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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.