In a new PFAW report out this month, senior counsel Paul Gordon outlines an old Senate tradition known as the “blue slip” process – and how it’s wreaking havoc with our justice system today. The practice allows home-state senators input on district court nominees, but under current practices nominees don’t even get a committee hearing unless both of their senators approve of them. Senate Republicans have been exploiting the tradition in order to block President Biden filling these vacancies, which has resulted in dozens of seats being needlessly left open – resulting in a two-tiered system of justice across the country. The report makes a strong case for reform, outlining the historical use of blue slips and the current abuses perpetrated by Senate Republicans.

If you haven’t yet, please sign our petition to the Senate calling on them to reform the “blue slip” tradition so that President Biden’s nominees can receive fair consideration! >>

Ah wokeness, the latest outrage from the Far Right. Joining the ranks of “political correctness,” wokeness has become the go-to hot-button buzzword the Far Right throws around whenever something ruffles its feathers.

Why We Must Combat Florida’s War on Education

As revelations pile up about the botched rollout of the AP African American Studies course, there’s plenty of blame to go around.  The lion’s share likely belongs to Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose efforts to suppress the teaching of Black history are the latest in a series of despicable acts. DeSantis is building a political career on the backs of vulnerable people: returning citizens trying to vote, immigrants, and now schoolkids. It’s wrong, and it’s up to us to push back – against DeSantis and all the right-wing politicians waging a war on education.

We’re at a critical time for our democracy. Across the country, the Far Right is doing the most to try and upend our democracy. From attacks on free and fair elections to attempts to gut access to the ballot box, it’s been impossible to escape the headlines, tweets, and video footage of these continued assaults on our democracy. We know we can’t let this stand. We know that protecting our democracy is central to our work to advance the principles of Truth, Justice and the American Way.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), trans bashing was a main theme. Panels were dedicated to it, speakers harped on so-called “transgender ideology,” and politicians threw out one-liners about trans people when they were short on applause. CPAC is a place where rhetoric and strategy are typically tested and where GOP politicians get a sense of what lands with their base. As they denied trans people’s existence, CPAC’s speakers paired their attacks with efforts to galvanize the conservative base ahead of 2024 and to take over public schools.