There’s been a steady drumbeat of mass firings, partisan vendettas, and bold grabs for executive power. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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Politics Infect the Justice Department

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The recent order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams sparked a shocking wave of resignations at the Justice Department. New memos from the newly appointed attorney general, Pam Bondi, suggest that this order is just the beginning of the plan to turn the DOJ into the president's personal law enforcement agency. If Donald Trump’s personal agendas and grudges continue to influence decisions at the department, it will dismantle long-standing safeguards and erode public trust in the DOJ’s independence

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The Executive Can’t Ignore the Courts

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Federal courts have already stepped in to block or reject the Trump administration’s actions on issues ranging from spending to birthright citizenship. However, some of the president’s top allies have suggested that the administration may ignore rulings it disagrees with. A new Brennan Center explainer details how courts can ensure that their rulings are obeyed — including by government officials

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Looming Risks for Our Elections

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a key player in protecting our elections, has become the latest target in the administration’s onslaught against federal agencies. Last week, the agency was ordered to stop all election security work pending an internal review. This move, along with others outlined in the conservative policy agenda Project 2025, threatens to leave officials with fewer tools to fend off cyber and physical threats to our election systems. Lawmakers, governors, and other leaders will need to step in to fill the growing security gap

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New Bill Could Hurt Voter Registration

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Republicans in Congress are pushing a bill that would require all Americans to submit a birth certificate, passport, or other citizenship documents to register or re-register to vote. With more than 21 million U.S. citizens lacking easy access to such documents, the SAVE Act could disenfranchise countless eligible voters. A Brennan Center analysis of a similar policy in Arizona shows that the burdens would fall hardest on younger, nonwhite, independent voters

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in lower-income areas. Congress should stand up for the voting rights of all Americans and reject this dangerous bill

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Trump Targets Campaign Finance Regulator

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LoremEarlier this month, Trump removed the chair of the Federal Election Commission, the agency tasked with regulating campaign finance in federal elections. This unprecedented ouster — one of many high-profile firings in recent weeks — opens the door to a partisan takeover of a watchdog that both sides of the aisle have long agreed must remain independent. The timing is especially concerning, as private wealth and unchecked power are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a select few

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Teeing Up Abuses of Power

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On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly referred to unlawful immigration as an “invasion.” This wasn’t a purely rhetorical tactic — it set the stage for him to misuse wartime laws, such as the Alien Enemies Act, for peacetime immigration enforcement. Our new analysis explores the implications of Trump’s “migration-as-invasion” theory and how it fits into his campaign to unlock vast presidential powers

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Strengthening Democracy in the Age of AI

While the worst fears about the harmful effects of artificial intelligence on the 2024 elections didn’t come to pass, as the technology becomes more sophisticated and popular, there's a real possibility that it could disrupt future U.S. elections. Many big tech companies have pledged to help address the risks posed by generative AI, but these voluntary commitments don’t go far enough

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. Instead, a Brennan Center report argues that policymakers must take stronger action to protect elections from AI and demand transparency and accountability from the companies that profit off its use

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An Antidote to Big Money in Politics

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New York’s 2024 elections offer a hopeful alternative to our billionaire-fueled national politics. A Brennan Center analysis highlights how the state’s groundbreaking public campaign financing program has empowered small donors and encouraged candidates to focus on gaining support from their constituents rather than wealthy special interests

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PODCAST: Do the Police Care About White Supremacist Violence?

Our latest podcast episode explores law enforcement’s dangerously permissive approach to far-right violence. Brennan Center fellow and former FBI agent Mike German, author of the new book Policing White Supremacy

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, speaks with Kanawha County Commissioner Natalie Tennant about what it will take for law enforcement to appropriately tackle the dangers of domestic extremism. Listen on Spotify

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, Apple Podcasts

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, or your favorite podcast platform, or watch it on YouTube

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BRENNAN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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States can play an important role in checking executive abuses of power. Follow us on Instagram >>

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Virtual Events

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VIRTUAL EVENT: A Presidential Lawbreaking Spree

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Monday, February 24, 3–4 p.m. ET

Donald Trump’s first weeks in office have been marked by disregard for the rule of law. And he appears to have delegated extraordinary power to his unelected patron, Elon Musk. Courts have responded, issuing a slew of orders demanding that the new administration comply with federal law and the Constitution — as it is required to do.



Join us for a conversation with Brennan Center experts who are uniquely positioned to provide vital context and expertise during this period of upheaval. Our lawyers and policy advocates will discuss what’s happening to our democracy and how you can play your part in defending the rule of law. RSVP today

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