“Convicted cardinal wants to vote for pope, his brother prelates must decide”

April 26, 2025, 7:29 amcomparative election law, felon voting, votingTravis Crum

Reuters: Cardinals in meetings ahead of the start of a secret conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis are scratching the hair under their red skull caps as they try to decide whether a cardinal convicted of embezzlement… Continue reading

“Long-running legal saga over N.C. Supreme Court race could pave way for future election challenges, critics warn”

April 26, 2025, 7:27 amelection subversion risk, judicial elections, votingTravis Crum

NBC News: Nearly six months after the North Carolina Supreme Court election took place, the contest still hasn’t been called and a winner still hasn’t been certified. That’s almost entirely due to a barrage of litigation from Republican candidate… Continue reading

“NC voters wait while a battle over ballots they cast six months ago rages”

April 26, 2025, 7:24 amelection subversion risk, judicial elections, voter id, votingTravis Crum

NC Newsline: Chris Marshall took care to cast a ballot last fall while in France tending to his business, and was surprised to find months after the 2024 election that Judge Jefferson Griffin wanted his vote thrown out. Griffin… Continue reading

“Nearly 2,600 incarcerated people voted in Colorado last year under new law”

April 25, 2025, 1:20 pmfelon voting, votingTravis Crum

The Guardian: It was a Sunday in late October 2024 when Jesus Rodriguez, then 29, voted for the first time. He voted in person for the presidential and state races, but his polling place wasn’t at a church, school… Continue reading

“George Santos’s Closing Act: A Prison Sentence of More Than 7 Years”

April 25, 2025, 1:17 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryTravis Crum

NYT: George Santos, the former Republican congressman from New York whose outlandish fabrications and criminal schemes fueled an unforeseen rise and spectacular fall, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison on Friday. His 87-month sentence was… Continue reading

“Judges Worry Trump Could Tell U.S. Marshals to Stop Protecting Them”

April 25, 2025, 8:10 amauthoritarian threats in US, chicaneryTravis Crum

NY Times: On March 11, about 50 judges gathered in Washington for the biannual meeting of the Judicial Conference, which oversees the administration of the federal courts. It was the first time the conference met since President Trump retook… Continue reading

“Elon Musk leaves legacy of self-destruction at DOGE”

April 25, 2025, 8:10 amconflict of interest lawsTravis Crum

Axios: Elon Musk arrived in Washington as the most powerful political outsider ever, brimming with Silicon Valley swagger and bipartisan buy-in for his goal of streamlining the federal government. He’s leaving with his reputation wounded, relationships severed, companies in… Continue reading

“The Trump Billionaires Who Run the Economy and the Things They Say”

April 25, 2025, 8:09 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

NY Times: Sometimes the billionaires running the federal government sound like they’re talking to other billionaires. “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” President Trump wrote on social media last week, offering a stock tip that appeared aimed at… Continue reading

“These states want to adopt the SAVE Act: How could some married women be impacted?”

April 25, 2025, 6:48 amelection administration, voter id, votingvotingTravis Crum

USA Today: Dozens of states across the country are considering their own versions of a federal voting bill critics say could disenfranchise millions of Americans, including many married women. Republican lawmakers in 24 states introduced measures requiring people to… Continue reading

“DNC steps into voting rights fight in Pennsylvania”

April 25, 2025, 6:45 amelection administration, election subversion risk, provisional ballots, votingTravis Crum

The docket in RNC v. Genser is here. Politico reports on the case here: The Democratic National Committee is ramping up its fight with the GOP over voting rights, urging the Supreme Court to reject Republicans’ efforts to… Continue reading

“Trump Says He Would Sign Bill Banning Congressional Stock Trades”

April 25, 2025, 6:37 amcampaign finance, chicanery, conflict of interest lawsTravis Crum

Bloomberg: President Donald Trump said he would “absolutely” sign a bill banning congressional stock trading, saying he was concerned lawmakers could be using insider information for an advantage. “I would be okay with it,” Trump said in an interview with Time… Continue reading

“Trump store is selling ‘Trump 2028’ hats”

April 25, 2025, 6:30 amchicaneryTravis Crum

The Hill: The Trump Organization rolled out “Trump 2028” hats on its website in support of President Trump’s suggestion that he could seek a third term in office. Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons, was spotted wearing the… Continue reading

Round-Up: Partial Injunction Against Trump Elections Executive Order

April 24, 2025, 2:36 pmcourt decisions, election administration, Election Assistance Commission, election subversion risk, voter idTravis Crum

New York Times Washington Post Politico Votebeat Wall Street Journal CBS News NPR Mother Jones

My Thoughts on the Court Order Enjoining Part of Trump EO on Elections: The district court’s opinion is careful, persuasive, and seems very likely to be upheld on appeal

April 24, 2025, 11:29 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Travis has the main coverage at ELB, but I’ve posted some additional thoughts at Bluesky (read the whole thread): The district court's opinion partially & temporarily blocking key parts of Trump's executive order on elections is careful, persuasive, and seems… Continue reading