“Rep. Kay Granger confirms she has ‘unforeseen health challenges’ but denies report she is in Memory Care”

December 22, 2024, 2:47 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

CBS News: The congressional office of Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas denied she is in a memory care facility after a report in the Dallas Express said she has not been in Washington in months and that she had… Continue reading

Pennsylvania: “Delaware County prosecutors allege paid canvasser tried to register dead people to vote in the 2024 election”

December 22, 2024, 10:55 amchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

Philadelphia Inquirer: Delaware County prosecutors announced charges Thursday against a Collingdale woman who they say repeatedly tried to submit voter registration forms for dead people and against an elderly man who cast ballots in both Florida and Pennsylvania last month.… Continue reading

“Trump signals plans to use all levers of power against the media”

December 22, 2024, 10:51 amauthoritarian threats in US, First Amendment theoryRick Hasen

WaPo: For many years, Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to sue the press but often didn’t follow through. When he did, he almost always lost. But Trump’s recent settlement with ABC News and a cascade of lawsuits and other complaints… Continue reading

“Justice Thomas Did Not Disclose Additional Trips, Democrats Say”

December 21, 2024, 9:34 amconflict of interest laws, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

NYT: Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose two additional trips from a billionaire patron than have previously come to light, Senate Democrats revealed on Saturday after conducting a 20-month investigation into ethics practices at the Supreme Court. The findings were… Continue reading

Ninth Circuit, on 2-1 Vote, Holds Unconstitutional Campaign Contribution Limits in Oxnard, California Elections

December 20, 2024, 4:13 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

The majority and dissent agreed to apply the Supreme Court’s Randall framework, but disagree on application. Perhaps the Ninth Circuit will take up this case en banc, as it seems in tension with other circuit precedent.

“Trump Moves to Replace Officials Whom New Presidents Traditionally Leave Alone”

December 20, 2024, 2:55 pmauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Charlie Savage for the NYT: President-elect Donald J. Trump has moved to install loyalists in jobs that Congress did not intend for new presidents to replace at the start of their terms, eroding a traditional constraint on executive power even… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

December 20, 2024, 12:00 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

“One or more of the organizations of the Plaintiffs’ counsels are politically based organizations, such as the organization United to Protect Democracy, whose website states: ‘Protect Democracy is a… group dedicated to defeating the authoritarian threat… and protecting liberal democracy.… Continue reading

“Judges increasingly alarmed as Trump’s Jan. 6 clemency decision nears”

December 20, 2024, 10:09 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Politico: U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan says she has often reassured police officers traumatized by the violence of Jan. 6, 2021, that “the rule of law still applies.” But as President-elect Donald Trump — once a defendant in Chutkan’s very … Continue reading

“‘Co-president’ Elon Musk? Trump ally tests influence in spending fight”

December 20, 2024, 7:35 amPlutocrats UnitedRick Hasen

WaPo: Elon Musk has never been elected to office. President-elect Donald Trump has not tapped him to serve in any role inside the government. Until the July assassination attempt, he never even publicly supported Trump. But this week, critics… Continue reading

“Patel floated criminally probing police, lawmakers involved in Jan. 6 committee”

December 20, 2024, 7:26 amauthoritarian threats in US, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has suggested that multiple individuals previously critical of the president-elect should be criminally investigated, according to a review by The Washington Post of dozens of hours of appearances on conservative… Continue reading

“Can Democracy Survive the Disruptive Power of AI?”

December 20, 2024, 7:24 amcheap speechRick Hasen

Raluca Csernatoni for the Carnegie Endowment.

ELB Book Corner: Nick Stephanopoulos: “Aligning Election Law – Aligning (and Misaligning) Institutions”

December 20, 2024, 7:00 amELB Book CornerRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome Nick Stephanopoulos to the ELB Book Corner, writing about his new book, Aligning Election Law. This is the fifth of five posts: I finished yesterday’s post about my new book, “Aligning Election Law,” by… Continue reading

“Democrats continue to dominate spending in competitive general elections”

December 20, 2024, 6:15 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

From the Cook Political Report (paywalled): In the 20 most expensive House races, Democrats outspent Republicans in all but two races, per AdImpact. That’s largely due to Democratic candidates’ fundraising advantage over Republicans. Across the 20 most expensive races, the… Continue reading

“Online Ad Spending in the 2024 Election Topped $1.35 Billion”

December 19, 2024, 5:29 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

New from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, OpenSecrets, and the Wesleyan Media Project. Key findings: Between January 1, 2023, and November 5, 2024, online political advertisers spent $1.35 billion to buy ads on Google and Meta. More… Continue reading