“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

“Florida ballot initiative law mostly upheld by federal judge, but key part suspended”

June 5, 2025, 3:17 amballot access, court decisions, voter initiativesDerek Muller

Tallahassee Democrat: A federal judge in Tallahassee mostly denied requests to temporarily block parts of a new Florida law revising rules for citizen-led ballot initiatives from plaintiffs who say it violates the First Amendment right to free political speech.… Continue reading

“Bipartisan deals on voting and election changes are rare. It just happened in one swing state”

June 5, 2025, 3:17 amabsentee ballots, election administration, voter idDerek Muller

Associated Press: Facing a legislature dominated by Democrats, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo stood before Nevada lawmakers earlier this year with a message that some did not expect to go far: “Set aside partisan politics.” It was a plea that… Continue reading

“The Age Issue: More of Congress Is 70-Plus Than Ever Before”

June 5, 2025, 3:17 amlegislation and legislaturesDerek Muller

Elena Shao in the New York Times: When the current Congress was convened in January, there were nearly 120 members who were 70 or older — 86 in the House, including nonvoting delegates, and 33 in the Senate. This… Continue reading

“Justice Department Announces Action Against Wisconsin Elections Commission for Lacking Complaint Procedure Required by Federal Law”

June 4, 2025, 4:42 pmelection administration, voter registrationDerek Muller

DOJ press release: Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division sent a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission regarding its failure to provide a complaint process or hearing for Wisconsin voters, in violation of the Help America Vote… Continue reading

“Texas to expand voting on weekends for next presidential election”

June 4, 2025, 2:17 pmelection administrationDerek Muller

Houston Chronicle: Texas will no longer have a three-day gap between the end of early voting and Election Day under a bill passed by the Texas Legislature that is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott. Currently, Texas ends in-person early… Continue reading

Federal judge hints that parts of new ballot design law in New Jersey are unconstitutional

June 4, 2025, 2:17 pmballot accessDerek Muller

Never ending saga on the party line in New Jersey: In a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of county lines on primary election ballots, U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi suggested today that New Jersey’s new ballot design law may… Continue reading

“Inside Trump’s gutting of the Justice Department unit that enforces voting laws”

June 4, 2025, 2:16 pmDepartment of JusticeDerek Muller

CNN: The Justice Department’s unit tasked with enforcing federal voting laws is down from roughly 30 attorneys to about a half-dozen, as most of its career staff has departed in the face of escalating pressure tactics from the Trump… Continue reading

“With Missouri abortion access in limbo, both sides eye battles in court, on the ballot”

June 4, 2025, 8:29 amballot access, voter initiativesDerek Muller

Missouri Independent: Both sides of the abortion debate seemed caught by surprise last week by the Missouri Supreme Court’s order that essentially reimposed the state’s abortion ban. Planned Parenthood clinics were sent scrambling, cancelling abortion appointments and working with… Continue reading

Elon Musk, GOP, and the challenges of Super PACs

June 4, 2025, 8:29 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

And a reason why political parties are trying to get more control of campaigns. From Politico: The top two congressional Republicans rebutted Elon Musk’s criticism of their “big, beautiful bill” Wednesday as the tech mogul and former Trump… Continue reading

“Trump’s Pardon Attorney Mulls Clemency for Fake Electors—Dead or Alive”

June 4, 2025, 8:28 amDepartment of Justice, electoral collegeDerek Muller

Mother Jones

“Judge tosses Democratic Party challenge to Trump order’s impact on FEC”

June 4, 2025, 3:59 amcampaign finance, campaigns, federal election commissionDerek Muller

Politico: A federal judge has dismissed a Democratic Party lawsuit claiming an executive order issued by President Donald Trump was intruding on the independence of the Federal Election Commission. In a ruling Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali… Continue reading

“Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office responds to social media post claiming county residents can vote in Municipal Election”

June 4, 2025, 3:52 amelection administrationDerek Muller

Not great: After a social media post circulated on election day claiming county residents can vote in Municipal Elections, the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office made a Facebook post reminding voters this isn’t true. Allegedly, the initial social media… Continue reading

“Some of Trump’s Biggest Inaugural Donors Benefit From Early Government Actions”

June 4, 2025, 3:47 amcampaign financeDerek Muller

Wall Street Journal: The biggest contributor to President Trump’s inauguration was chicken processor Pilgrim’s Pride, which gave $5 million. In April, its Brazilian parent company, JBS, received government approval for a U.S. stock listing that it had long sought. … Continue reading

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