In federal court, some information about Texas’ secretive redistricting process started to come into focus as Republican leadership took the stand in the ongoing hearing.
Mail ballots were found in an Amazon box in Maine. Some suspect a political dirty trick.
Last month, a Mainer received her Amazon order — along with 250 missing absentee ballots for an upcoming GOP-backed referendum that would restrict ballot access in the state. Now, some are questioning whether the referendum's backers staged the stunt to elicit fears around election security.
Trump’s terminally online DOJ could be killing its cases just to own the libs
Between her personal and Department of Justice accounts, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon tweets over 100 times a day — a behavior that can safely be categorized as chronically online. But could her social media presence be killing her cases?
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New details emerge in federal court about Texas’ secretive redistricting map
In federal court Thursday, some information about Texas’ secretive redistricting process started to come into focus as Republican leadership took the stand.
Supreme Court’s shocking new agenda revealed
The Supreme Court’s 2025 term will decide critical voting rights cases that could reshape American democracy, the Voting Rights Act, and election law nationwide. With Trump and his allies attacking mail-in ballots and pushing voter suppression tactics, we at Democracy Docket are fighting to protect free and fair elections and defend election integrity. Marc elaborates on the upcoming term.
AND NOW FOR THIS WEEK’S GOOD NEWS
Federal courts block Trump’s National Guard deployment to Portland
A federal judge issued back-to-back temporary restraining orders (TROs) stopping Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland — including guards from other states. The court found no conditions that justify military force, and warned against executive overreach. The Ninth Circuit let temporary federalization stand but kept the deployment ban in place, meaning no guard on Portland streets while the case proceeds.
Federal judge shuts down Trump’s National Guard deployment to Chicago
A federal judge granted a TRO halting the Trump administration’s plan to federalize and deploy any National Guard troops in Illinois. The court found no credible evidence of a rebellion and warned that deployment would “add fuel” to unrest.
Judge rules to protect journalists, protesters from federal agents in Chicago
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis barred federal agents from using “riot control” weapons — like tear gas, pepper spray, projectiles — against journalists, protesters and clergy who are not posing an immediate threat. The order also prohibits arrests of nonviolent protesters absent probable cause and requires visible identification on agents.
SCOTUS declines to hear case challenging voter access order
The Supreme Court declined to review the case Keefer v. Biden, rebuffing yet another attempt by the GOP to invoke the fringe independent legislative theory. The lawsuit was a challenge to former President Joe Biden's executive order, and pro-voting policies implemented in Pennsylvania.
First Circuit rebuffs Trump’s birthright citizenship order
The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court injunction blocking Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to noncitizen parents. The ruling reinforced the legal consensus that Trump’s order likely violates the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.
DC Circuit rejects Trump’s removal of Voice of America director
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals prevented the Trump administration from removing Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, finding his ouster “plainly contrary to law” and refusing to lift a lower court order. The decision preserves continuity at the nation’s independent news outlet and rebuffs Trump’s attempt to tighten control over it.
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