Former NJ Senator Menendez Starts 11 year Sentence for Corruption
The N.Y. Times has a long profile of Robert Menendez, the former Senator from New Jersey, who is scheduled to start his federal prison sentence for corruption today.
“Scoop: Colorado pauses campaign finance database after Minnesota shootings”
Axios (Denver)
“The Colorado Secretary of State temporarily removed its public campaign finance database from the internet Saturday amid concerns it could reveal home addresses and other personal information about state lawmakers and other officials.
“The big picture: The Minnesota… Continue reading
Election Law Academics Update
Here’s my yearly roundup of election law academic hires, promotions moves, visits, accolades:
James Alcorn started as the Senior Director of the Election Law Program at William and Mary law school.
Travis Crum was granted tenure and promoted to professor… Continue reading
ELB Book Corner: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy: “The Musical Influences on Elections”
I am pleased to welcome Ciara Torres-Spelliscy to the ELB Book Corner, writing about her new book Corporatocracy. This is the second of four posts:
My new book Corporatocracy gave me a chance to look at events in recent… Continue reading
Defamation Verdict Against Mike Lindell
AP News: Federal jury in Colorado finds MyPillow founder, Mike Lindell, liable for “statements made about Eric Coomer, the former security and product strategy director at Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems, including calling him a traitor.” Jury awards Commer… Continue reading
“Mike Lee Draws Outrage for Posts Blaming Assassination on the Far Left”
NYT:
Scarcely 24 hours after a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota was assassinated in her home, Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, posted a pair of politically charged messages mocking the attack.
“This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their… Continue reading
“Eastman disbarment recommended by State Bar Court’s Review Department; California Supreme Court is next”
At the Lectern:
On Friday, the California State Bar Court’s three-judge Review Department came to the same conclusion as a hearing judge over a year ago and recommended the disbarment of President Trump’s former lawyer, John Eastman. (98-page decision and… Continue reading
“Two Top Union Leaders Quit D.N.C. Posts in Dispute With Chairman”
N.Y. Times
Conflict with DNC Chair Ken Martin leads Randi Weingarten, leader of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, to resign their positions in the Democratic… Continue reading
“Redistricting trial begins in North Carolina over allegations that GOP-enacted maps erode Black voting power”
PBS News
Plaintiffs allege “GOP legislative leaders violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution when they enacted new electoral maps.” Republicans claim the maps are a legal partisan gerrymander.
“Favorable rulings for the plaintiffs could force Republicans to redraw maps… Continue reading
“Like School Shootings, Political Violence Is Becoming Almost Routine”
NYT:
In the past three months alone, a man set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence while Mr. Shapiro and his family were asleep inside; another man gunned down a pair of workers from the Israeli Embassy outside an event… Continue reading
“Trump’s Strategy in Law Firm Cases: Lose, Don’t Appeal, Yet Prevail”
Adam Liptak for the NYT:
The Trump administration is ordinarily quick to appeal its losses. When courts in recent weeks blocked President Trump’s tariff plans and his takeover of National Guard troops in California, government lawyers filed appeals within … Continue reading
ELB Book Corner: Ciara Torres-Spelliscy: “Not Corruption’s First Rodeo”
I am pleased to welcome Ciara Torres-Spelliscy to the ELB Book Corner, writing about her new book Corporatocracy. This is the first of four posts:
Press coverage of the political events in 2025 often lament that the corruption unfolding… Continue reading
“Senate Republicans Eye Limits on Judicial Power in Tax Bill”
Democracy is more than elections. Checks and balances are at further risk. From Bloomberg:
“The provision would bar federal judges from issuing a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order against the federal government, unless the challengers had put up… Continue reading
“2024 Broke the Democrats. Can They Put Themselves Back Together?
Fascinating episode from Reveal that speaks to a range of issues of interest to readers of this Blog, from the NYC mayoral race to the appeal of Donald Trump among Latino voters to the future of VRA and the political… Continue reading