D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said he’s suing the federal government over President Donald Trump's "brazenly unlawful" attempt to federalize and control the Metropolitan Police Department.
Friday, August 15
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D.C. AG sues to block Trump’s takeover of Metropolitan Police Department
- D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said he’s suing ([link removed] ) the federal government over President Donald Trump's "brazenly unlawful" attempt to federalize and control the Metropolitan Police Department. The lawsuit comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi tried to replace the MPD chief.
Texas calls another special session, extending redistricting battle
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered ([link removed] ) a second 30-day special session to begin immediately after the first ended without a quorum. He previously vowed to convene the state legislature until House Democrats return to vote on the GOP’s gerrymandered map.
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Federal court blocks Trump’s effort to censor schools, end equity programs
- A federal judge in Maryland, appointed by Trump, shut down ([link removed] ) his plan to censor classrooms and end equity programs in public schools. The court ruled his orders unlawful, unconstitutional and void — blocking them nationwide.
‘This is some serious BS’
- New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver was targeted by the Trump administration for simply doing her job. She sat down with Marc to talk about ([link removed] ) the weaponization of government, the importance of oversight at immigration facilities and her unbelievable first year in Congress.
AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS
5th Circuit upholds ruling striking down Louisiana legislative maps
- The Fifth Circuit upheld ([link removed] ) a ruling that Louisiana’s legislative maps unlawfully diluted Black voting power in violation of the Voting Rights Act. The decision forces the state to create districts that ensure Black voters have an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice, reaffirming the act’s protections.
- However, the redraw of the Louisiana legislative maps was paused by the district court pending the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Callais v. Landry ([link removed] ) .
Illinois declines to aid Texas in arresting Democrats resisting redistricting
- An Illinois judge vacated ([link removed] ) Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to enforce Texas arrest warrants against Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block the GOP’s redistricting plan. The ruling shields the legislators from being forced back to Texas, allowing their stand against partisan gerrymandering to continue.
Oregon refuses DOJ demand for private voter data
- Secretary of State Tobias Read (D) rebuffed ([link removed] ) a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to share sensitive information of Oregon voters, citing a lack of legal authority for the demand. Read’s refusal blocks the Trump administration’s latest overreach and protects private voter data from federal misuse.
Wisconsin vetoes GOP-backed poll tax voting restriction
- Gov. Tony Evers (D) vetoed ([link removed] ) a bill that would have forced Wisconsin voters with felony convictions to pay all outstanding legal fees before regaining their right to vote — a measure voting rights advocates called a modern-day poll tax. The veto preserves Wisconsin’s current system, which restores voting rights once a sentence is complete.
New Hampshire allows voters to challenge state’s anti-voting law
- A federal judge rejected ([link removed] ) a bid by New Hampshire’s secretary of state to throw out a lawsuit against the state’s new proof-of-citizenship law. The ruling keeps the challenge to the anti-voting law alive, giving pro-voting plaintiffs a chance to show the law violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments by unjustifiably burdening voters.
Virginia challenge to discriminatory voter purge program advances
- A federal judge denied ([link removed] ) a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Virginia’s program for flagging supposed noncitizens is illegally purging eligible voters, especially naturalized citizens. The ruling paves the way for discovery and a full hearing on whether the state’s flawed system violates federal voting protections.
Georgia dismisses GOP lawsuit keeping voters on the rolls
- A lawsuit by the DeKalb County GOP seeking the removal of hundreds of voters just months before an election was dismissed ([link removed] ) . The county’s elections board refused to hear challenges to its voter rolls citing federal protections. The dismissal ensures the targeted voters remain on the rolls, safeguarding against last-minute disenfranchisement.
Minnesota blocks RNC’s attempt to defend absentee ballot witness rule
- The Minnesota Supreme Court turned down ([link removed] ) the RNC’s attempt to join a lawsuit defending the state’s requirement that absentee voters obtain a witness signature. The decision keeps the case focused on the plaintiffs’ challenge to the law under the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act, limiting GOP interference as the court considers removing this anti-voting rule.
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