The latest threat to elections is the federal government itself.
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Lincoln Agnew
The Trump Administration’s Attacks on Elections
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A new threat to free and fair elections has emerged: the federal government. This year, the Trump administration has launched a campaign to undermine the democratic process, taking actions that are unprecedented and, in some cases, illegal. These include placing new burdens on voters, targeting election officials, and scaling back election security efforts. A new Brennan Center report maps out the strategy and warns that safeguarding the vote will require vigilance and preparation
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Celebrating a Voting Rights Anniversary
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The Voting Rights Act was signed into law 60 years ago, against all odds. At the start of 1965, federal voting rights legislation wasn’t even on the agenda. But eight months later, relentless activism, national outrage, and bipartisan support turned this transformative law into a reality. We highlight six pivotal moments on the road to the Voting Rights Act
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Birthright Citizenship, Explained
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Legal challenges to President Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship are ongoing. A Brennan Center explainer breaks down what to know as the court cases unfold, including why the Constitution has a Citizenship Clause, what it says, and what ending birthright citizenship could mean for all Americans
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Who’s Behind the Big Money Surge
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MAGA Inc., the main super PAC backing President Trump, raised nearly $200 million between the election and June — an unprecedented sum at this point in a president’s second term. Nearly all of it came from ultra-wealthy donors who each gave more than $1 million, many of whom stand to benefit from Trump administration policies. The megadonor fundraising push underscores how wrong the Supreme Court was when it predicted in Citizens United that so-called independent super PACs wouldn’t lead to real or perceived political corruption
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Big money isn’t just filling Trump’s coffers. Millions have poured into this year’s gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia, putting both on track to be the most expensive elections in each state’s history. A new analysis tracks spending on both sides, including contributions from out-of-state donors
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Lives Disrupted by Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze
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In January, the White House Office of Management and Budget ordered federal agencies to pause nearly all federal financial assistance, putting trillions of dollars in limbo. The move was a clear overreach, as only Congress has the power to decide how federal dollars are spent. The office walked back the directive after being hit with legal challenges (the Brennan Center and co-counsel filed a friend-of-the-court brief in one of those cases). But the funding freeze and resulting uncertainty had already had real consequences for thousands of Americans who rely on these programs
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The Politics Behind the New AI Policy
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A recent executive order targeting what it calls “woke AI in the federal government” sets new limits on the types of artificial intelligence systems that federal agencies can purchase. Although the policy presents itself as promoting truth and impartiality, in reality, it would pressure technology companies to align with the administration’s ideology and make AI less reliable and trustworthy
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PODCAST: The Constitutional Obligation to Justice
Our latest podcast episode discusses what the cases in Rachel Barkow’s book Justice Abandoned
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teach us about today’s Supreme Court, including the long-term ramifications of sacrificing constitutional protections for liberty in the name of public safety. The Brennan Center’s Hernandez Stroud talks to Barkow and former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara about how mass incarceration is at odds with the Constitution’s text and original meaning. Listen on Spotify
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, Apple Podcasts
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, or your favorite podcast platform
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, or watch on YouTube
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BRENNAN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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As challenges to the Voting Rights Act mount, one action we can all take to protect it is to exercise our right to vote. Learn more on Instagram >>
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Virtual Event
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The Past, Present, and Future of the Voting Rights Act
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Tuesday, August 19, 3–4 p.m. ET
The Supreme Court has weakened the Voting Rights Act’s protections, most notably in the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder. And just this summer, a federal appeals court ruled against the ability of voters in seven states to use the law to challenge racially discriminatory voting practices — although the Supreme Court has put that decision on hold for now.
Join us for a virtual discussion with experts, advocates, and legislators, moderated by Natalie Tennant, Kanawha County commissioner and former West Virginia secretary of state. They will explore the history of the Voting Rights Act, how it affects voters today, and what it will take to ensure fair representation for all. RSVP today
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Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
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