“Former Biden and Senate Counsel to Lead Progressive Legal Group”

October 23, 2025, 7:51 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

NYT: Phil Brest, a veteran of the judicial confirmation battles, was named on Wednesday as the new president of the American Constitution Society, a leading progressive organization active on legal issues nationwide. Mr. Brest, 38, was a senior White… Continue reading

How Today’s Campaign Finance System Contributes to Legislative Dysfunction

October 23, 2025, 5:30 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

At the NYU Democracy Project today, Jonathan Adler’s essay, titled Help Legislators Legislate Again, argues that current campaign finance laws contribute to Congress’ increasing inability to generate legislation: Federal campaign finance laws require legislators to fill their war chests… Continue reading

“Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances”

October 22, 2025, 7:55 amUncategorizedElection Deniers, The Big LieSpencer Overton

NYT: Election officials from nearly all 50 states gathered on a call last month with the Homeland Security Department’s point person on “election integrity,” eager to hear how the woman filling a newly created Trump administration position might help… Continue reading

“Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases”

October 22, 2025, 7:54 amUncategorizedSpencer Overton

NYT: President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him about $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him, according to people familiar with the matter, who added that any settlement might ultimately be approved by… Continue reading

“Ingrassia withdraws nomination after racist texts”

October 22, 2025, 7:54 amUncategorizedCivil Service Reform Act, Hatch Act, Office of Special Counsel, Whistleblower Protection ActSpencer Overton

POLITICO: Paul Ingrassia withdrew his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel, a day after POLITICO reported a slew of inflammatory texts he made to fellow Republicans in a group chat, according to the messages. Ingrassia was set… Continue reading

“Voter Participation And Registration: Making Voting Easier”

October 22, 2025, 7:53 amUncategorizedvoter registrationSpencer Overton

FORBES: The United States is ranked 31st in the world in the percentage of eligible voters who participate in national elections. Many reasons are listed by experts and in the media for why this is: too few voting centers,… Continue reading

“Election Administration Legislative Action Bulletin”

October 22, 2025, 7:53 amUncategorizedelection administration legislationSpencer Overton

NCSL: Each month, NCSL’s elections team compiles an overview of legislative action on election administration-related bills in state legislatures, providing insight on the election landscape and emerging trends. Each tab below contains the legislative bulletin for a given month.… Continue reading

“Suspended voter registrations in Arizona’s Pinal County top 1,100 after state error”

October 22, 2025, 7:52 amUncategorizedvoter registrationSpencer Overton

VOTEBEAT: Thousands of voters in Maricopa County caught up in a state record-keeping error won’t yet lose their voting rights for not providing proof of citizenship, county officials now say. But Pinal County has suspended more than a thousand… Continue reading

Steve Skowronek, on “Authoritarianism Then and Now,” at the NYU Democracy Project

October 22, 2025, 7:19 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

Yale’s Steve Skowronek is one of the leading scholars on the American presidency. His recent book is The Adaptability Paradox: Political Inclusion and Constitutional Resilience (2025); other books include Phantoms of a Beleaguered Republic: The Deep State and the Unitary… Continue reading

Watch Video of My Conversation with Jen Rubin: “A Potential Rights Sunset on the Horizon: Rick Hasen on Louisiana’s Redistricting Supreme Court Case”

October 21, 2025, 8:09 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Here, at the Contrarian.

“State Voting Laws Roundup: October 2025”

October 21, 2025, 7:44 amUncategorizedRestrictive Voting LawsSpencer Overton

Brennan Center: State governments in 2025 are nearly on pace to match the number of restrictive voting laws enacted in 2021, when states enacted more restrictive legislation than at any other point so far in the 14 years the… Continue reading

“How Trump Is Using Fake Imagery to Attack Enemies and Rouse Supporters”

October 21, 2025, 7:39 amUncategorizedAI, generative aiSpencer Overton

NYT: The era of A.I. propaganda is here — and President Trump is an enthusiastic participant…. Mr. Trump has posted A.I.-generated images or videos at least 62 times on his Truth Social account since late 2022, according to a… Continue reading

“Voting rights groups condemn GOP redistricting plan that would dismantle NC’s Black Belt district”

October 21, 2025, 7:38 amUncategorizedRedistricting; North Carolina, Voting Rights Act; Section 2Spencer Overton

NC NEWSLINE: ….The 1st District, anchored in northeastern North Carolina, has elected Black representatives for more than three decades. It is currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, who won… Continue reading

“G.O.P. Senators Oppose Trump Watchdog Nominee After Report of Racist Texts”

October 21, 2025, 7:37 amUncategorizedCivil Service Reform Act, Hatch Act, Office of Special Counsel, Whistleblower Protection ActSpencer Overton

NYT: The nomination of Paul Ingrassia, President Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Special Counsel, appeared to be in jeopardy on Monday night after Politico reported that he had sent a series of racist text messages. At least… Continue reading