The Underpants Gnomes Are Coming For Our Elections
Over at TPM, I wonder whether a brilliant bit of South Park satire may shed some helpful light on the magical wishcasting of unilateral federal executive control over electoral process.
The precondition of civic fellowship for democracy
It is often observed among scholars of democracy that an essential ingredient for the success of democracy is for political opponents to view each other, not as implacable enemies to be crushed, but instead as fellow citizens who have good-faith… Continue reading
“Fight over Pennsylvania’s mail-ballot date requirement approaches the endgame”
Votebeat reports, focusing on the pending case in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, but also noting the recent Third Circuit decision: “The Republican National Committee is asking the full bench of 3rd Circuit judges to rehear the case. … And… Continue reading
“The megadonor physicist standing against California’s blue tide.”
POLITICO reports that “Charles Munger Jr. has spent more than $30 million to defeat a redistricting campaign. … He dedicated about $14 million to sell Californians on ballot measures to create an independent redistricting commission, which he argued would permanently… Continue reading
“When the Gerrymander Comes for MAGA”
Michelle Cottle’s N.Y. Times Opinion essay on the Republican representatives from California who may end up as “collateral damage” from the “redistricting war” that Trump has unleashed.
“Republican Redistricting Is Sowing Chaos in Houston”
N.Y. Times reports.
“The chaos is partly from an act of fate — the death of Mr. Turner on March 5 — but mostly from acts of humans. A special election to serve out the remainder of Mr. Turner’s term… Continue reading
The Democracy Project and the Role of Congress
Last week at NYU’s Democracy Project‘s series of 100 essays in 100 days, we featured two essays, among others, on the role of Congress in this moment.
One, from congressional expert Molly Reynolds, is titled When It Comes to … Continue reading
What Legal Authority Does the Administration Rely on to Impose $100,000 Fees for New H1B Visas?
At the Volokh Conspiracy, Ilya Somin has a piece that provides a policy critique of this decision from his Cato colleague David Bier and then a discussion of the legal issues. Here’s some of the legal discussion:
As David Bier… Continue reading
“Remedies in the Officer Removal Cases”
Over at Divided Argument, Sam Bray has posted this abstract of an essay he has just released. I have wondered about some of these questions, and Sam has been influential with the Court, as in the universal injunction case:
When… Continue reading
“Why Democrats can’t match Trump’s gerrymander push”
POLITICO reports. “Democrats trying to counter President Donald Trump’s red-state gerrymander are facing a roadblock. Fifteen roadblocks, actually.
“That’s how many Democratic-led states have a political trifecta — the same setup that helped Texas Republicans push through new maps last … Continue reading
“In Assault on Free Speech, Trump Targets Speech He Hates”
Peter Baker in The NY Times details all the ways Trump’s attacks on dissent differs from his predecessors. A few paragraphs in this piece, all of which is well worth reading, struck me in particular:
“’Donald Trump is hardly the… Continue reading
“Tom Homan was investigated for accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents. Trump’s DOJ shut it down.”
Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian for MSNBC News:
In an undercover operation last year, the FBI recorded Tom Homan, now the White House border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents — who were posing as… Continue reading
Votebeat forum on public trust in elections
With Charles Stewart, Seth Bluestein, and Karen Brinson Bell. You can watch it here.
“Trump Demands That Bondi Move ‘Now’ to Prosecute Foes”
N.Y. Times reports on Trump’s escalation of demands that federal prosecutors go after his enemies. This comes on the heels of Trump’s repeated assertions that broadcasters should lose their licenses for criticizing him.