Joe Biden’s lopsided victory in South Carolina’s primary was powered by the overwhelming support he received from Black voters. But voters in conservative, religious South Carolina don’t necessarily speak for Black communities elsewhere.

“Black voters outside the South … will remind an absentminded nation that Black voters in no one state speak for the group as a whole. And while pundits have been able to get away with simplistic analysis in years past, this year looks to finally spotlight Black America’s political diversity,” writes Brennan Center Fellow Ted Johnson. // The Guardian

Because of the 2020 census, this year is a pivotal one for passing new laws that could curb gerrymandering and ensure that maps are drawn in a fair and transparent way. As of last week, lawmakers are considering at least 213 redistricting-related bills and resolutions in 33 states. This roundup catalogs new legislation, both good and bad, related to the next round of redistricting in 2021. // Read More

People with a criminal record face a number of challenges getting a job, but thankfully, industry leaders and politicians have started to expand hiring opportunities for people with a criminal record. And now, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is seeking advice on how to help people with certain types of convictions find jobs in the banking industry.

Last week, the Brennan Center submitted a comment letter encouraging the FDIC to revise its rules in order to recognize the harsh realities of the criminal justice system. The Brennan Center’s recommendations include broadening exceptions for minor crimes of dishonesty and no longer requiring people to pay off the entirety of their court fees before seeking permission to take a job in the banking industry. // Read More

In too many criminal courts across the United States, judges impose fees and fines on defendants without considering their ability to pay. The result: people struggling financially are saddled with debt that makes it nearly impossible for them to support themselves and their families. “State and local governments can stop placing unjust burdens on poor people and their families,” writes Lauren-Brooke Eisen, the director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. “They can start to do so by enacting legislation to eliminate the fees that the court imposes on criminal defendants.” // Read More

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was a key reform enacted after Watergate. It aimed to rein in abusive intelligence operations by subjecting surveillance of terrorists, spies, and foreign agents to a special court. But the FISA court too often blithely approves wiretaps and other requests.

Now, after years of Donald Trump’s attacks on the “deep state,” there is a surprising bipartisan moment for possible reform. Senators introduced a strong, bipartisan bill for FISA reform. But the Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee unveiled its own bill, one that misses key safeguards against surveillance abuse. “The House Judiciary Committee should not allow this moment to pass with a business-as-usual compromise between the reform seekers and the defenders of the status quo,” writes the Brennan Center’s Elizabeth Goitein. // Just Security

• L.B. Eisen on the rising number of incarcerated women in Kansas’s only women’s prison // Kansas Public Radio
• Michael German on the need for new domestic terrorism laws // New York Times
• Laura Hecht-Felella on the dangers of police body cameras without adequate safeguards // City & State
• Rachel Levinson-Waldman on the NYPD’s work with foreign governments under Mayor Michael Bloomberg // HuffPost
• Lawrence Norden on how voting technology impacts the 2020 election // Wired
• Myrna Pérez on misinformation sent to voters by the DC election board // Washington Post