“As Trumps Monetize Presidency, Profits Outstrip Protests”

May 25, 2025, 1:50 pmbribery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Peter Baker for the NYT: When Hillary Clinton was first lady, a furor erupted over reports that she had once made $100,000 from a $1,000 investment in cattle futures. Even though it had happened a dozen years before her… Continue reading

“Prove citizenship to vote? For some married women, it might not be so easy.”

May 24, 2025, 10:04 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

WaPo: Some Republican-led states are moving to require voters to prove their citizenship, as Texas advances a controversial measure that could make it harder for eligible voters to get on the rolls because of changed names, mislaid paperwork or database… Continue reading

North Carolina Supreme Court, on 5-2 Party Line Vote, Allows (Pending Appeal) Republican Party Takeover of State and County Board of Elections

May 23, 2025, 2:02 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Is anything more predictable these days than the North Carolina Supreme Court?

“Trump dines with top meme coin holders, shrugging off ethics concerns”

May 23, 2025, 7:22 amchicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

WaPo: President Donald Trump dined with the top purchasers of his meme coin at a black-tie gala Thursday night, demonstrating his willingness to cross what was once seen as an ethical red line: profiting off the presidency while in office.… Continue reading

“Trump’s $600 million war chest: How he plans to wield his power in the midterms and beyond”

May 23, 2025, 7:17 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

AP: Between a barrage of executive orders, foreign trips and norm-shattering proclamations, Donald Trump has also been busy raking in cash. The president has amassed a war chest of at least $600 million in political donations heading into the midterm… 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

“The weighty lesson from Arizona’s ‘fake electors’ stumble”

May 23, 2025, 6:52 amelectoral collegeDerek Muller

Jason Willick in the Washington Post: After the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Donald Trump’s opponents had a dilemma. The president’s behavior had been egregious, but the Senate acquitted him in an impeachment trial. He had to be criminally… Continue reading

“Trump’s crypto dinner cost over $1 million per seat on average”

May 22, 2025, 6:59 amchicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

NBC News: More than 200 wealthy, mostly anonymous crypto buyers are coming to Washington on Thursday to have dinner with President Donald Trump. The price of admission: $55,000 to $37.7 million. That’s how much the 220 winners of a contest… 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

“Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry Into Cuomo, Singling Out Another Political Target”

May 21, 2025, 7:28 amchicanery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation of Andrew M. Cuomo, a front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, after Republicans accused him of lying to Congress about decisions he made during the coronavirus pandemic as governor,… Continue reading

“Senate Fight Over Gas-Powered Vehicles Is Also a Filibuster Showdown”

May 21, 2025, 7:26 amlegislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

NYT: Senate Republicans plan to move on Wednesday to overturn California’s landmark vehicle emissions law, using a little-known federal statute that allows Congress to strike down regulations and that Democrats claim would erode the filibuster. The fight has serious implications… Continue reading

“A failed plot to steal a local Pa. election shows how hard it is to pull off fraud”

May 21, 2025, 7:22 amchicaneryRick Hasen

Carter Walker reports.

“US Supreme Court rejects Michigan GOP bid to overturn new voting rules”

May 21, 2025, 7:20 amlegislation and legislatures, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Votebeat: The U.S. Supreme Court this week turned away a petition by 11 Republican Michigan legislators who sought to overturn expanded voting measures enacted through statewide ballot initiatives, bringing an end to the federal case known as Lindsey v. Whitmer. … Continue reading