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Thursday, January 30

New York court revives state’s Voting Rights Act
* An appeals court restored ([link removed]) the New York Voting Rights Act (NYVRA) today, which expands voter protections, overturning a lower court's decision to strike it down. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said the decision "only reaffirms the protections intended in the NYVRA."

Hundreds of civil rights groups oppose Pam Bondi’s AG nomination
* Over 300 civil rights groups sent ([link removed]) a letter this week to U.S. senators urging them to vote against Pam Bondi’s confirmation to attorney general, citing her extensive anti-voting record ([link removed]) and opposition to civil rights.
* Bondi is not yet in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), but 10 days into President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration is already remaking the nation's top law enforcement agency from top to bottom. In a new YouTube video, Marc breaks down ([link removed]) the detrimental actions taken so far and the ones to come.

Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI director pick, refuses to say who won 2020 election
* Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, refused ([link removed]) to say who won the 2020 election during his Senate confirmation hearing today. Bondi also refused to say Trump lost in 2020 during one of her hearings.

House Republicans introduce bill to repeal crucial voting rights law
* Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Scott Perry (R-Pa.) introduced ([link removed]) a bill in the House of Representatives to repeal the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), a crucial law expanding access to voting.
* The NVRA, often known as the Motor Voter Act ([link removed]) , requires a driver’s license application to simultaneously serve as a voter registration application. It also requires programs offering public assistance to provide voter registration services, mandates that states use a federal mail-in voting registration form and more.

National Sheriffs Association reveals fealty to Trump, not the law
* The National Sheriffs Association and its members want to curry favor with the Trump administration and are poised to assist in the most illegal and inhumane promises, including “mass deportation" and silencing dissent,[link removed] Docket contributorhttps://x.com/JessPishJessica Pishko argues ([link removed]) in a new piece.

Hearings coming up tomorrow
* A Virginia court will hold ([link removed]) a hearing in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R) voter purge program. Pro-voting groups assert the program wrongfully removed eligible voters shortly before the elections. The Justice Department — now under Trump — dropped ([link removed]) its lawsuit challenging the program.
* A Utah court will hear ([link removed]) a challenge to the state's congressional map. Voters argue that the map is a partisan gerrymander that favors Republicans, violating the state constitution.

THE OPPOSITION

Holding Trump Accountable

The latest on Democratic officials’ lawsuit challenging Trump’s funding freeze

* Democratic officials in 22 states and Washington, D.C. sued ([link removed]) the Trump administration Tuesday challenging the federal funding freeze, asking the judge for a temporary restraining order, which would pause the freeze while litigation is ongoing.
* Yesterday, the administration rescinded the memo ([link removed]) that announced the freeze of federal programs and grants. Shortly after, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted ([link removed]) a contradictory statement on X, explaining that the funding freeze had not been rescinded, only the memo itself had been.

* A federal judge in Rhode Island asked ([link removed]) the Democratic officials to submit a proposed order for the specific relief they sought in the wake of the rescinded memo. He gave the DOJ 24 hours to respond to the proposed order, which was submitted at 6:15 p.m. last night. As of 5 p.m. today, the Justice Department hasn’t responded.

Eighth lawsuit filed against Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order
* Santa Clara County, California officials sued ([link removed]) the Trump administration today challenging his executive order purporting to end ([link removed]) birthright citizenship. This marks the eighth lawsuit filed against this order.

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