August 12, 2025

Ed. note: The Daily Media Update will return Monday, August 18.

New from the Institute for Free Speech

Institute for Free Speech Urges Federal Court to Approve Consent Judgment Giving Churches More Political Speech Freedom

.....A much-needed clarification to the vague Johnson Amendment will be a victory for speech rights, and concerns about unregulated “dark money” problems are unfounded and ignore existing federal campaign finance rules.

That’s the core message in a just-filed amicus brief authored by the Institute for Free Speech and former FEC Chairman (and Institute founder) Bradley A. Smith in National Religious Broadcasters v. IRS. The brief urges the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to approve a consent judgment that would clarify churches’ rights to engage in political speech.

The case challenges a portion of the Johnson Amendment, which restricts political activity by 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches. Some opponents of the proposed consent judgment claim it would allow churches to become vehicles for unlimited “dark money” political spending without disclosure requirements.

The Institute’s brief thoroughly refutes these concerns, explaining that churches engaging in significant political activity would be subject to extensive existing federal regulations issued under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA).

DOJ

CBS News: Justice Dept. subpoenas New York AG Letitia James over whether she violated Trump's civil rights, source says

By Jacob Rosen

.....The Justice Department expanded its investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, subpoenaing James for her office's handling of the civil fraud investigation into President Trump, according to a Trump administration source familiar with the investigation.

Another subpoena was sent to James' office regarding her office's investigation into the National Rifle Association. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York is leading the investigations, the source said. 

The subpoenas are an indication that the Trump administration is continuing to investigate the president's political adversaries. James investigated Mr. Trump before his 2024 election victory. The New York Times first reported the subpoenas. 

Political Parties

CNN: DNC chair takes steps to restrict corporate and dark money in 2028 primaries

By Arit John

.....Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will ask party members later this month to take the first step towards restricting corporate and so-called dark money spending in the 2028 presidential primaries, siding with progressives in an ongoing intraparty debate over campaign finance rules.

Martin will introduce a resolution at the DNC’s August meeting calling on a new reforms panel to explore ways the party can eliminate corporate and dark money donations from the upcoming presidential primary cycle, according to a draft obtained by CNN…

The draft resolution does not explicitly mention super PACs, and it’s not clear whether it will ultimately restrict super PAC spending in party primaries. The draft concedes the “only way to solve for this problem in the long term is through Congressional action, including a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United,” the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case that helped usher in a new era of big money in American elections.

The States

CT Insider: CT elections panel fines Waterbury man $5,800 over falsified campaign contribution cards

By Paul Hughes

.....State election regulators ordered a Waterbury supporter of Republican Brock L. Weber for secretary of the state in the 2022 election to pay a $5,800 fine for submitting falsified campaign contribution cards.

The State Elections Enforcement Commission also barred Rakip “Ray” Etemi from serving as a campaign solicitor for 10 years in a five-page default judgment issued Wednesday. The vote was unanimous. Etemi had come under investigation following a routine validation review of contributions made to support Weber's campaign. Now a member of the Wolcott Board of Education, Weber later dropped out of contention. No finding was made to investigate Weber for any alleged election violations…

The SEEC probe arose from concerns regarding the authenticity and validity of certain contributions and contributor certification cards submitted by the campaign committee as Weber was applying for public financing for his primary campaign.

The SEEC opened the investigation in July 2022 after finding reason to believe Etemi signed and completed contribution certification cards and made contributions in the name of others. 

Ultimately, the evidence did not establish whether Etemi personally completed the falsified certification cards or provided the funds used for those contributions, only that those contributions were made and that the documentation was falsified.

KJZZ Phoenix: Arizona state Sen. Analise Ortiz is under fire for ICE posts. She says it's free speech

By Lauren Gilger

.....Arizona state Sen. Analise Ortiz is no stranger to political controversy. But, now she is facing death threats, calls for her ouster and more.

It all comes after she posted information on her social media platforms about ICE activity in her community near a school. She says it’s free speech. Her right-wing opponents say it’s putting federal agents in danger.

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen asked the U.S. Attorney for Arizona for an investigation. Sen. Jake Hoffman, who heads up the Freedom Caucus, called for her to be removed from office. Fox News is reporting that she could be hit with obstruction of justice charges.

She sat down with me in our studios late last week to talk about it all and what she thinks it says about the state of our politics.

Oklahoma Voice: Oklahoma Ethics Commission opinion says officeholders can use campaign funds for some security costs

By Emma Murphy

.....Campaign funds can be used for officeholder security expenses in certain cases, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission recommended in a draft advisory opinion. 

Any “reasonable” expenses must be the direct result of holding the elected state office and would not be incurred if the individual did not hold the office, the draft opinion read. The opinion only covers the officeholder, not family, staff or others connected with the individual. 

The Ethics Commission is expected to hear public comment on the draft opinion at its meeting Thursday ahead of any vote to finalize the opinion. 

Louisiana Illuminator: Louisiana ethics board offers top staff member permanent job following political dispute

By Julie O'Donoghue

.....The Louisiana Board of Ethics voted unanimously Friday to make a job offer to its acting ethics administrator eight months after legislators took unprecedented steps to initially block his hiring. 

The ethics board made David Bordelon its top staff member on a temporary basis in December in order to appease state lawmakers. Legislators filed an unsuccessful lawsuit last fall to try to stop the board from picking a new administrator at that time, and Bordelon’s interim status was considered a compromise.