“The Slippery Slope of Political Iconography”

April 22, 2025, 7:10 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

NYT: Earlier this month Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, decided to swap out his usual American flag lapel pin. Instead of the stars and stripes, he pinned a gold medallion in the shape of President… Continue reading

“Wife of former senator Bob Menendez found guilty in corruption case”

April 22, 2025, 4:41 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Wash. Post: The wife of former U.S. senator Bob Menendez was found guilty on Monday of helping her husband generate a steady flow of bribes and gifts that totaled about $1 million and included gold bars, cash and a… Continue reading

“Voter Fraud Mistake”

April 22, 2025, 4:40 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Benjamin Plener Cover (Idaho) has posted this draft, which is creatively entitled “Voter Fraud Mistake,” on SSRN (forthcoming, William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal). Here is the abstract: False narratives challenging electoral integrity often cite ineligible voting as… Continue reading

Sixth Circuit affirms that injunction would be inappropriate for Michigan state criminal prosecution of 2020 presidential elector

April 22, 2025, 4:35 amcourt decisionsDerek Muller

Straightforward (unpublished) opinion on Younger abstention before the Sixth Circuit, released last week.

Judge Griffin Ignores Justice Scalia’s Bush v. Gore Argument About Irreparable Harm in His Brief in 4th Circuit in Due Process Challenge to Attempt to Overturn Result of North Carolina Supreme Court Election

April 21, 2025, 4:47 pmelection subversion risk, judicial electionsRick Hasen

You can read Judge Griffin’s brief at this link. It briefly cites Bush v. Gore, but completely ignores the main point about irreparable harm that Justice Scalia first flagged in his Bush v. Gore stay concurrence. See here.… Continue reading

“Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze”

April 21, 2025, 3:44 pmUncategorizedTravis Crum

The Complaint is here. The Harvard Crimson reports: Harvard sued the Trump administration in federal court on Monday over its multibillion dollar cuts to the University’s research funding, accusing the White House of undertaking an arbitrary and unconstitutional campaign… Continue reading

“Why you may see Meta and Amazon logos at this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll”

April 21, 2025, 7:58 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

MSNBC: This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll event will feature activities “courtesy” of a number of corporate sponsors, including several tech companies that made financial contributions to President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee. According to a statement from first lady… Continue reading

“Murkowski bucks Trump — and makes the case for ranked-choice voting”

April 21, 2025, 7:42 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Karen Tumulty at the Washington Post: “We are all afraid,” Murkowski said Monday at an event in Anchorage. “It’s quite a statement. But we are in a time and a place where — I don’t know — I certainly have… Continue reading

“Hakeem Jeffries makes it clear he’ll stand by incumbent House Dems”

April 21, 2025, 7:41 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Politico: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday pushed back on David Hogg’s effort to fund primary challengers against select Democrats in deep blue seats, arguing in favor of a more efficient allocation of party resources. “Here’s the thing,”… Continue reading

“Electoral Due Process”

April 21, 2025, 7:37 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Michael Kang (Northwestern) has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Northwestern University Law Review). Here is the abstract: Hyperpartisanship has hit century-long highs in American politics and is emboldening state government attempts to undermine election outcomes by using control over… Continue reading

“Trump Raised $239 Million for Inauguration, More Than Doubling His Own Record”

April 21, 2025, 7:05 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump raised $239 million for his inauguration festivities in January, a norm-shattering amount fueled by corporate America’s desire to curry favor with a famously transactional president. The total, disclosed in a filing with the Federal Election Commission on… Continue reading

“Former Trump Staff Members Liken His Actions to Those of ‘Royal Despot;’ In an open letter, prominent Republicans criticized President Trump for using his power to punish two former administration officials who criticized him.”

April 19, 2025, 7:50 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

NYT: A number of prominent Republicans, including several former members of the first Trump administration, have signed an open letter decrying the president for using his power to punish two former administration officials who criticized him, likening his actions to… Continue reading

“Judge expected to rule next week on challenges to Trump’s executive order on elections”

April 19, 2025, 7:45 amelection administration, Election Assistance CommissionRick Hasen

Carrie Levine for Votebeat: A federal judge said she planned to rule by April 24 on a request to stop parts of President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order on elections from being enforced or implemented….

“Trump ally pushes DoJ unit to shift civil rights focus, new messages show”

April 19, 2025, 7:42 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Sam Levine for The Guardian: The justice department’s civil rights division is shifting its focus away from its longstanding work protecting the rights of marginalized groups and will instead pivot towards Donald Trump’s priorities including hunting for noncitizen voters… Continue reading