2025, 7:17 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Judge Luttig in The Atlantic: The 47th president of the United States may wish he were a king. But in America, the law is king, not the president. Donald Trump may wish he could dictate his unconscionable global tariffs; dispense with… Continue reading