“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

Top Recent Downloads in Election Law on SSRN

May 21, 2025, 7:17 ampedagogyRick Hasen

Here: Top Downloads For: Election Law & Voting Rights eJournal Recent Top Papers (60 days) As of: 22 Mar 2025 – 21 May 2025 RankPaperDownloads1.The State Capacity Crisis Nicholas Bagley and David SchleicherUniversity of Michigan Law School and Yale… Continue reading

ELB Summer Blogging Schedule

May 21, 2025, 7:14 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

It’s that time of year, when there will be rotation of ELB bloggers through the summer, starting with Justin the week of May 26 and Derek the week of June 2. When someone is primary blogger, please send your tips… Continue reading

“Supreme Court Orders Maine House to Restore Voting Power to Censured Lawmaker, for Now”

May 20, 2025, 4:38 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Maine legislators to temporarily restore the voting power of a state lawmaker after she had been censured for a social media post that criticized transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports. The order… Continue reading

“The Arizona Fellows Model: Developing the Next Generation of the Election Administration Workforce”

May 20, 2025, 10:13 amelection administrationRick Hasen

New from BPC: The Arizona Fellows in Election Administration was developed and implemented in 2024 by the office of the Secretary of State of Arizona. The program, a recipient of a 2024 Election Assistance Commission Clearinghouse Award, sought to address both current… Continue reading